SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/25/2020 Anaheim Ducks Dallas Stars 1189077 NHL will deploy crowd noise and other techno wizardry to 1189109 What to take away from the Stars’ power play as training boost game atmosphere camp comes to a close 1189110 Ranking the eight opponents the Dallas Stars could face in the first round 1189078 Bruins eager to head to Toronto, begin run at 1189079 With Ondrej Kase out, opportunity knocks for young Bruins 1189080 Thoughts and observations from the Bruins' Friday 1189112 Who will Detroit Red Wings protect in Seattle Kraken scrimmage expansion draft? Our list 1189081 Brad Marchand puts North End penthouse up for sale for 1189113 As NHL starts back up, don't expect mingling among $2.85 million players in hubs 1189082 Torey Krug admits this could possibly be his final Stanley 1189114 Who might Red Wings lose to Seattle Kraken in 2021 Cup run with Bruins expansion draft? 1189083 The pressure is on David Pastrnak, who has a lot to prove 1189115 Would goaltender Yaroslav Askarov be worth the gamble for Bruins this postseason at fourth overall? 1189084 Bruins takeaways: Torey Krug cherishing perhaps his final Black-and-Gold days Edmonton Oilers 1189116 Colby Cave's wife touched by Edmonton Oilers' jersey tribute 1189085 Playoff fever hits Calgary? Not for all hockey fans in 1189117 JONES: Get ready for hub hockey overload summer months 1189118 ‘We don’t expect it to be perfect’: Updates on the NHL’s 1189086 SNAPSHOTS: Flames’ third-string goalie Gillies thankful health and safety plans for chance to knock off rust 1189087 Flames Hanifin binged on NHL Network replays during layoff 1189119 Panthers reshuffle lines with top defenseman out. Now a 1189088 Flames’ makers and breakers: A ranking of Calgary’s rookie gets his shot on top line roster based on impact 1189120 Will NHL players make a social justice stance? The Florida Panthers’ NHLPA rep weighs in Carolina Hurricanes 1189089 Unprecedented playoffs could produce unexpected stars Los Angeles Kings for Hurricanes 1189121 NHL will deploy crowd noise and other techno wizardry to boost game atmosphere 1189122 AN INSIDE LOOK AT KINGS DIRECTOR OF AMATEUR 1189090 reportedly among the 31 Blackhawks SCOUTING MARK YANNETTI & THE SCOUTING headed to Edmonton for their series against the Oilers PROCESS 1189091 Blackhawks defenseman won’t travel to Edmonton for the playoffs: ‘I just don’t feel comfortable Minnesota Wild 1189092 Corey Crawford reportedly listed on Blackhawks’ 31-man 1189123 Three Wild players outside of big names that could playoff roster produce in playoffs 1189093 Brent Seabrook won’t play for Blackhawks in playoffs, but 1189124 Eriksson Ek and Dumba are in as Wild finalizes roster for plans to be ‘impact player’ next season trip to Edmonton 1189094 Blackhawks reportedly list Crawford among players going 1189125 Day 7: 2:31 in the afternoon? Perfect time for leftover to Edmonton pizza 1189095 Searbook expects to be ready for next season but will not 1189126 Far-from-normal year provides for busy July in hockey go to Edmonton world 1189096 Brent Seabrook won't travel with Blackhawks for playoffs 1189127 Wild’s dress code for postseason says all for one, and one 1189097 Report: Corey Crawford on Blackhawks' 31-man for all postseason roster 1189128 Getting Wild to NHL’s hub city ‘going to be a moving 1189098 Brent Seabrook has 'lots' of hockey left, but will he finish circus’ career with Blackhawks? 1189129 Four goalies and one interesting pick as Wild finalize 1189099 Blackhawks' Connor Murphy hopeful for Oilers series roster going to Edmonton despite groin injury 1189100 Brent Seabrook announces he will not be part of Montreal Canadiens Blackhawks' postseason roster 1189130 Canadiens' Brett Kulak feels good after being sidelined 1189101 Brent Seabrook won't travel with Chicago Blackhawks for with COVID-19 playoffs 1189102 Blackhawks’ roster, health becoming somewhat clearer as Nashville Predators team prepares to depart 1189131 Q&A: Preds GM David Poile on the impact of John Hynes 1189103 ‘I got lots left’: Defiant Brent Seabrook turns his attention and the goalie competition to 2020-21 and beyond 1189104 Alex Nylander may finally be ready for a major role with New Jersey Devils the Blackhawks 1189132 How a flat salary cap benefits the Devils: Western Conference edition Colorado Avalanche 1189105 The Avalanche are playing for a lot more than the Stanley Cup Columbus Blue Jackets 1189106 Four Blue Jackets had `normal’ time off in native Sweden 1189107 Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nathan Gerbe still proving himself 1189108 Blue Jackets unsettled, Tortorella irritated, as training camp 2.0 nears end New York Islanders Toronto Maple Leafs 1189133 Islanders getting ready to embrace the ‘grind’ of the 1189168 ‘I don’t think it’ll be too friendly’: Inside the NHL bubble, bubble players ready for awkward moments 1189134 Islanders fed up with scrimmaging, ready to play some 1189169 Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner invests in local real games real estate startup Justo 1189135 Scott Mayfield, Islanders teammates prepare for the 1189170 After churning out 500,000 meals, MLSE chefs now turn mental grind of being away from family attention to NHL hub 1189136 finally gets to skate with top Islanders' 1189171 Kyle Clifford looking forward to unleashing physical side forwards once Maple Leafs square off with Jackets 1189137 Pre-departure Islanders notes: Who’s in, who’s out and 1189172 Traikos: What is Bubble hockey? where’s Ilya Sorokin? 1189173 Leafs prospect Mikko Kokkonen hopes his style of play translates to NHL New York Rangers 1189174 Observations from Leafs camp Pt. 2: Ilya Mikheyev soars, 1189138 K’Andre Miller has thrived, but won’t play for Rangers this roster takes shape year 1189139 Rangers’ first line shows what it’s made of: ‘Big step Canucks forward’ 1189185 Patrick Johnston: Canucks captain Bo Horvat is antsy for 1189140 NY Rangers takeaways from the final scrimmage of camp bubble time, playoff action and thoughts on K'Andre Miller 1189186 Ed Willes: From layoff to playoff, NHL's made-for-TV 1189141 Former NY Rangers first-round pick Lias Andersson signs exercise is one big unknown to play in SHL next season 1189187 Canucks will have Louis Domingue as their No. 3 goalie 1189142 Projecting the NY Rangers roster and lineup for the NHL's 1189188 Patrick Johnston: Canucks could face a Wild-card goalie qualifying round series in qualifying series 1189143 Rangers' final scrimmage before season resumes is a 1189189 Can sports fans enjoy the game without exuberant lively affair crowds? 1189190 Canucks scrimmage: Quinn Hughes dominates and Ottawa Senators Micheal Ferland’s statement game 1189144 Who stays, who goes: Predictions for the Senators’ pending free agents Vegas Golden Knights 1189175 William Karlsson, Oscar Dansk have been quarantine companions 1189145 Flyers winger Oskar Lindblom: ‘A champion through this‘ | 1189176 Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore poised to excel in Sam Carchidi postseason 1189146 Oskar Lindblom’s incredible journey back to the Flyers | 1189177 Golden Knights to host “playoff cavalcade” to send team Timeline off 1189147 Flyers sign Oskar Lindblom to three-year extension; will likely join postseason roster 1189148 Claude Giroux says the Flyers are in a good spot for 1189178 As NHL returns, Capitals players and fans try to balance playoff run: ‘We’re just good everywhere' escapism and safety 1189149 Longing for a return to 'normalcy' in Philadelphia pro 1189179 3 observations from the Caps intrasquad scrimmage as sports Team Red upests Team Blue 1189150 Who were the Flyers’ best “support” forecheckers in 2019- 1189180 Everything you need to know for the Capitals final intra- 20? squad scrimmage before heading to Toronto 1189181 The 6 Capitals players most likely to be selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft 1189151 Jared McCann is ready to meet the hefty demands of 1189182 What did we learn in Week 2 of Capitals training camp being the Penguins’ No. 3 center 2.0? 1189152 ‘Everybody cheers’ as Sidney Crosby returns to Penguins practice Websites 1189153 Penguins forward Sidney Crosby resumes practicing 1189191 The Athletic / ‘We don’t expect it to be perfect’: Updates 1189154 Special teams, just like a special goalie, could turn the on the NHL’s health and safety plans tables in a short series 1189192 The Athletic / What will happen to the NHL playoff 1189155 Paul Zeise: Matt Murray should start Game 1 for the handshake line during the pandemic? Penguins 1189193 The Athletic / ‘To be united is important’ – Inside the 1189156 Sidney Crosby returns to Penguins practice NHL’s plan to address racism 1189194 Sportsnet.ca / Inside the NHL's incredible effort to ensure Seattle Kraken the show goes on 1189157 NHL Seattle released the Kraken — and the merchandise 1189195 Sportsnet.ca / Flames' Tkachuk driven to change playoff is getting snatched up fast fortunes by disdain for losing 1189158 By answering a call, Will Barnes saved Ron Francis on the 1189196 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks fine-tuning lethal power play, a Kraken’s big day potential playoff game changer 1189159 Duhatschek: GM Ron Francis on Kraken name, scouting 1189197 Sportsnet.ca / Tortorella calls out ‘key people’ as Maple games from afar and more Leafs showdown looms 1189198 Sportsnet.ca / Five stats-based predictions for the 2020 St Louis Blues 1189160 Mikkola ready to step in on blueline if Blues need him 1189199 TSN.CA / Westhead: CHL seeks government aid to 1189161 JT's Quarantine Chronicles: Win some, lose some ‘weather the storm’ amid pandemic 1189162 As hub cities open, NHL keeping fingers crossed on COVID-19 1189163 Sundqvist leaves Blues practice early after spill 1189183 We break down the most surreal Stanley Cup playoffs ever Tampa Bay Lightning 1189184 TED’S TALK: Life inside the bubble looks pretty cushy for 1189164 Lightning using glass barrier as bridge to fans with Distant NHL players Thunder campaign SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1189165 Lightning scrimmage provides final test before Toronto 1189166 Lightning facing a salary-cap crunch this offseason 1189167 Why Zach Bogosian has earned a look on the Lightning’s top defense pair 1189077 Anaheim Ducks Teams will be sequestered in bubbles in the two hubs, with fencing systems built to keep them away from the public. They will be able to leave their respective hotels to visit restaurants and take advantage of NHL will deploy crowd noise and other techno wizardry to boost game recreational activities such as indoor and outdoor pools, soccer, atmosphere pickleball, and cornhole.

“I will say that my level of confidence has increased along the way, and in particular since we’ve moved into Phase 3, mandatory training camp By HELENE ELLIOTT phase with over 800 players in group team building environments,” Daly said “The fact of the matter is I think I’m comfortable with the protocols JULY 24, 20202:44 PM and procedures we have in place, and more importantly, I’m comfortable with how the players seem to have embraced them and taken them seriously and are adhering to them. The NHL won’t use cutouts of fans to fill seats that will be left vacant because of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it will try to “Knock on wood. As Gary said, we have a long way to go, but I’m enhance the atmosphere for Stanley Cup playoff games at its hubs in certainly a lot more comfortable with where we are now than if you had Edmonton and Toronto by using LED screens, teams’ songs and asked me that question a month ago.” play lists and other technology, league executives said during a webinar LA Times: LOADED: 07.25.2020 Friday and in a video released Thursday night on NHL.com.

Crowd noise will be piped in from EA Sports’ recordings of fans made during previous games at the participating teams’ arenas, and telecasts will be on a five-second delay to allow for editing of profanity that will be easier to hear because of the absence of the usual chants and cheers from fans. TV viewers will be able to see more angles than are available on standard telecasts because 32 cameras will be used instead of 20. Sportsnet will produce the feed of games involving the 12 Western Conference teams in the bubble in Edmonton and NBC will produce the games involving the 12 Eastern teams in the bubble in Toronto.

“We want to educate, entertain, and visually excite them,” Steve Mayer, the NHL’s senior executive vice president of events and entertainment, said of fans watching at home. “We’re going to bring these arenas to life through the art of video, audio and lighting.”

Frontline healthcare workers and social justice advocates will be honored at games, Mayer said, and videos that feature fans will be displayed in an effort to bring them “into” a game they will have to watch from afar.

The NHL has granted extensive access within the bubble to only three writers — all of them writers for the league’s website, NHL.com. For comparison’s sake, the NBA has allowed 10 reporters prime access to games and interviews within its competition bubble near Orlando, Fla. “Increased numbers, increased risk,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said when asked why the league had so severely restricted non-league- controlled media access.

NHL teams are finishing training camp in their respective cities, the third of the four planned phases of the Return to Play plan. Phase 4 will begin when teams travel to their assigned hubs on Sunday and play exhibitions next week. The revamped, 24-team playoffs are scheduled to start Aug. 1. The conference finals and Stanley Cup Final will be played in Edmonton, with a potential finishing date of Oct. 4.

Dr. Willem Meeuwisse, the league’s chief medical officer, said the frequent PCR testing of players, coaches, and other personnel for COVID-19 can be done with a 24-hour turnaround time “without detracting from the general public” and the need local residents might have to be tested. Daly said the confirmation of only two positive tests of 800 players tested during a five-day period last week “bodes well for our transition into Phase 4.”

Meeuwisse said the league expects some positive tests to turn up. “And we have a method and a process designed in advance to deal with that. And we’ll continue to consult with the local health authorities as that unfolds,” Meeuwisse said.

Commissioner Gary Bettman, who paused play March 12, called the process of devising a plan to finish the season “one of the most unique and challenging endeavors any of us have ever been involved with.” He added, “And first and foremost, and you’ve heard us say this all over again, health and safety is driving all of our decisions and all of our attention and focus. That is the primary aspect of what we have to accomplish over the next couple of months.

“It’s not a coincidence that the HUB cities are Toronto and Edmonton because of our focus on health and safety and where COVID-19 is and isn’t.”

Los Angeles had been a finalist to become a hub city but was eliminated in the late stages of the selection process because of a surge in COVID- 19 cases in Southern California. 1189078 Boston Bruins “Overall, I liked it,” Cassidy said. “I think we’ll get to drill down a little more in Toronto and we’ll see the intensity go up even more. But it’s nice being back at the rink, being around the guys, back doing the stuff we love.” Bruins eager to head to Toronto, begin run at Stanley Cup Powering up

NESN aired the workout, which began at 3 p.m., and the highlight was a By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated July 24, 2020, 7:27 p.m. lengthy look at the two power-play units (albeit with Pastrnak not there). The No. 1 PP again had Krejci and Krug at the points, fronted by

DeBrusk, Bergeron and Marchand. No. 2 had Matt Grzelcyk and Charlie The Bruins wrap up Camp Renaissance on Saturday morning in Brighton McAvoy above the circles, with Krejci centering Studnicka and Bjork. and will go wheels up for Toronto late Sunday afternoon. “For us, it was like putting our shoes back on again,” said Krug, reflecting The prelude to the Cup run is all but complete. on his PP duty. “It’s no secret we are a very unique power play and it doesn’t matter who you plug in place to be there. We have many different “The energy in the room and on the ice has been spectacular,” said ways to beat you.” … Noticeably absent the last two weeks: the power-play QB Torey Krug. “We are all excited to jump into game action. swapping of insults between Krug and Marchand on their social media It feels like it’s about time now. Practices aren’t the fun part of the job for accounts. The two have turned into “must” reads on the internet when us; getting into game action is, but we are excited and eager to go.” exchanging cheap shots often over their, shall we say, height challenges. “No reason,” said Krug, asked where the good times went. “I think he’s The real fun won’t begin until Aug. 11 or 12 when the Bruins finally play just vested in his little hunting company there, so maybe he’s a little their first postseason game that carries any elimination consequences in distracted. Hopefully I can catch him here with his head down in the Game 1 of the Round of 16. bubble or something … we’ll come up with something good.” Before then, they have next Thursday’s exhibition vs. John Tortorella’s Boston Globe LOADED: 07.25.2020 Blue Jackets, followed by a trio of round-robin games (Aug. 2, 5, 9) that will determine seed Nos. 1-4 in the Eastern Conference.

Once again, top right wingers David Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase were scratched from Friday’s mid-afternoon workout at Warrior. They are expected to be scratches again for the final workout, which will mean both Czechs will have missed the entirety of the Phase 3 return-to-play camp.

Hardly an ideal way to prep for the postseason. Pastrnak is Boston’s top scoring threat and he tied this season for No. 1 overall in league goal scoring (48) with Alex Ovechkin. Kase was acquired at the trade deadline in hopes that he could provide vital secondary scoring. Thus far, no sign of the primary or the secondary options.

Given how the COVID-19 testing has fallen thus far, the Bruins must count themselves fortunate they are still two-plus weeks from games of any consequence.

“I liked our pace,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, asked about his overall impression of camp. “I liked that our players have been on time with everything. Obviously, we’ve had guys miss practice. I think that would be a little bit of the unknown going into it ... some testing issues … those are slowly getting rectified.”

Pastrnak is the main concern, of course, because his hot stick is enough to win a series, and possibly clinch a Cup. He was supposed to join in the full-group workouts last Thursday, but he was a late scratch and has not seen or heard from since. Unofficial word around camp is that he began a 10-day quarantine that day. If true, and he tests virus-free on Saturday morning, he then would be good to board the flight north.

“It’s been indicated to me, and of course that could change, but that is the plan right now,” said Cassidy, asked if he expected all the players who missed Friday’s workout to be on the flight manifest. “You’ve seen it … day-to-day, guys are not able to participate, and today is no different. We hope everyone is cleared to go at 5:30 on Sunday … unless we hear differently.”

Nick Ritchie and Paul Carey were the other missing skaters on Friday. The Bruins have had 33 players on their camp roster, including four goalies. All NHL clubs are capped at 31 players for inclusion in the bubble.

Beyond the missing bodies, Cassidy sounded satisfied with how the two- week camp progressed.

“Overall, we were pretty much injury-free,” he said. “No big collisions, or a big injury … that’s always a positive.”

Moving up in lines

Cassidy noted the absences of Pastrnak and Kase allowed the likes of Anders Bjork and Jack Studnicka longer looks higher up in the order. Bjork on Friday again skated with top-liners Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Studnicka, a rookie center, again flipped to right wing and filled out the Jake DeBrusk-David Krejci line. 1189079 Boston Bruins “Until he gets against live action, we’re not sure. But I like the compete, I like the fact hat he’s engaged every day in practice. It looks like he’s very fit. That part of it, he does not look out of place and he actually has looked pretty good in some of the drills. That’s the start. That’s step one, With Ondrej Kase out, opportunity knocks for young Bruins show that you belong and then excel against the guys he’s competing against. Time will tell with that in the next 10 days or so.”

It wouldn’t be the first time a natural centerman made his initial entry into By STEVE CONROY | July 24, 2020 at 5:32 a.m. the Bruins’ lineup on the right wing. If you can believe it, it was almost 17 years ago that Patrice Bergeron, who has become the quintessential centerman, became an 18-year-old NHLer on the right wing under then- At the time of the Great Pause of 2020, Anders Bjork and Karson coach Mike Sullivan. Though Cassidy wasn’t here in 2003 to see a young Kuhlman had been pushed out of the Bruins’ lineup by the club’s two Bergeron, he sees similarities between the two. deadline acquisitions and Jack Studnicka was preparing for what was hoped to be a developmentally-pivotal Calder Cup playoff run with the “I think it’s a fair comparable in terms of how they play right now,” said Providence Bruins. Cassidy. “Bergy is good at everything but he’s not like this flashy guy. And I do see that with Jack. He’s a second-effort player, never quits on a But with each passing day that Ondrej Kase remains in protocol play, can make plays, smart, can work both ends of the ice. I think purgatory and cannot practice with his still-new teammates, the idea that Bergy’s shot is ahead of Jack’s and rightfully so. Jack’s going to have to one of those youngsters can play a significant role in the lineup is coming work on that part of it and I’m sure Bergy had to as well over the years more and more real. Some of it is getting stronger, some of that is knowing the league. A quick release is paramount if you want to score goals… Bergy started in Coach Bruce Cassidy conceded as much in his Zoom call with reporters the league as a right wing, and Jack may have to do that. I don’t want to after Thursday’s Warrior Ice Arena practice. project but when you look at Bergeron, Krejci, Coyle, Kuraly, (Par) “Clearly, Ondrej hasn’t joined us. We’re traveling Sunday so we’re down Lindholm, we’re pretty strong down the middle, there might be an to two practices here before we hit Toronto. He’s got some catching up to opportunity to make our team on the wing.” do so, yes, if we feel he’s not caught up and Bjork is playing well, or Jack Boston Herald LOADED: 07.25.2020 for that matter — I’ll say Bjork and (Kuhlman) because they were here a major part of the year — but if it happens to be Jack or someone else in that mix, that’s the direction we’ll go,” said Cassidy.

“I haven’t seen Ondrej play in the playoffs. Sometimes those guys have an advantage, the veteran guys who have been there, it is a different game, the stakes go up. You’ve got to experience it to truly appreciate it,” he continued. “But I haven’t seen him play a whole lot of playoff hockey. He would be a guy we would not be 100 percent sure on either on how he’s going to perform at that level. We assume he will be fine, but now you’re chasing it a bit being this far behind, so we have to look at that. And we’ve said that all along. Take out the injury factor, there could be people that for testing purposes fall behind and you have to rely on your depth. We’re experiencing that a bit right now, even though we haven’t played any games, so the potential certainly does exist.”

For the record, Kase had played 13 playoff games with the Anaheim Ducks, registering two goals. But, depending on how soon Kase can get back, he’ll be up against it in trying to develop a chemistry with potential linemates. It was presumed he was going to play with Czech countryman David Krejci, but that’s clearly up in the air now.

With Kase, David Pastrnak and Nick Ritchie not available to practice — neither Kase nor Pastrnak have practiced with the team yet while Ritchie missed his second day after being one of the nine who were absent on Saturday — Cassidy had Bjork in Pastrnak’s spot with Patrice Bergeron, Studnicka on Krejci’s right side and Kuhlman skating on the right side with center Charlie Coyle and left wing Sean Kuraly.

While Cassidy gave a slight edge to both Bjork and Kuhlman because of their NHL experience — and Kuhlman scoring a big goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final last year after Cassidy made the bold decision to play him over — Studnicka is an interesting option.

Considered by most to be the B’s best prospect, Studnicka has been groomed to be a center with the club reluctant to shift him to wing. The B’s will be in need of centermen in a couple of years and strength down the middle has been a hallmark of their recent success, so the focus on getting Studnicka ready for that duty is understandable.

But while it’s true the organization sees Studnicka’s future as being in the middle, unusual times call for unusual measures. It’s clear from the past few days that Cassidy is open to the idea of Studnicka moving over to the right side to help in a pinch. Only live game action will tell if he can handle big defensemen coming down along the wall, but Cassidy has liked what he’s seen from him the past few days.

“Will he have the composure to make a play when he has time, or the strength to get it out when he doesn’t? Those game situations will dictate that. But he’s the same player in terms of hounding pucks whether he’s at center or a winger. That part of his game I don’t think changes a lot. He likes to pursue it. He’s a good second-effort player. He’s going to make plays whether he’s in the middle or on the right side and certainly has here. But it will be the little details of the game,” said Cassidy. 1189080 Boston Bruins player that steadily and efficiently has looked extremely good for the Bruins utilizing his elite skating ability and his growing experience to become a D-man that just seems to do everything right out on the ice. If Torey Krug does indeed leave in free agency, Grzelcyk is a guy that’s Thoughts and observations from the Bruins' Friday scrimmage really improved in a lot of ways to help mitigate that loss even if he’s a little less explosive and creative offensively.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 By Joe Haggerty July 24, 2020 5:49 PM

BRIGHTON, Mass – Here’s a few thoughts and observations from the Friday afternoon Bruins scrimmage at Warrior Ice Arena that marks the second-to-last practice for the two-week Return to Play camp at the B’s practice facility.

The Bruins will skate tomorrow morning in a final warm-up and then head to Toronto on Sunday to get ready for Phase 4 and actual games at the Hub City in the following week.

*The best news? The Bruins are 100 percent healthy after two weeks of ramping things up after the players hadn’t skated for four months. Both David Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase missed the bulk of camp because they were “unfit to participate” but are expected to travel with the rest of the team when they leave for Toronto on Sunday. Nick Ritchie missed the final two days of practice as the team was finishing up camp as well, but that was once again under the headline of “unfit to participate.”

*Anders Bjork and Jack Studnicka got alternating right wing looks on the top two lines throughout the Friday afternoon scrimmage. At times, it looked very good like when Bjork knifed through traffic utilizing his speed, dangled to the net and squeezed off a good scoring chance while skating with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Other times, it was a little more of a learning curve as Studnicka iced a puck as the Bruins top line was winding up out of the offensive zone with some speed through the neutral zone.

It sure feels like they wanted to give both players a long look in top-6 roles, however, and there’s a reason behind that. Methinks Ondrej Kase is going to have a battle on his hand for the second line right wing spot when he finally starts practicing with the Bruins after missing this entire first two weeks.

*The Bruins players looked sluggish and not completely in-sync offensively when they scrimmaged last weekend in the afternoon, but it was a different story this time around. Zdeno Chara scored on a nice play to open things up when he jumped on a loose puck at the offensive blue line and flicked a wrist shot past Jaroslav Halak. Then Brad Marchand followed that up with another goal when he carried the puck in the offensive zone, dangled through Bruins defenders and then flipped a backhander to the short side for a highlight-reel goal.

John Moore might be looking for the scorch marks after that one. Chris Wagner scored on a shorthanded goal once they got going with the special teams practice and Matt Grzelcyk hammered one from the high that went top corner through traffic in front. In other words, they looked like the Bruins with the speed, playmaking, hands and overall skill level all back toward where they need them to be in order to play competitive playoff hockey.

*The Bruins continue to put Charlie Coyle and Sean Kuraly together as third-line components and it makes for a big, mobile and physical style of play. Most days it’s been Nick Ritchie skating with them as well and that has given the Bruins a big, strong puck possession line that could be capable of leaning on opposing defenseman and playing that heavy brand of hockey. It could be a really effective look come playoff time, so it will be interesting to see if Bruce Cassidy sticks with that once Ondrej Kase is back in the mix creating competition between Ritchie, Kase, Bjork, Karson Kuhlman and perhaps even Jack Studnicka for playing time at the second and third-line wing spots.

*Clearly the Bruins group is missing some of their game-breaking ability with David Pastrnak missing from the fold, but both power plays looked very good during the Friday practice. Charlie McAvoy, in particular, looked aggressive and assertive with his offense and could really be a difference-making force if he pushes the issue a little bit more in terms of his offense. In one shift he was robbed by Tuukka Rask after crashing in backdoor, and then had another Grade-A scoring chance where he just missed wide of the net from the slot area.

After missing a couple of days of practice about a week ago, McAvoy looks completely up to speed and ready to go. Matt Grzelcyk is another 1189081 Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand puts North End penthouse up for sale for $2.85 million

By Dave Green July 24, 2020 4:04 PM

Remember the uproar when Tom Brady put his Brookline home up for sale?

Some people — correctly, it turns out — thought of it as a sign that his days in New England were coming to a close. Others said it was no big deal, and that people shouldn't read into real estate news.

Now another Boston sports star is putting his home up for sale — though this might not engender the same rampant speculation.

According to Boston.com, Brad Marchand is selling his three-bedroom penthouse in Boston's North End for the tidy sum of $2.85 million. But fear not, Bruins fans. Marchand isn't selling as a precursor to leaving Boston; he's just looking for a new home for his growing family.

“It is bittersweet to leave the home where we started our family but plan to grow in the near future and needed more bedrooms closer to the rink,” Marchand told real estate brokerage Compass. “Our favorite memories were the countless nights we spent on the balcony overlooking the skyline with the kids. We will miss living right on the water in walking distance to so many great restaurants and friends.”

Marchand is set to make a pretty good profit on the 3,500-square foot waterfront property, which he purchased in 2013 for $1.46 million.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189082 Boston Bruins

Torey Krug admits this could possibly be his final Stanley Cup run with Bruins

By Nick Goss July 24, 2020 2:18 PM

Torey Krug has come close to winning the Stanley Cup twice in his Boston Bruins career, and when the 2019-20 NHL season resumes in less than two weeks, the veteran defenseman could be embarking on his final championship run with the Original Six franchise.

Krug is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and as one of the top players (and arguably the best defenseman) able to hit the market, the 29-year-old has a chance to earn a very lucrative long term contract.

Krug has said on a number of occasions that he'd like to remain in Boston, and last September he talked about the possibility of a hometown discount to stay here. The landscape of the league's economics have changed quite a bit since then, however, as the COVID- 19 pandemic has negatively impacted revenue and changed salary cap projections for every sport going forward.

The Bruins will soon head for Toronto, where they'll enter the league's Eastern Conference bubble and prepare to kick off their round-robin schedule with a matchup versus the Philadelphia Flyers on Aug. 2.

Krug spoke to reporters Friday in a Zoom conference call, and while he acknowledged this could be his last title march with the Bruins, he's doing his best to focus on the task in front of him and the team.

“For me, it’s no secret that this could potentially be the last run I have at winning a Cup with this group,” Krug said. "Not only that, I get to do it while stuck in a bubble with all of those guys and enjoy their company 24/7 for as long as we're there. I'm just trying to enjoy it.

"Obviously, we have to remain focused and we have a job to do, but I think that's part of the process that we all enjoy in here. It's always fun to go to battle with these guys. I'm not approaching the games any differently. I'm still willing to sacrifice and do anything for this group, as they are for anyone else in the locker room. That's the fun part -- going to battle and then we get to return to a hotel room and reminisce on the games and create better memories than we already have right now. I'm excited about the opportunity, and I know those guys are as well."

Krug will be one of the most important players for the Bruins when games restart.

His offensive skill at both 5-on-5 and the power play is a major component in Boston's ability to score goals, especially against the best competition. Krug ranked eighth in scoring among defensemen with 49 points (nine goals, 40 assists) in 61 games during the regular season.

The Bruins will need strong secondary scoring if they're going to return to the Stanley Cup Final and finish the job. Offensive production from the blue line, and Krug specifically, could be a huge part of that effort.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189083 Boston Bruins "Of course. When we had the day that camp was starting and we knew that some players were going to have to quarantine when they got here, you'd kind of hoped they would have gotten here [to Boston] a little earlier. But we really didn't have any say in that. That was really left up to The pressure is on David Pastrnak, who has a lot to prove for Bruins this the players,” said Neely, when asked if the B’s organization had second- postseason guessed some of the decisions made by Pastrnak and Kase heading into camp. “Obviously with what has played out and transpired, you would

have hoped that some different decisions were made. But in the long run, By Joe Haggerty July 24, 2020 9:51 AM I don't know if it's going to affect us once we get into Toronto. I think we'll be fine."

What does it all mean? No matter how this regular season played out, the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs were going to be incredibly important for David Pastrnak. There’s a massive amount of growing pressure on Pastrnak to atone for mistakes he’s made and to make it up this postseason to teammates who The 24-year-old was coming off last spring’s playoffs where his numbers are fully committed and Cup-driven, to the organization that’s backed him weren’t terrible (nine goals and 19 points in 24 games with a zero and to the Bruins ownership that signs his paychecks. The missed plus/minus rating), but the overall performance was erratic at best as an Return to Play camp and his failure to make it to Boston early will be long off-ice thumb injury very clearly bothered him when he was shooting the forgotten if Pastrnak goes on a scoring tear in these Stanley Cup Playoffs puck. and helps lead Boston to a Cup.

He was flailing at one-timer attempts, passing up chances to shoot the As it is, the young right winger knew he had something to prove coming puck altogether and served as a shadow of his game-breaking self while off last June’s Stanley Cup Final and that has only become a bigger truth grinding through four rounds of playoff hockey for the first time in his for Pastrnak after everything that’s happened over the last couple of young career. weeks.

Given the narrow margin of defeat for the Bruins in a seven-game Cup “It was definitely tough. I wasn’t feeling great, but that’s why this was Final series against the St. Louis Blues, Pastrnak could have been a such a good group because we were always picking each other up. It difference-maker had he been better than two goals and four points was obviously challenging for me, but I had 25 guys to help pick me up along with a minus-7 in seven games. Naturally there was some second- just like I would do the opposite [for them],” said Pastrnak, a year ago in guessing of Pastrnak given the dubious nature of his off-ice injury that June after the Cup Final was over in comments that bear repeating given put the team in a bad spot, but the carefree, likable right winger avoided how much the expectations have been raised for him on and off the ice. big-time criticism despite everything being on the line. “It was the mental stuff, you know? In this kind of life, even if you don’t want to see stuff, read stuff and blah-blah with the media, it’s tough. Pastrnak deserves full credit for responding in a big, resounding way to You’re always going to see it. And that’s fine, you know? any of last season’s shortcomings by putting together a breakthrough NHL campaign this year. “I will take a lot of positives from this. I’m just going to get stronger mentally. It was a good experience. It’s a big mental experience. I gained The explosive Pastrnak led the NHL with 48 goals and would have hit the a lot this postseason. The mental stuff is what I learned the most. [I 100-point mark had the regular season not been shortened, and was in learned] that it doesn’t [expletive] matter if you play a bad friggin’ game. the Hart Trophy conversation with eventual finalists Leon Draisaitl, Artemi It’s the playoffs. Or if you have a bad shift. It’s the playoffs and you just Panarin and Nathan MacKinnon. He answered the bell with a consistent, need to come back to the bench and make sure you’re ready for the next electric regular season that elevated him to the biggest scoring threat on shift no matter what happened behind you. It’s the tough part of hockey the Boston roster. sometimes when you get stuck on something instead of looking forward With so much for Pastrnak to still prove when it comes to the playoffs, the and focusing on the next shift. Sometimes you get stuck on thinking what excitement level was high to see what he could do this time around as happened before and that brings you down kind of.” the Bruins were steaming toward the No. 1 overall seed in the Perhaps Pastrnak needs to figure out how to get motivated by things postseason. rather than “getting stuck on something” like this latest bump in the road. Instead, Pastrnak didn’t arrive in Boston early enough to begin Return to Whatever the case, Pastrnak has a lot to prove going into this Play training camp on time, managed to get in just one practice and then postseason based on what happened last year and what’s happened was forced into quarantine after being in close proximity to somebody over the last two weeks getting ready for a pivotal Stanley Cup playoff who tested positive for COVID-19. The likelihood is that Pastrnak won’t these next few months. be seen on the ice until the team travels to Toronto and he might not The good news is that Pastrnak has the awesome power to change the even be ready to play at the start of the round-robin games given the rust conversation as long as he comes in and performs for the Bruins like he factor. did as one of the most electric game-breakers in the game during the The good news is that things should come back quickly for Pastrnak regular season. It’s in Pastrnak’s power to make everybody forget the given his longstanding, established chemistry with Patrice Bergeron and prologue to this postseason and now it’s on him to do just that. Brad Marchand, and his one-timer will immediately revert to the No. 1 Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 weapon on the B’s power play. His teammates have even said on the record that they don’t think it’s a big deal.

“It’s kind of news to me about Pasta. I thought he was just on a two-day hangover,” said a joking Marchand. “Pasta is going to be back for the playoffs, I’m not really looking too much into it. It doesn’t take long for chemistry to bounce back with us. Even when I’m going down [the ice] with Bjorky now and Bergy, we’re kind of looking [to pass] into the areas where Pasta normally sets up.

“I’m just out there trying to fine-tune my skills and what I need to work on to get back to where my game [needs to be] on the ice. That chemistry stuff, when we do line drills it comes back very quickly. It’s not something that [Patrice Bergeron] and I are concerned about.”

But through all this Cam Neely admitted the organization is second- guessing the decision-making of Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase given the way things have played out for both right wingers being “unfit to participate” thus far. Given all that’s on the line for the Bruins and that everybody else on the roster was ready to go at the start of camp two weeks ago, this whole thing once again has not been a good look for the enormously talented Pastrnak. 1189084 Boston Bruins Bjork, who skated mostly with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, had an open look after his center set him up in the slot. Bjork missed the net.

Studnicka took most of his shifts with Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci. Bruins takeaways: Torey Krug cherishing perhaps his final Black-and- Studnicka wasn’t afraid to pursue pucks and look for his linemates. Gold days Studnicka also saw some first-line time with Marchand and Bergeron. The bet here is that Studnicka remains as the No. 2 right wing while Ondrej Kase catches up from being unfit to participate.

By Fluto Shinzawa Jul 24, 2020 Other observations

• Marchand is getting closer to his usual form. The left wing raced through traffic, protected the puck and snapped a backhander past The power play belongs to Torey Krug. Jaroslav Halak’s glove. As the lone defenseman on the No. 1 unit, Krug does almost everything. • Tuukka Rask took a Charlie McAvoy power-play goal off the He retrieves pucks that get sent downstream. He starts the breakout. He scoreboard. McAvoy, working the point on the second unit, took a cross- gains entries. ice pass from Charlie Coyle and rapped a one-timer on net. Rask Once back in the offensive zone, Krug walks the blue line. He hammers exploded to his right and booted out McAvoy’s shot. slap shots on net. He rotates down the right-side wall. Krug slips seam • Krejci, filling in for David Pastrnak on the No. 1 power play unit, does passes to David Pastrnak to one-time or throws pucks on goal for Jake not have his teammate’s one-timer. But he’s more willing to shoot than DeBrusk to tip. you’d think. Krejci pumped in an off-wing snapper during 5-on-3 play. Krug executes all these actions with the touch of an artist, the crispness • Grzelcyk drew stick taps when he launched a long-distance power-play of a craftsman and the swagger of a showman. He may be doing these one-timer past Maxime Lagace. Grzelcyk has been working on putting things for another employer shortly. It may be why Krug has been one of more muscle on his slap shots and one-timers. the sharpest performers during training camp. • Bergeron turned 35 on Friday. He drew the honors of leading the post- “It’s no secret that this could potentially be the last run I have at winning a practice stretch and gathering his teammates for a brief speech. Cup with this group,” Krug said. “Not only that, I get to do that while stuck in a bubble with all those guys and get to enjoy their company 24-7 for as • Nick Ritchie and Paul Carey were unfit to participate. long as we’re there.” Friday’s practice lineup Some players would shiver in such situations. Krug is not one of them. Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Anders Bjork Krug has always liked big prove-people-wrong moments. Not many rookies score four goals in their first five playoff games like he did in 2013 Jake DeBrusk-David Krejci-Jack Studnicka against the Rangers. There are not many offensive defensemen who Sean Kuraly-Charlie Coyle-Karson Kuhlman hurtle up the ice without a helmet and shatter enemies like Krug did with Robert Thomas in last year’s final. Joakim Nordstrom-Par Lindholm-Chris Wagner

For all his flash, Krug plays with an equal amount of bite. A career full of Anton Blidh-Trent Frederic-Zach Senyshyn slights — going undrafted, being labeled an offensive specialist — has left Krug with a chip on his shoulder the size of TD Garden. Zdeno Chara-Charlie McAvoy

That outsized degree of feistiness is paired with an expanded sense of Torey Krug-Brandon Carlo pleasure in the profession he’s chosen. He works the power play Matt Grzelcyk-Jeremy Lauzon passionately, flashing rapid feet and a quicker stick. John Moore-Connor Clifton “I’m just trying to enjoy it,” Krug said. “We have to remain focused. We have a job to do. But I think that’s part of the process we all enjoy in here. Urho Vaakanainen-Jakub Zboril It’s always fun to go to battle with these guys. I’m not approaching the games any differently. I’m still willing to sacrifice and do anything for the Tuukka Rask group as they are for anyone else in that locker room. That’s the fun part Jaroslav Halak of it — going to battle, then we get to return to a hotel room, reminisce on the games and create better memories than we have right now.” Dan Vladar

Krug is 29 years old. He wants to be paid market value — based on Maxime Lagace performance and comparables, that would start at $7 million annually — for his services. The Bruins have left-side options, from Matt Grzelcyk to The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 Jakub Zboril to Urho Vaakanainen. Krug’s legs will likely slow during his next deal. The cap will remain at $81.5 million next season and perhaps beyond. Coach Bruce Cassidy is considering a five-forward setup if Krug does not return.

This collision of circumstances, in all likelihood, puts a Black-and-Gold extension out of reach. It’s an unfortunate fate for someone who has delivered on just about every ask.

“He’s captain material,” Cassidy said. “He’s easily a guy that could coach down the road when his playing days are done. He’s a student of the game. He gets along with everybody. People like that in him. They’ll gravitate toward that type of player.”

Krug will have suitors. Perhaps Detroit, his hometown club. Before then, he will have one last run with the only teammates he’s known. Krug will give nothing less than everything.

Camp notes

With Saturday’s pre-getaway practice scheduled to be light, the Bruins went hard in a Friday scrimmage. One of Cassidy’s priorities was to give Anders Bjork and Jack Studnicka a good look in top-six situations. 1189085 Calgary Flames “It’s is going to bring a little light into this dark COVID situation,” said Josh Zimmer, assistant general manager of Hudsons Canada’s Pub in downtown Calgary. “Business-wise, this is the best thing we could’ve asked for right now. People are going to be able to be on a patio enjoy Playoff fever hits Calgary? Not for all hockey fans in summer months summer drinks while there’s hockey on, so that’s pretty special for us, too.

“People are going to have their opinions about packing a bar full of Todd Saelhof people with everything that’s going on. But since Day 1, we’ve gone Publishing date:Jul 25, 2020 above and beyond with safety procedures and protocols. We have hand sanitizers on every table. We have great rules and regulations for monitoring people’s health and safety here.

It’s hockey season.Sort of. “We’re going to provide a very safe place for them to watch it here and show them a good time.” With the post-season set to get underway Aug. 1 — after a four-plus-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic — But you won’t see every hockey-crazed Flames fan on hand in the sports Flames hockey fever is catching fire in the city. bars, even during the late-night playoff telecasts.

At least it is for most hockey-loving Calgarians. “That’s the time for the 19th hole,” added Hironaka with a chuckle. “Yes, if it’s on the lounge TV in the (golf) clubhouse, I’ll probably watch it a little “Well … my excitement level is not high,” said self-proclaimed hockey fan bit. Brian Feick, when asked if he’s ready for the upcoming playoff opportunity for the Flames. “I’m not planning on watching this. I have no “And the deeper they go, the more I may watch. And I’ll be back next idea when it starts. I have no idea when they’re playing. year.”

“I’m surprised they’re trying to make something work,” he continued. “I Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.25.2020 think they’re trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I just don’t get it.”

Feick, who insists he enjoys watching high-level hockey, is not alone in his sentiment.

While many avid NHL fans are proudly decorating their vehicles with one or more Flames flags and preparing for long-awaited post-season parties, others among the team’s faithful can’t be bothered with the coming attraction of playoff action.

That’s because they don’t like that the rite of spring has turned into a summer distraction.

“I’m in off-season mode,” said Flames fan Brent Hironaka. “When the season ended in March, it was a lost season for me.

“I’m in the summer now. Summertime is for things other than hockey. I’m a golfer. I’m on the golf course three or four times a week. So there’s no time to sit and watch hockey.”

Hironaka is a true Flames fan, having followed the club for 35 years and being a current shareholder of season tickets. He made sure he was there in the Montreal Forum the night Lanny McDonald & Co. hoisted the Stanley Cup in 1989.

“In Calgary, when you only have two months of summer, you have to take advantage of summer,” Hironaka said. “Normally in a normal season, by the time it gets to the conference finals, I’m into summer mode already. The season is already too long when it gets into June. So going into September and October? Forget it.”

Right, then.

It’s golf over hockey for some Flames fans this August.

“I’m interested,” admitted Flaming ‘C’ faithful follower Mike Lee. “But I’m not going to let it interrupt my golf schedule.”

Feick, meanwhile, isn’t thinking golf — more just isn’t thinking hockey during these summer months after the strange spring we’ve left behind.

“It’s who cares? The season ended in March, and nothing has happened since then,” Feick said. “Most things I try to make sense of. This doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t know why they’re pushing forward to try and make something happen. I don’t know what niche they’re trying to fill other than trying to satisfy TV rights issues or trying to generate income from TV and advertisers.

“And to me, the optics aren’t very good,” Feick continued. “All these high- paid athletes are getting special treatment during a time when we’re facing an equal-opportunity virus and the United States are exploding with this virus. I don’t know why we should be singling out people at this time. My assumption is the players are tested every single day so they can play hockey, and that luxury isn’t afforded to the guy that’s running a restaurant who can’t get customers to come in or for any other business.”

As for the restaurants themselves, the upcoming post-season represents a beacon of hope to bring in much-needed biz amid the COVID-19 crisis that has punished so many eateries. 1189086 Calgary Flames raced in alone and zipped a shot through the five-hole … Fourth-line speedster Tobias Rieder rounded out the scoring, hitting the brakes on a breakaway and tucking a forehand behind a sprawling Rittich … With a hat-trick of scrimmages in the books, the Flames will have a brief skate SNAPSHOTS: Flames’ third-string goalie Gillies thankful for chance to Saturday and then pack their bags for Sunday’s bus-trip to check into the knock off rust hub-city bubble in Edmonton. Their next game action will be Tuesday’s tuneup against the Oilers. “I think if you ask anybody, we’re kind of sick

of just playing against each other — we want to get up there and get Wes Gilbertson some real games going,” said Flames alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk. “So it’s good that we’re through this part of camp. I thought we Published:July 24, 2020 did well to this point, but we’re moving on to the real thing now.”

Updated:July 24, 2020 10:36 PM MDT OFF THE GLASS

Word is, teams will be allowed to dress 13 forwards and seven defencemen for their only in-bubble exhibition. That could perhaps After a four-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHLers will try present an opportunity for blue-line blue-chipper Juuso Valimaki, who to accelerate from zero-to-60 for an unprecedented post-season hasn’t played a game in 15 months after suffering a significant knee tournament. If Jon Gillies is pressed into action, Friday’s intrasquad injury last summer. Then again, the Flames might feel it’s more important audition will certainly help. for Michael Stone — the most likely candidate for the role of seventh Jon Gillies has always preferred the highway to the runway. defenceman — to face an actual enemy before the play-in round. Valimaki, 21, has certainly shown flashes of his immense potential in So when NHL rinks reopened for voluntary skates, the Calgary Flames’ camp, but the rust is also evident … Team brass were meeting after third-string goalie didn’t flinch at the thought of a three-day cruise — a Friday’s scrimmage to finalize their 31-player roster for the post-season grand total of about 36 hours on the road — from his home in Indiana to … A classy gesture by the Flames to cap the session with a send-off for report back to the Saddledome. TSN’s Jermain Franklin, who is headed to work in Toronto — still with the “I very, very much like driving and very, very much hate flying,” Gillies same broadcaster — after 17 years in Calgary. As Beesley passed on said. “So I always look for an excuse not to fly. And I actually had one best-wishes over the public-address system, the players gathered at this time.” centre ice to raise their sticks in salute and management, coaches and Franklin’s media friends applauded. It was a fitting farewell for a first- After a four-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHLers will try class individual. to accelerate from zero-to-60 for an unprecedented post-season tournament. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.25.2020

If Gillies is pressed into action, Friday’s intrasquad audition will certainly help.

With Cam Talbot suited up but just spectating, Gillies and fellow farmhand Artyom Zagidulin split the net for Team White. In fact, they combined for a shutout. (Both had served only as backups in two previous training-camp scrimmages.)

“I felt terrible for the first 10 minutes or so, then felt fine after that — as expected,” Gillies said. “To start poorly and end on a positive note, that’s really all you can ask for.

“The biggest thing in a game is just everything is faster than in practice,” he explained. “It’s just a readjustment, just frankly trying to remember how to play hockey again. But once you make that adjustment, I felt fine. So it was nice to knock the rust off as much as possible.”

If all goes according to plan, the 26-year-old Gillies — and Zagidulin, his crease counterpart this past winter at AHL Stockton — will be in civvies for the Flames’ best-of-five qualification series against the Winnipeg Jets.

David Rittich and Talbot are locked in as Calgary’s twine-minding tandem, although there is still a battle to see who will be between the pipes for Game 1.

Gillies has just a dozen NHL appearances on his resume, and none since April 2018. He’ll admit the opportunities haven’t come as quickly as he was hoping during his career, but he didn’t drive across the continent to simply go through the motions.

“Right now, this whole situation, as chaotic as it is, it’s just about doing everything that everyone can to be ready,” Gillies said. “Because you just never know what can happen. Things can change so fast. It’s such a quick series, all that kind of stuff …

“Just prepare to play, that’s all you can do.”

AROUND THE BOARDS

The Flames’ leading marksman, Elias Lindholm, was a no-go for Friday’s scrimmage at the Saddledome, but interim coach Geoff Ward insisted that fans shouldn’t fret about the absence of the first-line right-winger. “No concern at all,” Ward said. “None whatsoever.” Forward prospects Glenn Gawdin and Matthew Phillips were also M.I.A. … There wasn’t a whole lot of offence in this friendly — a 4:30 p.m. puck-drop, just like Game 3 of their qualifier against the Jets — but it’s a good sign that a couple of go-to guys tickled twine. Sean Monahan seemed to find a hole in Rittich’s glove for the opening strike, while Johnny Gaudreau picked off a pass in the neutral zone, managed to settle a bouncing puck as he 1189087 Calgary Flames “So for us, Ras and Noah are able to do a lot of things that we feel are going to help us. And in today’s game, one of the things that everybody is asking is that not only do you defend, but you have to add a little bit to the offence, and we feel like both those guys have that in their bag.” Flames defenceman Hanifin binged on NHL Network replays during layoff Hanifin figures to benefit from his first taste of the Stanley Cup tournament. (“Everything is ramped up, everything is faster,” he said, reflecting on his five spring spins in 2019. “If you make a little mistake, a little mental mistake at a certain time of the game, it could cost you a Wes Gilbertson game, it could cost you a game, it could cost you a season … So there’s Published:July 24, 2020 a lot on the line. You just have to be very dialed in.”)

Updated:July 24, 2020 8:13 PM MDT Thanks to his NHL Network subscription, he was also working during the break to get better at his craft, and those studies of the bearded battlers of playoffs past had him daydreaming about a lengthy post-season run of his own. The Calgary Flames defenceman was determined to stay in tip-top condition, but his preparations for this unprecedented summer restart “Especially when you see teams win the Cup and just the reactions from also included a good chunk of time on the couch. the players … ” Hanifin said. “There is just so much that goes into it. So much goes into a season and the bonding between teammates. Noah Hanifin’s subscription to NHL Network paid off during the pandemic Everyone’s goal is to make it to the playoffs — and when it is playoff pause. time, it’s go time. That’s when it all matters. The regular season is in the The Calgary Flames defenceman was, of course, determined to stay in past, none of that matters. Everyone has a chance to win the Stanley tip-top condition, but his preparations for this unprecedented summer Cup once you’re in there. restart also included a good chunk of time on the couch. “It’s a fun time of year, and I think all the guys are super excited. It’s “I was in Boston during those months off and kind of just mentally going to be fun.” preparing myself for what will probably happen, and that’s that we were Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.25.2020 going to go back for playoffs. I always had it in the back of my mind that we were going to play,” Hanifin said. “For me, I watched a lot of hockey when I was at home. I watched a lot of film and even when I was just bored, chilling, I’d throw on NHL Network and there would be old playoff games on, so you just get a feel for the pace, the intensity.

“Just watching that, that’s kind of the way I like to stay mentally into it.”

It’s not just about staying sharp.

For Hanifin, these rewind viewings double as study sessions.

“Me being a defenceman, if a game is on, I try to watch a certain player or a certain group of defencemen that I like to model my game after,” he said. “Even old-school games … There were a couple of old Pittsburgh- Detroit Stanley Cup games on, so watching guys like Nicklas Lidstrom and following them and seeing their habits and what they like to do when they’re in important games and situations in the playoffs, that’s a good way for me to learn and to keep developing.

“It’s not like I’m taking notes or writing anything down, but I just like to watch and I get a good feel for the decisions you have to make and the pace of the game just by watching other teams play and watching that level of hockey,” he continued. “Because the playoffs are definitely faster. They’re more intense. There’s a lot more on the line, obviously, with the decisions you make. So you just have to be smart and you have to play the right way. I think watching former teams have success is a good way to learn.”

The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins clashed in the Stanley Cup final in back-to-back years in 2008 and ’09, so when Hanifin refers to those as ‘old’ games, you’re reminded the smooth-skating rearguard is still a relative pup.

Now in his fifth season at hockey’s highest level, he is just 23. If the Flames go with the six blue-line guys we’re expecting, Hanifin will be the youngest defenceman in the lineup for Game 1 of their best-of-five play- in series against the Winnipeg Jets that begins on Aug. 1.

Thing is, his second-pairing sidekick Rasmus Andersson — they’ve been working side-by-side for all of training camp — is just three months older.

Between them, they have 10 games of Stanley Cup playoff exposure — all of it during the Flames’ first-round thud last spring.

“The experience that you gain is so, so important, because the only way you can gain it is to go through it,” said Flames interim coach Geoff Ward. “So they’re able to draw things out of what they went through last year, and now the challenge is to springboard it forward.

“We like the way that both guys (Andersson and Hanifin) move. They’ve shown that they can play against the other team’s top people, which is nice. That does some things for us matchup-wise. They’re both young defencemen, so we feel like their future is going to get brighter and brighter as they continue to develop. And they read off each other well, in terms of how they see it. They’ve developed some chemistry together. 1189088 Calgary Flames One of the league’s premier goalie-baiters, the aggravating winger can influence games on pain-in-the-assedness alone. And it just happens that Connor Hellebuyck is one of the NHL’s finest netminders, maybe the finest. You can see where this is going. The Jets can expect to see a Flames’ makers and breakers: A ranking of Calgary’s roster based on crease full of Tkachuk — then it’s up to them. React? Ignore him? First, impact though, Tkachuk needs to do his thing — every night. Granted, it’s not easy being the antagonist. Against Colorado, he’d acted up in Game 1,

then went relatively silent. Add to that the softest hands on the team and By Scott Cruickshank Jul 24, 2020 Tkachuk has the potential to swing games with out-of-the-box moves. (During camp he was practicing deflections — with his stick’s butt-end.) Given his personality and skillset, he could own this stage.

Calgary Flames fans, even those with iffy memories, can conjure up Sam 5. Elias Lindholm Bennett’s robust excellence from last spring. The rammy forward set a high bar versus the Colorado Avalanche. The team’s most consistent presence this winter, he can check, he can play wing, he can play centre, he can kill penalties, he can drive the In the second tier of contributors last postseason, Andrew Mangiapane power play — and he can score. At home, on the road, and, the Flames and Rasmus Andersson, both unfazed by the spotlight. And Juuso dearly hope, at neutral sites. The playoffs, as everyone knows, isn’t Valimaki, who dressed for only two of the five games, was definitely about filling the net. That rarely happens. Instead, it’s more about timely trending upward. tallies and their series-making effect. Picking one Calgary player to pot an equalizer, to net an goal, to provide insurance, fingers And while the aforementioned youngsters deserve credit for their should point at the hard-shooting Swede. The makings of Mr. Clutch. wonderful handiwork — which took place during the steeliest portion of the year — they should never be the Flames’ most effective players 6. T.J. Brodie (given the array of well-compensated alternatives). Quietly, the versatile blueliner carries the mail, perhaps better than ever. If it happens again, if the top end of the lineup stays still, the locals will When Travis Hamonic and Giordano were both sidelined, it was Brodie not come close to getting past the Winnipeg Jets. who filled in brilliantly during the schedule’s second half. In fact, a case can be made that he had been the team’s best defender all season long. Admittedly careening into clichéd territory here, but, what the heck — Soon to take his usual spot to Giordano’s right, he can expect the nightly Calgary’s best players do have to be its best players. It’s as simple as challenge of shutting down Winnipeg’s top-line hotshots, who are as that. huge as they are handy — 6-foot-1, 6-foot-3, 6-foot-5. Given that They are not paid to be part of the supporting cast. They are expected to effortless stride, Brodie, a 20-plus-minute player with a sneaky offensive make a difference. element, can handle the workload.

Taking that into consideration, and with the Jets right around the corner, 7. Sean Monahan here is the Flames’ roster ranked, based on the realistic potential for No different than his first-line pals, Monahan did not have an April to impact: remember against Colorado. OK, no one was going to win a head-to- 1. Johnny Gaudreau head battle with Nathan MacKinnon at that point, but it had not been close. His regular-season work is well-documented — 22 or more goals Normally a goalie tops this kind of list. You know, the most important in all seven of his winters — and his postseason production is not shabby position at the most important time of year, that whole thing. But if (eight markers in 20 appearances), either. But there is another level Gaudreau, eager to make up for last year’s shortfall, comes out flying that’s eluded him. If he approaches it, the Flames’ fortunes are and fully energized, it sends a loud message to the rest of the group, the immediately upgraded. core included, that he’s on. That it’s on. It stands as a public declaration that things are about to change. On top of which, an engaged No. 13 is a 8. Cam Talbot distraction for defenders, which buys room for Sean Monahan and Elias See the third player in the rankings? Should Rittich stub his toe, Talbot Lindholm, which in turn, diverts checking assignments from the second will not be far away. In a best-of-five series, expect the starter’s leash to line. And while getting the power play to pop is not in his hands entirely, be awfully short. And Talbot was superb in the second half, who has he’s a key component. More than any other member of the Flames, proven he can ride to the rescue. He showed up for July’s camp and, Gaudreau can serve notice to the Manitobans that this postseason is despite having just turned 33 years old, looked incredibly ready. While going to be different. (In 15 career games against the Jets, he’s gathered his stablemate has not one second of playoff experience, Talbot has 19 points. Just saying.) banked 13 postseason starts. Another notable difference? Rittich is fiery 2. Mark Giordano — occasionally to his detriment — while Talbot maintains a calm demeanour off and on the ice. Even though the team made trade-deadline acquisitions to lighten his load (Derek Forbort taking on -killing duties, Erik Gustafsson 9. Mikael Backlund getting his share of power-play minutes), the captain figures to be central The team’s strongest-checking centreman can expect to see lots of the to nearly every facet of the Flames’ game. In addition to offensive Scheifele trio or the newly acquired Cody Eakins (who’s bookended by contributions — even at 36, this remains a very aggressive player on the the talented duo of Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine). In other words, attack — Giordano will no doubt be charged with slowing the Jets’ line of Backlund will have ample opportunity to influence the direction of the go-getters (Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler). The motivation series. Not only is he expected to stymy the stars and help to defuse the for No. 5 figures to be high. Despite nearly 900 regular-season Jets’ power-players, but he can also generate waves of offence himself. assignments, he’s played in only 13 postseason dates, experiencing just Before the pause, he had been playing the best hockey of his life. And two wins. Giordano can be a factor. not for a day or two either. His stretch of goodness had been better than 3. David Rittich a month — and was ongoing. His regular season ended on a three-game point streak — as it did for linemates Mangiapane and Tkachuk. Last season, when Mike Smith was experiencing a bad case of the wobbles, the colourful Czech saved the team’s bacon, allowing the 10. Rasmus Andersson veteran time to work out his issues. Rittich’s reward? Getting to watch the With the absence of Hamonic, he’s the lone right-handed defender in the refurbished Smith play every minute of the postseason. Now, though, his lineup. He’s also a future top-pairing presence for the Flames. So don’t number is likely to be called. Through the regular season’s first half he worry about him, no matter what the stakes are. One of the top puck- was the most valuable player. He may have lost ground to Cam Talbot moving defencemen in the league — and the owner of a heavy slapper after Christmas, but he’s healthy — a bit of a knee thing a year ago, a bit — he’s got offensive upside. Between whistles, he’s a laid-back of an elbow thing earlier this year — and, without question, the Flames presence, unrushed and able to make cagey plays. After the whistle? brass needs to see what they have in this goalie. Even if Rittich has been He’s an earful (in at least two languages). When this series erupts, give it the second-sharpest goalie at camp. a period, maybe two, expect No. 4 to be in full jostle. 4. Matthew Tkachuk 11. Milan Lucic A Stanley Cup winner. That, alone, means something … because on someone in whom playoff-pool contestants will have much interest. Nor Calgary’s bench, he’s in a club of one in that regard. Experience doesn’t is he likely to take a postgame spin as one of the three stars, but his count for everything, but, surely, it means something, especially when the heavy lifting shouldn’t be undersold. If there’s time for forceful hockey, holder is as popular as Lucic is in the dressing room. Beyond that, this is it. if/when the series moves into the trenches, the hulking winger, at 6-foot- 3, 231 pounds, can be relied on to provide menace. No small thing. Too, 19. Tobias Rieder he’s shown that he can produce in the playoffs — 70 points in 114 The coaching staff has referred to the speedy winger as an “elite” appearances. On a team that is desperate to find its postseason footing, penalty-killer. The Jets, on the power play during the regular season, Lucic can provide stability. were merely mid-packers. But one conversion — or, in his case, 12. Andrew Mangiapane minimizing the potential for one conversion — is critical at this time of year. Even in that lopsided series against the Avs, two of the games had Perhaps his impact is being a little underrated here. Because even a year been decided by a single goal. So while Rieder is unlikely to make a ago he had been plenty noticeable — on the fourth line with Garnet difference offensively — only four tallies in his past 127 appearances — Hathaway and Derek Ryan. Remember his goal against the Avs? The his penalty-killing has value. lone game-winner of the series for the Flames and a beauty. But it’s his annoying style that is playoff perfect. With a furious approach, 20. Zac Rinaldo Mangiapane wins possession more often than not — 50-50 pucks are his Not especially big, 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds, the spunky winger is bread and butter. (In the Flames’ first camp scrimmage he must have unpleasant on the ice. You can’t miss him — and neither can the registered 20 takeaways.) Despite his size, he’s fearless and, in his own opposition. In Game 70, the Flames’ last outing before the pause, way, a real leader on the club. Rinaldo recorded five hits in six shifts. Depending on how visceral the 13. Sam Bennett series becomes, No. 36 is a handy card to play, especially if he can rein in his enthusiasm, walking the fine line between being punishing and Hard guy to gauge. So-so in the regular season. Superman in the being penalized. Under his belt already are 14 playoff appearances. playoffs. There’s a theory that in the postseason, with the stakes high, with the intensity cranked, he operates purely on instinct. No over- 21. Mark Jankowski thinking, no hesitation. Whatever it is, Bennett is a beast, even at 195 A fourth-line centre coming off a disappointing regular season, motivation pounds. This is one mean young man. The trick for coaches then is should be on his side, especially as a pending restricted free agent, getting him on the ice more often. At the expense of whom? In a matter especially with 23-year-old Glenn Gawdin itching for entry-level of a week a year ago, he rose to the first line — and deservedly so. What employment in the NHL. Jankowski, 6-foot-4, has the reach and he can can he do for an encore? (And, big picture, how does he drag that moxie shoulder penalty-killing responsibility. He’s proven that he can be into the regular season?) dangerous while smothering power plays — five shorties in 2018-19.

14. Erik Gustafsson 22. Michael Stone/Oliver Kylington

When the Flames acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks, they Yes, the righty-lefty fourth pair. Hardly newbies, they own a combined weren’t looking for a block-knocker or some own-zone whiz. No, what 559 games of regular-season work. Stone even has a half-dozen they desired was a power-play maestro, which this fellow is. In 2018-19, postseason dates to his name. Depending on the night’s need, either the he was a 60-point player. And, in a nail-biting series, if he can help his hard-shooting Stone or the swift-skating Kylington can comfortably fill in, team to manufacture a goal here, a goal there, that’s significant. Beyond in a pinch. his quarterbacking knack, hiccup-free work at even strength on the third pairing would go a long way. (As a bonus, he’s picked up 12 points in 13 23. Juuso Valimaki career dates against the Jets.) This 21-year-old is a wild card in all of this. Because of a knee injury and 15. Derek Ryan subsequent surgery, he hasn’t skated in a game since April 19, 2019 — the series finale against Colorado. This is an excellent player, but, after His impact is unlikely to be headline-grabbing, but valuable nonetheless. that stretch of inactivity, can Valimaki jump in? And will the Flames even The veteran possesses the know-how to play any forward position, to entertain the possibility? Right now, he’s outside of the game group. And skate on any line. With the assumption that every NHL outfit will need to it’s worth noting that if he doesn’t dress for the postseason, the club does overcome injuries, his versatility makes him an asset. A jack of all trades, not need to protect him in the Seattle expansion draft. No small Ryan kills penalties and he’s also capable of handling power-play consideration, because then the team would have the luxury of deployment. And? He’s a real-deal faceoff man. And right-handed — safeguarding Mark Giordano. But if the Flames deciders think he can unlike Monahan, Backlund, Mark Jankowski — which makes him key in help right now — and there are few bolder blueliners than No. 8 — do all sorts of situations. they put the future out of mind and ram him into the lineup? Tempting, 16. Noah Hanifin given Valimaki’s upside. But, through camp, he’s been skating on the fifth pair with Alexander Yelesin. A horse of a defender, 6-foot-3 with fantastic wheels, he’s young and he can munch second-pairing minutes with ease. Which, of course, is The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 dandy. But Hanifin also needs to adopt a quiet game. Less is more. In other words, soaking up his typical 20-plus minutes per night — often against the enemy’s stars — and not forcing anything. It leaves little room for heroics, but steadiness is the priority these days. From Hanifin, the Flames need a tidy game. That would be no small contribution.

17. Dillon Dubé

If camp is any indication, the kid is ready for next-level pitching in. Through the first five days, he was “unable to participate.” On the sixth day, suiting up for the intrasquad game, he was sensational. There have been hints of his potential, including the last time the Flames played. March 8 against visiting Vegas, on the third line, Dubé scored once and piled up four hits. With a Memorial Cup and two World Junior Championships on his resume, he’s not about to get skittish now. The playoffs could very well serve as a coming-out party for the youngster.

18. Derek Forbort

At 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, this is a defender who relies on muscle. Stick horizontal, Forbort is an old school spine-bender in front of the net. Since the Jets’ forward corps features a fair chunk of size and gumption, his services are required. Too, he helps out on the penalty kill. Not 1189089 Carolina Hurricanes MORGAN GEEKIE Talk about making a great first impression. Geekie made his NHL debut

March 8 against Pittsburgh and had two goals and an assist in a 6-2 Unprecedented playoffs could produce unexpected stars for Hurricanes victory.

The forward was named the game’s first star. The next time out, he scored again in a road win at Detroit, earning a place in franchise history BY CHIP ALEXANDER as the only player to have three goals in his first two NHL games.

JULY 24, 2020 02:40 PM Then came the long NHL pause. Geekie, 22, rejoined the Canes for postseason training camp and has been used at both fourth-line center

and on a wing, giving Brind’Amour more to ponder in looking at the Warren Foegele went into the Stanley Cup playoffs last year as a rookie forward position. forward, not knowing what to expect. “He’s interesting because he came up and played really well, but that’s a When the first round ended, the Carolina Hurricanes had knocked the lifetime ago, almost,” Brind’Amour said. “We’re going to get to that point Washington Capitals, the 2018 Cup champions, out of the playoffs and where now we’re going to have make a decision. Until then, just throw Foegele was a big reason why. He scored four goals in the seven-game him out there and give him everything he can handle. He definitely series and it was his hit on T.J. Oshie that knocked the Caps’ power showed in that small sample size that he can be part of something for us, forward out of the playoffs. for sure.

“You’re just trying to win, you know, and I’m a pretty competitive guy,” NINO NIEDERREITER Foegele said this week in a media call. “I just want to win, so you try to Niederreiter did not have a very good regular season. Says who? Nino. do whatever you can to help the team win. That might not be too friendly to the other team but that doesn’t matter.” “I definitely was not very happy about my season, personally,” Niederreiter said this week. “Definitely it’s huge for me to hit the reset That Game 7 against the Caps was won by the Canes’ Brock McGinn in button.” the second overtime only underscored the fact that in the playoffs the unexpected always should be expected. Niederreiter did that when he was traded to the Canes by the Minnesota Wild in January 2019. His 14 goals and 30 points in 36 games for So what about this year, 2020, the year of the unexpected? The Canes Carolina, and his scrappy, physical play around the net, helped spur the would need to win five series to win the Stanley Cup in the Return to Play Canes to their first playoff berth since 2009. Some reset. format, starting with the best-of-five qualifying round against the New York Rangers. But Niederreiter hit a lull in the 2019 playoffs — one goal and four points in 15 games. He then sputtered this season, going without a goal in the “Whoever wins it is going to earn it,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said first 10 games and finishing with 11 goals and 29 points in 67 games. But in a Zoom interview this week. “You talk about a team victory or a team he now has another playoff chance and is eager to get started. earning a Stanley Cup, that’s what it’s going to take to pull this off.” “The biggest thing for us is we’re a very highly motivated team,” he said. Yes, the Canes need consistently productive play from Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov, their top line. They need the SAMI VATANEN leadership of Jordan Staal and Justin Williams. They need a healthy Dougie Hamilton on defense. They need good goaltending from Petr Vatanen has not been on the ice and in a hockey game since Feb. 1, Mrazek and James Reimer, regardless of who’s the starter. when he played for the New Jersey Devils against the Dallas Stars.

