SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 07/06/19 Anaheim Ducks 1149382 Ducks sign left wing Andreas Martinsen to 1-year contract 1149408 Coach Bruce Boudreau exploring Wild's options for Mats 1149383 Predicting the Ducks’ 2019-20 opening night roster Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman 1149384 Grading Kings and Ducks in free agency and pondering if 1149409 Projecting the Wild’s ideal forward lines: Is it enough to get they can still make some moves back to the playoffs? Arizona Coyotes 1149385 Business-school lesson helped shape John Chayka’s 1149410 Canadiens sign free-agent forward Nick Cousins to free-agency philosophy one-year deal 1149411 What the Puck: Canadiens moving in wrong direction this summer 1149386 Unsatisfied with negotiations, Danton Heinen is taking 1149412 The summer of Shea: a healthy and energized Weber is Bruins to salary arbitration preparing for next season and loving life 1149387 Bruins' Heinen, Cehlarik file for arbitration 1149413 Why Nashville may miss PK Subban even more than 1149388 11-Day Power Play will feature 2,500 players over 250 Predators fans hours 1149414 Predators' Eeli Tolvanen knows he has plenty to learn, 1149389 Sabres top draft pick Dylan Cozens could miss up to 3 and he's ready to learn it months after surgery 1149390 Sabres need to find lots of answers before they can make a playoff push 1149415 Devils’ Will Butcher, Mirco Mueller, Connor Carrick file for 1149391 Sabres re-sign Zemgus Girgensons, four others file for salary arbitration | What it means arbitration 1149416 NHL rumors: Offer sheet coming for Maple Leafs’ Mitch 1149392 Sabres explains reported $135,000 Marner? speeding violation 1149393 How Ralph Krueger's time in English soccer could help New York Rangers Sabres 1149417 Trouba, Buchnevich file for arbitration Flames 1149394 Swedish Lerby a project for the Flames 1149418 Flyers’ Scott Laughton among 40 NHL players who file for 1149395 Rittich, Bennett among four Flames electing for arbitration salary arbitration 1149396 ‘Everyone uses their size differently’: Flames prospects 1149419 An early projection of the Flyers’ retooled lineup for the face physical realities of playing in the NHL 2019-20 season 1149397 Three prospects and their varying paths to Calgary to 1149420 Offseason moves by Flyers, Rangers, and Devils make attend development camp NHL’s Metropolitan division much more balanced 1149421 Flyers restricted free agent Scott Laughton files for salary arbitration 1149398 Avalanche re-signs defenseman Nikita Zadorov to 1-year 1149422 5 prospects that flew under the radar during Flyers contract development camp 1149423 Scott Laughton files for salary arbitration with Flyers Columbus Blue Jackets 1149424 The Shot: Step inside Flyers development camp, a week 1149399 Blue Jackets avoid arbitration, re-sign defenseman Scott of learning, fun and friendships Harrington for three years Pittsburgh Penguins Dallas Stars 1149425 Penguins sign coach Mike Sullivan to 4-year contract 1149400 Stars restricted free agent Jason Dickinson files for salary extension arbitration 1149426 Mark Madden: Penguins power play set for reshaping 1149427 5 things on Penguins coach Mike Sullivan’s summer agenda other than signing a new contract 1149401 Red Wings’ 2018 pick Jonatan Berggren ready to show 1149428 Penguins’ Zach Aston-Reese files for salary arbitration skills in top Swedish league 1149429 Penguins' Zach Aston-Reese files for salary arbitration 1149430 Sticking with Mike Sullivan a wise move by Jim Rutherford 1149431 Mike Sullivan, Penguins agree to contract extension 1149402 Adding a scorer will be Ken Holland’s first big move as 1149432 Mike Sullivan has security from the Penguins and buy-in Oilers GM from Evgeni Malkin Florida Panthers San Jose Sharks 1149403 Quenneville, and now Bobrovsky, mean Panthers have 1149433 How Timo Meier’s new contract actually can help cap- high hopes. They also have zero excuses | Opinion strapped Sharks 1149404 Kings sign Mario Kempe, Adrian’s brother, to two-way 1149434 Lightning re-signs Cedric Paquette to two-year contract contract 1149435 NHL offseason moves through a Lightning prism 1149405 Predicting the Kings’ 2019-20 opening night roster 1149406 Grading Kings and Ducks in free agency and pondering if they can still make some moves 1149407 KINGS SIGN MARIO KEMPE TO ONE-YEAR, TWO-WAY CONTRACT; IAFALLO ELECTS ARBITRATION 1149436 Duhatschek Notebook: Free agency becomes efficient, the after effects of signing an offer sheet, Sutter’s role Vancouver Canucks 1149444 's midsummer depth chart suggests growing pains in... Vegas Golden Knights 1149438 Golden Knights Malcolm Subban files for arbitration Capitals 1149439 The Capitals got better with their free agent moves, just not in the way you expected Websites 1149437 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: The top secret transcript of Gary Bettman’s Fourth of July party 1149445 The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: Free agency becomes efficient, the after effects of signing an offer sheet 1149446 Sportsnet.ca / Grading eight 2018 UFA signings with one year of hindsight 1149440 Jets' Copp, Pionk opt for salary arbitration 1149441 True North, Bisons coach starting at the Finnish line of her sparkling international hockey career 1149442 Jets Copp, Pionk file for arbitration 1149443 Winnipeg’s midsummer depth chart suggests growing pains in 2019-20

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1149382 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks sign left wing Andreas Martinsen to 1-year contract

By Elliott Teaford | PUBLISHED: July 5, 2019 at 5:48 pm | UPDATED: July 5, 2019 at 5:54 PM

The Ducks signed left wing Andreas Martinsen to a one-season, two-way contract Friday, another move to strengthen their depth. Martinsen will make $750,000 if he plays in the NHL and $250,000 if he plays with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL.

He had one and four points in 24 games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, and also had three goals and 11 points in 38 games with Rockford (Illinois) of the AHL. Overall, the 29-year-old native of Norway has nine goals and 23 points in 152 games in the NHL.

In addition to the Blackhawks, Martinsen also played with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche.

General Manager Bob Murray has yet to make a major signing since free agency opened Monday. The signing of Martinsen dovetails with the additions of forwards Blake Pietila and Andrew Poturalski and defenseman Jani Hakanpaa on one-year deals earlier in the week.

Murray also signed goaltender Anthony Stolarz to a two-year, $1.5- million contract, adding depth behind John Gibson and Ryan Miller. Murray also acquired forward Nicolas Deslauriers from the Canadiens in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2020 draft.

In other news, center Chase De Leo filed for salary arbitration. De Leo, a La Mirada native, played one game for the Ducks last season. He was the Gulls’ second-leading scorer with 55 points, including 20 goals, in 66 games last season.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149383 Anaheim Ducks A lot of this revolves around Sam Steel’s readiness and ability to handle a top-six role. The young center looked good centering Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg in late-season games that weren’t meaningful for Predicting the Ducks’ 2019-20 opening night roster the Ducks as a whole but carried great significance for him. I’d see if that bond holds in preseason. Rakell and Silfverberg have the kind of experience that can help bring Steel along.

By Eric Stephens Jul 5, 2019 It allows Getzlaf to slip into a more supportive role that could be less taxing over an 82-game schedule. He doesn’t have to face the toughest

defensive assignment every single night. If Joe Thornton was able to The Ducks knew what life without Corey Perry would be like for a long make the transition into a less-demanding role in recent years, so can time when he had to undergo knee surgery and miss the first four months Getzlaf. Eakins can put him into more advantageous positions as long as of the 2018-19 season after it gave out on him before a preseason home Steel doesn’t get overwhelmed. A more confident Troy Terry should be game. ready to grab a top-six spot with Getzlaf as his center.

They’re now out to move into the beyond. The franchise’s longtime star Left wing after Rakell is deep in bodies but not in production. The final right wing won’t have a locker next to Ryan Getzlaf’s within the Anaheim top-six position figures to be up for grabs, with Devin Shore, Max dressing room. There won’t be a No. 10 on the ice at all – and we’d Comtois, Nick Ritchie and even Max Jones in probable consideration. imagine there won’t be a rush to reissue it, if ever. The blond-haired, Theoretically, Comtois might have the highest upside as a scorer but he’s much-beloved (in Anaheim) and much-hated rascal (elsewhere in the also the most inexperienced as far as NHL duty is concerned. league) won’t be the very last Duck off the ice at every warm-up, and the Even Adam Henrique could be an option as a veteran to be tried on the goal-scoring irritant won’t be doing that anymore in their sweater. left side of Getzlaf, given his experience at wing in Anaheim and New Cutting ties with a decorated cornerstone remains the most significant Jersey. He and Shore could be swapped between 2LW and 3C, but I’ll player move the Ducks have made this offseason. But it further opens guess that Shore could wind up next to Getzlaf given the Ducks’ need for the door to change that was pushed ajar last season. Roster the most quality they can get in the middle (with Ryan Kesler out of transformation is underway, with a preview of that fully unveiled after Bob action indefinitely) and Shore’s limited playing time there over the years. Murray went behind the bench for the final 26 games. But we’ll guess that Comtois could get a good look during the preseason.

Change is also underway within the coaching staff, with Having Henrique center Ritchie and a returning Ondrej Kase from now making the final decisions on the ice and – yes, this is still hard to shoulder surgery gives Eakins a line that has worked well in some believe – Darryl Sutter providing advisory assistance. But it’s the players periods over the last two seasons. And if Terry runs into prolonged that ultimately must get the job done on the ice, and we’ll now look at a struggles to open this campaign, Eakins can easily bump Kase into a future where Getzlaf, their longtime , is the last of their Big Three higher role. that can physically power this team. There are quite a few bodies still around the fourth line. Unless a move The Ducks may not taste the postseason for a second consecutive were made to relieve the logjam on left wing (and Murray obviously spring, but this could be one of the more interesting seasons the club has hasn’t made one yet), Jones and Comtois could be vying with the newly- had in recent memory. Now that we’re one week into NHL free agency acquired Nic Deslauriers as big power forwards that can bring energy and some moves have been made, let’s look at their potential depth and create havoc. Carter Rowney solidified the line in his first season chart. (Players’ respective salary cap hits in parentheses are rounded off and should start as its pivot. Though not as complete a player as the right and provided by Cap Friendly.) wings above him, Daniel Sprong could move up if Eakins wants to inject his strong shot into another line. Forwards Derek Grant has filled several roles for Anaheim over two different stints LEFT WING CENTER RIGHT WING the last two seasons. There is the chance of a waiver claim if he’s sent to the AHL, but he can play the middle and allow Eakins to move Rowney to Rickard Rakell ($3.79M) Sam Steel ($863K) Jakob Silfverberg wing as an option. As tempting as it sounds to put all the youngsters into ($5.25M) the lineup, I’m seeing a scenario where Comtois and Isac Lundestrom Devin Shore ($2.3M) Ryan Getzlaf ($8.25M) Troy Terry ($925K) gain more seasoning in San Diego with a little less pressure on them. The two and Kiefer Sherwood would get the front seats on the Anaheim Nick Ritchie ($1.5M) Adam Henrique ($5.83M) Ondrej Kase shuttle. ($2.6M) At this , the Ducks shouldn’t (and won’t) expect Kesler and Patrick Max Jones ($863K) Carter Rowney ($1.13M) Daniel Sprong Eaves. The two are in full rehabilitative mode as they attempt to get in ($750K) the kind of physical condition that will allow them to resume their careers instead of pulling the plug. Both could start the season on LTIR, allowing Depth: Nic Deslauriers ($950K), Derek Grant ($700K), Kiefer Sherwood Murray to push their combined cap hit of nearly $10 million aside – ($925K), Max Comtois ($820K), Isac Lundestrom ($925K). possibly for all of 2018-19. Injured: Ryan Kesler ($6.88M), Patrick Eaves ($3.15M). Defensemen Before you spit out your drink when you see where Getzlaf’s name is, I’ll LEFT DEFENSE RIGHT DEFENSE offer an explanation. Hampus Lindholm ($5.21M) Josh Manson ($4.1M) Eakins will have training camp and six exhibition games to put his forwards into the spots he wants them in and decide who makes the Brendan Guhle ($698K) Cam Fowler ($6.25M) roster and who doesn’t before he settles his lineup for the Oct. 3 season opener against Arizona. Camp battles must be had. For all we know, Jacob Larsson ($894K) Jani Hakanpaa ($850K) some of the above or a lot of the above could be very different when the Depth: Josh Mahura ($745K), Korbinian Holzer ($850K), Simon Benoit Ducks take the ice against the Phil Kessel & Co. Coyotes. ($809K). Getzlaf has been the Ducks’ engine for many years. The big center they The blue line is a lot more clear-cut as far as who slots where, although have built around. But he is 34 and coming off a 48-point season, his we’ll allow for Eakins and assistant coach Marty Wilford to have different lowest offensive output since his rookie year. He played with a revolving ideas as they see fit. door of wingers last season but also didn’t particularly uplift any of them like he did with Perry for over a decade. Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson are the duo that never should have been split apart. Neither player seemed the better for playing with Rather than say Getzlaf needs to be dropped from the top line at this different partners and they seemed to look more like their shutdown stage of his career, I present a case of the Ducks starting the season selves at the end of last season after a short readjustment when put back with two 1A forward lines that can be deployed equally and adjusted together. Plus-minus is far from the be-all, end-all anymore but the two toward particular matchups Eakins gets at home or on the road. were a combined plus-7 after Murray took over behind the bench. Six games are hardly a sample size to make a definitive determination on whether Brendan Guhle/Cam Fowler is a strong top-four pairing. Guhle’s oblique injury wrecked any plans to get a longer read but his great skating and Fowler not looking uncomfortable playing on his off side could make for one of the NHL’s more mobile twosomes. Fowler can also be a strong mentor for the 21-year-old Guhle, who’ll be playing his first full season and is expected to be ready to go in the fall.

Jacob Larsson had a bumpy 2018-19 but he could be all the better for moving into a full-time role after going through the highs and lows of a clear developmental year. Having him eat 18-20 minutes still seems to be a bit of a big ask, and that’s where putting him on the third pair would be beneficial. Jani Hakanpaa figures to slide right into the No. 6 spot as Larsson’s right-shot complement. He is their big add to the corps unless the plan is to continue waiting out the free-agent market and see if prices come down.

Josh Mahura and Korbinian Holzer should be the first in line to fill in when injuries arise. Holzer knows his depth role and would be the No. 7 – unless Hakanpaa were to struggle and Holzer beats him out. After all, it was Holzer who was left standing at the end last season even when Luke Schenn, Andrej Sustr and Jake Dotchin were given opportunities to beat him out.

Jaycob Megna (Vegas) and Andy Welinski (Philadelphia) have moved on as free agents. Dotchin was not issued a qualifying offer. Simon Benoit is a promising undrafted 20-year-old who’s moving up the organization depth chart. Benoit played in 65 games with San Diego last season and suited up in all 16 of the Gulls’ playoff games.

Goalies

STARTING GOALTENDER BACKUP GOALTENDER

John Gibson ($6.4M) Ryan Miller ($1.13M)

Depth: Anthony Stolarz ($750K), Kevin Boyle ($675K).

No position is more settled than the net. John Gibson, who turns 26 later this month, is the long-term answer and the bedrock that this franchise is leaning on as he continues to take an increasing role as one of its leading faces. Ryan Miller re-signed for another year as the Ducks long had plans to keep him as a highly capable backup as long as the soon- to-be 39-year-old wanted to return.

Anthony Stolarz, 25, is an intriguing add as a two-year contract with full NHL money seems to signify that Anaheim views him as the new No. 3 netminder. The 6-foot-6 goalie had a 3.45 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 18 games with Philadelphia and Edmonton as the Flyers sent him west for Cam Talbot.

Kevin Boyle, 27, had a memorable first NHL start for the Ducks and has played well for the Gulls over his three seasons with them, but he also lost the net to Jeff Glass for part of the playoffs this spring. He’s coming into the final year of a two-way deal that’ll pay him $250,000 when he’s in the AHL.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149384 Anaheim Ducks When the choice was made, we thought it would be the first of many moves by general manager Rob Blake. Instead, he has stood pat, adding defenseman Joakim Ryan and forward Martin Frk. Both players could Grading Kings and Ducks in free agency and pondering if they can still spend next season in Los Angeles, but it wouldn’t be a shock if either make some moves goes back and forth between the AHL and NHL.

Blake wasn’t able to unload any of his aging players with big contracts. Now, he has to hope they don’t decline further and there’s a market for By Josh Cooper Jul 5, 2019 them in the future.

It’s impossible to know if anyone was willing to take Carter, Quick, Martinez (who still has a lot of value for a team with Cup aspirations) or The free-agent periods of the Kings and Ducks weren’t all that eventful. anyone else on the Kings’ roster age 28 and over who makes decent- In fact – at least so far – they have been downright boring. Granted, both sized money. Tyler Toffoli also qualifies and fits more in the Martinez teams are rebuilding, but neither made any sort of interesting moves mold as someone who isn’t cheap but still is useful for a contender. outside of buyouts (Corey Perry with Anaheim and Dion Phaneuf with Same with Trevor Lewis. But their salary cap situation wasn’t impossible Los Angeles) along with an interesting coaching hire with former Kings – especially after the Phaneuf buyout. bench boss Darryl Sutter heading down the freeway to work with the “The Kings have $12 million in cap space and no big restricted free Ducks as an advisor. agents, so they could have eaten a bad contract for one year for sure,” So all those players we wrote about potentially going to the Ducks in free the exec said. agency? A lot of them got bigger money elsewhere. Same with the guys Blake is a patient executive who doesn’t force what isn’t there. It’s not a we talked about going to the Kings. Though former Canucks defenseman bad approach by any stretch since some GMs tend to be trigger happy Ben Hutton is interestingly still on the market. when it comes to trades without working through all the details. The players we thought the Kings could trade – Jonathan Quick, Jeff “You can’t sacrifice too much,” an NHL team scout said. Carter, Alec Martinez, Ilya Kovalchuk – are all still with the franchise. Anaheim made one trade that was not seen as an improvement and But the Kings have a lot of problems, and going into next year with the hasn’t done much else outside of adding to the AHL roster. same roster probably won’t excite fans much.

TRADE Also, what if Jonny Brodzinski, who was allowed to walk as an unrestricted free agent, scores at a decent clip for the San Jose Sharks? DUCKS: NICOLAS DESLAURIERS He was a good scorer in the AHL and has an excellent shot. CANADIENS: 4TH And lastly, there’s the 36-year-old Kovalchuk, who last season just didn’t There is a belief that, for both teams, the best path forward was to be seem to fit and often found himself benched. He’s still on the roster. Does patient and wait for a market to develop – later in the summer or during new coach Todd McLellan have a plan to get 20-plus goals from him next the season. But was that the case? Generally, the draft and the first week season? Was last season all on interim coach Willie Desjardins, who of free agency are when teams have the most leverage to make deals. struggled with Kovalchuk, or was it the player’s fault? Unless the Kings want to trade Kovalchuk, we’ll find out next season. “They’re two bad teams. Should be working 24/7 to find market inefficiencies to exploit in trade and weaponize any cap space,” a former But the offseason isn’t over, so maybe it’s premature to be too harsh on NHL team executive said. “I mean just philosophically, if you aren’t Los Angeles. Plus, sometimes trade markets emerge out of nowhere at making smart trades you probably aren’t working hard enough. There’s various points of the summer, or even in training camp or preseason. always something. Especially when you’re bad.” “Never say never about trading guys. There’s always a market,” the scout This statement makes sense. When you’re the Ducks or the Kings, the said. status quo isn’t exactly acceptable. Anaheim won’t be going into next Plus, maybe they just need to really be patient and wait for the younger year with the same roster it opened with last season, hoping some of its guys to come up and push out the older players. last first-round draft picks can turn into star core pieces. “There are still a few guys out there that should come in at good prices The Kings, on the other hand, are looking like they’ll have pretty much but in general I’d say they are in that mode of trying to rebuild with the same group of players that finished 30th a year ago. By our expert younger assets and eventually trying to add the right guys through,” an accounts, they did a fantastic job of finding fresh blood in the draft, but NHL team executive said. those players aren’t going to be ready for a while. Ducks As far as other draft picks from recent years, Jaret Anderson-Dolan (2017 second-rounder) will challenge for a roster spot, but the status of Major Subtractions: Corey Perry 2017 first-rounder Gabe Vilardi is a mystery because of a long-term back injury. Rasmus Kupari (2018 first-rounder) is still likely a year away, Major Additions: Nicolas Deslauriers, Darryl Sutter according to some scouts I spoke with. Anderson-Dolan definitely will Grade: B- help the Kings for many years and is considered captain material, but he’s not a high-end offensive prospect. The Ducks had their plan and didn’t need to do much. They’re going to head into next season with Troy Terry, Max Jones, Max Comtois and So with the hottest part of the free-agency period pretty much at a close, Sam Steel all likely on roster and pushing the vets. Could they have tried we decided to grade both teams and how they performed. Also feel free to trade Adam Henrique before his no-trade clause kicked in? Sure. They to put your own grades in the comments below! didn’t need to but he was a chip they could have used.

Kings Could the Ducks have gone after a defenseman to add to their top four? Major Subtractions: Dion Phaneuf, Jonny Brodzinski Yes. Did they really need to? Probably, but the prices of top-four D-men were so high that adding one in free agency didn’t make much sense. Major Additions: Joakim Ryan, Martin Frk There’s no way they could match the $5.5 million per year over three seasons the Florida Panthers gave 32-year-old Anton Stralman – along Grade: C- with the 16-team no-trade list. Yikes. The Kings made the expensive decision to get rid of Phaneuf. That was Getting rid of Perry was probably the right call – though some scouts I smart. Last season he seemed a step too slow, and at $5.25 million he spoke with wondered why not wait until his contract ran out in two years, was far too expensive a player for them to have on their roster blocking a since he still had some ability to score and now his cap hit is spread out spot that could be used by a youngster. over the next four years, rather than two. This includes a $6.625 million Watching him decline was one of the sadder parts of the 2018-19 cap hit in 2020-21. season. He was always a pro and someone who commanded respect Deslauriers was a curious decision since he’s never scored more than 10 just by how hard he played and practiced. goals in a season, but it was made in the context of adding more toughness to protect the youngsters. Was there someone better in San Diego or on the free-agent market to take on the role of being physical and fighting anyone who’d mess with Jones, Comtois, Steel or Terry? Maybe, but that’s how the move was explained to us.

The most interesting addition the Ducks made was off the ice: bringing in Sutter as an advisor to new coach Dallas Eakins. Sutter won two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles, and his groups were known as strong with puck possession. Under former coach Randy Carlyle, Anaheim struggled to hold onto the puck against their opponents. According to the NHL’s enhanced stats site, teams fired 313 more shot attempts than the Ducks during Carlyle’s tenure last season before he got fired in February.

Adding Sutter’s knowledge and his ability to get players to stay in the offensive zone, and defend, to Eakins’ desire to play a faster, more speed-oriented game could be Anaheim’s biggest move this summer.

“Now the Ducks have a good blend of old and new philosophies and Sutter’s experience will be invaluable for a relatively green Ducks coaching staff,” Jordan Samuels-Thomas of The Athletic said. “Sutter will be great for Max Jones, Nick Ritchie and Max Comtois. Big power forwards who can wear teams down with a possession game. They will also have the freedom under Dallas to make skilled plays when they’re there.”

Without that move, the Ducks’ grade would have been lower. But because of it, they entered into B- territory.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149385 Arizona Coyotes overall) to the Detroit Red Wings to move up to No. 16 and select defenseman Jakob Chychrun. To get Chychrun, the Coyotes also agreed to absorb the final year ($7.5 million cap hit) of Pavel Datsyuk’s contract.

Business-school lesson helped shape John Chayka’s free-agency Chayka also acquired forward Lawson Crouse and Dave Bolland’s philosophy contract from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional third- round draft choice in 2017 and a conditional second-round pick in 2018.

By Craig Morgan Jul 4, 2019 In 2017, he acquired defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Laurent Dauphin. He acquired center Derek Stepan and goalie Antti Raanta from the New York Rangers for defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and the No. 7 John Chayka was introduced to the Winner’s Curse in his first semester pick in 2017 NHL Draft (Lias Andersson), and he acquired defenseman at the Ivey Business School in 2010. The Winner’s Curse defines the Jason Demers from the Florida Panthers for forward Jamie McGinn. tendency for the winning bid in an auction to exceed the intrinsic value or true worth of an item. In 2018, he acquired goaltender from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Tobias Rieder and goaltender Scott “It was in one of our first classes and nobody really knew what was going Wedgewood. He acquired forward Alex Galchenyuk from the Montreal on,” the Coyotes president of hockey operations said. “They handed out Canadiens for forward Max Domi, and he acquired forward Vinnie a bunch of monopoly money and they put up some lists of items. I don’t Hinostroza, defenseman Jordan Oesterle, the final three years of retired even recall what was on the lists because it wasn’t really important. That forward Marian Hossa’s contract and a 2019 third-round pick from the was kind of the point. Blackhawks for center Marcus Kruger, prospects Mackenzie Entwistle, “At first, no one really wanted to bid because they didn’t care about what Jordan Maletta, Andrew Campbell, and a 2019 fifth-round pick to was being auctioned, and then, once one person won an item, and as Chicago. more items were auctioned off, more people started to bid and ultimately, This summer, he acquired forward Carl Soderberg from the Colorado it just became a bidding war. People are competitive by nature. They just Avalanche for defenseman Kevin Connauton and a 2020 third-round want to win.” pick, and he acquired forward Phil Kessel, minor-league defenseman The analogy does not translate perfectly to Chayka’s current gig. Hockey Dane Birks and a 2021 fourth-round draft from the Pittsburgh Penguins players can be desirable commodities on the open market, but the lesson for Galchenyuk and defenseman prospect P.O. Joseph. made a lasting impression on Chayka. Since he became Arizona’s Chayka is not averse to diving into the deeper free-agent waters at some general manager in May 2016, the Winner’s Curse has been a guiding point, but it would require special circumstances. principle in his approach to free agency. “I think as you try to build up a team, free agency is the last aisle you “The class was an exercise to explain a concept and a theory,” Chayka want to shop in,” he said. “I’m not saying that you don’t go there, but we said. “They were relating it more to financial markets than they were to certainly shop in other aisles before we go down the free-agency aisles. I hockey players but I still think it applies. Obviously, it’s important to be think there’s ways to supplement your team and add some valuable disciplined and set an intrinsic value that’s based off of what you hope players in free agency, and I think we have done that, but it’s certainly are the best information systems available, as opposed to just reacting not our method of choice. irrationally to a market that is thinking in herds. “At some point, you hope that you’re one piece away and maybe you “That’s what we try to do here.” overpay to try to win a Stanley Cup, but by being more rational about our Time will tell which category the NHL’s 2019 free-agent signings will fall situation and trying to be sober about it, we realize we weren’t in that into, but when the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers helped set the situation and we haven’t been in that situation so we weren’t prepared to market by respectively signing forward to an eight-year, $72 over-pay to get our guy.” million extension and forward Kevin Hayes to a seven-year $50 million Ultimately, Chayka believes he must build the core of the team through deal before the NHL Draft, Chayka had a sense that the Coyotes would the draft and shrewd trades, while using free agency as an infrequent be conducting their shopping by other means. supplement because of its tendency to throw a cap structure out of Chayka would not comment on this season’s specific singings, but whack. beyond the aforementioned two, there was a handful of head-scratchers “A lot of the free-agent mistakes are born at that draft table,” he said. that underscored his point, either because of the money that was handed “When you make mistakes there, then you have these significant needs out, or the term. The Minnesota Wild signed soon-to-be 32-year-old where you feel like you don’t have alternatives and maybe you don’t have forward Mats Zuccarello to a five-year, $30 million contract. The the draft capital to trade to fill those needs so you feel backed into a Pittsburgh Penguins signed bottom-six forward Brandon Tanev to a corner. Ultimately, if you are in that situation, you know you’re not whopping six-year deal at an average annual value of $3.5 million. The winning anyway, but I think it’s very difficult to be a realist about that. I locked up depth forward Garnet Hathaway for four also think it’s extremely important in this job to be so. years. “That’s why we have a whole R&D (research and development) “By definition, when you’re buying something and winning something at department and that’s why we look at things from multiple perspectives auction, you’re paying above market value,” Chayka said. “That’s how — why we have a lot of debate and discussion about it. Any asset has a you get the item so you have to be aware of why you value that item price that you like you it at and then a price that you don’t like it at. That’s more than the market. Sometimes, it can mean that you have better the difficult part to discern about July 1, but for us, it’s all about the fit and information and you value things more than the market should. That’s a the economics of it; the structure of our team and what we’re trying to good buy, but sometimes it means that you got caught up in wanting build and do. That has more influence than the market value.” something because the market wanted it and that’s oftentimes a bad buy. Sometimes it works and people overpay for an asset and they find a way The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 to make it more valuable, but oftentimes, if you’re making emotional decisions, you’re probably going to get burned. ”

The Coyotes have largely avoided the big-ticket items on the free-agent market in Chayka’s tenure. In 2016, they signed defenseman Alex Goligoski to a five-year, $27.375 million contract, but since then, their signings have been more about bringing their own players back, or finding value on the market, like the three-year, $10.05 million contract signed in 2018.

Chayka’s major moves have come primarily through trades.

After selecting Clayton Keller in the 2016 NHL Draft, Chayka traded the 20th overall pick, forward Joe Vitale and a second-round pick (53rd 1149386 Boston Bruins

Unsatisfied with negotiations, Danton Heinen is taking Bruins to salary arbitration

Shirley Leung

Second-year winger Danton Heinen, unsatisfied with negotiations with the Bruins, elected to take the club to salary arbitration.

Heinen, who turned 24 on Friday, was one of 40 restricted free agents to put in by Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline, according to the NHL Players Association. He was one of two arbitration-eligible RFAs. Winger Peter Cehlarik was the other.

The 2014 draft pick (fourth round, 116th overall) made $925,000 last year, at the end of his entry-level contract. He could get a raise between $2.2 million and $2.8 million on a one-year deal, or perhaps a longer- term pact in the range of $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

The intelligent, defensively-responsible Denver University product scored 11 goals with 23 assists in 77 games last season, a dip from his rookie- year line of 16-31–47 in the same of games. He fit best on the third line with trade deadline additions Marcus Johansson and Charlie Coyle, the latter of whom is under contract for 2019-20.

Both the Bruins and Heinen’s camp, which includes agent Allain Roy, the former Harvard goaltender, will submit their suggested salary to a negotiator. Decisions are rendered this month and next. All awards are for one or two years and the club can choose.

The sides can continue negotiating throughout the process.

The Bruins have 48 hours after the ruling to walk away — something they last did in 2006. Boston then cut defenseman David Tanabe, who was awarded $1.275 million. Free to sign elsewhere, he chose Carolina.

They also balked at $2.51 million in 2003 for blue liner Bryan Berard, who bolted for Chicago, and in 1999 for winger Dimitri Khristich ($2.8 million; he signed with Toronto).

In addition to Heinen, the Bruins remain in talks with RFA defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo, neither of whom have arbitration rights. The deadline to sign RFAs is Dec. 1, after which they are ineligible for NHL play that season.

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Bruins' Heinen, Cehlarik file for arbitration

By Patrick Dunne July 05, 2019 7:16 PM

Bruins wingers Danton Heinen and Peter Cehlarik were two of 40 NHL restricted free agents to file for salary arbitration by the Friday 5 p.m. deadline, according to the NHL Players Association.

Heinen, who turned 24 Friday, made $925,000 last season in the year of his entry-level contract. He's likely in for a raise that'll bring him as much as a $3 million salary. The 2014 fourth-round draft pick had 11 goals and 23 assists in 77 games last season, down from his rookie year of 16-31– 47. He played on the third line with midseason acquisitions Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson.

Johansson, 28, an unrestricted free agent winger, is rumored to have as many as 10 teams interested in him and he'll likely command a multi-year deal at $5 million a year or more.

Cehlarik, who turns 24 in August, played 20 games for Boston last season. The 2013 third-round pick had four goals and two assists.

JOE HAGGERTY: Bruins' RFA situation puts them in a holding pattern

The Bruins and the players will submit salary figures and decisions are expected in July in August. Teams can choose whether to accept the arbitrator's awards as one- or two-year deals and the sides can continue to negotiate until the arbitration decision.

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11-Day Power Play will feature 2,500 players over 250 hours

By Samantha Christmann|Published Fri, Jul 5, 2019|Updated Fri, Jul 5, 2019

The 11-Day Power Play dropped the puck at 6 a.m. Friday, kicking off 11 straight days of hockey played around the clock to raise money for cancer research. Amateur, professional and sled hockey players will play in shifts at Harborcenter through July 15. In all, nearly 2,500 players will play more than 250 continuous hours of hockey.

The tournament will culminate at 9 a.m. July 15 with a final face-off between the top fundraising team and members of the Buffalo Beauts and Sabres alumni, with Pat Kaleta serving as team captain.

Spectators can drop in at any time with no admission fee. A livestream of the event is available online for $4 at 11daypowerplay.com.

Last year, the event raised $1.28 million for cancer research and wellness programs at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Camp Good Days and Make-A-Wish Western New York. So far this year, the event has raised $1.3 million, according to its website. Donations continue to be accepted online at 11daypowerplay.com.

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Sabres top draft pick Dylan Cozens could miss up to 3 months after surgery

By Lance Lysowski|Published Fri, Jul 5, 2019|Updated Fri, Jul 5, 2019

Dylan Cozens' slim chance of making the Buffalo Sabres may be over two months before training camp.

Cozens, the seventh overall pick in the NHL draft last month, underwent "successful" surgery on his left thumb Wednesday and is expected to need two to three months to recover, the Sabres announced Friday.

That timeline makes the 18-year-old center questionable to participate in the start of Sabres training camp and likely further decreases his odds of making the NHL roster. Following Cozens' selection at the draft in Vancouver, General Manager Jason Botterill told the media Cozens would likely need one more junior season before earning a full-time role in Buffalo.

The injury occurred on the final day of Sabres development camp June 29, when Cozens was upended by defenseman Brandon Hickey during his team's first game in the 3-on-3 French Connection Tournament. Cozens took off his , revealing his thumb in an unnatural position before leaving for the dressing room in Harborcenter.

Cozens, who was ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the fifth-best North American skater in the draft, scored 34 goals among 84 points in 68 games for the 's last season, tied for 10th in the league.

He became the first player from Yukon to be selected in the first round of the NHL draft and could become only the third player in Yukon to appear in an NHL game. The others are Peter Sturgeon (six games from 1979 to 1981) and Bryon Baltimore (two games in 1979-80).

The injury won't prevent Cozens from skating for the duration of summer, however, his surgically repaired thumb could limit his on- and off-ice workouts. He will also miss this summer's World Junior Summer Showcase, a tournament showcasing some of the world's top junior players, but should be able to represent Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship this winter.

Lethbridge opens the season Sept. 20, and the Sabres play their first preseason game Sept. 16 against Pittsburgh in State College, Pa.

Although Cozens was a long shot to make the Sabres' roster, the injury could force Botterill to add another center this offseason. The team signed forward Curtis Lazar to provide depth at the position, but otherwise the position has not been addressed.

Lazar, Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt and Vladimir Sobotka are the only centers currently under an NHL contract for next season, although Evan Rodrigues and Johan Larsson are expected to be re-signed as restricted free agents. Additionally, Zemgus Girgensons can play center.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149390 Buffalo Sabres Contributions from Thompson or Nylander (or both)

If anyone wants to play right wing on this team, spots are available. One might even be on the first line with Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner if Sabres need to find lots of answers before they can make a playoff push Krueger follows Botterill's theory and uses Sam Reinhart to drive the second line from the right side. Tage Thompson and Alex Nylander are the best internal candidates if the Sabres don't look outside. By Mike Harrington|Published Fri, Jul 5, 2019|Updated Fri, Jul 5, 2019 Nylander, Tim Murray's final No. 1 pick in 2016, is just about approaching bust status. He's played only 19 NHL games in his three pro seasons and has 30 goals in 165 games in Rochester. He had 31 points and a plus-11 The Buffalo Sabres have to learn how to walk before they can run. rating in Rochester last season but again couldn't stay healthy, playing The public proclamations come training camp in September are expected only 49 games. Botterill has been regularly flushing Murray players and to revolve around climbing into the playoffs for the first time since 2011, draft picks out of the organization over the last two years, and you but a serious reality check is needed. wonder how much time Nylander has left.

The Sabres still have lots of work to do with their roster, including the The Sabres are higher on Thompson, partly because they have to be major decision of keeping defensive workhorse Rasmus Ristolainen or since they traded Ryan O'Reilly for him and partly because he does have trading him for offensive help. The acquisition of Colin Miller from Vegas some terrific skills. It might be better for him to start in Rochester and indicates GM Jason Botterill is more inclined to deal Ristolainen, but for blow up like he seemed primed to do at the end of last season (six goals, whom? nine points in eight games). But a big training camp could land him in a top-6 role in Buffalo. And while the Sabres have done a little tinkering, Florida, New Jersey and the New York Rangers have performed major roster surgery. All Goaltending three, like the Sabres, were non-playoff teams in the Eastern Conference Asked multiple times since April about changes, Botterill says he's last season and all seem well ahead of Buffalo at this stage of the moving forward with Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark in net. The hope is summer. clearly that new goalie coach Mike Bales, a Stanley Cup winner in Who might the Sabres be better than in the East right now? Maybe Pittsburgh, can make a big impact. Detroit and Ottawa. That's about it. You see the dilemma. Hutton had a career-worst 3.00 goals-against average and .908 save The best approach for the Sabres has to be a piecemeal one. You can't percentage, while Ullmark was at 3.11 and .905. From Jan. 1-April 1, be in the playoffs unless you contend for them. Forget about the longest Hutton had a 3.62/.894 while Ullmark was at 3.45/.891. You can't win current playoff drought of any NHL team. The Sabres haven't played with those types of numbers in net. meaningful games in March since 2012. The other hope is Krueger will play a tighter system that will cut down on So here's new coach Ralph Krueger's first point of business: Get this all the high-danger chances the goalies faced last season. team into contention. Looking ahead in July, it would appear an awful lot Hutton, for instance, had only an .801 save percentage on high-danger is going to have to go right for this club to snap the playoff drought. chances last season, according to NaturalStatrick.com. That ranked 15th Here's a quick look at seven areas that need to get glowing reviews among the 19 NHL goalies who played at least 50 games. Two other come March for the Sabres to have a chance to even sniff the goalies (Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk and Toronto's Frederik Andersen) postseason. were essentially his equal at .800.

