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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/31/2021 Boston Bruins 1218840 Top picks John Beecher and Mason Lohrei highlight roster 1218872 Panthers follow up draft with with busy week of signings for Bruins’ development camp this week 1218873 Florida Panthers sign Zac Dalpe, add forward depth 1218841 David Krejci’s departure for the Czech Republic leaves a 1218874 ‘He’s definitely unique’: Spencer Knight marches to his gaping hole for Bruins at No. 2 own drum en route to NHL stardom 1218842 David Krejci is leaving the Bruins to play back home in the Czech Republic Kings 1218843 David Krejci leaving Bruins to play in native Czech 1218875 Kings sign forward Lias Andersson to 1-year contract Republic extension 1218844 Krug, Bergeron react to David Krejci leaving Bruins 1218876 LA Kings re-sign forward Lias Andersson to one-year, 1218845 Bean: Bruins sure were busy, but are they actually better? two-way contract, $874,125 AAV 1218846 Krejci Moves On From Boston Bruins, Heads Home To Czech Canadiens 1218847 David Krejci says goodbye, and what that means for the 1218877 Mathieu Perreault gains fresh start with Canadiens Bruins’ window 1218878 Stu Cowan: Loss of key players could loom large for Canadiens 1218879 Canadiens' Paul Byron out for five months after hip 1218848 Sabres Jack Eichel's agents say they thought surgery team doctors approved surgery 1218880 will continue his chase for a second Stanley 1218849 Sabres re-sign Rasmus Asplund to two-year deal, also Cup in Tampa sign forward Ryan MacInnis 1218881 Canadiens Notebook: Habs hire Éric Raymond as goalie 1218850 Could the Tre White Goalie Academy help the Sabres and coach 'Mr. Terry'? 1218882 Canadiens depth chart analysis: Marc Bergevin’s 1218851 Agents for Jack Eichel fire their shot, put pressure on offseason work could be best described as incomplete Sabres to make trade happen 1218852 With Linus Ullmark gone, the Sabres are standing behind their scarce goaltending: ‘We feel good’ 1218883 What does the Dougie Hamilton signing mean for the Devils moving forward? 1218853 Hurricanes finally got the goalie they wanted — 11 years Islanders later 1218884 Islanders free agency: What’s going on with Lou 1218854 Hurricanes depth chart update: The new-look Canes have Lamoriello and the Isles? made some interesting decisions with their lineup 1218885 Trading Anthony Beauvillier for a Defenseman Would be a Mistake Blackhawks 1218855 Evaluating the Blackhawks’ salary cap for the next five Flyers seasons 1218886 ‘Win-now’ Flyers are still no threat but are better than last season | Sam Carchidi 1218856 Avalanche re-sign Tyson Jost to two-year, $4 million Pittsburgh Penguins contract 1218887 Ex-Penguins forward prospect Sam Miletic signs with 1218857 Joining the Avalanche gives his first real Hurricanes shot at a deep playoff run 1218888 Mark Madden: Marc-Andre Fleury should refuse to play for 1218858 Avalanche sign Tyson Jost to two-year contract Blackhawks 1218859 Darcy Kuemper: “I feel great, ready to go” 1218889 The travel guide for Penguins fans looking to hit 1218860 Tyson Jost signs new deal with Avalanche; Is that it for the road: Part 3 (11-1) spending? 1218890 Fleury Will Report to , per BarStool Report Columbus Blue Jackets 1218891 Free Agents and Trades: The Penguins vs. the Metro 1218861 Massive contract extension will allow Blue Jackets’ Zach Division Offseason Werenski to escape Seth Jones’ shadow 1218892 Is This It? Are the Penguins Intentionally Taking a Step Back? 1218862 Detroit Red Wings release details for 2021 training camp, back in Traverse City 1218893 Are Sharks Done with Free Agency? 1218863 Detroit Red Wings' Steve Yzerman on free-agent additions: 'Hope it translates to wins' Seattle Kraken 1218864 Pistons' pick of Cade Cunningham the latest sign of a new 1218894 Goalie Philipp Grubauer prepares for a lighter workload era in Detroit sports and more attention as the face of the Kraken 1218865 Eichel's rift with Sabres deepens in contradicting GM 1218895 Analysis: Answering key questions as the Kraken’s roster Adams starts to take shape during NHL free agency 1218866 Devils, Jets highlight winners of NHL off season thus far 1218896 Philipp Grubauer surprised, excited to get opportunity with 1218867 Red Wings acquire C Mitchell Stephens; training camp Seattle Kraken returns to Traverse City 1218897 Kraken depth chart 2.0: What the opening night roster 1218868 Steve Yzerman: Red Wings better defensively, should could look like, for now score more after moves 1218869 Longtime Red Wing Darren Helm signs with Colorado St Louis Blues 1218898 Barbashev re-ups with Blues: 2 years, $4.5 million 1218870 Bear happy to be moving on after stressful Edmonton Oilers season 1218871 Can the Oilers add another ? A new deal for Darnell Nurse? What I’m hearing about the Oilers offseas 1218899 Lightning sign Alex Barre-Boulet to three-year deal 1218900 Corey Perry excited to join ‘winning culture’ with Lightning Maple Leafs 1218901 Leafs sign forward Ondrej Kase to one-year, US$1.25 million contract 1218902 Maple Leafs sign former Bruins forward Ondřej Kaše to one-year deal 1218903 Winger Ondrej Kase latest low-cost free-agent find by Leafs 1218904 Nothing will be guaranteed for Maple Leafs in 'challenging' Atlantic Division next season 1218905 Why Michael Landsberg is leaving TSN after almost 40 years on the airwaves 1218906 Maple Leafs Klokebook: Some now-former Leafs say their goodbyes in exit interviews, and getting to know the ne Vancouver Canucks 1218917 The Jaroslav Halak risk, Brandon Sutter injury insurance and 8 more thoughts from the Canucks’ offseason so fa 1218907 Ryan Reaves thanks Golden Knights, Las Vegas for ‘great memories’ 1218908 Alex Tuch to miss 6 months after shoulder surgery 1218909 Knights appear to be out of Jack Eichel trade sweepstakes 1218910 Ryan Reaves to promote water conservation for another week 1218911 Drama Over? BarStool Reports Fleury WILL Report to Chicago 1218912 Roundup: Tuch Out 6 Months, McCrimmon Let Reaves Choose Trade Destination 1218913 How Alex Ovechkin began the golden age of D.C. sports 1218914 Capitals GM says strong powerplay, lineup will keep Ovechkin going 1218915 Ovechkin announces NFT release to commemorate time in DC 1218916 GM MacLellan didn't consider exposing Evgeny Kuznetsov Websites 1218918 The Athletic / Duhatschek notebook: Making sense of all the goaltending moves and the Coyotes taking on contra 1218919 .ca / 5 forwards Maple Leafs could target in ‘second wave’ of UFA market 1218920 Sportsnet.ca / Two sentences on every free agent signing of significance in the NHL 1218921 Sportsnet.ca / Hyman will solidify Oilers' top line, but other roster questions linger 1218922 Departure of Giordano family leaves hole in Calgary community 1218923 Ryan the latest name on Team Canada’s coaching carousel SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1218840 Boston Bruins

Top picks John Beecher and Mason Lohrei highlight roster for Bruins’ development camp this week

By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff

Updated July 31, 2021, 2 hours ago

John Beecher (2019) and Mason Lohrei (2020), the Bruins’ top two picks in their respective draft years, will be among the 28 players arriving this weekend for the start of the club’s development camp Monday at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.

Four players chosen in the 2021 draft last weekend, including Brett Harrison, Ryan Mast, Andre Gasseau, and Tyler Gallagher, also will be part of the five-day camp, which is expected to be open to the public.

Beecher, a 6-foot-3-inch pivot from Elmira, N.Y., was a first-round pick (No. 30) in 2019 and now has played two seasons at the University of Michigan. He was chosen to the play for Team USA at the most recent World Junior Tournament, but was a last-minute scratch when he tested positive for COVID-19.

Lohrei, a 6-4 left-shot defenseman, came aboard as the 58th pick in last year’s draft. He will be attending his first development camp, while Beecher will be here for a second time. Lohrei, after playing the last three seasons with USHL Green Bay, will enter Ohio State as a freshman this summer.

Former UMaine goalie Jeremy Swayman, a favorite to split the netminding job much of the season with newly acquired Linus Ullmer, won’t be part of the camp. Home in Alaska for the summer, he is not scheduled to be in Boston until the days leading up to rookie camp in September, and likely will be fast-tracked to the varsity camp.

ROSTER

*Indicates attendance is on an invite basis

Forwards — Johnny Beecher, Riley Duran, Parker Ford*, Andre Gasseau, Tyler Gratton*, Curtis Hall, Brett Harrison, Matthew Kopperud*, Trevor Kuntar, Reed Lebster*, Marc McLaughlin*, Benjamin Myers*, Quinn Olson, Jake Schmaltz, and Alex-Olivier Voyer*.

Defensemen — Ty Gallagher, JD Greenway*, Mason Langenbrunner, Mason Lohrei, Brady Lyle, Anton Malmstrom*, Ryan Mast, Dustyn McFaul, Travis Mitchell*, and Brandon Scanlin*.

Goaltenders — Kyle Keyser, Zachary Stejskal*, and Keith Petruzzelli*

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218841 Boston Bruins The six UFAs Sweeney signed Wednesday added nearly $20 million into the club’s cap base, nearly a quarter of it factored in acquiring Linus Ullmark as the No. 1 goaltender. All that work, clearly with an eye on David Krejci’s departure for the Czech Republic leaves a gaping hole for Krejci departing, left the Bruins approximately $1 million within reaching Bruins at No. 2 center the salary-cap spending limit, per both puckpedia.com and capfriendly.com.

If Sweeney wants to shop for a more high-profile center, or a By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff defenseman, it appears he’ll have to do that via trade. He won’t deal No. 1 blue liner Charlie McAvoy, which leaves really only left wing Jake Updated July 30, 2021, 6:56 p.m. DeBrusk and defenseman Brandon Carlo as the roster players potentially the most attractive to bidders.

David Krejci’s hints of departing turned into an abrupt and hard goodbye DeBrusk ($3.675M) and Carlo ($4.1M) also both carry substantial cap Friday, the elite Bruins No. 2 pivot deciding to go home to the Czech hits. Of the two, Sweeney would least want to surrender Carlo, but might Republic and continue his career overseas nearly two decades after be forced into it if a bona fide elite pivot, mid- or late-20s, were to striking out to seek fame and fortune in North America. become available.

Krejci, 35, did not technically retire from the NHL, but noted in a farewell Keep in mind: Bergeron, now without Krjeci providing Herculean support statement that he wants to raise his two kids where he grew up, continue one spot lower in the order, just turned 36 years old. He also has a his playing career in front of family and friends, and otherwise enjoy the combined 1,303 games clocked on the odometer. If someone is dangling hockey sunset after years well spent in Black and Gold. a legit big-time center, Sweeney isn’t getting in the bid without Carlo’s name in the mix. Painful, but true. Great for the reliable, productive No. 46, a fixture in the club’s top-six attack for nearly 15 years along with fellow pivot Patrice Bergeron. All in all, too bad that Krejci’s adieu ended up the fodder of a Friday news dump. A true craftsman, with hands to match his gargantuan hockey IQ, Anything but great for the local franchise doing business as his contributions too often were overlooked by a fan and media base the Boston Bruins, now forced to fill the gaping hole Krejci leaves at No. drawn to the sweeter eye candy of the Brad Marchand-Bergeron-David 2 center. Pastrnak troika, along with the longtime pillars of defense in team captain Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask. “It has become clear that I need to make a difficult decision for my family and I [sic],” wrote Krejci, his statement posted by the Bruins on Twitter Some of that, of course, was by Krejci’s choice. He maintained a low-key, early in the afternoon. “At this point in my career and life, I need to return tempered profile. To the last day. to the Czech Republic and play in front of my family who sacrificed so much to help me achieve my NHL dreams.” “This is not goodbye,” his statement read. “I will not be a stranger. I will be a Bruin forever.” Now comes the angst in patching together the Bruins attack. Unlike some other greats in Black and Gold, ex-captain Ray Bourque as Who takes Krejci’s place? There is no obvious, easy answer. Plentiful Exhibit A, he’s left with his name chiseled into the Cup alongside his candidates, yes, including top prospect Jack Studnicka, along with Boston brothers. There is comfort in that for any player. Charlie Coyle, perhaps even newly acquired Nick Foligno or fellow UFA signee Erik Haula. Chara is gone. Krejci is gone. No telling if Rask ultimately resumes play as a Bruin. The “window of opportunity” to win another Cup with a core But no one in that group immediately, if ever, will deliver the productivity framed by the ‘11 win, has not been slammed shut, but by the day it is and consistency that were Krejci hallmarks. A central figure in the Bruins’ feeling like a cold and broken hallelujah. 2011 Stanley Cup win, he heads home with a career regular-season resume of 730 points over 962 games (and 124 points in 156 playoff David Krejci has left the building . . . and rebuilding in his absence will not games. be easy.

The term “Playoff Krech, while hardly a myth, did not do justice to the fine work he submitted every year in the months leading to the postseason. Boston Globe LOADED: 07.31.2021 General manager Don Sweeney and coach Bruce Cassidy, both of whom were kept well informed by Krejci that he was leaning toward an exit, at the moment must take the “committee” approach, to use Sweeney’s characterization on Wednesday, in solving the open No. 2 hole.

Coyle has to be considered the likely first candidate, not only for his skill set and pay figure ($5.25M cap hit), but also because he is righthanded, like Krejci, in theory making it easier for him to dish to scoring winger Taylor Hall on the left side.

Hall and Krejci worked effectively together, an added enticement for Hall to sign his new deal (four years/$24M) in recent days. Now the former No. 1 draft pick will have to hope Coyle or someone else can create the lightning for him to bottle and deliver on net.

Otherwise, it could be top prospect Studnicka, another righthander, or perhaps Trent Frederic, a lefty. Sweeney on Wednesday noted that Frederic, who has worked all but exculsively as a winger in his 59 career games, would be moved “to the middle of the ice” this season. That now appears to have been foreshadowing by the GM.

Sweeney hired on three left-shot free agents at forward Wednesday, less than 48 hours prior to Krejci going public with his decision. The newbies — ex-Columbus captain Nick Foligno, Haula, and Tomas Nosek — all three prefer to play center.

The Bruins also have speedy pivot Curtis Lazar, a solid No. 4 in his run his after being acquired from Buffalo in April. Lazar and all the others must be considered as “committee” candidates at this hour, albeit with Coyle the obvious first choice to hold the gavel. 1218842 Boston Bruins

David Krejci is leaving the Bruins to play back home in the Czech Republic

By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff

Updated July 30, 2021, 1:42 p.m.

Bruins center David Krejci announced Friday he will not return to the team and that he intends to play in his native Czech Republic.

The veteran released a statement via the Bruins from the team’s Twitter account.

“Since the end of the season, as I have thought about my future, it has become clear that I need to make a difficult decision for my family and I,” he wrote. “At this point in my career and life I need to return to the Czech Republic and play in front of my family who sacrificed so much to help me achieve my NHL dreams.

“I want to play in front of my parents, brother and friends. I want my children to live where I grew up, spend time with so many Czech family members who love them and create lifelong memories.”

Krejci, 35, did not say that he was formally retiring from the NHL. He became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, after playing 962 regular- season games here, as well as 156 more playoff games, including the successful Stanley Cup run in 2011.

Technically, he could opt one day to return to North America and sign with any team, teams, including the Bruins. However, as he grows older and plays overseas, be it for a Czech or KHL team, his ability to keep up with NHL-level play likely will diminish, as it did even for legendary Czech Jaromir Jagr, who played Division 2 hockey in Czechia this past season at age 49.

The Bruins selected Krejci in the second round of the 2004 NHL Draft. His career lines in 14 seasons with the Bruins: 215-515—730 in the regular season and 42-82—124 in the playoffs.

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218843 Boston Bruins Linus Ullmark, the B’s are approximately $1 million under the salary cap. Any additional significant moves would require a trade.

The guess here is that Charlie Coyle bumps up to take Krejci’s spot David Krejci leaving Bruins to play in native Czech Republic between Hall and possibly Craig Smith, unless youngster Jack Studnicka is ready to take the next step. We shall see.

By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald But after the departures of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug last year, the uncertain status of Tuukka Rask and now Krejci leaving, the times they PUBLISHED: July 30, 2021 at 5:24 p.m. | UPDATED: July 30, 2021 at are a changing for the Bruins. 9:30 p.m. Kase headed North

The signed former Bruins forward Ondrej Kase to a The Bruins’ struggle to remain among the NHL’s elite teams took a major one-year, $1.25 million contract. Kase became a free agent when the hit on Friday when David Krejci, a Black-and-Gold fixture since he came Bruins declined to offer him his $2.6 million qualifying. up from Providence for good in the 2007-08 season, announced that he is indeed headed back home to play in his native Czech Republic. Kase, for whom the B’s gave up a first-round pick, prospect Axel Andersson and David Backes at the 2019 trade deadline, missed almost The 35-year-old Krejci had said in his last Zoom press conference at the the entire season this year after suffering a concussion in the second end of last season that he was mulling a return back home and, through game of the season. the club’s Twitter account, Krejci himself broke the news, thanking the Boston fans for embracing him throughout his career.

“Since the end of the season, as I have thought about my future, it has Boston Herald LOADED: 07.31.2021 become clear that I need to make a difficult decision for my family and I,” wrote Krejci. “At this point in my career and life I need to return to the Czech Republic and play in front of my family who sacrificed so much to help me achieve my NHL dreams. I want to play in front of my parents, brother and friends. I want my children to live where I grew up, spend time with so many Czech family members who love them and create lifelong memories.”

While Krejci’s lengthy statement had an air of finality to it, he did not say in the statement that he was retiring from the NHL or the Bruins, giving him some wiggle room to make a return at some time. If he plays in the pro Czech league in games after Dec. 15, he would have to go through waivers if he wanted to return to the Bruins in the upcoming season. One source also said the door is indeed still open for a Krejci return.

Still, at his age, this very well could be farewell to the sublime playmaker.

“The Bruins organization has always treated me with the utmost respect,” Krejci wrote. “I am so thankful for my teammates, the trainers and support staff, coaches and management who have allowed me to be a part of so many great teams. Obviously, the 2011, 2013 and 2019 teams stick out, but truthfully I have loved every Bruins team I have been a part of.

“So for now, I want to thank all the Bruins fans for the support they have shown my family and I over the last 14 years. I will forever be thankful.

“This is not goodbye, I will not be a stranger. I will be a Bruin forever. I will see you at the TD Garden soon, and I will always bleed Black and Gold.”

In 962 career NHL games, the centerman amassed 215-515-730 totals and, in 156 playoff games, he had 42-82-124 totals. His shining moments came in the Stanley Cup-winning season of 2011 and the 2013 finals run, when he had 49 points in those 47 games while playing on a heavy line with Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton.

From 2015 till just recently, Krejci had a revolving door at his right wing yet was still able to produce at a high level. His teaming with Taylor Hall after Hall’s acquisition at the trade deadline last April looked like the start of something spectacular, but the pull of home turned out to be too strong for Krejci to ignore.

For more than a decade, he and Patrice Bergeron provided the B’s with one of the best 1-2 center combos in the league.

“David is not only an amazing teammate but he is a great friend,” the captain Bergeron wrote in a text. “As much as we will miss him I couldn’t be happier for him and his family to return home to Czech. Krech is a true Bruin, he embodied everything it meant to put on the Spoked-B. I learned a lot from him and will cherish all the amazing memories of our time together.”

While this is not good news for the Bruins, management wasn’t blindsided. That much was evident in the three forwards that GM Don Sweeney signed in free agency on Wednesday — Nick Foligno, Erik Haula and Tomas Nosek, all of whom can play both wing and center. With the additional signing of defenseman Derek Forbort and goalie 1218844 Boston Bruins

Krug, Bergeron react to David Krejci leaving Bruins

BY NICK GOSS

BRUINS

David Krejci announced Friday he is leaving the Boston Bruins to play in his native Czech Republic.

It's the end to a remarkable 15-year career in Boston that includes so many memorable moments, highlighted by three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and one championship in 2011.

Reaction to Krejci's decision from teammates past and present is beginning to pour in.

One of the first to acknowledge the news was former Bruins defenseman Torey Krug, who played seven full seasons with Krejci from 2013-14 through 2019-20.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218845 Boston Bruins year last season. Foligno’s best days are behind him. Centering either Hall or Craig Smith would signal weakness down the middle for the B’s.

The players the Bruins signed Wednesday fit the profile of players you Bean: Bruins sure were busy, but are they actually better? trade for at the deadline to thicken the middle or bottom of your roster: guys in their 30s or late 20s who won’t command a massive haul. Yet the B’s signed those guys to multi-year deals at good money. It’s an BY DJ BEAN approach they haven’t taken in the past, but clearly one that speaks to a quantity over quality approach from their GM. NBC SPORTS As currently constituted, the Bruins are just a playoff team. The key word

there is “currently,” because the influx of players leaves them with The Bruins have been a lot of things during the Don Sweeney regime. something of a surplus, which suggests a trade or two will free up money "Deep" has not been one of them. for Krejci, bring in a better defenseman or both.

Stars on the first line, a star or two on defense, a star in and Jake DeBrusk’s time in Boston could be over. Foligno, Haula and Nosek whatever David Krejci’s been without adequate linemates. That’s more or can all play left wing, DeBrusk’s natural position. A 27-goal-scorer once less been the Bruins under Sweeney. upon a time, DeBrusk is still 24 years old. The Bruins protecting him in the expansion draft suggested they thought he’d be useful either on their Those teams have played well in the regular season before and in most roster or in a trade. Signing a bunch of potential replacements seemingly cases have lost in the second round. A common culprit of their lack of narrowed it down to the latter. success has been the middle and bottom of the roster. DeBrusk has one year on his contract at a $3.67 million cap hit before What Sweeney did to begin free agency this week could be an becoming a restricted free agent. Merely subtracting his cap hit might overcorrection. provide the dough for Krejci, but what about packaging DeBrusk with Matt Grzelcyk to get that elusive left-side stud on defense? Grzelcyk has Grading every Bruins FA signing and trade from Day 1 three years left at $3.68 million per. A duo of DeBrusk and Grzelcyk With $20 million in cap space and needs of a top-pairing defenseman, would be a strong package should the Bruins offer it for another team’s second line center and starting goalie, Sweeney treated key positions on higher-end defender. the roster the way one would treat depth spots. He just got a lot of For now, the Bruins are top-heavy on offensive talent and bottom-heavy players. contractually. They’re a player or two from being elite, and if they can't On defense, Mike Reilly and Derek Forbort got identical three-year, $9 find those players, Bruins fans will be left asking why all that money was million contracts. Up front, 33-year-old forward Nick Foligno got two committed to the bottom of the roster. years at $3.8 million per. Bottom-sixers Erik Haula ($2.37 million cap hit) and Tomas Nosek ($1.75 million cap hit) each got two years. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.31.2021 None of those players would be widely considered a top-pairing defenseman or second-line center. They range from good to pretty good, which makes them useful, desirable players.

They do not address Boston’s most immediate issues, though, and after goalie Linus Ullmark got $5 million a year over four years, the team now has a little more than $1 million in cap space and no No. 2 center.

The Bruins began NHL free agency Wednesday with a flurry of activity.

Sweeney told reporters Wednesday that if Krejci does not return, the team would approach its second line by committee.

That doesn’t sound like the worst idea until you consider that this is what the Bruins did at right and left wing of the second line for years, and it didn’t work. Factor in that center is a more important position and it wouldn’t take a cynic to be dubious of this plan.

Don’t mistake this for a declaration that the Bruins are a lost cause. As always, they’re good. Based on volume of signings, this might be the most “all-in” the team has been in recent years. Yet if you add a lot of depth without addressing what you need -- Krejci or an adequate replacement, an upper-echelon left-shot D -- the Bruins might not even end up having improved from last season.

The Ullmark signing is interesting. A goalie who was able to keep his head above water in freaking Buffalo, he hit free agency as a desirable asset. He played in just 20 games last season, but as long as he’s healthy, he’s solid. Signing him should not have raised a single eyebrow.

The four-year, $20 million commitment? Eyebrows raised. The cap hit will be tied for the 12th-highest among goalies next season. As long as he’s, say, a top-15 goalie in the league, the contract isn’t a problem at all. The B’s can take it slow with Jeremy Swayman, and at least for a couple of years have a relatively inexpensive tandem.

If that doesn’t happen, or if Swayman isn’t great, the B’s will seemingly look back to Tuukka Rask, who shouldn’t cost much when he’s ready to return from hip surgery in early 2022. Rask would not require clearing waivers if he signed in-season to make it onto Boston’s roster.

What does the Ullmark signing mean for Tuukka Rask?

But the Bruins have a plan in net, which is encouraging. They’re certainly deep on defense, even if Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo still have to do the heavy lifting. There’s a gaping hole on the second line unless Krejci returns or someone else is brought in. Charlie Coyle had a down 1218846 Boston Bruins Instead, this day should be appreciating just good Krejci was a cerebral, creative playmaking center that was an underrated defender, an honest voice when it came to assessing the team’s play and his own play and a Krejci Moves On From Boston Bruins, Heads Home To Czech clutch player that always elevated his game during the postseason. The nickname “Playoff Krejci” was born for a reason and it had a lot to do with being the NHL’s leading scorer during the in both 2011 and 2013, and finished with 42 goals and 124 points in 156 career Published 13 hours ago on July 30, 2021 playoff games along with a plus-23 rating. By Joe Haggerty The 35-year-old Krejci leaves Boston just shy of 1,000 games played, a big NHL milestone that he would have reached this season for the Boston Bruins had he stuck around. Instead, he heads to the Czech Boston Bruins center David Krejci sounded incredibly conflicted during Republic with 215 goals and 730 points in 962 games with a career plus- his zoom exit interview with the media last month at the end of Boston’s 143 all with the Boston Bruins after being a second-round pick all the way playoff run when it came to his hockey plans for next season. The 35- back in the 2004 NHL Draft. year-old playmaking center was torn about continuing with the Boston Bruins at the end of his contract or heading back to his native Czech Former teammates like Torey Krug sent in some kind words on social Republic where his young children could learn the language, experience media praising Krejci and wishing him well in his home country. the Czech culture firsthand and spent more time with Krejci’s family after The biggest issue with Krejci’s absence is the giant hole it leaves them at living in the USA for pretty much the entire year during his NHL career. the No. 2 center spot with 36-year-old Patrice Bergeron still taking on No. For a player that’s made over $70 million in his career with the Boston 1 center duties. Charlie Coyle will be forced into second line center duty Bruins, it’s impossible to put a price tag on those kinds of things that are with Krejci gone, and that slots him in with Taylor Hall and Craig Smith obviously important to Krejci. unless 22-year-old youngster Jack Studnicka shows he’s fully ready for On Friday, Krejci finally answered the question and released a statement NHL duty. confirming that he will indeed play hockey in the Czech Republic for the “As you can see from several of the signings and the approach that we upcoming season. took, the center ice position, a little bit by committee, that we’re going to Here’s the statement: have to do that and allow some players to get into spots and hopefully perform to the level that they’re capable of,” said Boston Bruins GM Don “Dear Bruins Fans: Sweeney, of life without David Krejci. “David is a unique player and he’s been a tremendous Bruin and a highly productive player throughout his In January of 2007 when I pulled the Black and Gold sweater on for the career. first time, I was 20 years old and was almost 4,000 miles away from home. “We hope that that will continue. But along that timeline of when he sees fit, not when we do. With Charlie Coyle coming off surgery, we wanted to Since then, you have embraced me as a Bostonian. I have given identify players, and really two-position players and in Nick Foligno’s everything that I have had to you and the Bruins, and over time, Boston case, a three-position player – all of them good on draws, all of them on has become a second home to me. I met my amazing wife Naomi here, the kill. Several of them have played power play situations and and our two beautiful children call Boston home. This City and your providing depth throughout our lineup was really important.” support are so special to me. Nick Foligno and Erik Haula could be candidates to man the third line The Bruins organization has always treated me with the utmost respect. I center spot with Coyle’s promotion, or perhaps Tomas Nosek could slot am so thankful for my teammates, the trainers and support staff, coaches in there after earning third line center duties with the Vegas Golden and management who have allowed me to be a part of so many great Knights last season. Either way, it sounds like players like Foligno were teams. Obviously the 2011, 2013 and 2019 teams stick out, but truthfully, willing to join up with the Bruins, in part, because there may be I have loved every Bruins team I have been a part of. opportunities to play up in the B’s lineup with Krejci no longer around. Since the end of the season, as I have thought about my future, it has “There’s just a different opportunity I think here, with some of the become clear that I need to make a difficult decision for my family and I. unknowns, with Krejci and with my versatility. I think I just felt like I had At this point in my career and life I need to return to the Czech Republic more of an opportunity to move up and down the lineup and play in and play in front of my family who sacrificed so much to help me achieve certain situations. We’ll see where it goes,” said Foligno. “Like I said, my NHL dreams. I want to play in front of my parents, brother and nothing is promised. I think the fact that – my history of playing in special friends. I want my children to live where I grew up, spend time with so teams and what I can bring, I think allows those conversations to happen. many Czech family members who love them and create lifelong memories. “It just felt like a more natural fit when we talked about where I’d play in the lineup. Whether it would be up, second line – maybe some power So for now, I want to thank all the Bruins fans for the support they have play time. Ultimately, I know how that works. You can say it, but you have shown my family and I over the last 14 years. I will forever be thankful. to go out and deliver. Just in talking though, I felt like this was the right This is not goodbye, I will not be a stranger. I will be a Bruin forever. I will fit.” see you at the TD Garden soon, and I will always bleed Black and Gold. Certainly, it sounds like the Bruins and Krejci himself want to keep the With gratitude, door open for a potential return someday, and that’s appropriate given the unique way David Krejci always did things his way with the Black and David” Gold. But for now, and most likely forever, Krejci’s playing days are done with Boston as he enters a new phase in his hockey career, and more Krejci didn’t close the door on a possible return to the Black and Gold importantly his life, with his young family. beyond this season and stressed that “this is not goodbye”, but it’s all highly unlikely for a player that’s going to turn 36 years old at the end of next season. As for some far-fetched idea that Krejci could roll in for this year’s playoffs after skating in the Czech this season, he would need to Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 07.31.2021 pass through waivers and land in Boston’s lap once he plays just a single game in Europe.

A number of NHL teams were trying to contact Krejci after the open of NHL free agency to pitch him on continuing his career there, so that speaks to just how quickly he would be snapped up on waivers anytime soon.

That’s simply not going to happen even if A) the Bruins could figure out the cap space aspect of it and B) there would be a spot waiting for him on Boston’s roster after the current group battled their way through the regular season. 1218847 Boston Bruins 2021-22. There will come a time, sooner rather than later, when the Bruins will be without Bergeron and Krejci.

They are not optimized for that day. David Krejci says goodbye, and what that means for the Bruins’ window For now, the Bruins will open 2021-22 with a cluster of centers bidding for Krejci’s shifts. Charlie Coyle, in the second season of a six-year, By Fluto Shinzawa $31.5 million contract, could be first in line.

Jul 30, 2021 Hall noted how he enjoyed playing with the right-shot Krejci. Coyle, also a righty, would extend that approach. The Weymouth native’s high-water mark was in 2016-17, when he scored 18 goals and 38 assists for Minnesota. Coyle had six goals and 10 assists in 51 games last year. Free agency opened Wednesday. Whether Don Sweeney knew, when the market opened that day, that David Krejci would not return is Foligno cited Krejci’s uncertainty and the possibility of moving up in the unknown. lineup as making Boston an attractive option. Foligno, however, scored only 1.02 points per 60 minutes of five-on-five play last year, according to Sweeney’s signings of Nick Foligno, Erik Haula and Tomas Nosek signal Natural Stat Trick. On the Bruins, that would have placed Foligno ahead that, at the very least, the Bruins general manager had zero interest in of only Coyle and Sean Kuraly. starting 2021-22 without a safety net ahead of a worst-case scenario. Haula scored 29 goals for Vegas in 2017-18 while centering James Neal Which happened Friday. and David Perron. Like Foligno, Haula is a left shot. Krejci, the native of Sternberk, Czech Republic, is going home to play The dark horse is Jack Studnicka. The 2017 second-rounder has hockey. Krejci previously said he wants daughter Elina and son Everett second-line speed, agility and creativity. But Studnicka did little to to learn Czech. Their grandparents do not speak English. distinguish himself in 20 games last year (1-2-3), albeit most of it at right “Since the end of the season, as I have thought about my future, it has wing. The 22-year-old has 22 games of NHL experience. become clear that I need to make a difficult decision for my family and I,” If Coyle starts as the No. 2 center, the Bruins would ask a cohort of Krejci wrote in a statement released by the Bruins. “At this point in my Studnicka, Foligno, Haula, Nosek, Trent Frederic and Curtis Lazar to career and life, I need to return to the Czech Republic and play in front of reinforce the bottom-six center positions. In sum, the Bruins are throwing my family who sacrificed so much to help me achieve my NHL dreams. I multiple darts amid the absence of better alternatives. They have no want to play in front of my parents, brother and friends. I want my other prospects ready for second-line shifts. The closest thing to a No. 2 children to live where I grew up, spend time with so many Czech family center in free agency was, you could argue, Nashville’s Mikael Granlund, members who love them and create lifelong memories.” who re-upped with the Predators for four years and $20 million. Krejci played for Kladno’s junior team during his 2003-04 draft year. He “As you can see from several of the signings and the approach we took, then played for Gatineau in the QMJHL for two seasons before starting the center-ice position is a little bit by committee,” Sweeney said his pro career. Wednesday. “We’re going to have to do that and allow some players to Krejci was unavailable to play for Czech Republic in the 2016 World Cup get into some spots, and hopefully perform to the level they’re capable of. of Hockey. He was recovering from hip surgery. Obviously, David’s a unique player. He’s been a tremendous Bruin. A highly productive player throughout his entire career. We hope that will Krejci leaves his only NHL employer short its No. 2 center, alternate continue. But along that timeline of when he sees fit, not when we do.” captain, quiet but wry personality, lifelong Bruin and postseason iceman. The 35-year-old’s teammates did not call him “Playoff Krech” for nothing. The Bruins could look to the trade market. Previously, the door was slightly open to Jack Eichel, given the Bruins’ needs and their ability to Only Hall of Famer Ray Bourque and his 161 playoff points are ahead of accommodate the Chelmsford native’s $10 million annual cap hit. Krejci’s 124-point total in franchise history. In 2011, Krejci led the NHL with 23 postseason points as the brains between the biceps of Milan But that was before the news came out regarding Eichel’s neck injury. Lucic and Nathan Horton. Even before the start of free agency, when they had available cap space, the Bruins would have had to be 100 percent satisfied with Eichel’s On Jan. 30, 2007, Krejci began his NHL career. Just three shifts into his health and character. Questions remain on both fronts. The Bruins are debut, Krejci was concussed by Buffalo’s Adam Mair. Nine hundred and approximately $1 million under the $81.5 million ceiling. sixty-one games later, Krejci concluded his run with 730 career points, placing him seventh all-time on the Bruins’ leaderboard. Four of the six Jake DeBrusk remains a trade asset. But given the left wing’s drop-off, it ahead of him (Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr) are in is unlikely the Bruins could receive a second-line center in return without the Hall of Fame. packaging other assets.

Krejci made his mark as a slippery and cerebral center. His east-west So unless a deal takes place, the Bruins will take a strength-in-numbers style aligned with the north-south leaguewide current that only stand. It does not look like a reasonable Krejci facsimile. accelerated as his career advanced. Krejci’s knack for reading his surroundings, controlling the puck and slowing down to dial-up pace amid broadband speed made him not just unique but lethal. The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 Krejci started the sixth and final season of his $43.5 million contract slowly. The acquisition of Taylor Hall, accompanied by Craig Smith’s traction, helped express more of the sparkle from Krejci’s game. He finished 2020-21 with 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists), placing him fourth in team scoring.

His departure follows last year’s farewell of Zdeno Chara. It also accompanies what could have been the last Black-and-Gold glimpse of Tuukka Rask. The goalie’s return is not guaranteed after his hip surgery, the UFA signing of Linus Ullmark to a four-year, $20 million contract and the early indications of Jeremy Swayman’s NHL staying power.

Krejci’s goodbye precedes the eventual exit of Patrice Bergeron, the salt to his pepper. Since 2007-08, Krejci’s first full NHL season — the same year Bergeron suffered his career-threatening concussion — the two right-shot centers combined to form a three-zone 1-2 combination that served as the organizational backbone.

Bergeron is still humming along on the No. 1 line between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. But the 36-year-old is unrestricted after 1218848 Buffalo Sabres The Sabres' doctors did not approve of the surgery, which contributed to Eichel's decision to request a trade from Buffalo with five years remaining on a contract that carries a $10 million annual cap hit. Eichel, a three- Sabres captain Jack Eichel's agents say they thought team doctors year captain for the Sabres, has totaled 139 goals and 355 points in 375 approved surgery games with the Sabres. He's had five 20-goal seasons, including a career-high 36 in 2019-20.

The statement by Eichel's representatives contradicts what the Sabres Lance Lysowski have said since this disagreement went public in May. After Eichel made his initial expression of frustration to the media, Adams told reporters that Jul 30, 2021 Updated 3 hrs ago team doctors and a second opinion prescribed conservative treatment, as opposed to surgery.

When free-agent frenzy concluded Wednesday, and the hockey world Report: Jack Eichel's agents expect trade from Sabres to happen 'in the wondered why Jack Eichel wasn't traded by the Buffalo Sabres, general near future' manager Manager wanted everyone to know who has Eichel's disagreement with Sabres' doctors over treatment for a herniated leverage in negotiations. disk led him to question his future in Buffalo and appears to have "I think what’s critically important to make sure is clear is that we’re in permanently fractured his relationship with the Sabres. control of this process, we have a player under contract, we don’t feel The situation has reportedly impacted Eichel's trade value, as the any pressure," Adams said during a press conference in KeyBank Center dynamic center remains with the Sabres despite a number of teams on Thursday. "If there’s a deal out there that we feel is the right thing for expressing interest in acquiring him this summer. Following the NHL draft the Buffalo Sabres, that we feel is going to help us improve, whether on July 24, Adams told reporters that he would be willing to keep Eichel that’s improve right away or improve down the road – those are all the on the Sabres' roster for the 2021-22 season. things we weigh – we’d be open to it." The statement caught some by surprise after the franchise dealt former Sabres GM on Jack Eichel trade: 'we don't feel any pressure' cornerstone players Rasmus Ristolainen and Sam Reinhart during draft “We’re in control of this process," Kevyn Adams told reporters. "We have weekend. As expected, Adams wanted to remind the media and suitors a player under control. We don’t feel any pressure.” that Buffalo doesn't have to trade Eichel this summer.

The Sabres' approach to weighing trade offers for the face of their After all, Eichel is under contract and his no-movement clause does not franchise is no longer working for the 24-year-old captain and his kick in until next summer. He cannot have any type of medical procedure representatives. unless the Sabres give him permission. A trade was not imminent late Wednesday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun. Eichel's agents, Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli, released a statement to the Buffalo News and other outlets late Friday night stating that not only Some of the potential suitors no longer have the cap space to acquire is there a disconnect between the three-time all-star and the club that Eichel's contract, particularly the , who signed former drafted him second overall in 2015, but that Eichel and his Montreal Canadiens center Phillip Danault to a six-year, $33 million representatives were initially under the impression that Buffalo would contract. Anaheim, Minnesota and the are among the approve the surgery Eichel wished to have on the herniated disk in his teams reportedly still interested in Eichel. neck. They also wrote that they anticipated Eichel would be traded before The Sabres' trades of Ristolainen and Reinhart signaled a rebuild, as the start of free agency on Wednesday and that the Sabres' refusal to Adams plans to build around centers Dylan Cozens and Casey approve the surgery could prevent Eichel from being ready for the start of Mittelstadt and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Buffalo wasn't a major the season. player on the first day of free agency, as Adams only signed winger "The process is not working," the statement read. "As previously stated, Vinnie Histronoza and defenseman Mark Pysyk. we fully anticipated a trade by the start of the NHL free agency period. The plan was to only spend money on role players because Adams does After the agreed upon and prescribed period for conservative not want pricy free agents to take ice time away from Cozens, Mittelstadt rehabilitation lapsed in early June 2021, it was determined by the Sabres and others. medical staff that a surgical procedure was required. The recommendation by Jack’s independent neurosurgeon, other spine A waiting game is underway. Adams is reportedly asking for the specialists consulted, and the surgery Jack feels most comfortable equivalent of four first-round draft choices in any trade involving Eichel, having in order to correct a herniated disc in his neck is to proceed with and teams are waiting for the price to drop. Artificial Disc Replacement surgery. A further point of concern is that our camp was initially under the impression that the Sabres specialist was in The Sabres are stating that Eichel won't be traded unless it helps the agreement with the artificial disk replacement surgery until that was no team in the short- and long-term, while his agents are countering by longer the case. saying that Buffalo is impacting his trade value by delaying a surgical procedure that would eliminate any questions about his health and allow Are Jack Eichel suitors dwindling after Day One of NHL free agency? him to be ready for the start of the season.

Several teams that have seemed to be good fits to acquire Eichel don't The longer he doesn't have surgery, the more likely it is that he will miss look that way anymore. the start of the season. This also impacts Eichel's ability to represent the United States in the Winter Olympics. Although the NHL has yet to "What is being left out of the discussion is that Jack would be able to play finalize an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, the in the NHL for the start of the season pending medical clearance if he league's initial schedule includes a break for players to compete in the were allowed to have the surgery he desires even as of this date. tournament. Eichel would be a sure-fire selection for Team USA, which Repeated requests have been made to the Sabres since early June to no would fulfill a lifelong dream for the native of North Chelmsford, Mass. avail. This process is stopping Jack from playing in the NHL and it is not working." While Adams insists he has leverage, the league knows that it is unlikely that the Sabres want their disgruntled captain at training camp. Amid all Eichel was limited to only 21 games in 2020-21 because the injury the back and forth, Adams went out of his way Thursday to tell reporters prematurely ended his season March 7 after he totaled only two goals that the team's stance hasn't changed. and 18 points. Following a 10th consecutive non-playoff season for the Sabres, Eichel told reporters during a conference call in May that a "Just to kind of lay it out there, there’s no change on the medical side, disconnect between him and the team regarding his preference to have we’re in the same spot as we were the last time I talked to you," Adams surgery led him to question his future in Buffalo. said. "We’re continuing to have a lot of conversations with teams. We’re open on all our players, as I’ve said over and over again, and Jack in The Sabres' doctors initially prescribed a 12-week period of conservative particular. The phone rings, we have conversations. " treatment to address the herniated disk in his neck. However, Eichel wanted an artificial disk replacement, a procedure that has not been done on an NHL player. Buffalo News LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218849 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres re-sign Rasmus Asplund to two-year deal, also sign forward Ryan MacInnis

Mike Harrington

Jul 30, 2021 Updated 3 hrs ago

The Buffalo Sabres locked up an improving member of their forward group Friday when they re-signed Rasmus Asplund to a two-year contract with a cap hit of $825,000.

Asplund, 23, posted career highs in games played (28), goals (7), assists (4) and points (11) for the Sabres during the 2020-21 season while getting regular minutes under coach . He can play center or wing. After starting the season on the taxi squad, Asplund progressed all the way up the lineup to getting some top-six minutes in the Sabres' injury riddled alignment as the season wound down. He also showed a penchant for penalty killing.

Once considered an unlikely source for offense, Asplund has become a top-six fixture with six goals and 10 points in 22 games since Granato took over.

The Sabres had extended Asplund a qualifying offer of $874,125 but he took less money to get a second year on the contract. Asplund was a restricted free agent and his entry-level deal had come with a cap hit of $845,000 with varying salaries over its three seasons.

The Sabres were able to protect Asplund from the Seattle expansion draft when veteran winger Jeff Skinner opted to waive his no-movement clause so the team did not have to protect him. The Kraken did not take Skinner and thus could not take Asplund and instead chose defenseman Will Borgen as their selection off the Buffalo roster.

Asplund was the Sabres' second-round pick in 2016, selected at the NHL draft in KeyBank Center with a pick acquired from Florida in a trade for Mark Pysyk, a former Buffalo first-rounder. The Sabres re-acquired Pysyk in free agency on Wednesday, signing him to a one-year, $900,000 contract.

The Sabres also announced they have signed forward Ryan MacInnis to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay $750,000 at the NHL level. MacInnis did not have a point in 16 games for Columbus last season. He had one goal and one assist for Cleveland in the AHL. MacInnis had career highs in goals (7), assists (23) and points (30) in 45 games for Cleveland in 2019-20.

MacInnis played for the U.S. National Development Team in 2012-13 on a team coached by Granato. At points of the season, the roster included Sabres captain Jack Eichel, current Buffalo organization forwards Anders Bjork, John Hayden and Sean Malone, and Sabres defenseman Will Butcher.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218850 Buffalo Sabres

Could the Tre White Goalie Academy help the Sabres and 'Mr. Terry'?

STAFF REPORT

Jul 30, 2021 Updated 13 hrs ago

Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams said he will "look at everything" when it comes to the team's goaltending situation.

Well, Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White has an idea.

White showed up for his news conference at Bills training camp Friday wearing an Academy of Hockey warmup.

The operator of the fictional Tre White Goalie Academy, White said he joked with "Mr. Terry" – Bills and Sabres owner – that he could sign White to play for both his teams.

"I told him he could sign me to a two-way contract," White said, smiling.

For a little bit of history on the academy, White took an interest in the Sabres during their record winning streak early in the 2018-19 season. White called his favorite player while attending a Sabres game. He even mistakenly referred to Hutton as "Sutton" and predicted a future All-Star appearance for the goalie if he attended the "Tre White Goalie Academy" in Louisiana.

During his Sunday Night Football introduction in December 2019, White said he was from the "Tre White Goalie Academy," rather than LSU. A website for trewhitegoalieacademy.com sent people to White's Pro Bowl ballot that season.

The academy has its T-shirts and its own social media accounts. White and Hutton filmed a promotional video together.

"I got a kick out of it," Hutton said with a laugh in 2019. "Something fun to bring the two sports together. He was obviously a good sport. A majority of guys in that position have pretty funny attitudes. I shy away from the social media stuff. I just try to play my position. But it's definitely great. We haven't really had a chance to meet each other yet in person. Other than the hockey school, of course."

As for the current Sabres goalie situation. Linus Ullmark departed for the Boston Bruins. The team signed veteran goalies Craig Anderson and Aaron Dell to one-year, $750,000 contracts Wednesday. Anderson turned 40 years old in May and has played 18 seasons in the NHL, most recently appearing in four regular-season games with the Washington Capitals in 2020-21. Dell, 32, is coming off a season in which he posted an ugly .857 save percentage and 4.14 goals-against average in New Jersey. He signed a two-way contract, meaning he would not require waivers if sent to Rochester. That could open the door for prospect Ukko- Pekka Luukkonen.

“We’ll continue to have discussions,” Adams said Thursday. “You keep your eye on guys that maybe could be available at the end of training camp and we’ll evaluate that, but we feel good with the players and where we got to. I want to make it clear that we have no timeline on a young player like UPL. If we feel that he’s ready to go, we won’t hold him back. But everything has to be earned. We’ll see how that plays out.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218851 Buffalo Sabres desires even as of this date,” Fish and Donatelli said. “Repeated requests have been made to the Sabres since early June to no avail.”

It’s possible the Sabres want to trade Eichel first and let the acquiring Agents for Jack Eichel fire their shot, put pressure on Sabres to make team deal with the surgery option. It takes the risk out of their hands. trade happen But the longer Eichel remains in this holding pattern, the slimmer his chance becomes of being ready on opening night. If Buffalo doesn’t By John Vogl move on from Eichel until camp starts in September, the center could miss half the season. Jul 31, 2021 The Massachusetts native is reportedly skating in Boston, but his lingering need for surgery shows he’s not cleared for full workouts.

Jack Eichel’s agents have seen and heard enough. “The recommendation by Jack’s independent neurosurgeon, other spine specialists consulted and the surgery Jack feels most comfortable having After listening to Kevyn Adams talk about their client and watching the in order to correct a herniated disk in his neck is to proceed with artificial Sabres captain dangle in no-man’s-land, Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli disk replacement surgery,” his agents said. went on the offensive Friday night. Eichel’s agents condemned the Sabres’ inability to trade Eichel, claimed they reneged on an agreement The next step in the medical dispute could involve the NHL and NHL to let him have his preferred neck surgery and said Buffalo is derailing Players’ Association. According to the collective bargaining agreement, the 24-year-old’s career. the players association may submit a complaint regarding a violation of the standard of care to the NHL/NHLPA Joint Health and Safety “This process is stopping Jack from playing in the NHL,” Fish and Committee. Donatelli said in a statement. The complaint would include a brief statement describing the alleged The agents dropped several bombshells, adding more bitterness to a violation of the standard of care and the remedy that is sought. The dispute that has lasted three months in public and longer in private. Sabres would have to answer the allegations in writing within 30 days of Eichel’s representatives feel the saga should be over by now. receipt of the complaint. The case would then go to a “panel of experts,” “We fully anticipated a trade by the start of the NHL free-agency period,” who would join the parties in setting a hearing date. they said. According to the CBA, Eichel’s side would submit a disclosure statement Instead, Eichel unhappily remains with the Sabres after one of the to the Sabres at least 45 days before the scheduled date of the hearing. league’s busiest transaction times. The team would provide its response at least 25 days before the hearing.

Adams has not heard an offer he finds suitable for the three-time All-Star. In other words, it’s a potentially long process. Another section of the CBA The Wild dropped out of trade talks because they’re “fed up with the allows for expedited hearings before an arbitrator, though it’s not clear if asking price from the Buffalo,” according to The Athletic’s Michael Russo. that would apply to this case since it would go to a panel of experts, not Reports from other NHL cities, including New York, have made similar an arbitrator. claims about Adams’ substantial demands. Either way, that process is too long for Eichel’s camp. They expected the “We’re in control of this process,” Buffalo’s general manager said marriage with Buffalo, which started with hope and fanfare in 2015, to be Thursday. “We have a player under contract.” over by now. Eichel wants to move on medically and professionally. With Friday’s statement, his agents put pressure back on the Sabres to make Adams previously said he’d have no problem bringing Eichel to training it happen. camp despite a steadfast desire to build around “players who want to be in Buffalo.” Adams’ comments led to the joint statement from Fish and So far, Adams has shrugged off the pressure. In theory, the GM doesn’t Donatelli. have to trade the captain. Eichel is under contract for five more years at $10 million per season. The center can either play or sit home and be “The process,” the agents said, “is not working.” suspended for failing to report.

