SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/18/2021 1215913 Bruins re-sign Anton Blidh 1215938 Despite leading Panthers’ massive turnaround, 1215914 NHL Players Show Massive Bergeron Respect In NHLPA Quenneville misses out on Poll 1215939 Panthers’ Bill Zito named finalist for of 1215915 Can Jake DeBrusk’s relationship with be the year fixed? What it could mean for the Bruins 1215940 Rod Brind’Amour beats Florida Panthers for Jack Adams 1215941 Florida Panthers Bill Zito named GM of the Year Finalist 1215916 Kyle Williams, John Beilein among 12 new members of 1215942 Panthers 2020-21 Report Card: Jonathan Huberdeau Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame 1215917 Sabres goalie prospect Erik Portillo preparing to take over starting job at Michigan 1215943 2021 NHLPA Players Poll – Doughty, Kopitar, Reverse Retro Jerseys mentioned 1215918 Foreurs captain Pelletier finalist for QMJHL's MVP award 1215919 NHL award-winner Hodgson part of Calgary hero 1215944 Wild sign new affiliate deal with Heartlanders of community helping kids in sports ECHL 1215920 Division championship earns Canes’ Brind’Amour NHL 1215945 Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry is the latest in a saga of coach of the year award NHL postseason toughness 1215921 Brind’Amour, Waddell talk Hamilton, Svechnikov and the 1215946 Fleury, Price take the spotlight as Knights to face the rest of the Canes’ to-do list Canadiens in Montreal 1215922 Carolina Hurricanes agree to new contract with coach Rod 1215947 Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Petry looks like a villain but plays Brind’Amour like a hero 1215923 ‘It was just a matter of time’: Hurricanes coach Rod 1215948 By the numbers: Canadiens' control of slot gives them Brind’Amour signs a 3-year contract — so what took so fighting chance lon 1215949 Canadiens Notebook: Habs now hold home-ice advantage in series 1215950 Montreal Canadiens' nominated for NHL's 1215924 Blackhawks management did not report 2010 sexual GM of the Year Award assault to police: report 1215951 Golden Knights at Canadiens: Five things you should 1215925 Should the Blackhawks re-sign Vinnie Hinostroza? know 1215926 ? Seth Jones? Nikita Zadorov? What 1215952 About Last Night: Bet on red! Habs win Game 2 in Jeff we’re hearing about the Blackhawks’ offseason plans Petry's return 1215927 Father and son Marc and Dylan Crawford bring old- and 1215953 ‘It just looks like hell’: What’s going on with the Canadiens’ new-school mentalities to Blackhawks coaching staff Jeff Petry’s ‘scary-looking’ eyes Avalanche 1215928 What an ideal offseason would look like for the Colorado 1215954 Lightning have it too easy in Game 3 Islanders’ loss Avalanche 1215955 Referee helps doom Islanders with phantom Adam Pelech 1215956 Islanders fall behind Lightning with Game 3 loss 1215929 Breaking down the markets for Stars defensemen Miro 1215957 Islanders’ could make history with second Heiskanen, Jamie Oleksiak and John Klingberg NHL GM award 1215930 Streaming app to watch the Mavs, Rangers and Stars may 1215958 Islanders have go-to duo in Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock include an outrageous price pair 1215931 Stephen Johns’ journey: His NHL career over too soon, 1215959 The ‘ungodly’ scenario Islanders can’t be baited into again former Stars defenseman skates for a cause bigger than h 1215960 This 2-1 deficit seems a bit more daunting for Islanders 1215961 Islanders lose a defensive battle in Game 3 as Lightning take 2-1 series lead 1215932 NHLPA releases annual player poll: Detroit Red Wings 1215962 Physical battles between Islanders and Lightning are big don't rate in any category part of winning playoff series 1215933 Detroit Red Wings' NHL draft: Why taking center Mason 1215963 Islanders' Lou Lamoriello a finalist for GM of the Year McTavish makes sense again 1215934 Ted Kulfan's 2021 NHL mock draft 1.0: Will Wings mine 1215964 The Islanders want to keep winning. Sweden or Ann Arbor for future star? already has. 1215935 Red Wings searching for assistant coach with ‘unique’ 1215965 Time for Oliver Wahlstrom? Takeaways from the power play ideas Islanders’ Game 3 loss to the Lightning 1215936 Why Red Wings feel good about young core of 1215966 Turning Point: Pelech Penalty, Point Changes Game defensemen for Islanders 1215967 Rapid Reaction: Islanders Feel the Shock in Game 3 Loss to Lightning 1215937 What comes next for the Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi? How 1215968 Barn Rockers: Islanders Fans Have Given Coliseum a comparable players performed from age 23 to 25 True Home-Ice Advantage 1215969 Lou Lamoriello Named Finalist for GM of Year Award as Isles Continue Cup Run 1215970 NYHN: Islanders Are Back Home for Game 3 With Series Tied & More 1215971 Rod Brind'Amour opts to stay behind the Carolina Hurricanes bench ... GM listening on Dougie Hamil 1215972 Marcus Hogberg makes his exit from the Senators official by signing with Swedish club 1215973 Penguins A to Z: Kevin Czuczman is a better story than player 1215974 U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are fretting; Penguins fans are pushing back; Pirates fans are just fed up 1215975 NHL players vote Penguins' Sidney Crosby as one of league's most complete players 1215976 Fellow Players Weigh In On Crosby: Complete, Superstitious, Clutch 1215977 Fleury Laughs about Pranks, Reflects on Fleeting Career in Sportsnet Interview 1215978 Seattle Kraken mock expansion draft 7.0: What the 32nd NHL team may look like in October 1215979 The Lightning have become the new standard for cool in the NHL 1215980 Lightning take series lead over Islanders on the road 1215981 Lightning come up roses with The Bachelor’s Matt James in attendance 1215982 semifinal: Lightning-Islanders Game 3 live updates 1215983 Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Victor Hedman receive league honors from their peers 1215984 Lightning not ‘satisfied’ yet as championship pedigree shows in another road win Toronto Maple Leafs 1215985 Maple Leafs’ voted best goal scorer, most fashionable by NHL players 1215986 TRAIKOS: Despite a pair of bloodshot eyes, Montreal's "scary" looking villain was the hero in Game 2 1215987 TRAIKOS: NHL players say Auston Matthews is the league's best scorer — just not in Game 7 situations 1215988 Golden Knights face extra COVID restrictions in Canada 1215989 Golden Knights hosting watch parties for games against Canadiens 1215990 Golden Knights keep quiet on Chandler Stephenson’s status 1215991 Golden Knights adjust at center without Chandler Stephenson 1215992 ‘Ready to go in Montreal’: Golden Knights should move on from poor Game 2 1215993 Inside Golden Knights rookie Keegan Kolesar’s impressive development, from bubble taxi squad to first line fil 1215994 ‘It just looks like hell’: What’s going on with the Canadiens’ Jeff Petry’s ‘scary-looking’ eyes 1215995 Vegas Golden Knights Game Two Loss Raises Red Flags, Big Questions Websites 1215996 The Athletic / Seattle Kraken mock expansion draft 7.0: What the 32nd NHL team may look like in October 1215997 Sportsnet.ca / Lightning seize control of series with clinical performance in Game 3 1215998 Sportsnet.ca / Islanders in familiar place, but Lightning present tougher challenge 1215999 Sportsnet.ca / NHL’s Top 12 UFAs of 2021: Latest rumours, reports 1216000 Sportsnet.ca / AT LAST 1216001 Blackhawks refused to report alleged sex abuse of players to police: source SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1215913 Boston Bruins

Bruins re-sign Anton Blidh

Grinder could have a shot at fourth line

By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: June 17, 2021 at 6:36 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 6:39 p.m.

The Bruins re-signed forward Anton Blidh to a one-year, two-way contract worth an NHL cap hit of $750,000 on Thursday.

The 6-foot, 185-pound Blidh, 26, scored two goals with an assist in 10 games for the Bruins in 2020-21.

The Swedish-born left wing will have an opportunity to compete for a spot on the B’s fourth line, which could lose center/left wing Sean Kuraly to unrestricted free agency.

Blidh doesn’t possess a strong scoring pedigree but does bring a sandpaper element to his game. In 278 games with Providence, Blidh has notched 46 goals and 42 assists along with 247 penalty minutes.

Boston Herald LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215914 Boston Bruins

NHL Players Show Massive Bergeron Respect In NHLPA Poll

By Joe Haggerty

As one might expect, the core Boston Bruins players are among the most respected among their peers around the NHL.

It was proven out again this season with several Bruins ranking high in the 2020-21 NHLPA Player Poll. Nearly 500 players were surveyed on 14 wide-ranging topics with the majority of players interestingly in favor of the -style multi-game series schedule that was adopted this season where NHL teams would play back-to-back games in the same city.

But the questions also veered into on-the-ice categories with players responding to several categories, including the “most complete player” where Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron wound up in a tie for first place with 23.78 percent split of the first place votes among all players ahead of , Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.

David Pastrnak ranked third behind Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin, and one spot ahead of McDavid, as the NHL’s best goal-scorer while finished in the top five for “best goalie” behind Andrei Vasilevskiy. Marc-Andre Fleury, Carey Price and Connor Hellebuyck.

Bergeron also finished tied with Andrei Vasilevskiy for fourth with the question: “If you need to win one game, who is the one player (any position) you would want on your team?” The only players ahead of No. 37 on the poll were McDavid, Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.

The respect around the league shown for Bergeron shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody.

“He’s been one of our many leaders for years now. Now he just has the captain’s letter on his chest. He hasn’t changed at all,” said Tuukka Rask, during the B’s playoff run before it was cut short against the Islanders. “I think everybody knows what kind of player and a person he is, especially in a clutch game. He’s been our leader for many years. He hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary. I think he just wants to be himself, lead vocally and by example, and he’s done that all year and even in the playoffs.”

Pastrnak finished as one of the players with the “best shot” as he finished in the running with Alex Ovechkin, Auston Matthews, Shea Weber, Patrik Laine and MacKinnon as his peers. The flashy Bruins right winger also finished as the top vote-getter for the “most unique tape job” on his sticks and finished second behind only Matthews as “the most fashionable” player in the NHL.

Certainly, there is plenty of evidence as to why Pastrnak should have been tops in that category as well.

“I like fashion, you know.”

– David Pastrnak #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/gUNysG8b0A

— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) May 30, 2021

Perhaps most interesting about the survey is which Bruins player is not on there. Brad Marchand had arguably the best season of any member of the Perfection Line and should get heavy consideration for the Hart Trophy, but No. 63 didn’t show up anywhere on any of the categories when he’s been among the most prolific, clutch players across the entire league over the last five years. Regardless of how they finished in a player’s poll, both Bergeron and Marchand voiced to Boston Bruins management that they’d like to take one more run at the Stanley Cup next season given how many of their core guys are still at the top of their game.

All due respect to the NHLPA poll, that’s the only kind of popularity contest that the B’s leaders are concerned with winning these days.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215915 Boston Bruins Buffalo. He was unavailable for the next six games after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

The variance in opinion has created friction between Cassidy and Can Jake DeBrusk’s relationship with Bruce Cassidy be fixed? What it DeBrusk. The left winger admitted being “pissed off” after being a healthy could mean for the Bruins scratch for the first time this season on March 9 against the Islanders. He scored the following game against the Rangers.

By Fluto Shinzawa Jun 17, 2021 It’s unknown where the relationship goes from here.

“It just felt like there’s a lot,” DeBrusk said of the negativity he experienced on all sides. “It’s one of those things where you could just Bruce Cassidy did not believe speaking with Jake DeBrusk after the feel it. Not really pointing out anyone. But the one thing I did learn is you season-ending Game 6 loss to the Islanders would have been a good obviously play for your teammates and the people in this room. That’s all idea. The feeling was probably mutual. I really look for now, is doing for it for the guy beside you.”

The Bruins coach trusts a cooling-off period will initiate a more productive Both parties want a mending of the fences. The Bruins need DeBrusk to dialogue. be a consistent goal scorer, forechecking presence, reliable defender and occasional penalty killer. DeBrusk is entering the second season of a “My conversations with Jake, I think, would have been too raw the day two-year, $7.35 million bridge deal. Better performance is required if he after,” Cassidy said on Monday. “The players had some time to wants the big payday he once expected. themselves. So we’re going to sit down this week, now that we’ve both digested a little bit of the season, and say, ‘OK, let’s find some common The wrinkle is whether DeBrusk fits in the Bruins’ plans. The first ground on where you see yourself fitting into this lineup and where I feel checkpoint is the July 21 expansion draft. One NHL source questioned you need to be better.’ And see if we can sort through some of the stuff whether the Bruins would use one of their seven forward slots to protect now that the season’s over. Sometimes in season, players are just going DeBrusk. to tell you what you want to hear at times. So it will be up to me to dig a little deeper with him so we can get to the root of, ‘OK, what’s going to “Don’t you think he’d be the one to expose?” the source asked. make you the best player?’” Even if the Bruins protect DeBrusk, he is not guaranteed a roster spot. DeBrusk fell well short of being at his best in 2020-21. Consider some of Much of that depends on how the Bruins proceed with Hall. The ex-Oiler the following: was one of DeBrusk’s favorite players when he was growing up in Edmonton. DeBrusk averaged a career-worst 0.36 goals per 60 minutes of five-on- five play, according to Natural Stat Trick. His previous low was 0.86 goals Both Hall and the Bruins want to continue their partnership. The left per 60 in 2019-20. winger said he is not looking to maximize his earnings. If Hall accepts an average annual value below Brad Marchand’s $6.125 million threshold, He had a worst-ever 5.4 all-situations shooting percentage. He shot he could be the Bruins’ full-time No. 2 left winger. 17.31 percent in 2018-19 when he scored 27 goals. That would push DeBrusk down to the third line. Even there, he would DeBrusk did not score a five-on-five goal until March 11, which was not be guaranteed ice time. He would have to battle with Nick Ritchie for Game No. 24 of the season. left-wing duties.

He lost his job as No. 2 left winger, first to Nick Ritchie, then to Taylor At right wing, which is not his natural position, DeBrusk’s competition Hall. would include Jack Studnicka, and Oskar Steen. All are right shots and cheaper than DeBrusk. The fight would get even harder if He was a healthy scratch three times during the regular season and once Ondrej Kase is cleared to play and the Bruins bring back the restricted in Game 5 of Round 2. free agent. At times, Cassidy pointed out DeBrusk’s need to produce better second This is not where DeBrusk expected to be after his fourth NHL season. effort on forechecks and puck recoveries. On other occasions, he spoke Getting on the same page with his boss will be the first step toward about the desire to see DeBrusk more regularly in inside ice. revival. On April 27, prior to scratching him for two straight games, Cassidy The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 dropped the big one.

“We just need a higher compete level,” Cassidy said. “Every player’s at a different place in their career here. We just talked to him about the standard we expect him to play to. Everyone’s going to have an off night. But that’s the message. It’s not about individual stats. It’s about, ‘You need to help this team win.’”

This declaration aligns with Cassidy’s philosophy. He is more demanding of young players than veterans. Most coaches are.

Cassidy views players seeking full-time NHL traction as requiring more structure than those who have earned their keep. Cassidy, perhaps more than other coaches, is more willing to share publicly what he has addressed privately with players beforehand. How this sits with DeBrusk is unknown.

Perhaps the reason coach and player do not see eye to eye is the circumstances touching DeBrusk’s performance. Consider some of the following as well:

DeBrusk was asked to play right wing regularly. Cassidy has acknowledged DeBrusk is better on his strong side.

The 24-year-old, who is single, did not fare well under COVID-19 restrictions. He is a gregarious, approachable, life-of-the-party character. His personality shriveled because of the solitary nature of life away from the rink.

Just as DeBrusk was regaining his touch after six sleepy games to open the regular season, he suffered an upper-body injury. He missed the next five games. On March 18, DeBrusk scored the deciding goal against 1215916 Buffalo Sabres Tonsoline has more than 400 wins as a field hockey coach, more than 700 as an coach and almost 400 in softball.

Meanwhile, the 1958 University at Buffalo football team will be the “2021 Kyle Williams, John Beilein among 12 new members of Buffalo Sports Spotlight Team” at the induction ceremony. The Bulls finished 8-1 in ’58, Hall of Fame won the Lambert Cup and declined an invitation to the Tangerine Bowl when the bowl committee denied two Black members of the team from competing. Mark Gaughan Jun 17, 2021 Buffalo News LOADED: 06.18.2021

Buffalo Bills great Kyle Williams and legendary coach John Beilein are among the new, 12-member class for the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

The 2021 class will be the 31st to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1991 and brings total membership to 364. The class will be officially inducted at a dinner on Oct. 14 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

Two others from the major professional sports arena are among the inductees. They are former Buffalo Sabres defenseman and longtime beloved Sabres broadcaster Mike Robitaille, along with late Bills General Manager John Butler.

Williams, 38, made six Pro Bowls in a 13-year Bills career that ended in 2018. Beilein, 68, has more than 850 wins as a basketball coach in a career that started at Newfane High School and continued to Erie Community College, LeMoyne and Canisius College. Beilein led Michigan to Final Fours in 2013 and 2018.

Robitaille played in 382 NHL games for four teams, including the Sabres from 1971 to ’75. He was an analyst on Sabres broadcasts from 1989 to 2014. Butler, who died in 2003, helped build the Bills’ 1990s dynasty first as personnel director then as general manager from 1993 to 2000.

John Beilein, former Canisius College basketball coach, meets with the media prior to being inducted into the College’s Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019.

Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

The other members of the class are:

• Angela Coniglio, deceased, a four-sport star at Amherst High School. She went on to star in soccer at Nazareth College, and played professionally. She’s in the Nazareth athletics hall of fame.

• Deborah Dourlain, a record-setting swimmer at Orchard Park High School who went on to Division I success at Bowling Green and then earned Division III All-America honors at Rochester Institute of Technology. She also has had a distinguished career as an official in both softball and swimming.

• Gerry Gentner, deceased, who coached Williamsville South to three state championships in softball. He started his coaching career at Hamburg, leading it to a section boys soccer title. He compiled a 259-65 record as Williamsville South softball coach.

• Julie Gentner Murphy, the daughter of Gerry. She was a multisport All- Western New York athlete from Williamsville South who went on to become an All-American in both field hockey and softball at Cortland State. She coached softball alongside her father and then took over as Williamsville South , earning a state title in 2014. She’s also a four-time Buffalo District golf player of the year.

• Ron Moscati, a Niagara Falls native who had an award-winning career as a photographer for both the Buffalo Courier-Express and The Buffalo News. A Moscati photo served as the inspiration for the statue of the Sabres’ French Connection, which sits outside KeyBank Center.

• William Russell, deceased, a youth hockey pioneer, director, coach and administrator from Bennett High School.

• Lamar Smith, the greatest sprinter Western New York ever produced, who starred at Bennett High School then went on to set records at Alabama and Buffalo State. Smith’s 100-meter time of 10.64 seconds still stands after 40 years, the longest-held record on the books for boys or girls in Western New York track and field. His 200-meter record still stands after 39 years.

• Pete Tonsoline, one of the winningest coaches in New York State high school history, with more than 1,500 victories, most of them at Iroquois. 1215917 Buffalo Sabres fame who did not play this season after undergoing open- heart surgery.

“I think what I really took away from that was like his work ethic,” said Sabres goalie prospect Erik Portillo preparing to take over starting job at Portillo. “He's working so hard, even at that age and he's basically like Michigan set for life. He’s still coming to work every day and really battling in practice and going really, really hard. I think that's something I really took away from that and that I could apply to this year. When I didn't get to Lance Lysowski Jun 17, 2021 play as much, I really made sure to stay on the ice as long as possible.”

Portillo’s exhaustive practice routine included position-specific drills with Wolverines assistant coach: Kris Mayotte, who recently left Michigan to Erik Portillo anticipated that he may spend more time watching from the become head coach at Colorado College. Portillo also received guidance bench during his freshman season at the University of Michigan. from Michigan player development coach Steve Shields, a former Sabres No matter what Portillo accomplished in the United States Hockey goalie with 10 years of NHL playing experience. League or his status as a draft choice of the Buffalo Sabres, he was Portillo would stay on the ice well after practice ended, facing shots from second on the Wolverines’ depth chart behind Strauss Mann, who was a talented roster that includes three players the Sabres will consider with named Big Ten Goaltender of the Year for the 2019-20 season. the first overall pick at the NHL draft next month: defenseman Owen Yet, Portillo never considered walking away from Ann Arbor, Mich., even Power, center Matthew Beniers and winger Kent Johnson. though playing such few games at 20 years old wasn’t the best plan for "He's really good," Shields said of Portillo. "I love him as a goalie and a his development. person. He's a gamer. Aside from the fact he has all the physical tools, “If I'm going to take the next step at the NHL level, you obviously have to the things he needs to improve on are all teachable in terms of save battle with the best in the world,” Portillo told The Buffalo News during a selection, skating, his work around the crease, tracking the puck. The recent phone interview. “When you’re in a sport where you’re not the first things you can't teach -- the competitiveness and ability to not be nervous guy, you really have to battle your way to earn games, and I think that’s -- he's got already. ... When you see that in a goalie, it's usually a really an important lesson to learn. (Michigan coach Mel Pearson) and I talked good sign. And if you combine that with the fact he's got the size and he's a lot about not running away." got that fire, it's only a matter of time for him to put it all together. It's not going to take him long." Portillo acknowledged that some days were more difficult than others. He was on the ice for 27 games with the the In addition to his work at practice, Portillo sent video clips of his progress previous season, when the USHL named him the league’s goaltender of to Sabres development coach Seamus Kotyk, who provided insight into the year. It wasn’t until the Wolverines’ 13th game of this season – two how the young goalie could succeed when his opportunity for game months and one day after their opener – that Portillo finally received his action arrived. first career NCAA start. The time came on Dec. 3, the Wolverines’ eighth game of the season, While game experience is a goalie’s greatest development tool, Portillo when Portillo entered in relief during a game at Penn State. His second had to take a different route to improving in the crease. He treated every appearance also occurred after Mann was pulled and it wasn’t until Jan. practice as if it were a game, following the same obsessive routine and 15 that Portillo received his first career start. approaching every shot as if it could be the difference between a win or Portillo stopped 19 of 21 shots during a win against Ohio State. He went loss. on to make 58 saves combined in victories over Notre Dame and Facing top competition every day – including seven teammates already Wisconsin. Michigan’s season ended abruptly when a Covid-19 outbreak chosen in the NHL draft and three others projected to go in the top 10 prevented the Wolverines from competing at the NCAA Midwest when the annual event is held virtually on July 23 – was enough to Regional in Fargo, N.D., but Portillo proved he could be the team’s long- further Portillo’s development. And with Mann preparing to sign his first term starter in goal. professional contract, Portillo is expected to take over as the Wolverines’ Across seven appearances, Portillo compiled a 1.67 goals-against starting goaltender in the fall. average and .935 save percentage. He’s not complacent, though. Portillo “Erik obviously came in and didn't play a ton off the bat, but he had a is still on campus at Michigan, continuing his on-ice work to prepare for good work ethic in practice and it was fun to learn from him,” said Mann. the net to be his next season. “We're obviously two very different goalies and mostly just because of “I won't take anything for granted,” said Portillo. “I'm coming in here, I'm our size. I'm 6-foot and he is 6-6, so that on its own kind of leads to very doing everything this summer to be as prepared as I possibly can be. I different styles. But with that, it was cool to learn from him and see some need to really focus this summer on getting better and then hopefully I things he did really well. And he's got an extremely bright future ahead of can get as many games as I possibly can. That's my goal for next him. … I know he'll have a great year next year. I have no doubt about season.” that.” Buffalo News LOADED: 06.18.2021 Portillo was already committed to Michigan when former Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill selected the prospect in the third round, pick No. 67, at the NHL draft in June 2019. Portillo went undrafted during his first year of eligibility in 2018 and spent the 2018-19 season with the under-20 junior team for Frolunda, the same program in Sweden that developed Rasmus Dahlin.

The selection gave the Sabres another goalie for their prospect pipeline, fortifying a position that’s been a black hole for the organization since Ryan Miller’s departure in February 2014. Portillo, who turns 21 in September, proceeded to show that he could have a future in the NHL.

During the 2019-20 season, Portillo played in 27 of Dubuque’s 48 games, as he led the USHL in goals-against average (2.11) and ranked third in save percentage (.915). His season was cut short because of a minor back injury suffered in February, and the USHL halted play in March in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Portillo went back to work as soon as restrictions were eased in Sweden. He began participating in professional skates at Frolunda’s facility, an opportunity to compete against Dahlin and Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg, among others. The most valuable experience, though, was to share the ice with Henrik Lundqvist, a 39-year-old future hall of 1215918 Calgary Flames

Foreurs captain Pelletier finalist for QMJHL's MVP award

POSTMEDIA NETWORK

Calgary Flames prospect Jakob Pelletier was up for a major junior hockey award Thursday.

The 2019 first-round draft pick was one of three finalists for the QMJHL’s most valuable player honour, the Michel-Brière Trophy.

Playing for the Val d’Or Foreurs, he led his team to a second-place finish in the overall standings, thanks to a stellar 28-3-2-2 record during the COVID-interrupted campaign. Despite suiting up for only 28 regular- season games, captain Pelletier notched a team-best 43 points, 30 assists, 15 power-play points and a plus-25 plus-minus rating. He was also a silver medallist with Canada at the 2021 World Juniors, during which he averaged a point-per-game.

But it was sniper Cedric Desruisseaux who was named MVP of the 2020-21 season after leading the QMJHL with 42 goals and 78 points in 40 games.

Pelletier, who was chosen 26th overall by the Flames two years ago and has likely played his last junior game, also faced off against Desruisseaux’s Islanders teammate Colten Ellis for the MVP award.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215919 Calgary Flames “We’ve had this ability to recruit really exceptional people who aren’t looking to create high-level hockey players. We have no interest whatsoever in creating NHL players — that’s not our goal. It’s wanting to NHL award-winner Hodgson part of Calgary hero community helping kids use the game to impact these kids’ lives away from the ice and just use in sports the ice as a place to learn lessons and learn perseverance and self- confidence.”

In winning this year’s O’Ree Award, Hodgson beat out two others he Todd Saelhof considers world-class hockey humanitarians.

Renee Hess with her Black Girl Hockey Club is “a real force when it comes to advocacy and giving a lot of people a voice in hockey.” Calgary is teeming with team players helping to make hockey fun for everyone. And Howard Smith with his Steel City Icebergs and Pittsburgh Warriors programs “has been giving back to his country his whole life and doing It’s not just Kevin Hodgson, who was recognized Wednesday by the NHL things with hockey in Pittsburgh for 20 years.” for his humanitarian efforts in the sport. Alongside the leaders from Calgary and Canada, they’re removing all the And it’s not only Dampy Brar, who was saluted with same honour — the barriers for kids who have been left behind in the game to help them Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award — last year. accomplish whatever they want in life. “There’s just a lot of people who get it here,” said Hodgson, in the hours “It just speaks to the way we look at hockey and the way that we believe after winning the 2021 O’Ree Award for his leadership in the cross- that it belongs to everybody who wants to play it,” Hodgson said. “Nearly country HEROS and SuperHEROS programs. everybody understands that hockey culture has to shift — we have to do “There’s obviously something in the water here that we want to do right, a better job of making the game inclusive and making it accessible and be leaders and want people to have something to follow,” continued welcoming to anybody who plays it. Hodgson. “There’s a lot of really good people here in Calgary that are “The reality is the game doesn’t belong to NHL players or high-level doing really good things with hockey and with other sports and doing players. It belongs to everybody who holds a stick and wants to call right by people who need it.” themselves a hockey player. I really feel the agents of change for hockey Hodgson offered up a few organizations that are driving inclusive culture are 6 and 7 and 8 years old who are just putting on skates for the initiatives on the city’s sports landscape. first time — that generation is going to address a lot of these problems and that organizations like ours are the ones setting them up for The Calgary Police Youth Foundation has its Power Play — a free, success.” weekly drop-in hockey (winter) and soccer (summer) program that engages youth ages 6 to 17 and their families who don’t have access to Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.18.2021 those sports. Its purpose is to help foster trust and understanding between youth and police to diverse and marginalized Calgary communities.

Football-Hockey Link, launched by Calgarians Krista Taldorf and Marion Christensen, provides an introductory football and hockey program to up to 50 kids between the ages of 8 and 16 each year, focusing on integrating culturally diverse children by helping them feel more connected to their peers.

“There’s an adaptive ringette program, Ringette For All, that’s starting up this fall,” Hodgson said. “It’s sort of modelled after ours in terms of wanting to use the sport and wanting to provide it to kids living with disabilities that have kept them out of the game.

“And I have to say we’re very lucky to have the Calgary Flames Foundation — they’re a cut above,” continued Hodgson of a program that strives to improve the lives of kids through the support of health and wellness, education and grassroots sports. “What the foundation does here for Southern Alberta is next level. Groups like ours don’t get to do what we do without that.”

Hodgson’s HEROS has been a leader in the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone network for more than two decades, helping more than 10,000 at-risk boys and girls find empowerment through the sport on and off the ice since 2000. HEROS serves a diverse group of kids, almost half of whom are new Canadians — including 1-in-3 being girls and 70% BIPOC — in 12 cities across the nation.

“The work that Kevin, Norm Flynn and the entire HEROS team have been doing for the past 20 years is remarkable,” said hockey legend O’Ree during the video ceremony Wednesday night to laud Hodgson. “HEROS has been a leader in the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone network for decades. Kevin’s dedication has positively impacted thousands of children and their families across Canada, and his leadership has set a standard for how hockey program directors everywhere work in their communities.”

Hodgson also oversees SuperHEROS, which provides boys and girls living with physical and cognitive challenges with a safe and inclusive environment as well as an adapted on-ice curriculum.

“Even though we’ve got programs across Canada, we’re still very grassroots,” Hodgson said. “It’s myself and the founder (Flynn) working from our kitchen tables, and this year, we’re going to have over 900 kids across the country and more than 300 volunteers. 1215920 Carolina Hurricanes

Division championship earns Canes’ Brind’Amour NHL coach of the year award

BY STEVE WISEMAN

Rod Brind’Amour started Thursday with good news and ended it with more.

On the same day he signed a three-year contract extension to remain the Carolina Hurricanes head coach, Brind’Amour won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year.

The NHL announced the award winner during Thursday night’s playoff game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders.

“This is a great honor to even be thought of in this category,” Brind’Amour said. “There’s not a coach in this league worth his weight that would say it’s about him. Winning this award is an organizational award, and I’m really proud to be accepting this on behalf of this organization.”

Carolina won the Central Division championship this season, compiling the third-most points in the league (80). It marked the first time the Hurricanes won a division title since the 2005-06 Stanley Cup championship team that Brind’Amour played on.

Earlier this month, the 50-year-old Brind’Amour was named one of three finalists for coach of the year, along with Florida’s Joel Quenneville and Minnesota’s .

Brind’Amour received 61 first-place votes while compiling 433 points in the voting, which was conducted by the NHL Broadcasters Association. Evason was second with 235 points, with 24 first-place votes, while Quenneville was third with 225 points, including 21 first-place votes.

“The athletes that I get to come in contact with every day, from (team captain) Jordan Staal on down,” Brind’Amour said, “we’ve got a great group here and I’m really proud to represent them.“

He’s the first coach in franchise history -- encompassing both the Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes years --to win the award.

“He’s done a tremendous job,” Carolina general manager Don Waddell said Thursday morning during a Zoom news conference to announce Brind’Amour’s new contract. “We truly believe we are headed in the right direction, so we’re very happy to get Rod signed on a long-term deal and we look forward to the next steps.”

News Observer LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215921 Carolina Hurricanes and Brind’Amour bristled at the notion that there was anything less than full commitment.

“A lot gets said, but here’s what I know,” Brind’Amour said. “(Dundon) Brind’Amour, Waddell talk Hamilton, Svechnikov and the rest of the wants to win. That’s the kind of guy you want to work for.” Canes’ to-do list ▪ Gardiner, Martinook health concerns — Like with any team completing an NHL grind, the Canes had a few players banged up to complete the BY JUSTIN PELLETIER year, including Jake Gardiner and Jordan Martinook.

“(Gardiner) is going through some MRIs done recently, it’s in discussion with him and the doctors regarding his next move,” Waddell said. “I don’t Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s new contract was really have an update other than he did an MRI the other day. Other than the hottest topic Thursday when he and general manager Don Waddell that, Martinook had his cleanup the other day. Other than that, I think answered questions from the media at last-minute news conference. we’re in pretty good shape going forward.”

But Brind’Amour’s new deal wasn’t the only thing discussed pertaining to ▪ Ongoing evaluation with an eye on team improvement — The process the future of the club, though it was a constant theme. for building next season’s team has already begun.

Amid repeated references to the culture to the team being a big draw for “We’re going through pro meetings, starting today for the next few days,” his return, Brind’Amour stressed that any player movement or addition Waddell said, “go through our team, go through seven unrestricted free would be made with an eye on that culture. agents, and we’ll go through the league, see what free agents are potentially going to be out there. We’re going to talk about the expansion “One of the other reasons I feel like I’m blessed, I do have a good draft. Now, it’s more all focused on players, how do we make our team relationship with Don,” Brind’Amour said, “and we talk about players … if better, which moves we need to make, which guys we need to sign. (a player) scores 30, but he doesn’t fit our group, that’s not a guy we’re Decisions will start happening in the near future.” really interested in, and I think that’s one of the things I love about the job I’m doing, is that’s the kind of relationship we have, and the ▪ One last comment on the Lightning and the salary cap — Waddell communication that we have that goes on. We’re trying to build a culture continued to take the high road with regard to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s here, we want 20 guys that get it, that fit, and if that guy doesn’t fit, we salary cap situation, having placed Nikita Kucherov on the long term IR, don’t want him. We’re getting close, and that’s pretty special.” only to have the superstar forward return for the playoffs.

Waddell and Brind’Amour also addressed the contracts of two of the “I don’t think it had an effect for any of our players at all,” Waddell said. Canes’ bigger offseason free-agent priorities: Dougie Hamilton and “Everybody’s aware of the situation, and they didn’t break any rules. Andrei Svechnikov. Whether those rules need to be looked at is something I’m sure will be talked about this summer. I’m sure they’d like to have their best player for Recently, the Canes gave Hamilton permission to speak to other NHL a whole season. He was able to have surgery and come back for the teams about his impending free agency, which officially kicks in July 28. playoffs. There are so many things that happen in the league that maybe “We’ve had discussions with Dougie, and with his representation,” some people don’t like, but those are the rules, and if they need to be Waddell said. “There’s a difference of opinion right now, so we said, we looked at, I am sure the powers that be will do that.” can either wait until July 28 (the start of free agency), and if we’re unable News Observer LOADED: 06.18.2021 to sign him, he can walk away for free. So we said, maybe if he finds out that there is something out there that makes sense, we can trade him, and pick up an asset, or we’ll have the opportunity to sign him.”

One thing Waddell made clear, though, is that the team likes Hamilton, and would welcome him back into the fold.

“We love Dougie,” Waddell said. “Dougie has been good for this franchise, and we’re certainly all hoping he comes back, but we also didn’t want to wait until July 28 to figure that out, so we got a little head start on it.”

Svechnikov is in a different scenario as a restricted free agent, coming off his entry-level deal. The Canes are able to give Svechnikov a qualifying offer. If he refuses that offer, other teams can sign him to an offer sheet, but the Canes will still have the ability to match that sheet, like what happened with Sebastian Aho two summers ago.

“We just had some discussions very recently,” Waddell said. “I think we’ll be talking every day. The goal from our end is to get him signed, make sure we don’t miss anything this summer and be ready for the start of the season. I think the goal on the other side is the same, it’s just negotiation. There’s no deadline.”

Hamilton and Svechnikov are veteran players with playoff experience, something Brind’Amour pointed out Thursday as a key element as the team continues to mature and chase its Stanley Cup dream.

“The margins are so tight,” Brind’Amour said. “Teams that win the Stanley Cup aren’t making mistakes, they’re comfortable when the game’s uncomfortable, and being able to stick with what you’re doing, and I think we got away from that a little bit.”

“We’re still a bit of a young group in a lot of ways,” Brind’Amour said. “Jordan Staal is a great leader, and he’s not a young guy, but the other guys are still kind of learning that, and from this year especially, we kind of learned that lesson.”

CANES HIGHLIGHTS

▪ Owner Tom Dundon wants to win — Waddell was adamant that the Hurricanes are committed to winning, beyond the financial bottom line, 1215922 Carolina Hurricanes “When you’re around the group and around Rod like I am you build a relationship, and you can sit down and talk about anything,” Waddell said. “We talked about everything you possibly can think about. And so Carolina Hurricanes agree to new contract with coach Rod Brind’Amour it’s just a matter of coming to a deal from a financial end. Obviously, Tom was very supportive of it and involved in and we talked early on that it was important to get the whole group done.”

BY STEVE WISEMAN News Observer LOADED: 06.18.2021

Rod Brind’Amour has a new contract that will keep him as the Carolina Hurricanes’ head coach.

During a news conference Thursday morning, Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell announced Brind’Amour has agreed to a three- year contract extension.

“Don and I talked throughout the year,” Brind’Amour said. “I thought we were on the same page. It was just a matter of time, really. He knew I wanted to be part of this and I knew he wanted me to be part of this, too. So we figured it out.”

Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.

Brind’Amour is a finalist for the NHL’s Jack Adams Award, which goes to the league’s coach of the year, along with Florida’s Joel Quenneville and Minnesota’s Dean Evason.

Brind’Amour, whose name has been linked to coaching vacancies that include the expansion Seattle Kraken, has led the Hurricanes to the playoffs in each of his three years as their head coach, including a Central Division championship this season. That was the team’s first division title since the 2005-06 Stanley Cup championship season when Brind’Amour was still playing for the Canes.

His $600,000 salary over the past three seasons made him one of the NHL’s lowest-paid head coaches. , hired as the head coach on Wednesday, reportedly will make $3.5 million a year on his four-year deal.

Brind’Amour said Thursday those numbers aren’t most important to him, though.

“I want to make a real good point here,” Brind’Amour said, “and that is that finances and money, that’s part of it. But I feel like I’m the richest coach in the league because I have a relationship with my owner and my GM that I don’t know that a lot of coaches have, to have influence on who they are picking up and who they are trying to keep. Then how many coaches can do their job where they live and where they are from and who has had a footprint on everything that’s gone on here over the last 20 years? I don’t know what kind of value you can put on that. I feel pretty fortunate to get to do that.”

Other NHL teams without a head coach are the Buffalo Sabres, , Seattle and the Montreal Canadiens, who are still alive in the playoffs with interim head coach Dominique Ducharme behind the bench.

Waddell, though, knew Brind’Amour’s heart is in Carolina.

“Rod has stated very clearly that he wants to be a Hurricane,” Waddell said.

While admitting the “temptation” is always there and it’s hard to ignore what he called “outside noise,” Brind’Amour said he never considered leaving the Hurricanes for another coaching job.

“I would have a hard time thinking I could do the same job I’m doing here somewhere else, because this is a part of me,” Brind’Amour said. “You know, this place, I’ve been here forever.”

Though the deal had been discussed for months, Brind’Amour said final details involving the entire staff had to be worked out before it could be completed.

“We have a special group down here and for me to do this job, to the best of my ability, it’s important to have the right people around me,” Brind’Amour said. “I know, it’s down here. I know we have the great training staff, equipment, people, the coaches. So that’s why I think part of it took so long is a lot of people we had to figure out. So we’re at that point where we’ve pretty much done that.”

Waddell said the relationship he and Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon have built with Brind’Amour made this a fairly easy deal to complete. 1215923 Carolina Hurricanes owner and my GM that I don’t know if a lot of coaches get to have, to have the influence on who they’re picking up. And then I don’t know how many coaches can do their job where they live and where they’re from, ‘It was just a matter of time’: Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour signs a and had a footprint in everything that’s gone on here over the last 20 3-year contract — so what took so long? years.

“I kind of get his place right at the top of the food chain. The commitment that we have from (owner Tom Dundon), a lot gets said, but I know he By Sara Civian Jun 17, 2021 wants to win. And that’s the kind of guy you want to work for.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell and coach Rod Brind’Amour took the podium together at PNC Arena on Thursday to announce the expected: The Canes have signed Brind’Amour to a new contract that will keep him in Raleigh. The deal, which has been the subject of increasing speculation recently, is for three years.

“Don and I talked throughout the year occasionally, and I thought we were on the same page,” Brind’Amour said. “It was just a matter of time, really. He knew I wanted to be a part of this, and I knew he wanted me to be a part of this too.”

If they were on the same page and it was “just a matter of time,” why’d it take so long?

There’s been much discussion of Brind’Amour wanting to make sure the rest of his staff was taken care of, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a 100 percent retention rate — staff members are allowed to pursue opportunities as they see fit — Brind’Amour confirmed Thursday that trying to keep as much of the group together and making sure they were paid fairly was a reason for the hold-up.

“We have a special group down here,” he said. “And for me to do this job to the best of my ability, it’s important to have the right people around me.

“We have a great training staff, equipment people, the coaches. That’s why part of it took so long — a lot of people we had to figure out. We’re at the point where we’ve pretty much done that, and again, it’s important for me to have the great people around. That’s why we have success down here. All the people that are working in everything — you go down the list — they’re all part of what we’re doing.”

Brind’Amour, a Jack Adams finalist, has taken the Hurricanes to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons at the helm — the only coach in franchise history to lead the team on three straight postseason runs. He has a 120-66-20 record, and his .631 points percentage is the highest in franchise history.

As a Canes player, Brind’Amour ranks second in career points since the team’s relocation to North Carolina, with 473 points in 694 games played. He captained the team to its only Stanley Cup back in 2006, setting a standard of effort and excellence in his playing career — then he never left Raleigh.

“I said it when I sat down here with Don three years ago — I would have a hard time thinking I could do the same job I’m doing here, somewhere else,” he said Thursday. “Because this is a part of me, this place. I’ve been here forever.

“Again, it’s more about the people that I get to come and work with every day. That wouldn’t be the case somewhere else. It just wouldn’t be. It’s special to me. When I had my end-of-the-year meeting with players, it might be something I didn’t mention here earlier, but that really solidified what this is all about and why I want to be here. We have a special group of players here. That’s something I didn’t want to leave.

“It just didn’t really ever enter my mind that I would leave because of what we have going on here. I want to see it through. We still have another level to get to, and that’s the mission.”

Brind’Amour has been one of the, if not the, lowest-paid coaches in the NHL over the past three seasons with a $600,000 salary. While a source confirmed he is getting a raise, it’s not yet clear what his new salary will be. It’s safe to assume it’s less than what a team like the Rangers, who expressed interest in Brind’Amour, or Kraken would be able to offer him. Considering that — and the length of contract negotiations despite both sides wanting the same thing — it was fair to ask if he’s happy with his contract.

“Obviously, yes,” he said. “I wouldn’t sign it if I wasn’t. I want to make a really good point, here. The finances and money, that’s part of it, but I feel like I’m the richest coach in the league. I have a relationship with my 1215924 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks management did not report 2010 sexual assault to police: report

Former Hawks president John McDonough and current general manager were among a group of Blackhawks executives informed in 2010 that former video coach Bradley Aldrich had sexually assaulted two players, according to a TSN report Thursday.

By Ben Pope Jun 17, 2021, 6:41pm CDT

A former Blackhawks player filed a lawsuit against the team in April for an alleged 2010 sexual assault. Jonathan Daniel, Getty

Blackhawks management was informed in May 2010 of the alleged sexual assault by former video coach Bradley Aldrich, according to a report Thursday by TSN, but decided not to report the incidents to police.

Former Hawks president John McDonough, current general manager Stan Bowman, current vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac and former skills coach James Gary were told by former skills coach Paul Vincent in a meeting at a California hotel that Aldrich had sexually assaulted two players earlier that season, TSN reported.

But the group of Hawks executives refused Vincent’s request to inform the Chicago police’s sex crimes division about the assaults, TSN reported.

A Hawks spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

One of the unidentified players who allegedly was assaulted by Aldrich filed a lawsuit against the Hawks in April in Cook County Circuit Court. The lawsuit claimed the player notified Gary after the alleged assault, but Gary “did nothing” and convinced the player that the players were culpable for the assault.

Aldrich “sent . . . inappropriate text messages,” “turned on porn and began to masturbate in front of [the player] . . . without his consent” and “threatened to injure [the player if he] . . . did not engage in sexual activity,” according to the first lawsuit.

Aldrich left the Hawks after the 2010 Stanley Cup championship and pled guilty in 2013 for a criminal sexual-contact incident at a Michigan high school. The victim of that incident filed a separate lawsuit against the Hawks in May for not reporting Aldrich’s assaults before he began volunteering at the school.

The Hawks said in a statement after the first lawsuit’s filing that they believe the allegations “lack merit” and that “the team will be absolved of any wrongdoing.”

The Hawks filed a motion Monday to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing the player did not exhaust all legal remedies before suing and that the Illinois statute of limitations on sexual abuse expired before the suit was filed.

The original lawsuit argued the statute of limitations did not begin until July 2019, when the player’s memories of the sexual assault were triggered, rather than in 2010.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215925 Chicago Blackhawks

Should the Blackhawks re-sign Vinnie Hinostroza?

BY CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS

When Vinnie Hinostroza was acquired from the Florida Panthers ahead of the NHL trade deadline in April, the Blackhawks expected him to be a contributor in some capacity. But they probably didn't expect him to play as well as he did.

In 17 games with the Blackhawks, Hinostroza registered four goals and eight assists while averaging 13:34 of ice time. Only Alex DeBrincat (20) and Patrick Kane (17) had more points than Hinostroza (12) since the acquisition, and all 12 of his points came at even strength.

For reference, Hinostroza had zero points in nine games with the Panthers and legitimately started to question his future in the NHL, by his own admission.

"Obviously in Florida I wasn’t playing too much, I didn’t have a role there," Hinostroza said on April 17. "You think about being in the NHL and what it means and how you work your whole life to be here. For me, I just wanted to come in and be the hardest working player every day, whether it’s practice or a game, not taking being out there wearing a sweater every night for granted. It’s something I’ll never take for granted again."

Not only did Hinostroza's second stint in Chicago prove he still has what it takes to play at the NHL level, but he showed he can absolutely be an impactful player on a team if it’s the right fit. It’s why the marriage between Hinostroza and the Blackhawks has been successful, and it’s also why both sides should be interested in an extension.

Hinostroza, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is coming off a one-year, $1 million deal and previously played on a two- year, $3 million contract. It’s difficult to see him getting much more than that on the open market, given the financial climate that will see the salary cap stay flat for years to come.

A short-term extension between $1-1.5 million annually would be a win- win for both sides: Hinostroza stays in his hometown city, where he's played some of his best hockey, and the Blackhawks retain a spark-plug middle-six winger who can play anywhere in the lineup at a low cost. Call it a low-risk, medium-sized reward.

The potential mini wrinkle in the negotiations is the Seattle expansion draft.

The Blackhawks must submit their protected list of players by July 17 (the actual draft is on July 21). If Hinostroza is re-signed before then, the Blackhawks would have to include him on their list or leave him unprotected. The team would probably feel more comfortable getting something done after, but there’s a potential risk in waiting that long.

NHL free agency opens on July 28, seven days after the expansion draft, which means Hinostroza would then be free to talk to all 32 teams if he's without a contract at that point. But if both the player and the Blackhawks recognize the value in continuing their partnership, it would be wise to get it done before the frenzy.

"I think everyone can see that all these young guys came in and took major steps this year," Hinostroza said. "Even when I wasn’t with the team, watching NHL Network and watching some games you could just see how excited they are and how hard they’re working and the steps they took all year to get better every day. It’s great to see and I know every guy in there is still hungry. I know everyone’s going to have big summers and come back and take another step next year. ... I love this team and we have a great group here."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215926 Chicago Blackhawks But Zadorov is 26 and understandably is looking for his first big contract. His last three were short-term prove-it deals — a two-year, a one-year and a one-year — and a league source said he’s looking for some Dougie Hamilton? Seth Jones? Nikita Zadorov? What we’re hearing security. about the Blackhawks’ offseason plans The source said Zadorov’s camp is seeking five years with a $5.85 million average annual value (AAV). That’s surely too rich for the Blackhawks, so it’ll be interesting to see where negotiations lead. By Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers Jun 17, 2021 Zadorov has arbitration rights, and the Blackhawks don’t want it to reach that point.

