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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 8/24/2021 Bruins 1219618 Globe reporter Matt Porter comments on death of former 1219646 Former NHL forward dies at age 31 Bruin Jimmy Hayes 1219647 Former NHL Player, Penguins Minor Leaguer Jimmy 1219619 Jimmy Hayes, former Bruin and hockey Hayes Dies at 31 champion, dies at 31 1219648 Bryan Rust’s Contract: Comparables, Future 1219620 Hockey world reacts to death of former Bruin and Complications, and Paydays Dorchester native Jimmy Hayes 1219621 Former BC and Bruin player Jimmy Hayes dies at 31 Seattle Kraken 1219622 BHN Puck Links: Bruins, NHL Mourn Hayes, Gilbert; Krejci 1219649 Here’s why the Kraken is expected to play Philipp Not Returning Grubauer and Chris Driedger in a goalie tandem 1219623 Former Bruins Forward Jimmy Hayes Passes 1219650 Top Seattle Kraken pick Matt Beniers will return to AwayPublished 16 hours ago on August 23, 2021 University of Michigan 1219624 Krejci Not Planning to Return to This 1219651 ‘I feel fresh again’: Jaden Schwartz ready to move on after Season a season he almost didn’t play following his dad’s Blackhawks St Louis Blues 1219626 Jimmy Hayes, the former player, 1219652 Hochman: Blues' Tarasenko, waiting for , is a dies at 31 question mark in skates (that could become an 1219627 Former Blackhawks forward Jimmy Hayes dies at 31 exclamation p 1219628 Jimmy Hayes, NHL veteran of seven seasons with four 1219653 ‘I feel fresh again’: Jaden Schwartz ready to move on after teams, dies at 31 a season he almost didn’t play following his dad’s Maple Leafs 1219629 Dater’s Daily: Death in the hockey family, Lacroix Hockey 1219654 Jimmy Hayes, former Maple Leafs draft pick and NHL to debut, Colorado pols trying to end Comcast-Altitu veteran, has died at age 31 1219655 Former Leafs draft pick Jimmy Hayes found dead at his home 1219630 Blue Jackets' Merzlikins announces birth of son, whose name honors Matiss Kivlenieks 1219631 Michael Arace: As Coyotes face eviction, relocation talk 1219656 Foley’s Vegas Golden Knights Portfolio Adds Another heightens and Bettman stands firm Knight To Sports Roundtable: Indoor Football Team Name Is 1219632 Red Wings have chance to make a move in deep Atlantic Websites Division 1219658 The Athletic / ‘I feel fresh again’: Jaden Schwartz ready to 1219633 Red Wings’ Adam Erne aims to ‘pick up where I left off’ move on after a season he almost didn’t play foll with new linemates 1219659 TSN.CA / Leafs' core facing 'Last Dance' scenario 1219660 USA TODAY / Former NHL forward Jimmy Hayes dies at 31 1219634 Lowetide: What should Oilers fans expect from in his first season? 1219657 Appleton eager to get Kraken SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1219635 Former Florida Panthers forward Jimmy Hayes found dead at 31 Kings 1219636 Development Camp Notebook: Prospects Hit The Ice For Week of Training 1219637 2021 Development Camp Underway At TSPC 1219638 Former Devils forward Jimmy Hayes dies at 31 1219639 Rod Gilbert, Known as Mr. Ranger, Warmed New York to 1219640 Remembering Rod Gilbert, a New York legend – and a good friend 1219641 Rangers legend Rod Gilbert impacted generations of fans 1219642 Jimmy Hayes, former NHL player and ’ brother, is found dead at 31 1219643 Travis Sanheim: Flyers GM has ‘done his job. Now it’s up to us to come together as a group.’ 1219644 Flyers, Sanheim avoid arbitration with new contract 1219645 Travis Sanheim’s contract extension with the Flyers: The value, the risk and how it affects the cap situation 1219618 Boston Bruins

Globe reporter Matt Porter comments on death of former Bruin Jimmy Hayes

By Staff and wire reports Updated August 23, 2021, 11:04 p.m.

Jimmy Hayes won a national championship at Boston College before he played for the Bruins.

Boston Globe writer Matt Porter appeared on NHL Network Monday to discuss the death of former Bruin and Boston College star Jimmy Hayes, and the impact on the local hockey community.

A personality that touched the hockey community.@mattyports on Jimmy Hayes. pic.twitter.com/itCdIaBXgm

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 24, 2021

Boston Globe LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219619 Boston Bruins “Jimmy had such an infectious personality that he lit up the room every time he entered. Most importantly, watching him grow into the person, husband and father he had become makes all of us smile proudly. Jimmy Jimmy Hayes, former Bruin and Boston College hockey champion, dies will always be known as the best teammate anyone could ever have. at 31 “He will be greatly missed by our entire family.”

“Wish I had the chance to tell Jimmy how much Brady and I looked up to By Matt Porter and John R. Ellement Globe Staff, Updated August 23, him and Kevin throughout all the years,” posted on 2021, 4:37 p.m. Twitter. “I know that Beau and Mac will grow up with the same larger than life and loving personality that he had!”

Jimmy Hayes played seven seasons with four teams in the NHL, Jimmy Hayes lived the fantasy of every local kid who picked up a hockey including the Bruins. stick after school. Entering his 49th season as a college hockey coach, BC’s Jerry York has He went from the streets of Dorchester to playing for the Boston Bruins, tutored hundreds of players. He said that shortly after Jimmy Hayes during a career that included an NCAA championship at Boston College, arrived on campus in 2008, from Noble and Greenough School in silver medals with Team USA, and seven years in the NHL. Dedham, he became one of his favorite people to coach.

His friends weren’t recalling his on-ice impact Monday. “Of all the kids I’ve coached, certainly in my top five as far as being enjoyable to coach, to hang in the locker room with,” York said. “His off- “Jimmy was a guy who had you laughing before he delivered the punch ice contributions to our team, I marveled at so many different times. line,” said Pete Albietz, the New Jersey Devils’ vice president of communications and team operations. “Great city kid, you know? Always had that city grind to him, that city tenacity.” Hayes died unexpectedly Monday morning, stunning the hockey community in and around Boston. He was 31. Penna said Hayes blossomed once younger brother Kevin followed him to The Heights in 2010, following BC’s national championship victory Law enforcement and first responders pronounced him dead at his Milton over Wisconsin the previous spring. As the oldest of his generation of home, a law enforcement official said. His death is not considered hockey-playing cousins, Hayes want to set the tone. suspicious. The cause of death was not immediately available. “It was so important for Jimmy to be a good role model,” said Penna, who He leaves behind a wife, Kristen, and two sons: Beau, 2, and Mac, three officiated Jimmy and Kristen Hayes’s July 2018 wedding in Cape months. On Sunday they celebrated Beau’s second birthday. Mac was Cod.“When Kevin walked into the locker room, he raised his game.” born on May 5. Jimmy Hayes, center, celebrates a 2015 with Ryan Spooner, left, A personality that touched the hockey community.@mattyports on Jimmy and Matt Beleskey. Hayes. pic.twitter.com/itCdIaBXgm Hayes was drafted 60th overall by the in 2008, after — NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 24, 2021 two years playing for the US National Team Development program and Instagram posts by Kristen Hayes around midnight Sunday showed the of the US Hockey League. He also won silver medals with family of four at an arcade playing games earlier that evening. Hayes Team USA in the 2007 Under-18 World Junior Championship and the was sporting a Patriots cap and a smile. 2009 U-20s, and with his brother, played for the Americans at the 2014 World Championships. Tributes poured in for Hayes, a 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pound right winger who played 334 games in the NHL for four teams. The Bruins, for which Hayes broke into the NHL with Chicago, debuting Dec. 30, 2011 against he wore jersey No. 11 from 2015-17, and Boston College used the word the Detroit Red Wings. His first goal came Jan. 2, against the Edmonton “heartbroken” in their statements. The NHL Players’ Association said it Oilers. was “deeply saddened” by the news. He spent parts of his first three pro seasons in the AHL before the “I’ve been in a state of shock all day,” said Bob Murray, the Dover-based Blackhawks traded him to the Florida Panthers in 2013. In 2014-15 he player agent for Jimmy and his brother, Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin produced a career-best year — 19 goals and 35 points in 72 games — Hayes. “We are devastated by the loss of Jimmy. I can’t emphasize and caught the Bruins’ eye. His hometown club dealt and the enough how great a kid he was. contract of to the Panthers for Hayes.

“He was the nicest young man I dealt with,” Murray said, describing him “Jimmy was the best,” said East Longmeadow-raised Panthers winger as “bubbly and friendly,” with an ever-present smile. “He was nice to Frank Vatrano, a Bruins rookie at the time. “He could light up a room. He everybody. A great friend. Just universally loved.” made everyone laugh. He was the first guy who took me under his wing, made sure I was comfortable, made sure I was invited to dinner with all Hayes also leaves four siblings, Genevieve, Eileen, Justine, and Kevin; the guys.” and parents Shelagh and Kevin Sr. of Dorchester. The extended family, which has roots in Charlestown and includes NHL players named Jimmy Hayes celebrates with teammates Max Talbot, left, and Frank Tkachuk and Fitzgerald, is well-known in Boston hockey circles. Vatrano after finishing off a hat trick in 2015 during a game at the Garden. “They’re a human force,” said Boston College Hockey team chaplain Tony Penna. “Everything they do, they gobble it up with tenacity and GLOBE STAFF The Bruins signed Hayes to a three-year, $6.9 million purpose and intention.” contract in July 2015. They bought out his contract two summers later. In total, he had 15 goals and 33 points in 133 games for Boston. That The Hayes siblings are first cousins of NHL stars Matthew Tkachuk included the only hat trick of his career, against the Senators Dec. 29, (Calgary Flames) and (), whose father is 2015. former NHL star . They are also first cousins of Ryan and Casey Fitzgerald, who play for the AHL affiliates of the Philadelphia “It was a dream come true,” he beamed after that game. Flyers and , respectively. Their father is New Jersey Hayes finished his career with the Devils (2017-18) and the Pittsburgh Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald. Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes Barre/Scranton (2018-19). In total, he Jimmy Hayes beats Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson for a goal in a 2015 scored 54 goals and 109 points in the NHL. game at TD Garden. Hayes was enjoying family life and determining his post-hockey path. “Growing up in such a tight-knit hockey family, I’m sure Jimmy wanted to Since August 2020, he had co-hosted a podcast with fellow former do exactly what he saw Keith and I doing as he was growing up,“ Tom NHLers Shane O’Brien and called “Missin Curfew.” Fitzgerald said. “He not only did that, he became a true role model and Hayes went by the nickname “Broadway.” Their last live show was Aug. inspiration for all the younger Fitzgerald and Tkachuk cousins. They all 5. wanted to be just like Jimmy Hayes! He’s the reason my two boys chose BC. York said Hayes, who turned pro as a junior, was finishing an arts and sciences degree. He had visited the BC hockey team several times. York believes Hayes would have made an excellent coach. He is not alone in that sentiment.

“He had that kind of personality, and he cared about people,” said Brian Day, his coach at Noble and Greenough. “Whatever it was that he did, he would have been all-in. And he would have made people feel really good.”

Boston Globe LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219620 Boston Bruins Hayes played 33 games for the Devils in 2017-18. Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman, his teammate in New Jersey, offered a touching tribute, saying Hayes “always brought a smile to the rink.”

Hockey world reacts to death of former Bruin and Dorchester native When I think of a “locker room guy” I think of Jimmy “Broadway” Hayes. Jimmy Hayes Very devastating news, he will be missed by so many, he always brought a smile to the rink in our time together in New Jersey. Our thoughts are with Kristen and their 2 young boys. Rest In Peace bud By Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated August 23, 2021, 4:12 p.m. https://t.co/UOX7jIdL64

— Blake Coleman (@BColes25) August 23, 2021

Jimmy Hayes had 15 goals and 33 points in 133 games for the Bruins. A reporter for the Devils shared photos from a theme night in New Jersey, saying Hayes was “such a character around the room.” Jimmy Hayes, a former right winger for the Bruins, died unexpectedly Monday morning. I am stunned at the loss so suddenly of Jimmy Hayes.

Hayes, a 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pound Dorchester native, played 334 games He was such a character around the room, always up for a good time & in the NHL for four teams, including the Bruins from 2015-17. He also kept everyone laughing. played at Boston College, helping the Eagles win the national championship in 2010. Wont ever forget this hilarious time in the #NJDevils locker room, prepping for a theme night. After news of his death broke, the hockey community shared an outpouring of grief. Just terribly tragic.

The Bruins offered their thoughts to Hayes’s wife, Kristen, and his two RIP Broadway. pic.twitter.com/gjvj6jJb4t sons. — Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) August 23, 2021 The are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of The Flames said Hayes was “Known around the league for his kindness Jimmy Hayes. We’re sending our deepest condolences to the entire and generosity, he will be greatly missed.” Hayes family. https://t.co/VYCtASVb3Y Our deepest condolences go out the family and friends of Jimmy Hayes. — Providence Bruins (@AHLBruins) August 23, 2021 Known around the league for his kindness and generosity, he will be Bruins Patrice Bergeron issued a statement through the team: greatly missed. “It was a pleasure getting to know Jimmy, and he was such a joy to be around both on and off the ice,” Bergeron said. “I’ll always remember his Rest in peace Jimmy big smile — he was so positive and full of life. I’m really going to miss — Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) August 23, 2021 that. We’ve lost a great person.” Hayes finished his professional career with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL A statement from Boston Bruins Captain Patrice Bergeron: affiliate in Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Pa. (2018-19). pic.twitter.com/SUG5AvPj9Y We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 23, 2021 @WBSPenguins forward, Jimmy Hayes.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, who selected Hayes in the second round of of The Penguins organization sends our thoughts and prayers to Jimmy's the 2008 NHL Draft, said Hayes was “known for his character and family, friends, and former teammates during this extremely difficult time. kindness around the league.” pic.twitter.com/A6SnLi9oeN

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Maple Leafs — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 23, 2021 draft pick, Jimmy Hayes. We are heartbroken by the news of Jimmy Hayes' passing today. Our Known for his character and kindness around the league, Jimmy will be thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates throughout hockey. dearly missed by all. pic.twitter.com/3aDDm4Q8Oi

Our thoughts are with the entire Hayes family during this difficult time. — (@TheAHL) August 23, 2021 pic.twitter.com/T9lPlBBy0E In three seasons at Chestnut Hill, Hayes had 42 goals and 39 assists. — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 23, 2021 The 2009-10 season would be his final season at BC, with the Eagles Hayes made his NHL debut in 2011 with the Chicago Blackhawks, winning the , the tournament, and the NCAA appearing in 43 games with the organization. The Blackhawks said tournament. The school paid tribute to him, posting a picture of Hayes Hayes’s “warm personality made an immediate impact in the locker room hoisting the NCAA trophy on its Twitter account. and with our fans.” Boston College Hockey is heartbroken over the passing of Jimmy Hayes. We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Jimmy Hayes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Hayes family. pic.twitter.com/2nL59U6Fgs His warm personality made an immediate impact in the locker room and with our fans. We’re proud of the memories he made in Chicago, — BC Hockey (@BCHockey) August 23, 2021 including making his NHL debut in 2011. Sending our thoughts and Many from the college hockey community paid their respects, including prayers to his family pic.twitter.com/gP8357luB9 some of BC’s biggest rivals on the ice.

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 23, 2021 Our thoughts are with @BCHockey and the entire Hayes family. https://t.co/xdO06yMCE2 Hayes’s most productive season came in 2014-15, when he scored 19 goals with 16 assists for the Florida Panthers. David Dwork, who covers — BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) August 23, 2021 the Panthers for WPLG Local 10 News, called Hayes “an amazingly nice man.” We are devastated to hear the news about Jimmy. Our thoughts are with the Hayes and BC hockey families. He will be greatly missed. Former Panthers forward Jimmy Hayes has passed away. Just 31 years https://t.co/4m2uD1zVeT old. Amazingly nice man, always had a smile during his days in Sunrise. Condolences to his family pic.twitter.com/4fp9sEhq6r — Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) August 23, 2021

— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) August 23, 2021 Our deepest condolences to the Hayes and BC hockey families. https://t.co/UbjZBHir4C

— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) August 23, 2021 Hockey East, and the entire league family, mourns the loss of Jimmy. https://t.co/rrJxLqxmDN

— Hockey East (@hockey_east) August 23, 2021

Boston Globe LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219621 Boston Bruins Hayes had started a podcast with former NHLers Shane O’Brien and Scottie Upshall called “Missin’ Curfew,” which had broken the news on free agency day that Blake Coleman, one of the more sought-after free Former BC and Bruin player Jimmy Hayes dies at 31 agents this summer, had signed with the Calgary Flames.

Hayes was much loved in local hockey circles Boston Herald LOADED: 08.24.2021

By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: August 23, 2021 at 1:35 p.m. | UPDATED: August 23, 2021 at 5:50 p.m.

The local hockey community has been rocked by the death of Dorchester native Jimmy Hayes, a Boston College product who played seven years in the NHL, including two years with the Bruins.

The news of Hayes’ death was confirmed Monday afternoon on the BC Hockey Twitter account. According to a Boston Globe report, police and first responders went to his Milton home, where he was pronounced dead. While the cause of death was not immediately known, the death is not considered suspicious. Hayes was 31.

Hayes won a national championship at BC and went on to play 334 games in the NHL, including 91 with the Bruins from 2015-17.

Hayes leaves his wife, Kristen, and two young sons Beau, 2, and Mac, who is three months old; brother Kevin, a star player with the Philadelphia Flyers; three sisters, Jennifer, Eileen and Justine; and his parents Shelagh and Kevin Sr.

“The news hit me like a thunderbolt this morning,” BC coach Jerry York told the Herald. “One of my all-time favorite Eagles, just the way he conducted himself and the way he practiced. He was Boston, through and through, from Dorchester and from a wonderful family. I’ve gotten to know them very well over the years. I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that he won’t be waking up tomorrow. It was a life just started with two young children. It’s just devastating.”

After a prep career at Noble & Greenough and a couple of years with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Hayes was drafted in the second round by the Toronto Maple Leafs and played with the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Bruins and New Jersey Devils.

While Hayes may have played only two years in Boston, his personality made an impact.

“I’m devastated to learn of the passing of my friend Jimmy Hayes,” said Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron in a statement through the club. “It was a pleasure getting to know Jimmy, and he was such a joy to be around both on and off the ice. I’ll always remember his big smile — he was so positive and full of life. I’m going to really miss that. We’ve lost a great person.

“My family and I send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Kristen, their two young boys, his brother Kevin, and the rest of his family during this difficult time.”

GM Don Sweeney traded for Hayes in 2015.

“Jimmy had a big heart and a gregarious personality, which always created energy for family, teammates and friends. The hockey community lost a good man,” said Sweeney in a statement.

Said team president Cam Neely in a statement: “Jimmy had an incredible personality that could light up any room. It was truly special to see Jimmy represent his hometown in a Bruins sweater.”

Social media was flooded with condolences from former teammates of the well-liked Hayes. Former Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton played with Hayes in Florida and became good friends with him.

“I was devastated to learn of Jimmy’s passing this morning,” wrote Thornton on Twitter. “My condolences are with his wife Kristen and his two young boys and the rest of his family and friends in Boston. The hockey community has lost a tremendous person and friend. I’ll greatly miss his wonderful sense of humor and infectious laughter. He made every day a little brighter.”

Hayes last played professionally with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the AHL in 2018-19 but he had been skating this summer with some local pros in Foxboro. 1219622 Boston Bruins Why has the NHL fallen so out of love with International hockey tournaments? (Toronto Star)

Where could the be playing if they stay in Arizona for BHN Puck Links: Bruins, NHL Mourn Hayes, Gilbert; Krejci Not Returning the 2022-23 NHL season? (AzCoyotesInsider)

New York Rangers legend Rod Gilbert passed away at age 80 on By Jimmy Murphy Sunday. (TSN)

A touching tribute to Gilbert from former teammate and good friend Ron Duguay. RIP Mr. Gilbert. (NY Post) The NHL, the Boston Bruins, Boston College, and the Boston hockey community are mourning the sudden loss of former Bruins forward Jimmy Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 08.24.2021 Hayes. The Dorchester, MA native passed away at the age of 31 on Monday.

The New York Rangers and the NHL are also mourning the death of hall of famer Rod Gilbert.

Don’t count on David Krejci playing for the Boston Bruins this coming season.

After the tragic death of his baby boy, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak seems to be getting back to being the lovable ‘Pasta’ Bruins fans have grown to love.

That and more in the BHN Puck Links:

Boston Bruins

Absolutely devastating news made its way across the hockey world Monday morning as former Boston Bruins and Boston College star Jimmy Hayes passed away at age 31. The Dorchester, MA native, who spent two seasons (2015-16, 2016-17) playing for his hometown team and earlier in his hockey career, Hayes won a National Championship with the . While Hayes went on to have a solid NHL career, his imprint was in the dressing room and off the ice as he was the guy that always made you laugh and made sure you were happy. I had the pleasure of covering Jimmy and he will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to Philadelphia Flyers forward Kevin Hayes, Jimmy’s brother, and the entire Hayes family. RIP Broadway. (BHN)

A statement from Boston Bruins Captain Patrice Bergeron: pic.twitter.com/SUG5AvPj9Y

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 23, 2021

Former Boston Bruins center David Krejci met the Czech media on Sunday and made it clear that he has no intentions of leaving his new team early to make a return to the Bruins this season. (BHN)

Great to see affable Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak out and about and enjoying life again after the tragic loss of his baby earlier this summer.

@MurphysLaw74 @HackswithHaggs @BruinsDiehards @ https://t.co/6GPnhpraKB

— Bořivoj Jarek (@BorivojJarek) August 23, 2021

Some more good news on an otherwise sad Monday in Boston. Boston Bruins winger got engaged to his girlfriend Danielle Hooper. Congrats Charlie!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Charlie Coyle (@charliecoyle_3)

National Hockey Now

So how did the historic Boston Bruins Game 7 comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs shape the NHL career of new forward Jason Dickinson? Rob Simpson has the detes! (Vancouver Hockey Now)

What could Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust’s value be if he hits the free agency market next summer? Dan Kingerski takes the deep dive. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Can you name the five Detroit Red Wings who have won the Calder Trophy? (Detroit Hockey Now)

NHL

2015 Detroit Red Wings first round pick Evgeny Svechnikov’s stock has really fallen. (Yardbarker) 1219623 Boston Bruins Jimmy Murphy

Boston Hockey NowLOADED: 08.24.2021

Former Bruins Forward Jimmy Hayes Passes AwayPublished 16 hours ago on August 23, 2021

By Jimmy Murphy

On Monday morning, word started to spread on social media and in hockey chat rooms that the former Boston College star forward and Dorchester, MA native had died on Monday morning. Just after noon, ESPN NHL and college hockey analyst, John Buccigross, a friend of Jimmy and his brother, Philadelphia Flyers forward Kevin Hayes, confirmed the devastating news that Jimmy Hayes had indeed passed.