While six years of losing have dimmed Eichel’s desire to be in Buffalo, But the sideshow would overshadow everything Adams hopes to build. the breaking point was a herniated disk in his neck suffered in March. He envisions a path to contention with young players who want to be in Sabres doctors, plus a second opinion, recommended a 12-week plan of Buffalo. Eichel doesn’t want to be in Buffalo, so Adams needs to move rest and rehab. Eichel, after talking with neurosurgeons, preferred on. artificial disk replacement. It will happen, but no one knows when. Teams’ failure to meet Adams’ The Sabres had final say via the collective bargaining agreement. They asking price could be a sign that Eichel’s value is much lower than the nixed artificial disk replacement, saying it had never been done on an GM believes. Either Adams convinces his counterparts to up their offers NHL player. They didn’t want to take a risk with their prize asset. or they convince him to bring down his price.

Eichel acquiesced to 12 weeks of rest, which expired in June. That’s Neither option has happened despite more than one year of Eichel trade when things unraveled further, according to his agents. talks. The Rangers and others began calling Adams during the summer of 2020. Talks intensified in May when Eichel detailed his disconnect with “After the agreed-upon and prescribed period for conservative the team regarding his neck. Adams continued his calls through June rehabilitation lapsed in early June 2021, it was determined by the Sabres and July. medical staff that a surgical procedure was required,” the agents said. “Our camp was initially under the impression that the Sabres specialist Eichel’s agents fired their shot Friday. They certainly made the hockey was in agreement with the artificial disk replacement surgery until that world aware of their views. Whether it will speed up a resolution is the big was no longer the case.” question.

The Sabres declined to comment Friday night.

Artificial disk replacement involves surgeons removing the damaged disk The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 and inserting an artificial one between two vertebrae. While it has not been done on an active NHL player, the surgery has been conducted worldwide for two decades. Mixed martial arts fighter Chris Weideman returned to the ring following the procedure.

Eichel’s camp has been told recovery would take two to three months. The 2021-22 season is scheduled to begin Oct. 12.

“Jack would be able to play in the NHL for the start of the season pending medical clearance if he were allowed to have the surgery he 1218852 Buffalo Sabres Dell has experienced a roller coaster in the crease during his five-year career, the first four of which were spent in San Jose. He posted a .931 save percentage in 20 games as a rookie followed by a .914. He tumbled With Linus Ullmark gone, the Sabres are standing behind their scarce to .886, rebounded to .907 and then fell to this year’s .857. The Sabres goaltending: ‘We feel good’ are clearly hoping the pendulum swings back the other way.

Dell signed a one-year, two-way deal that pays $750,000 in the NHL. Tokarski’s two-way deal is for $725,000. Anderson’s one-year contract is By John Vogl for $750,000. Luukkonen is entering the final season of his entry-level deal, which has a cap hit of $778,333. Jul 30, 2021 The only team committing as little to goaltending as Buffalo is Arizona. It

signed Hutton for $750,000 and traded for Josef Korenar, who has the On the night Craig Anderson made his NHL debut for Chicago, the same cap hit. Every other tandem in the NHL is projected to earn more Sabres were playing in Toronto. Their lineup featured Stu Barnes, Chris than Buffalo’s four goalies. Gratton, James Patrick and Rob Ray. Buffalo’s ownership box was empty “We certainly looked into where the market was from certain trade because John Rigas was starting an unsuccessful bid to avoid prison. scenarios, but giving up assets isn’t something we were comfortable It’s safe to say Anderson has seen a lot since November 2002. It’s with,” Adams said. “But we had done our work, and we felt strongly that possible he ain’t seen nothing yet. where we landed was where we wanted to be.”

The Sabres’ goalie situation has taken a wild turn. They lost starter and His first choice, though, was re-signing Ullmark. When healthy, the 27- top free-agent target Linus Ullmark to Boston, prompting them to sign the year-old has the game to be a No. 1 goaltender. The Sabres had no 40-year-old Anderson and career backup Aaron Dell. The duo joined desire to give him a long-term deal, though, so Ullmark picked Boston Dustin Tokarski, who recently made his first start in five years, and Ukko- and its four-year, $20 million offer. Pekka Luukkonen, who has only four NHL appearances. “We don’t want to box players out in any position,” said Adams, who The four goalies have a combined cap hit of $3 million. Only one team is mentioned Luukkonen specifically. “We want to make sure that guys like paying two goalies less than that. But that’s the Sabres’ plan and it UPL, when they’re ready, they have the opportunity. seems they’re sticking to it. “But we have competition there.” “We feel good where we’re at,” general manager Kevyn Adams said. It’s a wide-open competition. Anderson, Luukkonen, Tokarski and Dell all “You keep your eye on guys that maybe could be available at the end of have a shot to be in the crease when the season starts Oct. 14. a training camp, and we’ll evaluate that. But we feel good with the players.” “Everything has to be earned,” Adams said. “We’re going to just see how that plays out.” The Sabres will pick their starter after training camp and their six preseason games. The job could go to anyone. It’s tough to project an offseason favorite. The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 Anderson, who has spent 18 years in the NHL, clearly has the most experience. His career record is 291-252-69 with Chicago, Florida, Colorado, Ottawa and Washington. He also has two ties, which haven’t been a thing since 2004. His save percentage of .913 ranks 14th in NHL history among goalies with 500 games, tied with Marc-André Fleury, Jonathan Quick and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Anderson was the Senators’ starter in 2019-20, capping his 10-year run in their crease with an 11-17-2 season record and .902 save percentage. But he’s made just six appearances in the last 16 months. Anderson served as the Capitals’ taxi squad goalie this year, sitting behind Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek.

He shined during his rare chances, skating to the crease four times during the regular season and twice in the playoffs. Anderson posted a .922 save percentage while going 3-2. He stopped all eight Sabres shots during an April relief appearance.

Tokarski was at the other end of the ice. Signed to a two-year deal last offseason, he moved from fourth string to starter following injuries to Ullmark and Carter Hutton and a trade of Jonas Johansson. The 31-year- old hadn’t made an NHL start since December 2015, then made 10 with Buffalo.

Dedicating his first win to his late father was one of the Sabres’ feel-good moments of the season, but Tokarski went just 2-8-2 with a .904 save percentage.

Luukkonen took over during the final two weeks, making the first four appearances of his NHL career. Regarded as the Sabres’ goalie of the future, the 22-year-old went 1-3 with a .906 save percentage.

Luukkonen has yet to sustain success in the , so it may be a stretch to pencil him in to Buffalo’s lineup. In parts of three seasons with Rochester, Luukkonen is 11-9-5 with an .886 save percentage.

Dell, 32, also played in the AHL and NHL this year. New Jersey claimed him off waivers from Toronto shortly after the season started in January. The Devils sent him to the minors for a one-game conditioning stint in mid-February, then used him seven times in their net. He was just 1-5 with an .857 save percentage. 1218853 Carolina Hurricanes Pacific Division in 2014-15 and reached the Western Conference finals before losing the Chicago Blackhawks — Raanta then a member of the Blackhawks.

Hurricanes finally got the goalie they wanted — 11 years later Traded to the Leafs in 2016, Andersen signed a five-year extension. He had stretches of outstanding play, at times as good as any goalie in the league, and then periods of spotty outings that did not play well in the BY CHIP ALEXANDER media cauldron that is the Toronto market.

JULY 30, 2021 06:00 AM A lack of playoff success with the Leafs also stung but Andersen prefers to remember the good times in Toronto, saying Thursday, “Looking back,

I have some great memories. A real good experience.” When the Carolina Hurricanes drafted goalie in 2010, The 2020-21 season wasn’t so good for Andersen: a 13-8-3 record, 2.96 it was a long shot. Call it a final-round flier. goals-against average and .895 save percentage. He has a career 2.65 Andersen, playing for Denmark’s national team, had caught Canes GAA and .915 save percentage. scouts ‘ eyes in the 2010 IIHF World Championship, especially in beating Andersen said the Leafs let him know they would move in a different Finland. He was 20 years old, big in net at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, and direction after the season, saying, “No hard feelings there.” In an odd with good mobility and instincts. twist, Toronto signed former Canes goalie Petr Mrazek in free agency. The Canes had one pick left, in the seventh round, No. 187. Why not The Canes wanted a new look in net next season. Andersen and Raanta Andersen? will give it to them. Flash forward 11 years. Andersen never signed, never played for the “I want to prepare and get back to the level I know I can play at,” Hurricanes. His hockey path has taken him from the to Andersen said. “I think last year was a difficult year for me personally. the Toronto Maple Leafs and now, intriguingly, in a circle-of-life thing, Dealing with some injuries, I wasn’t able to play the way I wanted to. I finally to the Hurricanes. definitely feel very motivated to get back to that level again.” Andersen, who has 226 career wins in the NHL, signed a two-year, free- CANES SIGN SMITH agent contract Wednesday with the Canes that will pay him $4.5 million a year. Also signed was veteran goalie Antii Raanta, who also received a The Canes announced Thursday that veteran Brendan Smith had been two-year deal for $2 million a year. signed to a one-year, $800,000 contract.

Andersen, like Raanta, believes it will be a good fit, saying the Canes Smith, 32, played 48 games with the New York Rangers in 2020-21 and have a “really good team, a really good culture.” Which begs the has played 526 career games with New York and Detroit. question: Why not in 2010?

“Way back when I was drafted we were trying to get something done, but looking at (goalie) Cam Ward being there for a number of years and News Observer LOADED: 07.31.2021 being No. 1, it was a pretty busy net there,” Andersen said Thursday on a media call. “Me and my agents talked about going back and seeing what the draft could do and maybe end up in a place where the chance of playing and having a good career would be a little more possible.

“That was kind of our little gamble and the way we saw it, it was never about not playing in Carolina or anything like that. It was more the net was pretty busy. That was obviously a very different career path, looking back, but I thought it was the right move at the time and obviously I’ve had a good career so far.”

Andersen spent three years with the Ducks, who also had a busy net, then the past five with the Maple Leafs. He started 60 or more games in three consecutive seasons for the Leafs beginning in 2016-17, and 52 in the 2019-20 season before it was shut down because of the pandemic.

Jim Rutherford, the Canes’ former general manager, was irked over Andersen not signing after first being drafted. The goalie did come to Raleigh in the summer of 2011 to attend the Canes’ prospects development camp but would not agree to a contract.

Andersen spent two productive seasons in the . He changed agents, going with Ritch Winter, whose clients included goalie Dominik Hasek. He also announced he would re-enter the NHL Entry Draft in 2012.

Rutherford issued a statement then: “We tried to sign Frederik to a contract, and made him aware that we felt there was an opportunity here for him to earn one of our two NHL spots during training camp. We are very disappointed that he chose not to join our organization. Prior to him changing his agent, we had every indication that he was very interested in being a part of the Carolina Hurricanes.”

Ward was the Canes’ established No. 1 goalie. But the Canes, by 2012, had gone through backup goalies such as and Justin Peters. Ward had been injured and missed games. The opportunity was there to contend for a roster spot had Andersen signed.

Andersen was drafted by the Ducks in the third round in 2012. Unable to crack their roster, he put in a season in the American Hockey League with the Norfolk Admirals as and Viktor Fasth split the Ducks net during the lockout-shortened NHL season of 2012-13.

Andersen was in the NHL the next season, playing 28 games for the Ducks. Anaheim, with Andersen and John Gibson in net, then won the 1218854 Carolina Hurricanes The details: Leivo, 28, posted nine points (6g, 3a) in 38 games with the last season. His career-high season came in 2019-20, when the forward scored 19 points (7g, 12a) in 36 games with the Hurricanes depth chart update: The new-look Canes have made some Vancouver Canucks. Seems like a solid fourth liner as it pertains to the interesting decisions with their lineup Hurricanes.

F CJ Smith

By Sara Civian The deal: 1 year, 2-way contract

Jul 30, 2021 The details: Smith, 26, has played 14 career NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, posting three points (2g, 1a). The 5-foot-11, 183-pound forward had 13 points (4g, 9a) in 15 AHL games with Rochester in 2020-21 and has recorded 142 points (61g, 81a) in 184 career AHL games. All right, two days since the first day of free agency and we’re starting to memorize the Hurricanes’ very new roster. D Brendan Smith

With around $14 million left in salary-cap space before re-signing The deal: 1 year, $800K restricted free agent Andrei Svechnikov, it doesn’t look like this will be the finalized roster, though. Jeremy Rutherford suggested a fit for Vladamir The details: Smith, 32, tallied 10 points (5g, 5a) in 48 NHL games with Tarasenko, and that could make sense when you try to create an the New York Rangers in 2020-21. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound blueliner has updated depth chart. But first, an updated salary chart, created by registered 110 points (29g, 81a) in 526 career NHL games with New Shayna Goldman. York and Detroit. He’s a veteran who will add some bottom-pairing snarl to the Canes’ lineup. Out: Alex Nedeljkovic, Petr Mrazek, James Reimer, Dougie Hamilton, Brock McGinn, Warren Foegele, Jake Bean, Cedric Paquette, Jani Re-signings: Hakanpaa and Morgan Geekie F Jordan Martinook

Free-agent signings The deal: 3 years, $1.8M AAV

G Frederik Andersen The details: Martinook, 29, became a fan favorite and alternate captain in The deal: 2 years, $4.5M AAV his three seasons with the Canes. He recorded 13 points (4g, 9a) in 44 games during the 2020-21 regular season, then three assists in 11 The details: Once drafted by the Hurricanes, 31-year-old Andersen has playoff games. He ranks second on the team in hits since 2018-19 and registered a 226-100-48 record in 393 career NHL games with Anaheim he’s up there in the top three for heart. This re-signing, which was and Toronto. The goalie had long been a part of the Maple Leafs’ core unlikely to happen, is pretty important for overall morale. with Cup aspirations, but the Leafs have shaken a few things up due to perennial first-round exits and — as it relates to goaltending — the Trade emergence of Jack Campbell. Andersen is coming off a difficult, injury- Canes receive D Ethan Bear for F Warren Foegele filled season during which Campbell eventually took over the starting role. Andersen ended up with a .895 save percentage in 23 starts, but it’s Bear, 24, registered eight points (2g, 6a) in 43 games with the Oilers in believed he was playing through injury. He’s expected to bounce back, 2020-21. The 5-foot-11, 197-pound defenseman has tallied 33 points (8g, and playing behind the Hurricanes’ defense should make it easier. I’ll be 25a) in 132 career NHL games. He has top-four potential on many teams getting into the new goaltending pairing in depth with Shayna Goldman and could find himself there with the Hurricanes, but with their defensive next week, so we’ll leave it at that for now. depth, he’d be one of the best third-pairing guys in the league if not in the top four. G Is a Jake Gardiner buyout incoming? Pure speculation on my part, but The deal: 2 years, $2M AAV something isn’t adding up.

The details: Raanta, 32, posted a 5-5-2 record, 3.36 goals-against There’s a clear need for another top-nine forward at the very least. The average and .905 save percentage in 12 appearances for Arizona last Canes struggled to score during the playoffs and lost their fourth-highest season. In with Arizona from 2017-21, he posted a 46-42- scorer in Hamilton, and they didn’t add anything to the top six in free 11 record, 2.57 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and five agency. There’s a hole in the depth chart that’ll have to be replaced with shutouts. Raanta is excellent in tandem with another goalie or even in a one of the top prospects for now, but that shouldn’t be Plan A, that starting position when healthy, but the key phrase there is “when should be Plan C. healthy.” He has had multiple injuries relating to his hips, groin and knees that have held him back in the past.

D Ian Cole The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021

The deal: 1 year, $2.9M

The details: Cole, 32, appeared in 54 games split between the Avalanche and the Wild last season, amounting in eight points and 94 blocks over that span. He’ll be effective and tough in bottom-pairing minutes with the Canes.

D Tony DeAngelo

The deal: 1 year, $1M contract

The details: DeAngelo, 25, has posted 106 points (24 goals, 82 assists) in 206 career NHL games with the Rangers and Coyotes. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound blueliner registered 15 goals, 38 assists and 53 points in 68 games during the shortened 2019-20 regular season. He was waived by the Rangers in January of 2020-21. It looks like the Hurricanes were seeking the cheapest option to replace Hamilton’s production, and DeAngelo has a big chance to lead the Canes’ blue line in scoring next season.

F Josh Leivo

The deal: 1 year, $750K 1218855 Chicago Blackhawks Duluth, but I could see him signing early. Kayumov’s KHL contract ends after the 2021-22 season.

Depending on how their seasons go, Chad Yetman, Jake Wise, Stanislav Evaluating the Blackhawks’ salary cap for the next five seasons Demin, Antti Saarela, Niklas Nordgren, Michael Krutil and 2021 draft picks Allan Nolan and Colton Dach are some other possibilities.

By Scott Powers 5. The 2023-24 season is when things start to get really interesting for the Blackhawks. That’s when Kane and Toews are set to become UFAs. Jul 31, 2021 That’s when DeBrincat is due another contract. The only players in the organization currently signed for the 2023-24 season are Jones,

Johnson, Jake McCabe, Riley Stillman, Lukas Reichel and Isaak Phillips. The Blackhawks might not be done this offseason. Some other players will be re-signed before that offseason, but the They’ve had a few days of inactivity, but there might be a few more Blackhawks can go many ways prior to the 2023-24 season depending moves to be made. There obviously will be news one way or another of on what they do with Kane, Toews and DeBrincat. Brett Connolly’s $3.5 whether Marc-André Fleury plans to play for the Blackhawks. Fleury’s million cap hit will also expire heading into that offseason. They’ll have camp and the Blackhawks talked on Thursday, so there has been some $30-plus million open up to them. The Blackhawks haven’t had that type communication. of flexibility to set a path in some time.

As we wait for something else to happen, I began taking a deeper dive 6. A source recently told me they couldn’t envision the Blackhawks into the Blackhawks’ current and future cap situations. paying three players around $10 million. It just wasn’t how they wanted to build a team. We’ll see if that’s true in the next few years. 1. The Blackhawks have positioned themselves financially well for the coming years. We’ll go over the next five seasons. Jones’ long-term contract will go into effect next season, and he’ll have a $9.5 million cap hit going forward. DeBrincat is due that third contract Let’s start with this upcoming season. This season might take a little after the 2022-23 season, and the Blackhawks are already penciling him juggling depending on what Fleury decides to do. If he remains on the in for at least $9 million. Blackhawks and they re-sign Alex Nylander and Brandon Hagel, which is expected, the Blackhawks will have to maneuver some contracts to make And then, there will be Kane and Toews. Their matching $10.5 million the numbers work. They do have $452,439 of bonus overage from last cap hits also expire after the 2022-23 season. What will they be due if the season and Olli Maata’s retained hit to work in as well. Andrew Shaw’s Blackhawks look to re-sign them? Could one walk and one re-sign? salary will likely be used to get to $81.5 million and then he’ll be placed Could both walk? Could they sign for different amounts? They’ve had on long-term injury (LTI) once the season begins. matching cap hits since their first extension in 2010.

There is a chance the Blackhawks still move someone before the season Toews will be 35 in July 2023 and Kane will be 34. Kane will have a begins. If Fleury decides to retire or the Blackhawks trade some or all of stronger argument to still get paid among the league’s best, considering his $7 million cap hit, they would have some cap flexibility and might be his production over recent years. Alex Ovechkin, 35, just proved with his able to sign someone late into free agency. five-year extension with a $9.5 million cap hit that there might not be a hometown discount in Kane’s future. Overall, though, the Blackhawks are in a solid spot financially this upcoming season. They could have utilized Brent Seabrook’s contract in 7. It begins to get more difficult to gauge what the Blackhawks will look offseason LTI, but it was probably best to move the contract while they like come the 2024-25 season, but that’s never stopped us from could. Considering Shaw’s contract is coming off the books after this projecting anyway. season, it was unlikely the Blackhawks would have gone the offseason Just think, this would have been only the first season without Seabrook’s LTI route again. contract if it hadn’t been traded. Jones will still be signed. His contract 2. The Blackhawks were slightly worried about performance bonuses goes all the way to the 2029-30 season. You would think the Blackhawks next season, but that seems like less of a concern now, especially with will invest in DeBrincat. He might be closer to $10 million depending on if Adam Boqvist traded. Kirby Dach, Philipp Kurashev and Wyatt Kalynuk the cap begins to increase again by then. That will factor into future are the only three players who are projected to be in the opening lineup contracts. Kane and Toews are a tough call. It’s difficult to imagine the who have bonuses next season. Dach does have $2.5 million in potential Blackhawks without them. It might come down to which direction the performance bonuses, but he’d have to put up Artemi Panarin-like Blackhawks are heading then. That might help them determine if they numbers to reach the major ones in league-wide categories. want to return and for how much.

3. Next offseason shouldn’t be terribly difficult for the Blackhawks to By the 2024-25 season, there could be a different core. Hagel will be 25, manager cap-wise. It will help that Seth Jones’ extension is already Kurashev 24, Dach 23 and Reichel 22. The net might be shared by finished, Alex DeBrincat will still have another season on his deal and Söderblom, who will be 24 then, and Commesso, who will be 22. Of and ’ contracts will continue, too. Shaw, course, the Blackhawks are banking on Jones being a No. 1 defenseman Fleury and Calvin de Haan’s contracts expire, so that’s more than $15 for a long time. The Blackhawks have also invested in Jake McCabe million in cap opening just there. through the 2024-25 season. Riley Stillman is a restricted free agent prior to the 24-25 season. Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin, Isaak Phillips, Vlasic, The main contracts the Blackhawks will be looking at next offseason will Kaiser and others will be young potential defenseman options, too. be for Connor Murphy, Dominik Kubalik, Dylan Strome and Kirby Dach. Murphy will undoubtedly be looking for a raise from his $3.85 million cap 8. Your guess is as good as mine come the 2025-26 season. Jones is hit, but he won’t break the bank due to his limited offensive production. the only player signed right now for that season. A line consisting Kirby Kubalik could be an interesting case if he continues to produce at a high Dach and Colton Dach? Max Shalunov signs? The possibilities are level. He’ll likely be looking for a long-term extension and want to buy into endless. his UFA years. Strome will have to bounce back offensively to get another deal from the Blackhawks. Dach’s next contract probably got a little cheaper due to his past season, but he could still demand a The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 significant jump in pay if he’s playing like a top-line center.

The Blackhawks will also have to address their net next offseason. As of now, Fleury, Kevin Lankinen, Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia are set to become unrestricted free agents. Arvid Söderblom is the only goalie signed beyond next season.

4. Looking ahead, the Blackhawks’ prospects who are likely to sign entry- level contracts for the 2022-23 season would be Alex Vlasic, Wyatt Kaiser and Artur Kayumov. Vlasic will be a junior at Boston University this season and should play a huge role. Kaiser will be a sophomore at 1218856 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche re-sign Tyson Jost to two-year, $4 million contract

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: July 30, 2021 at 12:37 p.m. | UPDATED: July 30, 2021 at 5:19 p.m.

The Avalanche re-signed its last key free agent Friday, agreeing to a two- year, $4 million contract with forward Tyson Jost.

Jost, 23, will make $1.75 million next season and $2.25 million in 2022- 23, per a league source. He was a restricted free agent.

Jost was the Avalanche’s first-round selection in the 2016 draft (10th overall). He hasn’t become the scorer the club envisioned but he’s turned into a solid two-way player and a primary penalty killer.

Jost will become a restricted free agent again in 2023 if he doesn’t get an extension before that. His signing puts the Avs approximately $3 million under the $81.5 million salary cap, with 22 players considered.

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218857 Colorado Avalanche “Quite a few have already reached out which has been really nice,” Kuemper said of his new teammates. “It makes me feel welcome right away. I’m just excited to get down there and meet everybody.”

Joining the Avalanche gives Darcy Kuemper his first real shot at a deep He has yet to speak with Avs goalie coach Jussi Parkkila. playoff run “I’ve heard so many good things. Can’t wait to pick his mind a little bit and see what he has to add to my game.”

By Aarif Deen Parkkila helped turn Grubauer into a Vezina Trophy nominee. He was July 30, 2021 also a large part of the reason why former Av Semyon Varlamov was able to reignite a career marred by injuries.

Kuemper is certainly in good hands with Parkkila. And if things go well, It was March 8, 2021, at Ball Arena. The were tied 2-2 he remains healthy and proves that an opportunity for a deep run is all he with the Avalanche through 40 minutes. After making a routine save early needs, then a contract extension could be in the works. Even if it’s not in the third period, then Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper was something he has discussed with Sakic as of yet. suddenly hurt. But first, Kuemper must prove that his regular-season numbers are Kuemper had made 17 saves but needed to be replaced by his backup something he could duplicate in the playoffs. after tweaking his MCL. He missed exactly six weeks before returning to close out the regular season as Arizona’s starter. The injury wasn’t the Despite putting up some of the best numbers in the league and often first he had dealt with in 2021. And in his career, Kuemper has dealt with being considered a Team Canada Olympic hopeful, he’s only gotten the quite a few more. chance to start 14 playoff games.

But upon his trade to the Avs on Wednesday, Kuemper is confident that Coincidentally, 10 of those 14 starts came against Colorado. his injuries are behind him. All he’s looking for is a chance. And in “Playing against them over the years, from the other end they’re a really Colorado, he’ll get it. hard team,” Kuemper said. “The expectations are high and it’s a great “I feel great right now. Unfortunately last year I tweaked my MCL,” roster. To be able to join something like that is super exciting and I can’t Kuemper told me. “When that happens there’s not really much you can wait to get started.” do so I just put in the work and did what I had to do to get healthy. Now Listen to “Darcy Kuemper Is the Man” on Spreaker. I’m ready to go.” Kuemper was solid over the past three years with the Coyotes, a team “Fortunately, I was able to come back and finish the season and go to the that only made the playoffs once thanks to the unorthodox play-in round World Championships. So I’m confident in having a great summer of in 2020. training.” The goalie he’s replacing, Grubauer, had similar numbers in those same Listen to “Darcy Kuemper Is the Man” on Spreaker. years on a much stronger Avs team.

At the World Championships, which took place in May and went into In 111 starts, Kuemper was 53-42-13, with a .922 save percentage and a early June, Kuemper was Team Canada’s starter. The team started the 2.35 goals-against average. He surrendered 257 goals on 3,290 shots. tournament 0-3 before winning seven straight games and the gold medal. Grubauer started 108 games, going 66-30-10 while posting a .918 save Kuemper turned aside 29 shots to record his sixth win of the tournament percentage and a 2.38 goals-against average. He surrendered 256 goals in the 3-2 gold medal game against Finland. He was lights out in the on 3,131 shots. playoff round, posting a .947 save percentage. Kuemper, who is 6’5, 215 lbs, has proven to be clutch in big games with Perhaps a sign of things to come for a player that has not had many Team Canada. And he’s finally going to get that chance in the NHL. opportunities for a long playoff run. That kind of opportunity is a dream for many, but not always a reality. “It was a ton of fun. Every time you get the chance to represent your country, to win while doing that is something really special,” Kuemper I’m just so excited to get the opportunity to be a part of something like said. “You learn what it takes to win and although it’s a different format, it this,” Kuemper said. “The roster and the expectation are great and those is a great learning experience and something you can keep with you are the opportunities you dream of. To get the chance to step in and join forever.” that is unbelievable and I’m just so excited for it.”

Trading for Kuemper was the obvious choice for the Avalanche after Philipp Grubauer decided to sign with Seattle. He was connected to the Avs long before Wednesday when the idea of Grubauer walking in free milehighsports.com LOADED: 07.31.2021 agency became more of a reality.

But when Sakic finally pulled the trigger, the transaction was met with mixed reviews.

Surely, the Avs have found their starting goalie for the 2021-22 season. But is Kuemper worth the haul Sakic had to relinquish to bring the 31- year-old to Denver?

Colorado gave up its first-round pick in 2022, one of the deepest drafts in years — albeit a high first-rounder — as well as young defenseman Conor Timmins. There’s also a conditional third involved in the deal.

His history of injuries is a major question mark. And so too is his contract, as he’s one year away from free agency. And on top of all that, there’s also the unknown factor in adding a starting goalie to a team that has aspirations of winning the Stanley Cup.

Grubauer was a known commodity. He fit in with this team, he gelled with his defense and he was consistent in giving the Avs what they expected from him. With Kuemper, everything is starting from scratch. And as we saw when Grubauer was acquired in 2018, it could take months for a goalie to get acclimated to a new place.

But Kuemper is not worried. He already feels a connection to the team he’s been a part of since Wednesday. 1218858 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche sign Tyson Jost to two-year contract

By Aarif Deen

July 30, 2021

The Avalanche have locked up its last remaining notable restricted free agent.

Tyson Jost, 23, has signed a two-year contract, keeping him with the club through 2022-23. The deal is worth $2 million per season, according to Peter Baugh of The Athletic. Jost will make $1.75 million in the first year and $2.25 million in the second year.

Listen to “Darcy Kuemper Is the Man” on Spreaker.

Jost appeared in 54 games for Colorado last season, scoring seven goals and recording 17 points. He was a career-high plus-14 and was fifth on the team in hits (45). Jost also took on a bigger role on the Avs’ penalty kill, playing the second-most shorthanded minutes (108:57).

“Tyson took a big step last year and was a key contributor to our team. He has worked hard to improve his game and earn a spot in our lineup,” Avs general manager Joe Sakic said. “Tyson is a guy with a lot of character who competes at a high level day in and day out. We are excited to have him under contract for another two seasons.”

A native of St. Albert, Alberta, Jost has recorded 89 points in 262 games since being drafted 10th overall by the Avalanche in 2016.

Jost had two goals and four points in 10 playoff games in 2021.

milehighsports.com LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218859 Colorado Avalanche strong enough to go back out there. When you hear that, you want to go out there and do what you can to help your team win.”

That’s the reputation Kuemper has – a battler. Don’t let the easygoing Darcy Kuemper: “I feel great, ready to go” smile and more than passing resemblance to Brad Pitt fool you. His career has not been all wine and roses. Far from it. He was drafted just 169th overall in 2009 by Minnesota. He never made it as the everyday Published 10 hours ago on July 30, 2021 No. 1 goalie with the Wild, then played for two teams in 2017-18 – Los Angeles and Arizona. Finally, by the 2018-19 season, he established By Adrian Dater himself. He posted a sterling .925 saves percentage, and followed it up with a .929 percentage in 2019-20, helping lead the Coyotes to the playoffs before being eliminated by the Avs. The smile of Darcy Kuemper shone bright, even through the smoky filters of the Zoom camera. Asked what it felt like to be a new member of the Kuemper’s .922 Sv% over last 3 seasons ranks 3rd in @NHL Colorado Avalanche, the cheeks on Kuemper’s face lifted and his teeth BEST SV% SINCE 2018-19 were there for all to see. (Min 100 GP) “The next month can’t go fast enough here,” said Kuemper, the Avs’ new No. 1 goalie, acquired via trade two days ago from Arizona for Conor .923 Robin Lehner Timmins, a first-round pick in 2022 and a possible, conditional third-round pick. “I’m super-pumped to be going to Colorado. I feel great right now.” .922 Andrei Vasilevskiy

Not just mentally, but physically too. There was some misconception that .922 Darcy Kuemper Kuemper might still be “damaged goods” when the deal happened, but .920 Anton Khudobin the fact is he’s been declared fully healthy for at least a couple months now, after having a strained MCL that hampered his play in 2021 for the He’ll be playing for them now, a much better squad, on paper anyway, Coyotes. than the team that hardly ever gave him much goal support.

Kuemper, in fact, led Canada to a gold medal at the most recent IIHF “To get the chance to step in and join that (team) is unbelievable, and I’m World Championships, playing eight games overall and stopping 89 of 94 just so excited for it,” said Kuemper, 31, in the final year of a contract that shots (.947). Craig Morgan, who covers the Coyotes for his Substack will carry a cap hit of $3.5 million. “A lot of the guys have reached out to page, posted a great story the other day about Kuemper’s final season me, which has made me feel really welcome. I can’t wait to get to know with the Coyotes, and his play at the Worlds. Here are some good the guys better, get into the locker room and just fit into the mix.” passages: By the way, the condition on that third-round pick? It should be pretty Given the way that Kuemper started the tournament — and the way that easy to stomach for Avs fans if, in fact, that pick is lost to Arizona. he finished his NHL season with the Coyotes — you might say that he got his mojo back on the world stage. Kuemper begs to differ. The only way the Coyotes will get that pick AT ALL is if the Avs win the Stanley Cup this coming season and Kuemper plays at least 50 percent “I don’t think I ever lost my mojo,” he said, laughing. “I was just hurt.” of the playoff games.

Before Kuemper suffered an MCL strain in his knee late in the second Will you think the Avs still “overpaid” for Kuemper, if that happens? period of a game at Colorado on March 8, he was fifth in the NHL in save percentage at .914, and fourth in goals-against average (2.41) among Didn’t think so. goalies who had played at least 18 games. His underlying numbers were good, too, in a league that still does a remarkably poor job of tracking goalies’ statistical performance. Colorado hockey now LOADED: 07.31.2021

Then everything changed in Denver.

“My leg kind of got stuck in the last minute of the period,” he said. “I kicked out my one leg, trying to get onto my butt and the other leg got stuck on the ice underneath me and just kind of popped and gave out.

“I was trying to ignore it and went back out for the third (period) but I couldn’t play and I had to get right out of there. I don’t think I would have been able to stop the puck if they shot one on the ice.”

Kuemper missed the next five weeks, and when he returned, he did not look the same. He stopped 247 of 275 shots (.898 SP), he went 5-5-1 and the Coyotes missed the playoffs. In that stretch, the narrative changed from Kuemper being a franchise goalie to one who didn’t deserve to start over backup Adin Hill. Somehow, that narrative expanded to suggest that Kuemper hadn’t been himself all season, which the numbers before his injury clearly rebuked in spite of a markedly worse defensive team in front of him.

And…

In his exit interview after the season, I asked Kuemper if he was fully healthy when he returned and he admitted that he was not. He elaborated on that admission this week.

“As far as knee injuries go, it’s probably the best kind because it fully heals on its own without surgery,” he said. “It’s just tricky coming back as a goalie because you put your MCL in a lot of stressful situations. The pain came and went. There were days when it felt great and then days where if you moved it the wrong way it could start feeling painful again.”

Which begged the question: Why return if Kuemper wasn’t 100 percent?

“I had talked to the team doctors and they were pretty confident that it wasn’t a situation where I was going to go back out there and hurt it again,” he said. “It was just going to be in some discomfort but it was 1218860 Colorado Avalanche BCHL, while his 104 points ranked third. Jost’s 2.17 points-per-game average was the highest in the league.

Internationally, Jost represented his country at the IIHF World Tyson Jost signs new deal with Avalanche; Is that it for spending? Championship in 2018 and 2019 and helped Canada capture the silver medal at the 2019 tournament in Slovakia. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound center helped Canada to a silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Published 12 hours ago on July 30, 2021 Championship in Montreal/Toronto and captained Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, By Adrian Dater where he led the entire tournament with 15 points (6g/9a) in seven games. His 15 points established a Canadian record at that event, surpassing the previous mark set by Connor McDavid (14) in 2013. Jost Tyson Jost, whose mercurial play has often been the subject of scorn was selected as the tournament’s “Best Forward” and was named to the among Avs but who rebounded with a pretty nice season in 2021, re- All-Star Team. signed with the club today at two years, $4 million. Jost will make $1.75 million this coming season, and $2.25 million in 2022-23.

According to our partners at PuckPedia, the Avalanche have a full boat Colorado hockey now LOADED: 07.31.2021 when it comes to allowable “active-roster” contracts.

I’ll be honest, the cap number stuff is thoroughly confusing to me. Does anyone know what the true cap number is lol? CapFriendly says the Avs have about $5.1 million of cap space right now, but they are counting players such as Logan O’Connor, Jacob MacDonald and Alex Newhook as “non-roster” players. PuckPedia has them as on the roster. But, unless I’m reading wrong, PuckPedia has a guy like Kiefer Sherwood as a full-roster player and one of the “23 active-roster contracts” when he has a two-way contract.

Translation: I’m confused.

Does this leave enough room to sign a good forward still on the open market, or are the Avs done spending, based on their current roster? If Avs brass tells me, I’ll relay the information on.

Bottom line: the Avs don’t have a ton of cap space either way. I don’t think the true cap number is $5.1 million, that’s for sure. Even Joe Sakic said the other night that “we’re up against the cap” and was the reason why they couldn’t offer more to a guy like Brandon Saad.

As for Jost, he probably had his best season as a pro in 2021. No, his scoring production wasn’t much again (seven goals, 17 points in 54 games) but his defensive play was excellent (plus-14) and his Corsi for percentage was very good (58.7). He became a better checker and penalty killer.

Hopefully, he can start scoring goals in the double-digit range again. He hasn’t done that since 2018-19. Jost will still be a restricted free agent when this contract is over, though he will be eligible for arbitration when it’s over too. He would then be one year away from being a UFA.

Here’s more on the signing, from Avs PR:

Jost, 23, skated in 54 of Colorado’s 56 games last season, recording 17 points (7g/10a) with a career-best +14 plus/minus rating. He ranked fifth on the team in hits (45) and was second in total shorthanded minutes (108:57). Jost posted a career-high, five-game assist/point streak from April 9-22 and scored a season-high two goals, including the game winner, in the season finale on May 13 vs. Los Angeles to help the Avalanche win the Presidents’ Trophy and Honda West Division title.

The St. Albert, Alberta, native has produced 89 points (39g/50a) in 262 career NHL games and has 10 points (6g/4a) in 40 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances. He skated in all 10 of Colorado’s postseason games during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording four points (2g/2a).

“Tyson took a big step last year and was a key contributor to our team. He has worked hard to improve his game and earn a spot in our lineup,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President / General Manager Joe Sakic. “Tyson is a guy with a lot of character who competes at a high level day in and day out. We are excited to have him under contract for another two seasons.”

Prior to turning pro, Tyson Jost played one season for the University of North Dakota, tallying 35 points (16g/19a) in 33 games. He finished second on the team and third among all National Collegiate Hockey Conference freshmen in points, earning a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team.

Before enrolling at North Dakota, Tyson Jost was named the winner of the 2015-16 Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as the British Columbia Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player after tallying 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) in 48 games for the Penticton Vees. His 62 assists led the 1218861 Columbus Blue Jackets would be the next guy out the door after Jones, has signed on long-term, giving up five years of unrestricted free agency with this deal.

“We’ve been saying all along that this perception that seems to be out Massive contract extension will allow Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski to there that people don’t want to be here is not right,” Kekalainen said. escape Seth Jones’ shadow “We’ve had a lot of players in the past commit long-term here, and now we’ve had two of our core, heart-and-soul players commit long-term. We couldn’t be more thrilled.” By Aaron Portzline Werenski acknowledged he watched the Blue Jackets this offseason with Jul 30, 2021 a wary eye. He’d been told by management what to expect regarding the direction of the club, but what the front office wants to do and what it’s

able to do does not always align. He said he wanted to see it in action. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Last Friday, the Blue Jackets made a massive Under his previous contract, he was set to become a restricted free agent trade that left defenseman Zach Werenski as the No. 1 defenseman on next summer, and he was two years away from being able to call his own the roster. Six days later, the 24-year-old signed a contract that only shot as a UFA. But he watched and marveled last Friday as the Blue drives that point home. Jackets had one of the most impressive days in franchise history. Werenski signed a six-year, $57.5 million extension late Thursday that Jones was traded just before the start of the draft for defenseman Adam makes him the sixth-highest-paid defenseman in the NHL next season, Boqvist, two first-round draft picks, and a second-round pick that was and it includes a salary-cap figure ($9.583 million) that is the largest in immediately traded to Carolina for defenseman Jake Bean. franchise history. Then the Blue Jackets made three draft picks — forward Kent Johnson at The deal puts him under contract with the Blue Jackets through the 2027- No. 5, forward Cole Sillinger at No 12, and defenseman Cole Ceulemans 28 season, and, coupled with the trade of Seth Jones to Chicago one at No. 25 — that wowed scouts and draft experts. week ago, should allow Werenski to emerge from Jones’ considerable shadow. Werenski, watching from his home in Michigan, was as excited as anybody, he said. That’s a bigger deal than many have realized. “Obviously I liked the first pick, the Michigan kid (Johnson),” Werenski Werenski and Jones are the best of friends. Certainly, there is enormous joked. “But I kept watching, hearing good things, saw the trades, the respect between the All-Stars. But Werenski made it clear Friday that players they brought in. … I saw the plan moving the right way and I he’s ready — eager, actually — to stand on his own as his club’s top wanted to be a part of it.” defenseman. Then came another big trade Saturday, when Cam Atkinson was traded “Ever since I joined the league (2016), we’ve played together,” Werenski to Philadelphia for Jake Voracek. Werenski and Voracek have been said of Jones. “Obviously I wish him nothing but the best in Chicago. But texting each other nonstop since the trade, Werenski said. I am ready. I’m ready to be a true No. 1 and show everybody I can do it without him. “I’m sure my agent (Judd Moldaver) and them were talking a little bit before that,” Werenski said. “But (Moldaver) called me after the draft and “I feel like every time I was brought up, it was always with him, and the trades and everything and asked me what I was thinking. maybe a little bit of vice versa. But I’m really excited to have this opportunity now, and hopefully, I can help get this team back to the “I had a good conversation with (coach Brad) Larsen and I started feeling playoffs.” excited again after seeing the plans, seeing what they did at the draft, and really that whole week. I was fully on board. I love the players they Earlier in the day, Werenski was even more pointed in a conversation brought in, the moves they made.” with Blue Jackets radio play-by-play voice Bob McElligott, saying: “It’s time now where I can show people what I can do on my own, the hockey Werenski will make $5 million this season, the final year of his current player I can be. When they talk about me, it’s always with Seth. I want deal. When the new deal kicks in next season, he’ll make $10 million in them to talk about me for me. I’m ready to go and up for this challenge.” 2022-23, $12 million in 2023-24, $11.5 million in 2024-25, $9.5 million in 2025-26, and $7.25 million in each of the final two years. Watching the Blue Jackets play without Werenski and Jones as the top unit will take some getting used to, and it’s anyone’s guess who will play So much for the whispers around the league — never from Werenski beside Werenski this coming season. But general manager Jarmo himself, mind you — that he couldn’t wait to leave Columbus to play for Kekalainen said he believes Werenski is ready to ascend to the No. 1 his hometown Red Wings. role. “When you first join the league, it’s cool to play your hometown team, “I’m very, very comfortable with it,” Kekalainen said. “Zach Werenski has because all of your friends are there, your family is there,” Werenski said. shown his whole career that he’s one of the elite defensemen in this “For me, growing up a Wings fan and watching all those playoff teams, it league. He’s a clear No. 1 for us now. He can keep growing in that role. was a lot of fun to come home and play. He’s still young. He keeps getting better. “But (leaving for Detroit) didn’t cross my mind, to be honest. This is “(Werenski) has done everything right with us since he joined our where I want to be. I’m happy in Columbus. Why would I want to leave? organization. That first year before he came up, he went to Cleveland There’s no reason to leave. I just love it in Columbus.” before signing an NHL contract and won a championship (with AHL Cleveland). He didn’t demand to sign an NHL deal right away, burn a year, get his signing bonus money and just be comfortable. He’s done The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 things right from the start.

“He’s played with a broken face. He’s played through injuries and competed hard every night. Last year, he played with an (abdominal) injury where he was basically playing on one leg until we were out of the playoff and then he decided to have surgery. I couldn’t have more respect for a guy like that.”

Many have wondered when the Blue Jackets’ talent drain could be stopped, when top-notch players would stop asking for trades or making their intentions known, like Jones did, to pursue free agency rather than sign on for more in Columbus.

Maybe this was it.

Wednesday, center Boone Jenner signed a four-year contract extension to remain with the Blue Jackets. Now Werenski, whom many feared 1218862 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings release details for 2021 training camp, back in Traverse City

HELENE ST. JAMES

The Detroit Red Wings are returning to Traverse City for their annual preparation for the regular season.

The club made the expected news official Friday, announcing dates for the prospect tournament (Sept. 16-20), the golf outing (Sept. 22) and main training camp (Sept. 23-28). The tournament and camp will be held at Ice Arena.

GETTING BETTER: Steve Yzerman on free-agent additions: 'Hope it translates to wins'

The Wings have been going to Traverse City since 1997, when then- coach Scotty Bowman began the tradition of taking the defending Stanley Cup champions to the picturesque area by Grand Traverse Bay. It was an instant hit with players, who relished the opportunity to play golf after practices, and fans, newly enabled to watch practices and scrimmages.

WELCOME TO HOCKEYTOWN: Pius Suter's plan with Wings: 'Grow together so we can win more'

There were two cancellations prior to the pandemic: The 2004 camp was canceled because of the labor dispute that wiped out the 2004-05 season. The 2013 camp was held in Plymouth because of a labor dispute that wiped out the first half of the 2012-13 season.

The prospect tournament features the Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, , St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs. (Everything is subject to potential travel restrictions because of COVID-19.)

Camp features Wings players, prospects and tryouts. They usually are divided into three groups (named for Gordie Howe, and Alex Delvecchio). The main event is the Red and White Game on Sept. 26.

NEXT SEASON'S WINGS SCHEDULE: What's on deck after pandemic, in Olympic year

A full camp roster and the complete training camp schedule will be announced at a later date. For more information, including how to get tickets, go to centreice.org.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• NHL Prospect Tournament (Sept. 16-20): $10 per day (general admission)

• Training camp practice (Thursday, Sept. 23): $10 standing-room, $20 reserved seating or mezzanine

• Training camp practice (Friday, Sept. 24): $10 standing-room, $20 reserved seating or mezzanine

• Training camp practice (Saturday, Sept. 25): $15 standing-room, $25 reserved seating or mezzanine

• Alumni and celebrity game (Saturday, Sept. 25): $30 standing-room, $40 reserved seating

• Red and White Game (Sunday, Sept. 26): $20 standing-room, $35 reserved seating or mezzanine

• Training camp practice (Monday, Sept. 27): $10 general admission

• Training camp practice (Tuesday, Sept. 28): $10 general admission

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218863 Detroit Red Wings “He can play on the right wing, he’s rugged, hard-nosed, a great person,” Yzerman said. “He gives us some depth to play here, play in Grand Rapids. Great leadership and tough as nails.”

Detroit Red Wings' Steve Yzerman on free-agent additions: 'Hope it A bit tougher and a bit more skilled. It’s a step in the right direction for the translates to wins' Wings.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.31.2021

HELENE ST. JAMES

Steve Yzerman pointed out that in the immediate aftermath of free agency, every team sees itself as having gotten better.

The Detroit Red Wings weren’t among the big spenders on the market this week; rather, Yzerman stuck with his plan and made low-key signings. No one got more than two years. The biggest signing was Pius Suter, a 25-year-old who fits into the core age group and who projects to be the second-line center. Defenseman Jordan Oesterle adds to the depth on defense. Those were the free agent signings.

Yzerman also re-signed veterans Sam Gagner and Marc Staal, and traded for Nick Leddy and Alex Nedeljkovic.

SETTLING IN: Pius Suter's plan with Wings: 'Grow together so we can win more'

Camp is seven weeks away, but there’s enthusiasm in the hockey operations offices at Little Caesars Arena.

“I’d like to think with the Pius Suter, with Nick Leddy, and with the rest of group, Tyler Bertuzzi coming back healthy — I think we’re going to generate a little bit more offense,” Yzerman said. “We’ll score a few more goals, I think.

“I think our back end is a little stronger, a little bit more mobile, that we can get a little more offense out of it. I hope that translates to wins.”

Yzerman’s biggest doing in free agency was signing Suter for two years, $6.5 million. Suter notched 14 goals last season for the Chicago Blackhawks.

“He is an offensive-minded, playmaking center, which was a real need for us,” Yzerman said.

Suter, Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, Robby Fabbri, Filip Zadina and Jakub Vrana are the front runners to forge the top two lines. Gagner, Vladislav Namestnikov, Michael Rasmussen, Frans Nielsen and Adam Erne will battle for the other spots. Joe Veleno, a first-round pick from 2019, and Lucas Raymond, a first-round pick from 2020, will be expected to compete for minutes, too, but they may have more competition, because Yzerman didn’t rule out signing another free agent.

THE SEASON AHEAD: Wings eager for training camp, next season; but will Dylan Larkin be ready?

“For our younger players, if they come to training camp and do well, earn a spot, that’s great,” Yzerman said. “What I’m not necessarily doing is leaving spots open just to hand it to one of the younger players or hand it to them by default. We’re still looking at a few things. Not so much on the back end or in goal, but up front, looking at a few things to potentially add one more player, possibly two. For our young guys that have a chance to crack the lineup, we would rather they simply are better than the players that we have.

“I am kind of talking out of both sides of my mouth. If a young guy can play, great. I don’t want to leave a spot on the roster open to just hand it to anyone, but I’m also not going to sign a free agent, feeling oh, we have a hole, let’s just plug it. I want a guy who can serve a purpose.”

Oesterle’s purpose is to add to the left-side defense, where he joins Staal, Leddy and Danny DeKeyser. On the right side, there’s Filip Hronek, Moritz Seider, Troy Stecher and Gustav Lindstrom.

“We have four rights, four lefts,” Yzerman said. “We’ve got experience, some depth. I like to think with our D, we’re in a little bit better position today than we were a year ago.”

Yzerman added insurance in bringing back right-shot swingman Luke Witkowski, a Holland native who played for Yzerman in Tampa Bay and played for the Wings from 2017-19. 1218864 Detroit Red Wings I have just as much faith in Wings GM Steve Yzerman because he has a proven track record after building the Tampa Bay Lightning into two-time Stanley Cup champions. So after Yzerman took a big defensemen and a massive goaltender, I trust that he knows what he’s doing. Pistons' pick of Cade Cunningham the latest sign of a new era in Detroit sports “We hope we made good choices,” Yzerman told reporters this week.

Hope.

JEFF SEIDEL No doubt.

I believe the Tigers are also headed in the right direction.

Being a sports fan in Detroit has been a miserable experience for most of You can criticize Tigers general manager Al Avila for many of the trades the past five years. he made when slashing payroll, but you have to acknowledge that he did a fantastic job hiring manager AJ Hinch. The Tigers also just pulled off a It has felt like a lifetime. fantastic draft, drawing high marks from scouting experts. The team’s play has improved significantly, too, since a 9-24 start, several prospects The Pistons, Red Wings, Lions and Tigers have been stuck in rebuilding are playing well in the minor leagues and it’s just fun to watch them mode, racking up ugly losses and painful, forgettable seasons. again. It makes you want to scream: “Enough already! I give! Please make it THE HEIST: Tigers still can't believe they got Ty Madden, the biggest stop!” 2021 MLB draft steal But suddenly, you can feel something new... As far as the Lions ... even though the new regime hasn't coached in a Something completely unfamiliar... game — much less won one — I expect plenty of losing this fall, it feels like this organization has a direction. A purpose. Hope. Can you question the moves the organizations have made? Certainly; Maybe the misery is about to come to an end. success is hardly certain.

Finally. Maybe center Evan Mobley or Jalen Green become bigger stars than Cunningham. All four teams seem to be moving in the right direction, and none more than the Pistons, who took Cade Cunningham on Thursday with the No. Maybe high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer will have a better career 1 pick in the draft. Cunningham is a 6-foot-8 from Oklahoma than high school pitcher Jackson Jobe, the Tigers' pick at No. 3 in July. State and is widely considered the best player in this draft because he can do it all — shoot, defend, pass and lead. He looks like a future All- Maybe cornerbacks Jaycee Horn or Patrick Surtain II — or quarterback Star and face of the franchise. Best of all, he wants to be here. Justin Fields — will have more productive careers than Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell. “I love Detroit,” Cunningham told reporters earlier in July after a pre-draft workout. “I’ve already been listening to Detroit music and things like that, But I understand what they're doing. There is logic behind these draft way before the draft lottery, any of that stuff.” decisions.