Zadorov seeking a raise of that magnitude underscores the uncertainty of There were times during the Vegas-Colorado second-round series when this offseason. Agents are seeking pre-pandemic numbers, but general it was fair to wonder if the Golden Knights and Avalanche were even managers are operating with a flat cap and an unprecedented cash playing the same sport as the Blackhawks. The speed, the skill, the size, crunch. Something has to give. the depth — all of it underscored just how early in the rebuilding process the Blackhawks are. But don’t look for NHL players to take a cue from the NBA, where players routinely bet on themselves by taking short-term deals, looking to cash Returning to that level of play, and that level of relevance, won’t happen out even higher in a couple of years. That’ll happen only if the market overnight. But the Blackhawks feel they laid a solid groundwork this past forces their hand. As one non-Blackhawks executive pointed out, even season, and they know that the moves they make this summer will go a last offseason, the players who took short-term deals (such as Taylor long way toward deciding their long-term fate. Hall) did so only because they couldn’t find the long-term deals they The Stanley Cup will be won in about four weeks, followed by a whirlwind sought. week with the expansion draft (July 21), the entry draft (July 23-24) and Especially for those in their mid-to-late 20s, security remains every bit as the start of free agency (July 28). A lot can — and likely will — happen important as the dollar value. Sometimes more so. between now and then. “How often do guys several years into a long-term UFA deal think, ‘Man, I Here’s what we’re hearing so far. wish I’d done a shorter deal,’” the executive said. “And how often do they It’s no secret the Blackhawks could use a top-tier defenseman. The two think, ‘Wow, I sure am lucky I signed for a long-term deal’?” most notable defensemen expected to be available this offseason are The Blackhawks are talking to a lot of teams right now, but don’t expect Carolina’s Dougie Hamilton, who is set to become an unrestricted free much to happen until at least the expansion draft. agent, and Seth Jones, who reportedly wants out of Columbus. “There’s a ton of talk, but teams are still preparing themselves for the According to a source, the Blackhawks are going to explore adding expansion draft,” a source said. “Once that happens, there will be more Hamilton or Jones this offseason. movement.” “We like them both,” a source said. “Hamilton is more of an offensive The Blackhawks aren’t in a rush to re-sign their restricted free agents for defenseman. Jones is probably more of a two-way defenseman.” that reason, as well. They aren’t likely to bring them all back, and they The Blackhawks don’t plan to go all-in just to add Hamilton or Jones. could even lose one in the expansion draft. They realize their defense needs to improve, but they also aren’t going to The Blackhawks haven’t dismissed re-signing Vinnie Hinostroza, but he’s leverage their future to add one player. another player who will have to wait for an answer. The Blackhawks are In the case of Hamilton, the price will have to be right. Hamilton is likely going to see how everything unfolds in the next month. to ask for a long contract, and the Blackhawks understand that. It’ll come That also applies to Max Shalunov. His camp has been asked to be down to the cap number Hamilton seeks. If he’s looking for a deal like patient as the Blackhawks figure out their roster. Alex Pietrangelo’s, which was seven years with an $8.8-million cap hit, the Blackhawks will probably walk away. At a lower cap number, they’ll The Blackhawks have been making a point of adding size within their engage. system. It’s why they signed Cam Morrison and Mike Hardman as college free agents. It’s also why they recently signed Jakub Pour out of With Jones, it’ll depend on what the ask for him. the Czech Republic. The 22-year-old Pour is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline wrote recently that he thought the asking price for Jones would be high, but it would mostly be draft picks and “The biggest thing is probably his size and style of play,” a source said. prospects. One league source thought it would take at least a first-round “He’s physical and plays a direct game. He’s a lot like Mike Hardman. He draft pick, a second-round draft pick and a high-end prospect. has size and understands his role. He can be a complementary player and play up and down the lineup. As you see in the playoffs, those Another league source said Kirby Dach likely would have to be part of players are valuable.” any deal for Jones. The source believed Jones would be worth it, too. When Jones’ struggles over the past two seasons were brought up, the The Blackhawks haven’t ruled out drafting a goalie with their first-round source pointed to overuse and a weak supporting cast in Columbus. draft pick. They are high on Drew Commesso, whom they drafted in the second round last season, but that may not be enough for them to pass The big question: Would it really be any different in Chicago? on an elite goalie at No. 11. One of the biggest decisions the Blackhawks have to make this summer The Athletic’s Corey Pronman recently ranked goalie Sebastian Cossa is whether to re-sign defenseman Nikita Zadorov. The restricted free as the 10th-best player in the draft and goalie Jesper Wallstedt 11th. agent has been a polarizing figure among fans — and that’s putting it Both are possibilities for the Blackhawks. nicely — but he was mostly as advertised when Stan Bowman traded Brandon Saad to Colorado to get him. Zadorov was (mostly) sound The Blackhawks will hold their development camp remotely for a second defensively, provided the size and physical element the Blackhawks consecutive year. They considered having it in person, but it would have lacked and was always an adventure with the puck on his stick. A Bizarro been especially challenging for their European prospects to get to. Erik Gustafsson, if you will. The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 The arrival and extension of Riley Stillman give the Blackhawks similar, if less experienced and polished, attributes. So is there a future for Zadorov in Chicago? Regardless of whether they acquire someone like Jones or Hamilton, and depending on if Seattles takes Calvin de Haan in the expansion draft, the Blackhawks eventually need to clear some spots on the back end for the youngsters in the organization. On the other hand, there’s a sense in the organization that Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin, among others, could benefit from some extended time in a normal AHL season. So a short-term deal would probably appeal to the Blackhawks. 1215927 Chicago Blackhawks So everything was fine when Dylan decided to go into journalism more than a decade ago. First, he tried his hand at creative writing at the Capilano University in British Columbia. When that didn’t take, he Father and son Marc and Dylan Crawford bring old- and new-school transferred to the British Columbia Institute of Technology to pursue a mentalities to Blackhawks coaching staff career in television.

“I thought I was going to be on TV,” he said. “Once I started to hear myself and see myself: Nope.” By Mark Lazerus Jun 17, 2021 He quickly found his calling on the editing side. An internship at TSN led to a full-time job at the NHL Network in Toronto, where he was editing up to seven games at a time, splicing together four-minute packages that hired as an assistant coach two years went beyond just goals and big saves. But when NHL Network moved its ago to be the veteran voice he needed — a man with his name on the studios to Secaucus, N.J., Dylan was left behind. He got an internship at Stanley Cup, a man with 16 years of NHL head coaching experience, a Sportsnet, but he balked at the idea of starting all the way at the bottom man who had led teams in four leagues in three countries, a man who again after years of working his way up the ladder. was a head coach in the NHL when Colliton was just 9 years old. So Dylan turned his attention to his dad’s world and his dad’s old team. But when you hire someone with that kind of resume — someone who’s But he didn’t want to just get by on his dad’s name. He knew Matt 24 years older than you, no less — to be your underling, it can create a Meacham — now the Blackhawks’ video coach — through Quenneville, weird workplace dynamic, especially when you’re entering your first full and applied for Meacham’s old job as the head video coach for the season as an NHL coach of any kind. Colliton was wary of not deferring in the Ottawa organization. to Crawford, but there’s a certain natural acquiescence there that doesn’t exactly work in an NHL coaches room, even one designed to be as open But he did it under a pseudonym. Meacham knew who it was, of course. and freewheeling as Colliton’s. And so did the general manager. But the man ultimately doing the hiring, Binghamton coach , never saw the name “Crawford” Fortunately for Colliton, the lowest-ranked member of the coaching staff when Dylan applied and interviewed. Marc didn’t know, either. quickly punctured any reverent aura Crawford had. He’d chirp Crawford, needle him, mock him, take shots at him, call him out for his lack of “I told the GM of Binghamton that I wanted to interview as someone else technological savvy and his, as Crawford puts it, “quirkiness.” with my credentials,” Dylan said. “Once he gave me the job, that’s when we told everyone who I actually was. I wanted to see if I could get it And he was pretty merciless about it, too. without having that last name on there.” “Someone else asks him for the exact same thing, and he’s the most That reminded Marc of when he hired his brother, Eric, to be a scout helpful guy in the world,” Crawford said. “ ‘What’s that, Sheldon when he was coaching the Canucks. His GM, , asked him (Brookbank)? You need something? Oh, yes, Sheldon. I’ll get that for one question: “Would you hire him if his name wasn’t Crawford?” Marc you. Yes, sir. Right away, sir.’ ” replies, “Absolutely, I would,” and that was good enough for Burke. How does the assistant video coach get away with it? Dylan quickly proved to be more than just a name. His unique He’s Crawford’s 31-year-old son, Dylan. background as a goalie and the son of a coach with the technological nimbleness of a television editor made him a valuable resource. And as any Millennial or Gen-Xer knows, dealing with a Boomer on a Meacham eventually brought him up to Chicago under Quenneville, and computer can test one’s patience. Colliton kept him when he took over.

“You try not to, but eventually it just kind of comes out,” Dylan Crawford Under both Kleinendorst and Quenneville, two old-school coaches from said with a laugh. “We lived together last year, too, so that probably just another era, Dylan’s job was clearly defined. They told him what to look added more animosity to it. We’re a young staff with Jeremy and for, and he’d go look for it. Colliton’s quite different. For one, the 36-year- Sheldon, and they’ve all got good ideas about how to use video; they’ve old, tech-savvy head coach does a lot of video work himself. been raised in video. Marc’s just a little bit learning on the fly when it comes to the video side of things. With him, he asks a couple more Colliton has talked in the past about the collaborative nature of his staff, questions. And maybe I’m a little too short sometimes.” how no one person is solely in charge of the power play, and no one person is solely in charge of the penalty kill. Everyone’s input is welcome. Marc’s fine with it, of course. In fact, he thinks it helps. And according to Marc Crawford, it really is that way. Yes, Colliton has his own office, and he’ll go in there to conduct a sensitive 1-on-1 chat “Jeremy told me last year that watching Dylan interact with me was really with a player, or have a discussion with Bowman, or just to get five quiet good because if I make a senior mistake or something, he gives it to me minutes to put his thoughts together before a meeting. But Colliton really good,” Marc said. “I think it made me a lot more approachable, mostly works in the wide-open bullpen of the coaches’ room. Marc quicker, to the rest of the staff.” Crawford, Tomas Mitell, Brookbank and Meacham each have their own Let’s clear something up: This isn’t yet another of those typical NHL desk, and Colliton usually sits at the open table in the middle alongside nepotism stories. Yes, this is the NHL, a league in which having the Dylan Crawford. And while Colliton’s clearly running the show, the six of same last name as somebody who once played/coached/managed in an them bat around ideas in a freewheeling environment. “A think-tank organization is all but a guarantee of employment. But this one’s atmosphere” is how Marc Crawford describes it. different. Dylan doesn’t speak up a whole lot, but he’s always listening. And if Dylan was here first. Colliton and Brookbank are discussing a certain breakout, or Crawford and Mitell are hashing out something on the power play, Dylan quickly OK, yes, part of the reason he got the job in 2018 was that he grew up will call up a relevant clip and put it on the screen. Anything you need — around Joel Quenneville, one of Marc’s close friends and colleagues a certain type of zone entry, a particular backcheck, a specific style of through the years. But Dylan was in Chicago before Marc was. In fact, forechecking, an individual hit or faceoff or scoring chance or dodged instead of asking Dad for a job, this was a case of Dad asking Son for bullet — Dylan and Meacham can have it on the board before the permission. When the Blackhawks approached Marc about joining sentence is even finished. Colliton’s staff two years ago this month, Marc told Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac that he didn’t want his potential hiring to affect Dylan’s How? Well, that’s where those editing skills come into play. employment in any way. During a game, Meacham is live-editing the game, feeding clips and “We’ve already had Dylan sign off on it,” they told him. insight to players and coaches alike via the iPads on the bench and their laptops at intermission. When the final horn sounds, Meacham will have The funny thing is, Marc never wanted Dylan to get into hockey because close to 1,000 sortable clips — every breakout, every scoring chance, he knows all too well how cruel and indifferent a profession it can be. And every shot on goal. When the game ends, Dylan Crawford goes to work it’s particularly important to Dylan that he not be simply regarded as Marc adding even more detail — every clean entry, every botched entry, every Crawford’s son. Much like Stan Bowman always called his dad “Scotty” turnover, every takeaway. They also cut every player’s individual shifts around the office, Dylan calls his dad “Marc” at work, at home, in an so they can do their own studying. In fact, the clips already are available interview. on their phones by the time they start taking their gear off. Earning the trust of the players by providing them with not only the things they ask for sister is, he never really gave us anything for free. He came from a family but the things they didn’t even know they wanted is crucial in the life of a of nine and went through some hard times, and he had that work ethic video coach. that you’re never handed anything. He never wanted me to get into this business because he knows how hard it is. But I took that as a challenge, Younger players who grew up with this kind of granular detail interact and now we get to work together. Not a lot of people get to do that. I think with the video staff quite a bit. Older players interact less but demand we realize how fortunate we are.” plenty. The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 “It’s rare that a veteran guy would come to you and ask questions,” Dylan said. “But when Patrick (Kane) or Jonathan (Toews) or Duncan (Keith) asks for something, you’ve got to know your stuff, because the last thing you want to do is look dumbstruck when they come up to you.”

By the next morning, he’ll have rewatched the game all the way through two or three times, tracking every shift for all the data points Colliton demands. Meacham is at Colliton’s beck and call, focusing on pre- scouts, systems and special-teams tendencies. Dylan’s job is more analytical.

“He’s a data-driven coach, where he wants to see a lot of numbers and things that he values,” Dylan said. “That’s what switched over from Joel. I’m not cutting day-to-day meeting video now. I’m putting together more data packages for Jeremy. You’re looking through the video you’ve accumulated through the game, and my responsibilities are mostly entries and exits, clean and possession-driven plays and things like that. So I go through the game after it’s done and I’ll put together everybody’s numbers.”

Dad marvels at how his son’s eye for the game has evolved. Marc played six seasons in the NHL and has been coaching for more than a quarter- century, but in the thick of the action, his kid who never made it beyond Junior A hockey sees more than he does.

“He was watching three games at a time at NHL Network, marking everything, so he became so good at watching the game and seeing things,” Marc said. “He watches the game better than I do, and with a lot more detail. Then once I zone in on something, the expertise of the coaching staff becomes even greater. … They’re an integral part of the coaching staff. It’s such an important position because you’ve got to have trust in your video people that they’re going to find what you’re looking for, and mark what is pertinent. They have to have a great understanding of the game and of the head coach, what he wants and what he needs.”

Marc already has reached the heights of his profession, winning a Stanley Cup as head coach of the Avalanche in 1996. But Dylan is just getting started. Meacham is regarded as one of the top video coaches around, which is why Colliton kept him on staff after Quenneville was fired, so he’s likely not going anywhere anytime soon.

And Dylan doesn’t want to be an assistant video coach for the rest of his life. It’s worked out better than writer, television reporter and editor did, but it’s hardly his ceiling. Some video coaches go on to be full-blown coaches behind the bench, others go on to build teams in the front office.

But Dylan has his eye on another career path, one in which that keen eye he’s developed would serve him well.

“Right now, the goal is to be a head video coach somewhere,” he said. “Realistically, it’s not going to be in Chicago because there’s no reason that Matt Meacham shouldn’t be here for the considerable future. So most likely I’ll probably be using what I learned here to move on and get a head video coach job in the near future. The long game? I don’t know if being an assistant coach would be in my future. My uncles are in scouting, and one (Eric Crawford) is the head of pro scouting for Montreal. He’s what I really looked up to for my career path. He was the video coach for the Canucks when Marc was there. I think that career path is a little more realistic for myself.”

For now, he’s content to sit at that table in the middle of the Blackhawks’ coaches room, absorbing the accumulated knowledge of Colliton and his staff, chipping in his own thoughts, honing his skills as an editor and an analyst, and yes, ruthlessly making fun of his dad.

“I give it back some,” Marc protested.

Yes, being a Crawford helped — without his dad, Dylan wouldn’t have known Quenneville, wouldn’t have known Meacham, and likely wouldn’t have been in the NHL in his 20s. But it’s not just about the opportunities you get. It’s what you do with them.

“I look at how lucky I’ve been,” Dylan said. “I’ve been given an opportunity that a lot of people aren’t given through what my father was when I was growing up. But the best thing Marc instilled in me and my 1215928 If Grubauer commands too much money, the Avalanche could look to the open market: Arizona’s Antti Raanta, Boston’s Tuukka Rask, Toronto’s Frederik Andersen and Buffalo’s Linus Ullmark are all set to become What an ideal offseason would look like for the Colorado Avalanche unrestricted free agents. The Avalanche could also trade for a goalie, perhaps someone like Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper, and hope their trade partner is willing to take on some of the contract. That could help with salary-cap maneuvering but would cost assets. By Peter Baugh Jun 17, 2021 4. Brandon Saad and the front office make the numbers work

This is a bit of a long shot if Landeskog comes back, but Saad, an The past few years, Colorado Avalanche general manager has unrestricted free agent, had an exceptional postseason for the been in a position to add to his roster every offseason. Last fall, the team Avalanche, scoring seven goals, six of which came at even strength. acquired Brandon Saad from Chicago, for example, and took advantage He’s unafraid in greasy areas and knows what it takes to be successful in of the Islanders’ cap crunch to snatch Devon Toews. the playoffs, winning two Stanley Cups in Chicago. The outlook this summer is different. The Avalanche, now facing salary- Saad made $6 million this past season, and if the Avalanche re-sign cap constraints themselves, will look to maintain a Stanley Cup-level Landeskog and Grubauer and agree on a long-term deal with Makar, roster but likely won’t have the same flexibility to make big additions. they’ll have a tough time making room for a similar salary. The only route So, with that in mind, what’s the best that they can do to stay on track? would be trading or buying out other contracts on the roster to create Within the realm of reasonable expectations, here’s a best-case scenario space. One contract will head to Seattle and come off the books, and the for Colorado’s offseason: Avalanche could also look at clearing space by moving a contributor like Joonas Donskoi ($3.9 million), J.T. Compher ($3.5 million) or Nazem 1. Cale Makar signs a long-term deal Kadri ($4.5 million). All of those are valuable players, but the cap is going to lead to the Avalanche making sacrifices this offseason. At only 22 and fresh off a Norris Trophy-level season, Cale Makar will receive a massive payday, one that could set a standard for post-entry- If one or both of Saad and Landeskog leaves, the Avalanche will need to level contracts for elite young defensemen. It’s in the Avalanche’s best bring in left-wing depth. Mid-level pending free-agent left wings include interest to keep Makar in Denver as long as possible. But the Toronto’s Nick Foligno, Montreal’s Tomas Tatar and Tampa’s Barclay defenseman is good enough to bet on himself and could opt to pursue a Goodrow. shorter-term bridge deal. That could allow him to cash in when the salary cap goes up. That wouldn’t be the end of the world for the Avalanche; 5. Joe Sakic sticks with Nazem Kadri — and his gut pays off Makar would still be a restricted free agent at the end of a hypothetical Kadri’s hit on St. Louis’ Justin Faulk, which resulted in an eight-game three-year bridge deal, and it would lead to less of a cap hit for Colorado. suspension, ignited old conversations about whether the center can be If the parties do decide to pursue a long-term contract, Makar could counted on in the playoffs. He’s a quality player — someone who could reasonably demand north of $10 million per season. If he gets it, the have been a difference-maker for Colorado against Vegas. During the Avalanche will have to make sacrifices around the roster to stay under offseason, the Avalanche need to decide if he’s worth keeping or if it’s the salary cap, though ensuring Makar will be in an Avalanche sweater time to move on. They could leave him unprotected in the expansion for years to come is probably worth it. draft or look to move him in a trade, potentially for less-expensive depth forwards. But the best-case scenario would be that Sakic and coach 2. The captain comes back, and it doesn’t break the bank get Kadri to make a real change in his decision-making, stick with him and this last playoff transgression was finally his last. With Colorado’s cap situation, there’s a real chance Gabriel Landeskog is wearing a different uniform next season. The Avalanche want him to 6. Pavel Francouz and Erik Johnson return healthy stay, and he wants to stay, but the numbers will be tight. Pavel Francouz was a trusty No. 2 goaltender in 2019-20, posting a .923 At 28, Landeskog will want a long-term deal, and he’s coming off a save percentage in 34 games, but he didn’t play a single game this season in which he averaged nearly a point per game. In an ideal world season. Colorado struggled to find a consistent replacement. Hunter for Colorado, he’d accept a lesser average annual value than he’d fetch Miska got a shot but didn’t show the consistency of an NHL goalie, so the on the open market to stay in an Avalanche sweater. team acquired both Jonas Johansson and Devan Dubnyk for help. Neither was a model of consistency — though Johansson had a solid Colorado would be wise to make its best offer before the expansion draft .913 save percentage — but having a reliable presence like Francouz to see if it’s enough for Landeskog. If he turns it down, it doesn’t mean he would be huge for Colorado. Sakic said at the trade deadline that he will walk, but the team might need to pursue other options. They could expects him back for next season. bring back Saad (more on that in a bit) or look at someone like Blues winger Jaden Schwartz, who played his NCAA hockey at Colorado Erik Johnson’s situation is a bit more complex, both because of his pricey College. But a potential Landeskog departure would leave both an on-ice contract ($6 million AAV for two more seasons) and because of his long and a leadership void and would force the Avalanche to answer tenure in Colorado. No current player has been with the Avalanche uncomfortable questions about who their next captain would be. longer.

In Colorado’s best-case scenario, Landeskog signs for a slight pay bump If healthy, Johnson (upper-body injury) can still contribute, but he’s also rather than a massive one, leaving the Avalanche with room to add an option when looking at whom to part with to create cap space. He has supplemental pieces around the roster. a no-movement clause, which will make a trade difficult, though he’s expected to waive it for the expansion draft. And even if the Avalanche 3. Philipp Grubauer remains on board at a reasonable price pursue a trade with clubs that Johnson would be OK with, those teams Philipp Grubauer had the best season of his career, posting a .922 save might not want to take on that big of a salary for an aging defenseman. percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average, and league general There’s another option: the cold business decision of buying him out. But managers voted him a Vezina Trophy finalist. The Avalanche had him that’s a tough way to part with a player who wears a letter and has meant signed for only a $3.33 million cap hit, and that will surely go up. Looking a good deal to the organization. Plus, Johnson would carry a $2 million at potential contract comparables, Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom signed a cap hit each of the next four seasons if he were bought out, rather than six-year deal with a $6 million average annual value after finishing fourth $6 million AAV for the next two. And with superstar Nathan MacKinnon’s in the Vezina race in 2019-20 with Vancouver, and St. Louis’ Jordan contract coming up in two years, having dead money on the cap is less Binnington, who won the 2019 Stanley Cup but had worse numbers than than ideal. Grubauer each of the past two seasons, got the term and AAV on an extension this season. In a perfect world, Johnson would come back, remain healthy and bring the Avalanche a needed big body and physical presence on defense. He Colorado offered Grubauer the chance to be the clear No. 1 for the first skated at a few morning skates toward the end of this postseason run, time in his career, and he thrived in the Avalanche’s system this season. but a return was never imminent before the Avalanche’s elimination. Perhaps, wanting to stay in Colorado, he’ll take a team-friendly deal. But that’s tough to count on. 7. A backup plan is put in place in case those injuries persist Bringing Johansson back on a cheap deal could make sense as insurance for Francouz, and a veteran goaltender like Dubnyk is another option. It could also help to have an extra defenseman with good size on the roster in case Johnson gets hurt again. But it’s important to find someone the team could trust in the playoffs; Patrik Nemeth, for example, was solid enough in the regular season but had a rough series against Vegas.

8. Valuable veterans are re-signed or brought in

The Avalanche re-signed Jayson Megna to a two-year deal Wednesday, and he fills a role as a strong AHL presence who can fill in for NHL games. In terms of other Avalanche veterans on expiring deals, Pierre- Edouard Bellemare could be an option if he’s willing to take a bit of a pay cut. He’s a solid fourth-line player and a well-liked dressing-room leader. The Avalanche could also potentially attract Cup-chasing veterans willing to take less for a chance at the Stanley Cup.

9. The kids come to camp ready to play

There will be plenty of opportunities for new faces next season. Bowen Byram’s rookie season got interrupted by a high hit from Vegas’ Keegan Kolesar, which led him to miss the second half of the year, but the 20- year-old blueliner should have a chance to solidify a lineup spot next season. Alex Newhook saw playoff action, and the Avalanche will need the 20-year-old to move into a contributing role considering the players they will lose either to free agency, the expansion draft or trades to clear cap space.

Winger Sampo Ranta also made an impression on the coaching staff, getting in a pair of playoff games for his NHL debut, and should have a chance to make a mark in the regular season. And then there are prospects like Shane Bowers and Martin Kaut, both of whom are looking for extended NHL looks. Colorado can’t count on rookies being instant standouts like Makar was, but having young players who can fill in as a bottom-six forward or on a third defensive pairing would go a long way.

10. Talks start with Nathan MacKinnon about an extension

Every move the Avalanche make has to be made with an eye toward the summer after the 2022-23 season. That’s when MacKinnon enters unrestricted free agency. The Hart Trophy finalist has what’s arguably the most team-friendly contract in the league ($6.3 million AAV), which has given the Avalanche cap space to pursue additional moves.

Talks between the Avalanche and MacKinnon are more likely to heat up next offseason, rather than this one, but it’s time to get the ball rolling.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215929 Dallas Stars If a bridge is the way to go, it’s a question of how much higher Heiskanen is above Werenski and Co. $5.5 million? $6 million? $6.5 million? That’s the big unknown.

Breaking down the markets for Stars defensemen Miro Heiskanen, Jamie Others to watch this summer Oleksiak and John Klingberg The defense-a-mageddon is finally here.

For the last few years, it’s been understood that this summer’s class of By Matthew DeFranks 10:00 AM on Jun 17, 2021 CDT RFA defensemen would set the market for each other, just as the RFA class of forwards in 2019 did. (That was the class with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Brayden Point, Kyle Connor, Patrik This summer will be a big one for the Stars blue line, with a trio of key Laine, Matthew Tkachuk, Brock Boeser, Sebastian Aho, Clayton Keller.) contributors available to sign contract extensions. Player Signing Age 5v5 TOI/GP 5v5 Pts/60 PP Miro Heiskanen is a restricted free agent for the first time in his career, TOI/GP PK TOI/GP Jamie Oleksiak is an unrestricted free agent and John Klingberg is eligible to sign an extension now that he’s one season away from Miro Heiskanen 21 19:11 0.74 2:54 1:35 becoming a UFA. Cale Makar 21 18:14 1.42 4:09 0:55

The Stars have expressed public interest in retaining all three players Quinn Hughes 21 17:41 1.09 3:38 0:08 given the current makeup of the Dallas top four on defense, but — as always — it will depend on the numbers. The combination of big Rasmus Dahlin 21 17:23 0.74 3:06 0:06 contracts (Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn), plus a flat salary cap and upcoming extensions to Jason Robertson, Denis Gurianov and Jake The quartet of Heiskanen, Makar, Hughes and Dahlin will still impact Oettinger make cap management all the more important to Dallas. each other’s negotiations, but it will be interesting to see the length of each deal. Each of the three players fall into different markets despite their uniform status as a top-four defenseman in the NHL. Even after signing a goaltender and re-signing captain Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche might still have enough room for a long-term Heiskanen is the do-it-all young superstar looking for his first contract contract for Makar that keeps him in Denver for 5-8 more years. Buffalo after his entry-level deal. Oleksiak is the late-20s, second-pairing can ink Dahlin to an extended term, but only if Dahlin wants to lock defenseman that logs big 5-on-5 minutes, decent shorthanded minutes himself in with the Sabres for the long haul. and zero power play time. Klingberg is the offensive sparkplug that — opposite of Oleksiak — gets a ton of power play time and none on the Vancouver, which also has Elias Pettersson to re-sign, seems destined penalty kill. for a bridge deal with Hughes.

(Special teams time on ice is a bellwether for how a coach and Jamie Oleksiak organization views a player. If there’s a lot of penalty killing, he fills a When the Stars re-acquired Oleksiak from Pittsburgh in 2019, they could defensive role. Same with power play time.) not have scripted the next two years of development any better for the 6- Essentially, the Stars want to know what players with similar roles and 6 defenseman. He morphed from a rotational healthy scratch to a top- similar production got paid, and how they can get signatures on four defenseman, playing alongside Heiskanen for 82.2% of his 5-on-5 comparable deals. We’ve covered this topic here before, but what could minutes. contracts for Heiskanen, Oleksiak and Klingberg look like? The Stars picture Oleksiak as an ideal partner for Heiskanen, and held All stats are from Natural Stat Trick, and from the season prior to signing on to him at the trade deadline instead of dumping him for draft picks this their contract. summer. Whether or not the massive but offensively aggressive Oleksiak actually is the correct partner for Heiskanen is irrelevant, as long as the Miro Heiskanen Stars believe he is.

The first order of business for Heiskanen and the Stars is to figure out the While Dallas can re-sign Heiskanen at any time, they are best served term. Dallas GM previously said it would make sense for both waiting on Oleksiak. If he signs before the expansion draft on July 21, the sides to work towards a bridge deal, and it does. Stars would not be able to protect Oleksiak, Heiskanen, Klingberg and Esa Lindell. Free agency begins July 28. The Stars don’t have the cap space to sign Heiskanen to a long-term contract without hamstringing their efforts to improve in free agency this For contract comparables, you may not have to look further than summer. Heiskanen probably would rather sign a lucrative long-term deal Montreal, which employs both Ben Chiarot and Joel Edmundson in its top when the salary cap is actually going up, and when the Stars start to four. shed contracts like Benn’s in a few years. Player Signing Age 5v5 TOI/GP 5v5 Pts/60 PP If Heiskanen and the Stars are to do a bridge contract (one that is four TOI/GP PK TOI/GP Years Cap hit years or less instead of a long-term one that would buy out UFA years), there are a few precedents in the market. Jamie Oleksiak 28 18:24 0.81 0:09 1:31

Player Signing age 5v5 TOI/GP 5v5 Pts/60 PP TOI/GP PK TOI/GP Years Cap hit Ben Chiarot 28 16:25 0.84 0:02 1:48 3 $3.5 million Miro Heiskanen 21 19:11 0.74 2:54 1:35 Marco Scandella 30 15:07 0.83 0:04 1:59 4 $3.275 million Zach Werenski 21 18:12 1.00 2:32 1:21 3 $5 million Brenden Dillon 29 16:43 0.68 0:02 2:09 4 $3.9 million Charlie McAvoy 21 18:03 1.29 1:34 1:17 3 $4.9 million Joel Edmundson 27 15:11 1.04 0:03 2:46 4 $3.5 million Mikhail Sergachev 22 16:09 0.90 1:52 1:08 3 $4.8 million Chris Tanev 30 15:07 0.81 0:05 3:24 4 $4.5 million Of Werenski, McAvoy and Sergachev, Heiskanen produces the least 5- on-5 offense. But he also shoulders the most responsibility, leading all of These are defensemen who play top-four minutes at 5 on 5, nothing on them in time on ice at 5 on 5, on the power play and on the penalty kill. the power play while also killing penalties and scoring at similar rates. Heiskanen also plays against other team’s best forwards and had one of Tanev (who undoubtedly benefitted from playing alongside Hughes the the best postseasons for a defenseman in 2020, putting up 26 points in year before he inked his deal with the Flames) may be the outlier as one 27 games as the Stars lost in the Stanley Cup Final. of the league’s most-used penalty killers, but his contract is nonetheless It’s also very possible that there’s a team out there that wants to pay useful. Klingberg like a true No. 1 defenseman. That means measuring up to Alex Pietrangelo ($8.8 million), Roman Josi ($9.059 million), Jared Oleksiak does eat up a few more minutes at even-strength, which adds Spurgeon ($7.575 million), Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($8.25 million) or John up across a full season and furthers his market value. Carlson ($8 million).

Others to watch this summer More clarity could also come this summer.

Oleksiak won’t be in the Alec Martinez class of defenseman free agents Others to watch this summer since he doesn’t score enough, but there are still two prime comps and three marginally useful ones. Dougie Hamilton will get all the attention as the top defenseman on the market, but Tyson Barrie could be the more apt comparison for Klingberg Player Signing age 5v5 TOI/GP 5v5 Pts/60 PP in terms of usage and production. TOI/GP PK TOI/GP Then, there’s next summer’s class, where Morgan Rielly is the closest Jamie Oleksiak 28 18:24 0.81 0:09 1:31 player to Klingberg and not names like Seth Jones and Darnell Nurse.

Derek Forbort 29 17:17 0.74 0:10 2:41 Player Signing age 5v5 TOI/GP 5v5 Pts/GP Ryan Murray 27 16:15 0.92 0:04 1:44 PP TOI/GP PK TOI/GP

David Savard 30 17:07 0.26 0:08 1:55 John Klingberg 29 18:13 0.93 3:10 0:11

Cody Ceci 27 15:13 1.23 0:04 2:31 Tyson Barrie 28 17:08 1.38 3:37 0:08

Brandon Montour 27 17:37 1.02 0:31 1:46 Morgan Rielly 28 19:05 1.03 2:55 0:26

Forbort and Murray each have similar usage to Oleksiak. In terms of raw Dougie Hamilton 27 17:04 1.15 2:59 1:28 points, the three players were also fairly close, with Oleksiak and Murray Seth Jones 27 19:44 0.81 2:14 2:02 at 14 points and Forbort at 12. Savard is older and doesn’t score, but might still earn top-four money while Ceci and Montour were each more Darnell Nurse 27 20:40 1.19 1:25 2:27 productive. +++ John Klingberg Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.18.2021 Klingberg’s situation is a bit less urgent for both the player and the Stars, given that he’s still under contract for next season, but both sides have acknowledged there’s desire to keep Klingberg in Dallas.

The thing to consider with Klingberg — other than the market comps, which we’ll get to in a moment — is that he’s been severely underpaid on a team-friendly contract since 2015. His $4.25 million cap hit is consistently one of the league’s best values given the caliber of player Klingberg is.

After being underpaid (and welcoming his first child), Klingberg will want to get paid. There’s no fault in that at all, and it’s completely understandable and reasonable for Klingberg to want that for himself and his family. It’s just a matter of how that ticket would fit with Dallas.

Klingberg is often thought of as the Stars’ No. 1 defenseman because of his point production and top-pair status. But Dallas doesn’t use him as such. He doesn’t get those tough matchups (those go to Heiskanen) and he doesn’t kill penalties (unlike partner Esa Lindell). He’s an engine for the team’s 5-on-5 play and he walks the blue line on the power play as well as anyone in the NHL.

That said, there are not a ton of recent comps for offensive dynamos that play sheltered minutes. In fact, there might just be one: St. Louis’ Torey Krug.

Player Signing age 5v5 TOI/GP 5v5 Pts/60 PP TOI/GP PK TOI/GP Years Cap hit

John Klingberg 29 18:13 0.93 3:10 0:11

Torey Krug 29 15:20 1.03 3:51 0:07 7 $6.5 million

If you go back a few more years, other examples arise, but contracts signed in 2016 (Keith Yandle) and 2017 (Kevin Shattenkirk) don’t reflect the current market value of players. It also doesn’t help that Yandle was a healthy scratch for Florida in the playoffs, and the Rangers bought out Shattenkirk.

Player Signing age 5v5 TOI/GP 5v5 Pts/60 PP TOI/GP PK TOI/GP Years Cap hit

Keith Yandle 29 16:27 0.98 2:39 0:03 7 $6.35 million

Kevin Shattenkirk 28 15:22 1.09 3:13 0:22 4 $6.65 million

Perhaps the $6.5 million AAV is cheaper than you expected for a player like Klingberg. 1215930 Dallas Stars Industry observers have wondered break point will finally prompt consumers to not only leave, but never to return.

We don’t know. So far no number has been too high. Streaming app to watch the Mavs, Rangers and Stars may include an outrageous price Perhaps Sinclair is floating this figure to see the reaction and will adjust accordingly. If there is enough outrage, it may drop that number.

Because $23 a month to watch the Rangers, Mavs and Stars feels BY MAC ENGEL JUNE 16, 2021 12:27 PM awfully high when you can spend half that for everything Disney has to offer.

Two of the great challenges of the last year have been how to properly Star-Telegram LOADED: 06.18.2021 wear a mask over your nose and mouth, and trying to watch the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks or Dallas Stars game on your TV.

The battle between Sinclair Broadcast Group and the majority of the cable carriers and the “cord cutters,” has left hundreds of thousands of fans of the Rangers, Mavs and Stars unable to watch the games on the network formerly known as Fox Sports Southwest.

Renamed Bally Sports Southwest, all of those games that you missed will soon be available to you on a streaming app, for a price that you won’t believe.

According to a report in The New York Post, Sinclair is gathering money in an effort to launch a Bally Sports streaming app with a subscription price of $23 a month.

That would be the most expensive major streaming app available.

Now, here is the “fun” part: According to the Post, this $23 a month will only cover the “games in markets where it owns sports broadcasting rights, sources said.”

Bally Sports, via Sinclair, owns the broadcast rights to 42 teams, from MLB, NBA, NHL, WNBA to MLS.

But your $23 would not allow you to watch the teams carried on networks such as Bally Sports South, Bally Sports SoCal, etc.; instead, that $23 would cover the teams in your market.

By comparison, a standard subscription for Netflix is $13.99 a month. Hulu, without adds, is $11.99 per month.

Disney+ is $8 a month. A subscription that includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundles can be had at $14 a month.

HBOMax is $14.99 a month, without adds.

Sinclair hopes to make this app available before the start of the 2022 MLB season.

It’s worth noting that there is nothing the Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks or any franchise that signed a local TV broadcast rights agreement years ago with then Fox Sports can do about any of this.

There are always a buffet of reasons to be upset with the local teams, and this is not one of them. This is all on Sinclair looking to squeeze more money out of your wallet.

Sinclair acquired the 21 Fox Sports regional networks from Disney for $9.6 billion in August 2019.

Fans didn’t notice that. They noticed last year when the contracts between Sinclair and Hulu, YouTubeTV and most other cable carriers expired, and suddenly the games were gone.

You can still watch the local teams if you have DirecTV, Spectrum or TVMax, or much smaller carriers available in mostly rural areas.

Sinclair publicly said it simply wanted to charge a similar rate to the Hulus of the world, but in reality the plan was to launch its own streaming app.

The stunner is a potential price point that far exceeds a norm by other streaming services that offer a far larger menu.

In the last 30 plus years, sports and sports TV has done nothing but grow, while charging more for the product. Sports is entertainment, but it offers something that a TV show or movie cannot.

It’s the shared experience of watching a live event where the outcome has not been manipulated by an editor, director or producer. Plus, you can bet on this form of entertainment whereas you can’t put down a $20 on the Friends Reunion special. 1215931 Dallas Stars While Johns looked comfortable on the outside when he returned to the NHL in 2020, internally he was struggling. There were multiple times he thought his career might be over before that moment in the middle of the Stephen Johns’ journey: His NHL career over too soon, former Stars game against the Flames. defenseman skates for a cause bigger than hockey Some of the highlights on the ice immediately preceded or followed lowlights off it. When he first tried to return with an AHL conditioning stint, he was so nervous his heart was racing, and he thought he would never By Sean Shapiro Jun 17, 2021 be able to step on the ice. He somehow followed that up with the first four-point night of his hockey career, professional or otherwise. Later, he

scored against the New York Rangers with his parents in attendance, but ON THE ROAD IN RURAL OHIO — The intersection of Parsons and the next morning the excruciating headaches were so bad he thought he Whitehead roads is unremarkable. might have to retire at that moment.

Technically within Carlisle Township in rural Ohio, there’s farmland in Johns doesn’t regret returning, and those 21 games he was able to play each direction. A sign warns of a $500 fine for littering, but it’s hard to are a testament to his will, but also shouldn’t be used as the end-all, be- imagine anyone noticing if you did. all to his story.

This is the spot former NHL player Stephen Johns has chosen to treat a Johns says his story is more nuanced and expansive. What’s out there blister on his right foot, sitting on the tailgate of his black Chevrolet only scratches the surface, he says, outlining plans to share more of it in Silverado, a pair of rollerblades and the gold hockey helmet he wore at depth in the documentary he is filming during this trip across the country. Notre Dame sitting nearby. So far, just a few days into his trip, Johns has covered close to 40 miles a It just might be the most remarkable thing to ever happen here. The day, moving at an average clip of close to 12 miles per hour — with some intersection, however, is a fitting symbol of the journey on which Johns downhill bursts flirting with the 20-mph mark. has embarked as his professional hockey career has come to a close. Jeff Toates, a former Stars employee and a close friend, is trailing in the The recently retired former Dallas Stars defenseman is traveling across truck, flashers on warning motorists to use caution. the country, inline skating down country roads and through small towns, with plans to roll from his hometown of Wampum, Pa., to the West Coast, When another vehicle approaches, Toates honks the horn to warn Johns likely Oregon, by the middle of July. and they wave the driver a signal to pass. Most of the motorists honk in approval when realizing there’s a man in skates on the road. Others give For Johns, 29, it’s an opportunity to use his athleticism to raise friendly waves. The roads Johns is traveling typically don’t attract people awareness of issues that played a role in ending his career too soon. trying to get somewhere in a hurry. Johns has struggled with chronic pain and depression since 2018, This is the setup for most of the trip, with exceptions like Tuesday, where triggered by a hit on March 29, 2018, in a game against the Minnesota an additional driver is around to drive while Toates films for the Wild. The pain and post-traumatic headaches have become more documentary. manageable with time and different self-coping techniques, but the depression continued after he played his final NHL game in August 2020. Toates is a former Stars employee and one of Johns’ close friends. Roughly two weeks ago, Johns called Toates and asked if he wanted to Recently, Johns was asked what he liked to do for fun. He didn’t have an help document the journey. answer. During a particularly rough period in late May, Johns came across the music video for, “Live Before I Die,” by Mike Posner and “Right away,” Toates said about the decision to take part. “We also knew Naughty Boy, which features Posner walking across the country. that if this was something we were going to do we were gonna have to go quick.” The video changed Johns’ life, he says, and the question of “What do you want to do?” all of a sudden had an answer. Toates flew into Pittsburgh on Saturday. On Sunday, Johns posted on Instagram to officially announce his retirement from hockey and about his He wanted to do something to inspire others and to raise awareness planned journey. Monday morning, Johns was inline skating out of about the importance of mental health. He wanted to skate again. Across Wampum with an escort from the local fire department. the country without any preparation or planning. The skates Johns is using were fresh out of the box Sunday. No practice “It was crazy,” Johns said. “But it’s what I wanted to do. I had something I or break-in time; just lace ’em up and go. wanted to do.” Great for the initiative, bad for blisters and lace bite as Johns has been (Jerome Miron / USA Today) working in the skates as he nears close to 100 miles already traveled. While Johns’ retirement was only made public this week, he has known This is a journey for Johns where he knows that he’ll have left Wampum, his career was over since a very specific moment on Aug. 11, 2020. Pa., as one person and grown and changed by the time he reaches the The Stars were playing the Calgary Flames in Game 1 of a first-round West Coast. He believes he’ll be better for it, and in many ways it’s a series in the NHL bubble in Edmonton when Johns remembers looking clean passage as he tries to transition away from his life as a hockey up at the clock and seeing 5:13 remaining in the second period. player.

He couldn’t remember a single shift from earlier in the game. Even He’s become a mental health advocate in a sport where admitting worse, for the first time in his life, he was scared to go on the ice. weakness and asking for help goes against the machismo attitude typically associated with NHL dressing rooms. His Instagram messages “I had told myself if I was ever scared to get out there I was done,” Johns have been flooded with others reaching to share their story. It’s hard to said. “And that moment, I knew I was done.” keep up, but he plans to work his way through and work on building that network more in the future. On Tuesday, Johns also adopted the hashtag Johns went into the dressing room and called his mom, Noreen. She #MentalMiles on social media, encouraging others to join him in taking listened while he cried on the phone. He took off his ice skates and, to time for themselves, whether it be skating, walking or biking, and starting date, it’s the last time he’s worn ice skates. a larger conversation about what mental health means to each individual. Johns sat out all of the 2020-21 season and was placed on long-term On Tuesday, while taking a break to gas up the truck in Oberlin, Ohio, a injured reserve. It was a formality before the public retirement person came up to Johns and asked if he was in fact Stephen Johns, and announcement, officially capping a career that covered 167 NHL games they had recently seen his Instagram post. with the Stars over parts of four seasons. “Maybe I was always meant to be more than a hockey player,” Johns There are some facts that Johns now wants to make known about his said. “Maybe this is how I can have an impact.” return to the NHL in the latter half of the 2019-20 season. The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 “I was never really better,” Johns said. “I think that’s important for people to know. I was also never forced to play by the Stars and I’m grateful for that.” 1215932 Detroit Red Wings

NHLPA releases annual player poll: Detroit Red Wings don't rate in any category

HELENE ST. JAMES

Nearly 500 NHL players have spoken, and the Detroit Red Wings don’t rate with them.

The NHL Players Association released its annual survey Thursday, ranging in topics from favorites to fashionable — and, of course, the pandemic.

COVID-19 prompted the league to use a 56-game, intra-divisional schedule that split 31 teams into four geographical groups in 2021. The Wings played in the Central Division, with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Travel restrictions between the U.S. and Canada led to all seven Canadian teams forming the North Division.

WINGS IN NHL DRAFT: Why taking center Mason McTavish makes sense

That is not a scenario most players want to see carried forward. (The NHL already has nixed the idea, anyway.) The poll showed 68.2% of the 490 players who participated voted no, with 31.8% voting yes. On the other hand, 66.3% of players favored carrying forward a series-style schedule, rather than going back to traveling from city to city after one game.

The poll also revealed that 46.3% of players consider Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews the best goal scorer; 64.7% consider the Lightning’s Victor Hedman the best defenseman, and 54.1% consider the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy the best goaltender. Matthews was also voted most fashionable, with 21.2% of the votes.

Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins) tied for most complete player with 23.78%.

FEELING A DRAFT: Here are the players the Wings can't afford to lose to expansion draft

Asked to name the one player they’d want if they needed to win one game, 36.7% chose Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers). The poll was conducted in March and April, so before McDavid’s Oilers were swept in the first round. Crosby came in second, at 23%. Crosby was voted most superstitious, at 27.4%.

Chicago’s Patrick Kane was named by 49.5% of players when asked who the best stick handler is — almost double that of McDavid’s 25.8%. Boston’s David Pastrnak was named by 42.3% of players in response to which player has the most unique tape job. Dallas’ Jamie Benn, whose stick to Dylan Larkin’s neck during the April 20th game ended Larkin’s season, got 3.8% of votes.

The poll names four to six players per question, so for example, almost 10% of players voted for someone other than Matthews, Pastrnak, Alex Ovechkin or McDavid in respond to who is the best goal scorer. But it’s doubtful any Wings made the “other” list in any of the main categories — goal scorer, defenseman, goalie, shot, passer — given they don’t have a superstar on the roster.

Detroit News LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215933 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings' NHL draft: Why taking center Mason McTavish makes sense

HELENE ST. JAMES

The Detroit Red Wings hold the sixth pick in the 2021 NHL draft, which is scheduled to be held virtually July 23-24.

The onus is on general manager and his inner circle to find a player who can help the rebuild. We aren’t likely to see the results for at least a couple of years — forward Filip Zadina, for example, was the sixth pick in 2018. Although he has become a regular in the lineup, there’s still a question as to how much of an impact he'll have in the long term.

Given how the pandemic affected hockey leagues across the world, scouting was limited over the past year — and that’s why the top 10 picks are hard to predict. Star Michigan defenseman Owen Power, though, is widely projected to go first overall.

THE BOTTOM OF THE ROUND: Here's where the Wings' draft pick from the Capitals falls

TAKING HIS TIME: Why Yzerman won't give a timeline on Wings rebuild.

So, rather than predict the entire top 10, we'll take a look at some leading candidates for the Wings to take at No. 6 as part of an ongoing series. First up ...

F Mason McTavish

Size: 6 feet 1, 207 pounds.

2020-21: Had nine goals and two assists in 13 games for EHC Olten in the Swiss League, plus two goals and five assists in four playoff games. Starred for Canada while winning gold at the World Juniors, where he filled in as captain and recorded five goals and six assists in seven games.

The buzz: McTavish, 18, recorded 29 goals and 13 assists in 57 games in 2019-20 with the Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes. (The Petes’ alumni include Yzerman, who recorded 91 points in 56 games in 1982-83, his draft season.) McTavish was placed in ’s second-highest professional league this season because of the pandemic.

THE OTHER DRAFT: Here are the players the Wings can't afford to lose to expansion Kraken next month

McTavish is a powerful, though not speedy, skater. He’s already big and strong, and is able to battle through checks to protect the puck and get into scoring positions. He’s a goal scorer, possessing a swift and accurate wrist shot and a heavy one-timer that makes him especially effective on power plays. He’s also effective at net-front at tipping pucks or pouncing on rebounds. He’s sound defensively, using his big body to force opponents to the outside and his stick to break up plays.

Why he makes sense: McTavish is a left-shooting center who can also play wing. The Wings’ future depth down the middle reads Dylan Larkin, Joe Veleno and Michael Rasmussen. Yzerman has noted multiple times the Wings need help at every position, but they are particularly short on centers in the farm system. If the Wings see McTavish as someone who can become a high-end NHL center, he’s a logical choice.

Detroit News LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215934 Detroit Red Wings ► 9. : Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (OHL). Vancouver could use defensive depth, but McTavish is too good to pass on. McTavish fits nicely to what Vancouver needs up front, a determined, Ted Kulfan's 2021 NHL mock draft 1.0: Will Wings mine Sweden or Ann two-way forward. Arbor for future star? ► 10. Ottawa Senators: Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (Sweden). The Senators have a glut of fine prospects, but no potential goaltender like Wallstedt, who some scouts feel can be a game-changer. TED KULFAN | The Detroit News ► 11. Chicago Blackhawks: Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP. There are several areas the Blackhawks could go, but Lucius is the type of offensive prospect Chicago needs. Detroit — The 2021 NHL Entry Draft will be unique in many ways. ► 12. Calgary Flames: Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg (WHL). The Rarely, if ever, has a draft class entered the NHL with so many question Flames need some defensive depth organizationally, and Lambos seems marks surrounding it. like the type of player they like, playing with a bit of bite. Because of the pandemic, many junior (and some college) leagues in ► 13. Philadelphia Flyers: Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls (USHL). Just the North America and Europe were severely impacted. type of mix of skill and grit the Flyers really like in their forwards. His dad The vast majority of the prospects eligible for the July 23-24 NHL Entry Mike was a longtime, productive NHL player after he was a first-round Draft — which again will be virtual — saw limited actual playing time, and draft pick by the Wings in 1989. the amount of scouting information on these youngsters is likewise slim. ► 14. Dallas Stars: Fabian Lysell, RW, Lulea (Sweden). GM Jim Nill So, the guessing game with this draft class is more prevalent than in any knows Sweden, and Lysell is the type of two-way talent the Stars need draft class, possibly ever. with age creeping into the lineup.

The Red Wings are picking sixth and 22nd in the first round, acquiring ► 15. New York Rangers: Matthew Coronato, RW, Chicago (USHL). The the latter from the in the Anthony Mantha trade. The Rangers are likely to trade this pick before it happens. But if they stay players the Wings are projecting at those first-round spots are likely here, they'll be tempted to go with the goal-scoring Coronato. much different than who other teams around them might have. ► 16. St. Louis Blues: Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL). The Blues “More so this year than any other year, you're going to have vastly could use a bit of everything, and Ceulemans is the type of offensive different lists,” general manager Steve Yzerman said. “This one's going defensemen NHL teams are searching for. to be, maybe there will be more surprises than ever. Sitting at six, there's ► 17. Winnipeg Jets: Brennan Othmann, LW, Flint (OHL). Has skill, but multiple players we think will be there and we'll be excited about the also the grit to his game the Jets could use. The Flint Firebird product pick." isn’t big (6-0, 175), but plays fearless. There’s likely going to be several trades that will involve early first-round ► 18. Nashville Predators: Fyodor Svechkov, RW, Russia. The picks that will change the draft order, and numerous players could slide Predators could use more scoring potential, and Svechkov is regarded as or rise in scouts’ eyes before July 23. a legitimate sleeper prospect by some. But here in mid-June, let’s a first look at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft’s first ► 19. Edmonton Oilers: Brett Harrison, C, Oshawa (OHL). Harrison round: played in Finland this past season, and is the type of player who might be (Note: The Arizona Coyotes had to forfeit their first-round pick for overlooked by some. Has been able to score goals throughout his junior violating prospect testing policy.) career.