Coaching Jack Eichel: Superstar?

Fellow coaches rave about Krueger. He's an impressive public speaker. It will be year five for the Sabres' $10 million man, who turns 23 on Oct. There are zero questions about his character. But there is one nagging 28. Eichel is coming off his best season (28 goals, 82 points) but has yet inquiry we all have to find the answer to in the coming months: Can he to carry this team on his back like marquee players do. And during the 1- coach in the NHL? 13-2 collapse in March and early April that ultimately cost his job, the captain had just seven points and a minus-14 rating. At age 59, Krueger is going to have prove his worth almost like a rookie head coach. Eichel said in April that he felt he was close to that 40-goal, 100-point breakthrough if he did a better job on scoring chances. A career-low Success in the Swiss League means little. Success in building teams of shooting percentage of 9.2 made that thought plausible. It's time. elite players for three-week tournaments like the Olympics and World Cup translates only so far. Even his one NHL season in Edmonton was Do NHL regulars get better? only 48 games, the 2013 lockout campaign in which teams didn't travel So many questions here ... outside their conference. And the Oilers missed the playoffs, collapsing at crunch time in April with nine losses in a 10-game stretch. In his first year as a $9 million man, can Skinner produce more than the 40 goals and 63 points he had last season? Newly acquired Jimmy Krueger has to show he can assess analytics, make in-game Vesey will be in a contract season; can he jump into the 20-25-goal adjustments, manage the 82-game grind, deal with the travel and the range as he heads to free agency? Reinhart is also heading into a injuries and the inevitable lows of the season. How does he react and contract year, albeit as a restricted free agent. He had a career-high 65 respond when the Sabres have, say, an 0-5-2 slump in the dog days of points last season. What kind of payday is he looking at if he becomes a February? point-a-game player? For the third consecutive season, the Sabres have an October trip On the back end, does Brandon Montour's first full season in Buffalo through California. That's going to be a critical time for players and coach result in his first 40-point campaign and also make him one of the team's to get away to bond, nurture their relationship and make sure they're on defensive stalwarts? How does the blueline and, in particular, the power the same page. play benefit from Miller's presence and playoff experience the last two Road record years in Vegas?

The Sabres improved by 20 points at home last season (going from 11- More push from young players 25-5 to 21-15-5), but continued to be futile on the road. They finished 12- And lots more here ... 24-5 — including a pitiful 4-20-4 in their last 28 games away from KeyBank Center. Rasmus Dahlin had nine goals and 44 points in an often-brilliant rookie season that saw him become a Calder Trophy finalist. What's going to be Only once in the last eight seasons have they managed to get at least 40 his ceiling, offensively and defensively? How much better does he get in points away from home, with 43 in 2015-16. If they don't improve here, Year Two? they have no chance. No Eastern Conference playoff team had fewer road wins last season than Pittsburgh's total of 21. The lowest point total Casey Mittelstadt had 12 goals and 25 points in 77 games last season. was Boston's 46 (20-15-6). Any chance he can get those totals to 20 and 40? Can Victor Olofsson crack the lineup and become a 20-goal scorer? How well does Lawrence Pilut bounce back from shoulder surgery? Can Rasmus Asplund make a bid to center the fourth line? How much NHL time does Will Borgen see, especially as Zach Bogosian battles back from another hip surgery?

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149391 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres re-sign Zemgus Girgensons, four others file for arbitration

By Lance Lysowski|Published Fri, Jul 5, 2019|Updated Fri, Jul 5, 2019

Zemgus Girgensons has committed to returning to Buffalo for one more season after signing a one-year, $1.6 million contract, the Sabres announced Friday.

Girgensons, who was a restricted free agent, received a qualifying offer worth $1.6 million from the Sabres in June, and he scored five goals among 18 points with a minus-11 rating in 72 games last season. The 25-year-old winger counted $1.6 million against the salary cap in 2018- 19, his sixth season with the team.

Additionally, four of the Sabres' restricted free agents -- Remi Elie, Evan Rodrigues, Jake McCabe and Linus Ullmark -- filed for salary arbitration. The only exception was center Johan Larsson, who received a qualifying offer last month.

Girgensons, drafted 14th overall by the Sabres in 2012, was voted an NHL All-Star in 2014-15, a season in which he posted career highs in goals (14) and points (30). However, he has since failed to eclipse seven goals in a season and has not recorded more than 18 points.

Girgensons made his greatest contribution shorthanded last season, ranking second on the team in total -kill ice time. He has scored 49 goals among 119 points in 420 career NHL games.

With salary arbitration, the player and team each submit their expectations for the player's salary, and the latter cannot request a reduction of greater than 15 percent. The arbitrator hears the case from both sides and renders a verdict, which sets the player's salary.

The team has 48 hours to decide whether it will accept or decline the verdict, the latter of which leads to the player becoming an unrestricted free agent. The group is seeking a raise from the terms of their respective qualifying offers: McCabe ($1.75 million), Ullmark ($840,000), Elie ($771,750) and Rodrigues ($715,000).

Larsson, on the other hand, has until July 15 to sign his qualifying offer or another contract with the Sabres.

Amerks sign four to AHL contracts

While the Sabres remained quiet on the fifth day of free agency, Rochester signed five players to one-year, AHL contracts for next season: forwards Eric Cornell, Tyler Randell, Jarrett Burton, and defenseman Nathan Paetsch.

Cornell, a second-round draft pick of the Sabres in 2014, was not extended a qualifying offer from the team last month. The 23-year-old scored nine goals last season, establishing career highs in assists (13) and points (22), while being the lone Amerks skater to play in all 76 regular-season games.

Randell, 28, had three goals among seven points in 36 games for the Amerks last season. He has 534 penalty minutes in 324 career AHL games with Rochester, Belleville and Providence. Randell has also played in 25 Calder Cup playoff games and scored six goals in 27 games with the Boston Bruins in 2015-16.

Burton, 28, was named defensive player of the year last season for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate. He scored six goals among a career-high 21 points in 66 games with WBS.

Paetsch, 36, returns for his seventh season with the Amerks after recording three points in 11 games. For a second consecutive season, he was named the team’s “Man of the Year” for his “commitment to the Rochester community.” Though Paetsch played sparingly, he served as a de facto assistant coach, mentoring young players and assisting coach Chris Taylor.

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Sabres Rasmus Ristolainen explains reported $135,000 speeding violation

By Lance Lysowski|Published Fri, Jul 5, 2019|Updated Fri, Jul 5, 2019

Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had an explanation for the speeding violation in Finland that resulted in a reported $135,000 fine and possible three-month license suspension.

According to a police report released to the Finnish news outlet Ilta- Sanomat, Ristolainen was driving his Mercedes-Benz G 500 off-road vehicle May 3 in Turku when he encountered an idle vehicle in his lane in front of him. The 24-year-old told police that he tried passing the motorist, only for the other vehicle to begin accelerating, leading Ristolainen to go faster than he planned.

Ristolainen said he was surprised when police informed him he was driving 50 mph in a 25 mph zone, though he acknowledged the measured speed could be accurate. He defended himself by saying he slowed down and stopped at the next intersection.

The incident happened on a Friday afternoon when there was a lot of traffic in the area, according to the report.

Finland uses an income-based system for penalties and the newspaper said the fine is believed to be the most ever for a speeding ticket in the country.

Ristolainen told police he intends to go to court to have the matter further investigated. He also explained to authorities that he needs driving privileges to travel to workouts 12 times per week and attend charitable events.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149393 Buffalo Sabres situation became so dire that it was relegated in 2005 and dropped to the third division for two seasons until it regained its spot in the top league in 2012.

How Ralph Krueger's time in English soccer could help Sabres There are parallels between Southampton and Buffalo. The two have similar populations — Buffalo had approximately 8,000 more people, according to the most recent census — and both have passionate fans. By Lance Lysowski|Published Fri, Jul 5, 2019|Updated Fri, Jul 5, 2019 Southampton's followers were reportedly skeptical when Krueger arrived in January 2014. Following a one-year stint as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, Krueger agreed to work as a consultant for Canada at As prospects skated back and forth on the Harborcenter ice below, Ralph the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2013-14 and planned to take a year off Krueger sat in a suite next to assistant coach , while both before taking a full-time job. peered at a laptop. Then, Krueger received an unexpected phone call. Southampton's then- Moments later, Krueger's other assistant, goalie coach Mike Bales, joined owner, Katharina Liebherr, was searching for someone to help run the the lengthy discussion. Krueger, less than two months on the job as the club's day-to-day operations after her chairman, Nicola Cortese, Buffalo Sabres' coach, seemed to turn the suite into a think tank during departed. the four-day development camp. A day after Canada's gold-medal victory in Sochi, Krueger boarded a There were long chats with the only assistant he retained from Phil plane for England. He was named chairman in March, tasked with Housley's staff, Steve Smith, and an extensive conversation with owners reviving what the club and fans refer to as, "The Southampton Way." Terry and Kim Pegula at the conclusion of the 3-on-3 French Connection Tournament. The announcement surprised some in the NHL but not those who worked closely with Krueger. During a one-on-one interview with The Buffalo News, Krueger described the process as "very intense," yet the eternal optimist embraces the "I think he’s uniquely gifted," said former Oilers coach , challenge of creating a winning blueprint for a playoff-starved franchise. whom Krueger worked under in Edmonton from 2010-12. "So much of what we do is the same — that’s hockey and the NHL. What’s different is The 59-year-old undertook a similar task during his hiatus from the the person delivering the message. … He has an ability to communicate and succeeded, albeit in a different sport across with anybody, young or old, and making them feel relevant and required. the Atlantic Ocean as chairman of English Premier League's This guy is a gem. Southampton F.C. "As far as I’m concerned he should have never left the National Hockey "If you look at my past, I take on projects and this one has taken me back League. He just gets it done, it’s that simple." to my love; the love of my life away from my wife and family is hockey and has remained hockey, even while I was doing my job in Liebherr, the daughter of a Swiss businessman, did not have much Southampton," Krueger said between development camp sessions. "It’s experience running a professional sports franchise and learned of easy to get that part going again. I’ve always been close to the game and Krueger through a search firm that was familiar with the coach's work as stayed close to the game, but now to actually need to perform again you a motivational speaker. need some time to adjust." Krueger's 25-year coaching career began in 1991 with VEU Feldkirch in That adjustment began before Krueger arrived in Buffalo last month. Austria, and although he was passionate about the profession, he feared First, he met with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart at the IIHF World its longevity. That led him to start a motivational speaking company in Championship in Slovakia, and spoke to the rest of the Sabres' players 1994, called Teamlife, whose clients included a number of corporations, over the phone — conversations that Krueger said revealed a "big most notably Credit Suisse, UBS Investment Bank and Nestle. opportunity, just because of the character of the players." He wrote a book in 2001 in German titled, "Teamlife: Success Over Once he got here, Krueger gave an impassioned speech to Pegula Setbacks to Success," and became the only non-academic of 16 core Sports and Entertainment employees in KeyBank Center and told the members in the World Economic Forums' joint models of leadership, media during his introductory press conference that he was having his where he's still an active member. laptop uploaded with a number of NHL games, which will allow him to study how the sport has changed. "It was quite frightening at the beginning to see the wild west of soccer without any regulations, draft choices and the numbers are daunting that Krueger then hired two assistant coaches, attended the NHL draft and you deal with on a daily basis, but I was ultimately responsible," Krueger spoke with potential Sabres during the one-week negotiating window said. "Our goal was to sell the club." before free agency. There were also extensive meetings with Botterill, the Pegulas, his coaching staff and even Bills coach Sean McDermott. De facto owner

The two head coaches met twice to exchange "intellectual capital," The job was no small task. In March 2014, he told The Guardian according to Krueger, who called McDermott an invaluable "asset" for newspaper that Southampton owed 27 million euros in transfer exchanging ideas. Collaborating for professional growth is among the payments, 22 million of which was due that summer. It had not qualified reasons Krueger left for England, one of the lessons he hopes to apply in for the UEFA Europa League, an annual tournament featuring 48 of the his return to hockey. continent's top soccer clubs, since 1984.

"The 25 years of head coaching I had in the past is bubbling back up to In the 133-year history of the club, Southampton has never finished the surface," Krueger said, beaming. "Everything is very easy and higher than second in the English Premier League, which occurred in natural. I’m not coming in here with a blueprint of the past teams I’ve 1983-84 when the country's top league was called "Football League First coached. I’m developing a new blueprint for the Buffalo Sabres today, for Division." the roster we have, for the characters we have, for the kind of team Liebherr made significant improvements upon inheriting the team from where I see the strengths and weaknesses of the group. This blueprint her father, Markus, pouring money into sports science and physiology will be original and will certainly have some of the elements I’ve liked, but and investing in a state-of-the-art training facility. the package will be for what I believe gives us the best chance to be a competitive team in the NHL." Krueger was tasked with creating a winning culture and modernizing the club's approach in business matters. He left on-field operations to the 'The Southampton Way' manager, Mauricio Pochettino, and Les Reed, vice chairman and director Southampton is a port city located 70 miles southeast of London, a hub of football. for cruise ships along the English Channel. The industrial town is also "I was de facto owner of the club," Krueger explained. "There was a home to one of the English Premier League's most success-starved and female owner who inherited it after her father’s death and she wasn’t rabid soccer fan bases. experienced in sports and brought me in really to be her eyes, ears, but Southampton F.C. has not won a FA Cup since 1976 and has never also I had a lot of responsibility to carry out the actions as if I was the placed higher than second in the country's first division. The club's owner of the team. ... "It was so multi-dimensional and it’s nice for me now to be focused again Last January, Krueger spoke at a fan forum hosted by the club, in which in a smaller space, to be coaching, to be on the bench, and to have lots he talked of the need to "refresh 'The Southampton Way,'" while leading of games to enjoy." a discussion centered around fans' concerns about Jisheng's involvement, or lack thereof, with the team. Krueger's departure from the Krueger became the face of Southampton F.C. He spoke to reporters club occurred two months later, and he quickly became Sabres General about his vision for the club and addressed questions from fans at Manager Jason Botterill's target to replace Housley. functions. Though Krueger was not on the sideline, he often received more scrutiny than the three managers who worked under him during his The experience, Krueger said, opened his eyes to the challenges owners five-year tenure. The criticism began quickly. face, taught him the importance of collaboration at all levels of an organization and revealed how technology can benefit a coach. Surprisingly, Southampton finished eighth among 20 teams in 2013-14, its highest league position since 2002-03, while also recording its highest "After being a president for six years you’re back now in the fire and as point total since the English Premier League was formed in 1992-93. the head coach you’re very visible and communicating a lot, but I also However, his first offseason was trying. The club sold five of its top understand what’s going on at the other levels," Krueger said of what he players for a reported 92.5 million euros, and its manager, Pochettino, learned in Southampton. "On the sports side, I’ve deepened my left for Tottenham. knowledge in sports science and physiology that’s needed, but we have a really strong staff here. I’m so impressed with what the Sabres have The exodus incited panic among the fan base and Krueger was at the done over the last few years in all different areas and I really say a lot of center of the criticism. He told The Guardian in 2014 that he received times as a head coach or leader you’re going to come into an harsh mail following the transfer period, though, unsurprisingly, he spoke organization, you’ll spend one year and you’ll think, ‘Oh boy, there’s a lot of their messages buoyantly. for me to do.’ But there’s nothing to do there.

"These people took time to write me a letter to say that I’m a complete "It was important to get a good coaching staff together. People who kind idiot,” he said in the interview. “That’s OK. If you can get that passion in of fit into the culture that I’d like to see here, but the rest of the personnel, line with what you are doing – what an opportunity that is.” whether it’s strength and conditioning or the medical or the equipment or 'True leader' the media, all those areas are really, really strong. That experience in Southampton is what strong actually means. I feel we’re in a really good Despite the losses, Southampton was second in the league following six place here with the Sabres." matches and finished seventh overall, reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup. In 2015-16, the club achieved its highest ever Premier League First love finish (sixth), most ever Premier League points total (63) and finally During his time with Southampton, Krueger stepped away for a few qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. months to serve as coach for at the Away from the pitch, the club's operations were buoyed by the English in 2016, where he led a roster of players from eight countries to the Premier League record-breaking television contract worth 10.4 billion tournament's championship. euro. Krueger's staff also secured a record three-year shirt sponsorship The masterful coaching performance resulted in overtures from NHL deal with Virgin Media, and he landed a seven-year contract with Under clubs, yet Krueger rebuffed their advances and opted to finish his project Armour through his longtime relationship with the company's founder and in Southampton. With his contract coming to an end this June, Krueger CEO, Kevin Plank. began to consider a return to hockey and was hired by the Sabres, who Krueger initially committed to work with Liebherr for two years, however, own the league's longest playoff drought. that contract was extended when the club's success continued. He Following the announcement, Botterill described to the media how achieved his goal in August 2017, when an 80 percent stake of Krueger's international coaching experience — 13 seasons as coach of Southampton was sold to Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng for 210 's national team, including three Winter Olympics — make million euros. him equipped to handle the challenges of an 82-game NHL season.

Liebherr's father reportedly paid 14 million Euros when he purchased the Krueger has not been behind an NHL bench since the lockout-shortened Saints, who were then competing in the country's third division. Krueger 2012-13 season, when he was head coach of the Oilers, who narrowly agreed to stay on with Southampton for two years following Jisheng's missed the playoffs with a 19-22-7 record. He was fired that summer and purchase, signing a contract that ran through June 2019. had spent the previous two years as an assistant coach under Renney.

When Krueger's departure from Southampton was announced in April "He’s a great communicator," said Brad Shaw, now an assistant coach 2019, Liebherr credited him with building the organization into what it's with Columbus who worked on Krueger's staff during the World Cup of become. Hockey. "He’s a great leader. He’s very comfortable delegating "Ralph laid the foundations for the Saints to be a sustainable team that responsibilities. … He’s just a fantastic man. He’s a really good person. put pressure on the top sides in the Premier League," Liebherr, who still He’s going to build relationships with guys to the point where he can [be serves on Southampton's board of directors, said in a statement released hard on them], and they’re not going to take it personal because they through the team. "He was a true leader who fully embodied 'The know he cares about them. I think that’s going to be evident right through Southampton Way,' a culture which will live on strongly beyond his time in Buffalo." as chairman. I, along with my family, will always be grateful for all that Krueger's plan is in its early stages. He intends to soon take time off to Ralph has done for the club." "digest" and "internalize." He hopes to finalize his hires for the Sabres' Krueger endured a difficult final two years in Southampton. The club's video department and is considering another addition to his coaching performance dipped, placing 17th and 18th the past two seasons, staff. In the future, Krueger also hopes to be an asset to PSE and the respectively, narrowly avoiding relegation. His tenure with the club was Pegulas in non-hockey matters, applying his leadership and marked by bold moves during the summer's transfer period, selling top Southampton experience to help grow the business. players and spending millions on talent from other teams. The latter However, he has no plans to expand his role until he is finished with his frustrated some fans who preferred a shrewd approach of taking latest project: building a winner on the ice. advantage of young talent at lower levels. "What’s daunting and humbling is how important the Sabres are in this Although Krueger continued to head the board of directors and act as a community and how hungry everybody is for success," Krueger said. "I conduit between Jisheng, The Telegraph reported in April the chairman's definitely have a lot respect for it. I knew this was a great hockey market, "influence on key decisions was limited" during his final two years with but I didn’t know it was this good. It’s another level of passion and the club. intensity. Somehow the size of the city is exciting too, because we have a Krueger, though, was still the face of the team, as Jisheng declined to big surrounding market outside of Buffalo. speak publicly about Southampton until last month. In May 2018, Krueger "There’s a big, big project here that’s going to need the very best of told the Southampton Daily Echo if any one person were to blame for the Ralph Krueger and the very best of everybody extended within the staff team's slide, the criticism should be directed toward him, yet he added around me to perform to the highest of our ability to really be able to find why a number of factors led to the on-field struggles and expressed the potential of this team. The players, if they’re feeling that, will take optimism for the future. confidence in it and it begins with us leading the way. I’m excited to do everything possible to give this market what I believe it really deserves."

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149394 timeline. There is development in this player … so I guess it’s how patient he wants to be with his own development.

“That’s where the agent and our relationship with them has been really Swedish defenceman Lerby a project for the Flames good. They have said, ‘Hey, we don’t want to rush this kid.’ We don’t expect him to be playing in Calgary and being the top guy there — he needs to develop first.” Kristen Anderson, Like most Swedes, Lerby, whose mom, Cecilia, is a cross-fit instructor, dad, Anders, is a avid golfer, and younger sister Clara is an elite handball player, began playing soccer and hockey at an early age. But at age 14 The town of Trelleborg is small, comparatively. growing up in the ocean community of Trelleborg, he concentrated solely With one ice rink, some soccer fields and one shopping mall, it’s a 30- on hockey. minute drive from Malmo, Sweden, where Carl-Johan Lerby has played He watched resident Flames Swedes like Mikael Backlund and Elias the last three seasons with the Malmo Redhawks. Lindholm, but has also followed Andersson’s career being only a year Meaning that Calgary is massive. younger than him.

WinSport’s Markin McPhail is impressive. “Obviously I’ve followed Rasmus since he got with the Flames and he’s doing so great and I’m really happy for him and he’s such a good guy. I And the National Hockey League? It’s still just a dream for the 21-year- look at him a lot — he’s from the same city and I’ve got his dad as a old left-shot defenceman. coach. He’s doing so good in the NHL and that’s awesome.

But being with the Calgary Flames at this summer’s development camp “But it’s my goal to play here too. I’m just trying to work hard.” after inking a two-year deal with the club in the springtime, the dream is that much closer to becoming a reality. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.06.2019

“It’s obviously tough to make the NHL but, as everybody here, I think that’s the goal — that’s why you play hockey, to make the NHL some day,” Lerby was saying the other day as the 40-odd prospects took to the ice at the Joan Snyder Arena. “I’m just going to keep working hard every day and grind here at Dev camp and go back to Sweden and work on the things they tell me to.

“Then, I’ll come back here next summer and do my best at the camp and do everything I can to make the team.”

That’s the plan, at least.

Last season, Lerby scored five goals and had 16 assists in 47 games in his first year in the Swedish Elite League with Malmo after graduating from the second tier.

He will return to the Redhawks for the 2019-20 season to be coached by Peter Andersson, father of Flames blueliner Rasmus, for another campaign. The idea is for him to get quality ice time and lots of it, to start on the powerplay and continue his progression.

But here, at the Flames development camp, he’s absorbing what he can, as fast as he can.

“At first, I thought I was going to be the oldest but there are guys that are older than me,” said Lerby who stands five-foot-11 and weighs 176 pounds. “But this is my first time here, as well. All the guys are here for a reason and they’re all good players.

“I’m just going to play my game and see how it goes.”

The Flames identified Lerby a few years ago, expressed their interest this winter, and came to an agreement with his representative, Johan Finnstrom. But they weren’t the only teams interested in his services as over 20 organizations sent the feelers out.

The knock on the kid is that he’s not NHL ready yet, and needs time to physically mature but the Flames were fine with the long-term project.

They see Lerby taking a similar path as Andersson — a slow, natural progression to the NHL level and a hands-on approach with nutrition, training, fitness and everything it takes to become a professional.

“His agents are Rasmus’ agents and they really really liked what we did with Rasmus in terms of his development,” said Flames pro scout Derek MacKinnon. “(Lerby) is not very physically developed. He has lots of instinct, lots of good play with the puck. But he just needs some physical development.”

That’s where this upcoming year becomes crucial. Lerby will spend the rest of next week in Calgary, working with Flames strength and conditioning coach Ryan van Asten and continue working on his skating before heading back to Sweden to start the season.

They’ll meet again next summer and evaluate where Lerby is at.

“For him, it was more of a comfort level going back versus jumping right into Stockton,” MacKinnon said. “Our depth chart is pretty thin, so he stands a good chance of being at the top of it. The risk is just the 1149395 Calgary Flames

Rittich, Bennett among four Flames electing for arbitration

Kristen Anderson,

The pressure is on.

The Calgary Flames had four restricted free agents who filed for salary arbitration on Friday and, no offence to the two others, there are two who likely have priority.

Netminder David Rittich and forward Sam Bennett both are key pieces to the Flames roster, while pepperpot Ryan Lomberg and defenceman Rinat Valiev also elected to go that route. The good news is Flames general manager can still negotiate a potential deal prior to the hearings which take place in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4.

Most teams hammer out contracts with their players prior to the actual hearing, but not always. Treliving and Brett Kulak attended an arbitration hearing last summer which saw the rearguard earn a raise from the previous year’s salary (going from an average annual value of US$650,000 to US$900,000). But prior to the hearing, Treliving had placed Kulak on waivers — a decision that was likely to bolster the Flames’ case that Kulak’s value was not as high as his salary demands were. As such, 30 NHL teams took a pass on Kulak.

On top of those four salary negotiations this year, the Flames are still focused on re-signing forward Matthew Tkachuk, who is seen by many as the future captain of the team. The 21-year-old left winger was in town on Friday, representing the Flames in the Calgary Stampede parade.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149396 Calgary Flames After all, granted that one wish, that one shot at an instant bodily upgrade, the answers are telling.

None is outlandish. ‘Everyone uses their size differently’: Flames prospects face physical realities of playing in the NHL There are no requests for a 6-foot-5 frame or a chiselled 225-pound chassis.

In fact, Demetrios Koumontzis politely tosses aside the opportunity for a By Scott Cruickshank Jul 5, 2019 mythical overhaul.

“I don’t think I’d change anything,” said the left winger, 5-foot-10 and 185 To be sure, it is an odd question. So Carl-Johan Lerby listens, translates pounds. “I really don’t. I think I’m just fine. I like my size.” in his head, mulls it over a bit, then bends forward and grabs his right leg. Added the calf-conscious Lerby: “I think I’m good right now. I feel good — “The size of my … what do you call these?” light and easy.”

Uh, calves. For the most part, the asks are modest.

“OK, my calves,” said Lerby. “But I don’t see anything more that I want to Pelletier admits he’d like to be taller. Fair enough. But how much taller? fix. I’m kind of good with this.” “5-(foot)-10, 5-(foot)-11.” He shrugs. “I’m the type of player who is small, but plays big. I’m not afraid of anyone or probably anything.” The head-scratcher posed to him: If, with a snap of the fingers, you could change one thing about yourself physically, what would it be? Goalie Nick Schneider would happily add eight pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame so he could to reach 190. But no heavier than that. “It’s that fine For the Swedish blueliner, apparently, that means tweaking his skinny line.” pins. Ditto left winger Emilio Pettersen — he demands exactly eight pounds, Lerby, at the Calgary Flames’ development camp, is one of the which would push the left winger’s weight to an even 180. participants singled out for the hypothetical shot at self-improvement. Given the crew’s makeup this week at WinSport — 6-feet or shorter are “You see guys like (Brendan) Gallagher and (Andrew) Shaw, they play a six of 12 defencemen, 15 of 23 forwards, one of five goalies — the hard-nosed gritty game,” said Pettersen, 5-foot-10. “They have embraced reactions are worth soliciting. that role, ‘Yeah, I’m tiny, but I’m not going to be pushed around.’ And they’re just as relevant as any other player.” Because, even as hockey evolves, size remains a talking point. Which is not to say there isn’t some curiosity about how the higher half The Flames’ most recent draft says so. lives.

In Vancouver, they selected 5-foot-9 winger Jakob Pelletier in the first Emilio Pettersen. Carol Mackay / University of Denver round. That made headlines. Not because it was a big deal that a small player was taken in the first round. More so because it was a big deal Matthew Phillips, laughing, said he wouldn’t mind being 6-foot-2 — but that it wasn’t a big deal that a small player was taken in the first round. only for one day.

On the far side of the draft, the Flames grabbed goalie Dustin Wolf in the “Just to see what it’s like,” said Phillips, a 5-foot-7 right winger. “Just to seventh round. This, too, turned noteworthy. Because overshadowing the feel what it’s like to push someone off no problem. But I like being lad’s look-twice stat line with WHL Everett — 41-15-2, 1.69 goals-against smaller. With my skill set and how I think the game, it bodes my game- average, .936 save percentage — was another number. A height that fell style well to be a smaller guy.” shy of the desired benchmark. So what would he actually like? Another 15 pounds, to raise his weight to Flames general manager Brad Treliving had held his thumb and 165, allowing him to become one of those tough-to-defend “bowling-ball” forefinger an inch or so apart to illustrate the shortcoming that had cost guys. the kid countless draft slots. “That would be pretty cool.”

In other words, NHL scouts haven’t mothballed their measuring sticks. Giuttari’s improvement is maybe the most imaginative. Not quite yet. “I’d change my eyes to see the ice even better,” he said. “To see like And the so-called heavy hockey of the Stanley Cup final helped brawn Patrick Kane? That would be pretty cool. If I could do that, that would be maintain its foothold in the game. incredible.”

More proof that stature continues to be a part of hockey culture? In the Filip Sveningsson (6-foot winger from Sweden) and Adam Ruzicka (6- Flames’ summer camp listings, Pelletier is suddenly 5-foot-10, while Wolf foot-4 centre from Slovakia) and Luke Philp (5-foot-10 centre from has been rounded up to 6-feet. Canada) are all interested in the same enhancement.

But from the point of view of the kids themselves — instead of the folks Even if they word their desires differently. who scout and draft, who coach and cut — there’s a slightly different take on the fuss around the dimensions required for hockey excellence. “More dynamite,” said Ruzicka.

For starters, if they’re on site — that is, if they’ve been invited by an NHL Pardon? “More explosive,” he explained. “Fast feet. The first three steps.” club’s brass to put their talent on display — they know one of the first hurdles has already been hopped. They’ve grabbed someone’s attention. Sveningsson’s description? “Bigger legs. Not that I have bad legs.” He tugs up his shirt sleeve and chuckles. “And I don’t have to have the “Yeah, you’ve broken that stereotype if you’re at an NHL development biggest biceps when I play hockey.” camp,” said Zach Giuttari, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenceman. “They know you have the skills. They know you have the wherewithal to control And for Philp, the boost would simply serve as a shortcut to where he yourself on the ice. We were actually just talking about it in the locker hopes to go anyway. room — (how) everyone uses their size differently. “I’d snap my fingers and give myself trunks for legs, like some of those “When you’re going into puberty, all the biggest kids, the coaches love guys you see,” said Philp. “I mean, that’s something I’m working on this them — they get all the playing time. Maybe you’re a little slower to summer, trying to get a stronger lower body.” develop. Then five years, 10 years later, we’re here now.” Also eager to apply the magic wand to an already-established goal is On the subject of must-haves — wingspans and wide bodies — it Jackson van de Leest. appears the prospects, perhaps more than the game’s deciders, have “If I could snap my fingers and change anything? I’d be a little more made their peace. agile,” said the 6-foot-6 defender. “Being mobile — that ability to quickly Their responses to our make-believe offer indicate that. stop, start, change direction. Even without snapping my fingers, I think one day I’ll get there.” In similar ballparks, too, are Wolf and Corey Schueneman. Listen to Phillips.

“Obviously, two or three inches would definitely help,” said Wolf. “Most “When you have small guys on teams — the (Brad) Marchands, the goalies in the league are larger human beings. It just happens to be that I (Cam) Atkinsons — talk to anyone on those organizations and they didn’t reach that 6-(foot)-3 mark.” wouldn’t even mention height. They just talk about them as players and what they do. I think that’s kind of how it is now.” Said Schueneman, a 6-foot rearguard: “An inch, maybe two inches, wouldn’t hurt.” The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019

He pauses.

“But whatever. I am who I am. I’m happy with how I am.”

Which, short or tall, seems to be the prevailing sentiment at WinSport — players being comfortable in their skin, no matter how many square inches of it they wear.

“Size is what you make it,” said Pettersen. “You can play as a smaller, weaker player or you can play as a big player. When I was younger, that’s what everyone wanted to be — big and tall. Nowadays, it’s accepted that you might be a smaller kid, but if you have the skill and the grit, you’ll be just fine. You don’t necessarily need five fighters on your team.

“Today’s game is quick, hard, to the point.”

Added Sveningsson: “I just play to my resources. I have a pretty tough mindset. I don’t really care if I battle a guy that’s much bigger than me or much heavier. That puck’s mine — that’s the intention I have every time I go into battle.”

Most of the youngsters had been keenly aware of their growth, sprouting or stalled, as they roved through the ranks of minor hockey.

Someone like Ruzicka — whose father is 6-foot-4, whose uncle 6-foot-4, whose mother is 5-foot-11 — was actually worried about becoming too large.

“I want to be able to move pretty fast and be mobile,” he said. “I have a perfect height for me. I hope I’m not going to grow anymore.”

Said van de Leest: “When I knocked my head on a door (frame) a couple of times on vacation, I thought, ‘God, it might be nice to be smaller.’ But never in hockey. Having size is a great attribute. I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

For most prospects, the tape measure is a path shaper.

Schneider had been overlooked in his WHL bantam draft year — he was 5-foot-8. A spurt took him to 6-foot-2 at 16 years of age. Suddenly …

“They’re like, ‘Oh, we like where you’re at,'” said Schneider, who broke into junior with the . “So I do understand how it works. You understand that there’s all these different points of view.

“But, as a goalie, it’s about stopping the puck. If you can stop the puck at 5-(foot)-11, if you stop the puck at 6-(foot)-7 … that’s all that matters.”

Expect the Flames to reflect the trend that success comes in all packages.

Their recent commitment to Pelletier — an undersized pepperpot — is a sure sign of staking out skaters who are ballsy rather than tallsy. Of the Flames’ last 11 draft picks, 10 are 6-feet or shorter.

“If you can play, you can play,” said Phillips. “I think it gets overanalyzed from the outsiders looking in.”

Yearning, by now, is over. No one here is reaching new heights. Productively, they’ve moved well past the daydreaming what-ifs.

“The immature way to think about it is, ‘Oh, I want to be over 6-feet. I want to be as big as that kid, so I can be as good as him,'” said Koumontzis. “Once the pyramid starts getting a little thinner, you start to realize that that’s not what makes or breaks a hockey player. It all comes down to your willingness and your competitiveness.

“You want to play like you’re a 6-(foot)-4 player. You can get more things done that way. Being a smaller guy, if you’re playing like you’re 6-(foot)- 4, you’re going to be just fine.”

So it would seem.

This past season, eight of the NHL’s 12 top point-getters happened to be 6-feet and under. It’s the kind of thing that gets noticed by every corner of the hockey world — and by one demographic in particular. The half-pint hopefuls. 1149397 Calgary Flames “At each age level, every year people have said, ‘Oh, I think you’re too small,'” Pelletier said. “I’m a guy who’s not afraid. I’m not afraid of a guy who is 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5. I show that in the QMJHL … Like Gallagher. Three prospects and their varying paths to Calgary to attend He’s always in front of the net. I try to go in front of the net and not be development camp afraid.”

Besides, it’s not the same NHL as it once was.

By Darren Haynes Jul 5, 2019 “The game has changed a lot now. You see more small players who are part of the elite. You can see that with Johnny Gaudreau here. He’s part of the top of the NHL because he works hard. I think I’m going to be all right if I do the same thing.” Matching black pants with yellow and white piping down the sides and the Flames logo emblazoned on the front right. Matching black helmets. (Darren Haynes/The Athletic) Matching black gloves. Matching jerseys with the Flames logo in the middle and Calgary Flames — spelled out in all capital letters — in a Showered and changed after the morning’s tiring on-ice session, Carl- circle around it. Johan Lerby wanders over to introduce himself.

