SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/10/2021 Canadiens 1217083 Ducks hire Joel Bouchard as new coach of the AHL’s San 1217105 Canadian health officials wanted stricter protocols for NHL Diego Gulls return, documents show 1217084 Ducks’ coaching hires should boost Dallas Eakins, but 1217106 Sting of Cup loss not going away soon for Habs also increase the heat on him 1217107 hopes to return with the Canadiens next 1217108 's future with the Canadiens remains 1217085 Canada wanted NHL to enact stricter virus protocols uncertain during shortened season 1217109 Canadiens' provides gruesome details about 1217086 Key offseason dates every Bruins and NHL fan must know finger injury 1217087 Report: This Bruins rival has interest in signing Taylor Hall 1217110 Stu Cowan: Rocky road to final took a toll on 1217088 Why Bruins should pass on Tarasenko after reported trade Canadiens GM request 1217111 Opinion: Mayor Plante thanks the Habs, and Montrealers, 1217089 Boston Bruins Center Charlie Coyle Undergoes Multiple for their teamwork Knee Surgeries 1217112 Joël Bouchard leaves to join San Diego AHL team 1217090 'Fully back' from hernia surgery, Jack Quinn wants to be part of Sabres' young core 1217113 Devils re-sign defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler 1217091 What could the Sabres realistically get back in a trade for 1217114 The Hunt: A deep dive into the Devils’ search for a No. 3 the No. 1 pick? center Flames 1217092 What I’m hearing about the Flames’ offseason: Johnny 1217115 Islanders' GM Lou Lamoriello has to make more than Gaudreau contract talks, trade rumours and expansion hockey decisions this offseason 1217093 Blackhawks file motion to dismiss lawsuit from Michigan 1217116 Rangers sign Brett Howden ahead of expansion draft high schooler allegedly assaulted by Bradley Aldrich deadline 1217117 Rangers GM Chris Drury has a very busy summer agenda 1217118 Rangers re-sign Brett Howden to one-year deal 1217094 Pick 6: Is Trevor Story a sneaky Home Run Derby longshot? Will someone launch a 500-foot homer in LoDo? 1217119 Former Penguins defenseman Bryan Watson dies at 78 1217120 Penguins A to Z: Can Mike Matheson ever live up to his contract? 1217095 Stars legend Mike Modano ties John Smoltz with closing 1217121 Mark Madden: Sizing up Penguins, Lightning back-to-back albatross at American Century Championship Stanley Cup teams 1217122 Former Penguins defenseman Bryan 'Bugsy' Watson dies at 78 1217096 Detroit Red Wings 2021 NHL draft: Steve Yzerman picks a 1217123 The many masks of Ron Hextall: Penguins GM enters Michigan man offseason with unbreakable poker face 1217097 Lightning's shares special call with 'idol' 1217124 Joe Starkey: Former Penguins know — ‘Champa’ Bay Igor Larionov after Cup win wasn’t always this way 1217098 With draft and free agency on the horizon, busy month 1217125 Q&A: Penguins’ Sam Lafferty on his attempt to qualify for awaits Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman golf’s U.S. Amateur Championship 1217099 Will Nicklas Lidstrom fan Simon Edvinsson be available for 1217126 Penguins Falling Stanley Cup Odds; Bettors Run to Vegas Red Wings? Kraken Oilers 1217127 Kraken won’t play first preseason home games at Climate 1217100 OILERS NOTES: It's Duncan Keith vs. Vlad Tarasenko on Pledge Arena but says venue ‘on track’ for regular sea the Edmonton trade front 1217128 Kraken mailbag: Could Vladimir Tarasenko, Duncan Keith 1217101 Which draft prospects will be available when the Oilers be in side deals? Will two scoreboards become a trend? pick at No. 19? 1217129 Duhatschek notebook: The ’s expansion draft moves could shake the NHL to its core Panthers 1217130 Dougie Hamilton? Duncan Keith? 6 situations to monitor 1217102 It’s a Mailbag! Keith Yandle questions ahead of the Seattle Kraken expansion draft (and more) St Louis Blues 1217131 From with love: Successful KHL season could 1217103 Prospect Profiles – Matthew Beiners & Kent Johnson relaunch Wideman's NHL career 1217104 A look at who Wild could lose in NHL expansion draft, and what would hurt most 1217132 Lightning’s toughness defined by willingness to grind through injuries 1217133 Lifting Stanley Cup for first time ‘special’ for Lightning’s 1217134 After beer-guzzling news conference, Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov ‘signs’ deal with Bud Light 1217135 Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov played through cracked rib in playoffs 1217136 Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov FaceTimes ‘idol’ after Stanley Cup win 1217137 This is how it ends for the NHL on NBC — a small ratings bump for the Stanley Cup Final 1217138 Behind the rise of Ross ‘The Boss’ Colton and his Cup- clinching for Lightning Maple Leafs 1217139 Don’t blink, hectic NHL off-season is already well under way 1217140 TRAIKOS: Danault deserves big payday after shutting down the best in the playoffs Canucks 1217147 Canucks top 10 prospects: Aidan McDonough's got poise, at least 1217148 Canucks to be Seattle Kraken’s first-ever pre-season opponents 1217149 The Canucks’ search for a third line : 9 trade and UFA options to target 1217141 How a weak Pacific Division in 2021-22 could impact the Golden Knights’ offseason strategy 1217142 Golden Knights Trade Opp; Kraken Draft Exemption Creates BIG Chance 1217143 Golden Knights Already 2022 Stanley Cup Favorites Capitals 1217144 Capitals ranked eighth-best playoff team in salary-cap era poll 1217145 What will the Caps do in free agency? Websites 1217150 The Athletic / This is how it ends for the NHL on NBC — a small ratings bump for the Stanley Cup Final 1217151 The Athletic / Predictions review: What I got right and wrong about the 2020-21 NHL season 1217152 The Athletic / Diary of a draft year, part 3: Brandt Clarke’s European adventure ends as the draft looms 1217153 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Underdog runs that ended badly in the Cup Final (and whether that should worry 1217154 .ca / 31 Thoughts: Where NHL's Olympic participation stands as off-season begins 1217155 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' off-season to be dominated by speculation about Bergevin's future 1217156 TSN.CA / Former Blackhawks player won't take part in "window dressing" abuse investigation, lawyer says 1217157 TSN.CA / Can the run on Duncan? Jets 1217146 Jets have decisions to make before Kraken draft SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1217083 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks hire Joel Bouchard as new coach of the AHL’s

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: July 9, 2021 at 9:44 a.m. | UPDATED: July 9, 2021 at 10:39 a.m.

Ducks general manager Bob Murray continued to revamp the organization’s coaching ranks Friday, when he named Joel Bouchard the coach of the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, replacing Kevin Dineen. Bouchard spent the past three seasons coaching the ’ top minor league club.