► 1. Buffalo Sabres: Owen Power, D, Michigan. If there were any doubts ► 20. Boston Bruins: Zachary L’Heureux, Halifax (QMJHL). The Bruins — and there weren’t many — Power’s performance during the men’s need quality prospects, and L’Heureux has been a big-time scorer in the world championships erased any. This is a safe, easy choice that will Quebec junior ranks. help the Sabres for years to come. ► 21. Minnesota Wild: Nikita Chibrikov, RW, Russia. The Wild were ► 2. Seattle Kraken: Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan. Two Wolverines go rewarded by selecting Kirill Kaprizov in 2015, and now find him a Russian in the top two picks. The expansion Kraken get the type of two-way, first- linemate with high-end potential. line center so rare to acquire. ► 22. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington): Sebastian Cossa, G, ► 3. Anaheim Ducks: Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL). The Edmonton (OHL). If the Wings have a chance to select Cossa, you’d Ducks had an abysmal offensive attack, so adding a player many scouts think they jump at it. Many scouts feel Cossa could go top-15. believe could turn out to be the best goal-scorer in this class makes ► 23. Florida Panthers: Aatu Raty, C, Finland. Projected to be top-5 in sense. this class some two years ago, Raty’s stock has fallen. But could the ► 4. : Luke Hughes, D, United States National Team Panthers instill confidence back into his game and get a major steal? Development Program. Nepotism? Sure, his brother Jack stars for the ► 24. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto): Daniil Chayka, D, Devils, but Luke Hughes is an excellent player in his own right and the Russia. The Jackets like their Russian prospects, and Chayka has the Devils need defensemen. flair to be a nice future addition. ► 5. Columbus Blue Jackets: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (Sweden). ► 25. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh): Zachary Bolduc, center, The Jackets are rumored in many trade talks, but if they stay here, Rimouski (QMJHL). At this point it’s more of a guessing game, but Edvinsson’s comparisons to Victor Hedman are difficult to pass on. Bolduc’s offensive production has been impressive. ► 6. Detroit Red Wings: William Eklund, LW, Djurgardens (Sweden). ► 26. Carolina Hurricanes: Sasha Pastujov, RW, Notre Dame. The Eklund simply appears to be the type of player the Wings like. Plays Hurricanes add to their collection of talented forwards in the organization. bigger than his size (5-10, 176), is improving rapidly, and is has elite skills (No. 1-ranked international skater by NHL Central Scouting). ► 27. Colorado Avalanche: Matthew Samoskevich, C, Chicago (USHL). Eklund compares favorably to Lucas Raymond, the Wings' top pick last Headed to Michigan, Samoskevich projects well with Colorado’s skilled year. forwards.

► 7. : Kent Johnson, C/LW, Michigan. The third ► 28. Semifinal-losing team with fewest points: Cameron Whynot, D, Wolverine off the board, Johnson gives the Sharks desperately needed Halifax (QMJHL). Especially if this is Montreal, Whynot would be a nice hope offensively. future addition to an older Canadiens’ defensive group.

► 8. Los Angeles Kings: Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie (OHL). The Kings have ► 29. Semifinal-losing team with most points: Simon Robertsson, RW, a plethora of forward prospects, and Clarke gives them a big-time Skelleftea (Sweden). Either Columbus (by way of Tampa Bay) or the prospect on the blue line. Excellent offensively, and underrated Devils (who own the Islanders’ pick) would love to add the hard shot defensively, a future top-pairing guy. Robertsson possesses. ► 30. Stanley Cup final-losing team: Francesco Pinelli, C, Kitchener (OHL). A crafty, elusive playmaker who would be a nice find for a Cup finalist.

► 31. Stanley Cup champion: Danila Klimovich, LW, Belarus. Klimovich is a project, but the reward could be worth it for a Cup-winning team.

Detroit News LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215935 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings searching for assistant coach with ‘unique’ power play ideas

By Ansar Khan

The Detroit Red Wings are in the process of searching for an assistant coach whose mandate is clear: Help fix the power play.

The Red Wings’ power play this past season was the worst it has been in recent memory, converting at 11.4 percent and ranking second from last in the NHL. It was one of the main reasons the team struggled to score (2.23 goals per game, 30th in the league).

It prompted the club to part with assistant coach , who worked with the forwards and was responsible for the power play the past three seasons, during which time Detroit’s conversion rate of 15.2 percent ranked 30th.

But the problem goes back further. Previous assistant coaches Pat Ferschweiler and were replaced in large part due to an ineffective power play.

During ’s six seasons as head coach, the Red Wings’ power play ranks last in the NHL at 16.3 percent.

“The power play’s an area that needs to be better and that’s not on any particular coach or any particular person,” Blashill said last month. “The guys on the ice have to do a better job and we’ve got to do as good a job as possible preparing them and giving them a plan that works.”

It has been a combination of issues, the most glaring of which has been entries. Too often they are denied at the opponent’s blue line and wind up chasing the puck down the ice. Even after many clean entries, they have lacked a shooting mentality and either failed to get pucks on net or the opposition cleared the zone after one shot.

Blashill said he is looking for different ideas.

“I would probably use the word tactician, especially a guy with an offensive kind of mindset, somebody that brings some different, potentially unique ideas,” Blashill said. “It’s hard to come up with things that are real different or unique in the game. That’s not necessarily how you win, but ultimately if there’s some fresh ideas, a different thought process from an offensive standpoint is something that we’d look at.”

This isn’t all about coaching. They also need better players, and they need the players they have to execute better.

Dylan Larkin had only goal and six points on the power play. Filip Hronek had 11 assists on the power play, but no goals. Anthony Mantha picked up only two power-play points (both goals) in 42 games before being traded, and his replacement, Jakub Vrana, while excelling at even- strength, managed only one point on the power play in 11 games. Other power-play regulars also struggled (two points in 30 games for Robby Fabbri, no points in 16 games for Dennis Cholowski).

“We have to do something different with our power play for sure,” general manager Steve Yzerman said after announcing Blashill’s extension last month.

“We need to add to our personnel to get the right fit, so our power play has a chance to be more successful, and also we need to do things a little bit differently than we’ve done -- the way we played, the spots players are put at, the way we bring the puck up the ice, it needs to be addressed.”

Blashill said it would take time to find the right assistant coach.

“Let’s do our due diligence to see what people might be the best fit, who’s interested in the job,” Blashill said. “There’s a number of really good coaches out there. We’ll go through a process. It’s not going to be anything quick. There’s nobody there that is ready to hire, and on their side, people have to decide if this position’s the right one for them.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215936 Detroit Red Wings 2020-21: Farjestad BK (Sweden)

He has impressed in Sweden’s top men’s league the past two seasons (10 goals, 22 assists in 86 games). The Red Wings are high on their 60th Why Red Wings feel good about young core of defensemen pick in 2019, who has been described as a fluid skater and good puck- handler with good vision and a hard shot. He played for Sweden’s World Junior team and earned a spot on the World Championship team (didn’t By Ansar Khan appear in any games) in the same season.

Gustav Lindstrom

Moritz Seider dominates the spotlight as the Detroit Red Wings’ top Height/Weight: 6-2/190 prospect, a potential future star. Shoots: Right He is among a group of at least a dozen defensemen throughout the Red Wings organization age 23 or under who have various degrees of Age: 22 potential. 2020-21: Almtuna (Sweden)/Grand Rapids (AHL)/Detroit

Most are prospects, some of whom might not ascend to Detroit. One He won’t contribute much offense or make many flashy plays, but he can (Filip Hronek) is fully established at the highest level and others (Dennis be a steady, puck-moving, third-pair NHL defender. After starting the Cholowski, Gustav Lindstrom) have NHL experience. season on loan to Almtuna in Sweden’s second division, Lindstrom Defense is a position of depth and strength in the system. joined the Griffins and then played the final 13 games with Detroit, where he was a plus player (plus-1). He seems likely to be protected for the So, while general manager Steve Yzerman said the team will take the expansion draft. best player available with the sixth overall selection in the first round of the draft on July 23, regardless of position, perhaps the stockpile of blue Jared McIsaac line prospects will prompt the Red Wings to select a forward, or maybe a Height/Weight: 6-1/191 goaltender. Shoots: Left Here is a rundown of the Red Wings’ most promising defensemen/defense prospects age 23 and under (in alphabetical order): Age: 21

Seth Barton 2020-21: Grand Rapids (AHL)

Height/Weight: 6-2/185 His development has been slowed by surgery on each of his shoulders the past two years. After missing most of 2020-21 following left shoulder Shoots: Right surgery, McIsaac, who played one game for HPK (Finland), made his Age: 21 AHL debut, appearing in 10 games for the Griffins (no goals, two assists). The 36th overall pick in 2018 is a two-way player who moves the puck 2020-21: UMass-Lowell (Hockey East)/Grand Rapids (AHL) well and has a high compete level, playing a physical game. He played for Canada’s 2020 World Junior Championship gold medal-winning team. A good-sized, mobile, puck-mover who was described as a late bloomer when the Red Wings drafted him 81st overall in 2018, Barton made his Wyatt Newpower pro debut, appearing in four games for the Griffins in 2021 after three seasons at UMass-Lowell. Height/Weight: 6-4/205

Dennis Cholowski Shoots: Right

Height/Weight: 6-2/197 Age: 23

Shoots: Left 2020-21: Cleveland (AHL)

Age: 23 After four years at UConn, the undrafted Newpower signed an AHL contract with Cleveland last year and made his pro debut. He played only 2020-21: Grand Rapids (AHL)/Detroit 24 games (three goals, seven assists), but nine were against Grand Rapids and the Red Wings liked what they saw, signing him to a two- After splitting the past three seasons between Grand Rapids and Detroit, year entry-level contract on May 31. He has been likened to Boston’s Cholowski needs to show he is good enough defensively to maintain an Brandon Carlo. NHL job in 2021-22, when he no longer is waiver-exempt. The club’s top pick in 2016 (20th) has offensive skills and the ability to man the point on Donovan Sebrango the power play. He likely will be protected for the July 21 Seattle expansion draft. Height/Weight: 6-1/190

Filip Hronek Shoots: Left

Height/Weight: 6-0/183 Age: 19

Shoots: Right 2020-21: HK Levice (Slovakia)/Grand Rapids (AHL)

Age: 23 With the OHL season on hiatus due to COVID, Sebrango signed an amateur tryout contract with the Griffins and impressed as a teenager in 2020-21: Detroit a men’s league (31 games). He was the fifth pick from the Red Wings’ 2020 draft class (63rd overall) but the first signed to an entry-level deal. He earned the coaching staff’s trust at a young age, leading the team in Sebrango described himself as “tough, gritty, a little bit of the old-age ice time each of the past two seasons, playing in all situations. He was hockey in me and a kind of new-era offensive defenseman.” better defensively this past season, but there is much room for improvement. Both of his goals were empty-netters, but he led the team Moritz Seider with 26 points, playing all 56 games. Height/Weight: 6-4/207 Albert Johansson Shoots: Right Height/Weight: 6-0/168 Age: 20 Shoots: Left 2020-21: Rogle BK (Sweden) Age: 20 His decision to play in Sweden’s top men’s league after the start of the AHL and German League seasons were delayed due to COVID paid huge dividends. The Red Wings’ top pick in 2019 (sixth overall) took a huge step in his development, which will have him better-prepared for his NHL debut next season. He was named the top defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League (seven goals, 21 assists in 41 games) and the best defenseman at the World Championship (five assists in 10 games), where he led Germany to a spot in the bronze medal game, losing to the U.S.

Antti Tuomisto

Height/Weight: 6-4/194

Shoots: Right

Age: 20

2020-21: (NCHC)

2020-21: A high-scoring defenseman in Finland’s junior ranks with a tremendous shot and good hands, he transitioned to North American hockey at the University of Denver this past season, playing in 24 games (two goals, nine assists). Detroit’s second pick in 2019 (35th), Red Wings director of player development Shawn Horcoff described him as “a big body who can play both sides of the puck.”

Eemil Viro

Height/Weight: 6-0/171

Shoots: Left

Age: 19

2020-21: TPS Turku (Finland)

Viro was the sixth player the Red Wings drafted in 2020 (70th overall), but they signed him to a three-year entry-level contract fairly quickly last month, showing what they think of him. Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper, after drafting Viro, described him as a “character kid with real leadership qualities who plays the game the right way.”

William Wallinder

Height/Weight: 6-4/191

Shoots: Left

Age: 18

2020-21: Modo (Sweden)

The Red Wings used the first pick in the second round of the 2020 draft on this big, mobile, puck-moving defender. He is coming off his first full season in a men’s league, playing in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second division, where he had a goal and five assists in 43 games. Yzerman described him as someone who projects as two-way defenseman who can log a lot of minutes.

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215937 Edmonton Oilers grouping. Think of players such as Wayne Simmonds, J.T. Miller, Brayden Schenn and Tyler Bertuzzi.

This kind of player would be a dream come true for the Oilers. They’ve What comes next for the Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi? How comparable been looking for him for ages, going back at least as far as the drafts of players performed from age 23 to 25 the Kevin Lowe years. They signed Milan Lucic (years too late) to be this player, then signed Zack Kassian because he was the closest approximation on the roster. By Jonathan Willis Jun 17, 2021 Above-average scenario, age 23-25 scoring

GROUP GP G A PTS Two years ago — when Jesse Puljujarvi’s value was at its lowest ebb and with his relationship with the Oilers on the rocks — there were many Above average (average) reasons to be concerned about his major-league future. As he came off a 82 terrible year, most of his closest age-20 comparables were unimpressive. The exception was a late-blooming countryman, Teuvo Teravainen. 20

At 20, a Teravainen-level scoring career represented a best-case 26 outcome for Puljujarvi, and that’s still true. What’s also true is that it or something like it looks far more reasonable today than it did two years 46 ago. This is the right scenario for fans who want to take off the rose-coloured Certainly, there isn’t much gap between Teravainen’s scoring at 22 and glasses but still retain optimism for a productive outcome. It’s still a good Puljujarvi’s prorated full-season totals at the same age: group, featuring names like Adam Henrique, Nino Niederreiter and Lee Stempniak. PLAYER GP G A PTS The closest direct comparable in terms of size and physical game (and, Teravainen incidentally, draft position) is Andrew Ladd. Ladd won two Stanley Cups, first as a 20-year-old bit player on the 2006 Hurricanes, then as a 24- 81 year-old third-liner with the 2010 Blackhawks. Modern fans will think of 15 him as a two-way workhorse, but interestingly, he didn’t start killing penalties in the NHL until he was 23. 27 The next closest match in this group by size and physical game is 42 Nikolay Kulemin, who illustrates the problems with looking at a single number. By average scoring between the ages of 23 and 25, Ladd and Puljujarvi Kulemin are indistinguishable, though they went on to have very different 81 career arcs.

22 As outcomes go, this one’s still pretty good, even for a No. 4 draft pick. A second-line-ish winger with Puljujarvi’s rambunctious edge could be a big 15 component on a successful Oilers team.

37 Below-average scenario, age 23-25 scoring

Teravainen isn’t a close match for Puljujarvi stylistically. Teravainen is an GROUP GP G A PTS undersized, pass-first forward who can play any position and routinely figures into voting for the Selke and the Lady Byng. Puljujarvi is much Below average (average) bigger, arguably more of a shooter and basically matched Teravainen’s 82 hit totals for his entire Carolina career in 55 Oilers games this season. 18 That isn’t the main point. The main point is that Teravainen was a Puljujarvi-level scorer at ages 20 and 22. From the age of 23 forward, 20 he’s been a first-line-caliber one. 38 Teravainen isn’t the only impressive skater who pops up among Puljujarvi’s age-22 comparables. Between 2005 and 2018, Stathead In the first two scenarios, we’ve looked at assumed growth. That doesn’t Hockey shows that 76 forwards scored at a per-game clip comparable to always happen, and the average numbers for this third group basically Puljujarvi’s 0.45. That’s a nice big list and should give us a good handle stay at the same level during ages 23-25 that Puljujarvi scored at this on the range of potential outcomes. past season.

For ease of handling, let’s separate those 76 players into four 19-player There are still a lot of useful players in this group. The lowest-scoring scenarios: best case, above average, below average and worst case. forward of this set of 19 is Andrew Shaw, a third-line forward for two Cup- We’ll consider some individual examples, as well as the average scoring winning teams and a bunch of other good ones. totals for each group for three seasons, from the ages of 23 to 25. Many of these players hit our “winger with size and a physical game” Best-case scenario, age 23-25 scoring criteria. From Tanner Pearson to Scottie Upshall to Nick Foligno to Nick Ritchie to Josh Anderson, you have the kinds of skater that a contending GROUP GP G A PTS Oilers team could use, and that should probably be the takeaway here: Even if this is all Puljujarvi is as a scorer, he can still contribute as a Best case (average) quality member of Edmonton’s middle-six forward group. 82 Worst-case scenario, age 23-25 scoring 24 GROUP GP G A PTS 34 Worst case (average) 58 82 The perfect-world scenario includes names like Teravainen, Loui 12 Eriksson and Brad Marchand. These players represent the top of the top end, by scoring, and an extreme outer marker for Puljujarvi. 16

We should also note that none of those players has the size and physical 28 game of Puljujarvi, though that player type can also be found in this Has cheering for the Oilers broken you? Do you hate reading these Puljujarvi projections as a fan of an opposing team? Welcome to the doom and gloom.

Players with Puljujarvi’s approximate scoring profile sometimes regress into third- or fourth-line players. Other times, they even wash out of the league.

At the upper end of the group, the players are still fairly solid, and it’s less that they failed than that it took a while for their skill to manifest itself. Late-20s Jannik Hansen was a great middle-six option, and the same is true for late-20s Michael Frolik; that just doesn’t show in these numbers. At the far end of this extreme, we find players like Patrick Eaves, who scored 32 goals at 32 after a career spent mostly as a depth guy.

There are true end-of-roster types here, though. Current Oiler Devin Shore is a pretty good example of what they look like in their mid-20s. There are also true busts, like former Oiler (and 2012 No. 1 pick) Nail Yakupov.

If a field of comparables stretching from Teravainen at one end all the way down to Yakupov at the other leaves you feeling frustrated by the lack of a clean and simple answer, all I can say is that hockey’s like that. Development is an individual process, and it’s healthy to embrace the uncertainty.

What we can do is consider likelihoods. The profile of the comparables above is much more impressive than it was two years ago. That list, too, included Teravainen and Miller and Foligno, but those three were at the very top of a group of players mostly made up of less-impressive names. The list we’re looking at today has improved to such a degree that Foligno-level scoring has gone from a best-case scenario to a below- average outcome.

Put another way, the median scoring outcome has gone from Brian Sutherby two years ago to Colin Wilson today. The reasonable expectation has gone from “can play in the NHL” to “can spend years in a top-six role.” That’s exceptional progress.

One last point: That progress reflects well on almost everyone involved.

The list includes Puljujarvi, who might have been truant but didn’t stop working on his game. It includes his teammates, who (mostly, anyway) have been publicly supportive. It includes a coach who stuck by him and gave him opportunities even early on when the results weren’t there.

Finally, it includes general manager . Holland deviated from the emotional “we want players who want to be Oilers” approach espoused by so many of his predecessors in favour of the cold logic that Edmonton would do better by waiting out Puljujarvi than it would by trading him for Julien Gauthier or someone similar. It’s an atypical response for an NHL GM, and it’s certainly not normal for an Oilers executive.

It’s been two years since Puljujarvi asked out of Edmonton. Mostly, this kind of story has ended badly for the Oilers. This one is on the verge of being the exception to the rule.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215938 Florida Panthers Weegar even transformed into a star after years as an afterthought for a series of Panthers teams with horrific defenses. Florida had nearly a dozen newcomers playing critical roles — many castoffs or unproven, Despite leading Panthers’ massive turnaround, Quenneville misses out unheralded rookies — and at least half had career years. on Jack Adams Award Despite all the newcomers, the Panthers opened the year on an eight- game point streak and were the last team to lose a game in regulation in the 2020-21 NHL season. Florida set a new franchise record for goals BY DAVID WILSON per game and allowed just 2.70 goals per game after giving up 3.33 last season.

The Panthers finished the regular season with the fourth most points, Joel Quenneville has led one of the NHL’s most extreme turnarounds in sixth best goal differential and tied for the third most wins. Still, they his two seasons with the Florida Panthers and it made him a finalist for finished only second in the Central Division and fell in the opening round the Jack Adams Award, but a Central Division nemesis is taking home of the 2021 Cup playoffs the defending-champion Tampa Bay Lightning, the award, instead. which finished the year tied for eighth in points and fifth in wins. Rod Brind’Amour is the winner of the Jack Adams Award after leading The Florida Panthers hired Bill Zito as the team’s new General Manager the Carolina Hurricanes to their first division title since 2006. He beat out on September 2, 2020. His offseason moves have helped contribute to Quenneville and Minnesota Wild coach Dean Evason for the award. Still the team’s strong start. Panthersvision no Panther has ever won the Jack Adams Award, which is given annually to the NHL’s best coach, and Quenneville joins Doug McLean and BARKOV, ZITO FINALISTS FOR AWARDS Gerard Gallant as finalists for Florida to come up short. Quenneville, who won the award in 2000 with the St. Louis Blues and was a finalist in Barkov and Zito could both win trophies this weekend for their 2013, is still looking for his second win. performances this season.

Congratulations to 2021 Jack Adams Award winner, Rod Brind'Amour! Barkov is up for the Selke Trophy, which is given annually to the league’s #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/SYNMZJcRJe best defensive forward, and Zito was named a finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award on Thursday. — NHL (@NHL) June 17, 2021 The NHL will announce the winner of the Selke Trophy on Friday, and Brind’Amour’s Hurricanes were the biggest stumbling block for Barkov is up against Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone and Quenneville’s Panthers this year and gave the coach the only blemish on Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron. The league will announce the his resume. Florida had a winning regular-season record against every winner of the Jim Gregory Award on Sunday, and Zito is up against Marc team they played except Carolina, which won 6 of 8 against the Panthers Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens and Lou Lamoriello of the New York and ultimately them beat out for the No. 1 seed in the Central. Islanders.

Florida finished second in the division and drew the Tampa Bay Lightning Miami Herald LOADED: 06.18.2021 in the first round of the 2021 , and fell in six games to the defending champion.

It was still a historic season in Broward County and a massive leap forward for a historically moribund franchise. The Panthers hadn’t been to the postseason since 2016 before Quenneville took over ahead of the 2019-20 NHL season and had only been to the traditional 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs five times in their history before this year.

In Quenneville’s second season as coach, Florida set a franchise record for points percentage and tied a team record for goal differential despite the shortened schedule.

Quenneville, who has the second most wins in NHL history, is still trying to become only the ninth coach in history to win the award twice. Despite leading the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups in the 2010s, Quenneville never won the award while coaching the Blackhawks.

This breakthrough season was really a two-year project for Quenneville. The Panthers hired him as coach in 2019 and former general manager touted it as “a new era, a new beginning.” After Florida missed Stanley Cup playoffs for three straight years, Quenneville took over a perennially underachieving roster and turned the Panthers into one of the best teams in the league.

Florida finished the 2017-18 NHL season with a .524 points percentage, then fired former coach . Less than 24 hours later, the Panthers made Quenneville its 12th coaching hire since 2000 and the coach has improved Florida’s points percentage in each of his two years, first lifting it to .564 in the 2019-20 NHL season and all the way to .705 this year.

Quenneville took the Panthers to the postseason in his first year, although it was only because the league expanded the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs to 22 teams because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After Florida lost in the qualifying round, Quenneville was open with his displeasure about how his debut season went.

The Panthers fired Tallon a few days later, hired general manager Bill Zito as his replacement and continued to retool to give Quenneville a more complete roster. In Quenneville’s second year, Florida finally became the sort of team he expected.

Center Aleksander Barkov took the leap to stardom and is now a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. All-Star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau put together perhaps the best season of his career. Defenseman MacKenzie 1215939 Florida Panthers

Panthers’ Bill Zito named finalist for general manager of the year

By MALLORY SCHNELL

In his first season with the Florida Panthers, general manager Bill Zito has been named a finalist for the 2020-21 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.

The NHL award is presented “to the general manager who best excelled in his role during the regular season.” The Panthers went 37-14-5 and had a franchise-record .705 points percentage, finishing second in the Central Division.

Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens and Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders are also finalists for the award.

After being named the team’s general manager on Sept. 2, 2020, Zito immediately made signings that strengthened the franchise.

The additions of forwards Anthony Duclair (10-22-32), Patric Hornqvist (14-18-32), Carter Verhaeghe (18-18-36) and Alex Wennberg (17-12-29) added much more scoring depth across the board for Florida. Ryan Lomberg (2-2-4) led the team in penalty minutes with 67.

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On the defensive end, Gustav Forsling, Radko Gudas and Markus Nutivaara gave the Panthers more security on defense with the season- ending injury of star-defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Gudas led the team in hits with 250 and had the second-most blocks with 72. (behind MacKenzie Weegar, 83) Forsling had 42 blocks and 30 hits, while Nutivaara had 13 blocks and 35 hits.

Zito continued to improve Florida’s roster at the league’s trade deadline, acquiring forwards Sam Bennett (6-9-15 in 10 games) and Nikita Gusev (2-3-5 in 11 games) and defenseman Brandon Montour (2-2-4 in 12 games).

NCAA stars Matt Kiersted and Spencer Knight were also important signings by Zito. After Kiersted’s four years at the University of North Dakota, Zito signed him to a two-year, entry-level contract on April 1. After his sophomore season at Boston College, Knight, the 2019 first- round draft pick for the Panthers, was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract on March 31, 2021.

The winner of the award will be announced on Monday during the pregame of Game 5 between the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning on NBC Sport.

Zito would be the first rookie GM to win the award. Former Panthers’ GM, Dale Tallon, was a runner-up for the award in the 2011-12 season.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215940 Florida Panthers The three-time Stanley Cup winning coach of the Chicago Blackhawks won it in 2000 while coaching the St. Louis Blues.

A few days before the 2018-19 season came to an end, Quenneville — Rod Brind’Amour beats Florida Panthers Joel Quenneville for Jack who had been fired by Chicago in the early stages of that season — had Adams agreed in principal to take over the Panthers from Bob Boughner.

The day after Florida ended that season, Boughner was let go and By George Richards Quenneville finalized his contract with the Panthers.

Quenneville was introduced the next day.

After a season in which his Florida Panthers set a franchise record for “I believe this team is close to winning,’’ Quenneville said then. “I was points percentage and were two points away from winning the Central fortunate, luckiest guy in the world when I walked into the Chicago Division title, Joel Quenneville was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award situation there, a team ready, sitting on go to win, I feel the same here for top coach during the 2021 NHL season. now.”

On Thursday night, it was announced Rod Brind’Amour — whose The Panthers did not live up to their preseason hype last season Carolina Hurricanes beat out the Panthers in the Central — won in a vote although the year came to a premature end in March due to the by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. Coronavirus.

Brind’Amour was named on 115 of the 129 ballots and got 61 first-place When things picked back up in the summer, Florida was eliminated from votes for 433 points. its qualifying series by the Islanders in four games.

Dean Evason of the Minnesota Wild received 24 first-place votes and This year, the Panthers did not have a whole lot of high expectations 235 voting points to edge Quenneville (21 first-place, 225 points). outside the organization but they got off to a great start and appear to be a team which will be a contender for years to come. Quenneville was vying to become the first Florida coach to win the Jack Adams; Gerard Gallant finished second to Washington’s Barry Trotz in To me, there are a lot of good coaches out there and I am so biased, but 2016. I can legitimately make the argument for Joel as coach of the year,” Zito said. In his second season with the Panthers, Quenneville led Florida to a 37- 14-5 (79 points) record. “The new faces alone tip the scales. It has been truly remarkable what he has done this year.” Florida’s 37 wins ranked tied for third in the NHL as the Panthers went 20-5-3 at home and 17-9-2 on the road. Sasha Barkov, the captain of the Panthers, is a finalist for the Selke Award which will be announced on Friday night. Subscribe to FHN today for coverage of your Florida Panthers all offseason long Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021

The Panthers got off to a great start, opening the season on an eight- game point streak (6-0-2) and seven-game road point streak (6-0-1).

Florida was the final team in the league to lose a game in regulation (Feb. 7) and the final team to lose a game in regulation on the road (Feb. 20).

Down the stretch, the Panthers went 13-2-0 in their final 15 home games and tied their season-high six-game win streak heading into the playoffs.

I think for a confidence standpoint, the players know the coach believes in them and he just lets them play,’’ said Florida general manager Bill Zito, who was named one of three finalists as the NHL’s GM of the Year on Thursday morning.

“It has been great. It has been a fascinating learning experience for me. The wisdom, the magic … his ability to put players in positions to succeed, to coach them, to push them to get the effort out of them and get the skill out of them was amazing.

“This and we didn’t have much of a training camp, no exhibition games, he had a new GM, new players, dealt with Covid. All coaches faced the same challenges, but I don’t think many faced this kind of turnover and had to evaluate them all in such a short period of time. Then he plugged them in and they all succeeded.

“It’s unbelievable what he has managed to do.”

Before the award was announced, Quenneville credited his team’s front office and the Florida players for the team’s success in an interview with NHL Network.

”To me, getting this nomination is really what the organization has done in the last year,’’ Quenneville said. “I think Bill Zito coming on board did a great job of adding staff and adding some really nice pieces to our team. There were significant contributions from Carter Verhaeghe, Hornqvist came in … our compete level across the board is what you want as a coach.

“Everything falls into place when you know the standard of expectations between everyone — your linemate, your defensive partner — are all playing the right way falls into place rather easily. That’s fun to be around.”

Quenneville has only won the Jack Adams once. 1215941 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers Bill Zito named GM of the Year Finalist

By George Richards

To the surprise of no one, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito has been named one of the three finalists for the Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award.

Zito was joined as a finalist with Montreal’s Marc Bergevin and Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders.

The Panthers named Zito their new GM in September after the contract of Dale Tallon was not renewed.

Zito, the former assistant and associate GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets, quickly went to work rebuilding the Florida roster around the likes of Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad and Sergei Bobrovsky.

By the time he was done, the Florida lineup had been transformed; going into the playoffs, the Panthers were running out 10 players who were not with the team last year.

Zito’s first big move came weeks into his tenure as the team’s new general manager, trading defenseman and forward Colton Sceviour to Pittsburgh for Patric Hornqvist.

At the draft, Zito brought in Anton Lundell with the No. 12 pick.

During free agency, Zito signed Alex Wennberg, Anthony Duclair, Carter Verhaeghe, Ryan Lomberg and Radko Gudas.

Of all the moves Zito and the Panthers made during the offseason — and, throughout it — only a couple did not pan out. The majority did, however, and the Panthers ended up placing second in the Central Division a point back of the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I’m going to give Bill all the credit for doing what he had to do,” said coach Joel Quenneville, who will be a finalist for the league’s coach of the year award.

“He kept me informed every step of the way. We had some input, but at the end of the day, Bill was the guy pulling the trigger and doing the work and figuring it out.

“But he gets the credit for these acquisitions that have been outstanding. It has been a good first year for him. He has done a lot of great things.”

In other award news, Quenneville is up for the Jack Adams Award which goes to the NHL’s Coach of the Year; that will be announced tonight.

Barkov is a finalist for the Selke Trophy for the top defensive forward in the league and that will be announced on Friday.

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215942 Florida Panthers With Huberdeau’s skillset that makes his linemates better paired with Lundell’s ability to get into the right areas and shoot the puck, helping the Finnish forward learn the NHL game may be Huberdeau’s next Panthers 2020-21 Report Card: Jonathan Huberdeau challenge.

Key Stats

June 17, 2021 by Colby Guy Regular Season: 20 goals (T-30 in the NHL, 2 on FLA), 41 assists (T-8 NHL, 1 FLA), 61 points (T-11 NHL, 1 FLA) in 55 games played.

Playoffs: 2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points in six games played. The 2020-21 season was business as usual for Florida Panthers superstar Jonathan Huberdeau. The Quebec-native had his third Fun Fact: Huberdeau’s 19 power-play assists tied him for 5th in the entire consecutive season at over a point-per-game pace, registering 20 goals NHL. and 61 points in 55 games this year. His 61 points had him tied for 11th Final Grade: A+ in the NHL while his 41 assists were the eighth-most in the league. Huberdeau was far and away one of the best players that the NHL had to Huberdeau’s unique, combined skillset of playmaking and goal-scoring offer in the 2020-21 season. He was a huge part of the Panthers’ makes him one of the best players the NHL has to offer. He had the successful campaign that saw them return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for second-best season of his spectacular career statistically, as he was on the first time since 2016. an 82-game pace of 29 goals and 90 points. The Hockey Writers LOADED: 06.18.2021 What Huberdeau Brought to the Table

The best thing about Huberdeau is that no matter who you put him on a line with, he always finds a way to make whoever he plays with better. This is where a lot of the Panthers’ success came from this season, as the superstar winger has actually spent most of his ice time away from captain and fellow superstar Aleksander Barkov.

Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers Oct. 17, 2017 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

According to Dobber Sports, Huberdeau spent 32.6% of his ice time on a line with Alex Wennberg and Patric Hornqvist. In the 329 minutes he spent on that line, Huberdeau helped Hornqvist match his 2019-20 points total of 32 in eight-fewer games, and saw Wennberg flourish to a career high of 17 goals during the shortened season. He simply makes his linemates better.

After the trade deadline, Huberdeau saw himself on a line with newcomer Sam Bennett, who had just four goals and 12 points in 38 games with the Calgary Flames. In the 10 games since he became Huberdeau’s centerman in Florida, Bennett tallied six goals and 15 points.

All of these stats correlate to one thing: Huberdeau’s playmaking has been making whoever he plays on a line with a better player. He’s dangerous with the puck and draws the defense towards him, then he’s able to bait the defender over to him and beat them with whatever tricks he has up his sleeve.

On this play in particular, Huberdeau splits the defense between Victor Hedman and Jan Rutta, and draws both of them over to the side he’s on to open up the slot for Owen Tippett. He then is able to get the pass off between the two Lightning defenders with an absolutely beautiful spin-o- rama to feed that puck to Tippett, who pots the goal.

These are the types of plays that Huberdeau has been making all season, and it worked wonders for the Panthers. There are a short list of wingers in the NHL who are able to make their linemates better the way Huberdeau does, and this season, he showed us why he ranks near the top of that list.

What to Look for Next Season

With Huberdeau wrapping up one of the best seasons that a Panthers forward has ever had, there’s not much he can improve. However, there is another challenge that could await him in the 2021-22 season.

With 19-year-old centerman Anton Lundell in the fold after Florida signed him to his entry-level deal on Sunday, June 7, Huberdeau has a chance to help the Panthers develop another franchise cornerstone. If Florida decides to pair the two together, look for the 2020 first-round pick to develop into a favorite for the Calder Trophy next season.

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Oilers Could See Keith Yandle as This Year’s Tyson Barrie 1215943 Los Angeles Kings More than two-thirds of players voted in favor of keeping series scheduling, meaning multiple games in the same city, while more than two-thirds of players voted against keeping the regional divisions. Neither 2021 NHLPA Players Poll – Doughty, Kopitar, Reverse Retro Jerseys came as much of a surprise. The series scheduling allowed for mentioned substantially fewer flights, and substantially more rest for the players on the road, which was a major plus, something you’d think the NHLPA might push for more of. The regional divisions were likely more about playing only seven opponents than the actual configuration of the By Zach Dooley divisions themselves. By the time we hit the sixth Kings-Wild meetings in three weeks, I’d have voted the same way. I think we can all agree that it will be nice to see a wider array of opposition, and the return of an 82- Good Morning Insiders, and Happy Thursday! game schedule, in October.

This morning, the NHLPA released its annual players poll, in which more LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.18.2021 than 500 players from around the league voted amongst their peers on a variety of different categories, ranging from on-ice performance to off-ice personality to jersey style.

This season, the Kings had two players who received consideration around the league, as well as a shout out to their Reverse Retro jerseys, thought of as one of the best by the men wearing it, and skating against it.

NHLPA Players Poll Link

Best Defenseman

Sounds as though the bulk of NHL players did not watch TSN last summer! Drew Doughty finished fourth in the poll, to be labeled as one of the league’s top blueliners as is custom with these types of surveys. Doughty received 2.73% of the vote, placing below just Victor Hedman, Cale Makar and Roman Josi. Doughty has been voted in the Top 4 in each of the last four seasons, revealing that those who play in the NHL have a ton of respect for the Kings number-one defenseman.

If anything was disappointing in this poll regarding Doughty, it’s that the off-ice categories where he is always mentioned weren’t posted this season. Doughty was a regular in the best (and worst) trash talker and funniest player categories, and as a jest, was voted for the best bromance with Matthew Tkachuk last season. As one of the league’s best personalities, Doughty is always mentioned in those types of categories, but there weren’t any in this season’s poll.

Most Complete Player

Crosby, Bergeron, Barkov, McDavid, MacKinnon, Kopitar……Nottttt a bad list to be on.

Most complete player is a good category for Kopitar, and it was one of the categories that had a high “other” percentage, meaning lots of players received votes. The two-time Selke Trophy winner has long been lauded as one of the best all-around players in the NHL, and that perception is clearly shared by not only the fans and media, but the players on the ice as well. Kopitar’s 200-foot game is well recognized, and his offensive abilities were rewarded this season as he cracked the 1,000 point mark in Arizona in May.

Every season, Kopitar is mentioned in this category or a category like it. In 2018-19 and 2017-18, Kopitar was included in the Top 5 of the “most difficult to play against”, and again when that category was limited to forwards. Kopitar has also been voted by his peers in the best team player category in the past, though that was also not an option this season.

One of those situations where everyone, regardless of role, knows that Anze Kopitar is a great all-around player.

Reverse Retro Jerseys

The players have spoken and the Kings Reverse Retro Jerseys were ranked as the second-best in the league. Trailing only Colorado’s nod to the , the return of the forum blue and gold, combined with the 90’s era logo, was a big hit amongst the players on the ice. This seems to match up with the public perception as well, with the Kings sweater ranked in several Top 5 lists when the jerseys originally came out back in the last offseason.

Schedule

It was not Kings specific, but it was interesting nonetheless to see the players’ opinions on the hypothetical continuation of regional divisions and series scheduling. Well interesting yes, but not necessarily surprising. 1215944 Minnesota Wild

Wild sign new affiliate deal with of ECHL

Located in Coralville, Iowa, which is about 4 1/2 hours from St. Paul, the Heartlanders will allow the Wild to streamline their player development.

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: June 17, 2021 at 12:57 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 3:42 p.m.

After operating a minor-league affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa, for the past six years, the Wild are growing their brand south of the border. On Thursday, the organization announced a multi-year deal with the Iowa Heartlanders of the East Coast Hockey League that will begin with the 2021-22 season.

“We are thrilled to announce a new ECHL affiliation agreement with the Iowa Heartlanders,” Wild general manager said in a release. “We look forward to being a part of the Heartlanders’ inaugural season and helping grow the great sport of hockey while also having the opportunity to develop players at both the AHL and ECHL level in Iowa. This is an exciting day for our organization.”

Located in Coralville, Iowa, which is about 4 1/2 hours from St. Paul, the Heartlanders will allow the Wild to streamline their player development. The organization can now send top prospects to either the of the or the Heartlanders of the ECHL.

“We are excited to enter into this affiliation agreement with the Minnesota Wild and their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild,” Heartlanders president Brian McKenna said in a release. “We share the Wild’s vision on player development and look forward to being a link in the development chain and helping prepare prospects for promotion within the system.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215945 Montreal Canadiens defence as Vegas launched a late-in-the-game charge that came one goal short of forcing overtime.

“It was good to see him back and the way he played,” Montreal head Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry is the latest in a saga of NHL coach Dominique Ducharme said. “He’s a gamer. When you get in critical postseason toughness games, he’s at his best.”

The 33-year-old Petry has been a late bloomer in hockey, an American college player who signed with the Edmonton Oilers and bounced Roy MacGregor between the minors and NHL. In 2015, the Oilers traded him to Montreal for a second-round draft pick and a conditional fifth-round pick. Each year

he improved until, in the shortened 2021 season, he was scoring at an Montreal's top-scoring defenceman in the regular season, Jeff Petry, impressive .78 points a game. right, returned to action after missing two games with dislocated fingers, Petry’s defence partner Joel Edmundson said Wednesday that Petry playing a central role in the team's Game 2 win. “has been our best defenceman all year, so obviously, when you miss a Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters guy like that, you want him back as soon as you can.”

One touch of the television remote flips you between two games, both As for the eyes, Edmundson said, “His eyes have looked like that for a involving speed, passing, shooting and goals – yet they could not week now. It’s kind of scary – but I don’t think it affected him tonight.” possibly be more different. Canadiens goaltender Carey Price agreed Petry is “scary-looking. But In the Euro 2020 soccer tournament, every brush is an assault, every he’s obviously a big part of our team and played a big game for us tumble demands writhing and grimacing in pain, the injury so severe that tonight.” the downed player may never walk again. He will need to play big games again Friday and Sunday back home in In the Stanley Cup playoffs, playing hurt and not complaining is as much Montreal. Perhaps this time he can be the superhero, as opposed to the the culture of hockey as diving is in the culture of soccer. villain his children slay.

There are moments in spring hockey that take on legendary status. And then he can head once again for Vegas, with a clear-eyed vision of Bobby Baun not only played on a broken ankle in the 1964 playoffs, but what has to be done if Montreal is to continue on. scored a crucial overtime goal in the final to propel his Toronto Maple Globe And Mail LOADED: 06.18.2021 Leafs to a Stanley Cup victory. Nearly a half-century later, it was Boston Bruins centre Gregory Campbell blocking a slapshot from Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2013 Eastern Conference final. The shot broke his leg and sent him sprawling to the ice, yet he got back to his feet and finished his shift.

Wednesday night in Las Vegas, key members of the Montreal Canadiens defence looked like they should have been waiting in emergency rather than protecting a lead that ended with a 3-2 victory over the Golden Knights. It was a must-win situation that left the semi-final series tied at one game apiece, with the teams now in Montreal for Games 3 and 4.

Team captain Shea Weber, slashed on one or both thumbs, is thought barely able to hold his stick, yet never complains, never even talks about his injuries.

The team’s top-scoring defenceman in the regular season, Jeff Petry, returned to action after missing two games with dislocated fingers. In a freak accident, his glove had become stuck in a photographers’ hole in the Plexiglas. He played wearing a specially reconstructed glove and was a major factor in the Canadiens’ victory.

“They don’t win this series if he’s not in the lineup,” ’s Kevin Bieksa said before it was announced that Petry would be returning earlier than expected.

In fact, there was some confusion right up to game time as to whether he would be playing. When the team tweeted out its lineup during the warm- up, he wasn’t listed. But later, when the NHL published the official lineup on its media website, he was.

Shortly after the game began, a camera caught a close-up and, instantly, it was not Petry’s fingers that fans were talking about: it was his eyes.

According to Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas, Petry is suffering from “bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhage.” During Thursday’s media availability, the fiery red eyes of Petry commanded the opening question. The condition, Petry said, is “all related to the incident” that broke his fingers, but he wouldn’t elaborate any further on that.

His wife, Julie, he said, had warned their young boys that their father’s eyes were now blood red. “They didn’t want to look at me,” he said. And so, he devised a game in which he played the villain and they the superheroes who subdue the red-eyed villain.

“That got them a little relaxed,” Petry said.

He did not play the villain Wednesday night, but he did play the pivotal role expected of him. He had Montreal’s first shot on net. He assisted on Tyler Toffoli’s goal that put the Canadiens ahead 2-0. He blocked Vegas shots and had just short of 21 minutes of ice time. He knocked Golden Knights players down, none of whom writhed in pain, and was critical on 1215946 Montreal Canadiens Both Fleury and Price have had their share of luck and, in Price’s case, heartbreak. Wednesday’s victory was his first in the Stanley Cup semi- finals. It matters not that players throughout the NHL regard him as the best at his craft; until now, the teams with which he has played in Fleury, Price take the spotlight as Knights to face the Canadiens in Montreal have had too many flaws to go all the way. Montreal On Thursday, the Canadiens’ Marc Bergevin was named one of the three finalists for the award that is given annually to the NHL’s top general manager. Several moves by him in the past year paid off as the club Marty Klinkenberg eliminated the Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets.

Bergevin acquired six Stanley Cup champions through trade or free Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens looks on against the Vegas agency since September, including wingers Tyler Toffoli and Corey Perry Golden Knights during the second period in Game Two of the Stanley and centre Eric Staal. All have been excellent in the postseason. Cup Semifinals during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena Although Vegas is only completing its fourth season, its lineup is also on June 16, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. loaded with former Stanley Cup winners. Alex Pietrangelo, who won one as the captain in St. Louis, scored both of the Golden Knights’ goals in Like so many other Canadiens fans, François Legault offered an online Game 2. salute to Carey Price late Wednesday night. The Quebec Premier thanked the Canadiens goalie, referring to him as “Jesus” after his There is no mistaking however, where the spotlight will fall as the series monumental effort in a 3-2 victory over the Golden Knights. progresses.

Price certainly was Montreal’s saviour as his overachieving team evened “It’s a great matchup,” DeBoer said of the opposing goalies. “I don’t think its series in the Stanley Cup playoffs at one win a piece. they look at it as Fleury against Price. It’s our group against their group and both goalies are a big part of each team. After one of Price’s 29 stops, Alec Martinez and Ryan Reaves of Vegas looked confused. Both peered up at the video screen on the scoreboard “I’m anticipating both guys are going to be great every night and games to confirm what they thought they had or hadn’t seen. It was the type of are going to be decided by other factors.” magic that Siegfried & Roy performed at the Mirage for years. Fleury stopped 20 of 23 shots on Wednesday. The only one he possibly Martinez was bearing down on the Canadiens net and merely had to flip misplayed was Byron’s backhand on the breakaway. To complain about a puck in from a few feet away to cut Montreal’s lead to 2-1. Fans inside it is like grousing that Mike Trout only hit a fly ball to the warning track in T-Mobile Arena rose as they anticipated a goal. The shot may have his last at-bat after hitting back-to-back homers in two previous plate caromed off Price’s right hip or pants leg or perhaps it was willed away appearances. by telekinesis, but it suddenly skittered overhead instead. Not even the Fleury came out of the net hoping to poke the puck away from the replay could explain exactly what happened. onrushing Byron, only to have it flipped over him. “I was using all of my extremities,” Price said mysteriously. He is a man “I regretted that decision as soon as I made it,” Fleury said. “I made up of so few words and so many saves. my mind too early. I shouldn’t have done that.” Paul Byron scored on a breakaway after that to put Montreal up 3-0 in Fleury, who grew up in the Montreal suburbs, is looking forward to the second period, a deficit just too large for Vegas to overcome. returning to Quebec for the next two games. Habs draw even with Golden Knights in Stanley Cup semi-final series “It will be nice,” he said. “I haven’t been back since last season before the after Game 2 win quarantine. It’s always a building that’s fun to play in.” The combatants renew acquaintances at the Bell Centre for Games 3 Everyone else should be just as excited. It’s two of the game’s most elite and 4 on Friday and Sunday and what looked improbable just a few days netminders matching their skills and wits. ago now seems within range. Despite a 4-1 thumping in Game 1, the Canadiens could head back to Las Vegas next week with the series “That’s what you want to see in the series,” said William Karlsson, a hanging in the balance. centre for Vegas,. “They are two great goalies. I’ve watched Price on TV this season and it has been a joy to watch, and I’ve had front-row seats There are more than a few members of each team that could play a role to watch [Fleury] these last couple of years. in the outcome, but none more significant than Price and Marc-André Fleury, his immensely talented counterpart with the Golden Knights. Both “It’s great to see the goalies bring a lot of show to the show.” are future Hall of Famers, and each is playing as if the clock has been turned back 10 years. Globe And Mail LOADED: 06.18.2021

Price, 33, has spent his entire career in the NHL with Montreal and is still seeking his first Stanley Cup. Fleury is 36 and attempting to win another Cup with Vegas to go along with the three he already earned in Pittsburgh.

Both have dazzled in the first two meetings, with Price stopping 55 of 61 shots for a .931 save percentage, and Fleury 48 of 52 (.923). Price withstood a barrage of pucks over the final minutes to secure Wednesday’s triumph, while Fleury stopped a handful of dangerous attempts at the beginning of Game 1 that kept the Golden Knights from falling behind.

That both have been outstanding is not a surprise, especially to Peter DeBoer. Before he became the head coach in Vegas, DeBoer watched Jaromir Jagr and Martin Brodeur from behind the bench in New Jersey and Joe Thornton in San Jose. All are certain first-ballot Hall of Famers.

He said there are big similarities between them, Fleury and Price.

“These guys have more money than they’ll ever spend in their lifetime,” DeBoer said this week. “They play because they love everything about the game, from showing up at the rink to practising, to travelling, to hanging out in the room.

“When you have done it for 20 years and show up with a smile on your face and say, ‘I want more,’ you are a rare breed. It is not an accident.” 1215947 Montreal Canadiens the injury was to the bottom hand on his stick. Petry said his hand felt good on Thursday morning.

“It responded well after a game,” said the defenceman, who logged 20:47 Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Petry looks like a villain but plays like a hero of ice time, had two shots, picked up an assist and was plus-1. “For me, it’s just a matter of I didn’t do too many battles in practice, so it was kind Defenceman didn't want to get into details about his bloodshot eyes but of taking things on the fly and seeing what worked, what didn’t and did talk about how his wife prepared their sons for his new look. overall I felt good. I have to use my skating ability, and the physical play might be a little different and using my stick, using my legs to get through

the games and to play. That’s something that I think always my best Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette asset is my legs, my skating ability, so just focusing on doing that and closing quickly.”

Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme called Petry “a gamer” and Maybe they can put a hockey villain in the next James Bond movie. added he’s a player who’s always at his best in crucial moments and in big games. Petry proved that again with his solid performance in Game He could look exactly like Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry did in Game 2. 2 of the Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Golden Knights Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The Canadiens won the game 3-2 to Petry didn’t want to get into any details about his eyes Thursday, only even the best-of-seven series 1-1 heading into Game 3 Friday at the Bell saying the condition was related to his hand injury. But he did talk about Centre (8 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). how his wife prepared their three young sons for the first time they saw their father with his bloodshot eyes. Before Game 2, the big question was whether Petry would be able to return to the lineup after missing Game 1 because of what is believed to “My wife gave them a warning and they came in and didn’t want to look be two dislocated fingers on his right hand. Once Game 2 started, with at me and decided that I would be the villain and they would be the Petry playing, the bigger question became what the heck happened to superheroes and we started playing,” Petry said. “That got them to relax his eyes? and feel a little bit more comfortable now.”

Petry’s eyes were freakishly bloodshot and photos and memes of him The Canadiens looked a lot more comfortable in Game 2 with Petry back started popping up all over social media. His wife, Julie, took to on the blue line. Instagram to explain what happened. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2021 “No, it’s not pink eye,” Julie wrote. “No, it’s not a reaction to an injection, anti-inflammatory or pain medication. Look up subconjunctival hemorrhage. Pretty bad case of it due to what he’s gone thru last week. So, that should be that. Keep on with the memes, tho, they are making me laugh!”

Here’s how the Mayo Clinic describes the condition on its website:

“A subconjunctival hemorrhage occurs when a tiny blood vessel breaks just underneath the clear surface of your eye (conjunctiva). The conjunctiva can’t absorb blood very quickly, so the blood gets trapped. You may not even realize you have a subconjunctival hemorrhage until you look in the mirror and notice the white part of your eye is bright red. A subconjunctival hemorrhage often occurs without any obvious harm to your eye. Even a strong sneeze or cough can cause a blood vessel to break in the eye. You don’t need to treat it. Your symptoms may worry you. But a subconjunctival hemorrhage is usually a harmless condition that disappears within two weeks or so.”