Former NHL player Jimmy Hayes has died. 31 years old. I just chatted with him last week at a golf course. He leaves behind wife Kristen & two young boys, 2 and 3 months. Also brother Kevin, three sisters and a Mom and Dad. Devastating news for family and Boston hockey community. pic.twitter.com/fgtwyYQ4IO

— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) August 23, 2021

CBS Boston reported that Jimmy Hayes was pronounced dead at his home Monday morning and his death was not considered suspicious. As of 1 PM ET, there was no official word on the cause of death. Boston Hockey Now reached out to Hayes’ agent Bob Murray but had not heard back yet.

Jimmy Hayes was part of the 2009-10 Boston College team that won the National Championship.

Boston College Hockey is heartbroken over the passing of Jimmy Hayes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Hayes family. pic.twitter.com/2nL59U6Fgs

— BC Hockey (@BCHockey) August 23, 2021

Jimmy Hayes was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round (60th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Hayes never signed with the Maple Leafs though, and following his junior season with the Eagles, he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks in March 2011. He would play seven games with the Blackhawks AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, and then make his NHL debut in the 2011-12 season. Hayes was traded to the Florida Panthers during the 2013-14 NHL season. He would have the best season of his NHL career the following season when he scored 19 goals and had 16 assists in 72 games.

Jimmy Hayes signed a three-year, $6.9 million with the Bruins the following season. He had 13 goals and 16 assists in 75 games for his hometown team in 2015-16 but struggled in his second season for the Bruins with two goals and three assists in 58 games. Following the 2016- 17 season, the Bruins bought out the remaining season on his contract and Hayes ended up signing with the New Jersey Devils. He struggled again with just three goals and six assists in 33 games for the Devils and played his last NHL game on April 7, 2018. Hayes spent the 2018-19 season playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins AHL affiliate, the Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Jimmy Hayes didn’t play the last two seasons and most recently was a co-host on the Missin Curfew Podcast with former NHLers Shane O’Brien and Scottie Upshall.

The Boston Hockey Now family sends its deepest condolences to the entire Hayes family and all of Jimmy’s friends.

The Boston Bruins are heartbroken by the passing of Dorchester native and former Bruin Jimmy Hayes. Our thoughts are with his wife Kristen, his sons Beau and Mac, and the entire Hayes family during this very difficult time. pic.twitter.com/j9W7CyxSGs

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 23, 2021

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DON'T MISSKrejci Not Planning to Return to Boston Bruins This Season 1219624 Boston Bruins growth. He didn’t get to play a lot of hockey last year unfortunately, and like a lot of young players he missed time because of the COVID restrictions. But he’s also in the mix. He looks bigger and he’s really Krejci Not Planning to Return to Boston Bruins This Season going to be pushing for a spot, so I have to include him in that mix as well.”

Boston Hockey NowLOADED: 08.24.2021 By Joe Haggerty

While some Boston Bruins fans have harbored long shot hopes that David Krejci would somehow return at some this season and the Bruins have consistently said that they’ve left the door open, it sure sounds like Krejci is intent on playing the upcoming full season in the Czech Republic.

The 35-year-old center had his introductory press conference on Monday in the Czech Republic for the HC Olomouc club he’ll be playing for and said he intends to play in the Czech Republic for the full season without any short term plans to come back to the Bruins.

A muzete si zvykat:) pic.twitter.com/V4G4tDevIJ

— Martin Tomaides (@MartinTomaides) August 23, 2021

“I have a contract for the season that I want to fulfill. I don’t plan to return (to the NHL) during the season,” said Krejci, per Google translate of this iRozhlas.cz article, at a press conference in Olomouc, where the club officially introduced him with his No. 46 jersey. “I am happy to be here, and I am very much looking forward to what the season will bring.

“I’ve been thinking for a long time about what’s next. My [Boston Bruins] contract expired last season, and even though I was focused on Boston, [coming back to the Czech] dragged me home. I played here when I was a teenager, but never for [the ExtraLiga team], which is what I’ve always wanted. It was one of my dreams and I look forward to it coming true now.”

According to the article, Krejci is hoping he’ll also be a part of the Czech Republic Olympic hockey team this winter, with his availability now guaranteed whether or not the NHL decides to send it’s players to the Olympics.

While it’s still technically possible Krejci could play for the Bruins following the completion of his HC Olomouc season in Europe, the playmaking center would have to clear through waivers unclaimed in order to get back to the Boston Bruins prior to the NHL trade deadline. There is zero chance of that happening given Krejci’s caliber as an elite top-6 center coming off eight goals and 44 points in 51 games for the Black and Gold last season.

Aside from all that, it sure sounds like Krejci is going to enjoy the year with his family living in the Czech Republic while he plays, and is looking forward to his children and his wife Naomi learning more about the Czech language and culture that Krejci is so proud to be a part of. With Krejci out of the picture in Boston, it looks to develop into a training camp competition between Charlie Coyle and youngster Jack Studnicka for the No. 2 center position with the big, strong and experienced Coyle holding the inside track on the job prior to camp.

Both Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney and head coach Bruce Cassidy wouldn’t rule out Studnicka, however, as the 22-year-old top prospect has looked bigger, stronger and more NHL-ready this summer while looking to lock down an NHL forward job this coming season.

“The obvious choice is Charlie Coyle. He’s the most familiar with our guys and I’m the most familiar with him, and that would allow the other guys to fall into place. I know [Erik] Haula and [Tomas] Nosek prefer to play in the middle,” said Cassidy while speaking to reporters at Boston Bruins Development Camp earlier this month. “Nick Foligno is a little more of a guy that will move around, so that’s probably how it will play out for him. So, it’s Charlie and Taylor Hall [on the second line], and [Craig] Smith was on that line last year. So, if Coyle can bring some of what [David Krejci] did then that’s going to be a really good line.

“That’s the way we’re leaning, and we’ll see how all of the other pieces shake out. Jake [DeBrusk] obviously on the left side third line behind Brad and Taylor would be a good fit for him to start, and we’ll see where it goes for the other guys. We added some good pieces that can move around. I know Haula and Nosek prefer to play in the middle. We had [Trent Frederic] in there at times and on the wing at times. Then there’s Jack Studnicka and how he’ll fit in. Some of that will depend on his 1219625 BuffaloSabres Johnson and Isak Rosen have potential. There might be a goalie of the future in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Erik Portillo or Devon Levi.

But let’s focus on Adams since he led off your question. He plans to Sabres mailbag: What’s going on with Jack Eichel, and who could have a suffer (without saying it), clear cap space and slowly build a contender. letter on their sweater That’s really the only plan that can work. So, as long as he sticks with it, there could be a nice future.

By John Vogl Aug 23, 2021 People started calling Tim Murray “GMTM,” which made sense because it rhymes. Now we’ve had GMJB for Jason Botterill and GMKA. Adams is only one consonant longer and half the syllables. Can you put a stop to this somehow? — Scott N. The Sabres’ mailbag was packed — overflowing, in fact — and I was curious to see the contents. Would it be Jack Eichel, Jack Eichel and I can’t stop it, but I can promise not to write it. And I’ll send you Ryan O.’s more Jack Eichel? Or did Buffalo fans have more on their minds? phone number so you can ask him personally.

There was plenty of Jack, of course. Nearly a third of the questions If Eichel is traded before training camp, what do you expect the Sabres to centered on the center. But that left two-thirds for other topics. do with the C and A’s this season? — James W.

Let’s get to them. There shouldn’t be a captain. Except for Kyle Okposo, who is a buyout candidate after the season, no one else is ready. Stitching a C on the (Note: Some questions have been edited for clarity and style.) jersey doesn’t create a leader, so the Sabres should wait until someone John, knowing the Sabres will not likely gain much in the standings this leads before naming him captain. (And, no, that’s not a shot at Eichel. It’s season, what odds do you place on this team actually looking like it just a general statement.) cares, playing for each other and at least starting to look like there is As for the alternates, I can see Okposo and wearing hope? Maybe I am fantasizing about 1995-96 (and that team had Pat A’s with Dahlin, Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt as possibilities. LaFontaine and Dominik Hasek), but could Don Granato actually restore the concept of compete and team to the Sabres? — Ronald M. Hindsight being 20/20, if you could pick one GM and one coach during the tank/rebuild to see it the whole way through, who would you pick? The 1995-96 squad was definitely a lovable loser. Well, maybe not loved And do you think it would’ve made a difference having consistency in by the opponents. Matthew Barnaby, Brad May, , Brent Hughes those roles for an extended period? Do you think the Sabres ever hired and Bob Boughner combined for 1,169 minutes under new coach the “right guys” but didn’t give them enough time? — Sean Z. Ted Nolan, who convinced the players to fight for each other. The Sabres won the division the next season, starting their climb toward the 1999 should have been fired long before he helped create The Final. Tank. The GM had way more flaws than attributes. But he’s the only person I’d consider in either role. The Sabres totaled 342 penalty minutes last season, so they won’t fight their way to relevance, but Kevyn Adams has the same hopes as you. The organization was all in on losing in 2013. Owner , The general manager wants the new, young core to grow together Sabres president Ted Black and Regier were a unified front. The Sabres through adversity and push each other for starring roles. To claim a top- were 4-15-1 when Regier got the ax that November, so the GM was line spot, they’ll have to compete. doing exactly what he was supposed to do. He was losing.

Granato is similar to Nolan in that he’s getting his first chance to run an But the backlash was intense, so the Pegulas let him go. Could Regier NHL team. The coach is promoting a fun, offensive brand of hockey, have put out he started? We’ll never know. But Tim Murray and which is what young players like. Granato wants them to like each other Jason Botterill couldn’t do it no matter how long they were given. And along the way. neither , , Phil Housley nor Ralph Krueger was the right man for the coaching job, while Nolan was literally in a no-win All of that will be easy-ish to do at the start. It becomes more difficult as situation. the losses pile up. It’s definitely something to watch and maybe the most important thing. A big part of the reason the Sabres are in this mess is because they hired the wrong people. That would have been true if they stayed on the How bad will things be this season? Kinda bad? Really bad? End-of-the- job for two years or 20. world type of bad? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Sorry, that’s like 5 questions. — Matthew N. I have read many times that Adams needs to bring in a veteran center to protect Mittelstadt and Cozens from dealing with the other teams’ top The Sabres won’t cause global extinction, so I’ll go with really bad. And line. Do you think it’s crazy to think Zemgus could handle the role? Nolan there is light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s a really long tunnel. It might used him as 1C in 2014 and he scored 30 points in 61 games. I think with take 18 months to skate through it. the right linemates, it could be successful. — Michael M. Will the Sabres ever become realistic on what they can get in return for I think you’re on to something if we grade “successful” on a curve. Can Eichel so a deal gets done? — Jason H. Girgensons keep up with Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Auston From the sounds of things, there haven’t been many negotiations during Matthews? Not a chance. But the 27-year-old is mature enough to handle this saga. The Sabres have an asking price. Teams either meet it or they the nightly pounding. It wouldn’t batter his psyche like it might hurt the don’t. 20-year-old Cozens or 22-year-old Mittelstadt.

Obviously, no one has met it these last fourth months (or the last 12 if The Sabres won’t have any say on the road because of line changes, but you’re the Rangers). Despite words to the contrary, Adams knows he using Girgensons at times could work at home. Adams still wants to see can’t bring Eichel back. While I wouldn’t say he has to “become realistic,” how Mittelstadt and Cozens compete against top centers, but making I would say the GM needs to lower his demands at least a little. It’s them do it nightly would be a mistake. understandable why he hasn’t — you get only one chance to trade a You mentioned in numerous articles that there is pressure for the Sabres franchise center — but no one else is blinking. to move Eichel soon. Can you explain what the reason is for said I’m actually a fan of how GMKA (Adams) has been handling this pressure? I don’t mean media hysteria or empty threats from his agents, offseason. Amazing return on Rasmus Ristolainen, decent return on Sam but legitimate reasons (i.e., contract situation, “culture,” injury risk, some Reinhart, some decent free-agent signings and holding firm on what we loophole that Eichel could exploit). I’ve heard (from a secret source) that want for Eichel. Am I letting my ingrained Buffalo optimism get in the way management is prepared to go the distance. — Peter Z. or does the future actually look brighter than it has in almost a decade? There are built-in pressure points on the NHL calendar. The trade — Ryan O. deadline is obviously the biggest. Then comes the draft. Some teams Things looked good in 2015, which was only six years ago yet feels like want to build for the future. Some want an immediate fix. Picks and 16. But as long as you still believe in prospects, there’s reason for prospects are swapped for established players. optimism. First-round picks Rasmus Dahlin, Dylan Cozens and Owen Power should be game-changers. Fellow first-rounders Jack Quinn, Ryan Free agency quickly follows. The day before the signings, teams have nice parting gift for the Pegulas. Do we go with a businessman? A smart cap space. Once they acquire players, the cap space is gone. fan? A hockey executive? Someone who’s all three? Have your say in the comments. Adams missed the two recent pressure points. The GM knew the Ducks held the No. 3 pick. That was a fixed asset. Now there’s no guarantee Sam Reinhart signed for $6.5 million AAV for three years. Would he have where Anaheim’s pick will be next year. Minnesota had two first-round signed with the Sabres under any circumstances? I would have paid $7 selections, which weren’t great at Nos. 21 and 25, but it has only one million for three without a second thought. He never gets hurt, is always pick next year. That’s one fewer asset for the Wild to offer. The Kings’ productive. I’ll miss Sam more than Jack! — Trevor G. bargaining chips and available money evaporated once they made the No. 8 selection and signed center Phillip Danault for six years at $5.5 Reinhart would have signed that deal in 2020, but he wasn’t staying for million per season. anything in 2021. He gave a long non-answer when asked if he requested a trade this year. A simple “no” would have worked if he That’s why there was pressure on Adams to move Eichel before the draft hadn’t. and free agency. His list of trading partners was about to dwindle simply through the annual business of the NHL. What exactly is the tactical rationale behind the two Peters’ overtly (and publicly) hostile forays into the Eichel trade negotiations? Their Aside from Eichel not wanting to return and the Sabres wanting to move statements seem to be counterproductive to at least the hope of driving on, there’s not really any pressure now until training camp gets close in up his trade value. — Geoffrey B. mid-September. Eichel’s agents, Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli, solely want what’s best Hi, John. If Owen Power gets into a fight, do you think the arena DJ is for their client. They don’t care what the Sabres get for the center or what going to play “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy? — Jakub V. Eichel’s perceived value is. Their goal is getting Eichel out of Buffalo and getting him artificial disk replacement surgery. You’re officially hired as the arena DJ. It’s debatable whether their big statement in late July helped or hurt the The Sabres should have something precious (cap space) at the end of cause. I don’t think it hurt. They gave teams a peak into the medical training camp. Will they use it to get assets from teams over the cap? — reports by saying Eichel would still be ready for the season if he had Gregg C. surgery right away. They took a shot at Adams after listening to the GM Just like 2014-15, the Sabres and Coyotes will battle for last place. give repeated public statements they didn’t like. They may have turned Arizona is winning the offseason by doing what you want the Sabres to some public opinion in their favor by hinting the Sabres reneged on do. The Coyotes are taking other teams’ bad contracts and have letting Eichel have his disk replacement. stockpiled seven (!) picks in the first two rounds of next year’s draft. One thing I can tell you: Fish, Eichel and his family have had way more Adams and crew need to hop on board. They picked up defenseman Will chances to comment on the situation through interactions with me alone. Butcher and a fifth-round pick from New Jersey in exchange for cap I’m sure national folks are buzzing their phones and emails, too. So while space, but that won’t move the needle. According to CapFriendly, there it may seem the agents have been too publicly involved, they’ve actually are eight teams over the cap and nine within $4.5 million of the limit. And been relatively reserved. that’s without all the restricted free agents signed. Craig Anderson and Aaron Dell? — Dennis A.

More than half the league needs cap space, and the Sabres have to take Anderson is a lock to be one of the Sabres’ two goalies on opening night. advantage. Dell, Dustin Tokarski and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen each have a 33 Why not let Eichel have his artificial disk surgery, rehab it and let him percent chance for the other spot. show teams that he is OK to play (hopefully the surgery goes well)? The If Luukkonen shows he’s ready through training camp and the timeline is better and we should be able to get a better return in a trade. preseason, the Sabres are willing to give him the job. If there are any — Michael G. doubts the 22-year-old can make the jump, Buffalo will send him back to Every time Adams has talked with us, he’s made it clear the team Rochester and give the job to Tokarski or Dell. They’ll determine who in doctors’ opinions have not changed. They don’t want Eichel to have camp. artificial disk replacement. And if your words were meant as an incredulous statement and not a I understand their reasoning. Though the surgery has been around for question, I understand. two decades and has been performed on athletes in other sports, Buffalo Sabres over/under 55 points this season. — Gary M. doesn’t want its franchise-changing asset to be an NHL guinea pig. There’s too much for the organization to lose if something goes wrong. The coaching is better with Granato over Krueger, but the roster is weaker. While the schedule includes the Coyotes and other non-playoff Like most of you, I listened to the podcast featuring Dr. Chad Prusmack, teams instead of only in-division powerhouses, there are still too many who would perform Eichel’s preferred surgery. Keeping in mind it was a games against Tampa Bay, Toronto, Florida and Boston. mix of educational talk and sales pitch, I’d pick disk replacement over fusion if I was a 24-year-old. The idea of three neck surgeries by age 44, The Sabres have finished below 55 points just three times since 1970: which is what Prusmack said Eichel could be in for with fusion surgery, is 1971-72, 2013-14 and 2014-15. They played at a 54-point pace during beyond scary. this year’s shortened season. I’ll guess they play at the same 54-point pace in 2021-22, so give me the under … but it’ll be close. While I’d love to answer your question — why not let Eichel have the surgery? — the only people who can are the Sabres’ doctors. John, what is your best guess on when the Eichel transaction occurs? — Keith M. John, at the Sabres’ current valuation, how much per Western New York and Southern resident would we need to contribute to a I went on vacation the minute I filed this, so I’m sure they’ll make a deal GoFundMe to buy out the Sabres? And who should be elected as CEO between now and Labor Day just to ruin my long-awaited, much- to run the organization … excluding the Pegulas, obviously. — Paul S. anticipated break.

The population of Erie and Niagara counties plus the Ontario cities of But seriously, who knows? I can’t believe the Sabres went through the Fort Erie and St. Catharines is 1.34 million. That doesn’t include all the draft and free agency without trading him. Eichel’s camp can’t believe it, Canadian suburbs or the fans in Rochester, so we’ll go with 2 million to either. Teams that had assets and cap space don’t have them anymore. just to make the numbers easier. got harder to make, but it’s going to get made sometime before training camp in mid-September. Seattle just paid $600 million to join the NHL, but the Sabres aren’t worth that. Forbes estimated them at $385 million in December. So it would Probably. Maybe. Possibly. The only guarantee is another mailbag is cost each resident in Western New York and Southern Ontario $192.50 coming after Labor Day because you poured in a ton of questions. Talk to buy out the Pegulas. They purchased the Sabres for $189 million, so to you then. they’d make $196 million on the transaction. The Athletic LOADED: 08.24.2021 As for CEO, that’s intriguing. Area resident would be part of the hypothetical GoFundMe. LaFontaine taking the role would be a 1219626 Chicago Blackhawks

Jimmy Hayes, the former Chicago Blackhawks player, dies at 31

By PHIL THOMPSON

Jimmy Hayes can't get a shot around Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller in the second period of a 2013 game.

Jimmy Hayes, the former Chicago Blackhawks winger, has died at age 31, the Hawks and Hayes’ alma mater, Boston College, announced Monday.

The organizations didn’t specify the cause of death.

The Hawks tweeted that Hayes’ “warm personality made an immediate impact in the locker room and with our fans. We’re proud of the memories he made in Chicago, including making his NHL debut in 2011. Sending our thoughts and prayers to his family.”

Hayes is survived by his wife, Kristen, and two young sons, Beau, 2, and Mac, who was born in May.

The Dorchester, Mass., native was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round in 2008. The Leafs traded him to the Hawks in 2010.

Hayes made his NHL debut on Dec. 30, 2011, against the Detroit Red Wings and then scored goals in back-to-back games against the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers.

He had six goals and seven assists in 43 games in three seasons with the Hawks. He was traded to the Florida Panthers with for and Philippe Lefebvre in November 2013. Hayes also played for the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils in his seven-year career.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219627 Chicago Blackhawks

Former Blackhawks forward Jimmy Hayes dies at 31

Hayes played 43 games for the Hawks and 120 games for the Rockford IceHogs from 2011 to 2013.

By Ben Pope Updated Aug 23, 2021, 4:22pm CDT

Jimmy Hayes began his seven-year NHL career with the Blackhawks from 2011 to 2013.

Wing Jimmy Hayes, who started his NHL career with the Blackhawks in 2011 and played for them till 2013, died unexpectedly Monday. He was 31.

Police officers found Hayes dead at his home in the Boston suburb of Milton, , according to the Boston Globe. A cause of death hasn’t been disclosed, but foul play isn’t suspected.

‘‘We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Jimmy Hayes,’’ the Hawks said in a statement on social media. ‘‘His warm personality made an immediate impact in the locker room and with our fans. We’re proud of the memories he made in Chicago.’’

The Hawks acquired Hayes’ rights from the Maple Leafs in 2010, one year after drafting his younger brother Kevin. Hayes called the trade a ‘‘complete surprise’’ at the time.

‘‘I couldn’t have been happier,’’ he said.

The brotherly union in Chicago never materialized because Kevin never signed with the Hawks, but Jimmy did in 2011 after a successful stint at Boston College, where won an NCAA championship.

Hayes went on to play 43 games for the Hawks, with six goals and seven assists. He also played 120 games for Rockford of the American Hockey League, notching 76 points there. He played briefly in the Hawks’ 2012 playoff series against the Coyotes but sat out during the 2013 Stanley Cup run.

After being dealt to the Panthers in the Kris Versteeg trade in November 2013, Hayes’ career took off. He became a valuable secondary scorer on the 2014-15 Panthers and 2015-16 Bruins and finished with 109 points in 334 NHL games.

Hayes last played in 2018-19 for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate. He co- hosted a podcast with fellow former NHL players Shane O’Brien and Scottie Upshall until earlier this month.

He leaves behind his wife, two young sons and four siblings, including Kevin, who now plays for the Flyers.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219628 Chicago Blackhawks

Jimmy Hayes, NHL veteran of seven seasons with four teams, dies at 31

Associated Press

MILTON, Mass. -- Jimmy Hayes, who won a national hockey championship at Boston College and played seven seasons in the NHL, has died. He was 31.

A law enforcement official said medics were called Monday to the Hayes home in the Boston suburbs, where he was pronounced dead. No other details were disclosed.

Hayes, a 6-foot-5 right winger, was drafted in the second round (60th overall) in 2008 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Two years later, he helped Boston College to its second straight national title, totaling 13 goals and 22 assists in 42 games as a sophomore. He made his NHL debut in December 2011 after a trade to the Chicago Blackhawks.

"His warm personality made an immediate impact in the locker room and with our fans," the Blackhawks said in a statement. "We're proud of the memories he made in Chicago."

Boston College said on Twitter it is "heartbroken" over Hayes' death.

The Boston Bruins are heartbroken by the passing of Dorchester native and former Bruin Jimmy Hayes. Our thoughts are with his wife Kristen, his sons Beau and Mac, and the entire Hayes family during this very difficult time. pic.twitter.com/j9W7CyxSGs

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 23, 2021

Kevin Hayes, Jimmy's younger brother, is a center for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Jimmy Hayes played 334 games in the NHL and had 54 goals and 55 assists. He also played for the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils.

