sign in sign up
<<
Home , 2017 NHL Stadium Series, 2017 NHL Winter Classic, 2019 NHL Stadium Series, 2022 NHL Stadium Series, Alex Faust, Bob Hassard

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 08/07/19 Wild 1150595 BICKLEY: What’s in a number? Valley about to find out 1150624 Wild will play 12 games on national TV this season 1150596 After , which Coyotes are best suited to 1150625 Wild GM search update: Hurricanes’ , increase scoring this season? Penguins’ latest to interview Bruins Canadiens 1150597 Bruins will play 12 games on national TV in 2019-20 1150626 A different look at Ryan Poehling’s potential and NHL 1150598 How can Bruins manage Patrice Bergeron to keep getting readiness the most out of him? 1150599 20 Under 25: Can David Pastrnak be a 50- scorer for Bruins? 1150627 Predators sign Rocco Grimaldi to 1-year deal 1150600 to play 12 nationally televised games next 1150628 Predators to appear on NBC, NBCSN 12 times in 2019-20 season 1150601 Noel Acciari on moving on from Bruins: 'There are no fans Devils like Boston fans' 1150629 NJ Devils to play 4 nationally-televised games in 2019-20 1150602 Noel Acciari bids goodbye to Bruins fans, looks ahead to fresh start in 1150630 Rangers have 13 games on NBC Sports' national schedule compared with 2 for Islanders 1150603 Sabres to play five games on national television NHL 1150631 NHL moves to crack down on ticket ‘brokers’ now 1150604 Summer edition of the Flames top 20 prospects on a waiting list for seats Flyers 1150605 Don Waddell flirts with Wild as Carolina Hurricanes face 1150632 Flyers' home opener vs. Devils 1 of their 20 games to be front-office dysfunction nationally televised during 2019-20 season 1150606 Hurricanes’ goalie Anton Forsberg gets one-year contract 1150607 Canes trade defenseman to San Jose for Penguins 1150633 Report: Penguins assistant GM Bill Guerin up for 1150608 Canes relegated to only one national TV game next Minnesota job season – again 1150634 Penguins set for 6 Sunday afternoon national TV 1150609 State of the Canes: What’s going on with Don Waddell appearances and the Hurricanes? 1150635 Penguins' Bill Guerin interviews for Wild job Blackhawks 1150636 Wild GM search update: Hurricanes’ Don Waddell, 1150610 Blackhawks will be featured in league-high 12 nationally Penguins’ Bill Guerin latest to interview televised games 1150611 NBC Sports Chicago to carry 70 Blackhawks games in 2019-20 1150637 The best- and worst-case scenarios for every member of 1150612 Bidding farewell to Marcus Kruger, the Blackhawks’ the Sharks’ roster ultimate role player St Louis Blues 1150638 Arm-strong Blues? No reason they can't repeat as Stanley 1150613 Avalanche to play 12 nationally televised games on NBC Cup champions Sports in 2019-20 1150639 Former Blue Shattenkirk joins Lightning 1150614 Avalanche to make 12 appearances on national television 1150640 Edmundson's deal leaves Blues $2.7 million under salary 1150615 The implications of a hot start for the Avalanche cap 1150641 Blues' Edmundson receives one-year deal for $3.1 million Stars in arbitration ruling 1150616 to appear six times on national television in 1150642 ’s engraver, Louise St. Jacques, shares the 2019-20; see the matchups here joys and quirks of her job 1150617 What game film, analytics and Stars coach Jim 1150643 Updated 2019-20 Blues depth chart, salary-cap situation: Montgomery say about how Joe Pavelski fits in Dallas' How will it all fit? offense 1150618 Shap Shots: Stars prospects’ chances of making it, and an ode to Travis Morin 1150644 Lightning favored to win next Stanley Cup in latest gambling odds Red Wings 1150645 Lightning to be featured in 11 broadcasts on NBC Sports 1150619 to make eight appearances on NBC, 1150646 Lightning welcome new puppy Bolt as team ambassador NBC Sports Network next season 1150647 What does signing Kevin Shattenkirk mean for Brayden 1150620 When will Detroit Red Wings anoint Dylan Larkin the next ? ? 1150621 Red Wings picked to play eight times on national TV in 2019-20 1150622 Noel Acciari bids goodbye to Bruins fans, looks ahead to fresh start in Florida 1150623 SEVEN LA KINGS GAMES TO BE BROADCAST NATIONALLY BY NBC/NBCSN Maple Leafs 1150648 Wendel, Phil and a ‘jim-dandy of a trade’: Comparing the Leafs’ busy summer to others from their past Capitals 1150649 Real voices stand out amid background noise of social media 1150650 20 Burning Questions: Will Dmitry Orlov rebound from a rough 2018-19 season? Websites 1150651 The Athletic / Why NHL coaches are risk-averse and what it will take for that to change 1150652 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Let’s ruin your productivity for the day by playing the $200 Lineup Game 1150653 The Athletic / ‘Sky’s the limit for her’: Caroline Cameron shows versatility while pushing boundaries for wome 1150654 TSN.CA / Stone buyout a miss that stings for Flames 1150655 USA TODAY / NBC Sports' NHL schedule shows new love of Avalanche, Devils and Stars

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1150595 Arizona Coyotes

BICKLEY:What’s in a number? Valley about to find out

BY DAN BICKLEY | AUGUST 6, 2019 AT 6:03 PM UPDATED: AUGUST 6, 2019 AT 6:09 PM

It takes a special player to wear No. 1. It requires audacity, ambition, a touch of narcissism.

It requires someone who doesn’t care or doesn’t notice the target they place on their backs.

Kyler Murray wears No. 1. So does Devin Booker. They are our twin pillars, representing our future and our evolution as a nascent sports town. It’s a long way from when Steve Nash and Kurt Warner wore No. 13, the latter defying the kingdom of athletes sworn to superstition.

Murray and Booker are the opposite, homegrown talent defying our low ceiling and our championship drought.

Booker has proven to be worthy. He has a 70-point game and a 59-point performance. He won a 3-point shooting contest at the NBA All-Star Game. He’s 22 years old and averaged nearly 27 points per game in his fourth season for a 19-win team.

He’s not a top 10 player yet. But most everyone believes Booker’s ascension is inevitable. The No. 1 seems to fit him better than it did Penny Hardaway when he joined the Suns in 1999. Or the two other players who also wore No. 1 for the Suns in 2015 (Goran Dragic, A.J. Price), before Booker took over.

Murray is another story. He is only the second Cardinals player to wear the No. 1, following a pair of kickers: Neil Rackers, notorious for kicking six field goals in Mexico City; and Cedric Oglesby, who took over after Billy Gramatica blew out his knee celebrating a routine kick.

Murray is also 5-10 1/8. He’s been among the smallest players on the field in every game he’s played. He’s not a physical specimen like former Heisman Trophy winner, NFL MVP and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who also pretends to wear an ‘S’ on his chest.

For Murray to wear a number so unavoidable and undeniable is a testament to his fearless nature, and somehow means even more.

“It’s fun to watch, his approach to the game, his competitiveness,” Cardinals Kliff Kingsbury said. “He wants to be great. He wants to make the perfect throw. As a coach, what else can you ask for?”

There have been some notable No. 1’s in the history of the Valley’s major professional sports teams. Amar’e Stoudemire wore No. 1, but only after switching from No. 32 post-knee surgery. Sean Burke wore No. 1 while serving as a star for the Coyotes, just one of eight NHL players to wear the number in Arizona.

There have also been some strange representatives, including Paris Duffus, who played one game for the Coyotes in 1997 in their inaugural season in the Valley. Or Yuta Tabuse, who wore the number for the Suns, becoming the first Japanese player in the NBA, lasting four games before succumbing to his diminutive size (5-foot-8).

Murray is fighting a similar battle. But he’s different. He’s worn No. 1 all the way back to his 43-game winning streak at Allen High School in Texas. The number is his fight song, part of his charm, and with any luck, part of our renaissance.

From Robert Sarver’s foam finger to the sole major professional championship trophy captured by the Diamondbacks 18 years ago, the Valley has an awkward relationship with the No. 1. Of the 28 men who have worn the number, none have won a championship in Arizona.

It’s about time for that to change.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150596 Arizona Coyotes Michael Grabner: Grabner had 27 goals in each of the two seasons before he arrived in Arizona and he has averaged 23 per 82 games played in his career. He had nine goals in 41 games last season, and 15 After Phil Kessel, which Coyotes are best suited to increase scoring this of those games came after he returned from a scary eye injury that season? required a significant amount of adjustment.

Maybe the Coyotes can’t count on 27 goals from Grabner, but if he can join a stable of 20-plus goal scorers and once again anchor the league’s By Craig Morgan best -killing unit, that would be enough. Grabner’s speed is an enormous asset the Coyotes may be able to use more this season.

Derek Stepan: Stepan has averaged 19 goals per 82 games played in his The numbers are as familiar to Coyotes fans as the disappointment they career. He had 15 last season and finished about 20 points below the elicit. average he had set the previous five seasons. He missed 10 games due Arizona finished dead last in the NHL in 5-on-5 goals last season with to a knee injury, but he freely admitted he had to produce more than he 132. Arizona was tied for 28th in total goals with 209. Forty-five NHL did. players scored at least 30 goals last season, and 122 scored at least 20 Given the revolving door of NHL lineups, Stepan will probably play with goals. None of them were Coyotes. Thirty of the NHL’s 31 teams had at Kessel at some point, but the maturation of other young players could least one player reach 20 goals last season. Yeah, the Coyotes were that also help his production. Can the Coyotes get 18-20 goals and 50 points 31st team. out of a guy who did yeoman’s work in a shutdown role late in the To address the Coyotes’ most glaring deficiency, president of hockey season? operations John Chayka took a three-pronged approach this offseason. Christian Dvorak: Dvorak is the third center on this five-man list. That First, he acquired forward Carl Söderberg from Colorado for defenseman speaks volumes for the Coyotes’ biggest need. As noted above, the Kevin Connauton and a 2020 third-round pick, and then he acquired Coyotes may never get elite production from their centers, but a balance forward Phil Kessel from the for forward Alex of point production could alleviate that problem. Galchenyuk and defenseman prospect P.O. Joseph. In Dvorak’s second season, he had 15 goals and 37 points (he also had Second, he assumed the Coyotes would be considerably healthier than 15 goals his rookie season) and looked to be progressing. Back and the team that lost 386 man-games to injury or illness last season; almost pectoral injuries set back that progression last season, but he is healthy all of them significant offensive contributors such as Galchenyuk, now. Can he give the Coyotes 15-18 goals and 40-plus points to Christian Dvorak, Nick Schmaltz, Derek Stepan, Brad Richardson, Vinnie supplement that center production? Hinostroza and Jakob Chychrun. Secondary options The final piece of the puzzle, which is related to the second, comes in the Vinnie Hinostroza: It’s hard to gauge Hinostroza’s ceiling because he assumption that some of the Coyotes who had down years in 2018-19 hadn’t enjoyed much of an opportunity before coming to the Coyotes will return to normalcy when the team has more offensive options on the from the last summer. In his first full season in the ice and the ability to take more risks than it did last season when water- NHL, Hinostroza had 16 goals and 39 points, and that came despite tight defense was the M*A*S*H unit mantra. missing 10 games with a high-ankle sprain that still hampered him upon We have already discussed how the defensemen can contribute more his return. offense than they did last season, but what about the forwards? Ask the Coyotes’ players and they will cite Hinostroza’s east-west Kessel has averaged 29 goals per 82 games played over his 13-year shiftiness as one of his greatest strengths, but he also has excellent NHL career. He hasn’t missed a game in nine seasons so it isn’t a stretch north-south speed. He can still work on his strength and his , but to expect up to 10 more goals from him this season than Galchenyuk Hinostroza is another potential 20-plus goal scorer. (19) scored last season. That’s the obvious answer, but which members Lawson Crouse: Cat Silverman did a good piece on Crouse’s mindset of the supporting cast are best positioned to add even more to the shortly after he signed a three-year, $4.6 million contract this summer. As Coyotes’ goal total? a 21-year-old (now 22), Crouse started to find his game last season, and Here are five primary candidates and five secondary possibilities. with that came confidence that he could produce at the NHL level.

Primary candidates Tocchet said earlier this summer that Crouse might get a look on a top line with Schmaltz and Kessel because he’s willing to sacrifice for the Clayton Keller: After a 23-goal, 65-point rookie season in which he was a team and do some of the dirty work necessary (corners, creating space, Calder Trophy finalist, Keller dipped to 14 goals and 47 points last net front) to create scoring chances for his linemates. If Crouse gets an season. extended look with that duo, it’s not a stretch to expect him to improve upon last season’s 11 goals and 25 points. “I think Kells got humbled a little bit (last) year and I think that’s a good thing,” coach said at the end of last season. Christian Fischer: Fischer may be the greatest unknown on the roster. He had 15 goals and 33 points in his rookie season, but slipped to 11 goals Tocchet has worked with Keller on developing a quicker release and and 18 points last season, finding himself a healthy scratch on several better shooting accuracy, but he also wants him to develop a better give- occasions as he struggled to adapt to the role Tocchet assigned him. and-go game and get to the net more often. Keller is more of a playmaker so he may never become an elite goal scorer, but an average Tocchet wants Fischer to be one of his so-called sticky players in the in the 20-25 goal and 60-point ranges would go a long way toward corners and along the walls, but he wants Fischer to do more than simply improving Arizona’s output. It would also help Keller in contract possess the puck in the tight spots. He wants him to make plays out of negotiations next summer when he will be a restricted free agent. If he those spots, whether that means finding other players or getting to the has a good first few months, he may not have to wait for that next deal. net – or both. Trade rumors swirled around Fischer this summer but Tocchet sees a lot of the same abilities in Fischer that he sees in himself, Nick Schmaltz: It’s hard to judge Schmaltz’s potential. He played just 17 and Fischer’s work ethic and upbeat attitude are beyond reproach. If he games with the Coyotes before a knee injury sidelined him for the can get back to his rookie-season production, he could cement a place in season. In those 17 games, however, he had five goals and 14 points. the lineup. Tocchet has already said he will try to play Schmaltz and Kessel together Jakob Chychrun: The Coyotes took a significant risk in signing the injury- at some point this season because of the tantalizing possibilities their riddled Chychrun to a six-year, $27.6 million extension just as he came speed through the neutral zone creates. Even if Barrett Hayton pans out, back from ACL surgery last fall. Chychrun had just five goals and 20 the Coyotes may not have a bona fide No. 1 center in the organization, points in 53 games, and he had a stretch late in the season where he but they might have a depth chart of players who can produce between struggled with turnovers. 40 and 60 points. If Schmaltz falls on the higher end of that range, it would be a big boost for the offense and it would help justify the seven- It’s important to note, however, that Chychrun was dealing with painful year, $40.95 million extension he signed in March. tendinitis most of last season. Doctors told him it would take about a year for the pain to subside due to the type of surgery he had. The pain has subsided now. He just turned 21 and he plays arguably the most difficult position in the game, but there is no question that the Coyotes are expecting more from Chychrun. He is slated for the No. 2 defense pair at some point in the next couple of seasons and he should see plenty of time on the power play in the shooting lane. More production is a must.

Carl Söderberg: A lot of folks have fixated on the 23 goals (three shorthanded) and 49 points that Söderberg scored last season, mostly (more than 60 percent of the time) playing in a third-line role with Matt Calvert and Matt Nieto, or in a second-line role with J.T. Compher and Colin Wilson. It would obviously be helpful to the Coyotes if he could match that, but Söderberg has averaged a shade under 15 for his career. If that’s the case, he would essentially be replacing the offense the Coyotes lost when Richard Panik (14 goals, 33 points last season) signed as a free agent with the .

Soderberg’s ability to get to the net will be a better fit for Tocchet, and the Coyotes obviously hope last season was not that big of an aberration.

Others to watch

Conor Garland: Asking Garland to improve upon a 13-goal rookie season when he will likely be in a fourth-line role seems like a lot to ask.

Barrett Hayton: Hayton isn’t even a lock to make the roster, but if he does, it will be as a regular in the lineup, not as a part-timer who often gets scratched. Any production he can give the Coyotes this season would be gravy, but the honeymoon won’t last long for a player from whom much is expected.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150597 Boston Bruins

Bruins will play 12 games on national TV in 2019-20

By Christopher Price Globe Staff ,August 6, 2019

The Bruins and Blues will meet again in a nationally televised contest in October.

The Bruins will appear on national television 12 times in 2019-20, it was announced Tuesday.

Highlighting the schedule — with games set for NBC or the NBC Sports Network — will be a rematch of the Stanley Cup Final against the Blues on Saturday, Oct. 26, at TD Garden.

The Bruins also will host the Rangers on Friday, Nov. 29, in the NHL Thanksgiving Showdown, the first nationally televised game of the season on NBC.

Other highlights include a home tilt against Montreal Feb. 12, a home game against Dallas, the 2019 Western Conference finalist, on Feb. 27, and a road game against Tampa Bay, the 2019 Presidents’ Trophy winner, on March 3, all on NBCSN.

In all, the Bruins are tied with Nashville and Washington for the sixth- most nationally televised games behind Philadelphia (20), Pittsburgh (16), St. Louis (15), Chicago (14), and the Rangers (13).

Here’s the full slate of nationally televised Bruins games:

Saturday, Oct. 26: St. Louis at Boston, NBCSN, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 5: Boston at Montreal, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 29: NY Rangers at Boston, NBC, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 11: Boston at Washington, NBCSN, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 19: Boston at Pittsburgh, NBC, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 5: Boston at Chicago, NBCSN, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 9: Boston at Detroit, NBC, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 12: Montreal at Boston, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 16: Boston at NY Rangers, NBC, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 27: Dallas at Boston, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3: Boston at Tampa Bay, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10: Boston at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7 p.m.

Boston Globe LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150598 Boston Bruins That question will be answered over the course of next season where Bergeron will be expected to again be excellent as he’s been for the last 15 seasons in a brilliant, special career as one of the all-time greats in How can Bruins manage Patrice Bergeron to keep getting the most out of Bruins history. him? Key stat: 1.22 – the points per game that Bergeron averaged this season in the best offensive campaign of his career. It was the first NHL season where No. 37 was a point-per-game player and bodes well for his offense By Joe Haggerty August 06, 2019 4:10 AM over the next few seasons.

Bergeron in his own words: “It’s a lot of hard work to get to that point and to put yourself in that position and then it’s really tough to come out Today’s piece on Patrice Bergeron is the second in a 10-part series over empty-handed. At this point it’s hard to focus on anything except that we the next two weeks breaking down the core Bruins group of players, and didn’t accomplish what we set out to do.” where they stand headed into next season after last spring’s Stanley Cup playoff run. The biggest question he faces: Bergeron is at a point in his career when injuries will come, and when heavy usage could compromise some of the Patrice Bergeron’s future with the Bruins is already mapped out. Barring greatness that he brings to the ice. So making certain the Bruins can give anything truly crazy, Bergeron is going to retire a member of the Bruins, Bergeron breathers during the long 82-game regular season will be vital, have his No. 37 raised up to the rafters soon afterward and be inducted and finding younger players to ease some of his defensive and penalty- into the as one of the best two-way centers of all- killing burden makes sense given his importance at the offensive end of time. the ice. That much has been assured as Bruins President (and one of the B’s all- .com LOADED: 08.07.2019 time greats) has nothing but good things to say about Bergeron’s ranking within the pantheon of Black and Gold greats at this point in his career.

“He’s up there. He’s as professional as they come, he’s prepared and he works hard,” said Neely in an interview with NBC Sports Boston. “He’s such a good leader by example and then when he does decide to talk. He ranks up there as one of the best Bruins to ever put on the uniform.”

Certainly all of that took on another level when he made a pregame speech to his B’s teammates ahead of Game 6 in St. Louis that assured a win, and brought the series back to Boston. Unfortunately, of course, Bergeron and Co. couldn’t close the deal in Game 7.

Bruins Core Concerns: Chara aging but still important

He’s still capable of being a No. 1 center at 34 years old entering his 16th NHL season and the 32 goals and 79 points in 65 games is the best offensive output of his NHL career. As with fellow longtime B’s great Zdeno Chara, however, Bergeron is no longer as young and capable of a massive workload as he was earlier in his career.

Bergeron missed 17 games this past season after missing 18 games the season prior, and he was hampered in the last few rounds of the Stanley Cup with a groin issue that left him with just one goal, four points and a minus-4 rating in the Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues. The injuries have also kept him from winning his NHL-record fifth Selke Trophy in the last couple of seasons. It’s hard to envision Bergeron staying completely healthy through an 82-game regular season at this point in his career based on the hard miles he’s logged over the last 15 seasons, and based on the need for him to play — and play a lot — in all situations.

Without a young No. 1 center replacement on the horizon for the Bruins, it will be up to Bergeron to again carry the load this upcoming season.

But the Bruins will manage his workload, manage his responsibilities and make certain they can get as much out of him as they can when it really matters: in the postseason.

“We started doing that a few years ago with where he starts on face-offs. A lot of times he would start in the D-zone and you have to go 200 feet to score. He was relied upon to take a lot of important face-offs in the D- zone, and we changed that,” said Neely. “We gave that responsibility to other players and that would give Bergeron a chance to start in the offensive zone. Obviously he’s a top penalty killer and he’s on the top power play unit, so he’s going to play a lot.”

20 Under 25: Can Pastrnak be a 50-goal scorer?

What will be interesting is what they do with Bergeron’s line for the bulk of next season. Will David Pastrnak slot back up with Bergeron and to keep the Perfection Line going after they had a bit of a power outage in the Stanley Cup Final?

Or will next season be the year that Bergeron and Marchand are paired with a younger player like Anders Bjork, or an experiment like Charlie Coyle is tried on their wing to give them the size, strength and power around the net that they most definitely lacked during the Cup Final vs. the big, strong Blues group? 1150599 Boston Bruins

20 Under 25: Can David Pastrnak be a 50-goal scorer for Bruins?

By DJ Bean August 06, 2019

Forget "under 25" and forget "in Boston" — David Pastrnak might be one of the best 20 hockey players alive.

Such a claim will probably get more pushback now than it would have during last regular season, but it all boils down to whether the Czech star's postseason disappearing act was just a bad month or a sign of what's to come. You'd have to be really pessimistic to think it's the latter.

Pastrnak finished fourth in the NHL in goals per game with .58. His "social injury" prevented him from what was going to be an easy 40-goal season, so he had to settle for a career-high 38 goals in 66 games.

20 Under 25 Candidate: Jayson Tatum

The performance marked Pastrnak's third straight 30-goal campaign, as he posted 34 in 2016-17 and 35 in 2017-18. The fact that he’s become such a consistent scorer made it all the more puzzling when he was able to muster only one even-strength goal over the final 12 games of the postseason.

After being an injury away from 40 goals last season, that should be the expectation this season.

Would it really be crazy to see a 50-goal season out of him at some point? There were only two last season (Alex Ovechkin and Leon Draisaitl), but Pastrnak is only 23. He’s going to get better.

One can’t rule out him finishing a season atop the league in goals.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150600 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins to play 12 nationally televised games next season

By NBC Sports Boston Staff August 06, 2019 10:31 AM

The bright lights of national television will be shining on the 2019-20 Boston Bruins as they vie for another shot at the Stanley Cup.

The first time the Bruins will play on national TV will be on Saturday, October 26 in a rematch with the defending champions St. Louis Blues. The home game is sure to rile up Bruins fans and the remaining animosity between the teams will make for must-watch programming.

Bruins bracing for Carlo, McAvoy contract holdouts

The Blues matchup is the first of 12 nationally televised broadcasts, the sixth-most in the league. All national broadcasts will be aired on NBC or NBC Sports. Other dates to mark down on your calendars include a home matchup against the 2019 Western Conference finalist Dallas Stars on February 27 and a road tilt against last year's Presidents' Trophy winner Tampa Bay Lightning.

Two other teams — the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals — are tied with the Bruins with 12 national games. The five teams ahead of them include the Rangers (13), Blackhawks (14), Blues (15), Penguins (16) and, surprisingly, the Flyers (20).

Haggerty: Zdeno Chara is aging, but he's still a crucial component to the Bruins

Below is a full list, in order, of the Bruins nationally televised games for the 2019-20 season (regional games air on NESN):

Saturday, October 26: Blues at Bruins, NBCSN, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, November 5: Bruins at Canadiens, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 29: Rangers at Bruins, NBC, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11: Bruins at Capitals, NBCSN, 7 p.m.

Sunday, January 19: Bruins at Penguins, NBC, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 5: Bruins at Blackhawks, NBCSN, 8 p.m.

Sunday, February 9: Bruins at Red Wings, NBC, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 12: Canadiens at Bruins, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 16: Bruins at Rangers, NBC, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 27: Stars at Bruins, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3: Bruins at Lightning, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10: Bruins at Flyers, NBCSN, 7 p.m.

The Bruins kick off the regular season on October 3 in Dallas against the Stars. Joe Haggerty will once again provide complete coverage of the defending Eastern Conference champion Bruins online, on air and on the MyTeams app.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150601 Boston Bruins

Noel Acciari on moving on from Bruins: 'There are no fans like Boston fans'

By NBC Sports Boston Staff August 06, 2019 9:30 AM

In hockey, tough players are not hard to find. But it might be hard to find many tougher than Noel Acciari.

Acciari, the Johnston, RI native, has played all four of his NHL seasons for his hometown team. The hard-hitting center dedicated everything he had to the team, and played most of last year's Stanley Cup Final run with a broken sternum. On Tuesday, in a Q&A with The Athletic, Acciari expressed gratitude to New England and the Bruins organization, provided some clues as to why he signed with the Florida Panthers, and hinted at what his role will be going forward.

"I would thank them for everything and all the support they’ve given me," Acciari said. "There are no fans like Boston fans. Even now I’m getting (fans) wishing that I would be back but they still support me with my decision. I’m truly honored to play in front of them for four years. It was a special bond between the team and the fans."

Haggerty: Zdeno Chara is aging, but he's still a pivotal figure for the Bruins

Last season, Acciari posted a career year with 14 goals, eight assists and 221 hits (12th among NHL forwards).

One of the biggest reasons Acciari decided to move on from Boston, despite his admiration for the fans, was his connection to the Panthers organization. Acciari played his first three seasons in Boston with Frank Vatrano, who's now with the Panthers. He also grew up watching Shawn Thornton, now in the Panthers' front office, play in Boston. Thornton has helped Acciari get settled and provided advice about life after the Bruins, Acciari said.

Haggerty: Can Bruins bounce back from Stanley Cup heartbreak?

As for what his role will be in Florida, Acciari plans to revel in what he does best: being a bruiser and energy guy. Except now, he'll get paid significantly more at roughly $1.6 million per year. Still, it wasn't an easy decision for the 5-foot-10 two-way forward.

"(Playing in Boston) was special. Not many people can say they played for their hometown team, and I was very fortunate. Boston and New England will always be my home and will always have a special spot in my heart. But, all good things come to an end and things happen for a reason."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150602 Boston Bruins Great. He’s taught me ever since I’ve been in the league what you need to do to succeed and how to stay there. Once you get there it’s hard to stay. He’s done a great job bringing in the younger guys and helping Noel Acciari bids goodbye to Bruins fans, looks ahead to fresh start in them along. (Boston) has a great coaching staff and they’re going to Florida continue to be successful with all the young guys they have coming.

Let’s rewind for a second. It’s an interesting story how you originally became a Bruin, the night you won the national championship with the By Joe McDonald Aug 6, 2019 Friars at TD Garden. How did it all come together?

It was a special night. Winning a national championship, the adrenaline’s high, emotions are high and I had another year of eligibility in Before Noel Acciari signed a three-year deal with the Florida Panthers as Providence. But just talking with (Bruins assistant GM John Ferguson) an unrestricted free agent, Bruins general manager and having him, as a PC alum, congratulating me and saying, “The described the relentless forward perfectly. Boston Bruins organization wants you” … the idea of having the option to “You’re never going to question his courage, for sure,” Sweeney said. play for Boston was right there in front of me. It was so exciting to hear “He puts it all on the line and plays with his nose over the top of the puck him say, “We want you.” and not everybody does that.” What’s it been like to reflect on your career playing for the hometown The Bruins were hoping the Johnston, R.I., native would re-sign in team in Boston? Boston and anchor the bottom six with his play, but Acciari decided It was special. Not many people can say they played for their hometown to sign with the Panthers for $1.6 million per season, more than the team, and I was very fortunate. Boston and New England will always be Bruins offered. my home and will always have a special spot in my heart. But, all good After winning a national championship as team captain at Providence things come to an end and things happen for a reason. I couldn’t be College in 2015, Acciari joined the Bruins as an undrafted free agent. He happier to be moving to Florida and continuing my career and helping spent four seasons here, helping Boston reach the Stanley Cup final this another organization grow into a playoff contender. year. In fact, he played three playoff rounds with a broken sternum. His You’ve always played with that willingness to sacrifice your body and leadership qualities, both on and off the ice, earned him the respect of his because of that you’ve missed significant time. Any regrets playing that teammates and opponents throughout the league. style? Now, he’s taking his talents to Sunrise, Fla. In an interview with The Absolutely not. Playing that style of game got me to where I am right Athletic, Acciari made a point of thanking the Bruins and Boston fans for now. The team respects you for what you do and I think the Bruins their continued support. respected me and what I brought to the table and how I played every If you had the opportunity to speak with Bruins fans, what would you tell night. I wanted to give everything I had for them — the team, the them? organization and the city of Boston. Honestly, I would do anything for any teammate. That’s my mentality and it’s not going to change when I go I would thank them for everything and all the support they’ve given me. down to Florida. There are no fans like Boston fans. Even now I’m getting (fans) wishing that I would be back but they still support me with my decision. I’m truly Because of that style of play, how long do you envision yourself playing honored to play in front of them for four years. It was a special bond at this level? between the team and the fans. It’s tough to say and I don’t want to put a timetable on my career, but I There are a lot of connections between the Bruins and Panthers with want to play as long as I physically can. You’ve got to make sure your Frank Vatrano playing in Florida and Shawn Thornton now working in the body is able to do that, and I do play a hard, heavy game. But that falls front office. How did they influence you with your decision? on me that each year I’m taking the right amount of time off and healing up so that I can play a lengthy season and be healthy. Last year was the Oh, big time. Frankie called me and told me all about the great things healthiest season I’ve had. Yeah, I had bumps and bruises but it was Florida is doing and how fun it is down there and how close of a team stuff I could play through. I don’t plan on ending any time soon. they are. Now with the rebuilding that they’ve done it’s going to be fun the next couple of years. Since signing, Shawn has been unbelievable with Speaking of injuries, you played three rounds of the playoffs with a whatever I’ve needed, whether it’s housing or cars. He has made the broken sternum. How is that even possible? transition a lot easier, because the one thing he told me was, “I know Yeah, it was painful, but you’re in the . It definitely how hard it is to leave Boston, but you’re going to love it down in Florida. hurt after Game 7 a lot more than it probably would’ve if we had won the I’ve done it and I know how it is.” game. Most people would do anything to play in the Stanley Cup final You’ve played your entire career in New England. What do you think it’s and you don’t want to miss that opportunity. If you can play with an injury, going to be like playing for a team outside this region? you’re definitely going to battle through it the best you can and be the most productive as you can out there. You see the toughness of Bergy, Different. But I’m very excited for this next opportunity with Florida. We’re or (Chara) with the broken jaw, and those guys are your leaders and you going to have a really good team with coach Q () and all follow what they’re doing. If you can play, you want to help out the team these other moving pieces that are coming in. I’m excited to carry over as best as you can. what I’ve learned from the leadership in Boston, from (Patrice) Bergeron, (Zdeno) Chara, (Brad) Marchand, (David) Krejci, (David) Backes. Lastly, what sweater number are you going to wear for the Panthers?

What type of conversations have you had with Quenneville this summer? I’m sticking with No. 55.

We’ve talked a little bit. He’s won three Stanley Cups with Chicago and The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 he knows what it takes to win, and he just kind of picked my brain a little bit about Boston and how we can transition some of that leadership that I was just talking about to Florida. I’m more of an older guy now (at age 27) with this team, so maybe I can help out. Basically, it will be similar to what I did in Boston where our line handled more responsibility and gave Bergy, Marchy and Pasta (David Pastrnak) an extra couple of minutes off the ice. They want to do the same with me in Florida and maybe give (Aleksander) Barkov and (Jonathan) Huberdeau and those other guys a few minutes more off the ice, help them in the long run.

Speaking of coaches, you spent your entire pro career with Bruce Cassidy as a coach in Providence and Boston. What was it like learning from him? 1150603 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres to play five games on national television

By Staff Published Tue, Aug 6, 2019|Updated Tue, Aug 6, 2019

The Sabres are scheduled to play five times on national television, according to the NHL's national television schedule released to USA TODAY Sports.

The five games are all on NBCSN and equal the number of national TV games the Sabres played last season and two less than they were scheduled for during the 2017-18 season.

The first of the nationally televised games will be against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 8 in . The Sabres will play two games in as part of the NHL Global Series.

On Dec. 10, the Sabres host the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues for a 7:30 p.m. game at KeyBank Center. A week later, NBCSN will air the Sabres game at the .

A Feb. 6 home game against the Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m.) and a Feb. 26 game at the Colorado Avalanche (8 p.m.) round out the national television appearances, though more can be added.

Friday, Nov. 8: vs. Tampa Bay, 2 p.m. (Stockholm, Sweden)

Tuesday, Dec. 10: vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 17: at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 6: vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 26: at Colorado, 8 p.m.

The full national TV schedule has 109 games, with more likely added. The season opens with a "Wednesday Night Hockey" doubleheader, the Blues vs. the Washington Capitals at 8 p.m. followed by the at the San Jose Sharks at 10:30 p.m.

Overall, the Avalanche lead the league with 12 national TV appearances. The league also has bumped the Dallas Stars from one appearance to six, including the Winter Classic against Nashville, and the from one to four.

Buffalo News LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150604 Calgary Flames Acquired | Drafted in 2nd round (56th overall) in 2016

Last season | Calgary (25 gm, 1-4-5), Stockton AHL (37 gm, 15-24-39)

Summer edition of the Flames top 20 prospects ETA | 2019-20

Like Valimaki, Dube, fresh out of junior, also earned his way onto the Flames opening-night roster a year ago. He starred in rookie camp then By Darren Haynes Aug 6, 2019 kept it going into main camp, landing a job on the fourth line. While the offence was a struggle in playing limited NHL minutes, glimpses why the team is so high on him were evident. Those qualities — skating speed, a It’s as different as Calgary’s prospect cupboard has looked in quite a good shot, some edge to his game and assertiveness with the puck — while. were shown in spades when he was assigned to Stockton. His offensive production as a rookie in that league place him some pretty elite It was a busy offseason for general manager who signed company historically. four free agents (all in the early 20s) in the spring and then added five 18-year-olds at the NHL Draft. That means there are six new faces in this 3. LW Jakob Pelletier (debut) edition of the Flames top-20 prospect rankings, with three more first- timers listed as honourable mentions. Age | 18

As is always the case, there’s an element of the unknown with all of them Size | 5-foot-10, 170 lbs — first-rounder Jakob Pelletier is the only new face to crack the top Shoots | Left dozen. But as we’ve seen in past years, put together a good season at whatever level you’re at and you can elevate your stock pretty quickly. Acquired | Drafted in 1st round (26th overall) in 2019

An example of that would be Andrew Mangiapane, who has now Last season | Moncton QMJHL (65 gm, 39-50-89) graduated to the NHL and is no longer considered a prospect. Drafted in the sixth round, 166th overall in 2015, he initially ranked 20th on my ETA | 2022-23 prospect’s list. By the following January, he had climbed to 11th. In The path to the NHL will be longer for Pelletier than past first-rounders subsequent editions of these bi-annual rankings, he placed eighth, like Matthew Tkachuk, Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett, but he is still eighth, sixth and fifth before topping out at four last January. expected to make a big impact when he arrives. A highly competitive kid, Before the debates begin, it’s important to point out a few ground rules who plays bigger than he is, he has the skills of a top offensive player, with these rankings. plus a whole package of other attributes that includes his work ethic and willingness to go into traffic. He’s renowned for his leadership qualities, A prospect is defined as a player age 25 or younger (age 26 or younger too. Pelletier recently turned down an invitation to play for at the for goalies) who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer. Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan, to rest a late-season ankle This time around, you’ll notice three names at or near the top of the list, injury. who are on the cusp of full-time employment with Calgary. It’s quite likely they will graduate before the next edition of this list is published, but for 4. D Oliver Kylington (previously 3rd, 6th, 9th, 9th, 4th, 4th, 6th, 7th) now, they remain. Age | 22

This is not a chronological ranking of who will make the NHL next but is Size | 6-foot, 183 lbs more so a blend of likeliness to make the NHL combined with projected impact/role if they do make it. For example, Garnet Hathaway never Shoots | Left climbed any higher than No. 17, because he never projected to be more Acquired | Drafted in 2nd round (60th overall) in 2015 than a fourth-line player. Last season | Calgary (38 gm, 3-5-8), Stockton AHL (18 gm, 7-7-14) There is a power rankings element to the order– who’s hot, who’s not — that can make for more volatility in the list than how, for example, the ETA | 2019-20 Flames front office might view these young players. In his fourth season in the AHL, a league he started out in at the With that out of the way, here we go. unusually young age of 18, the smooth-skating Swede finally got his first extended NHL audition last season and it went pretty well. Called up Top 20 Calgary Flames prospects when Valimaki got hurt, he stepped right in on an all-rookie third pairing 1. D Juuso Valimaki (previously 1st, 1st, 5th, 5th) with Rasmus Andersson and gave the club some solid minutes. Kylington’s biggest area of growth is the reduction of high-risk plays. As Age | 20 he’s matured, he’s learned that less is more. He’s without a place to play Size | 6-foot-2, 212 pounds regularly as the fourth guy on the left side depth chart, but he remains a valuable asset for the club. Shoots | Left 5. LW Emilio Pettersen (13th) Acquired | Drafted in 1st round (16th overall) in 2017 Age | 19 Last season | Calgary (24 gm, 1-2-3), Stockton AHL (20 gm, 4-10-14) Size | 5-foot-10, 170 lbs ETA | 2019-20 Shoots | Left Valimaki made the difficult jump last season from junior to the NHL, making Calgary’s opening-night lineup. It’s a feat that is even more Acquired | Drafted in 6th round (167th overall) in 2018 impressive when done by a . Unfortunately, his season got Last season | Denver NCAA (40 gm, 6-24-30) derailed by a high ankle sprain in November that sidelined him for two months. When he was healthy again, he was assigned to the AHL where ETA | 2022-23 he brought stability to Stockton’s blue line while he worked his way back. You never want to read too much out into development camp. After all, He was recalled by the Flames in April and dressed for Game 4 and 5 it’s hockey in July. But with Pettersen this year, what being the best against Colorado. The big Finn has top-pairing upside and could wear a player in the scrimmage did was provide an eye-test validation of all the letter down the road, too. dynamic qualities we heard about all winter as the shifty Norwegian was 2. C/LW Dillon Dube (previously 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 11th) shining in his impressive freshman season at Denver University. Fast, dynamic, explosive, there’s an assertiveness when he carries the puck Age | 21 on the rush as he attacks defencemen, rather than the other way around. Size | 5-foot-11, 187 lbs In three years, he could ease the loss of Johnny Gaudreau, should he depart as a UFA. Shoots | Left 6. G Tyler Parsons (previously 5th, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 9th) In March, he signed his entry-level contract. He got off to a fast start last season with Rimouski, but then suffered an upper-body injury that he Age | 21 played through. More serious than known at the time, he did not skate at Size | 6-foot-1, 190 lbs development camp as he continues his recovery. Spending his second full summer in Calgary to train, the drive is there, as are the skills, he just Catches | Left needs to get stronger.