Jeff Petry’s eyes looked like something out of a horror movie pic.twitter.com/HtKrzyIONH

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) June 17, 2021

Sunday will mark two weeks since Petry suffered his hand injury on a freak play at the Bell Centre. Petry was being checked by the Winnipeg Jets’ Paul Stastny in Game 3 of the second-round playoff series when his right hand got stuck in the hole in the glass that is cut out so photographers shooting the game can put their camera lens through it. Petry missed Game 4 of that series, as the Canadiens completed the sweep, and Game 1 against Vegas. He was a game-time decision for Game 2.

“It’s come along,” Petry said about his hand during a video conference from Las Vegas Thursday morning before the Canadiens flew back to Montreal. “It just was something that I needed to get time. Talking with the doctors, getting a timeline and coming up with what made sense, but what was, I guess, realistic. I tried to push through and see and try more and more things in practice to see if they would be comfortable or manageable and for me it was just a matter of when I felt like I could play without hurting the team is when I gave the coaching staff and the trainers my opinion and my want to get in the lineup.”

Petry out of the game with an upper-body injury after getting his finger caught in a camera hole pic.twitter.com/iUoFvO5LEa

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) June 7, 2021

Petry wore a special glove on his right hand designed by Patrick Langlois, the Canadiens’ assistant equipment manager, that provided extra padding while still allowing him to handle and shoot the puck since 1215948 Montreal Canadiens The Golden Knights’ puck movement and layers of screens in the offensive zone might change the overall look of expected results if accounted for properly, but we also have to add those factors for the Canadiens. What we can say is that despite the Golden Knights By the numbers: Canadiens' control of slot gives them fighting chance dominating puck possession overall in the series, the Canadiens have maintained ownership of both the slot and the inner slot, which bodes Creates an advantage for Habs in expected goals, where they’ve well. outpaced the Knights at 5-vs-5 and overall through two games, which was unexpected. This series is still an uphill battle for the Canadiens as Vegas is the toughest challenge they’ve faced and injuries are mounting, but it’s about

time this upstart team starts getting some respect. Andrew Berkshire Special to the Montreal Gazette Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2021

After the Canadiens’ hot streak to start the season ended, head coach Claude Julien was fired and weeks passed without much improvement in their play, how many people — outside of the most optimistic fans — could have expected this remarkable playoff run?

The Canadiens finished 18th in the overall NHL standings, so any skepticism about their post-season success is warranted, but it’s time for even critics to give them credit.

There are a lot of folks making excuses for the Canadiens’ opponents, and there have been some fortunate breaks for Montreal. ’ scary injury in Game 1 against the Maple Leafs might have changed the course of the series, and the same goes for Mark Scheifele taking himself out of the Jets series, or Dylan DeMelo and Jake Muzzin getting injured. In Vegas, Chandler Stephenson is out day-to-day, and refrains of “another lucky break” rain down on social media.

If you look only at injuries to opponents, of course things appear tilted, but the Canadiens have battled through adversity. Carey Price and Phillip Danault were coming off concussions to start the playoffs, and Shea Weber and Brendan Gallagher are playing with hand injuries. Meanwhile Jeff Petry is playing with dislocated fingers and Jake Evans is still out with a concussion.

And few mention that the Canadiens’ co-leader in points in last year’s post-season, Jonathan Drouin, is on a personal leave.

So the narrative that the Canadiens have had all the luck in these playoffs while their two cornerstone defencemen are playing with hand injuries and two of their best offensive forwards are injured or unavailable, rings extremely hollow when scrutinized.

And after two road games against the monstrously talented Vegas Golden Knights, the idea that the North Division was just bad and the Canadiens had an easy road is also starting to fade a little bit.

The Canadiens have earned a split on the road and stolen home ice advantage through two games against the heavily favoured Golden Knights, but how have they fared when we look at the underlying numbers?

By volume metrics, the Canadiens have struggled quite a bit. They had a strong Game 2 but after a hot start in Game 1, the defence struggled mightily to move the puck without Jeff Petry for the final 40 minutes. However, despite the fact the Golden Knights have controlled nearly 60 per cent of the unblocked shots at 5-vs-5 hockey, the Canadiens have maintained a sizable advantage in high danger chances, blocking the Knights out from the net front. This might sound familiar because this is Shea Weber’s defensive style; bend but never break.

The Canadiens’ control of the slot area has in turn created an advantage for them in expected goals, where they’ve outpaced the Golden Knights at 5-vs-5 and overall through two games, which was unexpected.

The fact the Canadiens have maintained overall control of the slot and the high danger area — and even increased their advantage when accounting for special teams — is especially impressive when you consider that the Golden Knights have been awarded nearly five times the power-play time so far.

There are issues with public expected-goal models, most notably not accounting for passing. The Golden Knights, especially in Game 1, were able to move the puck through the slot repeatedly for cross-crease one- timers that beat Price a couple times, but he made several miraculous saves on others. For example, according to Evolving-Hockey’s location- based xG model, Alec Martinez’s one-timer goal in Game 1 was given an 8 per cent chance to score (0.08 xG), when it was much more likely to be about 40 per cent or higher. 1215949 Montreal Canadiens Shortly before puck drop, the Canadiens updated their tweet announcing that Petry would play.

“He was confident he was going to play, but we needed to talk to the Canadiens Notebook: Habs now hold home-ice advantage in series doctors, we needed to have the green light and after the morning skate they wanted to make sure everything was fine after warmup,” Ducharme "We’re in a good position, but there’s lot of work to do still," Dominique said. “So there’s no game there. Jeff wanted to play if he could Game 1, Ducharme says as his team returns to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. but you gotta also work with the medical staff and making sure also that he cannot injure himself more or make it worse. So there are a lot of

things. It was not playing a game; it was just making sure that everything Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette was fine and was cleared by everyone, and that was what we needed to do.”

Petry is believed to have suffered two dislocated fingers on his right hand The Canadiens now hold home-ice advantage with their Stanley Cup when he got it caught in a hole in the glass at the Bell Centre used for semifinal series against the Golden Knights becoming a best-of-five after photographers during Game 3 of the second-round playoff series against the teams split the first two games in Las Vegas. the Winnipeg Jets. Petry missed Game 4 of that series as the Canadiens completed the sweep and also missed Game 1 against the Golden Games 3 and 4 will be Friday and Sunday night at the Bell Centre and so Knights. will Game 6 next Thursday, if necessary. The Canadiens will be able to have 3,500 fans at the Bell Centre for those games, which all have 8 p.m. When Petry met with the media Thursday morning he said he knew he starts, after the Quebec health ministry increased the maximum for was going to play in Game 2 all along. indoor and outdoor venues from 2,500 this week while loosening some COVID-19 restrictions. “Yeah, I did,” he said. “I told them in the morning that I wanted to play and everything felt good. It was down to seeing how it responded after Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said the team went to Las pushing it a little bit harder after morning skate and for me showing up to Vegas with the objective of winning at least one game. They lost Game 1 the rink, showed up at my normal time knowing that it felt good and I was by a 4-1 score on Monday before winning Game 2 by a 3-2 score on very likely to be playing.” Wednesday. Petry logged 20:47 of ice time and picked up an assist along with two “We lost the first game, but we wanted to make sure we rebounded and shots and was plus-1. left here tied 1-1,” Ducharme said Thursday morning in Las Vegas before the Canadiens flew back to Montreal. “We’re in a good position, but Merrill also returned to the lineup in Game 2, logging 12:52 of ice time, there’s lot of work to do still. That said, we’re going home and it’s good to after missing the previous seven games with an undisclosed injury. Brett have some more people in the Bell Centre. It’s certain that we’d like to Kulak and Alexander Romanov were made healthy scratches to make have a full building like it was here, but it’s not the same reality (in room for Petry and Merrill. Montreal). “We all want to contribute, we all want to be in the lineup every night, but “We want to be playing the perfect game,” the coach added. “I think it’s we’re also all committed to winning as a team and team success,” Merrill really important in a playoff round like this to build up your game and be said. “I think we’re all professionals and we understand that when the better from one game to the other, and I thought we did that against team does well it’s good for all of us. So it’s competitive. We all want to Toronto (in the first round). We did that against Winnipeg (in the second be in there, but whoever’s name is called we’re ready to go and step in round) and we want to do the same thing here where we take what we do and do whatever it takes to get this team a win.” good and duplicate that the next game, but also challenge ourselves to Forward Jake Evans is the only Canadiens player still on the injured list be better on little things. I think, again, we have done a lot of good things as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered in Game 1 against last night, but there are things that we can do better, and we’ll talk about the Jets. Evans was still wearing a non-contact jersey for Wednesday’s it and we’ll be better next game.” morning skate in Las Vegas. Canadiens defenceman Jon Merrill said it will be exciting to to return Jeff Petry s’adresse aux médias via Zoom en direct. home and play the next two games at the Bell Centre. Jeff Petry is addressing the media live via Zoom.#GoHabsGo “I know I read there’s gonna be a few more fans in the building back in https://t.co/FD1pMzYfnX Montreal, so we’re all excited to get back there and play in front of those fans and even though it’s not as many as here (in Las Vegas) I think that — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 17, 2021 they’re going to be amped up and ready to go and it’ll be buzzing in there.” Special glove

Both games in Vegas had more than 17,000 fans at T-Mobile Arena. Petry wore a special glove on his right hand for Game 2 with extra padding that was designed by Patrick Langlois, the team’s assistant “This team is dedicated, it’s bought in, it’s together right now,” Merrill equipment manager. said. “Really happy with a big win last night and it’ll be a fun plane ride home today and we’ll hope to build on that going into Game 3.” “Pat, our trainer, he’s an equipment engineer,” Petry said. “You tell him what you need and you tell him what you want and he’ll find a way to get 7 hits it done. It took him no time to get that done and we played around with a couple different minor tweaks, but we got it to where I was comfortable 6 blocked shots with holding the stick and with enough padding to protect everything. I’ve 24 minutes of ice time got to give props to him for coming up with this so quickly.”

What a performance by the captain. #GoHabsGo Petry, who is a right-hand shot, uses his right hand on the bottom part of pic.twitter.com/1lCynRoSV3 his stick.

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 17, 2021 When asked if he would have played in Game 2 if it had been a regular- season game, Petry said: “It’s hard to tell. Obviously, in a regular part of No gamesmanship? the season you can always take a little bit more time to take care of yourself and make sure that everything heals. But it is the playoffs. It is Ducharme insists there was no gamesmanship involved in the very late the most important time of the year. With any injury that you’re dealing decision to put defenceman Jeff Petry in the lineup for Game 2. with, you’re trying to cut the timeline down and get out there as quick as After Wednesday’s morning skate, Ducharme said it would be a game- possible.” time decision on whether Petry would be in the lineup after he had Canadiens captain Shea Weber is also apparently dealing with an injury, missed the previous two games with an injury to his right hand. After the which was reported to be ligament damage in his left thumb. pregame warmup, the Canadiens tweeted out their game roster and Petry’s name wasn’t on it. “He’s a guy that’s battled through injuries the last couple of years, and to see the competitiveness and his wanting to be on the ice …,” Petry said about Weber. “There’s guys on our team, other teams that are dealing with injuries and this is the time of the year that it’s important to get out there and play through it if you’re able. It’s obviously the biggest time of the year, so I wanted to do everything in my power to get back and to get back as quickly as I could.”

Au Québec, nous sommes prêt(e)s pour du hockey ! Prêt pour le retour du hockey mineur, prêt pour le prochain match des @CanadiensMTL !

Vous avez été plusieurs à nous parvenir des vidéos toutes plus originales les unes que les autres. MERCI!

Êtes-vous prêts? pic.twitter.com/IF7fdX9ZWw

— Hockey Québec (@HockeyQuebec) June 14, 2021

The fourth line?

The Canadiens are now 9-1 in the playoffs and have won eight straight when they score the first goal of a game. In Game 2 against Vegas, it was Joel Armia who put the Canadiens on the board first at 6:12 of the first period.

Armia has been a force in the playoffs while playing on the fourth line with Corey Perry and Eric Staal. Armia is tied with Tyler Toffoli for the team lead in playoff goals with five and also has three assists in 13 playoff games. Perry has 3-5-8 totals and Staal has 1-6-7 totals.

“I don’t know if it’s a fourth line,” Ducharme said. “I think we can call it Staalsy’s line and they’ve been great for us. The way they protect the puck, they give a lot of momentum to our team. They’re giving other teams heavy shifts. They’re hard to play against, they protect the puck really well and they get rewarded with big goals. So I like what they do for our team and those guys are experienced at the same time. So I think they’re going to keep having a good impact on our game.”

.@catbtoffoli and @sarahabyron’s phones must have been blowing up last night. #GoHabsGo | @scotiahockey | @RONAinc | @FordCanada pic.twitter.com/twpfjrbrVU

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 17, 2021

PK on a roll

The Canadiens’ penalty-killers killed off both Vegas power-plays in Game 2 after killing off all four Golden Knights power plays in Game 1. The Canadiens have now killed off 21 straight power plays over the last nine games and have a league-best 91.9 per cent success rate in the playoffs.

The Canadiens went 1-for-3 on the power play in Game 1 with Cole Caufield scoring the team’s only goal of the game with the man advantage. In Game 2, the Golden Knights didn’t take any penalties.

“They were clean last night,” Ducharme said while appearing to bite his lip. “They were really clean.”

The Canadiens power play is clicking at 20 per cent during the playoffs.

Series schedule

Here’s the rest of the schedule for this series:

Game 3: Friday, June 18, at Montreal, 8 p.m.

Game 4: Sunday, June 20, at Montreal, 8 p.m.

Game 5: Tuesday, June 22, at Las Vegas, 9 p.m. x-Game 6: Thursday, June 24, at Montreal, 8 p.m. x-Game 7: Saturday, June 26, at Las Vegas, 8 p.m. x-if necessary

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215950 Montreal Canadiens The Jim Gregory Award has been presented annually since the 2009-10 season and no Canadiens GM has won it. Lamoriello was the winner last season.

Montreal Canadiens' Marc Bergevin nominated for NHL's GM of the Year Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2021 Award

This is his third time as a finalist for the award in his nine seasons as the Habs' GM.

Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin might want to wear his lucky red suit again when the NHL hands out its awards at the end of the season.

The league announced Thursday that Bergevin is one of three finalists for the Jim Gregory Award as the top GM for the 2020-21 season. Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers are the other two finalists.

This marks the third time Bergevin has been nominated for the award since taking over as GM of the Canadiens in 2012. NHL general managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media vote for the Jim Gregory Award at the conclusion of the second round of the playoffs with the top three vote-getters being named finalists. If the voting had been done at the end of the regular season, it’s pretty certain Bergevin wouldn’t have been a finalist.

“This nomination makes me very proud, especially since it was voted by my peers,” Bergevin said. “I want to recognize the remarkable work of all the members of the organization, coaches and players, who dealt with an extremely difficult schedule with such professionalism and who have made personal sacrifices to ensure the success of the club. This recognition is theirs as well. I’d also like to congratulate Lou and Bill for their nomination.”

Bergevin had a busy offseason last year, adding Jake Allen, Joel Edmundson, Tyler Toffoli, Corey Perry, Josh Anderson and Michael Frolik to the team while spending right up to the NHL’s US$81.5-million salary. cap. Allen, Edmundson, Toffoli, Perry and Frolik all have Stanley Cup rings and Bergevin added another Stanley Cup winner before the trade deadline when he acquired Eric Staal from the Buffalo Sabres.

The Canadiens got off to a fantastic start this season, going 7-1-2 in their first 10 games before things started to fall apart. Head coach Claude Julien and associate coach Kirk Muller were fired when the Canadiens had a 9-5-4 record, replaced by Dominique Ducharme and Alex Burrows. A week later Bergevin fired goalie coach Stéphane Waite, replacing him with Sean Burke.

After Joël Armia tested positive for COVID-19 in late February, the Canadiens were forced to play their final 25 regular-season games in 44 days and they were winless in their last five games before the playoffs, going 0-3-2 to finish fourth in the all-Canadian North Division with a 24- 21-11 record. But with a healthy team and a week off before the start of the playoffs, the Canadiens were able to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the first round and then swept the Winnipeg Jets in four games, advancing to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the first time since 2014.

The Canadiens are seven wins away from their first Stanley Cup since 1993. Their semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights is tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 Friday at the Bell Centre (8 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Bergevin wore what has become his lucky red suit for Game 7 against the Maple Leafs and Game 4 against the Jets.

“The guys we brought in, sometimes it does work, sometimes it doesn’t work,” Bergevin said before the start of the semifinal series. “But we knew we were bringing guys with character. Like I mentioned to our team in our first meeting in Toronto before the season started … these guys who won Stanley Cups they were not brought in here by accident, but by design. I think it’s paying off now. We have some young kids, but we have some strong leadership that have been through the battles of winning a Stanley Cup.” 1215951 Montreal Canadiens

Golden Knights at Canadiens: Five things you should know

Tyler Toffoli isn't the only Montreal Canadien riding a streak.

Pat Hickey Publishing date:Jun 17, 2021

Here are five things you should know about Game 3 of the Montreal Canadiens-Las Vegas Golden Knights best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinal series at the Bell Centre Friday (8 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN-690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Home-ice advantage: One of the keys to success in the playoffs is to win a game or two on the road and the Canadiens accomplished that with a split of the first two games in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights were the dominant team in Game 1 with a 4-1 victory, but the Canadiens bounced back Wednesday with a 3-2 win. The split gives the Canadiens the home-ice advantage for the series with three of the remaining games scheduled for the Bell Centre. Quebec health authorities have raised the cap on attendance from 2,500 to 3,500.

Canadiens on a streak: Tyler Toffoli was Montreal’s leading scorer in the regular season and he’s also leading the way in the playoffs. Toffoli scored his fifth playoff goal Wednesday and extended his consecutive- game points streak to eight games. He has five goals, including two game-winning tallies, and five assists in that run. But Toffoli isn’t the only Canadien riding a streak. Cole Caufield showed great awareness as he set up Toffoli in the high slot and he has points in four consecutive games and five of the past six games. Caufield earned a reputation as a goal-scorer in the USHL and the University of Wisconsin but he has displayed great vision on the ice and uses his skating and stick-handling abilities to make strong entries and create space.

Danault an essential worker: General manager Marc Bergevin should be putting together a new contract offer for centre Phil Danault, who is living proof that offensive numbers aren’t always a measure of a player’s value. Danault hasn’t scored a goal in the playoffs and has only two assists, but he has made his contribution by shutting down the opposition’s offensive players and winning key faceoffs. In this series, his line has limited high- scoring wingers Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty to a combined five shots on goal and no points. He won 17 of 28 faceoffs Wednesday and logged 20:42 of ice time.

Timing is everything on faceoffs: The Golden Knights have the best faceoff record in the playoffs but the Canadiens had the edge in each of the first two games. But, as coach Dominique Ducharme noted, the Canadiens have made a habit of losing defensive zone faceoffs, which have led to four of the six Vegas goals. It happened on both Vegas goals Wednesday. Nick Suzuki, who won nine of 17 faceoffs Wednesday, lost draws after the Canadiens were guilty of icing and Alex Pietrangelo made the Canadiens pay with a pair of goals.

Mind the outside: The Canadiens defence likes to push the opposition to the outside and will often concede shots from long range. But they may have to the rethink that strategy. With Pietrangelo’s brace Wednesday, the defence has accounted for five of the Golden Knights’ six goals. While the defencemen have been loading up from the outside — they combined for 18 shots in Game 1 and 13 Wednesday — Vegas has made it difficult for Carey Price by piling bodies in front of the net. On Pietrangelo’s first goal Wednesday, there were three Vegas players and two Montreal defencemen impeding the goaltender’s vision.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215952 Montreal Canadiens After getting outshot 12-4 in the previous period, Vegas had 10 shots to Montreal’s four in the second. And yet it was Montreal who briefly had the frame’s only goal when Paul Byron picked up a loose puck at the blue line off a Jesperi Kotkaniemi chip, skated it in and placed a backhander About Last Night: Bet on red! Habs win Game 2 in Jeff Petry's return over a sprawling Fleury to make it 3-0.

The Montreal Canadiens evened their third-round playoff series against Paul Byron in all alone to make it 3-0 Canadiens! #ItsOn the Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-2 win Wednesday night. pic.twitter.com/ySvztCe1zn

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 17, 2021

Erik Leijon Special to Montreal Gazette The three-goal lead was short-lived. Just over a minute later, Vegas won an offensive zone draw and sent it back to Alex Pietrangelo, who wired it

through traffic and past Price to make it 3-1. It’s how the second period The Montreal Canadiens hung on to win 3-2 and even their third-round ended. A skirmish along the boards between Corey Perry, Eric Staal, series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 on Wednesday. William Carrier and Ryan Reaves with time winding down only increased Carey Price weathered an offensive onslaught in the second and third the tension further as both squads returned to their dressing rooms. period, making 25 of 27 saves (and 29 total) in the victory. Alex Pietrangelo through traffic! The Golden Knights are on the The Canadiens opened the game with a Sin City sleight of hand worthy board.#ItsOn pic.twitter.com/OnRp7k2y0o of Penn and Teller. After announcing their starting lineup, they quickly — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 17, 2021 amended it to include Jeff Petry in Brett Kulak’s place. It caught everyone by surprise. Even more shocking was Petry’s appearance coming onto In the third period, the Canadiens hung on while the Golden Knights the ice. pressed. Headstrong Alex Tuch missed two chances bolting down the sides with speed, looking up in frustration both times. At the other end, Bruh. pic.twitter.com/IPpdH1wlGc Nick Suzuki deked out the Vegas defender one-on-one and got two shots — BobbyLotsOfNumbers (@TheReplayGuy) June 17, 2021 on Fleury. After an icing by the Habs, Vegas found themselves with yet another all-important offensive zone draw. They won it, sent it back to In addition to the red eyes, Petry was also sporting a four-fingered glove Jonathan Marchessault, who found Pietrangelo moving toward the net. in his return to the ice after missing the last two games. The eye doctors Pietrangelo received the pass and scored his second of the night to pull in the house concluded it was a subconjunctival hemorrhage, but it’s his team within one with just over five minutes remaining. supposedly rare to get it in both eyes. He wasn’t the only returning Hab: Jon Merrill came back from his unknown injury to replace Alexander Pietrangelo makes it a one-goal game! #ItsOn Romanov in the lineup. For the Golden Knights, top line centre Chandler pic.twitter.com/f84VUHBLIz Stephenson was an unexpected scratch. — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 17, 2021 The Habs got off to a similarly fast start as in Game 1, only this time it led A former Hab turned astute analyst Mike Johnson has seen this play to movement on the scoreboard. After hard work down low by the fourth before… line, Joel Armia was the recipient of a bouncing puck from Joel Edmundson. Armia finished in the open net to make it 1-0. How many times do the Habs need to see that faceoff play run to Pietrangelo before the left winger just hangs in slot to take passing lane ICEBREAKER! away? The @CanadiensMTL have the early lead. #GoHabsGo | #StanleyCup — Mike Johnson (@mike_p_johnson) June 17, 2021 pic.twitter.com/HxFTCqlIeM Just before pulling the goalie, Mark Stone had a wide open net backdoor, — NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 17, 2021 but a diving Toffoli intercepted the pass to protect Montreal’s lead. With under five minutes remaining in the first, the Habs added to their Behind the Habs net with time running out, William Karlsson cross- lead. After an icing, the Habs won the draw. The puck went back to Petry checked Edmundson into the boards. The defenceman went down and on the blue line, who patiently found Cole Caufield nearby. The rookie drew a whistle, but no penalty was called. In the final seconds, Weber showed some patience of his own in finding Tyler Toffoli, who didn’t get stood tall for his team, using his stick to deflect a centring pass to all of his one-timer, but it was enough to fool Marc-André Fleury to make Karlsson, then blocking a shot by Pietrangelo with his hand. The it 2-0. The Toffoli/Caufield combination is starting to make history: Canadiens gave up 17 shots in the third period, but managed to skate Toffoli’s eight-game playoff point streak is behind only Guy Lafleur and away with the 3-2 victory. Price is now 9-4 in these playoffs, besting his (both at nine) in franchise history, while Caufield is only previous win total of eight in 2014. the second 20-year-old in team history to have points in four straight The Canadiens return home with the series tied. They’ll play in front of playoff games (Shayne Corson did it in six). 3,500 on Friday and Sunday. Although the number pales in comparison Caufield Toffoli = to the nearly 18,000 at T-Mobile Arena, there was an audible Montreal contingent rooting them on in Vegas, including a certain Hall of Fame The @CanadiensMTL mean business in Game 2. #GoHabsGo | baseball player: #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/DO9X5P1cK7 Let's bring it home here in the third period, guys. Enjoying the game with — NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) June 17, 2021 the family, cheering on my favorite hockey team. #gohabsgo@CanadiensMTL pic.twitter.com/nyG1hLevT0 The strong first period was a continuation of their previous rounds and a reversal of Game 1 against Vegas. The Habs have outscored their — Tim Raines (@TimRaines30) June 17, 2021 opponents 12-3 in the first period in 14 games so far in these playoffs. With last night’s win, the Habs are 6-0 when leading after the first and 9-1 The Habs will need to be rock solid at home (see what I did there) for the when scoring first. Four shots in the first also tied a season-low for the next two games. The Liveblog commenters noticed there were no Golden Knights. penalties called against the Golden Knights. What gives?

Vegas came on strong in the second. Max Pacioretty was sent in alone 3. “Great win! Now back home to take care of business. Karlsson on a stretch pass and rang one off the post. Then Alec Martinez thought deserves 5 games for that hit from behind on Eddie! C’Mon REF! Make he had scored on Price, but the goalie actually slid across to make the that call! GHG! IN CAREY WE TRUST!” -Alex Polidoro last-second stop. 2. “Don’t know about you, but this Vegas pre-game show is ridiculous. Carey Price. That's it. That's the tweet. #ItsOn Just too much.” -Denis Pelletier pic.twitter.com/fZcvsNWBms 1. “Gutsy road effort. They found a way to steal one there, but at this — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 17, 2021 point all that matters is the W. Really was not easy, but they did it. Ridiculous the refs didn’t call a penalty against Karlsson for that Edmundson hit. 0 penalties against the Knights tonight.” -James Toth Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215953 Montreal Canadiens “It has no effect whatsoever on the functioning of his eyes,” he said. “He will see. The vision will be unaffected. His eye movements will be unaffected. It really is no issue.”

‘It just looks like hell’: What’s going on with the Canadiens’ Jeff Petry’s There was still the potential for it to become an issue for the father of ‘scary-looking’ eyes young children, though.

“Kids were at school when I came home,” Petry said, as relayed by The Canadian Press. “(They) didn’t want to look at me and decided that I By Sean Fitz-Gerald Jun 17, 2021 would be the villain and they’d be the super heroes and we started playing.

“That got them to relax and feel a little bit more comfortable.” More often than not, Dr. Patrick Tracey said the scenario unfolds like this: A patient wakes up and makes their way to the mirror, where they notice Fans celebrate hockey players who skate with stitches in their face and their eye has suddenly, and inexplicably, turned an unsettling shade of aches in their bones. Why was there such a commotion over the state of red. his eyes?

They call his office in a panic. “It’s just the psychology of your eyes, and how important your vision is to you,” said Tracey. “If you suddenly look in the mirror one day, and the “They come in,” he said, “and sure enough, it’s just a subconjunctival whole half of the white part of your eye is beet red, then you’re thinking, hemorrhage.” ‘What on earth is happening here?’” The term found its way into the spotlight — an unsettling red spotlight — It could happen to a football player, he said, if an opponent’s finger on Wednesday night when Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry slipped through their facemask and poked them in the eye. In hockey, it returned to the ice for Game 2 of his team’s playoff series with the Vegas could be caused by a high stick — though the consequences of that Golden Knights. The focus was supposed to be on his injured right hand, could be much more severe. but it landed instead on his eyes. “If I look at the players on the ice, and I look at the position of those They were both a deep blood red, a look possibly made even more visors, they’re up so high — their eyes are not protected,” said Tracey. “I dramatic by the bright lights of the arena. Television cameras relayed the really worry about that. And my god, if I was the owner of the team, it’s Images, and social media shuddered. Goaltender Carey Price — a man just basic workplace safety.” who chooses his words carefully — called the eyes “scary-looking.” A Sportsnet reporter on the scene relayed word of the diagnosed And a subconjunctival hemorrhage? hemorrhage. “It just looks like hell,” he said. “But it doesn’t really pose any problem.” Tracey is an optometrist who works with the Toronto Argonauts, and has a background with both the San Jose Sharks and then-Oakland Raiders. The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 He said the condition is not nearly as frightening as it looks or sounds.

JEFF PETRY'S EYES ARE LEGITIMATELY BLOODSHOT PIC.TWITTER.COM/LHB73LOJOT

— OMAR (@TICTACTOMAR) JUNE 17, 2021

“If you happen to break a little blood vessel on the white part of the eye — and if it bleeds — it just spreads,” he said. “It’s like putting ink on a flat surface and then putting a piece of plastic on top of it. It will just spread underneath it.”

He chuckled.

“It looks like something out of a horror movie,” he said. “But it’s pretty innocuous and not really an issue.”

Petry did not offer much insight during a conversation with reporters. The 33-year-old missed Game 1 of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinal series with an undisclosed hand injury. He caught his right hand in the glass — in a cutout meant for a photographer’s lens — in Game 3 of the previous series, a sweep of the Winnipeg Jets.

His wife, Julie, addressed his eyes on social media. In a post on Instagram, she wrote it was not due to allergies, fatigue or the result of a “couple nights in Vegas.”

“All related to his ‘upper body injury,’” she wrote. “But let me tell you he looks a lot better than he did a week ago.”

Depending on just how much bleeding was involved, Tracey said the condition will tend to settle down with help from gravity. He said the blood would eventually be absorbed into the surrounding tissue and that the red would fade, likely turning light yellow before returning to normal.

A person could take a week or two to completely recover.

“We see it in elderly people who may be on blood thinners and who maybe strain too hard when they’re on the toilet, or they sneeze too hard or cough too hard,” he said. “If you’re sick to your stomach and you retch, that sudden pressure surge can break a little blood vessel on the eye.”

Tracey, who practises out of Queensway Optometric Centre, in Mississauga, Ont., said the hemorrhage does not cause pain. He said it would not impede a player’s vision on the ice. 1215954 New York Islanders “We gotta keep putting the puck to the net,” Casey Cizikas said. “That’s when you get the chances and the second opportunities.”

In addition to the photographer’s first period defense, for example, the Lightning have it too easy in Game 3 Islanders’ loss Isles got help on their goal from the same lucky corner boards. A fortunate bounce on a Greene dump-in allowed Cizikas to retrieve the puck behind the net and feed Martin in front.

By PAT LEONARD Then a Lightning defenseman tried to tuck the puck under Vasilevskiy’s pad for a whistle, and that’s when Clutterbuck “just shoveled until it went

in.” The Tampa Bay Lightning probably weren’t expecting the photographers Martin insisted the quick Lightning answer for the final score didn’t get to get in on the Islanders’ home ice advantage Thursday night, but this is the Isles down. Nassau Coliseum in its final NHL season. “We’re a veteran team,” he said. “I think we try to brush off anything that Anything goes. comes our way... We’re always gonna play with confidence because we The Lightning were leading and buzzing in the offensive zone late in the believe we’re a good team.” first period when the referee stopped play and pointed to the corner But while there was some atmosphere here on Thursday, with Jets guard boards. A cameraman had poked his lens too far through his allotted slot and new Islanders celebrity fan Dan Feeney chugging beers and and interfered with the puck. slamming the cans on his head to get the 12,978 going, the magic and Tampa agitator Patrick Maroon skated on for the ensuing faceoff and the consistent intensity were missing. gestured toward the corner in frustration. Maroon was greeted by about Two straight losses now have followed the Isles’ dominant Game 1 road 30 middle fingers from the fans above. victory. They have Saturday night at the Coliseum to take it up a notch Unfortunately, the Islanders on the ice didn’t give the Lightning as hard of and stop the bleeding before it’s too late. a time in a 2-1 Game 3 loss that didn’t feel that close. New York Daily News LOADED: 06.18.2021 The Isles didn’t dial up consistent playoff intensity until midway through the second period, led by forwards Kyle Palmieri and J-G Pageau.

And though Cal Clutterbuck jammed home a Matt Martin rebound to tie the game at one apiece at 17:01 of the second, the Lightning’s Brayden Point answered at 19:40 through a crowd of bodies just as a Tampa power play expired.

The Isles generated some quality third-period chances, but Leo Komarov couldn’t finish two on the doorstep, and the Islanders failed to register a single shot on Andrei Vasilevskiy for the final 1:47 that Semyon Varlamov was pulled for the extra attacker.

“They’re Stanley Cup champions. They’ve been in these situations,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said of the Lightning. “We tried. We just have to get more pucks, get inside. We had some chances and made some key saves. I thought we were pretty good defensively, as well. A lot of what they got, I thought we gave it to them.”

Trotz wasn’t referring to the game-winning goal from Point off a Victor Hedman rebound. The Lightning’s preceding power play had been earned on a questionable interference call against Adam Pelech drawn by Nikita Kucherov.

[More Sports] Goalie Semyon Varlamov survives collision but Islanders drop Game 2 to Lightning to even Stanley Cup semifinals »

“I didn’t think there was much there at all,” Trotz said of the penalty.

But the Lightning had too easy of a time in the first period, including Yanni Gourde’s goal at 10:05 to open scoring, when Blake Coleman outworked Isles defenseman Noah Dobson to his own rebound behind the net and threw one off Nick Leddy’s skate in front to his teammate.

On the day that the Isles’ Lou Lamoriello was named a finalist for the Jim Gregory Award as the NHL’s top GM, his deadline acquisition Palmieri was terrific.

But ’s line with Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier got absolutely nothing going, putting just two shots on goal all night.

“I thought we had four lines for parts of the game but not all the game,” Trotz said.

[More Sports] Islanders turn in complete performance to take 1-0 road lead off Lightning »

And though top center Mathew Barzal was buzzing on the puck most of the night, the Lightning were able to calmly back up and mostly keep the puck in front.

Barzal had one glorious chance late in the second period off a pass from Andy Greene and either missed the open net or grazed the post.

Only when Palmieri, Martin and the bottom six forwards crashed the net with the puck and their bodies did they make life hard on Vasilevskiy. The Islanders actually outshot Tampa, 28-25, but it didn’t feel that way. 1215955 New York Islanders “We’re going to keep firing pucks at the net, that’s when we get our chances and get the second opportunities,” said Casey Cizikas, whose fine game included a hard-work assist on the Clutterbuck goal. “We’ve got to find the way to get it past the first guy.” Referee helps doom Islanders with phantom Adam Pelech penalty The Islanders for the most part clamped down on the Point line in this game that resembled a Big 10 Woody Hayes-era cloud of dust game. Kucherov did not have a lot of space. Neither did Ondrej Palat. Steven By Larry Brooks June 17, 2021 | 11:44pm | Stamkos, the target of, well, Barnyard chants, was held in check.

But the home boys just couldn’t find any space. The Lightning were You can’t make it up. unyielding. Even when the Islanders were able to get onto the attack, they couldn’t create. They couldn’t generate off the rush. For the most Except that one of the fine referees working Thursday’s Game 3 of the part, they couldn’t make accurate passes to even generate a rush game. Stanley Cup semifinals at the Coliseum did just that. It was like the traffic on the Northern State.

Eric Furlatt made up a make-up call late in the second period, whistling Barzal had a 24-11 edge in five-on-five attempts while on the ice but Adam Pelech off the ice for an arbitrary interference infraction after the could never quite tee it up. His 79.9 percent expected goals for casts defenseman had briefly become entangled with Nikita Kucherov away doubt on the worth of the stat, but the Islanders did have zone time with from the play. It’s the kind of interaction that happens a dozen times a No. 13 on the ice. And the Identity Line did its job, repeatedly getting to game. the front.

But at that point, at 17:38, the Lightning hadn’t had a power play. The But the Anthony Beauvillier-Brock Nelson-Josh Bailey unit, the one that Islanders had one. So Furlatt consulted his game-management guide the team had leaned on the last two playoff seasons, suffered for the and sent Pelech off just 37 seconds after Cal Clutterbuck had banged second straight game. The Islanders need more from Beauvillier, who one in off one of the match’s thousands of goalmouth scrambles to bring Trotz said “needs to fight for more inches.” They also need more from his team level at 1-1. Kyle Palmieri.

“I didn’t think there was much there, at all,” head coach Barry Trotz said. The Islanders went toe-to-toe with the champs. They were hanging in. “But you’ve got to fight through those things, and we did. It was just the They were even late in the second. few seconds at the end.” You couldn’t make it up. The Islanders did kill it off, but it was only four seconds after Pelech gained his work release and could join the play that Brayden Point found But then Furlatt did. a loose puck in front while falling to the ice and somehow snaked it New York Post LOADED: 06.18.2021 through Semyon Varlamov at 19:42 for the 2-1 lead that held until the final buzzer.

The Islanders are a no-excuse team. Trotz did not pound the podium and, unsolicited, blurt out his opinion of the penalty. He was asked about it late in the Zoom session. The call did not necessarily cost the Islanders the game, for who knows if they would have been able to produce a second goal against Tampa Bay’s defensive wall even had the match continued into the weekend.

PENALTY: #Isles' Pelech is off for interference. #GoBolts go on the power-play with just over 2 minutes to go in the second period pic.twitter.com/o0PlDFuCWv

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) June 18, 2021

But it sure did not help. The defending champs are formidable enough without getting that kind of a break. The defending champs were sure formidable defending in this one in disrupting attempted Islander breakouts at one end and getting sticks and bodies in the way of the puck at the other.

Fact is, the Islanders could only get 28 of their overall 62 attempts on Andrei Vasilevskiy, 21 tries blocked by 11 different players. True enough that Tampa Bay could get only 25 of their 52 attempts on Varlamov, but maybe that’s someone else’s column.

The Islanders who were at the other end of the Zoom calls seemed loath to laud the Lightning’s defensive effort. Apparently no one was in the mood to pump Tampa Bay’s tires. That’s fine. We get that.

But this was something pretty special over the full 200×85, exemplified over the final 1:44 with Varlamov on the bench and the Islanders going with six attackers. First, at their own end, they were stuck, apparently confounded by Kucherov’s forecheck presence at the top of the zone. It took way too much time for Mat Barzal — who was marked tightly by Ryan McDonagh and Mikhail Sergachev or Victor Hedman through most of the match — to find an outlet and for the Islanders to move through the neutral zone.

Once encamped, the Islanders were kept to the outside. They couldn’t find lanes. There were no seams. They managed one attempt after pulling their goaltender, a Jordan Eberle backhand. It was blocked, naturally.

Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech was called for interference in what was a questionable call. 1215956 New York Islanders

Islanders fall behind Lightning with Game 3 loss

By Mollie Walker June 17, 2021 | 10:48pm | Updated

After holding the defensive edge over their first two opponents in the playoffs, the Islanders have finally met their match in the Lightning.

As the Islanders lost 2-1 on Thursday night in the first semifinal game Nassau Coliseum has hosted since 1993, it was evident that it’s going to take a lot more skill and manpower to overcome Tampa Bay. With the victory, the Lightning swung the series 2-1 in their favor heading into Game 4 on Saturday night back at The Barn.

The Islanders haven’t been able to score more than two goals against the Lightning in any of the first three games. While the Isles are known to have defensively responsible forwards, so does Tampa Bay — and it has made capitalizing on high-danger opportunities that much more difficult.

“Tampa is good all-around,” said Matt Martin, who assisted on the Islanders’ lone goal from Cal Clutterbuck. “They’re the defending Stanley Cup champions and they know what it takes to win. They got a couple top-tier defensemen and four good lines that know what they have to do in their D-zone.

“There’s a lot of top teams in this league that know how to take care of their own end and they’re certainly one of them.”

Trailing 1-0 at the start of the second, after Tampa Bay’s Yanni Gourde put one in off a sharp angle halfway through the opening frame, the Islanders weren’t very active to start the period but then hit a spurt of momentum. Following a Mathew Barzal chance that saw the Isles star center fling the puck through the crease, the Islanders broke through at 17:01.

In the midst of a scramble in front of Tampa Bay’s net, Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak tried to put the puck under goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy’s pads, but Clutterbuck jammed it over the goal line to tie the game.

The Islanders were starting to buzz, but an interference call on defenseman Adam Pelech sent them to the penalty kill — and the crowd of 12,978 into a fit of fury. Just as it expired, Lightning top-line center Brayden Point scored his third goal of the series, swiping the puck through while falling to the ice for the 2-1 lead with 17.4 seconds left in the period.

With eight shots in the third period, the Islanders had a few looks to pull even again. They outshot the Lightning 4-0 through the first 8:47, but nothing came of it. The Islanders weren’t able to create anything when goalie Semyon Varlamov was pulled with 1:49 left in regulation, either.

For an organization that prides itself on being a four-line team, the Islanders seemingly only had two Thursday night — and it was the bottom six. Barzal posed as a threat on a handful of shifts, otherwise, the Islanders didn’t get much from their usual contributors.

“I felt that we had four lines for parts of the game, but not all of the game,” head coach Barry Trotz said. “I thought we came out OK, and then we sort of had a little bit of a dry spell, where I felt they had way more chances in the first. I thought we responded with a little bit of a slow start in the second and then I thought we came on really strong.

“At the end of the day, pretty even game. They just capitalized on a chance on a sort of scramble at the end of the power play.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215957 New York Islanders progression. What Montreal had to do in their series probably was a little bit of shock and awe. I don’t think we’ve had to go through that process.

“But once we got to the full buildings, what it did was put a lot of the joy Islanders’ Lou Lamoriello could make history with second NHL GM award back into being a hockey player for guys. It was a mental grind in the bubble, you score a goal and there’s noise but it’s background noise, it was hard to keep momentum. You had to do it internally. Now the fans help you with that.” By David Lazar and Mollie Walke rJune 17, 2021 | 9:19pm | Updated New York Post LOADED: 06.18.2021

There are few people in hockey who garner more respect than Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello. That was proven once again Thursday, as the 78-year-old was named a finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award for the second consecutive year — he won the award following the 2019-20 season.

“It means a lot. It doesn’t surprise me,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said prior to Game 3 on Thursday. “Congratulations to him. I understand why he’s nominated. He’s a Hall Of Fame GM and a lot of it is because of his detail.”

Marc Bergevin (Montreal Canadiens) and Bill Zito (Florida Panthers) are the other nominees — unlike other NHL accolades, voting for this award was conducted after the second round of the playoffs.

Lamoriello is the first GM to earn at least two straight nominations since Ducks’ general manager Bob Murray (2012-13 through 2014-15). But Murray only won the award once. Lamoriello is attempting to become the first two-time victor since the award was created during the 2009-10 season.

The Islanders’ Lou Lamoriello is a finalist for the 2020-21 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.

“The respect level that you have for him, the presence that he has, that stuff trickles down,” Islanders forward Jordan Eberle said. “Just being a good teammate. There’s a reason why we’ve had success under him.”

The Islanders are in the Stanley Cup semifinals a second consecutive season thanks largely to Lamoriello. He is the one who brought Trotz in fresh off a Stanley Cup victory with the Washington Capitals. He is the one who traded for Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Andy Greene, Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac, four crucial players for the Islanders as they battle the Lightning. He is the one who drafted Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson in 2018, two young players already making an impact.

The NHL is noticing.

“[This nomination] speaks volumes to his personality, to what he brings to an organization,” Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy said. “The respect factor that he deserves and he is given on every team speaks volumes for him and how much respect we all have for him, as well.”

Lamoriello, in his 33rd season as an NHL GM, has seen his Islanders win 26 postseason games since joining the team before the 2018-19 season. The Lightning are the only team with more playoff wins during that time (27).

“You look at his track record and it speaks for itself,” Zajac said. “Credit to him. He’s got a lot of belief with how he does things.”

After recording the game-winning goal in Game 3, Lightning top-line center Brayden Point has scored in each of the first three games of the Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Islanders.

Point is the 15th player in NHL postseason history to score a goal in six straight games and the only active player to achieve the feat. He is the first player to do so since Martin Havlat did it in 2006 with the Senators.

Nassau Coliseum hosted 12,978 fans Thursday, the most the arena has allowed the entire postseason.

Trotz has acknowledged just how much of an influence the fans have had on games during the playoffs, but after participating in the bubble playoffs in empty arenas last season and playing part of this year’s regular season without fans, the coach acknowledged there was a bit of an adjustment period.

“I think there was a little bit [of an adjustment to the crowds],” Trotz said before Thursday’s game. “We talked about it and I think what happened was, if you remember, the buildings that eventually had fans they started with like 2,500 or 1,500 and then it kept growing. I think it was a natural 1215958 New York Islanders young players and giving the confidence and showing them the ice for them to have a big effect on a game.

“Everyone has their own schedule and time frame to feel comfortable Islanders have go-to duo in Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock pair with responsibility so I say all the time that it’s no different with any young player. We’re at an age where they come out of junior and they’ve got to do this and that and it’s so unfair to the kids these days with expectations. By Larry Brooks June 17, 2021 | 7:18PM “A kid goes with the first- or second-overall pick and should have all

these points and should dominate the league. It is hard to dominate this The NHL is still seeking a corporate sponsor for its Alliteration Award, but league and especially when you’re in the transition from adolescent to The Post has leaned that is has been won this year by the Islanders’ adult when testing NHL veterans on a nightly basis,” Trotz said. “It’s so Pelech-Pulock Pair. unfair that we expect that from these young players.

And no, none of that is technically true (well, it is not true at all), but that “There are only a few Connor McDavid’s who can do it right away. The does nothing to diminish the importance of the Adam Pelech-Ryan rest have a different time frame but can be really good players, and that’s Pulock pair as their team entered Thursday’s Game 3 of the Cup what we saw in Pelech and Pulock.” semifinals against the Lightning at the Coliseum. New York Post LOADED: 06.18.2021 The emergence of the P-men as Barry Trotz’s primary matchup pair over the coach’s three years on the job not only has solidified the blue line, but provides an inkling of his approach to lineup construction and his method of dealing with young players with upside.

“When I got here I didn’t know much about either one of them in terms of their game,” said Trotz, who joined forces with then-recently hired president-general manager Lou Lamoriello in June 2018. “I felt we were in a little bit of a transitional period, where so much had been relied upon a [Nick] Leddy-[Johnny] Boychuk combination and if we were going to go anywhere we were going to have to get our younger players to take more of a piece of the overall pie.”

Leddy came to the Islanders a week before the start of 2014-15 from the Blackhawks, with whom he had won the Cup in 2013. The club also acquired Boychuk, a 2011 Cup-winner with the Bruins, on the same day in twin moves pulled off by then-GM Garth Snow. The defensemen joined forces to become the club’s top pair.

While Leddy remains on the left side of the blue on the second pair with partner Scott Mayfield, a second-round, 34th-overall selection in 2011 who has played 223 games in the NHL, Boychuk was forced to step away from playing due to the effects of an eye injury he sustained late in 2019-20.

Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock have emerged as Barry Trotz’s top pair.

Meanwhile, Pelech was drafted out of Erie of the OHL — where he played with Connor McDavid — in the third round and with the 65th selection of the 2012 entry draft. A year later, Pulock was a first-round, 15th-overall selection out of Brandon of the WHL. Both players served apprenticeships in the AHL, Pelech playing 105 games with Bridgeport and Pulock, 163.

They both earned spots under Trotz for 2018-19, emerging late that season as the matchup pair.

“Early in camp I talked to them about trying to move them up in the lineup a bit, would they be ready for it, we talked about what their strengths and weaknesses were, and we slowly started to do that,” the coach said in advance of the match that would break the 1-1 series tie. “There was a point where we did it a little too quickly for them and had to pull them back.

“We would pull them back and give them the time to get their confidence back or getting some success and then we’d give them a little more and they’d get better and more comfortable. Now they have become a really reliable pair.”

Trotz wants to have Pelech-Pulock on as much as possible against Tampa Bay’s supercharged Ondrej Palat-Brayden Point-Nikita Kucherov first line just as he did in the second round against the Bruins’ imposing Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak top unit and in the opening series against Pittsburgh’s top unit centered by Sidney Crosby.

Game 2 was a bit of a struggle, with Pelech harried into uncharacteristic mistakes on controlled breakouts that ultimately resulted in a pair of Tampa Bay second-period goals, But there was no reason not to expect a return to form at the Coliseum.

“[Pelech and Pulock] can contribute offensively and can defend as well as any two guys in the league and have an effect on the overall game,” the coach said. “So this is a normal development of two really smart 1215959 New York Islanders

The ‘ungodly’ scenario Islanders can’t be baited into again

By Mollie Walker June 17, 2021 | 3:00pm | Updated

It was clear what the Lightning were trying to do. From Game 1 to Game 2, they came out with more than a few extra shoves after the whistle and made a point to get in the Islanders’ faces every chance they could.

Tampa Bay recognized just how effective the Islanders can be at even strength, so the focus shifted to taking that away – and it worked.

At this point, it’s no secret that the Lightning are at their most dangerous when on the power play. By challenging the Islanders physically, Tampa Bay wound up with five man-advantage opportunities in Game 2 compared to the two it had in the series opener. The Lightning only capitalized on one, but the Islanders aren’t a team known for its shorthanded offensive abilities — and to beat the Lightning at their best, the Isles will need as much offense as they can muster.

It was a brilliant change in approach, because the Islanders don’t shy away from that kind of challenge. The Isles pride themselves on their toughness, which makes them an easy target to lure into extracurricular activities after the whistle.

“I think you saw what was going on a little bit, what I felt was going on,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said Thursday ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinal at Nassau Coliseum. “We rely on our five-on-five game. We know that their power play is hitting at ungodly numbers and so if we’re going to win this series, we have to stay out of the penalty box.

Leo Komarov fights with Yanni Gourde during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup semifinal.

“They’re taking some liberties between whistles and all those things. A lot of scrums, we have to stay out of all that. Whistle to whistle, we’re going to play hard five-on-five. We’ll walk away from all that.

“The most important thing is trying to win the series and doing what it takes to win the series. We’re not going to get too involved in trying to play four-on-four or three-on-three, or make it a special teams event. We want to play them straight up five-on-five and our team is disciplined enough to do that.”

Not only did the Lightning succeed in getting on the power play, but they often sent the Islanders’ top penalty killers to the box. Who knows if their new game plan was that detailed, zeroing in on which Islanders would be most ideal to take off the ice during their power play, but regardless, it was successful.

Leo Komarov, one of the Isles’ top penalty killers, racked up 14 penalty minutes in Game 2 – including a 10-minute misconduct for tussling with Yanni Gourde. Scott Mayfield, another penalty killer, and Tampa Bay forward Pat Maroon earned matching penalties at 3:15 of the first to send the game to four-on-four play early.

Additionally, Matt Martin was seemingly a target as well. Martin may log the fewest amount of shifts of any Islanders forward, but he is an integral part of the “Identity” line. He is also the most likely Islander to drop the gloves. Maroon and Barclay Goodrow were both able to draw matching fighting/roughing penalties with Martin throughout the game.