“We want to thank Kevin Dineen for all he contributed the last two seasons. He was key in maintaining a winning environment in San Diego, including a difficult season during the pandemic,” Murray said in a statement. “The opportunity to bring in Joel Bouchard as head coach of our club was something that we could not pass up. Joel has a strong track record coaching and developing players at the professional, junior and international level. This is the primary focus for us, and Joel fits the bill perfectly.”

Bouchard, 47, had an 83-67-24 record in three seasons with the Laval () Rocket, including a 23-9-4 mark in 2020-21. Laval won the Canadian Division during the pandemic-shortened season. Montreal reached the Stanley Cup Final this past season for the first time since 1993, losing to Tampa Bay in five games.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217084 Anaheim Ducks Eakins’s tenure? It’s the kind of list GMs always have handy, and what’s also notable here is that Eakins is entering the final year of his contract.

Meanwhile, Ward was brought on board with Stothers on June 15. The Ducks’ coaching hires should boost Dallas Eakins, but also increase the 59-year-old was an NHL head coach just five months ago, in Calgary. He heat on him has been an assistant with three other teams over 13 years. Perhaps there is something to some being seen as more of a great lieutenant rather than the of the ship. But Ward handled the interim gig with Calgary in 2019-20 and did well enough to earn permanent status with By Eric Stephens Jul 9, 2021 the Flames, even though it lasted only 24 games.

This is not to say that Eakins will walk around the corridors of Great Park With the hiring of three new assistant coaches – one of them who is not Ice as if he is on eggshells, or that his clock is now ticking, or that he’ll new to Anaheim – plus a new head coach for their American Hockey have one eye on the team and the other on a guillotine the moment League club, the Ducks feel as if they’ve set up head coach Dallas things start to go sideways. Making an upward move in the standings Eakins with a better chance to succeed in 2021-22. can’t involve just standing pat with the roster and hoping for youngsters to break out or for veterans to regain the form of four or five years ago. It remains to be seen if he will. But succeed he must. Because the moves Murray has work to do on the roster over the next few weeks. also have the look of potential replacements being put in place if this basement-dwelling team doesn’t improve when it leaves the starting gate But there is a path toward making a leap. The Ducks hopefully learned this fall. some lessons about what it takes to play at an elite level when they were often playing Vegas and Colorado in that pandemic-shortened, unusual There are primary reasons for assistant coaches to be hired, and the season. They didn’t get the best of Minnesota or St. Louis often but they Ducks have some for the recent staff upheaval. Geoff Ward has competed with them and saw the areas in which they fell short. extensive experience with NHL power plays and will attempt to fix the Ducks’ unit, which has failed more than any other since the league began With the likely return of the normal divisional format, the Ducks will have tracking the statistic. Newell Brown also knows power plays and knows just the Golden Knights to deal with as a top team. Calgary, Edmonton the organization, having had two prior stints in Anaheim and having been and Vancouver – three teams with significant questions, two of which a part of the 2007 Stanley Cup-winning club. Mike Stothers will be tasked failed to make the playoffs in the all-Canada division – will sub back in. with getting the most out of an underachieving (and often-injured) Instead of Arizona, Seattle will join the fray as the Coyotes have defense corps. relocated to the Central. Los Angeles and San Jose might have similar paths as the Ducks, but both are in different stages of a reset. And now Joël Bouchard will take over the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. He will be charged with winning a healthy amount of games and, more The conditions for Eakins as he enters his third season aren’t perfect, but importantly, with developing the Ducks’ prospects to where they’re not they appear to be better. He’ll have Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale just filling an opening when they get to Anaheim but are making an for more than 24 games. He’ll hope to have a healthy Hampus Lindholm impact once they’re there. and Josh Manson — if he’s still part of the core when fall arrives — for a full season. He’ll count on Troy Terry, Max Jones and Max Comtois to That was emphasized by Ducks general manager Bob Murray in a team- take another healthy step forward. Perhaps he’ll get a veteran scorer or a issued statement after Bouchard’s hiring Friday. Bouchard replaces proven young offensive piece through trade to boost a meager attack. Kevin Dineen, whose two-year contract expired June 30. Bouchard led the AHL’s Laval Rocket for the last three seasons but his contract with For now, Murray has given Eakins what he thinks is a better supporting the Montreal Canadiens had also expired, and Murray was immediately cast behind the bench and in the minors. Simply put, the Ducks must be in touch with the Canadiens’ , one of his closest friends in better, on an upward path that looks like it could have some shelf life. terms of GM colleagues. Last season, Eakins got off to a 6-6-3 start before the wheels fell off. A nine-game losing streak (0-6-3) that followed quashed any dreams of “We want to thank Kevin Dineen for all he contributed the last two competing for a playoff berth. seasons. He was key in maintaining a winning environment in San Diego, including a difficult season during the pandemic,” Murray said. “The Changes have been made, ostensibly to help him. Next season, he might opportunity to bring in Joël Bouchard as head coach of our American want to avoid another long losing streak, or one of the recent hires might Hockey League club was something that we could not pass up. Joël has replace him. a strong track record coaching and developing players at the The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 professional, junior and international level.

“This is the primary focus for us, and Joel fits the bill perfectly.”

Given where the Ducks are in their evolution, player development is paramount. They’ve got youngsters in the NHL now, more could be on the way soon and even more will be in the system over the next couple of years. Bouchard has helped young players move forward in their formative stages. , a seventh-round draft pick, has become a contributor for Montreal. Alex Barre-Boulet and Drake Batherson are taking steps in the NHL after playing under Bouchard.

Bouchard, 47, who played 364 NHL games as a defenseman from 1995- 2006, confirmed that Murray reached out on July 1. He got a glowing review from Evans, who told reporters Friday, “I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”

This leads us to other reasons why coaches could be hired, reasons that teams aren’t keen to make public.

For instance, it is conceivable to think Bouchard welcomed the interest from Murray because the path to coaching in the NHL might be clearer in Anaheim than it is in Montreal. Dominique Ducharme will almost certainly have the interim tag removed by Bergevin after he coached the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final. Luke Richardson was lauded for the way he kept Montreal on course after Ducharme contracted COVID-19 during its semifinal series against Vegas. Alex Burrows was plucked from Bouchard’s staff in Laval to join the Habs.

