sign in sign up
<<
Home , Alain Nasreddine, Andrei Chibisov, Cap Raeder, Denis Herron, Eric Chouinard, Eric Wellwood

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/9/2020 Kings 1176300 NHLPA executive board approves proposed new labor 1176327 NHLPA executive board approves proposed new labor deal with NHL deal with NHL 1176301 Can the Ducks take a step forward in a flat cap 1176328 Kings assistant Marco Sturm has the inside scoop on top environment? prospect Tim Stutzle 1176375 "I mean, we have a couple returnees. We have three 1176329 JOINING HIS HALL OF FAME PLAYERS IN really good defencemen that could help us on the blueline. 1176330 Wild's Zach Parise: 'Hockey could really take advantage of 1176302 NHL targeting Dec. 1 for start of 2020-21 season the situation' 1176303 New CBA deal saves Bruins from disaster but doesn’t 1176331 Wild’s Zach Parise: Short reboot not ideal but ‘it’s what solve all their problems we’re dealing with right now’ 1176304 With sports returning, what happens to the locker room 1176332 Source: Wild willing to sign Kirill Kaprizov, burn first year; and clubhouse? roster news Canadiens 1176305 Report: Devils to hire as new coach 1176333 Stu on Sports: Things starting to get busy at Canadiens' 1176306 PSE makes a pair of additions to senior leadership team practice rink 1176307 Sabres drop lawsuit as strength coach's bid to acquire green card is approved Devils 1176308 and no-move clauses: How will the new CBA 1176334 Devils to tab Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff as next head affect the Sabres? coach, name Tom Fitzgerald as GM 1176335 Devils to name Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff as next head coach 1176309 Talbot embracing Phase 3 challenge of winning Flames 1176336 Devils hire Lindy Ruff as coach, retain Tom Fitzgerald as starter's job general manager 1176337 Comparing , Nathan MacKinnon with the Blackhawks man who coached both of them 1176310 Column: The are keeping their 1176338 The Next Ones: Can Nico Hischier be the next Nathan nickname. The decision walks — in the team’s own words MacKinnon? — ‘a f 1176311 The discussion about the Blackhawks and Native Americans isn’t over 1176339 NHL reportedly to begin 2020-21 season on Dec. 1 1176312 NHL, NHLPA set new dates for start of 2020-21 season, draft and free agency 1176313 Report: NHL to show qualifying and round-robin games on 1176340 Devils to name Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff as next head regional networks coach 1176314 Report: NHL to have 3 games a day in each hub city for 1176341 Henrik Lundqvist only goalie not at Rangers workouts 24-team playoffs 1176342 NHL reportedly to begin 2020-21 season on Dec. 1 1176315 Former Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner unveils new pads 1176343 Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff to be named next head 1176316 Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews and Malcolm Subban help coach of Devils, report says fund West Side food mart NHL 1176344 July 8, 2020 at 6:10 pm Updated July 8, 2020 at 6:10 PM 1176317 Former Avs, DU Pioneers to headline Dawg Nation’s 10th charity hockey tournament Senators 1176345 How the Senators could take advantage of the NHL’s flat Columbus Blue Jackets salary cap 1176318 Michael Arace | NHL, players wise to find labor peace 1176319 NHL, players ratify plan to resume season, new CBA 1176320 Blue Jackets don’t expect any ‘opt outs,’ but return to play 1176346 Flyers pick Scott Laughton for most improved teammate a major commitment 1176347 Scott Laughton earns Flyers' 2019-20 Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as most improved player Stars 1176348 2019-20 Flyers season grades: Philippe Myers 1176321 name former Stars coach Lindy Ruff 1176349 2020 NHL playoffs: 24-team tournament schedule could new feature 6 games in a day 1176322 10 questions (and potential answers) before the Stars 1176350 An abnormal NHL season could benefit a young Carter open training camp Hart's growing career 1176351 The optimist: How ex-Flyer Eric Wellwood’s belief buoyed Red Wings the 1176323 Red Wings, NHL tentatively to open next regular season Dec. 1 1176324 Moritz Seider has path to Red Wings roster spot, but 1176352 Double Team: A star with the Penguins, Pierre Larouche needs to show he's 'ready to go' contributed to the Canadiens’ success 1176325 NHL sets tentative dates for draft, start of 2020-21 season 1176353 What life in the NHL bubble may look like. And what the 1176326 Ranking impact former Red Wings will have in NHL restart Penguins’ roster may look like. 1176354 Penguins camp primer: What’s the fix for a power play that rarely looked right? St Louis Blues 1176355 For Allen, NHL restart is a chance for the Blues to finish business 1176356 How a flat cap will impact the Lightning roster and how to make it work 1176357 New NHL calendar takes shape 1176358 ‘He’s that silent assasin’: How Wes Clark is helping shape the Leafs Canucks 1176364 Ben Kuzma: Canucks prospect Rathbone ponders plans as Ivy League delays next season 1176359 A look at life inside the NHL’s Phase Four Secure Zone 1176360 How the new NHL, NHLPA deal affects the Golden Knights going forward 1176361 Why a flat NHL salary cap is bad news for the Capitals 1176362 NHL Players' Association Executive Board approves return-to-ice plan as league takes one step closer to return Websites 1176365 The Athletic / Key dates for the NHL playoffs and offseason, plus geeking out over CBA minutiae 1176366 The Athletic / Will NHL players opt-out of returning to play this summer? 1176367 The Athletic / With sports returning, what happens to the locker room and clubhouse? 1176368 The Athletic / NHL arena rankings: Grading every team’s rink from best to worst 1176369 The Athletic / The Next Ones: Can Nico Hischier be the next Nathan MacKinnon? 1176370 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Playing ‘what if?’ with 5 draft scenarios from NHL history 1176371 .ca / Phase 3 Training Camp Preview: Can Frederik Andersen go the distance? 1176372 Sportsnet.ca / Five of the worst NHL teams to ever make the Final 1176373 Sportsnet.ca / Phase 3 Training Camp Preview: Are young Canucks ready for the next step? 1176374 TSN.CA / Tomas Monten on top Swedish prospects, Philip Broberg’s improvement Jets 1176363 Reunited and it feels so good World Leagues News 1176376 T GAMBLE: The new world of fan-less COVID-impacted sports 1176377 First batch of Premiership Covid-19 tests reveals 10 positive results 1176378 Stanford Permanently Cuts 11 Sports Amid Coronavirus Pandemic 1176379 Ivy League rules out playing all sports this fall due to coronavirus pandemic 1176380 Jimmie Johnson cleared for NASCAR return less than a week after testing positive for coronavirus 1176381 More Colleges Cancel Fall Sports as COVID-19 Cases Rise 1176382 Novak Djokovic says he's been subject of 'witch hunt' after COVID-19 outbreak led to Adria Tour cancellation 1176383 Sports is returning to play, but maybe it's best to sit this one out 1176384 How COVID-19 is Impacting the Sports Medicine Market SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1176300 Anaheim Ducks

NHLPA executive board approves proposed new labor deal with NHL

The NHL logo is seen on a at a Predators practice rink in Nashville, Tenn.

By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST JULY 8, 20206:21 PM

The executive board of the NHL Players’ Assn. on Wednesday approved a proposed new collective bargaining agreement with the NHL and referred the tentative agreement to its full membership for a vote, with approval expected to be announced Friday.

The deal, which would extend labor peace through the 2025-26 season and allow players to represent their homelands at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, also is expected to gain approval from the NHL’s board of governors.

The NHL’s Return to Play plan will have teams opening training camp in their respective home cities Monday. The season will resume Aug. 1 with qualifying games in two hub cities, and it could run as late as Oct. 2, according to reports by Canadian media. Free agency would begin a week after the Stanley Cup is awarded, without the free-agent interview period that was built in to recent seasons. The draft will take place on Oct. 6, according to Sportsnet.

Subject to minor changes, training camp for the 2020-21 season is scheduled to start on Nov. 17 and the season would begin on Dec. 1. Commissioner has said teams will play a full 82-game schedule next season, which could be accomplished by eliminating bye weeks and the All-Star break.

The new collective bargaining agreement will include a flat salary cap of $81.5 million for the 2020-21 season because of the revenue losses the NHL has been facing since it paused operations on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Players will defer 10% of their salary next season but will be repaid over the course of the next three seasons as hockey-related revenues resume flowing.

The new collective bargaining agreement would cap escrow at 20% next season. The escrow system, a mechanism by which money is withheld from players’ paychecks in order to ensure a 50-50 split of hockey- related revenue between players and clubs, has been a of contention for players. The maximum escrow percentage for the 2021-22 season could be as high as 18%, depending on the level of hockey- related revenue.

The minimum NHL salary will be set at $700,000 and will rise to $775,000 in the last three years of the new labor deal.

This season’s playoffs will be contested in two hub sites — reportedly and Toronto — and will take place without fans. Players, coaches and staffers will be required to remain in as tight a bubble as possible and will undergo regular COVID-19 testing. They will be kept away from nonessential personnel and away from their families until the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final.

To further reduce the risk of anyone in the bubble contracting or spreading COVID-19, strict cleaning and sanitation standards will be enforced at the competition and practice rinks, and players will be urged to stay within a secure zone.

LA Times: LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176301 Anaheim Ducks you figure will be back in Anaheim instead of San Diego. Jacob Larsson also needs a new contract unless Murray reverses course on the former first-rounder and not qualify the fellow restricted free agent due to the proliferation of left- defenders. And if Ryan Miller does come back for Can the Ducks take a step forward in a flat cap environment? one more season, then some money needs to be set aside for the respected veteran to continue backing up Gibson.

Having $5.8 million available instead of $8.3 million or more significantly By Eric Stephens Jul 8, 2020 decreases the flexibility. This is where Corey Perry’s $6.625-million cap figure is a real impingement on the operation, but the Ducks knew this was coming when they bought him out. Murray still has to pay an “It was enough of some really good hockey played that I expect a big essentially retired Ryan Kesler ($6.875 million cap hit that the Ducks step forward next year.” — Bob Murray, on June 3 likely won’t need to factor on the cap because of injury) for two more seasons and Ryan Getzlaf ($8.25 million) for one more big-dollar If you take Murray at his word with this statement delivered to beat year. reporters when the Ducks’ 2019-20 season was officially rendered over, then you have to assume that this is a general manager who is expecting Corey Perry is no longer a member of the Ducks, but his cap hit still his team to not only be competitive but get back to some winning. looms large for Anaheim. (Jerome Miron / USA Today)

Easier said than done when you have begun to lease space near the Taking on David Backes at 75 percent of his $6 million owed is still a bottom of the Western Conference. sizable hit for what he is at this stage of his career but that had to be done to net an extra first-round pick. At the time, weaponizing the cap But for those who don’t have the stomach for this rebuilding stuff, space to bring in the aging Backes made sense to land a potential young Murray’s proclamation is at least a message to the faithful that he doesn’t asset and it could look good in the long term. But in the short term it just have the stomach to watch losing hockey for years on end. Even if he put them closer to a cap that’s not going up — though that couldn’t be could, he probably can’t. The Ducks must take steps forward now. They foreseen when Anaheim traded for Backes as part of the deal that sent may have to start winning for his sake. His contract is up in 2022. He sold Ondrej Kase to Boston. the Samuelis on a roster retooling that had to be done, that’s still in the process of doing. These owners are extraordinarily patient but until this It isn’t all gloom and doom for the Ducks. But the first glance isn’t pretty. fruitless two-year stretch, they’ve been used to playoff money coming in. No GM has a lifetime deal. How much longer will he be allowed to have Flexibility can be gained by having Kesler on long-term injured reserve, the keys? which will happen and frees up that $6.875 million for usage. Patrick Eaves’ contract comes off the books. And while Milano, Terry, Larsson The attempt to take real steps forward won’t begin for some time. The and Kiefer Sherwood are coming off their entry-level deals, the four RFAs path toward a resumption of the NHL has been laid out with the brokering aren’t in position to make huge salary demands given their very modest of a collective bargaining agreement extended through 2026 and the NHL track records. Unless Murray was to make a real term-laden signpost dates of July 13 (training camp) and August 1 (the beginning of commitment to one, it’s hard seeing any of them making much more than the 24-team postseason tournament). The second part has no $1-1.5 million annually on their next contract — assuming all four do consequence to the Ducks. They’re not among the 24 that qualified so return. Especially in a climate where fans may not be allowed back in the next time they could be playing games is when 2021 is rung in. arenas for a long time.

But the first part does have consequence. Within the agreed-upon CBA Still, there isn’t much to work from within their 2020-21 parameters. extension is the likelihood of a salary cap ceiling that will remain flat at Whenever free agency does occur, you can expect it to stay fairly quiet $81.5 million after having risen steadily since its introduction following the around Anaheim. Ducks fans have low expectations, having become 2004-05 lockout. It will stay that way until hockey-related revenue accustomed to low-cost periphery signings. The bigger problem is trying reaches $4.8 billion, the amount projected for this season before it was to add help from outside is that there isn’t much room to take on salary paused on March 12. This will be the number the Ducks and every other by taking advantage of cap-crunched teams that may be forced to shed team will operate under in building their rosters. some legitimate talent. Talent that can help a team get a few more wins. And a few more wins can be a huge difference in the parity-laden NHL. Back in early March, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly announced that the cap could move upward to a figure between $84-$88.2 million. Our Unless ownership were to suddenly green-light going the route of James Mirtle was much more conservative with a potential cap increase Toronto and using LTIR flexibility in any and every way possible, this projection, laying out the concern players had over escrow and offseason doesn’t have the look of one where Murray can rub his hands foreseeing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on revenue. The latter together and make something significant happen. And the longtime GM has obviously come to bear. Instead of a minimum $2.5 million increase has resisted the move of dealing away one of his core players and taking for the 2020-21 season, there will be none. his retool to a more dramatic level.

How does this impact the Ducks? How do they take a “big step forward” Next season is virtually guaranteed to be fewer than 82 games. Who with less cap space available than what the league originally projected? knows when tickets can be sold and fans will be allowed back in? So much uncertainty remains in the immediate future. Maybe, in some A lot of this will be on those already under contract on the roster. Murray warped way, this downturn for the Ducks in the vacuum that is this ever- is obviously counting on his existing veteran leaders, a number of whom changing normal is coming at an opportune time. underperformed last season, to be better. He’ll need some of the youngsters that have plunged into the NHL waters to start swimming with The outlook for 2021-22 is much brighter at first view. The cap will likely authority. He’ll need to hit on a couple of trades he made in his flurry at stay flat at $81.5 million but Perry’s buyout hit goes back down to $2 the February deadline. He’ll need John Gibson to start stealing a handful million. Assuming the captain remains entrenched, Getzlaf’s cap figure of games again. will be much lower. They’ll still have several notable core players under contract. By then, Trevor Zegras figures to have started his NHL run But is this roster as it is currently constructed good enough to move the while Terry and Sam Steel could become players of real consequence. club back toward the top half of the Pacific Division? There are a few The high salaries they’ll have will be much more manageable. They will metrics you can use but the simple fact that they’ve been among the be free of the Backes and (possibly) Erik Gudbranson contracts. Murray worst offensive teams over these past two seasons tells you no. You would be in better position to augment a club that has shifted back have to win 2-1 games in the playoffs but it’s impossible to win a season toward one on the rise. full of them just to get there. But the big step forward that’s expected for next season? It will have to Sonny Milano and Danton Heinen aren’t nearly enough if the goal is to be come from what is already in the cupboard. Murray has tied himself to much improved. But is it even realistic for Murray to be more aggressive their success and they’re going to have to deliver. in finding outside solutions? The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 Let’s look at their cap picture for 2020-21. Through numbers compiled by the CapFriendly website, the Ducks have a little more than $75.6 million committed to 19 players. It leaves only $5.8 million available and what must be factored is the re-signings of Milano and forward Troy Terry, who 1176302 Boston Bruins

NHL targeting Dec. 1 for start of 2020-21 season

By Wire Reports Updated July 8, 2020, 11:44 p.m.

Edmonton's is the presumed host of this season's Stanley Cup Final, scheduled for the end of September in the league's return-to- play plan.

The 2020-2021 NHL season will tentatively begin on Dec. 1, the coronavirus pandemic forcing a roughly two-month delay as the league closes on finalizing plans for its resumption.

According to ’s Sportsnet, provided the expected approval of the league’s Return-to-Play plans later this week, the Stanley Cup Final will run from Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, at the latest. The season is slated to begin on Aug. 1 in the hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton, with five-game play-in series and round-robin play between the top four teams in each conference preceding a traditional 16-team, best-of-seven .

The Bruins’ opener this season, for context, was on Oct. 3.

Under the likely plan, the NHL Draft will take place on Oct. 6, 2020. Training camps would open on Nov. 17, roughly two weeks before the regular season.

Of course, plenty of variables will need to be navigated between then and now. On Wednesday, Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton — the city where Western Conference play and the Cup Final are scheduled to be held — announced it was in the midst of a “full facility” COVID-19 outbreak, with 20 patients and 15 staff infected, and essentially went on lockdown.

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176303 Boston Bruins goodbye. It’s no guarantee the Bruins could reload to a Cup-competitive degree. Krug may see a better opportunity to win somewhere else and receive a longer, richer deal.

New CBA deal saves Bruins from disaster but doesn’t solve all their Supply and demand dictate that his odds of greater term and money problems increase if he reaches free agency. Instead of negotiating with one team, he could be pursued by multiple suitors, some of whom could have more cash and greater need for his services than the Bruins. Only Krug can answer if he wants those things more than the security of the only By Fluto Shinzawa Jul 8, 2020 organization he’s known.

It may be that coronavirus has reshaped his perspective. Changing It could be worse. employers amid a pandemic is unsettling. Househunting may not suit Krug, wife Melanie and daughter Saylor. Without a new collective bargaining agreement, it’s possible the NHL’s 2020-21 salary cap, tied to projected revenue, could have plummeted to Or Krug, aware that his next deal could be his last, could prefer the $65 million. These would have been practically irreparable depths for maximum compensation that agent Lewis Gross could land. Of course, general managers pursuing optimal rosters and agents keeping their that would be his right. clients happy, with the Bruins’ stakeholders certainly among them. Krug had the rotten luck of reaching unrestricted free agency at an But if the sides approve the NHL’s proposed new CBA, next year’s cap unfortunate time. The seven-year, $53.025 million contract Jared will remain at $81.5 million regardless of revenue. This would leave the Spurgeon, the 30-year-old defenseman with a comparable skill set, Bruins approximately $16 million under the ceiling for now, enough to signed with Minnesota on Sept. 14, 2019, will probably not be available forestall any looming cap disaster. It might even be enough breathing for Krug. room to re-up Torey Krug. “From a business perspective, I can’t put any assumption on it, but I can That might not necessarily happen. only guess that things are going to be a little different from a salary cap perspective next year,” Krug said in April. “Team structures as well are The sticky thing, for Krug and the Bruins, is not the 2020-21 season. It’s going to be affected by that.” the years that follow. Three months ago, Krug worried whether he had pulled on a Bruins The cap will remain at $81.5 million until hockey-related revenue reaches jersey for the final time. That might not be the case. Qualifying play is $4.8 billion. This was the figure projected for the current season before scheduled to start on Aug. 1. the pandemic. It is difficult to project when the game will repair the wreckage to a pre-coronavirus threshold. As such, it is similarly Whether Krug can keep his jersey beyond this season doesn’t look as challenging to predict when cap hikes will occur. clear.

Even though Krug, as one of four unrestricted free-agents-to-be (Zdeno The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 Chara, Joakim Nordstrom and Kevan Miller are the others), is a priority by the calendar, the organization’s other imperatives are the upcoming third contracts for David Pastrnak (2023), Charlie McAvoy (2022) and Brandon Carlo (2021). Their fates are all connected, even though Krug’s contract is the closest to expiring.

While Krug will reach unrestricted-free-agent status on Nov. 1, general manager Don Sweeney has to be mindful about investing too much in the 29-year-old defenseman. That could leave Sweeney’s wallet too thin to pay his younger core players accordingly, to say nothing of the top two centers and starting goalie the Bruins will need sooner than later.

It’s generally accepted that Pastrnak (six years, $40 million), McAvoy (three years, $14.7 million) and Carlo (two years, $5.7 million) signed team-friendly deals. The reasons, respectively, were a pre-Auston Matthews/Mitch Marner/Sebastian Aho market; virtually zero bargaining power because of 10.2 (c) status; and the difficulty of assigning value to defensive defensemen.

Next time around, negotiating leverage will shift to the players because of arbitration, an expected rise in production and the right to sign offer sheets, as unlikely as the last one might be. When their current deals expire, Pastrnak, McAvoy and Carlo will be 27, 24 and 24 — still well within their career sweet spots and eager for raises they are likely to deserve.

Krug, meanwhile, is closer to approaching the end of his.

Nine years of partnership between Krug and the Bruins have lifted both boats. Krug (9-40—49, 20:20 average ice time per game, a league-high 28 power-play points this season) has developed into a top-three power- play quarterback and a dependable five-on-five defenseman. , who first coached Krug in Providence in 2012, has the comfort of knowing his first power-play unit will produce consistent offense.

The question is whether the Bruins would want to invest big dough — $7 million annually over at least a five-year term would be a reasonable estimate — in a defenseman whose next birthday cake will have 30 candles. They have younger and cheaper left-shot alternatives in Matt Grzelcyk, Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril and Jeremy Lauzon. Grzelcyk and McAvoy could work the power play. Cassidy has even thought about rolling a five-forward first unit if Krug signs elsewhere.

Krug has played in two , and a third is no guarantee if he re-signs with the Bruins. At some point during such an extension, Chara, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask are likely to say 1176304 Boston Bruins league restarts games, including how many staff members can be in the locker room before, during and after games.

In every way, that is anathema to the pre-coronavirus point of the locker With sports returning, what happens to the locker room and clubhouse? room. During the season, basketball players arrive several hours before tip-off, lingering there, watching film, stretching, texting, talking, and walking in and out between workouts. In baseball, it’s normal for players to arrive four to five hours before first pitch, change at their lockers and By Mike Vorkunov Jul 8, 2020 use the clubhouse as a home base for all their pregame activities.

Now, that all seems problematic. Several studies on the spread of Later this month, the NBA will finally return to action after four and a half coronavirus have shown that indoor spaces with people in close months at rest, inside the semi-permeable bubble at Disney World. Major proximity can make it easier for the virus to spread. League Baseball and the WNBA will return around that same time. Both A change from that natural order would be drastic in some ways. It could American soccer leagues, the MLS and NWSL, will have been back for force professional athletes to return to the ways of their youth, to ask weeks. them to shower at home and change before they get to the arena. The leagues will face scrutiny unlike any other time in their history as “I can see that being a big ask, but that’s really more of a question for they try to play amid a global pandemic. While the tries to players and coaches and what they would accept,” said Zachary Binney, stabilize itself as the novel coronavirus spreads, jumping from one an epidemiologist at Emory University’s school of public health. epicenter to another, sports will make the biggest bet yet: That it can out- smart the virus long enough to play some semblance of a season for “It will be a change to people’s lives. Everything that we’re going to be each of the respective leagues. asked to do, certainly until there’s a vaccine, is going to be somewhat different.” Health and safety will be of the utmost concern. There will be symptom- tracking rings and social-distancing guidelines. There will be testing — To solve the problem, leagues may have to get creative with the amount lots of it. The NBA has released a 113-page manual detailing each stage of time players spend together. leading up to the deployment of teams into Orlando and then what they’ll have to do on the ground. “Any type of plan that is going to reduce the duration of time and the physical proximity of people, especially in an enclosed space, is going to While the leagues have rightfully devoted much attention to many stages be helpful in this,” said Angela L. Rasmussen, a virologist and associate of the return, there has been one overlooked part of sports that is also research scientist at Columbia University. “I can’t echo strongly enough worth a discussion. With sports returning, what happens to the locker that the central parts of this are always going to be testing and essentially room? a centralized sequestration.

Locker rooms, and clubhouses, are central to any team. They are “To a certain extent, when you’re playing a team sport or you’re doing changing rooms and meeting rooms. They are destinations for players something like ultimate fighting, you’re going to always have some kind when they get to the arena and the last port before they leave. They are of physical contact between people or at least some limited ability to meant for uplifting moments and for killing time. For pregame speeches practice physical distancing, so those measures to reduce as much as and halftime adjustments. possible those other times that aren’t related to the sport being played, such as the locker room, seem like they would be beneficial. The core They are also usually small, enclosed spaces that cluster dozens of policy has to be about identifying infected cases and isolating them as people together for prolonged periods of time, encouraging them to feel quickly as possible.” at ease. In normal times, that is ideal; a place that can feel like a comfortable salon for the professional athlete. During a pandemic, it Hollman said he believes there are ways to help limit exposure through seems like a petrie dish for the spread of the virus. the locker rooms themselves. His company has been using anti-microbial material in lockers for years to help lower the risk of staph and bacterial “Everyone comes in there sweaty; they’re close to each other,” said infections, and he wants to use copper and silver plating on lockers Travis Hollman, CEO of Hollman Inc., a locker room design company that because, he said, the virus does not live as long on those surfaces. has worked with several professional sports teams and college programs. “It has been an interesting spot for infection and disease, His company has already implemented design plans in other locker honestly, for a long, long time.” rooms they believe will prove useful in mitigating the spread of coronavirus, even if the original intent didn’t have the pandemic in mind This summer, however, that problem seems especially acute. Locker yet. Hollman said that their construction of the Alabama football locker rooms and clubhouses are no longer respites from the outside world but rooms will have, essentially, personal pods where players can use zero- another potential source of trouble. What each sport does with them will grab chairs and burrow about 3 to 4 feet into cubbies to isolate from their be another point in risk management. teammates. It is, he said, akin to being inside a closet, because the Hollman has been dealing with that for years, trying to build spaces that program wanted a space where players could also take naps. can both be hospitable to teams and remain clean. In recent years, there There are also plans to create a self-cleaning locker room at Duke that have been MRSA outbreaks in the NFL, spawned in locker rooms, along Hollman said will be even more important now. The room would have with the usual hygiene and cleanliness issues. self-locking doors that operate on a timer. When the doors close, the The coronavirus, however, presents a dilemma like no other. His space would be blasted by UV light. Initially, the intent was to kill bacteria company has been at work over the last few months trying to workshop on uniforms and shoes and to sterilize the room during absent periods. solutions of some sort, but he knows that it will have to walk a line. There is some belief that UV lighting could help cleanse away the virus.

“For the team sports, that camaraderie, that togetherness is a lot of what “We feel the locker room environment creates this team atmosphere, so makes the team great,” he said. “We’d rather try to engineer and keep we want to keep the environment as close to as what it is now as that space a sacred place. Let’s make that place as safe as we can, but possible,” Hollman said. “We really think it’s going (to be done) with these we also want to maintain the energy level that they would have in that lighting, with sterilization, with material use. It will get to us to a better place.” locker room that people feel safer in.”

The NBA has only a handful of mentions of locker rooms in their league- “We’re trying to engineer the virus out of the system,” he added. issued protocols. They scrape at the problem. All of these ideas, as Hollman noted, can only help so much. The nature The league asks that teams try to minimize time spent at facilities during of basketball and football, and sometimes baseball, involves human Phase 3 of the return, over the first third of July in Orlando, and think contact. The NBA will create an ecosystem that traps in hundreds of about discouraging or preventing players from showering and changing players, coaches and executives, then asks them to play inside an arena there as a way to limit exposure. If they don’t, then teams should put with no physical distancing; while Disney World employees enter and exit restrictions on the number of people allowed in the locker room at once the bubble when they need to. and how long they can be there — and if there are multiple people there, Locker rooms then will be about mitigation, not prevention. they must be at least 12 feet apart. Further rules will come when the Still, Binney said, every attempt to limit spread is important. But the ideal locker room is vastly different for an epidemiologist and a hard concept to organize. He and Rasmussen were asked what their ideal locker room would be in the time of coronavirus. Their responses, serious and cheeky, displayed the difficulty in creating safe environments for players.

“An airplane hangar where everybody is 50 feet away at all times,” he said. “I don’t know.”

“Since there are no fans, I’d turn the stadium into a locker room,” Rasmussen said. “You could have somebody getting ready in Section 1A and somebody getting ready in Section 1B. Ideally you’d have it be as ventilated as possible, so high ceilings are good ventilation … The real key would be having a lot of space so that it’s not enclosed.”

The key, again, is space and, if possible, open air. But rethinking the locker room could be just a first step. Sports could also use this time to change their workflow altogether.

Meetings might no longer be held in meeting rooms, like in the NFL, Binney said. Those could become virtual, to provide as much distancing as needed, or they could occur outside while everyone is wearing masks. If players need to use the locker room, they do so in shifts, and teams could convert other rooms into additional space.

“I think all of these things will be necessary,” Binney said. “With any of these details, you’re not going to get 100 percent adherence, but even if you get 80 percent adherence, that’s something. But it means that no one single thing is going to create a totally foolproof system. It’s all about doing everything you possibly can and stacking those things on top of each other, and, again, having a really strong testing or centralization sequestering plan.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176305 Buffalo Sabres

Report: Devils to hire Lindy Ruff as new coach

Mike Harrington Jul 8, 2020

As Sabres coach, Lindy Ruff had the most years behind the bench, the most wins and was most famous for two words -- "No Goal."

At age 60 and after three years out of the limelight, Lindy Ruff is closing in on another NHL head coaching job.

The Sabres' all-time leader in coaching victories is going to be named the new top man of the New Jersey Devils, in news first reported Wednesday night by former NHL goalie and current NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes.

Weekes' report said that the Devils are going to remove the interim tag from General Manager Tom Fitzgerald and give him the job on a permanent basis. Fitzgerald, the father of Sabres defense prospect Casey Fitzgerald, was a player and Ruff was an assistant coach on the 1995-96 who advanced to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Colorado.

Ruff has spent the last three years as the defensive assistant for the New York Rangers under and David Quinn, who are preparing to meet Carolina in a play-in series next month. Ruff was fired by the in 2017 after four seasons that saw him win just one playoff series.

Ruff, of course, is best known for his 17-year run in Buffalo that stretched from 1997-2013 and included four trips to the Eastern Conference Final and a run to the 1999 Stanley Cup Final that was famously dubbed the "No Goal" series after Ruff's Niagara Square proclamation over 's series-ending goal in triple overtime.

Ruff is Buffalo's runaway leader in games coached (1,165) and victories (571), and also won a franchise-record 57 playoff games. The Sabres advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in 1998, 1999, 2006 and 2007.

Ruff has been hoping to get one more NHL head coaching job so he can chase history. He told WGRZ 13 months ago on the 20th anniversary of the '99 final that he spoke to Jason Botterill about returning to the Sabres, but the former GM went with Ralph Krueger.

Ruff is sixth all-time in NHL history in victories with 736, with former New York Islanders legend next on the list at 782. Ruff is thus 64 wins shy of becoming the fifth coach in history to 800 wins, and is seven games shy of becoming the seventh in history to coach 1,500 games.

Ruff was a surprise candidate in New Jersey, which finished the season with interim coach after the December firing of . The Devils reportedly had been considering former Nashville boss and ex-Vegas coach before settling on Ruff.

Since losing the Stanley Cup Final to Los Angeles in 2012, the Devils have made the playoffs just once and that was a five-game defeat against Tampa Bay in the first round in 2018.

They are not in the 24-team tournament this summer after finishing tied with the Sabres with 68 points in a disappointing season that saw them draft center Jack Hughes No. 1 overall and add defenseman P.K. Subban in a trade.

But even with Hughes, Nico Hischier (the No. 1 pick in 2017) and top rookie goalie MacKenzie Blackwood, New Jersey struggled from the gate and Hynes was fired on Dec. 3 – the day after a 7-1 loss to the Sabres in KeyBank Center. The club was 9-13-4 under Hynes and went 19-16-8 under Nasreddine.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176306 Buffalo Sabres

PSE makes a pair of additions to senior leadership team

Jay Skurski Jul 8, 2020

Terry Pegula's organization announced a pair of additions to its senior leadership team Wednesday.

Pegula Sports and Entertainment has made a pair of additions to its senior leadership team.

The organization that oversees the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres – among other properties – announced Wednesday that Jason Sinnarajah has joined the Buffalo Bills as senior vice president of business administration, while Mike McFarlane has been named PSE's senior vice president of finance and administration.

“Terry and I would like to welcome Jason and Mike to our Senior Leadership Team,” Bills and Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula said in a statement announcing the hires. “Both have ties to Buffalo and are committed to Western New York. While the pandemic slowed their hire, we now look forward to their contribution in building a winning organization.”

According to a press release from PSE, Jason Sinnarajah grew up as a Bills fan in Toronto and will now oversee the team’s day-to-day business operations. Sinnarajah joins the organization after serving as senior vice president of strategy and growth at Ziff Davis, where he led M&A sourcing, corporate strategy and business development. He was previously vice president of global strategy and business development at the Weather Company, and a member of the Cleveland Indians' strategy and analytics team that worked on bringing the 2019 All-Star game to Cleveland, along with renovations to Progressive Field.

Sinnarajah previously spent five years at Google, where he managed partnerships with sports leagues such as the NFL and NHL to provide updated data for searches, and played a role in the international expansion of YouTube and Doubleclick. A graduate of Boston College, Sinnarajah also has an MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.

McFarlane has 22 years of finance and business administration experience. He will oversee the Buffalo Sabres' day-to-day business operations, along with the financial operations of PSE entities. He previously served as chief financial officer of Petri Baking Products, Inc. He oversaw the financing of three major facility expansions at Petri, and the Silver Creek-based company grew in size, employment and profitability during each year of his tenure as CFO.

McFarlane earned a bachelor's degree in economics and an MBA at Canisius College, and has lived in Western New York for the past 30 years.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176307 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres drop lawsuit as strength coach's bid to acquire green card is approved

Mike Harrington Jul 8, 2020

Just under two months after filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, the Buffalo Sabres have dropped a case alleging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services improperly denied a green card for Dr. Edward Anthony Gannon, the team's head strength and conditioning coach.

The suit was dropped Wednesday morning and the team released a statement later in the day that said Gannon, a native of Great Britain who has been with the team since 2015, has had his petition approved.

“The matter has been resolved amicably between both parties, resulting in the complaint being withdrawn and Ed Gannon receiving approval of his EB-1 petition," the team said.

The end of the suit came in a two-paragraph notice from the court on Wednesday, which said the case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiffs. They were listed as Gannon and Hockey Western New York LLC, the Sabres' corporate name.

In filing the suit, the team had said Citizenship and Immigration Services made an "unlawful, arbitrary" decision to deny Gannon's application. The team said he was worthy of more consideration by the agency "as an individual of extraordinary ability."

But the agency's response was that the Sabres have failed to show Gannon has reached national or international notoriety in his field, in spite of the team's claim that he was one of only 31 people in his post in the world's top hockey league.

The team's initial petition on Gannon's behalf was denied on Jan. 14 and the club said he would be in danger of having to relinquish his post and return to Great Britain.

"Let me stress that we selected Ed after an exhaustive search across the world of professional sports performance," Sabres president Kim Pegula wrote on behalf of Gannon in a letter contained within the lawsuit. "We spanned the globe to find an elite Strength and Conditioning expert because this role is absolutely critical to our overall organizational success. It is a critical role that is fundamental to our organization’s success both on and off the ice.

"We spend tens of millions of dollars each year on world-class athletes. We require our Head of Strength and Conditioning to expertly monitor and train these athletes so they achieve success on the ice. It is a critical role that we entrust to someone who also has world-class credentials and who can properly take care of our valuable assets.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176308 Buffalo Sabres During the 2012-13 lockout, the Sabres’ Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, , , , Andrej Sekera, Tyler Myers, Alexander Sulzer and Jhonas Enroth spent time overseas. This time, health concerns would impact departures. Salary cap and no-move clauses: How will the new CBA affect the Sabres? NHL players can participate in the 2022 Beijing Olympics and the 2026 Milan Olympics, pending negotiations with the International Olympic Committee and the International Federation.

By John Vogl Jul 8, 2020 After missing the 2018 Olympics in South Korea, the players negotiated to be part of the next two Games. Eichel will be 25 in 2022 and figures to

be a marquee name for the United States — if not the marquee name. Jack Eichel can go to China. Terry and Kim Pegula will save some cash. The Sabres have other Olympic hopefuls with Sweden’s Dahlin and Kyle Okposo will retain some say in his home. Finnish defensemen Ristolainen and Jokiharju. By 2026, the Sabres The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NHL and its hope Canada’s Cozens and Finland’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen are in line players’ association has perks for everyone, though Buffalo fans could to represent their countries. face an immediate hit. No-move and no-trade clauses will transfer with players. Sabres players will vote starting Wednesday whether to approve the This is a win for traded players, who previously lost their negotiated proposal, which is scheduled to ensure labor peace through at least the benefits. For example, Zach Bogosian’s contract with Winnipeg in 2013 2025-26 season. For a league that had the 2004-05 season wiped out included a no-movement clause from 2015-16 to 2019-20. When the and nearly half of 2012-13 go to waste, 13 years without a work stoppage Sabres acquired him in 2014-15, they voided the clause and were free to will seem like an eternity. trade him. With the new CBA, the clause would have traveled from It also may feel like that long between Sabres games. The new CBA is Winnipeg to Buffalo. tied to the return-to-play plan, with results of the vote to be announced Okposo, according to CapFriendly, has a modified no-trade clause for the Friday. Barring further coronavirus complications, the season will resume final three years of his contract. He supplies a 15-team no-trade list. If the in August and continue until October. The 2020-21 season, which is still Sabres deal him, the acquiring team needs to accept the clause through scheduled to be 82 games, may not begin until January. the completion of his deal. The Sabres haven’t taken the ice since March 9, so it could be a 10- Skinner has a no-movement clause for the entirety of his contract, which month break between games for Buffalo and its fan base. runs through 2026-27. If he were to waive the clause for a trade to his The calendar, of course, depends on the virus. MLS and MLB have hometown of Toronto, the Maple Leafs couldn’t promptly ship him to already run into trouble with their attempted returns, and rising numbers Arizona without his permission. could burst the NHL’s bubble. The league may eventually have to scrap This season’s playoff fund will be doubled from $16 million to $32 million. this season and return to a “normal” 2020-21 in the fall. The increased payout is being split between the NHL and NHLPA. While that remains an uncertainty, the players’ passage of the CBA Missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season will hurt the would set several things in stone. Here’s how key proposed clauses will pocketbooks of Buffalo’s players. The big increase is a form of hazard affect the Sabres. pay for playing through the coronavirus pandemic and submitting to the The salary cap will stay at $81.5 million for the 2021-21 season. safety protocols. The Sabres won’t see it (though they also don’t have to play through the virus and submit to the protocols). Since revenues have fallen and the salary cap is tied to revenues, there was fear the cap could crumble. The CBA will keep this season’s figure in The league’s minimum salary will be set at $750,000 through 2023-24 place. and rise to $775,000 in 2024-25 and $800,000 in 2025-26.

That’s good news for Buffalo, which is already facing a of at least The minimum salary this season was $700,000 and was what Lazar, $1.275 million for spending over the cap this season. The overage will be Jean-Sebastien Dea, John Gilmour and Andrew Hammond made. The subtracted from the Sabres’ 2020-21 ceiling, leaving them with a cap of Pegulas saved $2 million with the lower floor than they would have paid around $80 million next year. next season.

The Sabres already have more than $60.6 million committed to contracts The players’ vote will determine the financial landscape for the next six for Eichel, Okposo, Jeff Skinner, Marcus Johansson, Dylan Cozens, seasons. Rasmus Ristolainen, Colin Miller, Jake McCabe, Rasmus Dahlin, Henri The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 Jokiharju and Carter Hutton, as well as the qualifying offers due to Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson, Dominik Kahun, Curtis Lazar, Casey Mittelstadt, Tage Thompson, Brandon Montour and Linus Ullmark. Those restricted free agents will want more than their qualifying offers, so the $20 million in available space could dwindle in a hurry.

A league-wide drop in the cap would have been painful.

Players will have a 10 percent deferral of next season’s salary. It will be paid out in equal installments over three seasons starting with 2023-24 and ending in 2025-26.

Teams are bracing for lost income next season as fans may not be allowed in the stands. The clause kicks a few payments down the road toward rosier bottom lines.

A 10 percent deferral for the Sabres at $80 million would mean $8 million staying in the Pegulas’ pockets. If they have the $8 million on hand, theoretically, they could invest it and turn it into more by 2023.

Players not participating in the return to play will be eligible to sign contracts outside of North America and return for the 2020-21 season.

As noted, it could be 10 months between games for the Sabres. If the European seasons start in early fall, players could sign overseas to earn cash and get back into game shape. 1176309 Calgary Flames “I definitely feel ahead of the game, coming into camp just from hearing what other guys have been limited to,” Talbot said. “I didn’t really have any limitations with my training or my on-ice training and I was able to spend a bit more time with my family, instead of having to rush back. I Talbot embracing Phase 3 challenge of winning Flames starter's job feel pretty good, it’s no different than coming into a normal training camp under normal circumstances at this point.”

Truth be told, there is nothing normal about these circumstances. Kristen Anderson, Postmedia The Flames are hitting the ice Monday at Saddledome to

prepare for a best-of-five pre-playoff qualification round against the Cam Talbot has officially been a Calgary Flame for one calendar year. starting in early August. In a normal summer, they’d be amid their off-season training and getting ready for a training camp It’s safe to say the last 365 days and beyond has been filled with enough ahead of the upcoming regular season. ups and downs to make it one of the most memorable campaigns in his seven-season career. But the global health crisis threw a wrench into their schedule and these are the circumstances they’ve been dealt. Just four days before his 32nd birthday last summer, the Caledonia, Ont., native inked a one-year contract with the Flames, completing an eventful That also goes for any lineup decisions that Flames head coach Geoff 2019 free agency that also saw the ink former Calgary Ward and his crew will be making, including who will be the starting goalie Mike Smith. when the puck drops (again) for real. It is a fresh slate and a short sprint to the finish line. The starter’s net is there for the taking. Coming off a forgettable 2018-19 season that saw him traded to Philadelphia from the Oilers, Talbot was eager to improve and the “There has been really no indication (on who’ll earn the job), I haven’t situation in Calgary presented a perfect opportunity for that. even been able to see Wardo that much lately,” Talbot said. “There’s been no conversations about who is going to start or what it’s going to be “I have zero regrets coming here,” Talbot was saying on Wednesday, as like, really. When everything shut down, my game was as good as it has he and other teammates began preparations for the start of next week’s been in a long time. I thought I was trending to get more starts down the training camp and the NHL’s Phase 3 in the Return to Play plan. “I was stretch and into the playoffs. But you never know what could happen. excited to get my one-year deal here, a sort of redemption year. I’m just glad it didn’t end the way it did and we still have a chance to play for the “It’s just going to be pretty much what it’s been all season — compete for Stanley Cup. I’m excited to still be apart of this group and help them win starts, and the best goaltender is going to play, and whoever is hot is in the next few months.” going to play… whoever is going to give us the best chance to win that night is going to be in the net.” Heading into 2019-20, he was set to challenge the relatively inexperienced and projected No. 1 netminder David Rittich. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.09.2020

When Rittich received the lion’s share of the starts early on, Talbot quietly improved his game and began showing glimpses of his former self in the second half of the season.

There were signs he may have even eclipsed Rittich for the starter’s role heading into the playoffs but when the COVID-19 pandemic escalated — pausing the season on March 12 — that momentum was cut short. His 12-10-1 record had produced a 2.63 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. In total, Talbot had made 22 starts for the Flames and played in 26 games.

“Even from the onset, I felt as comfortable as I’d felt in a long time,” Talbot said. “Even at the start, my results weren’t where they needed to be but I wasn’t getting a whole lot of run support throughout the first nine or 10 starts. I just tried to stick with it … my numbers never really changed. Even when my record wasn’t where I wanted it to be, my numbers were still showing I was giving us a chance every night.

“I’m just excited that now, hopefully, I get a chance to finish it off with this group.”

Talbot arrived in Calgary from Hamilton on Sunday and was tested for COVID-19 on Monday. After that came back negative, he skated for the first time on Tuesday.

But it wasn’t the first time he’d been on the ice, having been permitted to skate at the Grainger Training Centre in Hamilton — his usual off-season training facility which remained open for much of the pandemic due to its’ size.

He was able to skate around a dozen times, while many of the other members of the Flames were quarantined.

“I know a lot of guys said that if arenas opened up, they only did a couple weeks ago — especially in ,” Talbot said. “I was pretty lucky that we had that small sheet of ice and were able to get a couple of guys on the ice with me.”

He also got the ball rolling on a home gym, ordering weights, and other necessary equipment as soon as the pandemic hit in March.

All of which has allowed him to stay on top of his fitness despite being forced into four months of an off-season.

It gave him an opportunity to see his wife Kelly and twins Landon and Sloane a little longer before returning to Calgary. 1176310 Chicago Blackhawks Late Bullets vice president Wes Unseld, the MVP of the 1978 championship team, told the Tribune in ‘96: “I regret we’re in a situation where the name does have some connotation toward violence. I take a lot of pride in being called one of the Bullets, but I understand the Column: The Chicago Blackhawks are keeping their nickname. The reasoning. ... It needs to be done.” decision walks — in the team’s own words — ‘a fine line between respect and disrespect.’ The Bullets conducted a contest to change the name, with center Juwan Howard on the committee that selected five names from more than 300,000 submissions. The Wizards won out over the Express, Dragons, Stallions and Sea Dogs, and now an entire generation of Wizards fans By PAUL SULLIVAN CHICAGO TRIBUNE |JUL 08, 2020 AT 2:43 PM exists with little or no care about their former name.

Is it hypocritical to be OK with the Chicago Blackhawks’ decision to keep We’re at a moment in time in which questions are being asked about their nickname and also laud the Cleveland Indians for potentially many things in sports, from nicknames to statues to awards. ditching theirs? The Baseball Writers’ Association of America is discussing dropping the I’ll hang up and listen for my answer. names of Kenesaw Mountain Landis from the most valuable player After years of debating whether the Washington Redskins should change awards and J.G. Taylor Spink from the award that annually honors a their nickname, the NFL team’s decision to hold a “thorough review” has writer. Both reportedly were opposed to the integration of baseball, and spurred other sports organizations with questionable nicknames to some BBWAA members feel Landis and Spink don’t deserve to be contemplate doing likewise. associated with the writers organization. (Disclaimer: As BBWAA president, I approved the decision to discuss the removal of the names.) The Cleveland baseball team has started discussions as well, with manager Terry Francona supporting a change. In his argument for the removal of Landis’ name, veteran baseball writer Ken Rosenthal wrote: “In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the “In the past, when I’ve been asked about it, whether it’s our name or the entire country is listening on matters of racial injustice with seemingly Chief Wahoo (logo), I would usually say I know that we’re never trying to greater intent than in the past. Now, with several past most valuable be disrespectful,” Francona said. “And I still feel that way. But I don’t players saying they are uncomfortable with Kenesaw Mountain Landis’ think that’s a good enough answer today. It’s time to move forward. It’s a name on their awards, it’s time that we, the Baseball Writers’ Association very difficult subject. It’s also delicate.” of America, listen too.”

It was only a matter of time before the Blackhawks came up in the The need to listen to those who are offended seems obvious. discussion. Before the issue got any traction, the Hawks preemptively Sometimes, naturally, people can go overboard. One sports writer released a statement Tuesday night saying they don’t plan to change recently called for a name change for the Masters, suggesting it made because the “name and logo symbolizes an important and historic people think of slavery instead of its intended reference as a tournament person, of ’ Sac & Fox Nation, whose leadership and for the “masters of golf.” Seems a bit of a stretch. life has inspired generations of Native Americans, veterans and the public.” I don’t know if Native Americans will accept the Blackhawks’ explanation for their decision, and perhaps real debate over the nickname is just The statement explained the Hawks are celebrating the “legacy” of Black beginning. We can’t really judge that fine line between respect and Hawk while understanding some might not agree with the decision. disrespect if we’re not the ones feeling disrespected.

“We recognize there is a fine line between respect and disrespect,” it But at least the conversation has started, and for that the team should be said. “And we commend other teams for their willingness to engage in applauded. that conversation. Moving forward, we are committed to raising the bar even higher to expand awareness of Black Hawk and the important Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.09.2020 contributions of all Native American people.”

That seemed like a logical explanation to me, but maybe I’m biased because of a lifetime of following the team. And because I’m not Native American, I don’t know how offended they are by the name.

It would’ve been easy just to shorten the name to Hawks and change the logo to a bird.

But would that be necessary if the name isn’t offensive to the majority of Native Americans? And would team Chairman just be following in lockstep with the owners of Washington’s NFL team and Cleveland’s baseball team because it would be easier than having to defend the name?

Changing names is always tricky and often necessary, and many colleges (such as Stanford) and high schools have gone away from Native American names and imagery because it was the right thing to do.