But here are five players who could play — and may need to play — Vatanen soon was placed on injured reserve by the Devils after taking a pivotal roles: puck off a leg. The Finnish defenseman was traded to the Canes on Feb. 24 but never played. He came to the postseason training camp saying he MARTIN NECAS was healthy and ready but needing to show it in practice.

Necas could be this year’s Warren Foegele. He’s a rookie. He has speed “I have a chance to start with a new slate,” Vatanen said during camp. that’s disruptive. He can score. With Dougie Hamilton’s absence Thursday, Vatanen found himself in the Necas’ 16 goals in 64 games ranked fourth among NHL rookies and he top defensive pairing with Jaccob Slavin. He took over Hamilton’s spot on often showed off a booming one-timer on the power play. The Czech the power play. Until something definitive is known about Hamilton’s wasn’t in the Calder Trophy conversations for NHL rookie of the year but availability — the team is not allowed to provide information on injuries — Brind’Amour said he doesn’t think that bothered Necas. his role could grow exponentially.

“He’s one of the most talented young players in the game,” Brind’Amour Vatanen is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, said. “He’s becoming a dynamic player, which was what we all hoped adding a financial incentive to things. But there’s a hunger to win, he him to be, and he’s still a young kid and still learning the game.” said. It’s for the Cup.

Necas, 21, doesn’t have Stanley Cup playoff experience but he was a big News Observer LOADED: 07.25.2020 part of the Charlotte Checkers’ Calder Cup playoff championship run in the AHL last season. That could help.

“Different kind of animal but same concept, playing for real, playing for something,” Brind’Amour said.

RYAN DZINGEL

The Canes signed Dzingel last summer expecting the forward, another speedy type, to bring instant offense to the lineup.

It didn’t happen. Dzingel, coming off a 26-goal season with Ottawa and Columbus in 2018-19, had eight in 64 games before the pause as his shooting percentage dipped from 16.4% to 8.2%.

“I didn’t think Ryan had a bad year,” Brind’Amour said. “He just had some bad luck. I think if we’re going to get where we need to, he’s going to be a part of it.

“If guys have a good season or bad one to this point it’s all forgotten. It’s about the next day and win-the-day philosophy.” 1189090 Chicago Blackhawks

Corey Crawford reportedly among the 31 Blackhawks headed to Edmonton for their series against the Oilers

By PHIL THOMPSON

JUL 24, 2020 AT 8:23 PM

Corey Crawford reportedly will join the Chicago Blackhawks in Edmonton, Alberta, for their play-in series against the Oilers, though the team’s top goaltender has missed nearly two weeks of training camp.

When the NHL released rosters Friday night for all 31 teams entering the playoff qualifiers, Crawford was listed for the Hawks, according to Sportsnet.ca’s Mark Spector. The Hawks and Oilers open a best-of-five series Aug. 1.

Crawford had been ruled “unfit to participate” all camp. The Hawks practice for the last time Saturday at Fifth Third Arena, then fly Sunday to Edmonton and practice later that day, Colliton said.

Now, it begs the question as to what role, if any, Crawford will have during the play-in series.

It would be a challenge for the 35-year-old, 13-year veteran — or anyone, for that matter — to get into playing shape and knock off the rust after a monthslong pause because of the COVID-19 shutdown in time for the postseason. The Hawks play the Blues in an exhibition game Wednesday.

Colliton hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Crawford returning, at least in comments he has made this week.

“I don’t know exactly the last time he was on (the ice).” Colliton said Tuesday. “As far as his timeline to get up to speed, don’t know that either. Whenever we get him back, if we get him back, it’s our job to get him ready as quickly as we can. And we’ll go from there.”

The Hawks invited four other goalies to camp, including Malcolm Subban, who backed up Crawford since February, when he arrived from Las Vegas in a trade for Robin Lehner. A trio of Rockford goalies also got the call: Collin Delia, Kevin Lankinen and Matt Tomkins.

Subban and Delia would be the front-runners if Crawford isn’t ready, but Colliton has declined to say which of the goalies has distinguished himself.

Jonathan Toews marveled at the situation Crawford and the Hawks find themselves in.

“What can you do? It is what it is,” Toews said Thursday. “Give Crow credit, he’s always risen to the occasion. When he’s gotten in tight spots or when he’s been hurt, he comes back and plays great. I laugh because the amount of preparation that a guy like me needs to go play at my best as opposed to a guy like Crow who can just pop in there, it’s almost the expectation for him.

“And at the same time, it’s not really fair. But we do feel confident in Subby, we do feel confident in Deals. Those guys are ready for the opportunity. They’ve played well when they’ve gotten NHL starts before.

“That’s’ all we can really do is play our best defense hockey, help out our goaltenders.”

Veteran defenseman Brent Seabrook, meanwhile, will be staying in Chicago. Seabrook, 35, underwent two hip and a right shoulder surgery this winter, and despite working out with the team recently, he said he didn’t feel “comfortable” yet to return to game action.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189091 Chicago Blackhawks Whether that’s with the Hawks next season is up to Bowman and Colliton, he said.

“I know that I can be an impact player on a hockey club,” Seabrook said Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook won’t travel to Edmonton for “This time off has reenergized me to be better.” the playoffs: ‘I just don’t feel comfortable yet' 3. Brent Seabrook, Calvin de Haan and Connor Murphy were incredibly candid about their injuries.

By PHIL THOMPSON Seabrook injured his right shoulder during his rookie eason with the Hawks in 2005-06, and working with doctors to strengthen it, he hoped to JUL 24, 2020 AT 5:51 PM buy another 10 years out of it.

“We ended up getting 15 — I don’t know how many of those were good — but we ended up getting 15 out of it,” he said. “It progressively got Blackhawks training camp has been like a game of musical defensemen. worse.” Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan, one of the team’s most reliable Head team physician Michael A. Terry performed an MRI, and “the defensive pairs early in the season, were back on the ice together Friday alarming thing to me was there were two separate issues (that) he at Fifth Third Arena after both missed much of camp. But their reunion couldn’t tell me if they needed to be fixed until he was in my shoulder,” will be short-lived. Seabrook said. “He ended up fixing one and leaving the other alone.” The Hawks have a day left in Chicago before they fly to Edmonton, Pain in his shoulder, back and hips cost him a lot on and off the ice, Alberta, on Sunday for their best-of-five NHL play-in series against the Seabrook revealed. Oilers, but Seabrook won’t be joining them. “Sleeping on it has been tough,” he said. “Getting out of bed — probably “I talked to (general manager) Stan (Bowman) yesterday — I’m not going more information than you need — but sitting on the toilet. Playing with to be going,” Seabrook told reporters in a Zoom call. “Not sure if I’m my kids, it’s just been hard to get on the ground, and that’s been going supposed to make that announcement or not. But my main focus was to on for five or 10 years.” come here to play and to see how I felt and get up to speed as fast as I could.” Now, he feels “incredible.”

Seabrook, 35, was a mainstay during the Hawks’ nine consecutive “It’s been really weird the last two or three months, when I get out of my playoff appearances — including three Stanley Cup runs — from 2009- bed, remembering how hard it was to do certain things,” Seabrook said. 2017. “I still catch myself not wanting to do something too quick because I still remember that.” Here’s more on the Seabrook development and other observations from camp. During his recuperation, he has learned to appreciate the kinds of everyday activities most people take for granted. 1. Brent Seabrook made the decision to stay in Chicago — it wasn’t a roster snub. “Getting down and helping my kids tie their shoes has been nice; tie my own shoes has been nice. Put on a sock,” Seabrook said. The Hawks, like all teams in the NHL qualifiers, can take up to 31 players to their hub city, and coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters Seabrook De Haan is another hard-luck case. He has had three right shoulder removed himself from consideration. surgeries in as many years but hopes the one in December stabilizes it for good. “He’s got years of experience and Stanley Cups and that pedigree that come playoff time, it’s nice to have around,” Colliton said. “Certainly that’ll “This procedure was done differently than some other ones that I’ve had be somewhat of a void. At the same time, we have a bunch of guys who in the past,” he said. “Essentially they just put an internal brace inside have won a Cup and know what it takes and will show the way.” your body.”

Seabrook felt “100%” that it was a realistic goal to think he could recover De Haan said the injuries have been frustrating but something out of his from two hip surgeries and shoulder surgery in time to help the Hawks control. take on the Oilers in the series that starts Aug. 1. “It’s not like me trying to block a shot or put my body on the line,” he said. “I wouldn’t have been here if I didn’t think I could play,” he said. “No. 1, “It’s just an unfortunate angle that I seem to come down on my body. It’s I’m taking a spot; No. 2, I’m away from my family. I just don’t feel just kind of bad luck, to be honest. No one wants to be injured. comfortable yet, as comfortable as I want to feel on the ice. “Hopefully this is behind me. I’ve suffered enough.” “It’s definitely coming, but ... looking back now, it was good for me to see where I’m at and see what I still have to work on and the things I have to Murphy has taken it easy the latter part of camp this week, sometimes get better at and stronger with and continue to heal to be ready for camp skating on his own and taking part in some drills. next year.” “I tweaked my groin in one of the first few days,” he said. “It was just one 2. Seabrook says he still can be an ‘impact’ player — if he gets the ice of things when I was trying to get up to full speed or do a sprint, the fast time. twitch of the groin didn’t feel too good.”

At the risk of reading between the lines, Seabrook sounded as if he Murphy said he has been careful not to rush back to full speed and undo strongly disagreed with his usage during the season when was a healthy the progress he has made. scratch. “Just ramping up as much as I can be and trying to be safe and not “I don’t think I was playing bad,” Seabrook said. “I think I was playing well overdoing it,” he said. “But I definitely hope I will be good enough to play enough to play the games. He obviously saw something in me that he when the first games come.” didn’t like.” Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.25.2020 The 35-year-old insisted he’s still one of the team’s best defensemen, and “if given the chance and given the opportunities that some guys get, then I would definitely be able to live up to those expectations and exceed them. I’ve done it my whole career.”

“A lot of people want to make a lot of my contract and my age, and if given the opportunity and feeling like a big part of the team on the ice, you’ll get everything I’ve got,” said Seabrook, who has worked with his own skating coach and physical therapist in Canada. “I’ve got lots left.” 1189092 Chicago Blackhawks

Corey Crawford reportedly listed on Blackhawks’ 31-man playoff roster

By Ben Pope Jul 24, 2020, 8:33pm CDT

Despite his absence from the Blackhawks’ entire training camp to date, goalie Corey Crawford is reportedly on the team’s official playoff roster.

Crawford was on the list when the Hawks submitted their roster to the NHL before the deadline Friday, Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reported.

Asked about the Hawks’ playoff roster before Spector’s report surfaced, coach Jeremy Colliton said the team didn’t plan to disclose it.

‘‘We’re in the process of finalizing everything,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘But we’re not going to be releasing it until the league is going to do that.’’

Crawford didn’t appear at any of the Hawks’ informal workouts during Phase 2 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan, nor did he appear at any of their official practices during Phase 3 in the last two weeks.

But general manager said this week he remained ‘‘hopeful’’ Crawford would join the Hawks in time to travel Sunday to Edmonton, Alberta, for the playoffs.

Trade-deadline addition Malcolm Subban and goalies Collin Delia and Kevin Lankinen have rotated through the Hawks’ first-team practices while fighting for the No. 1 job in Crawford’s stead.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189093 Chicago Blackhawks would definitely be able to live up to those expectations and exceed them. I’ve done it my whole career.”

“A lot of people want to make a lot of my contract and my age. I think if Brent Seabrook won’t play for Blackhawks in playoffs, but plans to be [I’m] given the opportunity and feeling like a big part of the team on the ‘impact player’ next season ice, you’ll get everything I’ve got. And I’ve got lots left.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.25.2020

By Ben Pope Jul 24, 2020, 1:04pm CDT

Brent Seabrook, speaking for the first time since his trifecta of surgeries last winter, said Friday that he won’t play in the playoffs with the Blackhawks.

“I’m not going,” he said. “I just don’t feel comfortable yet, as comfortable as I want to feel on the ice.”

The 35-year-old defenseman has been a full participant in camp over the past two weeks, making an inspiringly fast return after undergoing right shoulder, right hip and left hip surgeries in December and January.

But Seabrook still hasn’t played in more than seven months. He said he entered camp expecting to play, but after going through it, he wants to focus his attention on preparing for 2020-21.

“I’m excited with the way it went,” Seabrook said. “I’m looking forward to training hard and figuring out the last few things that I need to figure out and be ready for next year.”

Seabrook’s announcement on his playoff status led off what became a wide-ranging interview on both his past and future with the Hawks.

He said his surgeries last winter came after many years of pain and discomfort that he didn’t publicly acknowledge.

The shoulder ailment, in particular, traced back to injuries suffered in the 2004 World Junior Championships and his 2005-06 rookie NHL season. He underwent an operation then with Dr. Michael Terry, the Hawks’ head physician, to strengthen his shoulder and give it an expected 10-year window.

“We ended up getting 15 out of it, but it progressively got worse,” Seabrook said. “I haven’t been able to throw a baseball or a football for a long time. Sleeping on it has been tough. [We] did an MRI and there were definitely some issues.”

Terry ended up fixing one of two areas of concern identified on the MRI, and left the other as is.

Seabrook’s hip surgeries, meanwhile, apparently caused the back pain he’s felt for the last five to 10 years. That pain affected not only his hockey but also everyday activities as simple as sitting on the toilet.

Now, though, he feels “incredible.”

“It’s been really weird the last two or three months, when I get out of my bed, remembering how hard it was to do certain things,” he said. “Getting down and helping my kids tie their shoes has been nice. Tying my own shoes has been nice.”

With his body in its best condition in a decade, Seabrook has redirected his thoughts toward the future.

Seabrook’s relationship with Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton was strained last fall when Colliton healthy-scratched Seabrook three times. Colliton and Seabrook had a long conversation on the ice at the end of Friday’s practice, but both parties’ tones and comments when asked about each other suggested some of that schism still exists.

Between that tension and Seabrook’s massive contract, the impact of which on the Hawks’ cap situation is only worsening, it sounded as if the three-time Cup winner has had second thoughts about whether he’ll finish his career in Chicago.

At this point, Seabrook’s quotes speak best for themselves.

“I don’t know where my place is here with the Blackhawks,” he said. “That’s a question for Stan [Bowman] and Jeremy. As far as the NHL goes, I know that I can be an impact player on a hockey club.”

“I still think that I’m one of the best defensemen in this locker room, and if given the chance and given the opportunities that some guys get, then I 1189094 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks reportedly list Crawford among players going to Edmonton

John Dietz

Updated7/24/2020 9:55 PM

Corey Crawford may just be able to help the Blackhawks after all.

The goalie, deemed "unfit to participate" in any on-ice activity since training camp began July 13, was on the list of 31 players who will travel to Edmonton, according to Sportsnet's Marc Spector. The Hawks will face the Oilers in a best-of-five series, with Game 1 set for Aug. 1 at 2 p.m.

The Hawks' final practice at Fifth Third Arena will be Saturday at 11 a.m. The team will then travel to Edmonton and practice Sunday.

They will play an exhibition game against St. Louis on Monday.

Whether or not a week is enough time for Crawford to be game ready is anyone's guess, although believes it's certainly possible.

"Obviously we would like to have Corey back, but he hasn't been here, hasn't practiced," said Tuesday. "We're just focusing right now on whoever's here. We're assuming those are going to be the guys that are playing.

"Obviously, Corey is an all-world goaltender, saw what he was doing for us last year, especially toward the end of the year. ... If there's one guy who could step in, it would be him. ...

"We'll wait and see. Hopefully he comes back and stands on his head."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189095 Chicago Blackhawks Now, what about next season? While the Hawks' blue line is getting more crowded, it would obviously benefit them if Seabrook -- whose contract carries a massive $6.875 million cap hit until 2023-2024 -- could again play at a high level. Searbook expects to be ready for next season but will not go to Edmonton While admitting those three healthy scratches stung -- and that he doesn't feel they were deserved -- Seabrook left no doubt what he expects of himself next season.

John Dietz "I still think that I'm one of the best defensemen in this locker room, and if given the chance and the opportunities that some guys get then I would Updated7/24/2020 7:27 PM definitely be able to live up to those expectations and exceed them," Seabrook said. "I've done it my whole career.

Twelve days after the Blackhawks reconvened and began preparing to "A lot of people want to make a lot of my contract and my age, (but) if face the Edmonton Oilers, Brent Seabrook finally sat down and given the opportunity … you'll get everything I've got. I've got lots left. conducted a Zoom interview with reporters after practice Friday. "So I'm excited to get healthy and feel the best that I can feel, and I'm The veteran defenseman was as open, honest and forthright as we've looking forward to camp next year." ever seen him during a career that has spanned 15 years with the Murphy update : Hawks. Defenseman Connor Murphy said he tweaked his groin last week, but The No. 1 takeaway is that Seabrook -- who will not be accompany his expects to be ready to face Edmonton when the Hawks begin a best-of- teammates to Edmonton on Sunday -- expects to be ready for the 2020- five play-in series vs. the Oilers on August 1. Murphy did not practice with 21 season. the team Friday, but was able to work with a secondary group of players And not only that, but the 35-year-old expects to play and to contribute at on the Fifth Third Arena's alternate rink. an extremely high level. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.25.2020 "I want to come back and be not just be a good player for the Blackhawks, but a great player in the league," said Seabrook, who underwent three surgeries in five weeks early this year. "I'm very capable of doing that."

Seabrook opened his 19-minute Q&A by telling us he didn't want to talk until "I had some answers" about how he felt on the ice. Seabrook had skated 12 times before camp began, but when the whistle blew for that first drill he said he was "probably the most nervous I've been since I was 18 years old at a training camp."

The decision to stay in Chicago came during a conversation with GM Stan Bowman on Thursday.

"My understanding of the way the whole thing works is there are 31 players and they all need to be playing," Seabrook said. "The longer we go in the playoffs, you never know what's going to happen. We could lose 10 guys in the first game, then Brent Seabrook's taking up a spot and can't play."

Seabrook scored 3 goals, had 1 assist and averaged a career-low 18 minutes, 9 seconds in 32 games this season. He was also a healthy scratch three times, the third one coming against Colorado Dec. 18.

The next afternoon, the Hawks announced Seabrook did not travel to Winnipeg and that he was undergoing further medical evaluation. Eight days later, Seabrook was deemed out for the season, and he would later undergo surgeries on his shoulder and both hips.

"I haven't been able to throw a baseball or a football for a long time," said Seabrook, who originally injured the shoulder when he was 18. "Sleeping on it has been tough. We did an MRI and there were definitely some issues that Dr. (Michael) Terry could see.

"The alarming thing to me was there were two separate issues (that) he couldn't tell me if they needed to be fixed until he was in my shoulder."

Once the decision to fix the shoulder was made, Seabrook asked Terry to help alleviate the back pain he'd been experiencing for years. Things got so bad that he was having a difficult time sitting, playing with his kids on the floor and even tying his shoes.

"When he looked at the hips he figured out there was some stuff we could do to alleviate a lot of that pressure and that stress," Seabrook said.

So how does he feel now?

"I feel incredible," Seabrook said. "Getting down and helping my kids tie their shoes has been nice; tie my own shoes has been nice. Put on a sock. Things like that.

"I'm very happy with the decisions that I made. Couldn't have asked for a better surgeon and the help he's given me through this. It's been great." 1189096 Chicago Blackhawks

Brent Seabrook won't travel with Blackhawks for playoffs

Associated Press

Updated7/24/2020 3:45 PM

CHICAGO -- Veteran defenseman Brent Seabrook won't play for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL playoffs after not feeling well enough following three surgeries.

The 35-year-old underwent two hip surgeries and right shoulder surgery in a five-week span earlier this year. He was originally scheduled to miss five to six months but hoped to be ready for the resumption of the season.

'œMy main focus was coming here to play and see how I felt and get up to speed as fast as I could,' Seabrook said Friday. 'œI just don't feel comfortable yet - as comfortable as I want to feel on the ice.'•

Seabrook was part of Chicago's Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He's signed at a salary-cap hit of almost $7 million for the next four seasons.

Seabrook spoke to Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and came to the conclusion that it wouldn't make sense for him to take a spot on the 31-player roster. The team must submit that roster and its 52- person travel party to the Western Conference hub city of Edmonton, Alberta, late Friday.

'œI came here prepared to play and make an impact,'• Seabrook said. 'œI'm excited with the way it went. I'm excited with the way I felt.'•

Seabrook was limited to three goals and an assist in 32 games this season. In 1,114 NHL regular-season games, he has 103 goals and 361 assists for 464 points.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189097 Chicago Blackhawks

Report: Corey Crawford on Blackhawks' 31-man postseason roster

By Scott King July 24, 2020 7:18 PM

Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford has been absent from the team's Phase 3 training camp since it began July 13 after he was listed on the team's camp roster ahead of Day 1.

Friday evening, Sportsnet's Marc Spector reported that the Blackhawks turned in their 31-man roster for the NHL's 24-team postseason tournament and that Crawford was on it.

The two-time Stanley Cup champ was deemed "unfit to play" by Hawks head coach Jeremy Colliton in regard to his absence on Day 1. It didn't appear the netminder participated in the team's Phase 2 small group voluntary workouts ahead of Phase 3 training camp either, judging by team social media postings and website photos.

During the regular season, Crawford, 35, posted a 16-20-3 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 40 games, including 39 starts. Prior to goalie Robin Lehner being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the trade deadline, the two split Chicago's net pretty evenly.

Crawford is 48-37 all time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Hawks. In his postseason career he touts a 2.29 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.

If Crawford is indeed on the roster and traveling with the team and somehow able to get in game shape ahead of the start of Chicago's qualifying round series against Edmonton, the two-time NHL All-Star in net for the Western Conference's No. 12 Blackhawks would greatly improve their chance of upsetting the No. 5 Oilers on home ice.

The question is: Would he have enough time to get in game shape? According to Colliton, the Hawks have one more summer camp practice in Chicago on Saturday before traveling to Edmonton. They'll have another practice when they get to the hub city on Sunday, followed by a day off Monday, practice Tuesday, an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, then two practices before the start of the series against the Oilers.

Goalies Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia look to have gotten the majority of the reps in the Blackhawks' training camp with Crawford out.

"Give Crow credit, he’s always risen to the occasion," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews told Chicago media Thursday on a Zoom video conference call. "When he’s gotten in tight spots or when he’s been hurt, he comes back and plays great. I laugh, because the amount of preparation that a guy like me needs to go play at my best as opposed to a guy like Crow who can just pop in there, it’s almost the expectation for him. And at the same time, it’s not really fair.

"But we do feel confident in Subby, we do feel confident in Deals. Those guys are ready for the opportunity, they’ve played well when they’ve gotten NHL starts before. That’s’ all we can really do is play our best [defensive] hockey, help out our goaltenders. We know those guys can do the job and whatever happens to Crow, it’s not fair to put that level of pressure on him right now."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189098 Chicago Blackhawks "I still think that I’m one of the best defensemen in this locker room, and if given the chance and given the opportunities that some guys get, then I would definitely be able to live up to those expectations and exceed them. I’ve done it my whole career. Brent Seabrook has 'lots' of hockey left, but will he finish career with Blackhawks? “A lot of people want to make a lot of my contract and my age, [but] if given the opportunity and feeling like a big part of the team on the ice, you’ll get everything I've got. And I've got lots left. I've got lots left.”

By Charlie Roumeliotis July 24, 2020 5:40 PM Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020

Brent Seabrook has been an absolute warrior for the Blackhawks. He will go down as one of the best defensemen in franchise history, and you don't have to remind the city of Chicago how valuable he was in each of the three Stanley Cup runs in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

Ask any current or former teammate and they'll tell you Seabrook has always put the team before himself and it's true. But it wasn't more evident than Friday after hearing the laundry list of injuries he had been dealing with since the start of his NHL career and the fact nobody outside his inner circle ever knew.

For years, Seabrook said he hasn't been able to throw a baseball or football because of a right shoulder injury, which made playing catch with his kids impossible. Getting out of bed or sitting on the ground wasn't easy, either, on his back that he's had trouble with "for a long time." Heck, a simple task like going to the bathroom even felt like a chore, which Seabrook admitted is "probably more information than you need" but honestly put things into perspective.

After 15 years of putting the team first, it was time for Seabrook to do what was best for him by cleaning up everything that had ailed him over the years and that's what he did by undergoing three major surgeries — right shoulder and both hips — in a little more than a one-month span at the end of December to early February. You could argue he was still putting the team first by doing so because he wants to be the best version of himself for his teammates.

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Despite everything he has gone through, Seabrook remains committed to extending his hockey career for as long as his body lets him. And while he may not be part of the Blackhawks' postseason roster, Seabrook wasn't shy about his intentions going into training camp next season.

"I want to come back and be not just a good player for the Blackhawks, but a great player in the league," Seabrook said. "I think I’m very capable of doing that. I’ve done it for a long time and if I get an opportunity here to play, then I’m going to give this team everything I’ve got like I’ve always done."

Seabrook said he feels "incredible" but is still careful about not wanting to make any sudden movements out of fear he might tweak something. That's how bad it was before the three surgeries: it was normal for him to not feel normal.

On one hand, it must be a huge relief for Seabrook to resume regular activities without feeling pain. On the other, he’s 35 years old and coming off three major surgeries.

Naturally, there will be questions about his future, considering he has four years left on his contract after this season and carries a $6.875 million cap hit, which is the highest among Blackhawks defensemen. It’s a number that seems less manageable now than it was four months ago, given the fact the upper limit of the salary cap will stay flat for at least the next couple years.

Seabrook has heard it all but doesn’t care. Or at least isn't showing that he does. He plans on playing hockey next season and beyond.

The question may be whether he’ll finish his career in Chicago or elsewhere. He has complete control over his situation because his contract includes a full no-movement clause, but he understands the Blackhawks may view where he fits into the long-term picture differently.

But Seabrook is still confident in his ability to be an impact-type player for somebody.

“I don’t know where my place is here with the Blackhawks,” he said. “That’s a question for Stan [Bowman] and Jeremy [Colliton]. As far as the NHL goes, I know that I can be an impact player on a hockey club. This time off has re-energized me to be better. 1189099 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Connor Murphy hopeful for Oilers series despite groin injury

By Scott King July 23, 2020 11:51 PM

On Friday, Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy skated on his own at Fifth Third Arena's other rink while the team practiced a day before their final session in Chicago prior to traveling to Edmonton for the NHL's 24-team postseason tournament. He continued to work while the Hawks' second group took the ice.

Murphy, 27, had skated ahead Thursday's practice and took part in some drills with the team before heading in early. He was deemed "unfit to play" last week on Wednesday. The blueliner also skated before Tuesday's practice, ahead of this Wednesday's day off, but didn't participate in the session.

During a Zoom video conference call with Hawks media Friday, Murphy said he tweaked his groin early on in camp and that's what's been holding him back.

"It was just one of those things when I was trying to get up to full speed or do a sprint, the fast twitch of the groin didn’t feel too good," Murphy said. "Unfortunately with skating, you can’t really keep going with practice and let it rest, so had to sit out a bit and make sure. ...

"Every day it’s felt better, better than it did the day before, so we’ve kind of continued that the last few days with skates, ramping up more. And today I was out there with the second group, doing kind of even more kind of fast-burst things. Hopefully we’ll see how it feels tomorrow and the next few days, definitely continue to progress."

Connor is optimistic he'll be ready to go for the Hawks' play-in series against the Oilers, which is quickly approaching.

"I’m feeling good," he said. "It’s nice to slowly get back into it and just kind of seeing how it’s feeling day to day, just ramping up as much as I can be and trying to be safe and not overdoing it. But I definitely hope I will be good enough to play when the first games come. But for now I have to go day by day and communicate with the trainers and make sure I’m not overdoing it to make sure I’m not having more of a setback."

During the regular season, Murphy had 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) and a +/- rating of +2 in 58 games with the Hawks.

The Blackhawks will first take on the defending Stanley Cup champs, the St. Louis Blues, in an exhibition game on July 29 in Edmonton before facing the Oilers in a best-of-five qualifying round series on Aug. 1, with the winner advancing to Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189100 Chicago Blackhawks

Brent Seabrook announces he will not be part of Blackhawks' postseason roster

By Charlie Roumeliotis July 24, 2020 1:20 PM

Despite being a full participant at training camp, Brent Seabrook announced Friday that he will not be part of the Blackhawks' 31-man postseason roster for the NHL's Return to Play plan. The team leaves for Edmonton on Sunday.

"I’m not going to go," said Seabrook, who informed GM Stan Bowman of his decision on Thursday. "My main focus was to come here to play and to see how I felt and get up to speed as fast as I could. I just don’t feel comfortable yet, as comfortable as I want to feel on the ice."

Seabrook underwent three major surgeries on his right shoulder and both hips in nearly a one-month span. He wanted to give it a go at training camp and most certainly would have loved to be part of another potential playoff run for the Blackhawks.

But Seabrook's focus now is getting ready for the start of the 2020-21 season and becoming an impact-type player that he believes he can still be.

"Looking back on the camp," Seabrook said, "it was good for me to see where I’m at and see what I still have to work on and the things I have to get better at and stronger with and continue to heal to be ready for camp next year."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189101 Chicago Blackhawks

Brent Seabrook won't travel with Chicago Blackhawks for playoffs

4:56 PM ET

Associated Press

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CHICAGO -- Veteran defenseman Brent Seabrook won't play for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL playoffs, saying he isn't feeling comfortable enough on the ice after three surgeries.

The 35-year-old underwent two hip surgeries and right shoulder surgery in a five-week span earlier this year. He was originally scheduled to miss five to six months but hoped to be ready for the resumption of the season.

"My main focus was coming here to play and see how I felt and get up to speed as fast as I could," Seabrook said Friday. "I just don't feel comfortable yet -- as comfortable as I want to feel on the ice."

Seabrook was part of Chicago's Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He's signed at a salary-cap hit of almost $7 million for the next four seasons.

Seabrook spoke to Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and came to the conclusion that it wouldn't make sense for him to take a spot on the 31-player roster. The team must submit that roster and its 52- person travel party to the Western Conference hub city of Edmonton, Alberta, late Friday.

"I came here prepared to play and make an impact," Seabrook said. "I'm excited with the way it went. I'm excited with the way I felt."

Seabrook was limited to three goals and an assist in 32 games this season. In 1,114 NHL regular-season games, he has 103 goals and 361 assists for 464 points.

ESPNChicago.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189102 Chicago Blackhawks will practice one final time in Chicago on Saturday and will depart for Edmonton on Sunday.

Coach Jeremy Colliton said Friday the Blackhawks would be able to get Blackhawks’ roster, health becoming somewhat clearer as team prepares a player on the ice whenever needed once they arrive in Edmonton. to depart “We have ice every day available,” Colliton said. “On game days, we have a slot that we can use for extra guys. So, we’re there, and for the most part, we’re going to be in the Rogers arena. They have a practice By Scott Powers Jul 24, 2020 rink there. There’s a practice rink 25 minutes outside of town, which on some days we’ll use. But it won’t be a problem getting guys on the ice,

whoever that may be.” More and more has become known about the health of the Blackhawks Until more is known about Crawford, Colliton will have Malcolm Subban, in recent days. Collin Delia and Kevin Lankinen. Even if Crawford comes back, Colliton Jonathan Toews returned to the ice as a full-practice participant on will still have to choose a backup. Thursday after what he described as a maintenance day. That helped So far, Colliton hasn’t been tipping his hand on the decision. ease fans’ concerns. “The guys have played well and we’ll let it play out further,” Colliton said Calvin de Haan described himself and his surgically repaired shoulder as earlier in the week. “The goalies will know before you guys do.” feeling good Friday and expected to be ready to face the Edmonton Oilers in the play-in series. The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 “I feel good,” de Haan said. “I’ve been skating. The rinks back home opened up pretty early compared to most places on the planet, so I was able to get out on the ice and get a head start on things. It’s obviously different in a game, but I feel good the past few skates here, and a week ago, too, I felt good out on the ice. Even previously skating with the guys at training camp felt good.”

Connor Murphy has slowly been working his way back this week after disclosing Friday he had a groin injury at the start of training camp. He also hoped to be ready for the series.

“I tweaked my groin in one of the first few days,” Murphy said. “It was just one of those things when I was trying to get up to full speed or do a sprint, the fast twitch of the groin didn’t feel too good. Unfortunately with skating, you can’t really keep going with practice and let it rest, so had to sit out a bit and make sure. That’s just the way kind of the programs are coming back, is making sure every day you’re building more and more and not trying to rush it all at once. Every day it’s felt better, better than it did the day before, so we’ve kind of continued that the last few days with skates, ramping up more. And today, I was out there with the second group, doing kind of even more kind of fast-burst things. Hopefully, we’ll see how it feels tomorrow and the next few days definitely continue to progress.”

And then, there was Brent Seabrook saying Friday he wouldn’t join the team on the trip to Edmonton because he wasn’t where he wanted to be just yet after three surgeries.

“My understanding of the way the whole thing works is there are 31 players and they all need to be playing,” Seabrook said. “The longer we go in the playoffs, you never know what’s going to happen with bodies. We could lose 10 guys in the first game, then Brent Seabrook’s taking up a spot and can’t play.”

That decision likely solidified the Blackhawks’ three defenseman pairings. Duncan Keith and Adam Boqvist are expected to be the top pairing, de Haan and Murphy the second pairing and Olli Maatta and Slater Koekkoek the third pairing.

And that leaves Corey Crawford, who has been absent from the Blackhawks’ practices since camp began on July 13. As with every other player who has been out, Crawford has been deemed “unfit” to practice. Nothing beyond that has been said about why he’s been out.

The Blackhawks had to submit to the NHL on Friday a list of people they are taking with them to the bubble in Edmonton. The list couldn’t have more than 52 people, including no more than 31 players.

Crawford is on the Blackhawks’ list, according to a source.

General manager Stan Bowman said Tuesday there was a chance Crawford could travel with the team to Edmonton.

“We are hopeful on that,” Bowman said. “I think we’ll be able to give you a better idea as we get closer to the weekend. That’s something we’re still shooting for. But I don’t have any definitive comments right now, but we’re still hoping that’s the case.”

Even if Crawford travels, that doesn’t mean he’ll play immediately or at all. Crawford’s fitness level has to be a concern for the Blackhawks, who 1189103 Chicago Blackhawks ready to take over as the next generation, not to mention Duncan Keith, Connor Murphy, Calvin de Haan, Olli Maatta and Slater Koekkoek in the mix.

‘I got lots left’: Defiant Brent Seabrook turns his attention to 2020-21 and Where does that leave Seabrook in 2020-21 and beyond? The big guy’s beyond been around long enough to learn how to read the room, and it was intriguing, to say the least, to hear him talk about “opportunities” and his relationship with Colliton, which clearly was frayed when he first became a regular scratch. By Mark Lazerus Jul 24, 2020 “I don’t think I was playing bad,” Seabrook said. “I think I was playing well

enough to play the games, and (Colliton) obviously saw something in me There have been times over the past couple of months when Brent that he didn’t like. I’m not going to be too worried about that. I know what Seabrook has caught himself being unnecessarily cautious. After so I can bring to this team, I know what I can bring to the ice. I still think that many years of living in pain, it was “weird” to be able to get out of bed so I’m one of the best defensemen in this locker room, and if given the quickly, so painlessly. It was strange to so easily be able to get low and chance and given the opportunities that some guys get, then I think I tie his kids’ shoes, to tie his own shoes, to sleep through the night, even would definitely be able to live up to those expectations and exceed to sit on a toilet. them. I’ve done it my whole career. And a lot of people want to make a lot of my contract and my age, (but) if given the opportunity and feeling For so long, back pain was a constant fact of life for Seabrook. For so like a big part of the team on the ice, you’ll get everything I got. And I got long, his shoulder — injured way back during the 2004 World Juniors, lots left. I got lots left.” when Jeremy Colliton was his teammate rather than his coach — was so messed up he couldn’t toss a baseball or a football. Adrenaline can get Seabrook said he’s working with a skating coach and therapist in you through a hockey game, can allow you to throw yourself in front of a Canada, and enlisted some outside-the-organization help to further shot, or slide on the ice to break up a 2-on-1 before hopping back to your improve his fitness while he stayed in Chicago for the lockdown. He feet. But when the adrenaline dies down, the mundane can become more insists he can be as good as he was in his prime, be the player that harrowing than any oncoming slapper. logged the biggest minutes and scored the biggest goals in the biggest games. It’s just a matter of whether the Blackhawks see him the same So in December, at age 34, finding himself on the outside of Colliton’s way, or if they’re willing to even give him the chance to prove it with so rotation and derided for his diminishing play and his onerous contract, many defensemen in the pipeline. His teammates sure see him that way. Seabrook decided it was finally time to do something about it. He had But what about Bowman? What about Colliton? Behind the platitudes, Blackhawks doctor Michael Terry clean out his shoulder at long last. And how do they really feel about their high-profile, high-salary healthy Terry alleviated the pressure on Seabrook’s back by operating on both scratch? hips. Many wondered if Seabrook would ever play again. Duncan Keith, Seabrook’s longtime partner and friend, said his buddy’s But there he’s been for the last month-plus, skating at Fifth Third Arena dedication to return “inspires us.” called him “an amazing with his teammates, back with “the fellas.” No non-contact jersey. No person, amazing teammate,” and was hoping to have Seabrook on the early exits. No half-assed conditioning laps. He didn’t look quite like his ice for Game 1 against the Oilers as recently as two days ago. Kirby old self, but merely making it through Phase 3 of the NHL’s return-to-play Dach, Seabrook’s mentee and tenant all season, called him a “warrior.” protocol was a titanic accomplishment, on par with some of the greatest Seabrook called Keith, Kane and Jonathan Toews on Thursday to let moments of his decorated career. them know he wasn’t coming. He joked that Dach knew because “he’s eavesdropping on all my phone calls like a little child.” He didn’t want to No, Seabrook won’t be playing against the Oilers on Aug. 1. He won’t tell everybody else just yet, didn’t want to become a distraction. even be making the trip to Edmonton, something he and general manager Stan Bowman decided on Thursday. But there’d be no way to avoid a distraction next season if he’s 100 percent and still the No. 7 or No. 8 defenseman in Colliton’s rotation. But Brent Seabrook isn’t disappearing into the ether of long-term injured He’s too important to the room, too big a personality, too conspicuous in reserve. Far from it. his absence. “I feel incredible,” he said after practice on Friday. “I’m excited, and Seabrook, of course, controls his own fate, to a degree. He’s the one with there’s nothing better than coming to the rink and being around the fellas the no-movement clause. And no contract in the NHL is untradeable — and having fun and getting on a plane and going to a hotel and just being not with salary retention, sweeteners and teams happy to hold on to dead with the fellas. It’s the best thing going. So I’m excited to play, excited to cap space. But that’s not what he wants. He wants to be a Blackhawk for get out there and compete and show everybody that I’ve got lots left. life, always has. But more than anything else he just wants to play That’s been the driving force behind my process since Christmas.” hockey again. And he’s determined to do so. This was the first time Seabrook had spoken to reporters in months, and “I don’t know what my place is here with the Blackhawks, that’s a he was remarkably introspective and open about where his mind’s at question for Stan and Jeremy,” Seabrook said. “As far as the NHL goes, I these days. He even began by apologizing for declining interview know that I can be an impact player on a hockey club, and this time off requests throughout camp, saying he wanted to wait until he knew what has re-energized me to be better. .. I’m playing hockey next year. That’s his situation was. But as emotionally honest as he was, he was just as the bottom line for me.” adamant that he’s still not only an NHL player, but an impact player. The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 In fact, he arrived at camp fully expecting to play against Edmonton, before his body told him otherwise.

“I came here prepared to play and make an impact, and I’m excited with the way it went and excited with the way I felt,” he said. “And I’m looking forward to training hard and figuring out the last few things that I need to figure out to be ready for next year. I want to come back and not just be a good player for the Blackhawks, I want to be a great player in the league. I think I’m very capable of doing that. I’ve done it for a long time, and if I get an opportunity here to play, then I’m going to give this team everything I’ve got, like I’ve always done.”

Of course, that leaves the prickly question of where he’ll be playing that hockey. He’s a Blackhawks icon, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and probably the most beloved guy in the locker room. He’s also got a full no- movement clause in his contract, which has four seasons left on it at a whopping $6.875-million cap hit.

But he’s also 35, coming off three major surgeries, and on a team that’s got Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell, Lucas Carlsson and Nicolas Beaudin 1189104 Chicago Blackhawks Colliton had time to think and assess his lines between his team’s last game March 11 and when they returned for training camp recently. He had liked what he had seen from Nylander, Strome and Kane down the stretch. He knew Kane liked playing with Nylander. From a pure skill Alex Nylander may finally be ready for a major role with the Blackhawks standpoint, Nylander is probably the closest to Kane than any other player on the Blackhawks’ roster. There are also benefits to Nylander

being a right-handed shot across from the left-handed Kane. Strome’s By Scott Powers Jul 24, 2020 game complements their abilities, too. The question Colliton had to consider was whether the line could play hard enough away from the puck and then win pucks back. In games like the Blues one in March, you could see how that could be an issue. The Blackhawks would be lying if they told you Alex Nylander has been what they hoped he’d be this season. When the Blackhawks returned to camp, Colliton went back to that line. He wanted to see what it could become, and so far, that line has In acquiring Nylander from the Buffalo Sabres for Henri Jokiharju prior to probably been more than what he hoped for. It’s only practices and the season, the Blackhawks were optimistic Nylander would realize his scrimmages against teammates, but the trio has been so much more potential and thrive given the proper opportunity, just as Dylan Strome, dominant than any other line combination. another top-10 draft pick, had done the season before. As much debate as there was about dealing a young defenseman like Jokiharju, the Nylander, who turned 22 in March, has been a major reason why, too. Blackhawks envisioned Nylander’s production would eventually silence He’s controlled the puck, carried it through the neutral zone and given the the critics. line clean offensive zone entries. He often defers to Kane, but he’s learning more and more how to play off Kane and create scoring chances The Blackhawks provided Nylander every opportunity to succeed early, by moving the puck among Kane, Strome and himself. too. What any forward prospect would give to start off a season alongside Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on a line. And at times, Nylander attributed his early success to getting back on the ice before Nylander looked as if he deserved that spot in the lineup. He produced in camp officially started. the preseason. He scored a goal in the season opener in Prague. There were stretches when Nylander performed like a top-six forward and was “I feel pretty good right now, been getting those skates in before in Phase rewarded with the chances and ice time that matched. 2, which was huge,” Nylander recently said. “I feel really good here in camp, but I want to be prepared because this is obviously going to be my But then there were also stretches when Nylander’s play dropped off and first playoffs. Like Stromer said, I started playing really well at the end of Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton gave him what he deserved. Colliton the season, especially with Stromer and Kane, good chemistry and stuff made Nylander a healthy scratch at times in October, December, like that and kind of building on that and keep it going for the playoffs, it’s January and February. Nylander was demoted to the fourth line and was going to be huge. We have huge games there obviously and we just played less than 10 minutes in nine of his 13 games in February. need to be as ready as possible. It was nice to get to know them and play with them in Phase 2, so we got to know each other better off the ice and Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman was asked about Nylander on the ice, so just keep carrying it on every day in training camp and in late February as Nylander was playing a much smaller role than when working hard and we’ll be ready for the playoffs.” he began the season. Kane raved about Nylander after a recent practice. “As a 21-year-old, he’s still in the developing phase,” Bowman said. “He’s proven that he’s an NHL player. He went from being someone earning “I think he’s got all the talent in the world,” Kane said. “He’s a great his stripes, which he’s been … and obviously he started the year higher skater. He’s got all the puck skills. He’s got a good shot. I think up in the lineup, which maybe didn’t serve him as well because you put a sometimes you look at a guy like that, he hasn’t really played that much lot of pressure on yourself to score when you’re up playing with as far as minutes, like being able to play a top-six role consistently, so productive players and you want to be a productive player. He’s playing when he was in the spot at the end of the season, before the break, we some of his best hockey. Tactically, when he’s down the lineup, now it’s were really starting to develop chemistry. Our line was coming on. We like a progression. If you can nail that down to be someone that the had a few good games in a row. But I think he can do a lot of good things coach can trust to use, then you would like him to find his offensive skill with the puck. He can hang on to it. He can create space for him.” set, he’s got the ability to make plays and buy time and space with the puck and he can shoot the puck. We’ve seen flashes of it but it’s not the There is a learning curve to playing with Kane. As one league scout said, full picture yet, so hopefully we can see him build on becoming not just “Nylander has to figure out how to play with Kane. It’s not him adapting to an NHL player but an offensive NHL player. That’s what we’d like him to Kane, but realizing Kane will adapt to him. The issue some players have take that next step at some point.” with Kane is they try to play outside of their strengths and start attempting to do things they normally wouldn’t do because they’re playing Soon after that, Colliton provided Nylander another grand opportunity. with him. Keep it simple. Do what you do best and Kane will figure you Colliton had been trying Nylander with Patrick Kane and Dylan Strome out. He can play so many different ways now. The smartest thing to do is for a few games in late February, but the results hadn’t been coming and give Kane the puck and find space. He’ll find you.” Colliton was quick to move on. Against the Florida Panthers on Feb. 29, Nylander began the game alongside Kane and Strome, but Nylander Kane mentioned last week too about how he plans to give Nylander more ended up playing just 6:41. Colliton wasn’t seeing enough to justify info on how they can be better together in time. Kane has said the same keeping Nylander on the ice. thing in the past with new linemates whether it’s been Artemi Panarin or Alex DeBrincat. He tries to bring them along slowly. A game later, Colliton opted to come back with that trio. Against the Anaheim Ducks on March 3, Nylander again started alongside Kane and “I think right now you don’t want to give him too much about how we want Strome. This time, the line produced and Colliton kept it together. The to play,” Kane said. “But as camp goes on here and we start line was on the ice for three goals for against the Ducks. Nylander scrimmaging a little bit more, I think we’ll talk more about certain details contributed one of those goals and dished out an assist. He played that we want to do when we’re on the ice together, how we want to play 13:48, the most ice time he had since Dec. 27. to be effective, especially in the playoffs. But leaving him alone right now because he looks great. He’s skating well. His puck control is really good The line had a plus-1 goal differential and a 58.29 expected goals and he’s creating a lot in any type of battle drill or scrimmage so far. I percentage the next game against the Edmonton Oilers. The line had an think him and Strome have looked really good so far in camp.” uneventful game against the Detroit Red Wings, struggled against the St. Louis Blues and rebounded with a big game against the San Jose Colliton has liked what he’s seen in the first two weeks. As Bowman Sharks. mentioned, it’s been a process with Nylander. The Blackhawks have had to bring Nylander along at his own pace. Colliton has been feeling that The season’s pause followed that. But in those five games together, the out over the season, too. line had a 51.28 Corsi percentage, was on the ice for six goals for and two against for an actual goals for percentage of 75.0 and had an “I think a lot of times with young players you try to give them an expected goals percentage of 53.32. However you wanted to measure opportunity and see how they respond to it,” Colliton said recently. “They the line, it came out a positive. get their feedback. Sometimes if it doesn’t work you pull back a little bit, maybe give them less responsibility. It’s a push and pull until they grow into the role you’re hoping they can play. Those three have played together (since) midseason, around Christmastime, and they had a couple really good games and then there was a drop-off and so then we flipped it. This last time I thought Alex responded really well to the opportunity.

“The biggest thing we’ve been preaching to him the whole season is just his work ethic away from the puck to put pressure on and cause turnovers and to give defensive support, just to have an impact on the game when the puck’s not on his blade. Because he’s got a lot of skills, he makes plays, he’s got some weapons offensively. But we want him to have some impact on the game when he doesn’t have the puck, and especially when you’re playing with Kaner, we need them to have the puck. That’s when we’re getting the most out of Patrick. That line has looked good so far. They’ve been really active, they’ve been skating well, they’ve been showing a lot of chemistry and they’ve been scoring. Hopefully that continues.”

The season is coming around full circle for Nylander in a way. It’s clear now Nylander wasn’t ready for the opportunity the Blackhawks presented him with to begin the season, but he may be now. So while Nylander hasn’t exactly been what the Blackhawks hoped for this full season, he has a chance to redeem himself and be precisely what they hoped at the end of the season and when it matters most.

To get a better idea of what Nylander is doing well and how he works alongside Kane and Strome, I watched all of Nylander’s shifts from his last five regular-season games. I cut some of those clips along with some from the Blackhawks’ recent scrimmages.

In this first clip from a scrimmage, the line wins the puck back in the offensive zone. Kane feeds Nylander at the net. Nylander shoots, collects his rebound and passes to Strome. Kane floats into the slot and Strome connects for a high-quality chance.

In this next scrimmage clip, Kane leads the rush, waits for Nylander to enter the picture and gets him the puck as he skates to the net.

In this next clip, Nylander carries the puck through the middle of the neutral zone and into the offensive zone. He skates wide to survey his options and nearly connects with Kane for a goal at the net. Strome recovers the loose puck, knocks it along the boards to Kane and Nylander skates to the slot for another open chance.

In this next one, Nylander carries the puck into the offensive zone, gets it to Kane on the right wing and Strome cuts to the net. Kane finds him and Strome scores.

In this clip against the Sharks on March 11, the puck is moved between Nylander, Kane and Strome a number of times. The line doesn’t score, but it creates a number of chances.

This clip has a little bit of everything. Kane and Nylander work together for one chance. Nylander hustles to get the puck. Finally, Strome sets up Nylander for a goal.

On this play, Nylander finds space and Kane finds him.

Against the Blues on March 8, the line wins a puck back here, Nylander passes to Kane and then skates to the net. Kane finds him again and Nylander nearly scores.

In this clip, Nylander has Kane and Strome as options on an odd-man rush.

The Nylander-Strome-Kane line got a chance to play against the Oilers on March 5. In this clip, it’s another example of Nylander making himself a target for Kane. Nylander doesn’t have the exact same game as Panarin, but Nylander would probably do himself a favor by watching how Panarin played with Kane. Being that right-handed shot, Nylander can put himself in a favorable position for Kane to find him.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189105 Colorado Avalanche A hockey team with high hopes, plenty of hype, and the right mixture of talent and experience to make a run at winning its first championship together all staring at these strangers urging them on to great success.

The Avalanche are playing for a lot more than the Stanley Cup The voices echoed off the empty seats of the Pepsi Center. 18,000 seats that should be filled with rabid Avalanche fans hoping to be witness to history. In that moment, it didn’t feel like it was a championship they wanted. BY AJ HAEFELE JULY 24, 2020 It was to feel normal.

To feel like a community again. 2020 sucks. To feel whole. At least so far. When the Avalanche departs for Edmonton on Sunday, that’s what they’ll I was sitting at Pepsi Center on Thursday morning watching the be playing for, not just the Stanley Cup. It’s the same thing the Rockies Avalanche go through another intrasquad scrimmage as they prepare for are playing for as they open their season tonight. It’s the same thing the the strangest Stanley Cup Playoffs imaginable. Nuggets are playing for in the bubble in Florida. Following the first 25-minute “period”, the jumbo jumbotron in Pepsi Go chase that history. Track down those championships. Create those Center stirred with lights and fired up. memories. Re-capture our attention as we all work together to heal the What followed was a short video (3-5 minutes?) compilation of Avalanche wounds in society as a whole. fans wishing the team good luck. People of all ages and across the Whatever you do, Avalanche, do it for all of us. We need it more than diversity spectrum appeared on screen to cheer on an Avalanche team ever. playing for a Stanley Cup many people think shouldn’t be awarded this year in the face of the ongoing pandemic. BSN DENVER LOADED: 07.25.2020 Seeing all the people with their shared message of hope and well wishes for a hockey team was particularly stirring. The video finished, the players, who had all stopped what they were doing to look up and watch, tapped sticks on the boards and on the ice as if to say “Message received.”

But what was the message, really?

I was surprised to realize when the video concluded I had tears streaming down my face. Once I started to peel back the layers, it all started to make sense.

This pandemic, complete with a shutdown of sports and most recreation and millions of lost jobs and severe economic hardship for so many people has created a normal daily existence where the upside is we dance between the raindrops of misery constantly falling on top of all of us.

The more we look around, everything kind of sucks right now. At least here in the United States, the political climate has defined all of us by who previously and will vote for in the next round of elections. Our identities have been boiled down to single issues, single conversations.

I’m not here to unpack any of that; I’m simply a guy who writes about hockey for a living trying to make sense of an increasingly angry and chaotic world around me.

And that’s what I found so compelling about the simple video meant for the Avalanche players. All these people from different backgrounds, different lifestyles, different belief systems all had one thing to say:

Go win the Stanley Cup, Avalanche.

None of the white noise from the world around us mattered. It was a reminder the Pepsi Center, like all the other rinks/stadiums/arenas around the world, is more than a giant advertisement slapped on a building.

For so many of us, those buildings are cathedrals. The place(s) we gather to believe in something bigger than ourselves, find a community, find a place of belonging.

In a world fractured by anger and health risks, we put sports on the shelf and said “We’ll get back to you when the time is right.” For many, that time still isn’t now.

I’m not here to tell anyone how to feel about the pandemic. There are far more qualified voices in the world to pay attention to in order to get educated on a virus that has infiltrated all levels of civilized society.

But the leagues are pressing on, surely for decisions that are more financial than anything else. However you feel about that, the sports are making an attempt at coming back. Players across all of the sports have been given opportunities to opt-out of play and stay at home with their families. Some have taken that route, most have not.

This all brings us back to that video. 1189106 Columbus Blue Jackets "You just have to be careful and try to stay healthy and follow the rules by the country you’re in," Bemstrom said. "You have to be careful anywhere you go and wear the mask, of course."

Four Blue Jackets had `normal’ time off in native Sweden Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.25.2020

Adam Jardy

Jul 24, 2020 at 6:15 AM

The indefinite suspension of the NHL season in March presented choices for the five Swedish players who were with the Blue Jackets at the time.

With family across the ocean and the future of the season in doubt, the five — Alexander Wennberg, Gus Nyquist, Kevin Stenlund, Emil Bemstrom and Jakob Lilja — could choose to remain in this country or return home and ride out the coronavirus pandemic there.

Those who chose the latter, however, would have to decide how comfortable they felt being out and about in a country that was taking a decidedly different approach to the virus than the United States.

In general, Sweden decided against imposing lockdowns, meaning restaurants, bars, shops and many schools were allowed to remain open.

Bemstrom and Stenlund, who are 21 and 23, respectively, went home, as did veterans Wennberg and Lilja. But Nyquist, a nine-year NHL veteran who will turn 31 in September, stayed here with his wife and daughter.

Now, all but Lilja have returned and are in full preparation for the Jackets’ qualifying-round playoff series against Toronto that starts Aug. 2. They’re glad to be reunited and are focusing on the challenge ahead rather than the uncertainty that remains outside of the rink.

"It’s a crazy world we live in right now," Nyquist said. "We didn’t end up going back to Sweden this summer because of the virus, not knowing what’s going to happen. It’s definitely something I hope we won’t have to go through again in our lifetime.

"Obviously we paused the season for a good reason and hopefully we can come back and do it the right way here and do it a safe way."

When the season was suspended, Stenlund said he returned home to be with his family for what would be an extended visit. His experiences in Sweden were different than what he had seen in the United States.

"Here, when I went home (America) started to get locked down and all the restaurants and everything were closed," he said. "Back home there were restrictions but things were all open, so it wasn’t the same feeling. It was kind of normal. You can go to a gym and do this or that."

Bemstrom said he mostly stayed home while back in Sweden, spending time with family and friends.

"It’s been great," he said. "I hadn’t seen them in a while, especially my dad, so it’s been fun to see all of them."

While everyone was scattered across the globe, the Blue Jackets had team quizzes to help keep them in communication with each other in addition to occasional video calls. Nyquist said he stayed in close touch with his family back in Sweden, checking in on them and making sure everyone was staying healthy.

As the NHL shifted closer to returning, Bemstrom said he was able to start skating with Stenlund and Wennberg before players started to make their way back to their team cities amid the pandemic.

Lilja, meanwhile, decided to stay in Europe and in June signed to play with a team in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Those players who returned to the U.S. were required to quarantine upon arrival and, according to Stenlund, there was some memorable time spent at airports.

"It was kind of weird to see the airport was pretty empty," he said. "It was like a dead town. It was a good flight and then days of quarantine and testing. It went well."

Bemstrom and Stenlund said they spent a lot of time watching Netflix and playing video games while going through their quarantine upon arrival back in Ohio. And as they have prepared to take part in the NHL’s bubble, they have taken the necessary precautions. 1189107 Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nathan Gerbe still proving himself

Brian Hedger

Jul 24, 2020 at 5:45 AM

If anybody had a reason to sulk, it was Nathan Gerbe.

After reigniting his NHL career by helping the Blue Jackets stay in playoff contention despite a mountain of injuries, Gerbe was lumped into the Jackets’ second practice group when the team opened a training camp preparing for the league’s upcoming 24-team playoffs.

Gerbe, of course, didn’t sulk about it. It’s not his style, not even a little, and it would have wasted time that he didn’t have to spare.

Instead, the shortest player on record to play in the NHL put every inch of his 5-foot-4 frame to work — aiming again to prove that he’s worth a spot in the lineup when the Jackets open a best-of-five qualifying-round series on Aug. 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"First and foremost, I’m excited for the opportunity to play (in camp)," said Gerbe, who is slated to grind through another practice on Friday, his 33rd birthday. "Any time you get on the ice, it’s an opportunity to show something.

"As of right now, I’m not in the lineup, but no matter what part I play on this team, I want to help it win — and if we get past the (opening round), then make a good, long run to the finals. That’s been my goal."

Nearing the end of camp, Gerbe appears to be making progress. He scored goals in two of the Jackets’ first four scrimmages and has shown typical tenacity and fearlessness in all four. He’s also back to skating at a high level after recovering from a hernia procedure in March.

After leaving his wife and three young kids at their home near Cleveland, Gerbe’s focus now is entirely on the postseason.

"Obviously, as you get older, you don’t get these opportunities too much, so you cherish your time at the rink at this time of the season," he said. "In playoff hockey, you cherish every moment you’re here."

Ready to kill

Before signing with Columbus last summer, Gus Nyquist hadn’t been used as a penalty-killing forward.

He logged a total of 7 minutes, 33 seconds in short-handed ice time in 481 games for the Detroit Red Wings over eight seasons, and only 19 seconds in short-handed situations in 19 games with San Jose.

It was a different story with the Blue Jackets, who experimented with Nyquist as a penalty-killer early and continued as the season progressed. He finished the season with 45:56 in short-handed ice time and is prepared to keep filling that role.

"We’ll see," Nyquist said. "I don’t think we’ve really gotten into that, but if that’s something they want me to do, that’s a role I take a lot of pride in and I want to be out there killing penalties."

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189108 Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus’ forward lines that looked so interesting and creative early in camp — Alexandre Texier and Liam Foudy in top-six roles? — now look extremely unsettled, ill-fitting and uninspired.

Blue Jackets unsettled, Tortorella irritated, as training camp 2.0 nears “I’m not settled, I’ll tell you that,” Tortorella said. “I’m not sure who’s end playing with who. I know two (defensive pairs) that are going to be together. I know sets of forwards, two each, who are going to play together, but I’m not sure where everything else falls.

By Aaron Portzline Jul 24, 2020 “My concern is that some of the people who are going to need to make a difference for us to win a series … I don’t think … are ready right now. I

don’t think they’re doing the things they need to do right now to get ready COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella wasn’t happy for that series.” with Monday’s practice. We can only assume he wasn’t overly pleased On Thursday, the Blue Jackets had Pierre-Luc Dubois centering Nick with Tuesday’s lopsided intrasquad scrimmage, either, because — in fine Foligno and Oliver Bjorkstrand on the top line, Boone Jenner between midseason form — he refused to speak with media afterward. Gustav Nyquist and Cam Atkinson on the second line, and Texier and A day off on Wednesday did little to calm his nerves. Emil Bemstrom flanking Alexander Wennberg on the third. Young burners Foudy and Eric Robinson skated with center Riley Nash on what The Blue Jackets were barely 15 seconds into practice on Thursday appears to be the fourth line. when Tortorella gave a trumpet-like blow on his whistle, bringing the first drill to an immediate stop and ordering the 15-player group to center ice. This is all going to change, of course. It could be totally different for Friday’s scrimmages, or they could be retooled entirely by Monday’s What followed was a stern lecture, chock full of expletives, the type practice. But it’s hard to look at the Blue Jackets’ forwards and imagine Tortorella delivers better than just about anyone. Running time: about 90 Toronto is too concerned. seconds. There is clarity on the other side of the ice, but that’s not entirely good Practice resumed, and a higher pace was maintained. But with two days news, either. to go before the Blue Jackets head to the bubble in Toronto, six days to go before they play an exhibition against Boston and nine days before Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has looked tall and confident since the first they open a best-of-five qualifying series versus Toronto, the veteran day of training camp and appears to have pulled ahead of Joonas coach wants to see an increase in urgency. Korpisalo for the right to start against Toronto. Nobody with the organization has stated this, to be clear, but Korpisalo gave up 13 goals Tortorella sees a couple of important players who haven’t been going full- combined in the Monday and Tuesday scrimmages. throttle in practices or games. He declined to name names. “We’re certainly evaluating,” Tortorella said. “The scrimmage games are “We have to be really careful to not fall into the trap of thinking we can big for the goaltenders in evaluating. We’re not thrilled about 13 goals, wade into this,” Tortorella said. “Each day is an important day. This isn’t but it doesn’t (concern you). We have two really good goalies. We still getting ready for the regular season and trying to find your game after 15 have to figure out who’s going to start.” games in the regular season. This is a sprint. Tortorella, for the record, was pleased with Thursday’s practice sessions. “Some guys have been dead-on right from the start. Other guys, not so much. We’re in single digits now as far as getting ready to play this The Blue Jackets will have another scrimmage Friday, then take an off game. I don’t want us to fall into the trap of wading into it. We have to be day Saturday so players (and staff) can spend one last day with their ready to go.” families before heading off on a road trip that — depending on how they play — could be lengthy. Every team in the league has tried to find the proper balance in these oh- so-strange training camps. They have to be ready to play high-stakes But if Tortorella doesn’t get the right responses from those “two or three games right from the start because a best-of-five series gets serious players,” and if the forward lines don’t start to mesh, they could be home quickly. pretty soon.

But they also can’t run players into the ground after a four-month layoff. The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 This is especially pertinent in Columbus, where the Blue Jackets were ravaged by injuries all season, leading the NHL with 419 man-games lost.

During the first week of camp, the Blue Jackets seemed energetic and quick. The last week, with almost daily scrimmages, has seemed like more of a grind.

“For the most part, I’ve liked what I’ve seen,” Tortorella said. “It’s just two or three guys that are pretty important people. It’s a concern of mine. The team concept … all of the things we’re teaching. I’m not sure we’ve gotten total concentration, and that’s what we’re trying to get to.”

Columbus has seemed to have a swell of healthy confidence since sweeping Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs last spring. It was the first series win in franchise history and the first for most of the players on the roster.

Now the Blue Jackets know what it feels like to win a series. They know what it takes, how to handle the inevitable surges in momentum during a series, how to deliver the death blow when a team is on the ropes.

But the Blue Jackets — having lost forwards Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene to free agency last summer — have almost zero margin for error against any club, much less one with the firepower of the Maple Leafs.

The Leafs can outscore their mistakes on some nights. These Blue Jackets can play exceedingly well and lose 2-1.

As this training camp has gone on, there have been worrying signs, too. 1189109 Dallas Stars timers. The formation shrank the ice against a team shorthanded by two players.

But it also turned the other three players into bystanders, almost there as What to take away from the Stars’ power play as training camp comes to glorified passers until a rebound or loose puck availed itself. The two- a close man advantage wasn’t as intimidating as perhaps it could have been with three players not as legitimate shooting options so close to the goal.

The Stars also did four minutes of 4-on-3, scoring no goals. This situation By Matthew DeFranks is one that can be pretty rare during regulation, but common in overtime, when 4-on-3 power plays are standard. During the three round-robin 4:13 PM on Jul 24, 2020 CDT games, the Stars will be playing with regular-season overtime rules, including 3 on 3 before a shootout.

During training camp, the Stars have worked on their power play more It is still training camp, and the Stars do still have 10 days before they than any other aspect of their game. play a meaningful game, giving them ample time to regain the timing that made their power play so dangerous during the season. From the first day with full-ice 5-on-0 drills to Thursday afternoon’s special-teams scrimmage, the power play has taken the ice on nearly all “It doesn’t matter how we look right now, I would say it like that,” Radulov nine days of camp. In total, in 5-on-4 situations, the Stars have gone said. “As long as we can be good in playoffs or the start of the season, roughly 7 for 28 on the power play, a solid 25% success rate. it’s important.”

(In some segments of practice, the Stars have practiced for less than the Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.25.2020 full two minutes of a power play, so 28 total power-play chances is an estimate of the number of two-minute power-play segments.)

During the regular season, the Stars’ power play ranked 13th, converting 21.1% of its chances.

The results have definitely been there during training camp, and it’s tough to complain about scoring goals, especially when the Stars have such trouble scoring goals to begin with. The power play was a huge part of the team’s offense after the mid-December coaching change.

As the 5-on-5 offense sunk to 30th (since Dec. 10) with just 1.85 goals per 60 minutes, the power play kept the Stars afloat by scoring 8.43 goals per 60 minutes, eighth-best in the league.

So it’s important that the power play produces, and the goals have been there during scrimmage situations. But if you want to get picky about it, the power play and puck movement could be prettier.

“You always want to be better,” forward Alexander Radulov said. “You always want to work on a lot of things. Right now, you just try to work on those little things and help each other. I think we can be better.”

Of the seven 5-on-4 power-play goals, Jamie Benn has two on rebounds. Corey Perry has scored four goals, including two tipped point shots and two more around the net. And Tyler Seguin cranked a slap shot into the net Thursday.

The vast majority of the Stars’ power-play goals have come around the net, which isn’t a bad thing but doesn’t wholly capture what the team is capable of doing with dynamic talents such as Seguin, Radulov, Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov on the wings.

During practice, Seguin and Gurianov haven’t often been in position to rip one-timers from the circle, a key weapon for the Stars. Seguin’s slapper was the first power-play goal of training camp that wasn’t a tip or pileup at the net.

Perry’s power play prowess would definitely be welcome for the Stars. He’s a veteran that has postseason experience and has flashed his skills on the second unit by flipping no-look passes to Gurianov. But Perry can’t be the key to the power play, especially since he has just three power-play goals in the last two seasons combined.

On Thursday, the Stars also practiced different power play situations. They did four minutes of 5 on 3, scoring twice with Perry assisting Hintz and Hintz assisting Perry.

Like the 5 on 4, the results were there for the Stars. You’ll take scoring twice in four minutes at 5 on 3. But the formation and structure the Stars were in took some creativity away from their offensive talent.

On the first unit, the Stars had Joe Pavelski and Radulov at the bottom of the circles, Benn at the net front and John Klingberg and Seguin as shooting options up top. On the second unit, Seguin and Hintz were at the bottom of the circles, with Perry at the net front and Denis Gurianov and Miro Heiskanen as shooting options up top.

The two high players would flip sides of the ice, and dip into the slot to create shots from dangerous areas. That’s the good part. There’s motion in that part of the formation, and they’re getting to good spots to fire one- 1189110 Dallas Stars fierce, spearheaded by Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon, the latter of whom became just the 12th defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick this season. On offense, the Wild have just enough threats, including Kevin Fiala, who was surging when play stopped. He had 14 Ranking the eight opponents the Dallas Stars could face in the first round goals and 12 assists in 18 games before the break. Goaltending is somewhat of a question mark because of Devan Dubnyk’s struggles, but

Alex Stalock had taken over as the regular starter in mid-January and By Saad Yousuf Jul 24, 2020 had a .920 save percentage leading up to the stoppage.

No. 7 Edmonton Oilers

The urge for hockey has been there for over four months, but this week Edmonton is the only play-in team that Dallas didn’t beat in regulation felt different. Aside from seeing NBA and MLB games on television this season. In the first of three matchups, the Stars won 5-4 in overtime. again, the Dallas Stars held a three-period intra-squad game on They lost the next two games 2-1, once in regulation and once in Wednesday. On Sunday the team will depart for Edmonton, primed for a overtime and were outscored 8-7 overall . The Oilers present the playoff appearance in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2008. opposite issues from the Wild; they are ice to Dallas’ fire.

