SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 3/30/2020 St Louis Blues 1181885 Coyotes’ Ekman-Larsson, rival captains weigh resuming 1181906 Puck anxiety: Blues fans adjust to life without hockey NHL season Maple Leafs Boston Bruins 1181907 Lance Hornby's Top 5 memorable off-ice sporting 1181886 NHL trade deadline deals could be much ado about moments nothing 1181908 Maple Leafs Prospect Report: How Nick Robertson and 1181887 Bruins' David Pastrnak gets wistful in tweet about missing others ended their seasons hockey 1181909 From Wendel Clark to Holy Mackinaw, Leafs voice Joe Bowen answers your questions Buffalo Sabres 1181888 15 thoughts on the Sabres as we wait for hockey to return 1181912 Canucks at 50: The cosmic kismet of Sedinery, a final home show for the ages 1181889 Play again or not, there’s much to like about the Canes’ 1181913 Canucks at 50: Last hurrah for Sedins in Vancouver season served up magic, memories 1181890 Bag of Jerks: Justin Williams’ future, staying in shape and Tiger King 1181910 What is Ovechkin watching during coronavirus hiatus? Reveals 'Deal or No Deal' is go-to show 1181891 Blackhawks' Calvin de Haan joins friends in brewing 1181911 Brenden Dillon explains why he dropped the gloves with business in Ontario Evgeni Malkin 1181892 Hawks Rewind: Game 4 of 2010 Western Conference Semifinals Websites 1181893 2010 Hawks Rewind: 3 things we noticed in Blackhawks' 1181914 .ca / The 1919 and Game 4 win over Canucks modern-history's worst pandemic 1181894 How Scott Foster and David Ayres handled the spotlight 1181915 Sportsnet.ca / Breaking down the best and worst Oilers differently drafts of the salary-cap era Colorado Avalanche World Leagues News 1181895 Chambers: Let’s play Stanley Cup hockey all summer 1181916 Coronavirus In Sports: Philadelphia College Football Coaches Finding Silver Lining In Uncertain Times 1181917 Coronavirus: plans to deliver 10 million 1181896 Lowetide: Will the Oilers rocket to Russia during free N95 masks from to New York health professionals agency this summer? 1181918 Sports Industry Reels From Coronavirus Fallout 1181919 Coronavirus conquers world of sports: How professional sports organizations are responding to pandemic 1181897 Kings turn to video game simulations to keep fans 1181920 Factbox: Sports events around the world hit by engaged amid coronavirus shutdown coronavirus pandemic 1181921 Coronavirus: Here's what's happening in the sports world Canadiens on Sunday 1181898 PUB CHALLENGE: A game for our subscribers. A game 1181922 Coronavirus Latest: Boston Mayor Says Too Many People for our subscribers (5/30) Playing Sports In City Parks 1181923 Sports organizations eager to unite Canada after coronavirus pandemic 1181899 Scouting Devils’ 2019 draft class: Case McCarthy is ‘good 1181924 TV Companies Worldwide Hit by Sports Shutdown with puck, but skating has to improve significantly’ 1181925 Impact of coronavirus on local sports community 1181900 Scouting Devils’ 2019 draft class: Michael Vukojevic has 1181926 Finebaum, other sports talk hosts play key coronavirus ‘to find that defensive aspect to his game’ roles - if they stay on the air SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 New York Rangers 1181901 Rangers still don’t know if there’s more to confounding Brett Howden 1181902 Flyers, Brent Flahr preparing for NHL draft, which will be a bigger crapshoot than usual 1181903 Predictions for who wins Flyers' 2019-20 Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award 1181904 Sharks' Logan Couture hopes Joe Thornton returns after coronavirus break 1181905 Sharks' Evander Kane recounts favorite memories of San Jose tenure 1181885 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes’ Ekman-Larsson, rival captains weigh resuming NHL season

BY MATT LAYMAN

MARCH 28, 2020 AT 6:03 PM

PHOENIX — Four captains of teams in the NHL’s Pacific Division stared into webcams on Friday as they answered questions in a conference call with media.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has changed a lot about how we live our lives, and the relationship between sports and media is no exception. Pre-submitted questions were read on the live chat to players, who answered from their domiciles that ranged from Scottsdale to Ontario.

The foursome — Edmonton star Connor McDavid, Vancouver’s Bo Horvat, Calgary defenseman Mark Giordano and the Coyotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson — sifted through the different ways the NHL could go about getting back on the ice, which is sure to result in the season going far later than originally scheduled. The NHL paused on March 12.

The four had different perspectives, if for no other reason than their respective spots in the standings. McDavid’s Oilers and Giordano’s Flames held divisional playoff spots at the time of the season pause. Horvat’s Canucks and Ekman-Larsson’s Coyotes were out of playoff spots entirely.

It’s unclear whether the league could feasibly play more regular season games, depending on how long the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the sport. Arizona still had 12 games left when the season stopped, but some have suggested skipping the rest of the regular season. One suggestion gaining popularity holds that a 24-team playoff be conducted out of fairness to the bubble teams.

“In a perfect world, you want to play the regular season out and let it play out, so whoever gets in gets in,” Giordano said. “But I don’t think realistically we’re going to have that time, so the best one I think I’ve heard is — you can’t eliminate teams who are out on points percentage or stuff like that — I think you go 12 and 12 and more teams get in this year, maybe a couple byes at the top and play it out.”

Giordano said it would be challenging to go from not playing at all to jumping straight into the . Even a couple games before the playoffs, he said, could be beneficial.

“Either go by points percentage or play some more regular season games,” Horvat said. “Obviously to make it completely fair, you’d want to play regular season games and have more games to get in. But if we’re going to start playoffs right away, [then determine the teams] by [points] percentage and I think that would put us in. But it’s tough to make that call, that’s for sure.”

As Horvat said, the Canucks would be in the playoffs if the NHL were to resume and go straight to a postseason, as long as the league determined the playoff teams by points percentage. Just using point total that’s irrespective to games played, the Canucks would be one spot out of the Wild Card.

The Coyotes are fifth in the Wild Card race, meaning they still had more work to do in the regular season if they wanted to get into a playoff spot.

“I think it’s only fair to start where we left off here,” Ekman-Larsson said. “I think it would be good for the playoffs, too, to get those games to really get going again and get into a playoff spot and be ready for a really good playoffs. I think that would benefit all of us. And like everybody else said, I think it’d be a really good playoffs because we’ve been getting a lot of rest and everybody’s going to be healthy when we get back.”

Meanwhile, the Oilers are pretty firmly in a playoff spot for the time being.

“I think they look pretty good right now,” McDavid joked about the standings. “But obviously … a fair season’s a full season. So if we can do that then that’s what we’d obviously prefer, but I don’t think we can just step into playoffs and Game 1, Calgary come to Edmonton and guys just run around and kill each other and haven’t played a game in two months.”

Arizona Republic LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181886 Boston Bruins The trade deadline, of course, is an annual crapshoot. Every year, really only one GM truly attains his . But this year, every GM could be left with that empty feeling.

NHL trade deadline deals could be much ado about nothing Boston Herald LOADED: 03.30.2020

By STEVE CONROY | March 29, 2020 at 5:30 a.m.

There was some glimmer of hope that the NHL playoffs could be salvaged last week, though it came with the hard luck and disappointment for another group of athletes.

With the International Olympic Committee’s decision to postpone the Summer Games in Japan, that will leave open dates for sports programming in the summer that NBC needs to fill. While the league, like every other business, is still flying blind as the world waits for the next development in this global crisis, it is still clinging to the hope that some semblance of a playoff can be played and lost revenues recouped while also keeping the integrity of the 2020-21 season intact.

But that is just a dream, as distant and imperfect as it may be. The chances of this season being kaput are very real. And some teams will have taken their swing at the deadline plate for nothing.

The Bruins, of course, went in big at the deadline, but their regrets may be few compared to that of other teams. The first deal GM Don Sweeney pulled the trigger on was the one that sent David Backes (retaining a quarter of Backes’ contract), defense prospect Axel Andersson and a first-round pick to the for Ondrej Kase. Whether the trade could have happened without the impetus of the deadline is questionable, but Sweeney might very well do the deal again even if he had no playoffs for which to bolster his team. Some thought he’d have to give up a first-round pick just to rid himself of the final year of Backes’ $6 million deal in 2021, but he got a player that he wanted (we’ll see if Kase actually does flourish as a top six forward) while retaining a small portion of the Backes money.

Andersson, meanwhile, was a decent prospect, but the right- D-man had little chance of climbing above the third pair with Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo ahead of him. Still in junior hockey, Andersson was also at least a couple of years away from competing for an NHL job.

With the Nick Ritchie-for-Danton Heinen deal, Sweeney traded an apple for an orange. Both players are 24 and on their second contracts, with one year left on their deals and restricted free agency waiting on the other side. Heinen will probably put up more points in his career than Ritchie, but the B’s had cheaper players in the system who are in the same mold of Heinen with Anders Bjork and Karson Kuhlman. They needed a big bruiser with a modicum of skill, and Ritchie fit the bill.

Other teams could have a much more severe case of buyer’s remorse.

The started the process with a pair of first-round draft picks, courtesy of the offseason J.T. Miller trade, but spent them both. They used one to get Barclay Goodrow (and a third-round pick) from the Sharks for one first-rounder. While it was a clear over-payment for the tough, bottom six energy guy, Goodrow looked liked a piece that would fit nicely with Tampa’s skill. A few days earlier, the Bolts got Blake Coleman from New Jersey for a first-rounder and Tampa’s 2019 first- round pick Nolan Foote.

Both Coleman and Goodrow have one more year on their relatively cheap deals (Coleman makes $1.8 million, Goodrow $925,000) so it wouldn’t be a total loss, but you have to wonder if GM Julien Brisebois would do those deals if he knew he might be doing it for one year of service for those players instead of two.

Still, Brisebois has to feel a little better than Vancouver GM Jim Benning. Already without a first-rounder because of the Miller acquisition, the Canucks gave up their second-round pick in 2020, a fourth-rounder in 2022, good prospect Tyler Madden from Northeastern and for , who as a pending UFA could be a straight rental. Ouch.

The Golden Knights have one more year of Alec Martinez, but they had to give up two second-rounders (2020, 2021) to get him from Los Angeles. And they gave up a second-round pick plus Malcolm Subban and a prospect for pending UFA goalie Robin Lehner. 1181887 Boston Bruins

Bruins' David Pastrnak gets wistful in tweet about missing hockey

By Joe Haggerty March 29, 2020 11:46 AM

There’s no doubt it’s hurting hockey fans to not have the NHL as a welcome distraction from the global coronavirus pandemic currently ripping through North America.

But there’s also little question it pains those involved in the NHL even more to not have hockey at a time of year when teams are finishing up the regular season, and gearing up for the best time of year in the .

Bruins hotshot right wing David Pastrnak sent out a tweet over the weekend that was simple and short with its actual words, but truly conveyed exactly the kind of heartbroken emptiness that the 23-year-old is feeling while house-bound amidst what was the best season of his excellent NHL career.

“Haven’t done the thing for a while…” wrote a wistful Pastrnak without any need to elaborate that he was talking about playing hockey and scoring goals.

Haven’t done the thing for while ..

— davidpastrnak (@pastrnak96) March 28, 2020

For young, single NHL players like the happy, go-lucky Pastrnak this period of time has to be particularly difficult with no immediate family to keep their minds off just how much they are missing hockey in their lives.

Pastrnak was approaching both 50 goals and 100 points for the first time in his NHL career (48 goals and 95 points in 70 games) and was destined to be a Hart Trophy finalist when the NHL regular season was suspended nearly three weeks ago. It feels like hoping for more regular season games is more fantasy than reality at this point, but hockey players like Pastrnak are still clinging to the hope that there will still be some kind of hockey playoffs when some sense of normalcy hopefully returns months from now.

The good news is that guys like Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk are doing something good with their downtime as they played on a Fortnite tournament over the weekend to raise money for the COVID-19 Solidarity Relief Fund for the WHO (World Health Organization).

NHL players are still currently in quarantine after a handful of them tested positive for the coronavirus over the last week, most notably in Colorado and Ottawa, but at least the league is beginning to host video conference calls between players and the media to make certain that fans can still keep an eye on what their favorite players are up to these days.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181888 Buffalo Sabres think he'd score more than nine goals on the wing, ideally in a third-line role, if paired with the right linemates.

5. Pay Sam Reinhart. You could make an argument against giving a 15 thoughts on the Sabres as we wait for hockey to return long-term extension to Reinhart. It's unclear if the pending restricted free agent would be able to drive play on his own line, and he had only one goal with one assist in the Sabres' last 11 games, a key stretch that knocked them out of the playoff picture. But you can't justify trading a By Lance Lysowski talented forward off a team that's already struggling to score goals. Published Sun, Mar 29, 2020 Reinhart has scored 69 goals while missing zero games over the past three seasons.

6. Bring back Johan Larsson and Zemgus Girgensons. Most fans weren't The joy was evident in each of Dominik Kahun's talks with reporters pleased last June when the Sabres extended qualifying offers to the following the trade that sent him to the Buffalo Sabres last month. bottom-six forwards. However, they proved to be two of Botterill's best moves last offseason. You could argue Larsson became the Sabres' A fresh start under coach Ralph Krueger came with a system that second-best center and Girgensons' 12 goals this season were his most allowed Kahun the freedom to use the speed and possession skills that since he had 15 in 2014-15. made him a highly sought international free agent in summer 2018. 7. Fix the special teams, by any means necessary. The Sabres' power "The system in Pittsburgh, for me, was a little bit – obviously, I had to do play and kill, ranked 20th and 30th, respectively, had a significant other stuff," Kahun said earlier this month. "Here, the hockey is more fun role in this team falling out of the race. The personnel is there. Neither for me again. Obviously I want to win more games with Buffalo, but just group was this ineffective in Phil Housley's final season – the power play to play my game, play with the puck and make plays. That’s for sure and penalty kill ranked 16th and 20th, respectively in 2018-19 – and more fun for me right now." Buffalo should have improved on the man advantage, given the The comment wasn't a knock against the Penguins or their two-time development of Jack Eichel and the addition of Victor Olofsson. This isn't Stanley Cup winning coach Mike Sullivan. Kahun enjoyed his time in only an assistant coaching issue. It also falls on Krueger. Pittsburgh and viewed his 50 games there as an important time in his 8. Krueger's development is as important as anyone on the roster. It career. However, Kahun was not allowed the same freedom in the might sound crazy to say this about a 60-year-old coach, but let's not Penguins' system, particularly when on the ice with superstar center forget he had not been behind an NHL bench since a lockout-shortened Evgeni Malkin. 2012-13 season. Krueger did not have a traditional training camp or Krueger's system allows players to use their creativity with the puck, lengthy All-Star break in Edmonton. The Sabres lost five of seven games which proved a perfect fit for Kahun. The 24-year-old forward had two out of the break. goals, not including a shootout winner, with two assists in six games after Krueger showed promise in a number of areas, but I want to see him being acquired by the Sabres in exchange for Conor Sheary and Evan improve with in-game management, including adjustments on special Rodrigues. teams. There's no reason why Reinhart and Jeff Skinner should have Kahun, a pending restricted free agent, provided the Sabres with some such a limited impact on the power play. much-needed speed and formed a formidable second line with Victor 9. Silver lining of the season: Eichel took another big step. The Sabres' Olofsson and Marcus Johansson. The trade addressed short- and long- 23-year-old captain set career highs in goals (36) and points per game term needs for an organization in need of more talent up front. (1.15) while proving to be a solid two-way player. He also made strides Krueger also revealed he views Kahun as a future NHL center, though as a leader on and off the ice, and his $10 million annual average salary the team did not have enough time to experiment with the move. Kahun's is looking like a bargain. Remember, it's likely Eichel won't reach his natural position is center and he played there during his four professional prime for a few more seasons. Enjoy the show, folks. seasons in Germany. 10. Remember when we were all talking about Rasmus Dahlin being The move wasn't talked about much on trade deadline day because the benched in the third period of a game back in November? The 19-year- Sabres acquired veteran power forward Wayne Simmonds, but Kahun old's 36 assists in 59 games surpassed his total from his 82-game rookie has the potential to be a top-six forward in Buffalo and could be the more season in 2018-19. He also showed he's closer to being able to shut impactful acquisition. down an opponent's top line. It would be wise to pay Dahlin now. There's no telling what the price tag will be when he's a restricted free agent in 2. Common sense thought here: General Manager Jason Botterill needs summer 2021. The kid is going to be a superstar. to make a significant trade to add a second-line center or top-six right wing. The answer won't come in free agency. Botterill acknowledged it 11. The Sabres will face a difficult decision with Simmonds. The 31-year- can be difficult to lure free agents to Buffalo. Also, the franchise hasn't old winger wants to re-sign with Buffalo after joining the team at the trade had much luck handing out lucrative contracts on the open market. deadline Feb. 24. His price tag should also be lower than the one-year, $5 million contract he signed with New Jersey last summer. Simmonds 3. Bolster the offense by balancing the blue line. The Sabres are not in a might not be a fit for the Sabres, though. This team needs more speed. position to trade high draft picks or prospects at the moment. It's time to Simmonds also can struggle defensively. He has only eight goals with 11 deal either Rasmus Ristolainen or Brandon Montour for a talented assists in 68 games this season. forward. Analytics show Ristolainen's play slipped significantly in the season's second half and the surplus of right-shot defensemen forced 12. It would be wise to tread carefully with Dylan Cozens. The Sabres Montour to play his off side. don't need to rush another teenage center to the . We all saw what that did to Casey Mittelstadt. Botterill needs to The latter wasn't as effective on the left side, particularly with the puck. approach this offseason as if Cozens won't be ready to contribute in The pending restricted free agent had only 18 points – his fewest in three 2020-21. That said, fans should be excited about Cozens' progress since full NHL seasons – after missing the first 14 games with a broken hand. he was drafted seventh overall last June. The 19-year-old won a gold "Tougher playing the left side," Montour said late last month. "We joke I medal with Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship and scored should have a left-handed stick, too. I haven’t had too many games 38 goals with 47 assists for 85 points in 51 games for the Lethbridge playing my normal side. I’d like to offensively produce a little bit more, but Hurricanes. any time you get a chance to help the team in any way. Obviously, 13. The season being suspended might have affected Mittelstadt more defensively, I’m focused on that." than any other Sabres prospect. The 21-year-old center was unable to 4. Stop using Marcus Johansson at center. Handing Johansson a two- complete the Rochester Americans' playoff push and might miss out on year contract proved to be a responsible signing by Botterill. The 29- invaluable postseason experience. It's important for a young player to year-old was an important leader in the dressing room, particularly for the see the increase in intensity during the Calder Cup Playoffs, and Swedish players. But the only way to maximize Johansson's value is to Mittelstadt needed as many games as possible in the American Hockey allow him to play on the wing. There's a significant difference in his League. We'll see if his 36 games with Rochester – which included nine performance when he's at his natural position, and it's not a stretch to goals and 16 assists – were enough to make him ready to be a consistent NHL player. 14. The goaltending needs to be addressed this offseason. The Sabres can't go into next season with the status quo, and prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen isn't close to being ready for the NHL. Linus Ullmark was one of the bright spots on this team this season, but we've seen how important it is to have two starter-caliber goalies. Carter Hutton can be that guy. I'm just not sure he can on this team. Hutton is an above- average goalie on teams that play a very structured game, such as St. Louis or maybe Dallas. But the Sabres are currently too inconsistent.

The Sabres could find a suitor for Hutton if salary is retained – hey, that's better than a buyout – and they'll need to add a goalie via free agency or trade. You don't need to grab Braden Holtby. Get a quality No. 2 with upside on a short-term contract who can push Ullmark. Warning, though: The Sabres would miss Hutton's leadership. The guy is beloved in that room.

15. Botterill is staying, in my opinion. The uncertainty surrounding the NHL's ability to resume play would make it difficult for any owner to make a change at general manager, and you will likely see fewer dismissals because owners aren't going to be eager to pay people not to work.

Some of the criticism directed at Botterill is merited. It's fair to wonder why he didn't trade a defenseman prior to this season -- remember, Henri Jokiharju wasn't expected to make the impact he did and it was unclear when Zach Bogosian would return -- and I'll never understand trading for Michael Frolik when Jason Pominville was available.

Additionally, there remains holes at center and right wing. However, there's no question this roster is much better now than it was 12 months ago. Barring their ability to re-sign key free agents, the Sabres could be only two players away, which is something we haven't been able to say for a while.

Botterill will be given the opportunity to finish what he started. This is a critical offseason for him. A spending spree isn't needed. But he'll have to make smart, difficult decisions to round out a roster that has the top-end talent to break through.

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181889 Carolina Hurricanes “I was nervous the whole game,” Williams said after the game. It didn’t show.

THE SVECH Play again or not, there’s much to like about the Canes’ season Many had tried, none succeeding. Not in the NHL. Not until pulled it off.

BY CHIP ALEXANDER Brind’Amour said Svechnikov had a “green light” to do anything with the puck in the offensive zone. What the winger did Oct. 29 against the MARCH 29, 2020 12:13 PM at PNC Arena was go behind the net, scoop up the puck and jam it, lacrosse style, over the right shoulder and off the mask of

goalie David Rittich. While the NHL season remains on pause and we all wait to see if there Mike Legg, for one, was impressed, telling the N&O, “Wow, that was up will be more hockey, it’s a good time to reflect. tight in that corner. So cool, so awesome.” Even if the Carolina Hurricanes’ season should be called after 68 games, Legg is the former Michigan hockey player who first made the move if the coronavirus pandemic makes it unsafe to finish, there will be much famous in a 1996 NCAA tournament game against Minnesota. Called to like about 2019-20. “Michigan,” the shot was attempted in the NHL but no one had scored -- has scored a career-high 38 goals. Forward Martin until Svechnikov. And then he did it again, Dec. 17 against Winnipeg. Necas, so swift on the ice, was having a strong rookie season and “People ask which I like the best but I don’t care,” Svechnikov said in an defenseman Haydn Fleury established himself on the blue line. Before N&O interview. “For me, it’s hockey, it’s a goal. A good goal.” the March 12 suspension of play by the NHL, Justin WIlliams had goals in five straight games before the season was abruptly suspended. The Svech.

The Canes (38-25-5) had won three straight games and held the top Carolina Hurricanes’ head athletic trainer Doug Bennett attends to wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference in Rod Brind’Amour’s Dougie Hamilton after Hamilton was injured in the second period of an second year as head coach. NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. Jay LaPrete AP Here are five of the most memorable hockey moments from 2019-20: DOUGIE GOES DOWN AN “AVERAGE JOE” NAMED AYRES Rod Brind’Amour believed defenseman Dougie Hamilton might have It was alarming when starting goalie was injured in a been the Canes’ most irreplaceable player. Named to represent the collision in the net, leaving the Feb. 22 game in Toronto. For the Canes, Canes at the 2020 NHL All-Star Weekend, Hamilton had 14 goals and 26 it became much worse when goalie Petr Mrazek was left facedown on assists in 47 games before the Jan. 16 road game against Columbus. the ice after an even bigger collision away from the net, suffering a concussion. Hamilton played in every situation -- even strength, power play, penalty kill -- and was considered a potential Norris Trophy candidate. And then What now? An emergency backup goalie? And whom might that be at he was gone. Scotiabank Arena, many wondered. With 22 seconds left in the second period, Hamilton and Kevin Stenlund Meet David Ayres. He’s 42, played some junior hockey, has helped the of the Blue Jackets got their legs tangled as they chased after the puck Maple Leafs and at times as a practice goalie. Once near the boards and Hamilton fell backwards, bending his left leg under drove a Zamboni. Survived a kidney transplant. him. Hamilton fractured his left fibula, requiring surgery. Ayres put on his goalie gear after Reimer was hurt and then was on the “A huge loss obviously,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s arguably our No. 1 guy ice after Mrazek left in the second period. Brind’Amour’s dejected on everything.” expression was telling but Ayres, seemingly asked to do the impossible, made a victory possible. After allowing two goals in the second period, he The Canes were 27-18-2 with Hamilton in the lineup and 11-7-3 without stopped all seven shots in the third as the Canes hunkered down and him. won 6-3. Hamilton did make one noticeable appearance at a Canes game and had It wasn’t just a feel-good NHL or hockey story. This was an Everyman Canes fans roaring at PNC Arena sounding the warning siren before a 5- kind of story, one that inspired, one that might have some resonance 2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 14. today with the world facing a pandemic crisis. LET’S PLAY HOCKEY OUTSIDE The Canes also lost defenseman Brett Pesce to a season-ending shoulder injury in the Leafs game -- another huge gut-punch for Carolina. Tom Dundon wanted it, badly, and the sooner the better. Like many, the But Ayres’ success, his smile, his story, helped ease the pain a little, at Canes owner asked why Carolina couldn’t be chosen to host an outdoor least for a few days. NHL game.

“It’s a special moment that lot of people have been able to share and can The Canes had the site: N.C. State’s Carter-Finley Stadium. Why not a relate to,” Canes forward Justin Williams said. “Just an average guy living Stadium Series game? his dream, an ‘Average Joe’ coming out and playing in an NHL hockey The answer came Feb. 15, when the NHL announced an outdoor game game, is pretty awesome to see.” would be played Feb. 20, 2021 at Carter-Finley. The opponent for the THE OLD PRO RETURNS Stadium Series game was not named but the excitement level was high, was palpable for everyone. Justin Williams had everyone guessing from the end of the Canes’ 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs until January 2020: what will No. 14 do? “We’re proud to be the first NHL market in the Southeast to host an outdoor game,” said Dundon, who also promised an “epic tailgate” before Some believed Williams, after three Stanley Cup rings and a long career, the game. after serving as captain of the Canes’ first playoff team since 2009 and making them the talk of the NHL, would retire. Others never believed it, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said “all the boxes were checked” saying Williams was only in “semi-retirement” and would come back to when it came to considering Raleigh, the stadium and the bid by the the Canes at some point. Hurricanes. It should highlight the 2020-21 season, once the crisis hopefully has passed, once hockey is being played again. Williams, 38, came back. The winger then won his first game of the 2019- 20 season on Jan. 19 at PNC Arena, scoring the deciding shootout goal News Observer LOADED: 03.30.2020 against goalie Thomas Greiss and the for a 2-1 win. And everyone had a good laugh later about Williams being the eighth shooter -- eighth? -- picked by Brind’Amour. 1181890 Carolina Hurricanes The Canes signed BC standout and 2015 draft pick David Cotton and his brother, Jason, a few days ago. Catch up on that if you missed it.

Say the season is resumed and for giggles let’s say every defenseman Bag of Jerks: Justin Williams’ future, staying in shape and Tiger King (minus Pesce due to expected recovery time) is healthy. What is the lineup going to be. Can you really take Fleury out of the lineup? Do you go with an eight-man rotation? How do you not piss off the players? — Holden R. By Sara Civian Mar 29, 2020 I think we all know how I feel about removing Haydn Fleury from the

lineup right now — that would be a mistake. Hey, folks. I hope we’re all staying safe, healthy and relatively sane. Based on the Rod Brind’Amour blend-o-rama that has been the d- The sheer volume of Tiger King questions in this month’s Bag of Jerks pairings since the trade deadline and all the injuries, I can’t predict the roundup makes me feel like we’re more united as a nation than we have lineup with more than 70 percent confidence. But I can try. been in years. I can also tell you that I don’t think there’s any way not to piss off the We don’t have hockey for the time being, but I promise it will come back. players, but this is the NHL and you can’t really dwell on hurt feelings For now, at least we have toilet paper, game simulations and Joe Exotic. during a playoff push.

Do you think Justin Williams will come back in 2021 or is this it for him? As much as I patently hate it, I think it could be time for another 11-7 — Peter A. experiment.