And all the people said: Hallelujah! Again, none more so than the Pistons taking Cunningham.

This is somebody you can build a franchise around, and that’s something Because he is the best all-around player in this draft. to be excited about. “I was already hip to the culture in Detroit,” Cunningham said last week. "His mind allows him to play faster and see things even if he's not a “It’s a city that has a lot of things going on, and I feel like getting the superior athlete,” Pistons general manager Troy Weaver said. “He's a sports team rolling again would be huge for the city. Detroit fits me, that’s very sharp young man. He understands what the are all the main thing I’m going to try to do is step in and embody the swag that about, in the past. And like I said, we're trying to restore that. And he people from Detroit walk with, the people from Michigan in general. They really gets it. He's very aware.” have an underdog, go-get-what-you-want feel to them and I like that about the city.” Cunningham struggled to explain his emotions during an interview on ESPN. "It's still crazy to be in the moment," he said. "Words can't really Dang, this guy is easy to like. explain the emotions." Welcome to Detroit, Cade. Then he put on a pair of Buffs and looked into the camera. I have a feeling you are going to fit in perfectly with Casey Mize and Jobe "Detroit Pistons, I'm all the way in!" he said. "Let's do it!" and Simon Edvinsson and Spencer Torkelson and Sewell and Riley Greene. I understand if you are skeptical. These guys represent the future. Losing eats away your optimism. You see a first-round pick and you expect him to flop, or get injured. You expect new coaches to flame out. Now, let me be clear. And we certainly have seen enough of that. But losing, especially as I don’t think any of these teams will be in the playoffs in the next year. often as our teams have done it, brings something alluring: Talented top But they are heading in the right direction. You can see the building picks, the kind that can supercharge the rebuilding process. blocks starting to accumulate and that is creating something new. And that’s why I have so much optimism for Detroit's big-league squads. Hope. All four have accumulated fascinating building blocks. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.31.2021 Does that guarantee anything? No.

But it offers hope.

I have faith in Weaver, who has made several fantastic moves in a short time, reshaping the roster.

“We wanted guys to come in here and work and continue to bleed into our ethos of working hard and playing together, being selfless, being competitive,” Weaver said. “And (Cunningham) has a tremendous competitive spirit. But he's very intelligent on the floor. And like I said, the leadership, the versatility, and connect-ability put him over the top.” 1218865 Detroit Red Wings In failing to trade Eichel, Adams on Thursday said he wouldn’t consider it to be a distraction if the captain was still on the team come the start of training camp.

Eichel's rift with Sabres deepens in contradicting GM Adams “I’m not worried about distraction. I’m worried about doing what’s right for the Buffalo Sabres,” Adams said. “That’s why I take the emotion out of it, look at what’s best for us moving forward. And if there’s something that makes sense, we’ll do it.” NOLAN BIANCHI Detroit News LOADED: 07.31.2021

Buffalo, N.Y. — Jack Eichel’s representatives released a statement Friday night saying “the process is not working,” in further opening a deepening rift between the Buffalo Sabres captain and the team.

In an email to The Associated Press, agents Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli contradicted general manager Kevyn Adams by saying the Sabres went against their own medical staff’s recommendation in determining artificial disk replacement surgery was required to repair a herniated disk that sidelined the player for the final two months of the season.

The agents also wrote they fully anticipated Eichel would be traded before the start of the NHL’s free agency period, which opened on Wednesday.

They noted Eichel would be in a position to be ready for the start of the regular season should he be cleared to have surgery, and added: “Repeated requests have been made to the Sabres since early June to no avail. This process is stopping Jack from playing in the NHL and it is not working.”

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The Sabres declined to respond.

The agents’ statement comes a day after Adams discussed Eichel’s status during a news conference to update the state of the team following the start of free agency.

Adams said there was no change from the Sabres medical staff in recommending against Eichel having a procedure which has never been performed on an NHL player. He then added, the Sabres are in control of Eichel’s future because he remains under contract and he doesn’t feel any pressure to complete a trade.

“If there’s a deal out there that we feel is the right thing for the Buffalo Sabres, that we feel will help us improve ... we’d be open to it,” Adams said. “We’re not in position where we feel that we’re just going to do something to do it. That doesn’t make any sense.”

The feud between the Sabres and Eichel continues to escalate since the captain revealed in May what he called “a disconnect” with the team over how to treat the injury. He said the disagreement was leading him to question his future with the team.

The two sides had agreed to put off the possibility of surgery until early June to see if the injury would heal on its own through rehabilitation. Eichel's agents disagree with the Sabres with what happened once that deadline passed.

“After the agreed upon and prescribed period for conservative rehabilitation lapsed, it was determined by the Sabres medical staff that a surgical procedure was required,” the agents wrote. “Our camp was under the impression that the Sabres specialist was in agreement with the artificial disc replacement surgery until that was no longer the case.”

Eichel is the face of the franchise and has five years left on an eight-year, $80 million contract.

Adams had not ruled out trading Eichel since the middle of March, and has spent the past month openly acknowledging he is shopping the player.

Adams is overseeing a major overhaul of a team that finished last in the standings for the fourth time in eight seasons and in the midst of an NHL record-matching 10-year playoff drought. He’s focused on rebuilding the team with youth and purging players who no longer desire to play in Buffalo.

The turnover began last weekend, when Buffalo traded defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to Philadelphia and forward Sam Reinhart to Florida in separate deals made a day apart. 1218866 Detroit Red Wings going to win a lot of games this season. They're better than last season, adding forward Sam Reinhart, and re-signing forwards Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe. This team is good, no glaring holes.

Devils, Jets highlight winners of NHL off season thus far ►Detroit — The Wings aren't going to be playoff contenders — yet. And who knows how good goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic and forward Pius Suter will turn out to be. But the potential of those two, the immediate help of defenseman Nick Leddy, and two quality first-round draft picks TED KULFAN (defenseman Simon Edvinsson, goaltender Sebastian Cossa), make for another step forward.

Detroit — There was a lot of mystery attached to this NHL offseason. ►Philadelphia — The Flyers needed a makeover and they got one. In acquiring forward Cam Atkinson (for Jakub Voracek) and defenseman Nobody really knew, for sure, how active it was going to be. , and signing defenseman Keith Yandle, they added players who should wake-up what was becoming a bland lineup. Goaltender A lot of teams were hamstrung by the salary cap, and not a lot of teams Martin Jones is a question mark backing Carter Hart, but if Hart returns to had ample space to add salary (the Red Wings being one of those lucky his elite form, this is a good team. teams). ►Los Angeles — The Kings' prospect pool is as deep as any, so adding But in the two-week span that included the expansion and entry drafts, class veterans forward Phillip Danault and defenseman Alex Edler are and the start of free agency — and numerous trades in between — subtle moves that make the Kings deeper. In a weak Pacific Division, the this has been a whirlwind of activity that has had fans checking their Kings could be able to sneak into the playoffs. phones by the second. Flat line Teams spent more than was expected in free agency (and not often wisely), and trades keep coming at a frenetic pace as organizations ►Tampa Bay — The Lightning could be in the winners' column by the attempt to get under and around a flat salary cap. way the front office navigated through a salary cap mess. And adding veterans like forward Corey Perry and defenseman Zach Bogosian on General manager Steve Yzerman appears to have navigated through low-cost deals was shrewd. But the Lightning lost their entire dominant another offseason successfully, steadily reshaping the Wings' third-line and forward Tyler Johnson, so that stings. Still, yes, this might organization with young players and draft picks. be the best team on paper heading into next season. Around the NHL, some teams have positioned themselves well for the ►Edmonton — Former Wings' GM Ken Holland is getting ridiculed in 2021-22 regular season. Others, though, look weaker or stable. many quarters for his moves. Signing defensemen Cody Ceci and Tyson Here is a look at the winners and losers - and flat lines — of the NHL Barrie, and acquiring Duncan Keith, all with sizeable term and money, offseason: were questionable moves, for sure. But adding forward Zach Hyman (expensive, but extremely useful in the short term) will help, as well as Winners greatly strengthening the bottom six with Warren Foeegle and Derek ►New Jersey — Adding defensemen Dougie Hamilton (free agency) and Ryan. Ryan Graves (trade) makes this as deep a blue line as any in the NHL, ► — The Islanders are expected to be making while drafting Luke Hughes (MIchigan) solidifies their future on defense. several big moves, but so far, it's been rather quiet. Trading Leddy to the Goaltender Jonathan Bernier showed with the Red Wings how good he Red Wings was a cost-cutting move, and they need to re-sign forward can be, and should complement young Mackenzie Blackwood in Jersey. Kyle Palmieri. But if they can acquire forward Vladimir Tarasenko in a If the young forwards keep progressing, this could be a playoff team very trade, that would help significantly. soon. ►Minnesota — The Wild made bold, gutsy moves buying out Suter and ►Winnipeg — The Jets showed they weren't far away from Stanley Cup forward Zach Parise. Those were done to likely make a bigger, bolder status last season, and adding defensemen Brenden Dillon and Nate acquisition, but the Wild haven't done it yet. Schmidt fills gaps on the blue line, and makes for a real strong position group. Being able to re-sign forward Paul Stasny keeps one of the NHL's ►San Jose — The Sharks are in salary cap limbo, so the best they did best top-six forward groups entirely together Winnipeg appears ready to was add forward Nick Bonino, a good but not game-changing add. Look take that final step next season. out for draft pick, forward William Eklund, though.

►Dallas — GM Jim Nill was able to attract some character veterans ►Seattle — The expansion Kraken, on paper, don't have the feel of what who'll simply make this team that much more difficult to play against. Vegas had four years ago. Offense could be a real issue, and giving Defenseman Ryan Suter has slowed a bit, but he's far from done. forwards Alex Wennberg and Jaden Schwartz could be bothersome in Forward Luke Glendening adds grit and tenaciousness, and goaltender the future. The defense, and goaltender Philipp Grubauer are Braden Holtby is fine insurance. Getting some key returnees back to respectable, though. health will help mightily, too. ►Toronto — Signing goaltender Petr Mrazek appears to be a sideways ►Boston — Friday's news about forward David Krejci finishing his career move, and signing Michael Bunting to potentially replace Zach Hyman in the Czech Republic doesn't help, and it's a second-line center hole that isn't a clear upgrade either. The salary cap keeps the Leafs' hands will need to be filled. But the Bruins added their type of players in gritty largely tied. forwards Nick Foligno, Erik Haula and Tomas Nosek, and a promising, ►Montreal —On the ice, the Canadiens kept their momentum going by big-time goaltender in Linus Ullmark, and re-signing forward Taylor Hall. signing defenseman David Savard and forwards Mike Hoffman and But Krejici, ouch. Matthieu Perreault. Savard isn't Shea Weber, whose career might be ►Colorado — Getting defenseman Cale Makar and forward Gabriel over due to injuries, but he'll be a reasonable shadow. The flip side to all Landeskog locked up to long-term contracts was huge. It didn't look this is the negative stench of drafting Logan Mallioux, who renounced promising with Landeskog, at all, so that keeps the Avalanche window for himself from the entry draft after crimes in Sweden. Stanley Cup contention wide open. Trading for goaltender Darcy ►Pittsburgh — Forward Brock McGinn addresses a need in the bottom- Kuemper could be a shrewd, upgrading move. And Darren Helm, though six, but the Penguins are keenly watching what'll happen to Fleury in Wings fans may disagree, will help Colorado's bottom-six forwards. Chicago. Reacquiring the star goaltender could be a major boost in many ►Chicago — The Blackhawks acquired an elite defenseman in Seth ways. Jones, though the price, salary and trade package was steep. Acquiring ►Washington — Forward Alex Ovechkin will retire a Captal, which isn't goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will be great, if he wants to play in Chicago surprising. But otherwise, the salary cap has kept them from doing much. (rumors of retirement). Chicago is better than it was to begin the off- season, for sure. ►Ottawa — Nothing notable for an organization awaiting the maturation of many talented prospects. ►Florida — A Winnipeg-Florida Stanley Cup Final? Doubtful that ESPN/ABC would love it, but it's entirely possible. The Panthers are ►Anaheim — The Ducks were able to re-sign franchise cornerstone Ryan Getzlaf to finish his career in Anaheim, and the entry draft was productive. Otherwise, it's still waiting on the future for this organization.

Losers

►Carolina — Some strange, mystifying decisions. Not re-signing Nedeljkovic, replacing him and Mrazek with a largely equal tandem (Frederik Andersen, Antti Raanta), and losing defenseman Dougie Hamilton to free agency all hurt. But the signing of defenseman Tony DeAngelo, whose list of on- and off-ice transgressions are lengthy and team culture-busting, was baffling and could destroy a team chemistry that was so impressive.

►Vegas — The Golden Knights have traded away some popular and important locker room figures, notably goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. The organization suddenly has a negative perception, and the on-ice product is a bit weaker.

►New York Rangers —The Rangers have added grit and physicality, but at a cost, and on the whole, could they have used that money in other places?

►Columbus — There continues to be a negative perception of all star players leaving Columbus, with Seth Jones being the latest. Now, re- signing defenseman Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe/Michigan) is key, but the climb back to playoff contending will take a while.

►St. Louis —The 2019 Stanley Cup winners have the look of a team getting stale and a bit older, and with Tarasenko asking to be traded, will need to replace that offense if he does get shipped.

►Vancouver — Acquiring forward Conor Garland in a trade with Arizona was a plus, but getting defenseman Oliver-Ekman Larsson in the deal was a questionable on-ice add, along with a terrible contract. The Canucks are also rolling the dice with other defensive signings. Not much cohesion to the roster.

►Arizona — The Coyotes appeared to be finally turning a corner a few years ago. Now, they're rebuilding again, and looking to an always uncertain future.

►Nashville — The picture would have been brighter if the Predators could have ridden themselves of bad contracts, but instead they just added to them by re-signing forward Mikael Granlund.

►Calgary — Speaking of bad contracts, signing gritty forward Blake Coleman to a six-year contract worth $4.9 million per season was astounding (not in a good way). Losing captain Mark Giordano to Seattle in expansion was a gut-punch, too.

►Buffalo —The Sabres did add defenseman Owen Power (Michigan) in the entry draft, for long-term help. But in the short-term, this Sabres team is heading toward another great draft pick next year. They're ridding themselves of some of the dead weight, but not the lineup isn't much better.

Detroit News LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218867 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings acquire C Mitchell Stephens; training camp returns to Traverse City

TED KULFAN

Detroit — The Red Wings added more forward depth Friday, as general manager Steve Yzerman returned to his Tampa connections.

The Wings acquired center Mitchell Stephens from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Stephens, 24, has appeared in 45 games for the back-to-back Stanley Cup-champion Lightning over the last two seasons. Stephens has three goals and four assists for seven points in the NHL.

Stephens (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) was limited to seven NHL games last season due to a lower-body injury, with one assist. In four games with Syracuse (AHL), Stephens had one goal and seven assists.

Stephens appeared in seven playoff games during Tampa Bay's first championship run, in 2019-20, scoring one goal.

In four pro seasons with Syracuse, Stephens has played in 135 AHL games, with 37 goals and 47 assists, with a plus-29 rating and 45 penalty minutes.

Stephens was a 2015 second-round draft pick of the Lightning while Yzerman was still GM of that organization.

Stephens played junior hockey in Saginaw and London of the OHL, and in 209 games had 73 goals and 87 assists (160 points) with 92 penalty minutes.

Stephens would appear to be in the hunt for a job on the Wings' bottom- six forwards, what with the losses of Darren Helm and Luke Glendening to free agency.

Training camp set

The Wings announced Friday they'll be returning to Traverse City's ICE Arena to host the NHL Prospects Tournament and Wings' training camp.

The tournament will runs September 16-through-20 with a five-team field, including the Wings, Columbus, Dallas, St. Louis and Toronto. Each team will play each other three or four games.

The Wings' will also return to Traverse City for training camp from Sept. 23-28. Red Wings players, prospects and tryouts will be divided into teams that will practice and scrimmage throughout camp, including the annual Red and White Game on Sunday, Sept. 26.

Following the Red and White game, the team will remain in Traverse City and hold practices Sept. 27 and 28 prior to breaking camp for Detroit to begin their preseason schedule.

Advance tickets for all September Red Wings events in Traverse City will be available online this season at www.centreice.org/drwtickets and will also be sold first-come, first-served at the arena entrance on the day of each event. The website will have upcoming on-sale dates.

The Red Wings will open training camp with the 22nd Training Camp Golf Classic, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Proceeds from the tournament benefit Involved Citizens Enterprises, a non-profit organization providing affordable skating programs to Northern Michigan.

Lashoff returns

The Wings announced the re-signing of defenseman Brian Lashoff to a one-year contract.

Lashoff, 31, will enter his 12th pro season, after originally signing with the Wings prior to the 2008-09 season.

Lashoff, captain of the minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, appeared in 13 games in 2020-21, with three points (one goal, two assists), and a plus-five rating and six penalty minutes.

Detroit News LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218868 Detroit Red Wings Yzerman said. “If a young guy can play, great. I’m not going to leave a spot on the roster to hand to anyone, but I’m also not going to sign a free agent feeling we have a hole.”

Steve Yzerman: Red Wings better defensively, should score more after Michigan Live LOADED: 07.31.2021 moves

Updated Jul 29, 5:53 PM; Posted Jul 29, 5:53 PM

By Ansar Khan

After making a few trades and signing a handful of free agents over the past couple of weeks, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman believes his team improved offensively and defensively.

He also noted that most teams feel that way this time of year.

“I hope we’re better,” Yzerman said. “It’s the day after the first day of free agency; I think for the most part every team sits back and you look at your board and say, ‘I think we’re a better hockey team.’ I do.

“We’re going to have some younger players playing bigger roles. Sometimes that can be a challenge. I think our back end is a little stronger, a little bit more mobile, maybe a little bit more offense out of it. Having (Pius) Suter with a healthy Tyler Bertuzzi, I think we’ll get a little bit more offensive output from everyone. I hope that translates to wins. But I can’t guarantee it.”

Suter is their biggest addition at forward. He should fill the second-line center spot after collecting 14 goals and 31 points in 55 games as a rookie with Chicago, which didn’t tender him a qualifying offer.

“He’s 25, fits into the same age group as pretty much all of our core as we try to transition young players onto the team in a year, two, three years from now,” Yzerman said. “He’s an offensive-minded, playmaking centerman, which was a real need. He’s got good hands, good hockey sense.”

The Red Wings ranked second-to-last in the NHL in goals per game. Suter, a healthy Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin, having Jakub Vrana for a full season and growth from young players like Filip Zadina could help them be more productive. Yzerman said Larkin, who missed the final nine games due to a neck injury, will be ready for the start of training camp.

Yzerman said former first-round picks Joe Veleno (30th in 2018) and Lucas Raymond (fourth in 2020) will compete for roster spots in training camp but will only be on the team if they have regular, prominent roles.

“I’d like to think with Suter, (defenseman Nick) Leddy and the rest of our group, Tyler Bertuzzi coming back healthy, we’re going to generate a little bit more offense,” Yzerman said. “But ultimately, we need to be better defensively. So, I don’t know if I would put any more value in one over the other.”

The Red Wings have a deeper, more balanced defense, with left shooters Leddy, Danny DeKeyser, Marc Staal and Jordan Oesterle, signed to a two-year deal; and right-shooters Filip Hronek, Troy Stecher, Gustav Lindstrom and Moritz Seider, the sixth overall pick in 2019 who will vie for a job in training camp.

“If (Seider) is in the top six and he’s earned that spot, he’ll play,” Yzerman said. “I’m not sure if he’s not in the top six how much we’re going to want to sit him in the press box. We anticipate him making a really good push to play.

“We have experience, we have some depth. I like to think with our D we’re in a little bit better position than we were a year ago.”

Yzerman addressed his goaltending prior to all the movement that took place league-wide on Wednesday, trading for Alex Nedeljkovic. The 25- year-old who finished third in Calder Trophy balloting this year will team with veteran Thomas Greiss to form what should be a solid tandem.

Much of the Red Wings’ remaining salary cap space will be used to sign their restricted free agents, a group that includes Vrana, Bertuzzi, Hronek and Adam Erne.

Yzerman isn’t necessarily done making moves before training camp in late September.

“We’re still looking at a few things, not so much on the back end or in goal; up front, looking to potentially add one player, possibly two,” 1218869 Detroit Red Wings

Longtime Red Wing Darren Helm signs with Colorado

Updated Jul 30, 11:02 AM; Posted Jul 29, 2:24 PM

By Ansar Khan

Darren Helm’s speed and tenacity made him a key role player on several talented Detroit Red Wings teams, including the 2008 Stanley Cup championship squad.

Now he hopes to bring those elements to a current Cup contender, signing a one-year, $1 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

Helm, 34, was the longest-tenured Red Wing. He was promoted from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins late in the 2007-08 season and played seven regular season games before earning a roster spot on the checking line during a playoff run culminated with a Finals victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Helm appeared in 47 games last season (three goals, five assists), forming an effective energy line with Adam Erne and Luke Glendening, another long-time Red Wing who signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.

The Red Wings took Helm in the fifth round in 2005 (132nd overall). He created a lots of chances with his speed but didn’t possess a finishing touch. In 744 games, he tallied 112 goals and 251 points. He appeared in 82 playoff games (11 goals, 10 assists).

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218870 Edmonton Oilers “I didn’t have as good a season as I would have liked and I’m going to use that as motivation going forward. I’m going to make sure my diet is good and I’m training every day. Come to camp in the best shape possible.” Bear happy to be moving on after stressful Edmonton Oilers season Did the Oilers give up on him too soon? There is a real fear among fans of Bear that the Oilers traded away somebody who is going to be a legit first pairing right shot defenceman in the NHL for a long time. Others Robert Tychkowski don’t think he has the offence to make up for his defence or the size to Publishing date:Jul 30, 2021 • 6 hours ago log heavy minutes in the playoffs.

“I’m still a very young player,” Bear said. “They have their plans. I’m just going to go work hard and have some fun in Carolina.” If you expected Ethan Bear to be curled up at home, all distraught and confused about why he’s no longer an Edmonton Oiler, think again. Fun in Carolina goes without saying. The Bunch of Jerks seem like a very tight team that works hard and enjoys being together, led by a He can’t wait to get to Carolina. coach, Rod Brind’Amour, who’s a big part of that culture.

Training camp is still about six weeks away and he’s already packing his They also win. bags and getting ready to embrace what he describes as a much-needed change of scenery. “I’m motivated. I can’t wait to get there. The best feeling is when a team wants you.” “To go to a winning organization with a young core, for me, it kind of gives me butterflies,” said the 24-year-old defenceman, who was dealt to Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.31.2021 the Hurricanes on Wednesday.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted and something I need right now. I know I have a lot of support and people who are going to miss me here, but at the same time I’m excited to be a Hurricane and get to Carolina.”

Looks like the mourning period is over.

Truth be told, Bear welcomes the trade for Warren Foegele. Yes, he’s a Western Canadian kid entrenched in the community who serves as a role model for indigenous people here, but he feels like a new beginning in a small-market U.S. city is exactly what he needs right now.

“Everything always happens for a reason and I think this is perfect timing,” he said. “Everything I had to go through last year, it would have been pretty tough to push through it and battle all the adversity I would have had to deal with in Edmonton. I’m looking forward to a new step and a fresh start.”

Social media can be a terrible place at the best of times, especially when it comes to the Oilers, but it hit a new low when Bear was the victim of racial slurs after a sub-par performance in the playoffs. He spoke up about the situation and received overwhelming support from the city, but the whole thing clearly left a mark.

“Online can be pretty hard,” he said. “People shouldn’t be saying that stuff, talking the way they do, but some just don’t have anything better to do with their lives.

“Playing (in Edmonton) was pretty stressful. I’m going to hit the ground running and just have fun again. I honestly can’t wait. I have a new energy. I want to make a good first impression.”

From a hockey perspective, the trade surprised a large segment of Oilers fans, who viewed Bear as a cornerstone of what they hope will be a Stanley Cup contender one day. There is a great risk in trading a youngster with a big upside, but the Oilers feel they are deep enough at the position and needed help elsewhere, so GM Ken Holland pulled the trigger.

“My agent kind of gave me a heads up that Carolina and couple of other teams wanted me, so I wasn’t too shocked,” Bear said. “I was talking to Ken a little bit and he explained some things to me that made sense. He has his plans and I didn’t really have a great year last year, so I’m looking forward to a fresh start in a new city.”

Bear had a disappointing season on many fronts, missing a handful of games to a concussion, finishing the year with just eight points and struggling when the intensity picked up in the playoffs. That’s not uncommon for young defencemen, who don’t always progress in a linear trajectory.

Darnell Nurse was the seventh-overall pick in 2013 and is still showing dramatic improvement from year to year. Bear, a fourth-rounder, has only played 132 NHL games.

“There are a lot of things I wasn’t able to do,” he said. “You take a puck to the head, there were a lot of bad bounces there. I’m really excited for this fresh start. I want to work hard and prove myself again. 1218871 Edmonton Oilers The goalie carousel is screeching to a halt and the Oilers have probably missed any chance they had to jump on.

Isn’t there a goalie we’re forgetting here? Can the Oilers add another goaltender? A new deal for Darnell Nurse? It’s very likely Smith and Koskinen will enter training camp preparing to What I’m hearing about the Oilers offseason, 4.0 start the season as the goaltending tandem. Don’t forget about one other name: Alex Stalock.

By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Jul 30, 2021 Though trading Stalock is still possible, I’m told by a team source that the preference is to hold on to Stalock and have him attend training camp in September. At best, he wins a job. At worst, he’s organizational depth in the event of an injury. The dust is still settling on a busy first day of free agency for the Oilers, but there’s more to discuss. To be clear, Stalock has a lot working against him to earn one of the two goaltending jobs before the exhibition schedule ends. (And the Oilers will They signed Zach Hyman, Cody Ceci and Derek Ryan. They re-signed keep only two goalies on the active roster, I’m told, not three as they did Tyson Barrie. They acquired Warren Foegele. for three months this past season due to COVID-19 quarantine rules and That was after they brought in Duncan Keith via trade, lost Adam Larsson increased waiver activity.) to Seattle and extended Mike Smith earlier this month. Stalock didn’t play at all during the 2021 season. That’s a lot to take in. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was diagnosed with myocarditis, But what’s next, dammit? inflammation of the heart muscle, last fall. He was then waived by Minnesota and claimed by Edmonton on March 1. He had to quarantine Well, here’s what I’ve got. and then get up to speed. By then, coach Dave Tippett decided to stick with Smith and Koskinen. What’s the deal with the goaltending? So, the Oilers don’t know what they have in Stalock, 34. Koskinen is the Of everything general manager Ken Holland said in his news conference more established goalie in the organization. They might need him and/or Wednesday afternoon, there was probably one thing that stood out the they might need to play him to showcase him for a potential trade. most. To be sent to the AHL, Stalock would have to clear waivers. That’s “The only way I can get into the goaltending market is if I trade a goalie,” probably unlikely given his cheap $785,000 salary and his experience as he said. “Mike Smith’s got a two-year deal at $2.2 (million) and Mikko a starting goalie in the 2020 playoffs for Minnesota. Koskinen’s got a one-year deal at $4.5 (million). I could not get into the goalie carousel if you wanted me to because of contracts.” The Oilers would hope to have him in Bakersfield in case of a need in Edmonton even though that means two would have to be There are two things to note here. sent to ECHL Wichita. Stuart Skinner (next up behind Stalock), Ilya First, some of that was self-inflicted. Smith was signed just last week. Konovalov, and Olivier Rodrigue make up the Oilers’ minor-league Koskinen could have been bought out if Holland desired, though he did pipeline in net. just tear up the last two years of James Neal’s deal — resulting in four And then there’s Stalock contract. His full salary wouldn’t count against more years of payments on the books. the salary cap if he were sent down. Teams can bury $1.125 million of a Second, it’s clear he did try to get into the goalie carousel. player’s cap hit in the minors next season.

The Oilers attempted to pry Darcy Kuemper loose from Arizona. However, having Koskinen in the minors and Stalock on the roster would (Colleague Pierre LeBrun also reports conversations between the Oilers save the Oilers $340,000. Koskinen’s salary minus the $1.125 million and Coyotes about Kuemper might have gone as far back as 10 days deductible plus Stalock’s salary is the $4.16 million cap hit. before free agency opened.) That could be an advantage for Stalock even if it’s a small one. Edmonton wasn’t willing to match what Colorado offered Arizona: What’s the likelihood of one more big addition? readymade prospect Conor Timmins, a 2022 first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick. Not only are the Avalanche more of a It’s possible the Oilers make another impactful move, but don’t get your Stanley Cup contender than the Oilers, but they were desperate for a hopes up. starting goalie after Philipp Grubauer signed with Seattle. Colleague Jonathan Willis did a great job of breaking down the Oilers The Oilers weren’t likely to surrender Evan Bouchard heading into the roster after Wednesday’s wheeling and dealing, including the dollars and offseason and they certainly weren’t on Wednesday after clearing a cents left to spend. The reality is there isn’t much, unless Koskinen, Zack roster spot for him. Bouchard and Timmins aren’t exactly equal as Kassian or Kyle Turris is dealt to free up some space. players; Bouchard is a first-round pick and is a year younger. But both are right-handed and have limited NHL time. Timmins has played 33 PuckPedia projects the Oilers have slightly more than $2.3 million in cap games and Bouchard is at 21. space. That’s with Turris in the minors and all but $525,000 of his $1.65 million cap buried. It also includes three goalies, which, as mentioned I can’t say unequivocally if Dylan Holloway and/or Philip Broberg were won’t be the case. Stalock makes barely more than the $750,000 league part of an offer, but Holland has shown little willingness to consider minimum and replacing him on the roster — if demoted or claimed off dealing with those top prospects. Holland said before the draft that he waivers — with a depth forward likely adds a bit of money. The projection wasn’t interested in dealing a first-round pick for a rental — Kuemper is also doesn’t include having Oscar Klefbom’s $4.167 million cap hit on one season from UFA — though that doesn’t mean it was off the table LTIR, which is where it’ll start the season and almost certainly remain all here. year — an Oilers source said.

But as Holland said, he needs to find a taker for a goaltender (Koskinen) So, really, we’re talking about just under $6.5 million here. If that seems if he’s going to bring in another. Koskinen’s salary and 15-team no-trade like a lot, it isn’t because two definite roster players, wingers Foegele and clause make the process much more costly and difficult. Kailer Yamamoto, are RFAs and need new contracts. Much of that money will go to them. (The remaining RFAs — Skinner, Tyler Benson The last deal Peter Chiarelli made as GM, with a big assist from hockey and Cooper Marody — were all AHLers this past season and are ops, is still wreaking havoc on the franchise. expected to make less than $1 million annually on their next deals.) The Oilers are comfortable enough with their goaltending even though Foegele, acquired Wednesday from Carolina for Ethan Bear, made $2.15 they were clearly trying to upgrade the position. It’s not impossible that a million this past season and is due for a raise. He’s 25, arbitration-eligible change is made in the days or weeks ahead before next season starts, and two years away from free agency. but it’s unlikely now. Former Oiler is probably the best goaltender left on the open market. The trade options have nearly dried Yamamoto, 22, is coming off his entry-level deal. I’ve been told the up. preference for both sides is a two-year bridge contract. However, it’s possible that a one-year deal at a lower cap hit could be the outcome. That’s a fallback position for the Oilers because that limited-term could drive up the cost of Yamamoto’s next deal next summer.

Barring a trade and the deduction of money off the salary cap, a team source said the Oilers probably have room to add one player in the $1 million-$1.25 million range. Holland said Wednesday he might be interested in adding another blueliner. Looking at the depth chart up front, adding another bottom-six forward might not be the worst idea either.

What’s next for the Oilers?

The No. 1 priority, I’m told, is a new deal for No. 1 defenceman Darnell Nurse, who is a year away from unrestricted free agency.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the next transaction the Oilers will make. Their ideal goal is to have an extension wrapped up before training camp starts in September. It would be very helpful for them to know Nurse’s status — and cap hit — for the coming years. My sense is a new contract isn’t imminent, but that could change with one phone call.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week there have been discussions about a four-year term. That makes a ton of sense from Nurse’s perspective.

Add the remaining year on his current $5.6 million AAV deal, and that four-year term would sync Nurse’s contract length and UFA eligibility with that of captain and pal Connor McDavid. It could also allow Nurse to hit the open market at 31, perhaps a shade older than ideal but young enough where another big contract could be had.

My understanding is the Oilers want to go much longer, perhaps as far as the maximum eight years. We’ll see where the negotiations go.

One thing is for sure: Nurse, 26, is going to get paid. Just look at some of the contracts being given this summer to defencemen who still have a year on their current contracts. Two somewhat comparable examples are Seth Jones and Zach Werenski.

Jones was drafted fourth overall in 2013, three spots ahead of Nurse. He’ll be 27 in October. He just signed an eight-year, $9.5 million AAV deal, albeit after being acquired in a trade by Chicago. The new contract commences in 2022-23 — just as Nurse’s would.

Nurse was seventh in Norris Trophy voting this past season. Jones didn’t receive a single vote, though he was nominated in each of the previous four years and finished fourth in 2018.

Werenski is two years younger than Nurse and has one more season on his $5 million AAV deal. He signed a six-year, $9.583 million AAV extension with Columbus — which covers five years of UFA status — on Thursday.

He was eighth in Norris voting in 2019-20 but, like Jones, wasn’t nominated this past season.

Nurse must be licking his chops. For the Oilers, this is the cost of bridging him twice.

On a slightly related note, I’m told the Oilers do not plan to engage in contract talks with Jesse Puljujarvi’s camp this offseason. Puljujarvi, 23, is heading into the last year of his two-year, $1.175 million AAV deal before he can become an RFA with arb rights.

He quickly earned a spot on Connor McDavid’s right wing in 2021 and recorded 15 goals and 25 points in 55 games. After missing the 2019-20 season to play in Finland, the Oilers want to see what Puljujarvi can do for an encore before deciding on their next contract offer.

Ryan McLeod (no arbitration) and William Lagesson (arbitration) are the only other pending RFAs next summer.

— Contract information from PuckPedia and CapFriendly.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218872 Florida Panthers — Forward Zac Dalpe has signed with the Panthers on a two-year, two- way contract. Dalpe, 31, played in 12 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording three points (2-1-3).

Panthers follow up draft with with busy week of signings Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.31.2021

By MALLORY SCHNELL

JUL 30, 2021 AT 3:38 PM

While most teams were adding new pieces during NHL free agency after the NHL draft the previous week, the Florida Panthers used this week to re-sign players and add depth to the team.

“It’s nice to be able to keep the collective together and the core together,” general manager Bill Zito said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Forward Carter Verhaeghe was re-signed to a three-year contract extension on Wednesday that begins in the 2022-23 season. Verhaeghe, 23, produced 18 goals and 18 assists over 43 games in the 2020-21 season with the Panthers.

“Carter emerged as one of the best possession forwards in hockey last season, elevating his game to fill an important role on our team,” Zito said. “His effort, speed and creativity are infectious on and off the ice.

On the defensive end, the Panthers re-signed Brandon Montour to a three-year contract, also on Wednesday.

“After joining the Panthers at the deadline this past season, Brandon impressed us with his character, skillset, tenacity and passion,” Zito said later. “We are excited to have him return to the Panthers as an important element of our defensive core.”

Montour, 27, posted a plus-eight rating and four points (2-2-4) in 12 games with Florida. Before being traded to the Panthers on April 10, Montour recorded 14 points for the Buffalo Sabres (5-9-14).

“I wanted to find something where I’m on a winning team, a team that wants to win now” Montour said. “Obviously we are at that point here where we want to make another step forward.”

After a few seasons in the KHL, Maxim Mamin has returned to the Panthers on a one-year contract.

Mamin, 26, recorded 15 goals and 20 assists in 55 games with CSKA Moscow.

“Maxim has developed into a potent two-way forward in his time the KHL, playing for a championship-caliber club in CKSA Moscow,” Zito said. “His size and compete level are valuable attributes and we are excited to have him back at the Panthers.”

In the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, Mamin appeared in 33 games with Florida, producing four points (3-1-4).

The Panthers also re-signed forward Juho Lammikko to a one-year, two- way contract.

Lammikko, 25, recorded five points (4-1-5) in 44 games with Florida in the 2020-21 season.

“Juho consistently contributed heart, passion and grit to our lineup,” Zito said. “We’re excited to have him return to strengthen our forward group in 2021-22.”

The Panthers also signed a few more players to two-way contracts:

— Defenseman Noah Juulsen will return on a one-year, two-way contract. Juulsen, 21, had nine hits and five shots during his four games with the Panthers in the 2020-21 season.

— Goaltender Christopher Gibson has agreed to terms with the Panthers on a one-year, two-way contract. Gibson, 28, recorded a 1-1-0 record and a .875 save percentage in two games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020-21 season.

— Defenseman Lucas Carlsson was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract. Carlsson, 24, was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks on April 8. He recorded one assist in 12 games for the Blackhawks. 1218873 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers sign Zac Dalpe, add forward depth

Published 17 hours ago on July 30, 2021By George Richards

The battle for the final few spots on the Florida Panthers roster got a little more interesting Friday when the team signed forward Zac Dalpe to a two-year, two-way contract.

Dalpe was with Columbus since 2017, splitting time between the Blue Jackets and the AHL Cleveland Monsters where Florida’s Bill Zito was GM.

The 31-year-old Dalpe had two goals and three points in 12 games with the Jackets last season and had three goals in five games with the Monsters.

Dalpe, originally a second-round pick of Carolina in 2008, has 153 games of NHL experience with Columbus, Minnesota, Buffalo, Vancouver and Carolina. He has 14 goals and 28 points in those games.

The expectation is that Dalpe would battle for a spot on Florida’s fourth line although there is plenty of competition as it stands right now.

Dalpe will likely start the season with Charlotte, a team he played for in the past.

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218874 Florida Panthers “Understanding that every little bump in the road isn’t going to be a mountain,” Ayers said.

There’s a line that Knight has used with Ayers at various points in their ‘He’s definitely unique’: Spencer Knight marches to his own drum en relationship and which now is kind of a mantra. route to NHL stardom “His line to me all the time was, ‘it’s just hockey,’” Ayers said. “I just love the way that comes off. He does care. But he doesn’t allow any sort of struggle or adversity to bog down what the end goal is.” Scott Burnside Jul 30, 2021 It’s just hockey. What a concept.

Spencer Knight working out with hockey training guru Ben Prentiss. DARIEN, Conn. — The narrative of the hockey prodigy goes something (Scott Burnside / The Athletic) like this: Blinders on to all but the machinery of the game. Workouts. Practices. Games. The circle is small for those chosen athletes and it We are in a black Jeep with Knight near his Darien home. He has country allows little room for the outside world and the distractions that live there. music on the radio, but it’s low and serves as background noise so it No sacrifice is too small. Not if you want to make it big. Not if you really doesn’t interfere with conversation. The windows are down. want it. Knight makes a point of driving by Darien High School, not far from the That is the narrative and many in the game from owners and managers home he has shared for most of his life with younger sisters Claire and and coaches on down cling tightly to it. Hannah and parents, Chris and Lilly, who works in finance for a hedge fund in nearby Stamford. The narrative doesn’t apply to Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight. It’s a beautiful campus with stately brick buildings and lots of green space. Knight points out the area where he sometimes comes Three months ago, Knight, who turned 20 on April 19, became the down with longtime pal Charlie Walsh to toss the ball around. The legend youngest goalie in NHL history to win his first four games. He started — or part of the Knight legend — is that he could have been every bit as Game 5 of the Panthers’ first-round series against the Lightning, allowed good at lacrosse as he is at hockey. a goal on the first shot he faced and then didn’t give up another as the Panthers forced a sixth game. Knight spent only one year at the school before going on to prep school Avon Old Farms and then to the National Team Development Program in Post-game, Knight answered questions from the media and then met Michigan before his two-year stint at Boston College and leading the U.S. with family and some childhood friends who’d made the trip from to a gold medal at the 2020 World Junior Championships. Connecticut to South Florida. He finally got to bed at his hotel about 2 a.m. In the morning, when his father, Chris, got back to the hotel room Why is Darien High worth pointing out? There is, after all, no real tangible with coffee, his son was already sitting at the desk. connection to hockey found here.

“I’m like ‘What are you doing?’ And he says, ‘I’m studying for an exam,’” In some ways that is exactly why this place and the memories and Chris recalled. “This is 9 o’clock in the morning. Probably had one of the relationships forged here are so important to him. They are a reminder of biggest games of your career so far and now you’re studying for an the integral pieces of his life that exist outside the game. exam?” “I like to get away from it a little bit,” Knight said. “I don’t want to be just Knight earned many collegiate accolades at Boston College. He was defined by being one thing. I think people should know me as more than even a finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top collegiate just a hockey player.” netminder. But his mind wasn’t always on hockey. In fact, as his hockey moment — his hockey destiny if you believe in Goaltending coach Mike Ayers loves to tell this story about Knight: those kinds of things — has arrived it has become increasingly important During his final year at BC, Knight would leave his phone in his dorm for Knight to embrace those non-hockey parts of his life. during class. He found that he absorbed and learned more without it. “He’s kind of figured out ways to do what he needs to do to feel most He also started taking long walks without his phone, savoring the sights comfortable so he can play great hockey but just be relaxed afterwards,” and sounds of campus. One day, Knight disappeared for about three his mother said. “I think it’s something he’s been learning, especially as hours having gotten lost in the winding streets of Chestnut Hill. the level of hockey has gone up.”

“He’s such a, I don’t want to say a complex person, but he’s got a lot One of Knight’s long-time teammates in the Mid Fairfield Connecticut going on,” Ayers said. “He’s definitely unique.” youth hockey program was Trevor Zegras, Anaheim’s first-round pick in the 2019 draft. Zegras’s father approached local hockey training guru This spring, on the day Knight was to sign the papers that would make Ben Prentiss about having the boys’ team work out with Prentiss’s staff. him an NHL goaltender, Panthers GM Bill Zito called Knight’s dad. Prentiss, who runs one of the most acclaimed training facilities for hockey Any idea where Spencer might be? Zito wanted to know. players in North America, agreed to take the boys on.

Chris, who was in Boston to help get things ready for his son’s move to “When we started, this is a true story, we’re doing all the evaluations and Florida, did not have an answer. the testing and these are 13-year-old guys and I’m telling you that a couple of kids on the team looked like they could have been Spencer’s “He never really said, ‘I’m ready to go,’ or ‘I’m ready to sign,’ so to kids,” Prentiss said. speak,” said Chris, who spent two decades as a police officer in Connecticut before going into property management. Knight may have been big, but he was lanky. He embraced the strict regimen Prentiss and his staff created for some of the most talented and Spencer had in fact left his father on his own in Boston. He’d said there promising players in the game. were people he needed to see before departing: teammates, classmates, instructors and coaches. And of course he didn’t have his phone. Chris Like many of the relationships in his life, the bond between Knight and went looking for his son, ending up at the Boston College rink. When he Prentiss is strong because there is a high sense of trust. Knight has a walked in, he noticed a lone figure on the ice shooting pucks. keen eye for the steps that need to be taken to achieve success as a hockey player and Prentiss admires that even if he likes to have a little He spotted Ayers and asked the coach if he knew where Spencer might fun with Knight along the way. be. “He’s like ‘He’s the one out there shooting pucks.’ ’” Chris recalled. “So, I’ll always joke with him. He’ll say ‘how many scoops of protein?’ “I don’t know if it was a therapeutic type session,” Chris said. “He kind of And I’ll say 2.33 scoops. And I’ll just joke around with him,” Prentiss said. knew what he had to do. But what he really wanted to do were probably “He doesn’t even laugh.” two different things.” This dedication to precision manifests itself in different ways during our For Ayers, watching Knight move on to the next step in his life and career visit with Knight and his family. One morning, Knight moves assuredly was equally bittersweet. He’s watched Knight become a man, to see around the kitchen whipping up a concoction of powders and fruit and all things through the prism of an adult. manner of healthy ingredients. The next morning he and Chris are dodging each other in the spacious kitchen making boiled eggs and Tallon was replaced by Bill Zito in September 2020.n a short period of oatmeal. time, he made significant moves to redefine the culture of the Panthers, a team that hasn’t won a playoff round since advancing to the 1996 Stanley Not a Pop-Tart or container of hollandaise sauce anywhere to be seen. Cup Final.

Lunch is more of the same including a blended drink with smashed-up Zito understood that the college experience was important to Knight and spinach followed by broccoli and chicken and sweet potatoes Knight has his family so he didn’t push or press them during this past season. But he cooked ahead of time and stored in plastic containers in the fridge. There did arrange a number of video calls to explain the team’s plans moving is also kimchi and homemade balsamic dressing courtesy of Lilly. forward.

When the family goes out to dinner, Spencer eats his own meal and then Quenneville, the second-winningest coach in NHL history, took part. So comes along eating only a small appetizer or something to be sociable. did members of the Panthers’ ownership group. The message was Lilly and Chris laugh when asked how often hockey comes up at family simple and direct: The best players were going to play for the Panthers dinners. Almost never. not the players with the biggest contracts or the most seniority.

“It’s not the primary focus for the whole family,” Lilly added. “It’s Neumann said it was one of the most refreshingly honest conversations Spencer’s primary focus and we’re all here to support him but he doesn’t he’s had with a management/ownership group in his career. demand a lot of attention which is nice.” “We felt it would be a true meritocracy,” the agent said.

But sometimes the family becomes aware that Spencer’s world orbit Talk is talk of course. means they don’t always control those things. Not long ago the family was out to dinner and some people at a neighboring table, including Knight admitted he arrived in Florida with minimal expectations about some influential hockey business people, recognized Knight. playing. Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger had played the Panthers into a battle for first place in the Central Division and Knight was expecting to “Next thing you know we had probably six people around our dinner just soak in the atmosphere being around an NHL team for the first time. table, these people talking about Spencer, Spencer, Spencer and all five of us were at the table and we literally had five people standing up talking But Driedger was injured and Bobrovsky struggled down the stretch so to our table probably for 10, 15 minutes,” Chris said. Knight ended up going 4-0 in regular-season play allowing just eight goals. He then got the call in the latter stages of the Panthers’ first-round “The girls know that that has to happen and they seem to be reasonably series against Tampa stopping 56 of 60 shots he faced for a .933 chill with it,” Lilly added. “He’s nice to them. He’s a good brother to them. percentage in Games 5 and 6. It’s not like he doesn’t try to take the oxygen out of the room. It just, unfortunately, as he moves through a room, that’s what happens.” “They stuck to their word the whole time,” Knight said.

The scene in Prentiss’s sprawling gym in Stamford is especially vital Spencer Knight at his Darien, Conn., home with his first goalie stick. throughout the morning. Knight likes to arrive 30 to 45 minutes in (Scott Burnside / The Athletic) advance of his scheduled workout. He stretches and loosens up while chatting with some of the other NHLers and players who dream of being Do you believe in symmetry? Kismet? Fate? NHLers. The Knights’ basement has become a collecting ground for all things Zegras is here. Long-time Prentiss clients Chris Kreider and Matt hockey. The cupboards are filled to overflowing with old gear and there Moulson are here too. As are Ben Harpur and Anthony Bitetto and so on, are pads worn during World Junior Championships and in youth hockey the group chatting casually before getting down to business. and for Boston College scattered hither and yon.

At 10 a.m., Knight starts an hour-long session with trainer Rob Against a series of cupboard doors are several dozen sticks. Knight Dombrowski. There is a four-week rotation of activities the two will go searches briefly in the line of goalie sticks and plucks out an undersized through to make sure the body is getting the maximum benefit of the one with ‘Luongo’ stenciled on it. workout regimen. This day marks the first day of a new four-week This was Knight’s first official goalie stick. session and we joke about whether there’s a chance we’ll see Knight weep. Luongo, is, of course, Roberto Luongo as much the face of the Panthers franchise as any player in the team’s history. He became a star in Florida Over the next two days, it’s not really all that funny as we watch Knight after being selected first overall by the Islanders in 1997. He met his wife embrace the punishing exercises. Each has been designed with a in Florida and after a long run in Vancouver finished out his career with purpose and each specified to Knight to help him be the best goaltender the Panthers. He joined the organization as a special advisor to the GM he can be, including exercises that will help build up strength for critical with a focus on the team’s new goaltending development department. side-to-side motion on the ice and build up strength in the neck and shoulder to help reduce the potential for injury from spending so much of The first time Luongo met Knight was literally the day he’d announced his his time on the ice in the crouch position. retirement and Knight was at Florida’s development camp. The meeting lasted about two minutes. Knight asks questions throughout the process about how exercises should be done for maximum benefit or the rationale behind the different But Luongo has increasingly been reaching out, just touching base, to movements. see how things were going.

“He doesn’t take a second off,” said Dombrowski, now in his third year of Luongo admitted he was nervous after Knight ended up in Florida in the working with Knight. “I don’t know if that’s a goalie thing or just him. If I final weeks of the just-completed regular season. The worry factor went tell him four minutes (for a drill) he’ll do six minutes.” up exponentially in Game 5 because of what was at stake for the Panthers. What would the long-term ramifications be if Knight had a Veteran player representative Jordan Neumann has been Knight’s tough outing? advisor throughout the lead-up to his arrival in Florida. “Listen, the kid’s got unbelievable talent and he’s a specimen but yeah, I He recalled meeting with then-Panthers GM and head coach was worried,” Luongo said. “You never know. It’s tough to know how a Joel Quenneville at the Vancouver draft and how enthusiastic they all (19-year-old) is going to react. I was worried. But he came through. were about the relationship. “I just feel like with Spencer I’m the worried parent all the time. But that’s A week after the Panthers made Knight the 13th pick, the team locked up my job. We want to make sure we do things the right way.” two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky to a mammoth seven- year, $70-million deal. The concern, well-placed, turned out to be moot.

It wasn’t an ideal situation from Knight’s perspective and there was lots of “He’s different than everybody else that I’ve ever known at that age,” discussion about the best course of action for the promising netminder. Luongo said. “He is such a special case.” Sign an entry-level deal? Don’t sign one and simply play out his college Having had those benchmark experiences already, first NHL games, first career? playoff games, first elimination games, and to have risen to the challenge in all cases should provide an important base for Knight on which to build heading into his first training camp.

“It’s huge for him,” Luongo said. “Right off the hop, gives him that sense of comfort and reassurance that he can do it. All he needs now is time and experience.”

Parallels to his own experiences? Yes and no.

“I put myself in his shoes all the time,” Luongo said. “When I look back I don’t know if I was quite ready for that workload and also the stuff that comes with being a pro. I had trouble handling that stuff.”

He recalled one game against Pittsburgh early in his career getting lit up for nine goals. Jaromir Jagr had seven points, Luongo said.

“It took me over a month to get over that,” he said. “But at the same time, I think (Knight’s) a different case. He has a different level of maturity.”

Luongo isn’t at all worried about how things will play out with Bobrovsky. Every team with the exception of one or two — Tampa perhaps — needs to be able to split the goaltending workload to have success.