He last played professionally in 2019 and had been a co-host of a podcast called "Missin Curfew."

Hayes was born in Boston's Dorchester section. In addition to his wife and children, Hayes is survived by four siblings and his parents, Shelagh and Kevin Hayes Sr.

ESPNChicago.com LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219629 Colorado Avalanche

Dater’s Daily: Death in the hockey family, Lacroix Hockey to debut, Colorado pols trying to end Comcast-Altitude impasse

By Adrian Dater

Good Monday to all. The hockey world has had too much tragic death lately. We lost Columbus goalie Matiss Kevlinieks in July to a fireworks accident. We lost three teenage boys and hockey prospects in a car crash in Canada last week. And today, we lost Jimmy Hayes, who played in the NHL from 2011-18 for four teams. Hayes was just 31 and left behind a wife and two children.

There has been no cause of death listed as of yet. May he rest in peace and his family somehow find some peace as well.

Former Av Eric Lacroix, along with former Avs front-office guy and longtime pro scout Scott Masters, are launching Lacroix Hockey – a company whose mission will be to advise and manage hockey players.

Some Colorado politicians, including Denver Mayor Hancock, are sick and tired of the Comcast/Altitude impasse and are trying to come up with some kind of legislation to put an end to it. (CBS 4)

That story I linked to is a couple months old, and I haven’t heard of anything concrete coming out of the state legislative chambers. I’m not holding my breath for any kind of breakthrough.

It remains almost inconceivable that the drama between Altitude and Comcast has lasted this long, The latest I’ve heard on this whole thing is, essentially, “we’ll see what comes out of the ongoing lawsuit” that Altitude filed against Comcast. Until then, it’s the same old same old: Comcast subscribers (like me) won’t be able to see Avs games on Altitude this coming season. Not until something breaks the impasse, anyway.

Colorado hockey now LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219630 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets' Merzlikins announces birth of son, whose name honors Matiss Kivlenieks

Jackets' goalie and wife announced the arrival of Knox Matiss Merzlikins, who was born Friday at Riverside Hospital.

Brian Hedger

The Blue Jackets’ family has added a new “Matiss” and Merzlikins.

According to a post on Instagram, Elvis Merzlikins said he and wife, Aleksandra, have welcomed son Knox Matiss Merzlikins into their family after his recent birth at OhioHealth Riverside MethoHospital.

The baby is the first for the couple, who honored the memory of deceased Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks with the infant’s middle name – something Merzlikins announced during an emotional eulogy at Kivlenieks’ memorial service last month in Upper Arlington.

Matiss Kivlenieks: Who was Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks?

In his post, Merzlikins thanked the Blue Jackets for gifts, nurses at the hospital for taking care his family during their stay and equipment manufacturer Bauer, which had its goalie division make a set of mini goalie pads identical to those that Merzlikins wore last season – complete with the Columbus skyline design on the front.

Merzlikins also said he’s getting ready for training camp, which will begin in September.

Merzlikins and his wife were present at the home of Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace when Kivlenieks died July 4 during a fireworks incident in which he was struck in the chest by a three-inch mortar shell. During his eulogy, Merzlikins described the chaotic scene, saying he was hugging his wife when the incident happened.

'He died a hero': Elvis Merzlikins says Matiss Kivlenieks saved him

Police said Kivlenieks was scrambling to escape from a hot tub when one of the errant blasts from a “cake style” nine-shot fireworks device struck him. Merzlikins credited him for saving their lives, the life of their unborn son and the lives of others in attendance during a wedding celebration for Legace’s daughter.

“He saved my son, he saved my wife and he saved me,” Merzlikins said. “My son’s second name is gonna be ‘Matiss,’ but accept that … if that wasn’t me or my wife or son, it would be 50 other people. He died as hero. And that’s not me saying that. That was the doctor saying (it). If he would just sit, (he) would’ve had nothing (happen).”

Novi police labeled the incident a “tragic accident,” before transferring the findings of their investigation to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald’s office. A final determination by the prosecutor's office on whether any charges will be filed in Kivlenieks' death remains undecided.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219631 Columbus Blue Jackets is negotiating. It’s no secret that (Coyotes owner) Alex Meruelo is looking at his options to build a new arena somewhere else. And I think the city of Glendale basically said to the Coyotes, ‘You have to sign a 20-year Michael Arace: As Coyotes face eviction, relocation talk heightens and lease or we’re not going to renew.’ Bettman stands firm “I think they’re just negotiating. I’m not worried about the Coyotes. I think their future stays in the greater Phoenix area.”

Michael Arace In the past, Bettman has said that Glendale and its arena are no longer viable. That is probably part truth and part negotiating gamesmanship. He’s a lawyer.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, seen here before a Coyotes' playoff The Coyotes are a team with a lingering arena problem compounded by game, has slowed the pace of relocations like what is now being a history of messy management and poor decisions. In this century, such discussed with Arizona. a franchise is an outlier.

As free-agency rules liberalized and salaries rose in the 1990s, smaller Labor wars and collective bargaining brought revenue sharing to the NHL markets were squeezed to the point of asphyxiation. In cities where NHL, and revenue sharing has brought stability that did not exist in the owners weren’t particularly civic-minded and/or local, mounting losses 1990s. That might be an overgeneralization, but there’s truth at the heart made for quick getaways. of it.

Keep in mind that commissioner Gary Bettman serves at the pleasure of It’s a credit to Bettman, now an established wrangler of billionaire the Board of Governors (read: “billionaire owners”), and when he gets owners, and to the NHL Players' Association, which gained in strength. marching orders, he marches. Early in his career, before he had the cachet to act more “in the best interest of the league,” he marched much There are bad commissioners (Don Garber, Rob Manfred, Don Garber faster. again). Bettman is often pilloried, sometimes deservedly. Yet, through 18 months of a pandemic and major losses in revenues, he has managed to The had a happy-footed owner with an arena extend the collective bargaining agreement and broker new television- problem and gallons of red ink. They moved to Dallas in 1993. It was a rights deals with ESPN and Turner. criminal act on a certain level — how could Minnesota not have a hockey team? — and it was later fixed through expansion. In situations where there is potential for a franchise relocation, the team to root for is the fans. To Bettman’s credit, he has been, and remains, a The had an absentee owner with an ice-cold heart who staunch advocate for the Coyotes’ market and, by extension, their fan was bent on moving the team as soon as he got his hands on it (Anthony base. It’s almost like he’s trying to do the right thing. Precourt Sr., if you will). They moved to Raleigh in 1997. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 08.24.2021 Smaller-market Canadian teams had a particular problem. Players were being paid in American dollars, and it created a gap for teams with revenues in Canadian dollars. This was before the league came up with a Canadian assistance plan.

The Nordiques moved to Denver in 1995. (The Avalanche promptly won the Stanley Cup).

The original Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix in 1996. Twelve years later, Winnipeg was able to poach the Thrashers because, as it turned out, Atlanta is not exactly a thriving hockey market. Plus, Thrashers owners were suing one another, which did not help.

It has been 25 years of drama in the desert. The Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes have had five different owners and/or ownership groups, the NHL among them; the league took the team into receivership after one of owners filed the team into bankruptcy in 2009.

The Coyotes have long had an arena problem. They were originally housed in a downtown basketball arena. They wanted to build a complex in Scottsdale but the numbers didn’t work, not for Scottsdale. The solution was to build an arena, and a mall around it, in a field in Glendale.

The dream was that hockey fans on the other side of the valley would drive the highway loop to come for the games and stay for the outlet shopping, or something like that. Sales taxes were the bulwark of the plan. Did we mention that the owner put the team into bankruptcy in 2009?

Thursday, the city of Glendale announced that will not renew the Coyotes’ lease beyond the 2021-22 season and tweeted that Gila River Arena, which it owns, will shift its focus to “larger, more impactful events.”

The team said all of its efforts are aimed at keeping the Coyotes in Arizona.

There had been talk that the Coyotes might throw in with Arizona State and build a shared arena in Tempe, but the school backed out. The plan for a Tempe arena is not completely dead. Phoenix is another option. We’ll see what happens over the next month.

Meanwhile, the usual suspects are being rounded up. There is talk of Houston, which was feeling out expansion before the league put a team in Seattle. Houston has an arena at the ready. So does Quebec. Available franchises are a hot ticket. Even Hartford (via its mayor, Luke Bronin) is making noises.

“First of all, I don’t think the Coyotes franchise is going anywhere,” Bettman told New York radio station WFAN. “I think the city of Glendale 1219632 Detroit Red Wings from its previous two playoff disappointments to make a big run next spring.

This is a good team. Adding forward Sam Reinhart adds another potent Red Wings have chance to make a move in deep Atlantic Division offensive piece, and the defense is deep. Having Spencer Knight to complement Sergei Bobrovsky solidifies that position group.

TED KULFAN On paper, the Panthers can hold their own with both Tampa and Boston. They should be in the Stanley Cup conversation.

► — The Canadiens had a magical run in last spring's playoffs Detroit — The NHL is returning to its traditional divisional alignment this and wholeheartedly deserved their spot in the , where coming season. For the Red Wings and their fans, that means no more Tampa was simply too much to handle. Nashville, Chicago, Carolina and Dallas almost every other evening (or so it seemed). But that Canadiens roster has been decimated, and about a month out from training camp, this might not even be a playoff team. Because of the pandemic, the NHL realigned and attempted another geographic-centric divisional alignment in which teams only played the Defenseman Shea Weber may not play again due to injuries, and his other teams in their division. presence on and off the ice would be a huge loss. Goaltender Carey Price might not be ready to begin the season due to surgery, and Now the NHL is back to an 82-game regular season. The old divisions forwards Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar were free agents who headed return along with the standard playoff format (top three teams in each of elsewhere. the four divisions earn automatic berths, two wild-cards in each conference), and all teams meeting. The replacements Montreal snared might not be good enough in comparison. The Wings return to the Atlantic Division, where the two Stanley Cup finalists (Tampa, Montreal) originated, and four teams finished in the top The one thing the Canadiens may have is the continued development of 10 of overall points (Florida 79, Toronto 77, Tampa 75 and Boston 73). some real good young players (Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Alexander Romanov). Otherwise, the Canadiens looks like a team that'll drop. This division will be stacked, with five teams capable of reaching the playoffs. ►Ottawa — The Senators were a young team that played well toward the end of last season. And they will take another step toward relevance Many teams have question marks, and a couple (along with the Wings) this season, with some of those young players continuing to mature and are still in rebuilds. That gives the Wings hope for a few more victories grow, and other prospects being mingled into the lineup. and being more competitive than they've been in recent seasons. But in the big picture, Ottawa is still eons away from contending for a Here's a thumbnail look at the teams in the Atlantic Division, with training playoff spot, and a team the Wings realistically could pass in the camp approximately a month away: standings.

►Tampa Bay — The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions are still ►Buffalo — The Sabres were awful last season, have been for a while going to be awfully good, and be a legitimate threat come playoff time to now, and sure don't appear better heading into this season. three-peat. The future of star forward Jack Eichel remains hazy, as he's requested It's just that during the regular season, the Lightning may not quite as for a trade but the Sabres don't seem interested in dealing him. Eichel's dominant. neck injury only makes the situation cloudier.

They'll win enough to be one of the top three seeds in the division. But There is so little competitive NHL talent on this roster, that victories will Tampa lost its entire superb, third-line of forwards, the depth doesn't look be few and far between this regular season. as first-rate as it has been in the past. They're going to ask some prospects to graduate and become relevant NHL players. For the Wings, and the rest of the NHL, if they don't earn two points playing Buffalo next season, it's been an unproductive evening. Having played so much hockey within short periods of time could bring on injuries, and more slumps than these past two seasons. Detroit News LOADED: 08.24.2021

The front-line talent remains jaw-dropping, and there's a lot of it. But for various reasons, the Lightning will lose a few more games this season.

►Boston — The Bruins were headed for a fine offseason until learning that forward David Krejci was going to remain in the Czech Republic, quickly causing a huge hole on the second line.

With no Krejci, there will be questions about whether there's enough offense beyond that Hall of Fame-caliber first line.

Handing the goaltending reigns to Linus Ullmark, from Tuukka Rask (hip surgery), is also a new wrinkle.

This is a playoff team, but the Krejci absence is a gut punch.

►Toronto — The Maple Leafs continue to shake things up and attempt to build a roster that is both regular-season dominant, and capable of excelling in the playoffs.

The playoff disaster against Montreal stung, and you get the sense might have hardened the Leafs. If they don't do anything substantial next playoffs, the roster could be reworked.

The Leafs replaced goaltender Frederik Andersen with Petr Mrazek, which might turn out to be a sideways move. The Leafs' huge salary commitments continue to hinder their ability to strengthen their depth.

They'll win a lot of regular-season games, but the Leafs aren't a lock for the top three. Maybe more of a team that'll get into the playoffs through the wild card.

►Florida — Keep an eye on the Panthers. Florida might be the division's best team during the regular season, and might have learned enough 1219633 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings’ Adam Erne aims to ‘pick up where I left off’ with new linemates

By Ansar Khan

After experiencing a career year, Detroit Red Wings forward Adam Erne aims to show that’s the norm, not the exception.

The Red Wings signed Erne to a two-year, $4.2 million contract on Aug. 15, rewarding him for tying for the team lead with 11 goals and equaling a career high with 20 points in 45 games.

“It’s being able to do something with the opportunity when you get it,” Erne said last week. “Luckily, I was prepared for that, and I was able to do that. It felt good to have a year like that and hopefully next year I can pick up where I left off.”

Erne, 26, was part of the Red Wings’ most consistent line, featuring Luke Glendening at center and Darren Helm on the other side. Glendening signed with Dallas (two years at $3 million) and Helm with Colorado (one year at $1 million).

Erne’s new center might be Mitchell Stephens, his teammate for much of the 2017-18 season at AHL Syracuse. Detroit acquired Stephens, who spent four seasons with the OHL Saginaw Spirit, from Tampa Bay on July 30 for a sixth-round pick in 2022. He appears to be the leading candidate to replace Glendening.

Gritty, young winger Givani Smith could be a fit on that fourth line. Smith appeared in 16 games for the Red Wings last season (one goal, three assists). He was protected for the expansion draft and no longer is waiver-exempt.

“Every year that goes by we’re a young team that’s getting a little older, so guys are getting experience, guys we’re bringing in have experience, young and more veteran guys, so I think we’re getting closer and closer,” Erne said. “I think we’re going to be good team next year.”

Erne will be an unrestricted free agent when his contract expires. He is glad he avoided arbitration.

“It’s a business, so I don’t think anybody takes that stuff personally. I don’t,” Erne said. “I know everybody has a job to do. I’m just happy we were able to settle when we did.”

The Red Wings have two remaining restricted free agents – defenseman Filip Hronek and Smith.

Michigan Live LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219634 Edmonton Oilers play on one of the top two lines for the next few years is his experience (and success) against elite competition.

Puck IQ does a fine job of binning opposition, allowing us to see how Lowetide: What should Oilers fans expect from Zach Hyman in his first much and how well a player (and line) performs against elite competition. season? If Hyman’s five-on-five success came during time on ice against mid-level opposition or the soft parade, it’s worthwhile but less real value.

By Allan Mitchell Aug 23, 2021 Over the last three seasons, Hyman’s time on ice and goal differential against elites is golden:

Hyman five-on-five vs. elites The signing of winger Zach Hyman by the Edmonton Oilers was a major (if slow-moving) story that dominated the early weeks of summer. 2018-19

From the moment Toronto Maple Leafs management allowed other NHL 7:08 teams to negotiate with the veteran, the Oilers were connected to the 52.3 story. On July 16, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reported via an industry source that Hyman and Edmonton general manager Ken 5.8 Holland were in conversations. 2019-20 In the same article, Bowman quoted Dom Luszczyszyn’s projection that Hyman’s value in the open market could come in at $5.8 million times 5:55 four or five seasons and be considered value. 48.9

For Oilers fans, the news and the possible contract brought two strong 0 reactions: Relief at the possibility Connor McDavid might finally receive his “perfect fit” winger and instant worry about another major contract 2020-21 turning out poorly a la the Milan Lucic deal (seven years, $42 million) in 6:58 2016 free agency. 53.8 As it turned out, Hyman’s contract with the Oilers (seven years, $38.5 million) is quite similar to Lucic’s. 3.6

He is not the same player type, and the bet Edmonton made is that Hyman’s ice time against elites in 2020-21 represents 47 percent of his Hyman will be the best fit for McDavid since Patrick Maroon or check overall five-on-five ice time, that’s a big number and led Toronto’s down to become a productive player on another line. Hyman has more forwards in the category. For comparison, Edmonton’s leader in utility than Lucic, and the bet seems fair. percentage of overall ice time against elites (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) owned a 40.8 total one year ago. What should Oilers fans expect from Hyman? Is he a lock for the McDavid line? Could he flourish on a second or third line? Will he be the His DFF (Dangerous Fenwick) tells us the Maple Leafs are on the good net-front presence on the power play? Let’s have a look. side of the ledger in possession when factoring in shot quality and distance. The “Rel” number informs us that Hyman is well clear of Hyman in 2020-21 average on his own team in the metric. The Maple Leafs have a large number of skill forwards, so even a The final area we can look at for Hyman is to see if he’s being zoomed by second- or third-line assignment can produce points. At five-on-five, Matthews, Toronto’s best centre. Puck IQ drills down on the subject, but Hyman played on the top line for much of the year, with Auston Matthews the sample size is very small. Understanding small samples mean less and Mitch Marner. He also had success playing on depth lines with Alex trust, Matthews performed at the same success rate with and without Kerfoot, Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev (via Natural Stat Trick): Hyman, whereas Hyman enjoyed a slight uptick in success without Hyman-Matthews-Marner Matthews via Puck IQ. I’m passing along the information because it’s interesting, but would strongly advise it be used as a curiosity as 289 opposed to clear proof of anything. Luck covers the gap and more in this 72.4 kind of sample.

55.6 Hyman in 2021-22

Mikheyev-Engvall-Hyman Hyman can play with skill, as shown by his numbers alongside Matthews last season. His 4-8-12 totals (2.28 points-per-60) on the top Toronto line 93 in 2020-21 look good compared with McDavid’s wingers from last season. 71.4 Wingers with McDavid, five-on-five 55.9 Jesse Puljujarvi Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Hyman 553 56 10 goals, 18 pts 100 1.95 52.4 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins That’s a valuable player, someone the coach can plug-and-play up and down the roster and on either wing. 391

Individually, he scored 4-8-12 on the big line during five-on-five play that 4 goals, 7 pts totaled 316 minutes (2.28 points per 60). He was 3-2-5 on the Engvall line (2.73 points per 60) and 0-2-2 with Kerfoot at center (1.49). 1.07

Overall, at five-on-five, Hyman was productive no matter where Leafs Leon Draisaitl coach Sheldon Keefe deployed him. 343

That fact offers Oilers coach Dave Tippett a plethora of options, not just 9 goals, 24 pts this season but in the years to come. One reason to believe Hyman will 4.2 Kailer Yamamoto As counterintuitive as the idea seems, looking at those scoring numbers is tempting. The play is to split up the two impact talents, unless late and 171 down a goal.

4 goals, 7 pts Power play

2.46 Hyman didn’t play much with the man advantage until 2019-20 and has Zack Kassian never been a feature player in the discipline. He is productive: In the two most recent seasons, Hyman has scored six goals and 11 points in 98 122:34, which works out to 5.39 points per 60 on the power play. That total would have ranked him fourth on last year’s Oilers, behind McDavid 0 goals, 2 pts (9.47), Draisaitl (8.11) and Nugent-Hopkins (5.48). 1.23 He also spent about two minutes a night on the penalty kill, an area we Dominik Kahun may see Hyman used in Edmonton this winter. Among forwards with 75 or more minutes on the PK in 2020-21, Hyman ranked No. 26 in shots 86 against per 60 and No. 91 in goals against per 60.

1 goal, 2 pts What does it all mean?

1.39 It’s easy for us to contemplate wild and crazy decisions in August, but for Tippett, the options are so numerous reaching a conclusion might be I’ve sorted the wingers by ice time. Leon Draisaitl scores at historic rates difficult. with McDavid and vice versa as we’ll see in a minute. Yamamoto also had success with the captain, although Jesse Puljujarvi earned and kept Deciding on Hyman’s best spot on the depth chart is like ordering at a the job for most of the season with good scoring rates. restaurant with a 30-page menu: There’s so much to like it’s impossible to decide. The outsider is Nugent-Hopkins, who simply didn’t cash enough on the top line. That’s Hyman’s slot for 2021-22. Let’s take a quick look to see The smart money is to run lines with pairs: McDavid-Hyman, Draisaitl- how well McDavid scored with the six men who played wing with him last Yamamoto, Warren Foegele with Derek Ryan. The coach can populate year. Puljujarvi, Nugent-Hopkins, Zack Kassian or others to suit the situation. with Puljujarvi Let’s answer those questions:

553 What should Oilers fans expect from Hyman? Quality play in all disciplines, on any line and either wing. He’s an aggressive forechecker, 10 goals, 37 pts never gives up on a play and is a pain to play against. Historically, Oilers 4.02 fans love this player type. If he has success, Hyman will be wildly popular in Edmonton, as he was in Toronto. with Nugent-Hopkins Is he a lock for the McDavid line? Yes. There’s no other way to justify the 391 investment. I do think the coach is going to be tempted by a possible “supergroup” line with 97, 29 and Hyman. 7 goals, 17 pts Could he flourish on a second or third line? Clearly the answer is yes, but 2.61 it’s unlikely this coming season and in the early period of Hyman’s with Draisaitl contract. Until his scoring touch goes away, or Dylan Holloway replaces him, there’s not enough depth on the roster to send Hyman to the third 343 line for any length of time.

7 goals, 29 pts Will he be the net-front presence on the power play? I expect Hyman will 5.07 get time there, but it’s going to be tempting to run him on the PK in order to give the other high-skill forwards extra time at five-on-five. with Yamamoto What should Oilers fans expect from Hyman in his first season with the 171 Oilers? A strong season from the No. 1 left-winger, 25 goals and 60 points. Maybe more. Oilers fans will love this player. 4 goals, 9 pts The Athletic LOADED: 08.24.2021 3.16 with Kassian

98

2 goals, 2 pts

1.23 with Kahun

86

4 goals, 6 pts

4.18

McDavid is fire when on the ice with Draisaitl, and all-world when Puljujarvi is alongside. Once again Nugent-Hopkins stands out as the one who spent an entire season unlucky on a line with the world’s best player. Give him another opportunity and it’s likely that number changes, but the smart money is on Hyman getting those minutes.

Staring at the McDavid-Draisaitl numbers brings up another question: Would Tippett spend any time thinking about Draisaitl-McDavid-Hyman? Or, given Hyman’s ability to flourish with multiple linemates, perhaps Draisaitl-McDavid-Puljujarvi followed by Hyman-Nuge-Kailer Yamamoto? 1219635 Florida Panthers

Former Florida Panthers forward Jimmy Hayes found dead at 31

By George Richards

Jimmy Hayes, a forward who played for the Florida Panthers from 2013- 15, was found dead Monday morning at his home in Massachusetts.

The former Boston College standout was 31.