Clearly, Murray thinks highly of Bouchard, perhaps high enough to put him on his list of potential replacements should he feels the need to end 1217085 Boston Bruins SOCCER Vaccine plays role in Hurtado trade

CF Montreal traded Erik Hurtado to the Columbus Crew for $200,000 in Canada wanted NHL to enact stricter virus protocols during shortened general allocation money, saying the fact the American forward was not season vaccinated played into the deal. Montreal sporting director Olivier Renard said the team was “satisfied” with the nine-year MLS veteran’s work, but Hurtado’s “situation was problematic.” “Before proceeding, Erik also From staff and wire reportsUpdated July 9, 2021, 7:18 p.m. confirmed that he was not comfortable taking the vaccine, so we concluded this deal, which we felt was very satisfactory,” Renard said in

a statement Thursday. Hurtado joined Montreal as a free agent Feb. 16 Face masks were prevalent throughout the NHL this past season, but and played seven games, including two starts, recording one assist … documents show Canadian health officials wanted the league to take Rio de Janeiro officials are allowing Copa America organizers to invite additional steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The league thousands of COVID-19-tested fans into Saturday’s final at Maracana introduced a of protocols in a bid to get back on the ice, including Stadium between Brazil and Argentina. Rio city health secretary Daniel the daily testing of players and staff, rules around physical distancing and Soranz issued guidelines permitting crowds of up to 10% in each section masks, and limiting the contact teammates could have away from the of the 78,000-seat stadium. No tickets will be sold. CONMEBOL said rink. Still, documents released to The Canadian Press under the each team can bring 2,200 guests, who will be required to wear masks in Freedom of Information Act show health officials “strongly” recommended the stadium and keep a distance of two meters among each other. No the league adopt additional measures before green-lighting its return. food and drinks will be allowed. After receiving a draft of the NHL’s return-to-play protocols, health MISCELLANY officials from Alberta, , Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Public Health Agency of Canada sent a joint letter to commissioner Jones, Bonner lead Sun past Dream Gary Bettman on Dec. 23, 2020, urging the league to either add regular testing for the close contacts of players and staff to its protocols or use a Jonquel Jones had 24 points and 16 rebounds, DeWanna Bonner added “bubble model” similar to what the league created in Toronto and 22 points, and the Connecticut Sun beat the , 84-72, in Edmonton to finish out the 2019-20 season. “Should any iteration of the Uncasville, Conn., to wrap up a spot in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup bubble model not be achievable for the NHL, we would recommend that championship. Connecticut will represent the Eastern Conference in the the start of the season be delayed for a few weeks to allow for disease inaugural title game Aug. 12 in Phoenix after going 8-1 in rates to drop and our health systems to recover,” the letter read. Bettman Commissioner’s Cup games. The title-contending teams will be vying for replied on Dec. 24, saying the league had already incorporated input a prize pool of a $500,000. Brionna Jones added 16 points and nine from various Canadian public health agencies into its protocols, noting rebounds and Briann January scored 11 points for Connecticut (13-6). that players, staff, and coaches would be tested daily and saying the Bonner moved into sixth on the WNBA career list for made free throws, league would “make best efforts” to provide families and other close passing Cappie Pondexter. Cheyenne Parker scored 15 points for contacts with access to tests when requested. He added that the NHL’s Atlanta (6-12) … The University of Connecticut reversed course on a protocols had been updated to include testing for a player’s close controversial budget cut, saying it will keep its women’s rowing program contacts for 14 days if the player tested positive for the virus. The NHL for at least the next two years. The move, announced Thursday night, released numbers June 28 showing it had administered more than comes after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order in May 350,000 COVID-19 tests this season, with 119 players receiving that prevented the school from dissolving the team at the end of this past “confirmed positives.” The virus forced 12 teams to shut down over the season. US District Judge Stephen Underhill ruled rowers were likely to course of the season, postponing 55 games. prevail in their lawsuit, which alleges eliminating the team would violate Title IX, the federal law that guarantees equal access to women in Former defenseman Watson dies at 78 education, including athletics. The school plans to add scholarships, increase the program’s recruiting budget and work to upgrade its Former NHL defenseman Bryan “Bugsy” Watson, who played for equipment and facilities, both sides said … The Portland Sea Dogs’ legendary coach in juniors, with in the home game game against the Hartford Yard Goats was rained out and AHL, and coached a young in Edmonton, has died. He will be made as part of a doubleheader Saturday … European was 78. A spokesman said Monumental Sports & weightlifting champion Daniyar Ismayilov faces being stripped of his title Entertainment, which owns the club, learned of the death Thursday from after failing a drug test, the Turkish weightlifting federation said. Ismayilov a member of Watson’s family. A Penguins spokeswoman said the team was the Olympic silver medalist in the 69-kilogram category in 2016 and was told Watson died at home in Maryland. The cause of death was not won the European title at 73 kg in April. He was not on the recently revealed. Watson tallied 17 goals and 135 assists in 877 games for published entry lists for the upcoming games in Tokyo. Ismayilov is Montreal, Detroit, Oakland, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Washington from provisionally suspended after he tested positive for an unnamed banned 1963-1978 before finishing his career with Cincinnati in the World Hockey substance, the federation said. Association in 1979 … Pending unrestricted free agent forward Corey Perry said he would like to play stick around for a 17th NHL season, and Boston Globe LOADED: 07.10.2021 his preference is to remain with the Canadiens. He had nine goals and 12 assists this season, his first with Montreal … The expansion Seattle Kraken will tour the state of Washington during the preseason while their arena renovation is completed. The Kraken will play home games against Vancouver in Spokane on Sept. 26, Edmonton in Everett on Oct. 1, and Calgary in Kent on Oct. 2.

TOUR DE FRANCE

Cavendish ties record with 34th stage win

Mark Cavendish added yet another mass sprint to his tally and equaled Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34 Tour de France stage wins on Friday. Merckx amassed his wins in the 1960s and 70s. Unlike Merckx — who did it a record five times between 1969 and 1974 — Cavendish has never won the Tour. Taking part in cycling’s biggest race for the first time since 2018, the 36-year-old former world champion posted his fourth stage win in the southern city of Carcassonne, France at the end of a 136.6-mile journey from Nimes. The Englishman finished comfortably ahead of Michael Morkov of Denmark and Jasper Philipsen of Belgium. There was no significant change in the overall standings as race leader Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia enjoyed a quiet day, keeping his 5:18 lead over Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran. Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard is third, 5:33 off the pace. 1217086 Boston Bruins

Key offseason dates every Bruins and NHL fan must know

BY NICK GOSS

The 2021 Stanley Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens could end as soon as Wednesday night.

For the other 29 NHL teams, the offseason has already begun.

It's going to be a busier offseason than normal, and that's because the Seattle Kraken are entering the league as an . This means there will be an expansion draft, similar to the one in 2017 when the Vegas Golden Knights entered the league. The expansion draft will have an impact on the free agent and trade markets as teams try to find the best ways to protect their most valuable players.

Complete list of Bruins free agents ahead of pivotal offseason

Here are the important offseason dates for NHL fans to circle on their calendar.

July 17: This is the deadline for teams to submit their protected lists for the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, where the Seattle Kraken will begin to build their roster.

July 21: The 2021 NHL Expansion Draft is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

July 23: The first round of the 2021 NHL Draft takes place on this Friday night. The Bruins own their first round pick (No. 20 overall) after not making a Round 1 selection in both 2018 and 2020.

July 24: Rounds two through seven of the 2021 NHL Draft are on Saturday. The Bruins traded their second-round pick to acquire Taylor Hall from the Sabres but they have a selection in every other round, including two in the seventh.