Acquired | Drafted in 2nd round (54th overall) in 2016 10. LW Demetrios Koumontzis (previously 18th, 19th)

Last season | Stockton AHL (20 gm, 9-10-1, 3.70 GAA, .898 SV%) Age | 19

ETA | 2021-22 Size | 5-foot-10, 185 lbs

While his first two pro seasons haven’t gone as planned, there’s been Shoots | Left plenty going on off the ice for a young man who last September opened up about his mental health struggles. Highly touted when the Detroit Acquired | Drafted in 4th round (108th overall) in 2018 native was selected as the second goaltender off the board in 2016 — six Last season | Arizona State NCAA (35 gm, 4-16-20) picks after — Parsons is primed for a bounce-back season and one in which he hopes to avoid the injuries that have nagged him as ETA | 2023-24 a pro. At development camp, he spoke about a new conditioning program that has him feeling as good as he’s ever felt. If it translates, it could be a Another player from that 2018 draft class — in which Calgary did not big year. have a pick in the first three rounds — who has impressed and is quickly rising up the prospect ranks. A standout at development camp, he 7. C/LW Martin Pospisil (previously 6th, 18th) showcased an insatiable desire to take the puck hard to the net off the wing and in repeatedly doing so, showed his quickness and strength. Age | 19 While this camp is when he really caught my eye, his freshman season at Size | 6-foot-2, 180 lbs ASU caught the eye of the talent evaluators at USA Hockey and he got a late invite to the Summer Showcase. He ended up being cut, but it was Shoots | Left still a noteworthy accomplishment and great experience.

Acquired | Drafted in 4th round (105th overall) in 2018 11. C Adam Ruzicka (previously 8th, 12th, 11th, 20th)

Last season | Sioux City USHL (44 gm, 16-47-63) Age | 20

ETA | 2021-22 Size | 6-foot-4, 220 lbs

In an organization chockful of undersized, skilled forwards, the intense, Shoots | Left no-nonsense Slovak stands out in a big way. For one, he can put up offence. He finished eighth in USHL scoring last year. There’s also an Acquired | Drafted in 4th round (109th overall) in 2017 alluring mean streak and physicality in his game that you know the front Last season | Sarnia/Sudbury OHL (65 gm, 35-43-78) office covets. He showcased that side in development camp, of all places, delivering glass-rattling hits that drew an assortment of angry ETA | 2023-24 stares, shoves and furious mutterings. We’s a wild card in every sense of that word, but if the first-year pro can rein it in — a knock on him, so far One of the more interesting players to follow this season as he turns pro, — he’s an intriguing talent. Ruzicka has all the alluring qualities you would want in a center in that he’s got size, strength and good hands. He ended his junior career with a 8. RW Matthew Phillips (previously 11th, 15th, 14th, 15th, 15th) bang, too, racking up 24 goals (and 17 assists) in 30 games after he was traded from Sarnia to Sudbury and found himself under the tutelage of Age | 21 coach (and former Flame) Cory Stillman. He added another 10 points Size | 5-foot-7, 155 lbs (three goals, seven assists) in eight playoff games. Has the overall package to be dominant, but won’t get there without improving his work Shoots | Right ethic and consistency.

Acquired | Drafted in 6th round (166th overall) in 2016 12. C Glenn Gawdin (previously 9th, 10th, 12th)

Last season | Stockton AHL (65 gm, 13-25-38) Age | 22

ETA | 2021-22 Size | 6-foot-1, 190 lbs

Phillips admits that the jump to pro last season took some getting used Shoots | Right to. For a tiny 20-year-old like him, going up against men five to 10 years older was difficult. He’s just not going to win physical battles with those Acquired | Signed as FA in Nov 2017 (originally St. Louis 4th rounder in players. What’s made Phillips a prolific scorer is his quickness, vision and 2015) high-end hockey sense, all qualities that began to emerge as the season Last season | Stockton AHL (64 gm, 11-27-38) progressed. Limited to nine points in his first 23 games, Phillips had 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) over his final 42 games. To reach the ETA | 2021-22 NHL, he must improve his explosiveness so he can create separation and space for himself. While he racked up the offence in his overage season in the WHL, averaging nearly two points per game, there’s less flash in Gawdin’s 9. RW Dmitry Zavgorodniy (previously 17th, HM) game than with other prospects in the system. His path to the NHL, should he get there, will likely be as a responsible two-way player. In his Age | 19 in August first pro season, Gawdin steadily worked his way up the depth chart in Size | 5-foot-9, 175 lbs Stockton. In particular, his abilities as a play-maker were evident over the final two months when he produced 16 points (one goal, 15 assists) over Shoots | Right the last 19 games. A top-six role in the AHL would be a good next step in his development. Acquired | Drafted in 7th round (198th overall) in 2018 13. RW Eetu Tuulola (previously 10th, 14th, 16th, HM, 18th, 18th) Last season | Rimouski QMJHL (67 gm, 28-36-64) Age | 21 ETA | 2022-23 Size | 6-foot-2, 224 lbs Another small, skilled forward, who made a big impression last September at rookie camp. Zavgorodniy is an exciting talent, who has Shoots | Right opened a lot of eyes since being selected in the seventh round in 2018. Acquired | Drafted in 6th round (156th overall) in 2016 Last season | HPK (60 gm, 13-23-36) Age | 20

ETA | 2022-23 Size | 6-foot, 180 lbs

When it came to big, right-shooting Finnish right wingers, all eyes at the Shoots | Left 2016 draft were on and Jesse Puljujarvi. Meanwhile, Calgary waited another 150 or so picks and selected Tuulola — similarly built, but Acquired | Drafted in 7th round (202nd overall) in 2017 not as skilled. After having played the last two seasons in Finland, he’s Last season | Oskarshamn Sweden, 2nd division (43 gm, 15-12-27) back and will open the season in Stockton after signing an ELC in June. A self-proclaimed power forward, he packs a couple attributes the ETA | 2023-24 organization is severely lacking in that he’s a right winger who plays It’s a big season for Sveningsson as the skilled LW finds himself back in physical. If he keep developing, there could be a spot for him in the the after Oskarshamn, his second division club, bottom-six. won the league and was promoted. Impressive at development camp — 14. D Alexander Yelesin (debut) our once-a-year viewing of him — where he was around the puck a lot, you saw a glimpse of the offensive skill set that is the reason Calgary Age | 23 encouraged him to play down a division last year. As a young guy, it Size | 6-foot, 195 lbs enabled him to play a more offensive role, which is what the Flames project him as. Will be curious to see if he can put up offence again, this Shoots | Right time against stiffer competition.

Acquired | Signed as FA in May 2019 18. C Ilya Nikolaev (debut)

Last season | Lokomotiv Russia (55 gm, 4-6-10) Age | 18

ETA | 2020-21 Size | 6-foot, 190 lbs

Yelesin is another guy who isn’t your traditional prospect after playing Shoots | Left three seasons in the KHL. However, he’s only 23 and that’s not old either, especially for a defenceman. Expect an adjustment period that will Acquired | Drafted in 3rd round (88th overall) in 2019 inevitably come while playing in the AHL, but given the uncertainty on Last season | Loko Yaroslavl Russia’s MHL (41 gm, 10-15-25) right defence with TJ Brodie and Travis Hamonic one year away from free agency, a third-pairing job could open up sooner than later. While ETA | 2023-24 built in the more traditional mold of a stay-at-home defenceman, he can Nikolaev is the biggest unknown on the list because his obligations with move the puck and the Flames are keen on his physicality, which they his Russian team prevented him from being at development camp. Thus, are lacking on the back end. no chance an in-person live look. But judging from how high he was 15. C Milos Roman (previously 14th, HM) selected, you know the team likes him. On draft day, Tod Button described him as a “Solid two-way center. Solid playmaker. Smart. Age | 19 Competitive.” He added that the team was very happy to get him where Size | 6-foot, 195 lbs they did. He is contractually obligated to play two more years in Russia, but could come to North America after that. For now, his progress will Shoots | Left have to be followed from afar.

Acquired | Drafted in 4th round (122nd overall) in 2018 19. G Dustin Wolf (debut)

Last season | WHL (59 gm, 27-33-60) Age | 18

ETA | 2023-24 Size | 6-foot, 165 lbs

Another source of optimism from the unexpectedly good (so far) 2018 Catches | Left draft class, and the third Slovakian on the list. Roman may not have the same offensive panache as Pettersen or Zavgorodniy, but he’s solid in Acquired | Drafted in 7th round (214th overall) in 2019 many facets and is described as a coach’s dream. When it comes to Last season | Everett WHL (61 gm, 41-15-2, 1.69 GAA, .936 SV%) doing all the important, but more subtle things in a game, that’s his strength, along with his excellent work ethic. Like so many young players, ETA | 2023-24 speed and strength continue to be areas where he needs to improve, but His epicically long wait to hear his name called was one of the feel-good as showcased in a strong CHL season with Vancouver, he’s a good, all- stories at the draft. If the NHL’s group think around goalie height has round player. gone too far, he could end up the feel-good story of his draft class, too. 16. G Artyom Zagidulin (debut) Coming off a phenomenal season with Everett, he nearly went undrafted because of a couple inches. Motivated to prove everyone wrong, how Age | 24 in August much will that fuel him. He played well in his only full game and put Size | 6-foot-2, 180 lbs himself in a good position to compete for a spot as one of Team USA’s two WJC goalies. Calgary is delighted to have gotten him that late and Catches | Left comparisons to Juuse Saros have already been heard.

Acquired | Signed as FA in April 2019 20. C Josh Nodler (debut)

Last season | Metallurg KHL (25 gm, 12-7-3, 1.96 GAA, .924 SV%) Age | 18

ETA | 2021-22 Size | 6-foot, 195 lbs

The new guy in the goalie picture is an old guy by prospect standards. Shoots | Right Zagidulin, a free agent signing about to turn 24, already has plenty of pro experience in Russia. His career has been similar to David Rittich in that Acquired | Drafted in 5th round (150th overall) in 2019 he’s a raw talent who has steadily improved year after year, first working Last season | Fargo USHL (54 gm, 17-25-42) his way into a starting job in the second division, then jumping last season to the KHL. In his first live viewing at development camp, ETA | 2024-25 goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet was impressed at how quiet and Not a tall guy either, what separates Nodler (and Nikolaev) from some of positionally sound his game was, this despite wearing all new gear the aforementioned 2018 draft class is he’s a lot thicker. A heavier because his old stuff was illegal. chassis on the skates will give him a little more strength on the puck. 17. LW Filip Sveningsson (previously 16th, 20th) Nodler was one of the guys that came from off the radar and was immediately noticeable in development camp. Someone who has really worked on his stick-handling, you saw those soft hands during the scrimmage. Committed to play at Michigan St. this fall, he’ll be in college for a while, but first impression was that of an intriguing talent to keep an eye on down the road.

Honourable Mention

D Carl-Johan Lerby – The 22-year-old Swede, signed as a FA, will come over to North America in 2020-21.

LW Lucas Feuk – Another Swede, who looks to have some game. Could climb into the top 20 next time.

C Linus Lindstrom – Decision to sign him or not is coming soon. Reliable defensively, but very little offence.

C Luke Philp – The 23-year-old CIAU star from U of A is a Derek Ryan clone. A smart player with upside.

G Nick Schneider – The first-year pro played mostly in the ECHL, but did have an impressive run with Stockton.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150605 Carolina Hurricanes In any case, the whole debate has a surreal aspect to it, because whether it’s Waddell or someone else, NHL bylaws require the team to have a general manager under contract by the end of the month.

Don Waddell flirts with Wild as Carolina Hurricanes face front-office Whether Waddell is genuinely interested in the Wild job or using it as dysfunction leverage to get a contract out of Dundon is immaterial; it should never have gotten to the point where front-office dysfunction became a distraction from everything the Hurricanes have accomplished over the BY LUKE DECOCK past four months.

News Observer LOADED: 08.07.2019 The general manager and team president doesn’t have a contract and interviewed for another job. Two assistant general managers and several scouts left and were not replaced. The goalie coach was allowed to leave, and a new one hasn’t been hired with a month to go until training camp.

Over the course of a summer where the Carolina Hurricanes have done solid business to upgrade their roster, their front office has already seen a considerable exodus. If Don Waddell departs the Hurricanes — the out- of-contract president and GM interviewed for the vacancy on Monday — it would not only be unprecedented, but also it would leave the Hurricanes rudderless at a moment when they desperately need to capitalize on the momentum of last spring’s playoff run.

Some of this turnover is natural and organic after the departures of previous owner Peter Karmanos and former general manager , accounting in particular for the exits of the two assistant GMs, -winning AHL coach Mike Vellucci and two-decade employee Brian Tatum, but owner Tom Dundon’s belief that everyone and everything is a replaceable part is being taken to an extreme this summer.

Especially with Waddell, who was nominated as a finalist for general manager of the year honors by his peers in part as an acknowledgment of his extraordinary workload doing both jobs.

“Even if he had a contract I would let him interview, so what’s the difference?” Dundon said Tuesday. “It’s not going to stop somebody from doing whatever’s better for them. If they’re going to pay somebody more money, I’m not going to stop them. I told him he’s got to do what’s best for him.”

Waddell on Tuesday said it has been business as usual for the general manager with the Hurricanes since he returned from his in-person interview with the Wild, including dealing Tuesday with the aftermath of an arbitrator’s bizarre decision that gave minor-league goalie Anton Forsberg an NHL contract for next season. That includes his relationship with the owner.

“Tom doesn’t believe in a lot of contracts,” he said. “Tom’s told me I have a job for life. But he’s also encouraged me to explore other opportunities to see what the market will pay. We started something here, I love it here, but when the job opened up and Tom said you should explore it, that’s what I’m doing.”

For everything Dundon has done with the franchise, enabling everything from the “Bunch of Jerks” marketing to the turnaround on the ice that got as far as the conference finals, it’s curious how the general manager position has become, and remains, an unusual source of controversy and consternation.

The demotion of Francis in March 2018 left a malcontent simmering in the front office until Francis was finally fired. Then a long and eventually fruitless leaguewide search led all the way back around to Waddell, the team president and interim GM, with the hockey world mocking Dundon for refusing to pay market value for a GM while Dundon insisted he never found any candidates who stood out to him as worth that much.

This summer, after Waddell’s contract expired in June, Dundon has so far declined to give him a new one, and Waddell at the time seemed agreeable to continue on an at-will basis. Two months later, Waddell clearly has happy feet and the spectacle of a sitting general manager interviewing for another team’s opening has little precedent in NHL history.

“I’m not going to pay what other guys pay GMs, so me having a contract with a GM doesn’t really help me,” Dundon said. “Don in essence has a contract. I already told Don, ‘I’m not going to fire you. If I did, I’d tell you a year in advance.’ My life’s pretty good. I want people to do what’s best for their life. If this is what’s best for Don, the Hurricanes will be fine.” 1150606 Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes’ goalie Anton Forsberg gets one-year contract

BY STAFF REPORTS

Hurricanes goalie Anton Forsberg has been awarded a $775,000, one- way contract, the organization announced Tuesday.

In 45 games with the Chicago Blackhawks and the , Forsberg, who’s 6-3 and 192 pounds, has a .901 save percentage. Forsberg, who’s 26 and from Harnosand, Sweden, is 11-24- 4.

The Canes acquired Forsberg and defenseman Gustav Forsling in June in a trade that included sending defenseman Calvin de Haan and forward Aleksi Saarela to the Blackhawks.

News Observer LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150607 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes trade defenseman Trevor Carrick to San Jose for Kyle Wood

BY CHIP ALEXANDER AUGUST 06, 2019 01:07 PM

The Carolina Hurricanes have traded defenseman Trevor Carrick, one of the leaders this past season during the ’ run to the ’s Calder Cup.

The Canes said Tuesday that Carrick, 25, had been dealt to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Kyle Wood, who spent last season with the in the AHL.

“Kyle is a big, puck-moving defenseman,” Canes general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. “He’s a couple years younger than Trevor, and will have time to continue to develop on Charlotte’s blueline. We thank Trevor for his contributions to our organization and wish him the best in San Jose.”

Wood, 23, was second among Barracuda defensemen in assists (29) and points (35) and was the team’s alternate captain. The right-hand shooting D-man, listed at 6-5 and 210 pounds, was a third-round selection by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2014 NHL Draft.

Carrick, drafted in the fourth round by Carolina in 2012, played four career NHL games with the Hurricanes and 347 in the AHL. He was fourth among AHL defensemen in assists (38) last season and had three goals and nine assists in 16 playoff games as the Checkers, the Canes’ AHL affiliate, won the championship.

News Observer LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150608 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes relegated to only one national TV game next season – again

BY CHIP ALEXANDER

Canes fans, gathered outside the Carolina Ale House on Glenwood Avenue, react after the Boston Bruins score in the second period of Sunday’s playoff game.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup playoff run to the Eastern Conference finals earned it a lot of national TV time on NBC -- last season.

The Canes’ playoff success didn’t translate to more TV time in the coming 2019-20 regular season.

The Canes again will be shown on the NBC Sports Group just once, on March 5, in the road game against the . That’s it -- one and done.

NBC released its national hockey schedule Tuesday, trumpeting the 109 games that will be shown this season, including 14 doubleheaders on its “Wednesday Night Hockey showcase.” The NBC release said “Established stars and young phenoms will take center stage on ‘Wednesday Night Hockey’” but that won’t include the Canes’ Sebastian Aho or Andrei Svechnikov.

In May, NBC announced the rating for Game 1 of the Canes’ Eastern Conference finals series against the Boston Bruins was the highest in NBCSN history for Game 1 of the conference finals.

The Canes have gotten short shrift from NBC in recent seasons. They were televised once in the 2018-19 season and once in 2017-18 -- on April 5, 2018, in their 81st game of the regular season.

News Observer LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150609 Carolina Hurricanes that Waddell is the President and GM of the Canes — letting these folks walk this late in the offseason is unheard of for a reason.

The Hurricanes should hope Victor Rask is the best asset the Wild get State of the Canes: What’s going on with Don Waddell and the out of Raleigh before next season. Hurricanes? The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019

By Sara Civian Aug 6, 2019

Don Waddell joked earlier this summer that he has a “lifetime contract” under Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon.

Maybe that’s why few raised an eyebrow when the dead of the NHL offseason emerged late July and the GM of the Year finalist was still a free agent. Or maybe it was that he has still acted as Hurricanes GM and President, addressing the media after matching the Sebastian Aho offer sheet and being quoted in press releases for the Erik Haula and Ryan Dzingel signings.

Either way, five weeks out of training camp and none of the illusions above change the fact that Waddell became a free agent June 30 and the Hurricanes haven’t signed him. It might still be something to shrug at, if only two popular folks (former Checkers head coach Mike Vellucci and former Hurricanes goalie coach Mike Bales) hadn’t made lateral moves out of the organization earlier in the offseason.

Oh, and The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported Tuesday that the Wild actually conducted an in-person interview with Waddell for the Paul Fenton-sized hole in Minnesota’s front office.

A potential third lateral move in one summer, that would leave Carolina with no GM and no President in mid-August?

A source within the Hurricanes seems confident that’s not going to happen.

But this situation — the Wild firing a GM so late in the game, then another team’s “free agent” GM willing to field an in-person interview — is so abnormal that it’s worth examining no matter the outcome.

How could negotiations between the Hurricanes and Waddell get to this point?

We will learn much more in the coming days, For now, let’s play a little speculation roulette.

Scenario 1

The Hurricanes were so sure of the “lifetime contract” that they left it as an afterthought while they shopped around for pieces. They signed an offer sheet and are essentially spending to the cap for the first time in recent memory, after all. In this scenario, they didn’t see Fenton’s firing coming and figured there were no openings Waddell would explore, so no rush.

This scenario would still rightfully rub many the wrong way considering Waddell’s reputation as a class act and how it would look to just put his contract on the back burner because the Canes thought they could, but it’s at least reasonably understandable.

Scenario 2

Contract talks weren’t going well and Waddell saw interviewing elsewhere as an opportunity for leverage.

This scenario reflects poorly on the Hurricanes if it’s the real one. Waddell is well within his rights to secure the bag through creative means. At least two other Hurricanes employees recently outsourced “the bag” and actually left, though, so if the GM completes that hat trick you absolutely have to start questioning why so much leverage needs to be sought.

Scenario 3

Waddell really wants to leave.

This is the least likely scenario, but obviously the worst for the Hurricanes. So much drama before training camp and the scramble to find a new GM and President would likely dampen the vibe of a solid offseason.

I’m guessing the first scenario is at play here, but no matter how you slice it this doesn’t look great for Carolina at the moment. We must remember 1150610 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks will be featured in league-high 12 nationally televised games

NBC Sports Chicago will carry the remaining 70 games of the 2019-20 schedule.

By Sun-Times staff Aug 6, 2019

The Blackhawks announced 12 games this upcoming season will be broadcast nationally on NBCSN. Locally, NBC Sports Chicago will carry the remaining 70 games.

NBC Sports Chicago will carry the regular-season opener against the Flyers from Prague, Czech Republic, on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. Chicago time.

All games will also be available for streaming. WGN-AM remains the team’s radio broadcaster.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150611 Chicago Blackhawks

NBC Sports Chicago to carry 70 Blackhawks games in 2019-20

By NBC Sports Chicago August 06, 2019 10:40 AM

NBC Sports Chicago and the Chicago Blackhawks announced the team's broadcast schedule for the 2019-20 season on Tuesday.

NBC Sports Chicago will be the exclusive broadcast holder for 70 Blackhawks games this season, with a number of games appearing on NBC Sports Chicago+. Games appearing on the Plus channel will be announced at a later date, in conjunction with the 2019-20 Chicago Bulls broadcast schedule.

NBC Sports Chicago will kick things off with the Blackhawks' regular season opener on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. against the Philadelphia Flyers in Prague, Czech Republic. The Blackhawks' home opener will then follow on Oct. 4 against the San Jose Sharks, also airing on NBC Sports Chicago.

The Blackhawks will also appear on NBCSN a league-high 12 times in 2019-20, as well as two additional (non-exclusive) NBCSN games, bringing the total to 14. The first NBCSN game is Nov. 13 at 9 p.m. CT against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Blackhawks Pregame Live will air ahead of every NBC Sports Chicago broadcast, with Blackhawks Postgame Live immediately following. And, for the first time ever, all 82 Blackhawks games will be live-streamed; the 70 games will be available to authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers on NBCSportsChicago.com and the MyTeams app, while the 12 NBCSN games can be live streamed at NBCSports.com or the NBC Sports app.

Six of the Blackhawks' preseason games will air on NBC Sports Chicago/NBC Sports Chicago+, as previously announced.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150612 Chicago Blackhawks in the defensive zone instead. He was almost always the first forward over the boards when the Blackhawks went shorthanded.

Blackhawks general manager , who was assistant general Bidding farewell to Marcus Kruger, the Blackhawks’ ultimate role player manager when the Blackhawks drafted Kruger in the fifth round in 2009, made sure Kruger was part of the Blackhawks’ core. Bowman then negotiated three contract extensions with Kruger, traded him and then By Scott Powers Aug 6, 2019 reacquired him.

“He was sort of the ultimate team player,” Bowman said recently. “I had some discussions with Marcus early in his career. He was frustrated that Marcus Kruger remembers a time when there weren’t so many Whole he was just put as a checker. I think he was the rookie of the year, I Foods around Chicago. believe he was in Sweden the year that he came over late in the year to As he sees it, Chicago has evolved. He has, too. Chicago. He had quite a lot of success. He was scoring. He was sort of an all-around player and then he gets to our team and we had players Long gone are the days when he and his Johnny Oduya walked up and who did lots of scoring. We kind of explained to him, here’s your role, and down the aisles, piecing together their meals. Their significant others I think what it says to me he just wants to win. He did what the team used to joke about how much time the two friends, roommates and needed him to do, even though he was frustrated at first. He finally teammates would spend together at the grocery store. accepted, like, ‘OK, I can do this. I can be the guy who is the penalty killer, the faceoff guy, the matchup guy.’ There’s so much Kruger will fondly remember about Chicago and the Blackhawks. The city, its people, its hockey and its grocery stores filled “There’s not always a lot of glory in that. You’re not the one who gets all his daily life for nearly a decade. He arrived in Chicago as one person the interviews, but you’re a big reason why the team wins. As far as his and player and left as another. legacy, I think it’s the fact he sacrificed his personal accomplishments for the betterment of the team. There’s no way we win those Stanley Cups “I came here when I was 20,” Kruger said recently by phone from his without him. Under the radar, he played a big role. He allowed some of home in Sweden. “Kind of grow up there a little bit. The adult life started our other players to get some easier matchups. He would always go up there in some ways. It’s always going to be special. I can’t think of a against the top players and find a way to neutralize them and allow some better city to spend time than in Chicago. It’s amazing, as you know. of our other players easier or different matchups. From that perspective, Beautiful city, beautiful people, it’s been great.” I’d maybe say he was the unsung hero of the Cup teams.” Hockey was what brought Kruger to Chicago, and it’s now taken him Brandon Saad and Kruger played together in Chicago and Rockford. away. Kruger parted ways with the Blackhawks after last season, Saad looked up to Kruger in many ways. became an unrestricted free agent and after weighing his options in the NHL and elsewhere, signed in early July with the ZSC Lions in “For me and a lot of guys you talk to, he’s a great guy to have around as Switzerland. a role model, as a teammate, as a hard-working player who competes every night and I think as a very good pro,” Saad said. “I’m not sure the Kruger isn’t closing the door on a return to the NHL – he’s still only 29 — reasoning behind why he’s playing in Switzerland, but I think his memory but he recognizes it’s less likely after signing a two-year contract with is going to be all good things. He’s won some championships and ZSC. At the very least, it’s improbable Kruger rejoins the Blackhawks for contributed in that. I can’t really say anything bad about him.” a third go-around. That chapter is likely closed. Blackhawks captain always admired what Kruger did for It was a long and successful chapter, though. Kruger spent parts of eight the team. seasons with the Blackhawks, played in 472 regular-season games, 87 playoff games, logged 7,628 minutes of total ice time and 1,200-plus “He was one of those guys that again played way bigger than his size,” minutes on the penalty kill. He began a majority of his faceoff shifts in the Toews said at last month’s Blackhawks convention. “He was a crucial defensive zone (he started 70.8 percent of his even-strength faceoffs in part of the Cup runs. I think coming back to Chicago what I think he did the defensive zone for the Blackhawks, according to hockey- too. The way Joel relied on him to kill penalties, win draws and do those reference.com), and, of course, was part of two Stanley Cup things. Talking about (Andrew Shaw) a second ago, I would say Krugs is championship teams. another of those guys who just runs right into the mess, right into the corner, takes a beating. He’s not the biggest guy, but he just found ways “Something I dreamed of, and to do that with those guys we had on that to get things done out there. I think Chicago fans have always been very team, it’s unbelievable when you think about it,” Kruger said. “That’s why good at recognizing that in a player and seeing what they bring to the we all play. That’s why we play team sports too — to win as a team. It’s team and seeing that work ethic. I think they’ll definitely remember that the best feeling you can imagine. The path all the way there is what’s and value that down the road.” made it so special, all the ups and downs, all the goods, but also the bad times during the year. It’s not going to be easy, but we were able to battle Kruger’s contract (he had a $3-plus million cap hit the last three seasons) through and find a way to win the whole thing. That’s something I’m and his return to the Blackhawks last season probably negatively going to bring with me whatever I do in life.” affected some fan perception, but that will pass, and he’ll undoubtedly be welcomed back enthusiastically whenever the 2013 and 2015 teams But how will Chicago remember Kruger? have reunions in the coming years. He is a unique case, flying under the radar in so many ways. He didn’t Unfortunately, fans didn’t get a chance to bid him a proper farewell during score a monumental playoff goal (he did help set up ’s his last two exits from the Blackhawks. He missed out on a video game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Stanley montage because he had been assigned to the AHL when the Carolina Cup final in 2013). He wasn’t an offensive force. He scored a career-best Hurricanes played at the during the 2017-18 season. This nine goals in his rookie season and never had more than 28 points in a past season he was made a healthy scratch in the Blackhawks’ final season. He’s not a big personality. home game. Kruger was known for his defensive play, but he didn’t strip pucks like Blackhawks coach downplayed the decision at the time Marian Hossa. He was rarely included in highlight reels — penalty killing when asked about it being possibly Kruger’s final home game. and effective defensive zone play tend to get overlooked by most observers. “As far as I know, he’s still playing with us, so it’s not really something I thought about,” Colliton said. “There’s a lot of things you consider when Yet Kruger was essential to the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup runs. He was you make the lineup.” their ultimate role player. That may not lead to No. 16 hanging from the rafters one day, but he has his place in the franchise’s history. According a team source, Colliton and his coaching staff were focused on getting the opportunity to play because he was likely Because of how Joel Quenneville utilized Kruger, he took on a more retiring after the season, and they didn’t recognize Kruger’s time in important role than most fourth-line centers. Quenneville’s trust made Chicago may be up. The source said Kruger’s healthy scratch was an Kruger a key piece of those Cup teams, and he was on the ice during the unfortunate oversight. final minute of both Stanley Cup-clinching games in 2013 and 2015. His turn in the line rotations would sometimes be skipped in order to start him Kruger has never been one to make a stink about anything, but his words are telling.

“You want to play every game,” Kruger said. “I definitely wanted to play that game. That’s all I can say. We weren’t playing for a playoff spot or anything, but I really wanted to play that game. That’s all I can say.”

Marcus Kruger always made time for the media during his time with the Blackhawks. (Kim Klement / USA Today)

From a media perspective, Kruger was always helpful. He wasn’t the go- to player and he certainly wasn’t looking to be interviewed, but he always had time for you. Questions about himself made him cringe, but he loved to talk about hockey.

Even as I interviewed Kruger recently, his love for hockey was apparent. We talked about how his career hit a few bumps the past few years. Despite that, Kruger said he never changed how he thought about playing hockey.

“It’s always been fun,” Kruger said. “Always been easy to go to the rink. Not always fun to come to the rink when you lose a lot and maybe you don’t play your best. I mean, nine days out of the 10, it’s the best thing I know. It’s always been fun. I never doubted that. I loved every minute of it and still do.”

You don’t get a lot of time with players outside the rink, but Kruger and Oduya allowed me to shadow them during their Stanley Cup day in Sweden in 2015. I saw Kruger interact with family, friends and fans and spoke with him on and off the record. I wouldn’t say I know Kruger well, but I feel like I got to know him a bit better on that trip.

When I joked with Kruger about missing the Chicago media too, he was sincere with his answer.

“I’ll miss you guys,” Kruger said. “I think Chicago (media), really appreciate that being away from that for a year too, that there’s so much attention and people care about the sport and what you do every day. It’s not like that on every team. That’s something I really appreciate.”

Now Kruger is off to Switzerland. The media, the hockey and the grocery stores will likely be different than Chicago.

“I had a few options,” Kruger said. “I could have waited. I could have maybe signed somewhere and stuff. In the end, I think after a lot of thinking and a lot of talking to people close to me, I think this was my best option. Right now I feel really excited for next season. It’s going to be something new. It’s going to be something way different. But I think it’s going to be good for me and my family.

“It’s a lot of factors you have to think about. I think I always loved to play hockey, so hockey’s always No. 1. And you always want to play at the highest level you can and get better and better every year. That’s always been my mindset and same thing now. I know the situation was a little bit different than it’s been. I think in the end everything ended up pretty good.”

The same can be said about his time in Chicago. In the end, everything ended up pretty good.

Before we got off the phone, I asked Kruger how he’d liked to be remembered by Blackhawks fans.

“Hopefully they remember I always put a lot of pride in doing everything I could for the team,” Kruger said. “Hopefully they remember that. That’s always been my mindset – do everything I can for the team, being a good teammate. I don’t think much else what everyone else thinks of me. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. Hopefully they see that too.”

The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150613 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche to play 12 nationally televised games on NBC Sports in 2019- 20

By MIKE CHAMBERS |PUBLISHED: August 6, 2019

The Avalanche will get plenty of chances to play before a national audience next season.

Avs on NBC Sports in 2019-20

Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh (NBCSN, 5 p.m.)

Dec. 11 vs. Philadelphia (NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 18 at Chicago (NBCSN, 6 p.m.)

Dec. 27 vs. Minnesota (NBCSN, 6 p.m.)

Jan. 2 vs. St. Louis (NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 7 at New York Rangers (NBCSN, 5:30 p.m.)

Feb. 9 at Minnesota (NBCSN, 5:30 p.m.)

Feb. 15 vs. Los Angeles Kings at Air Force (NBC, 6 p.m.)

Feb. 26 vs. Buffalo (NBCSN, 6 p.m.)

March 4 vs. Anaheim (NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.)

March 8 at San Jose (NBCSN, 8 p.m.)

March 29 vs. Nashville (NBCSN, 7:30 p.m.)

Colorado has 12 nationally televised games airing on either NBC or NBCSN this coming season, including the NHL Stadium Series contest against the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 15 at the Air Force Academy’s .

NBC Sports will air 109 total NHL regular-season games in 2019-20.

The Avs will play 11 games before an NBCSN audience, beginning Oct. 26 at the Pittsburgh Penguins. Colorado also has road NBCSN games Jan. 7 at the New York Rangers, Feb. 9 at the Minnesota Wild and March 8 at the San Jose Sharks.

Colorado is also expected to have multiple “” games aired by Sportsnet. The club’s broadcast schedule on Altitude TV has yet to be announced.

Denver Post: LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150614 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche to make 12 appearances on national television

By Aarif Deen -August 6, 2019

THE NHL and NBC Sports announced their national broadcast schedule in the for the 2019-20 NHL season on Tuesday. The Avalanche will make 12 appearances on NBC Sports Network, six more than a season ago.

The national broadcast schedule is highlighted by Colorado’s second Stadium Series outdoor game in five seasons, as the Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings at 6 p.m. on Feb. 15 at Falcon Stadium at the U.S. Airforce Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Avalanche will make their first appearance on Oct. 16 on the road in Pittsburgh. Colorado will also host the defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

The Avs will be featured on Wednesday Night Hockey five times, three of which will be home games. Colorado will have seven home games on the NBC Networks and five on the road.