Hayes, who was traded from Florida as part of the Reilly Smith deal with the Bruins in 2015, is survived by his wife Kristen and two young sons.

A cause of death for Hayes has not yet been released.

According to the Boston Globe, law enforcement and first responders went to Hayes’ home in Milton where he was pronounced dead.

Per the Globe report, Hayes’ death is not considered suspicious.

Hayes played in 334 NHL games for Chicago, Florida, Boston and New Jersey, retiring in 2019. Hayes was also a big part of Boston College’s 2010 national championship team.

Lately, he had been co-hosting a hockey podcast with fellow former Panthers Scottie Upshall and Shane O’Brien called “Missin Curfew.”

With the Panthers, Hayes had some of his greatest NHL success.

Florida acquired him in a trade with the Blackhawks near the start of the 2013-14 as part of the Kris Versteeg deal.

Hayes became a part of the Panthers following the trade, scoring 11 goals with 18 points in 53 games that season.

In 2014-15, he had his best NHL season, scoring 19 goals with 35 points in 72 games for the Panthers.

At loss of words when I first came to Boston you were the first guy to take me under your wing. Your smile, laugh, and personality was contagious it lit up the entire room. You will be missed dearly rest easy Broadway. My thoughts and prayers are with the Hayes family pic.twitter.com/3yRKlE75kR

— Frank Vatrano (@Frank_Vatrano) August 23, 2021

Hayes was expected to take the team to arbitration that summer, but Florida GM Dale Tallon traded him to his hometown Bruins in exchange for Smith and the contract of Marc Savard.

“Sometimes you have to give up good assets to get good assets back,” Tallon said at the time.

“It’s a good deal for both teams. Jimmy can score; he scored a lot early in the year but struggled in the second half. We’re looking for a player with more speed who can play more positions, kill penalties, play defense.”

Prior to that trade, Florida had also offered Hayes to the Rangers for goalie Cam Talbot at the draft held in Sunrise although New York ended up making a deal with Edmonton instead.

Boston signed Hayes to a three-year contract worth $6.9 million — and bought out the final year of that deal when he scored two goals in 58 games for the Bruins in 2017-18.

Hayes played his final NHL season with the Devils, scoring three goals with nine points in 33 games.

Jimmy’s younger brother Kevin plays for the Flyers.

Florida Hockey NowLOADED: 08.24.2021 1219636 Kemp will be looking to make an impact on what is sure to be an experienced roster.

– The 6-foot-4 Andre Lee is hard to miss as one of the biggest players on Development Camp Notebook: Prospects Hit The Ice For Week of the ice. He looks comfortable around the net and scored during the 4-on- Training 4 by finishing a play with a nice backhand move. (photo of the finish here)

By Jared Shafran LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 08.24.2021

After splitting up for separate sessions in the morning, the group of 29 prospects at 2021 Development Camp were all on the ice together Monday afternoon at Toyota Sports Performance Center. This was the first of five days of action, which gives team executives a chance to take a look at some of the best young talents in the organization while allowing the players to showcase what they’ve worked on both last season and this summer.

I don’t want to read too far into anything on day one, but there is a lot of excitement surrounding the forward group, especially among those who were with the organization in Ontario last year.

Alex Turcotte stood out as someone who looked really comfortable with his surroundings. An early first-round selection in the 2019 draft, the Illinois native spent one year at the University of Wisconsin before turning pro and posting 21 points in 32 games with Ontario during the shortened 2020-21 season.

Being back in a familiar place has him feeling good coming into a year where he’ll have an opportunity to earn a place on the Kings’ roster.

Another attacker who is familiar with the ice at the TSPC is 2019 2nd round pick Samuel Fagemo. After beginning his 2020-21 season in his home country of Sweden, Fagemo joined the Reign for his first action in North America, also appearing in 32 games with Ontario.

The 21-year-old mentioned that he had to get used to playing on a smaller ice surface when he made the transition last season, but now knows that keeping up his pace of play will help him see more offensive chances as he continues to develop.

Player Development Coach Mike Donnelly also spoke about the progress of both of the above forwards. He commented on how coachable Fagemo is and felt that he’s gotten better due to his own self-motivation. As for Turcotte, Donnelly felt that his overall effort both on and off the ice has led to a big difference in his game.

After a quick warmup, the afternoon on-ice session began with drills for the first 20 minutes. Once players had their legs moving, the group played a controlled 5-on-5 scrimmage for 15 minutes before closing the day out with 4-on-4 work. Notes on some who stood out during the afternoon below:

– The forwards with previous pro experience were driving play during both the early drills and scrimmages. Two of those, Alex Turcotte and Tyler Madden, have good chemistry together and took over at times.

– Day 1 of camp was the first time we got a chance to see 2021 first- round pick Brandt Clarke with a Kings logo on his chest and he definitely stood out. I can see why there is a lot of great things being written about his overall skill level. He has great instincts and his stick placement while defending broke up a bunch of plays.

– Goaltender John Lethemon looked very composed and made some great saves throughout the day. The former Michigan State Spartan spent his first pro year in the ECHL last season where he went 13-5-5 and is signed to an AHL contract with Ontario for 2021-22. Lethemon played his best hockey in the postseason last year, posting a .941 save percentage in four appearances.

– At the start of the 4-on-4, Johan Sodergran powered a shot into the net on one of the first shifts to score an impressive goal.

– Lukas Parik, the youngest of the three goalies in camp, moved well in the crease and had a few highlight-reel stops. He’ll be making the jump to pro hockey this season after spending his last two seasons in the USHL and WHL.

– I was impressed with rookie Brett Kemp’s hands around the net during the afternoon drills. Kemp was an overage forward in the WHL with Medicine Hat last season. On an AHL contract with the Reign this year, 1219637 Los Angeles Kings

2021 Development Camp Underway At TSPC

By Jared Shafran

We’re off and running with the first session of Development Camp at the Toyota Sports Performance Center!

A quick reminder of this week’s schedule:

Monday, August 23

• 10:15 AM – Forward Group

• 11:15 AM – Defense Group

• 3:00 PM – Full Group

Tuesday, August 24

• 10:15 AM – Defense Group

• 11:15 AM – Forward Group

• 3:00 PM – Full Group

Wednesday, August 25

• 10:15 AM – Forward Group

• 11:15 AM – Defense Group

• 3:00 PM – Full Group

Thursday, August 26

• 10:15 AM – Defense Group

• 11:15 AM – Forward Group

Friday, August 27

• 9:00 AM – Scrimmage

Stay tuned for all of our coverage with notes, videos and thoughts from players and staff each day here on Insider.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219638 New Jersey Devils

Former Devils forward Jimmy Hayes dies at 31

By Chris Ryan

Former New Jersey Devils forward Jimmy Hayes has died, according to his alma mater, Boston College. He was 31.

According to a report from The Boston Globe, Hayes died unexpectedly on Monday morning in Milton, Massachusetts. He was pronounced dead after first responders arrived at his home. The Globe reported a law enforcement official said the death is not considered suspicious, and the cause was not immediately available.

Hayes played one season for the Devils in 2017-18, when he signed a contract after receiving a professional tryout during training camp. He appeared in 33 games for the last Devils team to make the playoffs. Hayes finished that season with three goals and six assists, and he did not appear in any postseason games.

He also had many ties throughout hockey, including to his cousin Tom Fitzgerald, the Devils’ general manager.

Hayes was a second-round pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, and after playing three seasons at Boston College, he made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011-12.

Prior to playing for the Devils, Hayes was a member of the Florida Panthers for two seasons before joining the Boston Bruins.

Hayes’ NHL career ended after the 2018-19 season. He signed a one- year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins for that season, but he spent the entire campaign in the AHL.

Hayes leaves behind a wife and two young sons. His brother, Kevin Hayes, is a forward for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Star Ledger LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219639 New York Rangers and after the school year closed, would go back. Very few of them made New York their year-round home. Gilbert, however, became a Manhattanite and a part of the cityscape.

Rod Gilbert, Known as Mr. Ranger, Warmed New York to Ice Hockey The team practiced on as well, at a site called Skateland in The Rangers great, whose death at the age of 80 was announced on New Hyde Park. Sunday, was more than a sensational player and a good guy, writes a But Gilbert loved the city. And although Francis wasn’t happy, Rod found former Times hockey reporter. himself an apartment on the East Side. He hung out with some of the other major athletes and could often be found playing bocce in the backyard of an Upper East Side restaurant. By Gerald Eskenazi As The Times’s hockey writer, I knew he would always be available for an honest quote, win or lose. And the Rangers had become winners. At one point in his career, they made the playoffs nine straight seasons. He Rod Gilbert became the face of the Rangers when hockey was virtually a reached a peak of 43 goals in the 1971-72 season. niche sport in New York. But the flashy right wing, whose death at the age of 80 was announced on Sunday, helped turn the club into an That was a remarkable accomplishment considering that he had attraction that often rivaled their co-tenants, the overcome two spinal injuries requiring surgery years earlier. In 1976, he Knicks, allowing the Rangers to join the Mets, Yankees, Jets and Giants was honored with the Bill Masterton trophy, given to a player who has as stars of the city’s sports scene. shown perseverance in the face of hardship.

He was a 19-year-old when he came to New York. Like every other Of course, there were so many other honors. After his 18th season with Ranger — and nearly every player in the six-team league during the the team, he left as the club’s career leader in goals (406) and total 1960-61 season — he was from Canada. And like most of the players, he points (1,021). He became the team representative at functions. And, had been brought up in the Canadian system, leaving home at a young finally, in 1982 he was elected to the . His No. 7 age to play junior hockey, hoping it would be a steppingstone to the hangs from the Garden rafters. . Born and raised in Montreal, he played junior hockey in Guelph, Ontario. That system also made it desirable for young But to me, Rod was more than just a sensational player and a good guy. players to leave school to play. In fact, about three-quarters of the He was someone who came over to me on a train ride to Chicago and N.H.L.’s players of that era never graduated from high school. said: “You know, I’ve been reading you. You’re getting to know hockey.” He was a player, and a man, who seemed to make those around him “I didn’t speak English as a kid,” Gilbert told me. And yet, he became a better, but never putting on airs. New Yorker, going on to join a pantheon of players who transcended their teams: Joe Namath, Clyde Frazier, Tom Seaver. The Rangers never won a Stanley Cup during his tenure. I often thought that if Francis had allowed Gilbert to break free — not to play the kind of Oh, Rod didn’t achieve stardom immediately. He played only two games team-oriented hockey he had so successfully during the regular season his first two years in the N.H.L. He became a regular during the 1962-63 — the club might have captured a cup or two. But Francis believed season and then generated 24 goals the year after that. A 20-goal scorer insistently that no one should break free of the team ethic, that everything was a symbol of power in the 70-game season. had to mesh. Sometimes, though, in the clutch, someone has to take charge. I believe Rod could have been that guy, if permitted. Fans loved Rod. He was quick, he had a dramatic slap shot that belied his 5-foot-9 frame. And he was clean. He didn’t get into fights; he didn’t Still, for hockey fans, Rod Gilbert — or “Roger Bear,” as a young fan jab his stick at an opponent. And he was a handsome kid as well, which once addressed him in a letter — helped bring the game to a city that enhanced his image at a time when players didn’t wear helmets. came to embrace a sport that once seemed so alien. But everyone warmed to Rod. He embraced the Big Apple. Not bad for a kid who didn’t The team he joined had not won the Stanley Cup since 1940. But just know a word of English. making the playoffs would have been good enough for Ranger fans, who saw their team as perennial also-rans. And then, in the late 1960s, New York Times LOADED: 08.24.2021 Coach Emile Francis joined Gilbert with center and left wing . They clicked, the Rangers became a playoff team and the club’s public relations director, John Halligan, came up with a nickname for the high-scoring three — the GAG Line, or Goal-a-Game line.

They meshed so beautifully. Ratelle was the smooth-as-silk center, always aware of where his wingers were. Hadfield was also the scrapper, the protector of his linemates. And Gilbert had a quick snap shot, flicking his wrists and getting off a screamer.

Gilbert made the all-star game. He reached 30 goals, then 40. Francis, the team’s general manager, also coached, firing some of the head coaches he had hired when the team wasn’t doing well. Francis was a remarkable martinet, acting as the club’s traveling secretary and business manager. He believed in keeping a tight rein on his players.

He decreed that they should all live away from the Big Apple and its distractions. So in the 1960s he worked with executives of Long Beach, the Long Island town, to find housing for his players. “I can keep an eye on them,” he explained.

It struck me as sort of funny — I was born in — when one of the Rangers, Bob Nevin, who had been with Toronto, told me, “When I was traded to the Rangers, I thought it was the worst thing that ever happened to me.” In fact, many of the players never quite got into playing in the “States.” When they played in Boston Garden, they said they were going to “the Gardens,” a nod to Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

Long Beach was a place that many of the players could relate to, though. It was a town of about 60,000 in the winter, or hockey season, that expanded to 200,000 in the summer. Francis told the players to bring their wives and children from Canada to start school in the fall in Long Beach, although some players were reluctant — their families remained in Canada. But those who came, when the season ended in early spring 1219640 New York Rangers And there, lying in a bed in a small, single-patient room, was Rod Gilbert. We asked to enter and we introduced ourselves. I think he was smitten by our audacity, maybe even happy for some company, thus welcomed Remembering Rod Gilbert, a New York legend – and a good friend us in.

We didn’t wear out that welcome. We wished him a speedy recovery, professed our love of the Rangers – and dislike of those dirty, rotten By Phil Mushnick Bruins the Rangers annually battled for last place – thanked him then left.

All the way out and every step of the way to The Garden we asked each other, “Did that really just happen?” Gosh, I wish you’d been there. You’d have been more than welcome. I was seated with two of the most gracious men in New York sports, both I hadn’t spoken with Marc Ackerman in years, but yesterday morning, the with unrequited dreams, having never won it all despite coming so close day before his 70th birthday, I called him. After I identified myself, the first as to be cruel. words he said were “Rod Gilbert.”

It was a charity event a bunch of years ago at Langan’s, the late New York Post LOADED: 08.24.2021 lamented Midtown pub owned and operated by the equally gracious Des O’Brien. I sat with Ralph Branca – I’d already designated him as a replacement for my deceased father as they looked, sounded and glared alike – and Rod Gilbert. And the stories flowed in fluid rhythm with the potato juice, aka vodka.

Though known as “Rocky” to so many of his many friends, I called him “Regret,” as there so often seemed a day-after hangover attached to an evening-into-night with Gilbert. He laughed when I called him that. Perhaps the feeling was mutual.

I’d sing him customized Sinatra: “Regrets? We had a few, in fact a few too many.”

We were doing what we did, this time in front of a stand-up audience – we swapped bad jokes, Gilbert’s tethered to punchlines he’d butcher in his French Canadian-New York accent, then insist on starting it over, which genuinely was the funny part.

Gilbert told only two kinds of jokes: Vulgar jokes and dirty jokes. The laughs came in his relentless but feckless efforts to not include the punchlines somewhere in the middle.

His comedic imbalance was such that he once asked me to “Tell the one that ends with …”.

So I shot him a stare, palms up, a what-the-hey signal that he’d just blown the joke. Gilbert contemplated his error, then brightened. “Tell it anyway,” he said.

That brought down the house, the funniest line of the night. Clean, too.

These weren’t sessions for kids, but Gilbert was great to kids, in my case from age 12, when I first “met” him.

From the Schaefer Circle of Sports exhibit at the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Queens, Gilbert, Harry Howell and Rangers’ coach Red Sullivan signed autographs.

I was already a fan of the sorrow-filled Rangers from those Saturday Channel 9 Schaefer Beer-sponsored telecasts narrated by Win Elliot, and Gilbert cemented his status with this kid with a nice smile and a legible signature. I forever had two seasonal No. 7’s – and Rod Gilbert.

Two years later, my mutually hockey-happy pal Marc Ackerman – not many kids we grew up with were into hockey – and I were in the city to attend a Sunday night Ranger game on our 50-cents-per-ticket student G.O. cards, entitling us to sit in the last rows of the Old Garden to see half the ice through a haze of cigar and cigarette smoke.

Back then, two kids could travel, sans parents, from Staten Island to Manhattan or , provided we took our vow to “not bother anyone,” as opposed to placing ourselves in unsupervised modern urban peril.

We arrived early, plenty of time to kill. What should we do?

For some fantasy-inspired reason we decided to walk to old St. Clare’s hospital to visit Rod Gilbert, who had undergone his second spinal fusion surgery, as if he needed to see us.

Sure, we’d just walk right in. We knew we had no shot, but it would only cost us time, all we could spare to spend.

At the entry desk we asked for “Mr. Gilbert’s” room, were told its number, then, shooting each other nervous looks of knowing we’d already gone too far, we headed up. 1219641 New York Rangers "We used to spend seven, eight hours," he said. "My mom said, ‘You have to come in for lunch!’ We’d say, ‘No, no, you can’t eat when you’re playing.’ There was never enough time to play. It was great."

Rangers legend Rod Gilbert impacted generations of fans Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 08.24.2021

By Neil Best

It was New Year’s Day, 2018, and it was really, really, really cold at Citi Field, where the Rangers were hosting the Sabres in the NHL Winter Classic.

Needing a break while interviewing fans before the game, I ducked into the Hodges Gate and immediately encountered a gale-force wind of warmth and good cheer.

It was Rod Gilbert, the best person on God’s green earth to run into if one happened to be a middle-aged hockey fan and sportswriter in need of heat and a good quote.

Gilbert, who turned 76½ that day, recalled playing outside when he was "young and vivacious." He said he had just spoken to his brother and recalled with him their childhoods in Montreal.

"He said, ‘It’s, like, 15 below zero there!’ " Gilbert said. "So I said, ‘Do you remember when we used to go out in that?’ He said, ‘When you’re young, you don’t feel it.’ "

So it went for Gilbert, whose death Thursday at age 80 was announced Sunday. He was a Hall of Fame player for the Rangers who became a childhood favorite for a generation of fans, then spent the rest of his life promoting the game and his old team.

"What Rod meant to the city and what he did to grow the sport of hockey in New York is eternal," former Rangers announcer Howie Rose said on WFAN on Sunday night. "It will last forever."

That is what helped keep his legacy alive even for those too young to remember him as the star of some very good Rangers teams, during which he became the team’s (still) career leader in goals (406) and points (1,021).

But let’s not kid ourselves here: Beyond his family and friends, Gilbert’s death is a particular blow to those of us who were very young when he was in his prime.

If you are an 80-year-old hockey fan, you recall and appreciate his skills. If you are a 40-year-old hockey fan, you are aware of his records and his retired No. 7 in the Madison Square Garden rafters.

If you are a 60-year-old hockey fan – give or take a few years either way – this hits home in a way only the passing of a childhood idol can.

Gilbert died about 50 weeks after another iconic New York athlete of that era, Tom Seaver. The actuarial tables indicate there are more to come in the next decade or so.

That’s the way life works, but the timetable is different in sports than in other pursuits, given that people peak at an absurdly early age, then grow old only slightly ahead of their formerly young fans.

For someone my age, it’s the difference between the 1969 Mets, who are sepia-toned heroes, and the 1986 Mets, who are merely my contemporaries.

But this has gotten way too sad and morbid – of Gilbert’s approach to life.

So if you’re of a certain age, give or take, make a toast today to the "G-A- G" line of Gilbert, Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield, to a Rangers run that helped lay the groundwork for the fandoms of the Islanders in 1972 and Devils in ’82 and to what still reigns as the greatest of all New York-area sports eras.

Unlike the Jets, Mets and Knicks of that time, the Rangers did not win a championship with Gilbert – who often served as an unofficial Manhattan social director for his counterparts on those teams during their glory days. But in the long run, he was as much a winner in life as anyone.

That cold day in 2018, he recalled the joy of first playing the sport that was his forever passion. 1219642 Philadelphia Flyers

Jimmy Hayes, former NHL player and Kevin Hayes’ brother, is found dead at 31

Giana Han

Jimmy Hayes, a seven-year NHL veteran and the brother of the Flyers’ Kevin Hayes, was unexpectedly found dead Monday morning at his home in Milton, Mass. Hayes was 31.

Law enforcement and first responders who pronounced Hayes dead said the death was not suspicious, although the cause is not immediately available, according to the Boston Globe. Hayes leaves behind his wife Kristen and two sons, Beau and Mac, as well as four siblings, Genevieve, Eileen, Justine, and Kevin; and parents Shelagh and Kevin Sr.

The Flyers expressed its condolences through a social media statement, saying: “We are heartbroken by the tragic news of Jimmy Hayes’ passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin and the entire Hayes family.”

Kevin and Jimmy were both stars at Boston College, and they played together for the Americans at the 2014 World Championships. They each won an NCAA championship with Boston College, which put out a statement over Twitter: “Boston College Hockey is heartbroken over the passing of Jimmy Hayes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Hayes family.”

Following his college career, Hayes was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 60th overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft. Over the course of seven NHL seasons, Hayes played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils. A 6-foot-5, 215-pound right winger, Hayes had 54 goals and 109 points in 334 NHL games.

Hayes finished his NHL career with the Devils during the 2017-18 season and most recently played for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre Scranton for the 2018-19 season. Starting in 2020, he cohosted a podcast called “Missin Curfew” with fellow former NHL players Shane O’Brien and Scottie Upshall. The last episode posted on Aug. 5, 18 days before he was found dead.

On Sunday, the day before Hayes’ death, he was pictured in his wife’s Instagram post. The family was celebrating his son Beau’s second birthday. Kristen captioned the photo: “Let’s keep making more babies. So much fun celebrating these three boys over the weekend. The cutest lil friendships (Their dads all played hockey together at BC). If you make it to the end that’s a preview of college Beau. Can’t wait to watch them grow up together.”

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219643 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers will open their preseason schedule by hosting the Islanders on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. They will play six exhibition games among the Isles, Washington, and Boston, including three at the Wells Fargo Center.

Travis Sanheim: Flyers GM has ‘done his job. Now it’s up to us to come Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.24.2021 together as a group.’

Sam Carchidi

Travis Sanheim, who signed a lucrative contract Saturday, is pleased with the offseason moves the Flyers made to improve a hapless defense.

The Flyers have brought in veterans Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Keith Yandle.

After a season in which the Flyers allowed the most goals in the NHL (3.52 per game) and continually shuffled their pairings, the new defensemen should add some stability to the back end, Sanheim said.

“I think that was something that they looked at and wanted to address,” Sanheim said in a Zoom call with reporters Monday afternoon. “It’s difficult playing [with] different partners, different positions, whether it’s left or right. I think to be able to kind of settle in, find somebody, find some chemistry is going to make each other better and make our team better.”

Sanheim, 25, said he has spoken to general manager and assistant coach Mike Yeo, who runs the defense, about the blue-line newcomers and is looking forward to meeting them when camp starts Sept. 22.

Ristolainen will probably be Sanheim’s defensive partner, and he will bring physicality to the duo.

“I’m excited to get to know him, and potentially play with him,” Sanheim said. “I know our forwards have hated to play against him and go up against him every night.”

Fletcher’s summer remake has brought in “a lot of changes, a lot of new faces,” Sanheim said. “I think everyone’s excited. I think we see a lot of good things in the moves that were made and gets us excited to get back to Philly. I know speaking with the other guys and the potential that we see. Chuck’s done his job. Now it’s up to us to come together as a group.”

