MEDIA CLIPS vs. February 24, 2020

Columbus Blue Jackets Blue Jackets hang tough again, get a point — and another loss

By Brian Hedger – The Columbus Dispatch – February 22, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Blue Jackets will not change their style because of their injury glut, which now includes Oliver Bjorkstrand and out for the remainder of the regular season.

John Tortorella, their tightly wound coach, made that abundantly clear in a pregame news conference Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena.

"You’re asking me the same questions every (expletive) day," Tortorella said, when asked if his most inexperienced lineup to date might force a strategic change or two. "I have explained that already. I’ll say it one last time about this here.

"We have changed our concentration right at the beginning of the year … so, are we changing? No. We are playing the way we have played for three months, and really, most of the year."

No such guarantee, however, exists for results.

And the Blue Jackets really needed some better results going into a game against the , looking to end a seven-game losing streak (0-3-4) despite having yet another rookie, Calvin Thurkauf, make his NHL debut and icing a lineup with six of 18 skaters having experience this season.

They didn’t get what the result they wanted, though, losing an eighth straight game with a 4-3 shootout loss decided by Rocco Grimaldi’s backhand shot in the bottom of the eighth round.

It didn’t look good after the first 20 minutes, which the Predators dominated in almost all facets.

They outshot had a 17-9 edge in shots, took a 2-0 lead on goals by Ryan Johansen and Markus Granlund and didn’t give up many good scoring chances in front of goalie Juuse Saros.

Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins meanwhile, was forced to scramble early and allowed Johansen’s off a big rebound just 33 seconds into the game.

The Blue Jackets went into the first period looking disheveled and a bit discombobulated, which made it feel like Merzlikins might have a long night ahead. Instead, they did what they’ve done since their injury woes began in early December.

They fought back.

Boone Jenner cut it to 2-1 with a rebound goal in traffic just 1:00 into the second period, Eric Robinson tied it 2-2 off a beautiful backhand feed from Jakob Lilja 3:50 later, and rookie Emil Bemstrom capped a power play at 17:21 to put the Jackets in front, 3-2.

It was a short-lived lead thanks to Colton Sissons, who tipped a shot past Merzlikins 1:36 later to knot it at 3. But the Jackets were at least even to start the third.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.23.2020

Mounting injuries leave Zach Werenski as Columbus Blue Jackets’ top offensive weapon

By Brian Hedger – The Columbus Dispatch – February 22, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Oliver Bjorkstrand’s fractured and sprained left ankle did something other than hinder the Blue Jackets’ offense even further.

It also made defenseman Zach Werenski the team’s leading available goal-scorer with 18 goals going into a game Saturday against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

“In terms of goal scoring, I’ve found myself with more opportunities to score goals,” said Werenski, 22, who has already surpassed the franchise record for single-season goals by a defenseman that he and Seth Jones each set two seasons ago (16). “I think I’ve taken a step forward in that area, not just because of numbers but because I feel like I’m in more positions to score. That’s something I practiced this past summer quite a bit.”

The Blue Jackets are fortunate he did.

Prior to Bjorkstrand’s injury, which happened near the end of regulation Thursday in a 4-3 overtime loss to Philadelphia, he and Werenski shouldered the bulk of the Jackets’ recent scoring burden. Now, with Bjorkstrand on the shelf, the spotlight burns even hotter for Werenski, who is two goals shy of achieving an impressive career milestone.

An NHL defenseman has scored 20 or more goals just 26 times in the past 20 seasons, accomplished by 17 players. San Jose’s Brent Burns has the two highest totals in the past 10 years, scoring 29 goals in 2016-17 and 27 in 2015-16, and Detroit’s Mike Green set the high mark for the past 20 years with 31 in 2008-09, when he was with the Washington Capitals.

Widening the scope, the stats pages on the NHL’s website show that defensemen have scored 20-plus goals just 153 times since 1917-18, an average of roughly 1.5 times per season.

Werenski leads all NHL defensemen in goals, three ahead of Washington’s John Carlson, and has 19 games left to join the exclusive group of 20-goal scoring defensemen.

“There’s usually one or two guys a year who do it,” he said. “If I could score 20, it’d be pretty cool, but I’m just going to go out there and play, and shoot the puck.”

Korpisalo starts rehab stint

Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who is with the on a conditioning stint, was slated to start Saturday night at Rochester. If so, it would be his first appearance of the conditioning stint and first game action since Dec. 29, when he suffered a torn a meniscus in his left knee against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Korpisalo, who earned his first NHL All-Star invitation by going 17-10-4 with two shutouts, has missed the Blue Jackets’ past 24 games. It’s been a frustrating stretch, largely because the injury happened in a shootout that followed an officiating blunder involving a timekeeping error that needlessly extended the game past overtime.

Winning a losing battle

Going into the game against the Predators, the Blue Jackets led the NHL in injured players (nine regulars) and man-games lost (345).

If you include veteran forward Brandon Dubinsky, who hasn’t played all season because of a wrist issue, the man-games lost was expected to jump to 355 after adding 10 more missed games to the heap against Nashville.

Korpisalo is making his way back in his conditioning stint, but the rest of the injured players are either out multiple weeks or indefinitely. That means there’s a chance this team could top the 505 man-games lost of the 2014-15 Blue Jackets, who missed the but still finished with a respectable 87 points under former coach Todd Richards.

A monetary perspective

The total value of those salary-cap values of the 10 players sidelined, according to cap-tracking site CapFriendly.com, amounts to an astonishing $33.75 million, or 44.3% of the $76.2 million the Jackets are projected to spend against the NHL’s cap ceiling of $81.5 million.

Five of the injured players have cap-hit values of $4.6 million per season or higher, led by Cam Atkinson ($5.875 million).

Another way to look at it is by adding up the total cap value of the current roster and subtracting the $2.5 million cap charge for Bjorkstrand, who’s out eight to 10 weeks but hasn’t been placed on injured reserve.

Without counting Bjorkstrand, the Blue Jackets’ 22 healthy players have a combined cap value of $42.9 million, or an average of $1.95 million per player. To put that in perspective, the league’s highest payroll belongs to the , and their average cap value of $4.3 million per active player.

The Jackets’ total current cap value, as a team, would also amount to just 52.6% of the NHL’s cap ceiling if used for an entire season. That wouldn’t be possible, however, because it’s also $17.3 million lower than the league’s $60.2 million cap floor.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.23.2020

Columbus Blue Jackets’ best bet now? Play with what you’ve got

By Michael Arace – The Columbus Dispatch – February 22, 2020

Blue Jackets history suggests that this 2019-20 team is in good shape with 73 points through 62 games.

Blue Jackets history also says the last time the Jackets led the league in man-games lost to injury, in 2014-15, they finished 11th in the Eastern Conference.

That is where they’re aimed now, backward, toward the middle of the pack.

Their season hinged two weeks ago, when their best defenseman, Seth Jones, suffered an ankle injury, underwent surgery and was put in street clothes for the rest of the season. The Jackets have been on a winless streak (0-3-4) ever since.

On Thursday night, the team’s leading goal scorer, forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, essentially suffered the same injury as Jones. This second gut punch has put the Jackets, who lead the league with 345 man- games lost to injury, down for a standing-eight count.

General manager Jarmo Kekalainen could swing a deal before the trade deadline, Monday at 3 p.m., but to what end? With 10 players on the shelf — including forwards Josh Anderson, Cam Atkinson and Alexander Wennberg, and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo is the expense of buying at the deadline worth it? Can new help actually help?

No, and probably not.

Kekalainen arrived in Columbus in 2013. Since, there has been only one occasion when the Jackets had more points through 62 games than they do this year. That occasion was 2016-17, when they had 89 points on the way to a franchise-record, 108-point finish.

Four of the five best 62-game marks in club history not including this season have been recorded during the Jarmocene Epoch. Rule of thumb: 67-plus points through 62 games has meant playoffs. This year? It’d be a miracle.

Coach John Tortorella’s four CBJ playoff teams had goal differentials of plus-10 or better. The 2016-17 team was plus-63. Advanced metrics: Teams that score more goals than they allow win more than they lose. "Plus" teams are playoff teams. (You can say "Duh" or "OK, Boomer." But keep your "xG" and your "Corsi" to yourself. Deal?)

The Jackets this season are a terrific defensive team with fine goaltending. They have allowed 159 goals through 62 games, or 2.56 per. That’s top five in the league. Outstanding. But they don’t light the red lamp. They’ve scored 159 goals, which is bottom five in the league. Anemic.

This leaves them with little or no margin for error. Any single mistake in any given game makes for a mountain climb. More than one mistake is the Camino de Santiago. Adding a scorer even a high-end one isn’t going to much help their present AHL constitution.

Kekalainen would love to give his scrappy team the help it needs and deserves but he can’t. Proven scorers and top-six centers are hard to find, and they’re expensive in the deadline marketplace. Negotiations for a high-caliber player, even a rental, begin with a first-round draft pick. The price can’t be worth it to Kekalainen, who is trying to recoup picks he gave up at last year’s deadline.

With three key defensemen on injured reserve, it wouldn’t be prudent to dip into a deep pool of blue- line talent to facilitate a deadline deal. Not in the middle of a playoff race.

The Jackets also have what looks to be a fine stable of talented, young goaltenders, but the right play may be to continue to develop these assets and enhance their value.

Well, it was fun while it lasted. This team, which has performed admirably, needs a shot of adrenaline to keep its playoff hopes from dying. The problem is, it needs one of the biggest shots of adrenaline in the history of glands.

The good news: Whatever happens over the last 20 games, the Jackets will take a young roster, a raft of assets and a big chunk of salary cap space into the summer, when the machinery of deal making is well- oiled.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.23.2020

One year after ‘going for it,’ Blue Jackets could face quiet NHL trade deadline

By Aaron Portzline – The Athletic – February 22, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen was the star of last season’s NHL trade deadline, earning both praise (“They’re going for it!”) and derision (“Is he crazy?”) for pushing the pedal to the floor like few GMs have in recent memory.

Fast-forward to this year’s deadline and Kekalainen is the kid at the video arcade who’s all out of tokens.

There’s always a chance that something of significance could pop up in the 11th hour, of course, but all signs point to Kekalainen and the Blue Jackets having a mostly quiet day when the NHL deadline arrives Monday at 3 p.m.

This is not Kekalainen’s preference, of course.

The Blue Jackets are taking on water these days, having lost seven in a row (0-3-4) heading into Saturday’s game in Nashville. But the Blue Jackets are still in a playoff spot (second wild card) because of their outrageous 19-2-5 streak from Dec. 8 to Feb. 8, and Kekalainen would like nothing more than to reward them.

But here’s the picture from his desk …

Ravaged by injuries

In 2014-15, the Blue Jackets lost 508 man-games to injury, a franchise record. It was a big reason that club struggled so badly after making the playoffs in 2013-14. Nobody in Columbus could imagine a worse run with injuries. 2019-20: “Hold my whiskey bottle, and keep that cork pulled. You might need a few nips.”

On Friday, the Blue Jackets announced that right-winger Oliver Bjorkstrand would miss the rest of the regular season with a fractured ankle, making him the 10th player to land on the injured reserve list.

For those scoring at home, the Blue Jackets currently have $33,747,500 in salary cap out of their lineup with injuries. On Saturday, the Jackets will hit 355 man-games lost with 20 games to go, meaning the 2014-15 man-games total is within sight.

The defensive depth that Kekalainen was counting on to swing trades has evaporated with Jones, Murray and Dean Kukan on the shelf.

Forward Sonny Milano has finally played his way into being a tradeable asset, but with so many forwards out of the lineup, the Blue Jackets might be forced to keep him … and play him regularly.

Korpisalo will make his return to action Saturday when he plays for AHL Cleveland in Rochester on a conditioning assignment.