The identity of the first-round opponent is anybody’s guess. After their Leon Draisaitl is the 2019-20 Art Ross Trophy winner, leading the NHL exhibition game against the Nashville Predators on July 30, Dallas will with 67 assists and finishing fourth with 43 goals to lead the NHL with play the St. Louis Blues on Aug. 3 to begin the round-robin portion of the 110 points — and he’s the second-best player on his own team. Connor Stanley Cup Playoffs. How they fare through that and the results of the McDavid is still the best player in the world, and he will be tough to play-in series over the first weekend of August will determine who they contain in his own right. And while teams will ultimately focus on Draisaitl play first. Here’s a look at those play-in matchups (winners will be re- and McDavid, Kailer Yamamoto has come to be a respectable offensive seeded): threat in his own right.

No. 5 Edmonton vs. No. 12 Chicago Edmonton’s defense is bad. But until proven otherwise against NHL competition, so is Dallas’ offense. While this would be a tough matchup No. 6 Nashville vs. No. 11 Arizona for the Stars, it would be equally intriguing. Draisaitl and McDavid trying to find their way through Dallas’ defense and trying to slip the puck No. 7 Vancouver vs. No. 10 Minnesota through Ben Bishop and/or Anton Khudobin could be a treat for hockey No. 8 Winnipeg vs. No. 9 Calgary fans. And if the Stars’ offense can elevate themselves and play to the talent they have on paper, they would have the advantage. But it would The Stars played these eight teams a combined 25 times during the be a tough task. 2019-20 regular season and went 13-8-4. Even though they only have a losing record against the Minnesota Wild, they have a negative goal No. 6 Calgary Flames differential against five of the play-in teams, due in large part to the style The season series with Calgary is tough to dissect because it was of hockey Dallas plays. The wins are generally close while the losses can approximately six eternities ago (kidding, but only sort of). The two teams sometimes get out of hand. were all done with the season series by Dec. 22, and Dallas was 1-1-1 in Head coach Rick Bowness said the coaching staff did plenty of those games. To add to the difficulty in drawing from those matchups, the homework on potential playoff opponents during the COVID-19 hiatus, first loss came in overtime during Dallas’ atrocious start to the season. but this is an unprecedented situation. It’s tough to gauge exactly how The win came during that hot streak of November. In both games, Stars each NHL team is going to come out of this extended break. Based on and Flames had head coaches that aren’t in place anymore. The Flames Stars training camp over the last couple of weeks, though the personnel won the regular-season series finale 5-1 three days before Christmas on the roster is largely the same, there has been more line juggling and when both teams were adjusting to new leadership. experimentation with different strategies. As a team that ended the Calgary was starting to figure things out when play stopped in March. regular season on a six-game losing streak, they’re hoping they don’t Johnny Gaudreau was getting into an offensive groove, and Cam Talbot pick up right where they left off. was dominant in his final stretch, stopping 90 of 94 shots in his last three As the play-in and round-robin games unfold, we will have a better idea starts, all wins. The Flames do give up a lot of shots defensively, so if a of what each team will look like for the first round of the playoffs. For rejuvenated Stars offense shows up here, they could do enough to take now, let’s take a look at all of the potential opponents for the Stars, care of business. There’s just a lot of unknown here as it pertains to ranked from eighth to first, with No. 8 being most difficult and No. 1 being matching up with the Stars. the most favorable. No. 5 Nashville Predators No. 8 Minnesota Wild Coming off of discussing the Flames above, the opposite holds true with Minnesota may be remembered mostly fondly by some Stars fans this the Predators. This is the team Dallas will be most familiar with, having season. It was that Oct. 29 game at the American Airlines Center against played them four times this season, including two of the last three games the Wild that featured a blistering final 21 minutes from the Stars to turn a before the stoppage, and a fifth time upcoming in the exhibition game on 3-0 deficit into a 6-3 victory. After coming off a shutout loss, that win July 30. Obviously, the most memorable game between these two teams ignited a run of 11 wins in 12 games for Dallas and effectively saved the came on New Year’s Day in the Winter Classic when the Stars beat the season after a lousy start. However, aside from those 21 minutes, the Predators 4-2. A couple of weeks before that, Dallas had beaten Wild have been a tough puzzle for the Stars to solve. Nashville 4-1. However, the Predators avenged those two losses with a 2-0 win on March 5 followed by a 1-0 victory two days later. In four games, Dallas has gone 1-2-1 against the Wild this season. They’ve been outscored 16-10 in those games, the worst goal differential Nashville has been subpar offensively, which should play to Dallas’ favor of any of the play-in teams. Not only that, the Wild have demoralized the as long as the Stars can score at least a single goal. Every time Dallas Stars in every way possible. Though they didn’t finish the job in the did that against the Predators this season, they won the game. Reports aforementioned game, the Wild did pounce on the Stars early in that first coming out of Nashville indicate the Predators’ offensive struggles are meeting to grab a 3-0 lead. In the second game of the season series, still there. Nashville’s defense is led by Roman Josi and Juuse Saros has Mikko Koivu scored with just under three minutes left in regulation to tie been quite the upgrade over the veteran Pekka Rinne. the game before the Wild won in a shootout. In the final meeting, the No. 4 Winnipeg Jets game was tied in the final minute of regulation when Joel Eriksson scored with 26 seconds left to break Dallas’ heart in regulation. If you thought the season series against Calgary was frontloaded, Sandwiched between the second and fourth games was a thorough 7-0 Winnipeg would like a word. The Stars played the Jets four times this beatdown in which nothing went right for Dallas. season, and Jim Montgomery was the head coach for all four games. He was fired on Dec. 10. That 11-wins-in-12 games hot streak that’s been Minnesota is a tough matchup because it matches Dallas’ fire with fire in referenced a few times? The loss came against the Jets. Dallas lost that a number of ways. For one, they are both veteran teams, and the Wild game 3-2 in overtime, beat the Jets 5-3 less than two weeks later, lost 5- boast an average age of 29.4, just barely second in the NHL to San 1 in the third game and won 3-2 in overtime in the final game they played Jose’s 29.5. Stylistically, they are similar as well. Minnesota’s defense is on Dec. 5. This one’s pretty simple: You crack Connor Hellebuyck, you crack the Jets. The netminder has faced the most high-danger shots in the NHL this season, yet has a .922 save percentage and was just named a Vezina finalist. Winnipeg’s blue line is not pretty, so once again, a decent Stars offense should have no trouble creating chances. Finishing will be difficult, but if Dallas’ stellar goaltending continues, it shouldn’t take too many goals to get by.

No. 3 Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago isn’t objectively a very good team, barely sneaking into the playoff picture. They were sellers at the deadline and likely wouldn’t make the playoffs under normal circumstances where the pool wasn’t been expanded. However, the Blackhawks have played the Stars tough this season. Dallas has actually been outscored 5-4 by Chicago in three games. They won a couple of 2-1 contests, one of those coming in a shootout, and then got shut out 3-0 in the lone loss.

For whatever the mess they have skating on the ice, Corey Crawford has been a rock in the crease. Good goaltending can carry a team — Dallas knows that — but the Blackhawks don’t have much of a defense in front of Crawford. The offense is literally league average, and that should be manageable for the Stars.

No. 2 Vancouver Canucks

Given how Vancouver’s season was going as well as their season series with the Stars, there was consideration to make them No. 1. The Stars beat the Canucks in both meetings, 4-2 and 6-1, respectively, but both games were played before Thanksgiving. Vancouver was also sliding when the season came to a halt, losing five of seven games.

However, the lengthy hiatus came at a good time for the Canucks. They had just lost All-Star goalie Jacob Markstrom, seemingly for the season, but the break afforded him time to get healthy and return. J.T. Miller is having a career-year, leading the team with a career-high 72 points. Vancouver also has a cluster of young talent, headlined by Elias Pettersson but also including Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes. While it makes for a promising future, the playoffs are a different game and Vancouver loses out to Dallas on experience.

No. 1 Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes are the other of two teams in the play-in round that the Stars are undefeated against. The first was a 4-2 win and the second a 3-2 victory, one of the last wins the Stars secured before ending the regular season on a six-game losing streak.

Arizona has a strong goaltending duo: Darcy Kuemper, who would have made a Vezina argument if he hadn’t missed so much time due to injury, and Antti Raanta. Alex Goligoski and Jakob Chychrun have had good seasons, but the defense overall has been sketchy for Arizona. Offensively, there isn’t much consistency or firepower.

Star-Telegram LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189111 Dallas Stars fierce, spearheaded by Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon, the latter of whom became just the 12th defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick this season. On offense, the Wild have just enough threats, including Kevin Fiala, who was surging when play stopped. He had 14 Ranking the eight opponents the Dallas Stars could face in the first round goals and 12 assists in 18 games before the break. Goaltending is somewhat of a question mark because of Devan Dubnyk’s struggles, but

Alex Stalock had taken over as the regular starter in mid-January and By Saad Yousuf Jul 24, 2020 had a .920 save percentage leading up to the stoppage.

No. 7 Edmonton Oilers

The urge for hockey has been there for over four months, but this week Edmonton is the only play-in team that Dallas didn’t beat in regulation felt different. Aside from seeing NBA and MLB games on television this season. In the first of three matchups, the Stars won 5-4 in overtime. again, the Dallas Stars held a three-period intra-squad game on They lost the next two games 2-1, once in regulation and once in Wednesday. On Sunday the team will depart for Edmonton, primed for a overtime and were outscored 8-7 overall . The Oilers present the playoff appearance in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2008. opposite issues from the Wild; they are ice to Dallas’ fire.

The identity of the first-round opponent is anybody’s guess. After their Leon Draisaitl is the 2019-20 Art Ross Trophy winner, leading the NHL exhibition game against the Nashville Predators on July 30, Dallas will with 67 assists and finishing fourth with 43 goals to lead the NHL with play the St. Louis Blues on Aug. 3 to begin the round-robin portion of the 110 points — and he’s the second-best player on his own team. Connor Stanley Cup Playoffs. How they fare through that and the results of the McDavid is still the best player in the world, and he will be tough to play-in series over the first weekend of August will determine who they contain in his own right. And while teams will ultimately focus on Draisaitl play first. Here’s a look at those play-in matchups (winners will be re- and McDavid, Kailer Yamamoto has come to be a respectable offensive seeded): threat in his own right.

No. 5 Edmonton vs. No. 12 Chicago Edmonton’s defense is bad. But until proven otherwise against NHL competition, so is Dallas’ offense. While this would be a tough matchup No. 6 Nashville vs. No. 11 Arizona for the Stars, it would be equally intriguing. Draisaitl and McDavid trying to find their way through Dallas’ defense and trying to slip the puck No. 7 Vancouver vs. No. 10 Minnesota through Ben Bishop and/or Anton Khudobin could be a treat for hockey No. 8 Winnipeg vs. No. 9 Calgary fans. And if the Stars’ offense can elevate themselves and play to the talent they have on paper, they would have the advantage. But it would The Stars played these eight teams a combined 25 times during the be a tough task. 2019-20 regular season and went 13-8-4. Even though they only have a losing record against the Minnesota Wild, they have a negative goal No. 6 Calgary Flames differential against five of the play-in teams, due in large part to the style The season series with Calgary is tough to dissect because it was of hockey Dallas plays. The wins are generally close while the losses can approximately six eternities ago (kidding, but only sort of). The two teams sometimes get out of hand. were all done with the season series by Dec. 22, and Dallas was 1-1-1 in Head coach Rick Bowness said the coaching staff did plenty of those games. To add to the difficulty in drawing from those matchups, the homework on potential playoff opponents during the COVID-19 hiatus, first loss came in overtime during Dallas’ atrocious start to the season. but this is an unprecedented situation. It’s tough to gauge exactly how The win came during that hot streak of November. In both games, Stars each NHL team is going to come out of this extended break. Based on and Flames had head coaches that aren’t in place anymore. The Flames Stars training camp over the last couple of weeks, though the personnel won the regular-season series finale 5-1 three days before Christmas on the roster is largely the same, there has been more line juggling and when both teams were adjusting to new leadership. experimentation with different strategies. As a team that ended the Calgary was starting to figure things out when play stopped in March. regular season on a six-game losing streak, they’re hoping they don’t Johnny Gaudreau was getting into an offensive groove, and Cam Talbot pick up right where they left off. was dominant in his final stretch, stopping 90 of 94 shots in his last three As the play-in and round-robin games unfold, we will have a better idea starts, all wins. The Flames do give up a lot of shots defensively, so if a of what each team will look like for the first round of the playoffs. For rejuvenated Stars offense shows up here, they could do enough to take now, let’s take a look at all of the potential opponents for the Stars, care of business. There’s just a lot of unknown here as it pertains to ranked from eighth to first, with No. 8 being most difficult and No. 1 being matching up with the Stars. the most favorable. No. 5 Nashville Predators No. 8 Minnesota Wild Coming off of discussing the Flames above, the opposite holds true with Minnesota may be remembered mostly fondly by some Stars fans this the Predators. This is the team Dallas will be most familiar with, having season. It was that Oct. 29 game at the American Airlines Center against played them four times this season, including two of the last three games the Wild that featured a blistering final 21 minutes from the Stars to turn a before the stoppage, and a fifth time upcoming in the exhibition game on 3-0 deficit into a 6-3 victory. After coming off a shutout loss, that win July 30. Obviously, the most memorable game between these two teams ignited a run of 11 wins in 12 games for Dallas and effectively saved the came on New Year’s Day in the Winter Classic when the Stars beat the season after a lousy start. However, aside from those 21 minutes, the Predators 4-2. A couple of weeks before that, Dallas had beaten Wild have been a tough puzzle for the Stars to solve. Nashville 4-1. However, the Predators avenged those two losses with a 2-0 win on March 5 followed by a 1-0 victory two days later. In four games, Dallas has gone 1-2-1 against the Wild this season. They’ve been outscored 16-10 in those games, the worst goal differential Nashville has been subpar offensively, which should play to Dallas’ favor of any of the play-in teams. Not only that, the Wild have demoralized the as long as the Stars can score at least a single goal. Every time Dallas Stars in every way possible. Though they didn’t finish the job in the did that against the Predators this season, they won the game. Reports aforementioned game, the Wild did pounce on the Stars early in that first coming out of Nashville indicate the Predators’ offensive struggles are meeting to grab a 3-0 lead. In the second game of the season series, still there. Nashville’s defense is led by Roman Josi and Juuse Saros has Mikko Koivu scored with just under three minutes left in regulation to tie been quite the upgrade over the veteran Pekka Rinne. the game before the Wild won in a shootout. In the final meeting, the No. 4 Winnipeg Jets game was tied in the final minute of regulation when Joel Eriksson scored with 26 seconds left to break Dallas’ heart in regulation. If you thought the season series against Calgary was frontloaded, Sandwiched between the second and fourth games was a thorough 7-0 Winnipeg would like a word. The Stars played the Jets four times this beatdown in which nothing went right for Dallas. season, and Jim Montgomery was the head coach for all four games. He was fired on Dec. 10. That 11-wins-in-12 games hot streak that’s been Minnesota is a tough matchup because it matches Dallas’ fire with fire in referenced a few times? The loss came against the Jets. Dallas lost that a number of ways. For one, they are both veteran teams, and the Wild game 3-2 in overtime, beat the Jets 5-3 less than two weeks later, lost 5- boast an average age of 29.4, just barely second in the NHL to San 1 in the third game and won 3-2 in overtime in the final game they played Jose’s 29.5. Stylistically, they are similar as well. Minnesota’s defense is on Dec. 5. This one’s pretty simple: You crack Connor Hellebuyck, you crack the Jets. The netminder has faced the most high-danger shots in the NHL this season, yet has a .922 save percentage and was just named a Vezina finalist. Winnipeg’s blue line is not pretty, so once again, a decent Stars offense should have no trouble creating chances. Finishing will be difficult, but if Dallas’ stellar goaltending continues, it shouldn’t take too many goals to get by.

No. 3 Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago isn’t objectively a very good team, barely sneaking into the playoff picture. They were sellers at the deadline and likely wouldn’t make the playoffs under normal circumstances where the pool wasn’t been expanded. However, the Blackhawks have played the Stars tough this season. Dallas has actually been outscored 5-4 by Chicago in three games. They won a couple of 2-1 contests, one of those coming in a shootout, and then got shut out 3-0 in the lone loss.

For whatever the mess they have skating on the ice, Corey Crawford has been a rock in the crease. Good goaltending can carry a team — Dallas knows that — but the Blackhawks don’t have much of a defense in front of Crawford. The offense is literally league average, and that should be manageable for the Stars.

No. 2 Vancouver Canucks

Given how Vancouver’s season was going as well as their season series with the Stars, there was consideration to make them No. 1. The Stars beat the Canucks in both meetings, 4-2 and 6-1, respectively, but both games were played before Thanksgiving. Vancouver was also sliding when the season came to a halt, losing five of seven games.

However, the lengthy hiatus came at a good time for the Canucks. They had just lost All-Star goalie Jacob Markstrom, seemingly for the season, but the break afforded him time to get healthy and return. J.T. Miller is having a career-year, leading the team with a career-high 72 points. Vancouver also has a cluster of young talent, headlined by Elias Pettersson but also including Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes. While it makes for a promising future, the playoffs are a different game and Vancouver loses out to Dallas on experience.

No. 1 Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes are the other of two teams in the play-in round that the Stars are undefeated against. The first was a 4-2 win and the second a 3-2 victory, one of the last wins the Stars secured before ending the regular season on a six-game losing streak.

Arizona has a strong goaltending duo: Darcy Kuemper, who would have made a Vezina argument if he hadn’t missed so much time due to injury, and Antti Raanta. Alex Goligoski and Jakob Chychrun have had good seasons, but the defense overall has been sketchy for Arizona. Offensively, there isn’t much consistency or firepower.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189112 Detroit Red Wings Protected Filip Hronek, Danny DeKeyser:Hronek has emerged as a key rebuilding

block, and DeKeyser is a steady veteran who normally plays against the Who will Detroit Red Wings protect in Seattle Kraken expansion draft? opponent’s best line. He played only eight games last season before Our list suffering a back injury that required surgery, so if his durability is in question again next season, he could be vulnerable to being exposed.

2016 draft review: Unloading yielded best pick Helene St. James, Published 1:34 p.m. ET July 24, 2020 | Updated 4:49 p.m. ET July 24, 2020 In the mix

Dennis Cholowski, Gustav Lindstrom, Madison Bowey: Lindstrom has shown himself to be a smart, steady defender. Cholowski, a first-round The last time the NHL held an expansion draft, the Detroit Red Wings pick from 2016, hasn’t developed as expected – he hasn’t even hoped to shed a veteran only to lose a prospect. dominated at the AHL level (he had three goals and 10 assists in 30 games with Grand Rapids this season and his minus-15 was worst They face another expansion draft next June, when the newly named among team defensemen). Still, Cholowski has offensive gifts and he’s a Seattle Kraken will pluck one player from each of 30 teams to build the good skater. Bowey (an RFA this summer) likewise has an offensive skill NHL’s 32nd member, slated to begin play in 2021-22. set, but he’s another one whose growth hasn’t been to the level expected The Vegas Golden Knights used the 2017 expansion draft to acquire (Yzerman was willing to lose him for nothing in December, when he numerous quality players, including a championship goaltender. The placed Bowey on waivers). This will be an interesting battle to watch. rules, which will be the same for the Kraken, are designed to force teams Goaltender into exposing valuable players. It paid off for the Golden Knights, who advanced to the Stanley Cup final in their inaugural season. The Wings don’t have one that needs to be protected as of now, as veteran Jonathan Bernier is entering the last year of his contract. Detroit Red Wings defenseman Dennis Cholowski (21) takes a shot and Prospect FIlip Larsson is exempt. Kaden Fulcher could end up being scores in the second period against the Vancouver Canucks at Little exposed. Caesars Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, in Detroit. (Don’t) make a deal Teams can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender, or eight skaters (regardless of position) and one goaltender. Yzerman could make a deal to have the Kraken take veteran forwards (In 2017, all but seven teams chose the former). Players with a no- Frans Nielsen or Justin Abdelkader, who carry the second- and third- movement clause have to be protected. highest cap hits among team forwards — $5.25 million for Nielsen, $4.25 million for Abdelkader. However, it would likely involve giving up a draft Clubs are required to expose at least two forwards and one defenseman pick or a prospect (For example, in 2017, the Minnesota Wild traded who are under contract in 2021-22 and who played at least 40 games in prospect Alex Tuch to Vegas to ensure the Knights would take Erik Haula 2020-21 or 70 games combined in 2019-20 and 2020-21. The exposed in the draft. Tuch had 10 points in 2018 playoffs and was a 20-goal goaltender has to be under contract in 2021-22 or be a restricted free scorer in 2018-19). That does not make sense for a rebuilding team. agent in 2021. Plus, in 2021, Nielsen only has one year left on his deal, and Abdelkader, 2015 draft review: Squandered picks and what they could have had two – that creates scenarios in which either could reasonably be subject either to demotion to the minors or a buyout. First- and second-year NHL players, and all unsigned draft picks, are exempt — so the Wings won’t have to protect, for example, Filip Zadina, More on Nielsen: Believe it or not, he can still help the Red Wings. Here's Moritz Seider or Joe Veleno. how

Teams can only lose one player. The Kraken must select one player from On the Nosek each team, except the Golden Knights, who are exempt. Among the players the Wings exposed in 2017 were goaltender Petr Here is a look at who the Wings are projected to protect, using the 7-3-1 Mrazek, forwards Luke Glendening, Darren Helm and Riley Sheahan, formula. This is subject to change pending growth from certain young and defenseman Xavier Ouellet. All had NHL experience. The Golden players and more roster moves by general manager Steve Yzerman. Knights went with Tomas Nosek, an undrafted forward who was coming off a Calder Cup-winning season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Nosek Forwards has appeared in 202 games with Vegas over the last three seasons, recording 23 goals and 24 assists. Protected Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.25.2020 Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi, Robby Fabbri, Michael Rasmussen: Larkin, Mantha and Bertuzzi are the Wings’ best forwards and key blocks in the rebuild. Fabbri, one of Yzerman’s trade acquisitions, turned out to be a much-needed offensive boost. Rasmussen hasn’t developed as much as desired, but he’s a promising young center who appears to fit into the rebuild. Bertuzzi, Fabbri and Mantha need new contracts this summer, but Yzerman already has said they will be signed.

In the mix

Evgeny Svechnikov, Givani Smith, Dmytro Timashov, Christoffer Ehn, Adam Erne, Taro Hirose: This is a big year for Svechnikov, a 2015 first- round draft pick who has yet to show if he fits into the rebuild. He’s no longer waiver exempt, so he’ll be on the roster when 2020-21 starts — but can he earn a spot in the lineup? Smith adds a physical dimension, but is there more to his game? Timashov, Ehn, Erne and Hirose are all restricted free agents, and are likely to be re-upped. Timashov was picked off waivers in February; he only played five games, but he looks like he has potential. Erne is another physical presence, and he also was brought in by Yzerman. There’s not much offensive dimension to Ehn, but he has proven he’s a solid, reliable grinder-type. Hirose is interesting — he’s clearly a very intelligent player, so if he can gain enough strength to hold his own in the NHL, he could leapfrog to the protected listed.

Defensemen 1189113 Detroit Red Wings going into the game more concerned about avoiding sticks and pucks than anything else.

“Once the puck goes down, that’s their real safety concern.” As NHL starts back up, don't expect mingling among players in hubs ►Bettman and Daly will not be in either Toronto or Edmonton when games begin.

Ted Kulfan, Published 4:09 p.m. ET July 24, 2020 “Bill and I have actually put ourselves on the back burner because we don’t have the requisite approvals to enter Canada or the bubble without a 14-day quarantine,” Bettman said. “We also have an open question as to whether or not an owner or a senior executive of a club can come in Detroit — There will be 24 NHL teams split between two different sites and watch the games from outside the bubble. Those are questions that beginning next week, competing for the Stanley Cup. But don’t expect are still evolving.” much mingling. Detroit News LOADED: 07.25.2020 In fact, don’t expect any mixing among teams, and players, at all.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman

Steven Mayer, the NHL’s chief content officer, who oversees the production of the hub city arenas in Edmonton and Toronto, said players requested separation.

“We’re finding from our players, this is the Stanley Cup playoffs and they are competing for the Stanley Cup, and it’s in their interest to be separated,” Mayer said during a Zoom media conference Friday. “The players’ feedback is their interest to be separated throughout. We’ll see how that evolves as the tournament moves on.”

There are stringent rules in place through the play-in round — which begins Aug. 1 — that separation and social distancing take place in the restaurants and any sort of common areas in the two hotels in each city teams are staying.

But players are expressed in interviews this week that they cannot imagine mingling going on with friends on other teams.

“Once you go on the ice it’s a war,” Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis forward, said during a media call this week. “I don’t think it’ll be too friendly around the bubble.”

Boston goalie Tuukka Rask said during a call this week the natural competitiveness that evolves during a playoff series will likely prevail over any sort of mingling with other teams.

"If you play a seven-game playoff series and there's some heat going on between the teams," Rask said. "(There's) probably not playing ping pong together at the hotel."

Commissioner Gary Bettman, deputy commissioner Bill Daly, and various other NHL officials also were on Friday's media call, days before teams begin trickling into Toronto and Edmonton.

About 150 NHL office employees and over 1,000 people total at the two hubs, who are working to iron out details in what will be a two-month playoff tournament.

“Health and safety is driving all of our decisions and all of our attention and focus,” Bettman said. “That is the primary aspect of what we have to accomplish over the next couple of months.”

Here are other topics discussed Friday:

►Bettman will have the final call if a player can compete, but only after consultation with medical personnel.

“In the final analysis, it may be me, but I'm going to defer to the medical people, both from the governmental authorities and our own medical people in conjunction with the Players Association,” Bettman said. “I won’t be making the medical decisions. I’ll be taking the guidance. But I suppose it’s my authority to decide who plays in our games and who doesn’t, but that's a decision I’m going to leave to the people who are experts in doing this.”

►On-ice officials are confident and excited about returning to actual games.

Stephen Walkom, NHL senior vice president/director of officiating, said the 20 referees and linsemen in each hub will have an opportunity to interact that isn’t usually possible during the season or playoffs.

“There’s a trust in the system that’s been set up in the bubble,” Walkom said. “Our guys understand that the players have been tested thoroughly. They’re going to be tested every day, just as they are. Our guys are 1189114 Detroit Red Wings Unrestricted free agents in 2021: Alex Biega, Brian Lashoff, Dylan McIlrath, Patrik Nemeth.

Analysis: Cholowski will be entering a pivotal season. He has the Who might Red Wings lose to Seattle Kraken in 2021 expansion draft? offensive ability to play in the NHL but he has struggled defensively in parts of two seasons and must improve in that area to remain on the roster. If he doesn’t, the club’s first-round pick in 2016 is likely to be a trade candidate as opposed to being exposed in the expansion draft and Posted Jul 24, 2020 lost for nothing. DeKeyser will be 31 and have one year remaining on his By Ansar Khan contract at a $5 million cap hit next summer. If the Red Wings intend to re-sign him, they might protect him. They might also use a protection slot on a defenseman they acquire through free agency this fall. As of now, Hronek is the only defenseman who is sure to be protected. The Detroit Red Wings were not impacted much by the 2017 expansion draft, losing fringe fourth-line forward prospect Tomas Nosek to the Goaltender Vegas Golden Knights. Protected: Someone yet to be signed or acquired through trade. Will the Red Wings lose a key player to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft? Available: Kaden Fulcher.

The same rules as 2017 will apply. Existing clubs can protect seven Notable exemptions: Victor Brattstrom, Filip Larsson. forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender or eight skaters Unrestricted free agent in 2020: Jimmy Howard. regardless of position and a goalie. Unrestricted free agents in 2021: Jonathan Bernier, Calvin Pickard. Players with two or fewer years of pro experience through the 2020-21 season will be exempt, so all players from the 2019 and 2020 drafts Analysis: If Bernier plays well in 2020-21, the Red Wings might sign him automatically are not eligible to be selected. to an extension and protect either him or whoever they acquire in the fall in free agency or through a trade. Teams must make available: Michigan Live LOADED: 07.25.2020 At least two forwards under contract for 2021-22 who played at least 40 NHL games the prior season or at least 70 NHL games in the prior two seasons.

At least one defenseman under contract for 2021-22 who played at least 40 NHL games the prior season or at least 70 NHL games in the prior two seasons.

One goaltender under contract for 2021-22 or a goalie who will be a restricted free agent at the end of his current contract immediately prior to 2021-22.

Seattle will select one player from each team, except Vegas, which is exempt. The Kraken must pick 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies.

Who will be protected and who will be available from the Red Wings? Their roster will be different 11 months from now, affecting their protected/available lists. But as of now, here is a projection of who might be protected and who might be available (most or all teams are certain to use the 7-3-1 format), noting that some of these players won’t be Red Wings next season, let alone prior to 2021-22.

Forwards

Protected: Tyler Bertuzzi, Robby Fabbri, Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Michael Rasmussen, Givani Smith, Evgeny Svechnikov.

Available: Justin Abdelkader, Christoffer Ehn, Adam Erne, Taro Hirose, Frans Nielsen, Brendan Perlini, Dmytro Timashov, Dominic Turgeon.

Notable exemptions: Mathias Brome, Chase Pearson, Joe Veleno, Filip Zadina.

Unrestricted free agent in 2020: Sam Gagner.

Unrestricted free agents in 2021: Valtteri Filppula, Luke Glendening, Darren Helm.

Analysis: It remains to be seen if Svechnikov can stick with the Red Wings. He will get his best chance in 2020-21, now that he is not waiver- exempt. If he shows promise, the club’s top 2015 pick surely will be protected. If he doesn’t make an impression, he could be traded or exposed in the expansion draft in favor of someone the team signs as a free agent prior to next season or acquires in a trade. Bertuzzi, Fabbri, Larkin, Mantha and Rasmussen are locks to be protected.

Defensemen

Protected: Dennis Cholowski, Filip Hronek, Gustav Lindstrom.

Available: Madison Bowey, Danny DeKeyser, Joe Hicketts, Kyle Wood.

Notable exemptions: Albert Johansson, Jared McIsaac, Moritz Seider.

Unrestricted free agent in 2020: Trevor Daley, Jonathan Ericsson, Cody Goloubef. 1189115 Detroit Red Wings This year’s Vezina Trophy favorite, Connor Hellebuyck, was also the runner-up for the award in 2017-18, but finished just 18th in Goals Above Replacement a season ago — still a good season, but more toward the middle of the league’s pack among starters. Sergei Bobrovsky was Would goaltender Yaroslav Askarov be worth the gamble at fourth absolutely dominant in 2016-17 and 2017-18, but this year had a Goals overall? Above Replacement of just above zero. And that was in the first season of a $10 million per year contract.

These are without question great players, and some of the best at their By Max Bultman Jul 24, 2020 position in recent seasons. A little bit of variance doesn’t change that. But it has to be factored into the decision-making process when drafting a goalie as high as fourth overall. For all the needs in the Red Wings’ farm system, there is no position at which the team’s future is more uncertain than in net. Bobrovsky was never drafted. Hellebuyck was picked in the fifth round. Pekka Rinne, the 2018 Vezina winner, was taken in the now-defunct It’s not that Detroit is without goaltending prospects — it’s just that none eighth round. Braden Holtby, who won the Vezina in 2016, was picked in offers the combination of upside and certainty that ideally add up to an the fourth. heir apparent in goal. To be fair, Price won the Vezina in 2015 and former first-rounder Tuukka Filip Larsson looked like the team’s top goalie prospect a year ago, after Rask won it the year before that. And if a team could guarantee it was he put up a .932 save percentage as a college freshman, but stumbled getting a player like one of those two, it could make its first-round pick as a first-year professional this season and split time between the AHL with confidence. But there are no guarantees with drafting. and ECHL. Keith Petruzzelli is coming off a strong junior season at Quinnipiac, but that campaign followed two less exciting statistical Really, though, the key to this whole conversation is not whether drafting showings before that. And 2018 draft picks Jesper Eliasson and Victor a goalie is a gamble — it is, but gambles aren’t inherently bad. It’s just Brattstrom are still marinating in Europe, yet to make major statements that in this case, at this pick, the opportunity cost of the skaters Detroit against the highest levels of competition. would be passing on could be immense. And that is made even more stark by the way some of the league’s most effective goaltenders this With all that said, it’s entirely possible that a capable NHL goaltender (or season ended up with their current teams. even two!) emerges from that pack. But there’s not that one, top-level prospect heading up the system, like the Panthers have with Spencer Semyon Varlamov, who finished with the third-most GAR among goalies Knight, the Rangers with Igor Shesterkin or the Islanders with Ilya this season (as measured by Evolving Hockey), was signed for a Sorokin. perfectly palatable $5 million annually last offseason. The Coyotes got Darcy Kuemper (who finished fourth) in a trade for Tobias Rieder and Or, more importantly, like the heralded top goaltending prospect of the Scott Wedgewood. Detroit’s Jonathan Bernier (a former top-15 pick 2020 draft class, Yaroslav Askarov. himself) finished ninth, and makes just $3 million a year after being signed as a free agent two years ago. Which raises the obvious question: Picking fourth overall, how seriously should the Red Wings be considering Askarov? Compare that to the top-10 skaters by GAR this year, of whom only one (Artemi Panarin) has even made it to unrestricted free agency in their Corey Pronman rated him as his No. 8 overall prospect in this year’s draft careers. And it took $11.6 million annually to sign him once he got there. class, calling him “one of the best goalie prospects I’ve seen as a first- year draft-eligible.” He gave Askarov strong marks in both his athleticism So while the fact teams have been able to find effective goaltending for and hockey sense, and did a full video breakdown of his game last more efficient costs than the fourth overall pick doesn’t end the month. Statistically, the 6-foot-3 netminder, who played all of last season conversation when it comes to drafting one early (especially when there at 17 years old, has been remarkably consistent across levels, too, have been true stars picked in the first round), it can’t be ignored, either. hovering around a .920 save percentage in Russia’s MHL and VHL over the last two seasons and hitting that .920 marker in his lone KHL game Askarov certainly could become a team’s franchise goaltender some day. so far. But the decision for the Red Wings isn’t between drafting a goalie high or never having a good one. It’s more a matter of what gets them the better So this much can be said with confidence about Askarov: If the Red team in the end: drafting a goalie high and finding skaters elsewhere, or Wings drafted him, they would no longer lack a clear-cut top prospect at drafting a skater high and finding a goalie elsewhere. perhaps the most important position on the ice. There is no question about the importance of the goaltender position to a But where the conversation gets a lot more complicated has less to do hockey game. There is also no question about Askarov’s status as a top with Askarov’s status as a top-level goalie prospect, and more to do with prospect. And for the Red Wings’ purposes, there’s not even a question the volatility and unpredictability of young goaltenders as a whole. as to whether he would fill a big-enough need, with Bernier entering the Listeners of The Athletic’s Wings for Breakfast podcast will no doubt be final year of his contract in his age-32 season. familiar with this topic, as co-host Prashanth Iyer has been banging this drum all year: Drafting a goalie high in the first round is, inescapably, a The only questions are how confident the franchise is he would fill that massive risk. need for the next decade-plus, and whether it’s worth using such a rare, important opportunity inside the top five to address it. First, there are the anecdotal cases that show the variance even among top prospects. In the early 2000s, for example, it wasn’t all that It’s impossible to overstate how important that last question could be to uncommon for goaltenders to be taken in the top 10 to 15 picks. But for the future of the franchise. every Carey Price or Marc-Andre Fleury who turned into a Vezina winner The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 or won the Stanley Cup, there was also an Al Montoya, Brent Krahn or Pascal Leclaire, none of whom delivered the kind of return teams want from a top-10 pick.

You can say that about players at every position, of course, but it’s still probably no coincidence that when Florida took Knight with the 13th overall pick last season, no other goalie had been chosen in the top 20 since Andrei Vasilevskiy in 2012 … at 19th overall. Before him, it was 2010 11th overall pick Jack Campbell, who didn’t truly break through in the NHL until 2018-19, when he was 27.

The trend away from using high picks on goaltenders tracks logically with the potential volatility even top-level goalie prospects carry. And that can even include season-to-season volatility for the prospects who do turn out to be very good goalies. 1189116 Edmonton Oilers This is a game that means as much to the Oilers as it does to Emily. This isn’t something that begins and ends with putting on a sweater, it’s a tribute that touches them very deeply.

Colby Cave's wife touched by Edmonton Oilers' jersey tribute “I’ve been fortunate to have known Colby for a long time,” said defenceman Matt Benning. “He’s an unbelievable human and we miss him. He’ll be missed in our locker-room.

Robert Tychkowski “We talked as a group that we wanted to do something special here. He will be right there with us.” Published:July 24, 2020 Kailer Yamamoto knows Cave from their time together in Bakersfield and Updated:July 24, 2020 6:27 PM MDT still laughs out loud when reflecting on the stories.

“He would come over to our house and just just hang out with me, Evan With little time to prepare for the most unique challenge they might ever Bouchard and Tyler Benson. We got to know him and Emily and he’s one face, the Edmonton Oilers need to focus all of their energy on hockey. of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He always has a smile on his face. Never a dull moment. But their final act before entering the NHL’s quarantine bubble on Sunday will be a poignant tribute to a friend. “He would bring over Emily and his dog and the dog would be ripping all over the house. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met. I’m very sad All of the players will be wearing jerseys with the No. 12 in Saturday that he’s gone. He was taken away from us way too soon.” afternoon’s scrimmage at the Rogers Place Community Rink to honour former teammate Colby Cave, who passed away unexpectedly in April. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.25.2020

“We are really excited, honoured to go in and watch the game,” said his wife Emily. “I was in tears the other other night — I kind of had a moment when it hit me that this is the last time I’m going to see No. 12 on the ice. So it means a lot that we can go in and watch it.

“As a wife, it’s gut-wrenching knowing he should be here, but it’s so incredibly humbling and honouring seeing him all around the city, on the gates (at Rogers Place) and the Jumbotron, and the game on Saturday.

“He won’t be wearing No. 12, but his teammates will and that’s something really special. I know Colb would be so humbled and honoured by everything the Oilers have done with his legacy.”

It’s a gesture that means a great deal to the Oilers, too, who remember Cave as one of the warmest and most giving people they’ve ever met. They wanted to do something to honour his legacy and the scrimmage tribute seemed like a perfect start.

“I think Colby is always in everybody’s thoughts,” said head coach Dave Tippett. “He was a great teammate and a good friend to everybody. We thought this game would pay respect to him and his family. The players are looking forward to it.

“They respected everything that Colby brought to our team and they want to pay their respects. There is also the foundation in Colby’s name and the players care about that; they want to help people that Colby would have wanted to help.”

The jerseys, featuring each player’s name above Colby’s No. 12, will be auctioned off at a later date with proceeds going to the Colby Cave Memorial Fund. The fund is geared toward helping people with mental health issues as well as helping underprivileged children gain access to sports.

“Those are two things that were really important to Colby and me,” she said. “I’m going to miss seeing Colby as a dad, I know he would be an incredible dad, but I now how many kids he’s going to help through this foundation. Those are going to be his kids.

“It’s going to be remarkable to watch all that foundation is going to do and the lives it’s going to touch.”

The Foundation is also a way for Emily to preserve his memory and share with others what she was fortunate enough to experience as his wife.

“When the Oilers reached out about a foundation, I was still in shock trying to process everything, but I remember one of the first things I said is that this foundation is going to give me a purpose to get out of bed every morning. And it’s going to keep Colby and his legacy alive. It’s also going to help me share my incredible husband with many people.”

Emily won’t be able to go into the dressing room and speak to the Oilers in person because of quarantine issues as they prepare to enter the bubble, but she will write them a letter and leave a gift.

“That’s my way of thanking them for all the support they’ve given and to wish them good luck, to say that Colb is proud of all his teammates and brothers.” 1189117 Edmonton Oilers “What we’re hoping to do is between whistles, to entertain. Before the game begins and during intermissions some of the things you’ll see on the screens will be statistical based, informational based. But it’ll all be about the hockey. JONES: Get ready for hub hockey overload “The way we look at it is that we will be setting a wonderful scene for what will be the greatest championship run in all of sports.”

Terry Jones Commissioner Gary Bettman, who was part of Friday’s Zoom video Edmonton Hub City media event along with Premier Jason Kenney, Published:July 24, 2020 Mayor Don Iveson and Oilers Entertainment Group executives, said the Updated:July 24, 2020 4:59 PM MDT idea is to create something special out of a challenging situation.

“One of the things we pride ourselves on as a game and as a league is the authenticity and the history and the tradition. That’s why Steve and The stunning staging setup the NHL has created and revealed for the his people have reached out to get their crowd chants, to get their goal presentation of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs in advance of Sunday’s horn sounds and incorporate all the traditional things the teams do in opening of Hub City has an opportunity to be as much of an attraction as their buildings into a neutral site bearing. the action. “Keep in mind that having no fans in the building isn’t something anybody If the NHL and NHL Players Association can keep the COVID-19 is used to. To simply say we’re just going to leave the stands empty and pandemic positive test numbers down, as they have so far, and keep the play the game, I don’t think that’s fair to our fans, I don’t think that’s fair to players healthy and happy, as appears will be the case in Edmonton and our players and it doesn’t set the right scene. Toronto, hockey has a serious shot at upstaging all the leagues and their return to play projects. “We’re taking an extraordinarily unique situation, make the best of it and make it something everybody can have fun with because entertaining, The eye-popping set that stretches from one end of the arena to the having fun and having a great competition is what it’s all about.” other behind the players benches and the accompanying game presentation should be the talk of fans from throughout the sports world. For an entire week, the Edmonton Oilers have been required to practice at the community arena while the massive staging structure was being First impressions, in a word: ‘WOW!’ assembled.

But will it be followed by a ‘WHOA?’ “Instead of cardboard cutouts or putting teddy bears in the stands, we wanted to focus on the TV experience with a commitment to entertain If there’s a worry, it’s that it could all be too much. them and to visually excite them in addition to presenting Stanley Cup The massive staging sets are in place for the televised exhibition games playoff hockey,” said Mayer. early this week, but viewers won’t get to experience the total effect until Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.25.2020 all the bells and whistles are engaged on Aug. 1. That will be the start of the playoffs on Hockey Night In Canada, featuring the openers of the Edmonton-Chicago and Winnipeg-Calgary games, and special appearances by Michael Buble.

When that happens, will it be too overwhelming on the game presentation side for most Canadians to handle?

Will it be a three-ring circus to fans who have been raised to believe the Stanley Cup playoffs themselves are the show, the whole show and nothing but the show?

Will using 32 cameras instead of 20, many of them located where fans normally sit, be too much?

Will using game sounds provided by EA Sports be too much?

Will goal horn sounds from all 24 playoff team arenas to be used for their ‘home’ games be too much?

Will chants produced using fans from around the league be too much?

Maybe. But a lot of people who don’t religiously watch hockey at any time are quite likely going to dial in on Aug. 1 to find out.

NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer, who rolled it all out, first to the players via video and then in Zoom media events Friday, explained he’s hoping the NHL will draw a much wider audience than a normal playoff year by making it an once-in-a-lifetime happening.

“We hope that what we do will prove to be something memorable, something that really sticks out, something that our fans will really enjoy,” he said.

But Mayer swears his substantial sideshow won’t take away from the show itself.

“The Stanley Cup is the show,” said Mayer. “When the puck is dropped, you’re going to see what is the greatest game in the world being played and the teams competing for the Stanley Cup. That’s what it’s all about.

“All we’re doing is creating an environment that we feel will be visually exciting. We’re not going to take away from the game.

“You’ll notice that a lot of our LED screens and graphic design is a long way away from the ice. Our No. 1 concern is that game and how it’s presented on television. 1189118 Edmonton Oilers “We don’t want to have a situation where we’re going to be introducing potential infection from the outside as this tournament continues on,” he said.

‘We don’t expect it to be perfect’: Updates on the NHL’s health and safety Yes, there are hard and fast protocols like the regularity of testing – plans under the league’s purview in Phase 4 – and the requirement to stay in bubbled areas. There are also aspects that aren’t so set in stone.

The provincial government requires Albertans to isolate for 14 days if By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Jul 24, 2020 they come in close contact with someone with COVID-19, but the NHL’s protocols call for only daily testing during that same period. Self-

quarantine is not required by the league if those close contacts test There are so many strict health protocols in place as part of the Stanley negative, don’t exhibit symptoms of the coronavirus and are fever-free. Cup qualifying tournament and playoffs in Edmonton and Toronto. This plan was approved by Alberta’s top health official.

Having players, coaches and officials in a secure zone or bubble is Meeuwisse opened the door for a potential shift to that stance. meant to cut off access with the public and mitigate the risk of COVID-19. “We still will do contact tracing because there’s degrees of exposure and, Daily testing of said individuals, plus anyone capable of coming into if we feel a degree of exposure is unusually high, they still may be contact with them, is designed to shift those with a positive test into quarantined,” he said. “But this is a protocol that has a lot of involvement isolation and prevent a spread of the illness. and input and signoff from the players association, so as a group the Still, there’s nothing foolproof about what’s about to happen in Alberta’s players are comfortable with it. and Ontario’s capital cities. “And I think it will continue to be the case that if players are quite Referees and linesmen – 10 of each in both locations – began skating at uncomfortable, that they have the option not to participate.” the hub arenas Friday. Teams arrive Sunday and exhibition games It’s Bettman who has the final authority to decide if a player can or cannot commence two days later. play because of a health issue. He said, however, he’d be deferring to There’s lots that could go wrong from now until the tournament is the experts – “the governmental authorities and our own medical people.” concluded – provided we get to that point. It’s clear the league is saying health and safety are priorities with the “I don’t sit back and try and dislocate my shoulder trying to either pat official start to the tournament barely a week away. However, some myself or anybody else on the back,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman issues remain regarding how exactly this will all work. said Friday. “If there’s any point where I’m going to feel substantial Another one: No one has said what it would take – how many positive emotion, it’ll be a sense of relief when I get to present the Stanley Cup. tests or to whom – to remove a team from the tournament or cancel it “This has been an extraordinarily involved, difficult and unusual altogether. circumstance.” The league is trying to be responsible yet adaptable. How it works out in Bettman, as well as league and team officials, have continuously the end, though, remains to be seen. mentioned the health and safety of those involved as being the primary “The sense that going to the hubs on Sunday is cause for celebration – concerns as the NHL attempts its return – and conclusion – of play. Even this is just another step in what has been a long journey and still has though there are certainly financial incentives to having the playoffs many, many miles to go before we get to the ultimate place that we’re all occur, even the most hardened cynic can’t dispute the importance of striving for, which is the conclusion of the ’19-20 season,” Bettman said. keeping people secure. “We still have a way to go to feel any sort of gratification.” Fencing went up this week around the bubble areas in the respective cities, a measure designed to keep those inside locked in (apart from The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 trips to practices and potential excursion activities) and those outside blocked out. In Edmonton, approximately 135 security personnel have been hired to patrol the borders.

Theoretically, that, along with the daily testing and adhering to public health guidelines, should keep everyone safe and protected — as an infectious disease specialist recently told The Athletic.

But even the NHL’s chief medical officer isn’t willing to believe or state that unequivocally.

“We don’t expect it to be perfect,” Dr. Willem (Winne) Meeuwisse said. “We expect with the number of people that we’re going to have some positive tests, and we have a method and a process designed in advance to deal with that. And we’ll continue to consult with the local health authorities as that unfolds.”

Flexibility was a theme of the discussion on an NHL conference call Friday.

Family members were thought to have the option to join players in the bubble once the conference finals begin in Edmonton. That’s still the plan, albeit now with a more tentative slant.

“The presence or not of families is still a work in progress,” Bettman said. “It’s something that the health authorities in Alberta, among others, will have to bless. We will take our cues from the medical people, both on behalf of the league and the players association.”

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the option to have family close by later in the tournament was a provision negotiated separately with the NHLPA.

Meeuwisse said those entering the bubble would have to limit their exposure for two weeks before travelling and obey whatever quarantine rules from the province of Alberta and the city of Edmonton. 1189119 Florida Panthers negative tests in a 48-hour period or after 10 days in isolation. If symptomatic, the player will be able to rejoin after symptoms have subsided for 72 hours, provided the player was in isolation for at least 10 days. Panthers reshuffle lines with top defenseman out. Now a rookie gets his shot on top line NHL players will not be subject to an extended quarantine upon entry to the “bubble.” Florida, for example, travels to Toronto on Sunday and is slated to play a scrimmage against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. In the meantime, the NHL is testing players every other day, BY DAVID WILSON and the first week of testing during camp yielded only two positive tests. JULY 24, 2020 05:03 PM NHL PLANS FIVE-SECOND DELAY

The NHL broadcasts from Toronto and Edmonton for the expanded In one day, Aleksi Saarela stormed all the way from outside the Florida postseason will obviously look different this year. They will also include a Panthers’ top four forward lines to a spot on the team’s top line, playing five-second delay built in to censor foul language, the league’s Phase 4 with Aleksander Barkov and Evgenii Dadonov. plans said.

Part of Saarela’s climb is due strictly to matter of circumstance — Aaron Arenas will also have 32 cameras set up — 12 more than usual — and Ekblad is out right now, which means pieces are moving all over the the league will also broadcast with artificial crowd noise with the help of lineup. Part of his climb is also due to how much he has impressed Joel EA Sports, which produces the popular NHL video game series. Quenneville throughout postseason training camp. Miami Herald LOADED: 07.25.2020 “He’s got a unique set that you’ve got to love and appreciate,” the coach said. “When we look back on our team, we’ve got some depth now. We’ve got some decision-making to do as we go forward here, but he does push us to make some tough decisions along the way.”

Saarela, who came to Florida in an early season trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, has played just nine games in his NHL career, all since joining the Panthers this season. The center was up in the NHL for three games late last year, then got sent back to AHL Springfield, Massachusetts, before returning for good in February. In Florida’s last game before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halted the regular season in March, Saarela assisted on both goals in a 2-1 win against the St. Louis Blues.

Quenneville has raved about Saarela’s shot, which lets him potentially slot in as a left wing playing with Barkov.

“I played my first pro game ever against Barky, and I have always looked up to him,” Saarela said, “so it is a dream come true to be on the same line with him.”

Saarela took winger Frank Vatrano’s spot on the top line Friday during practice at the Florida Panthers IceDen as Vatrano moved down to the third line to be the left wing playing with forwards Brian Boyle and Brett Connolly. Center Lucas Wallmark, who had been the third-line left wing in training camp, slid down to the fourth line with center Noel Acciari and winger Colton Sceviour because Mark Pysyk moved from right wing back to defense with Ekblad out.

Pysyk, originally a defenseman, has almost exclusively played forward this season, but Ekblad’s absence leaves a void on defense. On Friday in Coral Springs, Pysyk replaced Ekblad on Florida’s top defensive pairing with defenseman Mackenzie Weegar.

Quenneville did not give a reason for Ekblad’s absence. The defenseman also missed practice Wednesday, but Quenneville said he has been inside the Panthers IceDen, which suggests he isn’t dealing with COVID- 19. The coach expects him back by the time Florida opens the qualifying round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the New York Islanders next month.

“We’ll see how it goes the next few days, but was around today,” Quenneville said. “He’ll be ready to go in real games.”

NHL’S COVID-19 POLICY

When the NHL season resumes in August, commissioner Gary Bettman will not be in either of the two hub cities hosting games. The commissioner will, however, have the ability to make the final call on player eligibility regarding the coronavirus.

“In the final analysis, it may be me, but I’m going to defer to the medical people, both from the governmental authorities and our own medical people in conjunction with the players’ association,” Bettman said. “I won’t be making the medical decisions. I’ll be taking the guidance, but I suppose it’s my authority to decide who plays in our games and who doesn’t. But that’s a decision I’m going to leave to the people who are experts in doing this.”

The NHL’s policy for Phase 4 does lay out protocols for players returning to play. If asymptomatic, a player could rejoin after two consecutive 1189120 Florida Panthers working such long hours to get something done, and ultimately we’re all so excited to be back playing and doing what we love to do.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 07.25.2020 Will NHL players make a social justice stance? The Florida Panthers’ NHLPA rep weighs in

BY DAVID WILSON

JULY 24, 2020 03:39 PM

Mike Matheson didn’t really get much of a break while the NHL was on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While most of the players across the league waited out a months-long shutdown by working out and spending time with family, Matheson also had to work in time for phone calls — lots and lots of phone calls.

The defenseman is the Florida Panthers’ player representative for the NHL Players’ Association, which means he was the liaison between the team and the Players’ Association throughout the NHLPA’s negotiations with the league regarding plans to resume the season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Even after the two sides agreed on a plan in the spring, he wasn’t done tackling tough decisions.

“That’s kind of your role is to give up your time to be on those calls,” Matheson said, “and do your best to relay the information back and forth between the team and the PA.”

A day before the NHL announced its return-to-play plan in May, a police officer killed George Floyd during an arrest in Minnesota, triggering months of protests around the world, which are still ongoing. Sports leagues all across the world have tried to find ways to respond.

In the Premier League, players have worn “Black Lives Matter” on the backs of their jerseys since play resume. In the NBA, “Black Lives Matter” is written on the courts teams are playing on for its restart in Lake Buena Vista. On Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays Twitter account wrote Opening Day is “a great day to arrest the killers of Breonna Taylor,” referring to another police killing of an unarmed Black person.

The NHL will allow players to wear custom helmet and uniform decals to celebrate “community, charities, businesses, fans, front-line heroes, youth programs and social justice advocates.” Decals will the hashtags “#ISkateFor” or “#WeSkateFor,” paired with a word or message like “Equality.” Matheson said the NHLPA and Panthers continue have both had discussions about how they could use their platforms for social good once games begin.

“Yeah, a little bit,” Matheson said. “I think we’re still in discussions about that. It’s such a sensitive thing right now and we want to make sure that the voice we use is the right one, and that it’s broadcast the right way, so that it’s received the right way, too.

If Florida opts to do something once it gets on the ice in Toronto, it will be player driven. Coach Joel Quenneville said he has not talked about any social justice initiatives with his team.

“We’ve always been privileged to get to play our sport and play it at our level,” Quenneville said. “We’ve got a ton of respect for what’s gone on in society over this stretch in a number of ways and a number of areas, and we haven’t talked about that at all with our players as far as how they view different things in the world. We give them the freedom to make all their decisions and I think the one thing you’ve got to like about hockey players is the respect they have for everyone out there.”

So far, Matheson has been pleased with the way the NHL and NHLPA have handled negotiations around a return to play. No Panthers player has publicly complained about the “bubble” teams will be living in for potentially two months while the season concludes and the COVID safety measures have been effective so far, with only two players testing positive for the virus in the first week of postseason training camp.

It bodes well as Florida gets ready to travel to Canada on Sunday.

“There’s been so many moving parts and our main focus has been the safety of everybody involved,” Matheson said. “And then getting back to hockey was obviously very important, but only as long as it was safe for everybody involved, so I think the way that we’ve been able to come up with a plan to get back playing hockey has been pretty admirable that the PA was able to come together with the league and have so many people 1189121 Los Angeles Kings Teams will be sequestered in bubbles in the two hubs, with fencing systems built to keep them away from the public. They will be able to leave their respective hotels to visit restaurants and take advantage of recreational activities such as indoor and outdoor pools, soccer, NHL will deploy crowd noise and other techno wizardry to boost game pickleball, and cornhole. atmosphere “I will say that my level of confidence has increased along the way, and in particular since we’ve moved into Phase 3, mandatory training camp phase with over 800 players in group team building environments,” Daly By HELENE ELLIOTT said “The fact of the matter is I think I’m comfortable with the protocols JULY 24, 20202:44 PM and procedures we have in place, and more importantly, I’m comfortable with how the players seem to have embraced them and taken them seriously and are adhering to them.

The NHL won’t use cutouts of fans to fill seats that will be left vacant “Knock on wood. As Gary said, we have a long way to go, but I’m because of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it will try to certainly a lot more comfortable with where we are now than if you had enhance the atmosphere for Stanley Cup playoff games at its hubs in asked me that question a month ago.” Edmonton and Toronto by using LED screens, teams’ goal songs and play lists and other technology, league executives said during a webinar LA Times: LOADED: 07.25.2020 Friday and in a video released Thursday night on NHL.com.

Crowd noise will be piped in from EA Sports’ recordings of fans made during previous games at the participating teams’ arenas, and telecasts will be on a five-second delay to allow for editing of profanity that will be easier to hear because of the absence of the usual chants and cheers from fans. TV viewers will be able to see more angles than are available on standard telecasts because 32 cameras will be used instead of 20. Sportsnet will produce the feed of games involving the 12 Western Conference teams in the bubble in Edmonton and NBC will produce the games involving the 12 Eastern teams in the bubble in Toronto.

“We want to educate, entertain, and visually excite them,” Steve Mayer, the NHL’s senior executive vice president of events and entertainment, said of fans watching at home. “We’re going to bring these arenas to life through the art of video, audio and lighting.”

Frontline healthcare workers and social justice advocates will be honored at games, Mayer said, and videos that feature fans will be displayed in an effort to bring them “into” a game they will have to watch from afar.

The NHL has granted extensive access within the bubble to only three writers — all of them writers for the league’s website, NHL.com. For comparison’s sake, the NBA has allowed 10 reporters prime access to games and interviews within its competition bubble near Orlando, Fla. “Increased numbers, increased risk,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said when asked why the league had so severely restricted non-league- controlled media access.

NHL teams are finishing training camp in their respective cities, the third of the four planned phases of the Return to Play plan. Phase 4 will begin when teams travel to their assigned hubs on Sunday and play exhibitions next week. The revamped, 24-team playoffs are scheduled to start Aug. 1. The conference finals and Stanley Cup Final will be played in Edmonton, with a potential finishing date of Oct. 4.

Dr. Willem Meeuwisse, the league’s chief medical officer, said the frequent PCR testing of players, coaches, and other personnel for COVID-19 can be done with a 24-hour turnaround time “without detracting from the general public” and the need local residents might have to be tested. Daly said the confirmation of only two positive tests of 800 players tested during a five-day period last week “bodes well for our transition into Phase 4.”

Meeuwisse said the league expects some positive tests to turn up. “And we have a method and a process designed in advance to deal with that. And we’ll continue to consult with the local health authorities as that unfolds,” Meeuwisse said.

Commissioner Gary Bettman, who paused play March 12, called the process of devising a plan to finish the season “one of the most unique and challenging endeavors any of us have ever been involved with.” He added, “And first and foremost, and you’ve heard us say this all over again, health and safety is driving all of our decisions and all of our attention and focus. That is the primary aspect of what we have to accomplish over the next couple of months.

“It’s not a coincidence that the HUB cities are Toronto and Edmonton because of our focus on health and safety and where COVID-19 is and isn’t.”

Los Angeles had been a finalist to become a hub city but was eliminated in the late stages of the selection process because of a surge in COVID- 19 cases in Southern California. 1189122 Los Angeles Kings YANNETTI: We can start by saying that Rob Blake wants the team to play a certain way to succeed. The style the Kings want to play with and the intangibles that players can bring on and off the ice are all factors. So Rob gives us his outline as to what he wants the team to look like. We, AN INSIDE LOOK AT KINGS DIRECTOR OF AMATEUR SCOUTING as scouts, take that template and try to find players that fit the mold. So MARK YANNETTI & THE SCOUTING PROCESS when a season begins we go out and look for certain things in players that will meet the teams’ criteria. You must be careful, however, because

you don’t want to overlook the better players that may not check all your NICK NICKSON FOR LAKINGSINSIDER.COMJULY 24, 2020 priorities.

Individually, each scout brings his own unique way of looking at a player to the table. Some scouts value skill over a player’s compete level. In my nearly 45 years of covering pro hockey I remain intrigued by what Others value compete over skill. Still others might look for ‘hockey sense’ goes into scouting and rating a hockey prospect. It was about nine years as a priority. You want everybody to watch the game the same way but ago that then-Kings GM Dean Lombardi and the “Original Insider” Rich you don’t necessarily want them to pick out the same things. Otherwise Hammond and I had an off night in Calgary. Dean invited the two of us to you would need only one scout. go to the junior game that night with the WHL’s hosting the Vancouver Giants and he wanted us to give him a scouting report of By having all your scouts give you varied opinions it many times opens what players we liked. the eyes for everyone. This can lead to a more educated debate of a players’ worth. Have you heard the adage about not knowing how difficult something is until you do it? I found this out that night. The NHL Draft each year is comprised of seven rounds. So approximately 220 players are chosen by all the member clubs (the When the game started, I was trying to figure out do I watch everyone on Kings are scheduled to have 11 picks in the 2020 Draft). So how many both teams OR do I focus in one two or three players on each team OR games does a scout need to see before formulating a confident report on do I look at the stats and just watch the players with all the points. Bottom a player? line…I was clueless. YANNETTI: This is a question I’ve talked about many times. I guess a I recently had a conversation with the Kings Director of Amateur Scouting good number would be at least five times. Breaking it down even more, Mark Yannetti, who has been a member of the Kings organization since you have to consider that a scout might see a highly rated player get 28 2006. I learned a lot from our chat and I hope you get some insights into minutes in a particular game. Another top prospect might get only 15 who Mark Yannetti is, the scouting process and an evaluation of the rise minutes. Did he play well or struggle in this game? Did the team play of two Kings past prospects who look to be on their way to very good well? All of this comes into play and may determine how many more NHL careers. times you watch an individual.

I opened by getting some background on Mark, his history in the sport Another thing we should mention is that most of our scouts have a and how he got involved …enjoy Kings fans!!! ‘baseline’ they’ve developed for all the prospects because in many cases they’ve been watching them since they were 16 years old. Yannetti began by talking about how he originally got into scouting. Bottom line is that five games might be an average but remember there YANNETTI: My dad (Joseph) was a high school hockey coach when I might be cases where our guys see a player 10 times. In my experience, was a kid and he was the main reason I got into hockey. When I was 11 if you’ve seen a player seven to 10 times you’ve got him rated where he or 12 years old he then became a scout for the Winnipeg Jets and he should be. The other side of seeing a player too much is that you then continued as a scout until I eventually retired as a player in my mid- start to look for more flaws in his game that might skew his true value. twenties. Of course, this is the time I transitioned to scouting myself. We’ve mentioned evaluated players. For a scout what is the toughest Another individual who inspired me was Paul Vincent who was a skating part of this process? and skills coach and ended up in the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers organizations. My dad was the reason I got into hockey and my YANNETTI: I think it’s integrating the leagues. Watching a player in an dad and Paul were the reasons I’ve made a career in hockey. OHL game versus watching a player in the European league’s or KHL can be challenging. The overall talent in all the leagues around the globe I really had no desire early on to stay in hockey when I was younger. All I is so different. Would an 18-year-old playing in the Swedish League be wanted to do was play and when my playing days were over I saw myself as good if he were in Canadian Juniors? Then there is a player’s skating teaching at some level. But my dad had me scout a game once and the and size. There are certain styles of skating that won’t get better no report impressed him. He, in turn, passed it on to (former Winnipeg scout matter what you do and sometimes scouts overestimate the ability of it to and GM) Mike Smith and he was impressed also and that started me on improve or underestimate the skating. To me there are certain styles of my path as a scout. Scouting wasn’t something I was planning to do but I skating that get better when a player plays at a higher pace and there are was fortunate that it did happen because today I can’t imagine doing certain styles that don’t adjust. Trying to figure this out can be difficult. anything else.” Size is less of a stumbling block. It used to be tough for small players to As Kings Director of Amateur Scouting, Mark explained his excel because of the way the game was played. That has changed with responsibilities: the rules of the game now. That being said, I feel there isn’t any area of YANNETTI: I oversee the amateur scouting department but I also interact the game that can’t be improved. Regarding hockey sense maybe you with the pro scouts and player development individuals and, of course, don’t alter or improve one’s hockey sense but with giving a player better our GM Rob Blake. Our work seems to always overlap as our goal is to structure to his game that gives him a better feel for the game. As an help our players transition from amateur to pro. I organize our amateur example, by just eliminating a players’ positioning on the ice you could scouts so, ultimately, we take all the chaos — all the players we see probably improve his hockey sense, again this is structure to his game. during the season — and put them into a cohesive order based on their Yannetti also admitted that even within the Kings organization there are talent. varying views on what constitutes “hockey sense”. Most of our scouts focus on particular leagues during the season. Every YANNETTI: Early on in my tenure with the Kings I had a five-hour scout does not see every player. My job is to listen to everybody’s input. I conversation with Lombardi, Mike O’Connell (consultant and former NHL often think of the scouts as prosecutors. They’re all making a case for the GM) and a couple of others in or system about defining ‘hockey sense.’ best players that they have seen and rated them. They then try to After the five hours we still hadn’t come to a conclusion. convince me of their worth. My job is to then connect all the dots from all the different scouts and balance it out. For every team in every sport that utilizes an amateur draft, scouting is never an exact science. In Kings history two of their best players all-time As a result, I am the one person that will see all of the players that our were Dave Taylor (15th round pick in 1975) and Luc Robitaille (9th round guys have recommended. in 1984). This past season the Kings had a somewhat revamped look on Are there certain things that the organization wants to look for in a the blueline and two of the defensemen that coach Todd McLellan used player? in all 70 games and appear to be well on their way to solid NHL careers were Sean Walker, who was never drafted (free agent signee in 2018), and Matt Roy (who was a seventh round pick in 2015). Yannetti talked about the factors in these two becoming NHLers:

YANNETTI: First of all, again using a baseball analogy, in baseball top end prospects can play sometimes three to five years in the minor leagues before becoming good, solid major leaguers. In hockey, many of your top end prospects are turning pro at an early age, 18, 19 or 20 and playing in high level leagues. It’s a situation where, at times we rush guys too soon and give up on others too soon.

In Walker’s case he played as a 16 or 17-year-old in a Tier Two Ontario League, he has okay stats and he was a smaller guy. It was still a time 7- 8 years ago (Walker was draft eligible in 2012) when size was still important for a defenseman. To be honest eight years ago he just wasn’t good enough to be drafted. Even when he began his collegiate career at Bowling Green he wasn’t standing out. Then, all of a sudden, he got stronger which was nice to see because he has always been a very good skater. Walker is a player that took advantage of the time he spent at college (four years) and in the AHL with Ontario (a year and a half). We signed him as a free agent after his first year pro. He is proof that patience can pay off. He is a guy who willed himself to be an NHL player and our development staff did a ton of work with him since he turned pro. These two facets really helped get him to the NHL.

For Matt Roy, he went undrafted the first year he was eligible in 2013. He was 20 when we selected him in the seventh round in 2015. One of our scouts, Tony Gasparini, recommended us that Matt was a kid we should keep an eye on even after he was passed on in the 2014 draft. Tony told us that Matt ‘gets it’ and was one of the more impressive young players he’s ever had a conversation with. Clearly this was a player who had the intangibles that are sometimes difficult to sort out in a player. Tony convinced me to see him play and after I saw him I talked with him and he made such a huge impression on me. The longer we spoke the more of an impression he made on me. After this talk, I said to Tony I want to draft this kid and in 2015 we grabbed him.

The improvement Matt made in just his first year after we drafted him was so good that I said if he improved this much next season, he’s got a chance…and he did. Roy also stood out at our summer development camp in 2017 and it was clearly a sign that he was on his way to becoming a true NHL prospect.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189123 Minnesota Wild Where Galchenyuk could really shine is in the faceoff circle. Since he joined the Wild, he’s won 50% of his draws.

“When you see a guy winning faceoffs as clean as he has and as Three Wild players outside of big names that could produce in playoffs aggressively as he has, it means he’s committed,” Evason said. “He’s sticking his nose in there, and he’s ready to go.”

Ryan Hartman By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JULY 25, 2020 — 12:43AM The best line in Thursday’s scrimmage in Evason’s eyes was the team’s fourth line featuring captain Mikko Koivu and wingers Ryan Donato and Ryan Hartman. EDMONTON, ALBERTA – Individuals can seize moments, but it’s depth that tends to spur longevity in the postseason. That’s an encouraging development since everyone chipping in is key to the Wild’s success. The Wild isn’t an exception, not when it has to prevail in a best-of-five showdown with Vancouver before it can begin the usual four-round trek “They created almost every time they were on the ice,” Evason said. to the Stanley Cup in Edmonton next month when the NHL returns with a “They defended hard.” 24-team postseason tournament. That’s going to be the trio’s focus and a role that Hartman could thrive in And if the Wild is to get on a lengthy playoffs run, it’ll need its supporting under the brighter spotlight in the postseason. players to make just as much of an impact as the headliners at the top of its lineup. Here are three forwards to WATCH: Not only does he have enough grit to his game to be a defensive agitator and withstand the physical rigors of playoff hockey, but he can also help Joel Eriksson Ek with secondary scoring.