In 1996, the NBA’s Washington Bullets changed their name at the direction of owner . When the Chicago Packers moved to Baltimore in 1963 and changed the nickname to Bullets, Pollin said it was meant to suggest they were “faster than a speeding bullet.”

There was no negative connotation, and apparently no one thought twice about it.

But rampant gun violence in Baltimore led Pollin to his own reckoning. He explained in ’96: “I picked up a newspaper and saw the word ‘bullets’ in a headline and thought for an instant that the article was about my basketball team. … I looked and they were talking about somebody killing somebody.”

Pollin said he became more determined when he came back from the funeral of his friend, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was shot to death. 1176311 Chicago Blackhawks Poll results on the topic have varied through the years, and the discussion often has devolved into disagreements about survey methodology.

The discussion about the Blackhawks and Native Americans isn’t over Is the ambiguity in the polls an answer or an easy way out for sports teams? The question is not whether the Hawks think they’re honoring Native Americans. The question is whether Native Americans think they’re being Chief Illiniwek, the University of Illinois’ former mascot, was deemed honored. respectful by generations of white people. Native Americans eventually opened enough eyes to make the school drop the dancing, feathered exaggeration of an Indian. The Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma, descendants of the Illini Confederation, called the Chief ‘‘a degrading racial stereotype By Rick Morrissey Jul 8, 2020, 4:16pm CDT that reflects negatively on all American Indian people.’’ We’ll see how long the school’s nickname, the Fighting Illini, can last.

While other teams with Native American names have said they’ll consider Several years ago, the Hawks started bringing Native Americans onto the a name change, the Blackhawks announced Tuesday they will keep ice to be honored before games. Some saw it as a nice gesture. Others theirs. saw it as a shield and pre-emptive strike against any criticism that might come their way. While other teams with Native American names have said they’ll consider a name change, the Blackhawks announced Tuesday they will keep Working to lift up a population that has been abused or neglected for theirs. Sun-Times centuries would honor Native Americans more than having sports teams named after them. Is there a difference between the team name ‘‘Redskins,’’ which trades in ugly racial stereotypes, and ‘‘Blackhawks,’’ which purports to honor the Does my opinion on the Hawks’ name matter? Do I deserve a vote on its Native American warrior Black Hawk? I would say there is, but when I fate? Do you if you’re not Native American? Do the Hawks as an look in a mirror and see the pasty visage looking back at me, I know I’m organization deserve one? not the right person to answer that question. The answer is no to all of the above. So far, that answer doesn’t matter. Several years ago, I vowed never to use the name of Washington’s NFL So far. team in print when discussing football, and, except for one instance of Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.09.2020 brain freeze, I haven’t. If Native Americans are insulted by the name — and many are — that’s the only criterion that should matter. End of story.

But I never have been as forceful with regard to the team in my backyard with the Native American name. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Chicago area and was raised on a diet of Blackhawks, Bears, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox. You didn’t look for deeper meaning in the names when you said them, just as you didn’t look for deeper meaning in everyday terms such as ‘‘fork,’’ ‘‘bike’’ or ‘‘baseball cards.’’

As the years went on, however, that convenient out began to nag at me. Should I attach the same disdain to the name ‘‘Blackhawks’’ that I do to the name ‘‘Redskins’’? Or are there degrees of insensitivity? Lesser sins? Can ‘‘Blackhawks,’’ as the team presents the name and the image, be anything other than inherently disrespectful?

Surely, the Hawks’ logo is more considerate of Native Americans than the Indians’ cartoonish, now-defunct Chief Wahoo was. The Hawks’ logo shows a dignified man, though he looks nothing like what Black Hawk looks like in paintings of him from his era. Regardless, both Images risk playing into the stereotype of the bloodthirsty savage who will, if you’re not looking, relieve you of your scalp. The next team logo of a Native American harvesting corn will be the first.

But the important question is whether it’s possible to ‘‘honor’’ with a logo a group of people we consistently have pushed aside, the Trail of Tears being one of the biggest push-asides in American history.

Under pressure for their depictions of Native Americans, the Redskins and Indians recently said they are contemplating changing their names. It raised a question in Chicago that, depending on your outlook, was asked either in fear or anger: What about the Hawks? On Tuesday, the team released a statement announcing it would not change its name and vowing to continue to honor a warrior’s legacy.

The franchise is named indirectly after Black Hawk, a leader of the Sauk tribe in the 1700s and 1800s. Frederic McLaughlin, the Hawks’ first owner, was a commander of a World War I Army unit named after the war chief. Since then, the Hawks have insisted their name and logo honor American Indians.

But, again, the question is not whether the Hawks think they’re honoring Native Americans. The question is whether Native Americans think they’re being honored.

A poll in February showed about two-thirds of Native Americans who take part in tribal and culture practices are offended by names, mascots, dances, gestures and chants used by sports teams. The poll, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley, surveyed 1,000 Native Americans. 1176312 Chicago Blackhawks

NHL, NHLPA set new dates for start of 2020-21 season, draft and free agency

By Charlie Roumeliotis July 08, 2020 6:45 PM

The NHL and NHL Players' Association have reached a tentative agreement on the Return to Play plan and a new Collective Bargaining Agreement deal, but nothing is official until the full NHLPA membership ratifies the package. The voting process is ongoing, and a final decision is expected to come Friday.

Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Blackhawks news and analysis.

If or when the deal is signed off on, here are the new critical dates for the rest of the 2019-20 season and looking ahead to the 2020-21 calendar, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli:

July 13 — Formal training camps open

July 26 — Teams travel to hub cities

Aug. 1 — Start of qualifying round

Aug. 10-12 — Phase 2 of draft lottery (TBD)

Sept. 20 — Stanley Cup Final begins

Oct. 2 — Last possible date for Stanley Cup Final

Oct. 6 — NHL Draft

Oct. 9 (or seven days after Stanley Cup Final ends) — Free agency opens

Nov. 17 — Opening of training camps for 2020-21 season

Dec. 1 — Opening Day of 2020-21 regular season

*All dates are subject to change, but these were the dates listed in the Memorandum of Understanding.

It should also be pointed out that, in the new CBA deal, there will no longer be a negotiation window for pending unrestricted free agents. Previously, teams were given six days to interview potential UFA candidates before they could officially sign players. Now, it will be a free- for-all once the clock hits 11 a.m. CT like the old days.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176313 Chicago Blackhawks

Report: NHL to show qualifying and round-robin games on regional networks

By Scott King July 08, 2020 12:01 PM

According to a report from ESPN's Greg Wyshynski on Wednesday, the NHL is planning on showing the 24-team playoffs' qualifying and round- robin games "locally on regional sports networks."

This means Hawks fans would be able to catch the five-game play-in series between Chicago and the Edmonton Oilers on NBC Sports Chicago.

The top four teams in each conference playing for seeding will make up the round robin.

Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Blackhawks news and analysis.

"Discussions are ongoing this week about how many of those games will be shown nationally on NBCSN. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Oilers Nation that the daily schedule will be 'very much like the Olympic tournament, with three games a day and start times will be 12 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.' locally," Wyshynski added.

Related — Report: NHL to have 3 games a day in each hub city

Three games a day in each hub city, for a total of six, would be a delightful sight for hockey fans who've been without live games since the NHL paused on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The qualifying round is scheduled to begin on Aug 1 with team training camps leading up to the tournament starting Monday.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176314 Chicago Blackhawks

Report: NHL to have 3 games a day in each hub city for 24-team playoffs

By Scott King July 08, 2020 10:44 AM

On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported that the NHL is likely to have three games a day in both Edmonton and Toronto, the NHL's two hub cities, for a total of six daily contests in the 24-team playoff format.

Kaplan said the times for puck drop would be 12 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Toronto is on Eastern time and Edmonton on Mountain time, a two-hour difference.

Related — Report: NHL 2020 training camp, hub city report, playoff start dates emerge

The qualifying round, which features the Blackhawks against the Oilers in a best-of-five series, is scheduled to kickoff on Aug 1. Training camps for NHL teams leading up to the postseason tournament are slated to begin Monday.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176315 Chicago Blackhawks

Former Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner unveils new pads

By Scott King July 08, 2020 9:41 AM

Former Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner posted a photo of his new pads, glove and blocker — which he may be sporting in the NHL's 24-team playoffs for the Vegas Golden Knights — on Twitter Monday.

@goaliesonly pic.twitter.com/N2rZeECTLA

— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) July 6, 2020

The pads feature a more in-depth take on Vegas' Golden Knights.

The Knights earned a bye to the first round in the playoff format, which is slated to kickoff its qualifying round on August 1.

Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Blackhawks news and analysis.

Lehner was traded from Chicago to Vegas ahead of Feb. 24's trade deadline. He was 16-10-5 as a Hawk this season with a 3.01 goals- against average and a .918 save percentage prior to the deal.

Related: Robin Lehner opens up on getting traded by Blackhawks

The 28-year-old netminder got off to a hot start with Vegas ahead of the NHL pause on March 12 going 3-0-0 with 1.67 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.

The Hawks will take on the Edmonton Oilers in a best-of-5 play-in round.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176316 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews and Malcolm Subban help fund West Side food mart

By Scott King July 08, 2020 8:56 AM

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and Hawks goalie Malcolm Subban once again answered the call from former Bears linebacker Sam Acho to lend a hand in the community.

Related: Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews and Malcolm Subban participate in event for local youth

This time, Toews and Subban were among donors and attendees who helped Acho buy a liquor store in Chicago's Austin neighborhood to turn into a food mart.

This is what change looks like. Just got together pro athletes from the @ChicagoBears @chicagobulls @whitesox @NHLBlackhawks @packers @Panthers and @Saints. We invited @nflcommish and @chicagosmayor. We listened to kids and learned about their dream for a better Chicago. pic.twitter.com/sQpnmnPiMj

— Sam Acho (@TheSamAcho) July 7, 2020

The group — which also included Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky, Bears tackle Charles Leno Jr. and White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, among other pro athletes — put up $500,000 to help provide the area with the much-needed supplies.

Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Blackhawks news and analysis.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Bears GM Ryan Pace and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were also listed among the attendees and donors.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176317 Colorado Avalanche

Former Avs, DU Pioneers to headline Dawg Nation’s 10th charity hockey tournament

Despite COVID-19 and no spectators, Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation is still trying raise $175,000 like it did a year ago

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: July 8, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. | UPDATED: July 8, 2020 at 5:53 p.m.

As the Avalanche prepares for the Aug. 1 start of the NHL’s 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs, the best hockey players in Colorado not playing for the local NHL team will convene at Edge Ice Arena in Littleton for the state’s biggest annual charity hockey tournament.

The Dawg Bowl, celebrating its 10th anniversary with 50 teams over seven divisions July 29 to Aug. 2, won’t feature spectators because of the COVID-19 crisis. But Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation will live stream select games from the men’s top division, offer a virtual silent auction with hundreds of items, and still try to eclipse the $175,000 it raised a year ago in a coronavirus-free world.

Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation is a registered nonprofit that has awarded more than $1.8 million to hundreds of recipients battling a serious illness or recovering from a life-threatening injury in the Front Range hockey community.

“It’s the cards we got dealt,” said Marty Richardson, president and CEO of Dawg Nation. “But what’s so great with this organization is, we roll with the punches. We know we’re going to have another wildly successful tournament. There are people counting on us, people who need help, and we’re not going to let them down.”

The Top Dawgs in the men’s premier six-team division will feature former Avs Milan Hejduk, Jan Hejda, John-Michael Liles, John Mitchell, Brett Clark, Ken Klee and possibly Kyle Quincey, a Colorado resident currently in Philadelphia where his 1-year-old son is undergoing brain cancer treatment. Quincey is looking into returning to Colorado for the weekend to support Dawg Nation.

If Quincey plays, the Top Dawgs will have the following combined NHL statistics: 6,519 games, 875 goals, 1,585 assists, and 2,460 points. The Top Dawgs have lost to Concrete in the finals the past two years, but with this roster they enter as the pre-tournament favorites, according to Richardson.

The top men’s division also features The Ahbe Group, featuring former University of Denver standouts Troy Terry of the Anaheim Ducks and Dylan Gambrell of the ; and First Bank, with prospect Dominic Turgeon, one-time Avalanche prospect Landon Smith, who played in the 2016 NCAA championship game for Quinnipiac, and former Notre Dame All-American goalie Cam Morris from Larkspur.

Richardson said team registration fees are at a record $60,000 and the organization is closing in on $40,000 in sponsorships.

“So that’s $100,000 — pretty amazing in the current world we live in,” Richardson said. “People are still supporting us, without seeing their banners in the building, on the Zamboni, on the boards, throughout the arena. You’d think that’s why they’re doing that. But this year they’re doing it to support the organization and the cause.”

The silent auction begins July 15 and it will include a litany of signed jerseys, sticks and framed Images of current and former NHLers.

“We have really, really high-end Avs memorabilia, including a collage with the four captains in team history in their first home game wearing the ‘C’,” Richardson said of Joe Sakic, Adam Foote, Hejduk and Gabe Landeskog.

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176318 Columbus Blue Jackets As Cameron pointed out, (population 4.4 million) posted 130 new COVID-19 cases over the previous three days and Ontario (population 14.5 million) posted 112 new cases Tuesday.

Michael Arace | NHL, players wise to find labor peace "Canada’s caseload is less than 10 new cases per one million population as a seven-day rolling average," he said. "I can’t think of a more ideal place to be holding the tournament in terms of minimizing infection coming from outside-in or within the community." Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Jul 8, 2020 at 6:30 AM The NHL will have to learn from other leagues and have the flexibility to

change its plans on the fly. But if the league can get through the next two The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association shocked the hockey world weeks with the virus contained, travel without mishap and get inside the and did the right thing Monday, when they settled on terms for a new Canadian bubbles without community spread, is has a chance. collective-bargaining agreement. Maybe the NHL can finish this tournament. Certainly, the owners and As COVID-19 spreads in the U.S. and the business of pro sports is players can look ahead and work together to rebuild the league on the battered within the larger economy, the prospect of labor peace is not other side of a vaccine. only welcome, it’s critical. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.09.2020 They got it done. Good on them. It’s the best news Blue Jackets fans have had since the sweep, 15 months ago.

The agreement is in the process of being ratified, first by the union and then by owners. It’s not likely there will be problems. They’ve been negotiating since the season was paused March 12, so they ought to be on the same page.

Plus, time is of the essence: The league wants to get players to training camps (they’re due by Monday) and stage its 24-team playoff tournament beginning Aug. 1.

The old CBA had another year left on it. The new CBA will run through 2026.

It’s a notable achievement given that, under commissioner Gary Bettman, the league has thrice locked out its players, twice cut the season in half and once killed all 1,271 regular-season games and the entire Stanley Cup playoffs. Bettman is a grizzled overlord when it comes to labor warfare. Yet, he and the owners and the union recognized that unprecedented times required cooperation and communion. Nice of them, eh?

They did what Major League Baseball could not do. They did what Major League Soccer did, but without bad blood from open wounds oozing toward future negotiations. They did what the NBA did, but with the promise of a more lasting peace.

The NHL expects to lose somewhere around $1 billion this season. It may lose even more next season as COVID-19 restrictions are expected to severely limit gate receipts — which remain an important source of income for the league.

A new CBA had to be negotiated for two reasons, primarily: One, to establish protocols for the "return to play" tournament and ensure safety, as best as that can be done; and two, to put in place a plan to spread out expected losses. The new CBA achieves both objectives.

Now, hockey fans can hope to see the game on television this summer.

Players must report to their markets by Monday, when teams begin training camps. This is Phase 3 of the return plan. It is being made clear to players that they have to quarantine themselves in Phase 3. No bars, no restaurants, etc.

The players’ adherence to protocol in the two weeks of Phase 3 is critical, according to Mark Cameron, an epidemiologist at Case Western Reserve University. The mission is to get to the Canadian hub cities as cleanly as possible.

Teams are to travel to Toronto (for the East, including the Jackets) and Edmonton (West) on July 26. Phase 4 — playing games — begins Aug. 1.

In the six days in-between, there is a loophole in the containment plan: Because coronavirus testing is prone to false negatives in the early stages of infection, there is a chance for undetected spread. (MLS has this very pointed problem inside its Orlando bubble right now.)

"The devil is in the details," Cameron said after reviewing the NHL protocols. "The reported summaries have appeared stronger than the fine print of the plan. There are still loopholes."

Generally speaking, the NHL’s plan is a good one. If the virus does not find the loopholes in Phase 3 or at the beginning of Phase 4, the tournament has a chance to be played in full. 1176319 Columbus Blue Jackets That’s a lot to digest, and the Blue Jackets’ front office is already knee- deep into that process.

"Any regular stuff we were doing anyway, because we’re still in the NHL, players ratify plan to resume season, new CBA middle of offseason, we’re doing that work and also figuring out training camp and the group of players we’ll select" for Phase 3, Kekalainen said. "We’re making decisions on how many trainers, equipment managers and this and that, all the league requirements." Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Jul 8, 2020 at 6:00 AM To be exact, no more than 52 staff and personnel per team, including 31

players, will be allowed inside each hub location — and the proposed If the NHL’s return plan gains approval this week, as expected, training agreement allows for players or staff to opt out of the return without camps will begin Monday — four months and one day after the league penalty. froze its 2019-20 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Along with face coverings, daily temperature checks and daily COVID-19 It’s been a long four months, too, surrounded by uncertainty and testing, it’s all part of the NHL’s new existence — at least for the numerous unanswered questions. Will the season ultimately finish with a conclusion of this season. Stanley Cup champion crowned? How? When? Where? Under what Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.09.2020 health protocols?

"It was just a weird feeling," Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said in late March about the NHL putting its season on hold March 12, the day Columbus was to host rival Pittsburgh in Nationwide Arena, without fans.

"I’ve never seen a group of guys leave as fast as we did that morning, because guys were frustrated. No one really knew what was going on, so we all felt like, ‘Is this an overreaction? I can’t believe we’re suspending the season.’ And then, as things unfolded, you’re like, ‘Holy smokes, this is crazy.’ "

In some ways, it still is.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, is spreading like wildfire in multiple U.S. states and rising, to various degrees, in most states. It’s a huge reason the NHL reportedly turned down Las Vegas as one of its two potential hub cities to host its 24-team return, picking Edmonton and Toronto instead.

More is known about the NHL’s plan to finish the season, though, and the league also is close to achieving labor peace with its players association with a modified four-year extension to the current collective-bargaining agreement, which would run through the 2025-26 season.

The league and the NHL Players’ Association released basic information about both of those developments Monday night, when the ratification process for each began. The voting results for both sides — the NHL’s board of governors and the union’s executive board plus general membership — are forthcoming this week.

If approved, they can be seen as two huge strides forward for both entities, as well as hockey fans hoping they can pull off the conclusion of this season.

Each of the 24 teams vying for the 2020 Stanley Cup would report for training camp Monday, travel to the hubs on or around July 26, and the first games of the best-of-five qualifying round would begin Aug. 1.

The prospect of watching hockey in the relatively near future is becoming more realistic. And teams like the Blue Jackets — who will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the qualifying round in Toronto — have two immediate objectives.

"Stay healthy in our bubble and get to Canada," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told the Dispatch on Tuesday, referring to the league’s semi-quarantine protocols attached to the Phase 3 opening of training camps.

"There are 700 active cases in the whole country (of Canada), so we should be pretty good there."

Getting there, COVID-free, is the challenge.

The Blue Jackets already are hosting 25 players at their facilities during Phase 2 voluntary workouts, split into separate groups no larger than 12. But getting the full team together for a training camp and avoiding an outbreak, while adhering to numerous strict health protocols, will not be an easy task. That goes for all 24 teams.

The league on Monday also released its protocol manuals for phases 3 and 4, both of which are extensive and build upon what is already being done to prevent COVID outbreaks during workouts. The camp protocols are 19 pages long, around the same length of the Phase 2 protocols, while the mandates and procedures for life inside the NHL "bubbles" measures 28 pages of text. 1176320 Columbus Blue Jackets we’d move forward at all. But I think they’ve done a great job in making sure we’re doing it the right way.

“Putting the hub cities in Canada shows a very strong understanding. Blue Jackets don’t expect any ‘opt outs,’ but return to play a major The right place to be is in Canada right now if we’re actually trying to commitment play. They haven’t given us any reason to not trust them.

“Until we step on the ice for that first game, I’m cautiously optimistic. This is a serious thing going on, and we’re not bigger than it, and we’re not By Aaron Portzline Jul 8, 2020 going to force ourselves to play. If the world and the virus are telling us we can’t, then we should be smart enough to listen.”

Safety is only one of the concerns in the return-to-play scenario, though. COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s a deeply personal decision, but one that will become public in the next few days. The NHL season will likely culminate in October, about the time another season typically starts. Families will be allowed in the “bubbles” Once the NHL’s return-to-play plan and new collective bargaining beginning in the conference finals round, but it’s unclear how many would agreement are fully ratified, players will have three days to notify their take that step. clubs — no explanation necessary, no penalty incurred — if they’re not going take part in the resumption of play. Players could go two months or more without seeing their families.

A growing number of players are declining to take part in Major League “The thought process for me … I questioned it, for sure,” said Blue Baseball’s return to play. But Blue Jackets veterans don’t expect many, if Jackets forward Nathan Gerbe, who has been driving almost daily to any, NHL players to follow suit. Cleveland where he lived while he played with AHL Cleveland. “I have three young kids under 5 years old and my wife is 29 weeks pregnant. So “There is concern, of course,” Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said. yeah, you think about it. It’s not just about me.” “I’m not naive to the fact that there may be guys who opt out, and they have every right to do that. I understand, maybe more than anyone, that HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL!!!! BEHIND EVERY GREAT DAD IS A there are family things going on, and you have every right to protect your GREAT MOM. THANK YOU TO MY WIFE FOR MAKING ME LOOK own before thinking about others. LIKE I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING “I’m a big believer in that, and I don’t have any worry that if somebody PIC.TWITTER.COM/SQH7LDXITX decides to do that, our league will still embrace them and make sure — NATHAN GERBE (@NATHANGERBE14) JUNE 21, 2020 they’re supported and looked after.” The trips back and forth to Cleveland will cease once training camp Defenseman David Savard, the Blue Jackets’ NHL players’ association starts. He likely won’t see his family again until the Blue Jackets are representative, has been in contact with teammates throughout this eliminated. process. “We’ve spent a lot of time apart the last two years,” Gerbe said. “My His sense? daughter (4) is getting older now, so she has comments that are just hard “I think everybody’s going to come back,” he said. “But who knows? You to think about and really get me thinking as I’m driving down to Columbus talk to guys and it sounds that way, but I’m sure they’re talking to their to play. families and that’s how they’ll decide what to do, ultimately. “She says, ‘Families are supposed to stay together,’ and ‘Dad, you’re not “I don’t think (across the league) many guys are going to opt out. Some supposed to leave.’ It just crushes you. There have been a lot of drives guys may have situations that put them at risk, but most of the guys don’t with teary eyes, believe me. It’s not easy, but I know what I’ve got to do have anything. I don’t see why they wouldn’t come back. and what we’re committed to. Hopefully, someday the kids will understand and appreciate it.” “Me, personally, I’ve gone to grocery stores, things like that, the things you have to do. But I’ve done everything I can to stay away from people, The Folignos headed to their summer home in Sudbury, Ont., earlier than clean my hands, all that stuff. The league has done a really good job in usual this summer. There have been two deaths and 67 known cases of making our health the first priority.” COVID — none since June 22 — in the Sudbury region, making it one of the safest spots in North America. Foligno could easily be torn apart by this decision. It was hard to say goodbye last weekend, Foligno said. He’s the Blue Jackets’ captain, so he has an enormous responsibility within the dressing room. But he’s also the father of a child with a pre- “My children understand my passion for the game, and they know this is existing condition. His daughter, Milana, was born with a congenital heart an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup,” Foligno said. “If there’s an defect and has had multiple surgeries. That makes her more vulnerable opportunity to safely do that, I’m going to chase the dream. to the COVID-19 virus. “It was hard. You’re stepping out into the unknown. This is the first time I As of Monday, the NHL has had 35 players test positive for the virus will have been away, possibly, this long, and it’s harder when you see it since small-group sessions opened on June 8. This virus is nasty and in their faces. When they get older they’ll understand a bit more.” unrelenting. All three players — Gerbe, Foligno and Savard — had a third purpose, But the league’s approach has been reassuring, Foligno said. He flew to too. Columbus over the weekend, took a saliva test on Monday and is On March 12, when the NHL hit pause, the Blue Jackets were holding on currently waiting for the results. If all goes well, he could be on the ice by to eighth place in the Eastern Conference after a big win three days Friday. earlier in Vancouver.

Blue Jackets center Alexander Wennberg joined the group at Nationwide The Jackets were left for dead when Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, Arena on Tuesday, but he had to quarantine for two weeks in Sweden and Artemi Panarin left last summer as free agents. They were before he was permitted to travel to the United States late last month. decimated by injuries, an NHL-high 419 man-games. But they’d become When training camps begin (tentatively) next Monday across the NHL, one of the NHL’s most resilient clubs, and they were looking forward to they’ll be tightly monitored in each city. the stretch drive.

After that, the league plans to create and maintain “bubbles” in the hub They are scheduled to play Toronto in a best-of-five qualifying-round cities of Toronto and Edmonton, with routine testing and intense rules matchup. and guidelines for maintaining an almost sterile environment. “I have a strong belief in this team,” Foligno said. “If we have an “I don’t think anybody’s too scared to play because we feel like we’re opportunity to play safely, I’d love for us to play and see where we can go being pretty well looked after (by the NHL and the players’ association),” with it. I know our fans want to see what this team could accomplish, too. Foligno said. “If we felt like the league was dropping the ball, I don’t think “I want to see us try to move forward. If we can get back to normal in a small way, what an opportunity for the world to start to heal a little bit if the virus allows us.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176321 Dallas Stars

New Jersey Devils name former Stars coach Lindy Ruff new head coach

By Brice Paterik 8:51 PM on Jul 8, 2020 CDT

According to multiple reports, former Stars coach Lindy Ruff will be the next head coach for the New Jersey Devils.

Ruff coached Dallas from 2013-2017 and was not re-signed at the end of his four-year contract. During his tenure in Dallas Ruff put up a record of 165-122 in addition to making two playoff appearances. In 2016 Ruff led the Stars to the best record in the Western Conference during the regular season (50-23-9) and led the NHL in scoring with 3.23 goals per game.

The season ended in disappointment at the hands of the St. Louis Blues who beat the Stars in a 6-1 in a Game 7 route in Dallas. Ruff’s squad would miss the playoffs the next season. After his time in Dallas ended Ruff took a job as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers in 2017 and has been there ever since.

This will be Ruff’s third stint as an NHL head coach. Before his time in Dallas, Ruff was the head coach of the Buffalo Sabers from 1997-2013. In his 19 seasons as a head coach Ruff has a 736-554-78 record.

New Jersey is one of seven teams not playing the the NHL restart this summer. The Devils fired head coach John Hynes, who had been in the position since the 2015-2016 season, after a 9-13-4 start to the season. In the last decade New Jersey has only made the playoffs twice after a string of 13 consecutive playoff appearances from 1997-2010.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176322 Dallas Stars On defense, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Harley, particularly with Polak not planning to return. But when it comes to giving a young player an opportunity, it’s much easier for a coach to do so with a forward than a defenseman. 10 questions (and potential answers) before the Stars open training camp How much does the rest and an abbreviated season help the Stars’ veterans?

I could see it going a number of ways. By Sean Shapiro Jul 8, 2020 It could be the ideal setup for an older team. The Stars’ veteran players have healed from the wear and tear of the regular season. Players like and won’t have to battle nagging injuries We’ll know by Friday if the NHL Players’ Association has officially heading into the postseason like they would have in a typical season. approved the NHL’s return-to-play procedure. The NHLPA executive board approved it on Tuesday evening and is advancing the proposal to Benn in particular could have a chance for the best playoffs of his career. a full-member vote at this moment. It’s not possible to play Benn’s bruising style for 82 games anymore. He’s an old 30, and the wear and tear have hurt his effectiveness on game-to- If it passes, and players seem to think it will, NHL training camps for the game basis. But without the 82-game burden, Benn has a chance to return-to-play plan will start on July 13. The Stars will skate in Frisco for access that fountain of youth in the postseason and once again be the just under two weeks before flying to Edmonton, where they’ll play the St. dominant every-night player he was in his prime. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, and Vegas Golden Knights in a top- four round-robin seeding series. The rest of the Western Conference That’s the Stars’ hope for this return to play. The alternative is much teams will play best-of-five qualification series. worse for the Stars. When Roman Polak discussed not returning to the NHL this summer, he mentioned how a short-training camp wouldn’t be Heading into the likely training camp, here are 10 questions we may or long enough to get up to speed and he was fearful this format would lead may not have the answers to for the Stars. to injuries for himself and other veteran players. How has Phase 2 gone and how have the Stars been handling testing? If that’s the case, and it’s certainly feasible, relatively young teams could By all accounts, the Stars have yet to have any issues with testing during have a chance to beat up on comparatively older teams early. Phase 2. As of Tuesday, they had three groups of at least 10 going on Particularly in the qualification round, which involves a best-of-five series. the ice in Frisco. Thankfully for the Stars, they don’t have to worry about do-or-die hockey The Stars, because of NHL policy, can’t tell us anything about the tests. off the bat. The round robin to determine seeding should be the ideal soft But asking around, we’ve yet to hear anything about positive tests of playoff opening that allows them to manage health for veteran players COVID-19 out of Dallas, which is a good sign for a market where the and get up to speed. soccer team has had to pull out a tournament and the baseball team has How will the Stars manage the round robin? had its own rising cases. Both and have said they are approaching the The Phase 2 skating sessions, according to multiple players, have round robin with plans of winning and snagging the top seed in the resembled a mix of training camp and summer hockey. It’s more relaxed Western Conference. than a traditional team function but has more pace and structure than the typical skate in July. Both also scoffed at the idea of treating the games like preseason contests. The goalies, Ben Bishop, in particular, have helped indicate the days’ plans depending on what or how much work they want to get it on that “We’ll be getting a team in the first round that just came off a playoff day. That’s probably an ideal approach, because goaltending — when series. You have to be able to be ready to match that right away,” Nill this tournament starts — is going to be a deciding factor. Some goalies said. “So we have it easier where we can’t be eliminated, but we need to get going more quickly than others. treat the round robin like it’s the playoffs to get up to that speed.”

Who’s going to be at camp? And are there really jobs on the line? That being said, the consequences of losing a round-robin game will allow the Stars to test out some lineups to figure out the best fit for Game We don’t have a final roster yet, but you can assume it’s the players 1 of the playoffs. (minus Roman Polak) who played in the NHL this year, some of the top AHL players, as well as prospects Thomas Harley and Ty Dellandrea. This could mean a more open competition for the 12th forward. It could also allow the Stars to shoehorn some experience for prospects like Jobs technically are on the line, but not in a traditional sense. Robertson and TyDellandrea. “Our job as black aces is to go in and push those guys and prove we are Ben Bishop is going to be the Stars’ playoff starter for Game 1. But Anton ready to play when needed. If someone gets hurt or something like that, Khudobin will feature into the round robin, potentially playing one or two we’ll be ready,” Jason Robertson said. “You have to look at it like you are games. going to play at some point, and remember that it could happen at any time.” Do you believe that Rick Bowness really has used this time to re- evaluate the Stars’ system and is ready for a potentially more dynamic Training camp is going to be more of a proving ground to establish a offense? depth chart of who is and isn’t ready to step into an NHL game when needed. It will also be a position battle for the No. 3 goalie spot between This is the biggest question, and one that we can’t prove or deny until Jake Oettinger and Landon Bow. games are played.

Is there a wildcard to watch in training camp? Bowness has been running Jim Montgomery’s system since the coaching change. He really didn’t have any choice in that matter. The Stars aren’t It’s Robertson. going to get away from their defensive structure, but offensively, Most of the Stars’ depth players and likely taxi-squad group would fill-in Bowness wants a team that focuses more on puck possession and fewer as bottom-six players on the third or fourth-line. Robertson isn’t fit to play low-risk, low-reward plays. that type of role, but could add value to the team as a first or second-line This could mean many things, but in the ideal world, the Stars would winger. He’s got an offensive knack that allows him to complement other return as a team with more creativity and patience with the puck as playmakers, and we saw in his limited NHL action that he’s not afraid of opposed to getting panicky with the puck and simply dumping it to space. the top stage in the offensive zone. Bowness has admitted he needs to better with his deployment for If the Stars offense doesn’t come together well early on — or if assistant forwards Denis Gurianov and Roope Hintz. The two need to play more. coach Derek Laxdal, who runs the power play, feels Robertson needs a That’s an easy statement to make, but one that’s harder to deliver on dedicated spot there — he could end up playing a larger role in the when he’s also not going to stop using the line of Blake Comeau, Radek postseason. Faksa, and Andrew Cogliano or get away from trying to run four even lines.

I do believe the evaluation has happened, but the question of whether the Stars end up with a more dynamic offense is impossible to answer right now.

The defensive structure should be a positive in this, right?

I think we’re going to see sloppy, chaotic hockey to start.

Teams that like to run and gun are going to have an early advantage because they can trade chances (the Chicago-Edmonton play-in series is going to be a blast to watch). But teams that get back to their base structure fastest will have the best staying power as things start to look like a more typical clutch-and-grab, throw-out-the-rulebook playoff setting.

Once again the Stars benefit from avoiding the play-in round. The round- robin should provide enough time to get back to their defensive structure. If the Stars win the Stanley Cup, it’ll be because of their structure combined with timely offense.

Who would be the Stars’ best matchup to open the playoffs?

The Stars had the most success this season against the Colorado Avalanche, winning all four games against their Central Division rival. But they can’t meet until the second round of the playoffs at the earliest.

Among the teams Dallas could play in the first round, the would probably offer the most confidence based on regular- season results.

The Stars outscored Vancouver 10-3 in two games this season. Historically, the Stars and Benn have succeeded against the Canucks. Those two wins against Vancouver came back in November, which is a lifetime ago for both teams (featuring a coaching change, a pandemic and a stoppage).

There are pros and cons to each potential matchup, but I think the Stars’ biggest hope for this postseason will be getting into a matchup where they avoid St. Louis in the second round. As past history has shown us, the first round isn’t the issue. It’s what happens when Dallas and St. Louis square up with a trip to the Conference Finals on the line.

There is a social media/content creator that will be included in the bubble for each team. What does that mean?

For the Stars, it means Jeff Toates, video extraordinaire, will likely be in the bubble. That’s likely going to be the approach for all 31 NHL teams — sending in a person that can get behind-the-scenes video content to be used on multiple platforms.

Other social media roles, like posting tweets with scoring updates and making a GIF of a highlight, can be done remotely. Even writing stories and creating articles for the team website, Mike Heika’s role, can be done remotely since there is no additional media access on-site.

So where will you be? What does that mean for readers?

Good question.

At the moment, it sounds like media members will be able to watch parts of training camp in Frisco in a socially-distanced manner. So between July 13 and 26, I’ll be spending time in Frisco wearing a mask, likely sitting on the top row of the bleachers.

All media availability will be done virtually, so interviews will be conducted over video chat or phone calls.

Once the team moves into the bubble in Edmonton, we’ll likely be watching from afar since media access will still be done virtually. The NHL has already made it clear that media members that do plan to attend games in person won’t have additional access. They will still be doing their work via Zoom.

For that reason, I likely will continue to work from my office in DFW. That doesn’t mean we’ll be slacking on our coverage, I’m already looking forward to writing the first 20/20.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020

1176323 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings, NHL tentatively to open next regular season Dec. 1

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 8:19 p.m. ET July 8, 2020

Detroit — The Red Wings know when they’ll open the 2020-21 NHL regular season.

Open, at least, tentatively.

Details released from the NHL and NHL Players Association Collective Bargaining Agreement Memorandum of Understanding show the tentative start to next season is December 1.

That will come after teams open training camps, again tentatively, on November 17.

Another big date for Red Wings fans: The NHL Draft is tentatively set for October 6. But again, that could be slightly altered because it must follow the Stanley Cup Final and before the start of free agency.

The last possible date for the Stanley Cup Finals is slated to be October 2, with free agency beginning seven days after the Cup is handed out.

Dylan Larkin

If this NHL timetable hits its mark, it will be a long time between games for the Red Wings.

The Red Wings last played on March 10, losing 5-2 to Carolina, before the NHL paused its season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As for the upcoming NHL playoffs, the 24 teams competing will travel to the two hubs — Edmonton and Toronto — on July 24, with exhibition games beginning the next day.

The qualifying round begins July 30 — those are best-of-five series — and the first-round of playoffs set to start August 9.

The second-round of the NHL playoffs are scheduled to start August 23, with the conference finals beginning September 6.

The Stanley Cup Finals are scheduled to start September 20.

Detroit News LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176324 Detroit Red Wings So there is a path for Seider to make the Wings next season. But it will be up to Seider to show he is ready, and he's able to take the

big step to the NHL. The Wings have made it clear prospects will not be Moritz Seider has path to Red Wings roster spot, but needs to show he's given roster spots until they're worthy of it. 'ready to go' “Seids had a really good year in totality,” Blashill said. “It was a learning year and there were ups and downs.

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 2:39 p.m. ET July 8, 2020 “When you’re a defenseman, it’s really hard. Experience is impossible to manufacture. On defense, experience matters a ton because you’re basically asked to go out there and make a good decision every split second. Detroit — There is one question that appears to be predominately on the minds of Red Wings fans for next season (whenever that’ll begin). “If you make a bad decision, it really shows.”

Will young defenseman Moritz Seider be part of the Wings’ roster when Detroit News LOADED: 07.09.2020 that time comes?

It’ll be interesting to see, for sure.

The Wings could use Seider. After a historically bad 2019-20 season, and limited improvement possible next season, the Wings could use any sort of boost to the roster.

Seider is only 19. At 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, Seider was the Wings’ 2019 first-round pick (No. 6 overall), and showed enough progress in Grand Rapids last season to cause optimism about his future.

General manager , talking to the media after the Draft Lottery, insisted Seider will show the Wings if he’s ready for the NHL with his play in training camp.

“He will get an opportunity, whenever our season kicks off,” Yzerman said. “He will get an opportunity to show he is ready to play. If he is ready to go, he will play.”

And if Seider shows he isn’t quite ready?

“If not, he will spend a little more time in the ,” Yzerman said. “But he had a very good year (in Grand Rapids) and it’s encouraging to see the things that he did in his development.”

In 49 games with the Griffins, Seider had two goals and 20 assists while playing 23 minutes per game.

After an expected uneven start to his pro career, Seider’s play improved across the board in every department as the season progressed.

“He attacks the game and he attacks the game at times in an offensive manner, and that’s awesome,” Wings coach said during his end-of-season talk with the media. “But part of that is learning not to bite off more than you can chew, when to take the opportunity to make a play and when to live another day.

“As I go back and watch games late in the season with the Griffins, he did a much better job of that late in the year than he did early in the year. It looked like the experience he gained through the year made him a better player.”

The Wings were considering promoting Seider late last season. But those plans were squashed once the pandemic paused the NHL season on March 12, essentially ending the NHL and AHL seasons (the NHL will begin playoffs on Aug. 1).

“He has a chance to be a really good, impactful defenseman,” Blashill said. “Can he do it next season? I hope so. He might have as many as eight months to get himself prepared, to improve his body, turn his body from a young guy’s body to an elite, pro body.

“He’s got a chance to work on the ice to improve the different skills in his game and add more to his arsenal, so that he can come and demand that he’s on the team.

“So, like any young player, he’ll have to earn it.”

There would appear to be roster spots on defense that Seider could claim.

Danny DeKeyser is expected to return from a herniated disc, and Filip Hronek and Patrik Nemeth are expected to nail down three of the top four spots. Alex Biega also has an inside spot on a roster spot.

With at least one free-agent defenseman expected to be signed — the Wings need to bolster the depth and overall skill on the unit — that would leave young defensemen Madison Bowey, Dennis Cholowski and Gustav Lindstrom battling for maybe one available spot. 1176325 Detroit Red Wings

NHL sets tentative dates for draft, start of 2020-21 season

By Ansar Khan

While 24 teams are getting ready for the 2019-20 season to resume, the NHL is preparing for the 2020-21 season.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the league has set tentative dates for key events.

The draft will take place on Oct. 6. Training camps will open on Nov. 17. The regular season will begin on Dec. 1.

Of course, this is all subject to how the restart goes and the status of the coronavirus pandemic. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said the league is planning a full 82-game schedule for 2020-21.

If the season starts on Dec. 1, the Detroit Red Wings will have gone 8½ months between games.

The Red Wings have the fourth pick in the draft and 10 selections overall, including three in the second round and two in the third round.

The Red Wings announced recently that training camp will take place at Little Caesars Arena this year and return to Traverse City in 2021.

The NHL earlier this week announced as part of the tentative agreement with the NHLPA, training camps for the 24 teams participating in the restart will open on July 13. The clubs can arrive in the hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton by July 26. Games will begin on Aug. 1.

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176326 Detroit Red Wings What Red Wings received for him: Second-round picks in 2020 (54th overall) and 2021 and center Sam Gagner (unrestricted free agent). Left wing prospect Ryan Kuffner also went to Edmonton.

Ranking impact former Red Wings will have in NHL restart 5. Calle Jarnkrok, Nashville

Two-way center/right wing collected 15 goals and 34 points in his seventh season with the Predators. The Red Wings selected him in the By Ansar Khan second round in 2010 (51st overall) but he did not appear in a game for the organization.

What Red Wings received for him: Center David Legwand, who The Detroit Red Wings were not going to reach the playoffs, it was appeared in 21 regular season games (four goals, seven assists) and apparent early in the season. They were officially eliminated on Feb. 21. five playoff games (no points) before signing with Ottawa as a free agent. They had clinched the worst record in the NHL by the time the season The Predators also received right wing Patrick Eaves and a second- was paused on March 12. round pick in 2014 that was traded to San Jose and used to select Many former Red Wings, however, are playoff-bound as the NHL readies defenseman Julius Bergman (46th overall). for a restart. 6. Mike Green, Edmonton The league on Monday announced a tentative timeline for phase 3 He played only two games for the Oilers before suffering a sprained MCL (formal training camps) and phase 4 (resumption of play): but is healthy now. He struggled through his worst season in Detroit Training camps for the 24 teams participating will open on July 13. (three goals, 11 points, minus-32 in 50 games), where he has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons. Clubs can arrive in the hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton by July 26. What Red Wings received for him: A conditional fourth-round pick in Games will begin on Aug. 1 with the start of the best-of-five qualifying 2020 (116th overall). It upgrades to a third-rounder in 2021 if the Oilers round. reach the conference finals and Green appears in half of their playoff games. The Eastern Conference series: Pittsburgh vs. Montreal, Carolina vs. Rangers, Islanders vs. Florida, and Toronto vs. Columbus. The Western 7. Nick Jensen, Washington Conference series: Edmonton vs. Chicago, Nashville vs. Arizona, Vancouver vs. Minnesota, and Calgary vs. Winnipeg. Good-skating, defensive-minded defenseman had no goals and eight assists in 68 games playing on the Capitals’ third pairing. Washington The top four teams in each conference receive byes into the first round signed him to a four-year, $10 million contract the day it acquired him just but will play a three-game round-robin series to determine seeding -- before the 2019 trade deadline. Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia in the East, St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas in the West. What Red Wings received for him: Defenseman Madison Bowey and a second-round pick in 2020 (58th overall). The Capitals also received a Here is a look at a dozen former Red Wings who will be competing for fifth-round pick, which they traded to New Jersey (used to select center the Stanley Cup, ranked by their importance to their clubs. (This also Arseni Gritsyuk 129th overall). includes Red Wings draft picks who were traded before playing a game with the organization): 8. Tomas Nosek, Vegas

1. Tomas Tatar, Montreal Fourth-line center, an original Golden Knight, had eight goals and 15 points in 67 games in his third season with the team. He led the Canadiens in scoring with a career-high 61 points, including 22 goals, reaching 20 for the sixth consecutive season. He also led the What Red Wings received for him: Nothing. He was claimed in the team in power-play goals (eight) and was tied for the lead in power-play expansion draft. points (14). 9. Mattias Janmark, Dallas What Red Wings received for him: Three picks from Vegas. The first- Fourth-line winger/center had six goals and 15 assists in 62 games. His rounder in 2018 was center (30th). The second-rounder in production has dipped the past two seasons after he showied more 2019 was left wing Robert Mastrosimone (No. 54). They also have a offensive upside with 19 goals in his second NHL season in 2017-18. third-rounder in 2021. What Red Wings received for him: Veteran center Erik Cole, who 2. Petr Mrazek, Carolina appeared in 11 games (three goals, three assists) before a neck injury He seemed destined to be the Red Wings’ goaltender of the future before forced him to retire. They also received a 2015 third-rounder, selecting his career hit a rough patch. He has been resurrected in Carolina, where defenseman Vili Saarijarvi 73rd overall. The Stars also received defense in two seasons he has posted a record of 44-30-5, with a 2.54 goals- prospect Mattias Backman, who did not appear in an NHL game and is against average, .909 save percentage and seven shutouts. now playing in Sweden.

What Red Wings received for him: A third-round pick in 2018 from 10. Riley Sheahan, Edmonton Philadelphia, which they used to select defenseman Seth Barton (81st The Red Wings’ first-round pick in 2010 is playing for his third team since overall). being dealt in 2017. He played mostly on the Oilers’ third line (eight 3. , Columbus goals, seven assists in 66 games).

This offensively skilled winger was second on the Blue Jackets in scoring What Red Wings received for him: Left wing Scott Wilson and a third- with 42 points, including 15 goals, in 70 games, in his first season with round pick in 2018 (used to select goaltender Jesper Eliasson 84th the club after signing a four-year, $22 million contract. overall) from Pittsburgh. Wilson appeared in only 17 games (no points) for Detroit before being dealt to Buffalo for a fifth-rounder in 2019. The What Red Wings received for him: A second-round pick in 2019 from San Penguins also received a 2018 fifth-rounder, used to select left wing Jose, which they used to select defenseman Albert Johansson (60th Justin Almeida. overall) and a third-round pick in 2020 (65th overall). 11. Brendan Smith, N.Y. Rangers 4. Andreas Athanasiou, Edmonton The Red Wings’ first-round pick in 2007, he appeared in 62 games this He enjoyed a career year in 2018-19 with 30 goals and 54 points, but season (three goals, five assists) and averaged a career-low 11:06 in ice 2019-20 has been a disaster. He produced only 11 goals and 26 points in time, posting a career-worst minus-12 rating. 55 games, along with an NHL-worst minus-46 rating, with Detroit. He got off to a slow start with the Oilers, picking up just one goal and one assist What Red Wings received for him: A second-round pick in 2018 used to in nine games. select center Jonatan Berggren 33rd overall and a third-round pick in 2017 used to select center Zach Gallant 83rd overall. 12. Jacob de la Rose, St. Louis

Traded from the worst team in the NHL to the defending Stanley Cup champion, this fourth-line center appeared in 34 games with the Blues (one goal, four assists) but was a healthy scratch in the final few games before the season was paused. The Red Wings claimed him off from Montreal last season. He played 76 games for Detroit (four goals, nine assists).

What Red Wings received for him: Young forward Robby Fabbri, a former first-round pick who has resurrected his career in Detroit following two major knee injuries.

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176327

NHLPA executive board approves proposed new labor deal with NHL

The NHL logo is seen on a goal at a Predators practice rink in Nashville, Tenn.

By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS

The executive board of the NHL Players’ Assn. on Wednesday approved a proposed new collective bargaining agreement with the NHL and referred the tentative agreement to its full membership for a vote, with approval expected to be announced Friday.

The deal, which would extend labor peace through the 2025-26 season and allow players to represent their homelands at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, also is expected to gain approval from the NHL’s board of governors.

The NHL’s Return to Play plan will have teams opening training camp in their respective home cities Monday. The season will resume Aug. 1 with qualifying games in two hub cities, and it could run as late as Oct. 2, according to reports by Canadian media. Free agency would begin a week after the Stanley Cup is awarded, without the free-agent interview period that was built in to recent seasons. The draft will take place on Oct. 6, according to Sportsnet.

Subject to minor changes, training camp for the 2020-21 season is scheduled to start on Nov. 17 and the season would begin on Dec. 1. Commissioner Gary Bettman has said teams will play a full 82-game schedule next season, which could be accomplished by eliminating bye weeks and the All-Star break.

The new collective bargaining agreement will include a flat salary cap of $81.5 million for the 2020-21 season because of the revenue losses the NHL has been facing since it paused operations on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Players will defer 10% of their salary next season but will be repaid over the course of the next three seasons as hockey-related revenues resume flowing.