I would’ve thought this was it for him if the season, uhhhh, resumed as Jaccob Slavin – Dougie Hamilton normal. But here we all are sitting in our homes watching a Netflix Haydn Fleury – Sami Vatanen (swap sides if necessary) DocuSeries about a man named Joe Exotic who owns a bunch of Tigers. Jake Gardiner – Trevor van Riemsdyk Now I would say it depends on the NHL’s eventual plan. Will playoffs happen? When? Just throw away the whole season? Brady Skjei, rotation

Mr. Five-game-goal-streak is way too good to stop playing, in my opinion. … this is really tough. We obviously don’t know how Vatanen will fit into this team, but you have to give him a chance to succeed and that’ll mean But as my colleagues have been reporting, the NHL won’t decide at the expense of Skjei and Edmundson early on. anything until the virus trajectory presents a clearer timeline — as Dr. Fauci would say, the virus is the clock. That’s the right call, but obviously Which of the Canes do you think could best play Joe Exotic in the we won’t know what Williams is thinking until this series of events inevitable upcoming biopic movie? — Mahesh K. actually plays out. Uhhh, Mahesh, have you seen Dougie’s playoff ? Get that man If the season does resume in June or July, do Dougie Hamilton or Brett some SunIn and let the flow do the talking. Pesce have a chance at returning? — Alex K. At the same time, Jaccob Slavin has a dog named Simba. It’s very likely that Hamilton will return –— he’s projected to be cleared sometime in April. On the other hand, it’s almost — if not — a zero Tiger King, Lion King … just saying. percent chance Pesce will return. I talked to Don Waddell about this last Did Carole Baskin feed her husband to the tigers? — Nathan H. week. YES. “For sure, Dougie Hamilton, now, 12 weeks he’ll be coming up here soon (in recovery) — and I can see him back as soon as early April. He’ll be What is one rule, aspect of lacrosse you want to see adopted into hockey back on the ice and working his way back. Brett Pesce, I don’t think it will today? — Pat C. matter a whole lot (because the recovery timeline is too long). Oh man, I love this question. I have two joke answers and one serious. “James Reimer and Sami Vatanen were getting close as it was.” Let’s get Patrice Bergeron and Jordan Staal lying down on the ground What part of your typical gameday experience do you miss the most? — wrestling at the faceoff dot, for one. Let’s try to see the referees kick Eric V. them off then. Also, the idea of face-off specialists is fun. Who would they be? There’s a 5,000 percent chance Brind’Amour would still be playing. Not morning skate. I’m also chuckling thinking about the idea of a shot clock. Would In all seriousness, just a sense of normalcy and routine. I’m someone Teravainen riot? who really struggles without a routine. Every game day I love knowing I can do X thing at X time. I also miss watching Sebastian Aho and Teuvo In all seriousness, how do you feel about bigger nets? I think I would Teravainen on the penalty kill. enjoy that. I’d love to see more goals, and I actually think the nature of lacrosse calls for far fewer stupid goalie takes. They’re gonna miss a ton Most of all, I miss interacting with y’all about literally anything other than of shots per game — it doesn’t mean they stink. It’s so fun when one guy our current global pandemic. scores, like, 10 goals per game, too. Any more prospects likely signed soon? — Jonathan G. Do you think Martin Necas will be an NHL center? Is he getting the Aho Yes, but it’s a pretty weird time for a lot of NHL prospects whose treatment? — Shlomo R. college/other junior seasons were cut short and now they know they I think “The Aho treatment” is synonymous with “being smart” — you saw aren’t the priority of NHL teams when they would normally be at this time. it with Tyler Seguin. Yes, I do think Necas will be an NHL center, but I I’m working on a story involving a certain college hockey team and have also think the confidence he’s gaining right now is invaluable. been asking players how they’re handling all that. 1. Why not sign Dougie for 8 years when he’s eligible? Also, will you be One drafted prospect who hasn’t yet signed an ELC: “I’m still training a my PLL buddy this summer, since we both played lacrosse AND the PLL lot, I’m still in playoff mode. It was a month after we played our last is coming to Boston & Raleigh? Also also, can I beat up people who say games before the tournament, and now we’re not playing at all. I’m trying mean things to you on the internet because they’re being really mean for to stay in shape as much as possible in case the NHL finalizes their no reason & you’re too cool for any of that hate. You’re the best Sara. decision (and he would be a Black Ace). I’m trying to stay in shape and Loving 2MM as well. Gonna buy some merch when I get my $$$. Stay prepare for the next season, and you know, try to make the transition as safe. You’re awesome. 2. I don’t know why I numbered these and didn’t smooth as possible. As of right now, (contract talks) are out of my hands continue to number them. Love me some ADHD. Anyways. Carry on. — at this point. Trying to wait and see with the contract — all I can do is just Spencer P. wait and hope.” Just wanted to give a shoutout to Spencer P., this question looks like the inside of my brain right now. Go Waterdogs. I will for sure go to a PLL game with you.

I honestly don’t remember — is Dougie’s shot streak still going? I think it is …

What’s the NHL shot streak record and do you think he will he break it? — Peter W.

It was, but unfortunately, the NHL policy is to end streaks if a player gets injured. I have felt passionate that this is the stupidest thing since I learned that rule years ago. The shot streak record is Ray Bourque’s 360-game streak. Alex Ovechkin fell 45 games short back in 2017.

Hamilton’s NHL-leading shot streak ended with at least one shot on goal in 294 consecutive games played. I genuinely think he was going to beat Bourque’s record. It’s a shame, but it is what it is.

What do the players do to stay in shape? — Tyler C.

The more I dig into this, the more I’m realizing it varies for everyone. When I talked to Cotton, for example, he’d said Hurricanes strength coach Bill Burniston told him to give it a rest for now and that they’d come up with something eventually. While some wingers, specifically, have definitely kept up workouts with whatever is at home, many players have been in the same boat as Cotton.

This is especially true for goalies. You might be interested in a snippet of a conversation I had with Penn State hockey goalie Peyton Jones a few days ago:

Me: “How’s home, are you crushing the at-home workouts or what?”

Jones: “No, I’m not gonna lie, I have not been.”

Me: “Me either …”

Jones: “After our season last year I took a week off. I’m a big believer in rest and letting your body recover. After this season ended I decided I’d take two weeks off, so this is the end of my second week. Come Monday next week I’m going to start getting back into it.

“Slow, slow, slow. Slow workouts.

“I don’t have too much in my house, anyways, but I’ll do small things to keep my body feeling good for when I can get back in the gym again.”

Me: “For sure, I know some NHL trainers are telling some guys to just slow down and recover for a while. The season takes such a toll on you.”

Jones: “Exactly, especially for a goalie, like, I’m not sure how much you know about playing the goalie position (spoiler alert: almost nothing), but it’s very taxing on your hips and your groin, your knees — everything. Even during the season we had optional Wednesdays and I always took them off. I always read about the science of the hips and how goalies need time off. So I’m a big believer in taking time off and letting your body fully recover — it’s good for your body and your mind to recover so that you take two weeks off, then you come back and you’re excited to train. You’re excited, and you’re even better when you get back to it.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181891 Chicago Blackhawks Plenty of other hiring had to be done as well, but the most important person in any brewery is -- quite obviously -- the brewmaster. The four owners felt incredibly fortunate to be able to hire Jamie Maxwell, an Ottawa native who was working at a nearby establishment. Blackhawks' Calvin de Haan joins friends in brewing business in Ontario "He just really wanted the opportunity to run the show with us," said Grassie, who also tossed in this rather impressive sports analogy: "It was kind of like going from being an assistant coach to being the general John Dietz manager." Updated3/29/2020 6:41 PM One unique aspect of Ridge Rock is the seating options. Patrons have traditional spots like tables, booths or the bar, but there are also a few outside-the-box spots, including: Like many hockey players, Calvin de Haan has been known to throw back a beer every now and again. • Comfy couches near the entrance.

For the most part, the brand didn't matter that much. • A private room in the basement called "The Vault."

Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller. Whatever. • A 20-seat area where people can play Crokinole, a table game created in Canada almost 150 years ago. That all changed a little more than a year ago, though, when de Haan and three of his buddies opened up Ridge Rock Brewing Co. in Carp, There are also a slew of board games, including Monopoly, Battleship Ontario. and checkers.

Jake Sinclair and Jason Lalonde came up with the idea and approached "When we go in for dinner, my oldest goes, 'Can I get a game?'" Grassie the Blackhawks defenseman about becoming a partner while -- no said of his 4-year-old son. "So he runs over, picks out a game and brings shocker here -- enjoying a few cold ones. it back to the table. It's just a relaxed, social atmosphere that we've built there." "I'm like, 'Hell, yeah,'" de Haan told me about two weeks before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at Vegas Dec. 10. "It's been a really It's so impressive, in fact, that a local magazine just named Ridge Rock cool, really fun experience." its favorite new Ottawa-area restaurant, and the brewery also won third place for best stout in Ontario. Filling a need Goose Island partner Carp is a small suburb of Ottawa of about 2,000. De Haan said it never really had a "designated watering hole," which made this seem like a risk Giving back to the community is important to de Haan and his partners, worth taking. so they were more than happy to accept an opportunity to partner with Goose Island Brewery to benefit the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation. "We thought it would be a good idea for the community where you can go grab a beer with a buddy or even go on a date, I guess," de Haan said. De Haan's parents, Grassie and Maxwell flew to Chicago in late February "Watch some sports." to help unveil a limited-edition collaboration beer called "Loud Barn Lager." With his right shoulder still in a sling, de Haan helped stir Building a business like this from scratch is obviously a huge ingredients with his left arm. undertaking. But before they worried about finding a brewmaster, hiring wait staff, finding a cook and securing tanks to brew the beer, there was "This is gonna be hard," de Haan says in a video produced by the one very significant issue. Hawks. "Good rehab for my left side."

Where should the brewery be? De Haan later added of the Goose Island facility: "It's like a city in there. It's pretty crazy. ... The fact that they're giving us an opportunity to do As luck would have it, a 150-year-old eyesore of a building -- as de Haan something like this is pretty cool." put it -- was for sale. Over the years it had been home to at least a half- dozen businesses, including a bank, a gas station, a pharmacy and a car Goose Island planned to come to Carp in April to help support local dealership. charities, but is rescheduling due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's right in the main intersection of the town," de Haan said. "It was "Obviously, Chicago being an Original Six hockey team, there are a lot of literally just four walls and a roof. That's all it was." Chicago Blackhawks fans in Ottawa," Grassie said. "It would be a neat thing for them. We were going to (combine) it with probably Calvin De Haan said Sinclair (an electrician), Lalonde (construction) and Ryan signing stuff for kids. Just include the whole community." Grassie (marketing, web design) used their contacts to save "a ton of money." Tough times now

"Ridge Rock wouldn't be where it is right now without those three," de It's colder than usual inside Ridge Rock these days. Haan said. "It's not like I'm next door, so I can't be as involved as I would And we're not just talking about the temperature. like to be. I can't say enough good things about those three. ... Gone are the locals who soak up the warm atmosphere. Gone too are 25 (We'd) never done anything like this -- no hospitality, no service industry - to 30 employees who have been laid off due to the pandemic. - we were going in blind." "That was a real hard decision," Grassie said. "But we had to lay Help wanted everyone off just to be able to survive this." Bill de Haan has lived in Carp for 28 years, raising Calvin and younger Bill is keeping the heat down to help save on expenses and he's also brother Evan with his wife Kathy while running a landscape/construction busy delivering beer to anyone who places an order. As a matter of fact, company. Bill's life did a complete 180, though, when Calvin approached he'd just sent Calvin out before granting an interview. him about working at Ridge Rock. "The community has responded unbelievably," Bill said. "I was like, 'Whoa. OK,'" Bill told me last week. Since this endeavor began, Calvin looks at beer through an entirely The two agreed on a salary, and Bill went from one job to the next different lens -- one that is focused on an industry he's proud to play a without taking a single day off. He then worked the next day. And the small role in. next. And the next and the next -- and before you knew it, Bill had put in 71 straight days. "I used to just drink beer to play beer pong," he said. "But since I've started this, every time I grab a beer somewhere I always support local "It was so busy when we opened. It was crazy," said Bill, who is in craft. I don't remember the last time I voluntarily had a Bud Light or a charge of inventory and also acts as a delivery man, assistant brew Miller. master, keg washer and janitor.

"Anything that needs to be done in here," he chuckled. "It's funny because I'll text our brewmaster and say, 'Hey, I tried this today.' I'll show him a description and maybe he'd like to brew something similar one day."

Ridge Rock's hope is to pick up where it left off before the coronavirus crisis shut down businesses across the globe. Grassie has no doubt that's exactly what will happen.

"We're very happy," he said. "The community has really rallied around us. We're super proud of the vision and the mission of the company, and the loyalty we've built around the brand."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181892 Chicago Blackhawks

Hawks Rewind: Game 4 of 2010 Western Conference Semifinals

By Scott King March 29, 2020 4:17 PM

Sunday night at 7 p.m. during another "Hawks Rewind," Blackhawks fans will be privy to another must re-watch.

Sunday's Hawks classic is 2010's Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Hawks took a 2-1 series lead after Dustin Byfuglien exploded on goalie and Vancouver with a hat trick and debilitating physicality in Game 3.

Game 4 of the series can be looked back at as the height of the Blackhawks-Canucks rivalry.

Vancouver was looking to even the series in not just wins, but in physical play and scoring on home ice. Unfortunately for them, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and his team would find another gear.

Toews finished Game 4 with three power-play goals for the hat trick plus two assists to help the Hawks to a 7-4 victory and 3-1 series lead.

Chicago kept up the rough stuff, too. Byfuglien went hard to the net again and remained in Luongo's kitchen for long stretches, creating an effective screen to help the Hawks go 4-for-8 on the power play. He also drew consecutive cross-checking penalties from defenseman Shane O'Brien.

Patrick Sharp scored a power-play goal in the second period, and Thomas Kopecky and Dave Bolland added goals in the third.

Antti Niemi made 26 saves, while Luongo stopped 27.

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2010 Hawks Rewind: 3 things we noticed in Blackhawks' Game 4 win over Canucks

By Charlie Roumeliotis March 29, 2020 7:00 PM

In honor of the 10-year anniversary of the 2010 Stanley Cup team, NBC Sports Chicago is re-airing each of the Blackhawks' 16 postseason wins from the run that ended a 49-year championship drought. You can join the conversation using #HawksRewind on social media.

After regaining home-ice advantage with a 5-2 win in Game 3, the Blackhawks rolled past the Canucks 7-4 in Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Here are three things we noticed in the win:

1. A power play explosion

The Blackhawks' job going into Vancouver was to win at least one of the two games to take back home-ice advantage. They did that in Game 3. But Game 4 was the icing on the cake.

The final score was 7-4, but the reality is, the Blackhawks were outplayed in this game at even strength, where they generated only 27 shot attempts and 13 scoring chances while the Canucks had 55 shot attempts and 27 scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

It was special teams that made the difference. In their first nine postseason games, the Blackhawks went 7-for-37 on the power play for a success rate of 18.9. In Game 4 against Vancouver, they exploded for four goals on eight opportunities.

2. A career night for Jonathan Toews

Fresh off a three-point effort in Game 3, Toews followed that up by recording a career-high five points, highlighted by his first career postseason hat trick. All three goals were scored on the power play, the third of which turned out to be the game winner. It was his fifth multi-point outing of the playoffs in his ninth game.

The Blackhawks' stars willed their team to a victory in Game 4, and they followed the lead of their captain.

3. Don't forget about Patrick Sharp

While Toews dominated the scoresheet, there's another Blackhawk who also had a big night: No. 10 in white. Sharp scored a power-play goal, had three assists and won five of six faceoffs in the win that helped him secure the No. 2 star of the game.

Here's a fun fact to wrap up: Sharp recorded at least one point in seven of his first 10 games of this postseason, and 15 of 22 total. He had 13 points (five goals, eight assists) through his first 10 games following a four-point effort in Game 4.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181894 Chicago Blackhawks Foster lived a dream, too, but embraced who he really was and the life he really had. He still appreciates a close association with the Hawks, honoring more obligations with them and remaining an EBUG with the team. How Scott Foster and David Ayres handled the spotlight differently Ayres, several years older than Foster, soaked it all in and Stretch- Armstronged his 15 minutes of fame to span several days. During that time, he also advocated for kidney transplants, being a kidney transplant By Scott King March 29, 2020 9:44 AM survivor himself.

Two different games. Two different goalies. Two different ways to handle Two years ago today, the unthinkable happened. Scott Foster, a 36-year- the most unique situation in . And one correct outlook old accountant who played in a beer league and tended goal at Western on how their stories unfolded before our eyes: Awesome. Michigan University over ten years ago, was called upon by the Chicago Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.30.2020 Blackhawks.

Foster was the emergency backup goalie on March 29, 2018 when the Hawks were facing the at the United Center. Anton Forsberg was slated to start in net for Chicago but suffered a pregame injury.

Collin Delia made his NHL debut ahead of schedule and was having a solid outing until he was injured with 14:01 left in the third period with the Hawks up 6-2. Foster was forced to suit up and head out onto the ice past a laughing Joel Quenneville and a delightfully stunned Blackhawks bench.

To put the finishing touches on his Cinderella story, Foster stopped all seven shots he faced, including a Dustin Byfuglien slap shot.

The emergency backup goalie drew chants from a sold-out United Center (who, somehow, collectively already knew his name), seemingly with every save.

“That’s something you’ll never forget. You understand what’s happening, and they’re going to have a lot of fun with it, so you might as well too," Foster told Blackhawks media in the dressing room after the game.

In addition to Delia's debut that night, Brent Seabrook played his 1,000th NHL game, and Dylan Sikura picked up two assists in his NHL debut.

After his night, Foster declined further interviews, wanting to go back to his normal life. Later that summer, he presented the Vezina trophy at the NHL Awards and made his first appearance at the Blackhawks Convention. Since then, he flies under the radar for the most part.

RELATED: "Blackhawks Talk" podcast: 1-on-1 with Scott Foster on 1- year anniversary

Then, there's David Ayres, who was called upon as an EBUG a little over a month ago by the Carolina Hurricanes on the road against the .

Ayres, a 42-year-old Zamboni driver for the 's Toronto Marlies, came into the game midway through the second period with Canes goalies Petr Mrazek and James Reimer being injured beforehand.

The start of the game wasn't so magical for Ayres. He allowed two goals on the first two shots he faced. But he stuck with it and ended up saving eight of 10 shots over a 29-minute span across two periods, and put a shot on net in the Hurricanes' 6-3 win over the Maple Leafs, who Ayres had occasionally filled in for at practices.

He became the oldest goalie in NHL history to win a regular season debut and the first EBUG to be credited with a win in an NHL game (Foster didn't play long enough). His stick was sent to the .

Ayres' wife, Sarah, live-tweeted his debut and, like Foster, his story was a media sensation. Unlike Foster, Ayres kept it going.

His whirlwind media tour over the next few days included a stop in New York and a plethora of interviews, including NBC's “Today” show and a monologue bit on CBS’ "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

He signed autographs for fans at a Canes game, and Carolina sold Ayres t-shirt jerseys with the EBUG receiving royalties and a portion of the proceeds going to a kidney foundation.

So which last line of defense handled their situation appropriately?

Why not both? 1181895 Colorado Avalanche

Chambers: Let’s play Stanley Cup hockey all summer

By MIKE CHAMBERS | March 29, 2020 at 6:00 a.m.

Let’s play summer hockey — the best time of year to walk into a refrigerated rink.

I miss covering hockey as well as playing it. The one thing my private drop-in skates have over the NHL is we do it year-round — we get to play the game through the summer when a beer in the parking lot completes what we think is an extraordinary event.

The cornonavirus pandemic has shut down the NHL and my local ice rink in Centennial. When the scare is over and life returns to normal, hockey at its highest level (and lowest) will probably return at the best time of year.

Remember those deep Avalanche playoff runs from 1996 to 2002, when Denver’s newest professional team played into late May or mid-June six times in seven years? Fans showed up at Pepsi Center in T-shirts, shorts and sneakers, and they only needed a hockey “sweater” to stay warm inside the electric arena.

Win or lose, gunning for the Stanley Cup in the Mile High City summertime was always a memorable experience. This year, that could unfold through July and August, and perhaps even September.

For the seemingly unified NHL and NHL Players Association, cancelling what was left of the 2020-21 season doesn’t seem like much of an option unless the government demands it. Both sides of the NHL would rather push back the season into the summer, and that began in earnest last week when three big offseason events in June were cancelled or postponed.

The player combine in Buffalo, the NHL awards program in Las Vegas and the NHL draft in Montreal won’t happen in June, and only the NHL draft might happen at all this summer. Both sides of the league have no problem making the 2020 offseason a relatively quick break before starting 2020-21 in late October or November.

So for now, the NHL’s biggest question is how to end the regular season and seed the playoffs.

A group of elite players, including superstars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, have said they’d be fine returning to practice and then going straight into the playoffs, with seeding based on winning percentage. Another big name, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, wants the league to complete each team’s final 11-14 games of the regular season before beginning the playoffs by using the traditional seeding based on points/tiebreakers.

“A full season’s a fair season,” McDavid said, according to the Global News.

McDavid’s Oilers have 11 remaining regular-season games and sit comfortably in playoff position with 83 points, three behind the Pacific Division-leading . Edmonton also is second to the Knights in winning percentage, .606 to .585.

But the Oilers have just a five-point lead on the last playoff position, and they could fall out of the race playing those final 11 games.

In the Central Division, St. Louis leads the Avalanche in points (94 to 92) and winning percentage (.662 to .657), with Colorado having 12 remaining games and the Blues just 11. If the Avs were allowed to match the Blues in games-played and win that game, the Avs would tie the Blues in both categories — but Colorado would win the tiebreaker (regulation wins) 37-33.

So the Avs certainly don’t want to restart straight into the playoffs. They want to at least play Game 71.

My best guess: The Avs will play all 82 regular-season games and then have a chance to become the boys of summer.

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181896 Edmonton Oilers trade. He played 15 games in the SHL this season and performed well. Andersson is a two-way centre and might be a candidate to fill a need with the Oilers on the third line. Another Rangers forward worth checking into is Lauri Pajuniemi, who had a breakout season in the Sm- in Lowetide: Will the Oilers rocket to Russia during free agency this 2019-20. summer? AHL options

NHL teams rarely trade emerging talent. A player like Evan Bouchard, as By Allan Mitchell Mar 29, 2020 an example, would be an inexpensive plug and play who could help a team win games in short order. That said, there are teams that produce

so much talent that bargains can be found. The The Edmonton Oilers will be shopping the world this summer in search of acquired a fine young forward, Eetu Luostarinen, at the deadline from the forwards who can play in the NHL while being affordable enough to fit manic development team that runs the Hurricanes. under the (currently unknown) salary cap. General manager Ken Holland Daniel Sprong was dealt to the Washington Capitals at the trade signed two European forwards last summer in Joakim Nygard and deadline. He scored 12 goals in 44 AHL games this season and turned Gaetan Haas and we may see at least that number from across the 23 on March 17. He is a one-dimensional player and the Capitals are his Atlantic this summer. third NHL team, but scoring goals is a very valuable skill. Former Oilers winger Anton Slepyshev is a KHL free agent and, Morgan Geekie’s NHL debut with the Hurricanes was so impressive that beginning with a report by Postmedia’s Jim Matheson in December, has he may have made himself unavailable to be traded, but he has been linked to a return. Slepyshev’s skills were discussed as he left and progressed well and is worth acquiring. then again when word came he might return. He is an attractive option, a known option, and with 18 goals and 45 points in 54 games this season, The Ottawa Senators are exactly the kind of team I mentioned earlier. his KHL production was quality. The Belleville Senators have so many prospects pushing to be promoted that it’s possible one of them gets lost in the flood. A player like Logan Is Slepyshev all that? Are there any other options in Europe? Is there Brown, who has performed well, might be getting squeezed by a plethora anywhere else for Holland to shop on the cheap? Let’s have a look. of prospects bubbling up. Slepyshev My annual example of an organization that produces too much talent is In 2017-18, his last season with the Oilers, Slepyshev moved around a the Tampa Bay Lightning. Their AHL team, the , is the lot, and coach Todd McLellan had him on shuffle when it came to a closest we’ll see in this era to the Voyageurs of the 1970s designated centre at five-on-five (via Natural Stat Trick): (the ’ farm team). It was often joked at the time that the Voyageurs could play an NHL schedule and finish higher in the With Ryan Strome: 150 minutes, two goals and six allowed at five-on- standings than many established teams. five, 47.5 percent shot differential; Taylor Raddysh is a prospect who might shake free from the Lightning, With Connor McDavid: 92 minutes, 7-6 goals, 52.7 percent; and he could deliver enough offence to win a job in Edmonton.

With Mark Letestu: 82 minutes, 4-3 goals, 47.3 percent; What does it all mean?

With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: 80 minutes, 5-3 goals, 47 percent; The Oilers will need 14 forwards to break camp on opening night in 2020- 21 and most of their players are already under contract. McDavid, With Leon Draisaitl: 60 minutes, 1-5 goals, 48 percent. Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins and Kailer Yamamoto will form the heart of the In 2017-18, Slepyshev had 1.26 points per 60 minutes. That production is order. Support players under contract include Neal, Chiasson, Khaira, a doppelganger for Nygard’s work this past season with Edmonton. I Zack Kassian and Josh Archibald, and most of that group will return. imagine he would slide in as an option on McDavid’s line, but more than In addition to those nine, minor leaguers like Tyler Benson, Cooper likely will find a home on a third line with Nygard and a new centre. Marody and Joe Gambardella are also pushing for a full-time role. Using last year’s five-on-five-per-60 scoring numbers, Slepyshev is a Restricted free agent Andreas Athanasiou will likely get a contract, so better bet than James Neal, Alex Chiasson, Jujhar Khaira and Patrick we’re at a dozen or so players before trades and free agency. Russell among wingers. A contract for reasonable dollars, with the The Oilers need a centre and a scoring winger. Last year, Holland possibility of playing on a feature line, would seem to be a solid fit for bargain-shopped and found useful pieces in Nygard, Archibald, Russell, team and player. Haas and Riley Sheahan. Depending on where the cap lands, he might Elsewhere have to do the same thing this offseason, and it could start with a rocket to Russia. KHL players can sign NHL contracts beginning May 1. There are several KHL players who are reportedly available, including winger Alexander Barabanov, who has been connected to the Toronto We wait. Maple Leafs, Arizona Coyotes and other teams recently. Mikhail The Athletic LOADED: 03.30.2020 Grigorenko is 25, still plays centre at times and had a good KHL season. He had 19 goals and 160 shots in 47 games. That’s excellent production. Dmitrij Jaskin, the former NHL player who is 27, scored 31 goals on 209 shots. Andrei Kuzmenko is rumored to be a free agent although the KHL website lists him as being signed through 2022.

Trades

Slepyshev (and Jesse Puljujarvi) are on Edmonton’s reserve list. Though they have no contract with the Oilers, their rights belong to the team until they turn 27. Rumors ran wild a year ago about Julien Gauthier from the Carolina Hurricanes being shopped in a deal for Puljujarvi but nothing ever came of it. Are there European players whose rights belong to NHL teams who could be a trade match for Edmonton?

Dominik Bokk was drafted No. 25 by the St. Louis Blues in 2018 before being dealt to the Hurricanes in the deal in September. Bokk has had two similar seasons in the SHL and has the skill to play in the NHL.

Lias Andersson went No. 7 to the New York Rangers in 2017, the year after Puljujarvi was chosen by Edmonton. Andersson, like Puljujarvi, has played in the NHL but found it difficult to make the leap and requested a 1181897 Los Angeles Kings Other hockey teams are putting their own spin on the “NHL 20” simulations. The Ducks stage similar online games in place of their actual schedule. The Washington Capitals’ cable affiliate, NBC Sports Washington, shows streams on its television airwaves. And the New Kings turn to video game simulations to keep fans engaged amid Jersey Devils have published game stories around each virtual result on coronavirus shutdown their team website.