Last season, Sanheim was paired mostly with Phil Myers, who, along with Nolan Patrick, went to Nashville in last month’s trade for Ellis. Patrick was then dealt to Vegas.

“Obviously, me and Phil were really good friends and played together quite a bit, whether it’s American League or even in the NHL,” said Sanheim, who is coming off a subpar season in which he had just 15 points and a minus-22 rating. “Got to know him quite well. I messaged him as soon as the trade went down. Obviously, I’m going to miss him and best of luck in Nashville. He reached out Saturday as well, right after I signed. We’ve got that good friendship, and hopefully we can meet up when we play each other next.”

Sanheim signed a two-year deal with an annual $4.675 million salary-cap hit, leaving the Flyers up against the $81.5 million cap. Based on their projected roster, if they carry just 22 players — most teams use 23 — they will have only $281,477 in cap space.

“We discussed all options,” Sanheim said of his contract negotiations. “Ultimately, with the situation that we were in with the cap, I think it just made more sense to do something short term.”

As for the new defensemen, Ellis (10 years), Ristolainen (8) and Yandle (15) have a combined 33 years of NHL experience.

“Guys that have been there, done that,” Sanheim said. “Ellis has played a lot of big games. I think we’re going to rely on those guys to come in and settle things down a little bit. I think we need that. There were certain nights where maybe we ran into being a younger group. Sometimes you need that voice or that calmness and somebody that’s done it before. I think we’re going to learn a lot from those guys. I’m excited to not only meet them, but learn from them as well.”

The new pairings are expected to look like this: and Ellis; Sanheim and Ristolainen; and Yandle and Justin Braun.

Breakaways 1219644 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers, Sanheim avoid arbitration with new contract

BY JORDAN HALL

o arbitration hearing was needed for the Flyers and Travis Sanheim.N

The two sides came to an agreement on a new deal Saturday as Sanheim signed a two-year, $9.35 million contract.

The 25-year-old Sanheim was a restricted free agent this offseason and coming off of a two-year, $6.5 million bridge contract. Earlier this month, the Flyers filed for salary arbitration in negotiations with Sanheim. The hearing date was scheduled for this upcoming Thursday, the last day for arbitration hearings.

Like a lot of teams, the Flyers will be right up against the cap to open next season, but they'll have different ways to be cap compliant when they finalize their roster ahead of the Oct. 15 opener.

Despite a challenging 2020-21 season, Sanheim is an important piece to the Flyers' present and future on the back end. He was a first-round pick in 2014 and has the ability to play in all situations. Before last season, Sanheim had made positives strides in consecutive years as more was put on his plate.

Last season, the Flyers suffered instability throughout their defensive group last season. The club ended up surrendering an NHL-most 3.52 goals per game and owning the 30th-ranked penalty kill at 73.1 percent.

Sanheim had rough moments confidence-wise and was relied upon heavily at even strength and shorthanded. He finished with 15 points, a minus-22 rating and a career-high 21:53 minutes per game. He also played his most-ever minutes per game on the penalty kill (2:07) and his fewest-ever minutes per game on the power play (0:33) for a full season.

"You don't make the playoffs, I think everyone's got to improve, everyone needs to be better," Sanheim said in May at his end-of-the-season press conference. "A lot of areas that I'm going to work on this summer and continue to try to grow my game, try to get better at various areas of my game. I think I had a pretty good start, pretty consistent for the first couple months. Obviously, COVID hit there and as a group, we got a little bit uneven through the middle; March wasn't a good month and wasn't a good month for me, as well.

"There are challenges along the way — every team, every player handles them differently. Those are good experiences for me and something that I'll learn from. I've just got to be better going into next season. I played with a lot of different partners this season, so that was a new challenge for me. I played the left, played the right, played PK, played a little bit of power play — a lot of different roles for me and something that I can grow on."

Over the last three seasons, Sanheim leads Flyers defensemen in points at even strength with 66. That figure ranks in the top 30 among all NHL defensemen during that span, just behind guys like Mikhail Sergachev (68), Miro Heiskanen (68), Jaccob Slavin (67) and Jared Spurgeon (66).

But after the Flyers gave up more goals than any other team in hockey last season, they'll want Sanheim to improve at killing plays in the defensive zone by using his size and length. When he does, he knows how to push the puck up ice and keep the opposition working in its end of the rink.

This season, Sanheim should have more balanced responsibility with the club's offseason acquisitions of Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen and Keith Yandle. Solidifying and deepening the back end was an emphasis of general manager Chuck Fletcher's summer.

"We feel it's important to make our team more competitive. To get more competitive, we felt we needed to add some right-shot defensemen to our club this year to complement [Ivan] Provorov and Sanheim and to kind of slot everybody in the right spot," Fletcher said last month after the Flyers traded for Ristolainen. "We feel if that group can improve, then our team will improve."

Comcast .com LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219645 Philadelphia Flyers Robert Hägg

Myers

Travis Sanheim’s contract extension with the Flyers: The value, the risk Hägg and how it affects the cap situation

Myers By Charlie O'Connor Aug 23, 2021 Provorov

That’s 15 times in 43 games that Sanheim’s partner changed — every Entering this past weekend, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck three games on average. That lack of continuity makes it nearly Fletcher had just one piece of business left on his “need-to-do” list for the impossible to sketch out a coherent, linear narrative of Sanheim’s summer: resolve the Travis Sanheim contract situation. season. Yes, he struggled mightily at times during the team’s horrid March, particularly in the 9-0 debacle at Madison Square Garden. Sure, Fletcher had already shaken up his NHL roster, restructured the team’s he had a few memorable moments in April, including an impressive blueline corps, made it through the expansion draft, and signed all of the winner against the Bruins. And he did indeed finish the season team’s restricted free agents, including goaltender Carter Hart. as the team’s second-most-used defenseman, with his per-game Sanheim’s status, however, remained in limbo. With club-elected average of 21:53 trailing only Provorov (Sanheim averaged just eight arbitration scheduled for Aug. 26, the situation was destined to be seconds per game less than Provorov at five-on-five, as well). resolved in one form or another, but the team and the player tend to prefer to avoid contentious arbitration hearings if possible. On Saturday, But this was the furthest from a stable season for Sanheim. The they officially did so, agreeing on a two-year, $9.35 million contract combination of Myers’ serious struggles and the “I guess we have no extension ($4.675 million yearly cap hit). other choice” decision to use Braun (who has clicked well with Sanheim in the past) in top-pair duties with Provorov left Sanheim without a clear- Throughout the summer, Fletcher never wavered in his belief that cut partner and makes it very difficult to place Sanheim’s season into a Sanheim is a key part of the Philadelphia defense’s future, even as such neat little box. He was all over the place. players as Philippe Myers and Shayne Gostisbehere were shipped out. But Sanheim’s 2020-21 season was a polarizing one — although he had The ‘was Sanheim bad or secretly good in 2020-21?’ debate never been more trusted in terms of ice time by the coaching staff, his minus-22 rating and presence in many of Philadelphia’s ugliest defensive Sanheim’s most vocal detractors find it very easy to summarize his work breakdowns led many in the fan base to adjust their opinion of the 25- in 2020-21. They simply argue that he had a very bad season, which has year-old. become an emerging consensus on social media, in particular.

Were those fans right in their criticism? Or is that viewpoint overly harsh, The evidence? Well, that the Flyers’ blueline corps as a whole fell well and does it underrate the value that Sanheim provided? Answering these short of reasonable expectations doesn’t help. Then there’s Sanheim’s questions is key to understanding Sanheim’s new contract and where he awful full-season plus-minus, including a minus-18 during March. Add in stands with the Flyers. the fact that his point totals — three goals and 15 points over 55 games — were underwhelming for a supposed “offensive” defenseman, and it’s NHL coaches have never been opposed to shuffling line and pairing easy to understand how the perception took hold. A formula of “offensive combinations over the course of a season. But successful teams tend to defenseman who doesn’t score much and is on the ice for a ton of goals have a degree of stability in their tandems, if for no other reason than against” won’t exactly leave a positive impression on most observers. strong results tend to lead coaches to keep groups together for long stretches of time. But there is a legitimate case to be made that Sanheim’s season, though not great, was far from the outright disaster many accept it as being. The Flyers, of course, didn’t deliver strong results last season. So it shouldn’t be a massive surprise that Sanheim never had the opportunity For starters, Sanheim’s underlying five-on-five metrics in 2020-21 were to settle in with a set partner for more than a couple of games in a row. actually … quite good. In fact, in terms of shot and chance differential Ivan Provorov may have lacked a Matt Niskanen replacement. But he and the impact that Sanheim had on his teammates in both areas, this didn’t have nearly the same revolving door of partners who were sent past season might well have been his best year yet — and this is a Sanheim’s way last season. Using HockeyViz’s Teammate tool, let’s run defenseman who graded out as a plus play-driver basically from Day 1 of through how many times Sanheim’s most frequent partner on a given his NHL career. night changed during the 56-game slate. All metrics courtesy of Evolving-Hockey. Corsi For % and xG For % Sanheim began the season with Myers for three games, before he was adjusted for score & venue effects. given an audition on the right side of the top pairing next to Provorov. Sanheim’s raw play-driving metrics were better as a rookie, yes, but he Then, he was asked to prop up rookie Mark Friedman for a game, before was getting deployed as a sheltered third-pair defenseman on a pretty being handed his old regular partner from the first half of 2019-20 (Justin good team that year. For Sanheim to put up metrics nearly as good on a Braun). Then, it was back to Myers, Braun again, and finally, Sanheim woefully underperforming club, with a revolving cast of partners, he must was forced to sit out Feb. 7 against Washington after being placed in have been doing a lot more right than most realized. COVID-19 protocol. Corey Sznajder’s manually tracked microstats support the case of Yep, that’s right: We’ve only reached early February. Sanheim’s continued effectiveness. In comparison with the rest of the Upon the team’s return from its COVID-19 pause, these were Sanheim’s Philadelphia blueline corps, Sanheim ranked second in defensive-zone most frequent partners on a nightly basis, in order: exit efficiency at five-on-five and first in terms of creating scoring chances, and he was the defenseman most likely to break up zone-entry Gostisbehere attempts by opponents (previously an area of weakness for Sanheim). That’s not the profile of a defenseman whose underlying play was in free Myers fall.

Braun Finally, there’s one other simple argument in favor of Sanheim and his Myers season not having been a total disaster, one that flips the dichotomy between stat people and eye-test traditionalists on its head: The Flyers’ Nate Prosser coaching staff sure didn’t seem to believe that Sanheim was playing poorly on the whole. and his assistants didn’t hesitate to Myers scratch Myers and Gostisbehere, so it’s not as if they would hold back if Braun they felt a defenseman was underperforming. Yet Sanheim was never scratched. He remained in the “core-3” group with Provorov and Braun — Myers players who were written into the lineup with ink, night after night. In fact, Sanheim saw nearly a two-minute boost in ice time per game over the Braun previous season. Again, not exactly the usage one would expect a Matt Irwin, Brandon Manning and David Warsofsky) again posted sub- struggling defenseman to receive. 97.5 PDOs, and four others (Tyson Strachan, Alex Petrovic, Adam Pardy and Tim Heed) didn’t even get NHL jobs the next year. Now, that’s not to say that NHL coaching staffs are infallible in player evaluation. They surely can make mistakes and fall prey to their own So, yes, PDO is often a sign of bad luck, but it can also be a sign that a biases. But much of the Sanheim discourse has been framed by the anti- player is simply not a useful NHLer. After all, if you plopped an average Sanheim side as a battle between stats and the eyes. Well, the most hockey writer on an NHL team for a season, his PDO surely would be meaningful metrics looked favorably upon Sanheim’s play, and so did awful, and no rational person would expect positive PDO regression the highly paid NHL coaches with a far more developed eye test than all but next season; it would just be obvious that the writer wasn’t close to being a minuscule fraction of hockey fans. Perhaps it’s not ridiculous to think NHL-caliber. both might have been on to something. Given Sanheim’s age and solid track record in the NHL, that seems to be The goal-based results problem an unlikely explanation. But when a defenseman drops a sub-95 PDO — even in a weird, shortened season — it’s going to rightfully raise some Still, the massive discrepancy between Sanheim’s strong shot and alarm bells. chance results and his awful plus-minus can’t be brushed aside entirely, especially because the whole point of shot and chance metrics is to Evaluating the contract eventually predict goal differential. How could Sanheim’s plus-minus be so poor even as Philadelphia regularly outshot and out-chanced the Now, let’s get back to Sanheim’s new two-year contract. opposition at even strength when he was on the ice? The $4.675 million cap hit is higher than the price projected by Evolving- In short, the goalies didn’t stop pucks and the shooters rarely scored Hockey’s model ($4.31 million) over a two-year term, but it’s not when Sanheim skated. outlandishly so. We’re talking about $730,000 in total dollars across the length of the term — not an egregious overpay by any means, and There’s an old advanced metric called “PDO,” which has fallen a bit out Evolving-Hockey’s model didn’t account for the massive contracts thrown of favor in recent years but remains useful in its simplicity. Basically, at other NHL defensemen this summer. Perhaps Sanheim’s deal was a PDO adds up the shooting percentage of a player’s team and the save product of that leaguewide inflation. percentage of a player’s team with that specific player on the ice. So, for example, if the Flyers scored on 8 percent of their shots and their goalies For Sanheim, the two-year term makes sense. Entering this summer’s stopped 91 percent of the shots with Claude Giroux on the ice, he would negotiation, the Flyers had two years of RFA control remaining over have a PDO of 99. Generally speaking, players tend to end up with Sanheim’s rights; this deal takes him right to his first season of UFA PDOs around the 100 mark over large samples, so if a player finishes a eligibility. In that regard, it’s similar to the deal that signed season (a relatively small sample in the grand scheme of a career) with a back in 2019. Sanheim will have some extra leverage in the next round of PDO of 96, he likely finished with an awful plus-minus that year but negotiations, as the Flyers — if they want to retain Sanheim beyond probably got a little unlucky, whether because his teammates failed to 2022-23 — will face the threat of losing him for nothing in unrestricted finish on their chances when he skated or because his goalies couldn’t free agency. stop the puck at an acceptable rate (or both). Is it a good deal for the Flyers? Really, your opinion depends on which Sanheim, in PDO terms, got very unlucky in 2020-21, finishing with a view of Sanheim’s value you hold. But the Sanheim supporters and 94.9 (6.51 percent on-ice shooting percentage, and an 88.44 percent skeptics have reasons to be both optimistic and pessimistic regarding the save percentage). That number wasn’t merely abnormally low for this deal. season; it was ridiculously low, given recent NHL history. Over the past The Sanheim believers would hold that he’s easily worth the $4.675 eight seasons, 1,816 times a defenseman finished a year with at least million cap hit over two seasons. Remove bad PDO luck from the 300 minutes played at five-on-five. Out of those 1,816 seasons, equation, and Sanheim will be totally fine, likely as soon as 2021-22. At Sanheim’s PDO ranked 1,800th. At first glance, that’s some really, really the very least, he’s a strong No. 3, with an argument to be made that he bad luck, and that’s pretty much how a solely advanced-stat-centric can provide first-pair value in that role. The only negative of the deal from interpretation of Sanheim’s results would go: He got PDO’ed to death in this perspective is that it isn’t long enough; it takes a strong player like 2020-21, he’ll likely be fine next season, nothing to worry about. Sanheim directly to UFA status, rather than at least finding a way to buy That said, there are some reasons for concern that Sanheim could be an out a few UFA years and lock him in through the rest of his late 20s. outlier case, in the sense that public metrics don’t fully capture the holes The Sanheim-skeptical side likely views the cap hit as far too generous in his game. for a player coming off a year they view as awful, by a defenseman who For starters, there’s the persistent gap between his expected goal results makes too many defensive mistakes, lacks physicality and doesn’t score and his actual goal results. In all four of Sanheim’s NHL seasons, his on- enough to make up for the holes in his skill set. Sanheim is already 25 ice goal differential at five-on-five (captured by the Goals For Percentage years old, after all. This very well could be all he is. As for his impressive stat) has underperformed his expected goal differential. In other words, advanced stats, they clearly don’t tell the whole story, and the recurring he’s never delivered tangible goal-based results as strong as Evolving- discrepancy between his xG and actual goal-based results hints as Hockey’s public xG model suggested should have been produced. much. The lone positive of the deal for that group? It’s only two years, which gives prospects Cam York and Zamula — both also lefty shots All statistics courtesy of Evolving-Hockey and five-on-five only. with puck-mover reputations — two seasons to prove that Sanheim isn’t needed anymore. The Flyers might have overpaid in the short-term, but This isn’t cold, hard proof that xG just doesn’t work in accurately at least they avoided a long-term albatross of a contract. evaluating Sanheim. Give Sanheim a couple of good-luck seasons in a row and that career discrepancy between the expected and actual goal- Unsurprisingly, I fall more on the side of the Sanheim believers. based results would disintegrate. Also, in two of Sanheim’s four seasons, he remained at or above a 50 percent actual goal differential, and the The contract is a bit pricey, and Sanheim’s camp deserves credit for only year when the discrepancy was truly massive was 2020-21, which clearing the $4.5 million threshold on a mere two-year term. But I do certainly supports the “he was really unlucky last year” theory. But it is a believe that Sanheim’s shot and chance results are a better barometer of bit eyebrow-raising that Sanheim has yet to live up to his xG results at his quality than plus-minus or even Goals For Percentage. He remains a five-on-five even once over a full season. Public expected goal models great skater who historically has been a strong point producer at five-on- aren’t perfect, and it’s certainly possible they could be missing something five (even in 2020-21, he graded out as second-pair quality by Points/60), when it comes to Sanheim, especially since he does go through and he remains one of Philadelphia’s best defensemen at transitioning stretches of making especially glaring mistakes, particularly in the the puck from defense to offense. defensive zone. Still, it’s a real concern that he’s underperformed his xG in all four of his Also, defensemen who post single-season PDOs as low as Sanheim did NHL seasons so far (twice by large margins). And with York and Zamula in 2020-21 aren’t always destined to bounce back the following year. Out looming, there’s legitimate merit to the idea of not committing too long to of the 12 blueliners who posted worse PDOs over the past eight seasons a second-pair LHD when cheaper players could soon usurp him. The (four of them did it this past season), only four — Tony DeAngelo, Ryan downside possibility of the “he’s an outlier and the stats overrate him” Murphy, Ben Harpur and Andrej Sekera — successfully shook it off and argument can’t be totally ignored, even if I don’t buy it. Also, if it took delivered normalized PDOs the next season. Four others (Ladislav Smid, $4.675 million to strike even a two-year deal, presumably a contract in the three-to-five-year range very well might have cleared $5 million in terms of cap hit. Given the Flyers’ 2021-22 salary cap realities, that would have been difficult to pull off.

A look at the cap situation after the Sanheim contract

When the dust had settled from a busy offseason, the Flyers had two remaining pressing pieces of business: re-sign their goalie of the present (and future) in Carter Hart and bring Travis Sanheim back into the fold. If they wanted to field a full 23-man roster for opening night while doing so, they were looking at about $8 million in combined budget available for Hart and Sanheim while staying under the $81.5 million ceiling.

Well, they went over that.

Hart’s $3.979 million cap hit and Sanheim’s $4.675 million AAV combine for $8.654 million. The math very clearly doesn’t add up for a team trying to construct a 23-man roster with these two now on the books.

So how big of a problem is this?

It’s certainly not ideal. But it’s also far from impossible to resolve, because there’s no requirement that NHL teams have to begin the season with 23 players on their rosters. Teams usually prefer to roll with a maximum-capacity roster, to guard in case of injuries and allow for extra skaters to gain valuable practice time with the big club. But only 20 players can dress on game day. Rolling with 22 men on the opening night roster for cap reasons isn’t an especially unorthodox solution; it’s a strategy many spend-to-the-cap teams use at times during a season.

Let’s remove Tanner Laczynski from the above chart and see where the Flyers stand cap-wise with the resulting 22-player roster.

Now, they’re cap compliant, sitting about $282,000 below the $81.5 million cap ceiling — a tight squeeze, to be sure, but not breaking any league rules. They’d still have an extra forward and an extra defenseman in case of injuries, and the proximity of Allentown (home of the ) to Philadelphia is a big help in case of injury emergencies when the Flyers are at home. Most of the time, their cap situation should be manageable.

Could there be complications resulting from the smaller roster and a lack of cap flexibility? Sure. If the Flyers were to be hit with a rash of injuries not serious enough for anyone to be placed on long-term injured reserve (which would allow the Flyers to temporarily exceed the cap ceiling to replace those on LTIR) but serious enough to keep them out for a game or two, things could get dicey. Injuries on trips are more likely to require last-minute travel arrangements. And presumably it’s now less likely the Flyers would begin the season with eight defensemen on the roster, as they’d probably want to have at least one extra forward at all times. It’s impossible to dream up all the possible complex scenarios that could throw a wrench into Philadelphia’s season from a cap standpoint, but a 22-man roster slammed up against the cap does make the situation more precarious.

Of course, Fletcher could always make another trade or two before the start of the season. In July, he notably didn’t rule out that possibility. But most likely, Fletcher’s work is done for the summer. There are a couple of spots available for young forwards, and York or Zamula could theoretically break down the door at camp, but on the whole, the likely roster for the Flyers to start the season appears to be relatively easy to predict.

And after Saturday’s contract announcement, it’s almost certainly going to include Sanheim, for better or worse.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219646 Pittsburgh Penguins

Former NHL forward Jimmy Hayes dies at age 31

TRIBUNE-REVIEW | Monday, Aug. 23, 2021 2:35 p.m.

Boston Bruins right wing Jimmy Hayes carries the puck against the in 2016.

NHL forward Jimmy Hayes, who played the last season of his nine-year pro career in the Penguins organization with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, died Monday at age 31.

According to the Boston Globe, first responders arrived at Hayes’ home and pronounced him dead. A cause of death was not announced, but law enforcement does not consider the death suspicious.

A power forward chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2008 draft, Hayes won a national championship with Boston College in 2010. He played 334 career NHL games with Chicago, Florida, Boston and New Jersey.

Hayes spent the 2018-19 season, his last as a pro, with Wilkes- Barre/Scranton, recording 15 goals and 15 assists in 72 games.

“Jimmy was one of the best people I’ve ever met and had the privilege to play with,” Penguins forward Sam Lafferty, a teammate of Hayes in Wilkes-Barre, wrote via his Twitter account. “Really took me under his wing my rookie year. Thoughts and prayers for his family.”

Hayes was married with a 2-year-old son and a 3-month-old son. His brother, Kevin, plays for the Philadelphia Flyers.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former @WBSPenguins forward, Jimmy Hayes.

The Penguins organization sends our thoughts and prayers to Jimmy's family, friends, and former teammates during this extremely difficult time. pic.twitter.com/A6SnLi9oeN

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 23, 2021

Boston College Hockey is heartbroken over the passing of Jimmy Hayes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Hayes family. pic.twitter.com/2nL59U6Fgs

— BC Hockey (@BCHockey) August 23, 2021

Rest In Peace Jimmy. You were the big brother I never had during my rookie season. You will be dearly missed https://t.co/XB48jeD6o6

— Anthony Angello (@Anthony_Angello) August 23, 2021

Tribune Review LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219647 Pittsburgh Penguins

Former NHL Player, Penguins Minor Leaguer Jimmy Hayes Dies at 31

By Shelly Anderson

Jimmy Hayes, a winger whose final pro season in 2018-19 was spent with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, has died, according to his alma mater, Boston College, and multiple other reports. He was 31.

