SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 5/12/2020 1184361 AHL cancels season; Kings, Ducks affiliates shut down 1184389 How AHL conceding 2020 playoffs affects Detroit Red Wings prospects 1184390 AHL, home to , cancels remainder of 1184362 AHL cancels season; Roadrunners finish atop division season 1184391 NHL faces plenty of issues in planning return to games 1184392 Season closure for some Griffins on hold until NHL’s 1184363 Tuukka Rask says he hasn’t put any thought into decision retirement since NHL season was suspended 1184393 Remainder of Grand Rapids Griffins season officially 1184364 AHL cancels remainder of season due to coronavirus canceled pandemic 1184394 Red Wings forwards: Who’s back, who’s not, who’s on the 1184365 Bruins’ Tuukka Rask: ‘I haven’t thought about retirement bubble at all’ 1184395 Q&A: Griffins coach Ben Simon reflects on the season, top 1184366 Tuukka Rask knows he won't fully feel the love until he prospects’ progress wins. And that's the way it should be 1184367 This Date in Bruins History: B's, beat Rangers Oilers to win 1184396 AHL cancels season for the first time in 83-year history 1184368 Bruins' Tuukka Rask says he's not thinking about retirement right now 1184369 At 33, Bruins’ Tuukka Rask looking ahead to next 1184397 Kings assistant general manager Michael Futa to leave extension organization 1184370 What if … the Bruins had brought back Joe Thornton this 1184398 AHL cancels season; Kings, Ducks affiliates shut down season? 1184399 Prominent former Kings supportive of Michael Futa after his departure 1184400 FUTA’S CONTRACT WON’T BE RENEWED; BLAKE “IN 1184371 Former Sabre Mike Robitaille grateful for return of lost NO RUSH” TO FILL AGM ROLE championship ring 1184401 AHL CANCELS REMAINDER OF 2019-20 SEASON, 1184372 Amerks' season cut short as 2020 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS cancels Calder Cup Playoffs 1184373 Sabres prospect Aaron Huglen maintains hope through difficult year 1184402 AHL cancels rest of season while NHL still considers return 1184403 The AHL canceled its season Monday. 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on the draft floor Stars 1184387 Canceling the AHL’s season wasn’t a surprise, but it’s still a tough pill to swallow 1184388 Stars Week: Derian Hatcher’s forgotten legacy & what No. 2 used to mean Canucks 1184416 Rangers offer season-ticket holders refund, rollover 1184466 Canucks may need to play a little roster roulette with AHL options season cancelled 1184417 Knicks, Rangers offer refunds to season-ticket holders 1184467 Ben Kuzma: Jovocop should be patrolling Canucks' 1184418 AHL cancels rest of season and playoffs due to blueline on TSN's all-time team coronavirus pandemic 1184468 Ed Willes: Who wouldn't want to see Hughes running a power play with the twins and Bure? 1184469 Willes' Musings: may be back in South Korea but 1184419 The season is officially over for the the NHL shouldn't follow suit after AHL cancels schedule and playoffs 1184470 exclusive: On the 11 shifts that have defined his career so far 1184420 AHL cancels its season, but NHL still hopes to resume; Phantoms’ Morgan Frost staying ready 1184448 Golden Knights roster review: Nate Schmidt 1184421 With signed Flyers jersey, Travis Konecny brings joy to 1184449 Golden Knights give update on plan to pay T-Mobile Arena young fan workers 1184422 Team logo face masks for every major Philly team now 1184450 NCAA’s leading scorer Jack Dugan agrees to terms with available to purchase Golden Knights 1184423 Jakub Voracek, Kevin Hayes nominated for honors in 1184451 Golden Knights extend meal-donation program 2020 NHL Fan Choice Awards 1184452 4 Golden Knights nominated for NHL Fan Choice Awards 1184424 AHL cancels remainder of 2019-20 season because of 1184453 AHL cancels remainder of regular season, playoffs coronavirus pandemic 1184454 Providence College star, Golden Knights draftee Jack 1184425 Why a NWHL team in Philadelphia just makes sense Dugan joins organization 1184426 LeBrun: Return to Play Committee’s search for a solution 1184455 Golden Knights up for NHL Fan Choice Awards with no perfect answer 1184456 Sisolak: Western states will help Nevada form plan on sports returning 1184457 When will Jack Dugan play for the Golden Knights? 1184427 Penguins A to Z: Patric Hornqvist isn’t hard to predict 1184428 AHL cancels remainder of 2019-20 season 1184429 First Call: Steelers biggest question for 2020, thankful 1184458 American Hockey League cancels remainder of season Jagr, future of Joe Musgrove due to coronavirus 1184430 Mike Vellucci on the AHL canceling its season and what it 1184459 Ex-Capitals Troy Brouwer details his game-winning means for Penguins prospects goal from the 2015 Winter Classic 1184431 Penguins' Kris Letang and his son nominated for NHL Fan 1184460 Captain up for Best Team Dog as Capitals nominated for Choice award five fan choice awards 1184432 Penguins winger Jason Zucker is rediscovering his hockey 1184461 ' quest for the Calder Cup ends as the AHL roots during NHL's break cancels remainder of season 1184433 Ron Cook: Storms are brewing between pro players, 1184462 Troy Brouwer's game-winner tops the Caps' best moments owners in their outdoor games 1184434 Matt Murray, and his giant dogs, really miss Pittsburgh 1184463 Mike Gartner on the secret condition he played with and these days Ovechkin’s goal pursuit Websites 1184435 AHL cancels remainder of regular season, playoffs 1184471 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: What was the single 1184436 AHL, cancel 2019-20 season amid biggest upgrade in every team’s history? coronavirus pandemic 1184472 The Athletic / LeBrun: Return to Play Committee’s search 1184437 Kevin Labanc believes Sharks have tools to be best NHL for a solution with no perfect answer team in 2020-21 1184473 .ca / Senators lament 'missed opportunity' after 1184438 As the AHL cancels its season, what went wrong with the AHL season is cancelled Sharks’ affiliate? 1184474 Sportsnet.ca / AHL can't afford to finish 2019-20 without fans, future up in the air St Louis Blues 1184475 TSN.CA / 'Undefined number' of Marlies on 1184439 As AHL cancels season, Blues ponder San Antonio standby for possible depth duty with callups 1184476 TSN.CA / Yost: Which underachieving NHL teams could go on a run in expanded postseason? 1184477 TSN.CA / The All-Time 7: TSN's 1184440 The AHL season is done. 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NASCAR, golf, German soccer are getting rolling, too 1184480 Fifth worker at SoFi Stadium tests positive for coronavirus 1184481 NFL games could be the perfect storm for spreading coronavirus even without fans, Dr. Fauci warns 1184482 Soccer referee helps make the right calls against the coronavirus 1184483 Coronavirus sports update: Premier League could return in early June 1184484 Opinion: Sports world has no choice but to take orders from somebody else to determine return 1184485 NASCAR adds more starting spots for Xfinity and Truck Series teams amid coronavirus pandemic 1184486 Citing coronavirus concerns, D-II Florida Tech eliminates football program 1184487 AHL cancels remainder of season due to coronavirus 1184488 English football during World War II showed how sport can heal and unify during times of crisis 1184489 Can the N.F.L. Really Return to Normal This Fall? 1184490 Storms are brewing between pro players, owners 1184491 All of the Details About the 's Return

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1184361 Anaheim Ducks

AHL cancels season; Kings, Ducks affiliates shut down

By ANDREW KNOLL | PUBLISHED: May 11, 2020 at 12:47 p.m. | UPDATED: May 11, 2020 at 12:47 p.m.

The NHL’s top minor-league system, the American Hockey League, announced Monday that it would cancel the remainder of its regular season and playoffs due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 in North America.

There are five California-based teams in the AHL, including the Kings’ top minor-league club, the Reign, and the Ducks’ affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” the statement began. “The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.”

“We are very grateful to the and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months,” the statement continued. “The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

The AHL became the latest in a series of North American minor leagues and developmental programs to shut down its season. The United States Hockey League, , Major Junior Hockey League and had all previously canceled the balance of their campaigns. This will mark the first time that the AHL’s Calder Cup will not be awarded to its champion since its inception in the 1936-37 season.

The NHL has also suspended play during the course of the pandemic with its schedule having been paused since March 12. The Kings and Ducks both last played on March 11. The Stanley Cup has twice been left vacant. In 2004-05, a lockout caused the league to lose its entire season and playoffs. In 1919, the Stanley Cup Final was canceled after five of its seven games due to an outbreak of influenza, which infected several players and killed one, the ’ Joe Hall.

While the NHL and NBA, whose seasons roughly align with that of the AHL, have not made any determination as to whether or not play will resume, the aforementioned cancellations portend complications for the larger leagues.

However, the Associated Press reported Monday the ’s owners approved a proposal to be presented to the players’ association that would start a truncated campaign without fans in attendance on or around July 4, with a shortened schedule, expanded playoff format, larger roster sizes and other wrinkles. The season was set to begin in late March, but no teams have taken the field yet in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The NHL has considered an array of proposals and scenarios that might allow them to finish the season and crown a champion, though no plans have been finalized or placed on the table formally for the NHLPA.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184362 Arizona Coyotes

AHL cancels season; Roadrunners finish atop division

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS MAY 11, 2020 AT 7:59 AM

The American Hockey League canceled the rest of its season Monday because of the coronavirus pandemic and shifted its focus toward returning next season.

That meant the Arizona Coyotes’ affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, finished atop the Pacific Division with 75 points through 58 games played.

AHL president and CEO David Andrews announced the league “has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions.” The AHL’s Board of Governors made that determination in a conference call Friday.

The 84th season for the NHL’s top minor league was suspended March 12 with 209 games remaining. That was the same day the NHL stopped play, though it still hopes to resume and could have many AHL players as part of expanded rosters.

“We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months,” Andrews said. “The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

While the Calder Cup will not be handed out for the first time since 1936, the 31-team AHL hopes to return next season. That remains uncertain, with the possibility of no fans allowed in arenas.

Professional Hockey Players Association executive director Larry Landon recently said he’s concerned about the ability of the AHL and ECHL — which canceled the rest of its season in March — returning if it’s not safe for fans.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184363 Boston Bruins “I haven’t stressed about that at all,” Rask said. “I like to stay active and keep somewhat of a routine daily. I’ve been going for walks and jogs and working out and waking up early. I think that helps.

Tuukka Rask says he hasn’t put any thought into retirement since NHL "I haven’t thought of any date we can start playing, because nobody season was suspended knows. For me, that just saves my energy. If you start worrying and thinking we might play then or then, you’re wasting energy. That’s not good, for me, at least. By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated May 11, 2020, 1:42 p.m. “Having a few kids at home keeps you busy. It keeps your head outside of hockey pretty easily. I haven’t stressed about playing hockey at all. I’m just trying to stay mobile and keep myself in somewhat of a shape. If we Tuukka Rask is confident that he can get ready quickly if the NHL season start ramping things up, then I’ll be ready for it.” were to resume. He does still need to blow off steam. Tuukka Rask said he has used the last two months to take his mind off hockey, be present at home, and enjoy the family time. “Luckily I have my drum set in the basement,” he said.

But his competitive fire still burns. “It’s definitely challenging when you’re used to playing hockey at a competitive level and all of a sudden you have nothing, just diaper duty In February, Rask openly pondered his future in a chat with the Globe, and babysitting. It’s not easy. wondering if his current deal, worth $7 million per annum through 2020- 21, would be the last of his career. "We’ve managed the past couple months. At least now the golf courses are opening up and maybe you can play some tennis soon. That’ll help Speaking to local reporters on a video call Monday, the Bruins the cause.” sounded as though he might stick around a while, noting that he and the team can talk about an extension this summer. Rask also said he “couldn’t be happier” that Jaroslav Halak re-signed for another season. He feels the split workload of recent seasons has Players on multiyear deals can begin speaking with their teams about extended his career, and the two netminders “get along super well.” contract extensions when their final year begins (normally, that would be July 1). In the meantime, others are worrying about the larger issues within the sporting world. “When that day comes, we’ll see what happens,” Rask, 33, said from his Newton home. “But definitely haven’t put any thought into retirement or “I think the biggest question probably for everybody is if we are to resume nothing like that. We’ll see how this season plays out and we’ll see if play, how can we keep everybody safe?” Rask said. “That’s my question there’s extension talks happening.” too, in my head.

Does he have an end date in mind? "And on another note too, it doesn’t feel right to take guys away from their families at many, many months at a time. I don’t think that’s even an “I’ve never really thought of that, really — the age, number, that I would option now. play until,” he said. “I think a lot of it has to do with how much you want to keep playing, is your body healthy, and do you have that passion for the "Most importantly, the safety of the players: What happens if somebody game still? gets infected or gets this disease, what’s going to happen then?

"It’s not necessarily 40 or 36 or whatever. You’ll play as long as you can "I’m sure those are the questions they’re trying to find the answers to. and your body feels healthy and you want to keep doing it. Before that happens, I don’t think there’s any hockey, or any sports.”

“So far, I still have that passion of winning and playing. The winning Boston Globe LOADED: 05.12.2020 drives me. I haven’t put a number into it, at what age it might be. But we’ll see. Maybe it’s 36, 37, maybe it’s 42. Z [Zdeno Chara] is still playing and he’s getting older. Maybe I’ll be the goalie who plays until he’s 45. Maybe not.”

Three weeks ago, Rask’s wife, Jasmiina, gave birth to their third daughter, Livia. Rask said his main role is handling older daughters Vivien, who recently turned 6, and Adelie, who turns 4 in July.

Rask, an avid tennis player and golfer in the offseason, said he hasn’t done anything to keep his reflexes sharp.

“I haven’t been too worried about that,” Rask said. “I know if and when we start practicing and skating again, there’s going to be a few weeks to get everything back to normal.”

What does the future hold for Tuukka Rask?

Rask did not skate at all last offseason following Boston’s run to the Stanley Cup Final.

“The past two seasons kind of combined together, it felt like,” he said.

After a tremendous postseason in 2019, he submitted a Vezina-caliber season in 2019-20, ranking tops in goals-against average (2.12) and second in save percentage (.929) and (5) at the time of the pause. He’s confident he and the Bruins can recapture their league-best form (44-14-12, 100 points).

“Obviously it’ll be way different than what we’re used to, but I don’t think it’ll make a huge difference,” he said. “Once we get into small group workouts and get the ball rolling, I’m sure everybody starts feeling comfortable playing hockey again. Whatever kind of season we’ll have, it’ll be hockey like it used to be.”

Players schedule their offseasons with an end date in mind, building toward training camp and games. There is no such framework now. 1184364 Boston Bruins

AHL cancels remainder of season due to coronavirus pandemic

By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated May 11, 2020, 9:51 a.m.

The Providence Bruins were on a 13-game unbeaten streak when the AHL's season paused.

That's how it will end for them.

The AHL, the top developmental hockey league in North America, canceled the remainder of its season Monday.

In a statement, the league said resumption was “not feasible in light of current conditions,” and its focus has shifted to 2020-21.

With 14 regular-season games remaining, the Providence Bruins (38-18- 6) had the second-best record in the league. They have not won their division since 2013. Their first and only Calder Cup was in 1999.

The news of cancellation means that Jack Studnicka, 21, finishes his first pro season third among AHL rookies in scoring (23-26—49), tied for 12th overall in the league. He chipped in an AHL-best 7 shorthanded goals.

If and when the NHL resumes, players could be called up to serve as “black aces” during practices, AHL president Dave Andrews said, according to Postmedia.

Michael Traikos

✔

@Michael_Traikos

AHL Pres. Dave Andrews believes about a dozen players will get called up to their NHL team, with most skating as "black aces" reserves. In other words, the season isn't over for all the AHL players.

163

9:52 AM - May 11, 2020

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The most likely candidates to join the Bruins varsity would seem to be forwards Studnicka, Trent Frederic, Karson Kuhlman, Brett Ritchie, and Paul Carey, defensemen Urho Vaakanainen, and Jakub Zboril, and goalie Dan Vladar.

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184365 Boston Bruins Rask, of course, has his share of detractors. And until he brings home a Cup, there are those who will continue to withhold full respect for his accomplishments. He understands that, and has never seemed to be Bruins’ Tuukka Rask: ‘I haven’t thought about retirement at all’ bothered by it.

“Maybe I’ll be the goalie who plays plays till 45” “It comes with the territory in a town like this where people love their sports, it doesn’t matter if it’s , hockey or football. There are always fans out there who want to see you succeed, but they have their right to criticize you and I’ve accepted the fact my job is what it is. By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: May 11, 2020 at 8:12 p.m. | Sometimes people praise you, sometimes they don’t,” said Rask. UPDATED: May 11, 2020 at 8:13 p.m. “I haven’t put too much thought into that while playing. It’s something, like

I’ve said, that comes with the territory and I try to do my job as good as I Tuukka Rask is 33 years old, the last season of his contract is in 2020-21 can every night and give us a chance to win. And what comes with that, it and he recently mused that he could conceivably retire at the end of that comes. Maybe in the future after I retire and look back, you kind of deal. appreciate yourself more and see what you did. This city is known to win championships and your success is measured on championships. I’ve But while the Bruins’ goalie was far from definitive about his playing gotten to the Finals with the team twice as a playing goalie. I feel like it’s future during a Zoom call with reporters on Monday, Rask certainly a great accomplishment to reach that . Obviously, it would have sounded like he was leaning toward playing beyond this current deal. been nice to be known as a champion in those years, but it didn’t happen and I just have to live with that. I think I’ve played a good career so far For the time being, his focus has been on his growing family, as he and and hopefully there’s some more years left, maybe even some his wife welcomed their third daughter, Livia, to the world several weeks championships and I can improve my play as well.” ago. Whether he gets a chance to raise a Cup in 2020, whatever format the “I haven’t thought about retirement at all,” said Rask. league can conjure, remains to be seen. As expected, the AHL “This has been such weird times now that I’ve put full focus on my family announced the cancellation of the remainder of its season on Monday. at this time and just tried to enjoy that. But last summer was very short The NHL is still very much hoping to somehow award the Cup, with its and the past two seasons have run together sort of. So I’ve just used this ever-evolving plan currently focusing on a 24-team tournament. Practice time off to get my mind off of hockey and focus on family, because we facilities could open up by the end of the month. travel a lot and it gets taxing sometimes being away from your family, so While Rask believes players will have sufficient run-up time to get in I’m just trying to refocus my energy to the family. shape, he has his questions. “I know that this summer I can start talking to the Bruins about a possible “I think the biggest question for most people is if we were to resume play, extension and when that day comes, we’ll see what happens. But I how do we keep everybody safe? And that’s a question, too, in my head. definitely haven’t put any thought toward retirement or nothing like that, And then on another note, it doesn’t feel right to keep guys away from so well see how this season plays out and then we’ll see if extension their families for many, many months at a time. I don’t even think that’s talks happen.” an option now,” said Rask. Rask conceded that the shutdown — two months old on Tuesday — has “But most importantly, it’s the safety of the players. What happens if made him appreciate even more how much he enjoys the camaraderie of someone gets infected or gets this disease? What’s going to happen his teammates. And when asked if he had an age in mind he’d like to then? I’m sure those are the questions they’ve been trying to find an retire, he even suggested that he has a lot more in the tank. answer to. Before that happens, I don’t think there’s any hockey, or any “I think a lot of it has to do with how much you want to keep playing,” said sports.” Rask. “Is your body healthy and do you have the passion for the game Boston Herald LOADED: 05.12.2020 still? Those are the questions (you have to answer). It’s not really 40 or 36 or whatever. You play as long as you can and your body feels healthy and you want to keep doing it. But whenever that drive slows down, you have to rethink it and revisit it and say, ‘Hey, is this really something that I want to do?’

“So far, I still have that passion for winning and playing and that drives me. I haven’t put a number into it, what that age might be, but we’ll see. Maybe it’s 36, 37. Maybe it’s 42, you never know. (Zdeno Chara’s) still playing and he’s getting older. Maybe I’ll be the goalie who plays till 45.”

In the past few years, Rask has returned to the upper echelon of the league’s after a couple of seasons in which his play dipped, partly due to the lack of a reliable backup who could give him sufficient rest. That started to change with Anton Khudobin from 2016-18. Then when Jaroslav Halak arrived prior to the 2018-19 season, it created a 1A- 1B tandem that brought out the best Rask. He played 46 games in the 2018-19 regular season and 41 this season with the B’s having played 70 games at the time of the coronavirus shutdown. His .929 save percentage at the time of the pause was his best since he posted a .930 mark in 2013-14, the year he won the Vezina Trophy.

With the re-signing of Halak to a one-year extension two weeks ago, the pairing will have another chance to bring home a Stanley Cup.

“We’ve had the plan in place for a few years now where we don’t want me playing 60, 70 games. I think if you look at my career, I’ve been at my best when there’s been a 1A-1B situation and both goalies have gotten playing time and you’re fresh going into the playoffs,” said Rask. “It’s worked well for me personally and from a team perspective it’s been very beneficial, so I’m happy that Jaro signed for another year and we can keep the ball rolling that way… With (GM Don Sweeney) we set this plan up and we’ve stuck with it and it’s been working. Jaro texted me last week and said that he signed, so I couldn’t be happier. It’ll be fun to be with him another year. We get along so well.” 1184366 Boston Bruins playing. It’s something that comes with the territory and I just try to do my job as good as I can every night to give us a chance to win. What comes with that comes.

Tuukka Rask knows he won't fully feel the love until he wins. And that's “Maybe in the future when I retire and look back on it you kind of the way it should be appreciate yourself more and what you did. But this city is known for winning championships and your success is measured by championships. I’ve gotten to the finals with a team twice as the playing By Joe Haggerty May 11, 2020 9:52 PM goalie. We didn’t win, but I still think it’s a great accomplishment to get to that point in the finals. Obviously, it would be nice to be known as a

champion from those years. But it didn’t happen and you have to live with Tuukka Rask is no stranger to passionate criticism. that. I think I’ve had a good career so far, and hopefully there’s some years left and maybe even a championship in the future. Hopefully I can For an NHL goaltender that’s got the third-best career save percentage improve my play as well.” (.9218) in the history of the league behind a couple of legends named Dominik Hasek and Johnny Bower, Rask still his share of detractors as a There are two ways things are going to go down for Rask in the future. polarizing figure on the Boston Bruins. There haven’t been too many Either he’s going to clear that final hurdle in the next couple of seasons naysayers this season, of course, with the Finnish netminder ranked with a talented, veteran Bruins group that’s near the end of their window among the best in the league with his 2.12 goals-against average and to compete for Stanley Cups, and in doing that finally put the capper on a .929 save percentage for the Black and Gold. career that’s been brilliant on many occasions. Or, Rask and the Bruins It should come down to Rask and Connor Hellebuyck as the final choices will get close with no cigar as they did in both 2013 and 2019, and the for the Vezina Trophy this season when the league gets down to the NHL Bruins goaltender will finish out his NHL career as an excellent regular Awards. season performer that could never get it done in the postseason.

And Rask was a Game 7 win in the Stanley Cup Final away from winning Sure, the numbers will be fine either way, but even Rask knows that in a a trophy last spring after a brilliant postseason where he city of champions like Boston that he isn’t going to truly measure up until posted a .934 save percentage while dominating against Toronto, he brings his hockey team there as well. And that’s absolutely the way it Columbus and Carolina. should be.

But then again that’s the rub for Rask, unfortunately. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020

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He’s inarguably the greatest regular-season goalie in Bruins franchise history with the most wins, along with his sterling save percentage. He’s got a Vezina Trophy under his belt, All-Star appearances and he’s still just 33 years old with a chance to continue building up a body of work that already has him in the conversation with Tiny Thompson and Frank Brimsek in terms of career numbers in Boston.

But Rask still hasn’t been able to get the Bruins to the mountaintop for a Stanley Cup despite the seventh-best Stanley Cup playoff save percentage in NHL history. Of course, six of the other top-8 names on that list (Jonas Hiller, Craig Anderson, Ben Bishop, Olaf Kolzig and Patrick Lalime along with Rask) haven’t won Stanley Cups as the No. 1 guy either. The only two names on the list that have actually won the Cup as “the guy” are Tim Thomas (all-time career NHL leader with a .9326 playoff save percentage) and Braden Holtby with J.S. Giguere and Hasek as the other two goaltenders in the top-10.

Until Rask has a Stanley Cup on his resume, there are going to be fans critical of his game and his comportment in big games.

When the B’s won the Cup in 2011, Thomas was brilliant and pitched shutouts in Game 7 of both the Eastern Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final to lock things down for Boston. Rask allowed two goals in the first period of last June’s Game 7 loss to the St. Louis Blues in the Cup Final and finished with four goals allowed on 20 shots in a “meh” performance with absolutely everything on the line.

Rask allowed two goals in 17 seconds in the Game 6 collapse to the Blackhawks in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, and had an .899 save percentage in the final three games of that series as the B’s pretty much collapsed against Chicago.

Haggerty: A look back on the Bruins' 2017 draft

The whole team wasn’t great in the disappointing Game 7 against the Blues, but Rask wasn’t able to elevate his game and carry his Bruins teammates to Stanley Cup immortality either. The Bruins netminder seems to perfectly understand he’s going to hear it from Cup-hungry Bruins fans in the City of Champions until he can help bring the Stanley Cup back to Boston.

“It’s something I’ve said 1000 times. It comes with the territory. People love their sports. It doesn’t matter if it’s hockey, basketball, baseball or football,” said Rask on a Monday morning zoom video call with Bruins reporters. “There’s always the fans out there that want you to win and succeed, but they have the right to criticize you. I’ve accepted the fact that my job is what it is. Sometimes people praise you and sometimes they don’t. I haven’t put too much thought into that while I’ve been 1184367 Boston Bruins

This Date in Bruins History: B's, Bobby Orr beat Rangers to win Stanley Cup

By Nick Goss May 11, 2020 12:55 PM

Bobby Orr scored two Stanley Cup-winning goals in his legendary Boston Bruins career.

The first came in 1970 and produced one of the most iconic moments in NHL history. It was Orr's flying goal in overtime of Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues, a tally that clinched a championship for the Bruins.

Get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App

Orr also scored the game-winning goal in the 1972 Stanley Cup Final versus the New York Rangers. The Bruins and Rangers played Game 6 of the series at Madison Square Garden on May 11, 1972. Orr's power- play goal in the first period was the difference in a 3-0 win for the Bruins. The great defenseman evaded a Rangers player at the blue line with a spin move, and then he fired a shot that found the back of the net to open the scoring. Bruins forward scored two insurance goals in the third period to help the Bruins win their second title in three years.

Unfortunately for the Bruins, it would be their last Stanley Cup championship until 2011.

Overall, the Bruins have only played only four games on May 11 in their history. Here's a recap of the other three games on this date:

1978, Semifinals: 6-3 win vs. Flyers

1991, Prince of Wales Conference Finals: 5-3 loss at Penguins

1994, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 5-3 loss vs. Devils

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Bruins' Tuukka Rask says he's not thinking about retirement right now

By Joe Haggerty May 11, 2020 11:08 AM

For a guy who's talked retirement multiple times in the last 18 months, Tuukka Rask continues to evade getting pinned down on any long-term choices for his NHL career.

The 33-year-old Bruins goaltender is entering the final year of his contract with the Bruins next season and said on a Monday Zoom video conference call with B’s reporters that he really could go either way when it comes to how long he’ll keep playing in the NHL.

Rask could be a guy who plays through one more contract and then walks away at 36 years old, or he could try to be one of those NHL goalies who keeps on grinding into his 40s if the mind, body and spirit are willing.

He has made over $50 million in his NHL career, so Rask likely won’t be doing it for the money.

But there is the elusive Stanley Cup that he’s twice failed to grasp as the Stanley Cup Final starter in 2013 and 2019 after winning one as the backup for the 2011 Bruins.

Rask certainly didn’t sound like somebody who's going to walk away from a standout NHL career after next season while playing at a Vezina Trophy level this year, as he's ranked at the top of the NHL with a 2.12 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. Instead it’s a decision that remains to be made based on how he’s feeling at the time.

Haggerty: Reviewing the Bruins' 2017 draft haul

“I know that this summer I can talk about a possible extension with the Bruins, so we’ll see where that goes. I definitely don’t have thoughts about retirement or anything like that,” said Rask, who has remained at his Boston home in Newton during the self-quarantine while his third daughter Olivia was born. “We’ll see how this season plays out and then we’ll see if there are extension talks happening. I’ve never really thought about that really, the age number that I would like to play until.

“I think a lot of it has to do with how much you really want to keep playing. Is your body healthy? Do you have that passion for the game still? Those are the questions that you kind of try to take. It’s not a question of playing until you’re 36 or 40, or whatever. You can play as long as you can as long as your body feels healthy and you still want to do it.

When that drive slows down, then you need to rethink and revisit whether it’s something you want to do. I still have that passion for winning and playing, and that drives me. I haven’t put a number into what it’s going to be. Maybe it’s 36 or 37 and maybe it’s 42. You never know. Maybe I’ll be the goalie that plays until 45 [years old] and maybe not.

This is the same Rask who's recently joked multiple times following the Winter Classic and even just a few months ago about hanging them up sooner rather than later, so it might also depend on how the B’s goaltender is feeling that day as well.

The fact that the Bruins signed backup goalie Jaroslav Halak to a one- year contract for next season is a positive sign from the Bruins they think Rask will keep playing beyond the 2020-21 season. Otherwise, they might be more motivated to throw one of their young goalie prospects into the mix to see if they might be the future No. 1 guy once Rask has hung up the goalie pads.

If Rask keeps going beyond next season, there is less urgency to get an NHL look at guys like Daniel Vladar, Kyle Keyser or Jeremy Swayman.

For now, though, it sounds like Rask wants to keep going while close to the top of his game at 33 years old. So there’s no reason to think Tuukka Time won’t keep going on for at least a few more years into the future so long as he keeps stopping the puck.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184369 Boston Bruins the odds-on favorite to land the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. So, Rask believes his career accomplishments speak volumes.

“It comes with the territory in a town like this,” he said of the criticism. At 33, Bruins’ Tuukka Rask looking ahead to next extension “People love their sports; doesn’t matter if it’s basketball, baseball, hockey, or football, there are always the fans out there who want to see you win and succeed, but they have their right to criticize you and I’ve By Joe McDonald May 11, 2020 accepted the fact that my job is what it is. Sometimes people praise you, and sometimes they don’t … I just try to do my job as good as I can

every night and give us a chance to win.” When the time is right, Tuukka Rask will retire on his own terms. And it Recently, fellow goalie Jaroslav Halak signed a one-year extension with doesn’t sound like that’s anytime soon. the Bruins, which coincides with Rask’s current deal. It’s no secret that The 33-year-old goalie has one season remaining on his current contract this goalie tandem has worked well for the Bruins. The idea of having a and he said he would start to think about a possible extension this 1A and 1B has helped keep Rask fresh, while managing his workload summer. better.

At this point, Rask is only focused on his family since he and his “It worked well for me personally, and also from a team’s perspective it’s girlfriend, Jasmiina, just welcomed their third daughter into the world a very beneficial. I’m super happy Jaro signed for another year and we can couple of weeks ago. Between that and the COVID-19 pandemic, hockey keep the ball rolling that way.” has been the last thing on his mind. Still, with his age and contract status With the way the Bruins are currently constructed, the team is built to win and growing family, Rask understands this could be a decision point; now and in the near future. The veteran core is getting older, so those consider walking away after this deal, or decide to re-up and keep chances to win another Cup are dwindling. If the NHL resumes this competing into his late 30s? On that, at least, his path seems clear. season, Boston will have an opportunity to win again. If not, then the “I haven’t thought about retirement at all,” Rask said Monday. “It’s been 2020-21 season could be it for this group. such a weird time now that I’ve put full focus on my family at this time Meanwhile, Rask will continue to stop the puck with the goal of finally and trying to enjoy that.” hoisting a Stanley Cup as a starter before he calls it a career. The competitive fire is still burning, he said, and it appears like he is “This city is known to win championships, and your success is measured looking for at least one more deal after this one. He’s not concerned with by winning championships,” Rask said. “I’ve gotten to the finals with the his age, he said, and any decisions on his future will be based on team twice as a playing goalie, didn’t win, but I think it’s still a great whether or not he still has passion to play and compete. accomplishment to reach that point. Obviously, it would be nice to be “Winning drives me,” he said. “I haven’t put a number into it that what age known as a champion in those years, but it didn’t happen and we have to it might be, but we’ll see. Maybe it’s 36, or 37. Maybe it’s 42. Maybe I’ll live with that. I’ve played a good career so far and hopefully there are be the goalie who plays to 45; maybe not.” some more years left, and maybe even a championship in the future.”

Since the Bruins have become perennial Stanley Cup contenders, the The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 team and its players don’t have a lot of time off during the summer. Offseasons are short before the players are back on the ice, which doesn’t leave a lot of family time. But his time at home has made him recognize how much he enjoys and appreciates both his family and the game.

“I’ve used this time off just to get my mind off of hockey and just focus on family,” Rask said. “We travel a lot and it gets taxing mentally sometimes to be away from your family, so I’ve just tried refocus my energy to the family and just try to be present here at home. I know this summer I can start talking to the Bruins about a possible extension and when that day comes we’ll see what happens, but I definitely haven’t put any thought into retirement.”

Rask owns an impressive resume. He’s played his entire pro career with one organization. He’s the Bruins’ all-time leader for goalies in games played (535) and wins (290). He won the Vezina in 2014 and he’s guided the Bruins to Cup finals in 2013 and 2019. He served as backup for Tim Thomas when Boston won the 2011 Stanley Cup.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said of his career in Boston. “I’ve had a chance to play with some great teams over the last decade and I’ve been very fortunate to be part of such an organization that gives us a chance to win every year, so I’m just blessed and happy to be part of that.

Rask has been fortunate to remain relatively healthy during his career and has showed zero signs of slowing down. When that drive to succeed is no longer viable, he said that’s when it will be time to rethink his career. For now, he’s appreciating this team, and his career, more than ever.

“I’m still not retired, so I’m not reflecting back on my career and accomplishments,” Rask said. “The biggest thing I’ve been thinking about during this time off is how much you miss your teammates and how awesome it’s been for the past 10-plus years to be part of it. There’s definitely been some ups and downs, but the team’s we’ve had every year has been such a fun group of guys that I definitely miss that during these times and it makes you appreciate it even more.”

Even though Rask has enjoyed tremendous success with the Bruins, there are those who still criticize him for not bringing a championship to Boston as the starting netminder, after winning as a backup in 2011 and two near-misses as the starter in 2013 and 2019. The reality is, had the Bruins beat the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 last June, he would’ve been 1184370 Boston Bruins Cassidy could insert Thornton on the first unit to either play net front or on the half wall, while DeBrusk moved to the second unit, along with Krejci, Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk and Coyle. That would be a What if … the Bruins had brought back Joe Thornton this season? devastating, and more balanced, power play for the Bruins.

Off the ice, Thornton’s arrival would certainly have been a story, but it wouldn’t have turned into too much of a circus. After the initial media By Joe McDonald May 11, 2020 frenzy, everything would’ve settled down, and Thornton could’ve gotten down to playing hockey. After all, it’s been almost 15 years since the

Bruins traded Thornton to the Sharks for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau Editor’s note: “What if” is an occasional series at The Athletic exploring and Brad Stuart. what might have happened if things had gone differently at significant Maybe it didn’t make sense at the time, but the thought of having points in sports history. Thornton in the lineup when the season resumes is a tantalizing and Joe Thornton didn’t hide his disappointment when he wasn’t traded to a intriguing question. Unfortunately, it’s just one more unknowable in a year Stanley Cup contender before the NHL’s trade deadline on Feb. 24. now filled with them.

Hockey’s holy grail has eluded “Jumbo” for 22 seasons, and the 40-year- The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 old — he turns 41 on July 2 — is running out of chances to hoist the Cup. In the days, minutes and seconds leading up to the deadline, the buzz around the hockey world was that Thornton would end up in maybe Boston, or Colorado, or Florida. The league-leading Bruins had internal discussions about whether it would make sense to bring Thornton, who played for the Bruins from 1997 to 2005, back to Boston for the stretch run, but ultimately they didn’t make a move, and Thornton remained with the San Jose Sharks.

Most of these “what if” scenarios have looked at what might have happened had something gone differently long ago in one sport or another. But this question is far more immediate: What might have happened, and what might be about to happen, if the Bruins had pulled the trigger on a Thornton trade earlier this year?

There are the obvious questions that come with any hockey move: Where would he fit in the lineup? How much did he have left in the tank? Would he be a liability?

Those are answered with relative ease.

Players would have welcomed him with open arms. One veteran player said Thornton would have made an impact on and off the ice for the Bruins.

But now there are more variables at play. How would the pandemic, and the pause in the hockey season, have affected a Thornton acquisition?

Before the pause, a deal might not have made sense for Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. But if this season does resume, having Thornton in black and gold would have been more significant in the playoffs than some might have thought.

After a long rest at this point of the year, Thornton would be healthy, motivated and even more determined to contribute to a Stanley Cup contender. His 40-year-old body should have had plenty of time to recover from the grind of the season, and he could use his size to great effect. He would have been able to leave it all on the ice. Every game. Every night.

He would’ve also been willing to play any role to win a Cup. In Boston, the options would have been endless for Bruins coach . A well-rested and healthy Thornton would best fit in the bottom six, but maybe he could’ve been given a look on David Krejci’s right side at times.

Charlie Coyle is the third-line center, and at the time of the pause he had Nick Ritchie on his left and Anders Bjork on the right. If Thornton were in the mix, his playoff experience could make him a choice to replace Ritchie. However, because Coyle and Thornton are both puck- possession players, that chemistry might not have worked.

In that case, Thornton could’ve centered the fourth line, displacing Sean Kuraly, who would move up to play left wing with Coyle. When the fourth line is playing well, Cassidy trusts it in almost every situation. With Thornton, Joakim Nordstrom and Chris Wagner taking the ice, that trio could be relied on for defensive zone faceoffs, too.

When the NHL paused the season on March 12, the Bruins had the second-best power play in the league. The top unit of Torey Krug, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk handled the bulk of the work on special teams. Some would believe it foolish to change that first unit, but think about how lethal both units could be if Thornton were involved. 1184371 Buffalo Sabres He felt right at home — and soon he and his wife, Isabel, made Western New York their home year-round. He believes he was the first Sabres player to do that.

Former Sabre Mike Robitaille grateful for return of lost championship ring Robitaille was beginning his fourth season with the Sabres when he got traded yet again, this time to the Vancouver Canucks. He played three seasons for them before calling it a career. By Erik Brady Published May 11, 2020|Updated May 11, 2020 “Vancouver is a very wealthy city. Standoffish,” he said. “Not like Buffalo, where they wrap their arms around you.”

The Buffalo Bisons won the Calder Cup 50 years ago this week. Mike When his father died in 1973, Robitaille placed his Omaha championship Robitaille played in just five games for that final Bisons hockey team ring in the coffin as a tribute to the man who’d raised him. He still had his before the arrival of the Sabres, but he wears his championship ring Bisons ring, but not for long: It went missing on a road trip to New York to proudly. play the Rangers during his time with the Canucks.

“That ring means a lot to me,” he said. “It opened the door to a lot of “Years and years later, the phone rang at my wife’s business,” Robitaille things.” said. “This guy in western Canada had bought it for 50 bucks or something and put it away in a big box of rings, until one day his wife Robitaille would go on to play for the Sabres and be an analyst on their said, ‘This guy’s name is on this. You should give it back.’ ” broadcasts, so he’s long been a household name in Western New York. But he couldn’t have imagined any of that in his quickie stint in 1970, The call came in to Robitaille Real Estate, his wife’s business in when the Bisons swept the Springfield (Mass.) Kings in the finals of the Williamsville. American Hockey League playoffs. “And a week later,” he said, “the ring shows up in the mail.” “I wasn’t really thinking about Buffalo then,” he said. “I was thinking about getting to New York and playing for the Rangers.” Robitaille was thrilled to have it back. He said he later spoke by phone with the memorabilia dealer and asked him to describe the man who’d This is the story of a Calder Cup ring that Robitaille won on the ice, lost sold it to him. to a thief, then reclaimed, many years later, from a memorabilia dealer. It carries a depth of meaning for him now that he could not have guessed “The description fit one of my (Vancouver) teammates to a T,” Robitaille then. said, “so I know who it was. I’m not going to tell you his name, but he was in my room in New York the night it disappeared, before we all went out “In the long run, when you look at the mediocre history of my life,” he for drinks or dinner.” said, “it opened the doors of Buffalo to me. It was a nice opening volley. It gave me a taste of what Buffalo was like. And I loved it.” The returned ring had a crack in it, so Robitaille took it to a jeweler.

He was 22 then, and didn’t yet know he’d found home. He’s 72 now — “And now,” he said, “it looks like new.” and Buffalo to the bone. It’s not. The ring is older than the Sabres. And Robitaille wears it proudly.

Robitaille was born in 1948 in Midland, a small town on Georgian Bay in It symbolizes the door that opened to the place he calls home. central Ontario. (John Muckler, the former Sabres coach and general manager, also hails from there.) Robitaille played junior hockey in Buffalo News LOADED: 05.12.2020 Kitchener, Ont., then caught on with the Omaha Knights, in the Rangers farm system, for the 1968-69 season.

He was named most valuable defenseman in the Central Hockey League in 1969-70, when he led the Knights to a playoff championship. That seemed like a nice ending to his season, but the Rangers had other ideas: They sent him to the Bisons, who were still in the AHL playoffs.

“According to the rules, you couldn’t add anybody at that stage except for injury,” Robitaille said. “So they brought in a guy, I don’t want to say who, and they told him, ‘You now officially have a broken foot. You’ll get all your playoff money, your share, but that’s the way it’s going to be.’ All so they could get me into the lineup.”

Robitaille said he felt bad about that. So did his new teammates. The player he replaced was 35 and had played nearly 80 games for the Bisons that season, including seven playoff games.

“The players all loved him, and all of a sudden this cocky little (jerk) from Omaha, with a face full of pimples, comes in and takes his job,” Robitaille said. “So it didn’t go over well with a lot of guys. But that was just another thing I had to fight through.”

Robitaille had four assists in five games with the Bisons, and four of those games came in the sweep of the Kings in the finals.

“A championship is a championship, no matter what level,” Robitaille said. “It was one of the thrills of my life to win two in one year. That’s something (Bobby) Orr didn’t do.”

Bobby Orr won his first Stanley Cup three days before the Bisons won their last Calder Cup. Orr’s Bruins clinched in Boston; Robitaille’s Bisons clinched 90 miles away, in Springfield.

Robitaille played four regular-season games for the Rangers in 1969-70 and then 11 more for them the next season, before they traded him to Detroit. Then, after that season, the Red Wings traded him to the Sabres.

“People in Buffalo related to me right away,” Robitaille said, “because I’d played for the Bisons.” 1184372 Buffalo Sabres the canceled its season. The NCAA and junior leagues across the globe also canceled their postseason tournaments.

The NHL's decision to attempt to complete the 2019-20 season will Amerks' season cut short as American Hockey League cancels Calder prevent the Sabres from holding their annual development camp and Cup Playoffs Prospects Challenge. However, the NHL has reportedly discussed each team having expanded rosters if play resumes this summer.

By Lance Lysowski Published Mon, May 11, 2020|Updated Mon, May 11, Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill could opt to use additional 2020 roster spots on prospects from Rochester, including Mittelstadt, Lawrence Pilut, Will Borgen, Rasmus Asplund, and Jonas Johansson.

Significant economic and logistical hurdles created by the coronavirus Although hockey's hiatus halts the on-ice development of prospects, the have officially ended the ' hopes of winning their Sabres have maintained dialogue with players to help them continue to first Calder Cup since 1996. prepare for the 2020-21 season.

After weeks of speculation and a call with its board of governors, the "Through increased communication," Sabres assistant general manager American Hockey League announced Monday it has canceled the Randy Sexton said. "Our performance staff has been creating and remainder of the 2019-20 regular season and Calder Cup Playoffs. The distributing workout plans based on the inventory and facilities available league, which suspended play March 12, came to the decision partly to players. In some cases, they simply have their living room, their because its 31 teams rely on revenue from ticket sales and in-arena basement and a few things. Our guys have designed plans that match sponsorships, neither of which will be available if fans are unable to their needs and their resources available. It really is all over the map, but attend games. the good news is kids aren't sitting around playing Xbox all day when they should be doing whatever they should be doing." The Americans, the Buffalo Sabres' top minor-league affiliate, were second in the AHL's North Division with a 33-20-9 record and on track to The Amerks announced Monday that fans who held single-game or qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs for a third consecutive season. An group tickets for the canceled games are eligible to use the credit toward early end to the season will prevent prospects such as former eighth next season or can receive a full refund at the point of purchase. Season- overall draft pick Casey Mittelstadt from earning valuable playoff ticket holders received a detailed email with instructions. Any unused experience. tickets can be used toward any October or November regular-season games in the 2020-21 season. This is also the first step in the AHL's plan to ensure long-term economic stability. While the four major professional sports leagues receive Additionally, game day employees at Rochester's will significant revenue from television broadcasting contracts, minor leagues now be paid by Pegula Sports and Entertainment for the seven canceled such as the AHL will have to consider how they will operate if fans cannot home games. attend games next season. There could be some significant changes with the Amerks' roster this “After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has offseason. Defenseman Zach Redmond signed a contract to play in determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is and Rochester has four prominent pending unrestricted free not feasible in light of current conditions," AHL President David Andrews agents: forward Scott Wilson, defenseman John Gilmour, goalie Andrew said in a statement. "The league’s operational focus has turned toward Hammond and defenseman Casey Nelson. actively preparing for the 2020-21 season. We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in Finnish prospect Arttu Ruotsalainen is expected to play for the Sabres or navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months. Amerks next season. Buffalo also signed college free agent forwards Brandon Biro and Dawson DiPietro, and prospect winger Matej Pekar "The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and may be ready to make the jump from junior hockey. Defenseman Mattias safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and Samuelsson, a second-round draft pick in 2018, also agreed to terms we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.” with the Sabres in April on an entry-level contract and will likely spend next season in Rochester. Following the announcement, Andrews told Sportsnet's "Hockey Central" that he expects the AHL to return in 2020-21, but he added, "It might be Amerks coach Chris Taylor sent a text message to his players when the something dramatically different than what it looks like now." AHL made the decision to cancel the season, and he plans to hold exit interviews over the next week. The coaching staff will then begin The Amerks, who were purchased by in June 2011, are one preparations for next season. The biggest loss, according to Taylor, is of 19 AHL teams owned by their NHL parents. However, the league's 12 the missed development opportunity for young players, including other teams are locally owned and might need financial support from Mittelstadt, Borgen, Bryson and Brett Murray. their NHL affiliate if fans cannot attend games in 2020-21. "It's always difficult to have your season end, especially abruptly the way If social distancing mandates allow games to resume in the fall, the AHL that it did," said Taylor. "Obviously, the safety of everybody and the could opt to delay the start of the season until attendance is possible. concerns right now outweigh the hockey season going on. I'm sure all the Andrews told Sportsnet last week that the league will ask owners if they players are disappointed. ... We were making that push and going in the will agree to play games if only some buildings are open to fans. There is right direction for sure. With the young guys evolving and growing a also the question of how many fans will be able to afford the cost of bigger role on our team, you wanted to see where they would end up, attending sporting events. how their development would transfer going into that push and possibly "When you’re talking about the AHL, when you’re talking about National the playoffs. We didn't get to see that, which is the frustrating part about , they’re ticket-driven," said Lee Berkes, president and CEO of it." LHB Sports, Entertainment & Media Inc. "Their major revenue streams Sabres' prospects preparing in case Amerks' season resumes are tickets and sponsorships. If you don’t have fans in the stands or arena, you lose that ticket revenue and, in turn, the sponsors are going to Buffalo News LOADED: 05.12.2020 say, ‘Wait, nobody is seeing what I’m doing here.’

"That’s an issue and you add to the fact the sponsors themselves – some of them are in very difficult shape. There are categories that have been put on the sidelines, from airlines to hotels to restaurants. Those have significant impacts in terms of revenue for those teams and they can’t fall back on the TV revenues to help tide them over like the Sabres and the Bills can, like any NHL or NFL team can."

The Amerks are the latest group of Sabres prospects facing a long offseason. Dylan Cozens, whom Buffalo drafted with the seventh overall pick last June, lost an opportunity to compete for the when 1184373 Buffalo Sabres "The idea was to take the pain away and I could play through it, but that didn’t work either," said Huglen. Although NCAA rules prevented the Sabres from assisting in the medical process, their staff maintained Sabres prospect Aaron Huglen maintains hope through difficult year dialogue with Huglen.

Sabres assistant general manager Steve Greeley said it's "unusual" for a bulging disc to linger for one year and commended Huglen for taking a By Lance Lysowski responsible approach to recovery. It would be natural for a young player to push to return to competition. Huglen held himself back when he

experienced discomfort when made a few attempts to skate in Aaron Huglen did not panic when he felt the twinge in his back during a November. routine weight-lifting workout last May. The pain wasn't severe enough Sabres development coach Adam Mair provided a workout plan that for him to believe it was anything more than a muscle pull and the injury included stationary exercises, basic stickhandling, tipping pucks and wasn't expected to limit him for more than a few weeks. juggling. Huglen engages his core muscles with planks, wall sits and There were no signs that Huglen was about to experience a tumultuous lunges. He can't jump or perform any strenuous movements, although 12 months in which he skated only a few times. The talented winger was the injury has not impacted his quality of life. selected in the fourth round, 102nd overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in June "It’s obviously a little different," said Greeley. "What we’ve done a lot of is and he participated in off-ice activities during their development camp in sharing articles and talking about the game with him. Talking about the LECOM Harborcenter. position and he’s watched a lot of hockey this year. Challenging him on Huglen discovered he was dealing with a bulging disc, which typically what are you learning, what are you seeing. Trying to keep his mind requires four to six weeks for recovery. The six-week mark passed with present and thinking about the game and understanding what it takes to no progress, and Huglen could not play the 2019-20 season with the be a player. Really, what it’s going to take to have success at Minnesota United States Hockey League's . and later in his career as a professional."

Several prescribed remedies failed. Finally, as Huglen quarantined with Although Huglen could not participate on the ice, he attended all of his family during the coronavirus pandemic, he was approved for surgery Fargo's practices and home games. Lamoureux also invited Huglen to and this week will undergo a microdiscectomy, the surgical removal of participate in pregame coaching meetings, providing the Sabres' abnormal disc material that places pressure on a nerve root or the spinal prospect with a glimpse at the processes used to prepare for an cord. opponent.

Huglen finally has a path to return to the ice. The scheduled surgery has given Huglen a more certain path to return to the ice. His doctors anticipate physical therapy can begin in eight weeks "It's definitely been a frustrating process," Huglen, now 19 years old, told and it's estimated that he can then perform high-intensity workouts. The Buffalo News. "It’s such a mysterious injury. I've definitely exhausted According to Huglen, the tentative plan is for him to return to Fargo in the all options. I’ve had little blips of hope that it would heal, but it hasn’t." fall instead enrolling at Minnesota, although he added, "Nothing is ever really set in stone." Huglen's dream of playing in the National Hockey League became realistic when he scored 40 goals across his junior and senior seasons at Through these 12 months, promising days and setbacks, Huglen found Roseau High School in Minnesota. He earned an invitation to the 2018 motivation in that the Sabres believed in his ability. Now he wants to Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, a tournament featuring the top Under-18 players resume his work to reach the NHL. from eight nations around the globe. "That’s definitely something to hold on to, remembering I was drafted," he One of Huglen's two goals in the tournament garnered international said. "I’m super excited to get going again and start training towards attention. During the first period of a tie game against Canada, Huglen that." corralled the puck behind the opposing net and curled it onto the blade of his stick before scoring a lacrosse-style goal. Buffalo News LOADED: 05.12.2020

His skill with the puck earned high marks from scouts and he was ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the 90th-best North American skater in the 2019 draft. Huglen split the 2018-19 season between high school and the Force, who he helped with four goals in 28 games. Regardless of which team drafted Huglen, the plan was for him to return to the Force for one year before joining the storied hockey program at the University of Minnesota.

"I think the ceiling for Aaron is extremely high, which is what is difficult," Fargo coach Pierre-Paul Lamoureux, an assistant on the team's staff in 2018-19, said. "He’s missed an entire year of development. His skill, hockey sense and natural ability is elite. It’s NHL level. I’ve coached a handful of players who are playing in the NHL, and he’s at the level of a (New York Islanders forward) Brock Nelson in terms of his hockey sense and skill. The unfortunate thing is (Huglen) hasn’t been able to reach that (potential) because he hasn’t been able to play."

Huglen planned on using a weight-lifting workout last May to gauge his progress before an important offseason. However, he slipped a disc when attempting to deadlift a weighted hex bar. The injury didn't raise any red flags for NHL teams, including the Sabres.

The injury is common and most athletes make a full recovery. For some, a bulging disc doesn't even hold them out of competition. Over the next several months, Huglen was prescribed several remedies by three chiropractors in an attempt to avoid a surgical procedure.

A high-caliber anti-inflammatory medicine alleviated the problem, only for Huglen's symptoms to return a few days later. He received four cortisone shots, but the pain and discomfort persisted. Huglen also underwent an unsuccessful rhizotomy, a surgical procedure in which an electric current is used to destroy problematic nerve roots in the spinal cord. 1184374 Calgary Flames Prior to the pause, the Flames were carrying 13 forwards, nine defencemen and two goalies. If the NHL resumes, they’ll look to the farm for reinforcements.

Flames farmhands disappointed by AHL cancellation, hoping to become As the 22-year-old Phillips put it, “It’s motivating, for sure, to know that black aces you’re kind of in the conversation to be around them and be a part of that.”

Wes Gilbertson Froese, 29, admitted Monday’s cancellation was “a tough pill to swallow,” but agreed a call to join the Flames’ black aces would boost his spirits.

Like Phillips, he’s based in Calgary, so it won’t be a tough commute once The American Hockey League has announced the cancellation of the players are allowed to skate in small groups at the Saddledome. remainder of its 2019-20 campaign and playoff push due to the global pandemic, hardly a surprise but still a bummer for those who believed the “To not have the closure, I think, is the worst part,” said Froese, a veteran could contend for a Calder Cup title. of 110 big-league outings, of the sudden ending to his first season in Stockton. “You didn’t even get to say goodbye to the guys in person. It It’s official that they won’t be returning to Stockton, Calif., this spring. was all just cut off, cut off from the people that you saw for the last five or six months and hung out with day in and day out. And it won’t change Some of the Calgary Flames’ farm-clubbers are still hoping to be that. But for me, on a personal level, I’ve never actually been a black ace summoned to the Saddledome in the not-too-distant future. or been with an NHL group in the playoffs. Even when I’ve been up, The American Hockey League has announced the cancellation of the we’ve missed the playoffs. So if I get the opportunity to do that, I’ll be remainder of its 2019-20 campaign and playoff push due to the global excited about it.” pandemic, hardly a surprise but still a bummer for those who believed the Calgary Sun: LOADED: 05.12.2020 Stockton Heat could contend for a Calder Cup title.

The NHL, however, is still shooting for a restart to the season, and word is that each team would also have a taxi squad — or black aces, as they’re often called — in their isolation bubble in case of injuries.

“The message to them is continue to do what they’re doing, which is stay in shape and be ready for a potential call, if and when that comes,” said Flames assistant general manager Brad Pascall, who oversees the AHL affiliate. “There are so many unanswered questions right now on the return to play (in the NHL). But the one thing they can control is to do whatever they can to stay in shape and just be ready.”

It has seemed like a formality for several weeks that the AHL would scrap the rest of its season.

That didn’t necessarily lessen the blow any when it was confirmed Monday morning.

“It’s not a surprise, but it’s still disappointing,” said Calgary-raised right- winger Matthew Phillips, who was selected to the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic but had to skip the showcase due to injury. “You work hard all summer, you work through training camp and you put in all the effort and the coaching staff puts so much effort into bringing the team together, and you see that all pay off late into the season and into playoffs.

“I think our team was pretty consistent all season. I think we only lost three games in a row once, and I think we only lost two in a row, like, three times. Besides that, we always found ways to bounce back and that’s really what playoff hockey is all about. So it’s disappointing, because not every season do you get to be a part of a group that has the opportunity to do some damage in the playoffs. And we all kind of felt like that was the position that we might have been in.”

With a 30-17-8 record when the action was halted, the Heat were sitting third in the AHL’s Pacific Division, seven points out of top spot but with three games in hand. Their special-teamers pulled off a rare feat, leading the loop in both power-play (25.6%) and -kill (87.6 %) efficiency.

On an individual note, all-star centre topped Stockton’s stat-sheet with 47 points, one better than Alan Quine.

Heat captain Byron Froese and rookie Luke Philp shared the team lead with 19 goals apiece, while Jon Gillies and Artyom Zagidulin finished with a near-even split in the crease. Zagidulin registered more wins (16), but Gillies boasted a better goals-against average (2.69) and save percentage (.907).

“If you’re in the American League, the goal is always to progress and move on to the NHL,” Pascall said. “But while we’re here, we play to what we call ‘The Standard’ day in and day out. Part of that goal is to A) make the playoffs, and B) make some noise in the playoffs. I think collectively, as players, coaches, management, we were real happy with our team and where it was going. We were looking forward to, hopefully, a lengthy playoff run.”

For some, that could still be a possibility. 1184375 Carolina Hurricanes

Rest of AHL, Charlotte Checkers season canceled by coronavirus pandemic

BY LUKE DECOCK MAY 11, 2020 09:03 AM

The Charlotte Checkers will be holding onto the Calder Cup a little longer than expected. Their title defense was cut short Monday when the AHL announced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season and playoffs, unable to find a way forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a league where revenue is primarily driven by gate receipts rather than television contracts, playing without fans — at the moment, the only way forward for sports leagues, including the AHL — was financially unfeasible for the AHL. The decision was made during a leaguewide conference call Friday but teams were given the weekend to prepare for the announcement.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” AHL president David Andrews said in a statement. “The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.

“We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months. The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

The end of the season also brings closer the potential end of the partnership between the Checkers and Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have been in discussions to move their AHL affiliation to the after the conclusion of the season, with the Checkers potentially linking up with the . Current Checkers coach Ryan Warsofsky would move with Carolina’s prospects to the Wolves if that deal goes through.

While it may be the end of the Checkers’ season, it may not be the end of some players’ seasons. The NHL still intends to complete its season this summer or fall, whether that’s some portion of the regular season as well as the playoffs or merely some modified version of the playoffs. In either scenario, teams would carry several extra players from their AHL teams as emergency replacements, for injuries or coronavirus or otherwise.

The Checkers beat the Wolves in the finals to win the Calder Cup a year ago, and despite losing their coach and a substantial portion of their roster over the offseason were still in position to defend their title when the season halted because of the coronavirus on March 12. The Checkers were in third place in the Atlantic Division after 61 games with a 34-22-5 record despite juggling six goalies and 46 players, tied for second-most in the AHL.

Defenseman Jake Bean led the Checkers with 48 points in 59 games; Steven Lorentz led the current Checkers with 23 goals, although Julien Gauthier had 26 before he was traded to the New York Rangers on Feb. 18.

Any resumption of AHL play would likely have to wait for the beginning of the 2020-21 NHL season, which in some scenarios might not happen until December or January.

News Observer LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184376 Carolina Hurricanes before it went away. If we didn’t have shirts ready for another week no one would care by then, but we had them less than 24 hours later — we capitalized on that moment.

Behind the Canes brand: Social media engagement, ‘The Office’ and What has engagement been like since COVID-19? I’m very curious if it’s Bunch of Jerks more because people are at home, less because there’s no hockey, or what?

By Sara Civian May 11, 2020 I assumed interactions would be down just based on the eye test, and yeah, in total they are significantly down. That’s to be expected. But we’re still managing to pace the league — we’re first on Instagram, second on Twitter and second on Facebook for interaction rate right now. At least 667 of you agree on one thing: The Hurricanes have the best I’m proud of what we’re doing but I also told our staff that metrics don’t marketing and social media in the league. matter right now. We’re lucky to have a passionate fan base that helps us As fun as they make it look, it doesn’t come easy. It takes buy in and lead the league in a lot of these metrics, but right now the rules have trust from top to bottom, and dozens of people behind the scenes changed so dramatically. It’s just about keeping our brand as relevant as actually making things happen. we can and being there for the fans who are missing what we do.

To name a few, there’s Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy What are some of the things you’ve done to stay “relevant” and adjust Mike Forman, who spoke with us last season about what he does. during the NHL pause? There’s Hurricanes.com Senior Editor Michael Smith, who needs no The biggest change right now is making sure our people are OK. We introduction. There are entire graphic design and video content teams. started reading the tea leaves early, seeing potentially having games with Then there’s Digital Media and Marketing Coordinator Nikki Stoudt, who no fans and I got our team brainstorming, some ideas of how are we is basically a team in herself. going to handle this, at the time no one thought anything like this was “She’s sort of our glue player, really. Our utility player,” said Dan going to happen. We also kind of looked at our idea bank and things LaTorraca, Senior Director of Marketing. “Without her we would be in we’ve wanted to do over the years we didn’t have time or resources for, rough shape.” and we put together a robust strategy.

You can find Stoudt running around the arena doing something different In this situation here our digital marketing team becomes one of the more every day. If you see a picture from a post-game presser, she probably functional pieces of the organization when there’s no hockey. But when snuck through the masses to get it. If you see a player Tweet anything, everything started to get shut down, I wanted to make sure our staff took there’s a good chance she had something to do with it. a few days to fully digest what was happening — and I don’t think anybody is really going to digest or comprehend any of this for a while — You used to find LaTorraca doing the social media posts from the but to clear their heads for a while. From there we put together the right Hurricanes’ accounts, but he handed the reigns over to former Durham communication platforms to make sure we had an appropriate workflow Bulls social media manager Matt Sutor this season. It’s a bit of a relief for and direction. I laid out some things to keep us ahead, but then as this LaTorraca, who had been doing the Tweets for years — including for the got worse it turned into, “All right, what are we doing to engage our Carolina Panthers — before his time with the Hurricanes. fans?” We put a lot of our big-picture ideas on hold for a while to tread water for a little bit. We caught up with LaTorraca about the Hurricanes’ brand, accidentally retweeting marijuana and life in sports social media amidst a global So were the recent posts saying something nice about every team and pandemic. “The Office” planned?

This might be obvious, but why is fan engagement so important to you? #HOCKEYTWITTER COULD USE SOME EXTRA KINDNESS RIGHT NOW. WE CAN HELP WITH THAT. That actually started two jobs ago. My first sports position was with the Carolina Panthers for about six years. My strategy was: We’re never A THREAD: going to beat the Cowboys, or some of the bigger teams, with brand visibility or awareness. We might not have the best content resources — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) MARCH 18, 2020 available, but we can interact with people and engage. That’s under our A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BINGE WATCHING THE OFFICE, SO HERE'S control. I don’t know why more brands don’t do it. When I was EVERY NHL TEAM AS A SCENE FROM THE SHOW: interviewing with the Hurricanes, it was something I pushed quite a bit — PIC.TWITTER.COM/CAIFQSQH3A that it’s going to make a big difference. Especially in a new era with new ownership, a new head coach, the second overall pick, you want to inject — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) MARCH 31, 2020 some energy into your brand? Answer your fans! Talk to them! Build up a dialogue that is actually meaningful and not empty. That’s the Matt Sutor special, and that started when we mentioned every team except the Caps on world kindness day (Nov. 13). We wanted to And then you just so happened to get the best story of the year … kick off our quarantine campaign with something like that and it went well. As that was evolving, we started discussing The Office-themed one Which one? (Laughing) It’s been a lot. Back in 2015 the Panthers had as well. But some of the stuff we’ve been doing, like the Storm Surge fan their Super Bowl run, I was like “That’s it. That’s the most fun I’ll ever vote, we’ve been talking about for a year. We kept waiting for the right have.” And then last season happened and completely blew that out of time to do it (in the midst of the coronavirus crisis), stuff like that you the water — I mean, every week it was something else. I like to think we don’t want to be tone deaf but it was fun and well-received. We wanted to have a pretty good understanding of how to capitalize on that stuff, make sure we were still hitting the foundations of our strategy, which is to whether it’s a t-shirt, or creating something fun out of it. Making be really, really interactive and sort of create a platform for 1-to-1 something exciting even better has been our real path to success. interactions, being responsive. I’m glad it brightened people’s day Everyone always talks about how the Hurricanes management and because it was pretty early in this whole thing. leadership let you be creative, but what does that actually mean? What is your all-time favorite post from the Hurricanes Twitter account? Well, specifically with the whole Bunch of Jerks thing, when that went DL: OK, so there was one that never took off where somebody insulted down we did a couple of social media jabs like changing our Twitter bio us and their account was a jar of mayonnaise. I was always kind of and the grandpa Simpson meme, but the whole time we were talking bummed that it never took off. about making shirts. We weren’t done with our game coverage until midnight, and I remember Mike Forman standing in my office saying BUDDY YOU ARE PRETENDING TO BE A JAR OF MAYONNAISE ON “We’ve gotta make Tom (Dundon) and Don (Waddell) aware of this.” So TWITTER Mike texted them at, like, 12:30 a.m. and we got a response back in 5-10 minutes tops, like “Go for it. Do it.” Then we got to work. I think the ability — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) DECEMBER 16, 2018 to take risks and be that nimble, to have that freedom to take chances The “tag” one too, from the playoff run. really helps us be successful. We had an opportunity and had to act quick, and I firmly believe that having ownership agree so quickly allowed THEY'RE OUT HERE PLAYING TAG. us not only to get our best people on it, but to capitalize on the discussion WE'RE OUT HERE PLAYING HOCKEY. ANYWAY, HOPEFULLY THIS SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON YOUR HTTPS://T.CO/VV43CIAZPJ TAKEHTTPS://T.CO/KTAVJB71PS

— CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) MAY 2, 2019 — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) FEBRUARY 28, 2020

There were so many from the (2018-19) playoff run that were pretty IT MEANS A HOCKEY TEAM IS MORE THAN JUST A HOCKEY TEAM. special. The bend the knee one, I made that like a week and a half in WE'RE A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATE OUR advance. There was a lot of back-and-forth with PR like, “Yes, No, Yes, COMMUNITY, AND ALL OUR FANS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE No,” but I was finally like “Yes, we’re doing it.” LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY DESERVE TO KNOW THEY'LL ALWAYS BE WELCOME HERE BEND THE KNEE HTTPS://T.CO/0IQ7MTVZ7B — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) FEBRUARY 28, 2020 — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) APRIL 25, 2019 UNFORTUNATELY MANY PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE OR WELCOME That one I’m certainly partial to, but it was one of those years where AT NUMEROUS PLACES BASED ON THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, things clicked and the team gave us every opportunity to be fun and AMONG OTHER FACTORS. THIS EVENT HELPS SHOW OUR snarky. It was like playing a video game on easy mode. SUPPORT FOR THOSE PEOPLE, AND LET THEM KNOW #CANES GAMES ARE A SAFE, WELCOMING PLACE What do you consider your biggest mistake? — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) FEBRUARY 28, 2020 Well, certainly the millions of typos I’m always responsible for. Gosh, I’m sure I’ve made tons of mistakes it’s just figuring out which one was the WE DO. WE VALUE YOU FOR YOU, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO worst. I had three tweets with the Panthers that got me in trouble. SUPPORT YOU

One was the time I accidentally retweeted a bag of marijuana. I drove — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) FEBRUARY 28, 2020 home Christmas Eve after a game and my wife and I were exhausted, but we wanted to make breakfast for our family. This was back in, like Absolutely, I’m really proud of that. Matt Sutor the social media manager 2011, so I had a Palm Pilot and the league asked us to ask fans what deserves all the credit for being the driving force behind a lot of how we they got for Christmas and retweet some of them. I saw a hat come managed that. Even when we interviewed him for the position over the through our feed, and I guess the image didn’t expand all the way so I’m summer, it was one of the things that came up because he was with the like, “Oh, cool.” Durham Bulls and they did a great job of respectfully explaining why it’s important to have these nights. It’s something that we all feel very The hat had a big bag of weed on the bill. passionate about on our staff, and we’re all empowered to stand behind that. We wouldn’t be hosting a Pride Night if we didn’t feel strongly about Some people responded things like, “Hey, why do you have chronic on that, that it’s something really important for our community and fans, and your feed,” and I had no idea! It was like 8 a.m. on Christmas, so I even in general for people who aren’t part of our community. unretweeted it, closed my computer and thought that was that. About an hour later it’s the No. 1 story on Deadspin. So I had to call my boss So I was incredibly proud of that, I told him, “I know you’re good at this, Christmas morning, I was mortified — back then social was new, I was feel free to go as hard as you want with it, I trust you.” He did a great job, certain I was going to get fired. I didn’t. and I think it’s important for us to stand behind everyone in our community. We certainly put that on display that night, it’s a great And maybe if it was three or four years later I would’ve made a joke activation, I think it lines up well with our brand vision: we want to be about it — like “It’s going to be a green Christmas,” or something. These supportive of our community. Hopefully, we’re able to continue to make are the things you learn over time (working in sports social media). When that night even more impactful with what we do in-game and around the you’re a kid and it’s your first job in sports, everything is so serious. It game to show that everyone is welcome in hockey. Obviously there’s a was a learning opportunity and a rough Christmas. long road ahead, but I like to think every time we have an event like that Well, here you are and you never seem to shy away on the Hurricanes we’re making progress. account. Speaking of which, can you take us through your approach on How did the relationship with the Avalanche start? Pride Night? I think that meant a lot to a lot of people. You guys really didn’t back down, and it’s probably the first time I’ve really seen an NHL IN CASE YOU WONDER WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH THE team go so hard on Pride Night, it was awesome. @AVALANCHE, AKA OUR BFFS PIC.TWITTER.COM/CAIJYM5CBL

WHY DO WE HOST PRIDE NIGHT? LET OUR FANS AND — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) DECEMBER 19, 2019 FOLLOWERS EXPLAIN WHY IT MATTERSHTTPS://T.CO/WEP9HFSPDH You know, it just kind of happened. I think it was me goofing off over the summer responding to one of their tweets. There was a time our social — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) FEBRUARY 28, 2020 coordinator moved on to take a job in DC, and I was sort of just goofing off on social when nothing was going on and Matt took the torch and kept IF BY "TERRIBLE" YOU MEAN "THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE it going. We’ve never actually really talked to them off the books, to be LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY!" THEN YES, TERRIBLE. WELL SAID. honest with you, it sort of just naturally occurred. It’s fun, it’s something I — CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) FEBRUARY 28, 2020 think aligns well with both brands. I’m hoping we can do more with it when hockey comes back in the future, it’s just silly. DUDE WE ARE A HOCKEY TWITTER ACCOUNT YOU THINK WE KNOW WHAT ANY OF THOSE ARE? The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020

— CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) FEBRUARY 28, 2020

(The tweet they were responding to has since been deleted, but it was a link to some Bible verses)

— CAROLINA HURRICANES (@CANES) FEBRUARY 28, 2020

WOW. NOT EVEN SURE WHERE TO START WITH THIS ONE. A LOT OF THINGS ARE WRONG 1184377 Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews and Alex DeBrincat are nominated for an NHL fan award — for jumping

By PHIL THOMPSON CHICAGO TRIBUNE |MAY 11, 2020 | 12:29 PM

Chicago Blackhawks teammates Alex DeBrincat and Jonathan Toews are up for an NHL fan award — for jumping.

Their game-day routine of leaping off the ice and bumping shoulders has been nominated for the NHL Fan Choice Awards’ best pregame ritual.

Routines by the Capitals’ T.J. Oshie (he and teammate Tom Wilson hit each other with their sticks), the Blues’ Ryan O’Reilly (a long series of drills and exercises ) and the Lightning’s Victor Hedman (the hockey-stick version of the knife game or “five-finger fillet” with assistant equipment manager Rob Kennedy) are also up for the award.

The pregame ritual is one of 20 categories up for Fan Choice Awards voting. Others range from best feel-good moment to best “cellys” (celebrations after a goal) to best beard.