“It’s great to see that the product we poured our heart and soul into be leveraged by the teams and promoted by the NHL,” said Sean By JACK HARRIS Ramjagsingh, EA Sports’ executive producer of the game. “A ton of MARCH 29, 20204:24 PM people are for the most part home right now. So it’s really cool to see the way different teams are actually leveraging the game, creating content.”

The “NHL 20” video game already had a lot of cachet within the hockey The latest Kings broadcast began with familiar voices. community, a game praised for its realistic Images and user-friendly gameplay. Ramjagsingh has been working on the title since the 2009 Play-by-play announcer Alex Faust set the table at the top of Sunday edition, involved in each annual improvement – touches such as adding afternoon’s show, dropping nuggets of research into his opening lines. the threading on jerseys and light reflection in the glass are some of his Analyst Jim Fox took over from there, serving up a scouting report for a proudest – that has elevated the visual experience. game that wasn’t supposed to be. “Those kinds of nuanced things that make the experience look so The two men weren’t previewing a real contest, the NHL season still realistic are just the [game production] team members taking ownership suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak. Instead, talking into of those things,” Ramjagsingh said. “Pushing the product to make it cameras from the safety of their homes, they were trying their best to better on its own. I think that’s the real driving force behind the NHL make a virtual substitute feel like the real thing. team, just the passion that we have to replicate the world of hockey.” In this absence of live action, the Kings have turned to video game And as long as actual games are kept on hiatus, the video game streams simulations to keep some semblance of routine. Every time a real Kings will remain one of the few suitable substitutes that the sports world can game is scheduled to take place, such as Sunday’s delayed meeting with share as one. the Chicago Blackhawks, the team instead stages a virtual rendition viewed by thousands on an online stream. “We all wanted to pitch in and bring a little bit of fun,” Faust said. “It showed that, ‘Hey, we’re still here. We’re all still family. This Kings family Laugh if you want. Three weeks ago, the idea of livestreaming video will get through this period together.’ However much levity we can bring games to a sports-deprived fan base would have sounded comical. But to the situation is what we’re trying to do.” with almost all real sports postponed for the foreseeable future, the industry has turned to virtual simulations to help fill the void. LA Times: LOADED: 03.30.2020 Girl Gamer Madrid Festival - Day 2

“It doesn’t replace hockey in full,” Faust said. “But it’s a fun way to get together and talk shop for a little while.”

On March 11, Faust signed off on Fox Sports West Kings’ broadcast knowing it might be the last one for a while. Earlier that night, Rudy Gobert’s positive test for COVID-19 brought the NBA season to a halt. The next morning, the NHL followed suit. Since then, the entire sports world has stood still, turning sports-centric video games into a rare instrument of relief.

Most teams in the NHL and NBA have staged something similar to the Kings’ simulations, creating content from video games such as EA Sports’ “NHL 20” or 2K Sports’ “NBA 2k20.” NASCAR and have turned iRacing’s virtual program into expertly produced television events, including a nationally televised race Sunday on Fox. Athletes themselves have connected with fans through online platforms such as Twitch, de facto video game social media channels.

At a time when arenas sit empty and fans are stuck sitting at home, the virtual world is offering one of the best escapes from the real one.

“I love watching our virtual [Kings] play,” one Kings fan recently commented on Twitter. “I’m going through a rough patch at the moment and need these games.”

Kings vs. St. Louis Blues match.

These aren’t the same as legitimate eSports endeavors, with professional gamers and organized competitions. Streams such as the Kings’ are far more informal, yet ingenious in their own way too. For the Kings, “Bailey” the team mascot (the real-life creation of senior manager of game presentation and events Tim Smith) began working on the idea, controlling the Kings’ team against computer-simulated opponents.

After the first stream received rave reviews, the Kings’ broadcast crew was invited to get involved. Now, the streams open with an original pre- recorded package, include intermission reports, postgame shows and in- game video interviews with actual Kings players themselves, and are finding a steady audience online. Sunday’s game, a 5-3 Kings win, drew more than 4,000 views on Twitter. Some highlight packages posted by the team have exceeded 10,000.

“Initially, I thought this was going to be impactful for a small subset of fans who interacted with Bailey’s Twitter account,” Faust said. “But it really caught on.” 1181898 Montreal Canadiens Many of you had cited the Canucks' Canary Yellow uniform, the one with the big V-neck, as the ugliest in sport history. Combine that with a legendary mustache, an unusual face and the play style of a guy who wanted to know nothing, and you have one of the most spectacular PUB CHALLENGE: A game for our subscribers. A game for our characters of the 80s. subscribers (5/30) 1 point - Dennis P. (Erik Karlsson)

One can not deny it. By Marc Antoine Godin Mar 29, 2020 via GIPHY

Honorable mentions Yesterday's question was: Who claims the best mustache in hockey history? Guillaume P. (Harold Snepsts)

To plunge into the world of hockey whiskers is to wander through He was not the first to name the Canucks defenseman, but I loved his fascinating Images of lost fashion. I did not retain any Movember among comment: For me, Harold Snepsts is an incomparable mustache. the selections (although Cal Clutterbuck made a pretty good one and that Everything is in the restraint and control of its hairy appendage. Lanny the bicycle handles of Nate Thompson last fall deserved respect) McDonald's mustache is more like the cowhide brush than the stylish and because I preferred those who wear it to the year and who have decided sought after mustache of Mr. Snepsts. Besides, I don't think I saw such a to assume it as an integral part of their personality. montage with Flames players disguised as Lanny.

5 points - Nicola T. ( Dennis Maruk ) Casey B. ( Bill McCreary )

Of course Lanny McDonald is the mustache of the whiskers. Maybe I Marc D. ( George Parros ) should have suggested "except Lanny" in my wording? I was hoping that Marilene C. ( Dave Babych ) someone could find me a down that, if only for the time of a photo, could compete with the defending champion. And I think Nicola T. did it by Jean S. ( Dave Schultz ) reminding us of the memory of Dennis Maruk, the king of Fu Manchu. I had his duplicate hockey card. Maruk explains herethat he let his Jean-François P. ( Pat Burns ) mustache grow from the age of 14 to look older, and that he almost never It is almost a crime not to have these legendary mustaches in our got his ass drunk while buying alcohol. On the ice, it made him look more ballot… intimidating despite his 5'8. Maruk was not an ugly hockey player. To keep in your sleeve if one day you concoct a sports quiz: he is the best And now the question for today: pointer in the history of the Barons of Cleveland. (5/30) 3 points - Claude C. ( Lanny McDonald ) We just mentioned Harold Snepsts, who was "a character". Who do you We come to the master. I appreciate the speed with which Claude think is the most special "character" in the history of the league? Perhaps answered the question; that's what assured him of having points because because of his legend, or because of his style, of what he did or said. But many wanted to answer Lanny McDonald! Spectacular mustache than who is the strange bug , the man like no other, that the NHL has hers: half wild animal, half barbecue scouring brush, and 100% sheriff. experienced? The funny thing is that McDonald's went from the Maple Leafs to the Colorado Rockies in 1979 with Joel Quenneville, another of the great Leader ranking whiskers in hockey. McDonald (who according to my sources was born at Nicola T. the age of 47) is not only a mustache, he is also a striker who scored exactly 500 goals. Among other things, he had a 66-goal season in 1982- 8 83 in Calgary. He ended his career by beating the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup final in 1989, which gave rise to this superb photo.of a man Joshua H. who had waited too long for the moment. Although the mustache is lost 6 here in a of the series well supplied ... Jeffrey P. 3 points - Sam W. ( Mike Brown ) 5 The short-lived strong Canadian is one of the few contemporaries on our list. I give the floor to Sam: Ilan S.

“Hockey players have always worked with the illusion that a good 5 mustache is about quantity, not quality. If you want to show how much Frédéric D. hair you can grow, have a beard. Mike knows it's a question of style, of gravity, and he expresses a kind of manly sophistication, not with a look 5 that says 'I make films in motel rooms without my underwear', but that says rather 'in my spare time I like to wear top hats and tie damsels to Lucas M. the railroad tracks'. 4 "Nor can you tell me that Lanny McDonald's mustache is not in fact a Jeans. separate organism that goes out to feed on crumbs fallen from his jacket while he sleeps. " 3

1 point - Joshua H. ( Paul Maclean ) Claude C.

Maclean has had a mustache throughout his playing career - Jérome B. 3 provides a great example of what he looked like when he played in Winnipeg - but it was as a Senators head coach that Montreal fans know Sam W. him the most. Joshua aptly reminds us of the episode of "big walrus with 3 globular eyes" starring Brandon Prust. Dennis P. 1 point - Ilan S. ( Eddie Shack ) 1 Too many correct answers today, I have to distribute a lot of points this Sunday afternoon! The former Maple Leafs icon hasn't worn a mustache Robin G. throughout his career, but when he did, he didn't do it in half. 1 1 point - Lucas M. ( Harold Snepsts ) Maël L. Stanley Cup final to beat the Canadiens. That moment, of course, led to this beautiful photoof a player who had waited his entire life for that 1 moment. Although his mustache is a little hard to pick out from his bushy Luc S. playoff beard.

1 3 points - Sam W. ( Mike Brown )

The ugliest uniform in the history of the sport He was fleetingly the Canadiens' policeman, which makes Brown one of the only contemporary NHLers to wind up in the points. I'll turn it over to Which player of the Canadiens should have had a better career than the Sam: one he knew? “Hockey players have always labored under the delusion that a good Brendan Gallagher's best possible nickname mustache is about quantity not quality. If you want to show off how much hair you can grow, get a beard. Mike knows it's about style, gravitas, and Do you want to know the concept of the Pub Challenge? expressing a kind of manly sophistication, not with a look which says' I Every day - at noon - we submit a new question which you must answer make films in motel rooms without my underwear on 'but instead with' in in the comments section. There are neither right nor wrong answers; my spare time I enjoy wearing top hats and tying damsels to railway there are only better answers. And it is I, subjectively, arbitrarily and tracks'. totally assumed, who will decide in order to determine who has the best “Also you can't tell me Lanny McDonald's mustache isn't actually a self- answer. sustaining organism which goes out to feed on crumbs on his jacket The person with the best answer will get 5 points. The second best when he's asleep.” answer will be worth 3 points and the third, 1 point. I will occasionally 1 point - Joshua H. ( Paul Maclean ) publish a leaderboard. Maclean sported his whiskers throughout his playing career - Jérome B. Certain questions could generate similar answers. When this is the case, provides an excellent example of what it looked like when he played in depending on the answer that I consider the best, the point will be Winnipeg - but Montreal fans will have known it best from when he awarded to the first person who submitted it. coached the Ottawa Senators. Joshua quite rightly reminds us of the Some days, you will have to justify your answer. It is important to do it in “bug-eyed, fat walrus” episode, starring one Brandon Prust. order to stand out from the others, but also make sure to do it in a short 1 point - Ilan S. ( Eddie Shack ) and 'punchy' way. If your argument is too long and tedious, you won't get the point. We have too many strong answers again, I'll have to hand out even more points Sunday afternoon! The former Leafs icon didn't have the cookie- All Athletic subscribers , French and English speaking, can participate in duster his entire career, but when he did decide to grow one, there were the language of their choice. This game is bilingual. no half-measures! Have you noticed over time that your signature in the comments section 1 point - Lucas M. ( Harold Snepsts ) is identical to that of another subscriber? If so, be sure to add something that will set you apart from the others in your responses. Many of you also nominated the Canucks' canary yellow flying V jersey as the ugliest in the history of sports. Take that outfit, and combine it with There is no real prize for the winner. But when you are comfortable an epic mustache, a unique face, and the playing style of a guy who just walking the streets again (while practicing social distancing), people will had zero time for any guff, and you have one of the 1980s' most amazing look at you from afar with respect and say, "It's him" (or she). characters. Yesterday's question was: Who boasts the best mustache in hockey 1 point - Dennis P. (Erik Karlsson) history? Can't disagree. To dive into the world of hockey facial hair is to take a trip through some truly fascinating Images of a fashion that's almost completely via GIPHY disappeared. I've decided not to include any recent Movember entries in the points (although Cal Clutterbuck grows a strong 'stache and Nate Honorable mentions: Thompson's epic handlebars last fall were eminently worthy of respect); Guillaume P. (Harold Snepsts) I've opted to recognize those who wore it year round, and committed entirely to the mustachioed lifestyle, making it the foundation of their He wasn't the first to put the former Canuck defenceman forward, but I public persona. loved his comment: “To me, Harold Snepsts had an incomparable mustache. It's all about the self-restraint, the absolute mastery of the 5 points - Nicola T. ( Dennis Maruk ) fuzzy facial appendage. Lanny McDonald's mustache looks like Now, Lanny McDonald owns the mustache of all mustaches. In hindsight, something you'd use to brush your boots in the cow barn compared to Sir I probably should have included an “other than Lanny” disclaimer in the Harold's stylized and refined mustache. Anyway, I don't ever recall question. I hoped someone would come up with a lip rug that, if only in seeing a similar montage of former Flames players dressed up as Lanny. one picture, could rival the undisputed champ. And I think Nicola T. did ” just that by reminding us of Dennis Maruk, the king of the Fu Manchu. I Casey B. ( Bill McCreary ) had his hockey card - two of them in fact. Maruk explains herethat he started growing his mustache at age 14 to look older than he was, and Marc D. ( George Parros ) that he almost never got carded trying to buy booze. On the ice, it gave him a more menacing aspect than you might imagine from a player who Marilene C. ( Dave Babych ) stood five-foot-eight. And Maruk could play a little hockey, too. Here's a Jean S. ( Dave Schultz ) tidbit to lock away if you ever decide to set up a sports quiz of your own: he is the Cleveland Barons' all-time leading scorer. Jean-François P. ( Pat Burns )

3 points - Claude C. ( Lanny McDonald ) The fact all these legendary 'staches didn't finish in the money is almost a crime ... Next, we go straight to the master. I was impressed by the speed at which Claude answered this one; that's why he gets the points among And now, on to today's question: the great many among you who wanted to answer Lanny! We're talking (5/30) about spectacular shrubbery: half wild animal, half barbecue cleaning brush, 100 percent sheriff. Funnily enough, McDonald was traded from So we just referenced Harold Snepsts, who was officially A Character. the Maple Leafs to the Colorado Rockies in 1979 along with Joel Who do you think is the biggest / most unique character in NHL history? Quenneville, another elite hockey mustache. McDonald (who sources It can be because of the legend he created around himself, his personal say was already 47 years old when he was born) wasn't just a mass of style, something or multiple somethings he did or said. Who is the NHL's pretty whiskers, he's also a forward who scored precisely 500 goals. He rare, strange bird, the guy who was truly unlike any other? ended his career with a flourish, scoring the winning goal in the 1989 Pub Challenge Leaderboard The winner's prize is: actually, there is no prize. Well, other than the fact that you'll be able to walk the streets (while social distancing) with a little Nicola T. extra swagger, safe in the knowledge that when people see you walk by 8 from afar, they'll look with respect and say to themselves, "yeah, that's him / her." Joshua H. The Athletic LOADED: 03.30.2020 6

Jeffrey P.

5

Ilan S.

5

Frédéric D.

5

Lucas M.

4

Jeans.

3

Claude C.

3

Sam W.

3

Dennis P.

1

Robin G.

1

Maël L.

1

Luc S.

1

You can find the complete quiz results here:

What is the ugliest uniform in the history of sports?

Which Canadiens player should have had a better career than the one he ended up having?

What would be the most suitable nickname for Brendan Gallagher?

How does the Pub Challenge work exactly?

Every day in this space, at noon ET, we will post a question. You'll provide your best answer in the comments below. There are no good or bad answers, only some are better than others. And the judge of that will be, well, me. I promise to apply criteria that will be subjective, mostly arbitrary and perhaps even whimsical. Please, no whining if I didn't like your response as much as you did.

The best answer will score five points. The second-place finisher will earn three, and third-place will get one. We will publish standings every once in a while over the course of the 30 days.

Some questions will surely inspire similar answers. When that happens, and the comment is deemed worthy of finishing in the points, those points will be attributed to the first person to have submitted it.

On some days you'll need to sell us on why your answer is the best. The idea is to set yourself apart, but the pitch has to be brief and punchy. If your argument is long-winded, well, no points for you.

This is open to all subscribers to The Athletic. Feel free to participate in the language of your choice, it's a bilingual game.

Ever notice that your comment section handle is identical to another subscriber's? If that's the case, you'll want to make sure we can tell the difference. How you do that is up to you. 1181899 New Jersey Devils Part 4: Graeme Clarke, ‘pure and simple, is a shooter with a great release’

Part 5: Michael Vukojevic has ‘to find that defensive aspect to his game’ Scouting Devils’ 2019 draft class: Case McCarthy is ‘good with puck, but Get Devils Insider text messages from reporters: Cut through the clutter skating has to improve significantly’ of social media and communicate directly with Devils beat writer Chris Ryan. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Updated Mar 29, 2020; Posted Mar 29, 2020 Randy Miller

By Randy Miller Star Ledger LOADED: 03.30.2020

When it comes to evaluating NHL prospects, nobody does it better than Craig Button, who doubles as director of scouting and television analyst for TSN, Canada’s version of ESPN.

The Calgary Flames general manager from 2000-03, Button knows the strengths and weaknesses of every NHL player and just about all of the drafted and undrafted prospects from all over the world.

Introducing Devils Insider: Sign up for exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

NJ Advance Media recently phoned Button to provide fresh scouting reports on the Devils’ 2019 draft class, and he didn’t disappoint sharing his insight for 25 minutes from his home in Calgary.

We’re sharing Button’s take in a series.

Here’s Part 6:

CASE MCCARTHY, D

Drafted: 4th round, 118th overall.

Hometown: Clarence Center, N.Y.

Age: 19 (20 on Jan. 9, 2020)

Size: 6-1, 198.

Shoots: Right.

Contract status: Unsigned.

Twitter: @Casemccarthy77

Instagram: casemccarthy_

Fast fact: McCarthy played close to home for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres during his age 15-16 season, then spent two seasons with the United States Nationals Development Program before opting to play college hockey at BU instead of juniors for the OHL’s Sarnia Sting (2017, 9th round draft pick).

Buy P.K. Subban Devils gear: Fanatics.com, Dick's Sporting Goods, MLBShop.com, Lids

2019-20 club: Freshman at Boston University (NCAA).

2019-20 stats: 32 games, 2 goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 10 PIM, Even plus-minus.

Quoting McCarthy: “I’m a two-way defenseman who has the ability to create offensively with my passing coming out of the zone,” McCarthy told New York Hockey Journal. “I have that defensive aspect of my game where I can play physical in my own end. I want to make guys not want to play against me. I definitely take pride in my own end first.”

Craig Button scouting report: “Right-shot defenseman. Really competitive. He’s got to improve his skating. Case’s biggest challenge is his skating, quickness and footwork. That’s something that he’s going to have to work on and keep his focus on. As long as he continues to do that, you can see where he could go to. Case is a competitive player. He’s good with the puck. But the skating has to improve significantly.”

DEVILS 2019 DRAFT SERIES

Part 1: Jack Hughes ‘wasn’t ready for NHL, plain and simple’

Part 2: Nikita Okhotyuk is ‘excellent skater with really strong competitive edge’

Part 3: Daniil Misyul can become ‘good complement to somebody a little more offensive’ 1181900 New Jersey Devils I think that’s where Michael finds himself right now in terms of finding that balance in what he is and who he is.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 03.30.2020 Scouting Devils’ 2019 draft class: Michael Vukojevic has ‘to find that defensive aspect to his game’

Updated Mar 29, 2020; Posted Mar 29, 2020

By Randy Miller

When it comes to evaluating NHL prospects, nobody does it better than Craig Button, who doubles as director of scouting and television analyst for TSN, Canada’s version of ESPN.

The Calgary Flames general manager from 2000-03, Button knows the strengths and weaknesses of every NHL player and just about all of the drafted and undrafted prospects from all over the world.

NJ Advance Media recently phoned Button to provide fresh scouting reports on the Devils’ 2019 draft class, and he didn’t disappoint sharing his insight for 25 minutes from his home in Calgary.

We’re sharing Button’s take in a series.

Here’s Part 5:

MICHAEL VUKOJEVIC, D

Drafted: 2019, 3rd round, 82nd overall.

Hometown: Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

Age: 18 (19 on June 8, 2020)

Size: 6-3, 212.

Shoots: Left.

Contract status: Unsigned.

Instagram: michaelvukojevic

2019-20 club: Kitchener Rangers, Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

2019-20 stats: 63 games, 5 goals, 25 assists, 30 points, 63 PIM, plus-15.

Fast fact: Vukojevic believes all aspects to his defensive game – specifically his shutdown skills and decision making – have improved this season, and he credits the development to working daily with Kitchener assistant coach Dennis Wideman, who logged 815 games as an MHL defenseman from 2005-17.

Quoting Vukojevic: “I think I’m a guy that helps others forget that they might be going through a tough stretch by trying to be funny and put a smile on their face. It’s a tough and long season. There are ups and downs with winning and losing. Sometimes it can be hard on you or your teammates. (I’m the one) keeping things light and cracking jokes from time to time. I think I’ve always been this way since day one.”

Craig Button scouting report: “Michael is an excellent skater and a really good competitor. I think that he’s in that adjustment phase of a player trying to learn who he is and what he is. When you’re younger and you’re able to skate by everybody and you have the puck all the time, you shine in that part of the game. But as move along and you start to see that maybe you just can’t skate by people and you’re not going to have the same ability offensively, you’ve got to adjust your game.

“He’s always been a big, competitive player, but he’s going to have to find that defensive aspect to his game. That doesn’t mean you don’t join the attack and you don’t have to pass the puck. You have to do all of those things also. But he’s not going to be an offensive player. He’s going to be a player that is going to have rely on his skating and get to the puck in the defensive zone and get it out carrying it, because he’s got that ability. He’s got to be able to close in the neutral zone so opponents don’t get into your zone. And then he has to make sure he understands what his game is.

“I always say this about any NHL defensemen: Players moving the NHL have to learn what not to do as much as they have to learn how to do. Listen, you have to understand that your mistake could be the next line of defense to the . So you have to very aware of being exploited. 1181901 New York Rangers Howden opened the season in the middle, generally playing with Kakko on one side and/or Brendan Lemieux on the other. He bounced to the fourth line before Quinn moved him to the wing pretty much for good just before Christmas. A couple of games later, the coach created the Rangers still don’t know if there’s more to confounding Brett Howden Howden-Chytil-Kakko third unit that kind of made sense given the locked- in nature of the top six and the bargain-bin feel of the fourth line.

Except the trio graded as one of the worst in the NHL, if not the worst, By Larry BrooksMarch 29, 2020 | 4:04PM combining for a 41.10 shot share and an xGF of 39.01 percent while on the ice for two goals for and 10 against in 133:31. The probability is we won’t see very much of that combination again. Part 8 in a series analyzing the New York Rangers. The question is, where will we see Howden? So after two years, how much do we really know about what to expect from Brett Howden, other than the fact that the 22-year-old is always On the wing? going to put in the work to improve and is always going to work on In the middle? whatever assignment he’s given by the coaching staff? In New York? Beyond that, though: Is Howden a center, where he had played throughout his entire career until David Quinn moved him to the wing last Or Hartford? December? Brett Howden Critically, does Howden have it in him to be productive enough to merit top-nine minutes, or is he going to settle into a fourth-line role that hardly Age: 22 seems befitting of the young, developing first-rounder, especially playing Position: Forward for a coach who has generally viewed the fourth line as a repository for mismatched players? Contract: One year remaining on entry level contract with cap hit of $863,333 It’s interesting. Had the Rangers been either a little bit better or a little bit worse last season, and this applies pretty much from the get-go, then Stats: 9 goals, 10 assists (19 points) in 70 games Howden probably would have been in the AHL because that’s where he would have had the opportunity to sprout his wings in a top-six role. New York Post LOADED: 03.30.2020

The last two years, the attention has been focused on Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil, the centers selected by the Blueshirts in the first round of the 2017 draft. What’s best for their development, New York or Hartford? Should they play in the middle or the wing? What about their linemates, what about their minutes? At times, and certainly as applies to Andersson, it has had the hallmarks of a soap opera.

But that kind of discussion about Howden, selected 27th overall by Tampa Bay in 2016, has largely been hidden from the public arena, though we assume it has been a topic of conversation behind the closed doors of the executive suite.

The Blueshirts acquired No. 21 as part of the 2018 deadline package in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller. When he arrived, he surpassed his notices. He was a man among adolescents throughout both prospect camp and the prospect tournament in Traverse City. He made the Rangers at age 20. He earned his spot. And he has kept it, maybe to his own — and ultimately, the organization’s — detriment.

I’m kind of baffled by Howden’s lack of productivity, only 15 goals and 27 assists in 136 NHL career games. He has good enough size and strength, it appears as if he knows where he wants to go, and, actually, he’s pretty decent going to net and scooping up loose change. But he probably doesn’t play fast enough and he may not think the game quickly enough to be on time, though he has been an adequate penalty-killer, albeit on a unit that is well below average. There is some sort of a disconnect in Howden’s game. Perhaps some of it is confidence.

Because here is the thing: Advanced stats, at least the ones that are publicly available, paint Howden as one of the very worst players in the NHL. This season’s 40.4 Corsi ranked dead last among the 230 forwards with at least 725 minutes at five-on-five, and his two-year Corsi of 41.36 also ranked last among the 235 forwards with at least 1,500 minutes of full-strength hockey. The stat may not be dispositive, but being last among 230 or 235 can’t be good. There is xGF and GAR, and Howden does not grade well in the more esoteric numbers, either.

Here’s one for you: The Rangers became the second team in NHL history to go at least four straight years without a first-round pick, having traded theirs away from 2013 through 2016. The Blues once went six straight years without a first-rounder from 1990 through 1995, the last five shipped to Washington as compensation for the free agent signing of Scott Stevens.

The point here is that though the Blueshirts were light on first-round picks, they have 11 first-rounders on the roster, four of their own (Marc Staal, Chris Kreider, Chytil and Kaapo Kakko) and seven acquired from other organizations: Howden and Tony DeAngelo (selected by Tampa Bay), Mika Zibanejad (Ottawa), Ryan Strome (Islanders), Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg), Brendan Smith (Detroit) and Julien Gauthier (Carolina). 1181902 Philadelphia Flyers draft — I’m not so sure it’s as deep as it was a year ago — but we’re confident we’re going to get a good player.”

If the regular season and playoffs were canceled, the Flyers (.645 points Flyers, Brent Flahr preparing for NHL draft, which will be a bigger percentage, sixth in the NHL) would have the 26th overall pick in the first crapshoot than usual round, based on points percentage.

The Flyers took defenseman Cam York as their top pick in last year's NHL draft. He is shown at the Flyers' development camp in Voorhees last by Sam Carchidi, June.