July 28: NHL free agency begins at noon ET. Players can sign contracts at this time. The Bruins have several unrestricted free agents to consider re-signing, including Hall, David Krejci, Mike Reilly and Tuukka Rask.

Aug. 2: The Bruins are bringing back their development camp for the entire week of Aug. 2 through Aug. 6 at Warrior Ice Arena. This camp did not happen last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217087 Boston Bruins

Report: This Bruins rival has interest in signing Taylor Hall

BY NICK GOSS

Taylor Hall is one of the top five players in the 2021 NHL free agent class, and it sure sounds like he's generating plenty of interest around the league.

Hall was traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the Boston Bruins shortly before the April 12 trade deadline.

The move revitalized Hall's career, as he posted 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 16 games to close the regular season. He played well in the first round of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals but struggled to make an impact offensively versus the New York Islanders in a second-round loss.

Complete list of Bruins free agents ahead of pivotal offseason

The Bruins absolutely should do everything possible to re-sign him, but as noted on the latest edition of TSN's "Insider Trading" this week, the B's aren't the only team interested in the former Hart Trophy winner.

"(Bruins general manager Don Sweeney) is engaged in discussions on an extension with Taylor Hall with the agent Darren Ferris. This shouldn't come as breaking news," Dreger explained. "There was interest from Boston's standpoint prior to making the trade with the Sabres.

"But there's outside interest as well, including the , which may surprise some. Toronto has interest, I’m sure, if they can’t get Zach Hyman signed, or depending on what happens with Freddy Andersen. There's a lot of teams with interest in Taylor Hall, but he'd like to extend his time in Boston."

What a Taylor Hall contract extension could look like for the Bruins

Hall has made it clear on a few occasions that he wants to remain in Boston. He said that right after the trade before playing a single game for the Bruins, and he reiterated that stance after Boston's playoff exit.

The Bruins also have publicly made it known they want to bring Hall back. B's president Cam Neely said "we'd like to get something done" when asked before the playoffs about re-signing Hall this offseason.

So, you'd have to imagine both the Bruins and Hall work hard to find common ground. The best-case scenario for the Bruins would be a two- or three-year contract, but if they have to give up more term to entice Hall to take less AAV (annual average value), that wouldn't be a bad situation, either.

Re-signing Hall after the Seattle Kraken expansion draft on July 21 makes the most sense for the Bruins. If he's not signed, he doesn't need to take up one of Boston's spots on its protected list for the expansion draft.

What about the Leads? They do make sense, at least on paper, as a possible landing spot for Hall if he doesn't return to the Bruins. Hall's physical, power-forward style of play would be great for Toronto. The Leafs also will need scoring depth at left wing if Zach Hyman doesn't return to Toronto. He's an unrestricted free agent this summer like Hall.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217088 Boston Bruins

Why Bruins should pass on Tarasenko after reported trade request

BY NICK GOSS

Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel isn't the only star player who could be traded during what promises to be a busy NHL offseason.

Vladimir Tarasenko might be moved as well.

The St. Louis Blues right winger has requested a trade after nine seasons with the team, The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford reported Wednesday night.

Tarasenko has been one of the Blues' best players over the last decade. When healthy, he's one of the league's most talented goal scorers. He posted 30-plus goals in five consecutive seasons from 2014-15 through 2018-19. He also was a key component of Blues' 2019 Stanley Cup title win over the Boston Bruins.

Report: This Bruins rival has interest in signing Taylor Hall

Speaking of the Bruins, should they try to pursue Tarasenko on the trade market in an effort to improve their scoring depth?

The short answer is no.

Staying healthy has been a challenge for Tarasenko over the last two seasons, and that's the main reason why the Bruins should not trade for the 29-year-old forward.

Three shoulder surgeries have limited Tarasenko's availability to the Blues of late. It's also impacted his on-ice performance. He played in just 10 games last season and 24 this season, tallying seven goals over that span.

Another reason why the Bruins should not target Tarasenko is his contract. He has two years remaining with a $7.5 million salary cap hit, which would be the largest on the Bruins.

The Bruins would be better served using that kind of salary cap space on re-signing left winger Taylor Hall, who was a really good fit in the B's lineup after the NHL trade deadline. Boston also has to consider re- signing important players such as second-line center David Krejci, top- four defenseman Brandon Carlo and several others who are free agents this offseason.

Tarasenko has immense talent and the Bruins need another goal scorer for their top-six, but for the reasons noted above, making a move for him isn't in Boston's best interests. They can't afford to take a chance on a high-priced player with a serious injury history when the team's championship window is almost shut.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217089 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins Center Charlie Coyle Undergoes Multiple Knee Surgeries

Published 12 hours ago on July 9, 2021By Jimmy Murphy

Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle underwent two surgeries on his left knee recently and is recovering nicely according to his agent Bob Norton.

“Charlie says he feels so much better already,” Norton told Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic.

Charlie Coyle had surgery to repair an avulsion fracture in his left kneecap and a small tear of the patellar tendon. The 29-year-old center is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

Norton didn’t say when Charlie Coyle suffered the injury but clearly, it played a role in what was a disappointing season for the Weymouth, MA native. In his first season of a six-year, $31.5 million contract that carries a $5.2 million salary cap, Coyle scored just six goals and had tens assists in 51 regular season games. The didn’t go any better and one could argue was worse as Coyle struggled with just two goals and 1 assist in 11 playoff games.

Despite playing injured for what appears to have been a solid portion of the regular season and the playoffs, Charlie Coyle made no excuses for his lackluster play.

“I obviously want to produce more and be a better player,” the team’s No. 3 (for now) center told the media during the end of the season Zoom call with reporters. “Stuff happens and sometimes you lose consistency a bit. I just want to be a more reliable player. And if I’m not putting up points, I’m still bringing my game and other elements to my team. That’s what I’ve got to do.”

Coyle’s best stretch of success with the Bruins came during the team’s run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final when he had nine goals and seven assists in 24 games. He provided the Bruins with a solid 1-2-3 punch up the middle behind now captain and David Krejci. This past season, however, that depth up the middle wasn’t as effective as the 6-foot-3, 213-pound center struggled to gain traction and towards the end of the season, found himself playing on the right wing of the third line with Sean Kuraly in the middle.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217090 Buffalo Sabres it was just getting used to that level. What we're trying to focus on this summer is just getting back to his strengths. What made him successful in juniors is he had a shooter’s mentality.

'Fully back' from hernia surgery, Jack Quinn wants to be part of Sabres' “I didn't really see that as much this year. I don't know if it was just kind of young core adjusting to the pace of play, or kind of second-guessing himself a little bit. But I felt like there was times where he was passing up opportunities to use his to try to make an extra play.”