If the Blue Jackets were willing to trade either Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins this quickly — it’s always felt like a summer move, but we’ll see — Korpisalo’s one start wouldn’t be enough to convince anybody he’s healthy enough to shoulder the load down the stretch.

Uncertainty surrounding Josh Anderson

It’s a shame what’s happened to Josh Anderson, who once was seen as such a foundational part of the Blue Jackets. Not only has he had an awful season on the ice — 26 games, one goal — but his return from a shoulder injury has taken far longer than anybody expected.

NHL clubs know what kind of player Anderson can be when he’s healthy, and when his heart and mind are in the right place. He’s a rare combination of size and speed, a power forward who can keep the pace in today’s game.

But there are a lot of questions, and one can only wonder what Kekalainen is telling other GMs when they inquire about Anderson.

When Anderson was injured on Dec. 14 in Ottawa, he was said to be out of the lineup from 4 to 6 weeks. As of Saturday, it’s been 10 weeks, and he didn’t travel with the club to Nashville, meaning he’s not going to play before the deadline.

Certainly, nobody should ever question the legitimacy of a player’s injury, and that’s not being done here. Anderson made it clear to The Athletic in an interview earlier this month that he’s not going to return to the lineup until he’s 100 percent. His agent, Darren Ferris, said Anderson wouldn’t play until he was “cleared by our doctors.”

That certainly could be seen as expressing a lack of trust in the Blue Jackets’ medical staff, though Ferris insists that’s not the case.

Anderson spent a few weeks skating on his own with assistant coach Jared Boll, trying to keep his legs and lungs ready for a return. But he hasn’t joined the Blue Jackets for practice in a long time, and he hasn’t participated in most non-contact morning skates, either. Not long ago it looked like he was on the cusp of returning. Now the Blue Jackets can only shrug when asked when he might play again.

It’s an awful conundrum.

The Blue Jackets want Anderson. They need Anderson. Nobody should forget how big a role Anderson played in the Blue Jackets’ first-round sweep of Tampa Bay last spring. He told The Athletic that he’d be willing to sign a long-term extension in Columbus if the numbers were right.

But if Anderson can’t be signed to a long-term contract this summer, the Blue Jackets would be wise to move him before he becomes a rental next season. He’s an unrestricted free agent in 2021.

The contract issues are enough of a headache. The injury matters only make it murkier.

“I’m not trading our first-round pick.”

This message has been made clear publicly by Kekalainen many times. We can safely assume he’s told NHL GMs this, too.

The Blue Jackets didn’t have a pick in the first three rounds of last year’s draft. The only pick they have in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft this summer in Montreal is their first-rounder, which could still be a lottery pick.

That pick is gold. The Blue Jackets’ past three first-round picks have been defenseman Zach Werenski (2015), center Pierre-Luc Dubois (2016) and promising forward Liam Foudy (2018).

A first-round draft pick can anchor a significant trade, yes. But the first rule of a draft-and-develop organization is that talent must continue to flow.

After not having a first-round pick in two of the past three years, Kekalainen is adamant about keeping this off the table.

A price for ‘Going for it!’

The Blue Jackets’ second- and third-round picks in 2020 belong to Ottawa, the result of separate deals. The second-round pick was part of the Ryan Dzingel (gulp!) trade at last year’s deadline, while the third- round went to the Senators one year earlier in the Ian Cole trade.

Losing Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene and Artemi Panarin for nothing via free agency was only the initial blow. The hangover from “going for it” can be felt further in the fact that the Blue Jackets don’t have their second- or third-round picks to put in play.

Already six second-round picks and three third-round picks have been traded in advance of this year’s deadline. They carry enough to weight to swing second-tier trades on their own, but they can also be used as sweeteners in bigger trades.

Not having them hurts.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.23.2020

Predators 4, Blue Jackets 3 | The 3-2-1 Breakdown

By Brian Hedger – The Columbus Dispatch – February 23, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ultimately, it was another loss.

The Blue Jackets dropped their eighth straight game Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena, falling to the Nashville Predators by an all-too-familiar 4-3 score in another shootout, but it wasn’t all gloom and doom afterward.

The reason is because of what they’ve managed to earn during this season-high winless skid, which reached 0-3-5 after Rocco Grimaldi ended an eight-round shootout with a backhand shot that Elvis Merzlikins couldn’t stop.

Despite eight straight games leaving arenas feeling a wide range of emotions because a second point wasn’t earned, there is still an air of hope among these injury-riddled Blue Jackets (30-19-14).

“I’m not worried about our strength (or) our effort,” coach John Tortorella said afterward. “Win or lose, I just trust the team that way. They know what’s going on. They’ve handled this situation very well. Have we gotten the total result the past couple weeks? No, but we still scratch away and get a point here, a point there.”

The fact they’re still hanging in there in the playoff race within the Eastern Conference is their reward for all that scratching, which in this game included three unanswered goals in the second period to overcome a 2-0 deficit from the first.

The Blue Jackets have now earned points in 35 of their past 46 games dating back to a 3-2 shootout loss Nov. 12 in Montreal, going 24-11-11 in that stretch to earn 59 of their 74 points.

Not earning the second point against the Predators dropped Columbus from the first wild card to a spot just outside the playoffs, but the Jackets remain tied in points with the and with 19 games left.

New York and Carolina have played less games, but Columbus is still in the picture despite nine regulars out with various injuries.

“We’re not looking at ‘it’s a loss’ tonight,” Tortorella said. “We haven’t looked at it that way at all. We’re just trying to scratch for points. And I give our team a tremendous amount of respect tonight, as far as how they handled themselves.”

Here’s a 3-2-1 breakdown from the Music City … three takeaways, two questions and one more thing:

Three Takeaways

1) Still fighting

The way this game started, it looked like all the injuries and close losses attached to them had started to weigh heavily on the Blue Jackets’ minds. Ryan Johansen, a former Blue Jackets center who was traded for Seth Jones, scored just 33 seconds into the game off a juicy rebound and Mikael Granland made it 2-0 about 10 minutes later. Nashville outshot Columbus 17-9 in the first period, dominating the action for most of it, but the Blue Jackets began to gain traction in the last few minutes.

That carried over into a strong start to the second, when Boone Jenner cut the Predators’ lead to 2-1 at the 1:00 mark and Eric Robinson tied it 3:50 later. Emil Bemstrom’s power-play goal at 17:21 put the Jackets up 3-2, a brief boost that was countered 1:36 later by Nashville’s Colton Sissons, but the Jackets had already shown the snarl their coach wanted to see.

The Blue Jackets iced a lineup that had six players with American Hockey League experience this season, a third of their 18 skaters, and rookie Calvin Thurkauf was one of them. He made his NHL debut after Tortorella played him over Sonny Milano, a more offensive-minded forward, and it just added to the growing legend of this team.

The Blue Jackets are seriously out-manned right now, in terms of high-end NHL talent, but they remain one of the league’s scrappiest, hardest-working teams. They haven’t given up on the goal of making the playoffs, even with the season beginning to dwindle and winless games mounting.

“You don’t need to be the hero every night, but you’re probably going to be given a little more responsibility,” center Riley Nash said of those who are still healthy enough to play. “It’s a great opportunity for a lot of guys and a great opportunity for our team. We’re right in the playoff race, right in the hunt … so I think that’s got to be our main focus, just winning games any way possible.”

2) OT/Shootout woes continue

The most noticeable area the Blue Jackets miss their injured players remains 3-on-3 overtimes and shootouts, where they’ve now lost their past five opportunities.

The upside is they actually played more aggressive in OT this time, outshooting Nashville 3-1 in the 5:00 period, but the downside was another shootout disappointment.

Despite getting goals from Pierre-Luc Dubois in the first round and Gustav Nyquist in the fourth, Merzlikins was unable to stop shots by in the first round, in the fourth and Rocco Grimaldi in the bottom of the eighth to win it for the Predators.

The bright side is getting these games past regulation to assure themselves at least a point, something they’ve now done 14 times in defeat. The goal, however, remains to figure out ways to win these kinds of showdowns.

“We’ll get it,” Tortorella said. “That’s one thing about the group. It’s gone on a little bit here the past couple weeks, in playing hard, finding ways and we just can’t get it done in overtime. Can’t get it done in overtime and the shootout. As I’ve said, I don’t doubt our mindset, as far as (being) ready to play each and every game. I don’t doubt it at all.”

3) Another new face

Thurkauf’s night began with a pregame interview in which he told reporters he wasn’t in the lineup. A little more than 30 minutes later, Tortorella said the Swiss rookie forward was going to play and Milano would sit. Thurkauf’s father was also trying to rush over from Switzerland to see his son’s NHL debut, which turned out to be an unsuccessful-yet-valiant effort. His plane landed after the game had ended.

As for Thurkauf, he played on the third line with fellow rookies Bemstrom and Kevin Stenlund, logging 8:01 and finishing with a hit and shot attempt that missed the net. That was one of the forward lines that helped the Blue Jackets turn things around in the second period.

“It was awesome,” said Thurkauf, who was the seventh Blue Jackets rookie to make his NHL debut this season. “Obviously disappointing that we lost here, but it was a great experience and I hope to keep on doing this. I just tried to play my game, not be star struck … I just tried to play my game and do my job.”

Two Questions

1) Will the Blue Jackets adjust their style of play with so many new and young faces in the lineup?

Tortorella is clearly getting tired of answering variations of this one, which he lashed out at reporters about prior to the game. So, the short answer is no, the Jackets will continue to play a defensive- oriented style in front of their goalies and work on goal suppression before goal-scoring.

It helps that coach Mike Eaves with the Cleveland Monsters is running a similar system in the AHL this season, so there’s little confusion for those who’ve been plucked from there to fill in for injured players in the NHL.

“It just seems every time I come out here, I’m answering the same questions,” Tortorella lamented prior to the game. “So, are we changing? No. We are playing the way we have played for three months, and really, most of the year. Our lineup hasn’t been full in three months and I’ve answered the same questions the last three months.”

2) Was Tortorella winging it with his shootout options?

He wasn’t at first, but as the shootout lagged on that changed. After a certain point, he needed to go with his gut instincts and just start picking shooters off a bench that included a lot of guys who didn’t have much experience in NHL shootouts to their credit.

His lineup, for the record, went: Dubois (goal), Stefan Matteau, Bemstrom, Nyquist (goal), Nathan Gerbe, Stenlund, Jenner and Nash.

“You go eight deep (in rounds), you’re digging in,” Tortorella said. “You just make your call. I have a list of players on my card going into the game. It (went) a little bit deeper than my list on my card and you just make your call as you go through.”

This was the first time the Blue Jackets played against Matt Duchene since he signed with the Predators as an unrestricted free agent last summer.

It was an odd game for him and the Predators for several reasons. After Nashville’s 2-1 overtime loss Friday in Chicago, coach John Hynes decided to send a message to his team in this game.

That included Duchene, whose line was initially used as the fourth line and didn’t play as much as usual. Duchene logged just 16:28 despite the game going to a shootout and finished with just two shots and five attempts. He was also stopped by Merzlikins on a forehand deke in the second round of the shootout to conclude his night. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, ended their night by staying in Nashville rather than flying back to Columbus as originally planned.

The reason?

The pilot of their Swift Air charter plane got food poisoning and couldn’t fly them back.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.23.2020

Beleagured Jackets find traction in OT loss to Predators, and other observations

By Aaron Portzline – The Athletic – February 23, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ten observations from the Blue Jackets’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday in Bridgestone Arena:

1. Finding their “DNA”

The Blue Jackets’ lineup looked like something out of the preseason. The early preseason, too, when every line has an AHL player (or two) and the special teams units are riddled with new players and new roles.

It’s what made Saturday’s 4-3 OT loss to Nashville feel so respectable, but also why the loser’s point felt inadequate for the Blue Jackets.