To enthusiastic onlookers seated at the end of WinSport’s Joan Snyder Upon his arrival, I ask him about the name CJ, which I heard Flames Arena on Thursday morning, eager to catch a glimpse of Day 1 of staffers reference him by multiple times. “Is that what you go by?” Flames development camp, the 18 skaters in Group B probably looked “I guess so, over here,” said Lerby with a shrug, embracing the new mostly the same. That is, other than the red jerseys worn by forwards handle, despite it clearly never having been a thing, until now. and the black jerseys sported by defencemen. The left-shot defenceman, who turns 22 on Friday, says he’s having a But not the same are the varying paths many players have been on, prior great time in his first visit to North America. Since arriving in Calgary a to arriving in Calgary for this weekend’s rookie orientation. week ago, he’s been sharing a house with fellow Swede Filip For instance, take the situations with Jakob Pelletier, Carl-Johan Lerby Sveningsson. and Luke Philp, who are three of the camp’s more intriguing players to “It’s great. Coming over here. First time overseas,” Lerby said. “It’s just watch. A Quebecois, a Swede and an Albertan from three different nice to meet all the guys that you get to work under.” leagues, spanning in age from 18 to nearly 24. All three are at development camp for the first time. Never drafted, Lerby came onto the Flames radar last fall, shortly after his Swedish season began. Jakob Pelletier. (Darren Haynes/The Athletic) “I had a really good points streak. Played good, played on the first line. Development camp has always created a buzz around Calgary and for Played a lot. My agent called me and said ‘There’s a couple teams good reason. In the past, it’s been that much-anticipated first chance to looking at you, just wanted you to know.’ Calgary was one of them. So I view hot-shot first round picks like Sam Bennett, Sean Monahan, just kept playing and they were still interested, so I signed after the Matthew Tkachuk and Juuso Valimaki, or college stars like Johnny season.” Gaudreau. Lerby said Hakan Loob played a big role. “Great guy, funny guy,” said While this year’s camp may not have the same cachet, don’t tell that to Lerby about the former Flames great, who now operates as the club’s Jakob Pelletier, the lone first-round pick in attendance. Don’t tell that to head European pro scout. the adoring fans either, who found their way to ice level on Thursday and were rewarded with a souvenir. With a smile, the chatty 18-year-old “Great organization. They did so well last year and I think they’re on the happily posed for photos, autographed hats and signed jerseys as he way to be a top team in the NHL so it feels awesome,” Lerby said. “And it waited to go onto the ice, then continued his interaction with the fans looks like they like Swedes over here, too, so that’s good!” after his hour-long ice time ended. Yes, they do — Mikael Backlund, Elias Lindholm, Rasmus Andersson, When he got down to business in-between, Pelletier wasted little time Oliver Kylington, to name just a few. Heck, when they added a player at demonstrating why the organization is so excited about the 5-foot-10 the trade deadline, he was a Swede, too, in Oscar Fantenberg. centre and why nobody — nobody — has anything bad to say. When he skates drills, you don’t just see him, you hear him. The carving of the ice LErby has a few Calgary connections. on sharp turns, the hard stops that send snow flying. He’s quick, agile For one, he works out in the offseason with Andersson. Secondly, his and you can see why he racked up 89 points (39 goals, 50 assists) in 65 coach with Malmo is Andersson’s dad. Then there is Lerby’s longtime games last season for Moncton (QMJHL). skills coach, who is an assistant coach on his team — Jesper Mattsson.

“I’m a small player, who can play big. I don’t take a shift off,” said If that name sounds familiar, it should. He was once a Flames first-round Pelletier, offering up a confident self-assessment. “I can score goals and pick. make some plays. I can play at both ends of the ice.” “I’ll tell you what, he’s still got good hands,” insisted Lerby. He points to Brendan Gallagher and Brayden Point as two similarly-built forwards he models his game after. Talk about setting the bar high. Still? How would we know. Selected 18th overall in 1993, Mattsson spent Flames fans can only hope. all three seasons in the Flames organization in Saint John (AHL). The deadly slap shot he was known for was not on display once at the Gallagher, a 5-foot-9 ball of energy for the Canadiens, has sniped 30- Saddledome. plus goals the last two seasons. Point, the 5-foot-10 Calgary kid, has seen his goal total climb from 18 to 32 to 41 in his first three seasons with While Lerby and Pelletier are both tugging on an NHL practice sweater the Lightning. for the first time at this camp, Lerby’s situation is considerably different in that he was never drafted. It’s taken four years of grinding in Sweden to “Two small guys, who play big, and can produce and play on the finally get an NHL deal. defensive side too,” said Pelletier, who is wearing No. 49. His first taste of playing in the came at 18, It’s not his first visit to Calgary. Pelletier has been here a few times going pointless in five games. Ever since, his points-per-game has been previously with . on a steady rise:

“I’m kinda familiar with it. Great people, great fans, good city,” he said. 2016-17 – 45 gm, 2-2-4, 0.08 PPG

Pelletier said he’s focused this summer on adding a little girth to his 2017-18 – 22 gm, 3-3-6, 0.27 PPG frame. Currently listed at 170 pounds, the ideal number is probably closer to 180. His shot and being stronger on his skates are two other areas 2018-19 – 47 gm, 5-16-21, 0.45 PPG he’s looking to improve. “(Mattsson) saw the skills I had and said one day you’re going to play PP A highly competitive guy who “plays big” in his words, it’s that fire that here and I was just working hard and then I got the opportunity last makes you think it’s more a matter of when he makes the NHL, not if. season.” He’s hung onto that role too. He did a bit of penalty killing as well last Older, but also highly skilled and that’s what matters now, even more year, but that resulted in too much ice time so they dialed back the PK than his smaller 5-foot-10 frame. usage so he could concentrate more on the power play, which Lerby says caters better to his skill set anyway. “It’s been awesome. Everyone seems great. Seems like a top class organization,” Philp said. “Everything I expected and what I had heard “I’d rather play PP. I think that’s where I can use my creativity. We have from the guys, who I’ve been training with. They really say that some bigger guys who can play penalty kill and are better in the D-zone. everything’s run pretty awesome around here.” So they can handle that and I try to handle the offence.” Different paths to get to development camp, different paths afterward, On the ice, his skill with the puck is evident. too.

Wanting to improve his skating, he will be staying in Calgary an Come this fall, Philp will likely report to the AHL where he will suit up for additional week after development camp ends to work with a group that Stockton. Pelletier, not old enough to play in the AHL yet, will inevitably will be put through the paces by Flames skating coach Dawn Braid. make his way back to Moncton — although don’t tell him that. “I will trust the process,” he said. “But as a competitor, I want to make the team as Who knows, perhaps Lerby, who plays the left side, might pair up one quickly as I can. I’m going to arrive at camp and show what I can do.” day with Andersson, who plays on the right. Meanwhile, Lerby, upon returning to Sweden in mid-July, will remain Lerby grins at the thought of it. there because when Calgary’s rookie camp begins in early September, “For sure! He’s doing so well in the NHL, that’s so awesome and I’m on his SHL season will have already begun. After playing the upcoming the same team so it would be cool if someday in the future, if I can make season in Sweden, he will come over to North America for 2020-21. it here,” said Lerby, who’s wearing jersey No. 46. “I’m going to work hard On Thursday, as the on-ice portion of the camp began, the morning and then we’ll see.” consisted entirely of a sequence of drills that measured player attributes Luke Philp. (Darren Haynes/The Athletic) such as speed and agility. Introduced for the first time at development camp a year ago and then used again at rookie camp last September, it’s If the four-year wait to get a crack at the NHL seemed like a long time for the third time doing this type of testing, as facilitated by RISE Sport Test, Lerby, how about the patience needed by Canmore’s Luke Philp. For a company based out of Winnipeg. It’s all about analytics, which is then him, it’s been nearly six. shared with the club to help them gauge individual player progress and help formulate/evolve player development plans. Philp, who turns 24 in November, had essentially given up on the pro hockey dream three years ago when he went to the University of Alberta. Friday and Saturday’s on-ice sessions will be a bit more conventional, But after a massive season in which he had 45 points (21 goals, 24 centred around skill development. assists) in 24 games to win athlete of the year, the Flames came knocking and Philp inked a two-year entry-level contract in March. Meanwhile, off the ice, the activities are non-stop, helping the 25 players who are Flames property — many of them new — get oriented to the “Had a good last two years, especially. Won the national title last year. organization, while providing the 15 players on an invite — many of This year, just missed out in the final, which would have been an whom are potential future signings — with a positive impression. The amazing way to go out,” said Philp, who is sporting No. 39. club’s goal is to provide a positive experience so they will hopefully one day want to join the organization. It’s all about relationship building. Philp suffered a high ankle sprain in the final game of nationals, an injury that’s mostly behind him now. Off-ice activities so far have included a cooking class on Wednesday night that had a Korean theme — the Swedes winning again, as they “They say those can bug you and nag at you, but it feels good. Still usually tend to do — Lerby’s celly apparently one to behold. “I got so swells up a little bit, but pain-wise, it’s pretty well gone.” excited,” Lerby admitted. “I was so shocked when I heard it because I Philp spent most of his WHL career with the , but in his final didn’t think it was so good, but when I heard team green, I was like what, season, he got traded to Red Deer, who was hosting the . are you kidding me?! That was just a reaction from my body!” The camp In the opening game of the prestigious tournament, the Rebels matched participants will also hear from a nutritionist. up against the London Knights, who featured a couple future Flames in On Thursday afternoon, TSN hockey analyst Jamie McLennan spoke to their loaded lineup. the players about social media and the many pitfalls to be wary of. The “I remember it well, for sure. We came out hard. We were outplaying former Flames goaltender also delivers media training to the group. them the first 10 minutes and they kinda weathered the home-crowd Other activities on the packed agenda over the next few days include a storm, and then those guys took over the game.” sobering talk from Rob Ramage, another ex-Flame, who shares his deeply personal message about the dangers of drinking and driving. If The line inflicting the damage was Mitch Marner (two goals, three the weather cooperates, the prospects will head out to a working ranch assists), Christian Dvorak (two goals, two assists) and Matthew Tkachuk on Saturday. Activities will include horseback riding and rolling up the (one assist and a game-high 10 shots). The Knights built up a 6-0 lead in sleeves to do some work, all capped off by a team barbecue. Head of winning 6-2. player development, Ray Edwards, says it’s about learning more about Calgary and the culture of Southern Alberta. Yes, cowboy hats will be “Three NHLers now, pretty good ones, too,” said Philp. “That’s a game included. you look back on and you think you might have been able to keep it closer, but that’s obviously why those three players are so good and The camp wraps up on Sunday with a 90-minute controlled scrimmage they’re continuing to be so good at the NHL level. They had that ability to starting at 9 a.m. at WinSport. Maybe Pelletier, Lerby and Philp will end put games out of reach for teams. That was a helluva team.” up on the same team. Given the skill of each player, now that would be fun. Three years later, Marner has established himself as one of the best players in the NHL. Meanwhile, Philp’s pro career is just getting going. The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019

“Yeah, I’m a little behind,” Philp said with a smirk. “Everyone kinda goes different ways… For me, that year, I never fully got my confidence in my game back. I broke my ankle earlier in the year. It was a lot harder to come back then I originally thought it might be. I never felt like I got my step back. So pro wasn’t working out at the time so I decided to go to school.”

Fast forward to today and his first development camp as a pro where he’s sharing the ice with guys like Pelletier, who were born six years earlier.

“I don’t feel older until they look at me and tell me they were born in 2000 and 2001. It’s kinda funny when you hear that. Yeah, maybe I am old,” says Philp, a 1995 birth year. 1149398 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche re-signs defenseman Nikita Zadorov to 1-year contract

By KYLE FREDRICKSON | July 5, 2019 at 2:43 PM

The most physically intimidating on-ice presence for the Avalanche is coming back to Colorado.

Defenseman Nikita Zadorov was re-signed for a fifth season with the Avs on a one-year contract, the team announced Friday.

“(Zadorov) brings a tough, physical presence to our blue line,” said Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic in a news release. “He is an important part of our back end and we are excited to have him under contract for next season.”

Zadorov, Colorado’s 24-year-old 6-foot-5, 230-pound enforcer, has led the Avalanche in hits for three consecutive years after compiling 228 last season. His plus-19 plus/minus rating in 2019-19 marked a career-high, in addition to seven goals and seven assists. The Moscow native was a restricted free agent entering this offseason.

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149399 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets avoid arbitration, re-sign defenseman Scott Harrington for three years

By Brian Hedger

Posted Jul 5, 2019 at 11:26 AM Updated Jul 5, 2019 at 6:48 PM

The Blue Jackets have solved another piece of their offseason puzzle.

The team re-signed defenseman Scott Harrington to a three-year contract extension Friday worth $4.9 million. Harrington, 26, was a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights and had one year left before unrestricted free agency.

He could have filed for salary arbitration by the deadline of 5 p.m. Friday but instead reached agreement on a contract that has an average annual value of $1.63 million per year against the salary cap — keeping his rights under team control through his first two unrestricted seasons.

“Scott Harrington is a very smart, reliable defenseman who made great strides to become a regular contributor on our blue line last season,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a news release.

Harrington was one of two pending restricted free agents the Blue Jackets had on the NHL roster. Zach Werenski is now the team’s only unsigned restricted free agent at the NHL level.

Werenski’s entry-level contract had a salary-cap hit, before performance bonuses, of $925,000 per year. He might command as much as $6 million to $7 million per year on his next deal.

Harrington’s salary is not in the same ballpark as what Werenski will likely get, but he was due for a significant raise from the $700,000 he was paid last season.

After playing sparingly in his first two seasons with the Blue Jackets after being acquired in 2016 from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Harrington became a lineup regular last season. He matched his NHL career-high with two goals and set career marks in games (73), assists (15), points (17), rating (plus-6), shots (54), blocked shots (81) and hits (73).

Harrington skated primarily on the third defense pairing and averaged 13:03 per game. He was also steady in the Stanley Cup playoffs, averaging 13:36 in ice time and adding four assists in 10 games.

“I’m proud of how the season went, personally. It was an opportunity to show, ‘Here’s what I can do,’” Harrington said. “I also realized that while it was great to get into the lineup and show my stuff, I know that I’ve got a lot more to prove, and I think management knows that, too.

“Our team’s got a lot more room to grow. Yeah, it’s exciting that every year we keep making progress in the last three years, but we’re still not there yet.”

Harrington was the fourth player, and third pending restricted free agent, to sign a contract with the Blue Jackets this week. He joined defenseman Ryan Murray, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and free-agent forward Gustav Nyquist, who signed Monday.

According to CapFriendly.com, the Blue Jackets now have $15,765,918 in cap space to fill the final two spots of a 23-man roster that has 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies signed.

Werenski would make eight NHL defensemen on the roster, and that doesn’t include Vladislav Gavrikov, a 23-year-old Russian rookie who is expected to play for the Blue Jackets.

Should Kekalainen and his hockey operations staff explore the trade market, they have valuable depth on the blue line.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149400 Dallas Stars

Stars restricted free agent Jason Dickinson files for salary arbitration

Matthew DeFranks

Stars restricted free agent Jason Dickinson filed for arbitration before Friday's 4 p.m. deadline to do so, the NHLPA announced. Dickinson was the only Stars player to file for arbitration, while defensemen Dillon Heatherington, Gavin Bayreuther and Niklas Hansson (playing in Sweden next season) were also eligible to do so.

The move is generally a formality, with 40 of the 44 arbitration filings last year settled before a hearing (although the Stars and Gemel Smith did go to a hearing). Hearings will be hosted in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4, and Dickinson is one of 40 players to elect arbitration.

Dickinson is coming off his best professional season, with six goals and 16 assists in 67 games, mostly as the fourth-line center before elevating to a top-six wing during the playoffs. The former first-round pick turned 24 years old Thursday and averaged 13:22 of ice time last season.

St. Louis' Ivan Barbashev, Winnipeg's Andrew Copp, Carolina's Brock McGinn and Tampa Bay's Adam Erne are all RFAs who could serve as comps for Dickinson's deal. Lightning forward Cedric Paquette (turns 26 in August, scored 13 goals with four assists last season) signed a two- year contract worth $1.65 million annually Friday.

The Stars have $2.47 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly.

Former Stars Remi Elie (Buffalo) and Connor Carrick (New Jersey) also filed for arbitration.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149401 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings’ 2018 pick Jonatan Berggren ready to show skills in top Swedish league

Posted Jul 5, 1:16 PM

By Ansar Khan

DETROIT – Jonatan Berggren showed off his fast feet and slick hands by sliding the puck under an opponent’s stick and then back between his legs, beating him one-on-one and finishing with a goal.

The play from his Swedish team’s season a couple of years ago was captured on video and posted to YouTube. It’s the kind of skill that prompted the Detroit Red Wings to select the 5-11, 183-pound left wing with the 33rd pick in the 2018 draft.

Berggren hasn’t had many opportunities to display his talent since being drafted. He suffered a season-ended stress fracture in his back (no surgery required) after 16 games with Skelleftea, in his first season in Sweden’s top league.

After sitting out the first day of Red Wings development camp as a precaution, he took part in drills and scrimmages the final four days and impressed with his skills.

He had skated lightly a few times before the camp. This was the first true test since his injury.

“Before my injury, the season was good, but I only play 16 games,” Berggren said. “It was tough, but I got time to spend in the gym and get stronger.

“I have some time to build up myself and I’ve never been so strong, so I think I will be ready for the next season.”

Berggren turns 19 on July 16 and will need more time to develop than the players selected ahead of him – Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno.

He’ll return to Skelleftea in hopes of establishing himself while playing against men, something he had done nicely at the Swedish junior level in 2017-18, leading the league in scoring (18 goals, 57 points in 38 games).

The Red Wings selected Berggren due to the endorsement of Hakan Andersson, the team’s director of European scouting, who compared him to Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson – they’re both smaller, skilled players developed by Skelleftea.

Berggren described himself as someone who has a lot a lot of speed and likes to make plays in the offensive zone. He is known for keeping his feet moving and making slick moves and is dangerous off the rush. He also plays with intensity and has a nose for the net.

Red Line Report described Berggren’s inside-out move as one that "makes defenders look silly."

That YouTube video confirms this.

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149402 Edmonton Oilers waivers (Pontus Aberg, Valentin Zykov, Nathan Walker and Colby Cave). Chiarelli’s problem wasn’t a lack of effort, it was a lack of quality.

I’ve always been convinced Chiarelli looked at the Oilers 2014 draft, Adding a scorer will be Ken Holland’s first big move as Oilers GM realized he had enormous holes in the prospect pipeline, and began trading draft picks in order to hurry up the process. There’s nothing wrong with that plan, but you have to execute it and you sure as hell By Allan Mitchell Jul 5, 2019 better be right.

No draft picks traded

Edmontonians of a certain vintage will remember a radio jingle from an Holland doesn’t believe in trading draft picks, so fans don’t have to worry electronics store that would “shop the world for you” hitting the airwaves about the 2015 draft pick massacre that took place about an hour after every hour. That was 45 years ago. In a way, Ken Holland’s procurement the McDavid selection. Holland gave his reasons for keeping picks in the style resembles that decades-old jingle, and Oilers fans are getting their book Behind the Moves: first exposure to a management group shopping from the entire talent pool available. “I’m not doing any more rentals, because Detroit’s system is about getting players from Europe, college and junior into minor pro and then At the draft, Holland’s Oilers chose players from Sweden’s Allsvenskan, you’ve got to get them into the NHL. If I acquire rentals, I don’t have Russia’s KHL and MHL while ignoring the OHL and WHL. That’s enough picks. Like when we went to the draft in 1999 in Boston with no breaking news when placed over Oilers history. In fact, using the 10-year first pick, no second pick, no third pick, no fourth pick.” period 2009-18, it becomes very obvious just how large Holland’s draft pool is compared to Edmonton. So, if that’s the case, fans shouldn’t expect a 2020 draft pick to be dealt in the coming weeks. The biggest trade by Holland involving a draft pick Oilers drafts by league 2009-18 in recent history was dealing down from No. 16 to No. 20 in order to offload Pavel Datsyuk’s contract on the Arizona Coyotes. Edmonton announced a name 77 times, with 36 (or 47 percent) coming from one of the three major junior leagues in Canada. The Oilers drafted Still, Holland is in that same damned spot Chiarelli was in 2015, staring from a Russian league three times, or around four percent. Sweden? Six, at the 2014 entry draft and trying to turn NCAA players into graduating or about eight percent. prospects. Whiffing on some or most of a draft is death for a professional sports franchise. It’s an ill wind that blows no good. Red Wings drafts by league 2009-18 The decision ahead Detroit made 78 selections over the 10 drafts, with an almost identical percentage (46.2) coming from the Canadian major junior leagues. What It’s a fascinating time for the Oilers, with Holland clearly devoted to the changed is in the specific leagues, where the Red Wings sampled long term while also badly needing some spark for this year’s model. heavily from each of the OHL, WHL and QMJHL. There is urgency here. He just got here, and it’s not his fault but is his responsibility. He owes it to coach Dave Tippett and the fans to construct The big swing is Sweden. Including all leagues, Detroit chose 17 players a better roster, to find at least one scoring forward. He knows it, he’s said (or 21.7 percent) from the northern European nation. Oilers fans might it. The roster today, as it sits idling in the driveway, is not close to good want to get used to the Broberg pick; he may have several countrymen enough. going through the Oilers system in the coming years. One surprise? Russia. Detroit has barely touched Russian leagues over the decade. What is the play here?

On the draft floor Pick your poison

When the Detroit Red Wings chose Moritz Seider at No. 6 overall, Bob He can look at his expiring contracts and see Adam Larsson two years McKenzie mentioned on the NBC broadcast that another team inside the from unrestricted free agency, and at least entertain the idea of moving top 10 was at least considering him depending on how things turned out him. He can ponder the trade return for Darnell Nurse and he can look at previous to their turn. Only one other team — the Oilers — chose a his prospects list and contemplate what Evan Bouchard might fetch on defender after Detroit inside the top 10. the open market. He can wait on one of the final free agents who might move the needle and he can wait for one of his fellow general managers The Oilers signalled Philip Broberg from a long way out — most local to blink and send over Mike Hoffman or Jason Zucker. media had the name the week previous to the draft — but that little item from McKenzie has me thinking Holland was looking at this draft in a Holland made his reputation as a scout and an astute judge of talent. He completely different way than the Oilers organization would have in past spoke of Broberg with authority at the draft, for him the decision years. The trend was USHL and WHL kids, and Edmonton took a big appeared to be black and white. I don’t think there’s a black-and-white Swedish defenceman with several impressive forwards on the board. I’m trade out there, and I expect he’ll have to compromise some of the future not saying he overruled the scouting staff, but am saying the things in order to address the current dilemma. Rock, meet hard place. I’m Broberg brings — size and speed, a range of skills that may allow him to fascinated to see his first big move as general manager of the Oilers. become a shutdown defender, the ability to transport the puck — match the look of Holland’s best teams over the years. It was not the obvious The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 play at No. 8 overall. For the Oilers to draft this kind of player with so many skill forwards on the board showed discipline, whether it works out or not. Holland is an excellent scout. I’d give a lot of money to see Edmonton’s list before Holland arrived as Oilers general manager.

Finding immediate help

When Peter Chiarelli took over the Oilers in 2015, the team’s skill forwards included Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and , along with prospect Leon Draisaitl, struggling 2012 No. 1 overall pick Nail Yakupov and a lottery pick with Connor McDavid’s name on it. That’s an impressive group, but Chiarelli needed to find useful forwards who could contribute on value contracts and move the needle offensively.

The new general manager looked at the possibilities on the farm and among the draft picks, and decided to invest playing time in rookies from across the procurement universe. In his time as Edmonton’s general manager, Chiarelli deployed talent procured through the draft (McDavid, but also Anton Slepyshev, Jujhar Khaira, Jesse Puljujarvi and ), European free agency (Iiro Pakarinen), college free agency (Drake Caggiula, Patrick Russell, Joe Gambardella) plus trades and 1149403 Florida Panthers great management, the great group of guys, I think we can make something special.”

He refers to goaltending as “my art.” I like that. Quenneville, and now Bobrovsky, mean Panthers have high hopes. They also have zero excuses | Opinion Florida bestow a seven-year, $70 million deal to get him. Risky for a goalie almost 31?

“I feel I am entering my prime,” Bobrovsky says. “I appreciate the trust. BY GREG COTE I’m looking forward to prove them right.”

JULY 05, 2019 02:36 PM Tallon, with the Cats since 2010, knows that sustained winning is the first essential step in a broader, bigger battle. The Panthers must win on the ice to starting winning over the market. A franchise off the national radar and struggling for scraps of attention in its own market. A franchise with five playoff appearances in 25 seasons The Panthers’ tough spot on the South Florida sports landscape was and none back to back since 1996-97. A franchise whose fans have underlined this summer. never known sustained winning. The team’s splashy offseason was predictably overshadowed by the This franchise, the Florida Panthers, has won the NHL offseason, a title Miami Heat, supposedly headed for a quiet summer, swinging a trade for whose only trophy is hope. This is an organization that has made its star Jimmy Butler, after making headlines by drafting Tyler Herro. move, declared itself ready, and now -- with no excuses left -- must prove Nationally, the Women’s World Cup and the U.S. team’s run to the it can compete for the Stanley Cup. Not someday. Not maybe. Now. championship game jousted with star-swapping NBA free agency for the most noise. In sports, first you must earn the burden of expectations, then you must prove you are worthy of them. (If these are the dog days of summer, those dogs are barking pretty good. In sports, there is no offseason, no real dead spots on the calendar The Panthers have put themselves right in the middle of that. In a league anymore). that just saw the interloping, underdog St. Louis Blues unexpectedly raise the Cup, the Cats must got from no playoffs to a deep run in them, The Panthers’ offseason is no less notable for the relative lack of nothing less, when the games commence Oct. 3. attention, but it reminds the Cats have a lot of climbing to do in a market where the Dolphins, Heat and Hurricanes football reign, leaving the “I want to see it come together fast. I want to play games right now,” Marlins, hockey and soon Inter Miami soccer fighting for broad relevance general manager Dale Tallon told us Friday. “The window is now and beyond their hard-core audience. forever.” Tallon likens it to what he inherited while in the Chicago Blackhawks front Win now and keep winning. Think championships. Every team has that office. dream, but, in this pro market, the Panthers are better poised to do it right now than the Dolphins, Heat or Marlins. “I went through it. With the Cubs, Bears and Bulls, even the White Sox -- everyone was ahead of us, and then it turned,” he said. “I think we’ve That’s after a summer bookended by the hiring of accomplished started that process now here. Getting the best coach, the best championship coach Joel Quenneville and by this past week’s signing of goaltender, spending to the cap. Now we need sustained success. We top-tier Russian goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky -- each a seismic, gotta win.” difference-making get for Tallon, and both acquisitions underlining the willingness to spend by club owner Vinnie Viola. Best coach, premier goalie, big spending, blossoming depth, strong additions to an existing, artfully developed core. Quenneville, three-time Stanley Cup champ with Chicago in the 2010s, is simply the best coach the Cats have ever had. Significantly so. All of these equal high hopes, and one other thing:

Bobrovsky, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner coming from Columbus, No excuses left, Cats. Time to win. replaces a Hall of Famer in retired Roberto Luongo -- and is an upgrade. Miami Herald LOADED: 07.06.2019 Significantly so. “Bob” might be Florida’s single biggest player acquisition since Pavel Bure in January 1999. Bure was the “Russian Rocket.” Should Bobrovsky be the “Russian Stop-It”? (OK, maybe not...)

Missing out on top free-agent wing Artemi Panarin is all that kept Florida’s offseason from being a full-out blockbuster.

“The glamour move would have been Panarin with the goaltender,” Tallon admits. “But we needed to address some of our other needs as well.”

That led the Panthers to withdraw from the Panarain bidding war with the New York Rangers and instead sign three other free agents in starter- caliber defenseman Anton Stralman from Tampa Bay; a wing coming off his best scoring season (22-24-46) in Brett Connolly from Washington; and a steady center for depth in Noel Acciari.

It is not by coincidence that all four incoming free agents are accustomed to winning. Stralman, Connolly and Acciari’s former teams had the top three most points in the league last season. Bobrovsky also made the playofs, and advanced in them.

Those four join an existing core group of talent led by Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad, incent Trocheck, Mike Matheson and Keith Yandle.

“These [new] guys are winners and they ‘re here to take care of business,” said Ekblad. “That winning mentality is huge., It allows us to come into every game with that swagger that we can win.”

That starts with Bobrovsky, whose facemask art depicts, appropriately, a wall.

“It really wasn’t a hard decision for,” says Bobrovsky, in a thick Russian accent that turns the word happy into heppy. “With the great coach, the 1149404 Los Angeles Kings

Kings sign Mario Kempe, Adrian’s brother, to two-way contract

By Robert Morales | PUBLISHED: July 5, 2019 at 4:55 pm | UPDATED: July 5, 2019 at 4:55 PM

The Los Angeles Kings signed forward Mario Kempe of Sweden to a one-year, two-way contract on Friday. Kempe is the older brother of Kings forward Adrian Kempe, adding some intrigue to the deal.

Mario Kempe, 30, will be paid $700,000 at the NHL level, the Kings said in a news release. He and Adrian would become the first set of brothers to play for the Kings since Jan and Roman Vopat toiled for the Kings at the same time from 1996-98.

Mario Kempe has played just the past two seasons in the NHL, with the Arizona Coyotes. He had four points in 18 games in 2017-18 and nine this past season in 52 games.

He also played parts of the past two seasons with the Tucson Roadrunners, Arizona’s AHL affiliate. He had 37 points in 47 games in ’17-’18 and 11 points in 10 games this past season.

Adrian Kempe, just 22, has played the past three seasons with the Kings. He has 71 points in 187 games.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149405 Los Angeles Kings of youngster Carl Grundstrom and Tyler Toffoli carries over to this season.

Everyone likes to put out suggested lines, and that’s all well and good but Predicting the Kings’ 2019-20 opening night roster the present-day NHL is about compelling duos. It certainly would be intriguing to audition Nikolai Prokhorkin as their third-line center and see what he can do alongside his countryman Kovalchuk. By Lisa Dillman Jul 5, 2019 “He reminds me a little bit of (Ivan) Barbashev who plays for St. Louis,” said former NHL coach Dave King, who has extensive international experience, including stints in the KHL. “He’s kind of a two-way player Farewell to defensemen Jake Muzzin, Dion Phaneuf, Oscar Fantenberg with some offensive upside but he doesn’t seem to generate as much and forwards Tanner Pearson and Nate Thompson. you’d hope. Those five players were in the Los Angeles Kings’ opening-night lineup “Very capable of making the next play and has a good set of wheels, against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 5, 2018 at Staples Center. Except good work ethic. A reasonable player to sign if your depth chart needs for Phaneuf, who was bought out by the Kings in June and remains that type of fix.” unsigned, all are set to play elsewhere this upcoming season. Left Wing Half of the defense corps and two forwards have changed over from that opening night, but it won’t be nearly enough for those who expected ALEX IAFALLO and/or demanded a sweeping summer of transformation from the Kings after last season’s 30th-place finish. CARL GRUNDSTROM

Instead of a full-scale cleaning of the house, it feels more like a quarter of ILYA KOVALCHUK a pivot by Kings general manager Rob Blake. Now, he might not be KYLE CLIFFORD done. So as with all roster projections and analysis of the depth chart being done in early July, some of the following could be moot by the In a perfect world, Kovalchuk would have enhanced the Kings’ power Kings’ season opener at Edmonton on Oct. 5. play and, after the requisite adjustment period, found chemistry with Kopitar and Dustin Brown. You might notice that the Kings’ first-round pick (No. 11) in 2017, forward Gabe Vilardi, isn’t listed here. That’s not because he was overlooked by Reality intruded. The Athletic or because we have some information about his medical situation. We don’t. But in the absence of tangible progress, it didn’t Had it worked, Iafallo would have been moved down the lineup, giving make sense to list him here in this early look. more depth to the third line. So when the Kovalchuk experiment on the first line stalled, Iafallo was back with Brown and Kopitar. Also the Kings are still negotiating with their handful of RFAs: Adrian Kempe, Alex Iaffalo, Michael Amadio, Matt Roy and Cal Petersen. There is some legitimate promise in Grundstrom, acquired from the Though their deals have not yet been completed, they are still listed here. Toronto Maple Leafs in the Muzzin trade. Grundstrom has the mindset of a power forward, unafraid of the tough areas, and he had six points (five Forward Rasmus Kupari of Finland, a first-round pick (No. 20) in 2018, goals, one assist) in 15 games with the Kings in an extended late-season isn’t included in this first look either. First off, he will be challenged by the cameo. transition to the smaller ice surface and style of play in North America. Kovalchuk represents one of the biggest challenges for newly minted “There is plenty of competition for forward spots,” said one NHL scout. “If Kings coach Todd McLellan. In an interview with The Athletic in May, his play dictates he is up, great. If not, great, he is still ahead of the King had some ideas on how the Kings can get more out of Kovalchuk. development path. How he gets there and how soon, his play will That’s only part of the issue, of course, as there has to be a meaningful determine.” buy-in from Kovalchuk.

As always, you have to account for the unexpected when camp rolls Right Wing around. A year ago, you wouldn’t have seen the names Amadio, Fantenberg or Jaret Anderson-Dolan when this exercise was conducted. DUSTIN BROWN Amadio and Fantenberg both played in the season opener, while TYLER TOFFOLI Anderson-Dolan made his NHL debut in Game 2 vs. the Red Wings JEFF CARTER Anderson-Dolan, selected in the second round (No. 41) in the 2017 draft, used an impressive summer as a springboard into rookie camp and AUSTIN WAGNER training camp last season. And he stayed on the roster, surprising the Who was the Kings’ leading goal-scorer last season on the power play? skeptics by making the team and appearing in five games before going back to the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL. Brown (9).

Here is our first examination of the Kings’ depth chart. Perhaps the biggest measure of Brown’s importance was how much the Kings floundered when he was out of the lineup, when he missed the first Bonus points for spotting the biggest weakness: their lack of depth at 10 games because of a broken finger. Without him, they won two of their center. first 10 games and coach John Stevens was fired after 13 games. Center Toffoli’s all-around regression is another perplexing matter. This is a ANZE KOPITAR player who once led the NHL with a plus-minus rating (plus-35), at the end of the 2015-16 season, and was a minus-16 this past season. He ADRIAN KEMPE has gone from 31 goals in 2015-16 to 13 last season.

NIKOLAI PROKHORKIN Maybe a new coach or an expiring contract and the hint of promise with TREVOR LEWIS Kempe and Grundstrom – or combination of all three – will spark Toffoli. Again, Toffoli is at his best when others around him are excelling, and Last season, there were so many mysterious and unexplainable things when his center Jeff Carter, has struggled, so has Toffoli. happening to the Kings, so where do you start? Close to the top was Kopitar’s slide, a 32-point drop-off from the 2017-18 season. It was As for Carter, it seems like the ideal future home for him is on the wing, deeply puzzling that a Hart Trophy finalist from a year earlier would finally not center. Plus playing him further down the lineup helps shelter Carter score his first power-play goal in the third period of the season finale. from tougher matchups.

Kempe remains an enigma and can go through long goal-less stretches – Left Defense 29 regular-season games in 2017-18, and a 19-game drought this past DEREK FORBORT season. The hope is that the chemistry he seemed to find with the likes ALEC MARTINEZ JOAKIM RYAN also previously did some scouting for the Arizona Coyotes when he was based in the Twin Cities and his father, Peter Millar, was the Kings’ One of their biggest offseason moves was the hiring of assistant coach equipment manager and now works for Warrior Hockey equipment Trent Yawney. Yawney was with McLellan in Edmonton and before that company. was an assistant with the Ducks, tasked with handling their defense and penalty kill. When Yawney was in Anaheim, the Ducks’ penalty kill was The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 ranked in the league’s top five for three consecutive seasons.

Alec Martinez probably had to endure as many trade rumors as anyone this past season. He has spent his entire professional career in the Kings organization and has the leadership and sense of accountability to pass along to the next generation.

Joakim Ryan isn’t far removed from the 2017-18 campaign in which he was the Sharks’ rookie of the year. But last season, his second-paring spot with Brent Burns was taken by rookie defenseman Radim Simek and he became a consistent healthy scratch, unable to get sent to the AHL without requiring waivers.

San Jose opted not to qualify him, so the Kings signed him as a free agent on July 1, a low-risk move worth making, a one-year deal at $725,000.

Right Defense

DREW DOUGHTY

MATT ROY

SEAN WALKER

One more thought about Yawney. It’ll be one of the more intriguing storylines of next season, to see how his relationship evolves with Drew Doughty, whose up-and-down season often mirrored the struggles of the collective group.

I suspect Doughty hasn’t had this strong-willed a coach since Darryl Sutter was with the Kings. Now Yawney has a different approach than Sutter, less sarcastic but able to lower the boom, and loudly, when necessary.

Given that he helped the development of the Ducks’ young defense in a meaningful way, Yawney’s arrival is the best thing to happen to Kings youngsters like Roy and Sean Walker, who have a combined 64 games of NHL experience.

*D-man prospects like Mikey Anderson, a fourth-round draft choice in 2017, and Sean Durzi, acquired in the Muzzin trade, seem more likely to start their professional careers in the AHL with the Ontario Reign.

Goaltender

JONATHAN QUICK

JACK CAMPBELL

The fire-everyone, trade-everyone posse is probably going to have to deal with the status quo here. This is repetitive but the NHL goaltending market is famously unpredictable and Quick, 33, is coming off the worst numbers of his career (3.38 GAA and .888 save percentage).

If anyone can get Quick back on track, which in turn helps his trade value rise, it is goaltending coach Bill Ranford. That seems the most advisable course of action when there aren’t a lot of options.

The one thing the Kings can control is his workload and that was not well-managed this past season after Quick returned from his knee surgery.

Campbell was one of the Kings’ few bright spots this past season. His goals-against average (2.30) and save percentage (.928) is more stunning considering the Kings’ defensive woes in front of him. Another point of encouragement for the Kings was Cal Petersen, who filled in more than adequately when Campbell and Quick were recovering from their respective knee surgeries.

Petersen and Campbell were well mentored by goalie development guru Dusty Imoo, who recently left the Kings organization and will be working for Kunlun Red Star of the KHL.

Filling Imoo’s big shoes will be Matt Millar, who has been goaltending coach and director of hockey operations for the USHL the past six years.

On Friday, Blake confirmed the news, which had been circulating in the goaltending community. Millar, regarded as an up-and-comer in the field, 1149406 Los Angeles Kings When the choice was made, we thought it would be the first of many moves by general manager Rob Blake. Instead, he has stood pat, adding defenseman Joakim Ryan and forward Martin Frk. Both players could Grading Kings and Ducks in free agency and pondering if they can still spend next season in Los Angeles, but it wouldn’t be a shock if either make some moves goes back and forth between the AHL and NHL.

Blake wasn’t able to unload any of his aging players with big contracts. Now, he has to hope they don’t decline further and there’s a market for By Josh Cooper Jul 5, 2019 them in the future.