The center is poised to get the toughest assignment in the Wild’s series Actually, this line was one of the most productive for the Wild going into against the Canucks by matching up against high-flying center and the the break with Hartman tallying six points in the final eight games. reigning rookie of the year Elias Pettersson. “We trust each other,” Hartman said. “We’ve built some chemistry So far in training camp, Pettersson has worked with J.T. Miller, Brock throughout the year. Boeser, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, and any combination would be a handful to contain. “Hopefully we continue that against Vancouver.”

But out of everyone on the Wild, Eriksson Ek looks most suited for the Star Tribune LOADED: 07.25.2020 challenge.

“He’s pretty annoying to play against,” Zach Parise said. “He’s a big guy. He’s responsible. He’s got an edge to him that can get under the opponent’s skin.

“He does that to a lot of guys in practice even, so he’s hard to play against.”

Eriksson Ek has skated with Parise and Luke Kunin for most of camp, but he and Kunin were reunited with Jordan Greenway for the start of Thursday’s scrimmage at Tria Rink before Eriksson Ek left the session.

Eriksson Ek was also “unavailable” Friday, coach Dean Evason said on a video conference call, but he will make the trip to Edmonton on Sunday.

If/when Eriksson Ek returns, the Wild has flexibility in who to pair him with, and he could also be a force on the penalty kill.

“Ek is going to be a very important part,” Evason said. “We’re gonna use him in a lot of different situations.”

And even though he’s a defensive specialist, don’t be surprised to see Eriksson Ek also strive to create chances offensively.

In the regular season, he had a career-best eight goals, 21 assists and 29 points in 62 games.

“We’re just going to try to force turnovers and get the puck behind their ‘D’ and work from there,” Eriksson Ek said earlier this week.

“… Our strength is in the forecheck and get pucks around the net and take second opportunities on the puck.”

Alex Galchenyuk

After arriving in February from Pittsburgh as part of the Jason Zucker trade, Galchenyuk really started to settle in with the Wild right before the pause in the season.

He had two goals and an assist in the last three games the Wild played, and his statement performance came in Vancouver on Feb. 19 when he scored the equalizer late in the third period before serving up the shootout winner in a 4-3 victory over the Canucks.

“I work hard,” said Galchenyuk, who is on a line with Marcus Foligno and Mats Zuccarello. “I stay after practice and I knew sooner or later with the right opportunity, with the right minutes, I was going to start chipping in offensively. I was heating up more and more, and that momentum I’m going to try to bring in the playoffs.” 1189124 Minnesota Wild

Eriksson Ek and Dumba are in as Wild finalizes roster for trip to Edmonton

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JULY 24, 2020 — 8:32PM

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Wild has finalized the roster it’ll take to the postseason, making three cuts Friday to get its group down to 30 players.

Forwards J.T. Brown and Sam Anas and defenseman Calen Addison are no longer participating in training camp, which will soon shift to the Western Conference hub city. The Wild will leave the Twin Cities Sunday for Edmonton, a week before it opens its best-of-five qualifying-round series against Vancouver at Rogers Place.

Teams can bring up to 31 players, and the Wild is leaving a spot open for Kirill Kaprizov.

Even though Kaprizov is not eligible to play in the 24-team postseason tournament despite signing a two-year, entry-level contract last week, the team has been working to get the Russian prospect to meet up with the Wild in Canada and he will count toward the roster limit.

Center Joel Eriksson Ek, who was unavailable Friday after leaving Thursday’s scrimmage at Tria Rink, will travel to Edmonton. Defenseman Matt Dumba, who didn’t practice Thursday, was back on the ice Friday.

Aside from the regulars, the Wild’s roster includes nine minor league call- ups from Iowa in the American Hockey League: forwards Gerry Mayhew, Nico Sturm, Kyle Rau and Luke Johnson; defensemen Matt Bartkowski, Louie Belpedio and Brennan Menell; and goalies Kaapo Kahkonen and Mat Robson.

Joel Eriksson Ek tried to beat San Jose goalie Martin Jones on Feb. 15.

“We think we’ve got a good mix,” coach Dean Evason said during a video conference call. “Everybody had really good camps, but the numbers just dictated that we could only take so many, obviously, and we had some tough decisions on all three of them who we’re gong to bring and who we weren’t going to bring. So, we’ve obviously made this choice to leave the three guys off. But I can tell you it was a difficult choice.”

Promising future

Addison was included in camp to get familiar with the team after the Wild acquired him in the Jason Zucker trade with Pittsburgh, and Evason feels encouraged about Addison’s future.

“He’s got a special gift offensively,” Evason said. “Clearly he’s young, has to get stronger, but what a great opportunity for him to come here and have an extended camp to get to know the guys, to battle.”

Pack and go

The Wild is scheduled to skate Sunday before departing for Edmonton, but the team will be off on Saturday — an opportunity for players to rest, pack and spend time with family before leaving.

“It’s the weekend. Weather’s supposed to be beautiful,” Evason said. “We still asked the players, and all of us, to do the right thing as far as the social distance and the masks and really limit our exposure to other people.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189125 Minnesota Wild Sarah Star Tribune LOADED: 07.25.2020

Day 7: 2:31 in the afternoon? Perfect time for leftover pizza

By Sarah McLellan JULY 24, 2020 — 12:02PM

Editor's note: Sarah McLellan is covering the Wild during the NHL postseason in her birthplace of Edmonton, but first must spend 14 days confined to her hotel room. She'll write regularly to her father, who now lives in Arizona, with an update on life with limited freedom.

Dear Dad,

Can you believe I’ve already been in Edmonton for a week?

I can’t. It feels like I just got here, and yet this hotel room couldn’t be more familiar to me. I know the water coming out of the faucet turns hot after just a few seconds. There’s a sliver of light that peaks through the blinds when I close them to go to bed. And I can find my usual channels on the TV without looking them up on the guide anymore.

If the second half of my quarantine goes like the first half, I’ll be basking in the fresh air and sunshine before I know it.

I think I figured out what’s key to making each day productive and feel like a sprint instead of a marathon.

A routine.

So here’s what mine usually looks like:

8 a.m.: The alarm goes off, and I don’t hit snooze. I feel refreshed and ready to go after the darkness and 65-degree temperature in the room lulled me to sleep. But I do turn the thermostat up a few ticks once I’m awake.

9:10 a.m.: Time to order breakfast, and I peruse the delivery apps to find what I’m craving that morning. Usually it’s a bagel or breakfast sandwich and an iced coffee. I’ve been alternating between cold brew from Starbucks and a Tim Hortons iced latte. Both are delicious.

10:07 a.m.: Breakfast arrives with a knock on the door, and I grab the bag waiting outside my room. As I munch and sip, I’m already at the computer preparing my work for the day – organizing my questions for interviews with the Wild and writing out a to-do list. You know how I love Post-it notes; of course I didn’t leave home without them. On Thursday, I actually watched the team’s training camp session since it was a scrimmage live streamed online.

11:04 a.m.: Interviews are in full swing, and I cross off the questions and topics that are addressed on my notepad – the stories taking shape in my mind as I hear from Wild coach Dean Evason and a few players.

12:40 p.m.: The interviews are transcribed, and I’m ready to write.

2:31 p.m.: I feel my stomach gurgling and decide it’s time for lunch. Leftover pizza was on the menu Thursday.

3:21 p.m.: I’m still at the computer, my fingers fluttering over the keyboard.

5:09 p.m.: I step away from the desk and start my daily workout. Lately I’ve been focusing on cardio, going through circuits that get me jumping and lunging and squatting. It feels good to sweat and move, and I look forward to this hour of activity.

7:02 p.m.: I open the takeout container for supper, most recently peering into a Ukrainian feast of pierogies and cabbage rolls with a bowl of Borscht.

7:52: p.m.: I’m back at the computer to make sure I accomplished all that I needed to in the day and to get a preview of what’s on tomorrow’s agenda.

9:25 p.m.: Remote in hand, I settle in front of the TV to unwind before I fall asleep, wake up and get one day closer to leaving my room.

Miss you and the rest of the family.

Love, 1189126 Minnesota Wild

Far-from-normal year provides for busy July in hockey world

By Randy Johnson JULY 24, 2020 — 9:50AM

My timing seemed logical enough. Piggyback a week of vacation on top of some furlough days and enjoy the heart of summer with a long break away from work. Aside from the Wild starting training camp, there wouldn’t be much news in the hockey world, would there?

Turns out, there were plenty of developments, so now it’s time for Puck Drop to catch up. Here are a handful of my thoughts on the hockey news of the past couple weeks:

Wild takes “interim’’ of coach Dean Evason’s title

This move made perfect sense given the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Evason went 8-4 after taking over for the fired Bruce Boudreau, and General Manager Bill Guerin was impressed with Evason’s leadership since the NHL season hit pause. Evason deserved a chance to coach in the expanded playoffs, and by making him the permanent coach, Guerin removed a distraction. The two-year contract works well for both sides, too. The Wild isn’t tied to Evason for an overly long term in case things don’t go well, and the coach can secure leverage for a better deal if he succeeds.

Kirill Kaprizov signs a two-year, entry-level contract

Finally, the Wild got it hot prospect under contract on July 13, the same day the team rewarded Evason. Problem is, the NHL won’t let him play until next season, robbing the Wild of the opportunity to immediately use the KHL superstar in the playoffs. Seems like a short-sighted decision by the league, and not just regarding Kaprizov. Hobey Baker Award winner Scott Perunovich, for example, normally would have joined the St. Louis Blues after Minnesota Duluth’s season ended and likely would played in the playoffs. Instead, COVID-19 hit, the NHL made its ruling and the defenseman instead signed a two-year deal that begins in the 2020-21 season.

As for Kaprizov, the Wild is trying to get him to Edmonton to become acclimated with his new team. He remains in Russia since his U.S. work visa hasn’t yet been approved, further delaying the 2015 draft pick’s introduction to the team. Frustrated Wild fans must think someone is pushing pins into a voodoo doll of Nordy when it comes to the Kaprizov saga.

St. Thomas gets go-ahead to move to NCAA Division I

Beginning in 2020-21, Minnesota will have a sixth team in both men’s and women’s hockey at the Division I level with the approval of St. Thomas to move up from D-III. This is great news for college hockey because both the Tommies women and men will fill needs. The women’s program will join the WCHA and give that league an eighth team, filling a void left in 2017 when North Dakota eliminated its competitive women’s program. On the men’s side, the Tommies don’t have a conference home yet, but barring major college hockey restructuring, it seems as if it’s an empty-net tap-in that they’ll end up in the new CCHA with the seven breakaway members of the WCHA in a league that begins play in 2021- 22. Maybe we’ll eventually see a crosstown rivalry between the Gophers and Tommies.

The Seattle Kraken

Social media reaction to the nickname of the expansion NHL team that will begin play in the 2021-22 season ranged from love to hate. A mythical, gigantic, octopus-like sea monster, the Kraken certainly isn’t your run-of-mill name for a team. Seattle gets bonus points for creativity, but a demerit for a non-plural choice that creates grammatical confusion with the it/they pronoun. The nickname is starting to grow on me. After all, we in Minnesota have learned to live with an unconventional moniker like Wild for the past 20 years.

Star Tribune LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189127 Minnesota Wild

Wild’s dress code for postseason says all for one, and one for all

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: July 24, 2020 at 6:15 p.m. | UPDATED: July 24, 2020 at 6:16 p.m.

If winger Marcus Foligno had his way, the Wild would walk into Rogers Place in Edmonton before every game this postseason rocking some sort of matching 1990s tracksuits.

“That’s what I was hoping for,” he said with a laugh. “That’d be perfect.”

Instead, according to winger Zach Parise, the Wild will be wearing a much more traditional outfit on game days, consisting of a team-issued collared shirt and dress slacks.

“We have three different collared shirts,” Parise said. “Just trying to have some semblance of looking organized. Not wearing what we want to wear with 20 different guys showing up in different stuff. We at least want to look like a team and be presentable.”

While the CBA orders players to wear a suit and tie on game days, the NHL opted to relax its dress code for the restart, giving players an opportunity to better showcase their personalities. That’s something Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews was particularly excited about, noting how the NHL tends to fall behind other leagues, like the NBA, in allowing its players to stand out as individuals.

As for the Wild, the veterans on the team ultimately made the decision to have everyone match on game days.

“That kind of unifies a team, and I think it will be good,” Foligno said. “If guys wear the right shoes with the polos and dress pants, I think we’ll be fine. I don’t mind it. It’s almost like going to high school and having a certain attire that we had to wear every day. I like it. I think it’s going to be good to be unified as a team and represent the Minnesota Wild that way.”

It’s something coach Dean Evason seemed to like, too, as he praised his players for being on the same page.

“As long as they look obviously good and presentable, we thought that their thought process of wearing the team shirts is a wonderful idea because it says team,” Evason said. “It says that they’re going to all do the same thing. They are going to do it together and as we’ve talked about a lot. Hopefully we can carry that onto the ice.”

Meanwhile, the coaching staff will be wearing suits on the bench.

“We felt that was the right thing to do,” Evason said. “I don’t know what anybody else is doing. We have had a little bit of communication with the coaches association. There’s no mandate for us. We just decided as a coaching staff to do that.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189128 Minnesota Wild There’s a chance things go off the rails once they get to Edmonton as far as logistics go.

There undoubtedly will be a lot of shuffling in and out of different locker Getting Wild to NHL’s hub city ‘going to be a moving circus’ rooms for the actual games at Rogers Place. That’s to be expected with a total of 12 teams in town to start.

“It’s going to be a moving circus pretty much every day until more teams By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: July 24, 2020 at 11:36 a.m. | are eliminated,” DaCosta said. “We will make the best of it. There will be UPDATED: July 24, 2020 at 11:36 a.m. a lot of moving at the start. As teams get eliminated, everything gets better.”

If the Wild aren’t playing in an actual game, they will be housed in a As far as last-minute packing goes, Wild head equipment manager Tony practice facility about 25 minutes away. That’s where they will keep pretty DaCosta wouldn’t dare. Not when he’s preparing for what he hopes much everything, though they also will have their own storage area in the becomes the longest road trip of his career. bowels of Rogers Place. In a perfect world, the Wild, who leave for the NHL playoffs hub city of “That’s nice because we can keep some stuff there rather than lugging it Edmonton on Sunday, and won’t return to Twin Cities for another 10 around with us,” DaCosta said. “We have a stick bag there that we won’t weeks. That would mean the deepest of runs in the playoffs. need right away. We can store it there, and if we need it, we can always For perspective, the longest road trip of this delayed 2019-20 season to run down there and grab it. That will make things a little easier.” this point has been 10 days. While he feels prepared right now, DaCosta is still a little nervous for the How exactly does a hockey team pack for the potential of being away first time the Wild move from the practice rink in Edmonton to the game from home for a couple of months? That’s a good question, and even rink. DaCosta doesn’t have that answer. “We just have to be damn sure that we are bringing everything we need “There’s been a lot on our plate,” he said. “Nobody has ever been for that game when the truck leaves the practice rink,” DaCosta said. “It’s through this. You’re going 100 mph and trying to get everything set up as not like here where TRIA Rink is only a few minutes away and we can good as possible. Just double-checking and triple-checking and hoping run and go get something if we forget it.” for the best.” Oh, and there’s still the coronavirus pandemic to worry about. DaCosta, For the past few weeks, DaCosta and equipment staffers Rick Bronwell Bronwell, and Benz have been sanitizing everything more than ever and Matt Benz have been making lists upon lists to get ready for the big before. As crazy as the past few months have been, though, they are move. They shipped a couple of loads to Edmonton last week, containing simply happy to be back at work. everything from big pieces of equipment, like hydrocollators, to small “It’s better than the alternative of canceling the season,” DaCosta said. odds and ends, like rolls of tape. When that shipment cleared customs “We are happy we are working and we are a part of this. We also don’t earlier this week, DaCosta finally allowed himself to take a breath, if only just want to go down there and be happy to be there or whatever. We for a moment. want to win.” That done, he immediately shifted his focus to getting everything else in Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.25.2020 order before the Wild take off on Sunday afternoon. They will load everything else in the team plane and hope they don’t forget anything.

“I feel like most of this stuff will be routine once we get there,” DaCosta said. “It’s just hard figuring out what to bring. You’re kind of planning for the worst. There are so many things we wouldn’t even think to bring on a normal road trip, and that’s been the toughest part for us.”

Some examples of the oddities include bringing both sets of jerseys, which obviously wouldn’t happen under normal circumstances, and at least a dozen stick per player, though that won’t be nearly enough of the Wild make a legit Stanley Cup run.

“There are so many other things, too,” DaCosta said. “We never thought we would be shipping more underwear for guys. Normally we replenish that stuff when we get back from a road trip. You restock everything and are good to go. Now we don’t have the luxury of doing that, so we are doing it on the fly and hoping we have everything we need.”

They also have had to think about how different players go through different pieces of equipment at a different pace. A player like 6-foot-6, 225-pound Jordan Greenway, for example, goes through more sticks than 5-foot-9, 170-pound Jared Spurgeon.

“It’s not that he wants to use so many,” DaCosta said. “He’s just a big guy and he breaks a lot of sticks. You kind of get a feel for it over time. There are also some guys who like new skates more than other guys. That’s another example. We would never travel with that. We would just figure it out when we got home. It’s different when we don’t know how long we are going to be there.”

As of now, DaCosta has enough sticks to get the Wild through a couple of rounds. If the Wild get through the Vancouver Canucks in the qualifying round, which starts next weekend, he immediately will get on the phone and start placing orders.

“Hopefully I have to order more because that means we’re winning,” DaCosta said. “It’s hard because things are moving slower right now. It’s uncharted waters for everybody, and the players understand that. They’ve been great.”

Maybe the most nerve-wracking thing for DaCosta and the rest of his equipment team is that there’s only so much for which they can prepare. 1189129 Minnesota Wild what we’ve asked him to do is be gifted defensively with his stick, with his skill level. You don’t have to fight a guy like Foligno for space in front of the net. Just get body position, get good stick position to dislodge pucks. That’s what we told him. If you dislodge a puck from a big man like that, Four goalies and one interesting pick as Wild finalize roster going to then you don’t got to fight him. You can just go get the puck and away Edmonton you go.”

There was some good news and bad news Friday.

By Michael Russo Jul 24, 2020 Defenseman Matt Dumba, who missed Thursday’s scrimmage, returned to practice, but center Joel Eriksson Ek, who could be an X-factor when

the Wild battle the Canucks, missed practice after getting hurt during the On the 11th day of training camp and two days in advance of the team scrimmage the day before. leaving for Edmonton for at least a qualifying round starting Aug. 2 Evason would only say Eriksson Ek was “unavailable” but will travel with against the Vancouver Canucks, the Wild met Friday’s deadline to the Wild to Edmonton. finalize the 31 players on their 52-person traveling roster. Evason went back to the lines he used most of training camp Friday, only The Wild opted to bring two extra goalies, three extra defensemen and he used Victor Rask as a placeholder for Eriksson Ek. four extra forwards on top of their usual 21-man roster. Those lines and defense pairings heading into Sunday’s final practice Cut loose Friday was right wing Sam Anas, the AHL’s leading scorer before leaving for Edmonton: during the 2019-20 season, right wing J.T. Brown and young defenseman Calen Addison. The expanded roster includes goalies Forwards Kaapo Kahkonen and Mat Robson, forwards Gerry Mayhew (the AHL’s leading goal-scorer and 2019-20 MVP), Nico Sturm, Luke Johnson and Jordan Greenway-Eric Staal-Kevin Fiala Kyle Rau and defensemen Matt Bartkowski, Louie Belpedio and Brennan Zach Parise-Joel Eriksson Ek-Luke Kunin Menell. Marcus Foligno-Alex Galchenyuk-Mats Zuccarello “We just felt it was very important to have all four (goalies) available to us for obvious reasons,” coach Dean Evason said. “Then after that, we just Ryan Donato-Mikko Koivu-Ryan Hartman chatted as a staff of the breakdown of who and what. And we think we’ve got a good mix. Obviously, Brownie and Anas and Addison, everybody Victor Rask-Nico Sturm-Gerry Mayhew had really good camps, but the numbers just dictated that we could only Luke Johnson-Kyle Rau take so many obviously. And we had some tough decisions on all three of them who we’re going to bring and who we weren’t going to bring. Defensemen

“I can tell you it was a difficult choice.” Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon

The Wild faced one complication. Jonas Brodin-Matt Dumba

They’re still working to get Kirill Kaprizov to Edmonton so he could be Carson Soucy-Brad Hunt part of the team’s bubble. While he’s ineligible to debut this summer and will be subject to a seven-day quarantine, the NHL stipulated that he had Matt Bartkowski-Louie Belpedio to be part of the Wild’s 31-player portion of the traveling party, not the Brennan Menell additional 21 essential members. Goaltenders While it was always assumed the Wild would keep Johnson, who could prove useful because he, like Sturm, is a center, it’s very interesting the Alex Stalock Wild kept Rau over Anas. Devan Dubnyk Rau, 27, a native of Eden Prairie and third-round pick by the Florida Panthers in 2011, has played nine games for his hometown Wild in three Kaapo Kahkonen seasons and none this past season. He has played 42 NHL games and it Mat Robson appears the Wild decided to go with grit and experience over skill. The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 Anas, 27, has yet to even receive an NHL call-up and one does wonder now if this decision could cinch Anas’ decision to move on this upcoming offseason as an unrestricted free agent. He has said all along though that he hopes to re-sign with the Wild.

“We will have to see what happens with free agency,” Anas told The Athletic on Friday. “I have been focused on playing, so I have not thought about it. I have a lot of respect for the people in the Wild organization and wish them the best in their quest for the Cup.”

Rau, too, could become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, which is expected to begin in October.

As for Addison, 20, the Wild decided to go with the experienced Bartkowski, Belpedio and Menell over the youngster who will turn pro next season with the Iowa Wild.

“He’s got a special gift offensively,” Evason said of the 5-foot-10 defenseman. “Clearly he’s young. He has to get, and he knows, stronger, but what a great opportunity for him to come here and have an extended camp, to get to know the guys, to battle. When (GM Bill Guerin) and I spoke to him about leaving, (we talked to him about how) battling a guy like (Marcus) Foligno in front of the net is a difficult task.

“So, we’ve given him some stuff to take away, to work on. Obviously, strength is one of them and a lot of people say, ‘Bigger and stronger.’ He doesn’t have to get bigger, he needs to just get stronger. And that comes a lot of times obviously with working out. But it also comes with maturity. He’s gonna just physically grow. But he is just so gifted offensively. And 1189130 MontrealCanadiens

Canadiens' Brett Kulak feels good after being sidelined with COVID-19

Pat Hickey • Publishing date:Jul 25, 2020

Defencemen Brett Kulak and Xavier Ouellet both missed the first eight days of the Canadiens’ Return to Play training camp after testing positive for COVID-19, but there was one major difference in their experiences.

Ouellet’s positive test was sandwiched between a battery of negative tests and he didn’t have any symptoms. Kulak knew he was sick.

“I came back to Montreal on July 2 and I was isolated in the hotel for the weekend,” Kulak, who joined his teammates for a full practice for the first time Friday at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, said during a video conference. “I had my first test and it came back negative, but I was having some COVID-like symptoms and I thought it was best that I not join the guys at the rink. I had a second test and, sure enough, it came back positive. I had a test at another lab at the Montreal General Hospital on Tuesday and that came back positive as well and that’s when I started my 14-day quarantine.

“I had seven or eight days of symptoms that lingered on, but I’m all right now,” Kulak added. “I was a little bit shocked because you don’t know how it will affect you and how symptoms can develop and increase. Some guys shake it off in a day or two, but sometimes it lingers on and gets really severe.

“The first couple of days were the worst. I’d wake up and there was pressure in my head, a dull headache all day. When I had my first negative test, I tried to exercise, arms and body-weight stuff, but I could tell I didn’t have the energy for it. It was affecting my breathing a little bit. As it went, I was in touch with the team and the medical staff and they were super good to me.”

Kulak said he had a good skate Friday and expected to be close to 100 per cent when the team moves into its bubble in Toronto on Sunday. When the NHL season was paused in mid-March because of COVID-19, Kulak was on the second defence pair with Jeff Petry and that’s likely where he’ll be when the best-of-five first-round postseason series against the Pittsburgh Penguins begins Aug. 1. Victor Mete was with Petry at practice Friday, while Kulak was paired with Cale Fleury.

Kulak said he’s looking forward to playing the Penguins, who are led by superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

“They have lots of experience there and a couple of world-class players,” Kulak said. “When they have the puck on their stick, they like to hold on to it and make plays and take the time you give them. That will be the biggest thing for myself and the rest of the team — you can’t give those guys much time. You have to play them hard, give them hard minutes throughout the game and I think we’ll have success that way.”

Friday’s practice featured one-on-one battles, which were right up Kulak’s alley.

“Today’s practice was awesome,” he said. “I haven’t done battle drills, closing in on guys on the ice and catching them on their tight turns. It was catching up on unfamiliar things you haven’t seen for a few months. It comes back to you pretty quick. You learn guys’ tendencies and you read off them when they’re leaning their weight one way and they try to switch the other way. I think I’m pretty well back to my level.”

Coach Claude Julien is moving closer to the lineup he’ll use in Tuesday’s lone exhibition game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jesperi Kotkaniemi continues to centre the third line with Paul Byron and Artturi Lehkonen and the question is whether Max Domi will get a look at that spot. He’s on the fourth line now with Jordan Weal and Dale Weise.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189131 Nashville Predators You can certainly see that with both (Granlund) and Turris that their usage wasn’t as much as they had with previous teams. That was a decision that was made at that time, and now that John is here, they’re playing more important roles. At the end of the regular season, they were Q&A: Preds GM David Poile on the impact of John Hynes and the goalie both producing at a higher rate than they had all year long. competition If that is the so-called second line with (Matt) Duchene, if that stays intact and their play continues, that could be a huge improvement for our team, especially on the offensive part of the game, where often this year we By Adam Vingan Jul 24, 2020 struggled to get that one (extra) goal. In this situation, putting back (Johansen, Arvidsson and Forsberg) on a line, and if Turris, Granlund and Duchene can produce, we could be in really good shape offensively. On Sunday morning, the Predators depart for Edmonton in preparation for their qualifying-round series against the Arizona Coyotes, which starts Juuse Saros started 15 of the Predators’ final 21 regular-season games. Aug. 2. (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today)

General manager David Poile spoke to The Athletic on Friday and shared How does your process of evaluating goaltenders differ when you are his thoughts on the Predators’ return-to-play training camp, among other watching practice versus a game? topics. I think you can tell watching the practice closely how each of them is What has been your general assessment of training camp? playing, if they’re in a rhythm, so to speak, and seeing the puck. There’s no replacing a game, but usually in practice, you’re getting literally I am very pleased with everything I’ve seen with our players. We were hundreds of shots, where sometimes in a game, you might have a so- playing pretty well at the pause, winning three (consecutive) games. But called easy night, and you might not get a true evaluation. Oftentimes, I having said that, I think there were lots of inconsistencies this season think practice is really the true indicator of how a goalie’s going to play. both as a team and (individually). I really think the pause might be a good thing for us, certainly a good thing for our coaching staff and specifically So what is your opinion on Juuse Saros’ and Pekka Rinne’s John Hynes getting to know all the players and having lots of performances during training camp? conversations and individual meetings with a lot of players. I think it’s I think (Saros) has (picked up) where he left off. He looks very solid. My given him an opportunity to basically sit down with every player and go position on Pekka is that I think he’s probably — in my mind, at least — over not just their year, but their role on the team and what he expects as taken a little more criticism than he deserves. He’s won a lot of big a contribution from them and what contribution they expect to make. games for us and in a lot of parts of the season has played very well. I think we come back with a proverbial fresh start, and it feels that way. It Statistically, his numbers don’t support that. So far in training camp, I feels like the players are fresh. It feels like they’re excited to play, and think he’s been fine. It’s a story, but I really do think the story for us or hope springs eternal. any other team that’s going to have success is how well both of their goalies play in the playoffs. This is going to be more of a compressed How valuable has this downtime been in allowing the players to get up to playoff than we’ve ever had before, and it starts right out with three speed on Hynes’ system? games in four nights. You’re going to see the value and importance of having two goalies that are playing well. Making a coaching change in the middle of the season is certainly not a guarantee that things are going to be – they’re certainly going to be How realistic is the possibility of Saros and Rinne both starting in the different, but that isn’t to say that they are going to be necessarily better. playoffs? It takes a new coach time to instill his system and how he wants the game to be played. The changes from Peter Laviolette to John Hynes, We really haven’t talked about it. Tell me we’re up two games to none. there are definitely some changes, and I think it’s taken the players some (laughs) time to absorb them. I don’t know how to answer that question. If you have confidence in both I go back to the pause. During the regular season, it was game, day off, of your goaltenders, it feels like that would be a situation that probably game, day off, two games in three nights. There was no time to take a would happen. timeout to get a few days off so that we could practice (and) talk. How much will the fact that no goaltender other than Rinne has started a Everything was just going so fast, and the pause has allowed us that playoff game for this franchise over the past decade factor into the opportunity. I’m optimistic. I think the players are optimistic. It’s such a decision to name the Game 1 starter? unique situation. You’re just not sure what’s going to happen, but all we can control is our own team, and I am very pleased with what I see right I’m not going to bring that up. I think everybody’s well aware of that. now. There hasn’t been (another) goalie for a long, long time that’s (started) a playoff game for our franchise. The coaches, just like I am, are watching What went into the decision to reunite Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen practice every day, and they’re going to make the decision. My role here and Viktor Arvidsson, and what gives you the confidence that they will be is to ask why. I think there should be accountability for the decisions that able to rediscover their previous form? everybody makes. I’m confident in both these guys. It’s a story, but it’s John Hynes had time to reflect and sit down with everybody in the not a big story with me. organization, whether it be management or his coaching staff and the As someone who is in the high-risk age group for the coronavirus, how players. He’s looked at a lot of video from the past. He’s taken a lot of comfortable are you feeling as you prepare to enter the bubble in input from a lot of people, and I think for him and the coaching staff, this Edmonton? is what they’ve come up with. I feel good. Since training camp, we’ve been tested every day. I’ve been I’m sure that Filip, (Arvidsson and Johansen) are happy to be back tested. I feel good. I feel like I’m in shape, not quite to play, but I’m ready together. The way they’ve played so far in training camp, it looks like to go. I think the lifestyle that I’ve been living in terms of quarantining at they’re happy to be back together. I think a lot of things went into his home — I’ve been trying to do all the right things — puts me in as good thinking of what to do, but you can see from Day 1 of training camp of a position as possible. The COVID cases in Alberta specifically are through (practice Thursday) that not one thing has changed. The defense very, very low. The fact that we’ll be staying in this bubble that’s attached pairings (and) the lines have been the same every day. I like that to the arena, I like my chances. commitment and the consistency, and I’m sure the players do, too. Is this the year that a Predators defenseman finally wins the Norris Kyle Turris and Mikael Granlund looked like completely different players Trophy? following the coaching change in January. Why do you think that is? I sure hope so. It feels like it should happen (based on) all of the Sometimes it happens. There’s no question (that with) any coaching information, data, statistics, analytics, eyeball test that go into making the staff, there are players that get more ice time, play in more important choice. John Carlson had a fabulous season. Not to take anything away situations, and there’s also players that fall outside of the realm of playing from him, but the importance of Roman (Josi) to our team, his value to us at the level that they might have played with their previous teams. is almost immeasurable. All the things that defensemen do — defense, offense, the zone exits, the zone entries, how (Josi) takes you out of a defensive situation and into an offensive situation, there’s no defenseman that’s doing what Roman is doing. There are many high-end defensemen in the league, but nobody had as complete of a year as Roman had.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189132 New Jersey Devils GOALTENDER Will Butcher (3,733,333)

Damon Severson (4,166,666) How a flat salary cap benefits the Devils: Western Conference edition Mackenzie Blackwood (2,500,000)

Mirco Mueller (1,400,000) By Corey Masisak Jul 24, 2020 P.K. Subban (9,000,000)

Cory Schneider (6,000,000) As we detailed Wednesday, the Devils will have plenty of financial flexibility to operate with this offseason, with the salary cap ceiling Ty Smith (894,167) remaining at $81.5 million for 2020-21. Connor Carrick (1,500,000) The Devils welcome a new coach and new general manager after two years of disappointing results plus a very long layoff because of the The Devils have three key players in the final year of their contracts: Kyle coronavirus pandemic — all reasons that an active offseason could Palmieri, Nikita Gusev and Travis Zajac. That’s nearly $15 million in create more excitement for the 2020-21 campaign. Several NHL teams commitments off the books for 2021-22. What Fitzgerald intends to do will have difficult decisions to make to remain cap compliant, meaning a with those three players will have a direct impact on this coming collection of intriguing players could become available in mid-October or offseason and the summer of 2022. early November. Here’s what the roster could look like next offseason, before any The offseason timeline will be condensed relative to a normal offseason. decisions on the UFAs are made (and with Mirco Mueller off to Seattle in How that will affect the trade and free agent markets remains a big Eric Duhatschek’s expansion draft): unknown. 2021-22

What is known is this won’t be the only offseason where teams have Jesper Bratt (3,000,000) tough calls to make on key players because of a stagnant salary cap. It’s possible, even likely, that the cap will remain at $81.5 million for 2021-22. Nico Hischier (7,250,000) When it does eventually start to rise again, the maximum uptick could be $1 million per year for several seasons. Joey Anderson (2,500,000)

Even clubs with positive cap outlooks this offseason are likely facing dark Nolan Foote (925,000) times in the next year or two, and bad contracts will be magnified unless Jack Hughes (925,000) the top players begin to take less money as a market correction. 2020 first-round pick (925,000) Earlier this month, we looked at a few paths the Devils could take to building the 2020-21 roster. They have the ability to get aggressive and Jesper Boqvist (925,000) fill multiple holes in the lineup through trades or free agency. What the Devils will want to avoid are older players with more term on their Pavel Zacha (2,250,000) contracts and the risk of losing future cap flexibility with players who are Janne Kuokkanen (2,250,000) declining before the club is ready for deep playoff runs. Miles Wood (2,750,000) While GM Tom Fitzgerald could sign all of the Devils’ restricted free agents and still have about $15 million in cap space, it’s worth debating Michael McLeod (900,000) whether the Devils should use a significant portion of that money on free Nick Merkley (1,500,000) agents or older players in trades. As quickly as they want to return to playoff and Stanley Cup contention, adding a couple of mid-level free LEFT DEFENSE agents or a second-line wing and a second-pairing defenseman might not get them there in 2020-21. RIGHT DEFENSE

If we map out the next two offseasons without any external additions, an GOALTENDER argument for patience — or short-term additions to preserve future Will Butcher (3,733,333) flexibility — might look more appealing. Damon Severson (4,166,666) Here is this offseason, before any wheeling and dealing: Mackenzie Blackwood (2,500,000) 2020-21 Ty Smith (894,167) Jesper Bratt (3,000,000) P.K. Subban (9,000,000) Nico Hischier (7,250,000) Cory Schneider (6,000,000) Kyle Palmieri (4,650,000) Nikita Okhotyuk (809,167) Janne Kuokkanen (811,666) Kevin Bahl (817.500) Jack Hughes (925,000) Even with slight raises for Anderson, Kuokkanen and Merkley (all RFAs) Nikita Gusev (4,500,000) and two or three healthy scratches, this group leaves the Devils with Jesper Boqvist (925,000) around $35 million in cap space. Let’s say the Devils sign Palmieri or Gusev at $7 million per season, but trade the other before the deadline. Travis Zajac (5,750,000) They also could bring back Zajac at a lower rate, depending on Pavel Zacha and Michael McLeod’s development next season. Joey Anderson (950,000) Jesper Bratt (3,000,000) Miles Wood (2,750,000) Nico Hischier (7,250,000) Pavel Zacha (2,250,000) Kyle Palmieri (7,000,000) Nick Merkley (925,000) Nolan Foote (925,000) LEFT DEFENSE Jack Hughes (925,000) RIGHT DEFENSE Joey Anderson (2,500,000) 2020-21: $59.1 million with 14 players signed

Jesper Boqvist (925,000) The Avalanche are a Stanley Cup contender now, with several great young players and a few high-end prospects almost ready. As Ryan S. Pavel Zacha (2,250,000) Clark wrote, it could get tricky to keep everyone, but the core players 2020 first-round pick (925,000) should be in place for a while.

Miles Wood (2,750,000) To that end, he sees the Avs potentially moving on from Nikita Zadorov, Vlad Namestnikov and Matt Nieto this offseason, then possibly Ian Cole Travis Zajac (3,000,000) and Joonas Donskoi the following year. There are some serious red flags with Zadorov. Cole and Donskoi are the most intriguing players of this Janne Kuokkanen (2,250,000) bunch, but they’re also on the older side. LEFT DEFENSE Chicago Blackhawks RIGHT DEFENSE 2020-21: $74.1 million with 18 players signed GOALTENDER The Blackhawks should be a warning for teams with cap space this Will Butcher (3,733,333) offseason, like the Devils. They spent about $12.5 million on Calvin de Haan, Olli Maatta and Andrew Shaw and were worse off than the year Damon Severson (4,166,666) before. Now, Scott Powers sees Maatta as a potential buyout option, while de Haan and Shaw are injury question marks. The Blackhawks also Mackenzie Blackwood (2,500,000) need to get Calder Trophy finalist Dominik Kubalik, Dylan Strome and Ty Smith (894,167) Corey Crawford signed.

P.K. Subban (9,000,000) Maatta isn’t known for being big and mean, but he could make the Devils’ defense corps better, either in a trade or potentially as a signing after a Cory Schneider (6,000,000) buyout. If the Blackhawks do sign Crawford and decide to move on from Malcolm Subban, he’d be an interesting option as a potential No. 3 Nikita Okhotyuk (809,167) goaltender. At a minimum, reuniting him with his brother would make for Kevin Bahl (817.500) a fun story or two during training camp.

They still have about $25 million in cap space. And a year into this new St. Louis Blues NHL economic reality, more teams are likely to be facing budget cuts or 2020-21: $79.4 million for 21 players looking to trade players to become cap compliant. Before determining whether the Devils should turn next summer into a shopping spree, let’s The Blues are a flashpoint for potential offseason movement. Alex consider what the summer of 2022 will bring. Pietrangelo would be the No. 1 UFA defenseman and Vince Dunn is one of the top RFAs. Jeremy Rutherford wrote that, to make room for them, 2022-23 St. Louis may need to trade Tyler Bozak and Jake Allen and buy out Alex In our projected scenario, Mackenzie Blackwood and Jesper Bratt will be Steen. Rutherford also suggests that Jaden Schwartz could be sacrificed at the end of two-year bridge deals and ready for heftier paydays. Jack if one of those other moves doesn’t work out. Key pieces like Schwartz, Hughes will be ready for his second contract, potentially a huge raise if Jordan Binnington and Colton Parayko need new contracts in the next he fulfills his vast potential in the next two years. Jesper Boqvist would be two offseasons, as well. ready for a second contract, as well. It’s not quite a blank canvas for the Steen hasn’t been as productive the past two seasons and is 36, but he Devils, but it’s close. has remained a valuable role player (four consecutive seasons at 6.9 Nico Hischier and Damon Severson are the only players currently on goals above replacement or higher, per Evolving-Hockey). For a team non-entry level contracts for the 2022-23 season. In this scenario, like the Devils looking for veteran leadership, a bought-out Steen could Palmieri would join them, along with Anderson and Kuokkanen. P.K. be a low-risk addition. Dunn would be an obvious target if the Blues can’t Subban and Cory Schneider would be free agents, and that would free agree to a deal with him. Schwartz is a really good player, but with only up $15 million in cap space. So too would Will Butcher, Miles Wood and one year left on his contract, it would be worth waiting to see if he’s Zacha. available next offseason.

By the summer of 2022, the Devils will have a better read on which of Winnipeg Jets their current young players they want as long-term roster players. At that 2020-21: 65.9 million for with 13 players signed point, they’d ideally be closer to their window of contention opening. They could also have loads of cap space when few other clubs will have that The Jets have seven players making $5 million or more signed through at luxury. least 2024. Patrik Laine and Neal Pionk need new deals before next year, so Winnipeg has to plan ahead. They have 11 UFAs, though most It doesn’t have to be a binary, all-or-nothing decision this offseason or the are fringe players. Defenseman Dylan DeMelo and goaltender Laurent next. Fitzgerald could make big changes in October and November, or he Brossoit are two who could be good targets for the Devils. could add slowly over the next couple of offseasons. If the Devils are patient, the summer of 2022 has the potential for all sorts of options. Nashville Predators

Another long season would cause more angst among the fan base, but 2020-21: $72.2 million with 17 players signed remember, part or all of the 2020-21 season could happen with no patrons in the arenas. One reason clubs hesitate to commit to a The Predators have most of their key players locked in through next rebuilding year is the affect it can have on attendance. Without that risk, season, but the summer of 2021 will include a raise for Dante Fabbro 2020-21 is a good time to go for it. and two decisions to make in net. Nashville’s two big UFAs this offseason are forwards Mikael Granlund and Craig Smith. Adam Vingan Regardless of which strategy the Devils choose, they’ll have plenty of wrote that keeping one should be easy to do, but maybe not both. Smith options. Picking the right ones could have New Jersey back in Cup has been mentioned multiple times as a good fit for the Devils if they contention just in time for the salary cap to start increasing again. want to spend on a middle-six forward. Dan Hamhuis could also be expendable for the Predators and might be an interesting low-cost, low- As part of our look at New Jersey’s options over the next few seasons, risk veteran addition if he wants to continue playing. here’s the second part of our swing around the league to identify teams with potential cap problems this offseason and in the future and those Dallas Stars that could be competing with New Jersey to benefit from those predicaments. 2020-21: $62 million with 15 players signed

Central Division Denis Gurianov and Roope Hintz were the Stars’ leading and second- leading (tied with a teammate) goal scorers this season. They’re both Colorado Avalanche RFAs this offseason. The players to watch are Miro Heiskanen, who will be ready for a huge raise after next year, and John Klingberg in 2022. but should have everyone else they want plus a couple of high-end Still, they don’t have any obvious players for the Devils to consider prospects ready to help. Lehner should be a popular guy if he reaches unless UFA goaltender Anton Khudobin reaches the open market and, the UFA market. Former Devils defenseman Jon Merrill also looks likely even then, he could be out of their price range without a Cory Schneider to be on the outside, and a return to New Jersey on a low-risk deal trade/buyout. wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Minnesota Wild Los Angeles Kings

2020-21: $65.3 million with 17 players signed 2020-21: $60.7 million with 16 players signed

The Wild have almost every key player signed for next season and plenty The Kings have won one playoff game since claiming the Stanley Cup in of room to keep the rest. They also have 10 free agents after next 2014, but another powerhouse run is percolating in Los Angeles. They season, including some critical pieces. If Jonas Brodin ends up outside have Scott Wheeler’s top collection of prospects before they add Quinton the plan moving forward, either in a trade this offseason or in free agency Byfield or Tim Stutzle with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft. They also next year, he’d be an intriguing player to pursue. have 11 picks in the first three rounds of the 2020 and 2021 draft, and, as Lisa Dillman wrote, are going to have oodles of cap space open up in the Pacific Division summers of 2021 and 2022.

Vancouver Canucks Los Angeles has the room to sign him, but if they don’t, Ben Hutton is 2020-21: $64.4 million with 15 players signed another low-risk option who could improve the Devils’ defense corps.

If the Canucks lose their qualifying round series against the Wild, the Edmonton Oilers Devils will be very interested in how their offseason plays out because 2020-21: $71.3 million with 17 players signed New Jersey will have an unprotected 2021 first-round pick in play. The Canucks’ cap situation improves dramatically in the summers of 2021 The Oilers have a few key RFAs who will need new contracts over the and 2022 when it’s time for their young stars to sign hefty extensions, next two seasons, plus Ryan Nugent-Hopkins after next year. As but, as Thomas Drance wrote, this offseason is messy. Jonathan Willis wrote, Edmonton should be able to sort everything out with a potential buyout for James Neal or Kris Russell in an emergency Drance found a way to fill out a roster that includes Jacob Markstrom and move. It’s possible the Oilers don’t retain deadline rentals Mike Green Tyler Toffoli, but not defenseman Christopher Tanev or forward Josh and Tyler Ennis, but they might not be ideal fits for New Jersey. Former Leivo, who could both be Devils targets. Devils defenseman Adam Larsson could be, if he reaches the free agent Arizona Coyotes market after next season.

2020-21: $79.9 million with 17 players signed San Jose Sharks

The Coyotes don’t currently have the cap space to sign Taylor Hall, 2020-21: $66.6 million with 13 players signed which would upgrade a conditional 2021 pick coming to the Devils (likely The Sharks had a bunch of high-priced players who didn’t play up to from a third- to a second-round selection). They could trade Marian expectations or got hurt, and the result has left them at a crossroads. Hossa’s dead-money contract or commit to leaving it on LTIR all year, Kevin Kurz wrote that it might be worth re-thinking a “reload, not rebuild” but that still isn’t enough to sign Hall and their RFAs. plan because of the flat cap (and, as we mentioned earlier, how fewer or Arizona has a few veteran players with one year left on their contracts — no fans could affect anti-rebuilding thinking). defensemen Alex Goligoski and and goaltender Antti To that end, Kurz suggests the Sharks move Brent Burns and/or Evander Raanta among them — who could be moved to open more space. If the Kane to get younger and free up future cap space. Burns’ contract is not Devils wanted to add short-term veteran help but keep some cap ideal, but Kane as a potential replacement for Hall in New Jersey could flexibility moving forward, one of those defensemen would be a good fit be an intriguing solution. San Jose should have room to sign RFA Kevin (Hjalmarsson does have a no-move clause that he might not want to Labanc to a bigger, long-term contract, but if the Sharks don’t want to waive). commit to another big deal, he’d be an intriguing, young forward to slot Anaheim Ducks next to Hischier or Hughes.

2020-21: $75.6 million with 16 players signed The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020

As Eric Stephen detailed, the Ducks are going to have a tight squeeze this offseason, in part because they took on David Backes’ bad contract to get a first-round pick from Boston and because the Corey Perry buyout costs them $6.625 million in dead space. It probably won’t force Anaheim to move anyone important, but if the Ducks did decide to make one of their top defensemen — Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson and Cam Fowler — available to save money or to try to get younger, the Devils would likely be one of several teams who’ll want to have a chat with GM Bob Murray.

Calgary Flames

2020-21: $64.6 million with 13 players signed

The Flames have nearly all of their core offensive players locked into long-term contracts. The defense corps is a different story. Calgary has six defensemen who are free agents this offseason, and then Jusso Valimaki is an RFA next season.

Scott Cruickshank wrote about how the Flames won’t be able to keep T.J. Brodie, Travis Hamonic and Eric Gustafsson. Brodie would be the best target of the three, but Cruickshank also sees him as the one Calgary will try hardest to retain.

Vegas Golden Knights

2020-21: $75.1 million with 17 players signed

The Golden Knights have one of the best rosters in the league and one of the best cap situations for a contender. As Jesse Granger wrote, Vegas might not be able to bring back No. 1A goaltender Robin Lehner, 1189133 New York Islanders

Islanders getting ready to embrace the ‘grind’ of the bubble

By Dani MohrJuly 25, 2020 | 2:05am

Life will be put on hold once the puck hits the ice in Toronto.

Emotions are bubbling among the Islanders as they prepare to leave their families behind and travel to begin life in the NHL hub-city bubble.

“It’s going to be a mental grind,” defenseman Scott Mayfield said after scrimmaging on Friday and with another practice set for Saturday. “Playoffs are always a physical grind, I think this will add a mental grind to it as far as being away from family, not being able to go home, sleeping in a hotel bed, and all of that different stuff that’s out of our control.

“I think that’s going to throw a little bit of a wrench in there for certain guys, certain teams. It’s going to be a team that can mentally just focus on playing hockey and playing their best, really.”

As the Islanders continue adjusting to the circumstances, they are planning team-bonding activities while also abiding by the social distancing rules.

“We’ve got some ideas floating around,” captain Anders Lee said during a Zoom call with reporters. “We’ll have a common room with a bunch of things set up, hopefully, with a pool table and all of that stuff. We were looking into a “Family Feud”-type of night, get our competitive juices flowing and take our mind off of things, and try to enjoy our time in the hotel as much as we can.”

The Islanders travel to Toronto on Sunday and will get situated inside the bubble before taking on the Rangers in an exhibition game on Wednesday. Game 1 of the play-in round against the Panthers is Aug. 1.

During a shortened five-game series, the pressure will be on the Islanders. Though coach Barry Trotz said he expects the players to arrive in Toronto at a high level, he emphasized just how quickly the path could change on their journey to the Stanley Cup.

“You get down two games here, you’re already at do-or-die,” said Trotz, who led the Capitals to the title in 2018.

As for the Islanders new fathers, Matt Martin and Lee, they will be leaving their newborns behind while Mayfield abandons his summer wedding plans.

“We actually were supposed to get married [Saturday],” Mayfield said, referring to his fiance Emily Bayless. “That was a little change of plans as far as having a wedding versus flying to Toronto. So, it’s a little bit different, but exciting.”

Mayfield said his wedding date is now set for August of next year.

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Islanders fed up with scrimmaging, ready to play some real games

By Andrew Gross

Updated July 24, 2020 8:55 PM

The Islanders held their fifth scrimmage in the 10 days of practices so far at Training Camp 2.0 on Friday.

Not surprisingly, the players are anxious to face a real opponent.

“It’ll be nice to play someone else,” said captain Anders Lee, whose top line with center Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle again had a strong scrimmage.

The Islanders depart for their quarantined arena/hotel bubble in Toronto on Sunday. They face the Rangers in an exhibition game on Wednesday and open a best-of-five qualifying series against the Panthers on Aug. 1 at Scotiabank Arena.

Barry Trotz said there is always the possibility of diminishing benefits in repeated intrasquad scrimmages and the chance players can develop bad habits as a result.

But the coach said he does not see that happening with the Islanders.

“The emotion against someone on your own team, if there’s a chance to leave a mark or to take them out, you’re probably not putting a guy into the end wall to get the puck,” Trotz said. “There are sometimes those bad habits, guys knowing they’re not going to get run over, they hold onto the puck a little longer than they normally would. They look off guys and bait them because they know they’re not getting hit all the time. Those could be bad habits if it’s starting to be in the DNA. I don’t feel that.”

White defeated Blue, 4-3, in a shootout after a three-period scrimmage. White took a 3-1 lead on goals at the net by Ross Johnston and Casey Cizikas and Andrew Ladd’s deflection of defenseman Scott Mayfield’s shot from the right point.

But Lee, circling behind goalie Thomas Greiss as he patiently held the puck, fed Eberle for a one-timer to make it 3-2. Lee then tied it at 3-3 by knocking in a rebound at the right post.

“Our line has felt pretty good,” Lee said. “We’ve picked up where we tried to leave off. All three of us are looking forward to taking what we’ve done in camp into something that truly matters. We just try to work off of each other like we always have.”

Tom Kuhnhackl scored the other goal for Blue, rushing the puck up the ice and then ripping a wrist shot by Greiss.

Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson both beat Semyon Varlamov in the shootout for White while Greiss stopped Eberle and Barzal.

Notes & quotes: Kuhnhackl returned to the ice after not participating in Thursday’s practice…Leo Komarov, recovering from a facial injury and yet to participate in a full team practice, was the only skater not to participate in the scrimmage…Friday was the deadline for NHL teams to submit the list of 52 people, including 31 players, they will bring to the hub city. The Islanders are not publicly announcing their 31-player roster yet.

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Scott Mayfield, Islanders teammates prepare for the mental grind of being away from family

By Andrew Gross

Updated July 24, 2020 4:47 PM

Saturday was supposed to be when Scott Mayfield married his long-time girlfriend, Emily Bayless, in a ceremony in Colorado. Instead, the engaged couple will spend one last day together on Long Island before the defenseman departs with his teammates on Sunday for Toronto for what the Islanders hope will be more than two months away for the NHL playoffs.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which put the NHL season on pause on March 12, has changed plenty of plans. And the hardest part about the league’s imminent return-to-play format will be the mental challenge of living in a quarantined arena/hotel bubble in a hub city.

“I think guys are excited, it seems that way at the rink,” Mayfield said after Friday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow as Islanders’ Training Camp 2.0 nears its conclusion. “It’s going to be like a mental grind. The playoffs are always a physical grind. I think there’s a mental grind, too, being away from your family, not being able to go home, being in a hotel bed. I think that’s going to throw a little wrench in there for certain guys and certain teams.”

The Islanders, seeded seventh in the Eastern Conference, will face the 10th-seeded Panthers in a best-of-five qualifying series that begins on Aug. 1. They will also face the rival Rangers in an exhibition game at Toronto on Wednesday.

The Stanley Cup Final will likely end the first week of October in Edmonton.

“There have been a lot of emotions,” said captain Anders Lee, whose wife, Grace, gave birth to their first child, Ruby, on March 2. “We have all been feeling them. A lot of guys have already been separate from their families during camp. The guys that have been in town with families have to do the same thing. We’re not looking forward to being separate but, hopefully we’ll be separated for quite some time.”

But Lee said there will also be a strength in being together as a team.

As captain, he is trying to plan for some in-bubble team activities. A “Family Feud” competition is on the docket.

“There’s that uncertainty, we’ve never been through something like this before,” Lee said. “We’ve done tournaments and stuff like that, but not in the NHL, obviously. The beauty of all this is we’re going to have each other. The common room will be a place for us to hang out when we’re not at the rink. We’re all going to be going through this together. Homesickness, the basic challenges that come with playing hockey and doing your best to play well, the team aspect is going to be stronger than ever.”

As for the Mayfield-Bayless marriage, it’s been pushed back to mid- August, 2021.

“She’s done really well with it,” Mayfield said. “Everyone’s dealing with different issues and that’s just another thing that came up. Everyone is in a different spot and that’s where the mental aspect is going to take a toll. You’ve got to make sure you’re concentrating on what you can do on the ice.”

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Andrew Ladd finally gets to skate with top Islanders' forwards

By Andrew Gross

Updated July 24, 2020 10:31 AM

Yes, that is Andrew Ladd in a very realistic Spider-Man outfit playing with his children while the super hero’s iconic theme music plays in the latest entry on the TikTok account of the Islanders’ veteran left wing.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about more throughout the break,” Ladd said of being active on TikTok. “I have some things I want to do after hockey to help with my foundation. There are not too many hockey guys on there. It’s a good opportunity to use that.”

Ladd, 34, still has three seasons remaining on a seven-year, $38.5 million deal but seemingly has a long way to go to re-establish himself as a regular in the Islanders’ lineup.

Thursday marked his first chance during Islanders’ Training Camp 2.0 to skate among the top 12 forwards, as he practiced on Brock Nelson’s left wing along with Josh Bailey.

He was limited to four games with the Islanders in 2019-20 before the season was paused on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic as he spent the bulk of the season with the organization’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. He played just 26 games last season as he suffered injuries to both knees.

“I think I still have to prove myself,” Ladd said. “It’s been a long road back from those two knee surgeries. I’m just trying to gain their confidence. I’m in a good mind-frame and I know the player I can be and how I can help out and that’s just my goal, to help this team out and help them win.”

The Islanders face the Panthers in a best-of-five qualifying series starting on Aug. 1 in Toronto.

Ladd won Stanley Cups with the Hurricanes in 2006 and the Blackhawks in 2010.

He was in the Islanders’ lineup for the final two games before the season was paused and scored his lone NHL goal this season in a 5-4 shootout loss at Vancouver on March 10 as he logged 15:12.

“It was good mentally to know I could help and be productive,” Ladd said.

Added coach Barry Trotz, “Each time you get injured, you hold back a little bit. I think what you’re seeing is his health has gotten better and he’s got a better confidence of what he’s able to do. One thing he can do is he gets into that slot area and he can finish pretty well.”

Roll call

Leo Komarov, still wearing a full shield, skated for the second straight day after missing the start of training camp with a facial injury. He worked with a secondary group that also included Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows, defenseman Sebastian Aho and Grant Hutton and goalies Christopher Gibson and Jakub Skarek…Tom Kuhnhackl was the lone Islander not to participate in Thursday’s practice. “It’s more of a maintenance unavailable,” Trotz said. “I don’t have real big concerns for any of our players. I think we’re as healthy and ready to go as anybody.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189137 New York Islanders and Brassard, then was quickly supplanted by Tom Kuhnhackl, who needed a maintenance day on Thursday and was the only player who didn’t practice.

Pre-departure Islanders notes: Who’s in, who’s out and where’s Ilya With another day or two on the ice on the Island and then two more days Sorokin? before Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Rangers, Trotz may give Kieffer Bellows a look there or stick with the ones he’s seen so far. It’s all in the name of getting everyone as prepared as possible for the unknowns ahead. By Arthur Staple Jul 24, 2020 “I want to make sure I’m not missing anything and it gives us a couple of

options as we go into this,” Trotz said. “The scrimmages haven’t been The Islanders have a scrimmage Friday and possibly one more day of physical, then all of a sudden you have to get into it. So you want to have on-ice work before they head to Toronto on Sunday. The traveling roster everyone prepared and also reward some guys.” of 31 players out of the 34 currently on Long Island isn’t such a mystery, On defense, Trotz has not shied away from praising his fourth defense nor is the group of 20 who will likely dress for Game 1 of the best-of-five pair of Andy Greene and Noah Dobson. That presumes the top six will be qualifying round series against the Panthers that begins on Aug. 1. this familiar alignment, with Thomas Hickey as the No. 9: The Islanders have not been a team of surprises since Lou Lamoriello Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock and Barry Trotz took over, so it’s unlikely they start now, with the team needing to be in full swing up in Toronto. Devon Toews-Scott Mayfield

Let’s see where things stand: Nick Leddy-Johnny Boychuk

Who misses the cut? “We have four really good pairs,” Trotz said.

Trotz indicated this week that the plan is to take “nine or 10 defensemen” It’s a good problem to have, especially going into a short series. The only to Toronto. Sebastian Aho, who missed the first week of Phase 3 camp, difficulty would be pulling the trigger on what would be a seismic change and first-year pro Grant Hutton were the obvious choices to stay behind — Greene was acquired in February, Dobson has 34 NHL games under when the 34 camp attendees were announced, and that likely hasn’t his belt and the Leddy-Boychuk pair has been nearly inseparable in six changed. Whether one or both are left off the traveling group likely years together on the Island. But if it happens, it’s because the oldest depends on whether Trotz wants to bring four goalies with him. player on the roster (Greene, 37) and the second-youngest (Dobson, 20) were able to put in the work needed during the lockdown to be ready for That would leave another first-year pro, Jakub Skarek, on the bubble to this resumption. make the bubble. The 21-year-old goalie is not necessarily a viable option to play — much like a third-string quarterback on an NFL roster, if In goal, not much has been discussed about Semyon Varlamov vs. the Isles need Skarek in this tournament, things have probably gone too Thomas Greiss. Varlamov has been a bit steadier in the scrimmages and wrong to fix. So, whether they want to bring Skarek along to have two probably had a leg up when the camp began, so Game 1 is still likely his. goalies (along with Christopher Gibson) to work with the extras is the But it’s easy to see Trotz giving each of them work in Wednesday’s question they’ll need to answer. exhibition game, since Games 2-3, back-to-back on Aug. 4 and 5, might call for using both goalies. Among the forwards, Leo Komarov (eye) has eased back into participation. There’s zero chance he stays behind; same goes for Ladd brought up a salient point about the extras who go to Toronto. Andrew Ladd, who got a turn with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey in Normally playoff black aces get their extra work in after morning skates Thursday’s practice and may start there for Friday’s scrimmage. If there’s and practices. With limited ice time due to 12 teams sharing four rinks one forward of the 19 who ends up staying behind, it’s almost certain to and the weird rotation of games, can the 11 players that don’t dress get be Oliver Wahlstrom. enough work to be ready?

Wahlstrom got on the scoreboard in Wednesday’s scrimmage and talked “It’s going to be different if you’re not in the lineup, just how much ice that day about how he’d had a good two months working out with time you’re getting,” Ladd said. “Those are the opportunities you have to Frolunda in Sweden, where he’s trained the last couple of offseasons. If work on your game and stay sharp. And injury-wise, you don’t know how Wahlstrom does not make the Toronto cut, would the Islanders consider it’s going to be just jumping into a playoff series.” loaning the 20-year-old to Frolunda for the beginning of the season, which is presumably going to start on a normal schedule in the Swedish Where’s Ilya? League? Even if he makes the cut, one more NHL game for Wahlstrom Ilya Sorokin made it to New York on Tuesday, but Trotz said “I haven’t and he burns the first year of his entry-level deal, which could become a yet seen the whites of his eyes” on Thursday. There have been Zoom salary-cap headache down the road. calls, but Sorokin is quarantining after his commercial flight either on the Best guess? The Isles leave Aho, Hutton and Skarek behind, going with Island or in Toronto, where he could conceivably join the Isles in the nine defensemen and three goalies — though that might not be the bubble after four consecutive days of negative COVID-19 tests. Trotz number of actual goalies who end up in Toronto. More on that below. would not say where Sorokin is now or where he’ll be. But if he’s on the Island, the four tests-in-four days requirement would cut things awfully The Islanders are in a good spot, not forced into any corners or tough close for Sorokin to travel with the Isles on Sunday. decisions based on injuries or anyone still caught in the “unfit to play” designation. If Sorokin does join the Isles in Toronto, Lamoriello indicated last week that the goalie might not have to count against the 31-player limit, just the “We’re as healthy as anyone in the league right now, I’d say,” Trotz said. 52-member traveling party maximum. He could still skate and practice, however, which might alleviate the need for Skarek to be there and take Who’s on the Game 1 roster? up a player spot. There are 11 forwards we know of and that group hasn’t changed since We’ll find that out in due time. What Sorokin will do with the rest of his camp began: time between the end of this Islander season and the beginning of the Anders Lee-Mathew Barzal-Jordan Eberle 2020-21 season is perhaps just as important: He’s unlikely to go back home to Russia, so where will be be? Who will he train with? Would Anthony Beauvillier-J-G Pageau-Derick Brassard director of goaltending Mitch Korn and goalie coach Piero Greco spend the fall working with Sorokin at the Isles facility for weeks on end? ????-Brock Nelson-Josh Bailey “I’m privy to (the plan), but I don’t care to share,” Trotz said. “If you know Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck me and you know Lou, I’m pretty sure there will be a plan. We’re excited Beauvillier swapped centers late last week and Trotz seemingly has liked to get to that process.” what he’s seen with Beau alongside Pageau and Brassard. That leaves The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 the mystery spot with Nelson and Bailey. Ross Johnston had a couple of turns there and now Ladd. Michael Dal Colle started camp with Pageau 1189138 New York Rangers

K’Andre Miller has thrived, but won’t play for Rangers this year

By Larry BrooksJuly 25, 2020 | 4:04am

Turns out that the biggest eye-opener of the Rangers’ summer camp has been the one player ineligible to compete at the upcoming Stanley Cup tournament.

But if the work from K’Andre Miller is representative of what the Blueshirts can expect from the 22nd-overall choice of the 2018 entry draft, then waiting ’til next year (or maybe the year after that) shouldn’t be all that much of a burden.

“I think he’s really gotten more comfortable. You could see the nerves early on, but I think he’s really acclimated himself and played with an awful lot of confidence and has kept things simple,” David Quinn said of the 6-foot-5, 20-year-old lefty defenseman, who appeared in complete control during Friday’s scrimmage. “You see the physical tools he has, and he’s a special physical specimen. And he’s a guy who understands what he’s capable of doing.”

Miller, who signed with the Blueshirts in March following his sophomore season at Wisconsin, is ineligible this summer because his contract begins next season. The Rangers’ left side consists of Ryan Lindgren, Marc Staal and Brendan Smith, with perhaps Libor Hajek next on the depth chart. Staal and Smith both have one year remaining on their contracts. Opportunities to earn a spot will abound.

“I love the fact that he didn’t try to do too much. He let the game come to him and did a good job defending,” Quinn said of Miller’s work in the scrimmage. “Like I said [Thursday], I loved the plays he was making in small areas, on quick turnovers he made the right play.

“Just a lot of good things from him over the last couple of weeks.”

Blueshirts have assigned Lias Andersson to HV-71 on loan for 2020-21. Andersson, who has one season remaining on his NHL entry-level deal that he signed after being selected seventh overall in the 2017 draft, recorded 12 points (7-5) in 15 games for HV-71 last year. The Swedish Hockey League is expected to begin its season on schedule in the fall.

Brett Howden, who shifted almost exclusively to the wing just before Christmas, has been skating at center on the fourth line with Greg McKegg on the left and Julien Gauthier on the right.

McKegg is also a natural center who did most of his work in the middle for the Blueshirts, but Quinn pointed to Howden’s work at the dots as a reason for the alignment. Thing is, Howden came in at 48.2 percentage and McKegg at 49.3 during the season, so there’s obviously more to it than that.

“There’s really not a lot of difference if we put Howden or McKegg in the middle, it’s just something that we want to do,” Quinn said. “Howden’s been real good on faceoffs, so I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point he’s struggling on draws, we put McKegg in the middle.

“It’s not something I’m married to, but it looks good so far.”

New York Post LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189139 New York Rangers New York Post LOADED: 07.25.2020

Rangers’ first line shows what it’s made of: ‘Big step forward’

By Larry BrooksJuly 25, 2020 | 12:35am

This was between the first and second period of Friday’s scrimmage. Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich dropped to their knees, gathered in a tight circle, and talked. There were gestures. There was communication.

And one shift in the second period, there was dominance and a Kreider goal from the slot, a one-timer off a dynamic exchange with Buchnevich. And then an immediate second dominant shift and a third in the scrimmage that represented the closest the Rangers have come in their two weeks on the ice to NHL-like conditions.

“It’s good for us to get back to the things we were doing before all this happened and just try to get comfortable with each other again,” said Zibanejad, whose game has been building during this prep period for the tournament. “It’s fun to be out there with them, so I’m super, super excited.”

Some of those dominant shifts came against the Libor Hajek-Brandon Crawley defense pair, and not Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin-Dougie Hamilton tandem, but still, one step at time.

The Rangers will charter to Toronto on Sunday to begin life in the hub bubble. The players and staff met following the scrimmage to discuss the protocols, opportunities and routines developed by the league.

“We’ve been going through what the details are going to be in the bubble, going back-and-forth to the rink, things like that,” Zibanejad said. “But I think, at the same time, we’re kind of going there with an open mind and going to try to adjust to it as quickly as we can.

“It’s a situation no one has been in before, I can’t stress that enough, so it’s going to be a different situation, a new situation, and a different experience for everyone. So we’re going to have to be able to adapt as quickly as possible, stay safe and make sure we follow everything as we’ve been advised and basically just go from there.”

From a hockey standpoint, the Rangers did get going in Friday’s scrimmage. The pace was quicker. The sharpness was clearer. The compete level was more meaningful. The physicality was worth more than a mention.

“I thought we took a big step forward, creating more of a game-like mentality, more of an August 1 [2020] mentality,” David Quinn said of the three-period, 45-minute affair. “I thought there was definitely more physicality, and I really liked our intentions; little things like faceoffs and hold-ups and line changes and things like that.

“I thought there was definitely more purpose and a game-like feel throughout the scrimmage to what we’re going to have to do on the first. I liked our pace, I thought our guys approached it the way we’re going to have to approach it [for Game 1]. We have to take a step every day to get closer to doing what we’re going to have to do on the first of August.

“It’s really that simple because, as we’ve alluded to, time is of the essence,” said the coach. “We don’t have a lot of it so we have to take advantage of every practice, physically and mentally, and our guys did a good job of that. It was a good step forward for us.”

The Blue Team that had Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev split the chores in net recorded a 4-1 victory over the White Team for which Igor Shesterkin went the distance. Lundqvist allowed one goal, a penalty shot to Vinni Lettieri. Shesterkin allowed three, one a softie on a Brendan Lemieux left-wing drive, with Blue padding the score with an empty- netter.

“I thought the scrimmage was good,” Zibanejad said. “There was better intensity and I thought the intentions were better. That’s what we were talking about right after [the scrimmage] and have been talking about this week.

“We’re trying to prepare and make sure we’re doing what we need to do on Aug. 1. If you’re not going to do it then, you’re not going to do it now. That’s the mentality we’ve been going with.” 1189140 New York Rangers with Zibanejad and Buchnevich was active creating chances throughout the scrimmage and looks to be the sharpest of any Rangers' line.

"He looks up to speed," Zibanejad said when asked how Kreider's NY Rangers takeaways from the final scrimmage of camp and thoughts recovery from a fractured foot. "I think getting to play again today with on K'Andre Miller him and Buchie is good for us to kind of get back to the things that we were doing before all this happen — just kind of getting comfortable with each other again. It’s fun to be out there with them."