“Heart and soul, blood and tears,” center Riley Nash said in describing the effort level. “Tonight was more a style of play that we can play against anybody. We feel like we can impose our will a little bit. That should be our DNA, our recipe every night.”

The Blue Jackets have lost eight in a row (0-3-5).

They’ve been shaky at times during this ill-timed skid, and they were certainly shaky in the first period on Saturday. The Predators led 2-0, and there was so much open ice that it looked to be a long night for the Blue Jackets.

But late in the first period, the Blue Jackets started to get traction. After that, the Jackets gave the 100 percent healthy Predators everything they could handle. They started playing the style that carried them to a 19-2-5 record from Dec. 8 to Feb. 8.

Boone Jenner, Eric Robinson and Emil Bemstrom (power play) scored second-period goals to give the Blue Jackets a 3-2 lead. They generated 20 shots on goal in the second period.

“Everybody’s contributing,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. “I’m not going to pick out one line, one guy. We’re trying to stay in it. It has to be a gang of people.

“We’ll get (a reward). We’ll get it. That’s one thing about the group. It’s gone on here a little bit for the past couple of weeks, the playing hard and find ways … we just can’t get it done in overtime. Can’t get it done in the overtime or the shootout. But I don’t doubt our mindset, as far as being ready to play each and every game. I don’t doubt it at all.”

Nashville tied the score at 3 with 1:03 left in the second period when Colton Sissons batted the puck out of the air off a centering lob from the wall.

Five of the Blue Jackets’ last seven games have gone past regulation. They’ve lost all five of them, including two in shootouts.

“It doesn’t matter I think we should get,” Tortorella said. “We just need to keep on playing at that level of hardness. That’s all we can do. Get ready for our next game and keep playing at that level.”

2. Keeping the faith

The last time the Blue Jackets lost eight straight games was the first eight games of the 2015-16 season. They lost all eight games in regulation, one of the worst starts to a season in NHL history.

A big difference now is that the Blue Jackets have earned five points during this eight-game losing streak, allowing them to hang within sniffing distance of a playoff spot.

After Saturday’s games, the Jackets (74 points) are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, a tiebreaker behind Carolina (74) for the second wild-card spot. The Hurricanes have played two fewer games.

Tortorella is preaching a simple message: if the Blue Jackets continue to scratch and claw, they can stay in the race until some of their key players start to get healthy.

So far, he does not have a complaint about the club’s hustle.

“Win or lose, I trust the team that way,” Tortorella said. “They know what’s going on. They’ve handled this situation really well. Have we gotten the total result in the last couple of weeks? No. But we still scratch away.

“We’re not looking at this as ‘it’s a loss’ tonight. We’re not looking at it like that at all. We’re just trying to scratch for points. I give our team a tremendous amount of respect tonight for the way they handled themselves.

“This team won’t get down. That’s one thing I fully trust. They’re together, they’ll keep on playing and trying to find a way.”

3. Oh, shoot!

Tortorella said he has a lineup list prepared before every game, but the list — kept in his sport coat pocket — doesn’t quite go eight deep.

“When you go eight deep, you’re digging in,” Tortorella said. “Just make your call. I have a list of players on my card going into the game. (The game went) a little bit deeper than my list on my card. But you make your call as you go through.”

Some of Tortorella’s favorites — Cam Atkinson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Alexandre Texier, Alexander Wennberg, etc. — are out with injuries.

Still, it didn’t take long for a surprise. In his NHL career with New Jersey, Montreal, Vegas and now Columbus, forward Stefan Matteau has played in eight games that have been decided by a shootout, but Tortorella is the first coach to send him over the boards.

He was the Blue Jackets’ second shooter.

Pierre-Luc Dubois went first, followed by Matteau, Emil Bemstrom, Gus Nyquist, Nathan Gerbe, Kevin Stenlund, Boone Jenner and Riley Nash. Only Dubois and Nash were successful.

Who never left the pine for Columbus? Zach Werenski or .

Merzlikins had a chance to win it in the fourth round, but Ryan Ellis scored through his pads with a wrister. Merzlikins, though, kept the game alive with stops in the fifth (Roman Josi), sixth (Ryan Johansen) and seventh (Calle Jarnkrok) before Rocco Grimaldi scored off his backhand.

“Honestly, I’ve never gone backhand in my life on a shootout or a breakaway,” Grimaldi said. “Thought I might try something new, and it worked.”

4. Old Jackets

Nashville’s Ryan Johansen hadn’t scored in his first seven meetings against his former club, but he took care of that only 33 seconds into the game on Saturday. Johansen pounced on a meaty rebound in the low slot and buried it past Merzlikins.

Otherwise, it was a pretty quiet night for Johansen, who was traded by the Blue Jackets to Nashville back in the middle of the 2015-16 season for defenseman Seth Jones. The goal was his only shot on net, and he played just 14:22.

The same could be said for Matt Duchene, who left Columbus to sign with Nashville as a free agent last summer.

Duchene played 16:28 and had two shots on goal. His most noticeable sequence of the game came late in the third period when the Predators made a serious push to break a 3-3 tie.

Johansen and Duchene were a combined 14 of 23 on faceoffs.

“There were things we could have done better,” Johansen said. “But the group fought to the end and found a way to get two points, which was the job that needed to be done.

“I don’t think we’ll be looking back at this game in a month. All we’re going to be looking at is the points.”

5. Hurry, dad!

After Thursday’s game with AHL Cleveland, Calvin Thurkauf was pulled aside and delivered the message he’s always wanted to hear: he’d been recalled to the NHL by the Blue Jackets.

His first phone call: “I called my parents.”

Nevermind that it was 4 a.m. in Zug, Switzerland. His father, Markus, booked the first flight he could find to Nashville, Tennessee, USA. “Zurich to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to New York, and New York to Nashville,” Thurkauf said. “But he had a delay in Amsterdam.”

It was unclear when Thurkauf arrived at the rink on Saturday if Markus Thurkauf would arrive in time for the game.

Further, Thurkauf didn’t know if he was in the lineup until about 90 minutes before faceoff, so he didn’t know if his father was going to miss his first NHL game or fly all the way to Nashville for a game in which his son didn’t dress.

Ultimately, Thurkauf played and played well. Skating on a line with Stenlund and Bemstrom, he drew 8:01 in ice time, had one hit and one giveaway.

“It was awesome,” Thurkauf said. “Obviously disappointing that we lost in overtime, but it was a great experience. I hope to keep on doing this.”

He played the entire game not knowing if his father’s flight made it in time or not.

It did not. Markus Thurkauf landed in Nashville around 10:30 p.m. local time, about 45 minutes after the game. He’s planning to travel to Columbus for Monday’s game.

6. My name is ______.

Thurkauf became the 13th rookie to play for the Blue Jackets this season, matching a franchise record set in 2003-04.

That’s eight forwards (Bemstrom, Liam Foudy, Ryan MacInnis, Kole Sherwood, Kevin Stenlund, Eric Robinson, Alexandre Texier, Thurkauf), three defensemen (Gabriel Carlsson, Vladislav Gavrikov and Andrew Peeke) and two goaltenders (Matiss Kivlenieks, Elvis Merzlikins).

Eight of those rookies have made their NHL debuts this season, too.

“They’re obviously doing a really good job down in Cleveland,” Nash said, “because every guy who steps into the lineup plays really well, plays a solid game, doesn’t miss a beat.

“Kudos to those guys. They’ve done a really good job and kept us in this race. Hopefully we get on the other side of these shootouts or overtime or even finish a few off in regulation.”

In 2003-04, the Blue Jackets were trying to break new talent into the NHL. This year’s team has turned it over to the youngsters because of an ungodly wave of injuries.

The Blue Jackets have 10 players on injured reserve after forward Oliver Bjorkstrand (fractured ankle) landed there on Friday.

7. Sonny side down

It’s nothing new for forward Sonny Milano to be a healthy scratch. He’s been in and out of the Blue Jackets’ lineup repeatedly over the last few seasons, a frequent resident of Tortorella’s dog house for his brain cramps and his play away from the puck.

But the last two healthy scratches have been telling. Earlier this week, the Blue Jackets signed Matteau to a two-year, two-way NHL contract and recalled him from AHL Cleveland to play ahead of Milano.

On Saturday, the Jackets called on Thurkauf to make his NHL debut and sent Milano back to the press box.

Even with five NHL forwards on the shelf with injuries, Milano can’t crack the Blue Jackets’ lineup Tortorella didn’t want to talk much about it before the game.

“It’s a decision that we made,” he said.

8. Report: Anderson injury “long-term”

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson, out with a shoulder injury since a fight in Ottawa on Dec. 14, won’t be returning to the lineup anytime soon.

Anderson will be “out long-term,” Friedman reported on Hockey Night In Canada.

Jarmo Kekalainen would not comment on the report. Anderson’s agent, Darren Ferris, also has declined to comment on Anderson’s injury.

Anderson was considered a trade candidate at Monday’s NHL trade deadline, but he won’t be changing addresses if he’s injured.

The Blue Jackets may still seek to trade Anderson, if healthy, this summer. He has one more year of restricted free agency, but unless he signs a long-term extension with the club, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2021.

9. That kind of night

The Blue Jackets planned to fly home after Saturday’s game and spend Sunday as an off day, with trade deadline day — oh, and a game with Ottawa — waiting on Monday.

But the Jackets were forced to spend another night in Nashville after the pilot on their charter flight became ill with food poisoning.

On one hand, it’s just further aggravation for a club that’s lost eight games in a row.

But on the other hand, it’s Nashville. Of all the NHL cities to be “stuck” in, Nashville probably in most people’s top 10. I mean, Heath Haynes was playing at Layla’s Bluegrass Inn, where are the beers or so cold you can barely hold ’em.

Maybe this is exactly what they needed.

10. Hockey tonks

The Blue Jackets are 0-4 in shootouts, one of five clubs that haven’t won a shootout this season. Boston (0-7), Ottawa (0-5), Los Angeles (0-2) and Colorado (0-1) are the others. … The Blue Jackets lines: Nyquist – Dubois – Foligno; Matteau – Jenner – Gerbe; Thurkauf – Stenlund – Bemstrom; Robinson – Nash – Lilja. … One new wrinkle on the Blue Jackets’ power play: defensemen Markus Nutivaara and David Savard were both on the second unit. … Boone Jenner led the Jackets with seven shots on goal. Matteau was second with six. … Alison Lukan’s analytics

The Athletic’s Alison Lukan provided these insights into the Blue Jackets’ shootout loss:

• Pushing a game to overtime and a shootout but just falling short isn’t entirely out of line with how the Blue Jackets played in Nashville. After being out-played in the first (just 21.55 percent of five-on-five expected goals), Columbus was able to fight back and earn 46.12-percent of shot attempts and 48.46- percent of expected goals in five-on-five adjusted play according to NaturalStatTrick.com. So close, but not close enough. Money Puck’s “deserve to win o’meter” had the Blue Jackets winning the game 50.1- percent of the time.

• The good news? Columbus was able to finish on their two best chances of the night (Boone Jenner’s opening goal — 35.7 percent likelihood of scoring; Emil Bemstrom’s power-play score — 29.1 percent likelihood of scoring), but obviously finding ways to convert more chances that aren’t as golden would be of help. Two of Nashville’s three regulation goals were below 10-percent likelihood of becoming goals.

• Don’t hang that on Elvis Merzlikins, however. Merzlikins was more or less what he should have been, allowing just .12 goals above expectations based on the shot quality he faced. His opponent, Juuse Saros allowed .46 more goals than expected.

• Riley Nash’s line had a good night. While they couldn’t figure out Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi, that trio had the offensive advantage against every other Nashville skater when on the ice.

• Even with so many new faces in the lineup, the Blue Jackets were solid in overtime. They had one more shot attempt than Nashville and fell more or less even in shot quality.