Lance Lysowski Jul 9, 2021 Updated 9 hrs ago Quinn concurred. He had only 25 shots on goal, a low number considering he was in a top-six role and received consistent time on the

Amerks’ power play. Quinn deferred to teammates too often, a change Jack Quinn appeared in 15 games with the this from how he attacked on the ice during his final season of junior hockey. season. Quinn, though, remained a reliable presence in the defensive zone and When the shots were getting stopped this season, and there was little improvement resulted in a new assignment. Despite not producing up to space to make plays, Jack Quinn turned to video to try to solve the his standards on the wing, Quinn was asked to play center, beginning problem. with an April 14 game against .

Quinn, a 19-year-old winger, had more time to score in the Ontario Quinn had two assists with General Manager Kevyn Adams and Sabres Hockey League. Defensemen were smaller and not as fast. Goalies owner Terry Pegula watching in Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena. weren’t as quick in the crease, providing Quinn with an additional second Versatility will only help Quinn in the long run, but it’s unlikely this will be to pick his spot and score using the slingshot-like release that helped him a permanent move. become the Buffalo Sabres’ top draft choice in 2020. “As a centerman, you have to be a little more responsible in the D-zone, As an unlikely member of the Rochester Americans, Quinn was facing and I thought it allowed me to use my hockey sense a little more,” Quinn professional goalies, most of whom could play in the NHL, and older, said. “In the D zone, to be able to make some reads and try to cut off stronger defensemen. If it weren’t for the Covid-19 pandemic, Quinn plays and break out. As a winger, you don't do that as much. You’re kind would have likely returned to the OHL’s 67’s, with whom he of covering an area. … I like the part of kind of having the middle of the scored 52 goals during his draft-eligible season in 2019-20. ice to dictate the play. And as a center, you can kind of build your speed a little bit more since you start from lower in the zone, whereas the Quinn sought to maximize the unprecedented development opportunity. wingers are a little higher.” He studied his and his opponents' tendencies to learn how to score at the next level. The results weren’t what Quinn hoped. He totaled two goals The season ended abruptly for Quinn, as the decision was made in April and seven assists in 15 games with the Amerks. But Quinn left having a for him to undergo surgery on a bothersome hernia. Facing a six-week better understanding of what he needs to do to earn a spot on the recovery in Buffalo, Quinn spent additional time around the Sabres, Sabres' roster in 2021. including the final days of the season under Don Granato, who was officially named head coach on June 29. “I think it was a great experience,” Quinn told The Buffalo News in a phone interview. “All the stuff I got to go through this year with playing Quinn received an up-close look at the new style of play that produced pro hockey, kind of being around the NHL guys a bit and learning from promising results, particularly by the team’s young forwards. Granato them. But mainly, the biggest advantage was being able to play those implemented an up-tempo system that allowed his players to create games in the American League and getting used to pro and kind of offense in transition. He was more interested in coaching to his players’ challenging myself. strengths, rather than forcing them into roles not suited to their individual skills. "It wasn't an easy year. It was tough. I struggled more than I wanted to and production-wise, but I think it helped me a lot in the long run. I think it The six-week experiment by Granato brightened the outlook for the helps me a lot going into this year.” franchise, ushering in the next young core that will try to snap the Sabres’ 10-year playoff drought. With Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart possibly Quinn wasn't sure where he would play this past season when he was gone this offseason, Granato might have to hand more responsibility to selected by the Sabres with the No. 8 pick in October. The OHL was Cozens (20 years old), Casey Mittelstadt (22), Rasmus Dahlin (21) and facing an uncertain start date and the 's player Tage Thompson (23), among others. development agreement with the typically bars any athlete under 20 from competing in the AHL. “Fully back” from surgery and already training with renowned strength coach Tony Greco in the Ottawa area, Quinn has begun preparing for However, an exception was made because neither the OHL nor the training camp. In addition to on-ice training, he wants to add more was launching a season anytime soon, clearing strength to prepare for the grind of an 82-game season. the way for Quinn to join the Amerks. But first, Quinn was selected to represent Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Quinn, His goal is to be part of the youth movement in Buffalo at the start of next alongside Sabres center Dylan Cozens, helped Canada reach the gold season. medal game, where it lost to the , 2-0. “I think it's exciting, that kind of a young core of great players you just Quinn wasn’t pleased with his production at the tournament, as he mentioned, and I'm gonna do everything I can to try to be in that core, finished with one goal, five points and a plus-10 rating in seven games. whether it's right off the bat or some this season,” said Quinn “Be a The experience, though, prepared him for his short stint at training camp good player like those guys, and I think it’s exciting that since we’re all with the Sabres in January. young we can build together and go from there. We’re going to go the right direction and go up from there.” Quinn and Cozens were late arrivals, and on very different stages in their respective development. Cozens was one year removed from being Buffalo News LOADED: 07.10.2021 drafted seventh overall and penciled in for an NHL roster spot, while Quinn was only there to soak in the experience before an assignment to Rochester.

Quinn had a remarkable few days in camp. His right-handed shot appeared to be NHL-ready. More important, Quinn showed the type of playmaking ability he was not given enough credit for during the predraft process. Following camp, he had a short stay on the Sabres’ taxi squad, before he joined the Amerks.

“This was an opportunity to kind of shortcut the learning curve a bit,” said Josh Wrobel, a Toronto-based skills coach who trains Quinn every offseason. “It was a good way for him to kind of get used to it a bit early. As far as games go, 15 games, a small sample size, but from what I saw, 1217091 Buffalo Sabres Summary: The Panthers moved down two spots in the opening round. Rather than receive an immediate benefit, they hoped to gain a major boost the following year. Instead, they declined to exercise the option after landing the No. 1 pick. Columbus held the No. 4 selection. What could the Sabres realistically get back in a trade for the No. 1 pick? The Blue Jackets opened the 2002 draft with forward Rick Nash. He became one of the NHL’s most feared scorers with three 40-goal seasons and five more in the 30s. By John Vogl Jul 9, 2021 Florida picked defenseman . He leads the 2002 draft

with 1,240 games played. He was a two-time All-Star who won a Cup When the NHL Draft starts July 23, the Sabres almost assuredly will go with St. Louis and Olympic gold with Canada. first. The No. 1 pick hasn’t been traded in 18 years. Put another way, NHL Central Scouting ranked Bouwmeester at No. 1 followed by Nash in these prospects were in diapers or not even born when Pittsburgh and the second spot. Florida flipped spots in 2003. History-based hypothetical: Buffalo trades the No. 1 pick to Anaheim. But it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Buffalo makes a move. Yes, Buffalo receives the No. 3 pick and the option to swap first-round there’s a minuscule chance that a team dying for talent would refuse the selections with the Ducks in 2022. best prospect. But maybe someone absolutely, positively needs Owen Power and covets the defenseman more than the Sabres. They would be This is a no-go for the Sabres. With another rebuild on the way, they’re wise to listen. more likely to finish last next season than the Ducks. While it’s possible Anaheim misses the playoffs and wins the 2022 lottery, that’s too big of a The top pick used to be fair game. Teams traded it four times in a five- gamble for Buffalo to move out of the No. 1 slot. year span from 1999 to 2003, using the selection as currency to better their club or manipulate the draft. 1999

How’d they do? Was moving down wise? And how far did they fall? Brian Burke, who was general manager of the , was not going to stop until he secured twin prospects Daniel and Henrik Let’s look at the four drafts that featured the No. 1 pick changing hands. Sedin. Burke served as puppeteer of the draft, which featured the No. 1 2003 pick moving twice.