Vincent Z. Mercogliano K'Andre Miller grows 'more comfortable'

Another player who has impressed in week two of camp is K'Andre Miller.

TARRYTOWN - August 1 is fast approaching. The 20-year-old defenseman's entry-level contract doesn't begin until 2020-21, therefore he's ineligible to travel to Toronto with the team. But That was the theme around the MSG Training Center on Friday. he certainly looks like he belongs. It's time for this accelerated training camp to shift to the next gear. "He’s really gotten more comfortable," Quinn said. "I could see the "You’re not going to do it then if you’re not going to do it now," Mika nerves early on, but I think he's really kind of acclimated himself and Zibanejad said. "That's the mentality." played with an awful lot of confidence and kept things simple."

With that message in mind, the New York Rangers held their final full- The prevailing thought is that Miller will begin next season with AHL squad scrimmage. Hartford, which assistant general manager Chris Drury said will be "a good proving ground" for the 2018 first-round pick to refine his defensive They still have one more practice Sunday before boarding a plane to skills. Toronto, where their sights will turn to the qualifying round matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. But Friday was meant to ramp up the The Rangers would usually give young players like Miller a close look at competitiveness. their annual Development Camp, which was canceled this summer. They invited him to this two-week camp as an alternative — which, in "I just thought there was definitely more physicality to the scrimmage," retrospect, may be more beneficial. coach David Quinn said. "I liked our intentions. Little things like faceoffs and hold-ups and line changes — things like that. I thought there was Rather than drilling with raw prospects, the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder is definitely more purpose and more of a game-like feel to what we're going competing against a collection of legitimate NHLers. He's held his own, to have to do on (Aug. 1) throughout the scrimmage. I liked our pace. I showing of his mobility and puck-moving skills — even landing a few thought our guys really approached it in a way we're going to have to body checks in Friday's scrimmage. approach it on the first and it was just a good step forward for us." The AHL remains the likely first step for Miller next season, but he's given This was the third scrimmage the Rangers have held during Phase 3, but the Rangers a lot to think about. neither of the first two featured as much hitting. "You see the physical tools he has," Quinn said. "He’s a special physical Story continues below. specimen and he's a guy that understands what he's capable of doing. And I love the fact that he didn't try to do too much. I thought he let the The line combinations and defensive pairs were set much like when the game come to him. He did a good job defending. I loved the plays he season paused on March 12 — and how they should look for Game 1 was making the small areas. Quick turnovers, he’d made the right play. against the 'Canes. Just a lot of good things from the last two weeks."

"When the dust settles, like I’ve said, we want to let people get a chance Play of the day to get their feet under them and give them an opportunity to get back to where we were before the break," Quinn said. "Nothing has gotten to the Lettieri shows off the patience and skill that allowed him to lead Hartford point where I thought, ‘Oh, boy. We may need to change this.’ " with 47 points this season.

The scrimmage also provided yet another indication that rookie Igor Bergen Record LOADED: 07.25.2020 Shesterkin is the likely starter in net.

The 24-year-old played all three 15-minute periods, allowing three goals in the first 16 minutes before shutting it down for the final 29.

Story continues below.

Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev split time for the opposite team, with Lundqvist allowing one goal on a penalty shot from Vinni Lettieri while Georgiev didn't allow any.

But the results of the scrimmage weren't as important as the level of intensity.

"Time is of the essence," Quinn said. "We don't have a lot of it. We've got to take advantage of every practice, physically and mentally, and I thought our guys did a good job of that today."

Good day for bottom of the roster

The forwards at the bottom of the roster helped raise the overall level of play, with the Team Blue notching a 4-1 victory over Team White.

Lettieri, Brett Howden and Brendan Lemieux each scored, while Greg McKegg, Danny O'Regan and Vitali Kravtsov had their own standout moments. For Kravtsov, who looked tentative at times early in camp, this was his best showing.

Julien Gauthier added an empty-netter in the final 10 minutes, making it four of the five goals scored by either fourth-liners or extras.

The only goal scored by a top-nine forward came from Chris Kreider on a feed from Pavel Buchnevich to begin the second period. Kreider's line 1189141 New York Rangers

Former NY Rangers first-round pick Lias Andersson signs to play in SHL next season

Vincent Z. Mercogliano

The chances of Lias Andersson ever playing for the New York Rangers again have gone from slim to slimmer.

The No. 7 overall pick from 2017 has signed to play next season for HV71, the Swedish Hockey League team announced Friday. The Rangers confirmed that they granted him permission to play there on loan.

Story continues below.

Andersson finished the 2019-20 season with HV71 after failing to gain traction in the NHL.

The 21-year-old center played 66 games for the Rangers in total, registering nine points (three goals and nine assists) over parts of three seasons. He made the team out of training camp this season, but managed only one assist in 17 games while averaging just 9:33 time on ice per game.

The Rangers demoted Andersson to the AHL on Nov. 17, and after 13 games with the club's affiliate in Hartford, Andersson left for his native Sweden in December and requested a trade.

Shortly after leaving the U.S., Andersson hinted at "incidents that have disturbed me" in an interview with Sweden's Gothenburg Post. But by February, thanks in part to efforts from Rangers team president John Davidson, the shaky relationship between player and organization seemed to thaw.

Davidson granted him permission to finish the 2019-20 season playing for HV71, where Andersson netted 12 points (seven goals and five assists) in 15 games. That led to improved health for Andersson — both mentally and physically — while raising the possibility of a return to New York.

But that always felt like a long shot, and Friday's news confirmed it.

The 2020-21 season will be the final year of Andersson's entry-level contract before he becomes a restricted free agent. At that point, the Rangers could retain his rights by extending a qualifying offer. But if he doesn't want to be here next season, what are the chances that changes in 2021-22? At the very least, the Rangers could expose him to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft.

They could also try to trade him, but it will be difficult to get much in return given Andersson's ineffectiveness in the NHL and now his decision to remain in Sweden.

Perhaps his preference is to stay there and forgo the NHL. As Andersson told the Gothenburg Post in January, "there is hockey in several places."

One way or another, his days as a Ranger are likely over, ending a disappointing tenure for the top-10 pick who was supposed to a key member of their promising young core.

Bergen Record LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189142 New York Rangers Defensemen (9) Pair 1 – Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox

Pair 2 – Brendan Smith and Jacob Trouba Projecting the NY Rangers roster and lineup for the NHL's qualifying round series Pair 3 – Marc Staal and Tony DeAngelo

Extras – Brandon Crawley, Libor Hájek and Darren Raddysh

Vincent Z. Mercogliano Analysis: You could debate the order, but based on the way they were used at the end of the season — when they started the final 12 games —

it's hard to argue with all-rookie pair of Lindgren and Fox as No. 1. And If I had to pinpoint one theme for this pandemic version of New York with Trouba leading the team with 22:34 average time on ice per game, Rangers' training camp, it would be continuity. his pair is also bound to log heavy minutes.

When the Blueshirts got together for their first training camp of this Hájek has had a solid camp, and Quinn acknowledged that he could unusual season way back in September, there was a laundry list of challenge for a spot in the lineup. Smith and Staal have their limitations questions. and shouldn't be immune to being pushed. But frankly, I'd be shocked if that change was made for Game 1. The Rangers will almost certainly Now, the main concern is staying healthy and following protocols. start the tourney how they finished the regular season, with Quinn singing Smith's praises on Thursday. As far as the roster and lineup are concerned, things are pretty much set. "I really thought he was doing a great job playing within himself — "It's a signal of the belief we have and direction we were going when this playing good, sound, structural hockey," he said. "I thought him and whole thing ended," coach David Quinn said. "We really had a good feel Trouba played well together." for our line combinations. I thought we had a good feel for our D pairings. ANALYZING RANGERS VS. HURRICANES: Defense "Unless something happens drastically that changes our mind, we're not going to change much." Goalies (3)

Quinn confirmed Thursday that almost all of the players who have Starter – Igor Shesterkin participated in Phase 3 of the NHL's "Return to Play" plan will travel to Toronto for the 24-team Stanley Cup tournament. The lone exception is Backup – Henrik Lundqvist defenseman K'Andre Miller, whose entry-level contract won't begin until Extra – Alexandar Georgiev 2020-21. Analysis: The only question here is who starts — and in my mind, it's not So, we know who's making the trip. But how will the lineup look for Game much of a question. 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Aug. 1? And in the event of injury or infection, which players are next in line? Quinn said Thursday he isn't going to announce a starter until either the day of Game 1 or the day before. That's fair — there's really no benefit in Here's my breakdown of what should be a 30-man roster: revealing it sooner — but the signs have all been pointing in one Forwards (18) direction. Not only did Shesterkin finish the regular season as the Rangers' clear No. 1, but he's been receiving more time in net during Line 1 – Chris Kreider (LW), Mika Zibanejad (C) and Pavel Buchnevich practice than either of the other two this week. (RW) No matter what, I do believe that Lundqvist will dress every game. He'll Line 2 – Artemi Panarin (LW), Ryan Strome (C) and Jesper Fast (RW) serve as a veteran presence on the bench and a feared backup. And if Shesterkin shows any signs of faltering, the hook to get Lundqvist in Line 3 – Phil Di Giuseppe (LW), Filip Chytil (C) and Kaapo Kakko (RW) there should be fairly quick. Line 4 – Brett Howden (LW), Greg McKegg (C) and Julien Gauthier (RW) ANALYZING RANGERS VS. HURRICANES: Goaltending Suspended – Brendan Lemieux Special teams Extras – Steven Fogarty, Tim Gettinger, Vitali Kravtsov, Vinni Lettieri and Power play 1 – Kreider, Panarin, Zibanejad, Strome and DeAngelo Danny O’Regan Power play 2 – Chytil, Buchnevich, Kakko, Trouba and Fox Analysis: The top three lines are exactly what we saw when the Rangers were going on a 16-6 run from early January until the end of February. Penalty-kill forwards – Fast, Zibanejad, Strome, Howden, Di Giuseppe Kreider got hurt on Feb. 28 in Philadelphia, with Di Giuseppe taking his and McKegg place on the top line for the final two weeks. But now he's healthy and things are back to normal. Penalty-kill defensemen – Lindgren, Staal, Smith, Trouba and Fox

The fourth line will feature McKegg in place of Lemieux, who we now Analysis: The power play struggled during Thursday's practice, but don't know will be suspended for the first two games. If the Rangers are expect any shakeups. The top unit that ranked first in the league from successful in those two games, they may keep it that way. But if they Dec. 27 until the March 12 pause with a 29.3% efficiency rating isn't decide to insert Lemieux, expect him to play left wing and Howden to going to change. slide to center. The second unit is also largely the same, although Lemieux won't be an Quinn is showing loyalty to the players who got him here. McKegg served option for the first two games. Frankly, Chytil brings a more dynamic as the go-to option whenever a forward got hurt all season, which led to offensive skill set anyway — and he's looked good this camp. He him playing 53 games. But if another forward is needed at any point, who deserves a chance. would be the next man up? The PK has had its ups-and-downs. It's 23rd-overall finish is uninspiring, Based on what I've seen, Fogarty seems to be the guy. The Rangers but it did have a strong three-month stretch from Nov. 23 through Feb. 19 trust him as a hard-working player who will stick to his responsibilities in in which the Rangers effectively killed 84.8% of penalties. That ranked all three zones. He's well-suited for a fourth-line role and played with third in the league during that span. Howden and McKegg in Sunday's full-squad scrimmage. Fast, Zibanejad, Strome and Howden were the only forwards who The one disclaimer is that, if the Rangers end up in situation where they averaged 2:00 or more of shorthanded ice time this season, so expect needed to replace a scorer, they might opt for Lettieri over Fogarty. He them to be relied on. Fast is their best PK option and Zibanejad netted led AHL Hartford with 47 points (25 goals and 22 assists) in 61 games three shorthanded goals this season, but the rest of their forward depth is this season. shaky.

ANALYZING RANGERS VS. HURRICANES: Forwards Smith and Trouba will play together as often as possible to continue their newfound chemistry, which leaves Lindgren and Staal as the other PK pair by default. If any of those four need a breather, Fox should get a chance to step in. There's a case to be made that Fox should get more PK time, in general, after his excellent rookie season.

Bergen Record LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189143 New York Rangers

Rangers' final scrimmage before season resumes is a lively affair

By Colin Stephenson

Updated July 24, 2020 7:26 PM

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Coach David Quinn admitted he wasn’t really looking for any answers, nor trying to solve any persistent problems in the Rangers’ final scrimmage Friday before they head to Toronto Sunday for the NHL’s 24-team 2019-20 restart.

“It was more about the plan and execution, and getting the reps we needed,’’ he said after the team’s third full-squad scrimmage since it began training camp 2.0 two weeks ago. “Every day [we’re] taking a closer step to doing what we’re going to have to do on the first of August. And it’s really that simple. Because . . . time is of the essence; we don’t have a lot of it. You’ve got to take advantage of every practice, physically and mentally.’’

Quinn praised his players’ “intentions’’ in the scrimmage, and their attention to detail.

“Little things, like faceoffs, and holdups, and line changes, and things like that,’’ he said. “I thought there was definitely more purpose, and more of a game-like feel to what we’re going to do on the first [of August, when they open their best-of-5 play-in series against the Carolina Hurricanes].’’

Mika Zibanejad, the team’s No. 1 center and leading goal scorer (with 40) in the regular season, said the scrimmage had a better intensity than the previous two.

“I thought the intentions were better, and that’s what we talked about right after, as well, and we’ve been talking about this week,’’ he said. “Try to prepare, and [make] sure we do everything we’re doing August 1st. And if you’re not going to do it then, you’re not going to do it now. That’s kind of the mentality we’ve been going with.’’

The blue team, which featured of the first and fourth lines, with the second and third defense pairs, beat the white team, featuring Artemi Panarin and presumed No. 1 goalie Igor Shesterkin 4-1, in a physical affair.

The hitting in the scrimmage was ratcheted up, throughout. Marc Staal dumped 19-year-old Kaapo Kakko into the end boards in the second period, and prospect K’Andre Miller squished Ryan Strome into the end boards on the same shift in the third period that saw Chris Kreider crunch Tim Gettinger into the side boards. Quinn, though, said he wasn’t too concerned the hitting would get out of control.

“I thought guys were really smart about being physical,’’ he said. “A couple plays jump out at me -— where Tony [DeAngelo] had a chance to step up and just bury [Kakko], and he kind of let up on him. And then [Brendan Smith] stood up and [Zibanejad] could have got, you know, hit pretty hard. Smitty let up. So I thought our guys were smart and understanding, when guys were vulnerable, and they weren’t going to play through to the point where they might get somebody hurt.’’

Notes & quotes

Brett Howden, Brendan Lemieux, Kreider and Julien Gauthier (into an empty net) scored for the blue team. Hartford call-up Vinni Lettieri scored the only goal for the white team, on a penalty shot against Henrik Lundqvist . . . Shesterkin played all three 15-minute periods in one goal, while Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev split time in the other goal. Shesterkin allowed three goals, but stopped a penalty shot by Greg McKegg . . . Georgiev did not allow a goal.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.25.2020

1189144 Ottawa Senators Chris Tierney (RFA) Tierney also should be a lock to get a new deal this summer.

His production dipped slightly this season after two straight campaigns Who stays, who goes: Predictions for the Senators’ pending free agents with 40 and 48 points, respectively. But with 11 goals and 37 points, he still was among the team’s top producers this season. He was also one of the best penalty killers on the team and another reliable, two-way By Hailey Salvian option for Smith to use.

Jul 24, 2020 The Senators have several centres in the organization, but few have shown they can be reliable everyday centres like Tierney. Colin White

struggled in his sophomore season, and Artem Anisimov struggled with If this were a typical offseason, the Ottawa Senators would have made it injuries. Josh Norris projects to be a top-six player, but if he makes the through the biggest draft in franchise history, and already undergone team next season, he will still be a rookie. some roster turnover through July 1 free agency. Ottawa is going to need a reliable option, and Tierney gives them that — But as we all know, this isn’t a typical offseason. even if it’s just short term until their young players are 100 percent ready.

The draft, originally scheduled for June 26, tentatively has been pushed Very likely staying put to begin Oct. 9. And free agency is set to begin as early as Oct. 9 or Nick Paul (RFA) seven days following the Stanley Cup Final or as late as Oct. 11. In an already abnormal year, the Senators could be navigating the first day of Paul had a difficult few years battling his way into a full-time NHL role. He the entry draft and free agency on the same day. was cut out of training camp five years straight and thought his NHL career was over this season. Things could get pretty hectic, especially when you consider the ramifications of the $81.5 million salary cap. But he was recalled from the AHL early in October and never looked back. He played 56 games in Ottawa this season, tallying nine goals and Between restricted and unrestricted free agents, 13 players on Ottawa’s 20 points — both career highs. Paul was used up and down the lineup NHL roster have contracts set to expire this fall. And there are several and often played on a shutdown line with Brown and Jean-Gabriel more RFA decisions to be made on prospects in Belleville — including Pageau before Pageau was traded at the deadline. Rudolfs Balcers, Andreas Englund, Christian Jaros, and Filip Chlapik — who should, for the most part, get qualifying offers. He’s big and strong on pucks and consistently has been the Senators’ top performer in training camp testing. Smith trusts him and has said When it comes to the NHL roster, there are some bigger decisions to be multiple times he thinks Paul will be part of the team’s core for many made. Let’s take a closer look at who’s most likely to stay and go when it years. comes time to shape the Senators for the 2020-21 season. I don’t think it’s a question of him staying in the organization. After all the Not going anywhere time the Senators put into developing Paul, why let him walk when he Connor Brown (RFA) finally gets to the NHL? But will he finally get a one-way NHL deal?

This really shouldn’t be a surprise. None of the three players in this Jayce Hawryluk (RFA) section should be. Hawryluk, 24, joined the Senators after being claimed off waivers from Brown has established himself as a reliable shutdown player with an Florida and added value right away. offensive skill set in Ottawa. In 11 games with Ottawa, he scored two goals and seven points. He hits, He led all Senators forwards in ice time and was ranked in the top 20 in he tracks pucks and seems to fit the mold of the hard-nosed Senators the NHL, averaging just under 20 minutes per game. Before the NHL was team led by Smith. Hawryluk didn’t display All-Star skill, but he did show put on pause, Brown was on pace to score 20 goals for the first time he could be an effective winger, with good speed and physicality. He’s a since 2016-17, and he topped 40 points for the first time in his career. He hard worker and a good two-way depth option for the Senators. finished third in goal scoring and second in points on the team. When you’re building a team, it can’t all be young, speedy, skilled He was one of coach D.J. Smith’s go-to players this season, specifically prospects. Hawryluk could add that balance. in shutdown defensive situations. As I wrote last week, bringing back It was fewer than a dozen games, but his time in Ottawa was a fresh Brown should be a top priority for the Senators. start, and a chance to prove that he deserves a one-way NHL deal. The balance for GM Pierre Dorion is going to be finding an extension that Similar to Paul, I don’t know if he gets one. But I do believe he did represents a substantial raise, while still maintaining Brown’s value. enough in his short tryout with the team to earn at least a one-way deal as a depth player. Anthony Duclair (RFA) The 50/50 folks This season in Ottawa, Duclair finally seemed to find a home. Mark Borowiecki (UFA) Through 47 games this season, Duclair’s 21 goals and 33 points were enough to land his first NHL All-Star nod. He appeared to be a lock to This might be the most interesting decision on the board. surpass the 30-goal mark, however in the next 19 games, he tallied only As things stand, the Senators have shot defenders signed to NHL two goals and seven points. contracts next season in Thomas Chabot, Christian Wolanin and Mike In the big picture, though, this season was still a success for the winger. Reilly. But none of them brings Borowieckis’ type of veteran leadership. And he could keep a place in the top six through next season if he keeps He’s a heart-and-soul-type player. He’s a leader on and off the ice and a consistent scoring touch. has endeared himself to fans in Ottawa this season more than ever. And he had a career season in all statistical categories with seven goals, 11 Though my colleague Graeme Nichols has argued in favour of trading assists and 18 points. Duclair, I think it’s a no-brainer to keep him in Ottawa. He has a good attitude, has turned around his two-way game, and seemed happy and Pierre Dorion said he wanted to make Borowiecki a permanent member comfortable with the team. of the Senators. But that was five months ago, and there have been no hints at a contract extension. This one could really go either way. The Senators might find it tricky trying to negotiate an extension. Duclair, 24, had a great offensive season, but the Senators need to make sure Ron Hainsey (UFA) that production wasn’t a fluke before they lock him in long term. I expect Hainsey was brought in during last year’s free agency to be a steadying a shorter-term, bridge-deal, and if Duclair puts together another (one or veteran presence for the young Senators team. He was a regular partner two) solid season(s), then a long-term deal could be an option. But he’s with Thomas Chabot and often paired with Erik Brannstrom during his not going anywhere this summer. early NHL stint. What Hainsey lacked in offensive production, which isn’t his game, he made up for in mentorship. And at 38 (he recently turned 39), Hainsey still clocked 21 minutes a game and lived on the Senators’ penalty kill.

Though the left side is pretty full on the Senators’ blue line, there is room for more right-shot defencemen with only Nikita Zaitsev and Artyom Zub under contract for next season. Other right-side prospects likely won’t be ready for full-time roles either.

It has been reported that the Senators have not closed the door on bringing back Hainsey for another season. But he really is a character, and what he decides to do is anyone’s guess.

The 99 percent (not returning) club

Craig Anderson (UFA)

It certainly feels like the end of an era for Anderson and the Ottawa Senators.

The 39-year-old netminder has been with the team for a decade now. He’s the franchise leader in games played among goaltenders (435) and wins (202). And it’s long seemed like he will be passing the torch this offseason.

Anderson spent the season sharing the crease first Anders Nilsson, and (since December) Marcus Hogberg. Heading into this season, the final year of a two-year, $4.5 million deal, the writing was pretty much on the wall.

Hogberg is on a one-way deal next season, and Nilsson will be in the final year of his two-year deal ($2.6 million a season). It is expected that the Swedish duo will make up the goalie tandem next season. That has been the plan for the Senators for a few years now, which leaves Anderson as the odd man out. Even with Nilsson’s concussion issues, fans have called for bringing back former goalie Robin Lehner in free agency, not the veteran Anderson.

On a Zoom call with reporters in April, Anderson indicated he isn’t quite ready to retire. But his next contract likely won’t be in Ottawa.

Scott Sabourin (UFA)

Sabourin had a nice story. He’s a local product who powered through seven years in the AHL to make his NHL debut this season and even scored in his first game.

But he added only one more goal and scored six total points in 35 games. He averaged the fewest minutes on ice with just over seven minutes per game while playing a hard-hitting fourth-line role. And he played that role well with a team-leading 18 hits per-60 minutes.

As we all know though, this kind of role is fading in the NHL, and the Senators have several prospects who could break into the league next training camp. Signing Sabourin to an extension, and taking up a roster spot, isn’t the best idea, especially with depth options such as Hawryluk to consider instead.

Matthew Peca (UFA)

Peca played only 14 NHL games this season and nine in Ottawa. It’s a pretty small sample size to decide a player’s worth to a franchise.

But in the time he spent in Ottawa, he was consistently deployed in a fourth-line role with his time on ice hovering around 10 minutes per game, with one game at 17:50. Peca likely has more to offer than he showed this season. But the fact that the Senators didn’t quite give him the chance to prove it suggests the fit might not be there. Not to mention Peca is a centre and the Senators’ roster might get very crowded down the middle with their prospects and draft picks.

Mikkel Boedker (UFA)

Boedker was seldom used in the Senators’ lineup this season, as he finished the season with 20 games and two goals.

He was set to become a UFA this summer when his four-year, $16 million contract expired, but he won’t really be hitting the free-agent market. In May, it was announced that Boedker had signed a two-year deal to play with HC Lugano in the Swiss league for the 2020-21 season.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189145 Philadelphia Flyers “Everyone loves him. He’s just the greatest kid to have around,” veteran defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “He’s a hell of a player. Normally in playoffs I would say you don’t need any extra motivation. [But] that’s a nice little story that everybody can rally around. We think about him. We Flyers winger Oskar Lindblom: ‘A champion through this‘ | Sam Carchidi talk about him all the time. Oskar’s with us in this. Everyone feels that. We talk about it, so what a great story that he’s been just a champion

through this. We can’t wait to see him again.” by Sam Carchidi, “I don’t know if God is a sports fan or not, but I do know this: He loves a good comeback.” – Lane Kiffin

“Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit and grieve. Find Shortly after his last chemo treatment at Pennsylvania Hospital, Lindblom another way.” – Satchel Paige went home to Sweden, but he will soon be reunited with his teammates in Toronto, Vigneault said. Not sure what’s more difficult to believe — that the worst pandemic in more than a century caused the NHL to halt games for four-plus months “He’s been working out. He’s been skating. He wanted to go home and and schedule the postseason without fans, or the fact that left winger see his family, which is obviously normal and expected after beating the Oskar Lindblom, who completed his cancer treatments earlier this month, cancer,” said Vigneault, whose team will restart its season in a round- may rejoin the Flyers for their playoff march. robin tournament Aug. 2 against Boston. “We do think in a short amount of time here, he’ll be back with our group and skating with the boys on Oh, it’s highly unlikely Lindblom will play, but that doesn’t really matter. the ice. Depending on how quick and how good he feels, at some point he might be able to help us in the near future.” He has become a symbol of hope, a symbol of resilience, a symbol of doing the improbable. Fletcher said Lindblom’s oncologist and the Flyers’ medical staff have cleared him to practice. The GM didn’t rule out Lindblom’s playing in this At some point, coach Alan Vigneault said Thursday, Lindblom will skate year’s playoffs. with the Flyers during their practices in Toronto, site of the Eastern Conference round-robin tournament and some of the conference “I don’t know what’s out of the question,” Fletcher said. “I certainly playoffs. wouldn’t put any limits on Oskar.”

Lindblom, 23, was absent from the Flyers’ last 39 games because he Fletcher cautioned that Lindblom’s health was obviously the main was being treated for a rare bone cancer, but the players say he was concern, and the Flyers would do “everything we can to protect him.” actually present. In the locker room. On the ice. In their hearts. Forget, for the moment, about Lindblom’s playing in a game. Just being Physically, no. Emotionally, yes. in Toronto with his teammates is mind-boggling.

They always thought about him, always considered him a big part of the “He wants to get back and skate and train and regain his ability to play team, always got inspired when they saw him between his grueling hockey,” Fletcher said. “Again, who knows what that will mean for this chemo treatments, and they were amazed by his upbeat attitude and a year? None of us know, but I think this could be a real positive thing, not smile that never went away. just for our team but for Oskar, too.”

When things weren’t going well, the players said, they thought about No. Dave Scott, the chairman and CEO of the Flyers’ parent company, 23 and what he was battling. That made their challenges – whether on or Comcast Spectacor, got to know Lindblom better when he sat with the off the ice – much easier to accept. left winger and his family in his Wells Fargo Center suite a couple of times this season. And, so, when news filtered down to them that Lindblom would be joining the team for practices at some point in Toronto, well, it was just Oskar “Can’t say enough about him,” Scott said. “He’s such a fighter. He’s so being Oskar, they thought. passionate. We all love him.”

“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. They love his talent and the tenacity he shows at both ends of the ice, That’s the real glory. That’s the essence of it.” – Vince Lombardi but mostly, they love the selfless way he carries himself and his indomitable spirit. It would be a minor miracle if Lindblom was able to get in game shape and play for the Flyers in this year’s playoffs. Still, general manager Without knowing it, Lindblom played an important part in the team’s Chuck Fletcher said nothing is out of the question with Lindblom. surprising 41-21-7 regular season.

“If anyone didn’t realize how much character he had, I think the last six, The Flyers have a talented, well-balanced team with a nice blend of seven months have shown the depth of this toughness, his courage, and veterans and youth, but they are far from favored to win the Stanley Cup his character,” Fletcher said. this year. If they do end a 44-year drought, there’s no question which player deserves to be the first one skating around the ice with the famous “Anytime we’ve gotten a chance to see him or he would come to a game, trophy – even if he isn’t in the lineup. it was a little bit more motivation,” captain Claude Giroux said. “The kid had been through a lot. We want to play well for him and for ourselves. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.25.2020 He’s really big part of this team.”

Lindblom, who was having a breakout season and was tied for the team lead with 11 goals when his cancer was discovered in December, is a real-life Rocky Balboa. He has the character and resilience of Adam Taliaferro, the former Penn State football player who was paralyzed in a 2000 game and told by several doctors he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Three months later, he walked out of the hospital.

Like Taliaferro, Lindblom is laid-back and a person who puts others first. Always.

When Lindblom got the frightening and stunning cancer diagnosis, “he was more concerned about his teammates than himself. I think that was really a big factor in bringing our team together,” Fletcher said. “The players really care about him and respect him. ... Not that any of us wanted that to be a turning point or have that happen, but certainly the way Oskar dealt with it really resonated in a positive way with our team and helped our team come together.” 1189146 Philadelphia Flyers Feb. 22: Lindblom makes a surprise visit to the locker room following a win over Winnipeg. He is presented with the ceremonial player of the game helmet. “That smile, you know?” says defenseman Justin Braun. “He just brightens your day. The fact that he’s doing well and able to Oskar Lindblom’s incredible journey back to the Flyers | Timeline come to the rink is just fantastic. ... It always cheers the boys up to see him.”

March 9: Lindblom shows up in the morning for the team picture. Two by Ed Barkowitz, days later, the season stops because of the pandemic.

Oskar Lindblom with Lappy at the team photo shoot. Photo: Zack Hill. Oskar Lindblom closed last season with four goals in his final five games. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/OKUeFpM8Or He was probably the only guy who didn’t want the season to end. — Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) March 9, 2020 He said that burst propelled him into 2019-20 where he was tied for the June 23: He skates with teammates at the Flyers’ practice facility in team lead in goals before his cancer diagnosis. Here’s a timeline of his Voorhees (video). remarkable season. July 2: He rings the symbolic bell of hope after his final chemotherapy Oct. 4: Lindblom starts the season on the left wing of Sean Couturier’s treatment at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center. “I’m just happy that I’m line, opposite Travis Konecny. Takes a cross-ice pass from Konecny and alive,” he says. buries his first goal of the season in the opening-day win over Chicago in Prague, Czech Republic. July 16: Lindblom is named one of three finalists for the Masterton Trophy, given to an NHL player who exhibits exceptional perseverance Oct. 24: Lindblom scores his fifth goal in eight games as the Couturier and spirit. line continues to be the Flyers’ best. “I’m playing with great players who give good passes,” says Lindblom, who scored on a two-on-one off a July 22: The Flyers announce that Lindblom will likely be part of their 31- feed from Konecny. “With that pass, I was pretty sure I was going to get it member postseason roster and that they have given their pending on net. Those goals are greasy, but I like this.” restricted free agent a three-year, $9 million contract.

Oct. 29: He scores the Flyers’ only goal in a 7-1 defeat at Pittsburgh, the A special message from one warrior to another. worst loss of the season. Ewing’s Sarcoma survivor Jacob Orlick shared a special message for Nov. 16: He scores his ninth goal and has a beautiful assist on a goal by @oskarlindblom following Oskar’s final day of treatment. #OskarStrong Couturier in an otherwise disappointing shootout loss to the Islanders. pic.twitter.com/0up7VlQNBU “He has the ability to make those good passes,” Couturier says, “and it was a sick play.” Through 20 games, Lindblom is leading the club in — x-Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 2, 2020 goals and his 16 points are three behind Konecny. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.25.2020 Nov. 19: Coach Alain Vigneault replaces Konecny with Jake Voracek on the Couturier line in an effort to get Voracek going. He keeps Lindblom and Couturier together.

Nov. 29: Lindblom breaks a modest five-game point slump with a goal at Detroit.

Nov. 30: He deflects a shot by Justin Braun past Montreal’s Keith Kinkaid for his 11th and final goal of the season. The night is most memorable, however, for Ivan Provorov’s stunning overtime game-winner. The Flyers went 10-2-4 to set a team record for most points in November.

Dec. 7: Lindblom plays nearly 18 minutes in a spirited win over Ottawa. Konecny suffers a concussion after a mid-ice collision with Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki.

Dec. 11: The Flyers start a three-game road trip with a dismal loss to Colorado. Konecny and, curiously, Lindblom do not play.

Dec. 13: The Flyers announce that Lindblom, 23, has Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare cancer that is diagnosed 250 times annually in the United States, mostly in people ages 10-20. Lindblom, who is tied with Konecny for the team lead with 11 goals, will begin treatment at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dec. 17: Konecny returns to the lineup as the Flyers thump Anaheim in their first home game since Lindblom’s diagnosis. Fans hold #OskarStrong signs and cheer wildly during a first-period video tribute as Lindblom looks on from the Flyers’ executive suite. “We wanted to get this win for him,” captain Claud Giroux says, “and every win for the rest of the season will be for him.” video tribute for Oskar Lindblom from Tuesday night. “He’s a strong guy. He’ll find a way to beat it.” - Jake Voracek pic.twitter.com/VGtsfmlEcJ

— ed barkowitz (@edbarkowitz) December 18, 2019

“You’re Flyers’ family and you got this. Philly is behind you. You’re not fighting alone.”

-- Fan Kevin Steinman on a get-well card at the Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 17

Jan. 7: The Flyers end a dismal road trip by rallying for a point in an overtime loss at Carolina. They are 5-7-1 without Lindblom after going 17-8-5 when he was in the lineup. 1189147 Philadelphia Flyers Fletcher added he was “very excited to watch him continue his career and rejoin his teammates and be a very productive player for the Flyers for the years to come.”

Flyers sign Oskar Lindblom to three-year extension; will likely join The GM said he hoped the contract would be a “win-win” for both sides, postseason roster “and as I said to him earlier today, ‘Hopefully this is the smallest contract you sign for the rest of your career.‘“

Even before his illness, “I think Oskar proved to us he was a high- by Sam Carchidi, character, talented player that we wanted to be a part of our future,” Fletcher said. “He’s a foundation piece for us. He’s a top-six forward.”

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.25.2020 Flyers sign Oskar Lindblom to three-year extension; will likely join postseason roster

About seven months after Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, the Flyers signed the left winger to a three-year contract Wednesday with an annual cap hit of $3 million, general manager Chuck Fletcher announced.

Lindblom, 23, missed most of the season as he battled Ewing’s sarcoma. He shared the team lead with 11 goals when he received the diagnosis in December, and he recently finished his chemotherapy treatments.

Jack McIhargey, a scout, former player, and assistant coach with Flyers, dies at 68

Fletcher said he was “hopeful” Lindblom would be one of the 31 players on the roster when the Flyers head to Toronto on Sunday and resume their season Aug. 2.

“We’ve been working toward that,” Fletcher said. “That’s certainly our goal.”

The GM said that he expected Lindblom to work out with the team and that he would be eligible to play in games, though that seems unlikely.

Lindblom has been cleared by his oncologist and the Flyers’ medical team to practice, Fletcher said. He has not been working out with the team at training camp because he needed some time after his final chemo treatment.

As for playing in the playoffs, “I don’t know what’s out of the question. I wouldn’t put any limits on Oskar,” Fletcher said. “We obviously will do whatever we can to protect him, but he’s looking forward to restarting his life and his career. Whatever that means, we’ll find out. We’ll work very closely with his medical team and our medical team and make the right decisions for him.”

Lindblom, a Sweden native, said he was excited to sign the contract, and he thanked the Flyers “for giving me this opportunity.”

“The support the organization, the fans, and the entire NHL has given me has been quite overwhelming,” he said. “I can’t wait to get back skating with the boys and being the professional hockey player I know I can be.”

The Flyers finished second in the Metropolitan Division this season and were one of the league’s best teams in the season’s second half as they rallied around Lindblom, who occasionally visited with the players after a practice or a game.

It “resonated with our team and helped our team come together,” Fletcher said. “... He was always so selfless. I’m sure it had to be very difficult on him, physically and psychologically and emotionally, and yet he never showed any signs of weakness with his teammates. He was positive. He took the battle head-on.”

The left winger could have become a restricted free agent in October, and he had salary-arbitration rights.

“Our organization believes wholeheartedly in Oskar, our players believe in him, AV and our coaching staff believe in him,” Fletcher said, referring to Alain Vigneault. “And I believe in him. We couldn’t be happier to get this three-year deal done.”

Fletcher said there were “dark times” when Lindblom got his diagnosis. “This is a young man not only entering the prime of his career but the prime of his life,” Fletcher said. “He’s been through a lot the last six, seven months. Obviously, medically, he’s in a much better spot” than in December.

Negotiations were “very amicable,” Fletcher said. “We got the deal done literally in two or three phone calls.” 1189148 Philadelphia Flyers

Claude Giroux says the Flyers are in a good spot for playoff run: ‘We’re just good everywhere'

by Sam Carchidi,

Claude Giroux says the Flyers are in a good spot for playoff run: ‘We’re just good everywhere'

Flyers captain Claude Giroux likes the talent and the makeup of his team, likes how the players have one anothers’ backs, likes how the Flyers banded together after Oskar Lindblom’s stunning cancer diagnosis in December.

For all those reasons, and others, Giroux believes the Flyers have “our best chance” to make a Stanley Cup run since 2010, when they reached the Finals and lost to Chicago in a heartbreaking Game 6.

“We have a lot of depth. We have veterans. We have young players that do a lot for us. Our goaltending. We’re just good everywhere,” Giroux, a still-productive 32-year-old left winger, said at Training Camp 2.0 in Voorhees this week. “Confidence is a big part of it. If we can get that confidence early on during the round robin, I think that’s going to be huge for us.”

The round robin, a three-game seeding tournament in which Eastern Conference teams will play in Toronto, starts Aug. 2 against Boston. That will be followed by games against Washington and Tampa Bay.

Giroux, who has 65 points in 69 career playoff games, said things have run smoothly in training camp, which started July 13.

“I think we’re on pace to get in the rhythm of a real hockey game and a playoff hockey game,” Giroux said. “You need a lot of work. Usually you have 82 games to do that. Right now we’re just trying to speed up the process, get the feel of the puck and get the feel of our system. Hopefully by next week, when we play our first pre-tournament game, we’ll have the feel of the puck. It’s going to be challenging, for sure.”

The Flyers will play their lone exhibition game Tuesday, facing Pittsburgh in Toronto.

As for the round robin, the Flyers compiled a 5-3-1 regular-season record against their three opponents. That’s the best record of any of the four teams against one another.

“During the regular season, I think we were pretty consistent at the end and able to play our game,” said Giroux, mindful the Flyers won nine of their last 10 games before the coronavirus outbreak stopped the season March 12. “We would go into every game feeling we were going to win. We’re a confident group right now. We know what we’re capable of. I’m excited to get going.”

The one drawback, Giroux said, is being away from his 11-month-old son, Gavin, for what could be nearly three months, though families are allowed to join the players in the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final if the team gets that far.

“I was home for three months and got to know him as a person,” said Giroux, who had 21 goals and 53 points in 69 games this season. “Got a good connection and had a lot of fun together. We were together every day. Right now it’s tough, you want to be there to see him grow. I might miss his first birthday [Aug. 26]. It’s really not easy, but he has a chance to watch me play” on TV.

Breakaways

Giroux averaged more than a point-per-game during most of his playoff career. In his last two playoff series, however, he had a total of just one goal and four points over 12 games. … Sean Couturier’s wife, Laurence, gave birth to the couple’s first child, Ella. ... The Flyers will have their final on-ice session of their Voorhees training camp Saturday, then travel to Toronto on Sunday.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 1189149 Philadelphia Flyers What a welcome change it would be to tune into live Philly pro sporting events again.

Courier-Post LOADED: 07.25.2020 Longing for a return to 'normalcy' in Philadelphia pro sports

Tom [email protected]

In 1920, Republican Warren G. Harding’s campaign slogan on the way to winning the presidency was a “return to normalcy.”

One hundred years later in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it carries a whole different meaning in the sports world.

While it’s still possible that too many positive tests in Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League might prevent some or all of them from completing their seasons, how wonderful would it be to enjoy something approaching a return to normalcy?

Imagine the 76ers, Flyers and Phillies playing regular-season or playoff games on the same night — which could happen in August — for the first time since April 6, 2019.

Yes, things would still be quite different than they were 14 1/2 months ago. There won’t be any fans in the stands and the Sixers and Flyers will be playing at neutral sites (Orlando and TBA), but think how nice it’d be to turn on the television and see Philly’s major sports teams involved in live, meaningful games again.

The Sixers will play the first of eight regular-season games Aug. 1 against the Pacers at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. They can finish no worse than sixth in the Eastern Conference and could move up to fourth or fifth, depending what happens with Indiana (which has the same record as the Sixers) and the Heat (two games ahead of Philly). The NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin Aug. 17 and would be the traditional best-of-seven series.

The fourth-place Flyers, like the Sixers, can only move up in the East depending what happens with the round-robin tournament vs. the conference’s top three teams — the Bruins, Lightning and Capitals — that starts July 30 to determine seeding for the playoffs, which would also be best-of-seven series.

The NHL inexplicably still hasn’t announced a schedule or its two hub cities — one for the Western Conference and one for the East. I’m not sure what the holdup is for commissioner Gary Bettman and company.

The Phillies are expected to begin their 60-game schedule July 24. Unlike the NBA and NHL, which will compete in one location, MLB teams will play half of their games at home and the other half on the road against divisional and regional rivals.

The Phillies will play 40 regular-season games vs. NL East foes the Nationals, who are the defending World Series champions, Braves, Mets and Marlins, as well as 20 against the top-heavy AL East (the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox, plus the Blue Jays and Orioles).

That is a formidable schedule. If the Phils are, say, in the wild-card hunt with the Cubs, Chicago’s weaker AL Central slate could impact Joe Girardi’s team’s chances.

The Phillies announced their 53-player pool for the 2020 season Sunday night. The list was more notable for who didn’t make it — outfielder Oddubel Herrera, who was suspended for the second half of 2019 for domestic violence and almost surely won’t play for the Phils again, or former No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak — than who did.

But I’d rather not focus on such details right now. Let’s think more from a big-picture perspective.

On Aug. 5, the Sixers face the Wizards at 4 p.m. in Orlando. The Flyers and the Phillies, who are slated for 60 games in 66 days, could play that night, too.

Watching six hours of Philly’s pro teams would be a treat for fans in a city whose last live major sports game was the Sixers’ March 11 home victory over the Pistons, one day after the Bruins snapped the Flyers’ nine game win streak. Sitting through TV replays of games for three-plus months got old in a hurry. 1189150 Philadelphia Flyers The discrepancy between James van Riemsdyk’s poor rankings as an F1 (10th and 11th in our respective metrics out of 12 players) and much- improved results in support (ninth and fifth, respectively, out of 15) is easier to swallow. JvR is far from a physical player, but his instincts and Who were the Flyers’ best “support” forecheckers in 2019-20? offensive IQ are unquestioned. A more read-and-react type of role would seem to naturally play to his strengths better than “attack, attack, attack.”

Claude Giroux also possesses plus read-and-react instincts, but unlike By Charlie O'Connor JvR, he graded out fine as an F1 (eighth, third). This is also unsurprising: Most would agree he’s a more complete player. Jul 24, 2020 Then there’s Morgan Frost, who, as we saw a few weeks ago, graded out as something of a “super F1” in a limited sample. That success didn’t carry over to his results in a support forechecking role, which leaves Editor’s note: When the NHL season was paused because of the three possible explanations for the discrepancy. First, perhaps at this pandemic, it created an ideal time for a tracking project focused on a stage of his career, he’s better as an F1 than a complete forechecker. core aspect of the 2019-20 Flyers’ identity: the forecheck. After Second, maybe his stellar F1 metrics were a bit misleading. Or third, the rewatching all 69 regular-season games, tracking 2,161 forechecks at small sample of 20 games makes it difficult to know what kind of NHL five-on-five and analyzing the data, The Athletic will present its findings in forechecker he is at this point. a series of articles. Full forechecking metrics — F1 + Support Most of the findings in our Philadelphia Flyers forechecking tracking project — at least that relate to individual players — have been limited to We’re coming to the end of our individual players findings, and the trying to measure which players were most effective as the first man in tracking project as a whole. So now that we’ve looked at how each on the forecheck. forward performed as the F1 and in an F2/F3 support function, why not combine the two? The reason was simple. The “F1,” as the player is known in hockey terminology, is guaranteed to have an impact (positive or negative) on Essentially, these are the results for each player when they were every forecheck. Every time a team dumps the puck into the offensive involved in the offensive-zone forecheck, regardless of role. Think of it as zone, the F1 is going to at least put a degree of pressure on the puck, or the closest thing you’re going to get to “on-ice” forechecking metrics for a player on the opposing team successfully retrieved it. The F1’s effect individual players: Which forwards helped the Flyers to the most on the play is undeniable. forechecking success when they jumped over the boards for their shifts at five-on-five? But the F1 isn’t the only forward involved in an offensive-zone forecheck; after all, there’s a reason the “1” is a necessary part of the designation. If there’s a “winner” who has emerged in this forechecking project, it has Each forward on the ice at five-on-five has an impact on forechecking to be Aubé-Kubel, who finished tops in both our primary forechecking puck retrieval, and the F2 and F3 function as the second wave of puck categories. But after Aubé-Kubel (and the anomaly, Bunnaman), you pressure. On a regular basis, the F2 or F3 comes up with the puck on a have … basically a list of the Flyers’ best forwards: Couturier, Giroux, retrieval, either after the F1 forced a defenseman into a less-than-ideal Konecny, van Riemsdyk, Oskar Lindblom; even Voracek sneaks into the decision or through stellar anticipation on the part of the second wave of top half of the list. Forechecking may be glamorized as a job for the forecheckers. players at the bottom half of the lineup, the muckers and grinders. But at least in Philadelphia’s case, with the occasional Aubé-Kubel-ish So which Flyers forwards were most effective as “support” forecheckers exception, it’s the elite forwards who get the puck back the most after this season when serving as the second or third man in on the attack? To dumping it in. answer this question, let’s use the same two primary metrics from our evaluation of F1s: Recovery Percentage (which measures what Nicolas Aubé-Kubel and Jean-Sebastien Dea vie for position in 2018. percentage of forechecks ended with the Flyers gaining possession of (Eric Hartline / USA Today) the puck) and Combined Forecheck Success Rate (the percentage of forechecks leading to a recovery or at least an uncontrolled exit by the Final observations opposition). Time for another quick recap of what we learned through our findings. The usual suspects at the top What stood out this time?

In theory, the best first-man-in forecheckers aren’t necessarily going to 1. Aubé-Kubel, the forechecking king be the top support forecheckers. Perhaps speed and aggressiveness are He dominated as the F1. He excelled as a support forechecker in an F2 what make a player a great F1, but anticipation and hockey smarts win or F3 role. Aubé-Kubel, as a rookie, was quite simply the Flyers’ most out when serving as the second or third player in. effective forechecking forward. His future looks bright. That might be the case for some forwards. But on the 2019-20 Flyers, 2. Bunnaman is a good support forechecker … maybe? generally speaking, the players who graded out strongly as the F1 also were at the top of the effectiveness charts for support forechecking. The numbers certainly hint that Bunnaman might be a strong support forechecker, but considering the extensive time he spent alongside Let’s start with the players whose placement on the above list isn’t a Aubé-Kubel after his second call-up, it’s also possible his results could be surprise. Sean Couturier ranked first in Recovery Percentage and fourth a bit inflated. It’s worth further inspection in the coming months and years in Combined Forecheck Success rate as an F1; it’s little surprise that to see if this talent appears in larger samples and with different he’s second in both categories while serving as an F2 or F3. Couturier is combinations of linemates. great at everything. Nicolas Aubé-Kubel was another F1 forechecking standout (third in Recovery Percentage, first in Combined Forecheck 3. Giroux and van Riemsdyk excelled in support Success) and that dominance carried over to his support work as well. Travis Konecny (fourth and fifth, respectively, as the F1) shouldn’t come While Bunnaman’s success in a support forechecking role merited a as a shock either. degree of skepticism, Giroux and van Riemsdyk seem like the type of players who would thrive in the second wave of a forecheck. At least this Connor Bunnaman’s placement, however, is more intriguing. As an F1, season, it was a strength of both of their games. he graded out similarly to Joel Farabee, one of the weakest performers tracked in this project. But in support, Bunnaman grades out like a 4. Couturier deserves to win the Selke forechecking star. Why the disconnect? Does the fact that Couturier graded out as probably the Flyers’ second- One theory is that Bunnaman is simply far better at coming in as the best offensive-zone forechecker in 2019-20 necessarily mean he should second wave than being the first man in. But here’s another plausible win the Selke Trophy? Well, no. But does he indeed deserve to win it? Of theory: Bunnaman spent 99:39 of his 190:16 at five-on-five alongside course. Moving on. Aubé-Kubel; perhaps his stellar support results were a product of 5. Frost’s F1 prowess didn’t carry over to support forechecking piggybacking off of Aubé-Kubel’s excellent work as the F1 (and support forechecker)? Frost produced surprisingly monstrous results on first-man-in forechecking during his initial 20-game stint in the NHL. But it’s not difficult to argue he graded out as the team’s worst in terms of helping the Flyers recover loose pucks and prevent transition rushes while serving as the second or third forechecker. As a result, he ended up in the bottom half of the overall forechecking rankings. Perhaps it’s best to pump the brakes a bit on putting him on the level of, say, Aubé-Kubel.

6. Disappointing results for Farabee and Hayes

Farabee’s biggest forechecking issues centered on physical immaturity, problems that he may be in the process of addressing considering his strong work at Phase 3 camp. Kevin Hayes’ poor grades in our forechecking project are a bit tougher to explain. The Flyers broke even from a play-driving standpoint with Hayes on the ice this season, so it’s not like his weak forechecking was burying the team. And Hayes is perhaps more familiar with Alain Vigneault’s system than any other Philadelphia forward, given his time with the head coach in New York. So why did he end up at the bottom of every list? Maybe the bounces just didn’t go his way this time around. Or maybe it’s hinting at a potential hole in Hayes’ game. This is certainly worth closer inspection moving into the playoffs and beyond.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189151 Pittsburgh Penguins On paper, the trio seems like a sound collaboration. But ultimately, the effectiveness of this line won’t be proven until it gets onto the ice against another team. The first chance to do that will be Tuesday in an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Toronto. Jared McCann is ready to meet the hefty demands of being the Penguins’ No. 3 center “We look at ourselves like the game changers,” McCann said. “We feel like we have something that a lot of teams don’t. We’ve got that veteran presence with Patty and (Hornqvist) as well. I’m just trying to complement them.” Seth Rorabaugh There was little to compliment McCann for at the end of the regular Friday, July 24, 2020 6:53 p.m. season before the NHL halted play because of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March.

Note: CCPA compliance requires embedded widgets like Facebook, Through his first 44 games of the regular season, he offered 28 points Twitter and inline videos be disabled in stories. (14 goals, 14 assists) while filling a variety of roles because of the team’s rampant injuries. But in his final 22 contests, he was limited to seven It doesn’t carry the same hallowed reverence as … let’s say … being an assists. Art Ross Trophy winner for the Pittsburgh Penguins or a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens. During the ensuing four months of inactivity, he had time to inventory the malfunctions in his play. But there certainly is a legacy affixed to the role. “I needed to shoot the puck more,” McCann said. “I was in opportunities For the past decade-plus, there have been few positions in hockey as where I could have put the puck at the net, and I decided to hang onto it unusual or demanding as being the Penguins’ third-line center. or I made the extra pass. That’s something I needed to get past. I kind of forgot about it. I shot a lot of pucks over the break here. I’m ready to go. Jordan Staal established it. Nick Bonino expanded upon it. I’ve totally forgotten about it and just turned a new page.” Brandon Sutter was, at best, adequate at it. Derick Brassard seemingly “I went home, shot some pucks and kind of hit reset.” refused to embrace it. As one of the most tenured members of the franchise, defenseman Kris And Nick Bjugstad has been too injured to inhabit it. Letang has had a direct view of what has and hasn’t worked with third- That leaves Jared McCann to fill it. line centers for the Penguins. He said McCann has the base abilities to meet the position’s considerable demands. On the verge of the NHL’s postseason, McCann has a first grasp as to what is being demanded of him as the team’s third center behind “He has a lot of speed,” Letang said. “He can play in every situation. And franchise icons Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. he’s a guy that pays attention to a lot details out there defensively. We all know how skilled he is, and he can bring tons of offense. It’s a good line “Being a two-way player,” McCann said. “Being solid in both ends of the with Pat and … uh .. .the two Pats. He brings so much to the table.” ice. Always making the right play. … Just trying to stay confident, trying to makes plays, trying to be good defensively.” Even with two highly accomplished wingers in Hornqvist and Marleau, McCann seems ready to claim possession of his line. That’s to say, be a little bit of everything. Offensive threat. Defensive impediment. Faceoff specialist. Penalty killer. Occasional power-play “I’m just trying to focus on complementing them as much as I can,” option. Forechecker. Backchecker. McCann said. “Whether that’s just throwing the puck on net, and those two are in front and banging away, I’ll do the rest.” All of the Penguins’ centers do those things, at least in five-on-five play. But the third-line center ideally is deployed in such a way that it makes Tribune Review LOADED: 07.25.2020 life easier for the other centers, particularly the top two, in all of those realms. Most notably, a third-line center ideally will take a heavy number of draws in the defensive zone in order to free up the top two centers to begin shifts in more offensive situations.

Of course, a third-line center’s effectiveness can be tied directly to the quality of his linemates. Staal found a marvelous fit between Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke during the 2009 postseason, and Bonino meshed so well with Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel, an incalculable number of bootlegged “HBK” shirts were sold on Smallman Street in the springs of 2016 and ’17.

In contrast, Sutter typically found himself flanked between limited options such as Tanner Glass or Nick Spaling.

During this training camp, McCann has been working with Patrick Marleau, a potential Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, and Patric Hornqvist, one of the league’s premier net-front presences.

That trio helped open the scoring during a scrimmage Thursday when Hornqvist, with assistance from defenseman Juuso Riikola, hounded defenseman Jack Johnson into a turnover in his own right corner. The puck rolled above the crease, where McCann was able to swat an awkward forehand shot past the right leg of goaltender Tristan Jarry.

“It’s good,” McCann said. “We’re growing every day with our confidence in each other. We’re making plays.”

“We feel that we’ve got excellent chemistry on that line,” assistant coach Jacques Martin said. “Patrick Marleau brings a lot of experience. He’s a player that plays extremely well on both sides of the puck. Patric Hornqvist, we know what he brings to our hockey team. His energy, his enthusiasm. He may be one of the top players in the league as far as a net presence. He’s quick on the puck. Jared brings a lot of speed to that line. He’s got the ability to score some goals, to shoot the puck. He’s a good two-way player.” 1189152 Pittsburgh Penguins a handful of injures he suffered during the regular season at the American Hockey League level prevented further recalls.

Regardless, Sullivan offered a hearty endorsement of Johnson’s abilities ‘Everybody cheers’ as Sidney Crosby returns to Penguins practice and standing within the organization after the scrimmage Thursday.

“We really like (Johnson’s) game,” Sullivan said. “His skating ability is so evident when he’s with us. He played some good games for us when he Seth Rorabaugh got his NHL games. There was opportunity through some injuries that we had this year. Unfortunately for (Johnson), he was hurt a lot himself when Friday, July 24, 2020 6:09 p.m. those opportunities presented themselves. So he didn’t get the games that maybe he had anticipated or we anticipated that he may get the NHL level. Note: CCPA compliance requires embedded widgets like Facebook, Twitter and inline videos be disabled in stories. “But we think that he’s an NHL-caliber player and a big reason why is because of his pace. He’s a good penalty killer. He’s a great puck-pursuit The digital clock affixed to the wall had just hit 11:00 a.m. A whistle was guy. He’s good on the forecheck, and he’s got a little scoring touch. He blown, and Penguins players gathered around the boards near the had a strong (scrimmage Thursday).” “visitors” bench on their main rink at their Cranberry facility Friday morning. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.25.2020

Coach Mike Sullivan began scribbling schematics with a felt marker on a dry erase board when a figure with two sticks emerged from a hallway connecting to the auxiliary rink plodded around the western end of the main rink.

After stopping behind the bench to chat with a team staffer, that individual stepped on the ice and was greeted by rousing applause from players in the form of stick “claps.”

Sidney Crosby was back.

At practice, at least.

Crosby was a full participant in a practice or scrimmage for the first time since he abruptly left a scrimmage July 18, though he had been skating on his own a handful of times, including before Friday’s practice. There was little to indicate Crosby was physically limited in any way Friday.

The reason for his absence never has been disclosed by the team. New NHL rules prohibiting public disclosure of medical information during the coronavirus pandemic did not permit the team to explain why hockey’s leading ambassador had been missing in advance of a postseason tournament unlike any other.

A team source indicated to the Tribune-Review that Crosby had been dealing with a minor physical ailment and was withheld for precautionary reasons.

Crosby was not made available to reporters Friday.

Regardless, his presence clearly was welcomed.

“It’s great to have him back on the ice,” said assistant coach Jacques Martin, filling in for Sullivan’s media obligations. “You know how important he is to our hockey club. He brings great leadership on the ice as well as off the ice. You know how (Sullivan) likes to use him in so many instances. He’s a catalyst. It’s nice. Everybody cheered when he joined the group today.”

Martin’s decision

Martin is the NHL’s oldest coach (assistant or head) at 67. And given the greater risks coronavirus poses to older people, he and Sullivan had a discussion over how much involvement Martin would have during the postseason before deciding to fully participate.

“I did have the conversation with Mike,” Martin said. “There wasn’t any hesitation on my part. I feel that I’m in good physical condition. I think I’m careful. All through this period, I’ve obeyed the recommendation of the medical staff as far as wearing a mask. I keep in close contact with family and a small circle. I think that’s really important. And I have strong faith and belief in our staff here and our athletes.

“So I’m excited to be part of having another opportunity to win a (Stanley Cup title) and being part of this staff and helping this organization as much as I can.”

High praise

During Thursday’s scrimmage, reserve forward Adam Johnson stood out by creating plenty of scoring opportunities and set up rookie forward Anthony Angello for a goal.

Johnson appeared in seven games during the regular season, all of which occurred in October. He might have earned more NHL action, but 1189153 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins forward Sidney Crosby resumes practicing

Seth Rorabaugh

Friday, July 24, 2020 11:28 a.m.

Note: CCPA compliance requires embedded widgets like Facebook, Twitter and inline videos be disabled in stories.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby resumed practicing with teammates Friday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex facility in Cranberry.

Sidelined since abruptly leaving a scrimmage for undisclosed reasons Saturday, Crosby is centering the team’s top line during drills Friday.

Citing the NHL’s new rules on withholding medical information during the coronavirus pandemic, the Penguins have declined comment on the reason for Crosby’s absence. A team source indicated he had been held out of practices and scrimmages since Saturday a precautionary measure for a minor physical ailment.

Crosby skated prior to the team’s formal practice on an auxiliary rink with few apparent limitations. He joined his teammates just after the formal portion of practice began and received several “stick claps” upon his arrival.

The lines during practice:

Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Conor Sheary

Jason Zucker – Evgeni Malkin – Bryan Rust

Patrick Marleau – Jared McCann – Patric Hornqvist

Zach Aston-Reese – Teddy Blueger – Brandon Tanev

Sam Lafferty and Evan Rodrigues served as reserve forwards.

The defensive pairings were:

Brian Dumoulin – Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson – John Marino

Jack Johnson – Justin Schultz

Juuso Riikola – Chad Ruhwedel

Goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray also are participating in practice.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189154 Pittsburgh Penguins [but not] a lot of size. ... I think it’s a power play we have to be prepared to pressure.”

Speaking of pressure on the power play, the Penguins better get theirs Special teams, just like a special goalie, could turn the tables in a short working again if they want to make a deep playoff run up in Canada. series They ranked just 16th in the league this season at 19.9%, their lowest mark in a few seasons.

They had four stretches of at least four games without a power play goal MATT VENSEL and at one point nearly had the longest slump in team history. Some of it was due to the trade of Phil Kessel, their top power play point-getter a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette season ago. Injuries were the other main factor, leaving them without top [email protected] talent and continuity.

“But,” Sullivan said last Wednesday, “we feel like we have capable people.” One of the many, many things that will make this NHL postseason unique is the qualifying round. In a five-game series, the margin for error is even For the first time in their postseason training camp, the Penguins at slimmer than in a seven-game slugfest, and the odds of an upset surely Friday’s practice had all of those capable people on the ice. Sidney spike. Crosby rejoined the team, and net-front maniac Patric Hornqvist has been back in the mix since Monday. Thus, much has been made these past two months about the potential for a hot goalie to steal the Penguins’ opening series with the Montreal Prior to Friday, with at least one key player sitting out, Jared McCann Canadiens. worked on the top unit. But late in Friday’s session, that group, without any defenders, practiced scripted plays that encouraged player Well, what if somebody’s power play suddenly sparks into a five-alarm movement. McCann was not among the seven players who cycled fire? through the low-key drill.

Special teams could be just the thing to swing a shortened series. In McCann’s old spot in the left circle was Bryan Rust, a righty who scored nine of his 27 goals on the power play this season. Rust was “I think it’s going to be the most important [factor],” Jared McCann said joined by Crosby, Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel and blue- Friday. liners Letang and Justin Schultz. Once again, success on special teams made the Penguins one of the top So, with Game1 against the Canadiens looming Aug. 1, it’s clear teams in the East. But this time around, it wasn’t the unit you might first Sullivan and the Penguins are still searching for solutions for their think of. It was actually their aggressive penalty kill that ranked in the inconsistent power play. league’s top 10. While they know special teams can swing this series, they’re not In the fall, their 10-game run without surrendering a power play goal sweating it yet. helped the Penguins survive some of those early-season injuries. The penalty kill was among the NHL’s stingiest in December and January. “It can make a difference in a short series like that,” Letang said. “We’re And even as the Penguins skidded into the pause with a 3-8-0 finish, that working hard right now. I think the intensity and the attention to details unit remained a rare positive. are there.”

When play was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Post Gazette LOADED: 07.25.2020 Penguins ranked eighth with an 82.1% success rate on the penalty kill. That was the team’s highest percentage since 2015-16, when Mike Sullivan was hired midseason.

“Overall, I think we showed this year that we could be really dangerous on the power play, but also we can be really good on the PK,” said Kris Letang, one of a few Penguins players with a prominent role on both special-teams units.

Assistant coach Jacques Martin, who oversees the penalty kill, believes that unit was at its best when the Penguins ratcheted up the pressure and pesky forwards such as Brandon Tanev and Teddy Blueger took away time and space.

But that approach requires all four defenders to move together as if on a string to ensure that soft spots don’t open up in the high slot or at the back door. If they aren’t a cohesive quadrilateral, skilled opponents could soon celebrate.

Do the Habs have the firepower to capitalize if the Penguins get out of line?

This season, the Canadiens got at least one power play goal from 14 players. But only two, leading scorer Tomas Tatar and young forward Nick Suzuki, scored more than three. So they had a hard time finding combinations that worked.

The numbers reflect that. Their 17.7% conversion rate ranked 22 in the NHL. Only four of the 24 playoff teams scored less frequently with their power play.

Still, they have enough talent to pop a few past the Penguins. Shea Weber still has one of the NHL’s heaviest shots from the point. Max Domi, assuming he suits up, is a playmaking threat. And fellow forward Jonathan Drouin is back on the ice after injuries limited him to only 27 games during the regular season.

“When you look at their power play, they’re a team that has tremendous speed, great quickness,” Martin said. “They have a lot of skilled forwards 1189155 Pittsburgh Penguins and that’s why Murray deserves to be the goalie who gets the first crack at being the playoff starter.

Post Gazette LOADED: 07.25.2020 Paul Zeise: Matt Murray should start Game 1 for the Penguins

PAUL ZEISE

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [email protected]

Few towns love a goalie controversy more than Pittsburgh. It seems like we thrive on these things, dating back to the days when Marc-Andre Fleury began losing his starting job to Matt Murray.

That one I understood. That one at least had some merit because both men had won Stanley Cups and it became a classic example of “talented young player replaces aging veteran.” That made sense, and Mike Sullivan also developed a comfort level with Murray.

Now it is Murray trying to hang on to his job. He has won two Stanley Cups in his short career. He unseated Fleury, a future Hall of Fame goalie who was a fan favorite. He has proven to be a player who generally rises to the occasion in the playoffs. He has been a franchise goalie by every definition thus far in his career.

And yet here we are a few days from teams heading into the “bubble” city to make their final preparations for the season to resume and Murray is fighting for his job.

It makes absolutely no sense to me considering the man threatening to take it is Tristan Jarry. Not Carey Price, not Andrei Vasilevskiy, not Ben Bishop, not Sergei Bobrovsky — heck, not even Fleury. No, it is Jarry, who might some day prove to be an All-Star worthy goalie on a yearly basis. He does seem to have talent and he seems to have a bright future ahead of him.

But he doesn’t have the resume of Murray, he hasn’t proven he can take the team places Murray has, and he hasn’t won enough big games to understand what it takes. Murray has proven he can handle the pressure and he has proven he can raise his game during the playoffs.

I don’t believe winning championships and big games necessarily means a guy gets a lifetime pass but let’s not act like his Stanley Cups are a decade ago. And let’s not act like Murray is some sort of aging, grizzled veteran who is hanging on to past glory, either. He is 26 and just entering his prime.

I’m all for earning your spot, and guess what? I believe Murray has done that, based on his total body of work. Yes, Jarry has been a little better this season and even during this restart, but that’s not what should be relevant. The relevant question is: How much better has Jarry been than Murray?

If the answer isn’t “significantly,” then this isn’t a discussion. I look at it like a prize fight between the world champion and one of the top contenders. If it goes the distance, the benefit of the doubt goes to the champion. The contender can win a decision but he has to clearly and decisively win in order to take the championship belt from the champion.

That is the same concept at work here. Jarry’s overall numbers were slightly better but the last month of the season before it was stopped, Murray was actually playing better.

Mike Sullivan may think he has a tough decision, but he doesn’t. If he really thinks about it, he knows what he is looking at and understands what is at stake. Jarry has proven he is capable of winning games and that is important, as he might be needed at some point in the playoffs.

But there is no way the right decision is to sit the player who has won 28 playoff games, twice hoisted the Stanley Cup, and saved the day in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Ottawa in 2017. It would make no sense at all to leave that player on the bench to start the series.

Sure there is some risk, as Murray might stink up the joint in Game 1. Then Sullivan can go to Jarry and make the change. At least then Murray will have played his way out of the job. He deserves that chance.

My guess is if the Penguins get knocked out of the playoffs earlier than predicted, it won’t be because of Murray. He has proven this over time, 1189156 Pittsburgh Penguins “I can’t imagine they’re going to allow that to move forward for this year,” Jason Zucker said. “That is something hockey is really known for. Everyone in the league really enjoys and loves to show that respect for the other team and the battle that you went through that series and Sidney Crosby returns to Penguins practice throughout the playoffs.”

Zucker thought maybe players could get creative and show respect in a socially distant way. McCann suggested maybe players could bump Matt Vensel and Mike DeFabo elbows or keep their glove on for a fist bump. Kris Letang, meanwhile, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks a tradition is a tradition.

“You’re playing against them the whole game,” Letang said. “You’re sweating off each other. You’re screaming at each other. I don’t see why Penguins center Sidney Crosby returned to practice Friday in Cranberry. a handshake wouldn’t be allowed.”

The Penguins captain had not practiced with the team since he exited the Roster cuts July 18 intrasquad scrimmage at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex with an undisclosed ailment. The NHL will require teams to submit their final 52-person list for the bubble by 5 p.m. Friday. That list includes ownership, front office staff, Before Friday’s practice, he got in work with backup goalie Casey coaches and a 31-player roster. DeSmith and skills development coach Ty Hennes on the second sheet of ice inside the team facility. Crosby was pushing himself so hard that That means cuts are on the way for the Penguins. Currently, they are the sound of his skates slicing into the ice could be heard inside the carrying 34 players during the training camp phase. Sullivan said earlier building’s main practice rink. this week that the team plans to only bring four of the five goalies. So that brings the total down to 33. At least two more won’t be making the trip to When Crosby walked over and stepped onto the main sheet of ice at the Canada. start of practice, Penguins teammates gave him a thunderous round of stick taps on the ice. One suspects the guys were playfully mocking their Gone fishin’ captain a little bit. The unique circumstances of the NHL’s pause have given some “The boys thought he was a little late for practice,” third-line center Jared Penguins a chance to return to nature. McCann and goalie Matt Murray McCann said. “But he was just on the other side working with our skills have been spending some time golfing together and recently went out coach. So we let him know we were happy to have him back.” fishing, a hobby McCann takes credit for cultivating in Murray.