• The best Columbus skaters by game score: Eric Robinson (1.93); Jakob Lilja (1.84); Markus Nutivaara (1.35); Boone Jenner (1.35); Riley Nash (1.18).

• The best Nashville skaters by game score: Ryan Ellis (3.12); Filip Forsberg (2.50); Mikael Granlund (2.43); Colin Blackwell (2.02); Colton Sissons (1.79).

— Data via MoneyPuck.com, Evolving-Hockey.com, NaturalStatTrick.com, and reflects score and venue adjusted five-on-five play unless otherwise stated.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.23.2020

How Columbus youth players in a crisis sparked a distant friendship, viral note

By Aaron Portzline – The Athletic – February 23, 2020

It’s the heaviest and most helpless feeling a parent can endure. Crystal Trupia was sitting in the stands during a hockey tournament last weekend in Pittsburgh when her 10-year-old son, Chris, caught his blade in a rut and catapulted headfirst into the endboards.

“We could hear his helmet hit,” Trupia said. “Our coach is always the first one out, and he gestured for the EMT. You can’t get down there (on the ice), of course, so we were just watching from the bleachers while they took off his helmet and checked him. He was down for a few minutes. A few, very long minutes.”

Trupia’s son plays for a team in Manassas, Va., but seated in front of her on the bleachers were six members of a 14-under select travel team from the Columbus Chill Youth Hockey Association. They were waiting to take the ice next.

“It’s not uncommon for us to hear kids mocking other kids and being sarcastic,” Trupia said. “I know how kids can be sometimes.”

But what happened next helped Trupia pass those painful minutes while her son was being treated on the ice. It is said that true character is how one acts when nobody’s watching.

“The rink was quiet, so I could hear what they were saying,” Trupia said. “One of them said, ‘Please be OK.’ Another boy said, ‘Come on, little guy. Try to get up!’

“There was more, and they were all words of encouragement. It was all encouragement. It was definitely nice to hear. I took the phone out of my purse and took a picture of them.”

Trupia didn’t know their names — Wyatt Williams, Alex Greene, Nick Opatt, Jake Kopasz, Andrew Rupp and Jack Snyder — but she wanted to hug every one of them.

“It was so different from what I was accustomed to,” she said. “To hear these kids be supportive of a kid they didn’t even know.”

Trupia’s son sat out the rest of his game and was later diagnosed with whiplash. He’ll be OK after a short break from hockey, she said.

But when the Trupias arrived home that night, she realized she couldn’t keep the story to herself. So she went to Facebook and quickly found the CCHYA group.

Meanwhile, the coach of the CCHYA club was back home in the Columbus suburb of Dublin trying to muster the energy to write an email to his players’ parents. Kelly Hall had no idea what Trupia had witnessed, he was just impressed with how hard his team played with little reward.

“I started typing up a letter to the parents because they don’t always get all the feedback from the locker room,” Hall said. “I wanted to make sure they understood how proud we were of them. It was gonna be a long, cumbersome email, so I put some thoughts down and then I planned to go to bed before writing it in the morning.”

But then he looked at the CCHYA Facebook page and found a note from Crystal Trupia:

“I was so glad I opened that up because that surely conveyed more to the parents about what this weekend meant,” Hall said.

“This was our guys’ first tournament. We know boys will be boys, but we’ve told them that they represent themselves, their families, this team and this organization wherever we are. It was nice to see their true character shine through.”

As fate would have it, the CCHYA club experienced its own serious injury the very next game. Jack Snyder, one of the boys sitting in front of Trupia, suffered a fractured leg and a dislocated knee when he was hit in the final minute of CCHYA’s loss. After a brief hospital stay, Snyder was able to return home early last week.

“I don’t want to call it a cheap shot, but it was an unnecessary and avoidable hit,” Hall said, “a knee-on- knee hit that just blew up this little 13-year-old’s leg.

“Our kids saw both ends of the spectrum, and they learned some really valuable lessons in how we handle ourselves. There was no dirty play, no retaliation stuff going on … ”

A distant friendship was born. The 10-under team from Manassas, Va., and a 14-under team from Columbus — two teams that might never cross paths again — continue to check in on each other’s injured players.

“It’s kindness,” Trupia said. “It brings people together.”

Hall called his team’s first tournament a success.

“We didn’t bring home any hardware,” he said. “And the scores weren’t reflective of how hard they played. But what they came home with is more important than any hardware. They have a lot of reasons to be proud.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.24.2020

Ottawa Senators GARRIOCH GAME REPORT: Senators lose game — and Chabot — going into deadline day By Bruce Garrioch – Ottawa Sun – February 22, 2020

CANADIENS 3, SENATORS 0 On Hockey Night in Canada, the Ottawa Senators took one on the chin from the . And, for some Ottawa players, this wasn’t the way they wanted to end their stay with the Senators. With Monday’s NHL trade deadline looming large, the Senators played their final game before general manager Pierre Dorion makes his final decisions on what players will finish the season with the club. The result wasn’t pretty as the Senators dropped a 3-0 decision to their arch-rivals in front of 18,374 at the Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday night. Carey Price made 30 stops for the 48th shutout of his career and fourth against Ottawa. Max Domi scored twice for the Habs while Paul Byron also chipped in as Montreal kept its slim playoff hopes alive. Craig Anderson stopped 34 of 37 shots from the Habs. To make matters worse, the Senators were forced to finish the game without top defenceman Thomas Chabot. He limped to the bench on his left leg after getting hit by Brendan Gallagher in the first period, went straight to the dressing room and didn’t return. That meant the Senators finished the game with only five healthy defencemen, but they’re hopeful Chabot could play Monday in Columbus. “We think (Chabot) is all right. It’s nothing major anyway,” said coach D.J. Smith. “He certainly couldn’t have played, but we’re hoping he’s back fairly quickly. It’s a huge loss for us, as you saw, and then you’re down to five guys early. Take nothing away from them, they forecheck and they work really hard. That’s one of the most competitive teams we’ve played in a while. They really come at you.” For some Senators, they aren’t sure what’s going to happen before the deadline. The future of centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau is clouded because of his status as an unrestricted free agent while veteran blueliner Ron Hainsey and Anderson went into this game in similar circumstances. Anything can happen and it only takes one team to show interest to make a deal happen. Asked if he thought about the fact this could be his final game in Ottawa uniform, Anderson replied, “Nope.” This game did feature the debut of centre Josh Norris, called up from the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville on Friday, and he looked like a rookie playing his first game in the NHL. The Senators want to give him a taste of the league, and to Smith’s credit he even gave Norris some time on the power play. This season is about development, and that will be even more of a focus after the deadline passes. Trailing 3-0 after 40 minutes, you didn’t get any sense the Senators were going to find a way out of this mess. Byron scored his second of the season at 17:58 to extend the Habs’ lead and the Senators had been outshot 29-20. It’s not like the Senators lacked compete, they were just being beaten by a better team and there wasn’t much they could do because Price was solid when called upon. Like he does every night, winger Brady Tkachuk was able to get under the skin of the Habs, but it was quite something to see Price lose his cool midway through the second. While Tkachuk was engaged in a tussle with Montreal defenceman Ben Chiarot in the crease, Price threw a punch at Tkachuk’s head and then everybody on the ice was involved in a scrum. It was resulted in an Ottawa power play. Trailing 2-0 after the first period, the Senators were on their heels and had been outshot 14-8. Not only did they lose Chabot after the hit from Gallagher, moments after Tkachuk dropped the gloves the Habs pulled out to a 2-0 lead on the strength of Domi’s second of the game with 9:40 left in the period. He picked up a loose puck that Anderson tried to deflect away and fired into the net to dig the Senators an even deeper hole. Tkachuk didn’t like the hit on Chabot. “It’s a highly emotional game,” said Tkachuk. “It’s a fun atmosphere to play in and it sucks that we didn’t get the two points there. Of course, you don’t want to see somebody go down, especially a huge part of our future here, and to see him go down you don’t want anybody taking any exception on any player. I just thought I’d step in. “Credit to Gallagher for answering the bell there.” Only 1:13 into the first, Domi’s 14th of the season opened the scoring. He was able to get in alone and then beat Anderson into a virtually empty net after he failed to poke-check the puck away. That was the first shot the game and it set the tone for a difficult start to this one as Price was barely even forced to break a sweat with only a couple of big stops. You get the sense there will be a sigh of relief in the Ottawa room when the deadline passes. “It’ll be good on Monday to just get down to our team,” said Smith. “Even for the guys, know that you’re staying or know that you’re going.” Time is of the essence now. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.23.2020

SNAPSHOTS: Jean-Gabriel Pageau remains in the lineup ahead of Monday deadline By Bruce Garrioch – Ottawa Sun – February 22, 2020

"Though centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau remained in the Ottawa Senators' lineup on Saturday night with the two sides trying to get an extension in place, his future with the team remains very much up in the air." The Ottawa Senators decided to play the waiting game Saturday night with a couple of players with the NHL trade deadline set for Monday. While the Senators have nine unrestricted free agents on the roster, wingers Vladislav Namestnikov and Tyler Ennis were the only ones scratched with the Montreal Canadiens in town to close out a six-game homestand at the Canadian Tire Centre. There’s significant interest in both players and the Senators felt it was best to sit both. Though centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau remained in the lineup with the two sides trying to get an extension in place, his future with the team remains very much up in the air. It’s believed the Senators have interest from the likes of the Philadelphia Flyers, , New York Islanders, and Boston Bruins. Winger Brady Tkachuk was hopeful the two sides can get something worked out. “He’s done everything for our team,” Tkachuk said Saturday morning. “On (the) ice, off-ice, last year I know he got hurt, but he was a tremendous help to me last year and he was always somebody I could lean on for advice, and this year we’ve gotten that much closer. “That just speaks about what he does on the ice because he does everything right. He’s offensively gifted, he plays against the top lines and shuts them down pretty well and he’s as physical as he can be every shift. Off the ice, he’s always there for everybody and he always has a smile on his face. Whatever happens, happens. He’s put himself in a great position to get some cash. I know I’d love to see him here.” READY TO GO There was plenty of excitement around the debut of rookie centre Josh Norris. Called up from Belleville on Friday, the 20-year-old Norris has racked up 30 goals and 58 points in his first season in the AHL. His parents, Dwayne and Traci, were on their way to Ottawa on Saturday to witness his first game in person. Dwayne is a former pro who played for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1994 and then went on to a successful career in Europe. Tkachuk was thrilled for his close friend. “I’m very excited. He’s had such a great season so far and to get rewarded it’s going be awesome to see,” Tkachuk said before the game. “I’m trying to help him out as much as I can, but I know he’s ready. Him and his family are definitely really excited. It should just be an awesome night for him.” If you think about what Norris has been able to accomplish this season, it’s pretty remarkable. His season with the University of Michigan ended last January after he had shoulder surgery due to an injury he suffered at the world junior championships in . Dorion and the Senators welcomed him with open arms when he made the decision to leave school and turn pro. He’s probably a year ahead of where the organization projected him to be at this point. “It just speaks a lot about him as a player and him as a person with his character,” said Tkachuk. “He faced adversity last year, but for him to bounce back and be stronger and be better because of it, that doesn’t happen to a lot of people. He’s a special player and person, and everyone in Ottawa should be really excited for him.” Winger Drake Batherson, who walked into the rink with Norris on Friday and spent a lot of time on the same line with him in Belleville, said the excitement can also lead to jitters. They were on the same line in the skate Friday in Ottawa with winger Nick Paul and the expectation was coach D.J. Smith would start the game that way. “He’s a great all-around, 200-foot player,” Batherson said. “When you look at his game, he can skate, he can make plays and he can shoot the puck. He’s got 30 goals in the AHL. He’s a great kid and he’s fun to be around. “(He’s) probably going through the same emotions I went through last year. I kind of told him what it was like for me last year. He’s got his family coming in (for the game) and it’s an exciting time for his whole family. I’ll try to keep the nerves down for him, but it’s a big night for him and I’m pumped for him. It will be nice to be alongside him on the same line for sure.” THE LAST WORDS The Senators recalled defenceman Christian Jaros from Belleville to suit up against the Habs. The club was short of blueliner after Cody Goloubef was picked up on waivers by Detroit on Friday. The 23-year- old Jaros suited up for six games earlier this season in Ottawa. “He’s big, he’s strong and he can skate,” Smith said. “The last couple of games, he was really physical for us. I’ve liked his game. This is a really good forechecking team and they don’t give you a lot of time with the puck, so he’s going to have to hustle back and make some plays.” … Batherson said his uncle, , a legendary tough guy with the Senators in the early days, was pleased to see the youngster have his first NHL fight against ’s Jansen Harkins on Thursday. “He was pretty excited for me,” said Batherson. “He wanted me to go the (Tuesday) night when he was in town, but it didn’t end up working out. He laughed when it ended up happening, but he was pretty excited.” Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.23.2020