“I think Bob knows that,” Luongo said. “I know that Bob and (Chris) Driedger had a great relationship this year and they had great success.”

He recalled the first year that young netminder Cory Schneider began playing a significant role in Vancouver.

“I’m not going to lie and say it wasn’t hard, but I understood it and I thought it was a good idea,” Luongo said. “It was just so much easier for me to be fresh and feel better about when I played.”

And while people portrayed the relationship as controversial it was anything but, he said. “I was really open to the idea and embraced it,” he said.

He expects the same dynamic will be at play in Florida.

“The dynamic between Bob and Spencer, I’m not worried about it, that’ll work itself out,” Luongo said.

Knight jokes that he doesn’t really know where all his gear is at this point. And he has no intention of getting on the ice before August, especially with training camp not set to start until September 22.

“I want to come to camp excited to be there,” Knight said. He wants the thrill of taping sticks and being in the locker room and gearing up for drills and shots and scrimmages — not to be burnt out from having faced hundreds of shots in a meaningless July workout.

“I still don’t consider myself an NHL player,” Knight said. And he makes no assumptions about what is to come in September.

That said, his parents have helped him get a place in South Florida so he won’t have to move in and out of a hotel room if he’s spending time shuttling between the Panthers’ AHL affiliate in Charlotte and South Florida. Chris and Lilly have helped out with things like the lease and insurance. He does not expect or demand it but appreciates it, a tacit acknowledgment of his own shortcomings as a young man not versed in those worldly ways just yet.

Knight is plotting a return to Boston College before the start of training camp with a football game and some tailgating and, of course, reconnecting with his friends and teammates.

“I think that’s going to be one of the toughest things for me going forward,” he admitted. Knight will miss the friends he made and the campus life experience that was cut short and altered by the pandemic.

It’s a reminder of what we sometimes forget about these life-changing hockey moments.

Knight will never forget his first-ever NHL playoff game and if you watch the highlights what stands out more than the poise and the saves is the ever-present grin.

That is magical. But what is as magical is that he understands that those moments that heralded a beginning as a rising NHL star also signaled an end to something equally magical.

And it’s okay to lament that passing as much as the hockey world anticipates the next chapter.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218875 Los Angeles Kings

Kings sign forward Lias Andersson to 1-year contract extension

By ANDREW KNOLL |PUBLISHED: July 30, 2021 at 12:37 p.m. | UPDATED: July 30, 2021 at 3:21 p.m.

The Kings re-signed restricted free-agent forward Lias Andersson to a new, one-year contract Friday. The deal is worth up to $874,125, the Kings said in a news release.

Andersson, who was the No.7 overall draft pick in 2017, was acquired from the New York Rangers in exchange for a second-round selection prior to last season.

The 22-year-old Swede split his 2021 campaign between the Kings, for whom he had six points in 23 games, and the American Hockey League, where he racked up 17 points in 15 matches. His father Niklas and uncle Mikael were both NHL pros.

Andersson was protected in last week’s expansion draft. He became the fourth restricted free-agent forward to come to terms with the Kings after Blake Lizotte, Trevor Moore and Andreas Athanasiou all returned to the fold.

Andersson was drafted as a center but can also play wing capably. While it remains to be seen if he can carry over his offensive production from other levels of competition to the NHL, his tenacity on the forecheck and positional versatility give him a strong opportunity to stick as a bottom-six player next season.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218876 Los Angeles Kings

LA Kings re-sign forward Lias Andersson to one-year, two-way contract, $874,125 AAV

By Zach Dooley14 hours ago

The LA Kings have re-signed forward Lias Andersson to a one-year, two- way contract, carrying an AAV of $874,125 at the NHL level. Like Andreas Athanasiou, who was re-signed yesterday on a one-year term, Andersson was one of six Kings players to receive a qualifying offer from the organization on Monday and is now signing his first contract with the organization, after he was acquired via trade last fall.

Originally acquired via trade from the NHL’s New York Rangers, in exchange for the 60th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, Andersson completed his first season as a member of the Kings organization. In 23 games with the Kings, Andersson collected six points (3-3-6) to set a single-season career-high in goals and tied his career-best mark in points, set in 2018-19 during his time with New York. He also recorded 17 points (6-11-17) in 15 contests with the Ontario Reign and added a goal in the team’s lone postseason game. Before joining the Kings for the 2020-21 season, he played 19 games with HV71 of the SHL where he notched 11 points (5-6-11).

From an NHL perspective, Andersson had an interesting 2020-21 campaign, that ended on a high note, with the 22-year-old forward impressing during an extended run in the lineup at the end of the season. Skating on a forward line with Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo, he dressed in each of the team’s final 10 games and collected three points (1-3-4), a +2 rating and a CF% of 50.5. Other puck possession metrics favored Andersson as well over that stretch, with the Kings controlling nearly 53 percent of scoring chances and more than 54 percent of high-danger chances with the Swede on the ice.

Though the finish was impressive, Andersson had his share of ups and downs leading in. After he made the team out of training camp, Andersson struggled to maintain a regular spot in the lineup, playing in 11 of 12 games between January 19 and February 16, but just two NHL games between then and April 28. In none of those games did he exceed 13:30 of ice time, and his role fluctuated between the third and fourth lines, and between center and the wing, resulting in some time with the AHL’s Ontario Reign.

Andersson was a star in the AHL, scoring at over a point-per-game pace with Ontario, as he earned his way back to the Kings to close out the season. Plenty of players in his situation might’ve gone down with the wrong attitude or approach, but Andersson had the opposite mentality. He went down to work on areas of his game, eager to prove he belonged at the NHL level.

“He came to a new team, he played some games, he was in and out, he didn’t get to play a lot and we asked him to go to the minors just to get his game polished up and get some game action,” Kings Head Coach Todd McLellan said of Andersson. “He did that, he was very patient, every day he showed up at the rink and I don’t know how many times he walked by me and said ‘I’m ready’ and he was. When his number was called, he was ready, good for him.”

Andersson, like Athanasiou, presents another intriguing option for the Kings heading into training camp. Both players have played all three forward positions throughout their NHL career and played throughout the Kings lineup last season, ranging from the first line to the fourth line in Athanasiou’s case. With the additions earlier this offseason of Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson, the Kings now have plenty of options at their disposal up front, with Andersson now fitting firmly into that mix.

Following Andersson’s signing, the Kings have four unsigned restricted free agents remaining – Brayden Burke, Kale Clague, Jacob Moverare and Austin Strand.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218877 Montreal Canadiens there’s a chance I’m not in the lineup the next game, so I have to perform that night and I’m coming to Montreal with the same idea.

“If you play your best game, you have a chance to stay in the lineup. If Mathieu Perreault gains fresh start with Canadiens you don’t, you might come out,” he added. “This is how I see it and we’ll go from there.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.31.2021 Stu Cowan Publishing date:Jul 30, 2021 • 10 hours ago •

The Canadiens will have a new French Connection trio next season.

After signing defenceman David Savard and centre Cédric Paquette as free agents on Wednesday, Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin added left- winger Mathieu Perreault on Thursday night.

“I haven’t talked to them yet,” Perreault said during a Zoom conference Friday when asked about the two other francophones added to the Canadiens’ lineup. “I’ve met them in a few charity tournaments in the past summers, so I know them. But it’s very exciting to have a chance to play with some French-Canadians, not something I’ve had a whole lot throughout my career. I’m very excited to get to meet all the guys and the French guys on the team, that would be special. So I’m very excited.”

With Jonathan Drouin expected to rejoin the team for training camp after leaving for personal reasons in April, the Canadiens should have four francophones in the lineup next season. They played the first game in franchise history without a francophone late last season after Drouin had left the team and Phillip Danault was sidelined with a concussion.

Danault signed a six-year, US$33-million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday as a free agent.

Perreault signed a one-year, US$950,000 deal with the Canadiens after completing a four-year, US$16.5-million contract with the Winnipeg Jets. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound left-winger had 9-10-19 totals in 56 games last season while averaging only 11:43 of ice time.

The Washington Capitals selected Perreault in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft. The Drummondville native was named the most valuable player in the QMJHL for the 2006-07 season after posting 41-78-119 totals in 67 games with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

In 683 career regular-season games in the NHL with the Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Jets, Perreault has 139-205-344 totals. His career high for goals is 18 and his career high for points if 45. He spent the last seven seasons with the Jets.

“I gave them my all, I did everything I could to try and win a championship there,” Perreault said about his time in Winnipeg, which came to an end after the Jets lost to the Canadiens in the second round of the playoffs this year. “It didn’t work out for us. At that point (Jets head coach Paul Maurice) told me that he would like to have me back — obviously not at the same salary. I understood that. I told them that I was going to go and see what else is out there for me because the way the last couple of years have been it wasn’t the best-case scenario for me minutes-wise and stuff like that.

“I knew they were ready to kind of move on as well and give some other guys a chance to play in that role,” Perreault added. “I got nothing but good things to say about Paul and (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) in Winnipeg for all they’ve done for me. They basically made my career … all the good money I’ve made in this league comes from them giving the trust in me and giving me a chance to play with them and win a Stanley Cup, which we weren’t able to do.”

Perreault can play all three forward positions, but was moved from centre to wing in Winnipeg because of back problems he was having while taking faceoffs. He said he has spoken with Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme and told him he can play centre again if needed.

Perreault grew up cheering for the Canadiens and centre Saku Koivu.

“The last time they won the Cup (in 1993) I was too young to remember,” Perreault said. “But growing up, Saku Koivu was definitely my favourite Canadiens player. I just loved the way he played. He was a smaller centreman, just like I was growing up, so I kind of moulded my game around what he was doing. I always loved him.”

As for his new role with the Canadiens, Perreault said: “This all comes down to how I play, really. You come to a new team you got to prove what you can do and earn your spot in the lineup. I’ve built a career on that. I came into the league that way. I’ve always played every game like 1218878 Montreal Canadiens After spending 10 years in the small hockey market of Columbus, life will change for Savard, who will be recognized almost everywhere he goes in Montreal.

Stu Cowan: Loss of key players could loom large for Canadiens “I don’t think I crave the fact of being recognized, but I think it’s going to be a fun experience to live around Montreal. And I think in the playoffs, it was awesome to see how the fans were reacting and the fact that they’re so into it and every time you show up to the rink it’s to win and people are Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 30, 2021 • 11 hours ago passionate about it,” he said. “I think that there’s something really cool about it and I’m excited for it. I think it’s going to be a fun experience.

The Canadiens are hoping David Savard can fill captain Shea Weber’s “The team is going better and better every year and this year the young large skates. guys really took a step and I think it’s just going to keep going in that direction,” he added. “So I think I’m just coming in and trying to help Good luck with that. everybody and help the team in games and get back to the Stanley Cup final and get a big Cup. That would be the goal.” That’s not a knock on Savard, who is a solid defenceman, but he’s nowhere near the same player as Weber. That’s looking like a very difficult goal right now.

With Weber expected to miss all of next season and his career possibly Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.31.2021 over because of injuries, GM Marc Bergevin signed the 30-year-old Savard to a four-year, US$14-million contract on Wednesday as a free agent.

At 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, Savard is two inches shorter and four pounds heavier than Weber. He’s also five years younger. But while Weber logged 25:13 of ice time during the playoffs — ranking second on the team behind Ben Chiarot with 25:15 — and played some of his best hockey since joining the Canadiens, Savard averaged 14:07 of ice time to rank sixth among Tampa Bay Lightning defencemen.

Savard played 54 games during the regular season, split between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Lightning, posting 1-5-6 totals and a minus-27 differential. Weber played through injuries to his knee, ankle, foot and thumb while posting 6-13-19 totals and a minus-4 in 48 regular- season games.

“It was important for us to fill the hole Shea leaves as adequately as possible, even though we know that Shea’s a huge piece you can’t replace,” Bergevin said. “But David’s a similar player as a penalty-killer. He’s big, intense and he brings toughness in front of the net. And we wanted to keep the same dynamic that gave us success in the playoffs with our top four, and David enables us to do that.”

As of now, the Canadiens top four on defence next season will be Savard, Chiarot, Jeff Petry and Joel Edmundson. Alexander Romanov and Brett Kulak look like they’ll be the third defence pairing.

Weber will be a huge loss on the blue line and Phillip Danault, who signed with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent, will be a huge loss at centre. The Canadiens’ four centres are Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jake Evans and Cédric Paquette and they’ve also lost veteran forward Corey Perry to the Lightning as a free agent.

Bergevin only has $23,630 left in salary-cap space, according to CapFriendly.com, but will get another $7.857 million if the NHL allows him to put Weber on long-term injured reserve, which is expected to happen. You have to think the GM will be looking to use that money to find a veteran centre and/or a puck-moving defenceman.

With the roster the way it looks now — and with Carey Price coming off knee surgery and winger Paul Byron missing five months after hip surgery — you have to think the Canadiens will be in a fight just to make the playoffs.

Savard, a St-Hyacinthe native, is thrilled about joining the Canadiens after spending 10 seasons in Columbus before being dealt to Tampa at this year’s NHL trade deadline and winning the Stanley Cup with the Lightning. Savard and his wife have three young children and he said it was a family decision for him to sign with the Canadiens, adding that being able to send his kids to French school was important, along with being closer to their grandparents.

“I think my role is just going to be to come in and play hard,” said Savard, who has 41-125-166 totals in 611 career regular-season games. “Whatever they ask me to do. I think they’re looking for somebody to play hard down low and play against the top lines when they need me to and play some PK minutes and block shots. That’s what I’m going to do. That’s what I’ve been doing in Columbus and Tampa.

“I’m not going to change my game because now I’m in Montreal or they lost Shea Weber,” Savard added. “I’m not trying to be Shea Weber. I’m just going to be myself and play hard and, I think if I do that, I’m going to help the team to get some wins and get to the playoffs.” 1218879 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens' Paul Byron out for five months after hip surgery

Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 30, 2021 • 11 hours ago

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin announced Friday that Paul Byron had hip surgery this week and that the recovery period is expected to be five months.

Bergevin added that the 32-year-old forward is expected to make a full recovery after the surgery that was performed in New York at the Hospital for Special Surgery by Dr. Bryan Kelly.

Byron had 5-11-16 totals in 46 regular-season games this year and added 3-3-6 totals in 22 playoff games. He has two more seasons remaining on a four-year, US$13.6-million contract with an annual salary- cap hit of $3.4 million.

Byron was placed on waivers three times last season as the Canadiens looked to save money on the salary cap.

When asked after the Canadiens lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup final if he could put the season into perspective, Byron said: “I haven’t even really kind of broke down the season yet. Still kind of living in that day-to-day phase. The emotional roller-coaster this year was quite the ride. I mean, I couldn’t have been any happier in the playoffs with our team, proud of the team. The result, it’s exactly where we wanted to be … a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. I look forward to that challenge again. It was fun to taste it, but now it makes you even hungrier to want to get back and finish the job.”

Byron is now expected to miss the first three months of next season.

When asked after the Stanley Cup final what it means to him to be a Canadien, Byron said: “I love Montreal. I love the city, I love the fans. I love putting on the jersey every single day. I say it all the time to myself in my head: you come in through the garage (at the Bell Centre), you walk in and you see the pictures. You see Jean Béliveau, Maurice Richard, Yvan Cournoyer, Larry Robinson, Patrick Roy, Guy Carbonneau … to wear the same jersey as those guys it’s a dream. It’s everything you dream of as a kid.

“I’m the luckiest person in the world, honestly, even on bad days, being on waivers, it doesn’t matter. I love it … I love being here. My wife being French-Canadian, her family, it was incredible. I mean it was an incredible year.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218880 Montreal Canadiens “He’s a very close friend of mine,” Perry said. “To get to lace them up again with him is going to be exciting and I’m looking forward to it. But there’s a lot of good players on that team … you have stars and guys that are going to be stars. So I’m just looking forward to getting to know Corey Perry will continue his chase for a second Stanley Cup in Tampa everybody, getting on the ice with everybody and being a part of it and see where we can go with this.”

When asked if it will be awkward now being on the team he lost to in Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 30, 2021 • 14 hours ago each of the last two Cup finals, Perry said: “It is what it is. They’re a very good team and they beat us the last two years in Dallas and Montreal. But once you get there — I’ve talked to a few guys already — you say If you can’t beat them, join them. your congratulations and then you move on. There’s not much else you can do. I’m trying to help the Tampa Bay Lightning win another Stanley After losing to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup final in each of the last two Cup.” seasons, Corey Perry decided to sign a two-year, US$2-million contract with the Lightning on Thursday as a free agent. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.31.2021 Perry was with the Canadiens this year when they lost to the Lightning in the Cup final after losing to them as a member of the Dallas Stars last year.

Last season, the 36-year-old right-winger posted 9-12-21 totals in 49 regular-season games with the Canadiens and added 4-6-10 totals in 22 playoff games. Perry earned US$750,000 with the Canadiens after signing a one-year contract as a free agent and became a valuable player to the team both on the ice and off the ice as a leader.

Perry said the Lightning’s winning culture and a two-year contract offer were the deciding factors in him leaving Montreal.

“At the end of the day, where I am in my career I want to win, I want to be a part of that and I’m looking forward to it,” he said during a Zoom conference Friday. “There was some teams we talked to and, obviously, Montreal was a big part of that. Tampa came along … it’s an exciting time for my family, for myself personally to go down there and help them try to win again.”

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was hoping to re-sign Perry, who thanked the organization for the opportunity to play in Montreal.

“Marc Bergevin, the organization — Geoff Molson, the owner — they gave me a chance last season,” Perry said. “I knew coming into that season I’d be starting on the taxi squad and having to prove myself and they gave me that opportunity. So I have to say thank you to them and I really appreciate everything they did for me.

“Montreal was my favourite team growing up, so to put on that jersey, to step into the Bell Centre — unfortunate there was no fans for the season — but having that experience and seeing the fans, how passionate they really are inside and outside (the Bell Centre),” Perry added. “It was special and it’s going to rank up there for me in my career just as one of the top things I’ve ever done. You grow up watching the Montreal Canadiens … to put that jersey on, to step in the arena in the Bell Centre, to sit in that dressing room, look up and see the names that have gone through that dressing room and played for that team, it’s pretty special.”

Perry is a member of the Triple Gold Club, winning gold medals with Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. Perry and Scott Niedermayer are the only two members of the Triple Gold Club who have also won at the world junior championship, the Memorial Cup and the .

Perry was only 22 when he won the Stanley Cup with the Ducks and he wants to experience that feeling again before hanging up his skates.

“Sometimes when you win it so young you take it for granted,” he said. “I said that this year in Montreal … I said when we were down 3-1 to Toronto (in the first round of the playoffs) is you never know if you’re going to get this chance again. You might not make the playoffs ever again. You never know where this can go and we used that as motivation. When you’re 22 years old and you get your name on the Cup you have no idea. You take it’s going to happen every single season. But it took me 14 years to get back (to the Cup final). You have to come into the season, you have to do everything you can possible to put yourself in the right position. We’re looking to do that again in Tampa.”

With the Lightning, Perry will be reunited with Pat Maroon, who was his teammate in Anaheim after the Ducks had won the Stanley Cup. Maroon has been on the Cup-winning team in each of the last three seasons, winning in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues and the last two years with the Lightning. 1218881 Montreal Canadiens right now, I was not in a hurry to do that. But eventually we’ll talk and we’ll go from there. We’ll meet at training camp and we’ll be smooth.”

Modern approach Canadiens Notebook: Habs hire Éric Raymond as goalie coach As Ducharme noted, Raymond has a modern approach and emphasizes modern techniques in goaltending.

Stu Cowan Publishing date:Jul 30, 2021 • 14 hours ago “The game is fast, really fast,” Raymond said when asked to expand on that. “But I like the technical stuff and, yeah, I know my technical stuff. But, at the same time, it’s a fine line because I don’t want to go there and over-coach. I was fortunate in my career to learn and get a lot of GM Marc Bergevin announced Friday that the Canadiens have hired Éric influences from Benoît Allaire with the New York Rangers. I’m really Raymond as their goalie coach. grateful for that.” The 49-year-old Montreal native was a goalie coach with the AHL’s Allaire, an assistant coach and goalie coach with the Rangers, was the Hartford Wolf Pack from 2016-17 through 2019-20 and was also a goalie Canadiens’ goalie coach in 1996-97 and later spent seven seasons as a development consultant for the New York Rangers during that time. goalie coach with the Phoenix Coyotes before joining the Rangers in Raymond was a goalie for four seasons in the QMJHL with the Laval 2004. Titan and Verdun College Français and later played in the CoHL, CHL, “Since the young age of 15 years old I started to work with him as my IHL and AHL, along with playing stints in England, France and Germany. coach and in junior we won together,” Raymond said. “He’s always been He was with the Titan when they won the President’s Cup QMJHL my mentor and brought me to New York and worked with the farm team. championship in 1990 and 1992 and played four games with the AHL’s He’s always been my mentor and a great influence on me. My years I Fredericton Canadiens in 1993-94, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.70 spent with him, working really tight and close with him brought me a lot of goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. experience. I feel ready, I learned a lot. I’m looking forward for the new Raymond also worked as a goalie coach for the QMJHL’s Montreal challenge.” Juniors in 2008-09 and with the from 2010 until Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.31.2021 2018. Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme was head coach of the Mooseheads from 2011 until 2016. The Moosheads won the President’s Cup as well as the Memorial Cup in 2013.

Raymond was also goalie coach for Team Canada when it won a gold medal at the 2018 world junior championship with Ducharme as head coach.

“I worked closely with Éric for many years,” Ducharme said. “Along with being an excellent communicator, he has a modern approach and emphasizes modern techniques. He creates genuine chemistry with his goaltenders and has an excellent track record. Éric also has a lot of experience at all levels, most notably on the international scene. I’m excited about his addition to our group.”

Ducharme and Raymond also played together in France with Rouen. It was Ducharme who called Raymond and offered him the job with the Canadiens.

“Dom and I, we always had this great relationship and in the past we always were happy every time we had the chance to work together,” Raymond said. “We kind of knew, were hoping anyway, for one day we could work together again. So when he gave me the call I was really happy.”

Last season the Canadiens fired goalie coach Stéphane Waite and Sean Burke took over as the director of goaltending.

Intimidating job?

The Canadiens are hoping Carey Price will be ready to start the season after having knee surgery last Friday in New York.

Price was inconsistent during the regular season this year, which is why Waite was fired. Price finished the regular season with a 12-7-5 record, a 2.64 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. He was much better in the playoffs, posting a 13-9 record with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage as the Canadiens advanced to the Stanley Cup final before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Raymond was asked if being Price’s new goalie coach could be intimidating.

“It’s a good question,” Raymond said. “The goalies are there, they want to perform. They want to perform, they want you to be a coach, they want a partnership with you. And for me it’s just to build a relationship. It’s fun to come with two great goalies (including Jake Allen), but for me I’ve been around good goalies before. It’s not something I’m intimidated … I just want to help the guys to get the best of them, to make their day and prepare them for every game.”

Raymond has yet to speak with Price.

“It’s going to happen later,” the new goalie coach said. “We’re definitely going to talk this summer and stuff. I want to give him a little time. I know now he just got his surgery last week. Eventually we’ll talk and stuff. For 1218882 Montreal Canadiens “Sometimes you can’t fill those spots, you have to be careful, and if it’s not there, you hope that the young player’s going to take the next step. I don’t know that for sure, but that might have to be the case in this case with KK.” Canadiens depth chart analysis: Marc Bergevin’s offseason work could be best described as incomplete If Bergevin is looking to make a trade, the sheer number of forwards on the roster suggests that would be the case, even with Paul Byron expected to be out until late December recovering from hip surgery. We came up with some possible line combinations, and really, it’s difficult to By Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin Jul 30, 2021 see how any combination of this group of forwards makes a whole lot of sense.

The Canadiens’ offseason thus far has been more about replacement Chances are pretty good you don’t agree with these lines, and that’s fine. than improvement. We’re not sure whether we agree with them either.

Practically every move Marc Bergevin has made two days into free Projected Canadiens forward lines agency has had replacement as the primary goal. He signed David Josh Anderson Savard to try to replace the defensive and toughness element of Shea Weber’s game. He signed Cédric Paquette to try to replace the defensive Nick Suzuki element of Phillip Danault’s game and the fact he is a left-shot faceoff man. In neither case does the replacement come close to equaling the Cole Caufield player who departed. Jonathan Drouin Mike Hoffman comes in to replace Tomas Tatar. Mathieu Perreault, Jesperi Kotkaniemi signed Thursday, comes in ostensibly to replace Corey Perry, who signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier Thursday. Brendan Gallagher

Even Chris Wideman, a fringe NHL defenceman coming back after a Mike Hoffman year in the KHL, where he was named defenceman of the year last season, could be seen as a replacement for Erik Gustafsson as a puck- Jake Evans mover who could play on the power play. Tyler Toffoli

This would explain why Bergevin did not look all that satisfied when he Artturi Lehkonen/Mathieu Perreault addressed the media at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Nor did he look like a man who was done, and even after he signed Hoffman later that same day, Cédric Paquette we still have the same impression. Joel Armia Bergevin spoke of exploring the trade market for a centre. For a puck- moving defenceman. He was conscious the team he had was far from Paul Byron (injured) ideal. It’s a bit of a strange lineup when you have players — particularly at “You can’t have a perfect team at every position,” he said. centre — who are being asked to make pretty big leaps in terms of responsibilities with what looks to be an unusually expensive fourth line. As we look at the roster as it stands, that comment from Bergevin But it’s mainly because when you look at all the candidates to play on the becomes very evident. But what also becomes evident is that more second and third lines, each player’s individual assets don’t seem to change is coming, because entering next season with the roster as it mesh all that well with the others. You can play around with the stands would not make a whole lot of sense. combinations, move pieces here or there, but the problem remains the same. The pieces simply don’t seem to fit. Forward We could look at this on the bright side and say the players are Nothing better exemplifies the Canadiens’ state of flux than the situation complementary, that the tools one may be missing are possessed by at forward. someone else. But there needs to be a minimum level of cohesion for a Perreault said he spoke mainly with Dominique Ducharme before signing line to find an identity, for a team to find an identity the individual players with the Canadiens and made sure to tell him he can play all three can embrace within their own skill sets. forward positions, though he hasn’t played at centre for years. He said This is why inserting Hoffman and Drouin, for example, is problematic the shift to the wing in Winnipeg was mainly because he had back issues considering the strengths and weaknesses of each centre. and was therefore unable to comfortably take faceoffs, but the back issues are resolved now, and though it might take him time to get used to Ducharme might also decide to spread the offence out over four lines the position again, he could do it. and see how that works. The addition of Perreault is an interesting offensive option on the fourth line, so perhaps Drouin could play with him “It wasn’t said that ‘You’re going to be a centre.’ It wasn’t like that,” and Paquette on a fourth line, with Joel Armia sliding in on the left side of Perreault said. “It was just a conversation here and there, but it was more Kotkaniemi and Gallagher? Or maybe it could be Hoffman, even though me letting him know what I think I can do for the team at this point.” he said teams don’t sign him with the idea of him playing on a fourth line.

This is important because Bergevin was clearly struggling with the notion One of the problems the departure of Danault and Tatar creates is it the Canadiens appear to be heading to training camp — at least at this removes the one sure thing Ducharme had at his disposal from a very moment — with Jesperi Kotkaniemi penciled in as the No. 2 centre. chemistry point of view. Gallagher suddenly gets an opportunity to play He would prefer to shelter Kotkaniemi somewhat with a No. 3 centre who on a line with a bit more of an offensive mandate, but how that will go is could take on different responsibilities, but that might not be possible. anyone’s guess. And frankly, Perreault is not a viable solution to this problem, even if he says he can play in the middle because he did it (much) earlier in his Including Gallagher’s. career. “We’ll have to see. And I’m being perfectly honest, I have no idea what “I can’t just go out and sign a third-line centre that’s going to shelter KK, my line will look like next year, who I’ll play with,” Gallagher said this or we’re going to trade for one, that makes $5 million or over. I need to week. “But for me, when I’m playing, it’s kind of always the same. I think be careful,” Bergevin said. “As you know, certain positions, teams on the last few years, even going back before playing with Phil, I played with average put certain dollars depending on where their team is at. Where Pleky (Tomas Plekanec). So you get used to certain shifts in the D-zone we’re at today, I need to be careful. But if I don’t have a choice, if I don’t and having that defensive responsibility as well, which I enjoy. It’s a see there’s a fit, I’m going to have to rely and hope that KK gets the job challenge, and you get used to different opportunities, but a lot of that done. That’s just the reality of being a GM in the National Hockey depends on your centreman and what sort of zone starts or if he’s a League. faceoff guy or not. So you get used to a lot of different situations. And with Phil, it was a lot of draws, because he was one of our best centremen. A lot of D-zone starts because he’s responsible. “In terms of the shift that our team’s going to take, Phil was a huge part of playing for the a few years ago, but he is returning to that, he played a huge role. But, you know, you look at our centremen the NHL after a productive season in Russia. now, very young, there’s a huge opportunity for them to all step up and take on a little bit more responsibility. So I think it’s a good chance for It’s a low-risk, low-cost home run swing, but considering Wideman has them to grow into that role and see who kind of captures it at camp and played just 41 NHL games in four years, expectations should be takes on that extra responsibility that we’re going to lose with Phil.” tempered.

Something will have to give at forward, and looking at the group as a Power play whole is the clearest indication Bergevin is not done. A trade is likely One area that looks like it will change in the most significant way is the coming, it’s just a matter of who will be traded and what calibre of centre power play. The absence of Weber, the departures of Perry and Tatar as Bergevin can find on the market. well as the arrivals of Hoffman, Perreault and Wideman will create Defence profound changes to how the two power-play units are made up and how the various threats of the group will be exploited. The Canadiens defence last season was heavy and focused on, well, defence. Well before the playoffs began, they had a well-established top Hoffman is obviously an important element of this. Among all NHL four who took the lion’s share of minutes. Former coach Claude Julien players who spent at least 50 minutes on the power play last season, made it clear from the very beginning of the season this was how his Hoffman was on the ice for the most goals scored by his team per 60 defence would be used. minutes.

Things have changed. Julien is no longer there, but neither is Weber. Stretch that out over the last three seasons, and Hoffman’s impact on the Rather than a Man Mountain who played more than 24 minutes a night power play is obvious, whether that was with the St. Louis Blues last over his time in Montreal, the Canadiens now have Savard, who is more season or the Florida Panthers before that. accustomed to playing 19 or 20 minutes a night. It is a fundamental Top PP scorers since 2018 change in how the minutes will be distributed; what was true when Weber was here may no longer be true with Savard in his place. PLAYER GP ICE TIME GF/60

In that sense, Ducharme has often made reference to the fact he Connor McDavid coaches based on his belief that a hockey season is divided into four 198 phases, and that each of them — the beginning, middle and end of the season and then the playoffs — has its own style of play and therefore 750:39 needs to be managed in different ways. 11.35 In light of that, could Ducharme make a departure from how Julien ran things and modify his defence pairings based on the phase of the Patrice Bergeron season? Could he spread the wealth over three pairings early on rather 180 than go back to the rugged top-four formula that worked so well in the playoffs, only to go back to that formula during the proper phase of the 609:25 season? 11.32 It is a question worth asking because Savard was signed to the exact same cap hit as Ben Chiarot and Joel Edmundson, $3.5 million, and has a similar profile to them. We could see a scenario in which the Canadiens 209 put each of them on a pairing to start the season to constantly have a strong defensive presence on the ice. 783:03

Canadiens projected D pairs 11.19

Joel Edmundson Brad Marchand

Jeff Petry 202

Alexander Romanov 678:52

David Savard 11.05

Ben Chiarot Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Chris Wideman 199

Brett Kulak 728:10

This way, having a puck-mover on each pairing would also ensure having 11.04 that kind of a presence on the ice at all times. Mike Hoffman But is that a better defence group than last season? No, of course not. So, even if we suspect the top priority is to add a centre, Bergevin also 203 adding a defenceman before training camp would come as no surprise. 632:34

“In an ideal world, if we could add a puck-moving defenceman who would 10.91 add different assets to our group, that would be ideal,” Bergevin said Wednesday. “But we looked at the free-agent market, and for us, in the Brayden Point opinion of our hockey men, with the dollars being talked about, we didn’t want to take that risk. 201

“We have (Mattias) Norlinder coming to training camp. There’s nothing 665:57 guaranteed, but he’s a young player who is a good prospect for us. In the 10.9 meantime, we’ll look at the trade market to see if something’s possible.” Steven Stamkos Bergevin mentions Norlinder, but generally speaking, whether it’s Norlinder, Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Josh Brook or Jayden Struble, 177 the Canadiens will need an influx of youth at this position pretty soon. In the meantime, simply by being a right shot, Wideman would probably 618:55 have the inside track on Brett Kulak for a spot in the top six. Wideman 10.66 saw his career go off the rails after a fateful Uber ride while he was Nikita Kucherov 150 11

543:19 2020-21

10.49 St.Louis

Victor Hedman 6th

190 23.2%

611:52 7

10.39 What does this mean for the Canadiens?

Even if Hoffman was productive in his early years with the Senators, the Hoffman’s presence will make it so the Canadiens’ power play is no power play never climbed out of the bottom third of the league over his longer singularly focused on creating shots from the top. Nick Suzuki was time there. Hoffman and Erik Karlsson were threats, but there wasn’t already starting to impact this obsession last season, but it will be even much else aside from, eventually, Mark Stone, but he largely played net more striking if the Canadiens deploy two shooters like Hoffman and front and not as a shooter. Cole Caufield at each circle on the same unit. This kind of setup, which the Canadiens haven’t had since … since … well, forever, will make the If the penalty kill knows who is shooting, it will adjust to that shooter. top unit much more dangerous.

In Florida, the Panthers’ first unit had a lot of success with a varied first The only problem there is that Hoffman would be set up where Suzuki unit: Hoffman at the right circle, Jonathan Huberdeau at the left, was deployed before, and he was the Canadiens’ best power-play Aleksander Barkov in front of the net, Evgenii Dadonov at the bumper performer last season. This is the primary strategic decision the and Keith Yandle up top. Same thing with the Blues, where Hoffman Canadiens coaching staff will be faced with, whether they move Suzuki to again wasn’t the only shooting threat. Craig Berube didn’t even have another spot on the first unit or send him to the second unit to run things Hoffman on the top unit at first because of how much success it had the from his preferred spot and strengthen that group with his vision and year prior. shooting.

Results of Hoffman's teams on the PP If the Canadiens’ personnel doesn’t change between now and the start of SEASON TEAM NHL RANK PP HOFFMAN PP the season, this is how they could deploy their two power-play units: GOALS A final word on Perreault’s potential contribution here.

2014-15 If his signing might seem similar to that of Perry or even Michael Frolik Ottawa last season, in the sense of being a good bargain signing for the fourth line, there is one big difference here. This time, NHL teams are not 22nd approaching the season knowing there will be a taxi squad, where both Perry and Frolik started last season. But where Perreault’s signing is a 16.8% sign of him replacing Perry is that he has been a strong net-front 1 presence on the power play for years with the Jets.

2015-16 Few players could equal Perry’s craftiness at that position, but game after game, few players had a more disruptive presence in front on the Ottawa power play than Perreault when facing the Canadiens. Bergevin clearly noticed. 26th “I used to play on the half wall, but in Winnipeg we had so much talent 15.8% that I had to become someone who played on the goal line or in front,” 9 Perreault said. “I learned to do that and developed the skills needed to be effective. This year, the Jets second unit was one of the best in the 2016-17 league in terms of goals per minute of play. Sometimes, playing in front, you don’t pick up points or goals, but you screen the goalie and you Ottawa contribute. It’s just as important.” 23rd Artturi Lehkonen (David Kirouac / Icon Sportswire) 17% Penalty kill 13 The Canadiens lost their most important penalty-kill forward in Danault, 2017-18 and Jake Evans might have some big skates to fill this season. Bergevin believes in him. Ottawa Paquette was brought in because Evans and Suzuki shoot from the right 27th side, so a lefty for faceoffs was needed. Paquette wasn’t used on the 16.6% penalty kill last season in Carolina, but before that he was part of the regular rotation with the Tampa Bay Lightning and did a very good job. 8 If he’s in the lineup, we can expect Paquette to jump ahead of Suzuki on 2018-19 the penalty-killing depth chart. We can also expect Evans to replace Danault as Artturi Lehkonen’s PK partner, with Armia and Paquette or Florida Armia and Suzuki jumping on next.

2nd Five Canadiens forwards played at least 50 minutes on the penalty kill 26.8% last season and, depending on which advanced metric you think is most important, the most effective of the five changes rather significantly. 17 Canadiens forwards on the PK 2019-20 PLAYER TOI/GP SA/60 GA/60 XGA/60 Florida HDCA/60 ON-ICE SV%

10th Jake Evans

21.3% 1:50 56.76 improve. But in the playoffs, it was a serious strength for them, with the main difference perhaps being Carey Price’s save percentage climbed 11.07 from .861 on the penalty kill during the regular season to .942 in the 6.34 playoffs.

19.38 It should be noted Suzuki did not play enough on the penalty kill for his numbers to be counted above, but they do suggest the Canadiens could 0.805 eventually have an excellent penalty killer on their hands.

Artturi Lehkonen The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 2:02

63.03

8.74

7.09

19.97

0.861

Paul Byron

1:36

60.57

10.5

7.37

25.84

0.827

Joel Armia

1:31

52.53

4.78

7.5

27.7

0.909

Phillip Danault

2:17

62.66

7.89

7.58

27.14

0.874

Armia was excellent at preventing shots and was not on the ice for too many goals last season. Even when you look at the past two seasons, Armia’s shot suppression numbers continue to shine. Last season, among all NHL forwards who played at least 50 minutes on the penalty kill, Armia was 26th in on-ice goals against per 60 minutes, by far the best on the team.

Evans’ numbers might look a bit concerning if you look at goals against, but he also didn’t allow many shots and led the team’s forwards for the fewest high-danger chances allowed and expected goals against per 60. So yes, the opposing power play scored more often, but the Canadiens goaltenders had a save percentage more than 100 points lower when Evans was on the ice compared with Armia. That is a massive difference. So perhaps Evans was just unlucky.

The numbers might also suggest Danault wasn’t all that great of a penalty killer compared with his teammates. But context is important, and Danault started nearly every penalty kill with a defensive zone draw, and if he lost it, the opposing team’s top power-play unit was already set up in the Canadiens’ zone ready to attack, which is not the case for a winger coming in on the fly with the mandate of disrupting the opposing zone entry.

The Canadiens did not have great results on the penalty kill in the regular season (78.5 percent, 23rd in the league), and they will surely want to 1218883 New Jersey Devils training camp and being paired with him after I got drafted and how cool that was and how small I felt beside him. It’s been a lot of fun to be able to play with him for a few years and play against him and watch him and see how good he still is at how old he is." What does the Dougie Hamilton signing mean for the Devils moving forward? After eight seasons in the NHL across three separate teams, Hamilton, who leads NHL defensemen with 42 goals over the last three seasons, will not be afraid to take the younger players under his wing while with the Devils. Andrew Tredinnick Hamilton understands that it was the influence of other veterans that

helped him become one of the top defensemen in the league. He'll work It's been a busy three weeks for the New Jersey Devils, punctuated by in tandem with other veterans on the blue line in P.K. Subban, Damon one of the biggest signings in franchise history in star defenseman Severson and aid the progress of younger defensman like Ty Smith. Dougie Hamilton, signed on the opening day of free agency Wednesday. "When I was in Boston, there was so many good guys and good players The Devils also traded for defenseman Ryan Graves and signed goalie that helped me so much. I’ve kind of taken that, realizing how important it Jonathan Bernier on Wednesday. They drafted Luke Hughes, brother of was and how much it helped me and how much I appreciate it, I’ve taken the team's No. 1 pick Jack Hughes, and are hoping that this offseason that with me in my next places. could be a landscape-altering period for the franchise. "I developed a great relationship with some young guys in Carolina that Landing Hamilton on a seven-year, $63 million contract sent shockwaves we came in at the same time and helped each other out. They pushed across the NHL. me and helped me with different stuff, and I tried to help them get used to the NHL and all that stuff too." "I think it shows people that we’re committed," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. "We’ve got owners that want to get back to the Brodeur and Fitzgerald hold weight winning ways but understand the process and understand it’s not just the For Bernier, who grew up in Ontario idolizing Martin Brodeur, getting a snap of our fingers. call from the former Devils goalie was an amazing experience. "We can show people outside that we’re committed to building this thing The 11-year veteran was the first player to sign with the Devils when free the right way. I think it’s my job as the manger to show the players and agency began Wednesday. Later in the evening, the rumblings became agents that this is a hidden gym, New Jersey, this area where we live official as Hamilton inked his future destination. and where we work." For both players, having Brodeur and Fitzgerald, who have close to 40 Here's what led to the Devils' signing of Hamilton and what's next for the years of playing experience combined, played a factor in giving New franchise: Jersey a chance. Timing is everything "I think as a player you want to learn from guys like that and be around With a young core built around 20-year-old Jack Hughes and 22-year-old guys like that," Hamilton said. "I think that’s definitely exciting to kind of Nico Hischier, the Devils are still learning how to win hockey games. see their vision and what they want to do with the team and how it’s a first-class organization. I think that’s exciting." They stumbled to a 19-30-7 record and second-to-last finish in the last season. Fitzgerald said Brodeur, who is the team's vice president of hockey operations, is able to pitch everything that New Jersey is all about. And While Hischier spent much of the 2020-21 season injured, Hughes his Hall of Fame stature also holds weight with players. showed promise down the stretch in his rookie season, finishing with 11 goals and 20 assists. "He knows every inch of this state," Fitzgerald said. "It’s priceless. Marty talks to somebody, people listen." The Devils also got big production from rookie Yegor Sharangovich, who finished with 16 goals and 14 assists, and Jesper Bratt led the team with What's next 23 assists in his second season in the league. The phone is constantly attached to Fitzgerald's ear this time of year. Now, as that nucleus continues to develop, the team wants to provide With the back end fortified with another goalie and top defenseman, now them with support. And one of the top defenseman in the game in the Devils' attention turns to the opposite end of the ice. Hamilton can certainly provide that. "It doesn’t change what we’re looking for," Fitzgerald said. "I’d like to add "You can go on and on about the young guys, but I always believe you a top-six winger, and they’re hard to come by, they really are. If I can’t do have to surround these guys with experience," Fitzgerald said. "On the it, I’m not going to chase anything. I’m just going to let this thing grow back end, in particular, I don’t shy away from it, I just want to get bigger. I organically, especially up front if I can’t. I trust the players." want to be more mobile. Then you throw in the right shot with Dougie, timing’s everything. These guys don’t come along." If the Devils can't add another offensive threat in free agency, their focus will always remain in identifying talent in the draft and developing those When Hamilton was traded to the Hurricanes in 2018, he joined an up- players. and-coming unit featuring the likes of Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov. Bergen Record LOADED: 07.31.2021 The Canes reached the NHL Playoffs in all three seasons Hamilton was with the team. Now, he is looking forward to trying to help another young unit rise.

"It’s exciting to play with so many young, talented players," Hamilton said. "I think those guys are only going to get better and hopefully we can do that as a group and the team will get better, everyone individually will get better as everyone gets older. I think that’s exciting to be a part of."

Next step: Leader

After being drafted by the Bruins in 2011, Hamilton joined a veteran unit in 2012-13 on the heels of the team's Stanley Cup win in 2011.

He got to soak up the lessons from one of the best defenseman to ever do it in Zdeno Chara.

"It’s impressive to see how long and how much he’s played. I think it’s pretty inspiring," Hamilton said. "I remember being a young kid, going to 1218884 New York Islanders signed Brandon Saad on Thursday. It’s hard to imagine Anthony Beauvillier would be involved in that trade, given Tarasenko’s stated desire to leave St. Louis and the Blues already with a full roster of forwards besides Tarasenko. St. Louis isn’t in a position to demand a Islanders free agency: What’s going on with Lou Lamoriello and the younger top-nine forward back. Isles? However, if the Islanders were to pull this trade off — and it would depend on the Blues either retaining some of Tarasenko’s $7.5 million cap hit this season and next and/or the Isles sending Leo Komarov or By Arthur Staple Jul 30, 2021 Thomas Hickey (or both) in the package going back — that would leave the Isles with a crowded group of wingers. One too many, in fact, if Parise and Palmieri are already in the mix. It was around the middle of the afternoon on Thursday, Day 2 of the NHL free-agent frenzy, when a text came through from an executive of Which means that the Islanders would have to move someone out. The another team. It was, presumably, regarding the Islanders, and the most obvious candidate is not Beauvillier, who is only one of three under- message contained three letters: 25 locks for next season’s roster if he stays. It’s Josh Bailey, who was left exposed in the expansion draft that resulted in going to “WTF” Seattle.

That’s the general feeling among Islanders watchers, whether they’re Bailey has three years left at $5 million per year, not an easy contract to fans, media or even agents or executives from the other 31 teams. Plenty move. But perhaps packaged with a high draft pick and/or another asset, of those inside the hockey world have spoken to Lou Lamoriello about a Bailey move could clear enough space to enable a Tarasenko deal and their clients or players over the last few days and weeks, but no one bring back a useful defenseman. outside of the principals involved in contract or trade talks seems to know what the Islanders are up to. And maybe not even them. An option there is Vince Dunn. The Kraken selected Dunn from the Blues in the expansion draft but haven’t signed him. Seattle has six So this update, of sorts, as we pass through a third day of the free-agent defensemen signed for this coming season and two more restricted free market with barely a peep from the Islanders, comes with plenty of agents (RFAs) besides Dunn, who has arbitration rights coming off a caveats. The biggest one being this: No one outside of the Isles front one-year, $1.875 million contract with the Blues. He’s still only 24 and office really knows what Lamoriello is up to beyond a few vague hints. could be more of a long-term rather than win-now solution for the Let’s try to put some pieces together. Islanders, who are most certainly in win-now mode.

• The prevailing wisdom from a couple of league sources as to why Perhaps Lamoriello’s ambitions aim a little higher on defense. Could they Lamoriello has chosen this path of ultra-secrecy is this: Lamoriello does pry Mattias Ekholm out of Nashville, where the Predators have juggled not want anyone in the league to know where the Islanders are with their their core quite a bit this offseason? Would Hampus Lindholm be the salary-cap space right now, so he’s not announcing any deals that are short-term choice in conversations with the Ducks, or is there a package already agreed upon or even filing them with the league, which would to entice Anaheim to move Cam Fowler? Those deals likely would quickly leak them out to the world. require Beauvillier rather than Bailey as the main player involved, if they’ve happened at all. So we all seem to know that Zach Parise is an Islander by now. Ditto Kyle Palmieri. Very likely the same is true for Casey Cizikas. Maybe • The Isles haven’t even announced any two-way deals or contracts for . depth players either. But there’s been plenty of depth signings around the league so, again, the process of elimination can lead us to a couple of But when will we know that they have officially joined or returned to the familiar options. Michael Dal Colle surprisingly did not get a qualifying Isles? Beats me. offer from the Isles, leading to speculation he would hit the market, but • We can try to work by process of elimination when it comes to the four it’s been silent from his camp so far, and one could easily believe he’ll be forwards mentioned above. All week, even before the official start of free back in the organization once more. He would have gotten numerous agency on Wednesday, information on deals was pouring out small offers on Wednesday. everywhere. Information on teams interested in players was also Anatolii Golyshev came over from Russia toward the end of last season everywhere. to skate with the extras. He needs a new contract as an RFA and could On those four, you haven’t heard a peep. All four have very high-profile already have another one-year deal to at least compete for a roster spot. agents whose job is to drum up interest in their clients, yet we haven’t If he ends up in Bridgeport, however, it’s not a stretch to think Golyshev heard anything about them. That adds to the thinking that they have might go the same way as Jan Kovar or Kirill Petrov and return to agreed to deals that have yet to be filed or announced. Europe.

As far as contract specifics, good luck. Parise’s is believed to be a one- • Now, back to the waiting. year deal with performance bonuses to keep the cap hit down. Palmieri’s The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 could be multiple (three to five) years for anywhere from $4 million to $5.5 million per year, depending on who’s speculating. And Cizikas, who asked for $5 million per year from Seattle in talks last week, might take more years for less annual average value (AAV) but one would have to think the total comes in at a fairly high number, given how much similar players have signed for so far. Is it four or five years for $4 million per year? Six or seven years to keep the AAV to $3.5 million to $3.75 million? We have to wait.

Defenseman Ryan Murray (Eric Hartline / USA Today)

• The biggest mystery right now is which defensemen are the Islanders talking to/possibly have signed. The spot Nick Leddy occupied could still be vacant. We do know that the Islanders made serious pitches to Ryan Suter, who chose the Stars, and Alex Goligoski, who chose the Wild. Of the appealing unrestricted free agents who hit the market, only Ryan Murray is still available — and if you have your sleuthing hat on, you can wonder at the fact that his name has barely been mentioned since Wednesday either.

Beyond Murray, the pickings are mighty slim for free agents on defense.

• So that leaves trades. As our Blues writer Jeremy Rutherford posted late Thursday night, the Islanders are believed to still be in the hunt for Vladimir Tarasenko, whose exit was assured even before St. Louis 1218885 New York Islanders The only way moving Anthony Beauvillier makes sense is if there was a complementary deal in place to bring in a top-six forward to fill the hole Beauvillier would leave behind.

Trading Anthony Beauvillier for a Defenseman Would be a Mistake NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 07.31.2021

Published 21 hours ago on July 30, 2021By Stefen Rosner

Two days into NHL Free Agency and the New York Islanders have not announced any signings. It’s no secret that one area that needs to be addressed is the hole on defense in Nick Leddy’s absence.

Many of the premier defenders that hit the market are long gone, and even the depth defender pool seems to be drying up as we speak. There are lower-tier defenseman still available, like former Islander Zdeno Chara, that could be a last resort if need be.

As the days go on, it seems that general manager Lou Lamoriello may need to trade for a defenseman.

Forward Anthony Beauvillier, currently a restricted free agent, appears to have some eyes on him, but it would be a mistake to see him dealt for someone who plays on the other side of the puck.

A move of that magnitude would hurt the Islanders more than help, especially if it would cost them a shot at a forward who could play a top- six role.

Despite Beauvillier’s streakiness throughout his career as an Islander, one thing is for sure. When he is hot, he becomes not just a goal-scorer, but a player that provides energy, momentum and has rare speed that would be hard to replace.

Heading into year six at the NHL level, Beauvillier is still learning and growing.

After scoring 21 goals in 71 games back in 2017-18, his second season in the NHL, Beauvillier went two years without being able to get back to that goal production of 0.30 goals per game. That was until last season.

Despite only playing in 47 of the Islanders’ 56 games, Anthony Beauvillier scored 15 goals, which was good for 0.31 goals per game. He was on pace to score 26 goals, which would have been a career-high. And that was in a shortened season full of goal droughts.

For a team in the Islanders who lost their top-line winger Jordan Eberle in the expansion draft, the offense is already a question mark.

Head coach Barry Trotz has emphasized a defensive structure that has been the leading factor in the Islanders winning close games, but offensive production is still a need.

Losing Beauvillier would not help in that regard.