Crosby returned to reclaim his role as the center on the top line, skating “I went up to his cottage last summer and brought my rod and between Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary. He also was part of the everything,” McCann said. “He caught one off the dock. He got hooked Penguins’ top power play unit during special teams work. right away. He’s huge into it now.”

In total, the star center missed two team practices and a pair of Post Gazette LOADED: 07.25.2020 scrimmages over a six-day span. He skated on an individual basis Wednesday and Thursday.

Time is ticking before the puck drops on the postseason. The Penguins scrimmage for the fourth and final time Saturday and then travel to Toronto on Sunday.

The lone exhibition game against the Philadelphia Flyers will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and Game 1 of the Penguins’ qualifying round series against Montreal is Aug. 1.

“It’s great to have him back on the ice,” assistant coach Jacques Martin said. “You know how important he is to our hockey club. He brings great leadership on the ice as well as off the ice. You know how [coach Mike Sullivan] likes to use him in so many instances. He’s a catalyst.”

Martin comfortable

Before the Penguins opened training camp, Sullivan reached out to Martin to make sure the 67-year-old assistant coach wanted to be behind the bench, considering adults 65 or older are identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as being at a higher risk of an unfavorable outcome should they contract COVID-19.

Sullivan said previously he was willing to make any necessary accommodations. But Martin said he didn’t feel “any hesitation.”

“I feel I’m in good physical condition,” Martin said. “I think I’m careful. All through this period I’ve obeyed the recommendation of the medical staff as far as wearing a mask and keeping close contact with just close family and a small circle. I think that’s really important. And I really have strong faith and belief in our staff here and in our athletes. I’m excited to be part of having another opportunity to win a Cup.”

Shake it off

The handshake line is one of the NHL’s great traditions, a sign of respect between competitors after a hard-fought battle. But during a postseason that’s anything but traditional, what will happen to one of the NHL’s great traditions?

Dr. Anthony Fauci said in April he’d like Americans to change their custom and stop shaking hands all together. Penguins players said they haven’t heard an official stance from the NHL on the matter. Their opinions on the issue were mixed. 1189157 Seattle Kraken

NHL Seattle released the Kraken — and the merchandise is getting snatched up fast

By Seattle Times staff reporter

July 24, 2020 at 1:54 pm Updated July 24, 2020 at 4:22 PM

It didn’t take long for online merchandise shoppers to start snatching up the Kraken upon its release.

Online retail giant Fanatics, the NHL’s official retail partner, reported Friday that national sales of Seattle Kraken merchandise were already 50% higher than what the Vegas Golden Knights had over their initial 24 hours of making team items available back in 2017. In fact, Kraken merchandise occupied four of the top-five top-selling spot across all sports and all Fanatics-run online platforms as of midday.

“They’re the No. 1 selling team across all sports today,’’ Fanatics spokesman Seth Schlechter said.

Kraken-branded items went online nationally late Thursday night after NHL Seattle announced it had selected its team name from the mythical sea creature depicted for hundreds of years in novels, poetry and Hollywood movies. Schlechter said the team has been the biggest seller across all of Florida-based Fanatics’ platforms, which include Fanatics.com, official league e-commerce websites it runs for the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS as well as those for more than 150 professional and college teams.

Word of the brisk sales is a positive early sign for a team that took a bit of a gamble going with a non-traditional name choice that had provoked intense debate among fans for more than two years prior to Thursday’s announcement.

“To be honest with you, I think that it’s really a validation of the fanbase here,” Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said Friday of the early sales reports. “Since I’ve come here, people have been polite but at times dismissive of this being a potentially great market for the NHL. And I think, at every turn, our fans haven’t let us down.”

Leiweke added that the team’s waiting list for season tickets grew by several thousand after Thursday’s announcement.

“We know we have fans all across North America, just like the Mariners, the Seahawks and the Sounders and the Storm. They’re regional teams and they’re powerful brands, but this is one of the great sports markets in the U.S. and we’re going to try to take our rightful place.”

The top-selling Kraken items, according to Fanatics, include a Kraken navy distressed T-shirt, a Kraken black Core Flex hat and men’s and women’s primary logo V-neck hoodies.

The team on Thursday announced its own e-commerce store, www.releasethekrakenstore.com, would sell merchandise with “Release the Kraken!” on it. The catchphrase comes from a line by actor Liam Neeson in the 2010 movie reprise of “Clash of the Titans” — originally a 1981 film that also had a Kraken monster within it.

The team said full proceeds are going to various nonprofit youth groups through Aug. 21. The site had more than 2 million page views before crashing Thursday due to demand but was back up Friday.

After that, the site will be disbanded and a local team store created. The Kraken would keep revenue from all merchandise sold through that store, while national sales through Fanatics are shared equally among the league’s teams.

Seattle Times LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189158 Seattle Kraken houses. She told me they were checking on the back end to see what may have happened.”

At the warehouse, Barnes was told Francis’ first TV appearance was set By answering a call, Will Barnes saved Ron Francis on the Kraken’s big for 12:30 p.m. and that the content inside the package was something day the Hockey Hall of Famer was going to wear when fulfilling those requests.

It was around 11 a.m. when Barnes got around five employees to By Ryan S. Clark aggressively start looking for the package. One of those employees, Matt Woodruff, found a black-and-gray duffel bag with a red padlock Jul 24, 2020 protecting whatever was inside.

“There it was and we took a picture,” Barnes said. “I texted those guys Will Barnes has received a lot of work-related phone calls from all over back with a photo and they said in all caps, ‘OH MY GOD! YES, THAT’S the nation lately. He is the warehouse supply chain manager for Mako IT! THANK YOU SO MUCH!’ They said they were trying to find a taxi or a Medical in Henderson, N.C., and COVID-19 has caused his employers to courier service but were told they are not running because of COVID(- increase their clientele. 19). They then said that Ron would drive to Henderson to pick it up. Him or his wife. He looked down at his phone mid-morning Thursday and saw a number from Washington state. At first, Barnes was going to ignore the call, but “I said, ‘As a huge Hurricanes fan, I am not making Ron Francis do that. he decided to answer it. On the other end was someone who said he We have drivers that are driving around all the time making stops. I will needed to talk about an important package that was accidentally sent to send my guy Matt.'” his warehouse. Barnes was given a tracking number but did not find what A duffel bag meant for Ron Francis was accidentally delivered at a was requested. So, he asked for a name on the package. medical warehouse. (Courtesy of Ron Francis) That is when the man on the other end of the phone said it should be Barnes said Woodruff was not a big hockey fan until the significance of under Mary Lou Francis or Ron Francis. the moment was explained. Woodruff jumped into his delivery truck and “I am a huge Hurricanes fan and I was like, ‘OK. Ron Francis,'” Barnes sped down the highway en route to Francis’ house. said. “Then I thought, ‘Don’t be crazy, Will. It’s not Ron Francis Ron Woodruff arrived at 12:06 p.m., six minutes into the Kraken’s Francis.’ I told him I will get my receiving manager to start looking for it announcement and a few minutes before the name was unveiled. and give you a call if we find it. He told me that we really needed to find this package and the entire time, I do not know what it is. My receiving “It was crazy because the presentation had just started and all of a manager looks for four or five minutes and said they did not see sudden, I heard a knock on the door and here’s this gentleman with the anything. I told them to keep looking and let me call this guy back.” package,” Francis said. “I was trying to thank him but we were unveiling live and I kind of felt bad I could not say thank you the way I would have Barnes kept thinking about one thing while the phone rang: It would be liked. So I reached out to our people and asked them if we could double bizarre to get a phone call from someone in Washington about getting a back to see if there was anything I could do for him. I wanted to make package to a guy named Ron Francis on the same day NHL Seattle was sure we were going to take care of him with some Seattle Kraken swag. announcing its new team name. “He is the reason I got to wear that shirt and that gentleman deserves a No way such a thing would ever happen. round of applause.” When he called back, Barnes spoke to the person who previously Francis said he had a backup plan of a dark blue polo shirt he could wear answered. Barnes told him they had no luck finding the package, and in case the package did not make it on time — or at all. that was the moment when Barnes was asked a question that changed everything. Barnes said the Kraken reached out to him later that afternoon. They told Francis how Barnes and his brother were big Hurricanes fans and that “Are you a hockey fan?” the voice on the other side of the phone call their former captain wanted to personally thank him. Francis did more asked. than send Kraken apparel. He was also going to autograph a piece of Yeah, Will. What you think is happening right now is exactly what is memorabilia for Barnes as a further way of showing thanks for what he happening right now. Your Thursday morning went from being peaceful and his team had done. to upside down, all because you are responsible for getting a rather It was Friday afternoon when Barnes shared his story with The Athletic. important package to the Ron Francis less than two hours before he He told some friends on Thursday about what happened. He is still in goes on television to discuss the new NHL team’s name. some disbelief that something so bizarre happened to him. Barnes and “As soon as he said that, I wanted to cuss!” Barnes said. “I said, ‘No way! his brother said they will remain Hurricanes fans but that the Kraken are No way this is happening!’ The night before, me and my brother and one going to be their No. 2 team. of our good friends were taking bets on the nickname. We had a group Knowing he helped Francis is something Barnes said will go down as chat and talked about if they would be the Sockeyes or the Kraken. That one of the highlights of his life. Barnes, 30, is a longtime Hurricanes fan is what was in my mind. I thought, ‘This is not what is happening right to the point that he remembers how Francis captained the team to the now, is it? That package is going to the Ron Francis.'” 2002 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings. He Francis, who is the general manager of the Kraken and still lives in said Francis’ involvement with the franchise is why he called him “Father Raleigh, received a text message Wednesday night from senior vice Hurricane” for the fact that he has been the team’s captain along with its president of marketing and communications Katie Townsend, who told general manager. him a package was going to be overnighted to his home. The package “As a Hurricanes fan, this is insane,” Barnes said. ” I am now going to be contained a polo shirt with the team’s new logo that he could wear for the forever tied to the Seattle Kraken. It is going to be one of the top three television interviews he had scheduled for the next day. stories of my life forever.” The excitement around the announcement made Francis admit to feeling The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 like a child on Christmas morning. Townsend told him the package would arrive at his house by 8 a.m., but Francis was so excited that he sat on his porch at 6:30 a.m. awaiting the delivery. After 8 a.m. arrived and he had not received anything, he decided to work out, then texted Townsend at 9:10 a.m. to inform her he had not received the package. Francis received a tracking number and saw someone had signed for the package at an address that was not his.

“I called and said, ‘Katie, we have an issue,'” Francis said. “I was looking for the address where they signed for it and I am driving around my neighborhood trying to see if maybe it was at one of my neighbors’ 1189159 Seattle Kraken “Our plan initially was to hire a whole bunch of people in the first couple of weeks of July and get rolling,” Francis said. “It looks like they’re starting to play Aug. 1, so there are still people working that we may or may not get to talk to. There’s still a draft that’s not going to happen until Duhatschek: GM Ron Francis on Kraken name, scouting games from October. There may be people there we get to talk to, or not. Right now, afar and more you look at the potential different start times for all the leagues – KHL, Sweden, Finland, the Ontario league, the Quebec league, the WHL, the

AHL, the NHL – there’s a big tentativeness next to all of them. By Eric Duhatschek “We’re trying to look at all the different scenarios that may play out. Can Jul 24, 2020 they get up and running? Can they survive if there are no people in the buildings? So there are all those kinds of scenarios to ponder. But we’re trying to build our plan to be ready accordingly. Certainly, in the next few months, we’d like to get our head athletic trainer, our equipment guy and Ron Francis is a hockey guy through and through. A 23-year Hall of our strength and conditioning people in place and have our scouting staff Fame career as a player, followed by a series of front-office positions appropriately staffed, and then go from there.” almost from the moment he retired from the NHL. Monitoring the play-in tournament from afar But last summer, when Francis was appointed general manager of the newly christened Seattle Kraken, he also started providing input into the According to Francis, he won’t be in a position to watch any of the operating side of an NHL team that was being built from scratch. upcoming tournament live. The fact that the NHL lost the final month of the regular season put a crimp in both the team’s scouting plans and its Apart from assembling a managerial team to prepare for next summer’s hiring timetable. But he expects to get back on track soon. expansion draft, Francis also consulted on the arena design side and in the naming of the team. “My understanding is none of the seven general managers of the non- competing teams are allowed to go, so I’m assuming I can’t either,” he The Seattle Kraken were unveiled on Thursday and received the sort of said. “In a perfect world for us, you would have finished out the season mixed response that pretty much every new team, with a new logo and a and you get those last 12 or 13 games to scout. And then you roll right new colour scheme seems to get. Some loved it. Some didn’t. But the into the playoffs and get that intense level of competition that the guys initial response to the merchandise, once it became available for sale, have been building towards all season long. was so great, according to Francis, that it practically overloaded the team’s website. “That didn’t happen. It looked for a long time like we weren’t going to get any playoff hockey. Now, fingers crossed, it looks as if we’ll be watching Francis said by the time he was hired to run hockey ops in Seattle, the hockey on Aug. 1. organization had already undertaken an extensive fan poll to get a sense of where the community was leaning. “So, from our standpoint, any time we get to scout more games and get our eyes on players, that’s a benefit. I’m curious to see how the players According to Francis, about 215,000 votes were cast and roughly 1,200 respond. They’ve had a long time off. Now they’re jumping back in. I think different names were suggested. they’re excited to play. But there’ll be no people in the building, so we’re “The really interesting part for me is, I spent some time in Seattle and like a lot of people. We’re excited to see the games if they start and to started talking to some of the local people who’ve been here and they see how they progress – and to get a chance to cover more hockey.” talk about these huge octopi that live in the Puget Sound,” said Francis. Games without crowds “They’re the largest anywhere and they’re a very intelligent creature. And so, you hear that – and some of the folklore from when people were kids Francis played a long time – in markets that had wildly supportive crowds and you realize, this name is a perfect fit for the area. That’s what it’s all and in some markets, where the crowds could occasionally be quite thin. about. But the one commonality is that in the playoffs, the crowds generally create an energy level in the building that can lift a team. “At the end of the day, the Kraken name embodies our connection to the sea – and the reverent curiosity of what lies beneath the sea. From my I decided to ask Francis how playing in an empty building will affect standpoint, I hope the power and aggression of the Kraken reflects the player performance. game of hockey and also shows the tenacity that our players are going to play with every night.” “It’s been a while since I played,” Francis began, “but certainly the swing points in a game, a lot of them are generated by the home fans. The (Handout) home fans, if you’re behind, and then you score a goal, the building gets electric, and everybody seems to find another gear and away you go. Francis was playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins when the San Jose Sharks joined the league almost 30 years ago. Even though the Sharks “But it’ll be interesting to see because, on the one hand, you’re not going struggled on the ice during their first couple of seasons, they were a to have that motivation from screaming fans and the noise. But maybe, smash hit on the marketing side. The predominantly teal color scheme of on the other hand, you’re not wound up as tight protecting a lead their uniforms and the Shark logo were wildly popular not only in the Bay because there isn’t that extra excitement in the building, so you can just Area market but around the league as well. San Jose’s success in relax and concentrate on what you have to do. merchandising helped usher in a new era of revenue generation for the league and its teams. “It’s so uncharted, right, these waters? But that’s what makes it intriguing. Everybody’s curious to see how it looks and how it plays out.” “I remember playing San Jose the first time and they were still in that old barn of a building (The Cow Palace) and thinking the jerseys were cool Francis has been monitoring, as best he can, what players and coaches and different,” Francis said. are saying now that formal training camps are underway, to get a sense of the collective mindset. He believes the majority are seeing this as a And if the Kraken merchandise flies off the shelf as well as San Jose’s unique opportunity to win a championship, and thus the level of did, it will directly benefit the community. According to the team’s motivation could be off the charts. website, 100 percent of the net proceeds from the first 30 days of sales will be invested in the community. The Kraken have partnered with “I would think so,” he said. “It seems as if their season kind of got taken YouthCare to help combat youth homelessness in the Seattle area. away from them. You’re sitting there for three or four months and you’re not sure if you’re coming back and then all of a sudden, they can see What’s new on the hockey side? there’s a good chance that it’s going to happen. So there seems to be a genuine excitement amongst the players.” The Seattle name and logo unveiling was postponed, like a lot of things, by the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it has also made preparing for Francis played in the era when NHL playoffs began with a best-of-five next summer’s expansion draft more complicated, what with all the opening round, in which four games were usually played in the first five hockey that they were supposed to scout in the spring that they were nights, and many times, a team that made the playoffs could be on the unable to. The upcoming play-in/playoff tournament is an opportunity to sidelines in less than a week. So, the need to hit the ground running will get back into scouting in a more meaningful way, but they will have to do be acute. it virtually. “Especially for the teams that have to go the extra round, that makes it a little more difficult,” ]Francis said. “You’re playing five games in nine nights at the start and rolling right into the first round. I think it’s a little different. There was a group of teams that had significant injuries and wouldn’t have been able to use those players in the playoffs. Now, they’re back, and that changes the dynamics a little.

“So, there’s all kinds of interesting twists. All of a sudden, you don’t just have 16 teams. You have 24 teams with a chance. It’s a best three-out- of-five (to begin) and if you get off on the right foot, it’s going to be good for you. There could be some surprises.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189160 St Louis Blues Oskar Sundqvist, the center on the line, took a tumble in practice on Friday, slid into the boards back first and was slow to get up, eventually being helped to his skates by assistant coach Mike Van Ryn and helped to the bench. After some time there, and some time on ground behind the Mikkola ready to step in on blueline if Blues need him bench, being worked on by trainer Ray Barile, Sundqvist took a brief spin on the ice, decided he couldn’t go on and walked slowly to the dressing

room. Tom Timmermann Under league rules for this postseason, the Blues could not comment on 6 hrs ago the extent of his injury.

Sundqvist has missed time twice this season, once just after Thanksgiving and another in late January-early February, both with what Defenseman Vince Dunn was absent from Blues practice again on was termed lower-body injuries. He would have probably missed time in Friday, the eighth day on ice he has missed, and while coach Craig March too, after hurting his shoulder/AC joint in the Blues’ final game Berube said Dunn would be with the team when it flew to Edmonton, before the NHL suspended play. Alberta, to enter into their bubble on Sunday, how quickly he can get up to speed is in question considering the time he has missed in camp after Another member of that line, Alexander Steen, missed his third straight the long break. day of practice, and again, there are no updates there. Berube originally said Steen was day-to-day and doing rehab. But if the Blues need to reach into their defenseman depth at any point in this postseason, they like their options. Farewell to camp

Rookie Niko Mikkola has shown well in camp after showing well in San The Blues will have their final practice in St. Louis on Saturday before Antonio this season and with the Blues when he had a brief cup of coffee they leave for Edmonton on Sunday. in January. The defenseman, who at 6-foot-4 fits the Blues’ blueline It was a spirited practice for the Blues on Friday, with both energy and prototype, may also figure prominently in the future of a unit that soon enthusiasm high. won’t be able to accommodate all the big contracts its players have earned. “I really liked practice today,” Berube said. “I thought it was our most competitive practice that we’ve had, the pace was really good, so that’s “He’s got a realistic chance (of playing),” Berube said. good to see. Hopefully we can keep ramping it up here.” Though he has only five NHL games to his credit, Mikkola feels much St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.25.2020 different from the player he was a year ago.

“I’m not that scared any more, like a year ago,” he said. “I try to play hockey. I know the guys better and the coaching staff. It’s easier to be on the rink.”

The big differences between now and then are a year more of experience playing in North America (2018-19 was his first season here after coming over from Finland), familiarity with the team’s systems after his time with the Blues, and Finland’s victory at the world hockey championships last year, with Mikkola on the team.

“There were NHL guys playing against us, and it was nice to see I can play against them,” he said. “I played pretty good and it built my confidence.”

Mikkola’s trip to the worlds meant he was with the Blues only for the early stages of the postseason. While he didn’t take part in the Blues’ triumphant parade down Market Street with the Stanley Cup, he took part in two celebrations in Finland, one in Helsinki, one in Tampere, as that country celebrated its win, with crowds that he said were not much smaller than those in St. Louis for the Blues.

“I didn’t know the Finnish people were going to go so crazy about it,” he said. “It was a big thing in Finland. It was nice to see how much they lived with the team.”

“It was exciting to watch them, even though they’re a big rival of Sweden,” said Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson. “But a couple guys on the (Finnish) team that I played with and know after the success they had, they said he was a big part of that. And then he kind of just kept on moving from that. He’s been doing great playing with us. I saw him last year, when I was down there (in San Antonio for a rehab assignment), and it’s kind of fun to see him. He’s doing great.”

“He’s an aggressive player, he kills a lot of plays defensively,” Berube said. “With his long stick and reach, and his skating ability, he did a great job for us. I thought he was very comfortable up here when he played, I didn’t notice a lot of nervousness or anything like that. He looks outstanding to me right now.”

It sounds like Dunn could be back any day now, though he’ll have some catching up to do, and the Blues have an experienced backup in Robert Bortuzzo, but Berube is expecting to utilize his depth more this year if the Blues make a long playoff run. Mikkola is the next man up.

“I feel like I’m ready if they need me,” he said.

Sundqvist leaves practice

The Blues’ fourth line, a dependable force throughout the season, all of a sudden is finding itself in a bind. 1189161 St Louis Blues

JT's Quarantine Chronicles: Win some, lose some

Jim Thomas

6 hrs ago

(Sixth in a series of dispatches from quarantine.)

EDMONTON, Alberta _ Bought a sports coat about two years ago. Early this hockey season, it went missing. Must have looked in the closet 20 times. Actually looked in the two closets that I use at home. No luck.

Did I leave it at the cleaners? No.

Did I leave it somewhere on the road? Don’t think so.

Last Saturday, during my final packing for this trip, I was getting something from one of the closets. . .and there it was, crumpled on the floor. Puzzling, but good fortune.

Obviously I didn’t have time to send it to the cleaners in St. Louis, so I folded it, packed it in my suitcase and off we went. The day after I arrived at the hotel, I sent it out for dry cleaning. (A socially-distanced, mutual mask-wearing handoff during one of the food deliveries to my room.)

I forgot about it for a few days, but called the front desk, and there it was _ back from the dry cleaners. So that was a positive development, one of the more newsworthy moments in quarantine. I'll wear it to games when I’m out and about again.

While my sports coat appeared, my pizza disappeared Friday. The flustered delivery driver called with a flat tire. He couldn’t get anyone else to complete the delivery, saying he would have to cancel the order.

I tried to talk him out of it. I told him I had a microwave in my room, and even if it took him an hour to fix the flat, I could warm up the pizza. No dice.

Win some, lose some.

So I ordered a chicken sandwich instead, from another establishment. At this point, I'm still waiting for it to arrive.

UPDATES

_ Finally broke out of the tuna on wheat rut at lunchtime. But couldn’t feel too proud of myself because I reverted to an A&W burger _ which was dinner a few nights ago.

_ Received some reader complaints about the overflowing trash can as pictured in Dispatch #4: Remembering What Georgia Frontiere said about a messy desk. Am happy to report all three trash cans in the room have been emptied.

CORRESPONDENCE

As you might remember in Dispatch #4, I recounted a story about television icon Lesley Visser chastising me for my messy desk at Rams Park years ago.

Well, I've since received this email from Lesley: hi jim, about 20 people sent me your column....

...i still have nightmares about your desk....xo

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189162 St Louis Blues on that team, or everyone in that game, self-isolate in that instance and still have a tournament.

“There’s a lot of thought that’s gone into this question of what do we do As hub cities open, NHL keeping fingers crossed on COVID-19 with a positive test and what is the exposure to other people within the bubble environment,” Meeuwisse said. “Obviously some of it unique. We’ve had a lot of discussion with the health authorities and landed on a strategy that’s quite similar to healthcare workers where you assume that Jim Thomas there’s a degree of exposure. 6 hrs ago “In the healthcare setting there’s a number of protective measures that can be taken like we’re taking in the bubble. The one thing we cannot do with players is put masks on them when they play, but we’re mitigating EDMONTON, Alberta — The NHL has gone to great effort and expense that risk by doing testing on a daily basis. to set up hub cities in Edmonton and Toronto for its 24-team postseason extravaganza, all done in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “We still will do contact tracing because there’s degrees of exposure, and if we feel a degree of exposure is unusually high, they still may be The “bubble” areas are fenced off in each city to keep outsiders from quarantined. But at the end of the day this is a protocol that has a lot of getting in. And prevent “insiders” from getting out. In Edmonton alone, involvement and input and signoff from the Players’ Association, so as a the NHL has 125 security and “health ambassadors” to make sure there group the players are comfortable with it.” are no breaches in the bubble. Even so, if players are uncomfortable with a specific circumstance, they As commissioner Gary Bettman put it: “Leaving the bubble is just not have the option not to participate in a game or games. something that we can tolerate.” Deputy commissioner Bill Daly pointed out that only two players tested There will be daily testing for those living in the bubble, with a 24-hour positive during the first week of Phase 3 (training camp), and that so far turnaround on results. There are 1,000 cases of Gatorade at the ready; this week there had been no confirmed positive tests. 1,000 practice pucks. Not to mention 12,000 towels — a number large enough to keep them from being re-used (and facilitate laundry needs). Meanwhile, the teams, players and staff will soon be immersed in the bubble. In Edmonton, that involves three hotels and six rinks. There will There are myriad other protocols in place when it comes to team meeting be 14 restaurant options in the bubble area, some already in existence, and lounge areas, locker rooms (there are six in Rogers Place), practice some of the popup variety. They will be offering everything from sushi to facilities. All with an eye to the health and safety of everyone involved. steak, tacos to Tim Horton’s, and vegan fare.

But the NHL knows going in that their system isn’t foolproof. Nothing can There will be indoor and outdoor activity areas. Inside Rogers Place, the be when it comes to this pandemic. arena that serves as home of the Edmonton Oilers, each team will have its own suite and player lounge. Multiple fitness areas/weight rooms will “Obviously, we’re hoping that once we move into the bubble be available. environment, it’s constructed in a way, and we’ve designed it to be constructed in a way, that does two things,” Dr. Willem Meeuwisse said. A concierge system is set up if players and staff want groceries, food or “It protects the public in the first instance, and then it protects the people pharmacy items, etc., from outside the bubble. inside the bubble in the second case.” Overall, the players have had all sorts of information thrown at them, The teams are arriving Sunday, so the time is almost at hand. Ready or seen photos and slides. But so far it’s just a concept in the mind’s eye for not, here they come. the Blues and the rest of the 12 Western Conference teams heading to Edmonton. “We don’t expect it to be perfect,” Meeuwisse said. “We expect with the number of people (involved), that we’re going to have some positive “Lot of info coming out right now, with how it’s gonna look and all that,” tests. And we have a method and a process designed in advance to deal Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarssson said. “But I think we’ll just have to with that. And we’ll continue to consult with the local health authorities as take it day by day. A lot of questions still with how things are gonna work that unfolds.” out, and all that.

As the NHL’s chief medical officer, Meeuwisse is the Anthony Fauci of “But once we get there, we’ll have a few days to settle in and get used to the league’s pandemic playoffs. During this long process, he and other the schedule and where everything is at and how are we gonna get league officials have consulted with the appropriate governmental and through this. I think we’ll be fine but for the first part I just think it’s gonna medical authorities at the local, provincial and national levels in Canada. be a little bit of an adjustment.”

Bettman said the NHL has even consulted with Fauci — director of the St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.25.2020 (U.S.) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — on a few occasions.

So what happens when a player tests positive? Who has the ultimate authority on whether he plays, stays, when he returns? Or not?

“Well, I guess in the final analysis it may be me,” Bettman said. “But I’m going to defer to the medical people, both from the governmental authorities and our own medical people in conjunction with the (NHL) Players’ Association.

“I am not going to be making the medical decisions. I’ll be taking the guidance, but I suppose it’s my authority that determines ultimately who plays in our games and who doesn’t.”

Bettman, Meeuwisse and several other league officials made their comments on a Friday Zoom call with media members as the NHL continued its rollout of hub city details late this week.

Normally, when someone tests positive for COVID-19 there is contact tracing, and those who are in close contact with the person testing positive can be forced to self-isolate. With that in mind, consider there are few things in life that are closer than the contact between hockey players along the board.

But this seems to be a bit of a gray area for the league in terms of self- isolation of those in contact with a positive test. You can’t have everyone 1189163 St Louis Blues

Sundqvist leaves Blues practice early after spill

Tom Timmermann

15 hrs ago

Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist took a spill in practice on Friday and tumbled into the boards, eventually leaving the ice early and heading to the dressing room.

Per league policy in the postseason, coach Craig Berube had no comment on Sundqvist of his status. The NHL has put a gag order on all injury discussions, not just cases of COVID-19.

Berube did say that defenseman Vince Dunn, who has not skated with the team since last Tuesday, would travel with the team to Edmonton on Sunday. Dunn was absent again on Friday. If Dunn had to travel separately to Edmonton, he would likely have to go through additional quarantines once he arrived.

Forward Alexander Steen missed his third consecutive day of practice, with an injury that Berube termed day-to-day on Wednesday. With Steen and Sundqvist missing, that will wreak havoc with the team's fourth line, at least in practice. With Ivan Barbashev going to be leaving the team in a few weeks to attend the birth of his child, the Blues have been using Mackenzie MacEachern there in practice, and he's the only one still healthy. If either the injuries to either Steen or Sundqvist dragged on, and Jacob de la Rose would be likely the candidates to fill in, depending on what the team needed.

The Blues will practice on Saturday at Centene Community Ice Center, their last practice in St. Louis before they fly to Edmonton. It's also the last practice anyone outside the team will see, since practices inside the bubble will be closed to reporters. Had Sundqvist's injury taken place on Monday, his absence would not have been noticed until the next game.

Sundqvist collided with a teammate, possibly Ivan Barbashev, who also fell to the ice, during a drill, and Sundqvist slid into the boards. He stayed on the ice for a brief period, than rolled over onto his hands and knees. Assistant coach Mike Van Ryn came over to help him up and help him to the bench.

Sundqvist sat on the bench and spoke with trainer Ray Barile. Eventually, Sundqvist got up and apparently laid down behind the bench to get treatment. After a couple minutes of that, he returned to the bench and then to the ice, taking a brief spin, before returning to the bench and then walking slowly to the dressing room.

In the Blues' final game before the NHL's coronavirus pause, Sundqvist hurt his shoulder/AC joint that might have cost him some playing time. But he said before camp began that the shoulder was feeling fine.

As for Dunn, if the clock for his return after a positive coronavirus test — which is what is believed to be keeping him out — began on Wednesday, Saturday would be the 11th day. So that would be the first day he could return after the required 10-day isolation period, assuming he had two negative tests.

Otherwise, it was a spirited, energetic, high-energy practice, with lots of speed and whooping it up by the players during drills.

"I think everybody's getting excited to get going here," Berube said. "We'll have one more day tomorrow. I really liked practice today. I thought it was the most competitive practice we've had. Pace was really good. That's good to see. Hopefully we can keep ramping it up here."

"I think toward the end of camp here, you realize it's close to playing real hockey games again," center Brayden Schenn said. "We're ready to start playing some games and you can feel the energy level coming up here."

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189164 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning using glass barrier as bridge to fans with Distant Thunder campaign

Mari Faiello

Sports Trending and Outdoors Reporter

TAMPA — You walk into your local Starbucks and the barista is greeting you behind a plexiglass wall at the register. You look to the counter and another plexiglass divider separates baristas working side-by-side on the handcrafted drinks.

Your local grocery store has these walls up, too. You’re able to touch the pinpad to complete your purchase, but the cashier has to worm their way through or around the barrier to hand you your receipt.

But to hockey fans, glass barriers are normal. They’ve seen these walls separate them from the players and coaches on the ice for as long as they’ve been watching the game.

Now, the Lightning is using this concept in their Distant Thunder campaign — which launched last Monday — to help bring fans back to the game after hockey’s four-month hiatus. They’re doing so by allowing fans to sign this very glass Friday and Saturday at Amalie Arena.

The idea originated back in May, when Eryn McVerry, senior vice president of content and brand strategy for the Lightning, and her team met with Dunn & Co., an ad agency in Tampa. The proposal was an instant hit.

“One of the things that we looked at, when you think about it was, the NHL really is the only sport that has this glass partition protection, but it’s the new normal. It’s everywhere now,” McVerry said. “It’s something we’re all familiar with right now.”

McVerry also loved the way the campaign celebrates the symbiotic relationship between the fans and the team.

“People are clamoring for sports, and sports have the power to unite us,” McVerry said.

This weekend, about 350 people will sign the glass, which will accompany the team Sunday on a charter to Toronto. The event sold out within 30 minutes.

Fans will have additional chances to get involved in the campaign Tuesday and Wednesday. The Lightning will have plexiglass stations at Sparkman Wharf from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Armature Works on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Those interested can sign-up online. The plan is to use those signatures for digital content and social-media purposes.

“In addition, we really are going to encourage people to use their own glass,” McVerry said. “So whether it’s your car windows or your house windows, all of those elements that kind of help in that grass-roots effort that makes people feel a part of the excitement of the playoffs.”

When the glass arrives in Toronto — bubble-wrapped for protection — the equipment staff will carry it into the rink. The players will see it when they get to Scotiabank Arena.

McVerry met with Steve Mayer, the NHL’s chief content officer, and shared the Lightning’s campaign with the league. She said they were extremely excited and were looking for ways to help tell this story in Toronto. What the glass will be used for and where it will be located after it arrives in Toronto is still undetermined.

The team is also looking for ways to use the concept in the future. It was one of the things McVerry and her team loved about the campaign.

“This is going to have an impact,” McVerry said. “So how do we keep that type of mind that we’re all in this together no matter the uncertainty that we’re facing?”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189165 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning scrimmage provides final test before Toronto

Mari Faiello

Sports Trending and Outdoors Reporter

TAMPA — They shot and — this time — they scored. Well, some of them, anyway.

The Lightning’s second Blue-White scrimmage of training camp was much different than the first, with an abundance of goal scoring. Ultimately, Team Blue emerged as the winner again, securing bragging rights with a 4-1 victory.

Compared to Monday’s scrimmage, the pace seemed faster on Friday night.

The atmosphere was pretty much the same — still no fans, 15-minute periods, one-minute penalties and music during stoppages — but the scrimmage was the final 5-on-5 test before the team flies to Toronto on Sunday.

Earlier in the week, coach Jon Cooper said his team is ready to play a different opponent, anyone other than itself.

Brayden Point looked best, notching two breakaway goals in the first period against Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Lightning center appeared to try to call it quits for the night when he briefly forgot to join the top line for the opening faceoff of the second period.

“The systems felt more game-like,” Point said about the scrimmage. “We had more time to work on a little bit more system stuff in the neutral zone, the (defensive) zone, breakout stuff like that to kind of get used to the swing of things and once you do that, the game feels more normal and you’re able to create some more chances.”

Tyler Johnson and AHL call-up Cal Foote also netted goals during the second period. Ryan McDonagh scored the lone goal for Team White early in the third.

The power plays were unproductive, with Team White going 0-for-3 and Team Blue 0-for-2. Much of the past week has been devoted to working on these units, both with and without Steven Stamkos.

Unlike Monday’s scrimmage, Vasilevskiy was not the same brick wall. Two of the four shots he faced were breakaways, but one from Johnson sneaked through two defenders, and another made its way in from the blue line. Curtis McElhinney, however, looked just as solid as he did on Monday.

Defenseman Zach Bogosian took some more shifts with Victor Hedman on the top pairing, just as they had practiced over the past couple of days. The two skated well together in the game-like situation.

Stamkos was still a no-show. He has yet to skate a full session, and the team has one practice left — following Saturday’s day off — before leaving for Toronto.

Looking back on Friday’s scrimmage, Alex Killorn thinks the team has gotten all it can out of the past two weeks.

“We’ve covered pretty much everything,” Killorn said. “I think we’ve done a good job in scrimmages trying to imitate that (pressure). I don’t think it’ll ever be perfect, but with the time we’ve had, with the amount of people we’ve had, I think we’ve done a really good job, ourselves.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189166 Tampa Bay Lightning At forward, Alex Barre-Boulet has had another dominant year in the AHL, and coaches have been complimentary of his play in this brief playoff training camp.

Lightning facing a salary-cap crunch this offseason Both Mathieu Joseph, who played in the NHL last year but found himself back in the AHL this season, and Alex Volkov, who made his NHL debut this year, are also restricted free agents. But they won’t carry as big a price tag to re-sign. Diana C. Nearhos This year, there weren’t many roster spots open in the preseason, but Lightning Reporter next year could see an increase in competition.

Trade potential TAMPA — This offseason has been circled on the Lightning’s calendar The Lightning have used no-trade clauses to negotiate lower salaries for a few years. Even last year, as Julien BriseBois was asked about the with players, so BriseBois likely will have to convince someone to difficulty of re-signing Brayden Point, the general manager pointed ahead approve a trade. to this season as a bigger challenge. Point and Alex Killorn will be the only players making over $4 million who BriseBois got a small reprieve when this summer’s offseason was won’t have a full no-trade clause this offseason. Trading Point, who took pushed to the fall, but it’s only temporary. And the situation got more on the role of top center, a year after re-signing him isn’t likely to be on challenging when the salary cap was fixed at $81.5 million, instead of its the table. projected small jump. Killorn’s deal transitions to a modified clause in which he will submit a list Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak are all restricted free of 16 teams he could be traded to. He had a big year in 2019-20 with his agents this year. first 20-goal season, a strong presence on the power play and an Not only that, but the Lightning also has $76.2 million committed to the increased leadership role in the dressing room. All of that makes him 15 players already under contract. In other words, only 14 players from someone the Lightning would prefer not to lose but also a more attractive the team’s expected playoff lineup are signed for next year. trade option for other teams.

They only have three defensemen — Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, both of whom have moved throughout and Braydon Coburn — currently under contract for next year, along with the lineup, also could be on the trading block. But they would have to 10 forwards. The Lightning is set at goalie with Andrei Vasilevskiy waive their no-trade clause for that to happen. starting his eight-year contract and Curtis McElhinney with one more Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.25.2020 year.

BriseBois is going to have to get creative. There’s no one on long-term injured reserve to trade to a team that needs to get above the salary-cap minimum, as BriseBois did with Ryan Callahan last year.

The challenges

Cirelli, Cernak and Sergachev have all had breakout years the past two seasons and are the priority re-signings. As we learned last year from the Point re-signing, priority doesn’t necessarily mean these three will come first.

Pat Maroon, Mitchell Stephens and Carter Verhaeghe’s contracts also expire this year among the forwards. Kevin Shattenkirk, Jan Rutta, Luke Schenn and Zach Bogosian will be up among the defensemen.

Stephens and Verhaeghe will be restricted free agents and could return at salaries close to $1 million. Shattenkirk was considered a bargain at $1.75 million after his contract was bought out by the Rangers. He likely will fetch a higher salary on the open market.

What they’ve already done

The Lightning already have made moves with this offseason crunch in mind. When BriseBois paid the high prices of a first-round pick for forward Barclay Goodrow and a first-rounder plus a prospect selected in the first round for forward Blake Coleman, part of their value was their low contracts. Coleman has another year at $1.8 million and Goodrow at $925,000.

When last year’s training camp opened, BriseBois signed McElhinney for two years in order not to get squeezed into paying a high price for a backup goalie next season.

In a star-studded class of restricted free agents last season, Point signed one of the most team-friendly deals at $6.75 million. It gives the Lightning at least some wiggle room, especially compared to Mitch Marner’s $10.9 million in Toronto and Mikko Rantanen’s $9.25 million in Colorado.

The Lightning carried fewer than the roster max of 23 players for most of this season in an effort to avoid any salary-cap overages from performance bonuses.

In the system

The Lightning do have some options within the organization.

Cal Foote could step in at defenseman; coaches have commented on his increased physicality in the playoff training camp. The organization also could re-sign restricted free agent Dominik Masin on the blue line. 1189167 Tampa Bay Lightning teammates. All those group chats and phone calls during the NHL’s pause, plus the time it allowed them to settle in mentally and spend time with their families, have all paid off.

Why Zach Bogosian has earned a look on the Lightning’s top defense “It’s crazy to think the trade was four-to-five months ago, it feels like a pair year ago,” Goodrow said.” When something like this happens, it kind of brings everyone close together. To be able to go through training camp with teammates, I definitely feel more comfortable than I did before we stopped play. By Joe Smith “I think it kind of hit the reset button on things, and to me, it doesn’t feel Jul 24, 2020 like the trade happened this year. I feel like, getting ready for the playoffs, I’ve been here the whole season.”

TAMPA, Fla. — There has been very little drama during Lightning camp Said Coleman, “You feel like part of the team. Not just the new guy.” the past few weeks. Bogosian knew a few of the Lightning players before he arrived, and Sure, the status of captain Steven Stamkos has been in question, but the noted it was a “pretty easy locker room to walk into.” 30-year-old center has been skating with the group and is overall “But it’s nice to build those relationships,” he said. It’s not just off-the-ice expected to be ready for the playoffs. Other than that, the lineup is pretty chemistry, but on it, that plays a big role. much set, and the roster the team will bring to Toronto on Sunday shouldn’t have many surprises. “It’s really hard to get traded during the season, I know — it happened to me every time,” Engblom said. “It takes some guys longer than others. Then came the past few days, where the biggest wrinkle in practice was Some of it is just plain luck. No matter what their position is, you start that veteran Zach Bogosian was getting reps in the top pair with Norris playing with someone you really feel comfortable with and you’re able to Trophy winner Victor Hedman. play your game. Sometimes, it’s not that simple.” We’ll spare you the clever GIFs and Twitter reactions from Sabres fans, Bogosian, who wasn’t able to get on the ice until early June, said it took a who had seen the hard-hitting defenseman healthy scratched and then few practices to get back into it, but at the end of the day, hockey is put on waivers. hockey and “it’s all coming back pretty quick.” The fact is this: Bogosian, 30, has earned a look. And, for now, that’s all “I did get some good training in (during the pause) and let my body this is. In an ideal world, Jan Rutta is Hedman’s partner, with the two recover,” he said. “It’s been kind of a long season for me.” working so well together during the regular season. It was a humbling season for Bogosian, who rehabbed from hip surgery, “Anything from analytics to the eye test, it all was coming up roses for then got healthy scratched for the first time in his career back in those two together,” coach Jon Cooper said. December. He later made a trade request and got put on waivers before But Rutta hasn’t played in a game since suffering a lower-body injury the Lightning signed him to a one-year, $1.3 million deal in February. He Feb. 4. And so far, it’s looked like Rutta is still working his way back. He had plenty of suitors, but Tampa Bay made a big push. It was a phone admitted recently he’s still trying to get in “game shape.” call with Cooper the Sunday he signed that helped seal the deal. There’s no doubt they talked about the team and the city but Bogosian felt And here comes Bogosian, a right-shot defenseman signed to a low-risk, needed. He was invigorated by a chance to play for a contender. one-year deal in late February. He was brought in to provide depth due to injuries to Rutta, Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak. And now Bogosian is “We’ve definitely needed that depth,” Cooper said. “The guys that can seizing the opportunity. skate, the game opens up, it comes a little easier to them. For a big man like that, he’s blessed with the ability to get around the ice. It’s helped his “I think he came in with an attack mentality,” Lightning assistant coach gap control, his timing. One of the big things was getting to know our Derek Lalonde said. “We asked the guys to not ever look into when the system, and the more he’s been around, even through Zoom and lineup is posted or where they’re going to fit in the lineup. We try to communicating with him, he feels more comfortable. purposely move that around because this process is going to change daily. “This little time with our team, just being involved with each other and the friendship, it’s helped guys feel more comfortable. And as he gets more “He comes in and sees himself on the original board listed lower and comfortable with our system, his game is improving. For a guy that hasn’t went about his business. I know a bunch of you guys mentioned how played a ton of hockey this year, he’s done a heck of a job and fits right strong his camp has been, and it has been. He came in here with the in with us.” idea to control the things he can control, work on his game and that’s led to some good play right now.” Zach Bogosian had five points in 19 games with the Sabres this season before ending up in Tampa. (Timothy T. Ludwig / USA Today) Bogosian, who has rehabbed from hip surgeries the previous two summers, didn’t play a ton of games this season (27 total and eight for The Lightning know Rutta fits well with Hedman. And there’s still plenty of the Lightning). But he started to feel more comfortable down the stretch time for Rutta to get back into game shape and return to the top pair, as with the Lightning, when he got shifts with Hedman, and carried that over the Lightning don’t open the round-robin schedule until Aug. 3. into the four-month pause, when he didn’t skip a beat due to workouts in “He hasn’t played in five-and-a-half months, that’s a long time,” Cooper his home gym. said. “We can’t sit here and say, ‘Just because (everything worked Lightning color analyst Brian Engblom, a two-time Stanley Cup before), it’s going to be there in the future.’ We’re going to give him a champion, said that Bogosian looks more youthful — like the player chance. Hopefully, we can get him back to where he was before he got Bogosian was in Winnipeg before he was traded to Buffalo during the hurt.” 2014-15 season. In the meantime, why not give Bogosian a chance to play with Hedman, “He’s playing fast, energetic,” Engblom said. “He’s got a bomb of a shot. even during Friday’s final scrimmage of camp (4 p.m., streamed on the It happens as you get older and other guys come in, your role gets more team’s website)? The other two defensive pairs have been locked in like defined, and some parts of your game drop off offensively. But he just most of the season, with McDonagh-Cernak and Mikhail Sergachev- looks a lot quicker, there’s more movement, more aggressiveness, which Kevin Shattenkirk. This experiment won’t shake any of those. Bogosian means his confidence level. has the ability to skate well and push the puck, and his size (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) and physicality are perfect for playoff hockey. “He’s smart. He knows he’s got nothing to lose. He might as well go out and be as aggressive like he has. It makes a lot of sense.” For what it’s worth, Bogosian likes the fit, noting that you can find out quickly if a pair doesn’t work. Bogosian, along with deadline acquisitions Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, all have commented in camp how much more comfortable they “He’s obviously a world-class player that can do everything,” Bogosian feel with the Lightning. It’s not just understanding and adjusting to the said of Hedman. “Any time you as a D-partner can help him out, get the system on the ice, but the camaraderie and feel they have with their puck up to him and let him play his game and make sure you can be a safety net for him, that’s what you try to do. He’s a pretty easy guy to read off of. You can’t miss him, as big as he is flying around out there. I’m super excited if that’s what it’s like going forward, super excited to play with him.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189168 Toronto Maple Leafs play hockey during a situation like this and provide entertainment – try to get back to some normalcy in our world.

“There may be some head down, stare downs occasionally with a few of ‘I don’t think it’ll be too friendly’: Inside the NHL bubble, players ready for the opposition, but I don’t really expect it too much.” awkward moments The fact of the matter is times have changed in hockey. The strong dislike among players of generations past is mostly gone. There’s a lot more socializing away from the rink, both during and after the season. Joshua Clipperton “If you had laid this [hub] scenario out to me 20 years ago, I would say there’s a better chance of a fist fight in the lobby,” Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice joked. Tuukka Rask doesn’t expect any problems living under the same roof as his rivals. Montreal Canadiens counterpart Claude Julien, however, won’t be surprised if something happens at some point during the resumption of He’s not so sure about everyone else. play, which gets going in earnest Aug. 1 and could run through the first “I don’t have too many enemies in the league because you’re a goalie week of October. and you’re just out there on an island,” said the veteran Boston Bruins “Back in the day, there was a lot of animosity,” said Julien, who played 12 netminder, who shares a locker room with star winger and noted pest pro seasons. “You might even see that in these series as we move Brad Marchand. “But it might be different for some of my teammates. forward here where there’s going to be some animosity. Who knows “If you play a seven-game playoff series and there’s some heat going on what’s going to happen in the hotels? That’s something we’re going to between the teams … probably not playing Ping-Pong together at the experience as we go along. We wouldn’t dare look at the other team. If hotel.” we did, there was a dirty look.

The 24 clubs set to battle in the NHL’s restart of its pandemic-hit season “Hopefully when it gets to the hotel, we won’t need referees or body that was suspended in mid-March will head to the hub cities of Toronto guards to break up some fights.” and Edmonton – where players and coaches will be locked down inside a Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.25.2020 bubble away from the general public in hopes keeping COVID-19 at bay – on Sunday.

Two hotels in each market will house the teams, which could lead to some interesting dynamics in the restaurants, lounges and other common areas. There’s a long list of rules related to physical distancing, and each 52-person travelling party will have its own space to both prepare and relax, but there’s a good chance of some awkward moments with hundreds of NHLers trying to grab hold of the Stanley Cup living in close proximity.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets, for example, are two of 10 franchises that will be both staying at the same complex and poised to meet in the best-of-five qualifying round for a spot in the usual 16-team playoffs.

“It’ll be something new, that’s for sure,” Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin said. “I don’t know what it’s going to be like. We’ll find out when we’re there.”

St. Louis Blues centre Ryan O’Reilly, whose team will begin its title defence in the Western Conference’s round-robin tournament to determine the top-4 seeds on that side of the bracket in Edmonton, said it will be strange running into someone you butted heads with in a game at the hotel the next morning.

“Once you go on the ice, it’s a war,” he said. “I don’t think it’ll be too friendly around the bubble.”

Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson and his teammates will be housed at the same Toronto hotel as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Bruins, but doesn’t envision any real tension.

“Seeing a lot of your playoff opponents wouldn’t necessarily be a normal feeling, but we’re all professionals,” he said. “We’re all grateful just to be able to be in that bubble and to be playing hockey at this time. There’ll be a lot of adjustments across the board, and that certainly is going to be something we haven’t seen before.”

Flames centre Mikael Backlund likened being in the same hotel as Calgary’s qualifying round opponent – the Winnipeg Jets – to his experience at the world championships.

“It’s going to be even harder now because we’re going to play against one team,” Backlund said. “To see them in the hallway and you had a battle or something, maybe not too happy to see a guy.”

Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said the idea of being anywhere near an opponent off the ice would have been severely frowned upon during his playing days.

“You were always cautious of not being in the same hotel as another team,” he said. “But this is what it takes. We’re just all happy to be able to 1189169 Toronto Maple Leafs investment firm focused on real estate innovators – Robert Reichmann is president of Reichmann Rothschild, a family office that manages private equity deals and philanthropic giving.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner invests in local real estate “We are not one of these unrealistic ridiculous tech startup companies; I startup Justo take pride in the fact we are down to earth and realistic,” said Mr. Reichmann, who approached Mr. Marner initially through his management agency. “We’re not looking for dumb money, I was very happy with the reception to what we were up to and what we were doing. Shane Dingman I don’t think [Mr. Marner] is making investments like this on a typical Real Estate Reporter basis. I’m very excited about it. … I don’t want to question it too much.”

It’s somewhat unusual for young athletes to be focused on a posthockey career and portfolio, but Mr. Marner credits his former teammates for Real estate startup Justo Inc. is getting a funding assist from a group of getting him thinking about his financial future. investors that includes all-star Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner. “I remember Patty [Patrick Marleau] was always telling me about markets and watching stocks and all this stuff,” he said. “His thing was … For Mr. Marner, who turned 23 in May and signed a six-year US$65.358- obviously there’s going to be a day where you don’t play hockey million NHL contract prior to the 2019-20 season, the equity investment is anymore, and you gotta make sure that when that happens you can still about planning for the future. run your life without going down the drain; you gotta make sure you’re ready to have backup plans that will help you out. “Hockey is not going to last forever. For me, it was just seeing an opportunity here and seeing something I think is really going to blow up,” “Another [influence] was my parents, they were really big on that … of Mr. Marner said about his first venture investment. “This is what I’m really making sure that you build yourself a brand that when you’re done the looking forward to doing, and get more involved with … it’s gotta be the hockey you can hop out of it and still work and still be successful.” right companies and the right picks.” As the pandemic continues leaving the interrupted NHL season in limbo, Justo, founded in 2017, is a real estate brokerage focused on the greater posthockey planning seems like the head’s up play. Toronto market with a couple twists on the traditional ways of doing business in Ontario: Its 10-person sales staff aren’t paid through Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.25.2020 commission, and the commissions the brokerage charges are discounted. The company won’t disclose the other investors in the group or the exact amount they have raised other than to say the total investment is in the single-digit millions. Robert Reichmann, also an investor in Justo who has served as the startup’s chief development officer since July of last year, said the company needs the money to boost its sales staff, marketing presence and digital infrastructure.

“Housing prices have doubled and commissions have stayed the same, there’s no good reason for it,” Mr. Reichmann said. “Our game plan is very much to disrupt the Canadian market in a significant way … we’re in our second year of active operations and have done $200-million in volume.” (Volume is not revenue – it’s a measure of the value of the homes bought or sold with Justo agents, on which Justo takes a small slice.)

Justo’s key pitch is that people who buy a house with one of its agents gets cash back in the form of half of the traditional buyer-agent commission. Selling and buying agents typically split commissions in Ontario, and in the Toronto region those fees vary: Where 5 per cent (split evenly) is typical, some agents offer more or less in commission. For sellers working with Justo, the commission is 1.25 per cent. So far, the company has handed back close to $2-million in cash to its clients.

Brokerages that give clients a discount on commissions typically offer less service to clients, but Mr. Reichmann says Justo is still a full-service brokerage on a slimmer commission and even offers extras such as free home inspections for buyer clients and free 3-D tours for sellers.

“Another thing that really sparked our mind – why we thought it was a really good fit – is that they told us they would donate a minimum of $100 [to Mr. Marner’s charity] for every home sold through the brokerage … that’s for a minimum of three years,” Mr. Marner said. “It felt like a company that’s not just an investment deal, it feels like a family deal in that you can be really close with everyone in the community and help everyone.” Mr. Marner’s charity, the Marner Assist Fund, has in the past run hockey tournaments for young people (cancelled this year owing to the pandemic) and has recently been helping to provide meals to front- line health care workers.

Mr. Marner, who was born in Markham, Ont. and grew up in Thornhill, says his father – a former realtor – has always stressed the potential of real estate. “Still to this day his thing to me is always real estate, and land will never go down in money,” he said. So far, Mr. Marner has bought a cottage and a house, a personal experience in paying high commissions that convinces him Justo’s approach will have legs.

Mr. Reichmann also has a deep family history in real estate: His grandfather was Albert Reichmann, one of the five brothers who came to Canada and the United States after the Second World War to build up Olympia and York Developments into an international property empire. It went bankrupt in the 1990s. In addition to founding Consequential – an 1189170 Toronto Maple Leafs MLSE president and CEO Michael Friisdahl said the job is not done. “We recognize that there is still much work to do, and while our venues

serve an important role over the next two months in bringing hockey back After churning out 500,000 meals, MLSE chefs now turn attention to NHL to millions of fans, our long-standing support of community agencies hub through Second Harvest will ensure this important work continues,” he said.

MLSE’s chefs are working with Second Harvest to support the start-up of By Neil Davidson its own commissary kitchens to produce meals moving forward.

The Canadian Press Toronto Star LOADED: 07.25.2020 Fri., July 24, 2020

After 500,000 meals, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s community meal donation program is coming to an end.

But the kitchen remains open as Chris Zielinski, culinary director and executive chef for all MLSE properties, and his team of chefs turn their attention to helping feed some 600 people at the NHL’s Toronto hub as hockey resumes play.

The MLSE meal program called Bringing Toronto Back To Its Feet was scheduled through the end of July. It saw Scotiabank Arena turned into a giant kitchen, with BMO Field’s kitchens and facilities also involved in meal production.

“We survived and we’re on to a whole new thing now,” said Zielinski.

Scotiabank Arena is hosting games while BMO Field is being used as an outdoor training facility by participating teams.

Zielinski is planning everything from outdoors BBQs to Taco Nights for the NHL teams, league officials and broadcast crew who will be based in the Toronto hub.

“After you’ve made 15,000 meals in a day, serving 600 to hockey players doesn’t seem that hard,” he said.

Zielinski will be serving food at seven different locations, including several at Scotiabank Arena. The BMO Club at BMO Field is being converted into an a la carte restaurant, with games being shown on the big screen in the stadium.

MLSE, meanwhile, will continue to distribute meals to community agencies through the end of the month. The program is also donating 15,000 pounds of food and meal preparation resources to Second Harvest, the largest food rescue organization in Canada.

Second Harvest, helped by a network of local suppliers and sponsors, supplied fresh ingredients daily to the MLSE team. The chefs then turned those supplies, along with other food purchased or donated to the program, into ready-to-heat single-serving or family meals.

“It’s crazy to think but really 24 people made 500,000 meals,” said Zielinski.

While there were 250 people working shifts building and packing the meals, a crew of 24 chefs cooked them.

“The chefs were the same 24 people from start to finish,” said Zielinski.

The chefs had to be spread among Scotiabank Arena’s kitchens to ensure physical distancing.

Since its inception in April, the program has provided meals to more than 75 community agencies, including local shelters, as well as front-line health-care workers and their families at 25 hospitals and health-care facilities in the Greater Toronto Area.

“These past three months have demonstrated what is possible when we work together and put community first,” MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum said in a statement.

Others also stepped up.

Maple Lodge Farms provided 70,000 pounds of chicken, Unico/Primo contributed 45,000 pounds of pasta and canned goods, McCain chipped in with 55,000 pounds of potatoes and Mars Food gave 15,000 pounds of rice.

Sysco logged more than 400 hours and 10,000 kilometres in delivering the meals throughout the city. 1189171 Toronto Maple Leafs conclusions on the Game 1 lineup, unless there are injuries or COVID-19 positives between now and Aug. 2.

Keefe has been keeping the door open, saying “a lot of things can Kyle Clifford looking forward to unleashing physical side once Maple change.” Leafs square off with Jackets Yet we anticipate just one decision has to be made at forward. If Nick Robertson is in the opener against the Blue Jackets, one of Pierre Engvall or Frederik Gauthier will sit. Terry Koshan The top three defence pairs are set. Rasmus Sandin and Martin Marincin Published:July 24, 2020 form the fourth pair.

Updated:July 24, 2020 7:54 PM EDT We’ll be curious to see whether the Leafs decide to take all four goaltenders into the bubble. Based on experience, Kasimir Kaskisuo

presumably gets the nod over Joseph Woll to be the third-stringer after As much as his instincts might have told him to do otherwise, Kyle Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell, if the Leafs take three netminders Clifford held back during Maple Leafs scrimmages the past couple of and not four. weeks. Three or four players from the group of defencemen Calle Rosen, Teemu Clifford didn’t put any opponents — otherwise known as Leafs Kivihalme and Mac Hollowell, and forwards Nic Petan, Egor Korshkov, teammates — through the boards during the camp friendlies, nor did the Kenny Agostino, Tyler Gaudet, Adam Brooks and Denis Malgin will be bruising winger line up anyone for an open-ice hit. left off the roster. Our guess is that Hollowell, Korshkov and Gaudet will be among the odd men out. The Leafs know they’re going to have their hands full with a hard-nosed Columbus Blue Jackets group in the best-of-five qualifying round in LOOSE LEAFS Phase 4. As intense as the Leafs’ scrimmages were, Clifford is among Keefe on Matthews’ progression: “A lot of the things that I was hoping to the Leafs who will be able to turn his physical dial up to 11 once the see from him in this camp, I’ve seen, and he is the least of my worries.” qualifier starts. … The exhibition game isn’t until Tuesday, when the Leafs face the “There’s a line (in camp) and you don’t really want to be flirting with it Montreal Canadiens at 8 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena, yet Andersen already because you don’t want to injure your guys, but at the same time, you was peering ahead. “It’ll be another step in the process,” Andersen said. want to make sure your teammates are ready for what Columbus is going “It’s important to get the timing going and I think it has been going in the to bring,” Clifford said. “We know the hard, heavy game they’re going to right direction. I’ve been feeling better and a real game will be great.” … bring. If you got an opportunity to take somebody’s head off (during The Leafs will practise on Saturday after having Friday off. Saturday will scrimmages), you have to let up a little bit because we don’t want any mark the last time media will have access to practice before the team injuries coming out of this camp.” heads into the bubble.

Among the factors in the qualifying round the Leafs can bank on is the Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.25.2020 Jackets won’t be full of surprises. We wouldn’t imply that necessarily would work in the Leafs’ favour.

“They’re absolutely one of the hardest-working teams in the league, so I think it’s a good matchup for us,” Clifford said. “It’s a really good test for our club. There’s only one way to win this series and that’s to work hard and be focused on what we have to do.

“I know we have a lot of skill, but there’s two parts (to success), the work ethic and skill set.”

Auston Matthews was asked on Thursday whether the Leafs will be ready to play after an abbreviated camp with just one exhibition game.

“I don’t know, we’ll find out shortly,” Matthews said. “It’s different circumstances than normal, but every team’s pretty much going through the same thing so there’s really no excuse.

“We’re trying to get as ready as possible as a team and not really worrying about what other teams are doing or how the teams look.”

Matthews said he figured the Jackets will provide “a variety” of challenges.

“They’re really good defensive team and they’re well-coached, they play with a lot of structure, so they don’t give up much,” Matthews said. “Making sure we’re taking care of the puck, also playing with structure, not getting frustrated with what they’re doing (will be important).”

LINEUPS DUE

During a Zoom call with media on Friday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly mentioned that clubs were asked to submit their 52-person travelling list for the bubble by Friday, including the 31-player roster.

Daly said the NHL hopes to release the player lists for each team during the weekend.

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe intimated this past week that forward Andreas Johnsson, who continues to work his way back from knee surgery in February, would be among the players on the Leafs roster.

Based on what has been unfolding at camp, and with Keefe saying on Thursday that he feels “pretty close (to the playing roster) in the sense we’ve narrowed it down, we’ve got our 13 (forwards) and eight (defencemen) we’ve been working with,” we can make some fairly easy 1189172 Toronto Maple Leafs No. But they will be using a high-tech whistle that prevents excess spittle. “We did take a little look at the electronic whistle,” said Stephen Walkom,

vice-president and director of officiating. “One of the things that we will be Traikos: What is Bubble hockey? trying is a Fox 40 pea-less whistle, which we believe has the right trill for the players and as well takes a lot less force to use. The officials didn’t really want to use the electronic whistle. It hasn’t been tested enough for us.” Michael Traikos Why was Edmonton — and not Toronto, the centre of the hockey Published:July 24, 2020 universe —chosen to host the conference and Stanley Cup finals? Updated:July 24, 2020 5:16 PM EDT “I think mostly logistics and the amount of room we would have in the back of the house of the respective buildings,” said commissioner Bettman. “Both buildings are great, both cities are great, both hubs are Gary Bettman called Phase 4 of the NHL’s return to play plan an certainly going to be much more adequate and going to be terrific, but we “extraordinary, involved and difficult and unusual circumstance.” just felt that in terms of the needs for the Stanley Cup final, we would be more comfortable with the resources available to us in the end of the It was likely the understatement of the year. building.” As of Sunday, 24 teams will have moved into two hub cities — one in Wait — didn’t a recent storm cause severe flooding to Edmonton’s Toronto and the other in Edmonton — for an expanded post-season that Rogers Place? will begin on Aug. 2. For up to three months, players will be stuck inside closed-off bubbles where they will eat, sleep and play hockey. If they’re Yes. But apparently, everything is operational now. lucky, families will be able to join them. Maybe they’ll even sneak out for a round of golf. “A bit of a scare, for sure,” said Mayer. “But there are no issues at all. Everything has been repaired. The control room that had some What will bubble life look like? Will the Maple Leafs and Oilers significant damage has had all the equipment that was damaged necessarily have home-ice advantage? What happens if there’s a replaced. We’re turned on the ribbon boards, the scoreboards — all our positive test of COVID-19? data is back to normal, no problems at all.”

Here are the answers to all those questions and more … The ice is always terrible in the playoffs. What is it going to be like in the dead of summer? How big are these bubbles? Better than you might think. While the heat and humidity might be an Pretty big, actually. issue in August, the league believes it should be able to keep the rinks The Toronto bubble will technically be a couple of bubbles, with some colder than normal because they can now turn down the thermostat aspects in the west end of the city and others in the downtown core without having to worry about giving the fans hypothermia. around Scotiabank Arena. The teams will be split into two hotels, with “There will be no morning skates at either facility,” added Kris King, practices held at the Maple Leafs’ training facility at the Ford senior vice-president of hockey operations. “18,000 less people in those Performance Centre in Etobicoke. BMO Field, the home of Toronto FC’s environments and with the ability to control the humidity, our guys are soccer team, will be used for outdoor recreational activities, game quite confident that the ice conditions will be ideal for what we need and viewing and dining. that’s three games a day.” In Edmonton, the hub is more centralized around Rogers Arena. Teams Will the Maple Leafs and Oilers have technically have home-ice will be divided into four hotels, with practices held at Terwillegar advantage, since they’re playing in their home rinks and using their Community Recreation Centre. dressing rooms? Each hub will have 14 restaurants, bars, pubs and coffee shops, as well Not exactly. As the higher-ranked teams, both the Leafs and Oilers will as tennis courts, golf suites and movie theatres available to the players. be the home team for Games 1, 2 and 5 of their respective qualifying Will players be allowed outside the bubble? round series. But for Games 3 and 4, they will have to change in the visitors’ dressing room and sit in the visiting bench. That depends on how deep their teams go in the playoffs. For the first 14 days, players must remain confined in their spaces while quarantining Ok, what happens if a player tests positive for COVID-19? measures are still in effect. But while the Ontario government has not Well, to put it bluntly, nothing. given the green light for any excursions, those sequestered in Alberta might be treated to activities such as playing golf. The NHL is expecting positive tests. After all, an increase of people means an increase of exposure. The real concern is containing the With so many teams living together, are players from rival teams going to spread of the coronavirus, so that one positive test does not mushroom have to play nice with one another away from the rink? and become multiple positive tests and cause an outbreak within the Not exactly. In fact, the NHL will be doing its best to encourage social bubble. If that happens, the NHL will work with Health Canada to distancing between rivals, such as the Zack Kassian and Matthew determine if the playoffs will continue. Tkachuk. “Obviously, we’re hoping that once we move into the bubble environment “We’re finding from our players that this is the Stanley Cup playoffs and … it does two things,” said they are competing for the Stanley Cup and it’s in their interests to be Dr. Willem Meeuwisse, the NHL’s chief medical officer. “It protects the separated,” said Steve Mayer, NHL executive vice-president and chief public in the first instance and then it protects the people inside the content officer. “There are going to be certain areas — let’s call them bubble in the second case. And we don’t expect it to be perfect. We common areas. For the first five days, we’ve put a very stringent tone expect that with the number of people that we’re going to have some that they have to be separated in restaurants and everywhere. But we positive tests and we have a method and a process designed in advance really have felt that from the players’ feedback their interest in wanting to to deal with that and will continue to consult with the local health be separated throughout. And we’ll see how that evolves as the authorities as it unfolds.” tournament moves on.” So one test isn’t a concern? Who else will be in the bubble? “There’s a lot of thought that’s gone into this question: What do we do Each team is permitted to bring 52 people, which multiplied by 12 teams with a positive test and what is the exposure to other people within the gives you a total of 624. But the NHL is expecting more than 1,000 bubble environment?” said Dr. Meeuwisse. “Obviously some of this is people to be living in the bubbles. Forty of those are on-ice officials, who unique … you assume that there’s a degree of exposure. The one thing all tested negative for COVID-19 and whose job still requires them to we cannot do with players is put masks on them while they play. But break up post-whistle scrums. we’re mitigating that risk by doing testing on a daily basis. We still will do The refs won’t be wearing masks? contact tracing, because there are degrees of exposure and if we feel a degree of exposure is unusually high they still may be quarantined.”

What is a game going to look like without fans?

The snarky answer is that it will look like a typical home game for the Ottawa Senators. But with audio provided by EA Sports’ NHL2K for supplementary crowd noise and 12 additional cameras to help provide new visual angles, the actual broadcast might be an improvement over what the NHL has previously been able to do.

“I’m super-excited about the broadcasts and to be able to do some different things throughout the tournament,” said Mayer. “There are no fans and many times the consideration of where cameras go in arenas are based on where our fans are — and we don’t want to block our fans from the viewing experience.

“But because we have no fans here, we are able to walk around an arena like this and find the perfect, most ideal positions for every single one of our cameras.

“It is our goal to be able to show a hockey game in a manner that shows off the speed and you feel like you’re part of the game and you’re watching with the energy that sometimes doesn’t come from the fans but the play on the ice.”

In other words, get ready for bubble hockey.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189173 Toronto Maple Leafs He felt the rest of his team had continued to develop and he found it difficult to “jump into games.”

His confidence was shot. He doubted his movements and overthought Leafs prospect Mikko Kokkonen hopes his style of play translates to NHL decisions on the ice. He was worried about making mistakes. The defenceman who was praised for his stability had lost that sense of composure in the first few months of the season.

By Joshua Kloke He was worried about playing in the 2020 world juniors but received an invite to play for Finland. It was the boost of confidence he needed. And it Jul 24, 2020 translated on the ice.