The new collective bargaining agreement would cap escrow at 20% next season. The escrow system, a mechanism by which money is withheld from players’ paychecks in order to ensure a 50-50 split of hockey- related revenue between players and clubs, has been a point of contention for players. The maximum escrow percentage for the 2021-22 season could be as high as 18%, depending on the level of hockey- related revenue.

The minimum NHL salary will be set at $700,000 and will rise to $775,000 in the last three years of the new labor deal.

This season’s playoffs will be contested in two hub sites — reportedly Edmonton and Toronto — and will take place without fans. Players, coaches and staffers will be required to remain in as tight a bubble as possible and will undergo regular COVID-19 testing. They will be kept away from nonessential personnel and away from their families until the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final.

To further reduce the risk of anyone in the bubble contracting or spreading COVID-19, strict cleaning and sanitation standards will be enforced at the competition and practice rinks, and players will be urged to stay within a secure zone.

LA Times: LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176328 Los Angeles Kings draft: Stutzle, John-Jason Peterka (Munich-DEL) and Lukas Reichel (Eisbären Berlin-DEL). Reichel’s uncle Robert played 830 games in the NHL, and his father, Martin, played with Sturm.

Kings assistant Marco Sturm has the inside scoop on top prospect Tim That’s the CliffsNotes summation. Stutzle “We changed a lot of things six, seven years ago,” Sturm said. “Starting with the clubs, investing more time and money with youth hockey. Slowly, you can tell it’s growing. It takes time, but now you can tell what has By Lisa Dillman Jul 8, 2020 happened and what direction it’s going.

“But we know we’re not going to have three first-rounders next year.”

Instead of leaving to navigate Canadian major junior hockey, he stayed There might be an excellent and unprecedented opportunity to get put in his native Germany, testing his teenage self against men in the additional live looks of Stutzle, Peterka, Reichel and others in action later . this month at a U20 event in Cham, Switzerland, which is near Zug. There are two games scheduled between Germany and Switzerland. The If this sounds like the path of draft-eligible Tim Stutzle, well, that is an Kings might have a scouting presence, but it depends on a wide range of accurate account of the highly touted forward. But it is also the same factors, including the ability to travel internationally. route traveled 24 years ago by Marco Sturm in his own draft year. “Now teams have a chance to watch those kids again,” Sturm said. In October, Stutzle could be drafted by Sturm’s current employer, the Los “Three, four and five months is a lot of time at that age.” Angeles Kings. If that happens — let’s emphasize the word if because the Kings obviously are not tipping their hand — he would become the The conversation brought back memories of Sturm’s draft year and the highest-drafted German player ever. The benchmark of the expansion interview process. Although he knew the San Jose Sharks were era (post-1967) is Leon Draisaitl going No. 3 to the Edmonton Oilers in interested, Sturm thought it was a longshot because of their draft 2014. position.

On June 26, the Kings moved to No. 2 from No. 4 in the NHL’s draft “ was the GM — his interviews were a little different,” lottery. There will be plenty of deliberation and analysis still ahead for the Sturm said of Lombardi, who became the Kings’ GM in 2006. “I knew he Kings, but their director of amateur scouting, Mark Yannetti, thought it liked me because he came all the way to Germany to watch me. So that would likely come down to two players. was good. But having said that, I was hoping for the Sharks, but they had the second pick in the draft. In the same story, TSN director of scouting suggested it would be a three-player race: Stutzle (), forward Quinton “I’m not a second-pick player.” Byfield (Sudbury Wolves) and defenseman Jamie Drysdale (Erie Otters). The Sharks took Russian defenseman Andrei Zyuzin at No. 2 — not their “I think he (Stutzle) is going to be great,” Sturm said. finest selection — and made a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks to get another first-round pick, which ended up being Sturm. Sturm, an assistant on Todd McLellan’s staff, was based in Florida during the first months of hockey’s pause but has been at home in the Munich Lombardi made a distinct impression on him in one interview even area for the past four weeks. Even before the Kings moved up in the though Sharks director of scouting Tim Burke did most of the talking. lottery, Sturm was keeping a close and interested eye on Stutzle’s fast track. He coached Germany to a silver medal at the Olympics in “I even met the (Sharks’) owner, George Gund, before the draft,” Sturm Pyeongchang in 2018 and had been the country’s national coach since said. “Dean was always the guy in the corner. I wasn’t really sure — ‘Is 2015. Sturm first met Stutzle when the youngster was on the U16 team. he the GM? Is he the boss?’ He was sitting in the corner, and the guys were doing the interview. Then he just jumped in with a question. Sturm, 41, played 938 games for six NHL teams, including 17 games for the Kings in the 2010-11 season, but most of his NHL life was spent with “He was more in the corner, in the back, and giving me that little smile the San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins. The Sharks drafted him in the and giving me that weird question once in a while. That’s why I first round, No. 21, in 1996. Two years later, he played with Draisaitl’s remember him real well.” father, Peter, at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 The Kings will continue to perform their due diligence when it comes to Stutzle. But they’ve got a terrific asset in Sturm who seemingly knows everyone in German hockey. “They’re all my friends, so it’s very easy to find things out about him,” Sturm said.

Draisaitl took a different route to the NHL, going through Prince Albert and Kelowna of the (WHL). Stutzle explained to The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler in January why he opted for the DEL.

In 41 games, Stutzle had 34 points (seven goals and 27 assists) and made the most of the trust the coaching staff had in him at the start of the season.

“Mannheim, where he is right now, does a good job and invests a lot of money,” Sturm said. “They worked hard with him, and he got the ice time, the playing time last season against men. This is huge.

“That comes back to my career and how I started. In my first two years, I played in the German League (EV Landshut) against men. So when I came into (Sharks training) camp, I was already ahead of some of the junior kids right away because of the experience I had.

“With him, it seems like he’s going the same way. He has that drive like no one else. That’s why I think he’s so special. He wants to be the best. He works really hard for it. He already became a leader, and that impresses me the most.”

From afar, it seems like it all came together practically overnight for German hockey. There was the silver medal at the Olympics. Draisaitl is a major part of the Hart Trophy conversation this year, defenseman Moritz Seider went sixth to the Detroit Red Wings a year ago, and there could be three German players selected in the first round of this year’s 1176329 Los Angeles Kings Binghamton, Millar worked with Rod Bloomfield, Cap Raeder, Ken Holland and Paul Stewart among others.

At the recommendation of Barry Fraser, then the Director of Scouting for JOINING HIS HALL OF FAME PLAYERS IN TORONTO the Oilers, Millar interviewed with and was ultimately hired by Edmonton as Head Athletic Trainer. The timing proved to be very fortunate, as upon Millar’s relocation to Alberta in 1978 – first in the WHA and one year later in the NHL – the Oilers were in the early stages of creating one of BY JEFF MOELLER FOR LAKINGS INSIDER.COMJULY 8, 2020 hockey’s true dynasties.

His first season – and the Oilers’ last campaign in the WHA – saw the He softly darts in and around the Kings training facility and, on occasion, franchise reach the Avco Cup Final. Five years later, Edmonton meeting with players and equipment managers from advanced to the 1983 Stanley Cup Final for the first time in team history around the league. but fell to the New York Islanders dynasty in a four-game sweep. Despite the setback, Millar and the Oilers would return to the Final four times in He goes about his current job as a Warrior Pro Hockey Representative the next five years – winning the Stanley Cup in all four appearances so quietly most people he encounters even at work probably don’t even (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988) – while compiling a 16-5 (W-L) record. know his name is on the Stanley Cup. “It was kind of a blur at the time it was all happening but I knew I was part Four times. And now he waits (like , Marian Hossa, Kevin of something special and part of something that was bigger than myself,” Lowe, Doug Wilson, Kim St-Pierre and Ken Holland among others) for said Millar. “Now that I am away from the game and have the opportunity the highlight of his hockey career – ultimate recognition in Toronto. to see replays of certain games or highlight moments of past games, I now have a greater understanding of just how special it all was, the Peter Millar enjoyed a 27 year career in the NHL and a professional people, the players, the losing moments, the winning and to have been a hockey tenure as a trainer that spanned more than three decades. He is part of it all is very humbling.” to be recognized by the (HHOF) in Toronto with a plaque from the PHATS/SPHEM group (pro hockey trainers; an The Oilers won six consecutive titles from 1981-87 organization he first joined in 1979) as part of the Class of 2020. years. During that time, the Oilers owned a regular season win percentage of .627, the highest among all teams over that span, and in “What a deserving honor for Peter and his family,” Kings Head Millar’s decade plus tenure with the Oilers they sported an 89-37 NHL Equipment Manager Darren Granger said. “He has dedicated 42 years of playoff mark. Millar worked with six future Hall of Fame players in his life to the world of professional hockey. He has done it all in our Edmonton: Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, , business, as a Head Equipment Manager, a Head Athletic Trainer and Jari Kurri and Mark Messier, along with Hall of Fame General now as a Pro Rep for Warrior Hockey. On a personal note, we are Manger/Head Coach Glen Sather. Millar also shares his name on the blessed to have Peter around the Kings as much as we do. Not only is he Stanley Cup all four times with players such as Chalie Huddy, Kevin great to work with in his current role with Warrior but he is someone we Lowe and , and Millar worked with Gretzky for parts of 16 all can lean on for his NHL experience, advice and friendship.” seasons overall. That evening in November might change due to COVID-19. Millar also witnessed some of the great individual player moments while He was to be recognized just recently at his group’s Annual Conference with the Oilers: Gretzky reached the 50-goal mark in 39 games during the in Florida. That will change to 2021 and Phoenix due to COVID-19. 1981-82 season, en route to concluding the campaign with an NHL- record 92 tallies; Gretzky recorded an NHL-record 51-game point streak What is being celebrated is a career that included four Stanley Cup from Oct. 5, 1983 – Jan. 27, 1984; Gretzky recorded 163 assists and 215 Championships, six Stanley Cup Final events and countless NHL points in 1985-86 – both NHL records; Coffey scored 48 goals in 1985-86 milestones, awards and records. – an NHL record for most in a season by a defenseman; and Coffey Millar spent 17 seasons (from 1989-06) with the Kings as the Equipment recorded a 29-game point streak from Nov. 27, 1985 – Jan. 25, 1986 – Manager after working the previous 11 years as the Athletic Trainer for the longest in NHL history by a defenseman. the Edmonton Oilers (WHA/NHL). It was also during Millar’s time in Edmonton that he received a gold “It was last September 11. I had finished up my scheduled visit to a Kings medal in the lone international tournament he worked, the prestigious practice and met with Darren Granger and the Kings players currently 1984 Canada Cup Championship which featured a star-studded roster. using Warrior sticks and product. Most everyone had left and I was In 1989, Millar moved to Los Angeles after accepting a job with the ‘hanging out’ in the hallway outside Darren’s office chatting with Darren Kings. It was also during this time that Millar took a different position in and Dana Bryson, getting ready to leave when I noticed Chris Kingsley hockey, transitioning from athletic trainer to equipment manager. and my son Matt coming down the hallway,” Millar explained. “The biggest culture shock? The weather,” quipped Millar. “But there was “When they got to where Darren, Dana and I were standing, that is when an adjustment period in transitioning from Edmonton to LA but the overall Darren informed me that since we were now all together it was a good goal remained the same, create an environment for the players that time as any to let me know that I was to be honored as the next allows them to come to the rink / dressing room and focus on practice or PHATS/SPHEM Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.” playing the game, removing anything that could be used as an excuse or “My reaction……it caught me by surprise, I choked up and was distraction with the end game of being able to compete for and win the speechless and all I could mumble was a quiet ‘thank you.’ Once I was Stanley Cup.” able to pull myself together, I realized what a wonderful honor this was, “On a personal note one shock I experienced was missing the playoffs especially being told this while at TSPC on September 11, in the dressing for the first time in my career and thinking after all the hard work and room with Darren, Dana and Kinger there with Matt there as well was sacrifice we put in since the start of the season and now it was over, something special.” without the opportunity to play for the Cup seemed like a waste of time. A native of Midland, Ontario – he was inducted into the inaugural Midland However, it was useful as it became motivation to work on not having it Sports Hall of Fame during a special ceremony in 1996 – Millar received happen again the next year.” his honors degree in physical/health education from Lauentian University In Millar’s second season with the Kings, the club captured the Smythe in Sudbury, Ontario. After graduation in 1973, Millar attended Sheridan Division title, the only division title the Kings have won in their 50-plus College in Oakville, Ontatio where he continued his education as a year history. He was also on the bench in 1993 when the Kings made student-intern at the school, which had recently created a sports athletic their first trip to the Stanley Cup final after besting Calgary, Vancouver department, and by being active with the Bramalea Blues, a Junior B and, in a thrilling seven-game series, Toronto. team from Bramalea, Ontario. In Los Angeles, Millar again worked closely with Gretzky, Huddy, Kurri, From there Millar went to Binghamton, New York as he landed his first Marty McSorley, Mike Krushelnyski and Kelly Buchberger after being in full-time job as a hockey trainer with the Binghamton Dusters of the North Edmonton with them in years prior. He also worked with four more future American Hockey League (the Dusters later transitioned to the American Hall of Famers in , Larry Robinson, Luc Robitaille and club Hockey League during Millar’s four-year tenure in upstate New York). In General Manager Rogie Vachon who hired Millar initially. Millar also worked very closely with Kings players such as and Dustin Brown, who would later captain the Kings to two Stanley Cup titles.

Millar, while with the Kings, also witnessed some of the greatest individual player moments as he did with the Oilers: Gretzky scored the 802nd regular season goal of his NHL career on March 23, 1994 to pass Gordie Howe (801) for the most in NHL history; Gretzky won the Art Ross Trophy three times as a member of the Kings (1989-90, 1990-91 and 1993-94); Robitaille scored the 500th regular-season goal of his NHL career on January 7, 1999; Robitaille scored his 551st regular-season goal with the Kings on January 19, 2006 to pass Marcel Dionne (550) for the most in franchise history; and Gretzky recorded an NHL-record 13 straight 100-point seasons from 1979-80 through 1991-92 during his time with the Oilers and Kings with Millar there 12 of those seasons.

It was also in Los Angeles in 2002 that Millar served as the Equipment Manager for his third NHL All-Star Game at the then brand new STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Millar also represented the NHL at the 1981 All-Star Game, which was played at the Forum in Los Angeles, as he became the first former WHA trainer to work an NHL All-Star Game. Millar also worked the 1989 All-Star Game in Edmonton, and in 2017, when the All-Star Game returned to Los Angeles, Millar served as a special assistant for current Kings Equipment Manager Darren Granger.

After leaving the Kings/NHL following the 2005-06 campaign, Millar joined Warrior Hockey where he has worked ever since.

“I now work regularly with the EQM’s and players from the Kings, Ducks, Coyotes, Sharks, Canucks and Golden Knights. In addition, I also stay in contact with the EQM’s from the AHL teams here in the West: Ontario, San Diego, Bakersfield, San Jose, Stockton and Tucson Roadrunners. I will schedule regular team visits to meet with players and EQM’s and introduce them to our Warrior line of hockey products,” said Millar.

“Warrior specializes in sticks made in Mexico, so I will work with players and their Equipment Managers in helping players find the right composite stick for their style of play with the goal of helping them to perform better with the correct stick and set up. What has made this transition easier was the relationships I already had with the teams I work with Equipment Managers as most of them are still with their teams when I was with the Kings and Oilers.”

Millar joins former Kings trainers Peter Demers (2007) and Mark O’Neill (2016) with recognition at the HHOF.

He currently resides in El Segundo, having lived in the area for more than 30 years. His wife Ramona is a retired Special Education teacher in the area and they have two grown children: Ashley is an Urban Farmer in Los Angeles and Matt is the Goaltending Development Coach for the .

“Now that Matt is working with the Ontario Reign and the LA Kings alongside Bill Ranford, Matt is living a dream which has been and is great to watch. He spent a lot of time as young kid in the dressing room around players and staff both in Edmonton and in LA so he has a great grasp of dressing room dynamics and people, what is expected and what it will take to be successful in the business,” said Peter.

“His thinking and knowledge are definitely more that of a coach, where I see the game through the eyes of an Equipment Manager / Athletic Therapist. So, it is special when I do get to go to an Ontario Reign game to watch him at work or to TSPC on my Warrior visits and we can chat over a coffee before or after practice.”

“I find it interesting,” he continued, “that the last professional game I worked was against the San Jose Sharks and Matt’s first professional game was against the San Jose Barracuda. I thought how appropriate my leaving pro hockey with San Jose and him starting with San Jose — the Millar pro hockey torch has been passed on to him to carry and to establish his own career in pro hockey now.”

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176330 Minnesota Wild While Parise said the skates at Tria Rink still feel like summer sessions, he expects the intensity to increase once camp begins — a tuneup for an opportunity Parise figures the NHL has to boost its profile.

Wild's Zach Parise: 'Hockey could really take advantage of the situation' “Right now hockey could really take advantage of the situation with If players accept return-to-play plan, Wild star says NHL could gain everyone, at least everyone I’m talking to, just dying to see some sports exposure during scarcity of live sports. on TV,” Parise said. “Everyone’s been stuck inside with nothing to watch, no sports. I think if done right, we could really increase our fan base. We could take advantage of this, which at the end of the day would be very good for the league.” By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JULY 8, 2020 — 11:52PM Star Tribune LOADED: 07.09.2020

Tria Rink in St. Paul is getting busier.

After only a handful reported for voluntary workouts at the Wild’s practice facility last month, players were split into two groups Wednesday for training since there were too many on hand for one session.

“It’s been good to get on the ice with everybody,” said winger Zach Parise, one of the latest additions.

But this surge in participation isn’t the only sign the NHL could be close to resuming the season.

Players are currently voting on the league’s return-to-play plan and an extension for the collective bargaining agreement after the NHL Players’ Association’s executive board approved sending the terms to a membership vote.

A verdict is expected to be announced Friday and if passed, training camp would open Monday and the action would kick off Aug. 1 in two hub cities.

“I feel like it will [pass],” Parise said, “but I can’t say for certain. I just don’t know. I feel like it will.”

Parise had yet to cast his vote when he spoke on a video conference call Wednesday afternoon, but he did identify the issues that will factor into his deliberations.

He said players were worried about the salary cap and escrow, the percentage of players’ salaries withheld to ensure players and teams reach a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenue.

In the proposed CBA, escrow is reported to start at 20% for next season with the salary cap staying flat at $81.5 million.

“One of the big concerns with the players is the escrow and what’s going to happen there,” Parise said. “We were hearing if we don’t play, people were saying it’s going to be 60 to 80 percent for the next year or foreseeable future, and I know that alarmed a lot of different players.”

Aside from the financial fallout, Parise said the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down the league March 12, was in the back of everyone’s minds.

Earlier this week, the NHL announced 23 positive tests for COVID-19 among players training at club facilities and another 12 positive tests from those not skating at team rinks. Parise noticed the precautions the league is taking firsthand when he began training at Tria Rink this week, with testing, temperature checks and masks now part of players’ routine.

Still, NHL players can opt out of the remainder of the season under the return-to-play plan on the table.

“We just have to accept that this thing, it’s going to be around and they’re giving you the option,” Parise said. “I’m not sure anyone’s going to take it, but they’re giving players the option if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. And I think that’s a good way to look at it. If you don’t want to play and if you don’t want to do things, then don’t do them.”

Although Parise doesn’t believe many players will choose to sit out, he said he’d respect a teammate’s decision to do so.

“We all want to make sure our wives and kids are safe and healthy,” he said.

“That’s the most important thing. So if someone decides for that reason they don’t want to go, then you support them 100 percent. That’s their every right to do that.”

If the season does proceed, the Wild will take on the Canucks in a best- of-five qualifying series to advance to the playoffs. 1176331 Minnesota Wild

Wild’s Zach Parise: Short reboot not ideal but ‘it’s what we’re dealing with right now’

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: July 8, 2020 at 4:25 p.m. | UPDATED: July 8, 2020 at 4:56 p.m.

Zach Parise is constantly reminded of the coronavirus pandemic whenever he’s at TRIA Rink. He arrives to the sight of teammates wearing masks, and certain facility amenities are off-limits for the foreseeable future.

When Parise steps onto the ice, however, everything feels normal again. Even if it’s only for a little while.

It’s the ice time Parise, 35, is trying to latch onto as the Wild prepare to take on the Vancouver Canucks in the qualifying round when play resumes Aug. 1. In the midst of a shutdown already nearly 120 days old, the Wild will open training camp on Monday.

“It’s hard to think like that right now,” Parise said during a teleconference with reporters Wednesday. “That mindset is going to be a little bit of a challenge. It’s something that everybody is going to be doing and playing with. I guess the team that can get there the quickest is going to have a little bit of an advantage.”

While the coronavirus pandemic is deeply embedded in Parise’s subconscious, and he admitted there will always going to be concern when in big groups, he is trying to get away from that so he’s ready for games.

“I think we have to accept that this thing, it’s going to be around,” Parise said. “Plus, they are giving players the option that if they don’t want to go, they don’t have to.”

Asked if that puts some players in a tough position, Parise acknowledged that it would be hard for a player to actually opt-out. Not that he wouldn’t understand.

“We all want to make sure our wives and kids are safe and healthy; that’s the most important thing,” he said. “If someone decides for that reason they don’t want to go, then we support them 100 percent. That’s their right to do that.”

Meanwhile, whoever decides to show up to TRIA Rink for training camp on Monday will need to get out of summer mode as soon as possible.

“For the longest time I thought there was no chance we were going to be coming back to play,” Parise said. “It’s been unique, and I think that’s going to be an obstacle for people to overcome, just that mindset of, ‘We are coming back to play.’ That can sometimes be a little different when we are in the middle of the summer thinking about restarting again and getting into the playoffs.”

Maybe it helps that Minnesota’s veteran roster is loaded with playoff experience. That can’t be said about the upstart Canucks. The winner of the five-game series will advance to the official postseason.

“Hopefully,” Parise said. “We have a lot of guys who have played some pretty important games, some big games, and if that can give us any type of edge, we will take it.”

There’s also the possibility that neither team is able to shake the rust off quickly. That could make for a sloppy series with whoever loses potentially feeling upset about the process as a whole.

“Whether it’s the way we scripted it or not, it’s what we are dealing with right now,” Parise said. “If we go and lose three games quick, I mean, sure we are all going to be upset — like, ‘What did we do all that for?’ I don’t think we are looking at it right now asking ourselves, ‘Is this far?’ They tried to do it the best they can and in the fairest way possible.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176332 Minnesota Wild decided to let Khovanov go because he figures with the NHL delayed until likely January and the AHL season likely delayed, Khovanov conceivably could play a full KHL season in 2020-21 and return to the Wild around “midseason.” Source: Wild willing to sign Kirill Kaprizov, burn first year; roster news The decision will burn the first year of Khovanov’s three-year deal with Minnesota.

By Michael Russo Jul 8, 2020 Brodin, Foligno, Fiala extension negotiations can begin soon

If the NHLPA membership approves the CBA, sources say players whose contracts expire after the 2020-21 season that normally would Arguably the best pro hockey player in the world not in the NHL may have been eligible for contract extensions as of July 1 would be eligible soon be in the Wild fold. to sign a contract extension starting with the 2021-22 season as soon as As you better know by now, if the NHLPA membership ratifies the return Monday. to play protocols and collective bargaining agreement Friday, the Wild That would include Jonas Brodin, Marcus Foligno and Kevin Fiala. would be allowed to sign Kirill Kaprizov to his two-year entry-level contract for the 2019-20 season. He would be allowed to burn the first Brodin, a top-four defenseman, Foligno, a candidate to succeed Mikko year but would be ineligible to play this summer. Koivu as captain, and Fiala, perhaps a star in the making, are “high priorities,” a Wild source said. After a lot of thought regarding the pros (assuring Kaprizov’s signed for the 2020-21 season) and cons (Kaprizov becoming a restricted free Because Brodin and Foligno are entering the last year of their contracts agent after the 2020-21 season as opposed to after the 2021-22 season) in 2020-21 and would be free to the open market as unrestricted free of this option vs. signing Kaprizov to a two-year deal starting in the 2020- agents after the 2020-21 season, they may be bigger priorities than Fiala. 21 season, general manager Bill Guerin has decided, sources say, that he is willing to sign Kaprizov for 2019-20 and burn the first year if After all, Fiala would be a pending restricted free agent, meaning the Kaprizov wants to do so. Wild would have exclusive rights to go along with Fiala’s arbitration rights. If the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified by the players Friday, the Wild and Kaprizov would have a 53-hour window, which However, there really is no rush to get any of the players re-upped. One sources say would start Monday at 11 a.m. CT and end at 4 p.m. can imagine the number of things that are more pressing that are about Wednesday, to sign a contract starting with the 2019-20 season. to land on Guerin’s plate with the upcoming return-to-play scenarios. Guerin could deal with the extensions in the offseason whenever that Otherwise, Kaprizov can sign a two-year deal starting in 2020-21 with the arrives. Wild at any point. The Brodin extension talks will be the most interesting because if he’s re- The Wild aren’t positive yet that Kaprizov would want to sign for 2019-20 signed, the Wild will have a huge expansion decision to make next and burn the first year. Kaprizov would not receive his 2019-20 salary or summer with Brodin, Matt Dumba and potentially Carson Soucy, who signing bonus if he burns the first year of his entry-level contract. He could become either a restricted or unrestricted free agent after this would, however, receive a $92,500 signing bonus for 2020-21 on Nov. 1, summer. a $832,500 salary next season and up to $2.85 million in performance bonus potentials and get a year closer to a big payday next summer. If the Wild choose to protect from Seattle seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie as opposed to eight skaters and one goalie, Kaprizov’s agent hasn’t responded to a request for comment on this Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon must be protected because the subject. blueliners have no-move clauses in their contracts.

The one thing the Wild were trying to get clarity on Wednesday from the Expanded roster NHL was if Kaprizov is signed for 2019-20, can they bring Kaprizov to Minnesota during this month’s training camp so he could begin to get The Wild will be allowed to bring a 51-person traveling party (52 if one of acclimated to his new team and teammates, the practice facility and the their team doctors can somehow leave their private practice conceivably Twin Cities? until early October depending on how far the Wild go in the 24-team tournament) to Edmonton on July 26. They weren’t yet given an answer, sources say. Thirty-one of the 51 can be players so there’s no doubt a handful of The Athletic asked the same question to an NHL source and was told this players that are currently part of the Wild’s Phase 3 expanded roster will scenario “was not originally contemplated, but it’s something that we are need to be cut. currently discussing with the NHLPA.” So far, the expanded roster, sources say, includes goalies Kaapo You can bet that if Guerin is going to make such an expensive decision Kahkonen and Mat Robson, forwards Gerry Mayhew, Nico Sturm, Sam (the Wild would have to offer Kaprizov a lucrative second contract a year Anas, Kyle Rau, J.T. Brown and Luke Johnson and defensemen Louie sooner than expected), the Wild would love to get something out of it by Belpedio, Brennan Menell, Calen Addison and Matt Bartkowski. giving Kaprizov a chance to feel comfortable in his new surroundings. The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 Remember, not only has the 2015 draft pick and two-time KHL top goal scorer yet to even step foot in Minnesota, the Wild have had no opportunity to even take pictures of him in a Wild uniform and introduce him to their fans and media.

If Kaprizov signs his two-year deal now, the Wild are willing to “loan” Kaprizov to a team in Europe to play at the start of their 2020-21 season as long as Kaprizov is released in time to arrive for the start of the Wild’s 2020-21 training camp. While the NHL’s 2020-21 season may not start until January, several European leagues are planning to start on time in the fall.

As of now, Kaprizov’s KHL team, CSKA Moscow, has indicated it’s not willing to entertain such an option. For them, if Kaprizov starts 2020-21 in Russia, he ends 2020-21 in Russia. So most likely, if Kaprizov is to be loaned anywhere, he would have to be willing to play in another country’s league in order to get some games in before debuting for the Wild.

For instance, the Wild have officially agreed to loan top prospect Alex Khovanov to Ak Bars (Kazan) of the KHL next season. The club refused to allow Khovanov to return to the Wild for training camp, but Guerin 1176333 — Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 8, 2020 Romanov keeping busy

Canadiens fans are going to have to wait until next season to see Stu on Sports: Things starting to get busy at Canadiens' practice rink Alexander Romanov in action.

The 20-year-old Russian , who signed an NHL entry-level Author of the article:Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette contract with the Canadiens in May, won’t be eligible to play in the postseason. The Canadiens could still decide to have Romanov take part in training camp next week after selecting him in the second round (38th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. Things are starting to pick up this week for the Canadiens as Phase 2 of the NHL’s Return to Play Plan continues at the in In the meantime, Romanov is keeping busy playing in a 3-on-3 Brossard. tournament in Russia.

The number of players skating at the team’s practice rink jumped from 10 #Habs Alexander Romanov is keeping shape in a 3-on-3 tournament in to 19 on Wednesday. The nine players who skated for the first time in Moscow. Brossard since the NHL season was shut down on March 12 because of COVID-19 were Phillip Danault, Nick Suzuki, Victor Mete, Cale Fleury, Full highlights from Hockey Universe: https://t.co/tiM4vT7Vfb Ryan Poehling, Xavier Ouellet, Jake Evans, Alex Belzile and goalie pic.twitter.com/3Oh5HBJAYX Cayden Primeau. They were the third group on the ice. — Canadiens Prospects (@mtl_prospects) July 7, 2020 The first group included Paul Byron, Laurent Dauphin, Jonathan Drouin, Remember Éric Chouinard? Charles Hudon and goalies Carey Price and Michael McNiven, while the second group was made up of , Brendan Gallagher, Noah Happy birthday to former Canadiens forward Éric Chouinard, who turned Juulsen and Jordan Weal. Before this week, only five players had been 40 on Wednesday. skating at the practice rink. Young Canadiens fans might be saying Éric who? More Canadiens players are expected to join their teammates in Brossard this week ahead of the tentative start for Phase 3, which has The Canadiens selected Chouinard in the first round (16th overall) at the training camps opening next Monday. 1998 NHL Draft, but the 6-foot-3, 204-pound left-winger would only play 13 games with the team, posting 1-3-4 totals, before being traded to the Shea s'habitue à sa nouvelle barbe. Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 29, 2003, in exchange for a second-round pick at that year’s NHL Draft that was used to select Maxim Lapierre. Shea's still adapting to the new beard.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/h2bqYkr0GC Chouinard would only play 90 career NHL games, including stints with the Flyers and Minnesota Wild, posting 11-11-22 totals. He is the son of — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 6, 2020 former NHLer , who scored 50 goals with the Atlanta Fear the beard Flames during the 1978-79 season and spent 10 years in the NHL, posting 205-370-575 totals in 578 games. Canadiens captain Weber is sporting a very impressive beard that he has let grow during the COVID-19 shutdown. The Canadiens drafted Chouinard ahead of his Remparts teammate Simon Gagné, who was selected 22nd overall by the Flyers But Weber’s beard is nothing compared to the ones that have been and went on to play 822 games in the NHL, posting 291-310-601 totals. grown by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Michael Grange during the pandemic. “There are things he has to work on but he’s already made good progress,” Chouinard’s father, who coached him with the Remparts, told The time has come... Who has the best quarantine look? @FriedgeHNIC reporters, including Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette, after the or @michaelgrange? Canadiens drafted his son. “He’s better than I was at the same stage. For starters, he’s bigger and stronger and I think he can skate backwards Answer if they need a CUT or UNCUT below faster than I skated forwards. I think some of the criticism of his pic.twitter.com/dRjVXsg4U7 toughness were based on what people saw early in the season when he was adjusting to a new league, adjusting to having his father as his — Tim and Sid (@timandsid) June 30, 2020 coach. He was a different player after Christmas, more confident.” Stanley Cup final to start Sept. 20 While the Canadiens struck out with Chouinard, they made some pretty Senior TSN hockey writer Frank Seravalli tweeted out the tentative dates good other picks at that year’s draft, including Mike Ribeiro in the second for the NHL’s Return to Play Plan on Wednesday evening, with the round, François Beauchemin in the third round, Andrei Markov in the qualifying round — including a best-of-five series between the Canadiens sixth round and Michael Ryder in the eighth round. and Pittsburgh Penguins — slated to start on July 30. The Stanley Cup But Chouinard is part of a long list of first-round picks who haven’t final is slated to begin on Sept. 20 and end no later than Oct. 2. worked out with the Canadiens and that’s a major reason why they Seravalli also reported that the NHL Draft is tentatively scheduled for Oct. haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1993. 6 and will precede the free-agent signing period. Joining Chouinard on the list are Andrei Kostitsyn (2003), Kyle Chipchura The 2020-21 season is tentatively scheduled to start on Dec. 1. (2004), David Fisher (2006), (2009), Jarred Tinordi (2010), Nathan Beaulieu (2011), Alex Galchenyuk (2012), Mike McCarron (2013) #NHL tentative RTP schedule: and Nikita Scherbak (2014).

July 24: Travel to hubs Happy birthday to , the #Habs first-round pick (16th overall) at 1998 NHL Draft. He turns 40 today. #HabsIO July 25: Exhibition games pic.twitter.com/is4XE7HO0k

July 30: Qualif. round begins — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 8, 2020

Aug. 9: First round of playoffs begins This Date in Expos History

Aug. 23: Second round begins I enjoy posting This Date in Expos History items each morning on Twitter because it brings back some great memories of Nos Amours. Sept. 6: Conf Finals begin The one I posted on Wednesday morning brought back some bad Sept. 20: SCF begins memories of former Expos shortstop Tim Foli having his jaw shattered by the Houston Astros’ Bob Watson while trying to tag him out at second Oct. 2: Last poss. game of SCF base during a game at Jarry Park on July 8, 1973. Watson was on first base when teammate Doug Rader hit a grounder to Foli, who rather than flipping the ball to second base or touching the bag decided to run at Watson and tag him. Watson raised his forearm, knocking Foli down hard on his back with blood coming out of his ears.

Foli had to be carried off the field by his teammates and missed the next month of action with his jaw wired shut. Angry Expos fans threw debris at Watson when he took his left-field position to start the bottom half of the inning. Watson was booed for the rest of the game.

“I don’t know what he was thinking about but he charged right at me,” Watson told reporters about Foli after the game, pointing to his forearm. “He ran into me right there. I hit him hard. I knew he was hurt. His glasses flew 40-50 feet. After that, I just walked to the base. Then I looked at him and said: ‘Oh, no.’ I thought I might have killed him.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176334 New Jersey Devils

Devils to tab Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff as next head coach, name Tom Fitzgerald as GM

Vincent Z. Mercogliano

The New Jersey Devils have reportedly decided on their new head coach — and all they had to do was look across the Hudson River to find him.

New York Rangers assistant coach Lindy Ruff is expected to be named the next coach for the Devils, which was first reported on Wednesday by NHL Network's Kevin Weekes.

The team is also expected to remove the interim general manager tag from Tom Fitzgerald, making him the full-time GM. Ray Shero was previously fired as the Devils' general manager last season shortly after the team let go of head coach John Hynes in early December.

Ruff, 60, spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach for the Rangers after two head coaching stints with the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars.

He coached the Sabres — the same team that drafted him as a defenseman in 1979 — from 1997 until 2013, accumulating a record of 571-432-78-84 while making the playoffs eight times. He led Buffalo to the Stanley Cup Final in the 1998-99 season, where they lost to the Stars.

He was fired during the 2012-13 season, then hired by Dallas a few months later. There he went 165-122-41 over four seasons with two playoff appearances.

Since being hired as an assistant with the Rangers in 2017, Ruff has taken a lead role in coaching the defense and the penalty kill. The Rangers have been inconsistent on those units while playing with one of the youngest rosters in the league, but coach David Quinn, who was hired from Boston University prior to the 2018-19 season with no prior NHL head-coaching experience, has often cited Ruff as someone he leans on.

The Rangers declined to comment on whether Ruff would remain on their bench for the NHL's planned 24-team tournament this summer, with the Devils already eliminated.

Bergen Record LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176335 New Jersey Devils

Devils to name Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff as next head coach

By Mollie Walker July 8, 2020 | 7:18PM

The Rangers may be searching for a new assistant coach soon.

Lindy Ruff is expected to be named the next head coach of the Devils, ending his three-year tenure as assistant coach of the Rangers, according to NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes. The NHL network also reported the Devils are also expected to remove the interim general manager tag from Tom Fitzgerald, making him the full-time GM.

The Rangers declined The Post’s request for comment.

Ruff, who has been an assistant with the Rangers since 2017, was mentioned as a candidate for the job two weeks ago. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Ruff was being considered alongside interim coach Alain Nasreddine, former Islanders coach Peter Laviolette, ex- Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant and former Kings coach John Stevens.

As for Ruff, it would be the 60-year-old’s third stint as a head coach in the NHL after gigs with the Sabres and Stars. He was the head coach of the Sabres — the team that drafted him in 1979 — from 1997-2013 before becoming the bench boss in Dallas for four seasons.

Ruff led Buffalo to the Stanley Cup finals during the 1998-99 season before ultimately losing to the Stars. He had a 571-432-78-84 record with the Sabres and made eight playoff appearances, earning Coach of the Year honors for the 2005-06 season. In Dallas, Ruff went 165-122-41 with two playoff seasons.

When the Rangers hired Ruff under then-head coach Alain Vigneault, he began working predominantly with the defense and the penalty-kill unit. After Vigneault was fired at the end of that season, Ruff was considered to replace him.

David Quinn was ultimately selected as head coach, but Ruff was retained, along with goaltending coach Benoit Allaire.

Ruff, a defenseman for 12 seasons in the NHL, also played parts of three seasons with the Rangers. It is not known whether Ruff will be behind the Rangers bench in Toronto when the NHL is scheduled to restart on Aug. 1.

The Devils fired John Hynes in early December after opening the season with a 9-13-4 record, promoting assistant Nasreddine to the interim position. A month later, the organization fired GM Ray Shero and elevated Fitzgerald, then an assistant GM.

When the season was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Devils were 28-29-12. They will not be among the 24 teams competing in the NHL’s return-to-play tournament.

New York Post LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176336 New Jersey Devils Shots/game 30.9

8th Devils hire Lindy Ruff as coach, retain Tom Fitzgerald as general manager SA/game

30.6

By Corey Masisak Jul 8, 2020 T-20th

Corsi For%

The Devils have spent nearly six months with an interim general 49.82 manager and interim coach leading the franchise. On Wednesday, they made decisions on both roles. 16th

Tom Fitzgerald will remain the club’s general manager, while Lindy Ruff xGF% will be the new head coach, multiple league sources confirmed. Kevin 49.86 Weekes of the NHL Network first reported the news. 15th The Devils were in a unique situation because the COVID-19 pandemic led the NHL to shut down the 2019-20 season in mid-March. Five NHL Goals For% teams currently have interim head coaches, but New Jersey was the lone team with an interim GM at the time of the pause. Travel restrictions also 51.78 made the typical interview process for the positions a challenge. 8th

The Devils reportedly interviewed at least eight candidates for the Shooting% coaching position. Fitzgerald, 51, said on multiple occasions that interim coach Alain Nasreddine was a candidate for the role. Nasreddine was an 8.14 assistant for four-and-a-half years under John Hynes, who was fired Dec. 3. Other reported candidates included Gerrard Gallant, Peter Laviolette 10th and John Stevens, who were head coaches for Vegas, Nashville and Los Save% Angeles, respectively, at the start of the 2019-20 campaign but were dismissed during the season. 0.9227

Prior to becoming a head coach, Ruff was an assistant with the Panthers T-12th for four seasons from 1993-97. They reached the Stanley Cup Final in Ruff joined Dallas at the start of the next season and coached the Stars 1996. Fitzgerald played for the Panthers during those four seasons. for four years, reaching the playoffs twice. Dallas finished sixth in the Ruff, 60, has spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach for the Central Division in his final season, 2016-17. Rangers. This will be his third NHL head coaching job. He is sixth in NHL Dallas was the second-highest scoring team in the NHL with 2.97 goals history with 736 wins and 1,493 games coached. per game during Ruff’s four years. Pittsburgh led the league at 2.98. Goal Ruff coached Buffalo for 14-plus seasons, leading the Sabres to the prevention was a problem — the Stars also allowed the fourth-most goals Stanley Cup Final in 1999 and the Eastern Conference Final in 2006 and per game (2.95). Ruff’s primary goaltender in Dallas was Kari Lehtonen, 2007. Ruff was fired 17 games into the lockout-shortened 2012-13 who finished eighth in the Vezina voting in his first year but was one of season. The Sabres had not made the playoffs since 2011 and have yet the league’s worst No. 1 over the final three years (.904 save to return without Ruff at the helm. He was the winner percentage in 167 games). as NHL coach of the year in 2006 and was an assistant for the gold- Here’s a statistical profile of the Stars during Ruff’s four years with the medal winning Canadian Olympic team in 2014. club: Buffalo was the highest-scoring team in the NHL in 2006-07, and the Goals/game Sabres claimed the Presidents’ Trophy with the best record in the league. The Sabres remained the fourth-highest scoring team the following year 2.97 despite losing co-captains Daniel Briere and , but fell toward the middle of the pack after that. They won a division title in 2009-10, 2nd while goaltender Ryan Miller won the , but they lost in the GA/game first round of the playoffs to the Bruins. 2.95 Here’s a look at Ruff’s Buffalo teams in the post-Briere/Drury era (2007- 12): 27th

Goals/game Power play%

2.87 18.7

T-8th 13th

GA/game Penalty kill%

2.72 79.6

16th 28th

Power play% Shots/game

18.7 31.4

8th T-5th

Penalty kill% SA/game

83.3 29.7

8th T-13th Corsi For%

51.4

8th xGF%

51.11

11th

Goals For%

50.69

14th

Shooting%

8.07

6th

Save%

0.9166

27th

The Rangers missed the playoffs in Ruff’s first two seasons as an assistant and were outside the playoff picture this year when the league shut down, but a 24-team return to play format includes New York squaring off with Carolina in a best-of-five qualification series. Ruff joined the Rangers when Alain Vigneault was the head coach and remained on the staff after David Quinn replaced him before the 2018-19 season.

Fitzgerald was New Jersey’s No. 2 in command for GM Ray Shero after joining the Devils from Pittsburgh in July 2015. He had interviewed for a GM job with other clubs on multiple occasions before this season and got his first chance to run a hockey operations department when the Devils fired Shero on Jan. 13.

His first key moves as interim GM included trading Blake Coleman to Tampa Bay, captain Andy Greene to the Islanders, Wayne Simmonds to Buffalo and Sami Vatanen to Carolina before the late-February deadline. Those trades earned positive reviews, particularly the results of obtaining prospect Nolan Foote and a first-round pick for Coleman, and a second- round choice for Greene.

Defined for a while by GM ’s quick trigger when it came to head coaches, the Devils will welcome Ruff as their third permanent head coach since 2011. Hynes coached the Devils for 354 games, good for second in franchise history, and Pete DeBoer (2011-14) is fourth with 212 games.

New Jersey reached the Stanley Cup Final in DeBoer’s first season but has qualified for the playoffs just one time in the eight seasons since. Ruff will have two of the past three No. 1 draft picks, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, but the Devils are also currently one of the youngest teams in the league after jettisoning several veterans during the 2019-20 season.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176337 New Jersey Devils had seven points in those six games, but he was playing unheard-of minutes as a centerman. It was easily 30 minutes per game.

Minutes after the series ended, Greenwood had a conversation with one Comparing Nico Hischier, Nathan MacKinnon with the man who coached of the opposing coaches that stuck with him. both of them “I said to him, ‘What a series. We were pretty happy just to push you guys,'” Greenwood said. “And he said, ‘Well, it certainly helped that you had that cheat code No. 13.’ That’s how he described it. I know, when By Corey Masisak Jul 8, 2020 Nico was on the ice, it didn’t feel like No. 2 vs. No. 15 anymore.”

Hischier didn’t win the Calder Trophy in 2017, but it still was a successful rookie season. He ended it as the No. 1 center on a playoff team and his When Nathan MacKinnon was growing up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, linemate, Taylor Hall, won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, just edging Jon Greenwood became a coach, a teacher and a mentor for the out MacKinnon. burgeoning hockey phenom. While MacKinnon won the Calder as a rookie and just missed the Hart in Greenwood coached MacKinnon at multiple levels in Cole Harbour and his fifth season, the three years in between did not go quite as planned. at Maritime Hockey Academy in neighboring Dartmouth. After MacKinnon He failed to match his goals (24) and points (63) totals from his rookie reached the NHL and won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie year in any of them. in 2013-14, Greenwood accepted an assistant coaching job with the QMJHL’s , the team MacKinnon had led to the The Avalanche, after making the playoffs in MacKinnon’s first year, in 2013. missed out each of the next three years. Colorado had the worst record in the league in 2017, but New Jersey jumped past them in the draft MacKinnon became the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NHL draft, a first for the lottery to land Hischier. Halifax franchise. Nico Hischier was the second Mooseheads player to achieve the feat four years later when the Devils selected him first MacKinnon had drawn comparisons to Sidney Crosby, who also hails overall. from Cole Harbour, his entire life. He won the Memorial Cup and the Calder, while Crosby had finished as a runner-up for both his rookie year. That means that Greenwood has had the opportunity to coach both of But MacKinnon’s NHL career did not immediately rise to superstardom Halifax’s No. 1 picks at different stages in their development. like Crosby’s did, with the Penguins center winning league MVP honors The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn explores the statistical similarities as a teenager. between Hischier and MacKinnon after three seasons in the NHL, but “I mean it sounds obvious, but it’s a hard league,” Greenwood said. “Not physically there aren’t many comparisons. many 19- and 20-year-old players are dominant players in the league. “As a player, I don’t see a whole lot in common,” Greenwood said. “Nate You have a good 18-year-old season and maybe that’s a little too much, is such an athlete and has so much explosiveness. All of that is just off too soon for you. I think it’s a lot of figuring everything out and getting the charts. Nico does a lot more subtle things around the ice. He’s maybe used to the schedule and the travel and the grind. You have guys that not going to jump off the ice for an average fan, but he does so many are between 18 and 21, they’re also still growing. They don’t really know good, subtle things. what weight to play at, or how their body is going to be fully developed when they’re in the prime of their careers. I think that’s a tough age to “I think the one thing they have in common is their competitiveness. I play in the best league in the world.” think competitiveness and will are comparable in a lot of great players, and those two have a lot of those similar traits.” Hischier’s second and third seasons played out in similar fashion. The team success disappeared and his traditional stats have dipped each Hischier was the sixth pick in the 2016 CHL Import Draft. The five players year. selected ahead of him have combined for 41 NHL games. He was a phenom in Switzerland, dominating youth games against older players “I felt all right,” Hischier said about his third NHL season. “I mean, I felt and making his debut in the top Swiss league with SC Bern at 15 years like I took a couple steps in a couple areas. But I’m always still like, if the old. team (doesn’t have) success, I’m not really happy about it. We can be better, for sure.” He was not Jack Hughes or Alexis Lafreniere, players who were pegged as the top prospects in their classes years before the draft. It did happen eventually for MacKinnon. He has now produced three straight 90-points seasons and is a top contender for the Hart Trophy “Nico was a guy that just quietly arrived and went about his game,” again this year. The Avalanche reached Game 7 of the second round in Greenwood said. “There definitely wasn’t a lot of self-promotion or 2019 and are one of the top contenders to claim the Stanley Cup if the anything like that from him. He just sort of played the game and let that NHL’s return to play plan materializes. do the talking for him. It took him a little while. “I think it took Nate a couple of years to figure out (the strength and “He had six points in his first eight games. That was like, ‘OK, pretty conditioning) side of things. Now, he’s so dialed in on that side that I good.’ Almost a point per game at 17 years old, but kind of ho-hum and don’t think there is any stopping him. For Nico, it might be a similar thing. you don’t think first overall pick when you hear that. But then in the 14th He could still be growing and adapting. You want to put on more weight game he played here, he had six points — three goals and three assists. but also not lose your speed. That’s tough for a young player. Let’s not He sort of took off from there. He showed up from a small town and he’s kid ourselves — it also helps being surrounded by some good players to a pretty quiet, pretty humble kid, and I think he took a little bit to get used help on the points side of things.” to everything off and on the ice. Once he got going, it was just a snowball that went downhill and got bigger and bigger and didn’t stop. He went to MacKinnon found a way to harness his world-class physical tools, and world juniors and was arguably the best forward in the tournament as a the Avalanche have surrounded him with other immensely skilled players 17-year-old playing for Switzerland.” like Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar (the “consolation prize” for Colorado at No. 4 in the 2017 draft). Very few players, Greenwood said, Hischier became a candidate for the top pick after his star turn at the have the combination of speed, skill and intangible traits that MacKinnon WJC. He racked up 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games for the does. It’s why he’s about to finish in the top six of the MVP voting for the Mooseheads. His per-game production wasn’t far off MacKinnon’s (75 third straight year. points in 44 games), but the Avalanche star also had fellow future NHLers Jonathan Drouin and Martin Frk on the roster. “I was at home watching ‘The Last Dance’ like everyone else the past couple months,” Greenwood said, “and every time something would Hischier did show off his franchise player potential in the QMJHL come on the screen about (Michael) Jordan and his insane playoffs, even though it was a much shorter run. competitiveness, my wife and I would look at each other and go, ‘Oh my god, that’s Nate.’ It’s just uncanny. We chuckled about it, because we “Nico certainly took our team on his back that year,” Greenwood said. were like, ‘We know somebody like that.’ “The best compliment I can give Nico is you always felt like you were in the game when he was on the ice. We finished 15th in the Q that year Hischier has Hughes, but they aren’t likely to spend much time together and we played the second overall team in the playoffs. We won Game at even strength moving forward. The huge point totals may never come One. We stretched it six games. One went to triple overtime. I think he for Hischier, but there are other ways to measure his value. He was one of the most valuable forwards in the NHL in his first two seasons, according to Evolving-Hockey’s goals above replacement, a catch-all stat that measures overall value, similar to WAR in baseball.