The Avalanche’s 12 appearances are one of the highest in the league, trailing only behind Philadelphia (20), Pittsburgh (16), St. Louis (15), Chicago (14), and N.Y. Rangers (13).

Colorado Avalanche U.S. National Broadcast schedule:

Date Away Home Network Time (MT)

Wed., Oct. 16 Colorado Pittsburgh NBCSN 5 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 11 Philadelphia Colorado NBCSN 7:30 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 18 Colorado Chicago NBCSN 6 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 27 Minnesota Colorado NBCSN 6 p.m.

Thur., Jan. 2 St. Louis Colorado NBCSN 7:30 p.m.

Tues., Jan. 7 Colorado N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 5:30 p.m.

Sun., Feb. 9 Colorado Minnesota NBCSN 5:30 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 15 Los Angeles Colorado NBC 6 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 26 Buffalo Colorado NBCSN 6 p.m.

Wed., Mar. 4 Anaheim Colorado NBCSN 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 8 Colorado San Jose NBCSN 8 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 29 Nashville Colorado NBCSN 7:30 p.m. milehighsports.com LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150615 Colorado Avalanche Figure 1: NHL Change in Playoff Appearance. Courtesy of Jason Paul at Wave Intel.

Since 2013, at least five teams that did not make the playoffs in the The implications of a hot start for the Avalanche previous season have enjoyed postseason berths. That number has continued to trend up, as shown in Figure 1 above.

BY LUKE MARSHALL AUGUST 6, 2019 Last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs featured five new teams, while also providing a tournament more similar to March Madness than to a previous NHL postseason. For the first time in history, the top seeds in both the West and the East were eliminated in the first round. The With training camp and preseason games right around the corner, Jared Flames were extinguished by an Avalanche, while the Blue Jackets Bednar will soon be brainstorming ways to hit the ground running in time marched past the Lightning in a clean sweep. for the regular season. The Lightning was no slouch of a top seed either. A 128-point season The Avalanche can all but guarantee a playoff appearance by driven by an NHL record-tying 62 regular-season wins made the Atlantic outmatching the fitness, focus, and most importantly, scoring of their Division champs the clear Cup favorites when the regular season opponents through their first 20 games. concluded. Come April, Tampa Bay had a 16.2% chance to take home Or can they? the Stanley Cup, while the next best odds belonged to San Jose with a 10.5% chance (Moneypuck.com). In the past, a strong start to the season almost guaranteed you at least a Stanley Cup playoff appearance. Of the seven best regular-season starts One week later, the Lightning owned an 0-4 record in the playoffs and in the pre-salary cap era, five resulted in Stanley Cup championships, was booking offseason tee times. This outcome not only shocked the one ended in a conference final loss, and one was halted by a first-round hockey world but also proved that an incredible regular season is just exit. that. A regular season. Once the playoffs begin, all bets are off.

Notable teams in this group include: the 1943-44 The Lightning’s awe-inspiring rise to glory followed by their shocking who, led by Maurice “Rocket” Richard, only lost five games in the regular postseason exit spawned the argument that perhaps the speed and season, ’s first two Cup-winning teams in ’83-84 (7-1-1 stamina of the modern NHL can’t be sustained at such a high level for start) and ’84-85 (12-0-3 start), and a stacked ’01-02 Red Wings squad (I the 100 or so games required to win a Stanley Cup. won’t go into the details there). In recent years, franchises have targeted young players with elite speed Each of the aforementioned teams was driven by dominant early-season and skill over big, hard-hitting bruisers. The game’s demanding pace play and/or generational players. Following the 2004-05 Collective could be causing players and teams to burn out once the playoffs roll Bargaining Agreement and the beginning of the salary cap era, stacked around. rosters and playoff guarantees became a thing of the past. We’ve even seen this transformation affect starting . While Aside from a 12-0-4 start by the in 2006-07 and the puck stoppers used to play the vast majority of their team’s regular- Blackhawks’ 24-game anomaly in the 2013 half-season (both resulting in season games, more and more goalies are starting to split their regular- Stanley Cup victories), hot starts haven’t guaranteed much of anything. season workload to stay fresh for the playoffs.

No one understands that better than last season’s Buffalo Sabres. After a Fatigue is even more likely to set in for teams who rely on big minutes 17-6-2 start capped off by a ten-game win streak, the Sabres were slated from their top players. Clearly, Jared Bednar expected a heavy workload to claim a top playoff seed. However, they deflated with a 13-22-6 record from his top line last season, and the effects showed around playoff time. over the next three months and were eliminated from postseason In the final ten games of the season, significant injuries to both Gabe contention on March 4. Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen kept them from critical play. And in the Colorado followed a similar path. At the start of December, the Avs second-round series against the Sharks, Mikko endured a monster hit boasted a 15-6-5 record and the second-best odds to win the Stanley from Brent Burns that left him limping through the remaining contests. Cup (7.3%) behind Tampa Bay’s 7.4%. After losing 24 of their next 32 Similarly, Nathan MacKinnon spent the early portion of his summer games, the Avs were holding onto their playoff hopes by a thread. While recovering from a Game 7 shoulder injury that nearly kept him out of the their story had a happier ending, the Avs still had to win eight of their last final game. 11 regular-season games to make the playoffs. The Avalanche are hoping the forward depth they added this offseason This up-and-down performance is prevalent in today’s NHL. Teams go will allow them to make a deep playoff run that avoids serious injuries. from Stanley Cup favorites to league laughing stocks faster than you can But this is the new NHL. A hot start and a deep roster don’t guarantee a snap your fingers. playoff appearance. The most important thing for Jared Bednar’s squad However, the 2019 Stanley Cup Champions reversed that trend. By is that they join the playoff hunt. From there, anything can happen. midseason, the St. Louis Blues had hit rock bottom. They fired head BSN DENVER LOADED: 08.07.2019 coach Mike Yeo in November, bottomed out at a 0.6% chance to win the Stanley Cup, and were dead last in league standings as of January 2.

A new system, a hot young goalie, and an 11-game winning streak led them to a third-place Central Division finish. Then, they rode their momentum into the and the sunset (probably).

All of a sudden, the NHL regular season seems meaningless. What changed?

The most common explanation stems from the implementation of the salary cap. Put simply, with less money to spend franchises can’t build and sustain super teams.

The Montreal Canadiens, for example, won 24 Cups in their illustrious history because they had inherent advantages that kept them with perpetually stacked rosters. Conversely, the St. Louis Blues hoisted their first-ever Stanley Cup this past season.

Given, Montreal is an team while the Blues only came into existence in 1967. But even during the Blues’ 50-year drought, the Canadiens won eleven Cups. The league looked to add a “competitive balance” to the NHL landscape, as Commissioner put it. So far, it’s worked. 1150616 Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars to appear six times on national television in 2019-20; see the matchups here

By Matthew DeFranks , Sports Reporter

America will see more of the Stars this season.

After appearing just once on national television last season, the Stars will be on NBC or NBC Sports Network six times this season, including the Winter Classic against Nashville on New Year's Day.

Here are the Stars' nationally televised games for the upcoming season:

Nov. 26: Stars at Blackhawks, 7 p.m., NBCSN

Jan. 1: Predators at Stars, noon, NBC (Winter Classic)

Jan. 8: Stars at Kings, 9 p.m., NBCSN

Jan. 27: Lightning at Stars, 7 p.m., NBCSN

Feb. 27: Stars at Bruins, 6:30 p.m., NBCSN

April 1: Stars at Ducks, 9 p.m., NBCSN

The broadcast schedule forced the change of three game times. The Nov. 26 game in Chicago was previously 7:30 p.m., the Jan. 27 game against Tampa Bay was previously 7:30 p.m. and the Feb. 27 game in Boston was previously 6 p.m.

The six nationally televised games are twice as many for Dallas as the previous two seasons combined (one in 2018-19 and two in 2017-18). Even with the increase, the Stars are on NBC and NBCSN less than Central Division foes St. Louis (15), Chicago (14), Nashville, Colorado and Minnesota (12).

Only three American teams that made the playoffs last year have fewer NBC/NBCSN games than the Stars (Columbus and N.Y. Islanders 2, Carolina 1).

The Stars advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season, falling to eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis in double- of Game 7. In the offseason, Dallas added veteran goal-scorers Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry. During the year, they will host the southernmost NHL outdoor game during the Winter Classic at the .

The postseason run in May resulted in a few ratings records for Dallas:

-- Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final between St. Louis and Boston was the highest-rated game in Dallas not involving the Stars.

-- Game 7 of the second round between Dallas and St. Louis was the most-watched second-round game in NBC history.

-- Game 6 of the second round between Dallas and St. Louis drew a 5.2 rating in Dallas, the highest ever for the market.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150617 Dallas Stars Pavelski's skill tipping pucks is undeniable, and his 54 tips and 21 deflections last season each ranked sixth in the NHL, according to Charting Hockey. But how much of his production had to do with the style What game film, analytics and Stars coach Jim Montgomery say about of hockey the Sharks played? how Joe Pavelski fits in Dallas' offense Under Peter DeBoer, San Jose has had a very distinctive philosophy in the offensive zone: gather the puck, get it to the blue line, bomb away and look for tips and rebounds. Since DeBoer took over in 2015-16, only By Matthew DeFranks one Western Conference team (Chicago) has more shot attempts than San Jose at 5-on-5.

Last season, Sharks defensemen Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson were Before the Stars signed Joe Pavelski to the three-year contract worth $7 first and second among the league's defensemen (min. 500 minutes) in million annually, coach Jim Montgomery dissected the film. Video coach shot attempts per 60 minutes at 5-on-5. It was the sixth straight season Kelly Forbes assembled all 38 of Pavelski's goals into a package that Burns led the league's defensemen in that category. Montgomery could sort through by strength and analyze. By comparison, Taylor Fedun (20th), John Klingberg (52nd), Miro The broad takeaway was simple: the Stars needed Pavelski's goal Heiskanen (60th) and (62nd) were the only Stars scoring, and the variety of ways he could do so. The other conclusions defensemen in the top 100 last season, according to Natural Stat Trick. were more nuanced: how he positioned his body, how he drove the net, the surprising effectiveness of his one-timer and the particular areas of In Montgomery's first season in Dallas, the Stars adopted an offensive the game in which Pavelski's skills could help the Stars, who finished philosophy that prioritized quality over quantity. They looked for pockets 29th in scoring last season. of ice in the slot rather than blasting away from the blue line (the Stars were top 10 in high-danger chances per 60 minutes and bottom 10 in Pavelski's 38-goal season in 2018-19 (with a 20.2 shooting percentage) shot attempts per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick). was the fourth time in the last six seasons he scored at least 37 goals. Since he entered the league in 2006-07, only nine players have more Over the summer, Montgomery and his staff have analyzed how to goals scored than Pavelski. His laurels are impressive, but in what areas optimize the Stars' offense. At their core, the Stars under Montgomery can he impact the Stars? will always be a possession and pressure team, but they've dissected other teams in the league to glean ways to score. To figure it out, I followed Montgomery's lead in watching all of Pavelski's goals from last season and placed them in five categories: tips and He noted that Boston likes to hold pucks and spread the defense out. St. redirections, rebounds and loose pucks, from the left circle, odd-man Louis likes to operate from behind the net. Tampa Bay generates a lot of rushes, and other. Some goals could fit multiple categories (like tips from offense off the rush and on the power play. the left circle or rebounds on odd-man rushes) but I just placed them in the category most appropriate. "We just want to figure out how we want to do it and we've got a real good handle on it after analyzing the top five scoring teams from o-zone Tips and redirections (12) play, not just [total] goals," Montgomery said. "What we do as a team, that's a big focus of our staff's is improving our o-zone goal production, This is where Pavelski did most of his damage, and it's a skill he's been and [Pavelski] and Corey Perry and us having a little bit more structure in known for across his 13-year NHL career, previously spent in San Jose. what we're going to be doing, in how we're going to be doing it, and all The Stars got a closer look at it when the Sharks visited Dallas last five guys being able to play faster because of it, I think is going to allow November, with Pavelski scoring a goal that impressed Montgomery us to be able to score a lot more goals." initially, but stuck with him after re-watching it. So how does that relate to Pavelski? The Stars may not be firing as It was Pavelski's seventh goal of the season, and he scored it from one many pucks from the blue line as San Jose did, but that doesn't mean knee by deflecting a Brent Burns pass from the right point. He made Esa Montgomery and Dallas will be limiting Pavelski's puck-tipping ability. Lindell cover him on both posts and nearly drew a tripping penalty on Lindell. "He always knows where the puck is, so he can always know when to go to the net, where to put his stick to give a defenseman an outlet for a tip "In the game, I was like 'Wow, what a skill,'" Montgomery said. and also where to find those little pockets of open space to get his stick "But to actually watch it develop and how he did it. He spun off our best open," Montgomery said. defender, Esa Lindell, and Esa had to chase him, he knew where he was "He's never blind to the puck so he's never guessing. As easy as that going. Esa chased him and should have got a penalty on the play and he many sound, you don't know how many times as a coach, any coach at didn't. Joe still never took his eyes off the puck, had his stick on the ice any level, is telling his players 'Don't turn your back on the puck.' It's a and scored from his knee on a redirect. I think if you want to encapsulate lazy habit, and that's what gives Joe an extra foot to two feet of space is one goal where it showed his dogged determination, his skill level and his that he doesn't turn his back on the puck." details of his game, that's the one." Rebounds and loose pucks (8) Pavelski's season is dotted with examples of these types of tips. It's not surprising that Pavelski's willingness to go to the front of the net This is his 19th goal of the season, at Arizona on Dec. 8, when his one- for tips also results in a lot of rebound goals, albeit fewer that require elite legged tip leaves Adin Hill frozen in disbelief. hand-eye coordination like deflections do. This is his 22nd goal of the season, against Winnipeg on Dec. 20, that "From everyone I've talked to that has coached him, this is something he clanked off his knee and had Connor Hellebuyck searching for answers. works on all the time: the tips, the redirections, finding rebounds," This is his 32nd goal of the season, against Boston on Feb. 18, where he Montgomery said. "It's kind of like, why did Dennis Rodman end up with absorbs a cross check from Zdeno Chara but is still able to tip a puck so many more rebounds, offensive rebounds than anybody else? Well, over and a flailing Chara. one, he has a great knack for being able to figure out positioning. But there's also a will there to go to dirty areas. [Pavelski's] details and habits Pavelski's 34th goal of the season, the middle goal of a Feb. 24 hat trick are incredible. He's always facing the puck. He's always getting his at Detroit, is one that jumped out to Montgomery. Pavelski moves hands and his stick loose, away from his check and he's always coming through the offensive zone, and eventually sets up at an extreme angle back to the puck like a receiver would in football." to the right of Jonathan Bernier. He receives a pass from Marc-Edouard Vlasic and tips it high, short-side from what was officially ruled as 17 feet His eight rebound goals and 12 tip goals mean that more than half of away. Pavelski's 38 goals last season came on rebounds or tips. Sure, his shooting percentage was abnormally high, but the amount of rebounds "You could tell by his reaction that it's something he's worked on probably and tips still means that he was in the right area of the offensive zone for a month and has finally paid off in a game," Montgomery said. instead of shooting from the outside, where an outlier shooting percentage could be cause for more concern. "It was a very tough angle to do that deflection from, but you tell that it wasn't by fluke. It was something that he had worked on over and over Pavelski's third goal of the season -- Oct. 14 at New Jersey -- was on a again." rebound and came after an active shift in the offensive zone. As soon as San Jose enters the zone, Pavelski drives the net. Then he chases a Pavelski profiles as a net-front player on the power play because of his rebound, battles for it in the corner, supports it behind the net, goes to rebounds and tipping, but his versatility makes him valuable in the Stars' the front of the net when the puck goes to the blue line, tries to tip it, then power play that thrives on motion not only of the puck but also of the deposits the rebound. players. When the players were fluid in the offensive zone, that's when the Dallas power play was dangerous both in the regular season The next two goals could have been counted as ones off the rush, but (remember that Winnipeg game on Oct. 6) and during the playoffs (hello, since Pavelski scored on Timo Meier rebounds, I'm classifying them as Game 4 against Nashville). rebound goals. "All those guys should be able to be interchangeable because we can set In the first one, his 12th on Nov. 17 against the Blues, Pavelski leads the up the players where we want them to, but we got to be able to have a rush and slips a pass to Meier in the slot. On the rebound, Pavelski's shot-first attitude," Montgomery said. body beats to the spot and his stick beats Jordan Schmaltz to the puck. He ends the play on the ice pretty jacked up. Let's assume this is the first power play unit:

In the next one, his 28th on Feb. 2 against Arizona, Logan Couture Joe Pavelski forces a turnover up the wall, springing Meier on a breakaway. After a Meier shot and a failed clearance, Pavelski is there to clean up the mess. Tyler Seguin - Jamie Benn - Alexander Radulov

Both instances included Pavelski driving to the net on the rush, John Klingberg something Montgomery expects from some of his players. After the All- (Which could leave the second one looking something like this: Star break, Montgomery was preaching middle-lane drive, which sent a body towards the net as an option, but also opened up the backside for a Corey Perry shooting opportunity. More on that later. Roope Hintz - Esa Lindell - Gurianov/Dowling/Janmark/Other "You can't always count on the rush goals, but there's always going to be Miro Heiskanen) o-zone time," Montgomery said. "There's always going to be rebounds if you're generating enough shot attempts." Pavelski and Seguin can both play on their one-timer side in the left circle. Benn, Pavelski and Radulov can occupy the net-front. Seguin and The final rebound goal, his 31st on Feb. 16 against Vancouver, is off a Radulov can flip-flop to give a different look. Pavelski can also provide possession Pavelski created. He forced a turnover along the wall in the versatility and movement in the offensive zone on the power play. Let's offensive zone, setting up Couture and Meier for a shot that he followed take a look at how. into the slot. The big rebound set up a wide open net and Pavelski's quick release buried it. On this goal, Pavelski's 16th at Toronto on Nov. 28, he begins in the middle of the ice and tries to collect a loose puck close to the right circle. The analytics site MoneyPuck has tried to quantify the value of rebounds As the puck rotates to the point with Burns, Pavelski finds the open ice in through expected goals. It assigns a goal value to each shot based on the left circle, where Couture previously was. Couture shifts to the middle past probabilities of scoring from that spot on the ice and other factors slightly and Burns eventually finds Pavelski for a tough-angle one-timer. such as shot type and time since last event. Similarly, the site determined The shot would have gone wide if Frederik Andersen hadn't clipped it, so which shots create the best rebounds, based on the likelihood that there that's a bit lucky, but the positioning and movement was noteworthy. is a save and how often the rebound after the save is a goal (notated as xGoals of xRebounds). Pavelski is stationed in the left circle for this one, but notice where his teammates are. Couture at the point? Burns and Karlsson ending up in For instance, if a shot from the right circle is likely to create a rebound the right circle? That's movement in the offensive zone that creates that can be scored easily at the far post, its xGoals of xRebounds would passing and shooting lanes. Couture sets up Pavelski for a short-side be high because it measures the creation of that potential goal. rocket. Last season at 5-on-5, Pavelski had 17.4 expected goals (he actually "It's a legitimate bomb, which is going to give us a nice option moving scored 21), which ranked 19th in the league, immediately behind Nathan him and Seggy around," Montgomery said. MacKinnon and Alex Ovechkin. Of those, 6.2 came off rebounds, tying him for the league lead with . With 35.6% of his expected Kevin Labanc handles most of the hard work on this one, taking goals on rebounds, Pavelski ranked fifth in the league for largest share of advantage of the open ice in front of him, forcing the Colorado defense to expected production off rebounds (minimum 500 minutes). collapse on him and opening a cross-ice lane to Pavelski. Pavelski also makes a subtle move toward the net that gives Labanc more room to Part of that is due to Pavelski's positioning, obviously, and the other part pass. is the quality of rebounds Pavelski is cleaning up from his Sharks teammates. Meier created 3.1 expected goals from his rebounds, third The Sharks were mobile in their power play, and the Stars want to do the most in the NHL. Evander Kane produced 2.8, 11th in the league. Burns same thing. and Gustav Nyquist were also in the top 50 in xGoals of xRebounds. "Once the puck funnels to the net, the guy who retrieves the puck, if it's The Stars, meanwhile, only placed Tyler Seguin in the top 50 of xGoals Jamie Benn or it's Joe as the guys in the middle of the ice because of xRebounds. He was sixth in the NHL at 2.9. they're hungry and great at the net-front for rebounds, they recover the puck, they go low to high, they got to go support that d-man," By using Natural Stat Trick to measure raw number of rebounds created, Montgomery said. you arrive at a similar conclusion: the Sharks are good at creating rebounds and so is Tyler Seguin. Seguin was second in the league last "So now Seggy, Rads or Roope or Corey Perry, they have to go into the season with 35 rebounds created at 5-on-5, more than any San Jose middle of the ice. You've got to be able to read off each other and react. player. But the Sharks placed five players in the league's top 11 (Kane, When the bodies are moving, the puck's moving, it gets hard for penalty Burns, Meier, Pavelski and Karlsson). killers to keep track of everybody. That's where you find the open lanes, seams for tips and one-timers." Given Seguin's quantity and quality of rebounds created, it could make him an attractive player to pair with Pavelski's rebounding and tipping Odd-man rushes (6) skills. Since Montgomery likes to shuffle lines often, it's possible the Stars use that during the season, even though he mentioned wanting to use Scoring in transition isn't a huge part of Pavelski's game, and likely will the right-handed centers on different lines. By splitting up Seguin and decrease over time with his climbing age, but knowing where to be on the Pavelski (with left-handed faceoff men Jamie Benn and Roope Hintz), rush is important to Montgomery. Montgomery would have favorable matchups on either side of the ice When he scored his fifth goal of the season, on Oct. 23 at Nashville, during faceoffs. Pavelski takes a feed from Couture and buries it. He's the wide player From the left circle (7) who gives the puck-handler (Couture in his case) options to either pass it to the backside or send it toward the net, where Kane is crashing. Once At 5-on-5, Pavelski actually had more shots from the right side of the ice the puck gets on Pavelski's stick, he doesn't stick-handle at all and than from the left (see the data via Hockey Viz below), but he was instead waits for an opening before sniping it. dangerous from the left circle, especially on the power play. Then there's the two times Pavelski tore the hearts from Winnipeg, once on an overtime shorthanded winner, once at the end of the third period, but both on 2-on-1s where he's driving the net.

"That's why he makes others around him better because he's always retrieving pucks, rebounds, getting sticks on pucks, fighting for space, which creates other people to be wide open," Montgomery said.

"Same thing with the middle-lane drive. Whether he's the wide guy or the middle-lane drive guy, he knows where he's supposed to be to get himself open and his release is incredible. Doesn't stick-handle pucks, gets it in one motion, he's releasing it and he's worked on that, over and over and over again."

Other (5)

These included two empty-netters, one puck off an opponent, one wraparound and one from the right circle. They all count, but in Pavelski's game, they're more of an outlier than anything.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150618 Dallas Stars Rhett Gardner is a player I would give better odds than 21.02 percent. I don’t think Gardner is anything more than a bottom-six forward in the NHL, but he does things that coaches trust and if Curtis McKenzie once Shap Shots: Stars prospects’ chances of making it, and an ode to Travis played more than 41 games in an NHL season, Gardner certainly could, Morin too.

The biggest slight on the data is at the bottom, where is given a 3.05 percent chance of ever playing 41 NHL games in a single By Sean Shapiro Aug 6, 2019 season. I don’t have Kiviranta making the NHL team out of camp in my most recent projection, but I also think he’s going to be first call-up

material, which gives him decent odds of qualifying. There’s only so much to write about an NHL franchise in late July and At the end of the day, this is a fun exercise in comparing raw numbers early August. with the opinion of a dedicated reporter. It’s food for thought in August Those new additions signed on July 1 have already been covered. Any and a useful tool — I’ll likely pay closer attention to Eriksson this season angles that haven’t been explored will be tackled closer to September as with Skellefteå AIK in the SHL. teams start to prep for training camp. You can only project the lineup so If you believe certain players were slighted by the data or want to discuss many different ways, and barring something ridiculous — looking at you, the findings, let’s do so in the comments. It’s what prospecting is all Minnesota — there is a reason it’s rather safe for hockey writers to take about. vacations in mid to late July. A tribute to Travis Here in Texas, we also don’t have the luxury of a slew of players working out at local rinks like more traditional hockey markets. So far the If my schedule works out, I try to make at least one trip a month during contingency in Friso has included seven NHLers, and only three of them the season to Cedar Park to watch the play in person. are under contract with the Stars. It’s an important part of the beat. If you want to tell better stories, you There’s a reason we end up spending more time on prospects in the need to build better relationships. And if you want to build better summer; this is a good time to look toward the future, as Saad Yousuf did relationships, it’s best to start building those relationships when those when he found a unique connection between a fifth-round pick and Marty players are still working their way up into the hockey world as opposed to Turco. just shoving a recorder in their face when they get that first NHL recall.

For this same reason, I ended up going into a wormhole last week after I also covered the AHL beat for four years before I first got a full-time Sean Tierney put together a chart mapping the likeliness of NHL chance to cover the NHL, so the trip back to Cedar Park is a reminder of prospects making the NHL. The data comes from the work of Emmanuel where I came from. Perry who also calculated each prospect’s estimated WAR (wins above replacement) over an 82-game schedule. The first trip to Cedar Park this season is going to feel weird. Travis Morin officially announced his retirement last week and joined Texas in a Here are the Stars’ results. Essentially, the farther a player is toward the hybrid front-office role that will include on-ice instruction and community top right of the chart, the more promising they are, per this data. involvement.

While the projected WAR/82 is interesting, and can certainly be Morin was the last remaining original Texas Star. When the franchise discussed, I was more interested in the x-axis that listed players’ opened in Cedar Park, he was there on a tryout invite. A decade later, his probability of making the NHL. No. 23 will be hoisted to the rafters.

Looking at just that data, here is how the Stars prospects rank when it Morin only played 13 NHL games with Dallas and registered a single comes to chances of “making it” according to Perry’s data. NHL point, an assist. But his long-term impact on the franchise can’t be discounted. Morin played a big part in three runs to the Calder Cup final. To clarify, “making it” on this chart is defined by playing at least 41 Dallas benefited from each of those extended playoff pushes, as Jamie games in a single NHL season. I think that’s a fair number. If you play Benn, Radek Faksa and Roope Hintz used the 2010, 2014 and 2018 half an NHL season I think you are justified telling your grandkids you runs, respectively, as NHL launching points. were an NHLer. In the second half of his career, Morin accepted his job was similar to It’s also important to remember that these numbers are not a reflection of that of Texas’ coach. He was expected to help win games, but he was staying power. By this cutoff, Julius Honka made it when he played 42 most useful when he was helping put players in the NHL. He was an games during the 2017-18 season. Whether he “made it” by another easy player to play with, one of the best in AHL history at running a definition or not can be debated at another time. power play and provided an example of how to be a professional in the In many ways, Perry’s data substantiates my own opinions. I fully expect locker room that many in the Stars system copied. Robertson, Thomas Harley and Joel L’Esperance to reach that number in “His job went from getting to the NHL — and he never gave up on that — their careers, while I’ve written off most of the lower players on this list — to making sure others got there as well,” Stars assistant GM Scott White John Nyberg, Tony Calderone and Ondrej Vala, for example — from ever said. reaching the NHL. Jason Dickinson told me a story about how Morin pushed him during his The remainder of the top 10 prospects lead to some interesting findings. prospect years. Dickinson was a first-round pick; he was going to get The data is bullish on Albin Eriksson, a 2018 second-round pick, and I more opportunities than most, but he had to earn his ice time on the don’t disagree, but it’s interesting watching him come in with higher odds power play. He tried to run the power play from the half-wall like Morin than Denis Gurianov. and couldn’t do it. That was an eye-opener of how good Morin was at his Dillon Heatherington has played an NHL playoff game and held his own, job and a reason Dickinson would try to copy so many of Morin’s off-ice but I have a hard time believing there is a two-in-three chance of him habits. hitting 41 games in an NHL season. On the flip side, I think the numbers I talked to Morin last week about his retirement and stepping into the next are actually a bit low for Ty Dellandrea at 55.41 percent, even though it’s stage of a hockey career that exceeded all his expectations. Growing up foolish to think anything is a certainty with a Stars first-round selection. in Minnesota, he never set a high goal. He just wanted to play varsity There is quite a drop after Dellandrea, with 15 players checking in at high school hockey someday. Once he did that, he thought it would be 37.14 percent or lower. This makes sense; prospecting is a fool’s game, cool to maybe play Division I hockey, which he did at Minnesota- and there is a reason NHL general managers often refer to draft picks as Mankato. lottery tickets. “Then it was just cool to get an opportunity in the ECHL. I thought I might Riley Tufte coming in at 35.15 percent might seem harsh for a first-round do that for a couple years and then get a job or something,” Morin said. pick, but it’s not far off from my own expectations. Tufte could make it “It was always like that; it would be cool to play at the next level, but and play in the NHL, but I’m also not sure what role he’ll play long-term. never something I expected, really.” He won consecutive NCAA titles but was a good — not great — collegiate player. Morin bought a house near the H-E-B Center soon after Texas had won the Calder Cup in 2014. It wasn’t an admission of an NHL goal aborted, but a sign that Texas had become home for his growing family, including soon-to-be 10-year-old Andrew, who was an infant when the Morins moved from South Carolina to Cedar Park for a tryout opportunity.

When he considered retirement, Morin couldn’t picture himself playing anywhere else. He couldn’t picture moving his family. It was Texas or retirement, and when an opportunity to continue working with the franchise in new role arose, his decision became an easy one.

That family element reminds me of my favorite Morin story from my days on the AHL beat.

During the 2013-14 AHL season, Morin was the best player in the world not playing in the NHL. He won the AHL regular-season MVP award, the scoring title and later the playoff MVP award after Texas beat the St. John’s IceCaps in five games.

The AHL awards are announced on a rolling basis late in the regular season, with the Les Cunningham Award for MVP typically getting announced last. On the day that it was announced, Morin was made available to media members — myself and Stephen Meserve of 100 Degree Hockey — and after the interview, we headed to the press box to file stories.

About five minutes after we arrived, Morin was on the ice with Andrew, passing the puck and watching his son shoot into the net.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150619 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings to make eight appearances on NBC, NBC Sports Network next season

Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press Published 12:01 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2019

NBC Sports released its national television schedule for NHL games on both the main network and NBC Sports Network for next season.

Despite missing the playoffs three years in a row, the Detroit Red Wings remain one of the top draws in the game and will be featured on the two networks eight times.

This includes two games exclusively on NBCSN's "Wednesday's Night Hockey": 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at N.Y. Rangers and 8 p.m. Jan. 22 at Minnesota.

The Wings will also make two appearances on NBC: 12:30 p.m. Feb. 9 against Boston at Little Caesars Arena and 12:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Pittsburgh.

Beside the four games exclusively on NBC or NBCSN, the Wings other 78 games will most likely be on Fox Sports Detroit.

Of the eight regular season games on the Peacock Network, it includes the Winter Classic (Nashville vs. Dallas at the Cotton Bowl) and the NHL Stadium Series game (Los Angeles at Colorado in Colorado Springs).

The other four games: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at Chicago, NBCSN; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Philadelphia, NBCSN; 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Buffalo, NBCSN and 7:30 p.m. March 26 vs. Philadelphia, NBCSN.

More: NBC Sports' NHL schedule shows new love of Avalanche, Devils and Stars

And if you're into keeping score, the Flyers will be on the two national TV networks 20 times. The defending Stanley Cup champion Blues will make 15 appearances. The Penguins and Blackhawks will make 14 appearances each and the Rangers 13.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150620 Detroit Red Wings The Wings signed Seider, 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, to a three-year entry- level contract in July. If he doesn’t look NHL ready, they could put him in Grand Rapids. He’d be playing on a team that potentially includes fellow When will Detroit Red Wings anoint Dylan Larkin the next captain? top prospects Dennis Cholowski, Filip Zadina, Joe Veleno and Evgeny Svechnikov. The Wings could take a nine-game look at Seider at the NHL level (like they did last season with Zadina) without triggering the contract. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 6:00 a.m. ET Aug. 4, 2019 If Seider is in Grand Rapids, it’ll be considerably easier to keep tabs on his on-ice development, plus there’d be direct oversight over his off-ice

activities, such as his training and his diet. August tends to be the quietest month in the NHL, an uneventful cool Another option is the Hockey League, as Seider was drafted by down period after the exhilaration of July’s free agency and the Owen Sound in the 2018 import draft. This seems unlikely, though, excitement of June’s draft. because it’d be a lesser competitive environment as he’d be playing Come September players will gather for unofficial skates, a chance to against teenagers, not men like in the other three possibilities. lace up before training camp. The Detroit Red Wings are scheduled to What does the goalie depth chart look like as of right now? undergo physicals Sept. 12 and begin the on-ice part of training camp Sept. 13 at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City. For the first time in nine — Alex Stemberger (@stemy24) August 1, 2019 years, will be watching from a corner suite, in his first camp since taking over as general manager April 19. Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier are slated to man the net for the Wings. Coach Jeff Blashill chose to alternate starts between them down Until then, here’s a mailbag. Thanks as always for the many interesting the stretch (before Bernier got hurt) and is likely to do that again to start and some fun questions. the season.

When are the Wings announcing an official Captain??? Yzerman signed Calvin Pickard to a two-year deal on July 1 to help mentor top goalie prospect Filip Larsson in Grand Rapids, and to have in — Lisa Sokol (@bettiepagegurl) August 1, 2019 reserve in case of injury to Howard or Bernier. Pickard, 27, has 104 NHL After Yzerman retired in July 2006, the Wings announced Lidstrom as the games to his credit. new captain during the 2006-07 season opener. Fans responded with a Good morning, in your opinion, which Red Wing would best help the standing ovation. They cheered even louder when Yzerman dropped a @Lions in this 2019 season, and which position would he play? ceremonial puck between Lidstrom and Canucks captain Markus Naslund. — Theodore P. Gasbag (@Tw1tterSlim) August 1, 2019

Just as Lidstrom had been the clear-cut successor to Yzerman, Henrik Hah, love a little cross promotion. I pitched Andreas Athanasiou as wide Zetterberg was Lidstrom’s heir apparent. That didn’t happen until Jan. 15, receiver because of his explosiveness and size to my Lions colleague 2013, though, because the NHL and NHLPA spent the fall of 2012 mired Dave Birkett, who agreed. in a labor dispute. The Wings opened with a two-game road trip, so they chose to anoint Zetterberg during a news conference at Compuware Which is a better nickname for #GermanLidstrom, FLOWritz Seider or Arena in Plymouth (now USA Hockey Arena), hours before a scrimmage. Mo “Blitzkrieg” Seider. #LGRW

The Wings didn’t name a captain after Zetterberg retired last September, — Matt White (@matt_white2191) August 1, 2019 instead going with three alternates (Dylan Larkin and Frans Nielsen split Definitely not one that evokes such a horrific time in history. Your first wearing an ‘A’ between road and home games, unless one of the other suggestion is on the money given his locks. Teammates are likely to call alternates, Niklas Kronwall or Justin Abdelkader, was not in the lineup). him ‘Seids,’ since they refer to Mantha as ‘Mo’. It’s confusing enough to More: Why the Wings could beat bookmakers' low expectations hear ‘Z’ for Zadina so soon after it referred to Zetterberg.

That softened Larkin’s adjustment to the duties of wearing a letter on his Detroit Free Press LOADED: 08.07.2019 sweater. The decision reflected on Larkin’s age (22) and the knowledge the team would struggle (Yzerman was 21 when he was named captain, but that was in 1986, back in the days before the Internet and especially social media). Larkin handled the role well, speaking frankly to media after tough losses, and would seem to have earned a promotion.

The Wings open 2019-20 on the road, but host the Dallas Stars the next day, Sunday, Oct. 6. The Wings could reveal Dylan Larkin as the next captain before the home opener, but what a way to energize the fans at Little Caesars Arena if Yzerman comes out for a ceremonial puck drop after Larkin is introduced wearing a ‘C’ on his sweater.

Any word if Seider is going back to the DEL this year or staying in NA with the Griffins/Wings?

— Jacob Schmidt (@ImTheSchmidt13) August 1, 2019

HSJ: Moritz Seider’s Geman Hockey League team, Mannheim Adler, starts preseason games this month and begins the regular season Sept. 13. The Wings, however, plan to have Seider, their top selection (sixth overall) from the 2019 draft, at prospects camp and main camp. Those run Sept. 6-16 in Traverse City, followed by a nine-game exhibition season. Then Yzerman and his hockey operations staff will decide where Seider is best off to start the 2019-20 season.

Mannheim is the defending champion and Seider would be a valuable member of the lineup, getting top minutes.

There’s a strong argument for keeping Seider, 18, in North America, too, beyond adjusting to the smaller ice sheet.