It’s impossible to know if anyone was willing to take Carter, Quick, Martinez (who still has a lot of value for a team with Cup aspirations) or The free-agent periods of the Kings and Ducks weren’t all that eventful. anyone else on the Kings’ roster age 28 and over who makes decent- In fact – at least so far – they have been downright boring. Granted, both sized money. Tyler Toffoli also qualifies and fits more in the Martinez teams are rebuilding, but neither made any sort of interesting moves mold as someone who isn’t cheap but still is useful for a contender. outside of buyouts (Corey Perry with Anaheim and Dion Phaneuf with Same with Trevor Lewis. But their salary cap situation wasn’t impossible Los Angeles) along with an interesting coaching hire with former Kings – especially after the Phaneuf buyout. bench boss Darryl Sutter heading down the freeway to work with the “The Kings have $12 million in cap space and no big restricted free Ducks as an advisor. agents, so they could have eaten a bad contract for one year for sure,” So all those players we wrote about potentially going to the Ducks in free the exec said. agency? A lot of them got bigger money elsewhere. Same with the guys Blake is a patient executive who doesn’t force what isn’t there. It’s not a we talked about going to the Kings. Though former Canucks defenseman bad approach by any stretch since some GMs tend to be trigger happy Ben Hutton is interestingly still on the market. when it comes to trades without working through all the details. The players we thought the Kings could trade – Jonathan Quick, Jeff “You can’t sacrifice too much,” an NHL team scout said. Carter, Alec Martinez, Ilya Kovalchuk – are all still with the franchise. Anaheim made one trade that was not seen as an improvement and But the Kings have a lot of problems, and going into next year with the hasn’t done much else outside of adding to the AHL roster. same roster probably won’t excite fans much.

TRADE Also, what if Jonny Brodzinski, who was allowed to walk as an unrestricted free agent, scores at a decent clip for the San Jose Sharks? DUCKS: NICOLAS DESLAURIERS He was a good scorer in the AHL and has an excellent shot. CANADIENS: 4TH And lastly, there’s the 36-year-old Kovalchuk, who last season just didn’t There is a belief that, for both teams, the best path forward was to be seem to fit and often found himself benched. He’s still on the roster. Does patient and wait for a market to develop – later in the summer or during new coach Todd McLellan have a plan to get 20-plus goals from him next the season. But was that the case? Generally, the draft and the first week season? Was last season all on interim coach Willie Desjardins, who of free agency are when teams have the most leverage to make deals. struggled with Kovalchuk, or was it the player’s fault? Unless the Kings want to trade Kovalchuk, we’ll find out next season. “They’re two bad teams. Should be working 24/7 to find market inefficiencies to exploit in trade and weaponize any cap space,” a former But the offseason isn’t over, so maybe it’s premature to be too harsh on NHL team executive said. “I mean just philosophically, if you aren’t Los Angeles. Plus, sometimes trade markets emerge out of nowhere at making smart trades you probably aren’t working hard enough. There’s various points of the summer, or even in training camp or preseason. always something. Especially when you’re bad.” “Never say never about trading guys. There’s always a market,” the scout This statement makes sense. When you’re the Ducks or the Kings, the said. status quo isn’t exactly acceptable. Anaheim won’t be going into next Plus, maybe they just need to really be patient and wait for the younger year with the same roster it opened with last season, hoping some of its guys to come up and push out the older players. last first-round draft picks can turn into star core pieces. “There are still a few guys out there that should come in at good prices The Kings, on the other hand, are looking like they’ll have pretty much but in general I’d say they are in that mode of trying to rebuild with the same group of players that finished 30th a year ago. By our expert younger assets and eventually trying to add the right guys through,” an accounts, they did a fantastic job of finding fresh blood in the draft, but NHL team executive said. those players aren’t going to be ready for a while. Ducks As far as other draft picks from recent years, Jaret Anderson-Dolan (2017 second-rounder) will challenge for a roster spot, but the status of Major Subtractions: Corey Perry 2017 first-rounder Gabe Vilardi is a mystery because of a long-term back injury. Rasmus Kupari (2018 first-rounder) is still likely a year away, Major Additions: Nicolas Deslauriers, Darryl Sutter according to some scouts I spoke with. Anderson-Dolan definitely will Grade: B- help the Kings for many years and is considered captain material, but he’s not a high-end offensive prospect. The Ducks had their plan and didn’t need to do much. They’re going to head into next season with Troy Terry, Max Jones, Max Comtois and So with the hottest part of the free-agency period pretty much at a close, Sam Steel all likely on roster and pushing the vets. Could they have tried we decided to grade both teams and how they performed. Also feel free to trade Adam Henrique before his no-trade clause kicked in? Sure. They to put your own grades in the comments below! didn’t need to but he was a chip they could have used.

Kings Could the Ducks have gone after a defenseman to add to their top four? Major Subtractions: Dion Phaneuf, Jonny Brodzinski Yes. Did they really need to? Probably, but the prices of top-four D-men were so high that adding one in free agency didn’t make much sense. Major Additions: Joakim Ryan, Martin Frk There’s no way they could match the $5.5 million per year over three seasons the Florida Panthers gave 32-year-old Anton Stralman – along Grade: C- with the 16-team no-trade list. Yikes. The Kings made the expensive decision to get rid of Phaneuf. That was Getting rid of Perry was probably the right call – though some scouts I smart. Last season he seemed a step too slow, and at $5.25 million he spoke with wondered why not wait until his contract ran out in two years, was far too expensive a player for them to have on their roster blocking a since he still had some ability to score and now his cap hit is spread out spot that could be used by a youngster. over the next four years, rather than two. This includes a $6.625 million Watching him decline was one of the sadder parts of the 2018-19 cap hit in 2020-21. season. He was always a pro and someone who commanded respect Deslauriers was a curious decision since he’s never scored more than 10 just by how hard he played and practiced. goals in a season, but it was made in the context of adding more toughness to protect the youngsters. Was there someone better in San Diego or on the free-agent market to take on the role of being physical and fighting anyone who’d mess with Jones, Comtois, Steel or Terry? Maybe, but that’s how the move was explained to us.

The most interesting addition the Ducks made was off the ice: bringing in Sutter as an advisor to new coach Dallas Eakins. Sutter won two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles, and his groups were known as strong with puck possession. Under former coach Randy Carlyle, Anaheim struggled to hold onto the puck against their opponents. According to the NHL’s enhanced stats site, teams fired 313 more shot attempts than the Ducks during Carlyle’s tenure last season before he got fired in February.

Adding Sutter’s knowledge and his ability to get players to stay in the offensive zone, and defend, to Eakins’ desire to play a faster, more speed-oriented game could be Anaheim’s biggest move this summer.

“Now the Ducks have a good blend of old and new philosophies and Sutter’s experience will be invaluable for a relatively green Ducks coaching staff,” Jordan Samuels-Thomas of The Athletic said. “Sutter will be great for Max Jones, Nick Ritchie and Max Comtois. Big power forwards who can wear teams down with a possession game. They will also have the freedom under Dallas to make skilled plays when they’re there.”

Without that move, the Ducks’ grade would have been lower. But because of it, they entered into B- territory.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149407 Los Angeles Kings

KINGS SIGN MARIO KEMPE TO ONE-YEAR, TWO-WAY CONTRACT; IAFALLO ELECTS ARBITRATION

JON ROSENJULY 5, 2019

CONTRACTS AND FINANCES

Some news over the holiday weekend:

MARIO KEMPE SIGNS. Adrian’s older brother, who was in attendance at Staples Center when Adrian scored his first career goal against Washington late in the 2016-17 season, has signed with Los Angeles, the Kings announced Friday. Mario Kempe, originally drafted by Philadelphia in the fifth round in 2007, totaled six goals and 13 points in 70 NHL games with Arizona over the last two seasons and 23 goals and 48 points in 58 AHL contests with Tucson. The six-foot, 185-pound forward turns 31 during training camp.

The contract is worth $700,000 at the NHL level.

This is an interesting depth signing, though one more probable to have a greater impact with Ontario than Los Angeles. And that’s fine! The Reign need quality, character veteran players, too. Like Martin Frk, who also signed a one-year, two-way contract on July 1, Mario Kempe will compete for a depth role in training camp, though the Kings would prefer if one of their younger and homegrown players – one of the “eight-to-ten” that Blake referenced would play for Los Angeles – held a firmer grasp on such a role.

Mikael Kempe, father to Mario and Adrian, has served as the general manager and a coach with Göta/Traneberg in Sweden’s Hockeytvåan, the fourth level of Swedish hockey. As a coach’s son, expect similar responsible and speed-based play away from the puck as Adrian has demonstrated in the pro game.

IAFALLO ELECTS ARBITRATION. Friday was the deadline for player- elected salary arbitration. As shared (and not heeded) on Twitter, this isn’t news. Every year a decent handful of restricted free agents in need of new contracts elect for arbitration, even though the vast majority will agree upon new contracts in advance of their arbitration date. Last year, four of 44 cases went before an arbitrator, and that’s still a higher number than usual. This year, 40 players elected for arbitration.

Via the NHLPA, arbitration hearings will be held in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4. Teams may also elect for an arbitrator by 2:00 p.m. PT Saturday, July 6, though that list of cases will be much smaller than the 40 names shared today.

In the unlikely event that the two sides don’t reach a deal before their hearing, a player representative and a team representative meet in front of an arbitrator, who issues a binding one or two-year contract, with the length of the contract determined by the team in player-elected arbitration and determined by the player in team-elected arbitration. It is generally not in either party’s interest to get to arbitration, which puts the team and player in an adversarial setting.

The last six LA Kings to elect arbitration:

2017: Kevin Gravel (signed one-year, $650K, on July 14, 2017)

2014: Dwight King (signed three-year, $5.85M contract on July 30, 2014)

2013: Jake Muzzin (signed two-year, $2M contract on July 12, 2013)

2013: Alec Martinez (signed two-year, $2.2M contract on July 14, 2013)

2013: Jordan Nolan (signed two-year, $1.4M contract on July 19, 2013)

2013: Trevor Lewis (signed one-year, $1.325M contract on July 23, 2013)

Restricted free agents in need of new contracts in addition to Iafallo are Michael Amadio, Daniel Brickley, Adrian Kempe, Cal Petersen, Sheldon Rempal and Matt Roy. Petersen and Roy also had the option to elect salary arbitration.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149408 Minnesota Wild “We’re easily the deepest that we’ve been here since I’ve got here up front,” Boudreau said.

Although his 500-plus games classify him as a veteran, Zuccarello feels Coach Bruce Boudreau exploring Wild's options for Mats Zuccarello and he falls between the older crowd and the youngsters — someone who Ryan Hartman can complement both groups.

“I feel better than I did five years ago,” said the 31-year-old Zuccarello, By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JULY 6, 2019 — 12:15AM who’s 5-8 and 184 pounds. “I’m a small body. It doesn’t take a lot to keep this body in shape.”

Age, games played and past results are all indicators that can shape Wild coach Bruce Boudreau hasn’t come up with one or two potential what to expect out of this revamped Wild roster. lineups that include new right wingers Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman. But what will matter most is if the team can assemble itself in a way that it improves. He’s brainstormed 12. “As players and as coaches, we have to create an environment of “There’s a lot of moving parts,” Boudreau said. positivity and believing in ourselves,” Zuccarello said. “We didn’t make the playoffs last year, but that’s our goal this year. And I’m sure if we all The pack of possibilities isn’t just reflective of the Wild integrating new come together, we’re going to have a good chance of making the faces. playoffs.” It’s a nod to the crowded depth chart that existed before the team signed Star Tribune LOADED: 07.06.2019 the pair of free agents Monday, additions that only magnify the decisions looming for team brass to finalize the Wild’s look for next season.

“When you can get to a team that has push from within to be able to get your ice time, to solidify where you play in the lineup, that’s the best thing,” General Manager Paul Fenton said. “We’ve been looking for depth. We’ve been trying to get internal competition, and now it’s going to happen.”

With both goalies and seven defensemen returning, those positions don’t appear to be headed for much turnover — if any.

But the forward lines could shake out in several ways, especially after the team brought in Zuccarello on a five-year, $30 million contract and locked up Hartman for two years at $3.8 million.

Zuccarello is primed for the top line, and Boudreau already has considered him a setup man for Zach Parise. In 2018-19, Zuccarello tallied 28 assists among his 40 points while averaging a career-high 19 minutes, 51 seconds in ice time.

“The way that [Zuccarello] competes is going to be contagious for our team,” Fenton said, “and that’s the most important thing for me.”

Lower in the lineup, Boudreau can see Hartman being at the opposite end of a unit with Marcus Foligno — a combination that has the makings of a gritty, checking trio.

How the rest of the spots fill out, though, is where the mystery lies.

Besides Parise and Foligno, Jason Zucker and Jordan Greenway are other left wingers. Kevin Fiala and Ryan Donato are also left shots, but they could be shifted to the right. That would alleviate the logjam at left wing while also filling in the gap between Zuccarello and Hartman on the right side.

J.T. Brown was the team’s fourth-line right winger last season, but he may end up getting bumped from that perch; Luke Kunin is another righty, although he can also play center.

Joel Eriksson Ek has the same flexibility, able to slot up the middle or at left wing.

Eric Staal, captain Mikko Koivu and Victor Rask are the other returning centers, but Koivu is working his way back from a torn ACL and meniscus. And Nico Sturm, who finished last season with the team after turning pro, is expected to vie for a center job.

“I personally think I’m ready to play in the NHL, and I think I can help this team out as a third- or fourth-line center,” said Sturm, who is adjusting his offseason training to prepare for the grind of an 82-game regular season. “That’s my goal. If that wasn’t my goal, there’s no purpose of being here.”

This means 15 forwards could be competing for 12 openings, math that may force the Wild to put player(s) on waivers or send some to the . Sturm, Kunin, Donato and Greenway wouldn’t require waivers to accept that assignment.

Regardless of how the forward spots are occupied, the Wild is poised to have a mix of youth and veterans after getting younger at the trade deadline and acquiring experience in free agency — enhancing the support system for that up-and-coming class. 1149409 Minnesota Wild But first, we have to figure out a question that Bruce Boudreau asked on Wednesday — Who goes where? How do you take these 14 NHL forwards, plus AHL players like Gerry Mayhew who will compete for a Projecting the Wild’s ideal forward lines: Is it enough to get back to the spot, and make a lineup out of it? playoffs? After doing some playing around, these were the lines that A) reasonably maximized the WAR of the forwards, B) felt like lines Boudreau would realistically put together, and C) made sense from a logical perspective. By Tony Abbott Jul 5, 2019 We have …

Line 1: Parise — Staal — Zuccarello (Put the new playmaker with two of Back in February, as the Minnesota Wild were sliding out of the playoff your best goal-scorers) bubble en route to missing their first postseason in seven years, owner Craig Leipold sent a video to season ticket holders to assure them that Line 2: Zucker — Eriksson Ek — Fiala (Put Eriksson Ek in a position to this was only temporary. succeed by pairing him with fast shooters)

“This is not a rebuild,” he declared, all but announcing his intention to Line 3: Foligno — Kunin — Donato (Have Foligno support two kids by keep spending in free agency to make the Wild competitive next year. crashing the net and playing “We plan to make some noise this summer.” defense)

It’s summer now, and Leipold and general manager Paul Fenton did take Line 4: Greenway — Koivu — Hartman (Huge fourth line with some skill a big swing on July 1, taking home forwards Mats Zuccarello and Ryan and defensive chops) Hartman. Let’s take a look at the what the lineup creator spits out, with a projected Minnesota may not have landed free-agent targets such as Joe Pavelski full-season WAR for each line: or Anders Lee, but Zuccarello is a strong player in his own right and fills a number of needs for Minnesota. He has experience and success at right As you can see, this WAR-optimizing projection takes the bold steps of wing, which helps Minnesota keep one of its other left-shot wingers from dropping franchise mainstay Mikko Koivu to fourth-line center and leaving playing on his off side. Victor Rask and his $4 million salary as the odd man out among the top candidates. But Zuccarello doesn’t just help the Wild check off a positional need. He’s been consistently productive throughout his career, averaging 59 points Assuming the defense and remain the same, here’s how per 82 games since playing his first full season in 2013-14. Those kinds those groups shake out: of numbers may not jump off the page, but that’s legitimate first-line production — the kind that Minnesota rarely sees. The Wild have had just And here’s what that all means for the Wild’s season: five different players hit that point total in that span. That group projects to put Minnesota at around 85 points. They finished It gets even better, because Zuccarello not only produces, but he fills a last season with 83. Both numbers figure to be well out of the playoffs. specific style of play that the Wild desperately need: a playmaker. As we Of course, these are just projections, and there is room for some broke down last week, Minnesota has plenty of shooters in players like improvement here. The biggest area for potential growth is Fiala, who Zach Parise, Eric Staal, Jason Zucker, Ryan Donato, Kevin Fiala and had just 39 points in 83 games between Nashville and Minnesota last Joel Eriksson Ek. But after trading Mikael Granlund in February, year, notching over one win below replacement. If the soon-to-be 23- Minnesota has had precious few distributors. year-old can rebound back to something like his 2017-18 year (1.8 WAR) Zuccarello helps remedy this. Over the past three years, Zuccarello has in his first full season with the Wild, then that alone would boost this 1.28 assists per hour at 5-on-5. Out of the 196 forwards with 2500-plus 5- projection to 90 points, which is much closer to a playoff spot — it was on-5 minutes in that time, that ranks 35th in the NHL. And according to the magic number for Colorado to get the second wild-card spot last Corey Sznajder’s All Three Zones data, Zuccarello ranks in the 85th season. percentile when it comes to shot assists. His vision is clearly going to be There are others who might be poised for bounce-back seasons that an asset to the Wild, and Zuccarello has won the devotion of Rangers could certainly help — Zucker, Matt Dumba, Devan Dubnyk could all gain fans for his skill and competitiveness. points for the Wild, given health and/or a return to top form. Of course, Zuccarello will be 32 next season, which means that Father Time could there’s also the possibility that those bounce-backs don’t happen, or that catch up to him at any point, but if you’re looking for encouraging signs, other players have a down year to offset some of the gains from others. he hasn’t suffered any steep decline as of yet. Until he shows otherwise, And maybe the Wild aren’t done adding pieces. There is still time to you can pencil him in for around 55-60 points per season. search for moves that could reshape the roster. But as of now, all of this As for Ryan Hartman, he was not necessarily a highly coveted free suggests that it’s an uphill climb if Minnesota wants to make the agent. Hartman was traded as a restricted free agent from Philadelphia postseason. to Dallas in June, only to not get a qualifying offer from the Stars. But The Central Division sent Nashville, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Dallas, and while Hartman is now on his fifth organization in just over 16 months, he Colorado to the playoffs last year. St. Louis won the Stanley Cup. Dallas is still intriguing. added Pavelski. Colorado is young and on the rise. Nashville and Hartman adds another forward to the Wild’s roster who loves to shoot. Winnipeg are still formidable. Chicago, which finished sixth in the division On a per-minute basis, he has shot as frequently as Staal and Fiala over last year, has upgraded its defense and goaltending. Over in the Pacific the past three seasons, which adds a bit of a different element to the Division, Arizona — which finished ahead of the Wild with 86 points last Wild’s bottom-six. season — might be poised to improve and swipe a playoff spot in 2020. A roster projected for 85 points — even if it overachieves somewhat — is All Three Zones also suggests he’s very strong at zone entries. This in for a real dogfight to jump up in that group. might have to do with the systems he’s played in — Chicago and Nashville are hardly dump-and-chase teams — but it’s encouraging The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 nonetheless. If that skill carries over to the Wild, he’ll provide a transition threat that almost no one slated to be in the Wild’s bottom-six possesses.

So, yes, both of these signings should make the Wild better than they were at the end of the season. But how much better? Good enough to get into the playoffs?

Fortunately, Sean Tierney — writer for Hockey Graphs and a contributor for The Athletic — made a lineup creator that predicts a lineup’s standings points based on Evolving Hockey‘s Wins Above Replacement metric to help answer this. 1149410 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens sign free-agent forward Nick Cousins to one-year deal

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: July 5, 2019

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced Friday that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year US$1-million contract with free- agent forward Nick Cousins.

Cousins, who is 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, posted 7-20-27 totals in 81 games last season with the Arizona Coyotes and had a minus-8 rating while averaging 13:33 of ice time and winning 46.7 per cent of his faceoffs.

The 25-year-old was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round (68th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. In 259 career regular-season games, the Belleville, Ont., native has 31-42-73 totals. During his final season of junior with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds in 2012-13, Cousins posted 27-76-103 totals in 64 games.

With the signing of Cousins, the Canadiens have 25 players under contract with $7.469 million of salary-cap space, according to CapFriendly.com.

The Canadiens still have four unsigned restricted free agents: forwards Artturi Lehkonen, Joel Armia, Charles Hudon and Mike McCarron, who spent last season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149411 Montreal Canadiens when they signed free-agent forward Nick Cousins to a one-year $1- million deal, another marginal pick-up for the team.

But you can only evaluate what’s happened and not what might happen. What the Puck: Canadiens moving in wrong direction this summer The bottom line is they lost a leader in Shaw and they didn’t find a partner for Weber or a top-six forward with size and skill.

BRENDAN KELLY, Updated: July 5, 2019 On paper, they don’t appear to be a playoff team.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.06.2019

This summer is going so badly for the Canadiens I think it might be time for Habs president Geoff Molson to announce some fancy new food offerings at the Bell Centre.

C’mon, why not start with a little levity because, oh my, do we Habs fans need it. Astonishingly, the Canadiens are worse today than they were when they finished the season just out of the playoffs. They almost made it, they were exciting to watch and so on, but they missed the playoffs — again.

That’s one playoff series won during the past five years. You heard about those comments from Carey Price and Shea Weber in the Athletic a few days back, right? The two highest-profile Canadiens made it clear they’re getting frustrated that Stanley Cup contention is nowhere in sight as the clock ticks on their careers. Players like Price, Weber and Brendan Gallagher have barely played in the post-season during the last five years. This is not good.

The Habs’ competition in the East — notably the Devils, Panthers, Rangers and Leafs — have improved during the past two weeks, but Montreal has gone in the other direction. It boggles the mind. Just how badly has general manager Marc Bergevin bungled his summer deals thus far? Let me count the ways.

Just before free agency began on July 1, Bergevin traded rugged forward Andrew Shaw, along with a 2021 seventh-round draft pick, to the Chicago Blackhawks in return for … a bag of pucks. Okay, the return was actually a second-round and a seventh-round pick in the 2020 draft and a third-round pick in 2021, but you get the idea. They got little for Shaw, who scored 19 goals and notched 47 points in 63 games last season. He’s injury-prone, but he is a leader and is the kind of heart-and-soul player we thought Bergevin loved.

The reason Bergevin made the trade was to free up US$3.9 million in cap space to snare an A-list free agent. His desired target was Matt Duchene but, despite of all the talk about how Duchene grew up a Habs fan, that was never going to happen. Free agents sign for two reasons, money and to go to a team that is likely to contend for the Cup. Montreal doesn’t offer the latter.

The bungling went up several notches on July 1, when Bergevin signed a hostile offer sheet for restricted free-agent Sebastian Aho. The vast majority of pundits said the offer was so low that the were guaranteed to match it, given Aho is their franchise player, and they said they will. The next day, ‘Canes owner Tom Dundon and GM Don Waddell suggested Bergevin got played by Aho’s agent. On Friday, an anonymous NHL manager was quoted in Le Journal de Montréal saying “Dundon should thank the Canadiens. The Hurricanes now have an excellent player under contract at a very reasonable salary.” (The deal Bergevin offered carries an annual cap hit of US$8.45 million.)

The net result? Nada for the Habs and egg on Bergevin’s face. On Thursday, the Habs GM sheepishly waded back into free-agency waters, after all the big fish had been caught, and signed former Winnipeg Jets defenceman Ben Chiarot to a three-year US$10.5 million deal. Reviews were mixed with gusts up to fairly negative. Gazette columnist Marc Dumont wrote in the Athletic that “they needed a top-pairing left-handed defenceman. Instead, they acquired a mediocre player. …”

The Canadiens desperately need a left-shooting defenceman to play on the top pairing alongside Weber and everyone agrees that Chiarot doesn’t fit that bill.

Bergevin also tried to fill another important need and signed backup goalie Keith Kinkaid to a one-year US$1.75 million deal. The trouble is that his goals-against and save-percentage stats last season weren’t that different from the numbers put up by Antti Niemi, who was dumped by the Habs. (Why has Bergevin had so much trouble finding a decent goalie to support Price?)

Of course, the summer is not over and Montreal still has US$7.47 million in cap space available. They lost $1 million in cap space Friday afternoon 1149412 Montreal Canadiens But Weber’s performance masked how difficult it was to do what he did and only reinforced his “mutant” status in the eyes of his peers. He did what he did with very limited offseason training and no training camp, The summer of Shea: a healthy and energized Weber is preparing for essentially trying to board a train while it was moving at full speed. next season and loving life He made it look easy, but it wasn’t.

“There’s obviously the mindset part of it; you have to believe that you can By Arpon Basu Jul 5, 2019 do it,” Weber said. “Once you stop believing it, the mind is such a powerful thing, especially for a professional athlete. There’s so much that goes on, so much negativity, so you have to have a good mindset. Then you have to prepare yourself physically. , B.C. – Shea Weber sauntered up to home plate with a packed house at Elks Stadium for what seemed to that point like a futile “I prepared myself physically by myself as much as I could here in exercise. Kelowna, and then with the Habs staff when I got back to Montreal. All in all, given the timeframe, we did everything we could in that time. It turned All the celebrity NHL players who preceded him at the softball out that I was very fortunate to come back and help the team as much as tournament organized by Josh Gorges and Blake Comeau to benefit the I could.” Kelowna General Hospital had failed to hit a single ball over the fence during the home run derby. He was a massive help to the team.

Which doesn’t make for much of a home run derby. Over the first 24 games of the season without Weber, the Canadiens were sixth in the league (all numbers at 5-on-5, courtesy of Natural Stat The fence is at a big-league distance, 330 feet down the right-field line, Trick) in Corsi for percentage (52.2), 10th in shots on goal percentage which would be Weber’s target as a lefty hitter. (51.3), 13th in goals for percentage (50.9) and 10th in expected goals for He laser-beamed a couple of balls that fell short of that big-league fence percentage (52). Over the next 24 games the Canadiens were second in and was running out of pitches when the balls suddenly started flying off the NHL in Corsi for (55.2), fourth in shots on goal (53.8), third in goals his bat. Once he got in a groove, it was game over. for (57.3) and seventh in expected goals for (53.5).

Weber wound up hitting three of the next four pitches he saw high over Of course, not all of that improvement can be solely attributed to Weber – the fence in the right-field power alley, with two of them coming on his Price also found his game right around the same time, which is perhaps final out. related – but his performance coming off two surgeries and a full year off the ice was nothing short of remarkable. SHEA WEBER CRANKING SOFTBALLS OVER A FENCE ABOUT 330 FEET AWAY LIKE IT WAS NOTHING IN THE HOME RUN DERBY. “When you first come back there’s that excitement, adrenaline, PIC.TWITTER.COM/OEMBO4QKM6 everything,” Weber said. “Obviously I felt a little bit, I guess you could say rusty. Just timing-wise, everything, you have to get up to speed and then — АRPON BASU (@ARPONBASU) JUNE 29, 2019 you start feeling comfortable. Then there’s what you call the dog days of the season, which you get even when you’re healthy. Everyone gets it, This is Shea Weber taking full advantage of a healthy summer, you get in the month of February and you get in a bit of a rut. We got in a something he didn’t have a year ago and something he is savouring this rut as a team. I thought, all in all, it was not bad. I think with hopefully year. more time to prepare we can be even better this year, personally and “Obviously being able to come out and play , play a couple of team-wise.” slo-pitch games here, is great; and I’m playing in a league this summer,” Weber missed 56 games over the 2017-18 season plus the first 24 Weber said last Saturday. “So I’m back playing baseball. I love playing games of 2018-19, more than triple the 24 games he missed over his baseball. It’s good to be able to get outside, get on the lake and enjoy previous nine seasons combined. He broke his left ankle – without summers in this city.” knowing it – in the first game of 2017-18, which led to tendon damage His performance in the home run derby shouldn’t have come as a because the injury was not caught at first and he played through it. Then, surprise to anyone who saw Weber cranking balls over the fence at after having surgery to repair that injury, Weber went for what was Rogers Centre while taking batting practice prior to a Blue Jays game in supposed to be a routine arthroscopic cleanout of his right knee, but 2017, but it was yet another example of his freakish athleticism. which turned into a repair of his meniscus on June 19, 2018. When Weber went under anaesthesia he expected the procedure to require a “Yeah,” Carey Price said. “He’s a mutant.” recovery measured in weeks. When he woke up he learned he would be out five or six months. Shea Weber sends a softball rocketing over the fence at Elks Stadium during a home run derby in Kelowna. (Arpon Basu / The Athletic) That’s not easy.

That may or may not be true, but Weber’s physical attributes have long The 2018 offseason was the first of his career Weber had to spend been a source of awe among his peers. This is why his return from nearly recovering from an injury, let alone two at the same time. This was new a full calendar year off the ice last season was seen as a saving grace for to him, and as well as he played when he returned, that offseason was a the Canadiens, even though they had a very respectable 11-8-5 record in difficult adjustment. his absence. But when he returned on Nov. 27 at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Canadiens were in the midst of a four-game “I think going through that, I literally realized I’ve been through the worst losing streak, their first real slump of the season. for me,” Weber said. “Like, I’ve never been hurt to that extent ever. The ankle was a freak injury, nobody knew what was going on and it turned The timing of Weber’s return couldn’t have been better for the into something that it shouldn’t have been. So what are you supposed to Canadiens, but at the same time it couldn’t have been much worse do about that? Not play through an injury? We all play through injuries all because they needed him to be great right away. the time. I wouldn’t change anything.

The plan was to ease him into the lineup, but Weber played 25:11 in his “Obviously I would have liked to know at the time that it was broken. We season debut against Carolina, a 2-1 loss at home. Then the Canadiens got an X-ray and nothing showed, but obviously there was something. So won 16 of their next 24 games, with Weber leading the team with 24:11 that was two back to back things where I couldn’t train properly for seven of ice time per game and was a major offensive contributor with seven or eight months, a full year without playing hockey. Now I get to train, goals, eight assists and a plus-11 rating over that span. The Canadiens which I love doing.” had a 27-17-5 record at the end of that 24-game stretch on Jan. 18 and were tied with three other teams for third place in the Eastern Conference That love is part of the reason why Weber makes Kelowna his offseason with 59 points. home. He played his junior hockey here for the Rockets and after his first pro season in 2006 he purchased a home in the Okanagan Valley. The doubts about Weber’s ability to come back and be effective after a full year off the ice looked just as ridiculous as his teammates considered Honestly, it’s hard to blame him. it to be just before his return. Okanagan Lake in Kelowna at dusk. (Arpon Basu / The Athletic) But the beauty of the place is not the main reason Weber left his No matter what the Canadiens do or could have done this offseason, if hometown of Sicamous, B.C. Weber can earn that heavy usage and be consistently effective while playing those minutes it will be the number one way the Canadiens “I love my hometown, it’s great,” Weber said. “It’s a small town, a couple defence will improve next season. thousand people, a great place to live. But facilities-wise it’s not easy to train and the guys that I train with here help me and we push each other. But in the meantime, it’s summer in beautiful Kelowna and Weber’s It’s not that far, it’s an hour and a half so my dad can still come here easy enjoying the fruits of his own health. and 10 days ago we were back in Sicamous for the day. It’s an easy commute.” As we were sitting in the bleachers talking Saturday, a group of three kids came over to get Weber’s autograph. The exchange he had with There’s no telling the extent of the impact a full summer of training will them perfectly reflected what is making Weber so happy this summer. have on Weber next season, but it can’t be anything but positive. At this time last year Weber was still limping to the gym, but focusing strictly on “You guys having fun watching baseball?” Weber asked the kids. upper body work and single-leg exercises on “whichever leg wasn’t in the “Yeah,” they replied in unison. surgery part,” he said. “Yeah? You guys play baseball or just hockey?” Weber asked as he This summer he got in the gym earlier than he does most years to try and signed a hockey card. play a bit of catch up from what he missed last summer. But what he’s looking forward to most is training camp because, and this part largely “I play hockey and baseball,” one kid replies. went unmentioned, when Weber returned in late November he was “Nice,” Weber says. coming back to a team that had completely revamped the way it played from a season earlier. “I used to play baseball, but I still play hockey,” a second kid says.

“It’ll be good to have a training camp,” Weber added. “Not a lot of people Weber frowns a little. talk about how important training camp is. You look at a lot of guys, even healthy guys who hold out and miss a full training camp, I’ve played with “You don’t play baseball anymore? Why not?” he asks. guys that did that, and you’re behind. You are. Training camp is so “Hockey’s better,” the kid answers. important systems-wise, practice-wise and getting up to speed. “Well it is better, but baseball’s cool too,” Weber says. “It’s cool to play “It was kind of like hitting the ground and the ground was moving and lots of sports.” you’re trying to get your feet under you. But I think I handled it pretty well, to be honest.” Weber’s playing in a baseball league this summer, he’s enjoying the lake in Kelowna, he is working out extra hard to prepare for the hockey But Weber doesn’t do “pretty well.” The standard he sets for himself is season and he appreciates all of it more than he ever has before. much higher than that, and his motivation to reach that same standard after a full offseason to train is obvious in speaking to him. Life is good, a far cry from what it was a year ago. Now we’ll see how that will translate on the ice come October. Price can see it as well. The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 “It’s going to be huge for him,” Price said. “It’s not an easy task, us asking him to come in and play 30 minutes right off the get-go. That’s unheard of. But if there’s anybody that could do it, it’s Webs. He’s such a competitor and such a natural athlete that he has the ability to do that.

“I’m excited for him to get his body prepared for a full season.”

Much like Price and the reduced number of games the Canadiens would ideally like him to play next season, there are questions about Weber’s workload as he enters his age-34 season. It was something we began to see last season during those “dog days” in February and his minutes began to drop slightly. It continued into March, when Jeff Petry’s minutes climbed as his pairing with Brett Kulak started doing more of the heavy lifting.

Weber had no desire to talk about his reduced minutes during the season, answering questions on the subject with a steely glare more so than words. Even at the end of the season it was not a subject he particularly enjoyed discussing. That didn’t change much in late June, but there was at least an acknowledgement that it was indeed a thing.

Still, playing less is not something Weber wants to get accustomed to.

“I hate talking about it because I want to play as much as I can as long as I’m helping the team; you don’t want to hamper your performance, which is going to hurt the team in the long run,” Weber said. “But when it comes down to it, it’s whatever coach and management see fit. I understand. I talked to Claude (Julien) about it, trying to manage the minutes, longevity not only for this season, if we were to make the playoffs feeling better in the playoffs, and also the seasons to come.

“It’s tough for me, I’ve always been a guy who wants to go as hard as I can until I can’t go anymore. Some nights might have been tough trying to get into a rhythm because you’re used to playing a little bit more, but honestly it’s whatever they need me to do and I’m not ever going to complain.”

It is difficult to come away from that answer without believing that is one of the primary motivations for Weber this summer, why he was in the gym earlier than he normally is, and why he is so looking forward to training camp in September.

He wants to fight to keep his minutes. 1149413 Nashville Predators Thompson has a signed Subban poster hanging on his bedroom wall. His 11-year-old brother does, too. Both have autographed T-shirts and photos with Subban.

Why Nashville may miss PK Subban even more than Predators fans The memorabilia and the memories of meeting Subban are reminders of something bigger, though. The relationships Thompson has built because of the Blueline Buddies stretch far beyond one night of hockey. Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 12:00 p.m. CT July 5, 2019 "He made Keith feel at ease," said Todd Wilkinson, who attended the game with Thompson as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. "Every time we hang out, Keith is asking about him. He's pretty torn that P.K. is gone." Keith Thompson summed up his feelings with one word: "Ugh." Thompson and Wilkinson were paired with Detective Chad Gish, who That was the 15-year-old's reaction upon learning that the Predators had brought his son, Isaac, to the game. The four shared dinner and watched traded star defenseman P.K. Subban. from Subban's seats and met players afterward. Thompson's disappointment was a common reaction among Predators "Keith has seen a lot of things go on," said his mother, Shakkia Latimore. fans. "I talk to him about a lot of stuff the dos and don'ts. Subban was a vital part of three of the franchise's most successful "(Subban) speaks with some of the young boys with his experiences in seasons, helping the Predators to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in life. It will change a lot of the kids." 2017 and Central Division titles the next two years. The four — the Gishes, Thompson and Wilkinson — also have kept in Off the ice, Subban's impact was perhaps even greater on the Nashville touch since, with Gish checking in on Thompson's grades and hosting a area. tour of a Nashville police precinct for "big brother and little brother." Thompson is a testament to that. He took part in "P.K.'s Blueline After the tour, over breakfast, Thompson asked Wilkinson how he could Buddies" program, which was designed to foster relationships between become a police officer. Thompson is one of eight children, one who law enforcement and underprivileged youth by bringing them together as often found himself in fistfights while violence and crime littered his Subban's guests at every Predators home game. Subban would meet neighborhood. them before and after. Thompson, like Subban, is African-American. The Predators defenseman continued his annual tradition of giving back during the holiday season. Credit P.K. Subban and the P.K. Subban "It plants the seed of possibility in someone like Keith," Wilkinson said. Foundation "Someone who has had a challenging 15 years of life, who doesn't have the ability to always see what he could be." Subban, who was honored by the Nashville PD for the program, almost always had fun along the way, too, once disguising himself as a 75-year- What you see is what you get old man as part of his annual holiday tradition of giving back. Yes, P.K. Subban is a brand. Yes, he knows it. He loves the cameras. "That a big loss for the city, and for the team," said Adam Germek, Sure, he brought some Hollywood to Nashville. Everyone knows he's president and CEO of Special Olympics Tennessee, one of many area dating Lindsey Vonn. organizations that has worked with Blueline Buddies. "Almost more so for the community. He walked the walk and he talked the talk. The Predators, from the top down, don't regret a moment since they traded captain Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens for Subban in the "We're going to miss him." summer of 2016.