The winners will be announced on June 3.

DeBrincat explained how Toews first created their jump routine in a team video in February 2018:

“The jump kind of started — I forget where it was — he just kind of came around and jumped into me. I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ Then I just kind of picked up on it and it’s kind of what we’ve done every game since.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184378 Chicago Blackhawks

American Hockey League decides to cancel season

Brandon Pirri finished the season with 15 goals in 38 games for the Wolves.

John Dietz

History was made Monday, but not the kind anybody wanted to see.

The American Hockey League -- the league in which the Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs both play -- canceled the remainder of the 2019- 20 regular season and the Calder Cup playoffs. It is the first time in the AHL's 84-year history that a season ended without a champion being named.

"After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions," said AHL president and CEO David Andrews. "The league's operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season."

Said Wolves coach Rocky Thompson: "It was inevitable. It was kind of good to just have come closure on it."

The Wolves (27-26-8) were in fourth place in the Central Division, which would have qualified them for a playoff spot. Curtis McKenzie, Gage Quinney and Tye McGinn tied for the team lead in goals with 17 each, while Lucas Elvens became the second rookie to lead the team in scoring (12G, 36A). Brandon Pirri, who began the season in the NHL with Vegas, finished with 15 goals in just 38 games.

A year after watching his Wolves advance to the Calder Cup Final, Thompson found himself guiding an extremely young and inexperienced squad. It was one that was 11-15-2 on December 13, but then started playing more consistent, winning hockey -- thanks in large part to a coaching staff that got the most out of every player.

"I think it's the best coaching my staff and I did since I've been a head coach," Thompson said. "And the other seasons were challenging too in different ways. ...

"We were really able to improve our group and I give our guys a ton of credit for that. They battled, they competed and they grew as a team and they also grew as individuals. To me, that's successful.

"It was challenging, but it was very rewarding in the end."

The IceHogs, who are the minor league affiliate of the Blackhawks, finished in fifth place in the Central at 29-30-4. They were led by Brandon Hagel's 19 goals. Tyler and Dylan Sikura were next with 14 each.

Goaltender Colin Delia was 16-13-1 with a .912 save percentage and 2.66 goals-against average.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184379 Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews, Alex DeBrincat’s 'The Jump' pregame ritual up for fan vote

By Slavko Bekovic May 11, 2020 1:30 PM

The NHL released the categories and contestants for this year’s Fan Choice Awards on Monday. The most notable Blackhawks participants are Jonathan Toews and Alex DeBrincat, up for “Best Pregame Ritual.”

During warmups of every game, Toews skates up to DeBrincat and the two leap into a full-on shoulder-smash, which the Blackhawks have dubbed, “The Jump.”

View this post on Instagram

The Jump™️–the warmup event you know and love–is nominated for Best Pregame Ritual in the #NHLFanChoice Awards‼️ Click the link in our bio to vote now!

A post shared by Chicago Blackhawks (@nhlblackhawks) on May 11, 2020 at 9:37am PDT

There are a number of other Blackhawks ties in the Fan Choice Awards. Tommy Hawk is up for “Best Mascot” and the United Center is up for “Best Building.” Former Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner is one of the four contestants in the “Best Follow” category, recognizing “the player who nails every post” on their social media accounts.

In the “we’d rather not talk about it” category, Pekka Rinne’s goalie-goal against the Blackhawks is one of the four candidates for “Goal of the Year.”

Fans can vote across all 20 of the Fan Choice Awards categories on the NHL's website, or use the hashtag #NHLFanChoice across social media platforms. Voting ends on June 1, with the winners announced on June 3.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184380 Chicago Blackhawks

The AHL cancels the remainder of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic

By Scott King May 11, 2020 9:30 AM

On Monday, American Hockey League president and chief executive officer David Andrews announced that the league’s board of governors voted to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 AHL regular season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic:

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions.

The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.

We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.

The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

The release also stated that the league's standings — based on points percentage — and statistics at the time of the pause on March 12, are "final and official" and will count towards league awards for the 2019-20 season.

The Rockford IceHogs are the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate. They finish their season 29-30-2, tied with the Chicago Wolves for fourth place in the Central Division.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184381 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks 2019-20 season in review: Patrick Kane

By Charlie Roumeliotis May 11, 2020 9:00 AM

The NHL put its 2019-20 season on pause March 12 due to the COVID- 19 pandemic but remains hopeful to award the Stanley Cup at some point. Although it's unclear if or when it could return, NBC Sports Chicago will recap the season of each Blackhawks player to date in our "season in review" series. Next up is Patrick Kane.

Patrick Kane set the bar as high as he could for himself going into this season after setting a career high with 110 points during the 2018-19 campaign. He also averaged 22:29 of ice time, which shattered his previous career high of 21:24 set in 2016-17. It was going to be difficult for him to top that production, but he certainly made it interesting.

Kane is on record saying it usually takes him a while to get into the swing of things at the start of the season. After a three-point effort in the season opener in Prague, he recorded only six points (two goals, four assists) over the next 10 games.

But when the calendar flipped to November, Kane turned into Showtime. He strung together a 15-game point streak, which was the third-longest of his NHL career, and had a six-game goal streak during that span. In the month of November, he compiled 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points and was named the NHL's third star of the month.

Kane's toughest stretch came in January and February when he scored only one goal in 15 games. And yet he still averaged more than a point per game over that span thanks to his 15 assists. Even during his most challenging stretches, he finds a way to produce.

The highlight of Kane's season came on Jan. 19 when he became the fourth player in franchise history to hit the 1,000-point mark for his NHL career. He was mobbed by his teammates after picking up an assist on Brandon Saad's goal.

“Something I’ll never forget,” Kane said.

When the season was put on pause, Kane had five goals in six games in the month of March. He was on pace to finish the season with 98 points, which would've been a tremendous accomplishment. But hitting 100 is a number that's special to him. Is there any doubt he would've found a way to reach that mark?

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184382 Chicago Blackhawks 19. 2009: Calgary, first round

The Blackhawks’ journey to the top began by first getting back into the playoffs. They made their return in 2009 for the first time in six years. Ranking all 22 Blackhawks playoff series in the Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane era High point: The Blackhawks ensured themselves of their first series victory since 1996 by jumping out to a 3-0 lead in Game 6. Nikolai Khabibulin did his part with 43 saves.

By Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus May 11, 2020 Low point: The Blackhawks relinquished a 2-0 series lead by losing twice in Calgary. The Blackhawks were outscored 4-1 in the third period in those two games. Remember playoff hockey? Heck, remember hockey in general? Turning point: The Blackhawks took control of Game 5 and the series For a glorious, delirious run of nine seasons, the Blackhawks got to again by scoring three times in the first 11 minutes. Brent Seabrook, experience the highs and lows and the soul-searing tension of playoff Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg accounted for the goals. Versteeg, then hockey. They won three Stanley Cups, appeared in five conference a rookie, had two goals and five assists over the series’ last three games. finals, played in five Game 7s, went to overtime 38 times, went to multiple overtimes nine times, went to four triple-overtimes, and left fans 18. 2015: Minnesota, second round with countless indelible memories of both jubilation and devastation. As far as sweeps go, this one was pretty darn good, with three one-goal Ranking all 22 playoff series of the Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane era, as games. It was a better series than you probably remember. Kane had we did here, was a fool’s errand, but a fun one all the same. Sifting five goals in the four games. through old box scores, watching old YouTube clips and digging up old High point: The ending was particularly, well, wild. With the Blackhawks tweets was a reminder of just how great the playoffs are, and just how up 3-1 late in the third, the Wild pulled Devan Dubnyk for an extra much we all miss them. attacker during a power play. Hossa scored to make it 4-1. Jason 22. 2017: Nashville, first round Pominville and Nino Niederreiter scored in the final 2:18 to get the Wild within one, but the Blackhawks held on. That gave Hossa the first empty- Where the Blackhawks are now can be directly correlated to what net, shorthanded, series-clinching goal in the NHL since 1991. happened in this series. The Blackhawks entered the series with the best record in the Western Conference and left it wondering if big changes Low point: Michal Rozsival suffered a gruesome broken ankle while were needed after being swept. backpedaling in Game 4, leaving the Blackhawks with basically four healthy defensemen for the final two rounds High point: The Blackhawks had to be feeling good about themselves entering the series. There were some underlying numbers that might Turning point: With Dubnyk on an MVP-like tear over the second half of have been a cause for concern, but they had just accumulated 109 the season, the Wild really thought they had a chance to finally beat the regular-season points and were still counting on plenty of their Blackhawks after being eliminated by them each of the previous two championship core. seasons. And in Game 1, after falling behind 3-0 in the first period, the Wild roared back with three goals in eight minutes to tie the game in the Low point: The Predators strangled all hope out of the Blackhawks by second. Then Teuvo Teravainen scored with 59 seconds left in the scoring twice within a few minutes in the third period of Game 4 and period to kill that momentum, and the Blackhawks never trailed again. putting the game out of reach. 17. 2012: Phoenix, first round Turning point: Game 1 didn’t go the Blackhawks’ way, but it was a 1-0 game. In Game 2, the Predators embarrassed the Blackhawks in a 5-0 The heat was turned up around the organization after the Blackhawks win at the United Center. were bounced from the playoffs in the first round for a second consecutive season. Five of the six games in this series were decided in 21. 2013: Minnesota, first round overtime.

The Blackhawks and Wild met three consecutive years in the playoffs. High point: The Blackhawks lost Game 1 in overtime, but they responded This was the first of them, and like the rest, the Blackhawks took care of with a Game 2 overtime win. Bryan Bickell was the hero with two goals, business easily enough. including the game-winner.

High point: The Blackhawks gave themselves a six-day rest period Low point: The series is probably most remembered for the reckless hit between the first and second rounds when they closed out the Wild in Raffi Torres put on Marian Hossa. The hit ended Hossa’s season and led five games. Patrick Sharp scored his fifth and the series’ final goal in a 5- Torres to get a 25-game suspension, which was later reduced. 1 win in Game 5. Turning point: Hossa’s absence was felt by the Blackhawks, but they Low point: The Blackhawks weren’t able to pull off a sweep because the were still in the series. The only time the Coyotes took a decisive lead in Wild took Game 3 in overtime. the series was in the final game, Game 6. The Coyotes scored three times in the third period to go ahead 4-0, and the Blackhawks couldn’t Turning point: Is it a different series if the Wild win Game 1? Who knows, get a puck past Mike Smith. but the Wild had every chance to beat the Blackhawks in that first game. The Blackhawks came out with a 2-1 overtime win as Bryan Bickell’s 16. 2010: Vancouver, second round magical playoffs began with the game-winner. The Blackhawks-Canucks rivalry added another chapter with their 20. 2010: San Jose, Western Conference final second consecutive playoff meeting. There wasn’t a whole lot of drama in this one. The Blackhawks won the series in six games. One of only two sweeps by the Blackhawks during the Kane and Toews era, this was also the only sweep of the entire 2010 postseason. High point: The Blackhawks put away any Canucks hope by scoring three times in the second period of Game 6. Kris Versteeg and Troy High point: This series was pretty much the peak of Dustin Byfuglien’s Brouwer scored 36 seconds apart to go ahead 2-0 and Dave Bolland put use as a power forward. He scored in each of the four games, often on the finishing touches with a shorthanded goal in the final minute of the skating on a line with Toews and Kane, just wreaking havoc in the crease period. On top of all that, the game was in Vancouver. while opposing players bounced off him as if he were Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl. Low point: The Canucks came out flying and easily took Game 1. It was 5-0 Canucks before the Blackhawks scored their first goal. Roberto Low point: Well, uh, there really wasn’t one. Luongo had 37 saves for Vancouver. Turning point: There wasn’t a heck of a lot of drama in this series, but Turning point: The Canucks looked as if they might run away from the Byfuglien’s overtime winner in Game 3 at the United Center — burying a Blackhawks early on. They had the Game 1 blowout and then jumped out terrific pass by Bolland from behind the net — pretty much ended any to a 2-0 lead in the first period of Game 2. But from there, it was mostly hopes of the Sharks making this a series. His one-legged Captain Blackhawks. They rallied to win Game 2 and won three consecutive Morgan celebration was the stuff back pages are made of. games. 15. 2009: Detroit, Western Conference Final from the point that found its way through traffic and hit the far post, before fluttering along the goal line and hitting the other post. Brian Elliott There was a time when the Chicago Bulls weren’t ready to topple the barely managed to prevent Richard Panik from putting in the rebound as Detroit Pistons, and the same was true for the Blackhawks with the Red the puck skittered along the crease. The original Double Doink. The Wings. But for the Blackhawks, there were plenty of lessons to be Blues held on, and the Blackhawks’ run of dominance was over. learned by losing to Detroit in five games in 2009. 11. 2009: Vancouver, second round High point: The Blackhawks’ lone win of the series came when Patrick Sharp knocked in a rebound early into overtime. The victory did come After dispatching the Flames in the first round, this series served as the with a price as Nikolai Khabibulin suffered an injury and didn’t return in rising Blackhawks’ coming-out party, perhaps a year earlier than the playoffs. expected. It also was the start of one of the league’s best rivalries in recent memory. Low point: The Red Wings lit up Cristobal Huet for four goals by the second period of Game 4 and cruised to a 6-1 win. It was evident the High point: In Game 4, facing the prospect of going down 3-1 in the Blackhawks weren’t ready for this stage just yet. series, Martin Havlat tied the game at 1-1 with 2:44 left in the game, and Andrew Ladd scored the winner in overtime. That set the stage for the Turning point: Marian Hossa was partly responsible for taking the wind eventual six-game victory, with Kane scoring a Game 6 hat trick, after out of the Blackhawks’ sails in the series. He scored twice, including a which Luongo famously shed tears. shorthanded goal, in that important Game 4. Low point: Down 3-0 in Game 1, the Blackhawks got third-period goals 14. 2014: Minnesota, second round by Kane, Kane and Bolland to tie it up in dramatic fashion. But the buzz After falling behind 2-0 in the series, the Wild — flashing terrific team was short-lived, as Sami Salo scored with just 1:13 to go to deliver an speed that belied their reputation as defensive trappers — gave the early gut-punch. Blackhawks all they could handle. Crawford made sure the Blackhawks Turning point: The Blackhawks found themselves down 1-0 in the series lived to fight another day, though. and 2-0 in Game 2 after Salo and Alex Edler scored 1:09 apart in the first High point: Kane’s clutch credentials were burnished in this one, as he period. But the Blackhawks scored five straight goals after that — the first scored the third series-clinching overtime goal of his career in Game 6, two by Patrick Sharp — and the third period of the eventual 6-3 win roofing a backhander over Ilya Bryzgalov. devolved into a street brawl. The two teams combined for 15 third-period penalties, with Toews and Dustin Byfuglien getting two of the six 10- Low point: After two easy wins at home, the Blackhawks went to minute misconducts handed out. It was clear the Blackhawks weren’t Minnesota and everything changed. In Game 3, the Blackhawks backing down, on the scoreboard or in the scrums. mustered just 19 shots on goal and lost 4-0, as Mikael Granlund scored twice and Zach Parise woke up with a goal and an assist. An easy series 10. 2010 Philadelphia, Stanley Cup Final suddenly became a lot tougher the rest of the way. The Blackhawks were battling history entering the Philadelphia series. It Turning point: People forget how competitive this series turned out to be, had been 49 years since the Blackhawks last won a Stanley Cup. The and Crawford’s the reason the Blackhawks won it. After giving up three organization had turned Chicago into a hockey town with a number of its goals on 17 shots in a Game 3 loss, and four goals on 31 shots in a moves on and off the ice leading up to this point, but winning the Cup Game 4 loss, Crawford bounced back in a massive way. In Games 5 and would be the icing on the cake. 6 — a pair of 2-1 Blackhawks wins — Crawford allowed just two goals on High point: There is no moment now more connected with Blackhawks 63 shots, for a .968 save percentage. history than Patrick Kane’s series-clinching overtime goal in Game 6 in 13. 2013: Los Angeles, Western Conference Final Philadelphia. On top of the drama of it already being in overtime, there was the suspense of whether Kane’s shot from an odd angle actually The Blackhawks had to go through the defending Stanley Cup went in the net. champions to reach the 2013 Final. This Kings-Blackhawks series wasn’t as unforgettable as the following season, but it certainly had its moments, Low point: The Blackhawks had delivered the first blows of the series too. with two consecutive home wins, but the Flyers weren’t going away peacefully. They answered with two wins in Philadelphia, scoring a High point: Patrick Kane called Game 5 the best game of his career at combined nine goals. Kane and Toews had combined for just one goal the time. He scored three times, including the series winner in double- through four games. overtime. Turning point: In the all-important Game 5, the Blackhawks surged to a 3- Low point: The Kings never gained any real control of the series. They 0 advantage with goals by Brent Seabrook, Kris Versteeg and Dave did keep nearly every game close and took Game 3 to snap a five-game Bolland in the first period. Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien later added Blackhawks winning streak. two goals each and the Blackhawks went 3-2 in the series.

Turning point: If there was any question the Blackhawks could carry over 9. 2015: Nashville, first round the momentum from the dramatic Red Wings series, they answered that quickly against the Kings by taking the first two games of the series. Few things came easily to the Blackhawks during their road to the stopped 50 of 53 shots in those games. Stanley Cup in 2015, and the Predators set that tone in the first round. If a few pucks bounce the Predators’ way, the Blackhawks might have 12. 2016: St. Louis, first round been dealt a different fate. But the Blackhawks pulled out four wins, three being decided by one goal, and pushed on. The Blues and the Blackhawks were the third- and fifth-best teams in the league in 2015-16, so naturally they played each other in the first round High point: There were a few different high points in this series — thanks to the NHL’s playoff system. This was a great seven-game series Duncan Keith alone scored two massive game-winning goals — but between two bitter rivals. The Blackhawks were running on fumes after nothing trumped Scott Darling’s relief performance in net in Game 1. three straight deep runs, but who’s to say they couldn’t have won a fourth Darling came into the game with the Blackhawks down 3-0 in the second Cup had they scored one more goal in this one? period and stopped 42 consecutive shots to allow the Blackhawks to pull off a 4-3 double-overtime comeback. High point: Down 3-1 in the series and on the road, the Blackhawks squandered a 3-1 third-period lead in Game 5. But in the last gasp of Low point: The Predators were a real threat to the Blackhawks, and that those indomitable, unkillable Blackhawks teams, Kane scored early in the was proven in the first 20 minutes of the series. The Predators lit up the second overtime to give the Blackhawks life. They won Game 6 at home Blackhawks for three goals on 12 shots and ran off goalie Corey 6-3, setting up the dramatic Game 7 in St. Louis. Crawford. It was clear the Blackhawks would have their hands full.

Low point: Andrew Shaw was suspended for Game 5 after using a Turning point: Seabrook delivered another memorable game-winning homophobic slur from the penalty box toward the officials in Game 4. goal while lifting the Blackhawks to a 3-2 in triple overtime in Game 4. Shaw apologized and was ordered to undergo sensitivity training. The Blackhawks went ahead 3-1 in the series and closed it out two games later. Turning point: With less than four minutes to go in the third period of Game 7 and the Blackhawks down a goal, Seabrook unleashed a shot 8. 2014: St. Louis, first round A somewhat forgotten gem, lost amid all the later-round drama over the right circle from a pass by Brad Richards. It was Kane’s 11th goal of the years. Four of these six games went to overtime, including a Game 1 for playoffs. the ages. And, of course, there was the famous “wakey, wakey” hit on David Backes that earned Brent Seabrook a three-game suspension. Low point: The Blackhawks fell behind 2-1 for the second consecutive series. The Blackhawks were in position to win Game 3, but they couldn’t High point: With the series tied 2-2 and Game 5 in overtime, Keith hold onto to a 2-1 lead in the third period and lost 3-2. cleared a Crawford save out to center ice, where Toews was all alone. Toews raced in for the breakaway and scored to give the Blackhawks a Turning point: The margin for error was so miniscule in this series. With 3-2 series lead and give the Blackhawks a chance to eliminate their rivals the series tied 2-2 and Game 5 back in Tampa, the Lightning committed in Chicago. Toews then scored the first of four unanswered Blackhawks the biggest mistake of the series. Goalie Ben Bishop aggressively skated goals in the third period of Game 6 as the Blackhawks went marching in out to the left circle to play a puck, collided with teammate Victor Hedman to the second round. and gave Patrick Sharp a wide-open net to score. The Blackhawks needed just two goals to win that game, and one was handed to them. Low point: The Blackhawks found themselves down 2-0 in the series after a pair of gut-wrenching overtime losses. In Game 1 (which featured 4. 2013: Boston, Stanley Cup Final Joel Quenneville’s infamous crotch-grab directed at the officials), Jaden In an Original Six battle featuring two teams trying to become the first Schwartz tied the game with 1:45 left before Alex Steen scored the two-time champs of the salary-cap era, the Bruins and Blackhawks put game-winner in the opening minute of the third overtime. In Game 2, on a show, with arguably the greatest — and unlikeliest — ending in Vladimir Tarasenko scored with just seven seconds left before Barret hockey history. Jackman, of all people, scored the winner at 5:50 of overtime. High point: Losses don’t suddenly become wins in hockey — they Turning point: Shortly before Bickell scored the game-tying goal in Game become ties, which then go to overtime. Not in Game 6. Down 2-1 in 4 at the United Center, T.J. Oshie hit the post at the other end of the ice. Boston in the dying minutes, with both teams bracing for Game 7 in Had Oshie scored there, the Blues would have gone up 4-2 in the game Chicago, Bryan Bickell scored off a Toews feed with 1:16 left in the third and likely 3-1 in the series. Instead, Bickell got the equalizer with 3:52 left period to tie it. Seventeen seconds later, Bolland knocked in a Johnny and Kane scored the winner in overtime. Oduya rebound to give the Blackhawks the lead, the win, and the Stanley 7. 2010: Nashville, first round Cup. It was the hockey equivalent of being down two and hitting a three- pointer at the buzzer. On their way to their first Stanley Cup in 49 years, the young Blackhawks encountered their first defining moment, and owned it. Low point: After winning Game 1 in triple-overtime and losing Game 2 in overtime, things suddenly looked bleak in a 2-0 loss in Game 3. Marian High point: Hossa’s power slide after scoring on a Brent Sopel rebound Hossa was a last-second scratch as back issues had caused him to lose right out of the penalty box in overtime of Game 5 is one of those feeling in his foot, and Tuukka Rask calmly turned aside 28 Chicago indelible moments in Blackhawks history. That’s the moment he went shots to give the Bruins a 2-1 series lead. At that point, the Blackhawks from thinking he was cursed to thinking he might finally win the Stanley had scored just one goal in the previous seven periods. Cup he had been chasing like a mercenary for three years. Turning point: It was ridiculously cold inside TD Garden for Game 4. After Low point: Barely five minutes of game time earlier, Hossa was in the box dealing with very poor ice in the low-scoring Game 3, Boston cranked up thinking he had cost the Blackhawks the game after he took a major the air conditioner for Game 4, and suddenly, the offense was flowing boarding penalty for an uncharacteristic shove of Dan Hamhuis from again. Patrick Sharp gave the Blackhawks a 5-4 lead midway through the behind. third period, but Johnny Boychuk tied it back up less than a minute later, setting the stage for another Seabrook OT winner and a 2-2 series tie. Turning point: In between, Patrick Kane scored the lone shorthanded goal of his NHL career at 19:46 of the third period, tying the game, bailing 3. 2014: Los Angeles, Western Conference final out Hossa and giving the Blackhawks new life. Kind of a big five minutes in Blackhawks history, that one. The truth is, this should be No. 1 on this list. It’s the best NHL series of the decade, and the best series in recent memory. It was two titans at the 6. 2011: Vancouver, first round peak of their powers. It was fast, it was heavy, it was breathtaking. But if you’re a Blackhawks fan, it’s not hard to see why you’d probably knock The greatest comeback in Blackhawks history. Almost. this one down a couple of pegs: They lost.

High point: The Blackhawks were so far into Roberto Luongo’s head in High point: Having lost three straight and facing elimination in Game 5, the third year of this epic rivalry that Canucks coach Alain Vigneault Michal Handzus followed what Joel Quenneville called maybe the benched him in favor of rookie Cory Schneider for Game 6 in Chicago. greatest overtime period he’d ever seen — 20 minutes of hockey that But Schneider was hurt when Michael Frolik scored the tying goal on a took just 26 minutes to play — by scoring at 2:04 of the second overtime third-period penalty shot (he’d do it again in the third period of a Game 6 off a Saad feed to send the series back to Los Angeles. against Detroit in 2013), Luongo came back in, and Ben Smith beat him in overtime to send the series back to Vancouver tied 3-3. Low point: Alec Martinez — who went on to score the Cup-winning goal in overtime, too — beat Corey Crawford with a seemingly harmless rising Low point: Chris Campoli’s failed clear early in overtime went right to wrister from the point that fluttered off Nick Leddy’s jersey and in to send , who raced in on Crawford to score the series-winner and the Kings to the Stanley Cup Final. slay the dragon. Turning point: Was Jeff Carter offside? Was his stick above the Turning point: Bolland hadn’t played in more than a month because of a crossbar? To this day, Blackhawks fans will answer “yes” and “maybe” to concussion, but he returned — earlier than he should have, probably — both those questions. Regardless, Carter’s goal stunted the Blackhawks’ for a desperate Game 4 after the Blackhawks dropped the first three early momentum after racing out to a 2-0 lead on early goals by Saad games of the series. He had a goal and three assists in a 7-2 victory at and Jonathan Toews, and triggered a back-and-forth affair that saw the the United Center, sparking the comeback and ratcheting up the tension Blackhawks squander three leads in the game. in Vancouver. Well, for a few days, at least. 2. 2015: Anaheim, Western Conference final 5. 2015: Tampa Bay, Stanley Cup Final The Blackhawks were beat up. They had lost Michal Rozsival to a The Blackhawks-Lightning series lacked the overtime drama of some of gruesome, season-ending injury the series before. They were basically the other series, but it’s one of the closest series in league history. The down to four defensemen — Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas first five games were decided by one goal — that happened just once Hjamarsson and Johnny Oduya. The Ducks knew it, too, and were all for before — and the sixth game was just a two-goal contest. This Final did putting a pounding on the Blackhawks. As Ryan Kesler infamously said, provide the Blackhawks the opportunity to finally clinch the Stanley Cup “No human can withstand that many hits.” Well, they did. on home ice. High point: The Blackhawks made the Ducks eat their words in the end. High point: Holding onto a 1-0 lead in Game 6 thanks to a Duncan Keith The Blackhawks rallied from a 3-2 series deficit and put the finishing goal in the second period, the Blackhawks were able to finally breathe touches on the comeback by embarrassing the Ducks in Anaheim in when Patrick Kane sealed the win by scoring off a one-timer from the Game 7. Jonathan Toews scored twice in the first period and the Blackhawks added two more goals to make it 4-0 by the second period. The Ducks never got within two goals the rest of the way. The ice time for that last game went 27:51 for Keith, 26:45 for Hjalmarsson, 25:24 for Seabrook and 23:53 for Oduya.

Low point: The Ducks appeared as if they might just be too much for the Blackhawks after going ahead 3-2 in the series with an overtime win in Game 5, even after Toews scored twice in the final two minutes to send it to overtime in the first place. It was the third overtime game of the series. The question at the time was how much the Blackhawks had left in their tank.

Turning point: With some people beginning to doubt them, the Blackhawks responded in Game 6 by scoring the first three goals of the game and evening the series with a decisive 5-2 victory. The Blackhawks wouldn’t be put away that easy.

1. 2013: Detroit, second round

The drama, the tension and the stakes are hard to fathom now, given what transpired in the two years that followed. But coming off two straight first-round exits, and with expectations sky high after a record 21-0-3 start to the lockout-shortened season, heads were going to roll and the Blackhawks might have become one-Cup wonders had they not erased a 3-1 series deficit against the hated Red Wings.

High point: Brent Seabrook cemented his status as Mr. Big Shot, capitalizing on a puck-dislodging hit by Dave Bolland on Gustav Nyquist, waltzing through the high slot and beating Jimmy Howard the series winner in overtime of Game 7. The stick still hangs in Seabrook’s basement.

Low point: Less than 30 minutes of real time earlier, Niklas Hjalmarsson’s apparent series-winner in the dying moments of regulation was waved off because of a meaningless skirmish between Brandon Saad and Kyle Quincey far behind the play. Hjalmarsson took a chunk out of his locker- stall seat with a vicious stick swing upon re-entering the room for intermission. Toews stood up in the locker room at intermission and told his teammates they’d just have to beat the Wings “3-1” in overtime.

Turning point: Seabrook stepped into the penalty box to pat Jonathan Toews — on full tilt after taking his third straight stick penalty in the second period of Game 4 in Detroit — and telling him to calm down, that they had this. Toews scored a much-needed goal in a Game 5 win at home and the Blackhawks rallied for a dramatic Game 6 win in Detroit, setting the stage for the epic Game 7.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184383 Colorado Avalanche

As graduation nears, former Colorado youth hockey star Cale Morris awaits NHL future

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: May 11, 2020 at 6:50 p.m. | UPDATED: May 11, 2020 at 6:52 p.m.

Having grown up a short walking distance from the Colorado Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, Cale Morris has traveled far to become a historical figure in Notre Dame hockey lore.

Morris, who was named to the Big Ten all-conference team for a third consecutive year, will graduate Sunday as the Fighting Irish’s all-time leader in career save percentage (.931) and second in both goals-against average (2.18) and victories (58).

The 2018 Mike Richter Award winner as college hockey’s best goalie led Notre Dame to the 2018 NCAA championship game against Minnesota- Duluth and the 2019 NCAA Northeast Regional final against Cale Makar and UMass. His college career ended March 8 as rebuilding Notre Dame lost in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals to Minnesota.

Morris, 23, is currently with his girlfriend in Pittsburgh but will participate in Sunday’s virtual graduation with his family in Larkspur. He probably won’t realize the next step of his hockey career by then, but the undrafted NHL free agent will surely sign his first professional contract before next season.

“This is what you dream of — signing your first contract,” Morris, a former youth star with the triple-A Colorado Thunderbirds, said in a phone interview. “It will definitely be a special moment for me and my family and everyone else who made sacrifices to give me opportunities or believed in me throughout the way. I think it’s exciting for me and everyone who has been involved.”

The American Hockey League canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 season Monday while its NHL affiliate teams continue to work with the league to find a way to play through the summer. Morris said he has to be patient.

“I’m just kind of waiting as more news comes about the NHL. Obviously, the AHL season, they called it today. Teams have to start preparing for next season and that’s when you’ll see some free-agent goalies getting signed,” Morris said.

Morris knows of just one free agent NCAA goalie who has signed professionally — Penn State’s Peyton Jones recently agreed to a two- year AHL deal with the Colorado Eagles. Morris is far more decorated than Jones and will probably hold out for a two-way NHL entry-level contract.

He is represented by Denver-based KO Sports Inc., with primary agent Kevin Magnuson in Chicago.

“I think everything is going to work out the way it should,” Morris said. “I’m definitely anxious to find out where I’m off to next and really looking forward to wherever that is. But with the weird situation we have at hand, it’s kind of just a waiting game now.”

Morris concluded his distinguished NCAA career on his own terms. On March 8 in Minneapolis, the Fighting Irish lost 3-2 to Minnesota. Notre Dame (15-15-7) had to win the Big Ten tournament for a third consecutive year to advance to the national tournament, which was ultimately canceled because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Morris was named the Big Ten tournament MVP in 2018 and ’19.

“With the situation going on now, it has given me some time to reflect back and look at all the things as a program, a team, and obviously individually, of what we have achieved over the last four years,” said Morris, who served as alternate captain as a senior — a rare honor for a goalie. “It was a special time in my life and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m really proud of what I accomplished, and the team accomplished.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184384 Colorado Avalanche

AHL’s Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s top affiliate, won’t play again in 2019-20

The NHL is moving forward to resume its season in the summer — likely beginning with no fans in attendance. But that’s only possible because of the league’s strong television revenue stream — something the AHL lacks

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: May 11, 2020 at 10:05 a.m. | UPDATED: May 11, 2020 at 12:59 p.m.

The American Hockey League on Monday announced it has canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season and entire 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs because of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Colorado Eagles (34-18-4), the Avalanche’s top minor-league affiliate, finished second in the AHL’s Pacific Division with 72 points; they likely would have advanced to the playoffs with just 12 remaining regular- season games.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” AHL CEO David Andrews said in a release.

The NHL is moving forward to resume its season in the summer — likely beginning with no fans in attendance. But that’s only possible because of the league’s strong television revenue stream, something the AHL lacks.

Some Eagles might still be playing hockey in 2019-20. If the NHL returns this season it will feature expanded rosters beyond the regular 23 players. So a handful of the Avalanche’s top prospects will be on the NHL roster and available to play. That list will probably include forwards Martin Kaut, T.J. Tynan and Logan O’Connor, and possibly defenseman Conor Timmins and goalie Adam Werner.

“This is an unparalleled event in the history of the Colorado Eagles,” Eagles president and general manager Chris Stewart said in a release. “Having been in constant contact with the American Hockey League and the board of governors, I know that this was not a decision that was made lightly.

“We appreciate the exhaustive options that were explored by the AHL to determine the proper course of action. We hope all of our fans and their families remain healthy and happy during this trying time and we look forward to welcoming all of you back inside the next season.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184385 Colorado Avalanche handling. I want to teach these kids situational, positional things, using your body to protect the puck the right way.

Q: You’re also coaching private lessons outside T-Birds families, correct? Q&A with former Avalanche center John Mitchell Mitchell: Yes, I’m willing to do one-on-one lessons with kids in the Denver area. Best way to get ahold of me is my email on the T-Birds’ website By MIKE CHAMBERS | May 11, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. ([email protected]).

Denver Post: LOADED: 05.12.2020

John Mitchell played in 548 NHL games, the last 326 with the Avalanche in five seasons ending in 2017. He played two seasons in Germany before returning to Colorado and retiring last summer. He was named to the Denver Post all-decade team (2010-19) in December.

Mitchell, 35, is beginning a youth coaching career with the triple-A Colorado Thunderbirds, who added former longtime NHLer David Clarkson to the mix a year ago. Clarkson and Mitchell both grew up in Ontario, Canada, and will coach the T-Birds’ 16-under team next season.

Q: How far back do you go with David Clarkson and is coaching just a hobby or a career move for you?

Mitchell: I played against Clarkie basically every season from 16 until I was 32 when I was done playing hockey, whether it was junior or the NHL. He knew I was here, in the Denver area, and one day I got a hold of him and told him I was interested in helping him out a little bit. He was like, ‘Man, I’m so glad you called me.’ So it was quick and pretty seamless. I don’t know if this is a career thing. I’ve never done it. I’m (also) the skills coach for the T-Birds, so I’ll be dealing with the young kids all the way up to the 18-year-olds.

Q: Who among the current Avs do you stay in touch the most?

Mitchell: Probably (Gabe) Landeskog. We have a little group chat.

Q: What does a typical day in the Mitchell household look like these days?

Mitchell: My daughter (Gracyn) is 8 and in third grade, so she does school online. It’s a matter of keeping her on-time, on-schedule because obviously 8-year-olds’ time management lacks sometimes. So I make sure she’s on the ball. She has a little brother (Oliver) who is 2 1/2 years old and always flying all over the place. I have to make sure he’s occupied and not bugging his sister. We go on plenty of bike rides and trying to find new things to do.

Q: What’s the family’s latest new entertainment?

Mitchell: We found iMovie on the iPad where you can make your own trailer for a movie. Gracyn took a bunch of videos so now I’m helping her cut up videos to make a movie trailer. It’s actually pretty fun and entertaining and they’re having a ball with it.

Q: From major-junior to the pros, you played 17 years in North America with all your teeth. What happened in Germany?

Mitchell: It was just in practice. I wish it was something cooler, like in a game or whatever, but (losing three teeth) happened in probably the third practice of the year. Some young German defenseman — I don’t know what he was doing — he stepped right up on me when I was trying to go around him. The crown of his helmet went straight into my front teeth. Knocked two of them out and another was dangling by a thread.

Q: Do you blame that accident on stupidity from the young guy?

Mitchell: Young defenseman that really isn’t sure about what he’s doing. I mean, c’mon man. I was, what 33 years old at the time? Leave me alone, it’s practice. Don’t step up on me.

Q: You’ve got a flipper with three fake teeth. I heard you can get a free permanent replacement from the insurance with your German team. When is that going to happen?

Mitchell: Sooner rather than later, for sure. It’s just a matter of weighing my options, whether I should go to Germany and do it because they’ll cover it, or buck up and do it here. Trying to figure that one out.

Q: Future plans for you and family when life returns to normal?

Mitchell: I’ll get with the T-Birds right away. Hopefully, the rinks open up and we can get on the ice with four players at a time, a small group of players who can get together. Once we get to normalcy, I’ll be helping these kids with skill development — and that’s not just strictly stick- 1184386 Colorado Avalanche “You have to weigh the pros and cons with mass popularity with people in Hartford, people in Raleigh along with people nationally and globally.”

Forman said Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon immediately addressed the What would it take for the Avalanche to wear the Nordiques jerseys? idea of bringing back the Whalers sweater shortly after purchasing the team. The team has custody of the logo and other aspects associated with it but still needed the NHL’s approval to green-light the project. It By Ryan S. Clark May 11, 2020 then became a conversation with the league about feasibility when it came to how it would work.

The typical timeline for a sweater project takes anywhere between 18 to It has been talked about for years now on message boards, social media 24 months from start to finish with the work done by Adidas, the club and and potentially anytime another person wears one during a Colorado the NHL. Forman said it usually takes that long mainly due to items like Avalanche game. actually designing a jersey while also incorporating how long the Even Nazem Kadri has weighed in with his approval on the matter. manufacturing process takes when it comes to a large-scale retail initiative. The “it” in this case is the sweaters. And the discussion centers on if or when the Avalanche organization will ever “We turned an 18- to 24-month process into a nine- to 10-month play a regular-season game while wearing a jersey that has developed a process,” Forman said. “It was an easy design process. It was selecting bit of a cult following. Sporting that look would be a nod to the team’s which version of the Whalers jersey we wanted to go with and we went past when it spent 23 years in before relocating to Denver with what was the most iconic one. We added our ‘Hurricane Warning’ on prior to the start of the 1995-96 season when it won the franchise’s first the inside collar for a nice touch. We wore them in December 2018. It Stanley Cup. was a really expedited process.

Well? Could it actually happen someday? “You can do a lot of things with something like a Whalers night. You can bring back former Whalers. You can change your social media branding, “Next year is the team’s 25th anniversary season. I think there is an but the No. 1 thing we had to start with was the uniforms.” opportunity,” said Declan Bolger, who serves as the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. “We’ve Forman said the Hurricanes’ team store did not initially sell much, if any, talked about it, but the opportunity has not arose up to now. It’s not the Whalers apparel. Then the team started selling those items in the weeks only thing we’ve talked about. We have talked about a lot of things.” leading up to the maiden Whalers night on Dec. 23, 2018.

Subtle changes were made throughout the years but the overall theme of It proved to be such a success that the first and second Whalers nights the sweater — whether it was home white or away blue — remained the were the highest-grossing merchandising regular-season games for same. The Nordiques had a red “n” that looked like an igloo with a red those respective years, Forman said. hockey stick accompanied by a blue puck on the side. The igloo was Money talks. But so do fans and that was one of the Hurricanes’ initial surrounded by blue and white trim. Both shoulders featured a fleur-de-lis worries. with that design also being displayed three times on the front and back across the lower portion of the jersey. “There are going to be people who love to see that iconic brand,” Forman said. “Also, you are opening up some wounds that have existed for 20- Hall of Fame members , Michel Goulet, , Joe plus years later that have not completely healed in the Northeast. We Sakic, Peter Stastny and Mats Sundin all wore the Nordiques sweater have plenty of young fans who are graduating college who were not alive during their careers. when the Whalers played. You have a full generation of Hurricanes fans The organization has three figures who are still with the franchise after who don’t know anything about the Whalers. That was the initial feeling they came from Quebec. Jean Martineau, who is the team’s senior vice and as people started to see how we transitioned over with the president of communications, started working for the team in 1986. merchandise in our store, we started seeing some of that brand come Matthew Sokolowski, the Avalanche’s head athletic trainer, joined the together in our market.” team a year before it moved to Denver. Sakic, who guided the club to two Forman said there were certain elements of Whalers night the club made Stanley Cups, is now the general manager. a priority. The team played Dec. 23 because that was the last home “Up to now, we have not had a uniform that has incorporated the game it had against the Boston Bruins and determined that would be the Nordiques, but it is clear other clubs like Carolina have recently leaned best contest considering that was the Whalers’ biggest rival. Another item into their past,” Bolger said. “With Pierre (Lacroix), Joe and Jean being that was vital to the Hurricanes was acknowledging the Hartford with the team, you look in the media guide and how the Nordiques’ community as well. records are included with the Avalanche’s records, we certainly do Proceeds from a Hurricanes’ auction that night were given to a youth acknowledge the Nordiques. We have been back there twice for hockey program back in Hartford to help underprivileged children, exhibition games. It’s something we have leaned in to instead of away Forman said. He then added how the rink that houses the program is from. owned by a former Whalers player. “You go into the team store, we continue to sell items with the Nordiques’ Could the Avalanche follow a similar approach? Those two mark.” aforementioned Quebec City exhibition games held in 2002 and 2014 Now it is a matter of determining if this current generation of players such were sold-out affairs with the Avs playing against the Nordiques’ old rival as Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko in the Montreal Canadiens. Rantanen will get that same chance to wear the Nordiques sweater. “There was such a buzz that is hard to explain unless you were in the Even if it is for at least one game. building,” Forman said. “It was pretty cool and rewarding. We have a handful of employees that came down with the team when they were still Mike Forman, who is vice president of marketing and brand strategy for the Whalers. To see them relive memories and (Hurricanes television the Carolina Hurricanes, provided insight into how the process would play-by-play announcer) John Forslund wear one of his old Whalers’ work. The Hurricanes moved to Carolina in 1997 after previously being sweaters on the broadcast, to see it through the eyes of the guys who the for 18 years. Prior to that, they were the New are still part of the organization, I still get goosebumps.” England Whalers for the seven seasons they played in the WHA before changing their name. But how would something like this work when it came to how fans would feel about the Avalanche wearing the Nordiques sweater? Would there “There were talks that a Whalers night would kill it here. Still, you need be anger? Would there be acceptance? Would there be both? Or would it full buy-in from everyone in the organization from top to bottom,” Forman be another feeling altogether? said. “You also have to be willing to take a risk. You flash forward to last year when we introduced them, you know the feedback you’re getting. More than 8 percent of those polled in The Athletic’s Avalanche fan You are going to get some negative feedback. Both in Hartford and here survey stated they have followed the team since they were the in Raleigh. There will be people who say, ‘We are the Hurricanes and not Nordiques. The majority — or 71 percent — said they became fans when the Whalers. Why are we doing this?’ the team moved to Denver while another 10.8 percent started tracking the club over the past three seasons.

“If you had asked me this question a couple of years ago, I would have said no,” said Avalanche fan Julien Baril, who grew up and still lives in Quebec. “But after giving it some thought and seeing the Whalers night in Carolina, I would agree on doing this. If they do it next year, it would come on the 25th anniversary of the team as well. I would be on board with Heritage nights or something like that night just to celebrate the roots of the team. Just so we remember where it started from.”

The Avalanche-Nordiques dynamic is a personal one for Baril and his family. He grew up in Thetford Mines, 60 miles from Quebec City. Baril said his mom and dad were Nordiques fans because they really did not like the Canadiens. His parents do not cheer for a specific team now, but they will still drive to Montreal for a Canadiens game.

Baril, on the other hand, said there were items about the Avalanche that he liked as a child. He was a big fan of goaltender going back to when he played with the Canadiens.

“My parents also loved Joe Sakic and it was a mix of a couple of their things that made me an Avs fan,” Baril said. “I was playing the NHL games on my Nintendo 64 and all those consoles and I was always picking the Avs because they were my favorite team.”

Determining how fans throughout La Belle province would feel about the Avalanche wearing the Nordiques jersey at some point could be intriguing. Baril admitted that his initial thought was that the Nordiques were Quebec City’s history and it should remain in Quebec City. Seeing how many fans in Denver still talk about the all-time records and that they discussed players such as Goulet and Stastny proved that it could potentially work after all.

Plus, the Avalanche still have a following in Quebec. Baril said he is a member of a Facebook group comprised of Avs fans who are from Quebec. He said a couple of them traveled to see the team play the New earlier this season.

“I think it makes it easier because the team used to be here,” Baril explained. “Now it is so easy to be a fan of one team while living on the other side of the world.”

Forman said it is still an unknown as to how fans will react toward the Avalanche wearing the Nordiques sweaters because it is uncommon to see a team wear the brand and logo from the city of their relocation. But he feels the Hurricanes’ decision to implement Whalers night also played a role in the team growing its image in the same season that introduced the Storm Surge before obtaining the “Bunch of Jerks” moniker that quickly worked in their favor en route to reaching the Eastern Conference final.

“You look at our social media personality. It’s not a coincidence we are besties with the Avalanche on social,” Forman said. “We have had a lot of similar thought processes with how we should be interacting with fans and having a personal voice behind everything we do and the fact we are not so corporate. I see so many similarities between our two organizations. I don’t know if they would have a better case study.”

Bolger said he and others from KSE have read the message boards when it comes to how fans feel about the Avalanche potentially wearing the Nordiques sweater someday.

There have been discussions over years within KSE that Bolger said “have ran the gamut of our operations” when it comes to the Nordiques. He cited what KSE did with the Denver Nuggets and how the club brought back the skyline but with a modern interpretation of that particular design.

“Candidly speaking, we’ve loved the interest we have seen from people who have expressed an interest for that idea and all matters,” Bolger said. “Not just the uniforms but with all matters. … It’s one of those things like player decisions or trades. It’s something that people often express an interest in. We love it. It’s like me and West Ham in that we should always wear white socks and not claret.

“We’re all fans. That’s what makes it great.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184387 good. Those are steps that need to happen. Now, moving ahead, there has to be consistency in his game right from the outset.”

White said he also values a goalie’s ability to make saves in big moments Canceling the AHL’s season wasn’t a surprise, but it’s still a tough pill to and lead to winning games, something that he saw grow in Oettinger’s swallow game as the season progressed.

The AHL’s decision does not impact the NHL’s call on when or if to “Overall, the potential is there,” White said. “I like what I saw. I know our resume the season. goalie coaches liked what they saw, liked the character. Now, he’s just got to keep maturing, which is he is off the ice. Now, he’s got to keep maturing on the ice.” By Matthew DeFranks 5:56 PM on May 11, 2020 Forward Jason Robertson: Robertson, a 2017 second-round pick, finished with 25 goals and 22 assists, leading Texas with 47 points. He also made his NHL debut in February in Toronto and picked up his first A topsy-turvy season in Cedar Park ended Monday morning, when the career NHL point. AHL announced it was canceling the rest of the regular season and playoffs because of the coronavirus pandemic, cutting short the “Jason Robertson was excellent,” White said. “His growth from beginning campaign of the , the Stars’ top affliliate. to end, his understanding of what it takes. And he was rewarded with games. He’s on the right path. He has to get physically stronger. Yes, While the cancellation wasn’t a surprise — the ECHL did so in March, yes, yes, all that goes without saying. But he’s come a long way in a and the AHL’s reliance on ticket revenue made it unfeasible to continue short period of time.” playing without spectators — it still can be a tough pill to swallow. The AHL’s decision does not impact the NHL’s call on when or if to resume Robertson should challenge for a roster spot in training camp next the season. season, and could be an offensive option in the playoffs should the Stars coaching staff need one. “It’s disappointing for the players, disappointing for the league, and that goes for Dallas Stars prospects, and that goes for all the prospects “That’s a lot of goals, especially for a 20-year-old,” White said. “He throughout the league,” said Scott White, a Stars assistant general showed a lot that way, lots of potential. Now, he’s just got to hone his manager and the GM of the Texas team. skills. He’s got top-six skill, but he’s got to figure out that bottom-six will to be able to fit himself into the recipe in the National Hockey League The Stars will be impacted just like every other team that can’t complete quicker.” an AHL season, but their challenges were a little bit different this season. Texas was grooming a new coach in Neil Graham, who took over in Forward Joel L’Esperance: L’Esperance tied Robertson for the team lead December when Derek Laxdal was promoted to the NHL after Jim with 25 goals, and was named an AHL All-Star for the second straight Montgomery was fired. It had a new assistant coach in Travis Morin. season. At 24 years old, L’Esperance is older than other prospects and has three goals in 21 NHL games. Jake Oettinger was emerging as the starting goaltender in Texas during his first professional season, and lost games in the AHL could affect “He’s a late-bloomer as we all know,” White said. “But he took it upon goaltenders more so than forwards or defensemen. Players who himself a lot of nights offensively. He’s the guy that’s circled first in the struggled during their first year in the AHL, like Riley Tufte and Tye opponent’s room in the American League. He got better. He’s got to learn Felhaber, could have benefitted from more games this season. to use his teammates a little bit better at times, but that was more about him just trying to put the team on his back and get it done.” In the end, Texas will finish the season 27-28-3-4 in sixth place in the eight-team Central Division. White said with improved board play, L’Esperance could become a winger in the NHL. “There was a lot going on all season,” White said. “I commend the job Neil did. Travis’ growth as a coach during the year, I could see it and Defensemen Joel Hanley and Gavin Bayreuther: Joel Hanley was the then I heard it from the players, too, that they could see him trending up. Stars’ top option in Cedar Park when defensemen got injured. He filled in They all knew his hockey brain, but it’s just experience. Neil did a really during the first half of the season when Stephen Johns, Roman Polak, good job and I know our players got better and I know our players liked John Klingberg and Andrej Sekera all missed time due to injuries. playing for him, as they did for Lax. But Neil’s a younger guy, different voice and I think our guys responded quite well.” “Hanley was our best player on the back end,” White said.

White said he has not officially held exit interviews with players, but he Bayreuther is an offensive defenseman that finished the season with six did touch base with them within the last month to check in on how they goals and 23 assists, including 13 points in his final 16 AHL games of the were doing, and oftentimes also discussed their seasons. year. He is an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Just because the AHL season is over doesn’t mean that every player in “I thought Bayreuther started to come as the year wore on, a little bit,” the minor leagues is done. Should the NHL resume playing, there will White said. “A little disappointing start. A little disappointing middle. But likely be a handful of recalls from the AHL to safeguard against injuries that last third was starting to come, that last 15-18 games were pretty (or perhaps simply a performance-based lineup change). In the past, the good, like really good. Obviously, he’s unrestricted, but from a 19-20 NHL Stars have had a set of “black aces” during the postseason for that perspective, I think he’ll be considered potentially as a guy that might be reason. on that black ace team.”

Last year, the Stars carried 19 total forwards, 11 defensemen and three Forwards Nick Caamano and Rhett Gardner: Caamano and Gardner goalies in the playoffs. If they were to replicate those numbers this both played NHL games early in the season when Blake Comeau and season, that would leave space for six forwards, three defensemen and a Jason Dickinson were hurt in the season opener, but have not been in goalie. the NHL since November.

“There are some guys I’m going to have to talk to ‘Hey, you’ve got to stay “I think Caamano and Gardner had really good starts to the year, closer to it as best you can,’” White said. “Now, those are discussions I’m rewarded and I think they lost traction a little bit,” White said. “Caamano going to have to have.” battled injuries, throughout the year. Gardner, it’s a little bit about getting used to playing all those games compared to college. He had a good In discussing who performed best this season in the AHL, White also start, then his level of play diminished. I thought he, in the last three shined a light into who could be included on the Stars’ postseason roster. weeks, started to come a little bit, AHL-wise. He was starting to find his legs again. Those two guys will be in the mix, potentially.” Goalie Jake Oettinger: Oettinger had a .917 save percentage (11th in the AHL, first among rookies) and 2.57 goals-against average (15th in the Forward : Kiviranta was a bottom six sparkplug in the NHL AHL, second among rookies). The 2017 first-round pick posted a 15-16-4 when he was recalled in January, and was one of Texas’ most consistent record. performers this season, finishing with 12 goals and 11 assists in 48 AHL games. “The one thing that Jake can leave with at the end of it was that he was grabbing the No. 1 role in the American League,” White said. “That’s “Kivi was a good pro, no nights off,” White said. “He was disappointed he didn’t do more offensively. … Laxy really grew fond of him, and I know Grahamer did too. He’s just a cleaner out on the ice. He’s in the right positions, he’s got a great stick, he’s got a little jam in his game. I’m not saying he’s ever going to be a 20-goal scorer in the National Hockey League, but I think there’s more there offensively.”

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184388 Dallas Stars “That’s something that we got to see with the fans and see that grow from the start to the Cup,” Hatcher said. “Dallas became a tough place to play and a great place to play hockey. That’s something I appreciated Stars Captain Week: Derian Hatcher’s forgotten legacy & what No. 2 more being there from the start. It was a very tough place to leave. That used to mean was a sad day.”

While Hatcher was the first Star to lift the cup, his legacy in Dallas has faded with time. Much of that has to do with how the Stars have treated By Sean Shapiro May 11, 2020 No. 2.

Zubov’s No. 56 is scheduled to be retired sometime during the 2020-21 season. It’s a long-overdue honor for the defenseman who really ushered This is the first in a series of articles we’ll publish this week on Stars in the championship era when he was traded to Dallas for Hatcher’s captains of the past, present and future. Welcome to Captain Week! brother, Kevin, during the 1996 draft. Derian Hatcher had never considered how historic his nationality would But for all the hemming and hawing about Zubov not getting his number end up being. in the rafters, No. 56 was never issued after he left the team. It was kept The realization hit after Game 5 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Final, when a out of circulation with the understanding that no one else would wear that reporter asked him what it would mean to be the first non-Canadian number. captain to the lift 35-pound trophy. Hatcher wore No. 2 for 10 seasons in Dallas. That jersey number bore “I had no idea what they were talking about,” Hatcher said. “It’s not the identity of a steamroller that opponents feared and a leader who something you ever really think about when you’re playing, and you don’t helped set the tone for some of the most important moments in the overly think about that moment of getting the Cup first during all the franchise history. grind. You just want to win the Stanley Cup; you don’t think about who When he left for Detroit as a free agent in 2003, it felt like a gut punch to gets it first.” some fans. Hatcher’s jersey number remained unused until Willie Mitchell Two days and a grueling triple-overtime in Buffalo later, Hatcher became joined the Stars at the trade deadline in 2006. Mitchell got No. 2, but it the first American captain to lift the chalice. was weird to see any other Stars player wearing Hatcher’s number.

“And then it happens, and you really don’t know what to think.” Nicklas Grossman wore No. 2 from 2007 to 2012 before a revolving door of rentals and fringe NHLers started getting the number. Jyrki Jokipakka, was the American face of a team trying to build a brand in Kris Russel and Dan Hamhuis all wore the number while Jamie Oleksiak football country. But Hatcher represented the American heart and attitude got it on his return to Dallas. No. 2 went from something that meant that really helped the Stars find a niche in the market in the early 1990s. something in Dallas to something that meant nothing.

After moving from Minnesota, the Stars leaned heavily into the physical No. 26, No. 9, No. 56. Those numbers were never sullied, and they still side of the game. Their first-ever commercial didn’t feature the team’s hold some mystique for their impact on the franchise even to a new best player, Modano; it featured the Shane Churla with the generation of fans who never watched them play still. That’s not the case slogan, “The Cold War is Coming.” with Hatcher.

That fit Hatcher’s game and personality perfectly. He was the hulking 6’5, When we ran a Stars fan survey last month, Hatcher’s name came up the 245-pound defenseman who didn’t say much but obliterated opponents most when we asked “After Sergei Zubov, are there any Stars players with explosive hits. He was a fighter, but the hits turned him not currently active that should have their number retired?” into the silent villain that Dallas loved to root for in a market looking for a football equivalent on ice at the time. I told Hatcher about the results and asked what he thought about jersey retirement. He said it wasn’t his place to comment on the subject, but he When the Stars needed a new captain during the 1994-95 season, they was appreciative that some fans thought that highly of him. didn’t turn to Modano. They made Hatcher the leader in the locker room. More of them would if the Stars had properly honored the career of the “You kind of do it, and you don’t think about the implications,” Hatcher captain who won the Cup. For years, Stars fans fought and yelled about said. “I knew it was something different, but you just do what you’ve how Zubov should have his number retired by the team — it was a always done, and you just try to lead by example and lead in other ways. worthy movement — but it cut out any chance of a movement to retire It’s not until after (your career) that you sit back and think about what it No. 2. Now it’s unlikely Hatcher’s numeral will ever be retired. It’s lost too really meant.” much reverence, and that’s a shame after it meant so much for the most successful decade in Dallas. Hatcher says he’s grown to appreciate the honor more with age and perspective. Age has been kind to the Stars of the late ’90s and the The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 Stanley Cup run. After Hatcher lifted the cup, six eventual Hockey Hall of Famers got their turn with the trophy — most recently Sergei Zubov and Guy Carbonneau, who were inducted in 2019.

“You look back at that team and maybe the thing you think most is about how it’s amazing we only won one Stanley Cup,” Hatcher said. “I think that shows how hard it is to win, and it’s what makes that team (in 1999) and that group even more special now. It really was an honor to be the captain for that group.”

Hatcher was never one for big speeches and says that with the veterans Dallas brought in during the Cup run, he didn’t need to be a vocal lightning rod. He was able to speak when needed, a mindset that carried over for future Stars captains and focused on setting a tone on the ice that resonated with both his teammates and the fans.

When the Stars entered the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hatcher was suspended through the first five games for breaking Jeremy Roenick’s jaw with a high hit behind the net. The suspension didn’t turn fans against Hatcher; instead, it added to his legend as the quiet outlaw who made it scary to enter the Stars’ zone.

When Hatcher lifted that Stanley Cup that spring, he was one of just four players remaining who had relocated from Minnesota alongside Modano, Richard Matvichuk and Craig Ludwig. 1184389 Detroit Red Wings

How AHL conceding 2020 playoffs affects Detroit Red Wings prospects

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 11:31 a.m. ET May 11, 2020 | Updated 1:47 p.m. ET May 11, 2020

While the Detroit Red Wings endured a miserable 2019-20 season, they had hopes of seeing their top prospects thrive.

That included auditioning in a handful of the 11 games left when the NHL paused the 2019-20 seasons March 12 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and seeing him and others carry the Grand Rapids Griffins on a playoff run. The latter won’t happen, as the AHL announced Monday its Board of Governors has voted to cancel the remainder of the season and the Calder Cup playoffs, stating that resumption “is not feasible in light of current conditions.” The AHL had also been shut down since March 12.

“That part is disappointing, for sure,” Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin said Monday. “ The underlying health concerns take precedence, but from a hockey standpoint, that is disappointing. The number of young players that we had on the team this year, like (Taro) Hirose and (Joe) Veleno and Seider and (Gustav) Lindstrom and Michael Rasmussen, and guys like Givani Smith, who had a really good series last year - it would have been nice to see them take another step.

“We were playing our best hockey right when the pause happened, so it would have been nice to see what this team could have done in the playoffs.”

Rasmussen and Hirose both played with the Wings in 2018-19, but this was their first full seasons in the AHL.

The Griffins were in third place in the Central Division when the AHL shut down, putting them in the playoff picture. Had they been able to solidify a foothold, the Wings – who were eliminated from NHL playoff contention Feb. 21 – would have called up Seider to see how their first pick from the 2019 draft handled himself at the NHL level.

The NHL remains focused on resuming its season. The uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has left an imbalance of far more questions than answers, including whether the Wings will be required to play some or all of the 11 games on their schedule. And if they do end up playing, will they still be able to call up Seider and other prospects — which means AHL players will have to be allowed to participate in the training camps that will pre-empt finishing the season?

Those questions were posed to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who emailed that, “answers will really depend on what our Resumption of Play Plan looks like.”

Under normal rules, the Wings had two call-ups left (teams are allowed four after the trade deadline). Seider, a 6-foot-4, 207-pound defenseman, had 22 points in 49 games in his first season in North America. He returned to his native Germany in late March. While giving him a short edition in the NHL would have injected excitement into the Wings’ miserable season (they were 17-49-5 through 71 games and ensured a 31st place finish March 10), the bigger loss for Seider and the Griffins is missing out on a potential playoff run, and the experience that offers young players.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184390 Detroit Red Wings “It’s critical,” Martin said of the AHL’s impact. “That’s where your depth is playing. Not just your young prospects, and it gives them a chance to play, but your NHL roster is backed up by some of the non-rookies who are playing in the American League. It serves a couple of very vital AHL, home to Grand Rapids Griffins, cancels remainder of season purposes, for sure.”

The NHL season is also currently on pause, with speculation of a re-start of some sort some time this summer. Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 10:27 a.m. ET May 11, 2020 | Updated 4:30 p.m. ET May 11, 2020 It’s expected the AHL could resume some time around December, around the same time it’s widely considered the NHL will begin the 2020-

21 season. Detroit — The AHL is done for this season. “The league (AHL) has been doing a lot of modeling to figure out in Hockey’s minor-league home to the Red Wings’ affiliate Grand Rapids consultation with the NHL what a delayed start might look like, and still Griffins, announced Monday it is canceling the remainder of its season trying to play a full season,” Martin said. “It’s the same thing as any and playoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic. business, trying to figure out what the landscape will look like.”

The AHL held a Board of Governors meeting Friday. According to TSN Tim Gortsema, Griffins' president, agreed with the AHL's decision to hockey analyst Pierre LeBrun, the board voted 31-0 to cancel the rest of cancel its season. the season. "As difficult as this decision was for the AHL and its 31 member teams, The AHL paused its season March 12 — similar to the NHL. the unanimous approval by the league's Board of Governors underscores that it was absolutely the right decision in light of the pandemic still “After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has sweeping the globe,” Gortsema said. “While we all miss sports, and determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is hockey in particular, we recognize that the continued health and safety of not feasible in light of current conditions,” David Andrews, AHL president our players, staff and fans will always take precedence. and chief executive officer, said Monday in a statement. “The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 “Our front office team is already hard at work contacting impacted ticket season. buyers and corporate sponsors with solutions and ideas as we eagerly prepare for what we anticipate will be a momentous 25th anniversary “We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for season of Griffins hockey." their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months. The Griffins organization said season ticket holder and FLEX ticket buyers will receive an email from the team this week regarding a refund, “The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and redemption or credit rollover options for the 2020-21 season. Single- safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and game ticket purchasers for any of the final seven home games of the we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.” 2019-20 regular season who have not already received refunds or credits can visit the Griffins’ canceled game FAQ page for information on their The AHL Board of Governors has voted to cancel the remainder of the options. 2019-20 AHL regular season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. Detroit News LOADED: 05.12.2020 → https://t.co/b8XoXIimHEpic.twitter.com/G1fafFhJHV

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 11, 2020

The AHL was founded in 1936. This will be the first time Calder Cup — which goes to the AHL champion — will be not awarded.

The AHL’s cancellation is bad news for the Griffins, who were playing some of their best hockey of the season, and were in playoff position — third place in the Central Division, with a 29-27-7 record.

The Griffins were led by former Wings first-round draft picks Michael Rasmussen, Mortiz Seider, Evgeny Svechnikov, and (who was promoted to Detroit midway through the season).

“If you look at just the playoffs, and a snapshot of what that brings to a player’s development, there’s certainly something lost by not being able to finish the regular season and playoffs at the American League level,” said Ryan Martin, the Red Wings’ assistant general manager and Griffins GM.

Martin praised the job of coach Ben Simon and Simon’s staff with a largely inexperienced roster.

“There were some bumps in the road early on, we had a lot of kids there, and the coaches did a real good job playing them and putting them in positions to be successful, but also having patience with the mistakes they were making,” Martin said.

A key question going forward now is what becomes of the AHL in 2020- 21?

The AHL is a gate-driven league — similar to minor-league baseball — and until fans are allowed to gather in arenas, it’s doubtful to imagine the AHL resuming its schedule.

It’s unlikely the AHL would play with no fans in the stands for any length of time.

Any pause to the AHL season stalls the development of every team’s top prospects, an obvious problem for NHL organizations. 1184391 Detroit Red Wings The players It behooves both sides, financially, to finish the season, but at what cost

to players and their families? NHL faces plenty of issues in planning return to games Those whose teams play for the Stanley Cup would likely live in isolation, away from their families, for up to four months. A number of players already have said that's not feasible, but they might have a different Brian Hedger, Published 4:14 a.m. ET May 11, 2020 | Updated 4:33 a.m. opinion when shown the effects of the league losing an estimated $1 ET May 11, 2020 billion in revenue by canceling the season.

The league's $81.5 million salary cap might not grow a cent if that happens — and might not anyway — and their take-home salaries could The only certainty about the NHL's return remains is uncertainty. take a major hit via escrow, the league's method of ensuring a 50/50 split The league appears to be making progress in its plan to restart the 2019- of hockey-related revenue. 20 season, which was halted on March 12 because of the COVID-19 There also are a number of players waiting out the pandemic overseas. pandemic, but nothing is finalized. Getting them back to their NHL cities without international travel issues Ideas are being kicked around, hypotheticals have leaked for public could be a stumbling block. consumption and there is even an official "Return to Play" committee that A virtual draft will preclude the traditional donning-the-jersey ceremony, includes the league's brass and representatives of the player's which Red Wings' 2019 first-round pick Moritz Seider took part in last association. year. Definitive solutions, however, are absent. Draft and free agency "We're just gathering information just like everybody right now," Blue The NHL draft was supposed to be held in Montreal on June 26-27. It Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on April 20. "The safety was postponed not long after the league's shutdown and a new date of the people comes first, and once it's safe and there's a protocol in hasn't been set. place and we can come back safely, we're going to do that." The league, however, is gauging the response from teams about a Not much has changed in the 20 days since Kekalainen said those possible June 5 start date for a remote draft conducted online, a words, but information has come out in drips and drabs. It's clear the possibility that has been met with skepticism and anger by some league NHL wants to finish the season without canceling it, but there are no executives. certainties about how to clear the obvious hurdles ahead. The NFL held its draft remotely in April and drew high TV ratings with a Location, location, location captive audience starved for live sports of any kind, so it's not surprising Among the first mentions of a return included an idea to use a top-notch to see the NHL looking to follow suit. If it happens, the lottery would likely collegiate facility in a remote locale, perhaps North Dakota, to stage a be conducted using point percentage and no team would be allowed to short training camp and play multiple games per day, televised, without move up more than four spots. fans in attendance. But there are many unanswered questions with this scenario, as well. That idea, however, was squashed by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman How can a draft order be determined when all games weren't played? in an interview with Sportsnet in late April, citing concerns about a And what of conditional draft picks from previous trades? How would collegiate arena not offering NHL-caliber "back of the house" amenities. those be hashed out if they're contingent upon the results of a season What has since emerged is a plan to use four NHL cities as "hubs" for a that wouldn't be completed until months after the draft? return that would include training sessions, exhibition games and enough "I have not talked to one GM who likes it, and I talk to almost all of them," nearby hotels to isolate players, coaches and others essential to veteran agent Allan Walsh told the Associated Press. operations. General managers reportedly have asked for a one-month notice before This seems like the most likely scenario the league chooses, and holding a draft. Kekalainen is pitching for Columbus to be one of the hubs. Likewise, the first day of free agency is still set for July 1, which is difficult Regardless of which plan, if any, the NHL settles on, it's not likely fans to see happening under a restart plan that would, theoretically, include will be allowed to attend games, which probably would be televised. playoff games played later the same month. It's likely the start of free Format agency will be pushed back, perhaps to the fall, after the Stanley Cup is awarded. Once the NHL gets location hammered out, the next item is figuring out the best way to resume. When the season paused, teams had played That, however, is like everything else related to the NHL right now: unequal numbers of games and both conferences had tight playoff races. Nothing is certain.

The Blue Jackets, for example, have 81 points in 70 games and were in Detroit News LOADED: 05.12.2020 the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The New York Islanders were one point back but had played two fewer games, and thus have a better points percentage.

So which team makes the playoffs if there is no completion of the regular season?

This is one of the best-kept secrets about the NHL's return plans. If the league knows, it hasn't shared the answer publicly and it hasn't leaked.

There are, however, plenty of questions: Will the NHL go straight to the usual 16-team playoff format using the standings as they were on March 12? Will points percentage be used to cut down to 16 teams? Will there be an expanded playoff field? Will they somehow finish the regular season?

These questions have no answers, but they have generated plenty of opinions.

"I'm not so sure that there's a fair way to cut to 16 teams right away," Kekalainen said in April. "That's why I'm saying that if the play continues right from the playoffs, I think it should be expanded." 1184392 Detroit Red Wings

Season closure for some Griffins on hold until NHL’s decision

Posted May 11, 2020

By Peter J. Wallner

The Grand Rapids Griffins have closed their AHL season, but not everything is wrapped up until the NHL decides its course of action coming out of the coronavirus pandemic.

The AHL announced Monday the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-20 season, including the playoffs. On the Griffins, that ends the season for 12 members on AHL contracts, but leaves uncertainty for some prospects who could still be called upon.

"We still have to see what the NHL will do and so, in that regard, there's still uncertainty," Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon said.

The NHL has not decided on the future of the current season, which has been on hold since March 12 - the same day the AHL suspended.

Although the leagues are intertwined, they do not have to be in lockstep. For AHL teams, restarting operation would have presented greater challenges with bus travel, venue availability and even the budget to complete the season without fans or gate revenue. The NHL has more resources, plus a television contract to satisfy.

The Griffins ended the season in third place in the Central Division at 29- 27-3-4 and 65 points. They had 13 games remaining.

For some prospects who are in Grand Rapids, the closure is not complete. The Detroit Red Wings will not make the playoffs, but the NHL could consider a short schedule to complete the regular season before launching into a postseason. If so, the Red Wings would have to decide whether to give playing time to top prospects. That could affect the likes of defensemen Moritz Seider and Dennis Cholowski, and forwards Joe Veleno, Michael Rasmussen and Evgeny Svechnikov.

If the NHL postseason were to run into, say, July or August, that could impact the start of the 2020-21 season in the AHL, which usually begins around the first week in October.

"The American League and the board of governors will have to work that through and find the best resolution," Simon said. "So, there's a lot of questions to be answered before we know our plans for next year."

Simon and the organization have already conducted what were essentially exit interviews via video and phone conversations. The two months of inactivity have also allowed the front office to discuss how the Griffins could look in 2000-21.

"As an organization it has been a great time for reflection," said Simon, who will be entering the final year of a three-year contract. "We've had many conversations - how can we be better? How can we improve? How can we develop these guys at an even faster pace in a more efficient way? How do we use our resources in a more positive way?

“And from a staff point of view - how do operate and how can we continue to operate in a positive manor? How can we get better as a staff? So, everything from top to bottom.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184393 Detroit Red Wings

Remainder of Grand Rapids Griffins season officially canceled

Updated May 11, 2020; Posted May 11, 2020

By Peter J. Wallner

The Grand Rapids Griffins season officially came to an end following announcement Monday that the American Hockey League voted to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season and Calder Cup Playoffs due to the on-going coronavirus health crisis.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions," league president David Andrews said in a statement.

The league’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.

It marks the first time in the 84-year history there will not be an AHL playoff or champion crowned.

The AHL’s standings – sorted by points percentage – and statistics as of March 12 are considered final and official, the league said, and will serve as the basis for determining league awards for the 2019-20 season.

The Griffins finished third in the Central Division at 29-27-3-4 and 65 points. Chris Terry led the team in goals (21) and points (51) for the second consecutive season.

The Griffins last played March 11 - a 4-1 win at home against division- leading Iowa.

Michigan Live LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184394 Detroit Red Wings Who’s on the bubble Justin Abdelkader: With three years remaining at a cap hit of $4.25

million, he can’t be traded and won’t be bought out. But if he doesn’t Red Wings forwards: Who’s back, who’s not, who’s on the bubble perform in training camp, he likely will be waived and sent to Grand Rapids.