More: How Detroit Red Wings have fared in free agency over the years: Hits and misses 1150621 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings picked to play eight times on national TV in 2019-20

The Detroit News Published 1:56 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2019 | Updated 1:57 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2019

Detroit — They're still rebuilding, but the Red Wings will find themselves on national television plenty this season.

NBC Sports announced its schedule of game telecasts for the 2019-20 season Tuesday, and the Red Wings made the cut eight times.

Those games include:

More: Red Wings prospect Veleno scores goal in 5-3 loss to U.S.

►Wednesday, Nov. 6: at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN, 8

►Sunday, Jan. 5: at Chicago, NBCSN, 7:30

►Wednesday, Jan. 22: at Minnesota, NBCSN, 8

►Monday, Feb. 3: vs. Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7:30

►Thursday, Feb. 6: at Buffalo, NBCSN, 7

►Sunday, Feb. 9: vs. Boston, NBC, 12:30

►Sunday, Feb. 16: at Pittsburgh, NBC, 12:30

►Thursday, March 26: vs. Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7:30

The rest of the Red Wings games will be on Fox Sports Detroit.

The Red Wings open the regular season Saturday, Oct. 5, at Nashville.

Detroit News LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150622 Florida Panthers Great. He’s taught me ever since I’ve been in the league what you need to do to succeed and how to stay there. Once you get there it’s hard to stay. He’s done a great job bringing in the younger guys and helping Noel Acciari bids goodbye to Bruins fans, looks ahead to fresh start in them along. (Boston) has a great coaching staff and they’re going to Florida continue to be successful with all the young guys they have coming.

Let’s rewind for a second. It’s an interesting story how you originally became a Bruin, the night you won the national championship with the By Joe McDonald Aug 6, 2019 Friars at TD Garden. How did it all come together?

It was a special night. Winning a national championship, the adrenaline’s high, emotions are high and I had another year of eligibility in Before Noel Acciari signed a three-year deal with the Florida Panthers as Providence. But just talking with (Bruins assistant GM John Ferguson) an unrestricted free agent, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and having him, as a PC alum, congratulating me and saying, “The described the relentless forward perfectly. Boston Bruins organization wants you” … the idea of having the option to “You’re never going to question his courage, for sure,” Sweeney said. play for Boston was right there in front of me. It was so exciting to hear “He puts it all on the line and plays with his nose over the top of the puck him say, “We want you.” and not everybody does that.” What’s it been like to reflect on your career playing for the hometown The Bruins were hoping the Johnston, R.I., native would re-sign in team in Boston? Boston and anchor the bottom six with his gritty play, but Acciari decided It was special. Not many people can say they played for their hometown to sign with the Panthers for $1.6 million per season, more than the team, and I was very fortunate. Boston and New England will always be Bruins offered. my home and will always have a special spot in my heart. But, all good After winning a national championship as team captain at Providence things come to an end and things happen for a reason. I couldn’t be College in 2015, Acciari joined the Bruins as an undrafted free agent. He happier to be moving to Florida and continuing my career and helping spent four seasons here, helping Boston reach the Stanley Cup final this another organization grow into a playoff contender. year. In fact, he played three playoff rounds with a broken sternum. His You’ve always played with that willingness to sacrifice your body and leadership qualities, both on and off the ice, earned him the respect of his because of that you’ve missed significant time. Any regrets playing that teammates and opponents throughout the league. style? Now, he’s taking his talents to Sunrise, Fla. In an interview with The Absolutely not. Playing that style of game got me to where I am right Athletic, Acciari made a point of thanking the Bruins and Boston fans for now. The team respects you for what you do and I think the Bruins their continued support. respected me and what I brought to the table and how I played every If you had the opportunity to speak with Bruins fans, what would you tell night. I wanted to give everything I had for them — the team, the them? organization and the city of Boston. Honestly, I would do anything for any teammate. That’s my mentality and it’s not going to change when I go I would thank them for everything and all the support they’ve given me. down to Florida. There are no fans like Boston fans. Even now I’m getting (fans) wishing that I would be back but they still support me with my decision. I’m truly Because of that style of play, how long do you envision yourself playing honored to play in front of them for four years. It was a special bond at this level? between the team and the fans. It’s tough to say and I don’t want to put a timetable on my career, but I There are a lot of connections between the Bruins and Panthers with want to play as long as I physically can. You’ve got to make sure your Frank Vatrano playing in Florida and Shawn Thornton now working in the body is able to do that, and I do play a hard, heavy game. But that falls front office. How did they influence you with your decision? on me that each year I’m taking the right amount of time off and healing up so that I can play a lengthy season and be healthy. Last year was the Oh, big time. Frankie called me and told me all about the great things healthiest season I’ve had. Yeah, I had bumps and bruises but it was Florida is doing and how fun it is down there and how close of a team stuff I could play through. I don’t plan on ending any time soon. they are. Now with the rebuilding that they’ve done it’s going to be fun the next couple of years. Since signing, Shawn has been unbelievable with Speaking of injuries, you played three rounds of the playoffs with a whatever I’ve needed, whether it’s housing or cars. He has made the broken sternum. How is that even possible? transition a lot easier, because the one thing he told me was, “I know Yeah, it was painful, but you’re in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It definitely how hard it is to leave Boston, but you’re going to love it down in Florida. hurt after Game 7 a lot more than it probably would’ve if we had won the I’ve done it and I know how it is.” game. Most people would do anything to play in the Stanley Cup final You’ve played your entire career in New England. What do you think it’s and you don’t want to miss that opportunity. If you can play with an injury, going to be like playing for a team outside this region? you’re definitely going to battle through it the best you can and be the most productive as you can out there. You see the toughness of Bergy, Different. But I’m very excited for this next opportunity with Florida. We’re or (Chara) with the broken jaw, and those guys are your leaders and you going to have a really good team with coach Q (Joel Quenneville) and all follow what they’re doing. If you can play, you want to help out the team these other moving pieces that are coming in. I’m excited to carry over as best as you can. what I’ve learned from the leadership in Boston, from (Patrice) Bergeron, (Zdeno) Chara, (Brad) Marchand, (David) Krejci, (David) Backes. Lastly, what sweater number are you going to wear for the Panthers?

What type of conversations have you had with Quenneville this summer? I’m sticking with No. 55.

We’ve talked a little bit. He’s won three Stanley Cups with Chicago and The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 he knows what it takes to win, and he just kind of picked my brain a little bit about Boston and how we can transition some of that leadership that I was just talking about to Florida. I’m more of an older guy now (at age 27) with this team, so maybe I can help out. Basically, it will be similar to what I did in Boston where our line handled more responsibility and gave Bergy, Marchy and Pasta (David Pastrnak) an extra couple of minutes off the ice. They want to do the same with me in Florida and maybe give (Aleksander) Barkov and (Jonathan) Huberdeau and those other guys a few minutes more off the ice, help them in the long run.

Speaking of coaches, you spent your entire pro career with Bruce Cassidy as a coach in Providence and Boston. What was it like learning from him? 1150623 Los Angeles Kings of the above games will be staffed by one of the two Kings television broadcasters.

More facts and figures, per NBC Sports: SEVEN LA KINGS GAMES TO BE BROADCAST NATIONALLY BY NBC/NBCSN The season opens with a “Wednesday Night Hockey” doubleheader on Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, as the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues host the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington JON ROSENAUGUST 6, 2019 Capitals, followed by a playoff rematch between the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET;

NBC Sports will present the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic NHL NEWSOUTDOOR GAMERADIO AND TELEVISIONSCHEDULES between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars from Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on Jan. 1, 2020, on NBC; And, lo, it was August, and Schedulor smiled down upon her faithful. NBC Sports will present exclusive primetime coverage of the 2020 Coors To translate: seven LA Kings games will be broadcast nationally, per the Light NHL Stadium Series game between the Los Angeles Kings and the the schedule released by NBC Sports Tuesday morning. Colorado Avalanche from Falcon Stadium at the U.S. Air Force Academy 2019-20 LA KINGS NATIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC; Wednesday, October 9: LA KINGS at Vancouver, NBCSN, 7:00 p.m. NBC Sports will present coverage of the 2020 NHL All-Star Weekend Wednesday, January 8: Dallas at LA KINGS, NBCSN, 7:00 p.m. from in St. Louis, Mo., home of the St. Louis Blues, on Jan. 24-25, highlighted by live coverage of the All-Star Game on Wednesday, January 29: Tampa Bay at LA KINGS, NBCSN, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, in primetime on NBC; Wednesday, February 12: Calgary at LA KINGS, NBCSN, 7:00 p.m. NBC Sports will present 12 NHL games on NBC, beginning with the 2019 Saturday, February 15: LA KINGS at Colorado, NBC, 5:00 p.m.* Discover NHL Thanksgiving Showdown on Friday, Nov. 29, when the Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers at TD Garden; Wednesday, February 26: Pittsburgh at LA KINGS, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m. All U.S. teams will be featured on NBC or NBCSN; Canadian teams will Sunday, March 1: LA KINGS at Vegas, NBCSN, 7:30 p.m. make a combined 14 appearances on NBCSN, including four appearances for Connor McDavid and the and three -all times PT | *2020 Stadium Series game at U.S. Air Force Academy appearances for and the Toronto Maple Leafs; NATIONAL BROADCASTS BY SEASON 66 of 109 scheduled regular-season games on NBC and NBCSN – more 2018-19: 5 than 60% – will feature at least one Western Conference team.

2017-18: 12 NHL WINTER CLASSIC AND NHL STADIUM SERIES

2016-17: 9 The NHL will make history this season as it puts on the southernmost Winter Classic since the annual game began in 2008. On Jan. 1, 2020, 2015-16: 10 the Dallas Stars will host the Nashville Predators in the 2020 Bridgestone 2014-15: 13 NHL Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on NBC. The NHL Winter Classic has produced the five most-watched 2013-14: 9 regular-season games in NHL history. The 2020 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series will feature the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado The Kings are 27-25-6 on national broadcasts over that span and hit Avalanche on Saturday, Feb. 15, in primetime on NBC at Falcon Stadium above their weight in 2018-19, going 2-1-2 and showing well in a at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. shootout loss in Tampa Bay, an overtime loss at Minnesota and a one- goal loss at Nashville in addition to defeating St. Louis at home and WEDNESDAY NIGHT HOCKEY Anaheim on the road. They were 8-3-1 in their 12 NBC games in 2017- 18. NBCSN’s exclusive “Wednesday Night Hockey” coverage will feature the NHL’s established stars and young phenoms, and another diverse Though the national broadcast schedule regularly stirs up a mid-August schedule. In addition, many “Wednesday Night Hockey” games and rise out of Extremely Online hockey fans who take some offense to any doubleheaders will feature earlier start times (7-7:30 p.m. ET). In many combination of the Blackhawks getting too many games; Team X getting cases, Eastern Conference teams will be featured in the first game of the snubbed with so few broadcasts; lack of exposure for superstars based doubleheader, followed by a Western Conference matchup in the in Canada; the existence of outdoor games; and virtually everything, nightcap. Notable games on the “Wednesday Night Hockey” schedule there’s an important balance to uphold, as captured in Kevin Allen’s story include; this morning, which also noted the sharp rise in Avalanche games through an interesting conversation with Sam Flood, Executive Producer NBC SPORTS PRESENTS 2020 NHL ALL-STAR GAME LIVE IN & President, Production, NBC Sports and NBCSN. “(The Avalanche) are PRIMETIME ON NBC a spectacular team to watch. MacKinnon is the real deal. I thought he NBC and NBCSN will present extensive coverage of the 2020 NHL All- was as good as a player as stepped on the ice in the playoffs. The more Star Weekend from Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo., home of the we can expose him to a broader audience, the better it will be for the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, highlighted by the NHL growth of the league,” Flood told Allen. Those watching Colorado’s All-Star Game in primetime on NBC on Saturday, Jan. 25. NHL All-Star dismantling of Calgary in the first round and the special Landeskog- will take place January 24-25, 2019, and will include the NHL All-Star MacKinnon-Rantanen connection this spring know what he’s talking Skills Competition™ on Friday, Jan. 24, on NBCSN. about. NHL ON NBC Again, there’s no real uncomfortable balance between the national and regional broadcast schedule. With NBC, it’s possible for hockey fans NHL on NBC coverage begins on Friday, Nov. 29, at 1 p.m. ET, with the across the country to catch up on stories and detail that might take longer 2019 Discover NHL Thanksgiving Showdown featuring the New York to saturate within eastern hockey media, and the Kings will certainly have Rangers and the Boston Bruins, marking the first of 12 games scheduled a lot of young players they’re going to want to ultimately gain exposure. to air on NBC during the regular season. Beginning on Jan. 19, and (That’ll be somewhat tough this season with six of the seven games continuing through the end of the regular season, NBC will present the beginning at 10:00 out east or later.) And because there stand to be 73 NHL Game of the Week, generally occurring on Sunday afternoons. games broadcast regionally this season, the team and its local broadcast NHL ON NBCSN partner have a wide array of games in which they have full control over the content and direction. Of course, and have both NBC Sports will televise at least 97 NHL regular-season games this been a part of NBC’s broadcast rotation, and it’s probable that a number season on NBCSN, including the Opening Night doubleheader, 38 “Wednesday Night Hockey” games, and 22 doubleheaders, as well as NHL All-Star coverage from St. Louis, Mo. In addition, NBC Sports has left the majority of the final week of the regular season on NBCSN open to allow for the biggest games with playoff implications to be added to the schedule.

NHL LIVE AND NHL OVERTIME

NHL Live and NHL Overtime, NBC Sports’ live pre- and post-game show with highlights and analysis of NHL matchups, will air before and after most games on NBCSN. A 60-minute edition of NHL Live will air prior to most games, while NHL Overtime will air immediately following most games.

STREAMING COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150624 Minnesota Wild

Wild will play 12 games on national TV this season

By DANE MIZUTANI | August 6, 2019 at 11:07 am

As the Wild work to pick up the pieces after a highly disappointing 2018- 19 season, they will do so while playing on national television 12 times this season, all on NBCSN.

Here is the schedule:

Thursday, Oct. 3: at Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 30: at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27: at Colorado Avalanche, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 14: at Pittsburgh Penguins, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 16: vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 22: vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 4: vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 9: vs. Colorado Avalanche, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 23: vs. St. Louis Blues, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 1: vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 15: vs. Nashville Predators, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 29: at St. Louis Blues, 6 p.m.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150625 Minnesota Wild Dallas Stars from 2002-06 and on the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympic teams.

This is still considered the early stages of what could be a process that Wild GM search update: Hurricanes’ Don Waddell, Penguins’ Bill Guerin lasts much of the month, but it’s very much expected that Waddell and latest to interview Guerin will be two of the candidates who go right down to the wire.

Leipold has great respect for both men, sources say, and was impressed By Michael Russo Aug 6, 2019 with each of the candidates Monday.

Here’s a breakdown of what, according to sources, are the other potential candidates beyond Waddell and Guerin. The Wild’s search for a new general manager continued Monday in Racine, , with two more in-person interviews, and one is as The former GMs unique as it gets in any offseason, let alone this late in an offseason. : The winningest goaltender in Philadelphia Flyers history, the Why? former Flyers GM and Los Angeles Kings assistant GM has already had his initial in-person interview and sources say interviewed very well. Because believe it or not, he’s a current NHL general manager. Considered a smart hockey man, Hextall is somebody who left the Flyers in good shape with a top-notch prospect pool, coincidentally inherited by In addition to the Wild interviewing Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Bill former Wild GM . However, as Leipold works to change Guerin on Monday afternoon for the second consecutive offseason, the culture of the Wild, Hextall seems to have a lot of the same multiple sources tell The Athletic that owner and team personality traits as Fenton. In Philly at the end, Hextall had a very small president Matt Majka interviewed current Carolina Hurricanes president, inner circle and apparently had strained relationships before his general manager and alternate governor Don Waddell on Monday dismissal. But there’s no B.S. with Hextall, something that Leipold morning. typically likes. If you’re a Wild fan, you should be familiar with Waddell. Peter Chiarelli: It’s going to be awfully hard for Chiarelli to land this job. 1) Not only was he a GM of the Year finalist only seven weeks ago after He is tight with Fenton, so much so that Fenton hired Chiarelli’s brother’s managing those “Bunch of Jerks” from Raleigh to the Eastern son as a scout this summer two years after Chiarelli gave Fenton’s son, Conference Final, Waddell is the person who somehow snatched up P.J., his first shot at being an NHL scout. 2) Despite the fact he managed Nino Niederreiter from the Wild in a trade for Victor Rask in January. the Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup, the perception of the job he did in Edmonton led to a radioactive reaction last week by Wild fans when The While it may surprise Caniacs that Waddell would be allowed to talk to Athletic reported that Chiarelli and Hextall were the first two people the Wild, Waddell’s contract expired June 30 and owner Tom Dundon interviewed. has yet to sign his head of hockey ops and the business side of the team to a new contract. Peter Chiarelli

That means Waddell is theoretically a free agent. Brian Lawton: The No. 1 pick in the 1983 draft by the North Stars managed the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2008-10 after years as a player As unheard of as it was for the Wild to fire GM Paul Fenton so late in the agent. While the tenure may have been panned, the following season, offseason, it’s equally abnormal that, five weeks before the start of the Lightning went to the Eastern Conference Final. Lawton currently training camp, another team’s GM would be available to interview for a works as an analyst at NHL Network and has a lot of friends that have similar role with another team. called Leipold on his behalf. It’s believed he has had a phone interview and will end up meeting with Leipold, Majka and Modano. Waddell, 60, has 40 years of experience in professional hockey as a player, coach, general manager, scout and business executive. For the The current assistant GMs past five years, he has run the business side of the Hurricanes, including their arena, but he added general manager duties in May 2018. Prior to : The Wild have gotten permission to interview the five- joining the Hurricanes, he was a consultant and scout for the Penguins year Montreal Canadiens assistant GM, who is coincidentally moving 20 for three seasons after spending 1998 to 2010 as the expansion Atlanta miles from Xcel Energy Center to Hudson, Wisconsin, in a few weeks. Thrashers’ first GM, then their president. The former Badger’s wife, Sue, is from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, so he has a ton of family in the area and already planned to move to Minnesota It seemed everything Waddell touched last season turned to gold. Some from St. Louis so it’d be easier to scout with MSP being a major Delta of the other players Waddell and his staff acquired included Dougie hub. The former Florida Panthers and captain played Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, Calvin de Haan, Petr Mrazek, Curtis over 1,500 regular-season and playoff games and is well-liked McElhinney and Jordan Martinook. They also drafted Andrei Svechnikov throughout the NHL. — who led all rookies with 20 even-strength goals last season — second overall in 2018, are coming off a lauded draft in 2019 and acquired Tom Fitzgerald: It’s unclear if the Wild have yet sought permission to former Wild forward Erik Haula from Vegas. speak again to the New Jersey Devils assistant GM, who was considered the runner-up to Fenton last go-around. The very respected “Fitzy” was Bill Guerin actually the first captain in Nashville Predators history starting in 1998 after Leipold purchased the expansion team in 1997. Of the No. 2’s up Guerin, 48, interviewed for the Wild job in May 2018, but the Wild were for the Wild job, Fitzgerald may be the most experienced. Between already well down the path toward eventually hiring Fenton. Pittsburgh and New Jersey, he has worked in NHL front offices since Now … they meet again, and like Waddell, Guerin is a very legitimate 2007. candidate. CRAIG LEIPOLD ADDRESSED THE MEDIA EARLIER ABOUT Guerin has been a Penguins’ assistant GM for five seasons and a TODAY'S NEWS  PIC.TWITTER.COM/7UHCTRRJGX member of the front office for eight after doing player development from 2011-14. A lot of the players he worked with were key contributors on — MINNESOTA WILD (@MNWILD) JULY 30, 2019 their 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup-winning teams. He has also managed : Like Fitzgerald and Guerin, the Wild interviewed Zito, the the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre the past two seasons. Columbus Blue Jackets’ associate GM, last year and it’s believed they’ve As a player, Guerin played 18 seasons and won Stanley Cups with New sought permission to talk to him again. It’s unclear if they will end up Jersey and Pittsburgh. The three-time Olympian scored 429 goals and meeting. Zito has a lot of experience, is a huge part of Columbus’ front 856 points in 1,263 career games. office, especially when it comes to negotiating contracts. He’s a former player agent that represented several players, including former Wild Hall of Famer is assisting Leipold and Majka in hiring the forward . He has been a candidate for several GM jobs in Wild’s fourth GM in history. the past few years.

Modano has ties to both candidates. He played for the United States in Basil McRae: The Wild have received permission to talk to the Blue the 2005 world championships and 2006 Olympics. Waddell was the GM Jackets assistant GM and former North Stars bruiser, and that will come of both of those teams. And Modano was teammates with Guerin on the initially via phone interview. McRae, who also owns a piece of the ’s , made a cameo in the movie “The Mighty Ducks” with Modano.

Mike Futa: While it’s not believed the Wild have yet sought permission to speak to the Los Angeles Kings assistant GM, he is extremely respected and it’s believed the Wild are getting a lot of calls on his behalf. He was part of two Stanley Cup championships when Lombardi was Kings GM, and he remains close with the Flyers executive. Futa has done it all in L.A., running both the amateur and pro scouting sides since coming there in 2007 and helped manage Manchester to a Calder Cup.

One more potential candidate

Mark Hunter: Expected to be interviewed after the Toronto Maple Leafs denied permission last offseason, Hunter has co-owned the London Knights with his brother, Dale Hunter, since 2000 and is their current GM after four years of being with the Maple Leafs, two as assistant GM. Last May, Hunter was passed over for to become the Maple Leafs’ next GM. He subsequently left the organization. Hunter has been a candidate for the GM jobs in Edmonton and Seattle and is a respected hockey guy.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150626 Montreal Canadiens wasn’t a particularly conducive situation when it came to scoring. However, that’s not the goal of this article. We’re just trying to get an idea of what he could end up doing in the NHL.

A different look at Ryan Poehling’s potential and NHL readiness In the Suzuki article, we established that Poehling has what it takes to ‘make the NHL.’ Although it should be pointed out that in this case, making the NHL means playing 41 games next season. Of all the By Marc Dumont Aug 6, 2019 Canadiens prospects, Poehling ranks the highest in terms of NHL probability (88.1 percent).

With that in mind, Poehling’s NCAA pace wasn’t particularly great, nor As the future beckons and career paths start to become clear, 17 tends was it terrible. For the most part, the “elite” players who came out of the to be a key formative year for most. NCAA established a point per game pace by their second season. That For example, as a 17-year-old, I was sitting in the back of my friend includes players like , , Zach Parise, T.J. Serge’s 1989 GMC Safari, affectionately dubbed “The Shaggin’ Wagon,” Oshie, , Brock Boeser and Toews. wondering just how high Weezer could fly. They had released Pinkerton And though Poehling never reached that mark, he still finds himself in a couple of years beforehand, a fantastic follow-up to their timeless good company with his 0.86 PPG pace. (I only included players that debut, the Blue Album. The third album had to be excellent. It just had to. spent at least two years in the NCAA.) And if that was the case, I was definitely going to get an El Scorcho tattoo. Together, the closest comparable players form a healthy mix of established NHL stars, underwhelming forwards, up and coming players, Ryan Poehling, on the other hand, was playing NCAA hockey at 17. as well as a few freshly drafted prospects. To each their own. But it’s still a little too messy, so let’s trim it to the five closest players. The Green Album was terrible, by the way, and thankfully, I never got We’re also going to ditch the players who have been drafted but have yet that tattoo. But I digress. to make the NHL.

The point is that Poehling played in a league littered with 20- and 21- Mike Morris stands out as the biggest bust of the group. He was selected year-olds before he was eligible to vote, a feat rarely achieved 27th overall in 2002, but played just 26 AHL games before calling it a throughout hockey’s recent history. There are some examples of career. Blake Wheeler finished with a very similar scoring rate, as did players entering the league early, such as Jonathan Toews and Zach Alex Tuch and Charlie Coyle, but the player Poehling mirrored most was Werenski, but for the most part, players start their NCAA careers at 18 or Drew Stafford. 19. You may think that’s a rather underwhelming conclusion, and, admittedly, That’s one of the aspects of Poehling’s hockey career that makes him so he’s not the most exciting player of the final group. However, it’s worth interesting, and also so hard to get a read on. remembering that so far Stafford has managed to play 841 regular- season games, and has scored 421 points throughout. He even had a When I wrote about Nick Suzuki’s potential and NHL readiness, I went 31-goal season in 2010-11, in just 62 games. Finding a legitimate NHL through all the former first-round picks from 2008 to 2016, lifting their player outside of the top-10in the draft that scores a goal every four point-per-game pace throughout their CHL tenure. That gave me games should always be considered a success. hundreds of data points to work with as well as a healthy sample size. Of the four closest comparable players who actually made the NHL, their The NCAA is a different animal. Not only are there fewer players that end average scoring throughout their first three years in the NHL was 42 up in the NCAA following a first-round selection, very few, if any, join the points per season over an 82-game schedule, slightly less production league at 17-years-old. than you’d expect from the average top-six player. Although it’s worth noting that Coyle, Stafford and Tuch spent some time⁠ — not much ⁠ — in That’s why I’m going to change things up as we establish some the AHL prior to establishing themselves as regular NHL players. comparables for Poehling. I’m not going to include his first season in the NCAA. The one-year difference in development between 17 and 18 is Poehling may follow a similar path, by spending some time in Laval with probably one of the largest gaps in a player’s career, in terms of skill Joël Bouchard, though given he scored three goals in his sole NHL level and physiology. We’re not going to penalize him for taking a unique game, and he’s proven to be a defensively responsible forward in his approach, and therefore I will focus on his second and third seasons, NCAA career, there are decent odds he starts the season with the which are the equivalent in age to most freshman and sophomore Canadiens. seasons. The final caveat will be that there are absolutely no guarantees. Poehling But before we get into the nitty-gritty, we’ll take a quick look at the may outshine some of the players he’s grouped with. He could also end evolution of the NCAA when it comes to its part in the NHL draft. up being a bust, though the data certainly does not suggest that’s a likely scenario. Nor does it suggest he’s bound for greatness. Overall, there have been 173 first-round NCAA picks in the NHL. Alex Campbell was the first NCAA commit to ever be selected in the first It does suggest that in all likelihood, Ryan Poehling is destined to be a round, by the Boston Bruins way back at the 1964 amateur draft. It would pretty good NHL player. be four years until the next NCAA first-round selection. The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 Things were incredibly slow going at first, with just five players selected in the first round between 1964 and 1979. The trickle turned into a steady flow by the mid-90s, but by the early 2000s, the floodgates had opened.

The first golden age was followed by a brief lull between 2011 and 2014, but the second golden age wasn’t too far behind. That’s when the Canadiens found Poehling with the 25th overall pick in the 2017 draft.

Since his 17-year-old season, Poehling has gone on to produce two identical points-per-game paces, scoring 31 points in 36 games in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

That gives us a points-per-game pace of 0.86.

As was the case with Suzuki, we’re not going to delve into the hundreds of variables when it comes to every player. There are mitigating or intensifying reasons behind every hockey season’s final production, and while they may explain the results, they do not excuse or remove them from the public records. I could note that Poehling spent a decent amount of time playing with his brothers, which made for a great storyline, but 1150627 Nashville Predators

Predators sign Rocco Grimaldi to 1-year deal

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 7:06 p.m. CT Aug. 6, 2019 | Updated 7:29 p.m. CT Aug. 6, 2019

The "Stick Man" has stuck with the Predators.

It just took longer than anticipated.

Rocco Grimaldi, a 5-foot-6 forward who names his hockey sticks, signed an one-year, $1-million deal with the team Tuesday, a number reached by an independent arbitrator. He was the last of this year's restricted free agents to reach a deal.

Grimaldi had his arbitration hearing Sunday, the final day for such hearings.

In addition, Grimaldi's contract is a one-way deal.

Elliotte Friedman reported Grimaldi had sought a one-way, $1.275 million deal, while the team offered a two-way contract that would have paid Grimaldi $700,000 in the NHL and $200,000 in the AHL.

Rocco Grimaldi and NASH — team offer: 700k/200k, player ask $1.275M

— (@FriedgeHNIC) August 2, 2019

Grimaldi didn't make the team out of camp last season, but earned his spot and ended up leading the Predators in postseason goals with three despite being a healthy scratch for Game 1 while recovering from a broken rib and strained oblique.

He said he played Games 5 and 6 on a sprained ankle.

After the season, Grimaldi said he'd like to remain with the Predators.

"They've been so great to me," he said. "They’ve given me a chance to play, to prove myself, to prove I belong. That’s all I can ask for. … It’s a great place. If that’s something they're going to pursue, I'm open to it."

Grimaldi was a $650,000 cap hit last season, when he had a career-best in goals (five) and assists (eight) in 53 games.

HOME, SWEET HOME: Newest Predator Matt Duchene 'happy to put down some roots here'

SO LONG, P.K.: Why Nashville may miss PK Subban even more than Predators fans

He was chosen 33rd overall by the Panthers in the 2011 draft. The Predators signed him as a free agent on July 1, 2018.

Predators general manager said the team had every intention of re-signing Grimaldi, and even advised him to start looking for a more permanent home in Nashville last season.

Forward Colton Sissons, like Grimaldi, filed for salary arbitration. The Predators signed Sissons to a seven-year deal and avoided that negotiation.

Grimaldi's contract leaves the Predators with about $1.3 million in cap space for next season.

Tennessean LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150628 Nashville Predators

Predators to appear on NBC, NBCSN 12 times in 2019-20

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 9:28 a.m. CT Aug. 6, 2019 | Updated 4:37 p.m. CT Aug. 6, 2019

The Predators look to be ready for during the 2019-20 season.

Twelve of Nashville's games will be broadcast on NBC stations, including the season-opener Oct. 3 against the Wild (NBC Sports Network) and the Winter Classic on Jan. 1 in Dallas (NBC), USA Today's Kevin Allen reported.

Eleven of the 12 games will be broadcast on NBCSN.

Here's the schedule:

(All times Central)

Oct. 3 vs. Wild, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 vs. Sharks, 7 p.m.

Dec. 3 vs. Lightning, 7 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Stars (Winter Classic), noon

Jan. 5 at Ducks, 9 p.m.

Jan. 9 at Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 at Capitals, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 at Devils, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 vs. Blues, 5 p.m.

March 15 at Wild, 6:30 p.m.

March 22 vs. Blackhawks, 6 p.m.

March 29 at Avalanche, 8:30 p.m.

Tennessean LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150629 New Jersey Devils

NJ Devils to play 4 nationally-televised games in 2019-20

Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer Published 1:37 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2019 | Updated 6:44 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2019

The New Jersey Devils will play on national television a total of four times next season. NBC Sports announced the 2019-20 NHL broadcast slate Tuesday and it features four games with the Devils and one marquee Wednesday night game.

An old rivalry will be renewed Oct. 9 when the Devils visit the Philadelphia Flyers. The top players in the 2019 draft, Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, will face off at on NBCSN on Oct. 17. play will be featured in the new year with the Devils visiting ’s islanders on Jan. 2. NBCSN will return to the Rock on Jan. 20 when P.K. Subban’s former team, the Nashville Predators, visit New Jersey.

The Devils made a splash this summer by drafting Hughes with the top pick and trading for Subban the next day. They also added free agent and acquired KHL superstar Nikita Gusev from the Vegas Golden Knights. , the 2018 Hart Trophy winner, is looking for a bounce-back campaign after knee surgery sidelined him for nearly four months of the 2018-19 season.

The storylines don’t end there. Goalie Cory Schneider is looking to resume his old ways in net and is a burgeoning star. Plus, has established himself as one of the top young centers in the league. There is little doubt that the Devils are a team on the rise but you wouldn’t know based on the national broadcast schedule.

The Rangers had an offseason about as notable as the Devils’ and they were rewarded with a total of 13 national games and five on Wednesday nights. The Flyers, who finished only 10 points ahead of the Devils last season, will play 20 games on national TV.

This is nothing new in New Jersey and there is an easy way for them to garner some attention outside of the airwaves: A winning record.

Bergen Record LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150630 New York Rangers

Rangers have 13 games on NBC Sports' national schedule compared with 2 for Islanders

By Andrew Gross

NBC Sports believes the Rangers had a good offseason, as reflected by the network’s NHL national broadcast schedule released on Tuesday.

The Rangers, who drafted Finnish wing Kaapo Kakko second overall in June then signed marquee free agent and acquired defensemen Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox of Jericho after missing the playoffs for the second straight season, will have 13 of their games broadcast by NBC or NBC Sports Network. That’s just two fewer than the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.

The Islanders, who advanced to the second round of the playoffs, have two games on the initial national schedule as they host the Devils on Jan. 2 and the Flyers on Feb. 11. Both games are at at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast by NBCSN.

NBCSN also will air the expected first meeting between this year’s top two draft picks as the Rangers will face the Devils, who selected American-born center Jack Hughes first overall, at Prudential Center on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. The Devils, who also acquired popular defenseman P.K. Subban, have four games on the NBC Sports schedule.

NBC will air two Rangers games, at Boston on Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. and against the Flyers at on March 1 at noon.

The national broadcasts will begin on Oct. 2 on NBCSN at 8 p.m. when the Blues raise their Cup banner and host the Capitals, who won the Cup in 2018.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150631 NHL “They want to charge as much as they possibly can,’’ the broker said. “They don’t want to give tickets to the less popular games for very cheap. They want people to have to pay more for everything. This sounds like NHL Seattle moves to crack down on ticket ‘brokers’ now on a waiting list another opportunity for them to manipulate all the data and manipulate for seats the pricing for everything.’’

For now, few fans will likely complain about the idea of brokers losing seats. But a potentially more contentious issue is exactly how far the By Geoff Baker Seattle Times staff reporter resale crackdown winds up going.

With a pair of lower bowl NHL season tickets expected to go for between $10,000 and $25,000 at KeyArena, fans buying them will undoubtedly Seattle’s NHL team is still more than two years from taking the ice, but attempt to recoup some cost by reselling them on websites just as officials are already moving to stop what they call “ticket brokers’’ from brokers do. stockpiling an inventory of KeyArena seats. Leiweke said the current crackdown is for brokers alone. As for fans Starting Wednesday, NHL Seattle plans to contact suspected brokers reselling, he said: “We’re looking at all sorts of things. We hope that the who’ve reserved season tickets and tell them they can’t have them all. people buying tickets are Seattle hockey fans and that’s what they’re Fans in March 2018 were able to make deposits of $500 or $1,000 per going to do. They’re going to use them and not turn this into a side ticket and between 32,000 and 33,000 were actually reserved in fewer business.’’ than 48 hours before the list was capped. Seattle Times LOADED: 08.07.2019 “We’re going to go through our list and try to identify any prospective brokers on the list,’’ NHL Seattle president and CEO Tod Leiweke said Tuesday. “And then we’re going to pick up the phone and talk to them. Our aim is to not have brokers camping out on our list, buying tickets solely for the purpose of reselling.’’

Leiweke said the team should begin inviting fans to actually buy tickets this fall – possibly in late October. The delay in converting deposits into actual tickets is just one of several items the team has continuously postponed since the NHL franchise was awarded last December.

NHL Seattle had also initially planned to announce the new team’s name at some point this year – but that was before the league decided the team would launch in October 2021 instead of 2020. Now, the naming decision has again been put off until early next year to possibly coincide with the NHL All-Star Break and line up more with the timeline the Vegas Golden Knights used in announcing their name roughly a year ahead of their 2017 debut.

While the naming issue has frustrated some hockey impatient fans, the ticket sales delay has actually hit them in the pocket book. When the deposits were taken 17 months ago, Leiweke’s brother, Tim, who was running the effort on behalf of the Oak View Group (OVG), said it would only hold on to depositor money until summer 2018 before sales commenced.

Since then, the estimated cost of the privately-funded KeyArena rebuild by OVG has skyrocketed from $600 million to $930 million. Season ticket sales will help recoup part of that cost and OVG and NHL Seattle have no doubt adjusted their pricing models several times the past 1½ years.

Tod Leiweke said Tuesday he wants true fans to have first crack at the seats they made deposits on. When the Golden Knights launched in 2017, their sold-out home games became a bit of a league-wide joke given T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas seemed constantly half-filled with visiting team fans buying their seats off resale websites.

“We’ve been working on this for a little while and so we’re going to start making calls,’’ Leiweke said. “You might see some social media chatter about it, or somebody feeling like they’ve been impugned but we’re going to completely be fair here.

“There’s no doubt there are some big brokers on there and if they want to buy two or four season tickets and keep their priority, fine. But the idea of blocks of tickets – and there are different ways they do it, manipulate the system – we’re going to try to not let that happen.’’

One broker contacted by The Seattle Times on Tuesday said any crackdown is more a case of NHL Seattle trying to “manipulate the marketplace’’ by not letting actual public demand set the value of hockey tickets. Over much of the past decade, sports fans moved away from buying tickets at face value from a stadium or arena box office and instead now purchase them for what the market dictates from resale websites like StubHub.