“We got to make sure we’re not taking the extra, or even four on four, necessarily, depending on the tradeoff,” Mayfield said after the 4-2 loss in Game 2. “That’s part of the game. There’s a little bit more after the whistles [in Tuesday’s] game than the first one, maybe, but yeah, it’s part of the game.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215960 New York Islanders "We’re a veteran team," Martin said. "I think we try to brush off anything that comes our way through the course of a game. It was a big goal, obviously, at the time to tie the game."

This 2-1 deficit seems a bit more daunting for Islanders The Islanders generated some chances in the third but were unable to solve Vasilevskiy, the best goalie they have faced in the playoffs to date. That’s another reason for concern.

By Neil Best So the Islanders have played three series and on each occasion split the first two games on the road and lost Game 3 at home. What is up with

that? Not all 2-1 series deficits are created equal, and this one feels different "I wish I could tell you," Trotz said. "I have no answer for you. It’s just the from the other two the Islanders have faced. way it goes." Sure, they are capable of coming back against the Lightning even after a Game 4 is Saturday night, with no room for error. Coming back from a 2- 2-1 loss on Thursday night in Game 3 of their Stanley Cup semifinal at 1 deficit? Been there, done that. But 3-1? That would be a very bad idea. Nassau Coliseum, just as they did against the Penguins and Bruins after losing Game 3s at home. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.18.2021 But despite playing the defending Cup champions mostly evenly in defeat, it will be a daunting task to win three of the next four — let alone three in a row, as they did in the first two rounds.

"As you go along this path and you go deeper and deeper, the teams are better and better," coach Barry Trotz said, "and you have to dig in harder and harder."

Adding to the gloomy mood was that the Lightning showed they have defensive mettle to go along with their offensive firepower.

They frustrated the Islanders for long stretches by blocking shots and limiting good chances, and when all else failed, they relied on their goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy.

In short, the Lightning played with a lead a lot like the Islanders often do.

"We were putting pucks toward the net," Casey Cizikas said. "We’ve got to find a way to, I guess, get it around that first guy."

Said Trotz, "There wasn’t much room out there."

Island Ice Ep. 100: Isles-Lightning Game 3 analysis

NHL.com's Dan Rosen joins Newsday's Andrew Gross, Colin Stephenson and Neil Best to discuss the Isles' 2-1 loss in Game 3 of the NHL semifinals at the Coliseum.

Again, if Tampa Bay can combine its elite offensive skills with shutdown defense, the Islanders will have a rocky road to their first Cup Final since 1984.

The Coliseum fans were into it from the start, as usual, with a near- capacity crowd of about 13,000 in the house.

The recent tradition of singing the national anthem en masse began the festivities, and the fun continued with the usual array of activities.

The fans sang about Josh Bailey. They sang about Jean-Gabriel Pageau. They chanted "Uncle Leo" Komarov’s name as well as Semyon Varlamov’s.

The Jets’ Dan Feeney did what he does, chugging a beer and then smashing the can against his head while being shown on the video board.

But then things took a wrong turn for the home team.

It came at 10:05 of the first period. Blake Coleman collected the rebound of his own shot and threw a blind pass in front of the net that caromed off Nick Leddy’s skate to Yanni Gourde, who buried it from a sharp angle.

The Islanders turned it on in the second period, coming at the Lightning net in waves. Their hard work paid off when Cal Clutterbuck tied it at 17:01, shoving in a loose puck off Matt Martin’s rebound.

The good feelings did not last long. Adam Pelech was called for a highly questionable interference penalty against Nikita Kucherov. "I didn’t think there was much there," Trotz said.

Seconds after the penalty expired, Brayden Point scored his league-best 11th goal of the playoffs while falling to his knees after being pushed from behind by Cizikas. The score came with 17.4 seconds remaining in the period and figured to be an emotional blow to the Islanders. 1215961 New York Islanders Victor Hedman’s shot. Trotz chose not to challenge Point’s goal for interference on Anthony Cirelli because video showed he was pushed into Varlamov.

Islanders lose a defensive battle in Game 3 as Lightning take 2-1 series "We’re a veteran team. I think we try to brush off anything that comes our lead way throughout a game," Martin said. "It was a big goal to tie the game. Point gets one back not much later but we still felt good about our chances. We’re always going to play with confidence because we believe we’re a good team." By Andrew Gross The goal came just as Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech was being

released from the penalty box after a questionable interference call Defense is the essence of the playoffs, limiting skating space and against Nikita Kucherov at 17:38. protecting the net. That is how teams win Stanley Cups, as the Lightning "I didn’t think there was much there at all," Trotz said. did last season. It’s what the Islanders’ success has been built upon and where their chances remain for rallying in this NHL semifinal series. Yanni Gourde had made it 1-0 at 10:05 of the first period after Blake Coleman collected his own rebound and sent the puck off Nick Leddy’s But on Thursday night before a raucous 12,978 as capacity again was skate to the right post. expanded at Nassau Coliseum, the Lightning out-defensed the Islanders and blocked 21 shots in winning Game 3, 2-1, to take a 2-1 series lead. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.18.2021 "They defend well. So do we," said Cal Clutterbuck, who scored the Islanders’ only goal. "If they blocked 21 and we had 30, that’s 50 chances at the net. So keep adding to that number and I think we’ll be fine."

Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves, including eight in the third period as the Lightning were content to sit back and defend. Semyon Varlamov stopped 23 shots.

Island Ice Ep. 100: Isles-Lightning Game 3 analysis

NHL.com's Dan Rosen joins Newsday's Andrew Gross, Colin Stephenson and Neil Best to discuss the Isles' 2-1 loss in Game 3 of the NHL semifinals at the Coliseum.

Game 4 — now potentially the last playoff game at the Coliseum — is Saturday night. The Islanders also faced 2-1 deficits before rallying for six-game victories over the Penguins in the first round and the Bruins in the second round.

"We just have to get more pucks, get inside," coach Barry Trotz said. "We had some chances and Vasilevskiy made a couple of key saves. They didn’t have a lot tonight. I thought we were pretty good defensively as well. You go deeper and deeper, the teams are better and better and you’ve got to dig in even harder and harder."

Only two penalties were called after the teams totaled 54 penalty minutes in the Lightning’s 4-2 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night at Amalie Arena. The Islanders won Game 1, 2-1.

"There wasn’t much room out there," Trotz said. "Both teams are adjusting to each other."

"I think every game has been tough," Casey Cizikas said. "Each team is battling and they want to take care of their own end and limit chances as much as possible. It’s going to be a dogfight out there every single game, and we expected that."

Isles fans tailgating outside Coliseum before Game 3

Islanders fans gathered on Thursday night at Nassau Coliseum for Game 3 of the team's NHL semifinal series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Credit: Newsday / Steve Pfost

Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s line with Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac got the crowd back to deafening decibel levels in the second period after the Lightning’s defense threatened to squeeze the life out of the fans and the Islanders’ attack.

Defenseman Andy Greene, Zajac and then Palmieri — off the left post — produced shots on a shift that ended at 9:28. Before that, the Islanders had 10 shots on net, matching the Lightning’s 10 blocked shots.

The momentum built, with Mathew Barzal nearly tying it from a sharp angle on the right at 14:12 and the game’s first power play as Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was called for roughing Palmieri at 14:28.

It culminated as Clutterbuck tied the score at 1 at 17:01 of the second period after Vasilevskiy was unable to hold on to Martin’s shot from the left and defenseman Erik Cernak inadvertently pushed the puck to Clutterbuck as he tried to get it underneath his goalie’s pads.

But the Lightning regained a 2-1 lead with 17.4 seconds left in the second period as Brayden Point swiped in the rebound of defenseman 1215962 New York Islanders They went 2-for-19 on the power play in their six-game loss to the Lightning in last season’s Eastern Conference finals in the Edmonton bubble.

Physical battles between Islanders and Lightning are big part of winning Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.18.2021 playoff series

By Andrew Gross

Which way the series would turn in Thursday night’s Game 3 at Nassau Coliseum was the great unknown.

But one thing seemed certain: Both the Islanders and Lightning will continue to try and gain the upper hand in the physical battle as this chippy NHL semifinal unfolds.

"We’re comfortable in these games, that’s the type of style we play," Jordan Eberle said. "You want to have that hard, physical forecheck and you want to have that in-your-face type of mentality. So, the harder it gets we find that we enjoy that. That’s playoff hockey. That’s what makes it exciting and we want to continue to play that way."

The teams totaled 54 penalty minutes — including 26 in the third period plus a first-period fight between Matt Martin and the Lightning’s Pat Maroon — in the Lightning’s 4-2 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night at Amalie Arena.

Island Ice Ep. 99: Isles-Lightning Game 2 analysis

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' 4-2 loss to the Lightning in Game 2 of the NHL semifinals.

The Lightning clearly tried to be more physically engaged after criticizing themselves for sleep-walking through the Islanders’ 2-1 win in Game 1.

That physical style benefited the Islanders in six-game wins over the Penguins in the first round and then the Bruins as they rallied from 2-1 deficits in each series by wearing down their opponents.

But Islanders coach Barry Trotz does not believe the evolution of this series with regard to physical play will necessarily favor his team.

"We feel like we play a fairly physical style compared to some teams," Trotz said. "But Tampa is not a light team. Their back end is physical. They’ve got the [Barclay] Goodrow-[Yanni] Gourde-[Blake] Coleman line that’s physical. They’ve got Maroon. They’ve got plenty of physicality.

"Every team that is playing right now has that element," Trotz added. "Montreal has it on their back end. Tampa has it. We have it. Vegas has it. It’s part of being in the semifinals right now. It’s part of what you do and it’s part of your success and that applies to all four teams."

There is, though, a fine line between playing physically and needlessly giving the opponent power-play opportunities.

The Lightning went 1-for-5 on the man advantage in Game 2, leaving them 17-for-43 (39.5%) in the postseason heading into Game 3. Given that accounted for 39.5% of their 43 total playoff goals, the Islanders knew they needed to do a better job staying out of the penalty box.

But Trotz said after Game 2 the Lightning took some liberties. He elaborated the next day that the Islanders were absorbing "extra shots" after the whistle because they can’t afford to retaliate and draw more penalties.

"You saw what was going on," Trotz said on Thursday. "We rely on our five-on-five game and we knew that their power play is hitting at ungodly numbers. So, if we’re going to win the series, we need to stay out of the penalty box. They’re taking some liberties between whistles, all those things. A lot of scrums. We’ve got to stay out of all that. Whistle-to-whistle we’re going to play hard five-on-five and we’ll walk away from all that.

"The most important thing is trying to win the series and doing what it takes to win the series. We’re not going to get too involved in trying to make it a special-teams event. We want to play straight up five-on-five and our team is disciplined enough to do that."

The Islanders were 1-for-4 on the power play in Game 2 and entered Game 3 1-for-7 in the series. 1215963 New York Islanders

Islanders' Lou Lamoriello a finalist for GM of the Year again

By Andrew Gross

One day, the NHL may name an award after Lou Lamoriello.

For now, Lamoriello has a chance to win the Jim Gregory Award as the NHL’s top general manager for a second straight season. Lamoriello, the Canadiens’ Marc Bergevin and the Panthers’ Bill Zito were announced as finalists on Thursday.

Lamoriello joined the Islanders in 2018 after previously serving as the Devils’ GM from 1987-2015 and then with the Maple Leafs from 2015-18.

"You look at his track record and it speaks for itself," said Travis Zajac, initially drafted by Lamoriello 20th overall in 2004 and reunited with his old boss when the Islanders acquired him and Kyle Palmieri from the Devils on April 7. "When you look at Lou it seems like he’s always one step ahead of everything else that’s going on. Credit to him. I think he’s got a lot of belief in how he does things and it trickles down to the staff and to the players."

The NHL first presented the GM of the year award in 2010. It was renamed in 2019 in honor of Gregory, the former Maple Leafs GM and NHL executive. Lamoriello has a chance to become the award’s first two- time winner.

"Being nominated as a finalist again, it doesn’t surprise me," coach Barry Trotz said. "Lou has coached in the NHL and in college. He understands what we go through emotionally and how teams are. Congratulations to him for being nominated and the same with the three nominees. But I understand why he’s nominated. He’s a Hall of Fame general manager."

Barzal fifth-best stickhandler

The NHL Players’ Association released its annual player survey and Mathew Barzal finished fifth as the league’s best stickhandler with 1.47% of the vote. Chicago’s Patrick Kane was the overwhelming winner with 49.48%.

Two-thirds of the players voting were in favor of continuing a series-style schedule but the same majority was against continuing with regional divisions.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215964 New York Islanders "It’s been really special," Ryan Pulock said on Wednesday. "Obviously, the noise that they bring every night inside the building is the loudest in the league. We love feeding off that.

The Islanders want to keep winning. Nassau Coliseum already has. "When you hear that it gives you an extra burst of energy. They’ve helped us get to this point where we are."

That line of inquiry only will ramp up if the Islanders reach the Stanley By Neil Best Cup Final and face a new round of international media attention.

Lightning coach even got into the spirit when asked about the Coliseum this week, recalling happy memories of attending games Fans cheer in Game 6 of the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup there when he was a Hofstra student and lacrosse player. Playoffs between the Islanders and the Bruins at Nassau Coliseum on June 9. Credit: Jim McIsaac There is no equivalent to the Old Barn among the current NHL final four's rinks. The Montreal Forum closed in 1996. The Islanders’ quest for their first Stanley Cup since 1983 is an unresolved story, one that will play out for another week or two or three. All the sentiments about the antiquated building have seemed sincere, But one part of the drama is settled already. but let’s be real here: These guys primarily are focused on winning hockey games at this stage — be they at the Coliseum, on the road, on a Nassau Coliseum has won its race against time, no matter when and frozen pond or on Mars. under what circumstances the Islanders play their final game there. The Coliseum narrative is in the background, something mostly for fans It has been an unlikely comeback, dating back decades, especially since and journalists to revel in. that day in the autumn of 2012 when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the team would move to Brooklyn in 2015. But that is as it should be. We all have our jobs to do. Fans cheer. Writers write. Players play. No need to recount the twists and turns since then. You know the drill. And then there is the Coliseum itself, which has gotten more attention NY Emmy nominee: Leaving Long Island across North America over these past few weeks than at any time since After more than 40 years of playing their games at Nassau Coliseum, the the early 1980s. Islanders moved to the in Brooklyn for the 2015-16. But It has done its job, better than anyone could have imagined when this "the old barn" rocked in its final season. Newsday followed Islanders saga began. employees, fans and players throughout the emotional ride during their last season at the Nassau Coliseum. (Credit: Newsday Staff) The Islanders want to keep winning. Their home rink already has.

But think about what was required to get from there to Thursday night, Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.18.2021 when the Islanders play Game 3 of a Stanley Cup semifinal against the Lightning before their biggest home crowd in nearly 1 1/2 years.

They had to ditch an unhappy marriage with Brooklyn for good, the official word coming from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Feb. 29, 2020, 11 days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the sports world.

Then they had to endure a detour to playoff bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton while construction continued on UBS Arena after a brief COVID-19 pause.

Then they had to reach the 2021 playoffs, lest their final game at the Coliseum be played before a 10% capacity smattering of fans.

Then they had to keep winning, eliminating the Penguins and Bruins as capacity rose to 6,800, then 9,000, then 12,000 and finally nearly 13,000 — close to a full house.

Isles fans tailgating outside Coliseum before Game 3

Islanders fans gathered on Thursday night at Nassau Coliseum for Game 3 of the team's NHL semifinal series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Credit: Newsday / Steve Pfost

It has been a group effort, starting with the scientists who came up with a vaccine, the government officials who relaxed attendance restrictions, the Islanders who did their job on the ice and most of all Islanders fans.

Given the OK to show up, they did, and they have created an atmosphere that will echo for generations when the team moves to its new arena at Belmont Park.

It is possible the scheduled completion of UBS Arena in November will require yet another brief stop in Uniondale in October, but that is fine.

Again: The arena story line already has a happy ending, no matter what happens from here.

Island Ice Ep. 100: Isles-Lightning Game 3 analysis

NHL.com's Dan Rosen joins Newsday's Andrew Gross, Colin Stephenson and Neil Best to discuss the Isles' 2-1 loss in Game 3 of the NHL semifinals at the Coliseum.

Coach Barry Trotz and his players have been good sports in answering endless questions from reporters about what the arena and Islanders fans mean to them. 1215965 New York Islanders Tampa controlling play. Leddy had a strong regular season but has shown only flashes of that in the playoffs.

The Islanders have been able to rely on that second pair in the Time for Oliver Wahlstrom? Takeaways from the Islanders’ Game 3 loss postseason largely because of Scott Mayfield’s vastly improved play and to the Lightning Trotz’s ease at mixing and matching his D pairs throughout a game. Leddy was on with Noah Dobson on the Gourde goal, a rare pairing that likely won’t happen much again until late in a game the Isles are trailing and need offense. By Arthur Staple Jun 18, 2021 With the Stamkos line coming to life a bit in Game 3, the Islanders need

their top four playing smart and simple. The Islanders have been here before. That’s the good news. The No whining! Islanders lost Game 3 at home to the Penguins (5-4) and the Bruins (2-1 in overtime) in the first and second rounds to fall behind 2-1 in those Yes, Kelly Sutherland made a bad call on Adam Pelech in the second. playoff series before peeling off three straight wins to advance. Not the call itself, which is technically interference; it’s more the two dozen similar plays the officials let go before that. It was an awful call at a The bad news is they haven’t faced a team nearly as strong as the crucial time. Lightning yet. The defending champs played a very Islanders-like Game 3, blocking 21 shots and packing the middle of the defensive zone often But you still have to kill those off the same as the earned penalties and enough to keep the Isles at bay. the Islanders didn’t do that — Point’s goal wasn’t a power-play goal, but Pelech was hardly back in the play from the penalty box. Tampa’s power Some food for thought in the wake of the Islanders’ 2-1 loss Thursday at play is dangerous, but it can’t feel inevitable. Nassau Coliseum: Once again: Mistakes were made. They will continue to be made. The Wally time? good teams fight through it. Oliver Wahlstrom is ready to return after missing the past 10 games — The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 one might suspect the 21-year-old wing has been ready for a few days now. Barry Trotz kept his forwards intact because Travis Zajac was proving to be an effective complement to the third line that took on the heavy assignment against Patrice Bergeron’s line in the Bruins series and Leo Komarov was doing whatever it is Komarov does, and well, on Mathew Barzal’s line.

But the Islanders have scored just five times in the three games against Tampa. Zajac and Komarov each had a couple of good scoring chances; Komarov flubbed his best one, off a centering feed from Jordan Eberle early in the third.

Wahlstrom might be just what Trotz needs right now. If he comes back in for Zajac, that third line with Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, which generated the most offense of the Isles lines in Game 3, could get the young winger’s fresh legs and conscience-free shooting desire. Pageau, who sat out the last 13:32 of Game 2 after tweaking “something,” according to Trotz, played 16:21 in Game 3 but took only 11 faceoffs, below his usual faceoff numbers.

If Komarov comes out, it’s unlikely Wahlstrom goes into his spot — Zajac would probably bump up to Barzal’s line. Wahlstrom’s biggest impact would be on the power play, on which the Islanders are 1-for-8 in this series. They could use his shot to impact the man advantage as well in such a tight series.

Even if Wahlstrom doesn’t take Komarov’s spot, the Barzal line needs a different look. Komarov kept his checking lanes, he was hitting but he doesn’t have the finish needed when Barzal is on his game. Whether it’s Wahlstrom or someone else, that line might need a change.

Need a better Beau

Anthony Beauvillier hasn’t scored a goal since Game 1 against the Bruins and his ice time has dwindled each of the past four games to a playoff-low 13:40 on Thursday. His line with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey was the weakest for the Islanders in Game 3 and it wasn’t due to having to match up against the Brayden Point line; the Nelson line saw mostly Steven Stamkos’ line and spent way too much time in the Islanders’ zone.

“He needs to be fighting for his inches right now,” Trotz said of Beauvillier. The Islanders need everybody going to succeed; failing that, they at least need their most reliable forecheckers and scorers going. Beauvillier has to get back in the fight for the Isles to have a chance in this series.

Perhaps Beauvillier gets on Barzal’s wing for Game 4 to spark him a bit and Wahlstrom goes in with Nelson and Bailey.

Same for Leddy

Nick Leddy’s ice time dipped below 20 minutes for the first time in the postseason after a difficult game. He had Blake Coleman’s pass carom off his foot right to Yanni Gourde on the Lightning’s opening goal and there were three other turnovers in the opening period during a stretch of 1215966 New York Islanders And that all circles back to the Pelech penalty. One call turned the game on its head.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 Turning Point: Pelech Penalty, Point Goal Changes Game for Islanders

By Andrew Battifarano

The New York Islanders need to play a near-perfect game to come out on the right side against a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After falling behind 1-0 halfway through the first period of Game 3, the Islanders pushed back with a strong second period to even the score. But one penalty call and an ensuing goal changed the entire complexion of a 2-1 loss for the Islanders.

A Tampa Bay mistake in the form of a unforced error in front of the net helped the Islanders tie the score with under three minutes left in the middle period. It looked like the pendulum was swinging solely toward New York.

But then then a referee’s whistle tuned the tide in Tampa Bay’s favor.

With 2:22 left in the second, Adam Pelech was called for interference. On what was essentially a pick play as Ryan Pulock dug the puck out of the corner, Pelech was called for the infraction.

PENALTY: #Isles' Pelech is off for interference. #GoBolts go on the power-play with just over 2 minutes to go in the second period pic.twitter.com/o0PlDFuCWv

— ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) June 18, 2021

At best, it was a ticky-tacky call. In reality, it’s something that happens all game and has not been enforced all postseason.

There’s been a lack of consistency in the playoffs from the officials, including a weird call in Game 2 on Brayden Point after Pelech pushed him and he went flying into Andrei Vasilevskiy.

“I didn’t think there was much there,” head coach Barry Trotz said after the game of the interference.

But with Tampa Bay on the power play in the waning seconds, it controlled the puck in the offensive zone. As the penalty was coming to a close and Pelech coming out of the box, Tampa Bay cycled the puck and it found Point’s stick in the slot. As he was shoved to the ice, he scored what was the game-deciding goal. His 11th goals of the postseason couldn’t have been more timely.

“At the end of the day, it’s a pretty even game,” Trotz added. “They capitalized on a chance on a scramble at the end of a power play. It’s a fine line between winning and losing. It’s a game of inches right now.”

So even if the goal was technically at even strength, it came as Tampa Bay had control from the power play as the Islanders were just getting five guys back onto the ice. Tampa Bay’s power play is potent enough, and when you’re able to get a kill against it, that’s huge. This time it didn’t directly lead to any success for the Islanders.

Brayden Point is a sicko pic.twitter.com/IVijCc5dhc

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 18, 2021

Of course, there were plenty of missed chances in the game.

Mathew Barzal hit the post near the net. Jean-Gabriel Pageau didn’t shoot quick enough with Vasilevskiy unsure of where the puck was. The Islanders generated 12 high danger chances at 5-on-5 over the last two periods while Tampa Bay only had three.

And while the Islanders had a lot of success getting to the net, there weren’t always a ton of rebounds to get and Tampa did a strong job of forcing the Islanders to retreat 200 feet after any burst of chances.

“I think there’s a lot of good defensive teams. Pittsburgh is good, Boston is known for being defensive, but Tampa is good all around,” Matt Martin said. “They’re the defending Stanley Cup champions.”

Playing with a lead, Tampa is as good as any. It was a chore for the Islanders to come back in the final 20 minutes. 1215967 New York Islanders

Rapid Reaction: Islanders Feel the Shock in Game 3 Loss to Lightning

By Christian Arnold

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on Thursday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at the Nassau Coliseum. Tampa Bay has a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

How it Happened: Brayden Point broke a 1-1 tie in the second period to put Tampa Bay in the winners circle on Thursday. Point’s goal came on a strong effort down low after picking up the rebound. He was able to slide the puck by Semyon Varlamov for the go-ahead goal as he was falling down.

Yanni Gourde broke a scoreless tie in the middle of the first period off a pass from behind the net from Blake Coleman. The play started when Coleman fired a shot on net and had it stopped by Varlamov, but had the rebound go right back to Coleman. The Tampa forward then flung over across to Gourde for the opening goal at 6:40.

Cal Clutterbuck evened the score in the second period after capitalizing on a scramble in front of Andrei Vasilevskiy. The puck managed to pinball its way into the net to tie things up at one at 17:01 of the second.

Varlamov finished the night with 23 saves for the New York Islanders, while Vasilevskiy stopped 27 shots.

Straight to the Point: The Tampa Bay forward’s second-period goal extended his goal streak to six games, making him the first Tampa Bay player to find the back of the net in six consecutive playoff games. Point’s 10 goals lead Tampa in the playoff and his goal in the second was his third game-winner in the playoffs. Point has been a thorn in the Islanders side all series, breaking Varlamov’s bid for a shutout in Game 1 and then opening the scoring in Game 2.

Islanders Feel the Jolt: The New York Islanders struggled to get through the neutral zone at times on Thursday and had a number of shots blocked by Tampa Bay. In fact, Tampa Bay got in front of 21 shots and put the weight of their heavy defenders on the Islanders to keep the Islanders off their game at times during the night.

Deja Vu?: Well this certainly seems like a scrip that we’ve seen before for the Islanders in the playoffs. They split the first two games on the road and come back to Long Island and drop Game 3 at home. New York has yet to win Game 3 during this year’s postseason run, but they’ve kept the previous two close. That was the same thing as well on Thursday, with New York falling just short to a Tampa team that employed the always- tough Vasilevskiy to guard the net. The Islanders fell behind early after a slow start in Game 3 this time around and were out-chanced in the first 20 minutes before getting it together in the second period.

Up Next: The Islanders and Tampa Bay play Game 4 on Saturday at Nassau Coliseum at 8 p.m.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215968 New York Islanders But, these are the defending champions we are talking about. After getting shut down in game one, they showed Tuesday night, if they go down, it’s not going to be without a heck of a fight.

Barn Rockers: Islanders Fans Have Given Coliseum a True Home-Ice However, that won’t dampen the excitement. Islanders fans have waited Advantage a long time to witness a game at the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike with such implications. In such a late-round. With so much on the line and the stakes being so significant.

By Andy Graziano Make no mistake, the fans have been the sixth and seventh men on the ice for New York (don’t worry, I’m sure the referees will miss that one,

too). And Thursday night will be as much their moment as it will be a The excitement level must be high if the Nassau County Executive Laura moment that the players on the ice won’t soon forget. Curran is issuing an earthquake advisory “in and around the Nassau Be loud, be proud, and enjoy the moment. And then — be even Coliseum” ahead of Game 3. The tweet, a tongue-in-cheek comment LOUDER. meant to highlight the atmosphere in the county-owned building, exemplifies the emotions of New York Islanders fans during the team’s NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 run to the Stanley Cup Semifinals.

And beginning Thursday night, for one final time, fans will get to experience a semifinal game at the Nassau Coliseum.

We are a long way from the insulated bubble that had to have computer- generated crowd noise pumped in simply to create any sort of ambiance. What we have next is the Coliseum, the old and broken down building with terrific sightlines and acoustics that can make 14,000 fans sound like 30,000 in a moment of pure delirious excitement.

Meant to tweet this earlier, but here was the scene as the final buzzer sounded. #Isles pic.twitter.com/tzLftLNihU

— Christian Arnold (@C_Arnold01) June 10, 2021

It was November 1, 2019, the last time Tampa has had to endure the mental anguish the arena can cause some visiting teams, and that was game 13 of the 2019-20 season. Logic tells us that what they experience Thursday night will be nothing like what they experienced on that November evening nearly two years ago.

In 2015, some Washington Capitals players told me they could feel the building shaking from the visitor locker room prior to pre-game warmups. That’s hasn’t changed since the team moved back to the Coliseum beginning in 2018.

“It’s been really special,” Ryan Pulock said on Wednesday about the fan support at home. “The noise that they bring every night inside the building is the loudest in the league and we love feeding off that. When you hear that it gives you an extra boost of energy and they’ve helped us get to this point where we are.”

The Islanders and Tampa Bay are deadlocked at 1-1 as the series shifts back to the Madhouse off the Meadowbrook

The New York Islanders were not as crisp Tuesday evening as they were in their 2-1 Game 1 victory, and apparently, the officials believed they were working a Tuesday night over-40 men’s league game. Sure, you can point to the fact that Tampa took the lead with seven players on the ice in the second period, and they made many calls easily questionable. But crying about the officials being the reason the Islanders lost is a no- sum game.

You aren’t going to get anywhere (see Cassidy, Bruce).

The Islanders were still in good shape on that play, a simple 3v3 in their own zone. But Mathew Barzal chose to pair with Nick Leddy in covering Nikita Kucherov instead of covering his primary responsibility, the high slot, leading to a free look for Ondrej Palat. Sprinkle in some huge stops by Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Lightning played like the defending champs, as we all expected they would for game two.

For the second straight year, the two teams are locking horns in what is becoming an even, testy battle to advance to the final. But, there is one significant difference that could turn the tide.

The Islanders have done well in defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins and arriving at this point. This moment. And if the words of Ryan Pulock do ring true, it’s been the raucous atmosphere at the Coli that has helped bring them back to the Stanley Cup Semifinals.

The Josh Bailey song is back. #Isles pic.twitter.com/OjNkiuH5Cb

— Christian Arnold (@C_Arnold01) May 22, 2021 1215969 New York Islanders

Lou Lamoriello Named Finalist for GM of Year Award as Isles Continue Cup Run

Lamoriello could become the first two-time winner of the GM of the Year Award in league history.

By Christian Arnold

Lou Lamoriello is vying to make a little history this year.

The New York Islanders president and general manager could become the first two-time winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. Lamoriello was named a finalist for the award for the second consecutive year, along with Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers.

Lamoriello is the first general manager to earn back-to-back nominations since Anaheim’s Bob Murray did so from 2012-13 through 2014-15.

“Being nominated as a finalist again, It doesn’t surprise me since I work with Lou,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “He’s so detail- oriented, so connected between the process of coaching to management. Lou has coached in the and in college, so he understands what we go through emotionally and how teams are. He obviously understands that in terms of building and creating personnel decisions for coaches.

“Then the connection to the other part of the game. The fan part, the marketing part. Dealing with that part of the game, the business part. … I understand why he’s nominated. He’s obviously a hall of fame general manager and a lot of it is because of his detail.”

Lou Lamoriello has changed the culture of the Islanders since he arrived on Long Island in 2018. He added Trotz just off of winning the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals and has seen steady improvement from the team since.

Lamoriello took home GM of the Year honors last year after helping to build an Islanders team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1993. This year’s run back there is the first time that New York has done so since the 1980s.

In his three seasons with New York, Lamoriello is 115-67-24 and the Islanders have qualified for the playoffs in all three years he has been with the team. Lamoriello’s 41 playoff series wins are the second most for a general manager in the NHL, only behind , and he has won three championships over the course of his career during his time in New Jersey.

“When you look at his track record it speaks for itself,” said Travis Zajac, who was drafted by Lou Lamoriello’s New Jersey Devils in 2004. “I think when you look at Lou he’s always one step ahead of everything else that is going on. Credit to him. I think he’s got a lot of belief in how he does things and it trickles down to the staff and then the players.”

Lou Lamoriello additions at the trade deadline have proven to be difference-makers in the postseason this year and last. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has become a key cog in both playoff runs and Zajac and Kyle Palmieri, despite early criticism of the trade, have stepped up during the postseason.

Palmieri currently leads the Islanders in goals in the playoffs.

“There’s a reason why we’ve had success under (Lou Lamoriello) and all credit goes to him. You try and learn as much as you can,” Jordan Eberle said.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215970 New York Islanders “There aren’t a lot of bona fide [No. 2 centers] but there are plenty of No. 3’s that are out there”. This is especially relevant to the San Jose Sharks, as ’s top priorities this off-season are addressing his goaltending and adding a third-line center. (San Jose Hockey Now) NYHN: Islanders Are Back Home for Game 3 With Series Tied & More The Montreal Canadiens evened the Stanley Cup Semifinals with a 3-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday. (NHL) By Stefen Rosner The Vegas Golden Knights lamented another slow start after a 3-2 loss

to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2 evened the Stanley Cup Semifinals The New York Islanders look to take Game 3 at home for the first time at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday. (NHL) this postseason. The Islanders need to play better in their own zone to Kevin Hodgson wins Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. Honored for take a series lead. Even though Oliver Wahlstrom seems ready to go, ‘dream job’ with hockey organization helping children across Canada. head coach Barry Trotz is content with his lineup. Staying out of the (NHL) penalty box is critical for Islanders. It appears the Jack Eichel trade market is heating up. TSN Hockey These stories and more in today’s daily links! Insider Pierre LeBrun wrote in The Athletic Wednesday that There was nothing pretty about the New York Islanders defensive effort conversations between the Buffalo Sabres and teams interested in the in Game 2 against the Tamp Bay Lightning. A 4-2 loss saw a handful of star centre are “getting more intense and serious.” (TSN) defensive miscues, as both the team’s D pairings and forward lines did Jason Spezza will once again be sporting blue and white next season. not do enough to stop the Tampa offense throughout the night. (NYI The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday the 38-year-old Hockey Now) forward has re-signed with his hometown team at the league minimum Barry Trotz hinted that even though Oliver Wahlstrom is ready to go, he US$750,000 for the 2021-22 campaign. (TSN) is not looking to change his lineup up for Game 3. “He’s available to NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 come back in Game 3. I don’t know if he’s a candidate,”. (NYI Hockey Now)

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz has said he doesn’t take part in any gamesmanship during the playoffs, but it certainly sounded like some when he was talking about the integrity of how Game 2 was played. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders’ Game 2 loss in Tampa on Tuesday had some calamitous moments, for sure, but it wasn’t a disaster. The Isles were down a goal heading into the third, a spot they were in several times in the opening two rounds, and even though it didn’t end well it was hardly a loss where Barry Trotz needed to shake things up to get his team ready for Game 3. (The Athletic)

If the defending champs continue to play with the same intensity and alacrity as they did in this one, can the Islanders elevate their game, avoid the unusual number of forced and unforced errors they committed in this one and match the Lightning for the duration of this series? (NY Post)

The Islanders hope to turn around their Game 3 fortunes as they focus on returning home. The have dropped Game 3 in each of the series they have played thus far. (Newsday)

The biggest Penguins’ surprise of the 2020-21 NHL playoffs was not Jeff Carter or their puck domination of the New York Islanders. Though those were surprising, but the bigger shocker was goalie Tristan Jarry and his soft play. And so, the Penguins might be in the market for a playoff- experienced backup goalie. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Could the Philadelphia Flyers really land Jack Eichel? It may not be as farfetched as you think. Entering their most important offseason in quite some time, and the Flyers need to make a big move. (Philly Hockey Now)

Jonathan Huberdeau is one of the top playmakers in the NHL and one of his slickest plays of the 2021 season was voted the top NHL assist in the NHL Fan Choice Awards. (Florida Hockey Now)

It was 23 years ago Wednesday that saw the Detroit Red Wings successfully defending the Stanley Cup. They put a 4-1 whipping on the Washington Capitals at the MCI Center, completing a four-game sweep of the Cup final series. Pacing the Wings that night by scoring two goals was forward Doug Brown. (Detroit Hockey Now)

The Vegas Golden Knights tried a furious third-period rally to tie Game Two late, but ultimately lost to the Montreal Canadiens 3-2, evening the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Semifinal series at one game apiece. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Jared Bednar will return for a sixth season coaching the Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Hockey Now has learned. Bednar, 49, already is the longest-tenured coach in Avs history, and that tenure will continue into the 2021-22 NHL season. (Colorado Hockey Now) 1215971 Ottawa Senators The Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils and Seattle Kraken are possible destinations.

THE LAST WORDS Rod Brind'Amour opts to stay behind the Carolina Hurricanes bench ... With Brind’Amour signed, the Arizona Coyotes and Kraken will likely GM Don Waddell listening on Dougie Hamilton move ahead with their coaching hirings. Both were likely waiting to see if Brind’Amour would remain in Carolina while Gerard Gallant has signed a four-year deal with the New York Rangers. Wonder if Brind’Amour’s Bruce Garrioch decision makes former Arizona coach Rick Tocchet the top candidate in Seattle? He interviewed with Columbus before the club decided to go

with assistant and was also on the Rangers shortlist… Quite Turns out there’s no place like home for Rod Brind’Amour. the recovery by Montreal GM Marc Bergevin. He was named as a finalist for the GM of the year Thursday along with LouLamoriello of the New Though there’d been no shortage of speculation the 50-year-old York Islanders and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers. Many thought if the Brind’Amour was a top candidate to be the first head coach of the Habs didn’t get out of the first round that Bergevin was on the verge of expansion Seattle Kraken, he opted to sign a three-year contract being replaced. The Habs have eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs and extension with the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday with his contract set to the Winnipeg Jets in the first two rounds. Now, they head back to the Bell expire June 30. Centre for Game 3 of their series with the Vegas Golden Knights tied 1-1 … The Chicago Blackhawks are looking to move forward Dylan Strome. Brind’Amour, named the NHL’s coach-of-the-year Thursday night, didn’t The No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft by Arizona, Strome had only nine give much thought to joining his old friend with the Kraken goals and 14 points in 40 games last season. He would be eligible for the and really didn’t look anywhere else for that matter. Carolina GM Don expansion draft. Waddell called the negotiations easy because the Hurricanes wanted to keep Brind’Amour and he wanted to stay. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.18.2021 “Don and I talked throughout the year occasionally and I thought we were on the same page,” Brind’Amour said. “It was just a matter of time really. He knew I wanted to be a part of this and I knew he wanted to be a part of it too so we figured it out.”

Brind’Amour confirmed the reason the extension took so long to get done was the fact he wanted to make sure all of the club’s staff _ including assistant coaches along with the training and equipment people _ were signed to new deals as well. If he was going to return, he wanted to make sure the people with him were on board.

If Brind’Amour had gone to market, he would have been a valuable commodity but he never felt like he was leaving.

“There’s always temptation to listen to the outside noise a little bit,” he said. “I sat here with Don three years ago and I have a hard time thinking I could do the same job I’m doing here somewhere else. I’ve been here forever and, again, it’s more about the people I get to come to work with every day.

“That wouldn’t be the case somewhere else. It just wouldn’t be. It’s special to me, when I had my end of the year meetings with the players, that really solidified why I want to be here. We’ve got a special group of players and that’s something I didn’t want to leave. It just didn’t really ever enter my mind that I wanted to leave because of what we’ve got going on here. I want to see it through, we still have another level to get to and that’s the mission.”

The value of Brind’Amour’s deal wasn’t made public but it was noted when he took the job three years ago he was the lowest paid coach in the league. He reiterated this wasn’t about money and owner Tom Dundon has treated him well along with Waddell.

“Finances, and money, that’s part of it but I feel like I’m richest coach in the league. I have a relationship with my owner and my GM that I don’t know a lot of coaches get to have,” said Brind’Amour.

HAMILTON ON THE MARKET

The Hurricanes are getting ready to move on from defenceman Dougie Hamilton.

A unrestricted free agent on July 28, he’s been given permission to work out a sign and trade with another team before he’s officially allowed to shop himself around. That gives the 28-year-old Hamilton the ability to sign an eight-year contract elsewhere because Waddell wasn’t optimistic anything would get done in Carolina.

“We’ve had discussions with Dougie and his representation,” Waddell said. “There’s a difference of opinion right now so we can either wait until July 28 and he can walk away for free. We said maybe if he can find something out there that makes sense we can trade him and pick up an asset or maybe we’ll have an opportunity to sign him.

“The door is wide open here. We love Dougie. He’s been good for this franchise and we’re all hoping he comes back. But, we also felt that we didn’t want to wait until July 28 to try and figure that out, so we got a little head start on it.” 1215972 Ottawa Senators that ended his season. That meant Gustavsson had an opportunity to carry the load in net and finished with a 5-1-2 record, a 2.16 GAA and a .933 save-percentage down the stretch.

Marcus Hogberg makes his exit from the Senators official by signing with Their play has led to a healthy debate on which goalie the Senators Swedish club should protect in the Seattle expansion draft that will take place on July 21 at 8 p.m. That decision doesn’t have to made until the lists are due on July 17 and the belief is the club is leaning towards Gustavsson because his strong effort. Bruce Garrioch Though there’s concern in Ottawa that Daccord or Gustavsson may get

selected if they are available, there’s lots of good goalies for Seattle to Quietly, it was the end of an era for the Ottawa Senators Tuesday. choose from so that may not necessarily be the case.

Goaltender Marcus Hogberg went back to where it all started by signing The club also has prospect goalies Mads Sogaard, who finished strong in a four-year deal with Linkoping HC in Sweden after the Senators Belleville, Kevin Mandolese and 202 draft pick Leevi Merilainen under informed him during his exit meeting in May he wouldn’t be qualified as a contract. He will remain in Finland this year while Sogaard could be restricted free agent. emerge as the starter in Belleville.

No, he didn’t have the storied history of Craig Anderson, but Hogberg The Senators still have to make a decision on unrestricted free agent has been around here for awhile. winger Ryan Dzingel, and whether they’ll allow him to go to the market on July 28. Centre Artem Anisimov won’t be back and neither will veteran Instead of waiting to see if he could find a job in the NHL, Hogberg opted centre Derek Stepan, who was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes at the to take the deal with Linkoping. The 26-year-old spent four years with the start of the season. Linkoping organization from the 2012-to-2017 when he opted to sign with the Senators after being selected No. 78 overall in 2013 NHL draft. Defenceman Olle Alsing, who finished the year here after the club struggled with injuries, signed in Sweden while minor-league Vitaly He was part of the Ottawa organization and simply never lived up to Abramov is in Russia. expectations which is why it made sense for him to head home where he’ll have security plus an opportunity to play in familiar surroundings. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.18.2021 Hogberg will begin off-season training with Linkoping in the coming days.

Hogberg said he was proud of what he was able to accomplish by making it to the NHL but felt it was time to move home. He would have had a difficult time finding an NHL job because his numbers just haven’t been very good.

“I have learned a lot about myself and how it works over there,” Hogberg told the club’s website after signing. “Getting to start in the (ECHL) and work my way up to the NHL was a very fun journey to be a part of.

“It’s completely different life over there, you come over and do not get everything served. You have to look for housing, a car and take responsibility for your own development, on the ice as well.”

The reality is Hogberg got bypassed by other goalies in the organization after struggling for the better part of the last two seasons and becoming unreliable to make the saves the club needed. He suited up for 42 games in his NHL career with the Senators and finished with a .894 save- percentage plus 3.39 goals-against average and a 9-17-9 record.

This season, he had a 4-7-0 record with a 3.74 GAA and a .876 save- percentage.

He also suited up for 77 games with the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville during his career. Hogberg finished with a 36-32-6 record with a .907 save-percentage and 2.07 GAA. He just couldn’t get his game to that level in the NHL and that’s why general manager determined it was time to move on from Hogberg.

“I thought for a very long time about what was best for my development and that opportunity was here in Linkoping,” Hogberg said. “I want to take the next step in my development and contribute with everything I have learned over there, a calm and safe game.”

The reality is the Senators have no shortage of goalies in the organization.

Acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins last October, Matt Murray is signed for three more seasons and the hope is he’ll bounce back from a difficult first season to have a strong performance with the club in 2021- 22.

The club picked up veteran netminder Anton Forsberg from the Winnipeg Jets on waivers during the season and signed him to a one-year contract extension to be the club’s backup. From there, it’s get interesting and Hogberg had been surpassed by several other goalies in the organization.

Called up from the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville with Murray, Hogberg and Forsberg sidelined with injuries, Filip Gustavsson and Joey Daccord both served notice they have strong futures in the NHL.

The 24-year-old Daccord made eight appearances and had a 1-3-1 record with an .897 save-percentage before suffering a high ankle sprain 1215973 Pittsburgh Penguins Lafferty. He continues to do that with the likes of forward Drew O’Connor and Reilly. Previous management, under former general manager Jim Rutherford, placed value in that attribute.

Penguins A to Z: Kevin Czuczman is a better story than player On the ice, he’s a safe, reliable player who can manage the puck sufficiently at the AHL level.

As far as a potential return to an NHL lineup is concerned, that just SETH RORABAUGH | Thursday, June 17, 2021 8:01 a.m. doesn’t seem likely regardless of what organization Czuczman signs with this offseason. After all, it took injuries to four other defensemen — Brian

Dumoulin, Mike Matheson, Marcus Pettersson and Juuso Riikola — In 28 AHL games this past season, defenseman Kevin Czuczman had before the Penguins turned to Czuczman. Then two nights later, coaches four assists. opted to scratch Czuczman in favor of defenseman Yannick Weber who was signed off the street. With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is looking at all 49 players currently under NHL contracts to the Kevin Czuczman is a far better story than he is a player. organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari Tribune Review LOADED: 06.18.2021 to top-six winger Jason Zucker.

Kevin Czuczman

Position: Defenseman

Shoots: Left

Age: 30

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 210 pounds

2020-21 NHL statistics: Two games, zero points (zero goals, zero assists)

2020-21 AHL statistics: 28 games, four points (zero goals, four assists)

Contract: Second year of a two-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000. Pending unrestricted free agent this offseason

Acquired: Free agent signing, July 4, 2017

2020-21 season: The story of Kevin Czuczman is a profoundly inspirational one.

After playing 13 games as a member of the New York Islanders in 2013- 14, Czuczman didn’t get a taste of the NHL for another seven years.

Then, following a deluge of maladies to the Penguins’ incumbent defensemen during the early stages of the 2020-21 campaign, Czuczman was recalled and found his name on an NHL lineup sheet after far too many nights spent on buses treking to locales such as Binghamton and Worcester.

It was a testament to Czuczman’s devotion to his craft that he was willing to persevere and wait for another chance at playing in the NHL.

Kevin Czucman’s story in returning to the NHL is a good one.

Kevin Czuczman’s ability to play in the NHL is another matter.

Appearing two NHL games this past season, it was quickly apparent why Czuczman has spent the bulk of his career in the American Hockey League.

In his first contest, a 4-1 road loss to the Boston Bruins on Jan. 28, Czuczman was directly responsible for the opening goal after he fumbled a puck in his own crease and saw his turnover get converted into a goal by Bruins forward Chris Wagner.

Then on Feb. 1, during a 3-1 road loss to the New York Rangers, Czuczman lost a physical battle above the crease during a sequence that led to the Rangers’ opening goal by forward Kevin Rooney.

One day later, Czuczman was assigned to the taxi squad. By Feb. 22, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and finished the 2020-21 season in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Primarily deployed on the third pair and on the penalty kill, Czuczman served as a steady veteran presence to a lineup full of first-year professionals, including his regular defensive partner, Will Reilly.

The future: As an unrestricted free agent who scored all of four points — all assists — at the AHL level, Czuczman isn’t exactly a leading priority for Penguins management this offseason.

But there is value in having him present in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. An alternate captain, he has served as a mentor to legitimate prospects on their way to the NHL such as forwards Anthony Angello and Sam 1215974 Pittsburgh Penguins Well, let’s see. Once he wins a Vezina Trophy, a Stanley Cup or even gets to a Cup Final like Jordan Binnington, Tuukka Rask or Sergei Bobrovsky, then we can make comparisons to those .

U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are fretting; Penguins fans are pushing back; As far as those other guys go, no, Mikko Koskinen wasn’t any good Pirates fans are just fed up either. But Cam Talbot had two shutouts, one of them with 42 saves in a 1-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He also stopped 38 of 40 shots in a 4-2 win against Vegas. And Jack Campbell’s numbers (.934 save percentage, 1.81 goals against) were much better than Jarry’s TIM BENZ | Thursday, June 17, 2021 6:15 a.m. (.888/3.16).

Also, were any of them credited with a primary assist on an overtime This edition of “U mad, bro?” touches all the bases. game-losing goal in as blatant of a screw up as what Jarry did at the end of Game 5? Oops. Sorry. Too soon? STEAL. SCORE. Ke'Bryan Hayes hits a for the Pirates, but missed first base. #Dodgers win the challenge. The @NYIslanders WIN GAME 5 in DOUBLE OVERTIME! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/fEV4mJaKlO It remains 0-0https://t.co/psbw6Y3ECn pic.twitter.com/uLa7FzTFVP — NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) May 25, 2021 — AM 570 LA Sports (@AM570LASports) June 9, 2021 I’m not saying that we need to tar and feather Jarry in Market Square. This week we’ve got Steelers fans fretting about the future. Penguins But trying to minimize his poor performance by way of comparisons to fans are pushing back on trade rumors and criticism. And Pirates fans other goalies is a fool’s errand. are somewhere between confused, bemused and befuddled. OK, back to the Bucs. John sent me an email after I posted my recent And I don’t blame ‘em. column praising Adam Frazier. He is adamant that the Pirates shouldn’t trade him. Jack is batting leadoff today. He tries to express his feelings about what it is like to be a Pirates fan during a 10-game losing streak. “I don’t know the details of this kid’s contract, but Pirate management better think twice about trading him. Frazier, (Bryan) Reynolds and Like watching NASCAR for the crashes (Ke’Bryan) Hayes will form the nucleus of this team going forward. Don’t — Jack (@jackhollerich) June 13, 2021 mess with what little good karma the Pirates have. Frazier is a keeper, period! Not for me, Jack. When I see a NASCAR crash, I always know that the car can be rebuilt. You are probably too young to remember Dave Cash, Rennie Stennett and Phil Garner. All three were quality, productive 2nd basemen for the Timothy commented on my column about how the Steelers are going to Bucs. Frazier will surpass all three in production if left to his own designs. need to bridge the philosophical gap between Matt Canada and Ben Frazier will approach the legendary Bill Mazeroski in production and Roethlisberger. popularity if he remains a Pirate throughout his career.”

“I have been a Steeler fan for over half a decade. I honestly can not wait Well, I am old enough to remember Garner. Not quite old enough to until Ben retires just to see who the nitwits are going to blame (for) the remember watching Cash and Stennett as Pirates. lack of Super Bowl(s) and post season wins.” I am also old enough to use my computer to look up baseball stats. That’s easy. Whoever the new quarterback is. And Mike Tomlin. And whoever the offensive coordinator is at the time. So I can see that Frazier has never hit above .280 in a full season, whereas Cash and Stennett both did so multiple times. And Garner once Oh, and the network announcers on television. Usually Cris Collinsworth. had 17 homers and 77 RBIs in a season, numbers Frazier hasn’t come “Papabear” doesn’t like the idea of the Penguins trading Jake Guentzel. close to reaching yet.

“Truthfully, what is the upside to trading Guentzel if it’s a trade like the Frazier is really good. He is having one heckuva season. He might hit Pirates make? some of those stats this year, but I’m not ready to reach your level of comparisons. Let alone your crazy suggestion of meeting Bill Mazeroski’s The team chemistry was different this year – I think most of us saw that. popularity.