Christoffer Ehn: Fourth-line checker and penalty killer provides flexibility Updated May 11, 2020; Posted May 11, 2020 with ability to play center or wing but he is not assured of a roster spot.

By Ansar Khan Sam Gagner: The Red Wings might look to re-sign this veteran for a year, but would he prefer a return to Western Canada if there is an

opportunity? (First in a three-part series projecting and analyzing the Detroit Red Dmytro Timashov: Young winger claimed off from Toronto can Wings’ 2020-21 roster by position. Today: forwards) provide a physical element in the bottom six but needs to show it in The 2020-21 Detroit Red Wings could feature a high-end, high draft pick camp. and a new, skilled veteran free agent. Who might help from Grand Rapids But the lowest-scoring team in the NHL will need more offense from Taro Hirose: Facilitating winger took a step back last season after an largely the same group of forwards. impressive 10-game debut late in 2018-19. He was productive for the It will require growth from within from the likes of Filip Zadina, help from Griffins (five goals, 27 points in 35 games) and will have a chance to get Grand Rapids from the likes of Evgeny Svechnikov and Michael back to the NHL. Rasmussen and better health, particularly from Anthony Mantha. Chase Pearson: A fifth-round pick in 2015, he could compete for the One of the keys is forming a more reliable second line to complement a fourth-line center job at some point in the season. formidable top line of Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi and Mantha. Michael Rasmussen: Top 2017 pick being groomed as a third-line center The Red Wings likely are done for this season since the NHL appears and net-front presence, he might be back up in Detroit after spending this inclined to start with an expanded playoffs if play resumes following the past season with the Griffins. coronavirus hiatus. So here is a projected look at next season’s forwards: Givani Smith: Big, abrasive winger made a favorable impression in 21 Who’s back games with the Red Wings with his determination to get to the net.

Tyler Bertuzzi: He has established himself with back-to-back 21-goal Joe Veleno: The 30th overall pick in 2018 gained a boost of confidence seasons and provides a blue-collar element to the top line. at World Juniors and showed improvement late in season. He will likely need another year of AHL development but might get a few games in Adam Erne: The club expected a little more offense and physicality from Detroit at some point. this bottom-six winger (two goals, five points in 56 games), but he’ll likely be re-signed and get another opportunity. Who might help from the draft

Robby Fabbri: Skilled winger who can also play center resurrected his If the Red Wings win the draft lottery, they are certain to select winger career after arriving from St. Louis with 14 goals and 31 points in 52 Alexis Lafreniere from Rimouski of the Quebec League. Most draft games as a Red Wing. analysts believe Lafreniere is talented enough to thrive in the NHL at age 18. Valtteri Filppula: Offense dipped (from 17 goals to six) and he wasn’t as strong defensively (minus-42) after being signed as the second-line If the Red Wings pick second or third, they will likely select either big center. He’ll have one more season before a younger player is moved to center Quinton Byfield of Sudbury (OHL) or winger Tim Stuetzle of that slot. Mannheim (Germany). Both would compete for a roster spot next season. Luke Glendening: Took a step back, like most of the team, but still is valued for his , hard work and leadership. He will either be re- Michigan Live LOADED: 05.12.2020 signed or traded for a pick at next year’s deadline.

Darren Helm: The longest-tenured Red Wing had a decent season as a checker, penalty killer and energy player. He is another trade candidate at the deadline.

Dylan Larkin: With five seasons under his belt, there still is another level he can and should reach. He likely will be named captain at the start of next season.

Anthony Mantha: Big winger could be a 30-goal scorer if he can only remain healthy.

Frans Nielsen: He is coming off by far his worst season (four goals, nine points in 60 games) but isn’t going anywhere with two years remaining at a $5.25 million cap hit. Could be a frequent healthy scratch.

Evgeny Svechnikov: No longer waiver exempt, the top 2015 pick will get an extended look next season in the NHL, and it will then be apparent if he has a future with the organization.

Filip Zadina: The sixth overall selection in 2018 was making progress before being sidelined by a fractured ankle (eight goals, 15 points in 28 games). Being on the roster from the start of the season in 2020-21 should help expedite his development.

Who won’t be back

Brendan Perlini: The 12th overall pick in 2014, acquired in a trade from Chicago, struggled from start to finish (one goal, four points in 39 games) and was a frequent scratch. It seems unlikely the club would re-sign the restricted free agent. 1184395 Detroit Red Wings thought he fit in extremely well, seamlessly. And our staff was, I think, fantastic from the start of rookie camp to where we finished.

How did ’s arrival (as GM) affect the way you did things Q&A: Griffins coach Ben Simon reflects on the season, top prospects’ this year? It sounded like you were talking about the focus on the progress development side.

Our job first and foremost down here is to develop players.

By Max Bultman May 11, 2020 But I think with where Detroit is now as an organization, where the league itself sits with the salary-cap era, there’s such an onus on developing from within. You can only accomplish so much through free agency, through trades. I think it’s imperative that you develop from Right before the sports world ground to a halt, things had started to click within, and the faster you can do that without sacrificing that development for the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. and getting these young kids, these prospects, to the NHL so that they’re Between Moritz Seider, Filip Zadina, Joe Veleno, Michael Rasmusen, NHL-ready, puts your organization ahead of others. Dennis Cholowski and Evgeny Svechnikov, Detroit’s last six first-round So going into this year … we had 14 players that were first-year pros that picks (spanning five drafts) all played at least part of this season with the played a game, and of the 14 first-year players, I think (nine) of them Griffins. And that was just the tip of the spear: The Griffins had nine first- played (20) or more games for us. And then we had six second-year year professionals playing 20 or more games. That’s an incredibly young players, five of which played, again, a significant number of games. … team, fitting with the rebuilding nature of the parent club. We had a lot of young players, where the onus was we had to get these Those players seemed to have begun to jell through the second half of guys in situations. And some of them — not by default — but they were the season, though, making it all the more disappointing for the team going to (get) opportunities. And credit to the players, they made the when the AHL officially announced Monday it will not resume play — most of the opportunity. even if it wasn’t exactly a surprise at this point. And, sure, you’re going to make mistakes, and I think these young The fact they won’t get their first crack at a playoff run certainly stings for players did a really good job of learning from those mistakes and the rebuilding franchise, but several of the Red Wings’ most important applying what they learned moving forward on a daily basis, on a game- young players took strides this season nonetheless. to-game basis.

Grand Rapids coach Ben Simon spoke to The Athletic by phone Monday What do you think they lose from not having a playoff run? to break down that progress and reflect on the season as a whole. Just in general, the experience of going through it. And I think you mature (Note: The following transcript has been edited for clarity, order and as a player by going through situations when there’s a lot on the line. And length.) I think playoffs is — every little thing is under the microscope. That’s playing the right way, it’s knowing when to try and make a play, when not What have been the main things, as you’ve reflected on the season, that to. It’s taking care of yourself away from the rink because your sleep, you thought went well, and what would you have wanted to change? your nutrition, is such a huge aspect of it.

I think this year was a lot different because of the sheer number of That all plays a big part of it in the playoff run, and I think our players not prospects that we’ve had in Grand Rapids, as opposed to years prior. being able to go through that … it’s a big part of any prospect going Development has really taken the forefront in Grand Rapids, so I think as through development is being a part of those situations and the culture of a whole, individuals did a really good job of developing — both as being part of a winning team. That involves contributing. That involves individuals, but (also) as a team. … We obviously struggled in November, sacrificing the individual well-being for the betterment of the group. Just and kind of got back on track in December, and then since January, I everything you can think of to be involved in. think we were (16-10-1-2) or something. And it’s easy to say, “I did it in juniors and I did it in college,” but I think So we were playing pretty good hockey. A lot of our younger players until you go through it as a pro, and you go through the grind of a pro were in significant roles, and I think a lot of our younger players just in season and the ante is upped significantly in playoffs, you’re going to be terms of learning from their rookie mistakes, learning from getting reps better served for it. through game situations and being put in key situations, was huge for them. And even though we’re not going to have playoffs … if you look at I know Moritz Seider got injured toward the end, but start to finish, where our division … there were essentially four or five teams fighting for the did you see growth from him? last two playoff spots. So although it wasn’t playoff hockey, they were You take a step back, he was an 18-year-old kid, he’s a German kid meaningful games that a lot of our young guys were playing a big part of. coming into a whole new culture, he’s playing on a smaller rink. I thought So I think a lot of our young guys developed well. right away, though, he integrated seamlessly. He’s got an infectious Now, why did we have a bad November? There are a lot of mitigating personality; he loves hockey. He’s a hockey player. He’s at the rink factors and contributing factors that maybe we could have changed some nonstop. He just loves the game, and he loves to get better, he likes things, and that’s, as a staff, (what) we’re looking at as to how we could watching video, he likes being on the ice, he likes fooling around, he likes improve and move forward from there. But I was proud of the strides a lot playing games on the ice, he likes practice, he loves games. of our individuals made, I was proud of the fact that our team was starting But I thought his biggest improvement … (was) just his maturity as a to come together at an integral time. … Had we resumed, I think we had player. Knowing when to jump up in plays, when to pick and choose his a lot of attributes that we could have done some damage in (the) spots offensively. I thought he improved tremendously there, and his playoffs. confidence was a huge factor as to how he plays the game. He’s This was Year 2 for you as head coach. What were the biggest confident in who he is and what he’s gonna do and who he is as a player. differences for you personally? I thought his maturity, mental and physical, grew tremendously For me, (it’s) no different than a player. You make rookie mistakes. As throughout the year. you go through things, you get your repetitions, and I think any time you How about Joe Veleno’s season? He’s a guy that seemed to take some go through things a little bit more often, you get better. I thought this year, steps over the course of the year. just in terms of decision-making, bench management, personnel decisions — from a coach’s point of view, I felt more confident, a lot more With all these guys, they’ve never lived on their own, they’ve never had comfortable in making those decisions. Having the support of our staff adult responsibilities. They’ve never played pro hockey … they’ve never was great. I had (assistant coach) Matt Macdonald back. Todd Krieger been playing three games in four nights in three different cities. was the new assistant. (Goalie coach) Brian Mahoney-Wilson was there again. Mike Knuble was there again. Joe was another kid who I think struggled initially — and I don’t want it to sound like a slight on Joe — but competing for ice, competing for pucks When you have a group that’s together for a longer period of time, you every single shift. In the (QMJHL), I think he was just that much better learn each other’s idiosyncrasies, everyone’s quirks. There was a little bit than all these players. There’s only so many guys that have been granted of an acclimation period with Todd, to his first year coaching pro, but I that exceptional status; he was just always better than all these players that’s going to be a big motivation for him this summer, is making sure based on his skill and his talent. that we’re doing everything we can to make sure that he’s putting himself in the best position to make the team next year. I think he had some struggles early on. But again, that was getting acclimated to the pro game — the speed, the strength. He still made The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 positive growth, I think, in the first half of the year. But for him, I think the World Junior Championships came at a perfect time, where he had played (29) games, made some strides. And he took that confidence he got here, and the improvement he made here, was able to take that over to the world juniors, be a part of a successful team over there, gain some confidence over there. Then he took that confidence, came back here, and in the second half of the year, he really took off.

One of the players who surprised some people in Detroit was Gustav Lindstrom. Why do you think he transitioned as smoothly as he did to North America?

Lindy — and again, same thing with Seider — they played in men’s leagues. Seider played in the DEL, which — half the team in the DEL is old American League players or NHL players that are 30-plus years old, or 25-, 30-year-old men. So they’ve had to play against bigger, stronger (competition). Lindy played in the (SHL). He’s played against men.

So I think being around professionals — I think Lindy kept things simple. I think that his decision-making with the puck improved tremendously over the course of the season. He earned his ice time, slowly but surely, as the season progressed. We used him on the power play a little bit, increasingly on the PK. Before he was called up, he was playing nearly 20 minutes or more per game, on a consistent basis. He showed steady growth from Day 1 since he arrived.

Michael Rasmussen, to have him for a full season even though he missed some time with an injury, what stands out to you about where he’s at and where he still needs to go?

Ras started the year great, and then he got hurt, a couple injuries that kind of set him back a little bit. But I think just positionally, we used him at center the whole year as opposed to on the wing. And I think getting reacclimated to the center position, learning defensively his responsibilities, how to use his size to his advantage. I think offensively, he was very consistent with protecting the puck around the net, on the power play being still a solid net-front power-play guy for us. But I think he did a tremendous job in learning the defensive side of the game, especially at the center ice position.

When you have a guy like Svechnikov who’s coming off a whole missed season, I know it’s probably not linear, but what did you see from him this year in how he came back?

For him, he missed all of last year with the knee injury. Like, just the fact that he worked his tail off — and I don’t think people appreciate how hard he had to work just to get back into skating again. He fought his way back into playing, he showed great perseverance in that regard. … He was playing pretty well. A little bit inconsistent at times, but … you can never fault Svech for his desire or his want. He wants it more than anyone. He’s the first guy at the rink, he puts in the time in the weight room. He competes extremely hard.

For him, he just has to make sure that he’s controlling what he can control, and when he hopefully is afforded the opportunity next time to make the most of it.

Givani Smith’s a player who from Christmas last season to New Year’s Eve of this year, he went from a limited role in Grand Rapids to the NHL.

It’s a great story, because at the end of last year he really dug in. He went to Detroit, he stayed in Detroit, he worked with the player development staff. He put in the time, he got stronger, he kind of figured out how to be a pro. And sometimes it takes guys a little bit longer to get that routine, to get that “Hey, it’s a job” mentality.

But I think the first 15-20 games, he was one of our most effective players. He was just a great power forward. He was managing the puck well, he was stirring the pot, he wasn’t taking penalties. He was bringing that element of physicality and tenacity, and then when they needed a guy they called down and we discussed a few names and all the sudden (it was), “Why not Smitty? He’s done everything right. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.” And he went up and played some pretty good hockey up top there.

So it was a great story for him and now when he got sent back down, I think having a little taste of it has gotten him even more determined — that “Hey, I got a little taste of the pie, I want a bigger slice.” So I think 1184396 “We need them prepared,” said Gretzky. “Even though Bakersfield wasn’t making the playoffs, with the AHL season over, we’re still losing regular- season games that young players like Bouchard, McLeod, Benson, (Dmitry) Samorukov, (Kirill) Maksimov could have had. It’s all part of the AHL cancels season for the first time in 83-year history big picture.

“With playoffs you get a better read though. Last year, Bouchard came in (from junior) and played. McLeod came from the OHL and played. They Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal started on the outside but with injuries and stuff they were playing more Published:May 11, 2020 for us in a playoff environment in Bakersfield.”

Updated:May 11, 2020 6:29 PM MDT This ’n that: Left-winger Tomas Jurco (hip surgery) was ready to skate when the AHL and NHL paused and would certainly have been a taxi- squad call-up but he hasn’t played a game in over five months … Betting is Oilers won’t bring back UFA farm goalie Shane Starrett, hurt The American Hockey League, which started just before the Second (groin/core muscles) much of this past season, giving the ball to Skinner World War, playing through the conflict, had its continual run come to an in Bakersfield. No word on where rookie Olivier Rodrique will start but it end by COVID-19 on Monday with the cancellation of the rest of the might be in the ECHL in Wichita where he could get most of the games. season. Olivier’s dad Sylvain is Oilers minor-league goalie coach … Farmhand The 31-team farm league is a fan-driven, ticket-sales exercise and there No. 1 centre Cooper Marody (concussion) might have been able to play was no possibility they could play games in empty buildings like the NHL some late-season games if the AHL season hadn’t been called off. plans on doing if they start again, beaming games on TV to their hungry Marody, 23, going into the last year of his three-year contract, needs a base. big 2020-21 season after 64 points in 20-18-2019 and 17 in 30 games this past year … Oilers made a substantial offer to farmhand unrestricted For the Edmonton Oilers’ farm team in Bakersfield, sixth in the Pacific winger Josh Currie (51 goals last 109 games) but haven’t heard back. Division through 56 games and clearly out any playoff action, it’s no woe- Another NHL team with a farm club in Pacific Division will probably sign is-us after a stirring 2018-2019 season that featured a 17-game winning him. streak, second longest in league history. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.12.2020 The Condors, beset with injuries for much of the season, had won one of the previous 10 games before the AHL pause in mid-March.

“The fans are the backbone of the organization … thank you Condorstown,” said Bakersfield forward Joe Gambardella on the team website.

Several farmhands will be recalled by the Oilers as taxi-squad players when and if the NHL starts up again, but for now, they haven’t said how many or who.

Out-going president Dave Andrews, who has fostered huge growth in the league in his 26 years at the helm, won’t be handing out the Calder Cup to the winning AHL club, which stings.

At the cancellation, the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s farm club, had the best record at 41-14-5-3 for 90 points. Iowa Wild forward Sam Anas wins the scoring title with 70 points and his Minnesota farmhand teammate Gerry Mayhew finishes with the most goals with 39.

Not having a champion of a league that started in 1936-37 is a sour final note for Andrews, who is handing over the reins to Oilers head of player development Scott Howson July 1.

It’s anybody’s guess when the AHL will convene next season but it’ll be tied to win the NHL starts it’s 2020-21 season. Maybe November, who knows?

Andrews, who went to the AHL in 1994 after being Oilers farm director of hockey operations in Cape Breton, said in a statement he was grateful to the NHL and its teams for the, “support and leadership” in navigating through the last two months.

Andrews said the AHL, “continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff, and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

If the NHL and AHL were still up and running, each NHL club was allowed four call-ups from the farm after the February trade deadline. Now, they’re working out how many players the NHL clubs can add to taxi-squads when and if the NHL gets back because they’ll need bigger rosters to guard against injury after the NHL players have been off for two months already. Probably six or seven players.

Defenceman William Lagesson and Evan Bouchard for sure. Tyler Benson, Markus Granlund, who may have signed to play in UfA in the KHL for next season, Ryan McLeod and Brad Malone at forward. Stuart Skinner as a No. 3 goalie.

“We haven’t been given any direction (NHL headquarters) as to how many players we can add,” said Oilers assistant GM Keith Gretzky.

The Oilers had talked to possible farm call-ups awhile ago to make sure they were staying in shape. 1184397 Los Angeles Kings

Kings assistant general manager Michael Futa to leave organization

By HELENE ELLIOTT

MAY 11, 202011:58 AM

Kings assistant general manager Michael Futa, whose work in scouting and development played a key role in building the rosters of their 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup championship teams, will leave the organization following the imminent expiration of his contract.

Futa was promoted to assistant general manager in April 2017, one of the first moves made by Rob Blake after Blake succeeded Dean Lombardi as general manager. Before that, Futa had been the Kings’ vice president of hockey operations and director of player personnel, titles and responsibilities he was given by Lombardi in May 2014 as a way to keep Futa when rival teams expressed interest in hiring him away. Before that, Futa was co-director of amateur scouting. He had worked for the Kings for 13 seasons.

“The LA Kings will not be renewing the expiring contract of Mike Futa. We appreciate his contributions to our organization and are thankful for his effort and dedication,” the club said in a statement. The Kings gave no indication whether they will hire a new assistant GM, promote from within, or leave the position open. Mark Yannetti, director of amateur scouting, is expected to oversee their draft operations.

The NHL paused its season March 12 because of the coronavirus outbreak and put players and staffers under an indefinite stay-at-home advisory. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has expressed optimism that the season can be finished and the Stanley Cup can be awarded, but the league is still considering its many options and has not settled on a plan for even a gradual return.

A decision on the timing and possible changes to the draft, which traditionally is held in June, could be made this week.

LA Times: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184398 Los Angeles Kings

AHL cancels season; Kings, Ducks affiliates shut down

By ANDREW KNOLL |PUBLISHED: May 11, 2020 at 12:47 p.m. | UPDATED: May 11, 2020 at 12:47 p.m.

The NHL’s top minor-league system, the American Hockey League, announced Monday that it would cancel the remainder of its regular season and playoffs due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 in North America.

There are five California-based teams in the AHL, including the Kings’ top minor-league club, the , and the Ducks’ affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” the statement began. “The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.”

“We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months,” the statement continued. “The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

The AHL became the latest in a series of North American minor leagues and developmental programs to shut down its season. The United States Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League had all previously canceled the balance of their campaigns. This will mark the first time that the AHL’s Calder Cup will not be awarded to its champion since its inception in the 1936-37 season.

The NHL has also suspended play during the course of the pandemic with its schedule having been paused since March 12. The Kings and Ducks both last played on March 11. The Stanley Cup has twice been left vacant. In 2004-05, a lockout caused the league to lose its entire season and playoffs. In 1919, the Stanley Cup Final was canceled after five of its seven games due to an outbreak of influenza, which infected several players and killed one, the Montreal Canadiens’ Joe Hall.

While the NHL and NBA, whose seasons roughly align with that of the AHL, have not made any official determination as to whether or not play will resume, the aforementioned cancellations portend complications for the larger leagues.

However, the Associated Press reported Monday the Major League Baseball’s owners approved a proposal to be presented to the players’ association that would start a truncated campaign without fans in attendance on or around July 4, with a shortened schedule, expanded playoff format, larger roster sizes and other wrinkles. The season was set to begin in late March, but no teams have taken the field yet in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The NHL has considered an array of proposals and scenarios that might allow them to finish the season and crown a champion, though no plans have been finalized or placed on the table formally for the NHLPA.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184399 Los Angeles Kings of the OHL, where he had been GM for five seasons.

“There’s no question in the building process that he was a core guy,” Prominent former Kings supportive of Michael Futa after his departure Lombardi said Monday. “The thing I remember most, like you can go over the players he had an influence on, you know that’s the easy thing. He found this guy, he found that guy, helped get this guy.

By Lisa Dillman and Josh Cooper May 11, 2020 “But I think the biggest thing — and I remember sitting down with him when we were hiring — he was one of the top junior guys and really well

respected and was ready to make a move to the pro game and clearly One of the key members of the Kings’ management group who helped had an understanding of talent. But more importantly through his work in build the team that won two Stanley Cup championships has been let go. junior and his reputation, (he) had a really good feel on character.”

The Kings announced Monday they will not renew the expiring contract of Lombardi sat down with Futa, and they spoke about the formidable task assistant general manager Michael Futa, a 13-year employee. He has at hand. been in that position for three years. “I said, ‘Obviously the Kings have a lot of good players but when you Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was first to report the parting of ways. have 50 years of not having a championship, you have a culture issue Kings hockey department staffers received word of the move over the and that’s what we’re going to have to change,’” Lombardi said. “He said, weekend. ‘I get it.’

There was no further comment from the Kings beyond a perfunctory “… This idea of culture has to be paramount whenever you’re out there statement acknowledging the departure and adding, “We appreciate his and finding ways to change it. He actually came up with the term — we contributions to our organization and are thankful for his effort and would always ask particularly during the building process, he was the first dedication.’’ one to use the term when I’d call him ‘What do you think of this guy? What do you think of that guy?’ Futa’s role in shaping the Kings put him on the map league-wide and helped him land job interviews for the then-vacant general manager “And he created a rating system, not on the player, but he had the term positions in Buffalo (2017) and Carolina (2018). He pulled his name from ‘Culture Changer,’ and he would rate it 1 to 10. So this guy … you have consideration for the Hurricanes position. your regular scouting report and do this and do that, the next column, ‘Culture Changer.’” With the Kings, his role was nearly not as prominent this past season. One source outside the organization noted that his influence started to Futa invoked those words during a meeting about a player — Clifford, wane following the respective hockey-operations promotions of Nelson who ended up defining the term. He helped the Kings win two Cups and Emerson and Glen Murray in June 2018. Those fluctuations of power are played with them his entire career before getting traded to the Toronto not uncommon in many organizations. Maple Leafs in February.

For years, Futa worked closely with Mark Yannetti as co-directors of “Tough to see that,” Clifford wrote in a text message about Futa’s amateur scouting in charge of the drafts that produced Drew Doughty, departure. “He’s an amazing person and played a huge role bringing the Kyle Clifford, Alec Martinez, Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson, Wayne right pieces for those 12/14 Cup teams. Have nothing but respect how Simmonds and Adrian Kempe, among the more prominent NHLers. committed and hard he works. Wouldn’t surprise me to see his name on Yannetti is the Kings’ director of amateur scouting, while Futa’s the Cup again one day soon.” responsibilities have become more broad-based. “I remember the day he (Futa) got Kyle Clifford,” Lombardi said. “He was The Kings traded Toffoli to the Vancouver Canucks in February shortly all wired up and he put the name down and says, ‘Dean, this is a culture before the trade deadline. Toffoli was quick to respond to The Athletic changer.’ So Cliffy wasn’t the most talented guy, but he had a 10. Guys when asked about Futa’s influence. like Clifford, Simmonds, Matt Greene, (Jarret) Stoll. Those guys would be 10s. It wasn’t only the player he was influential in drafting, but when we “(Futa) has had a huge role for myself and my career,” Toffoli said via traded for a guy I’d always say one of the most important deals in message. “It was great knowing him early in my life before I was even building a process was bringing in Stoll and Greene.” drafted. Lombardi has brought that philosophy to Philadelphia, where he is a “Once being picked by L.A., having him and his support early in my senior advisor to Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher. “When we’re looking at guys career, was a huge benefit. I hope he lands somewhere he wants now, and talking to Chuck and I say ‘Yeah, I think this guy’s a Culture moving forward in his career because he’s earned it.” Changer,’ it’s his term,” Lombardi said of Futa.

The younger players had a strong advocate in Futa, according to former Sutter has little doubt that Futa will be back in the NHL, citing his Kings coach . Sutter, who now works as an advisor to the versatility. Anaheim Ducks’ coaching staff, coached the Kings during their glory years, which included the Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014. “He can do so many different things and work at so many levels,” Sutter said. “He’s such a good scout at the pro and amateur level and he’s a “A lot of times with coaches, you don’t have a lot of interactions with team guy, so he’ll be back.” scouts, but we were really close because I’d ask him about the young players and what he saw and what he thought because he knew them Right now, however, professional sports teams are in austerity mode when they were kids,” Sutter said in a telephone interview from his home during the two-month pause due to COVID-19. Even the global in Viking, Alberta. entertainment giant AEG, the parent company of the Kings, is believed to have cut salaries by 20 percent across the board at the company, not just “He was good friends with those kids. That helped me a lot. He was an the hockey franchise. easy guy to work with — when you have common goals, it’s pretty clear. The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 “That’s the thing about (Futa) and you wanted that as a coach, too. He’d back those young players. Kids like Tanner and Tyler, all those young kids. He’d back them and he’d defend them. He said, ‘They’re going to be players. You’ve just got to be patient.’ And he was right.”

With the Kings amid another rebuild, it’s helpful to remember that Futa was part of a major retool under then-Kings general manager Dean Lombardi. The Kings had a 68-point season in 2006-07 in Lombardi’s first full season, followed by 71 points in 2007-08.

Lombardi felt that he needed “core guys” in the scouting and management teams off the ice and brought in Futa in 2007 from the 1184400 Los Angeles Kings

FUTA’S CONTRACT WON’T BE RENEWED; BLAKE “IN NO RUSH” TO FILL AGM ROLE

JON ROSENMAY 11, 20200

A significant shift in the LA Kings’ front office was reported by Elliotte Friedman this morning. As he first shared on Twitter, Assistant General Manager Michael Futa, an architect of Los Angeles’ success in the 2010’s who joined the organization full-time in 2007, was promoted to Vice President of Hockey Operations after the team’s second Stanley Cup in 2014 and then to his current position in 2017, will not be returning to the club after his contract expires at the end of June.

I should clarify, LA must give official permission

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 11, 2020

“The LA Kings will not be renewing the expiring contract of Mike Futa. We appreciate his contributions to our organization and are thankful for his effort and dedication,” the team said in a statement.

I reached out to GM Rob Blake to check in on a timeline on filling the AGM position and whether he’d prefer to have someone hired by June 1. “We will be in no rush to possibly fill that role,” he responded via email.

Futa’s role evolved in recent years to encompass a growing focus on player recruitment and the pursuit of college, junior and European free agents. As a figure whose scouting and player recruitment acumen was well known – he lured Jake Muzzin away from Anaheim, for one example – he built on the relationships established as the GM of OHL-Owen Sound and a co-Director of Amateur Scouting with Los Angeles to construct a 13-year body of work with the organization.

Joining the Kings in the aftermath of a 68-point season, he helped pinpoint and draft talent that was ultimately plugged into an improving team’s lineup and departs with his name imprinted twice on the Stanley Cup. Those who held court with Futes knew the eminently approachable hockey figure as a friend throughout his extensive time with the organization, someone who added color and definition to the club’s accomplishments who took such keen interest in both those who wore skates and those who worked in the business staff. Always generous with his time, he provided a great deal of context and insight to stories and broadcasts on LAKI, FOX Sports West and beyond. More to come at another point on one of the hardest working and charismatic foot soldiers of the championship era.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184401 Los Angeles Kings

AHL CANCELS REMAINDER OF 2019-20 SEASON, 2020 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS

ZACH DOOLEYMAY 11, 2020

Effective today, the American Hockey League Board of Governors has voted to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 season, and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs.

While the timing of the release is curious – 6 AM Pacific on a Monday, when the decision was reportedly made on Friday, following two months to deliberate – the decision is not surprising and frankly the only move that could have been made that this point. The AHL is a gate-driven league, with revenue stemming primarily from game-to-game ticket sales, meaning that games without fans, at this stage, is not practical. The Reign, who had a backloaded home schedule, missed eight home dates but already took proactive steps to offer refunds, regardless of if games were rescheduled or not.

The Reign conclude a much-improved campaign with a 29-22-5-1 record, which stems from an outstanding final 2+ months before the suspension, and now cancellation, of play. Ontario was pushing strongly for a playoff berth and we unfortunately will not see how that push would have turned out.

Looking ahead, focus now turns to the 2020-21 season – We’re still five months away from what would be the scheduled start to that campaign, which is far too much time to really speculate on what next season may look like, or how it will be affected.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184402 Minnesota Wild Even if the NHL settles on a select number of locations and secures the green light from local and government officials, the execution of the season still figures to be a complicated process.

AHL cancels rest of season while NHL still considers return What’s expected of players under this scenario could be a thorny debate.

Last week, Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk said he wouldn’t be interested in holing up in a city for months at a time without seeing his family — a By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune MAY 11, 2020 — 11:20PM response that highlighted the importance of ironing out an off-ice criteria that suits players.

Fans are unlikely to attend, but a safe workflow for those who are In the two months since the NHL paused its season, not much has allowed inside arenas would have to be implemented. Testing seems like changed. a given, but gathering the necessary resources may not be easy. And a Games remain postponed, players are scattered, and questions positive test from a player could unleash new problems, even though outnumber answers. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told TSN last month the NHL doesn’t believe one positive test — or even multiple positive tests — would shut But despite the uncertainty, the NHL continues to wade into uncharted the entire operation down. territory by attempting to navigate a return during the coronavirus pandemic — even while its top developmental league canceled its Where does draft fit in? season Monday. How the NHL calendar would be impacted by finishing the season is also The American Hockey League became the latest domino to fall in the up in the air. hockey world, nixing the remainder of its regular-season schedule and Already the draft has been postponed; the NHL has discussed holding the playoffs after determining resumption and completion weren’t the event before the season ends, but that hasn’t been finalized and the feasible. prospect presents another wave of concerns — from the logistics of the Instead, the league — which, like the NHL, suspended its season on draft lottery to the effect on the trade market. March 12 — is focused on preparing for 2020-21. This will be the first The draft is usually a hotbed for activity during the offseason, but teams time since the AHL’s inception in 1936-37 that the Calder Cup won’t be still expecting to play may not make moves like they typically would and awarded, a tough blow for the Wild’s affiliate because the Iowa Wild therefore might not have as much roster and spending flexibility for next would have been a contender for the championship had the season season. continued. Not knowing how the salary cap will change could also affect planning, Before the stoppage, Iowa ranked fourth overall in the league and its 37 and what’s on the horizon for 2020-21 is also murky. victories tied the franchise record. Forward Sam Anas led the AHL in points (70) and assists (50), while teammate Gerry Mayhew had a A complete schedule is the NHL’s intention, although the league has league-best 39 goals. Kaapo Kahkonen’s 25 victories were tops among postponed its international slate of games, but the season might start goalies. much later than usual — especially if the current one extends into August or September. Although the team’s prolific run was cut short, it’s still possible some players get back on the ice, since NHL clubs might need reinforcements So, while the action on the ice is still dormant, plenty is going on behind if they resume play. the scenes to explore how the NHL could restart the season and a Return to Play Committee has been formed. Still, the potential of that remains vague even though details keep emerging about how the NHL might relaunch. One target the league has Whether this search for solutions will be successful is anybody’s guess, in mind is opening team facilities for small group activities in mid- to late but what has become increasingly clear since the league went dark is the May. NHL’s commitment to finding a way to play.

Specific guidelines haven’t been announced, and this progression is Star Tribune LOADED: 05.12.2020 contingent upon circumstances trending favorably. But it would be the first step toward an eventual training camp ahead of actual games.

One significant hurdle could be competitive balance; while some NHL markets would currently be allowed to open their facilities to players, others are still limited by stay-at-home orders — a mixed bag that could impede an across-the-board decision.

Getting players back to their NHL cities is another issue.

After the league shut down, players were allowed to travel home and some have left the country — including a handful of Wild players. Not only could travel restrictions make a return tricky, but a potential self- quarantine period afterward could also delay getting back to work.

As of a few weeks ago, Wild winger Kevin Fiala had yet to hear of a plan for how he would leave , where he has been staying during the layoff.

Logistical problems

These aren’t the only challenges facing the NHL, though.

It’s unclear if the league would salvage the regular season or fast forward to the playoffs; if the latter is the case, an expanded field is a possibility and one that would surely include the Wild. But if the current 16-team format is upheld, the Wild would be on the outside looking in since it sat a point shy of a playoff position. It would remain out even if teams were reorganized based on points percentage.

Since shelving the idea of neutral-site games in non-NHL arenas, the league appears to have turned its attention to picking hub cities to host the action. Minnesota is reportedly in consideration. 1184403 Minnesota Wild WHERE WOULD THE SEASON PICK UP? It appears the NHL would jump straight to the playoffs if the 2019-20

season resumes. Which could be disastrous for the Wild as they’re The AHL canceled its season Monday. What’s next for NHL? currently a single point out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings.

However, there are preliminary reports that the NHL would expand its By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: May 11, 2020 at 1:26 p.m. | playoff format. If that proves to be the case, the Wild would make the UPDATED: May 11, 2020 at 4:18 p.m. playoffs in pretty much any scenario.

WHAT’S UP WITH THE NHL DRAFT?

Walz emergency powers up on Wednesday. Will he renew as GOP There is a growing belief, according to ESPN, that the NHL will host a threatens to block public works projects? virtual draft in early June before the 2019-20 season resumes.

While the NHL remains in a holding pattern regarding the 2019-20 While there are a lot of moving parts, and the NHL has yet to make a season, the AHL officially canceled its season Monday morning, deeming decision on the matter, the idea is rooted in the fact that waiting, and in it “not feasible” in light of the coronavirus pandemic. turn, holding the draft during a condensed offseason would be hard on teams logistically. What does this mean for the NHL moving forward? Perhaps the biggest concern surrounding this proposal is the fact that While it’s understandable that people want to conflate what the NHL will teams traditionally use the draft meetings for trade talks. Because this do with what the AHL has done, the fact of the matter is the leagues year’s trade deadline was in February, many potential deals would be operate in different stratospheres. prohibited as next season draws near. Not only does the NHL have more resources at its disposal than the AHL, In addition, if the draft is held before the 2019-20 season is completed, television ratings for games this summer, even without fans in the teams eager to make roster changes and compete for this year’s Stanley arenas, would more than likely be through the roof. For a league working Cup will be in a tough spot while planning for 2020-21. hard to increase its media footprint, that alone is motivation to resume play. ARE PLAYERS ABLE SKATE YET?

It’s been 60 days since the NHL suspended the 2019-20 season No, with the exception of a handful of international players, like Wild star indefinitely; since then a seemingly continuous stream of new information Kevin Fiala, living in Sweden where rinks are open. The majority of has rolled in as the decision-makers turn every stone. players are awaiting guidance from the league.

There’s still no timetable regarding a possible return to play. A couple of weeks ago, the NHL and the NHLPA released a memo noting how they plan to slowly shift from Phase 1, which involved self- Here’s what we know so far: quarantine for players and hockey staff, to Phase 2, which involves WHAT OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE? players returning to team training facilities for small group activities.

There has been a lot of conjecture on this front, with different ideas As of right now, no team training facilities are open, and the NHL is popping up left and right over the past couple of months. continuing to monitor the situation as a whole.

It started with a pitch to play the rest of the games in Grand Forks, N.D., “We will make a league-wide decision on the opening of team training a pipe dream that Commissioner Gary Bettman put the kibosh on last facilities, and it will be at least somewhat dependent on where each month. That turned attention to the possibility of a handful of “hub cities” market is across the league in terms of its ability to accommodate small playing host for the rest of the regular-season schedule. group training,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN. “We aren’t looking to create competitive inequities between various markets.” Naturally, Minnesota would make sense as an option based on its low infection rate, high testing capacity and hotel space near St. Paul’s Xcel Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.12.2020 Energy Center, among other things. The NHL has yet to confirm the “hub cities” in consideration.

Perhaps the biggest concerns for players when considering this option is being away from their families for an extended period of time.

“Guys with kids at home aren’t interested in shacking up somewhere for four months and being away from them,” said Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk, the team’s union representative.

“I know myself personally, I’m not interested in packing up and going away for that length of time away from my family. I can’t imagine that anybody else would. And I think it sounds like the NHL is sensitive to that and understands that.”

WOULD THERE BE FANS IN SEATS?

Unlikely. While the NHL relies heavily on its gates to bring in revenue, the goal is to finish the 2019-20 season in some way, shape, or form — and do so without dramatically impacting the 2020-21 season.

Logically, that means the expected restart window for this season would fall somewhere in either July and August, and if mass gathering aren’t allowed by then — which they more than likely won’t be — the NHL would likely have to move forward without fans in attendance.

In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz has set “predictability” as a standard for re- opening segments of business and community gathering. Events such as a sporting event, and the State Fair, are at the wrong end of the .

“I don’t see the sports stadiums being filled immediately, and I think it’s going to be hard before a vaccine or effective therapeutic,” the governor said on April 12. 1184404 Minnesota Wild

Iowa Wild’s historic run ended by pandemic

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: May 11, 2020 at 8:55 a.m. | UPDATED: May 11, 2020 at 4:20 p.m.

Walz emergency powers up on Wednesday. Will he renew as GOP threatens to block public works projects?

Iowa Wild coach Tim Army remained optimistic for as long as he could.

As far as he was concerned, the American Hockey League (AHL) was going to resume the 2019-20 season at some point.

He wouldn’t let himself go down the other rabbit hole.

“It wasn’t like we were in summer mode,” Army said Monday. “We were in pause mode and getting ready to play coming out of it.”

His optimism waned over the past couple of weeks as the coronavirus pandemic continued to spread across the country — Iowa has seen a large spike in cases the past few weeks — and he started to get a sense that the 2019-20 season could in fact be in jeopardy.

“You still hold out a little bit of hope,” Army said. “You have to do that until it’s official.”

It became official on Monday morning when the AHL announced its decision to cancel the remainder of its regular season and Calder Cup playoffs following a vote by the league’s Board of Governors.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” AHL president David Andrews said in a release, adding that the league has shifted its focus to preparing for the 2020-21 season.

“We understand and support the decision made today by the American Hockey League to cancel the remainder of the 2019-2020 season,” Iowa Wild president Todd Frederickson added. “On behalf of the entire organization, I’d like to thank our great fans for their unwavering support during these difficult times.”

It’s an extremely tough blow for the Iowa Wild, especially considering they were in position to make a serious run at the Calder Cup.

They were tied for the second-best record in the league when the AHL suspended operations in March. Gerald Mayhew was leading the league with 39 goals. Sam Anas was leading the league with 70 points. Kaapo Kahkonen was leading the league with 25 wins.

“It’s disappointing and disheartening for everyone because there will never be any closure,” Army said. “It will always feel unfinished because we won’t get the opportunity to pursue the Calder Cup. We felt we were as capable as anybody. It’s a really empty feeling right now.”

When Army conducts exit interviews with his players, he said, he’s going to remind them to focus on what made this season special, not that it ended abruptly.

“We don’t have control over the situation,” Army said. “It finished at 63 games and there’s nothing we can do about it. What we can do is look back on all the positives. There’s a lot to be proud of.”

Still, there are always going to be things that eat at Army when he looks back on the 2019-2020 season.

His biggest regret?

“We never got to take a team picture with the whole group,” Army said. “We won’t be able to put something on the wall and that hurts.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184405 Minnesota Wild He went on to lead all KHL goal scorers two years in a row, won a league championship and scored in overtime to lift the Olympic Athletes from to a gold medal in the 2018 Winter Games.

Sources: Kirill Kaprizov likely won’t be allowed to debut if Wild season Kaprizov scored 113 goals and 230 points in 293 career KHL games. resumes “He’s ready to go. He’s been talking about coming to the NHL for a while,” Ryan Stoa, a former University of Minnesota captain and Kaprizov’s former KHL teammate and mentor, said recently in a profile By Michael Russo May 11, 2020 on Kaprizov. “He wants to go. He wants to prove that he can play there. I think it’s time.”

Kaprizov, 23, has given every indication that he’s ready to start a new While the Wild still remain confident that Kirill Kaprizov will sign his entry- chapter in the NHL. He not only turned down an extension in the KHL, he level contract once he officially hires an agent, there has been a has been quoted as saying he’s ready to join the Wild, even as recently significant development. as last week when he did a podcast with former NHL goalie Nikolai The NHL informed the Wild that there is likely “zero chance” that Khabibulin. Kaprizov also routinely texts with Guerin and has indicated Kaprizov will be permitted to make his NHL debut this summer if the he does not plan to re-sign in the KHL. 2019-20 season resumes, an NHL source told The Athletic. But until Kaprizov signs on the dotted line, the Wild will be worried Kaprizov hoped he would ultimately be allowed to sign his two-year deal because if he has to wait until December to play hockey again, CSKA with the Wild and subsequently burn the first year of his contract if the will almost assuredly try to take advantage of the situation and balance of the 2019-20 season is played with a semblance of the regular attempt to sign him for another year. season and postseason. After all, if this was a normal situation, once As one Wild source said Monday, “It just makes me nervous that he can’t Kaprizov’s KHL contract expired April 30, he would have been allowed to play here in the short-term but can play over there. So while he has sign with the Wild and debut immediately if the team was still alive in the made clear to us many times that he’s ready to come, we’re not taking playoffs. anything for granted. But it does worry us that he can sign one more year That’s how Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was able to over there … even though he has assured us he won’t.” jump right into the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring after his college If Kaprizov signs for next season, it will almost certainly be a two-year career came to an end. deal worth the rookie max of $925,000 a year in base salary (which But when the NHL suspended this season March 12, the league includes two $92,500 signing bonuses) with potential performance instructed teams that no contracts for draft picks or college, junior and bonuses reaching up to the maximum of $2.85 million annually. That European free agents could be signed with a start date of this current would carry a $3.775 million cap hit in case Kaprizov achieved all of his season. bonuses. Teams are allowed to exceed the salary cap amount by up to 7.5 percent by virtue of having performance bonuses on their roster. All contracts had to begin in 2020-21. From a business perspective, a full two-year deal rather than burning the The Wild — along with several NHL clubs who have agreed to terms with first year for potentially only a handful of games this summer actually players on contracts that have two starting dates — hoped the league benefits the Wild. It means it would be longer before Minnesota would would change its mind if it decided to complete this current season. have to sign him to a lucrative second contract. Once Kaprizov signs, the Wild would own his rights through the 2023-24 season. No matter what But an NHL source has told The Athletic that the league has, as of now, happens, he will be exempt from the 2021 expansion draft. no plans to change the rule. The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 The NHL is already dealing with all sorts of challenges that make restarting this season problematic. It does not want to add another by allowing teams to debut dozens of players in the middle of the summer.

The NHL’s position is that teams have already been set for this season and it would be unfair to allow clubs to have open access to bring in “ringers” like Kaprizov.

“Kirill is aware of (the NHL’s likely decision), but we haven’t heard 100 percent ‘no’ and we haven’t heard 100 percent ‘yes’ (on the 2019-20 season),” Wild general manager Bill Guerin told The Athletic on Monday. “More than likely, he won’t be able to play this summer, but until it’s a 100 percent ‘no,’ there’s really no rush on his part to sign for the sake of signing. Kirill just wants to know.”

Here’s why this is such a big deal from a Wild perspective: If Kaprizov is ineligible to play this season, the Russian star would now have to wait for the 2020-21 season to debut. But if next season is delayed until December, as has been suggested, Kaprizov could conceivably be persuaded into re-signing in the KHL for one more year if the KHL winds up starting next season on time.

“It’s a viable concern, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it,” Guerin said. “I know Kirill wants to come and play in Minnesota as soon as possible. But, I guess, I can’t say 100 percent that this won’t come into play. But he has made clear to me that he wants to be here very much.”

The fact there’s suddenly a lack of clarity with Kaprizov’s future is almost fitting.

The Wild — and their anxious fans — have waited years for his arrival.

Drafted in the fifth round in 2015, Kaprizov really burst onto the scene in 2016-17 when he notched his first 20-goal season in the KHL and scored nine goals for Russia in the World Junior Championship to lead all scorers in the tournament. 1184406 Minnesota Wild “That’s all we talked about. We kept saying, ‘We’re going to chase them down. We’re going to take them down.’ And we certainly feel that we had the group that could make a deep run in the playoffs. We just kept finding a way all season long, and we expected more of the same. We were fast, Best Iowa Wild team yet left to wonder ‘What if?’ after AHL cancels we played aggressively. It really is a shame. We had a lot of work in front season of us, but we had a lot of critical pieces. It’s pretty devastating to our guys.”

The truly sad thing is at the AHL level, there’s just no chance Iowa will By Michael Russo May 11, 2020 return the same team.

“You’re always going to have changes,” Army said. “It’s just the dynamic After getting their first taste of the playoffs last season, the Iowa Wild of the sport now.” sure looked like they had something special brewing this season. Nico Sturm, Mayhew and Kahkonen are three players who could push for No matter the call-up, no matter the injury, the Baby Wild just kept jobs on the big club next season and Iowa’s unrestricted free agents winning hockey games and began to really look like a viable Calder Cup include Anas, Matt Bartkowski and Kyle Rau. And frankly, who knows if contender. the coaching staff will return intact?

“We were capable of making a deep run and we were expected to make While it’s believed all members of Army’s staff have term left on their a deep run,” said Tim Army, the coach of the Minnesota Wild’s AHL contracts, this is still the AHL and all coaches have out clauses. affiliate. “We weren’t expecting to leave anywhere until June, and we Army could push for a head or assistant job in the NHL, including kept saying that. So, in that sense, this is really disappointing because conceivably in Minnesota. Assistant coach Brett McLean is considered these teams don’t always come along. So, when you have that team, you one of the brightest young coaches in the AHL. And it’s really up in the want to take advantage of it.” air whether assistant coach Alex Tanguay will want to spend another Unfortunately, we’ll never know if Iowa could have made a legit Calder season away from his wife and kids, who live full-time in South Florida. Cup run because the inevitable happened Monday when the AHL “There’s just so much turnover, especially at this level, which is tough,” announced that it was simply not feasible to complete the 2019-20 Anas said. “We had a great coaching staff and just everyone throughout regular season and playoffs. For the first time since it debuted in 1937, the organization was so great to us. It seemed like a perfect fit for no Calder Cup will be awarded. everyone and we all felt we had what it took to go on a real run.” This is particularly painful for the Iowa Wild, who had such high hopes Anas is back home in Maryland and will begin training like it’s a normal after making it to the second round of the playoffs last season. offseason. His contract ends June 30, but if the NHL season resumes in Remember, this was a franchise that not only missed the playoffs in its July, the NHL will likely have to extend expiring contracts in order for first five years of existence, it twice finished in the AHL cellar and one players like Mikko Koivu to be available. other time at the bottom of the Western Conference. The league will also likely need to expand rosters in case of injuries or “It’s upsetting for us as a group,” said Sam Anas, who will be awarded players getting sick. Anas could be one of those Iowa players that the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL’s top scorer with 70 points Minnesota “calls up” for an expanded roster. in 63 games. “We really had such a close-knit group and it seemed like we were really hitting our stride towards the end. There’s just no closure, “Right now, I’m training like I’m going into training camp Round 2 here,” which is frustrating. It’s tough to even put to words because you just don’t Anas said. “Whether it’s being in better shape than some guys, that could know what could have happened or what could have been, and that’s a be a plus for me. Or, if there’s some injuries and I’m in good shape, that tough way to end it.” could be an opportunity for me down the stretch here in the summer. I’m definitely not looking at it like I’m a free agent right now. I’m hoping to Iowa was in the midst of a record-breaking 82-point season when things impress and maybe get a chance here this summer. My goal continues to came to a halt in March due to the COVID-19 virus. It was tied for the be to play in the NHL. second-most points in the AHL and had the fourth-best points percentage (.651). The Wild tied their franchise record with 37 wins in only 63 “That’s why I’m working so hard every day. That’s always been my goal games. Twenty-one of those victories came at home. They were ranked and I’m still hoping to achieve it with Minnesota.” in the top-four in the West in both special teams and finished with the third-most goals (194) and sixth-fewest goals-against in the conference Like many of his teammates, Anas made significant growth this season. (171). Mayhew shattered his own team goals record. Menell turned into an elite offensive defenseman and improved defensively. Kahkonen, who didn’t Not only did Anas lead the league in scoring, he led the AHL with 50 play in last season’s playoffs, was consistent throughout. Sturm looked to assists and 43 points on the power play. Gerry Mayhew will win the Willie Army to be NHL-ready the way he went up against opposing top lines Marshall Award for the league’s top goal scorer after leading the league down the stretch. with 39 in only 49 games. That’s five more goals than the runner-up scored, and remember, Mayhew spent 13 games in the NHL. Those players and several others like Louie Belpedio, Rau and Luke Johnson could be Black Aces if the NHL continues this season. Anas and Mayhew could be contenders for the Les Cunningham Award as the league’s MVP, too. Army also can’t wait to see the steps taken next season by youngsters like Connor Dewar, Brandon Duhaime and Mat Robson and additions of Kaapo Kahkonen will be a contender to win the Baz Bastien Memorial Alex Khovanov, Mitchell Chaffee, Cale Addison and Damien Giroux. Award as the AHL’s best goaltender. He led the AHL with 25 wins and seven shutouts and finished fourth with a 2.07 goals-against average and “Hey, it’s disappointing that this year is over,” Army said. “Off the ice, the .927 save percentage — and both those marks were best among goalies camaraderie, the togetherness, the focus on what everybody’s trying to with as many games played and as much time on ice. accomplish was one. All these little variables go into thinking that you’ve got a group that can make a deep run. Army will be in the running for the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award (Coach of the Year), while Brennan Menell should be in the running for “But I think Wild fans can still be confident that the future is bright. We’ve the Eddie Shore Award as the best defenseman in the AHL. Menell, who got a lot of guys coming. There’s no doubt the cupboard was bare there grew up in Woodbury, Minn., finished second in scoring for blueliners for a little while, but that’s no longer the case. And that gives me with 47 points and led all defensemen with 42 assists and 26 power-play excitement. It’s something to look forward to next year.” points. Of course, it’s uncertain when “next year” will actually occur. “Yeah, it’s hard to even describe it,” Army said. “It’s a really weird feeling While the AHL is turning all of its focus to preparing for the 2020-21 slate, because there’ll be no closure to it. No matter what happens in a season, it’s a gate-driven league. So the majority of teams do not have the there’s always closure to it. So it’s very difficult to get your arms wrapped financial wherewithal to field teams if there are no fans in the stands. So, around that. Our goal for the end of the regular season was to chase the AHL has started to model what a season would look like that starts in down Milwaukee and get home-ice throughout the playoffs. October, November, December and even beyond. “There’s a lot of unknowns right now,” Army said.

Especially for guys like Anas, who would love a shot at an NHL job but also would love to know when the next NHL or AHL season’s going to start. That could determine when he signs and who with.

Even though he has yet to play an NHL game, he’s not ruling out re- signing with Minnesota.

“I’m very happy in my spot in Des Moines,” Anas said. “I would like to get a chance to play in the NHL and prove what I can do and hopefully help out Minnesota. I think it’s a great organization and I’m very happy with how I’ve been treated over the last four years. Crazy to think that I’ve spent more time in this organization than I did in college (at Quinnipiac). It’s pretty cool. It’s something that I take a lot of pride in that I’ve been with one organization for my entire pro career. That’s not too common nowadays. So, I would love to make it work if there’s an opportunity.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184407 Minnesota Wild Still, back in 1978, there were still hints that the NHL could possibly black-ball any teenage player that bolted to the rival league.

Did Gartner worry at all that by exploring the WHA option, he might close Mike Gartner on the secret condition he played with and Ovechkin’s goal the door on a possible NHL career? pursuit “For us, there was already talk of the leagues merging and how this might be the last year of the WHA,” Gartner said. “When I signed the contract with Cincinnati, it was a five-year deal … I thought, if I had to By Eric Duhatschek May 11, 2020 play five years in Cincinnati, that’s what I’ll do. I looked at it from that perspective – that it was a choice I was going to make. I was hoping the

leagues would merge but at the same time, when I signed that contract, I Like the rest of the hockey world, Mike Gartner was heavily focused on was committed to it.” the Ovie Watch just before the NHL hit the pause button. Alex Ovechkin In all, Gartner played for five NHL teams over 19 seasons, moving from was racing up the all-time goal scoring charts with a bullet and in rapid Washington to Minnesota and then to New York, Toronto and then finally succession passed one Hall of Famer after another. Teemu Selanne. finishing up in Phoenix, with the Coyotes, where he scored the first goal . Steve Yzerman. . in the relocated franchise’s history. As Ovechkin crossed the 700-goal plateau, he received a ‘Welcome to In 1994, the year the Rangers won the Stanley Cup, Gartner was traded the 700 Club’ greeting from Gartner. It only seemed a matter of time at the deadline to Toronto, his hometown team, for Glenn Anderson. In before Gartner – the No. 7 goal scorer of all-time, at 708 – would see 2001, Gartner was elected to the and he currently Ovechkin scorch past him too. Then NHL play ground to a halt with now serves on the selection committee. Ovechkin stalled at 706, so for the time being anyway, Gartner’s spot at No. 7 is secure. Gartner played his entire professional career with a condition known as amblyopia, or a lazy eye, which left him with perfect vision in one eye, but “It’s funny,” said Gartner, “because when things got shut down, a friend limited vision in the other. It was a complication that he never talked sent a text and said, ‘At least Ovie’s not going to pass you this year – so about much. Instead, he just found ways to function – because a lazy eye you can be No. 7 for a few more months anyway.’ can affect both depth perception and the overall quality of your eye-to- “But I was watching it pretty closely. He has all the attributes to possibly hand coordination. In our conversation, I raised the question of his vision be the greatest goal scorer of all-time. He’s not there now because of issues because I deal with the same limiting condition. (No. 1 all-time at 894), but it’s not like he’s just limping “I’ve actually never been asked that question before,” Gartner said. “My into this territory. He’s rocket-shipping into this territory.” left eye is my dominant eye, I have 20-20 vision in my left eye and Gartner and Ovechkin share a common NHL starting place: Both were 20/200 vision in my right eye. If I cover my left eye and look out of my high draft choices of the Washington Capitals, Gartner going fourth right eye, I couldn’t even drive my car. It didn’t really come into play until I overall in the legendary 1979 NHL entry draft; Ovechkin chosen first turned pro, at which point I had to take an eye test. The doctor said, overall in 2004. Gartner spent the first 10 seasons of his career playing ‘cover one eye, and then cover the other’ – and I said, ‘I can’t see out of for the Capitals, a time when they went from league laughingstock to that eye.’ For years, the doctors just kinda looked the other way – I would serious contender. Ovechkin has been with them his entire NHL life and take the black thing they use to cover your eye and move it a little so I was a catalyst on their first-ever Stanley Cup championship team in could read the eye charts. They didn’t care if I could see out of both eyes, 2018. as long as I could pass the eye test – and score goals.

When Gartner crossed the 700-goal threshold, he became just in the fifth “So really, I went through my whole career that way. I remember telling player in NHL history to do so. Currently, there are just eight in that club. my youngest son, just a little while ago, ‘yeah, I really can’t see out of my right eye.’ And he said, ‘what do you mean, you can’t see out of your The only way to get to 700 goals is through consistency and durability, right eye?’ And I said, ‘I’ve spent my whole life that way.’ My peripheral another shared trait of Gartner’s and Ovechkin’s respective careers. vision is fine – no problem at all – but I can’t really see out of my right eye. And he said, ‘you played for 20 years with only one good eye?’ And In all, Gartner scored 30 goals or more in a season 17 times during his I said, ‘yeah – and if anybody had really checked on it, I probably would career, an NHL record. In fact, the only two years he didn’t score 30 not have passed the eye test.’” came in 1994-95, the lockout-shortened year, in which he also missed 10 games with a collapsed lung, and in 1997-98, in the final year of his Gartner said his vision issues only became a problem if a coach wanted career with the Phoenix Coyotes, a season in which he missed 20 games to switch him to the left wing, which occasionally happened at different recovering from knee surgery. times in his career. It was something he tried to discourage as much as possible, without ever giving his secret away. For 20 years, or until Dylan Larkin broke the mark in 2016, Gartner held the NHL All-Star Game record for fastest skater. As a boy, before ever “I was pretty limited that way, I was a right winger, I really couldn’t play attending hockey schools, Gartner took power-skating classes. He was a anywhere else,” said Gartner. “I remember, one time, they tried to put me blur going down the right side of the ice and had a hard, heavy shot to on left wing and I told them, ‘I can’t play over there. I don’t feel supplement his speed. Together, those qualities contributed to an comfortable.’ I really think it was because I couldn’t see the ice the same unprecedented consistency over a two-decade career. way – whereas playing right wing, I could see the entire ice surface, because my left eye was dominant. When I went on the off wing, I Gartner came along during the last days of the NHL’s war of attrition with couldn’t see as well. I told them: ‘I’m not a very good left winger. You’re the WHA. As one of the top juniors in the OHL, he had an opportunity to better off just keeping me on the right side.’” sign with Cincinnati for the 1978-79 season, what turned out to be the WHA’s final season. The biggest problem with having good vision in only one eye is, what happens then if your good eye gets injured? But what a way to go out. That occurred with Gartner back in 1983, when he damaged the optic Gartner was runner-up to Wayne Gretzky as the league’s rookie of the nerve in his good left eye after getting hit in the eye with a puck. For year, and in Cincinnati, he played on the same Stingers team as Mark three weeks, he couldn’t see properly at all. It was a worrisome time. Messier (the two would later reunite in 1991 with the New York Rangers). “I lost my vision in that eye and the doctors told me, ‘your actual eye is According to Gartner, he followed a career path forged originally by Ken OK, but your optic nerve is damaged – and we’re not sure how long it’s Linseman, Mark Napier, Mark and Marty Howe and others as teenagers going to be,” said Gartner. “For those three weeks that I was out, I was when he and Rob Ramage, Michel Goulet, and Craig frightened to death because I couldn’t see. My good eye was shot. Hartsburg all bolted to the WHA from their various junior clubs to earn Finally, the vision started to come back – but it was very slow. It’s why I what, at the time, were astonishing salaries. was one of the first players to put on a shield. I remember thinking, ‘I “It was a 20-year-old draft back then,” Gartner said. “I wanted to play in better see if I can play with a shield.’ I couldn’t see out of my right eye the NHL and I felt I was ready. So, it was either play for $75 a week in anyway. My left eye was coming around, but it was still a little blurry – Niagara Falls or $75,000 a year in Cincinnati. It was actually a pretty and now I’ve got a shield on. I remember playing that first game back, easy choice.” thinking, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this.’ “And then, wouldn’t you know, I get a hat trick my first game back. I’m still not sure how it happened, because I don’t think I saw anything go in. Afterward, people said, ‘We thought your eye was injured – it looked OK to us.’ I just told them: ‘Sure. It’s fine.’”

Eventually, the eye did heal completely and Gartner learned to adjust to playing with a face shield – a common practice now, unusual then.

Following his retirement, Gartner settled in the and remains busy. For years, he worked with World Vision and still is on its board of directors. Primarily, he considers himself a small businessman, with ownership stakes in a self-storage facility, three office buildings, and in conjunction with former Capitals teammate Wes Jarvis, has also spent the past 25 years operating National Training Rinks Canada (NTR), which owns double rinks in Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Barrie, Ont.

According to Gartner, the arena business had been thriving until early March, when the world as we know it changed, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s been a challenging couple of months,” said Gartner. “We were one of the first businesses that was mandated by the provincial government to close. That was back on March 18. We had to lay off about 75 part-time people. We’ve kept on 16 full-time employees and plan on doing that for as long as we can. We’re a healthy business, but we also have zero revenue coming in, so we’re going to try to do the right thing. I’ve become an expert on government subsidy programs. If you want to know anything about them, I’m your man.”

On the final Friday of April, NTR’s summer 3-on-3 leagues were scheduled to open – but couldn’t.

“We’re trying to stay on top of things and communicate with all our customers and doing the best we can,” said Gartner. “We’ll be ready to open, when we get permission. But we had to take our ice out for the first time in 25 years because we run 12 months of the year. We’ll be well- positioned to put it back in when the time is right to reopen and continue to move forward – but those are the things we’re dealing with.”

The Gartners, Mike and Colleen, have three adult children and four grandchildren, so that’s been a challenge too – staying in touch with family via FaceTime, Skype or Zoom. Gartner is like a lot of people – missing sports and looking forward to the day when his rinks reopen and the NHL returns to play, at which point Ovechkin can resume his chase for Gretzky’s all-time goal scoring record and slip past Gartner on the all- time goals list.

“Can Ovie keep this up for another five years?” asked Gartner. “Not sure – but if anyone can, he might be able to. Why? First, because he’s durable. He’s proven to be durable. Then, because he shoots the puck – more than anybody in the league still. He gets 350 to 400 shots every year, so even with a really average shooting percentage, he’s going to score a lot of goals. The third thing he has going for him is, he’s so hungry. He was hungry when he first came into the league. He was hungry 10 years ago. He was hungry five years ago – and he’s just as hungry now to score goals. He loves scoring goals.

“The last thing is, he’s got the three-pack of a great shot – velocity, quickness and accuracy. All great goal scorers have those things to some degree, but they usually are not elite in all three. Ovie is. So, it’s a compelling package and a fun story – and we’re going to be watching it just for the next seven months. We’re going to watching it for a while here.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184408 Montreal Canadiens Lac St. Louis, helped me become the person I am today and I had great goaltending coaches, Raz Saltarelli and Marco Raimondo.”

Levi is also grateful to coach Jason Clarke and his billets in Carleton Dollard goalie Devon Levi is toast of Junior A hockey Place. He first met Clarke two years ago at a Junior A showcase.

“He offered a spot, but I wanted to play another year of midget,” he said. “But I was glad that I had a chance to go there this season because Pat Hickey • Publishing date:8 hours ago • everything worked out well.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.12.2020 It wouldn’t be an understatement to say goaltender Devon Levi dominated Junior A hockey this season.

Hockey Canada selected Levi, a 18-year-old from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, as the most valuable player in the Canadian Junior Hockey League. He also took the national Junior A honours as rookie of the year and top goaltender.

“Winning the MVP is super crazy because it’s been a while since a goaltender has won it,” Levi said on the phone from his family home in Dollard.

The honours came after the coronavirus ended what he had been an amazing season for Levi and the Carleton Place Canadians. Thy finished first in the Central Canada Hockey League thanks to an incredible performance by Levi. He posted a 34-2-1 record with a 1.47 goals- against average and a .941 save percentage.

Levi also led Canada East to the final of the World Junior A championship in Dawson Creek, B.C. He was named the tournament MVP after losing 2-1 to Russia in the overtime final.

Levi’s strong play didn’t go unnoticed by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau. He was ranked 17th among North American goaltenders in the mid-season rankings for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, but climbed to eighth in the final rankings. His goal is to play professional hockey, but first he’ll realize another dream by playing NCAA Division I hockey at Boston’s Northeastern University on a scholarship.

“I originally committed to Vermont because they showed interest in me when I was playing midget for Lac St. Louis,” said Levi. “I liked the way they treated me and I wanted to part of a program on the way up.”

What didn’t appeal to Levi was Vermont’s timeline for his development. The Catamounts, who changed coaches after a 5-23-6 season, wanted Levi to enroll in 2021.

Lions goalie Devon Levi, winner of Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy trophies at Sunday's Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League award gala.

Lions head coach Jon Goyens is on the right.

“I wanted to play right away as a true freshman and Northeastern gave me that opportunity,” said Levi, who will get a chance to start.

When Cayden Primeau left after two seasons to sign with the Canadiens, Northeastern plugged the hole with Craig Pantano, a graduate student who had one year of eligibility after playing at Merrimack College.

Levi, a 6 foot, 175-pounder, should feel at home in Boston because he will be rejoining three of his Lac St. Louis teammates. Jérémie Bucheler is completing his first year at Northeastern, while Justin Hryckowian and Matt Choupani will be joining the freshman class after playing last season in the USHL.

While most incoming students are uncertain about their majors, Levi plans to study computer science, which is his father Laurent’s field of expertise. He got a leg up on his university studies when he dropped out of a Grade 12 program in Carleton Place — “It wasn’t challenging enough,” he said — and took online university courses from Athabasca University.

Levi started playing hockey when he was four, but didn’t become a goaltender until he was an atom.

“I always liked the idea of playing in goal and I’d play goalie in street hockey or if our goalie didn’t show up,” said Levi. “When I got to atom, I asked my father if he’d buy me goalie pads.”

Levi said he had a lot of people to thank for his success.

“My parents were always helpful and supportive” he said “My dad pushed me to play when I was starting out and I’m glad he did because hockey has been a big part of my life. Jon Goyens, who was my midget coach at 1184409 Montreal Canadiens puzzle, putting the pieces in their proper spots, while deciding on the right mix of veterans, for their experience, and younger prospects.

Bouchard has frequently mentioned he doesn’t coach in the AHL as he Rocket coach takes philosophical approach to cancelled AHL season would at any other level.

“The vets embraced what we were doing,” he said. “Some made unbelievable efforts to be better, especially that deep in their careers :Herb Zurkowsky • Publishing date:9 hours ago • when they (were used to) a different lifestyle. But the young guys need to play.

“I won’t simply play a guy because he’s a prospect. The player has to be We’ll never know what might have been now that the remainder of the accountable.” American Hockey League season and playoffs have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rocket had eight home games remaining when play was suspended. All ticket buyers will receive an email regarding refund or But Joël Bouchard doesn’t want anyone feeling sorry for himself — or his credit information. Ticket holders can receive a full refund or have the players. option of applying the returned amount as a deposit on the renewal of a “The last 10 games, the guys were playing and growing together on the 2020-21 season package. Those who purchased tickets from a website ice, having that swagger of being a good team,” the Rocket coach said or mobile app will be contacted from the original source. Anyone who Monday in a 75-minute conference call, during which he graciously purchased a single-game ticket at the Place Bell box office is asked to answered questions — in French and English — following the AHL’s send an email to [email protected]. They can also call customer morning announcement that its board of governors determined the service (1-855-595-2200). resumption and completion of its season, and playoffs, wasn’t feasible. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.12.2020 “The playoff run would have been a lot of fun. The players are disappointed,” said Bouchard, who completed his second season coaching the Canadiens‘ AHL affiliate. “I think they realize everything we did. If we would have got to the playoffs, I think we would have been a tough matchup for anybody.”

While the Rocket wasn’t in a playoff position on March 12, when the AHL suspended operations indefinitely, it certainly was closer to qualifying for postseason play than its parent team.

Laval completes its season with a 30-24-8 record, finishing sixth in the North Division and four points out of a playoff berth. But the Rocket was on a four-game winning streak, including a 3-0 victory at Place Bell on March 11 against the Belleville Senators, the first-place team in the division.

“I felt that process we started just started to jell,” Bouchard said. “We left on probably one of our best games of the year. We were, by far, the best team on the ice.”

There were many nights Bouchard had to ice a patchwork roster, completed with players signed to pro tryouts due to Rocket injuries or players recalled by Montreal. But he never complained or made excuses, always saying his job was to coach — and improve — those he had at his disposal.

For the last two months — other than delivering groceries to his parents, both over 80, on a weekly basis — Bouchard has made himself available to his players, while conducting conference calls with his assistants on a weekly basis, preparing himself for any possible scenario.

Bouchard said his personal agenda, along with the team’s, is moot, overshadowed by the COVID-19 crisis that remains bigger than hockey. Indeed, before he fielded questions, Bouchard made an opening statement during which he thanked the front-line healthcare workers, along with Rocket fans. He even thanked the media.

He said not all players are handling the pandemic in a similar fashion.

“Some have concerns,” Bouchard said, not elaborating. “I think we’ll all learn from the situation.

“Why can’t you be a better athlete coming out of this? It comes down to attitude and will.”

Indeed, Bouchard’s imploring his players — both the veterans and youngsters — to use this extended break to improve their individual games. His question to them is simple: What are you doing when your competition’s on the couch?

“You can still get better right now and become a better athlete,” he said. “Use this time wisely to get an edge or work on something. You have an opportunity to get better at something. If I was an 18- or 19-year-old, there’s no reason I wouldn’t have a six-pack (stomach).”

Bouchard, who will be entering the final season of his contract should AHL play resume next fall, will have an interesting dilemma moving forward. Since his hiring, the Canadiens have drafted 21 prospects and have 14 more selections coming this year. Bouchard must complete the 1184410 Montreal Canadiens “We have to remember,” said Bouchard, “The AHL is a development league. Depending on where you are in that process, it’ll restrict your opportunities.”

The Unknowns: How some players are left behind in the reality of life in But once in a while, a select few make it through to the other side, and in the AHL most cases, it rarely has to do with their talent. It’s about their willingness to reinvent themselves. To take a step back. To be honest with their strengths and weaknesses. To listen, and most importantly, understand instructions. By Marc Dumont May 11, 2020 Not every veteran loves Bouchard’s coaching style. Many have shown

clear frustration with their situation, but just as his approach is quickly Certain players garner headlines, and deservedly so. dismissed by some, it’s immediately embraced by those who take a realistic approach. The spotlight on the Laval Rocket has largely centred on high-end prospects such as Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Ryan Poehling, but there’s an If a player is in the AHL at 25, there’s work to be done. Not everyone is overlooked group of players fulfilling a crucial role on the team. willing to put in that work, but the Canadiens have demonstrated that they’re willing to reward some of those players with a contract. Most of them will never make it to the NHL, but you could argue they bring something to the table that’s just as important as raw talent, Laurent Dauphin is as a perfect example of a player willing to break down especially in pro hockey’s leading development league: consistency. the wall of comfort to address the flaws in his game.

It’s something AHL teams, especially those without an ECHL affiliate At 25, Dauphin knew his opportunities were starting to become few and such as the Canadiens, sorely lack, and it’s something head coach Joël far between. That’s not to say his career was over. There’s always Bouchard, for the most part, has had to work without. Europe, and let’s face it, there are worse options than playing in the land of milk chocolate, meticulously constructed watches and beautiful Such is life in the minors. It’s a never-ending puzzle that is virtually mountains. But very few kids who grow up playing road hockey on the impossible to complete. streets of Repentigny, where Dauphin is from, dream of playing in Ambrì.