“He became stronger when he handled those feelings,” said Suokas. “He There is a summer cacophony of birds chirping and dogs barking outside knew that the sun would shine after a while.” Mikko Kokkonen’s home. He is on the phone and the noise carries from At the world juniors, Finland played the majority of games on a smaller his backyard in Mikkeli, in central Finland, to a reporter in Toronto. ice surface than Kokkonen was used to. As he was forced to make He’d rather talk above the noise outside than let anyone inside hear him quicker decisions, he found the flow in his game and played without the speak English. He’s been using the language for more than a decade, kind of heavy tactical instruction Liiga teams often rely on. but he’s still unsure and worried something might be misconstrued. He felt liberated. And so the 19-year-old defenceman resorts to Google Translate to be “Every second, something happens,” Kokkonen said of playing on sure he finds the right word to describe his play. smaller rinks. “In Finland, we have big rinks and sometimes too much “Monipuolinen,” he said faintly, with his phone pulled away from his ear. time.”

When the third-round pick of the Maple Leafs returns to the call, he His two goals in the tournament led all Finnish defencemen. He trusted announces the translation proudly: “Versatile.” his instincts once again.

Despite being told his English is easy to understand, he insists he can “I didn’t think when I played,” said Kokkonen. “I just played. My decisions improve. Finding ways to improve has been his calling card in the past just … came.” and he did it again this season, when he had to rediscover his game with After that tournament, in which Finland finished in fourth, Kokkonen’s Liiga’s Jukurit after a scary preseason injury. season improved. When Kokkonen awoke in the middle of the night last September, He realized he could bring the mentality he had on the smaller surface to something didn’t feel right. the larger Finnish rinks and his play would benefit. He was set to leave for Traverse City, Mich., the following day to take “When we play in Finland’s Liiga, we have more structure with how we part in the 2019 NHL Prospects Tournament. He began vomiting and it play,” said Kokkonen. “When we play with the juniors, we just play. We was more than just nerves. skate, it’s really so much faster than Liiga. That’s really good for me Earlier in the day, he’d sustained a check from behind during an under- because I always like to just play and not think so much.” 20 exhibition game between Finland and the Czech Republic. His head Before the world juniors, Kokkonen had three points in 20 Liiga games. went crashing into the boards, but he had felt fine in the aftermath. After the tournament, he had seven points in 19 games. Not a bad But before dawn, nausea and headaches were too much. A trip to the improvement for a defenceman not known for his offensive capabilities, hospital confirmed Kokkonen had suffered his first concussion. Not only and one who started in the offensive zone 43.7 percent of the time last would he miss the Traverse City tournament, but he’d be out of action for season, second-lowest of any regular Jukurit defenceman. the next month. But more than creating offence, he earned the trust of the coaching staff. The Leafs looked to have gotten a steal at the draft with the smart, In the first two months of the season, he was averaging less than 18 reliable and mature two-way defenceman. For Kokkonen, missing out on minutes a game. In February and March, Kokkonen averaged more than an opportunity to show why the Leafs had drafted him months earlier was 21 minutes of ice time a game. a disappointment. “He started to understand that every play doesn’t need to be a highlight,” “I wanted to show Toronto’s coaches and scouts that I could play in the said Suokas, who noted how Kokkonen increased his power and strength small rink,” said Kokkonen. and became more responsible defensively.

At first, Kokkonen asked his Jukurit coaches to allow him to practice. “Now he can battle better in Liiga. That helps him a lot because he’s a smart defenceman who knows well when it’s time to hit, steal to he puck “He had so much fire inside him to return to the ice and train and work or just cover to buy time for other players to defend. And then when we hard,” said Jukurit coach Teemu Suokas. don’t have to defend as long, we can transition to offence better.”

Suokas had seen it before: players thinking they could play through It’s that assessment of Kokkonen’s game, and how he improved this concussion symptoms. And so the coach countered, telling him returning season, which could make him a valuable piece of the Leafs long-term to the ice quickly would only prolong his recovery and would hamper his puzzle on defence. effectiveness on the ice. Kokkonen relented. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has built a team predicated on keeping the puck “It sucks,” Kokkonen said. “But that’s hockey.” with the club’s skilled forwards as much as possible. Kokkonen will never have the offensive upside in his game to be a first-pair defenceman, but if Suokas offered a more nuanced take. he can continue to be efficient with his defending and quick in transition, “When we talked about this. because he’s so mature, he understood that his own transition to the Leafs organization could come soon enough. this is not a permanent state,” Suokas said of Kokkonen’s mentality. “He “I would like, of course, to be a top defenceman,” said Kokkonen. “But I knew that if he didn’t take his time and take care of the concussion, it don’t think that’s how I will play in the NHL.” might bother him for longer. He learned from it because it’s not easy to be injured. That was a learning point.” He won’t give himself a specific timeline but believes that after one more season in Liiga, he could be ready to move to North America. But in the Kokkonen agrees. meantime this upcoming season, he knows what he wants to be. “Now that I know what the injury feels like,” said Kokkone, “I know what I “I think I can be …,” said Kokkonen, pausing frequently, “how can I say have to do so it won’t get the best of me.” it? Wait a second, I will translate.” When he finally returned to the ice in October, there was a lot of catching “Johtava,” he said. up to do. I tell him that roughly translates to being a leader. He exhales. He thinks he can do better and leaves the conversation to once again open his translation app.

“Esimerkilla,” he said.

“An example?” I asked.

“Yeah,” said Kokkonen, before repeating the word with a little more pride: “Esimerkilla.”

To do that, he plans on leading more with his actions than his words.

“I’m not the loudest guy in the locker room. I really like to show in practice and games how serious I am,” said Kokkonen.

That shouldn’t be difficult. It’s not rare for Kokkonen to be the last one on the ice after practice asking coaches: “Can we do an extra lap? Maybe one more drill? I don’t want to end with a bad pass.”

“I’m not the type that if I have a bad game, I’ll just read about it and go home,” said Kokkonen. “I always do extra.”

“He has a curious state of mind when it comes to hockey. He always wants to learn more,” said Suokas.

If Kokkonen can thrive in Liiga next season, a move to the Marlies could come in 2021-22.

But if he cannot develop a few elite tools that will help him stand out, it will be worth wondering whether he can make the jump to North America. Yes, Kokkonen is still only 19. But with two-and-a-half Liiga seasons already under his belt, there will come a point when he should be able to move to North America.

He wants to be able to skate, and process plays, quicker. He knows the split-seconds in decision-making separate mistakes from well-executed plays in the AHL and the NHL.

Which is why he’s looking forward to being part of the world juniors again in December, provided the tournament goes ahead in Edmonton and Red Deer.

“Every second, something happens,” said Kokkonen of playing on smaller ice.

While Kokkonen hesitates to put an exact time on when he’d like to transition to North American hockey, he said learning to execute offensive and defensive actions much quicker is his priority for next season.

That’s good news for the Leafs and senior director of player development Scott Pellerin, who saw room for improvement in Kokkonen’s 2019-20 season.

“There were some opportunities there where maybe he didn’t hit his potential in terms of plays with the puck,” said Pellerin. “But his natural ability to move the puck, to skate, to jump off the blue line, I think there’s a lot of positive things that we’ve seen. So we’re happy with where he is right now.”

Kokkonen is happy with that assessment. He knew he’d have to improve last season, and welcomes the chance to improve.

So much so that he doesn’t resort to Google Translate when asked what exactly he needs to improve upon next season. His confidence is coming back, in all areas of his life.

“Everything,” he said, laughing at how quickly the answer came to him. “I think I’m good at everything, but not excellent yet.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189174 Toronto Maple Leafs xGF% 52%

55% Observations from Leafs camp Pt. 2: Ilya Mikheyev soars, roster takes shape SCF%

53%

By Jonas Siegel 57%

Jul 24, 2020 Either way, Keefe has options, and all of them ooze potential.

I do wonder if the Leafs get a more engaged Nylander when he’s running with Tavares. He seems to take more of a backseat with Matthews, who The Leafs will be bubble-bound soon, but before they set up shop at the tends to have the puck on his tape more than Tavares, which Fairmont Royal York let’s take a second, catch our breath and have a consequently means less puck for Nylander. look at where things stand with Phase 3 just about in the books. Interestingly though, Nylander produced more shots, goals and points (You’ll find Observations Pt. 1 here) per 60 minutes playing with Matthews this season than he did with The lineup Tavares. Take that eye test.

We’ve got a pretty good outline of the lineup the Leafs will dress in Game LW3: It’s either Nick Robertson or Pierre Engvall here. We’ll dig into 1 against the Blue Jackets next month. Eighteen of the 20 spots look to Robertson a little more here in a second, but this race feels almost too be spoken for, with some wrinkles still to be ironed out. close to call at the moment. Keefe might not even know just yet which way he’ll initially turn. Top-6: The names are all locked in, but Sheldon Keefe is still choosing from two looks for his top two lines: The D: It briefly seemed possible that Travis Dermott would end up on the right side with Morgan Rielly, and that might still be the case at a later Look 1: William Nylander — Auston Matthews — Zach Hyman/Ilya point. But not right now in all likelihood. Dermott has spent camp Mikheyev — John Tavares — Mitch Marner partnered with Tyson Barrie; Cody Ceci has reconnected with Rielly. This feels like the look the Leafs will dress in Game 1, and the right one. Rielly Look 2: Zach Hyman — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner/William and Ceci might have been overexposed as a shutdown duo — still a Nylander — John Tavares — Ilya Mikheyev reasonable 50 percent in the expected goals department — but feel like The Leafs coach has flipped back and forth between the combos the right solution opposite secondary competition (especially given the throughout camp, including with the first look — both lines shining — in ripple effect of moving up Dermott, a move that would likely sideline Ceci Thursday’s scrimmage finale. and make for an easily pushed around third pair of Rasmus Sandin and Barrie). Still, it’s clear Keefe wants to get Dermott as many looks as Matthews, Marner and Hyman were an effective bunch over 374 minutes possible at camp on his off-side — just in case he wants to make a together this season, winning 56 percent of the scoring chances and 58 change later. When Justin Holl suffered a cut on his face during practice percent of the goals — with an expected goals mark around 56 percent. on Wednesday, for instance, it was Dermott who moved up to play the It was the night of Dec. 27, meanwhile, that Keefe first sprung Mikheyev right — sometimes with Jake Muzzin, sometimes with Rielly. (Holl onto a unit with Tavares and Nylander. That was it though. The Russian returned to camp Thursday wearing a full shield.) winger’s wrist was sliced that night in New Jersey and he hasn’t played since. Tavares and Nylander were a hit together though, and Nylander Sandin and Martin Marincin are the clear 7-8, meanwhile. seems to have found a connection with Mikheyev at camp. Fourth line: Keefe seems to like Jason Spezza, Kyle Clifford and Frederik There’s potential here. Gauthier on the fourth line, though their results in limited duty were not encouraging (41 percent possession). Spezza and Clifford appear to be Meanwhile, after spending most of their first two NHL seasons together, locks for Game 1. Gauthier less so. The 25-year-old, you’ll recall, was Matthews, Nylander and Hyman seemed to have picked up where they scratched here and there as the season rolled along. Keefe might also left off. And while Marner and Tavares, with Mikheyev on the left, want the flexibility of having Robertson and Engvall in the lineup, to trade seemed a bit off early in camp, they were fiery together in Thursday’s places if necessary. two-period scrimmage. The magic was back! It was most definitely missing early this season. Keep in mind that with Keefe, nothing is set in stone. Marner and Nylander could trade places again, maybe even for next week’s Marner & Tavares exhibition game against Montreal. Engvall could slip past Robertson. Or vice-versa. Embrace change! TOI Stars of camp and other nuggets 284 I. Mikheyev has been the standout of camp to this point, and won MVP of 1060 the Phase 3 scrimmage series (including with my vote). He looks faster GF-GA than when he last played in December, and the puck seems to be popping off his stick. Keefe wasn’t sure if that was tied to all the skills 12-18 work Mikheyev put in over the months of his recovery, but saw clear 71-46 improvement. Mikheyev, almost quietly, fired it almost 10 times per 60 minutes in five-on-five spots over his 39 games, trailing only Matthews GF/60 among Leafs players. A more potent shot might help him find the net a bit more often (eight goals on 98 shots overall). He looks like a huge 2.5 addition for the Leafs. “He had a little extra jump all throughout this,” 4.0 Keefe said.

SCF/60 ILYA MIKHEYEV HAD A HATTY TO LEAD HIS SIDE TO VICTORY IN TODAY'S SCRIMMAGE. 32.3 DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS | #LEAFSFOREVER 37.1 PIC.TWITTER.COM/JJBO0WUGM8 xGF/60 — TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (@MAPLELEAFS) JULY 24, 2020

2.5 Also impressive (until Thursday when he quieted down some): Nylander. Coming off a breakout 31-goal regular season, the 24-year-old looks as 3.0 confident as ever. At one point during the scrimmages, he lofted a puck from his own zone — on his backhand, mind you — that rose high in the evident this week, that Robertson is adapting and gaining steam. “I’ve air before it landed perfectly on Tavares’ stick, in stride. He might be seen some positive steps, for sure,” the Leafs coach said after headed for an impactful postseason. “It looks like he kinda just picked Wednesday’s workouts. “It’s been really positive. Early on it was a little (up) where he left off when the season went on pause,” Matthews said. bit slower for him, but it seems the more experience and opportunity “He’s got his long hair flowing in the wind when he’s skating up and down we’ve given him that he’s done well with it.” the ice. He’s playing with confidence, and I think that’s always a good sign when it comes to him.” Robertson was hardly noticeable in the early scrimmages. He turned over pucks and maybe more concerning — if he was going to inject a (Courtesy Toronto Maple Leafs) scoring punch from lower in the lineup — struggled to get shots off or through against NHL-calibre competition. III. How far have the Leafs gone to replicate (as best they can) the feel of Scotiabank Arena: They’ve been blaring Kanye West’s “Power” before And that was always going to be a big part of Robertson’s challenge, power plays in the scrimmages, just like they do at home games. Keefe explained, finding soft spots to shoot in the NHL, with less space Assistant coach Andrew Brewer has played the role of DJ, standing and gaps that close much faster than in the OHL. He struggled again to between the benches with an iPad selecting tracks between whistles and get shots off in Thursday’s scrimmage. during (fake) TV timeouts. “It’s the speed and the size of the players and also just positionally, their IV. From time to time players are trying to leave a mark physically, as sticks, how they read the game, you’re dealing with the best of the best,” they would in game action. During Wednesday’s scrimmage, Dermott Keefe said. “At lower levels, you get some guys that have some of the went into the corner to retrieve a puck and was bumped hard by Hyman. things I just listed but maybe they don’t read the play as well so they The 23-year-old emerged smiling though. “Hymie!” he grinned, trailing his don’t get there or whatever it is. You’re dealing with the best of the best teammate up the ice and tugging at his sweater. On Thursday, Ceci in the NHL and in the last little while here we’ve moved him up to be knocked Tavares into the boards with some thunder. The Leafs captain playing against a lot of our best guys and with some of our best we’ve stayed down for a moment before heading to the bench with a grimace. been giving him that feel and all that. That’s part of the adjustment and He was on the ice for his next shift. that’s really where we’ve been at here with Nick is trying to find ways to give him increased experience.” V. Kapanen celebrated his 24th birthday on Thursday. He started slowly out of the gate at camp, not quite engaged enough, but has flashed his Which is why Robertson, after largely lingering on a reserve line in Week speed along with more enthusiasm since. (He’s had trouble getting his 1, spent most of this Week 2 with Kerfoot and Kapanen. shot on goal though, and was robbed by Frederik Andersen at one point when he did.) “I think he’s gotten better every single day in terms of how It seems like a no-brainer for the Leafs to at least get him into the lineup he looks and then also the energy he’s playing with and practicing with,” against the Canadiens in the exhibition next week and see how it goes. If Keefe said. “When he’s playing with energy and he’s got pop in his step he’s out of his depth, Engvall can take his place early against Columbus. he’s a much different player, and he’s been bringing that a lot more here (Courtesy of Toronto Maple Leafs) the last little while.” Bubble roster VI. One thing the Leafs don’t appear to be considering: Reconnecting Barrie and Rielly as some might hope. The two haven’t spent any time Kyle Dubas said the Leafs will likely bring 28-29 players (up to 31 are together at camp. And notably, it wasn’t Barrie who moved up with Holl permitted) with them into the bubble: 15-16 forwards, 9-10 defencemen, briefly sidelined on Wednesday. Instead, the 28-year-old spent and 3-4 goaltenders. Wednesday’s scrimmage with either Sandin or Martin Marincin, and Based on what’s gone down at camp, here’s a guess on what that group Dermott on Thursday. will look like: VII. The Leafs started their final scrimmage at 4 p.m., mirroring the Game Forwards (16) 2 start time against Columbus. Locks (14): Matthews, Marner, Hyman, Nylander, Tavares, Mikheyev, VIII. Matthews looks like he’s back. The pop has gradually come back in Kapanen, Kerfoot, Robertson, Engvall, Clifford, Spezza, Gauthier, his step, he’s controlling the puck more effectively and the shot is Andreas Johnsson whistling again. No real debate here. Sidelined since February by a knee injury, Robertson in the mix Johnsson has been skating for about a month, according to Keefe, and About Robertson: It’s looking likely, though not certain, that he’ll be will join the Leafs in the bubble. He could be ready to play when the among the 12 forwards playing Aug. 2 versus the Blue Jackets. The 18- second round of the actual postseason begins. And though Robertson year-old spent the final scrimmage alongside Spezza and Clifford while might not get the call in Game 1, he should be a shoo-in to at least enter Engvall rejoined Kerfoot and Kapanen. the bubble and remain an option for the Leafs.

A little overwhelmed, perhaps (and justifiably so), in his first week with Bubble (2): Nic Petan was the standout of this group, a more-than-point- the Leafs, Robertson has increasingly looked the part — if perhaps a little a-game scorer with the Marlies this season, with NHL experience. He fatigued as the week rolled along. can play centre and wing, and made himself noticeable any time the Leafs scrimmaged. He deserves a spot. That leaves one spot, What’s maybe most noticeable is the shooting/scoring dimension he potentially, for Denis Malgin, Adam Brooks, Kenny Agostino and Egor brings, perhaps most interestingly to Kerfoot and Kapanen. Korshkov. None made an especially big impression at camp. Malgin has The Leafs played a single-period scrimmage on Wednesday afternoon. the most NHL experience (192 games), including a handful of games In the opening 10 minutes alone, Robertson fired five(!) shots at Jack with the Leafs. He gets the nod over Agostino, a heavier presence who Campbell and attempted six. One came on the power play, with never drew a call-up to the Leafs this season (even when injuries created Robertson slotting onto the left point of the second unit, another was a opportunity) and Brooks, who’s played only seven games in the NHL. one-timer from the high slot during five-on-five action. Robertson swiped Cuts: Agostino, Korshkov, Brooks, Tyler Gaudet a puck and even raced in alone against Campbell only to be hauled down and given a penalty shot. Robertson misfired. He was all over the place Defence (10) though, infecting teammates with his energy. Locks (8): Rielly, Muzzin, Ceci, Holl, Dermott, Barrie, Sandin; Marincin “He’s not backing down from anyone,” Marner said. “It’s something that Bubble (2): You’d have to think the Leafs would want more than two extra — I’m obviously not an older guy really — but I think the older guys really defenders at the ready. Calle Rosen nabs one spot. And if he’s available, do appreciate that he comes in every day, works as hard as he can and Timothy Liljegren should grab the other. He was ruled “unfit” to play on makes sure when he gets on that ice he’s doing everything he can to the first day of camp, and though he’s since skated with Johnsson and leave an impression. ” development coaches, the 21-year-old has to participate in any team on- Robertson didn’t have quite the same jump on Thursday, but he still ice activities. There’s no reason not to bring him into the bubble if he attempted a handful of shots. could become an option, albeit the 10th in all likelihood.

Well aware of the growing hype, Keefe seems to have been trying to Cuts: Teemu Kivihalme, Mac Hollowell tamp down expectations for Robertson. But he conceded what was Goaltenders (3)

Locks: (2): Andersen, Campbell

Bubble (1): The Leafs could choose to bring Joseph Woll and Kasimir Kaskisuo into the bubble if they wanted to, but with space limited (52 people for the entire team), the likelihood here is they choose the veteran Kaskisuo.

Cuts: Woll

— Stats and research courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference, and hockeyDB

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020

1189175 Vegas Golden Knights

William Karlsson, Oscar Dansk have been quarantine companions

Ben Gotz

July 24, 2020 - 5:40 PM

The Golden Knights were forcibly separated when the NHL season paused in March.

They scattered, and many players didn’t see each other for months. William Karlsson and Oscar Dansk, however, were two of the exceptions. The Swedish countrymen bunked together in Karlsson’s Las Vegas home and kept each other company during their time away from hockey.

“You know, he made my quarantine time very fun,” Karlsson said. “He’s a great friend and to have him around this weird period of time that we had, it was just awesome. Made me not go crazy I guess. Obviously my girlfriend and I have a good time too, but Oscar was a great addition.”

View this post on Instagram

Thankful for this quarantine crew, mostly my single lad Obi. #Friends

A post shared by Oscar Dansk (@oscardansk) on Jun 11, 2020 at 1:39pm PDT

The pair, who have known each other since they were kids, have been around each other so much they’re starting to copy each other’s mannerisms. Karlsson brushed back his legendary long locks when he took part in a Zoom call with media during training camp. Dansk did the same thing Friday and called it “doing the William Karlsson.”

“It’s been good to have the company,” said Dansk, the Knights No. 3 goaltender. “We’ve been working out together. Basically doing everything together, really, so it’s been good. I think with the quarantine it was nice to not be alone. Hanging out with him and his whole gang there, it’s been everything.”

Meet the meat grinders

William Carrier passed the buck when it came to giving the Knights’ fourth line a nickname Thursday, but linemate Ryan Reaves delivered.

“I think we came up with ‘The meat grinders,’” Reaves said. “We’re the meat line.”

The heavy forechecking unit is a pain for opponents. Reaves and Carrier rank first and sixth, respectively, in the NHL in hits, and center Nick Cousins has added a deft playmaking touch to the group.

“Who would sign up to play against those three guys?” coach Pete DeBoer said. “Not many guys are going to look at a faceoff and be excited about those three guys coming at you and hounding you.”

Also

— The Knights selected their 31-player playoff roster Friday and 2019 first-round pick Peyton Krebs made the cut.

Krebs, 19, impressed DeBoer in camp after a strong season with the ’s Winnipeg Ice. The forward had 60 points in 38 games.

“For a young junior guy, particularly, you’re really worried about whether he can keep up,” DeBoer said Wednesday. “He’s done an exceptional job.”

Defensemen Jake Bischoff and Jimmy Schuldt were cut to complete the roster.

— Left wing Max Pacioretty missed his fourth straight practice Friday. DeBoer said Wednesday that Pacioretty had a “minor issue” that was not COVID-19 related.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189176 Vegas Golden Knights A strong showing this postseason could also put Theodore in line to be considered for selection to the Canadian Olympic team in 2022.

“I think that’s a good step for myself,” Theodore said. “Hopefully I can Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore poised to excel in postseason play some good hockey over the next little bit and get a look, at least.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.25.2020

David Schoen

July 24, 2020 - 5:33 PM

NHL Network released its list of top 20 defensemen in the league this week, and Shea Theodore of the Golden Knights checked in at No. 20.

Yes, it’s a bit of a dubious ranking compiled by the network’s analysts and producers rather than an independent panel of voters. But it’s more evidence that Theodore is starting to gain recognition across the league.

And with the playoff spotlight shining brightly, Theodore could become one of the breakout stars of the NHL’s 24-team tournament.

“I just think both ends he’s better than advertised and better than I probably gave him credit for standing on an opposing bench,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “He’s not the same player he was a year ago. Offensively, I thought he really took off prior to the pause and was a constant threat when he was on the ice. Defensively, he’s way better than people give him credit for and he takes a lot of pride in it.”

Theodore was beginning to hit his stride when the NHL paused its season March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. He scored the winning goal in the Knights’ final two games in Calgary and Edmonton and quietly developed into one of the league’s best point-producing defensemen.

After a slow start that saw Theodore manage 12 points in his first 34 games, the 24-year-old’s production increased as he rounded into shape and began jumping into the offense more frequently.

From Dec. 13 until the pause went into effect, Theodore posted 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) and a plus-12 rating in 37 games. His 0.92 points per game equates to a 75-point season over 82 games.

Only Nashville’s Roman Josi, a finalist for the Norris Trophy, had more points among defensemen during than span with 39 (nine goals, 30 assists).

Theodore thrived in DeBoer’s system, which encourages defensemen to join the rush, and saw his ice time increase along with his production. He played an average of 23:16 per game under DeBoer after averaging 21:47 through the first 49 games.

“It’s good to get some of that recognition, but at the same time that’s not in the front of my mind,” Theodore said. “I think the pause, it was a long time and a lot of us were unsure if we were going to return, but being able to skate over the past couple weeks, it’s been good.”

Theodore was diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer last summer, which contributed to his slow start to the regular season.

He was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy that goes to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ” but was not named one of the three finalists.

Theodore said despite the health risks, he didn’t seriously consider opting out of the NHL’s return to play.

“I’m here to win a Stanley Cup and to help my team out,” Theodore said. “I feel like the way our training staff has taken care of everything, they’ve taken every precaution that we can take. They’ve made it as safe as possible. That was an easy decision, I think, for myself and for a lot of guys.”

DeBoer has a track record of leaning on his top defensemen to play heavy minutes in the postseason, whether it was Brent Burns and Marc- Edouard Vlasic in San Jose or Marek Zidlicky in New Jersey.

Theodore has seen time in practice on the penalty kill and could add those duties to his already full plate once the playoffs begin. The Knights meet Arizona in an exhibition game Thursday and open the round robin Aug. 3 against Dallas. 1189177 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights to host “playoff cavalcade” to send team off

Ben Gotz

July 24, 2020 - 3:49 PM

Fans will get a chance to wave goodbye to the Golden Knights before they leave for Edmonton on Sunday.

The team is holding a “playoff cavalcade” in the parking lots east of Las Vegas Ballpark. The lots are located off of Orchard Park Drive and Spruce Goose Street. Fans will be able to bid adieu to the Knights from their cars as they head into one of the NHL’s two “bubbles” to chase the Stanley Cup.

All fans must remain in their vehicles to ensure safety and social distancing. Parking will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Knights are asking fans to arrive no later than 10:55 a.m.

Vehicles with the best Knights decor are eligible for prizes.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189178 Washington Capitals However, Gudas reported to Capitals’ training camp and said Thursday it was for two reasons. First, to win a Stanley Cup and second, because he felt confident in the health and safety protocols put in place.

As NHL returns, Capitals players and fans try to balance escapism and “A lot of the talks was about the health and about providing the best safety possible environment for the players to stay healthy and perform in this time so you know I felt pretty confident with all the rulings and all the stuff happening around it and the precautionary reasons and so I didn’t see a reason not to compete for this trophy,” he said. Samantha Pell Hockey in August isn’t even going to be the weirdest part July 24, 2020 at 8:00 AM EDT From a fan perspective, there is a mix of excitement and worry that

surrounds the restart. Lifelong hockey fan Amanda Powers, 20, thinks it’s The question posed was fairly simple: Is it selfish for sports to return fair for fans to want to see sports come back, but they are also aware of amid a pandemic, with thousands of lives lost to the novel coronavirus the danger and risk that comes with it. and the number increasing? Emelie Shany, 22, called the NHL restart a “twofold feeling.” The NHL is one of a handful of professional sports leagues trying to “Yes, I want hockey to come back, but on the other hand, I know these restart, while the United States surpasses 4 million reported coronavirus guys are husbands and fathers and playing and coming in contact with cases, the most in the world, and infections have doubled in just six guys from other teams, especially ones from states that haven’t been weeks. As leagues grapple with striking a balance between doing too well case numbers-wise, there’s a lot of risk,” Shany said. “As a entertainment and safety, the NHL faces an unprecedented battle. fan, I care about these players.” Players, however, mainly see sports as a positive escape and a way to And while players understand the worry, there is still an overwhelming help during these tumultuous times. Coach Todd Reirden describes the sense that hockey hitting televisions in August is going to be an uplifting return of sports as a distraction and a “sign of normalcy and that is really and encouraging notion. our role in this, is trying to do something like that.” “Obviously I’m no doctor but I’ve had an awful lot of people come up to “At the end of the day it is the entertainment business and that is what we me and say that they want to watch something on TV and that goes a do,” Capitals winger Tom Wilson added. “We are being asked to come long way with some people, you know, 7 o’clock or 4′o clock in the back and play. So I don’t have too much of an opinion on it. I want to afternoon, just to be able to have something to feel a little bit normal and play. I want to provide games for people to watch and hopefully everyone watch some sports,” Wilson said. “I know I’ve had that feeling a little bit.” enjoys them.” Washington Post LOADED: 07.25.2020 As NHL restarts, veteran Capitals confident they can win another Stanley Cup

Winger T.J. Oshie said he believes the league has found a safe way to return and a lot of his personal excitement from playing now comes from knowing the excitement that players are able to bring to family, friends and fans alike.

“There have been a lot of dark times, a lot of tough times on a lot of people,” Oshie said. “I quarantined for four months and there were some times where you really didn’t know what to do in the house. So, I’m hoping by us playing we can maybe bring some light and some excitement and some fun into our fans and having them watch.”

With sports starting to come back, there is inevitable excitement but also understandable health worries.

Health and safety precautions are in place that have been negotiated by the league and the players’ association. Coronavirus tests will be paid for by the NHL and acquired through commercial sources.

“The ethical issue of the NHL diverting tests that could be used elsewhere remains, though my concern is less than it would be if they were in the U.S. using American lab capacity,” said Zach Binney, an epidemiologist at Oxford College of Emory University. “I trust the Canadians to not approve a plan that has an undue burden on their public health system.”

Additionally, the league is partnering with CLEAR, a privately run trusted- traveler program that uses fingerprint and iris identification technology to confirm a traveler’s identity in airports, to assist in tracking daily player health requirements during the restart in Toronto and Edmonton. In addition to a mobile app team personnel will use, more than 60 fully- integrated CLEAR kiosks will also be deployed across both cities to facilitate temperature checks and other operations.

“I think there’s a very good chance that the guys are going to be safer in the bubble than they are in the normal circumstances at home,” NHLPA special assistant to the executive director Mathieu Schneider said on a video call in mid-July. “If we didn’t have that assurance from the get-go on these things, we probably would’ve never started with this process.”

With the league continuing to follow the proper steps, players are also seeing the progress being made to make sure players and other team personnel are being protected. Capitals defenseman Radko Gudas had very strong opinions on the NHL restart plan in May, telling a Czech publication he thought the NHL should not try to restart and it was “a bit sad” the league was “willing to risk the health of so many players for money.” 1189179 Washington Capitals the regular season, the worst of his career. It was good to see how comfortable he looked in the scrimmage in turning aside all but one shot despite playing against a loaded Team Blue.

3 observations from the Caps intrasquad scrimmage as Team Red That Holtby played well is especially good news as Reirden said he upests Team Blue tailored the scrimmage in large part as a test for Holtby.

"Today we purposefully put the lineup the way we did," Reirden said. "We wanted to give him a lot of action, let him stay in there the whole time and J.J. Regan he was really solid. That was important. He was a large consideration in why today even occurred, to be quite candid. With a 4 o'clock game like July 24, 2020 6:15 PM this, it's a different situation for someone like himself. He's very routine, likes certain things at certain times. We did our meetings, we did everything from TV timeouts, we did it pretty much as detailed as we Team Blue was loaded with the Capitals' top three offensive lines and top could to a game to prepare him." two defensive pairs, yet it was Team Red who was victorious in Friday's intrasquad scrimmage. Daniel Sprong and Garnet Hathaway scored in Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 the first period and Team Blue was held off the board until the final minute of the scrimmage when Travis Boyd got a piece of an Alex Ovechkin shot to deflect it past Braden Holtby. That would be Team Blue's lone goal of the game as Team Red managed to pull off the upset.

Here are four observations from the scrimmage.

The round robin may be a blessing

The result was certainly unexpected, but it does not really mean anything. If Team Blue had won 16-0, we all know that planning a Stanley Cup parade would still be premature. The opposite is true as well; just because they lost, it does not necessarily mean they are in trouble in the postseason. Team Red scored its first goal with a counter attack on the power play after Team Blue was caught up high. Is John Carlson going to get caught high because he joined a 2-on-1 break on a penalty kill in the playoffs? No, he's not. Will the team play better in an actual game? Yes, it will.

It's just a scrimmage so the result is not necessarily a bad thing...

...but it's not good either. Team Blue was loaded and played against roster that looked more suited for the AHL than the NHL, but could not muster more than one goal in a very sleep performance.

When the NHL announced its postseason format, I immediately felt that the Caps will be at a disadvantage in the first round because they are playing a team that just won a playoff series. While I still believe that is true, after watching the scrimmage, it is very clear that this team needs as many game reps as possible. A three-game round robin before the playoffs may prove beneficial.

Sprong is sprung

Daniel Sprong was the player of the game. He showed good speed, good hands and looked like a clear NHL player. He scored a goal in the first period that was called back for offsides and followed that up with a great set-up on Brian Pinho's goal.

When Boyd and Carlson got caught up ice on a shorthanded 2-on-1, Sprong and Pinho came in on the counter attack. Sprong took the puck behind the net and made a beautiful feed to Pinho who beat Vitek Vanecek for the first goal of the game.

First goal of the #ALLCAPS Scrimmage goes to @bpins_26 and Team Red!@LeidosInc https://t.co/aCBoCVnrtT pic.twitter.com/HbjSyb7Gf0

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 24, 2020

Sprong scored two goals in the team's first scrimmage and looked good again on Friday that, in my mind, he established himself as more than just a depth player. This is a guy Todd Reirden may need to get into a game in the round robin or, if the lineup needs a shakeup, in the playoffs.

"I think he's done a good job," Reirden said, "He's worked hard and taken all the information keeping in mind this is his first real training camp with us or semblance of a training camp. He's done some good things and I continue to want to see him grow and get better with every aspect of the game, but taking advantage of his opportunity and that's what it's all about."

Holtby was smooth

It would be inaccurate to say Team Red's win was a product of Holtby standing on his head. He was not tested practically at all in the first period, but Team Blue woke up a bit in the second period and Holtby looked very smooth when called upon. Holtby always plays a very calm style, but there were times when he looked frazzled over the course of 1189180 Washington Capitals Todd Reirden's solution to the team's biggest hole on the roster is to put Orlov on the right side of the second defensive pair. He played there sparingly before the season was paused and did not look all that comfortable. How comfortable he is on his off-side now will be one of the Everything you need to know for the Capitals final intra-squad scrimmage keys to a deep postseason run. before heading to Toronto Does the power play look back on track?

Washington was really struggling with the extra man this season. The J.J. Regan pause was a good chance for Reirden to re-evaluate and try to solve the problem. You can expect to see a few opportunities in the scrimmage July 23, 2020 3:22 PM (especially because the assistant coaches will serve as the linesmen and referees).

After nearly two weeks of training camp, the Capitals are preparing for a How does Boyd look with Hagelin and Kovalchuk? final scrimmage before heading out to the hub city of Toronto for the It's no surprise to see Boyd on Team Blue. You can bet he is going to 2020 postseason and there's good news: You'll be able to see it! spend some time playing in place of Eller who is going to leave the Here is everything you need to know. bubble to be with his wife for the birth of their second child early in August. Seeing Boyd play this position on Friday will give us a glimpse of When: 4 p.m. what to expect when he is called upon to do so early in the postseason.

How to WATCH: The scrimmage will be aired on NBC Sports Which black aces impress? Washington social channels Facebook or Twitter. John Walton and Mike Vogel will be calling the game. On any long playoff run a team suffers injuries along the way. If the Caps go deep, at some point it will mean digging deep into the roster. Friday is Rules: The scrimmage will consist of one 20-minute period followed by an audition for the black aces to see who could be called upon in case of two 10-minute periods. If the teams are tied after three periods, a five- injuries. minute, three-on-three sudden-death overtime will be played followed by a shootout. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020

Lines

Team Blue

Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Tom Wilson

Jakub Vrana - Nicklas Backstrom - T.J. Oshie

Carl Hagelin - Lars Eller - Ilya Kovalchuk

Travis Boyd

Michal Kempny - John Carlson

Brenden Dillon - Dmitry Orlov

Tyler Lewington

Vitek Vanecek

Pheonix Copley

Team Red

Richard Panik - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway

Beck Malenstyn - Connor McMichael - Daniel Sprong

Shane Gersich - Philippe Maillet - Brian Pinho

Garrett Pilon

Jonas Siegenthaler - Nick Jensen

Martin Fehervary - Radko Gudas

Alex Alexeyev

Braden Holtby

What to watch

How does Kempny look?

Kempny struggled this season both physically and mentally after returning from a torn hamstring. With more time off to recover, he is now back on the top defensive pair. Will he be back to looking like his old self?

Is Braden Holtby ready?

The break may have been tougher on goalies than anyone. There was just nothing really they could do to prepare themselves for the return to play until players were allowed back on the ice. Holtby had a tough season, but there is no time for a slow start to the postseason. Add in the fact that backup Ilya Samsonov has not skated at all during the training camp and the crease will belong to Holtby. He has to be ready for it.

Does Orlov look comfortable on the right? 1189181 Washington Capitals Most likely, the Caps are going to need to find a top-four right defenseman in the offseason. They are a cap team and the salary cap is going to be flat so the team is not going to have much room to work with and that could mean moving a player to make room fora righty. When The 6 Capitals players most likely to be selected by the Seattle Kraken in you have a player with as much value as Orlov who is also expendable, the expansion draft you trade that asset if for no other reason than to clear cap space. You don't sit on it for a year just so you can lose him for nothing in an

expansion draft. J.J. Regan 2. Michal Kempny July 24, 2020 6:00 AM What!?! The savior of the 2018 playoffs? A top-pair defenseman (when he's healthy)? Surely this cannot be true!

The Seattle Kraken will be the 32nd team in the NHL and the franchise Believe it. The mat just is not on the Caps' side here. revealed its team name, logo and jerseys on Thursday. It's awesome. As I mentioned before, Carlson is going to be protected from the More importantly, Thursday was a good reminder that the expansion expansion draft, but who are the other two defensemen the team could draft is just a season away. protect? Maybe it will be Kempny. Maybe he reverts to his top-pair form Following the 2020-21 season, every team in the NHL is going to lose a now that he is far enough removed from the hamstring injury and he player to Seattle as the Kraken are unleashed. A lot can happen to a proves to be invaluable. Plus, with a cap hit of only $2.5 million, that is roster in a full year, but as of now, here are the six most likely players exactly the type of defenseman the team needs to stay under the cap Seattle could select from Washington. ceiling. I honestly would not be surprised if he is protected.

6. Jonas Siegenthaler But I also would not be surprised if he wasn't.

Full disclosure, I don't think this will happen which is why I put it at the Let's think of the rest of the defense. Would the team re-sign Dillon just to bottom of the list, but simple math tells me the Caps are going to leave a leave him exposed a year later? Would it make sense to add another defenseman exposed that they don't want to (more on that later). Each body to a crowded defensive core if the team would be OK losing him for team will be able to protect eight total skaters and a goalie or seven nothing next year? If the team doesn't re-sign him, then doesn't it forwards, three defensemen and a goalie. Most likely, Washington will become important to hold onto Orlov? If MacLellan finds a top-four right choose the latter option in order to protect more players. defenseman to play behind Carlson in the offseason, do they leave him exposed after how long it took to find one? What about the 23-year-old John Carlson will absolutely be protected, but after that there are several Siegenthaler? Would MacLellan be OK leaving a young defenseman players you could make a case for. exposed just to possibly get poached the same way Vegas took Nate Schmidt in 2017? Siegenthaler is only 23 and on the final year of his entry-level contract. He is not going to break the bank next season with his new deal so this When you start to think about it, there are several defensive players makes him an intriguing option. A budding top-four defenseman only 23 Washington would most likely want to protect from the expansion years old and on a good contract? That would be hard to pass up for draft...more than the three allowed. There is going to be a good Seattle...if he were available. But I don't think he will be and the team will defenseman left exposed and that player is going to be a very attractive protect him. option for the Kraken.

5. Nick Jensen 1. T.J. Oshie

Yes, Jensen has struggled since coming to Washington, but he was I wrote a full article about why I would consider Oshie the frontrunner at turning the corner before the season was paused and there is always this point. You can read it here. value in right defensemen as they can be hard to find. Even if he never lives up to his top-four potential in Washington, he certainly did in Detroit Just to give you the short version though, Oshie will be 34 at the time of so it is not hard to think Seattle would at least be intrigued by him. the expansion draft and will only be halfway through an eight-year contract that carries a cap hit of $5.75 million. A flat salary cap is going to 4. Braden Holtby hurt more and more as Oshie gets deeper into his 30s.

Holtby comes in at No. 4 for one simple reason: I don't think he will be re- Oshie's cap hit would essentially be a non-factor for a Seattle. He was signed by Washington. For Holtby to return to the Caps next season, it also born in Washington state and lived there for several years before would have to be on a short-term, cheap deal without a no-movement moving to Minnesota. And, for a franchise building a team from scratch, clause. It does not make sense for a 30-year-old goalie with declining Oshie is exactly the kind of person Seattle will need, a natural leader and numbers to sign a short-term deal in the hopes that his numbers will someone who can be a fan favorite. If he puts up similar numbers next somehow improve as he gets older, especially one who still sees himself season to what he did in 2019-20 (26 goals, 23 assists in 69 games), I as a starting goalie which I doubt he would be beyond this season. would be stunned if Seattle passes on him.

If, however, Holtby and general manager Brian MacLellan somehow get Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.25.2020 a deal done, it would have to come without a no-movement clause because the team certainly is not going to protect Holtby over Ilya Samsonov. That would make him available to Seattle in the expansion draft. if I thought a new deal was likely, Holtby would probably be No. 1 on the list, but I don't so he drops to No. 4.

3. Dmitry Orlov

It certainly sounds as if Brenden Dillon would be open to a new deal with Washington. If that happens, it immediately makes Orlov expendable because this team has too many left defensemen.

Dillon, Orlov, Siegenthaler, Michal Kempny, Martin Fehervary and Alex Alexeyev are all left defensemen. Something's got to give.

Orlov is a top-four defenseman who is 29 and will have an additional two years remaining on his contract when the expansion draft rolls around. That's a valuable asset, and that actually may be why this doesn't happen. 1189182 Washington Capitals PP2: Ilya Kovalchuk, Tom Wilson, Eller, Jakub Vrana and Dmitry Orlov. In addition to execution and scheme, Reirden said being adaptable will

also be key. What did we learn in Week 2 of Capitals training camp 2.0? “Some things to consider going into this playoff scenario is that with three games (per day) in one building in potentially 90-degree heat, the ice conditions are going to not be as favorable as they would be in the Tarik El-Bashir middle of December in Toronto,” he said. “That’s something to consider with how we structure our power play. Does it become more of a shot- Jul 24, 2020 type of power play with more net fronts? We have to be able to have that (high-skill) element but we also have to have an element where you’re not able to execute those plays because of another team’s pressure or ARLINGTON, Va. — The forward combos have been finalized. because of ice conditions or just the fact that you haven’t been on top of your game after four months off. We have to be adjustable.” The D-pairs have been determined. There are a lot of unknowns, indeed. But finding a way to power through The starting goaltender is set. it all is going to be necessary if the Caps are to make a deep run, Indeed, the heavy lifting is complete as training camp comes to a close according to Oshie, whose 10 power-play goals ranked second behind and the Capitals prepare to head to Toronto on Sunday for the Ovechkin’s 13. resumption of the season. So what questions remain? And what did we “It’s big,” Oshie said. “In the past in the playoffs when our power play has learn in Week 2 of camp 2.0? been clicking at a pretty high rate, it deters our opponents from being Who’s headed to Toronto? able to be too aggressive on us. If the power play isn’t going and their penalty kill is going, they have a little more confidence that they can be a Thirty-three players suited up for Friday’s intrasquad scrimmage at little bit more aggressive because they know the P.K. is going to bail MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The team, however, can take a maximum of them out. So, it’s very important for us to get that rolling.” 31 to the bubble. So there are going to be cuts after Saturday’s practice, the final on-ice session prior to departing. Orlov says he’s all right playing the right side

Coach Todd Reirden said after the scrimmage that deliberations are If the D-pairs stick, Orlov is going to play on the right side of the second ongoing and will be based on a number of factors, including a player’s pair with Brenden Dillon. Both are left shots. performance in camp and position flexibility (e.g., the ability to play center “I used to play on the right side for the most of my career (growing up),” and wing). Orlov said this week. “In Russia, they treat it differently — lefty play right “That’s something that, organizationally, we make that decision (based and righty play left. Here, they put me right away on the left side. So it’s on) what gives us the best depth, what gives us the best situation for not a problem, just some small things (like) you need to try to get a guys that can get extra work and could be ready after a few weeks of quicker handle with the puck. If puck comes to (your) backhand, you being around our team,” Reirden said. “Positionally, it’s important, always try to be on the forehand side. It’s harder to recover from that side obviously, knowing what’s going to be going on with Lars (Eller) at some but I have time and I practice right now and I think we are going to be point. I think there’s a number of factors in that decision. It’s something fine.” that (general manager) Brian MacLellan and myself and our staff have Reirden said he believes too much is made of defensemen playing their been talking about and we have to submit (that list) later today.” off side. Eller’s wife is due with the couple’s second child Aug. 8 and the third-line “Defensemen are so active on every team now, whether it’s an offensive center is expected to leave the bubble to be there. zone play or joining the rush, that sometimes they end up on the wrong The league is expected to announce all 31 teams’ return-to-play rosters side a lot more than maybe you might totally realize within a game,” he Sunday. said. “It’s not as foreign as it sounds, especially for a European player that has spent a lot of time on their off side.” What’s up with Samsonov? Reirden added: “Ultimately, it comes down to trying to find something that Backup goalie Ilya Samsonov was listed on the Caps’ initial 34-man works for our six D and for our three pairs, that gives us a chance to be training camp roster but he has not taken part in any on-ice activities able to have the most success. In practice, I’ve liked it. Dmitry is since camp opened July 13. someone that can handle that and he has the ability to do that and has Teams are not permitted to comment on an absent player’s status per done it in the past within certain games.” rules negotiated between the league and players’ association, and Four of the Caps’ six blueliners are lefties (Dillon, Orlov, Michal Kempny Reirden has offered no additional information. Asked Thursday whether and Jonas Siegenthaler) and two are righties (Carlson and Nick Jensen). Samsonov will travel with the team to Toronto, Reirden again declined to Radko Gudas is also a righty but he’s been skating as a spare discuss the Russian rookie’s situation. throughout camp.

“That’s something that, again, I’m not able to answer at this point,” Speaking of Gudas … Reirden said. “I know that we’re going to be announcing that travel roster (soon), and I’ll have more news for you at that point.” He was the odd man out at the end of the regular season, scratched for the final three games, and he remains on the outside looking in. Entering camp, Washington’s depth chart in goal was Braden Holtby, Samsonov, Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek. If Samsonov remains It’s unclear if, or when, Gudas will get another shot. But the veteran says unavailable for an extended amount of time, it could prove problematic. It he’s committed to being a positive influence in the room and keeping would mean the Caps are an injury away from turning to Copley, who himself ready, just in case. He’s been skating on the fourth pair with split time with Vanecek in the minor leagues this season and has no NHL rookie Martin Fehervary. playoff experience. It also removes an important safety net if Holtby, who “Obviously I’m just trying to be as positive as I can, leaving everything out struggled off and on during the regular season, can’t find his game. there, being in as best condition as I can be and provide for the team the Can the power play turn it back on? role that they’re going to give me and be here and compete for the Cup,” he said. “That’s the only thing on our mindset.” The Caps spent much of Thursday’s session working on the power play, which ranked 17th (19.4 percent) at the stoppage despite having one of The 30-year-old is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. the most talented groups in the league. Holtby shines in scrimmage Based on practice, the units will line up as follows: Holtby helped an undermanned Team Red to a 2-1 victory over an PP1: Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov Ovechkin-led Team Blue on Friday. and John Carlson. The veteran goalie made a number of timely stops, including a shorthanded pad save on Wilson in the second period.

#HOLTBEAST

LEFT PAD STOP FROM @HOLTS170 KEEPS TEAM BLUE SCORELESS LATE IN THE #ALLCAPS SCRIMMAGE@LEIDOSINC HTTPS://T.CO/ACBOCVNRTT PIC.TWITTER.COM/ZALQYKPZVP

— WASHINGTON CAPITALS (@CAPITALS) JULY 24, 2020

The only goal Holtby allowed came in the final seconds with Team Blue attacking six-on-five. Travis Boyd redirected an Ovechkin point shot into the net that Holtby had no shot at stopping.

Reirden said he’s been impressed by Holtby’s performance throughout camp.

“As expected, I thought he was going to probably be one of the guys that was going to come out of this pause in a good spot,” Reirden said. “He was able to spend a lot of time with (goaltending coach) Scott Murray in Phase 2. This part, the chance to play again, is exciting for Braden and for his future. I think he realizes this is a great opportunity. This is something I made very clear, that he was going to be our starter before any of this got to where we are today. Today we purposefully (made) the lineup the way we did. We wanted to give him a lot of action, let him stay in there the whole time and he was really solid. That was important.”

Holtby said he feels good as Phase 4 beckons.

“I feel pretty comfortable right now,” he said. “Every day we’re trying to work and put our team in a good spot. We’re getting close to moving day, to get into the bubble and see what we’re working with there.”

Right on time

It wasn’t a coincidence that Friday’s puck drop was scheduled for 4 p.m. Reirden set it up for that time to aid Holtby, who is extremely routine oriented.

Wednesday’s exhibition versus the Hurricanes is slated for 4 p.m., as are two of the Caps’ three round-robin games, including the Aug. 3 opener versus the Lightning.

“He was a large consideration as to why (the scrimmage) even occurred, to be quite candid,” Reirden said. “With a 4 o’clock game like this, it’s a different situation for someone like himself. He’s very routine, likes certain things at certain times. We did our meetings, we did everything including TV timeouts. We did it pretty much as detailed as we could to a game to prepare him, but also prepare the other players. I thought he responded really well.”

Sprong continues his surge

Although Daniel Sprong isn’t in the Caps’ postseason lineup, the 23-year- old winger has made a good first impression and could be setting himself up for a future role in Washington.

On Friday, Sprong set up Brian Pinho for a goal in the scrimmage. He also had a goal wiped off the board because it was deemed offside. That was after Sprong struck twice in last week’s full team scrimmage.

“He’s had a strong showing,” Reirden said. “It’s something that, until you see the player in front of you every day, you see stuff on video and, obviously, our scouting staff thought highly enough of him to acquire him in that (trade) for Christian Djoos (at the February deadline). He’s a guy that has experience and he does have a unique, different element in his game than some of our other guys that are in that Black Ace fold. I think he’s done a good job, he’s worked hard and taken all the information in.”

Sprong is due to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at season’s end, according to CapFriendly. He could be an inexpensive option in the bottom-six forward group for the cap-conscious Caps.

“I’m just happy to be here for an opportunity that I got after the trade,” he said. “You want to make a good first impression, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189183 Winnipeg Jets Montreal's Karl Alzner, Boston's Steven Kampfer and Dallas' Roman Polak all said 'Thanks, but no thanks', citing personal reasons.

Why Edmonton and Toronto as hubs? We break down the most surreal Stanley Cup playoffs ever The NHL didn't want it this way, preferring to have one Canadian and one American market. But rapidly rising COVID-19 numbers south of the border left the league with no choice if they didn't want to be portrayed as Mike McIntyre heartless ghouls. And so some short-listed candidates such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Dallas were given the heave-ho. 07/24/2020 7:00 PM Vancouver was in the running, and the early favourite, but health officials

there wouldn't bend their rules regarding contact tracing (they wanted all EDMONTON — Pull up a lawn chair, slap on some sunscreen and grab close contacts of an infected person to be quarantined), so the league your favourite frosty beverage. Hard as it is to believe, what once went to a pair of northern neighbours who would. Time will tell if that seemed like nothing more than wishful thinking for sports fans is about to comes back to bite them. become reality. "Our goal in this entire endeavour is to be perfect. But we're not living in Yes, the summer of puck is upon us, featuring the most surreal Stanley a world of perfect. We're going to do everything we can to make things as Cup playoffs in NHL history. good as they can be. Things will evolve. But what we want to make sure of from the outset is we limit the likelihood and risk of missteps," said More than 1,200 players, coaches, management and support staff will Bettman. wrap up their July training camps and fly to Edmonton and Toronto on Sunday — then immediately go into secure bubbles, where their No other Canadian cities put in a bid. Sure, Winnipeg has kept the curve movements will be severely regulated and carefully monitored to help flatter than any other NHL market, but a lack of infrastructure (specifically mitigate the risk of a pandemic that has infected more than 15 million high-end hotel rooms for a dozen teams) made it a moot point. people and killed more than 630,000 around the globe. Are these legitimate playoffs? Every visitor has no clue if they are saying goodbye to loved ones back If you're a glass half-full kind of person, you may believe these are better- home for as little as 10 days — or as long as two-and-a-half months. than-ever, with 50 per cent more teams (24 instead of 16) and an Games will be held in empty rinks without fans at all hours of the day, eventual champ who may have to win 19 games and five rounds (instead teams will be staying in the same hotels like they did during minor- of the usual 16 games in four rounds). Throw in the fact there's no true hockey tournaments, swabs up the nose will be as much a part of the home-ice advantage and everyone is coming off the same four-month typical daily routine as taping your stick or having an afternoon nap, and hiatus to get healthy and there's a convincing argument to be made this all interviews will be conducted via Zoom. Cup will the hardest one to win. All 24 teams still in the hunt will have a quick dress rehearsal next week If you're a glass half-empty kind of person, you probably think this is a in the form of an exhibition game before the curtain rises on Aug. 1. farce, with obvious non-playoff teams like Montreal and Chicago being "We are about to embark on one of the most unique and challenging allowed in simply to boost interest in major hockey markets. Just imagine endeavours any of us have ever been involved with," NHL Commissioner if one of them ends up winning it all? There likely won't be an asterisk big Gary Bettman said Friday during a video call with media. enough for your liking beside their name on Lord Stanley.

No kidding. Keep in mind all of this happening at a time where we're still Edmonton's so-called 'Secure Zone' (NHL) grappling with COVID-19 throughout North America. In fact, the numbers How does it work for 24 teams? are far worse than they were in mid-March, when the sports world came to a screeching halt. No, there's still not a vaccine. The top four teams in each conference (eight in total) get a bye straight to the traditional round of 16, but they'll stay busy in the first 10 days by And yet, here we are. If 2020 had an official slogan, you could do a lot playing a round-robin tournament against each other to determine the worse than "Who the heck knows what's going to happen next." No. 1 through 4 seeds. That's the main reason I've packed up the rental car and made the 13- This gives them something worthwhile to do while the other 16 teams hour drive west for the most unusual road trip of my life. I have no idea fight for their lives in best-of-five qualifying series happening at the same how long I'm staying, but I can tell you I'll be on the ground in Edmonton time. The eight "play-in" winners move on to the round of 16, while the and inside Rogers Place to cover this once-in-a-lifetime event, eight losers each have a 12.5 per cent chance at drafting 18-year-old documenting what this all looks, sounds and feels like while also keeping phenom Alexis Lafrenière. a close eye on the Winnipeg Jets. Wait, what?! It should be quite a ride. As if there weren't enough juicy storylines, how about this one: A speedy OK, but why is this even happening? exit is going to be the best thing that could have happened for one lucky Cold, hard cash. As in, trying to stem off potentially $1 billion in losses if franchise. the season can't be salvaged. The league and its players are still going to A mystery placeholder "won" the draft lottery last month and the right to take a financial bath, but there are rough estimates the damage could be the No. 1 overall pick, leap-frogging the seven worst teams in the NHL halved if they can pull off this made-for-TV event. who all had much greater odds, including sad-sack squads like Detroit This isn't just a case of rich, greedy owners wanting to stop the bleeding. and Ottawa. Upon completion of the qualifying round, a draw will be held Players, especially those without the security of long-term contracts, are to see which "loser" gets the teen viewed by many as a generational also trying to protect future earnings which would be gutted by a reduced talent. salary cap if this all falls apart. Despite the obvious health risks, that So, yeah, imagine Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins explains why a league-wide vote resulted in nearly 80 per cent (502-135) welcoming Lafrenière to town. Or how about Connor McDavid and the ratifying the agreement hammered out by the NHL and NHLPA earlier Edmonton Oilers adding him to the arsenal. Or, if you're a Jets fan, this month. adding the kid to a forward group that already boasts Mark Scheifele, One silver lining to all of this is that a four-year CBA extension Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers. accompanied the return-to-play protocols, including 2022 and 2026 How many people can teams bring into the bubble? Olympic participation and a new financial framework going forward. Each club is allowed a maximum of 51, including 31 players and 20 Did anyone opt out? coaches and staff. The Jets, for example, currently have 33 players at Six NHL players took advantage of a clause in which they could decline their training camp, so two cuts will have to be made this weekend to participate without any team or league sanctions. Calgary's Travis assuming everyone is healthy. Family members are not allowed until the Hamonic, Edmonton's Mike Green, Vancouver's Sven Baertschi, conference finals begin in mid-September. Are players going to be held captive in the hotels? How do media have to cover this?

Not quite, but they won't enjoy the usual freedoms of the road. For the Accredited mainstream media such as myself will be allowed inside the first three days upon arrival, everyone must isolate in their rooms rinks to view the games, but not inside the secure bubbles (unlike the (outside of any on-ice activities). Once cleared, they can mingle with NBA, for example, which did allow a small group of journalists). Those others at designated spots (not inside their own rooms) within the bubble, travelling to Edmonton or Toronto from U.S. markets are required to provided they practise social distancing and wear masks when not quarantine for 14 days per federal regulations. Those of us who came playing hockey or working out. from other parts of Canada do not. Our pre- and post-game interviews with players and coaches will be done virtually to avoid face-to-face Jets coach Paul Maurice joked earlier this week there was a time in the contact. NHL when a brawl would have erupted in the lobby under these circumstances, but now you're more likely to see a video game What will the games look like on TV? tournament break out. Get ready for something very different. The league plans to use Nobody is allowed to leave the secure zone (outside of going to and from numerous LED screens, monitors and stages to block the otherwise the playing and practice rinks) for the first 14 days under federal empty seats, jazz up the production and give each game a distinctive quarantine rules. After two weeks, there may be some organized outings, look and feel. such as golf excursions, but they will be limited. Activities will be set up inside the bubble including movies and games. Dining, grocery and "We think this will make for a compelling television product," said NHL pharmaceutical deliveries are available, and more than 200 security senior executive vice- president and chief content officer Steve Mayer. guards and "health ambassadors" have been hired to ensure "That will allow us to do some things that are extremely similar to virtual compliance. (fans)."

"Protecting the sanctity of the protective zone, the hub, the bubble, is They will also use sound effects from the EA Sports NHL video game most and vitally important to ensure that everybody's health and well- franchise to enhance the audio, along with team goal songs, goal horns being is taken care of," Bettman said. "Leaving the bubble is just not and fan videos that will replicate some familiar chants and cheers at something we can tolerate." home rinks. TV networks will use 32 cameras per game, instead of the usual 20, to give angles and views not typically seen. Is everyone being tested for COVID-19? "We are able to walk around an arena and find the perfect, most ideal At this point, everyone is familiar with what Jets forward Andrew Copp positions for every single one of our cameras. It is our goal to be able to recently called the "brain tickler." All players had to pass three tests over show a hockey game in a manner that shows off the speed, and you feel a seven-day span before they could hit the ice for training camp when it like you're part of the game," said Mayer. began July 13, then continue to be negative when they are tested every other day. "We all want our game to translate better for television. We think that, in this tournament, we're going to be able to accomplish that because of the In order to board the private team charter Sunday, they must have way we can bring our fans right inside the game, down low, show the cleared three consecutive tests over the past week. speeds, hear the sounds, and have the energy of the set design and some of the things that we're planning on doing to make it visually Once in the bubble, players will be tested for COVID-19 daily, along with exciting." symptom and temperature checks. Same goes for all team coaches and staff, along with any workers who have contact with those in the secure Will it be a spectacular success? An epic failure? We're about to find out. zone, such as hotel employees. "This has been an extraordinarily involved, difficult and unusual Who's paying for all this? circumstance," said Bettman. "The sense that going to the hubs on Sunday is cause for celebration... this is just another step in what has The NHL has secured two private facilities — DynaLIFE in Edmonton been a long journey. And still has many many miles to go until we get to and LifeLabs in Toronto — to conduct testing. The league is footing the the ultimate place we’re all striving for, which is the conclusion of the 19- bill, and insists the tests are not being re-allocated away from public 20 season and the presentation of what we all believe is the best trophy demand. Results are produced within 24 hours. There will also be more in all of sports." than 60 kiosks set up in the two hub cities for touchless symptom and temperature checks. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.25.2020

What if someone gets sick?

Immediate separation and quarantine. A player can only return to action once they have tested negative on two occasions, 24 hours apart, and have no symptoms. Close contacts of that player, such as a teammate, will not have to quarantine, provided they test negative and have no symptoms.

One encouraging piece of news was the fact only two players (out of more than 800) tested positive during the first week of training camps, which are being held in every team's home market with players not yet living in a secured environment. After 43 players got COVID-19 during Phase 2 (voluntary skates at team facilities), many were likely holding their breath at a potential big jump for Phase 3. It didn't happen.

How many infections could sink the whole thing?

The NHL hasn't said, but they have made it clear a few positives won't spell disaster, provided they are quickly contained. The league will continue working with epidemiological and infectious disease experts along with local, provincial and federal government and health authorities.

"Obviously we’re hoping that once we move into the bubble environment, it’s constructed in a way that does two things. It protects the public, and it protects the people inside the bubble. We don’t expect it to be perfect. We expect with the number of people that we’re going to have some positive tests, but we have a method and a process designed in advance to deal with that," NHL's chief medical officer Dr. Willem Meeuwisse said Friday. 1189184 Winnipeg Jets It didn’t happen, so now independent media members will only be allowed to watch games from the press box and have no other on-site access. They will not be allowed to cover practices or gameday skates and will do all interviews over Zoom. TED’S TALK: Life inside the bubble looks pretty cushy for NHL players The issue people have about this is that the NHL very recently decided to allow 15 reporters, who work for the league or the teams, inside each of the bubbles. Ted Wyman There will be three NHL.com writers in each secure zone and one July 24, 2020 6:31 PM CDT content creator from each team.

So, essentially, the NHL intends to cover its own playoffs and provide a Even for people who are used to living the millionaire lifestyle, this sanitized, edited, redacted version of what’s going on inside the bubble doesn’t look too bad. and on the ice.

The NHL released a video this week detailing what the bubbles will be As an example of this, consider that NHL.com writers are not allowed to like in the hub cities tabbed to host the playoffs and it appears the write the word ‘concussion’ or mention fights in their stories and are not players are going to be very comfortable. permitted to write about questionable officiating.

In Edmonton, where the Winnipeg Jets are headed to take on the As a member of the independent media, representing readers who want Calgary Flames in the qualifying round of the 24-team tournament, original stories, columns and features that are not league presentations, I sidewalks will be fenced off for NHL bubble access between Rogers say what the NHL is doing is wrong. Place and three downtown hotels. I know some fans and readers see this as media whining. The three hotels, a fourth one further away, and 14 restaurants will be But it’s not questioning the need for safety in a pandemic. It’s about included in the bubble. Some of the restaurants are already established having a level playing field and independent coverage of an event going downtown, while others will be pop ups where players and staff can get on in a Canadian city that has graciously opened its hotels, streets pretty much any food they might desire from early morning until late restaurants and arenas to the NHL. night. If anything unusual, untoward, troublesome, or remotely negative Each player hotel will have meal rooms, meeting rooms for coaches, happens in the bubble, will we ever hear about it? players and training staff and VIP areas. Teams will have their own floors. Likely not. That’s a shame.

There will be indoor and outdoor activities, including pool, ping pong, CFL STILL UP IN THE AIR cornhole, basketball, areas to play soccer and to run. First we were told the deadline for the Canadian Football League and its The secure zone will also include eight movie theatres. Players Association to form a plan for a shortened season in the hub city of Winnipeg would be on Thursday. In Toronto there will be tennis and pickleball facilities as well, plus access to BMO Field, where the Argos normally play, for outdoor training. Then we were told the deadline was actually Friday all along.

Inside Rogers Place and Scotiabank Arena — which will host the Eastern Then we went through the day Friday, only to find out the CFL has Conference teams — each team will have a suite and a player lounge delayed the self-imposed deadline until they get an answer from the that will include areas to view games and view TV shows, card tables federal government, regarding funding and get official decisions from and eating areas. health authorities.

The Edmonton bubble will include 13 fitness centres, including weight Personally, I’m OK with all of that. Best to get all your ducks in a row rooms, and practice ice rinks. before making any proclamations.

Players will also be allowed to attend games in the arenas when their It gives me hope that the league and Players Association are doing their team is not involved. Their coronavirus testing facility will be right inside due diligence and not getting ahead of themselves. To me, that’s the only the arena as well. way they will get this done, even though so many people believe it will never happen. It probably doesn’t make up for having to spend up to two months away from their families in the summer, but it sounds pretty cushy overall for Players who are not involved in the bargaining process are getting antsy. the players. Some are considering not playing even if there is a season because the financial compensation won’t be worth it in a shortened season, INDEPENDENT MEDIA SHUT OUT conducted inside a bubble. As an aside to all this, independent media will not be allowed inside the But there should be appreciation that both sides are trying and the bubble in either NHL city and will be given limited digital access to government is even considering financial support, which will help to pay players and coaches for the duration of the playoffs. both Canadian and American athletes this season. I’ll be one of the media members heading to Edmonton, and I’m OK in A tweet sent out by Montreal Alouettes tackle Tony Washington this general with the rules because it’s about safety — for the players, week was not at all constructive, as he put the onus for all of this on the coaches, the media members themselves and the general public. Liberal government. I appreciate that COVID-19 has made life incredibly difficult for so many “Everybody check this out. It’s not the CFL or the PA. So stop it with the people and so many have made sacrifices. People haven’t spent time rumors. Nothing moves without the federal government funding us what with loved ones in four months because they are trying to do the right we need … period! If you have any questions on whether the CFL will thing and be safe. play, call parliament … We ready for a deal to play, gov is not.” So some context is required if you read or hear about independent media As much as I want to see a CFL season this year, laying this on the members who are questioning why they are being kept out of the secure government is not right at all. They may or may not come through with zone. the funding and that decision will certainly affect the league greatly. The Professional Hockey Writers Association tried to get the NHL to But beggars cannot be choosers. grant access to the inside of the bubble to a few media members and was denied. MADE FOR TV

The NBA is allowing 17 independent media members inside the bubble The NHL won’t use any cardboard cut outs in the stands or virtual fans — at the considerable cost of $750 a day — and the PHWA was hoping during the games in Toronto and Edmonton, but will rather focus on for the same type of access for at least a small number of its members. “bringing arenas to life through video and audio and lighting.” Each team will have its own goal song, it’s goal horn, and the music they He didn’t have to. normally play in individual arenas. There will also be “chant videos” that involve fans from each market and video game maker EA Sports will The NHL and the Jets are not revealing that information, so it’s entirely supply virtual crowd noise. up to the player.

There will be large monitors in the arena to bring the virtual atmosphere It’s good to see that Bitetto thought it was important to relay his story. It’s to the players. a cautionary tale. He was being extra careful for a long time, but when Nashville opened up and things got looser in the city where he spends The playoffs are a made-for-TV product so expect to see things you’ve the off-season, he caught the coronavirus. never seen before in an NHL game. There will be 32 cameras in each building, 12 more than normal. This is precisely why NHL players are going into a bubble in the first place. The angles and the technology should be impressive and the games should resemble something between an NHL20 game and what fans are I must say it was refreshing to have Bitetto back with the Jets on normally used to seeing. Thursday. He tells it like it is with the media, has a good sense of humour and keeps things light, even when talking about a serious subject. It will be sanitized before it gets to people’s homes though, as the league is implementing a five-second delay on broadcasts in order to filter out “You’re always concerned when you first hear (about it),” Jets coach Paul bad language and other image-busting moments. Maurice said of the time he first heard about Bitetto’s positive test. “And then, you sent him a text and you say you’re going to call him as soon as CHEERS TO THE KRAKEN (he) feels up to it and he sends a three-page text back telling how great he is and there’s profanity involved about how bad he wants to be at the Seattle Kraken is a cool name, and the jerseys and colours look great. rink.