What Beauvillier has shown over his career is that he is a goal-scorer. While statistics support that statement, one thing the -native has been with the Islanders is clutch. His timely goals have helped the Islanders win some pivotal games, whether it be in the regular season or the postseason.

Out of the 81 goals he has scored over his regular-season career, 16 of them have decided the outcome of a game. That hovers around 20- percent.

The Islanders have scored 120 goals over the last two playoff runs, ending in back-to-back semifinal losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Beauvillier has contributed to 27 of those goals, with 14 goals and 15 assists. For the mathematicians out there, that’s 22.5 percent of the total offense.

Four of his 15 goals over the last two playoff runs have been game- winners (27 percent).

The most recent one was his Game 6 overtime winner in the semifinals on Nassau Coliseum ice to force a Game 7.

With what Beauvillier has shown over his NHL career and what he showed last season, his production cannot be easily replicated by any of the depth pieces in the organization right now. 1218886 Added Boucher: “And you don’t want to send a message to Hart, either, by signing a guy like Petr Mrazek or Frederik Andersen. You’re not going after those guys. They’re going after the next tier of goalie who is at the point in his career where it’s not about being the starter. It’s about ‘Win-now’ Flyers are still no Stanley Cup threat but are better than last transitioning into a 1B or a 2. That’s where he’s at.” season | Sam Carchidi The Flyers haven’t missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 1992-93 and 1993-94. Fletcher made a lot of good moves to make sure it doesn’t happen. The players, embarrassed by a listless season that Sam Carchidi produced six more losses than wins, are determined to rebound.

Hayes told Yandle the group was not happy with a 25-23-8 showing, the The Flyers did OK in free agency. Not great. But if you add the signings fifth time in the last nine years the Flyers had missed the playoffs. He told to the trades general manager Chuck Fletcher made earlier this summer, him “how guys want to come in this year, have a huge year, and get back they look considerably better than last season. to where you should be. I think for me, that’s the biggest thing, to see the hunger in the group and talking to guys on the team and how excited Their defense, with the addition of veterans Ryan Ellis, Rasmus they are for the season to start.” Ristolainen, and Keith Yandle, is clearly the most improved part of the team. No matter how much the Flyers have improved, it won’t be easy to get into the playoffs for teams from the Metropolitan Division. You remember The offense still lacks speed and could use another sniper. But the the Metro, right? After an altered alignment in 2021 because of the forwards should be more difficult to play against because of the pandemic, teams will go back to their old divisions next season. Only acquisition of Cam Atkinson, a (likely) full season with Wade Allison, and three of the top eight teams in the division are guaranteed playoff berths, the signing of fourth-line center/penalty-killer Nate Thompson. Atkinson though as many as two others could earn a wild-card spot. gives them a much-needed shoot-first mentality. Carolina, which will dearly miss defenseman Dougie Hamilton, the It would help, of course, if Travis Konecny returns to form, and Oskar Islanders, Washington, and weakened Pittsburgh are the division’s Big Lindblom blossoms after a difficult year following his cancer battle. Four. The Rangers also figure to be knocking on the playoff door, and, thanks to Fletcher’s productive offseason, so should the Flyers. Yandle, a free-agent signee who spurned many other offers, said Fletcher’s flurry of moves played a “huge” part in his decision to join the Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.31.2021 Flyers and his good buddy, Kevin Hayes.

“I think seeing what Chuck’s done even before free agency and making big moves and just helping the team get better,” he said. “I thought it was a no-brainer for me. ... It just seems like it’s a win-now situation, and that’s something that I’m all about.”

The Flyers’ special teams should be better — they would be hard- pressed to be worse — because they added many players who will play on the penalty kill, which was 30th in the NHL last season. The power play, which was 17th, also has some new pieces and may have Yandle as its quarterback.

Atkinson should help both units, and he will give them a scoring threat on the PK, where Ellis was their most important addition.

Questions need answering

But there are questions, big questions, about the most important position on the ice: goaltending.

Statistically, Carter Hart is coming off the worst season by a Flyers goalie (minimum: 25 games) since Tommy Soderstrom in 1993-94.

Hart has excelled on every level, including his previous season (and playoffs) with the Flyers, and has the pedigree to rebound, especially with a better defense in front of him. Most people, myself included, expect him to bounce back.

Still, until he does it, there are questions. Just like there are about Martin Jones, the somewhat-risky backup goalie they signed in free agency.

Jones, 31, who starred in San Jose early in his career and led the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, is coming off three straight seasons in which he struggled mightily. Will that trend continue?

Boosh’s view

Brian Boucher, an ESPN analyst who knows a little something about goaltending after playing the position for 13 NHL seasons, liked the Jones signing.

“It’s a natural progression for guys who were No. 1 goalies, and their game has slipped, for whatever reason,” Boucher said Friday. “Sometimes it’s age. Sometimes it’s the environment they’re in. You kind of transition to another chapter in your career, where you get into a share-the-load type of deal, or be a No. 2.

Boucher noted that Jones started his career as a backup with Los Angeles, “and when he played, there was a lot of quality there. I’m not surprised that this is where it goes. It’s an opportunity for him to take some pressure off him and kind of relax and enjoy being a mentor to Carter.” 1218887 Pittsburgh Penguins

Ex-Penguins forward prospect Sam Miletic signs with Hurricanes

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, July 30, 2021 5:00 p.m.

In 21 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season, forward Sam Miletic scored five points (two goals, three assists).

Former Penguins forward Sam Miletic has joined the Carolina Hurricanes, signing a one-year, two-way contract for a league-minimum $750,000 at the NHL level.

Miletic, 24, was a member of the Penguins organization for the past four seasons but never played for the NHL club.

An All-Star at the American Hockey League level in 2019-20, Miletic labored through a bout with mononucleosis throughout the 2020-21 campaign, appearing in 21 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and scoring five points (two goals, three assists).

Miletic (6-foot, 194 pounds) initially joined the Penguins as an undrafted free agent in 2017, signing a three-year entry-level contract.

With Miletic joining the Hurricanes, three players who finished the 2020- 21 season under NHL contract to the Penguins remain unrestricted free agents — forwards Mark Jankowski, Colton Sceviour and defenseman Jesper Lindgren.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218888 Pittsburgh Penguins Fleury got yanked around in Vegas. Heck, Fleury got too often yanked around during his Pittsburgh tenure. He’s too nice. He never bites back.

But after winning a Vezina at 36, then getting tossed aside like garbage Mark Madden: Marc-Andre Fleury should refuse to play for Blackhawks for no return, it’s time for Fleury to break character and do what makes him happy.

Going to Chicago is not that. Fleury should refuse. MARK MADDEN | Friday, July 30, 2021 9:35 a.m. The Blackhawks would be unwitting dupes, but that’s not a franchise currently worth of any sympathy. (Nor did Chicago consult with Fleury before trading for him. Fleury deserved better from the Blackhawks, too.) Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury makes a save during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal But before Fleury refuses to play for Chicago, a question must be playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Wednesday, June 16, answered: Do the Penguins want him? 2021, in Las Vegas. Fleury was obviously just available, and GM Ron Hextall didn’t get him. The latest Marc-Andre Fleury discussion locally revolves around the possibility of his new employer, Chicago, flipping him to the Penguins Even if he plays in Chicago, Fleury seems a lock to sign with Pittsburgh after acquiring him from Vegas. This before Fleury ever plays a game for as a free agent after the forthcoming season. Unless Hextall doesn’t want the Blackhawks. him.

That’s foolhardy. Fleury is the reigning and defending Vezina Trophy Tribune Review LOADED: 07.31.2021 winner as the NHL’s best goalie. Chicago got him to play.

Unless…

Fleury could yet get to the Penguins if he refuses to play for Chicago. That would be 100% against his style and character. It’s not the sort of thing Fleury would do.

But maybe Fleury will do it anyway. Perhaps he should.

Fleury would certainly have the support of his agent, Allan Walsh. Walsh is a carny blowhard like most agents, but that’s useful in a situation like this.

Fleury would have to withstand criticism, especially in Chicago. But if his intent is to never don a Blackhawks sweater, what’s the difference?

The hockey world would mostly give Fleury a pass on this because he’s widely respected as a great teammate and one of the NHL’s nicest guys. Most would think that Fleury would have to feel incredibly aggrieved and deceived to deviate so far from his agreeable personality.

That is, indeed, the case. Fleury has been aggrieved and deceived.

Fleury isn’t Aaron Rodgers, who complains if the sky isn’t blue enough. Fleury has never said excrement, but this time he has a mouthful.

Fleury was the original Golden Knight. He was the cornerstone of that franchise, on the ice and in the community. No player in Vegas was more popular. Owner Bill Foley pumped his tires constantly, and vetoed a trade that would have sent Fleury back to Pittsburgh before last season. Fleury justified his decision by winning the Vezina.

But when Fleury was sent packing to Chicago, Foley didn’t even have the heart to call him. Nor was Fleury appraised of the possibility beforehand.

Foley was likely ashamed. He should be.

But the real catalyst in this situation is Peter DeBoer, who maneuvered to oust Fleury since being hired as Vegas’ coach in January, 2020.

Vegas acquired goalie Robin Lehner the next month. Lehner was DeBoer’s guy. Fleury’s play and popularity made it tough but, given excuse, DeBoer turned to Lehner. Lehner started 16 of 20 playoff games in 2020. Fleury handled most of the workload in this year’s postseason, but errors still put him on the bench despite a Vezina-winning season. DeBoer didn’t have faith in Fleury.

DeBoer coaches the team. He can deploy his players as he sees fit.

But given Fleury’s stature as an OG Golden Knight, DeBoer’s method didn’t feel right.

Then, when the end came in Vegas, Fleury found out about the trade on Twitter.

The phrase “duplicitous scumbags” comes to mind. (There’s also a notion that Foley didn’t want to return Fleury to Pittsburgh. Sending him anywhere else was OK.)

Normally, nothing sparks my contempt more than a contracted athlete refusing to play. But Fleury should do just that. 1218889 Pittsburgh Penguins The best pizza you’ll find, along with plenty of other options. Enjoy. Hotel options: 10

Plentiful and typically excellent. The ultimate travel guide for Penguins fans looking to hit the road: Part 3 (11-1) Cost: 5

Not as annoying as New York.

By Josh Yohe and Rob Rossi Jul 30, 2021 34 Yinzer attendance: 3

Always oddly disappointing.

The NHL finally released its 2021-22 schedule last week — it’s no doubt Yohe: I’m weird about Chicago. I really like it in the summer and I really a grueling process, but it does seem to take longer every year — and the dislike it in the winter. Go to a Pirates/Cubs game instead, honestly. But Penguins will once again be playing in every NHL arena this season. hey, it’s still Chicago. Have you never made a road trip to watch the Penguins? If you have, is Columbus the only place you’ve visited (we hear that one a lot)? Rossi: There’s nothing to not like about the Windy City … except that its arena feels completely disconnected from Chicago. We’ve got you covered. Rob Rossi and I (Josh Yohe) have visited every NHL city during our many years on the Penguins beat. We can give you Final score: 71 the highlights, the places to avoid, some appropriate (and not appropriate 10. New York stories) and so much more. We aren’t including Seattle in this edition of the travel guide simply because we haven’t been there for a game yet, Hockey atmosphere: 9 but it has all the makings of a top-10 destination. It’s really good at the renovated Madison Square Garden. Rangers fans Here’s the formula for this venture. Each category receives 1-10 points: are legit and the building still has a special feeling. It’s the Garden. You can smell the history immediately upon entering. Hockey atmosphere: Are the fans in said city into hockey? That makes a difference. Weather: 5

Weather: Come February, going somewhere warm has its perks. I’m guessing you don’t love Pittsburgh weather because we all complain about it, right? Well, the Big Apple gets our weather a few hours after the Accessory activities: Good museums? Good place to take the kids? How fact. So this needs to be considered. much does this place have to offer? Accessory activities: 10 Debauchery: Perhaps you’re young, single and looking to mingle. Or maybe you and a significant other want to party into the wee hours. If you can’t find somewhere to spend a day in Manhattan, may God have Maybe it’s a bachelor or bachelorette party. Is this the place for you? mercy on your soul. Never has a city been designed for a weekend trip quite like New York. It’s the social epicenter of the universe. Star power: You’re a Penguins fan, so you’re used to seeing Hall of Famers. What does the other team have to offer? Debauchery: 9

Getting there: Can you drive there? Direct flights? This also makes a There’s much fun to be had here, though a couple of cities on the list difference. have surpassed it. We can only imagine what Studio 54 was like.

Dining options: Perhaps you want to take your someone special to a Star power: 8 fancy restaurant. Or you’re a foodie. This is an important category. Artemi Panarin is truly great, and the Rangers have a lot of young talent. Hotel options: Are they nice? Super fancy? Walking distance to the rink? Still, until it comes to fruition, we’ll keep it at an 8, even though this is a fun team to watch. Cost: In general, how expensive will the entire trip be? Getting there/transportation: 4 Yinzer attendance: As Pittsburghers, we like to be surrounded by our own. Will black and gold colors take control of the arena? You can make the six-hour drive if you wish, and there are direct flights. But dealing with airports in New York is typically a nightmare, as is the in Chicago. (Jon Durr / USA Today) traffic. Also, driving in New York isn’t ever recommended. There is an The Great American City Division abundance of public transportation, but none of it is overly pleasant.

11. Chicago Dining options: 10

Hockey atmosphere: 7 You won’t do better than New York. Club A Steakhouse on East 58th is a real winner, but there are literally hundreds of restaurants worth visiting. The building kind of sucks and isn’t in a great part of town, but Hawks When in doubt, just ask your cab driver to drop you off in Little Italy. You fans are legit. literally can’t go wrong.

Weather: 2 Hotel options: 8

Chicago in the summer is a lot better than Chicago in the winter. Oh, there are options. Some are very nice. But be warned: Hotel rooms in New York are very, very small. It’s not what you’re used to operating Accessory activities: 10 with, so try to pack lightly. Whatever you want in Chicago, you’ll find it. Cost: 4 Debauchery: 10 There are a couple of more expensive cities, believe it or not. But it’s Whatever you want in Chicago, you’ll find it. New York. Nothing is cheap here. Hotels, flights, and tickets to Rangers games are all notoriously expensive. If you’re a college kid, beg your Star power: 7 parents for some money before coming here.

The Hawks aren’t what they were, but they’re still worth seeing. Yinzer attendance: 5

Getting there/transportation: 7 Not as high as you’d think. You won’t be alone, but there aren’t many Penguins fans here for reasons I’ve never understood, given how many Lots of direct flights. Not a terrible city to get around, though traffic can be Pittsburghers have relocated to New York over the years. nasty. Yohe: I will plainly admit that I don’t like New York as most people, Dining options: 10 including Rob. I find it kind of dirty and inconvenient, and I’m always a bit relieved when I’ve departed for home. However, if you’ve never been, So long as you’re not there for a playoff game, prepare to be dazzled. you have to go. I’m actually grateful that I get to visit here a couple of times a year for work, because it truly is a city unlike any other. Getting there/transportation: 6

Rossi: Pride and joy and greed and sex, and that’s what makes our team Direct flights are available and it’s only about a five-hour drive from the best. Man, did Mick Jagger lay down a lyric or what? If I had it my Pittsburgh. But beware, the traffic is ungodly bad. way, Josh would never make this trip again. Dining options: 10

Final score: 72 Remarkable diversity and top selections.

American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Jerome Miron / USA Today) Hotel options: 9

9. Dallas Many options and the prices of hotels aren’t bad. Stay in Niagara Falls Hockey atmosphere: 3 and make the 1:15 drive to Toronto to spice things up.

The building is nice, but it’s not really a great hockey town. Cost: 3

Weather: 8 Maple Leafs tickets are almost impossible to afford unless you possess quite the income. It’s the one huge downside to this trip. Typically sunny and warm, which feels pretty nice in the winter. Yinzer attendance: 7 Accessory activities: 9 Always a healthy amount of Pittsburghers on this trip. A great American city. The JFK Museum, which is less than a mile away from American Airlines Center, is a must. Yohe: Toronto is a lot. But you should certainly go. The Hall of Fame makes it more than worth it. Debauchery: 8 Rossi: Every bit as excellent as its hockey team is disappointing. Big-time bar scene with a multitude of fun ways to get into some trouble. Final score: 76 Star power: 3 Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. (Sergei Belski / USA Today) The Stars aren’t so exciting. 7. Calgary Getting there/transportation: 9 Hockey atmosphere: 10 High marks for Dallas. Direct flights. And the traffic isn’t bad at all for a major city. The Saddledome might be falling apart, but it’s awesome and needs to be experienced. Dining options: 8 Weather: 8 A little heavy on chain restaurants, but you’ll find some fine steakhouses and excellent Mexican cuisine as well. It’s usually really nice here and if you catch a chinook, enjoy the warm, winter weather. Hotel options: 10 Accessory activities: 10 Outstanding. Hotels are plentiful and cheap. Drive to Banff and thank us later. One of the world’s most spectacular Cost: 8 places. Downtown Calgary is great also.

Not bad at all. You’ll find everything here is reasonable. Debauchery: 5

Yinzer attendance: 9 They seem pretty clean-living in Alberta.

Always a lot of Yinzers in Dallas. And Stars fans are a pretty friendly Star power: 5 bunch. Johnny Hockey is something, at least. Yohe: Dallas is one of my favorite cities. The JFK Museum is an incredible experience and you need to visit it. I wouldn’t say it’s a great Getting there/transportation: 7 hockey town by any stretch, but it is one of the best stops on the It’s a long day of travel, but the airport is nice and downtown is easy to Penguins’ schedule. Guaranteed to be a good time. walk.

Rossi: Grows on me with each visit. Then again, I own multiple pairs of Dining options: 9 cowboy boots. If you like steak, you’ll be happy here. Final score: 75 Hotel options: 9 Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. (John E. Sokolowski / USA Today) The Calgary Marriott is a wonderful place, cost permitting. The Great Canadian City Division Cost: 6 8. Toronto Hotels can be pretty expensive here, but it’s not the worst. Hockey atmosphere: 7 Yinzer attendance: 8 It’s not a bad building, but the atmosphere isn’t a strong point. Calgary is funny. Flames fans hate the Oilers, and thus, hated Wayne Weather: 5 Gretzky. And so, there are a ton of Lemieux fans here. Always amusing.

Bring a jacket. Yohe: Calgary is basically Denver’s brother to the north. If you like one, Accessory activities: 10 you’ll like the other.

Toronto is the closest thing you’ll find to . There’s Rossi: The best there is, the best there was and ever will be among something for everyone. The Hockey Hall of Fame is a mandatory visit. Western Canada stops.

Debauchery: 10 Final score: 77

The bar scene here is pretty sensational. Rogers Arena in Vancouver. (Bob Frid / USA Today)

Star power: 9 6. Vancouver Hockey atmosphere: 9 Dining options: 8

Really nice building and, like with most Canadian markets, they’re into Best BBQ in the country for my money. Also, Sammy’s Tap and Grill is a the game. great Steelers bar.

Weather: 6 Hotel options: 9

It’s not as bad as its reputation, but yes, bring an umbrella. Really good, really cheap. Try the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, which is adjacent to the lovely Crabtree Valley Mall. Accessory activities: 10 Cost: 10 What a spectacular place. Make sure to look out of your airplane window and catch a glimpse of the mountains when you descend into Vancouver. Probably the cheapest stop in the NHL, all things considered. Breathtaking. From hiking adventures to a wonderful downtown, this place has it all. Yinzer attendance: 10

Debauchery: 10 Black and gold for days. Always.

Oh, there is good, clean fun to be had here. There’s also not-so-clean Yohe: I may have rigged the voting here a bit, but I don’t care. Raleigh is fun. Downtown smells like a Grateful Dead concert. awesome. Friendliest city in the league, they love hockey, their tailgate parties are outstanding and it won’t cost you a fortune. And the BBQ. Star power: 6 Rossi: A collegiate atmosphere with cuisine to match. Unfortunately, I’m The Canucks are kind of fun, just not very good, right? too old to recover quickly from turning back the clock to college and fatty food. Getting there/transportation: 3 Final score: 79 Brace yourself. It’s going to be a long day of travel. Also, they don’t like Uber there for some reason. Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. (Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today)

Dining options: 10 The America Knows How to Party Division

A simply sensational array of food. Whatever you like, you’ll find 4. Nashville something exceptional. Hockey atmosphere: 9 Hotel options: 10 Crappy building, but the fans really get into it. Good hockey town. Excellent. Make sure you get a nice view of the water if you can. It’s worth it. Weather: 9

Cost: 5 It’s almost always nice and sunny here.

Eh, you didn’t think it would be cheap to go that far away, right? Accessory activities: 10

Yinzer attendance: 9 Drinking. Johnny Cash Museum. Grand Ole Opry. Drinking. You won’t be bored here. Always a good contingent of Pittsburgh fans here. Debauchery: 10 Yohe: It’s just one of those places you have to visit. I don’t find the people there are always the classic “friendly Canadian” types … it’s a Oh, you’ve come to the right place. Nashville is wild. very busy place. Big-city feel in that regard. But you have to visit at some Star power: 5 point. It will blow you away. Unfortunately, a night on Broadway Street is way, way more fun than Rossi: Ever watch a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie? Any city you’re watching the Predators play. in, the background is Vancouver. Thought you should know. Getting there/transportation: 8 Final score: 78 You can make the drive, but it’s a long one. Some direct flights are PNC Arena in Raleigh. (James Guillory / USA Today) available at least.

The Wildly Underrated Division Dining options: 9

5. Carolina Wonderful town for good BBQ. You’ll be pleased with the options.

Hockey atmosphere: 7 Hotel options: 9

It’s gotten so much better here. It took a while, but Raleigh is a hockey Lots of good choices, but I’d suggest signing up for a new credit card. town. Cost: 3 Weather: 9 Yikes. Most expensive hotels in the league, even more than San Jose, It’s always sunny and pleasant in Raleigh. typically. It’s actually outrageous.

Accessory activities: 6 Yinzer attendance: 10

Good for families and there are a lot of colleges in this area, but it’s not Nashville showcases booze and hockey. Pittsburghers are always there going to wow you with things to do. in droves.

Debauchery: 5 Yohe: Nashville is the kind of town that will change your life. I Not great on the surface, but with all of those colleges, you’ll find some recommend it something fierce. I have too many good memories there to fun. calculate.

Star power: 7 Rossi: Love it less with each visit. But then, I own too many cowboy boots. The Canes don’t boast any huge names, but they’re fun to watch and Jordan Staal is still a beloved guy for many Penguins fans. Final score: 82

Getting there/transportation: 8 Ball Arena in Denver. (Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today)

Direct flights are available and it’s a perfectly pleasant drive. Very easy to 3. Colorado navigate once you’re there. No bad traffic to speak of. Hockey atmosphere: 8 Cost: 7

Avs fans are young and filled with energy. The arena is decent. It’s a Tickets to Golden Knights games will cost you, but the rest of the trip is good time. fine. You might even make money!

Weather: 9 Yinzer attendance: 10

It’s almost always sunny and inviting here. Just avoid the blizzards if you Oh wow. You’ll be joined by about 8,000 Pittsburghers. Literally. can. Yohe: It’s hockey in Vegas, which is to say, it’s as great as it sounds. Accessory activities: 10 Rossi: I don’t like heat, gambling or magicians, so … The mountains are truly amazing and good for the soul. Downtown Denver is great. And spend a day in Boulder if you can. Final score: 90

Debauchery: 10 Bell Centre in Montreal. (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today)

You may have read that Denver is fairly progressive in certain ways. The One And Only King Division

Star power: 10 1. Montreal

Nathan MacKinnon. Cale Makar. Enough said. Hockey atmosphere: 11

Getting there/transportation: 7 That’s right. An 11. There is nothing else remotely like it. The intensity, the knowledge of the game, the fabulous building and the sense of Direct flights. Good Uber city. The only downside is how far the airport is history will hit you and you’ll never be the same. from the city. Weather: 7 Dining options: 8 You’ll be having so much fun that the cold won’t bother you as much as it Many good steakhouses and some Pittsburgh bars. would in other cities.

Hotel options: 8 Accessory activities: 10

Lots of good ones, but not super cheap. Downtown is filled with options. It’s a city rich in history and rewarding activities. Old Montreal is incredible. So is the rest of the city. Cost: 6 Debauchery: 10 Flights and hotels are a bit pricey here, but not too terrible. Good God. Yinzer attendance: 10 Star power: 8 You will not be alone. Pittsburghers routinely take this building over. Always a spectacle. Carey Price is still there. They’ve got some good, young talent, and seeing the Canadiens play in Montreal is just a thrill if you love hockey. Yohe: I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like Denver. The mountains are good for the soul, and so is watching the Avs play. Spectacular place for Getting there/transportation: 9 a road trip. We now have direct flights to Montreal. What a nice perk. Cabs are Rossi: I’ve had surgeries that didn’t last as long as the drive from cheap and really efficient there, even though the city is always under Denver’s airport to its downtown. construction.

Final score: 86 Dining options: 10

Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. (Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today) Get a steak at Gibbys and thank me later. Lots of great Italian places too.

2. Vegas Hotel options: 10

Hockey atmosphere: 9 Outstanding options all around town. Not too expensive. But if you want to splurge, some really great luxury options as well. Marriott Chateau Bring your earplugs and prepare to be impressed. This is a city in love Champlain is right beside the Bell Centre and is always a winner. with its hockey team. Cost: 7 Weather: 9 It’s not so bad, really. Nothing in Canada is cheap, but you won’t feel It’s so great. I only give it a nine because, at times, it’s way too hot. And ripped off. the desert gets chilly at night. But that’s being picky. Yinzer attendance: 10 Accessory activities: 10 There are always Penguins fans here, but aside from that, you’ll feel at Well, if you’ve never been to Las Vegas, Nevada, you should know that home because the fans are just great. They always politely applaud there are tons of fun activities in this neck of the woods. Crosby when he takes the ice. You have to appreciate that.

Debauchery: 10 Yohe: There’s never any doubt which city is No. 1 on this list. There is Moving right along … only one Montreal. If you love hockey, go. If you love life, go. If you love to party, go. Seeing a game here will change your life. So will the Star power: 7 postgame party at Wanda’s.

They aren’t that fun to watch, really. Rossi: There is no finer hockey city in the universe. And I’m not saying this only because a few fine French Canadians working in Montreal’s Getting there/transportation: 8 service industry could extort me. Lots of direct flights. The airport is a bit of a zoo. But it’s pretty easy to Final score: 92 get around. The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 Dining options: 10

Food isn’t cheap here like it used to be, but it’s truly spectacular.

Hotel options: 10

It’s pretty much the hotel capital of the world. 1218890 Pittsburgh Penguins

Fleury Will Report to Chicago Blackhawks, per BarStool Report

Published 5 hours ago on July 30, 2021By Chase Wilpert

For all of the drama, breathless media reports, and NHL trade rumors that former Vegas Knights and Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury would not report to the Chicago Blackhawks after last week’s trade, Fleury will indeed report to Chicago.

That comes from sources who spoke to Barstool Sports.

Despite forceful trade rumors connecting Fleury to a Penguins trade, both the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Hockey Now Editor-in- Chief Dan Kingerski reported Penguins sources indicated there would not be a Fleury-Penguins reunion via the NHL trade market.

With the help of an astute reader, Pittsburgh Hockey Now was also able to report that Fanatics Brand wholesalers began to take preorders for autographed Fleury-Blackhawks merchandise several days ago.

Fleury, 36, is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon sparked a public battle with Fleury’s agent, Allan Walsh, by trading Fleury to Chicago. Walsh accused McCrimmon of not informing Fleury of the trade and Tweeted well after the trade was public knowledge that no one had yet called Fleury.

Such disrespect to an important veteran is a no-no in hockey.

However, McCrimmon later claimed in his press conference that he kept Fleury and Walsh in the loop about every team which inquired, including Chicago.

There was a lot about the saga, from the NHL trade rumors involving the Penguins to McCrimmon’s comments that PHN questioned.

Fleury will be the unquestioned starter with the Chicago Blackhawks, unlike Vegas, where he was in a platoon situation with Robin Lehner. Chicago made a major push this offseason by picking up defenseman Seth Jones and forward Tyler Johnson on the NHL trade market. They also signed free agents Jake McCabe and Jujhar Khaira.

Chicago, which hired an independent investigator to investigate accusations the organization covered up sexual harassment and assault by a video coach nearly a decade ago, was also able to trade defensemen Duncan Keith and Nikita Zadarov to clear salary-cap space. However, the team is still about $1.4 million over the cap, according to PuckPedia.com.

With Fleury in goal and Jones on the blue line, the Blackhawks have a radically different look and personality from recent seasons.

Fleury has one season remaining on his contract, which carries a $7 million AAV. Kevin Lankinen is the backup.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218891 Pittsburgh Penguins In: Nate Thompson, Martin Jones, Keith Yandle, Cam Atkinson, Rasmus Ristolainen, Ryan Ellis. Two-way contracts: Adam Clendening, Ryan Fitzgerald, Nick Seeler, Gerald Mayhew, Cooper Zech.

Free Agents and Trades: The Penguins vs. the Metro Division Offseason Out: Shayne Gostisbehere, Jakub Voracek, Nolan Patrick, Philippe Myers, Brian Elliott.

Analysis: The Flyers shook up their roster. GM Chuck Fletcher felt his Published 9 hours ago on July 30, 2021By Dan Kingerski team couldn’t shake the malaise, but they lost players who needed a change of scenery. Now, they’re physical and deeper. Expect Yandle to

have a bounce back. Expect Ristolainen to look better on a better team Pittsburgh Penguins fans are underwhelmed, to say the least. A few are and to inflict even more damage. Ellis is a strong defenseman without the feeling a little confused, while others accept the tough situation general baggage of the Flyers’ blue line. Goalie Martin Jones will have a chance manager Ron Hextall inherited with bloated contracts for young to reverse his career nose-five as Carter Hart’s backup. defensemen, aging stars, few draft picks, plenty of needs, and less than We like the Flyers moves, even if the analytics-driven Twitter-gencia a handful of prospects. insists the players aren’t good at hockey. They’re a playoff-worthy team, The Penguins have not been players on the free-agent market aside from especially with Alain Vigneault. a four-year, $11 million deal to Brock McGinn, a one-year. $1.1 million New York Rangers: deal to Danton Heinen. They also signed a few two-way deals, including Dominik Simon, defenseman Taylor Fedun, and forward Michael Chabut. In: Ryan Reaves, Dryden Hunt, Jared Tinordi, Patrik Nemeth, Sammy Blais, Barclay Goodrow, The Penguins surely will not lead any preseason power rankings with that intake. However, they did win the Metro Division with a motley crew Out: Pavel Buchnevich, Brett Howden, Colin Blackwell, Jack Johnson. of injury substitutes, players out of their skates, and career years. The Pittsburgh Penguins still have a guy named Sidney Crosby, a top-tier first Analysis: The Rangers were better in the second half of the season. New pairing defenseman Kris Letang, and a few wingers capable of scoring GM Chris Drury may have gone a bit overboard trying to get grittier. 30 goals, or close enough. Nemeth is a below-average defenseman. Reaves is a five-minute per game player, even with Vegas. We often judge the teams closest to us in a bubble, but the Penguins will be judged based on their performance against the Metro Division and the Tinordi is a tough defenseman who played well with the Bruins but is a rest of the Eastern Conference. You remember those two entities, right? career depth d-man. He’ll be a good fit for Gerard Gallant’s positional game. Goodrow is a gritty winner, and the younger Rangers core with And several of the Metro Division teams have made big moves. Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox and Alexis Lafreniere will be better. That’s a scary thought. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Metro Division Contenders Oh, and New York is lurking in the Jack Eichel sweepstakes. Tinordi and Penguins: Reaves are nice adds. Goodrow is a great add. New York takes a big In: Brock McGinn, Danton Heinen, Dominik Simon, Taylor Fedun step forward this year. If the Islanders falter at the end, or the Penguins don’t keep pace, the Rangers are in the playoffs. Out: Cody Ceci, Jared McCann, Brandon Tanev, Frederick Gaudreau. Carolina Hurricanes Analysis: Far more out than coming in. McCann scored .74 points per game, and Tanev had a career year with .5 points per game. Cody Ceci In: Brendan Smith, Ethan Bear, Tony DeAngelo, Ian Cole, Josh Leivo, is yet to be replaced. McGinn and Heinen each scored about .33 points Frederick Andersen, Jordan Martinook, Antti Raanta. Two-way deals: per game. Sam Miletic, C.J. Smith, Spencer Smallman.

The points-per-game stat is not full a fair comparison, but it does show Out: Warren Foegele, Jake Bean, Morgan Geekie, Petr Mrazek, Alex the offense the Penguins lost and did not replace. The Penguins have Nedeljkovic. Dougie Hamilton. taken a step back. Analysis: Carolina upgraded their goalie situation with Andersen and Washington Capitals: Raanta. Regardless of what you think of DeAngelo personally, he’s a darn good offensive defenseman and will pick up a lot of the slack left by In: Four two-way contracts, Dylan McIlrath, Hunter Shephard, Matt Irwin, Hamilton’s departure. Add the competent Ian Cole and Ethan Bear, with and Lucas Johansen Smith as depth, and Carolina added some sandpaper on the blue line, stronger netminding, and look out. Out: Brenden Dillon End of July Outlook: Analysis: The other old guard in the Metro Division hasn’t done much. They lost goalie Vitek Vanecek via the expansion draft, then re-acquired Carolina and Washington will be atop the division. The Rangers will take him via trade. Trading Dillion netted them two second-round picks and a few minutes to jell, and the Islanders will be firmly in the playoff picture space for Trevor van Riemsdyk. for the entire season. Philadelphia will also take a while to jell.

The Capitals are status quo. The Pittsburgh Penguins will have a window to get ahead of the teams which underwent big changes, but–as things are now–will be on even New York Islanders: footing with the Flyers and Rangers in the second half after those teams In: come together and new players adjust.

Out: Nick Leddy, Jordan Eberle, Andrew Ladd. Casey Czikas? Kyle There will be six playoff-worthy teams in the Metro. A stumble, a bad few Palmieri? Travis Zajac? weeks, or the wrong injury for one or two teams will be bad news. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 15-year playoff streak has never been in more Analysis: The New York Islanders’ offseason is incomplete. Rumors perilous jeopardy. persist they’re working on a Vladimir Tarasenko deal, and even GM Lou Lamoriello admitted he’s doing everything to re-sign “our people.” It’s Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.31.2021 impossible to grade them until we see a full roster, but the Islanders aren’t worse for wear unless they lose Palmieri because they have in- house replacements for Leddy and Eberle.

The Islanders are a great 3/4 regular-season team but faltered at the end of each of the last two regular seasons, only to receive an extended break before the playoffs. They are a lockdown team, but can they sustain the pace over 82 games?

Philadelphia Flyers: 1218892 Pittsburgh Penguins Barclay Goodrow and signed him to a six-year deal. They, too, missed the playoffs in 2021 but are now a much better team with a backbone and a coach who knows how to win (Gerard Gallant).

Is This It? Are the Penguins Intentionally Taking a Step Back? If you doubt me, how about NHL Analyst Kevin Weekes’ tweet after the Rangers picked up Reaves.

Grit, toughness – are key elements that help teams go deep in the Published 20 hours ago on July 30, 2021By Dan Kingerski Playoffs. Some teams are making the right steps to add those players to their lineup. @ @NHL @NHLNetwork #HockeyTwitter

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) July 30, 2021 Individually, the decisions are rational and positive. Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall has not made a mistake with player acquisition, he didn’t However, the Pittsburgh Penguins are not better today. The Penguins reach for a player in the 2021 NHL Draft, and he has added free agents have regressed in every measurable way. They’re not tougher, actually on appropriate contracts. So far, so good. And the offseason isn’t over. the opposite. They’ve not fortified any area, actually the opposite.

In a vacuum, each decision is above criticism and justifiable. Even worthy Somehow, they’re older, too. of a pat of praise. The NHL free agent frenzy is almost over, and there remain few players In totality, they’re not nearly enough for the situation, and the Penguins of value who could help the team. Nick Ritchie is perhaps the last UFA are withering. Hextall is slow-walking the “win now” effort and replacing it who could add some toughness to the Penguins forward group while also with a “win if you can” strategy. adding some scoring punch.

The Penguins are older, softer, and not as good as they were last In five or six weeks, players will begin trickling into Pittsburgh for training season. camp. There’s time, but not much.

I must acknowledge, one trade or a combination of moves could change There are also in-season trades, but teams desperate or in need don’t everything. But if a trade or salary dump were possible, it seems it would often win those deals. After the mad-dash of the NHL free-agent frenzy have happened already. Marcus Pettersson and Jason Zucker make on Wednesday, there will be few teams that want to take on salary, and nearly $10 million, they appear destined to be on the Penguins roster we can surmise based on the lack of activity, not the salaries the next season. Pittsburgh Penguins would like to give up.

The organization chose to keep the Penguins core with Sidney Crosby, The Penguins Future Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang together. PHN defended the move on multiple occasions, and we won’t criticize it now, but what is the goal of The Penguins do have a pipeline with a few players on the way. At least keeping the core together without much chance to win? one, or two of Sam Poulin, Nathan Legare, Filip Hallander should be skating on the NHL ice within two years, though none will have a Jake Out went Jared McCann, Brandon Tanev, Cody Ceci, and Frederick Guentzel-type impact. Gaudreau. Incoming are Brock McGinn and Danton Heinen. The Penguins’ acquisitions scored a total of 15 goals last season. Heinen has P-O Joseph will be ready for the blue line soon. talent, but he’s also a soft player. He scored 14 points with Anaheim (7-7- But there is a couple of year gap from now to when the Penguins can 14) despite legitimate opportunity in the middle six. reasonably expect the pipeline to make an impact; unfortunately, those At $1.1 million, Heinen is a good flier. As a McCann replacement, that’s are the last two years that the team can conceivably claim a not good enough. championship shot with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

A salary dump doesn’t seem to be part of the plan. A good time for one The “win-now” mode has to bridge the gap from now to then. would have been to keep McCann before the expansion draft. Or before Instead, it seems a lot like letting things play out — or wear out–until the free agency to find cap space to improve. full rebuild can start. Absolutely, the salary cap dictates teams at the top lose players, so If that’s the case, why wait? Why allow the team to atrophy and fade? teams at the bottom can gain. And the Penguins’ Rutherford era, with reckless giveaways of top picks (without enough positive results), cripple Twist Conclusion… re-tooling efforts. The Penguins are not better today. According to Hextall, the Pittsburgh There’s a certain element of “take your medicine.” Penguins will begin contract negotiations with Letang, Malkin, and Bryan Rust in August (or at least begin to look at the situations). But Heinen, in place of McCann, is a big drop. McGinn for Tanev is a small drop and saved $750,000, but that’s not a lot of money. Tanev’s After writing nearly 1000 words and rewriting it all night, I finally $3.5 million sounds like a lot more because it starts with three. realized…

The Penguins were in win-now mode when they protected 36-year-old One wonders if contract offers to Malkin and Letang will really be Jeff Carter over 25-year-old McCann at the expansion draft. But the forthcoming. It’s natural to wonder if the atrophy isn’t simply a prelude to Penguins needed to support the roster. To get better. wiping the slate clean and building a new team around Sidney Crosby…in 2022-23. Metro Division Gets BETTER Before the team can give up the idea of winning and embrace a rebuild, it Their rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, are getting better. The New York has to realize it cannot win. And only then can a new philosophy take Rangers are not only getting much better, but they’re also getting root. tougher. Late on Thursday night, New York traded a third-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights for premier tough guy Ryan Reaves. Why keep the core together only to starve it? The Penguins are not better and it doesn’t sound like big improvements are coming. Hextall Suddenly, the Penguins are softer, older, and not as good. Their rivals said on Wednesday, “we’d like to make a few tweaks.” are getting energized, physical, and significantly better. The Flyers’ recent additions of Cam Atkinson and Rasmus Ristolainen have analytics Maybe the step back will be the only way to take the step forward, sooner people howling, but hockey people are taking notice. They will have an than later. edge and transform a lethargic team into an aggressive team capable of punishing opponents (and scoring, too). Otherwise, this has been an entirely lackluster offseason which is putting the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff streak in serious jeopardy. Also, Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart had a disastrous 2020-21 season. Don’t expect that sort of mess again. The Flyers are again a Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.31.2021 playoff team but now with a backbone that they lacked.

The Rangers’ young stars are a year wiser and a year better (a formula that only works with a young team). The Rangers acquired tough winger 1218893 San Jose Sharks GOALTENDING 2021-22 ADIN HILL $2,500,000

Reimer, James $2,250,000 Are Sharks Done with Free Agency? TOTAL $4,750,000

BUYOUT 2021-22 Published 8 hours ago on July 30, 2021By Sheng Peng Jones, Martin $1,916,667

TOTAL $1,916,667 It’s the third day of free agency. What do the San Jose Sharks still need to add? OVERALL $78,463,334

The correct answer is everything. Including RFA Hill’s projected cap hit, the San Jose Sharks have about $3 million dollars of cap space remaining to work with this off-season. Their top-two goalies — Adin Hill and James Reimer — are unconvincing starters. How did I arrive at this number?

Their three most expensive defensemen — Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, I’m assuming that Nick Merkley ($750K) passes through waivers. The and Marc-Edouard Vlasic — are coming off consecutive sub-standard San Jose Sharks are high on Lane Pederson, so at least for now, my campaigns. educated guess is he’s ahead of Merkley on the depth chart. Same goes for Jonathan Dahlen — the Sharks will want to see what they’ve got in Of their five purported top-six forwards, only a couple — Evander Kane Pederson and Dahlen before risking them to waivers. Neither are waiver- and Tomas Hertl — produced up to expectation last year. exempt. But we also need to be realistic: Doug Wilson isn’t trading Hill for Andrei San Jose could also carry 14 forwards; I have 13 in my estimate. Vasilevskiy, Karlsson for Cale Makar, or Logan Couture for Jack Eichel. Meanwhile, waiver-exempt forward prospects like Noah Gregor, John The San Jose Sharks are, probably, who they are. Leonard ($925K), Joachim Blichfeld ($750K), Sasha Chmelevski “Our best players need to be our best players,” Wilson likes to say. And ($778,333), Jeffrey Viel ($750K), and Ivan Chekhovich ($776,667) will frankly, when your most expensive players aren’t your best players, need to make an impression at camp to grab a major-league spot. you’re usually stuck with them. In other words, San Jose has no choice On defense, I’m projecting Brinson Pasichnuk as San Jose’s seventh but to count on Karlsson and company to bounce back — nobody else is defenseman. Nicolas Meloche ($750K) could also be in the mix. Unless taking them. Ryan Merkley ($863,333) is having an incredible summer in the gym, I So again, let’s be realistic: How can the Sharks, as currently constituted, don’t think he’s a legitimate contender for an NHL role at the moment. improve themselves? As for Hill’s estimated cap hit, here’s how I landed on it: Let’s figure out how much cap space they have first, after inking UFAs Hill’s Cap Hit Will Probably Be Higher Than Expected Nick Bonino, Andrew Cogliano, and James Reimer. Hill’s cap hit is an estimation: But anyway, I’m just setting the table: This article is about how the San Jose Sharks can still improve themselves via free agency. FORWARDS 2021-22 Cap Hit First, up front. There’s no doubt that San Jose could still use a legitimate Couture, Logan $8,000,000 middle-six forward. Rudolfs Balcers and Alexander Barabanov showed Kane, Evander $7,000,000 promise in high-leverage roles last season, and I’m sure that they hope Dahlen can step in right away. But that’s a lot of question marks on top of Meier, Timo $6,000,000 question marks Couture, Timo Meier, and Kevin Labanc.

Hertl, Tomas $5,625,000 That said, pickings are slim after the first two frantic days of free agency. At this point, Tomas Tatar is pretty much your only safe middle-six Labanc, Kevin $4,725,000 forward bet left on the market. You can also take a swing at a Nick Bonino, Nick $2,050,000 Ritchie, Marcus Johansson, or Nikita Gusev type.

Balcers, Rudolfs $1,550,000 Would Tatar come for $3 million? Probably not, I’d guess many other teams are eyeing him as the big bargain this off-season. Gambrell, Dylan $1,100,000 For what it’s worth, I checked in with an agent who represents a quality Barabanov, Alexander $1,000,000 young depth forward — he says that the San Jose Sharks haven’t called. Now this forward is no Tatar, but it makes me wonder if San Jose is done Cogliano, Andrew $1,000,000 adding NHL-caliber forwards right now. I don’t have any info on Tatar Nieto, Matt $850,000 himself right now.

Pederson, Lane $750,000 So while Tatar would be ideal for any team looking to make the playoffs — there’s actually a more obvious, easy area to fix on this San Jose Dahlen, Jonathan $750,000 roster. It’s not an exciting add, by any means.

TOTAL $40,400,000 But consider what Wilson said on adding Bonino and Cogliano: “The DEFENSE 2021-22 young players will have to come in and knock the door down, take a spot on the team.” Karlsson, Erik $11,500,000 To some degree, Wilson appears to have achieved a higher level of Burns, Brent $8,000,000 competition up front. But has he done enough for his back-end?

Vlasic, Marc-Édouard $7,000,000 “I like our defense,” Wilson countered, when asked about adding another blueliner earlier this week. Simek, Radim $2,250,000 On the other hand, I have the inexperienced Pasichnuk penciled in as the Ferraro, Mario $925,000 club’s seventh defenseman. That means, in case of injury, the San Jose Knyzhov, Nikolai $796,667 Sharks might be relying on Pasichnuk, Meloche, or Merkley to provide steady NHL minutes. That doesn’t seem prudent to me. Pasichnuk, Brinson $925,000 I’m not suggesting, by the way, that the Sharks should chase a Ryan TOTAL $31,396,667 Murray. I mean, maybe they should, but he’ll probably be too expensive. But following the Cogliano formula, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a defenseman who can still give you sound bottom-pairing minutes and provide veteran leadership for around the minimum.

But again, so far, it’s no dice from what I’ve gathered. According to sources, San Jose did not pursue Jon Merrill, who signed for $850,000 with Minnesota. They also haven’t reached out to ex-Shark Jason Demers.

Again, these aren’t the most electrifying names, but they offer an NHL- caliber security blanket and force your younger defenders to “knock the door down” to make the line-up.

Maybe the San Jose Sharks will add a veteran bottom-pairing defenseman yet — Merrill and Demers were just two obvious fits for that role. There are others.

But it makes me wonder if the Sharks are done with free agency this off- season?

San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218894 Seattle Kraken Grubauer said his goal is always playing at least half the season and to feel fresh entering the playoffs.

“So, it’s always good to have a good tandem,” he said. “I don’t think one Goalie Philipp Grubauer prepares for a lighter workload and more guy can play 70 games and be fresh for the playoffs. … It’s important to attention as the face of the Kraken have two guys.”

Former longtime Washington Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig, a co-owner of the Tri-City Americans junior team, was one of the first to congratulate July 30, 2021 at 4:56 pm Updated July 30, 2021 at 5:17 pm the netminder Wednesday. Kolzig, who lives in Kennewick, was a goaltending and professional-development coach with the Capitals By Geoff Baker throughout Grubauer’s time there from 2012-18 and said he’s a marquee addition Kraken fans will appreciate.

Kraken headliner Philipp Grubauer is admittedly still somewhat surprised “Initially, he’s pretty quiet whether it’s with a new goalie coach or a new to find himself the face of the NHL’s newest franchise. teammate,” Kolzig said. “He just seems kind of quiet, but as he opens up and gets to know you, he’s very outgoing — somebody you could easily Grubauer tried until “the last minute” to stay with the Colorado Avalanche go to dinner with and have conversations with. before the Kraken swooped in and signed the free-agent goalie to a six- year, $35.4 million contract. Now he’s the Kraken’s biggest star and “And his teammates play hard for him,” Kolzig added. “He’s a very tough knows he’ll be counted on to sell the game here much as goalie Marc- competitor, very athletic. So I think Seattle’s getting a guy that it could Andre Fleury did with the Vegas Golden Knights four years ago. definitely build a franchise around.”

“The way he came in and what they did was incredible,” Grubauer said Kolzig said Grubauer easily could have played more games with the Friday by Zoom from his native Germany. “So that’s the goal, right? To Capitals had he not been stuck behind No. 1 netminder Braden Holtby. be that guy, to go to the playoffs and to win the Cup. They went to the He noted that Grubauer, when drafted by the Capitals following his 2009- finals that first year. Obviously, there’s a lot to do, and everybody’s 10 campaign in the Ontario Hockey League, had played roughly 90 coming into a new city, and the team has never existed. preseason, regular-season, playoff and international games that season for the Belleville Bulls, a Windsor Spitfires team that won the Memorial “So there’s lots and lots of work to do, but it’s going to be an exciting Cup championship and Germany’s national junior team. journey.” But there is an argument for easing Grubauer’s workload, beyond the There had been initial skepticism about just how surprised Grubauer was general NHL trend toward goalie tandems. As good as Grubauer looked to wind up with the Kraken. After signing Wednesday, he did an overseas carrying the Avalanche’s goaltending last season, he faltered somewhat television interview with TSN in Canada and was asked whether the in the second playoff round — allowing 16 goals on only 69 shots the Kraken had spoken to him last week during the team’s exclusive 72-hour final three games — as Colorado blew a 2-0 series lead and lost to negotiation window with free agents left unprotected ahead of the Vegas in six. expansion draft. Rumors of Grubauer’s possible departure began soon after, amid doubts It wasn’t clear whether Grubauer fully heard or understood the question the team could re-sign both him and free-agent captain Gabriel when he answered: “For sure, yeah, there was some interest there, and Landeskog. When Landeskog re-upped for eight years, $56 million we had interest, too.” Tuesday night, Grubauer’s exit materialized in rapid fashion.

Colorado actually had protected Grubauer in the draft, so the Kraken “I had no idea what he was going to do,” said Kraken winger Joonas speaking to him in advance would have violated NHL tampering rules. Donskoi, who teamed with Grubauer in Colorado before being selected in Kraken general manager Ron Francis said Wednesday he hadn’t spoken the expansion draft. “Obviously, I thought that maybe he was going to to Grubauer’s camp last week. Friday, Grubauer clarified that his first stay in Colorado.” contact with the Kraken came after the free-agency period opened Wednesday. Donskoi added: “I was surprised seeing him come to Seattle. But it made me very happy.” “Never experienced that craziness,” Grubauer said. “Everybody was calling once the window opens up, so it was a little wild hour and Another big difference between Grubauer and Fleury is style. Though definitely a crazy experience.” Fleury has made a career of flopping around his crease — occasionally making even routine stops look spectacular — Grubauer plays a more One difference between Grubauer and Fleury, who beat him out for the disciplined game. Vezina Trophy last season as the league’s top goaltender, is the former Vegas netminder appeared in 64 of his team’s 82 games in that debut “I don’t think I’m a flashy goaltender who makes or tries to make the big Golden Knights season — a 78% rate far higher than Grubauer’s career save,” Grubauer said. “My philosophy is I always want to be in the right norms. position, in every situation, for what’s created around me.”