But if the high-end players represent the middle pieces of the puzzle, “This was a reset on my career,” said Dauphin. “Working with Joël helped there’s a group of unheralded players that represent the edge. Those me focus on the ultimate goal, making the NHL. And I’m getting more pieces are usually easier to find, but without them, you can never reach opportunities here to prove myself, which is key.” the ultimate goal. When Dauphin joined the organization, the first thing he and Bouchard Players with expiring AHL contracts such as Joe Cox, Nikita Jevpalovs, did was sit down in the video room to evaluate footage. It’s a process Maxime Lamarche, Yannick Veilleux and Kevin Lynch. Bouchard goes through with all his players, a process that reveals more than just their ability to grasp information. It reveals their willingness to They’re the players Bouchard loves to talk about. Mention Koktaniemi listen and adapt. and he’ll direct you toward Veilleux. Bring up Poehling and he’ll quickly change the subject to Jevpalovs. “I want to make him Laurent 2.0,” Bouchard mentioned in January, incidentally, after saying the exact same thing about Michael McCarron, “The first thing that stands out is that they’re extraordinary people, it’s the player the Canadiens sent to Nashville for Dauphin. very important to state,” said Bouchard. “They’re golden teammates, hard workers and players who listen closely to instructions. They’re great McCarron left town without reinventing himself, but Dauphin quickly examples for the younger players, as well as the older players. They’re endeared himself to the coach by being honest about his limitations, examples of perseverance. They’re the identity you want to establish which can be very difficult for an athlete, especially when they’re still when you’re trying to work hard. They make my life much easier.” relatively young.

Veterans in the AHL expect to serve as great examples for younger But at a certain point, they have to confront the situation. players, but you’ll note Bouchard went out of his way to laud the older players’ on-ice contributions. That comment stems from the failed “Sometimes guys have endured a bad experience in certain veteran experiment this season in Laval, where certain players simply did organizations and they tend to let that linger,” said Bouchard. “When they not buy into the team-first approach put forth by Bouchard and his get here, it’s crucial that we hit the reset button and start anew. But I coaching staff. know what it’s like to play hockey, it’s not always easy. Every case is different but I do expect them to give 100 percent. That all starts with the Once those veterans were shipped away, the Rocket saw an immediate attitude.” and significant uptick in results, finishing the season by winning seven of their last eight games, including a dominant 3-0 victory over the league- After a relatively slow start, Dauphin ended the season on a high note leading Belleville Senators. with 11 points in the Rocket’s last eight games, enough to earn him a one-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens. Talent is important, but in the AHL, chemistry, consistency and commitment to the team’s cause are valued just as highly, even more so “He’s a coach that’s all about the truth,” said Dauphin. “There’s no grey for veterans. area. He yells, but it’s to help, not to diminish. He wants to win so badly that it pushes the players to be better. It’s not for everyone, but he wants As Bouchard has often repeated throughout the year, it’s better to have his players to improve. He loves his players, that much is clear. I think I good veterans than an overabundance of veterans. But the very same need to be pushed, that’ll bring me to another level, that’s why I like players who served such a crucial role, filling the ranks whenever called working with Joël.” upon with aplomb, are the ones at risk of falling to the wayside as the sports world is plunged into uncertainty. There’s also Gustav Olofsson, who suffered a myriad of shoulder injuries throughout his career. Like Dauphin, he’s 25. Like Dauphin, he was at Again, such is life in the minors. risk of falling between the organizational cracks. He came to Laval with the exact same attitude, a willingness to reinvent his game, listen to the Bouchard has done his best to instill a meritocracy in Laval, but the instructions and apply those lessons on a consistent basis. And just like concept of meritocracy often flies in the face of prospect development. Dauphin, he was quickly offered a one-year contract extension by the Simply put, some players will receive more opportunities than others Canadiens. because of who they are and where they were drafted. And with an influx of draft picks over the next few years, as well as the incoming crop of Dauphin and Olofsson are not only key veterans for the Rocket but prospects, those players are often dismissed despite doing everything legitimate call-up options for the Canadiens in the near future. Thus the they’re asked. contract.

“They’re very important players, but with that in mind, there’s a certain That’s their reality. reality in the AHL,” said Bouchard. “Unfortunately, those guys have to wait.” You can say the same thing about some of the aforementioned AHL- contracted players. They worked hard, listened to instructions and though It’s cruel, it’s unfair and it’s the essence of sports. they did not receive nearly as much praise as others, they quickly jumped into the action to fill a role they were never meant to play, but their future with the organization is anything but clear.

Some may be back. Most won’t.

There’s a certain reality in the AHL, a reality that dictates those who provide a modicum of invaluable consistency face the most inconsistent road of them all.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184411 Nashville Predators

American Hockey League cancels rest of regular season, playoffs

Stephen Wyno, APPublished 10:32 a.m. CT May 11, 2020 | Updated 12:50 p.m. CT May 11, 2020

The American Hockey League canceled the rest of its season Monday because of the coronavirus pandemic and shifted its focus toward next season.

While the Calder Cup will not be handed out for the first time since 1936, the 31-team AHL hopes to return next season. That remains uncertain; one possibility is that no fans would be allowed in arenas.

President and CEO David Andrews announced the league “has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions." The AHL’s Board of Governors made that determination in a conference call Friday.

“It’s something that was essentially inevitable,” said Syracuse defenseman Cameron Gaunce, who is an AHL executive committee member for the Professional Hockey Players Association. “I think they had been waiting for this point because they wanted to see if there had been any changes, and I think that was the responsible way to go about it. They didn’t want to make any knee-jerk reactions either way.”

The 84th season for the NHL’s top minor league was suspended March 12 with 209 games remaining. That was the same day the NHL stopped play, though it still hopes to resume and could include many AHL players as part of expanded rosters.

“We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months,” Andrews said. “The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

PHPA executive director Larry Landon recently said he's concerned about the ability of the AHL and ECHL — which canceled the rest of its season in March — returning if it's not safe for fans.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen, whether there’s going to be an AHL season next year,” said Gaunce, whose NHL/AHL contract with Tampa Bay is set to expire after this season. “The AHL and the NHL are going to do everything they can to make sure that the AHL is active next year and you hope that’s the case. But if it is, what’s it going to look like? If ticket revenues aren’t part of the revenue stream for a lot of these teams, that’s going to affect a lot of their bottom lines. And if that’s the case, how many expenses are they really going to be willing to take on? So it’s something that’s up in the air.”

The Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators' affiliate, led the league's standings when play was halted March 12.

Tennessean LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184412 Nashville Predators She turns to Dumont, who is reading the business section of a newspaper and bears resemblance to Quentin Tarantino if you squint hard enough, for validation.

That time when Predators players and Taylor Swift starred in a local ad “Your friend’s got pipes,” he says before returning to his paper. The other campaign woman gestures toward Dumont and asks, “Does that come with the tickets?”

Thoughts: I appreciate Dumont supporting (presumably) local journalism. By Adam Vingan May 11, 2020 I also cannot unsee him as Tarantino.

Martin Erat

Like most of you, I have spent the past two months staring into the void Scene: As two men stand near a vending machine, one is trying to at my computer screen. (Last week, Apple said I averaged 8 hours, 28 describe a goal scored by Erat, who steps into the frame and refers to it minutes of screen time per day, and that was down 9 percent from the in Czech as an “‘I smoked you’ kind of shot.” Erat dislodges snacks from previous week.) the machine by shouldering it. One man gets greedy, asking for crackers and pretzels, the latter of which is apparently “better for his waistline.” I am prone to time-sucking YouTube binges. You know how it starts. First, you search for a specific video, then you click on a related one that Thoughts: I imagine that at least one of you is rushing to superimpose a YouTube conveniently places in front of you. Next thing you know, you Filip Forsberg joke on top of the original subtitle. I know my audience. have lost a significant portion of your day. Taylor Swift Recently, I was far down a YouTube rabbit hole when I stumbled on one of my favorite videos: a spoof of local advertisements starring Scene: At breakfast, a daughter tells her mother that she spotted Swift at professional athletes that was produced by Sports Illustrated and a Predators game the night before. The mom is skeptical until Swift featured Scott Hartnell. materializes in the kitchen to confirm the story. Swift breaks the fourth wall, meowing into the camera while flashing a pair of fang fingers. Take three minutes and watch it. Thoughts: This commercial was posted on the Predators’ website in The athlete should not be comfortable. The athlete should not have February 2009 when Swift was on the come-up. It was a big get. inflection in his or her voice, and the athlete should have no expression Apparently, it was not the first time Swift did the team a solid. As former on his or her face. That’s a small-business commercial with an athlete Chicago Blackhawks coach told it, she distracted a 19- endorsement. year-old Patrick Kane long enough for him to lose his man on a Predators goal during a 2008 game in Nashville. For once, aimlessly clicking around YouTube was productive because it got me thinking about past Predators commercials. (I suppose As long as the Predators do not hang a banner honoring Swift, they “productive” is open to interpretation.) should be good. (Please, no banner jokes.)

Before the 2008-09 season, the Predators unveiled a marketing The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 campaign called “It Stays With You.” As part of it, Dan Ellis, Jordin Tootoo, J.P. Dumont and Martin Erat made cameos in commercials that featured them in office settings.

Even a fresh-faced Taylor Swift, who had not yet metamorphosed into a global pop sensation, made an appearance. (Gish, Sherwood & Friends, which helped create the player-focused spots, was kind enough to provide copies.)

In the interest of nostalgia, let us review them:

Dan Ellis

Scene: Two co-workers are chatting in a cubicle. One is regaling the other about Ellis’ impenetrable performance at a recent game. He throws a crumpled piece of paper off-screen, which Ellis, also off-screen, stops.

“C’mon, is that all you got?” Ellis says before smothering the man for some reason. At the end, Ellis is still working over the guy, punching him with his glove hand.

Thoughts: Why would Ellis manhandle someone who was praising him? Also, Ellis never fought during his career. This was the most nonsensical ad in the campaign, but perhaps it was the precursor to #DanEllisProblems.

Jordin Tootoo

Scene: Again, two co-workers are having a conversation about a Predators game. The woman is explaining how Tootoo checked an opponent into the boards, as was his wont. She summons Tootoo to demonstrate. He pummels her boss before a 2 p.m. meeting.

“Better make that 2:30,” Tootoo says with the cool delivery of a ’90s action star reciting his catchphrase.

Thoughts: Tootoo was right at home in this spot. I am also impressed by the damage the actor is willing to absorb. That actor, Bill Russell, claimed in his YouTube description of the video that he “almost called (Tootoo) the ‘P’ word to get him to hit me hard.” Russell also said Tootoo “gave me a hematoma.” That is commitment to one’s craft.

J.P. Dumont

Scene: Two women are discussing the Predators over lunch. One asserts that she “was probably the loudest person in the entire arena.” 1184413 Nashville Predators There are excuses available. Johansen’s greatest stretches in Nashville have come with Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson as linemates, and that has been a rare sight this season — the past two postseasons have emphasized the need to find two potent lines, which Johansen said he Rexrode: Ryan Johansen’s season ‘has chewed me up’ — but don’t spit understands. The coaching change has put him squarely in the category him out yet of players who are being asked to give more, though he said conversations with Hynes during the season and quarantine have been

productive. By Joe Rexrode May 11, 2020 “I told him ‘Coach, I don’t know what’s going on with me, but you do your thing and I’m going to be the best me I can be,’” said Johansen, who believes the Preds were making clear gains in Hynes’ system when the Ryan Johansen sees the same thing everyone else sees, feels the same pandemic arrived. “I told him I’m gonna find my game, it’s gonna come. I frustration, has the same inability to locate one absolute answer. said ‘You’ll be able to look at me and trust me as your top center, trust me as one of the top guys on the team.’ That’s my job, that’s my role and The difference is, he can’t just shrug his shoulders, fire off a few harsh I’ve got to make that happen. I’m happy to be that difference-maker, it’s a words and move on to something else. That’s him on the screen. He’s privilege, and I’ve got to show I can handle it.” got to figure out a way to make those high-definition pixels on skates do the things they used to do. And then there’s Johansen’s personal life. It has been a marriage and baby boom in the Nashville locker room over the past couple of years. He This is the question he considered Friday: Other than the obvious need was engaged to be married last summer, but that fell through shortly for more production, what specifically about your game has to be better? before the season started. His job demands an ability to suppress real- “Great question, that’s exactly what I’ve been asking myself the whole life factors as much as possible, but that’s a significant jolt to someone’s year,” Johansen said. “I’m watching myself and I’m like, ‘Ryan, what are life. you doing? That’s not you.’ And if you’re saying that to yourself and your “I definitely wouldn’t use that as an excuse,” Johansen said of the teammates are saying, ‘Wow, we’ve got to get Ryan going. He’s breakup. “I would never, after going through that and preparing for a struggling. He’s not himself,’ and you’re trying to find consistency in your season, it wouldn’t be an excuse where I think it affected my play. Of game and it’s just not coming, that’s super frustrating. course, for a little while, you’re going through a lot. I’m an emotional “With my role on this team and the standard I hold myself to, I need to person and it was hard, for sure, obviously. But I don’t think it affected my outperform No. 1 centers on a night-by-night basis. I need to show my play or anything like that where it was bothering me.” teammates every night, ‘Hey, I’ve got this guy.’ I’ve got to be one of our Johansen said his teammates helped him through that and have been horses every night. And when that’s not happening, it’s frustrating. I’ll be there for him all season as he has tried to find his game. He said he has honest, it has chewed me up this year. This is an experience I haven’t been working out diligently with the exercise equipment the Predators had since I was a young player, and it ate me up. You’ve got teammates delivered to his and other players’ houses shortly after quarantine began. counting on you, you’ve got this big contract, and you’re just trying to find He also has his little brother, Lucas — a defenseman who was picked in it.” the first round by the Washington Capitals in 2016 and is playing for their Let it never be said that Johansen is apathetic, disingenuous or selfish. AHL team in Hershey, Pa. — living at his house until hockey resumes or Nor that the Nashville Predators as constructed can do anything without is canceled. him at his best. Nor that they should pursue a future without him. Any That means a return to video-game roots of long ago. Johansen was a player can be dealt for the right price, and Johansen’s paused season big Halo enthusiast as a teen and with his brother’s urging (trash has been a huge disappointment. But I was still stunned to see, in a talking?) has become proficient at Halo 5. survey conducted by our Adam Vingan, that 59.2 percent of fans chose Johansen when asked: “If David Poile were to trade a core member of “It’s been more than 10 years,” Johansen said. “I’ve got that headset on. the roster, who would it be?” I’m back in the game.”

The obvious question is what you can get back. Also, do you know how The Predators would love for him to be able to say the same thing about many Johansens are floating around the NHL? Centers measuring 6- his primary occupation whenever he’s able to perform it again. Johansen foot-3 and 218 pounds with uncanny vision and feel for creating scoring cares and understands he has a problem to solve. That shouldn’t be opportunities, with five seasons of 54 points or more to their credit and doubted. But there’s only so much that can be said before he either less than 28 years spent on Earth? figures it out or becomes the subject of serious movement discussions. That’s reality in this league — especially for someone with five years and If there’s a “big kid” to be found in the Predators’ locker room, it’s him. If $40 million left on his deal after this season — even though the Preds will you want emotion and honesty, go back to that 2017 Western be hard-pressed to replace what Johansen is at his best. Conference Finals battle with Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler and this glorious shot at Kesler after a Game 2 loss: “I don’t know what’s going through his “That’s out of my control,” Johansen said when asked about the head out there, but like, his family and his friends watching him play? I possibility of being moved. “I only have one worry, the only thing that gets don’t know how you cheer for a guy like that. It just doesn’t make sense to me is if I’m letting my teammates down. And that’s on me and not how he plays the game, so I’m just trying to go out there and play hockey anyone else.” and it sucks when you’ve got to pull a stick out of your groin every shift.” The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 If you want talent, go back to the same spring, which may have ended with a Stanley Cup if he didn’t need emergency thigh surgery after Game 4 of the Anaheim series. Finding two more wins against the Penguins is not needle-in-haystack hard with Johansen centering Nashville’s top line. It’s easier than finding centers with his combination of assets.

But this season, which may or may not continue at some point, at locations and with postseason parameters to be determined, has been bad. Johansen has 36 points in 68 games — his 14 goals are right in line with recent seasons, but the stunner is 22 assists after averaging 45 in the past three seasons. Johansen has taken ice-time cuts and line demotions, in particular after Poile fired Peter Laviolette and hired John Hynes as coach. And he … just hasn’t looked like Ryan Johansen.

“He’s got to play better,” said Poile, who would never discuss a move until after it’s made but who is never hesitant to speak frankly about player performance. “He’s got to find a way to be more impactful. He’s got to produce more. I expect more and he expects more from himself.” 1184414 New York Islanders The second plan would include only 16 teams heading straight into the playoffs with no regular-season games.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.12.2020 AHL cancels rest of season and playoffs due to coronavirus pandemic

By Andrew Gross

Updated May 12, 2020 12:17 AM

While the NHL continues to strategize on how to resume games, its top minor-league affiliate has canceled the rest of its season and playoffs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outgoing AHL president and CEO David Andrews announced on Monday that the league’s board of governors voted to cancel the remainder of its regular season and the 2020 Calder Cup playoffs.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” the 31-team league said in a statement. “The league’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.”

But Andrews added in an interview later in the day that the next AHL season might take a different format.

“There’s a ton of uncertainty here,” he said on Sportsnet’s Hockey Central at Noon. “We need to prepare for all of those scenarios and whether it’s a full league operating for a full season, or whether it’s some critical mass of teams operating for less than a full season or whether it’s regional competitions — a completely different look than what we’ve done in the past to get through 2020-21 — we’re going to have to find that solution as we go along.”

It’s not clear if the AHL will be able to resume next season if fans are not allowed into the arenas, given the league’s reliance on ticket and facility- related revenue.

This will mark the first time since the AHL’s formation in 1936 that the Calder Cup will not be awarded.

The AHL announced that its standings and statistics as of March 12, when play was halted, will be considered final and official and serve as the basis for the league’s awards.

The ECHL, the NHL’s second-tier minor-league affiliate, canceled the remainder of its season on March 15.

The NHL also halted play on March 12 but has remained hopeful that it will be able to resume if health and government officials give it the green light. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said the league could wait until deep into the summer to restart and that the start of the 2020-21 season could be pushed back to December.

The NHL hopes to reopen its practice facilities to small-group workouts by the end of this month.

The AHL’s decision may give the NHL teams more facility options. Both the Islanders (Bridgeport) and Rangers (Hartford) have AHL affiliates in Connecticut, where the first phase of reopening businesses is scheduled for May 20.

The Islanders did not rule out practicing or playing in that state.

“As of now, all options are on the table,” an Islanders spokesman said. “There have been no specific decisions as of yet.”

The Hartford Courant reported Friday that the Rangers were considering those options.

It’s very likely that any games the NHL might be able to play this season would be held without fans in the building. The NHL would be able to salvage some television revenue.

A source told on Saturday that the NHL’s return-to-play scenarios have been narrowed to two and that the timing of when games can resume — if they do — will determine which format is used.

The first includes 24 teams. Under this plan, the top four would play for playoff seeding and the bottom teams would have play-in games. 1184415 New York Islanders 2014: “He’ll fit right in” Ah, the Josh Ho-Sang night in Philadelphia. Fans have taken to trashing

this Isles first round more for the Michael Dal Colle selection at No. 5, Untold stories from the Islanders beat: Bizarre moments on the draft floor ahead of superior NHL talents like William Nylander (No. 8), Nikolaj Ehlers (9) and Dylan Larkin (15), but every scouting book and mock drafter had Dal Colle to the Isles at 5.

By Arthur Staple May 11, 2020 Trading the 35th and 57th picks to the Lightning to select Ho-Sang at 28 was the riskier move. When you’re covering the draft and the team you

cover makes a trade like that, you’re running all over the place — trying With the possibility of a June draft still on the table — along with every to post to Twitter, to your website, get a few minutes at the podium with other possibility, it seems, as the NHL tries to figure out how to have a the player and track down the GM. postseason and an offseason in the coming months — it seemed like a So it’s easy to miss moments like, say, this: good time to roll out a few behind-the-scenes stories from Islander drafts gone by. Whether it was a trade, a rumored trade that didn’t go through As I was racing around the Wells Fargo center, I got a few texts about or just the GM cursing on live TV, the Islanders always had some intrigue this clip. When I saw Snow soon after, I asked if he said what I’d heard going down on the draft floor over the last decade. he said. “Probably,” he said. “Ah, fuck it, the kid is worth the risk. He’s talented.” 2009: Tavares or…? For the record, the two players Tampa took at 35 and 57 have combined The week before this rather momentous draft in Montreal, I was ducking for zero NHL games. Whatever that’s worth. through the tall grass at Bethpage Black, part of my old employer’s coverage of the 2009 U.S. Open. I hadn’t covered hockey in a few years, 2018: Snow’s last stand but that draft, with the Islanders holding the No. 1 pick, was big enough that I got to go along and cover it. The draft that came just a few weeks after Lou Lamoriello fired Snow as GM was a strange one. Snow was at the draft table with the scouting , whom I didn’t know that well back then, had given staff he’d assembled — a group that hasn’t changed much at all in the seemingly no indication of the Isles’ draft choice. He’d had the clear top two years since, other than a few added hires — even though he was no three prospects — , Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene — longer in charge. It was a huge draft for the Islanders after Snow had to Long Island for visits and had sworn his scouting and front-office staff received Calgary’s first- and second-round picks for Travis Hamonic the to secrecy. My sense after a few reintroductions to people in the hockey year before, giving the Isles four picks in the first 45. world was that the Islanders were taking Tavares, the top talent of the three, but no one knew for sure. What made it more bizarre were the team ties to a couple of the picks. Oliver Wahlstrom’s dad, Joakim, was a teammate of Snow’s at Maine On the draft floor about an hour before the first pick, my colleague when they were younger; so too was Blade Jenkins’ father, Todd. Snow reported that the Islanders were going to select Duchene. From friends played against Jake Pivonka’s dad as well as Christian Krygier’s. If Noah I’ve made over the years who were at the Coliseum draft party back on Dobson and Bode Wilde pan out, the Islanders have two big, mobile, Long Island, word of that Newsday report was prevalent; when Snow right-shot defensemen for years to come. announced Tavares, a bigger cheer erupted at the Coli than you would have thought. I guess it was mostly a sign of relief that the Isles had done I saw Joakim Wahlstrom and Snow sitting off to the side of the draft floor the right thing — even if now, a decade later, Tavares’ name is mud in Dallas on Day 2. Wahlstrom told me the next week at development around these parts. camp that they were marveling at how small the world feels at times, two guys who’d known each other nearly three decades earlier reconnecting Over the years of covering the Islanders after that, I’ve gleaned a bit that way. more information as to why Snow was so cagey, even though he never shared with me why he kept things under wraps. There were people on It was a neat bit of closure for Snow after a dozen years in charge — and the scouting staff who were very much in favor of Duchene, and Snow more than a few wild nights on the draft floor. may have let them make their case before moving on from each one in The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 subsequent years. He was using that draft as a litmus test for his scouting department and word may have filtered out from there to the media side.

In any event, Snow got the guy he wanted.

2012: Did he really offer every pick?

The 2012 draft in Pittsburgh stands out for a few reasons, none of them having much to do with the talent available; it’s proven to be one of the smallest talent pools of the decade.

That was true even at the time, which is why Snow was in Columbus GM Scott Howson’s ear before and during the first round to move up from No. 4 to No. 2, where the Islanders wanted to select Ryan Murray. It was reported by several hockey media members after the first round concluded that Snow had offered Howson all seven Islanders picks in the 2012 draft to move up two spots and Howson said no; Howson took Murray and Snow took Griffin Reinhart, the first of seven defensemen the Islanders selected over the two days.

Now, again, Snow has never revealed the conversation he had with Howson about a trade. A few people around Snow have told me over the years that Snow was frustrated Howson was not entertaining any of the offers he made, so Snow sarcastically offered the whole Islanders draft. Knowing Snow as I do now, it wouldn’t surprise me that he’d make a wisecrack like that, even if it might have been misconstrued.

So the Blue Jackets took Murray, whose career has been hampered by injuries. Reinhart was a bust, but three years later Snow turned him into Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier at the 2015 draft in Florida, so it did work out for the Isles. They also took Adam Pelech 65th overall in 2012 and that one worked out, too. 1184416 New York Rangers

Rangers offer season-ticket holders refund, rollover options

By Mollie WalkerMay 11, 2020 | 2:21pm | Updated

The Rangers have offered season-ticket holders the option to request a refund on the few homes games that were left before play was suspended due to coronavirus.

In an email sent Monday, the team informed each fan what their respective refund would amount to and the option to be reimbursed.

While the NHL hasn’t officially ruled out completing the 2019-20 regular season, any restart plan would likely include games being played in states not as impacted by the coronavirus as New York.

The Rangers had five home games left at Madison Square Garden, and 12 games total when play was stopped. The Post recently reported the league’s focus has shifted to diving straight into a 24-team tournament that would include a best-of-three play-in round.

The Rangers, who were 16th in the league when play was suspended March 12, are also allowing season-ticket holders to credit the refund amount toward next season’s payment – with an added incentive.

The Post reviewed a copy of the letter, which offered season-ticket holders one of three gift options if they renewed: $150 food and beverage credit, $150 Madison Square Garden Store credit, or an autographed stick. The package is similar to that offered to Knicks ticket holders.

“Your next installment on a 2020-21 New York Ranger Membership is scheduled to be automatically processed this Friday, May 15,” the letter reads. “Instead of processing that charge, we will simply credit your account and your next cash payment will be on June 15th.

“Finally, if you take no action, your account balance will remain intact pending the NHL’s decision regarding the rescheduling of any 2019-20 postponed games.”

The league has no timeline for opening team training facilities or allowing individual or small group workouts, but commissioner Gary Bettman ensured that there at least would be a two-week training camp held prior to any games.

In Monday’s note from the Rangers, the organization concludes with a hopeful outlook.

“It’s times like these when we truly understand that it’s more than just the game that unites us – we are not just fans of a team but part of a community that is bigger than hockey,” the letter said. “Hockey will be back, and when it is, we can’t wait to re-take the ice in front of the world’s greatest fans.”

New York Post LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184417 New York Rangers

Knicks, Rangers offer refunds to season-ticket holders

By Steve Popper

Updated May 11, 2020 5:52 PM

The NBA is still trying to figure out if or how the league can resume the season suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. But in a time of uncertainty one thing seems certain: If they do play, there won't be fans in the stands.

With that knowledge, the Knicks sent a letter to season-ticket holders — with a similar note sent to the Rangers' season-ticket holders — offering fans the chance to decide now whether to take a refund of the cost of the remaining tickets or to opt to roll the refund into next season’s tickets. The letter was first reported by the New York Post.

In the letter, the Knicks explain, “With the well-being of our communities as our highest priority, we fully support the NBA’s desire to find the best path forward with the 2019-20 season.

"Given the current environment, we are continuing to delay our 2020-21 renewal period, which normally happens by March. We previously communicated that if games are not played, or played without fans in attendance, we would give you the option to receive a refund or a credit toward future games.

“While we wait for the NBA to make a determination on the postponed 2019-20 games, we want to provide you with further information in advance of our official renewal communications. As a Season Ticket Member, we would like to offer you the option to receive a refund on the 2019-20 postponed games if you so choose. Alternatively, we are also offering the opportunity to credit the above amount against your season tickets, if your season ticket membership is renewed for the 2020-21 Knicks Season.”

For fans who opt to roll their refund over, the Knicks are offering a bonus of one of three gift options — a $150 MSG Store credit, $150 food and beverage credit or an RJ Barrett Nike “Swingman” jersey. For Rangers ticket holders opting to roll over, the same store and food credit options are in place with a third choice of an autographed stick rather than the jersey.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184418 New York Rangers The second plan would include only 16 teams heading straight into the playoffs with no regular-season games.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 05.12.2020 AHL cancels rest of season and playoffs due to coronavirus pandemic

By Andrew Gross

Updated May 12, 2020 12:17 AM

While the NHL continues to strategize on how to resume games, its top minor-league affiliate has canceled the rest of its season and playoffs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outgoing AHL president and CEO David Andrews announced on Monday that the league’s board of governors voted to cancel the remainder of its regular season and the 2020 Calder Cup playoffs.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” the 31-team league said in a statement. “The league’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.”

But Andrews added in an interview later in the day that the next AHL season might take a different format.

“There’s a ton of uncertainty here,” he said on Sportsnet’s Hockey Central at Noon. “We need to prepare for all of those scenarios and whether it’s a full league operating for a full season, or whether it’s some critical mass of teams operating for less than a full season or whether it’s regional competitions — a completely different look than what we’ve done in the past to get through 2020-21 — we’re going to have to find that solution as we go along.”

It’s not clear if the AHL will be able to resume next season if fans are not allowed into the arenas, given the league’s reliance on ticket and facility- related revenue.

This will mark the first time since the AHL’s formation in 1936 that the Calder Cup will not be awarded.

The AHL announced that its standings and statistics as of March 12, when play was halted, will be considered final and official and serve as the basis for the league’s awards.

The ECHL, the NHL’s second-tier minor-league affiliate, canceled the remainder of its season on March 15.

The NHL also halted play on March 12 but has remained hopeful that it will be able to resume if health and government officials give it the green light. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said the league could wait until deep into the summer to restart and that the start of the 2020-21 season could be pushed back to December.

The NHL hopes to reopen its practice facilities to small-group workouts by the end of this month.

The AHL’s decision may give the NHL teams more facility options. Both the Islanders (Bridgeport) and Rangers (Hartford) have AHL affiliates in Connecticut, where the first phase of reopening businesses is scheduled for May 20.

The Islanders did not rule out practicing or playing in that state.

“As of now, all options are on the table,” an Islanders spokesman said. “There have been no specific decisions as of yet.”

The Hartford Courant reported Friday that the Rangers were considering those options.

It’s very likely that any games the NHL might be able to play this season would be held without fans in the building. The NHL would be able to salvage some television revenue.

A source told Newsday on Saturday that the NHL’s return-to-play scenarios have been narrowed to two and that the timing of when games can resume — if they do — will determine which format is used.

The first includes 24 teams. Under this plan, the top four would play for playoff seeding and the bottom teams would have play-in games. 1184419 Ottawa Senators “That’s something that we were hoping for as well.” General manager Pierre Dorion, who is rebuilding this organization with

young players, stated in a conference call last month that if the AHL The season is officially over for the Belleville Senators after AHL cancels cancelled its season that would be a difficult blow to the organization schedule and playoffs because success in the top development league can go a long way, down the road.

“We want to congratulate our players, coaches and the staff in Belleville Bruce Garrioch for their great work this season,” said Dorion in a statement Monday. “We were eager to see a significant part of the organization’s future play

important late-season games and to experience what we anticipated to The Belleville Senators have suited up for their last game this season. be a lengthy playoff run.

As expected, the American Hockey League announced the cancellation “Without question, this season’s team in Belleville was composed of our of the rest of its regular season and the playoffs Monday morning. This best group of prospects in some time, and their success remains key to comes after a decision by the board of governors that took less than 20 our rebuild. I’m additionally disappointed for the fans in Belleville as I minutes during a conference call Friday. know many shared in our excitement of competing in the Calder Cup Playoffs.” That means the Ottawa Senators’ AHL affiliate in Belleville, which had high hopes for a long playoff run, will have to take solace in the fact that Of course, the players had the opportunity to develop this year and they’ll when the league went on pause the club was sitting in the top spot in the be ready for next season to push for spots in Ottawa. North Division with a 38-20-5 record and 81 points with a .643 winning- “Guys have improved. At the end of the day, you want to see progression percentage. from your prospects and as much as you want to see down the stretch The AHL wasn’t left with a lot of choice because it’s a gate-driven league how they would have reacted to the pressure, there’s still plenty of and playing in empty rinks to finish the post-season in the summer just development that went on,” Mann said. wasn’t an option. Though it wasn’t a shocker, it was just disappointing Ottawa Sun LOADED: 05.12.2020 just the same.

“We knew it was coming,” Senators’ coach Troy Mann said from his Belleville home Monday afternoon. “The first couple of weeks of the pandemic you’re thinking maybe there’s always hope but after each passing day you knew that some point this announcement was going to come just because of the nature of the AHL business.

“It’s been well-documented that this isn’t a league that thrives on television revenues and major corporations, it’s a ticket-based revenue- driven business.”

The Senators were hoping some of their top prospects would be able to get the opportunity to develop by having playoff success and competing for the Calder Cup. Yes, the organization had one of the youngest teams in the AHL but it was considered a contender by many around the league.

That would have assisted the development of prospects like Josh Norris, Vitaly Abramov, Drake Batherson, Alex Formenton, Christian Wolanin, Erik Brannstrom, Marcus Hogberg, Filip Gustavsson and Joey Daccord. Many of those players will push for spots in Ottawa next season. While they had an opportunity for development this season, the playoffs would have been a chance to take it to the next level.

“From the team’s perspective I think all coaches have a feeling when you’ve got a special group together,” Mann said. “There’s no guarantees but I did feel this group really came together this year. There were some moments of adversity throughout the whole year — from the goaltending situation early, then I think we used 16 defencemen and I’m pretty sure we went with 11-7 in January because of the logistics of our lineup.

“To continue winning, and to lead the league in road wins, that tells you a lot about your team when you’re able to put up 23 road wins with five or six left at the pause. That just tells you about the character of this team and just how much enjoyed being around each other. I think the coaching staff would agree with me as well that it was certainly a pleasure to coach this group. That’s hugely disappointing.

“It’s just a missed opportunity.”

And, it also a chance for the city and fans in Ottawa excited about the future of the team to rally around Belleville going into the post-season.

The Senators brought hockey back to the community in the 2017-18 campaign and were eliminated on the final day of the season to close out their second season last spring. Last week, Belleville mayor Mitch Panciuk posted a video from a CAA Arena showing that the ice had been removed and expressing disappointing about the club not playing.

“If you look at the three years, the first year there was excitement of the American league coming to town and last year we made that great second half push,” Mann said. “All of a sudden, this year we’ve got a first place club and you always hope that a playoff push, and if you can make some hay in a playoff push, it results in more fans coming out and the community usually rallies around a team. 1184420 Philadelphia Flyers

AHL cancels its season, but NHL still hopes to resume; Phantoms’ Morgan Frost staying ready

by Sam Carchidi,

The American Hockey League canceled its season and its Calder Cup playoffs Monday because of coronavirus concerns, but its decision will not have an effect on the NHL’s desire to continue playing in the near future.

Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, said the AHL’s announcement will have “no impact” on his league.

“We remain fully engaged in evaluating resumption-of-play options,” Daly said in an email to The Inquirer. “The two leagues don’t rely on the same business model – what might make sense for us doesn’t necessarily make sense for them.”

The NHL is hoping to resume its season, which was suspended March 12, and play games without fans. It stands to make millions from TV deals.

The AHL, the top development league for the NHL, has turned its focus toward preparing for the 2020-21 season, AHL president David Andrews said. He added that he was grateful to the NHL and its teams for the “support and leadership” in navigating through the last two months.

Andrews said the AHL “continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff, and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21."

This is the first time since the AHL was formed in 1936-37 that the Calder Cup will not be awarded.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, finished seventh in the eight-team Atlantic Division with a 24-28-10 record.

With forwards Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick among several Flyers sidelined during the season, many Phantoms players were recalled throughout 2019-20.

“There was constant movement of players during the season,” Phantoms coach Scott Gordon said in a phone interview from his home Monday. “If you factor in the amount of injuries the Flyers had and we had, it was [very high]. At one time, we had 11 players [missing] – nine were injured and two were called up” to the Flyers. “We had a revolving door, especially at center this year.”

Gordon called center Misha Vorobyev (12 goals, 28 points in 45 games) the Phantoms’ most consistent player, and said center Morgan Frost (13 goals, 29 points in 41 games) was, by far, the team’s most skilled player.

He also had lots of praise for defenseman Mark Friedman, saying he was “close to turning the corner and being an NHL player.”

All three players had brief stints with the Flyers this season.

Frost, who turns 21 on Thursday, said he has been told to stay ready in case the NHL season resumes and each team is allowed to have AHL players in reserve.

“They haven’t told me anything specifically,” Frost said Monday from his home in Ontario. “I just try to stay in shape, and obviously if that were to be the case, it would be an unbelievable experience. I’d love to be back for it.”

Frost’s mother is a personal trainer, and she brought some equipment home from her gym so her son could work out.

Gordon said that because of all the Phantoms’ injuries this season, one of the “positives to come out of it was that a lot of players that weren’t as high on the depth charge were able to get more playing time and make progress. The experience those players got was immeasurable.”

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184421 Philadelphia Flyers

With signed Flyers jersey, Travis Konecny brings joy to young fan

By Jordan Hall May 11, 2020 6:00 PM

How do you not smile when you see the smile of Lukas Duncan-Reed?

Travis Konecny provided plenty of smiles by signing a Flyers jersey for Duncan-Reed, a 12-year-old from Las Vegas who loves the 23-year-old All-Star winger.

"He's my favorite Flyer!" a surprised and thrilled Duncan-Reed said two days ago in a video sent to Flyers senior director of public relations and communications Zack Hill. "It's amazing!"

Duncan-Reed, who plays center for the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights 12A squad, sure has the Konecny-like energy and spirit.

Konecny, the Flyers' energizer bunny, has been one of the team's most consistent players in 2019-20. Through 66 games, he has recorded career highs in assists (37) and points (61), while he's only one marker away from a new personal best of 25.

His birthday was a day before the NHL suspended the 2019-20 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Without playing, Konecny has still delivered smiles.

Lukas Duncan-Reed, a 12-year-old from Las Vegas, is surprised by an autographed jersey from Travis Konecny, his favorite Flyer.

(Thanks for sharing Flyers PR guru Zack Hill) pic.twitter.com/C9KgGJHYb7

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) May 11, 2020

That’s my brother! Thank you so much Travis. We really appreciate it. We hope to see you play soon!

— 5/14 (@simply_key35) May 11, 2020

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184422 Philadelphia Flyers

Team logo face masks for every major Philly team now available to purchase

By Enrico Campitelli May 11, 2020 3:10 PM

There are starting to be more and more rumblings about the potential for live sports to be returning this coming summer and fall. As Philly sports fans, you love to hear it.

With baseball rumored to maybe get the season underway in July and the NFL moving ahead as scheduled, it's probably a good time to show support for your Philly teams with a team-branded face mask.

The CDC recommends wearing them in public to help protect against coronvirus and COVID-19, and our own Mayor Jim Kenney feels quite strongly about it.

"Young people for some reason or another refuse to put the mask on. ... These young folks don’t think of their parents or their grandparents or themselves when they do this," Kenney said last week. "Just think about what nurses and doctors and hospital personnel have to go through every day, and just put on the damn mask."

So put on a mask, will ya?! And if you want to show support for your favorite Philly team while doing it, now you can. No matter which sports is your favorite.

The Sixers were one of the first Philly teams to have masks available for purchase with a charity component. You can pick up multiple Sixers designs here.

The Eagles now offer a three pack in both adult and youth sizes as well as a simple white mask with an Eagles logo in both adult and youth.

The Flyers offer a similar three pack in adult and youth sizes with the classic Flyers logo in three different designs. Hopefully they're working on some Gritty-inspired facewear next.

The Phillies' three pack features the classic Liberty Bell logo alongside the 'P' in only adult sizes currently. We're keeping our eyes peeled for some Phanatic-inspired masks as well.

And hey, we won't forget the local soccer club. You can rock a Philadelphia Union face mask if you'd like as well, available here in large and small.

Those are just the officially licensed masks. There's a whole new world of do-it-yourself style masks if you search on Etsy.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184423 Philadelphia Flyers

Jakub Voracek, Kevin Hayes nominated for honors in 2020 NHL Fan Choice Awards

By Jordan Hall May 11, 2020 1:20 PM

With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan Hall

On Monday, the voting commenced for the 2020 NHL Fan Choice Awards.

Flyers fans have some work to do.

Jakub Voracek is up for best beard, Kevin Hayes for funniest player and Gritty for top mascot. Fans can also vote for the Flyers having the top building (Wells Fargo Center) in the NHL.

It's hard to deny the quality of Voracek's beard. Consistent every season. He builds the look every year. When you're compared to Gritty and your beard has its own Chia Pet, you're doing something right.

"I was looking in the mirror," Voracek said of his initial thoughts when he first saw Gritty.

"Jake in April or March with long hair and a long beard."

Voracek is up against Ian Cole, Jordie Benn and David Savard in the beard category.

For funniest player, Hayes is up against Keith Yandle, Ryan Reaves and Tomas Hertl.

Flyers fans have grown to love Hayes' humor, personality and mic'd up segments. The 28-year-old center has been a versatile fit for the Flyers' locker room, helping build its identity during the team's 2019-20 resurgence.

“He’s a very outgoing individual," Carter Hart of Hayes in December.

“When I first got there, I wasn’t really nervous, I was just cognizant of how loud to be, how much to talk because I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes," Hayes said in April. "[Claude] Giroux, Voracek, [Sean] Couturier, it’s been there team for a while. … I just wanted to feel how they acted and follow their lead, but I would say it took about two weeks until they were probably annoyed with me at the beginning with how much I talked and how much I joked around, but I think they kind of liked it and I still think they like it, so I think it’s working.”

One category in which the Flyers could have had another nomination: Best feel-good moment. The standing ovation in January for Oskar Lindblom, the Flyers' 23-year-old forward who was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, was a special sight to see at the Wells Fargo Center.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184424 Philadelphia Flyers

AHL cancels remainder of 2019-20 season because of coronavirus pandemic

By Jordan Hall May 11, 2020 11:20 AM

With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan Hall

Sixty-one days into the suspension of its 2019-20 season, the AHL on Monday announced the cancellation of the campaign's remaining games and Calder Cup Playoffs amid the coronavirus pandemic following a vote by the league's board of governors.

AHL president and CEO David Andrews released the following statement:

After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions.

The league’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.

We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.

The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.

The Flyers' AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley had 14 games left on its regular- season schedule. The Phantoms, who saw many players called up to the Flyers and had a largely new roster in 2019-20, were not in position to make the playoffs at 24-28-10.

For head coach Scott Gordon, it marked one of his toughest seasons in Lehigh Valley. He had compiled 129 wins and two playoff berths over his previous three full seasons from 2015-18. In 2018-19, he was summoned by the Flyers to serve as interim head coach and commendably went 25- 22-4 through 51 games with the big club.

The AHL was in a much different spot compared to the NHL's current standing. Minor-league hockey relies heavily on fan support and with the growing likelihood of games having to be played without fans for a potential resumption, the AHL's decision felt inevitable.

The NHL is looking at the entire summer to work with in hopes of finishing 2019-20 in some capacity.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184425 Philadelphia Flyers to follow through with it. Seeing is believing and this could be the first staple to making this the new norm for generations to come.

Naming the team Why a NWHL team in Philadelphia just makes sense Brainstorming names would be such a fun project and a great way to market a new team coming to the area. Having a ‘mystery team’ coming to Philadelphia makes people want to get involved in the debate. By Brooke Destra May 11, 2020 12:00 PM The first name that came to mind was the Liberty Belles — combining one of the most historic pieces of city history and fun play off of the word. The term “Belle” is often described as, “The most beautiful at a particular Women belong in sports. event or in a particular group.” I’ll shout it from the rooftops everyday for the rest of my life if that means Another idea that could be thrown around is the Philadelphia Vixens. This one day, it’ll be accepted and supported by all. The NWHL is more than a concept actually came to mind because of the color scheme of a fox — professional sports league — it has become a movement that thousands being orange, white and black. I think keeping the colors in line with the are getting behind. Flyers could be a smart tool marketing-wise. Plus, alternative definitions This league will only continue to grow, as it recently announced their of this term could be a nod to the Broad St. Bullies era with its own (and newest expansion — and sixth overall team — will be in Toronto, new) twist. Ontario. And of course, what’s a concept column without a little logo design? BREAKING: The NWHL is officially coming to Canada at the start of (Image credit: NBC Sports Philadelphia) Season 6  If the team did decide to go the historic route — red, white and blue could : https://t.co/BnHaylRTDh pic.twitter.com/OFp0EsRU5c always be a color option as well, though orange and black is what helps hockey stand out in the city. Have you ever heard, "Orange and black," in — NWHL (@NWHL) April 22, 2020 Philadelphia and not thought of hockey? Let's keep the branding strong. With the expanding league and recently completing their successful Recently, the league started their three-year partnership with Twitch, a virtual draft just a few weeks ago, it's clear that the buzz around the streaming site, as a way to showcase games throughout the season. NWHL is louder than ever — which makes for the exciting discussion of Back in October 2019, they released the numbers they did from the first what could be the next step. month full month, that had a total of 14 games. Just under 950,000 I believe the next step should be going to one of the most thrilling hockey viewers tuned in total, averaging out to 67,790 viewers per game. markets out there and making their next expansion team based in For reference, Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia. Just the thought alone is exciting, but there’s also a few has a maximum capacity of 69,176. reasons behind the concept that make this a compelling case. No matter which way you look at things, there's many positives to adding Location a team to Philadelphia. The market is most definitely there and is growing Philadelphia is one of the largest sports markets in the country. Not to at a rapid rate — it's time to start giving the people what they want. mention, if you give the city a team to root for — they’ll become fans no Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 matter what.

In regard to where the other teams are located, this would be an easy transition when it comes to travel. Currently, the teams reside in Buffalo, Connecticut, Boston, Minnesota, Monmouth and soon enough, Toronto. Adding Philadelphia to that core would instantly create some rivals — since who doesn’t enjoy intense battles against Philly teams?

Where to play?

There are many different rinks throughout Philadelphia that could become the home of this team. An obvious choice would be the Flyers Skate Zone that is located right outside of the city. While this could work, the limited seating is what raises the question. Though the official numbers for the 2019-20 season have not yet been released, according to the NWHL, the attendance rate from the 2018-19 season ranged from 423 attendees to 1,200 across all teams. Though keeping this as an option for practices is probability, it is probably wise to look at larger locations that allow for more seating. Go big or go home, right?

This brought me to the idea of the Class of 1923 Arena, otherwise known as Penn’s Ice Rink. This location can seat up to 2,600 people, is partnered with Ed Snider’s Youth Foundation and is the home for both adult leagues and multiple college teams. Aside from the Wells Fargo Center, this is one of the most notable and successful locations for hockey in the city.

Full support from Philly

The Flyers are one of the classiest organizations in the NHL — and just like they supported the PWHPA Dream Gap Tour, they would most certainly support a women’s team in Philadelphia. Even though they are two different organizations — their mission of growing the game stands tall, together.

There are ample amounts of opportunities to collaborate with teams — whether it be events, special appearances, youth camps and everything in between. It’s a special moment when kids get to see their favorite athletes growing up — and being able to join forces with the women's team to allow girls to have that exact feeling — should be reason enough 1184426 Philadelphia Flyers then ultimately that competitive spirit as far as just the integrity of what we’re trying to do.’’

While van Riemsdyk wouldn’t go into specifics, other sources around the LeBrun: Return to Play Committee’s search for a solution with no perfect league suggest what appears to be some momentum for a 24-team answer format rather than bring all 31 teams back for regular-season games. Although I’ve had a few team executives also suggest the 20-team format makes sense, too (one suggests 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9 on each side to get to the 16-team playoff). By Pierre LeBrun May 11, 2020 At issue, especially for the bottom-ranked seven teams in the NHL

standings, is the lack of motivation to come back and play regular-season An interesting development that’s occurred during this pause in the games four to five months after the season pause with no realistic shot at season is that the people you would assume to have a decent idea of the playoffs. What’s the point? what direction the league plans to take aren’t really sure. Again, it’s another sensitive factor the Return to Play Committee must Even team executives, whether it’s gaining the information first-hand consider. during the Board of Governors’ calls or having details from the meetings “No matter what scenario is decided upon, there’s going to be people that relayed from their owners, end up feeling, for the most part, unsure of aren’t going to be totally thrilled, that’s just the way it goes,’’ van what’s ahead. Riemsdyk said. “At this point, just with the information that’s out there, It’s because NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is careful on those calls there’s not enough clarity or certainty around a lot of things that we can not to divulge too much, but in reality, it’s also because so much of all kind of rule anything out at this point. this remains a fluid situation. “We’re trying to talk through different sorts of scenarios and different The only people who have a little bit more knowledge are those on the ends of the spectrum to see what makes the most sense. But again, as Return to Play Committee, a group made up of brass from the league we’ve seen over the last days, weeks and months, things can change and select members of the Players’ Association, that hold detailed pretty quickly and there’s new information to act on. We’ll take what weekly chats regarding the issues and ideas concerning a path back for comes to us and try to make the best decisions we can given all those the 2019-20 season, if at all possible. things.’’

Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk enjoyed the experience As fellow committee member Tavares told me two weeks ago, there’s last summer of sitting on the Competition Committee so he didn’t hesitate concern among players with the idea of living in a bubble hub city for when the NHLPA asked him to sit on the Return to Play Committee. three months without seeing their loved ones. That’s an issue that’s been clearly stated to the league and according to sources, a concern that “For me, getting the chance to do the Competition Committee last Bettman mentioned on the Board of Governors call last Monday. summer, that was a cool process to be a part of,’’ van Riemsdyk told The Athletic. “This has also been good. There’s a good mix of guys on each “That’s definitely been something that’s been discussed as far as trying side, so no stone will be left unturned as we try to navigate the safest, to figure out a way to make everyone happy in that sense,’’ van best way to hopefully get things going again.’’ Riemsdyk said. “Obviously, they’re not necessarily asking us to go four months without seeing our families. So yeah, we’re trying to work out Before even playing games, the league and NHLPA will soon have to ways that we can make that work for guys. That’s certainly an item that decide when to end self-quarantine and move into Phase 2, which is we’re going over.’’ when players can skate at team facilities in small groups. It’s a situation that both sides are monitoring daily because advancing to the next phase As we saw in the anonymous player poll our Athletic beat writers is a delicate decision. When is it safe enough in all 31 markets for Phase conducted recently, there are varying views about all kinds of factors 2 to commence? related to resuming the season, including what a Stanley Cup championship would mean depending on the format. “It’s difficult because there’s so much uncertainty around different things and there’s lots of moving parts with different governments and things “Worst part of it is if we do come back and play and whatever team goes like that,” van Riemsdyk said. “Our primary focus is on everyone’s health on to win will always have an asterisk beside them,’’ one Western and safety. We’re trying to balance all these things. But that comes first. Conference player said in that story. Then you manage different things like competitive advantage potentially, I suppose it’s about the time off between the pause and the resumption and the integrity of how special it is to win a championship and try to of play that rubs people the wrong way. And I get that. And while it’s not juggle all these sorts of things and ultimately come out with a decision the same situation, there isn’t an asterisk on the 2013 Blackhawks that solves some of these issues as best we can.’’ despite that regular season being only 48 games because of the lockout. Not every player in the league views all this from the same vantage point, “Yeah, exactly, that’s an interesting thing,’’ van Riemsdyk said. “Sports which is why it’s going to be nearly impossible to please everyone, no and games have evolved so much over the years, there are different matter what ends up happening. things you can look back on 60-70 years ago in our game and it’s like, On the committee alone you’ve got players with different situations. John `Was that even hockey?’ It was hockey at the time. But there are so Tavares, Connor McDavid and van Riemsdyk are on playoff teams no many different things that have changed. It is what it is. matter what the format ends up being. But Mark Scheifele’s Winnipeg “You figure it out and you go from there. Sure, it’ll be an eerie sort of Jets are on the bubble, they’re out based on points percentage but if it’s feeling as far as probably having to play without fans if it comes to that. a 20- or 24-team format or the league manages to finish the regular There’s going to be some interesting parts to it.’’ season, they could play themselves in. Then there’s committee member Ron Hainsey, who has no shot at the playoffs with his Ottawa Senators. But if there’s a Stanley Cup champion awarded, JVR feels it still should be legit. On the player’s side of the committee alone, there are three different viewpoints. This is a good thing as far as trying to represent all the “As far as the feeling that will come with it, it’s still going to be something different preferences players throughout the league may have depending that’s special,’ he said. “Ultimately, it’s probably a better question to ask if on their situation. we’re able to play and ask the team that wins to see how they feel about it. But I can’t imagine a team that’s able to win wouldn’t be thrilled.’’ Furthermore, this has helped give JVR an appreciation, he says, for what the NHL and commissioner Bettman are facing right now. The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 “You’re never going to make everyone happy no matter what you decide,’’ he said. “So, ultimately, we’re all going into these decisions with the best intentions, trying to make it work the best way possible. Again, we’re not going to sacrifice safety, that goes without saying. But as far as the other issues, we’re trying to figure out a way that makes sense and make sure players aren’t putting themselves at an extreme injury risk and 1184427 Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins jersey. Power forwards or net-front presences tend to wear down quicker than other players.

In the short-term, it might be difficult to forecast when the NHL will return Penguins A to Z: Patric Hornqvist isn’t hard to predict to the ice, but it’s not hard to predict what part of the ice Hornqvist will inhabit once it does.

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.12.2020 SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, May 11, 2020 2:15 p.m.

While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 55 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid- level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason Zucker.

Player: Patric Hornqvist

Position: Right winger

Shoots: Right

Age: 33

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 189 pounds

2019-20 NHL statistics: 52 games, 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists)

Contract: Second year of a five-year contract with a salary cap hit of $5.3 million. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2023.

Acquired: Trade, June 27, 2014

This season: There might not be a player in the NHL as predictable as Patric Hornqvist.

To paraphrase, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, you know where “Horny” is going to be.

Hilarious euphemisms noted, there are few members of the Penguins who take their role as seriously as the rambunctious Hornqvist who remains one of the best net-front presence in the NHL.

Blending his acute ability to tip or redirect shots with a wanton level of obnoxiousness, Hornqvist’s propensity for aggravating an opposing goaltender is without peer.

In 2019-20, Hornqvist appeared to rebound from a difficult 2018-19 campaign which saw him struggle to score at his usual pace, thanks in part to at least two injuries. In 69 games, he had only 18 goals.

While Hornqvist did miss 17 games this season because of various leg injuries, he was able to find the cage more often and was seemingly in line to reach the 20-goal mark for the ninth time in his 12-year career before the NHL paused play.

And as has been the case throughout his career, the vast majority of Hornqvist’s goals this season came within the immediate vicinity of the crease.

(Video courtesy NHL)

As injuries forced seemingly every upright member of the roster to move up and down the lineup, Hornqvist was used on all four lines throughout the season. But by the time the NHL came to a halt in mid-March, he appeared to find a semi-permanent assignment on the third line.

The future: If the NHL’s season resumes, look for Hornqvist to return to the third line along with Jared McCann and Nick Bjugstad. Management has sought to utilize that trio since training camp, but injuries to Hornqvist and, particularly, Bjugstad have largely derailed those plans outside of a few sporadic games.

On the power play, Hornqvist figures to serve as a net-front presence, but it’s fair to wonder if he’ll be on the first or second squad as forward Jake Guentzel, who has had plenty of time to heal from a serious right shoulder injury he suffered in December, supplanted Hornqvist in that role with the first squad on the rare occasions the Penguins had a full complement of players available for that special teams unit.

If there’s anyone who could benefit from a hiatus, it’s Hornqvist who has some considerable wear and tear given his rough-and-tumble style of play. And at 33, it’s curious if he’ll serve out his entire contract in a 1184428 Pittsburgh Penguins

AHL cancels remainder of 2019-20 season

SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, May 11, 2020 9:36 a.m.

The American Hockey League (AHL) announced Monday it has canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 season because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Given that the league’s revenues are primarily driven by ticket sales as opposed to television contracts, this is a decision which had been expected for several weeks.

The AHL has not played any games since March 11 just prior to halting play.

In a statement, AHL president and chief executive officer David Andrews said:

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions.

“The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.

“We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.

“The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

Additionally, the statement indicated the AHL’s standings — sorted by points percentage — and statistics as of March 12, 2020, are considered final and official, and will serve as the basis for determining league awards for the season.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins played their final game March 11 — a 2-1 overtime road win against the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms — and finished with a 29-26-3-5 record, good enough for sixth place in the North Division.

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184429 Pittsburgh Penguins The Raiders are moving there this year. We knew that already. Now, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal and ProFootballTalk, new Allegiant Stadium could host both Los Angeles teams as well.

First Call: Steelers biggest question for 2020, thankful Jagr, future of Joe That’s if need be. In other words, if the State of California doesn’t open Musgrove up in time for the NFL season.

As both sites point out, some minor tweaks may be needed. But the schedules between the three franchises are such that Vegas could be TIM BENZ | Monday, May 11, 2020 6:03 a.m. the hometown for each of them.

As for the San Francisco 49ers, their schedule could jibe with the Arizona Cardinals. And the Rams alternatively could partner with the Dallas Monday’s “First Call” looks at an odd choice for the Steelers biggest Cowboys in a worst-case scenario. question heading into 2020. The future of Pirates starter Joe Musgrove is an interesting talking point. Jaromir Jagr gives thanks. And we tell you Ace? Or outta here? how one city may play host to three teams this fall. CBS Sports sees things going one of two ways with Pirates starter Joe Renew JuJu? Musgrove.

NFL.com posed the biggest possible question facing each team in the He’s either going to be the Pirates next ace. Or he is going to be traded. league. And no offense to writer Marc Sessler. But this is overthinking things. How can a guy who has never had an ERA under 4.00 suddenly become an ace? Good question. CBS Sports writer Mike Axisa gives three This is what he selected as the “burning question” for the Steelers: “Will reasons. JuJu Smith-Schuster come roaring back?” The right-hander is throwing harder, his secondary pitches are getting Yeah. A big deal, no doubt. And a huge question. But c’mon! better and the change from Ray Searage to Oscar Marin as the Pirates pitching coach. The biggest question for the Steelers is undoubtedly the health of Ben Roethlisberger’s arm and his effectiveness upon his return. Axisa gets much more in depth as to why those factors are so important. It’s worth a read. If he doesn’t become the “Big Ben” of old, Smith-Schuster won’t be “roaring back.” Maybe jogging back, at best. Because even a diminshed Now, as for why the Pirates might decide to move Musgrove? Well, the Roethlisberger is better than what the Steelers had last year at same reasons. quarterback. Here’s what Axisa said: “Keeping Musgrove through his arbitration years The biggest reason for Smith-Schuster’s slide last year was the absence and letting him walk as a free agent after the 2022 season seems of the guy throwing him the ball. unwise. Either sign him or trade him. Get long-term value one way or the other.” Was JuJu good enough on his own? Independent of quarterback play? No. He wasn’t. Right. If all that works out for Musgrove, will the Bucs really be willing to pay him? Let’s not outthink the obvious, though. The return of a Hall of Fame quarterback — or not — is clearly the biggest x-factor for this team in Ha! What do you think? 2020. Tribune Review LOADED: 05.12.2020 Thanks from 68

NHL.com is continuing its “Super 16” series. Last week, they focused on the top right wings in the expansion era.

Former Penguins star Jaromir Jagr was voted first by 13 NHL.com writers. New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy was second and Montreal Canadiens Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur was third.

Jagr was certainly appreciative.

View this post on Instagram

Nerad se chlubím, vim moc dobře, že pýcha předchází pád. Uvědomuji si, že bez Boha, rodičů a lidí kteří mi pomohli, bych nikdy nic nedokázal , ale dnes udělám výjimku. 13 novinářů NHL hlasovalo o nejlepší prave křídlo od 1967-2020. 10 z nich mi dalo na první misto. Děkuji. Moc si toho vážím

A post shared by Jaromír Jágr (@jj68jaromirjagr) on May 7, 2020 at 9:43am PDT

Number 68 wasn’t the only former Penguin to make the list. Jarome Iginla is eighth, is ninth and Marian Hossa is 12th.

OK, some of those stints were brief. And maybe didn’t end great. But they were still Penguins.

Viva Las Vegas

The NFL is telling its teams to answer no “what if” questions about the schedule, when it comes to the league’s abilities to surf through the covid-19 pandemic.

But that doesn’t mean it didn’t plan for problems. And it doesn’t mean we can’t speculate about what those plans may be.

As of last year, the city of Las Vegas didn’t have an NFL team. Now, it may have three. 1184430 Pittsburgh Penguins All that said, Vellucci is encouraged by blue-line prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph and forward Sam Miletic, the latter of whom represented the Penguins at the AHL All-Star Classic. Late-round picks Niclas Almari and Jan Drozg flashed potential. Jon Lizotte, an undrafted defenseman, Mike Vellucci on the AHL canceling its season and what it means for surprised with his steady play. Penguins prospects Vellucci pointed out that several players scored their first AHL goals.

“We didn’t shield [the youngsters] at all,” he said. “They played a lot.” Matt Vensel Not that they had a choice. Pittsburgh battled injuries all season and plugged holes with guys expected to be important players for Wilkes- Barre/Scranton, such as Sam Lafferty. The AHL club had poor injury The American Hockey League announced Monday it had canceled the luck, too. Plus, the organization lost on waivers two key AHLers in Stefan rest of the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first Noesen and Andrew Agozzino. time since its debut in 1937, the Calder Cup will not be handed to the AHL champs. As a result, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton struggled to score. When the season was called off, their .524 points percentage was sixth in their eight-team Mike Vellucci is disappointed, obviously, but the news was no surprise. division. “I’m probably not supposed to say it, but I was figuring the American “Did I think we were going to do better? Yes. But with all the injuries and League was canceling for a while here,” the first-year coach of the call-ups, it was crazy what was going on. We had nine, 10 guys out of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins said Monday afternoon. “I just didn’t our lineup at one time,” Vellucci said. “But I really liked the development know how it would work, getting players back and all that. I kind of had of the young guys. A lot of them came a long way and played in a lot of the feeling this was coming.” key situations.” On March 11, the night the sports world started to shut down, Vellucci After the AHL went on hiatus March 12, he continued to coach up coached Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate to an overtime win over rival Lehigh Penguins prospects. The coaching staff spliced together video clips and Valley. Right around the time that Riley Barber buried the game-winner, has used Zoom to chat with them about their season and the next steps the NBA was pulling players off the court and soon announced its season in their development. had been suspended. “Let’s use P.O. Joseph as an example,” he said. “We’re cutting up clips The next morning, when his concerned players began trickling into their of NHL players like [Brian] Dumoulin and Jaccob Slavin and anybody team facility in Wilkes-Barre, Vellucci decided to call off an 11 a.m. else we think he plays like, and we’re showing him clips and trying to get practice. better even though we’re not on the ice. We’re trying to work with players “I could see it in their eyes,” said Vellucci, who also holds general and get them better.” manager duties for the AHL club. “Nobody [in the AHL] had canceled Who knows when Vellucci will get to see the results on a sheet of ice? anything yet, but I knew we weren’t going to accomplish anything. Their heads were elsewhere.” In the meantime, he has his hands full with another pair of youngsters.

Later that day, the news came down that the NHL and AHL were both In the last couple of weeks, Vellucci’s daughter, Alli, graduated from suspending their season. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton players began to scatter college and his teenage son, Ryan, got drafted in the United States across the globe. Vellucci, a Michigan native who last year coached the Hockey League. Charlotte Checkers to their first Calder Cup, returned to his home in Detroit to be with family. When the AHL announced Monday that the season was canceled, the 53-year-old coach was in the middle of moving his daughter into a new The writing has been on the wall for the AHL season for weeks now. apartment. Unlike the NHL, which gets a sizable chunk of change from broadcast rights, the AHL’s clubs largely rely on ticket sales and corporate “Crazy week,” said Vellucci, his back aching and breath still coming back. sponsorships to stay afloat. Post Gazette LOADED: 05.12.2020 So flying players back to their AHL cities and trying to play games without paying customers in the bleachers wouldn’t have made much sense for the AHL, especially considering that a handful of other clubs are independently owned.

Given that landscape, the AHL is turning its attention toward 2020-21.

“While the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are disappointed we won’t be able to finish the season, the health of our players, employees and most importantly our fans must take precedence at this time,” a team statement read.

From a team standpoint, Vellucci said it is a “bummer” that the 2019-20 season will not resume. The AHL club had 13 games left on the schedule and a long-shot chance at a playoff berth. But in terms of individual prospect development, the veteran coach doesn’t believe it is a big deal for most of his players.

“The guys that played with me all year long, I don’t think there’s anything lost because they played in so many big minutes throughout the year,” he said.

Vellucci said the cancellation of the season will have a much greater impact on newly signed prospects like Drew O’Connor, the Dartmouth standout who joined the organization as a college free agent in March. The big forward was supposed to get his first taste of the AHL but he now must wait for 2020-21.

“That’s definitely a downer for them. It’s such an eye-opener for guys coming out of college or junior to play some AHL games,” he said. “I know when I coached junior, all the guys were like, ‘I’m going straight to the NHL.’ I don’t think they really understand how hard and how good the American League is.” 1184431 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Kris Letang and his son nominated for NHL Fan Choice award

Joshua Axelrod

The NHL season may still be paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Penguins fans can still engage in some light hockey-adjacent competition in which the Penguins are involved.

Monday marked the opening day of voting for the 2020 NHL Fan Choice awards. Hockey lovers have until June 1 to vote in their favorite categories representing the best of the shortened 2019-20 NHL season such as GIF of the Year, Best Feel-Good Moment and even Best Dog.

The Penguins don’t have many representatives among this year’s crop of nominees, with one notable exception: A video the Penguins’ social media team put together featuring defenseman Kris Letang and his objectively adorable son Alex was nominated for Top Team Video along with entries from the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens.

Here’s the video in question, which mostly involved Alex Letang answering media questions during All-Star weekend in January.

Yo, @pastrnak96. I'm really happy for you. Imma let you finish, but Alex Letang had one of the best All-Star Games of all time! pic.twitter.com/UjMIb70ffU

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 30, 2020

In addition to Alex’s aggressively cute answers to questions like if he wants to follow his father’s career path — “Yeah! I’m already playing hockey, but I’m not in the NHL but I still play hockey” — the video also features a number of tweets declaring him the true winner of All-Star weekend 2020. As one person tweeted: “This is Alex Letang’s world & we’re just living in it.”

For more Alex Letang content from that joint media session on Jan. 24, check out Matt Vensel’s coverage of that memorable press conference.

Penguins fans may also be interested in casting votes for Iceburgh as the NHL’s Best Mascot or PPG Paints Arena for Best Building. They may also want to support two ex-Penguins — Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ian Cole and Las Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury — for Best Beard and Save of the Year, respectively.

Post Gazette LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184432 Pittsburgh Penguins and traveling tournament series such as the North American Roller Hockey Championships.

It wasn’t until around age 7 that Zucker, who credits roller hockey for Penguins winger Jason Zucker is rediscovering his hockey roots during helping him to hone NHL-caliber puck skills, began his transition to ice NHL's break hockey.

Get inline

Matt Vensel For a few years, it was ice in the winter and roller in the summertime. But after Micah Sanford, an older kid from Las Vegas, played junior hockey in the Hockey League then earned a scholarship at Nebraska-Omaha, Zucker’s eyes were opened to the possibilities that ice Most days, weather permitting, Jason Zucker laces up his roller blades hockey presented. and hits the pavement to do what he can to stay ready for hockey’s potential return. “That’s when people [in Las Vegas] were like, ‘Whoa, is a big deal,’ ” he recalled. “’We should probably start focusing on that a little bit The Penguins winger, currently back with his wife and three kids at their more.’ ” family home in a quiet suburb of Minneapolis, varies his workouts on wheels. At ages 11 and 12, Zucker would fly to Los Angeles on weekends to play peewee at a higher caliber than Las Vegas could offer. At 15, he was off Zucker often does sprints around his block, blowing past mailboxes like to Michigan to skate in the Compuware youth program. From there, he they are flat-footed defensemen. Other times, he roller-blades to one of moved on to the National Team Development Program, Denver the two lakes near their neighborhood, then powers through a scenic University and then Minnesota. endurance skate. He also executes skill-specific drills in his driveway, his roller blades simulating the balance and weight distribution needed to Zucker made his debut for the Wild in 2012. He was drafted in the stick-handle and fire pucks. second round in 2010 and eventually became the first player raised in Nevada to play in an NHL game. Zucker’s aim might even be better than ever when all of this ends. “I absolutely love my roller-hockey background,” said Zucker, who has six “It’s funny. My driveway has a bit of a slope, so the bottom is the only goals and six assists in 15 games with the Penguins. “I wish I could still part that is flat. The only way I can have the net flat is where I’m shooting play.” at my neighbor’s house,” he said, with a laugh. “So I’ve been trying to work on my accuracy as best as possible. I haven’t hit his house yet, so To be fair, though, he would probably skate on the moon today if he that’s a positive.” could.

Zucker, whom the Penguins acquired in February via a trade with the Kept off the ice since the NHL suspended its season March 12 due to the Minnesota Wild, admits the scene feels surreal. But not for the reason COVID-19 pandemic, Zucker is one of many players who have turned to you think. the streets.

These makeshift roller-blade workouts during the NHL’s pause are Evgeni Malkin recently shared on Instagram a picture of him wearing bringing back fond memories. Zucker’s trailblazing path to the pros inline skates and training gear. Marc-Andre Fleury threw on his blades began on eight wheels, and he credits roller hockey for helping him before pushing his little boy on a stroller ride through his neighborhood. become the skilled scorer he is today. The Hughes brothers, Quinn and Jack, held their own small group workout in a Michigan cul-de-sac. ‘Our way of life’ Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Claude Giroux and Aleksander Barkov Zucker was born in 1992 in Newport Beach, Calif., and his family moved are among the All-Stars who have been rocking roller blades during the to Las Vegas months later. His mother, Natalie, is a former figure skater, pause. and his father, Scott, is in construction. When Zucker was a kid, Scott was part of the team that built the Las Vegas Ice Center, which was The sudden demand for roller blades made it hard for some to find a pair initially a roller hockey venue. online. Last month, the equipment manufacturer Bauer told ESPN it had seen a 723% year-over-year increase in online traffic for content for inline During the 1990s, roller hockey was huge in the desert, in part because skates. ice time was scarce. The thought then of an NHL team one day thriving in Las Vegas would have only sounded plausible after a long, boozy Zucker is amused by the thought of so many NHL peers wheeling night on the Strip. around.

The oldest Zucker boy, Adam, played a bunch of sports. He got hooked “I wish we could get a roller hockey game going,” he said. “It would be on roller hockey. Jason, the middle child among five siblings, soon pretty fun to see NHL guys playing roller hockey. That would be a pretty followed him onto the Sport Court. He first laced up a pair of roller blades exciting game.” at age 2 or 3. Not perfect, but it’ll do “It wasn’t that I chose [roller hockey] over ice hockey. That was just what we played,” the 5-foot-11, 192-pound winger said. “That’s what I knew Given his background as one of a handful of NHLers who started on and that’s what I grew to love. It was our way of life. To us, that was roller blades, Zucker knows well the pros and cons of using them to train hockey.” for the ice.

Roller hockey, also called inline hockey, is a much different game than Compared to ice skates, roller blades are heavier, have a longer contact ice hockey from a rules and strategy standpoint. Played at 4-on-4 with no surface with four wheels touching the ground and, obviously, lack sharp offsides, icing or body-checking, it’s more of a skill-based game. With an edges that allow players to stop on a dime on the ice and zigzag through emphasis on puck possession, it can look like the deliberate style of play tight spaces. we now see in the NHL’s 3-on-3 OT. Thankfully, despite the spike in roller blades sales, his equipment rep Zucker still appreciates the individual creativity mixed with team strategy. from Bauer could hook him up a model with a similar boot to the ice skates he wears. “You couldn’t just be the rough-and-tough team and hit the other team out of the building,” he said. “You had to play the game and you had to “It was good to be able to get some like I’m currently using on the ice so have skill. And you had to have a game plan because some teams would they feel a little bit more familiar than something completely different,” he take it back and slow the game down. And some were turn and burn and said. going nonstop.” Because roller-blading is not a perfect simulation for darting around the A speedster still today, Zucker preferred the turning and burning. He also ice, Zucker said guys must be careful not to overdo it and mess with raced in competitive inline speed skating back then. So he was typically muscle memory. one of the fastest on the rink while playing year-round in roller leagues While roller-blading, especially during sprints, Zucker tries to focus on replicating his ice hockey stride so it isn’t out of whack whenever NHL players are permitted back inside team facilities, which could happen in the next few weeks.

“For me,” Zucker said, “it’s about just being on skates, keeping your groins and those skating muscles active and trying to make sure that stuff feels good and is not getting too stagnant just hanging out doing our [home] workouts.”

And while the whole friction factor while shooting pucks on pavement isn’t quite the same as slinging frozen pucks on the ice, it’s better than nothing.