As the so-called “secondary market’’ commanded lucrative profits for third party brokers and fans reselling online, teams and leagues moved to get a cut of the action. In many cases, they’ve taken seats away from brokers and then listed them on their own team websites for the same inflated prices equating to several times face value. 1150632 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers' home opener vs. Devils 1 of their 20 games to be nationally televised during 2019-20 season

By Noah Levick August 06, 2019 12:45 PM

The Flyers will be in the national spotlight a fair number of times in the 2019-20 season.

The team will have 20 games televised on NBC or NBCSN.

Two NHL on NBC Game of the Week contests will feature the Flyers — March 1 at the Rangers and March 29 vs. the Penguins at Wells Fargo Center. The last time the Penguins came to Philadelphia, they squandered a 3-1 third-period lead in an epic Stadium Series game at .

Alain Vigneault's team also has 18 games on NBCSN starting with its home opener, an Oct. 9 game vs. the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 p.m. That should be former Flyer Wayne Simmonds' first game against his old team.

The Flyers' matchup against the reigning Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues on Jan. 15 is another Wednesday Night Hockey game.

Below is the full list of the Flyers' nationally televised games:

Oct. 9: Flyers vs. Devils, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Oct. 16: Flyers at Oilers, 9:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Nov. 13: Flyers vs. Capitals, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Nov. 27: Flyers at Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

Dec. 11: Flyers at Blue Jackets, 9:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Dec. 23: Flyers vs. Rangers, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

Jan. 8: Flyers vs. Capitals, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Jan. 15: Flyers at Blues, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)

Jan. 21: Flyers vs. Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Feb. 3: Flyers at Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Feb. 11: Flyers vs. Islanders, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

Feb. 13: Flyers at Panthers, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

March 1: Flyers at Rangers, 12 p.m. (NBC)

March 4: Flyers at Capitals, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

March 5: Flyers vs. Hurricanes, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

March 10: Flyers vs. Bruins, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

March 17: Flyers vs. Blues, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

March 26: Flyers at Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

March 29: Flyers vs. Penguins, 12 p.m. (NBC)

Apr. 1: Flyers at Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150633 Pittsburgh Penguins

Report: Penguins assistant GM Bill Guerin up for Minnesota job

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Tuesday, August 6, 2019 12:20 p.m.

Given his resume and reputation in the hockey world, Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager Bill Guerin is likely to land an NHL GM job some day.

The only question is whether some day is now.

According to a report by Michael Russo of The Athletic in Minnesota, Guerin interviewed Monday for the vacant GM position with the Minnesota Wild. Guerin was also a candidate when the Wild hired Paul Fenton in May of 2018.

Other candidates for the Minnesota job, according to the report, include former Flyers GM Ron Hextall, current Hurricanes GM Don Waddell, former Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli, New Jersey assistant Tom Fitzgerald, Columbus assistant Bill Zito and others.

Guerin’s clearest link to the Wild organization is via the team’s executive advisor, Mike Modano. Guerin and Modano were teammates with the Dallas Stars for three seasons from 2002-06.

Fenton was fired last week after just 14 months on the job.

Tribune Review LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150634 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins set for 6 Sunday afternoon national TV appearances

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Tuesday, August 6, 2019 12:00 p.m.

According to Vegas odds, there are 10 teams with a better chance of being 2020 Stanley Cup champions than the Pittsburgh Penguins.

According to NBC, the list of teams that could be NHL ratings champions is much smaller.

The Penguins will make 16 appearances on national television next season, according to a schedule released by NBC on Tuesday. That’s up one from last season and even with the year before that.

The key indicator that the network thinks highly of the Penguins as a ratings draw is the list of games scheduled to air on broadcast television later in the season.

From Jan. 19 through the end of the season, NBC will air nine Sunday afternoon games. The Penguins will take part in six of them, including three matchups against the Washington Capitals.

The Penguins will also make six appearances on Wednesday Night Hockey, which is the NBC Sports Network’s marquee matchup each week.

NBC will have exclusive rights for 12 of the 16 national broadcasts, which means AT&T Sportsnet will air 70 of the team’s 82 games next season.

Penguins’ Sunday appearances on NBC

Jan. 19 Boston, 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 at Washington, 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 Detroit, 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 23 at Washington, noon

March 22 Washington, noon

March 29 at Philadelphia, noon

Penguins on Wednesday Night Hockey on NBC Sports Network

Oct. 16 Colorado, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m.

Dec. 4 St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Feb. 26 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

March 18 at NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

March 25 at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Tribune Review LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150635 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Bill Guerin interviews for Wild general manager job

Aug 6, 2019 2:36 PM

Clayton Phillips meets with assistant GM Bill Guerin after being selected 93rd overall by the Penguins during the 2017 NHL draft in Chicago.

Last offseason, the Minnesota Wild interviewed Bill Guerin for their vacant general manager position before picking Paul Fenton for that gig.

You may have seen that the Fenton hire didn’t work out so well.

So the Wild are again looking for a general manager. And they again are considering Guerin, who met with the Wild on Monday to chat about the job, according to a source. He is reportedly one of the first few candidates to interview.

Guerin has been Jim Rutherford’s assistant GM since 2014. Prior to that, he was a player development coach for the Penguins from 2011 to 2014, helping to groom some of the youngsters who contributed to back-to- back Stanley Cups.

The Wild are looking for a leader and a “hockey guy.” Guerin fits that mold.

In his current role, the 48-year-old native obviously assists Rutherford with the day-to-day management of the NHL roster. He has also overseen their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes- Barre/Scranton since Jason Botterill left the organization in 2017 to become the GM in Buffalo.

Guerin, a deadline acquisition who helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2009, played 18 seasons in the NHL, scoring 429 goals and adding 427 assists. He was named an All-Star four times and also won a Stanley Cup with New Jersey.

The Athletic first reported that Guerin interviewed with the Wild.

Despite the apparent dysfunction in Minnesota, the opening is garnering interest. The Athletic added that Carolina’s Don Waddell also interviewed Monday. Former GMs Ron Hextall, Brian Lawton and Peter Chiarelli, too, have talked to Wild, which is being assisted in its search by Hall of Famer Mike Modano.

Post Gazette LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150636 Pittsburgh Penguins Dallas Stars from 2002-06 and on the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympic teams.

This is still considered the early stages of what could be a process that Wild GM search update: Hurricanes’ Don Waddell, Penguins’ Bill Guerin lasts much of the month, but it’s very much expected that Waddell and latest to interview Guerin will be two of the candidates who go right down to the wire.

Leipold has great respect for both men, sources say, and was impressed By Michael Russo Aug 6, 2019 with each of the candidates Monday.

Here’s a breakdown of what, according to sources, are the other potential candidates beyond Waddell and Guerin. The Wild’s search for a new general manager continued Monday in Racine, Wisconsin, with two more in-person interviews, and one is as The former GMs unique as it gets in any offseason, let alone this late in an offseason. Ron Hextall: The winningest goaltender in Philadelphia Flyers history, the Why? former Flyers GM and Los Angeles Kings assistant GM has already had his initial in-person interview and sources say interviewed very well. Because believe it or not, he’s a current NHL general manager. Considered a smart hockey man, Hextall is somebody who left the Flyers in good shape with a top-notch prospect pool, coincidentally inherited by In addition to the Wild interviewing Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Bill former Wild GM Chuck Fletcher. However, as Leipold works to change Guerin on Monday afternoon for the second consecutive offseason, the culture of the Wild, Hextall seems to have a lot of the same multiple sources tell The Athletic that owner Craig Leipold and team personality traits as Fenton. In Philly at the end, Hextall had a very small president Matt Majka interviewed current Carolina Hurricanes president, inner circle and apparently had strained relationships before his general manager and alternate governor Don Waddell on Monday dismissal. But there’s no B.S. with Hextall, something that Leipold morning. typically likes. If you’re a Wild fan, you should be familiar with Waddell. Peter Chiarelli: It’s going to be awfully hard for Chiarelli to land this job. 1) Not only was he a GM of the Year finalist only seven weeks ago after He is tight with Fenton, so much so that Fenton hired Chiarelli’s brother’s managing those Cinderella “Bunch of Jerks” from Raleigh to the Eastern son as a scout this summer two years after Chiarelli gave Fenton’s son, Conference Final, Waddell is the person who somehow snatched up P.J., his first shot at being an NHL scout. 2) Despite the fact he managed Nino Niederreiter from the Wild in a trade for Victor Rask in January. the Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup, the perception of the job he did in Edmonton led to a radioactive reaction last week by Wild fans when The While it may surprise Caniacs that Waddell would be allowed to talk to Athletic reported that Chiarelli and Hextall were the first two people the Wild, Waddell’s contract expired June 30 and owner Tom Dundon interviewed. has yet to sign his head of hockey ops and the business side of the team to a new contract. Peter Chiarelli

That means Waddell is theoretically a free agent. Brian Lawton: The No. 1 pick in the 1983 draft by the North Stars managed the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2008-10 after years as a player As unheard of as it was for the Wild to fire GM Paul Fenton so late in the agent. While the tenure may have been panned, the following season, offseason, it’s equally abnormal that, five weeks before the start of the Lightning went to the Eastern Conference Final. Lawton currently training camp, another team’s GM would be available to interview for a works as an analyst at NHL Network and has a lot of friends that have similar role with another team. called Leipold on his behalf. It’s believed he has had a phone interview and will end up meeting with Leipold, Majka and Modano. Waddell, 60, has 40 years of experience in professional hockey as a player, coach, general manager, scout and business executive. For the The current assistant GMs past five years, he has run the business side of the Hurricanes, including their arena, but he added general manager duties in May 2018. Prior to Scott Mellanby: The Wild have gotten permission to interview the five- joining the Hurricanes, he was a consultant and scout for the Penguins year Montreal Canadiens assistant GM, who is coincidentally moving 20 for three seasons after spending 1998 to 2010 as the expansion Atlanta miles from Xcel Energy Center to Hudson, Wisconsin, in a few weeks. Thrashers’ first GM, then their president. The former Badger’s wife, Sue, is from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, so he has a ton of family in the area and already planned to move to Minnesota It seemed everything Waddell touched last season turned to gold. Some from St. Louis so it’d be easier to scout with MSP being a major Delta of the other players Waddell and his staff acquired included Dougie hub. The former Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers captain played Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, Calvin de Haan, Petr Mrazek, Curtis over 1,500 regular-season and playoff games and is well-liked McElhinney and Jordan Martinook. They also drafted Andrei Svechnikov throughout the NHL. — who led all rookies with 20 even-strength goals last season — second overall in 2018, are coming off a lauded draft in 2019 and acquired Tom Fitzgerald: It’s unclear if the Wild have yet sought permission to former Wild forward Erik Haula from Vegas. speak again to the New Jersey Devils assistant GM, who was considered the runner-up to Fenton last go-around. The very respected “Fitzy” was Bill Guerin actually the first captain in Nashville Predators history starting in 1998 after Leipold purchased the expansion team in 1997. Of the No. 2’s up Guerin, 48, interviewed for the Wild job in May 2018, but the Wild were for the Wild job, Fitzgerald may be the most experienced. Between already well down the path toward eventually hiring Fenton. Pittsburgh and New Jersey, he has worked in NHL front offices since Now … they meet again, and like Waddell, Guerin is a very legitimate 2007. candidate. CRAIG LEIPOLD ADDRESSED THE MEDIA EARLIER ABOUT Guerin has been a Penguins’ assistant GM for five seasons and a TODAY'S NEWS  PIC.TWITTER.COM/7UHCTRRJGX member of the front office for eight after doing player development from 2011-14. A lot of the players he worked with were key contributors on — MINNESOTA WILD (@MNWILD) JULY 30, 2019 their 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup-winning teams. He has also managed Bill Zito: Like Fitzgerald and Guerin, the Wild interviewed Zito, the the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre the past two seasons. Columbus Blue Jackets’ associate GM, last year and it’s believed they’ve As a player, Guerin played 18 seasons and won Stanley Cups with New sought permission to talk to him again. It’s unclear if they will end up Jersey and Pittsburgh. The three-time Olympian scored 429 goals and meeting. Zito has a lot of experience, is a huge part of Columbus’ front 856 points in 1,263 career games. office, especially when it comes to negotiating contracts. He’s a former player agent that represented several players, including former Wild Hall of Famer Mike Modano is assisting Leipold and Majka in hiring the forward John Madden. He has been a candidate for several GM jobs in Wild’s fourth GM in history. the past few years.

Modano has ties to both candidates. He played for the United States in Basil McRae: The Wild have received permission to talk to the Blue the 2005 world championships and 2006 Olympics. Waddell was the GM Jackets assistant GM and former North Stars bruiser, and that will come of both of those teams. And Modano was teammates with Guerin on the initially via phone interview. McRae, who also owns a piece of the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, made a cameo in the movie “The Mighty Ducks” with Modano.

Mike Futa: While it’s not believed the Wild have yet sought permission to speak to the Los Angeles Kings assistant GM, he is extremely respected and it’s believed the Wild are getting a lot of calls on his behalf. He was part of two Stanley Cup championships when Lombardi was Kings GM, and he remains close with the Flyers executive. Futa has done it all in L.A., running both the amateur and pro scouting sides since coming there in 2007 and helped manage Manchester to a Calder Cup.

One more potential candidate

Mark Hunter: Expected to be interviewed after the Toronto Maple Leafs denied permission last offseason, Hunter has co-owned the London Knights with his brother, Dale Hunter, since 2000 and is their current GM after four years of being with the Maple Leafs, two as assistant GM. Last May, Hunter was passed over for Kyle Dubas to become the Maple Leafs’ next GM. He subsequently left the organization. Hunter has been a candidate for the GM jobs in Edmonton and Seattle and is a respected hockey guy.

The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150637 San Jose Sharks but if he’s paired with Karlsson for most of the season, he could easily improve on that number.

Worst-case scenario: Dillon ends up on the third pair and struggles to The best- and worst-case scenarios for every member of the Sharks’ find chemistry with either Tim Heed or Dalton Prout, the likeliest third-pair roster guys for the right side. If that happens, Dillon, a pending unrestricted free agent next summer, will probably be playing elsewhere in 2020-21.

By Kevin Kurz Aug 6, 2019 Dylan Gambrell

Best-case scenario: Gambrell breaks through and locks down the third- line center job. Yes, that’s the place that Thornton is penciled into right The Sharks’ projected 2019-20 roster reflects a growing trend in the NHL now, but there’s a chance that the 40-year-old won’t be playing every — there is some important high-priced talent, a limited middle class, and game next season. It would be a welcome development if Gambrell a group of players who will be competing with one another for depth roles showed that he’s a full-time NHL player for a team that will desperately and ice time. need at least one or two young (and cheap) players to be real contributors. Currently, the Sharks have six NHL-experienced players making at least $5.625 million, and 10 making less than $2 million. The only one with a Worst-case scenario: Gambrell isn’t ready, starts the season in the AHL, salary of between $2 million and Tomas Hertl’s $5.625 million is Brenden and doesn’t get more than a few cups of coffee at the NHL level. At 23 Dillon, at $3.27 million (Joe Thornton’s eventual contract might also be in years old, this could be a make-or-break year for the former second- this window, but Thornton hasn’t officially signed.) round pick. His two-year contract is a one-way deal in 2020-21, suggesting the Sharks believe Gambrell has NHL potential, but he still In other words, the Sharks will probably only go as far as their top guys has to show it. take them. Barclay Goodrow Still, there are sure to be a few surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant, throughout the course of the season. Some guys will outperform Best-case scenario: One of the heroes of Game 7 against Vegas, expectations, and some will underperform. With that in mind, let’s take a Goodrow’s 2018-19 season was quietly disappointing — from Dec. 31 look at the best- and worst-case scenarios for 20 players that we figure on, he had just two goals and six points in 42 regular-season games. The are likely to be on the roster on opening night. Sharks’ coaching staff erred by consistently playing him in the middle, a position that he wasn’t suited for and which hurt them in playoff series Brent Burns against Vegas and St. Louis, so perhaps they learned their lesson and Best-case scenario: Another Norris Trophy and the league’s leading will move Goodrow back to the wing to start this season. If they find an scorer among defensemen. Burns will turn 35 this season, but there’s a effective fourth-line center, Goodrow could end up being much more chance that he’ll be even better than he was last season, when he led useful. the Sharks and all NHL blueliners with 83 points and finished third in Worst-case scenario: Goodrow gets pushed out of the active lineup. The Norris Trophy voting. He will have a healthy Radim Simek by his side Sharks added free agent 26-year-old forward Jonny Brodzinski in the from Day 1, after he showed real chemistry with the rookie last season offseason, and as a right wing, he could very well supplant Goodrow in before Simek’s season-ending knee injury. In addition, Bob Boughner will the lineup if Brodzinski outperforms Goodrow in camp. be in the dressing room and on the bench to serve as a coach — both physical and mental — for the sometimes distracted defenseman. Tim Heed

Worst-case scenario: Defensemen of Burns’ build (6-5, 230 pounds) Best-case scenario: Heed becomes the third pair right-handed shot on a don’t typically remain effective past their mid-30s. At some point, full-time basis. Now that Justin Braun has been dealt to the Flyers, this is probably sooner than later, Burns will start to regress and won’t be able Heed’s best chance to finally show the coaching staff that he can handle to handle 25-27 minutes per night. Still, Burns should be able to easily the daily grind. reach at least 60-65 points this season. Worst-case scenario: Dalton Prout, Mario Ferraro, Jake Middleton or Logan Couture someone else pushes Heed out of the lineup and he’s once again a frequent healthy scratch. My guess is Prout probably has the inside track Best-case scenario: The great thing about Couture is there has never here just based on his size and toughness — something that coach Pete been much fluctuation in his performance from season to season. That DeBoer values. said, his 70 points last season were a new career high for the 30-year- old. If he can increase that point total a little bit, while continuing to play Tomas Hertl tough minutes against the other team’s top line, it wouldn’t be surprising if Couture’s name was mentioned for the Selke Trophy as the league’s Best-case scenario: Hertl will enter the season as the Sharks’ top-line best defensive forward. center, at least in my mind. He is coming off of career highs in goals (35) and points (74), and he should be even better. Can Hertl reach 40 goals Worst-case scenario: Considering he’s probably now in line for the and become one of the league’s top-10 scorers this season? It’s not out captaincy since Joe Pavelski has moved on, Couture might feel some of the question. Other than maybe Couture, Hertl is the Sharks’ most added pressure to be more of a leader on and off the ice. The weight of a important forward. team captaincy has brought other players down before, and although I don’t think that would happen to Couture, it’s something to keep in mind Worst-case scenario: Hertl’s previous knee injuries will always be a should he be wearing the “C” come October. concern, but he’s remained healthy in each of the last two seasons, so that’s a good sign. As long as he stays on the ice, Hertl should reach 30 Aaron Dell goals and 65-70 points again at the very least.

Best-case scenario: Dell is never going to supplant Martin Jones as the Martin Jones starter, something I’d say we learned for certain last season. If he can give the team 20 starts this season, while getting his numbers back to Best-case scenario: Is Jones suddenly going to post a .920 save what they were in 2017-18 (2.64 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and 2.15 goals-against average? No, that’s unrealistic. The percentage), that’s probably the best anyone can hope for. Sharks, who tied for second in the NHL in goals last season, don’t need him to be Superman in net. They simply need Jones to play more like he Worst-case scenario: Dell gets pushed out in training camp and doesn’t did in his first three seasons with the team. Considering the way they play an NHL game this season. There are a number of good young play, that’s probably the best they can hope for from the 29-year-old — goalies in the organization who might already be better options than Dell, and that would be just fine. who will need to have a good camp. Worst-case scenario: It’s an important season for Jones. If the Sharks Brenden Dillon reach Christmas time and his save percentage is once again below .900, they might have to give someone else a shot — either a goalie who’s Best-case scenario: Dillon again becomes a reliable partner for Erik already in the organization, or, more likely, a proven NHL goalie who Karlsson, who played his best hockey when he was paired with the would have to be acquired via trade. rugged defenseman. Dillon has posted back-to-back 22-point seasons, Evander Kane Best-case scenario: Radil builds on his experience from last season, his first in the NHL, and becomes a responsible two-way forward. The 29- Best-case scenario: Kane should again be a mainstay in the top six as year-old had some struggles finishing on his chances last season, so if one of the team’s more dangerous shooters, and is coming off of a 30- he becomes better at that, perhaps he reaches double-digits in goals and goal season — his first since 2011-12. It’s probably not realistic to think finishes with 20-25 points. the streaky Kane will suddenly become a 40-goal scorer, but perhaps he could at least get close to that number with a little more luck. Worst-case scenario: Just like Goodrow, Radil might have to fight to keep his place in the active lineup. If he can’t, he may spend most of the Worst-case scenario: Kane is still in the prime years of his career, so he season as the spare forward in the press box. should be able to score at least 20-25 goals in his sleep. Of course, the chance of an injury is higher with Kane than with most other players, Radim Simek based on his style of play. The fact he played 75 games last season while leading the league with 153 penalty minutes was an Best-case scenario: Simek is fully recovered from last season’s injury accomplishment in itself. and resumes his place alongside Burns as one of the Sharks’ top-four defensemen for the duration of the season. Erik Karlsson Worst-case scenario: Considering the nature of his right knee injury last Best-case scenario: Same as Burns — another Norris Trophy, and the season, with a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus that required surgery, league’s leading scorer among defensemen. Sharks fans got a glimpse Simek will be one to watch in training camp. Will he be ready to go from of Karlsson’s ceiling for that six-week stretch from early December Day 1, or did the injury derail the progress he made as a rookie last through mid-January, when he was the team’s on-ice leader during a season? stretch in which they were playing their best hockey of the season. Karlsson maintaining that level for 82 games probably isn’t possible, but Marcus Sorensen if he stays healthy, he should end up in the discussion again for the Best-case scenario: Sorensen is a tough guy to predict. Is he the guy NHL’s best blueliner. He’s certainly getting paid that way. who posted a respectable 17 goals and 30 points in 80 games in the Worst-case scenario: This one’s easy. Karlsson is coming off of groin regular season, or the guy who didn’t score a single goal in 18 playoff surgery, after the injury caused him to miss the final month-and-a-half of games and was eventually scratched from the lineup in the series against the regular season and hindered his effectiveness in the playoffs. Any the Blues? A best-case scenario for Sorensen would see him improve to, NHL player’s season can be hindered by injury, of course, but Karlsson is say, 35 or 40 points, while not curiously disappearing in the playoffs. now viewed as an injury-prone player. As long as he’s healthy, there’s no Worst-case scenario: Sorensen’s playoff miseries carry into this season, reason to think Karlsson can’t still be one of the best players in the forcing DeBoer to look for other third-line options — like , league. But that’s a big if right now, considering his history. who, if he ends up returning, could supplant Sorensen as a left wing in Melker Karlsson the top nine.

Best-case scenario: Karlsson’s point total has declined from 22 two Joe Thornton seasons ago, to 19 in 2017-18, to 16 last season. He might get a few Best-case scenario: Thornton proved he’s not your average 39-year-old more minutes this season just because the Sharks lack depth at wing, with 51 points in 73 games last season. Unfortunately his season ended but there’s no reason to think Melker will post more than 20-25 points. on a sour note, because he just wasn’t very effective in the playoffs, Worst-case scenario: The press box. Karlsson is probably safer than struggling against Colorado and St. Louis, in particular. I believe there’s a some of the other fringe fourth-line guys like Goodrow and Radil, but he real chance that the Sharks reduce Thornton’s workload next season — still might have to fight for his job if some of the rookie wingers prove to perhaps keeping him out of back-to-back situations — in order to keep be NHL-ready. him more fresh for the long haul. If that happens, another 50-point season would probably be a best-case situation. Kevin Labanc Worst-case scenario: Thornton’s knees will always be a concern, Best-case scenario: Labanc is probably the biggest beneficiary of especially after he suffered a frightening infection last October. Still, Pavelski leaving, as Labanc will be the right wing replacement who will who’s going to bet against Thornton at this point, as long as he remains be expected to play in a top-six role where the captain used to be, and healthy? I can’t see him getting anything less than 35 or 40 points if he will almost certainly be on the top power-play unit, too. Labanc reaching plays at least 65-70 games, and that’s a fine point total for any third-line 60 points is not out of the realm of possibility. center.

Worst-case scenario: Labanc still struggles with his two-way game, takes Marc-Edouard Vlasic too many penalties and DeBoer doesn’t trust him in the third periods of close games again. That was something the 23-year-old seemed to Best-case scenario: Vlasic plays the way he did over the final few weeks overcome in the second half, but has he put it completely behind him? of the regular season and the playoffs, instead of repeating his first half of 2018-19, when he was arguably the poorest defenseman on the Timo Meier roster. If he ends up paired with Karlsson, he could conceivably out produce more than he did two seasons ago in 2017-18, when he had 11 Best-case scenario: Meier leads the Sharks in goals, and eclipses 40 for goals (a career high) and 32 points. the first time in his career. It should be in reach, when you consider that Meier will probably replace Pavelski as the net-front presence on the top Worst-case scenario: Vlasic again struggles to find his game coming out power-play unit, and that 24 of his 30 goals last season came at even of camp, forcing the coaching staff to consider reducing his minutes strength. permanently.

Worst-case scenario: It’s very difficult for me to see Meier regressing at The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 this stage of his career, so I’d be surprised if he gets anything less than the 30 goals he scored in 2019-20.

Dalton Prout

Best-case scenario: Prout settles in as a third pair defenseman on the right side, providing steady play and a physical presence, and gets more playing time than Heed, who will also be hoping to skate in that place.

Worst-case scenario: After playing in just 20 NHL games last season with just one goal and one assist, Prout doesn’t do enough to show he belongs on a Stanley Cup-contending team and is waived and/or sent to the Barracuda.

Lukas Radil 1150638 St Louis Blues because you ended last year doesn’t mean you start there this year. If you are standing still, you are getting passed. Just because we are bringing the same group back, doesn’t mean we are standing still.”

Arm-strong Blues? No reason they can't repeat as Stanley Cup Only a few points of roster-related uncertainty remain. champions Joel Edmundson, who recently completed his arbitration hearing, will be signed by Tuesday afternoon. The only unknown Monday was the dollar Ben Frederickson amount.

The status of restricted free agent Ivan Barbashev remains uncertain.

Every office tells a story. “There is no ETA,” Armstrong said about Barbashev. “You have to be back Dec. 1, or you can’t play that year. Or, he could be signed ’s is no different. tomorrow. We are close enough where it takes one phone call, but that phone call may or may not come before training camp.” It screams, “Back to business.” He does expect Barbashev back this season, though, right? What, you expected leftover confetti? “I expect him to play hockey this season, whether it’s in North America or You don’t know Doug. somewhere else,” Armstrong answered. “I understand the economics of “The past is the past,” the Blues’ general manager said from his desk it. We had (Vladimir) Sobotka, who left for the KHL. We want Barbie Monday. “It’s great. You love it. But you don’t live in it.” here. He knows we want him here. We are not that far apart.”

The only item remotely resembling nostalgia — Can it be nostalgia if And then there is Pat Maroon. The Blues and the hometown hero remain what never had happened before happened less than two months ago? on one another’s radar. Armstrong declined to clarify if the Blues have — was a stack of popular T-shirts folded over a chair. You know the made Maroon a formal offer. Edmundson’s salary, Barbashev’s situation ones. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, one of the biggest Blues fans in and the less than $6 million the Blues have before the salary cap cuts town, appears on the front along with the words, “Let’s Go Blues!” them off could impact the chance of a Maroon reunion.

As likes to say, the Blues went — all the way to hockey’s “We’re staying in contact,” Armstrong said. promised land. Few things would keep the Stanley Cup party rolling like Maroon’s return. Armstrong is more concerned with ’s memorable line. Hey Even if it happens, Armstrong’s message is quite clear. buddy, the Blues are still here. Another parade, not a victory lap, is the goal. “The team that never won, won,” Armstrong said. “Park that, and go on. We have to be ready to play this year.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 08.07.2019 Truth is, Armstrong has enjoyed the heck out of this.

His day with the Stanley Cup included taking it to his hometown in Sarnia, Ontario, where his father, Hall of Fame hockey official Neil Armstrong, is battling Parkinson’s. That was special. He realizes a flood of newcomers to the sport, whether they are young players or fans, can be traced to last season. He feels the strengthened bond between the Blues and their city. Scar tissue has been removed. New possibilities exist. Time to capitalize.

Here’s a word to consider: Dynasty.

The label is thrown around carelessly in sports, often applied where it doesn’t belong. And maybe it’s reckless to suggest it in this context. But part of me wonders if the Blues could become eligible.

Winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships is a first cousin of impossible. Consecutive championships claimed by Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017 remain the only example of a repeat since the arrival of the league’s salary cap. Those Penguins were the first to successfully defend their title since the 1997 and 1998 Detroit Red Wings. (For context, Robert Thomas wasn’t alive to see Detroit’s repeat.)

It’s challenging, and that’s an understatement. But the Blues should have a legitimate shot.

They have their coach in . They have their goalie in Jordan Binnington. They have a roster crammed with players who know what it takes to win at the highest level. That might be the biggest collective strength of this team now. It understands what can only be taught by experience. And at least for now, all members are expected to be healthy for camp. Just don’t be surprised if veterans are eased into action.

“We publicly stated (last offseason) we thought we were entering a new five-year window,” Armstrong said. “We had success in year one. We are bringing back the majority, and potentially the entirety of the whole group. But that doesn’t equate to the same success. You have to put the work in. This team should be competitive.”

The risk of getting the band back together is, of course, a sense of complacency. Berube’s no-nonsense style should suffocate any sign of it. So should the internal competition created by players such as Klim Kostin, Jordan Kyrou, new addition Andreas Borgman and others.

“These are guys that need to come in and take someone’s job,” Armstrong said. “That’s the cold, hard reality of our business. Just 1150639 St Louis Blues he was a valuable member of the playing rotation on a rebuilding team, playing in 76 games with nine starts, averaging 17.5 minutes and 7.4 points per contest.

Former Blue Shattenkirk joins Lightning Calf injury sidelines Barcelona’s Messi: Lionel Messi will miss Barcelona’s exhibition games in the United States against Napoli after leaving his first preseason training session with the soccer club because Aug 6, 2019 0 of a strained right calf.

The Spanish champion says Messi withdrew from Monday’s training session because of “discomfort in his right leg.” The club did not say Veteran defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, formerly of the Blues, has signed when it expects him to be fit again. a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being bought out last week by the New York Rangers.

“I think I have a huge chip on my shoulder right now,” Shattenkirk said on a conference call Monday. “I want to show I’m back to my old self and prove that I can be a player in this league again.”

Shattenkirk played 73 games for the Rangers last season, finishing with two goals and 28 points. Over two seasons with them, he had just seven goals and 44 assists in 119 games. Tampa Bay vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois cited injury as the biggest reason for Shattenkirk’s disappointing two seasons in New York.

“After a full summer of training when he’s healthy and he feels confident in his leg, we expect him to be a strong contributor for our team this coming season,” BriseBois said.

Shattenkirk, 30, has spent nine seasons in the league, also playing for Washington, St. Louis and Colorado. He has 75 goals, 349 points and 368 penalty minutes in 609 games. He was an All-Star with the Blues in 2015 and has five goals and 34 points in 60 career playoff games. Shattenkirk played in seven seasons for the Blues, scoring 59 goals and adding 199 assists.

“It’s just a matter of gaining that respect again on the ice from other teams and my opponents — feel like I’m more of a threat like I used to be,” Shattenkirk said.

The New Rochelle, N.Y., native said he doesn’t regret signing a $26.6 million, four-year deal with his hometown Rangers. He said he was ticked off to be bought out but also knows it was about the Rangers’ move toward rebuilding and his own play.

St. Louisan Ivey to coach in NBA: The Memphis Grizzlies have hired former Notre Dame women’s associate head coach Niele Ivey among the new assistants on Taylor Jenkins’ staff. Ivey starred at Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis. There are now nine women coaches in the NBA.

Ivey spent the past 12 seasons at her alma mater with the last four as Notre Dame’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. She helped the Fighting Irish go 385-55 with seven Final Four berths, six appearances in the NCAA title game and the 2018 national championship.

STLFC set to host Memphis: St. Louis FC will play the first of two home games this week on Tuesday, when it takes on Memphis 901 FC (4-10-6) in a 7:30 p.m. game at Soccer Park in Fenton. The match, originally scheduled for June 1, was postponed because of lightning.

STLFC (6-7-6) will then host the Charleston Battery (6-5-8) on Saturday. STLFC and the Battery played to a scoreless draw in on May 11 in South Carolina. With 26 points, Charleston is just ahead of STLFC in the United Soccer League Championship standings.

STLFC enters the week holding the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. (Joe Lyons)

Vince Carter to make NBA history: Vince Carter is putting off retirement for at least one more season. With that, he’ll claim the longest career in NBA history all to himself.

A person familiar with the situation confirmed that Carter has agreed to terms on a one-year contract to return to the Atlanta Hawks for his record 22nd season. Carter, 42, never wavered in his desire to play this season. He is tied with Robert Parish, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Willis and recently retired Dirk Nowitzki — all of whom played for 21 seasons — for the longest career in NBA history.

“Just waiting for the right opportunity,” he said on a recent conference call.

In addition to mentoring young NBA players such as Atlanta point guard Trae Young and forward John Collins, Carter still can play. Last season, 1150640 St Louis Blues The Blues' season opener against Washington on Oct. 2 will be broadcast by NBCSN, one of four times the Blues will appear on Wednesday Night Hockey, the network's premier hockey showcase.

Edmundson's deal leaves Blues $2.7 million under salary cap Though it's not a Blues game, St. Louis will be on NBC when the network broadcasts the All-Star Game on Jan. 25. NBCSN will carry the skills competition the day before. By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 08.07.2019

One of the last pieces on the Blues' roster puzzle fell into place on Tuesday when an arbitrator set defenseman Joel Edmundson's salary for 2019-20 at $3.1 million.

The ruling leaves the Blues with about $2.7 million of space under the salary cap and one player yet to sign, center Ivan Barbashev. He's a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, so his choices are limited: the Blues, the KHL or not playing. Barbashev made $863,333 last season in the final year of his entry-level deal. After a 14-goal season and positive reviews for his play centering the fourth line, he's looking to at least double that salary and maybe go higher. Forward Oskar Sundqvist also had a 14-goal season and got a four-year deal with an average annual value of $2.75 million.

General manager Doug Armstrong on Monday told Post-Dispatch columnist Ben Frederickson that the sides were close and it would take just one phone call, but he wasn't sure when that phone call would happen.

Edmundson had an up-and-down season which made it tough to assess exactly where he fits in the Blues' plans. He at times played on the top defensive pairing, at other times on the bottom pairing, and three times in the regular season and four times in the playoffs was a healthy scratch as he had issues with puck control, being charged with 24 giveaways in 22 playoff games. He was a healthy scratch in Games 5 and 6 of the Stanley Cup Final with Boston but was back on the ice for Game 7. When he played, it often wasn't much. In Games 4 and 7, he played just 7:24 and 9:04 respectively as the team relied on other members of the defensive corps.

Edmundson is one of the youngsters in that unit. The 27-year-old Edmundson is younger than all his bluelinemates except Vince Dunn. Last season's defensive group is returning essentially intact.

"He is an important part of our defensive unit and we are looking forward to another successful year,” Armstrong said in the Blues' announcement of the decision.

Edmundson had just two goals and nine assists in 64 regular-season games (he missed 11 games late in the season with a lower-body injury) and led the team in penalty minutes with 68. In the playoffs, he had one goal and six assists in 22 games.

The arbitration figure of $3.1 million was not far from the midpoint from the Blues' $2.3 million offer and Edmundson's counter of $4.2 million. It's the slightest of raises for Edmundson, who made $3 million last season on a one-year deal that was reached right before he was to have his arbitration hearing. This time, a deal couldn't be struck; Edmundson will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Edmundson looked to be in line for a bigger deal after the 2017-18 season, in which he had seven goals and 10 assists, but the Blues were reluctant to give out big contracts after a year in which they failed to make the playoffs, so while Edmundson did get a raise from $1.05 million to $3 million, he also got only a one-year deal.

Of the 41 arbitration cases filed this season, Edmundson was one of just six to be decided by an arbitrator. The Blues had five players go to arbitration, and the other four were settled before the hearing was held.

NBC PICKS GAMES

Despite being Stanley Cup champions, the Blues aren't scheduled for any NBC network broadcasts this season, though they are scheduled for 15 games on NBCSN. (Some of those games will be blacked out locally, with the game airing as usual on Fox Sports Midwest.)

It's nothing personal about the Blues, only about where they're from. Other than two outdoor games, all the games televised by NBC involve Eastern Conference teams, particularly Pittsburgh and Boston. 1150641 St Louis Blues more than 16 minutes per game in the playoffs and earned a plus-5 rating despite frequently matching up against scoring lines. He also chipped in with four goals and five assists at even strength.