The deal: Florida traded the No. 1 pick and a third-round pick (No. 73) to The first deal: Tampa Bay traded the No. 1 pick to Vancouver. Tampa Pittsburgh. Florida received the No. 3 pick, a second-round pick (No. 55) Bay received the No. 4 pick and two third-round picks (Nos. 75 and 88). and forward from Pittsburgh. Summary: Tampa Bay moved down three spots in the opening round Summary: The Panthers moved down two spots in the first round and while adding two third-round picks. The Lightning later traded the No. 4 moved up 18 selections to get an additional second-round pick. They selection in a deal with the Rangers. also added a 26-year-old, bottom-six forward who had one season left on History-based hypothetical: Buffalo trades the No. 1 pick to New Jersey. his contract. Buffalo receives the No. 4 pick, the Devils’ third-round pick (No. 67) and The Penguins wanted to begin the post-Mario Lemieux era with a fourth-round pick (No. 99). cornerstone , so they moved up to select Marc-Andre Fleury. Depending on how tightly ranked the Sabres have the top four prospects, Along with future picks and Evgeni Malkin, Fleury brought it’d be a deal worth considering. They’d still get one of the top-tier skaters a Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh. while moving toward the top of the third round, essentially replacing the The Panthers moved down just two spots to No. 3, where they picked Vesey pick, and getting an early fourth-rounder. Nathan Horton. The forward perennially scored 25 to 30 goals before a The No. 99 pick was valuable currency last year for the Sabres. They degenerative back injury prematurely ended his career. Horton was NHL added it to their second-round selection to move up four spots and draft Central Scouting’s fourth-ranked skater, behind forwards , forward J-J Peterka. Dustin Brown and Thomas Vanek. Carolina drafted Staal at No. 2. The second deal: Vancouver traded the No. 1 pick to Atlanta. Vancouver The Panthers’ scouting staff lost the secondary battle. They picked received the No. 2 pick and a third-round pick in 2000 from Atlanta. Stefan Meyer in the second round while the Penguins drafted Dan Carcillo in the third. Meyer had a 20-game NHL career while Carcillo Summary: The Canucks moved down one spot and added a third-round played in 429, though none with Pittsburgh. pick for the next draft. They also received assurance that Atlanta would draft Patrik Stefan at No. 1 instead of a Sedin. Stefan was NHL Central Samuelsson spent one season in Florida, recording three goals and nine Scouting’s top-ranked North American skater. The Sedins were Nos. 1 points in 37 games. and 2 among European skaters. History-based hypothetical: Buffalo trades the No. 1 pick and the third- Burke performed magic from the GM chair, totaling three trades round pick originally belonging to Florida (No. 89) to Anaheim. Buffalo (including an earlier one with Chicago to acquire the No. 4 pick) to land receives the No. 3 pick, an earlier third-round pick (No. 65) and forward the Sedins. The twins will one day be in the . Nicolas Deslauriers. Stefan is one of the greatest No. 1 busts, reaching highs of 14 goals and Assuming the draft starts with Power at No. 1 and Michigan teammate 40 points during his seven seasons. Matthew Beniers at No. 2, the Sabres would have the option of forwards Mason McTavish, William Eklund, Kent Johnson and Dylan Guenther or History-based hypothetical: Buffalo trades the No. 1 pick to Seattle. defensemen Luke Hughes and Brandt Clarke at No. 3. The Sabres would Buffalo receives the No. 2 pick and a 2022 third-round pick from Seattle. move up 24 picks in the third round. They’d also bring home Deslauriers, who spent his first four seasons in Buffalo. If the Kraken want to open their inaugural draft with Power as the No. 1 pick, they have to move up only one spot. They need to create a farm If the Sabres aren’t sold on Power, the deal would make sense. They’d system, so offering a future incentive makes more sense than a 2021 still get a top-tier prospect in the draft. They’d move back into the top of selection. the third round after dealing their pick to the Rangers for Jimmy Vesey in 2019. Deslauriers would provide protection for Buffalo’s young players, The deal would still give the Sabres their choice of every prospect not something the team lacked last season. named Power. Waiting a year for the enhancement isn’t overly appealing, but the expansion draft is coming two days before the entry draft. Maybe 2002 the Sabres could get the No. 2 pick, a 2022 third-rounder and assurance from the Kraken that they wouldn’t take “X” player in the expansion draft. The deal: Florida traded the No. 1 pick to Columbus. Florida received the No. 3 pick and the option to swap first-round picks with Columbus in Once again, it’d be worth considering. 2003. 1975 The deal: Washington traded the No. 1 pick to Philadelphia. Washington received the No. 18 pick, forward and defenseman Don McLean from Philadelphia.

Summary: The Capitals moved from the opening pick of the first round to the last, dropping 17 slots. The Flyers started the draft with forward Mel Bridgman, who played 977 games. The Caps drafted forward Alex Forsyth, who played one.

The key for the Capitals, who’d just gone 8-67-5 in their inaugural season, was Clement. The 24-year-old was coming off a 21-goal season with the Flyers and would conceivably provide Washington with a building block. But after 10 goals in 46 games, Washington traded him to the Atlanta Flames for a first-round pick and two players.

In the other part of the original deal, Washington would have been better off landing singer Don McLean than defenseman Don McLean. He recorded no points in nine NHL games and no No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts.

History-based hypothetical: Buffalo trades the No. 1 pick to Nashville. Buffalo receives the No. 18 pick, forward Luke Kunin and defenseman Josh Healey from Nashville.

That’s a mighty far drop for the Sabres in any draft, let alone one that features limited prospect viewings. Like Clement, Kunin would be the key to the deal. The 23-year-old skated on the Predators’ second line, putting up 10 goals in 37 games. Minnesota drafted him at No. 15 in 2016, so he has growth potential. Healey is a 26-year-old blueliner who has played four seasons in the AHL.

Since the Sabres are building for the future, keeping the top pick is a much better option than falling to the middle of the round and getting Kunin for their troubles.

But, as history has shown, there are trades for the No. 1 pick the Sabres could be willing to consider. They’d just have to stay in the top four and get additional second- or third-round picks to make it worthwhile.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217092 to $8.5 million over the next four years, which is probably the range to look at in terms of his salary.

The Flames aren’t as tight to the cap as some teams (such as Tampa What I’m hearing about the Flames’ offseason: Johnny Gaudreau Bay or Colorado), and Gaudreau surely deserves a raise. But the club contract talks, trade rumours and expansion will still need to strike a balance between that raise and maintaining some value in the contract.

When it comes to term, the question is, is this a short-term deal, or do By Hailey Salvian Jul 9, 2021 both sides want Gaudreau to be a Flame for life? If it’s the latter, does the length of the deal drive the cap number down?