Obviously, he feels being on wheels is beneficial or he wouldn’t be roller- blading around lakes or buzzing his neighbor’s house with errant wrist shots.

If the season resumes, Zucker, feeling like a kid again out there, believes that being back on roller blades will help him make an impact on the ice.

“It’s pretty funny going out there and doing that. You’re so used to just going to the rink, so it’s a little different. It makes you appreciate the setups we have,” he said. “But I’m obviously lucky enough to be able to get [the roller blades] and use them in my driveway. It’s working out plenty fine for me right now.”

Post Gazette LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184433 Pittsburgh Penguins Silver said the league gets 40% of its revenues from game nights when its arenas are filled. He then laid out a frightening scenario that, if there is no timely vaccine or cure for the virus, there could be games without fans not just for the rest of this season but for the 2020-21 season, as well. Ron Cook: Storms are brewing between pro players, owners “This could turn out to be the single greatest challenge of all our lives,” Silver said.

Ron Cook Not just for owners and players.

For all of us.

Right now, the professional sports leagues and their players are united in Post Gazette LOADED: 05.12.2020 the war against the invisible enemy, the coronavirus.

But soon, there could be a civil war, matching owners against players.

It’s just one more significant hurdle that must be leaped before sports return.

The fighting could be especially bitter between baseball’s owners and players. The players, despite having guaranteed contracts, have agreed to be paid only for the games that are played in what will be a shortened season, but they believe it will be on a prorated basis. That means if the Los Angeles Angels play 81 games, Mike Trout will make just half of his $36 million salary or $222,222.22 per game. But the owners are expected to ask the players to take additional pay cuts because of the millions they will lose in revenue from television and empty ballparks without fans. That means Trout might have to get by on $111,111.11 per game.

Oh, the humanity.

The players’ argument is based on two premises:

One, and they say this is the big sticking point, if the games aren’t safe enough for fans to attend, why should anyone believe they are safe for the players? Why should the players be asked to travel for games when the public is being advised not to travel? “It goes back to not having fans in the stands,” Yankees catcher and union executive board member Chris Iannetta told ESPN during the weekend. “If there’s no fans in the stands, there is an intrinsic risk that players are going to undertake. There is an intrinsic risk that support staff and coaches are going to undertake. We should get fairly compensated for taking that risk for the betterment of the game and the betterment of the owners who stand to make a huge profit off the game.”

And two, unlike the other pro leagues, there is no salary cap in baseball that is tied to revenues. “I understand the team isn’t making money on tickets, concessions or any of that stuff,” Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey last week. “But if you think about seasons where they do really well, make a ton of money and sell out every game, we don’t get a raise just because they made a lot of money and did really well. I don’t see why we should have to take a pay cut when things are tough.”

This is a war the players can’t win, at least not in the court of public opinion.

Not now.

Not with a pandemic that has ruined and is ruining millions of lives.

“Athletes don’t really ever win when we talk about salary,” Pirates pitcher and team player rep Jameson Taillon acknowledged on an interview Thursday on 93.7 The Fan.

That isn’t to say anyone will root for the billionaire owners in a civil war. If anything, a lot of people probably hope both sides lose, so sick are they that greed has taken over pro sports to such an ugly degree. But that doesn’t mean the players aren’t going to have to take severe pay cuts. They already are going to receive a full year’s service time even if no games are played. If I’m one of the owners and some players refuse to play in a contract huff, I would let them sit and play the games without them. Then, they would make nothing.

Big salary cuts for players certainly are coming in the NBA, NHL and perhaps the NFL if its season is shortened because the players are paid based on the revenue coming in. NBA commissioner Adam Silver made it clear that brutal times are ahead for both owners and players in a conference call Friday with the players and their union leaders. “The CBA was not built for extended pandemics,” he said in audio obtained by ESPN. 1184434 Pittsburgh Penguins “A big part,” Murray said. “Caring for them, Feeding them. Making sure they know you’re there for them.

“I think they pick up on that or realize we’re doing the best we can. Matt Murray, and his giant dogs, really miss Pittsburgh these days They’re always by our side. They always have our back. And it’s just fun to have them around.”

Fun is in short supply at the moment. Murray has his when playing fetch By Rob Rossi May 11, 2020 with Leo, swimming in the lake with Beckham, and when both dogs wander into the gym and watch him train.

“In these times when we’re all being told to stay isolated, it’s nice to, you Matt Murray is in a good place. know, have a couple of friends with you,” Murray said. He has spent the past several weeks on a sort-of extended honeymoon Big wins. Big dogs. with wife Christina, at the same lake house where they eloped last summer. The property in Muskoka, Ontario, is modest for someone who There is a lot more to Murray, but those two things are what the average has won the Stanley Cup a couple of times and already made millions Pittsburgh probably knows about one of the most important players in before turning 26. Penguins history.

Attached to the lake house is a garage that Murray had converted into a VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM full gym. There is no backyard so much as a swath of surrounding land. And the lake is large enough to swim for a least a couple of large dogs. APPARENTLY NATIONAL BLACK DOG DAY IS A THING SO HERE’S A PIC OF OUR VERY CUTE BLACK DOGGY’S “There’s everything I need other than ice,” Murray said. “Allows me to stay in pretty good shape.” A POST SHARED BY BECKHAM & LEO MURRAY (@BECKHAMANDLEOTHENEWFS) ON OCT 1, 2019 AT 6:18PM PDT For Murray, the confines of quarantine share similarities with steps he has taken during playoff runs with the Penguins. Then, just as now, Murray, like many of his teammates, has been generous since the onset Murray would get away from stress by going somewhere with his dogs, of the pandemic. Beckham and Leo. Over the final weekend of April, he opened a $5,000 tab to feed police Albeit safe and comfortable at the lake house, Murray misses a lot about officers at select locations of Primanti Bros., a local restaurant chain Pittsburgh: The trainers at Misty Pines Dog Co. The trails at North Park. famous for its Pittsburgh-style sandwiches. The banks of the North Shore. “I’m not looking for attention,” Murray said specifically about picking up Playing in front of sellout crowds at PPG Paints Arena. His teammates. that tab for Pittsburgh Police. Neighbors. The meatballs at DiAnoia’s Eatery. All of that stuff, too. He could just as well have been talking anything and everything to which But the spots where he and Christina would spend time with their dogs he has quietly given money, time, whether it’s his “Saves MATTer” are calling to Murray these days. program, which honors his late father, James, and benefits at-risk youth in Pittsburgh and Thunder Bay, or the “Learn To Play” NHL initiative, VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM which teaches children hockey basics and for which Murray is the Penguins’ representative. He also supports various programs that help THE CUTEST OCTOPI/OCTOPUSES (?) save or improve the quality of life for animals, especially dogs. A POST SHARED BY BECKHAM & LEO MURRAY “It’s hard to describe,” Murray said of his feelings for Pittsburgh. “But to (@BECKHAMANDLEOTHENEWFS) ON OCT 29, 2019 AT 8:51AM PDT spend as many years as I have in Pittsburgh and the continued support Beckham and Leo, Murray’s Newfoundland dogs, are big deals. They’re and those continued relationships that I’ve been able to build — it 185 and 125 pounds, respectively. Their shared Instagram account has definitely feels like home.” nearly 19,000 followers. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM Murray’s wife runs the account. Makes sense. She recommended the THANK YOU, @MATT30MURRAY!! MATT MURRAY IS PARTNERING breed to Murray a few years ago. Last summer, she and Murray made WITH PRIMANTI BROS. TO LAUNCH A $5,000 OPEN TAB FOR Beckham and Leo ring bearers at the wedding. POLICE OFFICERS IN PITTSBURGH, BEGINNING TODAY. MURRAY “You’re supposed to have your best friends there with you when you get AND @PRIMANTIBROS WILL OFFER ACCESS TO THE POLICE TAB married, right?” Murray said. AT THE DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT LOCATED AT 2 MARKET SQUARE. DETAILS: PENS.PE/2XRT6I9 “THANK YOU #MATTMURRAY The science behind COVID-19 reportedly indicates humans cannot FOR THINKING ABOUT OUR OFFICERS DURING THIS HEALTH contract it from dogs. They can get it from us, which is just another cruel CRISIS. PITTSBURGHERS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR DAY-TO-DAY twist to the disease. KINDNESS AND FOR COMING TOGETHER IN TIMES OF NEED. THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT KINDNESS AND ADDED Murray studied available research on the danger of COVID-19 for dogs PROOF THAT WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER!” the day after the NHL shut down. A dog lover but far from a veterinary expert, he tried to lean on the opinions of experts. He learned of only a A POST SHARED BY SCOTT SCHUBERT (@PGHPOLICECHIEF) ON few verified cases of humans-to-dogs transmission, which alleviated the APR 23, 2020 AT 9:55AM PDT stress of potentially spending time apart from Beckham and Leo until Murray was certain he had not been exposed to COVID-19 in the final That home has been on Murray’s mind a lot since he, Christina and their weeks of the paused NHL season. dogs returned to the lake house. How could it not?

The notion of Murray isolating from Beckham or Leo would seem far There will be a time and place for Murray to address his hockey future. A fetched. Scroll through the Images he has posted to Instagram for pandemic is not that time. And no matter what happens, Pittsburgh is and evidence of how important they are to Murray and his wife. Whether in will remain “a real special place in my heart,” Murray said. the form of those pictures or the lengths to which Murray goes to keep VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM his dogs healthy, the phrase “fur babies” would seem to have been coined with Beckham, 3, and Leo, 2, in mind. BECKHAM, MEET STANLEY

Leo, sitting, and Beckham, laying, accompany Penguins goalie Matt A POST SHARED BY BECKHAM & LEO MURRAY Murray on the grounds of a lake house in Muskoka, Ontario. (Courtesy of (@BECKHAMANDLEOTHENEWFS) ON AUG 13, 2017 AT 7:57AM PDT Christina Murray) At times, it can feel as though Murray is about to turn 36, not 26. Or that Murray conceded he and Christina “probably go a little overboard” with he has been a decade-long fixture with the Penguins, not waiting to finish their boys but stressed, “that’s part of it, too.” a fifth season. He is a living, breathing contrast — an old soul who looks young, a fierce competitor with a quiet presence, inner strength trapped in a lanky frame.

“He’s a great guy,” Marc-Andre Fleury said of his heir as franchise goalie a few months after parting with the Penguins. “Maybe I — how you say it: wear my heart? — and Matt doesn’t. But so what, right? The guys love him. I sometimes think if fans could see him like the guys do, like this great guy who cares a lot, that’s what I want for him.

“I know those fans in Pittsburgh; they like guys who try hard, care a lot and aren’t, you know, ‘Me Players.’ Matt is such a great guy. He’s like a Pittsburgh player, perfect for the city.”

At some point, the city will open up, the Penguins will be back and somebody will come across a familiar-looking man and his wife walking a couple of huge dogs somewhere around town. Murray’s hope is when that again happens, he, Christina, Beckham and Leo are greeted by Pittsburgh families that grew during the pandemic.

“I’ve actually had friends who’ve adopted in the last little bit, since this whole thing started,” Murray said. “I think it’s a little bit of a trend going on, and I think it’s great. It helps the shelters out to find homes for the pets they have, and it gives you a lot of time to bond with your pet and put time into training.

“If you have the means to do it, adopting a pet right now is probably the best possible time to do it.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184435 San Jose Sharks Ibragimov had five goals and eight assists in 35 games this past season for SKA-Neva St. Petersburg of the Vysshaya Hokkeinaya Liga (VHL), Russia’s second highest level of hockey behind the KHL. He also played seven games with SKA-1946 St. Petersburg of the Molodyozhnaya AHL cancels remainder of regular season, playoffs Hokkeinaya Liga, Russia’s major junior league, and had five goals and two assists. San Jose Barracuda finish regular season with 21-27-5-2 record Doug Wilson Jr., the Sharks director of scouting, said Ibragimov will

attend the next training camp — whenever that may be — and that the By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: May 11, 2020 at 7:35 a.m. | team will “let his play kind of decide” where he plays next season. UPDATED: May 11, 2020 at 3:42 p.m. The Barracuda also announced the signing of 20-year-old forwards Joseph Garreffa and Kyle Topping to AHL contracts. Garreffa (5-7, 176) finished seventh in the OHL with 90 points in 52 games with the Ottawa The American Hockey League on Monday cancelled the remainder of its 67’s this season. Topping (6-0, 191) had 33 points in 33 games with the season, including playoffs, and now member teams like the San Jose Kelowna Rockets. Barracuda are unsure as to when they will be able to play another game. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 05.12.2020 In light of the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, the league’s board of governors voted on the decision Friday, marking the first time since 1936 that the Calder Cup, the AHL’s championship trophy, will not be awarded.

The AHL does hope to return for a 2020-2021 season, although that proposition may mean games being played without fans in arenas.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” said AHL president and Chief Executive Officer David Andrews in a news release. “The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.”

The Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, has been in San Jose for five seasons, and had made the playoffs for four straight years from 2016- 2019.

Barracuda general manager Joe Will said he wasn’t sure if it was feasible for the AHL, which garners much of its revenue from attendance, to hold games next season without fans. The Barracuda could be an exception, though, as the team is part of the portfolio of Sharks Sports & Entertainment, which is owned by Hasso Plattner, one of the wealthiest men on the planet.

“That’s something that will have to be discussed,” Will said. “You have NHL-owned teams, you have independent-owned teams with some different philosophies in there as to what they’re trying to accomplish.

“I can say how fortunate we are to have Hasso Plattner here as our owner. For the rest of the league, I’m really not sure the direction it’s going to go in. At this point, there’s going to be a lot further discussion on that.”

The AHL also announced that standings and statistics as of March 12 — the day the league halted its schedule — would be considered final and official and would serve as the basis for determining league awards for the 2019-20 season.

The Barracuda, the AHL affiliate Sharks, finish the season with a 21-27- 5-2 record and in seventh and last place in the Pacific Division. Their last game was March 10, a 7-4 win over the Stockton Heat.

This season, 16 players from the Barracuda were called up by the Sharks and played at least one NHL game.

In December, Roy Sommer — the AHL’s all-time leader in coaching victories — was moved from the Barracuda to become an associate coach with the Sharks, and former assistants Jimmy Bonneau and Michael Chiasson became co-head coaches of the Barracuda. Maxim Letunov led the Barracuda with 40 points in 50 games. led the team in scoring with 19 goals in 55 games.

According to the team, Barracuda season ticket holders can apply funds from the final four canceled home games towards their 2020-21 season ticket payments, or they can receive refunds to their original form of payment. For more information, season ticket holders are encouraged to contact their Client Development Account Executive for full details and assistance.

Signings announced

The Sharks announced the signing of forward Timur Ibragimov, 19, to a three-year entry-level contract. Ibragimov, listed at 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, was the Sharks’ sixth round draft choice last year. 1184436 San Jose Sharks

AHL, San Jose Barracuda cancel 2019-20 season amid coronavirus pandemic

By Dalton Johnson May 11, 2020 9:01 AM

While the NHL hopes to resume its season at some point amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the American Hockey League announced Monday that they have canceled the regular season and playoffs.

The AHL Board of Governors has voted to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 AHL regular season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.

→ https://t.co/b8XoXIimHE pic.twitter.com/G1fafFhJHV

— AHL (@TheAHL) May 11, 2020

The AHL's announcement puts an end to the San Jose Barracuda's 2019-20 season. And like the San Jose Sharks, the Barracuda struggled this season.

The Barracuda finished the season tied the for the worst record in the league at 21-27-5-2. Their 49 points were the lowest in the entire AHL.

San Jose did go out on a high note, though. In what wound up being their final games of the season, the Barracuda beat the Stockton Heat, 7-4, on March 10.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184437 San Jose Sharks

Kevin Labanc believes Sharks have tools to be best NHL team in 2020- 21

By Ali Thanawalla May 11, 2020 7:00 AM

On paper, the Sharks have one of the best rosters in the NHL.

But on the ice, San Jose fell well below expectations during the 2019-20 season.

Coming off back-to-back 100-plus point seasons, the Sharks have just 63 points with 12 games remaining in the suspended season.

With the standings frozen due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Sharks have the worst record in the Western Conference.

But Sharks forward Kevin Labanc is confident they can turn things around next season.

"I think experience of us being together, it helps a lot," Labanc told NBC Sports California's Brodie Brazil last week. "And we know each of us can bring something to the table. We all know we can step up our game, be the best team in the league. We obviously didn't show it this past season, but I think we all know we can.

"It's obviously going to take a lot of hard work and dedication but we have the tools, we have the players to do so. It's just a mindset, coming to the rink every day, doing your workout."

Once the 2020 NHL offseason begins, Labanc will be a restricted free agent. Through 70 games, Labanc has scored 14 goals and dished out 19 assists.

The Sharks are better than their 29-36-5 record. No one knows if they'll get a chance to prove it over the last 12 games of the current season. But whenever the 2020-21 season begins, they will be motivated to get back to the playoffs and make a run at Lord Stanley's Cup.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184438 San Jose Sharks Will also praised Max Letunov, the Barracuda’s leading scorer with 40 points in 50 games, as well as Jayden Halbgewachs, their goal-scoring leader with 19.

As the AHL cancels its season, what went wrong with the Sharks’ There were several wrenches thrown the Barracuda’s way over the affiliate? course of this season. Pete DeBoer’s dismissal as Sharks coach on Dec. 11 resulted in longtime AHL coach Roy Sommer joining interim coach Bob Boughner’s staff, while Mike Ricci and Evgeni Nabokov, who would routinely work with the AHL prospects, also turned their full-time attention By Kevin Kurz May 11, 2020 to the NHL team. Also in December, Barracuda captain John McCarthy suffered an Ischemic stroke and required heart surgery, ending his career. McCarthy stayed on to assist the Barracuda coaching staff, which It’s a distressing coincidence. At the time the NHL and AHL halted their consisted of Jimmy Bonneau and Michael Chiasson serving as co-head seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic, the San Jose Barracuda coaches. (The plan next season is to have a full-time head coach in found themselves in the same place as their parent club, the Sharks — in place, according to Will.) last place in the Western Conference and with the third-worst points percentage in the league. Still, the results could have been better. The Sharks consistently drafting lower in the first round due to strong regular seasons, combined with The AHL officially canceled the remainder of its season and playoffs on some recent draft misses in the early rounds and the trading away of Monday. In a statement, outgoing commissioner Dave Andrews said: some high-round picks in recent years, all seemed to catch up to them. “After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has That’s not just at the NHL level this season but with their primary affiliate, determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is too. not feasible in light of current conditions. … The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, The Barracuda had trouble keeping the puck out of their own net, staff, and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to allowing 192 goals in 55 games for a team goals-against average of 3.49. returning to our arenas in 2020-21.” Among the more disappointing players was goalie Josef Korenar, an AHL All-Star in 2018-19 who went 12-16-5 with a 3.11 goals-against average The Barracuda completed the season with a 21-27-7 mark for 49 points. and .891 save percentage in 33 games this season. Had the season continued, it would have been the first time in five years since the club relocated from Worcester, Mass., that it would have not “Our goaltenders were kind of left high and dry at times,” Will said. “With qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs. young, skilled players that we had here we at times got into a little firewagon hockey, a little bit of run and gun. … I’d see 2-on-0s, 3-on-0s, “It was really an uneven season,” Sharks assistant general manager Joe things like that. That got cleaned up in the second part of the year, but Will said. the beginning part of the year we didn’t help our goalies very much, that’s for sure. It’s important to note that the Barracuda was the youngest team in the AHL with an average age of 23.0, according to EliteProspects.com. That “I think if you were to ask Josef … he owns up to the performance made them approximately 3.4 years younger than the oldest team, himself, too. He wouldn’t place it on his teammates, but I would place Rochester (26.4). some on his teammates in certain parts of the year and I would place some on Josef. He knows he needs to get better. We had a great exit call That was partially by design. with him, and I can’t wait to see his bounce-back next year.” “This is kind of Year 1 of a plan to play the young players and give them According to one NHL scout, “I don’t think that the goaltending was very trial by fire at the AHL level,” Sharks scouting director Doug Wilson Jr. good but they had company in a few areas. Barracuda goaltending didn’t said. “We have the Barracuda right here in San Jose, so we can have all play as well as they have in years past. Korenar was not near what he of our development coaches on the ice with them. That way we can give was (in his) first year.” all of the power-play time, penalty-kill time, big-minute ice time to young players instead of going out and getting AHL vets.” Offensively, they were better despite not having a single player in the league’s top 48 in scoring. (To be fair, the AHL’s Pacific Division teams According to an NHL scout: “I would certainly agree that youth was a play just 68 games in a full season, as opposed to the 76 games in the major factor. Always helps having proven AHL veterans who can produce other three divisions). The Barracuda managed 3.25 goals-per game. at a high level and on a consistent basis, which they lacked this season.” The shutdown came at an unfortunate time, as they were improving, with This season, there were 16 different Barracuda/Sharks players that a 4-0-2 mark over their previous six games. Their final game was a 7-4 played in at least one game for each club — an inflated amount, as there win at Stockton, a club they had trouble with earlier in the season. were just six such players in 2018-19 on what was a much more successful and experienced NHL team. Early in the season, the Sharks “There was an upswing at the end of the year,” Will said. rotated Barracuda players in and out of the lineup but were unable to find anyone who was consistent enough to stay up top. After the calendar On the whole, though, the season was a pretty rough ride. flipped to 2020, injuries were the primary reason so many players who “The team itself wasn’t a good 5-on-5 team, poor special teams,” simply weren’t ready ended up making their NHL debuts. according to one scout. “The lack of depth that the Sharks are Still, a couple of them stuck, including Noah Gregor and Joel Kellman, experiencing is trickling down.” arguably the only two rookies (other than defenseman Mario Ferraro) The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 who have already shown they have what it takes to stay in an NHL lineup on a nightly basis.

The Sharks will have to hope there are more such players in the pipeline for next season. According to Will, there were some players on the Barracuda who had encouraging performances despite the lack of team success.

“(Joachim) Blichfeld had 16 goals and 32 points in only 44 games this year, was an AHL All-Star,” Will said. “(Sasha) Chmelevski was trending (the right way) towards the end of the year. First six games he only had a point, then in his next 36 (games) he had 26 points, and they were spread out quite well. He didn’t really have many dry spells, with only one three-game (scoreless drought). …

“Noah Gregor was at times pretty electric in the American League. Came up and played well with the Sharks. You guys could see him shooting, and the strong assets he has with his skating and other things.” 1184439 St Louis Blues “He looked comfortable up here,” Armstrong said. “He’s got things you can’t teach, which is size, power and strength. We saw his game evolve. So we were very happy with his progression.

As AHL cancels season, Blues ponder San Antonio callups “We have a lot of returning players potentially, but you need younger players on entry-level deals. We have been a cap team for a decade. I see us being a cap team moving forward, but you want to make sure you have entry-level players, so you can afford to pay the more experienced Jim Thomas players.”

The Blues are a team that spends to the cap limit basically every year; The American Hockey League pulled the plug Monday on the remainder cheap labor in the form of younger players is needed to fit the overall of its 2019-20 season. But for several top prospects from the Blues’ AHL payroll under the cap. affiliate in San Antonio, their season may not be finished. Husso has yet to play a regular-season game for the Blues but has With the NHL well past its February trade deadline, rosters can be performed well in preseason games that past couple of camps. After an expanded. And now that the AHL season is done, there’s no limit on the injury-plagued 2018-19 for San Antonio, Husso started slowly this season number of players who can be added to the but was stellar down the stretch, allowing just 12 goals in his last 10 Blues’ roster. starts.

General manager Doug Armstrong said he and coach Craig Berube Husso’s final numbers were respectable: a 2.56 goals-against average already have talked about potential callups, if and when the NHL and a .909 save percentage with four shutouts. resumes play this season. The Rampage struggled to score goals this season, which put extra “We have a good feeling for it,” Armstrong told the Post-Dispatch. “When pressure on Husso, who has stayed in San Antonio and continues to we get some direction from the league, your normal playoff roster is train there. about 30 players. “When you’re chasing games into the third period, you’re giving up odd- “You have your ‘Black Aces.’ If you want to go on a long playoff run, you man rushes, you’re playing for offense,” Armstrong said. “So you really need probably 10 defensemen that you can pick and choose from.” expose your goalie. ... But he looks like a goaltender that has a chance to be a solid NHL player.” When the NHL suspended play on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Blues had 24 players on their active roster. Vladimir With the remainder of the AHL season now canceled, San Antonio Tarasenko, who was on injured reserve at that time, is now healthy and finished with a 24-25-12 record, finishing seventh in the Central Division would make 25. with 60 points but only two points out of what would have been playoff position. So the Blues are looking at adding maybe five or six players to their roster if the NHL resumes play. The AHL regular season generally runs a week longer than the NHL, so the Rampage still had 15 games remaining (compared to the Blues’ 11). “We’ll look at expanding our roster depending on the number of games that we have left to play,” Armstrong said. “And that’s an issue we hope “It’s disappointing,” Armstrong said. “You love when your prospects are we have to face because that means we’re playing hockey again.” playing. . . .But we’re no different than all the other teams. You just have to adjust and deal with it.” Like the NHL, the AHL suspended play March 12 due to the pandemic, and Armstrong said most of the Rampage players have since left San The AHL’s board of governors met Friday to decide whether to cancel the Antonio and returned home. season, but didn’t announce its decision until Monday morning.

“But all the guys are training now,” Armstrong said. “And at that age, it’s It marks the first time in AHL history — the league began in 1936-37 — not like they’re picking up and going to Hawaii for a month or anything. that the Calder Cup will not be awarded to the playoff champion. But They’re training and they’re looking forward to getting here when the there was no financial incentive to resume play because unlike the NHL, pause is over and making a very good first impression next year at camp. the AHL doesn’t have a lucrative television contract. And with no fans in And this is the time to do that.” the stands, which appeared to be all but a certainty had the league resumed play, teams would have lost lots of money. In talking about players who performed well for San Antonio this season, Armstrong provided a pretty good short list of players the Blues are Monday’s decision means that pro hockey is done in San Antonio — at considering for callups. least for now — because the Vegas Golden Knights purchased the franchise in February and are moving it to the Las Vegas area. “I think a player like (Klim) Kostin had a great year, really improved,” Armstrong said. “Jake Walman really took a huge step this year down The Blues’ AHL affiliate next season will be the Springfield (Mass.) there. (Niko) Mikkola took a huge step. (Ville) Husso regained some Thunderbirds. really good footing down there. (Austin) Poganski took a big step forward. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.12.2020 “(Alexei) Toropchenko had a good first year (in the AHL) like you want. (Nathan) Walker was a very good signing by Kevin McDonald. I know I’m missing a couple of guys, but we’re excited about still having some future there that we can count on.”

McDonald is general manager of the Rampage.

Forwards Kostin, Poganski and Walker, and defensemen Mikkola and Walman, were among six players on the season-ending San Antonio roster that played at least one game for the Blues earlier this season. The sixth is defenseman Derrick Pouliot.

Together, those six played in a combined 18 games for St. Louis with two goals and two assists and were plus-2.

Kostin, who turned 21 last week, played in four games for the Blues in late November, scoring a goal against Nashville, and had a strong second half for the Rampage. In 48 games for San Antonio, he had 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points; the goal and points totals were personal bests for him in three seasons with the Rampage. 1184440 Tampa Bay Lightning The AHL canceling the rest of its season while the NHL still optimistically explores its options demonstrates how differently the leagues operate, though they rely on each other.

The AHL season is done. What does that mean for the NHL? Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.12.2020

The AHL’s business model can’t survive without fans, but does the NHL’s potential season also hurt the development league?

DIANA C. NEARHOS

TAMPA — The American Hockey League season is over. The highest- level minor league joins colleges, junior leagues and the second-highest minor league in calling off the season and the playoffs.

Does that mean the NHL is next?

No. The decisions will be entirely unrelated. The minor leagues’ business model relies on having fans in the arena. There are no TV deals to bring in money, so sponsors rely on spectators inside the arena to see their messaging.

The NHL can return without fans and bring in money from both TV contracts and sponsorship deals. Teams and their owners also have more reserves to pull from than their minor league counterparts.

If anything, the NHL’s potential return may make it harder for the AHL to do the same.

If the NHL expands the roster limit, as expected, teams may carry something between a training camp roster and “Black Aces.” When the AHL season ends, NHL teams typically recall most if not all players under contract to serve as “Black Aces” through the playoffs, without a salary cap hit. These players rarely play but are on hand in case they’re needed.

In this case, we might see teams use those players as everyone gets back into shape, like a typical training camp. They also might play if NHL regulars sit out the final games of the regular season once their teams’ spots in the standings have been set.

That means the Lightning could see the return of players like Alex Volkov and Mathieu Joseph. Volkov had three brief recalls this year, while Joseph spent most of the season in the AHL after a strong rookie NHL season last year. Top defense prospects Cal Foote and Dominik Masin also could make an appearance.

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Players under NHL contracts are stuck in limbo, then, as they wait to see if they might be directed to report to the Lightning or another NHL team without an AHL season.

As for the AHL, CEO David Andrews told Sportsnet on Monday, the league might be something “dramatically different” when it returns at some point in 2020-21.

That may mean a cost-cutting approach to the schedule, with a smaller range of travel. The AHL also has to wait to see what the NHL will do next season. If the NHL pushes its season back, the AHL likely will have to do the same as many of its players start in NHL training camps.

Any reduction in games will hurt AHL teams financially. The Lightning’s affiliate, the , lost revenue from eight home games, plus a playoff run this season. The Lightning offered a reduced affiliate fee, which provides some relief.

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In the ECHL (the next level down from the AHL), however, teams already have announced 2020-21 home openers for as soon as Oct. 17. The ECHL canceled the rest of its season on March 14, two days after the suspension of play, and teams have not been paying players.

Unlike baseball, hockey’s minor leagues are separate organizations that operate independently, though in communication with each other, and develop their own policies. 1184441 Tampa Bay Lightning and that’s what I did for my five sets (10-12 reps each) with a 60-second break in between.

So that’s 100 pistol squats total, 50 on each leg. You really feel it in your How impossible are the Lightning’s quarantine workouts? I gave one a hamstrings. I still do. shot The next exercise, however, might have been the worst of the bunch.

Leg sliders By Joe Smith May 11, 2020 One website called this exercise “Hamstring Hell.” Now I see why.

You lay on your back, arching your hips in the air so you keep your rear As you know by now, I’m not afraid to make a fool out of myself. off the ground the whole time. You need to slide your feet back and forth, so you can use wool socks on a wooden floor. The workout calls for five If you’ve heard me sing karaoke in one of the 44 cities I’ve blared “Basket sets of 10-12 reps with 60 seconds of rest in between. Case” or rapped “Gangster’s Paradise,” well, that’s just one example. Try this yourself, and see how challenging it is to 1) keep your butt off the But when it comes to finding a good story, I’m willing to go the extra mile ground and 2) not want to grab your hamstrings as you push back and to show you rather than just tell. Like when I went tarpon fishing with forth. Lightning defenseman Luke Witkowski or when I tried to make it through the team’s “strong-man circuit” workout in October. I even completed the By the second or third set, Sammy popped into the room and started “Beep Test” with the Rowdies soccer club. licking my face. I wondered if he wanted to tag-in and do the workout for me. Judging by the fact that he then jumped on the couch next to me, I So when I was curious — like all of you — what NHL players were doing could see he was in spectator mode. If there was a squirrel on its back to keep in shape during this coronavirus-sparked shutdown, I reached doing these exercises, though, he might be more active! out to the Lightning to see if they’d send me a sample workout. I had seen players getting creative with their exercises, from squatting furniture With my hamstrings tightening up, I found it difficult to finish the 10-12 to juggling toilet paper, with Lightning defenseman reps on the last couple of sets. Stretching in between helped (and make even doing curls with his small puppy. sure to hydrate).

Tampa Bay’s director of high performance and strength coach Mark Wall-cyclists squats Lambert, who has sent workouts to players throughout the quarantine, Another fun one. was kind enough to pass along a home program to me. It wasn’t a workout specific to any individual player, but they were the kind of Squats are part of most every lower-body workout, but these wall-cyclist exercises the team had done at some point during the pause. ones add a bit of a twist. You have to put your heels 4-6 inches up a wall. You need to keep your lower back and shoulders against the wall as you There was a lower-body workout and an upper-body workout, which I squat up and down, keeping your knees in front of you. Legs are likely decided to split up over two days last week. Before I did, I figured I’d the strongest parts of most hockey players’ bodies, so these should be a reach out to Lightning defenseman Luke Schenn for advice; he was one breeze for them. I’ve seen Ilya Kovalchuk, for example, post Instagram of two players who teammates said spend the most time in the gym. videos of himself squatting with one of his kids on his shoulders as two of “That’s not a bad one!” Schenn said. “One of the easier ones, for sure. his other kids hold dogs.

“My advice is that it gets easier if you do it consistently. The first couple No, I didn’t hold Sammy on this one. weeks will be a grind.” The key for me with my size-14 feet was not letting my heels slip off the Easier is relative, of course, when you’re comparing a sportswriter to wall. I know there’s no weight involved, but my quads started to burn — some of the fittest athletes in the world. quickly. You’re supposed to do four sets with as many reps as possible until “failure.” I got at least 12-13 or so in the first two sets, then around But here’s my first-hand experience doing these Lightning quarantine 10 the last two. workouts. Hope you enjoy, and feel free to try them out for yourself! Hip thrust torso elevated leg Lower-body Another one that activates the hamstrings. The past few months have been challenging for all of us, and our family has been extremely lucky to be healthy (and employed) throughout this You elevate one leg, which I put on a chair. Then you dig in with your pandemic (so are our relatives up in the Midwest). heel on that foot, while pushing up your hips and your opposite leg into the air in a thrusting motion. Another four sets to failure, with 60 seconds Besides coming up with creative Lightning stories for you, it has also break. I actually did pretty well with this one, getting about 15 reps each been a productive stretch for my wife, Caitlin, and I when it comes to time with each leg. Sammy was, of course, no help, but at least he didn’t workouts. This is the most time we’ve spent together in the four years jump on my chest or interrupt. we’ve known each other (the last year and a half married), so it has been healthy and productive for us to work out together most days. (I was a Almost done, buddy. Your time will come. regular at Burg Crossfit in St. Pete, while also trying Elevate. My wife Planks typically did Pure Barre.) Planks are pretty self-explanatory: You get yourself in a push-up position, We had a bunch of home workouts emailed to us by the gyms, so we’ve though you hold yourself up with your forearms. You active your abs by been picking one a day, we go in our study and give it a shot. On some holding that position for as long as you can. It was supposed to be three cooler days, we’ll lift outside on our patio or front porch. And every time, sets to failure, and my goal was to get to 60 seconds each time. I got to we give our 2-year-old puppy, Sammy, a walk right afterward as our around 47 seconds the first time, and 43 and 50 the next two. cooldown. He knows this routine by heart, as you’ll find out later. Wipers on floor The Lightning lower-body workout had a few exercises I was familiar with, including planks, squats, pistol squats (I hate those), and stair- This was another really difficult movement for me. climbs. It doesn’t look awful at first glance, but I can tell you that my hamstrings and quads are still a bit sore a few days later. You lay on your back, but you initiate the movement with a hip raise. Your legs are in the air, and you move them back and forth like a washer. Pistol squats The key is keeping your hips raised through the entire range of motion. And if you try it yourself, you’ll find out just how challenging that is. These ones aren’t fun. It took me several tries to perfect this one, especially while keeping my The idea is to squat on one leg as low as you can go, keeping the other hips raised. I also almost knocked a few books and a photo off of the leg stretched out in front of you. I don’t have good balance on a good bookshelf to my left (sorry, Honey!). Three sets to failure, with a 60- day, so these are always a challenge. In a lot of gyms, they’ll suggest second break. I enjoyed every second of that minute break, dreading the modifying the pistol squats by putting a chair or bench underneath you, next wiper. Up and down stairs point, I had stopped a second or two early, and she called me on it. That didn’t happen again. This one I had to modify, because we don’t have any stairs in our house, and there are none nearby. The workout asked for 10 sets of 30 seconds My heart rate soared above 150, a really good way to wrap up the each of going up and down stairs. workout. I was reaching the hour mark, though admittedly there was some time between exercises for me to double-check the video clips on I instead did 10 sets of 30 seconds of step-ups onto a chair, trying to use form. the same motion to get a similar effect. This was not nearly the type of stress I went through during the In all, the workout took about 55 minutes, though mine took a little longer Lightning’s “strong-man circuit” workout back in October. Lambert was than it should have because I rewatched some YouTube clips of the kind enough to put me through that, pushing me along the way, making movements to make sure I did them right. But it was a good workout sure to attach the heart-rate monitor to ensure that I didn’t put myself into overall, burning 464 calories with an average heart rate of 113. any danger zone.

And Sammy got his walk around the lake. But I enjoyed getting a feel for what some of the players were doing Upper body during this shutdown, which we all hope ends soon. There could be teams returning to their facilities for small-group workouts this month, The upper-body workout had a similar setup to the lower body version, with potential training camps opening in June (if all goes well). For now, with eight exercises that targeted different muscles. I’ll keep one of the team’s “easier” workouts in my repertoire.

There were the plank to push-ups. Remember how much I loved planks? Sammy seemed to get a kick out of it. Well, this one is double the fun. It challenges your core, emphasizing your shoulders and arms. You start in a high plank position, your arms The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 straight. Then you lower yourself onto your right forearm, then left, into the plank position. You then push yourself back up, one hand at a time

Rinse, repeat.

That’s five sets of 10-12 reps each. It didn’t take long for me to work up a sweat in this one, and the last couple of sets were tough as I got to 8 or 10 push-ups.

Then came the door-frame rows.

This one you do if there aren’t weights available. I found a doorway into our master bedroom and grabbed hold of the frame on each side. You lean back a bit — the further back, the tougher it is — and pull yourself forward until you’re standing straight up. You do five sets of that with 10- 12 reps each and a 60-second rest in between. I’m used to doing rows with weights, so this one wasn’t that bad.

The elevated leg push-ups were next, and I’m glad that there was at least one exercise break from the plank to push-ups. My chest and arms were getting tired by this point. I positioned my feet on my couch behind me, then did the 10 or so push-ups on the mat in front of me.

There are more rows coming up: the bag rows elbow wide, another exercise that can be done without weights. Lambert suggested using a duffle bag for the rows if weights weren’t available. I actually have a set of 20- and 25-pound dumbells, so I used the 25s for this one. You can do them bent over with your elbows wide or with your knees on the bench.

After working the biceps and arms, it was time for the shoulders.

That’s where the lateral raises come in. You stand up, your knees slightly bent, your feet shoulder-width apart. You keep your shoulders pinched as you bring both dumbells up from your side to above your shoulders. It didn’t take long for these to hurt a bit. Some people have a better range of motion than others, but doing these three sets to failure was a good challenge with weights. I alternated between 20 and then 12s in later sets.

There were hammer curls with a bag, where I again used weights (20 pounds). You put the dumbells at your side and bring them up to your shoulder, then slowly back down.

The side bridges were the second-to-last exercise and one of the tougher ones in this workout. You’re on your side, holding yourself up with your elbow/forearm, and the key is keeping your shoulders straight. You elevate your hips up and down to the floor for three sets to failure.

My failure was initially balancing myself and keeping my shoulder straight. It took some practice to get this one down.

Last, but not least, are the bane of any CrossFitter’s existence: burpees.

No matter how often you do them, you always wish it was your last time. In this workout, the goal was to do 15 sets of burpees (each set lasting 15 seconds), each with a 45-second break in between. Caitlin joined me for this last exercise. She had a rest day for her workouts, but I’m glad she was there to keep me accountable. Sammy was on the couch, staring us down. He knew a walk was coming soon.

I tried to do 4-5 burpees in every 15-second clip. My wife, naturally, was an overachiever and typically did six. She had the stopwatch, so at one 1184442 Toronto Maple Leafs

Top Marlies await Maple Leafs’ fate with AHL season cancelled

By Mark Zwolinski

The American Hockey League cancelled the rest of its season because of the coronavirus pandemic, but there may be a chance for top prospects with the and other clubs to continue to play if the NHL resumes.

The AHL board of governors voted unanimously to call off what’s left of the regular season schedule, postponed since March 12, plus the playoffs.

“It wasn’t a surprise,” Marlies GM Laurence Gilman said on a conference call Monday afternoon. “Obviously, we’re in an unprecedented time … but there are more pressing matters for our society.”

According to the Marlies, fans with tickets for cancelled games will be contacted and receive a full refund or credit for the 2020-21 season.

The NHL, meanwhile, is still determining whether it can salvage its season with several scenarios being considered, including a jump straight into a playoff tournament as early as June, but more likely July.

The Leafs have said they would call up top Marlies players if allowed. The NHL club was eliminated from the playoffs earlier than the Marlies for the past three seasons and didn’t call up anyone over that span.

The NHL, however, remains in the first phase of its return-to-work protocol, with the season on pause and no access to facilities except for injured players. Phase two, with limited access, has been discussed but not finalized. Also, the league has to decide on roster size, with some scenarios including as many as 30 players per team.

Those factors, based on the latest medical data and access to testing, will determine whether several top Marlies prospects — including Timothy Liljegren, Kenny Agostino, Jeremy Bracco, Egor Korshkov and Joseph Woll — have a chance to continue their seasons.

“The thing we told our players at the exit interviews is that there will be hockey at some point and it’s your responsibility to be ready,” said Marlies coach Greg Moore, adding that Agostino was their most consistent player over the final two months.

Gilman was impressed by the progress of Liljegren, teamed with Rasmus Sandin on the top defensive pairing and power play for much of the season.

“I’d be surprised if he isn’t playing in the top seven or eight (defencemen) with the Leafs next season,” Gilman said.

The AHL cancellation means the Calder Cup won’t be handed out for just the second time in the league’s 83-year history. According to the AHL website, the championship trophy was first awarded in 1938. It is believed a winner was crowned without a trophy presentation the previous season.

The Marlies finished in eighth place in the North Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 29-27-3-2. The Milwaukee Admirals, a Nashville Predators affiliate, wound up first overall at 41-14-5-3.

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184443 Toronto Maple Leafs The filmmakers chose Nov. 17 in part because there were a number of events that Scotiabank was involved with and because the date worked for some of the hockey names involved.

Canadians were asked by Scotiabank to submit photos and video on “It checked off all the boxes in a very lucky way,” said Steinberg. November 17, 2019, to show one day in the life of hockey in Canada. There is some Scotiabank branding in the film through the likes of The Kendall brothers of Cartier, Man., did just that, showing them “Scotiabank Teammates” Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Lanny McDonald, spending time on the ice. Natalie Spooner and Darcy Tucker.

Tucker, a former Maple Leaf favourite, is shown in his role as coach of By Neil Davidson The Canadian Press his son’s Toronto Titans bantam AAA team.

The filmmaker went into the day with a plan, knowing where their documentary crews were going. When Scotiabank asked Canadians to share video snippets of community hockey across the country on Nov. 17, it hoped to capture “But when we opened it up to literally all of Canada ... we really didn’t something special. know what to expect,” said Steinberg.

But it had no idea that hockey — like almost all other sports — would be They got “thousands” of submissions, which produce hundreds of hours on hold due to the global pandemic when the finished “Hockey 24” of film. documentary was ready to show. “We were very pleasantly surprised but also very touched with the For Clinton Braganza, Scotiabank’s chief marketing officer, the 90-minute intimacy of the stories that we received,” said Braganza. “It’s absolutely documentary billed as “a film by Canada” resonates louder as a result. wonderful how hockey binds us as a nation. And you see that in the entire 90 minutes.” “This is much much more than just a hockey documentary,” he said in an interview. The producers sweetened the pot for video participants by offering prizes of an expenses-paid trip to the NHL all-star game as well as $24,000 in “What we actually found is as much as these are stories about hockey, funding for a community hockey team or association. you’ll find that these are actually stories about Canadians and humanity — and the life lessons that hockey teaches its players, whether it’s Toronto Star LOADED: 05.12.2020 inclusion, whether it’s hard work, whether it’s team work, whether it’s dedication,” he added.

“And so in many ways, as humanity is now under duress, I think this is the perfect time to be telling this story that is wrapped in our nation’s game.”

For Hayes Steinberg, chief creative officer of The Mark agency that put the film together, “Hockey 24” documents the ties that run through the sport.

“What makes it especially relevant now is more than ever those bonds are what’s getting us through this moment,” said Steinberg, who is the film’s executive producer.

Scotiabank asked Canadians to submit home videos and photos from Nov. 17 that demonstrated their love of hockey. And it sent out 25 documentary film crews to add to that footage, each with plans to document anywhere between three and 15 people.

The result is a homage to hockey — and the role it plays in Canadian life.

It is a chronological look at the day. The 12 minutes made available to the media before the full film airs May 24 on TV (it will also be available May 25 on the Hot Docs website) documents the time-honoured ritual of families getting up early to go to the rink

It’s full of coffee, yawns and the anticipation of hitting the ice, not to mention the worker who fires up the lights at the neighbourhood rink.

“If I’m not here working and not here watching or not here coaching, I’m at home watching (hockey),” explains Dean Bevan, supervisor of Galt Arena Gardens in Cambridge, Ont., which dates back to 1922. “It’s something you love to do, then it’s not a job.”

One of the many stories told is that of courageous Quinn Kinsella, a member of Ontario’s Flamborough Sabres who has cystic fibrosis — the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults.

Hearing an emotional Ryan Kinsella, Quinn’s father, describe his nine- year-old son’s frustration at the disease tugs at your heart.

But hockey is his son’s haven.

“You would never know Quinn has cystic fibrosis. He lives a daily life like every other kid,” said Greg Large, his coach. “As a coach it makes you feel so good the things that he can accomplish on the ice and off the ice. And when you see him, it makes you proud that you’re part of his life.”

The documentary also tells stories from the LGBTQ community, new Canadians and those with physical disabilities, among others. 1184444 Toronto Maple Leafs we’re going to do, not just with Jeremy, but all our players going forward. That decision has not yet occurred.”

MARLIES CAN WEATHER FINANCIAL STORM Leafs ready list of Marlies for promotion The end of its 2019-20 season only puts off some tough decisions for the AHL in 2020-21.

Lance Hornby The family-oriented, gate-driven league faces the possibility of no fans in the stands when it does start again or a reduced schedule, depending how long COVID-19 takes precedence.

Their American Hockey League season is officially over, but some “There is a lot of uncertainties,” AHL president Dave Andrews told Toronto Marlies have been told to stand on guard should the NHL restart Postmedia’s Michael Traikos earlier this month. “We need to do some and the Maple Leafs are allowed to carry some kids. financial modelling for next season. Some teams can sustain to play games with no fans in the building, but not a large number of games.” “We made a decision with respect to an undefined number of our players,” said Leafs assistant general manager/Marlies GM Laurence The Toronto Marlies, who play at the 8,000-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum, Gilman on a Monday conference call with Toronto media after the AHL are in limbo, but general manager Laurence Gilman said Monday his scrubbed the rest of its regular season and playoffs. “The players that team can weather some of the financial issues. could conceivably serve in depth roles for the Leafs have been informed they’re on stand-by. We conducted exit interviews with the rest.” “This (situation) is relatively new,” Gilman said. “The Marlies are still an economically viable operation in their own right. The decision will be Gilman said Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is monitoring what the NHL is made by the league and we’ll undertake whatever form of season the discussing in terms of farm team help for its loosely planned return to board votes on, abbreviated or whatever.” small workouts in the coming weeks and the hoped for completion of the 2019-20 season and playoffs. This will be a tough exit for Nova Scotia-born Andrews, who was set to retire after 26 years at the end of June and trying to make sure “There has been some framework for how some of the return-to-play replacement Scott Howson is ready for what awaits in ‘20-21. scenarios might play out,” Gilman said. “It’s disappointing our (AHL) season won’t be able to conclude and the Calder Cup not handed out, Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.12.2020 however there are far more important matters for our society at this point.”

The Marlies were in a multi-team battle for a playoff spot in their division when action halted in mid-March with them having 13 games remaining. But history has shown Toronto’s affiliate to be late-season bloomers, which not only qualifies for playoffs, but makes it to the second or third rounds and in 2018, won the Calder Cup. Yet Gilman didn’t see the lost ‘19-20 conclusion as missing out on proper evaluation of prospects under fire.

“We had a lot of opportunity to assess our players and how our program functioned. Because of what happened, primarily with the Leafs and the injuries we sustained, along with the organic development that occurred with players such as Pierre Engvall, Adam Brooks, Mason Marchment, Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, Kasimir Kaskisuo … we had a number who contributed to the Leafs. “They’ll still work on their development, it just won’t be in games or arenas at this point (for some).”

Conversely, excellent young Sandin was eligible for AHL playoffs had the Marlies made it and the Leafs not, or had the parent club been knocked out early.

Gilman and head coach Greg Moore conducted the exit interviews.

“Things said at the end were the same as the end of a normal season. ‘Here’s what you did well, here’s what we’re happy with, here’s where we think in some cases there is improvement for you.’ One of the messages Greg and I had imparted to them was there will be hockey again and your job is to get ready for camp whenever that will be,” Gilman said.

One of the Marlies likely to be with the Leafs’ group when play resumes is defenceman Liljegren. At one stage when the Leafs were without Jake Muzzin, Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci on a banged-up blueline, he was partnering fellow first round pick Sandin, who’d been with the club all season.

“I’ve been fond of Timothy as a person and a player,” Gilman said. “I felt his game took a tremendous step. He transports the puck very well, skates very well and has a good shot, but the greatest impact was how he processed the game.

“I believe he’s ready to become an NHL player, whatever level that will be. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play in the top seven or eight with the Leafs next year (that’s with KHL defenceman Mikko Lehtonen signed), but he has to hold up his end of the bargain.”

Gilman and Moore said an exit interview was conducted with winger Jeremy Bracco, who missed a chunk of time away dealing with personal issues. He had returned to practice in March.

“Jeremy had an interesting season,” Gilman said. “Like the rest of our group, we’re going to assess as a hockey operations department what 1184445 Toronto Maple Leafs

AHL cancels remainder of season, playoffs

Lance Hornby

The farm has been shut down.

The American Hockey League, feeder system to the NHL’s 31 teams, announced Monday morning its board of governors voted to cancel the rest of the 2019-20 schedule and Calder Cup playoffs due to the ongoing delay with the COVID-19 crisis.

Among the affected are the farm clubs of four Canadian NHL teams: The Belleville Senators (Ottawa), Laval Rocket (Montreal), Toronto Marlies (Maple Leafs) and Moose (Winnipeg).

The decision was not a surprise, given the gate-driven AHL has no TV money as a fall-back and faces significant travel challenges at the best of times with teams sprinkled across the continent. For the past two months, they were facing potential headaches such as player isolation, border crossing and training camps had play resumed for this season.

To be worked out is how many AHL players could be added to NHL rosters should the latter start up its regular season and playoffs this summer.

“After a lengthy review process, the AHL has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” read a statement from the league.

“The operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020- 21 season. We are very grateful to the NHL and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.

“The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

The league’s standings – sorted by points percentage – and statistics as of March 12, 2020, will be considered final and will serve as the basis for determining league awards for the 2019-20 season.

The club that would be affected the most from a competitive standpoint is the Senators, who were closing in on clinching first place in the Northern Division with a number of good player prospects, a goal differential of plus 37 and a record of 38-20-4-1. They were bound to be Calder contenders.

The Marlies and Rocket (30-24-5-3) were in a pack of teams fighting for the division’s lower playoff seeds, while the Moose were last in the Central Division (27-33-1-0).

This will also be a tough exit for out-going Nova Scotia-born president Dave Andrews, who was set to retire at the end of June and looked forward to one last playoff run. He is being replaced by former general manager Scott Howson, who is from Toronto.

The Marlies said in a separate release they intended to send select players to the Leafs if permitted by the NHL. The Marlies also advised fans holding tickets to any unplayed games on the 2019-20 schedule they’ll be eligible for full refunds or the option to move credit to the 2020- 21 season.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184446 Toronto Maple Leafs from hitting the kind of point totals that would mean he truly gets a big financial reward. There are no hard feelings between the player and the organization given Kyle Dubas honoured Leivo’s request to move on if he wasn’t getting playing time in Toronto, so maybe something could come Mirtle: Breaking down 19 intriguing UFA forward targets for the Maple together. And he may not represent much of a downgrade in the bottom Leafs six.

Patrick Maroon, Tampa Bay — I’ve always found Maroon an interesting proposition for the Leafs. He’s huge and physical, giving them an By James Mirtle May 11, 2020 element they lack, and he’s been playing on a series of value contracts for most of his career. He’s won — in St. Louis — and even produced some offence in various stops. He’s bounced around a lot, and he just An alternate title to this piece: The Search for More Spezzas. turned 32, which is a bit of a red flag, but there’s enough here to make him at least worthy of consideration from this UFA class. The Maple Leafs had a good little win in free agency last summer when they added Jason Spezza on a league-minimum deal. The 36-year-old Jesper Fast, NY Rangers — A really under-the-radar player, Fast has quickly became one of the most popular newcomers and even produced emerged as a very solid third-line contributor the past five years in New 25 points in fourth-line minutes through 58 games. York. It’s hard to know what kind of a payday he’d be in line for as a UFA. Do other teams see his value? But he strikes me as the type who might It certainly sounds like he’ll be back next year at a similar bargain, barring get left without a seat in the opening days of free agency musical chairs something unforeseen. and come at a bit of a discount. He is, well, fast and good defensively, so The Leafs are going to need more bargains next year, given their cap the underlying numbers are there to make him potentially attractive to the situation. And while much of the focus in terms of potential free-agent organization’s quants. targets will quite rightly be on defencemen, there are a few scenarios Matt Nieto, Colorado — A second-round pick and a star at BU, Nieto where pursuing UFA forwards will make sense, too. seemed at one point to be destined for more than bottom-of-the-roster 1. Adding players making league minimum to fill out the roster, giving obscurity. He’s never really broken out offensively, however, which them more depth probably means he could be challenged to get a contract that breaks the $2 million barrier. But he’s fast and smart, two attributes that could make 2. If Andreas Johnsson or Kasperi Kapanen are traded and more third- him attractive to Toronto’s front office, despite his small stature. line capable talent is required to fill those gaps The reclamation projects 3. If they decide they need more help at centre after the big two They’ve had some tough luck, but maybe there’s more there — and at a The Leafs can create some cap space to play with if they deal some of bargain? their depth forwards who make more than a couple million dollars. I calculate that there’s between $3.5 million and $6 million of wiggle room, Alex Galchenyuk, Minnesota — He’s no Nail Yakupov-level bust, but which would be enough to bolster the Leafs top-four on D or their forward Galchenyuk has certainly turned into somewhat of a disappointment after depth. Perhaps even both. going third overall eight years ago to Montreal. Not strong enough in terms of his on-ice awareness to play centre at the NHL level, Consider this a purely theoretical lineup minus Johnsson and Kapanen, Galchenyuk nonetheless has some high-level offensive skills and the team’s likeliest trade bait: bettered the 40-point mark five times in a row before 2019-20’s struggles. That group of 20 players is $6.3 million under an $82.5 million cap, albeit He’s a potential buy-low option, although there are enough red flags here with key holes to fill at a couple of positions. (RD in particular looks… that scream no, especially for a team that already has plenty of offensive thin.) It’s possible the Leafs invest that hypothetical money in, say, a $4 talent. But if he’s sitting there a week or two into free agency in the million defenceman and a $2 million forward, or $5 million and $1 million, bargain bin, maybe something might make sense. or some variation like that. Conor Sheary, Pittsburgh — One of those players who seems to thrive My understanding is the organization sees significant opportunity in this when riding shotgun with a star, Sheary could perhaps fill that role in free-agent class. While there are a few interesting UFA targets on Toronto alongside Matthews or Tavares. He’s tiny, which will scare some defence, the forward group is much deeper. There’s also the potential for suitors off, but probably not Dubas. He’s coming off a three-year deal that more bargains here, given the number of players likely to be available paid him $3 million a season, however, and it’s really tough to forecast and cap space being in short supply around the league, which could what his next deal will look like after a tough go in Buffalo. make this an area that makes sense for Toronto to be active in. Colin Wilson, Colorado — Missed most of the season with a significant Moving one or two ~$3.5 million forwards to bring in cheaper UFA injury, but was a consistent 15-goal, 35-point man in Nashville and can replacements may simply be good cap management in this environment. probably get there again in the right situation. He’d bring some size and So let’s look at some potential targets, from the reasonable to the speed to the Leafs depth lines, in addition to some decent two-way fanciful. ability. Assuming he gets back to full health. Wilson is the kind of player who might take a discount on a one-year deal to reignite his career on a The affordable depth strong offensive club like Toronto.

They’ll likely come cheap and outperform whatever contract they sign. Derick Brassard, NY Islanders — Might the Leafs determine they like Alex Kerfoot, but only as a winger? I don’t think it’s out of the question, Kyle Clifford, Toronto — Let’s start with some familiar names for Leafs given how comfortable he looked with Tavares and Nylander this season. fans. The Leafs added Clifford in the Jack Campbell trade back in But if they go that route, they would need someone else to play 3C and February, and he clearly relished getting a chance to play close to come. there really aren’t any great internal options. Brassard had a nice The big man didn’t exactly flourish — and I’m not sure he’s a great fit for bounce-back season for the Islanders, and he did so for a song, making Toronto’s skill-filled system — but at a cheaper cap hit than his current just $1.2 million. A raise is probably in order, but perhaps not that much. $1.6 million, there could be a fit on the fourth line. But he does turn 33 in September.

Tyler Ennis, Edmonton — Ennis was immensely popular in 2018-19 in Michael Frolik, Buffalo — Frolik is 32 and his best years appear well the Leafs dressing room but moved on in order to get more playing time behind him. This past season, in particular, was a bit of a mess, as he elsewhere, something that paid off in Ottawa and Edmonton, where he produced just six goals in nearly 60 games split between Calgary and logged nearly 15 minutes a game and produced at a 43-point pace. Buffalo. In his prime, he was a smart two-way player who could chip in Perhaps there’s a fit back here if he’s one of the UFAs unable to land a 20-goals. Now he’s the definition of a reclamation project. bigger contract? Jimmy Vesey, Buffalo — Remember the Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes? I Josh Leivo, Vancouver — Yet another former Leaf. Leivo struggled for doubt 2020’s version will resemble that first go-round. Still, he’s one of years to get much of an opportunity under former coach Mike Babcock, those players who you watch and sometimes wonder if there might be but obviously that wouldn’t be an issue given the coaching change. He more there, in a different situation. And his nine-goal season won’t could be looking at a bigger payday than Toronto would be interested in exactly earn him a huge payday. after a couple of strong seasons in Vancouver, although injuries held him The long shots

They’re probably going to get paid more than the Leafs can accommodate, but we’ll discuss them anyway.

Mike Hoffman or Evgenii Dadonov, Florida — I sometimes feel like neither of these two get their due given their talents. Given the Panthers cap situation, I have a hard time seeing how they’ll be able to bring back both of them, but one returning to Sunrise probably makes sense. The other one could get the second biggest contract to a UFA forward after Taylor Hall, whenever free agency opens, so that probably rules out Toronto — unless Dubas plans on trading away someone substantial that isn’t on anyone’s radar. It’ll take term and dollars to land either of these two — and they’re both now on the wrong side of 30. But, boy, would they look good with one of Toronto’s top centres.

Craig Smith, Nashville — Another under-the-radar type, perhaps because his name is Craig Smith and he’s played his entire career in Nashville? Smith is a really good skater and a stronger offensive player than his boxcar stats suggest, so he could be a pleasant surprise for whoever picks him up. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of contract he gets, as he comes off a five-year deal that paid him $4.25 million a season.

Mikael Granlund, Nashville — I’ve always been a fan of Granlund’s game, but to be perfectly honest, I don’t know to what degree he’s on the decline at this point. Should teams stay away? His production in Nashville this season was hugely disappointing given his salary, although he’s only 28 years old. He’s small and hasn’t played a ton of centre in recent years but is a fun player to watch and really versatile. I could see a fit with some of Toronto’s talent, if his price tag ends up being lower than expected. Granlund’s a good xG player, too, and I could see the Leafs brass liking him. I’m just not sure if they can afford him at this point. You’d probably have to commit more term than would be prudent at this stage of his career, although who knows how big of a mess free agency turns out to be.

Carl Soderberg, Arizona — Another centre option, if Toronto decides they need help there. But Soderberg’s 35 this fall, and he’s likely not going to come cheap enough to be a fit.

The former stars

The Hall of Fame may await… but do they have more in the tank?

Joe Thornton, San Jose — Very much in the Spezza vein, Thornton could have a career-capping return home to try and win that elusive Stanley Cup. He’s certainly considered it in recent years, and with the Sharks out of contention, it feels like a very real possibility he’ll go elsewhere. It’s a fair question how much game he has left, at 40 years old, but any commitment by the Leafs would be minimal: one year and a near-league minimum salary is probably all that makes sense. Still, that might be enough.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Washington — My guess is he probably stays in D.C. given the fit there, but the Leafs seem to be more and more committed to being a comfortable place for Russians to play and Kovalchuk would be a valuable mentor to Ilya Mikheyev, Alexander Barabanov, Egor Korshkov and others in the system. Maybe there’s a fit.

Corey Perry, Dallas — Perry turns 35 this week, and time is clearly winding down on his career. It’s hard to believe, given it feels like not that long ago he was the young star on the rise as the Ducks won their first Stanley Cup. It wouldn’t make sense for the Leafs to offer anything more than a glorified tryout — a league-minimum-like contract — but perhaps that might be enough for another veteran from around here to want to come home.

Other depth candidates: Mattias Janmark, Johan Larsson, Zemgus Girgensons, Cody Eakin

Dom Luszczyszyn pulled together this handy chart of game-score projections for the next three seasons for all of the players listed above. Of the more realistic targets for the Leafs, he’s highest on Ennis, Leivo, Maroon, Wilson and Fast.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184447 Toronto Maple Leafs Still, back in 1978, there were still hints that the NHL could possibly black-ball any teenage player that bolted to the rival league.

Did Gartner worry at all that by exploring the WHA option, he might close Mike Gartner on the secret condition he played with and Ovechkin’s goal the door on a possible NHL career? pursuit “For us, there was already talk of the leagues merging and how this might be the last year of the WHA,” Gartner said. “When I signed the contract with Cincinnati, it was a five-year deal … I thought, if I had to By Eric Duhatschek May 11, 2020 play five years in Cincinnati, that’s what I’ll do. I looked at it from that perspective – that it was a choice I was going to make. I was hoping the

leagues would merge but at the same time, when I signed that contract, I Like the rest of the hockey world, Mike Gartner was heavily focused on was committed to it.” the Ovie Watch just before the NHL hit the pause button. Alex Ovechkin In all, Gartner played for five NHL teams over 19 seasons, moving from was racing up the all-time goal scoring charts with a bullet and in rapid Washington to Minnesota and then to New York, Toronto and then finally succession passed one Hall of Famer after another. Teemu Selanne. finishing up in Phoenix, with the Coyotes, where he scored the first goal Mario Lemieux. Steve Yzerman. Mark Messier. in the relocated franchise’s history. As Ovechkin crossed the 700-goal plateau, he received a ‘Welcome to In 1994, the year the Rangers won the Stanley Cup, Gartner was traded the 700 Club’ greeting from Gartner. It only seemed a matter of time at the deadline to Toronto, his hometown team, for Glenn Anderson. In before Gartner – the No. 7 goal scorer of all-time, at 708 – would see 2001, Gartner was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame and he currently Ovechkin scorch past him too. Then NHL play ground to a halt with now serves on the selection committee. Ovechkin stalled at 706, so for the time being anyway, Gartner’s spot at No. 7 is secure. Gartner played his entire professional career with a condition known as amblyopia, or a lazy eye, which left him with perfect vision in one eye, but “It’s funny,” said Gartner, “because when things got shut down, a friend limited vision in the other. It was a complication that he never talked sent a text and said, ‘At least Ovie’s not going to pass you this year – so about much. Instead, he just found ways to function – because a lazy eye you can be No. 7 for a few more months anyway.’ can affect both depth perception and the overall quality of your eye-to- “But I was watching it pretty closely. He has all the attributes to possibly hand coordination. In our conversation, I raised the question of his vision be the greatest goal scorer of all-time. He’s not there now because of issues because I deal with the same limiting condition. Wayne Gretzky (No. 1 all-time at 894), but it’s not like he’s just limping “I’ve actually never been asked that question before,” Gartner said. “My into this territory. He’s rocket-shipping into this territory.” left eye is my dominant eye, I have 20-20 vision in my left eye and Gartner and Ovechkin share a common NHL starting place: Both were 20/200 vision in my right eye. If I cover my left eye and look out of my high draft choices of the Washington Capitals, Gartner going fourth right eye, I couldn’t even drive my car. It didn’t really come into play until I overall in the legendary 1979 NHL entry draft; Ovechkin chosen first turned pro, at which point I had to take an eye test. The doctor said, overall in 2004. Gartner spent the first 10 seasons of his career playing ‘cover one eye, and then cover the other’ – and I said, ‘I can’t see out of for the Capitals, a time when they went from league laughingstock to that eye.’ For years, the doctors just kinda looked the other way – I would serious contender. Ovechkin has been with them his entire NHL life and take the black thing they use to cover your eye and move it a little so I was a catalyst on their first-ever Stanley Cup championship team in could read the eye charts. They didn’t care if I could see out of both eyes, 2018. as long as I could pass the eye test – and score goals.

When Gartner crossed the 700-goal threshold, he became just in the fifth “So really, I went through my whole career that way. I remember telling player in NHL history to do so. Currently, there are just eight in that club. my youngest son, just a little while ago, ‘yeah, I really can’t see out of my right eye.’ And he said, ‘what do you mean, you can’t see out of your The only way to get to 700 goals is through consistency and durability, right eye?’ And I said, ‘I’ve spent my whole life that way.’ My peripheral another shared trait of Gartner’s and Ovechkin’s respective careers. vision is fine – no problem at all – but I can’t really see out of my right eye. And he said, ‘you played for 20 years with only one good eye?’ And In all, Gartner scored 30 goals or more in a season 17 times during his I said, ‘yeah – and if anybody had really checked on it, I probably would career, an NHL record. In fact, the only two years he didn’t score 30 not have passed the eye test.’” came in 1994-95, the lockout-shortened year, in which he also missed 10 games with a collapsed lung, and in 1997-98, in the final year of his Gartner said his vision issues only became a problem if a coach wanted career with the Phoenix Coyotes, a season in which he missed 20 games to switch him to the left wing, which occasionally happened at different recovering from knee surgery. times in his career. It was something he tried to discourage as much as possible, without ever giving his secret away. For 20 years, or until Dylan Larkin broke the mark in 2016, Gartner held the NHL All-Star Game record for fastest skater. As a boy, before ever “I was pretty limited that way, I was a right winger, I really couldn’t play attending hockey schools, Gartner took power-skating classes. He was a anywhere else,” said Gartner. “I remember, one time, they tried to put me blur going down the right side of the ice and had a hard, heavy shot to on left wing and I told them, ‘I can’t play over there. I don’t feel supplement his speed. Together, those qualities contributed to an comfortable.’ I really think it was because I couldn’t see the ice the same unprecedented consistency over a two-decade career. way – whereas playing right wing, I could see the entire ice surface, because my left eye was dominant. When I went on the off wing, I Gartner came along during the last days of the NHL’s war of attrition with couldn’t see as well. I told them: ‘I’m not a very good left winger. You’re the WHA. As one of the top juniors in the OHL, he had an opportunity to better off just keeping me on the right side.’” sign with Cincinnati for the 1978-79 season, what turned out to be the WHA’s final season. The biggest problem with having good vision in only one eye is, what happens then if your good eye gets injured? But what a way to go out. That occurred with Gartner back in 1983, when he damaged the optic Gartner was runner-up to Wayne Gretzky as the league’s rookie of the nerve in his good left eye after getting hit in the eye with a puck. For year, and in Cincinnati, he played on the same Stingers team as Mark three weeks, he couldn’t see properly at all. It was a worrisome time. Messier (the two would later reunite in 1991 with the New York Rangers). “I lost my vision in that eye and the doctors told me, ‘your actual eye is According to Gartner, he followed a career path forged originally by Ken OK, but your optic nerve is damaged – and we’re not sure how long it’s Linseman, Mark Napier, Mark and Marty Howe and others as teenagers going to be,” said Gartner. “For those three weeks that I was out, I was when he and Rob Ramage, Michel Goulet, Rick Vaive and Craig frightened to death because I couldn’t see. My good eye was shot. Hartsburg all bolted to the WHA from their various junior clubs to earn Finally, the vision started to come back – but it was very slow. It’s why I what, at the time, were astonishing salaries. was one of the first players to put on a shield. I remember thinking, ‘I “It was a 20-year-old draft back then,” Gartner said. “I wanted to play in better see if I can play with a shield.’ I couldn’t see out of my right eye the NHL and I felt I was ready. So, it was either play for $75 a week in anyway. My left eye was coming around, but it was still a little blurry – Niagara Falls or $75,000 a year in Cincinnati. It was actually a pretty and now I’ve got a shield on. I remember playing that first game back, easy choice.” thinking, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this.’ “And then, wouldn’t you know, I get a hat trick my first game back. I’m still not sure how it happened, because I don’t think I saw anything go in. Afterward, people said, ‘We thought your eye was injured – it looked OK to us.’ I just told them: ‘Sure. It’s fine.’”

Eventually, the eye did heal completely and Gartner learned to adjust to playing with a face shield – a common practice now, unusual then.

Following his retirement, Gartner settled in the Greater Toronto Area and remains busy. For years, he worked with World Vision and still is on its board of directors. Primarily, he considers himself a small businessman, with ownership stakes in a self-storage facility, three office buildings, and in conjunction with former Capitals teammate Wes Jarvis, has also spent the past 25 years operating National Training Rinks Canada (NTR), which owns double rinks in Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Barrie, Ont.

According to Gartner, the arena business had been thriving until early March, when the world as we know it changed, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s been a challenging couple of months,” said Gartner. “We were one of the first businesses that was mandated by the provincial government to close. That was back on March 18. We had to lay off about 75 part-time people. We’ve kept on 16 full-time employees and plan on doing that for as long as we can. We’re a healthy business, but we also have zero revenue coming in, so we’re going to try to do the right thing. I’ve become an expert on government subsidy programs. If you want to know anything about them, I’m your man.”

On the final Friday of April, NTR’s summer 3-on-3 leagues were scheduled to open – but couldn’t.

“We’re trying to stay on top of things and communicate with all our customers and doing the best we can,” said Gartner. “We’ll be ready to open, when we get permission. But we had to take our ice out for the first time in 25 years because we run 12 months of the year. We’ll be well- positioned to put it back in when the time is right to reopen and continue to move forward – but those are the things we’re dealing with.”

The Gartners, Mike and Colleen, have three adult children and four grandchildren, so that’s been a challenge too – staying in touch with family via FaceTime, Skype or Zoom. Gartner is like a lot of people – missing sports and looking forward to the day when his rinks reopen and the NHL returns to play, at which point Ovechkin can resume his chase for Gretzky’s all-time goal scoring record and slip past Gartner on the all- time goals list.

“Can Ovie keep this up for another five years?” asked Gartner. “Not sure – but if anyone can, he might be able to. Why? First, because he’s durable. He’s proven to be durable. Then, because he shoots the puck – more than anybody in the league still. He gets 350 to 400 shots every year, so even with a really average shooting percentage, he’s going to score a lot of goals. The third thing he has going for him is, he’s so hungry. He was hungry when he first came into the league. He was hungry 10 years ago. He was hungry five years ago – and he’s just as hungry now to score goals. He loves scoring goals.

“The last thing is, he’s got the three-pack of a great shot – velocity, quickness and accuracy. All great goal scorers have those things to some degree, but they usually are not elite in all three. Ovie is. So, it’s a compelling package and a fun story – and we’re going to be watching it just for the next seven months. We’re going to watching it for a while here.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184448 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights roster review: Nate Schmidt

By Ben Gotz

May 11, 2020 - 5:29 PM

The Review-Journal presents its “Roster Review” series, which will examine each Golden Knights player’s current production and future outlook in alphabetical order. Tuesday: Defenseman Nate Schmidt.