Jake is talented – very talented. He struggled this year as did others. I mean, are you suggesting there is going to be an Adam Frazier statue Particularly in the playoffs. on the North Side somewhere, too? Where is it going to go? Between Maz’s and Honus Wagner’s? I just don’t see making a trade unless it makes sense (to) get something in return of equal value.” And as far as your Frazier-Reynolds-Hayes “nucleus” reference, c’mon. Haven’t we heard this song and dance before? Who said it has to be a trade like the Pirates make? Just because the Pens may trade Guentzel, that doesn’t mean they have to get back the Weren’t Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco going skating version of Chris Archer. to be “The Dream Outfield” for a decade? Josh Bell was going to be the next Willie Stargell at first base. J.R. House and Chad Hermansen were Also, it feels like you made just as many arguments for trading Guentzel going to be All-Stars at shortstop and catcher. We were going to see a as you did for keeping him. starting rotation of , , Tyler Glasnow and What they may get back for Guentzel may not be equal at the time. But if Stetson Allie pitching the team into October every year. they can find a player who is bigger with offensive potential that gets Your loyalty, optimism and diehard fandom is commendable, John. But unearthed while playing with Sidney Crosby, maybe you won’t feel that I’d suggest using some of those years of experience to understand that way by the end of next year. what is past is prologue with this franchise.

This guy on Twitter doesn’t like recent criticism of Penguins goalie Far, far too often. Tristan Jarry. Lastly, Raymond chimes in on the Buccos as well. No doubt Rask, Bennington, Koskinen, Campbell, Talbot, Bobrovsky all lost their series. And they all stunk, should they be replaced “I think it’s not Bob Nutting’s ownership as much as it’s the system. The too?@ChrisMuellerPGH @jhathhorn @KDPomp @Steigerworld system is broken because it allows owners like @ThePoniExpress @937theFan Nutting to use the Pirates as a cash cow and not field a competitive team. — NeanderthalThinkingDeplorable (@OroszJp) June 10, 2021 MLB is a farce in Pittsburgh and Nutting gets the use of a beautiful field for which the taxpayers foot the bill.” Raymond, may I be so bold as to suggest that both complaints are true? I mean, after all, haven’t you heard?!

The Pirates are about to trade the next Bill Mazeroski, for God’s sake!

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215975 Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL players vote Penguins' Sidney Crosby as one of league's most complete players

Adam Bittner

Sidney Crosby may not be one of this year’s finalists for the Hart Trophy, the NHL’s MVP award voted on by media. He does, however, have the respect of his peers.

The Penguins captain was voted one of the league’s most complete players for a second consecutive year in a poll of union membership released Thursday. His name appeared on 23.78% of the ballots, putting him in a tie with Boston’s Patrice Bergeron.

The duo was followed by Florida’s Aleksander Barkov (14.65%), Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (7.22%), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (5.52%) and the Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar (4.46%.)

That wasn’t his only honor in the poll, either. He finished second to McDavid on the question of “If you need to win one game, who is the one player (any position) you would want on your team?” Crosby received 23.04% of the vote on that one compared to McDavid’s 36.74%.

And he finished sixth in voting on the league’s best passer. Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom claimed the top honor with 20.72%.

In the personality section of voting, Crosby was also named the league’s most superstitious player by an overwhelming margin. He received fully 27.35% of the vote, far ahead of second-place Michael Frolik of Montreal at 5.09%.

Teammate Kris Letang, meanwhile, took fifth place in the “best dressed” category, which was topped by Toronto’s Auston Matthews.

Among the other notable findings in the polling:

● 68.2% of players favor ditching the regional divisions used during this past season because of COVID-19 restrictions.

● 66.3 support retaining the series-style scheduling that allowed teams to play multiple games in the same city, reducing the need for travel.

● 46.27% voted Toronto’s Auston Matthews as the league’s best goal scorer, followed by Washington’s Alex Ovechkin at 33.82%.

● 64.71% voted Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman as the best defenseman, followed by Nashville’s Roman Josi at 7.35%.

● 54.12% voted Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy as the best goalie, followed by former Penguin and Vegas star Marc-Andre Fleury at 8.88%.

Post Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215976 Pittsburgh Penguins

Fellow Players Weigh In On Crosby: Complete, Superstitious, Clutch

By Shelly Anderson

Well, he’s not a finalist for the Selke Trophy as the best two-way forward in the NHL, but Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby has been recognized by his peers as one of the most complete players.

Crosby and Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, practically a Selke regular, tied atop the complete player category in the NHL Players Association annual poll of players, released Thursday. Crosby and Bergeron each received 23.78 percent of the vote, or 112 votes each.

The annual survey’s findings might be of heightened interest because it reflects the opinions of the players themselves. The NHLPA says that 490 players answered poll questions covering a variety of topics. The questions were posed between March and April in the regular season.

Crosby (23.04 percent) was second in response to the question: If you need to win one game, who is the one player (any position) you would want on your team? Edmonton star Connor McDavid finished first with 36.74 percent of the votes. Crosby won this category last season.

Crosby finished sixth in the category of best passer, with 4.23 percent of the votes. Nicklas Backstrom of Washington won that category.

In the more fun, off-ice categories, Crosby won big for most superstitious with 27.35 percent of the vote, well ahead of No. 2 Michael Frolik of Montreal (5.09 percent). Crosby’s quirks have been heavily documented over the years.

Crosby earlier was recognized by his brethren when he was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, which goes to the NHL’s Most Outstanding Player, as determined by a vote of players.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang finished fifth (4.53 percent) in the NHLPA poll category of most fashionable. While he’s a smart dresser, surely the hair helped him here. Toronto’s Auston Matthews finished first.

No other Penguins finished in the published results, which can be found here.

Other player winners:

The best goal scorer: Auston Matthews, Toronto

The best defenseman: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay

The best goaltender: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay (former Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, of Vegas, was second)

The best shot: Alex Ovechkin, Washington

The best stick-handler: Patrick Kane, Chicago

The most unique tape job: David Pastrnak of Boston

The best team retro reverse jersey: Colorado Avalanche

There also were two yes/no questions based on changes that were adopted for this COVID-19 altered season.

Asked if they would like to see regional divisions carried forward, 68.2 percent said yes.

Asked if they would like to see a series-style scheduled carried forward, 66.30 percent said yes.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215977 Pittsburgh Penguins

Fleury Laughs about Pranks, Reflects on Fleeting Career in Sportsnet Interview

By PHN Staff

The end is probably near for Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. At 36-years-old, the game’s most affable player understands the hands on the watch are ticking faster, so he’s enjoying his time more. From the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Vegas Golden Knights, from Stanley Cup winner to backup to franchise face, from backup again to hero, Fleury only smiles about his journey.

And most of us do, too.

Canadian outlet and NHL rights holder Sportsnet got Fleury together with his former Penguins teammate Colby Amrstrong for chat about his career, his Vezina nomination, which Golden Knights player reminds him of Armstrong and his favorite prank.

Oh, and the gray hairs.

Trust me boys, they don’t go back and they multiply. At least the ones that stick around.

This season, Fleury shined. In a career year that has not yet ended, he posted career bests in goals-against average (1.98) and save percentage (.928). The last time Fleury posted a save percentage above .920 was in 64 starts for the 2015-16 Pittsburgh Penguins, which ironically was the beginning of the end for his Penguins career as a late season injury allowed Matt Murray to take over the net en route to the 2016 Stanley Cup win.

Fleury fidgeted a bit when “Armdog” asked about those times and being a backup.

Of course, the interview was mostly high points and teammates chirping each other. It was Armstrong’s hockey bag that Fleury famously stuffed himself inside to scare th daylights out Armstrong. And what Penguins fan doesn’t remember the hotel pranks for which Fleury was famous?

Fleury and the Golden Knights won Game 1, but lost to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2. The NHL Semifinal is tied 1-1. Games 3 and 4 will be in Fleury’s hometown of Montreal beginning Friday.

The boys had a good time. You can watch it below. Sportsnet video embeds are always small, so click the little square in the bottom right corner for full screen.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215978 Seattle Kraken Duhatschek: Jeremy Lauzon. Only 24, with decent size (6-foot-1, 204) and gradually, incrementally showing signs of evolving into a solid, minute-munching NHL defender.

Seattle Kraken mock expansion draft 7.0: What the 32nd NHL team may Luszczyszyn: Jakub Zboril. Best known for Not Being Mathew Barzal. I’ll look like in October take a flier based on pedigree given the lack of realistic options from the Bruins.

Buffalo Sabres By Ryan S. Clark, Eric Duhatschek and more Clark: So much has been said about why the Sabres want to keep Jun 17, 2021 William Borgen. If so, then, pick him with the idea that a side deal could be coming. If a side deal cannot be done, then, it gives the Kraken a

promising defenseman who gives them more depth. Front offices around the league can no longer put off the looming arrival Duhatschek: Small and shifty, Rasmus Asplund finally showed hints of an of the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. It’s here. NHL scoring touch this year (seven goals in 28 games). Well, sort of. Luszczyszyn: Rasmus Asplund. Picking someone from Buffalo is tough The expansion draft itself is a little more than a month away. But the because Buffalo doesn’t really have anyone. Asplund seems like he has required strategy for how to handle the draft is something several some potential. executives throughout the league can fully concentrate upon before the Calgary Flames time comes. Granted, some teams already started thinking about that at the trade deadline as evidenced by certain deals — such as when the Clark: He’s another pending RFA. But Oliver Kylington would give the Capitals sent defenseman to the Devils. Doing that Kraken another young depth defensemen who could either work his way allowed the Capitals to get something in return for a player the Devils can into the top six, become the team’s seventh defensemen or someone protect while leaving some of their other defensemen exposed. who goes back and forth from the AHL.

Once again, The Athletic‘s Ryan S. Clark and Eric Duhatschek have Duhatschek: Mark Giordano. Lots of safe, easy and cost-effective returned with the latest forecast of who the Kraken could draft. Yet what choices elsewhere, so Seattle can swing for the fences here. Giordano makes this particular version of the mock draft new – other than a bit can retun real value in the beginning by helping to create a positive more roster clarity – is the arrival of Dom Luszczyszyn. He will also pick a organizational culture, and if they choose, he can be flipped as a rental at team and then calculate each roster through his model to add even more the 2022 trade deadline to a contender. insight into what other items the Kraken and their analytics team could consider. Luszczyszyn: I don’t believe Mark Giordano is washed. He can still be a solid presence on the blue line and even if he can’t handle tough minutes Every team’s protected list and available players can be found linked in like he used to, sliding him down the lineup can still prove fruitful. A rag- the team heading. That way, here, we can immediately skip to the tag team of misfits can use a leader too, and Giordano has plenty of selection process. experience in that department.

Anaheim Ducks Carolina Hurricanes

Clark: Alexander Volkov is a young forward who becomes a pending Clark: It’s possible the Kraken could take Jake Bean. Yet what makes restricted free agent. He finished with eight points in 18 games while Warren Foegele intriguing is the fact he would already slot into a middle- averaging an additional four minutes of ice time since being traded from six role by giving the Kraken a player who can get 30 points in an the Lightning. The potential is there for a bottom-six role, if not, middle- expansion draft in which middle-six forwards might be hard to find. six under certain conditions. Duhatschek: Drafted 13th overall in 2016 when Ron Francis was still Duhatschek: Adam Henrique’s second-half resurgence, plus his running the Hurricanes, Jake Bean checks a lot of boxes: Young, cheap, leadership capabilities, more than offset the pricey $5.825 million AAV. talented offensively and someone who looks capable of running an NHL Hey, you gotta get to the floor somehow. power play, maybe even soon.

Luszczyszyn: Simply put, Sam Steel has not figured it out at the NHL Luszczyszyn: Warren Foegele. A hard-working forechecking savant who level, but leaving him exposed is still rather curious. He can really move can drive play. I’m a big Foegele fan and believe he has top six upside if the puck and led the Ducks last year with a 75 percent carry-in rate on he ever learns how to finish. zone entries. It’s a skill that could be helpful if surrounded by other good players. That’s something he hasn’t been afforded in Anaheim, but a Chicago Blackhawks breakout is still possible. Clark: There are a few options and Calvin de Haan is one of them. His Arizona Coyotes $4.45 million cap hit might be a quasi-high number for some. But he does give the Kraken a proven top-four defenseman who can kill penalties. Clark: Christian Fischer offers more than most realize. He’s only 24. He is under contract for next season at $1 million. His 6-foot-2 frame gives Duhatschek: Riley Stillman. In the belief that there’s an NHL upside for the Kraken size in the bottom-six in addition to having a two-way forward the 23-year-old son of former NHLer Cory Stillman. who can operate on the penalty kill while making offensive zone Luszczyszyn: Malcolm Subban. Seattle needs goalies. Subban is a contributions. goalie. Duhatschek: Adin Hill. He’s young (25), cheap (RFA coming off $800,000 Colorado Avalanche contract) and shown glimpses of excellence in three seasons of NHL cameos. Nice 1B option in goal. Clark: At 6-foot-4, Ryan Graves is already a plug-and-play top-four defenseman who can log heavy minutes and be trusted on the penalty Luszczyszyn: Was Michael Bunting-mania a complete fluke this year? kill. He blocks shots. He eats minutes and can help facilitate an attack if Probably. It’s either take my chances with something real out of that hot needed. He also has two years remaining on his current contract at $3.16 streak or taking another goalie (Adin Hill). And I hate goalies. million. Boston Bruins Duhatschek: Ryan Graves. NHL’s plus-minus leader in 2019-20 and 19- Clark: Let’s go with Jeremy Lauzon. He’s another defenseman who will plus minutes for Presidents’ Trophy winners, and 6-foot-5, even if he be a pending RFA. The 2020-21 campaign provided an extended look at doesn’t play that big always. A lynchpin on an expansion team. how Lauzon could configure into a defense. The Bruins used him as a Luszczyszyn: Joonas Donskoi. He scored 2.4 points-per-60 at five-on- penalty killer who averaged at least 18 minutes per game. Could the five and was an asset on the man advantage. A 58 percent expected Kraken do the same? goals rate was a nice return to form. No Avalanche player had more entries per 60 than Donskoi who has really underrated skill and is a bargain at his price tag. Columbus Blue Jackets end. But the idea he could be more than that is what makes taking him tempting. Clark: Value is everything this offseason and Dean Kukan provides just that. He gives the Kraken, or any team, a 6-foot-2 defenseman who can Duhatschek: Blake Lizotte. Pesky, mosquito-like qualities in a small, kill penalties while doing it for the low cost of $1.65 million before hitting high-energy package, and versatile enough to kill penalties. A decent role the open market after next season. player at the NHL level.

Duhatschek: Eric Robinson. Decent speed for a big man, will provide a Luszczyszyn: Kale Clague. A whole lot of nothing available, so again, I’m physical presence from the fourth line. Had to do something right to play going with pedigree. Clague doesn’t seem like a good defender at all, but all 56 games for the demanding last season. there’s offensive upside to his game so why not?

Luszczyszyn: No Blue Jacket recovered more dump-ins than Eric Minnesota Wild Robinson last year. Fast and tenacious on the puck. There are a few of those players lying around and that can make Seattle really hard to play Clark: A number of possibilities exist here. But the Kraken need against. He’s my pick, though Dean Kukan was tempting. goaltending. Cam Talbot fills that need and the Kraken can add his $3.66 million cap hit while still retaining flexibility. Dallas Stars Duhatschek: Matt Dumba. If he’s available, why not take a bonafide 22- Clark: Either Anton Khudobin or Jason Dickinson could go here. So why minute per night top-four defenceman who turns 27 next month? Riley Tufte? He’s a young prospect on a cheap contract the Kraken can send to the AHL who also allows them to hit the minimum requirement of Luszczyszyn: Matt Dumba. After the playoffs Ryan Hartman had he was 20 players who are contracts next season. a strong consideration, but it’s got to be Dumba. He can play tough minutes, has a lot of offensive upside and was the Wild’s best puck Duhatschek: Anton Khudobin. If there’s a league-wide goalie shuffle this mover. A bonafide top-pairing defender with an absolute cannon of a summer, Khudobin will have value to any team looking for experienced shot. depth behind a fragile starter. Montreal Canadiens Luszczyszyn: Jason Dickinson. One of the few Stars forwards who wasn’t shy about carrying the puck last year. Had an excellent 58 percent Clark: Getting Jake Allen and pairing him with Cam Talbot creates a expected goals rate as a result and I don’t believe his poor production tandem that would only cost a little more than $6.5 million. That cost was a reflection of his ability. management is important as the rest of this mock draft continues.

Detroit Red Wings Duhatschek: Jonathan Drouin. Opting for the shiny toy here, on the grounds that a fresh start in Seattle is what’s needed to get his career Clark: Vladislav Namestnikov is an experienced two-way forward who back on track. High, high skill and c’mon, he’s only 26. only costs $2 million and is on the last year of his deal. At best, he is someone who can serve in several roles. At worst, he could be a Luszczyszyn: Brett Kulak. Doesn’t get the credit he deserves as most potential trade chip for a team needing someone with his abilities. remember the gaffes over the little plays that lead to strong on-ice numbers. He has decent prior experience playing in a top-four role next Duhatschek: Troy Stetcher. Eye-opening turn at the worlds for Canada; to Jeff Petry and is a dependable possession player thanks to his nimble and shifty defenceman is on a reasonable $1.7 million contract, relatively safe ability to exit the zone with control. which makes him a possible rental at next year’s trade deadline. Nashville Predators Luszczyszyn: Troy Stecher. Probably Detroit’s best puck-mover from the backend, though that isn’t saying much. Had an excellent worlds if that Clark: Six straight seasons of more than 10 goals coupled with a $2 means anything to you. I’m not super high on Stecher, but it’s not like million cap hit for a player who also kills penalties makes Calle Jarnkrok there’s anyone else to pick and he’s a fine third pair guy. the option from the Predators.

Edmonton Oilers Duhatschek: Yakov Trenin. Only if the two sides can’t negotiate a side deal in which Seattle takes on either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene, Clark: This is another situation in which the Kraken could take a with the Predators offering up a first-rounder as an incentive. Otherwise, defenseman. But snapping up Stuart Skinner allows the Kraken to get a Trenin, who was a useful, energy-type of role player in his first full NHL potential goaltender of the future at a cheap cost. season and is signed for $725,000 for 2021-22.

Duhatschek: Caleb Jones. His stock fell this season,but he’s 24, Luszczyszyn: Viktor Arvidsson. I almost galaxy-brained myself into taking moderately priced and, if necessary, can probably be flipped to Matt Duchene because I really do think he’s in line to bounce back next whichever team ends up trading for his older brother Seth this summer. year. But Arvidsson is younger, cheaper, carries just as much value, and also has plenty of bounce-back potential himself. Luszczyszyn: Caleb Jones. Don’t think he’s as good as his 2019-20 numbers or as bad as his 2020-21 numbers, but worth a flier unless New Jersey Devils Seattle wants to eat a bit more salary and grab Oscar Klefbom. After missing an entire season, I don’t think I would. Clark: Nathan Schnarr is still has a year remaining on his entry-level contract and can be a prospect who develops in the AHL over the next Florida Panthers year. Otherwise? To get a player who has a contract for the 2021-22 season like P.K. Subban would involve the Devils agreeing to eat some Clark: Finding top-six forwards could be tough in the expansion draft. of that salary. That is what makes Anthony Duclair even more interesting. He’s a pending RFA. But the Kraken are expected to be in position to agree Duhatschek: Michael McLeod. The 12th overall pick in 2016 draft was a upon a new contract. full-time NHLer this year and played decently in a bottom-six role. Worth noting: Nine even-strength goals in 52 games, second on the team in Duhatschek: Chris Driedger. Pending UFA, Seattle is permitted to talk hits. with him in a “negotiating window” and if he agrees to terms, becomes their selection. Projects as a potential starter in goal. Luszczyszyn: I picked Michael McLeod because he was a 12th overall pick who hasn’t had much of an opportunity to showcase his talent yet at Luszczyszyn: Chris Driedger. Driedger is very likely the best goalie the NHL level. Has he deserved it? No. But in an expansion draft setting available, but that’s not saying much given the unpredictability of with limited options, I’ll always take a flier on pedigree. goaltending. Florida has a number of worthy choices and unfortunately for Seattle, this time Dale Tallon isn’t around to give the Kraken an extra New York Islanders one for free. I was tempted by Anthony Duclair who offers speed, skill and a proven track record of top six performance. Clark: This starts with taking Otto Koivula to have a prospect for the future and ends with the Kraken coming up with a side deal to help the Los Angeles Kings cash-strapped Islanders.

Clark: Kale Clague could prove to be an interesting option in that he is a Duhatschek: Otto Koivula. Good size and a sort of William Carrier pending UFA who could give the Kraken even more depth on the back presence to the 21-year-old Finnish forward. Assuming, of course, the Isles can’t get a deal in place to dump Andrew Ladd’s money. Luszczyszyn: Kieffer Bellows. The 19th pick in the 2016 draft hasn’t St. Louis Blues earned much of an opportunity on the Islanders and at 23, time is running out. He’s worth a flier based purely on his goal-scoring ability. Six points Clark: There are a lot of reasons to take Vince Dunn. Those are also the in 22 career games may not seem like much, but it’s impressive when same reasons why he could be traded away by the time the expansion only averaging 10 minutes per night. There might be something there draft arrives. worth nurturing. Duhatschek: Vince Dunn. If he isn’t traded by the Blues, the 24-year-old New York Rangers pending restricted free agent has some offensive chops that will help some team – either Seattle or any club they may flip him to. Clark: Bottom-six forwards will be in great supply. It’s just that Kevin Rooney is someone who can kill penalties, fight for possession all Luszczyszyn: Vince Dunn. A no-brainer, even if Dunn had an off year. packaged in 6-foot-2 frame while costing $750,000. He’s an excellent puck-mover who has shown in the past he can play tough minutes. He’s one of the few players available who can be trusted Duhatschek: Colin Blackwell. At 28, played more NHL games (47) this to play in the top four. past year than any previous season and was a useful third-liner (12 goals, 22 points). Tampa Bay Lightning

Luszczyszyn: Colin Blackwell. Looked really good next to Artemi Panarin Clark: Capturing a young defenseman on a cheap contract like Cal Foote last season but who doesn’t. Funny enough, his points-per-60 was is tempting. But everything Alex Killorn has achieved this season and in actually higher last season in Nashville. A potential diamond in the rough. previous seasons gives the Kraken a top-six forward who could be their potential captain. Ottawa Senators Duhatschek: Cal Foote. Can’t have enough 6-foot-4, 215-pound Clark: Chris Tierney could serve as a middle-six forward who could also defensemen with first-round pedigree that don’t turn 22 until December. anchor the penalty kill. His $3.5 million cap hit might be deemed a bit But this pick will ultimately revolve around a possible Tampa Bay salary pricey. But that is the value of getting someone who at his best, can dump. produce at least 40 points in a season. Luszczyszyn: Yanni Gourde has more cost certainty, similar value to Duhatschek: Chris Tierney. Versatile player, only 26, who can play up- Ondrej Palat, but plays center, no question of how much he benefits from and-down your lineup, and has previously been a reasonably productive Kucherov/Point. Versatile player, really good on the forecheck. NHL scorer under the right, opportune circumstances. Toronto Maple Leafs Luszczyszyn: Anton Forsberg. I considered Evgeny Dadonov here, but I think I’d prefer the cap space to be completely honest. Forsberg gives Clark: Picking Tierney could make it hard to justify taking Alexander the Kraken some organizational depth in net and with goalies being Kerfoot given they would be operating in the same role. But taking Travis difficult to predict, I’d prefer gambling on three relative no-namers rather Dermott means having even more defensive depth at a low cost. than established (and more expensive) veterans. Duhatschek: Travis Dermott. A 24-year-old defenseman, with an upside, Philadelphia Flyers who hasn’t gotten the opportunity in Toronto yet and is available largely because of the Leafs’ protection issues. Clark: Here is one reason to be cost-conscious: James van Riemsdyk. He’s arguably the most consistent top-six forward who would be available Luszczyszyn: Alexander Kerfoot. Toronto really only had two legitimate in the expansion draft. That is why he also costs $7 million for the next options in Kerfoot and Travis Dermott, the latter of which plays some of two years. the most sheltered minutes in the league. Kerfoot is a solid middle-six center and there was far less depth at that position compared to defense. Duhatschek: James van Riemsdyk. Specifically, to legitimize a first-year His playoff performance really upped his stock, too. team’s power play (and because scoring overall will be problematic coming out of the gate). Vancouver Canucks

Luszczyszyn: James van Riemsdyk. Scored at a 63-point pace last Clark: Madison Bowey is rather important. Adding him does more than season, a nice return to form that had a lot more to do with getting more give this team depth. It gives this model the financial flexibility for the ice-time than actually playing better. He’s a very pricey acquisition, but Kraken to operate as serious players in free agency. Set aside $10 Seattle can afford a couple and there are only two years left. There aren’t million to re-sign pending RFAs, and it leaves this team with roughly $19 many players available who can provide the raw value that van Riemsdyk million in cap space ahead of free agency. can. Duhatschek: Zack MacEwen. Someone needs to provide a policing Pittsburgh Penguins presence for the top end of the lineup, which the 6-foot-4, 212 pound MacEwen can do. Remember too – 52 points in 69 games for AHL Utica Clark: Taking Jason Zucker comes at the cost of spending $5.5 million in only a couple of years back. cap space over the next two seasons. But it comes with the benefit of someone who could possibly serve as a top-six forward who has hit the Luszczyszyn: Zack MacEwen. Really didn’t matter who I picked here as it 20-goal mark five times in his career. was unlikely anyone available from Vancouver would actually make the team. MacEwen seems fine, I guess. He didn’t produce at all, but his Duhatschek: Tristan Jarry. Grabbing a goalie from the Penguins worked possession numbers were among the team’s best. so well for the Golden Knights, it seems like a tried-and-true path. Thank you, Rob Rossi! Washington Capitals

Luszczyszyn: Zach Aston-Reese. Pittsburgh has a bevy of options here. I Clark: Having Brenden Dillon gives the Kraken a veteran with size who like Aston-Reese a lot, an excellent forechecker that fits the m.o. of some can kill penalties. Sure, this projection has a lot of defensemen who can of the other players selected. He uses that ability to drive some of the kill penalties. An argument could be made, however, that having several very best defensive impacts in the league over the last couple of seasons options on the PK is better than having few at all. and that’s worth an expansion selection. Duhatschek: Vitek Vanecek. Seven NHL rookie goalies won 10 games or San Jose Sharks more, but Vanacek led them all in wins with 21. At 25, for a $716,667 cap hit, he’s the best available asset by far. Clark: A player with consecutive 20-point seasons who is also a pending RFA could prove beneficial with someone like Ryan Donato. Luszczyszyn: Nick Jensen. A lot of options on Washington, especially on defense. I opted for Jensen who has the best defensive impacts and Duhatschek: Ryan Donato. A pending RFA who might not even be moves the puck efficiently on the breakout. He’s also cheaper than qualified on his $1.9 million, he was, at least, a useful contributor in the Brenden Dillon. shootout and maybe the best of an exceedingly thin lot. Winnipeg Jets Luszczyszyn: Ryan Donato. Not many options on San Jose, but Donato has potential if he shows more of what he was in Minnesota rather than Clark: Walking away from Logan Stanley is difficult. But it is also difficult San Jose. He’s probably closer to a five percent shooter rather than a 17 to ignore a cap-friendly power forward like Mason Appleton knowing he percent shooter, but it’s still admirable that he can create chances. could bolster a middle-six forward group for the price of $900,000. Duhatschek: There’ll be oodles of middle-of-the-roster forwards available, but few as reliable as Mason Appleton, and earning $900,000 heading into RFA in 2022, is under team control when his current contract expires.

Luszczyszyn: Mason Appleton. It was between Appleton and Logan Stanley. The tall defender carries some potential, but Appleton’s edge is appreciated. He was one of Winnipeg’s better forecheckers this year, while still being a

Based on GSVA, the Seattle Kraken can likely make a team that can compete for a playoff spot given the protection lists supplied by each team’s beat writers.

Ryan and Eric’s team both project around the 85-to-87 point range, a place reserved for teams outside the playoff bubble with a modest shot at making the postseason. Dom’s team is closer to 95 points and would be on the inside of the playoff bubble, representing a high point with what to expect from Seattle in Year One. For context, Vegas was projected for 83 points in its first year.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215979 Tampa Bay Lightning The Lightning jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Thursday on a Yanni Gourde goal, but the Islanders tied it up in the second period on a goal off a scrum in front of the net.

The Lightning have become the new standard for cool in the NHL That should have been a momentum swing. That should have energized the Islanders in front of their home crowd. In past years, that might have led to a breakdown in Tampa Bay’s structure.

By John Romano Instead, the Lightning took advantage of the only power play they got and Brayden Point scored seconds after the man-advantage ended. Published 26 minutes ago “We constantly lean on that experience,” Stamkos said. “The more

games like this that you play, whether it was last year in the playoffs or in Once upon a time, this was a team with more personality than heart. the regular season, this group knows to flip that switch when the time Watching them now, that’s almost hard to believe. comes.

Oh, Tampa Bay still has an outsized number of stars, and a good bit of “We’ve proved that in the past, we’ve proved it again here in the playoffs. flash from night to night. But the Lightning have evolved from a group It’s a battle each and every night, and the further you go the tougher the that was untrustworthy under pressure to a team that never faces a task is.” moment too big to handle. A Game 3 win does not guarantee anything. Lightning fans should know Take Thursday night’s 2-1 win against the Islanders in Game 3 of the that from years past. Stanley Cup semifinals. It wasn’t a must-win showdown, but it had all the But there is also something different about this team. We saw it in the characteristics of a game that could be a turning point in the postseason. postseason in 2020, and we’re seeing it again this month. The bigger the The Islanders are a disciplined team. A hungry team. A veteran team moment, the more impressive the Lightning seem to get. with a premier coach and a vendetta after last season’s Eastern

Conference final loss to Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.18.2021 And yet the Lightning beat New York at its own game on Thursday.

No theatrics, no fights, no costly penalties. Just a couple of clutch goals, and a lot of blocked shots. It was the fourth time in the last two postseasons that the Lightning have gone into Game 3 tied at 1-1, and for the fourth time they have taken the series lead.

“It just goes to show the maturity of the group,” said Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.

You may recall, it hasn’t always been that way around here. The Lightning blew a series lead against Chicago in the 2015 Stanley Cup final and against Pittsburgh and Washington in the 2016 and ’18 Eastern Conference finals.

No team won more consistently in the regular season, and suffered more heartbreak in the postseason, than Tampa Bay during a frustrating six- year apprenticeship.

But all that losing triggered something remarkable within them, and the Lightning have since become the team that defines cool. They are deep, yes. They are talented, of course. But they have also become the NHL standard for mental toughness.

“They’ve found a recipe. It took us some time, there were ups and downs prior to 2020, everybody witnessed them,” coach Jon Cooper said. “There’s a true belief of what needs to be done. Like I said, there’s a recipe to it.

“They understand there’s a process to everything. It’s process over outcomes. And if you stick with it, good things usually happen. And they’ve done that.”

You are taught that every game matters. That it’s important to be at your best whenever the whistle blows.

But, of course, that’s not entirely true. There are moments when a series, when a season, is on its edge.

Game 3 can often be one of those moments.

Obviously, a team that wins Game 1 of a seven-game series has the upper hand. But the reality is, there is still ample time for the losing team to recover, and no need to be unduly alarmed.

It’s a lot different when you get to Game 3 and a series is tied 1-1. There have been 114 occasions in the NHL’s semifinal round that teams have split the first two games. The victor in Game 3 has gone on to win the series 78.1 percent of the time. That means the losing team in Game 3 has only reached the Stanley Cup final 21.9 percent of the time.

Think about what an enormous swing in fortunes that is. Both teams begin the game with a 50/50 chance of winning the series and by the time the night ends, one team is practically a 4-to-1 favorite. 1215980 Tampa Bay Lightning Point has goals in six straight games, but Thursday’s score was unlike the others. The Lightning were just coming off their first power play — their first unit still on the ice after skating the entire man-advantage — when Victor Hedman put a shot on goal from the high slot. The puck Lightning take series lead over Islanders on the road kicked out to Point, who swung it back toward the net while getting pushed from behind by Islanders forward Casey Cizikas through traffic

and into the back of the net. By Eduardo A. Encina “They really limited us,” Point said. “I know the puck just took a good Published Yesterday bounce and it landed right on my stick, and so it’s a lucky one.””

Updated 5 hours ago

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.18.2021

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Maybe it’s because the building is so small or because the roof is so low, but when you walk into Nassau Coliseum, your eyes are immediately drawn up to the rafters, where brightly colored orange, blue and white banners tell the story of the Islanders’ glory days.

Chasing another banner of their own, the Lightning have played well on the road during these Stanley Cup playoffs. They quieted loud crowds in Florida and Carolina, but the Coliseum is different. The fans are raucous and relentless, chanting and cheering throughout the game, and the size of the building makes it feel like they’re right on top of the ice.

With the Islanders playing their last games in the Coliseum before moving into a new building at Belmont Park, sentiment was on the Islanders’ side Thursday night.

But the Lightning are trying to make their own history by winning back-to- back titles, and they took control of their semifinal series with a 2-1 win in Game 3.

“These guys, they’re hungry,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “They’re a hungry group. And I give them all the credit in the world, especially with what happened last year and to keep having that will to win, it’s good on them.”

The backbone of the Lightning’s success on the road has been defense. They know how to close out low-scoring, one-goal games. They’re doing it without much offense: Over their road winning streak, they’re only averaging two goals a game.

But Cooper routinely says that the moment the Lightning acquired a championship mentality was when they realized winning is about the number of goals you keep out of the net, not the number you put in.

“It’s everyone buying into the system,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. “We know what our job is. We talked about it in between the second and third. We’ve got a one-goal lead going into the third period of a playoff game, we know what we have to do. And we’ve done it time and time again.

“This group is comfortable in these situations. This time of the year, it’s guys doing whatever it takes to win, and that’s the most important thing. And when you have a complete buy in, you know you get results like we’re getting right now.”

The Islanders were resilient, creating 34 scoring chances in the second and third periods combined.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevsky stopped 27 of 28 shots, the only goal he allowed on a puck defenseman Erik Cernak tried to tap back to Vasilevskiy in traffic but when through him. Vasilevskiy has a 1.58 goals against average and .953 save percentage on the road this postseason.

The Lightning blocked 21 shots, getting blocks from 11 different players. And despite mustering very little offense in the third — they had just five shots in the period and didn’t have their first until nine minutes in — the Lightning held off the Islanders even as their defensemen had extended shifts. Jan Rutta and Cernak left the game in the final minutes with stingers.

“You look at the Islanders’ game and they defend so well, as well,” said center Brayden Point, whose late second-period goal stood as the winner. “They don’t give you much time and space, and you think that’s their mindset too, is taking care of their end, so we’ve got to make sure we take care of ours and not fuel their skill.”

After the Islanders evened the score at 1 with 2:59 left in the second period, Point’s goal with 17.4 seconds left in the period quieted the Coliseum crowd. 1215981 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning come up roses with The Bachelor’s Matt James in attendance

By Mari Faiello

Published 5 hours ago

Updated 5 hours ago

If the Lightning are on the road, fans should hope Matt James is in the building.

James, who was on this year’s Season 25 of The Bachelor, has been to two Lightning games this postseason. While he hasn’t been cheering for Tampa Bay, the Lightning have won both times he has been in attendance.

In addition to Thursday’s Game 3 against the Islanders, James went to the series finale at Carolina on June 8 with girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell.

James, a wide receiver for Wake Forest from 2011-2014, sounded the siren for the Hurricanes before the Lightning went on to win 2-0.

On The Bachelor, James proposed to Kirkconnell in the season finale before breaking up with her in March over old photos she took at a 2018 plantation-themed college party.

The next month, the two were photographed and spotted together on numerous occasions before James said he and Kirkconnell were focusing on their relationship. In May, they confirmed they were back together.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215982 Tampa Bay Lightning

Stanley Cup semifinal: Lightning-Islanders Game 3 live updates

By Frank Pastor

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde scored goals as the Lightning beat the Islanders 2-1 in Game 3 of their Stanley Cup semifinal series Thursday at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.

After dropping the opening game of the series, Tampa Bay won the past two to take a two-games-to-one lead.

Gourde scored off a cross-crease pass from Blake Coleman to open the scoring in the first period.

New York’s Cal Clutterbuck tied the score during a net-front scramble late in the second. But Point scored while being pushed to the ice by Casey Cizikas less than three minutes later to restore Tampa Bay’s lead.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 27 of 28 shots to pick up his 10th victory of the postseason.

ISLANDERS GOAL: Pulock shoots the puck in and it takes a crazy carom off the boards, hitting the back of the net. Cizikas puts the puck in front, and Matt Martin shots from down low. During a mad scramble in front, Cernak tries to push the puck back to Vasilevskiy, but Clutterbuck puts the puck in the net. Lightning 1, Islanders 1.

LIGHTNING GOAL! Four seconds after the power play expired, Brayden Point scores while being pushed to the ice by Cizikas. Lightning 2, Islanders 1.

LIGHTNING GOAL! Yanni Gourde scores off a cross-crease pass from Blake Coleman, who retrieved his own rebound. Lightning 1, Islanders 0.

The Lightning showed Tuesday they can come back from a series deficit, beating the Islanders 4-2 to even their Stanley Cup semifinal series at one game apiece.

But lose Game 3 tonight at Nassau Coliseum and they will be down in a series after three games for the first time since being swept by Columbus in the opening round in 2018-19.

Tampa Bay dropped the opening game of the Eastern Conference semifinal against Boston and Cup final against Dallas last season before storming back to win the next four over the Bruins and four of the next five against the Stars.

But the last time they came back to win a series after losing two of the first three games was the opening round in 2014-15, when they came from behind to beat the Red Wings in seven games.

Since then, they’ve dropped every series in which they trailed after three games: to the Penguins (2015-16 conference final), Capitals (2017-18 conference final) and Blue Jackets (2018-19 conference quarterfinal).

So, let’s just say a win tonight could be important. Particularly against an Islanders team whose tight-checking style, strong goaltending and forward depth might present the biggest challenge remaining in Tampa Bay’s path.

Not that the Lightning can’t come back from such a deficit, of course. With their talent, experience and resilience, they’re capable of things most teams aren’t.

But it will be unfamiliar territory, for sure.

Follow along, starting at 8 p.m., as the Lightning aim to take their first lead of the series that could put them in the Cup final for the second straight year.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215983 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Victor Hedman receive league honors from their peers

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy and defenseman Victor Hedman are already finalists for the top NHL awards at their position, and on Thursday, they each received a special honor from fellow players.

A vote of nearly 500 players selected Vasilevskiy as this season’s top goaltender and Hedman as the league’s top defenseman in this year’s NHL Players Association player poll.

Hedman won the award for the third straight season, but never by such a large margin of victory. Hedman received 64.71 percent of the player vote.

Nashville’s Roman Josi, last year’s Norris Trophy winner, and Colorado’s Cale Makar each received 7.35 percent. The Kings’ Drew Doughty (2.73 percent) and Caps’ John Carlson (2.10) rounded out the top five.

Vasilevskiy ended Montreal goaltender Carey Price’s three-season reign as the top goaltender award winner. He also won by a huge margin, receiving 54.12 percent of the vote. Las Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury was second with 8.88 percent and Price (8.25 percent), Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyk (5.07) and Boston’s Tuukka Rask (4.02) rounded out the top five.

Vasilevskiy is also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, given to the league’s top goaltender and selected by a vote of the league’s general managers.

Hedman is a Norris Trophy finalist. That award is given to the league’s top defenseman as decided by a vote of the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Both of those awards will be announced during a 30-minute program sometime during the Stanley Cup final.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215984 Tampa Bay Lightning The Lightning have the best goalie in the world, too, in Andrei Vasilevskiy, and he’s allowed just one goal or fewer in each of his past four road games. The only goalies who have gone longer are Martin Brodeur (five) and Johan Hedberg (five). The only reason Vasilevskiy Lightning not ‘satisfied’ yet as championship pedigree shows in another gave up a goal on Thursday was that Cernak tried to push the puck back road win to him to hold for a whistle, but it slipped through due to some pressure by Cal Clutterbuck.

But Vasilevskiy made some key saves, like robbing Kyle Palmieri for the By Joe Smith second straight game, this time early in the first period when it was 0-0. Jun 18, 2021 The Lightning have scored the first goal in each of their six road wins in these playoffs.

“They’re Stanley Cup champions. They’ve been in these situations,” There was Brayden Point, at the end of a near three-minute shift, getting Trotz said. “We tried. We just have to get more pucks, get inside. We had cross-checked to the ice after a late-second-period power play. some chances and made some key saves. I thought we were pretty good defensively, as well. A lot of what they got, I thought we gave it to them.” But as Point fell on his stomach, he managed to slingshot the puck into the net for the go-ahead goal in the Lightning’s 2-1 win over the Islanders The Islanders have reminded me of last year’s Lightning team during in Game 3 on Thursday. these playoffs. They are being driven by heartbreak, too, having lost in six games to Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. “It was just will,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. Trotz said you learn more from losing than winning. And Cooper would Then there was the end of the game against the Islanders, when Victor be the first to agree, having seen what getting swept by Columbus in Hedman was the kind of closer the Yankees’ Mariano Rivera would have 2019 did to help them change from the “greatest show on ice” to a been proud of. Hedman, the perennial Norris Trophy finalist who might mature, grind-it-out-type champion. need surgery after the season, played the final 2 minutes, 19 seconds. The Lightning blocked 21 shots on Thursday, with 11 different players a He had a takeaway and a clear. He darted above the blue line to thwart a part of it. That included Anthony Cirelli, who had a key block on a penalty pass to the ever-dangerous Mathew Barzal. Of the final 4:49, Hedman kill and thwarted another potential odd-man rush. “Everyone is sacrificing played 4:03. Ryan McDonagh was on the ice for the final 1:48. They had their bodies,” Cirelli said. “Doing what it takes to win.” to be, as defensemen Erik Cernak and Jan Rutta were both sidelined with stingers. They talk about the “recipe” a lot. How they learned what it took to win a championship last year, and that shapes how they view their “You need your best players to be your best players,” Cooper said. “You performances in any game this time around. They know when they’re on, need those guys to rise to the occasion. And, again, it’s will. Those guys, and know when they’re off, like they were in Game 1, which means they’re hungry. A hungry group.” they’re able to quickly self-correct. The Cup champions want more. They drank from hockey’s holy grail last The Lightning still needed their top players to shine, and they did, summer, and their thirst is insatiable. It’s not just about winning, it’s about including Yanni Gourde’s goal and Point scoring the winner off his putting themselves in rare air, becoming just the second team in about a stomach, putting in a rebound off a Hedman shot. “The puck just took a quarter-century to go back-to-back. Cooper asked the group if they were good bounce and it lands right on my stick,” Point said. “It’s a lucky one.” “full.” Were they satisfied? They didn’t have to say anything. Just look at how Tampa Bay has gone 6-1 on the road in this postseason, including There’s been nothing lucky about this Lightning playoff run, which has winning four straight while allowing three goals. “An absolute clinic here included the remarkable return by Nikita Kucherov, Point’s goal-scoring late in the game by Tampa,” former NHL player Eddie Olzcyk said on the binge and Vasilevskiy being stingy in net. The Cup champs are six wins broadcast. from immortality, and I bet they can taste it. And it’d be fitting if they get there by eliminating the Islanders and closing a Nassau Coliseum that “It’s everyone buying into the system,” captain Steven Stamkos said. “We witnessed four straight Cups in the early 1980s. know what our job is. We know what we have to do. We’ve done it time and time again. This group is comfortable in these situations. The As Cooper pointed out, even the great Blackhawks teams of the 2010s, conference final, the semifinals, whatever you call this, this time of year, winning three Cups in six years, never went back-to-back. Neither did the it’s guys doing whatever it takes to win. When you have complete buy-in, Kings — only the Penguins in 2016-17. The goal is to not be “one-and- you know you get the results we’re getting right now.” done.”

Remember Game 1? When the Islanders stunned Lightning fans at “It’s not being content,” Cooper said. “Don’t take for granted we win the Amalie Arena by beating Tampa Bay 2-1? The home team looked off, Stanley Cup — that’s the greatest memory I have besides the birth of my lacked “fire,” bringing its work ethic but not its minds, at least according to kids. But do you want to be special? And I think if you can go back-to- Cooper. The Lightning weren’t worried. They watched video the next day, back, now you’ve got a special … like that team is special. That’s where knew what they had to do better and bounced back with two straight you dig inside and say, ‘Hey, you don’t get these chances that often. wins. Let’s seize it.'”

Why did the Lightning have confidence?

“I think we constantly lean on that experience,” Stamkos said. “This The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 group knows how to flip that switch when the time comes. We’ve proven that in the past and proved that here in the playoffs. It’s a battle each and every night, and the farther it goes, the tougher the task is.”

Listen, this series is far from over. The Lightning are up 2-1, grabbing some momentum after back-to-back strong performances. But this Barry Trotz-coached Islanders team isn’t going away. It’s not like the Islanders played poorly — they led Tampa Bay 15-5 in high-danger chances on Thursday, according to Natural Stat Trick. They’ve had strong goaltending by Semyon Varlamov.

But the Lightning’s best players have been better.

Point is the only active player to have scored in six straight playoff games, putting him in some elite company overall. His 33 goals in 58 career playoff games give him the kind of goals-per-game numbers (.57) that rank up there with (.59), Mike Bossy (.66) and Mario Lemieux (.71). Trotz called Point a “big-game player” going into this series, and the 25-year-old Lightning center is showing why. 1215985 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews voted best goal scorer, most fashionable by NHL players

By Mark Zwolinski Sports Reporter

Thu., June 17, 2021

NHL players seem to agree on two things about Auston Matthews: He’s the best at filling the net, and he does it with style.

The Maple Leafs all-star was the only double winner when the results of the NHLPA’s annual players poll were released Thursday, earning top grades as the league’s best goal scorer and most fashionable player.

Matthews earned 46.27 per cent of the vote in the top scorer category, after winning the Rocket Richard Trophy with 41 goals in 52 games. Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin — tops in the best shot voting, edging Matthews — was second with 33.82 per cent.

The 23-year-old Matthews has done several fashion magazine shoots in recent years and been featured often on social media for his threads, including sneakers estimated at up to $1,500 a pair. He picked up 21.16 per cent of the votes in the most fashionable category, with Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak second (11.08 per cent).

Matthews’ sense of style has gained attention outside the hockey world, and not just recently. Sports Illustrated’s list of the top 50 fashionable athletes — which for years had been dominated by tennis, basketball and football stars — included Matthews along with fellow NHLers P.K. Subban, Evander Kane and Henrik Lundqvist in 2019.

On the ice, his rise to become the league’s leading goal scorer had been anticipated since his first NHL game five years ago, when he buried four against the Ottawa Senators.

His Richard trophy-winning campaign included two stretches of five games without a goal, but also 18- and 19-game point streaks. He wound up averaging .788 goals per game, the highest rate by a Leaf since Charlie Conacher (.775) in 1934-35, and his pace ranks up there with Ovechkin (65 goals in 82 games in 2007-08) and Steven Stamkos (60 in 82 in 2011-12) among the greatest scoring feats of the salary-cap era, which started in 2005.

The NHLPA poll was done over March and April and 490 players voted. Other category winners:

After three seasons at the top, Montreal’s Carey Price was knocked off the top goalie perch by Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Tampa’s Victor Hedman was voted best defenceman.

Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews topped two categories in the NHLPA’s annual player poll — best goal scorer and most fashionable.

Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Boston’s Patrice Bergeron tied for most complete player.

Connor McDavid, whose Oilers were swept by the Winnipeg Jets in the opening round of this year’s playoffs, was voted the player you’d most want on your side if you had to win one game, with Crosby second.

Toronto Star LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215986 Toronto Maple Leafs healthy. The Habs caught a break in the first round when Maple Leafs captain John Tavares suffered a series-ending concussion in Game 1 and defenceman Jake Muzzin went down in Game 6.

TRAIKOS: Despite a pair of bloodshot eyes, Montreal's "scary" looking In Game 1 of the second round, Montreal lost Jake Evans to a villain was the hero in Game 2 concussion. But the loss was balanced out by the fact that Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele, who had delivered the knockout blow to Evans, missed the rest of the series with a suspension.

Michael Traikos As we saw in Game 1 against Vegas, Montreal’s lineup looks a lot worse without Petry in the lineup. Publishing date: Jun 17, 2021 “If he could have, he would have come back earlier,” head coach

Dominique Ducharme said after Wednesday’s win. “Even when it Despite a pair of bloodshot eyes that had his teammates “scared” and his happened, he wanted to try to play against Winnipeg in Game 4. It’s kids pretending he was some kind of villain in a James Bond movie, good to see him back and see the way he played after missing a couple Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry assured reporters on of games and a few days. Thursday that he was totally healthy. “He’s an important player for us on both sides. On defence, the way he Well, sort of healthy. moves and the way he moves the puck is really good. He’s a gamer. Every time you get in the critical moments, the big games, you see him at Ok, he’s hurting. But just about everyone is hurting at this time of year. his best.”

Shea Weber is playing through what many believe is a thumb injury. Petry wasn’t at his best in Game 2. And yet, he still managed to make an impact. A considerable one, considering what was at stake. Had the Brendan Gallagher, who also broke his thumb in April, hardly looks like Habs lost, they would be down 2-0 in this series. Instead, it’s now he’s 100% himself. And those are just the ones we know about. anyone’s game. We won’t find out the full extent of Petry’s injury and whoever else might Even with his bloodshot eyes, the so-called villain became the hero. be harbouring a muscle sprain, strain or something far more serious until after the playoffs.

What we do know is that if this were the regular season, the hand injury Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.18.2021 that Petry suffered in the previous round against the Winnipeg Jets — and which was apparently to blame for those broken blood vessels underneath his corneas — probably would have sidelined him for a couple of weeks. Instead, after missing just a couple of games, he slipped on a modified glove, gritted his teeth and managed to pick up a well-earned assist in a 3-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2.

“Obviously, in a regular part of the season, you can always take a little bit more time to take care of yourself and make sure that everything heals,” said Petry, who tied for seventh amongst defencemen in the regular season with 42 points in 55 games. “But it is the playoffs. It is the most important time of the year, so with any injury you’re dealing with you’re trying to cut the timeline down and get out there as quickly as possible.”

The return of Petry, who was a plus-1 in Game 2, was part of the reason why the Canadiens were able to even up this best-of-seven series, which continues on Friday night in Montreal. It also highlighted the sacrifice that hockey players continue to take at this time of year.

While the NBA’s stars are dropping like flies because of an assortment of soft-tissue injuries, the NHL is reminding everyone that it not only has the toughest players in all of professional sports — but that it also has the craziest.

Broken fingers? Tape them up. Broken blood vessels? Bust out the eye drops.

“We’re all sacrificing our bodies every night and putting it all out there and laying it on the line,” said Canadiens defenceman Jon Merrill. “It definitely creates an intensity and a will to want to do whatever it takes to win, for sure.”

Petry, who could barely cradle his stick in his hands after reportedly dislocating two of his fingers, somehow managed to take two shots on net in Game 2.

He also courageously blocked two shots. And he logged the fourth- highest even-strength minutes on the team.