There has been no cause of death reported. He leaves behind a wife, Kristen, and two young sons. His younger brother Kevin plays for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Jimmy Hayes was in training camp with the Penguins after signing a two- way contract with them in July 2018. He played 72 games with American Hockey League affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, finishing with 15 goals, 30 points.

A Boston area native, Hayes played three seasons at Boston College. He was drafted in the second round by Toronto in 2008. In 334 NHL games with Chicago, Florida, Boston and New Jersey, he had 54 goals, 109 points.

PHN and National Hockey Now extend condolences to his family and friends.

Tributes are rolling on Twitter, such as

Boston College Hockey is heartbroken over the passing of Jimmy Hayes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Hayes family. pic.twitter.com/2nL59U6Fgs

— BC Hockey (@BCHockey) August 23, 2021

We are absolutely gutted by the devastating loss of our dear friend Jimmy Hayes. Jimmy was a sweetheart who lit up every room he entered and always had a smile on his face. He will be dearly missed by all. We extend our most heartfelt sympathies to his family.

— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) August 23, 2021

One thing about Jimmy Hayes you could not ever question was effort. He was balls to the wall Every. Single. Shift.

— Brent Baldwin (@bbonpucks) August 23, 2021

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219648 Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins and GM Ron Hextall are in a sticky spot. If they wait to see if Rust has a bad season and potentially lowers his value, they risk losing the player if/when he again shows himself to be a top- Bryan Rust’s Contract: Comparables, Future Complications, and flight RW. Paydays “He’s developed his offensive game I think as good as any young player that I’ve been around as a coach in 20 something years and coaching in this league,” Sullivan also said in May. By Dan Kingerski If the Penguins come to the table with a solid well before free agency, Rust has to factor in injury and the security of getting a good deal, perhaps not a great deal, in a spot where he fits. It’s about to be payday for Bryan Rust. It’s hard to imagine the Pittsburgh Penguins bottle rocket player of 2017 who streaked up the ice only to fire There would seem to be plenty of room to sign Bryan Rust for 2022-23 a 25-foot wrist shot into the goalie and get off the ice is now going to get and beyond. However, we don’t know if Hextall will prioritize Rust over paid with a Brinks armored car. Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. Would a Rust contract limit funds available for the Penguins aging superstars? But here we are. Here’s another wrinkle–Kasperi Kapanen. According to PuckPedia.com, The scrappy winger has set new standards in development. As a third- the Penguins’ other RW will be arbitration-eligible next summer. Such a round pick in 2010, Rust’s development path could colloquially be called status, and a good season, will mean a solid payday for Kapanen, too. the “slow boat to China.” After four years under the golden domes of Notre Dame, Rust didn’t make his NHL debut until 2014-15 and scored a In other words, the Penguins can’t start tossing full value contracts to whopping–wait for it–two points (1-1-2) in 14 games. everyone as former Jim Rutherford was often wont to do, then deal with the fallout later. PHN suspects that Hextall will be far more judicious and The following season, Rust earned 41 NHL games as the customary big-picture thinking when handing contracts to players in or will soon be injury bugs bit the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rust was part of the young AHL in their 30s. crew that was called upon and got to stick around. Rust has several reasons not to accept less than full market value. The However, in those 41 games, Rust scored 11 points, including just four Penguins fading Stanley Cup hopes, more roster retooling, and he is 29. goals. Though in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoff run, Rust earned a unique This is his BIG chance, and maybe only chance to get paid. monicker as the finisher. He scored a couple of series-clinching goals, despite not scoring much otherwise. Linking multiple issues, Rust may have little to no incentive for a team- friendly deal, but the Penguins may not want to give top-dollar, even In 2016-17, he played 57 NHL games and even cracked the .5 points per though Rust clearly fits in that category with Oshie and Zuccarello. We’ve game mark. The continued upward trajectory of Rust’s statistics played seen how big contracts affect a player’s value on the NHL trade market. out on several Penguins lines, combined with his gritty two-way game, makes him a lineup necessity. They also mean this hasn’t been a Sidney And we expect the Penguins to be a far different team in five years than Crosby fueled fluke or a flash. they are today.

“It’s hard to score 20 goals in this league…I think guys that reach that Rust is worth a solid $6 million, if not $6.5 like Gallagher. If teams are milestone consistently are really good players. And Rusty is one of those looking forward to rising salary caps and player values, his two-way guys,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said in May. “I don’t know that game and speed may even entice a GM to splash a little more cash. I’ve I’ve been around another guy and in coaching young players and watching them from the American League and watching their maturation If Rust goes off for 30 goals or close to 70 points in his walk year, $7 process–I don’t know that when I look back on my experiences, I can’t million would be on the table. think of another guy that has developed his game as much as Rusty In the meantime, Hextall must decide where the team will be in five years has.” and where Rust would fit into that journey. Rust also has to figure out the Fast forward to sometime between now and July 1, 2022. Bryan Rust is same. going to get PAID. Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 08.24.2021 Pittsburgh Penguins Comparables

Finding comparables to Bryan Rust may send shivers through the Penguins wallet. The players who produce at Rust’s level are not cheap, nor are they plenty.

Rust, 29, scored 42 points (22-20-42) but cracked the 20-goal barrier for the second consecutive season. He scored 27 the season before. And so Rust rests with resplendent company.

NHL RWs with comparable statistics settle in the moderately-high million range:

*T.J. Oshie posted 43 points and 22 goals last season; he makes $5.75 million AAV on a deal signed in 2017.

*Sam Reinhart, 25, just signed a three-year deal with a $6.5 million AAV. Last season, Reinhart scored 40 points (25-15-40) in 54 games.

On the high end of the scale, Mats Zuccarello ($6 million AAV), Cam Atkinson ($5.8 million AAV), and Brendan Gallagher ($6.5 million AAV) line up as comparables.

On the low end–and it’s not so low–Tyler Toffoli ($4.25 million), Connor Garland ($4.95 million) have similar but lesser stats over the past few years. Toffoli exploded this season for 28 goals, but he’s typically been a sub-20-goal player.

So, the absolute floor is probably $5 million, but given the other well-paid veterans on the list, we’re going to ignore the floor.

Cashing In, Issues 1219649 Seattle Kraken Braden Holtby — to sift through. The Rangers have split time between Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev.

Postseason squads such as the Islanders have had success with Here’s why the Kraken is expected to play Philipp Grubauer and Chris Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin. In Florida, where Driedger departed, Driedger in a goalie tandem the Panthers have decisions to make with Sergei Bobrovsky and rookie Spencer Knight.

By Marisa Ingemi Those teams had some postseason struggles while their crease became a game of musical chairs, with the Cup champion Lightning and every- game starter Andrei Vasilevskiy handling them.

For all the NHL goalie tandems in recent years, nearly every champion Some elite goalies succeed with a heavy workload exclusively. Carey has won behind one goaltender playing the bulk of the games. Price, who led the Canadiens to a surprise Cup Final appearance, is an example. His regular-season workload has been slowed to prevent his The Kraken has a choice ahead on how it will handle its two options. body from being beat up, and the approach worked this past postseason. There’s Chris Driedger, from the Florida Panthers who was likely For much of the two-month run, Price was the best goalie in the league. expecting to handle the majority of contests. Then the Kraken signed a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded each season to the league’s top Jake Allen, the Canadiens’ backup, played 27 regular-season games. goalie. That was enough for Price to be fresh for the postseason and make his near-historic run. Perhaps that’s the most realistic blueprint for what the Philipp Grubauer’s presence changes the equation. Given Kraken tandem could be. committed to Driedger — a $3.5 million salary-cap hit for three seasons, with a full no-movement clause — it’s tough to believe he’ll be sidelined Given the money commitment and playoff history, when the postseason too often. rolls around, if the Kraken makes it, Grubauer likely would be the workhorse. How the regular season pans out remains to be seen, but Grubauer, though, isn’t the kind of goalie expected to be in a tandem. Driedger seeing significant time and keeping Grubauer fresh for the Last season en route to the Avalanche’s second-round playoff exit, playoffs shouldn’t change what has proven to be a successful Grubauer posted a .922 save percentage and started 39 of its 56 games. postseason approach across the league. He went 30-9-1 (playing in 40 games) and had a league-best 1.95 goals- against average. He will make $5.9 million per season over six years. Seattle Times LOADED: 08.24.2021 The Grubauer addition meant goodbye to Vitek Vanecek, shipped back to the Capitals less than two weeks after he was picked in the NHL expansion draft. The Vanecek-Driedger pair combined for a $4.216 million cap hit; a far cry from that of Grubauer and Driedger.

“I think we needed two guys, and they are going to play,” Kraken general manager Ron Francis told reporters after signing Grubauer. “We think both guys will play. I don’t want to speak for the coach. He has final say. But I would assume that Grubauer is not playing (70 percent of the team’s games next season), and Driedger would a lot more in those games.”

Goaltender tandems have been the trend for the past decade, with varying success. The Bruins got to the 2019 Cup Final behind Tuukka Rask handling the entire postseason workload, despite Jaroslav Halak starting 37 games in the regular season. The Golden Knights had two starting-caliber goalies in Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury, but they traded Fleury this offseason.

In the pandemic-shortened 2021 season, 66 goalies started at least 10 games. A condensed schedule and more back-to-back games will do that. As the schedule returns to a normal, 82-game slate for 2021-22, the split duties will likely lean back toward a 1A goalie for most squads.

Tandems took off before the wacky schedule was an issue, though.

In the past 25 years, 19 of the starting goalies collected all 16 wins en route to being a Stanley Cup champion. Teams built to win have that one guy they can rely on in the toughest moments.

That doesn’t mean having a legitimate 1B goalie in the regular season will restrict an elite goalie in the postseason; again, look at the 2019 Bruins, for whom Rask played every postseason contest and had the most regular-season rest of his career.

One rare exception is 2017, when the Penguins won with Matt Murray after Fleury started every game in net in the first two rounds. So it can happen; it’s just rare.

Playing one workhorse goalie is the recipe to winning a Cup Final, and the stats back that up. But the demands of the modern NHL make it near impossible for one goalie to make the entire regular-season run on his own. The rise of tandems comes with the postseason in mind, making it so teams have one goalie who plays essentially just in the regular season, and the other groomed to be the playoff goalie.

“So it’s always good to have a good tandem,” Grubauer told reporters during his introductory Zoom call. “I don’t think one guy can play 70 games and be fresh for the playoffs. … It’s important to have two guys.”

So the Kraken isn’t in a unique position. Plenty of teams are projected to have more than one goalie make a mark in the regular season. Dallas has four goalies — Ben Bishop, Anton Khudobin, Jake Oettinger and 1219650 Seattle Kraken

Top Seattle Kraken pick Matt Beniers will return to University of Michigan

BY LAUREN KIRSCHMAN

The Seattle Kraken will take the ice this fall as the NHL's 32nd team. Here are some key facts and dates to look out for as the team begins their inaugural season. BY JOSHUA BESSEX

Matty Beniers, the Seattle Kraken’s No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, won’t be joining the team at the start of training camp in September. Instead, Beniers will be returning to the University of Michigan.

The Wolverines’ hockey Twitter account announced on Friday that Beniers — along with No. 1 overall pick Owen Power and No. 5 overall pick Kent Johnson — would be coming back for the 2021-22 season.

The Kraken will have the rights to Beniers, 18, during his entire college career. But Beniers’ sophomore season at Michigan will almost certainly be his last as few top prospects spend more than two years in college. He could join the Kraken in the spring after the college season ends or wait for training camp in 2022. The Kraken lack some depth at center without him, especially with protected first-liner Yanni Gourde missing the start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Shortly after the draft in July, Seattle general manager Ron Francis said he would discuss with Beniers the decision whether to return to Michigan or join the Kraken. Beniers said he didn’t know what he would choose, but he did mention a sense of unfinished business at Michigan.

Not only was the 2020-21 season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Wolverines were forced to withdraw from the NCAA Tournament due to positive tests within the program

“I want to have a real year,” Beniers said in July. “I want to try to make a run at the national championship. Obviously, if that’s not the best decision for my development as a hockey player, so be it. But I think those are kind of some perks and something I kind of want to do. At the end of the day, it’s kind what is the right thing for me to do as a hockey player and as a person.”

Beniers scored 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games during his first college season, which led first-time NHL Draft-eligible players. He was also named to the Big Ten’s All-Rookie team. He played against NHL players at the IIHF World Championship in May. Beniers also won a gold medal with Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championship in January.

“Every kid is different and I think the key is when you go and see them play you want to do what’s right for the kid and make sure that you’re not rushing them,” Francis said after the draft. “The NHL is a heck of a league, they’re big guys, strong guys and fast guys and you want to make sure that when we bring them in you’re giving them the opportunity to be successful.”

Asked what he needs to improve to perform in the NHL, Beniers zeroed on “building strength, building muscle and continued work on scoring goals.”

“I think I have pretty good confidence and a good feel of where I was at and kind of how far I was from playing in the NHL if I could,” Beniers said after the draft. “I think I did pretty well at World Juniors and Michigan. Obviously, Men’s World was a little harder, but I think it was a good mark for where I was at and what I needed to do.

“I think for me it’s continuing to get bigger, stronger. I think that’s what I focused on at the University of Michigan as well as producing offensively and playing my two-way game. I’m not totally sure on how far out I am (from being NHL ready) but I think I’m pretty close. I’ll keep working hard and I’ll be there soon enough.”

News Tribune LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219651 Seattle Kraken Blues general manager Doug Armstrong initiated the discussion about a potential contract extension last year, but Schwartz decided to put those talks on hold until he was thinking with a clearer mind.

‘I feel fresh again’: Jaden Schwartz ready to move on after a season he There was always a chance he would return to St. Louis, where he’d almost didn’t play following his dad’s death spent his 10-year NHL career, but he told Schenn privately that he was probably headed to the free-agent market.

By Jeremy Rutherford Aug 23, 2021 In mid-July, Seattle had an exclusive negotiating window with pending NHL unrestricted free agents such as Schwartz, and the club made considerable headway on a contract with the Blues veteran. The Kraken didn’t finalize a deal with him in that window, but he realized it would be a Anyone who’s heard Jaden Schwartz speak over the years knows it good fit. tends to be fairly monotone, with a low-key cadence. But on a phone call Friday — while he drove “in the middle of nowhere in North Dakota” — “Seattle is such a good city, and being part of an expansion team in the you could hear a tinge of adrenaline and adventure in his voice. new city is pretty special,” he said. “I liked a lot of the things they were doing, with good ownership and (GM) Ronnie Francis leading the charge. On his way from Saskatchewan, Canada, to St. Louis, Schwartz was They really thought highly of me, so they were definitely high on my list planning to stop off in Minnesota and spend time with Justin Faulk that once I realized that I probably wasn’t going to go back to St. Louis.” night. Then he’d be heading to St. Louis, where on Sunday he’d be celebrating Brayden Schenn’s 30th birthday on the golf course. In addition, Schwartz’s mom will have a short flight to see her son play in Seattle. For years, Rick and Carol Schwartz would make a nearly 20- Then on Monday, just as he has done many of the past nine seasons, hour drive from Regina, Saskatchewan, to St. Louis over the course of a Schwartz was scheduled to start skating with the Blues in preparation for few days. But now, Carol can take a flight from Regina to Seattle, with a the 2021-22 season. Only this year, after signing a five-year, $27.5 layover, in about four hours. million free-agent contract with Seattle on July 28, he’ll be doing it as an ex-teammate and visitor at the Centene Community Ice Center. In the hours leading up to the opening of unrestricted free agency leaguewide, Schwartz decided that’s where he wanted to be, and on July “It’s going to be a little bit weird,” Schwartz said. “But it’s going to be nice 28, he signed with the Kraken. seeing the training staff, the equipment guys, and obviously my teammates — old teammates. I’ve been there since I came into the “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” he said league, so I’ve got a lot of good relationships. It’s going to be good to Friday. “But at the end of the day, with how hard it’s been, I kind of felt hang out with them again.” like a fresh start and a new beginning might help me be able to get back to having fun on the ice. And Seattle is pretty close to home, pretty easy It’s a trip Schwartz acknowledged Friday for the first time publicly that he to get to. almost didn’t make last December, a month after the sudden death of his father, Rick Schwartz, to a heart attack at age 59. He said the pain was “The hardest part was just leaving the guys. Once you sign and it’s so deep that he almost didn’t play the 2020-21 season with the Blues, official, you’re kind of like, ‘Wow, that’s the end of St. Louis!’ I definitely which would have meant forfeiting his $4 million salary. In the end, the had those moments where you realize that you’re not going back. That 29-year-old forward did decide to play, and he said it was those was difficult. But so many good memories, so many good teammates.” relationships with the organization, and the memory of his dad, that pushed him. It was 11 years ago when the Blues drafted Schwartz in the first round (No. 14) in the 2010 draft in Los Angeles. His parents were at Staples “I didn’t even know if I was going to come back,” Schwartz said. “This Center, while his sister, Mandi, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid past year was pretty tough on me and my family. I didn’t have much leukemia in 2008, remained in Saskatchewan awaiting a bone-marrow motivation to play and didn’t really have time to train. Back home, transplant. everything was closed and we had to quarantine, and with my dad passing, it was a lot on me. I wasn’t in a very good place. It’s tough When Schwartz’s name was called at the draft, the family was leaving your family and friends behind and not being there for them and immediately adopted by St. Louis, and the club and the community not having them to be around me, either. supported Mandi’s cause before and after her death in 2011.

“I didn’t really know what to do, but I wanted to be there for my There were bone-marrow registry drives held at Blues games, one of teammates. I knew my mom and family really enjoyed watching me play which led to a fan saving the life of an Alabama teenager by being a hockey, and my dad would have wanted me to go back and play. I mostly perfect match. did it for them, but it wasn’t easy. I think my teammates knew that I A PERFECT MATCH: HOW A BONE-MARROW DONATION BY A wasn’t at 100 percent.” BLUES FAN SAVED THE LIFE OF AN ALABAMA TEEN. #STLBLUES Schenn, who played nearly 3,000 minutes with Schwartz in their four HTTPS://T.CO/3CKNBDIQVD seasons together in St. Louis, confirmed that. — JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) DECEMBER 27, “Yeah, it just wasn’t an easy situation all around,” Schenn said. 2018 “Obviously, it was tough on the family there, but they managed to get There was also a trip in 2014 to Yale University, where Mandi played through it.” hockey, during which the entire Blues’ team went to a women’s game. Schwartz finished the season with just eight goals and didn’t look like Schwartz got to see his sister’s locker, where her No. 17 hung. Later that himself. He missed 16 games because of an oblique injury, which may summer, he switched his number with the Blues to No. 17 from No. 9. have been somewhat attributable to his lack of offseason training. “That was pretty special, going to Yale,” Schwartz said. “That was a good He wasn’t happy with the Blues’ first-round playoff loss to Colorado, but day, having the whole team there. St. Louis was so good to my family. after he failed to put up a point in the four-game series, his mind and his There were certain things they did for Mandi, on behalf of her, just raising body were exhausted. He had nothing left. cancer awareness. The support was incredible. The people are so kind and so caring, and that’s what makes it such a fun place to play — “I tried to do everything I could, but mentally and physically, I wasn’t people always have your back.” where I needed to be,” Schwartz said. “It was the toughest year I’ve ever had in my life. I know I didn’t finish well with the Blues, and that sucks, Schwartz struggled personally after the loss of his sister, but he became but I wasn’t mentally ready for an NHL season at all. But I’m doing a lot one of the Blues’ most impactful players, scoring a career-high 28 goals better now. Mentally, I’m in a better spot, and I was able to train. I feel and 63 points in 2014-15. He was a fixture on the left wing, learning how fresh again.” to be a professional from Alexander Steen, Paul Stastny, Barret Jackman, “and the list goes on and on,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to have So why is Schwartz selling his condo in St. Louis and departing for so many role models and older guys that cared for me and taught me a Seattle soon? It could be that the expansion Kraken paid him an average lot.” annual value (AAV) of $5.5 million for the next five seasons, likely higher than the Blues were willing to go. But the fact is that in the aftermath of his dad’s death, he was also looking to begin a new chapter in his career. There was heartbreak with the Blues, losing to San Jose in the Western this is probably what he needs. In our locker room, we’re just happy for Conference finals in 2015-16 and missing the playoffs for the only time in him to feel good again playing hockey, and being back at the rink.” his career on the final day of the 2017-18 regular season. The Athletic LOADED: 08.24.2021 But that wound up just being the setup for a wonderful story in 2018-19: the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

“It was a dream come true, and, as people always say, you’ve got to learn how to lose before you learn how to win,” Schwartz said.

During that postseason run, Schwartz scored 12 goals, including two hat tricks, in 26 games. He was known as a streaky scorer, but without that streak, the Blues wouldn’t have won the Cup.

“The only thing I care about is that we won,” Schwartz said. “Honestly, everyone stepped up. I just tried doing my part and bringing my best foot forward. You realize that you don’t know how many chances you’re going to get with such good teams, and we just got on an unreal run. Everyone brought their level up a couple extra notches for that playoff, and I just tried doing the same thing.”

Schenn assisted on two of Schwartz’s playoff goals.

“Regardless of scoring, you knew what kind of effort you were going to get from him every single night,” Schenn said. “He was going to be one of the hardest-working guys on the forecheck. He was good on the backcheck. He was good at stripping pucks, stealing pucks, and (was) elusive in the corners. And when his stick got hot, he could put it in the back of the net. We all know that his time to shine is in the playoffs. He proved that, scoring 12 goals in the Cup final run.”

A few days after the Blues’ Game 7 win in Boston, St. Louis hosted the Stanley Cup parade on June 16, 2019, a day Schwartz will never forget.

“The whole city of St. Louis, I mean, that’s what a good sports town that is,” he said. “I couldn’t even believe it. I turned the corner and I thought that that was the parade, and then we turned another corner. That one is going to be pretty hard to beat. That was an unreal day.”

Rick was around for the whole experience. He was the ring-leader for the Blues’ annual “Dads Trip,” attended a lot of the playoff games, hoisted the Cup himself, and attended the parade.

Schwartz said knowing that has helped him mentally.

“He just loved watching me and loved the dads on the team,” Schwartz said. “He was asking me a month in advance when the dads trips were and what the plan was, and I didn’t even know. He was just super excited to spend time with the guys. I think, just as a dad, it was a dream come true for him to be able to watch me grow and play in St. Louis, and to see that run we went on, I know that meant the world to him.”

TALES OF A DADS-TRIP LEGEND: REMEMBERING BLUES FORWARD JADEN SCHWARTZ’S FATHER, RICK. #STLBLUES HTTPS://T.CO/WL61SGS9YB

— JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Schwartz said, though, that you never really heal from the loss.

“It always hurts,” he said. “You always get sad at certain points during the day, and you just try to do your best to move on. You try and make them proud and try to be happy at the end of the day, which is hard to do, but you’ve got to rely on your family and friends to help you get through it and find a way.”

And moving on from St. Louis might be the best way to do that at this point in Schwartz’s career.

“One thing I was always told from the veteran guys is whatever decision you make, you can’t look back and say ‘what if?’ or ‘maybe I should’ve done this,'” he said. “You’ve just got to go with it.