Blues' Edmundson receives one-year deal for $3.1 million in arbitration Grade: A ruling IVAN BARBASHEV, Forward

Blues look to redeem in Game 4 By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch GORDO ON BARBASHEV: He was a human missile during the playoffs, delivering crushing body checks all over the ice to wear down opponents. Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson received a one-year, $3.1 million His 87 hits in 25 games led the NHL playoffs. Like Sundqvist, he earned contract in an arbitration ruling handed down on Tuesday. a one-game league suspension with that rambunctious play during the Cup Final. Like Sundqvist, he enjoyed his breakout regular season (14 The amount falls fairly close to the midpoint of the numbers put out by goals and 12 assists) and also chipped in some playoff offense (three the two sides in the case. The Blues had offered $2.3 million for goals, three assists). At times their so-called fourth line with Steen was Edmundson in a one-year deal and the player had countered at $4.2 actually the Blues' best line at even strength. million, after he made $3 million last season on a one-year deal reached shortly before he was to go to an arbitration hearing. Per Grade: A capfriendly.com, the walkaway minimum for an arbitration ruling this DAVID PERRON, Forward season is $4,397,832, so the Blues have to accept the deal. It's all or nothing for the Blues in Game 7 Edmundson will be an unrestricted free agent when the contract expires. GORDO ON PERRON: He added valuable production (62 points in 83 It's been a matter of bad timing for Edmundson. He was in line for a regular season and playoff games) during his third tour with the Blues, as decent raise and a longer-term deal after the 2017-18 season, but with well as the agitation element. Perron one-upped Bruins Brad the team not making the playoffs that season, general manager Doug Marchand, and then some, with his Cup Final antics. He remained Armstrong said it would difficult to justify a raise, so the sides agreed to a recklessly aggressive despite his extensive concussion history, putting one-year deal. himself in harm's way shift after shift. Perron scored 11 points in his last Now, Edmundson is coming off a season where the Blues won the 12 regular season games after coming off injured reserve. Then he Stanley Cup, but his season wasn't as good as the previous one, and he helped lead the postseason charge with seven goals, nine assists and a was a healthy scratch at times, including during the Stanley Cup Final plus-4 rating. with Boston, though he was in the lineup for the decisive Game 7. Grade: A Further complicating matters was a less-than-expected increase in the salary cap and the unexpected need to give raises to players like Oskar , Forward Sundqvist. Scenes from Blues Stanley Victory Parade Edmundson appeared in 64 regular-season games, with two goals and nine assists and 68 penalty minutes. He had one goal, six assists and 10 GORDO ON TARASENKO: Like many Blues, he struggled early on this penalty minutes in 22 postseason games. season before elevating his play during the second half. Tarasenko scored 46 points in 39 regular season games during the New Year, then Edmundson's signing leaves the Blues with one unsigned player, center he scored 11 goals in 26 playoff games. He produced 80 fewer shot Ivan Barbashev. He's a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, so attempts than during the previous season, but he improved his all-around his choices are the Blues, the KHL or not playing. Barbashev made play. Tarasenko was less sheltered than the season before (58.3 percent $863,333 last season in the final year of his entry-level deal. After a 14- offensive zone starts, down from 68.8 percent). He earned his plus-8 goal season and positive reviews for his play centering the fourth line, rating at even strength with solid possession metrics: 54.3 percent Corsi he's probably looking to at least double that. Sundqvist also had a 14- For and 54.9 percent Fenwick For. On the other hand, he was minus-5 goal season and got a four-year deal with an average annual value of during the playoffs and he had a hand in his team's dismal 1-for-18 $2.75 million. power-play showing.

The Blues have about $2.7 million left under the salary cap and need to Grade: A-minus keep a slight cushion in case of injuries and player callups and to have some room to make moves at the trade deadline. , Forward

Edmundson got a B- for his performance last season. Here's how his Game 6 Stanley Cup Final teammates fared GORDO ON SCHENN: He followed a strong 70-point debut for the Blues RYAN O'REILLY, Forward with so-so production in the regular season (54 points in 72 games) and playoffs (12 points in 26 games). Like most of his teammates, he got It's all or nothing for the Blues in Game 7 stronger as the regular season progressed -- scoring 30 points in his last 31 games -- and he earned good possession metrics. Schenn scored the GORDO ON O'REILLY: He followed his tremendous regular season (28 critical third goal in Game 7 of the Cup Final and his physical play was a goals, 47 assists) by earning the Trophy as the NHL's plus during the postseason. His 83 hits were the second-most in the NHL postseason MVP. O'Reilly battled on with broken ribs to score 23 playoff in these playoffs and his 30 takeaways led the league. points. He regained some jump against Boston Bruins and got the Blues going in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final with one of his trademark Grade: B-PLUS deflection goals. During the regular season O'Reilly earned good puck possession metrics (53.6 Corsi For, 54.3 Fenwick For) with his faceoff ROBERT THOMAS, Forward prowess (56.9 percent success) and sturdy all-around play. Better yet, Blues look for redemption in Game 5 his day-to-day work ethic raised the bar for a team that had lost its way. GORDO ON THOMAS: He suffered the usual rookie inconsistencies Grade: A-PLUS through much of the year before scoring 12 points in 15 games in March OSKAR SUNDQVIST, Forward to help drive the strong Blues finish. Thomas played a key role in the Dallas playoff series, too, providing an offensive spark with Tyler Bozak Game 7 Stanley Cup Final and Pat Maroon. Then a wrist injury reduced his effectiveness before ultimately knocking him out of the lineup. His overall production (39 GORDO ON SUNDQVIST: He came to training camp as an afterthought, points in 91 regular season and playoff games) only hinted as his given all the team's offseason additions and the limited role (one goal in offensive potential. 42 games!) he played in 2017-18. But Sundqvist followed his regular season breakout (14 goals, 17 assists in 74 games) with a brilliant Grade: B postseason. He, Ivan Barbashev and became a key shutdown line for coach Craig Berube in 5-on-5 play. Sundqvist averaged TYLER BOZAK, Forward It's all or nothing for the Blues in Game 7 Grade: B

GORDO ON BOZAK: Had the Blues not added O'Reilly with that ALEXANDER STEEN, Forward blockbuster trade with Buffalo, the Bozak addition might have gained unfavorable reviews. His free-agent deal ($15 million over three years) Game 7 Stanley Cup Final was a bit rich. He is a 40-point-type center and, with O'Reilly on board, GORDO ON STEEN: He scored just 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in the Blues could shelter him in the No. 3 slot. In the more limited role his 65 games during another injury-plagued regular season. He can no production (38 points in 72 regular season games, 13 points in 26 playoff longer play to his compensation level ($5.75 million against the salary games) was fine. He was an asset in the faceoff circle, winning 54.3 cap for two more years). But Steen played a key role on his playoff percent of his draws during the regular season. He also had some big checking line with Sundqvist and Barbashev. While he didn't contribute postseason moments in his supporting role, particularly with Pat Maroon much offense (two goals, three assists, plus-2 rating) in the playoffs, his and Robert Thomas during the Dallas series. heady play with the two younger forwards gave Berube an excellent Grade: B matchup line to deploy against top opponents.

JADEN SCHWARTZ, Forward Grade: B-MINUS

Blues and Sharks skate in game 5 of the semifinals JORDAN NOLAN, Forward

GORDO ON SCHWARTZ: How did opponents limit him to three goals in Several Blues players take advantage of optional practice his first 41 games this season? Schwartz's all-around play was typically GORDO ON NOLAN: Remember when the Blues played pond hockey outstanding this season as evidenced by his strong possession metrics against Winnipeg during an 8-4 loss? Remember how Patrik Laine (55 percent Corsi For, 54.3 Fenwick For). Back in 2017-18 he started fast scored five times in that game? The next time the teams played Nolan (35 points, plus-23 rating in his first 30 games) before suffering a broken earned an elbowing penalty 128 seconds into the game to set the tone in foot. Schwartz finally picked up his offense down the stretch of this a 1-0 victory. Like MacEachern, he is a straight-line player who came up season by scoring eight goals in his last 28 games. Then he scored 12 from the AHL to fill in (two assists in 14 games) and help Berube times during the playoffs, including timely hat tricks in the series-clinching establish more team toughness. For that he got to celebrate his third Cup victory over Winnipeg and in the huge 5-0 victory at San Jose. after playing for two championship teams in Los Angeles.

Grade: B Grade: B-MINUS

PAT MAROON, Forward JORDAN KYROU, Forward

Blues, Stars in deciding Game 7 181025 jbf blues-24662463

GORDO ON MAROON: After scoring 44 goals the previous two seasons, GORDO ON KYROU: He deserves an "A" for his work with the San he scored just 10 in 74 games for his hometown Blues. The Big Rig Antonio Rampage: 43 points in 47 games as a rookie in the American finally got into gear late in the regular season, producing 12 points in his Hockey League. That reaffirmed his standing as a high-end offensive last 17 games. His physical play (54 playoff hits) and ability to control the prospect. But Kyrou, 21, was unable to impress Berube during his brief puck down low in the offensive zone helped the Blues establish their stints with the Blues. He had a goal and two assists while averaging just Cup-winning identity. And Blues fans will never forget his winning goal in 9:40 in ice time during his first 16 NHL games. double overtime of Game 7 against the Dallas Stars. On balance, he enjoyed a very good homecoming. Grade: B-MINUS

Grade: B , Forward

ZACH SANFORD, Forward Blues and Stars skate in Game 5 of their playoff

Game 7 Stanley Cup Final GORDO ON FABBRI: The good news: His twice-reconstructed knee held up this time. The bad news: Fabbri never regained the offensive jump GORDO ON SANFORD: When Berube gave him a second chance in the that made him such a promising prospect a few years back. He scored playoffs, Sanford made the most of it by producing four points in five just twice in 32 regular season games and just once in 10 playoff games. games during the Cup Final. His ability to blend with O'Reilly and Perron Remember, Fabbri scored 66 points in first 123 NHL games from 2015- to create another productive scoring line became one of the keys to the 17 before blowing up the same knee twice. Blues' victory. That timely success overshadowed his unremarkable regular season -- eight goals, 12 assists in 60 games -- and his three Grade: C empty postseason games against Winnipeg. Sanford raised his profile CHRIS THORBURN, Forward heading into next season. Game 7 Stanley Cup Final Grade: B GORDO ON THORBURN: So there he was behind the hospitality area at SAMMY BLAIS, Forward the Blues' Stanley Cup rally Saturday night, chatting it up with Blues face Sharks in game 3 actor/superfan Jon Hamm. Thorburn was a full participant in the team celebration that started on the ice in Boston and continued until . . . well, GORDO ON BLAIS: It took several tries at the NHL level, but Blais, 22, it is still ongoing actually. This came after he played two regular season finally found his identity as a power forward that can hit with leverage and shifts (1 minute, 52 seconds) for the Blues all season before spending generate offensive chances as well. He had 93 hits in his 32 regular most of it in the AHL. But he is a respected veteran and a well-liked season games, then 70 more in his 15 playoff games. Blais added a goal teammate, so the Blues were glad to have him along for the ride. and two assists during the postseason while playing nearly 12 minutes per game. He also handled himself like a seasoned pro during the team's Grade: Incomplete post-Cup celebrations. , Defenseman Grade: B Scenes from Blues Stanley Victory Parade MACKENZIE MACEACHERN, Forward GORDO ON PIETRANGELO: He took a step back with his regular The Blues and Predators fight it out at Enterprise Center season scoring, slipping from 54 points in 2017-18 to 41 this season. But like many teammates, Pietrangelo became more productive down the GORDO ON MACEACHERN: Don't overlook his impact during the stretch (30 points in his last 45 games) and finished with good regular season while playing 29 games as a fill-in. MacEachern helped possession metrics (53.7 Corsi For and Fenwick For). Then he excelled establish the north-south game Berube desired. He is a straight-line in the postseason with 19 points, a plus-5 rating and a NHL-best 48 player who manages to play hard in limited fourth-line minutes. Despite blocked shots. He earned a special place in NHL history as the captain of averaging just 8:02 per game, he delivered 49 hits and chipped in with a Stanley Cup-winning team. So Blues fans can quit questioning his three goals and two assists. leadership ability and demanding his trade. Grade: A hockey. But Butler, 32, also did a solid job during his 13 fill-in games for the Blues. The native St. Louisan filled the stat sheet with one goal, one COLTON PARAYKO, Defenseman assist, a plus-3 rating, 17 blocked shots and 17 hits in his limited duty.

Scenes from Blues Stanley Victory Parade Grade: B

GORDO ON PARAYKO: OK, so you want him to score more with that big JOEL EDMUNDSON, Defenseman slot shot and his ability to rush end to end with the puck. Parayko scored just 13 points in his first 49 games before producing 15 points in his last It's all or nothing for the Blues in Game 7 31 regular season games and 12 more during the playoffs. You want him to be more physical, too, with his 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame. But Parayko GORDO ON EDMUNDSON: The Blues hoped he would establish himself matured into a shutdown defender this season, earning a plus-26 rating as a Top 4 defenseman this season, but that didn't happen. Sometimes and blocking 199 shots through the regular season and playoffs. He and Edmundson played in the Top 4, sometimes he played on the third Jay Bouwmeester did the heavy defensive lifting against top offensive pairing and sometimes he was a healthy scratch. He chipped in with lines during the Cup run. some offense (goal, five assists) and blocked 36 shots in 22 playoff games. But his puck management was erratic. Edmundson also suffered Grade: A 24 giveaways against just four takeaways in the postseason after posting a similarly bad ratio (41/9) during the regular season. JAY BOUWMEESTER, Defenseman Grade: B-MINUS Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final , Defenseman GORDO ON BOUWMEESTER: It took him a while to fully recover from hip surgery. In fact, Bouwmeester, 35, appeared to be skating around The Blues tangle with the Red Wings at Enterprise Center with a giant fork stuck in his back during the first few months of the season. Back on Dec. 11 he was lugging around a minus-14 rating. But GORDO ON DEL ZOTTO: This veteran offensive defenseman arrived he and Parayko became a formidable shutdown pairing for the stretch from Anaheim to provide late-season depth. He played for Berube in run and Bouwmeester became one of the team's postseason MVPs. He Philadelphia, so there was trust there. Del Zotto earned three assists and contributed seven assists, earned a plus-9 rating and blocked 46 shots a minus-2 rating during his seven fill-in games as a Blue. He and Butler while facing top offensive lines during the postseason. After playing were among those "Black Aces" enjoying the Cup ride as extra players. 1,259 regular season and playoff games, Bouwmeester finally got to GRADE: C hoist the Cup. JORDAN SCHMALTZ, Defenseman Grade: A-MINUS Blues vs. Blackhawks at Enterprise Center VINCE DUNN, Defenseman GORDO ON SCHMALTZ: He got one last chance to earn a role with the Blues skate in critical Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final Blues and failed. Schmaltz played 20 games, earned two assists and a GORDO ON DUNN: He took a big step forward during his second NHL minus-7 rating and once again settled back into the AHL after clearing season, scoring 12 goals and adding 23 assists with a plus-14 rating. . That minus-22 rating in 36 games at San Antonio didn't exactly Dunn, 22, has filled the puck-moving void Kevin Shattenkirk's trade left boost his stock with the Blues or any other NHL team seeking a depth on the blue line. He is easily the most creative point man on the Blues defenseman. power play. He proved his toughness by coming back with a broken jaw Grade: F to help defeat the Bruins in the Cup Final. Dunn contributed eight points in 20 playoff games, but that came with a minus-5 rating and the need to JORDAN BINNINGTON, Goalie limit his exposure to high-scoring opposing forwards. Scenes from Blues Stanley Victory Parade Grade: B-PLUS GORDO ON BINNINGTON: You know the story: He came to training CARL GUNNARSSON, Defenseman camp as the No. 4 Blues goaltender and ended up saving this team's season. Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Binnington went 24-5-1 with a 1.89 goal-against average and a .927 save GORDO ON GUNNARSSON: After his injury-abbreviated regular season percentage during the regular season. Then he won 16 playoff games en -- seven points, plus-8 rating in just 25 games -- Gunnarsson played a route to the Cup, shaking off some rough outings (six games with four or key role during the playoff run. He earned a plus-6 rating with just six more goals allowed) along the way. The Blues liked their chances in giveaways in 19 games. The steady Gunnarsson even earned some Top Game 7 of the Cup Final because of his strong track record (7-2 with a 4 duty with Pietrangelo. And he earned his place in Blues lore by scoring 1.86 GAA and .933 save percentage) after losing the previous playoff the game-winning overtime goal in Game 2 of the Cup Final in Boston. If game. the Bruins win that game instead . . . well, you don't want to think about that. Grade: A-PLUS

Grade: B-PLUS , Goalie

ROBERT BORTUZZO, Defenseman The Blues and Jets skate in critical game 6

Blues and Sharks square off in game 2 of the semifinals GORDO ON ALLEN: His GAA has climbed over the last five seasons: from 2.28 to 2.35, 2.42, 2.75 and 2.83. His save percentage declined GORDO ON BORTUZZO: He blocked 23 shots, delivered 27 hits and over the last four seasons: from .920 to .915, .906 and .905. That's what scored a couple goals in 17 playoff games as a reliable third-pairing you call a trend. This was his make-or-break season, since the team let defenseman. Bortuzzo added an ornery streak to the lineup when called security blanket Carter Hutton depart as a free agent. Allen broke, going upon, but he played under control. He didn't go way out of his way 8-9-2 under the home-ice spotlight with a 3.65 GAA and an .878 save looking for hits and he picked good times to pinch in. Bortuzzo had solid percentage. That struggle and Ville Husso's injury-ruined season at San possession metrics (54.0 Corsi For, 55.1 Fenwick For) during the regular Antonio gave Binnington his long-awaited NHL chance. season. And he was plus-12 in 76 regular season and playoff games combined. Grade: D

Grade: B-PLUS CHAD JOHNSON, Goalie

CHRIS BUTLER, Defenseman Blues v Jets

Chicago Blackhawks vs St. Louis Blues GORDO ON JOHNSON: He arrived as a low-cost free agent to replace Hutton and buy Husso more developmental time. Johnson got his chance GORDO ON BUTLER: He spent much of the year serving as captain of to step up when Allen faltered, but he failed too -- thus opening the the Blues' American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio, helping elevator door for Binnington's ascension. Johnson lasted just 10 games shepherd the organization's prospects through their transition to pro with the Blues before moving on to the Anaheim Ducks. He went 2-6-0 here with ugly ratios (3.55, .884).

Grade: F

TOM STILLMAN, Blues Owner

Scenes from Blues Stanley Victory Parade

GORDO ON STILLMAN AND TEAM OWNERSHIP: Tom Stillman has provided a steady hand since Day 1, leading a group of local investors who were committed to building a championship organization. That took a heavy financial commitment, since his group had to overcome the long- term damage caused when the previous owners started running out of money. Stillman and Co. made tough decisions on the business side to run a leaner operation.

But on the hockey side, they opted to go for it -- spending to the NHL salary cap again and again. The ownership groups' accomplishments just kept coming: a trip to the Final Four in 2016, hosting the Winter Classic in 2017, getting the NHL All-Star Weekend for 2020 and, of course, the long-awaited Stanley Cup. The value of the franchise has soared and its standing in our sports landscape appears secure.

Grade: A-PLUS

DOUG ARMSTRONG, General Manager

Game 7 Stanley Cup Final

GORDO ON ARMSTRONG: General manager Doug Armstong went "all in" last summer by trading for center Ryan O'Reilly and signing free- agent forwards David Perron, Tyler Bozak and Pat Maroon. When that bolstered offense failed to produce winning hockey, Armstrong fired coach Mike Yeo and promoted assistant coach Craig Berube to replace him on an interim basis. He added consultant to the coaching staff on an interim basis as well. Those changes eventually worked -- as did Armstrong's decision to ride his core veteran group despite its first-half woes.

The culmination of those moves and others (like the earlier trades for Brayden Schenn, Oskar Sundqvist and Zach Sanford) was the remarkable Cup run.

Grade: A

CRAIG BERUBE, Head Coach

It's all or nothing for the Blues in Game 7 (copy)

GORDO ON BERUBE AND COACHING STAFF: When he replaced Yeo, Berube said the Blues were a good team that lacked confidence. How would he rebuild that? By making demands, the man known as "Chief" told reporters, starting with his very first practice. It took a while, but it worked. Along with Larry Robinson and holdover assistant coaches Steve Ott and Mike Van Ryn, Berube managed to refocus the Blues and inspire them to play a more cohesive, physical and smothering brand of hockey.

Ott's role increased during the transition and Van Ryn did a masterful job handling the defense, with input from the legendary Robinson.The Blues famously rallied from last place in the NHL to the middle of the Western Conference playoff bracket. Then they kept finding higher levels of play while beating Winnipeg, Dallas, San Jose and Boston en route to the Cup. And along the way, Armstrong quit looking outside the organization for his next coach.

Grade: A

MIKE YEO, Former head coach

Blues take on the Ducks at Enterprise Center

GORDO ON YEO: While the Blues were embarked on their epic Cup run, Yeo quietly joined the Philadelphia Flyers organization as an assistant coach under new head coach . Let's hope Yeo didn't torment himself by watching any media coverage of the Blues' raucous celebration. For whatever reason the Blues never came together this season for Yeo. He tried all sorts of player combinations to no avail. He lost command of the group. The Blues were 7-9-3 when Armstrong fired Yeo in November. While Armstrong, the assistant coaches and the players got the chance to redeem themselves this season, Yeo did not.

Grade: F

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150642 St Louis Blues to get dad’s name on the Cup, he thought. But that’s not how it works. And so, the NHL asked that the name be removed.

There are, famously or infamously depending on how you look at it, 16 Stanley Cup’s engraver, Louise St. Jacques, shares the joys and quirks X’s covering Basil Pocklington. St. Jacques accidentally spelled the of her job name of Adam Deadmarsh, a 1995-96 Colorado Avalanche player, Adam Deadmarch. It was later corrected — a first, according to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Other typos that predated St. Jacques included the 1962-63 By Benjamin HochmanSt. Louis Post-Dispatch Toronto Maple Leaes and the 1971-72 Bqstqn Bruins. The 1941-42 Maple Leafs list players Walter Broda. And Turk Broda, however that’s

the same guy. Inside a Montreal studio on Rue Saint-Francois-Xavier, an artist doesn’t In all, there currently are 2,238 names on the Stanley Cup — and on its put her name on her work; instead, names are her work. website, the Hall of Fame points out that doesn’t include Basil Louise St. Jacques is the personal engraver of the Stanley Cup, the Pocklington. The Blues’ additions to the Cup will include forward Patrick trophy’s artisan scribe. She is one of just four people to ever officially Maroon, who joked to Pritchard that his name already is on there — the have the job. old Montreal Maroons won the championship before.

“I am very fortunate and proud to engrave the Cup,” St. Jacques said by Maroon, of Oakville, will be the second St. Louis-bred player to have his email. “I have been stamping the Stanley Cup for the past 37 years, and name on the Cup. St. Charles’ Brandon Bollig of the 2012-13 Chicago it still makes me flutter inside every time I see it.” Blackhawks was the first. And Blues assistant coach Sean Ferrell will get his name on the Cup. He’s from Webster Groves. She’s previously put “St. Louis” on the Cup — Martin St. Louis won it in 2004 with Tampa Bay — but this will be the first time St. Jacques’ St. “Each year, Louise gets the honour of stamping the names of the Louis is in reference to our city. To our city’s champions. After the Cup’s winning team into the ever-evolving Stanley Cup, “ Pritchard said. “And summer of possessing toasted ravioli and Bud Light, spaghetti and there is no better tradition in sport than the names going on the Stanley babies, hockey’s cherished chalice will arrive at her studio for the Cup.” ceremonious and meticulous engraving process. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 08.07.2019 “Personally, I think it’s one of the most important positions surrounding the game — the silversmith for the Stanley Cup,” said Phil Pritchard, the “keeper of the Cup” who works for the Hockey Hall of Fame. “The aura of the Stanley Cup is created through its history and tradition.”

The Stanley Cup’s keeper, who travels with it, and engraver, who personalizes it, put the personal touches on the Cup, which touches people so personally. The Stanley Cup is more recognizable than some of the stars who have won it. It’s bigness is ubiquitous.

It is an “honour and privilege that I cherish,” St. Jacques said. “It is such a coveted trophy ... And it’s an amazing story that St. Louis, through sheer determination, heightened their level of play to winning the Stanley Cup.”

Carl Peterson was the first person hired to engrave the Cup, and upon his death in 1977, the responsibility was passed down to his son, Arno. When their silversmith shop was closed, Boffey Promotions, a previous supplier for the NHL, got the assignment. Doug Boffey and now Louise St. Jacques have engraved the Cup on Rue Saint-Francois-Xavier.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN...

And while “engraving” is the verb most-associated with the Stanley Cup, St. Jacques actually stamps the champions’ names on the nearly 35- pound trophy of silver and nickel alloy.

“By the time we receive the Cup, I have been planning to execute the stamping of 52 names on the cup,” said St. Jacques, who will put the names of the Blues players, coaches, executives and owner. “I need to get several hundred letters arranged in a predefined space. The names vary considerably in length and the lines of names as well.”

Louise St. Jacques puts the finishing touches to the Stanley Cup with the engraving of the NHL champion Dallas Stars roster in her office in Montreal in 1999.

Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester aren’t just daunting to the Boston Bruins.

“Once I have removed the bottom ring from the cup and placed it on my steel form, I begin to measure my space,” St. Jacques said. “It is essentially a freehand job. My tools consist of a hammer and three different sets of metal letter punches. These punches are in different sizes including upper and lowercase letters with a raised letter at the end.

“Then the stamping begins letter by letter. After all is done, the Cup is polished and put back together.”

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN...

The Cup has quirks. They give it character. For instance, Boffey botched something with the 1983-84 Oilers, though it wasn’t necessarily his fault. Edmonton’s owner was Peter Pocklington, and he also submitted the name of his father, who wasn’t associated with the team. Would be cool 1150643 St Louis Blues Jaden Schwartz ($5.35M+) Brayden Schenn ($5.125M) Vladimir Tarasenko ($7.5M)

Zach Sanford ($1.5M) Ryan O’Reilly ($7.5M) David Updated 2019-20 Blues depth chart, salary-cap situation: How will it all Perron ($4M) fit? Sammy Blais ($850K) Tyler Bozak ($5M) Robert Thomas ($895K)

By Jeremy Rutherford Aug 6, 2019 Ivan Barbashev (RFA) Oskar Sundqvist ($2.75M) Alexander Steen ($5.75M)

The arbitration ruling for Joel Edmundson was announced Tuesday, Robby Fabbri ($900K) MacKenzie MacEachern ($750K) bringing more clarity to how the Blues are going to fit a majority of their Prospects/minor leaguers: Jordan Kyrou ($760K), Klim Kostin ($865K), Stanley Cup-winning roster under the salary cap in 2019-20. Jordan Nolan ($700K), Austin Poganski ($750K), Nolan Stevens The Athletic set the stage for Edmundson’s case as the restricted free ($700K), Nathan Walker ($700K), Nick Lappin ($700K), Michael agent headed to arbitration Sunday. The 26-year-old defenseman asked Vecchione ($700K), Alexei Toropchenko ($775K), Erik Foley ($925K), for $4.2 million, while the club requested an offer of $2.35 million, and the Dominik Bokk ($825K), Nikita Alexandrov ($860K), Dakota Joshua arbitrator elected slightly less than the midpoint at $3.1 million. ($790K) and Tanner Kaspick ($740K).

Could Edmundson’s days with the Blues be numbered? If history is any Defensemen indicator, yes. Last month, The Athletic’s Craig Custance went through Left defense Right defense 10 years of data, and of the 27 players who went to arbitration during that decade, 14 of them were with a different team within one year, and 21 of Carl Gunnarsson ($1.75M+) Alex Pietrangelo ($6.5M) them within three years. Jay Bouwmeester ($3.25M+) Colton Parayko ($5.5M+) But as of now, Edmundson remains part of the Blues’ organization and could be on the ice opening night, Oct. 2, when the Cup champions raise Vince Dunn ($725K) Robert Bortuzzo ($1.38M) their banner at Enterprise Center against the Washington Capitals. Joel Edmundson ($3.1M)

Who else will be? Barring any trades before the season opener, there is Prospects/minor leaguers: Derrick Pouliot ($700K), Jake Walman a chance that 22 of the Blues’ 23 regulars from the end of last season, ($925K), Niko Mikkola ($845K), Mitch Reinke ($750K), Jake Dotchin and perhaps all 23, will remain on the team’s roster. ($700K), Andreas Borgman ($700K) and Joey Laleggia ($675K).

The lone uncertainty is Pat Maroon, but he’s still a possibility. In June, a Goalies source told The Athletic that Maroon was unlikely to be back with the Blues, but with the club getting closer to having all of its RFAs re-signed Jordan Binnington ($4.4M) and having a better feel for its remaining salary-cap space, perhaps his Jake Allen ($4.35M) patience could pay off. Prospects/minor leaguers: Ville Husso ($700K), Evan Fitzpatrick ($770K) The ruling on Edmundson leaves the Blues about $2.7 million under the and Joel Hofer ($810K). NHL’s $81.5 million cap for the upcoming season, but that’s not including Ivan Barbashev, a restricted free agent who remains unsigned. The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 The 23-year-old forward made $832,000 last season and finished with a career-high 14 goals and 26 points in 80 games last season. He did not have arbitration rights, so Barbashev’s only leverage would be to hold out.

Barbashev is believed to be asking for close to $2 million, which would leave the Blues only about $700,000 under the salary cap. But even if they are able to bring him in around $1.5 million, the club would have just over $1 million in cap space, and general manager Doug Armstrong has said he’d like to have a cushion of at least $2 million going into the season.

Either way, the Edmundson contract, coupled with the unresolved Barbashev situation, doesn’t leave room for the Blues to bring Maroon back unless the club were to make a trade, or he were to take less than the $1.75 million he made last season.

This summer, Maroon did have a couple of one-year offers elsewhere but remained interested in a two-year term. His outside options seem to have dwindled, and if he’s going to accept another one-year deal, his preference would be to stay in St. Louis. The club’s cap situation and perceived willingness to let the roster evolve with players such as Sammy Blais and Zach Sanford seem to make Maroon’s return a long shot, but don’t rule it out.

For now, though, we’re going to leave the native St. Louisan, who scored one of the biggest goals in Blues history last postseason, off the depth chart. If the lineup looks a lot like the one that suited up for Game 7 against Boston in June, that’s because it’s almost identical. The forwards are the same, but we’ve inserted Robert Bortuzzo for now and made Edmundson the seventh defenseman, which could flip-flop in training camp.

Without further ado, the Blues’ 2019-20 depth chart, with each player’s annual average value (AAV) in parentheses …

Forwards

Left wing Center Right wing 1150644 Tampa Bay Lightning Minnesota Wild, 10,000

Montréal Canadiens, 5,000

Lightning favored to win next Stanley Cup in latest gambling odds Nashville Predators, 1,400

After a surprising-to-many collapse at the end of last season, Tampa Bay New Jersey Devils, 3,000 is the favorite to go the distance. , 2,600

New York Rangers, 5,000 By Mari Faiello , 30,000

Philadelphia Flyers, 4,000 TAMPA — If you’re a betting man, odds are you lost some money when the Blue Jackets swept the Lightning in the first round of the 2019 Pittsburgh Penguins, 2,600 Stanley Cup Playoffs. San Jose Sharks, 2,800

But if you have faith in Tampa Bay, the team is favored once again to St. Louis Blues, 1,400 bring home the coveted piece of silverware — and has been practically since the St. Louis Blues clinched the most recent Cup. Tampa Bay Lightning, 650

BookMaker lists the Lightning as No. 1 with 6.5/1 odds of winning the Toronto Maple Leafs, 950 Cup this year. , 2,800 John Lester, an odds consultant with BookMaker, said that if Lightning Vegas Knights, 850 fans bet $100 on the team to win the Cup this season, they would get a return of $650 plus the $100 they put down originally. As for the negative Washington Capitals, 2,000 numbers, in the case of a U.S. team winning the Cup this year, you would have to wager $900 to win $100 he said. On the other hand, if you , 2,200 took your chances on a Canadian team winning the hefty piece of Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.07.2019 silverware, you would win $600 for every $100 you bet.

In other words, the lower the number, the better the odds of winning. If you bet on a higher-numbered team, your odds are less likely to happen, but would yield a greater return.

Here are the current odds for teams throughout the league:

NHL 2019-20 Stanley Cup by country

U.S. team, -900

Canadian team, 600

NHL 2019-20 Stanley Cup by conference

Eastern Conference, -120

Western Conference, 100

NHL 2019-20 Stanley Cup by division

Atlantic Division, 240

Central Division, 300

Metropolitan Division, 310

Pacific Division, 280

NHL 2019-20 Stanley Cup by team

Anaheim Ducks, 17,500

Arizona Coyotes, 5,000

Boston Bruins, 950

Buffalo Sabres, 10,000

Calgary Flames, 2,000

Carolina Hurricanes, 2,000

Chicago Blackhawks, 3,500

Colorado Avalanche, 1,400

Columbus Blue Jackets, 15,000

Dallas Stars, 1,6000

Detroit Red Wings, 20,000

Edmonton Oilers, 7,5000

Florida Panthers, 2,000

Los Angeles Kings, 25,000 1150645 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning to be featured in 11 broadcasts on NBC Sports

The network aired 12 games involving the team last season.

By Mari Faiello

TAMPA — Lightning fans are advised to have their television or streaming subscriptions up to date. If not, they risk missing 11 of Tampa Bay’s games this season.

NBC Sports announced its 2019-20 schedule for the NHL Tuesday morning. The network will air 109 games during the regular season. NBCSN stated about 75 percent of the league will be featured in “Wednesday Night Hockey” while nearly 60 percent of the schedule will feature Western Conference teams.

Viewers can catch the games on television, NBCSports.com or the NBCSN app with an authentic account.

Tampa Bay will be aired on NBCSN in just two home games this season while the other nine are road trips.

Bolts Nation can catch their home team on NBCSN on the following nights:

Tuesday, Oct. 15 - Lightning at Montréal Canadiens at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 23 - Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 29 - Lightning at New York Rangers at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 8 - Lightning at Buffalo Sabres at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 19 - Lightning at St. Louis Blues at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 3 - Lightning at Nashville Predators at 8 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 16 - Lightning at Minnesota Wild at 8 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 27 - Lightning at Dallas at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 29 - Lightning at Los Angeles Kings at 10 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 10 - Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3 - Lightning vs. Boston Bruins at 7:30 p.m.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150646 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning welcome new puppy Bolt as team ambassador

The yellow lab will serve as the team ambassador while training to be a service dog.

By Mari Faiello

TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Lightning have made a “paw-sitive” move to their roster by adding Bolt, a four-month-old yellow lab puppy.

The puppy will serve as the team’s ambassador while training to be a service dog when his Lightning career is over.

Bolt was born on March 31, weighing 28.5 pounds and spent the first 12 weeks of his life in the Grant and Shirley Herron Puppy Academy at Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Lightning fans can follow Bolt on both Twitter and Instagram @BoltsPup.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150647 Tampa Bay Lightning

What does signing Kevin Shattenkirk mean for Brayden Point?

Julien BriseBois remains “very optimistic” on re-signing the Lightning’s biggest free agent.

By Diana C. Nearhos

TAMPA — Everything the Lightning do these days is viewed from a Brayden Point perspective.

How does this affect re-signing Point? What does this mean for re- signing Point?

Julien BriseBois made clear from well before the offseason began that re-signing Point was the Lightning’s priority. So why has he been able to sign so many others before Point?

Because this contract is more complicated than the others. That could be money or length or a combination there in. Agreeing to a one-year, $1.75 million deal with Kevin Shattenkirk, looking for a chance to prove himself, is easier than coming to an agreement with a young star with years of promise and potential for a major payday in unrestricted free agency.

When he addressed the media about signing Shattenkirk, BriseBois did not have an update on Point. In full, his response to a question about the impact of this signing on negotiations with Point:

“I don’t really think it has any impact,” he said. “We’re adding another good player. I’m very optimistic that we’re going to get a contract done with Brayden Point. That hasn’t wavered. I am still very confident we will agree to a contract. I know Brayden wants to win. He wants to play on a good team. He wants me as the general manager to do everything I can to help the team win and make sure we have the best players possible on the team. This was an opportunity to improve our team today, so that’s why I made that decision.”

BriseBois has been talking to Point’s agent for months. He has some idea of where each stands, even if he doesn’t know where in the middle they will land.

Even if he thinks Shattenkirk makes the Lightning a better team, it’s unlikely he’d sign him, or most anyone else, at the risk of not getting a contract done with Brayden Point.

After signing Shattenkirk, assuming that Mike Condon is sent to the AHL and Louis Domingue is traded for a pick or AHL player, the Lightning has $9.3 million in cap space for next year. That’s enough to sign Point.

While Point is the priority and biggest impact player remaining, he isn’t the only restricted free agent unsigned by the Lighting. What about Adam Erne?