Background

It can be tempting to take Nate Schmidt for granted.

The gregarious defenseman has been part of the Golden Knights’ identity since the outset of the franchise. He’s been so consistent — minus his 20-game suspension last season for testing positive for a performance- enhancing substance — that it’s easy to overlook his accomplishments.

He’s not as skilled as Shea Theodore. He’s not as physical as Brayden McNabb. But he brings a cocktail of skills that makes him a prototypical modern defenseman. He’s what makes the blue line tick.

The same can be said for his effect on the locker room. Schmidt’s goofy, outgoing personality — he was filmed sliding on his hardwood floor in socks Thursday — obscures his true value.

He isn’t just a jokester, though. If the Knights are having an off night, he’ll speak up. It’s why he’s served as an alternate captain many times. It’s also why he’s the team’s NHL Players’ Association representative.

And it’s definitely a reason he remains as important as ever to the franchise that unlocked his potential in 2017.

Performance

Schmidt’s worth to the Knights became clear last season when the team went 8-11-1 during his suspension.

Nothing about that has changed this season, even as the blue line morphed around him.

The Knights have tinkered with their defense corps all season to find the right mix. Rookies Nic Hague, Zach Whitecloud and Jake Bischoff have received looks. Veterans Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland have rotated in and out. Alec Martinez was added at the trade deadline.

Through it all, Schmidt has stuck to his assigned tasks and delivered results. His offense (0.53 points per game) has increased for the fifth straight season despite him ceding power-play time to Hague and Theodore.

His skating and puck moving still have been impressive. His ability to defend opposing No. 1 lines — along with McNabb — remains key to the team’s success.

That all-around impact led to Schmidt leading Knights skaters in average time on ice in their first two seasons. And his value is still high even though Theodore is set to surpass him in that category this season.

Theodore, who is playing like one of the NHL’s top offensive defensemen, still can’t do what Schmidt does defensively. That means Schmidt will remain important as ever for the rest of this season and beyond.

Future

Schmidt should be one of the Knights’ top two defensemen for a long time.

He and Theodore have the same amount of term left on their contracts. They will be free agents after the 2024-25 season. Only Mark Stone and William Karlsson have longer deals with the Knights.

That makes Schmidt a crucial part of the team’s core.

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Golden Knights give update on plan to pay T-Mobile Arena workers

By David Schoen

May 11, 2020 - 4:03 PM

Updated May 11, 2020 - 4:06 PM

The Golden Knights said Monday that their pledge to offer financial assistance to part-time employees at T-Mobile Arena hinges on the cancellation of the four regular-season home games that have not been played.

“Since our initial pledge in March to support arena hourly on-call workers and part time Golden Knights staff with a minimum of $500,000, we have been actively working with all the entities involved to ensure that individuals are accounted for,” the organization said in a statement. “As noted from the outset of our commitment, the situation is complex with the number of parties, employees and third party vendors involved and the fact that the majority of the workers are not Golden Knights employees.

“We have also been awaiting clarity from the NHL on the status of the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season. We appreciate everyone’s continued patience throughout this process and understand employees are eager to receive more details. We will share all information regarding distribution when appropriate. We are very grateful for the generosity of Bill Foley, Marc-Andre Fleury, the VGK players and the VGK Foundation.”

The organization committed a minimum of $500,000 to assist part-time arena staff and its own part-time employees whose jobs were affected when the NHL season was paused March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The contributions, which included a $100,000 donation from Fleury, initially were to be distributed for regular-season games not played or rescheduled.

The league has not announced its plans for the remainder of the 2019-20 season and whether fans will be allowed in arenas if games are played.

The Knights were scheduled to play home games against Dallas (March 17), Detroit (March 21), Vancouver (March 23) and Arizona (March 25).

The funds are intended to benefit hourly, on-call staff at T-Mobile Arena along with third-party vendors, service providers, food and beverage employees, retail associates, medical staff, event personnel, production and cleaning operations.

The Knights also will support their part-time game staff, which includes interns, in-arena hosts, the public-address announcer, Vegas Vivas!, Golden Belles, Knights Guard, Knight Line, the Golden Knight, DJ and music director, camera operators, control room crew, Battle Wagon driver, Villain and Watchman, and the drivers of the ice resurfacers.

The Knights have yet to address their plan for anyone who purchased tickets to one of the four home games that were postponed along with season ticket holders.

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NCAA’s leading scorer Jack Dugan agrees to terms with Golden Knights

By David Schoen

May 11, 2020 - 1:16 PM

Updated May 11, 2020 - 3:40 PM

Providence forward Jack Dugan, who led the NCAA in scoring, agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with the Golden Knights on Monday.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue to play a key role in the development of Jack Dugan as both a hockey player and as a young man within our organization,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “Jack took significant steps in his growth over the past two seasons as one of the best all-around players in college hockey and has proven that he is ready for the next challenge in his young career.”

Thankful for these past two years at Providence. I couldn’t be more grateful for this next opportunity and excited to get going with Vegas whenever that may be!

— Jack Dugan (@JackDugan8) May 11, 2020

Dugan agreed to terms on multiple two-year, entry-level contracts based on whether the NHL resumes playing and other factors, according to his agent, Brian Bartlett.

The NHL has prohibited teams from signing players to contracts for the 2019-20 season since it paused March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

If the league reverses that policy, Dugan could sign and play a game in the NHL to burn the first year of his contract. Otherwise, it would kick in at the start of the 2020-21 season and he would become a restricted free agent in 2022.

Dugan, 22, was a fifth-round pick by the Knights in 2017 after being bypassed in the draft the previous season.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 194-pound wing had 52 points in 34 games as a sophomore at Providence before the remainder of the Friars’ season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“He’s got some things that you can’t teach, some things he does naturally,” Knights director of player development Wil Nichol said. “I’m happy to hear that Jack (said) he has to continue to work on his 200-foot game. … The more they’re a 200-foot player and a complete player, they’re going to have the puck more, and that’s what we want. We want guys like Jack to have the puck.”

Dugan was named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in college hockey.

He led the nation in points per game (1.53), assists (42), assists per game (1.24), power-play points (22) and even-strength points (30) on the way to being named first-team All- Association.

In 75 career games at Providence, Dugan produced 20 goals and 71 assists for 91 points.

“He’s big, strong. He’s got a really good stick and really good vision,” Providence coach Nate Leaman said in January. “The challenge for Jack is to keep earning offense and to keep working for his offense, and not to fall back and wait for the offense to come to him or wait for a puck.”

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Golden Knights extend meal-donation program

By Mark Anderson

May 11, 2020 - 12:00 PM

The Golden Knights are extending their meal-donation for another two weeks.

They have provided more than 10,000 ready-to-eat meals since April to first responders and medical professionals combating COVID-19 in the Las Vegas Valley.

By extending the program, the Knights will provide 300 meals to various hospitals for 10 days over the next two weeks.

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4 Golden Knights nominated for NHL Fan Choice Awards

By David Schoen

May 11, 2020 - 11:45 am

Voting for the NHL Fan Choice Awards opened Monday, and the Golden Knights have four nominees.

Marc-Andre Fleury’s diving glove save against Toronto’s Nic Petan on Nov. 19 is up for Save of the Year honors, while “expressive” Mark Stone is on the ballot for GIF of the Year.

Ryan Reaves is nominated for Funniest Player, which is one of five new categories. Robin Lehner, who was acquired at the trade deadline in February, is one of four candidates for Best Follow on social media.

In addition, voting includes categories for Best Mascot and Best NHL Building.

“With new categories and a new host, we’re excited to give our passionate fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite NHL moments across social media,” said Heidi Browning, NHL executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “The 2020 Fan Choice Awards showcase our players’ personalities and provides a unique look at their lives, on and off the ice. Our fans are enthusiastic about the teams and players they root for and the NHL Fan Choice Awards allows us to continue engaging them in entertaining ways.”

Fans can vote on all 20 categories through June 1, and the winners will be announced online and across social media June 3.

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AHL cancels remainder of regular season, playoffs

By David Schoen

May 11, 2020 - 6:27 am

The Golden Knights’ affiliation with the Chicago Wolves ended Monday when the American Hockey League canceled the remainder of its regular season and Calder Cup playoffs.

The announcement was made after a vote Friday by the league’s Board of Governors.

The AHL has been paused since March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic and will not crown a champion for the first time in its 84-year history.

The AHL Board of Governors has voted to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 AHL regular season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions. The league’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season,” AHL president and CEO David Andrews said in a statement. “We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.

“The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

The Knights will have a new AHL affiliate when the next season begins after purchasing the San Antonio franchise and relocating it to Henderson. The unnamed team is expected to play at until construction is completed on a new arena at the Henderson Pavilion site.

Chicago finished 27-26-5-3 and fourth in the Central Division. In three seasons as the Knights’ top affiliate, the Wolves won two division titles and advanced to the Calder Cup Final in 2019.

While most of the Wolves’ players and coach Rocky Thompson are under contract with the Knights and will be part of the new AHL club, Chicago is expected to become the top affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.

But it’s unclear whether the AHL can resume until fans are permitted by local government regulations to attend games. Unlike the big-box NHL, the minor league relies heavily on ticket sales and sponsorships for its revenue.

The Knights had more than 7,000 deposits for AHL season tickets as of Feb. 28.

“Our plans have remained pretty similar to what they would be ordinarily with respect to the American Hockey League franchise,” Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said last week. “If we get to a point where there’s no (minor league) hockey in the fall, then that would impact development and that would be something we need to address. But no one has those answers.”

Should the NHL resume its season, it’s likely that 23-man rosters would be expanded. The Toronto Marlies said in a news release to announce the cancellation of the AHL season that “select players” would join the Maple Leafs if permitted.

The Knights would have several recall options from the Wolves should the NHL season resume.

Jake Bischoff, Patrick Brown, Oscar Dansk, Nic Hague, Keegan Kolesar, Brandon Pirri, Gage Quinney, Garret Sparks and Valentin Zykov have appeared in at least one game for the Knights this season.

First-year pro Lucas Elvenes led the Wolves in scoring with 48 points (12 goals, 36 assists) in 59 games. 1184454 Vegas Golden Knights The NHL’s season pause adds to the confusion. Because of his age, Dugan is required to sign a two-year, two-way deal at a maximum of $925,000 per year, and it cannot slide the way Glass’ did last fall, which allowed him to play in the AHL. Providence College star, Golden Knights draftee Jack Dugan joins organization If Dugan’s contract kicks in for the end of the season (assuming there is one), he would a restricted free agent next summer.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.12.2020 By Justin Emerson

Monday, May 11, 2020 | 1:15 p.m.

One of college hockey’s top stars is joining the Golden Knights.

Vegas announced today that Providence sophomore Jack Dugan is leaving college and joining the organization.

That typically means the player has signed an entry-level contract. But with the uncertainty of when the season will begin and whether a contract would start this season or in 2020-21, the Golden Knights did not announce terms of an agreement.

Still, it means Dugan, who was selected in the fifth round in Vegas’ inaugural 2017 draft, will be playing in Las Vegas next year.

The 20-year-old had a breakout season at Providence, leading the nation with 42 assists and 52 points in 34 games. He was named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, the trophy for the top NCAA men’s hockey player.

Dugan is eligible to join the Golden Knights immediately and could see action this season if the season resumes. Play was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dugan will battle for a roster spot next training camp and if he doesn’t make the NHL squad, he will report to the AHL squad, which as of next season will be in Henderson.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue to play a key role in the development of Jack Dugan as both a hockey player and as a young man within our organization,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “Jack took significant steps in his growth over the past two seasons as one of the best all-around players in college hockey and has proven that he is ready for the next challenge in his young career.”

Dugan said via Twitter that he was thankful for his time at Providence. “I couldn’t be more grateful for this next opportunity and excited to get going with Vegas whenever that may be!” he said.

Dugan was drafted out of prep school before playing the next season in the USHL . He joined Providence in 2018-19 and produced immediately, registering 39 points in 41 games. Even then, it was clear he would be a good pro.

“He’s a guy that after one or two more years, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to be a very, very good prospect for Vegas,” Providence coach Nate Leaman told the Sun during Dugan’s freshman year.

He impressed at development camp in Las Vegas in June, showing why he was one of the Golden Knights’ top young skaters. He skated on the top line with Cody Glass, and even after Glass left camp early, Dugan continued to shine.

Dugan opened eyes across the country with his play at Providence this season and had his first taste of T-Mobile Arena in January when his Friars came to town as part of the Ice Vegas Invitational,. Dugan scored the first goal of the tournament.

“Hopefully that’s my first goal of many in this building,” Dugan said at the time. “Watching those (Golden Knights) games you think, where would I fit in in the future?”

McCrimmon said in December he thought Dugan was ready to turn pro. Dugan had two more years of college eligibility, at which point the Golden Knights would lose his rights. Getting him into the organization was key.

Where Dugan plays next season will be decided in training camp.

The Golden Knights rewarded fellow college signees Zach Whitecloud and with NHL games immediately after signing, but both were undrafted free agents. It’s also notable that neither appeared in an NHL game the following season. 1184455 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights up for NHL Fan Choice Awards

By Justin Emerson

Monday, May 11, 2020 | 8:08 a.m.

The NHL Fan Choice Awards are open, and there is no shortage of Golden Knights players among the nominees.

Typically a postseason event for the league, the Fan Choice Awards were created in 2018 as a way for fans to choose the best moments in social media from the season. Voting is open through June 1 at the awards website, and winners will be announced June 3.

Four Golden Knights are up for individual awards, and the the team was nominated for Best Mascot and Best Building.

Marc-Andre Fleury won Save of the Year last year for this beauty against the Flyers and returns to defend his crown with his game-saving leap against the Maple Leafs on April 19.

#ExpressiveMarkStone became a favorite hashtag of the Golden Knights’ social media accounts and fans. Stone's exuberance is rewarded with a nomination for Best Gif. There are plenty to choose from, and the league went with the congratulations after a victory over the Flyers on Jan. 2.

When the Golden Knights acquired Robin Lehner in February, they also acquired one of the best Twitter accounts in the league. Lehner is up for Best Follow on social media. At the time of the trade, Lehner posted a meme of himself as a Panda making a joke about how he was technically acquired by Toronto for cap reasons before being sent to Vegas.

Ryan Reaves was nominated for Funniest Player, a new category this year. Reaves is known as a trash-talker on the ice, and after coming in third in a ranking of best chirpers in the league in October, he made it clear he was gunning for the gold.

“With new categories and a new host, we’re excited to give our passionate fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite NHL moments across social media,” Heidi Browning, NHL chief marketing officer, said in a statement.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184456 Vegas Golden Knights dozen sports organizations affected throughout the state, the Los Angeles area has about that many on its own.

“It’s difficult for me to imagine a stadium that’s filled until we have Sisolak: Western states will help Nevada form plan on sports returning immunity, until we have a vaccine,” Newsom said at a press conference last week.

The Dolphins were perhaps the most optimistic that they could get fans By Justin Emerson into the building for their games. Team CEO Tom Garfinkel revealed a plan on “Good Morning America” last week for social-distance spectating, Monday, May 11, 2020 | 2 a.m. which including allowing just 15,000 spectators into a stadium built for more than 65,000. It’s unclear if other teams or leagues will look to follow suit. The Raiders hope to open Allegiant Stadium in September on Monday Night Football. The Golden Knights want to finish a season that saw The NHL is another issue. The Golden Knights have not failed to sell out them closing in on their second division title in three years before it was a home game in three seasons, though that streak may be forced to end paused for coronavirus concerns. if games resume this year. The league paused its season on March 12 with the Golden Knights sitting atop of the Pacific Division, and has There’s also UNLV football, which is slated to host a pair of Power 5 begun discussing return-to-play proposals that would get players on the conference opponents in September, and the Aces, Aviators and Lights ice as soon as next month. are also on standby waiting for their seasons to launch. But any action involving the NHL — or the NBA, which has proposed Whether these events happen is one question. Whether there will be using Las Vegas as a hub for its playoffs to return — would almost anyone in the building to witness them is another, perhaps even more certainly be played without fans. That’s how the Korean Baseball complicated, question. Organization launched last week, becoming one of the world’s first major leagues to host games after virus shutdowns. For clues on how and when the state might allow sports to return, look west. Nevada recently joined the Western States Pact, a five-state “My guess is that we would start with either limited fans or empty arenas, alliance that plans to work together to find ways to safely return to normal so just the teams and their associated staffs,” Florida Panthers president life in the region. Matthew Caldwell told the Associated Press.

A statement from Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s office to the Sun No one associated with hockey wants to play without fans. The NHL is a suggested Nevada will consider following the lead of its western gate-driven league with an American television contract dwarfed by those neighbors. of its NFL, NBA and MLB counterparts, and could stand to lose, by some estimates, $1 billion if a season were not resumed. “The governor’s office is in frequent communication with the other states in the Western States Pact to discuss best practices and share ideas as Players, meanwhile, often credit a home crowd for the energy they bring it relates to COVID-19,” the statement read. “These conversations help to games. inform actions Nevada may take in its state-specific reopening plan.” “That would suck,” Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said in March about Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday announced that large gatherings, the possibility of playing in an empty arena. “It’s obviously something we including sporting events, are prohibited through at least September. would miss a lot, but we’re not there yet.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he doesn’t see sports with fans happening at all until there is a COVID-19 vaccine. Nevada has yet to make a declarative statement on if or when sports can return with fans. Ultimately local governments will have the final say on The other governors in the pact, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and whether it’s safe for its residents to catch a game, and leagues will have Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, have not made recent remarks on the return to adjust to that. of sports or large gatherings, though Inslee was among the first governors to ban them when the pandemic began to take hold in March. Other than the NFL plowing ahead with its schedule release, there’s no firm date for when the next sporting event in Nevada will be held. Maybe It’s not as if Sisolak is apathetic toward athletics, either. As Clark County it’s part of the NBA playoffs package. Maybe it's a Golden Knights game. commissioner, Sisolak was a mainstay at sporting events in Las Vegas, and even helped bring professional hockey to the valley, as he reminded And, of course, maybe it’s not until there is a vaccine. locals in an ad during his run for governor. He’ll want sports back as LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 05.12.2020 much as anyone.

But it’s not that easy.

Nevada just began the reopening of local businesses shuttered by Sisolak’s directive on March 17. On Saturday, Nevada began “Phase 1” of the state’s “Roadmap to Recovery,” which included dine-in restaurants and retail stores opening with strict distancing guidelines. Sports were of course not included, and figure to be among the last industries to re- open, along with casinos.

“As (Sisolak) said last (week), large sporting events will not be reopening during Phase 1, and right now there is no date for reopening of such venues,” his office said in the same statement.

Even if Nevada or any state gave the green light to sports to return with fans, leagues will still have their own say on whether they will allow customers in.

Due to its fall schedule, the NFL has not yet been forced to make a decision on fans in stadiums, and even released its 2020 schedule Thursday night. The Raiders have yet to release information on single- game tickets, though other teams have begun to sell tickets with the disclaimer that tickets to canceled games are refundable if purchased through the team.

Any hope of exception because of the novelty of new Allegiant Stadium and it being the first year of the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas are probably folly, too. California is in a similar position, with the Rams and Chargers set to move into new SoFi Stadium. And while Nevada has around a 1184457 Vegas Golden Knights

When will Jack Dugan play for the Golden Knights?

By Jesse Granger May 11, 2020

Hobey Baker Award finalist Jack Dugan agreed to join the Vegas Golden Knights Monday afternoon.

The team’s announcement was a bit strange due to extenuating circumstances. The Golden Knights didn’t officially sign Dugan, who they drafted with a fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft. Instead, they came to an agreement on a contract, with the deal pending based on how the remainder of the 2019-20 NHL season plays out.

The official details of Dugan’s pending contract aren’t yet disclosed, but it is a two-year deal and Dugan will be a restricted free agent upon its expiry, according to sources close to the negotiations. The maximum entry-level deal is worth $925,000 AAV, so it’s safe to assume Dugan’s deal will be short of that, which gives Vegas another much-needed young, cheap contract in its expensive forward group.

Dugan’s preference is to begin his professional career immediately when hockey resumes, a source told The Athletic, but that is unlikely to happen in the NHL until the 2020-21 season. When the NHL suspended this season March 12, the league instructed teams that no contracts for draft picks or college, junior and European free agents could be signed with a start date of this current season, and recently sources told The Athletic’s Michael Russo that, as of now, the league has no plans to change that rule.

In a normal season, Dugan could to join the team immediately after signing, like when Cale Makar joined the Colorado Avalanche during last year’s playoffs after ending his college career.

“Thankful for these past two years at Providence,” Dugan tweeted Monday afternoon. “I couldn’t be more grateful for this next opportunity and excited to get going with Vegas whenever that may be.”

If Dugan’s deal begins with the 2020-21 season, it would run through the 2021-22 season, where he would remain under Vegas’ control as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

Dugan led the entire NCAA in scoring this season with 10 goals and 52 assists in just 34 games as a sophomore. He displayed strong skating, and an even better ability to hold onto the puck for extended periods in the offensive zone. He regularly used his 6-foot-2, 185 pound frame to bully defenders, giving himself time to find passing lanes for dangerous chances. He led all skaters in assists, points per game (1.24), power play points (22) and even strength points (30), and was named a first team All-American.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue to play a key role in the development of Jack Dugan as both a hockey player and as a young man within our organization,” Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon said in a release. “Jack took significant steps in his growth over the past two seasons as one of the best all-around players in college hockey, and has proven that he is ready for the next challenge in his young career.”

As a freshman at Providence, Dugan tallied a respectable 39 points in 41 games, but he entered his second season of college hockey on a mission.

“I told (the Golden Knights) that my goals this season were to dominate and be the best player in college hockey,” Dugan said in December. “I want to be a pro-ready player. I’ve been doing everything I can to make sure of that.”

Dugan has now accomplished both of those goals, and impressed the Golden Knights brass enough to take the next step in his career.

“He’s one of the top players in college hockey, which we expected to be the case for Jack,” McCrimmon said in December. “I think he’s ready to turn pro. He’s ready for the next challenge.”

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American Hockey League cancels remainder of season due to coronavirus

By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times - Monday, May 11, 2020

The American Hockey League, the top minor-league affiliate of the National Hockey League, announced Monday it will not play the remainder of its 2019-20 season or the playoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” AHL President and CEO David Andrews said.

The league will not award its championship trophy, the Calder Cup, for the first time in its history. The AHL’s Board of Governors made the decision in a conference call Friday.

Andrews added that the league looks forward to returning to action in the 2020-21 season.

The season was suspended on March 12, the same day that the NHL halted games. At the time, the Washington Capitals’ affiliate, the Hershey Bears, had one of the league’s best records and was all but certain to make the playoffs.

The announcement means many top Capitals prospects such as Alex Alexeyev, Garrett Pilon and Martin Fehervary saw their seasons end.

But if the NHL season does resume, it’s unclear how the rules regarding minor-league call-ups might change, if at all.

Washington Times LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184459 Washington Capitals "To have that goal go in, the crowd and the excitement, it's my most memorable regular-season goal for sure."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 Ex-Capitals winger Troy Brouwer details his game-winning goal from the 2015 Winter Classic

By J.J. Regan May 11, 2020 7:01 PM

The 2015 WInter Classic looked like it was headed to overtime. With the score tied 2-2 with about 20 seconds in regulation, Troy Brouwer took the faceoff at center ice. In less than eight seconds, he would score one of the most memorable goals of his career.

The Winter Classic isn't just any game. It may be worth only two points in the standings, but for one day the entire hockey world watches as two teams skate outdoors. The 2015 Classic was the Capitals' second, but it was the first time Washington played host.

It may look like any other game on the schedule, but the players knew that it wasn't.

"You're excited to play the only game that day at an outdoor stadium and be the only show on NBC that day," Brouwer said during the Captials' Greatest Hits broadcast on NBC Sports Washington.

He added, "It's got a completely different feel to it. It's such a spectacle."

The Caps and Chicago Blackhawks battled to a 2-2 tie headed into the third period. With time winding down, however, there was a turning point in the game with just over a minute to go as Jonathan Toews was called for hooking. The call was an important one as it gave Washington the power play and also ended the tail end of a power play for Chicago. It was also soft. After having to kill off seven of the first 10 penalties called, finally a call went the Caps' way.

The critical moment came soon after with a stoppage in play and a draw at center ice. Nicklas Backstrom was on with the power play unit, but Brouwer, a winger, went to take the draw.

"We like to take our draws on the strong sides," Brower said. "If the ref at center ice has to face the penalty box, that gives me a better opportunity to get my top hand in there and win it with my backhand."

It worked. Had he not won the faceoff, his late-game heroics would not have been possible. But he won it and Alex Ovechkin took the puck down the ice.

Already with a goal, Ovechkin looked as if he wanted to take the puck through all four penalty killers and simply will it into the back of the net. He may have succeeded if not for his stick getting slashed out of his hands. The loose puck came to Brouwer and he did the only thing he could think of: Turn and shoot.

Was it a perfectly placed shot? Did Brouwer know exactly where he was going to go with it? Did he know exactly how to beat his former teammate in Chicago, Corey Crawford? Nope.

"I just turned around and fired it because I'm just trying to get it on net," he said. In explaining the play, Brouwer said aiming on those spinning shots is incredibly hard to do. In that moment, he just wanted to get it on net and see what happened.

What happened was the unlikely game-winner with just 12.9 seconds remaining. And then came the celebration.

"Just pure joy," Brouwer said. "Just pure excitement I guess. It's one of those things where you're not really expecting that much out of it."

Brouwer let out a primal scream as the puck hit the back of the net before being mobbed by teammates.

"I think I broke my neck in that celebration," Brouwer said.

He added, "I just remember being in that pile and it was so much fun." Brouwer could be seen looking at his thumb on the bench which he thought he may have twisted during the celebration.

On paper, it was just a goal. OK, so it was a game-winning goal and it gave the Caps two points, but that's it. To the players, however, and to everyone who was there, it was so much more than that. 1184460 Washington Capitals

Captain up for Best Team Dog as Capitals nominated for five fan choice awards

By J.J. Regan May 11, 2020 2:12 PM

The NHL Fan Choice Awards are out and the Capitals are well represented. The team has been nominated for five awards, plus another two in which every team is a finalist for a total of seven awards. The headliner is, of course, Captain who is up for Best Team Dog, not to be confused with Best Dog which is a different category.

Oshie gets the Caps another nomination with the butt tap which is up for best pregame ritual. The video, however, shoes a modified version of it as they like to mix things up from time to time.

Quite frankly this should win every single year while those two are still teammates.

In addition to those five, the Caps are also up for Best Mascot with Slapshot and Best Building for Capital One Arena as both categories include every team as finalists.

Be sure to get online and cast your votes! You might as well while we're all still stuck at home.

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Hershey Bears' quest for the Calder Cup ends as the AHL cancels remainder of season

By J.J. Regan May 11, 2020 9:18 AM

The AHL has canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 season as well as the Calder Cup Playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league announced Monday.

"The safety and health of our players, coaches, staff, fans, and community has always been of the utmost importance, so we understand and support the difficult decision made by the American Hockey League to end the season due to this global health pandemic," said Vice President of Hockey Operations, Bryan Helmer.

The news is particularly disappointing for the Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the Capitals. As not every team in the AHL plays the same number of games, teams are ranked in the standings by points percentage. By that metric, the Bears ranked second in the Atlantic Division and third in the league with a 37-18-3-4 record. In its second season under head coach Spencer Carbery, Hershey looked poised for a run at the Calder Cup. Monday's announcement, however, dashes those hopes.

"We firmly believe we had a great chance of bringing a championship to Chocolatetown this year," Helmer said. "We are very disappointed that we will not get to see that goal achieved for our team and, most importantly, for our tremendous fans. However, during this difficult time, the health and safety of our community needs to be the number one priority."

Unlike the NHL, there is very little financial incentive for minor hockey leagues to play out the remainder of their seasons in front of empty arenas, something that seems the most likely scenario for the foreseeable future. That makes Monday's announcement no real surprise, but it does provide yet another complication to the NHL.

In the regular season, NHL rosters are limited to a maximum of 23 players. Those limitations, as well as the salary cap, disappear in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. NHL teams will then recall a number of their AHL prospects to serve as "black aces" who practice with the team to provide further depth in the brutal postseason as well as to give younger prospects experience. For teams like the Capitals who know they will be in the postseason in whatever format the NHL may choose, the season has not ended for a number of their AHL players. Though it seems unlikely at this point, if the NHL does not skip directly to the playoffs and attempts to play out all or part of its regular season, those players will essentially remain in limbo until the playoffs begin if the NHL decides to hold teams to the normal roster constraints.

Further complicating matters is the fact that no one is quite sure what format the Stanley Cup Playoffs may take. If the league sticks to 16 teams, it is unclear exactly how the league will determine those 16 teams. It could be on points or, since not every team has played the same number of games, points percentage. It is also possible that the NHL could open the playoffs to more than 16 teams in recognition of the fact that the pause to the season has disrupted the final playoff push of several bubble teams. Many AHL players cannot simply begin their offseason because it is unknown if their NHL clubs will ultimately need them for the postseason or not.

A team like Washington can tell its prospects to remain in shape for when the season does resume, but what about teams like the Montreal Canadiens who seemed well out of the playoff hunt, but who could be included in an extended playoff format?

Monday's announcement may close the book on the AHL season, but creates even more uncertainty when it comes to the NHL.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184462 Washington Capitals 1. Brouwer's game-winner The 2015 Winter Classic looked like it was headed to overtime when the

two teams resumed play with a faceoff at center ice. Ovechkin tried to Troy Brouwer's game-winner tops the Caps' best moments in their essentially take on the entire Blackhawks team himself and will the puck outdoor games into the net. He might have been able to if his stick was not slashed apart in his hands. With Ovechkin's arms raised looking for the slashing call, the Chicago players all seemed to momentarily pause as if waiting for the penalty. That gave Tory Brouwer enough room to get the loose puck, By J.J. Regan May 11, 2020 6:00 AM spin around and fire it on net. Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford stretched the pad and the glove in vain as the puck hit the back of the net breaking the 2-2 tie. Brouwer reached up tot he heavens to celebrate as The Capitals have played in three outdoor games with the 2011 Winter his teammates all jumped on him. That goal would prove to be the winner Classic in Pittsburgh, the 2015 Winter Classic at Nationals Park and the and the exclamation point to a day in which the capital of the country was 2018 Stadium Series in Annapolis. All three were spectacular events with also the capital of the hockey world. incredible moments many Caps fans will never forget. With the 2015 Winter Classic being the subject of Monday's Capitals' Greatest Hits Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 broadcast (7 p.m., NBC Sports Washington), it seems like a good time to count down the best moments from those outdoor games.

Here are the five best

5. The Dance Party

This is a moment the NHL would probably love to forget, but for any fan attending the Stadium Series, it turned into part of the fun. With about 10 minutes left to go in the Stadium Series game, the lights at Navy Marine- Corps Memorial Stadium suddenly went out. Turning on stadium lights is not as easy as flipping a switch so it took some time to get enough lighting for play to resume. Rather than put a damper on the evening, however, everyone seemed to embrace it. It did not take long for the phones to come out and while the thousands of screens weren't enough to light up the ice, it was enough to get a good dance party going in the stands.

Would it have been as fun if the Caps were down 5-2 instead of up 5-2? Probably not, but with the game seemingly well in hand, the victory party began a bit earlier than expected in Annapolis.

4. Ovechkin's 598th

When the Stadium Series was played, the hockey world was on Alex Ovechkin watch as he neared goal No. 600. While he did not get it in this game, he did score No. 598. With the puck behind the net, Ovechkin made his way to the slot and was in the dead center of a triangle of Leafs defenders when Tom Wilson got him the puck. You can't leave one of the greatest goal-scorers of all-time open in the slot and expect to get away with it.

The goal came less than seven minutes into the game and had everyone wondering if Ovechkin could go for the hat trick and reach 600 that very night. He did not and ultimately Caps fans had to wait another four games for him to get there, but the intrigue that goal added certainly added to the drama of the game itself. Plus, it is always exhilarating to see the biggest stars perform on the big stage.

3. Fehr's two-goal performance

Eric Fehr was the hero in 2011 with two goals, including the game- winner, against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. The first was a bad mistake from goalie Marc-Andre Fleury who lost the puck behind the net to Marcus Johansson. Johansson passed it out to Fehr who had a wide- open net to shoot on and he did not miss. The second goal was a pretty give-and-go with Jason Chimera that worked to perfection. Chimera passed to Fehr, who passed back to Chimera. That pass drew the defense over and Fehr had an open lane to the net. Chimera got him the puck back and it was off to the races. The goal made it 3-1 and was essentially the punch.

2. The atmosphere in Annapolis

This isn't really a moment, but it deserves mention.

There's something special about military academies and that was on full display in the Stadium Series. The playing surface was made to look like an aircraft carrier with the ice on top. The edge of the aircraft carrier was dotted with cadets. The marching band added some college football flair to the hockey and both teams were led onto the ice by bagpipes. The Caps entered to the theme of "Top Gun."

The night was as much a celebration of the military of both America and Canada as it was of hockey and that made the game that much more special than it already was. 1184463 Washington Capitals Still, back in 1978, there were still hints that the NHL could possibly black-ball any teenage player that bolted to the rival league.

Did Gartner worry at all that by exploring the WHA option, he might close Mike Gartner on the secret condition he played with and Ovechkin’s goal the door on a possible NHL career? pursuit “For us, there was already talk of the leagues merging and how this might be the last year of the WHA,” Gartner said. “When I signed the contract with Cincinnati, it was a five-year deal … I thought, if I had to By Eric Duhatschek May 11, 2020 play five years in Cincinnati, that’s what I’ll do. I looked at it from that perspective – that it was a choice I was going to make. I was hoping the

leagues would merge but at the same time, when I signed that contract, I Like the rest of the hockey world, Mike Gartner was heavily focused on was committed to it.” the Ovie Watch just before the NHL hit the pause button. Alex Ovechkin In all, Gartner played for five NHL teams over 19 seasons, moving from was racing up the all-time goal scoring charts with a bullet and in rapid Washington to Minnesota and then to New York, Toronto and then finally succession passed one Hall of Famer after another. Teemu Selanne. finishing up in Phoenix, with the Coyotes, where he scored the first goal Mario Lemieux. Steve Yzerman. Mark Messier. in the relocated franchise’s history. As Ovechkin crossed the 700-goal plateau, he received a ‘Welcome to In 1994, the year the Rangers won the Stanley Cup, Gartner was traded the 700 Club’ greeting from Gartner. It only seemed a matter of time at the deadline to Toronto, his hometown team, for Glenn Anderson. In before Gartner – the No. 7 goal scorer of all-time, at 708 – would see 2001, Gartner was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame and he currently Ovechkin scorch past him too. Then NHL play ground to a halt with now serves on the selection committee. Ovechkin stalled at 706, so for the time being anyway, Gartner’s spot at No. 7 is secure. Gartner played his entire professional career with a condition known as amblyopia, or a lazy eye, which left him with perfect vision in one eye, but “It’s funny,” said Gartner, “because when things got shut down, a friend limited vision in the other. It was a complication that he never talked sent a text and said, ‘At least Ovie’s not going to pass you this year – so about much. Instead, he just found ways to function – because a lazy eye you can be No. 7 for a few more months anyway.’ can affect both depth perception and the overall quality of your eye-to- “But I was watching it pretty closely. He has all the attributes to possibly hand coordination. In our conversation, I raised the question of his vision be the greatest goal scorer of all-time. He’s not there now because of issues because I deal with the same limiting condition. Wayne Gretzky (No. 1 all-time at 894), but it’s not like he’s just limping “I’ve actually never been asked that question before,” Gartner said. “My into this territory. He’s rocket-shipping into this territory.” left eye is my dominant eye, I have 20-20 vision in my left eye and Gartner and Ovechkin share a common NHL starting place: Both were 20/200 vision in my right eye. If I cover my left eye and look out of my high draft choices of the Washington Capitals, Gartner going fourth right eye, I couldn’t even drive my car. It didn’t really come into play until I overall in the legendary 1979 NHL entry draft; Ovechkin chosen first turned pro, at which point I had to take an eye test. The doctor said, overall in 2004. Gartner spent the first 10 seasons of his career playing ‘cover one eye, and then cover the other’ – and I said, ‘I can’t see out of for the Capitals, a time when they went from league laughingstock to that eye.’ For years, the doctors just kinda looked the other way – I would serious contender. Ovechkin has been with them his entire NHL life and take the black thing they use to cover your eye and move it a little so I was a catalyst on their first-ever Stanley Cup championship team in could read the eye charts. They didn’t care if I could see out of both eyes, 2018. as long as I could pass the eye test – and score goals.

When Gartner crossed the 700-goal threshold, he became just in the fifth “So really, I went through my whole career that way. I remember telling player in NHL history to do so. Currently, there are just eight in that club. my youngest son, just a little while ago, ‘yeah, I really can’t see out of my right eye.’ And he said, ‘what do you mean, you can’t see out of your The only way to get to 700 goals is through consistency and durability, right eye?’ And I said, ‘I’ve spent my whole life that way.’ My peripheral another shared trait of Gartner’s and Ovechkin’s respective careers. vision is fine – no problem at all – but I can’t really see out of my right eye. And he said, ‘you played for 20 years with only one good eye?’ And In all, Gartner scored 30 goals or more in a season 17 times during his I said, ‘yeah – and if anybody had really checked on it, I probably would career, an NHL record. In fact, the only two years he didn’t score 30 not have passed the eye test.’” came in 1994-95, the lockout-shortened year, in which he also missed 10 games with a collapsed lung, and in 1997-98, in the final year of his Gartner said his vision issues only became a problem if a coach wanted career with the Phoenix Coyotes, a season in which he missed 20 games to switch him to the left wing, which occasionally happened at different recovering from knee surgery. times in his career. It was something he tried to discourage as much as possible, without ever giving his secret away. For 20 years, or until Dylan Larkin broke the mark in 2016, Gartner held the NHL All-Star Game record for fastest skater. As a boy, before ever “I was pretty limited that way, I was a right winger, I really couldn’t play attending hockey schools, Gartner took power-skating classes. He was a anywhere else,” said Gartner. “I remember, one time, they tried to put me blur going down the right side of the ice and had a hard, heavy shot to on left wing and I told them, ‘I can’t play over there. I don’t feel supplement his speed. Together, those qualities contributed to an comfortable.’ I really think it was because I couldn’t see the ice the same unprecedented consistency over a two-decade career. way – whereas playing right wing, I could see the entire ice surface, because my left eye was dominant. When I went on the off wing, I Gartner came along during the last days of the NHL’s war of attrition with couldn’t see as well. I told them: ‘I’m not a very good left winger. You’re the WHA. As one of the top juniors in the OHL, he had an opportunity to better off just keeping me on the right side.’” sign with Cincinnati for the 1978-79 season, what turned out to be the WHA’s final season. The biggest problem with having good vision in only one eye is, what happens then if your good eye gets injured? But what a way to go out. That occurred with Gartner back in 1983, when he damaged the optic Gartner was runner-up to Wayne Gretzky as the league’s rookie of the nerve in his good left eye after getting hit in the eye with a puck. For year, and in Cincinnati, he played on the same Stingers team as Mark three weeks, he couldn’t see properly at all. It was a worrisome time. Messier (the two would later reunite in 1991 with the New York Rangers). “I lost my vision in that eye and the doctors told me, ‘your actual eye is According to Gartner, he followed a career path forged originally by Ken OK, but your optic nerve is damaged – and we’re not sure how long it’s Linseman, Mark Napier, Mark and Marty Howe and others as teenagers going to be,” said Gartner. “For those three weeks that I was out, I was when he and Rob Ramage, Michel Goulet, Rick Vaive and Craig frightened to death because I couldn’t see. My good eye was shot. Hartsburg all bolted to the WHA from their various junior clubs to earn Finally, the vision started to come back – but it was very slow. It’s why I what, at the time, were astonishing salaries. was one of the first players to put on a shield. I remember thinking, ‘I “It was a 20-year-old draft back then,” Gartner said. “I wanted to play in better see if I can play with a shield.’ I couldn’t see out of my right eye the NHL and I felt I was ready. So, it was either play for $75 a week in anyway. My left eye was coming around, but it was still a little blurry – Niagara Falls or $75,000 a year in Cincinnati. It was actually a pretty and now I’ve got a shield on. I remember playing that first game back, easy choice.” thinking, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this.’ “And then, wouldn’t you know, I get a hat trick my first game back. I’m still not sure how it happened, because I don’t think I saw anything go in. Afterward, people said, ‘We thought your eye was injured – it looked OK to us.’ I just told them: ‘Sure. It’s fine.’”

Eventually, the eye did heal completely and Gartner learned to adjust to playing with a face shield – a common practice now, unusual then.

Following his retirement, Gartner settled in the Greater Toronto Area and remains busy. For years, he worked with World Vision and still is on its board of directors. Primarily, he considers himself a small businessman, with ownership stakes in a self-storage facility, three office buildings, and in conjunction with former Capitals teammate Wes Jarvis, has also spent the past 25 years operating National Training Rinks Canada (NTR), which owns double rinks in Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Barrie, Ont.

According to Gartner, the arena business had been thriving until early March, when the world as we know it changed, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s been a challenging couple of months,” said Gartner. “We were one of the first businesses that was mandated by the provincial government to close. That was back on March 18. We had to lay off about 75 part-time people. We’ve kept on 16 full-time employees and plan on doing that for as long as we can. We’re a healthy business, but we also have zero revenue coming in, so we’re going to try to do the right thing. I’ve become an expert on government subsidy programs. If you want to know anything about them, I’m your man.”

On the final Friday of April, NTR’s summer 3-on-3 leagues were scheduled to open – but couldn’t.

“We’re trying to stay on top of things and communicate with all our customers and doing the best we can,” said Gartner. “We’ll be ready to open, when we get permission. But we had to take our ice out for the first time in 25 years because we run 12 months of the year. We’ll be well- positioned to put it back in when the time is right to reopen and continue to move forward – but those are the things we’re dealing with.”

The Gartners, Mike and Colleen, have three adult children and four grandchildren, so that’s been a challenge too – staying in touch with family via FaceTime, Skype or Zoom. Gartner is like a lot of people – missing sports and looking forward to the day when his rinks reopen and the NHL returns to play, at which point Ovechkin can resume his chase for Gretzky’s all-time goal scoring record and slip past Gartner on the all- time goals list.

“Can Ovie keep this up for another five years?” asked Gartner. “Not sure – but if anyone can, he might be able to. Why? First, because he’s durable. He’s proven to be durable. Then, because he shoots the puck – more than anybody in the league still. He gets 350 to 400 shots every year, so even with a really average shooting percentage, he’s going to score a lot of goals. The third thing he has going for him is, he’s so hungry. He was hungry when he first came into the league. He was hungry 10 years ago. He was hungry five years ago – and he’s just as hungry now to score goals. He loves scoring goals.

“The last thing is, he’s got the three-pack of a great shot – velocity, quickness and accuracy. All great goal scorers have those things to some degree, but they usually are not elite in all three. Ovie is. So, it’s a compelling package and a fun story – and we’re going to be watching it just for the next seven months. We’re going to watching it for a while here.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184464 Winnipeg Jets “The Jansen Harkins story is quite amazing,” Vincent said. “For him to keep improving to a point where he was one of the top scorers in the league, his ability to adjust and improve and stick to the plan, and stay patient… it’s a story that doesn’t happen very often. We were lucky to Season cancelled, but Moose boss thinking of home see it unfold in front of us.

“We want to have our players called up and stay there. And that’s when Jansen did.” Paul Friesen It took a little longer than it takes most, but that’s OK. Makes it more Published:May 11, 2020 satisfying when it does happen. Updated:May 11, 2020 4:19 PM CDT For the player and his coach.

“I’ve always thought you need to be over-ready when you get the call,” The turmoil and uncertainty surrounding the hockey season has surely Vincent said. “And he was over-ready.” been a challenge for coaches, including boss Pascal I’m guessing just as memorable for Vincent will be the personal growth Vincent. he experiences this season. That uncertainty has been put to bed, at least to some extent, now that Not every hockey coach reads books on mindfulness, but Vincent does. the American Hockey League has thrown in the towel in its fight with COVID-19. So it’s no surprise to learn he’s found something personally rewarding in these hours of self-isolation. The NHL’s primary feeder league on Monday cancelled the remainder of the 2019-20 season and any chance of staging the Calder Cup Playoffs. “The opportunity to be with my young daughter on a daily basis and use that time to create memories,” he said. “I’m trying to make it fun and to But Vincent, a Quebec native who’s worked for the Winnipeg Jets create memories at a time in her life that we will remember, but as much organization for the last nine years, has more pressing and more as possible in a positive way. There’s nothing we can do about this other personal concerns still to deal with. than being responsible, staying home, keeping some distance, social A product of Laval, Que., Vincent has family and friends back home who distancing and all those things that we hear and we must do as a society. are worrying about much more than return-to-play protocols. “But within that, I’m trying to create good memories for my family and His sister-in-law works at one of the nursing homes that has made especially my daughter.” headlines across the country. Hockey will return, at some point. “A facility where the coronavirus has been pretty intense,” Vincent said Some of the off-shoots might be once-in-a-lifetime. during a conference call, Monday. “I’m in touch with those people and it’s just trying to support the best we can, from a distance, over the phone Moose offer refunds and talking to my brother. It’s just a difficult time… they’re trying to do their best but just like us, it’s something that we face for the first time. The Manitoba Moose say fans who hold tickets to the six cancelled regular-season games will be contacted directly about their options. “And the courage that I see in those people that I know, that are right there in the middle of it, it’s very inspiring.” Those options include getting a credit on their accounts (for season- ticket, mini-pack and flex-pack holders), a credit towards merchandise, So when Vincent was asked about the people he most feels for in this donating the money to the True North Youth Foundation or getting a pandemic, he started not with colleagues or players or even out-of-work refund. arena workers, but with those on the front lines. Single-game ticket holders will also be contacted about their options, And those alone, living in fear. which include a refund.

“It’s hard not to think about the older people, even more so the ones that Those who already renewed season tickets for next season will be are alone in their hospital beds and can’t see their families,” he said. “So contacted when those payments are scheduled to begin, a timeline that obviously for those people, that’s the main priority.” remains up in the air.

In his professional life, Vincent’s focus has switched from staying ready “The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for to hit the re-set button to facing the longest off-season in hockey history. the 2020-21 season,” league president David Andrews said in a statement. “We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its Always the thinker, he’s fascinated to see how players are going to teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the handle it. challenges faced over the past two months.” There is, after all, no guidebook for making yourself a better player during The AHL standings will be re-sorted based on points percentage and all a self-isolating pandemic. statistics will be considered final. This will take some serious creativity. The Moose finished with a 27-33-1 record, a .451 winning percentage, “There’s different things you can do, in your garage, in your back yard, in well out of the playoffs in the Western Conference. the street, that are specific for hockey players,” Vincent said. “It’s going to Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.12.2020 be really interesting to see who took advantage of this situation (to) get better. You can work on your agility, you can work on your sprints, quickness and stuff like that.

“We’re going to be able to see who was working at their craft and who didn’t take advantage of this situation.”

It wasn’t a particularly successful season for Vincent and the Moose in the won-loss column.

But the four-year Moose head coach will remember it for other things, most notably how forward Jansen Harkins added a chapter to a career that’s seen him go from the AHL down to the ECHL, back to the AHL and finally to the Jets.

Harkins did it the old-fashioned way: head down and hard work, from a 13-point campaign as a rookie fighting for ice time before being demoted to becoming a point-a-game AHL player, two years later. 1184465 Winnipeg Jets The challenge is getting that message through them. In my short experience doing this – but also my experience as a former athlete – thinking about what’s next is a good thing to do and I think players acknowledge that they should be doing that. But I think they get so Q&A with Grant Clitsome: On forced retirement and guiding athletes caught up in the moment and focusing on their career, which, don’t get post-career me wrong, is the number one priority. Your career is so short and so important, and you really do need to maximize the athlete that you could

be during your career, but there is downtime during the season and By Murat Ates May 11, 2020 offseason. You can at least start thinking about it if not necessarily filling all your time with doing things outside your sport.

In my case, it was unexpected that I had a career-ending injury. Some Grant Clitsome didn’t get to choose when or why his NHL career came to players know the end is coming and have a little bit more chance to an end. prepare for it. Unfortunately, I didn’t and there are other players that are in the same boat, whether it’s due to injury or due to maybe not getting a Imagine going from playing 20 minutes a night beside Dustin Byfuglien, contract or whatever life presents them. You would hope that these are carrying the flow of play and scoring 35 points in 112 games as a the times where players are saying, “OK, I should take advantage of this Winnipeg Jet straight to an injury-induced end of an NHL career. free time,” but it seems like there’s just so much uncertainty that maybe it Needless to say, it was not an easy transition. gets lost in what’s going on right now. “When I retired, I had my university degree but I’d been out of school for And how much do NHL players normally plan for life after playing 10 years,” Clitsome said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had hockey? interests but I didn’t know if any of those would translate into a job. And now you’re facing all these different feelings and uncertainties and life In a perfect world, I wish athletes would start preparing while they’re still changes. You’re playing this game of ‘OK, well now what am I going to playing. You think about guys like Mark Scheifele or Adam Lowry, do?'” younger guys that have tons of fuel left in the tank and are going to have long, successful careers. Just to start exploring interests outside of Clitsome’s last NHL game was on Jan. 3, 2015, a 5-1 win against hockey. A lot of these guys are constantly getting approached to invest Toronto. Clitsome played over 20 minutes that night but re-herniated a in businesses or maybe they have an interest in starting in business. disc in his back and, just like that, his playing career was over. Despite These are all skills that you could start learning or reading about now. surgery to repair the disc, he was unable to return to NHL action. That really has nothing to do with transition. But it will give you a pretty What Clitsome has done since retiring in 2016 is go back to school to big leg up when you are done playing because you’ve already started earn an MBA from Queen’s University and then build a program that exploring and thinking about that stuff. helps athletes going through the difficult process of transitioning into life You see more and more – that “More Than an Athlete” hashtag. I think after professional sports. The untethered feeling he describes is common the NBA is so good at it. You see some of these NBA players that are among NHL retirees and Clitsome has dedicated his practice to helping into all kinds of different ventures outside of their sport. A lot of them are those athletes find a foothold in their new lives. superstars in their sport but they’re almost bigger in everything they do “I can’t say this enough from my personal perspective – and I hope I’m outside their sport. I think they’re really good at self-marketing and really not sounding salesy or cheesy or anything – but man, if I could have leveraging their status as an athlete to help other parts of their life and gone back and started doing more (planning) sooner, I think I would have explore their interests. More and more, I think we’re seeing that in other been so much better off.” sports as well. I hope that eventually hockey gets to that point too.

It’s not that Clitsome was entirely unprepared. He’d been working with Even in hockey, I think you have some players that are good at it. You Chris Moynes at One Sports + Entertainment during his playing career. look at a retired player like Paul Bissonnette – he’s done extremely well Clitsome met Moynes at a wedding in the summer of 2011 and Moynes in his post-hockey career. He leveraged his hockey player status while eventually became Clitsome’s financial adviser. When Clitsome retired, he was still playing and started dipping his toes into media and now he’s Moynes hired him as the director of career transition and gave him free doing great things. It’s stories like that where, if you can show the players rein to design a program to help his clients make the best of their second that look, you have this opportunity. You have a platform right now. You careers. have an audience, people are watching you, and people are listening to you – if you can use that opportunity to try things and maybe venture “Chris said, ‘I want you, as a former player who’s gone through the outside your comfort zone and grow your network, that’s a huge transition to put together a program, however you see fit, to best meet advantage. The players know there’s an advantage to it but I think you those needs.’ Having been a pro athlete, I know what it’s like to go don’t really know how much you need it until you actually need it. And through that transition so he kind of gave me carte blanche to do that’s tough. whatever I wanted, which was both awesome and super challenging at the same time.” It seems that any kind of abrupt shock to your normal rhythm is a hard thing. How did you navigate it when the NHL treadmill came to a sudden Clitsome built that program at One Sports + Entertainment and is now stop and then kind of stabilize things? based in Ottawa with his wife, Valerie, and their two sons. He calls COVID-19 life “a little bit like Groundhog Day” in that every day follows You go from playing a sport for so many years in your life and really the same script. Their boys aren’t old enough to need schooling in a being consumed by getting better and improving and being the best and formal sense but the family tries to make every day as engaging as moving to the next level and before you know it, you’re so caught up in possible. They’ve downloaded educational apps, dabbled in arts and just doing that all the time – being so demanding on your body, physically crafts and are playing as many games as possible. and mentally and facing those challenges. Then all of a sudden it ends and, in my case, it was a little bit different because there was an injury. But he’s still working, still developing that programming, still dedicating Not only was I going through the end of my career, emotionally and his life to helping athletes prepare for the kind of transition he lived first- mentally, but physically I couldn’t use that outlet to help me move past hand. things. I couldn’t just pick up and go to the gym and kill myself at the Clitsome recently spoke to The Athletic about his transition and his gym. I couldn’t go play hockey with my buddies and at least still be doing second career. it. I had to be careful about what I did – I still have to be careful about how I do things – so that was hard, dealing with it physically and Now, of all times, are athletes re-evaluating how ready they are for the emotionally. end of their career? Emotionally, there are just so many unknowns. You go from such a Ideally, you would hope that this would be a catalyst for players to say: At structured environment where you’re told where to be, how to eat, how some point, I’m no longer going to have hockey and I have all this time long you’re going to be where and when you can go home. All of a on my hands. Why wouldn’t I start looking at interests or stuff that I can sudden, you’re in control of your own destiny and there’s nobody telling do now that’ll be fun and engaging, but might help me down the road? you what to do and where to be and how to do it. Hockey players, and (But) I’m not sure how many players are actually doing that. athletes in general, are very coachable and I’ll speak very generally because not everybody’s the same, but: You tell me what to do and I’ll do it the best I can but I need guidance or direction to know what I should be doing and how to do it. I think that’s what you lose — that purpose and that kind of target or goal or direction. You have all this energy and all this ambition and all this work ethic and desire and drive – everything that’s gotten you to that point in your NHL career – that now is just spinning in circles because you don’t know how to channel it and where to point it. The sooner you can find that, the better off you’re going to be on all those levels – emotionally, mentally. For me, that’s what I was doing. I was just trying to stay busy.

What did you do?

I took sommelier classes, because I really liked wine and I liked being stimulated intellectually and I thought it’d be a good distraction.

That led me to starting the cidery with my family, which led me to learning about business and further exploring my interest in business, which led me to school and my MBA, which then led me to the job I’m doing now. That was my strategy – just to keep moving forward. Keep trying things.

But like you said, the treadmill stops and then there’s so many variables. We were relocating back to our hometown and my wife was going to go back to work and I was figuring out where I’m going to work and what I’m going to do. In my case, I’m just taking it one step at a time and not trying to conquer everything at the same time and I think that helped me a lot. Staying intellectually stimulated also really helped me. I have a passion for learning. I do like challenging myself in that regard and that helped as well.

And I think specifically my MBA and going back to school really helped give me some confidence – to kind of realize that outside of sport, I did have a lot of skills that I took for granted as an athlete. Being around teams my whole life and dealing with those dynamics, there’s a lot of things there that I didn’t realize that I brought to the table and I think it helped give me confidence that I could be successful in life after hockey.

I once read a book written by a psychologist who specialized in 20- somethings. She wrote that, in your 20s, the world feels infinite. And the only way to figure out what you actually like or want to do is not to wait until you think of something perfect, but just to do things until the stuff that you do teaches you what it is that you like or don’t like.

I totally relate to that. I think it’s easy to sit there and kind of just say “No” to everything and wait for that “Aha!” – that perfect moment. But I think you’re totally right with that. How do you know what you want unless you go out and try different things? You might have an idea of what something might look like or feel like but until you’re in it and doing it day in and day out, you don’t really have any appreciation for what it truly is.

It was also interesting for me to hear that you needed a bit of a confidence shot. It sounds kind of like it was very important for you to remind yourself that, hey, you actually have quite a lot of capabilities in other formats, too.

Definitely. I’ve been lucky enough to be one of that small percentage that makes it to the NHL but what I was really good at was playing hockey. I guess subconsciously you just think that “Hockey is one thing, but it’s separate from everything else.”

I showed up on my first day of my MBA program. I’m surrounded by executives and people that have 15, 20 years work experience, VPs, you name it, and I’m sitting there with next to no real work experience. So yeah, I was intimidated. I lacked confidence for sure. I was sitting there thinking I’m gonna be the dumb jock that can’t do it. But no. It was great to go through that exercise. And I don’t want to speak for all athletes, but I think there’s definitely something to be said about being supremely confident in your sport but feeling less confident in other aspects because you don’t have that experience. Although you might have those skills, you might lack the confidence.

So that was a big one for me, being exposed to people who you look up to, who are very successful in the business world and then feeling like I could hold a conversation with them and understand what they’re saying – what that business lingo means and how to apply it.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184466 Vancouver Canucks lodging. And if completion of the regular season in some form comes to fruition, or the league goes directly to a 24-team playoff format, players need assurances that the dollars and sense argument makes sense.

Canucks may need to play a little roster roulette with AHL season On Monday, B.C. health officials reported 23 new positive COVID-19 test cancelled cases — nine on Saturday and 14 from Sunday to Monday — to bring the total number of provincial cases to 2,353, including 873 in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. There has been one additional death to bring that total to 130. BEN KUZMA With the NHL season paused March 12, and players still in the latest 14- Published:May 11, 2020 day period of self-isolation that’s scheduled to end Friday, the waiting Updated:May 11, 2020 5:52 PM PDT game reality could be trumped by serious trouble for the AHL.

The minor-league feeder system relies heavily on walk-up crowds and restrictive budgets to make ends meet. The Comets, who benefit from Reid Boucher is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this short bus rides to and from many divisional games, also have the summer. smallest operational budget. If COVID-19 persists well into next year, franchises could be at risk and the league could look much different. 'It’s too early to comment what that (AHL future) would look like and what’s going to happen to the league next year. To say anything right The Canucks have a year left in their affiliation agreement with Utica and know would just be guessing. Utica is a good development city and the team president Robert Esche. fan support is excellent.' — Canucks GM “It’s too early to comment what that (AHL future) would look like and The unfamiliar hockey landscape continues to change. what’s going to happen to the league next year,” added Benning. “We’re trying to get back to normal and to say anything right now would just be The novel coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic hardships have guessing. forced the American Hockey League to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season and playoffs and the trickle-down effect could be “Utica is a good development city and the fan support is excellent.” felt by the Vancouver Canucks. Esche tried to remain optimistic. Under normal circumstances, their playoff roster would be bolstered by six to 10 players from the AHL affiliate . It would provide “It is frustrating and it hurts whenever you take away the ability to insurance against post-season injures and allow prospects to train and compete,” he told the Utica Observer-Dispatch. “I also think it was the practise and soak up the NHL playoff atmosphere as traditional ‘black right decision. Right now, you’re kind of almost relieved, too, because aces’ — those who look and listen and probably won’t play. there’s no more pause in there.

“They’re still talking about how that would look because we’d have a “Now we can go out and address the season-ticket holders, fans and training camp and there are no decisive conclusions about how many sponsors. We can just move forward. Whereas before, you’re kind of people we’d have at camp — or how many players from the AHL who sitting there, you’re in limbo and you don’t know what to do. There was would take part if we start up again,” Canucks general manager Jim only so much you can tell people.” Benning said Monday morning. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.12.2020 “If we’re playing a lot of games in a short span, you’re going to have injuries and you need guys who are ready to step in and take those spots.”

Outgoing AHL president Dave Andrew did indicate later in the day that he believes approximately 12 players will get called up to their respective NHL clubs if the season resumes. For the Canucks, they would obviously want those who have some NHL experience if called upon and played significant roles in helping the Comets finishing this season with a 34-22- 3-2 North Division record.

Left winger Reid Boucher wound up second in AHL scoring with 67 points (34-33) in 53 games. He has 42 points (20-22) in 133 career NHL games but hasn’t been in the post-season. Right winger Justin Bailey had 47 points (28-19) in 53 games and had logged 65 NHL gams between Buffalo, Philadelphia and Vancouver.

Brogan Raggerty finished third in league scoring by defenceman with 45 points (7-38) in 57 games, but the college free agent played just two NHL games last spring. Blueliners Ashton Sautner and Guilliaume Brisebois have appeared in 23 and eight NHL games respectively.

Olli Juolevi was dealing with hip soreness this AHL season and managed 25 points (2-23) in 45 games. But the fifth overall pick in the 2015 draft, who has also had back and knee surgeries the past two years to stunt his development, has yet to play an NHL regular-season game.

Then again, this could all be moot.

Amid a worldwide health crisis and without rapid testing or prospect of a COVID-19 vaccine in the next 12 to 18 months, ongoing talk about expanded rosters and salvaging the NHL season seems strange. There has to be planning but there also has to be caution.

The prospect of more players in any training or practising environment during distancing protocols wouldn’t be prudent without proper protection.

Defenceman Brogan Rafferty had 45 points (7-38) in 57 games with the Utica Comets this season. Utica Comets

The Return to Play committee will meet again this week for a fifth time to address player concerns about health, safety, training, playing and 1184467 Vancouver Canucks Jovanovski then scored the winning goal early in the third period as Vancouver defeated Colorado for only the second time in 16 GM Place meetings. And when Jovanovski got the better of Deadmarsh just 22 seconds after the winger made it 2-2, he knew momentum had swung. Ben Kuzma: Jovocop should be patrolling Canucks' blueline on TSN's all- time team “Yeah, I think so,” said Jovanovski, who logged 26:09 in the absence of the injured Mattias Ohlund (eye surgery) and Adrian Aucoin (groin). “I was still ticked off because somebody (Joe Sakic) had me tied up in front of our goal when Deadmarsh scored. BEN KUZMA “I was in the slot and he turned and whacked me hard on the thumb and Published:May 11, 2020 we kind of went from there.” Updated:May 11, 2020 4:23 PM PDT Jovanovski would be on my team. He’s a left shot but could play the right side. And I don’t care which pairing, I’d just play him.

Jovanovski checked a lot of boxes and scared a lot of players. He had 17 Here’s a look at TSN’s all-time Canucks roster: goals in 2001-02 and a career-high 48 points to finish fifth in Canucks GOAL scoring and had three successive 40-point seasons. Roberto Luongo, Kirk McLean TSN left the best for last. Luongo ranked sixth in the ’101 Greatest Canucks’ project. Among a The national sports broadcaster released its final selection of all-time myriad of heart-stopping displays was his 72 saves in the 2007 NHL rosters for Canadian franchises on Monday. Smart ratings move. quarterfinal series opening 5-4 win over Dallas that went to a fourth TSN knows any analysis of the Vancouver Canucks often turns a spark overtime. “It was probably the most exhausting thing I’ve ever been a of debate here into a raging Twitter fire of finger pointing and second- part of,” said Luongo. guessing. McLean is in the Ring of Honour for his 11 years and backstopping the And even though there’s little to quibble with the roster summation by Canucks to within a win of the 1994 Stanley Cup. He ranked ninth in the — especially with criteria set by the former NHL executive, Province project. scout and TSN scouting director — we know this much about how it will be received by a hockey-mad populace: Last cut: Richard Brodeur

• When emotion enters the conversation, buttons are pushed and the DEFENCE: entertainment level escalates. Mattias Ohlund — Doug Lidster • When logic is at the forefront, conclusions are predictable and staid and air goes out of the balloon. — Sami Salo

With selection criteria that includes at least 225 regular season franchise Alex Edler — Kevin Bieksa games, roster inclusion by original position and at least one member of Slotting determined on proficiency and right pairings. Edler/Bieksa are the 2019-20 roster, those who have excelled and honoured or overlooked shutdown unit. have set a predictable roster. Last cuts: Ed Jovanovski, Kevin McCarthy But wait. FOWARDS: No Ed Jovanovski? No Greg Adams? And no Alex Mogilny? — Henrik Sedin — Whether it was by riches at positions, or thinking like a coach to put together a real roster — top line, shutdown line, shutdown pairing and Markus Naslund — — Todd Bertuzzi just enough grit, you can see Button’s logic, Which, of course, takes all the fun out of it. Geoff Courtnall — — Tony Tanti

In 2014, a Province Sports project titled ‘The Greatest 101 Canucks’, Alex Burrows — Ryan Kesler — Jovanovski was slotted 20th by a 14-member panel. Sami Salo, Doug Sedins and Bure. Wow. But who’s doing the spade work? Prefer Kesler Lidster and Kevin Bieksa were 22nd, 27th and 28th respectively and are as second line centre. A Selke Trophy winner and 40-goal guy who on the all-time TSN roster. would add pace, pop and presence. Courtnall versus Adams makes for What does this mean? It means emotion enters the equation. Skill, will, an interesting left wing debate and who would want to play against presence, injury frequency and long-serving intangibles are obvious Burrows and Smyl as shutdown line bookends? Nobody. roster determining factors. Jovanovski checked a lot of boxes and scared Last cuts: Greg Adams, , Alex Mogilny a lot of players. FOUNDATION PLAYER: He had 17 goals in 2001-02 and a career-high 48 points to finish fifth in club scoring and three successive 40-point seasons here. Add the Macedonian Madmen element and it made for a lot of electric nights. First team captain, first Ring of Honour inductee and set standard for Jovanovski exceeded 100 penalties in three straight seasons, but bad performance and decorum. Still involved with Canucks alumni. decisions were often trumped by a bad opposition move to test his mettle. He didn’t fight often as he got better because word got around. [email protected] He had that look. And that punch. twitter.com/@benkuzma

He ended the career of who twice challenged the big THE 101 GREATEST CANUCKS, CIRCA 2014 blueliner, who could skate, shoot and intimidate. Injuries and indecision caught up to him in the latter years, but when he was on he was the (The final collaborative effort on The Province project) club’s best blueliner. 1. Henrik Sedin In a raucous Nov. 1, 2000 encounter with the dominant Colorado Avalanche, Jovanovski was at his best. 2. Pavel Bure

Playing despite a bothersome oblique muscle strain, he executed his 3. Trevor Linden Jovocop role to perfection in a 4-3 comeback victory. He concussed 4. Daniel Sedin Deadmarsh with a hard right hand in a pivotal second-period fight with the Canucks trailing 3-2. 5. Markus Naslund 6. Roberto Luongo 7. Stan Smyl 55. Willie Mitchell

8. Thomas Gradin 56.

9. Kirk McLean 57. Ron Sedlbauer

10. Ryan Kesler 58. Ivan Boldirev

11. Mattias Ohlund 59. Cory Schneider

12. Jyrki Lumme 60. Lars Lindgren

13. Todd Bertuzzi 61.

14. Tony Tanti 62.

15. 63. Matt Cooke

16. Alex Mogilny 64.

17. Cliff Ronning 65. Russ Courtnall

18. Greg Adams 66. Adrian Aucoin

19. Andre Boudrias 67. Ivan Hlinka

20. Ed Jovanovski 68. Andrew Cassels

21. Brendan Morrison 69.

22. Sami Salo 70. Doug Halward

23. Patrik Sundstrom 71. Glen Hanlon

24. Harold Snepsts 72. Jocelyn Guevremont

25. Richard Brodeur 73. Bobby Lalonde

26. Orland Kurtenbach 74. Garry O’Flaherty

27. Doug Lidster 75. Bret Hedican

28. Kevin Bieksa 76. Jeff Brown

29. Alex Burrows 77. Gary Lupul

30. Geoff Courtnall 78.

31. Dave Williams 79. Gerald Diduck

32. 80.

33. Igor Larionov 81. Mikael Samuelsson

34. 82. Rosaire Paiement

35. Petri Skriko 83. Garry Monahan

36. Gary Smith 84. Jack McIlhargey

37. Dan Hamhuis 85. Jiri Bubla

38. 86.

39. 87. Trent Klatt

40. 88.

41. 89. John Gould

42. Alex Edler 90. Chris Higgins

43. Dennis Ververgaert 91. Donald Brashear

44. 92. Rich Sutter

45. 93. Mark Messier

46. 94. Wayne Maki

47. Martin Gelinas 95. Ron Delorme

48. 96. Mason Raymond

49. Kevin McCarthy 97. Murray Baron

50. Rick Lanz 98.

51. 99. Barry Wilkins

52. 100. Brent Sopel

53. Jim Sandlak 101.

54. Petr Nedved Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184468 Vancouver Canucks the best-ever Canucks teams, handled the toughest matchups and contributed 30 to 40 points a season.

Ohlund and Edler are the two best defencemen in Canucks history. Ed Willes: Who wouldn't want to see Hughes running a power play with That’s as much a commentary on the organization’s chronic inability to the twins and Bure? find elite blueliners but the two Swedes would form a fearsome pairing.

As for the third pairing, we went with Hughes and Salo partly because of the left-right thing but also out of consideration for the power play. Had ED WILLES Salo stayed healthy, he’d be right there with Ohlund and Edler in franchise lore. As it is, I want his shot on the power play. Published:May 11, 2020 Admittedly, the selection of Hughes might be premature and that spot Updated:May 11, 2020 1:12 PM PDT could go to Ed Jovanovski. But I keep thinking of Hughes running a power play with the Sedins and Bure in their primes. Tell me you wouldn’t want to see that? First off we’d like to offer a sincere thank you to TSN for creating news in the middle of the pandemic. You’d also want to see this forward group. You wonder how Bure would fit with the twins but the Sedins made a 30-goal scorer out of Anson True, it isn’t news in the strictest definition of the term and it’s a telling Carter. They could adjust to Bure. If that didn’t work, you could move commentary on the cable channel’s towering sense of self-importance Burrows to that line, drop Adams down to the checking line and have a that it’s considered news. But the All-Time 7 series creates a lively third line with Bure, Gradin and Tanti. debate among hockey fans in the seven Canadian markets while it distracts from the grim reality of the COVID-19 outbreak. Not bad.

Whatever else it it, it’s a welcome respite to remember the great players Originally I had the West Coast Express as a unit. Brendan Morrison was in franchise history, to recall the excitement and joy they gave us. The a perfect fit for Naslund and Bertuzzi and I wanted his versatility in the Vancouver Canucks, as it happens, have been blessed in this area and lineup. while the game’s greatest prize has eluded them, the faithful have I just couldn’t justify keeping Horvat off the team. He’s simply a better seldom been shortchanged in the entertainment department. player than Morrison but the Canucks’ inability to develop elite centres is I’ve got no particular beef with Craig Button’s selections to the all-time another sore point. Canucks’ team. He is a smart hockey man who thinks these things Naslund needs no further explanation. Bertuzzi had two seasons when through carefully. he was one of the five-best players in the game. We’re going to bottle I’m just coming at my team from a different perspective. 2002-03 Bert and put him on this team ahead of Alex Mogilny.

Goalies I’ve got Adams ahead of Courtnall on the third line. He’d find real chemistry playing with Gradin and Tanti and could play a couple of Roberto Luongo and Kirk McLean different roles. Gradin could play with anyone. Tanti would be a tasty option on the second power-play unit. Defence Linden played a lot of centre for the Canucks but I’ve got him on the Alex Edler/Mattias Ohlund wing. Again, you could move him to the middle if you were looking for a Dan Hamhuis/Kevin Bieksa spark but Linden playing with Kesler and Burrows would be a nasty bit of business. Quinn Hughes/Sami Salo Kesler is the second-best centre in Canucks’ history after Henrik Sedin. Forwards He’s in a shutdown role here but he could play anywhere in the lineup.

Daniel Sedin/Henrik Sedin/Pavel Bure The foundation player, meanwhile, is described as someone who is part Markus Naslund/Bo Horvat/Todd Bertuzzi of the DNA of a franchise. If that isn’t The Steamer, who is?

Greg Adams/Thomas Gradin/Tony Tanti As for the head coach, I couldn’t leave Pat Quinn off an all-time Canucks team. He gets the nod over Alain Vigneault. Alex Burrows/Ryan Kesler/Trevor Linden The GM’s position is a little more contentious but I think of what Burke Foundation player: Stan Smyl inherited, the trades he made and his best draft picks. Mike Gillis presided over the most successful period in Canucks history but in those Head coach: Pat Quinn areas where a GM is judged, I’ll go with Burke.