What PK Subban meant to the Predators He is who he is — a world-class hockey player and an active philanthropist. Neither is anything new. Subban committed to raising $10 The decision to trade Subban had everything to do with business — and million to the Montreal Children's Hospital before he arrived in Nashville. Subban's $9 million-per-year salary. He's the one who sent a video of encouragement to an African-American The team needed salary-cap space and wanted a more offensive player, boy who had experienced racism while playing hockey. which it found when Matt Duchene signed for seven years and $56 million. Predators CEO and President Sean Henry becomes agitated when someone badmouths Subban — the player or the person. But some of the first words out of Predators general manager David Poile's mouth after the Subban deal was done were telling. "I love the guy," Henry said. "I don’t think you'll find anyone within our organization that wouldn’t say the same thing. First and foremost, the REMEMBER WHEN: PK Subban's top moments in Nashville with the player he was on the ice. Just a great player. Our three best years are Predators not coincidentally the three years he was here. PARTING MESSAGE: After Predators trade him to Devils, PK Subban The mother of a 13-year-old hockey player took to Reddit to share a thanks Nashville in Instagram video video she said Predators defesenman P.K. Subban sent to her son. THE IMPACT: How will PK Subban trade impact the Nashville Video by u/hockey7676 on Reddit Predators? "The impact he had on our organization, off the ice, just that wave of "He was great on the ice and equally, if not more importantly, he was positivity and the natural inclination to always say yes to any ask, or idea. fabulous off the ice," Poile said a few hours after he dealt Subban to the When people knock him I get mad. Everything he does is genuine. 'He New Jersey Devils on June 22. likes cameras but.' No, he likes doing great things."

"He's a magnet for attention for selling the game. His charitable work is Blueline Buddies was Subban's baby, born during a meeting the higher- second to none. He did he Best Buddies thing, which I hope we can keep ups had about how to address anthem protests stemming from Colin going." Kaepernick.

Subban has been an All-Star three times and was named the best Henry recalled Subban soaking in the suggestions about how to handle defensive player in the league in 2013. His No. 76 jersey was the team's the inevitable questions, then presenting Blueline Buddies after just a few top seller during his time in Nashville. moments of thought.

Subban may be gone from the city. But he won't soon be forgotten. "He said, 'Why don't we change the whole conversation?'" Henry said. "Let's not make it about what people are doing or not doing with the Special bonds anthem. Let's address what people are talking about."

He talked the talk, then walked the walk. “I’m making an effort to build a bridge," Subban said in 2017. "Growing up I had a lot of friends in my community that didn’t like law enforcement. And a lot of that has to do with what they’ve seen. I think this hopefully helps law enforcement feel they’re appreciated. It’s a delicate topic, but I think everything with this program is positive.”

On the ice

Subban played in 252 games for the Predators during his three seasons. He had 42 goals and 112 assists.

This past season was riddled with injuries that kept him out of 19 games and far from top form.

He embraced the frustration, though, saying a little adversity is never a bad thing.

Subban also knew, as the team's highest-paid player, he might be on his way out after the Predators were eliminated by the Stars in the first round of the playoffs.

"I hope I’m part of the solution," he said. "I hope I can be here and be a part of that. But at the same token, I’m prepared to understand that this organization deserves and demands the best, and they should."

Subban is a New Jersey Devil now.

But as far as Sean Henry is concerned, he'll always have a part in Predators history.

"When you take someone who had impacted the community so much, it poses some potential voids and vacuums," Henry said. "You look at it as, 'Look what this guy did. How can we continue that?'

"That’s the compliment we can pay to all he did for us."

Tennessean LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149414 Nashville Predators "I knew it wasn’t going to be easy," Tolvanen said. "The KHL is way different. It’s a bigger ice sheet. Its not as physical. It’s not as fast. I knew it was going to be hard. Spending last year in Milwaukee, it helped me a Predators' Eeli Tolvanen knows he has plenty to learn, and he's ready to lot – just the system, to grind it out for one year. learn it Tolvanen said his two tastes of the NHL motivate him to want to be there to stay. He's in a hurry, but he's being patient, too, he said.

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 5:00 a.m. CT July 5, 2019 "Nobody wants to play in the AHL," he said. "Everybody wants to play in the NHL. It's the same for me. I want to get here as quickly as I can. I'm willing to put the work in."

Eeli Tolvanen planted his feet near where the free-throw line would have Predators forward Eeli Tolvanen was called up from the Milwaukee been. Admirals of the AHL on Saturday Nashville Tennessean

The 20-year-old closed his eyes, took a deep breath and tugged at his Nichol said Tolvanen bought a house in Helsinki, is maturing and has a snug red shorts before the emerged from his right hand. bright future.

Clank. "The ball is in his court," Nichol said. "Everybody’s dying to have goal scorers, and he can score goals. He’s maturing and he’s getting there." A smile unfolded on the Predators forward's face as three kids went for his rebound in unison outside Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes in Nichol wasn't talking about the free-throw line. Getting there means Brentwood on a recent Thursday afternoon. getting to Nashville, with the Predators. A shot Tolvanen figures to make, whether it's this year or next. Tolvanen was there with a few other Predators prospects during developmental camp week as part of the team's annual rookie Tennessean LOADED: 07.06.2019 community day.

After a brief visit with the shade, Tolvanen was summoned by a young girl to a sack race, which he won. Then it was time for some popcorn. And a sno-cone. Then a group picture. Then some autographs.

"It's hot," he said to nobody in particular as he wiped his brow.

Tolvanen wasn't complaining. He is, perhaps more than any prospect in recent Predators history, familiar with heat.

The heat of being a first-round draft pick. The heat of sometimes unfair expectations, perhaps stoked by his 25 goals and 18 assists in 60 games in the KHL in 2017-18.

"It's the 30th pick in the draft," Predators general manager David Poile said, putting Tolvanen's progress in perspective. "He's probably the second- or third-youngest player in the AHL. What should the expectations be?"

"Based on what he did in the KHL, clearly the expectations were so high. ... You have to be more realistic in terms of his time frame and his development, from the physical side, the maturing, getting used to pro hockey. Where we're at today, I’m very comfortable."

Where Tolvanen is for tomorrows to come depends on, well, Tolvanen, who said he's grown more comfortable with himself and his game while nurturing both in Milwaukee.

Poile said he'd like to see Tolvanen as a player who can possibly make the team out of camp, or, at the very least, be a player who can be called up. He wants him to continue to improve his strength and speed. Produce more offensively. Continue to adapt to smaller North American rinks.

Tolvanen has a goal and an assist in seven NHL games – a three-game cameo in 2017-18 and a four-game appearance last season. He had 15 goals and 20 assists in 58 games with the Milwaukee Admirals last season, his first full season playing on smaller ice.

"He had a really good year (in the KHL after he was drafted) and maybe got a little overinflated in Russia, in the KHL," Predators director of player development Scott Nichol said. "He’s coachable. He wants to learn. He wants to be here. He wants to play in the NHL. He’s on the perfect path."

Nichol said Tolvanen still is learning how to get his shot off, how to release the puck. How to avoid having a lot of his shots blocked or missing the net. Small details, Nichol said, that will do nothing but make Tolvanen more NHL-ready.

Tolvanen hears the outside noise, he said. But he's not listening.

His goal going into training camp last season was to make the Predators' roster. He didn't. But he made an important decision along the way – to stay here while trying to hone his game.

He had a goal and an assist in four games with Nashville last season, another taste that left him hungrier for the same goal he had last season. 1149415 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Will Butcher, Mirco Mueller, Connor Carrick file for salary arbitration | What it means

Posted Jul 5, 5:30 PM

By Chris Ryan

Devils defensemen Will Butcher, Mirco Mueller and Connor Carrick all filed for salary arbitration on Friday. All three are restricted free agents this summer. They were among 40 NHL players to file.

By filing for arbitration, all three will have hearings scheduled for late July or early August to settle their next contracts. The players can continue to negotiate with the Devils prior to their arbitration dates.

Brandon Baddock, the team’s only other restricted free agent with arbitration rights, did not file for arbitration.

Typically, NHL players and their teams settle on contracts prior to arbitration hearings. Forty of 44 players who filed for arbitration last summer reach contract agreements prior to their hearings.

The Devils added forward Wayne Simmonds as a free-agent signing, giving a clearer picture of what the team's roster could look like on opening night of the 2019-20 season.

Under Ray Shero, the Devils have been able to avoid arbitration hearings, so he and the players should have progressive talks in the coming weeks. Shero typically addresses restricted free agents following the NHL Draft and unrestricted free agency.

Last summer, forwards Blake Coleman and Stefan Noesen both filed for arbitration, and the Devils agreed to deals with both on the same day. Coleman signed a three-year contract, while Noesen inked a one-year deal.

Butcher is coming off his two-year entry-level contract, which he signed as a free agent following four years at the University of Denver. Butcher has 74 points in 159 games over his first two NHL seasons.

Mueller has spent the last two seasons with the Devils following a June 2017 trade from the San Jose Sharks. Between a combination of injuries and healthy scratches, Mueller has played 81 games in New Jersey.

The Devils acquired Carrick in a February trade with the Dallas Stars, coming over with a third-round pick in exchange for defenseman Ben Lovejoy. Carrick had seven points in 20 games with the Devils.

Star Ledger LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149416 New Jersey Devils

NHL rumors: Offer sheet coming for Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner?

By Chris Ryan

The NHL offseason and free agency have already seen one offer sheet signed. Could another one be on the way for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner?

Marner, a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract, has been the subject of offer sheet rumors for months, with the winger in line for a big raise and the Maple Leafs in a tight salary-cap situation.

Marner, who posted 94 points last season and has 224 in 241 career games over three seasons, could be looking for a deal that rivals the $11.634 million AAV extension teammate Auston Matthews received during the 2018-19 season.

NHL free agency was in full swing on Monday, July 1, 2019 (7/1/19), with Sergei Bobrovsky, Joe Pavelski and Mats Zuccarello signing new deals.

While the Leafs have kept talking to Marner, he’s reportedly talked to other teams. If a team is willing to pay the price, he could sign an offer sheet, putting the Leafs on the spot.

The Islanders lost out on Panarin but they aren’t done big-game hunting yet. Offer sheet is a very real possibility and Marner is the most likely target.

— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) July 5, 2019

The biggest obstacle for any team signing Marner to an offer sheet, particularly one exceeding $11 million per season, would be the compensation cost. If Marner signed a deal that expensive with another team and the Leafs did not match the deal, that team would have to give the Leafs four-round picks.

Here’s the full breakdown of the compensation needed for offer sheets:

$0 - $1,395,053 AAV: No compensation

$1,395,054 - $2,113,716 AAV: One third-round pick

$2,113,717 - $4,227,437 AAV: One second-round pick

$4,227,438 - $6,341,152 AAV: One first-round pick, one third-round pick

$6,341,153 - $8,454,871 AAV: One first-round pick, one second-round pick, one third-round pick

$8,454,872 - $10,568,589 AAV: Two first-round picks, one second-round pick, one third-round pick

$10,568,590-plus AAV: Four first-round picks

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The Montreal Canadiens signed Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho to an offer sheet on July 1, worth $8,454,000 per season.

That would have meant the Canadiens would have sent one first-round pick, one second-round pick and one third-round pick, but the Hurricanes announced they would match the contract, keeping Aho in Raleigh.

Star Ledger LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149417 New York Rangers

Trouba, Buchnevich file for arbitration

Colin Stephenson

Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba and forward Pavel Buchnevich, who are restricted free agents, filed for salary arbitration Friday, beating the league’s 5 p.m. deadline, according to the NHL Players Association.

The NHL will set a date for each player’s case to be heard by an arbitrator. The player and team can continue to negotiate a new contract while waiting for the case to be heard by the arbitrator and can settle on a contract at any point before then.

The arbitration filings don’t affect the players’ contract negotiations with the Rangers. Both are believed to be close to agreements on multiyear deals.

The filings, however, will open a second buyout window for the Rangers, allowing the club to buy out a player (or players) if they need to open space under the salary cap to sign the pair to new contracts.

The Rangers did not buy out anyone during the NHL’s first buyout window, which closed on June 30. Defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk, who has two years remaining on a deal that pays him $6.65 million per year, and Brendan Smith, who has two years remaining at $4.35 million per year, are the two likeliest candidates to be bought out.

After signing free-agent forward Artemi Panarin to a seven-year, $81.5 million deal on Monday, the Rangers have about $8 million in salary-cap space, according to Cap Friendly.

Most, if not all, of that would figure to be required to sign Trouba, who played last season under a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Jets.

In order to create space under the $81.5 million salary cap to sign Buchnevich, the Rangers will have the option of the second buyout window.

Should the Rangers opt to buy out Shattenkirk or Smith, the player would be paid two-thirds of the remaining value of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent. The team would spread the cost of the buyout over twice the number of years remaining on the contract, with the biggest savings being in the first year after the buyout.

If the Rangers bought out Shattenkirk, the savings would be $5.16 million in 2019-20, according to Cap Friendly. The cap savings on Smith would be $3.38 million, according to Cap Friendly. Should the Rangers buy out both players, they would create enough cap space, presumably, to sign all of their restricted free agents.

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo, forward Brendan Lemieux and center Vinni Lettieri are the Rangers’ other RFAs.

Trouba, 25, was acquired by the Rangers in a June 17 trade. Buchnevich, 24, scored a career-best 21 goals in 2018-19, his third season with the Rangers.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.06.2019

1149418 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers’ Scott Laughton among 40 NHL players who file for salary arbitration

by Sam Carchidi,

Flyers forward Scott Laughton was one of 40 NHL restricted free agents who filed for salary arbitration Friday.

Used as a center and winger, Laughton set career highs in goals (12) and points (32) and had a minus-11 rating last season. In the upcoming season, he could play wing on the third line or center the fourth line.

Laughton, 25, the Flyers’ first-round selection in 2012 (20th overall), was also used on the penalty kill last season. He made $962,500 last year.

Arbitration hearings will be held in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4. A player can sign a contract before an arbitrator’s ruling.

A year ago, only three of the 44 players who filed actually had their cases decided by an arbitrator.

Unlike Laughton, restricted free agents Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny are not arbitration-eligible.

Goalie Jordan Binnington, who helped lead St. Louis to its first Stanley Cup, and New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba were among the players who filed for arbitration Friday.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149419 Philadelphia Flyers

An early projection of the Flyers’ retooled lineup for the 2019-20 season

by Sam Carchidi,

The Flyers will take the ice with an overhauled defense and a handful of changes on their front lines in the 2019-20 season.

Here’s a projection of how the lineup may look:

Forwards

First line: Sean Couturier (33 goals, 76 points last season) centering Claude Giroux (22, 85) and Travis Konecny (24, 49).

Second line: Kevin Hayes (19, 54) centering James van Riemsdyk (27, 48) and Jake Voracek (20, 66).

Third line: Nolan Patrick (13, 31) centering Oskar Lindblom (17, 33) and Mystery Man (*)

Fourth line: Scott Laughton (12, 32) centering Michael Raffl (6, 18) and Tyler Pitlick (8, 12).

Defense

First pairing: Ivan Provorov (7 goals, 26 points, minus-16 rating) and Matt Niskanen (8, 25, minus-3).

Second pairing: Travis Sanheim (9, 35, minus-4) and Justin Braun (2, 16, minus-14).

Third pairing: Shayne Gostisbehere (9, 37, minus-20) and Phil Myers (1, 2, minus-5).

Goalies

No. 1: (2.83 GAA, .917 save percentage).

Backup: Brian Elliott (2.96, .907).

* Laughton could move to wing, and several players will compete for this spot, including Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149420 Philadelphia Flyers like the Blues did en route to the Stanley Cup — with a sturdy defense and a terrific young goalie.

7. Rangers (78 points; missed playoffs): No Metro team has had a better Offseason moves by Flyers, Rangers, and Devils make NHL’s offseason than the Blueshirts. They drafted right winger Kaapo Kakko Metropolitan division much more balanced with the No. 2 overall pick (they went from No. 6 to No. 2 in the draft lottery), and he figures to make an immediate impact. They signed the league’s top unrestricted free agent, Panarin, and they added Jacob by Sam Carchidi, Trouba and Adam Fox, who are expected to be on the first and second defensive pairings, respectively. A playoff spot isn’t out of the question.

8. Devils (72 points; missed playoffs): They got lucky and moved up from Though they haven’t added any of the sexier names that changed teams No. 3 to No. 1 in the draft lottery and selected Jack Hughes with the top — guys like P.K. Subban, Artemi Panarin, and Matt Duchene — the overall pick. Hughes and top-liner Nico Hischier, the No. 1 overall pick in Flyers have had a solid offseason. 2017, give the Devils a pair of exciting young centers on the first two They added size, improved their defense, signed a No. 2 center, and lines. New Jersey also acquired star defenseman Subban and signed hired Alain Vigneault, the 12th-winningest coach in NHL history. right winger Wayne Simmonds, the former Flyer who said he plans to prove to other teams that he has a lot left in the tank. The Devils still Yes, it has been a productive time for the Flyers, who are coming off a have defensive holes, but like the Flyers, they are much improved. tumultuous season in which their coach and general manager were fired and they missed the playoffs for the third time in five years. Epilogue: It should also be noted that both Eastern Conference wild cards came from the Metro last season, but Florida of the Atlantic Were the offseason moves enough to push them into the postseason? Division has made great strides and might grab one of those berths this Enough to produce their first winning playoff series since 2012? year. The Panthers, who had 86 points in 2018-19, added a coach, Joel Quenneville, who is a future Hall of Famer, a two-time Vezina Trophy Time will tell. winner (Bobrovsky), Brett Connolly, Anton Stralman, and Noel Acciari to Having Carter Hart, a potential franchise goaltender, from the start of the a sound nucleus. season — and not having to endure another Year of Eight Goalies — will Bottom line: After seeing St. Louis climb from worst-to-first during the also work in the Flyers’ favor. season, the eight Metro teams know if they just get into the playoffs, While the Flyers made upgrades and should push for a playoff spot, the anything can happen. The division appears much more balanced, so all teams below them in the Metropolitan Division last season did even eight teams can start dreaming about their victory songs. Gloria is taken. better. The teams in front of them, however, haven’t had overwhelming Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.06.2019 offseasons. Then again, they were ahead of the Flyers for a reason when last season ended.

Here’s how teams in the division look after their makeovers, listed in last season’s order of finish:

1. Capitals (104 points last season; eliminated by Carolina in seven first- round games): The gifted Caps traded experience (Matt Niskanen) for physicality (Radko Gudas) on the back end. The other additions (Richard Panik, Garnet Hathaway) and subtractions (Brett Connolly, Andre Burakovsky, Brooks Orpik’s retirement) don’t improve the Capitals, but another 100-point season is possible.

2. Islanders (103 points; swept by Carolina in second round): Losing a free-agent battle for Panarin to the rival Rangers disappointed the fan base, but retaining Anders Lee helped ease the blow. Semyon Varlamov (2.87 GAA, .909 save percentage), who is solid but unspectacular, has replaced Robin Lehner (2.13, .930), so it’s fair to wonder if the Isles will match last year’s stunningly successful regular season.

3. Penguins (100 points; swept by Islanders in first round of the playoffs): The Penguins lost Phil Kessel (27 goals, 82 points) but gained Alex Galchenyuk (19 goals, 41 points), who will benefit from playing alongside Evgeni Malkin. They appeared to overpay for feisty Brandon Tanev, a 14- goal scorer who got a six-year, $21 million contract, and they dealt shot- blocking defenseman Olli Maatta for forward Dominik Kahun (13 goals, 37 points). The Pens aren’t getting younger and their defense is a question mark.

4. Hurricanes (99 points; swept by Boston in conference finals). They added top-six winger Erik Haula, goaltenders and Anton Forsberg (and re-signed Petr Mrazek), and, perhaps most important, matched Montreal’s offer sheet to star center Sebastian Aho. The hard- to-play-against Hurricanes are poised to build on their surprising season, which was fueled by bombastic Don Cherry’s claim that they were a “bunch of jerks.”

5. Blue Jackets (98 points; eliminated by Boston in six second-round games): The Jackets’ cannon will be much more silent this season. Quite simply, they have had an awful offseason and are one of the teams the Flyers should climb past. Gone: Sergei Bobrovsky, Panarin, Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel. In: Gustav Nyquist. Enough said.

6. Flyers (82 points; missed playoffs): The Flyers will be in the playoff mix if Niskanen and Justin Braun, coming off disappointing seasons, return to form and stabilize a young (but potentially dynamic) defense, one that was turnover-prone last season. Adding Kevin Hayes, a solid all-around player, should make Nolan Patrick more effective as he drops to the third line and gets more favorable matchups. The Flyers will try to win games 1149421 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers restricted free agent Scott Laughton files for salary arbitration

By Jordan Hall July 05, 2019 6:15 PM

Scott Laughton, one of the Flyers' three remaining restricted free agents, filed for salary arbitration Friday night, according to a release by the NHLPA.

Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov, the Flyers' other two RFAs, are not arbitration eligible.

The deadline for player-elected arbitration was 5 p.m. Eastern Time Friday. The deadline for club-elected arbitration is 5 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

By electing for arbitration, Laughton and the Flyers can go to a hearing with an independent arbitrator to settle on a salary. General manager Chuck Fletcher and the representation for Laughton can continue to negotiate and possibly strike a deal before a hearing is had. Arbitration hearings are held from July 20 to Aug. 4 in Toronto.

The 25-year-old Laughton enjoyed a career season during 2018-19, putting up personal bests in goals (12), assists (20), games (82) and ice time per game (14:51). The 2012 first-round pick was one of the Flyers' most consistent, hard-working players in a season marred by inconsistency. Among the team's forwards, Laughton was second in shorthanded ice time (183:52), behind only Sean Couturier (184:51). For much of the season, Laughton looked like the Flyers' best penalty-killer in the way he challenged opposing puck carriers, forcing them to make decisions.

In 2019-20, he is pegged to be the Flyers' fourth-line center and should be relied upon heavily again for the PK. Laughton's previous contract was a two-year, $1.925 million deal with an average annual value of $962,500.

"With Scotty Laughton, certainly he has the ability to file for arbitration and if that happens, that will speed up that process — whether it gets done right away or it gets done in the end of July," Fletcher said last week. "The other two that are [non-arbitration], it may take some time. Just looking around the league, it sure seems to be a common theme."

Last summer, Taylor Leier and Alex Lyon filed for salary arbitration. Both were re-signed before July 20 by former GM Ron Hextall. During the summer of 2016, Brayden Schenn and the Flyers came awfully close to meeting with an independent arbitrator but the two parties avoided doing so by agreeing to a four-year deal the morning of the hearing.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149422 Philadelphia Flyers Kirill Ustimenko

It's no secret that the Flyers have struggled in net consistently over the past few seasons, so having depth moving forward is a crucial element 5 prospects that flew under the radar during Flyers development camp for success.

Luckily for the Flyers, Ustimenko has the potential to provide just that.

By Brooke Destra July 05, 2019 10:20 AM Ustimenko had a very calm presence between the pipes and his skill set really showed during the 3-on-3 tournament at development camp. The rink was split in half, meaning the turnaround time for the goaltenders When you think of the Flyers' top prospects, the names Morgan Frost, was next to none. Isaac Ratcliffe, Felix Sandstrom and Joel Farabee are often the first to come to mind. Always prepared and confident moving from post to post, Ustimenko may be developing at a faster pace than many anticipated. These prospects also happened to have the most buzz around development camp that officially wrapped up June 29. After recently signing his entry-level contract on May 1, he is set to join the Phantoms this upcoming season (see story). The Flyers have one of the deepest prospect pools in the league and when looking a little deeper into the system, a few other names stood out Alex Lyon and Sandstrom are also set to be with the Phantoms but odds during camp and should be on everyone’s radar for the upcoming are the team won't run with three goaltenders and one may find himself season. with the Royals in the ECHL.

Here are five prospects that have been flying under the radar. Bryce Brodzinski

German Rubtsov After Brodzinski was just barely eligible for the 2018 draft and went unselected, the Flyers saw something in him and selected him 196th Since being drafted by the Flyers in 2016, Rubtsov has flown far under overall one year later in 2019. the radar on the list of prospects and this most recent development camp was no different. While having played only 19 games in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers last season, Brodzinski made sure to bring his strengths that A season-ending shoulder injury with the Phantoms cut his first year pro enticed the Flyers to draft him. short after just 14 games. What we did see in that short stint of games was one of the most consistent performances from any player on the One word that would be able to describe him offensively: fearless. During team with 10 points (six goals, four assists). the 5-on-5 scrimmage, he was able to make room for himself every time he entered the offensive zone. Oftentimes he’d find an open route to the After months of rehabbing and regaining his strength, Rubtsov was ready net and while he didn’t crack the scoreboard, the chances he had didn’t to bring his A-game to camp in late June. go unnoticed.

It seems like everything is coming together for the center but the biggest If able to translate his skills to the pro level, he has the chance to be a takeaway was watching his ability to drive play. He is capable of making pure shooter anywhere in the offensive zone. those around him succeed, as well, something that shows a lot of intelligence for the 21-year-old. Brodzinski may be one of the newer prospects in the system but has the potential to do great things once playing for the orange and black. Next If Rubtsov can get back to the level of productivity we saw less than one up, he is headed to the University of Minnesota in the fall to play for the year ago, expect him to make a big impact with the Phantoms — so Gophers. much so that he would have a solid chance at making the short list of call-ups to the Flyers during the season. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.06.2019

Maxim Sushko

From Day 1 of development camp, Sushko made an impact.

The right winger drafted by the Flyers in 2017 was easily one of the strongest skaters that hit the ice, often leading his group in drills to help demonstrate to the newer prospects.

Fluid motions that lead to clean stops all while having clear control of the puck will certainly make any prospect stand out.

In his most recent season with the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, Sushko registered 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists). He is eligible to play for the Phantoms next season and could be a solid upgrade as a middle-six player.

Pascal Laberge

Laberge has had a difficult track record when it comes to staying healthy. His most recent injury came prior to the start of last season with the Phantoms — a hip injury that required surgery and kept him out for the first five months of the season.

With a significantly short first professional season, he had to make his mark at camp and show everyone just why he was selected 36th overall by the Flyers in 2016.

Selflessness brings success for the 21-year-old center.

While there is little hesitation to his game and he isn’t afraid to simply shoot the puck, he often trusts his gut by setting others up for solid scoring chances. Even if they don’t score, he is great at anticipating where the puck will be next and often gets to it first.

If Laberge can stay healthy for the entirety of the 2019-20 season, expect a huge turnaround in his play and confidence level. It wouldn’t be a surprise if a more active leadership role is taken by him, as well, since that is a position he often held in the past. 1149423 Philadelphia Flyers

Scott Laughton files for salary arbitration with Flyers

Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 3:44 p.m. ET July 5, 2019 | Updated 3:51 p.m. ET July 5, 2019

Scott Laughton figures to be the Flyers' fourth line center this season. He had 12 goals and 32 points in 82 games last season.

Without a contract for next season, one of the Flyers’ three remaining restricted free agents has filed for salary arbitration.

If they had the service time to do so, perhaps Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov would have joined Scott Laughton in the filing ahead of Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline. Laughton is the only one with the right to do so and he exercised it.

Laughton, 25, is the team’s first-round pick from the 2012 draft and seems to have found a niche as the Flyers’ fourth-line center. That’s where the team envisions him if and when he signs a contract with them. Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher recently acknowledged the possibility of an arbitration case for Laughton, but also said Monday he hoped to have productive conversations with Newport Sports, the agency that represents both Laughton and Konecny.

Just because there are plans for an arbitration hearing sometime in late July or early August doesn’t mean things have gotten contentious. Both Taylor Leier and Alex Lyon filed last summer and didn’t get to a hearing.

Last time it got close for the Flyers was with Brayden Schenn in 2016. Then-GM Ron Hextall and Schenn’s agent, Don Meehan, agreed to a four-year, $20.5 million deal without the arbitrator in the room, right before Schenn's case was to be heard.

In Laughton’s case, he likely won’t be getting anywhere close to $5.125 million per year like Schenn did. Laughton is coming off his most prolific season with 12 goals and 20 assists, both career highs. He was a mainstay on the Flyers’ penalty kill and won 54.2 percent of his faceoffs, also a career high. His versatility makes him useful for the Flyers, but he’ll likely come in much less than both Konecny and Provorov in their next contracts. Laughton’s qualifying offer, which is a formula based on the prior year’s salary, was the same as he made last season at $1,050,000.

If the case does indeed get that far, because the Flyers are the party against whom the arbitration election was filed, the team would elect either a one- or two-year contract with the salary to be determined.

Courier-Post LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149424 Philadelphia Flyers everyone at these camps, especially the coaches. You can take something away from everyone, that’s the main thing.”

Ronnie Attard (2019 third-round pick): “(Coach Slava Kouznetsov is) a The Shot: Step inside Flyers development camp, a week of learning, fun great skating coach. Even (in) today’s skate, we weren’t working on and friendships skating, but he’s still pulling me aside and showing me some things I could do better. Just the stride part, the stance, how far your knees are bent, how far your hips are bent, just playing around with some stuff and Charlie O'Connor Jul 5, 2019 figuring it out.”

Rekindling old friendships, creating new ones

For at least one week during the long, hot, Flyers-less summer, the Skate The early days of camp aren’t just for repetitive on-ice workouts, though. Zone in Voorhees, N.J., is filled with players wearing the legendary crest. For returning attendees, it’s a chance to catch up in-person with friends, But it’s not Claude Giroux or Sean Couturier leading the way on the ice relationships that often started at previous camps and may last for — though they participated in this tradition years ago, back when they decades to come. For the new crowd, it’s a time to connect with people still qualified as prospects. No, now it’s the up-and-comers — youngsters they may have only known from a distance, and form new bonds, as the who one day may help form the core of the NHL club — who take center Skate Zone hallways and locker rooms slowly become more familiar. stage. Sometimes, there’s even a family connection in Voorhees — as was the case this year with the Cates brothers, Noah and Jackson. Development camp is an annual ritual for Flyers prospects — from just- drafted teens to AHL veterans — to work on the finer points of their Farabee: “I think I’m pretty relaxed going into this one. I wasn’t (last games, while spending time with their peers in the organization. This year), coming right from the draft, (from) the combine, stuff like that. I had year, 41 prospects descended on South Jersey (Gavin Hain did not some time at home (this time), and it was nice to relax a bit this summer, participate in on-ice activities due to an injury) with the goal of learning rather than last one (when) I was running all over the place. Plus, I know new concepts, connecting with coaches and maybe, making a few new most of the guys here now, so it was a pretty easy transition (this year).” friends along the way. Noah Cates: “(Camp invitee Colin) Felix is on UMass (Cates’ Minnesota- Over five days last week, the prospects took to the ice and the beach (in Duluth Bulldogs defeated UMass-Amherst in the NCAA national Stone Harbor, N.J., at the yearly Trial on the Isle event) for camp championship in April), so we were kinda talking about that game a little activities. The Athletic Philadelphia was on hand to observe each on-ice bit (laughs). But it’s all good fun. I like being around college guys, seeing day of camp, with photographer Kate Frese capturing the action. As what other teams do and stuff, so it’s good being around guys that are always, the best stories of camp lie in the little details, in the friendships going the same route as you. It’s always fun to meet them.” made and lessons learned. Bryce Brodzinski (2019 seventh-round pick): “I mean, the first day, I The early days of camp: Settling in and hitting the ice didn’t know my way around even the locker room, so as the camp went on, I started to get to know a lot of the guys and basically everybody in While all of the camp attendees qualify as Flyers prospects, each player here knows each other. Yeah, it’s been pretty good.” comes in at a different stage of development, and with a different goal. But one common thread connects the group: A desire to stay on the path Isaac Ratcliffe (2017 second-round pick): “I think (Frost and I are) kinda that leads to the NHL. In the early days of camp, the Flyers focus on the same people. Off the ice, we’re kinda easygoing. We didn’t really bringing the disparate group of youngsters together through drills that know each other too well before coming into the Flyers organization. The lean heavily on skill development. It may not be the most exciting on-ice first time I really talked to him was on draft day up in the (luxury) box, work, but the improvements made in the little details of the game will pay after I was selected. Just after that, in the summer, we ended up rooming dividends. together at main camp and hanging out at development camp, too. Just a lot of memories that we have together, mutual friendships that we have. Joel Farabee (2018 first-round pick): “There are definitely a lot of things I Away from the rink, we’re kind of the same people, too. I think we work want to work on. I’m just going to feed off of what the coaches are telling well together on the ice. We just have fun with what we’re doing.” me here and what the practices are like, and see what they want me to get better at. … Development camp, it’s not too stressful right now. It’s Frost: “I think (Isaac and I) just kind of have similar personalities. We like just getting back in the swing of things, getting to play hockey in the to joke around with each other a lot. We have a lot of the same interests. summer again.” So I think it works well, and I’ve known him for a while now. It’s just a good combination.” Bobby Brink (2019 second-round pick): “I just (want to) get to know the organization, get to know all the people here. Soak up whatever Ratcliffe: “When you mix guys like Stromer in that with you, too, you information I can.” kinda get the goofy side of it. You bring all three of us (Ratcliffe, Frost and Matthew Strome) together, it’s just a blast. We always have a ton of Carsen Twarynski (2016 third-round pick, attending his fourth fun when we come down here. Stromer’s definitely the goofiest by far. development camp): “I just want to be in the best shape I can be and be Morgan’s more easygoing, more like that mature comedy sometimes.” mentally ready to make this team in the fall. I was close last year and it stung a little bit. I went down and found myself and tried to develop as Noah Cates: “(My brother and I) live together (at college), we had all the much as I can. This summer, I’m going to do whatever I can to make this same classes, so we were together 24/7 this past year. But as far as team.” giving each other crap on the ice, we push each other, we work on a lot of stuff together and develop together. So whether we push each other, Morgan Frost (2017 first-round pick): “I don’t really like to set whether we just help each other out with drills or with passing, just kinda expectations. I like to set goals. I have my own goals and will try to pointing out stuff in our own games during the games, we help each accomplish those. I don’t like to expect anything. In terms of goals, keep other a lot, and he definitely helps me a ton.” getting stronger and faster. Just the little things.” Farabee: “(Jay O’Brien and I) basically talk every day, whether it’s Mason Millman (2019 fourth-round pick): “I’m trying to learn off of all Snapchat or text.” those guys and just be a sponge. There are all sorts of high-class players here. You’re just trying to pick up stuff they do in their games that makes O’Brien (2018 first-round pick): “(Joel’s) a guy that I like to watch, and them the players they are, and try to implement that in your own game. take a few pages out of his book. We always talk, and we’ve been It’s definitely awesome just seeing all of the talent and skill out there, and roommates the past two years here, so we’re always talking about, ‘Hey, just trying to absorb that.” that play, what’d you do there, what’d you see there?’ Stuff like that, that maybe other hockey players don’t see. I think we have a similar type of Noah Cates (2017 fifth-round pick): “I’m kind of in the middle of the age hockey sense and skill set, and I think we can relate to each other really group (he’s 20), so you see these younger guys who are so skilled, so well. We’ve gotten really close.” fast and stuff, they’re pushing me to be better. And then I see these older guys who are in the AHL, and starting their careers, and I’m seeing what Farabee: “He’s a good guy, he works really hard. Obviously, some they’re doing, how good (they are). Their little details. So I’m kinda right injuries this year, things didn’t go his way, but I know he’s gonna in the middle of that, and I’ve got to see where I fit in, learn from the persevere through that. I’m hoping that he has a really good year this younger guys and the older guys. I think that’s important, to learn from year and kinda breaks out, and hopefully he’s pro as soon as possible so the week. I know we got 5-on-5 this year, but 3-on-3 is always something I can play with him soon. And then we’ll go from there.” to look forward to.”

The long days of development camp: Balancing fun with work 3-on-3 tournament: Bragging rights on the line

The primary goal of development camp may be — as the name implies The 3-on-3 tournament is one of the most anticipated parts of — the development of skills, but it’s not all business. Hockey is still a development camp — for both the fans and the prospects. In past years, game, and just because the end goal for each prospect is to find a viable the 3-on-3 tournament closed out camp, but even though the schedule professional path, that doesn’t mean fun can’t be had along the way. The was different this time with the addition of a week-ending 5-on-5 key is finding a healthy balance between the lighter side and the scrimmage, the players couldn’t wait to try and earn the coveted 3-on-3 necessary work. trophy. The on-ice intensity did not disappoint.