“I never really imagined leaving St. Louis, but sometimes things work out the way they do. It’s a place that holds tight in my heart, and I’m going to miss it a lot. Yeah, I don’t have enough time to talk about how great it’s been for me, but it’s a special place.”

Friends and now former teammates are happy for Schwartz, even if it means not seeing him nearly as much.

“It sucks,” Schenn said. “I played on his line quite a bit over the past couple of years and had a couple of good runs. He’s the life of the locker room, and guys have a lot of fun with him. But things happen in life, and 1219652 St Louis Blues used the scorched-earth approach regarding the Blues. He’s not asking out of St. Louis just because he doesn’t “get” Imo’s. As Jim Thomas has reported in this newspaper, there is legitimate anger about how the Blues Hochman: Blues' Tarasenko, waiting for trade, is a question mark in handled the previous surgeries. But the most important thing at this point skates (that could become an exclamation point) is the return from the most recent surgery. He only got in 24 games at the end of last season, scoring four goals with 10 assists.

In the four-game series against Colorado, which the Avalanche swept, Benjamin Hochman Tarasenko’s plus-minus ratings in the first three games were minus-two, minus-two and minus-three. In that fourth game, he came to life, showing

signs of his previous life, as he netted two goals. And then he did play Ninety-one subliminally looms in The Lou. well in the World Championships for Russia.

As if to tease the Blues and Blues fans, Vladimir Tarasenko’s No. 91 So the Blues don’t have that much to lose by bringing him back to start pops up in this summer, be it as the temperature, the number of the Olive this season. Let him play his way out of town. Let him prove he’s healthy, Metro bus route, new Cardinal Nolan Arenado’s birth year or, well, on prove he can move, prove he can still snipe. And then his value would go 9/1, when the calendar flips to the month that signifies Blues camp up, he’d have more suitors and he could be traded away for a fresh start starting. at 30 (or in the final month or two of 29).

Will No. 91 be on the ice? Sure, it’ll be awkward. Super-awkward. Tarasenko in Blues camp? Having to answer media questions? Having to play with teammates he Most people can’t believe he will be. How could he be? So much has wanted to leave? happened, right? The accusations. The frustrations. The finger-pointing. (And who knows which finger!) But the business of hockey is business. It’s a risky business. It’s a risk- reward business. Even though the longtime Blues forward — heck, the legendary Blues forward (he’s fifth in goals scored) — has requested a trade, that doesn’t St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 08.24.2021 mean it’ll happen before camp. It might. It could. The Hurricanes? The Islanders? The Devils? The devil is in the details, though, as to which team makes the trade.

Or, more specifically, which team St. Louis trades him to.

It’s all about value. Vladimir’s value. The value of a haul. Weighing risk and reward.

If the Blues try to trade Tarasenko, the other team knows it isn’t getting “video-game Vladi,” the goal-scorer who famously graced the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 17. It’s getting a question mark in skates that could, possibly, form into an exclamation point.

Tarasenko, eight months younger than Arenado, was also born in ’91 — so No. 91 turns 30 in December. And he’s coming off his third shoulder surgery. Regardless of accusations about the success or failure of the previous surgeries, Tarasenko is still trying to return to top form, whatever 30-year-old Tarasenko top form is.

So if you’re to get him, what are you getting?

And we haven’t even mentioned the cap hit yet. That’s $7.5 million this season. And next season. Of course, in a trade, the Blues could take on some of that money, but it’s still quite a bit of cash for any player, let alone one in Tarasenko’s situation.

So again, it comes back to what that team would give up to get Tarasenko. We already saw the expansion team from Seattle pass on getting Tarasenko for, essentially, free. The Kraken decided not to take on Tarasenko’s contract and bypassed him in the expansion draft. Instead, it was fellow Cup-winner Vince Dunn who went from being a St. Louis Blue to wearing the Seattle “deep sea” blue (as it is, the Kraken actually has four official team colors — deep sea blue, ice blue, boundless blue and shadow blue).

By not selecting Tarasenko, that implied the Kraken front office also wouldn’t flip No. 91 to another team, which likely meant the offered haul wasn’t that enticing. Again, it all comes back to maximizing the value of every asset, every expansion pick, every everything. And that’s what the Blues have kept in mind this summer.

There are numerous moving parts to all of this, and it’s all under the umbrella of the salary cap, the same cap as the previous offseason, the cap that is affecting and altering how hockey deals are made in 2021. The Blues still have about $3.5 million of cap space, but the Blues still have to figure out Robert Thomas’ contract. Credit the Blues and chairman Tom Stillman for traditionally paying to the cap.

Trading Tarasenko would give them some financial flexibility, of course. But again, it comes back to this: Which team wants to take on that financial burden? Especially because they don’t know what they’re getting.

That is why keeping Tarasenko for the short-term actually makes some sense. The team’s general manager even suggested it as a possibility in a media Zoom in July. Yes, we know that Tarasenko and his agent have 1219653 St Louis Blues Blues general manager Doug Armstrong initiated the discussion about a potential contract extension last year, but Schwartz decided to put those talks on hold until he was thinking with a clearer mind.

‘I feel fresh again’: Jaden Schwartz ready to move on after a season he There was always a chance he would return to St. Louis, where he’d almost didn’t play following his dad’s death spent his 10-year NHL career, but he told Schenn privately that he was probably headed to the free-agent market.

By Jeremy Rutherford Aug 23, 2021 In mid-July, Seattle had an exclusive negotiating window with pending NHL unrestricted free agents such as Schwartz, and the club made considerable headway on a contract with the Blues veteran. The Kraken didn’t finalize a deal with him in that window, but he realized it would be a Anyone who’s heard Jaden Schwartz speak over the years knows it good fit. tends to be fairly monotone, with a low-key cadence. But on a phone call Friday — while he drove “in the middle of nowhere in North Dakota” — “Seattle is such a good city, and being part of an expansion team in the you could hear a tinge of adrenaline and adventure in his voice. new city is pretty special,” he said. “I liked a lot of the things they were doing, with good ownership and (GM) Ronnie Francis leading the charge. On his way from Saskatchewan, Canada, to St. Louis, Schwartz was They really thought highly of me, so they were definitely high on my list planning to stop off in Minnesota and spend time with Justin Faulk that once I realized that I probably wasn’t going to go back to St. Louis.” night. Then he’d be heading to St. Louis, where on Sunday he’d be celebrating Brayden Schenn’s 30th birthday on the golf course. In addition, Schwartz’s mom will have a short flight to see her son play in Seattle. For years, Rick and Carol Schwartz would make a nearly 20- Then on Monday, just as he has done many of the past nine seasons, hour drive from Regina, Saskatchewan, to St. Louis over the course of a Schwartz was scheduled to start skating with the Blues in preparation for few days. But now, Carol can take a flight from Regina to Seattle, with a the 2021-22 season. Only this year, after signing a five-year, $27.5 layover, in about four hours. million free-agent contract with Seattle on July 28, he’ll be doing it as an ex-teammate and visitor at the Centene Community Ice Center. In the hours leading up to the opening of unrestricted free agency leaguewide, Schwartz decided that’s where he wanted to be, and on July “It’s going to be a little bit weird,” Schwartz said. “But it’s going to be nice 28, he signed with the Kraken. seeing the training staff, the equipment guys, and obviously my teammates — old teammates. I’ve been there since I came into the “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” he said league, so I’ve got a lot of good relationships. It’s going to be good to Friday. “But at the end of the day, with how hard it’s been, I kind of felt hang out with them again.” like a fresh start and a new beginning might help me be able to get back to having fun on the ice. And Seattle is pretty close to home, pretty easy It’s a trip Schwartz acknowledged Friday for the first time publicly that he to get to. almost didn’t make last December, a month after the sudden death of his father, Rick Schwartz, to a heart attack at age 59. He said the pain was “The hardest part was just leaving the guys. Once you sign and it’s so deep that he almost didn’t play the 2020-21 season with the Blues, official, you’re kind of like, ‘Wow, that’s the end of St. Louis!’ I definitely which would have meant forfeiting his $4 million salary. In the end, the had those moments where you realize that you’re not going back. That 29-year-old forward did decide to play, and he said it was those was difficult. But so many good memories, so many good teammates.” relationships with the organization, and the memory of his dad, that pushed him. It was 11 years ago when the Blues drafted Schwartz in the first round (No. 14) in the 2010 draft in Los Angeles. His parents were at Staples “I didn’t even know if I was going to come back,” Schwartz said. “This Center, while his sister, Mandi, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid past year was pretty tough on me and my family. I didn’t have much leukemia in 2008, remained in Saskatchewan awaiting a bone-marrow motivation to play and didn’t really have time to train. Back home, transplant. everything was closed and we had to quarantine, and with my dad passing, it was a lot on me. I wasn’t in a very good place. It’s tough When Schwartz’s name was called at the draft, the family was leaving your family and friends behind and not being there for them and immediately adopted by St. Louis, and the club and the community not having them to be around me, either. supported Mandi’s cause before and after her death in 2011.

“I didn’t really know what to do, but I wanted to be there for my There were bone-marrow registry drives held at Blues games, one of teammates. I knew my mom and family really enjoyed watching me play which led to a fan saving the life of an Alabama teenager by being a hockey, and my dad would have wanted me to go back and play. I mostly perfect match. did it for them, but it wasn’t easy. I think my teammates knew that I A PERFECT MATCH: HOW A BONE-MARROW DONATION BY A wasn’t at 100 percent.” BLUES FAN SAVED THE LIFE OF AN ALABAMA TEEN. #STLBLUES Schenn, who played nearly 3,000 minutes with Schwartz in their four HTTPS://T.CO/3CKNBDIQVD seasons together in St. Louis, confirmed that. — JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) DECEMBER 27, “Yeah, it just wasn’t an easy situation all around,” Schenn said. 2018 “Obviously, it was tough on the family there, but they managed to get There was also a trip in 2014 to Yale University, where Mandi played through it.” hockey, during which the entire Blues’ team went to a women’s game. Schwartz finished the season with just eight goals and didn’t look like Schwartz got to see his sister’s locker, where her No. 17 hung. Later that himself. He missed 16 games because of an oblique injury, which may summer, he switched his number with the Blues to No. 17 from No. 9. have been somewhat attributable to his lack of offseason training. “That was pretty special, going to Yale,” Schwartz said. “That was a good He wasn’t happy with the Blues’ first-round playoff loss to Colorado, but day, having the whole team there. St. Louis was so good to my family. after he failed to put up a point in the four-game series, his mind and his There were certain things they did for Mandi, on behalf of her, just raising body were exhausted. He had nothing left. cancer awareness. The support was incredible. The people are so kind and so caring, and that’s what makes it such a fun place to play — “I tried to do everything I could, but mentally and physically, I wasn’t people always have your back.” where I needed to be,” Schwartz said. “It was the toughest year I’ve ever had in my life. I know I didn’t finish well with the Blues, and that sucks, Schwartz struggled personally after the loss of his sister, but he became but I wasn’t mentally ready for an NHL season at all. But I’m doing a lot one of the Blues’ most impactful players, scoring a career-high 28 goals better now. Mentally, I’m in a better spot, and I was able to train. I feel and 63 points in 2014-15. He was a fixture on the left wing, learning how fresh again.” to be a professional from Alexander Steen, Paul Stastny, Barret Jackman, “and the list goes on and on,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to have So why is Schwartz selling his condo in St. Louis and departing for so many role models and older guys that cared for me and taught me a Seattle soon? It could be that the expansion Kraken paid him an average lot.” annual value (AAV) of $5.5 million for the next five seasons, likely higher than the Blues were willing to go. But the fact is that in the aftermath of his dad’s death, he was also looking to begin a new chapter in his career. There was heartbreak with the Blues, losing to San Jose in the Western this is probably what he needs. In our locker room, we’re just happy for Conference finals in 2015-16 and missing the playoffs for the only time in him to feel good again playing hockey, and being back at the rink.” his career on the final day of the 2017-18 regular season. The Athletic LOADED: 08.24.2021 But that wound up just being the setup for a wonderful story in 2018-19: the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

“It was a dream come true, and, as people always say, you’ve got to learn how to lose before you learn how to win,” Schwartz said.

During that postseason run, Schwartz scored 12 goals, including two hat tricks, in 26 games. He was known as a streaky scorer, but without that streak, the Blues wouldn’t have won the Cup.

“The only thing I care about is that we won,” Schwartz said. “Honestly, everyone stepped up. I just tried doing my part and bringing my best foot forward. You realize that you don’t know how many chances you’re going to get with such good teams, and we just got on an unreal run. Everyone brought their level up a couple extra notches for that playoff, and I just tried doing the same thing.”

Schenn assisted on two of Schwartz’s playoff goals.

“Regardless of scoring, you knew what kind of effort you were going to get from him every single night,” Schenn said. “He was going to be one of the hardest-working guys on the forecheck. He was good on the backcheck. He was good at stripping pucks, stealing pucks, and (was) elusive in the corners. And when his stick got hot, he could put it in the back of the net. We all know that his time to shine is in the playoffs. He proved that, scoring 12 goals in the Cup final run.”

A few days after the Blues’ Game 7 win in Boston, St. Louis hosted the Stanley Cup parade on June 16, 2019, a day Schwartz will never forget.

“The whole city of St. Louis, I mean, that’s what a good sports town that is,” he said. “I couldn’t even believe it. I turned the corner and I thought that that was the parade, and then we turned another corner. That one is going to be pretty hard to beat. That was an unreal day.”

Rick was around for the whole experience. He was the ring-leader for the Blues’ annual “Dads Trip,” attended a lot of the playoff games, hoisted the Cup himself, and attended the parade.

Schwartz said knowing that has helped him mentally.

“He just loved watching me and loved the dads on the team,” Schwartz said. “He was asking me a month in advance when the dads trips were and what the plan was, and I didn’t even know. He was just super excited to spend time with the guys. I think, just as a dad, it was a dream come true for him to be able to watch me grow and play in St. Louis, and to see that run we went on, I know that meant the world to him.”

TALES OF A DADS-TRIP LEGEND: REMEMBERING BLUES FORWARD JADEN SCHWARTZ’S FATHER, RICK. #STLBLUES HTTPS://T.CO/WL61SGS9YB

— JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Schwartz said, though, that you never really heal from the loss.

“It always hurts,” he said. “You always get sad at certain points during the day, and you just try to do your best to move on. You try and make them proud and try to be happy at the end of the day, which is hard to do, but you’ve got to rely on your family and friends to help you get through it and find a way.”

And moving on from St. Louis might be the best way to do that at this point in Schwartz’s career.

“One thing I was always told from the veteran guys is whatever decision you make, you can’t look back and say ‘what if?’ or ‘maybe I should’ve done this,'” he said. “You’ve just got to go with it.

“I never really imagined leaving St. Louis, but sometimes things work out the way they do. It’s a place that holds tight in my heart, and I’m going to miss it a lot. Yeah, I don’t have enough time to talk about how great it’s been for me, but it’s a special place.”

Friends and now former teammates are happy for Schwartz, even if it means not seeing him nearly as much.

“It sucks,” Schenn said. “I played on his line quite a bit over the past couple of years and had a couple of good runs. He’s the life of the locker room, and guys have a lot of fun with him. But things happen in life, and 1219654 Toronto Maple Leafs

Jimmy Hayes, former Maple Leafs draft pick and NHL veteran, has died at age 31

By Mark Zwolinski

Jimmy Hayes, a former second-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, died unexpectedly at age 31.

The Boston native was found dead at his home in Milton, Mass., on Monday morning. The cause of death wasn’t immediately known, but first reports from police at the scene said it was not being treated as suspicious.

Known for an infectious smile and positive attitude, Hayes was drafted 60th overall by the Leafs in 2008 but never played for them. He went on to play 334 NHL games with Chicago, Florida, Boston and New Jersey.

The father of two and brother of Philadelphia Flyers forward Kevin Hayes notched 54 goals and 109 points. He was also a cousin of NHLers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk.

Before the NHL, Hayes starred with Boston College from 2008-11 and won a national championship in 2010.

Tributes for the six-foot-five winger poured in from around the hockey world, where he was known for having a “smile on his face” all the time and a positive influence in the dressing room.

“Known for his character and kindness around the league, Jimmy will be dearly missed by all,” the Leafs said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the entire Hayes family during this difficult time.”

Hayes last played professionally in 2019 and started a podcast called “Missin Curfew” in August 2020, with former NHLers Shane O’Brien and Scottie Upshall. The last episode was posted Aug. 5.

Hayes broke into the NHL with Chicago, which acquired him from the Leafs in June 2010 for the 43rd pick in that year’s draft. Chicago traded him to the Panthers in 2013, and Hayes posted his best NHL season — 19 goals and 35 points in 72 games — the following year with the Panthers. That caught the eye of his hometown Bruins, who acquired him for Reilly Smith and the contract for Marc Savard.

Hayes signed a three-year, $6.9-million (U.S.) contract in July 2015. He was bought out two years later and finished his pro career with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Jimmy Hayes speaks to reporters after being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the NHL draft in Ottawa in this 2008 file photo. The NHL veteran was found dead Monnday morning at his home in Massachusetts.

Hayes leaves wife Kristen and two sons: two-year-old Beau, and Mac, who was born May 5.

An Instagram post by his wife on Sunday showed the family at an arcade, playing games and celebrating Beau’s second birthday.

Toronto Star LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219655 Toronto Maple Leafs Hayes played 334 NHL games in his career, with 109 points. He last appeared in the NHL in 2017-18 with the Devils before finishing his career in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Former Leafs draft pick Jimmy Hayes found dead at his home Since August 2020, he had co-hosted a podcast with fellow former NHLers Shane O’Brien and Scottie Upshall called ‘Missin Curfew’, going by the nickname “Broadway”. Their last live show was Aug. 5 and the Lance Hornby Globe reported there were Instagram pictures posted by his wife Sunday night of the family at an arcade celebrating one of the children’s

birthdays. Jimmy Hayes is action while playing with the Boston Bruins against the VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Nov. 4, 2016. A POST SHARED BY KRISTEN HAYES (@RAISING_HAYES) Former Maple Leafs draft pick Jimmy Hayes, who went on to play seven years in the NHL, has died. GILBERT WAS ‘MR. RANGER’

Details of the retired 31-year-old’s passing on Monday, including cause During the lowest points of their 54-year Stanley Cup drought up to 1994, of death, were not immediately known. The Boston Globe reported law the New York Rangers always had Rod Gilbert. enforcement and first responders went to Hayes’s Milton, Mass., home, where the married father of two was found. Circumstances aren’t On the ice where, he carved a Hall of Fame career through 18 seasons considered suspicious. and two back surgeries, and off it, where he kept the hockey flame burning on Broadway. Gilbert died late Sunday, not long after his 80th Hayes has a long hockey lineage in Massachusetts: brother of Kevin birthday. Hayes, the alternate captain of the Flyers, a second cousin of NHLers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald and “That title, Mr. Ranger, he took it seriously,” fellow team ambassador Ron related to other members of that clan throughout the league. Duguay told the New York Post. “You’d see him in suite visits and walking in the aisles, he’d stop for everyone who wanted a picture or an Several tributes were immediately posted by the teams he played for; autograph. He absolutely loved it, and the fans adored him. And he never Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Florida, Jersey and Boston College where he got tired of any of it. That’s just who he was. was a two-time Hockey East champion and won the national title in 2010. That was two years after Toronto picked the 6-foot-5 right winger 60th “There was no one better at representing (Madison Square) Garden, the overall. franchise, the brand and representing all of us. The first time I walked into the Garden to sign my contract, he was the first man to meet me. We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Maple Leafs And he took me out that night, too, kind of a celebration, the beginning of draft pick, Jimmy Hayes. a long relationship.”

Known for his character and kindness around the league, Jimmy will be The Montreal-born Gilbert was an instant hit in the Big Apple in the early dearly missed by all. 1960s, a star with their Ontario minor affiliate, the Guelph Biltmores. Right winger on the Goal-A-Game (GAG) Line with Jean Ratelle and Vic Our thoughts are with the entire Hayes family during this difficult time. Hadfield, the eight-time all-star was the franchise’s leader in goals (406), pic.twitter.com/T9lPlBBy0E points (1,021) and the first Ranger to have his number (7) retired at — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 23, 2021 MSG.

Boston College Hockey is heartbroken over the passing of Jimmy Hayes. The closest Gilbert got to the Cup was losing the 1972 final to Boston in Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Hayes family. six games, though later that year he helped Team Canada beat the pic.twitter.com/2nL59U6Fgs Russians in the . In 1960, his final season with Guelph, Gilbert’s skate slipped on some garbage that fans had tossed on the ice, — BC Hockey (@BCHockey) August 23, 2021 sending him tumbling into the boards, snapping a vertebra in his back and temporarily paralyzing him. He needed delicate spinal fusion surgery “He was a big guy with nice hands and just a wonderful kid,” recalled and again in ‘65. Gilbert had a career-best 43 goals and 97 points in ‘71- Maple Leafs director of player personnel Dave Morrison, who was the 72 and four years later won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance. club’s head of amateur scouting at the 2008 draft. “That’s what I remember most about him, a really good young man. I got to know his “I would loved to have played on a Cup winner,” Gilbert once said. “But I Dad (Kevin Sr.) quite well and his brother. I’m terribly saddened. This is a had my share of thrills and in a lot of ways, I was very lucky, considering tough one because you spend a lot of time with their family. I bumped my dream of making the NHL and being able to do what I did with all into his dad at rinks at BC and all around. Our thoughts and prayers of those back problems.” everyone here are with them. A young man at his age with a young family, it’s tragic.” LOOSE LEAFS

Prior to being picked, Hayes was with the United States National As he’d promised at an emotional eulogy last month, Columbus Development Program in many international events, including the World goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has named his new baby son to honour late Under-18 championship, the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and the World Jr. teammate Matiss Kivlenieks. Elvis and wife Aleksandra welcomed Knox Challenge. He also played in the 2014 World Championships. Matiss Merzlikins the past few days. Kivlenieks died in a July 4 fireworks mishap in which he was credited with saving Aleksandra … Though As he transitioned out of the NDP to St. Louis of the USHL before school, COVID-19 and cross-border travel remains a concern, the NHL has Hayes was Toronto’s second selection in ‘08, after defenceman Luke released its full 2021 pre-season schedule. It will begin Saturday, Sept. Schenn. But before he finished his time at Boston College, he was traded 25, with an afternoon game between the Leafs and to Chicago in the 2010 draft as Toronto moved up and took WHL forward at Scotiabank Arena, a few days after Toronto opens camp. Next day, Brad Ross. the expansion Seattle Kraken make their unofficial debut against the Vancouver Canucks at Spokane, Wash. Games run until Oct. 9 … The Many of Hayes’ NHL family made supportive calls to Jimmy when he Islanders, unable to play at home until their new arena in Belmont, N.Y., wasn’t picked in the first round in ‘08 and slipped to 60th. Fitzgerald, then is ready on Nov. 20, will play three exhibitions in Bridgeport, Conn. a scout with Pittsburgh, had recommended Hayes be the Penguins next Neutral-site preseason games also will be staged in Abbotsford, B.C. pick and was writing his name when the Leafs announced him. (Calgary vs. Vancouver, Sept. 27); Independence, Mo. (Chicago vs. St. “I sent John Lilley a message this morning (the long-time Leaf amateur Louis, Oct. 2); Orlando, Fla. (Florida vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 5) and Salt scout, who just joined the Rangers),” Morrison said. “John knew his Lake City, Utah (L.A. vs. Vegas, Sept. 30). family, which was considerable help to us when we drafted Jimmy. Every Toronto Sun LOADED: 08.24.2021 organization makes decisions at different times. We drafted him for a reason and he became what we thought he’d be, but that part (of what happens after a trade is made) is always tough to predict.” 1219656 Vegas Golden Knights

Foley’s Vegas Golden Knights Portfolio Adds Another Knight To Sports Roundtable: Indoor Football Team Name Is Vegas Knight Hawks Playing In Henderson

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Bill Foley is a fast learner.