General manager: Brian Burke Also he’s a much better quote.

Now for the rationale. So there it is. I don’t expect everyone to agree but I know one thing.

The goalies are chalk. Jacob Markstrom might merit consideration in a I won’t be disappointed there. couple of years providing a) he signs with the Canucks and b) there’s hockey again. But Luongo and McLean stand alone. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.12.2020

The blue-line is a trickier proposition. Button went with three left-shot defencemen and three right-shot which is fair. But that left-right balance is a relatively new construct in the game’s history. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment it was cemented but, for half a century or so, teams played their best defencemen together, regardless of which way they shot.

The great Habs’ team of the late 1970s featured the best blue-line in the game’s history. It was anchored by three left shots: Larry Robinson, Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe. The best pairing in the game’s history was likely Bobby Orr and Dallas Smith in Boston, two lefties. Edmonton’s and Charlie Huddy are in that conversation. Again, two southpaws.

The point is great players can figure it out. That’s why I’d rather have Quinn Hughes on my team than Doug Lidster. As for the other pairings, Bieksa and Hamhuis form the shutdown pair. They played together on 1184469 Vancouver Canucks coach Mike Keenan shortened his bench in the third period and overtime. That meant Gretzky was playing almost every second shift.

In overtime, he wet himself on the Team Canada bench, missed a shift Willes' Musings: Baseball may be back in South Korea but the NHL and was right back out. shouldn't follow suit — Mentioned Vladimir Krutov in the piece on Tony Tanti over the weekend but it’s heartbreaking for Canucks fans to compare the Krutov of 1987 to the player who showed up in Vancouver in 1989. After Gretzky ED WILLES and Lemieux, Krutov was the third-best forward in that tournament and had the look of a superstar about him. Published:May 11, 2020 Suffice to say he wasn’t that with the Canucks. Updated:May 11, 2020 5:00 AM PDT • If you go to YouTube you can find Bruce Springsteen performing a

smoking cover of Long Tall Sally. In honour of The Boss and Little If you thought the prospect of getting a haircut is exciting, this will blow Richard here are the top five Springsteen covers from his live shows. your mind: the Monday morning musings and meditations on the world of 1. Tom Waits’s Jersey Girl sports. 2. Jimmy Cliff’s Trapped • South Korea, which is held up as a model in the fight against COVID- 19, had to shut down bars and clubs again last week because one man 3. Mitch Ryder’s Detroit Medley has been responsible for 40-and-counting new cases. 4. The Animal’s It’s My Life The closure is considered indefinite. 5. The Clash’s Clampdown The NHL, however, still believes it can salvage its season. By now, you’re aware of the plan — the latest iteration is the league will jump right Honourable mention: Rhinestone Cowboy. He closes Western Stars with into a 24-team Stanley Cup tournament — but with so much uncertainty, a killer version of the Glen Campbell hit. with so much about the virus which is unknown, how can they even • And finally, I’ve never hid my affection for the CFL in this space. I love consider a restart? the league and the players but mostly I love the stories the Canadian If we’ve come to know anything about this pandemic, it’s how game has given us over the years. unpredictable the virus is and how one misstep can set this whole Professional sports has largely become cold and corporate. It process back months. manufactures storylines which serve the best interests of the business. In Seoul, it just took one man visiting three bars on one night to shut You can still find real moments and real people in that world but you have down the city. Yes, there are differences with the NHL’s plan but they’re to fight through layers of protective covering to get there. still proposing upwards of 130 players congregate in one area to play a The CFL serves those moments and those people up on a silver platter contact sport with coaches, training staff, medical people and a full and they’ve been doing it, in one form or another, for a century. It is part television crew in attendance. of this country, part of our shared experience and that has value. Sorry I want to see hockey as badly as anyone but not like this, not with But, considering everything else that’s going in our country, that value so much at stake. Stay the course. The risk-reward here is not worth it. isn’t $30 million or $70 million and it’s certainly not $150 million which is • Patrick Johnston first reported in these pages there was trouble the headline commissioner Randy Ambrosie has created. between Vancouver Canucks amateur scouting director Judd Brackett The league has to know this. Sure they can present their financials to and the organization at the end of January. He’s reported it multiple times Parliament and play the Canadiana card but, in the spring of 2020, our since. government has more pressing concerns. Six weeks ago I reported the relationship between Brackett and GM Jim Unfortunately, the league just can’t get past the optics of what their Benning was strained over the autonomy of the scouting department. asking. As for where they go next, wish I could tell you, but the CFL has But a “hockey insider,” reported it last week and suddenly it’s a big story. always been a resilient, resourceful entity which has survived any Sorry, one day I’ll understand how things work in the new media. number of threats to its existence.

Team Canada players leap jubilantly off the bench at the end of their 6-5 This is part of its charm. It’s embedded in its DNA and it’s the strength of winning triumph over the team at the Copps the league. Ambrosie has to create a new story out of that cloth because Coloseum. no one likes the one he’s trying to tell now.

• Gratifying to see the response to TSN’s replay of the Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.12.2020 series. As someone who wrote the book on the subject, literally, here are some thoughts about Game 2, which aired Saturday.

— This is the greatest hockey game ever played and I’m not sure if second place is that close.

It was an elimination game in a best-on-best tournament which featured 12 future Hall of Famers on Team Canada against Viktor Tikhonov’s best-ever team. The stars were all at the peak of their powers with the exception of Mario Lemieux, who was in the process of announcing himself to the hockey world.

Wayne Gretzky finished the game with five assists, including Lemieux’s game-winner in overtime. Lemieux scored three goals. Valeri Kamensky scored the game-tying goal with just over a minute left in regulation when he went one-on-four against the Canadian defence and scored on Grant Fuhr as he was being pulled down.

Find a better game. I’m waiting.

— Gretzky calls it the single greatest game he ever played and 33 years later, his performance remains awe-inspiring. The five points are one thing but Canada was down a forward going into the game and head 1184470 Vancouver Canucks As the 16-year-old Pettersson picks up speed through the neutral zone and crosses the blue line, he settles into a wide stance glide on his edges while attacking off his off wing.

Elias Pettersson exclusive: On the 11 shifts that have defined his career It’s this position that permits him to make the elusive lateral movements so far as he weaves on his edges through every layer of the opposition’s defence.

“I’ve been doing it all my years playing hockey, whenever I had a By Thomas Drance May 11, 2020 breakaway, go to that right-left move,” Pettersson says. “It’s a move I feel confident doing and I use it a lot.”

In an effort to pick up on some of the minutiae that a detail-oriented From his apartment overlooking the water about 10 minutes outside his hockey coach would catch instinctively, but that a story-focused journalist hometown of Sundsvall, Sweden, Elias Pettersson joins me on Zoom. would likely miss, I showed footage of these Pettersson shifts to a small The young Vancouver Canucks centre is perched on a chair on his handful of coaches. Among those coaches — a couple of whom declined enclosed patio, watching video of 11 representative shifts from his young to be identified — was former Canucks and Team Canada video coach career on a tablet. Ben Cooper, currently the head coach of Herning in the Danish Metal Ligan. I’ve selected the 11 shifts from various stages of Pettersson’s career, beginning when he was a 16-year-old and concluding three days before One thing Cooper and the other coaches brought up repeatedly in the NHL suspended play on March 12. reviewing Pettersson’s shifts was his lateral speed — how dangerous he is when he’s attacking off his off wing, particularly in that wide stance. Pettersson’s rise to NHL stardom has been meteoric. He came out of nowhere in his draft year, rocketing up draft boards to become a ballsy Working on power skating at a young age is common for young hockey top-five selection by the Canucks. players in this day and age, but to be that quick, deliberate and dangerous laterally as a 16-year-old is remarkable. That Pettersson was And he was just getting started. The next season he added a dimension already at this level on his edges as a teenager is instructive, since this to his shot and dominated the SHL, winning a championship with the part of his skill set remains a big separator for him in the NHL. Vaxjo Lakers and then a world championship with Team Sweden. Dubbed “The Alien” by his SHL teammates, when Pettersson landed on What McDavid is to straightaway speed, Pettersson arguably is to lateral Canada’s West Coast, he changed everything in Vancouver. movement. On his edges, he’s among the best in the world.

Pettersson has agreed to walk me through these 11 shifts so that we “I’m very confident on my edges, to go right to left and left to right,” might track the facets of his game that have allowed him to be so Pettersson says. “I haven’t seen this clip in years, but I was just trying to successful so early in his career: his insane edge work and lateral speed, make plays and be unpredictable.” his lethality attacking off his off wing, that uncanny level of on-ice Mission accomplished. awareness and a team-first maturity in the way he sees and thinks the game in real time. Obviously there’s innate skill and athletic ability that drives Pettersson’s faculty at lateral movement, but there’s also a lot of work, a lot of time There’s a humour and an obvious love for hockey that’s evident as we spent on the ice. watch the clips, but there’s also a pervasive sense of humility. In a number of the clips, what stands out most is Pettersson’s second effort, a “I didn’t really have a power skating coach, I was just free skating every trait in his game that was noticed and praised by none other than Wayne day growing up,” Pettersson says. “I went to a summer school in Gretzky. Stockholm, and there was a five-day camp with the Edmonton Oilers skating coach Steve Serdachny. I went to their camp for seven years, “The most important thing is his work ethic,” Gretzky told Swedish outlet really liked it, two on-ice practices a day for five days and I learned a lot.” Expressen in April 2019. “If he loses the puck he immediately tries to win it back. Many young players make an extra turn and take some time to Ultimately, though, for Pettersson, his now trademark shiftiness wasn’t as do so, but not Elias. He’s right there and is fighting to get the puck back much about formal instruction as it was about regular access to ice and again.” his dedication to spending time, just skating around and playing hockey.

It’s a quote I ask Pettersson about — one he’s seen and one that clearly “I played in Ånge where I grew up. My dad had a key to every door in the means a lot to him. barn,” Pettersson says.

“It’s unreal, especially because it’s him noticing my game,” he says. “It’s Barn, in this case, isn’t just a charming hockey colloquialism. The so unthinkable. Kastberg Hallen in Ånge is quite literally a giant red building with an ice rink, where Pettersson spent his formative years glued to the ice. “I never thought I’d become the player I am today, I didn’t know I’d have success like this so early in my career. For the greatest of all-time to say “A good friend of my dad’s would sharpen my skates too — so I could that about me, I didn’t think it was real at first. Just awesome.” skate whenever there was ice,” Pettersson recalls. “I was very fortunate with that. If I lived in a big city, I wouldn’t have been able to be skating Shift No. 1: Portrait of The Alien as a young man like I did.” A shift from the 2014-15 season plays on Pettersson’s tablet. It was an everyday routine for the Canucks’ budding young star. Before “This is my first season, I’m in high school and I was 16 at the time,” “Bro, do your dekes” became a Vancouver rallying cry, there was a Pettersson says as the footage begins. “I remember actually I played a young man in central Sweden who just spent time on the ice, practising game before this game too, with the J20, so this was my second game of dekes, using his edges until he could move side-to-side in a way that the day.” even NHL defenders would soon find difficult to anticipate and contain.

Whenever you watch footage of a high-level NHL-bound player “I was skating a lot with my dad. Whenever he couldn’t skate with me, I’d competing against their peers as a teenager, it often looks ruthless to the skate alone,” Pettersson says. “I’d come back after three or four hours, point of being unfair. And this example is no exception. just skating. When I was young it was all I wanted to do, play hockey.

“It looks a little silly,” Pettersson says sheepishly. “But it’s a nice goal!” “Everybody can skate fast going forward,” Pettersson says. “For me, it’s more important for how I play to be fast in my lateral movement.” It’s a dominant sequence from a young Pettersson, but I didn’t select it simply because it’s an end-to-end highlight. There’s a subtle Shift No. 2: The Three Crowns demonstration in this clip of one of the world class elements in Pettersson has a growing highlight reel of ridiculous goals. Even among Pettersson’s game, an element we will see repeatedly as we work them, the goal he scored against Switzerland in the 2018 World Junior through to his NHL shifts. Championships stands out as particularly obscene.

“I was pumped,” Pettersson recalls. “I remember growing up watching the world juniors at Christmas time. The year went on and I got closer to making the team. I’d made it with the ’97s the year before, but it wasn’t I note to Pettersson that he keeps skating into their end of the rink after the best tournament for me. The year after, I took a big step with Vaxjo. I missing the pass, taking a wide loop. felt confident.” “It works out for you, but now you’d probably stop, right?” You have to feel confident to pull off a move like this. “Uh,” he begins, with a sly smile. “Is coach going to watch this?” “I remember coming in, I got the puck from Lias Andersson and I see the D,” Pettersson says, doing play-by-play as the video runs on his tablet. I selected this clip because it speaks to the second effort that Gretzky “I’m trying to go toward his right and go toward the middle, then I go to spotlighted. The stick lift itself is also just so seamless. The timing on it is fake the shot. When I fake the shot, I slide my stick toward my back at perfect, as is Pettersson’s body positioning. He sets himself up, with only the same time I’m faking the shot. So I had him beat, but then I had to the puck between him and the opposing goaltender, before he ever catch up to the puck. Andersson sets a pick on the other Swiss D, so I touches the puck. just launched toward the net and I don’t know what I did, but I threw “I see the puck, and I see how slow it’s going,” Pettersson says. “So I’m myself to the other side.” waiting for the D, for when he thinks he’s going to take the puck. When This is Pettersson attacking off his off wing where he’s most dangerous. he’s at that moment, I stick lift and I’m in for the breakaway.” It’s a big, loud maneuver, but when you break the initial deke down into “If I stick lift a half second before, he’d be able to reach the puck or its components, this isn’t just a slick deke — a shot fake into a backhand probably stop the breakaway. It’s all timing. It’s not often that I can win deke around a defender — it’s a thinking player’s deke. battles with muscles, so for me it’s all positioning, timing and being Let’s isolate on the move around the defender. Pettersson comes at smart.” speed through the neutral zone, forcing the Swiss defender to leave him You’ll note also that after taking two strides to separate himself, a wide gap. He immediately makes a little Gretzky-like punch turn, which Pettersson is immediately back to his familiar wide stance on the finish. slows him down. And when he completes the punch turn, he’s It’s what allows him to make three lateral dekes on the finish. immediately into his bread-and-butter wide stance on his edges: “Yeah, I feel very confident doing that,” says Pettersson. The shot fake into the deke is slick, but the key thing to note from Pettersson’s play-by-play is that he had to catch up with the puck after Shift No. 4: The Debut executing it. After using the punch turn to slow down, Pettersson Officially, it took Pettersson five shifts to score his first NHL goal. In fact, executes the deke quickly, then pushes off to accelerate again, which he scored on his third NHL shift that wasn’t interrupted by some kind of gets him behind the Swiss defender. Canucks penalty. I walk Pettersson through these stages, telling him that I think he’s “My first shift ended with Erik Gudbranson laying a big hit on a Flames burned the defender about a half second before he even does the shot guy,” Pettersson recalls. “And then there was a fight 10-15 seconds in. I fake deke with his multiple pace changes. was like, all right, this is the NHL!” “Well it’s easy to say now, when I scored that goal!” Pettersson says, Pettersson’s first two career shifts in the NHL lasted fewer than 20 laughing. “It’s just about being unpredictable. Come with speed, then combined seconds before teammates were penalized. After the game, slow down. Because when I slow down, if the defender doesn’t, he’s his teammates urged him to make a speech. Legend has it — and it was going to lose the gap. So when he’s trying to re-gap, then I do my move covered in The Athletties at the time — that the rookie, fresh off his NHL and hopefully I can fake him out. debut, took the opportunity to encourage his teammates to be more “I’m trying to freeze the defender, and then I can do the next move.” disciplined.

And that right there, the sequence as Pettersson sees it, is the key. The “I don’t remember exactly what I said,” Pettersson says now, laughing. deke at full speed looks like the hockey equivalent of an AND1 mixtape “But I think they agreed with me! We had seven or eight penalties, those quality basketball crossover. aren’t good numbers. I wasn’t lying.”

In real time, Pettersson is just playing hockey, trying to be unpredictable. And so, of course, the shift that ended with Pettersson writing an emphatic lede sentence to begin his NHL career and electrify the Subconsciously, though, he’s a step ahead. He’s often already beaten Vancouver hockey market, began with the Canucks killing off a penalty. the defensive player before he actually does. They’re already flat-footed and cooked before he attacks them with a deke or a lateral move. The puck is cleared and Pettersson comes onto the ice. As the Flames break out into the Vancouver end, he’s the top forward in the Canucks’ 1- As for the finish, once Pettersson is past the first defender and gathers 2-2 neutral zone forecheck, albeit a more passive iteration than the club the puck, he’s immediately back into that wide stance. employed this past season.

I ask him if, when he’s in an attacking position in that wide stance on his The Flames dump the puck in, and Loui Eriksson is the first forward edges, he thinks of it the way I do when I sit down at a steakhouse. “Like, back, meaning Pettersson isn’t playing as the centre in the defensive end oh, I’m about to do some damage.” as the Canucks break the puck out.

He just laughs and demurs. “I’m the third forward home here, on our team, we play that whichever “I mean, I really like my steaks too!” forward is first back they take the centre role,” Pettersson says. “Here I’m the off-side winger, I see the puck transferring to the other side and I’m Shift No. 3: The Le Mat Trophy Final just keeping my speed.”

“This is against,” I say, sizing up the word “Skellefteå” before doubting It’s actually a really nice breakout by Vancouver’s defenders here in myself. “There’s no way I’m going to pronounce this right.” concert with Eriksson, who capitalizes off a mistimed pinch by the Flames defender to find Pettersson with speed. “Skellefteå,” Pettersson jumps in, pronouncing it like Haul-eff-tia. “Don’t worry, I’ll say it!” “I see Loui get the puck and I call for it.

“Skellefteå,” I say, mimicking Pettersson and getting it right. “We have the 2-on-1 and I remember this. I was like, ‘Oh shoot, I have a 2-on-1 in the NHL. In my first game!’ I was looking for the pass first, and I “Skellefteå,” he replies affirmatively, before moving onto watching the remember I had so much adrenalin here. I was like, ‘Fuck,’ so I fired it as highlight. hard as I could. And I saw that it went in …

“This is Game 4, we’re up 3-0 in games in the series. This is the opening “The boys were congratulating me on the goal,” Pettersson says, “and goal and the game-winning goal.” then the announcer says, ‘GOAL! No. 40 Elias Pettersson!’ And then So he remembers the play. And why not? It’s a doozy. A game-winning everybody stands up! goal in an SHL final sweep that captured a title for the Vaxjo Lakers. “I was getting chills,” Pettersson says. “Everyone just cheering for me in “I remember missing the pass and I thought I was going to get hit by the my first game. It was awesome. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.” defender when I looked up,” Pettersson recalls. “Then their forward gets the puck, but our D steps up really well and poke checks.” If the Gudbranson fight was Pettersson’s welcome to the NHL moment, As Pettersson approaches the Wild goal, in alone on net with a ton of the raucous, spontaneous standing ovation that ripped through Rogers space, he goes into that familiar wide stance on his edges. With the Wild Arena in celebration of his first goal was his welcome to Vancouver goaltender compact, as if expecting a left-right deke, Pettersson just moment. patiently picks his spot with a bread-and-butter finish.

If fans remember the excitement and the hype of that moment, it’s “I feel I can push with my left foot to the right, or my right foot to the left. fascinating to reconsider it in light of the shifts we’ve watched with So whenever I’m in that wide stance, I feel fast both ways and it makes it Pettersson to this point. hard for the goaltender to know what I’m going to do,” Pettersson says. “And I feel confident shooting in that stance too.” Pettersson, so dangerous throughout his path to the NHL when he’s attacking off his off wing, finds himself with space in that spot in his very Shift No. 6: The Bank Pass first NHL game. And as the 2-on-1 develops, and the Flames defender plays it well to take away the pass, what does Pettersson do? Of course, The footage runs on the sixth shift and Pettersson recognizes it he gets into that wide stance, on his edges and unleashes an absolute immediately. rocket of a drag shot top corner. “Oh yeah, the bank pass,” he says with a chuckle.

“Coming from that side,” Pettersson says, “I usually do that. It helps me In the wake of this particular goal, comparisons were launched at great shoot higher, lets me fire it harder.” length to a goal the Sedin twins scored using the active boards at Joe The velocity that Pettersson gets on his shots, with little or no windup, is Louis Arena several years prior. a unique bit of high-class skill. The key thing to note in that highlight, The Sedin version is a highlight that Pettersson had seen before though, is how he transfers his weight to the outside foot, immediately executing the play. prior to firing. It’s why his leg is in the air on his follow-through. “I remember I saw an article the day after that they were mad at me for It looks cool, but it’s not about the flash. That subtle weight transfer stealing their moves!” he laughs. “It’s all fun. They’re the best.” actually changes the angle of his shot entirely. Beneath the surface, there’s actually a lot of processing that goes into “I’ve learned it, just from hours on the ice,” Pettersson says. “Things like this play. And the key thing to note is the positioning of the pieces on the this, honestly, it comes a bit naturally. I don’t think too much here. When chessboard in the seconds before Pettersson gets the puck. I’ve got a scoring chance, I’m just trying to shoot faster than the goalie can react — especially with how good they are today. If you watch the full shift again, you’ll notice that Pettersson is turning up ice just in time to catch three things that occur in quick succession: first of “Especially when I have control of the puck, closer to the net. That’s all, the Colorado Avalanche defender pinches. Second, Avalanche where I feel dangerous.” forward Matt Nieto drops back to cover the point, pivots and has to start Shift No. 5: The Shot Block skating again to regain momentum. Third, begins to streak up ice. “For me, I want to win,” Pettersson says when asked about a particular shot block in a clip that begins with him in defensive zone coverage. Here’s those key seconds as Pettersson assesses the situation isolated “Whatever the price.” to the moment before he gets the puck:

I’ve selected a lesser-known shift for this clip — it’s from his first month in Did you catch all of that? Pettersson did. the NHL — and I’ve chosen it because it demonstrates both the evolution The moment those three things unfold in front of him, he immediately of his defensive game —there’s no loops here — and the fact that knows he’s going to “play the hybrid” and send the puck down the length instinctively, even when he was relatively new to the NHL game, there of the sheet. was a positional maturity to his approach in his own end. “I see Boes has a lot of speed and I see that it’s a forward covering,” There are still shifts where Pettersson loses battles to stronger players, Pettersson says. “He’s turning and I see that Brock doesn’t stop or slow but even as a first-year 20-year-old centre at the time, there aren’t many down. I’d been trying the bank pass a lot, but this is the first time it turned where he’s not thinking the game the “right way” — whether he has the into a goal like that.” puck and is attacking off his off wing or coming onto the ice in a defensive zone situation. Obviously the bounce itself is fortunate, the puck knuckled into the slot in such a way that it actually added to the deceptive trajectory of Boeser’s The shift begins, and it’s a partial change as the Minnesota Wild set up in shot, but the thinking behind it — recognizing the pinching defenceman the Vancouver end. It appears to be a nondescript defensive zone shift at and Boeser’s speed burst and knowing that his linemate would for sure first, but watch it closely and you’ll notice how, with the Wild cycling, beat out the icing — is just Pettersson’s preternatural on-ice awareness. Pettersson immediately skates back to the Vancouver net and begins to scan the ice. “I’m thinking that I need to aim at where the boards are flat and not where they’re curving, but you never know how the bounce is going to be like,” He’s positioned in a shooting lane for the first Wild shot attempt, picks up Pettersson recalls. “In this case, it went perfectly on the tape to Boes and the ricochet faster than any other defensive play on the ice and gets out it looked like we practise it every day. We don’t.” to block a bad angle shot. He then does well to rotate, use his quick feet, pick up his man in the high slot and get position on him to deny a good “I remember skating toward him after Boes scored and I was like, ‘That’s look at a rebound (which ultimately never comes as Jacob Markstrom gotta be a highlight.” freezes the puck): It’s a highlight that’s remembered as a bridge between eras, a moment “I take pride in defence,” Pettersson says, launching into a formulation where a burgeoning new partnership between two young high-end that he often uses because it’s how he sees the game. “If you don’t play Canucks forwards mimicked a sequence from the last great era of good defence you just aren’t going to have the puck to play offence. Canucks hockey. And while Boeser and Pettersson were split toward the That’s just how I see it. midway point of this past season, their partnership remains a key feature of Pettersson’s success in his first two seasons. “I see myself as a team player. Just because I score more points or whatever, we win as a team, we lose as a team and we do it all together. “We worked out perfectly,” Pettersson says of Boeser. “He has a great Everybody can block shots. It’s all mental.” shot and I like to play with players that I can help find openings, because we can use that shot to score goals and be dangerous. On the ensuing draw, Canucks coaches send out Bo Horvat to get the defensive zone win, meaning that Pettersson is lined up as a winger on “When you’re good at hockey, it’s easy to have chemistry with a guy and the strong side. Boes is a very good player.”

After Horvat loses the draw, Pettersson is out of the pile in a flash, blocks Shift No. 7: The 3-on-3 shift the shot and is off to the races, attacking against the grain: Quinn Hughes’ debut was a game changer for the Canucks — and for “I block the shot, and it went right on Boes’ stick,” Pettersson says as we Pettersson. watch the clip. “I have the momentum forward and know I have a breakaway if I get the puck. It’s a perfect pass.” This was a different type of defender than Pettersson had played with to guy, so when I see him make the pass, I see my guy — or I at least know this point in his NHL career. A player who thinks the game the same way he’s there — and I just throw myself down with my stick.” he does. And it didn’t take long for them to make an impression together. It’s a smart read as Pettersson snuffs out a dangerous sequence: The shift actually begins with Josh Leivo and Alex Edler toward the end of a shift on with Pettersson, as the Los Angeles Kings fumble an almost The Canucks break out the other way and J.T. Miller dumps the puck in. scoring chance. Pettersson goes back to pick up the puck and begins to As the Canucks forecheck, Pettersson is the F3. With his adrenalin high, skate up the ice as Hughes and Boeser step on. he plays this too aggressively (you can see him miss a check on Larkin as the Red Wings break out) and the Red Wings play the hybrid icing the As Pettersson streaks down the left wing, he’s eyed closely by Anze other way. Kopitar. Kopitar is as good as a two-way player can be in the NHL, and Pettersson is waiting for his teammates to come up so the Kings centre Ultimately there’s a bad decision by Mantha to rim the puck around the knows he can give him a wider-than-usual gap. boards and Pettersson retrieves it and begins to move up ice.

Once Pettersson cuts into the high slot and goes into that wide stance, “There I see the puck goes around, so I do a loop so I keep my speed,” look at how Kopitar’s read changes. He goes from minding him more Pettersson says. “And I see I don’t have a defender in front of me, so I passively to striding toward him in case he needs to close space. can just take off. I don’t need to worry about a hit or a check.”

On his edges, Pettersson has options. He can shoot, he can drop, he can What happens next is a statement again, but this one of maturity. After deke. And it’s immediately clear that Kopitar knows the sort of damage overplaying his F3 role on the forecheck, Pettersson streaks down the Pettersson can do in this situation: wing. It’s a partial change for the Canucks and fourth-line winger Tim Schaller has jumped on in Miller’s stead. Your average 21-year-old “I see where the opening is, and I’m just creating time for my forward seeking urgently to demonstrate their value might try to do too teammates,” Pettersson says “And it’s the same for me, whenever I play much, particularly with a fourth-line winger on the ice to their left. top players you always have to play defensively, have that good gap. You don’t want to go for the Hail Mary, try a poke check or go for the Not Pettersson. He dishes to Schaller and drives the net hard, doing the puck and miss it and sell yourself out.” unglamorous work of taking away Mike Green’s stick and buying space and time for his teammate. As for the immediate chemistry he found with Hughes, Pettersson just recalls the fun of it all. “I skate into Mike Green, and I’m just trying to take away his stick,” Pettersson says. “Make sure he can’t poke check Schaller in this case. “We’re just using our creativity. I mean, we haven’t worked on this,” he I’m always trying to make plays, wherever I am on the ice. Green can’t says. have stick on puck, Schaller gets more time and the puck went in.

As the shift unfolds and reaches a point where Boeser gets a scoring “I know it’s late, we’ve been down the whole game. We’re up now, three chance in the slot, Pettersson decides he needs to make a point. quick goals. And yeah, Schaller had more space. If a guy is in a better position, a better spot, has a better shooting opportunity, I’m always “I’ve got to chirp Boeser,” Pettersson says. “So we’re at the part where I going to pass the puck if I see an opening.” have the puck here, and I pass to Boes. If he just passes back, I have an open net! I chirped him after the game in the hallway. He just had to When Canucks head coach Travis Green describes Pettersson as a shoot it.” player who “gets it,” it’s a sequence like this that he’s referring to.

I laugh and go back to the video, and in rewatching it, you can actually As the video concludes, I ask Pettersson if he thinks it says anything see Pettersson’s body language shift. When he passes the puck his body about him as a player. He thinks about it for a moment before begins to coil in preparation for a shot but relaxes once Boeser responding. unleashes the puck. “It shows that I want to play in both sides of the rink,” he says. “I don’t “I’m ready for the one-timer!” Pettersson says, laughing. want to just be a one-way player. I want to help my team win everywhere, just be a team guy.” Shift No. 8: The Statement shift Shift No. 9: The Poke Check This shift needs a bit more setup. It’s not a glitzy highlight so much as it’s a statement shift. The dekes are cool. The howitzer one-timers make SportsCentre. The bank passes get written about. Hockey is often a conversation. On the ice, it takes place between opponents and teammates, between players and their coaches. The key to Pettersson’s near point per game production in his first two NHL seasons, though, is disciplined simplicity. It’s about knowing to get There’s a certain non-verbal language, and this shift is a statement that to the areas where the goals are scored and actually going there. Pettersson is making. It’s a statement that he wants to be trusted to be out there when the game is on the line. Take the poke check goal, a highlight from a Canucks road loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in early December: Context here is crucial. This is a game in Detroit in November 2019, early on in Pettersson’s second NHL season. It takes place two days following The second effort is freaking incredible, but the key to this goal is the a game at Madison Square Garden, where Pettersson spent the final simple, consistent instinct that Pettersson has to get to the net. eight minutes on the bench as the Canucks scraped to hold onto a one- goal lead. “Before I pass the puck up to Tanny, Marchessault is my guy,” Pettersson says. “You can’t see it, but he’s not stamping me out. The Canucks have been trailing all evening but have finally taken a third- period lead on the shift immediately prior. “So I drive the net, see the puck is going perfectly for me to tip. I think I miss it, but maybe I tipped it. Anyway, I get the puck right on my stick and As the Detroit Red Wings send their one dangerous line out with Dylan shoot it. Fleury makes a save with his arm, and me here, I see that Larkin and Anthony Mantha, Pettersson comes onto the ice determined there’s guys everywhere. I just try to do a one-punch, and I actually tried to make a point. to get the puck in the air. Because I’m trying to poke check under the puck, and you can see in the replay that the puck lifts off of the ice … “I want to play,” Pettersson says when I lay this context out to him in full, adding later, “I want to play against the top guys, because everybody “And after that, I’m just trying not to get cut by a skate,” Pettersson knows who the top guys are. I always want to play against them. I think it concludes with a laugh. brings the best out of me.” “I see Fleury, and I see a window,” Pettersson recalls, watching it again Immediately there’s a breakdown, as Mantha receives a nifty pop pass in a highlight. “I think I punched the puck and then I just put my head from Larkin to create a 2-on-1 down low. down, because I know guys are coming to crash into me. I don’t see the puck go in, I just see the guys hugging me after. Then I know I scored.” “I know Bertuzzi is behind me from coming in,” Pettersson says. “I know I can’t prevent Mantha shooting the puck because I can’t reach him, but I Shift No. 10: The Miller Partnership know the top line is on and I know they make plays. I know I have my Acquiring Miller in a widely criticized trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning Obviously, it is an elbowing penalty on replay. at the 2019 draft turned out to be a game changer for Vancouver’s first line. “I saw it afterwards, yeah, it’s a clear elbow,” Pettersson says. “At the time I didn’t feel it. I felt his body on my lower back, but I thought his chin In Miller’s first Canucks season, he emerged as a star-level power hit my lower back.” forward, his game offering a near perfect complement on Pettersson’s wing. The reverse hit is a key weapon for Pettersson, something he does regularly. When used right, it permits him to win battles against bigger “He’s a great player,” Pettersson says of his linemate. “He’s got that players. experience and he’s easy to play with, just a skilled guy and he makes plays. Right from the start of the season we played together and it clicked “I get guys usually with my shoulder or mid-back, lower back,” Pettersson right away.” says. “Whenever players play against me, I think they know I’m fast, but they know I’m light. I’ve picked this shift because, even if it doesn’t result in a Canucks goal, it demonstrates how well Miller and Pettersson read off one another and “They don’t expect me to do a reverse hit and that’s why I’m able to support each other in the offensive end: sometimes knock other players on their ass. If they were ready and they hit me back, it’s probably me that flies the other way!” The shift begins as a partial change, Pettersson is defending high with fourth-line wingers still on the ice. As the Canucks break out, he drops Usually Pettersson is good at keeping his body compact, but on this one, behind Vancouver’s D, then maintains his speed and slashes through the his elbow is loose. It flails out, hits Robinson and the result is a minor neutral zone, ultimately winning a race to the puck after a Tyler Motte penalty. dump-in. “I was fuming in the penalty box,” Pettersson says. “I had a lot of As he cuts up the half wall, you can see Miller — who has changed onto adrenalin and I just wanted to get back out there and go hard.” the ice — come and offer support. First as a bumper, then in a soft area And go hard he did. Against a tired group of Blue Jackets second unit down low where Pettersson is able to find him immediately when an power play personnel, Pettersson beat an entire team down ice and Arizona double team arrives: scored perhaps Vancouver’s goal of the year.

Against 98 percent of NHL defencemen in the clip above, Miller probably “I was able to anticipate where the puck is going,” Pettersson says. “I see has a play to Chris Tanev backdoor. In this case, though, Oliver Ekman- the Columbus guy make a Hail Mary pass and no one receives it. So I Larsson does a good job with his stick, takes away the pass and forces see where the two defenders are at — David Savard, the right D-man Miller back along the wall, where he does his patented protect-the-puck- here, he tries to block me a little, so I have to jump away from him a bit. and-freelance-in-the-offensive-zone thing. At 8:43, I do a little jump around him. And after that, I’m just skating as As Miller gets the puck, you can see Pettersson offer the same type of hard as I can. Yeah, I look fast! support to Miller that Miller just offered him. He’s immediately available “I’ve got to admit, on the shot I tried to go high,” Pettersson says. “I didn’t as a bumper and reads off his teammates in cycling high into the feel the tap on my skates or feel that I fell down. So I just tried to tap it offensive zone. over his glove and then I did an ice pose with my leg in the air.”

“Here I see the Arizona players are playing low, and I’m just trying to be a It’s a pose that now signals that Pettersson, like the rest of us, is anxious bumper,” Pettersson says. “There’s only one D up, Quinn is on the blue for hockey to return. line and Tanny is low. So I’m just cutting high, find a soft spot and get time with the puck.” The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020

You can note, too, that as Pettersson is reading off Miller, he shoulder checks to see where Tanev is — still low — before rotating up to the point:

“At 10:22 when Quinn passes to me I get a lot of time with the puck,” Pettersson says. “J.T. is in the middle. This shift doesn’t result in a goal, but it’s two good chances.”

It’s repetitive at this point, but when Pettersson gets the puck from Hughes, Miller comes to him as an option (and calls for the puck). This is an example from early March, but it highlights the evolution of the chemistry between Vancouver’s first-liners:

Ultimately the shift ends with a Pettersson shot. I tell him there’s no chance he was ready for it, even if he still got a decent look off.

“No, I’m not. I thought he was going to shoot,” Pettersson says. “He faked me out!”

Shift No. 11: The Anger Fuel Goal

The final shift isn’t really a shift at all. It’s just an insane highlight, one that surprised even Pettersson when it happened.

“Yeah, definitely,” Pettersson responded when asked if he was surprised that he had the speed to pull it off. “It gave me confidence to use my speed even more. It’s easy to say, but I remember thinking, ‘Should I pull up?’ Stop and go the other way?’ but I just drove the net.”

For all that we’ve talked about Pettersson’s edge work and lateral speed, his straightaway skating doesn’t look fast relatively to some of his NHL peers. He’s got deceptive straightaway speed though. Perhaps enough to burn.

The anger fuel goal was probably the craziest Canucks highlight of the season. It was a goal scored after Pettersson was penalized for a reverse hit gone wrong, in which he tagged Columbus Blue Jackets forward Eric Robinson with an elbow.

The game wasn’t trending well for Vancouver, and Pettersson didn’t like the call. 1184471 Websites Our first Original Six team gives us nearly a century to work with, but we don’t need to overthink this one. Milt Schmidt did a decent job as GM for five years from 1967 to 1972, even winning two Cups. But he did that largely on the strength of Bobby Orr, , and The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: What was the single biggest upgrade in Gerry Cheevers, all of whom were on board before he arrived. Then he every team’s history? gave way to Harry Sinden, who held the job for almost 30 years during which the Bruins were playoff mainstays and perennial Cup contenders.

The upgrade: Milt Schmidt to Harry Sinden, 1972 (GM) By Sean McIndoe May 11, 2020 Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are a tough one. Dominik Hasek wasn’t much when he first NHL franchises are constantly looking to improve, both on and off the ice. arrived, and when he did blossom into a superstar he took over from Whether it’s the first-line center, the starting goalie, the coach or GM, or another Hall-of-Famer in Grant Fuhr. Gilbert Perrault was there from Day even the owner, everyone has an important role to play. And the journey 1. Lindy Ruff replaced a reigning winner. And while we’d towards a Stanley Cup is a long, slow process of finding marginal probably have said the Pegulas a few years ago, that wouldn’t hold up as improvements at every spot, hoping to get a little bit better with every well today. I’m going to reach back to 1979, as the Sabres lure Scotty change. Bowman away from the Habs. He only lasted one year as coach, which Sometimes. Other times, you can change everything by replacing one was always the plan, but stayed for seven seasons as GM. He didn’t guy with somebody who’s just way better at their job. deliver a Cup or even much in the way of contending after the first few years, but the hire gave the decade-old franchise a huge dose of That’s what we’re looking for today, as we ask a simple question: What’s credibility (and helped short circuit a rival’s dynasty). the single biggest upgrade in franchise history for every NHL team? The upgrade: John Anderson to , 1979 (GM) First, let’s be clear about what we’re looking for. We don’t just want to find the most important person in a team’s history, because that’s only Calgary Flames half of the equation. Who they replaced matters too because we’re I don’t think the Jarome Iginla deal works; he wasn’t really replacing Joe looking at how big the gap was from old to new. Nieuwendyk and didn’t even debut in Calgary until months after the For example, I’m not sure anyone in NHL history has ever been as good trade. Mike Vernon nudging out Reggie Lemelin? Maybe, but that was a at what they did as Montreal Canadiens GM Sam Pollock, but do you gradual process. Most of the key parts of that 1989 Cup win were draft know who he replaced? Frank Selke, who held the job for nearly 20 picks who were eased in. So I’m going to go with a different goaltending years and won six Cups. That’s passing the torch from one legend to pick, one which didn’t result in a Cup but probably should have: landing another, but it’s not a huge upgrade, so Pollock won’t be our pick in Miikka Kiprusoff from San Jose, then watching him take over from Montreal. Roman Turek a month into the season.

We’re also looking for cases where the upgrade is pretty much The upgrade: Roman Turek to Miikka Kiprusoff, 2003 (starting immediate. We’ll allow for a brief transition when it comes to owners or goaltender) the occasional very short stint by an interim GM, but in general, we’re not Carolina Hurricanes interested in cases where there were several years or faces in between two names, or for situations where a new player took several years to Another tricky one – I’m still not sold on the Tom Dundon era – but we evolve into a star. In fact, we won’t see many players on this list at all, did say we were looking at franchise history, so the Whalers are in play. because it’s rare to see a scenario where there’s a clear and immediate Let’s go with a pick that spans the Hartford and Carolina years, with the changing of the guard, especially for skaters. Connor McDavid is the best hiring of Jim Rutherford in 1994 to end Paul Holmgren’s brief and rocky player in the world, but he was only third in team scoring in his first year stint as GM. in Edmonton. We want instant results, or at least something close. Out with the old, in with the new, and just like that everything changes. The upgrade: Paul Holmgren to Jim Rutherford, 1994 (GM)

You probably already have somebody in mind for your favorite team. Chicago Blackhawks Let’s see if I can land on the same name, as we work our way through This is the easiest call on the entire list. Rocky Wirtz hasn’t been a the entire league. perfect owner, and it would be simplistic to pretend that he deserves all Anaheim Ducks the credit for the Hawks’ return to relevance and (eventually) championships. But as far as upgrades go, they don’t come any bigger We’re going alphabetically, but the Ducks are a good place to start since than the ownership transition that followed the death of Bill Wirtz. they’re not an especially easy call. I’m not sure any players fit, although maybe the arrival of Paul Kariya or Scott Niedermayer could work. The upgrade: Bill Wirtz to Rocky Wirtz, 2007 (owner) They’ve typically had reasonably good coaches. They won a Cup with Colorado Avalanche Brian Burke as GM, but predecessor Bryan Murray did a lot of the heavy lifting. Let’s look to the top, with the Samueli family taking over from It’s tempting to just say “Quebec to Colorado,” but that might cost me my Disney in 2005. Disney had been solid owners in the teams’ early years passport. The real answer isn’t far off, though, thanks to our friends in but had clearly lost interest in the franchise by the time the lockout rolled Montreal. On the morning of December 6, 1995, the Avs’ starting goalie around, and relocation was even starting to seem possible. Instead, was the two-headed combo of struggling youngster Jocelyn Thibault and Henry Samueli arrived, signalling the franchise’s shift from walking uninspiring veteran Stephane Fiset. By the next day, they had arguably advertisements for a movie series to a real hockey team. the greatest goalie of all time.

The upgrade: Disney to the Samuelis, 2005 (owner) The upgrade: Thibault/Fiset to Patrick Roy, 1995 (starting goaltender)

Arizona Coyotes Columbus Blue Jackets

As a player, there may have never been anyone better than Wayne Going from Brandon Saad to Artemi Panarin was pretty darn impressive, Gretzky. As a coach … well, he was a heck of a player. He probably sold even if it didn’t end well. But with ownership relatively stable and a few tickets in his four years behind the Coyotes’ bench, but he never remaining in the family, this one probably comes down to a coach or GM got them into the playoffs and only barely cracked the .500 mark once. switch. I’ll go with arriving to replace Todd Richards after Replacing him with Dave Tippett led to an immediate 28-point jump, that disastrous start in 2015. Tortorella isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and three straight years in the playoffs and the longest postseason run in he’s been off and on the hot seat in Columbus for years, but he’s the franchise history. most successful coach in franchise history by far.

The upgrade: Wayne Gretzky to Dave Tippett, 2009 (coach) The upgrade: Todd Richards to John Tortorella, 2015 (coach)

Boston Bruins Dallas Stars If we’re reaching back to the Minnesota days, you could make a case for a feud with franchise icon Henri Richard. Despite the title, the team sent Lou Nanne’s arrival in 1978. too, although he took over after MacNeil packing. He’d win two more playoff rounds in his coaching had somehow got the struggling North Stars to within two career; the guy they hired away from the Blues to replace him won nine wins of a Cup. In Dallas, Jim Nill stabilized the front office after they went Cups. through that weird hiring-former-players phase. But I’m going to keep this one on the ice, as the team pulls off a gutsy one-for-one trade that The upgrade: Al MacNeil to Scotty Bowman, 1971 (coach) landed a Hall-of-Famer helped pave the way to their only Cup. Nashville Predators

The upgrade: to Sergei Zubov, 1996 (top defenceman) Huh. They’ve only had one GM, their best coach was their first one, and Detroit Red Wings their only ownership change went from Craig Leipold to a faceless holding company. I guess we’re doing a player. But who? Shea Weber They’ve had plenty of legendary players, but wasn’t a doesn’t work. Paul Kariya might. But I think the answer is Pekka Rinne, superstar right away, and neither were Nicklas Lidstrom or Ted Lindsay. who won the starting job away from Dan Ellis in 2008-09. Ellis had Steve Yzerman was, but I’m not sure who he replaced. Terry Sawchuk actually been really good the year before, pushing Chris Mason out of took the job from a future Hall-of-Famer who’d just won a Cup. The town. But Rinne was the future, and he showed it by outplaying Ellis for trade was huge, but he wasn’t really replacing Keith the job. Primeau. Also, I keep refreshing the news ticker but it doesn’t look like I can use “Gerard Gallant for ” quite yet. So let’s reach way The upgrade: Dan Ellis to Pekka Rinne, 2008 (starting goaltender). back, to a time before the team was even called the Red Wings. After one season, they replaced Art Duncan as coach and GM with Jack Adams. He’d spend 20 years behind the bench and another 15 after that Another easy one. With apologies to franchise pillars like Martin Brodeur as GM, winning the franchise’s first seven Stanley Cups. and Scott Stevens, the most important decision in franchise history was hiring a college hockey commissioner as team president and (not long The upgrade: Art Duncan to Jack Adams (coach/GM) after) general manager. Not a lot of NHL fans even knew who Lou Edmonton Oilers Lamoriello was back then; they do now.

Man, the Oilers are a tough one. You can’t go with Wayne Gretzky since The upgrade: Max McNab to Lou Lamoriello, 1987 (GM) we’re going NHL only and he was there from the start, as was Mark New York Islanders Messier. Connor McDavid doesn’t work, as we already mentioned. Ditching Peter Pocklington in the 90s was big, but ownership wasn’t Barry Trotz is at least in the running, stable ownership has been crucial exactly smooth sailing right after. It’s too soon to know about Ken and I’m sure a few Islander fans would vote for the upgrade from John Holland. Tavares to Not John Tavares. But this one’s pretty straightforward because the franchise once went from the only 30 games (and six wins) I seriously thought about using either Chris Pronger or of Earl Ingarfield’s coaching career to a guy named Al Arbour. from the 2006 team. But in the end, I think we have to go with the transition from an unheralded GM who got them out of the WHA and not The upgrade: Earl Ingarfield to Al Arbour, 1973 (coach) much else to a washed-up player who turned out to have some staying New York Rangers power. The Rangers have certainly had a long and winding history, one that The upgrade: Larry Gordon to , 1980 (GM) includes a handful of highs and some ridiculous lows. That gives us a few Florida Panthers possibilities to work with, but I’m going to stick in the modern era for my pick: The 1989 move from Phil Esposito as GM to a young Red Wings Gerard Gallant to Tom Rowe as head coach, obviously. (Surveys the scout named Neil Smith. The hire raised a few eyebrows at the time and crowd.) No? Not where you were leaning? Fair enough, but the Panthers only came after Scotty Bowman had reportedly turned down the job. But are tough. Their GMs are a hodgepodge of big and generally capable it turned out to be exactly the right move; Esposito’s three years on the hockey names. Their handful of big trades don’t offer any obvious job were a frantic whirlwind of wheeling and dealing that was always candidates since the main piece in the Pavel Bure deal was a entertaining, but Smith’s more patient approach led the team to its long- defenceman and Roberto Luongo wasn’t a massive upgrade over Jacob awaited Cup. Markstrom if we’re factoring in contracts. You know what? Screw it, this might be jumping the gun but we should have something on the list from The upgrade: Phil Esposito to Neil Smith, 1989 (GM) recent years. Ottawa Senators The upgrade: Bob Boughner to Joel Quenneville (coach) Which of Dave “Sparky” Allison’s two career wins behind the bench was Los Angeles Kings your favorite? It’s a tough call, but his lifetime 2-22-1 record makes him the least successful coach in NHL history to last more than six games. We said we wouldn’t have many players, and we won’t. But this one’s too Nine years of Jacques Martin never brought a Cup in Ottawa, but he easy, as the late-80s Kings got just a little bit better by swapping out their turned the team from punchline to legitimate contender and probably first-line center for a new guy from up north. saved the franchise in the process.

The upgrade: Jimmy Carson to Wayne Gretzky, 1988 (first-line center) The upgrade: Sparky Allison to Jacques Martin, 1996 (coach)

Minnesota Wild Philadelphia Flyers

As always, the Wild are a challenge. Their best coach may have been The obvious pick here is Gritty, but the Flyers didn’t have a mascot the guy they started with. Their GMs have been mostly fine, and it’s too before he arrived so it’s technically not an upgrade. My other thought was early to know how big an improvement Bill Guerin will be over the Paul Ron Hextall in 1987, but he replaced a Vezina runner-up in Bob Froese. I Fenton mess. Ownership may be better under Craig Leipold, but it’s not a think this one comes down to two options: going from Vic Stasiuk to Fred Wirtz-like leap. And I’m not sure Ryan Suter or Zach Parise have moved Shero as coach in 1971, or Bob McCammon to Bobby Clarke as GM in the needle as much as fans probably hoped. 1984. Shero did take a year to really find his footing, but two Cups don’t I don’t know. How about the time they threw a Hail Mary on a midyear lie. trade and saved their season by landing the best goalie in franchise The upgrade: Vic Stasiuk to , 1971 (coach) history? Pittsburgh Penguins The upgrade: Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom to Devan Dubnyk, 2015 (starting goaltender) This one is going to be Mario Lemieux. The question is which one – his arrival as a player in 1984, or as team owner in 1999? You could make a Montreal Canadiens convincing case that both probably saved the franchise, and neither feels It’s not easy to win a Stanley Cup as a head coach and still manage to like a wrong call. But Mario didn’t really replace anyone in 1984 – the get fired that offseason. But not impossible, as Al MacNeil found out after team’s first-line center back then was Mike Bullard, who stayed on the just one season behind the Habs’ bench in 1970-71 that was marked by team for three more seasons – so the ownership swap feels like it fits the especially since Ovechkin didn’t directly replace anyone since every spirit of what we’re going for a bit better. decent forward had already been shipped out by the time he arrived. That tips it just slightly towards Poile; modern fans don’t understand how The upgrade: Howard Baldwin to Mario Lemieux, 1999 (owner) big a joke the Caps were before he arrived. If he doesn’t steady the ship, San Jose Sharks the Caps may not be around for Ovechkin’s arrival two decades later.

Another tough one. Doug Wilson replaced a pretty good GM in Dean The upgrade: Roger Crozier to David Poile, 1982 (GM) Lombardi. Joe Thornton didn’t really replace anyone since the Sharks Winnipeg Jets didn’t have to give up anything significant to get him. Hasso Plattner’s been great, but he’s gradually increased his ownership share over the We’ll end with another tough one. If we’re counting the original Jets, we years rather than just showing up one day and grabbing the team could point to the arrival of Dale Hawerchuk. But we’ve been going based outright. And it would feel cheap to pretend that Ron Wilson took over on franchise lineage for other teams, and I don’t feel like having the from one game of interim coach Cap Raeder. So instead, let’s reach way whole “What is a Winnipeg Jet?” philosophical debate yet again. In the back to the team’s very first coaching change, which saw Kevin modern era, I was going to say Kevin Cheveldayoff replacing one season Constantine replace George Kingston. He didn’t last long, but he pretty of , but Dudley actually had a pretty impressive year, much immediately oversaw the Sharks’ transition from historic acquiring Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien on the cheap. Paul laughingstock to postseason giant slayer. Maurice taking over from Claude Noel midway through the 2013-14 season? Maybe, but I think most Winnipeg fans would make a bigger The upgrade: George Kingston to Kevin Constantine, 1993 (coach) picture choice, even though fans in Atlanta might not agree.

St. Louis Blues The upgrade: What was left of Atlanta Spirit to True North, 2011 (owners)

This one’s tougher than you might think. Remember, the Blues almost There’s the list. The final tally ends up being five owners, nine coaches, moved to Saskatoon in 1983 before Harry Ornest swooped in to buy nine GMs, one coach/GM combo and just seven players, of which four them away from Purina. (Yes, the dog food company. They were as were goalies. I don’t think that’s necessarily a sign of which jobs in an confused as you were.) He only lasted three years and they didn’t win organization are most important so much as which ones change the most anything, but they might not exist if it weren’t for him. Still, this feels like a often in a direct, one guy replacing another sort of way. Only one guy case where we can let some recency bias kick in and lead us to the shows up as the pick more than once – Scotty Bowman, in both Buffalo obvious choice. and Montreal.

The upgrade: Mike Yeo to Craig Berube, 2018 (coach) Did I get them all exactly right? Of course not. Did I get like 30 of them Tampa Bay Lightning right? Yes, that’s probably accurate. But if you think you’ve got a better pick for your team, let me know down below. Going from Steve Ludzik behind the bench to John Tortorella in 2001 certainly paid dividends. But given the bumpy history of the franchise, The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 this one probably has to be an ownership swap. But which one? We’ve got plenty to choose from, including the infamous mystery of Kokusai Green, which may or may not have been a front for the Japanese mafia. But let’s go with the most recent change, which led to a decade of success and (more importantly) stability.

The upgrade: Oren Koules and Len Barrie to Jeff Vinik, 2010 (owner)

Toronto Maple Leafs

You’d assume this would be Harold Ballard related since he might be the only guy who could give Bill Wirtz a run for his money as most despised owner in NHL history. But that doesn’t work as an immediate upgrade since it took three years of legal wrangling before Steve Stavro finally gained full control of the franchise. Instead, let’s go with another crucial transition from the same era: the upgrade from the worst GM in modern franchise history to the best.

The upgrade: Floyd Smith to Cliff Fletcher, 1991 (GM)

Vancouver Canucks

I thought about putting “Trevor Linden to Mark Messier as captain” in this spot as a joke but then I remembered I like it when my house isn’t on fire. Therefore, let’s go with an upgrade from the GM who made the worst trade in franchise history to one who came within a game of winning it all.

The upgrade: Jack Gordon to Pat Quinn, 1987 (GM)

Vegas Golden Knights

With just three seasons under their belt, they probably shouldn’t be included here at all, but what the hell. They’ve already seen change at both GM and coach, but the jury’s still out on whether either was an upgrade. I guess that means this has to be a player, but even that’s tricky; Marc-Andre Fleury was the starter from Day 1, and a few of the big names they’ve added haven’t directly replaced anyone. Yeesh. Well, there was that time their presumptive top center lasted four games before heading home and leaving the job open for someone else. Let’s go with that.

The upgrade: Vadim Shipachyov to William Karlsson, 2017 (first-line center)

Washington Capitals

Hoo boy. Do you go with the arrival of David Poile in 1982 or in 2005? With respect to Bryan Murray behind the bench, I think those are the only two options. I went back and forth on this one, 1184472 Websites then ultimately that competitive spirit as far as just the integrity of what we’re trying to do.’’

While van Riemsdyk wouldn’t go into specifics, other sources around the The Athletic / LeBrun: Return to Play Committee’s search for a solution league suggest what appears to be some momentum for a 24-team with no perfect answer format rather than bring all 31 teams back for regular-season games. Although I’ve had a few team executives also suggest the 20-team format makes sense, too (one suggests 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9 on each side to get to the 16-team playoff). By Pierre LeBrun May 11, 2020 At issue, especially for the bottom-ranked seven teams in the NHL

standings, is the lack of motivation to come back and play regular-season An interesting development that’s occurred during this pause in the games four to five months after the season pause with no realistic shot at season is that the people you would assume to have a decent idea of the playoffs. What’s the point? what direction the league plans to take aren’t really sure. Again, it’s another sensitive factor the Return to Play Committee must Even team executives, whether it’s gaining the information first-hand consider. during the Board of Governors’ calls or having details from the meetings “No matter what scenario is decided upon, there’s going to be people that relayed from their owners, end up feeling, for the most part, unsure of aren’t going to be totally thrilled, that’s just the way it goes,’’ van what’s ahead. Riemsdyk said. “At this point, just with the information that’s out there, It’s because NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is careful on those calls there’s not enough clarity or certainty around a lot of things that we can not to divulge too much, but in reality, it’s also because so much of all kind of rule anything out at this point. this remains a fluid situation. “We’re trying to talk through different sorts of scenarios and different The only people who have a little bit more knowledge are those on the ends of the spectrum to see what makes the most sense. But again, as Return to Play Committee, a group made up of brass from the league we’ve seen over the last days, weeks and months, things can change and select members of the Players’ Association, that hold detailed pretty quickly and there’s new information to act on. We’ll take what weekly chats regarding the issues and ideas concerning a path back for comes to us and try to make the best decisions we can given all those the 2019-20 season, if at all possible. things.’’

Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk enjoyed the experience As fellow committee member Tavares told me two weeks ago, there’s last summer of sitting on the Competition Committee so he didn’t hesitate concern among players with the idea of living in a bubble hub city for when the NHLPA asked him to sit on the Return to Play Committee. three months without seeing their loved ones. That’s an issue that’s been clearly stated to the league and according to sources, a concern that “For me, getting the chance to do the Competition Committee last Bettman mentioned on the Board of Governors call last Monday. summer, that was a cool process to be a part of,’’ van Riemsdyk told The Athletic. “This has also been good. There’s a good mix of guys on each “That’s definitely been something that’s been discussed as far as trying side, so no stone will be left unturned as we try to navigate the safest, to figure out a way to make everyone happy in that sense,’’ van best way to hopefully get things going again.’’ Riemsdyk said. “Obviously, they’re not necessarily asking us to go four months without seeing our families. So yeah, we’re trying to work out Before even playing games, the league and NHLPA will soon have to ways that we can make that work for guys. That’s certainly an item that decide when to end self-quarantine and move into Phase 2, which is we’re going over.’’ when players can skate at team facilities in small groups. It’s a situation that both sides are monitoring daily because advancing to the next phase As we saw in the anonymous player poll our Athletic beat writers is a delicate decision. When is it safe enough in all 31 markets for Phase conducted recently, there are varying views about all kinds of factors 2 to commence? related to resuming the season, including what a Stanley Cup championship would mean depending on the format. “It’s difficult because there’s so much uncertainty around different things and there’s lots of moving parts with different governments and things “Worst part of it is if we do come back and play and whatever team goes like that,” van Riemsdyk said. “Our primary focus is on everyone’s health on to win will always have an asterisk beside them,’’ one Western and safety. We’re trying to balance all these things. But that comes first. Conference player said in that story. Then you manage different things like competitive advantage potentially, I suppose it’s about the time off between the pause and the resumption and the integrity of how special it is to win a championship and try to of play that rubs people the wrong way. And I get that. And while it’s not juggle all these sorts of things and ultimately come out with a decision the same situation, there isn’t an asterisk on the 2013 Blackhawks that solves some of these issues as best we can.’’ despite that regular season being only 48 games because of the lockout. Not every player in the league views all this from the same vantage point, “Yeah, exactly, that’s an interesting thing,’’ van Riemsdyk said. “Sports which is why it’s going to be nearly impossible to please everyone, no and games have evolved so much over the years, there are different matter what ends up happening. things you can look back on 60-70 years ago in our game and it’s like, On the committee alone you’ve got players with different situations. John `Was that even hockey?’ It was hockey at the time. But there are so Tavares, Connor McDavid and van Riemsdyk are on playoff teams no many different things that have changed. It is what it is. matter what the format ends up being. But Mark Scheifele’s Winnipeg “You figure it out and you go from there. Sure, it’ll be an eerie sort of Jets are on the bubble, they’re out based on points percentage but if it’s feeling as far as probably having to play without fans if it comes to that. a 20- or 24-team format or the league manages to finish the regular There’s going to be some interesting parts to it.’’ season, they could play themselves in. Then there’s committee member Ron Hainsey, who has no shot at the playoffs with his Ottawa Senators. But if there’s a Stanley Cup champion awarded, JVR feels it still should be legit. On the player’s side of the committee alone, there are three different viewpoints. This is a good thing as far as trying to represent all the “As far as the feeling that will come with it, it’s still going to be something different preferences players throughout the league may have depending that’s special,’ he said. “Ultimately, it’s probably a better question to ask if on their situation. we’re able to play and ask the team that wins to see how they feel about it. But I can’t imagine a team that’s able to win wouldn’t be thrilled.’’ Furthermore, this has helped give JVR an appreciation, he says, for what the NHL and commissioner Bettman are facing right now. The Athletic LOADED: 05.12.2020 “You’re never going to make everyone happy no matter what you decide,’’ he said. “So, ultimately, we’re all going into these decisions with the best intentions, trying to make it work the best way possible. Again, we’re not going to sacrifice safety, that goes without saying. But as far as the other issues, we’re trying to figure out a way that makes sense and make sure players aren’t putting themselves at an extreme injury risk and 1184473 Websites “You’d love to see every player get that playoff opportunity, but you start thinking about the four or five guys closest to playing in the NHL– that comes back to Batherson, Norris, Formenton, Logan Brown, Brannstrom,” Mann says. “These are the types of guys we wanted to see Sportsnet.ca / Senators lament 'missed opportunity' after AHL season is perform under pressure when the stakes were so high. cancelled “It’s unfortunate for the whole team in general but specifically to those four or five guys.”

Wayne Scanlan May 11, 2020, 5:44 PM Mann says he wouldn’t rule out any of those players still making the jump to Ottawa next season, “but from a developmental perspective, a playoff

run would have helped them.” Everyone expected it and still the news stung — Monday’s Norris, 21, who came to Ottawa as part of the Erik Karlsson trade, was announcement that the American Hockey League season has been the AHL’s top rookie scorer with 31 goals, 30 assists and 61 points in 56 officially cancelled. games. Batherson was sixth in points, despite being with Ottawa for long Out went the lights on one of the best and most surprising seasons of the stretches. He had 54 points in 44 AHL games. Formenton was seventh in Ottawa Senators AHL farm team, the Belleville Senators. AHL scoring with 53 points in 61 games.

“I’d much prefer talking about a playoff series win at this time of year,” Mann believes it is important for Norris to get in a strong off-season of said Belleville head coach Troy Mann, who spent much of the day training so he can compete against bigger, stronger players in the NHL. speaking to reporters by phone about the demise of the AHL’s 2019-20 Richard Deitsch and Donnovan Bennett host a podcast about how campaign. COVID-19 is impacting sports around the world. They talk to experts, Icing an extremely young lineup built for development, not necessarily for athletes and personalities, offering a window into the lives of people we grinding out victories, the B-Sens stunned the league by finishing first in normally root for in entirely different ways. the North Division and third in the Eastern Conference with a record of When the news became official, Dorion extended a tip of the cap to his 38-20-4-1, a .643 winning percentage and 81 points as of March 12. players and staff in Belleville. Belleville had played 63 games when the games were stopped due to COVID-19 and was assured of a playoff spot for the first time since the “We want to congratulate our players, coaches and the staff in Belleville franchise moved to Belleville from Binghamton three years ago. for their great work this season,” Dorion said.

Mann, who deserves coach-of-the-year consideration for bringing his “We were eager to see a significant part of the organization’s future play youthful team along, was as disappointed as anyone when the other important late-season games and to experience what we anticipated to shoe dropped Monday. be a lengthy playoff run. Without question, this season’s team in Belleville was composed of our best group of prospects in some time and “It’s certainly a missed opportunity that we can’t see what the team could their success remains key to our rebuild. do, potentially, down the stretch and in the playoffs,” Mann said. “I’m additionally disappointed for the fans in Belleville as I know many Your browser does not support the audio element. shared in our excitement of competing in the Calder Cup playoffs.” A few weeks ago Mann told me that after ten AHL seasons, including six B-Sens and Ottawa Senators franchise owner also as head coach, this was perhaps the most special group of players he’s issued a statement, thanking fans for their patience during the been around, largely because they liked each other so much. They were coronavirus. almost like a college team — young, fearless, like-minded. “We are continuing to do everything possible to bring Senators hockey “The guys were a really tight-knit group,” Mann says. “A lot of coaches back as soon as it is safe to do so,” Melnyk said. “As we continue to face talk about that in terms of how to win, and that is a huge component of it. extraordinary challenges related to the COVID-19 we are grateful for the We did have good vets, but the ability of these young kids to come continued loyalty of our fans and we appreciate the patience and support together, and play through some adversity was vital.” you have shown during this unprecedented time.” Injuries and setbacks hit every aspect of the B-Sens. The goaltending The Belleville operation assured fans they would not lose the value of wasn’t great at the start, and then starter Marcus Hogberg was gone to any tickets they had purchased for the remaining scheduled games. the NHL Senators by Dec. 1. At various times, callups and injuries rendered the B-Sens short on defence, and then at forward. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.12.2020 “We went 11 (forwards) and seven (defencemen) for about two months and guys like (centre) Logan Brown were playing 25 to 27 minutes a night and we were still managing to win hockey games — on the road,” Mann says. A total of 16 different defencemen suited up for Belleville.

Not even a crazy, eight-game, 16-day January road trip could derail a team that seemed to laugh in the face of impossible tasks. With stops in Rochester, Utica, Winnipeg (for two games), Grand Rapids, Rockford, Milwaukee and back to Utica — the B-Sens took 13 of 16 possible points on that marathon stretch.

Belleville led the AHL in road wins with 23 and had an overall road record of 23-5-3. The B-Sens also led the league in goals scored, with 234, and shorthanded goals, with 18.

For Mann and the entire Senators organization, the most painful part of the season ending is the lack of playoff action for their developing players.

On a conference call last month, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion called the pending cancellation of the AHL season a big blow.

“That hurts our organization more than anything going on right now,” Dorion said, while firing off the names of the young talent, such as forwards Josh Norris, Alex Formenton and Drake Batherson, defenceman Erik Brannstrom and others who would be missing out on playing in the Calder Cup playoffs.

Mann concurs. 1184474 Websites player salaries in full, even though they owned contractual rights that didn’t force them to honour the cancelled portion of schedule.

As the AHL enters a long wait until its next game, some players might be Sportsnet.ca / AHL can't afford to finish 2019-20 without fans, future up in granted a lifeline. the air The NHL is still actively engaged in trying to finish its season and teams believe they’ll return with expanded rosters of 30 players or more if it manages to restart. Those taxi squads will be essential to finishing out an Chris Johnston | May 11, 2020, 11:41 AM expanded 24-team Stanley Cup playoff format that’s currently believed to be the favoured option of the league.

Jumping directly into the post-season would free NHL teams from having The real news here is not that the American Hockey League was forced to be cap compliant — meaning there would be no restrictions on which to shutter a season for the first time in its history. players under contract they could recall from the AHL, Europe or It’s been clear to those in power that things were heading this way since Canadian Hockey League to fill out those expanded rosters. the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I do know that some NHL clubs have had that conversation almost No, what stood out most about Monday’s official cancellation of the 2019- immediately with their top AHL players,” said Andrews. “That they were 20 campaign is how much unpredictability hangs over the 2020-21 AHL going to be sort of on the taxi squad when the time comes, so ‘work out, season as well. In a gate-driven league where you have teams run both we’ll be in touch with you.”’ by independent businesspeople and NHL organizations, there are bound Even if the AHL’s cancellation announcement came as no surprise — the to be competing objectives. league’s board of governors voted unanimously to shutter the season So as the AHL actively turns its attention to a new season that could start during what was described by one source as a “short call” on Friday in October, November, December or January, it’s also preparing for the afternoon — it still arrives with disappointment. possibility the league itself might have to function in a way it never has It robs a young team like the Belleville Senators, for example, from previously. experiencing a potentially important playoff run. That group was led by “There’s a ton of uncertainty here,” AHL president David Andrews said aged 22-and-under prospects Josh Norris, Drake Batherson and Alex during an appearance on Hockey Formenton — each of whom will be counted on to take the next step to rebuilding Ottawa in the not-too-distant future. Central at Noon. “We had a good shot this year,” said one member of the Baby Sens. “We need to prepare for all of those scenarios and whether it’s a full league operating for a full season, or whether it’s some critical mass of History will record Milwaukee as the AHL’s top team (.714 points teams operating for less than a full season or whether it’s regional percentage), Iowa’s Sam Anas as its top producer (70 points), Iowa’s competitions — a completely different look than what we’ve done in the Gerry Mayhew as its top scorer (39 goals) and Norris as its top rookie past get scorer (31 goals and 61 points). Iowa goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen led the way with 25 wins while Providence’s Dan Vladar had the best save through 2020-21 — we’re going to have to find that solution as we go percentage at .936. along.” But the story of 2019-20 will be left incomplete. He’ll spearhead the task along with Scott Howson, the man set to replace him on July 1. But there’s only so much that can be decided before they And no one can say with any certainty when the next chapter might gain a clearer understanding of how long health restrictions will remain in begin, or what it might look like. place. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.12.2020 Hockey Central

AHL President & CEO on decision to cancel the rest of the season

May 11 2020

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Playing ghost games — those with no fans — is not an option for most AHL teams, especially those run like a business rather than a vehicle solely made to develop NHL players.

“We’re not designed (for that),” said Andrews. “The American Hockey League as it presently operates can not play in front of empty buildings for any sustained period of time.”

That’s a major reason why it was no longer considered feasible to try and conclude this season and playoffs, making 2020 the first year where the Calder Cup won’t be awarded since first being introduced in 1937.

Not even the Second World War previously interrupted that string of championships.

The prevailing thought among NHL executives is that the AHL probably won’t start back up with all of its teams initially, which might force some shared affiliation agreements until normalcy returns.

“We’re going to play in 2021,” said Andrews. “I don’t want to even think about the possibility we won’t play at all and we’ll figure out the best way for us to play. Player development is really crucial for all the NHL teams.

“I mean, they want these young guys playing, so we’ve got to figure out how that’s going to work and what the business model looks like and it might be something dramatically different from what it looks like now.”

Andrews said he’s been working in lockstep with the NHL since play was halted on March 12 and credited teams for deciding to pay out all AHL 1184475 Websites After finishing second in AHL scoring with 79 points in 75 games last year, Bracco produced 34 points in 44 games this season.

Bracco did make a good first impression on Moore, who chuckled when TSN.CA / 'Undefined number' of Toronto Marlies on standby for possible asked what the 23-year-old is like off the ice. depth duty with Toronto Maple Leafs "The reason I kind of giggle is because he's such a fun-loving guy," Moore said. "He brings so much energy to the room, to the rink, teammates love being around him, he definitely brings the fun and Mark Masters everyone enjoys working with him."

Bracco, Toronto's second-round pick in 2015, has yet to play a game in the NHL. When the American Hockey League paused its season in March, the Toronto Marlies sat nine points back of a playoff spot with 15 games 4. Gilman is comfortable with the goalie pipeline. left. The Maple Leafs' farm team harboured hopes of making a late charge, but won't get that chance. On Monday, the AHL officially Kasimir Kaskisuo made his NHL debut this season, but got shelled for six announced the rest of the season will be cancelled due to the COVID-19 goals in his lone start in Pittsburgh back on Nov. 16. The 26-year-old pandemic. Finn finished the AHL season 14-9-2 with a .909 save percentage. Meanwhile, Joseph Woll struggled to find consistency in his first So, what to make of the 2019-20 Marlies season? It featured plenty of professional season posting an 11-16-3 record with an .880 save twists and turns including a coaching change with Greg Moore taking percentage. over for the promoted Sheldon Keefe in December. There was a lot of personnel turnover as well as the Leafs dealt with a string of injuries (199 "Early on, candidly, I thought our goaltending was very, very good and I man games lost) requiring near constant call-ups. think it masked some of the issues we had, because of all the roster turnover that was going on," Gilman said. "As the season unfolded I think Leafs assistant general manager Laurence Gilman, who serves as it's fair to say that our goaltending was up and down." general manager of the Marlies, and Moore spoke to reporters via a conference call on Monday. Here are five highlights from their 30-minute During Woll's exit interview, Gilman said he reminded the 21-year-old session with the media. Boston College product that it takes longer for goalies to develop than position players. 1. An 'undefined number' of Marlies players are on standby if the National Hockey League season resumes. "We think we have a very good and up-and-coming goaltender in Joe Woll and we've been very happy with Kasimir Kaskisuo [who took us] to "We made a decision with respect to an undefined number of our players Game 6 of the Conference Final last year," said Gilman. "By and large and we conducted exit interviews with the rest," Gilman said. "With we're happy with what we have in the pipeline but, like any other respect to the players who conceivably could play depth roles for the franchise, you can never have enough goaltending, it's like pitchers in Leafs, they've been informed that they are essentially on standby like the baseball." rest of our NHL players." Gilman also mentioned that Ian Scott remains in the equation. The 21- As for the exit interviews, Gilman said they weren't all that different from year-old missed the season after undergoing hip surgery. regular years with players being told what they did well and where they can improve. There was one additional note. Leafs starter Frederik Andersen has one more year remaining on his current deal while the newly acquired Jack Campbell is under contract for "One of the messages that we imparted is, 'There will be hockey again at two more seasons. some point and your job, as a player, is to get ready for training camp whenever that's going to be,'" Gilman said. "Every player that we sent off 5. Kristians Rubins and Adam Brooks are on the rise. has an individualized workout [program] so that they can work on Asked who has stood out from a developmental perspective, Moore is whatever it is they need to work on." quick to mention 22-year-old defenceman Kristians Rubins. 2. After taking a 'tremendous step' in his development, Timothy Liljegren "I was really impressed with his continued thirst for education and is ready for the NHL. learning and growing as a person," said Moore, "how good of a Right-shot defenceman Timothy Liljegren was among the stand-out teammate he was and ... how much he improved from the beginning of players for the Marlies this season and earned an 11-game look in the the season to the season pause. He really added a lot of different layers NHL. to his game."