Only two seasons ago did Grubauer play even half his team’s contests. He’s now in the best situation he could find once the Avalanche wavered. Then, last season, he played a career high 71% of the Avalanche’s And with Driedger in the goaltending mix, the Kraken hopes the support pandemic-truncated 56-game schedule after an early injury to backup created around Grubauer positions him to best succeed. Pavel Francouz. Seattle Times LOADED: 07.31.2021 But the Kraken plans on Grubauer playing less now in a tandem with goalie Chris Driedger. The presence of Driedger, 27, who signed for three years, $10.5 million ahead of the expansion draft as the anticipated No. 1 goalie, is what caught so many off guard when Grubauer was signed a week later.

With Grubauer being the more elite and proven starter, the Kraken is paying $9.4 million a season combined for him and Driedger — 11.5% of the team’s salary cap space. Francis said he expects Driedger will be used more than a typical backup, and he’d be surprised if Grubauer plays 70% of the games again.

Grubauer said Friday he enjoyed the heavier workload last season, posting a career-best 1.95 goals-against average — second-best in the league — and .922 save percentage.

“Obviously it was a more intense season than any other,” Grubauer said. “But you learned the flow. You were constantly playing.” 1218895 Seattle Kraken done projections in which opposing teams in a year or two will be hopelessly crushed up against a cap limit staying flat at $81.5 million. Think it’s bad now? Just wait.

Analysis: Answering key questions as the Kraken’s roster starts to take It’s only going to get worse for teams as contracts for talented players shape during NHL free agency start coming due next summer and seasons beyond. The Kraken wants enough salary-cap space to move if bigger stars are jettisoned.

Q: What does “maximizing the dollars it allocates” actually mean? Is that July 30, 2021 at 6:00 am Updated July 30, 2021 at 4:46 pm code for going cheap?

By Geoff Baker A: No, it means getting roughly the same player for less money. In a recent story I used the example of Philadelphia Flyers left wing James

van Riemsdyk, 32, who was available in the expansion draft with two Things appear much clearer today with the Kraken’s plans for the coming contract years remaining at a $7 million annual cap hit. season than after last week’s NHL expansion draft. The Kraken passed and was second-guessed by some, including me. The Kraken has a marquee player in goaltender Philipp Grubauer, 29, But van Riemsdyk throughout a career comprising 797 games has after signing him Wednesday on the opening day of NHL free agency. averaged 0.66 points per contest. The additions of left wing Jaden Schwartz, 29, and center Alexander Wennberg, 26, provide the makings of two top Kraken forward lines, Schwartz, three years younger, has played 560 games — roughly an though the team could probably use another “top six” player. identical trajectory — and averaged a slightly better 0.69 points per contest. And his new Kraken deal takes up $1.5 million less cap space For those unfamiliar with hockey terminology, “top six” means a team’s annually. best offensive skill players on its two top lines of three forwards each. True, the Schwartz deal is for three seasons longer. But with Schwartz The “bottom six” are on Lines 3 and 4 — typically players limited in three years younger, both players will see their contracts expire by age offensive ability and used primarily to check, defend and hold the other 34. So you’re getting Schwartz for his younger age 29, 30 and 31 team off the scoreboard while top players get a rest. A “middle six” player seasons while taking van Riemsdyk gets him only at ages 32 and 33. is somebody who can bounce between Lines 2 and 3 — not a top-line goal-scorer but just good enough to be dangerous. Usually this player is Granted, any five-year deal carries risk. And Schwartz missed 16 games a talented forechecker capable of wreaking havoc. because of an oblique injury last season. But if Schwartz produces near his career average, the Kraken gets similar production to van Riemsdyk Anyway, I have been asked about the term by readers, so hopefully that while preserving $1.5 million in cap space each of the next two years. helps. Now let’s answer a few more free-agency questions. As for Wennberg, the best available free-agent center was likely Question: Why has everybody seemed confused by some of the Montreal’s Phillip Danault. As mentioned, Montreal reached the Cup Kraken’s roster-building up to now? Final with goal prevention, led largely by Danault negating opposing Answer: Count me among the initially befuddled. But it’s clearer now, scorers. especially after the free-agent signings. One thing worth remembering: As many have noted, the defensive-minded Danault is a little wanting analytics are playing a key role in Kraken decisions and maximizing offensively. Still, the Los Angeles Kings gave him $5.5 million annually value — both obvious and sometimes hidden — is driving player moves. the next six years. As I replied to somebody on Twitter, the sum of this team will likely be greater than its parts. Wennberg got $4.5 million annually over three years. And though he isn’t the same shutdown defender as Danault, he might be better offensively. So, when people ask “Where’s the scoring going to come from?” I’d He scored a career-high 17 goals with Florida last season. argue the Kraken — with free-agent-forward signings Schwartz and Wennberg and Jordan Eberle selected from the New York Islanders in “Obviously, the offensive game was way better last year,” Wennberg said the expansion draft — has decent enough scoring to win close games. Thursday. “I got my goal-scoring up a little bit, which is something I’ve Also, the makings of above-average goal prevention. There are the pre- been looking to improve. expansion draft free-agent signings of defensemen Jamie Oleksiak and Adam Larsson to go with veteran blue-liner Mark Giordano and an “But me, personally, I always want to be a 200-foot player. I want to be infusion of talented young defenders. an offensive player who can be a threat and really contribute that way. But for me, I feel the responsibility to play on the PK (penalty-kill unit) and Throw in free-agent goalie signings Grubauer and Chris Driedger, and to be a solid defensive guy is just as important.” this team should prevent goals. Grubauer won’t have the Colorado Avalanche’s elite defensive core in front of him, but the high number of So, how much should a team value defense in a center? tenacious, two-way forwards the Kraken acquired should compensate for If Wennberg amounts to, say, 80% the defensive player Danault is, will that. his offense bridge the gap? Because if he’s close, the Kraken just saved That’s some of the hidden stuff you get from “analytics-leaning” teams. If $1 million a season in cap space over half as many contract years. your forwards have an above-average defensive component, it can make Even the $5.9 million annual goaltending splurge on Grubauer the next up for a lack of elite-level defensemen. six seasons found value. Especially when compared with the option of Schwartz, upon signing his five-year, $27.5 million deal, described the taking a banged-up Carey Price for five more years at $10.5 million Kraken as having “a lot of good players, a lot of good hockey IQs and annually in the expansion draft. The Grubauer and Driedger tandem guys that like to play both sides of the ice. They’ve also got a lot of deep costs $9.4 million a season — $1.1 million less for two healthy goalies. defensemen — guys that can play different roles.” Q: So what does it all mean? The Montreal Canadiens were a team with a sum greater than its parts A: With both goalies, Schwartz and Wennberg, the Kraken saved $3.6 and made the Stanley Cup Final despite scoring only 2.47 goals per million in annual cap space the next three years over a Price/van game the first three playoff rounds. That’s identical to last season’s Riemsdyk/Danault combination. The Wennberg and Driedger deals are abysmal Buffalo Sabres rate in compiling the league’s worst record. How up after that, but in the interim, that savings alone affords another good did the Canadiens ever win? They forechecked and backchecked like player. crazy and allowed only 2.18 goals per game in those three rounds. And there’s still about $14 million in remaining cap space this season. Q: Is the team trying to save salary-cap space so ownership keeps more Another impact move or two is likely needed, considering any injuries to money? Schwartz or Eberle could hamper overall production. A: No, and if it were I’d be the first to tell you. But there is definitely a plan here. And it could work quite well if some The Kraken is maximizing the dollars it allocates to preserve cap space Kraken guys merely live up to the numbers on the backs of their hockey for this season and further down the road. I’ve been told staffers have cards. Seattle Times LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218896 Seattle Kraken

Philipp Grubauer surprised, excited to get opportunity with Seattle Kraken

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JULY 30, 2021 AT 4:34 PM

SEATTLE (AP) — When the NHL free agency window opened, the Seattle Kraken’s front office was stunned to see goaltender Philipp Grubauer wasn’t already headed back to Colorado.

They weren’t alone.

Kraken make splash with Philipp Grubauer leading trio of signings

“A little bit surprised for sure,” Grubauer said Friday. “I think we tried till the last minute to work something out (with Colorado). Didn’t work out and then entered free agency. Never experienced that craziness. Everybody was calling once the window opens up so it was a little wild hour and definitely a crazy experience.”

Signing Grubauer was the biggest splash made by the NHL’s newest franchise, which gave him a six-year, $35.4 million deal Wednesday. Landing him seemed unlikely given the success he had last season in Colorado, but the Kraken jumped at the opportunity to add one of the top goaltenders in the league.

And for his part, so did Grubauer.

“I think it’s incredible to be part of something new and make history in terms of like playing the first-ever game and being part of that group and doing the same thing Vegas did,” Grubauer said. “That’s the goal, too.”

Grubauer was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the first time last season, when the 29-year-old goalie went 30-9-1 with the Avalanche with a 1.95 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. He also led the league in shutouts with seven and didn’t lose consecutive games all season.

“I think you look at his save percentage, his goals against lately. Look at how he played last year in the playoffs, the fact that he was a finalist for the Vezina. I mean, he’s had a pretty good run,” Seattle GM Ron Francis said earlier this week. “I remember watching him play back in the day with Washington when they won the Cup. He’s a guy that’s proven over time that he can play at this level, an elite level.”

Grubauer and Chris Driedger make up Seattle’s primary goaltending duo. Grubauer appeared in 40 of Colorado’s 56 games last season and also saw the importance of having two elite goaltenders during his time in Washington, when he was paired with Braden Holtby.

“The way we won in Washington, I played 40 games, 45 games, (Holtby) played half the season and then the playoffs he was fresh,” Grubauer said. “It’s always good to have a good tandem. I don’t think one guy can play 70 games and then be fresh for the playoffs. You always need two.”

Between Grubauer and Driedger, the Kraken have committed 11.5% ($9.4 million) of this year’s salary cap to the goalie position. But Seattle still has $16 million of cap space available, and while the Kraken are likely to keep a significant chunk of that free for future moves, it also provides them with the opportunity to add another piece or two before training camps open in September.

“It’s going to be really interesting what system coach (Dave Hakstol) puts in place and we got to find our identity as a team,” Grubauer said. “The team looks great on paper but obviously you got to play and create some chemistry.”

MYNORTHWEST.COM LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218897 Seattle Kraken are having cap issues to see if there is an opening to potentially add more forward help. And for those wondering, there are four teams that currently have no cap space and a total of nine teams with less than $2 million in cap space. Kraken depth chart 2.0: What the opening night roster could look like, for now Second line: Here is where missing Gourde starts to impact the Kraken. Using Mason Appleton as a second-line left winger could be an option. Or maybe it’s not. Hakstol could determine that Brandon Tanev might be a better choice. Tanev can play on either wing whereas Appleton can be By Ryan S. Clark Jul 30, 2021 used at center or right wing. Well, in that case, why not just move Jared McCann to left wing and have Appleton down the middle? Hakstol could do that, too. But it comes with the idea Appleton has 27 NHL face-offs on So, yeah. A few things have changed since the last time an attempt was his resume while McCann has 2,472 by comparison. It is not to say made to examine the Seattle Kraken’s potential lineup choices ahead of Appleton may not be used at center. Yet the idea there are more their inaugural season. experienced options could be something for Hakstol and his staff to consider. Pairing Appleton and McCann together with Joonas Donskoi Perhaps the most notable alteration being, yeah, you guess it. Cap would create another line that would rely on their defensive principles in space. Kraken general manager Ron Francis recouped $2.625 million of an attempt to create possession on the other end. it by trading defenseman Kurtis MacDermid and forward Tyler Pitlick elsewhere for draft picks. Only to then use those savings toward From there, it would hypothetically be a group that could have net front spending $15.9 million Wednesday to sign forwards Jaden Schwartz and presence with Appleton’s 6-foot-2 frame. Again. This is just one approach Alex Wennberg along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer. As expected, Hakstol could take with this line knowing it could all change once Gourde Grubauer’s arrival meant trading goaltender Vitek Vanecek in exchange gets healthy. Moving Wennberg to the second line would then create a for another piece of draft capital. conversation about the rest of the line. Donskoi was used as a top-six winger during his time with the Colorado Avalanche and he could remain CapFriendly projects Francis and his front office staff still have $16.393 a candidate to stay as the Kraken’s second-line right winger. Figuring out million available to make more moves. Only eight other teams possessed what to do on the left is where most of the discussions could be held. It is more salary cap space than the Kraken going into Friday. It amounts to possible Appleton could stay there. Hakstol could decide McCann is a the Kraken investing $9.4 million in goaltending which ranks fifth. They better fit as a second-line left winger. There is also the possibility of are ninth in defense spending with the expectation that figure shall enhancing that line’s two-way presence by making McCann a third-line increase once restricted free agents William Borgen, Dennis Cholowski center in exchange for Calle Jarnkrok working with Donskoi and and Vince Dunn sign new contracts. Wennberg instead. Don’t forget the obligatory line if Francis could also As for forwards? The Kraken poured $35.456 million into that particular make a trade that changes the complexion of this — or any other — line group which also ranks 24th. Knowing Francis still has more money has as well. created the belief the Kraken might not be done and they could still be in Third line: Perhaps you’re noticing a certain theme? Is it that the Kraken the market for more reinforcements. have more fluidity? Is it Hakstol has a few decisions awaiting him? Is it Projected Kraken Forwards Gourde being injured has a larger impact than most realize? Is it that one trade could make a significant difference. Could it be all of the above or LEFT WING CENTER RIGHT WING none of the above? The idea it could be Appleton or Tanev on the third Jaden Schwartz line is another example of the choices that could face Hakstol and his staff. So is the idea of having Jarnkrok at center. Francis said the Kraken Alex Wennberg sought to select players during the expansion draft with center experience because top-nine centers were going to be unavailable. Jordan Eberle Jarnkrok is one of those players. It comes back to the idea of what line Mason Appleton offers the Kraken the most options. Does he play on the second or third? Are they better off having him down the middle or the wing? Part of that Jared McCann also plays into what Francis said about trying to add a piece to the bottom six. He said if they would like to add a center or a penalty-killing Joonas Donskoi winger. Getting either one would provide Hakstol another option toward Brandon Tanev configuring the third and fourth lines. Of course, there are questions about how the third line looks when Gourde returns. But the Kraken also Calle Jarnkrok could have a few questions to ask about Colin Blackwell. He currently slots as a third-line winger with the idea he was on pace for a 21-goal Colin Blackwell campaign over an 82-game pace. Is that enough for Blackwell to get a Carsen Twarynski look on the second line or is he a third-line option instead?

Morgan Geekie Fourth line: Finding the strongest potential configuration for the fourth line could be predicated by a few items. The first being if Francis adds Nathan Bastian another top-nine forward between now and the start of the regular season. The second being his aforementioned need to add a fourth-line First line: Yanni Gourde is absent from this exercise because he will miss forward. The third being what those corresponding moves mean for those the start of the regular season to recover from shoulder surgery. projected to be on the fourth line in this hypothetical. Everything Morgan Gourde’s omission factors into why this list could appear to look a bit Geekie achieved in the AHL offers more insight into the fact that he could wonky in certain areas. Francis said Alex Wennberg will be expected to be ready for something more permanent in the NHL. He’s averaging 0.34 play top-six minutes which could result in him centering a line with Jordan points in 38 NHL games and has won 52.8 percent of his 163 NHL Eberle on the right and Jaden Schwartz on the left. This could be a faceoffs. Geekie averaged 9:47 in ice time in 36 games last season for combination that would give Kraken coach Dave Hakstol a two-way top the Carolina Hurricanes which proves he could instantly fill a fourth-line group that will work to gain possession with the aim of generating role. But the fact he is a 6-3 center who is only 23 could leave the door chances whenever they get on the attack. Eberle and Schwartz are open for him to possibly challenge for a third-line role. Pairing him with wingers who have combined to reach the 20-goal plateau several times Nathan Bastian and Carsen Twarynski would give Hakstol a potential in their careers. Wennberg scored a career-high 17 goals with the Florida fourth line in which the 6-2 and 198-pound Twarynski would be the Panthers last year and was on pace to score 42 points over an 82-game smallest member. It would also create a combination that has a slate for what would have been his second most prolific NHL campaign. combined 108 games between them which could prompt Francis into An Eberle-Schwartz-Wennberg trio, however, comes with a few caveats. adding another player with more experience. One being the realization their group could be broken up once Gourde Items to consider: Assessing whether or not Matty Beniers fits into the returns to the lineup. If so, then, it would push Wennberg to the second immediate future is a decision facing Francis and his staff. Beniers line which creates a ripple effect felt throughout the lineup. The other projects as a top-six center that could operate in a number of roles. being the fact Francis could make a trade that alters this dynamic before Playing him right away would prevent the Kraken from potentially having training camp arrives. Francis said the Kraken would look at teams that to spend more money while allowing them a chance to oversee his can maintain that depth on the back end at a low cost. Fleury only costs development firsthand. Yet that all comes with weighing if that is the most $1.3 million and has one year remaining on his contract before he prudent decision for his long-term development. Beniers and Francis becomes a restricted free agent while Soucy has two more years left on have been rather open about how a second year at the University of his deal at $2.75 million until he hits the open market. Borgen and Michigan would allow him to add more strength and weight. Remaining at Cholowski are waiting to sign new deals while Jeremy Lauzon will earn Michigan would also offer Beniers a more gradual window to develop $850,000 until he becomes an RFA next season. There is always the versus trying to do that in an NHL environment where everything is done possibility that the Kraken could decide to trade two of them with the idea at a much quicker pace. Beniers aside, the Kraken could examine if they they would have a seventh defenseman on hand and could turn to Cale want to carry 13 forwards at all times. AHL Palm Springs will commence Fleury should they need an eighth defenseman. at the start of the 2022-23 season which is why the Kraken partnered with the Florida Panthers to create a dynamic that will see their minor- Projected Kraken Goalies league players join the Charlotte Checkers. Having an AHL affiliate on GOALTENDING the other side of the nation could result in Hakstol opting to carry 13 forwards so they have an extra body on hand instead of trying to get an Philipp Grubauer extra forward who might have to take a cross-country flight. Chris Driedger Projected Kraken Defense Goaltending: Experience no longer was an issue when the Kraken signed LEFT DEFENSE RIGHT DEFENSE Philipp Grubauer so they could pair him with Chris Driedger only to then trade away Vanecek to secure the plan in net ahead of next season. Both Vince Dunn (RFA) goaltenders are used to operating in a tandem with the expectation that Adam Larsson Grubauer, who signed a six-year contract at $5.9 million annually, would be in line to receive more than 50 percent of the starts. Several teams Mark Giordano throughout the NHL have turned to the tandem approach as it allows them to have fresher options in net with a condensed schedule while also Jamie Oleskiak having a proven goaltender in the event of an injury. One example of a Carson Soucy playoff team that used a tandem in which its two goaltenders played every game was the . Cam Talbot made 33 starts while Haydn Fleury Kaapo Kahkonen received the remaining 23 starts. It led to Talbot starting 59 percent of the Wild’s games while Kahkonen received 41 Jeremy Lauzon percent. An 82-game schedule with that exact split would see Grubauer Dennis Cholowski (RFA) attain 48 starts with Driedger getting 34 starts. If so? That would still be a career-high in starts for both goalies. Cale Fleury Items to consider: Meet Joey Daccord. He’s the 24-year-old the Kraken William Borgen selected from the Ottawa Senators during the expansion draft. Daccord is also the Kraken’s third goaltender at a time when that position could be First pair: Nothing has changed since the last depth chart which led to more valuable than before. Some teams like the New York Islanders Vince Dunn being paired with Adam Larsson. It’s a partnership that were able to navigate the regular season and reach the postseason with would see a puck-mover placed with a two-way defenseman to create a just two goaltenders. But there were others like the Carolina Hurricanes dynamic with a sense of balance. Another facet a Dunn-Larsson duo that had to tap into their depth which led to them relying upon three could potentially add might be secondary scoring. Part of the appeal in goaltenders to each make at least 10 starts prior to making the playoffs. getting Dunn is that he could be that facilitator capable of orchestrating in Daccord has spent most of his time in the AHL and only has nine NHL 5-on-5 sequences while Larsson has recorded more than 18 points in games in his career. Although, an injury to either Grubauer or Driedger five of his 10 seasons. Hakstol does have options in that he could elect to could make Daccord’s addition even more important knowing the Kraken pair Mark Giordano with Larsson or use Giordano and Jamie Oleksiak in do have cover in net. this position. Either way, it amounts to the Kraken have four defensemen they can shuffle between their top two pairings. The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 Second pair: Giordano being in a position to contribute at least 40 points in a season would offer relief when it comes to how the Kraken could score goals. Knowing they will have a second puck-moving option in addition to Dunn is something that offers Hakstol more flexibility when it comes to creating the sort of pairings that can do more than just defend. Oleksiak has reached double figures in four straight seasons and could lend a hand when needed. Still, the role he could play would allow Giordano more freedom to execute certain plays knowing he has a partner who is ready to immediately skate back in the event of an odd- man rush going the other way. Perhaps the biggest question facing this potential duo would be determining who plays on their off-hand given that both Giordano and Oleksiak are left-handed shooters. Unless Hakstol opts to pair Giordano with Larsson and Dunn with Oleksiak. It would allow Giordano and Larsson to play at their natural positions while Dunn goes to the second pairing where he could operate on the right.

Third pair: Welcome to a hypothetical that might not get answered until training camp. Francis’ decision to load up on defensemen has given Hakstol several choices when it comes to how he wants to adjust his third pair. It is also a level of depth that has led to questions about what players are expendable and if Francis could use them to gain something in return. That already happened when MacDermid was moved to the Avalanche. Hakstol could determine that Haydn Fleury and Carson Soucy are the two defensemen who are the strongest combination. Fleury and Soucy are the most experienced options beyond the top four which could also lead to them potentially forging a shutdown line. Scratch that. A shutdown line with size considering Fleury is 6-foot-3 and Soucy is 6-foot-5.

Items to consider: Most NHL teams elect to carry at least seven defensemen in the event of an injury. So it is entirely possible that the Kraken could only look to part with one of their extra defensemen so they 1218898 St Louis Blues teams: USA Blue and USA White. Dickinson and Peterson actually have played games for both squads in the tournament.

Peterson, a third-round draft pick from Roseville, Calif., who’s scheduled Barbashev re-ups with Blues: 2 years, $4.5 million to play again for Boston University this season, has no goals and two assists in four games.

Dickinson, a fourth-round pick from Perrysburg, Ohio, who’s expected to Jim Thomas 10 hrs ago play in the Ontario Hockey League, had two goals and one assist through three games.

Defenseman Leo Loof, a third-round pick in 2020, and forward Simon Post-Dispatch Blues beat reporters Jim Thomas and Tom Timmermann Robertsson, a third-round pick by the Blues in the 2021 draft last joined columnist Jeff Gordon to discuss the Blues’ signing of winger Saturday, are playing for Sweden. Brandon … The weeklong tournament concludes Saturday. One down, four to go. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.31.2021 Forward Ivan Barbashev, one of five restricted free agents the Blues want to re-sign, has agreed to a two-year, $4.5 million contract. The average annual value of $2.25 million is a nice pay raise from the $1.475 million a year he made on his previous contract.

The deal leaves the Blues with $6.3 million in salary cap space and four restricted free agents left to sign: Dakota Joshua, Jordan Kyrou, Zach Sanford and Robert Thomas.

Barbashev had been eligible for arbitration, but that won’t be necessary as of Friday.

A young veteran at age 25, Barbashev has played 270 games over five seasons with the Blues and carved out a niche with the team as a steady, dependable performer.

Although usually playing on the fourth line, Barbashev has the versatility to move up and down the lineup when warranted. He did some good work last season when injuries elsewhere moved him up temporarily to the Ryan O’Reilly-David Perron line.

Barbashev played only 38 games last season, missing 18 contests after getting hit in the left ankle by a Perron shot in a Feb. 18 home game against San Jose. His season totals were four goals and five assists.

Barbashev averaged 13 minutes 21 seconds of ice time and was plus-5. A strong defender and good skater, Barbashev is one of the team’s top penalty killers. But he’ll score the occasional goal, scoring 11 times in 2019-20 and a career-high 14 goals during the Stanley Cup season.

More AHL helpThe Blues signed defensemen Calle Rosen and Tommy Jones to one-year, two-way contracts Friday, as they continue to build the roster for their American Hockey League affiliate this coming season in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Rosen, 27, has 20 games of NHL experience with Toronto and Colorado, with one goal and four assists in those contests. He played exclusively in the AHL last season, with five goals and eight assists for the in 30 games. He’s 6-0, 187, and a native of Vaxjo, Sweden.

Jones, 31, was a second-round draft pick of the Boston Bruins in 2007. Over the years, he has spent time in the Boston, Columbus and Florida organizations, but has played only three NHL games — all in the 2015-16 season for the Bruins, registering one assist in those games. The native of Simsbury, Conn., actually played for the in 2019-20, when they were a Florida Panthers affiliate.

The Blues now have 39 players under contract, plus the rights to four additional players who are restricted free agents. That still leaves them seven players shy of the NHL organizational limit of 50, and in particular, they need to add a few more defensemen to their Springfield roster.

Right now, Tyler Tucker, Scott Perunovich, Cross and Rosen are the only D-men likely to open the season with the Thunderbirds. Steven Santini also is a Springfield possibility if he fails to make the Blues’ “varsity” roster coming out of camp and then clears waivers.

Another possibiliy is Mitch Reinke, who’s an unrestricted free agent.

Prospects in PlymouthFollowing the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, four Blues prospects are getting much-needed playing time at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week in Plymouth, Mich. The event is literally a who’s who of NHL draft picks from 2020 and 2021 from the United States, Finland and Sweden.

Forwards Tanner Dickinson and Dylan Peterson, both 2020 Blues draft picks, are playing with a group of American prospects divided into two 1218899 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning sign Alex Barre-Boulet to three-year deal

By Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — The Lightning have signed two of the three restricted free agents they made qualifying offers to on Monday.

Tampa Bay signed forward Alex Barre-Boulet to a three-year deal that carries an average annual value of $758,333, the team announced Friday. The first year of the contract is a two-way deal, and the second and third years are one-way.

Additionally, Tampa Bay traded forward Mitchell Stephens to Detroit for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft. Stephens had one assist in seven games with the Lightning this past season.

Tampa Bay signed defenseman free agent Cal Foote Thursday. Now, only forward Ross Colton remains as a restricted free agent as a restricted free agent.

Barre-Boulet, 24, made his NHL debut this past season in late February at Carolina. He scored three goals in 15 games with the Lightning.

Most of Barre-Boulet’s playing time came on the top line with Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat, since Nikita Kucherov was recovering from hip surgery and Steven Stamkos was out with an injury.

Barre-Boulet played 10 games with the AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch this past season, contributing eight goals and four assists.

He went undrafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was signed by the Lightning as a free agent in 2018.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218900 Tampa Bay Lightning

Corey Perry excited to join ‘winning culture’ with Lightning

By Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Corey Perry has had a front-row seat for the past two Stanley Cup presentation ceremonies. The next time the Cup is awarded to the NHL champion, he wants to be part of the receiving line.

The Lightning signed Perry Thursday to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $1 million. The veteran power forward, 36, wanted to join a “winning culture” and believes he can help Tampa Bay win a third straight title.

“At the end of the day, where I’m at in my career, I want to win,” Perry said Friday morning. “I want to be a part of that, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Perry said he considered multiple teams, including Montreal, where he played this past season, after becoming a free agent. But when Tampa Bay came along, he knew it could be an exciting opportunity for him and his family. The Lightning were able to offer him a two-year contract, a key factor in his decision.

Tampa Bay is looking forward to having a player such as Perry, who has scored 386 goals in his 16-season career, on its side.

“We are excited to add Corey, who brings with him a wealth of big-game experience to the Lightning,” general manager Julie BriseBois said Thursday in a statement. “He will be an excellent addition to the lineup, and we are thrilled to add another high-character player to our group who can contribute to the organization’s overall depth.”

While playing with Dallas in the 2020 Cup final and Montreal in the ‘21 championship series, Perry saw firsthand the talent on Tampa Bay’s roster.

“There’s a lot of great players on that team,” he said. “You have stars and guys that are going to be stars, so I’m looking forward to getting to know everybody, getting on the ice with everybody and be a part of it and see where we can go with this.”

Perry played in Anaheim for 14 seasons, hoisting the Cup in 2007 at age 22. It took him 13 years to get back to the final with Dallas before he returned again the following season with the Canadiens.

“Sometimes when you win it so young, you take it for granted,” he said. “You never know where this can go, and you use that as motivation. ... You think it’s going to happen every single season, but it took me 14 years to get back, so you have to come into the season, you have to do everything you can possible to put yourself in the right position.”

The opportunity to join the Lightning also reunites Perry with former Ducks teammate Pat Maroon. The pair played together for five seasons before Maroon was traded to Edmonton in 2015-16.

“It’s exciting, for sure,” Perry said, smiling. “He’s a very close friend of mine, and getting to lace up again with him is going to be exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218901 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs sign forward Ondrej Kase to one-year, US$1.25 million contract

By The Canadian Press

Fri., July 30, 2021

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Ondrej Kase to a one-year contract worth US$1.25 million.

The 25-year-old Kase became available when free agency officially opened Wednesday after the Boston Bruins declined issuing him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.

The Maple Leafs made the announcement on Friday.

Kase scored a career high 20 goals and 38 points in 66 games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2017-18, but has struggled with injuries and had recently been sidelined for an extended period of time.

A series of concussions limited Kase to playing just nine games for Boston — and just three this past season — after a trade to the Bruins that sent David Backes to the Ducks in February 2020.

Kase, from the Czech Republic, was drafted by Anaheim in the seventh round, 205th overall, in 2014 and has produced 43 goals and 97 points in 207 career games split between the Ducks and Bruins.

Toronto Star LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218902 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs sign former Bruins forward Ondřej Kaše to one-year deal

By Kevin McGran

Fri., July 30, 2021 updated 5 hrs ago

The Maple Leafs signed forward Ondřej Kaše to a one-year deal worth $1.25 million (U.S.) Friday night.

The 25-year-old chould get an audition on one of the Leafs’ top two lines, battling another new signing, Michael Bunting, and maybe Alex Kerfoot for a scoring role.

Kaše appeared in just three games with the Boston Bruins last season because of injuries. In 207 career NHL games between Boston and Anaheim, Kaše has 97 points (43 goals, 54 assists) while adding six points (two goals, four assists) in 24 playoff games. He scored 20 goals in 2017-18, his best season.

A native of Kadan, Czech Republic, Kaše was originally selected by Anaheim in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL draft.

Toronto Star LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218903 Toronto Maple Leafs

Winger Ondrej Kase latest low-cost free-agent find by Leafs

Lance Hornby

Publishing date:Jul 30, 2021 • 6 hours ago •

The Maple Leafs continue to add budget free agent forwards to the mix for September training camp.

On Friday night they signed right winger Ondrej Kase, who has 231 NHL games to his credit, for $1.25 million US. Kase was most recently in the Boston Bruins’ orbit, playing three games in an injury-marred 2021 season, part of his history of concussions. When healthy with Boston and Anaheim, he has97 regular season points, including 43 goals.

In his best NHL season, the 6-foot, 190-pounder had 20 goals and 38 points in 66 games for Anaheim in 2017-18.

Kase (pronounced kay-sheh) was selected by the Ducks in the seventh round of the 2014 draft, same as new teammate Pierre Engvall and Montreal’s Jake Evans. Younger brother David was chosen by the Flyers in 2015 and is playing in the Czech Republic.

Ondrej, a right-handed shot, becomes the seventh player added by Toronto this week and third Czech the Leafs have landed since free agency opened, along with goalie Petr Mrazek and forward David Kampf. The Leafs are now slightly over the $81.5 million NHL cap, which is permissible in the off-season.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218904 Toronto Maple Leafs Taylor Hall liked his brief time in Boston after he was acquired from Buffalo so much that he signed a four-year, $24-million contract. With the Bruins’ veteran trio of Patrice Bergeron (going into the final year of his contract), Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak at the helm, Hall should be Nothing will be guaranteed for Maple Leafs in 'challenging' Atlantic able to find a productive level of comfort. Division next season We think a Bruins sweater will suit a healthy Foligno just fine.

The Bruins added a couple of versatile depth pieces at forward in Erik Terry Koshan Haula and Tomas Nosek.

Publishing date:Jul 30, 2021 • 7 hours ago • On the blue line, Derek Forbort is a solid addition and retaining Mike Reilly was key.

One positive for the Leafs: David Krejci, who might never have had a bad The Maple Leafs’ off-season revolving door hasn’t brought in as much as game against Toronto, is returning to his native Czech Republic to play. what has departed. MONTREAL While general manager Kyle Dubas has been busy, it mostly has involved painting the edges of a roster that, for at least one more season, Was the Canadiens’ surprising charge to the final a one-shot deal? will have Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Probably, but that experience should pay off for the immediate futures of Nylander, Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin and Jack Campbell as its core. youngsters Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

As Zach Hyman, Frederik Andersen, Nick Foligno and Zach Bogosian Montreal will have to recover from the loss of captain Shea Weber, have left, the biggest adds have been goalie Petr Mrazek and winger whose various injuries will cause him to miss the season and possibly Michael Bunting, though neither carries a guarantee of playoff success. end his career. There’s no adequate replacement on defence, though the That will come only if the core collectively plays to its potential. And we signing of Savard should help. know that hasn’t happened yet. How the Canadiens make up for the loss of centre Philip Danault, who The Leafs will ponder what comes next now that they’re back in the signed with Los Angeles, is anyone’s guess. Atlantic Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning — which has won two Stanley Cups since its previous game against the Leafs — the always- Mike Hoffman will bring scoring punch, and Quebec natives Cedric sobering Boston Bruins, a Montreal Canadiens team with its own playoff Paquette and Mathieu Perreault are good depth players. pain, an improved Florida Panthers group, and an Ottawa Senators outfit Will Carey Price, after recovering from knee surgery, be the goalie who that won’t take no for answer. starred all the way to the Cup final or the one who had a .901 save Then there are the Detroit Red Wings, who will ice a thin lineup, and the percentage during the regular season? Buffalo Sabres, who will continue to be an afterthought even if general FLORIDA manager Kevyn Adams gets a respectable return in a trade involving captain Jack Eichel. The Panthers finished with a better points percentage, .705, than the Leafs’ final mark of .688, good enough to win the North Division. Dubas, who signed forward Ondrej Kase to a one-year contract on Friday, noted last week that the Atlantic will be “very challenging and very Florida retained forward Sam Bennett — who took his new home difficult.” immediately after being acquired from Calgary — with a four-year contract, and defenceman Brandon Montour, with a three-year deal. We would agree. A look at the clubs that will be the most burdensome for the Leafs come October: Trading for forward Sam Reinhart was crucial.

TAMPA BAY The Panthers lost a good goalie when Chris Driedger was claimed by Seattle. There’s well-placed optimism in young Spencer Knight and There’s a substantial list of players from the defending back-to-back fingers are crossed that Sergei Bobrovsky can regain his proper form. champs now gone, including forwards Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman and defenceman David Savard. Otherwise, there has not been a lot of turnover. Defenceman Keith Yandle was bought out, and centre Alex Wennberg signed with the Incomers include veteran forwards Corey Perry, Pierre-Edouard Kraken. Bellemare, defenceman Zach Bogosian and goalie Brian Elliott, who will back up Andrei Vasilevskiy. Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau lead a steady forward group, while MacKenzie Weegar and Aaron Ekblad do the same on Most important? The core of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven defence. Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Vasilevskiy is untouched. OTTAWA Point, who rang up 56 points in 46 games in the past two Cup runs, signed an eight-year, $76-million US extension, one that carries a cap hit Do we think the Senators will do enough damage to make a charge at a of $9.5 million. That’s substantially less than the cap hits of Matthews playoff spot? Wild card, maybe. ($11.6 million) and Marner ($10.9 million). Keep in mind how hard the Sens always play against the Leafs. Toronto Hedman, annually in the running for the Norris Trophy, and Vasilevskiy, was 5-2-2 against Ottawa last season, but seven of the nine meetings always in the Vezina Trophy conversation, each is a calibre of player the were decided by one goal. Leafs don’t have at the defence and goaltending positions. Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.31.2021 Before Tampa beat the Canadiens to win the Cup again, coach Jon Cooper discussed how special it would be to win two in a row. Three in row is not out of the question.

BOSTON

The Bruins might have signalled the end of the Tuukka Rask era when they signed Linus Ullmark to a four-year, $20-million contract. Don’t let that deal fool you.

The 27-year-old Ullmark has just 117 NHL games on his resume, and with backup Jaro Halak having signed in Vancouver, the goaltending position is Boston’s biggest question mark. The Bruins are keeping the door open for Rask, who had hip surgery and will be out for up to six months. It’s possible Rask re-signs once he recovers, but his future is not clear. 1218905 Toronto Maple Leafs Caroline Cameron, now a host for the NHL and Olympics coverage on Sportsnet, wrote on Twitter that Landsberg had been a “kind mentor” to her when she was an intern at “Off the Record.”

Why Michael Landsberg is leaving TSN after almost 40 years on the Tara Slone, the singer of Joydrop and co-host of “Rogers Hometown airwaves Hockey,” wrote that Landsberg had her on the show as a guest 25 times, and that he was “THE reason” she was working in television.

“I would love to continue to broadcast,” said Landsberg. “I just would love By Sean Fitz-Gerald Jul 31, 2021 to do something that’s fresh and new and a different challenge. I don’t know what that is, but I know I’m a person with a lot of different interests.”

Among those interests is an animated series designed to educate around Hour after hour, the praise rolled in for Michael Landsberg. One mental health. Landsberg has become a leading advocate for awareness colleague praised him for his kindness during her internship. Another in Canada, and he said he has written a script for a show he hopes is credited him for helping her land work in television. One more said that funny and entertaining, as well as educational. when strangers ask him about Landsberg, “they always seem disappointed when I say he’s a really nice guy.” “That’s kind of been my dream for a long time, to do something that’s way outside my normal skill set,” he said. “I’ve sat with the script for this By the end of the day, which had publicly become his last at TSN after now for six weeks. I’ve pored over it every single day for six weeks. almost 40 years at the network, Landsberg was still not sure how to feel Probably three or four hours a day.” about it all. It was lovely and touching and part of him wanted to re-read the comments. Part of it also made him uncomfortable. For now, the scripts are for episodes that last five minutes each.

“There is that feeling of: ‘I’m being eulogized,” he said. “Which is kind of “I’m hoping that this will give me the creative outlet that I’ve always creepy.” wanted,” he said. “I can one day look at things I’ve written and think, ‘You know what? That’s pretty fucking good.’ And there’s days when I don’t The 64-year-old was very much alive as he was speaking on the phone feel good, when I hate everything about it.” near the end of the day Friday, with a dog barking at his side and the horizon clear of early-morning wake-up calls. Landsberg will no longer Landsberg and Colaiacovo were making inroads with the Toronto sports co-host “First Up,” the morning drive show on TSN 1050 with Carlo radio market heading into the pandemic. Their show edged the Colaiacovo. competition at Sportsnet 590 The Fan in the final rating period before the sports world shut down due to COVID-19 last year. After joining TSN as it launched in 1984, he is stepping away to pursue new opportunities. He wants to create an animated series that educates It was not immediately clear who might slip into the seat Landsberg has viewers about mental health. He wants to continue working with the vacated. charity he founded, SickNotWeak, and delivering public speeches. “I would say that I’ve been more mentally healthy, without doing the Leaving TSN does not mean he is retiring. show, than I have been in years,” Landsberg said on Friday afternoon. “I would say it’s not just from the hours, but I think from a sense of freedom “Oh god no, definitely not,” he said. “What is it? It’s a reload.” and a sense of challenge.” Landsberg said he had begun to discuss his departure with his wife, He said working on the morning show for four hours a day, five days a Karen, over the last year or two. He had been a broadcaster for most of week, began to dull his fear of failure: “Fear of failure, I think, is a really his adult life, and he felt there was more he wanted to accomplish. It important thing to have.” moved into more official discussions earlier this year. “Ultimately, it was just the need to face judgment day, in my own mind, He said he had a conversation with Stewart Johnston, the long-time TSN for my own work, and to find out how much more — if anything — I have executive who is now senior vice-president of sales and sports at Bell to offer,” he said. “I plan on testing that.” Media. The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 “He was super,” said Landsberg. “He said, ‘Look, you want to keep working? How do you want to handle this?’”

Landsberg said he opted for a quiet farewell. He had been off the air for several weeks, using some of his vacation time, before the press release was issued on Friday morning. (It was the Friday of a long weekend, which is traditionally prime time to hide news from a public heading away on vacation.)

It’s not clear what drove the timing, and Landsberg declined to outline the timeline specifically, but he was at peace with the departure.

“I needed to kick myself in the ass,” he said. “If you’re waiting for a signal that this is the right time, it’s never going to come, unless you’re dropping dead. And then you realize, ‘OK, well maybe this signal was a little bit too profound.’”

Landsberg was on staff when the switch was flipped to make TSN Canada’s first all-sports network, in 1984. He began as an anchor on SportsDesk — now SportsCentre — which became the flagship news and highlights program.

In 1997, he became host of “Off the Record,” a half-hour weekday talk show where he was sometimes known to prod and needle guests into interesting conversation. It was canceled in 2015, but the network kept Landsberg in the building.

He paired forces with Colaiacovo, the former Maple Leafs defenceman, during the summer three years ago.

“Probably, that’s what kept me going for the last while,” said Landsberg. “And maybe that’s one of the things that had me not pulling the trigger on this decision.” 1218906 Toronto Maple Leafs “There’s a lot of parallels between Toronto and Edmonton,” he added. “In Toronto, we had great teams but we didn’t have success. Edmonton is positioned in such a great way to make it to make a long run and win a Stanley Cup. That’s everybody’s goal. That’s the reason I chose to come Maple Leafs Klokebook: Some now-former Leafs say their goodbyes in and play here.” exit interviews, and getting to know the new Leafs I asked Hyman in his media availability how he will look back on his time as a Maple Leaf.

By Joshua Kloke Jul 30, 2021 “Even though we didn’t win and we didn’t get over the metaphorical hump, I think that from the time I got there to the time that I’m leaving the

organization, from a culture standpoint, from a hockey standpoint, from “The Klokebook” is an every-so-often collection of anecdotes, an expectation standpoint of where the team is, I think it’s dramatically observations and interviews pertaining to the Toronto Maple Leafs and different. And for a Toronto kid to have the opportunity to play for his the personalities that shape them. hometown team and start his NHL career, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” he said. In this edition of The Klokebook, we’ll check in on some former Leafs who have departed in free agency, and provide some insight on some The Leafs remain in tight to fill the serious hole at left wing alongside new Leafs additions who may have flown under the radar. Auston Matthews.

In his first media availability with the Carolina Hurricanes after signing a Hyman will face off against his former team for the first time on two-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million, Frederik Andersen December 14 when the Leafs visit Edmonton. continually smiled in a way not often seen during his last season in “I can honestly say that every time I put the Leafs jersey on, I gave it Toronto. everything I had,” said Hyman. “Last year was a difficult year personally, dealing with some injuries, and Zach Bogosian was an effective third-pair defenceman in his one season I wasn’t able to play the way I wanted,” said Andersen. “I feel very as a Leaf, bringing some necessary sandpaper in tougher matchups. On motivated to get back to that level again.” Wednesday, he said there was “definitely interest” in returning to the Andersen was a vital part of the Leafs’ rebuild since 2016, spending the Maple Leafs but he ended up signing a three-year deal with an AAV of majority of those five seasons as the team’s starting goalie before injuries $850,000 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, returning to the team he won a derailed his final season and he lost the starter’s job to Jack Campbell. Stanley Cup with in 2020.

The Leafs signed Petr Mrázek to a three-year contract on Wednesday In a media availability, Bogosian said any reports that he was against the with an AAV of $3.8 million to serve as a tandem with Campbell. idea of playing in Canada this season are “false.”

And it doesn’t sound like Andersen was all that close to returning to “I respectively told the Leafs that before I knew where COVID was going Toronto. and restrictions and protocols and borders that I couldn’t give them an answer,” Bogosian said. “I think we were a little bit too far apart to really even get something going. I think the talks my agent and the Leafs management had were What Bogosian will remember of being a Leaf is “an extremely classy just tough. They obviously have limited cap space and wanted to pursue organization. The way they treat their players is amazing. I didn’t meet something else, so no hard feelings there,” said Andersen. too many people obviously in the city but you can feel the support from Leafs Nation throughout the year.” Andersen leaves Toronto having experienced the highs and lows of playing in the city. He was a largely consistent regular season goalie With Bogosian out the door, a third pair of Travis Dermott and Rasmus through his first three seasons in Toronto, and it wasn’t uncommon to Sandin seems likely. Dermott’s game in particular looked to have taken hear “Freddie” chants at Scotiabank Arena when he was on his game. some steps by playing with Bogosian. But inconsistency hurt his numbers during his last two seasons. One addition that got a little lost with the draft and free agency on the However, as Tony Soprano said, it’s important to remember the good horizon was assistant coach Spencer Carbery. times and Andersen is leaving the Leafs with great memories. Carbery was head coach of AHL’s for the past three “Especially with some of the teammates I’ve had over the years, it’s been seasons and was awarded the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the incredible. The (six) guys who were there the whole time, me, (Mitch AHL’s best coach this season. Before that, Carbery coached as an Marner), (Auston Matthews), (Morgan Rielly), (Zach Hyman) and (William assistant with the AHL’s Providence Bears, as a head coach with the Nylander), that a big part of my time there and obviously made it really OHL’s and spent five seasons as head coach of the fun being there,” said Andersen. ECHL’s .

Even though it’s felt like a forgone conclusion for the past few weeks, His climb to the NHL is no surprise to those who know him. Cliché as it seeing Toronto native and long-time Leaf Zach Hyman beaming about might be, Carbery lives, eats, breathes and sleeps hockey, with that last playing for the Edmonton Oilers, in front of an Andy Warhol painting of verb being notable here. Wayne Gretzky no less, was strange to see. Carbery was so obsessed with digging through video and planning for Hyman was one of the most notable signings on a wild first day of free future practices and games that it wouldn’t be uncommon for him to roll agency on Wednesday, inking a seven-year contract with an AAV of out a towel and sleep in his office at the in Hershey, or $5.5-million. He said the most important factor in his decision to sign with arrive at 3 in the morning in the middle of a sleepless night to get to work. the Oilers was to “go to a team that has the opportunity to win.” “He affords himself zero comfort,” said Bears assistant coach Patrick “Most players don’t play their entire career in one place and that’s a Wellar. reality,” said Hyman in his first availability as an Oiler. “For me, I wanted This wasn’t a new approach for Carbery in Hershey. to go to the place that wanted me the most, and had the best chance to win, and had the best chance for me to develop as a hockey player and Stingrays president Rob Concannon said while Carbery may have Edmonton checked those boxes.” graduated from the ECHL in 2016, his imprint remains.

A conversation with Leafs GM Kyle Dubas provided Hyman closure on “I’ve never seen anyone more hard-working,” said Concannon. “He has his situation and allowed him to look ahead. set the bar, and he set the tone for our expectations here with South Carolina. It was how he approached his craft: he didn’t take any With the Leafs unable to afford what a player of Hyman’s experience and shortcuts. He had his routine and he never strayed from doing the thing pedigree could command in a wild free agent market, he was able to that he thought was going to make the team successful.” move on from Toronto with a clear conscience. It’s still unclear what role Carbery will fill with Manny Malhotra running the “I had to know that I was leaving Toronto, and then I was able to make a power play and new addition Dean Chynoweth running the penalty kill. make a decision,” said Hyman. But when Carbery was hired, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe noted his “great mind for the game along with the necessary work ethic, energy There were undoubtedly a few people watching the Leafs make their final and communication skills we were looking for.” selection during Saturday’s NHL draft who scratched their head with the selection of goaltender Vyacheslav Peksa in the sixth round. And Wellar believes Carbery can utilize his “polished” communication skills to deliver his message clearly to NHL players. The Russian goalie spent last season playing 17 games with the MHL’s Irbis , logging a .909 save percentage. he was not ranked by NHL “His natural ability to address the team is probably the best I’ve ever Central Scouting, and Leafs director of amateur scouting John Lilley even seen, and I’ve been around some really good coaches through my conceded Peksa was “a little bit of an unknown.” career. His messages that he delivers, I leave the room wishing I was a hockey player again. That’s something that just comes from his passion. A little-known new Leaf obviously got me intrigued. He’s a very intelligent man, and he just finds ways to keep things fresh,” said Wellar. I asked a Russian-based NHL scout, who has never had trouble rattling off info about a variety of Russian prospects, about Peksa. Even with Wellar estimated that Carbery would have “four or five” meetings a day parameters having changed thanks to COVID-19 restrictions, the with the team’s young players in particular. scouting world’s tentacles run far and wide.

What stuck out was how dedicated Carbery was working with But Lilley wasn’t kidding. Washington Capitals’ draft picks Alexander Alexeyev and Martin Fehervary in after-practice skills sessions when the majority of head “I haven’t ever seen Vyacheslav,” said the scout. coaches would delegate that responsibility elsewhere. Given that the Leafs would have watched Peksa closely with 2020 Leafs “He will not leave that stone unturned. He will make sure that he will give draft pick and goalie Artur Akhtyamov being a teammate at Irbis Kazan, them face time,” said Wellar. perhaps this is what the Leafs should be doing late in the draft: taking swings and using intel that other teams might not have. With Frederik Andersen signing in Carolina, there’s little doubt who is now the biggest player in the Leafs organization: 6-foot-8, 243-pound Regardless, I’ll be honest, loyal Klokebook readers. I’m now way excited forward Curtis Douglas, who signed a two-year AHL contract on to spend an unhealthy amount of hours this summer figuring out who Tuesday. Peksa is, and what he brings to the Leafs organization. Stay tuned.

Douglas, a self-described “long-term project” was a fourth-round pick of The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 the Dallas Stars in the 2018 NHL draft and spent last season split between the Belleville Senators in the AHL and on loan with Steel Wings Linz of the Alps Hockey League.

Unsurprisingly, he understands his size is going to be the talking point around him.

“There’s always been biased opinions because of how big I am, that I can’t skate and can’t move,” said Douglas.

But he believes the Leafs development staff will help him smooth out any rough edges in his game.

“Over the last three years, my skating and my agility has improved exponentially. I’m not given enough credit, because my movement has really improved. And I think what (the Marlies) saw is that I can work a lot on my development and just continue that steady improvement and hopefully just make the most out of these two years,” said Douglas.

While Douglas didn’t end up signing in Dallas, in part because the timing of his rights expiring in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, he still relished the opportunity to work with Stars director of player personnel and former NHL veteran Rich Peverley.

Peverley helped Douglas transition from being an offensively-minded player in junior to more of a 200-foot player who can hold his own defensively, play more physically and according to Douglas, “own the ice below the opponent’s net.”

He believes he’ll be able to do that because, after shooting up to 6-foot-8 when he was 16 and seeing his weight fluctuate for years, he thinks he’s finally grown into his body and that he can finally “prove people wrong.”

Here’s the scouting report on Brennan Menell, who the Leafs flipped a conditional 2022 seventh-round draft pick to the Minnesota Wild to acquire the rights to, courtesy of Kyle Rau, Menell’s teammate from 2018 to 2020 with the AHL’s : “He’s an excellent skater. He’s a quick, mobile defenceman. He’s not the biggest player, but he’s elusive enough that it’s not an issue.”