Not bad for someone who reportedly didn’t get medically cleared to play until after the pre-game warmup.

“I felt I had to use my skating ability just be a little different,” Petry said of how he modified the way he defended in order to get through Wednesday’s game. “I’ve always felt my best asset was my legs, my skating ability. So just focusing on doing that and closing (the gap) quickly.”

Injuries are the great X-factor of the playoffs. As teams go deeper into the post-season, this becomes more a battle of attrition than ability. It’s not only who wants it more — but also who has more bodies that are 1215987 Toronto Maple Leafs is hardly a one-dimensional offensive player, finishing behind Florida’s Aleksander Barkov (14.6%) in fifth (7.2%).

Player you want in a winner-takes-all game? TRAIKOS: NHL players say Auston Matthews is the league's best scorer With the game on the line, players want McDavid (36.7%) on their team, — just not in Game 7 situations followed by Crosby (23.0%), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (5.9%), Bergeron (4.6%), Vasilevskiy (4.8%) and Kane (3.5%). Not surprisingly, there wasn’t a single Toronto player ranked in the top six. Constantly Michael Traikos losing in Game 7s probably had something to do with that.

Publishing date: Jun 17, 2021 Most unique tape job

The three vertical strips of tape at the toe of David Patrnak’s blade was voted the most unique. The votes are in. Most fashionable Sidney Crosby is still the most complete player in the NHL, while Victor Hedman is the best defenceman and Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best Matthews (21.2%), who made moustaches cool again (?), was voted as goalie. And when it comes to scoring goals, Auston Matthews is the the NHL’s best-dressed man, followed by Pastrnak (11.1%), whose player you want with the puck on his stick — just not in a Game 7 wardrobe choices often seem like the results of a lost bet. situation. Would you like to see regional divisions again? Those were just some of the results from the annual NHLPA Player Poll released on Thursday. If it were up to the players — 68.2% of whom want to go back to the way things were — the North Division will be a one-time only experiment. Nearly 500 players participated in the questionnaire, which tackled However, 66.3% want to get rid of the two wild card playoff spots and everything from the serious (best defenceman and best goalie) to the silly instead have the top-4 teams in each division qualify for the post-season. (most fashionable and most unique tape job) and pretty much everything in between. Best stickhandler

Here are the results: Patrick Kane (49.5%)

Best Goal-scorer Connor McDavid (25.8%)

With an NHL-leading 41 goals this season, Toronto’s Auston Matthews Nathan MacKinnon (7.5%) (46.3%) edged nine-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin Auston Matthews (2.5%) (33.8%) as the best scorer. Since entering the league in 2016, Matthews has scored six fewer goals (199) than Ovechkin (205), but his 152 even- Most superstitious strength goals are 13 more than the next-highest scorer. The Maple Leafs sniper, who used his powerful — yet deceiving — wrist shot to Sidney Crosby (27.3%) score a majority of his goals, also finished second to Ovechkin in the Michael Frolik (5.1%) “best shot” vote. Andrew Cogliano (4.8%) Best passer Corey Perry (4.6%) With a league-leading 72 assists — an amount that would have had him ranked third in overall scoring even if he didn’t get a single goal this year Favourite reverse retro jersey — you would think that McDavid would be considered the best passer in the game. But for some reason, voters went with Washington’s Nicklas Colorado (28.6%) Backstrom (20.7%), who has set up Ovechkin for the majority of his Los Angeles (10.5%) goals. Chicago’s Patrick Kane (20.3%) ranked second, followed by Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (18.4%). As for McDavid (9.7%), who has Calgary (6.5%) picked up more assists than anyone since entering the league in 2015, he finished fourth (9.7%). Minnesota (6.0%) Washington (4.4%) Best Defenceman

Though he has won the Norris Trophy just once, five-time finalist Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman may as well be second coming of Nicklas Lidstrom Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.18.2021 when it comes to how his peers view him. For the third straight year, Hedman finished first in voting. This time, he was the overwhelming favourite, claiming 64.7% of the votes. Nashville’s Roman Josi and Colorado’s Cale Makar tied for second (7.3%), while Drew Doughty (2.7%) and John Carlson (2.1%) rounded out the top-5.

Best Goalie

Was it surprising that Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy received 54.1% of the votes? Not really. We’re talking about a goalie who is coming off a Stanley Cup win, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2019 and who has been a finalist for the award in each of the past four seasons. Then again, the shift in voting represented a changing of the guard. For years, this honour has belonged to Montreal’s Carey Price, who fell to third in voting (8.2%), behind Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury (8.9%). No doubt, Price’s mediocre numbers in the regular season caused him to drop in the minds of voters. But you have to think that the results may have differed had the votes been tallied after Game 2 of the Stanley Cup semi-final.

Most Complete Player

The NHLPA’s version of the Selke Trophy praised the 200-foot games of Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, who received an identical 23.8% of the votes. And while Matthews didn’t rank in the top five, scoring champion and Hart Trophy favourite McDavid proved that he 1215988 Vegas Golden Knights “I’m sure they’ll crank up the music, and the fans, as many fans as they have, will be as loud as they can be,” Reaves said. “At the beginning of the year, we played in some buildings that had a couple thousand fans here or there, so I think we’re used to it. It’s obviously going to be a little Golden Knights face extra COVID restrictions in Canada bit of a change because we’re playing in front of 18,000-plus in Vegas and the show that we put on there.”

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.18.2021 June 17, 2021 - 6:45 PM

Updated June 17, 2021 - 6:58 PM

The Golden Knights have boldly gone where no other U.S.-based NHL team has this season: Canada.

Montreal became the league’s first team to cross the U.S.-Canada border when it came to Las Vegas for Games 1 and 2 of its semifinal series. It’s the Knights’ turn now because of a special exemption from the Canadian government that allows them to avoid the usual mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers.

The trip is far different from the ones the team made in the first two rounds of the playoffs because of the extra rules and restrictions in Canada. But the Knights aren’t letting that distract them as they seek their second Stanley Cup Final appearance in four seasons.

The best-of-seven series with the Canadiens is tied 1-1. Game 3 is 5 p.m. Friday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

“It wasn’t that long ago we were eating our meals in boxes that you pick up in the lobby on your way through to checking in,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said. “We’ll get through it. It’s a business trip. We’re here to win some hockey games.”

The Knights stayed awhile the last time they went to Canada.

They were in the NHL’s secure zone in Edmonton, Alberta, for 51 days for the 2020 postseason during their run to the Western Conference Final. Everyone was largely restricted to the rink, their hotel rooms and a few common areas. The setup will be similar for the Knights’ current stay.

The government exemption prevents them from being cooped up for two weeks, but they still need to serve a modified quarantine. Contact with the public will be limited as much as possible. Players will be tested for COVID-19 daily, after off-day testing had gone away for fully vaccinated individuals.

It will be a change for the Knights, who could get together in small groups and dine at restaurants during the playoffs if they were fully vaccinated.

“Coming here, it does feel a little more like the beginning of the season when things were more tense,” right wing Ryan Reaves said. “It’s not like we’re going out and hitting the town anytime soon. It’s not that big of a deal.”

The enhanced measures are in place because Canada and the U.S. are in different places in the fight against COVID-19.

Almost half of the American population — 44.5 percent — is fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just 8.02 percent of Canadians are fully vaccinated, according to the Canadian government.

That means many of the restrictions that have been lifted in states across the U.S. recently are still in place in Canada.

“It’s kind of sad, the situation where they’re in right now,” said left wing Jonathan Marchessault, one of four Quebec natives on the Knights. “We’re just here to get the job done.”

One of the key differences between Las Vegas’ and Montreal’s rules are the number of fans allowed to attend games.

The Knights have had full-capacity crowds for their past five games at T- Mobile Arena. The Canadiens weren’t allowed to have fans until their two most recent home games in the second round against the Winnipeg Jets. They were capped at 2,500 spectators.

The Quebec government is allowing that number to rise to 3,500 for Friday’s Game 3 and Sunday’s Game 4. It will be the smallest crowd the Knights have played before in the postseason. 1215989 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights hosting watch parties for games against Canadiens

By Rochelle Richards Las Vegas Review-Journal

June 17, 2021 - 11:54 am

The Golden Knights are heading up north.

And COVID restrictions might make it hard for fans to follow. But the Knights are making things a little easier with some watch parties throughout the valley this weekend.

On Friday, fans over the age of 21 can attend a viewing party at Money, Baby! inside the new Virgin Hotel. It’s a general admission event, and tables can be purchased at [email protected]. Game 3 starts at 5 p.m.

City National Arena will be hosting a Skate and Watch party for Game 4 on Sunday. The cost of admission for those who wish to skate or just watch from the stands is $10 and includes skate rental. Tickets can be purchased here or at the City National Arena front desk. Families can also watch the game on an LED truck parked outside the facility.

The Canadiens tied the series 1-1 Wednesday night after a 3-2 win at T- Mobile Arena.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215990 Vegas Golden Knights “At this time of year, everyone is sacrificing their bodies,” Merrill said. “This team is dedicated, has bought in and is together right now.”

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury finished second in the voting for best Golden Knights keep quiet on Chandler Stephenson’s status goaltender in the NHL Players Association’s annual poll, which was released Thursday.

The survey asked nearly 490 players 14 hockey-related questions By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal anonymously between March and April.

June 17, 2021 - 9:42 am Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy was first in best goaltender with 54.12 percent of the vote. Fleury was second at 8.88 percent, ahead of Updated June 17, 2021 - 6:08 PM Montreal’s Carey Price (8.25), Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (5.07) and Boston’s Tuukka Rask (4.02).

The Golden Knights are being coy about Chandler Stephenson’s status Vasilevskiy and Fleury are two of the three Vezina Trophy finalists, along for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinals Friday in Montreal. with Colorado’s Philipp Grubauer.

The Golden Knights forward remains day to day with an upper-body injury, according to coach Pete DeBoer, who declined to say whether LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.18.2021 Stephenson traveled with the team.

“Everybody is facing injuries, and guys in and out of the lineup or are playing hurt this time of year,” DeBoer said Thursday. “You have to find a way. We’re prepared to deal with that.”

Stephenson was scratched from Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Canadiens, and it’s unclear when the first-line center was injured.

DeBoer used Nicolas Roy between Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone in the first period, and the three were ineffective. Keegan Kolesar was elevated to the first line for the final two periods and won an offensive-zone faceoff to set up Alex Pietrangelo’s first goal.

But Stephenson’s speed through the middle was missed, especially on Montreal’s third goal when Kolesar lost track of Paul Byron on the backcheck.

“It’s a big ask by us for them to jump into those spots in the conference finals,” DeBoer said. “If you’re going to go on any kind of deep run, you have to be able to rely on your depth, and those guys are good depth players for us.”

The Knights have battled through injuries to key players during the postseason.

Pacioretty, who led the team in goals during the regular season, missed the first six games of the first round against Minnesota. Defenseman Brayden McNabb tested positive for COVID-19 and was out for five games, and Mattias Janmark sat out three games in the West Division final.

Tomas Nosek hasn’t played since Game 2 of the first round but could be an option Friday.

“Just another one of those little pieces of adversity you have to deal with on the playoff trail,” DeBoer said.

Jeff Petry made his series debut in Game 2, and the Canadiens defenseman looked like a Marvel villain with two bloodshot eyes.

Petry was hurt during the second round against Winnipeg when he appeared to catch his hand inside a camera hole in the glass and missed two games. Canadiens trainers fitted him with a special glove to wear Wednesday.

It’s not clear how Petry’s eye condition, a subconjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessels under the cornea), is related to the hand injury. Petry declined to offer further details when asked Thursday.

“The kids were at school one night when I came home, and my wife gave them a warning,” Petry said. “They came in and didn’t want to look at me and decided that I would be the villain and they would be the superheroes, and we started playing. That got them to relax and feel a little bit more comfortable now.”

Petry didn’t take line rushes in warmups and originally was listed as a scratch for Game 2 in a bit of gamesmanship from the Canadiens. He was a late addition and had an assist and blocked two shots in 20:47 of ice time while solidifying Montreal’s blue line.

Former Knights defenseman Jon Merrill also made his first appearance in the series Wednesday after being out since May 27 with an undisclosed injury. He played 12:52 and blocked two shots. 1215991 Vegas Golden Knights trying to run to create offense. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. We had one that worked tonight and one that was just kind of ad-libbed.”

2. Blue line leads offense Golden Knights adjust at center without Chandler Stephenson The Knights relied on their blue line for offense for the second straight game.

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal Pietrangelo’s two goals means five of the team’s six in the series have come from the blue line. Thirty-five of the Knights’ 61 shots on goal have June 17, 2021 - 7:00 am come from defensemen.

The blue line accounted for 36 of the team’s 190 goals and 597 of its 1,829 shots on goal during the regular season. The Golden Knights played Game 2 of their NHL semifinal series against Montreal on Wednesday with a clear hole up the middle. 3. Slow starts

Top-line center Chandler Stephenson sat out with an upper-body injury The Knights have scored first in just five of 15 playoff games after falling and forced the team to adjust its plans for one of the few times this into a 3-0 hole Wednesday. season. They’re 5-5 in the postseason when their opponent scores first after Center Nicolas Roy initially took over Stephenson’s rule, but he was going 9-11 in the regular season. swapped out for center Keegan Kolesar in the second period. Kolesar got his third assist of the playoffs after being elevated in the lineup in the “We’ve been burnt before,” Stone said. “We got burnt again tonight.” Knights’ 3-2 loss to the Canadiens at T-Mobile Arena.

“A big loss,” captain Mark Stone said. (Stephenson’s) been one of our LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.18.2021 top centermen all year. You don’t replace him, but that being said, I thought (Kolesar) stepped up real well. Played a great game for us. Was poised. Skated the middle of the ice really well for Max and I. When you lose guys, somebody has to step up, and I think (Kolesar’s) going to do a good job going forward in this series.”

Stephenson, who is day to day, according to coach Pete DeBoer, has been impressive in his first full season with the Knights.

He had a career-high 14 goals, 21 assists and 35 points despite the shortened schedule and was excellent between his usual two wingers. The Knights outscored opponents 38-17 at five-on-five with Stephenson, Stone and left wing Max Pacioretty on the ice.

That carried into the postseason, as Stephenson has six assists in 14 games. The Knights have outscored teams 6-2 with their top group on the ice at five-on-five.

Stephenson also has been reliable. He missed five games in the regular season — three for an elbowing suspension — and none in the playoffs before Wednesday. William Karlsson has yet to miss a game, so the Knights have rarely had to turn to a Plan B at center with their top two lines.

They have to now at the most important time of the season. Roy got the first chance, but he, Stone and Pacioretty were on the ice for one of Montreal’s two first-period goals.

Roy was returned to his normal spot on the third line in the second period, where he’s found recent success with left wing Mattias Janmark and right wing Alex Tuch.

That gave Kolesar, a rookie, a chance to skate with the Knights’ two best forwards. He won an offensive-zone faceoff to set up the team’s first goal.

“It’s a real special privilege playing with players like that,” Kolesar said. “When it’s your chance to produce and get the opportunity, you have to step up to the plate.”

Here are three more takeaways from the loss:

1. Chasing home runs

The Knights attempted a lot of long stretch passes rather than trying to skate the puck through the neutral zone.

They connected on a few. Pacioretty and Tuch got behind the Canadiens’ defense at different points but couldn’t beat goaltender Carey Price.

They missed on most of them, though. It resulted in them icing the puck 10 times. Montreal’s second goal came seven seconds after one of those 10.

The Canadiens iced the puck five times themselves, and the Knights scored their goals off the subsequent offensive-zone draws.

“I think usually o-zone draws, there’s always a plan,” said defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who scored both goals. “There’s always things you’re 1215992 Vegas Golden Knights He scored both of their goals and created late opportunities for teammates to tie the game. They just couldn’t quite finish.

The one-man-show nature of Wednesday night for the Golden Knights ‘Ready to go in Montreal’: Golden Knights should move on from poor was atypical compared with the rest of the playoffs where they’ve gotten Game 2 contributions up and down the roster. Vegas can learn more from looking back on those triumphs than overanalyzing what went wrong in Game 2 against Montreal.

By Case Keefer (contact) Off-nights strike even in the postseason; the key is moving on from them.

Thursday, June 17, 2021 | 2 a.m. “You don’t get to the final four without knowing this is going to be a battle,” DeBoer said. “We knew this wasn’t going to be easy and we have

a tremendous amount of respect for their team.” Pete DeBoer doesn’t usually incorporate many theatrics into his coaching, but the Vegas Golden Knights’ 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens Wednesday night provides a perfect opportunity for him to LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.18.2021 start.

Perhaps DeBoer should burn copies of the game onto CDs and toss them on the ice instead of a bag of pucks before Vegas’ next practice, letting the likes of Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore blast them into pieces from the blue line. Or maybe DeBoer could really commit to the throwback theme and put the game on a VHS tape that Ryan Reaves can punch into two like a karate board.

The best course of action for the Golden Knights in response to a Game 2 that saw them allow the Canadiens to tie the teams’ Stanley Cup playoff semifinal series at one win apiece is to forget about it.

The Golden Knights are better than the performance that started with a 3-0 deficit and ended up snapping their five-game win streak. They know they’re better than it and should be able to prove as much when the series resumes with Game 3 at 5 p.m. Friday in Montreal.

“You get down 3-0, it’s a tough hole to climb out of,” team captain Mark Stone said, “but we’ll be ready to go in Montreal.”

There’s precedent here, as bouncing back from a poor showing is one of the biggest reasons Vegas is on the precipice of reaching its second Stanley Cup Final in four years. The Golden Knights managed it after a 7-1 Game 1 slaughter in Colorado last round and they pulled it off following a disastrous 3-0 Game 6 loss to the Wild in the first round.

Now they need to repeat their resilience after a sluggish, slow-starting Game 2 against Montreal. A one-goal loss may not sound as damaging as the aforementioned setbacks, but it’s on par considering the latest defeat came at home against a team that the Golden Knights should be able to overwhelm.

And it came in the exact style Vegas knew it needed to avoid — letting Montreal climb out to an early lead. The Canadiens’ unlikely advancement to the NHL’s final four has largely been a result of implementing a formula where it presses for a few early goals before packing it in and counting on goalie Carey Price to sustain the lead.

The Golden Knights have repeatedly referenced knowledge of the strategy, so no, it’s no solace that they were the far better team for the final 22 minutes on Wednesday. That was only after they were down 3-0; their ascent was more or less by the Canadiens’ design.

“We can’t fall behind that much that early,” DeBoer said. “It’s not even one goal; when you get down two, it’s just really hard to come back. We’ve done it before in the Colorado series but you’re playing with fire when you do that, and we got burned tonight.”

It seemed like the Golden Knights’ first-period performance couldn’t get any worse than in Monday’s Game 1 when the Canadiens tallied a 7-1 edge against them in high-danger chances per naturalstattrick.com. But on Wednesday, the first period produced a high-danger count of 8-1 in favor of Montreal and included two goals, the first by Joel Armia and the second by Tyler Toffoli.

“I don’t think we had one good player out there,” Reaves said succinctly in an intermission interview on the radio broadcast.

The shortcomings were truly a team effort. The Golden Knights’ forwards were lazy on the forecheck, their defensemen were careless clearing the puck to cause turnovers and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury allowed Toffoli’s dribbler of a shot past him.

They eventually got at least one good player, but arguably not much more than that. As he’s done throughout the playoffs, Pietrangelo led the Golden Knights once they finally got going. 1215993 Vegas Golden Knights Kolesar surprised many when he was named to Vegas’ opening-night roster on Jan. 14. Even coach Pete DeBoer acknowledged he wasn’t particularly impressed with Kolesar’s game early on.

Inside Golden Knights rookie Keegan Kolesar’s impressive development, “He’s been a great story,” DeBoer said. “I didn’t know Keegan Kolesar as from bubble taxi squad to first line fill-in a player. I got to know him a little bit in the bubble. But in that situation we didn’t get to spend a lot of time with the taxi squad on the ice. Coming into camp this year I was really looking forward to getting to know him. He’d be the first to tell you he got off to a slow start in camp. I had By Jesse Granger concerns about how he was going to help us this year early in the Jun 17, 2021 season.”

Kolesar was on the ice for two goals against in the season opener against Anaheim. It took until his 25th game of the season to net his first Late in the second period of Wednesday night’s Game 2 against the NHL goal. Montreal Canadiens, Golden Knights rookie forward Keegan Kolesar found himself being mobbed in celebration by Mark Stone, Max “To his credit, he just kept getting better and better and better every day,” Pacioretty and Alex Pietrangelo. They were rejoiced by the Golden DeBoer said. “He’s a sponge. He’s smart. He plays the way I like the Knights’ first goal of the game, along with the capacity crowd at T-Mobile game to be played. He’s big, heavy, hard and (plays in) a straight line. Arena. But he also creates offense.”

How did the 24-year-old from Brandon, , find himself celebrating Even prior to ending his scoring drought, Kolesar found ways to with three of the best players in the NHL in the Stanley Cup semifinals? contribute and endear himself to his teammates. He brought physicality Kolesar’s development path over the last year has been incredible. to the lineup, finishing third on the team with 107 hits and dropping the gloves on several occasions. More importantly, he was making smart On Wednesday night, Kolesar was in the midst of playing his first-ever plays on the ice despite not being rewarded for it on the scoresheet at NHL minutes on a top line, squaring up for the faceoff between star the time. In just over 417 minutes of even-strength ice time this season, wingers Stone and Pacioretty. The Canadiens had just scored their third- Kolesar averaged 0.79 expected goals per 60 minutes. That ranks straight goal to extend their lead over Vegas to 3-0, leaving T-Mobile seventh on the team, ahead of notable players such as Stone, Arena in stunned silence. Kolesar’s initial stab at the puck didn’t win the Stephenson and William Karlsson. draw, but instead clashed with Montreal center Nick Suzuki’s stick. In an instant, Kolesar quickly twisted his body to wall Suzuki off and calmly “Even though the pucks didn’t go in, he found a way every night to put flicked the puck back to his defenseman at the point and drove to the net. himself in a spot to get a grade-A chance,” DeBoer said. “That tells me the hockey sense and that offensive potential was there, it just needed to Pietrangelo received the puck, fired it through the traffic created by be refined and he needed to get a little confidence at this level. He stuck Kolesar and Stone, and through Carey Price for Vegas’ first goal of the up for teammates. He did it all the right way for a young guy coming into game. It jump-started the Golden Knights and nearly helped them come the league.” from behind before falling just short in the 3-2 loss. As the season progressed, so did Kolesar’s game. He adapted to the But even in defeat, Kolesar’s accomplishments this season is impressive. speed of the NHL and carved out a nice role in Vegas’ bottom six. In the Six months ago it seemed unlikely he would even be part of the Golden playoffs, Kolesar’s offensive production has increased. He scored a Knights lineup, and Wednesday night he centered Vegas’ top two gorgeous goal in Game 6 of the second round to help the Golden Knights wingers. Kolesar’s placement on that line was the result of Chandler shut the door on the Avalanche’s season. Stephenson’s absence with an upper-body injury, and a poor first period by the top line, but the fact that it was even an option is a testament to Similarly to the play in Wednesday night’s game, Kolesar won an his development since training camp. offensive-zone draw back to Pietrangelo and immediately drove to the net. This time Pietrangelo fired the puck toward Kolesar, aiming just wide In 2020, Kolesar practiced with the Golden Knights’ taxi squad players in of the net. Kolesar fought for position and deflected the puck by Philipp the bubble in Edmonton, but never slotted into the lineup. He was forced Grubauer for a momentum-swinging goal to give Vegas a 3-2 lead. to leave Edmonton early when his father died and he spent the long offseason working on everything he could at home. Kolesar’s offensive instincts were also on display on this play in Game 4 of the first-round series against Minnesota. He awaited the pass from Nic “Honestly it was hard to really work on the game this summer because of Roy in the neutral zone, and with his peripheral vision saw the defender COVID restrictions we didn’t really get to skate much,” he said. “I just closing in aggressively. Kolesar recognized that and simply chipped the worked on the little things off the ice that I thought could help me the puck past the defenseman, allowing Roy to skate in alone for the goal. most on the ice.” In Wednesday night’s game, Kolesar showed some of the layers he’s Kolesar was coming off a disappointing season in the AHL, where he added to his game this season. And while he’s far from Vegas’ best registered three goals in 33 games for the Chicago Wolves. He finished playmaker, he seems to make momentum-swinging plays with regularity. 10th on the team with 18 points, which doesn’t usually bode well for the In the opening seven minutes of the game, Montreal outshot Vegas 6-1; future of a 23-year-old at that level, especially considering he scored 20 the Golden Knights’ lone shot resulted directly from a great defensive goals with Chicago the year prior. play by Kolesar.

But Kolesar worked at his craft, grinding every day on and off the ice to Kolesar saw Suzuki come out of the battle with the puck and head toward improve little details in his game. Once he arrived in Las Vegas he the Vegas net. He stripped Suzuki of the puck with a brilliant stick lift and worked daily with Golden Knights skills coach Misha Donskov. He would quickly moved the puck to linemate Mattias Janmark to start a rush the often be the last player on the ice after practice, skating figure-eights other way. Kolesar followed the play up the ice and made a great around cones against the half wall while Donskov watched. anticipatory pass to hit Alex Tuch in stride as he entered Montreal’s zone. Tuch ripped a hard wrist shot far side, which forced Price to make a nice If anything was going to prevent Kolesar from becoming a regular NHL blocker save. player it was his skating, specifically his first few strides. He’s a big, powerful player at 6-foot-2, 227 pounds, but at times he didn’t look The Golden Knights’ fourth line was one of the lone bright spots in the explosive enough in small areas of the ice. For a player projected to play opening period as the top line struggled without Stephenson. In 5:28 of bottom-six minutes on a checking line, winning short races to loose ice time with Roy filling in at center, the No. 1 line was out-chanced 3-1, pucks is vital. So Kolesar worked on his stride day after day. He’s now had an expected goals percentage of 25.07 percent and was outscored reaping the reward. 1-0. That prompted a lineup swap by DeBoer during the first intermission, promoting Kolesar to the top line. “I think my skating has improved a lot,” Kolesar said in April. “I feel like I’m a much quicker player and I’m making plays at a faster pace. I feel “It’s a real special privilege to play with players like that,” Kolesar said. like I can keep up and push the pace at times.” “It’s just the next-man-up mentality. When it’s your chance to produce, and you get the opportunity, you have to step up to the plate.” On only his second shift with his new linemates, Kolesar found a way to make an impact. He showed off his improved acceleration by chasing down Canadiens forward Joel Armia along the boards. Kolesar swooped in behind Armia and stripped him of the puck, leading directly to a chance for Pacioretty that rang off the iron.

“I thought Kolesar stepped up really well and played a great game for us,” Stone said. “He was poised and skated the middle of the ice well for Max and I. I think Kolesar is going to do a good job moving forward in this series.”

Stephenson’s status for Game 3 is unknown. DeBoer said he’s considered day to day, but based on Stone’s comment, Kolesar could be filling in again. Two other young centers — Cody Glass and Peyton Krebs — have been skating with the Golden Knights taxi squad players. Both made the trip to Montreal, but at this point, DeBoer seems to trust Kolesar more.

Kolesar has a goal and three assists in these playoffs and has generated chances at an impressive rate considering the vast majority of his minutes have come on the fourth line. He is 10th on the team in scoring chances (15) and sixth in high danger chances (10) ahead of top-six players like Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith and Stephenson. He hasn’t yet perfected the art of finishing those chances, but perhaps playing in an elevated role will help.

The Golden Knights’ biggest roster weakness is center depth. After trading Paul Stastny in the offseason, it was a concern entering the season. Stephenson has been fantastic, largely quelling those concerns, but if he misses more time Vegas could have to turn to an unlikely hero. DeBoer could opt to go back to Roy on the top line, although Kolesar seemed like a better fit in Game 2.

Kolesar has worked his way into this position. If he is rewarded with more top line minutes, he’ll need to elevate his game further. If not, he’ll continue being a nice piece in the Golden Knights’ forward depth.

Regardless, his journey over the last year has been impressive and should inspire young players in similar situations around the league.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215994 Vegas Golden Knights There was still the potential for it to become an issue for the father of young children, though.

“Kids were at school when I came home,” Petry said, as relayed by The ‘It just looks like hell’: What’s going on with the Canadiens’ Jeff Petry’s Canadian Press. “(They) didn’t want to look at me and decided that I ‘scary-looking’ eyes would be the villain and they’d be the super heroes and we started playing.

“That got them to relax and feel a little bit more comfortable.” By Sean Fitz-Gerald Fans celebrate hockey players who skate with stitches in their face and Jun 17, 2021 aches in their bones. Why was there such a commotion over the state of his eyes?

“It’s just the psychology of your eyes, and how important your vision is to More often than not, Dr. Patrick Tracey said the scenario unfolds like this: you,” said Tracey. “If you suddenly look in the mirror one day, and the A patient wakes up and makes their way to the mirror, where they notice whole half of the white part of your eye is beet red, then you’re thinking, their eye has suddenly, and inexplicably, turned an unsettling shade of ‘What on earth is happening here?’” red. It could happen to a football player, he said, if an opponent’s finger They call his office in a panic. slipped through their facemask and poked them in the eye. In hockey, it “They come in,” he said, “and sure enough, it’s just a subconjunctival could be caused by a high stick — though the consequences of that hemorrhage.” could be much more severe.

The term found its way into the spotlight — an unsettling red spotlight — “If I look at the players on the ice, and I look at the position of those on Wednesday night when Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry visors, they’re up so high — their eyes are not protected,” said Tracey. “I returned to the ice for Game 2 of his team’s playoff series with the Vegas really worry about that. And my god, if I was the owner of the team, it’s Golden Knights. The focus was supposed to be on his injured right hand, just basic workplace safety.” but it landed instead on his eyes. And a subconjunctival hemorrhage? They were both a deep blood red, a look possibly made even more “It just looks like hell,” he said. “But it doesn’t really pose any problem.” dramatic by the bright lights of the arena. Television cameras relayed the Images, and social media shuddered. Goaltender Carey Price — a man who chooses his words carefully — called the eyes “scary-looking.” A Sportsnet reporter on the scene relayed word of the diagnosed The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 hemorrhage.

Tracey is an optometrist who works with the Toronto Argonauts, and has a background with both the San Jose Sharks and then-Oakland Raiders. He said the condition is not nearly as frightening as it looks or sounds.

“If you happen to break a little blood vessel on the white part of the eye — and if it bleeds — it just spreads,” he said. “It’s like putting ink on a flat surface and then putting a piece of plastic on top of it. It will just spread underneath it.”

He chuckled.

“It looks like something out of a horror movie,” he said. “But it’s pretty innocuous and not really an issue.”

Petry did not offer much insight during a conversation with reporters. The 33-year-old missed Game 1 of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinal series with an undisclosed hand injury. He caught his right hand in the glass — in a cutout meant for a photographer’s lens — in Game 3 of the previous series, a sweep of the Winnipeg Jets.

His wife, Julie, addressed his eyes on social media. In a post on Instagram, she wrote it was not due to allergies, fatigue or the result of a “couple nights in Vegas.”

“All related to his ‘upper body injury,’” she wrote. “But let me tell you he looks a lot better than he did a week ago.”

Depending on just how much bleeding was involved, Tracey said the condition will tend to settle down with help from gravity. He said the blood would eventually be absorbed into the surrounding tissue and that the red would fade, likely turning light yellow before returning to normal.

A person could take a week or two to completely recover.

“We see it in elderly people who may be on blood thinners and who maybe strain too hard when they’re on the toilet, or they sneeze too hard or cough too hard,” he said. “If you’re sick to your stomach and you retch, that sudden pressure surge can break a little blood vessel on the eye.”

Tracey, who practises out of Queensway Optometric Centre, in Mississauga, Ont., said the hemorrhage does not cause pain. He said it would not impede a player’s vision on the ice.

“It has no effect whatsoever on the functioning of his eyes,” he said. “He will see. The vision will be unaffected. His eye movements will be unaffected. It really is no issue.” 1215995 Vegas Golden Knights Audience: **grimaces** At this point, the Vegas Golden Knights know they’re in for a long series

with the Canadiens. If they remain stubborn and unwilling to change Vegas Golden Knights Game Two Loss Raises Red Flags, Big Questions Montreal could very well move ahead in the series. And here’s the dirty little secret of the pressure cooker: the pressure is all on Montreal in Game Three, but if they win, guess what? All the pressure is on Vegas in Game Four, and it will be one hundred times greater than anything they Published 9 hours ago on June 17, 2021 face at home. The time is now for the Golden Knights to pick it up and go By Tom Callahan after the Canadiens. If they do push back the Flying Frenchman in Game Three, the pressure cooker will turn and devour its own. I’ve seen it happen. The onus is on Vegas to make it happen.

As the Vegas Golden Knights travel to Quebec for Games Three and Four of this Stanley Cup Semifinal series with the Montreal Canadiens, they do so with far more questions than answers. Why are the starts so Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.18.2021 slow? Why have the forwards not scored much, and beyond that been inconsistent at best? When will Vegas’ best players be its best players? Is Marc-Andre Fleury a superhero, alien, or alien superhero?

Well, maybe not that last one. But I do wonder…

Unless you’ve lived in Montreal or worked in the NHL as I have, it’s really hard to understand the pressure cooker that is La Belle Provence (and all of French-speaking Canada) for the Canadiens. And even though I’ve experienced it firsthand, I still can’t completely wrap my arms around it. As much as there’s talk of different franchises in different sports being the team, there simply is no relatable comparison because the Canadiens represent both a province and a culture. The pressure is unimaginable to win every time out. Every player is held up to ridiculously high standards for a franchise that expects to win Stanley Cups by the score, although they haven’t hoisted one since 1993.

That is what the Golden Knights are walking into. The fact that Montreal won Game Two on the road creates a narrative that the Canadiens can win the series. Fans and media alike will talk over the next few days about how the pressure of playing “at home” for guys like Fleury, Jonathan Marchessault and William Carrier can be too much to handle. Or how it could overwhelm the team in general, creating bigger cracks in the foundation the Canadiens can exploit. And the legend will grow of how the Habs shut down games once they get the lead and rely on their own superhero in net, Carey Price, to finish the job.

Don’t kid yourself. All of those things could happen. Vegas could feel the pressure. They could stumble out of the gate in Game Three because the Canadiens are going to explode off the line in front of the home fans. There’s a real sense with the Canadiens that after winning Game Two, they could carry that momentum over to Game Three and the entire series because the Golden Knights have thrown everything that can at them… and lost.

In my heart of hearts, I don’t think the Montreal Canadiens can beat the Vegas Golden Knights IF the VGK plays a solid, 60-minute game. But that’s the problem. They’ve rarely done that in 2021. Do they believe they have such an amazing locker room and such talent that they can flip a switch? They’ve been able to do it so far and survive, so what could dispel that belief? Vegas has a lot of confidence in itself to continue onward and “play our game” but that’s not giving enough credit to the team on the other side of the ice. The Canadiens have shut down the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs and the well-rounded Winnipeg Jets. In beating both those teams the Habs showed they are capable of handling any type of attack. They do it with smart pressure, attacking the puck directly and forcing mistakes. Watch the Canadiens in the defensive zone. There’s almost no penetration into the slot for the Golden Knights. Passing lanes are clogged. Angles are reduced. Time and space – the most important thing in hockey – is severely diminished. It actually takes a physical mistake by a Canadiens player to generate a scoring chance. Not that it doesn’t happen, but they’re disciplined. Rarely do they slip.

If you’re grounded in reality, you know hockey doesn’t work the way “it’s supposed to”. A playoff series will have ups and downs. But it also means you have to be realistic in what’s going on with your team, and I don’t think Vegas is right now.

There are problems with this lineup. They keep asking the same questions and get the same answers, yet expect different results. It almost comes across like this:

P1: Why didn’t this work?

P2: Did it work last time?

P1: No, but it should. So we should keep doing it because it should work. 1215996 Websites Duhatschek: Jeremy Lauzon. Only 24, with decent size (6-foot-1, 204) and gradually, incrementally showing signs of evolving into a solid, minute-munching NHL defender.

The Athletic / Seattle Kraken mock expansion draft 7.0: What the 32nd Luszczyszyn: Jakub Zboril. Best known for Not Being Mathew Barzal. I’ll NHL team may look like in October take a flier based on pedigree given the lack of realistic options from the Bruins.

Buffalo Sabres By Ryan S. Clark, Eric Duhatschek and more Clark: So much has been said about why the Sabres want to keep Jun 17, 2021 William Borgen. If so, then, pick him with the idea that a side deal could be coming. If a side deal cannot be done, then, it gives the Kraken a

promising defenseman who gives them more depth. Front offices around the league can no longer put off the looming arrival Duhatschek: Small and shifty, Rasmus Asplund finally showed hints of an of the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. It’s here. NHL scoring touch this year (seven goals in 28 games). Well, sort of. Luszczyszyn: Rasmus Asplund. Picking someone from Buffalo is tough The expansion draft itself is a little more than a month away. But the because Buffalo doesn’t really have anyone. Asplund seems like he has required strategy for how to handle the draft is something several some potential. executives throughout the league can fully concentrate upon before the Calgary Flames time comes. Granted, some teams already started thinking about that at the trade deadline as evidenced by certain deals — such as when the Clark: He’s another pending RFA. But Oliver Kylington would give the Capitals sent defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler to the Devils. Doing that Kraken another young depth defensemen who could either work his way allowed the Capitals to get something in return for a player the Devils can into the top six, become the team’s seventh defensemen or someone protect while leaving some of their other defensemen exposed. who goes back and forth from the AHL.

Once again, The Athletic‘s Ryan S. Clark and Eric Duhatschek have Duhatschek: Mark Giordano. Lots of safe, easy and cost-effective returned with the latest forecast of who the Kraken could draft. Yet what choices elsewhere, so Seattle can swing for the fences here. Giordano makes this particular version of the mock draft new – other than a bit can retun real value in the beginning by helping to create a positive more roster clarity – is the arrival of Dom Luszczyszyn. He will also pick a organizational culture, and if they choose, he can be flipped as a rental at team and then calculate each roster through his model to add even more the 2022 trade deadline to a contender. insight into what other items the Kraken and their analytics team could consider. Luszczyszyn: I don’t believe Mark Giordano is washed. He can still be a solid presence on the blue line and even if he can’t handle tough minutes Every team’s protected list and available players can be found linked in like he used to, sliding him down the lineup can still prove fruitful. A rag- the team heading. That way, here, we can immediately skip to the tag team of misfits can use a leader too, and Giordano has plenty of selection process. experience in that department.

Anaheim Ducks Carolina Hurricanes

Clark: Alexander Volkov is a young forward who becomes a pending Clark: It’s possible the Kraken could take Jake Bean. Yet what makes restricted free agent. He finished with eight points in 18 games while Warren Foegele intriguing is the fact he would already slot into a middle- averaging an additional four minutes of ice time since being traded from six role by giving the Kraken a player who can get 30 points in an the Lightning. The potential is there for a bottom-six role, if not, middle- expansion draft in which middle-six forwards might be hard to find. six under certain conditions. Duhatschek: Drafted 13th overall in 2016 when Ron Francis was still Duhatschek: Adam Henrique’s second-half resurgence, plus his running the Hurricanes, Jake Bean checks a lot of boxes: Young, cheap, leadership capabilities, more than offset the pricey $5.825 million AAV. talented offensively and someone who looks capable of running an NHL Hey, you gotta get to the floor somehow. power play, maybe even soon.

Luszczyszyn: Simply put, Sam Steel has not figured it out at the NHL Luszczyszyn: Warren Foegele. A hard-working forechecking savant who level, but leaving him exposed is still rather curious. He can really move can drive play. I’m a big Foegele fan and believe he has top six upside if the puck and led the Ducks last year with a 75 percent carry-in rate on he ever learns how to finish. zone entries. It’s a skill that could be helpful if surrounded by other good players. That’s something he hasn’t been afforded in Anaheim, but a Chicago Blackhawks breakout is still possible. Clark: There are a few options and Calvin de Haan is one of them. His Arizona Coyotes $4.45 million cap hit might be a quasi-high number for some. But he does give the Kraken a proven top-four defenseman who can kill penalties. Clark: Christian Fischer offers more than most realize. He’s only 24. He is under contract for next season at $1 million. His 6-foot-2 frame gives Duhatschek: Riley Stillman. In the belief that there’s an NHL upside for the Kraken size in the bottom-six in addition to having a two-way forward the 23-year-old son of former NHLer Cory Stillman. who can operate on the penalty kill while making offensive zone Luszczyszyn: Malcolm Subban. Seattle needs goalies. Subban is a contributions. goalie. Duhatschek: Adin Hill. He’s young (25), cheap (RFA coming off $800,000 Colorado Avalanche contract) and shown glimpses of excellence in three seasons of NHL cameos. Nice 1B option in goal. Clark: At 6-foot-4, Ryan Graves is already a plug-and-play top-four defenseman who can log heavy minutes and be trusted on the penalty Luszczyszyn: Was Michael Bunting-mania a complete fluke this year? kill. He blocks shots. He eats minutes and can help facilitate an attack if Probably. It’s either take my chances with something real out of that hot needed. He also has two years remaining on his current contract at $3.16 streak or taking another goalie (Adin Hill). And I hate goalies. million. Boston Bruins Duhatschek: Ryan Graves. NHL’s plus-minus leader in 2019-20 and 19- Clark: Let’s go with Jeremy Lauzon. He’s another defenseman who will plus minutes for Presidents’ Trophy winners, and 6-foot-5, even if he be a pending RFA. The 2020-21 campaign provided an extended look at doesn’t play that big always. A lynchpin on an expansion team. how Lauzon could configure into a defense. The Bruins used him as a Luszczyszyn: Joonas Donskoi. He scored 2.4 points-per-60 at five-on- penalty killer who averaged at least 18 minutes per game. Could the five and was an asset on the man advantage. A 58 percent expected Kraken do the same? goals rate was a nice return to form. No Avalanche player had more entries per 60 than Donskoi who has really underrated skill and is a bargain at his price tag. Columbus Blue Jackets end. But the idea he could be more than that is what makes taking him tempting. Clark: Value is everything this offseason and Dean Kukan provides just that. He gives the Kraken, or any team, a 6-foot-2 defenseman who can Duhatschek: Blake Lizotte. Pesky, mosquito-like qualities in a small, kill penalties while doing it for the low cost of $1.65 million before hitting high-energy package, and versatile enough to kill penalties. A decent role the open market after next season. player at the NHL level.

Duhatschek: Eric Robinson. Decent speed for a big man, will provide a Luszczyszyn: Kale Clague. A whole lot of nothing available, so again, I’m physical presence from the fourth line. Had to do something right to play going with pedigree. Clague doesn’t seem like a good defender at all, but all 56 games for the demanding John Tortorella last season. there’s offensive upside to his game so why not?

Luszczyszyn: No Blue Jacket recovered more dump-ins than Eric Minnesota Wild Robinson last year. Fast and tenacious on the puck. There are a few of those players lying around and that can make Seattle really hard to play Clark: A number of possibilities exist here. But the Kraken need against. He’s my pick, though Dean Kukan was tempting. goaltending. Cam Talbot fills that need and the Kraken can add his $3.66 million cap hit while still retaining flexibility. Dallas Stars Duhatschek: Matt Dumba. If he’s available, why not take a bonafide 22- Clark: Either Anton Khudobin or Jason Dickinson could go here. So why minute per night top-four defenceman who turns 27 next month? Riley Tufte? He’s a young prospect on a cheap contract the Kraken can send to the AHL who also allows them to hit the minimum requirement of Luszczyszyn: Matt Dumba. After the playoffs Ryan Hartman had he was 20 players who are contracts next season. a strong consideration, but it’s got to be Dumba. He can play tough minutes, has a lot of offensive upside and was the Wild’s best puck Duhatschek: Anton Khudobin. If there’s a league-wide goalie shuffle this mover. A bonafide top-pairing defender with an absolute cannon of a summer, Khudobin will have value to any team looking for experienced shot. depth behind a fragile starter. Montreal Canadiens Luszczyszyn: Jason Dickinson. One of the few Stars forwards who wasn’t shy about carrying the puck last year. Had an excellent 58 percent Clark: Getting Jake Allen and pairing him with Cam Talbot creates a expected goals rate as a result and I don’t believe his poor production tandem that would only cost a little more than $6.5 million. That cost was a reflection of his ability. management is important as the rest of this mock draft continues.

Detroit Red Wings Duhatschek: Jonathan Drouin. Opting for the shiny toy here, on the grounds that a fresh start in Seattle is what’s needed to get his career Clark: Vladislav Namestnikov is an experienced two-way forward who back on track. High, high skill and c’mon, he’s only 26. only costs $2 million and is on the last year of his deal. At best, he is someone who can serve in several roles. At worst, he could be a Luszczyszyn: Brett Kulak. Doesn’t get the credit he deserves as most potential trade chip for a team needing someone with his abilities. remember the gaffes over the little plays that lead to strong on-ice numbers. He has decent prior experience playing in a top-four role next Duhatschek: Troy Stetcher. Eye-opening turn at the worlds for Canada; to Jeff Petry and is a dependable possession player thanks to his nimble and shifty defenceman is on a reasonable $1.7 million contract, relatively safe ability to exit the zone with control. which makes him a possible rental at next year’s trade deadline. Nashville Predators Luszczyszyn: Troy Stecher. Probably Detroit’s best puck-mover from the backend, though that isn’t saying much. Had an excellent worlds if that Clark: Six straight seasons of more than 10 goals coupled with a $2 means anything to you. I’m not super high on Stecher, but it’s not like million cap hit for a player who also kills penalties makes Calle Jarnkrok there’s anyone else to pick and he’s a fine third pair guy. the option from the Predators.

Edmonton Oilers Duhatschek: Yakov Trenin. Only if the two sides can’t negotiate a side deal in which Seattle takes on either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene, Clark: This is another situation in which the Kraken could take a with the Predators offering up a first-rounder as an incentive. Otherwise, defenseman. But snapping up Stuart Skinner allows the Kraken to get a Trenin, who was a useful, energy-type of role player in his first full NHL potential goaltender of the future at a cheap cost. season and is signed for $725,000 for 2021-22.

Duhatschek: Caleb Jones. His stock fell this season,but he’s 24, Luszczyszyn: Viktor Arvidsson. I almost galaxy-brained myself into taking moderately priced and, if necessary, can probably be flipped to Matt Duchene because I really do think he’s in line to bounce back next whichever team ends up trading for his older brother Seth this summer. year. But Arvidsson is younger, cheaper, carries just as much value, and also has plenty of bounce-back potential himself. Luszczyszyn: Caleb Jones. Don’t think he’s as good as his 2019-20 numbers or as bad as his 2020-21 numbers, but worth a flier unless New Jersey Devils Seattle wants to eat a bit more salary and grab Oscar Klefbom. After missing an entire season, I don’t think I would. Clark: Nathan Schnarr is still has a year remaining on his entry-level contract and can be a prospect who develops in the AHL over the next Florida Panthers year. Otherwise? To get a player who has a contract for the 2021-22 season like P.K. Subban would involve the Devils agreeing to eat some Clark: Finding top-six forwards could be tough in the expansion draft. of that salary. That is what makes Anthony Duclair even more interesting. He’s a pending RFA. But the Kraken are expected to be in position to agree Duhatschek: Michael McLeod. The 12th overall pick in 2016 draft was a upon a new contract. full-time NHLer this year and played decently in a bottom-six role. Worth noting: Nine even-strength goals in 52 games, second on the team in Duhatschek: Chris Driedger. Pending UFA, Seattle is permitted to talk hits. with him in a “negotiating window” and if he agrees to terms, becomes their selection. Projects as a potential starter in goal. Luszczyszyn: I picked Michael McLeod because he was a 12th overall pick who hasn’t had much of an opportunity to showcase his talent yet at Luszczyszyn: Chris Driedger. Driedger is very likely the best goalie the NHL level. Has he deserved it? No. But in an expansion draft setting available, but that’s not saying much given the unpredictability of with limited options, I’ll always take a flier on pedigree. goaltending. Florida has a number of worthy choices and unfortunately for Seattle, this time Dale Tallon isn’t around to give the Kraken an extra New York Islanders one for free. I was tempted by Anthony Duclair who offers speed, skill and a proven track record of top six performance. Clark: This starts with taking Otto Koivula to have a prospect for the future and ends with the Kraken coming up with a side deal to help the Los Angeles Kings cash-strapped Islanders.