“Points obviously are important, but there’s so much more in hockey that counts for winning games,” Hischier said. “There are little things that don’t show up in the scoresheets and people sometimes don’t get too much credit for that. (It’s what) you have to do to win a game, or even better say, to win a Stanley Cup.”

Hischier’s GAR through his first two seasons, 31.4, was 21st among NHL forwards in that span. While every one of Hischier’s coaches has praised his defensive acumen, GAR measures his highest value in even-strength offense and his ability to draw more penalties than he takes. Hischier was the third most-valuable forward in the NHL over his first two seasons in that category, and he climbed to second behind Johnny Gaudreau through the first three.

Hischier’s overall GAR dipped significantly in 2019-20, though he played fewer games because of injury and the coronavirus pandemic and lost Hall to a trade in December.

“I think Nico is going to be a player that is really dependable and counted on, maybe more like a (Jonathan) Toews,” Greenwood said. “Maybe he doesn’t score 40 goals or 90 points in a year, but he’s going to be a guy you want on your team in the last minute up a goal or down a goal and a very strong, steady, dependable player.

“He’s not going to sacrifice the team ever to get points. I’m not saying Nate would either, but a lot of high-end players have that tendency at times. That’s just not in Nico. He’s going to do whatever his team needs.”

Hischier has plenty of time to improve as his body matures. Comparisons to elite two-way centers like Toews, Patrice Bergeron and Sean Couturier are fairer than expecting him to rocket into the stratosphere of Crosby, MacKinnon and Connor McDavid.

Hischier will find ways to contribute that show up more in the advanced stats sheet. The Devils could help his traditional stats by finding him a wingman like Toews had in Chicago with Patrick Kane. While Hischier and MacKinnon are connected by their backstory, how they create value for their teams might not be that similar in the years ahead.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176338 New Jersey Devils play a role here, especially with neither having a solidified role on the top unit at the time. That’s an important factor in a player’s production and it’s part of why neither player has seemingly put up the numbers expected of them. At the same time, their play with the man advantage to that point The Next Ones: Can Nico Hischier be the next Nathan MacKinnon? hadn’t earned a larger role either.

At this point, both players have been good with glimpses of great, but neither has been franchise-altering yet and it’s part of the reason their By Dom Luszczyszyn Jul 8, 2020 respective teams were languishing at the bottom of the standings. Was there more coming that could change that?

No two hockey players are the same but some are more similar than What the future might hold others. They may not look or play the same way on the ice but the end As we all know by now, the answer for MacKinnon is a resounding yes. result is close enough to wonder what it means for a player’s career There was much more in store for the Colorado center. Much more. And trajectory. For young players, a statistical comparable from the past can it all happened the very next season. showcase a potential path forward – hope for a brighter future. They won’t follow the same specific path but the similarities shown to date can In 2017-18, MacKinnon exploded with an MVP-calibre campaign finishing help visualize what could happen going forward. These players might be second in Hart Trophy voting, putting up 97 points in 74 games and lifting the next ones. the Avalanche into the playoffs, all the way up from dead last the year before. By point pace, MacKinnon doubled his previous year’s output. This is the first in a five-part series. So what changed for MacKinnon? For starters, he started putting the The Player: Nico Hischier, age 21 puck in the net. His individual expected goals-per-60 did rise from 0.74 The Comparable: Nathan MacKinnon, age 21 the year prior to 0.88 in 2017-18, but it was his finishing ability on top of that doing most of the trick as his actual goals-per-60 jumped from 0.51 The similarities all the way to 1.31, one of the highest marks in the league. Once MacKinnon figured out his scoring touch he became a much more In 2013, Nathan MacKinnon, a center with the Halifax Mooseheads, was dangerous player and the rest of his game followed. With the help of his selected first overall by the Colorado Avalanche. Four years later, Nico offense, the Avalanche earned 57 percent of the goals at 5-on-5 that Hischier, a center with the Halifax Mooseheads, was selected first overall year. by the New Jersey Devils. As top picks both were expected to be franchise cornerstones, but it took some time for MacKinnon to get there, The power play saw a big improvement too as his scoring there doubled. something Hischier is learning all the same in the midst of his third In 2017-18, he scored 7.3 points-per-60 on the power play, one of the season. Hischier has lots of raw talent but hasn’t been able to put it all league’s best marks. MacKinnon’s ability there vaulted the Avalanche to together yet, something that plagued MacKinnon around the same age. top 10 with the man advantage – they were dead last the year prior.

Though the two aren’t too stylistically similar (MacKinnon is explosively All that led to a massive jump in MacKinnon’s projected value from 1.9 fast in a way that’s obviously tough to match), their paths at similar ages wins to 3.4 wins. He hasn’t looked back since and has only grown more align pretty closely with Hischier’s current true talent level having a valuable in the following two seasons as he’s proven 2017-18’s jump to similarity score of 58 to MacKinnon’s in 2016-17. nearly five wins was no fluke – he’s stayed at that level in three straight seasons. MacKinnon has legitimately grown into one of the league’s best Their true talent ability based on their numbers from the prior three players, cleaning up his defensive game in the process to become a seasons suggested both players were capable of scoring at a 20-goal more complete player. pace but lacked finishing talent scoring fewer goals than expected. Both players were decent play-makers good for around 55 points, played What can’t be overlooked in MacKinnon’s huge breakout is the rapid tough minutes on bad teams, drew penalties at an elite rate and emergence of running mate Mikko Rantanen who had his own leap in struggled at the face-off dot. In terms of driving play, both players were 2017-18, jumping from 38 points to 84 points alongside MacKinnon. strong on offense but left a bit to be desired in their own end. In all both Wondering who was the catalyst there makes for a real chicken-and-egg players were legitimate number one centers worth just under two wins, scenario, but the key is that MacKinnon had help from another elite but still far away from being an elite center. player on his line.

What each player has shown to date That might be the biggest barrier to reaching the superstar stratosphere for Hischier: The lack of help up front. The Devils are low on forward It was good, but not good enough, not like other top picks who found talent, especially with Taylor Hall out of the picture, meaning Hischier almost immediate success right out of the gate. Both showed incredible might be on his own for a little bit. The team has Jack Hughes, of course, promise in their rookie season, especially MacKinnon winning the Calder but he struggled mightily in his first season and ideally plays center Trophy, but both seemed to stagnate soon after. Hischier took a small forming a 1-2 punch with Hischier. jump in his next season mostly fuelled by a minutes bump but still found himself at the level of a 50-to-60 point forward, while MacKinnon took a That lack of depth limits the team’s power play upside too, a huge source step back in his next few seasons production-wise. of MacKinnon’s breakout season. Hischier can still see a jump there, but it may not be as monumental as the one MacKinnon had. Either way, it’s The inability to finish was a big hang-up for both players, though in something he’ll have to figure out going forward as the league’s best different ways. MacKinnon was a pure volume shooter, a chucker who players find a way to dominate with the man advantage. Hischier hasn’t ranked 413th out of 530 forwards in shooting percentage from 2014-to- yet. 2017. Most of that was at 5-on-5 where he really struggled to convert and his points-per-60 during that time was actually lower than Hischier’s at Hischier has shown a knack for driving play at 5-on-5 though, one the same age. Hischier is more selective of his shots getting better stronger than MacKinnon’s at the same age. He’ll have to continue quality looks, but he struggles all the same to finish them. His 11 percent proving he can do so without Hall, but given what he’s shown so far he shooting percentage is 1.2 percentage points lower than his expected may have a bright future there in that regard. Maybe he doesn’t produce rate. MacKinnon’s 7.4 percent was 1.5 percentage points lower. as much as MacKinnon going forward, but he might be able to make up Hischier’s issue though was on the man advantage where he scored just some ground in two-way dominance on his way to potentially becoming six goals over three seasons on 11.7 expected goals. an elite center.

It was clear both players had strong shooting instincts, but for whatever Getting there though will hinge on Hischier finding the back of the net reason, it wasn’t translating to goals as much as it should’ve. Though more. He’s shown glimpses of it but not consistently enough. Getting that both players still drove offense well, the lack of personal goal-scoring extra gear in the goal-scoring department was the key for MacKinnon prowess limits each player’s full offensive potential. ascending to the next level and it may work similarly for Hischier. Having that weapon at the ready makes his play-making ability even more The power play is worth pointing out here as neither player excelled there dangerous, a dual-threat. up to that point. Though Hischier has been truly weak there earning just 3.1 points-per-60, MacKinnon wasn’t much better at the time either Hischier’s future path isn’t set in stone, but looking at MacKinnon’s shows scoring 3.7 points-per-60, good for 143rd in the league. Team effects the possibility of a huge leap into stardom. Maybe not to the same degree or at the same accelerated rate, but Hischier’s results to date show similar promising pieces in place to one day get there. What feels clear from Hischier’s play so far is that the best is yet to come, even if it doesn’t mirror MacKinnon exactly.

Other comparables

MacKinnon in 2016-17 actually wasn’t Hischier’s top comparable – it was Nikolaj Ehlers, also in 2016-17. The two were very close (the similarity score to Ehlers was 59 compared to MacKinnon’s 58), but MacKinnon’s story to date was far more interesting. When using comparables for projection, the key is to never hone in on just one player. The narratives are intriguing and worthwhile, but in order to get a more complete picture, you need more matches to form a composite portrayal.

On top of those two top matches for Hischier, his current true talent level also falls in line with where Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (51), Jonathan Huberdeau (39), Matt Duchene (38), Andrew Shaw (36), Claude Giroux (36), and Bryan Little (35) were at the same age – a varying array of talent.

While it’s nice to fantasize about the possibility of Hischier turning into MacKinnon, that’s a best-case scenario more than anything and there are other potential paths he might find himself on instead. Some, like Giroux and Huberdeau, are still pretty flattering, but others like Nugent- Hopkins and Little suggest stagnation at Hischier’s current level. He could stay where he is as a low-end first-line center, he might blossom a little further to a legit first-line talent, or he may turn into a true elite player. Right now his future is written in pencil on a spectrum of possibilities and it’s up to him to chart his path forward.

Considering all of Hischier’s top matches, a future breakout still looks likely. Even if it’s not to MacKinnon’s stratosphere, the odds of Hischier becoming a strong player in this league look promising and the potential of becoming an elite force is very much there. Hischier’s play so far hasn’t lived up to the billing of other first overall picks, sure, but it’s still very early in his career. As we saw with MacKinnon, sometimes it takes time for a potential franchise-changing player to actually start changing their franchise.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176339 New York Islanders

NHL reportedly to begin 2020-21 season on Dec. 1

By Andrew Gross

The NHL hasn’t restarted this paused season yet but there is reportedly a planned date for the start of next season.

TSN reported on Wednesday night that as part of the memorandum of understanding between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association for the return-to-play format/Collective Bargaining Agreement that must still be ratified by the league’s Board of Governors and the NHLPA’s full member, the 2020-21 season will tentatively begin on Dec. 1.

That is just one of several key dates in the MOU.

Formal training camps for the resumption of this season – paused on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic – are scheduled to open on Monday. The 24 teams will then travel to their respective hub cities – Toronto and Edmonton have been selected but not yet officially announced – on July 24 with exhibition games to begin the next day.

The best-of-five qualifying series will begin on July 30. The Islanders, seeded seventh in the Eastern Conference, will face the 10th-seeded Panthers while the No. 11 Rangers will meet the sixth-seeded Hurricanes.

The first round of the 16-team playoffs will begin on Aug. 9. The conference finals will begin on Sept. 6 and the last possible game of the Stanley Cup Final will be on Oct. 2.

The offseason, then, will be very compact.

The NHL Draft is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 6 and the free agency period will begin either on Oct. 9 or seven days after the conclusion of the Cup Final, whichever is later. Under the new CBA guidelines, there no longer will be a five-day interview period for unrestricted free agents prior to the free agent market opening.

Training camps for the 2020-21 season are then scheduled to open on Nov. 17.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176340 New York Rangers

Devils to name Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff as next head coach

By Mollie Walker July 8, 2020 | 7:18PM

The Rangers may be searching for a new assistant coach soon.

Lindy Ruff is expected to be named the next head coach of the Devils, ending his three-year tenure as assistant coach of the Rangers, according to NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes. The NHL network also reported the Devils are also expected to remove the interim general manager tag from Tom Fitzgerald, making him the full-time GM.

The Rangers declined The Post’s request for comment.

Ruff, who has been an assistant with the Rangers since 2017, was mentioned as a candidate for the job two weeks ago. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Ruff was being considered alongside interim coach Alain Nasreddine, former Islanders coach Peter Laviolette, ex- Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant and former Kings coach John Stevens.

As for Ruff, it would be the 60-year-old’s third stint as a head coach in the NHL after gigs with the Sabres and Stars. He was the head coach of the Sabres — the team that drafted him in 1979 — from 1997-2013 before becoming the bench boss in Dallas for four seasons.

Tom FitzgeraldAP

Ruff led Buffalo to the Stanley Cup finals during the 1998-99 season before ultimately losing to the Stars. He had a 571-432-78-84 record with the Sabres and made eight playoff appearances, earning Coach of the Year honors for the 2005-06 season. In Dallas, Ruff went 165-122-41 with two playoff seasons.

When the Rangers hired Ruff under then-head coach Alain Vigneault, he began working predominantly with the defense and the penalty-kill unit. After Vigneault was fired at the end of that season, Ruff was considered to replace him.

David Quinn was ultimately selected as head coach, but Ruff was retained, along with goaltending coach Benoit Allaire.

Ruff, a defenseman for 12 seasons in the NHL, also played parts of three seasons with the Rangers. It is not known whether Ruff will be behind the Rangers bench in Toronto when the NHL is scheduled to restart on Aug. 1.

The Devils fired John Hynes in early December after opening the season with a 9-13-4 record, promoting assistant Nasreddine to the interim position. A month later, the organization fired GM Ray Shero and elevated Fitzgerald, then an assistant GM.

When the season was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Devils were 28-29-12. They will not be among the 24 teams competing in the NHL’s return-to-play tournament.

New York Post LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176341 New York Rangers

Henrik Lundqvist only goalie not at Rangers workouts

By Mollie Walker July 8, 2020 | 6:45PM

Two of the Rangers’ three goaltenders had participated in the NHL’s Phase 2 voluntary small-group workouts as of Wednesday, the team confirmed to The Post.

Veteran Henrik Lundqvist is the odd goalie out — he is among a handful of players who traveled from Europe to New York in the past week or so who are still waiting to be cleared. Alexandar Georgiev was included in the latest group of players to take part in Phase 2, in which rookie Igor Shesterkin has been participating since he returned from Florida at the end of June.

Additionally, Ryan Strome, Brett Howden and prospect Vitali Kravtsov also began skating at the team’s practice facility this week.

Before the coronavirus pandemic suspended the 2019-20 regular season in March, the Rangers’ three-goalie predicament was continuing to unfold. When Shesterkin was called up from AHL Hartford in January, it was impossible for all three goalies to see equal time in net.

In the last month-and-a-half of the regular season, Lundqvist started in just two games — including Feb. 3 against the Stars when he was replaced by Georgiev after allowing four goals on 15 shots in an eventual 5-3 loss. It was the lightest workload Lundqvist had seen in his 15 years with the Rangers.

Shesterkin went 10-2 with a .932 save percentage in his first stretch of professional starts. He missed six games due to a broken rib he suffered in a car accident on Feb. 23. Georgiev posted a 17-14 record with a .910 save percentage and a 3.04 goals against average in 32 starts.

In late May, Rangers president John Davidson said he anticipated that coach David Quinn would make the final call on which goaltender faces the in the first-round play-in series.

“This is going to be a battle,” Davidson said. “I can hardly wait till whenever the puck drops for training camp, just to watch.’’

As players around the league continue to make their way back to their respective markets, the NHL and NHL Players Association are nearing an official agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement extension.

The NHLPA executive board approved the tentative CBA Tuesday night and it is now on to the NHLPA membership for a ratification vote. According to a graphic shared by the official NHLPA Twitter account, a final decision should be reached by Friday.

New York Post LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176342 New York Rangers

NHL reportedly to begin 2020-21 season on Dec. 1

By Andrew Gross

The NHL hasn’t restarted this paused season yet but there is reportedly a planned date for the start of next season.

TSN reported on Wednesday night that as part of the memorandum of understanding between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association for the return-to-play format/Collective Bargaining Agreement that must still be ratified by the league’s Board of Governors and the NHLPA’s full member, the 2020-21 season will tentatively begin on Dec. 1.

That is just one of several key dates in the MOU.

Formal training camps for the resumption of this season – paused on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic – are scheduled to open on Monday. The 24 teams will then travel to their respective hub cities – Toronto and Edmonton have been selected but not yet officially announced – on July 24 with exhibition games to begin the next day.

The best-of-five qualifying series will begin on July 30. The Islanders, seeded seventh in the Eastern Conference, will face the 10th-seeded Panthers while the No. 11 Rangers will meet the sixth-seeded Hurricanes.

The first round of the 16-team playoffs will begin on Aug. 9. The conference finals will begin on Sept. 6 and the last possible game of the Stanley Cup Final will be on Oct. 2.

The offseason, then, will be very compact.

The NHL Draft is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 6 and the free agency period will begin either on Oct. 9 or seven days after the conclusion of the Cup Final, whichever is later. Under the new CBA guidelines, there no longer will be a five-day interview period for unrestricted free agents prior to the free agent market opening.

Training camps for the 2020-21 season are then scheduled to open on Nov. 17.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176343 New York Rangers

Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff to be named next head coach of Devils, report says

By Colin Stephenson

According to a tweet Wednesday evening from NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes, Rangers assistant Lindy Ruff is to be named the new coach of the Devils.

In the same tweet, Weekes also reported that Devils interim general manager Tom Fitzgerald will be made the permanent GM.

Ruff, who has been an assistant with the Rangers since 2017, had been identified as a candidate for the Devils job two weeks ago, when Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the former Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars coach had joined a group that included current interim coach Alain Nasreddine, former Islanders coach Peter Laviolette, and Gerard Gallant and John Stevens being considered for the job.

Neither the Rangers nor the Devils commented on the report.

Ruff, 60, had been hired by the Rangers in the summer of 2017, after being let go by Dallas following four seasons coaching there. The Rangers brought him aboard to run the defense for then-coach Alain Vigneault, and when Vigneault was fired at the end of the season, Ruff was a candidate to replace him. The job went to David Quinn, instead, but Ruff was retained on staff, along with goaltender coach Benoit Allaire.

A defenseman for 12 seasons in the NHL — including parts of three seasons with the Rangers — Ruff began his NHL coaching career in 1997, taking over the Buffalo Sabres, whom he coached for 15 seasons, before he was fired 17 games into the 2012-13 season. He earned NHL Coach of the Year honors with the Sabres in 2005-06.

Ruff has coached 1,493 games in the NHL, with a record of 736-554-78. He has 10 playoff appearances in his career, and guided the Sabres to the 1999 Stanley Cup Final in his second season there. Buffalo lost in the final to Dallas.

The Devils fired coach John Hynes in early December with the team in last place in the and elevated assistant Nasreddine to the interim job. In January, they fired GM Ray Shero and elevated Fitzgerald, then an assistant GM, to the interim position. The Devils were 28-29-12 when play was halted March 12 because of the coronavirus. They are not among the 24 teams who will be returning to play when the NHL restarts its season August 1.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176344 NHL

July 8, 2020 at 6:10 pm Updated July 8, 2020 at 6:10 PM

By Seattle Times sports staff

A few months shy of 25 years after the Seattle Center Coliseum emerged from a renovation with a new name, a major remnant from that new name — KeyArena — came down Wednesday.

Via helicopter, workers removed the red sign in 10 pieces from atop the Uptown arena that’s undergoing a $930 million renovation, making room for the building’s new name, Climate Pledge Arena, after Amazon purchased the naming rights in late June. The new sign is expected to be installed sometime in the next few months, and the renovated arena is on track to open by late summer 2021.

As the name suggests, Climate Pledge Arena, home to Seattle’s incoming NHL franchise and the WNBA’s Storm, will put sustainability at the forefront. The goals: be 100% powered by renewable electricity and aim to achieve a zero-carbon footprint, produce zero waste, source food locally and, by 2024, eliminate all single-use plastics.

“We were talking about Amazon and talked about community,” NHL Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke told The Seattle Times on June 25. “And they came back and said, ‘Look, the No. 1 community cause for us and what we believe in most is climate and Jeff’s commitment to the Climate Pledge.’ And we came away inspired.”

The transformation from the Coliseum to KeyArena is not the first renovation the building has seen.

Built in 1962 for the Seattle World’s Fair, Century 21 officials broke ground May 12, 1960, on what was then called the Washington State Pavilion.

After the fair, Seattle renovated the arena and it was renamed the Seattle Center Coliseum. Renovations were made so the venue could host events, concerts and sports. The initial renovation made the Coliseum able to easily convert from an ice arena to a basketball court.

By June 1994, renovation work started on the Coliseum after the Sonics signed a 15-year lease in exchange for the city of Seattle issuing 20-year bonds to pay for the $100 million, 16-month renovation.

The building reopened as KeyArena on Oct. 26, 1995, with a concert featuring tenor Jose Carreras and the Seattle Symphony, with an audience of 14,000.

On June 1, 2000, the Storm played its first home game at KeyArena.

The Sonics played their last game in front of a Seattle crowd on April 13, 2008, after the team was sold to a group of Oklahoma City businessmen.

In 2017, the city of Seattle requested new proposals for the redevelopment of KeyArena. Demolition of the current interior would begin once Seattle was awarded a hockey team by the NHL Board of Governors.

On Dec. 4, 2018, the NHL awarded Seattle the league’s 32nd franchise. A day later, NHL Seattle held a groundbreaking ceremony at the KeyArena site.

Seattle Times LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176345 Cirelli and Erik Cernak to sign this summer. Their UFAs include Kevin Shattenkirk, , Jan Rutta, Zach Bogosian and Luke Schenn. Tampa Bay will likely need to shed a few contracts this summer and could trade forwards like Ondrej Palat or Tyler Johnson. How the Senators could take advantage of the NHL’s flat salary cap The Leafs are also notably in a difficult cap situation, given they shelled out more than $40 million on the “big four” of , Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander. UFAs Tyson Barrie, By Hailey Salvian Cody Ceci and Kyle Clifford aren’t likely to return and Toronto may need Jul 8, 2020 to trade a depth forward like Andreas Johnsson, Alexander Kerfoot or Kasperi Kapanen.

Then there are the Blues, who have yet to re-sign captain Alex The Senators are poised to benefit from the new collective bargaining Pietrangelo. Trade candidates include Jake Allen, their backup goalie agreement and flat salary cap — if they play their cards right. who makes $4.3 million, Alex Steen and Tyler Bozak, who makes $5 million. The NHL and the NHLPA have pushed forward an agreement that — sources told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun — would extend the current Just in those three examples, there are a handful of talented free agents CBA through the 2025-26 season. Among the biggest details disclosed to who could be available as well as some trade options for Ottawa to LeBrun and Scott Burnside last week is a flat cap set at $81.5 million for consider. There’s going to be a big market for Ottawa to add veterans to the 2020-21 season that will stay that way until NHL revenues reach $4.8 fill out what still projects to be a young roster. billion, which (conservatively) could take two to three years. It has the cap space and the assets; the Senators have 13 future draft The ramifications of a $81.5 million salary cap being in place for multiple selections they could use in trades and also have a stocked cupboard of years will be significant, especially for contending teams tight against the prospects they could leverage. cap (like Toronto or Tampa Bay) and for rebuilding teams that could weaponize their cap space. For example, the Senators could offer a draft pick and a B-level prospect to Toronto in exchange for a player like Johnsson. In Toronto, The Senators are in the latter group. In fact, no team is better positioned Johnsson’s $3.4 million contract is a bit much for a depth winger. But he to prey on cap-strapped rivals than Ottawa, according to The Athletic’s could play up the lineup in Ottawa. Or, the Senators could structure a James Mirtle, who recently ranked every team’s salary-cap situation from similar deal with St. Louis for a veteran centre like Bozak to take his $5 best to worst. The caveat would be whether ownership chooses to million cap hit off the Blues’ hands. spend. Both have played for head coach D.J. Smith in the past, and his first Ryan Callahan’s $5.8 million and Clarke MacArthur’s $4.65 million season in Ottawa showed that he tends to have a hand in bringing in his contracts are up this summer. That’s more than $10 million coming off former players. the Senators’ books. Even with Thomas Chabot’s deal, which has an $8 million average annual value, kicking in and a combination of free-agent The Senators could also take on dead money contracts in exchange for signings, the Senators won’t be cap-strapped. more draft picks. Last summer, Ottawa traded goaltender Mike Condon and a 2020 sixth-round draft pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for Ryan Here is Ottawa’s cap-committed 2020-21 roster before any of its pending Callahan and the Lightning’s 2020 fifth-round selection. Callahan, who free agents, unrestricted or restricted, are counted (using CapFriendly’s had one year remaining on his contract, spent the year on LTIR. Armchair GM tool). It also leaves out Belleville prospects likely to make the roster next season. Or might the Senators surprise and be a player in free agency? Fans and media have discussed the merits of signing Robin Lehner. What about That’s only four forwards, four defencemen, both goalies and Marian offer sheets for RFAs on strapped teams? Gaborik’s dead money contract on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) for a total cap hit of $37 million. The Senators are also on the hook for $1.35 However, as Elliotte Friedman noted on Sportsnet’s “Tim and Sid” on million next season in Dion Phaneuf’s buyout. That gives them around Monday, owner ’s plan was to not spend much for a $44.5 million to sign RFAs, most notably Connor Brown, Anthony Duclair couple of years after signing Chabot and Colin White and having his and Chris Tierney, and potentially bringing back UFAs and sights already set on locking up Brady Tkachuk on a long-term extension. Mark Borowiecki. But because of the flat salary cap, and the ramifications laid out, perhaps That cap space and having so few NHL contracts put the Senators in an Melnyk would change his mind. extremely flexible position. Cap space is going to be a weapon in the NHL more than ever. The If we assume the Senators sign their five key free agents — salaries Senators are going to be in a place of strength in the next few years in below are loosely based on Evolving Hockey’s Contract Prediction tool — that regard, whereas other teams will have to get creative to be cap and we add prospects Josh Norris, Drake Batherson, Alex Formenton compliant. and recent KHL signing Artyom Zub, Ottawa’s roster looks like this: Melnyk and company should take advantage of this opportunity to That lineup gives the Senators 19 players (10 forwards, seven improve the Senators’ future. defencemen and two goalies) at a cap hit of $55.7 million and leaves them $25.7 million to add up to four more players from Belleville or via free agency or trade. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.09.2020 The Senators also have several RFAs left to sign in Nick Paul, Rudolfs Balcers, Jayce Hawryluk, Filip Chlapik and Andreas Englund. While Paul has likely done enough to sign a one-way NHL deal that would fall between league minimum or slightly over $1 million, expect most to be given qualifying offers and play predominately in the AHL next season.

Many contending teams have budgeted their rosters for cap increases, and even a $1-2 million increase wouldn’t have helped much. According to Mirtle’s rankings, nine teams project to be tight against the cap in 2020-21, including Toronto, Edmonton, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay.

Most, if not all of those teams, are going to have to make some difficult decisions to be cap compliant and let UFAs walk or trade players they wouldn’t have moved in a regular offseason.

The Lightning are in probably the toughest spot salary cap-wise next season. They have a trio of young RFAs in Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony 1176346 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers pick Scott Laughton for most improved teammate

by Ed Barkowitz

Given how his season started, Scott Laughton’s winning the award for most improved Flyer is, well, laudable.

Laughton didn’t score his first goal until Nov. 27. He missed 13 games in November with a broken finger, seven more in December with a groin injury, and yet still set a career high with 13 goals. He was one of the most versatile forwards in coach Alain Vigneault’s stable.

“I’ve always liked what Scotty brings to our team — that edge, that bite,” Vigneault said before play was halted. “He’s dependable at both ends. He’s just playing hard, and like the rest of our team, we put our work boots on and we come to work.”

Laughton’s plus/minus rating last season was minus-11. The year before that it was minus-10. In 2019-20, Laughton was plus-13.

“I’m seeing the ice different than in the past,” the 2012 first-round pick said. “I’m just moving my feet, trying to create plays and be good in the offensive zone and doing the same things [defensively]. Since coming back from the injuries, I’ve felt confident. It’s nice when you have personal success, but even better when your team is winning and you’re contributing to that.”

The most improved player award is named for former goalie Pelle Lindbergh and is voted on by Flyers players.

Laughton, a seven-year NHL veteran, has said the faith shown in him by Scott Gordon, the Flyers’ interim coach last season, did wonders for his confidence. Vigneault used him this season on the second, third, and fourth lines and as one of his top penalty killers.

Laughton even chipped in two game-winning goals. Before this season, he had one in the first 272 games of his career.

“It’s taken me a little bit longer to get my wheels [turning] and get comfortable in the league,” he said. “It definitely means a lot. I’ve put a lot of hard in to get better and create a role for myself.”

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176347 Philadelphia Flyers

Scott Laughton earns Flyers' 2019-20 Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as most improved player

By Jordan Hall

July 08, 2020 2:25 PM

A beautiful aspect to the 2019-20 Flyers is that there was no clear-cut winner for the team's most improved award.

The Flyers saw many improvements this season, which flipped them from the league's 22nd-best team in 2018-19 to the sixth-best club in 2019-20.

One player that has taken big strides over this season and last is Scott Laughton, a 26-year-old forward who has turned himself into a vital depth piece for the organization. Laughton's growth was recognized Wednesday as the 2012 first-round pick earned the Flyers' 2019-20 Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the team's most improved player, an honor voted on by teammates.

It's pretty special," Laughton said Wednesday to Flyers senior director of public relations and communications Zack Hill. "Being in the organization for a little bit of time, it might have taken me a little bit longer to kind of get my wheels spinning and get comfortable in the league. It definitely means a lot. A lot of hard work that I've put into it to try and get better and create a role for myself.

What has made Laughton so valuable to the Flyers is his positional versatility and role forward qualities. He is a hard-skating, physical, forechecking player who kills penalties and provides secondary scoring. After putting up career highs in goals (12), assists (20), games (82) and ice time per game (14:51) during 2018-19, Laughton delivered a new career high of 13 goals this season (despite playing 33 fewer games) to go along with a plus-13 mark. Over the last two seasons, the Flyers are 17-4-1 in games that Laughton scores a goal.

"A lot of things go into it, not just one thing," Laughton said of his success this season. "Our team play was really good and we had a really strong team. A lot of guys that I played with throughout the year really helped me and just the opportunity that I was given by the coaching staff of carving out my role and being the reliable guy. A lot of things go into it but it was definitely the most comfortable I've been on the ice and playing in the NHL."

The Flyers are handing out their annual team awards throughout this week. Kevin Hayes was the recipient of the Gene Hart Memorial Award and Laughton also earned the Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176348 Philadelphia Flyers All in all, a solid B for Myers, who looks like a fixture on the team’s blue line.

2019-20 Flyers season grades: Philippe Myers Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020

By Brooke Destra, Joe Fordyce, Jordan Hall

July 08, 2020 6:50 PM

The 2019-20 NHL regular season has concluded and the next time the puck drops will officially kick off the race to the Stanley Cup. The Flyers are hungry and ready to battle it out, but that is thanks to the hard work from back in October.

In an End to End series, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Brooke Destra, Joe Fordyce and Jordan Hall will be grading players based on individual performances.

Today we will be looking at Philippe Myers.

Destra

Normally an injury as severe as a fractured patella would cause a player to be out for a significant amount of time to recover. Luckily for Myers, he missed only a single game because just days after his injury, the NHL season was officially suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak.

This could be viewed as a silver lining — considering Myers will now be ready to roll come the round robin and playoffs that will follow. Before his injury, we were able to see significant growth in the 23-year-old’s game — which made the thought of losing him for the remainder of the regular season much more difficult.

It took just under a month before Myers was called up to the big club to start his season with the Flyers, and it made for an interesting dynamic, given how busy things were at the blue line. The Flyers went from having a couple solid defensemen, to having too much talent from top to bottom … it’s a good problem to have.

If Myers continues to control the reins instead of attempting to be too flashy, he’s in for a bright future in the NHL.

Myers gets a B for 2019-20 — and expectations are definitely high for next season.

Fordyce

I think when Myers first came up in the '18-19 season, he did some things that caused people to put the cart before the horse with this young defenseman. During this season, Myers had some really bright spots, but also would get into stretches when it seemed he couldn’t get out of his own way.

Myers played 50 of the Flyers' 69 games. The key number that stands out when looking at Myers' season is that he was a plus-17, good for second on the team behind only Sean Couturier and the best in terms of defensemen on the Flyers. There are several factors that go into that rating and while it’s a great rating, Myers still has some work to do. He showed promise this season, and with even or better ratings in eight of his last 10 games, Myers’ future could be bright.

B for Myers.

Hall

There was a lot of excitement about Myers entering the 2019-20 season and understandably so. The 23-year-old defenseman has an NHL build at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, he’s a fluid skater with offensive skill, he was ranked a top-50 prospect by the NHL Network the previous season and looked primed for a full-time impact.

While Myers had a so-so training camp and preseason, missing the team’s season-opening roster, he made it back to the big club and showed plenty of promise. With time, he started looking more comfortable and like a regular. The undrafted product recorded 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) and a plus-17 rating in 50 games.

Myers has said he’s at his best when playing a composed game and not trying to do too much, which leads to his impressiveness offensively and making things happen. At times, he would press and be hard on himself, but that’s common for any young player who cares. 1176349 Philadelphia Flyers

2020 NHL playoffs: 24-team tournament schedule could feature 6 games in a day

By Jordan Hall

July 08, 2020

Wednesday marked 119 days since the last NHL game was played before the 2019-20 season was put on pause because of the coronavirus outbreak.

For hockey fans, just one live game would be a sight for sore eyes at this point. Imagine six competitive, playoff-like games spread throughout one day?

Not complaining.

According to a report Wednesday by ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the NHL is eyeing such a plan for the beginning of its return-to-play 24-team tournament:

I’m told the most likely plan for the NHL is to have three games a day in each of the hub cities: 12 pm, 4pm & 8pm.

Given the two hour difference between Toronto & Edmonton, should be a viewer’s dream.

It would be like the playoff hockey version of the NCAA Tournament's opening days, when games are played from basically noon ET to midnight. In this scenario, with the targeted hub cities — Toronto (Eastern Conference) and Edmonton, Alberta (Western Conference) — a game would be played at noon ET for the East and 2 p.m. ET for the West, then 4 p.m. ET for the East and 6 p.m. ET for the West, and so on.

This plan is not yet official as it must be ratified by a number of parties, a vote that is currently taking place.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176350 Philadelphia Flyers

An abnormal NHL season could benefit a young Carter Hart's growing career

By Joe Fordyce

July 08, 2020 8:52 AM

For the last three or four months, one of the more popular sayings is “the new normal.” Wearing masks, practicing social distancing and modifying behaviors to adhere to public health guidelines have become part of the fabric of our daily lives. As each sport returns to play, there is bound to be a new normal for baseball, basketball, football and hockey. The bottom line is that things that would have once been viewed as abnormal have now become normal.

For Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, abnormal has been all he has known since coming up to the NHL. Hart’s career began as an early holiday gift for Flyers fans. Hart made his debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 18, 2018, after the Flyers were more than two months into their season. Hart performed admirably in his first season, finishing ninth in Calder Trophy voting for the league’s best rookie and despite missing games because of injury, his rookie season was anything but normal.

Flyers fans and Hart alike were looking forward to the young goaltender’s first full season as the franchise goaltender. Hart was having a good season, especially at home where he was flat-out dominant. Enter COVID-19 and the league pause instituted in early March. Hart spent time at his home near Edmonton, Alberta, during the break, and now is looking at his first NHL playoffs, which are now occurring in late summer, as opposed to “normal” early spring. The list of goaltenders that have dealt with this sort of turmoil and adversity in their first two seasons contains one name — Carter Hart. And I believe this will only benefit him going forward in his career.

Assuming the NHL plan comes to fruition in the way it has planned, that means Hart’s third season will not be a normal NHL season either. While it may be an 82-game slate, as the league has stated it wishes to have, it will be a condensed schedule. If this happens as planned, Hart will have experienced coming up in the middle of a season, having the weight of a franchise on his back, getting injured and dealing with a season interrupted by a pandemic, followed by a condensed season, all before the age of 24. Kids grow up fast, and in Hart’s case, he’s being forced to do so. Thus far, he hasn’t seemed to miss a beat.

If Hart succeeds when play resumes, because these unique circumstances, he will have experienced more in two or three seasons than most goaltenders experience in their entire career. Though his appearance may not suggest it, Hart will be a grown-up goaltender in the NHL.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176351 Philadelphia Flyers Wellwood made the Flyers roster to start the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, but his time with the club — and his last NHL stint — would be short-lived. After an injury to Scott Hartnell, Philadelphia signed 40-year- old Mike Knuble and needed to clear a spot at forward to accommodate The optimist: How ex-Flyer Eric Wellwood’s belief buoyed the Flint him. Only Wellwood and Zac Rinaldo were realistic demotion candidates, Firebirds and the front office chose Wellwood. He returned to the , the Flyers’ AHL affiliate.

“Obviously, a lot of factors came into play, but at the end of the day, I Charlie O'Connor always look in the mirror,” Wellwood said. “Perhaps I could have Jul 8, 2020 performed even better to force them to not send me down. It happens. I’m sure if I had more time in my playing career, I would have potentially made it back up.”

Eric Wellwood was only heading to the local bar just outside of Windsor, But on April 7, 2013, during a Phantoms game against Bridgeport, he ran Ontario, to grab a few drinks with friends. out of time.

He had endured a soul-crushing 13 months. A freak leg injury in an April As he lightly skated backward through the neutral zone during a penalty 2013 AHL game led to three surgeries, nearly a year’s worth of rehab kill, Wellwood stared down future NHL forward Nino Niederreiter, who and the devastating realization his pro career had come to an end just as came right at him with the puck. Niederreiter flipped it between he was on the verge of establishing himself as a full-time winger with the Wellwood’s legs and looked to maneuver around him along the boards. Philadelphia Flyers. Wellwood attempted to seal off Niederreiter but lost an edge and crashed into the boards. As he got back to his skates, he realized his left blade So when he walked into local watering hole Johnny Shotz in May 2014, had dug into his right ankle. The pain was immediate. the then-23-year-old wasn’t expecting more than a few laughs with his buddies. He had some ideas about his post-playing career — more He struggled back to the Adirondack bench but didn’t comprehend the schooling, perhaps, or even firefighting — but this was just another night. gravity of the situation until he saw the worried face of teammate Jon Sim. He didn’t know he would run into D.J. Smith, his former assistant coach with the OHL’s , who had become the head coach of the “I knew I was hurt really bad. I just didn’t know to what extent,” Wellwood in the same junior league. And he didn’t see a job offer recalled. “So I skated off across the ice to where our bench was, to make coming, certainly not in the sport that, just months earlier, he’d been a line change. As I sat down, (Sim said), ‘You’re bleeding everywhere.’” forced to leave. Wellwood rushed off the ice with the help of trainer Greg Lowden, leaving “When I walked in, literally all (D.J.) said was, ‘Hey, there’s my new a lurid trail of blood in his wake. After that, the game was secondary; the assistant coach!’” Wellwood recalled, laughing. focus was on Wellwood, who had severed four tendons and a nerve, along with an artery that the in-arena paramedics needed to immediately For some, a quick return to the game after it brought such pinch off. Without their help, Wellwood could have died from blood loss disappointment would have been unthinkable. Others might have shied before reaching the hospital. from an assistant coach position at the highest level of Canadian junior hockey at a young age, worried they weren’t qualified. Three surgeries, eight consecutive weeks of bed rest and almost a year of rehab followed before he could even attempt a long-shot comeback. Wellwood merely saw it as a fun challenge, a way to stay involved in Wellwood gave it his all — after months of skating at home in Windsor hockey as he figured out the next steps in his career. Six years later, he’s with his old club, he returned to the Philadelphia area in February 2014 to still behind the bench — but now, Wellwood is coming off his first full see if he could keep up with pro players. season as head coach of the Flint Firebirds, during which he helped engineer the biggest team turnaround in the OHL. The verdict? While the speed, long his calling card, hadn’t entirely disappeared, he found it impossible to push himself at a pro pace on Perhaps Flint’s transformation under Wellwood, from 16-win cellar- consecutive days. Wellwood had avoided the worst-case scenario — dweller in 2018-19 to 40-win contender in 2019-20, shouldn’t be a initially, he was told he had a 1-in-5 chance of not being able to walk surprise. After all, he’s made a habit of turning lemons into lemonade — again — but by that April, he knew the best-case scenario was out of from his path to the NHL to the brutal end of his playing career to taking reach. on one of the toughest coaching jobs in junior hockey and thriving anyway. His pro hockey career was over. Yet Wellwood’s seemingly innate, positive attitude carried him through the disappointment. “I can’t stress enough what a skill set it is, to think of the positive side of it,” said Smith, now the head coach of the Ottawa Senators. “So many “I think I did shed a couple tears (when it was time to make the people are defeated before they even get in the ring, essentially. They decision),” he acknowledged, “but I’ve always had a good attitude toward just think, ‘Oh, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.’ I don’t think (Wellwood) ever it. It never really affected me in a negative way, even as I was going thought that he couldn’t.” through the rehab or when the injury first occurred. I didn’t have to battle too many hardships, I don’t think.” Wellwood was an underdog from the start. Two months later, Wellwood was an assistant coach for an Oshawa club The younger brother of longtime NHL player , Eric didn’t that went on to win the Memorial Cup, given annually to the champions of burst onto the junior hockey scene with eye-catching point totals like Kyle Canadian major junior hockey. A little over four years later, he was the did. After an uninspiring 16-point campaign with the Spitfires in 2007-08, head coach of a Flint team in desperate need of the signature optimism he was passed over by every NHL club in his first year of draft eligibility. that Wellwood channeled to quickly rebound from the low point of his A strong 2008 playoff run persuaded the Flyers to select Wellwood a career. year later in the sixth round — not exactly the most fertile grounds for draft success stories. In fact, from 2005 through 2016, just 11.6 percent Stops in Wellwood's journey of the sixth-round picks went on to play in 100 NHL games; only 18.0 percent appeared in 30. The odds of making it to Philadelphia weren’t in 2007 Wellwood’s favor. Joins the OHL's Windsor Spitfires Yet there he was, dressing for every game during the Flyers’ 2012 playoff 2008 run. That April, Wellwood found himself on a line with Sean Couturier that was tasked with shutting down Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in the Passed over in first year of eligibility for NHL Draft now-legendary first-round series between the Pennsylvania rivals. 2009 “That was our job, and when I reflect back, it’s kind of crazy to think that my job was to try not to let those guys score,” Wellwood said. “The two Drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round (No. 172) greatest players in the game. Yeah, special times.” 2010

Makes NHL debut with the Flyers 2012 So Wellwood and Branch set their first, lofty goal: change the culture of the entire organization. The 2018-19 season was a lost cause — at least Dresses for every game of the Flyers' playoff run in the standings — because of the disastrous start. But the coaching staff 4/7/2013 and front office could still help the players rediscover the excitement of going to the rink each day by turning it into a place for learning and Suffers a severe leg injury in an AHL game development.

2014 Wellwood’s first move: Make it clear that, given the team’s rough start, steady improvement mattered more than wins and losses. Officially halts comeback attempt, accepts position as assistant head coach of the OHL's Oshawa Generals “One of the first things that I remember about Eric … he took down the standings board in the dressing room,” Branch said. “And I asked him … 2016 ‘What did you do? Did you get fired up and rip it off the wall? What Takes job as assistant head coach of the OHL's Flint Firebirds happened?’ And he said, no, (he) just took a screwdriver and took it off the wall. I asked him, ‘Why?’ And he said, ‘Because they don’t matter.’” 2017 Part of Wellwood’s thinking, of course, was to keep the focus on Leaves Flint to work on HeadCheck Health, a concussion management development and off the team’s ugly record. But it also went back to tool startup, with his brother Wellwood’s process-over-results approach.

2018 “I don’t really care if we win or lose,” he said of his coaching philosophy. “I really don’t. I probably couldn’t even tell you what the score is at the Accepts position as Flint head coach end of the day. I don’t really know. I could tell you if we played well or In 2018, when Wellwood accepted Flint’s head-coaching position, the not. But I don’t really look at the scoreboard. I don’t coach the Firebirds were known for only low points. scoreboard. It took a while for the boys to understand what I meant by that.” An embarrassing saga from Flint’s inaugural 2015-16 campaign loomed over the organization. After owner Rolf Nilsen fired the coaching staff in Slowly, the mentality started to shift. November, two months into the season — reportedly over a dispute “We would have little practice games that were just some of the most about playing time for Nilsen’s son, Hakon — players quit the team en competitive games that I’ve been in,” Dellandrea recalled. “It was masse in protest. Head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave because of him. He brought that fun to the game. He always believed Karpa were quickly re-hired, which brought the players back into the fold, that the game should be fun first, and then the rest will fall. You’ll play only to be fired again in February, a widely criticized move that led the better after that.” OHL to suspend Nilsen for five years and place the team under league stewardship. “I don’t coach the scoreboard. It took a while for the boys to understand what I meant by that,” Wellwood said. (Todd Boone / Flint Firebirds) Aside from a decent 2016-17 season that led to a brief playoff appearance, there was little success to change the narrative. After three A Dec. 16 game against the Kingston Frontenacs was the pivot point of seasons, Flint had never finished in the top half of the standings. the season. Just before the holiday break, multiple Flint players were Entering 2018-19, the Firebirds were an annual cellar-dweller saddled found to have violated team rules. After discussing the situation with one of the most ignominious events in recent OHL history. internally, Wellwood and the rest of the Firebirds brain trust decided to scratch the offenders, leaving Flint with just eight forwards and four So when Flint head coach Ryan Oulahen stepped down after an 0-7-0-0 defensemen against the Frontenacs. start, the Firebirds vacancy wasn’t exactly an attractive one. Improbably, the undermanned Firebirds won 7-1 anyway, which proved But Wellwood knew the team. After two seasons as an Oshawa two things: Wellwood was willing to lay down the law despite his “fun” assistant, Wellwood had taken an assistant job in Flint and helped the reputation, and the players who bought into the new team culture could Firebirds to that first playoff appearance in 2017. And even though his have on-ice success. tenure as an assistant lasted one season — he briefly left coaching to work with his brother on a concussion management startup, HeadCheck “I think I’m fun to play for, because I give them a lot of rope,” Wellwood Health — Wellwood made an impression on the players, including future said. “But at the same time, I’ll give you lots of rope as long as you give Dallas Stars first-round pick Ty Dellandrea. me lots of effort. I think that put them into the mindset of, ‘OK, he’s not f- ing around.’ Just show up and play, and it’ll be fun.” “He played a role where he was close with all of his players,” Dellandrea said. “He was kinda the young guy that everyone loved and looked up Flint was a different team after the break. Not quite a competitive team — to.” the Firebirds went 12-17-4-0 the rest of the way — but a far cry from the club that posted a 4-29-2-0 record in the first half. They were no longer a Dellandrea was thrilled when he learned Wellwood might return. guaranteed win for opponents. With Wellwood’s help, they were starting “(Flint general manager) Barclay Branch calling me and saying, ‘I think to believe. we have a new head coach, and I think you’re gonna like who it is,'” he The team’s newfound mentality carried over into the 2019-20 training recalled. “And there’s a pause for a second, and I was running all the camp. Wellwood recognized it immediately. possibilities of who it could possibly be in my mind. And he just said, ‘Eric Wellwood.’ And I just remember, I was talking to him in the car, and my “The boys, they went through hell the year prior,” he said. “They wanted two roommates were (there) with me. We were all like, ‘Come on. You’re to come back with something to prove, and they did.” kidding, right?’ So we were pretty excited right away.” A 10-3-0 start served notice to the rest of the league: These weren’t the Branch realized Wellwood checked all of the boxes that he wanted in a same old Firebirds. Led by Dellandrea, the team’s captain, and breakout head coach. Wellwood was young (28 when he was hired), brought an rookie forward Evgeniy Oksentyuk, the Firebirds stood atop the OHL’s infectious positivity and envisioned a team built on speed, skill, hockey Western Conference standings on Halloween — quite a difference from sense and work ethic, which aligned perfectly with Branch’s view. the previous year, when Flint was 0-14-1-0 at that point in the season.