The Flyers took defenseman Cam York as their top pick in last year's NHL draft. He is shown at the Flyers' development camp in Voorhees last Flyers, Brent Flahr preparing for NHL draft, which will be a bigger June. crapshoot than usual Highly regarded players who might be available in the 18-to-31 range: At this time of the season, Brent Flahr, the Flyers vice president/assistant wingers Jack Quinn (OHL), Antonio Stranges (OHL), and Connor Zary general manager who heads the scouting department, and his staff are (WHL); centers Hendrix Lapierre (QMJHL), Jacob Perreault (OHL), Dylan usually attending prospects’ games and tournaments all over North Holloway (NCAA), Jean-Luc Foudy (OHL), Jan Mysak (OHL), Mavrik America and Europe to help them make informed draft decisions. Bourque (QMJHL), and Seth Jarvis (WHL); and defensemen Jake But hockey, and most of the world, has been shut down by the Sanderson (NTDP); Jeremie Poirier (QMJHL), William Wallinder coronavirus pandemic, so Flahr and his staff have to hope they have (Sweden), Justin Barron (QMJHL), and Braden Schneider (WHL). gathered enough information on the prospects before the draft rolls In the first round, where left winger Alexis Lafreniere (QMJHL) is around. expected to be taken No. 1 overall, the Flyers will draft the best player “The CHL playoffs would be starting and it would normally be one of the available, regardless of position. busiest times of the year for us,” Flahr said last week, referring to the “If you draft by position, that’s where you get into mistakes, especially Canadian Hockey League, which consists of the country’s three major where we’re [expected to be] picking,” Flahr said. junior hockey leagues. “You’re normally chasing games for the next month. Now, we’re pretty much watching a lot of video.” If the scouting combine is canceled, Flahr said, it wouldn’t be a significant blow. At the combine, players undergo several physical/athletic tests and The scouting combine — which gives scouts a look at the prospects in are interviewed by teams. several physical-testing categories — was supposed to be held in Buffalo from June 1-6 but was postponed. So was the draft, scheduled for June “We have a list of players that we probably wouldn’t even have to meet 26-27 in Montreal. there because we know them so well,” Flahr said, adding he doesn’t change his final rating of a player “because a kid had a good interview. There’s a good chance the combine will be scrapped this year and that The college kid is going to have a much better interview than a high the draft will be done on a conference call. The NHL still has to make a school kid. That’s just the way it works.” determination. Most players were already interviewed during their seasons and are still Typically, Flahr said, the Flyers would be scouting players who were in being interviewed by scouts via Skype, FaceTime, or another their expected draft range, which this year he estimated would be 18th to communication platform. 31st in the first round. They don’t have a third-rounder (dealt in the Justin Braun trade) or one of their two fourth-rounders, the one acquired from There is an advantage at the combine, Flahr said, because several Nashville in the Wayne Simmonds trade but sent to Anaheim in the scouts and club executives can ask questions in a group setting, “and Derek Grant deal. They do have their own fourth-round pick, and two you get a feel for these players and see their personalities. Some are on seventh-round selections, including Montreal’s. the edge of their seats and have a lot of juice to them, and some are laid- back and you can see their personalities. Sometimes that translates into “So we’re kind of preparing for guys in that area,” Flahr said. “You their play and sometimes it doesn’t.” obviously want to see playoff [junior] hockey. When everything’s on the line, you want to see who stands out and who performs. And a lot of it Added Flahr: “I don’t like to get too carried away with the interview, but culminates with the under-18 tournament [in mid-April], which has been you get a lot of valuable information, and a lot of times you get valuable canceled. Usually, you get to see the top kids in junior and the U.S. information on some of their teammates. There’s no one that knows program kids against the top players in Europe.” players better than their teammates.”

A bigger crapshoot Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.30.2020 Flahr and his scouts have “spent a lot of time in Europe this year, probably more than usual, so we have a pretty good feel for it,” he added. “But, again, you don’t get to see the top guys going head-to-head at the end of the season, and sometimes that clears things up.”

In other words, the draft, which is already an inexact science, will be an even bigger crapshoot than usual.

Scouts have to hope they’ve seen the players enough in the regular season and watch more video than usual to make their final evaluations.

“You want to make sure you have clarity,” Flahr said.

Each scout presents Flahr with his list of players, “and as I put them together, I’ll see if there are any outliers or differences of opinions on certain players," he said. "Unfortunately, I have nothing but time now to Watch video.”

With the NHL season suspended and in limbo, it is unknown whether the regular season and playoffs will be held. The teams’ finish in the standings and playoffs, along with the draft lottery for the nonplayoff qualifiers, determines the order of the draft selections.

‘Decent’ draft

Flahr characterizes this year’s draft as “decent” and said the top 10 players are strong before there’s a drop. “I don’t think it’s the deepest 1181903 Philadelphia Flyers respectful way following tough contests. He has experienced success and exudes the maturity that comes with that, without ever talking about it or being boastful about it.

Predictions for who wins Flyers' 2019-20 Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award He’s the “Steady Eddie” of the team, keeping things in balance on the ice and off it. Never complains, not even with 15 stitches in his nose. And beyond his character contributions, he’s been exactly what Fletcher hoped he’d be in terms of a player — a dependable defenseman that has By Brooke Destra, Katie Emmer, Taryn Hatcher, Jordan Hall March 29, perfectly complemented Ivan Provorov on the Flyers' top D pairing. 2020 2:20 PM Hall

During his first season in Philadelphia, Kevin Hayes has fully embraced What might the next decade hold for the Flyers? the community on top of augmenting the dynamic in the Flyers' dressing What if Flyers had won Game 6 of 2010 Stanley Cup Final? room.

Going End to End today are NBC Sports Philadelphia's Brooke Destra, Through a mixture of lightheartedness and leadership, Hayes has Katie Emmer, Taryn Hatcher and Jordan Hall. brought the Flyers closer together. The 27-year-old center has been a quality teammate and a go-to interview all season. The topic: Predicting who wins the Flyers' 2019-20 Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award, presented to the Flyer who best illustrates character, dignity He has shown nothing but respect and character in his dealings with and respect both on and off the ice. fans, media members and Flyers employees.

Destra There isn't a bad choice here, but Hayes' value has gone beyond the ice.

The best part about the Flyers and their organization is that they are filled Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.30.2020 with top-notch people. Just about every player on the team could win this award.

This year though, I’d have to go with Jakub Voracek. He is one of the most respected players on the ice but what stands out the most is the person he is off the ice. The person he is when the cameras aren’t on him. The person he is when it comes to being an ambassador for the phrase, "It’s more than just a game."

There are many examples from this season, but one of my favorites that simply showcases why Voracek should win the Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award dates back to Feb. 27-28, when the Flyers signed Blake Steigauf to a one-day contract.

All throughout this video, you catch glimpses of Voracek with Steigauf, but the one moment that stuck with me was the shot of him waiting for the 15-year-old to come off the ice and into the tunnel before heading back to the locker room.

All class.

Emmer

The Flyers' dressing room is full of players with good character and high respect for the game, so this one was hard for me.

This season, I’m picking Matt Niskanen.

Niskanen is a highly respected, veteran player in the league and general manager Chuck Fletcher knew that when he decided to bring him in during the offseason.

Coming into this year, the 33-year-old had 14 NHL seasons under his belt, 10 playoff runs and a Stanley Cup in 2018 — he had the experience the blue line needed.

Where I think Niskanen really exceeded expectations so far this season is the leadership he brings. He’s highly respected by his teammates and has some of the best well-rounded character you could ask for in your dressing room.

We’re all able to see the example he sets on the ice with the defensive group as well as the team as a whole. He has certainly helped with the Flyers’ success this season. On top of that, he sets an example off the ice by showing respect toward those around him, from the Flyers’ personnel to members of media.

He has been a great addition to the team and I believe he’s the most deserving of the Yanick Dupre Award.

Hatcher

I’m giving it to Niskanen. This was tough for all the right reasons though. I think you could make a case for quite a few players on the team to take this one home.

There are a lot of great guys in that dressing room that are both the type of player and the type of person you’d want on your hockey team. But when you say “character, dignity and respect,” my mind jumps right to Niskanen. He holds himself and his teammates accountable in the most 1181904 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Logan Couture hopes Joe Thornton returns after coronavirus break

By Alex Didion March 29, 2020 4:57 PM

The NHL’s indefinite suspension amid the coronavirus outbreak has impacted players, coaches, executives and fans in a major way.

Although the league has made no official announcements regarding the potential resumption of the 2019-20 season, every passing day makes just picking things back up and playing less and less likely.

For veteran players nearing the end of their careers, this could have been their final chance at a postseason run.

“It’s tough for Patty [Marleau] because he had a legit chance in Pittsburgh,” Sharks captain Logan Couture said in an interview with NBC Sports California’s Brodie Brazil. “I look at this selfishly for Jumbo, hoping that he does come back with us next year.

“You know it saves an extra 12 games on those legs and that body of wear and tear, I know he’s gonna get a little bit older, but I think saving some time on that body will help us if he does come back with the Sharks, which I know we’re all hoping that he does.”

Marleau was dealt from San Jose to the Penguins at the trade deadline of his 22nd NHL season, with Pittsburgh was right in the thick of the playoff chase. Marleau also was just eight games from moving into fourth all-time in career NHL games played, currently held by Ron Francis (1,731).

Thornton came back to the Sharks in September for his 22nd season, surpassing the 1,500 assist mark in his 1,619th NHL game.

If we don’t end up finishing the 2019-20 NHL season, hopefully Sharks fans and Couture get their wish and can have at least one more season of Jumbo skating out onto the ice at SAP Center.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181905 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Evander Kane recounts favorite memories of San Jose tenure

By Alex Didion March 29, 2020 11:29 AM

In his time with the Sharks, winger Evander Kane has been a part of some special moments.

Kane has 65 goals through 156 games in San Jose, providing playoff glory as well as spending quite a bit of time in the penalty box.

When asked what his favorite experience has been during his time in Northern California, Kane didn’t need much time to think about it.

“Team moment, definitely last year, Game 7 against Vegas,” Kane told NBC Sports California’s Brodie Brazil. “That Game 7 against Vegas last year was something that anyone who watched that game or played that game will never forget, so that was pretty special.

“I’d say as an individual, probably scoring my first hat-trick that ended up being a four-goal game two weeks after getting traded to San Jose, that was pretty awesome.”

Talk about great memories for Sharks fans.

NBC Sports California’s Marcus White was at SAP Center covering that epic playoff showdown between the Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights, and recently went into detail on some of the best easter eggs from the comeback.

Kane and the rest of his Sharks teammates now have quite a bit of time to reflect on positive memories, as the NHL season remains indefinitely suspended amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181906 St Louis Blues Her license plate reads ST-BLUES. Adding to the torture, she gets game- day phone notifications whenever the Blues are scheduled to play. She has gotten eight such notifications during the “pause,” but no live games.

Puck anxiety: Blues fans adjust to life without hockey “You have to understand, the first hockey game that I ever went to was a date with my (future) husband,” she said.

That was 1976, and she was still in high school. Their Arena seats were Jim Thomas 5 hrs ago folding chairs next to the press box.

“I had never been to a hockey game before,” Franklin said. “I didn’t know anything about hockey. And I thought to myself: ‘I gotta marry this guy Blues fans all knew what time of year it was, all knew what was at stake. because this is the coolest thing that I have ever seen in my life.’ “ The Colorado Avalanche were running neck-and-neck for the Central Division lead down the home stretch. Vladimir Tarasenko was about to John and Sandy tied the knot in 1980. They had season tickets at The return from shoulder surgery. And then, the defense of the Stanley Cup Arena, took a break (from season tickets, not from attending games) would begin in earnest. when son Tom was born, and have been season-ticket holders since 1996 at what now is Enterprise Center. But the plug was pulled March 12, when the NHL season was suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic. For many, the new Betty Covington of St. Charles County finds the Blues TV replays normal means social distancing, working at home, staying at home, and “depressing.” in some cases not working at all because of layoffs or furloughs. She started attending Blues games regularly when the team traded for And, of course, no Blues hockey. Here are how some fans are coping: Brett Hull and currently is on a six-game package in Section 121.

It’s “maddening” for Dan Cornwell. “Yeah, I am going crazy,” Covington said. “I’m a big Cardinals and Blues fan, like everybody. All us sports fans are going crazy. What are you “The thing that I think is maddening for hardcore Blues fans is the fact writing about?” that we know just how rare these windows are,” said Dan Cornwell, holder of a 12-pack ticket plan. “We’d never been a champion, so we’ve (Well, on this day, about you.) never had the opportunity to defend it. But this team is really good. She doesn’t think hockey will return this season “And to see that opportunity, to know it’s right there, and to know how infrequent that it’s occurred, it’s really maddening to think of what could “If they had (the virus) contained, at least somewhat, I would say maybe,” happen should they need to cancel the playoffs.” Covington said. “We’re still shutting down stuff. . . . The silver lining is, we (would) get to be champs for another year.” The hockey anxiety really got to Cornwell a week or so ago while working from his man cave in Kirkwood. More precisely, his Blues man cave. It When it was suggested that the Bruins might be crowned champs if the includes two seats and a brick from the old Arena . . . framed jerseys NHL doesn’t resume this season — they do have the most points in the from the 2017 Winter Classic and the inaugural 1967 Blues squad . . . a league — Covington responded with exasperation. signed Al MacInnis stick . . . a couple neon signs . . . a St. Louis Eagles “There’s no way,” she said. “How do you award it? There’s no playoffs. jersey from that 1934-35 NHL team. . . . How do you — no way! No way!” “There’s too much to list,” said Cornwell, 36, who works in e-commerce Covington did get a hockey fix on March 13, the day after the NHL for Famous Footwear. suspended play. That was the night of the Blues’ scheduled home game Out of his puck anxiety came the idea of a socially-distanced re-watch against San Jose. With no hockey, Covington and a girlfriend who was in party. On the agenda — what else? — Game 7 of last season’s Stanley town for the game ended up at a bar and grill in Creve Coeur. There, Cup Final, against Boston. He put out a notification on Twitter and more they ran into none other than coach Craig Berube. than 70 people responded. “Hey, Chief!” Covington’s girlfriend yelled. They posed for a picture with The plan was for fans to find a recording of the game on iTunes, etc., Berube, he talked with them for a bit. then at 8 p.m. Friday press “play,” and then interact via Twitter “He couldn’t have been nicer,” Covington said. (#bouwvid-19) about the contest. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.30.2020 Alas, all this was set up before NHL Network decided to run replays of all seven games from the Blues-Bruins series in a Friday marathon. That took some of the steam out of Cornwell’s event, as did the fact that NBCSN replayed Game 7 of the Blues’ second-round series with Dallas (featuring Pat Maroon’s double-overtime goal) that same night.

Even so, several dozen fans participated in #bouwvid-19.

“The most fun part about it was texting my father, brother and cousin from their respective couches during the action,” Cornwell said. “Which, with all our busy lives, is kind of how we watch games ‘together’ anyway.”

During the middle of the 4-1 Blues victory, Cornwell’s father texted: “I miss sports.”

Oakville’s Sandy Franklin really misses hockey. She was two weeks ahead of NHL Network when it came to binge-watching the Cup Final series. She had recorded all seven games and watched them all on March 14-15, the first weekend of the NHL shutdown.

She’s seen the Winter Classic between the Blues and Chicago Blackhawks twice since the NHL’s coronavirus “pause,” plus all the Fox Sports Midwest replays from this season, and a stray NHL game here and there such as NBCSN’s replay of the decisive Game 5 of the 2018 Cup Final between David Perron’s Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals.

“I hate it,” Franklin said of life without hockey. “I can work from home. I don’t care about baseball. Baseball is just something to do until hockey season starts.” 1181907 Toronto Maple Leafs George Pakos and Igor Vrablic scored in a 2-1 win. An off-key O Canada and flight reservations to Mexico City for the next summer followed. We later heard some Honduran fans who were supposed to be there had booked flights into Saint John, N.B., by mistake. Lance Hornby's Top 5 memorable off-ice sporting moments 3. 2010 Boston Marathon

While covering a Bruins-Sabres playoff series, I was intrigued by the Lance Hornby whole hoopla surrounding Patriot’s Day weekend. Watching crews set up the Marathon finish line and crowd barriers for the day before, I Published:March 29, 2020 calculated I could cover it in the morning and still get to TD Garden for Updated:March 29, 2020 5:53 PM EDT the night game.

Our editor said go for it and, much to my surprise, I phoned a general accreditation number and was fast-tracked a pass next day at the Though I’ve been writing here almost 40 years now (how Sun security headquarters’ hotel — with a generous swag bag including a souvenir first let in such a sketchy wild-haired student still mystifies my bosses), it windbreaker. hasn’t all been Leafs and NHL. You could follow the race leaders from the comfort of the hotel on a big And since I’ve no Toronto Stanley Cup yarns to regale you with, I’ll save screen, but I wanted to experience how 500,000 spectators celebrate a Leafs lore for another day and twist the Sun‘s Top 5 memories series day watching 26,000 runners. I got directions on the ‘T’ tram out to with my favourite events away from the ice — while I can still recall them: Heartbreak Hill at Mile 20, intending to camp at the base of the infamous incline. 1. Blue Jays clinch first division title Approaching the Hill from the opposite slope, I encountered Pat Ambrose I was very low in a top-heavy batting order of scribes in the autumn of from Kingston, Ont., wrapped in her big Canadian flag for warmth, 1985, with Ken Fidlin, Scott Morrison and John Robertson keeping a waiting for son Kevin, a 23-year-old personal trainer, to appear at the baseball-bonkers city abreast of the pennant race. crest. I asked why Pat and her sister Elizabeth chose this spot and not As the Sun didn’t publish Saturdays in those days, we all quietly cheered the other side where Kevin might need their vocal support before trying to when the Jays lost to the Yankees on the Friday night, setting up Oct. 5 ascend. So many fade at this stage of the race. as the clincher. Under a grey sky at Exhibition Stadium, where eight “Kevin was in a terrible bike riding accident as a 16-year-old,” Pat years earlier I’d attended the first Jays game, ex-Yankee Doyle explained, over the din of cowbells and rock music. “There were life- Alexander was on fire en route to his complete-game 5-1 win. threatening injuries. He played hockey and football and getting hurt cost I was stationed at the far end of the press box next to the Sun’s Jim Hunt him a dream of going to university. But this was his goal, to qualify for his and New York’s media relations man, Joe Safety, as the visitors got first Boston Marathon. I’m here because I have no doubt he’s going to down to their last batter and the loud crowd was on its feet. Hunt, make it over that hill.” nicknamed the arch enemy of silence, was bouncing around in his seat It was one of many inspirational tales I heard that day or gleaned from like a little kid. He slapped the dejected Safety hard on the back and supportive signs in the crowd or saw messaged in thick black ink on bare bellowed “the magic number’s down to one,” with his signature arms and legs of motivated runners so they’d be ID’ed by family and “whaaat?!?” friends amid the pack. Then George Bell dropped to his knees to catch Ron Hassey’s soft fly Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot of Kenya won the men’s division of the 114th ball, high-fiving Tony Fernandez as the Jays and their fans flooded the Marathon in 2:05:52. Back at the hotel, the humble hoofer said he’d use field. his prize money to buy his village a couple of cows. Three years later, the As sidebar guy I was assigned to the funereal Yankees room. Their bombings changed this carefree event forever. usually fired-up manager, Billy Martin, was magnanimous in defeat and in 4. New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys the middle of his comments Jays’ giant designated hitter Cliff Johnson pushed through the media scrum with a bottle of bubbly from the winners’ Full disclosure, I’m a Cowboys fan. clubhouse and plunked it on Billy’s desk. So noticing America’s Team played its traditional Thanksgiving home “You’re the big reason I’m still playing,” Heathcliff told his former skipper game in 2007 the day before Leafs at Stars, I slyly pointed out to the as they embraced. The horn honking began in the Exhibition parking lot boss how we’d maximize resources and give us a presence at both NFL and spread to the rest of the city. holiday games.

2. Canada qualifies for the I conned Tim Wharnsby of the Globe and Mail to coming out to Irving with me (and to split the pricey cab ride from the hotel to Texas Stadium). I greatly admire and respect two generations of soccer writers in this Expecting our last-minute arrival would mean press box seats as far from town who have much more feel for ‘the beautiful game’ than I’ll ever the field as Fort Worth, we were shocked to get prime 50-yard line — and muster. right next to media dining with a turkey the size of Jason Whitten. They razz me about the Leafs getting too much ink, but I still get envious I hid my glee as Dallas crushed the Jets 34-3, making Wade Phillips the looks from them when asking how many times they’ve covered a game first coach in team history to boast a record of 10-1 by Thanksgiving. Tim when Canada punched its World Cup ticket? That was Sept. 14, 1985, at and I discovered there was better post-game player access to the cozy King George V Stadium in St. John’s, Nfld. With the Jays, Leafs and famous Cowboys than the Leafs ever offered, despite twice the media. Argos in the news, I was shipped out to The Rock. Maybe just four We had lots of time to interview Terrell Owens, Tony Romo and even writers were on the trip, including good friend Mary Ormsby from the owner Jerry Jones. Toronto Star and the elegant James Lawton, who wrote for English and Canadian papers and called everyone “dear boy.” On the way out and back to the press box we cut across the end zone and pretended to throw TD passes to each other. Sadly, the 13-3 This was ideal scheduling symmetry for Canada after Honduras hosted Cowboys lasted one playoff game, losing at home to the Giants. its leg of the CONCACAF final. Before 37,000 spirited fans in the August heat, meant to intimidate and wear down the Canadians, the visitors 5. Team Canada vs. Team Canada emerged 1-0 victors. Can’t even remember the score of this 2008 game even though I scored Canada had its revenge three weeks later. With the Honduran players on a nice Bob Probert pass. shivering in the Atlantic Ocean chill, the game was as good as won during the national anthems. The quaint pitch, beneath a row a trees I had my notepad on the bench and between shifts, jotted down the near a neighbourhood cemetery with wooden crosses, only held about surreal details of ball hockey with NHL almuni in near 30 C heat of the 2,000, but the cheering islanders soaked up their rare day in the national Afghan desert sun, against homesick Canadian Forces members. spotlight, gripped by a sport few of them played. After landing on a Hercules transport at Kandahar, maneuvering sharply to avoid possible Taliban rockets, this game on a regulation rink was part of of the celebs’ morale-building mission to eat with, sleep with and entertain those stationed here and the more dangerous forward operating bases. I’ll never forget the sight of troops returning via helicopters from FOB patrols at 6 a.m. and changing into their Leafs, Habs or Flames sweaters to play NHL video or watch games live on big screens, rifles at the ready in case of trouble outside the wire.

More than 100 servicemen and women tried out for the 36 spots to play against the NHLers in two games. When one goalie on the Forces team couldn’t make the game, Cpl. Joanne Lyster from Edmonton volunteered and allowed just one goal against the likes of Mike Gartner and Mark Napier. She departed with a Blue Rodeo CD in her catcher’s mitt, a gift from Jim Cuddy whose band also came to perform.

In the other net, chain smoker Mark LaForest delighted the troops by refusing to butt out during games, even after a shot to the mask lodged his cigarette inside and caused smoke to emit from all the air holes.

Chris Nilan, Troy Crowder, Stu Grimson and the now-deceased Probert weren’t about to let their tough guy reputations slip in front of a large audience and the fit young soldiers on the court and gave no quarter either.

Trenton’s Don Doyle, a civilian contractor working with the army and going a bit stir crazy after five months, was elated afterwards.

“I took out Napier with a hit, I had an assist and TSN’s Jennifer Hedger (who hosted the games) called me ‘The Doyler”.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181908 Toronto Maple Leafs After being drafted by the Leafs, Jukurit coach Ilkka Vaarasuo said there were heightened expectations for the 5-foot-10, 190-pound defenceman. Those expectations weighed on Kokkonen early on, but he rebounded from a shaky start and ended up logging regular top-four minutes on the Maple Leafs Prospect Report: How Nick Robertson and others ended Jukurit blue line. their seasons Vaarasuo uses one word, repeatedly, to describe Kokkonen: Stable.

“As a guy and on the ice,” Vaarasuo said. By Joshua Kloke Mar 29, 2020 This season, Kokkonen’s ice time on special teams increased. He continued to show his ability to skate well, make a good first pass and carry the puck and had 10 points in 39 games. While the NHL holds out hope that they can salvage this season, the CHL, NCAA and European leagues have all cancelled their seasons. As As the season progressed, Kokkonen became more comfortable with a result, we can now assess the seasons of various Maple Leafs Jukurit’s style of play, which is fairly similar to the Leafs’ approach. prospects. Vaarasuo said it was necessary for defencemen to activate in the play and join forwards in the rush. The Athletic spoke to players, coaches and management and here’s what we learned: “It helped Mikko to take those steps and move forward,” Vaarasuo said.

Riley Stotts, centre, 20 Mikhail Abramov, centre, 19

Calgary Hitmen, drafted 83rd overall in 2018 Victoriaville Tigres, drafted 115th overall in 2019

In his fourth WHL season, the 6-foot, 185-pound Stotts was tied for first The Leafs signed Abramov to a three-year, entry-level contract on March in scoring with 68 points in 64 games for the Hitmen. 10 and for good reason — this season was an impressive step forward for the Russian native. He celebrated his 19th birthday on March 26 and Head coach Steve Hamilton said Stotts has always been a safe player was Victoriaville’s best player this season, posting 35 goals and 76 points who never wants to get caught out of position defensively. This season in 63 games. the coaching staff encouraged him to play “more freely, because he does have the ability to recover.” At 5-foot-11 and 162 pounds, there’s still some size that needs to be added for Abramov to play professional hockey. But this season, his Hamilton asked the pass-first playmaker to expand his game. And second in North America, Tigres head coach Louis Robitaille said throughout the season, Stotts did just that. He improved his release and Abramov learned how to be more elusive on the ice and rebound more his shot totals rose from 113 in 2018-19 to 187 shots this season. And quickly after taking hits. when Hamilton wanted to move him to the wing so he could be put on a line with Ottawa Senators draft pick Mark Kastelic, Stotts was game. “This year he was a lot more comfortable. He knows what to expect after going to the (Leafs) rookie camp and their main training camp,” he said. “He handled the transition seamlessly,” Hamilton said. “He saw some guys with smaller stature adapting to the North American Still, while he’s obviously skilled in a number of areas, Stotts might not game. That helped him.” offer enough high-end talents right now to make the jump to the pro Zachary Bouthillier, goalie, 20 game next season and could re-enter the draft this summer. Saint John Sea Dogs, drafted 209th overall in 2018 Eemeli Rasanen, defence, 20 While there was no real improvement in Bouthillier’s stats this season, an Jokerit, drafted 59th overall in 2017 .897 save percentage and a 19-25 record, he was voted team MVP by It wasn’t a great season for the 6-foot-7, 209-pound Rasanen with the his teammates. KHL’s Jokerit. Sea Dogs assistant coach Brian Fleming said Bouthillier’s reads have After leaving the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs to sign a two-year contract improved. Before, the 6-foot-2, 193-pound goalie would be aggressive in with the Finnish-based pro club, Rasanen struggled to solidify his place coming out of his net and shooters would wait him out before easily on the team in his first season. This season was no different. picking their spots. After watching more NHL video, Bouthillier learned to be patient in net. He was used as a bottom-pairing defenceman and only in 5-on-5 situations and his ice time was reduced when Jokerit started struggling. After captain Nicolas Guay was sent to Rimouski during the QMJHL He ended up not logging a single point in 17 games this season and trade window, Bouthillier stepped up and took more of a leadership role spent time on loan with the second-division Finnish side Kiekko-Vantaa which played a big part in earning him the MVP honour. and with the White Hawks in ’s Metal Ligaen. “He was really the backbone of the team,” Fleming said. Mika Saarinen, a former Jokerit assistant coach who left the club at the That meant leading team stretches and organizing team workouts. conclusion of this season, said Rasanen is still learning the basics of being a pro: how to train, eat and sleep right. He’s shown a strong The Sea Dogs had a young team this season. That inexperience led so hockey sense, and there is the hope he could develop into more than a some blowout losses, such as in the Sea Dogs’ last game, an 8-2 defeat defensive defenceman. He doesn’t shy away from contact or 1-on-1 to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Bouthillier was frustrated, especially battles, but Saarinen wanted to see him focus more on having a better since he was still without a pro contract. mindset every day. After the loss, coaching staff asked for an explanation and Bouthillier “He sometimes seems to not be fully aware when he goes on the ice,” spoke up. Fleming recalls Bouthillier lambasting the team for not taking Saarinen said. “The consistency is not there. But once he gets going, he the game seriously. always improves during the game.” “He said ‘I’m fighting for my life. I’m fighting for a contract,’” Fleming said. Rasanen has the raw abilities to be a high-end player, but his decision “I think that hit the guys really hard.” making at this point seems to have derailed his path. He was not ready to play consistent minutes in the KHL. That would be Bouthillier’s last game of the season. Fleming believes Bouthillier is ready to turn pro and compares him to Alex D’Orio, who was “He needs to go somewhere where he can get a lot of ice time and can the Sea Dogs starting goalie last season before starting for the ECHL’s have responsibility on the ice,” Saarinen said. Wheeling Nailers this season.