This week, the Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins signed an eight-year, $41 An important stretch of the Calgary Flames’ offseason is rapidly million deal ($5.125 million AAV). The length of the deal almost certainly approaching. The Stanley Cup has been awarded (again) to the Tampa led to a lower AAV, especially considering Nugent-Hopkins was making Bay Lightning. On July 17, general manager Brad Treliving will submit his an average of $6 million over the past seven seasons. protection list to the Seattle Kraken for the July 21 expansion draft. The July 23-24 entry draft and the start of free agency on July 28 will follow. “Ryan would probably like a bigger cap number. I’d probably like a little less term,” Oilers GM Ken Holland said about the deal. “But we found a It’s about to get busy. And of course, the work has begun behind the solution.” scenes because the Flames are facing an offseason of difficult decisions. Perhaps the Flames and Gaudreau could find a similar compromise. Should longtime captain Mark Giordano be left exposed to the Kraken? What does the future hold for Johnny Gaudreau? What about the rest of The buyout window the “core” players who underperformed last season? As of Friday morning, the first NHL buyout window of 2021 is open. But The Flames have yet to make any major transactions since the end of — barring something out of left field — don’t expect the Flames to do the season, but action is coming. anything.

To set the table for the month ahead, here’s what I’m hearing so far. Outside of Milan Lucic’s deal, the Flames don’t really have any bad contracts, though they did have some underperforming contracts. And Johnny Gaudreau contract talks even Lucic shouldn’t be considered a buyout candidate, as his deal is It’s been nearly two months since Gaudreau told local media that he essentially “buyout proof.” “would love” to re-sign in Calgary during the Flames’ season-ending Lucic has two years remaining on his contract with a $5.25 million cap hit media availability. (Edmonton retained $750,000 in the 2019 swap with James Neal). “If Tree and the owners are happy with the way I’ve played here in the But, using Cap Friendly, we can see that Lucic’s contract was quite past six to seven years and it’s something we can figure out,” he said, “I heavily front-loaded. And in the final two years of his deal, his signing would love to do that. I love the city of Calgary. I love playing here. I don’t bonuses total more than his base salary. Even if the Flames did buy out think I’ve ever once said I haven’t wanted to be here.” his contract, they’d still have to pay his signing bonuses. That’s what The same day, Treliving said discussions with Gaudreau were “on the to- makes this “buyout proof,” as the savings just aren’t enough to make it do list.” Since exit meetings, though, it’s been quiet. worth it.

My sense is that Gaudreau’s feelings on re-signing in Calgary have not We can further illustrate this (because I’ve gotten several questions changed. And that, yes, we can take his comments at face value. about a Lucic buyout) by using Cap Friendly’s buyout calculator. However, at this point, it is my understanding that there have been no Lucic buyout calculations serious negotiations between the Flames and Gaudreau’s camp. YEARS REMAINING BUYOUT LENGTH BASE SALARY REMAINING I don’t think it’s anything to panic about (yet) for fans who want to see SIGNING BONUSES REMAINING TOTAL COST him back. The lack of talks is likely due to how many moving pieces there TOTAL SAVINGS ANNUAL COST are in Calgary this offseason — with potential trades — and the fact that Seattle expansion still must take place. 2 years

As it did before the trade deadline, the looming expansion draft is slowing 4 years the current trade market. It appears that many teams are limited in what they can do via trade because they don’t want to run into protection $3.5M issues. Once Seattle has made its selections, things should pick up. $5.5M And they probably need to where Gaudreau is concerned. $2.33M Because Gaudreau has one year left on his contract, of free $1.16M agency (July 28) is the earliest a new deal could be formalized. That day is also when Gaudreau’s modified no-trade clause kicks in, limiting to five $583,333 (of Gaudreau’s choosing) the number of clubs the Flames can make a deal with. Lucic cap-hit calculations

It’s widely believed that if the Flames feel they cannot come to terms with SEASON INITIAL BASE SALARY INITIAL CAP HIT Gaudreau on a new deal, they should trade him before they are SIGNING BONUS BUYOUT COST POST-BUYOUT handcuffed to the player’s protection. Of course, the Flames could stick EARNINGS SAVINGS CALGARY CAP HIT with the status quo and let Gaudreau play out his final year, but then they 2021-22 run the risk of losing him for nothing in free agency in the summer of 2022. $2.5M

It’s not currently known what Gaudreau would be looking for in a new $6M contract. Or the Flames’ thoughts, for that matter. What we do know is Gaudreau’s value, as per Dom Luszczyszyn’s Game Score statistic. $2.5M

Gaudreau is projected to be a top-line player until 2024. By 2025, he’d be $583,333 32 and would start to drop below a value of two wins per season, which $3.08M is a modest top-six projection. $1.92M His value next year (the final year of his $6.75 million deal) is projected to be approximately $9 million, which gives the Flames a surplus value of $3.57M more than $2 million. His market value will then hover between $7 million 2022-23 I think it’s unlikely Tkachuk gets traded this summer, but a blockbuster deal can always come together. $1M What is most intriguing about Tkachuk is that he may not be available $6M right now, but he is entering the final year of his three-year, $21 million $3M bridge deal. After that expires, he will be an RFA with arbitration rights and only one year away from UFA status. At that point, it would be crucial $583,333 that the Flames avoided arbitration, as a one-year arbitration award would walk Tkachuk to free agency and essentially force the Flames to $3.08M trade him rather than lose an asset. $416,667 Naturally, a long-term contract extension should be the more welcome $4.88M solution to Tkachuk’s expiring contract. He’s coming off a down year, but that should not change the fact that Tkachuk, 23, is an important part of 2023-24 the Flames’ core group, now and in the future.

$0 For what it’s worth, I’m told that Tkachuk was, at times last season, playing through multiple injuries that had not been previously reported. $0 That’s on top of the concussion he suffered in the bubble the season $0 before against Dallas. Even Sutter, during a pregame interview on Sportsnet 960, alluded to Tkachuk not having a full offseason of training $583,333 due to injury.

$583,333 Add in a pandemic and the fact that Tkachuk did not get to train in Toronto with his usual Gary Roberts-led group due to the Canada-U.S. -$583,333 border closure, and you’ve got a really strange offseason that ultimately $510,416 led to a down year for an otherwise top-end talent. To me, all signs point to 2020-21 being a uniquely bad season and to a bounce-back in 2021- 2024-25 22.

$0 What to do with Seattle?

$0 One of the biggest questions around the Flames’ offseason is whether $0 they will expose Giordano to Seattle.

$583,333 As we’ve gone over in previous stories, it is expected that the Flames will opt for a 7-3-1 protection scheme. And assuming young blueliners Noah $583,333 Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson are locks to be protected, that leaves one spot for either the 37-year-old Giordano or the 31-year-old Chris -$583,333 Tanev, who is coming off one of the most dominant defensive seasons in $510,416 the league.