But why did Wellwood believe he could pull Flint out of its malaise? Hamstrung by injuries and tournament-related absences, the Firebirds cooled off in November and December. But they remained in the playoff “Youth?” Wellwood said, laughing. “I don’t know! I didn’t know if I could mix, and by mid-January, the team was back healthy and whole. A do it, to be honest. I just thought it was a challenge.” magical month-long run followed that made Flint the talk of Canadian By the time Wellwood took his spot behind the Firebirds bench, they had junior hockey. already lost 13 consecutive games. The horrid start weighed heavily on From Jan. 19 through Feb. 21, Flint eviscerated the OHL. The Firebirds the players. won 15 consecutive games, outscored opponents by 40 goals and “When I first walked into that dressing room and introduced myself as the averaged an incredible 6.07 goals per game. No one talked about an head coach, it was as if I was walking into a morgue or a funeral,” ownership controversy anymore or cracked jokes about a perennial Wellwood said. “The poor kids were just absolutely shattered.” bottom-feeder. No one wanted to face them. “When I reflect on that moment, I wasn’t even coaching the team,” “He’s starting (coaching) at a young age, he’s got lots of time to do it, and Wellwood recalled. “We just opened the door, and the boys, they knew one thing about Eric — if he puts his mind to it and decides he’s gonna what to do. Honestly, I barely talked to them. I didn’t even go up to some do it, he’s gonna do it,” Smith said. “I would say, if he wants to do it, he’s of them before the games. (I) just (said), ‘All right, boys, have fun!'” going to do it.”

The Firebirds adopted the same “nothing is impossible” mentality that had allowed Wellwood to take on the daunting task of spearheading Flint’s turnaround in the first place. Dellandrea calls it Wellwood’s “belief The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 to win.”

“His belief to win — his belief that he can still win a game at any circumstance — is like no one I’ve ever seen,” Dellandrea said.

“I feel like some coaches, you get down a couple, you might just start hoping something happens. But he never hoped. He made it happen or he believed it would happen.”

It added up to a 40-21-1-1 record, easily the best mark in franchise history, good for fourth place in the Western Conference. The team had fully rallied behind its coach.

“There’s no gray area for the players that play for Eric,” Branch said. “He gets the best out of them. … And at the end of the day, they don’t want to disappoint him.”

Wellwood’s “belief to win” had become reality for the Firebirds.

The Firebirds finished the season 40-21-1-1, the best record in franchise history. (Todd Boone / Flint Firebirds)

The 2019-20 Firebirds, in many ways, were a story. The unlikely, young coach only a few years removed from watching his playing career end because of awful luck. The team best known for embarrassing off-ice incidents and awful on-ice play. The epic winning streak, seemingly ripped right from the climax of “Moneyball.” It was straight out of a film.

Presumably, Hollywood wouldn’t have conjured up a pandemic to halt Flint’s breakout season in its tracks, though.

The Firebirds weren’t the favorites in the OHL postseason; when the season was paused (and eventually canceled), they sat behind London, Saginaw and Kitchener in the standings. But considering their 21-6-1-1 record since the start of January, they represented a potentially fearsome opponent. Instead, Wellwood and his players had to come to grips with the fact that their dream season was over before they even had a chance to prove themselves in the playoffs.

“I’m not disappointed for myself. I’m disappointed for the players,” Wellwood said. “Especially the guys that — there (were) a lot of guys that were on this team this year that have been on Flint for four years, and they’ve always been (on losing teams). And finally, (they) have an opportunity to be a good team, and it’s cut short. I don’t even know how to describe my emotions when it comes to thinking of how it ended for those guys.”

Yet Wellwood’s positivity shined through again on the end-of-season Zoom calls with the players. Branch — who was on the calls — said the head coach always seemed to know the right things to say to his understandably devastated players. After all, Wellwood had his own experience to draw from in dealing with unexpected disappointment.

“Shit, just like our season came to an end, so did my career,” he said, laughing, thinking back on those conversations. “I guess it’s one of those things where you don’t take anything for granted and just enjoy every moment. I was able to learn that lesson at 23.”

Yet the horrifying injury never appeared to faze Wellwood — not in its immediate aftermath, not during the extensive rehab process and not when his doctor delivered the grim news in April 2014 that there was no chance he would resume his playing career. Wellwood simply laced back up his skates and moved on to the next challenge.

Seven years after he nearly died on the ice and six years after that chance encounter with Smith at Johnny Shotz, Wellwood has become a fast-rising head coach in the hockey world. The days of being defined by the injury are over. Now, the question is whether his coaching career might take him to the same place that his playing career did: the NHL.

Smith seems to think so. In his mind, it all goes back to the optimistic attitude that’s allowed Wellwood to overcome every obstacle in his career. 1176352 Pittsburgh Penguins Perhaps his finest moment as an NHLer came during the 1990-91 season as he helped offset the absence of injured franchise icon Mario Lemieux by leading the team with 113 points (40 goals, 73 assists) in 78 games. An All-Star that season, Recchi contributed 34 points in 24 Double Team: A star with the Penguins, Pierre Larouche contributed to postseason games that spring as the franchise claimed its first Stanley the Canadiens’ success Cup title.

Recchi was in the midst of another outstanding season in 1991-92 with 33 goals and 70 points in 58 games but was traded to the Philadelphia SETH RORABAUGH Flyers as part of a three-team blockbuster in February of 1992. Wednesday, July 8, 2020 4:20 p.m. Nearly three years later, Recchi was on the move again when the Flyers dealt him to the Canadiens. In parts of five seasons in Montreal, Recchi remained a consistently productive force. While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer the Double Team project, an examination of Following the trade, Recchi led the Canadiens in scoring with 43 points in the five best players who have contributed substantially to the Penguins only 39 games during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign. and another franchise. For consideration, a player must have played at Playing extensively with star center Vincent Damphousse, Recchi least the equivalent of a full season for each franchise. (Sorry, Jarome reached the 70-point barrier all three full seasons he played with the Iginla fans.) Canadiens and was a two-time All-Star during that span while missing Today, a look at the Montreal Canadiens. One of the most hallowed only one game. franchises in all of sports, the Canadiens were founded in 1909 as a In the midst of a poor season in 1998-99, the Canadiens opted to rebuild charter member of the National Hockey Association (NHA), precursor to and dealt Recchi back to the Flyers by March of 1999. the NHL. Following the dissolution of the NHA, the Canadiens helped form the NHL. As the league’s oldest franchise, the Canadiens have won Recchi’s orbit brought him back to Pittsburgh as a free agent in July of the Stanley Cup a league-high 24 times, including once before the 2004. Following another lockout in 2004-05, Recchi had a productive but league was formed. The Penguins lost to the Canadiens, 2-1, at the Civic brief second act with the Penguins, producing 57 points in 63 games Arena in their first game, Oct. 11, 1967. In 216 all-time games against the before he was moved again at the 2005 trade deadline to the Carolina Canadiens, the Penguins have a 70-114-31 record. Hurricanes, helping that franchise win its first Stanley Cup that spring. Barely a month after that triumph, he re-signed with the Penguins for a 1. Pierre Larouche, center third stint. During the mid-1970s, the Steelers, Pirates and even Pitt football After a sturdy 2006-07 season in which he produced 68 points in 82 dominated the sporting scene in Pittsburgh, pushing the Penguins to the games, Recchi struggled badly at the start of 2007-08 and was waived in margins of relevance. December of 2007. Larouche was perhaps the only reason to pay attention to the Penguins In 2017, Recchi was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. at that time. He was an attraction. 3. Pete Mahovlich, center The No. 8 overall pick in the 1974 draft, Larouche, one of the greatest players in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, made When the Penguins dealt away Larouche, they received Mahovlich and an immediate impact in 1974-75 by recording 31 goals and 68 points in right winger Peter Lee in return. Lee ended up being the more productive 79 games and finishing second in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy, player of the two, but Mahovlich was the bigger name, literally. At 6-foot- which recognizes the league’s top rookie. 5 and 210 pounds, he was one of the largest players of the era.

In his second season of 1975-76, Larouche became the first player in Recording a hat trick in his first game with the Penguins, a 6-4 home win franchise history to reach the 100-point mark, establishing then-team against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 30, 1977, Mahovlich’s first season records of 111 points as well as 53 goals in 76 games. He was selected in Pittsburgh saw him appear in 57 games and score 61 points. to the All-Star Game that season. In 1977-78, he posted a solid 53 points in 60 games before joining the Injuries hindered Larouche throughout the 1976-77 season as he was Red Wings as a free agent during the 1978 offseason. limited to 65 points and 63 games. The following campaign, Larouche staggered to a poor start with 11 points in 20 games and the Quebec By the time he joined the Penguins, Mahovlich’s best days were behind native was traded to the Canadiens, who were in the midst of one of the him. Virtually all of those days happened in Montreal as a four-time most dominating runs by a team in NHL history. Stanley Cup champion. Acquired from the Red Wings in a trade during the 1969 offseason, Mahovlich made up for a lack of speed with strong Joining a stacked lineup, Larouche was expected to be more of a stickhandling, sound defense and intelligence. contributor than a driver with the Canadiens, who had won the previous two Stanley Cup championships. Regardless, he fit in well, putting up 49 Mahovlich broke out as an NHLer in 1970-71 with 35 goals and 61 points points in 44 games following the trade and helping the Canadiens win a in 78 games and a selection to the All-Star Game. He even finished 10th third consecutive championship. in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which recognizes the league’s MVP. His first Stanley Cup ring was earned that postseason by Once again, injuries hobbled Larouche in 1978-79 and he was limited to contributing 16 points in 20 games. 36 games and 22 points, but he held the Stanley Cup over his head once again that spring. Also a member of Montreal’s Stanley Cup teams in 1973, 1976 and 1977, Mahovlich’s best individual season came in 1974-75 when he After star goaltender Ken Dryden retired and head coach scored a career-high 117 points in 80 games. stepped down, the Canadiens entered a new era in 1979-80 and Larouche appeared poised to become the Canadiens’ next Quebecois One season later, he followed that up with 105 points in 80 contests. icon by becoming the first – and still, only – center to score 50 goals in a In 580 career games with the Canadiens, Mahovlich had 569 points, season for the franchise. But a lackluster playoff, which ended after two 19th-most in franchise history. rounds, brought scrutiny onto Larouche, following four consecutive championships. 4. Alexei Kovalev, right winger

Larouche once again battled injuries throughout the ensuing two seasons Kovalev had two bright prolonged periods during his somewhat disjointed and by December of 1981, he was traded to the . 19-year career. They came in Pittsburgh and Montreal.

2. Mark Recchi, right winger After frustrating New York Rangers management with his inconsistency, Kovalev was dealt to the Penguins in November of 1998. More of an As a fourth-round pick in 1988, Recchi broke into the NHL with the artist than a hockey player, Kovalev found a suitable tapestry for his skills Penguins in 1988-89 and by the following season, he had established in Pittsburgh, regularly reaching the 20-goal barrier in the first five himself as an NHLer with 30 goals and 67 points in 74 games and a fifth- seasons he played with the Penguins. place finish in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy. Perhaps the second-most skilled player in franchise history — trailing only Lemieux — Kovalev thrived with the offensively aggressive Penguins of the late 1990s and early 2000s with his greatest individual season coming in 2000-01. Playing on a line with Robert Lang and Martin Straka, Kovalev established a career-high in goals (44) and points (95) in 79 points, earning his first selection for an All-Star Game.

In the midst of another All-Star season in 2002-03, Kovalev was traded back to the Rangers by February of 2003 in a transaction based more in financial constraints than sound roster management.

Kovalev was once again inconsistent in New York and was traded again in March of 2004. In Montreal, Kovalev poetic approach to the game was beloved by fans and he became something of a civic icon.

In his five seasons with the Canadiens, Kovalev led the team in scoring three times. His best campaign with “Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge,” was in 2007- 08, when he put up 35 goals and 84 points in 82 games.

MVP of the 2009 All-Star Game staged in Montreal, Kovalev left as a free agent in the 2009 offseason, joining the Ottawa Senators.

By way of trade, Kovalev returned to Pittsburgh for a brief but unappetizing stretch at the end of the 2010-11 season. In 20 games, he could only produce seven points.

5. , goaltender

Herron had the seemingly impossible task of replacing the legendary Dryden after he was acquired from the Penguins via trade in the 1979 offseason.

But he actually did pretty well. In 1979-80, platooning with , Herron appeared in 34 games and posted a 25-3-3 record with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. Along with Larocque and Richard Sevigny, Herron won the Vezina Trophy which, at the time, recognized the goaltenders of the team which allowed the fewest goals.

But the only trophy that counts in Montreal is the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens never won it during Herron’s three-year tenure with the team and he was traded back to the Penguins in September of 1982.

Herron spent most of his 14-year career in Pittsburgh during three different stints. A third-round pick in 1972, Herron made the team out of training camp that same year but never established himself on the NHL level. He was traded to the City Scouts in 1974 but didn’t last long there, re-signing with the Penguins by 1976 and enjoyed two 20-win seasons, including in 1978-79 when he finished seventh in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy.

After his stint in Montreal, Herron, who was commonly regarded as one of the top “bad-team goalies” of his time, labored with some intentionally awful Penguins teams in the early 1980s, going 23-67-10 in his final four NHL seasons.

Honorable mention: Arron Asham, right winger; Hal Gill, defenseman; Tom Kostopoulos, right winger; John LeClair, left winger; Ab McDonald, left winger.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176353 Pittsburgh Penguins

What life in the NHL bubble may look like. And what the Penguins’ roster may look like.

TIM BENZ

Wednesday, July 8, 2020 6:52 a.m.

We’ve been waiting for months to see what life within the NHL bubble is going to be like. Now we are getting an idea.

The National Hockey League has released its return-to-play protocol for Phase 3 and Phase 4. That’s training camp and the ensuing restart of the season on Aug. 1.

It includes everything from testing procedures, to swimming pool protocol, to instructions on how to press elevator buttons.

I’m serious.

In this week’s “Breakfast With Benz” hockey podcast, we don’t get quite that deep. But Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer and I analyze the smartest way to stack the Penguins 31-man roster. Especially from a goalie standpoint.

How many of those valuable roster spots do you give to emergency goalies who may never play? Keep in mind, though, those guys will become invaluable if one goalie gets hurt and another one gets a positive covid-19 test.

We also talk about how experimental the Penguins can be at forward with their depth. Namely, the potential of including hot prospect Sam Poulin. Since the team already has two experienced defensemen in Chad Ruhwedel and Juuso Riikola on reserve, maybe they feel they can roll the dice on a few home run prospects up front.

Metzer and I also lament the quiet passing of July 1 on the NHL calendar. That’s normally a day reserved for hockey hysteria to kickoff free agency. Signings come fast and furious. Trades occur like wildfire. But no such luck this year.

And this could’ve been a huge week for Penguins news under normal circumstances, given Matt Murray’s uncertain status. Would he have been traded? Or have signed a mega-money extension?

We’ll never know now. So Metzer and I speculate about his future moving forward.

We also set over-under dates for how long we think this hockey reboot will last. I’d love to say we’ll see it through until a Stanley Cup champion is crowned. But I’m dubious. I doubt the league lasts through the round of 16.

Let’s see if Metz is more optimistic.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176354 Pittsburgh Penguins Given the lack of a right-handed player who is either a legitimate one- timer threat or a deft playmaker, the best option in the left circle might just be the captain. He might not be thrilled about switching spots, but he’ll do what it takes to win. Penguins camp primer: What’s the fix for a power play that rarely looked right? Guentzel is more than capable of thriving in the areas where Crosby can usually be found. And having one of the best players in hockey history in the left circle would create a more balanced setup.

With the NHL targeting July 13 for the start of full-squad training camps in If Sullivan can get everyone playing on their toes instead of passing Phase 3 of its return-to-play plan, Penguins beat reporters Matt Vensel deliberately, the Penguins may have something. If he wants to keep his and Mike DeFabo are counting down the days until Penguins Camp Part best player where he is most comfortable, that’s certainly defensible. His Deux by examining some of the key questions that will be waiting when other options in the left circle include Guentzel, Schultz and Bryan Rust. the team hits the ice: With only two weeks of training camp before the Penguins report to The Penguins ranked right smack in the middle of the pack in power-play Toronto for the postseason tournament, Sullivan won’t have much time to success rate during the NHL regular season, converting at a respectable tinker around. clip of 19.9%.

Respectable ain’t good enough. These are the Penguins we’re talking about. Matt Vensel

The star-studded squad rarely seized games with its power play. The Post Gazette LOADED: 07.09.2020 Penguins had four stretches of at least four games without a power-play goal. At one point, they nearly had the longest slump in franchise history — and that was in the first month, with most of their top offensive personnel still at their disposal.

Even during the few stretches when they fairly regularly put the puck in the net with one of the bad guys in the box, the Penguins rarely made it look easy.

So when the players take the ice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for the start of training camp next week, nearly four months since they went 0-for-4 in their last game before the NHL suspended play due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can bet coach Mike Sullivan will spend a significant amount of time trying to fix their busted-up power play.

What was their deal anyway? How was a power play that boasted Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang — sometimes simultaneously — just mediocre?

First, there was the Phil Factor. The Penguins did not miss Phil Kessel at 5-on-5. He had just five even-strength goals in his first year in Arizona, and only seven teams scored more 5-on-5 goals than Pittsburgh during the regular season. But on the power play, the Penguins were unable to fill the void he left in the left circle.

In his last two seasons in Pittsburgh, Kessel paced the Penguins in both goals and points on the power play. He rarely ripped one-timers. But his world-class ability to squeeze passes between scrambling penalty-killers helped the Penguins make opponents pay for cheating over to Crosby and Malkin’s side of the ice.

Sullivan tried a few experiments early. They included putting the left- handed Alex Galchenyuk on that side, deploying a two-defenseman look to get another righty in Justin Schultz on the ice and encouraging everyone to move their feet.

By December, the coach could only hope for having five guys with a pulse.

Yeah, injuries were kind of a big deal, too. Crosby was sidelined for three months. Malkin missed 14 games. Letang sat out eight. And Jake Guentzel went down in late December. Not only were the Penguins often without at least one of their big guns, they never seemed to get in a rhythm due to all those moving parts.

Throw in Sullivan’s discontent with Letang’s reluctance to let it rip from the point, leading to Schultz receiving more time with the top unit, and there you go.

The good news is the Penguins should be at full strength if and when the playoffs begin. Guentzel is back and Crosby hopefully has put any lingering effects of his sports hernia surgery behind him. The mental reset also couldn’t have hurt.

But the Penguins still have to figure out how to fit all the pieces together.

We’ll assume Letang is back at the point for Game 1 of the play-in series against his hometown Montreal Canadiens. Malkin, whose one-timer is still a weapon, is presumably in the right circle. Let’s say Patric Hornqvist is parked in front. Crosby is likely lurking in the high slot or just off the right post. But should he be? 1176355 St Louis Blues “This trip,” he said, “was the first time I’ve ever driven, since my first year pro, without dogs or family. On the way here, I think I stopped twice and the total stop the whole day was 15 minutes. I packed a lunch, packed all my snacks, never went into a store, beelined it as far as I could. Same For Allen, NHL restart is a chance for the Blues to finish business thing the second day. It’s a little bit easier going by yourself. You don’t have to worry about anyone else, you’re just worrying about bathroom

breaks and not running out of gas and getting to the end destination as Tom Timmermann safely as possible.”

How goalies do when play resumes is one of the mysteries of this whole process. Skaters can work on shots in their driveway, but for goalies, It’s been almost four months since the Blues last played a game, but with facing NHL-level shots has been close to impossible. In the summer in a break as long as most offseasons, it never really seemed like one for Fredericton, there wasn’t even any ice for Allen to skate on, but he tried the Blues because of the way play stopped. other ways to stay sharp. Allen has a machine designed for baseball that will throw balls and he and Jordan Binnington used a computer program “It really felt that hockey was always triggered in your mind,” goaltender that had them focus on moving Images. Jake Allen said Wednesday after one of the team’s informal skates at Centene Community Ice Center, in a Zoom conversation with the Blues’ “You try to keep your eyes focused as best possible,” he said. “Then I’ve Chris Kerber, “because you knew it wasn’t over. You felt like there wasn’t got a SKLZ machine, where balls come out at different speeds and with any closure in the season. You sort of always were thinking about it. In different curves and you try to catch them. I use that for my glove and my the summer, the season's done, you win or you lose and you forget about blocker. And I shoot a lot of pucks too. I try to incorporate shooting into it for a couple months. You’re not really worried about it and you pick it my work, shooting 150, 100 pucks a day, sometimes with gloves on, up later in the summer. This time, it’s ‘When are we playing? What’s sometimes without. I put my skates on, just to get a feel for the blades going on?’ You’re always thinking about, talking about it. You never really and feel the edges and I’ve got some artificial ice. It’s not the same, but checked out. There’s unfinished business because there was no closure it’s the best you’ve got and you’ve got to make the most of it.” to it.” Making the most of what you've got isn't a bad slogan going forward. That time may come soon. The players are in the process of voting on a new collective bargaining agreement with the league and the ambitious return-to-play protocols that would allow the league to finish the season St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.09.2020 sometime in early October, if they manage to get through the obstacle course that lies ahead. Voting began Wednesday morning and results are scheduled to be announced on Friday. If the proposal passes — and it’s expected to — and is also approved by the league’s board of governors — which also is expected — training camps would open on Monday, with games beginning in Edmonton and Toronto on Aug. 1.

The new CBA is a four-year extension that would run through the 2025- 26 season. It’s a rare case of the NHL and the players association reaching a deal well in advance of the current deal running out, something that was necessitated by the uncertainty caused by COVID- 19.

“It’s been a really long process,” Allen said. “I was fortunate to try to be involved as much as I could, to listen and understand with the downtime we had. The NHLPA has done an unbelievable job, looking out for the best for the league and for the benefit of the players, trying to get security. … We’re in such a good spot financially, with the fans and the growth of the game, Seattle coming in (as an ), the PA and the league did an unreal job. It’s not an easy thing to do, in the past we’ve seen lockouts, and during a pandemic, there were so many unique circumstances that had to be maneuvered around to make it work, and to do it all virtually, I can only imagine how hard it is. We should be happy about it and I hope the fans are too.”

For the Blues, who went into the pause with the second-most points in the league and the most in the Western Conference, the chance for a second Stanley Cup is real.

“We have such a great opportunity here,” Allen said, “to do something again. It’s pretty much the same group, we had a great season that put us in a great spot. The situation is definitely different, but we’re not the only team in this position. I think we have as good a chance as anyone else. There’s no time to waste. We need to be ready to go right away, especially in those first three games, against our seeding teams. We need to treat them as important as the playoffs and get ready. Each team will have a different approach, but I think our maturity and leadership and experience from last year should prepare us the right way.”

The informal practices are closed to the media, and the team has not said who is taking part, but general manager Doug Armstrong said last week that the whole team was expected to be back in town by the middle of this week.

In Allen’s case, that meant a long drive from his offseason home in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to St. Louis. Allen has traditionally made that drive each season, before and after, so he would have his truck with him in St. Louis. This is his 10th season with the franchise, so that’s 20 times he’s made the trip.

This time, he made sure to minimize his stops to avoid as much contact with anyone else as possible on the 25-hour drive. 1176356 Tampa Bay Lightning sign. It’s been hard to project what they’d make until the league had an exact cap number for next year, and now that they do, we’ll do our best to give an idea on the range the star young players will warrant.

How a flat cap will impact the Lightning roster and how to make it work We’re using Evolving-Hockey’s contract projection tool, which is used from a model that is built by looking at what GMs have paid players in the past based on a variety of different metrics. They break it down by predicting the most likely term (in percentages) and what the appropriate By Joe Smith AAV would be. Jul 8, 2020 Mikhail Sergachev

Eight years, $6.5 million AAV (32-percent) The good news is that the Lightning get to continue their season and Six years, $5.711 million AAV (25-percent) quest for a Stanley Cup later this summer. Two years, $4.04 million AAV (13-percent) The NHL has found labor peace with an expected extension for their collective bargaining agreement just needing to be approved in a players’ Seven years, $5.657 million AAV (13-percent) vote this week. Skinny: Any of these contracts would be a significant jump for But the bad news is this: The cap-strapped Lightning will be challenged Sergachev, who made $894,166 in the final year of his entry-level even more in the next couple years with the salary cap remaining flat at contract. The Russian evolved into a dynamic two-way force this season, $81.5 million for 2020-21 season and only adjusting after the league looking a lot like someone ready to take on a top-four role. His agent reaches $4.8 billion in revenues. negotiated a six-year, $6.75 million AAV contract for fellow Russian defenseman (and former summer workout partner) Ivan Provorov with GM Julien BriseBois has acknowledged all year that this offseason will the Flyers last September. While Tampa Bay may not have a problem be their toughest test yet in terms of keeping the current group together, committing long term to Sergachev, they’ve traditionally gone the bridge with $76.1 million already committed to just 15 players. And that’s not route with their RFAs, including Point (three years, $6.75 million AAV including core players like Mikhail Sergachev and Anthony Cirelli, who last) last summer. Sergachev won’t have arbitration rights, so there’s not are restricted free agents, due hefty raises. much leverage there, and it might be smart for both sides to do a shorter- We examined earlier this year the Lightning contracts that have the best term, two-year deal, knowing the cap will likely go up once the new U.S. and worst values, which will go a long way in their ability to be tradeable. television deal kicks in and the world gets somewhat back to normal. But there’s no sugar-coating this situation: BriseBois is going to have to So let’s go with Sergachev signing a two-year, $4.04 million AAV deal. make some cap-cutting moves if he wants to keep his young core players. Anthony Cirelli

How can the Lightning pull it off? Six years, $5.812 million AAV (42-percent)

Let’s first take a look at the club’s long-term contract outlook, with this Five years, $5.44 million AAV (13-percent) chart showing how much they have committed to players in the next few years and who has no-trade or no-move contracts. Vezina Trophy- Two years, $3.664 AAV (12-percent) winning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy’s long-term deal kicks in at $9.5 Four years, $5.012 AAV (12-percent) million AAV, matching the one signed by Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov. Skinny: Cirelli put himself into the Selke Trophy consideration this year with his dynamic two-way play. As one teammate put it, Cirelli is their Tampa Bay has $42.12 million — which is more than half of next year’s “engine,” driving play in his shutdown role while also cashing in cap — committed to just five players (Steven Stamkos, Kucherov, offensively (16 goals in 68 games with little to no power play time). Like Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh) through 2023-24. Sergachev, he’s the kind of player that Tampa Bay wants to keep long- That, of course, doesn’t include expected extensions for No. 1 center term. It’s just a matter of how they get there. Cirelli won’t be getting Point Brayden Point and whatever Sergachev and Cirelli are signed at. money and Evolving-Hockey’s three-year projection of $4.489 million But that’s a problem for another day. would be palatable for the Lightning. Remember, Cirelli has no arb rights, either, so his best leverage point is still to come in a few years. Let’s just try to make next season work, 2020-21. As of now, there’s only 10 forwards under contract and three defensemen (Hedman, McDonagh Let’s estimate Cirelli signs a three-year, $4.5 million AAV. and Braydon Coburn), so the Lightning will have to fill out the right side of Erik Cernak its blue line. Re-signing Sergachev and right-shot Erik Cernak will go a long way in completing the D-core, but there’s only $5 million left to play Two years, $2.497 million AAV (30 percent) with and a lot of roster spots to fill. Six years, $4.42 million AAV (26 percent) Using CapFriendly’s useful Armchair GM tool, here’s what the lineup looks like based on regulars under contract. Three years, $3.660 million AAV (14 percent)

3 Skinny: Cernak has been a pleasant surprise the past few years, with the Slovak defenseman – acquired in the Ben Bishop trade to L.A. – turning You can see why BriseBois really liked the contracts for deadline into a shutdown pair defenseman with McDonagh. The 23-year-old acquisitions Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, who account for a wasn’t quite as good this year as his rookie year, but it is tough to find 6- combined $2.725 million. That’s a lot of bang for your buck when there’s foot-3, 233-pound right-shot defensemen who can play in that role (and very little money left. There’s a good chance the Lightning will re-sign not cost a ton of money). I do think Cernak will be more in the lines of a restricted free agent prospects like Mitchell Stephens (an RFA at one or two year bridge deal at the $2.5 million range. $833,333) and Alex Volkov (an RFA at $864,000). Perhaps the team brings Carter Verhaeghe back on a one-year deal (RFA at $700,000), or The Evolving-Hockey projections for the prospect RFAs are: can get veteran Pat Maroon to take another bargain one-year deal (he’s Volkov – one year, $784,900 at $900,000 this year). Stephens – one year, $839,100 Defenseman Cal Foote, the 2017 first-round pick, is expected to compete for a spot on the blue line, and he’s at just $925,000 for next year. The If, and this is a big IF, the Lightning are able to squeeze all three of these dabbling around the edges of the roster, which we’ll get to, shouldn’t be RFAs for a combined $12 million (plus Volkov and Stephens), that’d the hard part, though it’ll add at least $3-4 million for the few forwards make it $13.624 million. and Foote. UFAs The real challenge will come with the important RFAs, Sergachev, Cirelli, and Cernak, the three players you’d think the Lightning would absolutely With all this maneuvering, it’ll be tough to imagine the Lightning having enough room to re-sign more than one of their unrestricted free agents. Maroon has been a significant influence on and off the ice, well worth the $900,000 he signed for in August. Maroon just turned 32 and plays a heavy game, so unless he’s open to a one-year deal in a similar range (and the Lightning aren’t happy enough with their prospects), he’ll likely get more elsewhere. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has been everything the Rangers hoped he’d be the previous couple years, and is open to re- signing with Tampa Bay for less money, shorter-term (he’s on a one- year, $1.75 million deal now). My sense is the Lightning will explore their options with Shattenkirk and Jan Rutta (a UFA after making $1.3 million this year) and see if they’ve got money left to fit them in. If the Lightning re-sign Cernak and move Foote up, there’s still room on the right side for another veteran (especially for the spot next to Hedman). And with Rutta working so well with the Norris winner, Tampa Bay may be in the market to re-sign him, if the price is right. Zach Bogosian, bought out by the Sabres and signed by the Lightning, could get a look, but not sure he’d be the ideal fit for that top-four role.

The Evolving-Wild projection for Rutta is a two-year deal at a $1.1 million AAV.

Who is moved?

This is where BriseBois and cap guru Mathieu Darche will earn their big bucks.

The Lightning will have to clear more than $10 million in cap space, at the very least, and move some of their younger prospects up into bigger roles. It seems like winger Alex Killorn could be a top candidate to get moved, much like J.T. Miller was last summer. Killorn is coming off a career season (26 goals), and his contract isn’t bad (three more years at $4.45 million AAV). So a team would be getting a versatile power forward who can play in all situations, is 30 years old, with three more years on his contract. Killorn also has a no-trade clause that changes to a modified (16 team no-trade list) this offseason, giving the Lightning some rare flexibility. Whether Killorn could net a first-round pick (like J.T. Miller did) remains to be seen, but let’s say his hometown Canadiens are interested and would deal a (second-round) pick?

The rest of the Lightning’s forwards with higher AAV (beyond the Stamkos, Kucherov, Point) are Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat. You’d save another $5 plus million if you could find a way to move one of them, although they’ve all got full no-trade clauses. Perhaps if you find a team that could give Johnson a top-six center role that he had in the past, it could be alluring, considering how much the former All-Star has been moved around. I think Cedric Paquette, with just one year left at $1.65 million AAV, is a candidate to get dealt too, especially with the emergence of Mitchell Stephens, who seems ready to fill in at that 4C role.

In this scenario, you have Volkov and Stephens moving into the lineup full-time. You re-sign a veteran fourth-line winger like Maroon or Riley Sheahan to provide that depth. Prospects like Boris Katchouk or Alex Barre-Boulet could get a look along the way. The trades you make with Johnson, Paquette, that’s where you can try to find a depth forward piece, too. Braydon Coburn stays as the sixth or seventh defenseman, giving some insurance if Foote is not completely ready, with Luke Witkowski under contract too for another year.

It’s not perfect, of course. And getting these kinds of trades completed is easier said than done.

The fact is that Sergachev and Cirelli could very well get more AAV than we projected here, so that would add wrinkle into this. But it underscores just how difficult an offseason this will be for the Lightning. And in 2021- 22? They’ve already got $68.7 million committed. So they’d have to do it again.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176357 Toronto Maple Leafs

New NHL calendar takes shape

Lance Hornby

July 8, 2020 8:48 PM EDT

Many critical dates in the NHL’s new CBA that the owners and players are voting on this week began filtering out Wednesday night to TSN, Sportsnet and other media outlets.

The details pertain to the Return To Play plan and the start of the 2020- 21 season. All dates are tentative and some moved already as they were based on the original July 10 training camp opening that’s now been shifted back a few days, but here are some highlights.

July 13 – Training Camps open for 24 RTP teams.

July 24 – Twelve teams travel to hub cities Toronto and Edmonton.

July 25: Exhibition games begin

July 30: Best of 5 Qualifying series and round robin games for top teams begin.

Aug. 9: Best of 7 First round begins

Aug. 23: Second round begins

Sept. 6: Conference finals begin (tentatively scheduled for Edmonton)

Sept. 20: Stanley Cup finals begin (tentatively scheduled for Edmonton)

Oct. 2: Target date to complete playoffs.

Oct. 6: Entry draft

Oct. 9: Free agent period opens (or seven days after last game of Cup final).

Nov. 17: Opening of training camps for 2020-21 season

Dec. 1: Opening of 2020-21 regular season.

Toronto Star LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176358 Toronto Maple Leafs “That’s something Wes carries with him. Everybody says he’s shy, but he has that deep, competitive nature in him. I saw it,” DeFazio said.

Word soon spread. A neighbourhood kid by the name of John Tavares ‘He’s that silent assasin’: How Wes Clark is helping Kyle Dubas shape knocked on Clark’s door without any warning. He wanted to be pushed the Leafs by older players like Clark, who had been grinding through obstacles from the time he was young.

Clark remembers his son hearing racist taunts during hockey and By Joshua Kloke lacrosse games. Wes’ mother is Chinese.

Jul 8, 2020 But Clark never walked away from hockey, even at 14, when he was told he was too small and cut from his AAA team. That experience pushed

him to look at players like Der-Arguchintsev beyond their height and As the 2018 NHL Draft inched closer, Jason Bukala and Wes Clark weight. continued to argue. Being raised by a single father also meant that if Clark had an evening Bukala, the Florida Panthers’ director of amateur scouting, and Clark, an hockey game, Richard would take him to his nearby office after the game amateur scout with the organization, couldn’t agree on whether to select to catch up on work he may have missed. Clark would finish his Peterborough Petes forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev. The forward was homework at a nearby desk in his office. skilled but small. Richard tried to instill a simple mantra: If you continue to put the work in, If he was available beyond the second round, Clark believed they should the “power of perseverance” would eventually win out. take him. Bukala disagreed. With other undersized prospects in the Wes Clark played his NCAA hockey with the Maine Black Bears. system, Bukala didn’t want to add too many of the same body types to (Courtesy of Richard Clark) their pool. In fall 2004, Clark, then 21, arrived at the University of Maine as, The Panthers never got the opportunity as Der-Arguchintsev was according to then-men’s hockey head coach Tim Whitehead, “a coach’s selected in the third round, 76th overall, by the Maple Leafs. dream.” He took instruction well and impressed Whitehead with the It was a typical suggestion from Clark, who made a name for himself with positive influence he had on his teammates in the weight room. the Panthers by looking beyond size and other typical hockey attributes. Whitehead remembered hearing Clark saying, “Everyone works hard “He’s a very deep thinker,” Bukala said. “He digs in on players but he now, but you have to outsmart them with how you train.” also understands the vision of the organization and the leadership ahead Undrafted after four years of NCAA hockey, Clark’s professional career of him and what they’re looking for in players.” stalled after one ECHL season. He found work as an intern at the Clark has brought those attributes with him to Toronto, where he works Uptown Hockey agency, where some players who trained at his father’s as the Leafs’ assistant director of player personnel and, unofficially, Kyle gym were represented. His duties included recruitment and establishing Dubas’ right-hand advisor. He is unorthodox and influential. And although player comparables in contract negotiations. he was among Craig Custance’s list of the top 40 under 40 shaping the Agent Todd Reynolds recalled being struck by Clark’s loyalty. NHL’s future in 2018, he still operated largely behind the scenes. Many Leafs fans would be justified in not knowing his name. The Leafs “He wasn’t anything but all in with us,” Reynolds said. declined to make Clark available for this story. Clark often returned to his father’s home talking about one of his Uptown But those who know Clark say he is one of the more unique people in colleagues: then-agent Kyle Dubas. professional hockey. As the Leafs continue to forge a path as a progressive, forward-thinking organization, Clark’s influence will likely Dubas and Clark were voracious readers eager to soak up new only continue to grow. information but with little experience in the game. The two bonded over what was then a novel way of looking at the game. They believed in skill “He thinks so differently from so many people in the hockey world,” said and in players who found ways to overcome obstacles. Brandon DeFazio, a longtime friend and recent KHL player. “He appreciates so many different things that often aren’t valued at a high “They have real acute hockey minds,” Richard said. level.” They quickly developed a close friendship. It was called the “Dungeon.” “Mutt and Jeff,” Richard said. Richard Clark’s homemade gym in the basement of his Oakville home “They’re deep in thought, those two,” said DeFazio, who Dubas didn’t have air conditioning and was stuffed with as much old gym represented at Uptown. “They think before they speak. They don’t just equipment he could find. say things that aren’t well-thought-out opinions.” “It was archaic,” said Richard Clark, Wes’ father. “But it worked.” When Dubas left Uptown to become general manager of the Soo In the late ’90s and early 2000s, the “Dungeon” was where local athletes Greyhounds in 2011, he gave Clark his first paid job in hockey: director of found the kind of intense workouts they couldn’t get elsewhere. Richard player development. Every dreamer needs a sounding board grounded in had tried working out with his son and his son’s friend Matt Moulson at a reality. For Dubas, that person was Clark. local YMCA. But Clark didn’t want to be seen around his father, whose “(Clark) was always someone that was kind of making sure that we were workouts were considerably aggressive. questioning what we were doing and not in a bad way, but just in a way And so they gathered with other local teenage hockey players in the that we’re challenging the staff to make sure that we’re making the right “Dungeon” to push each other. decisions,” said Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis, who worked with Clark for one season in the Soo. “‘These guys are crazy,’” DeFazio remembered thinking. “It was an absolute jungle. These guys were tossing weights around, screaming. Clark sought creative players who had a skill set the organization could Sometimes the whole workout would break down because Matt and Wes build on. He dissected players, getting to the root of why they were either would wrestle each other because they were so upset if one person did performing well or underperforming. That helped him find overlooked an extra rep.” value.

“Wes always wanted to lift a single pound more than everyone else,” “You want to get out of that kind of typical talk. You want to make sure Moulson said. you’re articulate and not just saying, ‘Hey, this player is a bad skater,’ but asking ‘Why is he bad? Can we improve it? What’s wrong with his Clark might have seemed shy at first, but he developed a desire to push stride?’ and not just saying ‘This kid sucks, he can’t skate, move on,’” those around him to new limits with personal training. Raftis said.

Beyond challenging Dubas, Clark learned to take risks. “If you’re a people person like Wes, and intelligent like Wes, you’re going “He’s not going to be the guy that stands out in the room,” Bukala said. to be able to create. You’re not just going to do the same thing you did 10 “He’s that silent assassin. He carries clout, but you’d never know it.” years ago. You’re going to stay on the cutting edge,” Whitehead said. Two months after he was promoted to GM of the Leafs, Dubas In his first season, the Greyhounds missed the playoffs. Clark and Dubas repatriated Clark to Toronto. Clark didn’t care what his title was; he just faced pressure from Greyhounds ownership to right the ship. Late in wanted to help fuel Dubas’ vision for the game, one of skill and puck 2012, Dubas and Clark were considering moving on from then-head possession, by finding players who fit that mold. coach Mike Stapleton. If Clark’s background is any indication, there is more to playing for the Clark consulted his father. He said if the Greyhounds kept Leafs under Dubas than simply having skill. Under Clark, new Leafs underperforming, Clark and Dubas could get fired. Richard pushed his players must outwork their competitors. son: If they make the change and it doesn’t go well, what would happen? They’d probably get fired all the same. In March, after DeFazio told his old friend he wanted to work in hockey, Clark invited him on a scouting trip to Barrie to watch the OHL’s Colts “When you’re in the middle of a minefield, you don’t stand still,” Richard play the Sudbury Wolves. remembered telling his son. DeFazio was immediately drawn to three players who scored two or On Dec. 3, 2012, the Greyhounds hired as their new head more goals in that game. He pointed out their skill. Clark wanted him to coach. Keefe had no OHL coaching experience but he guided the dig beyond their obvious skill. Greyhounds to the playoffs that season and the following two seasons. “There were some intangibles I missed with the players I was looking at,” Wes Clark looks at video from behind the net during a training session DeFazio said. “And he wasn’t shy to tell me that he was seeing different with John Tavares. (Courtesy of Richard Clark) things. He’d say, ‘Look at his back check. Look at how he hops over the bench.'” Three months after the Leafs hired Dubas as assistant general manager in 2014, Clark was hired by them to work in player evaluation. Clark was looking for intensity beyond the scoresheet.

Dubas was surprised when then-Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello chose not to And he got it midway through the second period when Leafs prospect renew Clark’s contract after the 2015-16 season. On the 2016 NHL Draft and then-Wolves defenceman Kalle Loponen, upset with some liberties floor, Dubas told Bukala that Clark would soon be available. that had been taken with him, dropped the gloves with Colts left winger Nicolas Porco. One month later, Clark was hired as an amateur scout for the Panthers. His two-year tenure in Florida didn’t just prepare him to return to the Clark was impressed by Loponen’s drive. Leafs. It also helped him make a name for himself. “That went a long way with Wes,” DeFazio said. “It was a willingness to “I’m going to be perfectly blunt: I learned how to think outside the box on step outside of (Loponen’s) comfort zone.” player attributes and think a little bit differently on players,” Bukala said. “And I credit him for some of my own professional development.” Now, as the Leafs continue to face a salary cap crunch, they will have to think outside the box to unearth otherwise overlooked players. Clark began as an Ontario-based scout. But when Bukala noticed how well Clark identified elements of a player beyond the obvious, Bukala Clark will be central to that, flying across the world to get firsthand designated Clark as his “special assignments guy.” analysis of possible signings and draft picks before delivering his reports to Dubas, despite having far less experience in professional hockey than “When you get to know Wes Clark, you know pretty quickly that you’ve many other Leafs senior management figures. got to utilize his skill set in a broader landscape,” Bukala said. “You can’t pigeonhole that. You’ve got to let that grow.” “He’s going to be that right-hand guy that successful organizations need to have,” Bukala said. “In that market, (Dubas) needs guys like that.” It was in scouting meetings that Clark began to show his influence. But he won’t just provide his feedback. He’ll let Dubas know if he Bukala used traditional terms like hockey sense, on-ice awareness and believes a player is ready to go the extra mile with his training, and just vision to describe players. But Clark pushed him one step further. how the Leafs can then make that player better.

He would ask how players find “quiet ice in the pocket” to exploit Dubas isn’t the only prominent person among the Leafs who regularly defensive structure and then create scoring chances. Even if some seeks out Clark’s opinion. Tavares still talks with Clark following games furrowed their brows around the table, Clark was trying to determine how to get his close friend’s thoughts on his performance. catch-all terms would benefit the Panthers. While some spoke vaguely, Clark challenged those around him to be specific with their observations. “He’s always been there for me. He’s always continued to help me grow as a player and as a person,” Tavares said. “He always challenged me, “It was enlightening,” Bukala said. “We might have been talking the same telling me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear.” language and trying to go down the same road. But the way he described it opened my eyes a little bit more.” “He sees ways that players can benefit and how things can be specifically adapted to their skill set,” Moulson said. In 2017, the Panthers had the 10th pick. Clark wanted them to use it on highly skilled and highly divisive winger Owen Tippett if he was available. Moulson, who played 650 NHL games, recalled being given a hard time Clark believed in what Tippett could become. Tippett has spoken publicly by teams about his skating. But few asked why he was skating the way about how he was bullied as a young player and had a contentious he was. relationship with his father. “He’s always asking questions,” Moulson said. “As a player, that’s a huge Despite higher-rated centre Gabriel Vilardi being available when the thing. When you ask those questions, it’s a lot easier to understand a Panthers picked, they chose Tippett. Clark was the first person from the player on the ice and as an individual as well.” Panthers to take the draft stage, ahead of general manager Dale Tallon. It was perhaps symbolic, but it was also hard not to see just how quickly Clark’s stock had risen. The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020

Clark stood beside Tippett and awkwardly held his hands together as the ceremonial photo was taken onstage. His obvious discomfort before the cameras was no surprise to those who know him. The following spring, Clark declined when Bukala asked him to be the Panthers representative at the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery in Toronto.

“He doesn’t want to be in the limelight,” Bukala said. “He doesn’t want people having full access to him. That’s not his shtick.”

Don’t be fooled by that reluctance, though. 1176359 Vegas Golden Knights servers and individuals to maintain social distancing and contactless service.”

Individuals also can order from local restaurants, with contactless A look at life inside the NHL’s Phase Four Secure Zone delivery at designated locations inside the secure zone where packages will be disinfected with wipes.