Nate Thompson has been there, which is why he is proud of his friend Bobby Ryan Arpon Basu – The Athletic – February 22, 2020

OTTAWA – Nate Thompson was in the dressing room, having just stepped off the ice at Canadian Tire Centre after the Canadiens’ morning skate, when someone walked in and gave him a message. He had a visitor waiting in the hallway outside. It was Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan. Ryan has begun the journey Thompson himself has been on for three and a half years, since Oct. 10, 2016, the day he became sober. Ryan’s journey began in November when he entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He revealed why for the first time publicly Friday when he spoke about it for 10 minutes with the media. He talked about how long he has struggled with alcohol abuse and how difficult it was to take a stand and ask for help to turn his life around. So when Thompson was told Saturday morning that Ryan was waiting for him in the hallway, he didn’t hesitate. Thompson emerged from the dressing room with half his equipment still on, knowing full well what Ryan had done a day before, and he gave him a hug. Then, the two former teammates with the Senators in 2017 and the U.S. world championship team in 2012 stood together in that hallway and talked. “I just told him how proud I am of him and how extremely brave it is,” Thompson said a few minutes later. “I’m just glad to see he’s doing really well. I’m not even concerned about the hockey, just more concerned about the person, how he’s doing. He seems like he’s happy and doing well. “I just told him that I care about him. I think a lot of guys do, everyone in the league does. You’re always looking out for your own. It’s like a brotherhood in this league. I told him it takes a lot of guts to do that. It’s awesome.” This is the support Thompson received from the brotherhood when he began his journey in 2016. He spoke to The Athletic’s Lisa Dillman about it in 2018 and, more recently, sat down with Sportsnet’s Christine Simpson in January for a candid look at the extent of his addiction issues and how close it came to breaking him. But for years before he went public with his story, no one but that NHL brotherhood knew about Thompson’s battle with addiction. He was given the choice to share it with the world because he was able to get help and overcome his illness in private. Ryan didn’t have that option, and he admitted Friday that he had worried about the day he would have to stand in front of those cameras and microphones and explain himself basically as soon as he entered the program. “I spent two weeks agonizing over the fact that it was going to be a media thing for me,” Ryan said Friday. “I spent months and years before that trying to avoid (a media announcement) with doing it on my own. And I got to a point where I just said enough is enough of this. Of the shame and the guilt and not being the person you need to be for your family. “I’ve dreaded this day for the better part of three months, but to stand here and take time to heal yourself, you’re going to need to face the music, right?” Ryan didn’t have the choice Thompson did, and Thompson says that’s what made what Ryan did so much more difficult. “For him, it was a different situation; he had to go get help and it was public when he did,” Thompson said. “For him to come out publicly and talk about it yesterday, I’m sure there was some nerves and some anxiety to talk about it. But I’m sure he felt better afterward. It just speaks volumes about him and shows so much humility for him to be able to do that.” What Ryan did Friday carries a little extra significance for Thompson. The reason he decided to speak to Dillman in 2018 and Simpson in January was to show others they can do the same, whether they’re hockey people or just people in general. To show them it’s OK to ask for help, it’s OK to admit you need it, and it’s OK to talk about it. When Thompson saw the words Ryan used to express his battle Friday, he didn’t know if his public testimonials provided any comfort to Ryan, if they facilitated it in any way. “But I hope so,” he said. “When I talked to Christine for that piece, I told her I didn’t want to do it because of me. I wanted to do it for someone else. If I can help just one person, then it’s a win. I hope I have.” It is difficult for anyone, in any walk of life, to come forward and admit they need help. It can feel like a sign of weakness, and that can be intimidating for anyone. But when you live in the world of professional hockey, a world where toughness is such an important character trait that it is practically canonized, the intimidation can be crushing. It can prevent someone from getting the help that’s needed. So what Ryan did Friday is important, because the more people like Ryan who come out and explain what it took to get that help, who provide tangible evidence that even though it is hard, it is very much worth it, the better off everyone will be. “I think you see our league and in hockey, it’s, you know, act tough and don’t come out and don’t be vulnerable,” Thompson said. “But I think the toughest thing is to be vulnerable. “Hopefully guys who might be having issues aren’t afraid to talk about it.” The Athletic LOADED: 02.23.2020

Trade deadline roundup: What we’re hearing about the Senators 2 days out By Hailey Salvian – The Athletic – February 22, 2020

It’s funny how different the trade deadline approach can be from the NHL team to the AHL affiliate. As the Ottawa Senators are expected to be sellers at the deadline, the have come out as buyers and have made a few moves to beef up their roster for what they hope can be a lengthy playoff run. On Wednesday, the organization traded Max Veronneau to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Aaron Luchuk and a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft. The condition will be met should Veronneau play 10 games for the Leafs this season or 10 games for them in 2020-21 (should Toronto re-sign him). Then, the Belleville Senators completed an AHL transaction with the in which Belleville acquired forward Darren Archibald for defenceman Trent Bourque. Archibald, who played 28 games in Belleville last season, will add some veteran leadership to a young, skilled team. Luchuk, who signed a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa in 2017, will help bolster the depth at centre. Additionally, the Senators attempted to sneak veteran defenceman Cody Goloubef through waivers on Thursday afternoon in an effort to bolster Belleville’s defence, but he was surprisingly claimed by the . “It’s unfortunate for us. We wanted him to play up here and then go down there and help them with the minor-league team to win a championship,” Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. “But it’s great for him. He gets another opportunity to stay in the NHL and that’s what it’s all about. “I talked to him this summer. When he signed here, he was debating about going to Europe and it reminded me of my situation (as a player) where I was always going up and down, and I said we’d give him a legitimate look. To his credit, he came and he made the team.” The Belleville Senators are in first in the Eastern Conference and the plan appears to be that any players in Ottawa who are eligible to go to the AHL will join Belleville in April. Meanwhile, Ottawa has made one major deal ahead of Monday’s deadline, moving Dylan DeMelo to Winnipeg on Tuesday in exchange for a third-round pick. That leaves eight more Senators players — Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mikkel Boedker, Vladislav Namestnikov, Tyler Ennis, Scott Sabourin, Mark Borowiecki, Ron Hainsey and goaltender Craig Anderson — to hit unrestricted free agency in July. While I do believe the Senators will move out some more UFAs, there isn’t the same amount of pressure to make a deal as in previous years. With all due respect, none of them is likely to get a quality return like Mark Stone, Ryan Dzingel or Matt Duchene did — with the exception of Pageau. General manager Pierre Dorion has spoken about how the Senators won’t simply sell off contracts for the sake of making a trade and stockpiling more draft picks, as they currently have 12 in the draft in June. “We’re really happy with the way we’re competing this year. We’re happy we’re in every game and part of that is because of the veteran players we have here. We’ve had a plan since Day 1, and we do know we want to keep some of them,” Dorion said on TSN during an intermission interview. “We do have a lot of picks already. We’ve got a lot of prospects coming (and) Belleville is in first place with one of the youngest teams in the minors, so getting picks and prospects just to make a trade this year isn’t something we’re probably going to look at. We’re going to make sure we’re going to get the right return if we’re going to move players.” With only two days until the deadline, here’s what The Athletic can tell you about some of the moving pieces. Does Norris’ call-up mean anything? On Friday morning, Josh Norris earned his first recall to Ottawa. He will make his debut on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Norris, 20, has scored 30 goals and 58 points in 51 games for Belleville, good for third in the league in scoring and No. 1 among rookies. His success in the AHL is part of why he was recalled, as he has shown that he deserves it. However, the timing of calling up a fifth centre, at this time of year, raises some eyebrows. Not including Norris, the Senators have four regular centres in their lineup — Pageau, Artem Anisimov, Colin White and Chris Tierney. Pageau is one of the most coveted UFAs on the trade market. Tierney is a restricted free agent who could also be a trade target. Anisimov has upped his value with 13 goals this season, but he has one more year left on a deal that pays him $4.55 million. I don’t believe there is a big market for him. Finally, White is not being moved this year. Period. The Norris recall could mean a few things. The Senators are simply rewarding him and will shift someone (such as White) to the wing on Saturday. The Senators are expecting to be short a centre on Saturday due to a trade. The Senators expect to sit one of their centres, such as Pageau, for “asset management.” My guess is it’s the latter. Pageau, Senators engaging in contract talks According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, contract talks finally began between the Senators and Pageau’s representatives with Newport Sports. Pageau, 27, is in the midst of a career year, posting 24 goals and 40 points in 59 games so far. It’s a significant step in keeping the local product in Ottawa. However, Pageau is at an important juncture of his career, and with the season he is having, he could be looking for a longer contract, which the Senators cannot afford to give out. Because of how well the organization has drafted and developed prospects, the Senators have a number of players who could fight for spots up the middle in the next two to four years. Pageau could be the odd man out. According to LeBrun, that the two sides are talking doesn’t mean there’s anything final in terms of a trade or a deal. “My understanding is that the Senators front office has also discussed the seldom-used third option, which is to use all the time they have until June 30 to try to sign Pageau if they feel the trade offers aren’t strong enough and if they feel they can eventually resolve the contract impasse,” he wrote. “That’s a risk. There’s no guarantee Pageau won’t walk into free agency July 1 and the Senators get nothing for him.” The Senators could receive an offer they can’t refuse. In that case, Pageau would likely be dealt. But he could also re-sign now or in the summer. It’s safe to say it will go down to the wire on Monday. Namestnikov likely on the move On Thursday night, Namestnikov was held out of the Senators’ game against the for what was considered “asset management” reasons. That would indicate a trade is in the works. A source told The Athletic on Tuesday that there had been no contract talks between Namestnikov and the Senators, which could signal that a trade is imminent. TSN’s Darren Dreger also reported teams had been making calls about acquiring the winger. Namestnikov, 27, has shown he is a talented two-way forward. He can play up and down the lineup, can slot in on the power play and is highly effective on the kill. In Ottawa, he has 13 goals and 25 points in 56 games. There would be interest in him from any contender that needs to add depth to its lineup or more of a reliable forward to its ranks. “I’m told that Dorion is considering multiple options on Vladislav Namestnikov,” Dreger said on TSN’s “Insider Trading” on Thursday. “I can tell you that at least four teams of interest have inquired about him. (I’m) not saying that one of those teams is the team that ends up with Namestnikov, but we’re talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Winnipeg Jets … the Colorado Avalanche consider Namestnikov, perhaps, as a Plan B if they don’t land New York’s Chris Kreider, and you’ve got the Columbus Blue Jackets in that mix as well. Pierre Dorion, obviously, has something that he feels really close on with Namestnikov.” The expectation is that Namestnikov will be moved before Monday’s deadline. Oilers could be interested in Ennis The Edmonton Oilers are in a bit of a jam. They have had an injury to Connor McDavid, a suspension to Zack Kassian and salary-cap issues, all while competing in a very tight playoff race in the Pacific Division. While Edmonton has reportedly been interested in Pageau, Oilers GM Ken Holland doesn’t seem keen on overpaying for a rental and might opt to make a move for a moderately priced forward. Enter Ennis. While I believe he could be of value to the Senators for another year, the Oilers could be a good fit as a trade partner. He carries a very affordable $800,000 cap hit. He also brings flexibility, as he can play up and down the lineup and in all situations. He’s from Edmonton and he could have a chance to make a nice playoff run. It could be mutually beneficial. According to LeBrun, Ennis is “on Edmonton’s radar, among several others.” Other notes With Goloubef having been claimed and Mark Borowiecki on injured reserve, the Senators have only five defencemen for Saturday’s game versus the Canadiens. It is expected someone will be called up Saturday morning. Speaking of Borowiecki, his high-ankle sprain might have saved him from being moved at the deadline — unless teams have been told he will be back within one to two weeks, in which case he could still be on the block. But trade talks have been quiet on that front since he went down last week. Artem Anisimov was the only Senators player absent from practice Friday afternoon. At this time of year, any absence can raise suspicion. However, Smith said it was just a maintenance day. Anders Nilsson returned to practice for the first time this week although he hasn’t been fully cleared to play. Once he is back healthy, it is believed Marcus Hogberg will be sent back to Belleville to take on the starter’s role again and gear up for a playoff run. Unless the Senators get an offer for Anderson, he and Nilsson should be the goalie tandem in Ottawa down the stretch. Early reports from LeBrun suggested the Senators had expressed an interest in re-signing Ron Hainsey. Defencemen started flying off the shelves this week, and Hainsey is still with the Senators. He has a 10- team no-movement clause and a close relationship with Smith. He will be tough to move at the deadline. The Athletic LOADED: 02.23.2020

GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets By Bruce Garrioch – Ottawa Sun – February 23, 2020

OTTAWA SENATORS (21-30-11) at COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (30-19-14) Monday, 7 p.m., Nationwide Arena, TV: TSN5, RDS, Radio: TSN 1200, Unique 94.5 FM THE BIG MATCHUP Nick Foligno vs. Connor Brown With the trade deadline set for Monday, Brown’s role on this team is only going to increase and he gets lots of playing time under coach D.J. Smith. Brown is being given the opportunity for an offensive role and he has to start producing more goals. He has scored only once in the last 14 games and that’s not nearly enough for the ice time he gets. Foligno is one of the Jackets’ most consistent performers by bringing the same effort every night, so he’s always going to be a factor. FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. Deadline has passed Let’s make it clear that nobody has used the trade deadline as an excuse or a distraction in Ottawa, but you can’t fault the players for thinking about it. There has been a lot noise here since the season started with 10 unrestricted free agents on the roster. Once 3 p.m. Monday goes by, the Senators will know exactly what they have for the rest of the season. 2. Develop the young players Coach D.J. Smith and his staff have done a good job giving players opportunities throughout the season when they are called up by GM Pierre Dorion, and that’s not going to change down the stretch. While Josh Norris and Drake Batherson were sent to Belleville Sunday, they will be back and you can expect we’re going to see more young players given the chance down the stretch. 3. Start Hogberg Given the need for goalies around the NHL, there may be a market for Craig Anderson, so the best bet is to put Marcus Hogberg back in for this one. He wasn’t great against the Winnipeg Jets last Tuesday but, for the most part, he has been consistent this season. This is a back-to-back situation and then a decision can be made after the game on who plays in Nashville. 4. Get off to a good start The Senators gave up an early goal to the Habs when Max Domi scored only 1:13 into the game, and that set the tone for a difficult night. The Senators are 9-21-9 when they allow the opponent to score the opening goal this season. Ottawa has had a tough time creating offence this season and it digs the club a hole early that doesn’t usually bode well for the Senators. 5. Back to Columbus The Senators have a 1-1-0 record against the Blue Jackets this season. The club suffered a 1-0 loss in its last visit to Nationwide on Nov. 25, and scored a 4-3 victory over Columbus at home on Dec. 14. The Senators need to make sure they give themselves a chance in this one by showing discipline and staying out of the penalty box because Columbus is battling to try to stay in the playoff race. SENATORS GAME DAY LINES Forwards Brady Tkachuk – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Connor Brown Anthony Duclair – Chris Tierney – Jayce Hawryluk Nick Paul – Colin White – Bobby Ryan Mikkel Boedker – Artem Anisimov – Scott Sabourin Defence Thomas Chabot – Ron Hainsey Mike Reilly – Nikita Zaitsev Andreas Englund – Christian Jaros Goaltenders Marcus Hogberg Craig Anderson JACKETS GAME DAY LINES Forwards Gustav Nyquist – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Nick Foligno Stefan Matteau – Boone Jenner – Emil Bemstrom Nathan Gerbe – Kevin Stenlund – Calvin Thurkauf Jakob Lilja – Riley Nash – Eric Robinson Defence Zach Werenski – Markus Nutivaara Vladislav Gavrikov – David Savard Scott Harrington – Andrew Peeke Goaltenders Joonas Korpisalo Elvis Merzlikins SICK BAY OTT: D Mark Borowiecki, G Anders Nilsson CBJ: F Josh Anderson, F Oliver Bjorkstand, D , F Alexandre Texier, F Alexander Wennberg, D Seth Jones, F Cam Atkinson SPECIAL TEAMS OTT: PP 15%; (28th); PK 77.9% (22nd) CBJ: PP 16.5% (24th); PK 82% (10th) Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.24.2020

Keeping Jean-Gabriel Pageau remains a priority with decisions to make ahead of trade deadline By Bruce Garrioch – Ottawa Sun – February 23, 2020

Pierre Dorion was busy working the phones Sunday at his office in the Canadian Tire Centre. Surrounded by his closest advisors — including assistant Peter MacTavish and the club’s pro scouting staff — the Senators’ general manager is getting ready to settle Ottawa’s roster before the wheeling and dealing comes to a close at Monday’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline. While it’s believed the Senators were trying to get unrestricted free agent centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau signed to an extension with the clocking ticking towards the deadline, the organization could also have decisions to make on several players including wingers Tyler Ennis and Vladislav Namestnikov along with veteran defenceman Ron Hainsey and goaltender Craig Anderson. Ennis was a healthy scratch for Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at home, but he accompanied the team to Columbus to prepare to face the Blue Jackets Monday night at Nationwide Arena because he was pictured on Instagram walking behind defenceman Thomas Chabot when they were leaving the club’s charter jet Sunday afternoon after it arrived. For logistical reasons, Dorion decided to stay in Ottawa for the deadline and he’ll join the team on the road in time for Tuesday night’s game against the Nashville Predators. Namestnikov, another UFA, has been scratched for the club’s last two games and his status won’t be determined until 3 p.m. either. There’s enough interest in both players that Dorion felt it was necessary for coach D.J. Smith to keep them out of the lineup, but it may be a good good sign Pageau did suit up as the two sides tried to close the gap in contract negotiations. The Senators first choice is to keep Pageau here and they’ve made it clear to teams that even if they don’t have him signed by the deadline then the possibility exists they won’t move him to see if they can get a deal completed in the off-season. Yes, they’ve listened to trade offers but it’s fair to say the teams involved in the discussions know the club’s priority is to keep him in Ottawa. Teams interested in Pageau, Ennis and Namestnikov may want to see if winger Chris Kreider re-signs with the before making a decision on what direction they’ll take. The indications Sunday were Kreider was going to hit the market but everything is fluid in the final 24 hours. The Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and Calgary Flames are all searching for forward help so it remains to be see where Ennis or Namestnikov may land if they’re moved at all. Last year, the Senators scratched defenceman Cody Ceci and winger Mikkel Boedker before the deadline but neither player was moved in the end. As for Hainsey and Anderson, it’s difficult to say whether teams contending for the playoffs will show interest, but both would provide depth and experience. The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are among the teams looking for help in the net. It’s not known whether either team reached out to the Senators, but it Dorion may have also picked up the phone as well. You get the sense there will be a sigh of relief in Ottawa when the deadline passes. “When we can get to our team, and we can get to our lines, you know you practice with the lines and then you switch them, it’s all part of the business and I get it,” said coach D.J. Smith Saturday night. “Even for the guys, just to get down to our team and then know Monday that they (will) grind the rest of the way.” That being said, Smith noted the players who do get moved are receiving a good opportunity. “You’re going somewhere to play for a if you can get in the playoffs,” said Smith. “Teams aren’t set for the playoffs, but if you go somewhere and you have the opportunity to play for the Stanley Cup, that’s why we all play, so I’m sure it will bother some guys to go at first but, at the end of the day, you’re playing for one reason.” Late Sunday afternoon, the Senators made one roster move by signing 28-year-old former Gatineau Olympiques defenceman Hubert Labrie to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 in the NHL and $110,000 in the minors. He had been playing on a minor-league deal with Belleville and this gives the organization the ability to call him up if necessary. Labrie was placed on waivers Sunday at noon and as long as he clears Monday without being claimed by another team then he’ll be added to the club’s roster which will stand at 49 contracts after the Senators sent Dylan DeMelo to the Winnipeg Jets earlier this week. The high ankle sprain suffered by Mark Borowiecki and the loss of Cody Goloubef on waivers has left the club shorthanded on the blueline. The good news is Chabot travelled to Columbus after leaving Saturday’s game in the first period after getting hit into the boards by Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher. Smith told reporters he was “hopeful” Chabot would be able to suit up against the Jackets. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.24.2020

SNAPSHOTS: Brady Tkachuk was the centre of attention in club's loss to the Habs By Bruce Garrioch – Ottawa Sun – February 23, 2020

Brady Tkachuk made his presence known Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. That’s not unusual because that’s usually the case every night. But, the Ottawa Senators’ sophomore winger was a pain in the neck against the Montreal Canadiens in the club’s 3-0 loss to close out this six-game home stand and Tkachuk pretty much played a role in some way or another during the four games against one of the club’s arch-rivals this season. Not only did Tkachuk drop the gloves with Brendan Gallagher in the first period after he hit defenceman Thomas Chabot, he also jawed with Nate Thompson at the end of the second and was given a 10-minute misconduct at the end because of an incident with Ben Cousins. Tkachuk skated by the bench on his way to the dressing room in the third with his fist pointed in the air. A little gamesmanship to set the tone for next season, but he also enjoys facing the Habs because he knows what these games mean to fans in both cities. “It’s just another rivalry game,” Tkachuk said. “It’s Saturday night, it’s a packed house, it’s an emotional game and it’s a fun atmosphere. I just want to show up, be physical and do things right. For me, personally, I’m just trying to play the same way. I definitely could have been a little bit better (Saturday) but at the end of the day we’re a little disappointed we didn’t get the two points.” Coach D.J. Smith would rather have Tkachuk on the ice but knows the role he has to play as well. “He grew up in a hockey family,” said Smith. “His dad (Keith) is ultra-competitive, his brother (Matthew) is ultra-competitive and when you get a game where the place is sold out with a rivalry against Toronto or Montreal and the fans are into it and it just fires him up even more. “He brings it on a night when there’s not much cheering on the road or wherever we are. He’s ultra, ultra competitive and he leads us into the battle 90% of the time. He’s making room for himself for the rest of his career is what he’s doing. When he’s 25-year-old and he’s the biggest, strongest guy he’s going to be really hard to play against.” A GOOD DEBUT Josh Norris and Drake Batherson were sent back to the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville Sunday morning. Both will play a big role for Belleville down the stretch, but they’ll also likely be back to play NHL games before the end of the regular season and that could be sooner rather than later depending on what happens at the NHL trade deadline Monday at 3 p.m. Called up Friday, the 20-year-old Norris made his NHL debut against the Habs and didn’t look out of place with 15:16 of playing time on 20 shifts. He was used on the power play as well by Smith and looked pretty comfortable in his first game. “It was good to get my feet wet,” he said. “I thought in the first period I was kind of feeling it out a little bit but I was maybe thinking a bit too much. I thought as the game progressed, I started making some plays and I had a few good chances. As the game went on, I thought it got better.” Norris appreciated making his debut on Hockey Night in Canada. “What more can you ask for by playing on a Saturday night against Montreal for my first game so it certainly was a special night,” he said. Norris was helmet-less for his solo lap during warmup and that’s because it was hidden by his teammates. “I found out about 10 minutes before I went out so I thought that was kind of funny,” Norris said. “I had a fun time skating around there in warmups. I wish I could have gotten my helmet back a little sooner, my hair wasn’t necessarily perfect but it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” Tkachuk said he may have had something do with it. “Kind of, not really, the first game is always a memorable one,” said Tkachuk, a close friend of Norris. “I thought he played very well (Saturday) and some of those chances were close to going in. It shows the type of player he is but I think doing stuff like that makes it even more memorable. “I was chirping him that he had a tough hair day in warmup. It was good, it was fun, he deserved it and I thought he looked great (Saturday).” THE LAST WORDS Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who had a liver transplant in 2015, was thrilled for Toronto emergency goalie David Ayres when he had the opportunity to play for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Leafs Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. Ayres, 42, had a kidney transplant when he was 25-years-old and Melnyk is hopeful this will help raise awareness for organ donation. Melnyk started the Organ Project not long after his surgery and is hopeful stories like Ayres will resonate with the public to sign donor cards. “We’re all delighted at the Organ Project for David who is now an alumni of receiving a kidney transplant only 15 years ago,” Melnyk said in an email. “We continue to strive to encourage people to register as organ donors to help with life saving transplants and give us moments like last nights heroics. Congratulations David and godspeed.” Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.24.2020