Brink: “I love it here. They’ve got a lot of great staff, and great players Allison: “Oh absolutely, (it’s fun to play a competitive game after days of here that they’ve drafted. They’ve made it really fun and easy for me.” drills). It’s always good to be out there with the boys, throw a little compete in there, have a little fun. There was a little bit on the line today, Attard: “So far, it’s been great. Beautiful weather, all the facilities are top- it’s real fun, it’s good for all the players. It was a great time out there.” notch. It’s kind of an eye-opening thing to be like, ‘Oh wow, I’m actually here.’ But it’s going great so far, I’ve met a lot of new friends, got to go to Ersson: “There’s a lot of action going back and forth. A lot of 2-on-1s and the beach yesterday, it was a beautiful day out there, meeting a lot of breakaways. Always got to be on your edge and be ready. … If you let in people. So it’s been a great experience so far.” a bad goal, you can’t let it affect you too much because there’s always a breakaway or 2-on-1 right after. Always be on your toes.” Frost: “One of the things that you want to do at camps like these, is kind of learn things from not only the coaches, but other players. See little Farabee: “I think just 3-on-3, a lot more skill happens. Five-on-five, things that they do, and just grab information from everyone else. Just try there’s not that much room. Playing 3-on-3 is a lot more skill and flashier to get better from your peers, and obviously the coaches, too.” plays. It’s pretty fun. To hear the crowd go nuts when the guys score, it’s pretty cool, too.” Samuel Ersson (2018 fifth-round pick): “It’s great. The fans are great. All the guys in here, we really look forward to the 3-on-3 tournament all While checking was discouraged in the tournament, hockey remains week. Once we get out there, we really want to show our skills. It’s a lot hockey and injuries can still occur, as camp invite Seamus Donohue of fun.” found out firsthand.

To make sure that element of fun isn’t missing, there are always a few Donohue: “Someone was shooting a puck, it was kind of a 1-on-1 play players who take the lead in keeping things light. This year, Wade Allison and I put my stick out to get a piece of it, try to put it up in the netting, and and Attard seemed to be the ringleaders. it went into my face instead.”

Attard: “(Fun is) something that I’ve always incorporated into hockey. I At this year’s tournament, Team White defeated Team Black in dramatic started playing hockey because it was fun, and I think if you lose the fun fashion. Allison scored the tying goal in the championship game with less in your game, that kind of kills the sport of hockey. So just going out there than five seconds remaining, and in the ensuing 2-on-2 overtime session, and having a good time with it makes it so much better when you’re out the recently drafted Millman proved to be the hero, fooling goalie Felix there playing.” Sandstrom with a quick wrister.

Wade Allison (2016 second-round pick): “I like to have a good time, I like Millman: “I just hopped off the bench and went to the net, and (Maksim) to enjoy myself. A lot of people just get upset over nothing, and I don’t Sushko found a hole for me and hit me on the tape. I saw a little opening get it. Everybody’s different, everybody’s got their own mindset. I like to and shot and it went in. It was a great day. Definitely a fun day just being keep it light and have a good time. There is no point in frowning when with all of the guys and seeing all of the talent.” you can be smiling.” 5-on-5 scrimmage: Closing out the week Brodzinski: “Yeah, it’s been Wade the whole time. We were at the dinner table yesterday and he was just giving it to everybody. So yeah, he’s The full-ice, 5-on-5 scrimmage used to be a key part of development been awesome.” camp, but the Flyers discontinued it years ago. With a new regime in charge in 2019, however, the scrimmage made its triumphant return last Allison: “I like to keep it light. Have fun and enjoy what you do. Obviously, Saturday night to close out the camp. Prospects were split into two teams some days suck. I like to find the enjoyment in the process each day.” and battled for a new crown over two 30-minutes halves (with a running clock). Things get competitive: The second half of camp Pascal Laberge (2016 second-round pick): “I think it’s a nice way to finish After last Thursday’s Trial on the Isle event, the prospects returned to the a long week. Just to play for fun, it was really nice to see everyone in a 5- ice Friday, as the focus shifted. While the early days of camp centered on on-5 atmosphere. It was pretty competitive, we tried to score at the end individual drills and skill development, now forwards and defensemen — it didn’t work. Just a lot of fun.” shared the ice as everyone prepared for the 3-on-3 tournament that evening, and the camp-closing 5-on-5 scrimmage (a new event) Ratcliffe: “It was exciting to kinda get back in the groove of things after a Saturday night. Appropriately, the intensity level picked up in drills Friday little bit of a break here. Nice to get a little competition back in the game morning, in anticipation of what was to come. after yesterday, too, so full-ice, getting back to the 5-on-5 was real exciting.” Attard: “Yep, we’ve been waiting for this all week. Most of our skates have just been D and forwards split, so now we’re all out there together, Attard: “Yeah, the pace is obviously a split second quicker (than in drills), going 3-on-3, so super exciting stuff.” and it’s gonna keep getting a little bit faster as I move higher into the game. So just being out here with these guys was a great night, was a Farabee: “I won (the 3-on-3 tournament) last year and I’m here to win it great measurement on how my game is, and how much it needs to again.” grow.”

Ersson: “All the guys in here, we really look forward to the 3-on-3 Both sides had their moments — the Cates brothers hooked up for a 2- tournament all week. Once we get out there, we really want to show our on-1 goal for Team White, and Millman set up Strome for a tally in the skills. It’s a lot of fun.” early going. But in the end, Team Orange’s line of Brink, Frost and Brink: “(3-on-3 is) a lot of fun because you have a lot room to work and Ratcliffe stole the show, as Brink scored the game-winning goal on a get to have a lot of 1-on-1s. Not as much skating up and down the rink. beautiful feed from Frost late in the second half. The Orange side won 3- Less tiring.” 2.

Ersson: “There’s a lot of breakaways, a lot of 2-on-1s. You’ve got to be Ratcliffe: “Yeah, I think (playing on a line with Frost has) really been the on your toes at all times, and be ready to make any type of save.” goal since draft day. That was really the first time I met Morgan, went up to the box there at the draft in the second round earlier in the day, that Farabee: “To be able to compete against (everyone) in the 3-on-3, it’s was the first time we said hi. We kinda laughed about it, playing together awesome. It will make us all better. It’s definitely a good thing to wrap up one day on a line for the Flyers, but to kinda get a first taste of it today was pretty exciting. It was pretty fun.” Noah Cates: “(Playing with Jackson is) just the way it played out (laughs). It’s really fun to play with him, on the same line especially, in the scrimmage, and to get that goal, it was really cool.”

Ratcliffe: “Through the practice drills, through the whole 3-on-3 yesterday, you kinda understand what type of players you’re going up against, or that you’re going to be playing with, too. To have an experience like this, to end the week off, it’s really exciting. Put all of our skill out there, put it together, and really see everyone come together. Have a few laughs out there too, enjoy it for the last day.”

Another successful development camp

With the 5-on-5 scrimmage in the books, development camp came to an end after a long week. Lessons were learned, friendships were made, and the future of the Flyers organization moved a bit closer to becoming the present.

Cam York (2019 first-round pick): “That’s the first thing I learned about Philadelphia — that they have passionate fans. They want to win. They hold their players really accountable, and as a player, I think that’s what you want, so just really happy to be here.”

Allison: “We had some good hard days, but we competed as a group. It was awesome. I had a great time here. I loved it.”

Attard: “This week is huge for development. I learned a lot, helped me with my skating, shot, taking line rushes, did a lot of video this week. These guys put a lot of time and effort into this week, and we all learned a lot out of it, so it was a good week overall.

“There’s a lot of things I’ve got to improve. My skating, I’m still working to improve my shot, I’ve been working with the guy here who does all the research on that, of what flex and what curve to use, so I’m still kind of messing around with that. Just getting better every day, knowing that’s what it’s going to take if I want to make it to this level. So that’s the biggest thing.”

Noah Cates: “Really, really special that (that Jackson) picked (this camp). It was a great week with him here. (It was) so exciting for him to be here with me and spend this week together.”

Ratcliffe: “Yeah, this is really a developmental camp. They stress that a lot this week. They understand that coming in midway through the summer, too, we’re not going to be at our peak performance. Obviously, (we’re) working on building up strength, building up our endurance here. Sometimes in the summer, a lot of guys aren’t on the ice a ton right now, at this point. Really, it’s just learning things.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149425 Pittsburgh Penguins “The coach has always been on top of what’s going on and what the issues are, what we can make better, who needs help, what coach should deal with what player and how do we approach things,” Penguins sign coach Mike Sullivan to 4-year contract extension Rutherford said. “He is so driven to win again. One of the things I talk about is people getting content. Are they OK with the success of a couple of championships in the last few years? With Mike, he’s driven to win championships and believes we can win again.” JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Friday, July 5, 2019 12:56 p.m. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.06.2019

Signing a four-year contract extension is the one thing Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan will do this summer that will have the longest-lasting impact on...

With a new contract in his pocket, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is attempting to pull off a trick extraordinarily rare in hockey circles. It might be more difficult than winning back-to-back Stanley Cups like he did in 2016-17.

He’s going to try to coach the same NHL team for more than a few years without getting fired.

Fifteen of the league’s 31 coaches have 15 months or less of tenure with their current team. Sullivan is the ninth longest-tenured coach in the league, and he’s been on the job less than four years.

Sullivan signed a four-year contract extension Friday that will run through the 2023-24 season.

Sullivan could have played out this season, the last on a three-year extension he signed in 2016, and tried his luck as a coaching free agent. A 51-year-old with two rings to his credit undoubtedly would have drawn a crowd.

Sullivan said he never considered that possibility.

“I knew through this whole process that I wanted to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Sullivan said. “I have so much respect for the group of people that I get to go to work with every day. We’ve got a great group of players. Jim Rutherford is a great general manager to work for. It really is a privilege to coach this team and coach in this organization.”

Rutherford could have taken a wait-and-see approach after the Penguins were swept out of the first round of the playoffs in April. Maybe the returns on Sullivan have already begun to diminish.

Rutherford said he never considered that possibility either.

“We look at the whole body of work, not just one playoff series,” Rutherford said. “The fact of the matter is Mike’s body of work in Pittsburgh has been really good, and he’s a really good coach. Getting him tied up long term was good for us.”

The first item on the agenda for Sullivan after signing his extension is getting the Penguins back to championship contention.

Sullivan endorsed the personnel moves Rutherford has made so far this summer, saying they should make the team younger, faster and harder to play against.

Conventional wisdom says Sullivan should be happy about working with a locker room that no longer includes the notoriously hard-to-handle Phil Kessel, but the coach took care to avoid taking any shots at the popular winger on his way out the door.

“We just felt, as a group, that we didn’t come together like we could have or should have to maximize the potential of our group,” Sullivan said. “It’s not any one person or two people’s fault. It’s the responsibility of everybody involved to make sure that they’re making a positive contribution in that regard.”

One thing Sullivan will have to avoid if he hopes to see the end of the contract he just signed is having his message or methods grow stale.

He said he is optimistic the opposite will happen.

“I believe that it takes time to build relationships with people,” Sullivan said. “When you do build relationships and you can establish trust with players, it can only help the coaching staff and the players to meet some of the challenges that this league inevitably presents.”

Rutherford has often talked about trying to stave off the staleness that sometimes creeps into the locker room of a veteran team. The GM said he was never talking about his coach in that sense. 1149426 Pittsburgh Penguins Allowing 15 short-handed goals was an absolute killer. Using two defensemen should solve that.

I wouldn’t be afraid to go back to Hornqvist, but Guentzel’s touch and Mark Madden: Penguins power play set for reshaping production can’t be ignored.

If Malkin is to re-evaluate and reorganize after a sub-par season by his MARK MADDEN | Friday, July 5, 2019 5:28 p.m. lofty standard, perhaps taking him out of his comfort zone on the power play would be a good idea. Or it might give him the boo-boo face.

If Galchenyuk gets his share of power-play time, he will get more points The acquisition of Alex Galchenyuk in exchange for Phil Kessel puts the than Kessel. Galchenyuk is a lock to outproduce Kessel at even strength. Penguins’ No. 1 power play in line for a major realignment. More deals Galchenyuk has never had more talent to work with. Kessel has never might be made, but all the components for the man-advantage unit are had less. currently in place. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.06.2019 Kessel had 36 points on the PP last season. As much as anybody, Kessel served as the unit’s quarterback at the left half-wall. He never shot one-timers, as that spot usually dictates. He probably could have shot more, period. But his playmaking was exquisite.

But Galchenyuk is no slouch when his team is up a man. He collected 21 points on an Arizona power play that finished sixth-bottom in the NHL with a conversion percentage of 16.3. (The Penguins were fifth best at 24.6.)

Galchenyuk has a big shot. To not use him on the top power play would be to ignore one of his main talents.

But where does he fit?

Another question: Who serves as the net-front presence? Patric Hornqvist fits that job description best and has been a fixture. But Jake Guentzel has better touch, and got 40 goals last year despite netting just six on the power play.

But there’s no bad choice there.

Arranging everybody else is where the debate lies.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are definite. Duh.

It seems folly to put Crosby anywhere but down low. He’s the best in hockey history below the hash marks. That especially applies with the man advantage.

It’s either Kris Letang or Justin Schultz up top. Letang is better at zone entry, and that talent is at a bigger premium now that Kessel’s speed on the approach has been taken out of the mix. Schultz is slightly superior at puck distribution from the point.

A fairly obvious solution is to put Schultz up top, and install Letang at Kessel’s old spot. Letang is right-handed. He would shoot more often. Letang can’t dish the puck like Kessel, but having two defensemen on the power play (and Kessel’s absence) can’t help but cut down on the league-high 15 short-handed goals the Penguins conceded.

But where’s that leave Galchenyuk?

The Penguins reportedly want to finagle Galchenyuk onto the top unit.

Doing so means a left-handed shot has to play Kessel’s old spot on the left half-wall. Whoever does so would be at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to shooting. No one-timers.

It’s a tough task but not impossible. Defenseman Ryan Whitney performed the job admirably when he was with the team from 2005-09.

Malkin could do it. He has the passing, vision and puck skills. But he wouldn’t want to.

Galchenyuk could wind up there by virtue of being the new boy. But that would largely neutralize his shot.

Coach Mike Sullivan (he of the four-year contract extension) could always cop out and put together two “equal” units. But that never works, and hasn’t in the past.

Everybody wants to play one of the half-walls. That’s where the points are. The puck rotates through those spots. Cheap helpers. Crosby would prefer to play on the right half-wall, but sacrifices numbers by playing down low. He’s a team guy.

I don’t know what Sullivan will decide.

But I’d use Schultz up top, Letang and Malkin on the half-walls, Crosby down low, and Guentzel as the net-front presence. 1149427 Pittsburgh Penguins how we play and is there anything we need to change in order to try to maximize this group of players that we have,” Sullivan said.

5. Get ready for what’s next 5 things on Penguins coach Mike Sullivan’s summer agenda other than signing a new contract The Penguins have already completed the bulk of their offseason roster transformation, but a trade designed to open salary cap space continues to be an item on the agenda. Sullivan said GM Jim Rutherford always JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Friday, July 5, 2019 8:12 p.m. keeps an open line of communication in situations like this.

Rutherford said he still has a little more to do before training camp.

With a new contract in his pocket, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike “We just keep working on some things,” Rutherford said. “We’re within Sullivan is attempting to pull off a trick extraordinarily rare in hockey the cap if we had to start today, so there’s not any pressure to do circles. It... anything, but that’s something I’ll keep an eye on going forward.”

Signing a four-year contract extension is the one thing Pittsburgh Tribune Review LOADED: 07.06.2019 Penguins coach Mike Sullivan will do this summer that will have the longest-lasting impact on his life and career.

He’s got plenty of other offseason irons in the fire as well, though.

Here’s a look at five things Sullivan has either checked off or begun to check off his summer to-do list.

1. Meet with Malkin

Evgeni Malkin is coming off a subpar season by his standards. His name found its way into trade rumors. It would probably behoove Sullivan to get on the same page with his Russian superstar. He believes he has already done that.

“Geno and I had a great conversation. We had lunch together,” Sullivan said. “I know Geno’s excited about coming back to training camp and helping this team win. The specifics of the conversation we’ll keep between Geno and I, but certainly we’re very much on the same page as far as how we’re going to go moving forward and how Geno can help this team win.

“He’s an elite player. He’ll continue to be an elite player in this league. He’s been one of the best players of his generation and he’ll continue to be that for us.”

2. Figure out the power play

With Phil Kessel no longer reliably stationed at the left half-wall, the Penguins will need to reconfigure a power play that has ranked in the top five in the league in each of the past three seasons.

It’s a topic Sullivan has already given considerable thought.

“I think we have a lot of options on our power play,” Sullivan said. “We certainly have capable people. You can look at our team. We had a guy like Jake Guentzel, for example, that was playing on our second power play and he was our leading goal scorer. Jake is a guy that we know can play on that first unit and can be very productive.

“We have the ability to use two defensemen if we like, with Justin Schultz and Tanger, that are two right-handed shots. Alex Galchenyuk is an interesting player that has shown an ability to score goals and can really shoot the puck. We’ve got a lot of options that we think we can try to explore and put combinations together that we think can help that first power-play unit continue to be successful.”

3. Put the pieces together

Sullivan will have to figure out exactly where trade pick-ups Alex Galchenyuk and Dominik Kahun and free-agent addition Brandon Tanev fit into his lineup. He’s excited at the possibilities.

“We’re certainly a faster team,” Sullivan said. “I think we’re harder to play against. I think the energy and enthusiasm that these guys have already shown … is contagious and that alone is going to benefit all of us when we go back to training camp.”

4. Study the league

Sullivan has always prided himself on being a coach who stays on top of strategic trends in the game and applying them to the Penguins when possible. What did the Bruins and Blues do to reach the Stanley Cup Final? Sullivan was watching.

“I believe I’ll try to continue to evolve myself as a coach and I try to challenge my coaching staff as well to evolve as a staff in more ways than one, in looking at the league and the best practices, in looking at 1149428 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Zach Aston-Reese files for salary arbitration

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Friday, July 5, 2019 5:55 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Zach Aston-Reese was the only one of the team’s four remaining restricted free agents to file for salary arbitration by Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline.

Forwards Teddy Blueger and Adam Johnson elected not to file. Defenseman Marcus Pettersson did not have enough service time to earn the right to arbitration.

Aston-Reese, 24, had eight goals and 17 points in 43 games for the Penguins last season, playing on a contract worth $925,000 annually. According to hockey-graphs.com’s projections, Aston-Reese is in line to make about $1.3 million next season.

Arbitration hearings are scheduled for July 20 through Aug. 4 in Toronto. In the vast majority of cases, the player and team settle on a compromise before the hearing takes place. Last year, 40 of 44 arbitration cases were settled before the hearing.

When a player doesn’t file for arbitration, like Blueger and Johnson didn’t, it usually indicates the qualifying offer they received from the club in June is in the neighborhood of the contract they’d be willing to accept.

According to the website’s projections, Blueger is in line for a raise from $650,000 to $892,390 while Johnson can expect a pay cut from $925,000 to $743,261.

Pettersson is projected to make $1.63 million, but that would be on a short-term deal. If the Penguins want to work out a longer extension that stretches into his unrestricted free agent years, they can expect to pay significantly more in annual salary.

The Penguins are about $2.3 million under the $81.5 million salary cap with 11 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies under contract.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149429 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Zach Aston-Reese files for salary arbitration

STAFF

Penguins winger Zach Aston-Reese has filed for salary arbitration.

The deadline to file was 5 p.m. Aston-Reese was the only Penguin and one of 40 players league-wide to do so.

Aston-Reese, an undrafted college free agent, signed a two-year deal with the Penguins in 2017. That contract had an average annual value of $925,000.

In arbitration, a player and team propose a salary for the upcoming season, then argue their case before a third party, who decides on the player’s salary. The club gets to choose whether it wants the agreement to cover one season or two.

Teams also have the option to “walk away” from the awarded salary, in which case the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Aston-Reese flashed potential in a bottom-six role for the Penguins in 2018-19, tallying 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists) in 43 games. He was a plus-12 last season and was one of five players to whom the Penguins extended qualifying offers in June.

The Penguins reached a one-year deal with one of those players, Joseph Blandisi, earlier this week. Marcus Pettersson, Teddy Blueger and Adam Johnson also received qualifying offers.

After adding Brandon Tanev via trade earlier this week, the Penguins only have $1.6 million in cap space. Jim Rutherford admitted Monday there is a “good chance” they’ll have to trade somebody to ensure they are cap compliant for next season.

Post Gazette LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149430 Pittsburgh Penguins production, not just last season when he averaged a point a game, but in the Cup years. The Penguins wouldn’t have won either without him.

But it was time for Kessel to go, just as it was in Toronto before he came Sticking with Mike Sullivan a wise move by Jim Rutherford here and in Boston before that. He is difficult to coach. He doesn’t like to practice. He too often would have defensive lapses. He eventually will drive his new coach, Rick Tocchet, crazy in Arizona. Jul 5, 2019 8:28 PM Sullivan will be a better coach without Kessel at this point of Kessel’s Ron Cook: career.

Give Rutherford credit for recognizing that and betting big on Sullivan.

It would have been so easy for Jim Rutherford to back a star player and Post Gazette LOADED: 07.06.2019 fire his coach. That’s the way it’s done in sports, right? That’s especially true in the NHL, which has less respect for its coaches than any other professional league.

Good for the Penguins that Rutherford did the right thing, not the easy thing.

Last week, Rutherford traded Phil Kessel, a gifted player who clearly had worn out his welcome with Mike Sullivan. Friday, Rutherford gave Sullivan a four-year contract extension that will take him through the 2023-24 season.

Those are Rutherford’s two best moves of a busy offseason.

Each makes perfect sense.

Each will make the Penguins better, next season and beyond.

Sullivan overcame significant odds to get his extension. I wondered if he would last if the team got off to a slow start next season after the past two playoffs when it was swept in the first round by the and taken out in the second round by the Washington Capitals. It’s not as if the franchise has a history of being coach-supportive. That goes back to the days when Mario Lemieux’s team chased off Scotty Bowman, the NHL’s greatest coach and maybe the best coach in any sport. Before Dan Bylsma, the Penguins, who joined the NHL in 1967, had not had a coach start and finish four consecutive seasons. The Steelers, by comparison, have had three coaches since 1969.

Now, Sullivan is a virtual lock to break Bylsma’s longevity record of 5⅓ seasons. He won’t have to look over his shoulder at Mike Vellucci, the Calder Cup-winning coach who was just hired by the Penguins for their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton farm team. Sullivan knows as well as anyone how the organization likes to promote its coaches from within. He, Bylsma and Michel Therrien all were at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

There had been speculation that the Rutherford-Sullivan marriage had soured significantly since the Sullivan-coached Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017. Much of it had merit. Rutherford traded for Ryan Reaves, but Sullivan didn’t play him. Rutherford talked up Daniel Sprong, but Sullivan didn’t play him. Rutherford signed Jack Johnson as a free agent and passionately defended his play, but Sullivan made him a healthy scratch for Game 1 against the Islanders.

Rutherford also took what appeared to be a veiled shot at Sullivan’s coaching after that Islanders series by saying the Penguins produced an “uncomfortable” 100 points and never really came together as a team. If there was a chemistry issue in the room, doesn’t Sullivan have to take at least partial blame for it? Doesn’t he have to ask what he could do better for the team? Doesn’t he have to at least consider tweaking his coaching style?

Sullivan is a smart man and a terrific coach.

I’m guessing that’s exactly how he is spending his offseason.

There was no reason to break up the Rutherford-Sullivan marriage. Sullivan’s extension is proof that each is comfortable working with the other. Each is driven to win another Cup.

I’m not ruling that out.

Rutherford promised changes after the debacle against the Islanders and delivered. Out are Kessel and Olli Maatta and, perhaps soon to follow, Nick Bjugstad or Bryan Rust. In are forwards Alex Galchenyuk, Brandon Tanev and Dominik Kahun.

I like all of the moves.

Kessel devotees disagree, of course. I can think of only a handful of Penguins who were more popular among the fans. They like that Kessel looks a lot like many of us — balding and paunchy. They loved his 1149431 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins were in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoffs.

Six months later, Sullivan, with an attacking style predicated on speed, Mike Sullivan, Penguins agree to contract extension led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup when they beat the San Jose Sharks in six games in June of 2016. He became the first American-born head coach to win multiple Stanley Cups when the Penguins repeated Ray Fittipaldo: the following year by ousting the Nashville Predators, also in six games.

“Mike has done a great job delivering four, 100-plus point seasons with our team," Rutherford said in a statement. "To win back-to-back Stanley Disappointed with the way his team finished the season following a first- Cups in this era speaks volumes of him as a coach. His instincts in round playoff sweep at the hands of the New York Islanders, Penguins managing the inter-workings of our team both on and off the ice have general manager Jim Rutherford has followed through on his promise to been impressive.” change the team for the 2019-2020 season. One week ago, he traded enigmatic winger Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes, a move that came Sullivan is one of only two NHL coaches to win consecutive Stanley Cups on the heels of dealing away defenseman Olli Maatta, another two-time in his first two seasons with a team and became the first coach to win Stanley Cup winner that had been a regular in the lineup. back-to-back Cups since Scotty Bowman led the Red Wings to championships in 1996 and 1997. The Penguins still figure to make more personnel changes before training camp begins in September, but Rutherford left little doubt Friday about Sullivan is 174-92-34 during his Penguins tenure. He already has the who will be in charge of the Penguins as he retools the roster. third-most victories of any coach in franchise history and his .637 winning percentage is second-best. Rutherford signed head coach Mike Sullivan to a four-year contract extension, giving Sullivan a new deal that will run through the 2023-24 “Mike has proven he is a tremendous leader for our team," Penguins season. His old deal was set to expire after the upcoming season. team president and CEO David Morehouse said in a statement. "Our Sullivan and his agent were in contact with Rutherford since the end of trust in him as a coach has continued to grow since winning back-to-back the season, and Sullivan said he never considered becoming a free Stanley Cups in his first two years. Mike has a championship mindset agent. and he is the right guy for our team, the organization and the city of Pittsburgh.” “I know I wanted to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Sullivan said Friday evening on a conference with reporters. “I have so much respect for the NOTE – Forward Zach Aston-Reese has elected salary arbitration. people I go to work with every day. It really is a privilege to coach this Hearings are set to begin July 20. team. It was really something I wanted. I wanted to be a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins.” Post Gazette LOADED: 07.06.2019

The 2018-19 season was Sullivan’s most-challenging season to date for a variety of reasons. The Penguins did not clinch a playoff berth until the final week of the regular season. Once they got there, they were overmatched by a young and fast Islanders team that finished above them in second place in the Metropolitan division standings.

The nucleus of the team remains intact with stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang under contract, but Rutherford has made it clear that others are expendable as he attempts to get the most out of his aging core.

Sullivan agreed with Rutherford that the chemistry within the team had to change.

“When you think about teams that are successful there is a certain chemistry that has to be there in order to maximize the group,” Sullivan said. “I can look back on our Stanley Cup winning teams and the chemistry on those teams that was essential to us winning. We just didn’t feel like we were together as a group. And it wasn’t the responsibility of one or two guys. It’s the responsibility of the whole group.

“What excites us moving forward is the guys we have acquired are excited to be a part of the organization and to be a part of teams that hopefully wins Stanley Cups together.”

The Penguins received forward Alex Galchenyuk and defenseman Pierre Olivier-Joseph in return for Kessel. In exchange for Maatta they received Dominik Kahun from the Blackhawks.

Sullivan said he and Rutherford discussed three ways for the Penguins to improve over the offseason, and he believes the moves that have been made will be helpful.

“We wanted to get younger, faster and be more difficult to play against,” he said. “The players he acquired checked a lot of those boxes.”

Another part of getting the chemistry right for next season is getting Malkin back on track. He struggled at times during last season and finished with 21 goals, half as many as he had during the 2017-18 season and his fewest in a season since 2012-13.

“We had lunch together,” Sullivan said. “I know Geno is excited about coming back to camp. We’re very much on the same page moving forward and how he can help us win.”

Rutherford is banking on Sullivan being the right person to oversee the team as it transitions. He was the right man for the job four years ago when he took over for Mike Johnston midway through the 2015 season. 1149432 Pittsburgh Penguins the past four years. Coaches with his pedigree rarely hit the open market unless there is an in-season firing — such as the case with Chicago and Joel Quenneville last season.

Mike Sullivan has security from the Penguins and buy-in from Evgeni Even though the Penguins were swept by the New York Islanders in the Malkin opening round of the playoffs in April, Rutherford later described Sullivan as having “done a great job … better than a lot of people would know.”

By Rob Rossi Jul 5, 2019 “I don’t worry about our coach,” Rutherford said in May. “There will be some changes with regards to some of our players, but we’ll have a team next season that fits with our coach.”

Mike Sullivan has the commitment he needed to get this summer. Kessel’s departure a few days before the start of NHL free agency signaled Rutherford backed Sullivan in that power struggle. Not from the Penguins, who on Friday recommitted to their coach by extending his contract. Usually, losing a point-per-game scorer would be cause for concern. Especially when that scorer had the power play essentially run through From center Evgeni Malkin, who recently broke bread with Sullivan in him, as Kessel did while with the Penguins. South Florida. But Sullivan on Friday sounded nonplussed by any challenges that could “Geno and I had a great conversation … and I know Geno’s excited arise by Kessel’s absence. about coming back to training camp and helping this team win,” Sullivan said. “There’s specifics of the conversation that I’ll keep between Geno He said the Penguins “have a lot of options on our power play,” adding and I. But certainly we’re very much on the same page about how we’re they “certainly have some capable people.” He mentioned winger Jake going to go moving forward and how Geno can help this team win.” Guentzel, a 40-goal scorer who could only crack the top unit because of injuries last season. Sullivan also cited the Penguins’ “ability to use two As he has often during his Pittsburgh tenure, Sullivan sprinkled some defensemen if we’d like,” noting the right-handed shots of Kris Letang sugar into an answer to a question about one of his players. He called and Justin Schultz. Malkin “one of the best players of his generation” and said, “he’ll continue to be an elite player in this league.” “(And) Alex Galchenyuk is an interesting player and has shown an ability to score goals and can really shoot the puck,” Sullivan said of the winger Malkin, who has twice topped the regular season and postseason in acquired in exchange for Kessel. scoring and also has won the Hart and Conn Smythe trophies, is coming off a season in which he admittedly “did not play good, like, at all.” He “So, we’ve got a lot of options that we think we can try to explore and can scored 21 goals and 72 points in 68 games, but was a -25 and produced put combinations together that can help that first power-play unit continue only 11 goals at even strength. to be successful.”

Sullivan said it was “shortly after the end of the season” when he spoke Coincidentally or not, Sullivan never mentioned Kessel during a 16- to general manager Jim Rutherford about paying Malkin an offseason minute conference call with Pittsburgh writers Friday. visit. It was a meeting people close to Malkin said he felt was necessary for him to clear the air with Sullivan. Seemed as though Kessel was gone and forgotten for a coach who said his success is owed to “building relationships.” At times last season, Malkin confided to friends his frustration with feeling caught between a boiling-over rift between Sullivan and Phil Kessel, “It takes time,” Sullivan said. “But when you do build relationships and Malkin’s longtime winger who was recently traded to Arizona. Malkin had you can establish trust with the players, it can only help the coaching grown exhausted by what he perceived as being the middle man staff and the players to meet some of the challenges that this league between Kessel, a friend away from the rink, and Sullivan, a coach inevitably presents.” Malkin has said he holds in high regard. A few challenges are behind Sullivan:

Kessel being on his way out of Pittsburgh was one of hockey’s worst-kept Kessel is out. secrets. Knowing as much, Malkin was said to be hopeful that he and Sullivan could start anew with their meeting and put himself in a good Malkin has bought back in. place emotionally for when he heads to Moscow for offseason training later this month. And Sullivan won’t be in a lame-duck situation as a coach with only one year left on his deal. Whatever they discussed — and how much the conversation extended beyond issues pertaining to Kessel — Sullivan would not divulge details The task ahead of him is again build a Cup club out of a roster that has Friday. become younger. Also, he must find fits for three new players — Galchenyuk and fellow forwards Dominic Kahun and Brandon Tanev — “It was important for Geno and I to have that conversation, and I thought added by Rutherford over the past month. Rutherford sought to bring in it went really well,” Sullivan said. players who had not won as a way to correct perceived staleness that he said was part of overall chemistry problems with the Penguins last Negotiations between Rutherford and Sullivan’s agent went against the season. narrative that the Penguins might not favor committing to their coach or vice versa. Sullivan had told Rutherford that he could wait until after July Sullivan didn’t go quite as far as his boss had in public statements critical 1 to finalize any new deal, so as to allow his GM time to address roster of that particular intangible. But he did acknowledge Friday the need for moves. improved chemistry during the upcoming season.

Sullivan will coach the upcoming season under terms of his current “When you think about teams that are successful, they certainly have a contract’s final season. Financial terms of his extension were not certain chemistry that allows them to maximize that certain group,” disclosed by the Penguins when Sullivan’s deal was announced by the Sullivan said. “It’s the responsibility of everyone involved, myself included team Friday. as a head coach, to try to work towards that goal. I can look back on our Stanley Cup championship teams, and those were teams that had that Ownership was said to have no objection to Sullivan becoming one of the certain level of chemistry that’s essential to winning. NHL’s highest-paid coaches on any extension, which runs through the 2023-24 season. “We just felt that as a group (last season) that we didn’t come together as well as we should have as a group to maximize our potential as a group. With the extension, Sullivan has a contract that runs longer than those for It’s not any one person’s fault or two people’s fault. Like I said, it’s the Rutherford or Malkin. responsibility of everybody involved to make a positive contribution in A willingness to reward Sullivan made sense from the Penguins’ that regard.” perspective. The responsibility begins with Sullivan. As of Friday, he would appear to Sullivan is only 51, already a two-time Stanley Cup coach (2016, 2017) have ample time to see things through in Pittsburgh. and his 38 postseason wins are the most by any NHL bench boss over The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149433 San Jose Sharks

How Timo Meier’s new contract actually can help cap-strapped Sharks

By Chelena Goldman July 05, 2019 1:58 PM

The Sharks still have a lot of work to do this offseason and not a lot of cap space to work with. But believe it or not, things could actually be much more difficult if it wasn't for Timo Meier.

San Jose signed the 22-year-old to a four-year, $24 million deal at the opening of free agency that will keep him in teal for the foreseeable future. Not only did the deal get done quickly, but the price tag actually helps out the cap-strapped Sharks.

Sure, getting $6 million a year doesn't seem like much of a bargain, especially when you consider Meier now is the third-highest paid forward on the team behind Logan Couture ($8 million) and ($7 million).

But the deal for a player who tallied 30 goals last season actually is very team-friendly when you consider that the Canadiens signed RFA Sebastian Aho, also a 30-goal scorer, to an offer sheet worth over $8 million. Or that a deal for Mitch Marner, considered the top RFA on the market right now, could be somewhere in the $9 million range -- which is no doubt giving the cap-hovering Maple Leafs nightmares.

With that mind, the Meier deal looks incredibly reasonable.

Sharks' general manager Doug Wilson expressed in a phone interview with the press on July 1 how happy the team was to get a deal with Meier done so quickly.

"We appreciate when (players) step up and take control of their situation," Wilson complimented. "Certainly helps us, but also sends a strong message about how they feel about our team, too."

Getting a deal done before another team could swoop in with an offer also potentially saved the Sharks some money. San Jose made it clear at the start of their offseason that getting Meier under contract was one of their top priorities, so getting something done before another team could offer more money and longer term than the Sharks would want to match was a big help.

With Meier's deal done on the first day of free agency, San Jose is in a better position to address its remaining roster holes and lack of cap space over the next couple of months. Had Meier and his agent wanted a longer or larger deal -- or even worse, ended up in a William Nylander- type standoff -- the Sharks likely would've been held up as far as getting some of their other players signed.

Which brings us to the rest of the offseason, one where they still have a lot of work to do. The Sharks still only have $6,382,583 in cap space and are going to have to make at least one trade to free up room to sign their next crop of free agents. Kevin Labanc and Dylan Gambrell still top the list of RFAs the Sharks probably want to be signed to deals soon.

At least with Meier's not terribly expensive deal done, the Sharks can get to work doing just that.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149434 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning re-signs Cedric Paquette to two-year contract

The gritty forward gets a deal worth $3.3 million.

By Sharon Fink

TAMPA — The Lightning re-signed restricted free agent forward Cedric Paquette to a two-year contract worth $3.3 million, general manager Julien BriseBois said Friday.

Paquette, 26 next month, had 13 goals and 17 points in 80 games last season and was one of the Lightning’s top penalty killers. He led the team in hits with 269; since his Lightning debut in 2013, no Tampa Bay player has more hits than Paquette’s 791.

Also last season, Paquette led Lightning forwards in blocked shots with 61. He also led the team with 80 penalty minutes.

The Lightning also re-signed restricted free agent forward prospect Carter Verhaeghe, last season’s AHL points and goals leader, to a one- year, two-way contract. No financial terms were announced. Verhaeghe, 24 next month, had 84 points and 34 goals for Syracuse last season.

Still on Tampa Bay’s list of unsigned restricted free agents: Brayden Point and Adam Erne.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149435 Tampa Bay Lightning $81.5 million deal. The 27-year-old is an elite forward, but it remains to be seen if he’s enough to make the Rangers into a contender.

Devils making moves NHL offseason moves through a Lightning prism New Jersey has made the playoffs only once in the past seven years, but the Devils could finally be on the way up.

Staff After drafting Jack Hughes first overall, the Devils traded for defenseman P.K. Subban and added forward Wayne Simmonds in free agency. None of those moves is likely a magic fix — it’s a lot to ask of 18-year-old Five things to know about how the Lightning’s Eastern Conference Hughes, even if he was the top pick in the draft — but they are signs of competition has changed. progress.

Artemi Panarin. Matt Duchene. Joe Pavelski. Sergei Bobrovsky. Robin Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.06.2019 Lehner. Corey Perry. Anders Lee. Names flew around the NHL amidst the free agent frenzy.

By Thursday, only the Golden Knights hadn’t added anyone since free agency began at noon Monday.

A few notable names remain in play — Ryan Dzingel, Jake Gardiner and Marcus Johansson, anyone? — but the ones who drew the most attention have landed. Now that the smoke is clearing, what does the landscape look like for some of the Lightning’s chief competition in the Eastern Conference?