Mikko Kokkonen, defence, 19 “I think Zach is every bit as good, if not better, than D’Orio was,” Fleming said. Jukurit, drafted 84th overall in 2019 Kalle Loponen, defence, 19 Kokkonen’s stock has continued to rise in a short amount of time. Sudbury Wolves, drafted 204th overall in 2019 Loponen surprised many by committing to the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves Robertson’s season, complete with an OHL-leading 55 goals in 46 this season after coming up in Karpat’s system and signing a contract games, cemented his status as one of the most exciting junior prospect extension with the club last summer. Wolves GM Rob Papineau said it in the Leafs’ system. was the opportunity for more playing time compared to Karpat and the city’s deep-rooted Finnish community that convinced him to make the So much has already been written about Robertson’s heart and his jump to North America. determined style of play. That high-octane approach, combined with his smallish, 5-foot-9, 164-pound frame, has drawn comparisons to Mitch In Sudbury, the 5-foot-11, 187-pound Loponen showed his offensive flair. Marner and Zach Hyman. He utilized his deception to move the puck well on the smaller ice, showcasing a strong first pass. His heavy shot is one of his strengths and Robertson said this season was about establishing his own identity as a he didn’t hold back on his new team, finishing second among blueliners player. with 111 shots on goal. He also finished first in game-winning goals (3) “I wouldn’t say I play like (Auston) Matthews, Marner or Hyman,” and had 24 points in 56 games. Robertson said. “I’m a mix. You can see the grittier side of me when I “He doesn’t panic with the puck when in possession. He sees his options skate hard and forecheck. I think I have a goal-scoring touch. I know for and his opportunities. So with a little more time and space, he’s more sure that my style relates to the (Leafs) game, for sure.” effective,” Papineau said. It’s impossible to overlook the importance of playing alongside his friend Loponen’s strength with the puck has led him to being labelled as a and fellow Leafs draft pick, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev. Der-Arguchintsev power-play specialist. It was beneficial to see those power-play skills is a natural playmaker and their chemistry this season elevated both of translate on the smaller ice as Loponen led the Wolves with 17 power- their games. play points. On the other hand, it’s slightly concerning that 17 of his 24 They sit next to each other in the Petes dressing room and Petes GM points came with the man advantage. Michael Oke said Robertson and Der-Arguchintsev “pushed each other” Michael Koster, defence, 18 this season to improve.

Tri-City Storm, drafted 146th overall in 2019 Robertson’s play this season had him, and Leafs fans, thinking more and more about whether he could make his Leafs debut out of training camp While Koster scored 18 points in 37 games for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm next season. this season, the highlight of the defenceman’s season was his strong performance at the 2019 World Jr. A Challenge in December. There, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, centre, 19 Koster ran Team USA’s first power-play unit and finished tied for first in Peterborough Petes, drafted 76th overall in 2018 scoring among defencemen with six assists in six games. Talk about a bounce-back season for Der-Arguchintsev. And his performance helped his confidence as the 5-foot-9, 172-pound Koster prepares to head to the University of Minnesota next season. After being drafted in 2018, the 5-foot-10, 163-pound crafty winger impressed at his first training camp and was quickly signed to a three- “I’ve seen it before with guys, they go up there and they have a really year entry-level deal. But when he returned to the Peterborough Petes, good tournament and they’ve got a new level of confidence. I think that his offensive production dropped from the previous season. was without a doubt the case with Michael,” said Anthony Noreen who coached both the Storm and the U.S. side. Petes head coach Rob Wilson said he thought Der-Arguchintsev was overwhelmed. After that tournament, Noreen said Koster’s ability to join the rush and makes creative plays with the puck improved. “Within a couple of months, his whole life changed,” Wilson said. “And I just think it was a lot for him to ingest.” For Koster to succeed at the University of Minnesota, Noreen said he’s going to need to rely on his hockey sense, skill and creativity. It’s entirely Ahead of this season, Der-Arguchintsev met repeatedly with Wilson for possible that Koster develops into a power-play specialist. instruction on how to improve this season. His message was simple: work on becoming a better defensive player and the offence will naturally Ryan O’Connell, defence, 20 follow. And he did. Wilson said this season Der-Arguchintsev improved in Ohio State University, drafted 203rd overall in 2017 the following areas: his positional play for exits, his knowledge of where to be off the puck and how to anticipate plays developing and his As O’Connell’s sophomore season came to a close, Ohio State coach defensive back pressure has turned him into one of the team’s more Steve Rohlik realized the lanky defenceman needed to increase his reliable defensive forwards. strength. And the points came: Der-Arguchintsev continued his natural chemistry “There’s no question,” Rohlik said. “I think he understands it. I think with Robertson, logging 63 assists and 75 points in 55 games. He Toronto understands it. And that’s something he can control, which is showed an adaptability in his game as Wilson moved him to the wing in exciting. He’s just got to fill out his body.” the latter half of the season.

Rohlik believes that bulking up will allow the 6-foot-2, 170-pound “He thought that this would be something that would help him evolve as a defenceman to shoot the puck better. O’Connell has to become better at player,” Wilson said. “And he hasn’t really missed a beat, offensively or making plays from the blue line and playing with his head up. defensively.”

And getting stronger could help him defensively too. He has good use of Filip Kral, defence, 20 his angles in terms of trying to shut forwards down on the rush, but this season proved he lacked the strength to stop plays from developing. Spokane Chiefs, drafted 149th overall in 2018

So what kind of defenceman will O’Connell become? It might be too early The 6-foot-1, 175-pound left-shot defenceman doesn’t have a booming to tell. While he gets around the rink well and is not afraid to handle the presence on the ice, nor does he offer high-end offensive skills. His 49 puck, O’Connell is not overly physical and only put up seven points in 29 points in 53 games was 10th in the WHL among defencemen. Those games this season. totals are perhaps expected for a 20-year-old.

There aren’t many specific strengths that stand out, but Rohlik argues Yet Chiefs head coach Manny Viveiros contends that Kral had a he’ll eventually be able to be relied upon in all situations. “breakout season.”

“I think he’s a minutes guy,” Rohlik said. “I think he’s going to be able to “He’s been one of the best D-men in the league all year,” Viveiros said. play in all facets.” But in Scott Wheeler’s excellent Leafs prospect ranking from the Nick Robertson, left wing, 18 summer, he noted how Kral “gets caught watching a bit too much …”

Peterborough Petes, drafted 53rd overall in 2019 Viveiros doesn’t disagree with the assessment. “I think a lot of times when you have players that are smart, cerebral players, they see things differently,” Viveiros said. “So that could be misconstrued as not being as aggressive on the puck.” After returning from shoulder surgery last season, Viveiros said Kral now Vaxjo Lakers, drafted 156th overall in 2018 has “a little bit more of a bite to his game,” and that he has become far better at winning puck battles and jumping into the rush. There’s absolutely no rush with the 21-year-old Holmberg. The Leafs have the 5-foot-10, 179-pound forward’s NHL rights until 2022, so they “What’s impressed me more than anything is his ability to break out very have time to see how things play out in Sweden for the pass-first forward. easily. He makes an incredible first pass and he could also use his legs if he has to get out of the zone too,” said Viveiros, who is convinced that He had 17 points in 52 games in Sweden’s top-tier this season. His Kral’s game has evolved enough for the next level. possession skills were touted when he was drafted and thanks to the SHL maintaining possession stats on their website, we can learn a little “He certainly has the mobility, the hockey sense and the skill to play at about his recent season. Holmberg’s 49.51 percent CF% doesn’t make that next level,” Viveiros said. “But you have to defend at that level, and if him a particularly excellent possession driver, but also not a drag on play you can, fine tune that part of your game, which I think he can.” either. What’s concerning is the drop in possession numbers from the previous season, when Holmberg was first among regular Lakers players Nick Abruzzese, centre, 20 with an impressive 60.31 percent CF%.

Harvard University, drafted 124th overall in 2019 Obviously Corsi is not the most accurate of indicators of a player’s talent, Nick Abruzzese was a pleasant surprise this season in the NCAA. The 5- and regression is likely after those kinds of numbers, but that’s still a big foot-9, 160-pound freshman led all players in scoring in the ECAC with drop. 44 points in 31 games. This season Abruzzese transitioned to left wing Vladislav Kara, left wing, 21 after being a centre throughout his career. Kazan AK Bars, drafted 124th overall in 2017 “We have a lot of good centres,” Abruzzese said. “If (moving to the wing) meant I could get into the lineup and making sure I could play, it’s a Kara’s point totals increased from 16 in 25 games last season to 21 in 25 transition that had to be made.” this season. And that’s with him averaging more than a minute less of ice time per game than last season too. So what’s allowed him to be so productive this season? Still, in his 27-game stint with the KHL’s Ak Bars Kazan, the 6-foot-2, “Being trusted by the coaching staff to put be in important situations and 187-pound Kara had the lowest average ice time of any regular forward high-pressure situations definitely has helped,” Abruzzese said. (8:17). Not a good sign for a player trying to move to the NHL.

Abruzzese’s game has evolved as he is now recognizing how much less Semyon Kizimov, right wing, 20 time and space there is in the college game compared to the USHL. Faced with playing against more physically imposing competition, Lada Togliatti, drafted 211th overall in 2018 Abruzzese has focused on becoming more shifty and dynamic down low. He’s spent more time in drills that focus on puck protection and after For the second straight season, the 6-foot, 186-pound Kizimov played for practice will continually try to improve his cutbacks when trying to bring his hometown second-tier pro team, Lada Togliatti. At first glance, his five the puck below the goal line. goals and 13 points in 45 games don’t leap off the page. But he was able to put up those numbers while averaging just 11:57 of ice time per game. “All the details in the game matter,” Abruzzese said. What’s concerning is that he was essentially relegated to fourth-line minutes after averaging 14:23 per game over 48 games last season. Even with Abruzzese’s former Chicago Steel coach Greg Moore running the Marlies, it seems unlikely that he will make the jump to pro hockey Given that he played half of the season as a 19-year-old, it’s still far too next season. But there’s still a very good base to build on. early to determine what kind of player Kizimov will end up becoming.

JD Greenway, defence, 21 Vladimir Bobylyov, left wing, 22

University of Maine, drafted 72nd overall in 2016 Traktor Chelyabinsk, drafted 122nd overall in 2016

After a few years that left doubt over Greenway’s immediate future in Nikolai Chebykin, left wing, 22 hockey, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound defenceman has found some stability. Traktor Chelyabinsk, drafted 182nd overall in 2016 Greenway was drafted out of the U.S. under-18 team and then went the University of Wisconsin. He struggled to stay disciplined and took Both Bobylov and Chebykin spent the early part of the season with unnecessary penalties. In 2017-18, he played just 12 games and logged second-tier team Toros Neftekamsk before they were both traded from three points. He moved to the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2018- the KHL’s Salavet Yulayev Ufa to Traktor Chelyabinsk in December. 19, scoring 33 points in 58 games before transferring to the University of Traktor were in the bottom of the KHL’s East Division, so you would think Maine this season, where he recorded 10 points in 34 games. more opportunity would have come, but that wasn’t the case. The 6-foot- 2, 202-pound Bobylov played 10 KHL games for Traktor Chelyabinsk and In Maine, he enjoyed practice and the company of his teammates more Chebykin, (6-foot, 183-pounds) played two games. Neither recorded a than ever. single point.

“That’s the best part about hockey — having fun playing the game,” Both players would play games with second-tier side Chelmet Greenway said. Chelyabinsk as well. It’s probably likely the Leafs turn the page on these players, if they haven’t already. Greenway credits Black Bears head coach Red Gendron for helping him improve the defensive side of his game. The Athletic LOADED: 03.30.2020

“He’s helped me slow down the game,” Greenway said. “In the past, I’ve just focused on not getting scored on.”

This season, Gendron instructed Greenway on where to move away from the puck, how to properly box opposition skaters out and when shots should and shouldn’t be blocked. That extra instruction benefitted him. Gendron said he deployed Greenway for approximately 25 minutes a game and on both special teams. Greenway’s reach, strength and skating ability make him effective on the penalty kill.

“When he wants to go, he covers an awful lot of space,” Gendron said.

Next year will be Greenway’s final season of college hockey and Gendron predicts he will be used even more.

Right now, his lack of consistent progression means a future with the Leafs seems unlikely, but another consistent season could change that.

Pontus Holmberg, left wing, 21 1181909 Toronto Maple Leafs Anything that happens to pop into our fertile imaginations. I mean, a lot of it is the game. Maybe we become more critical: “How could he do that? Why can’t they get the puck out a couple of times?” Or, “What a great goal that was, he’s playing so well.” I think it’s just a lot of stuff that From Wendel Clark to Holy Mackinaw, Leafs voice Joe Bowen answers maybe wouldn’t make the air. your questions Can you listen to your own voice when it’s played back to you?

That’s a great question. And no, I can’t. When I first started, you would By Sean Fitz-Gerald Mar 28, 2020 get a copy of the game, and you would critique yourself. Or if you had someone who really knew what they were doing, they would critique it for

you. I critique as we go along: “Why’d you say that? You could have It was 20 minutes to a time normally set aside for the opening faceoff, but done this differently,” and that sort of thing. I don’t go back and listen to Joe Bowen had only just finished dinner. The long-time Maple Leafs play- the game from last night. I’m flattered the television people, oftentimes, by-play voice chuckled after he answered the phone, saying he had will use my call on their highlight packages the next day. And that’s plenty of time to chat: “As luck would have it, my social calendar is fairly probably where I would hear myself. slow.” Where is the most obscure place you’ve been recognized by a fan? The 68-year-old broadcast veteran has plenty of company in that regard, Easy. It was in the dressing room at Notre Dame Stadium, and the as COVID-19 shutters arenas — and everything else — across the world. hallway that leads down to the ‘Play Like a Champion’ sign. My friend Bowen took time out from his not-at-all-busy-schedule to field questions John Heisler, who worked there, had gotten me access during the forwarded by readers of The Athletic: offseason. I’d never been in the room. I was walking around, being like How did you come up with “Holy Mackinaw” as your catchphrase? Rudy Ruettiger. If they’d had a stool there, I’d have probably got on and done the (Knute Rockne) speech. Another family was being shown OK, well that’s simple. My dad used to bellow it when I was a youngster, around. The youngster came up to me and said, “Mr. Bowen, can I have sitting on his lap watching Johnny Bower make great saves. My dad your autograph?” And I could have been at the Taj Mahal and been passed away when I was 14, just going into high school, and I never got flattened less. to ask him where he got it from. I bellowed it out one night during a game against Chicago, when Felix Potvin made a big save. I looked across and Any tips for getting into the broadcasting field? Bill Watters, who was doing the colour with me, had fallen down and was Make sure you have a skilled labour credit. Either tool and die or laughing hysterically. I thought, “Well, maybe I’ll use it again.” electrical. Something where you will be able to make enough money to What’s your earliest memory of cheering for the Leafs? allow you to have fun doing this. My career is just filled with good fortune. It’s an industry that has blossomed, and now is just tearing itself down, to It’s vivid. Sitting with my dad. He passed in 1965. So the three — back- make it that much more difficult. So have a Plan B that can put food on to-back-to-back — championships with the Leafs. Maybe the most vivid the table while you enjoy the aspects of being in this industry. thing I remember about that was sitting with him and Johnny Bower, our idol and hero, did the splits and tore his groin. He was replaced by some Who influenced you in broadcasting? stiff who could easily have been driving a Zamboni. This stiff named Don A number of people. Obviously, as a child watching on TV, Foster Hewitt. Simmons, who I had never heard of, was replacing my idol. We didn’t Bill Hewitt and Danny Gallivan, who I hated but admired so much — and have a chance to beat Chicago. Of course, they did, and they won the still do. I feel that he is the best there ever has been, and the rest of us Stanley Cup. are fumbling around for places No. 2 through wherever. Which song do you wish the Leafs would use as their goal song? Which former player do you think could help the current Leafs the most? Oh god. How about ‘Big strong man,’ by The Wolfe Tones. Everybody Wendel Clark. He would fix a lot of things. Character. Leadership. will have to Google it. (Editor’s note: We saved you the search.) Toughness. Physicality. Obviously goal-scoring ability. The whole What is the favourite call you have made? package. He’d have to be a healthy Wendel Clark, though.

Oh boy. I don’t know. Maybe top three? Nikki Borschevsky’s goal. The What was your favourite moment watching Mats Sundin play? ‘Bless you boys’ call from Ottawa, when they were hanging on by their There was a lot of those, too. The overtime winning goal where he thumbs. And probably Auston Matthews’ fourth goal. Hopefully, my most scored his 500th goal, against Calgary. memorable one is yet to come. As the Cup drought goes on, how do you reconcile the idea your career What is the worst game you’ve ever called? may end before the Leafs win the big one again? (Bowen laughs) There’s a lot of those. I think I’ve managed to drive them You know what? I haven’t really thought about it. The reconciliation is, it’s from my memory. I can remember going to Pittsburgh on Boxing Day in too bad. I’m going to be near a long list of former Leafs players who have 1991. And Kevin Maguire scored a goal to tie the game 1-1, and Mario never won a Stanley Cup, or have been able to broadcast one, for that Lemieux and company scored the next 11. Poor Grant Fuhr was in goal matter. Disappointment? Obviously. I sincerely hope that they’re able to for all 11. Quickly thereafter, we couldn’t find a game on the Leafs do this on my watch. But I will be a huge fan. And I’ll be there before schedule we thought they could win, and Jan. 2, Cliff Fletcher makes the most at the parade, on the side of the street saluting whoever has taken trade with Calgary (for Doug Gilmour) and the whole picture turns on its over for me, who is fortunate enough to do the broadcast of a winning axis and goes 180 degrees. team. What does a typical Leaf game look like for you at home? The Athletic LOADED: 03.30.2020 It’s changed over the years. We used to go to the morning skates all the time, because you needed to get statistical information in a hard copy paper handout. The internet has allowed us to do a lot of that game prep at home and only have to fight the traffic going down to the rink once, which is a delight. I go quite early. I leave the house around three in the afternoon. I’ll run into the other broadcasters. If there’s someone on the visiting team, I’ll kind of lay in wait down by the garage where they come in and have a word with them, maybe, just to do whatever preparation. Then it’s upstairs, and get everything organized that I need to have. When the puck is dropped, off we go.

What do you and colour analyst Jim Ralph usually talk about in the commercial breaks? 1181910 Washington Capitals

What is Ovechkin watching during coronavirus hiatus? Reveals 'Deal or No Deal' is go-to show

By J.J. Regan March 29, 2020 1:07 PM

With the spread of the coronavirus, people have been encouraged to stay at home and practice social distancing. For many, that means watching a lot of TV shows and listening to a lot of music.

Thanks to the technology of the modern age, the choices of TV shows to watch and music to listen to are practically endless, but have you ever thought about what you would watch if you could choose only one show or one album of music?

Alex Ovechkin and other NHL players were posed that very question on Thursday in a teleconference. While the other players gave standard answers like "The Morning Show" and "Tiger King," Ovechkin's answers were a bit more...unexpected.

"My TV show is 'Deal or No Deal,'" he said. He had to pause before saying what his music album would be because the other players immediately began laughing at his answer. "And album, I'll probably take Eminem. Any album he have."

Surprised? You weren't the only one.

"I did not see that coming, Ovi," Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno said, laughing. "I did not see that coming."

Considering how proud Ovechkin is of his Russian heritage and the fact that he has a Russian wife, many probably assumed he would have picked a Russian TV show.

Ovechkin went on to explain, "I'm not a big TV guy as well. I'm just watching that show in the locker room with all the boys. But again, here in this situation, we watching a Russian TV show so it's kind of hard to pronounce the name, but I just picked the TV show what we always watch in the locker room."

So the next time you watch "Deal or No Deal" and are screaming at the contestant to just take the deal and not risk opening another case, know that Ovechkin and the rest of the Caps' locker room are right there with you.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181911 Washington Capitals

Brenden Dillon explains why he dropped the gloves with Evgeni Malkin

By J.J. Regan March 29, 2020 7:00 AM

Brenden Dillon endeared himself quickly to Capitals fans when, in just his third game with Washington, he dropped the gloves with forward Evgeni Malkin. Though it was not technically a fight as both players were only issued double-minors, it was a fight in every other sense of the word with both players taking swings and connecting.

Yeah, that's a fight.

As it was just his third game, it was surprising to see Dillon jump headfirst into the rivalry the way he did.

There is some history between Pittsburgh and the San Jose Sharks, as Dillon noted in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area's Brodie Brazil.

"Going back to 2016, obviously the Sharks players, we have a little bit of history with Pittsburgh," he said, referencing the 2016 Stanley Cup Final between the Sharks and Penguins.

That helped, but in fact, Dillon had little trouble adjusting to the new rivalry as this was exactly the kind of game Dillon loves to play.

"[The Capitals] obviously have a lot of history with Pittsburgh and being in the same division," Dillon said. "Guys were trying to give me a rundown, like hey this is a big game, these ones are usually physical, it's a big rivalry. And I was like, OK, this is my kind of game, you know? A lot of skating and physicality and it just happened to be Malkin. I mean, it could have been anybody who was kind of jamming at the goalie. Next thing you know, it was kind of gloves off."

Dillon has shown he is not afraid to stick up for his new teammates. He also fought Ryan Hartman of the giving him two fights -- well, one fight and one double-minor for roughing -- in just 10 games with Washington.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181912 Vancouver Canucks “I mean, I remember wondering if — and I asked them at their press conference — if they weren’t going to go to Edmonton for that final game, or did they want to wrap up their careers at home?

Canucks at 50: The cosmic kismet of Sedinery, a final home show for the “But they were the ultimate team players, of course. They weren’t going ages to skip out on a game and all their teammates. They ended up playing right to the final buzzer and them some with the shootout in Edmonton, in Game 82. But I always liked the fact that the announcement came early in the week and they just went about their business.” J.J. ADAMS BEST ticket I have ever purchased. Crowd was electric, fans on their Published:March 29, 2020 feet, cheers, high-fives, back and forth action, OT, the GOAL, the Updated:March 29, 2020 10:58 AM PDT excitement, the Sedin’s waves to the crowd, Dan Murphy’s on ice interview, the goodbye and then…Neil Young’s “LONG MAY YOU RUN”… I lost it!— Cheryl (@Cheryl80214744) March 25, 2020

The coincidences seemed too good to be true — like Daniel Sedins' SECOND PERIOD winner coming at the "22:33" mark of the third — but the Swedish twins sent off their fans at home with performance that seemed fated. Storyteller: Vancouverite Paul Parsons, 43, watching on TV from Santa Barbara, Calif., with wife Erika and sons Garret and Tyler. After 17 NHL seasons and a combined 2,636 games, 633 goals and 1,478 assists, the dazzling days of Sedin Wizardry in Vancouver — Parsons and his wife started dating when the Sedins played their first Sedinery, as it were — came to an end on Thursday, April 5, 2018. season in Vancouver. Both being huge Canucks fans, the team was an endless and enduring topic for them, even to the point of breathlessly The Canucks and Arizona Coyotes met that night in a meaningless game talking about it on training runs as they prepped for a marathon. as both had been eliminated from the playoffs weeks before when the Anaheim Ducks blanked Vancouver 3-0. Meaningless, perhaps, save the They now live in SoCal, where Erika teaches at university, and have fact it was the final home game of Henrik and Daniel’s NHL career, a taken up the challenge of raising two sons in L.A. Kings country by legacy few superlatives can encompass. making sure to indoctrinate them in all things Canucks.

And it held that Sedin magic right until the very end. “You buy them gear, you talk exclusively to them about Canucks players, and my personal favourite technique is — because kids are egregious Storybook, fairy tale, a dream, however it has been described, the way front-runners and games don’t start until after their bedtime, for the most the game played out left an indelible “where were you when?” memory part — I basically just only put their wins on the TV On Demand,” etched in the minds of those who witnessed the twins’ final act at Rogers Parsons said, laughing. Arena. “When you want to watch a game like during dinner or whatever, I’ll find a Daniel, the scorer of the two, lit the lamp twice. Henrik, the passer, Canucks win from the last week and pop it on, so the kids just think the assisted on both. Defenceman Alex Edler, the fellow Swede who had Canucks are absolutely killing it. played alongside them for 12 seasons, also had two assists. “There is no way on God’s green earth my kids are growing up as Kings And the game ended in victory — in overtime — with Daniel’s winner fans. That’s just not going to happen.” coming at 2:33 of the extra period. Extrapolated backwards, it was 22:33 of the third, the same numbers as their jerseys, a cosmic coincidence Garret and Tyler were four- and two-years-old, respectively, on the date that now can only be acknowledged as kismet, the only way it could end. of the Sedin game, and the 7 p.m. start was well past their bedtime. But … Here is the story, from three perspectives — the press box, on TV and from the stands: “We let them stay up late,” said Parsons. “Neither one of us was going to go put the kids down.” FIRST PERIOD What happened: Daniel scores his 22nd goal of the season (seriously) Storyteller: Journalist Jeff Paterson, who has covered the Canucks for just 33 seconds (yes, seriously) into the period, with Henrik starting a various outlets since 1999-2000, watched the game from the press box rush from inside his blue-line, making an age-defying cut between two high above the Rogers Arena playing surface. Coyotes to dish to Edler, who then made a blind backhand pass to Daniel Sedin for the goal. What happened: A boneheaded giveaway by Nikolay Goldobin at the blue-line led to the game’s opening goal, with Arizona’s Christian Fischer But goals by Derek Stepan and Dylan Strome put the Canucks in a two- outracing defenceman Derrick Pouliot to snap a shot high, glove side on goal hole heading to the third period. Jacob Markstrom. Henrik Sedin hit the post in the early going, but the period ended 1-0 Arizona. In his words: “The two moments that totally stand out are that first Daniel goal, when you have Henrik just pull that crazy move off the boards, and In his words: “Because my job had me going to Edmonton for the the backhand Edler pass. That’s the goal that you really see from that Canucks’ final game, I kind of went into the night with somewhat muted game so much. It was just marked in my brain because that was just expectations. My thought was the real show, the finale, was still ahead, vintage, vintage Sedins, that whole sequence. but obviously for 18,000 people who had tickets that night, this was gonna be their last chance to see the Sedins perform in person. “I remember us just watching that. It was just that classic Sedin, coming out of nowhere. Where any reasonable human being, looking at that “I remember the buzz in the building right from warm-up. And then every situation … I mean, Henrik is just in a shoebox there, he’s just crammed, shift they had, there was sort of a sense of anticipation, that people better and somehow he comes out of it with the puck and finds the open man. soak it all in because we were never going to see them again. “How many times have we seen that over the years? And just getting to “I remember the standing ovations, and I remember the cheers every see it one last time and in what was effectively their final game … I was time they touched the puck, and I remember thinking, it’s so unfortunate just like, you know, grabbing the kids and being like, ‘Did you see what that their home finale is a meaningless game against the Arizona he just did? Do you have any idea how hard that was?’ And the kids are Coyotes, of all teams … and this was going to be it. But obviously, it like ‘Suurrre. Um, OK.’ worked out better than anybody could have ever expected. “I just remember us leaping off the couch watching that. And I remember “I always liked and respected the way that week shook down. That they them getting down a couple goals, just desperately wanting like, ‘This didn’t want a farewell tour, they didn’t want to make the announcement can’t be a loss. They cannot lose this game.’ months in advance, and have every game that they played, every city they went to, be about them and their final game. They kept it under “It didn’t feel like a Stanley Cup Final, but it felt like a Game 7 of an early wraps until they unveiled it earlier that week. round playoff (game), where everything was on the line, they had to win this game. There was an intensity to it.” the crowd crackling in OT in anticipation of what was to come. Watch the THE FORGOTTEN clip. Never heard a regular season crowd in OT like that https://t.co/DxKFyO8QFX— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) March 24, Daneil’s goals and Henrik’s setups are all most remember from the 2020 game. Few remember the deficit, nor the quality goals scored by Virtanen and Leipsic that erased it. And most forget they still had one game left in THIRD PERIOD/OVERTIME the regular season.