Clark: Kale Clague could prove to be an interesting option in that he is a Duhatschek: Otto Koivula. Good size and a sort of William Carrier pending UFA who could give the Kraken even more depth on the back presence to the 21-year-old Finnish forward. Assuming, of course, the Isles can’t get a deal in place to dump Andrew Ladd’s money. Luszczyszyn: Kieffer Bellows. The 19th pick in the 2016 draft hasn’t St. Louis Blues earned much of an opportunity on the Islanders and at 23, time is running out. He’s worth a flier based purely on his goal-scoring ability. Six points Clark: There are a lot of reasons to take Vince Dunn. Those are also the in 22 career games may not seem like much, but it’s impressive when same reasons why he could be traded away by the time the expansion only averaging 10 minutes per night. There might be something there draft arrives. worth nurturing. Duhatschek: Vince Dunn. If he isn’t traded by the Blues, the 24-year-old New York Rangers pending restricted free agent has some offensive chops that will help some team – either Seattle or any club they may flip him to. Clark: Bottom-six forwards will be in great supply. It’s just that Kevin Rooney is someone who can kill penalties, fight for possession all Luszczyszyn: Vince Dunn. A no-brainer, even if Dunn had an off year. packaged in 6-foot-2 frame while costing $750,000. He’s an excellent puck-mover who has shown in the past he can play tough minutes. He’s one of the few players available who can be trusted Duhatschek: Colin Blackwell. At 28, played more NHL games (47) this to play in the top four. past year than any previous season and was a useful third-liner (12 goals, 22 points). Tampa Bay Lightning

Luszczyszyn: Colin Blackwell. Looked really good next to Artemi Panarin Clark: Capturing a young defenseman on a cheap contract like Cal Foote last season but who doesn’t. Funny enough, his points-per-60 was is tempting. But everything Alex Killorn has achieved this season and in actually higher last season in Nashville. A potential diamond in the rough. previous seasons gives the Kraken a top-six forward who could be their potential captain. Ottawa Senators Duhatschek: Cal Foote. Can’t have enough 6-foot-4, 215-pound Clark: Chris Tierney could serve as a middle-six forward who could also defensemen with first-round pedigree that don’t turn 22 until December. anchor the penalty kill. His $3.5 million cap hit might be deemed a bit But this pick will ultimately revolve around a possible Tampa Bay salary pricey. But that is the value of getting someone who at his best, can dump. produce at least 40 points in a season. Luszczyszyn: Yanni Gourde has more cost certainty, similar value to Duhatschek: Chris Tierney. Versatile player, only 26, who can play up- Ondrej Palat, but plays center, no question of how much he benefits from and-down your lineup, and has previously been a reasonably productive Kucherov/Point. Versatile player, really good on the forecheck. NHL scorer under the right, opportune circumstances. Toronto Maple Leafs Luszczyszyn: Anton Forsberg. I considered Evgeny Dadonov here, but I think I’d prefer the cap space to be completely honest. Forsberg gives Clark: Picking Tierney could make it hard to justify taking Alexander the Kraken some organizational depth in net and with goalies being Kerfoot given they would be operating in the same role. But taking Travis difficult to predict, I’d prefer gambling on three relative no-namers rather Dermott means having even more defensive depth at a low cost. than established (and more expensive) veterans. Duhatschek: Travis Dermott. A 24-year-old defenseman, with an upside, Philadelphia Flyers who hasn’t gotten the opportunity in Toronto yet and is available largely because of the Leafs’ protection issues. Clark: Here is one reason to be cost-conscious: James van Riemsdyk. He’s arguably the most consistent top-six forward who would be available Luszczyszyn: Alexander Kerfoot. Toronto really only had two legitimate in the expansion draft. That is why he also costs $7 million for the next options in Kerfoot and Travis Dermott, the latter of which plays some of two years. the most sheltered minutes in the league. Kerfoot is a solid middle-six center and there was far less depth at that position compared to defense. Duhatschek: James van Riemsdyk. Specifically, to legitimize a first-year His playoff performance really upped his stock, too. team’s power play (and because scoring overall will be problematic coming out of the gate). Vancouver Canucks

Luszczyszyn: James van Riemsdyk. Scored at a 63-point pace last Clark: Madison Bowey is rather important. Adding him does more than season, a nice return to form that had a lot more to do with getting more give this team depth. It gives this model the financial flexibility for the ice-time than actually playing better. He’s a very pricey acquisition, but Kraken to operate as serious players in free agency. Set aside $10 Seattle can afford a couple and there are only two years left. There aren’t million to re-sign pending RFAs, and it leaves this team with roughly $19 many players available who can provide the raw value that van Riemsdyk million in cap space ahead of free agency. can. Duhatschek: Zack MacEwen. Someone needs to provide a policing Pittsburgh Penguins presence for the top end of the lineup, which the 6-foot-4, 212 pound MacEwen can do. Remember too – 52 points in 69 games for AHL Utica Clark: Taking Jason Zucker comes at the cost of spending $5.5 million in only a couple of years back. cap space over the next two seasons. But it comes with the benefit of someone who could possibly serve as a top-six forward who has hit the Luszczyszyn: Zack MacEwen. Really didn’t matter who I picked here as it 20-goal mark five times in his career. was unlikely anyone available from Vancouver would actually make the team. MacEwen seems fine, I guess. He didn’t produce at all, but his Duhatschek: Tristan Jarry. Grabbing a goalie from the Penguins worked possession numbers were among the team’s best. so well for the Golden Knights, it seems like a tried-and-true path. Thank you, Rob Rossi! Washington Capitals

Luszczyszyn: Zach Aston-Reese. Pittsburgh has a bevy of options here. I Clark: Having Brenden Dillon gives the Kraken a veteran with size who like Aston-Reese a lot, an excellent forechecker that fits the m.o. of some can kill penalties. Sure, this projection has a lot of defensemen who can of the other players selected. He uses that ability to drive some of the kill penalties. An argument could be made, however, that having several very best defensive impacts in the league over the last couple of seasons options on the PK is better than having few at all. and that’s worth an expansion selection. Duhatschek: Vitek Vanecek. Seven NHL rookie goalies won 10 games or San Jose Sharks more, but Vanacek led them all in wins with 21. At 25, for a $716,667 cap hit, he’s the best available asset by far. Clark: A player with consecutive 20-point seasons who is also a pending RFA could prove beneficial with someone like Ryan Donato. Luszczyszyn: Nick Jensen. A lot of options on Washington, especially on defense. I opted for Jensen who has the best defensive impacts and Duhatschek: Ryan Donato. A pending RFA who might not even be moves the puck efficiently on the breakout. He’s also cheaper than qualified on his $1.9 million, he was, at least, a useful contributor in the Brenden Dillon. shootout and maybe the best of an exceedingly thin lot. Winnipeg Jets Luszczyszyn: Ryan Donato. Not many options on San Jose, but Donato has potential if he shows more of what he was in Minnesota rather than Clark: Walking away from Logan Stanley is difficult. But it is also difficult San Jose. He’s probably closer to a five percent shooter rather than a 17 to ignore a cap-friendly power forward like Mason Appleton knowing he percent shooter, but it’s still admirable that he can create chances. could bolster a middle-six forward group for the price of $900,000. Duhatschek: There’ll be oodles of middle-of-the-roster forwards available, but few as reliable as Mason Appleton, and earning $900,000 heading into RFA in 2022, is under team control when his current contract expires.

Luszczyszyn: Mason Appleton. It was between Appleton and Logan Stanley. The tall defender carries some potential, but Appleton’s edge is appreciated. He was one of Winnipeg’s better forecheckers this year, while still being a decent puck-carrier.

Based on GSVA, the Seattle Kraken can likely make a team that can compete for a playoff spot given the protection lists supplied by each team’s beat writers.

Ryan and Eric’s team both project around the 85-to-87 point range, a place reserved for teams outside the playoff bubble with a modest shot at making the postseason. Dom’s team is closer to 95 points and would be on the inside of the playoff bubble, representing a high point with what to expect from Seattle in Year One. For context, Vegas was projected for 83 points in its first year.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2021 1215997 Websites The Lightning have a firm understanding of who they are and what they need to do. This is their fifth trip to the Final Four in the last seven years, after all, and there’s been no discernible slip in their desire to reach the summit. Sportsnet.ca / Lightning seize control of series with clinical performance in Game 3 They’ve had an answer for every Islanders push so far. There was the rebound from a sluggish opening game and on Thursday night there was a response to Cal Clutterbuck’s 1-1 goal that went in off Cernak’s skate.

Chris Johnston @reporterchris The margins are small in a 2-1 series, but the Lightning seem to be seizing some control. June 18, 2021, 1:03 AM “I think it just goes to show the maturity of the group that we have,” said

Stamkos. “We just kind of rise to the occasion.” They have scoring champions, all-stars and a player with goals in eight of his last nine games. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.18.2021 And yet the reason the Tampa Bay Lightning are most bullish on their chances at a second straight Stanley Cup is the dwindling number under their “goals against” column.

On Thursday the Lightning kept their cool inside the hothouse at Nassau Coliseum, drawing the line between passive and pursuing with a clinical 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders to establish a 2-1 lead in their semifinal series.

This should be required viewing for every upstart organization with designs on breaking through. The Lightning have been beating teams with their skill for years and more recently added the guile necessary to consistently survive tight games like this one on Long Island.

“This group knows to flip that switch when the time comes,” said captain Steven Stamkos. “I think we’ve proved that in the past, we’ve proved it again here in the playoffs. It’s a battle each and every night.

“The further you go, the tougher the task is and we knew they were going to push. They had a good push.”

And still, the Islanders only put one puck behind Andrei Vasilevskiy, named the NHL’s top goaltender earlier in the day in a poll of nearly 500 current players.

This was more than a goaltending performance, though. The Lightning have morphed into road warriors. They are 6-1 in these playoffs with just 12 goals against, thriving in the hostile atmospheres that were missing during last year’s championship run inside the NHL bubble.

Inside the cackling Coliseum, they really went to work after Brayden Point put them ahead in the dying seconds of the second period by sweeping in his playoff-leading 11th goal after being cross-checked to the ice.

That made it 2-1 and ensured any remaining offensive forays would only come in transition after turnovers.

While Tampa may initially have retreated a tad too much, rhey didn’t allow a shot on goal in the final 5:49 of play.

“We wanted to make sure they had to come 200 feet every time they rushed up the ice,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “I thought our last five minutes were clinical. It was great the way they played.”

They had to finish it off without defencemen Jan Rutta and Erik Cernak, both of whom were nursing injuries not expected to keep them out of Saturday’s game. Victor Hedman played more than four of the last five minutes.

It’s not the kind of performance most would freely associate with the Lightning — not with Nikita Kucherov filling highlight reels, Point scoring every night and a lineup featuring Hedman, Stamkos and more.

Yet it was a shift in this direction that laid the foundation for last year’s championship breakthrough and has them now favoured to go back to back. The Islanders will have to beat Tampa in two consecutive games to win this series and no playoff opponent has managed to accomplish that since the 2019 sweep by Columbus that prompted some serious soul- searching by the Lightning.

“You have to have the mental makeup to understand what it takes to win and that it’s not how many you put in the net, it’s how many you keep out,” Cooper explained earlier this week. “[Last year] that started to click with our guys understanding that we’re not going to be able to score our way out of games all the time, definitely not score your way to a championship. We have to defend our way to a championship and that’s what clicked with the guys and that’s what we’re still doing.” 1215998 Websites animosity may have kept the Islanders from fully engaging the Lightning physically. And it certainly didn’t help the energy level of a crowd that amplified whenever there was a big hit or skirmish.

Sportsnet.ca / Islanders in familiar place, but Lightning present tougher There’s a fine line amid Trotz’s call for restraint: they can’t afford to take challenge needless penalties, but they also can’t afford to lower their physicality level. The Islanders are best when they’re battering the opposition.

“I think we’re a pretty physically engaged team,” heavyweight winger Matt Iain MacIntyre @imacSportsnet Martin said post-game, his own restraint obvious in the opening period when he didn’t respond to shoves after a couple of whistles. “That’s what June 18, 2021, 1:04 AM makes us successful.

“There’s momentum swings throughout the course of a hockey game When the New York Islanders aren’t making it hard on the opposition, where you try and take back that momentum by reasserting that they make it hard on themselves. physicality and being hard on them and getting zone time. I think you can always be more physical, but it’s certainly not easy. They’ve got good For the third straight playoff series, the Islanders dropped serve on home players and they’re going to make plays and break our pressure at ice, losing 2-1 Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning after splitting times.” the first two games of the Stanley Cup semifinal in Florida. PIVOTAL CALL The Islanders did the same thing in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins and again last round against the Boston Bruins, dropping Trotz didn’t like the interference call on Adam Pelech that led to the Game 3 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum after bringing the series Lightning’s only power play, and it sure looked like game-management home at 1-1. by the referees when the defenceman was whistled for a moving pick on Nikita Kucherov well away from the puck about three minutes after In both those cases, New York steadied itself and rattled off three straight Tampa’s Mikhail Sergachev was penalized for roughing. wins to advance in six games. The Penguins and Bruins are excellent National Hockey League teams, but the Lightning are on another level. After being knocked down, Brayden Point swept the puck between Tampa didn’t win the Stanley Cup last fall by accident. Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov’s pads for the game-winner at 19:40 of the second period — two seconds after Pelech’s penalty expired. Sure, the Lightning have mesmerizing skill at the top of the lineup, but the team also knows how to defend in front of the world’s best goalie, GAME OF INCHES Andrei Vasilevskiy, and can close out 2-1 games. Tampa has a pile of There’s a lot the Islanders need to go their way to beat the Lightning. experience and guile. There is a steeliness to the Lightning. Some bounces would help. These are also traits that helped the Islanders get this far, but now they Yanni Gourde opened the scoring for the Lightning at 10:05 of the first need something more. New York coach Barry Trotz said he was left when Blake Coleman’s centring pass caromed off the skate of Islanders “wanting” after the Islanders lost Game 2 4-2 in Tampa on Tuesday, and defenceman Nick Leddy and straight to the goal-scorer at the far side of although he didn’t repeat that assessment on Thursday, his team again the slot. wasn’t at its best. “It’s funny,” Trotz said, “as you go along this path, you go deeper and The 12,978 Long Island fanatics, who celebrate each additional playoff deeper, the teams are better and better, and you’ve got to dig in harder game at the Coliseum before the Islanders relocate slightly west next and harder. season, didn’t have much to scream about. Their team failed to fuel their energy, falling behind halfway through a first period in which the “At the end of the day, it’s a pretty even game. They just capitalized on a Islanders looked slow and nervy. The Lightning led for 47 of the final 50 chance on a sort of a scramble at the end of a power play. It’s a fine line minutes and have regained serve in the series. Game 4 is Saturday. from winning or losing. It’s a game of inches right now.”

A FEW NO-SHOWS PAGEAU GOES

The Islanders advanced past the Penguins in Round 1 despite Mathew Jean-Gabriel Pageau is playing hurt, but the impressive two-way centre Barzal and their first line not producing as expected. The Josh Bailey– who leads the Islanders in scoring while consistently drawing the most Brock Nelson–Anthony Beauvillier unit did most of the offensive damage difficult matchups was still one of New York’s better players on Thursday. for New York. Pageau’s ice time of 16:32 was down slightly from his playoff average, But that trio was again ineffective on Thursday and Beauvillier, but he and linemates Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri outplayed the Point- especially, looks suddenly lost amid the semifinal intensity. In a game Kucherov-Ondrej Palat line head-to-head. Pageau finished with three where total shot attempts were 62-52 for the Islanders, Bailey, Beauvillier shots and three hits. and Nelson were outshot 8-2 at even strength. That was a total of two shots on net for three of the Islanders’ top offensive forwards. A Patrice Bergeron Lite, Pageau may be one of the best players few people know about. Beauvillier has no goals and two assists in his last seven games after scoring 10 points in New York’s first eight playoff contests.

“He’s a good player,” Trotz said. “Obviously, they’re playing him real Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.18.2021 tight. They’re playing our top guys real tight, making it difficult. You’ve got to fight for inches. I mean, it’s no different than (when) I think Barzy struggled early in the playoffs because he wasn’t quite willing to fight for those inches and wasn’t getting much done. I think right now, Beau’s got to find a way to fight for more inches. That’s all.”

Barzal has been excellent since early in the Boston series, but the Islanders need all their players to have a chance at dethroning the Lightning.

PHYSICAL DE-ESCALATION

Rightfully fearful of a lethal Tampa power play that has pumped in 17 playoff goals already, Trotz was successful in convincing his players not to be drawn into the post-whistle scrums and wrestling matches that characterized Game 2.

Trotz is right that the Islanders can’t afford to make this a special-teams series. But it also looked Thursday like the lack of menace and overt 1215999 Websites Owner Ted Leonsis won’t disrespect the face of his franchise, who deserves to cash some of the biggest cheques in the league, but with a flat cap, the more team-friendly the deal, the greater chance of building a contender around the captain. Sportsnet.ca / NHL’s Top 12 UFAs of 2021: Latest rumours, reports In May, Leonsis said he’s “not concerned” about his captain’s pending UFA status. MacLellan said it’s just a matter of finding “a sweet spot” in years and dollars. Luke Fox @lukefoxjukebox “Obviously, I want to finish my career here,” Ovechkin said at his season- June 17, 2021, 9:45 AM ending press conference. “I’m pretty sure we will do something soon.”

2. Dougie Hamilton Massive decisions are nigh. Age on July 28: 28 A star-studded group featuring future Hall of Famers, No. 1 goalies and Position: Defence defencemen, team captains and league MVP winners are all still without guaranteed employment in 2021-22. 2020-21 salary cap hit: $5.75 million

These pending unrestricted free agents have been able to ink extensions The latest: The Hurricanes traded for Hamilton, in part, because they with their current clubs for months. We’ve seen the Minnesota Wild liked his cost certainty. Well, after this sprint season, the price tag for the (Jonas Brodin, seven years at $6 million), Montreal Canadiens (Jeff top defender in 2021’s UFA class won’t be so certain. Petry, four years and $6.25 million; Brendan Gallagher, six years, $22.5 million), and St. Louis Blues (Jordan Binnington, six years at $6 million) Hamilton is in a class of his own when it comes to 2021’s UFA D-men. take care of some business early — weakening 2021’s UFA crop in the He is due for a significant raise, as is star forward Andrei Svechnikov process. (RFA). With cash-conscious Carolina already having four other D-men But plenty of marquee names remain in limbo. signed long-term at $4 million-plus per year, and extension talks cool throughout the season, it feels like the sides could be headed for a split. Unlike past seasons, general managers already know 2021-22’s cap ceiling (flat at $81.5 million), yet many are playing wait-and-see with their Hamilton’s camp would use Alex Pietrangelo’s $8.8-million AAV with UFAs as July 28’s open market looms. Vegas on a long-term deal as the ceiling, while the Canes would likely try to use Torey Krug’s $6.5-million AAV with St. Louis as a comparable. Note: The Seattle Kraken will get a jump on the market with its exclusive 48-hour UFA negotiation window July 18-20. On June 14, Elliotte Friedman reported that Carolina granted the pending UFA’s agent, J.P. Barry, permission to speak with rival clubs and explore Here is a look at the latest comments and rumours surrounding the top an eight-year contract. This could result in a rare sign-and-trade. 12 impending UFAs of the Class of 2021. Alternatively, after dipping his toe in the market, Hamilton may wish to Luke Fox stay put.

NHL's top 12 RFAs of 2021: Latest rumours and reports “I really enjoy it here. I’ve got some really good friends, met really, really good people in the room and away from the room, off the ice too,” Luke Fox Hamilton said on June 11. 1. Alex Ovechkin “I have nothing bad to say about my experience here and being a Age on July 28: 35 Carolina Hurricane, and I’ve really enjoyed it. Hopefully we can keep going.” Position: Left wing 3. Gabriel Landeskog 2020-21 salary cap hit: $9.5 million Age on July 28: 28 The latest: If Ovechkin (730) is serious about taking a run at Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record (894), he’ll need a fresh multi-year Position: Left wing commitment from the franchise that drafted him first overall way back in 2020-21 salary cap hit: $5.57 million 2004. It’s blasphemous to envision the Great Eight in any other sweater. The latest: True, the budget-conscious Avalanche have a track record of Nicklas Backstrom and Ovechkin have expressed a mutual desire to play dealing away talent before they hit paydirt: Paul Stastny, Ryan O’Reilly, alongside each other for as long as possible, and the centreman Matt Duchene, Barrie…. negotiated his own $46-million extension that should see him setting up Ovechkin’s one-timer through to 2024-25. But! Colorado has an open window to contend for the grand prize, and anything other than a long-term extension for the captain would rock the “My only concern going forward is that maybe Ovi might hire Nick to do core in a bad way. Real dollars are more of a concern than cap space in his next contract,” quipped GM Brian MacLellan, confident the sides will Denver, so Sakic should lock up Landeskog for the rest of his prime. find common ground. No member of the 2021 UFA class put up more points (52) or points per The superstar is negotiating his own deal. game (0.96) than Landeskog, who logged 20 minutes a night Ovechkin and MacLellan had a conversation upon the conclusion of complementing younger stars Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon 2019-20 to set the table for parameters of an extension. on the most dangerous line in the West.

In November, Ovechkin gave an interview, in his native tongue, to “Actually, back in Edmonton [during the 2020 playoffs], we started a Russian Television International and addressed his vision for wrapping dialogue,” Sakic revealed in October. “We’ll revisit that. We’d like to have his playing career. something done during the year, but if it has to go through the year, we’re confident we have a pretty good relationship with Gabe and that we’ll be “It is not a question of money,” the superstar said of his desire to remain able to figure something out by next year. in D.C. “It is just a matter of principal. I have only played for two teams, [KHL’s Moscow] Dynamo and Washington. Obviously, I will stay with “I think everyone’s figuring out where the landscape is going to be in the Washington for another two… three… four… five years. And then I would next few years. The dialogue is going to continue, so hopefully we’ll be like to finish on a high note, to play my final game with Dynamo.” able to extend.”

According to Russian outlet metaratings.ru, MacLellan had already Following Colorado’s playoff elimination and Landeskog’s poor showing floated a three- to five-year extension to the captain that would carry an in the Vegas series, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post speculated that AAV between $9.5 million and $10 million. Sakic could offer the captain a “take it or leave it” deal at $5 million per year. Certainly, it would take more to retain a talented leader who should fetch But with Connor McDavid ($12.5 million) and Draisaitl ($8.5 million) atop closer to a $7 million AAV on the open market. the salary structure, Nugent-Hopkins could be signed for a number that does not leave Edmonton like Toronto — top-heavy with three forwards 4. Tyson Barrie averaging over $11 million apiece.”

Age on July 28: 30 Positive preliminary extension talks took place between the Oilers and Position: Defence Nugent-Hopkins’ camp. Then… silence.

2020-21 salary cap hit: $3.75 million The high-end flat-cap comparable here may be Brendan Gallagher’s six- year, $39-million extension in Montreal. The latest: Stumbling in Toronto, Barrie bet on himself big-time in the 2020 off-season. Colleague Mark Spector’s position: “Offer Nugent-Hopkins five years, $28 million ($5.6M AAV). He’ll want six times six. Find a middle ground.” The power-play quarterback reportedly turned down a $6-million offer elsewhere so he could feed pucks to Connor McDavid and Leon Asked about RNH’s future on a Zoom call in late February, Holland Draisaitl, rebound his stock, and rediscover his confidence. thought back to some of his overcommitting in Detroit.

“For me, it was a no-brainer, with everything that’s going on and coming “You sign some contracts, and they don’t work out. And the way the [cap] off the year that I had, to be able to have a chance to go into Edmonton system is built, it makes it more difficult to compete,” Holland said. “He’s and play with this team on a one-year deal,” Barrie said of the gambit. “It an important part of our team, and he’s got good chemistry with our just wasn’t about money this year, just coming into re-establish myself players, but it’s got to work for both sides.” and show the league that I’m still a pretty good player.” Nugent-Hopkins contributed a respectable 35 points in 52 games but, Mission accomplished. much like the rest of the Oilers, failed to increase his stock in Edmonton’s swift playoff exit. Barrie’s playmaking complemented the Oilers stars. He thrived as quarterback of Edmonton’s power play and got his groove back. After 7. Taylor Hall racking up 48 points in 56 games, Barrie should ring the cash register Age on July 28: 29 this summer. Position: Left wing “If there is an opportunity for me to stay here long-term in Edmonton, it could be a great fit,” Barrie told colleague Mark Spector. 2020-21 salary cap hit: $8 million

Barrie is believed to be seeking long term and maximum money after The latest: Depending how you weigh recent results, Hall could become smartly betting on himself. the most coveted UFA winger on the market two years running — or take a hit to the wallet. All thanks to his rare and surprising one-year, show- The Oilers may instead prioritize an extension with the more defensively me deal with the Buffalo Sabres. minded Adam Larsson, betting a healthy Oscar Klefbom can resume PP1 duties. “Things can turn pretty quick, especially if you have elite pieces like the Sabres do,” Hall said, upon becoming 2020’s most surprising signing. The likely play is for Barrie to let Hamilton set the market and sign with a “Obviously, I’m betting on myself, but I’m betting that the Sabres can club that misses out on the most coveted UFA D-man. improve and have a good hockey season. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.

5. Philipp Grubauer “Honestly, the best thing for both sides is that this goes really well, and Age on July 28: 29 I’m a Sabre for a long time.”

Position: Goaltender Welp.

2020-21 salary cap hit: $3.33 million Hall used his no-move protection to steer a trade to the contending Bruins at the trade deadline. Then he wasted no time thriving on Boston’s The latest: Grubauer enjoyed a fabulous season for a Stanley Cup second line. contender. The Colorado starter delivered a sparkling 30-9-1 record, 1.95 GAA, .922 save percentage, and a career-best seven(!) shutouts. The player would love an extension.

How you knock your contract year out of the park is by putting together a “I see a fit, and hopefully they feel the same. We’ll let the dust settle on Vezina-finalist campaign. everything this year, I’m sure they have a lot of stuff going on and some other guys that have been here longer than me that they have to worry GM Joe Sakic has been mum on Grubauer’s next contract, but with about,” Hall said on June 11. “Then we’ll figure that out, but hopefully we UFAs Tuukka Rask and Frederik Andersen hampered by injury, the can make something work. That’s my goal. Hopefully, we can make that goalie’s leverage is only increasing. His next AAV could start with a six, happen. and the Avs have the cap space to accommodate. “I don’t even know what my value is, at this point,” he continued. “I’m not The catch is, they’ve been a budget team and some other big pieces looking to absolutely maximize my value at this point in my career. I’ve (namely, Landeskog and RFA Cale Makar) must be taken care of as well. been fortunate enough to make some good money in this league, and at this point, it’s about more of a fit for me than maybe money, or a long- 6. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins term thing. You want to find a home for the next few years here, and we’ll Age on July 28: 28 see what happens.”

Position: Left wing / Centre 8. Zach Hyman

2020-21 salary cap hit: $6 million Age on July 28: 29

The latest: A friend of the rumour mill, Nugent-Hopkins wrapped his Position: Left wing mediocre contract year hot off back-to-back 60-point campaigns. 2020-21 salary cap hit: $2.25 million One of the few mainstays of the Oilers’ top six, RNH has improved his The latest: The Maple Leafs love Hyman; Hyman loves the Maple Leafs. two-way game and has the versatility to complement Edmonton’s superstars from the wing or centre his own middle-six line when “I would love to stay in Toronto. It’s where I grew up. I want to be a Leaf necessary. for a long time. That’s first and foremost,” Hyman said in April of 2020. “I would love to be a long-term Leaf and would love to re-sign here and Although Nuge cannot be replaced internally, the belief is that GM Ken would love to be here and ultimately win a Stanley Cup here.” Holland won’t overspend to bring him back. The 2011 No. 1 pick may need to take a discount to stay. The all-situations winger has upped his bargaining power with another fantastic campaign and proved to be coach ’s fixer, as he Writes colleague Mark Spector: “I’d guess he’ll be looking for Leon jostled from line to line, helping energize teammates who need a bump. Draisaitl money ($8.5 million), though the Oilers may think that’s high. Hyman’s brand of hockey would make him a unique commodity on the 2020-21 salary cap hit: $3.08 million open market, and as of Toronto’s end-of-season availability, no serious extension talks had taken place. The latest: Danault’s name was “out there” in the 2020 off-season, per Elliotte Friedman, but trading responsible centremen before they hit age Leverage rests with the player here, and Hyman has already settled for 30 is seldom advisable. Even if the future looks bright at the position one hometown discount. (see: Nick Suzuki, Jasperi Kotkaniemi).

“I don’t know what the future holds,” Hyman said on June 2. Danault doesn’t exactly put up Xbox numbers — he’s never surpassed 13 goals and has reached 50 points just once — but he tilts the ice, GM said he “very interested” in keeping Hyman in the fold. nullifies the opposition’s top pivot regularly (see: Matthews, Auston) and Properly compensating the heart-and-soul winger could be another story. is a plus-44 player over the past three seasons.

“It has to work out fair for both sides,” Dubas said. “Zach’s going to want GM Marc Bergevin was quick to commit to Jeff Petry and Brendan to be treated fairly. We’re going to have to figure out something that Gallagher in 2020, and he reportedly offered a six-year, $30-million deal works in the short and long term. And that will be up to [Leafs assistant to Danault in the off-season that was rejected. GM] Brandon Pridham and [agent] Todd Reynolds to sort that out.” “At this moment, there are no negotiations,” Danault said on Nov. 24. 9. Kyle Palmieri “Letting emotions get in the way of business doesn’t really work. I Age on July 28: 30 understood that pretty quickly.”

Position: Right wing / Left wing Yes, Danault wishes he’d been taken care of, the way Gallagher and Petry were, but he’s still bringing a winning attitude to the rink. 2020-21 salary cap hit: $4.65 million “The Canadiens gave me a three-year contract two years ago, and I still The latest: Beginning 2021 as an unsung star on a rebuilding team, the have a year to play with the Canadiens,” Danault said. “After that, we’ll hardworking Palmieri is quietly riding a five-year streak of 20-goal see. I really have the intention of honouring my contract and then, after seasons. that, we’ll see what the future holds.”

Extension talks with Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald resulted in the winger’s Danault’s value has been reinforced with his excellent shutdown work in rental to nearby Long Island, and Palmieri made a heckuva rental trade the 2021 postseason. chip. 12. Tuukka Rask Along with veteran pivot Travis Zajac, Palmieri yielded his former club a first-round pick. And now he’s in the throes of a deep playoff run in New Age on July 28: 34 York, which is relaying on him to contribute to an offensive hole vacated Position: Goaltender by injured captain . 2020-21 salary cap hit: $7 million Palmieri’s two goals in 17 regular-season games for the Isles underwhelmed, but he has exploded for seven more in the postseason. The latest: The question isn’t whether Rask — a Vezina-winning, Cup- winning, Jennings-winning stud — is deserving of an extension. The GM Lou Lamoriello should prioritize RFAs Anthony Beauvillier and Adam question is whether his body is up for one. Pelech this summer, but Palmieri has been a wonderful addition to his middle six. Rask openly pondered 2021 retirement this past season and drew criticism in some (unkind) circles for departing the playoff bubble early to 10. David Krejci attend to a family matter.

Age on July 28: 35 He’ll undergo surgery on a torn hip labrum this off-season and won’t be Position: Centre ready to play until January or February. If and when he straps on the pads again, Rask only sees it being in Boston. 2020-21 salary cap hit: $7.25 million “I’m not going to play for anyone else than the Bruins. This is our home,” The latest: The highest-paid Bruin will need to take a pay cut, but Krejci’s Rask said on June 11. “At this point of my life and my career, I don’t see 2021 performance — 44 points in 51 games, behind only Landeskog and any reason to go anywhere else, especially with the health I’m looking at Barrie on this list — reasserted the value a dependable two-way pivot now and a recovery time of five or six months. Hopefully it works out that can bring. I recover well, and we can talk about contracts when the time is right for that.” The legs are getting older, the contract needs to get shorter, but Krejci’s hockey sense reminds us of the value in having a second-line centre you More notable 2021 UFAs: Mike Hoffman, Brandon Saad, Frederik can trust in important situations. Andersen, Eric Staal, Ryan Getzlaf, Tomas Tatar, , Erik Haula, Bobby Ryan, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Adam Larsson, Derek Stepan, The Bruins, however, could be in for another summer of turnover. There Paul Stastny, Alexander Edler, Petr Mrazek, Travis Zajac, Jaden is opportunity to go younger. Schwartz, David Savard, Tyler Bozak, Ryan Murray, Nikita Gusev, Nick “It’s not about money,” Krejci said on June 11, still mulling his future. “I Foligno, Brandon Sutter, Nick Bonino, Alec Martinez, Blake Coleman, guess that’s all I can tell you: My next deal is not going to be based on Sean Kuraly, Barclay Goodrow, Pekka Rinne, Jamie Oleksiak, Jordan money. Today, I can tell you, it’s not going to be about money. And at the Martinook, Jordie Benn, Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds, Alexander same time, I just can’t see myself playing for a different team. We’ll see Wennberg, Mike Reilly, Mattias Janmark, Corey Perry, Devan Dubnyk, what happens, I guess. I don’t even know. I talked to my parents, and Chris Driedger, Jonathan Bernier, Jaroslav Halak, Linus Ullmark, Mike they asked me. I can’t even give them a straight answer.” Smith, James Reimer

Krejci had previously hinted at wrapping his career in his native Czech Republic. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.18.2021 “You guys write a lot that I wanted to finish my career in Czech, which has not changed,” Krejci said. “But when I said that, I was younger. I’m a husband. I’m a dad, I have two kids. They’re getting older. So, yes, I still, at one point, would like to finish my career in Czech for different reasons now than when I first said it. I would like my kids to speak my language because my parents don’t speak any English. My kids don’t speak Czech. I would like them to learn the language.”

11. Phillip Danault

Age on July 28: 28

Position: Centre 1216000 Websites and 7 to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs a few weeks back. “He kinda chuckled [via text], as he normally would,” says Burnett, who coached Suzuki on the 2019 Guelph Storm club that climbed out of three 0–2 series holes — including one that got to 0–3 — en route to winning the Sportsnet.ca / AT LAST championship.

The comeback versus Toronto started in Game 5, when Suzuki played triggerman on an overtime 2-on-0 with Caufield. Sitting on the Habs By Ryan Dixon bench with a headset on for the post-game interview, Suzuki wasn’t exactly coming out of his skin when he placidly described what had just transpired. “It was a great read by Cole,” he said. “I just saw we had a 2- For years, the Canadiens have struggled, slipped and stumbled in their on-0, so I just tried to get up fast. And, uh, yeah; nice bury.” quest for an elite centre. The emergence of Nick Suzuki puts an end to the search. “He’s a guy who steps up, scores big goals. It’s something he’s done as long as he’s been playing hockey.” It’s the first period of the first game. The Montreal Canadiens jumped all over the Winnipeg Jets to start their second-round series, but an early 2– While you might expect a little more zip from someone who just netted 0 Habs advantage has been cut in half by an Adam Lowry shortie. The the biggest goal of his life, coming through when it counts is nothing new vising Canadiens would surely be happy taking a lead into the first for this guy. Last summer’s bubble playoffs more or less served as intermission, but — all things considered — the Jets probably feel okay, Suzuki’s coming out party at the highest level, and demonstrated why too, having recovered a bit after stumbling out of the gate. Montreal viewed him as the critical piece returning in the trade package received from Vegas for former Habs captain Max Pacioretty in 2018. The frame is less than three minutes from ending when Nick Suzuki gets Suzuki scored his first post-season goal in his first playoff contest, control of the puck deep in the Habs’ zone and shovels it over to linemate sending a perfect shot over the glove hand of Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Cole Caufield before getting pinned to the boards by Jets captain Blake Matt Murray. There’s also no chance Guelph would have found a way to Wheeler. One pass later, Montreal defenceman Joel Edmundson is come back in all those OHL series if not for Suzuki’s absurd, league-best weighing his options for an outlet and spots Suzuki — switching to attack 42 points in 24 playoff games. And earlier this year, as the Habs mode — gusting up the left side of the ice. Edmundson banks the puck struggled during the final six weeks of the season, Suzuki did more than off the boards right in front of the Jets bench and Suzuki takes it on his his part for his injury-ravaged team by leading the club in scoring with 21 forehand with his back to the play, pivots and streaks over the Winnipeg points in his final 23 contests. The only other Montreal forward who had blue line on a quick-developing 2-on-1 with Tyler Toffoli. Using the threat more than eight points over that time was Toffoli. “You look at our regular of a pass to paralyze Jets defenceman Derek Forbort, Suzuki loads his season at the end of the year, we were going through a tough time. You stick like he’s about to release, then sucks the puck back, traces the needed someone to step up and take charge, and it was him,” says outstretched pad of goalie Connor Hellebuyck and stuffs it in the open Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher. “Last year in the playoffs, same cage while whizzing past the net. Game 1 ends 5–3 in favour of thing. He’s a guy who steps up, scores big goals. It’s something he’s Montreal. done as long as he’s been playing hockey, something not everyone has.”

Five days later, Suzuki is playing in what Habs fans hope is the final Few people are better positioned to talk about what Suzuki possesses period of the final contest. A Montreal goal in overtime of Game 4 would than Isaac Ratcliffe, who was his linemate with the Storm and Guelph’s give the Canadiens their second series victory in a week and put the captain. The two grew up about a two-minute walk from each other in the North Division’s weakest playoff team by regular-season record into the London, Ont., neighbourhood of Byron. Ratcliffe and Suzuki began NHL’s Final Four; a tally by the Jets sends the series back to Winnipeg playing hockey together around the time they were eight years old. In the and opens the door to funny business. summer, it was golf and soccer, with Nick’s dad, Rob, coaching them on the pitch. Nick was a control-the-chess-board midfielder who could set up With the stakes understood, Suzuki, Caufield and Toffoli take their first or score goals. Whether on grass or ice, he was always a move ahead. extra-time shift. A clearing attempt by Hellebuyck is easily picked by “We laugh about it still,” says Ratcliffe, a 2017 second-round pick of the Suzuki on the half-wall and he tries to hit Toffoli — camped out to the Philadelphia Flyers. “When we were back in minor hockey, he was doing goalie’s right — with a pass through the red meat of the Jets’ zone. The the exact same things that he’s doing now.” attempt kicks off the skate of blue-liner and bounces to the corner. Suzuki tracks it, taking a pair of two-handed cuts at the puck Suzuki’s intelligent, economical approach to his craft is in line with his and an additional desperation poke, trying to prevent the burly Poolman serene demeanour away from the rink. Ratfcliffe says the entire Suzuki from wresting control. It works. The scrambled play gives Caufield time to crew — including Nick’s mom, Amanda, and his brother, Carolina arrive, juke another defender and whip the puck over to Toffoli, still Hurricanes 2019 first-rounder, Ryan — are kind, generous and reserved. lurking around the net. When Toffoli one-times Caufield’s heated dish, When Nick arrived in Owen Sound as an OHL rookie, the Attack dressing the Bell Centre bursts with all the joy 2,500 fans — and one elated team room soon warmed to their new shy, sneaky-funny teammate who at — can muster. Win secured, worries over and a palpable “What’s next!?” least partially emerged from his shell over time on the tight-knit squad. excitement enveloping the team, to say nothing of the young centre who “‘Zuks’ would sneak in there and get a laugh out of the boys,” says played a key role in crucial goals that bookended the series. Michael McNiven, a former Attack goalie who’s spent the professional part of his career as a member of the Canadiens organization. “He’s The Canadiens — who head home for Game 3 tied 1-1 with the Vegas always been a good, quiet kid and he’s always been a good friend of Golden Knights — are in the semifinal for just the third time since winning mine.” the 1993 Stanley Cup, following a shocking trip there in 2010 and another underdog showing in 2014. A huge reason for the club so Kevin Hancock was Suzuki’s linemate for much of their time together in frequently finding itself outside the NHL’s top tier has been the seemingly Owen Sound, before both were traded to contenders later in their OHL unending search for elite play at the centre position. That’s why, even if career. Hancock is still frequently in touch with his buddy, often in regard this Final Four appearance ends in disappointment — as the previous to the fantasy football and basketball leagues Suzuki is passionate about. two runs did — there is more for Montreal to hang its hat on this time out When he watches Suzuki now, Hancock — who spent this past season thanks to the ongoing emergence of Suzuki. The 21-year-old who can with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners — is struck by one particular make big plays, little plays and everything in between is proving he’s element of his old teammate’s game. “His stickwork,” Hancock says. “His equipped to handle all that’s expected of a 1C. And while you’re not likely use of his stick to pick-pocket elite defencemen in the corner and be able to hear much in the way of declarations from the man himself, Suzuki has to turn that to offence or intercept passes through the neutral zone. His no less faith in his abilities than the most optimistic soul singing “Olé, Olé, skill with his stick is [a big] asset.” Olé!” Combine a quiet nature with a game that is more in-the-bone quality than YOUNG LION leap-off-the-screen filthy, and you open the door to people underestimating or misreading Suzuki. Don’t be fooled by the lack of Don't let Suzuki's substance-over-style game fool you into chest-thumping, though; to a man, those who played with him or have underestimating his skill or heart. "A lot of people don’t see how been in his hockey orbit describe No. 14 as supremely confident and determined he is,” says Burnett. hungry for success. “I think he’s got [an overlooked] compete level, a lot George Burnett sent a note to Suzuki saying, “You’re getting good at this of people don’t see how determined he is,” says Burnett. “I see him come-from-behind stuff,” after Montreal ripped off wins in Games 5, 6 battling in the NHL playoffs now, going to the corners [and] winning puck battles against some pretty big, dominant defenceman, coming up with defender’s] stick and getting the puck on that guy’s blade.’ That’s the loose pucks that ultimately end up creating scoring chances or goals.” right play, the smart play — all the time.”

None bigger than the series-ender versus Winnipeg. Bergeron’s story took on a new dimension when he found complimentary running mates in Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Who knows, "IT'S ALL HOCKEY SENSE" maybe Caufield — the silly-small, super-skilled 2021 Hobey Baker winner One OHL executive notes Suzuki doesn't need flash because he makes — will help drive Suzuki’s stats as the youngsters lean into the task of "the smart play — all the time" being the offensive catalysts for a Montreal squad that will have its hands full getting back into the playoffs next season once the league reverts to As linear as Suzuki’s development has been, the Canadiens’ journey to its standard alignment. Any number of people would likely be willing to find a player of his ilk at this vital position has been more than a little make the case this post-season high for the Canadiens is no less an circuitous. Believe it or not, Suzuki isn’t even the first centre drafted 13th aberration than the team’s last two tastes. Still, as long as Montreal’s overall Montreal has acquired as a prospect from another organization future is tied to Suzuki, Ratcliffe is optimistic about where things are and pinned high hopes on. That distinction goes to Lars Eller, who was going. “He’s going to be a Stanley Cup champion by the end of his shipped to the Canadiens by St. Louis for goalie Jaroslav Halak just career,” Ratcliffe says. “[Maybe] more times than one.” weeks after Halak’s brilliance propelled the Habs into the 2010 Eastern Conference Final, where they were easily dispatched by the Flyers. Eller Now that would be hard to miss. was a bull of a player who wound up having a terrific spring when Montreal made the Final Four in 2014 and lost to the New York Rangers. Unfortunately, he never became a consistent offensive threat and was Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.18.2021 traded to Washington in 2016, winning the Cup a couple of years later in a third-line role he was perfectly suited for.

Scott Gomez was a first-year Hab when he had 14 points during the 19- game 2010 run, but that was the apex of his time in Montreal. His hefty contract eventually became so much of a hinderance that GM Marc Bergevin used a compliance buyout to cut him loose. Alex Galchenyuk was drafted third overall in 2012 to be the scoring centre of the future. Instead, two different coaching regimes believed his defensive deficiencies required hiding him on the wing and he was eventually traded to Arizona for Max Domi, who had one good year as a centre in Quebec, followed by a down season that saw him get punted to the fourth line and, ultimately, traded to Columbus.

“He’s going to be a Stanley Cup champion by the end of his career. Maybe more times than one.”

Tomas Plekanec and David Desharnais were supposed to be the offence-driving pivots on the 2014 Final Four club, but they finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in team scoring during that post-season. Repeating the pattern from earlier in the decade, the Canadiens sank in the standings following their East Final showing in ’14 and — 24 months later — were drafting high again in 2016. They took defenceman Mikhail Sergachev, who was traded one year later for Jonathan Drouin on the premise Drouin — still only 22 years old — could come in, shift from wing to centre and become the long-sought solution down the middle. As it turned out, Drouin couldn’t have been more miscast at centre if he was Tom Hanks playing Tony Soprano. As such, come the 2018 Draft, Montreal was back picking third overall and opted for, you guessed it, a centre, taking Finn Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Four months later — on the eve of training camp — an organization now throwing around the term “reset” to describe its one-step-back approach acquired Suzuki ahead of his final major junior campaign.

Kotkaniemi — who was scratched for the first game of the 2021 playoffs — has had his ups and downs, but his big frame, strong shot and determination to improve offer some hope for his future. Phillip Danault — who can leave as a free agent this summer — has proven himself to be one of the best defensive centres in the league, but high-end offence is never going to be his calling card. Suffice it to say, then, if the Canadiens are to avoid a regression similar to the ones experienced after previous playoff successes, a lot rests on the shoulders of Suzuki, who sometimes draws comparisons to Boston’s do-it-all captain, Patrice Bergeron.

One scout for a North Division team says he believes it’s absolutely legit to connect the two, though that’s a big leap for some given Bergeron’s accomplishments. However, before he was all-caps BERGERON — the guy who can play right wing with Sidney Crosby on Team Canada; the player whose offensive production went to another level in his early 30s when he was suddenly in the middle of the best line in hockey — Bergeron was rarely spoken about in superstar terms. Rather, he was simply considered a really, really good player. Suzuki, who admired Bergeron enough to wear the latter’s No. 37 in Owen Sound, is certainly in a similar mould. “Is he the fastest guy on the ice?” asks an OHL executive who’s been watching Suzuki since his AAA days. “He’s fast, but he doesn’t look it. Is he the biggest guy on the ice? No. Is he the most talented guy on the ice? Well, he doesn’t show it, because it’s all hockey sense. He’s not toe-drag, dipsy-doodle through three guys because he knows, ‘I can make the exact same thing happen by changing the angle just a little bit, finding the passing lane through [the 1216001 Websites The players allegedly told Vincent that on separate occasions Aldrich had gotten them drunk in his apartment, watched pornography, and then tried to perform oral sex on them. After the players shared their stories with Vincent, the then-Blackhawks skills coach asked Gary, the team’s sports Blackhawks refused to report alleged sex abuse of players to police: psychologist, to follow up with the players, the person said. source According to the former Blackhawks player’s lawsuit, Gary allegedly convinced at least one of the former players “that the sexual assault was his fault, that he was culpable for what had happened, [and had] made By Rick Westhead mistakes during his encounter with the perpetrator and permitted the sexual assault to occur.”

Chicago Blackhawks senior management allegedly refused to file a On May 17, 2010, an off day and one day after the players shared their report to Chicago police during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs after two story with Vincent, Blackhawks management convened a meeting at the players claimed a video coach who worked with the franchise had Marriott Hotel in San Jose at about 5 p.m., said the person who sexually assaulted them, according to a person familiar with the matter. contacted TSN.

During a May 2010 meeting with then-Blackhawks president John During that meeting, Vincent requested that the team report the alleged McDonough, vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac, general assault to Chicago police and asked his colleagues, “What would you do manager Stan Bowman and team sports psychologist James Gary, then- if this had happened to your son?” the person said. Vincent’s request skills coach Paul Vincent shared what the players had told him about was rejected, the person said. being assaulted and asked the team executives to contact the sex crimes Aldrich remained with the team through the playoffs and later posed for a division of the Chicago police, the person said, adding that the request photo with the Stanley Cup, the person said, before he left the was denied. Blackhawks. None of these members of Blackhawks’ management were identified or Aldrich worked for the Blackhawks for two seasons, beginning in 2008, referenced in a lawsuit filed last month in an Illinois court by an unnamed after he was an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame. In former Blackhawks player. The player alleged in the suit that the team February 2010, he also worked as a video coach for the U.S. Olympic ignored allegations that he and an unidentified teammate were sexually Team during the Winter Games in Vancouver. assaulted in separate incidents by video coach Brad Aldrich. “In the eyes of a player, even a video coach has the potential power to TSN has identified the players but has a policy of not reporting the influence how much playing time they are going to get,” said Brenley names of alleged sexual abuse victims without their permission. Shapiro, a Toronto-based mental performance consultant, who works The plaintiff, who is referred to as “John Doe” in court documents, with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and the Ontario Hockey League’s alleged that Aldrich, who no longer works for the Blackhawks, also sent Peterborough Petes. him “inappropriate text messages” and threatened him “physically, “A player doesn’t know how much a video coach might talk to the head financially and emotionally” if he “did not engage in sexual activity.” coach and how much input a video coach has on the team,” Shapiro said After the lawsuit was filed, TSN was contacted by a person familiar with in an interview. “Athletes are taught from a young age to respect and the players’ decision to report the alleged incident to team management listen to their coaches and in the sports setting, a predator will choose his and a subsequent management meeting in which a plea to contact police prey carefully, often targeting someone who is more vulnerable, was denied. someone who doesn’t have an established position with the team, someone who is struggling to make it, someone who has come to trust Susan Loggans, a lawyer for the plaintiff, said in an interview with TSN them.” that the person’s account is consistent with what she has been told by an unidentified independent witness in the case. Loggans said she plans to Following the Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup win, Aldrich left the call the witness to testify about the Blackhawks’ alleged cover up of the Blackhawks. The official reason, according to media reports at the time, abuse and said she may ask a judge for that testimony to happen behind was to pursue other employment opportunities. closed doors if the case goes to trial. In July 2012, Aldrich was hired as the director of hockey operations for Loggans also confirmed that her client has told her that he and another the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, before later joining a high school Blackhawks teammate were abused at Aldrich’s apartment in separate hockey team’s coaching staff in Houghton, Mich. incidents during the 2009-10 season. In October 2013, Aldrich was charged and convicted of criminal sexual Blackhawks spokesman Adam Rogowin declined to discuss the conduct related to a March 2013 incident involving one of the 17-year-old allegation that the team’s management refused a request to report players he coached. Aldrich’s alleged behaviour to Chicago police. In a motion to the court before his sentencing, Aldrich asked the judge to “With respect to this being an active litigation matter, it is not appropriate order the victim and his family to substantiate the $1,468.51 on for us to comment,” Rogowin wrote in an email to TSN. psychological counselling and also asked the judge for leniency.

In a statement of defence filed June 14, Blackhawks lawyer John Stiglich “This case involves a drunken encounter last March in the hockey post- wrote that the case should be dismissed because of the state’s statute of season between a 31-year-old volunteer hockey coach and a 17-year-old limitations laws. In Illinois, adult plaintiffs in sexual abuse lawsuits must player, during which some sexual touching and a brief instance of oral file their claims within 300 days of an alleged incident or the memories of penetration occurred,” Aldrich’s Jan. 17, 2014, motion says. an incident returning if the person has repressed it, Stiglich wrote. “Although the victim says that the encounter was non-consensual, the "While the plaintiff tries to plead his way around the statute of limitations, defendant has always maintained that it was consensual he acknowledges within his complaint that the conduct at issue occurred experimentation, though illegal because the victim was under 18 and the in May 2010, that he was immediately aware of the alleged sexual defendant had a position of authority as a volunteer coach.” harassment when it happened, that he reported the sexual harassment to Even after the assault, Aldrich alleged that the victim asked to use his car Gary, that he sought counselling for the alleged sexual harassment in and buy alcohol and tobacco for him. May 2010 [from Gary], and yet he waited 11 years to file his lawsuit against the [Blackhawks]," Stiglich wrote. “Those these post-offense acts do not render the illegal act legal, they do call into question the level of victimization portrayed in the [victim impact Stiglich wrote that even if the plaintiff repressed his memories of the statement],” Aldrich’s motion says. alleged incident with Aldrich until July 2019, he needed to file his lawsuit before April or May 2020 to avoid statute of limitations issues. Aldrich also argued the judge should be lenient because “the defendant admitted to only one instance of oral penetration that lasted mere The person familiar with the matter who contacted TSN said that the two seconds. The victim’s statement to law enforcement corroborated that Blackhawks players approached Vincent, a one-time Massachusetts single penetration.” police officer, on May 16, 2010, before the opening game of the Western Conference finals between Chicago and San Jose. Aldrich challenged a probation agent who argued that Aldrich had “violated community trust” because of his volunteer coaching status.

“What made the defendant’s sexual contact with the victim criminal was his status as a volunteer coach,” Aldrich’s motion says. “That status does not make him worse than average, it makes him simply average. It is worth pointing out that this incident occurred after the hockey season was over at a ‘minor drinking party’ where only hockey players were present. The fact that the defendant was welcome at such an event suggests that the players viewed him in a different, less authoritative light than they would a teacher, principal, janitor, or even the average coach, let alone the head coach.”

Aldrich, who is now 38, was sentenced in February 2014 to nine months in prison and five years of probation. He completed his probation period in 2019 and is now a registered sex offender in Michigan, court records show.

Weeks after the former NHL player sued the Blackhawks, the team was served with another lawsuit by his victim in Houghton.

That plaintiff, known in court records as “John Doe (2),” alleged that the Blackhawks provided Aldrich with a positive reference letter when he left the NHL team. That alleged letter, the victim said, gave Aldrich the opportunity to assault him.

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