In elevators, individuals are not permitted to talk and are encouraged to By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal avoid using fingers to press buttons. July 8, 2020 - 12:41 PM “Instead use knuckles or elbows,” the memo states. Family members are not permitted in the secure zone until the conference finals. With players away, each team must make “best efforts Let’s start with the name. They’re not bubbles or domes or campuses or to assist in providing grocery delivery and errand delivery services” to the even the NHL’s version of Seahaven Island from “The Truman Show.” player’s family members. No, the league would prefer them to be called “Phase Four Secure “The health of players, club personnel, league personnel and all Zones.” individuals participating in Phase Four remains the league’s top priority in Players and staff will follow a strict set of health protocols for daily life the transition from Phase Three training camp activities in each of the 24 during the NHL’s 24-team postseason tournament, including instructions clubs’ home cities to game play in the Phase Four Secure Zones,” the on how to use an elevator. memo states. “The NHL and the NHLPA, together with their respective medical, epidemiological and infectious diseases experts, have worked The NHL Players’ Association executive committee approved the together closely in establishing this protocol for Phase Four.” tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement and the return-to-play protocols late Tuesday, and the full membership began voting Wednesday. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.09.2020 The results are expected to be announced Friday, and if approved, it would pave the way for the league to resume after being paused since March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Training camp (Phase Three) is scheduled to begin Monday, with teams traveling to their respective hub cities — reportedly Edmonton, Alberta, and Toronto — on July 26. The qualifying round/round robin will begin Aug. 1. The secure zones include the hotels, dining destinations, arena, practice facilities and other demarcated areas (indoor and outdoor), according to the NHL memo on Phase Four. Individuals who are neither working nor staying at a hotel within the secure zone will not be allowed inside. Each club is permitted a maximum of 52 people in the secure zone, which includes players, coaches, executives, staff and other personnel. Rosters will consist of no more than 31 players, and the traveling party must include at least one of the following: massage therapist, Active Release Technique (ART) therapist/chiropractor and content creator/social media individual. Once players and staff arrive at the secure zones, they may not leave without permission from the NHL. “Individuals leaving the Phase Four Secure Zone without permission may be subject to consequences up to and including the removal from the Phase Four, or in other cases, strict quarantines of up to 10-14 days as well as enhanced testing and monitoring upon return,” the memo said. “For clubs, significant penalties, potentially including fines and/or loss of draft choices.” In addition to maintaining social distancing (minimum of 6 feet apart), individuals are required to wear face coverings outside of their room. Masks can be taken off while eating or drinking and exercising. All members of the traveling party will undergo daily COVID-19 tests, symptom checks and temperature screenings inside the secure zone. If an individual tests positive for the coronavirus, the person will be moved to a secure isolation area or hospitalized, if required. They can return after they test negative twice at least 24 hours apart or following 10 days in self-isolation if they had no symptoms for more than 72 hours. If an individual is asymptomatic and is confirmed positive, the person will be required to self-isolate and can return after two negative tests at least 24 hours apart or the passage of 10 days since the initial positive test, as long as they remained asymptomatic. Players will stay in their own hotel room on their team’s designated floor and are not allowed to enter each other’s room. The hotel lobby, bar, pools and fitness centers will be open with social distancing required, and no dress code will be enforced. “Recognizing the importance of mental health and the psychological benefit of variation in activity, social excursions will be arranged both inside and outside the Phase Four Secure Zone,” according to the memo. The dining options include hotel restaurants and “modified buffet style meals … subject to plexiglass (or similar) barriers being set up between 1176360 Vegas Golden Knights To ensure that players and owners collectively receive the same amount of money, part of the players’ paychecks are withheld into an escrow account. At the end of the year, the hockey-related revenue is totaled and divided between the players and owners, using the money in escrow How the new NHL, NHLPA deal affects the Golden Knights going forward to balance the scales. Some but not all of the players’ withholdings are often returned while the owners pocket the rest. By Case Keefer (contact) But what happens with the pandemic forcing fans away from games and Wednesday, July 8, 2020 | 2 a.m. spending money on hockey? Revenue could take as much as a billion- dollar hit that takes years to recover from, and therein lies the problem. Finalizing the return-to-play procedures hasn’t been the only major Players feared they could face up to 30 percent withholding for escrow occurrence in the NHL over the last week. with some revenue projections looking stark for the next few years. Taking a one-third pay cut was a cause for concern. The league and the NHL Players Association also hammered out a tentative collective-bargaining-agreement extension, setting the highest The CBA could assuage some of the panic as it caps escrow at 20 level of professional hockey on a path to its longest stretch of percent next season with a sliding scale over the life of the deal. In 2021- uninterrupted labor peace in more than three decades. 2022, escrow will fall between 14-18 percent, then 10 percent the next year and 6 percent in the final three years. The extension of the CBA, which runs through the 2025-2026 season, clarifies the salary cap, sends NHL players to the Olympics, raises the Mark Stone ($8 million salary in 2020-2021), Max Pacioretty ($7 million) minimum salary and gives cost certainty to escrow withholdings. and Marc-Andre Fleury ($6.5) will each have more than $1 million pulled from their paychecks over the course of next season with no guarantee Some details have been announced, while others are still being reported. they’ll get it back. The two sides have officially agreed to a memorandum of understanding, While players have some certainty about what their paychecks will look but it must be ratified by the full players’ union and NHL Board of like, it’s possible or even likely that revenue will drop next season as the Governors. That’s expected to happen later this week. residual effects of the pandemic permeate through the sport. That could affect the biggest portion of the CBA for fans — the salary cap. The league had never gone more than 10 years without a lockout since the first players’ strike in 1992. The last lockout, which was in 2012-13 Salary cap and shortened the season to 48 games, was the fourth work stoppage since the NHLPA’s inception. The big one was in 2004-05, a lockout that The salary cap is tied to revenue in a similar and opposite function as wiped out the whole season and established the salary cap. escrow withholdings: If the NHL is making a lot of money, the amount spent on player salaries also increases. If revenues stagnate as There’s an obvious caveat that this is all tentative, and the pandemic expected over the next year, that means the cap is unlikely to rise. could still alter anything the league and union have planned. The NHL announced on Monday that it was aware of 35 players testing positive for It won’t fall either, though. The new CBA ensures as much. coronavirus last month. The agreement mandates that the cap will remain flat next season at Still, agreeing to a new CBA without a lockdown should be a celebratory $81.5 million. It will be the first time in a non-lockout affected year that occasion for the NHL. It may not alter the sport’s landscape like the 2005 the cap will not rise since 2009-2010. CBA, but TSN has reported the key points with much still to be The figure will remain there until hockey-related revenue reaches $4.8 announced. billion, which was the projected number for this season before the Find a rundown of the details, and how they affect the Golden Knights, pandemic. below. The cap rises every year under normal circumstances — traditionally by Return to play about 3 percent — with owners and general managers planning on the increase while building their rosters for the long term. First and foremost, the league and the union came to an agreement on specific dates for the restart, announcing the schedule on Monday. The Golden Knights project to have $5.575 million in cap space with 17 players under contract for next season, according to CapFriendly. They Games are scheduled to resume on or about Aug. 1 in the two hub cities need to work out new contracts for restricted free-agent forwards selected for the postseason. Multiple reports have pegged those sites as Chandler Stephenson and Nick Cousins, while forward Tomas Nosek, Edmonton and Toronto, split geographically by conference, and therefore defensemen Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland, and goalie Robin Lehner sending the Golden Knights to the former. are all unrestricted free agents. Those cities will host the qualifying rounds, round-robin and first and The cap wasn’t going to go up much anyway, but even a 2 percent bump, second rounds. The Eastern Conference finalists will reportedly head to which has happened every year since the last lockout, would have meant Edmonton once the postseason is down to four teams. an additional $1.6 million for general manager Kelly McCrimmon to play with. That could be the difference between keeping a player or letting him The conference finals and Stanley Cup Final will reportedly be played in go. Edmonton, finishing in early October. Olympics Teams are currently participating in optional, small-group workouts at team facilities. Mandatory training camps will begin on Monday, July 13, Part of the CBA ensures Olympic participation for the players in Beijing in with teams reporting to their hubs on July 26. 2022 and Milan in 2026, something they’ve long wanted. NHL players last participated in the Sochi Olympics in 2014, but disputes over travel The NHL will complete its draft lottery on Aug. 10 after a previous draw costs, insurance, stopping the season and more prevented them from awarded the top overall pick to one of the eight teams that lose in the first going to PyeongChang in 2018. round. In the past, when NHL players attended the Olympics, which are held The draft will be held in mid-October, with free agency beginning on Nov. during the NHL season, there was no All-Star Game or bye week and 1. instead the league paused the season so players could participate. It’s Escrow withholdings something the NHL doesn’t prefer for many reasons, most notably the facts that there’s no revenue for the league and players can get hurt. There’s a lot to unpack in the new CBA, and perhaps most important for the players is a cap on escrow. Escrow is a term thrown around a lot, but to explain it in layman’s terms, LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 07.09.2020 the CBA requires a 50-50 split of “hockey-related revenue” between the owners and players. The contracts of players have a set value so they know how much is coming their way. Cash flow to owners is dependent on a number of things, and one of the biggest is revenue from ticket sales. 1176361 Washington Capitals goalie under contract with a little less than $10.4 million of cap space remaining. That's $10.4 million to use on at least two forwards, three defensemen and a goalie. That's not a lot. Why a flat NHL salary cap is bad news for the Capitals There are also restricted free agents like Jonas Siegenthaler and Travis Boyd with cap hits of $714,166 and $800,000, respectively. Both players will be due raises. It's hard to imagine the team walking away from Siegenthaler, but even if they wanted to with Boyd, they would still have By J.J. Regan to replace him with another player who costs money. Plus, Ilya July 08, 2020 6:00 AM Kovalchuk, Radko Gudas, Brenden Dillon and, most importantly, Braden Holtby will be unrestricted free agents.

Free agency was going to be difficult for Washington to manage yet When it comes to free agency and projecting which pending free agents again in 2020 regardless of how much the cap was going to rise. Now a team may try to re-sign, there is a fair amount of guesswork involved. with a flat cap, the team's practice of handing out long-term contracts is For most of the year, we don't actually know perhaps the most crucial really going to come back to bite them and force some difficult decisions. piece of information: the salary cap. The salary cap is not set until after a The team has very little money to pay players more than what they're season is over so while we have projections of what the cap may be, we making now. Does this ensure the end of Holtby's time in Washington? don't actually know. The one assumption that pretty much everyone Does the team wait on a long-term extension for Ovechkin to get a better makes when projecting the cap is that it will go up. Business is good for idea of where the salary cap may be in a few years? Can the team afford professional sports, the value of teams continues to rise as does hockey- to keep any of its UFAs? Does the team leave Oshie exposed to Seattle related revenue...and then the coronavirus pandemic happened. in the expansion draft? The revenue the league stands to lose due to the pause to the season, At this point, these are all questions MacLellan now has to consider. the cancellation of the remainder of the regular season and a postseason without any fan attendance brought the NHL and NHL Players' Association together to negotiate how to navigate the difficult financial Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 times ahead. As a result, an agreement was reached Monday on a memorandum of understanding for the collective bargaining agreement. As part of the negotiations, both sides reportedly agreed to a flat salary cap for the next two seasons meaning the current ceiling of $81.5 million will remain the ceiling. That's bad news for the Capitals. But why? If the Caps can afford to fit their team under the $81.5 million salary cap now, why is it such an issue that the cap will remain at $81.5 million next season? As I mentioned above, everyone operates under the assumption that the salary cap will continue to rise, including general managers. That's not optimism or poor planning. Really it takes something catastrophic to halt that rise, like a lockout/strike or...you know, like a global pandemic. The point is, every team when projecting out its rosters for next year and beyond, did so with the assumption that the salary cap would rise. Now that it's not, that affects the projections for every team. For the Caps, yes, they were able to fit their roster under the $81.5 million cap for this season, but just barely. For much of the season, the team carried only six defensemen, the bare minimum, on the roster. That means if a player got sick or injured the day of the game, the team would have essentially had to play a full game with only five defensemen. It took a lot of cap gymnastics for general manager Brian MacLellan to fit his roster under the cap and it was something that was constantly tweaked all year. Will he be able to do it again next year? Not with the current roster. The biggest issue for Washington is a number of long-term deals that will now come back to bite them. The Caps have for several years now been a "cap team," meaning they have spent right up to the salary cap ceiling. This is typical for teams looking to compete for the Stanley Cup. If you feel you are a legitimate contender, you try to make every dollar count towards building a championship roster. Without much room under the cap to work with, however, MacLellan had to offer free agents something else in order to entice players to sign. As a result, the team has given out several deals to players of four years or more. The benefit to this is, not only can you continue bidding on free agents without much money to spend, but even if a player does not live up to his cap hit, that cap hit gets lower every year in terms of percentage with a rising salary cap. In 2017, T.J. Oshie was a free agent. The Caps did not have the money under the cap to re-sign him so instead offered him an eight-year deal. There is no question Oshie left money on the table in terms of a yearly salary, but he got more years. Will he be worth a $5.75 million cap hit when he's 38 and on the last year of his contract? Probably not by today's standards when his cap hit alone takes a little over 7-percent of the team's cap space. With a rising cap, however, that percentage would have gone down each year. Now it won't, at least not as much as MacLellan had anticipated. For a team that has pushed right up against the cap ceiling the last few years, one of the few sources of relief it could find was the yearly increase to the cap. Now it won't have that for the next two years. Washington has 11 players with at least three years on their current contracts after the 2019-20 season. Those are players whose cap hits by percentage will remain exactly the same next season. With a salary cap of $81.5 million, the Caps have 11 forwards, four defensemen and one 1176362 Washington Capitals

NHL Players' Association Executive Board approves return-to-ice plan as league takes one step closer to return

By Brian McNally July 07, 2020 11:33 PM

The NHL took another step toward a return to the ice late on Tuesday night when the Executive Board of the NHL Players’ Association approved the tentative agreement between the league and its union. There are still two steps to go. The NHLPA Executive Board now opens up the memorandum of understanding to its full membership. Every player will have a vote. The NHL Board of Governors also must approve the MOU. If that happens? We will have hockey soon – barring the coronavirus pandemic wrecking things as it has for months. Players will report to their team facilities by July 13 for training camps as the league attempts to execute its return-to-play plan. Twenty-four teams will travel to the two hub cities, Toronto and Edmonton, on July 26 for round-robin games, qualifying playoff games and the full 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs. There is no set date for when owners must approve the memorandum, but players are expected to be finished their vote by next Monday in time for training camps. The Capitals are set to play the Bruins, Flyers and Lightning in a round- robin tournament for seeding in the Eastern Conference. The defending champion Blues, Oilers, Avalanche and Golden Knights will do the same in the Western Conference. The 16 other teams that will continue play have a best-of-five preliminary round to whittle the Stanley Cup field to its usual 16 teams playing best- of-seven series. The agreement also extends the current Collective Bargaining Agreement until at least 2026, buying labor peace the NHL has rarely found with its players. It also opens the door to Winter Olympics participation in Beijing (2022) and Milan (2026). Now, we wait for the next two crucial votes and hockey will be in sight.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176363 Winnipeg Jets 4. Who will be added to Winnipeg's expanded 31-man roster? Assuming nobody has to start on the injured list, the Jets will already

have 17 forwards, 10 defencemen and two goaltenders in the fold based Reunited and it feels so good on their roster at the time the season paused in mid-March. That doesn't leave much room for extra bodies.

Goaltenders Eric Comrie and Mikhail Berdin, forwards David Gustafsson, By: Mike McIntyre Kristian Vesalainen, C.J. Suess, Andrei Chibisov and Joona Luoto, and defencemen Nelson Nogier and Cam Schilling would all be potential Posted: 07/8/2020 7:00 PM options as spare parts. Comrie is likely a lock, as the team will want a third puckstopper, but the Hello hockey, my old friend. rest is up in the air. I'd say Gustafsson and Suess have the nod over everyone else because of their versatility. Oh how I've missed you. Sorry we've grown apart these past few months, but life really does have a funny way of sneaking up on you. And, no One thing is clear: Maurice is expected to have the healthiest, and offence, but you haven't exactly been a priority, what with the global deepest, roster of the season at his disposal, which should make camp pandemic and all. ultra-competitive. But that's about to change, starting Monday as the sound of shinny 5. What will the Jets lines look like for the first playoff game? silence finally disappears. Summer training camps are set to open in 24 Peering into my crystal ball, this is what I see off the hop assuming NHL cities, including here in Winnipeg, in advance of the most unique everyone but Little is deemed available. If Little defies the odds and is Stanley Cup playoffs in league history, which are slated to begin Aug. 1 good to go, swap him with Shore on the fourth line to start. as a made-for-TV event without fans. Mark Scheifele will be centre the top line, as per usual. (John Woods / It's going to look and feel a lot different, that's for sure, but I'm hoping we Winnipeg Free Press files) can all find a way to make it work. Mark Scheifele will be centre the top line, as per usual. (John Woods / As we wait, let's get caught up today by answering some burning Winnipeg Free Press files) questions on my mind, with a primary focus on the Winnipeg Jets: Forwards: 1. Could this whole return-to-play process get grounded before it even takes flight? Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler No chance. Ehlers-Eakin-Laine While there will be some people holding their noses, expect the tentative Copp-Lowry-Roslovic agreement to easily get a majority of NHLPA votes and be ratified on Friday. The union is rightly selling this detailed package as the best they Perreault-Shore-Appleton can do following weeks of around-the-clock negotiations, complete with a Extra: Little, Letestu, Harkins, Bourque, Shaw, plus anyone added from CBA extension that guarantees Olympic inclusion in 2022 and 2026 that the . is a real pièce de résistance for both players and fans. Defence: Simply put, there's too much at stake. Morrissey-DeMelo Sure, there's always the possibility a COVID-19 outbreak eventually derails the best-laid plans once it gets off the ground, but the extensive Kulikov-Pionk safety protocols in the hub cities of Edmonton and Toronto are meant to mitigate that risk. Beaulieu-Poolman Time will tell if these so-called bubble environments are as secure as Extra: Niku, Sbisa, Dahlstrom, Bitetto, plus anyone added from the everyone believes them to be. Moose. 2. Will any players opt out? Goal: Not likely. Do you really need to ask? Speaking of which... I wouldn't blame anyone who doesn't feel comfortable, but don't expect 6. Can Connor Hellebuyck pick up where he left off? many, if any, athletes to say 'Thanks, but no thanks' like we're currently Why not? seeing in MLB, which keeps shooting itself in the foot with bungled testing and the plan to play in virus hot spots south of the border. For my money he was the best goaltender in the NHL this season, and gives the Jets a fighting chance regardless of who they play. The Vezina No doubt some may be (quietly) grumbling at the circumstances, Trophy favourite and potential Hart Trophy candidate can steal a game, including being separated from family for up to two months and having or a series, on his own, which is what the playoffs are often all about. their movement severely limited, but hockey players who routinely shrug off broken bones and mangled faces are unlikely to take a pass. Any concerns about fatigue, given his heavy regular-season workload, are a thing of the past after the long layoff. A rested, focused and highly We'll know soon enough, as players have until 72 hours after ratification motivated Hellebuyck makes Winnipeg a dangerous team and a tough to bail if they wish. Just don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. out. 3. Is Bryan Little going to be ready to play? Can Connor Hellebuyck resume his pre-pandemic form? (John Woods / Mark the Jets forward as doubtful to be in the Game 1 lineup against the Winnipeg Free Press files) Calgary Flames, but I wouldn't rule him out should the Jets go on an Can Connor Hellebuyck resume his pre-pandemic form? (John Woods / extended run. Winnipeg Free Press files) Little, 32, has just seven games under his belt this season and hasn't Am I on the money or off the mark with regards to the above? We're seen game action for more than eight months after being struck by an about to find out. errant Nikolaj Ehlers slapshot that caused extensive damage to his ear and head. Regardless, it's nice to have something fresh to talk with you about again, isn't it? Although he's been skating and training, Little still had some tests to get through this summer. Welcome back, hockey. Let's make this a very safe and happy reunion. The odds of Little ramping it back up during a two-week training camp and immediately being thrown into the fire are slim, but I have no doubt the veteran centre will do everything in his power to make a convincing Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.09.2020 argument to head coach . This is definitely one of the big storylines to watch as the local squad returns to the ice. 1176364 Vancouver Canucks Saints of Canton, N.Y. with 5-3 and 7-1 wins. Rathbone had a goal in the opener and Harvard finished its season with a 15-10-6 overall record.

Rathbone could stay at home this fall and take Harvard online courses in Ben Kuzma: Canucks prospect Rathbone ponders plans as Ivy League working toward a psychology degree, but where does he get a hockey fix delays next season until January? If Harvard plays, great. If not, then he’s a player without a team. It could be the same with AHL uncertainty, if he signs, and Europe may not be a viable option. BEN KUZMA Three Ivy League schools are in U.S. states with high COVID-19 numbers. July 8, 2020 4:09 PM PDT So, obviously, there’s the hockey and the health sides of any decision.

“That’s going to be up to him,” said Benning. “He and his family and Vancouver Canucks prospect Jack Rathbone may or may not have a adviser will talk it over and see what the next course of action is. I’m on team to play for next season. an hour-to-hour timetable around here and things change by the hour.” "We have to hope that we spent enough time and have sold him on our What hasn’t changed is the high esteem in which the Canucks regard plan of where we’re going in the future. And when it’s time to sign, he Rathbone. looks at our organization as somewhere he wants to be." — Canucks GM on prospect Jack Rathbone “He’s a new-age defenceman,” said Benning. “He has the ability to transition the puck out of his own end and plays with some edge to his Hurry up and wait. game.” That has been the roller-coaster ride for highly touted prospect Jack OVERTIME — The Canucks have announced their annual team awards. Rathbone. The winners are Jacob Markstrom (most valuable player, three-star It has nothing to do with an emerging overall game at Harvard University award), J.T. Miller (leading scorer, unsung hero), Quinn Hughes (top for the prized Vancouver Canucks prospect, whose career is on fast defenceman), Elias Pettersson (most exciting) and Alex Edler (Henrik forward toward transition to the pro ranks. and community leadership). It has everything to do with the novel coronavirus pandemic, suspension of the Ivy League season on March 11 and confirmation Wednesday that Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.09.2020 fall sports — football, field hockey, soccer, cross country and volleyball — have been cancelled and will possibly resume in the spring. As for winter sports such as hockey and basketball, it’s a moving resumption target. An abbreviated schedule beginning in January is the target, but it depends on where COVID-19 numbers are at, or if there’s a second wave of the virus. At best, the Ivy League would forgo post-season conference tournaments and allow seeding to be decided by regular-season results en route to crowning an NCAA champion. An update on practice schedules will be released by mid-July. Harvard also announced earlier this week that only 40 per cent of undergrads will be on Cambridge, Mass. campus next fall. For Rathbone, all this uncertainty is like trying to align coloured sides of a Rubik’s Cube. The fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft could eye a transition rule in the NHL collective bargaining agreement extension that should be ratified this week. Three days after it’s official, there’s a two-day window to sign rookies and the Canucks want to get Rathbone under contract at some point. “This is what agents are calling me about and I’ve got to see the (ratified) CBA before acting on it,” said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. But what is the 5-11, 190-pound defenceman thinking? If Rathbone signs next week, he burns the first year of a three-year, entry-level deal and would push to make the roster next season. Even if he plays a shortened NCAA season, his rate of steady improvement — 31 points (7-24) in 28 games this season — and an unrestricted free- agent option if he doesn’t commit to his senior year, is also enticing. “He would be a free agent, but we have a good relationship with all these kids,” added Benning. “Will Lockwood played his senior year out (Michigan) and we tried to sign him last summer. But he said that it was important for this parents and for him to finish his senior year because he had injuries. “We supported him and when it was time, we got the deal done. Rathbone is in that same situation and we have to hope that we spent enough time and have sold him on our plan of where we’re going in the future. And when it’s time to sign, he looks at our organization as somewhere he wants to be.” That’s just one part of the puzzle for the 21-year-old native of West Roxbury, Mass. On March 10, the Ivy League cancelled its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments scheduled for the following week. And they took some heat for being the first conference to realize the World Health Organization was about to label the virus a pandemic the following day. That’s when the Harvard men’s hockey team withdrew from the East Coast Athletic Association quarterfinal. The Red Crimson, a fifth-ranked entry, had advanced after sweeping the 12th-seeded St, Lawrence 1176365 Websites companion) are only guaranteed economy class. Sorry kids! Also, the Art Ross Trophy, Bill Masterton, Mark Messier and King Clancy Awards have been added into the entry-level bonus options. The Athletic / Key dates for the NHL playoffs and offseason, plus geeking out over CBA minutiae The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020

By Craig Custance Jul 8, 2020

On Tuesday, the NHLPA’s executive board approved sending a tentative CBA agreement to its membership for a full vote. The results of that vote will be announced on Friday, but in the meantime, some of the dates and other details in that memorandum of understanding were obtained by The Athletic. First, let’s start with some key dates, with the caveat by an NHL source that all these dates “are fluid” and some dates in the MOU have already shifted: The first buy out period begins on the later of Sept. 25 or the beginning of the Stanley Cup Final. The last possible day for the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final will be Oct. 2. The 2020 NHL Draft will tentatively be held on Oct. 6. It’s also noted that the draft must follow the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final and precede free agency. Free agency starts on the later of Oct. 9 or the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final plus seven days. There will no longer be an interview period, with the free-agent signing back to a noon start at the outset of free agency. Training camp for the 2020-21 season is tentatively scheduled to start on Nov. 17. The 2020-21 regular season is currently scheduled to start on Dec. 1, highlighting a much faster turn from the start of camp to the beginning of the season than in the typical year. Again, it’s worth noting, these dates are tentative. This is going to be a challenge to pull off. These dates are also all pending the approval of the NHLPA’s full membership, as well as the NHL’s Board of Governors, with the player vote expected to be announced on Friday. As has been previously reported in a story this week highlighting some of the bigger portions of the new CBA, the salary cap limit for 2020-21 will be $81.5 million and will remain at $81.5 million until “preliminary HRR for the just-completed league year surpasses $3.3 billion.” Now, for the CBA minutiae geeks amongst us, here are five things that may interest only us: 1. Teams will no longer be allowed to add conditions to trades that change the compensation if the traded player signs a contract extension with the new team. For instance, the Sharks agreed to send a second- round pick to the Senators in 2021 if they re-signed Erik Karlsson, which, of course, they did. Last season, a team like the Dallas Stars might have been more inclined to re-sign Mats Zuccarello if there weren’t conditions attached. This gives the potential free agent player more leverage going into free agency. 2. No-trade and no-movement clauses will now always travel with a player in the event of a trade or transaction on the waiver wire. This is a clause that famously would have impacted P.K. Subban. He was traded to Nashville 48 hours before his no-trade clause kicked in and then he lost it completely. 3. To get a sense of the detail that goes into an agreement like this, salary arbitration briefs are now limited to 42 pages and size 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced with one-inch margins. Once a hearing has started, arbitration matters can not be settled. 4. Among the interesting transition rules: Games in the play-in round and their stats will not be included in official regular season stats but instead be counted as playoff stats. But during arbitration, both sides will be allowed to reference the “unique nature” of the games while comparing to previous years. 5. Random awards tidbits: Teams have to provide business class air travel to and from the NHL Awards for any player nominated or requested to participate in the event. Players also have the option to invite their spouse/companion and up to four immediate family members with airfare paid by the team. Immediate family members (besides the 1176366 Websites bigger, so much out of the realm of experience for everyone that it’s natural for players to wonder if they should be playing at all.

This player has come to the edge of a Stanley Cup a number of times The Athletic / Will NHL players opt-out of returning to play this summer? and come up empty. He’s had injuries and illness, and for him it’s easy. This is what he was meant to do.

“But I’m not 27 anymore, it’s easy for me to say, well, whatever,” he By Scott Burnside acknowledged. Jul 8, 2020 For players with a long career ahead of them, maybe a contract with lots of term, the factors may be different.

Still, that time-worn caution that players, especially younger players, NHL players are voting on a groundbreaking new document that will never know when the next opportunity to win a Stanley Cup will come include a new collective-bargaining agreement and detailed protocols around is even more relevant in this moment. that will govern a return to play in hub cities Edmonton and Toronto. “If people do opt-out, I don’t think anybody could judge them just by Along with the issues of escrow, the flat salary cap and the Olympics, seeing what’s gone on (with the virus),” the player said. NHL players will confront a more basic decision: Should I play or should I sit? Another veteran player who has also been denied the ultimate hockey goal and has also battled family illness and injury has no qualms about Enshrined in this complex package is a section that allows players on the returning to play in part because he thinks the league and the NHLPA 24 teams who will participate in the return to play tournament to opt-out made safety a priority. of the competition. “They’ve really tried hard to figure out the best way to do this,” he said. “I They don’t have to give a reason or produce medical documents think that’s why they chose Canada (for the hub cities). I think all the supporting the decision; they just have to decide, within 72 hours after things they’ve done, for me, I feel like a lot of guys do feel safe.” the ratification of the package, that they don’t want to play this summer. That said, there are lots of players who have concerns, who are All players who want to opt-out have to communicate that wish to their wondering what if. club, the league and the NHL Players’ Association through a procedure outlined in Exhibit 3 of the collective-bargaining agreement. “Given my family history I would respect anyone that felt like it just wasn’t the right situation for them,” he said, as he expects some will decide not MLB, which allows players a similar option, has already seen a number to play. of players decline to take part in a truncated 2020 season, including veterans like Ryan Zimmerman, brothers Tyson and Joe Ross, Ian That is true, in theory, but the reaction to individuals who decide not to Desmond and David Price. play this summer is still unknown. Will NHL players follow suit? As one long-time agent put it, you’d better have a good reason for opting out if you’re a player, especially one on a contending team. What do you The short answer is those connected to the game – players, GMs, think the reaction of teammates will be next December when teams agents, former players – think very few will opt-out. Maybe none. reconvene for training camp in advance of the 2020-21 season if a team The long answer is that it’s complicated. And we just don’t know how it was missing a key player or two via opting out and the team lost, the will play out. agent wondered aloud. “I think there will be people, one or two prominent people,” one veteran Will there always be questions of what if that player had been there? agent with a stable of top players predicted. Of course, if a player has an underlying medical condition – players like Training camps – Phase 3 in the parlance of the return to play process – Max Domi and Kaapo Kakko are diabetic, for instance, and the American is set to begin July 13 with travel to the hub cities of Edmonton (for 12 Diabetes Association advises that diabetics are at greater risk of more Western Conference teams) and Toronto (for 12 Eastern Conference serious complications if they test positive for COVID-19 – the dynamics teams) set for July 26. The start of competition is set for Aug. 1. of deciding whether to opt-out may be different. This means the NHL’s ambitious plan to return after the season was One long-time agent admitted that if he had a son with a similar halted by the COVID-19 virus on March 12 will very quickly become underlying medical issue he wouldn’t be comfortable with him returning to reality. play this summer. For players who have been worried for a variety of reasons about the Many players’ wives are pregnant. concept of returning to active competition in the midst of a global Players with small children may view the idea of opting out differently pandemic, the time is at hand to make a decision. than a younger, single player. “We have a few players who have voiced concern,” another top player Players with family members who have medical issues will also have a agent said this week. “But it’s a leap to go from concern to not playing. different perspective. My guess is it will be a small number but we shall see. I don’t anticipate it being an issue, but with what’s going on in the world, who knows.” Certainly the fact that the NHLPA and NHL have introduced the option of allowing families into the hub cities for the conference finals and Cup That is perhaps the key to all of this. Finals has allayed the fears of some players who were resistant to the It is one thing to mull over walking through the door for Phase 2 (the idea of spending more than two months isolated from family. opening of team facilities for voluntary small group workouts), or to join “I’ve got two guys with very young children and as soon as they saw that teammates for training camp after a 4 ½ month pause, but it is quite it seemed like they relaxed a lot,” one agent said. “I think that was an another to walk away from a chance at a Stanley Cup. important add to let people come at the end there.” One veteran player whose team is involved in one of the eight qualifying Another element of the package being voted on that may or may not round best-of-5 series thinks his teammates have arrived at the team’s factor in, this agent added, is the fact the playoff payout pool is being training facility in the right frame of mind. doubled this summer from $16 million to $32 million. “I’m encouraged at the level of willingness to do this,” the player said. This agent has reminded his players that, with the start of the 2020-21 “We’re buying in.” season likely delayed to January 2021, their next payday may not be until All of the protocols and precautions have been created for them. Host late January. cities have agreed to open their doors to the players so they can play Still, there are those connected to the game who think there is a group of games again. Players get that, the player said. players who just aren’t interested in coming back to play for reasons not “It’s for us, obviously. It’s for an opportunity to earn the money that we’re connected to medical concerns. They may show up out of guilt or a supposed to earn, it’s an opportunity for us to do what we love to do, sense of duty, but they’d rather not. which is the best time to do it,” he said. “I think that there is a group of guys that don’t want this at all,” one GM This player is quick to point out, though, that this isn’t about playing said. “I think it’s a significant size.” through pain or injury with a Stanley Cup on the line. This is so much It’s something that frustrates the GM whose team is among the 24 returning. “I get pissed off,” he admitted. Players talk about missing time with their family. “What have you been doing for the past four months? This is your fucking job,” he said. Another longtime agent who has many veteran players among his clientele acknowledged there is some frustration with younger players who have complained that this interferes with summer plans made months ago. “There’s a little disenchantment with certain guys, younger guys, who don’t (know) how hard it is to win it all,” this agent said. Older guys, “they play to win,” he added. “This is an opportunity and they don’t want to give it up.” It’s not just the players, the agent noted. Some clubs were slow to get up and running in part because of the cost of gearing up for Phase 2 and Phase 3. Some clubs suggested to some of their players that they stay home instead of returning to their home NHL cities at the start of Phase 2. “Guys were calling me asking, are we really going to play?” the agent said. A former NHLer and current analyst likewise thinks there is a group of players, especially on teams that had the season progressed normally wouldn’t likely have been in the playoffs, who are less enthralled at returning to play. “Teams 20-24 or so might have a few opt-outs,” he predicted. “Those guys really didn’t want to play. At this point, most of the players don’t want to, and without penalty, yes, I could see some players declining.” Still, he added, when push comes to shove and it comes time to send that email via Exhibit 3 to tell the world that they won’t be playing, there will be a powerful force for many players against making such a decision. “I don’t think there will be many, though,” the former player added. “It would be so against hockey culture and you know how that goes.” Another agent agreed that the culture of the game will make walking away for anything but a serious and obvious health issue difficult. “It’s very unscientific to say this but I just think hockey players, amongst each other, are a really unique breed,” the agent said. “It doesn’t mean it’s right, . I just don’t think that amongst each other it’s OK for a guy to be, like, ‘I’m not playing.’ I know that sounds crazy, but I just don’t see it. Because if you’re here, you’re in the 24, you’ve got some chance to win. “It’s just the way these guys are wired.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176367 Websites In every way, that is anathema to the pre-coronavirus point of the locker room. During the season, basketball players arrive several hours before tip-off, lingering there, watching film, stretching, texting, talking, and walking in and out between workouts. In baseball, it’s normal for players The Athletic / With sports returning, what happens to the locker room and to arrive four to five hours before first pitch, change at their lockers and clubhouse? use the clubhouse as a home base for all their pregame activities. Now, that all seems problematic. Several studies on the spread of coronavirus have shown that indoor spaces with people in close By Mike Vorkunov proximity can make it easier for the virus to spread. Jul 8, 2020 A change from that natural order would be drastic in some ways. It could force professional athletes to return to the ways of their youth, to ask them to shower at home and change before they get to the arena. Later this month, the NBA will finally return to action after four and a half months at rest, inside the semi-permeable bubble at Disney World. Major “I can see that being a big ask, but that’s really more of a question for League Baseball and the WNBA will return around that same time. Both players and coaches and what they would accept,” said Zachary Binney, American soccer leagues, the MLS and NWSL, will have been back for an epidemiologist at Emory University’s school of public health. weeks. “It will be a change to people’s lives. Everything that we’re going to be The leagues will face scrutiny unlike any other time in their history as asked to do, certainly until there’s a vaccine, is going to be somewhat they try to play amid a global pandemic. While the United States tries to different.” stabilize itself as the novel coronavirus spreads, jumping from one To solve the problem, leagues may have to get creative with the amount epicenter to another, sports will make the biggest bet yet: That it can out- of time players spend together. smart the virus long enough to play some semblance of a season for each of the respective leagues. “Any type of plan that is going to reduce the duration of time and the physical proximity of people, especially in an enclosed space, is going to Health and safety will be of the utmost concern. There will be symptom- be helpful in this,” said Angela L. Rasmussen, a virologist and associate tracking rings and social-distancing guidelines. There will be testing — research scientist at Columbia University. “I can’t echo strongly enough lots of it. The NBA has released a 113-page manual detailing each stage that the central parts of this are always going to be testing and essentially leading up to the deployment of teams into Orlando and then what they’ll a centralized sequestration. have to do on the ground. “To a certain extent, when you’re playing a team sport or you’re doing While the leagues have rightfully devoted much attention to many stages something like ultimate fighting, you’re going to always have some kind of the return, there has been one overlooked part of sports that is also of physical contact between people or at least some limited ability to worth a discussion. With sports returning, what happens to the locker practice physical distancing, so those measures to reduce as much as room? possible those other times that aren’t related to the sport being played, Locker rooms, and clubhouses, are central to any team. They are such as the locker room, seem like they would be beneficial. The core changing rooms and meeting rooms. They are destinations for players policy has to be about identifying infected cases and isolating them as when they get to the arena and the last port before they leave. They are quickly as possible.” meant for uplifting moments and for killing time. For pregame speeches Hollman said he believes there are ways to help limit exposure through and halftime adjustments. the locker rooms themselves. His company has been using anti-microbial They are also usually small, enclosed spaces that cluster dozens of material in lockers for years to help lower the risk of staph and bacterial people together for prolonged periods of time, encouraging them to feel infections, and he wants to use copper and silver plating on lockers at ease. In normal times, that is ideal; a place that can feel like a because, he said, the virus does not live as long on those surfaces. comfortable salon for the professional athlete. During a pandemic, it His company has already implemented design plans in other locker seems like a petrie dish for the spread of the virus. rooms they believe will prove useful in mitigating the spread of “Everyone comes in there sweaty; they’re close to each other,” said coronavirus, even if the original intent didn’t have the pandemic in mind Travis Hollman, CEO of Hollman Inc., a locker room design company that yet. Hollman said that their construction of the Alabama football locker has worked with several professional sports teams and college rooms will have, essentially, personal pods where players can use zero- programs. “It has been an interesting spot for infection and disease, grab chairs and burrow about 3 to 4 feet into cubbies to isolate from their honestly, for a long, long time.” teammates. It is, he said, akin to being inside a closet, because the program wanted a space where players could also take naps. This summer, however, that problem seems especially acute. Locker rooms and clubhouses are no longer respites from the outside world but There are also plans to create a self-cleaning locker room at Duke that another potential source of trouble. What each sport does with them will Hollman said will be even more important now. The room would have be another point in risk management. self-locking doors that operate on a timer. When the doors close, the space would be blasted by UV light. Initially, the intent was to kill bacteria Hollman has been dealing with that for years, trying to build spaces that on uniforms and shoes and to sterilize the room during absent periods. can both be hospitable to teams and remain clean. In recent years, there There is some belief that UV lighting could help cleanse away the virus. have been MRSA outbreaks in the NFL, spawned in locker rooms, along with the usual hygiene and cleanliness issues. “We feel the locker room environment creates this team atmosphere, so we want to keep the environment as close to as what it is now as The coronavirus, however, presents a dilemma like no other. His possible,” Hollman said. “We really think it’s going (to be done) with these company has been at work over the last few months trying to workshop lighting, with sterilization, with material use. It will get to us to a better solutions of some sort, but he knows that it will have to walk a line. locker room that people feel safer in.” “For the team sports, that camaraderie, that togetherness is a lot of what “We’re trying to engineer the virus out of the system,” he added. makes the team great,” he said. “We’d rather try to engineer and keep that space a sacred place. Let’s make that place as safe as we can, but All of these ideas, as Hollman noted, can only help so much. The nature we also want to maintain the energy level that they would have in that of basketball and football, and sometimes baseball, involves human place.” contact. The NBA will create an ecosystem that traps in hundreds of players, coaches and executives, then asks them to play inside an arena The NBA has only a handful of mentions of locker rooms in their league- with no physical distancing; while Disney World employees enter and exit issued protocols. They scrape at the problem. the bubble when they need to. The league asks that teams try to minimize time spent at facilities during Locker rooms then will be about mitigation, not prevention. Phase 3 of the return, over the first third of July in Orlando, and think about discouraging or preventing players from showering and changing Still, Binney said, every attempt to limit spread is important. But the ideal there as a way to limit exposure. If they don’t, then teams should put locker room is vastly different for an epidemiologist and a hard concept to restrictions on the number of people allowed in the locker room at once organize. He and Rasmussen were asked what their ideal locker room and how long they can be there — and if there are multiple people there, would be in the time of coronavirus. Their responses, serious and they must be at least 12 feet apart. Further rules will come when the cheeky, displayed the difficulty in creating safe environments for players. league restarts games, including how many staff members can be in the “An airplane hangar where everybody is 50 feet away at all times,” he locker room before, during and after games. said. “I don’t know.” “Since there are no fans, I’d turn the stadium into a locker room,” Rasmussen said. “You could have somebody getting ready in Section 1A and somebody getting ready in Section 1B. Ideally you’d have it be as ventilated as possible, so high ceilings are good ventilation … The real key would be having a lot of space so that it’s not enclosed.” The key, again, is space and, if possible, open air. But rethinking the locker room could be just a first step. Sports could also use this time to change their workflow altogether. Meetings might no longer be held in meeting rooms, like in the NFL, Binney said. Those could become virtual, to provide as much distancing as needed, or they could occur outside while everyone is wearing masks. If players need to use the locker room, they do so in shifts, and teams could convert other rooms into additional space. “I think all of these things will be necessary,” Binney said. “With any of these details, you’re not going to get 100 percent adherence, but even if you get 80 percent adherence, that’s something. But it means that no one single thing is going to create a totally foolproof system. It’s all about doing everything you possibly can and stacking those things on top of each other, and, again, having a really strong testing or centralization sequestering plan.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176368 Websites Location: 7.43 Quality of facility: 6.82