Last season, the right-shot defenceman played for the KHL’s Dinamo Minsk and led all regular blueliners with 0.81 points per game.

At 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, he is indeed one of the smaller Leafs defencemen. But he possesses the tools to at least grow comfortable in the Leafs system, which asks defencemen to quickly transition the puck to the team’s forwards.

“And he’s excellent at that,” said Rau.

Right now, it seems likely that Menell could sign a two-way contract and slot in as the seventh or eighth defenceman for the Leafs, depending on how Timothy Liljegren fares in training camp. 1218907 Vegas Golden Knights

Ryan Reaves thanks Golden Knights, Las Vegas for ‘great memories’

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

July 30, 2021 - 5:32 PM

Ex-Golden Knights right wing Ryan Reaves posted a lengthy goodbye to Las Vegas on his Instagram account Friday one day after being traded to the New York Rangers for a third-round pick.

Reaves was one of the Knights’ most popular players despite being more renowned for his hits than his goal scoring. His bravado, toughness and community involvement won him plenty of fans after he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 23, 2018.

“I’ve had some great memories here,” Reaves said. “You guys chanted my name every time I touched the puck. You chanted my name every time I ran somebody through the glass, every time I fought. The couple of times I scored. You guys were great to me. You were great to me and my family and I’ll always be thankful for that.”

Reaves had 42 points in 209 games with the Knights. He recorded 837 hits in his time with the team, 107 more than the next-closest NHL player.

His role started to diminish last postseason. He was a healthy scratch for four of the Knights’ last eight games. General manager Kelly McCrimmon, who coached Reaves in junior hockey, said the number of forwards the team has next year was a factor in the trade. He also said the Rangers had expressed interest in Reaves in the past.

Reaves, who had one year left on his contract, agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million extension with New York on Friday, according to ESPN and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes.

Reaves did acknowledge the business side of hockey can be “tough to handle” at times. He built a house in the Las Vegas and hoped to retire here when he’s done playing. He also worked hard to embed himself in the community. He started a brewing company, performed a wedding, became a water conservation spokesman and helped build a ball hockey rink in town.

He said his 7Five Brewing Co. will continue and he still plans to retire in Las Vegas.

“This is a great city,” Reaves said. “Great people, great fans, great community. I plan on coming back here when I retire for sure.”

Reaves saved his final thank you for the Knights’ players and staff, who he said “rejuvenated” his career.

“To everybody in the organization, all the players, I love you boys,” Reaves said. “I’d go to hell and back for you guys. … You brought me to one of the best cities in the world and I’m grateful for my time here. I always will be.”

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Alex Tuch to miss 6 months after shoulder surgery

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

July 30, 2021 - 2:30 PM

The Golden Knights will begin next season without their “X-factor.”

General manager Kelly McCrimmon said Friday that right wing Alex Tuch underwent shoulder last week and is expected to miss six months. That would mean Tuch could return in late February, but McCrimmon said there are a lot of variables with such a lengthy recovery process that could affect the time frame.

Tuch was the Knights’ seventh-leading scorer last season with 33 points in 55 games.

“It wasn’t an injury that really any of us expected to have this outcome,” McCrimmon said. “It wasn’t an injury that hindered his play in the playoffs. … It’s going to be a full recovery. But it does take time. These injuries take time. Especially this type of surgery.”

McCrimmon said there wasn’t one play where Tuch injured his shoulder.

It bothered him all season, but the 25-year-old played through it. He missed only one game between the regular season and the playoffs.

Tuch took a vacation after the season. When he came back, his shoulder was still bothering him. Further tests showed it needed to be surgically repaired.

Knights medical director Dr. James Dettling performed the procedure in Las Vegas. Tuch is expected to rehab in town as well.

“It’s a shoulder injury that’s not uncommon for hockey players,” McCrimmon said. “That in part gives us comfort that this is not out of the norm.”

Tuch’s injury will leave the Knights without one of their key depth scorers for much of the season. The 6-foot-4 wing has been a key player on the team’s third line. Opponents have trouble matching up with his size and speed with their bottom-six forwards and lower-pair defensemen.

It does clear up the Knights’ salary-cap situation. They entered Friday more than $37,000 over the upper limit with restricted free agents Nolan Patrick and Dylan Coghlan unsigned, but placing Tuch on long-term injured reserve will allow them to exceed the cap by up to his $4.75 million hit.

The injury also cleans up the team’s depth chart after it exited the first day of free agency Wednesday with 15 forwards expected to be vying for regular roles. Trading right wing Ryan Reaves and placing Tuch on long- term injured reserve brings that number to 13, which leaves opportunities for the Knights’ prospects and depth players to get playing time.

McCrimmon said the team expected to be done adding players this offseason.

“Where we are now, I would say we’re going to go into training camp with this roster. Yet any general manager in the will tell you anything can change with a phone call,” McCrimmon said.

“We’re pleased with what we were able to get done in the month of July and really excited about getting ready for training camp with this group.”

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Knights appear to be out of Jack Eichel trade sweepstakes

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

July 30, 2021 - 1:51 PM

For the second time this week, general manager Kelly McCrimmon put the kibosh on any more potential big trades involving the Golden Knights.

McCrimmon said Friday he doesn’t expect to make any more additions to the roster, signaling little to no interest in acquiring all-star center Jack Eichel from Buffalo. He made a similar statement Wednesday after the opening of free agency.

“Where we are now, I would say we’re going to go into training camp with this roster,” McCrimmon said. “I think what you’re going to see across the NHL is it’ll get pretty quiet probably for the month of August and even maybe the first week of September. You can’t say there won’t be a move. … But what I was trying to speak to was there wouldn’t be more players coming in.”

The Knights made a series of trades this week, none bigger than Tuesday’s deal that sent goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to Chicago. Defenseman Nick Holden was moved to Ottawa for forward Evgenii Dadonov on Wednesday, and popular forward Ryan Reaves went to the New York Rangers on Thursday.

But they appear to have dropped out of the Eichel sweepstakes for the time being and are content to go into next season with Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson, Nolan Patrick, Nicolas Roy and Brett Howden at center.

McCrimmon also was effusive in his praise for forward Peyton Krebs, the team’s first-round pick in 2019, who could work his way into the mix.

Patrick and defenseman Dylan Coghlanare restricted free agents and in need of new contracts. That’s the next order of business for McCrimmon.

Once those deals get done, the Knights will be salary cap compliant with Alex Tuch on long-term injured reserve following shoulder surgery that is expected to sideline him for six months.

“We’ve got real good options in terms of guys that can come up and play real well at the NHL level,” McCrimmon said. “These are all objectives that you have in the offseason as you try to hand your team over to the coaches for training camp. I believe we’re in a pretty good spot, which is where we want to be, and that’s no disrespect to the people that are moving on.”

Locker room chemistry

In the span of three days, the Knights shipped out three of their most popular players and locker room characters.

Fleury is famous for his upbeat nature and practical jokes, while Reaves was one of the loudest figures on the bench. Holden was a founding member of the “Fun Committee” during the postseason bubble in 2020.

McCrimmon bristled at the assertion that the current leadership group led by captain Mark Stone was missing someone to keep the team loose.

“I believe very strongly in the players that we have in our dressing room, the experience, the leadership, the professionalism, the determination, the willingness to win,” McCrimmon said. “All of those things we’ve got in spades. Are we going to miss those attributes from those players? Yes we are. I think the world of all three of those players. But I do think that we’re going to be able to move forward with a real good hockey team.”

No staff changes

McCrimmon confirmed the Knights coaching staff will remain intact.

Assistant Steve Spott, who came under fire for the team’s struggling power play, will return for his third season. Ryan Craig and Ryan McGill will each enter their fifth season with the team.

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Ryan Reaves to promote water conservation for another week

By Blake Apgar Las Vegas Review-Journal

July 30, 2021 - 12:41 PM

Updated July 30, 2021 - 3:55 PM

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Ryan Reaves (75) celebrates after scoring against the St. Louis ...

Golden Knights right wing Ryan Reaves (75) skates during training camp on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 20 ...

Golden Knights right wing Ryan Reaves (75) skates during training camp on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at City National Arena in Las Vegas. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Former Golden Knights right wing Ryan Reaves will be smashing into Southern Nevada water wasters for at least another week.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority said Friday that the summer ad campaign that features Reaves promoting water conservation will appear through the end of the Olympics, which conclude Aug. 8. Officials will revisit how to move forward from there.

“We’re gonna have to reassess what our fall and winter campaign will be,” said Bronson Mack, spokesman for the water authority.

On Thursday, the Golden Knights traded Reaves to the New York Rangers for a 2022 third-round pick.

Because the water authority has rights to the ads, it’s possible the Reaves campaign could run throughout the fall and winter, but it is uncertain if it will, Mack said.

Water officials in Southern Nevada hired Reaves through the ad agency R&R Partners to appear in water conservation ads. There is no agreement in place with the Knights to have another player replace him, Mack said.

The Reaves campaign is in its final year of a three-year term. Mack said the campaign was “extremely successful” and helped with conservation efforts.

“We’re really appreciative of Ryan Reaves’ support for water conservation,” he said.

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Drama Over? BarStool Reports Fleury WILL Report to Chicago

Published 5 hours ago on July 30, 2021

By Dan Kingerski

It wasn’t the fairytale ending for Vegas Golden Knights fans or goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. In some perfect world, Fleury would have won a Stanley Cup on Vegas ice and skated into the sunset with a beaming smile. At the very least, Fleury would have played out his career in his adopted hometown after nearly 15 years in Pittsburgh. Instead, he was NHL trade fodder.

The Golden Knights unceremoniously traded Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks for little more than a bag of pucks to clear his $7 million salary off the books. Worse, Fleury’s agent, Alan Walsh, threw daggers via Twitter when he claimed even well after the trade, no one from the Golden Knights organization called to inform Fleury of the trade.

He found out via Twitter.

Fleury apparently did not get the same consideration that teammate Ryan Reaves got. Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon said he put Reaves on the NHL trade block and spoke with the player over several days to get input on the best fit.

Anyway…

To end the suspense and drama, Barstool Sports in Chicago reports that sources say Marc-Andre Fleury will report to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Some colleagues in the Pittsburgh media were strong with reports that Fleury would not report to Chicago, and instead, the Pittsburgh Penguins would swoop in to rescue the Flower. However, our sister site Pittsburgh Hockey Now, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the Penguins were not interested.

Fleury, of course, is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. He posted career-bests 1.98 GAA, and a .928 save percentage.

“He wanted to play in Vegas,” McCrimmon said.

Unlike with the Golden Knights, Fleury will be the unquestioned starter in Chicago. The 36-year-old goalie with one year remaining on his contract with a $7 million AAV. Kevin Lankenin is the backup.

Chicago acquired defensemen, Seth Jones and Jake McCabe. Chicago also acquired Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson.

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Roundup: Tuch Out 6 Months, McCrimmon Let Reaves Choose Trade Destination

Published 7 hours ago on July 30, 2021

By Dan Kingerski

The Vegas Golden Knights won’t have Alex Tuch until the second half of the season. According to GM Kelly McCrimmon, the gritty forward who was a prime candidate to get top-six minutes this season, will be out for six months after shoulder surgery.

Tuch, 25, scored 33 points in 55 games last season, including 18 goals. His surgery will provide the Golden Knights with short-term salary cap relief. The Golden Knights are about 36k over the salary cap but will be able to put Tuch on LTIR closer to the season start and will be able to spend over the cap by something close to Tuch’s $4.75 million salary.

Unless the Golden Knights copy the Tampa Bay Lightning’s treatment of Nikita Kucherov and put Tuch on LTIR for the entire season.

McCrimmon chatted with select media outlets on Friday after he traded another one of the cogs on the original playoff run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018.

Thursday night, McCrimmon traded the Sheriff, Ryan Reaves, to the New York Rangers for a third-round pick. The move cleared $1.75 million off the Golden Knights salary roll, and Reaves already signed a $1.75 million extension with New York.

McCrimmon praised Reaves in an unusually effusive manner, and perhaps his courtesy to Reaves may strike a few Marc-Andre Fleury fans.

“Ryan was a very popular player with our fans and in our dressing room,” McCrimmon said. “I’m really proud of the man he is. I’ve known him for many, many years. I’ve watched him grow from a young player in the WHL to a respected NHLer who played great hockey for us.”

McCrimmon told reporters the Vegas Golden Knights trade culminated several days of discussions with Reaves about where he wanted to play. Reaves will come up against new Metro-Division foe Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218913 Washington Capitals After Ovechkin was drafted No. 1 overall in 2004, he was soon followed by Ryan Zimmerman a year later. Then came Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer and Juan Soto, John Wall and Bradley Beal, Nicklas Backstrom, Braden Holtby and John Carlson, Ryan Kerrigan, How Alex Ovechkin began the golden age of D.C. sports Trent Williams, Chase Young and, yes, for one electric season, Robert Griffin III.

That level of talent and performance all at one time was unimaginable for BY BRIAN MCNALLY previous generations of D.C. sports fans. Ovechkin didn’t bring those players to the city, but he best represents the era that electrified the city.

When the Capitals drafted Alex Ovechkin 17 years ago he arrived with all Backstrom remains with him, of course, at age 33 and under contract the hope and promise reserved for a prodigy. He will leave with at least with the Caps for four more years. So is Carlson, soon to begin his 13th one championship, maybe as the greatest goal scorer in NHL history and NHL season. certainly as an entertainer of the highest order. But Zimmerman, 36, could retire at the end of the year. Scherzer was With the signing of a new five-year contract worth $47.5 million this week, traded by the Nationals at the trade deadline. Wall is gone, Williams is Ovechkin will have spent – if he stays healthy and sees out the deal gone, Harper is gone, RG3 is long gone and Kerrigan plays for the through 2026 – over two decades in Washington. For a D.C. sports fan of Eagles. Strasburg just had a serious surgery and, at age 33, it’s fair to a certain age, that is mind-blowing. wonder if he’ll ever be the same.

There was no Mickey Mantle here. Magic Johnson didn’t lead Showtime Soto and Young, both 22, represent the young stars, but try to imagine at Capital Centre. Aaron Rodgers didn’t define a football era. That was either of them still playing at a high level for the local teams in 2035 and for other cities. Stars didn’t exist in Washington. They were imported, you have an idea of what Ovechkin has done. often at great cost and embarrassment. He’s outlasted most of his contemporaries and three Presidents. He The Washington Football Team’s glory days in the 1980s and early committed to the Caps once in 2008 when he could have taken his 1990s were defined by anonymity. It won three Super Bowls with three talents elsewhere and then did it again this week. Five years seems like different quarterbacks and the key to its success was … the offensive a long time. It is not. line. That team played in four Super Bowls in 11 years, but features Ovechkin’s challenge is to keep the Capitals competitive, make a run at almost as many coaches and executives in the Pro Football Hall of Fame 800 goals and then, maybe, Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record (894). For (two) as players (four). local fans, the challenge is not to take these next five years for granted. The District went 34 years without a team, let alone a star There's been wonderful memories made for 15 years here. There's time player, after the Senators snuck out of town twice (1961, 1971). They’d for a few more yet before this chapter is closed for good. had four winning seasons since 1933.

The Bullets / Wizards were notorious for selling season-ticket packages Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.31.2021 off the appearance of other cities’ greats: Johnson and the Lakers, , Larry Bird, Charles Barley, Isiah Thomas. The NBA’s greatest generation passed with the Bullets / Wizards serving as real-life Washington Generals. They didn’t win a single playoff series between 1980 and 2004.

The Capitals were good enough that they didn’t have to resort to those shenanigans and played in the Stanley Cup Final in 1998, but their brand was also crushing playoff disappointment.

To be fair, D.C. United won four MLS title in its first nine seasons, but that came in a fledgling league with no history in a sport just trying to establish a foothold in the U.S. It was exciting and impressive, but the profile so much lower.

In a brief spasm of desperation in the early 2000s, the Football Team imported future Hall-of-Famers Bruce Smith and Deion Sanders, the Capitals traded for one-time nemesis Jaromir Jagr and the Wizards added Michael Jordan – first as an owner / executive and then as a player. The defining image of that era is Jordan speeding out of then-MCI Center in a Mercedes convertible having been shown the door by then- team owner Abe Pollin. That was Washington sports in a nutshell.

Alex Ovechkin changed all of that. He was the home-grown superstar many Washingtonians had never seen who sold jerseys all over the world and filled arenas across North America. He was the best local athlete since Walter Johnson almost a century earlier and it wasn’t close.

It took some time. The early years were rough with a roster that rivaled an expansion team. But once the Capitals made the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2008, in Ovechkin’s third year, they were off. They held an outdoor practice once at a packed country club in front of a Supreme Court Justice. Ovechkin had his own SportsCenter commercial. They mattered.

What Ovechkin created is a treasure trove of memories from the goal scored sliding on his back in Phoenix to the moment he lifted the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas and partied with his teammates for days back in D.C. to hundreds of moments in between. He ushered in the golden era of Washington sports.

The Capitals won a Stanley Cup and have the NHL’s best regular-season record since 2007 with three Presidents’ Trophies. The Nationals won four NL East titles between 2012 and 2017 and the 2019 . The Mystics won the WNBA championship in 2019. 1218914 Washington Capitals

Capitals GM says strong powerplay, lineup will keep Ovechkin going

BY ANDREW GILLIS

Alex Ovechkin has defied everything logical about aging curves for about half a decade.

Typically, once players reach the age of 30, their goal-scoring begins to decrease. And once they reach the age of 35, it's not so much of a decrease as it is a straight freefall.

Ovechkin, after a 33-goal season in 2016-17 in his age 31 season, put up 49 and 51 goals in back-to-back seasons. He had 48 goals in 68 games in the 2019-20 season, before it was stopped due to COVID-19.

Now, at 730 career goals, he’s out to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 894 goals. If he’s to do that, he’ll need to score an average of 33 goals per year over his five year contract. Which would require him to continue defying aging curves for another half decade.

“I think it’s going to take a lot of work on his part,” general manager Brian MacLellan said. “I think as you get older, the harder you have to work to maintain your conditioning. We’ve seen athletes in the past that’ve played until they’re 40 and there’s probably a couple guys that are doing it now. Conditioning plays a big part in it, in how you get through the year."

Ovechkin has technically slowed down a bit since the run-and-gun days of and Co., but not by a ton.

For a three year stretch from 2007-2010, he averaged 0.79, 0.71 and 0.69 goals per game. In the three years from 2017-2020, he averaged 0.60, 0.63 and 0.71 goals per game. With 410 regular season games left in Ovechkin’s career and 165 goals to go for Gretzky, he needs (at this moment) 0.40 goals per game for the rest of his career. That will fluctuate as he plays more games and scores goals at a better or worse pace.

MacLellan said he’s hopeful that the Capitals can put a good team around Ovechkin and keep the powerplay up to a strong level, which will give the captain more opportunities to pump pucks into the net from his signature spot.

Still, the aging curve is lurking in the shadows for the generation’s best goal-scorer. Eventually, he’ll slow down from his torrid pace. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

At least, you’d think.

“I think it’s important that he’s on a good team, that it’s not all on him to score goals, that he’s getting a lot of help, that we have a good powerplay,” MacLellan said. “I think that’s a key. We need to have a good team for him to accomplish his individual goals. And I think trying to balance out those goals with winning a championship, I think we can do both at that 9.5 and a five-year term.”

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Ovechkin announces NFT release to commemorate time in DC

BY MAE WHITESIDES

The Great 8's announcement follows Monumental Sports & Entertainment's own release of NFT collections for the and Capitals. Other sports figures who have jumped on the trend this year include Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr.

Ovechkin partnered with Eternity Chain, a marketplace platform for limited-edition authenticated NFTs endorsed by notable figures, and Impossible Brief, a London-based design studio that creates NFTs in addition to other artwork. Ovechkin's NFT is in celebration of his new contract with the Washington Capitals.

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital and collectible assets representing a moment or item that can be electronically bought, sold or traded through a decentralized marketplace. (Think trading cards, but all digital.)

Ovechkin signed a five-year contract with a $9.5 million AAV during free agency so he can finish his career in DC. The Capitals captain is 164 goals behind Wayne Gretzky in pursuit of the all-time goals record.

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GM MacLellan didn't consider exposing Evgeny Kuznetsov

BY ETHAN CADEAUX

The 2021 NHL season was a difficult one for Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov. He was placed in coronavirus protocols twice and simply was unable to produce the way he has in years past.

So, when it came down for Washington to send in its list of protected players for the Seattle expansion draft, some fans thought there was a possibility that the Capitals would expose the 29-year-old.

That thought never crossed the mind of Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan, however.

"I don't think it was even a consideration to put him on the exposure list to Seattle," MacLellan said Friday on the Sports Junkies.

As for why the Capitals chose to protect Kuznetsov, MacLellan said that finding center depth in the NHL is already difficult as it is and that no team should be willing to part with a player of Kuznetsov's talent for free.

"As far as the expansion draft, I don't think you just let a team take that player for free," MacLellan said. "It's hard to create depth up the middle on your team. So if you have that, you want to maintain that."

Additionally, the Capitals general manager was quick to point out that in past years, Kuznetsov has been one of the most productive centers across the league.

"Kuzy is a good player. He's been a first- or second-line center for the duration of his career," MacLellan said. "He's been productive, remarkably productive. He's approximately 20 goals, 30-40 assists a year."

Ultimately, Seattle selected goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the Capitals in the draft, but the Kraken then traded him back to Washington one week later after they signed Philipp Grubauer to a lucrative contract.

The Capitals didn't end up ultimately losing anyone to the Kraken, but defenseman Brenden Dillon was traded to Winnipeg in exchange for two second-round draft picks as a result of Seattle not selecting a player from Washington with a higher salary cap hit. The Capitals then sent one of those picks they acquired from Winnipeg back to Seattle to reacquire Vanecek.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218917 Vancouver Canucks Even if you think it would’ve been the right big picture approach to let some of the bad money contracts — Loui Eriksson, Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle, Holtby — expire a year from now, to regroup and really go for it in 2022-23, if the club wants to build a contender around this current The Jaroslav Halak risk, Brandon Sutter injury insurance and 8 more core, then slow playing things may not have really been an option. thoughts from the Canucks’ offseason so far Tucker Poolman (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today)

2. Why Poolman will get the first crack on a pair with OEL By Thomas Drance Clearly, Tucker Poolman isn’t my cup of tea as a top-four defender, but in Jul 30, 2021 addition to his big frame — he stands 6-foot-2 and nearly 220 pounds — he skates really well for a large man. That he combines a throwback

stay-at-home defenders frame with plus feet is clearly something If you’ve been following along with a busy Canucks offseason, you know Vancouver valued, which caused the front office to pursue Poolman the basic numbers by now. without ever really checking in on a player like David Savard or seriously bidding on a more affordable option like Jani Hakanpaa. Two buyouts, three trades — including an $80 million mega deal — and then during the free-agent frenzy, the club signed 18 standard player Poolman’s speed is likely to be important because it seems pretty contracts in 27 hours. obvious that Poolman will be the front-runner to play in a matchup role for Vancouver on Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s right side. In the wake of their high volume approach in free agency, the Canucks are now well on their way to filling out two rosters — one in downtown Here’s the way to think about it. Obviously, you start with Hughes and Vancouver and one in the Fraser Valley. Both should be competitive. Hamonic, because it’s clear the Canucks like that pair. Hamonic logged roughly 80 percent of his five-on-five ice time with Hughes last season At times this month, the Canucks have been so busy and moved out so and there’s no reason to think that’ll change. many players and assets dating back to the expansion roster freeze. It’s been difficult to differentiate the forest from the trees. Now that we’ve had Whether it’s Olli Juolevi or Jack Rathbone at left defence, both of them a couple of days to digest the sum total of Vancouver’s business in free played most frequently with Tyler Myers last season. Lots of folks expect agency, we wanted to share 10 under-the-radar thoughts on what exactly Myers to be the guy to play with Ekman-Larsson, but typically he hasn’t the Canucks have accomplished so far — and what it all means. been Vancouver’s first-choice matchup defender. Myers tends to play a lot at five-on-five, but last season he actually played against the 1. The volume of turnover was impressive but also telling oppositions top lines at a rate below league average and dealt with the softest overall competition among all regular Canucks defenders The Canucks accomplished a lot, which is good, but they sort of had no (minimum 437 minutes at five-on-five): other option, which isn’t quite so good. You have to think of this as sort of like a logic games puzzle. If the All told, the club turned over 17 players that were either on the roster or Canucks are going to prefer Ekman-Larsson in toughs than Hughes and injured reserve on the final day of the regular season, on the taxi squad Rathbone (or Juolevi or Brad Hunt), and they will, then they’re obviously or buried in the minors with a cap hit that counted on the books. not going to match Ekman-Larsson with the right-handed defender that This club has turned over so many bodies that, as David Quadrelli of they’ve avoided playing in a shutdown role scrupulously. Daily Faceoff pointed out to me, third-year defender Quinn Hughes is That leaves Poolman, the right-handed defender with the sort of wheels now the club’s longest-tenured defender. to help offset Ekman-Larsson, and his declining mobility, who also played Obviously, this team needed to make changes and we’ve been duly toughs for the Jets regularly last season: complimentary of the Canucks front office for the volume of the work Honestly, this one isn’t just obvious, it seems relatively clear to me that accomplished over the past three weeks. It must also be noted, however, these particular features of Poolman’s game — his size, his right-handed that while lots of change is good in this context, it’s also a sign — further shot, his mobility, his experience in a matchup role — were major confirmation, really — that things went very wrong at a deep-seated reasons the club targeted him. And made sure it won the bidding for his organizational level in 2021. services. The longest-tenured defenceman in club history, Alex Edler, who never Fundamentally, it comes down to calibration. I might not rate Poolman at wanted to waive his no-trade clause or be traded to a contender, the rate the Canucks signed him, but they’re betting that he can pair with proactively informed the club this month that he needed a fresh start Ekman-Larsson on a pair that can be more than the sum of its parts. It’s elsewhere. the same bet, really, that the club is placing on Hughes and Hamonic. Nate Schmidt waived his limited no-trade clause after the team If the right side of the Canucks’ defence is the team’s obvious weakness threatened to keep him, only to go to Winnipeg. Winnipeg! on paper, fit and calibration are what the club is betting can offset that. Braden Holtby was bought out, but it’s become widely understood that he 3. Backup risk was among a group of veteran players keen to move to another organization, too. Holtby’s camp was grateful that his contract was Jaroslav Halak will only take up $1.5 million against the Canucks’ cap bought out. sheet next season, but he’s got some very attainable bonuses. As The Athletic reported on July 28, Halak’s deal includes a $1.25 million bonus As the club looks to turn over a new leaf and start the 2021-22 campaign for appearing in at least 10 games, which he’ll hit for sure, and another fresh, with the Canucks’ usual big market spending power restored, a $250,000 bonus for managing a save percentage north of .905. wash of new bodies and a locally based AHL affiliate, the stench of what the team endured in 2021 is worth keeping in mind. Play 10 games and be within shouting distance of league average for a backup netminder, and Halak will double his guaranteed compensation. It’s crucial context, after all, for understanding the past three weeks. In an always detail-obsessed Vancouver sports market, there’s been a lot Vancouver has spent the offseason pushing a ton of chips into the centre of focus on the cap commitment the club is pushing into the 2022-23 of the table. The Canucks prioritized an immediate bounce-back season campaign with the Halak contract structure. And it’s true that when you in 2021-22 above future cap flexibility and high-value futures. combine the Holtby buyout penalty with Halak’s probable bonus overage, There are myriad reasons for it. Yes, the pressure on Jim Benning and the club is looking at having a projected $3.4 million against the cap for the Canucks front office to return to the playoffs or else is enormous. 2022-23 as the cost of paying its backups in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Yes, the club believes it’ll be able to sell tickets and generate gate That’s inefficient, for sure. Functionally it’s as if the club was to kick the revenue again and that creates an incentive to be both entertaining and Roberto Luongo recapture penalty a year down the road. successful. Ultimately, though, the club wanted to be careful in preserving as much Don’t ignore, though, that for players like Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat cap space as possible this summer. It’s not even about the cap hit next and the team’s young core, the impatience is real and it’s metastasizing season, it’s about having the flexibility to match any Pettersson offer rapidly. sheets that might come their way before the season begins. Be wary of any reporter telling you that the offer sheet threat isn’t a primary When the market opens, promises get made about a role or a look that a preoccupation driving Canucks decision making. player should expect to receive at training camp. And those promises don’t mean much after the camp battles start. By structuring Halak’s deal in this manner, the club was able to land a solid backup in an overheated market and offset the short-term cap As a side note here, no team weighs training camp performance as investment. The Athletic understands that Halak also had offers from the heavily in making roster decisions as the Benning and Travis Green era Tampa Bay Lightning, so it’s not as if there wasn’t some highly attractive Canucks. We see it every training camp when a player like Josh Leivo competition to beat out here. beats out Sven Baertschi to a roster spot or Zack MacEwen beats out Jake Virtanen before the bubble or Olli Juolevi wins a spot. And yet And anyway, Halak’s cap hit being extended into 2022-23 isn’t really the there’s this old school impulse to suggest that anyone covering training risk. That’s a projectable certainty, or at least $1.25 million of it is. It’s camp like it matters is getting ahead of themselves because it’s just baked into the bet the Canucks made. training camp. Be wary of anyone suggesting such things, they’re well The real risk the Canucks are taking on here is actually tail risk, the risk out of the loop on how Canucks management and coaches actually think that Halak will struggle enormously, to the point that the club might look about running this team. to replace him. It’s here that Halak’s contract, which also includes a no- We digress, however, the fact is that the Canucks have loaded up on too movement clause (NMC), poses some short-term risk that could prove many bodies for everyone to make the NHL team. That’s going to result difficult to navigate in the relatively unlikely event that his form in Abbotsford being really good, but it’s also going to be a big test for evaporates in Vancouver. head coach Trent Cull to manage, in terms of getting the best out of An NMC is pretty much bulletproof. One can understand that a family those remainders that make up the Abby Canucks’ inaugural roster. man like Halak would want some trade protection on a one-year deal, but 5. Why Brad Hunt is low key critical his NMC will also prevent him from being reassigned to the AHL without his blessing. In other words, if he really falls off at 36, the Canucks would “The Abbotsford thing is awesome,” Brad Hunt told The Athletic on need to eat his $1.5 million cap hit and carry three goaltenders on the Thursday morning over the phone, “but it hasn’t even crossed my mind roster to ice his replacement. … I’m going to come there and I’m going to make the team.”

Halak is one of the most consistent NHL goaltenders of the past decade. Hunt has the sort of outlook and energy that helps a depth player extend Performance-wise, he’s a good bet to give the Canucks competent their career. Ask around the hockey world, check in with his former performance in a backup role. teammates and you won’t hear a negative word about the Maple Ridge, B.C., product. Still, the .905 save percentage he managed with the Bruins last season is the lowest of his career aside from the lockout-shortened campaign in It helps too that he’s actually a solid, versatile, NHL-level player. 2013. If his form falls off further, the Canucks won’t have any good options to replace him. The Hunt signing has been a bit overlooked in the days since the market opened. There’s a real chance that he could turn out to be the most 4. Big Valley Spending impactful defenceman the club signed this week, at least that’s what Dom Luszczyszyn’s GSVA model would strongly imply: The Canucks organization went big and splashy in filling out the inaugural roster for the Abbotsford Canucks. We’ve noted that they were Hunt is a lefty puck mover, which means he’s the type of player you’d looking poised to run a top-five AHL payroll in Abbotsford, but having expect to be in competition with Rathbone and Juolevi for that third spot reviewed it a bit further and talked to some AHL contacts over the past on the left side. Rathbone might be the front-runner, but you shouldn’t 24 hours, it’s more likely they end up in the top three. count out Hunt — who hasn’t played an AHL game in five years. In fact, the last time Hunt was recalled from the AHL by the St. Louis Blues, he Depending on which one-way players they end up reassigning, they was the AHL’s top scorer. could be No. 1. With the money the club spent on depth pieces this week — the majority The AHL is unlike the NHL in that it’s genuinely an uncapped league. of whom will be Abbotsford bound — competition at training camp will be You can run a first power-play unit out there that makes more than your fierce. And while that’s a healthy thing for an organization, it can create opponent’s entire team, and the Toronto Marlies have often done just some tension too. that. It’s absolutely vital that you have people of Hunt’s calibre in setting up Providing an AHL club with significant resources — especially if an this kind of dynamic. If you’re going to have Juolevi and Rathbone in a organization commits to doing so consistently — can pay significant situation where they’ll know they have to work hard and look over their dividends at the NHL level in some subtle ways. An AHL juggernaut, after shoulder for the next seven weeks leading up to training camp, it helps all, over time permits teams to have the best depth players, the best that when they arrive, they can’t possibly hate the guy gunning for their minor league coaches (as the Canucks used to when they were affiliated minutes and role. with the ) and to attract the best college and undrafted unrestricted free agents. “It doesn’t do anybody a service to be handed something,” Hunt said, on the subject of camp competition. “It makes you so much better as a There’s also an asset levelling effect of regularly relying on the kind of player and a person when you look back and know it wasn’t easy.” depth that the Canucks will enjoy next season. For organizations that are more cost-conscious, after all, your AHL lineup ends up being filled out There’s another wrinkle to consider here, which is that Hunt has actually by your fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh-round picks. And you need those spent the vast majority of his NHL career on the right side. He played on guys to hit as at least AHL level players if you’re going to compete the right side with Carson Soucy for the Minnesota Wild, forming a high- without spending significantly. octane third pair that contributed a whopping 15 goals from the back end in 2019-20. If the Canucks’ right side performs as poorly as many For “have” AHL teams, there’s legitimately less downside to trading mid- analysts expect, Hunt could yet emerge be a possible stopgap to stem round picks. the bleeding at some point, even if Green is traditionally reluctant to play The Canucks are eyeing another side benefit, too, which is the ability to defencemen on their off-side. pitch players in need of playing in a good, competitive environment to Hunt’s is a situation to monitor. Particularly because the Canucks NHL rebuild or rejuvenate their value, and have that pitch actually stick. The coaching staff is high on the player. second chance reclamation project types are a key source of NHL level talent — think Carter Verhaeghe — if teams are savvy about acquiring There’s a ton of familiarity there, not just from the time that Green spent them. Perhaps that’s a market that the Canucks can begin to play in, or coaching in the NHL, but also because Hunt literally played with Nolan have already begun to play in, with acquisitions like Phil Di Giuseppe and Baumgartner for a season before Baumgartner retired, as part of the Nic Petan on Wednesday. organization.

Of course, there’s some tension that derives from loading up on depth “I played with Baumer my first year,” Hunt recalled. “He’s someone I’ve players the way the Canucks have. Competition is a good thing generally respected for so long and I learned a lot from him in the year I was with in the NHL, but there are players that will always think of themselves as him … I almost modelled myself after him.” NHLers, even if they’re replacement level, and won’t be quite as content or productive as they might otherwise be in the AHL. It’s easy to imagine that Hunt is Abbotsford bound, but he’s a bona fide In the unlikely event that Klimovich is ready for the NHL as an 18-year- NHL player with a ton of power-play experience. It wouldn’t be a stunner old, great, that would be enormously impressive. If he’s ready for the if he ended up being a highly used utility, capable of covering everything AHL, great, but he really needs to be spending next season playing a from being a lefty capable of running the power play in the event a top-six role at worst, with a ton of power-play ice time considering his certain negotiation with a 10.2(c) candidate drags on, providing for fierce offensive upside. Anything less and the club would probably be better off competition on the left side at training camp, filling in on the right side in a letting him go pulverize teenage competition for the Rouyn-Noranda pinch, playing forward occasionally or captaining the club in Abbotsford Huskies in the Q. where he’d be likely to go off for 60 points. The question the Canucks are going to have to weigh then is, are they Hunt is poised to be a far more important player for this organization than better off from a player development perspective to loan Klimovich to a most recognized in the wake of the free-agent frenzy. KHL situation with a coach you trust and have a relationship with to permit him to play at a higher level against men? Or risk bringing him 6. The injury insurance AAV over to North America, knowing that it’s possible that he may end up in Brandon Sutter is a good fit at a good price point for this team’s fourth- the CHL. line centre. It’s a tough decision and one the club and player will have to make this He’s right-handed, which the club needed, he’s a good finisher for his month. At least if he were to go to the KHL it would be in a loan situation, role, he wins draws, he’s a sturdy penalty killer and he’s a well-respected one in which the club would retain a fair bit of control and not go through veteran in and around the club. At $1.125 million, the club did well to the multiyear Podkolzin-style dance, attempting to get him signed and retain him. over to North America.

Sutter has every skill you could ever want in a fourth-line centre, with one 8. A return to cap structure sanity exception: durability. The veteran has been a regular on injured reserve One sort of quiet benefit of the Canucks’ offseason moves is that they’ve during his Canucks tenure, missing 30 games per season for the club on begun to restore — at long last — some sense of basic internal discipline average over the past five years. into their club’s cap structure.

It’s an interesting wrinkle that the club has priced the injury risk here into For the most part, the Canucks are now structured so that their best the structure of Sutter’s contract. The exact cap hit value that can be players are paid the most and the fourth-line centres and backup buried in the AHL without penalty is $1.125 million, but there’s really no goaltenders are paid appropriately cap-wise. It should be a lot harder chance of Sutter being loaned to Abbotsford, the club values him as a going forward for a middle-six forward to demand to be paid more than player and a person too much for that. Roussel and Beagle in contract talks because they have triple the goals The key then, from the Canucks’ perspective, is that a $1.125 million and played six extra minutes per night. AAV is the easiest possible amount to replace should the player at any It’s actually pretty amazing how dramatic this restructuring has been. point hit Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTI). The LTI device is a Here’s what the Canucks’ books looked like three weeks into last complicated one, but it functions to permit teams to replace injured offseason in late October 2020: players by allowing them to exceed the salary cap upper limit by the amount “captured” when a player is placed on LTI. The amount captured The cap structure last offseason might as well have been upside down. is based primarily on the player’s actual cap hit. Holtby taking up quadruple the cap space that Thatcher Demko was, At a $1.125 million AAV, were Sutter to hit LTI at any point this upcoming Eriksson the highest-paid forward, a bottom-six centre earning more than season, literally any player in the league could come in and be a dollar- a top-six forward, a minor league player with a higher cap hit than an for-dollar replacement for Sutter should he hit LTI. To the point that, everyday fourth-line driver like Tyler Motte. The list goes on. Just ugly. hypothetically speaking, if the Canucks still had Eriksson’s bloated $6 million contract on the roster and buried it in Abbotsford, even he’d be Compare that to what the Canucks’ books look like now, and it’s night eligible to replace Sutter were Sutter to hit LTI, because that $1.125 and day: million would’ve stayed on the main club’s cap sheet when Eriksson had (Courtesy: CapFriendly.com) been reassigned anyway. With the exception of Myers — and even he was second among Canucks When I talk about the Canucks’ body of work this offseason having a defenders in ice time and led Vancouver blueliners in goals — the professional feel, this is the type of detail I’m talking about. The Canucks Canucks’ cap structure actually reflects true talent and contributions. appear to have structured the contract of a player with a lengthy injury history to make it as replaceable as possible from a cap management The top-six forwards are getting paid, the bottom six is inexpensive and perspective. That’s just smart, detail-oriented roster construction. in short order, the club’s best player — Pettersson — will also be its highest-paid player (or thereabouts). On the back end, you’ve got two 7. Now the Canucks can work with Klimovich to find his level veteran defenders, a couple of supporting 4/5 guys who are paid roughly The Canucks signed Danila Klimovich, their first pick in 2021 at No. 41, like 4/5 guys and eventually Hughes will slot in somewhere between to an entry-level contract this week. Ekman-Larsson and Myers. Meanwhile, in goal you’ve got a clear starter and a clear backup, structurally speaking. In discussing the club’s reasoning for expediting those negotiations, Benning cited “control” over Klimovich’s developmental situation as a key More work is required here, and Pettersson’s second contracts, in motivation. After the Vasili Podkolzin experience the past two years, you particular, will be a crucial benchmark for upcoming negotiations first with can hardly blame the Canucks for wanting to avoid a repeat with their Boeser and then with Horvat. newest prized prospect. For the first time since the spring of 2015 when the club overpaid Derek And yet, it seems that Klimovich may still end up in the KHL. It’s a Dorsett and Luca Sbisa right before the playoff began, frankly, the club’s decision the club is weighing and one that will have to be made prior to books some measure of sense and should reflect on-ice contributions the start of Canucks training camp in late September. and role.

Here’s a key part to keep in mind. The KHL season begins far earlier 9. John Stevens got converted than the NHL season does and Klimovich played in the lower level The Canucks are relatively flush at the AHL level now, but it wasn’t like Belarusian league last season. The KHL would be a big step up for him this budget-wise down in Utica. in terms of quality of competition and if he’s going to end up playing in that league, you want him to do so from a running start. Get in a full In the Utica Comets days, the Canucks’ top minor league affiliate relied training camp and take the time he’s likely to need to adjust to that level heavily on AHL contracts and PTOs. The budget was far more pedestrian of competition. as the club’s AHL general manager Ryan Johnson regularly scrambled to fill out the roster. If Klimovich were to come to the Canucks’ NHL camp, which is also a possibility the club is weighing in conjunction with his agent, then the die One player that Johnson identified in one of those scrambles was John will be cast and the KHL will be off the table. It’ll be a North American Stevens, who is the son of NHL coach John Stevens, acquired from league for Klimovich, whether that’s the NHL, the AHL or the QMJHL. Bridgeport midway through the 2019-20 season for future considerations. Undrafted, Stevens had captained Northeastern as a senior, was a teammate of Adam Gaudette’s and was coming off a major knee injury.

The ties between Northeastern and the Canucks run deep, and Johnson was familiar with Stevens’ game from the NCAA. He needed a centre that could win some draws and do some of the yeoman’s work and thought Stevens might fit the bill.

At the AHL level, Stevens has become an effective, two-way centre for the organization. He’s a better shooter than a playmaker, he wins a ton of faceoffs and he’s an ace on the penalty kill.

On Wednesday, unnoticed amid the wash of other news, Stevens signed an NHL contract as his deal was converted from an AHL contract to an NHL two-way deal. It’s Johnson’s first NHL contract since 2019, when the Islanders declined to qualify him.

He’s 27 now and doesn’t have the sort of AHL scoring profile that suggests he might become an everyday NHL-level player. Still, Stevens has emerged as useful organizational depth — the type of player one suspects could eventually play some NHL games as an injury fill-in, considering his specialization as a defensive centre.

The fact that top Canucks decision makers will see him play live more often should only enhance his chance of playing in The Show. And it would be pretty amazing if he could get there, considering the path Stevens has taken to get to this point.

10. Now take this creativity, professionalism and ingenuity; sustain it and aim higher

With ingenuity and impressive competence, the Canucks did some solid work over two head-spinning weeks in late July.

The sum total is that the club reallocated $24.8 million in salary cap space for Schmidt, Holtby, Eriksson, Roussel, Virtanen and Beagle and at the expense of the No. 9 pick, a second-rounder and a seventh carved out $5 million in additional space — let’s call it Pettersson insurance — while adding Conor Garland, Hamonic, Sutter, Halak, Poolman, a third- round pick and Ekman-Larsson.

Not too shabby, especially in contrast with what’s come before.

The Canucks front office ran a seamless, professional offseason. They worked effectively to deadlines and multi-tasked. They worked themselves out of corners, solved problems, took advantage of opportunities and did it all while also increasing their cap flexibility — effectively building an offseason cap space fortress to ward off a Pettersson offer sheet.

The work was detail-oriented, artful. It was, frankly, uncharacteristically savvy in some areas.

But all of this good work and creativity was executed in the service of just making the playoffs next season. This is actually kind of frustrating, or should be, for Canucks fans who’ve been waiting 51 years to see their team win a Stanley Cup.

If the Benning regime could sustain roughly this sort of forward-thinking, intelligent, aggressive approach — like, just do this, but all the time — and just ratchet up their expectations and goals to focus not on just making the playoffs in one year, but rather on icing a team capable of contending in a credible way for the Stanley Cup by the time Pettersson and Hughes are in their mid-20s, then maybe this club could start cooking with gas.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218918 Websites year of Kuemper and $1 million of salary cap relief, made it an expensive acquisition.

But what else could Sakic do at that stage, if Kuemper went elsewhere? The Athletic / Duhatschek notebook: Making sense of all the goaltending Colorado was boxed into a financial corner and it’s only going to get moves and the Coyotes taking on contract after contract worse two years from now when Nathan MacKinnon’s extension will put him back atop the Avalanche payroll. Currently, he’s No. 4. All of this means the Avalanche will need to balance the push for the Stanley Cup in the here-and-now against the real knowledge that they will have to find By Eric Duhatschek dollars in the budget to pay MacKinnon down the road. Jul 30, 2021 Presumably, by then, the cap will have started inching upward. That at least is the sense you get from talking to GMs. Another year or so of this sort of maneuvering and then a little leaguewide relief starting in 2023- Sometimes, I think I write too much about goaltending and then other 24. times, I think I don’t write enough about it. Then you get a 24-hour period that kicked off the start of NHL free agency this year — which saw an Fletcher’s observation about the speed of the goalie market came after unprecedented shift in both starters and backups — and you realize how he landed former San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones to play alongside curious and quirky the relationship between teams and their goaltending Carter Hart. That was the sense you had, watching it skim along. At a truly can be. certain point, as teams rushed to get somebody — anybody! — under contract, some teams were going to be left without a seat, once the game Consider that from the opening bell of free agency — noon ET on of musical chairs screeched to a halt. Wednesday — until the action started to peter out midday Thursday, 16 of the 32 teams either traded for a new goalie, signed a new goalie or in The quickly evolving market also left Arizona general manager Bill the case of the Washington Capitals, reacquired a goalie (Vitek Vanecek) Armstrong in a favourable position. Armstrong had held off trading that they’d lost only days before to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion Kuemper ahead of the deadline for submitting protected lists for the draft. Seattle expansion draft, anticipating that if he stayed patient and played his cards right, he would be left with the last goalie standing. Armstrong That doesn’t even count the shape-shifting decision by the Vegas Golden described Kuemper as “the big chip” in the game, that’s exactly how it Knights to trade the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Marc-Andre Fleury to played out — he was left with the winning hand in a high-stakes poker the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this week to save the $7 million salary game executed at a dizzyingly fast pace. cap charge. Or the acquisition by the Detroit Red Wings a few days before that of Alex Nedeljkovic, who was merely a Calder Trophy finalist Ultimately, some teams were left short between the pipes — Arizona and in his first NHL season, from the Carolina Hurricanes. Buffalo for two. When Ullmark moved on, Buffalo turned around and signed Craig Anderson, a 40-year-old who his previous employer, Including Seattle now, there are 64 jobs for NHL goaltenders every Washington, thought might be heading toward retirement. Meanwhile, a season, discounting the injuries that eventually occur. More than half the 32-year-old, Aaron Dell, who’d moved around as a depth taxi-squad league will begin play in October with either a new starter or a new piece during the NHL’s COVID-19 season, also joined the Sabres. backup or both. There’s still time for both teams to bolster their depth in goal. In Buffalo, if Nor were these moves limited to fringe, nibbling-around-the-edges Jack Eichel eventually gets traded, and depending upon the landing spot, additions either. Fleury and Philipp Grubauer, who left a Stanley Cup the Sabres could insist on getting back a goalie and the Rangers have contender in Colorado to sign in Seattle with the Kraken, were two of the Alexandar Georgiev as an option if that’s the way it goes). three Vezina finalists. In all, four of the top five goalies in goals-against average (Nedeljkovic, Grubauer, Fleury and Chris Driedger) all have new Arizona, meanwhile, a month ago had Kuemper, Adin Hill and Antti homes. The Vezina is the only award the GMs vote for, other than their Raanta on the roster. All three are gone. As of now, they have Carter own internal GM of the year award. This year’s wildly careening goalie Hutton and Josef Korenar as the two most experienced goalies in the carousel makes you wonder sometimes if they are as puzzled and organization. Hard to believe that’s going to be enough to win games at confounded by the position, and specifically how to place value on the the NHL level, but then a few of us thought the same thing about Chicago position, like the rest of the world. last summer, when they were trying to muddle along with a combination of Collin Delia, Malcolm Subban and Kevin Lankinen, who began the Granted, we’ve all grown increasingly accustomed to seeing traditional year as the No. 3 and eventually crept to the top of the goalie pecking values in the trade and free-agent market skewed in the salary cap era. order and ended up winning 17 games for the Blackhawks as an NHL rookie. But that doesn’t mean we can’t wonder, in jaw-dropping awe, how Fleury can be given away for a player (Mikael Hakkarainen) that will never play Chicago, of course, still needs to coax Fleury into playing. a minute for the Golden Knights. And then watch the Calgary Flames surrender a third-round pick for a goaltender, Dan Vladar, with exactly Depending upon his final decision, it could muddy the goaltending waters five games and 300 minutes on his NHL resume, who was the even further. presumptive No. 3 in Boston behind injured UFA starter Tuukka Rask Columbus, meanwhile, might be in the driver’s seat along with perhaps and the more highly regarded prospect Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins Dallas. The Stars have four goalies under contract after signing Braden meanwhile, signed Linus Ullmark, who goes from the worst team in the Holtby, but are concerned about the long-term health of Ben Bishop and NHL, the Buffalo Sabres, to one of the best. felt it was prudent to get some netminding insurance in case Bishop In all probability, the only player celebrating his own good fortune harder cannot play again. than Ullmark might have been Darcy Kuemper, freed from the Arizona Columbus has two goalies, Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo, both rebuild and landing in Colorado as Grubauer’s replacement. with one year to go until they become unrestricted free agents, and could That scenario — the Avalanche devoting most of their available financial still move one because Daniil Tarasov is waiting in the wings. If they do, resources to secure emerging superstar Cale Makar and captain Gabriel then there’s still a possible fit between the Blue Jackets and Oilers, Landeskog and letting Grubauer test the market or settle for fewer dollars provided the Oilers are willing to surrender a significant asset and maybe to stay in Colorado — was a predictable outcome, and came to fruition coax the Blue Jackets into taking back Mikko Koskinen’s contract. near the end of a hectic day Wednesday. The most intriguing shift probably came in the Eastern Conference, The timing was pivotal. By the time Grubauer notified the Avalanche of where Carolina’s No. 1, Petr Mrazek, landed in Toronto. The Maple his decision, most of the other available free-agent options had Leafs’ former No. 1, Frederik Andersen, signed with the Hurricanes. evaporated for GM Joe Sakic. It was, as Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Mrazek got a $3.8 million AAV while Andersen got $4.5 million. The Fletcher said, a “fast-moving market.” question you ask is this: if this deal were offered as a trade in January before the season began, would the two teams even consider it? Kuemper was presumably always going to be Sakic’s fallback position — but the idea that he’d have to pony up a 2022 first-rounder, plus a quality And the answer is, probably not. Carolina had a good run behind Mrazek prospect in Conor Timmins, plus a conditional No. 3 in 2024, all for one in the 2019 playoffs, and in the handful of games he played this season, his numbers sparkled. Toronto’s faith in Andersen gradually eroded over time. When injuries pushed him out of the starter’s role, the Maple Leafs Eventually, talent — or the lack thereof — catches up with any team and saw enough in Jack Campbell to believe he could carry the load as part it really will in an 82-game schedule, which the NHL hasn’t had for the of a tandem, provided there was someone there to both push and past two seasons. support him. But the Coyotes have the sort of experience which could make them a Overall? Other than Seattle, there wasn’t a single team that genuinely, tough nightly out, at least in the first half, especially if they get any kind of greatly improved themselves in net. It’s just a lot of new faces in new goaltending — and that would be the primary area of concern, given how places, and the cross-your-fingers hope that a fresh start breathes new they’ve moved on from Kuemper, Raanta and Hill. life into their careers. Normally, I don’t love these all-in-rebuilds because it takes so long for All of which bodes well for the Tampa Bay Lightning who, in the quest for teenage prospects to evolve into contributing NHLers and then it usually a third Stanley Cup championship, have the most reliable option of all, takes a further two years for them to evolve into difference-makers. But if Andrei Vasilevskiy, the reigning Conn Smythe winner. Sure, their entire Arizona is sacrificing this season and lands a top-three pick (or even the third line will play elsewhere next year and they unexpectedly found a No. 1 pick), then the Coyotes will be where the Ottawa Senators were a home for Tyler Johnson’s contract in Chicago. They’re still about $4 couple of years back — in a position to quickly pivot from a dead-end million over the cap at the moment, after signing Pierre-Edouard squad into an intriguing improving collection of talent. Bellemare and Corey Perry, but based on general manager Julien BriseBois’s track record, that’s a number he can whittle down between For a long time now, it’s gone all wrong in Arizona. now and the start of the season in October. But Armstrong has been aggressive, flexible and bold. As my colleague Perry is an interesting add, isn’t he? He’s lost to them twice in a row in Sean McIndoe regularly points out, too often, NHL GMs get overly the Stanley Cup Final. What is that old expression? If you can’t beat ‘em, cautious and when opportunities arise, they miss out simply because join ‘em. And once again, the Lightning have managed these deft moves when they’re required to put their necks on the line, they don’t have the without surrendering a genuine core piece. stomach to do it.