Storyteller: Simon (last name withheld to protect the guilty), 34. He got When the Canucks left for Edmonton the next day for a Saturday date into the game by selling 50/50 tickets, spotted an empty seat while with the Oilers, the hockey world at large was still buzzing from the working his section, then snuck down to the seats — about five rows off vestiges of excitement of what had transpired the night before. The the ice in Section 108 — to catch the third period, and ultimately, Sedins’ final game, which ultimately would be a 3-2 shootout loss, was overtime. still an afterthought.

“The woman who is one of the co-ordinators for the 50/50 at the Canucks But Thursday’s magical finish would soon be forgotten, drowned by a sea was an intern of mine, like a lifetime ago, at a different job. And I think of tears and tragedy. that was the first time they had like a million-dollar pot — they were guaranteeing a million dollar winner. I think they might have like doubled Rocky Salisbury of Nipawin sets up crosses on April 14, 2018, at the or tripled the amount of people they needed to work that day. intersection of Highway 35 and Highway 335, north of Tisdale, Sask. where a collision occurred involving the Humboldt Broncos team bus on “Tickets (to the game) were like three or 400 bucks for the upper bowl. I April 6, 2018, that resulted in the death of 16 people. BRANDON thought, ‘I’ll be in the building, it’s kind of like the next best thing. I’ll HARDER / Regina Leader-Post probably get to catch a bit of the game.’ I get in there, and it’s a zoo. From the minute the doors open to like the end of the second period, it “It was all the talk, in the city and across NHL circles on that Friday,” didn’t stop. I think I sold like $15,000 worth of tickets. It was just recalled Paterson. “But of course, late on the Friday afternoon, was the madness. Humboldt bus crash. And to go from, you know, this euphoric high of what we’d all just lived through — and I think people were still sort of in a “I don’t remember it being a great game until the third period. So I think little disbelief on Friday that, it actually happened the way that it did — there was a lot of people that were just really happy to be there, and I and then the Humboldt news started trickling out late on the Friday. think there was more of an energy toward this 50/50 pot. People were actually insane, trying to buy tickets. People from like offices were giving “I remember on Saturday in Edmonton, going to the rink, and by that money to one person who was going to the game, and they were buying point, everybody knew the devastation and the death toll. Talking to the thousands of dollars of tickets.” twins that morning and … ever the sort of statesmen that they were, they didn’t want to talk about themselves, they didn’t want to talk about their Realtor Derek Kai and two of his friends were among those who bought final game, you know they wanted to pay their respects to the lives lost tickets for the pot — at that point, the $1,014,555 pot was the largest in and the people of Humboldt. Canucks history — as they spent around $650 as a group. “It was just one more indication that these guys got it. They always got it. Today’s winning 50/50 number is #BS-1088629. The jackpot is… wait for There was so much attention on them, and they knew how to deflect it it… $1,014,555!!! with a take-home prize of $507,278!! Thank you to and take the conversation where it had to be.” all who bought tix for our biggest jackpot ever! Must be 19+. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.30.2020 #ThankYouSedins— Canucks For Kids Fund (@Canucksforkids) April 6, 2018

What happened: The Canucks outshot the Coyotes 15-0 in the final frame. Pre-Shotgun Jake Virtanen whipped a shot past Coyotes’ netminder Darcy Kuemper from the circle, mere instants after Bo Horvat won an offensive-zone faceoff.

Brendan Leipsic’s seventh career goal was the prettiest by far, swooping in on the right wing before roofing a spinarama backhand midway through the frame, tying the score at 3-3.

In overtime, with the Canucks on a power play, Henrik and Edler exchanged passes before Henrik found Daniel at the point. His snapshot eluded Kuemper, and the benches emptied, the celebration going all the way back to the far blue-line.

In his words: “Overall, there was a really fun energy. It just didn’t feel like the energy was directed toward the Sedins until the third period. When they stopped selling tickets and it was just about the game and it got really close and really intense … and then they did that big moment where … it was the only time I’ve seen the Viking clap in a way that wasn’t cringeworthy!

“So kind of after the second period is done, you go and like drop off all your stuff. I had seen these two, like, perfectly situated seats five rows off the ice. I was like ‘I gotta go down there like this. I can’t miss this moment.’ I waited until the start of the third period when everyone’s kind of going back down to their seats, and snuck down with a bunch of people, found those two empty spots and was there for basically the entire third period and then all of overtime. So I was like right there … right on top of it.

(View Simon’s instagram video here)

“When they scored, the entire team, kind of came together right in front of where we were. And it was like it was madness, it was easily the best Canucks experience I think I’ve ever had. There’s nothing you could have done to outdo that moment. It was insane.

“It’s easily like the greatest sports moment I’ve been able to be a part of, and I’ve worked in hundreds of games. This was like, number 1, with a bullet.” 1181913 Vancouver Canucks On the rush, the Sedins combined for a highlight-worthy goal that could have been pulled from the years they won back-to-back Art Ross Trophies.

Canucks at 50: Last hurrah for Sedins in Vancouver served up magic, Henrik made the play happen with some unexpected speed and some memories wicked edge work in the offensive zone. Alex Edler helped by making such a pretty play through the slot he brought the Coyotes’ star defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to his knees. Daniel finished the play, scoring his 22nd goal of the season. The best part? The goal was scored STAFF REPORTER 33 seconds into the period. Some things happen for a reason. The Published:March 29, 2020 winger wearing No. 22 scored his 22nd of the season at the 33-second mark, on a goal set up by Nos. 23 and 33. Updated:March 29, 2020 10:00 AM PDT Oh yes, that was some fun.

CROWD SAVED BIG OVATION FOR DORSETT It's the only way their NHL careers with the Vancouver Canucks should have ended, with a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, with the Sedins The Sedins weren’t the only ones being feted Thursday. supplying the overtime magic The Canucks handed out their year-end awards, voted on by their fans. There was something special about the final home game for Henrik and Brock Boeser made an appearance winning the most exciting player and Daniel Sedin. They turned back the clock and gave the Vancouver Alex Edler was named the team’s best defenceman. But , Canucks fans yet another gift, like so many they’ve given them over the who was forced into retirement by injury, was announced the Canucks’ years. And the fans gave back. Here, we republish Jason Botchford’s unsung hero and it brought the house down. game report — on our websites you will also find Jason’s Provies online VIRTANEN’S SPEED IS DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN game report published after this game: He grew up a Canucks’ fan, idolizing the Sedin twins. There was only one star Thursday night. It is fitting then on their home finale, Jake Virtanen scored. It was a rocket One for Henrik Sedin shared with his brother Daniel. of a shot off a faceoff. It’s the only way their NHL careers with the Vancouver Canucks should His speed looked dominant in the second half of Tuesday’s game against have ended, with a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, with the Sedins Vegas. It was the same story against Arizona. supplying the overtime magic. He created his own partial breakaway, flying by defenders before trying Two stoic superstars saluting the city in which they made an to slide the puck into the net five-hole. It didn’t work but man it was some extraordinary bond. display of raw power and speed. An emotional week ended in an exciting game that was filled heart, soul Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.30.2020 and the Sedins.

When it was over, the Canucks’ two greatest players of all time said thank you, their sticks held to the sky as they did their final laps on the Rogers Arena ice.

Their fans responded, expressing this with a long ovation: “We love you.”

The announcement and an interview with Sportsnet from the bench made up a post-game scene that won’t ever be forgotten. It was a game in which the fans adoringly chanted “one more year.”

If only that were possible. The game was marked by a string of wonderful tributes, featuring lots of footage of the early years, reminding everyone of just how far the Sedins have come.

This is what we learned:

The crowd was on fire and so were the Canucks. They fought back from two goals down in the third period and got it into overtime.

And then it happened. Daniel scored the game-winning goal 2:33 into overtime. It was destiny. It was beautiful. And it was assisted by his brother Henrik.

THE SEDINS HAVE ANOTHER GEAR

If there are any regrets it’s that in their final three seasons the Sedin twins never got into the playoffs.

They gave a glimpse of what that could have been when they exploded out of the starting blocks to begin Thursday’s game against the Coyotes. Maybe it was the adrenalin but the Sedins charged down the ice on their first shift like they were 27 years old and not 37. They nearly scored, too. Henrik shot one off the post and then swung his head back in frustration.

Of course he did. The last time he scored a goal in Vancouver was 15 months ago in January 2017.

It’s difficult to believe but it also explains why there won’t be “one more year” for the Sedins.

THE SEDINS SCORED A THROWBACK GOAL

It was one more time and with feeling. 1181914 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / The 1919 Stanley Cup and modern-history's worst pandemic

Sportsnet

Going through the archives of the old broadsheet newspapers from 1919 is an exercise in time travel. The NHL is a multi-billion-dollar business today, but the league was in its infancy back then — the puck was dropped in the first NHL game barely 17 months before the cancellation of the 1919 Final and the death of Joe Hall. At the time, even in thriving markets, hockey was a novelty, one set of rules in the east (six men per side) and another in the west (a seventh man being a rover). Boxing dominated the sports pages, pro wrestling was news nearly as serious as the Great War. The NHL, this league in its second season, could not yet beat out the Caledonia Club for attention.

What was, for me, more surprising than hockey’s short shrift looking at those old broadsheets was the coverage of the Spanish flu itself — surprising because there wasn’t any at all. I presumed that the pandemic would have gained blanket coverage. Far from it. The story of Hall being “called” was the only mention of influenza in the Gazette that day.

It wasn’t an oversight. It was a combination of circumstance and strategy.

Circumstance: The spawning ground of the Spanish flu is unclear other than the fact it didn’t originate in Spain. The timeline is clearer. The U.S. Smithsonian Institute’s magazine suggested that the first recorded outbreak was in Kansas in January of 1918 and it spread from a farming community to a nearby army base. More than 1,000 soldiers at the base were hospitalized. From the Smithsonian: “[Though] influenza was not then a ‘reportable’ disease, a local physician named Loring Miner … who became a doctor before the acceptance of the germ theory of disease … went to the trouble of alerting the U.S. Public Health Service.” According to the Institute’s voluminous archive, this was “the first recorded notice anywhere in the world of unusual influenza activity that year.”

The illness that Joe Hall and his teammates contracted moved at an awful rate and took victims in a matter of days. Yet by the time the Canadiens landed in Seattle for the Cup Final, the Spanish flu had passed its most deadly phase, having reached its full, tragic strength the previous fall. Wrote Barry: “[The victims} died with extraordinary ferocity and speed. Although the influenza pandemic stretched over two years, perhaps two-thirds of the deaths occurred in a period of 24 weeks and more than half of those deaths occurred in even less time, from mid- September to early December 1918.”

Strategy: The Spanish flu was doubtlessly underreported, subject to voluntary embargo. In those early months of 1919, the world remained unsettled in the immediate wake of World War I. Even after the Armistice, political leaders in Europe and North America believed any coverage of an unfolding health crisis would give comfort to the enemy — even a vanquished one — so newspapers fell in line. It wasn’t a disinformation campaign nor a cover-up; call it avoidance in the name of patriotism. Only when H1N1 reached Spain, a neutral country where no such embargo was placed on newspapers, was it labelled elsewhere the “Spanish flu.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181915 Websites The Oilers draft that produced the most games played by players NOT drafted in Round 1 was back in 2006, and you can thank Jeff Petry for that. In a year where Edmonton did not have a first round pick — wisely traded for Dwayne Roloson at the ’06 Deadline — the Oilers selected a Sportsnet.ca / Breaking down the best and worst Oilers drafts of the right-shot D-man from the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL, who salary-cap era would attend Michigan State and not play his first NHL game until 2011.

It would take Petry eight seasons to reach the 30-point plateau, and by then he had been to Montreal for a second round pick (Jonas Mark Spector | March 29, 2020, 9:56 AM Siegenthaler) and a fourth (Caleb Jones). Now, he’s a horse who will likely play 1,000 games.

EDMONTON — If there could be one area to blame for the ‘Decade of The other D-man who played from that 2006 draft? Theo Peckman, or Darkness’ in Edmonton — is there ever just one? — we would point to “Teddy Peckman” as Don Cherry famously called him. He played 160 the draft. Not enough players after the first round, and a pipeline that games. flowed with mediocrity, thus 12 playoff misses in 13 years. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey The salary cap era has driven the point home: the entry draft is where world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what teams get free players that can be controlled contractually for the next they think about it. decade. This is where the shelves are stocked; where good Edmonton’s Best Draft — No Strings Attached organizations get the tide of quality prospects rolling through the organization. 2015 — Sure, my golden retriever could have spotted McDavid at No. 1, but Edmonton’s next pick did not come until the fourth round. That year, Where, if you draft consistently well, each prospect can spend his two chief scout Stu MacGregor — fired five days before the draft, but he still seasons simmering in the AHL — because the players above have done gets the credit — nailed the 117th pick with Caleb Jones, snared Ethan the same. Now you have an NHL roster that can not be made by some Bear in the fifth round and chose John Marino in Round 6 at 154th. hot shot first-rounder walking out of junior hockey, as was the case in Edmonton for so many years. This season Bear and Jones both became regulars in Edmonton. Marino, who refused to sign in Edmonton, was dealt to Pittsburgh where he also Look, every team has its misses at the draft table. That is how players has a long future ahead of him. Literally, half an NHL defence corps was like Joe Pavelski, Henrik Lundqvist, Ondrej Plat and reaped from the bottom half of the draft. are all members of the ‘Drafted in the Seventh Round Club.’ The reality is, if a team drafts two players per season that play in the NHL until they Edmonton’s Worst Draft — Can We Have A Do-over? are 27, they have defined success at the NHL draft. 2013 — Getting Darnell Nurse at No. 7? No one is complaining about So, with time on our hands, we looked back on the Oilers salary cap era that selection, a six-foot-four shutdown D-man who skates well, fights drafting. From that first draft of the salary cap era — the 2005 draft, held better and eats up 23-24 minutes per night. But the rest of that draft? at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa because of the lost season to a lockout — Pee-yew! that preceded the 2005-06 season, when the initial cap was set at $39 million, until now. The Oilers had nine more picks, a second-rounder (Marco Roy), two thirds (Bogdan Yakimov and Anton Slepyshev) and three picks in the Hits, misses, and downright whiffs: fourth round (Jackson Houck, Kyle Platzer, Aidan Muir). And, they still had three picks after that, spent on Evan Campbell, Ben Betker and Greg Most 100-Game NHL Players Chase. For me, 100 NHL games is a barometer of if a player “played” or not. Take Nurse and Slepyshev — who might possibly return to Edmonton Yes, it’s subjective. But if a player gets in 33 games, do we look back and from the KHL next season — out of the mix, and the Oilers got exactly say he “played” in the NHL? Or did he have “a cup of coffee” there? A one NHL game played out of eight drafted players. “few games.” That hurts. The Oilers’ 2010 draft produced the most players to play 100 or more NHL games, starting with No. 1 overall Taylor Hall (627 and counting). Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.30.2020 After that, injury-plagued second-rounder Tyler Pitlick — now on his third organization with Philadelphia — has played 248 games. The eternal sixth or seventh defenceman Martin Marincin comes next with 227 games, and way down in the sixth round, journeyman defenceman Brandon Davidson is plugging away with his sixth organization at 174 NHL games played.

Not coincidentally, that was the only draft in which Edmonton had 11 selections. And we’re still wondering, what ever happened to the Ottawa 67s Ryan Martindale?

Most Games Played from One Draft

This can be a deceiving stat, and in Edmonton’s case it is. The 2005 draft produced the most with 1,515 NHL games, but 1,012 of them belong to first-rounder Andrew Cogliano. And the Oilers had to trade Cogliano to Anaheim back in 2011 before he found his true identity as an NHL player.

Beyond Cogliano, that 2005 draft produced just second-rounder Taylor Chorney (166 games), third-rounder Danny Syvret (59) and fourth round pick Chris VandeVelde, who only played 28 of his 278 NHL games in an Oilers jersey.

So, when you’re talking about a team that has had as many first overall (four) and top 10 picks (11) as the Oilers have, perhaps the best indicator of a good draft is…

Games played by Players Drafted Below Round 1

So let’s eliminate the Halls, the McDavids, the Draisaitls and the Nugent- Hopkins’. Let’s face it: picks that high have to play. (Cough, Nail Yakupov, cough). 1181916 World Leagues News

Coronavirus In Sports: Philadelphia College Football Coaches Finding Silver Lining In Uncertain Times

By Pat GallenMarch 29, 2020 at 11:05 pm

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — While the sports world is on pause because of the coronavirus pandemic, the coaches have a lot of time on their hands. Local college football coaches recently spoke with CBS3 discuss how they’re handling it.

There’s still about five months until the start of the college football season. But locally, some coaches are still uncertain about where they stand in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“This is much bigger than sports. Obviously, this is something that the entire world is dealing with so and sports obviously take a back seat to that,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “I want to make sure even when we’re having our Zoom meetings to go over spring installations and things like that, we should be spending some time making sure these guys are all right, their families are all right.”

Villanova head coach Mark Ferrante was able to find a small silver lining.

“This is an opportunity for everyone to have more quality family time as well as trying to stay safe,” Ferrante said. “But I think we will start getting into some meetings with the coaches and positional guys and start transitioning pretty soon into football conversation as well.”

Temple head coach Rod Carey also spoke about his athletes taking the proper precaution.

“I have not run into where one of our kids has not taken it serious,” Carey said. “When you get football taken away from you and you’re told to go home and parents are saying come home, we might have some squirrelly 18-to-22-year-olds for sure, but I haven’t run into that.”

While there is obviously no firm timeline to return to football activities, there has been no move to cancel any games as of yet.

All three teams are slated to kick off on Sept. 5th.

CBS Broadcasting Inc. LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181917 World Leagues News

Coronavirus: Stephon Marbury plans to deliver 10 million N95 masks from China to New York health professionals

Katherine Acquavella

Mar 29, 2020 at 3:12 pm ET •

Former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury is helping to plan a delivery that would send 10 million N95 masks to New York City from China. The N95 masks would help hospital workers, health care professionals and other first responders at the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.

Marbury told Rich Calder of the New York Post on Sunday that he has worked out an arrangement with a mask supplier in China, one that's willing to sell New York City 10 million N95 masks at a reduced price. They will price the masks at $2.75 each versus the current $7.50 rate, according to the Post.

New York City is facing a critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for those working in hospitals and caring for infected patients. N95 masks, in particular, are in high demand because they filter out 95% of airborne particles, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Marbury spent 15 seasons in the NBA, including five with the New York Knicks, before moving overseas to China, where he found success in the Chinese Association. He won three titles for the Ducks and played in the CBA from 2010 to 2018 before becoming a coach for Beijing Royal Fighters last year.

The Coney Island native told the Post that he thought of the idea to help after he learned of New York state's lack of protective gear and the extremely high price they were paying for masks. Marbury reached out to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to work out details to get the delivery to happen.

"At the end of the day, I am from Brooklyn," Marbury told the Post on a call from his home in Beijing. "This is something that is close and dear to my heart as far as being able to help New York."

"I have family there in Coney Island, a lot of family … who are affected by this, so I know how important it is for people to have masks during this time."

As of now, the deal is not officially set in stone. But, the Post reports that Brooklyn Borough President Adams is working to get the delivery confirmed with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio.

CBS News has the latest updates about the virus, which has affected various sports globally and in the United States.

Here at CBS Sports, we have running updates on how sports leagues are responding to coronavirus.

CBS Sports LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181918 World Leagues News be a global recession will almost certainly tax a budget that already had swelled to $25 billion.

The main stadium for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, now postponed Sports Industry Reels From Coronavirus Fallout until next year.

Media analyst Michael Nathanson forecast that if the NBA were to shut down the season and cancel the playoffs, it would cost Walt Disney Co. By Ben Cohen, Joshua Robinson and Joe Flint ’s ESPN and ABC $481 million and WarnerMedia’s TNT $211 million in lost ad revenue—and that comes in a season when the NBA itself was Updated March 29, 2020 8:42 pm ET already bracing for a $400 million hit from a standoff with China over a tweet from a team executive that supported protesters in Hong Kong.

The story of international sports over the past decade was one of The financial effects on teams could be felt for far longer than the unlimited growth, unrestrained spending and unwavering popularity. pandemic. Even with serious challenges to the sports-business model, Coronavirus brought the sports business to an immediate standstill. The including the shrinking cable-television market, the industry as a whole boom times went bust overnight. had grown over the last decade. Driven by skyrocketing media rights, team valuations had traveled in only one direction: up. Now, for the investors who plowed their fortunes into team ownership and the leagues that have gotten used to a gusher of money, the crisis In no league is there a neater trend line than the NBA. The six teams risks turning into a reckoning. sold between 2011 and May 2014 went for the average price of roughly $400 million. The four teams that have changed hands since then sold The cancellation of the March Madness college-basketball tournament for an average of $1.85 billion. already has caused the NCAA to reduce its annual distribution to member institutions by nearly two-thirds, from $600 million to $225 Those astronomical valuations were driven almost completely by huge million. Amateur sports bodies in the U.S. tried unsuccessfully to join the increases in the price of television rights over the past 15 years. The NFL congressional bailout because their losses from the delay of the sold its annual broadcast rights from 2007 to 2013 for an average of $1.9 Olympics could be in the range of $800 million. billion a season. From 2014 to 2022, that number is $3.1 billion. The NBA isn’t far behind, with broadcasters spending about $2.7 billion annually Some team owners believe the biggest problem facing sports is more for the rights. philosophical than financial. It is the idea that public interaction is now associated with fear. Television executives are scrambling to figure out how to protect that investment if their prized asset stays off the air. The consequences across the business are only beginning to come into focus. Every day without sports costs the leagues and broadcasting There is widespread agreement among TV programmers that the networks huge sums of money that even savvy financial officers can’t coronavirus pandemic qualifies as an “act of God” and meets the wrap their minds around. requirements for a force majeure clause. But it is unlikely that TV programmers will invoke such clauses, for two reasons, according to National Basketball Association teams have closed the doors to their people familiar with executives’ thinking. Major networks don’t want to practice gyms, leaving the most talented players on the planet stuck in damage their relationships with leagues, which are long-running and their homes with nowhere to work out, as the league office braces for an serve as one of the few remaining linchpins for the cable bundle. And incalculable financial hit. on Friday agreed to float with rights deals expiring soon, including the NFL’s, TV programmers are players a $170 million advance on their salaries as they come to grips eager to preserve as much goodwill as possible going into those with a potentially long shutdown. The leagues are examining how to negotiations. come back and play even before fans are reintroduced to the equation— possibly ushering in an era of empty arenas as sound stages for sports The majority of owners in the major American leagues are wealthy broadcasts. enough that they will be able to absorb a hit without having to dump assets. “I don’t think we should be having a bake sale for the owners,” That might not fly with the players. said the former chairman of Fox Sports, David Hill.

‘I just don’t know how we can imagine a sporting event without fans,’ said Experts aren’t expecting a fire sale of franchises valued in the billions. LeBron James, center. But for anyone who was considering cashing out in the near term, the uncertainty created by the coronavirus could be a powerful argument “I just don’t know how we can imagine a sporting event without fans,” against it. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James said on a podcast last week. “There’s no excitement. There’s no crying. There’s no joy.” “I don’t know if there will be any inventory going forward,” said Steve Horowitz, a partner at a leading sports investment bank, Inner Circle Mr. James also balked at the concept of a neutral-site postseason with Sports. “But if an NFL or NBA team came on the market tomorrow, the players quarantined in a bubble at the same hotel, and scoffed at the list of interested people would still be long—and none of them would look possibility of plowing ahead to the playoffs without completing the regular back with any regret.” season. Juventus' forward Cristiano Ronaldo in an empty stadium at a soccer When soccer’s English Premier League shut down with Liverpool just two match in Turin, Italy, on March 8. wins from clinching the title, team star Virgil van Dijk sounded a similar note: “If we won it in an empty stadium and the fans weren’t there, I’d be That could be a different story across the Atlantic, where there is so gutted for them. No one wants to play games without the fans.” much professional soccer that many teams were clinging to survival even before the pandemic. Lower-tier clubs already have called on the lavishly That approach hasn’t worked in countries that were hit hard by the virus funded Premier League to organize a bailout. At least a dozen teams before the U.S. South Korea’s basketball league was suspended on Feb. operating on paper-thin margins could face bankruptcy without one. In a 29 and canceled last week, while Japan played a weekend of basketball letter to club heads around Europe on Thursday, Andrea Agnelli, games without spectators before deciding to cancel. The Chinese chairman of Italian giant Juventus, called the situation “the biggest Basketball Association went dark in January and still hasn’t returned. challenge our game and industry has ever faced.” The has been mostly spared, for now, by sheer “We are all football executives responsible for the well-being and accident of timing, but that will change if sheltering in place remains the sustainability of the clubs we manage, which are faced with a real norm or the virus is still roaring in the fall. English soccer went from existential threat,” he said. “No one is immune, and timing is of the beaming live games worth more than $8 billion in broadcast rights into essence.” 190 countries to zero in the space of a weekend. Women’s sports also could be among the biggest losers. After a banner The last sports domino to fall was this summer’s Olympics. After weeks 12 months that saw female athletes command record television of wobbling, it finally tipped last week, when the International Olympic audiences and make big strides in their fight for equal pay, this is the Committee begrudgingly agreed to postpone the Tokyo Games until next worst possible time to go dark. The U.S. women’s national soccer team year. The costs of maintaining Olympic infrastructure during what could planned to capitalize on its 2019 World Cup victory by seizing the spotlight at the Tokyo Olympics and building a more sustainable The shutdown of sports when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested domestic professional league. positive for the virus and the NBA suspended its season on March 11 was the moment when it hit many Americans that life was about to be As baseball, basketball and hockey try to figure out what the rest of 2020 very different. The restart of sports might be a signal that the worst is looks like, so far it is business as usual for the NFL. The heavyweight over and the new normal is finally about to begin. American sports league struck a new long-term labor agreement with its players earlier this month and now turns its attention toward new TV “We need sports,” Mr. Cuban said, “as much as sports needs fans.” deals, even though the current pacts still have a few seasons left on them. — Benjamin Mullin contributed to this article.

While talks between the networks and their current rights holders are still The Wall Street Journal LOADED: 03.30.2020 in the preliminary stage, the NFL doesn’t believe the current health crisis will have any impact on its future contracts, one network executive said. These conversations are continuing apart from the threat poised to disrupt the 2020-21 season and the potential financial impact of lost games. These rights deals are seen as post-pandemic business by the NFL—at least for now.

Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, on March 16. Major League Baseball pushed back opening day until mid-May at the earliest.

One lesson of the pandemic, however, is how quickly things change. Hours before the NBA suspended its season, ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro met with the company’s executives to discuss how the virus might disrupt the network’s schedule. Then, they found out the season was on hold when they read the news on their own network. The next day, ESPN’s programming team scrawled various hypotheticals on a white board to fill the gaps in the schedule. Could they get the rights to air WrestleMania from World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.? What about airing a seven-hour marathon of Tom Brady game footage? Was the network’s new documentary on Michael Jordan ready to release early?

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has spoken several times with Mr. Pitaro and WarnerMedia News and Sports Chairman Jeff Zucker since then, and some network executives are optimistic that the NBA season can still be concluded this year. One scenario floated in conversations is the possibility of televising the NBA playoffs without spectators to protect players and fans from contracting the coronavirus.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban predicts there will be a premium on content from sports leagues like the NBA when there are games again. As people around the world exhaust their Netflix queues, and with the production of movies and television shows effectively shut down, he expects there will be enormous demand for something new to watch. NBA games could help solve that problem.

“People will literally be doing anything to watch us,” he said in an email. “They won’t even necessarily be basketball fans. They just will be starving for new content, and we will be there to feed them.”

An empty Sprint Center in Kansas City after the cancellation of the remaining games in the Big 12 college-basketball tournament.