Atmosphere: 7.68 The Athletic / NHL arena rankings: Grading every team’s rink from best to worst Press box: 6.43 Total score: 28.36 By Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus I could devote this space to just the hot dogs. Luckily, Jeremy Rutherford already did that. Coming up on 25 years, the has held up Jul 8, 2020 pretty well in all facets of this discussion, and it leads our poll in the all- important atmosphere/fan experience score. Most people are pretty satisfied from the location to the overall facility to the atmosphere to the Ask a reporter about a specific game four years ago, and he or she may press box. The visiting media can be stuck with poles impeding their view or may not remember it. Ask a reporter about a signing or a statistic, and of the ice, but let’s be honest, no one really cares about what the visiting it might take a moment to recall and place it. The games, seasons and media thinks. This arena is first-class. – Scott Powers stories all sort of blur together after a while. “Always special to cover a game at the Bell Centre. Love the views from But ask a reporter which airport he or she hates the most? Which United the press box, love the hot dogs and cookies, and love watching the Club has the best snack options? Which cities you should rent a car in Montreal hockey media all filter out in between periods to smoke and which ones you should just take an Uber? Which place in each NHL cigarettes.” – Thomas Drance city has the best sandwich, the best hotel, the best beer prices? Instant recall. “I literally can’t think of anything I don’t like about this place other than the visiting dressing room is ridiculously too small.” – Kevin Kurz When you travel for a living, spending more than 120 nights on the road some years, convenience and comfort are everything. “The beam that blocks the view of visiting media isn’t the reason I can’t see the game. I can’t see the game because I’m in the meal room eating Which brings us to The Athletic’s first NHL beat writer arena rankings. the hot dogs.” – Jeremy Rutherford They might not be exactly the same as how fans would vote. Atmosphere counts, no doubt. The view of the ice matters, sure. And location, 3. (N.Y. Rangers) location, location. But every reporter who goes to every rink every year Location: 7.73 knows which rink has the most convenient press entrance, the fastest elevator, the friendliest gameday staff, the best pregame meal, the Quality of facility: 6.73 saltiest snacks, the most comfortable chairs, the most reliable WiFi. Atmosphere: 6.77 What matters to us doesn’t matter to most, but it really matters to us. Press box: 7.04 The work situation comprised one-quarter of our poll, as our army of hockey writers rated each arena on a scale of 1-8 based on the location Total score: 28.27 (hello, New York and Nashville), the quality of the facility (good work, Sitting directly atop Penn Station, the Garden is the most easily Vegas and Detroit), the atmosphere (looking at you, Montreal and accessible rink in the league. The best pizzeria on planet Earth, Pizza Winnipeg), and yes, its press box (forget you, Brooklyn). Suprema, is right across the street from the southwest corner of the Here are the results with comments from our voters. We eagerly await building. You can’t throw a soft pretzel without hitting a Marriott. The you all telling us to stop crying about snack selection and smelly recently built sky bridge press box is one of a kind, and was justifiably elevators in the comments. voted the best in the league in this poll. I mean, if only there were a bar or a restaurant or something in this sleepy town, it’d be perfect. – 1. T-Mobile Arena (Vegas) Lazerus Location: 7.54 “Best arena in the league, and although I miss the press box in the lower bowl corner where you and your laptop could get hit with a slap shot back Quality of facility: 7.58 in the day, the new press box is spectacular with great sightlines.” – Atmosphere: 7.63 Michael Russo Press box: 6.67 “It’s a Broadway show … but with hockey players.” – Tarik El-Bashir Total score: 29.42 4. Bell MTS Place (Winnipeg) I’m surprised to see this at the top of the list. Look, I love Vegas as much Location: 6.13 as the next degenerate. And T-Mobile Arena’s location is tough to beat Quality of facility: 6.17 — grab a bite at Eataly at Park MGM (the old Monte Carlo), place a bet at the sportsbook conveniently located at the side exit, stroll right into the Atmosphere: 7.48 arena, then stumble back out onto the Strip for the never-ending postgame after-party. But the arena itself? I mean, it’s fine. It’s a clone of Press box: 6.43 the Staples Center, which also is fine. It’s nice, it’s modern, but other Total score: 26.22 than the kick-ass drum line and the gloriously cheesy pregame show, it’s a big, mostly sterile arena. The people there make it great, but the This isn’t the best arena in the league. But it’s the best place to watch a building itself doesn’t have a lot of character. Great location, great crowd, game in the league. A small, intimate venue with phenomenal sightlines great fun. But as a building, it’s … fine. – Mark Lazerus and a crowd that’s as hot as the city is cold. My only quibble is a few years ago, they decided to take the press box — once a fabulous den of “A game at T-Mobile is an entertainment experience.” – Arpon Basu unhealthy salty snacks and ice cream — and turn it into some sort of “I’ll never know, because Josh Yohe has called dibs on Vegas for life.” – health-hole. We slovenly writers are so starved for something tasty that Rob Rossi when they bring out boring ol’ boxes of popcorn and plain M&Ms at the first intermission, the line stretches damn near around the rink. – Lazerus “There are monitors on the concourse that not only show you a map of where the concessions are, but also how long the current wait in line is. “Great fans. Amazing fans. Everything else about the Winnipeg My first time there was in March. I told someone that the NHL needs to experience is minor-league.” – Rossi tear the other 30 buildings down and start over with this one as the “Love this place even though I can never quite navigate the underground blueprint before the game had even started. OK, maybe keep the ones in parts of downtown when I’m there in the winter. And yes, I have also Detroit and Montreal.” – Corey Masisak done some wandering on the event level trying to find the Jets dressing “Weirdly dark and foreboding press box is a small detail. The walk in from room, which is weirdly located near a loading dock. But I digress. One of the strip. The vibe inside and out. The ‘Game of Thrones’-like drama that the best press box perches on the circuit. Staff is super-helpful. And does unfolds on the ice before every game. A grand addition to the NHL that place rock? Yes. Yes, it does. Hockey how it was supposed to be circuit.” – Scott Burnside seen and heard.” – Burnside 2. Bell Centre (Montreal) “I’ve been much more wowed by snack options across the NHL but let’s 8. Capital One Arena (Washington) be real. Few arenas give you better sightlines to do your job, and when the fans get going, it evokes chills something fierce.” – Murat Ates Location: 6.84 5. PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh) Quality of facility: 5.96 Location: 6.24 Atmosphere: 6.56 Quality of facility: 6.8 Press box: 5.92 Atmosphere: 6.56 Total score: 25.28 Press box: 6.32 Wait, seriously? Eighth in the league? I can only assume my colleagues voted this one so high because it’s a block away from the Irish Channel Total score: 25.92 pub and there are a gazillion Marriotts in the area. Washington’s awesome. This arena is not. The press box is nothing to write home Soft pretzels, cheddar Goldfish and Snapple in the press box. What more about, either. That spicy salty bar-style snack mix is overrated as hell. do you need? Oh, right. The hockey part. That’s good, too. It’s a big, Also, the PA guy during a preseason game a few years back said modern, imposing rink, but it’s all really well done. It doesn’t have the “Jonathan Toes.” – Lazerus quirky bizarre charm of the old Mellon Arena, site of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s legendary stint in goal (RIP Iceburgh), but it’s hard to find fault “Great location. Perfect to enjoy all that D.C. has to offer. But the building with the Paint Can. – Lazerus isn’t aging well. At all.” – Yohe “In all the years I’ve been going there I have yet to try the melted cheese “Most improved game night experience in the league since winning the dip in the big saucepan. Maybe next season. Staff is always cheery. Cup in 2018.” – El-Bashir Taco night in the press room is not to be missed.” – Burnside “Solidly in the top five of NHL experiences. I have often said that “Just way too big. But, they do have the most comfortable chairs of any Washington fans may be among the best in the league. Rock the Red, press box in the league.” – Kurz indeed. I remember when being downtown for a Caps game was to be in a wasteland. No more. Great vibe inside and out. Press box elevator “It’s one of the best new buildings. There isn’t much to dislike, though the definitely among the league’s tardiest, but that’s a small thing.” – atmosphere isn’t close to Mellon Arena.” – Josh Yohe Burnside 6. Nationwide Arena (Columbus) 9. Xcel Energy Center (Minnesota) Location: 6.62 Location: 5.625 Quality of facility: 6.5 Quality of facility: 6.67 Atmosphere: 6.23 Atmosphere: 6.17 Press box: 6.35 Press box: 6.29 Total score: 25.69 Total score: 24.75 The first time I covered a game here, they served some Tim Hortons hot The instant you walk into the X, you’re smacked in the face by the dark chocolate in the press box. It was mind-blowing. It’s never been overwhelming smell of cinnamon donuts, which are baked a couple hours back, and I’ve been chasing the high ever since. Anyway, the cannon before every game on the main concourse. If you made the Barclays everyone freaks about isn’t even real (the sound comes from the Center and the Saddledome smell like donuts, they’d instantly be two of scoreboard area), and once you learn the rhythms of the cannon, it’s very the best rinks in the league. But the X — my pick for the best in the easy to know when to cover your ears. Everyone’s such a baby about league — has so much more. The woodlands theme works. The high this place. It’s a really good rink. – Lazerus school hockey jerseys ringing the open concourse are a great touch. “The cannon is my personal least favorite thing on the NHL circuit, but There are terrific sightlines, and it’s a savvy and fervent fanbase. One of how the fans feel about it is what really matters.” – Max Bultman the better pregame meals in the league (which makes up for a meager press box snack situation). And there’s finally a Marriott in St. Paul “Great location and the whole arena area cooks. Upgrade the coffee and (where was that when I was covering a playoff series there every get rid of the cannon and you’re all set.” – Burnside spring?). What more do you need? The X finishes ninth in this list, but first in my heart, where it counts. – Lazerus “That cannon … I once covered a 10-0 shellacking of the Canadiens there. Almost had a heart attack.” – Marc Antoine Godin “Just a wonderful place to watch a hockey game.” – Yohe 7. Rogers Place (Edmonton) “Honestly was hoping Minneapolis/St. Paul would end up a hub city. Love the vibe, winter, fall, spring, doesn’t matter. The coffee in the press box? Location: 6.08 OK, That could be better.” – Burnside Quality of facility: 7.54 10. (Toronto) Atmosphere: 6.04 Location: 7.26 Press box: 5.63 Quality of facility: 6.22 Total score: 25.29 Atmosphere: 5.78 Rogers Place received some of the highest markets for quality of facility. Press box: 5.48 It was just so well done when it was constructed nearly five years ago. For us media, the Hall of Fame room, where press conferences are held, Total score: 24.74 is such a cool space with plenty of room and natural light. I’d love to be in Edmonton when it wasn’t freezing and get to walk around some more, I’ve learned to take polls about Toronto with a grain of salt. There are but the arena is convenient to get to. Everything I’ve heard about the fan people who love Toronto because it’s Toronto, and there are people who experience is top-notch, too. The press box isn’t beloved just because of hate Toronto because it’s Toronto. Scotiabank Arena is definitely one of how far it is from the ice. – Powers the league’s better arenas. The location is perfect. The facility is on the higher end of the league. Still, it feels like it should be something more. “Hard to beat Rogers (Place) at the moment. Their visiting dressing room Maybe it’s the atmosphere? Maybe it needs to be more unique? I can for WHL teams is better than 28 other visiting rooms around the NHL.” – connect hockey with Toronto the way I connect basketball with New York Drance City. Unfortunately, Scotiabank Arena isn’t Madison Square Garden. – Powers “I’ve been warmer in an open press box at Wrigley Field in April than sitting in the new press box in Edmonton. Or Calgary. Because the ice “Great building, prime location, and the most surprisingly quiet fans in the was so far away I felt like I was in Calgary.” – Rossi league.” – Kurz “Going to Edmonton doesn’t feel like a chore anymore, especially if the “The Mecca needs a true hockey arena.” – Rossi rate at the adjacent JW Marriott as media-friendly. Still, I’m pretty sure the press box is technically in Yellowknife.” – Kurz “The only thing missing is some louder fans, really.” – James Mirtle “I love covering games here. The building has held up nicely. It just has a “It’s hard to accurately judge the fan atmosphere now, when the team certain appeal.” – Yohe has been so bad since the arena opened, but there have been a few nights at LCA where you get a glimpse of what it will be like when the 11. TD Garden (Boston) team is competitive. By that point, I think the rating has the potential to Location: 6.79 shoot up significantly because of how loud it can get and the fan passion.” – Bultman Quality of facility: 5.46 14. Amalie Arena (Tampa Bay) Atmosphere: 6.46 Location: 6.81 Press box: 5.54 Quality of facility: 6.04 Total score: 24.25 Atmosphere: 6.19 I’m 40 years old, have been a traveling hockey writer for eight seasons, am only in Boston once a year (other than the 2013 Stanley Cup Final), Press box: 4.89 and I believe I’ve spent roughly 17 percent of my life waiting for the Total score: 23.93 elevator at TD Garden. But, hey, there’s a “Hot Nosh” kosher vending machine in the bowels of the arena for employee workers that says it’s This is one of the most despised arenas for the media because the open “24/6,” so it’s got that going for it, which is nice. – Lazerus elevator to and from the press box can take forever, and you can often get stuck on it with garbage. It’s hard for us to overlook that, but take that “Elite level candy selection in the press box.” – Mirtle away, and Amalie Arena is a pretty good place to watch hockey. There “Not an easy place to work. But I’ve always thought it would be a treat to are things to do in the surrounding area, especially with the fan zone. take in a game as a customer. Bruins fans are legit.” – Rossi The weather is usually great. Inside the building, the fans and the team do a good job of providing an enjoyable atmosphere. – Powers (Lazerus: “Coldest press box in the league.” – Fluto Shinzawa I love this rink. TESLA COILS!) “Quietly one of my favorite spots to cover a game. Friendliest game night “Might be the most underrated arena in the league.” – Mirtle staff in the league. Quick walk to Neptunes for a pricey seafood lunch.” – Drance “Tampa (the city) might be the NHL version of utopia. But until its hockey arena gets a different elevator situation, I’ll look to avoid the trip.” – Rossi 12. (Dallas) “Vying with Boston for worst press box elevator in the NHL. If you aren’t Location: 6.04 leaving well before the end of the game, you are definitely going for a ride in the freight style elevator with lots of garbage. … Really, one of the Quality of facility: 6.29 best setups in the league vis a vis downtown environs, in-building vibe and presentation. So maybe we’re just quibbling about the garbage.” – Atmosphere: 5.29 Burnside Press box: 6.46 15. United Center (Chicago) Total score: 24.08 Location: 4.30 There may not be a more welcoming place in the league than Dallas. Quality of facility: 5.70 Everyone is just so nice and accommodating. For the media, it just makes a huge difference. Most people raved about the press box. There Atmosphere: 7.19 are things to do in the surrounding area. From an entertainment standpoint, the Stars do a good job. The fans come out, too. The building Press box: 6.52 is fine. – Powers Total score: 23.71 “Beers in the press box after the game? Yep. It’s true. That used to be the standard, now it makes Dallas unique.” – Aaron Portzline I’m here 40-plus times a year, so it just feels like home in a lot of ways. I was curious what other people had to say about it because I’m probably “Diet Dr Pepper in the press box!” – Shinzawa too familiar with it to have a unique opinion. A lot of the writers touted the atmosphere and the free press meal. One of the gripes was the location. “You won’t find better people in the league than Stars’ personnel. A vice That is true. It can feel far away from O’Hare Airport, and it’s not as if you president once booked me a hotel room and gave me a ride after a can walk there from downtown. The building is getting older, as it was game. I’m Facebook friends with the elevator operator and you’d think it’s built in 1994, but money has been put into it in recent years to upgrade Halloween year-round with the candy supply.” – Rutherford the jumbotron and other parts of the building. – Powers 13. Little Caesars Arena (Detroit) “The anthem at the United Center is among the coolest experiences in the NHL.” – Basu Location: 5.24 “Not my favorite building. Too big, getting a little old. But has a good Quality of facility: 7.62 atmosphere.” – Yohe Atmosphere: 4.62 “Like Ottawa, Chicago would benefit from an arena closer to the city Press box: 6.57 center.” – Rossi Total score: 24.05 “This gets an eight because of the food in the press box.” – Sean Shapiro I can’t believe this isn’t higher — which is not a thing I’ve ever said about 16. (Vancouver) the press box here. It’s incredibly high, but it’s fantastic. It edged out Location: 6.65 Vegas and Edmonton for the highest quality facility in our poll. The only arena in the league with press tables high enough to stand at (very Quality of facility: 5.80 spine-friendly!), LCA was modeled after the Bell Centre — it’s built straight up, not out. If the Wings ever get good again (checks lottery Atmosphere: 6.23 results, sighs heavily), this place is going to have an unbelievable atmosphere, which is where it took the biggest hit in our poll. Opening it Press box: 4.54 right at the start of what looks like a very long rebuild was rather Total score: 23.23 unfortunate. – Lazerus How can I describe the press box at Rogers Arena? Remember the kids’ “The new Red Wings press box is what a press box would look like if book, ‘Flat Stanley?’ Well, Flat Stanley would have a hard time wedging there was a scene in a ‘Star Wars’ movie that covered an intergalactic himself into a seat in this ridiculously narrow press box. Also, the WiFi group of sports writers. Also, I refer to the media meal, with its deep-dish never works. Why is it that nearly every rink that’s named after a pizza/chicken wings (and fingers) as the ‘7-year-old’s birthday party’ meal telecommunications company has lousy WiFi? Fun crowd, terrific game and genuinely look forward to it.” – Drance ops and one of the very best cities in North America more than make up “Press box feels like the coldest place on earth. Tied with the Edmonton for a cramped work situation, though. – Lazerus press box.” – Lisa Dillman “This is the only arena in the league where I still have Wi-Fi issues. Plus, Total score: 22.08 the press box is way too cramped thanks to a renovation a few years back.” – Kurz It’s fine. There are Reese’s Pieces in the press box, which is clutch. And I once did a phone interview in the press box bathroom stall during a game “WiFi spotty and (very) tight space in the press box. One feels the need because it was the only semi-quiet place I could find. So that was fun. – to go on a diet after covering games here.” – Dillman Lazerus “Some miles on this old barn but it’s in a great spot in one of the world’s “Lauren Hart is a national treasure.” – Rossi great cities. I’ll always remember it as the place that used to be GM Place during the 2010 Olympics, and can tell you exactly where I was “One thing I love about Flyers games is how well they incorporate player sitting — right next to Pierre LeBrun — when Sidney Crosby scored the performance into their game-night presentation. No game presentation golden goal. Press box is a bit tight but food is excellent and dressing staff is as on the ball in regards to storylines/streaks/player milestones as rooms handy. I’ll take a trip to Vancouver anytime.” – Burnside they are in Philadelphia. It’s just a little thing, but it’s a little thing I really appreciate when I watch games at various buildings around the NHL. Still 17. Staples Center (Los Angeles) need to get a picture with Gritty though.” – Drance Location: 6.61 “Was once offered a postgame escort to my car because of a column one of my colleagues wrote that disparaged Flyers fans.” – El-Bashir Quality of facility: 6.46 20. Pepsi Center (Colorado) Atmosphere: 4.89 Location: 5.79 Press box: 5.14 Quality of facility: 5.79 Total score: 23.11 Atmosphere: 5.54 There are better arenas, but I personally love going to games at the Staples Center. Actually, let me rephrase that. I love being at the Staples Press box: 4.32 Center. Getting there can be a challenge. My worst road experience ever came when I nearly hit a cop on a motorcycle on the way to a morning Total score: 21.43 skate. Why are bikes allowed to drive between cars there? I also lost my This is one of those arenas where it feels like the media has a much wallet that day. I know some media dislike the height and the cold of the different perspective than the fans. The problem for the media is the press box, but it doesn’t bother me. They have a spacious media room press box is in a corner and the viewpoint is subpar. Outside of that, and getting around the building is easy enough. When the Kings are there’s a lot to like about the Pepsi Center. It’s a nice, short walk from winning, the atmosphere is fun and unique. It’s Los Angeles in its own downtown. The atmosphere is good. The facility is solid. I like being in way. – Powers Denver and I like being at the arena. I just wish the airport was a lot “Last time I was there, they made it during a stoppage in play. I do closer. – Powers not know how. It was amazing.” – El-Bashir “Did they pay the bill for the lights in the press box? It feels like a “Press box popcorn is tremendous.” – Shapiro nightclub … without the fun.” – Dillman “Good news: Press box seemed to get warmer this season. Eliminating “The restaurant inside the arena — the Breckenridge Brewery Mountain need to bring in a space heater and heavy-duty ski jacket.” – Dillman House — is beautiful. Haven’t tried the food, but just walking around inside it after a morning skate is an enjoyable experience.” – Masisak “You feel like you are miles away from the ice in the Staples press box.” – Basu “I’m giving this press box a one, mainly because they had a perfectly fine press box before they renovated and crammed us all into the top corner 18. Bridgestone Arena (Nashville) of the arena.” – Kurz Location: 7.62 21. KeyBank Center (Buffalo) Quality of facility: 5.62 Location: 5.33 Atmosphere: 7.08 Quality of facility: 5.0 Press box: 2.5 Atmosphere: 5.29 Total score: 22.81 Press box: 5.41 I don’t know who decided to build an arena that spills out directly into the Total score: 21.04 main drag of Broadway, but that person deserves all the smoked turkey and sweet tea at Jack’s BBQ he or she can handle. There isn’t even a Ah, good old Marine Midland/HSBC/First Niagara/KeyBank Center. Also press box here, just some tables bolted to the stands, which is the only known as Meh. Poor Sabres fans. One of the best and most devoted reason this isn’t a top-10 building in this poll (only Madison Square fanbases in the league has to watch its team fail year after year, and it Garden got a higher location score). But reporters are still well taken care has to do it in this dated relic. Oh, well. The new Marriotts right next door of here. It’s been a literal treat watching the Predators’ media relations are fabulous. And when there’s a beef on weck in my belly, I don’t need staff continually up its game every single year in its chase to beat out much else. – Lazerus their big-brother Blackhawks in the Make Reporters Fat(ter) competition. “The atmosphere has been beaten down by years of watching a terrible Hell, a couple years ago, they brought an entire roasted pig, head and product on the ice. The fact fans still show up at all leads me to give a all, into the press snack room. And they give out whiskey and Advil to good atmosphere grade, because it should be way worse than it is.” – reporters during the playoffs. Five or six years ago, you got hot dogs and Basu pizza and that’s it. You’ve come a long way, baby. – Lazerus “Fans (and arena) in Buffalo deserve better.” – Rossi “The best crowd atmosphere I’ve experienced in my two years on the beat, and being right off Broadway doesn’t hurt that one bit.” – Bultman “Fuh-fuh freezing.” – Shinzawa “They should lean into the country vibe even further. We don’t need “They DESPERATELY need new, bigger TVs in the press box for Metallica or during stoppages of play in Nashville.” – Masisak replays.” – John Vogl “Here’s why I gave Bridgestone Arena a perfect score on location: You 22. Enterprise Center (St. Louis) can throw a tennis ball and it will bounce off the rink, hotel and bar.” – Rutherford Location: 5.25 19. Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia) Quality of facility: 4.71 Location: 4.71 Atmosphere: 5.96 Quality of facility: 5.13 Press box: 5.0 Atmosphere: 6.38 Total score: 20.92 Press box: 5.88 Outside of the United Center, this is probably the arena I’ve been to the Honda Center is one of the arenas that’s just there for me. I’m happy to most. That used to be a real problem. Whatever it was called at the time, be in Anaheim. It’s easy enough to get to by car. I’m usually just coming it was awful. But with the renovations in recent years, that’s changed and going from Los Angeles for a game. It was built in 1993, so it’s aging, somewhat. I’m still probably not excited for a St. Louis trip, especially but it also doesn’t feel extremely old. It’s not my favorite arena, but it’s with how dead downtown is by the hotels closest to the arena, but the not my least favorite either. – Powers improvements have definitely made Enterprise Center feel a bit newer. When you spend $150 million, you tend to improve things. – Powers “Always amazed by how small the footprint of this building is, particularly once you get onto event level. And yet, it takes forever to get to the press “‘Country Roads’ should never be played anywhere outside of West box. A miracle, truly.” – Drance Virginia.” – Rossi “The Honda Center is just one of those buildings that gets plunked down “Kudos to the Blues on the press box renovation and the significant in an open space in a community that’s not really a community and an upgrade in the quality of the media meal. Would have crushed them in NHL team calls it home. No shame in that. Staff is terrific. Once stood this rankings two years ago, but it’s come a long, long way.” – Drance beside Cuba Gooding after Ducks’ won the 2007 Stanley Cup waiting to get into the dressing room. He still talks about it, or so I am told.” – “It’s about as ordinary as grits. It’s actually not aged horribly. But it’s still Shinzawa old and pretty blah.” – Yohe “It always feels weird with how close the bathroom door is to the food.” – 23. SAP Center (San Jose) Shapiro Location: 5.59 26. Gila River Arena (Arizona) Quality of facility: 5.15 Location: 4.30 Atmosphere: 6.15 Quality of facility: 5.70 Press box: 3.52 Atmosphere: 3.04 Total score: 20.41 Press box: 5.78 This is a weird rink — sort of boxy and sterile. The press box is basically Total score: 18.81 some extra space in the rafters, but they always have Hershey’s Miniatures up there, so I don’t mind staring through a girder all night long. If I was forced to live around any arena, it’d probably be this one. Within – Lazerus steps, you have everything you’d ever need. Within walking distance, I was able to purchase a new phone on my last trip there. Of course, the “There are so many things not to like about — especially the chance of problem is actually getting to the arena. It’s located so inconveniently. getting a concussion in the press box — but it’s still one of my four Filling the arena is a challenge for a number of reasons, but it’s not a bad favorite places to see a game.” – Vogl place to watch a game for those who do go. – Powers “You can’t see the ice from parts of the press box.” – Shaprio “Great building. Beautiful. Wonderful for media. They just need a building “One day there’ll be a new arena in San Jose and I’ll opine on missing on the other side of town. You know, where the people live.” – Yohe the girders that block much of the views at either end of the ice from the “Once you actually get there the whole vibe around Gila River is very strange little press box jammed in just under the ceiling at the Shark cool with the shops and restaurants all very airy and inviting. And it’s not Tank. Or not. Still, love the smoking, blinking shark mouth thing the a bad place to watch a game. Really. Press box is spacious, which players skate out of. And it’s a pleasant walk to downtown and, hey, it’s speaks to a small media community as much as the, well, space. But California.” – Burnside folks are always exceedingly friendly there (maybe because they’re so “If you skipped your workout, the (many) stairs going up and back to the damned happy to see people show up). Great locker rooms for both lower level make up for it.” – Shinzawa home and visitors, which is saying something.” – Burnside 24. PNC Arena (Carolina) 27. Scotiabank Saddledome (Calgary) Location: 3.67 Location: 4.84 Quality of facility: 4.74 Quality of facility: 3.52 Atmosphere: 5.67 Atmosphere: 6.12 Press box: 5.41 Press box: 3.96 Total score: 19.48 Total score: 18.44 This is outrageous. Yes, PNC Arena is kind of in the middle of nowhere If you love terrifyingly high catwalks to a wobbly dangling basket of death in an era where most arenas are in prime downtown locations. Yes, it can hanging precariously from a ceiling that is too weak to support big sound be tough to fill on a weeknight. Yes, the visitor’s dressing room is the size rigs for major concerts, have I got the place for you! I hate this place. I’ve of the snack room in Nashville. But the arena itself is pretty great. The covered many, many games here, and I’ve never seen the lower third of press box set up is terrific, with jacks at every seat to get the live play-by- the ice because I’m afraid to look down. Calgary is a great city, which I play call with no internet delay. And who doesn’t love the wind tunnel love. The Saddledome is hell on earth, and I hate it so very, very much. where visiting coaches have to do their postgame interviews — the #DanglingDeathBoxOfDoom – Lazerus coldest, windiest place this side of Neptune? And pulled pork and sweet “There are actual flames that emanate from jumbotron. Almost makes up tea for every media meal? What the hell is wrong with all of you? for having to walk on a scary catwalk to get to the press box.” – El-Bashir Carolina rules. – Lazerus “It’s my favorite building. I take strolls on the catwalk for no reason. I’m “It’s a very mediocre building. But it also is the friendliest place you’ll guilty of rooting for the Flames to score, so they’ll blast some fire into the encounter. That counts for something.” – Yohe building. And I actually don’t mind using the same bathroom as the fans, “Could they move the pulled pork station to the press box?” – Shinzawa so I can hear how they’re breaking down the game.” – Rutherford “Definition of average.” – El-Bashir “Probably the only press box where you actually fear for your life. But the view is great.” – Mirtle 25. Honda Center (Anaheim) “It’s old. It’s outdated. It’s falling apart. It’s awesome.” – Yohe Location: 4.44 28. (New Jersey) Quality of facility: 5.07 Location: 3.52 Atmosphere: 4.56 Quality of facility: 5.28 Press box: 4.85 Atmosphere: 6.23 Total score: 18.93 Press box: 4.54 Total score: 16.2 As my good friend and native New Yorker Larry Marasco jokes, ’66 percent of Barclays works for hockey every time.’ Barclays Center could Fun fact: This press box is the length of 437 football fields. It’s also have been well designed for hockey, but that boat sailed as the always 80 percent empty. It’s also got a concrete floor. It’s also got really construction delays got longer and longer. Instead, Barclays became a fun rolly chairs with well-greased wheels. One of these days, I’m going to cookie-cutter basketball arena and hockey was an afterthought, which is make it from one end to the other on one push, and I will then retire on apparent to anyone who has ever been to a game there. – Powers the spot, knowing my journalism career has peaked. – Lazerus “It sucks in pretty much every way.” – Yohe “It’s tough to grade the location here. It’s nice to be able to stay in NYC and take the train right to Newark Penn Station, where you can then walk “The coldest press box I’ve ever encountered. It’s colder than any NHL to the arena. On the other hand, the arena is in Newark.” – Kurz outdoor game I’ve been to, and that includes Wings-Leafs at The Big House and Blackhawks-Penguins at Soldier Field.” – Masisak “Someone once backed into my parked rental car. They did not leave a note.” – El-Bashir “The Brooklyn set up was so wretched that I longed for Nassau Coliseum. Let that comment sink in.” – Rossi “Not a fan. Like watching the Devils in the ’90s, it’s impressive but obnoxiously sterile.” – Yohe 32. (Ottawa) 29. BB&T Center (Florida) Location: 1.23 Location: 2.70 Quality of facility: 4.0 Quality of facility: 4.81 Atmosphere: 3.35 Atmosphere: 2.07 Press box: 4.04 Press box: 5.56 Total score: 12.62 Total score: 15.15 The rink itself is fine. The location — Kanata, Canada — while delightful to say, is not fine. Ottawa’s a cool city. I hope one day to watch a hockey I covered my first NHL game here, back during the 2000 playoffs, as an game there. – Lazerus intern at the Palm Beach Post. Twenty years later, it’s almost exactly the same, and it’s still in the absolute middle of nowhere. But you always get “Just wish the arena was farther away from one of the nicest cities in the to drive there with the windows open, no matter what time of year it is. world. OK, that’s a little sarcasm there for anyone who’s made the soul- That’s a winner in my book. – Lazerus sucking trip to Kanata, which as its name suggests is not really in Ottawa. Worst arena location in the Eastern Conference and fighting with “I always freeze my ass off here. People will complain about the location, Arizona for worst location anywhere. Traffic is brutal, which means that but you often stay at the beach in Fort Lauderdale and the mall complex pretty much everyone is grumpy once you get there. Dismal snack across from the arena is excellent.” – Mirtle selection makes matters worse. Visitor’s dressing room is pretty “I’ve been to pee-wee games with more atmosphere.” – El-Bashir cramped. Sigh. When the Sens get a proper downtown arena, this will be a proper NHL franchise.” – Burnside “There’s more people in the press box than the seats.” – Rutherford “Middle. Of. Nowhere.” – El-Bashir 30. Nassau Coliseum (N.Y. Islanders) “Worst building in the NHL.” – Basu Location: 2.33

Quality of facility: 2.88 The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 Atmosphere: 6.17 Press box: 3.67 Total score: 15.04 It’s a dump. But as a Long Island kid, it’s my dump, dammit. The smallest, dingiest, dankest arena in the league, with a concourse (the only concourse) that’s about as wide as the Rogers Arena press box. Remember the scene in ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ when Gene Wilder leads the families into that fun-house hallway and Mrs. Gloop hollers ‘LET ME OUT OR I’LL SCREAM!’? That’s every trip to the bathroom at Nassau Coliseum. Don’t care. Best sightlines in the league, and I’m glad I got to go there one last time last season, even if I almost froze to death seated right below the gigantic air conditioner above the ‘press box.’ The real question is, which of our writers gave it a location score higher than 2, and do they all live in Hempstead? – Lazerus “It’s not old, it’s got character.” – El-Bashir “I remember my first trip to the Coliseum and asking staff where the media workroom was. No one could find it. Because there wasn’t one. Ended up working on the end of a wooden table on which was a nice box of donuts and, I think, a skate sharpening machine. Still there is something wonderfully chaotic about the old barn. But let’s be honest, can Belmont Park Arena be ready tomorrow?” – Burnside “With the low concrete ceiling that the sound reverberates off of, if you’re a hockey fan of a certain age, a trip to Nassau is a pure, concentrated hit of hockey nostalgia that’s completely unique in the contemporary NHL.” – Drance 31. Barclays Center (N.Y. Islanders) Location: 4.87 Quality of facility: 3.70 Atmosphere: 2.91 Press box: 1.48 Total score: 12.96 1176369 Websites them. At the same time, their play with the man advantage to that point hadn’t earned a larger role either.

At this point, both players have been good with glimpses of great, but The Athletic / The Next Ones: Can Nico Hischier be the next Nathan neither has been franchise-altering yet and it’s part of the reason their MacKinnon? respective teams were languishing at the bottom of the standings. Was there more coming that could change that?

What the future might hold By Dom Luszczyszyn As we all know by now, the answer for MacKinnon is a resounding yes. Jul 8, 2020 There was much more in store for the Colorado center. Much more. And it all happened the very next season.

In 2017-18, MacKinnon exploded with an MVP-calibre campaign finishing No two hockey players are the same but some are more similar than second in Hart Trophy voting, putting up 97 points in 74 games and lifting others. They may not look or play the same way on the ice but the end the Avalanche into the playoffs, all the way up from dead last the year result is close enough to wonder what it means for a player’s career before. By point pace, MacKinnon doubled his previous year’s output. trajectory. For young players, a statistical comparable from the past can showcase a potential path forward – hope for a brighter future. They So what changed for MacKinnon? For starters, he started putting the won’t follow the same specific path but the similarities shown to date can puck in the net. His individual expected goals-per-60 did rise from 0.74 help visualize what could happen going forward. These players might be the year prior to 0.88 in 2017-18, but it was his finishing ability on top of the next ones. that doing most of the trick as his actual goals-per-60 jumped from 0.51 all the way to 1.31, one of the highest marks in the league. Once This is the first in a five-part series. MacKinnon figured out his scoring touch he became a much more The Player: Nico Hischier, age 21 dangerous player and the rest of his game followed. With the help of his offense, the Avalanche earned 57 percent of the goals at 5-on-5 that The Comparable: Nathan MacKinnon, age 21 year. The similarities The power play saw a big improvement too as his scoring there doubled. In 2017-18, he scored 7.3 points-per-60 on the power play, one of the In 2013, Nathan MacKinnon, a center with the Halifax Mooseheads, was league’s best marks. MacKinnon’s ability there vaulted the Avalanche to selected first overall by the Colorado Avalanche. Four years later, Nico top 10 with the man advantage – they were dead last the year prior. Hischier, a center with the Halifax Mooseheads, was selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils. As top picks both were expected to be All that led to a massive jump in MacKinnon’s projected value from 1.9 franchise cornerstones, but it took some time for MacKinnon to get there, wins to 3.4 wins. He hasn’t looked back since and has only grown more something Hischier is learning all the same in the midst of his third valuable in the following two seasons as he’s proven 2017-18’s jump to season. Hischier has lots of raw talent but hasn’t been able to put it all nearly five wins was no fluke – he’s stayed at that level in three straight together yet, something that plagued MacKinnon around the same age. seasons. MacKinnon has legitimately grown into one of the league’s best players, cleaning up his defensive game in the process to become a Though the two aren’t too stylistically similar (MacKinnon is explosively more complete player. fast in a way that’s obviously tough to match), their paths at similar ages align pretty closely with Hischier’s current true talent level having a What can’t be overlooked in MacKinnon’s huge breakout is the rapid similarity score of 58 to MacKinnon’s in 2016-17. emergence of running mate Mikko Rantanen who had his own leap in 2017-18, jumping from 38 points to 84 points alongside MacKinnon. Their true talent ability based on their numbers from the prior three Wondering who was the catalyst there makes for a real chicken-and-egg seasons suggested both players were capable of scoring at a 20-goal scenario, but the key is that MacKinnon had help from another elite pace but lacked finishing talent scoring fewer goals than expected. Both player on his line. players were decent play-makers good for around 55 points, played tough minutes on bad teams, drew penalties at an elite rate and That might be the biggest barrier to reaching the superstar stratosphere struggled at the face-off dot. In terms of driving play, both players were for Hischier: The lack of help up front. The Devils are low on forward strong on offense but left a bit to be desired in their own end. In all both talent, especially with Taylor Hall out of the picture, meaning Hischier players were legitimate number one centers worth just under two wins, might be on his own for a little bit. The team has Jack Hughes, of course, but still far away from being an elite center. but he struggled mightily in his first season and ideally plays center forming a 1-2 punch with Hischier. What each player has shown to date That lack of depth limits the team’s power play upside too, a huge source It was good, but not good enough, not like other top picks who found of MacKinnon’s breakout season. Hischier can still see a jump there, but almost immediate success right out of the gate. Both showed incredible it may not be as monumental as the one MacKinnon had. Either way, it’s promise in their rookie season, especially MacKinnon winning the Calder something he’ll have to figure out going forward as the league’s best Trophy, but both seemed to stagnate soon after. Hischier took a small players find a way to dominate with the man advantage. Hischier hasn’t jump in his next season mostly fuelled by a minutes bump but still found yet. himself at the level of a 50-to-60 point forward, while MacKinnon took a step back in his next few seasons production-wise. Hischier has shown a knack for driving play at 5-on-5 though, one stronger than MacKinnon’s at the same age. He’ll have to continue The inability to finish was a big hang-up for both players, though in proving he can do so without Hall, but given what he’s shown so far he different ways. MacKinnon was a pure volume shooter, a chucker who may have a bright future there in that regard. Maybe he doesn’t produce ranked 413th out of 530 forwards in shooting percentage from 2014-to- as much as MacKinnon going forward, but he might be able to make up 2017. Most of that was at 5-on-5 where he really struggled to convert and some ground in two-way dominance on his way to potentially becoming his points-per-60 during that time was actually lower than Hischier’s at an elite center. the same age. Hischier is more selective of his shots getting better quality looks, but he struggles all the same to finish them. His 11 percent Getting there though will hinge on Hischier finding the back of the net shooting percentage is 1.2 percentage points lower than his expected more. He’s shown glimpses of it but not consistently enough. Getting that rate. MacKinnon’s 7.4 percent was 1.5 percentage points lower. extra gear in the goal-scoring department was the key for MacKinnon Hischier’s issue though was on the man advantage where he scored just ascending to the next level and it may work similarly for Hischier. Having six goals over three seasons on 11.7 expected goals. that weapon at the ready makes his play-making ability even more dangerous, a dual-threat. It was clear both players had strong shooting instincts, but for whatever reason, it wasn’t translating to goals as much as it should’ve. Though Hischier’s future path isn’t set in stone, but looking at MacKinnon’s shows both players still drove offense well, the lack of personal goal-scoring the possibility of a huge leap into stardom. Maybe not to the same prowess limits each player’s full offensive potential. degree or at the same accelerated rate, but Hischier’s results to date show similar promising pieces in place to one day get there. What feels The power play is worth pointing out here as neither player excelled there clear from Hischier’s play so far is that the best is yet to come, even if it up to that point. Though Hischier has been truly weak there earning just doesn’t mirror MacKinnon exactly. 3.1 points-per-60, MacKinnon wasn’t much better at the time either scoring 3.7 points-per-60, good for 143rd in the league. Team effects Other comparables play a role here, especially with neither having a solidified role on the top unit at the time. That’s an important factor in a player’s production and it’s MacKinnon in 2016-17 actually wasn’t Hischier’s top comparable – it was part of why neither player has seemingly put up the numbers expected of Nikolaj Ehlers, also in 2016-17. The two were very close (the similarity score to Ehlers was 59 compared to MacKinnon’s 58), but MacKinnon’s story to date was far more interesting. When using comparables for projection, the key is to never hone in on just one player. The narratives are intriguing and worthwhile, but in order to get a more complete picture, you need more matches to form a composite portrayal. On top of those two top matches for Hischier, his current true talent level also falls in line with where Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (51), Jonathan Huberdeau (39), Matt Duchene (38), Andrew Shaw (36), Claude Giroux (36), and Bryan Little (35) were at the same age – a varying array of talent. While it’s nice to fantasize about the possibility of Hischier turning into MacKinnon, that’s a best-case scenario more than anything and there are other potential paths he might find himself on instead. Some, like Giroux and Huberdeau, are still pretty flattering, but others like Nugent- Hopkins and Little suggest stagnation at Hischier’s current level. He could stay where he is as a low-end first-line center, he might blossom a little further to a legit first-line talent, or he may turn into a true elite player. Right now his future is written in pencil on a spectrum of possibilities and it’s up to him to chart his path forward. Considering all of Hischier’s top matches, a future breakout still looks likely. Even if it’s not to MacKinnon’s stratosphere, the odds of Hischier becoming a strong player in this league look promising and the potential of becoming an elite force is very much there. Hischier’s play so far hasn’t lived up to the billing of other first overall picks, sure, but it’s still very early in his career. As we saw with MacKinnon, sometimes it takes time for a potential franchise-changing player to actually start changing their franchise.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176370 Websites We never found out, which is good news for hockey fans in Colorado and bad news for those in Quebec.

What if there hadn’t been so much confusion over Pavel Bure’s draft The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Playing ‘what if?’ with 5 draft scenarios eligibility? from NHL history The saga of Pavel Bure’s draft remains confusing to this day. Heading into the 1989 draft, Bure was considered one of hockey’s most dynamic prospects, but back in those days teams were hesitant to invest high By Sean McIndoe picks in Soviet players who may have taken years to come to North America, if they ever did at all. Soviet players were almost always taken Jul 8, 2020 as late-round flyers, and the rules of the day said that an 18-year-old Bure was only eligible to be picked in the first three rounds because he hadn’t played two full pro seasons back home. We’ve spent a good part of the last week sorting through the fallout of the draft lottery, which certainly gave us plenty to talk about. But we weren’t Or had he? While the threshold for a season was 11 games and Bure’s supposed to be doing this. Before the pandemic hit, the draft lottery was official records only listed five with CSKA Moscow in 1987-88 (and still scheduled for April, and we were supposed to have spent the last week do), the Canucks believed they’d uncovered evidence of six more. They talking about the draft itself. The same Friday night the league was believe Bure was eligible to be picked. And depending on who you drawing ping pong balls and Bill Daly was flipping over generic logos, the believe, they weren’t the only ones. NHL was supposed to be gathered in Montreal for Round 1 of the draft. According to Brian Burke, who helped the Canucks build their legal case, What if they had been? It’s impossible to know how it would have played the only other team that knew about Bure’s mystery games was the out, although we’ll get some indication when the delayed draft is held, Edmonton Oilers. But years later, a story emerged that the Red Wings well, whenever they get around to it this fall. In the meantime, we’re left were in the loop too, and that’s where the confusion really kicks in. with that question: What if? According to Jim Lites, an executive with Detroit at the time, the Wings were ready to take Bure in the fifth round but were specifically told by the Alternate realities don’t sound like a bad option right now, so let’s do this. league that he wasn’t eligible. The Canucks called his name in the sixth Here are five draft-themed what-if scenarios from modern NHL history round, other teams immediately objected, and everything went to hell. and how they might have changed everything. With Bure remaining in Moscow, the arguments went back-and-forth for What if Eric Lindros had just put on the jersey? most of a year until NHL president John Ziegler made his ruling: Bure wasn’t eligible, and the Vancouver pick was voided. But the Canucks The arbitration-mandated trade that sent Eric Lindros from Quebec to appealed, and on the day before the 1990 draft, Ziegler changed his Philadelphia for a massive package that included Peter Forsberg is mind and awarded Bure to Vancouver. Other teams were livid, as Bure probably one of the most what-if’d transactions in NHL history. Most of was ranked highly on plenty of boards for the 1990 draft. But the decision those alternate realities revolve around the arbitrator making the decision stood, and the rest was history. he’d been expected to make at the time and awarding Lindros to the Rangers instead, for a package that was reported to include names like What happens if teams had known Bure was eligible in 1989? Some Tony Amonte, Alexei Kovalev and (maybe) Mike Richter. Lindros could teams didn’t draft Soviets back then, but it’s almost certain that have wound up somewhere like Chicago, Detroit or Montreal. I’ve offered somebody would have grabbed him before the sixth round. That would up my own version where he lands in Toronto, and everything changes. probably have been the Red Wings, who famously landed Sergei Fedorov and Vladimir Konstantinov that year; if you think the Russian But there’s a simpler scenario that often gets overlooked: What if Lindros Five was scary, imagine if Bure had been in the mix too. Maybe he lands had just put on that Nordiques jersey? What if he’d never decided he with the Oilers and becomes the next franchise forward after Wayne didn’t want to play in Quebec or had been talked out of his stance or had Gretzky and Mark Messier leave. Or maybe he goes into the 1990 draft backed down once training camp arrived and decided to report? and somebody else entirely is the first to call his name. For one thing, Lindros would have arrived in the NHL in 1991 instead of In any event, he probably doesn’t end up in Vancouver, which rearranges heading back to junior. That might mean he adds a Calder Trophy to his almost a decade of franchise history, including the 1994 trip to the resume instead of finishing miles behind Teemu Selanne in 1992-1993. It Stanley Cup Final. But thanks to doing their homework and their ability to also means he misses the 1992 Olympics, which might cost Canada a twist the league president’s arm, the Canucks landed the most exciting medal. player in franchise history. Instead, he’d have been in Quebec, playing on a team that already had Fun fact: The Florida Panthers tried basically the same trick with Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin and Owen Nolan. But they didn’t have much else in the ninth round of the 2003 draft, albeit on much – the real 91-92 Nordiques’ leading scorers included names like Mike shakier ground. That one didn’t work. But let’s see if we can’t get Hough, Greg Paslawski and Mikhail Tatarinov, and starting goalie Ovechkin into that loaded 2003 draft after all … Stephane Fiset went into the season with nine career games on his NHL resume. Add Lindros, who scored 40 goals in his real-world rookie What if certain stars had been born just a few days earlier? season, and they’d be a lot better than the 52-point team they were, but we won’t get silly and suggest they’d be a playoff team. Meanwhile, One of my favorite comedians is Steven Wright, and he has a bit where would the Flyers have had the patience to wait for Forsberg to arrive, or he wonders how his life would be different if he’d been born one day would they have used him as a trade chip to land some other big-name earlier. In the end, he decides that everything would be exactly the same, star? except he would have asked that question yesterday. But those aren’t the big questions. Instead, we want to know two things We can play that game with a handful of NHL stars, although the answer about our what-if Nordiques: Do they still move to Colorado and do they gets a little more complicated. The cutoff birth date for the NHL draft is still go on to win multiple Stanley Cups? Sept. 15, meaning a player must turn 18 by that day to be eligible for a given year’s draft. If you were born on Sept. 16 instead, sorry, see you I think the answer to the first question is yes, they do still end up moving. next year. That means we can look at top prospects who were born right The NHL’s economics in the early ’90s were just about impossible for around that date and wonder: What if they’d arrived a few days early? small-market Canadian teams to manage, and the clock was already ticking on the Nordiques by 1991. It’s possible that Lindros bursting onto For example, Alexander Ovechkin was born on Sept. 17, 1985, making the scene would have meant a reinvigorated fan base, a new arena and him eligible for the 2004 draft. The Capitals won the lottery, and the rest a team that puts down firmer roots that remain to this day. But it feels was history. But if Ovechkin had been born just two days sooner, he’d unlikely. have been eligible for the 2003 draft. That’s already considered the most loaded draft in modern history, but adding Ovechkin to the mix would’ve Still, Lindros might at least have bought them another season or two, taken it to another level. which puts everything about their Colorado days in question, even if we assume they still wind up there eventually. Having Lindros instead of The Penguins had the top pick that year and used it on Marc-André Forsberg might be close to a wash, although plenty of fans would tell you Fleury; taking him off the Pens and adding Ovechkin instead scrambles Forsberg was better, and there were plenty of other pieces from that the entire cap era timeline. But would Ovechkin have been the top trade tree that ended up being crucial. But more importantly, what if prospect in 2003? Maybe, although remember, he would have been those Lindros-led Nordiques haven’t moved in time for the 1995-96 missing a year of development. (I asked Corey Pronman, and he thought season? There’s no way the Habs trade Patrick Roy to their provincial Ovechkin would have been a strong candidate for the top slot, but not rivals, and without him the Sakic-era Cups seem a lot less likely. necessarily a sure thing. He also immediately blocked me on Slack.) Either way, that means Ovechkin isn’t in the 2004 draft, meaning the By the end of it, Burke has acquired the Hawks’ fourth overall pick, Capitals end up with the other consensus top pick from that class: Evgeni flipped it for the No. 1, and then flipped that for No. 2. It’s a masterpiece Malkin, who’s no longer there for the Pens. Two days’ difference and it of GMing, and in hindsight, quite possibly the highlight of his career. As changes everything. the draft starts, Burke knows he’s taking the Sedins. He just has to wait for the Thrashers to take Patrik Stefan first overall, which they’ve already Or take another example, one that reader Luca recently sent me: Nolan promised they’ll do. Patrick, who was born on Sept. 19. Move him up a few days and he shows up for the 2016 draft instead of 2017. He probably doesn’t bump What if Waddell had screwed him over? Auston Matthews out of the top spot, but would the Jets prefer a local Winnipeg kid over Patrik Laine at No. 2? Like, what if Waddell just walked up to the podium and said “With the first overall pick, the are proud to select Daniel Sedin?” and Maybe. But it seems like a lock that Patrick would at least go in the top then just stared Burke down? It’s not like he couldn’t have – he’d given three. If the Oilers still take Jesse Puljujarvi, that leaves Pierre-Luc Burke his word, sure, but there wouldn’t have been a legally binding Dubois on the board for the Canucks at No. 5. And as Elliotte Friedman agreement drawn up based on a conversation they’d had a few minutes has reported, they had a deal in place with the Canadiens to send the ago. He could have just backstabbed Burke on live television. pick to Montreal for P.K. Subban if Dubois was available. That wipes out the Shea Weber deal that happened a few days later, completely Would it have made sense? Not remotely. The Thrashers wanted Stefan changing the trajectory of the Habs, Canucks, Predators and maybe the all along. And they’d started the day with the second overall pick, so if Jets. And we haven’t even gone back to 2017, where Patrick’s absence they wanted a Sedin they could have just stayed pat and got one. might mean the Flyers wind up with Miro Heiskanen, Cale Makar or Elias There’d be no rational reason for Waddell to do this, and Burke no doubt Pettersson. All based on four days. knew that. This whole idea is ridiculous. But maybe my favorite scenario involves Matthews, another Sept. 17 So great, sure, logic is fun … but what if it happened? baby. Move him up a few days and he shifts to the 2015 draft, which Let’s just say it: There’s a 90 percent chance Burke would have charged already has Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel at the top. In addition to the stage and tried to fight Waddell on live television, right? This guy creating a scenario where even more teams blatantly tank that season, wanted to rent a barn over an on a player who wasn’t even all there’s a good chance that McDavid and Eichel stay one/two and that good, there’s no way he wouldn’t want to throw down over Matthews falls to the Coyotes at No. 3, becoming the local hero to carry something like that. Waddell played a decade in the minor leagues so the franchise. he’d probably be ready to rumble, although I prefer to imagine him If you’re a Leafs fan who doesn’t like the sound of missing out on making a run for it and then getting chased around the arena by a furious Matthews in 2016, it gets worse: The Leafs held the fourth pick in 2015 Burke for the rest of the first round while Benny Hill music plays. and used it on Mitch Marner. But if Matthews goes to the Coyotes, I may have thought about this too much. But if your “what if?” draft there’s at least a chance the Leafs take the consensus next best center scenarios don’t end with at least one GM fistfight, maybe you’re not in the draft: Dylan Strome. No Matthews or Marner in Toronto, the thinking about them enough. Coyotes franchise is saved and the 2015 draft goes down as arguably the most top-heavy in history. But none of it happened, because of two days. The Athletic LOADED: 07.09.2020 What if Patrik Stefan doesn’t miss that open net? Yeah, I know, this has nothing to do with the draft. Or does it? Stay with me. We all remember Stefan’s infamous flub from the final seconds of regulation in the Jan. 4, 2007 game between the Stars and Oilers. What many of us forget is that the Stars still went on to win that game in a shootout. So from a Dallas perspective, no harm no foul. But while the Oilers still lost, the extra point from escaping regulation ended up being huge. They finished the season with 71 points, tied with the Blackhawks for the 25th best total in the league. The Oilers held the tiebreaker, bumping the Hawks down to 26th. And that’s the spot that won the lottery. What if the Oilers finish with 70 points, win the lottery and draft Patrick Kane in 2007? I think we can safely say the Hawks don’t win three Stanley Cups. Maybe they don’t win any. Meanwhile, the Oilers get their franchise player just one year after making a trip to the final, and it’s possible that we never hear the term “decade of darkness” in Edmonton. They probably don’t pick first overall three years in a row from 2010 to 2012, which means Oiler fans don’t have to hear any punchlines about Nail Yakupov or how the “trade is one-for-one”. Then again, maybe that also means they’re not still lounging around last place long enough to land Connor McDavid. We may have found out if Stefan had just buried his empty net breakaway. Instead, the puck took a bounce, the loser point and lottery balls did the rest, and Kane has three Cup rings in Chicago. What if had backstabbed Brian Burke? I’ll close with this one because it’s by far the dumbest and also my absolute favorite. The 1999 draft was terrible, producing exactly four star players. Two of them, Ryan Miller and Henrik Zetterberg, came in the late rounds. The other two came with the second and third overall picks, and went to the same team. Those would be the Sedin twins, of course, and Canucks GM Brian Burke managed to land both thanks to some memorable draft floor wheeling and dealing. Luckily, there’s footage of the moment when he pulls it all together, and it’s really kind of fascinating. Burke has already worked out the three separate trades he needs, and now he’s making sure everyone else knows how this is going to work. He’s completely in his element, pointing and barking and giving orders. And the other GMs, including hockey lifers like Don Waddell, and Bob Murray, are nodding along. 1176371 Websites exposed during the playoffs. Having another two-way rearguard who can quickly change the pace of a game from their own zone (a la Morgan Rielly) adds another dimension when they need it most. Sportsnet.ca / Phase 3 Training Camp Preview: Can Frederik Andersen With his time in Toronto very likely coming to an end after the season, go the distance? the extended hiatus could prove to be the fresh start Barrie needs — before the fresh start he’ll get come free agency in the fall.