“No update,” BriseBois said.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150648 Toronto Maple Leafs In a May trade with the Red Wings, the Leafs acquired defenceman Aut Erickson, serviceable winger , centre Eddie Joyal, winger Lowell MacDonald and veteran defenceman .

Wendel, Phil and a ‘jim-dandy of a trade’: Comparing the Leafs’ busy Veteran forwards Billy Harris and went the other way, as summer to others from their past did minor-league winger . The Toronto Star’s Red Burnett reported that Bathgate blamed Leafs GM ’s daily exhaustive practices as the reason for the Leafs’ playoff collapse that By Joshua Kloke Aug 6, 2019 spring. Shortly thereafter, Bathgate was gone.

However, it’s hard to overlook to value the Leafs got in return: Four of the five players acquired in that deal were part of the Leafs 1967 Stanley Heading into this offseason, it was assumed that major changes were Cup-winning team. coming to the Maple Leafs roster. The team had Stanley Cup aspirations last season but were bounced in the first round at the hands of the “It started out as a 1-for-1 situation,” Imlach said at the time, “then Sid Boston Bruins for the second straight year. As such, general manager and I decided we might as well make it a jim-dandy of a trade and he Kyle Dubas has been busy revamping the roster. Five trades have been gave me five for three. I think we did very well.” made. , Patrick Marleau, Nikita Zaitsev and Garret Sparks, among others, were shipped out, and Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci were But if that deal saw a decent return, their next move just over two weeks just two of the players brought in. later evened things out.

Additionally, 11 free agents have been signed since the Leafs season After 13 seasons with the Leafs, centre Ron Stewart was sent to the ended. Bruins for a three-player package that can politely be called underwhelming. So, is this an unprecedented summer for the Leafs in terms of player turnover? Forward Andy Hebenton had not missed a game in nine previous NHL seasons but never played in the NHL again after being acquired by the To answer that question, The Athletic looked back to find busy Leafs Leafs. Centre Orland Kurtenbach played just one season in Toronto and summers of the past and compared them to what’s transpired in the defenceman Pat Stapleton never suited up for the Leafs after being left summer of 2019. unprotected in the intra-league draft.

We’re focusing just on the sheer volume of players who were moved, How does it compare to the summer of 2019? Despite the number of leading to the kind of turnover that would have had fans flipping through players acquired, the team’s core remained largely untouched in the their programs at the start of the next season asking “Who?” summers of 1965 and 2019. Leafs fans hope the trades made this summer end up benefitting the team they way they eventually did for that The summer of 1952 ’65 team, a Stanley Cup win just two seasons later. After the most dominant stretch in Maple Leafs history, during which they The summer of 1978 won the Stanley Cup in five of the previous seven seasons, Toronto was easily swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1952 semifinals. Ahead of the 1978-79 season, coach wanted the team to become more defensively sound. Legendary goalie Turk Broda’s career was coming to an end. GM Conn Smythe had little faith in new goalie Al Rollins, despite his Vezina Trophy Neilson got his wish in a series of deals that saw the Leafs acquire six win in 1951. players and cash while moving out six players and seven draft picks.

A change was needed, though it’s worth noting that bulk player The Leafs started their summer by shipping out longtime defenceman movement in the NHL was far more rare in the ’50s than in later years. and future broadcaster Jim McKenny to the for Still, that change manifested when Smythe initiated a mass exodus from cash. It was a month later at the NHL’s annual meeting that the Leafs the Leafs roster. In one of the biggest trades in franchise history up to really started moving pieces. that point, Smythe dealt four Leafs regulars: Rollins, centre Cal Gardner, defenceman Gus Mortson and one forward prospect, Ray Hannigan, to Goalie Paul Harrison was acquired from Minnesota for a fourth-round the Chicago Blackhawks for a single goalie, Harry Lumley. He also dealt draft pick. forward Joe Klukay to the Boston Bruins for cash. Defensive stalwart Dave Burrows and a sixth-round draft pick were “The kind of goalie who wins games and sells tickets,” Smythe said, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a young Randy according to The Toronto Star. Lumley played every game for the Leafs Carlyle and forward George Ferguson, with the latter appearing to be on the following season and won the Vezina Trophy in 1954. the verge of becoming a regular 20-goal scorer.

Smythe said one of the reasons behind the deal was to “turn the young Later during the same meeting, the Leafs continued to bolster the blue fellows loose” in front of the proven, reliable Lumley and “get an unbiased line by acquiring Dave Hutchison, just breaking into the league as a full- opinion of their ability.” time defenceman and winger Lorne Stamler from the Los Angeles Kings for forward Scott Garland, veteran defenceman and winger The youth movement was on. The trades were less about players Kurt Walker, who was primarily a minor-league defenceman. acquired and more about clearing room on the roster. Young players who saw heavily increased ice time and become Leafs regulars the following “We had to give up a lot to make the deals,” Neilson said at the time, “but season included two 23-year-old centres, Bob Hassard and Gord Burrows and Hutchison should give us a solid defence for quite a few Hannigan, a pair of 20-year-old defencemen, Leo Boivin and Jim years.” Morrison and a pair of 22-year-olds who became franchise greats in That’s not exactly how things turned out. centre George Armstrong and defenceman . Burrows played just over two seasons for the Leafs, Hutchison was How does it compare to the summer of 2019? The Leafs believed they traded after a season-and-a-half and Stamler played just 45 games in were good enough to contend for a Stanley Cup, but recognized they had Toronto. a crop of players who were deserving of more opportunity. Trimming the fat led to good things for those young players, just as this current Leafs Carlyle and Ferguson, however, combined to play 707 regular-season team is likely banking on bigger contributions from some of their young games for the Penguins. assets. Later in the offseason, (weird trivia question alert) the Leafs acquired The summer of 1965 forward Garry Monahan, the first-ever player chosen in the NHL Draft for cash from the Vancouver Canucks, and then acquired the sixth player OK, so this summer didn’t see any Leafs heroes moved, meaning Frank ever chosen in the draft, centre Walt McKechnie, from the North Stars for Mahovlich, Dave Keon and all stayed in Toronto. Yet with two a third-round pick. trades, the Leafs moved eight players. They were just one season removed from winning their third Stanley Cup in a row but had lost in the McKechnie scored 25 goals and 61 points in his first season with the first round to the Montreal Canadiens. Thus, trades to bolster the team’s Leafs, but the Leafs were still swept by the Canadiens in the second depth were made. round of the playoffs. How does it compare to the summer of 2019? Neilson was attempting to to the Nashville Predators for forward Taylor Beck, who then became mold the Leafs in the specific vision of how he wanted them to play. And part of a five-player package that was sent to the New York Islanders for in moving out players like Nikita Zaitsev and Patrick Marleau while not re- forward Michael Grabner. signing , Dubas is also shaping the club in a specific way — a more skilled lineup. But one of the biggest deals in recent team history came on July 1 when the Leafs truly charred the ground beneath them by dealing consistent The summer of 1994 goal scorer and oft-maligned winger Phil Kessel to the Penguins along with forward Tyler Biggs, defenceman Tim Erixon and a second-round This offseason was considerably longer given that the lockout-shortened pick in exchange for forward Kasperi Kapanen, defenceman Scott 1994-95 season didn’t start until January. Nevertheless, even after their Harrington, forward Nick Spaling and a first- and third-round draft pick. second straight run to the conference finals, the Leafs made sweeping changes at the 1994 draft. The 2015-16 Leafs were going to be bad, but this summer was just part of a long-term play for the organization’s management. The Leafs sent idolized captain Wendel Clark, shutdown defenceman Sylvain Lefebvre, prospect winger Landon Wilson and the 22nd pick in “This is really about a recognition on our part that the group we the draft to the Nordiques in exchange for another stay-at-home assembled here wasn’t good enough,” said Leafs president Brendan defenceman, , winger Todd Warriner, the 10th overall pick Shanahan in 2015. “We are here to build a team that is capable of and one of the best players in franchise history: . winning a Stanley Cup. There are no shortcuts.”

This trade remains one of the most notable in Leafs history because of Those trades were just part of the roster overhaul: Forward Daniel Winnik how good the return ended up being. Sundin became the team’s all-time returned to Toronto in free agency and defenceman Matt Hunwick, leading scorer and a Hall of Fame inductee. But Clark was coming off a forward P.A. Parenteau and forward Mark Arcobello all signed with the career year, with 46 goals. That season ended up being the first and only club, though only Hunwick played more than one season with the Leafs. time Clark eclipsed the 40-goal mark, so GM Cliff Fletcher’s plan to flip Clark when his value was at its highest was partly understandable. The “We’ve created a lot of cap space to give us flexibility going forward,” Leafs wanted to get over the hump and make their first Stanley Cup final Shanahan said. “It’s our job to turn picks into prospects and prospects since 1967. into productive Leafs. That will take time.”

But there was initial hesitation in trading the beloved Leaf. How does it compare to the summer of 2019? These two Leafs teams were going in completely different directions, so there’s very little to “Cliff said, ‘Are you f—ing crazy? If I put Clark’s name in the deal, you compare in that sense. But one obvious focus of this offseason has been might as well put mine in there, too, because they’ll run me out of town,” creating salary cap space, just as it was four years ago. said then Nordiques assistant GM Sherry Bassin in 2015. The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 The Leafs core looked very different after the deal was finally done, but Fletcher wasn’t done yet. He dealt winger Rob Pearson to the Washington Capitals for veteran forward Mike Ridley, whose offensive production began to tail off in Toronto.

Centre Yanic Perreault had only played 13 games for the Leafs in 1993- 94, but was full of promise after two back-to-back 40-plus goal seasons in the AHL. Fletcher dealt him to the Kings for a fourth-round pick, and two seasons later he was a 25-goal scorer.

Terry Yake was coming off two-straight 20-plus goal seasons but failed to launch with the Leafs after being acquired from Anaheim in September for David Sacco.

And come September, a sizeable deal full of minor leaguers was pulled off when the Leafs acquired centre , centre Guy Leveque, forward Shayne Toporowski and forward for forward , defenceman and a fourth-round draft pick in the 1996 draft. Those four players ended up playing just 48 games for the Leafs.

Centre Mark Kolesar was added in free agency, as was restricted free agent forward Mike Craig. Leafs forwards and Craig Marshall went to the Dallas Stars as compensation for the Craig signing.

The summer change was obvious: Only two of the team’s top five scorers from the year before cracked the top five in 1994-95 and the Leafs lost in the first round of the playoffs.

How does it compare to the summer of 2019? This summer obviously benefitted the Leafs in the long term but it was very much born out of a similar desire to this current Leafs team. Both were good clubs that were unsatisfied with the level of success they had. Both saw their championship windows open and took swings, even if it meant cutting bait with popular players.

The summer of 2015

Leafs fans had reason to be curious about what the team’s 2015-16 roster would look like. In February, word had gotten out that ownership was planning on a “scorched Earth” rebuild of the team. In May, the Leafs hired one of hockey’s most respected coaches in .

And that summer, then interim general managers Kyle Dubas and Mark Hunter got to work on rebuilding the Leafs roster, before Lou Lamoriello took over on July 23.

The moves were swift. Greg McKegg, a 2010 draft pick, was shipped to Florida for and a conditional draft pick. Defenceman Martin Marincin arrived from Edmonton for minor-league forward Brad Ross and a fourth-round draft pick. Minor league winger Jamie Devane was moved 1150649 Washington Capitals things to different people, many of whom were offended by the method of the protest and never actually heard the message.

Players taking part in the protest argued that people weren’t listening. If Real voices stand out amid background noise of social media that was the case, then the problem was with the way the message was Follow Us delivered, not in the audience they were trying to reach.

Carolina safety Eric Reid began kneeling during the anthem along with his teammate and leader of the movement, Colin Kaepernick, when they By Thom Loverro - - Tuesday, August 6, 2019 were both with the San Francisco 49ers. They filed collusion grievances against the league when they claimed they were shut out because of

their protests. Reid was eventually signed by the Panthers, and his ANALYSIS/OPINION: Philadelphia Union’s Alejando Bedoya wanted to complaint, along with Kaepernick’s, was settled. But Reid told the make a statement about gun violence, in the wake of the weekend of Charlotte Observer that he will still continue his anthem protest this carnage in El Paso and Dayton that took another piece of the nation’s season. soul. “If a day comes that I feel like we’ve addressed those issues, and our He grew up in Weston, Florida, close to the mass shooting last year at people aren’t being discriminated against or being killed over traffic Majory Stoneman Douglas High School. Bedoya wore a shirt reading violations, then I’ll decide it’s time to stop protesting,” he said. “I haven’t “MSD Strong” under his jersey for the 2018 opening game. Before seen that happen.” Sunday night’s Major League Soccer game against D.C. United, he had Fine. But that didn’t work. posted on Twitter his thoughts about how lawmakers could put a stop to the mass destruction of fellow human beings. There is another way to share your message, a way that won’t be misunderstood, a way to speak in such a way that fans will hear you, But that’s a voice in the wilderness of social media, lost among all the loud and clear. others, debating, pointing fingers, calling for thoughts and prayers. Digital voices may be the language we use today, but they are like raindrops, Use the microphone. and to get people to move, to make real change, sometimes you need a massive, booming thunderclap. Washington Times LOADED: 08.07.2019

The human voice, on the right stage, can be that thunderclap. Speaking out can resonate and set off a chain reaction you can see and hear as the ripples spread from ground zero, circulating further and further via video and audio on social media.

That’s why Bedoya, after scoring a goal against D.C. United Sunday night at Audi Field, ran to the corner of the field and grabbed a microphone being used to capture sound from the game and yelled, “Hey Congress, do something now. End gun violence now. Let’s go!”

It was a dramatic moment, taking place on the field of play during a game. It illustrated the power that athletes have available to them — the ability to speak and be heard beyond the digital clutter of Twitter or Facebook. Bedoya had to chase down a microphone to seize the spotlight, but most athletes don’t even have to do that. People put microphones in front of them all the time.

Former Washington Redskin and Denver Bronco Hall of Famer Champ Bailey had plenty to say, in a voice that was far more powerful than a social media post, when he stood before the cameras, facing a microphone, with millions looking on.

“The first thing people see when they look at me is not a Pro Football Hall of Famer or a husband or a father,” Bailey said. “They view me first as a black man. So, on behalf of all the black men that I mentioned tonight, and many more out there who’ve had the same experiences that I’ve had in my lifetime, we say this to all of our white friends:

“When we tell you about our fears, please listen. When we tell you we’re afraid for our kids, please listen. When we tell you there are many challenges we face because of the color of our skin, please listen. And please don’t get caught up in how the message is delivered. Yes, most of us are athletes, but we are black men first. Understand this. Things that make us great on the field, like our size and our aggression, are the same things that can get us killed off the field.

“I believe if we start listening, there’s no telling the progress we can make,” he said. “All of us are dads, sons, brothers, your friends. We all understand that if we can’t get our friends to listen, then no one will. And to my black brothers, if you do not have anything positive to say about our social challenges, please keep your mouth shut.”

Bailey is out of the game. But for those still in the NFL, they don’t have to be on a stage to find a microphone to speak out. Every week, NFL locker rooms are filled with reporters carrying microphones begging for any content from players, many of whom hide in the training rooms when reporters enter.

If there is a message an athlete believes the world needs to hear, why not use that platform?

This was one of the flaws of the national anthem kneeling protest — a message calling for justice that got lost. The anthem means different 1150650 Washington Capitals Wings, but in the Caps’ system where defensemen are expected to play both sides in the flow of play, Jensen has been caught flat-footed at times while trying to cover the left. Sometimes offensive-minded 20 Burning Questions: Will Dmitry Orlov rebound from a rough 2018-19 defensemen like switching to their off-side when they are in the offensive season? zone because it opens their bodies more for one-time shots. Orlov needs to be aware of his partner and the position he puts him in when he tries to get involved in the offense so as not to leave Jensen hanging.

By J.J. Regan August 06, 2019 All of this is to say that my answer to the question is I don’t know. Orlov can be better than last season, he has the skill to be a dependable top-

four defenseman, but there are inconsistencies in his game. Either those The long, endless summer is only halfway done. The Capitals last played will be exacerbated by a lack of chemistry with a new defensive partner a game on April 24 and will not play another one until Oct. 2. or Orlov and Jensen will thrive together giving Washington an incredibly formidable blue line. But with free agency and the NHL Draft behind them now, the 2019-2020 roster is almost set and it won’t be long until players begin trickling back Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.07.2019 onto the ice in Arlington for informal workouts.

With that in mind, and given the roasting temperatures outside, for four weeks NBC Sports Washington will look at 20 burning questions facing the Capitals as they look to rebound from an early exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs, keep alive their Metropolitan Division title streak and get back to their championship form of 2018.

The list will look at potential individual milestones, roster questions, prospects who might help and star players with uncertain futures. Today we look at Dmitry Orlov.

Will Orlov rebound from a rough 2018-19 season?

Last season was not a good one for the Caps’ second defensive pair of Orlov and Matt Niskanen.

According to Natural Stat Trick, there were 55 defensive pairs who played 500 minutes or more together at 5-on-5 last season. Of those pairs, Orlov and Niskanen ranked 38th in Corsi-for percentage, 45th in goals-for percentage, 42nd in scoring chances-for percentage, 54th in high-danger chances-for percentage (second to last) and 55th in high- danger goals-for percentage (last).

Analytics are not everyone’s favorite means of measuring player performance, but if the job of a defensive pair is to limit goals and scoring chances, Orlov and Niskanen really struggled.

Whether it was Orlov who was dragging down Niskanen, Niskanen who was dragging down Orlov or just both players having a tough season is debatable and, at this point, irrelevant. Niskanen is now gone and Orlov is slated to remain on the second pair for Washington. If the Caps have any legitimate shot of making another deep playoff run this season, he will have to be much better than he was.

The good news is we know that he can be.

Orlov gets a bad rap at times because of his penchant for horrific turnovers in his early years. Replays of those turnovers and quotes like Brian MacLellan calling him a “high event player” are what sticks out when many think of Orlov, but he is a much better defenseman than many give him credit. The Orlov-Niskanen pairing was a huge factor in the team’s Stanley Cup run and it was not because Niskanen was just carrying Orlov through the playoffs. He is a top-four defenseman in his own right.

So while Orlov certainly can play better than what we saw last season, the real question is will he?

If Niskanen was returning next season, I would say the answer depends largely on whether Niskanen could rebound or if he was simply on the decline as a 32-year-old and would drag Orlov down with him. But Niskanen is not returning.

Instead, Orlov is expected to play with Nick Jensen and it is hard to know what to expect from them. They played only 33:16 together last season over the course of 20 games so there is not much data there to look at.

On the one hand, Orlov and Jensen look like a good fit. Orlov is a left- shot, Jensen a right-shot. Orlov has a high offensive upside, while Jensen’s offense is very limited. Jensen struggled in his short time with the team after getting traded from the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline, but it is reasonable to expect someone so important to Detroit’s defense to play better in Washington with a full training camp and preseason to prepare.

On the other hand, Jensen’s biggest struggle in Washington was getting caught on his off-side. He played on the left very little with the Red 1150651 Websites large section of open ice, which is where the offense wants the next battle to take place.

Teams have known they want to get the puck there and out of the The Athletic / Why NHL coaches are risk-averse and what it will take for swamp, but it’s easier said than done. The hard dump/rim attempt is that to change regularly stopped by today’s goaltender, which then puts that goalie’s team in the best position possible to break the puck out – in solid possession, with a barrier set up between them and the forecheckers. By Justin Bourne Aug 6, 2019 Rims also take an extra couple of seconds to arrive in that open ice window, which makes it more readable for the D. It’s also hard to pick

rimmed pucks off the wall, meaning getting to it first doesn’t often result While I don’t subscribe to the idea that “there’s a grain of truth to every in an immediate offensive challenge. Also, if their D is cheating back on a joke,” this particular one held enough to fill several prairie bins. This dump, they’re probably going to get the first touch on it. While hard rims “joke” had also become a running one, as I had once again clipped a can be very effective, as a goal, they still seek 50/50 puck battles. If video for our coaching staff of an unintentional “lateral you’re starting with 100 percent possession, I’m not sure that’s a great dump” while proclaiming it hockey’s next great coaching revolution. That goal. was hyperbole, but I really loved the play then and still do now. It was One summer I had the privilege of skating with Jarome Iginla, and while mostly a joke because that’s how my then-lack of confidence led me to being way-too-dialed into his every move, I overheard him on the bench present it. telling his linemate something I immediately stole and used with my line When a player skates the puck up across the center red and enters the in college. He was talking about a play that teammate made while they area before the blue line, where they start to feel real pressure from both were rushing the puck up the ice – the guy had tried to saucer a puck the D and backchecking forwards, the autopilot play of the day is … well, over two sticks to him, it got batted out of the air, and they spent the rest you know exactly what it is. The default play there is to simply dump the of that shift in their D-zone. He told the guy that instead of the difficult puck into the offensive zone. touch saucer play, and instead of dumping it in, to just … shoot it at him.

That scenario checks all the pucks-in-deep boxes. Players have been Seriously. taught that for decades now. There are numerous times when that is the Basically, he was asking for a knee-to-waist-high wrist shot at him. The best play, and there are in fact ways to dump the puck so that your result was he’d either catch it and put it down, it’d hit him and drop, or forecheckers can get on top of the retrieval defenseman quick enough to he’d miss it, the puck would thud into the boards and drop beside him. It stop them, slow them down or just beat them to the puck. We haven’t would mitigate turnover risks and successfully move the puck to a been told to dump it in for so long because it’s some horrific play and teammate out wide while avoiding simply giving the puck back with a coaches are morons. dump. That exact play happened later that same game (which made it As I see it, lateral dumps are just the logical evolution of smart puck particularly memorable), as the D-man stepped up to pinch off a neutral placements when putting it deep. zone pass out wide to the big winger just as he’d done before, but the shot/pass came in so high and hot that the D-man couldn’t (or wasn’t But what exactly is a lateral dump? Let’s take a step back and think prepared to) affect the play. Iginla caught it, tossed it down, and went in about defending in the big picture to better understand that individual alone. play. From there, I’d like to look at where hockey coaching is going in general, where I think it should go and what’s going to change in the The point is, the cost of him not catching that play is basically nil – the short term. puck smacks the boards (or his pants) and he’s the closest player to it – and the only risk is the initial shot/pass getting knocked down. But the Structured defenses today try to play a numbers game. If you have the odds of too many knee-high wristers from 20 feet away getting knocked puck in the offensive corner, you’re likely in that corner with a teammate, directly down are pretty slim, and there’s a risk to every neutral zone with a third forward acting as F3 somewhere higher and out of the pile. puck decision in hockey. If you have a flawless neutral zone strategy, go Knowing those constants, defenses try to have a forward (ideally the ahead and take up your job as head coach of whichever NHL team you center) and a defender to match those offensive numbers one-to-one. like. They also have the strong-side winger creeping down the wall, shrinking the zone to make it two forwards versus about two-and-a-half defenders. It was off of this idea – the effectiveness of being able to rip the puck The other defenders creep in as they can, too. That’s how it goes all over laterally – combined with my interest in getting the puck to the open area the ice. Defenses cheat with extra bodies around the puck because they of the ice that made me start considering the lateral dump at that crucial know how challenging and unlikely it is that offenses will get it through “dump or make a play” window near the offensive blue line. I just felt that those traps to the softer areas where there’s less pressure. zipping the puck at the wide boards instead of dumping it behind the goal line would give the team with the puck a few more advantages when a That thinking includes when a player is rushing the puck through the clean entry isn’t an option. neutral zone to our presumed “dump it in” area. The strong-side D’s job is to angle that rushing player to the boards and the first forward One of those advantages would be knowing where the puck is going backchecking is also asked to pressure the puck. They want to kill the before the defense does. That half-step would feel like a tiny form of rush and entry to before it becomes anything (an ounce of prevention is cheating in terms of dictating where the puck goes next for your team. worth a pound of cure and all that). It doesn’t matter if there are open A few other things I like about the lateral dump: offensive players farther outside the defensive swarm around the puck; teams are betting their opponents can’t navigate the puck through the The second the puck is fired across the ice, every defender has to converging obstacles. switch. Without going through it position by position, all five defenders’ responsibilities are changed in a split second, and that’s essentially what The burden of offense, of creating, of scoring, is on those with the puck. you want to force the D to do. Think, make decisions, and hopefully get The defense is always betting they can’t make a strong enough case. caught in between assignments. In this neutral zone rush scenario outlined above, the one defender If a team learns you like to dump it laterally, could it lead to the recovery angles the puck carrier (the F1 in blue below) to the wall, hoping to force D cheating out wide, leaving more room in the middle of the ice? If so, a dump before the blue line, while his D-partner cheats back to get a that would be the holy grail of offensive hockey strategies. If not, well, the head start on retrieval and transition. offensive team is going to keep getting to those pucks first, over and That’s a random grouping of what a “standard” rush without a breakdown over. might look like. Here’s where everyone is heading defensively, very The distance to the puck is shorter for the forecheckers, and a won battle generally. or clean recovery can lead to a quicker attack downhill, rather than Don’t worry about all those lines, just worry about this one point: The having to pull it out from behind the goal line and create offense from a defense is trying to cut the ice in half. They’re forcing a dump then situation where the defensive structure is established. cheating on the retrieval, while the other backcheckers are coming back The idea isn’t complex or without flaw, but it’s different from what we’ve to the house and taking away the middle. In this scenario, that leaves a seen for years, and legitimately addresses how to escape today’s scourge of defensive smother. Dump-ins are punts; lateral dumps would function more like on-side kicks, with far less risk. Mixing in a couple of while forcing the opposition to move? That may even mean an offensive cross-ice wristers around the blue line may even make recovering cycle turns into a lateral dump with the D down the back-side rather than traditional dumps easier, as it steals the highly coveted crutch of just putting the puck blindly back in the muck the way we used to cycle it. predictability that the opposing D generally works off. If nothing else, it’s thinking about hockey strategy a little differently, which isn’t something F3 (the high forward in the zone) above would just fill in for the D, and we see attempted much in the professional ranks. while the offense would keep right on churning, the D would have questions to answer and quick. In the defensive rotation asked of the D To the credit of the rest of the Marlies staff, they not only humored my above, does the defending winger in the middle of the ice now take on love of the lateral dump, it felt like they agreed with it outright. (And if it the low battle (he’s going to be the first forward near the puck, after all), was just me they were humoring, I thank them for that anyway.) while the center fills in for him … along the wall? Without getting too into Unfortunately, it never really got beyond my “jokes,” as the reality in- this specific play: there are major decisions on how to defend and little season is that there are always real issues to deal with that limit you from time to make them there. really fleshing out the pros and cons of implementing new styles of playing. Coaching in hockey today can be woefully stagnant and risk-averse. That’s partially because if you do what everyone’s always done and fail, In short: there’s the previous game to break down. There’s breaking you can get another job. If you try something new and fail, nobody’s down your upcoming opponents and game-planning to beat them. There exactly sure what comes next, and nobody seems to want to be the first are call-ups and send-downs and injuries and personal problems and to find out. travel and practices to plan, too. Real hockey life moves fast, so committing precious time to experiment will always have a cost of time There are two more major points about coaching I want to make. lost elsewhere. Most hockey strategies are fairly generalized so when a One: If the problem of time is what’s keeping coaching staffs from getting guy shows up on a new team, he has some idea of how that team will be more creative with their teams, that’s an issue that needs to be playing. Something like a lateral dump would be unusual, meaning it addressed. If I were an NHL GM, every summer would involve a two- or would involve some real drilling into players’ heads. That sort of thing three-day coaching summit with the staff. That doesn’t mean “find time at needs time, as being on the wrong page – whipping it wide while your development camp to talk strategy” or “tack a ‘new ideas’ meeting on to linemates barrel below the goal line – could result in some Grade A the end of a summer day.” I mean, the staff meets at some destination chances going the wrong way. for two or three days to discuss strategy during the days and to BS over Even with the risks that come with trying new strategies, and with some fancy dinners at night. I’d want every coach to come up with two hockey’s aversion to trying anything new in general, there are different ideas –original ideas – in each of the areas where there is exceptions. Pro teams do paw at the fringes of new and different, and I’m coaching strategy and the staff would then talk those through. (If guys aware of a couple of teams that do something in the offensive zone that have only one, or they have three, whatever – the point is newness.) It feels like it’s from the same playbook as the lateral dump. really wouldn’t be that hard to come out with a few new breakout routes to consider how they’d end up, even if the answer is usually “poorly.” It’s To look at that play, let’s start at the desired offensive outcome and work not so difficult to cook up a regroup that doesn’t involve just posting up backward. and tipping the puck in.

You have the puck in the O-zone want to score goals. Goals are good. My idea here is that when new strategies are discussed, even outlandish Those often come off net-front Plinko (screens and tips and rebounds ones, other staff members pick them apart and gains are inevitably and general crease play), but all playing styles offer some amount of made. In deconstructing those ideas, you get to consider how they those. If your main plan to create offense is hoping for some random butterfly effect the play going forward and there can be realizations about around-the-net bounces, I don’t consider that a good strategy (though other strategies that may challenge particular opponents. It should also many, many coaches disagree). That’s not to say don’t get pucks to the make you question why you do certain things the way you always have. net – I just don’t think blind “smash it into the chaos” is gonna yield great, There’s the opportunity to better look at the unique tools you have on repeatable results. your roster as well, and to consider how you can maximize their usefulness. In all, I figure if you leave those three days each summer with I think offenses today are best served by focusing on changing the shape one new, effective idea each year – just one, whether it be on your of the defense, meaning: creating movement, moving the puck east-to- breakouts or special teams or forechecks or regroups – you just made west through the zone and looking for open players on passes from out your team better heading into the next season. That said, I highly doubt behind the goal line. Both eye-test and stat-fans are nodding at those you’d settle on just one. thoughts. All these ideas require time with the puck to get your head up and find someone, but once that’s achieved, you create extra breaths of The NHL season is a grind and staffs are dying for a break by the time space for everyone else, and you pull defenders apart and make them it’s over. In the summer, there’s the draft and free agency and react and switch. development camps and main camps and individual player projects, and frankly, nobody wants to add more offseason work. I get that. But if I’m If you agree with the idea that those are valuable ways to create offense, the GM, I think “tough beans” (but I don’t say as much out loud), then you’d agree that getting players to open ice with the puck is a great place wrap the couple-day endeavor with the trappings of a vacation getaway, to start. And so we’re finally at that play I was referring to. When the puck because I’m an ever-competitive, but considerate GM, of course. I truly goes low-to-high, I know of a few teams that won’t put the puck back believe this kind of coaching ideas summit every year would provide a down into the muck, they won’t try to force a shot into blocks or even sizeable leg up. shoot one just wide. Their plan is to immediately put the puck in the other, open corner, with a diagonal area “pass” of sorts. That means Two: One of the greatest strengths of the Marlies staff I left is that they using the D the way power plays use the bumper today, as sort of a address team weaknesses by building unique practice drills to work on pressure release valve. them, day in and day out. (They often improvise in-game this way, as best they can.) It’s not rocket science, but the point is, Sheldon Keefe Once the offensive D gets that touch and puts the puck in the open doesn’t simply have a portfolio of drills from which he picks X amount corner, it forces the D to move east-to-west; the offensive forwards know each practice. He’s always building some new drill to work on the exact it’s coming, so they get to the puck first and the D is now in switch mode. needs of his team. That’s where the breakdowns come. Ideally, your offensive forward gets there with time and space, all while five defenders are switching over and Unfortunately, that flexibility isn’t all that common. Most coaches I’ve trying to get sorted out. Any coach of the D group here would tell you come across use the best drills … of drills they’ve seen before. Most use those are harrowing moments with holes everywhere. Defenses like the best systems … of systems they’ve seen before. Hockey is stasis, not movement. grotesquely copycat at this point. On the powerplay, the question is almost always “who’s on their 1-3-1,” not “what’s their set-up?” It’s “who Like with the idea of a lateral dump, the offensive team knows where the do they drop the puck to on their PP breakout,” not “how do they puck is going first, which gives them a huge leg up. It forces the D to read breakout on the PP?” It feels like so few coaches out there even bother not just the offensive players but each other. It unclogs the fixed to think about ways to gain advantages. They just teach what most defensive structure. coaches teach and then enforce their particular brand of culture.

I believe this is one of the directions hockey is going to go from an Hockey is a fluid, dynamic game, and there’s a lot of room to do things offensive standpoint. The question is how do we get the puck east-to- differently. Sports evolve, sometimes very quickly, as we’ve seen with the west in the offensive zone so our guys have time to do what they do best shift in baseball and the explosion of three-point shooting in the NBA. Once someone shows it works for long enough, the game changes.

It’ll be less obvious, but it’s coming for hockey. There will be movers here, particularly with the introduction of player tracking data this upcoming season. Coaches will see where they can make better gains more directly and they’ll attack those areas. At least a few people will, anyway, before everyone follows. Dumping the puck was the first “let’s just put the puck where we want it” – that being their end – “and go from there” move. The aerial flip has become another accepted version. The “open corner” diagonal puck placement from the point is becoming one. Maybe the lateral dump is next.

Maybe it isn’t, too. But I know any coaching staff that is willing to implement a dose of offensive strategy to counteract today’s defensive systems is going to find a sliver of success that’ll bring the copycats running. It feels like chances, and in turn goals, and in turn wins are being left out there by just about everyone, every night of the NHL season. The game is always changing and I think we’re going to undergo a big shift in the coming years. The only question, as always with pro sports, is who wants to go first?

The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 1150652 Websites That’s not a bad lineup, featuring six Hall-of-Famers. The years are fruitful here, as late-season acquisitions of Francis, Leetch and Housley give us a cheap backbone and help us have enough left over to The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Let’s ruin your productivity for the day spend a relatively hefty $91 on Sawchuk (or, if you prefer, $95 on Grant by playing the $200 Lineup Game Fuhr). If you’d rather go with a post-expansion look, you could swap out old-timers Moore and Sawchuk and bring in ($64) and Bernie Parent ($65) instead for the same combined price. Or you could use in goal for just $2 and spend more elsewhere. But By Sean McIndoe Aug 6, 2019 whichever way you go, the Leafs are solid.

Makes sense? Do you see what we’re going for? Cool. Then let’s try It’s August. Nothing much is happening in the NHL. Nothing much will be some other teams around the league because as you’re going to see, happening in the NHL. If anything did happen, we might not find out there are a few teams that can give the Leafs a run for their $200 worth about it because Pierre is on vacation. Outside of whatever the Wild are of money. We’re going to serve up a dozen teams in all, which doesn’t doing, there’s nothing to talk about. cover everyone but is more than enough to get your brain working and then turn it over to you to come up with your own. It’s a perfect time to play The $200 Lineup Game. Boston Bruins This game is based on some Twitter fun we had a few years ago. The rules are simple. You’re going to build the best starting lineup out of Forwards: Jaromir Jagr ($11), Cy Denneny ($23), Dave Andreychuk players who’ve played for your favorite NHL team. Here’s how it works. ($63)

You need three forwards, two defensemen and a goalie. Other than that, Defense: Paul Coffey ($18), ($61) we don’t care about position, so you can mix wingers and centers and Goaltender: Jacques Plante ($8) don’t need to worry about which side your defensemen play on. Total: $184 You have a salary cap of $200 to work with to build your full lineup. You could say that this concept already has a playoff atmosphere Each player you pick will cost you a salary of $1 per regular-season because the Bruins immediately knock off the Maple Leafs. And to add game that they ever played for your favorite team. If you want a guy who insult to injury, they even do it with one of the same players off of the played one full 82-game season, that’s $82 of your cap gone. Leafs’ roster, as Leetch makes like a free agent and jumps to a rival for Here’s the key, and the part that’s going to screw up the people who skip more money. They pair him with Coffey, who (spoiler alert) will also show the intro on these things: Once you fit a player onto your roster, you get up on more than one of these lists. credit for their entire NHL career. Not just the games they played for your Other possibilities on the backend include Sergei Gonchar for $15 or team – everything they did in the NHL. Babe Pratt for $31. But the real options are up front. To be honest, I went In other words, you’re looking for star players who had the briefest with Andreychuk mainly to eat up a big chunk of the cap space that was possible stint with your team. isn’t worth anything to the going to be leftover, but you could go with somebody like Joey Mullen at Canadiens, because he’d cost way too much. But his one season in New $37 or even Rick Nash for $11 and just pocket the rest. Not that Boston York means that a Rangers team could squeeze him in for $67, and ownership would ever do that. they’d get credit for the full Flower experience. Want Brett Hull and his So yeah, the Bruins are now our team to beat. Let’s see if anyone can do 700+ career goals? You’re out of luck if you’re the Blues or even the it. Stars. But a Flames team could fit him in for just $57. And the Coyotes could get him for just $5. Detroit Red Wings

A few more rules, just for your loophole-seekers out there. Forwards: ($61), Mike Modano ($40), Charlie Conacher ($40) A player must have played at least one regular-season game to qualify for a team’s roster. There are no freebies. That means, for example, that Defense: Doug Harvey ($2), Borje Salming ($49) the Stars can’t claim Jarome Iginla even though they drafted him and the Oilers and Predators can’t claim even though both teams Goaltender: Bill Ranford ($4) technically acquired him during his career. Coyotes fans don’t get Total: $196 Pronger, Datsyuk and Hossa. Same goes for any cases where a team only ever dressed a player in the postseason. Basically, if you think In theory, the Red Wings seem like a team that would be made for this you’ve found a way to get a guy for free, you’re cheating. sort of game, since modern history is filled with Hall of Famers finishing their careers with brief stopovers in Detroit. But many of them aren’t brief We’re going by franchise here, so we’ll combine the Nordiques with the enough, as guys like Daniel Alfredsson and played Avs, the Whalers with the Hurricanes, the Thrashers and the new Jets, enough games in their one season with the Wings to price them out of etc. That cuts both ways; it gives those teams more players to work with, our budget. Marian Hossa did too. but also prevents any shady picks like trying to claim Owen Nolan as a $9 Avalanche despite his five full seasons as a Nordique. We can squeeze in Modano and Sittler, though, largely because Harvey gives us a monster value on the blue line. We get more solid value in You can use active players, but you only get credit for what they’ve done goal with a Conn Smythe winner in Ranford at just $4, but he makes in the NHL as of today, not what they might do in the future. So if Detroit our first entry that isn’t made up entirely of current or future Hall of Canucks fans want to spend $71 on Elias Pettersson, they only get one Famers. The Wings’ entry is a solid one, but I don’t think they top the season of him. Bruins.