The NHL really seems to have nailed this expansion thing, by not rushing Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.25.2020 things. Vegas was a huge success and there’s no reason to believe Seattle will be any different.

I still don’t think they should stack the team through the expansion draft the way they did the Golden Knights. It’s not fair to the long-standing organizations and their fan bases to have teams come in and be Stanley Cup finalists in their first year.

They don’t have to stink, like in the old days, but they don’t have to be one of the best teams in the league either.

Great story, yes, but fair? No.

Still, the league will use the same expansion draft rules in 2021 with the Kraken as they used with the Golden Knights, except Vegas — now one of the deepest organizations in the league — doesn’t have to give up a player.

Guess that’s what money can buy. The Golden Knights paid an expansion fee of $500 million and the Kraken paid $650 million.

And still it seems they got sweet deals.

OLYMPIC DREAMS

Had there been no pandemic, I would have been in Tokyo today, covering my fourth Olympics for Postmedia. I was very much looking forward to the opportunity to travel to a beautiful country to cover Manitobans like triathlete Tyler Mislawchuk, swimmer Kelsey Wog and road cyclist Leah Kirchmann. My curling colleague, Melissa Martin, was even trying to teach me some Japanese.

Alas, it didn’t happen for me or anyone else as the Games were postponed due to the COVID-19 virus.

There’s hope they’ll be held in 2021, but they’ll surely look a lot different if the International Olympic Committee is even able to pull them off.

I feel truly terrible for the athletes who were training so hard to get there this year. Their last four years have revolved around getting there.

If there’s one thing I’ve taken from being able to cover the Games in Sochi, Rio de Janeiro and Pyeongchang, it’s that getting to the Olympics is life fulfilling for the athletes. It’s everything they work for and you can see and hear the pride in their faces and voices once they arrive.

First timers look around in wonder, soak up every second of the experience and enjoy every minute, even if they don’t win a medal or even finish in the top 50.

It’s an experience every athlete — and to be honest, every media member — should have at least once.

Here’s hoping everyone who would have gone this year, gets to go in 2021.

BITETTO REFRESHING

It was interesting to see Jets defenceman Anthony Bitetto reveal that he tested positive for COVID-19 in June and missed the first nine days of training camp while finishing up a 29-day quarantine. 1189185 Vancouver Canucks Like most athletes these days, he’s got a strong understanding of the psychological advantages of focusing on the here and now. More than ever, that mentality is going to be vital, he thinks.

Patrick Johnston: Canucks captain Bo Horvat is antsy for bubble time, “I’ve been trying to take it one day at a time,” he said. “It’s so important, playoff action you can’t focus on the next week … you can lose focus on what you’re trying to do today. I think I did a good job of that (this year). I think I had a lot of success because of that.”

Patrick Johnston Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.25.2020 July 24, 2020 5:38 PM PDT

Bo Horvat of the Vancouver Canucks tries to redirect a puck past Jacob Markstrom during the NHL team's training camp at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Both players are healthy and excited to start the NHL post- season in Edmonton.

The excited Canucks are making plans to leave for Edmonton and begin NHL post-season action

Doing scrum-style interviews via Zoom makes for a mostly impersonal experience. The chance to get a player’s true sense of things is lost on video.

In normal times, the reporter can linger after the cameras have focused elsewhere, to get a more personal sense of what the player is going through.

On Friday, Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat was able to break down that digital barrier.

Asked if he’s getting antsy about playing, given there’s still more than a week to go before the Canucks open their Stanley Cup qualifying round series against the Minnesota Wild, Horvat practically jumped through the screen.

“If you guys haven’t caught on, let’s get this thing going,” he said, with emphasis. For Horvat to be bubbling over with enthusiasm was telling, given he’s usually a rather stoic, level-headed interview subject.

For the longest time he wasn’t sure hockey would actually return from its COVID-19 pause, he said. But once the return-to-play plans started falling into place, when timelines became firmer, the excitement level warmed up.

Now it’s clearly at a boil.

“It’s going to be a huge relief,” he said of the feeling he and his teammates will feel once they arrive at their hub-city hotel in Edmonton on Sunday.

It was difficult to leave his wife and their newborn son behind in London, Ont. But being back with his teammates in the longest training camp he’ll probably ever experience as a professional has been a big emotional help, he admitted.

That he’s been able to keep busy from the day he got back to Vancouver has helped deal with the emotions of missing out on things like his son’s earliest days.

“I think it helps a lot,” he said. “To leave your family, it’s not easy. It definitely took a toll I’m sure on a lot of players.”

His teammate Alex Edler was one of the few Canucks to remain in Vancouver when the NHL paused for the COVID-19 outbreak. He’s also excited about going to Edmonton.

“I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with my family … that part has been great,” he said. “It’s been a crazy time.”

When the team started skating together, even in small groups, “you kind of got that feel back.”

Hockey season is hockey season for Edler, who feels like he’s getting set for the first road trip of a new season.

“It’s the same feeling as when you leave,” he said. “But it’s probably going to be a hard thing to not see your family.”

Quinn Hughes said he kept himself so busy during the hiatus, he barely noticed the passing of time.

“I honestly feel like we were gone for an all-star break,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m antsy (to get to Edmonton) … but there’s a bit of mystery.” 1189186 Vancouver Canucks The positive news out of the Canucks’ summer camp has been the return of Micheal Ferland and the emergence of youngsters Olli Juolevi, Kole Lind and Zack MacEwen, even though MacEwen had emerged before the COVID-19 lockdown. Ed Willes: From layoff to playoff, NHL's made-for-TV exercise is one big unknown If this was a normal camp or a normal regular season, Green would be inclined to give each player an opportunity in a competitive situation. But the Canucks have one exhibition game to prepare for the Wild — against Winnipeg on Wednesday — and that game doesn’t allow for a lot of ED WILLES experimenting for either team. July 24, 2020 5:05 PM PDT “It’s a huge game,” said Quinn Hughes. “We’re going to be taking it very, very seriously. I think everyone will. You only have one game to figure everything out. If you win that first game, it could be a big part of the “It’s a different situation we’ve never been part of. (Usually) you battle series.” through a whole season then you go into the playoffs. Now you’re kind of going from training camp to playoffs. I don’t know if the intensity will be And that’s an exhibition game in July. Game 1 of the play-in series with there right away.” — Veteran Canuck defenceman Alex Edler the Minnesota Wild takes on even greater dimensions.

The NHL regular season might be exhausting and unforgiving but, “We don’t have enough time to ease into this,” said Horvat. “We have to whatever else it is, it provides all the necessary information to prepare for get going right off the hop. For the first round you’ve got five games to the post-season. prove it. We can’t get off to a slow start and expect to come back.”

At least it usually does. The Wild, of course, are facing the same questions. When the novel coronavirus outbreak shut everything down, they were among the hottest I mean, after 82 games you have a pretty clear idea of where your team teams in the NHL. They’d gone 8-4 under coach Dean Evason, who took stands in relation to the rest of the league, its collective strengths and over from Bruce Boudreau in late February. weaknesses, and the strengths and weaknesses of individual players. Yes, there are variables in that equation and the script doesn’t always Alex Stalock, a 32-year-old career backup, had stabilized the goaltending play out according to form. But there’s no hiding from the unrelenting 6½- position. Kevin Fiala was enjoying a breakthrough year. Youngsters Luke month grind. Inevitably, it will expose who you are. Kunin, Joel Eriksson Ek and Jordan Greenway were making an impact. Veterans Eric Staal, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are still front-line Then there’s this season. players and team captain Mikko Koivu centres the fourth line.

The Vancouver Canucks are currently preparing for their most important In short, they have their established players, their young stars, their games in over five years. Their best-of-five series with the Minnesota question marks and an unproven head coach, just like the Canucks. After Wild should be a litmus test for this young team, an examination of how 71 games, the Canucks were one point ahead of them in the standings. far they’ve come and how far they have to go. At least that’s the way things stood on March 12. But this examination is being conducted under unprecedented circumstances for the Canucks, the NHL and the 23 other teams involved “It’s a different situation we’ve never been part of,” said Alex Edler. in the Stanley Cup playoffs that aren’t really playoffs so much as they’re “(Usually) you battle through a whole season then you go into the a made-for-TV event. playoffs. Now you’re kind of going from training camp to playoffs. I don’t know if the intensity will be there right away.” On Friday, Canucks players and head coach Travis Green said all the right things as they talked about the build-up toward Edmonton and the Or when it will show up. It’s just one of those questions waiting to be effects of the four-month layoff but, really, who knows where they are — answered. and that goes for the Wild and the other teams entering this strange new Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.25.2020 world.

We just know Bo Horvat is ready to get to Alberta, because he said it half a dozen times during his availability.

“I can feel it brewing naturally with our team right now,” said Green. “They’re ready to get to Edmonton. They understand it’s starting to get serious.

“It feels like we’ve been pushing ourselves for three years to get into games like this. This is why you play the game, to get into pressure situations, and the further you go the more fun it is.”

That much is a given. Everything else is an unknown.

When last we saw the Canucks they were, well, even then we weren’t exactly sure what they were. They cruised into the final week of February firmly entrenched in a playoff spot, then promptly lost five out of seven and fell back to the pack when goalie Jacob Markstrom went down with a knee injury.

Markstrom to that point had been the team’s MVP and any discussion about the Canucks’ chances in Edmonton begins and ends with the big Swede regaining his elite form. The good news is, like the rest of the Canucks, he’s healed up after the break and feels revitalized.

The other side of that coin is virtually every player on all 24 teams can say the same thing.

“You can only grade yourself against yourself,” said Green. “You’re not getting competition from other teams. The one thing is we know our group fairly well. We know when we look sharp and that’s all we can do, build our team up.”

In relation to what is the next question, and that’s where things get foggy. 1189187 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks will have Louis Domingue as their No. 3 goalie

Patrick Johnston

July 24, 2020 4:11 PM PDT

Canucks will have Louis Domingue as their No. 3 goalie

The list is mostly obvious, but one member of the Vancouver Canucks 31-player party for the Edmonton bubble was up in the air

It’s not a top-of-the-list issue, but the Vancouver Canucks have made the call on who will be the backup-to-the-backup in goal.

Louis Domingue, picked up at the trade deadline after Jacob Markstrom was knocked from action by a meniscus tear, is going to Edmonton as the team’s third-string goalie, Postmedia confirmed Friday.

Domingue, 28, made a lone start for the Canucks this season, a 5-3 loss in Columbus to the Blue Jackets on March 1.

In training camp over the past two weeks, he’s worked almost exclusively with the Utica Comets-heavy second group.

Youngster Mike DiPietro, who carried the bulk of the playing load for the Comets this season, will remain in Vancouver and train with skills coach Glenn Carnegie. He’ll be available to be recalled by the Canucks should one of Domingue, Jacob Markstrom or Thatcher Demko be injured.

If he is recalled to Edmonton, he’ll have to quarantine and test negative for COVID-19 four times in four days before joining the Canucks’ bubble.

EBUG still TBD

If a goalie suffers an in-game injury, the NHL is still working out the procedure.

In normal times, there is an on-call goalie made available to both teams at every game, known as the emergency backup goalie (EBUG). Presumably Domingue would simply come to the rink in that capacity, though the league does want to keep as many bodies away from the arena as possible.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189188 Vancouver Canucks

Patrick Johnston: Canucks could face a Wild-card goalie in qualifying series

Patrick Johnston

July 24, 2020 2:15 PM PDT

The odds tell us it’s likely going to be Alex Stalock in net for the Minnesota Wild when they face the Vancouver Canucks in the first game of their best-of-five Stanley Cup qualifying series on Aug. 2.

But Stalock isn’t an automatic choice, even if he did drive the bus in the Wild’s late-season surge that put them in position to be included in the 2020 NHL qualifying round at the hub city in Edmonton.

There is, of course, the veteran Devan Dubnyk, who missed a good chunk of the season and only returned to action a week before it went on pause due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

And there’s young Kaapo Kahkonen, the heir apparent in the Minnesota crease.

The 23-year-old Finn was voted the AHL’s best goalie. (Sound familiar, Jacob Markstrom?) He posted a .927 save percentage for the Iowa Wild this season, winning 25 of his 34 games.

Seven of his wins were by shutouts, the most in the league, the second season in a row he led the AHL in that department. In his last 12 AHL starts, Kahkonen posted five shutouts.

“He might be their most talented goaltender under contract right now,” says InGoal Magazine‘s Greg Balloch.

“Kahkonen has exceptional hands, super quick. His technical base has come a long way since coming to North America a few years ago. He’s ready for his NHL shot. Just sad it likely won’t come this year.”

The odds, in the end, stack up in favour of either Stalock — “he always comes with ebbs and flows because he is rhythm-based and aggressive” — or Dubnyk — “love the guy, but he’s wearing down and is 34 years old” — Balloch notes, but if all goes wrong, Wild coach Dean Evason likely has an ace in the hole.

“(Kahkonen is) obviously a wild card because he’s a relative unknown, even to his own team, but he showed well in the games that he got into this season. One of the top goalies in the AHL this season and it wasn’t a fluke.”

The Wild are strong defenders of the slot and even if opposing attackers get into good scoring position, they will have to face down a very good goalie, no matter who Evason elects to start.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189189 Vancouver Canucks “You think, ‘I want to be part of this.' … If all of these people think it’s interesting, I should think it’s interesting as well,” he said.

Now, with fewer choices of televised live sporting events, and with pent- Can sports fans enjoy the game without exuberant crowds? up demand over months without them, Havard said people seem eager to begin watching games again, even if they’re played in silent arenas. Adding prerecorded crowd sounds could help fill the void, he suggested, as could camera cut-aways showing the reactions of live viewers at Wency Leung home.

Havard said teams, leagues and broadcasters are now challenged to see A crack of the bat. An end-to-end rush and a goal. A last-minute game- how creatively they can build excitement and camaraderie among fans in winning basket. A roar. These are the things that fans love to see, to feel. other ways. For example, he noted, the San Francisco Giants baseball And when thousands of fans are at a game, it’s more than just cheering – team is offering to make cut-out Images of its season-ticket members to it’s engagement, a shared experience, a moment when an exuberant fill the seats of its home stadium. He suggested ideas like this could help crowd lifts the home team and themselves. fans continue to feel involved.

But in the age of COVID-19, the crowds have fallen silent, because there At the University of Western Kentucky, psychology professor Rick Grieve aren’t any. A game is driven only by events, not by the atmosphere. was skeptical about whether it is possible to replace the live crowd experience. Piped-in cheering sounds and cardboard cutouts may be poor substitutes for an exuberant crowd, but sports-fan psychology and marketing experts “I think anything you’re going to do to kind of try to replicate a crowd is predict that with some creativity, spectators can still experience the thrill going to come off as fairly artificial,” he said. of watching live games. Nevertheless, he noted, the thrill fans feel is not just tied to who they’re As major-league sports resume in North America, precautions against with, but how well their team fares. And the sense of connection fans the spread of COVID-19 will require athletes to play largely in empty experience extends beyond the games themselves, he said. For stadiums and arenas. But for fans, watching live sporting events is a instance, a Vancouver Canucks fan may instantly feel an affinity for a social experience, says Jason Lanter, a psychology professor at stranger in a Canucks jersey, because they are part of the same club. Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, a professor in the school of communication Just as a funny movie seems much funnier when you watch it in the at The Ohio State University, said whether we can see them or not, we company of others, he said, “things can just be more emotional one way are constantly thinking about and envisioning other people’s responses. or the other when we’re experiencing those [events] with other people.” Thus, she said, even if we watch sports without a live audience, “in your mind, you will have a certain simulation running.” In recent years, research into the psychology and neurophysiology of sports fans has yielded insights into how emotional contagion, brain As social creatures, humans are hard-wired to empathize with others, function, and the human need for social engagement contribute to the she added. So if television cameras focus on players’ facial expressions excitement of cheering along with a crowd. Researchers say the and what they say and do, as opposed to crowd reactions, spectators at pandemic will now test how well the sports industry can replicate the home may gain a better sense of the players’ emotions, she said. effects of some of these factors, using virtual technologies, social media, Knobloch-Westerwick said we should not overlook another feature of the and novel marketing and media-production strategies. human brain – its ability to get used to things. The atmosphere of a packed stadium is created, in part, by the role of As a fan of German Bundesliga soccer, she said she quickly forgot about mirror neurons, certain cells in the brain that are activated when you see the empty stadium seats when she watched her first game of the or copy the actions and facial expressions of other people, says Hyun- pandemic after the league resumed playing in May. Woo Lee, an assistant professor in the department of health and kinesiology at Texas A&M University. Activation of these mirror neurons At first, “we were all sort of holding our breaths, thinking ‘Oh, gosh, this not only gives you a sense of vicarious achievement of the athletes doesn’t feel right,’” she said. “But then maybe 10 minutes into the game, you’re watching, it allows you to share those feelings with fellow fans you think, ‘Oh, why is he not playing that pass?’” around you, he said. Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.25.2020 These neurons, for example, are involved when you participate in a crowd chant or perform the wave, he explained.

“Those kind of bodily movements build a shared experience,” Lee said, noting it creates a sense of oneness.

Emotions can be contagious and spread throughout a large group, though not always with positive outcomes, Lanter added. People tend to be more rational when they are alone than when they are part of a crowd, in which they are more likely to get swept up in the moment, he said. This can lead to a feeling of euphoria, but it can also cause people to behave in ways they normally wouldn’t, as in the case of sports riots.

It remains to be seen whether this kind of contagion occurs virtually, as teams and fans now engage with each other at a distance through live Twitter feeds, online message boards and text messages, Lanter said. Judging by how a single online troll can change the tone and direction of a message board and trigger a cascade of responses, “it can potentially happen,” he suggested. “But I’m not sure if it’s the same thing as what would be experienced face-to-face.”

Even for television audiences at home, seeing stands full of excited fans adds to the appeal of watching live games, said Cody Havard, associate professor of sport commerce at The Kemmons Wilson School at The University of Memphis.

Before the pandemic, television audiences were unlikely to enjoy games played in front of sparse and unenthusiastic crowds, he said. But if they flipped to a channel showing spectators going wild, they were far more likely to stay tuned. 1189190 Vancouver Canucks With the puck, he flashed an extra layer of dynamism. Whereas Ferland reverted to a simple game in his first scrimmage, he was much more aggressive carrying the puck and was unafraid to make an extra move to create controlled entries. He was incredibly close to registering an assist Canucks scrimmage: Quinn Hughes dominates and Micheal Ferland’s after making an excellent feed across to Hughes, who almost set up the statement game man in front for a tap-in.

This was Ferland’s statement game. A reminder that despite missing so much time, he still has the tools to be a potential X-factor in the series. Harman Dayal Quinn Hughes toys with his teammates Jul 24, 2020 Watching Hughes play makes you say ‘Wow’ out loud at least once a

game. Oftentimes, it’s more than that. On Friday evening, though, it felt If there was one key takeaway from Friday’s media availability and the like he was dropping jaws in the upper bowl every other time he stepped Canucks’ final simulated game that occurred in the evening, it’s that the over the boards. club is ready and amped to move on to Edmonton. Hughes dummied his teammates in the offensive zone all game, creating There’s a bubbling excitement among the players, coaches and chance after chance with his effortless stride and crafty playmaking. His executives who understand what’s at stake, with the team just over a standout play came in the second period when he made a nifty twirl and week away from facing off against the Minnesota Wild for Game 1. fired a gorgeous pass to tee up Adam Gaudette for a bullet one-timer from the left circle. Still, there were intriguing storylines to come out of Friday evening’s scrimmage, a 3-1 victory through two periods for a Team Blue squad that SOME GREAT MOVES FROM QUINN HUGHES TO SET UP ADAM was spearheaded by the Elias Pettersson line, Quinn Hughes and Jacob GAUDETTE WHO MAKES NO MISTAKE. TEAM BLUE LEADS 2-1 IN Markstrom. THE 2ND PERIOD ON @SPORTSNET650! #CANUCKS PIC.TWITTER.COM/KQHHPGELHA Hughes has looked great all camp, but Friday was his turn to be the Canucks’ most dominant player. Micheal Ferland was arguably the club’s — SPORTSNET 650 (@SPORTSNET650) JULY 25, 2020 best forward, notching a goal and adding another twist to the bottom-six I honestly lost track of how many instances there were when Hughes saga that just keeps on giving. And there was yet another ominous sign wheeled around the zone, before penetrating to the middle of the slot for Jake Virtanen, who was bumped off the second-unit power play with a tight turn. Every time he stepped on the ice, he dictated complete during the club’s third-period special teams simulation. control on how Team Blue would attack — from the breakout, all the way Let’s dive into some of the crucial observations from the action. to the eventual shot.

Micheal Ferland makes his case Every move was calculated, precisely engineered and then almost impeccably executed. That’s how good Hughes was. Even as recently as a week ago, it seemed like it’d be a long shot to see Ferland crack the Game 1 lineup. More than anything, when you look back at these scrimmages, the biggest positive is that the best players have all had flashes of Vancouver’s bottom-six logjam is well documented and Ferland was dominance. Whether it be Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, Pettersson, certainly behind the eight ball after having missed the first scrimmage. Markstrom or now Hughes, every star has had a moment in the spotlight. After all the action that he’s missed over the past several months, it seemed difficult to picture parachuting him straight into the playoffs with All of them look like they’re in midseason form. just one exhibition game to reacclimate himself. Is Jake Virtanen on the outside looking in? His return on Sunday’s scrimmage was a massive success in terms of We’re now getting close enough to the real action that potential lineup completing a full-contact game with no symptoms, but you still wondered decisions we see in scrimmages matter. how quickly he could push himself into top-game shape. Ferland was quick on his feet, but the signs were there based on his stamina and Virtanen wasn’t a primary option on the second power-play unit during relatively quiet night that this was a player who hadn’t suited up since brief drills on Tuesday and when the club did special teams simulation for October. the third period, he was displaced to an extras unit with the Black Aces.

Wednesday’s scrimmage, during which he scored a late goal while BROCK NOW CYCLING IN TO WORK WITH PP1 ON THE LEFT skating on a line with Adam Gaudette, was another step in the right CIRCLE. direction, but he upped his performance a few notches Friday, when he lined up with Adam Gaudette and Antoine Roussel. EXTRA PP UNIT:

Ferland was a legitimate difference-maker and unquestionably one of the RAFFERTY top forwards on both sides. GRAOVAC-FERLAND-VIRTANEN The goal he buried in after a shot that went off the end boards showed off LIND quick hands and good anticipation, but his impact went far deeper than what he produced offensively. — THOMAS DRANCE (@THOMASDRANCE) JULY 25, 2020

FIRST GOAL OF THE GAME GOES TO… This comes as he skated on a line with another couple of potential extras in Loui Eriksson and Brandon Sutter for a second consecutive game in MICHEAL FERLAND!!#CANUCKS PIC.TWITTER.COM/BOBMGVFBGH even-strength action.

— 헖헵헿헶혀 FABER (@CHRISFABER39) JULY 25, 2020 Between the lack of power-play deployment and the even-strength line Ferland was simply a massive disruptor in every zone — a serious pain he’s been on, you can’t help but wonder if Virtanen is truly on the outside in the neck to play against. looking in at a Game 1 roster spot now.

He applied quick pressure on Louis Domingue playing the puck behind In all honesty, Virtanen actually had a decent showing on Friday night. the net, which allowed him to set up a scoring chance. He had an His line spent most of its time pushing play in the offensive zone, he had excellent sequence toward the end of the first period when he used his a couple of good chances and drew a penalty. You wouldn’t categorize it feet to force Alex Edler to retreat in the neutral zone and send a D-to-D as a great or standout performance, but there wasn’t a whole lot to pass to Tyler Myers. Ferland continued chasing the play and was able to complain about either. strip Myers of the puck and send Brandon Sutter on a partial breakaway. The problem is just that his competition has looked better. We discussed There was a heaviness to his game, and he won a number of key puck Ferland’s contribution at length earlier and at the same time, Zack battles through the flow of play. MacEwen drew another penalty and scored on the subsequent penalty shot. When you break down the totality of his last three simulated games, Virtanen’s looked fine. He hasn’t been very noticeable for good or for bad. If Virtanen played all four scrimmages like this where he didn’t look out of place, his job would probably be pretty secure. Of course, the hang-up here comes from the first scrimmage. It’s hard to articulate to those who didn’t watch him play that day without video, but it was a truly dreadful showing.

Virtanen looked lost on every shift, made countless defensive mistakes that goalies bailed him out on and still shared direct responsibility for three goals against. For him to make up for that, he needed strong performances through the rest of camp and though he’s looked perfectly adequate, his game just doesn’t look as good as it did in the regular season.

That first scrimmage, in conjunction with the impressive play we’ve seen from MacEwen and Ferland is why Virtanen’s Game 1 status is at risk right now. His final shot to rectify the situation likely will come on Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Winnipeg Jets as both teams will be allowed to dress 13 forwards.

The right-handed defence depth chart

For all the hype that Brogan Rafferty has generated from his excellent AHL campaign, he still looks like he’s finding his game against NHL competition. You’ll see him make a sharp breakout pass or jump down the wall and make a gorgeous feed to Pettersson in front and wonder how he hasn’t already been an offensive force at the highest level, but there’s a level of inconsistency to his game.

Rafferty doesn’t always look comfortable defending the rush, has made miscues here and there during in-zone coverage and makes crucial giveaways from time to time.

For my money, Jalen Chatfield has looked far more polished. He’s looked confident gapping up in the neutral zone and his fluid skating has allowed him to make timely pinches in the offensive zone. He clearly doesn’t have the offensive upside or flash that Rafferty brings to the table, but he’s been dependable and brings a level of predictability that Rafferty hasn’t demonstrated yet.

None of this should be taken as a knock on Rafferty. He’s still a legitimate NHL prospect and has a decent shot at making the team out of camp next year. But he’s still sorting through how to handle the next step up in competition and likely will be behind both Jordie Benn (who can play both sides) and Chatfield on the right-side depth chart.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189191 Websites Meeuwisse said those entering the bubble would have to limit their exposure for two weeks before travelling and obey whatever quarantine rules from the province of Alberta and the city of Edmonton.

The Athletic / ‘We don’t expect it to be perfect’: Updates on the NHL’s “We don’t want to have a situation where we’re going to be introducing health and safety plans potential infection from the outside as this tournament continues on,” he said.

Yes, there are hard and fast protocols like the regularity of testing – Daniel Nugent-Bowman under the league’s purview in Phase 4 – and the requirement to stay in bubbled areas. There are also aspects that aren’t so set in stone. Jul 24, 2020 The provincial government requires Albertans to isolate for 14 days if

they come in close contact with someone with COVID-19, but the NHL’s There are so many strict health protocols in place as part of the Stanley protocols call for only daily testing during that same period. Self- Cup qualifying tournament and playoffs in Edmonton and Toronto. quarantine is not required by the league if those close contacts test negative, don’t exhibit symptoms of the coronavirus and are fever-free. Having players, coaches and officials in a secure zone or bubble is This plan was approved by Alberta’s top health official. meant to cut off access with the public and mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Daily testing of said individuals, plus anyone capable of coming into Meeuwisse opened the door for a potential shift to that stance. contact with them, is designed to shift those with a positive test into “We still will do contact tracing because there’s degrees of exposure and, isolation and prevent a spread of the illness. if we feel a degree of exposure is unusually high, they still may be Still, there’s nothing foolproof about what’s about to happen in Alberta’s quarantined,” he said. “But this is a protocol that has a lot of involvement and Ontario’s capital cities. and input and signoff from the players association, so as a group the players are comfortable with it. Referees and linesmen – 10 of each in both locations – began skating at the hub arenas Friday. Teams arrive Sunday and exhibition games “And I think it will continue to be the case that if players are quite commence two days later. uncomfortable, that they have the option not to participate.”

There’s lots that could go wrong from now until the tournament is It’s Bettman who has the final authority to decide if a player can or cannot concluded – provided we get to that point. play because of a health issue. He said, however, he’d be deferring to the experts – “the governmental authorities and our own medical people.” “I don’t sit back and try and dislocate my shoulder trying to either pat myself or anybody else on the back,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman It’s clear the league is saying health and safety are priorities with the said Friday. “If there’s any point where I’m going to feel substantial official start to the tournament barely a week away. However, some emotion, it’ll be a sense of relief when I get to present the Stanley Cup. issues remain regarding how exactly this will all work.

“This has been an extraordinarily involved, difficult and unusual Another one: No one has said what it would take – how many positive circumstance.” tests or to whom – to remove a team from the tournament or cancel it altogether. Bettman, as well as league and team officials, have continuously mentioned the health and safety of those involved as being the primary The league is trying to be responsible yet adaptable. How it works out in concerns as the NHL attempts its return – and conclusion – of play. Even the end, though, remains to be seen. though there are certainly financial incentives to having the playoffs “The sense that going to the hubs on Sunday is cause for celebration – occur, even the most hardened cynic can’t dispute the importance of this is just another step in what has been a long journey and still has keeping people secure. many, many miles to go before we get to the ultimate place that we’re all Fencing went up this week around the bubble areas in the respective striving for, which is the conclusion of the ’19-20 season,” Bettman said. cities, a measure designed to keep those inside locked in (apart from “We still have a way to go to feel any sort of gratification.” trips to practices and potential excursion activities) and those outside blocked out. In Edmonton, approximately 135 security personnel have The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 been hired to patrol the borders.

Theoretically, that, along with the daily testing and adhering to public health guidelines, should keep everyone safe and protected — as an infectious disease specialist recently told The Athletic.

But even the NHL’s chief medical officer isn’t willing to believe or state that unequivocally.

“We don’t expect it to be perfect,” Dr. Willem (Winne) Meeuwisse said. “We expect with the number of people that we’re going to have some positive tests, and we have a method and a process designed in advance to deal with that. And we’ll continue to consult with the local health authorities as that unfolds.”

Flexibility was a theme of the discussion on an NHL conference call Friday.

Family members were thought to have the option to join players in the bubble once the conference finals begin in Edmonton. That’s still the plan, albeit now with a more tentative slant.

“The presence or not of families is still a work in progress,” Bettman said. “It’s something that the health authorities in Alberta, among others, will have to bless. We will take our cues from the medical people, both on behalf of the league and the players association.”

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the option to have family close by later in the tournament was a provision negotiated separately with the NHLPA. 1189192 Websites

The Athletic / What will happen to the NHL playoff handshake line during the pandemic?

Fluto Shinzawa

Jul 24, 2020

In real life, handshakes are out. They may never come back. Infectious disease experts caution that shaking hands sends out the red carpet for possible coronavirus invasion.

So where does that leave the NHL’s postseason handshake line?

“Hasn’t been specifically addressed yet,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email. “Some type of lineup and opponent acknowledgment will likely be permitted.”

The handshake line is one of the NHL’s treasures. In the playoffs, enemies pound and slash and hammer each other for as many as seven games. But at the conclusion of said Game 7, everybody remains on the ice, extends an ungloved right hand and proceeds through the handshake line before retiring to their dressing rooms.

Congratulations are offered. Shoulders are slapped. Some handshakes progress to hugs.

It has seemingly always been this way. In 1952, the Bruins lost to Montreal in seven games. In the Game 7 aftermath, a battered Sugar Jim Henry, bent over either in deference or discomfort, clasped the hand of a similarly shattered Maurice Richard.

In more modern times, some players have sought out certain opponents. In 2018, Torey Krug made sure to acknowledge fellow offensive defenseman Morgan Rielly. A year later, Charlie McAvoy made extra time in the line for Auston Matthews, his former international teammate.

It’s not as easy on the losing side. In 2014, the Bruins lost to the Canadiens in the second round. Milan Lucic didn’t take it well. After a tight pump of the hand of good buddy Brendan Gallagher, who played for the same junior team, Lucic wasn’t as kind with Dale Weise. After some nasty words with Weise, Lucic offered similar sentiments to Alexei Emelin.

Sore or not, just about everybody believes the handshake line is sacred.

“It’s a great part of the game. Great tradition,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I’m a big fan of it. It just shows the mutual respect players have for one another. Especially after a tough, physical series. To be able to look the opposition in the eye and congratulate them or they congratulate you, I like it.”

If the league’s medical advisers discourage flesh-on-flesh greetings, the NHL will find a way to approximate the ritual. It may be gloves-on fist bumps. It could be a stick salute. One way or another, it is one tradition that COVID-19 should not claim in its entirety.

“It’s part of our game,” defenseman Connor Clifton said. “You battle with the same guys for, sometimes, seven games. It’s our livelihood, right? We’ve been playing the game so long. You want to advance so bad. You battle. You do whatever it takes to win. Obviously only one team can win a series. So it’s awesome to shake the other guys’ hands you’ve been battling with the last two weeks, three weeks, and just say, ‘Good game. Good battle. See you next time.’”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 1189193 Websites were becoming more vocal about race and racism, while White players like Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin opened up about why they felt the need to speak up and a desire to educate themselves going forward.

The Athletic / ‘To be united is important’ – Inside the NHL’s plan to The Minnesota Wild recently invited Tru Pettigrew, a Black author whose address racism background includes leadership and inclusion, to speak with the team. Wild coach Dean Evason said the team is “as aware as everybody is of the situation that is going on and the situation here in Minnesota,” and that the club is trying to educate itself in an effort to “eliminate racism Ryan S. Clark completely.” Jul 24, 2020 87 “I think without getting into too much depth about it, hearing his perspective on the way he viewed things as opposed to the way I view things was eye-opening, and I think everyone in there, I mean you could Practically every prominent North American sports league has done hear a pin drop,” Wild forward Zach Parise told reporters. something to publicly address race and racism over the past several weeks. Schneider described the discussion around race in the NHL as “definitely new territory,” while stressing why it needs to be discussed. Schneider, Major League Baseball players knelt before the national anthem during 51, was one of a few Jewish players in the league when he played. From scrimmages. The league’s Twitter account took an active stance in his view, hockey players and athletes as a whole at that time were taught supporting Black Lives Matter, with the Boston Red Sox following suit by to “roll everything into a ball and tuck it into your stomach and tough it displaying a billboard alongside the Massachusetts Turnpike. Major out.” League Soccer witnessed more than 100 of its Black players raise their fists while also taking a knee for eight minutes, 46 seconds, the same “When I came to the players’ association and started looking at all the amount of time police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of George things where we do have an impact and what is the role and where do Floyd. we fit in, I think the area where we have the ability to make the biggest impact and have the biggest impact is with the youth,” Schneider NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from its races while its crew explained. “There is an influence our guys have on young players and members and drivers stood with Bubba Wallace just days after a noose this young generation of boys and girls playing our game. Over the last was found in his garage. NBA players have openly discussed this subject few years, we have done a lot of work to make sure everyone feels for several years, but the league’s activism has elevated with actions like included. … I think the thing we need to do and have the ability to do in Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris using his media availability to hockey is to reduce the barriers of entry on so many different levels. discuss how he believes the officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s death That’s cost, travel, equipment, etc. should be arrested. NWSL players Casey Short and Julie Ertz, who play for the Chicago Red Stars, cried and knelt together during the national “If we truly want to bring everybody into the fold and into the mix, we’re anthem while wearing Black Lives Matter shirts. going to have to figure out ways to make this game affordable and accessible for everyone.” Such displays have amplified awareness while presenting several questions with one of them being: What is the NHL going to do to Another item Schneider raised was how the NHLPA, like so many other address racism when it returns to play? organizations and people, is doing a lot of learning. He said there are players who have done the research, have read books and are listening The NHL announced Thursday its “We Skate For” initiative, which will to others. But he also knows there are others who are not 100 percent bring attention to those fighting racism while also honoring those who sure about their approach. Knowing this situation exists is, to Schneider, have worked to combat COVID-19 over the past several months. how the roles of players’ associations have changed over the past Sources told The Athletic that the league wanted to create a plan to several years. address both subjects. The sources said players will wear helmet decals among other apparel while there will also be in-arena branding along with The players’ association’s previous function was to negotiate and enforce in-game presentations. Each team will get a chance to choose a person a collective-bargaining agreement while trying to get players paid. But or organization within their respective communities to promote while also now? These organizations are tasked with how to make players better taking an active part in fundraising for those causes when the league when they are around the game and away from it. He said the NHLPA is resumes play. figuring out how it can best support players learning about social justice issues in addition to other areas like its members getting a high school “It is a campaign that will speak to all 31 of our clubs and not just the 24 diploma or college degree. in the playoffs. It will speak to the power of everyone,” said Kim Davis, the NHL’s executive vice president for social impact, growth initiatives Schneider was adamant that “young kids coming into our game should and legislative affairs. “It will highlight front-line work and those who have not have to experience racism or bigotry.” He said there has to be a zero- been on the front lines relative to COVID and those on the front lines tolerance policy, and he thinks that starts with the NHL before working its relative to racial equality. We will have specific stories and each club is way down hockey’s hierarchy. Schneider said society now, more than going to be highlighting individuals.” ever, is looking at athletes as role models – a change from when he played at a time when Charles Barkley in 1993 famously declared in a Davis said discussions around “We Skate For” went on for about two Nike commercial he was not a role model. months, with both Davis and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman meeting with the NHL Players’ Association to present the idea. “I think we are way past that. You have to be cognizant of what you are doing all the time, especially with social media,” he said. “We have a She called the conversations that took place with NHLPA executive rookie orientation program and we touch on racism and bigotry. … The Mathieu Schneider and his team “very positive and supportive” – a name on the back of your jersey, that is your brand and you have to think characterization the Stanley Cup winner agreed with. when you are outside the sport and when you’re out to dinner or at a bar. You’re representing your family. You don’t embarrass your family. You “First of all, I have been proud of a lot of guys and the messages they think about, ‘If my mom would be upset if she saw me doing this right have sent throughout the last few months,” Schneider said. “For us, the now.’ That is an important message.” supporting vehicle, if you will, to allow guys to express themselves individually is important. … It can be challenging for guys, and I think the Davis said she had not yet presented the “We Skate For” initiative to the nice thing about the message is really, it comes from a place of unity. Hockey Diversity Alliance but expected to do so soon. The HDA was The league, the players, 31 clubs, 700-plus players. I think that is the created by seven current and former NHL players in June “to eradicate importance of it. Sometimes, you have a lot of different voices – and racism and intolerance in hockey.” It operates independently of the NHL nobody knows that better than a union – that they can be lost in the but has already had two meetings – June 24 and July 14 – with Davis shuffle. and Bettman, she said.

“To be united is important.” One of the questions raised regarding the NHL and its potential plans to address racism was about Bettman’s visibility. He has been criticized for Floyd’s death led to Black and White players throughout the league not being a more public figure on the subject compared to his speaking up about an issue that has often been under-discussed. San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane praised the fact that White players counterparts such as MLB’s Rob Manfred, MLS’s Don Garber, NBA’s Gutierrez explained how groups like Management Leaders for Tomorrow, Adam Silver and NASCAR president Steve Phelps. SEO and the Toigo Foundation have worked with companies in providing opportunities to diverse candidates throughout industries such as Bettman appeared in a minute-long video condemning racism alongside banking, consulting and technology companies. He said those Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby, NHL commentator Anson Carter and organizations allow minorities a chance to see what a career within a Willie O’Ree, who broke the NHL’s color barrier. Bettman also addressed particular industry looks like while also giving them the chance for a seat the issue at the NHL Draft lottery in late June when he said the league at the table. was going through a period of “self-awareness and self-evaluation” over the last couple of decades. But added that “this has been a wake-up call The Harvard graduate, who also has a law degree from Stanford, noted to do more … (to) make sure everybody knows that racism has no part in how those same philosophies could be applied toward sports. to show our game.” that people can have an impact not just as athletes but as owners or executives. For Gutierrez, part of his mission is figuring out how he goes I’M SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE NHL COMMUNITY. LEADERS about providing the same opportunities he has had to others. CAME TOGETHER WITHOUT HESITATION LENDING THEIR INCREDIBLY POWERFUL VOICES TO AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT “It is what enterprises need to think about. It is also the right business IMPACTS PLAYERS AND OUR FANS! decision,” Gutierrez said. “It is like Wayne Gretzky said: Where is the #BLACKLIVESMATTER#STRONGERTOGETHER puck going? Where is the puck going in America? Someone once asked PIC.TWITTER.COM/JFJ4EXJBTH me a question about being in the Phoenix area where there are a lot of Latinos. I said, ‘Yeah. Have you been to New York, Los Angeles, — ANSON CARTER (@ANSONCARTERLA) JUNE 5, 2020 Chicago or Miami? There are kind of a lot of people in those communities “I think you have to ask the question what does front-and-center mean,” too.'” Davis said when asked about Bettman. “Go back to December when we Davis said the NHL has also been in contact with Jopwell, an made an announcement on how we would proceed following the Bill organization that represents Black, Indigenous and Latinx professionals Peters incident. Clearly, the commissioner was front and center and his and students looking to advance their careers. The firm lists Facebook, voice that spoke to our leadership and what the way forward was going Google, Goldman Sachs, Peloton and Spotify among its partners. to be. Gary is empowering his senior executive team and his resident experts in a particular discipline. It is not different than other industries I Lapchick said there are a number of items that make him feel hopeful have seen. I would also tell you Gary digs deep on these issues with the that the NHL, along with society in general, could be headed toward a meetings we have had with the Hockey Diversity Alliance. serious change. He said millennials and Generation Z are more progressive groups who care about social justice issues. They also have “We have had two substantive meetings that lasted two hours each. technology that allows them to see what is going on in the world in real- When it counts and where it counts, he is right there front and center.” time.

Richard Lapchick, the director for The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in As someone who lived through the Civil Rights Movement, he recalled Sport at the University of Central Florida, authors the annual Racial and seeing a photo of Emmett Till in his coffin. Till as a 14-year-old Black Gender Report Card that assesses the hiring practices of minorities and male was lynched and mutilated before being shot and tossed into a river women throughout the MLB, MLS, NBA and NFL, among others. in Mississippi in 1955, after he was accused of whistling at Carolyn Lapchick said his group is now having “the most productive discussions” Bryant, a White woman. Till’s mother, Mamie Till Bradley, held an open they’ve ever had with the NHL about the report card. He said the group casket service for her son so the world could see what happened. did an NHL report card in the late 1990s but that ended around 2000. Till’s photo being circulated throughout the world became one of the Those conversations between the NHL and TIDES restarted about four defining Images of the Civil Rights Movement. or five years ago. It was a discussion initiated by the NHL. “Now we have the technology that we literally watched a man draw his Lapchick said the report card appears as if it will be part of the NHL’s last breath with a police officer kneeling on his neck. I don’t think anyone short-term future, which he called a positive step. And he thinks the with a conscience can shake that image,” Lapchick said. “It opened league wants to hold itself accountable and recommended its first report discussions where White people are listening more than ever. They are card be private. From there, it can then create policies and then go public asking Black people to share. You see more people demonstrating than with its findings. ever before who are White. I think that the Hockey Diversity Alliance is “From the people they have hired like Kim, they are serious about race really important. That final factor that makes me feel this is different is and diversity and inclusion,” Lapchick said of the NHL. “If you are not athlete activism. … For the athletes I grew up with, it was stories about serious about it, you do not hire people who are serious about it. I feel ‘Are you going to recover from injuries?’ or ‘Are you going to make the that in my gut they want to do something about it. It’s going to be starting playoffs?’ from ground zero, especially with the teams. I believe that they will use “They are now being asked questions about life that really matter and are this report toward bringing about change at the club level so their teams being shown as multi-being people with intellect. Activism is here to stay look more like America and Canada, in their case.” and it is an important factor in how we move forward.”

But how does the NHL get there? What can the league do to make its The Athletic LOADED: 07.25.2020 clubs more diverse?

Davis said the league is making more progress than most believe and that more people tell her they are now interested in hockey because they see a woman of color in a senior role. The league and its teams are also actively working to promote people of color and their work. The Penguins have Tracey McCants Lewis, a Black woman, as their deputy general counsel and director of human resources.

Cuban-American businessman Alex Meruelo purchased majority ownership of the Arizona Coyotes last summer and became the first Latinx owner in NHL history. In June, the club announced Xavier Gutierrez as the team’s president, CEO and alternate governor. The move made Gutierrez the first Latinx team president and CEO in league history.

“The other thing we are trying to do is forge national partnerships with organizations that would allow us to scale our ability to create internship programs and source talent,” Davis explained. “There are conversations we are having with groups like SEO, which is Students for Educational Opportunities. Xavier is a scholar out of SEO and he came through SEO. He and I have had great conversations about building a sports partnership with SEO.” 1189194 Websites Here's a rendering of what the arena will look like during the NHL restart. The league is promising a unique look and feel to every game played, including the local goal horns and songs of each team participating. pic.twitter.com/dwMAocHe2c Sportsnet.ca / Inside the NHL's incredible effort to ensure the show goes on — Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 24, 2020

They’ll “lean towards” more content from the home team off the top of the tournament, but may yet play the goal song of the visiting team as well. Mark Spector “We’re going to bring these arena to life through the art of video, audio and lighting.” July 24, 2020, 4:50 PM As a homage to Canada, artist Michael Buble will sing the anthems on

Opening Night in both Toronto and Edmonton, where last week’s flooding EDMONTON — One of the seldom referenced elements of about simply added to the to-do list of people like Oilers senior vice president of spending an adulthood around the National Hockey League is this: You operations Stuart Ballantyne. come to learn that more than just sport, hockey is show business. “We had a lot of water enter the facility — it’s never fun to have that level And in hockey, as in show business, the show must go on. of water come in,” he said. “But we are now up and running. We will have unfinished drywall in the building in certain areas, but they are bruises Come pandemic, come rain, come flood — all of which apply here in and bandages of honour, to be honest, in terms of what we’ve had to Edmonton — the players can’t even begin to play the NHL game until the accomplish since last Thursday.” people around the game do their jobs. The League promised good ice, with the yoke of opening the doors to let “This is … the most challenging endeavour any of us have ever been 18,000 fans in — and the humidity that follows — lifted this summer. And involved with,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said on Friday, to this point, knock wood, the 24 teams have navigated through Phase 3 referencing the 150 NHL league office employees on the ground, and without any major COVID-19 scares. “well over 1,000 people combined in each city working on every detail to make the hub what it needs to be.” The house is built, the car engineered.

Even in a normal playoff season, the games you watch are like the siding On Aug. 1, the fun starts. on a house. Or the paint job on the high performance car. We can’t wait. Without the engineering of the structure underneath, they are merely a Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.25.2020 pile of aluminum or a puddle of paint.

They can’t happen without all the things that make major league sports what it is — a spectacle worthy of having the NHL shield affixed to it. And this endeavour? It’s above and beyond when it comes to the engineering part.

“To turn the lights on (after losing four months to the pandemic), it takes an incredible effort,” said Steve Mayer, chief content officer for the NHL, from inside Rogers Place. “Edmonton is now my home. I am in Day 10 of being an Edmontonian, on the way to Day 85. I love this place!”

From the Stanley Cup Qualifiers to the Stanley Cup Final, livestream every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, blackout-free, on Sportsnet NOW.

On Friday, the powers that be across the NHL and Edmonton Oilers outlined the process of bringing hockey out of a pandemic and into the public. They spoke about creating “Secure Zones” in Toronto and Edmonton, where 52 members of 24 separate travelling parties — 31 players apiece — will arrive on Sunday, and then taking an empty arena and finding a way to both create some atmosphere and show well to the television audience.

All under the proviso that health and safety trumps everything.

Some 133 security and “health ambassadors” will roam the bubble and arena in Edmonton, ensuring that proper protocol is adhered to while helping players and staff navigate this maze of restrictions.

There are 14 open restaurants inside Edmonton’s bubble, with pop-ups and food trucks expected as well, from steak to vegan, tacos to Tim Hortons. Pool, ping pong, basketball, pickle ball, areas to play soccer and run…

Player meeting rooms. VIP areas for coaches and GMs. Each team gets a team suite and a player lounge, affixed with TVs, card tables, places to eat.

Inside the arenas, the game presentation unveiled on Friday is unlike anything a hockey fan has seen before, as a league with the financial might of the NHL has its widest tablet — 18,000-seat arenas devoid of fans.

That means several more cameras than fans are used to, in positions that are impossible to install when people are in attendance. Huge video screens hanging down to the lower bowl showing video components imported from the teams that are playing.

“Pump-up videos, goal horns, goals songs,” Mayer said. “Things that would be traditional in their arena.” 1189195 Websites “It’s not like there were going to be brawls carrying over into the hotel,” he said when asked if he thought his club was put in a separate hotel from the Oilers by design.

Sportsnet.ca / Flames' Tkachuk driven to change playoff fortunes by “I saw a little bit the last couple days of what they’re going to have disdain for losing available for us. I keep telling people it reminds me of youth hockey tournaments in the summer.

“You’re in the hotel and seeing people in elevators and restaurants and Eric Francis checking other scores. It’s going to be crazy. I think it’s up to us to make the most of it. I think they’ve done a real good job.” July 24, 2020, 11:06 PM He originally believed it would be “hotel room, locker room, hotel room

and rink,” with very little else to do while confined to the bubble. Matthew Tkachuk has heard the whispers and knows the only way to put Turns out the players will have so much more to do, thanks to a an end to them is to change his team’s playoff fortunes. concerted effort from the league to give players endless options, Winners of just one of their last 11 playoff games, the Calgary Flames including live concerts. are known as a team routinely unequipped to handle the rigors of a game “Kinda cool… but then again I’m not going to be running around all day that gets ratcheted up in the playoffs. doing all these activities… it’s playoffs.” Last year’s five-game ouster courtesy of a surging Colorado Avalanche A time to dispel the notion his team is destined to fall short once again. club was an example of that. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.25.2020 That loss now serves as fuel for this year’s bunch.

“I’m sick of losing – sick of losing in these first rounds,” said Tkachuk, unprovoked.

“I know a lot of the other guys are also sick of losing, who want redemption after last year. It’s time for us to prove we’re an elite hockey team.”

Well said.

Livestream the Flames in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, plus every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sportsnet NOW.

It certainly is time for this group to prove the growing list of doubters wrong, or say goodbye to some of the team’s mainstays.

Every player in that room knows it, which only serves to add more pressure to a series with Winnipeg that is a coin flip on paper.

Winnipeg’s goaltending and offensive firepower makes them the slight favourite in the eyes of many who believe that their surge to the West Conference final two years ago gives them an edge.

Tkachuk has heard as much.

“Not too many people are saying stuff about us,” said Tkachuk, a voracious consumer of hockey info, analysis and opinions league-wide. “But we know if we play the right way you get this momentum going and the playoffs are all about momentum.

“We’ve just got to get the momentum going as long as we can. I feel our team looked pretty good coming out of the break. I’m very confident in this group and if we do the right things I hope we have a chance to prove people wrong.”

Last year, as surprise regular season champions in the West, they went in as favourites.

This year, no one is sure what to expect from the Flames.

Perhaps we’ll get a taste Tuesday when they face Edmonton, which Tkachuk suggests should be taken much more seriously than your typical exhibition game.

“We have got to treat Tuesday like it’s a playoff game,” said Tkachuk.

“If we just go in with an easy mentality and not a playoff mentality, kind of like we have the past couple times going into the playoffs we let off the gas right before, we’ll probably have a similar result.

“You look at the teams that win in the past and they’re winning going in. We have to play the same way we want to play against Winnipeg. We have to dial it in and play a good, hard physical game and take advantage of our opportunities and not give up much defensively.”

Carrying himself with a playoff intensity the team is clearly trying to foster, Tkachuk did show a more relaxed side when asked about the bubble his club will enter Sunday in Edmonton along with six other teams. 1189196 Websites Ferland missed the final 38 games with concussion and balance issues. It was a bonus that the 28-year-old even felt well enough to drive west for summer camp from his home in Manitoba. But he has seemed to get better almost daily the last two weeks, and on Friday scrimmaged on a Sportsnet.ca / Canucks fine-tuning lethal power play, a potential playoff line with Roussel and Gaudette. game changer Ferland opened the scoring in the scrimmage before taking regular turns on the power play. He sure didn’t look like an extra forward.

Iain MacIntyre “He was among my considerations a long time ago,” Green said when asked if Ferland was a genuine candidate to play in the playoffs after so July 25, 2020, 1:18 AM much time off. “I’ve seen enough to keep him there, that’s for sure.

“I’m happy for him from a personal point. I talked to him today and he’s VANCOUVER — It may be late July, but you can tell the Vancouver feeling good. He’s got a bounce in him that I haven’t seen for a while, Canucks’ playoff clock is ticking. On Friday, they ended their final and that’s always nice to see because you want players to feel good and evening scrimmage of training camp with a full period of power-play you want players to do well. They love playing, and when you see that in work. your players, you’re happy for them. I’m also happy for us. If he gets himself ready and he’s ready, he’s a handful. And he’s got that glimmer They also test drove a new unit that pumped three quick goals past in his eye right now.” Jacob Markstrom, drawing an F-bomb from the goalie that could have been heard even if Rogers Arena was filled with fans instead of empty. He’s not the only one.

“I think we can definitely feel the ramp up,” Canucks coach Travis Green Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.25.2020 said during Friday’s Zoom call with reporters, which was before the scrimmage. “From a coach’s standpoint… I even feel it. Getting a little more demanding now, a little more game pace. You can just feel it in the room.

“I can feel it brewing naturally with our team right now that they’re ready to get to Edmonton and they understand that it’s getting serious. We’ve tried to let them have fun here the last couple of weeks, but yet still work hard and get their bodies going. I can feel our team is dialling in a little bit more as we get going here.”

The Canucks will close their summer camp with a practice on Saturday before travelling Sunday to Edmonton for their one exhibition game — Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets — and Stanley Cup qualifying series against the Minnesota Wild.

Vancouver’s power play, which soared at the end of the long-ago regular season to No. 4 in the National Hockey League, has the potential to be a difference-maker against the Wild, whose penalty killing was 25th.

The Canucks’ top unit, which features forwards Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Bo Horvat and Tyler Toffoli with blue-line quarterback Quinn Hughes, hasn’t changed since the league shut down in March. But on Friday, Green also rolled out an alternative unit with Brock Boeser on his off-wing instead of Miller, and Antoine Roussel in the bumper spot in place of Horvat.

Interestingly, the second unit featured Micheal Ferland, whose last NHL game in a season devastated by a concussion was in December. The winger has been one of the surprises of camp.

Boeser, who lost his spot in the first power play when Toffoli was acquired in February from the Los Angeles Kings, looked especially sharp on Friday, blasting a one-timer past Markstrom and setting up a tap-in for Toffoli.

But nobody has been better at camp than Hughes, the rookie-of-the-year finalist who spent the four-month shutdown training and getting stronger and looks this summer like he’s ready for his sophomore season.

Hughes spectacularly set up Adam Gaudette for the best goal of the two- period scrimmage, and was creating space and shooting lanes with his puck distribution on the power play.

“I think we feel really good, we feel confident,” Hughes told reporters Friday morning on a video call. “I think towards the end of the year, our power play was better than ever. We had Millsy on the half-wall there, Petey on his one-timer side and we were really figuring each other out. I think that’s so important. As the years go on, I think we’re just going to get better and better because we’ll know each other’s thoughts and what they’re going to do.

“Towards the end of the year, we were clicking more and more. So coming into camp, we didn’t even talk about it. We just went out there and it was like everyone knew what they were doing. Obviously, special teams is so important in the playoffs. We’ll be ready for that.”

The Canuck power play finished on a 13-for-42 tear over the last 15 games. 1189197 Websites The tone in Leafs camp this week has been mostly a rosy one. Zach Hyman is back in action after absorbing a bit of friendly fire off the

boot, injured top-six winger Andreas Johnsson (knee) has returned from Sportsnet.ca / Tortorella calls out ‘key people’ as Maple Leafs showdown Sweden with an eye on Round 2, Andersen appears sharper, and Ilya looms Mikheyev — looking reborn after seven months’ rehab — was crowned the Leafs’ Phase 3 MVP Thursday evening.

Coach Sheldon Keefe feels “pretty close” to finalizing his Game 1 lineup Luke Fox for Aug. 2 and has consistently sung the praises of his group’s conditioning. There is no debate over who will stand in the crease. July 24, 2020, 10:59 AM Contrast that with the happenings in Columbus.

Tortorella ripped into his troops Thursday loud enough for the local media Starved for hockey after four-and-a-half months without it, there is a to take notice: temptation to get all riled up over the blow-by-blow developments at the 24 accelerated training camps taking place around the NHL. #CBJ coach John Tortorella just stopped practice 15 seconds into the first drill. He brought everybody together, let loose w an expletive- Whatever is ailing Sidney Crosby; whatever is keeping David Pastrnak filled rant and started practice over again. from completing Boston’s star-studded line rushes or Corey Crawford away from Chicago’s crease; whatever is causing Frederik Andersen to He wasn’t pleased after practice on Monday, and couldn’t have been allow 11 goals over the course of two lopsided intrasquad games — the happy w Tuesday’s scrimmage. leap to doom and gloom can be as swift as it is misplaced. — Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 23, 2020 Yet there has been a distinct tone of dissatisfaction in Columbus this week as the Blue Jackets ramp up preparations for charter to Toronto, Afterward, from the podium, the Jack Adams finalist worried if the home city of their play-in opponents. Jackets were falling into a trap of wading into their play-in round.

Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella has cautioned about drawing deep “I’m not sure we’re getting total concentration out of key people,” conclusions from watching his split-squad battles, but he hardly sounds Tortorella said. “Two or three guys, pretty important people. content with the readiness of his roster. “Some of the people that are going to need to make a difference for us to “You’re playing against the guy that you’re having lunch with an hour win in a series, I don’t think they’re ready right now.” after the practice,” Tortorella said after watching his guys scrimmage Tortorella is a notorious motivator who prefers the whip to the carrot, and Monday. “I hope [Tuesday’s] game is better than it was today because I he’s being upfront about the lingering questions. thought today’s game sucked. Although one team beat another team 6-0, and that team may say something different, I just didn’t like our energy Only two of the Jackets’ three defence pairing are in stone, “two or three” level at all today. lineup spots are still up for grabs, captain Nick Foligno spent some time away from the main group early this week due to soreness, and the “I wouldn’t change what we’ve done. I’m happy where we’re at. I thought combinations of the top six remain an experiment. today sucked, though.” “I’m not settled,” Tortorella said. And then there was this bit of tell-me-what-you-really-think evaluation, on Tortorella’s tentative top line of Alexandre Texier–Pierre-Luc Dubois– And that goes for his Game 1 goalie as well. Korpisalo watched 13 pucks Oliver Bjorkstrand. whiz by him in the first two scrimmages. Elvis Merzlikins turned around and gave up 11 in Friday’s intrasquad game. “They were just brutal today,” Tortorella said. “I believe Luc and Bjorky have some chemistry. If Tex can play there, it can kind of give me an “We’re not thrilled about 13 goals [allowed],” Tortorella said. “We still opportunity to balance some lines out, but I’m still up in the air as far as have to figure out who’s gonna start.” our lines are concerned.” How the Leafs-Jackets best-of-five plays out will shade this narrative. Tuesday, the Blue Jackets mimicked a full game day: a morning meeting and stretch, a nap, followed by an evening puck drop. Is Tortorella wisely conjuring the necessary urgency to grind out three wins against a more talented roster? Or is Columbus entering the fray Again, Columbus’s top trio and more veteran goalie, Joonas Korpisalo, with too many question marks? got their show run, 7-3. We can only guess Tortorella didn’t like what he saw from that scrimmage either. The coach elected not to speak to “I’m not too concerned,” Foligno said Thursday. But he also added this: reporters at all post-game. “We’re not a team that can just flip a switch.”

Trying to conjure some imperfect balance of replicating playoff-like Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.25.2020 intensity and giving the players enough rest to keep them fresh for when the shifts actually matter, Columbus cancelled one scheduled workout this week and took Wednesday off.

Similar debates are being held in the other 23 camps, as coaches wrestle with this unknown beast: preparing their clubs for the seriousness of do- or-die hockey without sapping their energy before what is, hopefully, a two-month gauntlet.

Here is Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice on the value of the in-house scrimmage: “The minute it’s not close to game intensity, it hurts you.”

As veteran Toronto checker Kyle Clifford explains, it’s like tiptoeing a line at top speed.

“You don’t really want to be flirtin’ with it because you don’t want to injure your guys, but at the same time you want to make sure your teammates are ready for what Columbus is gonna bring. We know that the hard, heavy game they’re going to bring. There’s only one way to do that, and that’s play hard in these mini games,” Clifford said after the Maple Leafs wrapped their own five-game scrimmage series.

“At the same time, if you get an opportunity to take somebody’s head off, you gotta let up a little bit because you know we don’t want any injuries coming out of this camp.” 1189198 Websites If Juuse Saros struggles and the Nashville Predators turn to Pekka Rinne, he’ll be fine

Much was made of Pekka Rinne’s struggles this season, and on the Sportsnet.ca / Five stats-based predictions for the 2020 Stanley Cup surface his .895 save percentage at 37 years of age would make you Playoffs assume that he’s fallen down the proverbial elevator shaft.

The truth is Rinne’s struggles have been extremely odd this season, because they’ve only come from one specific area. At 5-on-5, among the Andrew Berkshire 35 goaltenders who have played at least 1,500 minutes in 2019-20, Rinne finished tied for sixth in save percentage from the inner slot with a July 24, 2020, 8:23 AM stellar .825, 10th in slot save percentage at .854, and middle of the pack overall at 18th with a .923. So why is his overall save percentage so low?

With the NHL set to return to play next week after more than four months It’s because, from the inner slot in shorthanded situations, Rinne has off, it’s tough to know how much the regular season will factor into what posted the worst save percentage in the league by a drastic margin. The we’ll see in the playoffs. tiny fraction of shots Rinne has faced from that area in shorthanded situations drops his numbers from respectable to terrible. Older players are more rested entering the playoffs than ever before, rookies have had time to add the bulk we would only have seen at a We have to look at all shots a goalie faces to properly evaluate them, but 2020-21 training camp, and at any point, an impactful player could test this is such an egregious outlier that it’s hard to believe it will continue. In positive for COVID-19 and be sidelined. All signs point to this being the just 36 shots faced from the inner slot while his team was shorthanded, least predictable playoffs we’ve ever seen. Rinne allowed 16 goals, 15 per cent of all the goals he allowed this season. Outside of that area, Rinne was decidedly above league So…let’s make some predictions! average. We can’t discount those results, but it seems unlikely he would struggle that much. Using the data we have from the 2019-20 season, we can make our best bets on how things will play out in the qualifying round that starts Aug. 1. Considering there are fewer power plays in the playoffs as well don’t be This is such an unprecedented season, though, that we have no idea surprised that, if Rinne plays, he gives the Predators a good chance. how relevant this data really is right now. But that’s half the fun, right? Let’s see how well we can do with some of these predictions. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what The Minnesota Wild will upset the Vancouver Canucks they think about it.

This is maybe not the most shocking way to start if you pay attention to Sebastian Aho and William Nylander are going to score a lot analytics, but I’ve gotta dip my toe in the water first. Aho had his coming out party as a franchise player in 2018-19 and had a So much of this matchup is dependent on goaltending. Jacob Markstrom decent playoff on top of it, but both he and Nylander have changed up was superb in the regular season before being injured, and Devan their shooting games this season, leading to higher scoring rates than Dubnyk might have been the worst starting goaltender in the league. ever before.

With Markstrom coming back from injury and Dubnyk able to rest and Only Brady Tkachuk and Kyle Connor put more shots on net from the possibly shake off the brutal season he just had, it’s tough to know if we’ll inner slot than Aho did in 2019-20, and Nylander was right behind him. see the performance we expect from either goalie. Of Aho’s 38 goals this season, 30 were scored from in tight. Of Nylander’s 31 goals, 24 of them were scored from the inner slot. The Wild aren’t a great team in general but they are the best team in the league at protecting the most dangerous area in their own zone, which The ability to get in tight and battle for pucks is huge in the playoffs, and gives their goaltenders easier shots to face than pretty much any other these are two mega-talented shooters who have started to get to the net- team in the league. The amount of control Minnesota exerts on the inner front like fourth line grinders. slot area is only rivalled by the league’s top Stanley Cup contenders, but they’re just not special in most other areas. Beware of Anders Lee

The Canucks, meanwhile, were driven by their incredible power play and A 20-goal season — on pace for 24 — wouldn’t be a disappointment for Markstrom’s consistent excellence, so they were able to paper over most people, but Anders Lee scored 102 goals over his previous three extremely underwhelming performance at 5-on-5, including league-worst seasons, so his standard is higher than average. It’s not like he didn’t put control over rush chances. They’re lucky they didn’t draw in against a in the work either. He was top-10 in inner slot shots this season, but he’s great rushing team, but if the Wild focus their attack on that area, this scored just eight goals from there, finishing only 10 per cent of the time series could be over quickly. whereas an average forward scores at nearly twice that rate from there.

If the qualifying round is officiated as loosely as it usually is in the In 2018-19 Lee scored on 23 per cent of his inner slot shots, and in 2017- playoffs, Vancouver’s incredible top power play unit will have less impact 18 he scored on 29 per cent of those shots. I don’t think Lee’s shooting as well, which makes this even more of an uphill climb. talent has been cut by at least half since the end of the 2018-19 season, so he’s overdue for a lot of goals. Regular season head-to-head matchups are always a bit of a dicey way to break down a playoff matchup. Things are so different in the post- Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.25.2020 season, but seeing some people fret on Twitter about Edmonton’s matchup against the Blackhawks makes me think they’re drastically overvaluing the results of a couple games played months ago.

The Oilers are an average to below average team with two of the sport’s most dazzling offensive stars pulling them into “good” status, so if they play against a well-rounded team that can shut things down defensively, they might be in tough.

The Blackhawks though? Their defensive numbers leave a lot to be desired. Slot passes against? Ranked 31st. Rush passes against? 30th. Inner slot shots against? 31st. Slot shots against? 31st. Total slot shot attempts against? 31st, and a 100 more allowed than the next worst team. Rush chances against? 29th.

Chicago can generate a lot of offence, but if they want to go up against the Oilers playing a run and gun style, I think the combination of Dave Tippett’s tactics and the presence of both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is going to burn them up. 1189199 Websites TSN.CA LOADED: 07.25.2020

TSN.CA / Westhead: CHL seeks government aid to ‘weather the storm’ amid pandemic

Rick Westhead

The Canadian Hockey League has hired lobbyists in Ottawa to discuss financial aid for its 60 major junior teams, amid concerns that some franchises could be forced out of business because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CHL’s three leagues, the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, cancelled their seasons and the Memorial Cup playoff tournament in March. It’s unclear whether the CHL will be able to hold a 2020-21 season, give restrictions on large public gatherings and how crucial ticket revenue is to the CHL’s business model.

In May, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry, the CHL hired Raphael Brass, a former soldier in the Israeli Army and onetime legislative advisor to Liberal member of Parliament Scott Simms to discuss potential government aid. Brass works for Bluesky Strategy Group, an Ottawa lobbying company whose other clients include China’s Huawei Technologies.

According to lobbying records, Bluesky discussed the CHL’s request with Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault and other staff at the ministry on June 22.

CHL president Dan MacKenzie confirmed the league’s discussions with the government in an email on Thursday to TSN.

“We have teams in 52 communities across Canada and the leagues are working to keep the federal government apprised of the impacts of a variety of scenarios for players, teams and fans in the wake of the COVID pandemic,” MacKenzie wrote. “There is much to discuss as we don’t yet know what public health officials will permit in terms of our players and fans, so we have no firm figures yet. We also are not sure what is going to be allowed in terms of our teams crossing borders. At the end of the day, the safety of our 1,400 players, 3,500 full and part- time employees and thousands of fans across the country is the main priority.”

MacKenzie did not specify how much government aid the CHL is seeking.

“Every community and team will be impacted differently, depending on what public health authorities permit as a return to play scenario,” he wrote. “The pandemic has had a unique, unforeseen and dramatic effect on every spectator and team sport in this country. Again, our priority is the safety and health of everyone involved with the CHL in the communities where we play. Our teams may need federal assistance to weather the storm this year and to ensure that Canadian major junior hockey can adapt to the new rules and remain an important part of the fabric and economic development of Canadian communities.”

Ontario public records show the OHL hired Pathway Group, a Toronto lobbying company, on July 5.

In a government filing, Pathway wrote that it was “Lobbying to raise awareness of the impact of COVID-19 on the Ontario Hockey League and to develop and seek support for a recovery plan to return to normal/new normal for the Ontario Hockey League that has traditionally relied on live attendance.”

The WHL has hired Bluestone Government Relations, a lobbying company based in Vancouver. In a government filing, Bluestone wrote that the WHL wants to discuss a return to play protocol.

Quebec's lobbyist registry does not have any records indicating the QMJHL is asking for financial aid from that provincial government.

The Canadian Football League in April asked the federal government for as much as $150 million in assistance if its 2020 season was cancelled because of the pandemic. The league has since submitted a revised financial request for roughly $42.5 million. The government has not indicated whether it will agree to the league’s request.