For now, the broadcasters’ pain is obvious in their threadbare TV schedules. CBS VIAC -8.58% had been gearing up for its two showpiece events of the spring in the NCAA Tournament and the Masters. Now it is offering viewers the cold comfort of police procedurals. NBC Sports’ weekend schedule would normally be packed with live English soccer. Instead it aired reruns of dog shows.

The networks might have the opposite problem in the fall: too much inventory. The Kentucky Derby has been delayed from the first Saturday in May to September. The French Open was moved from June to October. The NBA playoffs could last until the late summer and overlap with the start of the NFL and college-football seasons. All that is based on speculative assumptions that severe control measures will be effective, transmission will slow in the summer and the virus won’t wreak havoc in the fall.

There is a growing sense that the global sports hiatus could be an opportunity to do things differently when the games return. Some are asking whether the baseball season really needs to be 162 games long or if the NBA calendar should be pushed back two months so that it doesn’t conflict with the NFL’s.

One innovative idea came from Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United MANU -1.77% forward, who proposed shifting the entire European soccer calendar to operate January to October instead of August to May for a couple of seasons. The idea would be to better line up with the next World Cup, which will be held starting November 2022 in Qatar. 1181919 World Leagues News

Coronavirus conquers world of sports: How professional sports organizations are responding to pandemic

By Jamie Belfer || Sports Editor

Coronavirus has monumentally changed the world – disrupting lives, education systems, and economies. The world has come to a halt as businesses and organizations have decided (or have been forced) to close their doors to let the virus run its course. As more and more people are cooped up inside all day, some may choose to pass the time by flipping on the television. However, sports fans everywhere may be thoroughly disappointed as most professional sports have suspended their seasons or competitions until further notice.

The NBA was the first sports organization to take action against the spread of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, March 11th, the NBA announced they would suspend its season. This decision was soon made after the first NBA player, Rudy Bobert of the Utah Jazz, tested positive for COVID-19. Coronavirus is spreading, and is doing so extremely rapidly. As of March 19th, players on six other NBA teams have confirmed cases of the virus (USAToday). While the date of return to play is uncertain, an update from ESPN confirmed that the latest possible date for the NBA finals would be Labor Day.

On Thursday March 12th, the day after the NBA’s announcement, three other sports leagues decided to suspend their play. The MLS declared that they will suspend any further games for 30 days (an approximate April 11 start date). However, after the CDC recommended that gatherings of 50 people or more should be avoided for eight weeks, the MLS decided that they would extend the suspension of play until May 10 (mlssoccer.com).

The NHL also announced that its season would be suspended on March 12th. Commissioner Gary Bettman declared that the NHL season will be put on pause, yet he failed to mention an anticipated date of return. The NBA and the NHL have many shared arenas such as Madison Square Garden, in which the New York Knicks and the Rangers both play. Bettman stated that the sharing of facilities and rooms was a major contributing factor to his decision (nhl.com).

The MLB followed suit by cancelling the remainder of spring training in addition to suspending the first two weeks of the regular season. However, similar to the MLS, the CDC recommendation to avoid large group gatherings caused the MLB to revise their statement. They did not give an anticipated start date, however they announced the start of their season will be further delayed (cbssports).

Golf, tennis, and NASCAR, among other professional sports have postponed or cancelled specific competitions and tournaments in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

In addition to national sports, global competitions have been impacted by COVID-19. The rising number of coronavirus cases across the globe prompted the latest sports news from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Prime Minister of Japan. After time and consideration, they have decided to postpone the Summer 2020 Olympics, with the latest potential start date being the summer of 2021 (npr).

With coronavirus cases continuously increasing, even these suggested start days may continue to be delayed. Coronavirus seems to have prevailed for now, however, with time, there is still hope to be sitting on your couch, turning on the TV, taking a load off, and watching your favorite sports team.

THE COLLEGE REPORTER LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181920 World Leagues News * The top two tiers of French football — Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 — were suspended.

* All matches in Spain’s top two divisions were postponed for two weeks. Factbox: Sports events around the world hit by coronavirus pandemic * U.S. suspended its season.

* All soccer in the Netherlands was suspended until the end of March. 13 MIN READ STAFF * Asian and South American qualifying matches for 2022 World Cup postponed.

OLYMPICS * Spain’s Copa del Rey final between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad (April 18) was postponed. * The International Olympic Committee and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded the Tokyo 2020 Olympics must be postponed and * New seasons in the Chinese, Japanese and South Korean leagues held no later than the summer of 2021. were postponed.

OLYMPIC TRIALS * A four-team event in Doha featuring Croatia, Portugal, Belgium and Switzerland (March 26-30) was canceled. * U.S. trials for wrestling (April 4-5) were postponed. * Asian Champions League: Matches involving Chinese clubs * U.S. Rowing postponed its team trials. Evergrande, Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai SIPG were postponed. The start of the knockout rounds was moved back to * U.S. diving trials (April 3-5) were postponed. All USA Diving events September. postponed for next 30 days. * The Asian Football Confederation postponed all AFC Cup 2020 COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT matches scheduled for March and April. * The Court of Arbitration for Sport said all cases were being put on hold * The Brazilian football Confederation suspended all national until May. No in-person hearings will be held before May 1. competitions until further notice. NORTH AMERICA * The state championships of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the two * The NBA suspended its season. biggest in Brazil, were suspended.

* The NHL suspended its season. * All events organized by the Russian Football Union, including Russian Premier League fixtures, between March 17-April 10 were canceled. * The MLB further delayed its 2020 season’s opening day of March 26 after CDC calls for gatherings of 50 or more people to be canceled or * The CAF postponed the African Nations Championship, a national team postponed for eight weeks. tournament for home-based players only (Cameroon; April 4–25).

* Boston Marathon organizers postpone the race from April 20 to Sept. * The Turkish Super Lig, among the last to continue playing matches, 14. was suspended after players complained. Basketball and volleyball leagues in the country were also suspended. * The National Hockey League told players, including those from outside North America, that they can return home and should self-quarantine ATHLETICS through March 27, lengthening the period the NHL had said it was * The Diamond League postponed its first five meetings of the 2020 pausing its season. season due to be held in April and May in Qatar, China, Stockholm, SOCCER Naples and Rabat.

* Aleksander Ceferin, the head of European soccer’s governing body * The World Athletics Indoor Championships (Nanjing, March 13-15) UEFA, said that the current season could be “lost” if it is unable to re- were postponed. They will be held in the same city from March 19-21, start by the end of June. 2021.

* Euro 2020 was postponed. Europe’s flagship tournament will now be * The Paris and Barcelona marathons were postponed. staged from June 11 to July 11, 2021. * The London marathon (April 26), was postponed to Oct. 4. * This year’s Copa America, originally scheduled for June-July in * The Penn Relays (April 23-25), were canceled for the first time in the Colombia and Argentina, was postponed to June 11-July 11, 2021. event’s 125-year history. The Mt. SAC Relays and Florida Relays, also * FIFA has agreed to delay the first edition of its revamped Club World scheduled for April, and the March Texas Relays, were all canceled. Cup due to be held in 2021. * Kenya’s athletics authority ordered the closure of training camps and * UEFA put all club and national team competitions for men and women clubs, hampering athletes’ preparations for the Olympics. on hold until further notice. AUSTRALIAN RULES * The men’s and women’s Champions League finals and Europa League * The Australian Football League’s attempt to forge on with the season final originally scheduled for May have been postponed. despite the virus outbreak lasted one round before it was shut down on * All elite games in England, including the Premier League, Football March 22. League and Women’s Super League, were suspended until April 30 but BADMINTON the current season can be extended indefinitely. * The Badminton World Federation canceled the last five tournaments in * Germany’s Bundesliga and second division will pause at least until April the qualification period for the Olympics, making the All England Open 2 while the cup semi-finals, scheduled for late next month, have been played from March 11-15 the final event to count towards qualification. postponed. BASEBALL * South America’s two biggest club competitions, the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, were suspended until at least May 5. * The final qualification tournament in Taiwan for the Olympics was put back from April to June 17-21, while the March 22-26 qualification event * The CAF postponed two rounds of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Arizona was postponed. qualifiers (March 25-31). * Japan’s professional league postponed the start of the season. * CONCACAF suspended all competitions, including the Champions League and men’s Olympic qualifiers. BASKETBALL * Euroleague Basketball suspended all 2019-20 EuroLeague, EuroCup * The Kentucky Derby, the first jewel in North American horse racing’s and Euroleague Next Generation Tournament games. Triple Crown (May 2) was postponed to Sept. 5.

BOXING * The Dubai World Cup, one of the world’s richest horse races and a premier annual sporting event in the United Arab Emirates, will not go * The European, American and final world qualifying boxing tournaments ahead this year. for the Tokyo Olympics were suspended on March 16. The European qualifier in London that was underway and due to run to March 24, ended MOTORSPORT after the evening session on March 17. * Formula One canceled the opening race in Australia on March 15 and * Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title defense against Bulgarian the showcase Monaco Grand Prix in May has also been scrapped. A Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium on June 20 could be further six rounds have been postponed. postponed if Spurs need the stadium to complete this season’s Premier League fixtures. * Formula One expects to run a shortened season of 15-18 grands prix once racing resumes, down from its original calendar of a record 22 CRICKET races.

* The last two games of Australia’s three-match one-day international * The first five rounds of the MotoGP season — Qatar, Thailand, Texas, series against New Zealand in Sydney and Hobart were canceled. Argentina and Spain — will not go ahead as scheduled.

* Australia and New Zealand’s limited-overs tours were postponed. * NASCAR postponed all race events through May 3, including races at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (March 15) and Homestead-Miami * The start of the Indian Premier League T20 tournament (March 29) was Speedway (March 22), but intends to run all 36 races this season. postponed until April 15. * The Le Mans 24 hours race was postponed from June 13-14 to Sept. * The boards of India and South Africa agreed to reschedule a three- 19-20. match ODI series to a later date. * The annual 24 Hours Motos, initially postponed from April to * England’s two-match test series in Sri Lanka scheduled to start on September, is now scheduled to take place on Aug. 29–30. March 19 was postponed. * The Indianapolis 500, one of the world’s biggest single-day sporting * New South Wales were named Australia’s Sheffield Shield champions events with an estimated crowd topping 350,000, has been postponed after the competition’s final round was called off. until Aug. 23.

* Cricket Ireland and the Bangladesh Cricket Board agreed to postpone * The fifth and sixth rounds of the in Portugal three one-day internationals and four Twenty20 games between the (May 21-24) and Italy (June 4-7) have been postponed. teams scheduled for Belfast and England in May. NETBALL CYCLING * The Super Netball season in Australia, originally scheduled to start on * Cycling’s governing body plans to retroactively use March 3 as the cut- May 3, has been postponed and will not begin before June 30. off point for Olympic qualification in mountain bike, BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle. ROWING

* The final two stages of the UAE Tour were canceled after two Italian * Two World Rowing Cups and the European Olympic Qualification participants tested positive. Regatta, all scheduled for Italy, were canceled.

* The Paris-Nice cycling race ended a day early after the eighth stage * The annual University Boat Race, set for March 29 on the River into Nice was canceled. Thames in London, was canceled. [L8N2B9A0A]

* The Giro d’Italia, scheduled to start in Budapest, Hungary on May 9, RUGBY was postponed. * Four Six Nations matches were postponed. * The Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour de Yorkshire Race men’s and women’s races have been postponed. * Rugby Europe announced a suspension of all its matches and tournaments from March 13-April 15. * All cycling races up to the end of April have already been canceled and riders in France and Spain, where many are based, have been explicitly * France’s rugby federation suspended all its competitions. told they cannot train outside. * The European rugby season was suspended after European GOLF Professional Club Rugby postponed Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-final matches (April 3-5). * The year’s first major, the Masters, was postponed from April 9-12 to “some later date”. * The semi-final and final of this season’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments, which were due to take place in Marseille in May, have * The second major, the May 14-17 PGA Championship, was postponed, been postponed. with hopes of rescheduling in the summer. * England’s Rugby Football Union and Wales’ governing body confirmed * The U.S. Open, originally scheduled to be played June 18-21 in New the end of the 2019-20 season for all league, cup and county rugby, but York, has been postponed. the English Premiership has been excluded.

* The Players Championship in Florida was canceled after the first round. * The English Rugby Football League and Super League suspended all The PGA Tour also scrapped all events until at least May 10. fixtures until April 3.

* The Honda LPGA Thailand event and the HSBC Women’s World * Super Rugby suspended its season. Championship in Singapore were canceled. * Japan’s Top League is cancelling the remaining 42 matches of the * The next three LPGA Tour events scheduled for Arizona and California season. were postponed. SNOOKER * The European Tour has either postponed or canceled events scheduled between March and May. * The World Snooker Championship in Sheffield (April 18-May 4) at the Crucible Theatre, will be re-arranged for July or August. HORSE RACING SWIMMING * The Grand National festival (April 2-4) was canceled, the Jockey Club said. [L8N2B9A0A] * The 2020 European Aquatics Championships that was scheduled to take place from May 11-24 in Budapest, Hungary, has been postponed to August. TABLE TENNIS

* The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has suspended all planned events and activities involving international travel until June 30.

TENNIS

* The French Open was postponed until Sept. 20-Oct. 4.

* The ATP and WTA suspended the season through to June 7, affecting the claycourt swing. Tournaments in Madrid, Rome, Munich, Estoril, Geneva, Lyon, Strasbourg and Rabat will be hit.

* The Fed Cup finals (Budapest; April 14-19) were postponed.

WINTER SPORTS

* The International Ski Federation canceled the final races of the men’s Alpine skiing World Cup.

* The World Cup finals in Cortina were canceled along with the last three women’s races in Are.

* The women’s world championships in Canada were canceled.

* The Ice Hockey scheduled for Switzerland in May was canceled.

* The speed skating world championships in Seoul were postponed until at least October.

* The March 16-22 world figure skating championships in Montreal were canceled.

* The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) has canceled the remainder of its season after temporarily suspending its playoffs.

Compiled by Shrivathsa Sridhar, Rohith Nair, Hardik Vyas and Simon Jennings in Bengaluru, Amy Tennery in New York, Andrew Both in Cary, Robert Muller in Prague, Gene Cherry in Raleigh and Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by London editing team

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181921 World Leagues News Italy's sports minister is planning to extend the ban on games and competitions in the country through all of April.

The current nationwide lockdown is due to expire on Friday but Italian Coronavirus: Here's what's happening in the sports world on Sunday health experts have said the need to try to contain COVID-19 will likely last weeks beyond that.

Minister Vincenzo Spadafora tells Italian daily La Repubblica that talks The · Posted: Mar 29, 2020 7:46 AM ET | Last about restarting the Serie A soccer league on May 3 are "unrealistic." Updated: March 30 He adds: "[On Monday] I will propose extending the ban on sports competitions at every level for all of April. And I'll extend the measure to training — an area where we hadn't intervened because there was still a The latest on how the coronavirus outbreak is affecting sports around the possibility of holding the Olympics." globe: Some clubs like Lazio and Napoli had been pushing to restart training as Olympic organizers leaning away from starting games in spring of 2021 soon as this week. Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport temporarily halts doping testing At least 15 Serie A players have tested positive for COVID-19. program Overall, Italy has nearly 100,000 positive cases and days ago surpassed 2 Cubs employees test positive for COVID-19 the total in China, where the outbreak began in late 2019. Ex-MLB All-Star Jim Edmonds tests positive for pneumonia Former NFL Pro Bowler Tony Boselli test positive for COVID-19 Italy's sports minister to extend ban on events Former NFL offensive tackle Tony Boselli was placed in an intensive care Spring Olympics appearing less likely unit of a Jacksonville-area hospital hospital as a result of the coronavirus, according to a report from Mike Freeman of the Bleacher Report. Tokyo Olympic organizers seem to be leaning away from starting the rescheduled games in the spring of 2021. More and more the signs point Per Freeman, the 47-year-old Boselli is doing better but still receiving toward the summer of 2021. treatment.

Organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori suggested there would be 2020 Boxing Hall of Fame cancelled no major change from 2020. The International Boxing Hall of Fame has cancelled its Hall of Fame Tokyo Olympic organizers lean away from spring, eyeing summer dates weekend in June because of the coronavirus pandemic.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach had left open Executive director Ed Brophy said Sunday that this year's class will be the possibility of spring dates after announcing Tuesday that the Tokyo honoured at the induction ceremony in June 2021. Games would be postponed. The Class of 2020 includes the first female honorees in Barbara Buttrick, The postponed games were to have opened on July 24 and closed on Christy Martin, and Lucia Rijker, along with Bernard Hopkins, Juan Aug. 9. Mori suggested some decisions could be made as early as this Manuel Marquez, "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Frank Erne, and Paddy Ryan. week when the organizing committee's executive board meets. Also selected were promoters Lou DiBella, Kathy Duva and Dan Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport temporarily halts doping testing Goossen, and journalists Bernard Fernandez and Thomas Hauser. program La Liga raises $740,000 US for virus relief The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has placed its doping The Spanish league says more than $740,000 US has been raised for control testing program on hold until further notice. the fight against the coronavirus outbreak with the help of athletes and The CCES announced its decision Friday in a statement posted to its musicians in Spain. website. The final tally was announced a day after the athletes and musicians took The organization said putting its program on hold is "in response to part in a four-hour online global music festival organized by the league to updated government directives intended to minimize the risk of exposure help purchase medical supplies and support fans confined to their and spread of COVID-19 and the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 homes. Olympic and Paralympic Games." Barcelona's Gerard Pique, Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and tennis star "Athletes should know that most other countries around the world are Rafael Nadal were among those who participated in the charity event. also adjusting their anti-doping programs in accordance with their Celebrities included singers Aitana, Alejandro Sanz, Beret and Luis national responses to deal with COVID-19," the statement said. "The Fonsi, actress Danna Paola, music bands Morat and Taburete, and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is actively monitoring these Chinese pianist Lang Lang. adjustments. The CCES will continue to update WADA on the They all participated from their homes. adjustments we are taking in Canada." CBC Sports LOADED: 03.30.2020 The CCES said athletes will continue to be subject to the Canadian Anti- Doping Program (CADP).

2 Cubs emplyees test positive for COVID-19

Two Chicago Cubs employees who attended an annual training session at Wrigley Field on March 8 have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

One was hospitalized and the other was recovering at home, spokesman Julian Green said Sunday.

Ex-MLB All-Star Jim Edmonds tests positive for pneumonia

Former All-Star outfielder Jim Edmonds announced on his Instagram page that he went to the hospital to be tested for the coronavirus after displaying some symptoms. The 49-year-old Edmonds sent a video update Saturday night on his Instagram Story saying he was back home after testing positive for pneumonia for the first time in his life, but was awaiting results of tests for the coronavirus.

Italy's sports minister to extend ban on events 1181922 World Leagues News

Coronavirus Latest: Boston Mayor Says Too Many People Playing Sports In City Parks

March 29, 2020 at 11:15 pm

STAFF

BOSTON (CBS) – Mayor Marty Walsh said people in Boston are not doing enough to social distance during the coronavirus pandemic.

Walsh specifically pointed out the number of people doing things like playing sports in parks, and said that needs to stop.

“People are still gathering in groups and playing sports in our parks. This is not social distancing,” Walsh said. “Quite honestly, you’re putting other people at risk by doing this.”

The city is planning to take new measures to prevent people from gathering at parks. They will include new signs and putting zip ties on basketball nets.

As a last effort, Walsh said the city could lock down parks.

“If we have young people playing basketball on basketball courts and we have young people playing street hockey on street hockey courts, and we have people down hanging on the beach, and we have people sitting in large groups and having conversations, and you have a wine party at your house, all you’re doing is going to put a bigger strain on our hospitals because more people are going to test positive for the coronavirus,” said Walsh.

Walsh said he understands people are frustrated they have to alter how they live their lives. But he added that it is a necessity to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“I’m hoping no other generation of people experience what we’re experiencing right now,” said Walsh.

Law enforcement in Rye, New Hampshire issued a similar message after noticing people were not social distancing and the “Beach Closed” signs were being ignored.

It seemed more like “the typical of a summer day in Rye with all the motor vehicle traffic, pedestrian, as well as people out on the beaches, and it was just very crowded,” said Police Chief Kevin Walsh.

“The virus doesn’t move, people move it, and if people stop moving, the virus will stop and the virus will die,” he continued.

The same goes for warning goes for out-of-state visitors: “When you’re driving up from Massachusetts, you’re going to stop at the gas station, convenience stores, restaurant drive-throughs, and you’re going to start to spread the coronavirus if you have it, or you could end up picking it up and bringing it back to Massachusetts,” Kevin Walsh said.

CBC Sports LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181923 World Leagues News Bruce Kidd, a historian and professor at the University of Toronto, believes that sports are in a unique position to help rally cities or countries after disasters because people can identify with the athletes. That power will become even more apparent when normalcy returns after Sports organizations eager to unite Canada after coronavirus pandemic the novel coronavirus pandemic is over.

“I think to which athletes and coaches’ lives have been thrown into complete disarray is something that most people can identify with right BY JOHN CHIDLEY-HILL THE CANADIAN PRESS now,” said Kidd, who competed for Canada at the 1964 Olympics and Posted March 29, 2020 8:33 am was twice named The Canadian Press athlete of the year.

Updated March 29, 2020 8:34 am Kidd, who likened the current public health emergency to the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-20, says that when sports return it will be cathartic for all of society because it will be a celebration of overcoming adversity. FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, the Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals NHL hockey club, sits empty in Washington. “It will be a relief, it will signal a return to some kind of normalcy,” said Kidd. “It’ll be an opportunity for people to take control of their lives again, Tom Renney remembers exactly where he was during the attacks of whether it’s participating in sports or watching them. Sept. 11, 2001. “Psychologically, it will be empowering and I think that’s really important.” It was the first time the New York Rangers had ever held their training camp in Manhattan. Renney, who was entering his second season as the The Canadian Press LOADED: 03.30.2020 team’s director of player personnel, was at Madison Square Garden as players checked in for their physicals when the first plane struck the World Trade Centre.

The spectre of 9/11 still haunted New York City four years later when Renney began his first training camp as the Rangers’ head coach. Sensing that the Rangers could be a rallying point for a hurting city, Renney told his team that they had to play the 2005-06 season for the fans.

“You know what? We owe this city and we owe the New York Rangers fans everything we have,” Renney recalls. “This is not about hockey, this is about allowing a city that supports us like nobody else the chance to feel good, and feel like there’s a rebound and feel like there’s something that they can feel good about.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW “I said, that is our responsibility and our obligation to the Rangers fan. And quite honestly, you know, the National Hockey League.”

That season the Rangers became the first team to do a post-game stick salute to thank their fans, a practice that is now common around the NHL. Renney led the team to a third-place finish in the Atlantic Division and New York’s first playoff berth since 1997.

Renney is now the chief executive officer for and although he doesn’t know when professional or amateur sports will return, he says that like his time with the Rangers, they will play a critical role in healing the country when the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

“I believe Canadians are very resilient people. I think the hockey community is a resilient group, not just those that play it, but those that love watching it,” said Renney. “When the time is right, I think our participants and volunteers across the country will relish the role in leading Canada back to normal.”

Hockey, like all elite sports, is on hold as officials do their bit to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The NHL has paused its season and the Memorial Cup, Canada’s national major junior championship, was cancelled along with the Canadian Hockey League’s playoffs.

There’s no telling when the NHL, NBA, Major League Baseball, CFL or any other professional sport will return. But like Renney, Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum says his sport will be ready to unite Canadians when restrictions on public gatherings are lifted.

Also like Renney, Applebaum has seen firsthand how sports can bring a community together after a tragedy.

Applebaum was the vice president of Salomon Canada, a sports equipment manufacturer, a decade ago and was in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He remembers a literal and figurative cloud hovering over Vancouver after Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed during a training run hours before the Games opening ceremony.

“The sport community came together to mourn him and the weather changed and it ended up evolving into an incredible celebration of sport and humankind coming together,” said Applebaum. “So my prevailing theory is the sun will rise again (when the pandemic is over).

“And golf, golf will rise again and return to being an incredible part of our lives. It’s just going to take some time.” 1181924 World Leagues News household subscribers the option to pause their subscriptions, suspending payment for sports channels even if under contract.

A report published Thursday by London-based Ampere Analytics TV Companies Worldwide Hit by Sports Shutdown estimates Sky in the U.K. generates £2.1 billion ($2.5 billion) from sports, around 22 percent of its overall U.K. revenue. In a worst-case scenario, where coronavirus concerns lead to all sports coverage, both British and international, being suspended for the next four months and all 12:50 PM PDT 3/26/2020 by Scott Roxborough subscribers pausing their contracts, with wholesale clients being allowed to follow, Ampere forecasts Sky would lose $837 million from the current crisis. By the same measure, BT, the U.K. telecom and broadband The Tokyo Summer Games, which had been set for July, have been provider that also carries professional soccer matches, stands to lose a delayed to a to-be-determined date in 2021. maximum of $273 million.

With virtually all professional sporting events postponed or canceled due Counterintuitively, if the coronavirus crisis continues into the summer, to the coronavirus pandemic, global broadcasters are facing massive and pay TV networks can postpone or suspend rights payments for major subscription losses and extreme revenue drops: "There is no conceivable sporting events, the channels could actually start saving money, the loss cap." report concludes. “Historically, sport has been a loss-leader” due to high- priced rights deals and the cost of coverage, Ampere writes, noting that With the new coronavirus, the business of sports is a whole new the cost of sports' rights is cross-subsidized by Sky’s basic TV ballgame. subscription and by BT’s broadband bundles. But, Ampere notes, sports From Major League Baseball to the NBA and the Tokyo Summer is a key driver of subscriptions for pay TV companies and without it, Olympics, professional sporting events worldwide have been delayed, “operators may struggle to replace the 10 percent-plus of subscribers postponed or canceled outright amid the global pandemic, raising churning every year.” questions about the financial damage the outbreak will wreak on The report expects major pay TV groups across Europe, including Sky in networks dependent on live coverage of tremendously fit folk running, Italy and Germany, Canal+ in France and Telefónica’s Movistar+ in throwing, kicking and catching all manner of round objects. Spain, to face a similar sports-driven financial blow. In Europe, all professional soccer leagues have been put on hold, mid- Even harder hit will be all-sports networks, which face extreme revenue season, as has the lucrative pan-European Champions League. Euro drops and wholesale massive losses of subscribers. For groups like 2020, a pan-national soccer tournament held every four years, was London-based DAZN and France's BeIN Sports, “there is no conceivable pushed back until the summer of 2021. loss cap,” says Ampere, noting the prevalence of no-contract, cancel- Networks worldwide are scrambling to sort out licensing and sponsorship anytime 30-day subscriptions means customers can quickly drop their all- deals linked to sporting events and to calculate the likely damage. sports services while they wait for the games to resume.