If you’re going to build an arena, you: a. get the local government — in this case, the city of Henderson — to give you free public money. Henderson is contributing $42 million of the $84 million cost for the 6,000-seat Dollar Loan Center arena. (Yes, Dollar Loan Center bought the naming rights to the building.) b. create your own programming like launching a new indoor football team for the venue. The team, the Vegas Knight Hawks, will share the building with Foley’s , the feeder team to the parent VGK club. You’d think that Henderson, for contributing $42 million to the cost of the arena where the football team will play, would be in the official name of the team. But no dice. c. create your own entertainment and sports business organization to book events and acts for the arena. It’s called the Foley Entertainment Group. d. announce the indoor football team’s new name with a local TV station to maximize buzz with the built-in coverage.

So, Foley’s latest venture is the Vegas Knight Hawks of the . The team is the latest sports industry addition to a market of 2.2 million that is already crowded with both team sports and annual events. Plus, there’s a new indoor lacrosse team that’s getting ready to play at the arena at Mandalay Bay.

As you can tell, Foley and the VGK franchise are a little obsessed with this “knight” theme. Even the title of the announcement had knight in it. A 1967 West Point graduate, Foley loves the “knight” reference because the U.S. Military Academy’s sports teams were called the, “Black Knights.”

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 08.24.2021 1219657 Winnipeg Jets team, it pissed me off and let me go about my work that much harder and become a better player.

"No hard feelings. I wish it had turned out different, but I'm not the GM. Appleton eager to get Kraken That's not my call."

A solid two-way forward, he meshed well with the centre Adam Lowry Jason Bell and winger Andrew Copp, and will miss that affiliation.

"I loved that line, had a lot of comfort there," Appleton said. "They are two really good players and I felt like we really fed well off each other, Mason Appleton was among the many who dove into the internet more whether we had to shut down a top line or contributing on offence. I think than a year ago to discover the definition and significance of the team we did a little bit of everything." name "Kraken." He's a big fan of and is quite familiar with an inane exchange Now, he's part of the first incarnation of Seattle's new NHL squad, which between Jerry and George Costanza that concludes with the stocky, gives a nod to a mythological, tentacled creature that patrols the depths balding ' office minion referring to Seattle as "the of the Pacific Ocean. pesto of cities" because of its perceived trendiness.

The speedy, hard-working former Winnipeg Jets' winger, netted by the As the NHL goes, the Kraken's as contemporary and cool as it gets. Kraken five weeks ago in the expansion draft, admits he's amped up about his new set of circumstances. "I've only heard great things about the city, so super excited to get out there. And a little less harsher winters won't hurt, either," he said. "It's "I'm very excited. Any time you get to be a part of something new and going to have that feel like Vegas had a few years back, that buzz around break in with a new organization, it's an awesome opportunity. So, I'm them in every building they went into." super pumped about that," said Appleton, speaking to the Free Press this week from his home in Green Bay, Wis. Appleton is set to head west Sept. 10.

The Kraken will slot into the Pacific Division, bouncing the Arizona "We've had a decent amount of conversations (with the Kraken) since the Coyotes to the Central. (expansion) draft. I'll head there a little early to meet the guys and get on the ice a few times before training camp gets rolling," he said. "I know "I honestly didn't even know what a Kraken was, at first," said Appleton, (ex-Jet Brandon) Tanev and have met a few other guys through text, but laughing. "I like the name a lot and, obviously, it meshes well with Seattle it'll be nice to get there early, get acclimated to the city and meet the being on the water." guys."

Developing a positive outlook about swapping teams was a gradual Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 08.24.2021 process for the 25-year-old Wisconsin product, who enjoyed a breakout offensive year in Winnipeg during the abbreviated 2021 campaign. He produced 12 goals and 25 points while dressing for all 56 games, averaging more than 14 minutes of ice time per game, and chipped in a goal and a pair of assists in eight post-season games.

Appleton could, indeed, be considered a poster boy for the Jets' draft- and-develop philosophy.

Winnipeg selected him in the sixth round in 2015 and monitored his progress for two years at Michigan State University. He inked his first pro deal in 2017 and spent the entire '17-18 season with the Moose of the American Hockey League, finishing fourth in league scoring (22G, 44A) and deservedly being named the league's rookie of the year.

Appleton split the '18-19 campaign between the Moose and the Jets, earning regular duty in '19-20 although his availability and production were hindered by injuries.

The Jets organization was all he'd known since turning pro, and he believed he was still in the early stages of a long, healthy relationship.

"I've described it as bittersweet to a bunch of people. It's been tough. It's tough leaving all the guys in Winnipeg and the city. It's weird, that's for sure," he said. "I was accustomed to things and didn't really see myself going somewhere else.

"I've talked to a lot of the guys and told them how much I'll miss them. That part sucks, saying goodbye to your teammates, the guys you see every day."

Appleton said Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff called him just before Winnipeg's protected list was released July 18 to inform him that his name wasn't on it, adding, however, that attempts were being made to orchestrate a deal to retain his services.

Three days later, Cheveldayoff again called to break the news that Seattle had chosen him. Calls from Seattle GM Ron Francis and head coach Dave Hakstol soon followed.

"I watched the draft with my family that night and that was that. I woke up the next morning a Seattle Kraken and no longer a Jet," Appleton said, noting he harbours no ill will toward his former employers.

"It is what it is. Obviously, it was a tough situation for us and them, and the cards fell where they fell," he said. "I don't know if I felt let down. That's not the right word. But any time you're not protected or you're traded or something like that, it puts a chip on your shoulder. I've always been that guy that when I didn't get selected at a camp or didn't make a 1219658 Websites Blues general manager Doug Armstrong initiated the discussion about a potential contract extension last year, but Schwartz decided to put those talks on hold until he was thinking with a clearer mind.

The Athletic / ‘I feel fresh again’: Jaden Schwartz ready to move on after There was always a chance he would return to St. Louis, where he’d a season he almost didn’t play following his dad’s death spent his 10-year NHL career, but he told Schenn privately that he was probably headed to the free-agent market.

By Jeremy Rutherford Aug 23, 2021 In mid-July, Seattle had an exclusive negotiating window with pending NHL unrestricted free agents such as Schwartz, and the club made considerable headway on a contract with the Blues veteran. The Kraken didn’t finalize a deal with him in that window, but he realized it would be a Anyone who’s heard Jaden Schwartz speak over the years knows it good fit. tends to be fairly monotone, with a low-key cadence. But on a phone call Friday — while he drove “in the middle of nowhere in North Dakota” — “Seattle is such a good city, and being part of an expansion team in the you could hear a tinge of adrenaline and adventure in his voice. new city is pretty special,” he said. “I liked a lot of the things they were doing, with good ownership and (GM) Ronnie Francis leading the charge. On his way from Saskatchewan, Canada, to St. Louis, Schwartz was They really thought highly of me, so they were definitely high on my list planning to stop off in Minnesota and spend time with Justin Faulk that once I realized that I probably wasn’t going to go back to St. Louis.” night. Then he’d be heading to St. Louis, where on Sunday he’d be celebrating Brayden Schenn’s 30th birthday on the golf course. In addition, Schwartz’s mom will have a short flight to see her son play in Seattle. For years, Rick and Carol Schwartz would make a nearly 20- Then on Monday, just as he has done many of the past nine seasons, hour drive from Regina, Saskatchewan, to St. Louis over the course of a Schwartz was scheduled to start skating with the Blues in preparation for few days. But now, Carol can take a flight from Regina to Seattle, with a the 2021-22 season. Only this year, after signing a five-year, $27.5 layover, in about four hours. million free-agent contract with Seattle on July 28, he’ll be doing it as an ex-teammate and visitor at the Centene Community Ice Center. In the hours leading up to the opening of unrestricted free agency leaguewide, Schwartz decided that’s where he wanted to be, and on July “It’s going to be a little bit weird,” Schwartz said. “But it’s going to be nice 28, he signed with the Kraken. seeing the training staff, the equipment guys, and obviously my teammates — old teammates. I’ve been there since I came into the “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” he said league, so I’ve got a lot of good relationships. It’s going to be good to Friday. “But at the end of the day, with how hard it’s been, I kind of felt hang out with them again.” like a fresh start and a new beginning might help me be able to get back to having fun on the ice. And Seattle is pretty close to home, pretty easy It’s a trip Schwartz acknowledged Friday for the first time publicly that he to get to. almost didn’t make last December, a month after the sudden death of his father, Rick Schwartz, to a heart attack at age 59. He said the pain was “The hardest part was just leaving the guys. Once you sign and it’s so deep that he almost didn’t play the 2020-21 season with the Blues, official, you’re kind of like, ‘Wow, that’s the end of St. Louis!’ I definitely which would have meant forfeiting his $4 million salary. In the end, the had those moments where you realize that you’re not going back. That 29-year-old forward did decide to play, and he said it was those was difficult. But so many good memories, so many good teammates.” relationships with the organization, and the memory of his dad, that pushed him. It was 11 years ago when the Blues drafted Schwartz in the first round (No. 14) in the 2010 draft in Los Angeles. His parents were at Staples “I didn’t even know if I was going to come back,” Schwartz said. “This Center, while his sister, Mandi, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid past year was pretty tough on me and my family. I didn’t have much leukemia in 2008, remained in Saskatchewan awaiting a bone-marrow motivation to play and didn’t really have time to train. Back home, transplant. everything was closed and we had to quarantine, and with my dad passing, it was a lot on me. I wasn’t in a very good place. It’s tough When Schwartz’s name was called at the draft, the family was leaving your family and friends behind and not being there for them and immediately adopted by St. Louis, and the club and the community not having them to be around me, either. supported Mandi’s cause before and after her death in 2011.

“I didn’t really know what to do, but I wanted to be there for my There were bone-marrow registry drives held at Blues games, one of teammates. I knew my mom and family really enjoyed watching me play which led to a fan saving the life of an Alabama teenager by being a hockey, and my dad would have wanted me to go back and play. I mostly perfect match. did it for them, but it wasn’t easy. I think my teammates knew that I A PERFECT MATCH: HOW A BONE-MARROW DONATION BY A wasn’t at 100 percent.” BLUES FAN SAVED THE LIFE OF AN ALABAMA TEEN. #STLBLUES Schenn, who played nearly 3,000 minutes with Schwartz in their four HTTPS://T.CO/3CKNBDIQVD seasons together in St. Louis, confirmed that. — JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) DECEMBER 27, “Yeah, it just wasn’t an easy situation all around,” Schenn said. 2018 “Obviously, it was tough on the family there, but they managed to get There was also a trip in 2014 to Yale University, where Mandi played through it.” hockey, during which the entire Blues’ team went to a women’s game. Schwartz finished the season with just eight goals and didn’t look like Schwartz got to see his sister’s locker, where her No. 17 hung. Later that himself. He missed 16 games because of an oblique injury, which may summer, he switched his number with the Blues to No. 17 from No. 9. have been somewhat attributable to his lack of offseason training. “That was pretty special, going to Yale,” Schwartz said. “That was a good He wasn’t happy with the Blues’ first-round playoff loss to Colorado, but day, having the whole team there. St. Louis was so good to my family. after he failed to put up a point in the four-game series, his mind and his There were certain things they did for Mandi, on behalf of her, just raising body were exhausted. He had nothing left. cancer awareness. The support was incredible. The people are so kind and so caring, and that’s what makes it such a fun place to play — “I tried to do everything I could, but mentally and physically, I wasn’t people always have your back.” where I needed to be,” Schwartz said. “It was the toughest year I’ve ever had in my life. I know I didn’t finish well with the Blues, and that sucks, Schwartz struggled personally after the loss of his sister, but he became but I wasn’t mentally ready for an NHL season at all. But I’m doing a lot one of the Blues’ most impactful players, scoring a career-high 28 goals better now. Mentally, I’m in a better spot, and I was able to train. I feel and 63 points in 2014-15. He was a fixture on the left wing, learning how fresh again.” to be a professional from Alexander Steen, Paul Stastny, Barret Jackman, “and the list goes on and on,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to have So why is Schwartz selling his condo in St. Louis and departing for so many role models and older guys that cared for me and taught me a Seattle soon? It could be that the expansion Kraken paid him an average lot.” annual value (AAV) of $5.5 million for the next five seasons, likely higher than the Blues were willing to go. But the fact is that in the aftermath of his dad’s death, he was also looking to begin a new chapter in his career. There was heartbreak with the Blues, losing to San Jose in the Western this is probably what he needs. In our locker room, we’re just happy for Conference finals in 2015-16 and missing the playoffs for the only time in him to feel good again playing hockey, and being back at the rink.” his career on the final day of the 2017-18 regular season. The Athletic LOADED: 08.24.2021 But that wound up just being the setup for a wonderful story in 2018-19: the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

“It was a dream come true, and, as people always say, you’ve got to learn how to lose before you learn how to win,” Schwartz said.

During that postseason run, Schwartz scored 12 goals, including two hat tricks, in 26 games. He was known as a streaky scorer, but without that streak, the Blues wouldn’t have won the Cup.

“The only thing I care about is that we won,” Schwartz said. “Honestly, everyone stepped up. I just tried doing my part and bringing my best foot forward. You realize that you don’t know how many chances you’re going to get with such good teams, and we just got on an unreal run. Everyone brought their level up a couple extra notches for that playoff, and I just tried doing the same thing.”

Schenn assisted on two of Schwartz’s playoff goals.

“Regardless of scoring, you knew what kind of effort you were going to get from him every single night,” Schenn said. “He was going to be one of the hardest-working guys on the forecheck. He was good on the backcheck. He was good at stripping pucks, stealing pucks, and (was) elusive in the corners. And when his stick got hot, he could put it in the back of the net. We all know that his time to shine is in the playoffs. He proved that, scoring 12 goals in the Cup final run.”

A few days after the Blues’ Game 7 win in Boston, St. Louis hosted the Stanley Cup parade on June 16, 2019, a day Schwartz will never forget.

“The whole city of St. Louis, I mean, that’s what a good sports town that is,” he said. “I couldn’t even believe it. I turned the corner and I thought that that was the parade, and then we turned another corner. That one is going to be pretty hard to beat. That was an unreal day.”

Rick was around for the whole experience. He was the ring-leader for the Blues’ annual “Dads Trip,” attended a lot of the playoff games, hoisted the Cup himself, and attended the parade.

Schwartz said knowing that has helped him mentally.

“He just loved watching me and loved the dads on the team,” Schwartz said. “He was asking me a month in advance when the dads trips were and what the plan was, and I didn’t even know. He was just super excited to spend time with the guys. I think, just as a dad, it was a dream come true for him to be able to watch me grow and play in St. Louis, and to see that run we went on, I know that meant the world to him.”

TALES OF A DADS-TRIP LEGEND: REMEMBERING BLUES FORWARD JADEN SCHWARTZ’S FATHER, RICK. #STLBLUES HTTPS://T.CO/WL61SGS9YB

— JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Schwartz said, though, that you never really heal from the loss.

“It always hurts,” he said. “You always get sad at certain points during the day, and you just try to do your best to move on. You try and make them proud and try to be happy at the end of the day, which is hard to do, but you’ve got to rely on your family and friends to help you get through it and find a way.”

And moving on from St. Louis might be the best way to do that at this point in Schwartz’s career.

“One thing I was always told from the veteran guys is whatever decision you make, you can’t look back and say ‘what if?’ or ‘maybe I should’ve done this,'” he said. “You’ve just got to go with it.

“I never really imagined leaving St. Louis, but sometimes things work out the way they do. It’s a place that holds tight in my heart, and I’m going to miss it a lot. Yeah, I don’t have enough time to talk about how great it’s been for me, but it’s a special place.”

Friends and now former teammates are happy for Schwartz, even if it means not seeing him nearly as much.

“It sucks,” Schenn said. “I played on his line quite a bit over the past couple of years and had a couple of good runs. He’s the life of the locker room, and guys have a lot of fun with him. But things happen in life, and 1219659 Websites Overall, this is a strong forward group that should produce again next season.

Onto the defensive pairings: TSN.CA / Leafs' core facing 'Last Dance' scenario We have talked about it being do-or -die time for this Maple Leafs lineup, In this week’s edition of Seven Questions, Travis Yost asks - if this is a and perhaps the best example of that is with defenceman Morgan Rielly. final stand of sorts for the Toronto Maple Leafs core, is this year’s roster deep enough to get over the playoff hump? A gifted skater and puck-mover, Rielly is part of a quality first-pairing that gets the Maple Leafs up the ice in a hurry in transition, opening up time and space for the forwards. Another season with big offensive numbers By Travis Yost is expected, but I think the Maple Leafs are still trying to figure out what a long-term commitment looks like here – if not because of the challenges through salary cap compression, then because Rielly’s defensive play has held him back just enough from being regarded as an elite first- The eight best regular-season teams in the National Hockey League over pairing defender. the past three seasons have amassed 24 postseason series victories, with two championships to boot. The focus area for this group are a collection of depth defenders beyond Rielly, T.J. Brodie, and Jake Muzzin. The organization is playing a bit of a Within that group resides the Toronto Maple Leafs, our feature team for numbers game here, trying to find two quality defenders amidst a mix of this week’s edition of Seven Questions. We ask: If this is a ‘Last Dance’ Justin Holl, Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, and Travis Dermott. of sorts for the Maple Leafs core, is this year’s roster deep enough to get over the playoff hump? There was a bit of debate over the organization’s decision to protect Holl (subsequently exposing McCann to the Seattle Kraken) – but if nothing The mix of eight playoff teams – from the through else, a combination of what Holl has shown in limited duty and the the Maple Leafs – really can be split into two segments. Five of the incredible cost of mid-pair defenders in free agency makes it worth teams (Tampa Bay, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden exploring further. Knights and ) account for all the playoff success within our elite regular-season group. The and That said, there is downside risk to this group. The NHL is a young man’s Pittsburgh Penguins join the Leafs in another segment – three teams league, but the Maple Leafs could have Sandin (21 years old, 37 NHL who have struck out in the first round of each postseason. games) and Liljegren (22, 13 NHL games) in the lineup full time. There isn’t much behind them, and the risk of burdening the Maple Leafs top What differentiates Washington and Pittsburgh from Toronto is, of four over the regular season increases substantially if this theoretical course, championships. Washington had their breakthrough moment in pairing cracks. the 2017-18 season, and Pittsburgh has three titles in the Sidney Crosby era. The recent results have been similarly poor, but in the case of these That brings us to the . Jack Campbell returns, joined by a two clubs, the tolerance for those failures is much greater. That’s no new face in net in the form of nine-year veteran Petr Mrazek. longer the case in Toronto. Mrazek has had an interesting career – he’s been on a bit of a The Maple Leafs – and general manager Kyle Dubas, more specifically – performance downturn, some the result of injuries, other the result of have opted to bet on an ultra-talented, if top-heavy lineup again this playing on weaker teams in Detroit and Philadelphia. In Mrazek’s last full season. season with Carolina (2019-20), we saw slightly below league-average performance. It’s not lost on me that salary cap compression due to the ongoing pandemic probably made that decision for them; one way to maneuver The shot profiles courtesy HockeyViz: around three players (Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Mitch Marner) commanding 41 per cent of the salary cap on long-term deals is through A prospective Mrazek/Campbell platoon should hold up next season – the annual three per cent cap growth the league has observed for years. Campbell has put together two quality seasons together now, perhaps enough to win the majority of starts at the end of next season. But this is Without cap flexibility and with a pressing need in net, the Maple Leafs not a core strength of the team, and it’s also a group with downside risk. have only been allowed to tinker at the margins of their roster. If we look If not because Campbell’s still just 86 games into his professional career, at the expected Maple Leafs depth chart for next season, we see a then because of Mrazek’s health and play over the last few years. similarly themed lineup to those of years past – elite offensive options at the top of the lineup and particularly strong down the middle, with some This roster should be good enough for the playoffs and beyond, scoring observable weakness in depth positions. their way out of most problems over the course of the regular season. If the goaltending holds up, this is a Stanley Cup-calibre roster. Let’s start with the forward group, using Goals Above Replacement as our production proxy: If not, this may very well be the last dance for the Maple Leafs’ core.

This is the core strength of the Maple Leafs – an ultra-productive offence Data via Natural Stat Trick, NHL.com, Hockey Reference, Evolving highlighted by tremendous firepower inside the top-six forward group. Hockey

Over the past two seasons, the Maple Leafs have scored 3.3 goals per- TSN.CA LOADED: 08.24.2021 60 minutes across all situations, good for fourth best in the National Hockey League. It helps that two of the team’s most dangerous scoring weapons are centres on competing lines – even capable defensive teams with shutdown lines have a choice to make between slowing down Matthews and his 146 points over the past two seasons or slowing down Tavares and his 110 points over the same timeframe.

Away from their core strengths, there are two notable items within the forward group.

The first is that we expect meaningful changes to the line combinations, changes we haven’t seen in years past. Nick Ritchie, Alex Kerfoot, and perhaps players like Michael Bunting and Ondrej Kase will get time inside of the top six, a byproduct of displaced minutes from the loss of Zach Hyman and Jared McCann (we hardly knew ye!) this summer.

The second: if there’s risk with this group, it’s the natural top-heaviness of the lineup and the reality that the team is betting on a continuance of strong play from 38-year-old Jason Spezza, and an increasingly elusive bounce-back season from 32-year-old Wayne Simmonds. 1219660 Websites

USA TODAY / Former NHL forward Jimmy Hayes dies at 31

Chris Bumbaca

Former NHL forward Jimmy Hayes has died, the Boston College men's hockey program announced Monday. He was 31.

No cause of death was immediately given.

Hayes, a Boston native, played for Boston College from 2008-2011 and was a member of the 2010 NCAA championship squad.

“Boston College Hockey is heartbroken over the passing of Jimmy Hayes,” Boston College said in its statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Hayes family.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Hayes in the second round of the 2008 NHL draft and then traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks in June 2010. He debuted with Chicago in December 2011, but his best years came with the Florida Panthers (2013-15) and his hometown Bruins (2015-17).

He played 33 games for the New Jersey Devils in 2017-18 before spending 2018-19 with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He scored a total of 54 goals and 109 points in his NHL career.

The Boston Globe reported authorities responded to Hayes' Milton, Massachusetts, home, where he was pronounced dead. USA TODAY's messages to the Milton Police and Fire Departments have not been immediately returned.

Hayes had two sons, ages 2 and 3 months, with his wife Kristen.

Hayes comes from a big hockey family. His brother, Kevin, plays for the Philadelphia Flyers and his cousin Tom Fitzgerald is currently the Devils' general manager.

USA TODAY LOADED: 08.24.2021