Arizona, the desert misfits? Most often, it can leave a team stuck in an endless middle ground of mediocrity, with little risk of reaching the NHL floor, but also little hope of Remember how, in 2017, during Vegas’ inaugural season, James Neal competing at the top end. started an internal chat group that he whimsically called the Golden Misfits, on the grounds that every player who ended up playing for the Lately, it’s been the disrupters — Carolina, Florida under Bill Zito, Golden Knights was a castoff on some level — and thus had something Columbus under Jarmo Kekalainen and Arizona — that have all to prove on an expansion team, starting from scratch. meaningfully reshaped their rosters. Every club in that quartet is at a different developmental stage — Florida and Carolina look like Stanley As corny as it may sound, that us-against-the-world narrative contributed Cup contenders. Columbus has stopped the bleeding and Arizona is to the Golden Knights’ successful inaugural season. investing in a longer play.

Even as the admiration for what they were doing grew, the players didn’t But if you’re a fan of those teams, you at least have to applaud the want to have anything to do with the compliments, because they didn’t initiative they’ve shown in these last two weeks. want to let go of the chip they were carrying on their collective shoulders. Same old, same old just doesn’t seem like a good alternative right now. So fast forward this summer to see what happened in Arizona, where the Even lateral moves, to shake up a core, the way Philadelphia did, is operating model the Coyotes adopted was borrowed from the Vegas preferable to a tired status quo. playbook (and frankly, was one many of us believed Seattle might follow). This and that

In 2017, Vegas added player and draft-choice assets by acting as a soft- In February 2018, the Los Angeles Kings traded Kuemper to Arizona for landing spot for teams with salary cap issues that needed resolving. and . Kuemper had signed a bargain- basement contract at the start of that season — for the then-NHL Like Vegas, Seattle went into its expansion draft with a clean financial minimum of $650,000 and he played spectacularly well for the Kings in a slate but ultimately opted to direct its financial freedom toward the free- limited role (2.10 GAA). But the Kings had both Campbell and Cal agent market. It left the Vegas gambit open for any team that also had Petersen in the pipeline and felt they needed to create an opening on the some payroll flexibility. roster for one or the other. As a result, they essentially gave away Kuemper. Three years later, Armstrong fetched a first, a conditional third Arizona identified that opening and took full advantage. and a top quality young defenceman in Timmins for his rights. That’s With salary cap room to spare, the Coyotes sold it off to teams that excellent asset management across two regimes — Armstrong’s and needed to move money — primarily the Islanders, Vancouver, Florida John Chayka’s before him. The Coyotes have had their share of and Philadelphia. Accordingly, for 2021-22, they will have parked on their missteps along the way, but they hit a grand slam with the Kuemper roster, Andrew Ladd, Loui Eriksson, Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel, Anton acquisition — seeing value where no one else did. Stralman and Shayne Gostisbehere. All were players from contending Thanks to our good friends over at CapFriendly, we know that the first teams that needed relief and were prepared to pay a price to get it. day of free agency produced 163 signings covering 296 contract years In the end, the trades netted Arizona a tidy collection of futures — one and for a total dollar value of $785 million spent. In short, the caution that extra first-rounder in 2022, plus four extra-second rounders. Moreover, it characterized free agency in 2020 disappeared, and a familiar narrative also got them back into the first round for last weekend’s draft, where bubbled to the surface — in free agency, you generally have to overpay they selected the Edmonton Oil Kings’ Dylan Guenther at No. 9, a player to secure the player you want. You do it with your eyes wide open, and that was projected on some lists to go as high as third. you know that at some point, it’s a decision you might eventually regret.

The Coyotes’ current roster reminds me of George Allen’s Washington Dougie Hamilton received one of the biggest overall paydays — a seven- teams in the NFL — lovingly nicknamed the Over The Hill Gang because year, $63 million contract from the New Jersey Devils. Hamilton has they were so heavily reliant on aging players whose best days had played three seasons in each of his three NHL stops — Boston, Calgary passed them by. and Carolina — and almost always played alongside a reliable partner on a pretty good team. New Jersey is different. New Jersey is in the early That’ll be Arizona too — except they do have a lot of hardworking pros stages of its rebuild. There are some nice pieces there, beginning with there, with pride, who’ll see the preseason predictions that have them Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, and in time, they should be difference- fighting it out with Buffalo for last place in the NHL. That’ll be the makers. They aren’t that yet. So, Hamilton will face pressure in his new motivational card that first-year coach Andre Tourigny will play — that home to live up to the contract. Let’s see how that goes. Carolina, for everyone is predicting we’ll be a laughing stock, so let’s prove them less money, would have been the safer play, but the Hurricanes were wrong. offering $50 million over eight years — which would have obliged him to leave significant dollars on the table. This is a bold statement, a chance The marketing department is missing a sure bet if they don’t try to riff off for Hamilton to prove that he is truly an impact player that can help an the Golden Misfits narrative and come up with a campaign that features improving franchise turn the corner. the Desert Misfits. Somebody needs to copyright that phrase right now! Desert Misfits should be on every T-shirt sold at Gila River Arena this fall. When I saw that the Blackhawks had managed to extract a third-round draft choice out of Calgary for defenceman Nikita Zadorov, my first thought went to Seattle and the mock draft we did ahead of the Kraken’s selections; we had selected Zadorov on their behalf, thinking he could be one of their extras on the blue line that could be flipped for assets elsewhere. That didn’t happen.

Instead, the Kraken took a minor leaguer on an expiring contract (John Quenneville), proof that NHL teams evaluate personnel far differently than sportswriters trying to do projections.

When Seattle plucked Mark Giordano off Calgary’s roster in the expansion draft, it left a large gap on the Flames’ left side. Zadorov isn’t an apples-to-apples replacement for Giordano — and in fact, is a different player altogether. He is a 6-foot-6 monster, a first-rounder in 2013, with previous stops in Buffalo, Colorado and last season, Chicago. The third-round choice the Flames passed on to the Blackhawks, they previously acquired from Toronto in the David Rittich rental. Couldn’t Seattle have used an extra third-rounder instead? It wouldn’t have taken much to gather that intel, given that they were doing a side deal with the Flames for Tyler Pitlick anyway.

As for Zadorov, he’s a basher, and he should be fit on a team that’s been increasingly Darryl Sutter-ized in the past week or so. Internally, the Flames expect to be a much harder team to play against this coming season. Calgary’s primary dip into the free-agent pond was for Tampa Bay’s Blake Coleman, a high-energy and (they believe) low-mileage player who should age well through a six-year, $29 million contract and play the sort of puck-hunting game Sutter likes. There’s nothing very sexy about any of their additions, which is sometimes a good thing.

In free agency, sometimes strategic adds pay the greatest dividends. I can’t find a single team that did better than the Dallas Stars when it came to accomplishing that. The Stars added depth in goal (Holtby, $2 million AAV), on defence (Ryan Suter, $3.65 million AAV; Jani Hakanpaa, $1.5 million AAV) and up front (Luke Glendening, $1.5 million AAV; Michael Raffl, $1.5 million AAV). I especially like the Hakanpaa signing. For the sort of physical game he plays, and now that he’s got some NHL time under his belt, he should be a good fit on a blue line that also includes fellow Finns Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218919 Websites The inconsistent Ritchie went unqualified as an RFA by the rival Boston Bruins but could still be an asset to many a middle six. He brings a rugged element the Leafs are not flush with.

Sportsnet.ca / 5 forwards Maple Leafs could target in ‘second wave’ of Marcus Johansson: A 20-goal, 50-point asset for Washington before UFA market concussions and a slew of sweater changes derailed his career, the 30- year-old Swede fits the mould of a project Dubas would be willing to take on for cheap.

Luke Fox@lukefoxjukebox Alex Galchenyuk: Dubas has said the door is open on a Galchenyuk return, and the determined winger certainly showed flashes alongside July 29, 2021, 6:04 PM John Tavares and William Nylander. He’s exploring his options, and even the team that drafted him (Montreal) is said to have some level of interest in a reunion. His last contract was one year at $1.05 million. Would he TORONTO -- One hundred sixty-one signings for 294 contract years and take that again? $783.6 million later, Kyle Dubas is surveying the free agents unclaimed and seeing an occasion to strike. Nikita Gusev: A right shot capable of playing either wing, Gusev make some noise in 2019-20 when he finally left the KHL, scoring 13 goals and That is why the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager said Wednesday 44 points in 66. games for a bad Devils squad. The Russian's '21 evening that it is “far too early” to start comparing his 2021-22 roster to campaign was split between New Jersey and Florida. His shooting his 2020-21 group that ripped through a highly irregular regular season. percentage dropped, and he failed to find his groove in either lineup. Gusev is only 29. He should have some game left, and he's garnered “We still have a good amount of cap space. We are still waiting for the some interest on the market. Does he give the NHL another go, or return second wave of the forward market to sort itself out. I probably think it is to the KHL? a better question for me to answer in a few days or closer to camp, just in terms of my expectation,” said Dubas, minutes after shoring up his These are the type of sneaky good finds Dubas will be considering. crease and gathering six maybes and hopefuls. Some pan out (Galchenyuk, Tyler Ennis). Some don’t (Jimmy Vesey). And if the GM doesn’t see value, he’ll be content to let his cap room grow “We have a great opportunity here for a forward that maybe doesn’t get and use it at another all-in trade deadline. what they want in the first go-around, looks at our group and what has been moved on in free agency, and now can look at this and say, ‘Geez, “Maybe we weren’t in the big-game hunting section of it here, but that is that is a pretty good opportunity for me,’ particularly as a winger, to play fine with us,” Dubas said. with our forward group as it is currently constructed.” “Whether it is using our remaining cap space to sign a free agent in the Particularly a left winger. coming days or whether it is through trade, we are going to continue to look at any avenues we can to improve the roster. Nothing is out of the Particularly someone who can bring a portion of what the Edmonton realm of possibility for us.” Oilers' Zach Hyman used to bring to Toronto’s top six, at a fraction of the cost.

Best case? The Leafs already have that guy. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.31.2021 Maybe a soon-to-be 20-year-old Nick Robertson becomes an instant phenom or a discount-taking, try-hard Michael Bunting breaks out at the perfect time.

But that’s a heck of an ask for a five-foot-nine kid whose first pro season was derailed by injury and a pandemic. Or a late-blooming 25-year-old who has skated in a grand total of 26 NHL games, few of them meaningful.

So many of the ideal substitutes and Toronto UFA targets -- Jaden Schwartz, Nick Foligno, Mikael Granlund, Brandon Saad -- signed lucrative deals too rich for an athlete to pass up and too long for Dubas to match.

So, the executive sits back with approximately $3.5 million in cap space and plays the waiting game, knowing talent without employment will get antsy.

In the 2020 off-season, proven “second wave” UFA wingers Mike Hoffman and Mikael Granlund inked one-year contracts for much less than their projected value. Florida snagged for $1.7 million. Montreal secured playoff difference-maker Corey Perry for $750,000.

“The right player will think this is the right opportunity for them. We would also like to head into the year with some cap space and let it accrue so we can stay flexible as we go through the season,” Dubas said.

“We will stay flexible, take some risks on guys that need a second chance -- or we feel are just about to pop -- and try to bring them in here and get the most out of them playing alongside our group.”

Let’s name names.

Tomas Tatar: Of all the UFA wingers still on the board, none produced more points per game in 2021 than the 30-year-old Tatar (0.6), who was the Montreal Canadiens’ leading scorer as recently as 2019-20. A proven offensive weapon and power-play threat with positive underlying metrics (58.9 CF%), Tatar already has six 20-goal campaigns on his résumé. So why was he healthy scratched by two teams in two Stanley Cup Finals?

Nick Ritchie: A big body (six-foot-two, 234 pounds). A first-round pick. A local boy. And a project now looking to join his third franchise at age 25. 1218920 Websites Contract: One year, $750,000 AAV Put up or shut up time for Comrie and the Jets. Laurent Broissoit is gone,

Comrie’s been in the Jets system forever, and so it’s time to show he can Sportsnet.ca / Two sentences on every free agent signing of significance be a quality NHL backup or that’ll be the end of that. in the NHL Sean Kuraly, LW, Columbus

Contract: Four years, $2.5 million Justin Bourne@jtbourne A workhorse of a player that every team wants, it’s just a matter of who July 29, 2021, 3:05 PM wants to be the team to step up and give him dollar and term, which he got here. This is kind of how it has to go for places like Columbus that aren’t exactly free agent destinations, that they’ve gotta push themselves a little farther to get players. When I agreed to write two sentences on every signing from UFA day in the NHL – something I’ve done numerous times in the past – I hadn’t Mikael Granlund, C, banked on there being 63,000 signings. We got our work cut out for us here folks, so let’s dive in. Contract: Four years, $5 million AAV

We’ll start with the first registered deal, and work our way up to most This is a “No sir, I don’t like it” from me. I’ve liked the player fine enough, recent. too, but his underlying numbers have lead to some bleak projections from the analytics community, and it’s just a big number to expect value from Brandon Montour, D, Florida in the years ahead.

Contract: Three years, $3.5 million AAV Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets

Florida made a similar bet to the one they made with Sam Bennett here. Contract: Four years, $3.75 million AAV That’s that the player who excelled for them over a small post-deadline sample is indeed that player, and not the guy he had more commonly Similar to what I said about Kuraly here -- this guy is a worker, and I do been in the years prior. think CBJ has to pay a little bit of a tax to get UFAs right now. They’re not in a position to win tomorrow, it’s not like it’s Chicago or Boston or one of Blake Coleman, RW, Calgary the sexier markets, so it’s a little spendy, but they locked up a good player. Contract: Six years, $4.9 million AAV Jaroslav Halak, G, Vancouver When you hire Darryl Sutter to coach your team, you’re not putting him in a position to succeed if you don’t get him some players who play the Contract: One year, $1.5 million AAV brand of hockey he wants to play. This is too much money, but Coleman’s exactly what they’re looking for, so in a way it’s like smart Excellent gamble from the UFA goalie market. I’m surprised this was all clothes shopping – you’re better off spending more for something you’ll Halak could drum up out there, because goaltending is tough to predict actually use than less for something you won’t wanna put out there. but he’s a great bet at that cost.

Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Travis Hamonic, D, Vancouver

Contract: Two years, $4.5 million AAV Contract: Two years, $3 million AAV

Andersen became polarizing to Leafs fans, but I’ve long been Team I like Hamonic the person, but his shot attempt numbers last year show Freddy. He’s a big, solid, quiet, bonafide NHL starter, and while there are he was a drain on offence and a detriment to the team’s defence. I don’t real signs of decline there, he’s as good a bet as any UFA goalie out know how to sugar-coat that except to say he’s a big rugged guy that’s there to have a good season in 2021-22. hopefully able to find more of what he’s shown he can be in the past.

Jordan Martinook, LW, Carolina David Savard, D, Montreal

Contract: Three years, $1.8 million AAV Contract: Four years, $3.5 million AAV

This likely spelled the end of Brock McGinn, but Martinook’s become an David Savard is such a fit for Bergevin’s Habs I’m surprised he wasn’t integral part of what the Canes are these days. He’s a high energy already on the team. Costly and he doesn’t do a lick offensively, but worker who brings it every shift, and the type of guy you can see Rod nobody is asking him to, they’re asking him to help keep the puck out of Brind’Amour loving having in the room, on the bench, and on the ice. his team’s net, and he does that well.

Sam Gagner, RW, Detroit Ryan Suter, D, Dallas

Contract: One year, $850,000 AAV Contract: Four years, $3.65 million

Smart player here, and you need guys with NHL experience around as It’s wild to see a player have four years of their contract bought out, then you try to turn the metaphorical container ship around in the canal. No turn around and sign a four-year deal. But Suter still has some game left harm done on a one-year agreement. in the tank, and used to be elite, so when held up against the Savard deal above it doesn’t actually look all that bad. Alec Martinez, D, Vegas Michael Del Zotto, D, Ottawa Contract: Three years, $5.25 million AAV Contract: Two years, $1.75 million AAV The type of guy who both totally deserves a payday, in that he’s an excellent player who’s been between fairly and underpaid his whole Credit where credit it's due, Del Zotto has been one of those players career, and the type that scares you to sign as a free agent. He’d have who’s proven to be adaptable and open-minded. He used to be coveted been devastating to lose, but over $5 million per is a big cap hit for the for an offensive skill set, but has slowly reinvented himself as a quality 34-year-old, and that raises expectations as you expect the player to depth guy teams can trust, which is worth a couple years at under decline some. $2 million per. Sign up for NHL newsletters Zach Bogosian, D, Tampa Bay Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to Contract: Three years, $850,000 AAV your inbox! This feels like a steal for TB, to the point I’m surprised Bogosian would *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. take it. After seeing how well he played with Tampa en route to winning Eric Comrie, G, Winnipeg Jets the Cup, then how solid he was in Toronto, there’s a few deals above that make me believe he’s worth well more than this. Laurent Brossoit, G, Vegas Very little downside here for the Canucks, who get a big solid NHL defenceman for near league minimum. There’s a whole lotta guys you Contract: Two years, $2.325 million AAV could pay more who you’d trust less.

A tremendous signing for Vegas, who took Marc-Andre Fleury’s money Jaden Schwartz, LW, Seattle and turned it into Laurent Brossoit – a guy I think can be a capable 1B – and Evgenii Dadonov. Whatever you think of how Vegas handled Fleury, Contract: Five years, $5.5 million AAV their cap reality was that they were spending too much money in the crease, and I think they managed to fix that problem without creating a As much as the Golden Knights' story has clouded the truth, the reality is major one on the ice. that the Vegas/Seattle rosters weren’t handed top-end offensive players and both had to plan to score by committee. Schwartz can help the Braden Holtby, G, Dallas Kraken do that, and given their available cap space, it’s hard to be overly critical here, even if it’s a year or two more than perfect. Contract: One year, $2 million AAV Tyson Barrie, D, Edmonton He’s got some pedigree and he’s only 31, so you can understand a team giving him a year and Contract: Three years, $4.5 million AAV

$2 million. What happens next, with Khudobin and Bishop and Oettinger Tyson Barrie had the most points in the NHL last season among D-men, all looking for NHL starts, remains to be seen. so it’s a little tiresome to read fans (namely Toronto fans) act like he can’t play in the league or something. He doesn’t defend well, but as Michael Amadio, C, Toronto specialists go he’s good at his job, so that contract for that player isn’t Contract: One year, $750,000 AAV bad in a vacuum.

He’s a guy who put up a 98-point junior season, point-per-game AHL Phillip Danault, C, Los Angeles seasons, has played 173 NHL games, is a good size and is just 25 years Contract: Six years, $5.5 million AAV old. What he’s created at the offensive end has ticked up the past couple seasons and he’s been on a bad Kings team, so maybe with some You don’t have to score a lot if your opponent never does, and Danault’s opportunity there’s something more here. as good as it gets at preventing opposition goals. I think offence is harder to produce than good defence, so this is capitalized a lot for ages 28-34 Seth Jones, D, Chicago of Phil Danault, but he’ll help make them better than they’ve been.

Contract: Eight years, $9.5 million Philipp Grubauer, G, Seattle

It’s just so many dollars and so many years for a guy the underlying Contract: Six years, $5.9 million AAV numbers are a little skeptical of. But he’s young and big, skates like a dream and is a legit top-pair guy, a type that doesn't grow on trees. If you’re sure a guy is going to be better than league average for all those years, 6x6 is OK. I don’t know that I’m sure of any goalie, but the best Jonathan Bernier, G, New Jersey few can stay league average or better for that long starting at age 29, so Contract: Two years, $4.125 million I’m guessing there are some years this doesn’t look awesome.

He’s been good in a tough situation the past couple years, and some Remaining Time -1:26 “goals saved above expected” numbers back that up. But it feels like at Kraken have built strong from the net out, but are they playoff bound? least a small overpay, which isn’t much of a criticism on UFA day. Kurtis Gabriel, RW, Toronto Brian Elliott, G, Tampa Bay Contract: One year, $750,000 AAV Contract: One year, $900,000 AAV I really like this addition at the roster fringes, as he brings energy and If you’re the Lightning in salary cap hell, knowing what you’re paying your toughness and personality and seems like a great cultural fit for Toronto. starter (and that you’re likely not winning the Cup if he gets hurt), the He’s a bit of what they lack on the ice, so it's nice to have an option like question you’re asking yourself is “Who’s the best goalie of the guys who Gabriel to plug into the lineup. cost less than a million bucks?” And lo, you have their answer. Michael Bunting, LW, Toronto Alexander Edler, D, Los Angeles Contract: Two years, $950,000 AAV Contract: One year, $3.5 million The Leafs lost a lot of quality attributes in Hyman, and tried to reclaim In the Kings' quest (hey, remember that game?) to move from them all back, just spread out over a few different names. Bunting is a “rebuilding” to “competitive,” they were always gonna need to add some good net-front player who’ll get after the puck and the opposition and has reliable NHL vets. I don’t know how much Edler has left in the tank, and the upside to give value on a cheap deal. $3.5 million doesn’t seem like a bargain, but he should be able to competently eat middle pair minutes for them. Remaining Time -0:53

Nic Petan, LW, Vancouver Oilers' Holland says Hyman will bring a tremendous amount of versality

Contract: One year, $750,000 AAV Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay

I think it’s somewhat telling that Petan’s contract sees him earn nearly Contract: Eight years, $9.5 million AAV half a million if he plays in the AHL, for where both he and team can see this going. But he can play in the NHL, and if the Canucks have injuries, How good is Brayden Point that he signed a deal for $76 million and it he can create and certainly won’t hurt them. feels like absolute robbery? He’s one of the best players in the NHL, full stop, and would probably still be a value deal at $11 or 12 million. Brock McGinn, LW, Pittsburgh Zach Hyman, LW, Edmonton Contract: Four years, $2.75 million AAV Contract: Seven years, $5.5 million AAV I like this a lot for Pittsburgh, another team trying to fill capably around their well-paid big dogs. McGinn plays a style that should be popular with Zach Hyman works and gets the puck back and stands in the paint and is their new front office, and at just 27 should give them some good years. “heavy” and consistent. If he’s the player he’s been the past few years for the Oilers he’s worth well over $5.5 million per, it’s just that nobody has Luke Schenn, D, Vancouver any clue how long he’s going to be able to give those things to a team, given the wear on his body. Contract: Two years, $850,000 AAV Brandon Sutter, C, Vancouver

Contract: One year, $1.125 million AAV At his old cap hit, he was damn-near vilified. At this one, I’m not sure Contract: One year, $950,000 AAV there’s a team in the league who wouldn’t love to have him. I like this deal! He fits the mold of how Montreal is trying to play (playoff Tony DeAngelo, D, Carolina hockey, baby), and he’s prime-aged and cheap.

Contract: One year, $1 million AAV Alex Wennberg, C, Seattle

On paper, and even on the ice, DeAngelo gives the Canes a bit of what Contract: Three years, $4.5 million AAV Dougie Hamilton did at a fraction of the price. In person, though, he’s burned through chance after chance, doesn’t treat people well, puts I get lost when considering Seattle’s signings, because they aren’t in cap himself first, and I’m genuinely surprised a beloved organization like the stress like so many other teams, but that shouldn’t excuse overpays. If Canes (they’re a hipster-fave of many on Twitter) would give him yet Wennberg gets that deal to play for Toronto or Tampa or anywhere else, another chance, placing value ahead of values. I imagine there’d be a few critics of the dollar amount.

Cody Ceci, D, Edmonton Alex Goligoski, D, Arizona

Contract: Four years, $3.25 million AAV Contract: One year, $5 million AAV

I know the noise out of Ontario is a little loud at times, but Ceci was pretty I’m generally in favour of paying more dollars to get the shorter term, decent in Pittsburgh last year. But it’s still too much money and term for which Dallas has done here. It mitigates any potential larger damages, yet another Oilers defender who doesn’t exactly excel at defending. meaning Goligoski feels overpaid here, but he’s still a good player and Dallas remains flexible. Jujhar Khaira, C, Chicago Linus Ullmark, G, Boston Contract: Two years, $975,000 AAV Contract: Four years, $5 million AAV Good deal for the Blackhawks. A bonafide NHLer in a depth role who’s not a big financial risk. Hindsight is 20/20, so I’m seeing pretty clear here, but it’s inexcusable that Ullmark wasn’t moved at the deadline last year. Maybe the 31 Thoughts: The Podcast Eichel/Reinhart situations were tough to read then, but this had to be a situation where they say “You gotta extend or we gotta move you, we just Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey can’t afford to risk losing an asset like you for nothing in a rebuild.” world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. Pius Suter, C, Detroit

Martin Jones, G, Philadelphia Contract: Two years, $3.25 million AAV

Contract: One year, $2 million AAV This is a good bet on potential upside for a rebuilding team on the cheap. You need a few things to break your way to get back to great, and it’s not I don’t fully understand this, given how much Martin Jones has struggled. impossible Suter becomes a real contributor. Philly has made major changes, but if Carter Hart doesn’t rebound and the plan is turn the big push over to Martin Jones, the foundation of Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey what’s been built there feels a little shaky. Contract: Seven years, $9 million AAV Mike Hoffman, LW, Montreal The analytics love him, the Hockey Men are far more skeptical, but for a Contract: Three years, $4.5 million AAV rebuilding team that needs genuine needle-movers, there’s no doubt this is a great signing for the Devils. Hamilton is big and young enough and The Canadiens can defend but need help scoring, and Mike Hoffman right-handed and scores and all that fun stuff. scores. St. Louis wanted him back, he can shoot it in the net, this just makes a lot of sense. Trevor Lewis, RW, Calgary

Remaining Time -0:43 Contract: One year, $800,000 AAV

Hoffman had other options, but signing with Canadiens was a no-brainer A player that suits Sutter’s preferred style. A player that suits Sutter’s preferred style (I didn’t say the sentences woudn’t be the same). Carter Verhaeghe, LW, Florida Nate Thompson, C, Philadelphia Contract: Three years, $4.166 million AAV Contract: One year, $800,000 AAV This might end up being the best UFA deal of the day for a guy you’ve barely watched play. He can do it all, and at just 25, is a good bet to have Quality depth guy. The Flyers shouldn’t be an easy team to play. three seasons that well out-perform that cap hit. David Rittich, G, Nashville Tucker Poolman, D, Vancouver Contract: One year, $1.25 million AAV Contract: Four years, $2.5 million AAV A good value bet here. An NHL back-up at NHL back-up cost. This was the year of depth D-men getting way more term than they should’ve. Poolman is a big boy and fine D-man, but I’m not sure you Petr Mrazek, G, Toronto need to lock up a guy who plays at the bottom of your D-corps for four Contract: Three years, $3.8 million AAV years at that cap hit. Of the list of available UFA goalies, Mrazek was in the tier of “best bets to Vinnie Hinostroza, RW, Buffalo perform above league average” next season. He’s been a 1B and played Contract: One year, $1.05 million AAV in a system identical to Toronto’s, he should be fine sharing the crease for under $4 million per. He’s an NHLer, and the Buffalo Sabres need those. It’s going to be a tough place to put up the type of numbers that’ll get you a big next deal Remaining Time -4:17 though, so Hinostroza’s got his work cut out for himself. Breaking down Canadiens, Leafs and Oilers moves from Day 1 of free Ryan Dzingel, LW, Arizona agency

Contract: One year, $1.1 million AAV Erik Haula, LW, Boston

Arizona is like Buffalo – next year matters not, but they need NHL Contract: Two years, $2.375 million AAV players. Dzingel is a legitimate one of those. A useful forward who should provide the Bruins with some depth scoring. Cedric Paquette, LW, Montreal A useful depth player and reasonably small risk. Nick Foligno, LW, Boston

Contract: Two years, $3.8 million AAV

Foligno’s one of those guys where you love the player he’s been and what he’s done, and if he can still provide some of that, you’re absolutely gonna love having him. If he doesn’t, well, you’re paying for nostalgia, and that’s not awesome.

Ian Cole, D, Carolina

Contract: One year, $2.9 million AAV

Quality depth D-man here on a short deal which keeps the risk feeling pretty light. I’d bet he’s got another decent year left in the tank.

Ryan Getzlaf, C, Anaheim

Contract: One year, $4.5 million AAV

I’m always torn on how I feel about guys who are a legend somewhere choosing to stay in the same city when it’s pretty clear their team isn’t going to be competitive. It almost feels anti-competitive, if I’m being honest, and I feel like Getzlaf could’ve helped someone somewhere else and played in more meaningful games (but I have a family myself and understand not all decisions are hockey decisions).

Antti Raanta, G, Carolina

Contract: Two years, $2 million AAV

A tandem of Andersen/Raanta should be stable, and at a really affordable price. Raanta has injury issues, but when he’s healthy he is an excellent goaltender.

Derek Forbort, D, Boston

Contract: Three years, $3 million AAV

Depth defenders, come on down, you’re the next contestants on The Price Seems High. Forbort is solid and fits what the Bruins want to be just fine, but he’s the type of guy you’d like to keep the dollars/term/expectations down on.

Derek Ryan, C, Edmonton

Contract: Two years, $1.25 million AAV

Ryan’s a smart player who sees the ice well, and the Oilers have been starving for depth scoring. Since he’s not particularly big or fast (he’s not a “raw talent” guy), I do worry about how his skill-set will age in the seasons ahead.

Mike Reilly, D, Boston

Contract: Three years, $3 million AAV

I like this one. Of the many defencemen who just got 3-4 years around this cap hit, Reilly seems the best bet to out-perform his deal.

Tomas Nosek, C, Boston

Contract: Two years, $1.75 million AAV

Analysts and fans all have different preferences in players and playing styles, and Nosek isn’t exactly to mine. But he’s cheap, and provides some depth punch for a Bruins team that’s seen the talent on its roster fall off precipitously after the top-six in years past.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.31.2021 1218921 Websites than he was in Toronto. Can he be a solid, shutdown piece on the right side of the second pairing — likely with partner Duncan Keith — who can justify dealing away a 24-year-old Bear?

Sportsnet.ca / Hyman will solidify Oilers' top line, but other roster This is the one acquisition Holland made on Wednesday that carries the questions linger biggest asterisk. We don’t blame him for losing Larsson, but on a day he needed a stout defender, acquiring Ceci is going to be on people’s radar for a long while in Edmonton.

Mark Spector@sportsnetspec • Bear was, in the end, another small defenceman who doesn’t defend well enough. A right side of Barrie, Bear and young Evan Bouchard July 29, 2021, 12:13 PM simply is not an option for a team that wants playoff success, so turning him into a bigger, third-line left-winger who can help Edmonton’s depth up front was good business. EDMONTON — When we asked Ken Holland what happens to the plan when you lose two of your top four defencemen for nothing, with Oscar Bear can surely play for your team if he is surrounded by a bigger more Klefbom injured and Adam Larsson gone to Seattle, he was direct and defensive-minded D-corps. On this team he is more of the same, and concise. became the odd man out on Wednesday.

“You make a new plan.” Remaining Time -0:42

So this is what the new plan looks like: Playing with McDavid was one of the reasons Hyman signed with Oilers

• Signing Zach Hyman to a seven-year contract with an average annual • Ryan? Why not. value of $5.5 million. Holland has a third-line centre-of-the-future in Ryan McLeod, and was • Re-signing Tyson Barrie on a three-year term with a $4.5 million AAV. unable to acquire a high-end 3C on Wednesday. So he landed what is essentially a high-end 4C in Ryan, a smart utility forward who will insulate • Replacing Larsson with Cody Ceci, on a four-year deal ($3.25 million McLeod and help him grow into the role. AAV). If by the deadline McLeod just isn’t able to play third-line centre yet, and • Trading defenceman Ethan Bear to Carolina for rugged left-winger Ryan is deemed not productive enough in the role, Holland will hope to winger Warren Foegele. find one at the deadline to help in the playoffs.

• Nabbing centreman Derek Ryan on a two-year contract with an AAV of You can’t get everyone you want on one day, especially in a cap system, $1.25 million. and this is one place that remains fluid.

“I believe that we’re deeper on the back end, and I believe that we’re The other? In goal, where Holland failed to get in on a goalie carousel deeper on the front end,” Holland said of his work at the free agent that saw 14 netminders move through Central Registry on their way to deadline. “And we’re still exploring.” new clubs Wednesday. He was in on Darcy Kuemper but couldn’t close the deal, and had a deal to move Mikko Koskinen’s contract if he could What do we think about Holland’s handiwork? Let’s dig in, shall we? have landed the Arizona goalie. • Hyman makes Edmonton better. There is no debate that finding a Now he’ll start the season with the same tandem from last year, and try proven left-winger for Connor McDavid and solidifying a position that has to adjust on the fly if he has to. been a revolving door on the Oilers’ top line is a positive over the next five years. The contract is a couple of years longer than you’d like, but Make no mistake: the fact that Mike Smith and Koskinen combined for a that is how free agency works. team save percentage (.910) that ranked seventh in the NHL at all strengths last season is only part of the equation. Koskinen does not It is near impossible to find a negative view on Hyman from around the have the trust of the players or the organization, and failing to get better hockey world. “Steady as a drumbeat,” was one description that sums up at the most important position leaves doubt inside a locker room that the player. knows a backup to Smith will get 35 starts this season — and perhaps • Barrie, the NHL’s leading scorer among defencemen and a player who have to weather an injury to the ageing starter. wants to play in Edmonton, for three years is a win. Forget his season in “I understand people talking about (our) goaltending. Smitty is 39, Kosky Toronto — Barrie is a proven offensive contributor who needs to be is 33,” said Holland, who acknowledged that Koskinen’s $4.5 million AAV buttressed defensively — and having him back makes Edmonton a better for one more year has him stymied. “The only way I can get into the team. goalie market is if I trade a goalie. I could not get into the goalie carousel “I had fun playing hockey again last year and that was important for me. because of contracts.” We like Edmonton. It’s a good fit. It’s a joy to come to the rink. It’s a good culture they have,” said Barrie. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.31.2021 For some, signing an above average offensive D-man on a contract we would consider to be favourable is bad business. Those folks are not named McDavid, Leon Draisaitl or Darnell Nurse, however.

“Connor called me this morning, all the boys texted me,” Barrie said Wednesday. “I think we have a good thing going, a good group of guys, and the sky’s the limit.”

Remaining Time -4:44

Barrie excited to have stability with new contract with Oilers

• Ceci. Now we get to the question marks.

Who is Ceci? Is he the player who finished second in plus-minus (plus- 18) and second in scoring (17 points, all even strength) while playing 18:31 per game for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season?

Or is he the guy who struggled in Toronto the year before that, part of a Leafs blue line that needed an overhaul? Today, one third-of that group mans the Oilers' blue line, with Ceci and Barrie in Edmonton.

Barrie is undoubtedly a better player in blue and orange than he was in blue and white, while Ceci was no doubt a better player in Pittsburgh 1218922 Websites The Giordano family has also been involved in social causes. They marched in the Calgary Pride Parade several times and also supported the You Can Play project, which works to eliminate discrimination in sports based on sexual orientation. Departure of Giordano family leaves hole in Calgary community The Giordano family’s work has not gone unnoticed, as Mark and Lauren have won numerous awards for their community involvement. Mark won the 2014-15 NHL Foundation Player of the Year Award and in 2017 By Salim Valji became the first NHLer to win the Muhammed Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.

At a charity dinner years ago, Mark Giordano was asked to FaceTime Now the Giordanos are in Seattle, where their impact will undoubtedly with a diehard Calgary Flames fan. continue. Their legacy in Calgary, however, remains.

Her friend was seated at the same table as the captain and wanted to “They’re not the people who give a handout, they give a hand up,” said surprise her. The woman, not expecting such an interaction, answered in Nowlan-Walls. “They were always trying to uplift.” her pyjamas. Mortified, she chatted with the star blueliner. He then asked Flames general manager Brad Treliving, who had the unenviable task of about her dog, who she named Iggy after another long-time Calgary leaving Giordano unprotected for the Kraken, summed it up after the captain. Giordano then jokingly berated her about why she named the news was official dog after Jarome Iginla and not himself. “Him moving on is the closing of a very important chapter in this “You named your dog Iggy instead of Gio? What’s going on?” recalls franchise, and I thank him, his wife Lauren, Jack and Reese, for Mike Franco, a Calgary Flames executive who was at the table. “He had everything that they’ve done,” Treliving said. “This is part of the cruel such fun with it. It was such a magical moment. Everyone was in side of the business of hockey. I wish him nothing but the very, very best. stitches.” And we miss him. Seattle got a great, great man today.” When Giordano was chosen by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft on July 21, it left a massive hole on the Flames blueline. It left perhaps an even bigger void in the greater Calgary community. The Giordano TSN.CA LOADED: 07.31.2021 family’s impact on Calgarians has been immeasurable since the undrafted defenceman became a full-time NHLer nearly 15 years ago.

In 2011, Mark and Lauren Giordano partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in developing countries. Three years later, they launched Team Giordano to further advance their efforts. It emphasized education and opportunities for kids. Over the years, they have quietly helped out if students couldn’t afford to go on class trips, didn’t have enough food, or needed other support. The Giordano family would often show up in front of classrooms to interact with kids.

“Their main impetus was, ‘We have money, so how can we help?’” said Helen Nowlan-Walls of EducationMatters, a Calgary non-profit. “They weren’t interested in any recognition. They just wanted to know who wanted the help and how they could provide it.”

Helen initially had no idea who the Giordanos were.

“I’m not a hockey person, so I had no clue how big a deal they were,” she said. “My nephew was aghast. He was like, ‘What is wrong with you?’ He was just a really nice man named Mark. I had no idea who he was, but he didn’t correct me or anything. He was just lovely. They are incredibly humble.

Franco is involved with the Italian Open, a golf tournament that raises funds for local charities. Over the years, Mark and Lauren Giordano have donated time and money.

“It’s always, ‘What do you need and how can we help?’” Franco said. “He’s the last person out of the room. He signs every autograph and takes every picture and answers every question.”

During the pandemic, the Giordanos were often spotted participating in drive-by birthday parades for kids, honking their horns and waving balloons for children celebrating their big days. They also worked with the Italian Centre Shop to donate food to those in need.

“Just having Mark and Lauren spend time in our shop and collaborate on these unique programs really lifted our spirits,” said Gino Marghella, the store’s general manager. “It reminded us more than ever how important it is to give back during times of need and crisis. The first time the family came into the shop, you could just see how they lifted the spirits of everyone.”

The Giordanos took the time to chat with staff and share stories of their heritage.

“We came from the same background, so it was funny to hear that his grandpa was still making wine and fresh sauce to this day, and how the sauce was important to his family and it had to be done a certain way,” Marghella said. “We shared a chuckle. Talking with them kind of brought me back to my own childhood. It was really fun to interact with him on a different level.” 1218923 Websites Years active: 2014-2015 World Championship: Silver (2015)

Derraugh took over in July 2014 for the start of a new Olympic four-year Ryan the latest name on Team Canada’s coaching carousel cycle. Derraugh was a former assistant with the women’s national team from 2011-2012, winning a gold medal with the team at the 2012 IIHF Women’s World Championship. By Meaghen Johnson At the time of his hire, he had just completed his ninth season as head coach of Cornell University’s women’s hockey team, where he is the winningest coach in the program’s history. Derraugh is still behind the Canada’s women’s hockey team has been riding a coaching carousel for bench with the Big Red and has amassed a record of 295-152-45 and the past decade. four Frozen Four appearances. The team has had nine different head coaches since 2010, including five Derraugh brought a familiarity with the team and the women’s game that different faces behind the bench since Canada last won gold at the 2012 his predecessor lacked. He was already acquainted with several key IIHF Women’s World Championship, led by Dan Church. players like Laura Fortino, Brianne Jenner, and Rebecca Johnston after Troy Ryan is the current bench boss. He took over the role in January coaching them at Cornell. 2020 and is now charged with ending Canada’s nine-year gold-medal For the 2014 Four Nations Cup, Canada’s roster had 10 players who drought at next month’s 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship in would make their debuts with the national team, including current Calgary. All of Canada’s games can be seen live on TSN. mainstays like goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and forward Blayre To understand how we got to this point, let’s take a closer look at Ryan Turnbull. Canada would win their 14th title at the event, beating the U.S. and his four most recent predecessors, dating back to the last time 3-2 in a shootout to claim gold. Canada won gold at the world championship in 2012. At the 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Canada once again Kevin Dineen boasted a younger roster, which had an average age of just over 24. Ten players were making their women’s worlds debut. In a wild final against Years active: 2013-2014 the United States, Canada ended up losing 7-5 in the highest-scoring gold-medal match in tournament history. The Canadians erased a pair of World Championship: none three-goal deficits but were ultimately outgunned by their rivals. Olympics: Gold (2014) Derraugh left his role as head coach before the 2015 Four Nations Cup, Dineen took over for Dan Church, who abruptly resigned as head coach but he has remained involved with the team throughout the years and is late in 2013, less than two months before the 2014 Sochi Olympics. currently an assistant coach with the squad.

Church had led Canada to gold at the 2012 IIHF Women’s World Laura Schuler Championship, but at the time of his resignation, he said he felt there Years active: 2015-2018 were doubts within about his ability to lead the team to gold at the Olympics. World Championship: Silver (2016, 2017)

He told the Canadian Press, “If there isn’t confidence in what I’m doing, I Olympics: Silver (2018) need to step aside and let the team move on.” In their next hire, Hockey Canada made history with Schuler, the first The following week, Hockey Canada announced Dineen as Church’s former player on the national team to serve as head coach. successor. Dineen had recently been fired as head coach of the Florida Panthers after just over two seasons with the club. While he had As a player, Schuler won three gold medals at the women’s worlds, international experience as a player, he had no previous coaching including at the inaugural event in 1990, as well as silver at Nagano in experience with the national team or in the women’s game. 1998 when women’s hockey made its Olympic debut.

It was an inauspicious start to Dineen’s tenure. He lost his coaching She had previously served as an assistant with the national team, as well debut 4-1 to the United States in an exhibition match, which was followed as head coach of the women’s under-18 squad that won gold at the 2014 by two more defeats to the Americans in a tune-up series before the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Schuler became the first Olympics. woman to serve as head coach for Canada since Melody Davidson, the team’s former general manager, stepped down from her coaching duties Ahead of the tournament, Dineen named Caroline Ouellette as captain in 2010. over Hayley Wickenheiser. But despite her pedigree as a player, Schuler never led Canada to gold “There is a tremendous amount of experience in our dressing room, and at any major tournament as a head coach. Under Schuler, the Canadians there is no shortage of qualified candidates to wear a letter,” Dineen said won a combined five silver medals at the women’s worlds and Four in a statement. Nations Cup and were also runners-up at the 2018 Olympics.

Dineen led Canada to a perfect 3-0 record in the preliminary round in Schuler began her head coaching tenure with a silver medal at the 2015 Sochi, including a 3-2 victory over the U.S. In the inevitable rematch Four Nations Cup, losing to the United States twice, including an between the rivals in the gold-medal game, the Americans led 2-0 with overtime loss in the gold-medal game. That was followed by two more under four minutes left. losses to the Americans at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Kamloops, B.C. The gold-medal match was a close battle, but the U.S. But two quick goals from Canada – including one from Marie-Phillip edged Canada 1-0 in overtime to deny their rivals of gold on home ice for Poulin with under a minute to go – sent the game to overtime, where a second time in three years. Poulin provided the heroics once again with the winner. “I believe that we have the personnel to [win],” Schuler told TSN after the Dineen later revealed that Poulin’s golden goal – which came on a game. “They won the luck of the draw this time around… Next time, we’ll Canadian 4-on-3 power play – wasn’t the play he had originally drawn make sure we take care of it.” up. But it was more of the same in 2017, with the U.S. once again defeating “You know what? They got the puck on the right stick,” he said. Canada in overtime to win 3-2 and claim women’s worlds gold on home Dineen’s tenure ended as suddenly as it began. On March 20, Dineen ice for the first time in Plymouth, Mich. It was a discouraging run-up to left the women’s team after just over three months on the job to become the 2018 Olympics for Canada, who finished with just two wins in five the head coach of the Canadian men’s Under-18 team for the 2014 IIHF games and lost to Finland for the first time ever in the preliminary round. World U18 Championship, where the squad won bronze. Despite the unprecedented loss, a Sports Illustrated report said Schuler Doug Derraugh “was adamant that there weren’t problems to fix.” Hockey Canada seemingly agreed and awarded Schuler with the coaching position for the 2018 Olympics, charging her with leading Canada to a fifth straight “Sometimes you respond differently to different leaders, and I think this Olympic gold. was the change this particular group needed,” she said. “We certainly don’t regret having him on board for the past year and a half. Sometimes, All signs seemed to point to Canada continuing its Olympic dominance. someone else needs to be crossing the finish line.” In an exhibition series against the United States before the Olympics, Canada won five of the six games. The five straight victories came after Troy Ryan the Canadians dropped the opener 5-2, and Schuler called the game “an embarrassment to our country.” Years active: 2020-present

At the PyeongChang Games, the Canadians continued to roll, beating World Championship: none the Americans 2-1 in the preliminary round, and in the gold-medal This brings us to the Ryan era for the Canadian women. He has been rematch, they were six minutes away from claiming another title. The on the coaching staff since 2016, including winning silver with the squad Canadians led 2-1 late in the third period until Monique Lamoreux tied it at the 2018 Olympics. on a breakaway, and her sister Jocelyn scored the winner in the shootout to give the Americans their first Olympic gold since 1998. A native of Spryfield, N.S., Ryan is deeply involved with his home province. He spent three seasons as head coach and general manager Canada’s run of Olympic gold came to an end, as did Schuler’s time as of the Maritime Hockey League’s Campbellton Tigers and was the head coach. Atlantic Canada female coach mentor with Canadian Sport Centre Perry Pearn Atlantic (CSCA). Last summer he became head coach of Dalhousie University’s women’s hockey team. Years active: 2018-2020 Ryan took over as Canada’s head coach for the final three games of the World Championship: Bronze (2019) Rivalry Series against the Americans in 2020. While Canada won Ryan’s official debut as head coach by a score of 3-2, the team dropped the last Pearn, who was an assistant under Schuler at PyeongChang, took over two games of the series, losing four of the five total games. as bench boss for the new Olympic cycle. He brought more than two decades of experience as an assistant coach in the NHL, as well as Ryan was set to return to his home province this past spring for the IIHF some international pedigree, leading Canada to gold at the 1993 IIHF Women’s World Championship, which was scheduled to take place in World Junior Championships. Halifax and Truro. However, the government of ultimately cancelled the tournament, resulting in it being rescheduled and moved to Ahead of the 2018 Four Nations Cup, Pearn told the Canadian Press that Calgary in August. he “would probably be willing to make a commitment to [coach] the next Olympic Games.” Pearn was also the first hire for new general manager In May, Ryan was named the head coach of the team for next year’s Gina Kingsbury, who took over the role from Davidson. Olympics in Beijing.

"Winning is important. It really is," Kingsbury told the Canadian Press. “He’s a very deliberate coach,” Kingsbury told the Canadian Press. "When it comes down to the first Four Nations of a new quad, to me it's about getting back to a winning culture.” "Even if he hasn't had the chance or the opportunity to have a whole lot of camps or events with our group, even how he's managed our group in But it was more silver hardware for Canada at the 2018 Four Nations this pandemic, and the relationships he's built, the trust he's built, these Cup, with the team losing 5-2 to the Americans in the gold-medal game. players want to play for him. He is the guy to lead us for sure." It was the fourth straight title for the United States at the Four Nations Cup, and things would get worse for Pearn and Canada at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship. TSN.CA LOADED: 07.31.2021 The Canadians would fall 3-2 to the Americans yet again in the preliminary round, their eighth straight loss to their rivals at the women’s worlds. But this time there would be no gold-medal rematch. Finland, playing on home ice in Espoo, upset Canada 4-2 in the semifinal to advance to the final. Finnish goaltender Noora Räty finished with 43 saves and stymied the Canadians’ attack.

“We should be really disappointed,” Pearn told TSN after the game. “We played much, much better than we showed today earlier in the tournament… Very disappointed that when we hit some adversity, we seemed to completely lose track of what it is we do as a team.”

Canada would regroup and easily take bronze with a 7-0 win over Russia, but it was still the team’s worst-ever finish at a major tournament.

“You have to be happy with the end result,” Pearn said postgame. “I think the takeaway for the whole group is we need to change some things. We need to get better. There’s no question that we’re capable of being very successful, but that’s not going to happen until some changes are made.”

But Pearn wouldn’t get the opportunity to face the United States in another tournament. The 2019 edition of the Four Nations Cup was cancelled after ongoing contract disputes between the Swedish Federation and the women’s national team players.

Canada and the United States played in a two-game exhibition series in place of the tournament, but Ryan was head coach for the mini-series, with Pearn serving as an assistant. Canada won both games.

At the end of the year, the Canadians and Americans began a five-game Rivalry Series, with Pearn back as head coach and Ryan named an assistant. The United States won the opener 4-1, and three days later edged the Canadians again by a score of 2-1, dropping Pearn’s record against the Americans to 2-6.

That spelled the end of Pearn’s tenure. On Jan. 9, 2020, Pearn was fired as head coach, with Ryan taking over. Kingsbury told the Canadian Press that a change in leadership was needed.