Keeping up with the neighbors

With five consecutive games against the Panthers in the preseason plus the season opener, the Lightning will see a couple of familiar faces early. The Panthers have signed goalie Bobrovsky, forward Brett Connolly and defenseman Anton Stralman.

Bobrovsky, who stymied the Lightning in its first-round sweep loss to the Blue Jackets in this year’s playoffs, fills the crease vacated by Roberto Luongo’s retirement. Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, at least challenged his reputation for playoff struggles this year.

Stralman — who spent the past five seasons with the Lightning — and Connolly — a former Lightning wing who has also played for the Bruins and, most recently, the Capitals — brings veteran leadership to a team that was 12 points out of the playoffs last year.

Division rivals

The Maple Leafs made a few depth signings Monday, headlined by 36- year-old forward Jason Spezza, a Toronto native who said he’s returning home to complement younger players. He’s a good depth piece for the Maple Leafs’ bottom six.

Toronto’s most notable acquisitions so far this week have come via trades. The Maple Leafs sent forward Nazim Kadri to the Avalanche for defenseman and center Alex Kerfoot, who was a restricted free agent but signed a four-year, $14 million deal Thursday. Barrie will step into the hole left by Gardiner without the reputation for missteps, and Kerfoot came cheaper than Kadri by about $1 million a season and he doesn’t have Kadri’s suspension history.

In a trade with the Senators, the Maple Leafs got defenseman Cody Ceci, a restricted free agent who signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal Thursday.

[ MORE LIGHTNING: Why did Tampa Bay want Joe Pavelski? ]

Columbus exodus

The Blue Jackets indubitably got worse. They are left with a talented team and a strong coach but lost their biggest pieces and haven’t filled those holes.

The top three free agents on the board were Blue Jackets: Panarin, Duchene and Bobrovsky. Dzingel isn’t expected to re-sign. There go the cards general manager Jarmo Kekalainen played at the trade deadline.

Columbus did sign Gustav Nyquist, a strong wing, but he isn’t on the level of Panarin and Duchene.

The Jackets will be working uphill next season.

Welcome to Broadway

The Rangers have been trading pieces away for two years as they rebuild. That’s how Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller got to the Lighting. Monday, New York likely made its last house-cleaning move, sending wing to the Sabres, and it signed Panarin to a seven-year, 1149436 Toronto Maple Leafs Fine.

Perfectly understandable.

Duhatschek Notebook: Free agency becomes efficient, the after effects But then that refrain – sorry, but it’s just business — has to work both of signing an offer sheet, Sutter’s role ways.

And in my mind, the parallel may well be Joe Sakic and the Rangers. In 1997, Sakic signed a three-year, $21 million offer sheet with the Rangers By Eric Duhatschek Jul 5, 2019 that included a $15 million signing bonus. Just as with Aho and the Hurricanes, the structure of the contract put tremendous financial pressure on Colorado and forced the Avalanche to scramble to find the NHL free agency is annually a changing, shifting evolving exercise and money to pay Sakic. that proved to be true again in 2019, when something almost unprecedented happened. But they did – and you know how the story turned out.

Collectively, you saw the 31 teams do a summer’s worth of business in Sakic went on to play 12 more seasons in Colorado, won another Stanley just a single day. Cup, made it to the Hall of Fame and is now the Avalanche GM.

Naturally, it started with all the usual first-day extravagances. Sergei Thus far, Sakic has played/worked in the Quebec-Colorado organization Bobrovsky went to Florida on a seven-year, $70 million contract; Artemi for his entire professional life. In the three years from the time Sakic Panarin landed in New York with the Rangers for $81.5 million. Mats signed the contract, until it expired, the relationship had time to be Zuccarello squeezed a five-year commitment out of the Minnesota Wild repaired. worth $30 million; Brandon Tanev was rewarded for all of his hard work And if Sakic and the Avs could make peace in three years, then Aho and and buzz-saw forechecking abilities to the tune of six years and $21 the Hurricanes can surely do it in five. million. Happy for Tanev and everything he stands for, but still, those are mind-boggling numbers. In Aho’s case specifically, he will receive roughly half the monetary value of the contract within the first 12 months (an $11.3 million signing bonus, But what made the day so unique was how many of the second-month, a $700,000 base salary and then another $9.87 in signing bonus money). budget-conscious one-year contracts that usually don’t occur until far later in the summer were all signed on the first day as well. When it comes strictly to dollars in and dollars out, it means Aho actually becomes a relatively low-cost option during the final four years of the Someone – either the players, the agents, or likely, both – properly read deal, once that first $21-plus million is paid. the tea leaves. They understood that the league was close to being capped out. No one wanted to slip through the cracks and find Other than to demonstrate spite then, what possible reason would there themselves out of work in September, and so they jumped in early, and be for Carolina to move on from Aho at that point (and remember too that got those deals out of the way too. under terms of offer sheet protocols, they cannot trade his rights for a year)? None, actually. So, what to make of Wayne Simmonds taking a one-year deal worth $5 million from the New Jersey Devils to bet on himself? Or Corey Perry, Five years is practically an eternity in the go-go, win-now world of going for only $1.5 million on a one-year deal? Colin Wilson, staying in professional sport – and certainly enough time for Aho to cement his ties Colorado for one year and $2.6 million? Normally, some team is to the team, the city and organization. prepared to overpay for those sorts of UFAs, no matter how much wear there may be on the tires. Instead, as teams tightened their collective If it gets to the end of the 2023-24 season and Aho’s desire to play in a belts, there was also an unexpected awareness on the fringes – more more traditional hockey market such as Montreal remains high, well, then and more players realizing that in the annual offseason game of musical Carolina can address the matter as the contract winds down. Usually, if a chairs, they didn’t want to be that guy, left without a seat, and suddenly player hasn’t won a championship as he’s approaching his prime, then shopping for a tryout opportunity in September. that becomes the priority. And we all know how quickly things can change in a single NHL season, let alone five. That push – among the lesser lights or the players with something to prove — represented an identifiable shift in thinking and approach. Teams trend up. Teams trend down. The only other thing Montreal’s offer sheet accomplished – and Hurricanes GM Don Waddell made a wry For the first time in a long time, free agency wasn’t just a money grab, reference to this – was that it got his player signed, and probably saved but also an exercise in trying to find the right fit. him a lot of sleepless nights over the summer. If you’re one of his counterparts in Winnipeg (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) or Calgary (Brad It means that other than finding homes for the handful of players still Treliving), or Toronto (Kyle Dubas), you can only wish and hope that they lingering on the market, the only real business left to sort out is what will get some sleep too – in time. remains of the restricted free-agent market. Kyle’s big day There have been tens of thousands of words already written in the aftermath of the Sebastian Aho offer sheet – made to him by the I don’t often write about Dubas because we have a crack staff in Toronto Canadiens on Monday, quickly matched by the Hurricanes. that endlessly covers him, but I would call Monday his finest 24 hours as Maple Leafs GM. Every manager has his good days and bad days and Some liked the idea, even just as an act of chaos. Others saw the terms then a lot of days in between that are simply neutral. But adding of the deal as a miscalculation, if the goal was legitimately to pry the defenceman Tyson Barrie at a net salary cost to Toronto of just $2.75 player loose. million is an absolute steal.

At this stage of the proceedings, the only genuine question still worth As someone who sees Barrie play frequently – and had an up-close look asking is: Did anything fundamentally change? Or more specifically, will at him in the 2019 playoffs – his strengths far outweigh his weaknesses the act of Aho signing an offer sheet with an Eastern Conference rival in my estimation. Now, Leafs Nation has to be careful not to turn him into ultimately fracture his long-term relationship with the team? a whipping boy, a la Jake Gardiner, because there are obvious defensive People will point to other players who’ve gone down this path with their deficiencies. Anyone who handles the puck as much as Barrie does – original teams – notably Ryan O’Reilly when he was with the Avalanche and with the bravado he displays – is inevitably going to turn it over. or Shea Weber when he was with the Predators – and never had quite Leaf fans have had a long look at Boston’s Torey Krug the past couple of the same relationship with their bosses after they’d signaled a willingness years. Well, the similarities in their respective games are startling. to move on. Both are 1991-born players; Krug is listed at 5-foot-9, 186 pounds; Barrie This logic strikes me as a little disingenuous. at 5-foot-10, 190.

Teams trade players all the time. Even if they preface their remarks by Both are talented power play quarterbacks – Krug produced 28 power- profusely praising their performances and thanking them for their years of play assists last year, Barrie 23. Overall, Barrie was seventh in scoring service (see the recent PK Subban trade to New Jersey trade for details), by defencemen this past season (59 in 78 games played) – and two the conclusion is always the same. Hockey is a business and sometimes, years ago was tied for 10th despite missing 14 games because of injuries managers need to make a business decision. (he finished with 57 points in 68 games played). On a points-per-game The Anaheim Ducks were the last team this offseason to fill their head basis, that left him No. 2 in the NHL in 2017-18 defenceman scoring coaching vacancy, naming former Oilers’ coach Dallas Eakins to the behind Erik Karlsson (Barrie with a 0.84 per game average, Karlsson at position on June 17, after a long search. But then this week, they threw a 0.87). new wrinkle at everyone by adding Darryl Sutter to the staff as an advisor to the coaching staff. With both Morgan Rielly and Barrie in the lineup, the Leafs now have the No. 3 and the No. 7 scoring defencemen from last season at their Just how a team defines an advisory role can vary from organization to disposal. Barrie needs a steadying partner but the good news is Jake organization, but as outlined here, Sutter will have a genuine hands-on Muzzin has had a lot of experience being that guy, back in his days in role with the team next season. Los Angeles when he and Drew Doughty were a formidable pair. For Sutter, this will be the first time since the 1991-92 season (when he If Rielly can find any kind of chemistry with Cody Ceci, the Leafs now was an associate coach on Mike Keenan’s Chicago Blackhawks’ staff) have the sort of one-two defensive punch that can really move the puck that he will not be the man in charge. Sutter eventually moved up to the quickly. Once Barrie gains some familiarity with his new teammates, they top job and spent three years coaching the Blackhawks, then six with the will soon come to appreciate how well he transports the puck and how Sharks, three with the Flames and then six more with the Kings. He was well he moves the puck. And yes, you do have to accept the miscues that also a head coach for two years in the IHL – and won a Turner Cup in will occasionally happen along the way. 1989-90. That’s the single common factor in Sutter’s coaching resume – wherever he went, success usually followed and usually it happened Meier’s new precedent pretty quickly.

Just because offer sheets are so rare in the NHL, Aho received most of Not everyone loved every single day of working – or playing – for Sutter, the attention Monday, when he signed briefly with Montreal. But because he was ultra-demanding in that Keenan/Scotty Bowman sort of realistically, in terms of establishing a precedent, the single most way and that’s where it’ll be interesting, to see how he adapts to a important signing revolved around the Sharks and Timo Meier. support role after more than a quarter century of having the final say on Meier was one of the lesser known members of a star-studded RFA class any and all coaching decisions. – and had a breakout season in 2018-19 for San Jose, scoring 66 points It was pretty clear in Randy Carlyle’s final months behind the bench that in 78 games, and managing all that in only 16:58 of average ice per night a lot of the Ducks’ players had checked out – and chafed under Carlyle’s for the Sharks. Meier was the ninth overall pick in 2015 and has old-school approach. GM Bob Murray didn’t want to make a mid-season incrementally been inching his way into the ranks of upper echelon NHL coaching change; repeatedly said he didn’t want to make a mid-season players. Meier didn’t top the list of prominent unsigned RFAs, but he too coaching change, and then ultimately had to because the team was was a potential offer-sheet target. floundering so badly. So, Murray temporarily went behind the bench Going into this summer, the big issue with the RFAs is that no one himself for the first time to see what that looked like. He and Sutter are wanted to sign first because they seemed afraid to set the market. Meier old friends, dating back to their playing days together in the Blackhawks’ ended up signing for four seasons at an AAV of $6 million. The way the organization, so they share that ultra-competitive gene and an contract is structured means Meier gets $4 million in each of its first two appreciation for old-school values. years; $6 million in the third year and then an eye-popping $10 million in In terms of roles and responsibilities, there’s a vast difference between the fourth, at which point he’ll enter his final season as a restricted free being a head coach and an assistant and a further difference between agent. being an assistant coach and a coaching advisor.

That’s a lot of money off of which to tender a qualifying offer, but Advisors provide input. realistically, who knows what the NHL financial landscape will look like in four years and who knows what Meier will have achieved in four years? Head coaches make decisions.

In a perfect world, teams want to lock up these young assets for a longer Put the right people in the right places and generally, it leads to success. term if possible, because of inflation. What looks like an overpay today – Probably one of the most underrated developments in St. Louis’s win or even market value – can seem like an attractive contract down the was how quietly effective Larry Robinson was in a supporting coaching road (see Mark Scheifele, Nathan MacKinnon and Johnny Gaudreau). role for the Blues’ defence. In Los Angeles, for a time, Sutter employed Bernie Nicholls in an advisory capacity during the Kings’ first Stanley Cup What San Jose signaled by agreeing to this sort of abstract structure was run. a willingness to bet on themselves and their organization, which is something they’ve done before. Internally, Nicholls was described as the “happiness” coach. For all of the technical expertise Nicholls brought on the offensive side of the equation, When they’ve traded in the past for players on expiring contracts such as it was his sunny personality and perpetually positive outlook on life that Evander Kane or Karlsson, they took a chance that once a player got to created a buffer between a demanding coach and a team that sometimes San Jose and saw the team, the city, the coach and the organization, needed the atmosphere to lighten. Nicholls calmed the waters when they they’d want to stay. sometimes roiled under Sutter.

Mostly, that’s worked. Internally, there’s a belief Meier will follow the lead In his new role, Sutter will never be that person – but he can provide of a long line of players who’ve gone down the same path. Joe Thornton straight-ahead common sense and, as much as possible given his never wants to leave. Patrick Marleau desperately wants to come back. powers, a high level of accountability. There was a lot of criticism when Joe Pavelski was a lifer in San Jose until the dollars in GM Doug Sutter was originally hired by the Kings – many people saw it as a terrible Wilson’s player budget eventually ran out. idea, doomed to fail from the start.

Not every team is San Jose and not every team has the confidence that After the fact, it was hard to argue with the results – Sutter presided over they can sell their program to a player, and this gives both sides time to Stanley Cup champions in 2012 and 2014. In a bottom-line industry, figure out the future. that’s all that ever matters.

The larger issue as it relates to RFAs is, will the Meier and/or Aho Sutter noted that at this stage of his life – he will turn 61 in August – he signings help break the logjam and create a template for other teams no longer has the desire to be a head coach anyway, so this could well moving forward? Term will be the issue of course. For the kind of dough be the perfect final act for him. We’ll see how he embraces the changed these players are asking for, teams either want to go really short – or role and the shift in responsibilities. extract the maximum term. But the rivalry between Anaheim and Los Angeles – two non-playoff The sense all along has been that the remaining names – Mitch Marner, teams a year ago – is more interesting today than it was last week and I Mikko Rantanen, Matthew Tkachuk – will linger for a long time on the daresay a touch more competitive too. market; that the stalemates with their respective teams could drag far into the summer and the fall and maybe spill into William Nylander territory. The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 Nylander vs. the Maple Leafs was a standoff which helped no one. Maybe the Meier signing nudges things along in a more productive direction.

Sutter content rising 1149437 Websites Bettman: Wait, you’re pretending you planned this? Why would you do that?

Dundon (wiggling his fingers): Four-dimensional chess! The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: The top secret transcript of Gary Bettman’s Fourth of July party Bergevin: Curses!

Dundon: Here’s your half a burger, Sebastian. You’re super happy with how this all worked out, right? By Sean McIndoe Jul 5, 2019 Aho: Yes. Indeed, I am so very happy.

Bettman: You just wrote “help me” in ketchup on your bun. As my longtime readers know, Gary Bettman loves nothing more than hosting the entire NHL world at one of his world-famous parties. This Aho (underlining it in mustard): Did I? year was no different, as all the most important names in the hockey world were invited to Bettman’s home for a backyard cookout to Daly: Hey look, Kevin Cheveldayoff just showed up. celebrate the Fourth of July. Bettman: How’s it going Kevin? Having a good time?

Somehow, I didn’t get an invite. But luckily, my spies were able to sneak Cheveldayoff: I guess so. Just a little weird to be having a Fourth of June in, and they sent me a top secret transcript of the entire event. party, isn’t it?

(Scene: It’s the backyard of a large home in a trendy New York suburb. Bettman: Uh… you mean Fourth of July. Gary Bettman is wearing a “Kiss the Chef” apron as he works the grill and welcomes guests. He’s approached by an old friend.) Cheveldayoff: Ha… it can’t be July. That would mean that free agency had already been going on for the better part of a week. Bill Daly: Gary, thanks for the invite. How this year’s party shaping up? Bettman: It… has. Bettman: We’re just getting started, but so far, so good. (Awkward silence.) Daly: Great. Got enough food? Cheveldayoff: Uh, I’d better go. Bettman: I think so. I’ve got a few packs of frozen burgers, a couple of steaks and sausages, and several hundred hot dogs that Mike Sullivan That one dude from every comment section: Wait, is this real? I’m dropped off. confused.

Daly: That seems like a lot. Bettman: Shush.

Bettman: Apparently all the hot dog carts near the arena were having Daly: Uh oh, Gary, here comes trouble. going-out-of-business sales. (Donald Fehr walks up.) Daly: I see. Bettman: Donald! How’s it going, old buddy old pal! Bettman: He seemed pretty happy about it. Fehr: Uh… things are fine. What’s with the big friendship act? Daly: Are all the guests here? Bettman: Didn’t you hear? I want to get along now. I keep telling Bettman: Well, not all of them. Gabriel Landeskog has been has been everyone that I’m not looking to start any fights with you this year. standing on the porch for half an hour, waiting for somebody to open the Fehr: Right, right, you did say that. Anyway, I was just hoping I could get door for him. Jake Gardiner couldn’t make it because he’s waiting for a something to eat. repairman to show up and get his phone line working. And Paul Fenton was on his way up the driveway when he thought he saw a lizard, and Bettman: Of course! How about a sausage? now he’s trying to sign it to a contract. Fehr: Sure. Daly: Does that make sense to anybody? Bettman: Here you go. Made this one just for you. Bettman: Not remotely, no. Fehr (taking a bite): Hey, this is pretty good. You know, maybe we really Daly: OK, just checking. can be friends this time.

Bettman: Anyway, time to start serving up some food. Hey Sebastian Bettman: Wouldn’t that be great! Aho, want a burger? Fehr: Sure. I mean it’s better than how we usually… Sebastian Aho: Sounds good. (Bettman reaches over and knocks the paper plate out of Fehr’s hand.) Marc Bergevin (popping out from behind a bush): Ah ha… but what if I made you an offer you can’t refuse? Fehr: Hey!

Aho: Such as… Bettman: Oopsie. You seem to have dropped your plate.

Bergevin(slyly): How about… half a burger? Fehr: You did that on purpose.

Bettman: Um, Marc? That’s not how this works. You have to offer more, (Bettman start poking Fehr in the chest with his BBQ tongs.) because otherwise there’s no chance you’re going to successfully… Fehr: OW! Aho (interrupting): I will take this offer. Bettman (still poking): We’re friends now. Bettman: Wait, what? Fehr: Stop that! Aho: I have my reasons. (Bettman sprays a stream of mustard directly into Fehr’s face.) Tom Dundon (popping out from behind a different bush): I will match the Bettman: Sure do love to not pick fights. offer! Fehr: My eyes! Aho (under his breath): Dammit. (Fehr flails around blindly, gently brushing up against Bettman.) Bettman: Guys… Bettman: Ah! Ah! Did you all see that! He started it! I was just trying to be Dundon: Ha ha! You all fell for my fiendish plan! friends, and he had to go and start a fight. Fehr: I did not! You were clearly just waiting to… Bettman: Are you sure? I mean, there’s literally eight seconds left, it seems like you could just stick around until… Bettman: Oh well, we tried. Get him boys! Marchand: BRAD LEAVES WHEN HE WANTS TO LEAVE! (All the owners descend on Fehr and drag him out of the party.) (Marchand strides away confidently, and immediately gets run over by a Fehr (voice fading into the distance): You stabbed me repeatedly and firetruck.) then sprayed me with condiments! Daly: Well, on that note. Bettman: Hmm. Did I? Did any of you guys see that? Bettman: Only one thing left to say, really. Every referee who worked in the playoffs: We didn’t see a thing. All the guests: Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Bettman: Play on. Ferris: Up it to the twelfth of July and maybe we can talk. Daly: Gary, we’d better get some more food going. The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 Bettman: Good idea. But I don’t really have time to cook. Hey, does anyone else want to help work the grill?

(Mitch Marner and his agent Darren Ferris appear.)

Ferris : We’ll do it!

Bettman: Awesome, thanks guys. You, uh, know how to grill up some hot dogs, right?

Ferris: Sure we do. What temperature does it say we should use?

Bettman: Well, the package says to have the grill at 350 degrees, but you could probably get away with going slightly higher.

Ferris: Got it.

(Ferris sets the temperature at 600 degrees.)

Bettman: Uh… that’s not the right number.

Ferris: Fair point.

(Ferris moves it to 700.)

Bettman: Dude, that’s not even close.

Ferris: We think it is.

Bettman: It’s way too high.

Ferris: Agree to disagree.

Bettman: My grill is melting.

Ferris: You know, we’re feeling kind of insulted right now. You wouldn’t want us to feel insulted, would you?

(Marc Bergevin tiptoes up in the background holding half a hamburger.)

Ferris: Don’t even try it, cheapskate.

Bergevin: Uh… has anyone seen Kyle Connor?

(Brad Marchand wanders by.)

Bettman (quickly covering up his “Kiss the Chef” apron): Uh, hi Brad.

Marchand: Dude, this party sucks.

Bettman: You’re telling me. Pierre Dorion is rummaging through my compost because someone told him it had some old Leafs. Paul Fenton just traded a first-round pick to Kevin Cheveldayoff for a gecko. And everyone’s waiting for Chris Pronger to show up with a chainsaw.

Marchand: You’re still doing that bit?

Bettman: No, but if we don’t mention it the old school types get cranky.

Marchand: Makes sense.

Bettman: Also, my backyard now appears to be on fire. Darren, Mitch, somebody call 911!

Ferris: Yeah, we don’t really do numbers that start with a 9.

Daly: It might be time to wrap this up.

Bettman: Yeah. I’d say we’re about done here.

Marchand: How much longer until this is over?

Bettman: Maybe eight seconds?

Marchand: Yeah, I’m just going to leave right now. 1149438 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban files for arbitration

By David Schoen / Review-Journal

Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban filed for salary arbitration Friday, the NHL Players’ Association announced.

Subban was one of 40 restricted free agents across the league to file prior to the 2 p.m. Pacific time deadline.

Defenseman Jake Bischoff, who has not appeared in an NHL game, did not request arbitration and will continue to negotiate with the club on a new contract, according to a source.

Subban’s decision to file for arbitration does not affect his ability to sign a new deal with the Knights before his hearing. He had a salary of $650,000 on his previous two-year contract.

Subban, 25, went 8-10-2 with a 2.93 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in his second full NHL season.

Last summer, defenseman Colin Miller and forward Tomas Nosek agreed to contracts with the Knights after filing for arbitration.

Also, center William Karlsson came to terms on a one-year deal minutes before his hearing.

In all, 40 of the 44 players who filed for arbitration last year settled before their hearing. Defenseman Nate Schmidt was the only contract awarded in arbitration in 2017.

Arbitration hearings dates are expected to be announced next week and will take place from July 20 to Aug. 4 in Toronto.

Restricted free-agent forward Nikita Gusev is not eligible for arbitration, as had previously been indicated.

Gusev, who turns 27 on Monday, signed an entry-level contract in April and his time in Russia does not count toward the mandatory one year of professional experience to qualify for arbitration.

Gusev is actually not Arb eligible.

He's a unique situation that our Arb Calc is unable to weed out. Almost never happens but it did this season with him.

Subban and Bischoff are.

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 5, 2019

Trade rumors continue to swirl around Gusev, who reportedly is seeking a two-year, $8 million contract, according to Eurosport.ru.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149439 Washington Capitals With Brendan Leipsic on the ice at five-on-five, the Los Angeles Kings saw a decrease in shot attempts against within 10 feet of their net relative to the NHL average. Graphics provided by @IneffectiveMath at The Capitals got better with their free agent moves, just not in the way https://hockeyviz.com/ you expected 83

1:16 AM - Jul 2, 2019

By J.J. Regan July 05, 2019 9:53 AM See CapitalsPR's other Tweets

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One of the biggest needs for the Capitals heading into the offseason was MacLellan tipped his hand as to how he hoped to improve the team forward depth, specifically the fourth line. By whatever metric you want to earlier in the offseason when he elected to extend Carl Hagelin. The use, it just was not good enough in 2018-19. team did not have enough cap room to re-sign both Connolly and Hagelin One of the obvious problems was the lack of offense. In seven playoff and MacLellan chose to extend the speedy penalty killer with limited games against the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington scored 20 goals. offensive production in Hagelin over Connolly who scored 22 goals and Five of those goals came from the bottom-six and one of those was an 46 points last season. It should come as no surprise then that Hathaway empty netter. That’s not good enough. is a strong penalty killer who averaged 1:42 of shorthanded ice time per night last season with the Calgary Flames. The Capitals were busy on Monday with a number of signings and look like they will have a new fourth line with the addition of free agent So while the Caps may be losing offensive production this offseason, forwards Garnet Hathaway and Brendan Leipsic. they have gained a new-look bottom six that looks much more defensively formidable. They also added key pieces to the penalty kill The most important question a team should ask itself in the offseason is and return Hagelin who, when he was acquired at the trade deadline, if it got better and, at first glance, you may not see how Washington instantly became Washington’s best penalty killer. improved with these signings. Brett Connolly, who scored 22 goals last season, and Andre Burakovsky are both gone. Richard Panik, who was A cynic will say the direction the team took this offseason is a product of also signed Monday, will play on the third line. He scored 22 goals once their cap space. It is often easier to focus on defense than offense in his career, back in 2016-17 with the Chicago Blackhawks when he was because defense is harder to quantify. A 20-goal scorer is almost always playing on a line with Jonathan Toews. Hathaway and Leipsic’s career- more expensive than a shutdown forward. highs in goals are 11 and seven respectively. There is no doubt that money played a factor in the team’s moves this So did the Caps actually get better or did they have to just settle for what offseason, but the direction MacLellan took looks like it was borne of they could afford given the team’s salary cap constraints? necessity, not penny-pinching. Team defense was as glaring a weakness as depth offensive production was last season and you have to keep in Offensively it seems unlikely that Washington’s new additions will match mind that the offensive superstars are getting older. Alex Ovechkin, the production of the players the team has lost, but Brian MacLellan was Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie are all 31 or older. That is half of the looking to improve the team in other ways this offseason. top-six. These three are not going to continue to produce at such a high level forever. When a team built around its offense starts to lose that When evaluating the team, the offensive struggles of the fourth line were offensive production, things can collapse pretty quickly. The team had to obvious. Less obvious were the team’s defensive struggles. Per Natural improve defensively or it would have to rely solely on an aging offensive Stat Trick, only one team in the NHL allowed more high-danger chances core plus Braden Holtby in net to carry them. Now, on paper at least, over the course of the 2018-19 season than the Caps did. Washington Washington looks like a stronger team defensively heading into 2019-20. held the third worst high-danger scoring chance percentage and has seen that percentage get worse in each of the past five seasons. So yes, Caps look like they have gotten better, just not the way you probably anticipated. As one would expect, this is leading to more goals in the back of the net as well. In 2016-17, Washington allowed just 2.16 goals per game. Over Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.06.2019 the past two seasons, that average has skyrocketed to 2.90 in 2017-18 and 3.02 in 2018-19.

Yes, Matt Niskanen had a down year and that’s why he and his $5.75 million cap hit is now in Philadelphia. But the forward lines play a role in team defense too and it is pretty clear MacLellan was searching for players with a proven track record of shot suppression to address that weakness.

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With Garnet Hathaway on the ice at five-on-five, the Calgary Flames saw a decrease in shot attempts against within 10 feet of their net relative to the NHL average. Graphics provided by @IneffectiveMath at https://hockeyviz.com/

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@CapitalsPR 1149440 Winnipeg Jets Given the Jets have lost Trouba via trade, and Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot in free agency, they may just opt to keep Kulikov around because of his experience — barring another move this summer to bring in an Jets' Copp, Pionk opt for salary arbitration experienced, top-six defender.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.06.2019

By: Mike McIntyre

Winnipeg Jets' Andrew Copp, a restricted free agent, has filed for salary arbitration with the NHL.

A pair of Winnipeg Jets have elected for salary arbitration as a means of trying to get their next contracts settled.

Forward Andrew Copp and newly acquired defenceman Neal Pionk both filed prior to Friday’s 4 p.m. deadline. The restricted free agents are among 40 NHL players who went that route.

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Neal Pionk, acquired in the Jacob Trouba trade with the New York Rangers, also filed for salary arbitration as a means of trying to get his next contract settled.

Arbitration hearings will be held in Toronto between July 20 and Aug. 4, with specific dates for each player to be set later this month. There’s nothing to preclude contract talks continuing in the meantime, and the vast majority of cases do get settled without going before a third party who hears arguments from both sides and then makes a ruling that is binding.

One notable exception would be that of former Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba, who was awarded a one-year, US$5.5-million contract last summer in arbitration. Trouba, now with the New York Rangers and again an RFA, also filed for arbitration Friday.

Copp, 24, had a career-high 11 goals and 14 assists last season while showing his versatility by moving up and down the lineup, both as a winger and occasionally at centre. He just finished up a two-year contract that paid him US$1 million per season, and looks to be in line for a significant raise.

Pionk, 23, completed his first full NHL season with the New York Rangers with six goals and 20 assists in 73 regular-season games. The left-shot blue-liner came to Winnipeg, along with the 20th-overall pick in the 2019 draft, in exchange for Trouba. He just finished a two-year contract that paid him US$1.775 million per season.

Copp and Pionk are among six RFAs general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has to sign. Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, who were not eligible to file for arbitration, are the other two that will have major implications on the team going forward.

The remaining two are Moose goalie Eric Comrie (who had the option to file but did not) and defenceman Nelson Nogier (who was not eligible to file).

The Jets have about US$20 million of salary-cap space remaining, with the majority expected to go to Laine, Connor, Copp and Pionk once the dust settles on their contracts.

There’s also the ever-present risk of another team making an offer sheet to Laine or Connor, as has been rumoured, which would put the Jets in a position of either having to match or walk away from the player with compensation.

Friday’s development opens up another buyout window for the Jets. By having at least one player file for arbitration, the Jets will have a 48-hour period to buy out a player, if they choose, beginning on the third day after the final arbitration case is either settled or heard.

There had been rumblings the Jets might go that route on defenceman Dmitry Kulikov, who is in the final year of a contract paying him US$4.333 million for the coming season.

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Such a move might help give them some breathing room under the cap. However, the first deadline of June 30 came and went.

Whether they use this second chance remains to be seen. 1149441 Winnipeg Jets League and subsequent boycott of about 200 pro players as they fight for improved pay, insurance and other benefits and lobby for the creation of an economically viable professional league in North America.

True North, Bisons coach starting at the Finnish line of her sparkling "Even for myself now starting here, these past days have been the first international hockey career I’ve ever coached certain age groups in guys. It’s been different but also a really fun change for myself. I don’t think I should be limited to just coaching females. Same thing, Dave (Cameron) shouldn’t just be By: Mike McIntyre | Posted: 07/5/2019 7:00 PM coaching guys," said Hovi, who played the 2018-19 season with the of the now-defunct CWHL.

Hovi scores against Team Canada's Shannon Szabados during the OPINION World Women's Championships in 2012. Venla Hovi has always been a bit of a trailblazer, never one to simply While men often coach women’s teams, the reverse is a rarity at any accept and follow what society might try to dictate is the traditional path level. Hovi is hoping that changes, and she might just end up playing a to follow. part. That became crystal clear at the tender age of two while growing up in "Why not? I can’t see the reason why not if you find a female coach that Finland. Hovi found a pair of figure skates under the Christmas tree, has the knowledge that maybe a male coach doesn’t have. I don’t think courtesy of her well-meaning parents, who took her to the local rink to try that should play a part, if they’re female or male," she said. "There’s them out. more and more female coaches. I think confidence plays a huge role in Any excitement she felt quickly disappeared as she watched her five- that where you believe in yourself and get out there. You can teach the year-old brother darting around the ice on his own set of blades, which same stuff to them." looked a lot different than hers. "I think as long as the coaches are qualified and can help the players get "Apparently I took them off and threw them and started stating that I better, at the end of the day that's what the players want. I don't think the wanted the same skates as him," Hovi said Friday at Bell MTS Iceplex. gender of the coach is a big deal."

Fortunately, her parents granted her wish — it was more of a demand, – Dave Cameron, Head on-ice instructor of the Jets Hockey really — and a young hockey star was born. Development program

Now 31, Hovi’s playing days are over, following an illustrious international Cameron — a highly-respected hockey leader who played in the Western career which includes two Olympic bronze medals on Team Finland Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and with the University of (2010 in Vancouver and 2018 in Pyeongchang), a USports national before turning to coaching 14 years ago — believes the women’s championship with the Bisons in 2018 proverbial glass ceiling in the sport will one day get smashed. and a 2019 silver medal with Finland at the World Championships. "I think as long as the coaches are qualified and can help the players get Despite announcing her retirement earlier this year, Hovi’s not ready to better, at the end of the day that's what the players want. I don't think the walk away from the sport she loves as she transitions into the next phase gender of the coach is a big deal," he said Friday. of her career in her adopted hometown of Winnipeg. Hovi weaves around University of Saskatchewan Huskies players during And the same Hovi who made a bold statement when she chucked her playoff action at the Wayne Flemming Arena in 2018. figure skates across the room is now using her voice to make another Hovi certainly has a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer, given one. her on-ice accomplishments, which is why she was brought on board by Hovi has been hired by True North as its first-ever female coach in the True North. Jets Hockey Development program. She’ll work with head on-ice "It's a huge addition for us. Just with her background of playing and the instructor Dave Cameron and a handful of other male leaders in the skills, her growing up and learning the game in a different environment program, which teaches hundreds of local players of all ages and skill than the Canadian kids do. Her wealth of experience in international and levels 12 months a year. high-level competition was something that our players, through the Jets Former University of Manitoba Bisons star and Team Finland Olympic Hockey Development Program, can really tap into and learn from," said medalist Venla Hovi has retired from playing competitive hockey was Cameron. hired as the first-ever female coach in Winnipeg Jets hockey Hovi will also be an assistant coach this coming season with the Bisons development program. women’s hockey team she once led, and she’s headed back home to MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Finland next week to lead an U18 girl’s team at a late-July tournament in Sweden. Former University of Manitoba Bisons star and Team Finland Olympic medalist Venla Hovi has retired from playing competitive hockey was She has, indeed, been bitten by the coaching bug, and she's embracing hired as the first-ever female coach in Winnipeg Jets hockey the responsibility and challenge it presents. development program. "Deep down, it’s hard to describe how much I love the game. Playing for The NBA and NFL have been the first two major sports leagues to have so long it became sort of a lifestyle. Just ending my career, it’s hard to women employed in coaching positions, albeit still on an extremely just step away from it fully. It’s just a natural transition for myself. limited level. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for example, just became the Obviously there’s experience there that I think will be valuable for a lot of first football team with two women — assistant strength and conditioning players," said Hovi. coach and assistant defensive line coach — working full time on their Hovi is all smiles as she shows off her Olympic bronze medal after staff. returning from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. But the NHL, and hockey in general, has been slow to follow. Dawn Braid RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES was hired in 2016 as the Arizona Coyotes full-time skating coach, while former figure skater Barb Underhill has been a skating consultant with Hovi is all smiles as she shows off her Olympic bronze medal after the Toronto Maple Leafs for several years. But that's about it, at least for returning from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. now. She hopes to bring some of her best qualities to the players she leads, "It’s been different but also a really fun change for myself. I don’t think I including stressing the importance of skating, skill-development and should be limited to just coaching females." carving out a role and playing as a team, which is something Finnish hockey players are renowned for. – Venla Hovi "I think Finns are very good at understanding playing for the team and Hovi's hiring represents another small step in the right direction — defending. There’s value in every role you have in hockey, not just the especially at a time when the women's pro hockey game appears to be at a crossroads following the collapse of the Canadian Women's Hockey goal scorers. That’s part of Finland’s game, that every role is valued and taught," she said.

Sounds like something the Jets themselves could have used last season, as they seemingly stopped playing for each other and came apart at the seams down the stretch.

Speaking of the local NHL club, there’s no question Finland is playing a huge role in the present and future. Patrik Laine (who shares the same hometown of Tampere with Hovi), Kristian Vesalainen, Sami Niku and Joona Luoto will all play in the city this coming season, while prospects Santeri Virtanen, Ville Heinola and Henri Nikkanen are all in the prospect pipeline.

And now Hovi is the latest member of the "Finn-ipeg Jets" organization. Could she eventually work her way up to a role with the big club? Never say never.

"I’m never living too much ahead in my life. I’m more of an in-this- moment person. I’m just looking forward to learning as much as I can from the guys I’m working with. I’m really excited for that. We’ll see where this takes me," she said.

Perhaps, as she begins her new journey, she can be seen as a role model to other female hockey players.

"I hope so. I hope it’s encouraging for girls, not just for the ones playing, but maybe at the end of their career if they’re interested in coaching," she said. "I always love new opportunities. I’m only beginning my (coaching) career. There’s lots of learning to do. It’s going to be a long road."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.06.2019 1149442 Winnipeg Jets

Jets Copp, Pionk file for arbitration

Paul Friesen

Two members of the Winnipeg Jets have filed for salary arbitration in an effort to get new contracts.