NHL/Websites Behind the scenes of David Ayres’ unbelievable night in an NHL crease

By Jonas Siegel – The Athletic – February 22, 2020

Under the goalie gear he wore while living the dream for 28 minutes and 41 seconds on Saturday night, helping the Carolina Hurricanes to the unlikeliest of victories over the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Ayres wore, well, a Maple Leafs T-shirt.

The 42-year-old, who stopped eight of 10 shots directed at him by the Leafs in emergency duty between the pipes, was protected by a Toronto Marlies mask, and left Scotiabank Arena carrying a Marlies equipment bag.

The Hurricanes asked him to shed his usual blue pants for the third period. He still had on his white and blue pads.

The text message that lit up his phone, the one that told him he was going in after Petr Mrazek went down in the second period, came courtesy of Reid Mitchell, the Leafs director of hockey and scouting operations. And when he’s not working, as he has for the past five years, as the building operations manager at Mattamy Athletic Centre — known formerly as Maple Leaf Gardens — Ayres suits up as the third goaltender at Leafs practice.

He did the same for the Marlies, where he also once worked as the Zamboni driver, and crossed paths frequently with Sheldon Keefe, now the head coach of the Leafs.

Ayres also had a kidney transplant 15 years ago and wondered if he’d ever play hockey again.

You really can’t make up one of the craziest nights in NHL history.

And depending on which side you’re looking at it from, either one of the most inspiring wins in franchise history (Hurricanes), or one of the most embarrassing (Leafs).

“The only thing that sucks for him is that it was against the Leafs,” James Reimer, another key component to an unbelievable night, said afterward. “I mean, if it was for the Leafs there’d be statues. But now, it might be the opposite.”

It was Reimer injuring his knee in the opening minutes of a crucial game for both teams that even put Ayres on the path to playing. It was almost like a night of destiny that way.

Zach Hyman shoved Jaccob Slavin into Reimer and while he initially stayed in the game, the former Leaf and current Hurricanes netminder was removed during the first TV timeout and replaced by Mrazek, who played the night before at home against the Rangers.

Then, with about half of the second period gone, Mrazek came charging out of his net to play the puck along the boards. Chasing the puck himself, Kyle Clifford ran Mrazek over and for the ensuing few minutes, the Hurricanes had no clue who would play goal. “Like, are we gonna play without the goalie?” Teuvo Teravainen, the Hurricanes forward, wondered. “Or, what’s gonna happen?”

Teravainen thought the Hurricanes equipment manager, who sometimes suits up in practice, might go in there. Jake Gardiner, another long-time Leaf back playing against his old team, heard his former bench muttering about Ayres.

Not only had Ayres been suiting up at Leafs practices throughout the season, he’d also been the emergency third goaltender at about half of the Leaf home games this year and many before that as well. The guy, in other words, to be on standby in the event that both goaltenders for either team couldn’t play. Ayres got a seat at the game for those efforts. After Reimer went down, he made his way into the media centre in the underbelly of the arena. He hadn’t seen Mrazek get hurt (somehow!) but noticed the texts flooding in afterward.

He didn’t think it was real. These guys are playing with me right now, he thought. Like, I’m going in?

It was time. He was going in.

All Reimer could think at that point was: Can I come back? He talked it over with the team and doctors and they decided against him returning to the net.

Reimer had a pretty mean limp after the game.

“You feel terrible,” he said of Ayres being forced to go in against the highest-scoring team in the league the last few months. “But he held the fort. He was kicking ass in there.”

“I thought I wasn’t going to be nervous if it ever happened,” a jubilant Ayres, who had shed his Leafs shirt for a black Hurricanes replacement, said of getting into the net as the emergency fill-in not long after his night concluded. “But I was nervous for the whole second period, as you could tell, I couldn’t stop a puck if I had to in the second.”

John Tavares beat him five-hole on the first shot. “He psyched me out!” Ayres said of the Leafs . “I thought he was gonna go high-blocker on me.”

Slavin gave him a pat on the back after that one.

Less than two minutes later, Pierre Engvall beat Ayres on the second shot he faced to make it 4-3.

On the Hurricanes bench, head coach Rod Brind’Amour shook his head, probably wondering how his team could possibly be in such a situation, trying to win a game — a game with real playoff implications — with a goaltender who hadn’t ever sniffed an NHL game.

Not really, anyway — though if this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was going to happen to anyone, Ayres, a former Junior-B goaltender, was the guy. “There’s probably not an emergency goaltender anywhere in pro hockey that has seen as many pro shots as this guy who’s in pretty much every day getting work,” Keefe said.

Ayres has come to be a familiar presence at Leafs practice. Sometimes, he’s the third goalie, the guy to steal some of the workload from Frederik Andersen. Other times, when Andersen gets a day off, he gets a net to himself. Which means he’s facing Tavares and Auston Matthews on the regular — if not usually stopping them.

Ayres said he first got hooked up with the Marlies through Will Burns, one of the team’s equipment managers. “He calls himself my agent!” Ayres said of Burns, giving a nod, too, to Rich Rotenberg, the Leafs director of high performance, and very likely the one to decide when Andersen could use some extra rest.

Wearing No. 90, Ayres nearly got run over himself not long after coming into the game to much excitement and intrigue. He skated to the wrong net at one point and even ventured out of the blue paint to play the puck himself, nearly getting run over by Hyman, who pulled up at the last moment. Andersen gave him a glove tap as he left the ice in the most unlikely of circumstances after the second.

Leafs defenceman Tyson Barrie tapped him on the pads.

When he got into the visitors’ dressing room, Ayres had a message for his new Hurricanes teammates. “When I come out in the third, I’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Did the Hurricanes have any idea who he was? “Course not,” Teravainen said. “I heard he’s Davey.”

The Canes all told Davey just to have fun with it. “Don’t worry how many goals go in. Just enjoy it,” they said. “This is your moment, have fun with it.”

He did.

First, Ayres stopped Matthews, maybe the most dangerous scorer in the league today, and then, with his highest difficulty denial of the night, turned Hyman away on a Leafs power play.

“I just saw the puck come at me and squeezed it,” he said.

The Hurricanes kept just about everything else away from him: Ayres faced only seven shots in the third. Even with multiple power plays, the Leafs got nothing going. It was a dominating effort by Carolina and got the Canes back into a playoff spot.

“You know what, we probably played better with him in net than we did before,” Gardiner, the Hurricanes defenceman, said. “It ignited us and kick-started us.”

For the Leafs, it was another dispiriting performance. It was only a few days earlier they suffered a gut- punch of a loss in Pittsburgh, only to recover with maybe their finest performance all season in a rematch at home against the Penguins.

Then, this.

“When the goalie switch happened,” Keefe, the Leafs coach, said, “I talked to the team and said, ‘If we don’t change how we’re playing, they don’t even need a goalie. There’re no chances, no shots, there’s nothing happening.’ They didn’t need a goaltender the way the game was going.”

“You’ve got to get through five people to the goalie,” he added. “We couldn’t get to Mrazek when he was in there. The game was the same. It just so happened it was a different guy in between the pipes. The game was the same, they just continued to play hard the way they were before.”

The Hurricanes even lost Brett Pesce, one of their staples on defence, to injury on the Tavares goal. It didn’t matter.

“They just kept it away from me,” Ayres said.

Before going out for the third, he told the team, “Gimme a couple shots, but not too many!”

As you might expect, the Hurricanes were an excited bunch as they left the ice. “Unreal,” one member of the team said.

“Davey! Davey!” some chanted.

Ayres was about to join them in the dressing room himself when he was turned around by the Scotiabank Arena game crew. He was named first star of the game and had to take another spin for the crowd.

Then came an interview on Hockey Night in Canada with Kyle Bukauskas.

When Ayres finally made it into the room he was doused with water by his new (and temporary) teammates and cheered loudly.

Brindamour told the group it was a “(expletive) memory that I’m gonna have forever. The way you guys played in that (expletive) third period, for you” — he pointed to Ayres — “and the way you played for us.”

For Ayres to even be playing at all was momentous. He had a kidney transplant in 2004.

“Never thought I was going to play hockey again at that moment,” Ayres said.

His mother, Mary, was his match.

Ayres dressed as a backup goalie at one point for the Marlies, and also oddly enough, the Charlotte Checkers — the Hurricanes AHL affiliate — earlier this month in Toronto.

“The whole Leafs organization, from top to bottom, have been amazing to me since day one,” said Ayres, who coaches a bantam double-A team in Whitby. “So to be able to get on the ice, here in Toronto, all the fans, the guys on the other team are kinda looking at me — I make a save and they’re kinda looking at me like, ‘we’re gonna get you’ sorta thing. But it’s unreal. Right now, it’s hard to put into words to be honest.”

He planned to hang his Hurricanes jersey up in his home and look up at it every day.

Gardiner called it one of the most “bizarre” nights of his career. “I mean, we lose two goalies and one of our best defenceman and still can win the game, that’s pretty cool,” he said.

As to what a feat it was for Ayres to come in and win the game like that, Reimer responded, “Stupid.” Then again. “Stupid.”

“I do this for a living, for a few years,” he said with a grin. “When you’re hurt and you come back that first game, after two weeks, four weeks, it’s like you’ve never played an NHL game in your life. For him, not playing a competitive game for who knows how many years, you can’t even describe it.

“He’s a legend, an absolute legend.” Reimer signed a goalie stick for Ayres to take home. “To Dave,” it said, “way to hold the fort!”

Brind’Amour sent him home with a bottle of wine.

The Hurricanes have already started selling Ayres’ T-shirts for $28, for which Ayres will receive royalties, with a portion of proceeds also going to a kidney foundation.

There’s almost no precedent for what Ayres managed to accomplish — save for Scott Foster in Chicago.

“He crushed it,” Reimer said.