Comcast’s NBCUniversal, which holds U.S. rights to the Tokyo Summer “Sporting events have been on the front line of disruption and there are Games, and Discovery Inc., which holds Olympics rights through 2024 in many conversations taking place with government, health authorities and 50 European markets via its Eurosport network, have both previously sports organizations about the safest and best way to move forward,” said they had purchased insurance policies that would cover losses. DAZN said in a March 16 statement, noting it was in “daily contact” with NBCUniversal booked a record $1.25 billion in ad sales ahead of the rights holders and partners “to understand and manage the impact of the Tokyo Olympics, selling out 90 percent of its national ad inventory before virus on our industry, service and customers.” the IOC announced the delay. The coronavirus pandemic has slammed the brakes on DAZN's According to a SEC filing made public Wednesday, Comcast has raised expansion plans. The group, which operates in a handful of countries, $4 billion through a debt offering to offset the impact of the COVID-19 most prominently in the U.S., Germany, Italy and Japan, was on track to outbreak on its businesses. roll out a new service in 200 territories by May. With little live sports left to show, DAZN is pushing its catalog content as well as original sports- "The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 and measures to prevent its documentary programming. spread are affecting the company’s businesses in a number of ways. For example, the company has closed all of its theme parks; the company But the coronavirus has not stopped business entirely. On Thursday, has delayed theatrical distribution of films both domestically and Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT) announced it will launch its Viaplay international," Comcast said in the regulatory filing. streaming service in Iceland on April 1, albeit without live sports for the time being. NENT, which operates Viaplay across the rest of S&P Global research director Deana Myers told The Hollywood Reporter Scandinavia, responded to the cancellation of live sporting events by even smaller leagues and tournaments could have a major knock-on dropping the price of its sports bundles for all its subscribers. effect on broadcast revenues. She estimates nearly $1 billion is at stake for CBS and Turner Sports from the cancelled NCAA Tournament alone, Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, NENT president and CEO Anders as last year's tourney generated $968 million in advertising revenue. Jensen said it was "absolutely the right decision" to cut subscription costs for sports programming during the shutdown and that Viaplay has seen "That's gone this year. If this goes on for a long time, it will have a really "very little churn" as a result. "Sports subscribers are using our film and big impact on al the network and sports league and advertisers with a TV services more, we've seen a 40 percent jump in usage there and use ripple effect," Myers said. of our TVOD service, for movie rentals, has gone up more than 100 ViacomCBS's chief executive Bob Bakish, said Friday that the percent [since the start of the coronavirus crisis]," said the exec. "If the coronavirus pandemic could have a "material" impact on the company's crisis goes on for just two months, and the Premier League, the results. It withdrew its 2020 financial guidance and said it was planning Champions League, the NHL, Formula One will back as normal during "cost savings initiatives" to offset some of the expected revenue losses. the summer, we expect it will be almost a zero-sum game for us."

Discovery on Tuesday, reporting its financial results, retracted its full-year Jensen admitted he also has a "worst-case" scenario, should the 2020 performance outlook, saying the coronavirus pandemic would have coronavirus outbreak continue for several months, even into 2021, with an "unknown impact" on its business. The group revealed it recently drew the cancellation of more major sporting events: "I do have that plan in my down $500 million from a revolving credit facility to shore up its balance drawer here and that would require more draconian measures, where sheet during the crisis. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels told investors we'd have to start thinking about shouting some things down. But we're on an earnings call in February that the company took out insurance on not there yet." the Olympics long ago and that a disruption of the Games is “not going to The Hollywood Reporter LOADED: 03.30.2020 have any adverse impact on our financials.”

For European networks, the impact of the delay, and possible cancellation, of the professional soccer season could be more dire. Broadcasters reliant on live matches have already been hit by the shutdown. Comcast-owned pay TV group Sky has stopped charging commercial clients like pubs for its Sky Sports package and has given 1181925 World Leagues News possible postseason run. One that might end up all the way at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria, the site of the state tournament.

“If we don’t get to play this year, we’ll be heart-broken,” Block said. “But Impact of coronavirus on local sports community to have that season last year with that group of kids like we did helps a lot. They achieved a lot, and this is a group that will be remembered.”

THE DIVISION I RECRUIT Matt Daniels 19 hrs ago ‘I was looking forward to this AAU season’

This spring was supposed to feature Jalen Quinn showcasing his Villa Grove softball basketball talents to college coaches while playing with the Illinois Wolves during various AAU events.Illinois, Purdue, Missouri, Virginia The Villa Grove softball team has high aspirations for the 2020 season Tech, Indiana State, Illinois State, Southern Illinois and Eastern Illinois after reaching the Elite Eight in Class 1A last season and only graduating have all shown recruiting interest in the talented Tuscola sophomore, one senior. From left (front row) Kaylee Arbuckle, Kokona Kikuchi and who averaged 21 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals for the Addy Fisher; (middle row) Jordyn Ray, Kyleigh Block, Reagan Cheely Warriors this past winter. and Ragin Baker; (back row) Madie Burwell, Maci Clodfelder, Vanessa Wright, Maris Eversole and Molly Mixell. Yet all those plans are on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. But Quinn has spent most of March still getting his basketball fix in when he THE COACH OF A STATE TITLE CONTENDER can. ‘We’re still preparing to play’ “There’s a friend who has a gym in Tuscola who lets me use it,” Quinn Jeana Block has become well-versed in Snapchat the last two said. “For a workout, it usually just consists of different types of jump weeks.“We’re working hard to keep our families all together — and using shots and finishes at the rim so it feels easy when it comes to a game. social distancing, of course — but we have some Snapchat groups,” the I’m just trying to keep that repetition through the workout.” Villa Grove softball coach said of the popular social media application. The NCAA has suspended on-campus and off-campus recruiting through “We always start our practices with a question of the day, so we’ve at least April 15, and Quinn said he was disappointed when he first heard assigned a girl a certain day. Every day, we wake up in the morning, and about spring AAU tournaments getting canceled. we have a question we all have to answer. Throughout the day there’s comments back and forth just trying to keep the girls engaged. They “I was looking forward to this AAU season,” Quinn said, “but I don’t know send me messages and videos of them playing catch in their yard with if I’ll be able to play, so it was tough hearing that.” siblings or parents. We’re just keeping our team together and hoping that we get to play sometime.” When he can’t get in a gym, Quinn has taken to going through in-home workouts to keep his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame in basketball-playing This is not how Block or the rest of her talented Villa Grove softball team shape. envisioned March going, with the Blue Devils yet to play a game because of the coronavirus pandemic postponing the start of spring sports across “I’m trying to keep working out every day because that’s about the only the state. thing I can do to try to improve my game with this lockdown,” Quinn said, “and hopefully when it’s all done, I will come back better than what I One of the area’s top teams last season, the Blue Devils won a Class 1A was.” sectional title — the first in school history — and advanced to the Elite Eight. With only one senior gone from last year’s team that finished 24-13 For now, Quinn isn’t trying to worry about his future too much — he still and a boatload of key returnees, led by two Parkland signees in senior has two seasons left in his high school career that has already seen him shortstop Reagan Cheely and senior catcher Maris Eversole, Villa Grove top 1,000 career points. Instead, he’s spending some time reflecting back embraced the lofty expectations entering the season. on the superb 26-4 season that Tuscola put together from early December through late February. Especially because Block has helped coach this particular group since they were in elementary school. “We had an amazing season,” Quinn said. “It was a fun group to play with, and it was a really great year overall.” “We have five seniors this year,” said Block, who boasts pitcher Jordyn Ray, Ragin Baker and Molly Mixell along with Cheely and Eversole in THE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE that category. “When this group of seniors was 8 years old, a couple of ‘It brightens my day’ the other coaches and myself started a travel ball program. We coached them through and we always said, ‘Wait until their seniors. Wait until their Jane Stillman couldn’t sleep last Sunday night. And the Champaign seniors.’” Central athletic director isn’t sure if the restless feeling she had produced an idea that helped get her through this past week.But, either way, the That time is here. Yet all they can account for this season is a few weeks excursion of sharing photos of Central’s senior athletes in spring sports worth of practices in late February and early March. The Blue Devils on the Central athletic department’s Twitter account (@maroonathletics) were supposed to leave Thursday for its third straight trip to gave her a much-needed lift with the coronavirus pandemic putting a Murfreesboro, Tenn., for a spring break trip, but instead, were all at their temporary stop to sports throughout the world. separate homes in the Douglas County community. By Friday evening, Stillman had shared photos of 18 Central senior “The weather has helped us a little bit because with our schedule, we athletes, generating hundreds of retweets and likes. Along with a feel- probably would have played one game by now and we would have been good vibe for the only female athletic director at a Champaign County rained out in the other ones,” Block said. “As it is right now, our first game high school. could potentially be April 13 against Arcola. That’s part of how they’re coping is we just keep looking at certain dates. I want them to stay active “Because everything has been shut down, I just feel really bad for our because if they come and say, ‘We can play,’ I want them to be ready. seniors,” Stillman said. “Typically what we see in the media at this time is We’re still preparing to play at some point.” they are usually highlighting the senior kids, but none of these kids get to do that right now. I haven’t been sleeping very well because I’ve been The close bond the players on the Villa Grove team is a benefit in these thinking about our kids a lot and about what they’re missing out on.” uncertain times. On Monday morning, Stillman reached out via email to every senior “For a long time, the travel ball team consisted just of girls from Villa athlete at Central to see if they would share an individual photo of them Grove. We did that by design,” Block said. “We took lumps along the with their respective sport. The feedback from the senior Maroons? way, but they trust each other. I know when they’re feeling frustrated, they talk to one another. They’re all in it together and they’re all hoping to “My phone constantly seems to be dinging with notifications and emails,” get to play.” Stillman said. “I did it on purpose that I wanted individual photos to just spotlight the kids.” The alternative is one Block hopes doesn’t pan out. She’d much rather spend her spring filling out lineup cards and getting ready for another When Central’s six spring sports — baseball, softball, girls’ soccer, boys’ track and field, girls’ track and field and boys’ tennis — will resume action is unclear at the moment. For now, Stillman is trying to do her part in part of the season before June,” Hastings said. “Like a lot of small trying to give the seniors a lasting memory. businesses, we’re going to have a major deficit financially this year if we’re not able to continue. So we’ll likely need to figure out how to raise “It’s been fun to do,” Stillman said, “because it brightens my day every some capital and then pay back families a major portion of their time I get a new photo.” payments for the season that hasn’t happened. While these tournament THE SPORTS EDITOR hosts will do their best, there’s a big impact on everyone, so it’s unknown how much we’ll be able to recoup in tournament entry fees and other ‘There are always stories that can be done’ items. Of course with no season, or a limited season, then there’s a bunch of coaches who can’t get paid as well.” Chad Dare is usually out traveling around the area at this time of the year. Covering high school sports. Writing stories. Producing a sports Despite all the adversity and uncertainty, Hastings is finding a silver section.“Personally, I cover about 150-200 events in a year and our lining. The 15-hour days he usually has in the spring — filled with his full- paper covers 300,” said Dare, the sports editor of the Danville time job as the director of sales and strategic initiatives at Wolfram Commercial-News since 2003. “Each week, I print out a schedule and go Research to his time coaching both with Prime Time and Parkland — through it, choosing the best games each day.” aren’t happening at the moment.

Dare, however, hasn’t had those opportunities the last two weeks “I would be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate the break,” Hastings said. because the coronavirus pandemic has put a hold on high school sports “I’ve never known a different schedule to what I do now, so to me, that’s in the area and forced the cancellation of a March staple in Danville, the normal life. But now that I’m home each evening to play and spend NJCAA Division II men’s basketball national tournament. quality time with my family and spend time teaching our daughters all kinds of things that I missed previously, I honestly don’t know how badly I Dare’s last assignment happened on March 10, where he covered the want to return to the life as it was before. I think if this goes on for much end of Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin’s superb boys’ basketball longer, this might be my new normal, so when the world as a whole gets season with Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin outlasting the Blue Devils back to normal, I look forward to having the new insight to try and define 59-56 in a Class 2A super-sectional game in Springfield. and carve out a new normal for myself, our family and for Prime Time Since then, he’s plugging away on stories, albeit stories he never thought and Parkland volleyball as well.” he’d write when the month started. THE SPORTS PARENTS “There are always stories that can be done,” Dare said, “but finding the ‘They all said no to the boat and yes to sports’ appropriate photos to go with the stories is another situation. It takes time to go through our photo files.” Communication is key in the Coursey household. Especially from a scheduling standpoint in the spring. The Moline High School graduate, who spent his college years at Black Hawk College in Galva and at Western Illinois University in Macomb, has St. Joseph residents Tom and Traci Coursey have four children, all active become a permanent fixture on the local sports scene in the past two in softball and baseball. Daughter Andrea, 20, is a junior third baseman decades. on the Illinois State softball team.

A big baseball fan, Dare was sad to see Major League Baseball’s Drew, 18, is a senior second baseman on the St. Joseph-Ogden High scheduled opening day come and go this past Thursday with no games. School baseball team. Cale, 15, is a freshman pitcher/infielder at SJ-O Needless to say, Dare is eager for sports to resume. and is also part of the Decatur Commodores travel baseball team. Jude, 13, is in seventh grade at St. Joseph Middle School, where he plays “I think I’m going to go crazy without some type of live sports,” Dare said. shortstop and pitches along with playing travel baseball for the “I was hopeful that it was just going to be a temporary situation, but it Champaign Dream. also made me think about 9/11. It’s kind of scary thinking about all of these things that are so normal in our everyday life stopping all at once. “I’m not sure I can adequately describe how much sports mean to our It’s like the world stopped spinning.” family,” Traci said. “This is what we do.”

Cliff Hastings Prime Time Good point, too, considering Tom and Traci have watched their children play sports on a consistent basis for the last decade. All while the couple Prime Time volleyball director Cliff Hastings poses with the Prime Time manages full-time jobs. 14 Blue team after they won the division at the Rockford AAUs Grand Prix on March 8, the last tournament of the season for the club. “One year, we were on our way home from bouncing around the U.S. for 17 straight days for multiple tournaments, and we asked the kids if this is Provided really how they wanted to spend their time,” Traci said. “We told them if THE CLUB VOLLEYBALL COACH they gave up travel ball, we could use that money to buy a boat and go to a lake on the weekends. They all said no to the boat and yes to sports.” ‘I’ve never known a different schedule’ That means trips to Tempe, Ariz., and Baton Rouge, La., the last three Cliff Hastings was supposed to spend last weekend in Indianapolis.Then, seasons to support Andrea in the stands during tournaments for the ISU he had plans to be in Louisville, Ky., at the start of April. softball team.

Both trips for the sole purpose of club volleyball tournaments, a role And juggling schedules to make sure at least Tom or Traci is in the Hastings oversees as director of the Champaign-Urbana based Prime stands at one of their children’s games, even when conflicts arise. Time Volleyball Club. “Once baseball begins, there are usually multiple games during the week The tournaments in Indiana and Kentucky were for Prime Time’s high and on the weekend,” Tom said. “Usually Traci and I are week-to-week school teams, tournaments that never ultimately materialized because of on who goes where and covers whose games. When Andrea begins the coronavirus pandemic. conference play, it is every weekend either in Normal or on the road in the Midwest. Needless to say, we spend a great deal of our spring at a “They would have had the week off for spring break, and we’d be getting ball field. In the end, we try our best to make it as fair and equal as back to practices,” said Hastings, who also doubles as Parkland possible, but it is difficult.” volleyball’s coach and has compiled a 545-51 record, including two national championships, in 11 seasons coaching the Cobras. “The junior The difficulty now resides in the fact no softball or baseball games high and youth teams would have gotten their season underway in involving a Coursey family member are taking place. preparation for our first tournaments at the start of April. This would have been all the fun stuff.” The coronavirus pandemic canceled Andrea’s softball season at Illinois State less than two weeks ago, while Drew and his SJ-O teammates are Now, the organization that is comprised of roughly 300 athletes and 45 still waiting to see if they’ll get a chance to play this spring. coaches to form 30 teams, is sifting through the “not-so-fun,” parts of running a club program, according to Hastings. With all four children under one roof again, Traci has devised daily tasks, like research projects, 30 minutes or more of reading a book of their “We’re running through financials, talking about contingency plans and choice, working out in the house, cleaning the house and other activities. redoing schedules in hopes that we’re actually able to participate in some The family has even had a three-round ping-pong tournament already, won or lost, other than finishing the season on a winning note. I don’t too. know if it would have been worse for the kids if they would have won and two days later, we would have told them they can’t play. Probably if they “Traci is running a mini-boot camp at our house,” Tom said. “We could have scripted it, they would have liked to win and play for a challenged our family in the beginning of the postponements to try and sectional championship, but at some point, I think everyone is starting to find the silver lining in our current circumstances. We remain thankful for realize the magnitude of this situation and just the unique nature that the opportunities we still have and for good health and safety for our everyone is in. This takes precedence over sports.” friends and family.” THE UMPIRE That doesn’t mean, though, that the Courseys can’t wait to get back out on a ball field again. Or just even to watch a game on TV. ‘I definitely miss it’

“It is crazy how accustomed we get to sports when that is literally your Even amid the typical chilly and wet weather that hits east central Illinois whole life most of the year,” Tom said. “We are either in the gym, at a ball in late March, Matt Mayer was looking forward to this point on the field or watching sports on television most of the time. It is even difficult calendar.Because that meant high school baseball games would start not being able to attend baseball or softball games at the University of taking place again and Mayer would find himself on a local baseball Illinois. So, we adjust and bide our time until our lives will return to diamond again, giving back to the game by working as an umpire. normal. I already believe that we will all have a better appreciation for the activities that we participate in and probably have taken for granted in the It’s a role the 1991 Rantoul Township High School graduate has filled past.” every spring since 1999. Until now with the coronavirus pandemic putting a halt to high school sports for the time being. Traci echoes that sentiment. “I miss it a lot,” Mayer said. “It’s just weird in general for everybody, of “Like most parents, I can’t even begin to explain how much we love our course. The weather on Wednesday was so beautiful and you’re thinking, family and how proud we are of our children,” Traci said. “I am proud of ‘Man, I’d like to umpire a ballgame.’ I definitely miss it.” their accomplishments in sports, but I am also proud of how they have handled this unsettling time in the world. Mayer’s start in umpiring began in an uncomplicated manner. Long-time local umpire Hans Flessner visited Ott’s, the well-known restaurant in “We’ve been forced to slow down, but we’ve been blessed with time to Rantoul that Mayer and his family used to own, one day in 1998 and step back and appreciate the little things in life that we too often take for started talking with Mayer. granted. I hope we don’t lose sight of this when things do go back to normal.” “I was 25 at the time,” Mayer said. “He told me I should go into umpiring and said he could break me in during the summer leagues.” THE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR From there, a passion was born. One Mayer still holds dear to this day, ‘These are things I still need to do’ working roughly 110 baseball games each year, with 35 or so coming in the form of high school varsity games around the area in the spring, Steve Waller went to work Thursday and Friday inside Urbana High about 50 or 60 local youth games in the summer and around 20 junior School. Except with no students around. Or fellow staff members nearby. high games in the fall. The Urbana athletic director, a position he’s held since 2015, was one of two administrators tasked during those two days to work from the high “I like just being involved in sports,” Mayer said. “I’ve coached and done school. When Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on March 17 that schools in different things in the past, but umpiring keeps you involved. The one Illinois would close until March 30 — later extended to April 7 — because thing I do like about it, too, is you can make your own schedule. When of the coronavirus pandemic, the Illinois State Board of Education you’re a coach, you’re a prisoner, to an extent, of the game schedule and recommended each school have one administrator on-site during regular the practice schedule.” school hours in case a student needs a safe place to go. Mayer understands why he can’t be on a baseball diamond yet, calling So, Waller did what he would have done during any regular school day balls or strikes and making determinations on close plays around the with a building full of students, teachers and staff. basepaths. After his family sold Ott’s in 2016, Mayer has worked as a customer service officer for the Bank of Rantoul. Yet he empathizes with “I worked on schedules through next year and worked ahead on what local umpires who rely on the money from a part-time job like umpiring items we’ll need to do as we start up again,” Waller said. “I think it’s just local baseball games can provide. Especially in this uncertain time. ingrained in you as far as these are things I still need to do in preparation for us to come back. These are still things that still need to be done for “From a financial standpoint, I’m able to get by, but I know some, just like next year to stay ahead because if you don’t, then things get hectic and any other part-time job, they depend on that income,” Mayer said. you’re scrambling.” “Sometimes, this whole thing doesn’t even felt like it’s real. It’s like a whole different world.” The closure of schools meant no Gene Armer Indoor Invitational, in its 42nd year, for the Tigers to host. The ninth annual girls’ soccer THE JUNIOR COLLEGE COACH tournament that Urbana hosts was set to take place April 3-4, but won’t happen that weekend. Plus, Urbana uses its track and field facility to host ‘Their careers are not over’ several large-scale invitationals each spring, including The News- Jon Goebel has spent the last two weeks reading more, listening to Gazette’s Honor Roll Meet. podcasts, volunteering and even picking up some shifts to help out at All of those are up in the air at the moment if they’ll even happen, along Wal-Mart in Champaign.“I’m stocking shelves and receiving from trucks,” with the rest of the spring sports calendar. Goebel said. “I have a lot of free time and figured they could use the help.” Which could affect athletes like Urbana senior DiamonAsia Taylor, the girls’ track and field standout who has won three straight Class 2A state All aspects of his life the second-year Parkland baseball coach didn’t titles in the high jump and could vie for a fourth if the state meet happens. envision playing out this spring.

“She’s going to go down as one of the most decorated athletes in Urbana Instead of preparing to play Lewis & Clark this weekend in a pair of history,” Waller said, “and she’s worked her whole life for this moment.” doubleheaders, Goebel has another message for his players: focus on academics. Waller actually witnessed one of the last high school sporting events in the state earlier this month before the rush of cancellations hit. The “I told them this should be the best academic semester of your college Urbana boys’ basketball team lost 46-44 to Springfield Lanphier on career,” Goebel said, “considering you have minimal distractions without March 10 during a 3A sectional semifinal game. Two days later, the baseball.” Illinois High School Association canceled the remainder of the state Parkland’s baseball season, along with every other junior-college spring tournament. sports program in the country, came to a halt on March 16 when the “I really felt bad for the kids that night,” Waller said. “We had a little bit of NJCAA canceled the spring sports season and the remaining winter an off night, especially shooting the ball, but they fought the entire game sports championships because of the coronavirus pandemic. and never gave up. In reality, it wouldn’t have mattered if we would have “It was tough, but it was different from a lot of the D-I cancellations,” Goebel said. “Those seemed to kind of come early and out of nowhere. We were in a suspension mode, but could see the writing on the wall. We were remaining hopeful, but we kind of knew what was coming.”

Parkland, which has won two NJCAA Division II national titles in its history (2002 and 2009) and has reached the NJCAA D-II World Series nine times (most recently in 2018), had compiled an 8-5 record through the first month of the season.

The Cobras are in a different situation, too, than any NCAA school since the NJCAA decided it will give spring sport athletes another season of eligibility.

“Our roster will be a little larger than usual next year, but I like that competition it will create,” Goebel said. “We have already contacted every 2020 commit and explained the situation and laid out how the roster might look a little different than when they originally committed. It is important to make sure they do not feel they were lied to.”

Transparent is how Goebel wants to operate his program with his current players, many who he’ll coach next season.

“I did not have to look any seniors in the face and tell them I don’t know if they will get a chance to play again,” Goebel said. “All my guys will continue to play either at Parkland or at another school. Their careers are not over.”

Just like Goebel’s coaching career at Parkland. Even if he adds some income this spring from his job at Wal-Mart.

“Parkland is still paying their employees,” Goebel said. “so it’s not like I’m being forced. I just figured, ‘Why not?’ Parkland has been great to all their employees through this.”

The News-Gazette LOADED: 03.30.2020 1181926 World Leagues News Co-host Tommy Moody, the analyst on South Carolina Gamecocks baseball broadcasts, is linked to the show via a board operator working in a downtown Columbia studio.

Finebaum, other sports talk hosts play key coronavirus roles - if they stay When Philips announced that all SEC spring sports have been canceled, on the air a fan called in panic.

“Does that mean baseball?” he asked.

20 hrs ago When another caller started going on about politicians overreacting to an issue no more dangerous than “a mild flu,” Philips had enough. Gene Sapakoff “Go outside and yell at the virus,” he told the guy.

Philips estimates 20 percent of his calls have been coronavirus-related in It wasn’t the usual juggling of notoriously zealous callers poking fun at some way, including reviews of the best Columbia places to get take-out Auburn football, needling Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and chiming in on food. the Alabama situation between one scheduled guest addressing spring football at LSU and another rating coaches on the hot “But I feel like people listening to us don’t want to focus on the same seat. things the news shows are talking about,” Philips said. “So we’re trying to talk about (NFL quarterback) Cam Newton, we’re trying to talk about Paul Finebaum had just dealt with a man from Louisiana who insisted Gamecocks stuff, we’re trying to talk about baseball. coronavirus concerns were unfounded. “We hope to be a diversion. Just like we always do, really.” Followed by a guy from Alabama who thought the previous caller was nuts. Phil Kornblut sees it similarly. He is in his fourth decade as a Columbia- based host syndicated statewide. Kornblut with his SportsTalk show is “This thing,” said Finebaum, “is going to force us to take a good look at trying to stick to sports two hours a night, five nights a week. our lives.” “I've always believed SportsTalk should be a diversion from the day to The host of The Paul Finebaum Show, nationally syndicated on SEC day grind,” Kornblut said. “After a hard day’s work, you want to be able to Network television and ESPN radio outlets (including Charleston), was listen to something other than the doom and gloom of politics and the an influential voice before our recent unpleasantness. like.”

Now the Charlotte-based Finebaum, along with sports talk show hosts all So subjects this week included a give-and-take with callers on the over the country, are making a pair of vital coronavirus contributions: backup defensive tackles at Clemson and South Carolina. They are an outlet for sports fans who have no live sports to watch while providing an apolitical media forum that’s rare these divided days. It’s not easy.

Virus victims, health care workers and research scientists need your We all feel it, even the most successful among us. prayers, it’s true. “It’s scary and unsettling,” said Finebaum, whose wife is a doctor. “And But save a few for these folks, too. often during the past 12 days, I have found myself down and disillusioned, disoriented and depressed. However, the audience has “The role is the same but the times are gravely different,” Finebaum said. been encouraging and has passed along hope and optimism and a very “I’ve always believed my best position is as a moderator as opposed to important dose of spirit and faith.” being a bloviator. Advertising dip, and cuts “But this has easily been the most challenging crisis I’ve ever faced as a host. Every day is different. And the uncertainty around the corner is Some unwritten rules of radio have changed. daunting. Philips on his Columbia show mentions local businesses — restaurants "Suddenly, sports, which I love, seems irrelevant.” that are open for take-out, etc. — even if they are not advertisers.

It doesn’t seem right, Finebaum said, to argue about whether Clemson is But even while much media usage is up, which is typical during a major better than Alabama. emergency or crisis, managers know an advertising dip looms.

Because who knows if there will be a 2020 football season? Radio is extra-hampered if most people work from home and standard morning and late-afternoon “drive-time” doesn’t apply. “However,” he said, “I am encouraged by the resolve of so many people who are contributing in every facet of life.” Thus, Will Palaszczuk of Atlanta’s 92.9-FM The Game was working from home earlier this week before he had his show appearances temporarily Sports talk radio is an underrated public service right about now. Though eliminated. this is that rare crisis in which every country in the world is pulling together to solve a problem, sports talk radio is one of the few places Palaszczuk, who previously worked on radio and TV at South Carolina people can go to talk about it without typing. Or dealing with a host stations in Columbia and Greenville, had been blending fresh NFL free typecast to the right or left. agency news involving the Atlanta Falcons with a personal coronavirus perspective. As long as the hosts aren’t pushed off the air for safety or budget reasons, that is. “A lot of it is to let people know they’re not alone,” Palaszczuk said. “The one thing people come to us for is authenticity and it’s OK to not know Bobby Hartin’s Charleston sports talk show, an afternoon staple for more what to talk about or not know what’s going on.” than 25 years, was sidelined this week as were some other shows around the country. Finebaum knows all too well.

Hartin said he “hopes to be back sooner than later” when station There is no template for this, he said. management deems it safe to return to the studio. No playbook. Finebaum's show has continued on the radio but was absent from the Nothing to google to help get better prepared for a sports show during a SEC Network for two weeks. It is scheduled to return to TV on Monday, pandemic. ESPN announced Friday. But those crazy Paul Finebaum Show callers? They keep coming ‘Spirit and faith’ through with comfort blankets. Jay Philips, host of an afternoon program on 107.5 The Game in “I have never felt more fortunate or blessed to have this job,” Finebaum Columbia, is, like most everyone else, working from home. said. “To have something to do every day, to be able to interact with His wife and four children are also home. friends and especially, the audience.” That’s sports talk radio at its best, a little oasis of public interaction and needed distraction in our time of need.

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