If a player had multiple stints with a team, they all combine together to Let’s take a break from the Original Six teams and try a few who have a produce his price tag. The Leafs can’t try to claim for $1 little less history to work with. based on his brief return to the team in 2003. Pittsburgh Penguins Speaking of the Leafs, let’s use them as our first example … Forwards: Jarome Iginla ($13), ($46), Marian Hossa ($12) Toronto Maple Leafs Defense: Tim Horton ($44), Sergei Zubov ($64) Forwards: Ron Francis ($12), ($33), Dickie Moore ($38) Goaltender: Tomas Vokoun ($20) Defense: Brian Leetch ($15), Phil Housley ($1) Total: $199 Goaltender: Terry Sawchuk ($91) The Penguins benefit from our rule about just using three forwards Total: $190 without worrying about position, as they’ll roll with over 1,800 goals worth of wingers and apparently just hope that nobody ever has to take a faceoff. Those three bargains up front allow us to spend some extra money on Forwards: Phantom Joe Malone ($58), Marty Barry ($30), Danny Briere the blue line, which we kind of need to do – there aren’t any obvious sub- ($69) $40 bargains to be found here. We get a pair of Hall of Famers, though, so we’ll take it. We don’t have as much luck in goal, where the good-but- Defense: ($14), Francois Beauchemin ($1) not-great Vokoun is really the only option. That takes this team down a Goaltender: ($13) notch after a promising start. Total: $185 We’ve been heavy on the Eastern Conference so far, so let’s head to the West for the next few. That’s … that’s an almost shockingly weak team, given who we’re dealing with here, right? These are the Montreal Canadiens, one of only Colorado Avalanche (and ) two franchises that can reach all the way back to 1917 to build their Forwards: ($51), Dave Andreychuk ($14), Theo Fleury ($15) team. You’d think they’d be stacked. But other than Esposito, they’d don’t have anyone who jumps out as a steal. They nearly wound up needing to Defense: ($94), Johnny Boychuk ($4) dress a $15 Alexander Semin.

Goaltender: ($12) What’s going on? I think there may be a team culture thing at play here, as the Habs just don’t seem to like to bring in aging superstars who made Total: $190 their reputation with other teams. In their eyes, it seems, you’re either a This was a tough one. We start off with a solid forward group that seems true legend (in which case you’re a Hab for life) or some other team’s to leave us with plenty of space to work with for the back end. But then knockoff version (in which case they don’t want you). we run into the Ray Bourque conundrum. Despite how everyone Maybe I’m on to something. Or maybe not. Either way, this team is fine, remembers it, he actually spent parts of two seasons in Colorado, so he but not much more than that. Let’s try another Original Six team, this time costs a ton. If we use him, we have to go cheap on the goaltending, and one with no issues with bringing in other teams’ former stars. we’re picking between guys like Elliott, and . But if we aim a little higher – say, Ron Hextall at $54 – then we have to say New York Rangers goodbye to Bourque and go cheap on the blue line, and there aren’t any standout options there, either. When in doubt, go with the first-ballot Hall Forwards: ($18), ($14), ($51) of Famer, so we’ll roll with a plan I’m going to call Pay for Ray and Pray Defense: Tim Horton ($93), Roman Hamrlik ($12) for Saves. Goaltender: Terry Sawchuk ($8) Los Angeles Kings Total: $196 Forwards: Jarome Iginla ($19), Steve Shutt ($59), Rick Martin ($4) Now we’re talking. Almost from Day 1, the Rangers have never been shy Defense: Paul Coffey ($60), Ian Turnbull ($42) about giving a big name at the end of their career a few games on the Goaltender: Billy Smith ($5) marquee at MSG. The forwards are so stacked that we didn’t even have to take advantage of great bargains like Glenn Anderson at $12 or Eric Total: $189 Staal at $20. We could have even probably found a way to shuffle in Pat LaFontaine or Guy Lafleur, both of whom come in at $67. The Kings are a fun one. They’ve never been afraid to bring in a big name for a few games, which gives us partial seasons of Hall of Famers The blue line isn’t quite as strong – defense has never been a big seller like Coffey, Shutt and another appearance by Iginla to work with. Mix in on Broadway, after all. We have to spend big to get a Hall of Famer in the first five games of Battling Billy’s career and we’re on our way. Horton and can only scrounge up enough for the other spot to afford Hamrlik, who nobody actually remembers playing for the Rangers. But From there, the last forward spot gets interesting. We could try to make we’re all set in goal with Sawchuk, so this is a strong entry. Just not as room for somebody like Vincent Lecavalier ($42) or strong as the one Original Six team we haven’t got to yet. ($58), or even a current King in at $64. Or we could go the bargain route with somebody like Rob Brown at $2 or Neal Broten at Chicago Blackhawks $19, or a sneaky pick like Brayden Schenn for $9. But I think four-time all-star Rick Martin works best at $4, leaving us with enough room to fill Forwards: Theo Fleury ($54), Peter Bondra ($37), Sid Abel ($42) out the blue line with Turnbull. (Although you could also go with someone Defense: ($26), Paul Coffey ($10) like Oleg Tverdovsky at $26 or Barry Beck at $52.) Goaltender: Dominik Hasek ($25) Dallas Stars (and Minnesota North Stars) Total: $194 Forwards: Jaromir Jagr ($34), Eric Lindros ($49), ($80) There’s a good chance that once you got your head wrapped around the Defense: Jyrki Lumme ($15), Gerald Diduck ($14) concept, your mind went straight to the Blackhawks. You may even have Goaltender: Tim Thomas ($8) convinced yourself that they were a sure thing. That back end is mind- boggling, featuring two players who are quite possibly the best to ever Total: $200 play their positions, plus one who merely ranks second all-time in defenseman scoring. And that trio comes in dirt cheap, leaving us plenty At first, I didn’t even bother to look over the Stars’ options. They just to spend on our three forwards. didn’t seem like the type of team that would work well for this sort of thing. But then I remembered their brief Jagr era, plus Lindros and a few Unfortunately, we can’t find any truly elite options up front, although there weeks of Tim Thomas and we were on our way. are some pretty good ones. Bondra scored 500 goals and Fleury was an absolute beast in his prime. But both guys are (so far) on the outside of Things get tricky after that, with nobody jumping out as a great bargain to the Hall of Fame looking in, so they don’t exactly give us the sort of star round out the forwards. Sergei Makarov was an option at $4, but I power that turns this into a runaway winner. in is the Hall, and decided to buy Gartner and his 700 career goals for $80, which seemed he was a legitimate superstar, but at $52 we can’t swap him in without like decent value but left us with a shoestring for the blue line. As it turns losing Fleury and that could be a tough call with modern fans. We can’t out, that doesn’t really matter, as the Stars have never had a short-term afford Howie Morenz at $72, I’m not sure John Tonelli at $33 makes us star there apart from maybe 79 games of Sergei Gonchar. So I went with all that much better and Wendel Clark at $13 is clearly a database error a pair of grizzled 1990s mainstays who combine for over 1,900 career because he only ever played for the Leafs. So we end up with a Wings’ games and cost a total of $29, giving the Stars the distinction of being the legend in Abel, another Hall of Famer but not a guy who comes up often only team on our list that comes in at exactly $200. in conversations about the all-time greats. Seriously, would it have killed Not bad, but not a contender. So let’s dip back into the Original Six and the modern Cup-winning Hawks to have done one trade deadline rental see if an old rival can steal the Bruins’ crown. for an elite forward?

Montreal Canadiens A bigger question: Does that somewhat weak forward group even matter, given how ridiculous the goaltending and defense are? Maybe not; I think I still put this team ahead of the Bruins. But it does crack the door open just a little as we close with a couple more contenders, including one you Have at it. Let me know who you think wins the crown among the dozen might not see coming. teams above. Or fire up the hockey-reference.com franchise index for the team of your choice and take your best shot at the $200 Lineup Game in Carolina Hurricanes (but mostly ) the comments.

Forwards: ($80), ($9), Mark Recchi ($20) The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 Defense: Tomas Kaberle ($29), James Wisniewski ($1)

Goaltender: Tom Barrasso ($34)

Total: $173

That’s one hell of a way to start a team, with arguably two of the three most dangerous forwards of the Original Six era. Howe was part of the Whalers WHA era and came over for year one of their NHL history, where he was very briefly joined by Hull (and also Dave Keon, although he stuck around long enough to price himself out of the mix). Work in Recchi thanks to a Hurricanes rental for the 2006 Cup run, and we’ve got almost 2,000 goals from our three forwards.

The blue line is where it all falls apart, although we nearly scored big there too – Paul Coffey played 20 games with the Whalers, but later returned to the franchise for two seasons with the Hurricanes that drives his price out of our budget. Between that and the Whalers not giving up on a little earlier, we’re stuck with the bargain bin. Kaberle’s OK and Wisniewski is at least as dirt cheap as a player can be, leaving us with enough to spend on an underrated goalie. But the backend can’t live up to the potential of that ridiculous first line. (And in case you’re wondering, swapping in J.S. Giguere for $8 doesn’t free up enough money to offer much of an upgrade to the blue line.)

The Whalers gave it a good effort, but this top-heavy entry is basically the mirror image of the Hawks squad, and that Chicago team had more balance top-to-bottom. So we’re down to one last team that can give Chicago a run for their money. And as it turns out, it’s an old rival.

St. Louis Blues

Forwards: Wayne Gretzky ($18), Peter Stastny ($23), Glenn Anderson ($51)

Defense: Doug Harvey ($70), Phil Housley ($26)

Goaltender: ($7)

Total: $195

And here’s the other 800-pound gorilla in the competition. The Blues aren’t an Original Six franchise, so they’ve got roughly half the history to work with as compared to teams like the Hawks and Bruins. But they’ve got the advantage of having had a pair of crazy GMs in and (especially) Mad , which means they’ve rarely been shy about chasing big names.

How big? Well, we start off with the greatest forward in the history of the game. We’ve got a goaltender who’s at least in the conversation as the best of all-time at his position. And you’ve got the guy who was considered the best defenseman ever for the league’s first half-century or so. And you can surround them with three more Hall of Famers in Stastny, Anderson and Housley. This roster is stacked.

And to be honest, we’re still not doing the Blues justice here. If we changed this game from a starting six to a full roster, I’m not sure anyone could touch this team’s depth. If you don’t like the forward group I’ve assembled, you could swap in Hall of Famers like Dickie Moore ($27), ($66), Guy Carbonneau ($41) or even Vaclav Nedomansky ($22). Maybe you try to find a way to squeeze in ($78) or Guy Lapointe ($62) on the blue line. And then there’s ($21), ($15), Petr Nedved ($19), Wade Redden ($23), Stephane Richer ($36) or even Martin Havlat ($2) or Lars Ellers ($7). You get the point; the Blues have more cheap options than just about anybody.

But we didn’t make this a game about depth. It’s about a top six. So who you got? Can Gretzky and Brodeur beat out Orr and Hasek? Can one of these other teams make a strong case to beat out the Blues and Hawks?

Or is there a better contender out there that we missed? Can you find enough functional blue line talent to round out the Flames scary Jagr/Hull/St. Louis first line? Can the Sharks build something around , and ? Want to build a Coyotes/Jets roster that starts with the father-and-son Hull combo for $23? Looking to build a Senators team with Hasek and Marian Gaborik just so you can watch them scrimmage? 1150653 Websites The studio in Vancouver was shut down after two years, but Sportsnet decided to keep Cameron and bring her back to Toronto, where she continued to host Sportsnet Central, along with stints hosting the Rogers The Athletic / ‘Sky’s the limit for her’: Caroline Cameron shows versatility Cup and Olympic Morning, Sportsnet’s Pyeongchang Olympics show, while pushing boundaries for women before being asked to move to hockey.

In an email Rob Corte, the vice president of Sportsnet and NHL productions, said the Olympic broadcasts Cameron hosted were a major By Hailey Salvian Aug 6, 2019 turning point in her career and one of the reasons the network looked to her to fill the empty seat on .

“Caroline blew us all away over those two weeks,” he said. “She had It’s a random Tuesday night during the hockey season and Caroline reached the next level.” Cameron is sitting at her studio desk preparing to host “Hockey Central Tonight.” On this night there are 10 games on the schedule. With little admits he was nervous when he initially heard about notice, she is told by a producer they are going to record a pre-taped getting a new co-host because he had only ever worked with long-time segment about the Toronto Maple Leafs’ upcoming game against the broadcaster . Nashville Predators. “We sit in here Mondays and Tuesdays all night long from 4:30 (p.m.) She looks up from her notes with a smile and jumps into a 45-second until sometimes one in the morning watching games and hanging out,” he spiel about the game. It is unscripted and she only needs one take. said. “She has been super easy and fun to hang out with. She works super hard and is professional, organized like crazy. She has done really, “Boom!” yells her producer Garrett Hansford from the control room. really well. I think our chemistry and just her being her has made it really “What a professional.” easy.” Cameron’s co-host Colby Armstrong, who played nine seasons in the When the cameras are on, Cameron is charming, serious when she NHL before becoming an analyst, stares in amazement. needs to be, and has fun when the situation allows it. When the cameras “That is insane that you just did that,” he says. “How did you just do are off, her charm stays on. She laughs a lot, has a sarcastic sense of that?” humour, and seems to get along with everyone working on the show from the on-air talent, to her makeup artist, to the intern who is training on A sportscaster at Sportsnet for seven years, Cameron, 29, has broken lighting. Cameron is warm and approachable, and unapologetically new ground, moving from anchoring the national highlight show, herself both on, and off the air. “Sportsnet Central,” to hosting the network’s marquee NHL pregame show, “Hockey Central Tonight.” “I just don’t understand how anyone couldn’t be themselves,” she said. “It just seems like way too much effort. I’ve got enough to focus on when I’m Cameron’s roots are in tennis, starting as a ballgirl for the Rogers Cup on air let alone a different personality.” when she was 15. Eventually she went into reporting, covering and hosting that event for Sportsnet, but her transition to hockey has been During her time on Sportsnet Central, and now with Hockey Central, seamless. Now, she is one of the few women to host a national hockey Cameron has become known for her laughing outbursts on the air. show in Canada. Armstrong calls her the “Jimmy Fallon” of their group.

“I mean, the sky’s the limit for her,” says “Hockey Night in Canada” “Honestly, I feel myself laughing every day at work… I know that I’m reporter , who has been with Sportsnet since it better when I’m having fun. If I’m stressed, then the person next to me is started in 1998. “For this being her first year, her first season, within the stressed and it’s going to show,” Cameron said. “I think that’s why the hockey department, to me, she has just shown what a pro she is, how bosses don’t mind me laughing on air because if I’m laughing someone good she is, how comfortable she certainly seems to be. watching probably is, whether it’s with me or at me, it doesn’t really matter.” “I don’t know where she wants to go with it. But I certainly see nothing standing in her way.” Armstrong has tried to define what Cameron’s laugh sounds like, but it’s not an easy task. In 2012, Cameron almost missed out on the start of her career. “She has three different laughs,” he said. “She has the little giggle that She had half a year left of school – she attended Western University’s leads to the big giggle, and then she has had a few explosions where she joint media program with Fanshawe College in London, Ont. – when has really lost it on air, which I think is really fun when she is trying to do Sportsnet announced it would be holding auditions for an entry-level her job. I think for her to have that personality and the comfort to just be broadcast position. herself, it’s awesome.”

“I remember almost not going to the first audition because I had some VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM assignment I was using as an excuse,” Cameron said. “I remember I was on the phone with my mom and said, ‘I don’t think it’s worth going  DAILY WILLIAM NYLANDER UPDATE  . . . . because nobody gets a job while you’re still in school.’ And my mom #WILLIAMNYLANDER #LEAFS #NHL said, ‘You should really go because you’d regret it.’” A POST SHARED BY CAROLINE CAMERON Luckily as Cameron often says, she went to audition and got the job. She (@CAROLINEACAMERON) ON NOV 27, 2018 AT 8:10PM PST finished school on a Friday and started her job — part-time doing She’s not just the fun one either. She does her homework, as she updates for City News — on the following Monday. She said the job was showed in February, for example, during a one-on-one with Leafs GM great for developing, mainly because everything she did was live, and Kyle Dubas after Auston Matthews signed his five-year $11.6 million without a teleprompter, which is what she does now with Hockey Central. contract extension. Many believed that had the Leafs signed Matthews in Two years later, Cameron was offered a job hosting Sportsnet Central in the summer, before he exploded out of the gate this past season with 10 their new studio in Vancouver with James Cybulski. She had yet to turn goals in the first six games, that they would have gotten a longer-term 24 before being a national anchor, which in hindsight was a little and more team-friendly contract. unnerving for her. And Cameron wasn’t shy about pressing Dubas about it. “I was learning the ropes while on a national stage, in front of everyone,” Her preparation also shows with the little things, like steering the she said. “I look back on some of my old stuff sometimes…I like to think conversation on the desk, night in and night out, making sure there is I’m much better now than I was then.” never dead air. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM Simpson said she has been impressed with how quickly Cameron has ✈️✋🏼  mastered hockey.

A POST SHARED BY CAROLINE CAMERON “Caroline is an example of a woman who absolutely proved herself on (@CAROLINEACAMERON) ON JUL 9, 2015 AT 10:07PM PDT the news side, and frankly she can do anything,” she said. “Tennis has been a passion of hers for so many years, but she is just as comfortable talking any other sport when she was anchoring the news and now to “I do feel that I put pressure on myself,” Cameron said. “Because I’m a me, is just as comfortable talking hockey at the desk doing Hockey woman in this position, I want to do it well. I want to do it well for me Central or even being thrown in rink side at a game. To me, she has anyway, but I just know that I could possibly be under more scrutiny made the transition seamlessly and I just couldn’t be prouder of her.” because I am a woman. So as long as I work hard and do my best, I can live with that.” Armstrong says Cameron has an ease to her style on television that viewers find comforting and entertaining. She’s genuine, and it comes The pressure, and the environment is not the same for Cameron though, across through the screen. thanks in large part to the trail that Kruze and others like her blazed. Cameron isn’t ignored when she walks into a room full of men. Her co- “She likes to have fun, but she is super prepared, and everything just hosts have helped her adjust to the hockey world, and her producers let seems easy for her,” Armstrong said. “She has a real ease about her, her be herself on the air. Cameron may not be a pioneer in the field, but dealing with people for one and being on-camera is just automatic. I don’t in her role on Hockey Central, she’s pushing the path forward on her own know if it’s a duck on the water type of thing with her or not, I don’t know terms. just because she makes it look so easy. The Athletic LOADED: 08.07.2019 “Caroline is just Caroline.”

When Cameron first told her grandmother that she wanted to be a sports broadcaster, her response wasn’t exactly motivating.

She was told: “That’s not a job for women.”

“She was just part of the generation where she hadn’t seen it or understood it,” Cameron said. “Until she saw it in me, and then she accepted it.”

There were only a handful of women working in television when Cameron was growing up, but at the heart of her career aspirations was her love of playing and watching sports. She can still remember sneaking around her childhood home in Etobicoke trying to get in front of a television to watch the end of a game when she was supposed to be in bed.

“My parents’ bedroom was above our family room, so I’d try and walk on the corners of the hallways to avoid any creaking,” she said with a smile. “I’d get caught sometimes.”

In some ways, Cameron’s grandmother was right. Sports broadcasting wasn’t a job for women for a very long time. One of the first women to break the glass ceiling in the industry was Teresa Hergert – who now goes by Teresa Kruze – who was hired by TSN to cover the Calgary Flames and was later promoted to host Sports Desk, which is now named SportsCentre, in 1990.

Kruze remembers how high the bar was set for her compared to her male colleagues. Not to mention the pressure. She remembers how some of the male reporters refused to speak to her. Some of them wouldn’t even look in her direction. It was like she wasn’t even there. She still remembers what her boss told her before her first time hosting Sports Desk.

“I hope you realize that the standard will be much higher for you than anybody else,” she remembers him saying. “I hope you realize that you are not allowed to make one factual error, one name mispronunciation, you are not allowed to stumble, you are not allowed to lose your way. You must be clean; you must deliver as you must be nothing short of perfect.”

“I’m not saying I didn’t make mistakes,” Kruze said. “But I’ll tell you what, I was the most researched person that I could be when I went on that desk. And I can honestly say nobody knew more about what I was about to say, than myself at that point.”

Since then, the number of women who work as hosts, or sideline reporters in the NHL at other networks has grown. Andi Petrillo is now hosting Leafs Lunch, while Kristen Shilton is covering the Leafs for TSN – but you only need one hand to count the number of women who are involved in the NHL on Sportsnet (Tara Slone, Simpson, -Pascall and Cameron are the only women who are regular contributors).

Cameron said she is fortunate to work with a great group of people, and notes there are some women in the control room and in other roles. Still she said working in sports media can still feel like a “boys club” sometimes.

“I’ve definitely felt it sometimes,” she said. “When you are the minority, I think you will feel it whatever room you’re in.”

Hansford, Armstrong and Cameron (from left to right) go over the Hockey Central Tonight show lineup

And even now, over 30 years after Kruze made her national TV debut, Cameron says she still feels as if women are held to a higher standard than men when it comes to sports broadcasts. 1150654 Websites see how much Stone moved the needle over the years. Unfortunately, the answer is not very much:

One of the ironic things about Stone and the data here is that he TSN.CA / Stone buyout a miss that stings for Flames probably is a better offensive player than people give him credit for. He has regularly been a positive contributor on the power play – recall his 14 power-play points in the 2015-16 season alone as one example. Stone Travis Yost added one win based on power-play performance alone from 2011-17, which isn’t insignificant.

The problem is that the rest of the data, and really the rest of Stone’s It’s that quiet time of the NHL off-season where Calgary’s buyout of resume, screams replaceable defender. He’s been a negative presence defenceman Michael Stone qualifies as a big story. at both even strength and in shorthanded situations, and has carried a Stone will be a forgotten cap casualty in relatively short order, but his slightly negative penalty differential over the course of his career. story is a good one if you are interested in how teams can avoid cap That’s not to say Stone was or is a bad hockey player. But it does show mistakes. If you don’t think there are serious pitfalls still in terms of how that guys like Stone are quite easy to find both in the market and front offices evaluate personnel, well, you aren’t paying attention. internally through a team’s own prospect pool. Overpaying for true third- Back in 2017, Stone signed a three year, $10.5-million contract to pairing defencemen – the same can be said for true third- and fourth-line assume a second-pairing role with an improving Calgary club – this just a forwards – is a cardinal sin in the salary cap era. Calgary not only moved few months after the Flames moved two mid-round picks to the Coyotes picks to acquire Stone, but they then extended him on a deal that to acquire him at the trade deadline. At the time, the Flames rationalized screamed overpay. the trade accordingly: In a vacuum, overpaying a player like Stone shouldn’t seem like a huge - Big, right-handed defenceman deal. But the reality of the salary cap era is you are constantly balancing performance expectations and financial outlay against the development - Versatile and trajectory of your team.

- Handles lots of minutes Calgary, a team with Stanley Cup aspirations and in a serious cap crunch with important restricted free agents to sign, needed to free up the space. - Plays both sides of special teams Now the Flames will have to operate with a pared-down salary cap over - Familiarity with the Calgary area the next two seasons, with Stone’s buyout consuming about 1.3 per cent of the cap. - Big shot Not the biggest miss in the world, but a controllable one. Sometimes, - Depth improvement those sting the most.

- Character player who is a consummate pro TSN.CA LOADED: 08.07.2019 Stone would play a full 82-game season in 2017-18, but missed significant time last season due to a blood clot. That injury opened the door up for a multitude of younger players – including Juuso Valimaki and Rasmus Andersson – to pass him on the depth chart, culminating in the buyout.

Back to the justification for the trade for a moment: You can grade any of those components as you see fit. When front offices talk up a player’s locker room impact, I generally accept it at face value – their interactions with these types of players far outweigh what any of us see, so judging it is next to impossible. We do have access to a wealth of statistical information and video though, and that’s tremendously useful when vetting on-ice contributions.

Let’s go back in time to the summer of 2017, which would postdate the initial trade but predate Calgary’s decision to offer Stone a three-year extension. What we need to do is get a feel for Stone’s individual contributions at both ends of the ice, and across multiple game states.

As a starting point, we can look at Stone’s history (2011-17) in terms of how he affected his teammates’ goals (actual), goals (expected), and shot differential over that time.

Here are his percentile rankings relative to his defensive peers over that seven-year window, starting at even strength:

On the basis of nearly 7,000 minutes, Calgary had every right to believe that Stone was a serviceable NHL defender. His even-strength contributions suggested he was something of a tweener – perhaps not good enough to play full-time on a second pairing, but more than capable of soaking up third-pairing ice time.

Either way, the acquisition of Stone was defensible. Calgary needed another serviceable body on the blueline and Stone had shown in spots – save an ugly 2014-15 season – that he was worthy of a look.

But that’s just teammate impact, and that’s just at even strength. A big part of the reason Stone was acquired was his heavier usage in Arizona and special teams work, so we need to get our hands around all of Stone’s contributions. For this type of exercise I like to use Goals Above Replacement, a regression-based approach that summarizes a player’s total contributions to their team in one statistic.

If we isolate for even-strength performance, power-play performance, shorthanded performance, and penalty differential performance, we can 1150655 Websites or nine of those games will be blacked out in Philadelphia to allow for the Flyers’ local rights holders to televise those games.

Viewers will see NBC reporters Kathryn Tappan and Jeremy Roenick USA TODAY / NBC Sports' NHL schedule shows new love of Avalanche, doing more interviews with players this season. Devils and Stars “We are getting real unique content,” Flood said. “Kathryn has a great ability to engage with players, good topics of conversations, have some Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Published 9:01 a.m. ET Aug. 6, 2019 | fun.” Updated 9:47 a.m. ET Aug. 6, 2019 Roenick is a former NHL star who can connect with players on a different level.

NBC Sports’ 2019-20 NHL television schedule, being released today, “When the players get out of the mode of their x’s and o’s and pucks, suggests a belief that the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and the New their personalities start to come out,” Flood said. Jersey Devils have become better entertainment options. Flood isn’t anticipating any changes in their on-air talent.

The Nathan MacKinnon-led Avalanche will be featured 12 times, “When you have Doc Emrick, you have the No. 1 player in the game,” compared with six times last season. The Stars will appear six times, Flood said. “Our job is to get the puck on his stick in as many winning compared with once last season. The Devils, adding P.K. Subban, opportunities as possible.” Russian standout Nikita Gusev and No. 1 draft pick Jack Hughes, have gone from one appearance to four. NBC schedule

“(The Avalanche) are a spectacular team to watch,” said Sam Flood, All times p.m. ET executive producer & president, Production, NBC & NBC Sports Network. “MacKinnon is the real deal. I thought he was as good as a Oct 2: Washington at St. Louis, NBCSN, 8 player as stepped on the ice in the playoffs. The more we can expose Oct. 2: Vegas at San Jose, NBCSN, 10:30 him to a broader audience, the better it will be for the growth of the league.” Oct. 3: Minnesota at Nashville, NBCSN, 8

Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche will get double the Oct. 8: San Jose at Nashville, NBCSN, 8 exposure on NBC's NHL broadcasts. Oct. 9: New Jersey at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7:30 Flood said Devils general manager “had as good of an Oct. 9: Los Angeles at Vancouver, NBCSN, 10 offseason as any GM in the league.” Oct. 15: Tampa Bay at Montreal, NBCSN, 7 “It’s going to give the Devils some buzz in the market,” Flood said. Oct. 16: Colorado at Pittsburgh, NBCSN, 7 The New York Rangers added premium free agent Artemi Panarin, defenseman Jacob Trouba, hot prospect Adam Fox and No. 2 draft pick Oct. 16: Philadelphia at Edmonton, NBCSN, 9:30 Kaapo Kakko. Oct. 17: N.Y. Rangers at New Jersey, NBCSN, 7 “They have some buzz in their own right,” Flood said. Oct. 23: Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, NBCSN, 8 A Rangers vs. Devils game on Oct. 17 will be one of the early featured games. Oct. 26: St. Louis at Boston, NBCSN, 7

ROOKIES: Hughes, Kakko could fit in well among great No. 1-No. 2 draft Oct. 26: Calgary at Winnipeg, NBCSN, 10 duos Oct. 29: Tampa Bay at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN, 7:30 OPINION: Artemi Panarin gives Rangers star-power promise Oct. 30: Minnesota at St. Louis, NBCSN, 8 With the Stars hosting the Nashville Predators in the Winter Classic in Nov. 5: Boston at Montreal, NBCSN, 7:30 the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, it makes sense to give them more games. Nov. 5: Chicago at San Jose, NBCSN, 10 “We told the league we would like to see a little more Dallas,” Flood said. “We would like to make sure there was plenty of exposure, so those star Nov. 6: Detroit at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN, 8 players could get the spotlight put on them prior to the tilt on Jan. 1.” Nov. 8: Tampa Bay at Buffalo, NBCSN, 2 The schedule calls for 109 games, although there will be more because NBC Sports traditionally adds some games late in the season. The Nov. 12: Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN, 7:30 Ottawa Senators are the only team not on the television schedule. Nov. 13: Washington at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7:30 The season opens with a “Wednesday Night Hockey” doubleheader Oct. Nov. 13: Chicago at Vegas, NBCSN, 10 2 (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN) with the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues playing the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Nov. 19: Tampa Bay at St. Louis, NBCSN, 8 Capitals. Nov. 19: Edmonton at San Jose, NBCSN, 10:30 The Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues will play the Washington Capitals on opening night on Oct. 2. Nov. 20: Washington at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN, 8

The second game is a playoff rematch between the Vegas Golden Nov. 26: Dallas at Chicago, NBCSN, 8 Knights and San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET), a series that ended in Nov. 27: Philadelphia at Columbus, NBCSN, 7 controversy. Nov. 29: N.Y. Rangers at Boston, NBC, 1 Sixty-six (60.5%) of the televised games will feature at least one Western Conference team. Dec. 3: Tampa Bay at Nashville, NBCSN, 8

Per NBC’s contract with the NHL, no NHL team will have its local Dec. 4: St. Louis at Pittsburgh, NBCSN, 8 broadcast rights usurped by NBC more than 23 times in a two-year span. That means top teams will officially have 11 or 12 appearances each Dec. 10: St. Louis at Buffalo, NBCSN, 7:30 season. Dec. 11: Boston at Washington, NBCSN, 7

Some teams appear more times on the schedule. But some of those Dec. 11: Philadelphia at Colorado, NBCSN, 9:30 extra appearances on NBC or NBC Sports will be blacked out in those markets. For example, the Philadelphia Flyers appear 20 times, so eight Dec. 17: Buffalo at Toronto, NBCSN, 7 Dec. 18: Colorado at Chicago, NBCSN, 8 Feb. 26: Buffalo at Colorado, NBCSN, 8

Dec. 23: N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7 Feb. 26: Pittsburgh at Los Angeles, NBCSN, 10:30

Dec. 27: Minnesota at Colorado, NBCSN, 8 Feb. 27: Dallas at Boston, NBCSN, 7:30

Jan. 1: Nashville at Dallas (Winter Classic), NBC, 1 March 1: Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, NBC, noon

Jan. 2: New Jersey at N.Y. Islanders, NBCSN, 7 March 1: Washington at Minnesota NBCSN, 8

Jan. 2: St. Louis at Colorado, NBCSN, 9:30 March 1: Los Angeles at Vegas, NBCSN, 10:30

Jan. 5 Detroit at Chicago, NBCSN, 7:30 March 3: Boston at Tampa Bay, NBCSN, 7:30

Jan. 5: Nashville at Anaheim, NBCSN, 10 March 4: Philadelphia at Washington, NBCSN, 7

Jan. 6: Edmonton at Toronto, NBCSN, 7 March 4: Anaheim at Colorado, NBCSN, 9:30

Jan. 7: Colorado at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN, 7:30 March 5: Carolina at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7

Jan. 8: Washington at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7:30 March 8: St. Louis at Chicago, NBCSN, 7:30

Jan. 8: Dallas at Los Angeles, NBCSN, 10 March 8: Colorado at San Jose, NBCSN, 10

Jan. 9: Nashville at Chicago, NBCSN, 8:30 March 10: Boston at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7

Jan. 14: Minnesota at Pittsburgh, NBCSN, 7 March 11: San Jose at Chicago, NBCSN, 8

Jan. 15: Philadelphia at St. Louis, NBCSN, 8 March 15: Nashville at Minnesota, NBCSN, 7:30

Jan. 16: Tampa Bay at Minnesota, NBCSN, 8 March 17: St. Louis at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7

Jan. 19: Boston at Pittsburgh, NBC, 12:30 March 18: Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN, 7:30

Jan. 21: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, NBCSN, 7:30 March 18: Vegas at Arizona, NBCSN, 10

Jan. 22: Detroit at Minnesota, NBCSN, 8 March 22: Washington at Pittsburgh, NBC, noon

Jan. 24: All-Star Skills Competition, NBCSN, 8 March 22: Nashville at Chicago, NBCSN, 7

Jan. 25: NHL All-Star Game, NBC, 8 March 24: St. Louis at Washington, NBCSN, 7

Jan. 27: Tampa Bay at Dallas, NBCSN, 8 March 25: Pittsburgh at Chicago, NBCSN, 8

Jan. 29: Nashville at Washington, NBCSN, 7:30 March 25: Arizona at Vegas, NBCSN, 10:30

Jan. 29: Tampa Bay at Los Angeles, NBCSN, 10 March 26: Philadelphia at Detroit, NBCSN, 7:30

Jan. 30: Nashville at New Jersey, NBCSN, 7:30 March 29: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, NBC, noon

Feb. 2: Pittsburgh at Washington, NBC, 12:30 March 29: Minnesota at St. Louis, NBCSN, 7

Feb. 3: Philadelphia at Detroit, NBCSN, 7:30 March 29: Nashville at Colorado, NBCSN, 9:30

Feb. 4: Chicago at Minnesota, NBCSN, 8 April 1: Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, NBCSN, 7:30

Feb. 5: Boston at Chicago, NBCSN, 8 April 1: Dallas at Anaheim, NBCSN, 10

Feb. 6: Detroit at Buffalo, NBCSN, 7 USA TODAY LOADED: 08.07.2019

Feb. 6: San Jose at Edmonton, NBCSN, 9:30

Feb. 9: Boston at Detroit, NBC, 12:30

Feb. 9: Colorado at Minnesota, NBCSN, 7:30

Feb. 10: Tampa Bay at Columbus, NBCSN, 7

Feb. 11: Philadelphia at N.Y. Islanders, NBCSN, 7

Feb. 12: Montreal at Boston, NBCSN, 7:30

Feb. 12: Calgary at Los Angeles, NBCSN, 10

Feb. 13: Philadelphia at Florida, NBCSN, 7

Feb. 15: Los Angeles at Colorado, NBC, 8

Feb. 16: Detroit at Pittsburgh, NBC, 12:30

Feb. 16: Boston at N.Y. Rangers, NBC, 3:30

Feb. 16: St. Louis at Nashville, NBCSN, 6

Feb. 18: Toronto at Pittsburgh, NBCSN, 7

Feb. 19: N.Y. Rangers at Chicago, NBCSN, 8

Feb. 23: Pittsburgh at Washington, NBC, noon

Feb. 23: St. Louis at Minnesota, NBCSN, 7:30

Feb. 23: Vegas at Anaheim, NBCSN, 10

Feb. 25: Chicago at St. Louis, NBCSN, 8