Forward Andrew Copp and recently-acquired defenceman Neal Pionk made the move by the Friday late-afternoon deadline.

The players, both restricted free agents, can still negotiate new deals with the Jets before arbitration hearings take place beginning July 20.

Both sides, the player and the team, typically prefer to avoid a hearing and the strained relations that can result from teams pointing out players’ flaws while arguing for lower salaries.

Copp is coming off a season in which he scored a career-high 11 goals, adding 14 assists in 69 games.

Pionk recorded six goals and 20 assists in 73 games with the New York Rangers.

Copp and Pionk were among the 40 players to file across the NHL.

Others included former Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba, traded to the Rangers in the deal that brought Pionk to Winnipeg, and Stanley Cup winning goaltender Jordan Binnington of St. Louis.

Five Jets filed for arbitration last season.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.06.2019 1149443 Winnipeg Jets A bigger challenge for the rest of Winnipeg’s offseason is to fix its defence while also finding cap space for Laine, Connor, Pionk, and Andrew Copp.

Winnipeg’s midsummer depth chart suggests growing pains in 2019-20 Incidentally, Pionk and Copp can do the Jets a favour on Friday — one that would give Winnipeg one more chance at reducing its 2019-20 cap hit. By Murat Ates Jul 5, 2019 They could file for arbitration.

If at least one Jets player files for arbitration by Friday’s 4:00 PM CT Winnipeg’s biggest free agents have signed in other NHL cities and its deadline, the Jets will gain a second buyout window later this summer. depth chart has taken a hit. The exact timing is tricky: A new, 48 hour window would open for Winnipeg on the third day after its last arbitration case was settled. Ben Chiarot’s three year, $3.5 million move to Montreal is the latest in a long line of Jets on-ice losses — Brandon Tanev signed in Pittsburgh for Why is this an advantage? In short, it buys Winnipeg time. six years at $3.5 million AAV, Tyler Myers signed in Vancouver for five years at $6.0 million AAV, Matt Hendricks retired, and Par Lindholm Arbitration hearings will take place from July 20 to August 4 this summer. signed a two year contract in Boston at an AAV of $850,000. Even if only one of Copp, Pionk, or goaltender Eric Comrie were to elect for arbitration, it would give Winnipeg at least three weeks to sort out the That’s a lot of money, term, and talent leaving Winnipeg with only Nathan rest of its roster before its second buyout window opened. Beaulieu — re-signed to a team friendly, one year, $1.0 million contract — set to return next season. That’s three extra weeks to gain clarity on Connor and Laine’s cap hits, to peruse what’s left of free agency, or to pursue a forward-for-defence Despite these losses, Winnipeg will be OK. In fact, I’d argue — and have trade. I’m not saying all of these things are a given — I would not be argued, and will continue to argue — that letting its UFAs walk was surprised if Laine’s contract, in particular, took some time — but every exactly Winnipeg’s best play. Yes, the defence took a hit. That much was puzzle piece in place by Winnipeg’s second buyout window will give GM true as soon as Winnipeg traded Jacob Trouba to the Rangers for Neal Kevin Cheveldayoff more information than he had leading up to the Pionk. Yes, the current depth chart is highlighted by Josh Morrissey, team’s first buyout deadline. Dustin Byfuglien, and a collection of players who have never excelled in a top four role. It’s entirely possible that Dmitry Kulikov is a healthy, active, contributing member of the Jets this season. I don’t harp on these details because With such a shallow depth chart on defence, why do I think Winnipeg he’s not an NHL calibre defenceman. But I still think that $4.3 million is was right to let its free agents go? too much to pay a third pairing defenceman. If Copp or Pionk does file for arbitration and, as a result, Winnipeg does get a second window to buy It’s about value. Kulikov out, I believe that Cheveldayoff will consider it. In the most general and oversimplified sense, there are only three types Whether he goes through with it or not, saving Winnipeg $2.8 million in of contracts in the NHL: Entry-level contracts, RFA contracts, and UFA cap space this season but costing $1.4 million in 2020-21, will depend on contracts. The first two are artificially cheap. the rest of the Jets cap situation. The CBA sets a maximum price for entry-level contracts that is just It will also depend on the state of Winnipeg’s depth chart. Let’s go: $925,000 plus up to $2.85 million in performance bonuses. When Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor score 75 goals between them, as they did in Forwards 2017-18, for a combined salary of $1.85 million (plus bonuses) the team gets a freakish amount of value per dollar spent. The same applies to the Vying for spots: Andrei Chibisov ($792,500), Mark Letestu ($700,000), 64 goals they scored between them in 2018-19. Joona Luoto ($741,667), Logan Shaw ($700,000)

When an entry-level contract expires, as Laine’s and Connor’s each Unrestricted free agents: Marko Dano have, a player’s second contract is typically signed as a restricted free Notes: A few things have changed since we last checked in on agent. With only one team bidding for a player’s services and few Winnipeg’s forwards, but the top end is still set. negotiating tools — holdouts, arbitration, or the rare threat of an offer sheet — prices tend to stay low. Mark Scheifele is Winnipeg’s franchise centre. Connor, Nik Ehlers, Blake Wheeler and Laine give the Jets plenty of top-end talent on its wings. It’s only when players become eligible for the multi-team bidding war that Mathieu Perreault’s offence took a step back last season but he can still is unrestricted free agency that prices truly begin to explode. With impact possession while Jack Roslovic has a good case for an increase multiple suitors and no restrictions, the UFA system is designed to be an in minutes. Brandon Tanev is gone, eliminating TLC from this team’s open market payday. From a player’s perspective, that’s a wonderful repertoire and creating an opportunity on the wing. Mason Appleton and thing and it’s worth fighting for. Kristian Vesalainen look ready for full-time NHL jobs, while Andrei From the perspective of a GM, unrestricted free agency is just a Chibisov, Mark Letestu, and Joona Luoto will fight to round out the roster. mechanism to pay more than you did a year ago for the exact same Bryan Little remains Winnipeg’s second line center. player. Winnipeg’s biggest questions up front are still more about line It’s for this reason that, unless a UFA is uniquely talented or fits a team optimization than a search for quality players. need exceptionally well, I believe that a team should simply let him walk. If sticks with his status quo up front, then the lines will look This applies particularly to a team like the Jets, who have drafted well a lot like what I’ve displayed above — a simple ranking of 5-on-5 ice time and demonstrated the ability to find talent in other leagues. per game from 2018-19. Copp might bump Perreault to the fourth line Sure, sometimes there aren’t going to be options. Sometimes the depth but, otherwise, we’ve seen a lot of this lineup before. chart will be barren or the prospect pipeline will have run dry. And of There are two ways we could see a major shift to this depth chart: course, sometimes the UFA in question will simply be so good that signing him is worth the cost. If Maurice strays from the top-six/bottom-six tradition that he’s employed in recent years: There is an analytical case to be made for using But I don’t think Myers, Chiarot, Lindholm, and Tanev are elite enough to Winnipeg’s lesser offensive talents like Perreault or Copp (who drive qualify. possession) alongside better finishers like Scheifele or Laine. It’s Yes, all four players can help teams win games — it’s just that, compared concerning that Connor/Scheifele/Wheeler could get outscored 29-23 to the exact same group of players earning a fraction of their current while mostly backed by Morrissey/Trouba. They also finished the season price one year ago, they simply don’t provide value in a performance-per- below 50 percent expected goals, as per Natural Stat Trick, and it’s time dollar sort of way. That’s why I believe Winnipeg’s biggest victory so far for a new look up front. this offseason is simply the lack of dead money added to its cap. If a young forward is traded: Once the Jets sign all of their key contracts, Is this a low bar? Absolutely. Does this fix the defence? Absolutely not. they are likely to be at or near the salary cap maximum. We heard Ehlers But that doesn’t make it any less vital. trade rumours to this end before the draft. My opinion remains that Ehlers is exactly the sort of sell-low trade candidate that could burn the team The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 that traded him.

Defencemen

Vying for spots: Anthony Bitetto ($700,000), Logan Stanley ($863,333), Cameron Schilling ($700,000)

Unrestricted free agents: Joe Morrow

Notes: There’s no way around it: The Jets are in a tough spot with their defence right now. Morrissey and Byfuglien are worthy top pairing defencemen, Beaulieu signed at a great price, and Pionk is shiny and new but Winnipeg’s blue line, as presently constructed, is frightening.

There’s simply not enough veteran coverage.

Beaulieu’s post-deadline numbers with Trouba were solid but a full-time job eluded him during the playoffs. Pionk, as we discussed on the day of the trade, is a below average third pairing defender with offensive upside — his biggest value to the Jets will be on the power play. Meanwhile, none of Kulikov, Sami Niku, or Tucker Poolman have shown they can carry a pairing. Joe Morrow is still out there as a UFA but, as we discussed earlier this week, it’s tough to imagine Winnipeg’s answer is on the free agent market.

Optimism comes in the likelihood of Niku earning a full-time NHL job — certainly, this depth chart helps his case — and the thought that a healthy Poolman could round out the roster on a team friendly contract. I see both players as NHL ready but see a lot of risk in Niku, Poolman, and Pionk all playing major roles this season. A best case scenario for all three players with great progress and great development probably still includes growing pains. Progress is not a straight line.

If someone can knock Poolman out of the seven spot on this depth chart, perhaps it is Anthony Bitetto. Winnipeg’s most recent signing on defence was a longtime AHL/NHL “tweener” in Nashville’s system before joining Minnesota for 18 games at the end of 2018-19. Meanwhile, I expect Logan Stanley to get a long look in training camp but can’t see him earning an NHL job.

In the pipeline, Winnipeg’s best hope is Dylan Samberg, still set to return to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for a third season instead of turning pro. There is also the excitement of adding Ville Heinola at the draft, a good prospect who will likely return to Finland’s SM-liiga.

Goalies

Vying for spots: Eric Comrie (RFA), Mikhail Berdin ($758,333)

Unrestricted free agents: None

Notes: The Jets NHL depth chart is essentially carved in stone for 2019- 20. Neither of Eric Comrie or Mikhail Berdin will steal a job from Connor Hellebuyck or Laurent Brossoit. Still, there are some questions in goal.

There’s a case for the Jets to balance their starting rotation more evenly than the 62-19-1 split they employed with Hellebuyck, Brossoit and Comrie in 2018-19. Make no mistake — Hellebuyck is still Winnipeg’s No. 1 netminder — but if Brossoit keeps his 2018-19 level up, something closer to 55-25 may be in the cards. Personally, I think Hellebuyck is a good bet for a bounce-back season in 2019-20 but will need to keep his puck handling gaffes to a minimum. He’s been haunted by puck handling errors in consecutive playoffs now — first in Game 3 against Vegas, then in Game 2 this year against the Blues — but remains a good NHL goaltender under ordinary circumstances.

At the minor-league level, Comrie continued to be the organization’s favoured goaltender last season. He started an NHL game and led the Moose with 47 games played without any time in the ECHL. That said, Comrie is no longer exempt from waivers — he could theoretically be claimed when Winnipeg sends him back to the Moose this fall. Even if he is safely sent to Manitoba, it’s possible Comrie loses playing time to Berdin this season — Berdin led the Moose with a .927 SV%.

In an ideal world, Winnipeg would continue to run Hellebuyck and Brossoit in the NHL while Comrie and Berdin battle it out for minor league time.

Current cap hit: $60.2 million* (roster size: 17 players)

Available cap space: $21.2 million

Estimated RFA costs: $20.0 million

*not including eligible performance bonuses. 1149444 Vancouver Canucks

Winnipeg's midsummer depth chart suggests growing pains in...

Murat Ates

Winnipeg’s biggest free agents have signed in other NHL cities and its depth chart has taken a hit.

Ben Chiarot’s three year, $3.5 million move to Montreal is the latest in a long line of Jets on-ice losses — Brandon Tanev signed in Pittsburgh for six years at $3.5 million AAV, Tyler Myers signed in Vancouver for five years at $6.0 million AAV, Matt Hendricks retired, and Par Lindholm signed a two year contract in Boston at an AAV of $850,000.

That’s a lot of money, term, and talent leaving Winnipeg with only Nathan Beaulieu — re-signed to a team friendly, one year, $1.0 million contract — set to return next season.

Despite these losses, Winnipeg will be OK. In fact, I’d argue — and have argued, and will continue to argue — that letting its UFAs walk was exactly Winnipeg’s best play. Yes, the defence took a hit. That much was true as soon as Winnipeg traded Jacob Trouba to the Rangers for Neal Pionk.

Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 07.06.2019 1149445 Websites Fine.

Perfectly understandable.

The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: Free agency becomes efficient, the But then that refrain – sorry, but it’s just business — has to work both after effects of signing an offer sheet, Sutter’s role ways.

And in my mind, the parallel may well be Joe Sakic and the Rangers. In 1997, Sakic signed a three-year, $21 million offer sheet with the Rangers By Eric Duhatschek Jul 5, 2019 that included a $15 million signing bonus. Just as with Aho and the Hurricanes, the structure of the contract put tremendous financial pressure on Colorado and forced the Avalanche to scramble to find the NHL free agency is annually a changing, shifting evolving exercise and money to pay Sakic. that proved to be true again in 2019, when something almost unprecedented happened. But they did – and you know how the story turned out.

Collectively, you saw the 31 teams do a summer’s worth of business in Sakic went on to play 12 more seasons in Colorado, won another Stanley just a single day. Cup, made it to the Hall of Fame and is now the Avalanche GM.

Naturally, it started with all the usual first-day extravagances. Sergei Thus far, Sakic has played/worked in the Quebec-Colorado organization Bobrovsky went to Florida on a seven-year, $70 million contract; Artemi for his entire professional life. In the three years from the time Sakic Panarin landed in New York with the Rangers for $81.5 million. Mats signed the contract, until it expired, the relationship had time to be Zuccarello squeezed a five-year commitment out of the Minnesota Wild repaired. worth $30 million; Brandon Tanev was rewarded for all of his hard work And if Sakic and the Avs could make peace in three years, then Aho and and buzz-saw forechecking abilities to the tune of six years and $21 the Hurricanes can surely do it in five. million. Happy for Tanev and everything he stands for, but still, those are mind-boggling numbers. In Aho’s case specifically, he will receive roughly half the monetary value of the contract within the first 12 months (an $11.3 million signing bonus, But what made the day so unique was how many of the second-month, a $700,000 base salary and then another $9.87 in signing bonus money). budget-conscious one-year contracts that usually don’t occur until far later in the summer were all signed on the first day as well. When it comes strictly to dollars in and dollars out, it means Aho actually becomes a relatively low-cost option during the final four years of the Someone – either the players, the agents, or likely, both – properly read deal, once that first $21-plus million is paid. the tea leaves. They understood that the league was close to being capped out. No one wanted to slip through the cracks and find Other than to demonstrate spite then, what possible reason would there themselves out of work in September, and so they jumped in early, and be for Carolina to move on from Aho at that point (and remember too that got those deals out of the way too. under terms of offer sheet protocols, they cannot trade his rights for a year)? None, actually. So, what to make of Wayne Simmonds taking a one-year deal worth $5 million from the New Jersey Devils to bet on himself? Or Corey Perry, Five years is practically an eternity in the go-go, win-now world of going for only $1.5 million on a one-year deal? Colin Wilson, staying in professional sport – and certainly enough time for Aho to cement his ties Colorado for one year and $2.6 million? Normally, some team is to the team, the city and organization. prepared to overpay for those sorts of UFAs, no matter how much wear there may be on the tires. Instead, as teams tightened their collective If it gets to the end of the 2023-24 season and Aho’s desire to play in a belts, there was also an unexpected awareness on the fringes – more more traditional hockey market such as Montreal remains high, well, then and more players realizing that in the annual offseason game of musical Carolina can address the matter as the contract winds down. Usually, if a chairs, they didn’t want to be that guy, left without a seat, and suddenly player hasn’t won a championship as he’s approaching his prime, then shopping for a tryout opportunity in September. that becomes the priority. And we all know how quickly things can change in a single NHL season, let alone five. That push – among the lesser lights or the players with something to prove — represented an identifiable shift in thinking and approach. Teams trend up. Teams trend down. The only other thing Montreal’s offer sheet accomplished – and Hurricanes GM Don Waddell made a wry For the first time in a long time, free agency wasn’t just a money grab, reference to this – was that it got his player signed, and probably saved but also an exercise in trying to find the right fit. him a lot of sleepless nights over the summer. If you’re one of his counterparts in Winnipeg (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) or Calgary (Brad It means that other than finding homes for the handful of players still Treliving), or Toronto (Kyle Dubas), you can only wish and hope that they lingering on the market, the only real business left to sort out is what will get some sleep too – in time. remains of the restricted free-agent market. Kyle’s big day There have been tens of thousands of words already written in the aftermath of the Sebastian Aho offer sheet – made to him by the I don’t often write about Dubas because we have a crack staff in Toronto Canadiens on Monday, quickly matched by the Hurricanes. that endlessly covers him, but I would call Monday his finest 24 hours as Maple Leafs GM. Every manager has his good days and bad days and Some liked the idea, even just as an act of chaos. Others saw the terms then a lot of days in between that are simply neutral. But adding of the deal as a miscalculation, if the goal was legitimately to pry the defenceman Tyson Barrie at a net salary cost to Toronto of just $2.75 player loose. million is an absolute steal.

At this stage of the proceedings, the only genuine question still worth As someone who sees Barrie play frequently – and had an up-close look asking is: Did anything fundamentally change? Or more specifically, will at him in the 2019 playoffs – his strengths far outweigh his weaknesses the act of Aho signing an offer sheet with an Eastern Conference rival in my estimation. Now, Leafs Nation has to be careful not to turn him into ultimately fracture his long-term relationship with the team? a whipping boy, a la Jake Gardiner, because there are obvious defensive People will point to other players who’ve gone down this path with their deficiencies. Anyone who handles the puck as much as Barrie does – original teams – notably Ryan O’Reilly when he was with the Avalanche and with the bravado he displays – is inevitably going to turn it over. or Shea Weber when he was with the Predators – and never had quite Leaf fans have had a long look at Boston’s Torey Krug the past couple of the same relationship with their bosses after they’d signaled a willingness years. Well, the similarities in their respective games are startling. to move on. Both are 1991-born players; Krug is listed at 5-foot-9, 186 pounds; Barrie This logic strikes me as a little disingenuous. at 5-foot-10, 190.

Teams trade players all the time. Even if they preface their remarks by Both are talented power play quarterbacks – Krug produced 28 power- profusely praising their performances and thanking them for their years of play assists last year, Barrie 23. Overall, Barrie was seventh in scoring service (see the recent PK Subban trade to New Jersey trade for details), by defencemen this past season (59 in 78 games played) – and two the conclusion is always the same. Hockey is a business and sometimes, years ago was tied for 10th despite missing 14 games because of injuries managers need to make a business decision. (he finished with 57 points in 68 games played). On a points-per-game The Anaheim Ducks were the last team this offseason to fill their head basis, that left him No. 2 in the NHL in 2017-18 defenceman scoring coaching vacancy, naming former Oilers’ coach Dallas Eakins to the behind Erik Karlsson (Barrie with a 0.84 per game average, Karlsson at position on June 17, after a long search. But then this week, they threw a 0.87). new wrinkle at everyone by adding Darryl Sutter to the staff as an advisor to the coaching staff. With both Morgan Rielly and Barrie in the lineup, the Leafs now have the No. 3 and the No. 7 scoring defencemen from last season at their Just how a team defines an advisory role can vary from organization to disposal. Barrie needs a steadying partner but the good news is Jake organization, but as outlined here, Sutter will have a genuine hands-on Muzzin has had a lot of experience being that guy, back in his days in role with the team next season. Los Angeles when he and Drew Doughty were a formidable pair. For Sutter, this will be the first time since the 1991-92 season (when he If Rielly can find any kind of chemistry with Cody Ceci, the Leafs now was an associate coach on Mike Keenan’s Chicago Blackhawks’ staff) have the sort of one-two defensive punch that can really move the puck that he will not be the man in charge. Sutter eventually moved up to the quickly. Once Barrie gains some familiarity with his new teammates, they top job and spent three years coaching the Blackhawks, then six with the will soon come to appreciate how well he transports the puck and how Sharks, three with the Flames and then six more with the Kings. He was well he moves the puck. And yes, you do have to accept the miscues that also a head coach for two years in the IHL – and won a Turner Cup in will occasionally happen along the way. 1989-90. That’s the single common factor in Sutter’s coaching resume – wherever he went, success usually followed and usually it happened Meier’s new precedent pretty quickly.

Just because offer sheets are so rare in the NHL, Aho received most of Not everyone loved every single day of working – or playing – for Sutter, the attention Monday, when he signed briefly with Montreal. But because he was ultra-demanding in that Keenan/Scotty Bowman sort of realistically, in terms of establishing a precedent, the single most way and that’s where it’ll be interesting, to see how he adapts to a important signing revolved around the Sharks and Timo Meier. support role after more than a quarter century of having the final say on Meier was one of the lesser known members of a star-studded RFA class any and all coaching decisions. – and had a breakout season in 2018-19 for San Jose, scoring 66 points It was pretty clear in Randy Carlyle’s final months behind the bench that in 78 games, and managing all that in only 16:58 of average ice per night a lot of the Ducks’ players had checked out – and chafed under Carlyle’s for the Sharks. Meier was the ninth overall pick in 2015 and has old-school approach. GM Bob Murray didn’t want to make a mid-season incrementally been inching his way into the ranks of upper echelon NHL coaching change; repeatedly said he didn’t want to make a mid-season players. Meier didn’t top the list of prominent unsigned RFAs, but he too coaching change, and then ultimately had to because the team was was a potential offer-sheet target. floundering so badly. So, Murray temporarily went behind the bench Going into this summer, the big issue with the RFAs is that no one himself for the first time to see what that looked like. He and Sutter are wanted to sign first because they seemed afraid to set the market. Meier old friends, dating back to their playing days together in the Blackhawks’ ended up signing for four seasons at an AAV of $6 million. The way the organization, so they share that ultra-competitive gene and an contract is structured means Meier gets $4 million in each of its first two appreciation for old-school values. years; $6 million in the third year and then an eye-popping $10 million in In terms of roles and responsibilities, there’s a vast difference between the fourth, at which point he’ll enter his final season as a restricted free being a head coach and an assistant and a further difference between agent. being an assistant coach and a coaching advisor.

That’s a lot of money off of which to tender a qualifying offer, but Advisors provide input. realistically, who knows what the NHL financial landscape will look like in four years and who knows what Meier will have achieved in four years? Head coaches make decisions.

In a perfect world, teams want to lock up these young assets for a longer Put the right people in the right places and generally, it leads to success. term if possible, because of inflation. What looks like an overpay today – Probably one of the most underrated developments in St. Louis’s win or even market value – can seem like an attractive contract down the was how quietly effective Larry Robinson was in a supporting coaching road (see Mark Scheifele, Nathan MacKinnon and Johnny Gaudreau). role for the Blues’ defence. In Los Angeles, for a time, Sutter employed Bernie Nicholls in an advisory capacity during the Kings’ first Stanley Cup What San Jose signaled by agreeing to this sort of abstract structure was run. a willingness to bet on themselves and their organization, which is something they’ve done before. Internally, Nicholls was described as the “happiness” coach. For all of the technical expertise Nicholls brought on the offensive side of the equation, When they’ve traded in the past for players on expiring contracts such as it was his sunny personality and perpetually positive outlook on life that Evander Kane or Karlsson, they took a chance that once a player got to created a buffer between a demanding coach and a team that sometimes San Jose and saw the team, the city, the coach and the organization, needed the atmosphere to lighten. Nicholls calmed the waters when they they’d want to stay. sometimes roiled under Sutter.

Mostly, that’s worked. Internally, there’s a belief Meier will follow the lead In his new role, Sutter will never be that person – but he can provide of a long line of players who’ve gone down the same path. Joe Thornton straight-ahead common sense and, as much as possible given his never wants to leave. Patrick Marleau desperately wants to come back. powers, a high level of accountability. There was a lot of criticism when Joe Pavelski was a lifer in San Jose until the dollars in GM Doug Sutter was originally hired by the Kings – many people saw it as a terrible Wilson’s player budget eventually ran out. idea, doomed to fail from the start.

Not every team is San Jose and not every team has the confidence that After the fact, it was hard to argue with the results – Sutter presided over they can sell their program to a player, and this gives both sides time to Stanley Cup champions in 2012 and 2014. In a bottom-line industry, figure out the future. that’s all that ever matters.

The larger issue as it relates to RFAs is, will the Meier and/or Aho Sutter noted that at this stage of his life – he will turn 61 in August – he signings help break the logjam and create a template for other teams no longer has the desire to be a head coach anyway, so this could well moving forward? Term will be the issue of course. For the kind of dough be the perfect final act for him. We’ll see how he embraces the changed these players are asking for, teams either want to go really short – or role and the shift in responsibilities. extract the maximum term. But the rivalry between Anaheim and Los Angeles – two non-playoff The sense all along has been that the remaining names – Mitch Marner, teams a year ago – is more interesting today than it was last week and I Mikko Rantanen, Matthew Tkachuk – will linger for a long time on the daresay a touch more competitive too. market; that the stalemates with their respective teams could drag far into the summer and the fall and maybe spill into William Nylander territory. The Athletic LOADED: 07.06.2019 Nylander vs. the Maple Leafs was a standoff which helped no one. Maybe the Meier signing nudges things along in a more productive direction.

Sutter content rising 1149446 Websites Despite the missed time, JVR was third on the Flyers in even-strength goals and tied for first in power-play markers. The Flyers should be better next season and with a new coaching staff, their PP could very well Sportsnet.ca / Grading eight 2018 UFA signings with one year of improve over its 17.1 per cent success rate (23rd in the league). JVR hindsight would be the primary beneficiary of that, and if all goes according to plan, his first 40-goal season is not out of reach.

Anders Lee was a comparable signing from the 2019 UFA class, re- Rory Boylen | @RoryBoylen July 5, 2019, 11:25 AM upping with the Islanders for seven years with the same $7 million cap hit, and full trade protection in the first five years. JVR’s deal is a great

one for Philadelphia. The wild frenzy of NHL free agency on July 1 has passed. We’ve Signing grade: A assigned winners, losers and broken down the ramifications of these contracts against the salary cap. There are still some quality players out 3. David Perron, St. Louis Blues: Four years, $4 million AAV there on the open market, including Jake Gardiner, Ryan Dzingel, Micheal Ferland — and even Joe Thornton. Sebastian Aho was the first Part of the St. Louis Blues’ on the fly summer change, Perron was a Day big-ticket RFA off the board, and he came down via an offer sheet, so 1 UFA signing who worked out very well even despite being limited to 57 maybe there are more fireworks to follow in that corner of the market. games. Following a career-best 66-point season in Vegas, Perron’s .80 points per game mark with the Blues was the second-best rate of his We have our initial opinions on how these contracts will work out, but we career. In limited action, Perron led the Blues in points and goals per 60 won’t know for sure how wise any of them were until this time next year. minutes of 5-on-5 time, per Natural Stat Trick. That’s great value for the So while analysis and opinion pour in about the 2019 UFAs, it’s also a seventh-highest paid forward on the Blues’ depth chart. great time to recall some of the most notable deals given out to last summer’s class and revisit how those have worked out so far. Perron is 31 years old and still has three years ahead of him on a great value contract. With young players rising within the Blues organization To do this, we’re just looking at UFAs who signed from July 1 on. So and age-related decline a decent possibility, 2018-19 could end up being Drew Doughty re-signing an eight-year deal with Los Angeles one year Perron’s best on this contract. His $4 million price tag may never become before he became a UFA won’t show up here, nor will Mike Green’s a problem, but if the Blues do ever need to trade him for cap reasons his contract, which was signed one day before he hit the market. modified no-trade clause would only eliminate five teams from the field. It’s likely someone will always be willing to take a crack on a player with With one year in the books, we look back at 2018 and grade some of the his production history, if it ever comes to that. In the meantime, he’s a contracts given out to UFAs. sneaky strong support player producing above his pay grade. 1. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs: Seven years, $11 million AAV Signing grade: A A player of Tavares’ caliber so rarely hits the UFA market in their prime 4. Paul Stastny, Vegas Golden Knights: Three years, $6.5 million AAV years, so it’ll be hard for this one to ever get a poor grade. Tavares landed in Toronto and posted career-highs in goals (47) and points (88), Any more term and this would be a very problematic contract — but that had the second-most ice time among all Leafs forwards (19:05 per game) the Golden Knights are today over the salary cap (before putting David and the most on the power play (2:36). His winger, Mitch Marner, is a Clarkson’s $5.25 million on LTIR) makes you wonder if they’d do this standalone talent, but it’s no coincidence that he also had a career-best same deal again. At the time of signing Stastny, the team didn’t have season, finishing as the team’s leading scorer with 94 points, a 25-point Mark Stone on the radar and hadn’t yet traded for Max Pacioretty. They jump. needed a second-line centre to support William Karlsson’s inevitable regression from a 43-goal season on a 23.4 shooting percentage and With Tavares and Auston Matthews, Toronto has one of the best one-two after Tavares, Stastny was the best available centre free agent. punches down the middle, the most important position to load up on in the NHL today. Tavares will turn 29 in September and only has 31 playoff There’s a defensive element to Stastny’s game that is one of his more games played in his 10-year career, so he should still have plenty of valuable components, but for the offence to shine through he needs mileage left. RFA Matthews followed months later with an even bigger finishing wingers because he’s a playmaker first and foremost. For the AAV on his contract extension. Speculation persists that Marner could first half of the season, it was very hard to get a read on Stastny in Vegas approach a Tavares-like cap hit, and UFA winger Artemi Panarin just got because he was injured for most of it, but did post nine points in his first more to go to the New York Rangers (and amid reports he took less to do 12 games. it). Each year the cap goes up, Tavares’ contract comes with a little more value. This one will always grade well. Stastny didn’t play more than three games in a row with new linemate Pacioretty until January and things really took off after Stone was Signing grade: A+ acquired and added to that line. In Stastny’s last 17 games of the regular season, he finished with 17 points and then put up eight points in seven 2. James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia Flyers: Five years, $7 million AAV playoff games. Given his time missed to injury and how long it took for JVR was 29 at the time of the signing, and as the best left winger his full line to come together, we won’t really have a full picture of how available on last summer’s market, it was an immediate win for well Stastny worked out until we see more of this trio in 2019-20. But in Philadelphia that they were able to keep the term to five years instead of 50 games played, Stastny led all Golden Knights forwards in primary the maximum seven. And there are a few more layers that made this a assists and points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play, per Natural Stat Trick. very nice play by former GM Ron Hextall. For someone who was brought in on a short, three-year deal to bolster Consider that Evander Kane, two years younger with lower goal and an offence that was expecting its first line to experience some degree of point totals, re-signed with San Jose ahead of hitting UFA for the same an offensive slow down (which did end up happening), it’s hard to argue cap hit at JVR, but for seven years. Kane also got a modified no-trade Stastny didn’t work out. His cap hit was partly responsible for the Golden clause attached to his deal, which allows him to make a list of just three Knights having to deal away the likes of Erik Haula and Colin Miller in a teams to which he’d accept a deal. JVR has no such trade protection, so cap crunch this off-season, but that can be an acceptable cost for loading the Flyers would be able to freely move him anywhere if they choose. the top of your lineup.

Wanna feel old? Big Maple Leafs fan Jack Hughes says Jake Signing grade: B+ Gardiner and James van Riemsdyk were two of his favourite players Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and growing up. Says they were really nice to him and his brothers. fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the — luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) June 3, 2019 country’s most beloved game.

JVR missed some time in Year 1 with the Flyers, playing in just 66 5. Robin Lehner, New York Islanders: One year, $1.5 million AAV games, but he scored goals and produced points at a rate just shy of his Even behind some shoddy defences in his career, Lehner had always career-bests. Kane played nine more games than JVR in Year 1 of their been a pretty decent NHL goalie. But in his last one with Buffalo, he deals and ended up with three more goals and eight more points. managed just a .908 save percentage and the Sabres decided a long- term contract extension or an arbitration award would be too rich for them, so they didn’t extend RFA Lehner a qualifying offer and he became The Blues have only two more years committed to Bozak, so it’s not a July 1 UFA. Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders swooped in, stealing completely unmanageable. But for a player who isn’t exactly dominant Lehner at a bargain cost, and the payoff in 2018-19 was considerable. defensively and only managed 38 points in 2018-19, that’s a heavy salary to dole out. Everything worked out just fine for St. Louis in 2019, Behind a much better team defence put together by Barry Trotz, Lehner but that doesn’t mean this was a steal, or even a good contract. and teammate Thomas Greiss thrived. The two earned the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals, Lehner posted a .930 Signing grade: C save percentage that earned him a nod as a Vezina Trophy finalist, and he led the Islanders to their second playoff series win since 1993. This Tyler Bozak calls St. Louis the “Hockey Capital of the World” during was a great pickup for the Islanders that came with no risk at all — but the #Blues Cup Parade yesterday pic.twitter.com/6i8S5NeWnU that’s what also holds this back from being an A+ value contract. — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 16, 2019

The Islanders won big in their one year roll of the dice on Lehner, but 8. James Neal, Calgary Flames: Five years, $5.75 million AAV couldn’t get him re-signed and were thrown back into the UFA goalie market in 2019. This time, they did go long-term, giving 31-year-old The Flames’ top line was already great and the draft weekend pickup of Semyon Varlamov four years and $20 million. For a goalie with the injury Elias Lindholm turned out fantastic in bolstering that trio. But they still and consistency issues Varlamov has had in recent years, this one needed a goal scorer to back them up on the second line and GM Brad doesn’t seem like a gamble that’s going to pay off. Treliving bet on Neal being that guy. And, really, it wasn’t a bad idea at the time at all. This grade is admittedly coming in complete hindsight. The oddest part of this is that Lehner left to take another one year deal with Chicago, — which already has a starter in — for the Neal had just scored 25 goals for the Vegas Golden Knights a season same $5 million Varlamov got from New York. prior and in the five previous seasons before signing with the Flames, Neal’s 0.37 goals per game ranked 16th in the league among players In a one year look, you couldn’t have asked for anything more than what with at least 250 games played. But in Calgary, he couldn’t get off the the Isles got from Lehner. But because they couldn’t keep the soon-to-be third line, had just four goals in the 2018 portion of the calendar and 28-year-old for any longer, and had to make a riskier bet on an older finished with only seven in 63 games. The risk with Neal, who was 30 at goalie with term Lamoriello loses a few points for how this one played the time of the signing, was supposed to be a potential decline in the last out. year or two. No one could have foreseen the kind of collapse that came Signing grade: B+ right away.

6. Petr Mrazek, Carolina Hurricanes: One year, $1.5 million AAV The (potentially) good news is that his horrendous five per cent shooting should come up, right? Even if he doubled that in 2018-19 it would still be Not that long ago Mrazek was a goalie on the rise with the possibility of beneath his career-average shooting percentage and he would have becoming elite and taking over from in Detroit. But it all wound up with 14 goals in 63 games. Still — not great for so much unravelled rather quickly and after he was moved off to the goalie money. graveyard in Philadelphia he became a UFA who was scooped up on the cheap by the Hurricanes. Neal’s contract is part of the reason why the Flames aren’t involved in the summer market in 2019, taking them out of the running for the likes of It took the 27-year-old some time to settle in. Waiver-wire pickup Curtis Mats Zuccarello or Gustav Nyquist. Maybe they’ll eventually be able to McElhinney was the early success story for the Canes, but Mrazek had a find a trade partner to offload the player, but it’s hard to imagine them pretty good December that put him back on the map. He cooled again in doing so without either also giving up a solid asset or retaining some January, but from Feb. 1 to the end of the regular season Mrazek’s .938 salary. If just 20 goals from Neal is considered a success now, this will save percentage stood only behind Ben Bishop and Philipp Grubauer. never be a good value contract.

Mrazek’s playoffs were a little hit and miss. Carolina got past Washington Signing grade: F despite the fact he was below a .900 save percentage, and then an injury put McElhinney back in the net. The last two games Mrazek played were Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.06.2019 against Boston, and he allowed 10 goals against.

He did not work out as well for Carolina as Lehner did on the Island — a big reason the Canes finally pushed through is they also found a great deal of offence in the second half. Carolina was, however, able to retain Mrazek on another short term (two years) deal, with a pay increase. It wasn’t longer because there’s still some uncertainty to him, but in no way has this been a bad investment by GM Don Waddell.

Signing grade: B

The Carolina Hurricanes bring back Petr Mrazek on a 2-year deal. Mrazek combined with Curtis McElhinney for a solid 1A, 1B type situation last year but he'll be asked to take on a bigger load this season. Only time will tell if he's up to the task #TakeWarning pic.twitter.com/2T7HIGNvKh

— The Point (@ThePointHockey) July 1, 2019

7. Tyler Bozak, St. Louis Blues: Three years, $5 million AAV

I mean, it’s really difficult to dump on any moves Doug Armstrong made last summer in assembling this year’s Blues since they won the Stanley Cup. Having Bozak as their third-line centre was a help, and he contributed 13 points in 26 playoff games. But coming off the UFA market, he was making $500,000 more against the cap than was to play the same role in Toronto — and where Kadri is good enough to be a second-line centre, Bozak is best used on the third.

That’s where the issue of value comes in — should a third-liner, even a centre, make $5 million against the salary cap? St. Louis didn’t have any issues with this in 2018-19, but with six RFAs still to sign the Blues could start feeling the pinch from that even this summer. Next year Brayden Schenn and Alex Pietrangelo are UFA eligible and Vince Dunn will be an RFA. Bozak could squeeze them a bit more by then.