“I don’t even know if it’s a dream come — it’s probably above that because you don’t even really dream of it, I’m sure. I’m just happy for him. It’s obviously special playing in this league, and for him, the way it happened and then the way it ended up out there, it’s beyond special. Hockey Night in Canada. There’s nothing better. The Foster story was great in Chicago, but this was half a game. Half a game and it’s a big game, too. The points are important. Hockey Night in Canada. It’s the biggest thing.

“It’s a special memory, that’s for sure.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.23.2020

25 NHL trade candidates: Who will stay, who will go?

By Rory Boylen – Sportsnet.ca – February 23, 2020

As the weeks leading up to the deadline have played out, a few players from our list have been dealt away and crossed off. But with the height of trade season upon us, we still have 25 candidates who could be dealt before 3:00 p.m. ET on Monday.

It’s crunch time, and teams are now settled in as buyers or sellers. Injuries are also going to influence team needs and those are starting to pile up around the league.

Here is our list of the top 25 trade candidates as the countdown to the deadline commences.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ottawa Senators

Contract: $3.1 million through 2019-20

A hot November in terms of offence is a distant memory, though six goals over his past 20 games is still not a bad mark for this third-line centre. Pageau is good on the draw with a 53 percent success rate this season and he’s also a strong penalty killer. If the Sens don’t re-sign him, they should be able to get at least a second-round pick back, if not a conditional first.

Chris Kreider, New York Rangers

Contract: $4.625 million through 2019-20

His representatives and the team have had contract talks, but the closer we get to the deadline without an extension, the more urgent trade talks should become. A first line left winger, Kreider is the best rental player on the market and perhaps the only one who will return an unconditional first-round pick. A fast skater and unabashed net crasher, Kreider has some control with his modified no-trade clause.

Mikael Granlund, Nashville Predators

Contract: $5.75 million through 2019-20

A down year overall, Granlund has been heating up lately with 11 points in 15 games. The Predators, though, are still very much in the playoff race and may not be able to afford giving him up at the deadline for a rental’s return.

Craig Smith, Nashville Predators

Contract: $4.25 million through 2019-20

Depending on which way GM David Poile decides to go, Smith is another productive winger who could be made available from the Preds organization. Another pending UFA and a rental, Smith is on track for his usual 20-plus goals and would be a nice complement on a second-line, or a luxury third-line flanker.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Montreal Canadiens

Contract: $700,000 through 2019-20

If Montreal gets a second-rounder for him it’ll be a huge win for the organization after picking him up for nothing as a mid-season UFA. Kovalchuk has been a revelation in Montreal and a perfect fit, though, unlike in Los Angeles, he’s been given heavy minutes to do it in. Would an acquiring team need to use him the same way to get this level of production?

Update: Kovalchuk was traded to the Capitals in exchange for a third-round pick.

Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

Contract: $4.75 million through 2019-20

After 10 years with the Senators, the end appears in sight for Anderson, one way or another. Younger goalies are beginning to push, the team is transitioning through its rebuild and, at 38, the pending UFA’s numbers aren’t what they once were. The goalie market is surprisingly heating up, with various teams including Colorado and Carolina in need of depth netminders.

Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

Contract: $6 million through 2019-20

Another depth goalie potentially available, 35-year-old Crawford has a .915 save percentage in 31 games this season behind a porous defence. He has a couple Stanley Cups and plenty of playoff experience. It may be unlikely that Chicago deals both of its goalies, but one of them could certainly go.

Robin Lehner, Chicago Blackhawks

Contract: $5 million through 2019-20

Speaking of which Lehner, the other Chicago goalie, is having another outstanding season, putting to bed the idea he excelled last season solely because of Barry Trotz’s defensive system with the Islanders. If Lehner is moved he wouldn’t so much be a depth add as he would be a potential upgrade on the current No. 1. Chicago may rather keep him and re-sign him, but what are they willing to pay and for how many years? It could get complicated.

Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks

Contract: $6 million through 2020-21

With 18 goals in 49 games, Saad is scoring at one of the best clips of his career, but that’s not all he brings to the table. The 27-year-old is also a regular on Chicago’s PK unit and he brings 72 games of playoff experience. If the Blackhawks make him available, it would partly be because of the potential return they could get, given that he comes with the added value of having an extra year left on his contract. Better to deal him now than wait for the rental market in 2021.

Jesse Puljujarvi, Edmonton Oilers

Contract: N/A

An unsigned RFA, if someone gets Puljujarvi it would be a play for next year at the earliest, though there are still development questions around the 21-year-old who was the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft. In Finland this year, he has 49 points in 49 games to lead his Karpat team in scoring, though how much of that translates to the NHL is hard to know until he’s back against competition in North America. The other concern is whether or not his attention to detail and defence is improving. Oilers GM Ken Holland has said he doesn’t want to move Puljujarvi for a rental, but he’s certainly an asset the team could use to get a termed player.

Mathew Dumba,

Contract: $6 million through 2022-23

The Wild have two of the biggest defence trade chips potentially available, though it’s possible neither is moved until the summer. Dumba’s name has been out there the most and he’s been linked to a variety of teams. It hasn’t been the offensive season expected from Dumba, with just four goals and 21 points in 60 games, but he shoots right and is signed for the long-term, which will be attractive to a lot of teams.

Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild

Contract: $4.166 million through 2020-21

If Dumba doesn’t go from Minnesota, perhaps Brodin will. He doesn’t pop when you watch him, but Brodin is an excellent and intelligent defensive defenceman with a left shot. The kind of player who’s doing his job well when you don’t notice him. He also has en extra year on his contract, and if Wild GM Bill Guerin desires to move out money for future flexibility now is the time to explore a Brodin deal. The return would be substantial.

Alex Kerfoot, Toronto Maple Leafs

Contract: $3.5 million through 2022-23

If Kasperi Kapanen’s inspiring performance in Thursday’s win over Pittsburgh made it harder to trade him, that would move Kerfoot to the front of the line of potentially available pro forwards out of Toronto. Capable of playing wing or centre (though he’s winning only 47.7 per cent of his draws this season), Kerfoot generally lands as a 40-point player who could be a secondary power play option.

Tyson Barrie, Toronto Maple Leafs

Contract: $5.5 million through 2019-20

It just hasn’t worked in Toronto, but that doesn’t mean GM Kyle Dubas is desperate to give him away. Injuries have hit the Leafs hard, so to move Barrie they’d need some assurance a replacement will be ready. That could be easier said than done. The Leafs are going to face a massive disappointment and difficult questions if they miss the playoffs, but they’re also clearly in need of a shake up.

“The Maple Leafs believe Cody Ceci and will be back in March and if they’re going to trade Tyson Barrie they’re not going to do it unless they know that they can have somebody who can tide them over until everybody is healthy, plus some futures either for themselves or to use elsewhere. I think that’s the only situation they would consider moving him,” Elliotte Friedman said on Saturday’s Headlines segment.

Tomas Tatar, Montreal Canadiens

Contract: $5.3 million through 2020-21

While the Canadiens want to compete for the playoffs next year, the market for a termed scoring winger may offer GM Marc Bergevin the kind of return he can’t pass up. Tatar is having a career season with a team-leading 55 points in 64 games.

Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils

Contract: $4.65 million through 2020-21

After interim GM Tom Fitzgerald told Hockey Central that his job wasn’t to tear down the Devils, and that the team needed “men” in the lineup, it may be that they need Palmieri. He has a strong track record as a goal scorer and has gotten to the 20-goal plateau for the fifth straight season — he may even reach 30 this year. And with that extra season on his contact, Palmieri could bring the Devils back a Blake Coleman-type return, which would further set them up in their rebuild.

Erik Gustafsson, Chicago Blackhawks

Contract: $1.2 million through 2019-20

Though he won’t approach last season’s 60-point total, Gustafsson is still a rover-type offensive defenceman who could help a team seeking to add a puck-mover and a power play specialist. His contract is cheap and the price of acquisition shouldn’t be too high, with the rental defence market generally set at a second-round pick.

The current market price for defencemen:

Greene (pending UFA) — 2021 2nd, prospect

DeMelo (pending UFA) — 2020 3rd

Dillon (pending UFA) — 2020 2nd, conditional 2021 3rd Scandella (pending UFA) — 2020 2nd, conditional 2021 4th

Martinez (signed thru 2021) — 2020 2nd, 2021 2nd

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 19, 2020

Joe Thornton,

Contract: $2 million through 2019-20

It’s really up to Thornton if he gets traded — and he said this week that it’s tempting to approve one. He’s not the elite first-line centre he once was at 40-years-old of course, but if you walk into the playoffs with Thornton as your third-line centre, you’d be sitting with solid depth. He is still an excellent playmaker and thinks the game at an elite level. He still elevates his line mates.

“The players that can think will survive a long time,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper told The Athletic. “(Thornton) has an extremely high hockey IQ. And he knows where to stand. And he knows where to be on the ice. He’s got exceptional skill. So with the size and the stick that he has, he’s a hard guy to play against. That’s how he’s had this longevity, how he’s been as effective as he has been. There has been part of his game that’s slowed down a bit, but he makes up for it with his brain.”

“I feel like I still have a lot in the tank left. It’s not like a last-hurrah-type thing. I feel good, and my mind feels great. It’s not like, ‘Oh, this is going to be my last shot at it.’” https://t.co/oR1D6dMQcG

— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) February 23, 2020

Vincent Trocheck, Florida Panthers

Contract: $4.75 million through 2021-22

Two years removed from a 75-point season, Trocheck has been struggling to meet that level with 36 points in 55 games this season. A leg injury last season has appeared to slow him, but there’s still a lot of potential for a bounce back here. He’s in his prime at 26, and signed for another two seasons at a very reasonable rate. If he really is available the Panthers are probably looking for immediate help rather than futures as they chase the playoffs — and how often do affordable top-six centres hit the trade market?

Mike Hoffman, Florida Panthers

Contract: $5.187 million through 2019-20

With six straight 20-goal seasons, Hoffman is on track to eclipse 30 for the second year in a row. His shot is wicked and goal-needy teams should have him on their radar. But again, the Panthers would most likely want immediate help, especially on the blue line, and Hoffman could be used as a means to that end. But he’s a rental, so the return is limited.

Vladislav Namestnikov, Ottawa Senators

Contract: $4 million through 2019-20

After a strong start with the Sens, Namestnikov has slowed somewhat with just seven points in his past 23 games. It’s unlikely an extension is coming, so for Ottawa, they’ll look to recoup whatever draft pick they can get. Namestnikov is the sort of depth addition playoff teams make on the cheap this time of year.

Andreas Athanasiou, Detroit Red Wings

Contract: $3 million through 2019-20

An RFA at season’s end, Athanasiou is a complex case. After it looked like he broke through last year with a 30-goal season, he’s struggled again in this one with just 10 goals and 24 points in 46 games. But he’s got that upside and is one of the fastest skaters in the league.

Mike Green, Detroit Red Wings

Contract: $5.375 million through 2019-20

Green has a modified no-trade clause so there’s some control on his part. With just 11 points in 48 games, he is one of many Red Wings having a disaster of a season, but greener pastures could bring better production. He’s still a strong puck-mover who could thrive in a support role on a good team where he’d be surrounded by better talent. At the very least, he’d be an upgrade to many second PP units.

Derek Grant,

Contract: $700,000 through 2019-20

With 20 points in 49 games, Grant is tracking towards his best offensive season in the midst of another nightmare Ducks campaign — but his game is about more than that. He’s the Ducks’ leading penalty killer among the forwards. Centre depth is always vital and Grant would come relatively cheap in both return and cap cost.

Wayne Simmonds, New Jersey Devils

Contract: $5 million through 2019-20

Though he has a stated desire to stay in New Jersey for the full season, the fact is Simmonds only has a modified no-trade clause and will attract interest around the league. He’d best fit as a third-liner with an edge and some offensive pop, though his goal totals have been declining for some time now and he’s on track for the lowest total of his career.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.24.2020