"I really felt that his game took a tremendous step this season," said Moore also highlighted the contributions of 24-year-old forward Adam Gilman. "He obviously has very good puck skills, he transports the puck Brooks, who made his NHL debut in December, playing seven games very well, he skates very well, he has a good shot, but I think what he with the Leafs. worked on the most this year ... was how he processed the game, how "He obviously got his first taste of the National Hockey League this year he thought it, his decision making going forward." and it was really impressive to see him thrive within those opportunities," With Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci, both righties, likely to depart in free Moore said. "He definitely took advantage of his time on the ice and his agency, the Leafs need options on their blueline next season and the time up there and then when he came back you could also see a level of belief is that Liljegren can help fill the void in some capacity. confidence that he gained from that experience."

"I believe that Timothy Liljegren is ready to become an NHL player, TSN.CA LOADED: 05.12.2020 whatever level that will be," Gilman said. "I will be surprised if he doesn't play in the top seven or eight with the Toronto Maple Leafs next year. He's got to hold up his end of the bargain, but in terms of the development that he's had in the past 12 months I think it's been tremendous."

3. Jeremy Bracco's trajectory is unclear following an "interesting" season.

While Liljegren is on the rise, the outlook isn't as rosy for Bracco. The 5- foot-11 winger hasn't played since Feb. 1 after missing time for personal reasons.

"Jeremy had an interesting season," said Gilman. "We conducted an exit interview with him as we did with many of the other players. We're going to assess ... all our players going forward and that decision and that analysis hasn't yet occurred at this point in time. This season just concluded this morning." 1184476 Websites feast on weaker defences in the low slot. What also puts Montreal in an intriguing position? The playoffs are notorious for limiting special-teams opportunities, which would shelve their equally abysmal power-play and penalty-kill units more than it did during the regular season. In the right TSN.CA / Yost: Which underachieving NHL teams could go on a run in matchup, Montreal could cause serious problems. expanded postseason? Minnesota Wild: Betting on Minnesota in the playoffs has never been particularly prosperous, but the Wild offer an intriguing candidacy for those who believe that defence wins championships. The Wild’s Travis Yost underlying defensive numbers are quite strong, but you have to look well beyond the goaltending this season to see them. For example: the team finished 15th in shots allowed at even strength and first in expected Last week, we studied the ramifications of an expedited NHL draft lottery goals, but just 18th in goals against. Why? Devan Dubnyk – who had – one that would see this year’s entry draft moved up to June, with the been lights out for years in Minnesota – had an awful season, stopping lottery odds skirting heavily in favour of teams like the Detroit Red Wings just 89 per cent of shots in 30 games. Backup Alex Stalock (91 per cent and Ottawa Senators. As it stands today, the movement of both the draft of shots stopped) was better, but still a touch below league average. and the associated lottery remains undecided. What if the Wild experienced shorter-term goaltender regression while maintaining their innate ability at keeping opposing shooters to the There is a second change the NHL has been kicking around in recent perimeter, as they did all season? (Data via HockeyViz) weeks, and that’s the expansion of this year’s playoff format. The NHL – like most North American sports leagues – has regularly toyed with the Columbus Blue Jackets: Everyone’s favorite upset team from one season idea of increasing its postseason footprint, and this year’s late-season ago offers an alternative to anyone looking for a strong defensive team pause gives more reason to review its feasibility. that isn’t reliant on a pair of goaltenders who struggled most of this season. However, in Columbus’ case, you have to bet on two netminders The benefit of the expanded postseason — the most popular appears to with very limited experience – Joonas Korpisalo (91.1 save percentage) be the 24-team proposal, though other options are being considered — is and Elvis Merzlikins (92.3 save percentage) were outstanding post- multi-faceted. It comes at the expense of finishing the rest of the regular Sergei Bobrovsky, but also have a combined zero playoff games. The season, it doesn’t penalize teams right on the playoff cut line who still question with Columbus is rather simple: Where does the scoring come had 10 or more games to play, and it creates excitement in most markets from? When the regular season stopped, the team’s leading scorer was about the return of hockey and a late summer run at the Stanley Cup. youngster Pierre-Luc Dubois (18 goals, 31 assists) and Gustav Nyquist There are plenty of unanswered questions about what the framework (15 goals, 27 assists), who currently rank 72nd and 119th in the scoring would look like, but early overtures suggest the divisional winners earn a race, respectively. Some of the lack of scoring is limited opportunity at bye, with the other 16 teams competing for eight playoff bids. If we even strength, and some of it is tied to a ghastly power play that is assume that the league uses the same criteria in selecting the remaining ranked dead last (5.7 goals per 60 minutes) over the past three seasons. 16 teams (e.g. next best eight teams by points percentage, by There’s enough talent, especially on the blueline, for John Tortorella’s conference), we can quickly figure out which teams would meet the new team to create havoc. Could they recreate magic two years in a row? cut line. TSN.CA LOADED: 05.12.2020 In the East, that would mean adding Columbus, Florida, New York (R), and Montreal. In the West, that means including Winnipeg, Minnesota, Arizona, and Chicago:

Whenever we talk about playoff expansion, we are talking about a trade – more revenue and more opportunities to sell your game on a longer postseason schedule at the cost of diluting the playoff pool.

The dilution should not be discounted. We are, after all, talking about a postseason where teams like the Blackhawks and Canadiens – pacing for low-80s point totals and a generally disappointing season – jumping into a playoff series. We already have concerns about the quality of hockey coming out of a two-month hiatus. Add in some teams with weak rosters, and you have a compounding problem.

That said, it’s interesting to wonder if the proposal to add eight playoff teams could create an opportunity for an underachieving team to go on a run. It’s hard to know how aggressively these performance numbers will sustain after such a long stoppage in play, but we do have a pretty good feel for the quality of these lineups after 65 or more regular-season games.

Those 65 games weren’t flattering for this group:

For the most part, these teams compare poorly relative to their playoff peers – teams that generally outshot and outscored their opponents at even strength and carried favourable goal differentials at special teams. That said, these teams had enough talent and at least one core competency that kept them afloat in the standings, and sometimes that’s enough to pull an upset in a short series.

Which teams make the best case for upset potential? A few certainly caught my eye:

Montreal Canadiens: Say what you will about the Canadiens and their lack of star power across the lineup, but this was still an exceptionally feisty bunch. The team is sorely missing some finishing talent in the lineup, but they were able to offset some of those deficiencies by playing an exceptional number of even-strength minutes in the offensive zone. Their puck dominance – they would end the regular season first in Corsi% (just ahead of Vegas), second in Expected Goal% (just behind Vegas), and 14th in Goal% (above 51 per cent) – paints them in a much more positive light than the rest of the teams on this list. A lot of that comes from the team’s top line, where Brendan Gallagher and company 1184477 Websites □ One pair must be comprised of suffocating defenders, aka a shutdown pair

□ Lines and pairs are put together because they fit together, not because TSN.CA / The All-Time 7: TSN's Vancouver Canucks All-Time Team they are necessarily the first, second and third best at their positions

□ Foundational players are defined as players part of the fabric – the DNA – of a franchise Steve Dryden □ Last cuts by position are exactly as advertised, the players who just missed selection to the all-time team

TSN Hockey presents the All-Time 7 Project. We are naming all-time Goalie Roberto Luongo teams - 21 players, a head coach and GM - for each of the seven Canadian NHL clubs. Today, we conclude it with the Vancouver The franchise all-time leader in regular-season wins helped take the Canucks. Canucks to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup final, earned a berth on the second all-star team (2006-07), led the NHL in wins once (38, 2010-11) If this were 2025 rather than 2020, how different might the Vancouver and was a top-three finisher in Vezina Trophy balloting twice. Canucks’ all-time team look? Goalie Kirk McLean Indeed, how different might it look if it were 2022 – pandemic permitting? The franchise all-time leader in playoff wins helped take the Canucks to Absent from the TSN All-Time 7 star-studded team are Elias Pettersson Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup final, earned a berth on the second all- and Quinn Hughes, the centre named NHL Rookie of the Year in 2018- star team (1991-92), led the NHL in wins once (38, 1991-92) and was a 19 and the left defenceman who may earn the same honour in 2019-20. top-three finisher in Vezina Trophy balloting twice.

Neither sophomore Pettersson, nor freshman Hughes, has played the LD Mattias Ohlund – RD Doug Lidster requisite 225 regular-season games to be eligible for the all-time team. By the end of the 2021-22 season, they should both have reached that Ohlund and Lidster are both 300-point scorers for the Canucks and four- minimum. time winners of the Babe Pratt Trophy, awarded annually to the team’s best defenceman. It wouldn’t be reasonable to consider their abbreviated bodies of work – however impressive – in the same classes as that of their predecessors. LD Jyrki Lumme – RD Sami Salo

Pettersson, in particular, is carrying on a proud Swedish tradition at Lumme’s importance to the Canucks in the 1990s was such that he led centre. Two of the four all-time centres – Henrik Sedin and Thomas defencemen in both goals and points six of seven seasons (1992-98) Gradin – wore Tre Kronor sweaters internationally. Franchise icon Trevor while hard-shooting Salo holds the team record for most career power- Linden and Ryan Kesler fill out the centre position. play goals (48).

But it is at right wing where things are really crowded. LD Alex Edler – RD Kevin Bieksa

Five of the top goal-scorers in franchise history are long-time right Current Canuck Edler is not just the all-time leader in defenceman wingers: No. 4 Stan Smyl, No. 5 one-of-a-kind Pavel Bure, No. 6 Tony games, goals, assists and points, he is also the best choice to pair with Tanti, No. 9 Alex Burrows and No. 10 Todd Bertuzzi. Kevin Bieksa on the shutdown tandem.

And that’s not counting No. 3 Linden, who played a portion of his career LW Daniel Sedin - C Daniel Sedin - RW Pavel Bure at right wing but is on the all-time team as a centre. The 1,000-point brothers who shared a hockey brain and the most The TSN All-Time 7 Project has been a stickler about slotting players at dynamic player in franchise history are the stuff of legends on the Lower their authentic positions and not positions of convenience – for instance, Mainland. highly regarded centres being moved to the wing for the sake of getting LW Markus Naslund – C Trevor Linden – RW Todd Bertuzzi them on teams – but there has been a measure of latitude for the checking line. Naslund and Bertuzzi reunite as two-thirds of the West Coast Express and all-time playoff point leader Linden replaces Brendan Morrison at The left-shooting Burrows is an example of that: he had four straight 20- centre. Linden was the Canucks’ captain for seven seasons. Naslund led plus goal seasons playing right wing with the Sedins, but began a the Canucks in scoring seven straight seasons (1999-2006) and was also Canucks Ring of Honour-worthy career at left wing. captain for seven seasons. Burrows is slotted on the checking line alongside Kesler and Smyl, who LW Geoff Courtnall – C Thomas Gradin – RW Tony Tanti had eight consecutive seasons of at least 20 goals, but is a great fit as a hard-edged defensive presence. Courtnall ranks behind only Linden and Bure in career playoff goals. The great Gradin led the Canucks in assists four straight seasons in the early There is, as a result of the right-eous nature of the team, one prominent 1980s. Tanti is the only player in team history to average 40 goals per casualty. Alex Mogilny, who scored 55 goals in 1995-96, averaged nearly year over five consecutive seasons. a point per game over 312 games and earned a berth on the second all- star team, has been squeezed out. LW Alex Burrows – C Ryan Kesler – RW Stan Smyl

A similar situation arose in Calgary, where the Flames had room for only Checking Line: Burrows returns to his Canuck roots as a left winger four of five 50-goal scoring right wingers. Hakan Loob was the last cut in alongside eventual Selke winner (and runner-up) Kesler. On the right Calgary. side is ‘Steamer’ Smyl, he of the complete game and nine 100-penalty- minute seasons. Such is the lot of great players who find themselves in great company. Foundational Player - C Orland Kurtenbach TSN All-Time Team Eligibility Criteria Ten years after playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the Western □ Team: two goalies, six defencemen, 12 forwards and one foundational Hockey League, Kurtenbach was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks of player the NHL. He was the first captain in team history, wearing the ‘C’ four □ Members must have played at least 225 games with the Canucks years before retiring. Kurtenbach was the first Canuck inducted to the Ring of Honour. □ At least one member of the all-time team must be from the 2019-20 Canucks Head Coach - Alain Vigneault

□ Players are slotted in positions they played with the Canucks The Canucks’ all-time winningest coach won two Presidents’ Trophies and the , but fell one win short of claiming the 2011 □ One line must be comprised of defensive standouts, aka a checking Stanley Cup. line Co-GMs - Pat Quinn and Mike Gillis Quinn (1987-98) was an iconic presence, so much so that a statue was Monday, May 4 – Toronto Maple Leafs erected in his honour outside . Among his moves were picking Pavel Bure in 1989 and picking himself to coach the Canucks: He Wednesday, May 6 – Ottawa Senators was named Coach of the Year in 1992 and led Vancouver to Game 7 of Friday, May 8 – Winnipeg Jets the 1994 Stanley Cup final. Gillis (2008-14) assembled a superb record. His teams fashioned a franchise-high .626 cumulative regular season Monday, May 11 – Vancouver Canucks point percentage, winning two Presidents’ Trophies along the way. The TSN.CA LOADED: 05.12.2020 Canucks reached Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup final, the same season Gillis was named GM of the Year.

THE LAST CUTS

Right winger Alex Mogilny and centre Cliff Ronning each played 300-plus games and left their marks on the Canucks. Mogilny is one of only two Canucks – Pavel Bure is the other - to score 50 goals in a season and he averaged 0.99 points per game. Ronning averaged 0.90 points per game and his exemplary playoff record is headed up by a club-record seven game winning goals.

G: Richard Brodeur, 1980-87

LD: Ed Jovanovski, 1999-06

RD: Kevin McCarthy, 1978-84

LW: Greg Adams, 1987-95

C: Cliff Ronning, 1991-96

RW: Alex Mogilny, 1995-00

Who is the biggest omission from the Vancouver Canucks’ all-time team?

GOALIES W L T/OTL GAA

Roberto Luongo 252 137 50 2.36

Kirk McLean 211 228 62 3.28

DEFENCEMEN GP G A PTS

Alex Edler 873 99 302 401

Mattias Ohlund 770 93 232 325

Jyrki Lumme 579 83 238 321

Doug Lidster 666 65 242 307

Kevin Bieksa 597 56 185 241

Sami Salo 566 74 162 236

FORWARDS GP G A PTS

Henrik Sedin 1,330 240 830 1,070

Daniel Sedin 1,306 393 648 1,041

Markus Naslund 884 346 410 756

Trevor Linden 1,140 318 415 733

Stan Smyl 896 262 411 673

Thomas Gradin 613 197 353 550

Pavel Bure 428 254 224 478

Tony Tanti 531 250 220 470

Todd Bertuzzi 518 188 261 449

Ryan Kesler 655 182 211 393

Alex Burrows 822 193 191 384

Geoff Courtnall 292 102 144 246

Orland Kurtenbach 229 62 101 163

TSN Hockey's All-Time 7 Canadian Teams

Monday, April 27 – Montreal Canadiens

Wednesday, April 29 – Calgary Flames

Friday, May 1 – Edmonton Oilers 1184478 Websites

USA TODAY / Season ends for Milwaukee Admirals as AHL cancels remaining games. But they are officially champions.

Ben Steele, Published 8:18 a.m. CT May 11, 2020 | Updated 4:22 p.m. CT May 11, 2020

It was a bittersweet Monday for the Milwaukee Admirals.

The American Hockey League announced that its board of governors voted to cancel the remaining games due to the coronavirus pandemic, ending a promising season for Milwaukee.

The silver lining is that the Admirals are the AHL champions. The standings – sorted by points percentage – and statistics as of March 12 are considered official. Milwaukee had the league's best record at 41-14- 5-3, good for 91 points and a .714 points percentage.

The Providence Bruins finished second at 38-18-3, a .661 points percentage.

"It's just too bad," Admirals owner/chief executive officer Harris Turer said. "We would have liked to, as an organization, have had the opportunity to challenge for the Calder Cup.

"We had a team that could have won. It would have been a lot of fun to give ourselves the opportunity to win that Cup. The last time we made it to the finals was the first year I owned the team back in 2005-06 and that was a special run."

With the Admirals celebrating their 50th anniversary, this season looked like it would also be special. The team ripped off a 13-game winning streak from November 2 -December 1 that propelled it to the top of the standings for good.

The Admirals had an eye-popping goal differential, allowing the fewest goals in the league (141) while also scoring the second most (211).

"Especially this year, with the 50th anniversary, it just seemed like a perfect storm," Admirals head coach Karl Taylor said. "Everything was coming together.

"The team was playing great. The environment and everything was going the right way and then some external circumstances took over."

The Admirals' last time on the ice was a 6-1 thrashing of the San Antonio Rampage on March 11 in front of a raucous crowd of 9,278 fans at UW- Milwaukee Panther Arena. Milwaukee needed just one more victory to clinch a playoff spot.

But that evening, the Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus and the NBA shut down. The rest of the sports world followed, with the AHL suspending the season March 12.

Four days later, the Admirals sent their players home and they scattered across the world, hoping to make it back if the season started again.

But Turer was always pessimistic that AHL games would resume.

"This is an issue of revenues," he said. "The NBA, Major League Baseball are talking about coming back, but nobody is talking about playing in front of fans.

"Since our league doesn't have any finances in terms of resources coming in from television, I think it eventually became pretty obvious we weren't going to be able to start back up again."

The Admirals didn't get to hoist the Calder Cup, but they can still call themselves AHL champions.

"I'm very proud of everything we accomplished this year because it's really hard to do," Taylor said. "It's the first time in my career that I've been in this position (to win AHL) and hopefully not the last.

"You definitely have to enjoy what you did. I don't think there's any bitterness. This is what it is. So if people want to say that they were going to catch us or they would have beat us in the playoffs, all these things that people are going to speculate, that's fine, That's the joy of sports."

USA TODAY LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184479 World Leagues News Last week, MLS teams, including , returned to practice under strict distancing guidelines.

“What’s going on in Germany, England and Spain and all the other Baseball could restart in July. NASCAR, golf, German soccer are getting leagues, really, it’s going to be a collective effort to see all the different rolling, too ideas people have and what works,” said veteran Sporting KC defender Matt Besler.

Kansas City Star LOADED: 05.12.2020 BY BLAIR KERKHOFF

MAY 11, 2020 05:48 PM, UPDATED 4 HOURS 18 MINUTES AGO

Baby steps seems like the appropriate way to describe sports’ slow return across the globe. It’s a slow process and there will be some wobbles and falls.

But as communities begin to reopen the doors of businesses shuttered since awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic was driven home by the swift cancellation of sports two months ago, games are poised to be part of the comeback.

We don’t yet know when (and how )football will be played. But it’s worth nothing that, for now, no changes have been announced for the 2020 college and NFL seasons.

The Associated Press, quoting a source, reported Monday that Major League Baseball’s team owners have approved a proposal to be presented to the players’ union that would resume competition during the first week of July, with each team playing an 82-game schedule.

The proposal includes starting games in empty stadiums, similar to what is currently happening in South Korea and Taiwan.

Spring training would re-start in mid-June.

Rosters would be expanded to 30 and the designated hitter would become part of National League games.

In a shortened season, teams would face opponents from their own division and interleague matchups would be limited to AL Central vs. NL Central, AL East vs. NL East and AL West vs. NL West.

Games would be played at home ballparks but could switch to spring training stadiums or neutral sites if government or medical approvals can’t be obtained for home games.

Postseason play would be expanded from 10 to 14 teams, doubling the number of wild card participants in each league from two to four.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR is set to return to the track Sunday in Darlington, S.C., with the first of four races in 11 days at that particular track in South Carolina and Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

Restarting at those two tracks makes sense due to their proximity to most of the NASCAR drivers’ bases in the Charlotte area. No fans will be in the stands for any races this month.

GOLF

The Charles Schwab Challenge at the Colonial County Club in Fort Worth, Texas, is scheduled for June 11-14.

But that’s not the first major golf event on the calendar.

On Sunday, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson will play Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in a team “skins game” at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. The event starts at 1 p.m. Central and will be aired by NBC, the Golf Channel and NBCSN.

On May 24, Peyton Manning and Tiger Woods will compete against Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson in the Champions for Charity event at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla.

SOCCER

On Saturday, the Bundesliga, Germany’s top-tier professional league, will become the first in Europe to resume play. It will have been 61 days between games. Fans will not be in the stands.

England’s Premier League reportedly has been given the green light to resume games on June 12, subject to the meeting of certain safety conditions. 1184480 World Leagues News

Fifth worker at SoFi Stadium tests positive for coronavirus

By NATHAN FENNOSTAFF WRITER

MAY 11, 20207:07 PM

A staff member for the joint venture overseeing construction at SoFi Stadium tested positive for COVID-19, according to an internal email sent Monday to trade partners on the $5-billion project.

This is the fifth worker on the 298-acre development in Inglewood known to have tested positive since late March.

According to the email, the staff member performed “office related duties” in the Turner-AECOM Hunt complex on site. The staff member last worked Thursday, felt ill Friday and was tested the same day.

“First and most importantly the staff member is doing well with minor symptoms, and is at home under self-quarantine,” the email said.

Equipment and facilities the staff member used have been disinfected and “further disinfecting will be performed.”

The email said no employees were in close contact with the infected staff member.

The project, scheduled to open Aug. 1 with a Kenny Chesney concert, has taken a series of steps to protect against the novel coronavirus, including enforcing social distancing among workers, adding restrooms and hand-washing stations and taking the temperature of each person entering the site. Workers have been told to stay home if they don’t feel well.

The Rams will play the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13 for the first regular- season NFL game at the stadium that will also house the Chargers, though it’s unclear if the state’s stay-at-home order will be relaxed enough to allow the games the take place as scheduled or with fans in attendance.

Los Angeles Times LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184481 World Leagues News

NFL games could be the perfect storm for spreading coronavirus even without fans, Dr. Fauci warns

By Allen Kim, CNN

Updated 7:29 PM ET, Mon May 11, 2020

(CNN)Don't get your hopes up, football fans.

Even without spectators in the seats, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned in an interview with NBC Sports' Peter King that NFL games could be the "perfect setup for spreading" coronavirus.

"I think it's feasible that negative-testing players could play to an empty stadium," Fauci said in the interview. "Is it guaranteed? No way."

However, Fauci cautioned that it all depends on the level of infection in the community -- if the infection rate is still high, "you can't have a season -- it's impossible," he said.

The interview came nearly two weeks after Fauci said in an interview with that some sports may have to prepare to not play out this season, and a week after the NFL released its regular season schedule. The league is preparing for games to start this fall, despite CDC guidelines warning against large events and mass gatherings.

In the NBC Sports interview, the straight-talking doctor painted a scenario to show how easy it is for players in a close contact sport such as football to spread the virus. While Fauci said that sweat won't transmit the virus, someone with the virus could easily spread it to different parts of their body, and as soon as they come in contact with another player, it could just as easily infect them.

When King asked Fauci what would happen if four players on a team tested positive, Fauci was blunt: You would have to "shut it down."

"You got a problem there," Fauci said to King.

"You know why? Because it is likely that if four of them are positive and they've been hanging around together, that the other ones that are negative are really positive. So, I mean, if you have one outlier (only one player testing positive), I think you might get away. But once you wind up having a situation where it looks like it's spread within a team, you got a real problem. You gotta shut it down," he said.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House's coronavirus task force, told CNN on Monday he himself will begin a "modified quarantine" after making a "low-risk" contact with the White House staffer who tested positive for the coronavirus.

The "low risk" assessment means he was not in close proximity to the person who tested positive during the time when that person was known to be positive for the virus.

Cable News Network LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184482 World Leagues News National Women’s Soccer League final, a U-17 Women’s World Cup, and the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic qualifying tournament this year.

But she hasn’t been on a soccer field since the SheBelieves Cup in Soccer referee helps make the right calls against the coronavirus Texas two months ago. When she returned to the hospital that weekend, she found an emergency room flooded with COVID-19 cases as well as anxious patients who had the common flu but feared it was the novel coronavirus. The workload dropped dramatically, she said, after Gov. By KEVIN BAXTER Gavin Newsom ordered Californians to shelter in place and observe MAY 11, 20204:17 PM social-distancing guidelines.

Koroleva understands the desire to get back to normal; the lockdown has hurt her, too, by putting the soccer season on hold. But she fears health Katja Koroleva has experienced more triumph and tragedy in the past 11 workers and first responders might pay for any impatience. months than most people will see in a lifetime. “It’s frustrating to see that we’re not united as a society to fight for the As a soccer referee, she worked five games in last summer’s Women’s greater good against a pandemic that’s taking many lives,” she said. “It’s World Cup in , the ultimate reward from a game that has long unfortunate that these protesters are risking lives of people on the consumed her. As a physician assistant, she has spent the last three frontlines including the police, government officials and even their own.” months working 12-hour shifts in a hospital emergency room, battling death in the form of COVID-19. She is heartened, though, by the support healthcare workers have received in the form of thank-you notes, media coverage and meals The difference isn’t lost on Koroleva. Blow a call in a soccer match and donated by community groups. someone gets a penalty kick. Make a mistake in the emergency room and. … well, she’d prefer not to think about it. “It’s a surreal feeling,” she said. “… In the emergency department we certainly see patients all the time and have a life-changing aspect on “It’s an important perspective,” she said. “Sports is an important part of their condition. So this isn’t a new perspective for us. It’s just a different our life. But life, ultimately, is the most important. There is no sport above enemy that we’re fighting that’s invisible and rapidly evolving and scary.” life.” Despite her trying circumstances, Koroleva tries to focus on the future. Koroleva’s passion and her profession are unrelated, but there are subtle similarities. “As a healthcare professional, it’s important to [have] optimism for our patients and for the next patient we see. Because it’s not just one patient, “Many of the skills for an effective referee, including staying calm under it’s the next and the next and the next. pressure, managing stress, making decision[s] in difficult situations, I can only imagine would serve well for someone on the frontlines of the “So for our own mental health, for the mental health of others, it’s COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kari Seitz, FIFA’s senior manager of important to have optimism.” refereeing. “Never have those skill[s] been more important.” LOADED: 05.12.2020 Added Koroleva: “Neither field is really black or white. There are pathways we take based on gut instinct that are largely dependent on previous knowledge and understanding the situation.”

Koroleva watched the pandemic develop from inside the emergency room at Regional Medical Center in San Jose. During the early days of the virus’ rapid spread through Santa Clara County, the hours were long and the pace grueling, physically and emotionally.

“It was a very hectic time,” said Koroleva, who was caring for as many as 10 patients a day. “We opened a separate COVID area to separate patients with concerning symptoms. And there was a constant changing of requirements and guidelines by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention].”

Referee Katja Koroleva issues a yellow card to Brazil’s Raquel (not pictured) as teammate Marta reacts against Japan during the second half of a Tournament of Nations game played at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on July 29, 2018 in East Hartford, Conn.

There was also a constant reliance on teamwork, another trait Koroleva learned first on a soccer field. In her five World Cup assignments, she was the fourth official — a vital if anonymous job that, if done correctly, takes pressure off the center referee and makes the whole officiating crew look good.

There is a similar selflessness in an emergency room.

“These qualities shine through,” said Felisha Mariscal, who officiated her first international match alongside Koroleva and worked with her in last summer’s Women’s World Cup as well. “She connects with people very easily.”

Koroleva, 33, was born in Russia, but her parents moved to Denmark, then Iowa, when she was growing up to give their only child better opportunities.

As a physician assistant, she performs many vital emergency-room tasks under the supervision of a doctor, diagnosing, treating and managing patients, ordering and interpreting tests, assisting in surgeries and writing prescriptions.

Koroleva earned a masters in medical science from Salus University near Philadelphia in 2011 and made her professional debut as a referee two years later. She has worked a number of major events, including a 1184483 World Leagues News

Coronavirus sports update: Premier League could return in early June

Posted May 11, 2020

By The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — The path to the Premier League resuming was eased Monday by the government saying elite sports will be allowed to resume in England in June if there is no new spike in coronavirus infections.

While spectators will not be allowed into stadiums for some time, the British government embracing the return of professional sports stands in contrast to rulings by French and Dutch authorities who have banned any events until September.

The announcement from Boris Johnson's administration came as Premier League clubs held a conference call about the logistics involved in restarting the competition amid divisions over a plan to use neutral venues for all games.

When the league was halted two months ago, Liverpool was 25 points clear with nine games remaining.

Now the national lockdown that was imposed in March and led to the shut down of sports is starting to be lifted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Step two of the government roadmap for easing the lockdown restrictions includes “permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact.”

“To aid planning,” the document added, “the government’s current aim is that the second step will be made no earlier than Monday 1 June, subject to these conditions being satisfied. ... Organizations should prepare accordingly.”

The Premier League and other sports organizers will now be waiting to hear when the government will allow the resumption of group training by athletes, even as social distancing regulations are maintained in wider society.

The challenge containing the coronavirus without a vaccine will mean sports will be staged without fans.

The government said permitting large crowds in stadiums again “may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in numbers of infections.”

LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184484 World Leagues News Over the past two months, the pandemic has taught us quite a bit about our communities, our culture and ourselves. Throw sports into the mix, and it’s about to tell us a lot more.

Opinion: Sports world has no choice but to take orders from somebody USA TODAY LOADED: 05.12.2020 else to determine return

Christine Brennan

USA TODAY

The sports world is getting a little antsy these days. Our big four men’s pro sports leagues are all developing plans as if something is going to happen relatively soon, when probably nothing is going to happen relatively soon. Are we really going to have baseball in July and football in September in the middle of a pandemic?

If we do, the term “spectator-less sports” will instantly join “social distancing” and “flattening the curve” as significant phrases in the lexicon of 2020. Millions of fans want their sports back, and we all can use an escape, but wishing and hoping will not make it so.

You know who’s going to make it so? Not league commissioners or conference officials. Not billionaire owners or millionaire players. In this extraordinary time, the high and mighty in the world of sports have to take orders from somebody else.

Governors and mayors run our sports world right now. Our elected local leaders are the most powerful people in sports today, as they should be.

When the NFL announced its 2020 schedule a few days ago, commissioner Roger Goodell said any decisions would be made “based on the latest medical and public health advice, in compliance with government regulations.”

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot put it a bit more bluntly in a statement.

“While it breaks my heart that I can't watch my White Sox play (and okay, the Cubs too), the health and safety of our residents must come first,” she said. “This means placing a hold on activities which attract large crowds until we are confident in our ability to prevent the spread of Covid-19. While I believe the MLB is working on creative ways to address these public health concerns, for now, this means that Chicago isn't playing.”

Chicago isn’t playing, says the mayor of Chicago. Any questions?

The Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds aren’t rushing back either, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in an interview with USA TODAY Sports.

“They’re going to have to come forward with a plan,” he said of MLB, “and the state is going to have to say if that plan’s OK.”

It’s interesting to see what the people who are actually in charge are saying compared to those who think they’re in charge, but really aren’t.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) recently called MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to tell him the country “needs baseball.” While many of us enjoy and miss baseball, what the country actually needs is testing, contact tracing and researchers working day and night to find treatments and a vaccine for COVID-19. Baseball is just a lovely extra in our lives.

McConnell does have his allies, and it will come as absolutely no surprise that they can be found in college football.

Some coaches and commissioners are itching to play this fall. As more universities announce they will be opening in August or September for classes, the prospect of college football games being played this season grows. It’s going to be fascinating to see what happens when some schools in a particular conference are potentially ready to play, while others might still be shut down by a governor or mayor.

All for one and one for all? Maybe not. Listen to Penn State’s James Franklin for a preview of the coming chaos.

"Arizona is going to be very different than New Jersey," Franklin said in a Zoom teleconference last week. "Maryland is different than Florida. I don't think you're going to like it and I don't think people are going to be happy about it, but in reality, I don't see how you're going to be able to hold up 10 or 12 schools in one conference (because of) two states that are opening up a month later." 1184485 World Leagues News

NASCAR adds more starting spots for Xfinity and Truck Series teams amid coronavirus pandemic

Nick Bromberg

NASCAR is giving more Xfinity and Truck Series teams a chance as race format schedules are modified during the coronavirus pandemic.

The sanctioning body said Monday that it would expand the Xfinity Series field size from 36 to 40 and the Truck Series field size from 32 to 40. The changes come as NASCAR races won’t have qualifying in the near future. The two Xfinity Series races scheduled on May 19 and May 25 and the Truck Series race on May 26 are not scheduled to have practice or qualifying.

“This move is critical for the long-term health of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series,” NASCAR vice president Scott Miller said in a statement. “There are many new full- time and part-time team owners who have made significant commitments to our sport and secured sponsorship to participate this season. NASCAR wants to enable these teams to fulfill their commitments and grow their businesses without being affected by circumstances out of their control.”

Per the NASCAR rule book, the starting lineups for races without qualifying are set by owner’s points in descending order from the top of the standings. That means that the same teams at the bottom of the standings would be in line to miss out on however many races NASCAR feels it needs to run without qualifying during the pandemic. No races to run means no work for teams and their employees and that lack of work could easily lead to job losses and team closures.

If the first races of the season are any indication, the field size expansion won’t leave any established teams out. Forty cars attempted the season- opening Xfinity Series race at Daytona. None of the other three races run after that had more than 39 entrants. Thirty-nine Truck Series teams were also entered at Daytona.

NASCAR said in a story on its website that it could change the field sizes during the middle of the season according to the “Except In Rare Instances” caveat in the rule book. That caveat, per NASCAR, “applies to the current public-health crisis and unprecedented NASCAR industry work stoppage.”

Yahoo Sports LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184486 World Leagues News

Citing coronavirus concerns, D-II Florida Tech eliminates football program

Sam Cooper

Florida Institute of Technology on Monday announced it will eliminate its football program amid a series of steps taken in response to the “unprecedented economic uncertainty” created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida Tech’s football program was founded in 2011 and began play in 2013. The team competed at the Division II level as a member of the Gulf South Conference. Under the watch of head coach Steve Englehart, the Panthers amassed a 44-35 overall record over seven seasons.

The program had four seasons with a winning record, including eight-win efforts in 2016 and 2018. The Panthers reached the Division II playoffs in both of those seasons, but lost in the first round.

The Florida Tech football team had a roster of 120 players. Players who attended the university on scholarship will have their scholarships honored “for up to four years,” the school said. Should players choose to transfer, they will be eligible to compete right away at their next school, per NCAA rules. Florida Tech said it will assist players who wish to transfer.

Florida Tech players were informed of the news Monday via an email from the athletic director before speaking with their coaches on a teleconference. No other sports programs are being considered for elimination at this time, the school said.

“These are difficult times for our university,” Florida Tech president Dwayne McCay wrote in a letter issued to the university community. "Indeed, all of higher education is struggling to deal with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty that accompanies a global disruption to daily life. Some universities will no doubt close. Florida Tech, however, has plans to persevere."

In an FAQ posted on its website, Florida Tech said the decision to eliminate football was “based primarily on financial concerns.” According to the Tampa Bay Times, the school spent “about $3.1 million” on football during the 2018-19 fiscal year, accounting for about 29 percent of the athletic department’s budget.

In addition to eliminating the football program, the university will implement staff reductions and furloughs while also closing its center for textile arts.

"The unprecedented uncertainty created by COVID-19 makes these moves prudent, but no less painful," McCay wrote. "We must do what is necessary to preserve resources critical to our educational mission and ensure our ability to successfully serve students when face-to-face instruction resumes this fall. I appreciate each of you, and I am humbled by your hard work and sacrifice."

Other schools around the country have eliminated sports programs amid the coronavirus pandemic. Old Dominion (wrestling) and Cincinnati (men’s soccer) both dropped sports while Florida International will reportedly drop its indoor men’s track and field program.

Yahoo Sports:LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184487 World Leagues News things that we want to make sure everyone is safe. That’s first and foremost."

The AHL now waits to find out the NHL’s plans for what’s next. The NHL AHL cancels remainder of season due to coronavirus is reportedly trying to return to play this summer and Comets players could join the parent Vancouver Canucks as additional help. That has yet to be determined and Cull isn’t sure what his role might be in that situation. He did note he was working on some projects for Canucks Ben Birnell coach Travis Green. May 11, 2020 at 9:05 AM AHL President and CEO Dave Andrews said the focus is "toward actively May 11, 2020 at 12:26 PM preparing for the 2020-21 season."

"We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced The Utica Comets won’t be returning to the ice this season. over the past two months," Andrews said in a release. "The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our The American Hockey League officially announced the expected decision players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look Monday that the remainder of the 2019-20 season and the playoffs have forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21." been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The move follows an AHL Board of Governors conference call Friday about the season. The timeline for next season is unclear. AHL training camps usually open in late September, with the standard 76-game season starting in early Comets President Rob Esche acknowledged to the Observer-Dispatch October. That could change, though, especially if the NHL has to push its late last week that finishing the season was difficult considering the season back. unknowns. Building availability is uncertain and the AHL also relies heavily on revenue from fans at games. As one of the AHL’s small- USA TODAY NETWORK LOADED: 05.12.2020 market teams, Esche believes the Comets have the ability to survive through the crisis.

"It is frustrating and it hurts whenever you take away the ability to compete. I also think it was the right decision," Esche said Monday. "Right now, you’re kind of almost relieved, too, because there’s no more pause in there. Now we can go out and address the season-ticket holders, fans and sponsors. We can just move forward. Whereas before, you’re kind of sitting there, you’re in limbo and you don’t know what to do. There was only so much you can tell people."

The Comets last game was March 11, a home loss to Syracuse. The next day, the AHL halted the season and most North American sports have been on hold since.

The Comets had 15 regular-season games left, including seven remaining home dates at the at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The Comets front office staff is contacting all season ticket package holders regarding their options from the missed home games. The team said if a call is not received by Wednesday, ticket holders should email [email protected]. The Syracuse Crunch staff is also contacting their season ticket holders, the team said.

The AHL said the standings — sorted by points percentage — and statistics as of March 12 are considered final and official. Those will serve as the basis for determining league awards for the 2019-20 season, according to the league. It will be the first time since 1936 that the Calder Cup trophy is not awarded.

"I feel like now you’ve run off a cliff and you’re just kind of hovering in the air. That’s where we’re at," Comets coach Trent Cull said. "There’s no finality to it. No one took it away from us or we didn’t do something that caused this to happen. It is just a different hurdle or step. But, it is not just us as hockey players, everyone is dealing with this."

While it is an understandable decision given the worldwide health crisis, it is a tough end for the Comets. The team finishes in third place in the North Division with a 34-22-3-2 overall record, with a .598 points percentage.

The Comets were in the middle of a push for a playoff spot in a tight North Division and the race was heating up.

Cull said he liked the team’s continued improvement on the defensive side. He mentioned a number of players who were having impressive seasons with the Comets, which had started the season with eight consecutive wins. Utica was among the highest scoring teams in the AHL for the first time.

"I liked my hockey team," Cull said Monday. "I was excited about where we were going. I was excited about how I still thought we were getting better with only 15 games left. The other side of it is we have to make sure everybody is being safe. ... This is where we’re certainly all on the same page with us and our fans. We all want to play. We’d love a chance to get out there and show what our team could do. It is one of those 1184488 World Leagues News unnecessary: hardly anyone came to watch these pointless early wartime games.

Mass Observation, one of the world's first research institutions that asked English football during World War II showed how sport can heal and unify ordinary people about everyday life, discovered that interest in sport during times of crisis persisted. In December 1939, 49% of those polled by Mass Observation read sports news more closely than of the war, compared to 30% who read war news more closely. Mass Observation concluded: "People find the war at present completely unsatisfactory as a compensation for 10:13 AM ET sport." Simon Kuper GEORGE BEST: ALL BY HIMSELF ESPN.com writer George Best had a meteoric rise at Manchester United, only for his personal issues to precipitate a long fall. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only).

It's no wonder that football leagues across Europe are getting more It was becoming obvious that football was a cheap way to keep the serious about trying to resume the 2019-20 season behind closed doors. working classes happy. Mass Observation's report said: "Sports like The coronavirus pandemic is the first time in history that virtually all soccer have an absolute major effect on the morale of the people, and European professional football (except the Belarussian league) has one Saturday afternoon of League matches could probably do more to closed down. While researching my book "Ajax, The Dutch, The War: affect people's spirits than the recent £50,000 government poster Soccer in Europe During the Second World War," I discovered that the campaign urging cheerfulness, even if it were repeated six times over ball rolled on even during both world wars. and six times better, as it easily could be."

If the game's closure continues, we may discover the importance of British football soon picked up again and regional wartime football soccer to many fans' happiness. How essential is the sport -- not just acquired a jokey character. Players hitchhiking to a match from a distant watching games, but following the hourly news -- as a ritual of everyday barracks would sometimes arrive only after kick-off, or not at all, and bold life? fans in the crowd would volunteer to take their place so that they could say forever afterward that they had played for Manchester United. When World War I broke out in 1914, the English Football Association (United played on through the war even after a German bomb hit Old offered to abandon soccer and hand over clubs' stadiums for the Trafford on March 11, 1941, forcing them to move in with Manchester government to use for whatever purposes it chose. But the War Office City. Similarly, a bomb on Arsenal's North Bank left the club sharing said that was not necessary, so the clubs blithely played on. This upset White Hart Lane with Spurs.) many pro-war types, who were outraged that young men were having fun when they should have been dying on the battlefields in France. A lighter, more entertaining form of the sport ensued. Players showed off tricks, knowing that results hardly mattered in the various contrived ESPN Premier League Hall of Fame regional cups and leagues and constant friendlies. Average goals per game doubled, from three in the last pre-war season to six in the first ESPN editors and writers select the top five players who have defined months of war. The game also became friendlier: The traditional post- the Premier League in its first three decades. match handshake between opposing players probably dates from World • Premier League Hall of Fame War II.

• Who should be inducted next? CORONAVIRUS CRISIS IN FOOTBALL

An underlying source of tension at the time concerned the idea that • Euro 2020: Postponed until 2021 football was the sport of the British working class. The country's middle • Champions League: Suspended indefinitely and upper classes used football's continuation to chastise the workers for their supposed lack of patriotism. Some newspapers refused to publish • Premier League: Suspended indefinitely match results, and The Times published a letter on Sept. 8, 1914, from the anti-alcohol campaigner Frederick Charrington to the king, saying the • La Liga: Individual workouts begin in May game's continuance during the fighting was a disgrace. Charrington often • Bundesliga: Set for May 16 restart mocked wartime footballers as effeminate cowards. Later that season, when he rose to make a speech on military recruitment at halftime at a • Ligue 1: PSG declared champions game at Craven Cottage, he was dragged away by two Fulham officials even though the club had granted him permission to speak. • Serie A: Team training can resume May 18

Nationalists harassed soccer until the 1915-1916 season, when the FA • Copa America: Postponed until 2021 curtailed the game and a draft was introduced. In January 1916, single • MLS: Voluntary solo workouts can resume men ages 18 to 40 were called up, and by June married men were too. But even after that, local competitions -- between professional clubs By spring 1940, British football was booming again. based in the same region -- were played throughout the war. Late that May, as the German Army appeared to have trapped the British The French Coupe de France, the national cup, was actually held for the Expeditionary Force near Dunkirk; as Harold Nicholson, parliamentary first time in the 1917-18 season, although the country was then the war's secretary at the Ministry of Information, said that shortly "the Germans main battleground. (Between 1914 and 1918, 3.5 million men died on the may land thousands of men in Britain" and the War Cabinet debated Western Front, which ran through much of northern and eastern France making peace with Hitler, football carried on. At this time, Huddersfield as well as Belgium.) The competition, meant to help unite France, was were busy making a nine-hour bus trip to London for the War Cup. Then, named after the football official Charles Simon, who was killed in battle in while British soldiers were being rescued from Dunkirk by the armada of 1915. The first final was played in on May 5, 1918, in the early little boats, Chelsea vs. West Ham drew a crowd of 32,797 in London. stages of the Great Flu -- the previous great global pandemic, which The Daily Mail reported after the fall of France in June: "The people were killed perhaps 50 million worldwide. One wonders how many spectators stunned by the news just after the first race at Wolverhampton yesterday at the final caught the illness while in the stands. The Coupe de France but, of course, carried on and presumably the meeting today will go competition was played again in 1918-19, as the pandemic peaked. through, if only as a gesture of stoutness." (The crucial phrase in this sentence is "of course.") The last time English football closed down as drastically as it has in 2020 was on Sept. 3, 1939, the day Britain declared war on Nazi Germany. The British authorities did nothing to discourage soccer in World War II. The FA suspended all forms of football just three matches into the They weren't worried about dodgers this time, as the draft had been season, but the government said it wanted recreation to continue where introduced, and in any case almost all soldiers were just hanging around possible. So, within days of banning the sport, the FA reversed track. their barracks in Britain. The war was going to last years and if working Regional leagues and friendly matches were permitted, though crowds men could be given a treat on Saturday afternoons at little expense, why could at first be no larger than 8,000 people. The restriction seemed stop it? Most people agreed. Mass Observation couldn't find a single peacetime fan who thought football should stop in wartime. Ultimately, many of the prohibitions that characterized the British war barely touched soccer. Crowds numbering tens of thousands were allowed to gather in football grounds during the "Blitz," the nightly German bombing of London and certain other cities in 1940-41. Teams travelled long distances to matches; official posters urged "don't travel unless it is absolutely necessary" and while petrol was being imported from the U.S. by convoys that were often sunk by German U-boats.

While researching my book, I went to Preston to interview the club's greatest-ever player, Tom Finney. In 1941, he'd played for the Preston team that held Arsenal in the War Cup final at Wembley, then beat them in the replay at Blackburn. When I said it must have been strange playing a final in bombed-out London in the middle of a world war, the famously amiable Finney agreed that it had been. But then he said, "I mean, I wasn't all that interested in the war when I was playing. I was only 18. And the main concern was to go down and beat them, you know. And to hold them to a draw in London was really quite an achievement. . . . I wasn't really all that interested in the [war] -- I mean, other than the fact that we wanted England to win the war."

Finney spent much of the rest of the war playing top-level army football in Egypt, where he was stationed. I asked if he had returned home a better player. "Oh, absolutely, yes," he said. "I was more or less a seasoned player when I came back." That War Cup turned out to be the only trophy he ever won, partly because he always remained loyal to his hometown club. He scored 30 goals in 76 games for England, was twice named the Football Writers' Player of the Year, and died in 2014 at age 81.

German wartime football was even less restricted than the English game. On Sunday June 22, 1941, the day the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, the decisive act of the entire conflict, 90,000 spectators watched the German league final in . What were they thinking? At least they saw some goals. Rapid Vienna of Austria -- which had been annexed to the Third Reich by Hitler -- beat Schalke 4-3.

In fact, German football continued right up to the bitter end. On April 22, 1945, with the Allies virtually at the gates of the city, Bayern Munich beat local rivals 1860 Munich in a friendly. By then, football in England was fully restored.

On May 26, 1945, Manchester United and Bolton met in the League North Cup final. "The entertainment began fully an hour before kick-off," reported the Manchester Guardian, "the most arresting item being a display of energy by a one-legged man in a red singlet and white shorts who insisted on hopping around the field as a mark that United 'could do it on one leg' so to speak."

In fact, Bolton triumphed, winning 1-0 at home and then getting a 2-2 draw in the second leg at United's temporary home of Maine Road. Bolton went on to beat the southern winners Chelsea in the all-England final.

In much of occupied western Europe, football didn't merely survive the war; it actively boomed during it. In the Netherlands in 1940, the year of the German invasion, a little over 4 million tickets to sporting events were sold. In 1943, the figure exceeded 8 million. The mania for soccer astonished contemporaries. Before a crucial game between the Amsterdam club De Volewijckers and Heerenveen on Whit Monday of 1944, Volewijckers director Ph. K. Corsten wrote: "Certain foodstuffs are hard to obtain. However, people don't go to the Beemster [an agricultural region] for themselves, but solely with the intention of exchanging the vegetables and potatoes they obtain for . . . match tickets."

Dutch amateur sports clubs couldn't cope with the flood of new members. During the war, the Dutch read more books and attended more plays, films, concerts, and probably church services than before, but no other form of entertainment grew as quickly as sport. What else was there to do?

Today's bereft fans will know the feeling. People have a craving for weekly football. Some may even need it. espn.com LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184489 World Leagues News Titans Cardinals

Chargers Can the N.F.L. Really Return to Normal This Fall? Falcons

Cowboys

Jaguars Before the N.F.L. can begin the season as planned in September, it must first figure out how to safely open team facilities for training camps in Saints mid-July. Texans By Ken Belson and Joe Ward Buccaneers May 11, 2020 Dolphins Even as the coronavirus continued to ravage American communities, the N.F.L. last week released a full schedule of games that on the surface Data is from a New York Times database and is as of May 10, 2020. included no obvious backup plan in case the pandemic prevents the States are grouped according to how the seven-day average of new season from starting on Sept. 10. cases has changed from a week ago.

But the odds that the league will be able to keep to its schedule are States where new cases are: decreasing by the day. Before games can be played, teams must first open their offices and training facilities, which have been shut since mid- increasing March, then hold training camps, which are to begin in mid-July. mostly the same To keep what they call “competitive equity,” league executives say teams can reopen their offices and training facilities only when it is safe for decreasing every team to do so. The N.F.L. is also requiring its teams, scattered Teams’ facilities across two dozen states, to follow local and state guidelines, including frequent testing and limits on the size of gatherings, to determine when it Seahawks will be safe enough for coaches, staff and players to return. Packers Here is the current rate of reported cases in states where N.F.L. teams have facilities, which have been shut down since mid-March. Patriots

States where new cases are: Vikings increasing Bills mostly the same Lions decreasing Giants

Teams’ facilities Steelers

Seahawks Jets

Packers Browns

Patriots Bears

Vikings Eagles

Bills Ravens

Lions 49ers

Giants Colts

Steelers Redskins

Jets Broncos

Bears Bengals

Browns Raiders

Eagles Chiefs

Ravens Rams

49ers Panthers

Colts Titans

Redskins Cardinals

Broncos Chargers

Bengals Falcons

Raiders Cowboys

Chiefs Jaguars

Rams Saints

Panthers Texans Buccaneers SEA

Dolphins MIN

Data is from a New York Times database and is as of May 10, 2020. GB

States are grouped according to how the seven-day average of new NE cases has changed from a week ago. BUF States where new cases are: DET increasing NYG mostly the same PHI decreasing CHI Teams’ facilities NYJ Seahawks CLE Packers BAL Patriots PIT Bills SF Vikings WAS Lions DEN Giants IND Eagles CIN Bears LV Jets KC Browns LAR Steelers CAR 49ers ARI Ravens TEN Colts LAC Redskins ATL Broncos DAL Bengals JAC Raiders NO Chiefs HOU Rams TB Panthers MIA Cardinals Data is from a New York Times database and is as of May 10, 2020. Titans States are grouped according to how the seven-day average of new Chargers caseshas changed from a week ago.

Falcons By The New York Times

Cowboys Trying to forecast when that will be is difficult. State and local restrictions have been changing rapidly, and human behavior — how many people Jaguars within a population will travel across state lines, for example — is hard to Saints predict, epidemiologists said. Estimating how conditions will change in the two dozen states in which N.F.L. teams are based — and where the Texans number of cases is rising and falling at different rates and at different times — is far more complex. Buccaneers “The reality is when we look at the numbers there’s substantial Dolphins uncertainty in the predictions,” said Gerardo Chowell, the chairman of the Data is from a New York Times database and is as of May 10, 2020. Department of Population Health Sciences at Georgia State’s School of Public Health in Atlanta. “Even looking six or eight weeks ahead is very States are grouped according to how the seven-day average of new difficult right now.” cases has changed from a week ago. To understand the hurdles in the way of the N.F.L.’s return, Chowell States where new cases are: reviewed the number of infections since Jan. 21, when the first Covid-19 infection was reported in the United States, as compiled by The New increasing York Times. The data, sorted by county, shows a wide variety of mostly the same conditions, with the virus devastating big cities and small communities alike, largely disappearing in some places and refusing to leave others. decreasing New hot spots are emerging in places once considered safe. Coronavirus Trends in Counties With N.F.L. Team Facilities Maricopa, Ariz.

Here are the number and rate of growth of coronavirus cases in counties Hall, Ga. and parishes where N.F.L. team facilities are located. Baltimore, Md. PER Erie, N.Y. 100,000 Mecklenburg, N.C. PEOPLE Lake, Ill. SLOWER Hamilton, Ohio FASTER Cuyahoga, Ohio FACILITY LOCATION Denton, Texas (COUNTY, STATE) Arapahoe, Colo. COVID-19 Wayne, Mich. CASES Brown, Wis. CASE GROWTH RATE Harris, Texas TEAM Marion, Ind. FEB 26 Duval, Fla. MAY 9 Kansas City* Cardinals Orange, Calif. Falcons Los Angeles, Calif. Ravens Clark, Nev. Bills Broward, Fla. Panthers Hennepin, Minn. Bears Norfolk, Mass. Bengals Jefferson, La. Browns Bergen, N.J. Cowboys Morris, N.J. Broncos Allegheny, Pa. Lions Philadelphia, Pa. Packers Santa Clara, Calif. Texans King, Wash. Colts Hillsborough, Fla. Jaguars Davidson, Tenn. Chiefs Loudoun, Va. Chargers 5,827 Rams 2,009 Raiders 3,878 Dolphins 4,453 Vikings 2,074 Patriots 5,199 Saints 1,757 Giants 2,795 Jets 914 Steelers 3,228 Eagles 17,960 49ers 1,834 Seahawks 7,803 Buccaneers 7,405 Titans 1,164 Redskins 767 3,506 Growth rate shows how frequently the number of cases has doubled over the previous seven days. The fastest rate color shows when cases are 31,268 doubling in fewer than three days, while the slowest rate color shows 4,704 when cases are doubling much more slowly, once every 30 days or longer. Data is from a New York Times database and is as of May 10, 5,858 2020. Charts are through May 9, 2020. *Data for Kansas City, Mo. is reported at the city level. 3,558 PER 6,887 100,000 6,709 PEOPLE 16,929 SLOWER 5,854 FASTER 1,503 FACILITY LOCATION 18,211 (COUNTY, STATE) 2,317 COVID-19 7,319 CASES 1,432 CASE GROWTH RATE 3,652 TEAM 1,159 FEB 26 137 MAY 9 1,025 Cardinals 469 Falcons 484 Ravens 197 Bills 739 Panthers 216 Bears 223 Bengals 113 Browns 507 Cowboys 1,020 Broncos 706 Lions 170 Packers 784 Texans 126 Colts 159 Jaguars 111 Chiefs 310 Chargers 220 Rams 307 Raiders 288 Dolphins 986 Vikings 1,541 Patriots 1,820 Saints 1,184 Giants 123 Jets 1,156 Steelers 121 Eagles 338 49ers 104 Seahawks 534 Buccaneers 301 Titans 1,164

Redskins 767

Maricopa, Ariz. 3,506

Hall, Ga. 31,268

Baltimore, Md. 4,704

Erie, N.Y. 5,858

Mecklenburg, N.C. 3,558

Lake, Ill. 6,887

Hamilton, Ohio 6,709

Cuyahoga, Ohio 16,929

Denton, Texas 5,854

Arapahoe, Colo. 1,503

Wayne, Mich. 18,211

Brown, Wis. 2,317

Harris, Texas 7,319

Marion, Ind. 1,432

Duval, Fla. 3,652

Kansas City* 1,159

Orange, Calif. 137

Los Angeles, Calif. 1,025

Clark, Nev. 469

Broward, Fla. 484

Hennepin, Minn. 197

Norfolk, Mass. 739

Jefferson, La. 216

Bergen, N.J. 223

Morris, N.J. 113

Allegheny, Pa. 507

Philadelphia, Pa. 1,020

Santa Clara, Calif. 706

King, Wash. 170

Hillsborough, Fla. 784

Davidson, Tenn. 126

Loudoun, Va. 159

5,827 111

2,009 310

3,878 220

4,453 307

2,074 288

5,199 986

1,757 1,541

2,795 1,820

914 1,184

3,228 123

17,960 1,156

1,834 121

7,803 338

7,405 104 534 Buccaneers

301 Titans

Growth rate shows how frequently the number of cases has doubled over Redskins the previous seven days. The fastest rate color shows when cases are doubling in fewer than three days, while the slowest rate color shows Maricopa, Ariz. when cases are doubling much more slowly, once every 30 days or Hall, Ga. longer. Data is from a New York Times database and is as of May 10, 2020. Charts are through May 9, 2020. *Data for Kansas City, Mo. is Baltimore, Md. reported at the city level. Erie, N.Y. SLOWER Mecklenburg, N.C. FASTER Lake, Ill. PER Hamilton, Ohio 100k Cuyahoga, Ohio PEOPLE Denton, Texas CASE GROWTH RATE Arapahoe, Colo. FACILITY LOCATION Wayne, Mich. (COUNTY, STATE) Brown, Wis. CASES Harris, Texas TEAM Marion, Ind. FEB 26 Duval, Fla. MAY 9 Kansas City* Cardinals Orange, Calif. Falcons Los Angeles, Calif. Ravens Clark, Nev. Bills Broward, Fla. Panthers Hennepin, Minn. Bears Norfolk, Mass. Bengals Jefferson, La. Browns Bergen, N.J. Cowboys Morris, N.J. Broncos Allegheny, Pa. Lions Philadelphia, Pa. Packers Santa Clara, Calif. Texans King, Wash. Colts Hillsborough, Fla. Jaguars Davidson, Tenn. Chiefs Loudoun, Va. Chargers 5,827 Rams 2,009 Raiders 3,878 Dolphins 4,453 Vikings 2,074 Patriots 5,199 Saints 1,757 Giants 2,795 Jets 914 Steelers 3,228 Eagles 17,960 49ers 1,834 Seahawks 7,803 7,405 104

1,164 534

767 301

3,506 Growth rate shows how frequently the number of cases has doubled over the previous seven days. The fastest rate color shows when cases are 31,268 doubling in fewer than three days, while the slowest rate color shows 4,704 when cases are doubling much more slowly, once every 30 days or longer. Data is from a New York Times database and is as of May 10, 5,858 2020. Charts are through May 9, 2020. *Data for Kansas City, Mo. is reported at the city level. 3,558 By The New York Times 6,887 Bergen County, N.J., Philadelphia County and Wayne County, Mich., 6,709 where the Giants, the Eagles and the Detroit Lions are based, are among 16,929 the hardest hit areas, having seen a large number of cases over all and a high number of cases per capita. In Brown County, Wis., a smaller 5,854 community that is home to the Green Bay Packers, cases doubled about every three days in early April but have since slowed. The rate of 1,503 increase in cases in King County, Wash., home to the Seattle Seahawks, 18,211 peaked in March and has been declining since.

2,317 These statistics, though, may understate the actual number of cases because available testing is limited. The number of cases is rising in 7,319 some states that have loosened their stay-at-home restrictions. One model used by the Trump administration projected the number of daily 1,432 deaths in the United States to reach about 3,000 by June 1, a 70 percent 3,652 increase from current numbers, according to an internal document obtained by The New York Times. By most estimates, a vaccine against 1,159 the Covid-19 virus is many months away.

137 Latest Updates: Coronavirus Outbreak in the U.S.

1,025 Fauci will issue a stark warning on the risks of reopening too soon.

469 The White House plans to ask officials — but not Trump — to wear face 484 masks.

197 The baseball season could open in July, with empty stands (to start).

739 Still, compared with other professional leagues, which shut down midseason, the N.F.L. has had time to prepare. While the N.B.A. 216 scrambled to close, the N.F.L. forged ahead with free agency in March and its draft in April, albeit remotely. The league turned the release of its 223 2020 schedule into a three-hour, prime-time TV event.

113 Despite its resolve, the N.F.L. is starting to acknowledge that the virus 507 may derail its plans to open the season on time and in front of fans. The league moved its international games back to the United States. Before 1,020 announcing the new schedule, league and team officials contacted officials in their states to let them know that contingencies had been 706 made in case games must be postponed or canceled. The Jets said they 170 would not sell single-game tickets, which may reduce overcrowding at MetLife Stadium if games are played in front of fans. Tom Garfinkel, the 784 president of the Dolphins, unveiled plans to play games at Hard Rock Stadium in front of 15,000 fans, or about a quarter of capacity. 126 Last week, Roger Goodell, the N.F.L. commissioner, sent club executives 159 guidelines for how to reopen their facilities gradually, at first to only staff 111 and coaches. No more than 50 percent of employees can be in the building at once. Employees should work in shifts to minimize contact. 310 Every club must create an infection response team, encourage continued telecommuting work policies and discourage nonessential travel. 220 “It is impossible to predict what the next few months will bring,” Goodell 307 wrote. The league, he added, “will be prepared to address any 288 contingencies as they arise.”

986 Next would be plans for the return of players to the facilities. The league is working with infectious disease physicians from Duke and other 1,541 experts, and speaking with the N.F.L. Players Association about how and 1,820 when they can return.

1,184 “We have to proceed with a tremendous amount of caution,” DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the union, told reporters two weeks ago. 123 Making predictions is difficult “because there are so many variables we would have to control for and so many variables we don’t know.” 1,156 Smith declined to quantify the comfort of players in regard to returning to 121 team facilities. But some players said they were nervous they could be 338 infected. “I think for us it doesn’t make any sense to play games unless it’s completely, 100 percent safe for us to go out there,” Kareem Jackson, a 10-year veteran who plays for the Denver Broncos, told reporters. “If there’s any threat of us being able to contract Covid in any way and spread it to our families or anybody else, it just doesn’t make sense.”

It is impossible to eliminate the risk of infection if players congregate. But there are ways to reduce the risk of infection by sequestering, testing and other steps. Teams could isolate players and coaches, even from their families, inside closed facilities. Or players and staff could return to their homes at night and be encouraged to stay in.

Playing in stadiums without fans is no guarantee against the risk of infection, either, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship found out Saturday, when it canceled a bout after a fighter and two of his cornermen tested positive for the virus.

“It’s difficult for me to imagine what the league and, broadly, leagues do when one or two of their key personnel or players have tested positive,” Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who has said it will be many months before fans fill stadiums in his state, told reporters last week. “Do they quarantine the rest of the team? If an offensive lineman is practicing with a defensive lineman, and they have tested positive, what happens to the rest of the line? What happens to the game coming up the next weekend?”

Even if teams are sequestered, injured players may need to go to a hospital, which are hotbeds for the infection. Players acquired in a trade or through free agency may need to be quarantined before joining their new team. Extra steps will be needed to protect teams traveling to away games. The number of cases is expected to spike in the fall and winter, in the heart of the N.F.L. season.

“Boundaries are artificial, and a virus doesn’t care about city, state borders,” said Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University who focuses on sports. “The real test will be when training camp starts. But I don’t know what the country is going to look like then.”

New York Times LOADED: 05.12.2020 1184490 World Leagues News Silver said the league gets 40% of its revenues from game nights when its arenas are filled. He then laid out a frightening scenario that, if there is no timely vaccine or cure for the virus, there could be games without fans not just for the rest of this season but for the 2020-21 season, as well. Storms are brewing between pro players, owners “This could turn out to be the single greatest challenge of all our lives,” Silver said.

Ron Cook: Not just for owners and players.

For all of us.

Right now, the professional sports leagues and their players are united in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette LOADED: 05.12.2020 the war against the invisible enemy, the coronavirus.

But soon, there could be a civil war, matching owners against players.

It’s just one more significant hurdle that must be leaped before sports return.

The fighting could be especially bitter between baseball’s owners and players. The players, despite having guaranteed contracts, have agreed to be paid only for the games that are played in what will be a shortened season, but they believe it will be on a prorated basis. That means if the Los Angeles Angels play 81 games, Mike Trout will make just half of his $36 million salary or $222,222.22 per game. But the owners are expected to ask the players to take additional pay cuts because of the millions they will lose in revenue from television and empty ballparks without fans. That means Trout might have to get by on $111,111.11 per game.

Oh, the humanity.

The players’ argument is based on two premises:

One, and they say this is the big sticking point, if the games aren’t safe enough for fans to attend, why should anyone believe they are safe for the players? Why should the players be asked to travel for games when the public is being advised not to travel? “It goes back to not having fans in the stands,” Yankees catcher and union executive board member Chris Iannetta told ESPN during the weekend. “If there’s no fans in the stands, there is an intrinsic risk that players are going to undertake. There is an intrinsic risk that support staff and coaches are going to undertake. We should get fairly compensated for taking that risk for the betterment of the game and the betterment of the owners who stand to make a huge profit off the game.”

And two, unlike the other pro leagues, there is no salary cap in baseball that is tied to revenues. “I understand the team isn’t making money on tickets, concessions or any of that stuff,” Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey last week. “But if you think about seasons where they do really well, make a ton of money and sell out every game, we don’t get a raise just because they made a lot of money and did really well. I don’t see why we should have to take a pay cut when things are tough.”

This is a war the players can’t win, at least not in the court of public opinion.

Not now.

Not with a pandemic that has ruined and is ruining millions of lives.

“Athletes don’t really ever win when we talk about salary,” Pirates pitcher and team player rep Jameson Taillon acknowledged on an interview Thursday on 93.7 The Fan.

That isn’t to say anyone will root for the billionaire owners in a civil war. If anything, a lot of people probably hope both sides lose, so sick are they that greed has taken over pro sports to such an ugly degree. But that doesn’t mean the players aren’t going to have to take severe pay cuts. They already are going to receive a full year’s service time even if no games are played. If I’m one of the owners and some players refuse to play in a contract huff, I would let them sit and play the games without them. Then, they would make nothing.

Big salary cuts for players certainly are coming in the NBA, NHL and perhaps the NFL if its season is shortened because the players are paid based on the revenue coming in. NBA commissioner Adam Silver made it clear that brutal times are ahead for both owners and players in a conference call Friday with the players and their union leaders. “The CBA was not built for extended pandemics,” he said in audio obtained by ESPN. 1184491 World Leagues News Dortmund–buoyed by dynamic young talents and –sits four points back in second place (51 points), with RB Leipzig (50) and Borussia Monchengladbach (49) hot on the trail. Bayer Leverkusen is also in the mix for a top-four finish, with 47 points, All of the Details About the Bundesliga's Return comfortably 10 points clear of sixth-place Schalke.

Bayern Munich has been using the break to take care of a lot of business. Since the league was suspended on March 13, Bayern has re- STAFF signed forward Thomas Muller through 2023, taken the interim tag off manager and signed him through 2023 and extended the contract of rising Canadian teenage star Alphonso Davies through 2025. It's really happening. The Bundesliga has been given the green light to On Thursday, it confirmed the signing of German legend Mirsolav Klose return after a coronavirus-induced shutdown, with German government as an assistant coach, with his one-year term slated to begin after the approving the plan to bring soccer back across the top two divisions in conclusion of the delayed season, on July 1. Assistant coach Danny Rohl the country. extended his stay on Flick's staff, signing through 2023.

All is subject to change if, for whatever reason, cases spike or teams find Before the break, Bayern had rounded into form, losing just one of its last themselves impacted by the virus again–and with over 10 confirmed 16 games in all competitions (14-1-1). positive tests recently in the top two divisions, it's not out of the question– but the precautions being taken, the procedures put in place and the AT THE BOTTOM comprehensive testing program have been convincing enough to bring Werder Bremen (18 points) and Paderborn (16) occupy the automatic back the sport behind closed doors in Germany. relegation places, while Fortuna Dusseldorf (22) sits in the relegation “Everyone has to be clear," Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert said. playoff spot. The Saturday match between 16th-place Dusseldorf and "We’re playing on probation. I expect everyone to live up to this 18th-place Paderborn could wind up factoring heavily into which teams responsibility. Our concept is designed to catch infections early. go down to the 2. Bundesliga for next season.

“That we’re allowed to play again boils down to German politics for THE U.S. ANGLE managing this crisis, and the health system in Germany,” Seifert added. A number of Americans abroad–and some of the key figures of the “If I were to name the number of tests that I was asked about in national team's present and future–are based in the Bundesliga. teleconferences with other professional leagues, with American Weston McKennie (Schalke) and Gio Reyna (Dortmund) professional leagues, with clubs from the NFL, the NHL, Major League could share the field in their first match back. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen Baseball and others, and I tell them how many tests are possible in (Fortuna Dusseldorf) is highly doubtful to be ready to play after suffering Germany, they generally check, or there’s silence, because it’s just another knee injury during his club's limited training sessions. unimaginable in the situation over there.” Forward Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen) had scored in his club's last The German leagues association (DFL) announced a May 16 return for match before the season was halted, while versatile Tyler the Bundesliga, which has nine matchdays remaining. Games will be Adams (RB Leipzig) was just starting to get his legs under him after a played behind closed doors–though clubs like Borussia frustrating injury bout for the first half of the campaign. Monchengladbach are getting creative in finding ways to fill the seats nonetheless. It's possible that teams will have five substitutes instead of Center back John Brooks (Wolfsburg) has been a fixture for his club the customary three, to account for schedule congestion (the league since returning from a groin strain in the fall. Another U.S. international plans to finish June 28) and players who may not be at full fitness given on the club is 19-year-old Ulysses Llanez, who was promoted to the recent restrictions. FIFA has made the proposal, but the International Wolfsburg's first team as the league came to a halt. Football Association Board must approve it. One more rising talent in the U.S. player pool, 20-year-old Bayern Starting a week from Saturday, one of the world's preeminent leagues Munich center back Chris Richards, has trained with the first team but will be back in action (though it won't be the first: Belarus, Turkmenistan has yet to see playing time. and Nicaragua never shut their top flights down, while South Korea's K- League resumes on Friday). Here's what it will look like: Three U.S. veterans whose recent national team standing is not so strong are Fabian Johnson (Monchengladbach), Timmy Chandler RE-OPENING WEEKEND () and Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Dusseldorf), and they've been a mixed big this season in terms of productivity and Here's the match schedule for the resumption of the season–which consistency. includes a Revierderby between rivals Dortmund and Schalke–with all times Eastern: LOADED: 05.12.2020 SATURDAY, MAY 16

9:30 a.m. - vs. Schalke

9:30 a.m. - Fortuna Dusseldorf vs. Paderborn

9:30 a.m. - RB Leipzig vs. Freiburg

9:30 a.m. - Hoffenheim vs. Hertha Berlin

9:30 a.m. - Augsburg vs. Wolfsburg

12:30 p.m. - Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Monchengladbach

SUNDAY, MAY 17

9:30 a.m. - Koln vs. Mainz

12 p.m. - Union Berlin vs. Bayern Munich

MONDAY, MAY 18

2:30 p.m. - Werder Bremen vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern Munich is in first place in the Bundesliga

AT THE TOP

Bayern Munich sits in a familiar place, but it's been a battle this season as the club vies for an eighth straight title.