One interesting stat Emily Sadler | @EmmySadler 77.7 — that’s the Maple Leafs’ penalty kill percentage this season, which July 8, 2020, 10:19 AM ranks them 21st league-wide in the category and is the sixth-lowest percentage among teams resuming play. This is a familiar flaw for the Maple Leafs’ special teams unit — especially in the playoffs. So… where were we? Let’s rewind to last season for a minute, when the Maple Leafs went into Ah, yes: the playoffs with a penalty kill percentage very close to what it is today: 79.9 per cent. The Leafs then managed a measly 56.3 per cent success Auston Matthews scored his 47th goal of the campaign early in the third rate on the penalty kill against the Bruins last spring, killing just nine of period and Frederik Andersen made 32 saves as Toronto picked up a Boston’s 16 power plays, and were even worse at home: Toronto killed crucial 2-1 victory over Tampa to snap an ugly three-game slide… just 28.6 per cent of their penalties at Scotiabank Arena. That cannot happen again this year when they take on the Blue Jackets in the That was back on March 10, about four years months ago, in a game that qualifying round. brought a little hope to Maple Leafs fans who were beginning to fret about the lack of offensive power down the stretch and the fate of the Columbus, while not known for its special teams (their 16.4 power play banged-up blue line. Little did we all know at the time, what we all percentage is one of the worst in the league), will no doubt look to exploit thought was a dress rehearsal for a first-round series between the two the Leafs’ potentially fatal weakness just as Boston did. Atlantic clubs was ultimately both teams’ regular-season finale as COVID-19 forced the league to shut down operations indefinitely just two Possible line combinations days later. With Mikheyev back in the lineup, it feels likely he’ll be plugged back on Thankfully, there’s now hockey on the horizon once again, as 24 teams the second line with John Tavares and Mitch Marner while Auston prepare to resume playing in what will be the most unique Stanley Cup Matthews and William Nylander work their chemistry up top. tournament on record. The Maple Leafs now have their sights fixed on a It’ll be interesting to see if any “black ace” players stand out in camp… a five-game qualifying series against the Columbus Blue Jackets as they kid like Nick Robertson could find his way into the bottom six at some approach Phase 3’s training camp ahead of a resumption of play — point and shake things up, should the club need a jolt. On defence, which means we’ve got some catching up to do: meanwhile, perhaps primetime billing could give Barrie a boost of Regular season record: 36-25-9 (8th in East by points percentage) confidence in the top pairing, while Rasmus Sandin will be ready to jump in — and likely will — to get his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Goals for: 238 (3rd in NHL) Zach Hyman – Auston Matthews – William Nylander Goals against: 227 (27th in NHL) Ilya Mikheyev – John Tavares – Mitch Marner Leading goal scorer: Auston Matthews (47) Kasperi Kapanen – Alex Kerfoot – Pierre Engvall Leading point scorer: Auston Matthews (80) Kyle Clifford – Frederik Gauthier – Injury updates: Morgan Rielly – Tyson Barrie Defencemen Morgan Rielly (fractured foot) and Cody Ceci (sprained ankle) both returned to the lineup just before the season stoppage, Jake Muzzin – Justin Holl bolstering the Maple Leafs’ banged-up blue line. Rielly’s first game back Travis Dermott – Cody Ceci was Toronto’s last game on March 10, while Ceci made his return just one game earlier on March 6. Frederik Andersen Ilya Mikheyev: The Russian rookie’s exciting breakout campaign came to Jack Campbell a sudden and scary halt in December when he suffered a wrist laceration that sent him to the hospital and called for a projected recovery period of The biggest question facing the team is… about three months. GM Kyle Dubas confirmed that Toronto’s favourite Can Frederik Andersen get off to a hot start? (And can Jack Campbell be soup lover will be back in the lineup for the season resumption, and his the backup they need, just in case?) participation in Phase 2’s small-group workouts was a welcomed sight. Typically, the question facing Freddy as we look ahead to the post- Andreas Johnsson: The forward underwent right knee surgery on Feb. season is whether the No. 1 goalie will have enough gas left in the tank 19, considered season-ending at the time given his six-month recovery to conquer a long playoff run following a full-season workload as one of estimate. Unfortunately for the Leafs, that initial timeline means that even the league’s busiest netminders. His schedule this year, combined with with the lengthy stoppage, he still won’t quite be ready to join the team the uninspiring options backing him up prior to the Campbell trade, had for training camp. many Leafs fans calculating just how many starts head coach Sheldon Player To Watch Keefe could tab Andersen for without wearing him out (and risking serious injury) — and how to find that sweet spot between giving a If there’s a player on the Leafs who needs an amazing post-season — backup the opportunity to prove he’s up for the job without risking both for his own personal outlook and that of the team — it’s got to be another automatic loss on the second half of a back-to-back. Tyson Barrie. Now, with a months-long hiatus, rest is no longer the question — but rust To say his Toronto tenure hasn’t gone as planned would be a might be. Andersen isn’t exactly known for his stellar early-season play, understatement — the defenceman got off to a slow start amid lofty instead taking a few reps each October to find his groove. Andersen has expectations, and struggled to find his footing in the first half of the accrued a combined 20-13-5 record with a .900 save percentage, 3.14 season. But as much as he’s criticized, his numbers show marked goals against average, and one shutout in the month of October over the improvement as the season went on — particularly with the introduction course of his Toronto tenure. of Sheldon Keefe as head coach in November. Now staring down a best-of-five series, there will be no time to ease in After the worst two-month start to a season of his career, Barrie did and recover from a slow start. manage to recover. A handful of goals and 34 assists for 39 points in 70 games wasn’t quite up to his usual standards, but considering the outside And if Andersen falls, is Campbell up to the task? The backup is still factors — a trade, a move, a mid-season coaching change, a banged-up pretty new to Leafs nation, having been acquired from the Los Angeles blue line, trade deadline rumours and a global pandemic — his numbers Kings ahead of the trade deadline in February. The 28-year-old won at the time of the season stoppage still look decent. three of his first four starts in blue and white, posting a solid 2.63 goals against average and .915 save percentage behind a struggling defence A strong playoffs for Barrie would go a long way for the Maple Leafs, in six appearances, proving he’s the best insurance policy the Maple whose defence has long been a weakness that has historically been Leafs have had all year.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176372 Websites This plucky team will be remembered forever because it lost the Final on Brett Hull’s toe-in-the-crease tally that won Game 6 in overtime. But the “No Goal” Sabres were really the no goals Sabres. Yes, Buffalo finished ninth overall in the NHL in the 1998-99 season, but it ranked 17th in Sportsnet.ca / Five of the worst NHL teams to ever make the Stanley goals-per-game with 2.52 and 21st in power-play efficiency at 13.5 per Cup Final cent (though that mark jumped to 20 per cent in the playoffs). The Sabres had just one player top 60 points in the regular season and that was 40-goal man Miroslav Satan. In the playoffs, their leading Ryan Dixon | @dixononsports scorers were — I kid you not — defencemen Jason Woolley and Alexei July 8, 2020, 11:58 AM Zhitnik, who had identical 4-11-15 lines in 21 contests. All of this, of course, is the preamble to saying, when you had late-90s Dominik Hasek in goal, anything was possible. ‘The Dominator’ posted a When the NHL Draft Lottery (Phase 1) produced a placeholder at the top .939 save percentage in the 1999 playoffs, lifting Buffalo to the Final one of the draw, the handwringing began immediately: What if, in this year year after getting the squad to the East Final. from outer space, an already-awesome team has a hiccup in the qualifying round, enters Phase 2 of the lottery and winds up with the No. 2010 Philadelphia Flyers 1 pick? This is a bit of a stretch, but we had to get a team from this century on Of course, should a high-seeded squad like the Pittsburgh Penguins or here. Philly finished 41-35-6 in a season that saw Peter Laviolette Edmonton Oilers get bounced in a qualifier, it will be because a team that replace John Stevens behind the bench. The seventh-seeded Flyers under normal circumstances would have been outside the playoff picture actually had home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference Final is suddenly in the main draw. That could cue another form of concern: because the only team worse than it — No. 8 seed Montreal — rode What if an unworthy outfit actually advances to the Stanley Cup Final? Jaroslav Halak’s goaltending to upset wins over the Capitals and Penguins. Considering the three-round grind it takes to make a Final, you could argue any club that gets there — regardless of its regular season record This Flyers team fell in an 0-3 series hole to the Bruins in Round 2, then — has proven itself as a quality team. That said, there have been some stormed back to rip off four straight wins. Philly even got behind 3-0 in pretty suspect squads get to the showcase series. Game 7 in Boston and managed to escape with a win. With that in mind, here’s a look at the worst teams to get within four (or In a Final versus the Blackhawks where neither team knew what it would fewer) wins of the Stanley Cup. get from its goalies — Philly had Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher, Chicago rolled the dice with Antti Niemi — the Hawks got a few more Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it saves and won the series on Patrick Kane’s “I swear it’s in!” Game 6 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, overtime winner. they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. Go ahead and attach your asterisks. For the first three seasons following the great expansion of 1967, the NHL slotted the in one 1991 division and the six new guys in another. As a result, a very overmatched team was going to play in the Stanley Cup Final for each of those three Mario Lemieux’s coming out party — “What a goal! What a move! Ohhh years, and that club was the Blues. Baby!” — came at the expense of a North Stars team that really should get more play for the astonishing upsets it pulled off. St. Louis failed to win a game in that trio of trips to the Final, getting swept by the Canadiens in 1968 and ’69, before Bobby Orr flew through After finishing fourth in a Norris Division that had two awesome teams the air in 1970. The Blues relied on an all-time goalie battery to keep (Chicago and St. Louis) and three average-to-awful ones (Detroit, things close and while you tend to think of Glenn Hall backstopping this Minnesota and Toronto), the 27-39-14 North Stars (.425 points group in his twilight years, Jacques Plante also did some remarkable percentage) went on an absurd run. The fact they beat a Blackhawks work in the Blues crease. He posted a .950 save percentage in 10 team that finished 38 points ahead of them is pretty well known in hockey playoffs games at age 40 in ’69, then came back the next year at 41 and lore as one of the biggest first-round whackings in history. You know put up a .936 mark in six outings. what they did in Round 2? Beat a Blues team that finished 37 points ahead of them in the same number of games — six — it took to dust Chicago. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.09.2020 Minny only needed five games to win the conference final, knocking off an Edmonton team that had won the Stanley Cup 12 months prior. And, by the way, they held a 2-1 series lead on Mario and Co., before the Penguins ripped off three straight wins. Things finally caught up to them in the end, as Pittsburgh clinched the Cup with an 8-0 victory in Game 6. 1982 Vancouver Canucks We’re so conditioned to talking about the parity in today’s game that it’s easy to forget what a monstrous gulf once existed between the NHL’s good and bad teams. Expansion through the late 1960s and ’70s coupled with the merger — the NHL absorbed four new teams for the 1979-80 season — produced some wild record discrepancies in a 21-team circuit. Despite finishing with a 30-33-17 mark, the Canucks actually placed second in the Smythe Division behind the second-best team in the league, the Edmonton Oilers. And when that 111-point Oilers squad lost to a 63-point Los Angeles Kings club in the first round, the road to the Final was wide open in a Campbell Conference where just two of 11 squads posted a winning record. Vancouver only lost two games en route to the Final and never faced a .500-or-better club on the path. Unfortunately, the dynastic New York Islanders — who emerged from a conference where seven of 10 teams finished above .500 — were waiting in the Final and swept coach and his charges. By the way, the 1994 Canucks that came painfully close to beating Mark Messier and the Rangers could also be on this list. That outfit was 41-40- 3 (84 games!) before catching fire in the post-season. 1999 Buffalo Sabres 1176373 Websites Few teams in hockey have a 23-and-under talent pool of Pettersson, Hughes and Boeser. But playoff inexperience goes far beyond the talented trio. Sportsnet.ca / Phase 3 Training Camp Preview: Are young Canucks Neither Markstrom nor his backup, Demko, has started a playoff game, ready for the next step? and neither have Virtanen, Stecher and Gaudette. Horvat’s only playoff series was five years ago when he was a rookie. Sure, Pearson and Toffoli won a Stanley Cup with the Kings, as Beagle did with the Capitals. And Miller and Myers have been on long playoff runs recently. Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet But playoffs are a different world for this group of Canucks, who will lean July 8, 2020, 9:01 AM most heavily on guys who have never seen them.

After four painful years of a sputtering rebuild that saw the Canucks lose Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.09.2020 more National Hockey League games than anyone outside Buffalo, Vancouver emerged this season as the team it hoped to become — faster and more talented, driven by a handful of rising young stars and key veterans. While the NHL won’t count the play-in round for this summer’s extraordinary Stanley Cup tournament as official playoff games, the Canucks certainly do. They haven’t had actual playoff games since 2015, and Vancouver hasn’t won a playoff round since the Western Conference Final in 2011. With so many of their players unfamiliar with playoff hockey, these must- win games against the Minnesota Wild are what the Canucks aimed for when the season began. But now that they’re almost here, the Canucks want something more than just experience to fuel future growth. “People say: ‘You’ll finally play meaningful games,’” coach Green told Sportsnet in June. “That’s not what this is about to me. It’s not about getting a few games under our belt under hard and exciting circumstances, in pressure-filled games. This is about: How do we win the first series, and then how do we win the second series? And I can tell you, we’re not going into this thinking we’re only going to be playing one or two rounds.” Regular season record: 36-27-6 (7th in the West by points percentage) Goals for: 224 (8th in NHL) Goals against: 214 (tied 19th in NHL) Leading goal scorers: J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson (27) Leading point scorer: Miller (72) Injury Updates Jacob Markstrom: The Canucks goalie and team MVP was recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee when the season halted on March 12. But he was due to return in late March and has declared himself fully fit for summer hockey. Chris Tanev: The injury-prone defenceman, a mentor and partner to Calder Trophy candidate Quinn Hughes, managed to dress for all 69 games this season before suffering a knee sprain in the Canucks’ final game. But he was expected to miss only a week or two, and has been skating pain-free in Vancouver. Micheal Ferland: The rugged winger was shut down for the “season” in February when his second attempt to return from a serious October concussion was aborted during a conditioning stint in the AHL. But hockey’s hibernation lasted long enough for Ferland to get back on skates and feel comfortable again, and he is back at training camp to give it another try. Josh Leivo: The Canucks had hoped the unprecedented extension of the season would allow their versatile middle-six forward time to heal from a shattered knee cap suffered in December, but Leivo continues to rehab and is unlikely to be ready when hockey restarts in August. Player to Watch We can’t choose just one. Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. The dynamic duo — just 21 and 20 years old — are two of the brightest young stars in the game and drive the Canucks from different positions. They’re vitally important to team success, and neither has logged an NHL playoff game. One interesting stat: Markstrom went 23-16-4 with a .918 save percentage this season. But in games when he faced at least 40 shots, the goaltender was 7-1-0 with a mind-blowing .951 save rate. Markstrom is best when he is busy, but the Wild were a bottom-third team in shot volume with 30.1 per game. The biggest question facing the Canucks is… Are they ready for this? 1176374 Websites perform. He makes the players he plays with better and that's a good quality."

During the World Juniors, I asked Sandin to describe Canucks prospect TSN.CA / Tomas Monten on top Swedish prospects, Philip Broberg’s Nils Hoglander and he said: 'He's got his own swagger. He's a little bit improvement different. He might not be a typical Swede, but he's a guy you like to have on your team.' What do you like about coaching him?

"He's the kind of player that you want on your team, because he can Mark Masters make a difference. Some of the stuff he does and some of the goals he scored during the World Juniors, you just don't understand how he can do it in that kind of situation. He thinks the game quicker than a lot of the Djurgardens winger Alexander Holtz came in No. 2 in Central Scouting's others and I think, for him, sometimes he just sees it slower and that’s final list of European skaters with Frolunda winger at how he manages to do the things that he does. He's really down to earth No. 4. But TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie had Raymond at No. 6 and doesn't talk much. He works really hard and is really thorough about and Holtz at No. 9 on his final list of top prospects. everything, his stick, his conditioning, everything. He doesn't take anything for granted. He works for everything." So, who will be the top Swede selected in the 2020 National Hockey League draft? For Tomas Monten, Sweden's head coach at the World In what way is the Rogle forward thorough about his sticks? Juniors, it's hard to separate the pair when it comes to pure talent. "He works with them every day and just changes things and it feels like "It's up to the team and what they need," Monten said. "Do you want a he's always walking around with his sticks. I don't know maybe he sleeps finisher or more of a playmaking forward?" with them as well." Holtz potted nine goals in 35 games in the this Hoglander scored five goals at the World Juniors, but none prettier than season and also struck three times in seven games at the World Juniors. the lacrosse-style one against Finland on Boxing Day. What went The 6-foot, 192 pounder owns one of the best shots in this year's draft through your mind when he pulled off that move? class. "I mean, he did it in the SHL earlier, but this was different. It was our first "He's competitive," Monten observed. "He wants to shoot the puck and game against Finland, and I remember we just had a power play and it have the puck and make a difference. Watching him when he was wasn't that good and he skated around the net and did it just as the younger and all the way up he's always been a guy who makes a penalty expired. I asked him how he could see that, and he said, 'I had a difference, been a guy who scores a lot of goals and the important goals. feeling. The goalie went down and I'm pretty quick.' All the players on the I think the competitiveness that he has around the net, that's what makes bench went nuts. The fans weren't that happy, but that's part of the him special." game." Monten compares the style of Holtz to Pittsburgh's Patric Hornqvist. When we spoke about Oilers prospect Philip Broberg last summer you said that playing defence with Skelleftea would help him, because he "He's a top forward who scores a lot and is heavy around the net. I think would need to play more of a shutdown role. What development did you that's what Alex could end up as." see in him? Raymond stands 5-foot-11, 170 pounds and reminds Monten of another "He's been more thorough. He can still move the puck and skate the shifty winger who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. puck and can create offence, but he just makes better reads and knows when to go and try and skate through situations. He's a little smarter and "A Mitch Marner type," notes Monten. "He can find openings and is very knows when to check the puck and when he can make plays. He got to smooth with the puck. He can control the puck in tight areas and make play a lot in defensive situations both with us and Skelleftea. He played a plays all over the ice. But he's a scorer as well. He scored three goals in lot of PK for us and played with [Tobias] Bjornfot on our first pairing and the under-18 final game a year ago, so he can shoot the puck as well." played a lot against top lines and that's what he needs to do to make the In his latest mock draft, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has NHL. I mean, he's always going to have his skating and he has the skills Raymond, who produced 10 points in 33 SHL games this season, going to skate the puck and break the systems down, but for him to play in the to the New Jersey Devils at No. 7, with Holtz heading to the Buffalo NHL he needs to play the whole ice and that's what he learned this year." Sabres at No. 8. Montreal Canadiens prospect Mattias Norlinder also played a defensive "Alex is a little more NHL ready," Monten said. "He's a little bigger and role on the blueline at the World Juniors. What sort of potential do you stronger. He played a full season in the men's league over here and see for him? Lucas had a tougher year trying to get ice time in Frolunda and he had "He wasn't with us a lot. We wanted to bring him to Plymouth last some injuries and an illness going into the World Juniors." summer, but he was injured, so, actually, the first time he wore our Monten is hoping Raymond and Holtz will play big roles at the 2021 national team jersey was in November in our last tournament before the World Juniors scheduled for Edmonton and Red Deer. During a World Juniors. I compare him a bit to Broberg, the same kind of guy, a conversation with TSN this week, the long-time Swedish bench boss smooth skater, but he's a little quicker. Broberg has a heavier stride. But explained how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted his preparation for Mattias can make plays and skate with the puck and break down the that event. Monten also shared insight on some of Sweden's top opponents. He can defend really good. If you're going to play against Canadian NHL team prospects, including Leafs defenceman Rasmus [Connor] McDavid and [Nathan] MacKinnon and guys who have Sandin and Winnipeg Jets forward David Gustafsson. incredible speed, it will help if you're a smooth skater and he is." Sandin played 28 games with the Leafs this season and was named the Last summer you mentioned that Winnipeg Jets forward David top defenceman at the World Juniors, what allowed him to take such a Gustafsson was getting faster with his decision making. After playing 22 big step? NHL games this year and serving in a top-line role at the World Juniors, how fast is he now? "Last year, he was more of an offensive defenceman and this year he's more competitive. He can defend and can make plays and I think he "He was really good. It's the same as with Rasmus, we didn't think we matured a lot. So, he's a modern defenceman, the type of defenceman were going to get him and were really happy when the Jets called us. He who not only is making plays and putting up points, but is able to defend really led our first line and he is a workhorse. He has the work ethic. He as well. He's mobile and skates good and he can play a good one-on-one made Hoglander and [Samuel] Fagemo play as good as they could. He game as well. He was with us last year [2019 World Juniors] and was won the faceoffs, he got them the puck in the right situations and did all really good and, actually, we didn't think we'd get him this year. He the work so they could use their skill at 100 per cent. That's the best started the season with the Leafs, and my feeling was he wasn't going to thing. He's getting quicker. He's really smart and makes quick reads. If be available." you give him one more summer that big body is going to fill in a bit more and he'll be a really good player." He'll be at Leafs training camp this summer with a chance to earn meaningful minutes in the playoffs. Do you sense he has that X factor How is the pandemic impacting your evaluation of players and and rises to the occasion in pressure moments? preparation for the 2021 World Juniors? "Yeah, for sure. He was one of our best defencemen last year and was "I was supposed to go to Plymouth in April to watch the U18 [world the best this year. He was a big leader on the ice and off the ice as well. championship] and that was cancelled. We were supposed to be at the He got banged up a couple times, but he comes to the rink every day to Summer Showcase in Plymouth in July and that was also cancelled. We don't really know when we're going to get started and what kind of situation we're in. We have an invitation to go to the Czech Republic in the last week of August to play the Czechs, the Finns, the Russians, but for now Swedes aren't allowed into the Czech Republic. We want to go, but can't until the 1176375 authorities change their restrictions. If that won't happen we'll hold a camp in Sweden in the last week of August, but before that we won't be able to do anything." What is the strength of this year's group? "I mean, we have a couple returnees. We have three really good defencemen that could help us on the blueline. So, it's about getting the best out of the '01 [birthdays] and the '02s. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the '02s play in the U18s so they have more work to do to convince us they can play at the World Juniors. Hopefully, we can build on the good stuff we had last year with a good goalie and good mobile defencemen and scoring forwards."

TSN.CA LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176376 World Leagues News

T GAMBLE: The new world of fan-less COVID-impacted sports

By T Gamble [email protected] 9 hrs ago 0

In the new world of COVID-19 sports there are now all kinds of events that are televised but have no fans at the actual event. NASCAR has races, but nobody is in the stands. I’m not sure if that is because they are not allowed or if nobody goes to see them anymore after all their ridiculous stuff going on. They are talking about baseball with no fans and college football without the fans. I wonder, does a male Florida Gator football fan still wear blue jeans shorts to watch a game if it is only on TV? Having no fans takes all the fun out of the whole dadgum thing. How can I enjoy an Auburn-Alabama game without having some drunk spill a rum and coke on me in in the third quarter? I’ll miss being barked at by 55- year-old men with 60-pound guts dressed in red and black. Nothing says college degree like getting on your hands and knees and barking. Of course, I will miss my own Auburn fans as well. We picked out the colors for our team that are least likely to ever be worn for any other reason, orange and blue. I have many orange and blue outfits. I’d venture a guess that all the rest of the world has like three. I’ll miss our humongous video screen that allows me to pay to go to the game and then actually watch it on TV, never actually seeing a thing that happened on the field. I’ll miss the cheerleaders because, well, I really like gymnastics. But I suppose fans will eventually return to the stands. One place they will return is the golf course. Golf returned to play sooner than most sports and did so without fans present. Of course if they were present, you might not know it because the fans are required to be real quiet. You see, it is very hard to hit a golf ball, which is sitting still on the ground right in front of you, if any sound occurs. Professional golfers will blow a fuse over a camera’s click as they swing. The smallest sound can result in catastrophe for the highly skilled athletes. A simple whisper may cause a drive to go wayward 50 yards. It is sort of like the wings of a butterfly may cause a change in wind speed across the ocean. Heaven itself may fall if the slightest sound is made during a putt. You see the ball is lying still on the ground some 15 feet from a hole where it must be hit. Any sound could change its direction by 2, 3 even 5 feet. Now understand, all other sports do not require silence, but they, of course, are not as dependent upon absolute concentration like golf. It does not take much concentration to hit a baseball travelling 99 miles per hour from 60.6 feet away so crowd noise there is fine. You can yell “Your mother is a ---” right before they swing, but it has no effect. Throwing a football 40 yards into a one foot window with a 330 pound guy barreling in on you who happens to run a 4.7 40 does not require much concentration either. So yell away. Shooting a ball into a basket from 30 feet away that is half an inch smaller than the basket with a guy 6’9” jumping in your face requires no concentration. So not only can fans yell at you, but other players can direct trash talk at you the whole time as well. I say it is time to change. Bring back the fans and let them trash talk the golfers. I play golf in south Georgia. My buddies trash talk me and say things like, “I bet you can’t make that 5 foot putt for a 9.” I hate that type of trash talk. I also play with a swarm of gnats around my face. If I can do that, the pros ought to be able to put up with a little noise when they play. They could have cheerleaders saying, “Sink it, Phil, sink it” as Phil tries to make the putt to send the Masters into a playoff. I can hardly wait. If only the golf folks will listen and let it happen. albanyherald.com/LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176377 World Leagues News

First batch of Premiership Covid-19 tests reveals 10 positive results

Gerard Meagher

Saracens, Harlequins, Northampton and Worcester are among the clubs with confirmed cases of coronavirus following Premiership Rugby’s first round of testing. PRL announced that of the 804 tests, six players and four members of staff have yielded positive results, bringing into sharp focus the main threat to the resumption of the season in mid-August. The identities of the individuals infected have been kept confidential but Harlequins and Northampton have both confirmed one positive test each, while Saracens have had at least one. It is understood that two members of Worcester’s staff have tested positive but there are no cases at Bristol, nor among the Sale squad. PRL considers the results a success and within its expected range, but the 1.2% infection rate is higher than any of the 13 rounds of testing carried out in football for the restart of the Premier League. The first round of Premier League testing saw six positive results from 740 tests. The 12 Premiership clubs this week returned to stage two of testing – which allows for contact training including scrummaging, mauling and tackling drills. But it is understood that they did not begin until the results of Monday’s testing were known. The 10 individuals to test positive – who have not been named – will now isolate along with their close contacts, but Premiership Rugby faces an anxious wait to learn the results of the second round of testing next week, after contact training has been in full swing. The England and Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs, who said he was unaware of any positive tests at Leicester, said: “It would probably be naive to think that out of 800 tests you are not going to get a few [positives]. The important thing is what happens next, because you don’t want that 10, next week, to be 30 and then 80.” “The most important thing is that rugby does need to get back up and running. The clubs need it, everyone needs it. We need that to be as diligent as possible across all the clubs. Hopefully people will follow protocols to make sure it doesn’t get larger than that.” Players have been training in groups so far but their close contacts will be determined on an individual basis, using video footage of all sessions and the monitoring of their GPS movements. No timeframe has been set on when the six players or four members of staff can resume – that, too, will be done on an individual basis, taking into account things such as whether or not they are symptomatic. Meanwhile, Youngs has tipped Manu Tuilagi to make next year’s British & Irish Lions tour despite the acrimonious end to his Leicester career. Youngs confirmed that Tuilagi has played his last match for the Tigers after refusing to accept a pay cut and while the scrum-half does not believe the Rugby Football Union should bend its rules to make the centre eligible for England if he goes abroad, the centre has been tipped to tour South Africa next summer. “Manu is an unbelievable, exceptional talent,” added Youngs. “I’m sure he’s got every opportunity of making that tour whether he’s playing in England or not. Do I feel let down by Manu? Absolutely not. He has given a huge career to Leicester and his family has been a dynasty. There comes a time in anyone’s career when you change it up.” Youngs also believes a reduction in England players’ £25,000 match fees is inevitable after the RFU announced plans to make 139 redundancies. He said: “There’s no doubt it’ll be amended and changed,” he said. “I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t the case.” Guardian News LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176378 World Leagues News Among the sports that will be dropped after the next academic year are four that have been problematic for the school — co-ed and women’s sailing, and men’s and lightweight rowing. Stanford Permanently Cuts 11 Sports Amid Coronavirus Pandemic A little over a year ago, sailing Coach John Vandemoer was fired after being swept up in the nationwide college admissions scandal. Shortly after that, the school fired the rowing Coach Craig Amerkhanian for By Billy Witz and Gillian R. Brassil violating employee behavior policies. Both programs operate out of a gleaming, 16,500-square foot boathouse named after John Arrillaga Sr., a developer and former Stanford basketball player who is one of the school’s most prominent benefactors. Stanford University, which has built the most successful broad-based athletic department in the country, said on Wednesday that its model was Though Stanford had churned out a steady stream of Olympic rowers financially unsustainable in part because of the coronavirus pandemic over the years, more recently the program had endured budget cuts. and that it would permanently drop 11 sports to help offset what it Stanford spent $386,000 on its rowing program in 2017 — a 30 percent projected would be at least a $70 million deficit over the next three years. cut from its peak and dwarfed by what Washington ($1.25 million) and Yale and California (each around $675,000) were spending. Coaches in The pandemic has already begun to expose cracks in the financial so-called nonrevenue sports were expected to be active in fund-raising. models of many universities, with schools like Akron, Brown and Cincinnati dropping sports, others like Oklahoma and Iowa instituting pay Nevertheless, the Stanford lightweight rowing team swept the 2019 cuts and budget cuts, and the marketing behemoth Learfield IMG College national championships. notifying dozens of schools that it would be months late on its payments to universities. “What a terribly sad day,” said Yasmin Farooq, the rowing coach at Washington who left Stanford in 2016 after 10 seasons. She said the But Stanford’s decision is likely to send ripples through the college sports move would also be a blow for the United States Olympic team, which world. would lose a strong feeder program. “I can’t even imagine how the lightweight women must feel.” Thus far, no schools have dropped as many sports, and Stanford is one of the wealthiest universities in the country, sitting on an endowment that Stanford said there were 10 factors that were considered in determining was valued at $26.5 billion as recently as last year. which sports to drop, including gender equity and diversity, financial savings, and fan interest. And the sports that will be dropped after the next academic year are hardly floundering — they have combined to produce 20 national Six of the programs are not N.C.A.A.-sponsored championship sports. championships and 27 Olympic medalists. It is the success of sports like Stanford’s synchronized swimming — now known as “artistic swimming” rowing, sailing, fencing, field hockey, squash, synchronized swimming, outside of collegiate venues — was one of five nonclub programs. The wrestling and men’s volleyball that helped Stanford win the N.C.A.A. last time the team took home the national championship title was in 2016, Director’s Cup, which awards overall athletic excellence, for the 25th time coming in second to Ohio State for the past three years before the event in a row last year. was canceled this year amid the health crisis. The program split one scholarship among its athletes until 2016, when scholarships for But the school, which made the announcement in an open letter by incoming athletes were eliminated. President Marc Tessier-Lavigne, ProvostPersis Drell and Athletic Director Bernard Muir, indicated that athletics, which will be reduced to 25 varsity In all, Stanford said it would also eliminate 22 coaches and 20 staff teams, needed to be able to sustain itself. The letter said the school support positions. The school said it would honor all existing athletic examined covering budget shortfalls through ticket sales, broadcasting scholarship commitments, as well as contracts of coaches and support revenue, university funding, philanthropy and budget cuts, but found staff, who will receive severance pay. them insufficient. In a recent interview, N.C.A.A. President Mark Emmert said decisions “While Stanford may be perceived to have limitless resources, the truth is like Stanford’s on Wednesday are likely to be more frequent, whether we do not,” the letter said. they are brought on by health concerns or the financial crunch from the pandemic. Muir, in a Zoom call with reporters later on Wednesday, said dipping into the endowment was not an option because it is reserved for nonathletic “Some schools are having to make decisions around one or both of scholarships and faculty research. Supporting 36 sports was not those, and sadly, I do think that we’ll see more of them,” Emmert said, sustainable — pandemic or not. But the budget shortfalls, which were adding that he was “afraid and confident in my fear that we’ll see more projected to exceed $12 million for the 2021 fiscal year even before the sports be dropped, whether it’s programs or entire seasons canceled.”\\\ pandemic, would be considerably worse if football is not played this fall, as appears increasingly likely. New York Times LOADED: 07.09.2020 The U.S. sets another daily record for new cases, surpassing 59,000. As Tulsa cases surge, the top health official says Trump’s rally was probably a factor. The C.D.C. says it will issue new guidelines for reopening schools, after criticism from Trump. “I don’t want to pin this all on Covid,” Muir said, but added that without football this fall, “you can just go ahead and double that figure again.” Athletes said they were blindsided by the news. They received an email from Muir at 9:10 a.m. Pacific time advising them of a webinar at 9:45 a.m., concerning time-sensitive Stanford updates for student-athletes. “We thought, all of us in our group chat, that this was going to be updates about housing and stuff” like practice, said Noah Sebastian Matricciani, a sophomore fencer. The call lasted five minutes. “It was, ‘This is the process that’s going to happen, we’re cutting these 11 programs,’” Matricciani said. “No discussion, no questions.” Added another fencer, senior Anna Lee: “To see it all come crashing down feels fake, like a prank almost. I can’t help but wonder if this was really the last resort. For a school that emphasized persistence and flaunted school pride, it seems abrupt to just call it quits.” 1176379 World Leagues News "We certainly are watching closely as Major League Baseball, the NFL and the NBA are doing things, and likewise we've certainly got to keep a close eye on what other colleagues in other conferences are doing," Big Ivy League rules out playing all sports this fall due to coronavirus 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said, "but their circumstances are a little pandemic different than ours. Their locations are in places that are different than ours. We're certainly going to pay attention to it, but I don't know that it's determinative, necessarily." Heather Dinich While the Ivy League's decision was a harsh reminder that the impact of the virus continues to wreak havoc on college athletic programs and their budgets, it's not the first time the prestigious group of universities was the first to bring its sports to a screeching halt because of it. The Ivy League announced Wednesday that it has ruled out playing all sports this fall, becoming the first Division I conference to say it will not On March 10, Ivy League presidents decided to cancel men's and hold sports this upcoming semester because of the coronavirus women's basketball tournaments because of the pandemic. Within 48 pandemic. hours, Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, the NBA suspended its season and all NCAA sports were halted. No decision has been made about winter or spring Ivy sports or whether fall sports could be played in the spring of 2021. College football, though, presents an entirely different set of circumstances and budgets for the FBS conferences to consider. "The campus policies make it impractical for competition to occur, at least through the end of the fall semester," executive director Robin Harris told While it's certainly possible the Power 5 conferences could ultimately ESPN. "That's why today we're announcing. Eight campuses have reach the same conclusion, it's unlikely they're ready to say it now. announced their policies for the fall over the past two weeks. When we Multiple decision-makers have told ESPN that late July is the tentative realized and the presidents realized based on these campus policies that benchmark to reevaluate if the college football season can start on time - we couldn't have competition, we wanted to make sure the student- - or at all -- and what it might look like. athletes were aware of the outcome. "There are important decisions to be made in the coming weeks and by "It's certainly the right decision for the Ivy League, but it's difficult." late July there should be more clarity about the fall season," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement to ESPN on Monday. "In Student-athletes will be allowed to practice on campus, in modified form, the meantime, our athletics programs will continue to effectively manage Harris said. the health and safety of our student-athletes as they continue voluntary Harris said the conference based its decision on the eight campus activities on their respective campuses." COVID-19 policies, which were cemented over the past two weeks, and There's no question the Ivy League could -- and probably will -- influence while they vary from school to school, collectively those policies made other FCS leagues as they grapple with the costs of repeatedly testing any fall competition impractical, "at least through the end of the fall student-athletes for the coronavirus. It's arguably an easier decision to semester, because that's how long the schools anticipate these policies make at that level because the FCS sports receive institutional funding being in place." and support, so while an athletic department might feel the economic Harris said a good number of the Ivy League schools have placed crunch the university is experiencing, it isn't dependent on college restrictions on travel for faculty, staff and students -- which includes football or an accompanying TV contract to support its other sports. athletes and coaches. Some also have restrictions for visitors, stringent "If it costs too much to maintain a healthy environment at our institutions social distancing policies and limitations on the sizes of group gatherings. and our communities, then we don't play sports or we don't return Harris said those factors might not influence other conferences as they, students to campus," Patriot League commissioner Jennifer Heppel said. too, navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic. "We're not going to compromise health and safety due to a football guarantee. That's crazy. If we can't do it safely, we're not going to do it." "Schools have to evaluate what's right for them," she said. "For us, it came down to campus policies. Our athletic directors have been working It's a mantra that has been repeated at every level, but while confidence very hard modeling different options, looking at different ways we can has been waning with a recent surge in cases across the country, there conduct athletics in the fall, and ultimately, as more and more campuses also is an underlying sense that if FBS-level schools can play, they will. developed their policies that didn't allow for competition, that led to our "We haven't been told by public health officials or our local doctors or our decision. That may not be the same at other schools in other scientific consultants that we should stop doing what we're doing," conferences." Bowlsby said. "My feeling is you just keep putting one foot in front of the Harris said she can't put a timeline on when competition might resume in other until you're advised it's a bad idea. When we get that advice, her conference. obviously the safety, health and well-being of our student-athletes and staff is first. When we're told, 'This just isn't going to work out,' obviously "... I think what has to happen is we have to see a change in greater nobody is going to be resisting that ... but they haven't said that to us containment of the spread of the virus so it's safer, and that would then yet." lead to a change in our campus policy," she said. "We hope that as that happens, we will be able to continue to phase in athletics and ultimately espn.com LOADED: 07.09.2020 get back to having competition, but we have to get to the point where the virus is not as big of a safety risk as it is for our students, the campus community and our country. I can't put a time frame on it." Harris said that while the conference and its schools have undergone budget cuts, the financial realities of Wednesday's decision are still unknown. "For us, this was really about policies and not finances," she said. "We're impacted financially by this decision, there's no question, but at the end of the day it's about health and safety and consistency with campus policies. Financially, this is definitely going to be a hit for our schools and our office, but it didn't factor into this decision. It really hasn't been part of the equation." Spain and Company Ivy League executive director Robin Harris joined ESPN's Sarah Spain and Jordan Cornette to discuss Wednesday's decision. Listen now! This was a highly anticipated decision throughout the world of college athletics, as athletic directors and commissioners at every level told ESPN this week they would be monitoring the news out of Princeton, New Jersey. The Ivy League's move now begs the question who -- if anyone -- will follow? 1176380 World Leagues News

Jimmie Johnson cleared for NASCAR return less than a week after testing positive for coronavirus

Nick BrombergJuly 8, 2020, 11:52 AM

Jimmie Johnson will only miss one race because of the coronavirus. Hendrick Motorsports said Wednesday that Johnson had been cleared to return to NASCAR after he tested negative for COVID-19 on both Monday and Tuesday and had received clearance from a physician. “My family is so grateful for the incredible love and support we’ve received over the last several days,” Johnson said in a team statement. “I especially want to thank Justin Allgaier for stepping in for me at Indy and being a true pro. I’m excited about getting back to business with my team this weekend.” Johnson’s quick return is surprising. And it raises a lot of questions that even he may not be able to answer on Friday when he hosts a news conference to discuss his comeback to racing. NASCAR is not testing drivers or team members for coronavirus when they enter the track on race weekends. Instead, track workers are screening everyone who enters for a fever and all race participants must fill out a waiver. That waiver asks if a person at the track has knowingly been near someone with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms. Johnson said last weekend that he got a test because his wife Chandra had taken the initiative to get a coronavirus test. Chandra Johnson was experiencing allergy-like symptoms and found out Friday morning that she had tested positive. Jimmie Johnson, who the team says has not experienced any symptoms at all, took a test after her results came back and he tested positive as well. We’re still learning a lot about the coronavirus with each passing week. But we do know that the incubation period for the virus can take up to 14 days. That’s why the CDC advises people to quarantine for 14 days after being exposed to someone with coronavirus. It’s impossible to know when either of the Johnsons contracted the coronavirus. Did Jimmie race with coronavirus at Pocono on June 27 and June 28 since he tested negative for COVID-19 less than a week after he tested positive on Friday? We’ll probably never know. He clearly passed NASCAR’s at-track screening protocols, but those protocols aren’t designed to catch asymptomatic coronavirus cases. NASCAR’s been banking on its mandatory at-track mask requirements and group clustering social distance protocols to combat the spread of the coronavirus. And Johnson isn’t the first member of the Cup Series garage that we know of to have tested positive for the virus. It was inevitable that some drivers and crew members were going to contract the virus after NASCAR returned to racing in May. Johnson said last weekend that he didn’t know where or when he and Chandra had contracted the virus. A weekly pre-race test could have given him a better idea. Johnson’s brief hiatus from the No. 48 and his Chandra’s seemingly relatively minor symptoms are great news for both their health and his quest to make the playoffs in his final Cup Series season. But it’s also a sign of how hard the virus is to control and screen for without mass-scale testing. And hopefully it’s a signal to NASCAR that regular coronavirus testing for all participants is necessary. Yahoo Sports: LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176381 World Leagues News

More Colleges Cancel Fall Sports as COVID-19 Cases Rise

Amelia Pang

In late June, Williams College, Bowdoin College, and Morehouse College were among the first colleges to reverse their decisions to restart college sports in the fall. Despite the cancellation, Morehouse will still be honoring athletic scholarships. “Like all of the decisions we’ve made related to COVID-19, this was a difficult one but was made with the health and well-being of our students and community in mind,” David Thomas, the president of Morehouse College, wrote in a statement on June 26. “It follows my intention to maintain a safe campus in hopes that our students will be able to return in August.” The decisions came after 47 student-athletes tested positive for the virus at Clemson University in late June. Louisiana State University also recently quarantined about a quarter of its football players because the athletes had either contracted the virus or were in contact with someone who had. As the number of COVID-19 cases rises in many states, a growing number of colleges and universities are announcing plans to cancel sports in the fall — with some pausing sports for the entire academic year. With that said, there are several Division I schools and other colleges that are still sticking with their decisions to resume sports in the fall. Careful planning, data analytics and emerging technologies can help keep student-athletes safe during training and games. MORE ON EDTECH: Learn about these emerging technologies for tracking COVID-19 in higher ed. The long-term consequences of college sports cancellations look dire. If American universities and colleges do not resume college sports during the pandemic, schools could face billions of dollars in revenue loss. The good news is that there is an emerging alternative to college sports that is lucrative an and safe: esports. Despite budget shortfalls, several higher education institutions are continuing to invest in esports programs due to its potential to attract prospective students. “Because of an economic downturn, [universities and colleges] need to be even more competitive than they have been,” says Joe McAllister, a learning environment adviser at CDW•G. “There is a direct correlation between having an esports program and students wanting to come to your school.” edtechmagazine.com/LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176382 World Leagues News

Novak Djokovic says he's been subject of 'witch hunt' after COVID-19 outbreak led to Adria Tour cancellation

By Chris Bengel

Tennis star Novak Djokovic is snapping back at some of his critics and claiming he was the subject of a "witch hunt" after several players tested positive for COVID-19 during the Adria Tour tournament in June. The Adria Tour, which Djokovic helped plan, was eventually canceled after multiple players tested positive for the coronavirus. "I can only see criticism lately and much of it is malicious," Djokovic told Serbia's Sportski Zurnal on Wednesday. "It's obviously more than just criticism, it's like an agenda and a witch hunt are on. Someone has to take the fall, a big name." Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, both tested positive for the coronavirus in late June following the Adria Tour. The two isolated in Croatia and didn't show any symptoms before testing negative for COVID-19 last week. In addition, Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov and Viktor Troicki -- all of whom played in the exhibitions alongside Djokovic-- also tested positive for COVID-19. No social distancing measures were enforced during the Adria Tour matches that Djokovic organized in Croatia and Serbia, even though players travelled from all over the world to participate in the events. Off the court, videos surfaced in June of Djokovic and several European tennis stars, including Coric and Dimitrov, partying at a Serbian nightclub days before Dimitrov confirmed that he tested positive for the coronavirus. Dojokovic believes that many had an an "agenda" against him after the high number of positive COVID-19 tests at the tournament. "My intention was pure, I was wholeheartedly committed to organizing a humanitarian event to help players and tennis federations in the [Balkan] region," Djokovic added. "We complied with all the laws and regulations. But we've learned our lessons and some things could have probably been done in a different way." Djokovic also told Sportski Zurnal that he is not sure if he's going to participate in the US Open later this summer in New York. "I still haven't decided whether I will play in the US Open, the upsurge in registered COVID-19 cases in the United States and New York in particular are not playing into the event's hands," he said. cbssports.com/LOADED: 07.09.2020 1176383 World Leagues News Yes, sports can be uplifting in trying times. It has helped people heal. In 2001, the World Series boosted a nation. And even though it was more than four years after Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints Sports is returning to play, but maybe it's best to sit this one out reinvigorated their home city with a Super Bowl win in 2010. Many of us align with our team, our tribe, and our side winning on the field can make us feel like winners in life. By Steve Almasy, CNN But the number of people who are testing positive for the virus in this country has skyrocketed. Winning means getting the country healthy. (CNN)My lucky Atlanta United jersey is ready for Saturday night. I'm not. With states reopened to different degrees, it's tough to see a positive change in case numbers coming soon. An influential modeling forecast Don't get me wrong, I so miss sports. I've been watching soccer played in showed this week that perhaps more than 208,000 Americans will die by Germany and I've even taken in baseball from South Korea, and now the November, but the number could be much lower if almost everyone major sports leagues in the US are calling me and many others back. wears a mask. If you take a look at the world around us, we're having a moment of Shortened seasons, empty stadiums, games without all their stars will apprehension right now. More than 130,000 people have died of make this a season to remember, but not with the same fondness. It's coronavirus in the United States. The virus can have long-term effects on just an asterisk year. Everything counts but nothing counts. those who survive it. Cases are spiking. Cable News Network LOADED: 07.09.2020 Normal life is back on hold. It's hard to not be a little bit leery of whether sports can make it in 2020 and wonder whether we're fooling ourselves into thinking coronavirus won't have a major impact on the current attempts to play again. Is it even worth risking? The National Women's Soccer League was the first team sports league to return to the field. Minus one team. When six players and some staff were infected with Covid-19, the Orlando Pride withdrew from the league's event, a tournament that will end later this month. Major League Soccer starts tonight and it'll have its tournament without one team -- FC Dallas -- because at least 10 players and a staff member tested positive. Players from every league have been testing positive. In many professional team sports it's difficult to follow guidelines from health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with players near each other in practices and next to each other in games. Leagues have set up their own protocols for team activities and, in several instances, players will live in hotels that are near where they play. They'll compete without fans and in stadiums with fewer game day staff. Still, you have to know more athletes are going to contract Covid-19. Every day feels like it brings another report of someone who cannot or doesn't want to play. NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson wants to close out his career with a record eighth championship. He'll be given a waiver to get into the playoffs after missing races because he tested positive for coronavirus and is in self-isolation. Just this week, the WNBA announced seven of its 144 players were positive. One of the league's 12 teams didn't arrive Monday in Bradenton, Florida, home of the league's "bubble." The Indiana Fever delayed its travel "in an abundance of caution due to the CDC's close contact self- quarantine requirements." The team has two players who have Covid-19. The NHL, which reportedly will play in two Canadian cities, has had 35 of 396 players test positive. Major League Baseball's teams are in their home cities, working out before the season begins in about two weeks, and the league says players and coaches are getting tested every other day. But at the end of the day, unlike the other leagues set to resume soon, players go home. Some players aren't even going to risk it. At least eight MLB players have said they are staying home. One was the Braves' Nick Markakis, who on Monday said he had recently talked on the phone with his teammate Freddie Freeman, who has tested positive. Markakis said he didn't sound good. The way Freeman was dealing with a high fever, Markakis having three children, and the uninspiring thought of playing in empty stadiums were enough to convince the 36-year-old outfielder that it's better to stay home this year. MLB plans for each team to play home games in their current stadiums and begin the postseason right on time. The 60-game season will hardly feel meaningful, as a bunch of teams will be out of the playoff chase after just a few weeks, and injuries and positive tests will have more of an impact than in a typical pennant chase. 1176384 World Leagues News (Depuy Mitek), Arthrex, Inc., Conmed Corporation, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., Breg, Inc., Mueller Sports Medicine, Inc., DJO Global, Inc., and Wright, Medical Group N.V. How COVID-19 is Impacting the Sports Medicine Market coleofduty.com LOADED: 07.09.2020

Sports Medicine Market was valued at $6,615 million in 2016, and is projected to reach $11,172 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2017 to 2023. The body reconstruction & repair segment accounted for about half of the global market in 2016. Sports medicine is a branch of healthcare industry that deals with physical fitness of people involved in sports. Sports medicine involves prevention and treatment of injuries related to sports and exercise. Common sport injuries include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, ankle sprains, muscle cramps, and shin splints. Demand for sports medicine has increased owing to active participation of athletes in different kind of sports across different countries. Various aspects of sports medicine such as indulging in sports activities for fitness, recommendations for physical training, sports injury prevention, and treatment contributes to the market growth. Download the Sample Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/872 Rise in the incidence of sports related injuries primarily drives the growth of the sports medicine market. Sport-related injuries have upraised in the young generation owing to the increase in participation in sports. In addition, active participation of government for promoting sports activities and growth in demand for minimally invasive surgeries boost the market growth. Further, easily accessible and advanced treatment products related to sports medicine for quick and easy recovery supplements the growth in demand for sports medicine. However, lack of skilled professionals as well as inappropriate administration and guidelines in the field of sports medicine hampers the growth of the market. Furthermore, rise in adoption of regenerative sports medicine offers profitable opportunities for the expansion of this market. The body reconstruction & repair segment is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. Body reconstruction & repair products such as implants, arthroscopy devices, and orthobiologics assist in the treatment, and prevention of sport-related injuries. Orthobiologics is the fastest growing segment of body reconstruction & repair products registering a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period. In addition, braces & support is the highest revenue contributor to body support & recovery products accounted for five ninths share in 2016. Sports medicine is largely employed in the treatment of knee injuries owing to the increase in incidence of meniscus tear among sportsperson. Moreover, knee injuries are growing at the highest CAGR of 8.4% from 2017 to 2023, as such injuries occurs most frequently in athletes playing all kinds of sports, among all age groups. Key Findings of the Sports Medicine Market: The body reconstruction & repair segment is anticipated to generate the highest revenue during the forecast period. The cardiac monitoring and evaluation devices segment dominated the body monitoring and evaluation market, accounting for one third of the total share in 2016. North America dominated the market, accounting for maximum share of overall market in 2016. Asia-Pacific is exhibited to grow at a high rate of 10.6% during forecast period, owing to the increase in awareness regarding physical fitness in various countries in this region. The braces and support products dominate the body support & recovery segment during the forecast period. Shoulder injuries accounted for one sixth of the total share in 2016, with a CAGR of 6.7%. Ask for Discount on Purchase @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/872 Asia-Pacific witnessed highest growth rate for sports medicine market and is expected to continue this trend. This is attributed to the increase in active participation in sports by people in various countries of this region. In addition, various market players focus on the opportunities offered by sports industry of this region. Key players operating in the sports medicine market have adopted product launch as their key developmental strategy and focus on launching innovative products to cater to the consumer requirements and strengthen their market share. The major companies profiled in the report include Smith & Nephew Plc, Stryker Corporation, Johnson & Johnson