The Flames currently owe Lucic $3.5 million in salary and $5.5 million in I think Giordano is still a top-pair , but would the Flames let signing bonuses over the next two seasons. Tanev get selected for nothing in exchange for potentially one more year with their captain? A buyout would cost Calgary $583,333 per year over four years. That’s $2.33 million in total cost with only $1.16 million in savings. I haven’t heard much on this front, and I genuinely don’t know how this will play out, as there are several plausible scenarios. Lucic’s cap hits over the next four seasons would be $3.57 million, $4.86 million, $510,416 and $510,416, as opposed to the $5.25 million his The Flames could protect Tanev and attempt to strike a deal with Kraken contract carries for two more years. A Lucic buyout also would affect the GM to stay away from Giordano. The issue here: That could books in Edmonton, which retained 12.5 percent of his deal. prove to be expensive for Calgary. According to Pierre LeBrun, Francis has seemingly put the cost high. Technically, the Flames can buy out this deal. It just doesn’t make sense. For context, in 2017, 10 teams made deals with the Vegas Golden I know Lucic makes a lot for a depth player who has scored 18 goals and Knights for “expansion considerations.” In those deals, Vegas acquired 43 points in 124 games in Calgary. But he’s a respected player in the 11 draft picks — three in the first round, four in the second, and one each room and around the league. Coach Darryl Sutter speaks highly of him. in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds — and seven players in addition And Lucic may not play up to a “$6 million man,” but he does what is to their 30 expansion draft selections. expected of him on the ice. Giving up a third-round pick or lower to keep both defensemen would be His contract, quite frankly, just is what it is. OK. But a first-round pick is a tough sell, and I don’t know how keen Treliving would be to give up assets like that. The Matthew Tkachuk trade rumours But what if Seattle takes Giordano, and the Flames have to face their This was a weird one. former captain in the Pacific Division? And more important, who is the Two weeks ago, rumours that Matthew Tkachuk wanted out of Calgary replacement on the left side? Juuso Valimaki would need to take a jump started trending on Twitter after former NHLer Shane O’Brien said he to be top-four ready. And the list of top-four UFA defenceman isn’t great. heard “Tkachuk wants out” on an NHL Network radio hit. There’s also the concern of Seattle taking Giordano in expansion and At the time, I didn’t say much about the rumours because I didn’t want to flipping him elsewhere for assets, as laid out in ’s 31 add more fuel to what I believed was speculation. And it is my Thoughts last week. understanding that these were just rumours that since have been firmly If that’s the case, would the Flames be better served to trade Giordano denied. before expansion for future assets? That would solve the issue of not Now, with the news, as reported by Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, having enough protection spots and not wanting to give up anything. And that Vladimir Tarasenko has requested a trade from the St. Louis Blues, in a way, wouldn’t that be better for Giordano on a basic human level? Tkachuk’s name has been brought up again. Going somewhere he’s wanted has to feel better than being exposed to Seattle, taken and flipped. As Rutherford wrote: “Sources say the club has interest in Tkachuk, the oldest son of former Blues player Keith Tkachuk.” But he also wrote, There’s also the scenario in which the Flames protect Tanev and expose “According to sources, it would take much more than Tarasenko to pry Giordano with no side deal, and Seattle simply selects somebody else, Tkachuk away from Calgary, and that’s if Tarasenko would even waive allowing the captain to play out the final year of his contract — and his his no-trade clause to go to western Canada, which isn’t a guarantee.” 1,000th NHL game — in a Flames jersey. I don’t know how this will play out, but I certainly do not envy the spot Treliving and the Flames are in.

The draft

Day 1 of the NHL Draft is two weeks away.

The Flames, with the No. 12 pick, have several directions they could go, pending on how the top 10 unfolds.

In his June mock draft, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman wrote that forwards Chaz Lucius, Matthew Coronato and Fedor Svechkov were names he heard mentioned with Calgary’s pick. Cole Sillinger is another option.

According to Pronman, Lucius is one of the most purely skilled players in this draft, with elite one-on-one skills, good vision and a knack for goal scoring. Coronato and Sillinger were among the top forwards in the USHL last season, with Coronato among the leaders in most offensive statistical categories. Coronato projects as a versatile second-line NHL winger while Sillinger is known as a talented goal scorer. Svechkov is a creative and skilled puck-handler who Pronman projects could provide good value at both ends “but may not be a big-time offensive player.”

In the coming days, we will dive deeper into these potential options at No. 12. For now, there is more on each player in Pronman’s latest draft board.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217093 Chicago Blackhawks Aldrich resigned from a brief job with the Miami (Ohio) University men’s hockey team in 2012 after two separate alleged incidents of sexual assault, WBEZ Chicago reported Friday. The university is currently conducting its own internal investigation. Blackhawks file motion to dismiss lawsuit from Michigan high schooler allegedly assaulted by Bradley Aldrich Hawks CEO Danny Wirtz said in an internal memo June 28 that the Hawks will “refrain from further comment” on the matter until the lawsuits and investigation conclude, but Bowman will nonetheless be expected to face the media ahead of the NHL expansion and entry drafts later this By Ben Pope Jul 9, 2021, 5:45pm CDT month.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.10.2021 The Blackhawks filed Friday a motion to dismiss the negligence lawsuit filed against them by the Michigan high school hockey player who was allegedly sexually assaulted by former Hawks video coach Bradley Aldrich in 2013.

The Hawks now have motions to dismiss pending in both lawsuits against them, having filed such a motion June 14 in the lawsuit filed by the former Hawks player (identified as “John Doe 1”) alleging Aldrich sexually assaulted him in 2010.

The new motion, obtained by the Sun-Times, also claims Hawks management had no “statutory duty” to report Aldrich’s alleged assault of Doe 1 to police.

The main portion of the motion presents the Hawks’ argument that the unnamed high schooler has “no basis to sue [the Hawks] for the criminal act committed by Aldrich years after he was employed [by the Hawks].”

Aldrich, who left the Hawks after the 2010 Stanley Cup and was a volunteer assistant coach for the Houghton (Michigan) High School boy’s hockey team in 2013, pled guilty that year to assaulting the high schooler and served nine months in prison. The high schooler — who was 16 years old at the time, per Michigan police documents, but is now an adult — is identified as “John Doe 2” in court documents.

The motion offers two main arguments. First, the Hawks argue they “under Illinois law...[have] no duty to protect an individual from the criminal acts of a third party,” given they neither knew Doe 2 nor employed Aldrich at the time.

Second, the Hawks argue the claim in the original lawsuit that they provided “positive references to future employers of Aldrich” is “vague and factually unsupported.” They also argue the lawsuit’s lack of allegation claiming they provided positive reference specifically to Houghton High School is a “fatal omission,” rendering irrelevant any arguments about whether they provided positive references to other employers.

Doe 2 told police Aldrich climbed into bed with, sexually touched and performed oral sex on him and also forced him to sexually touch Aldrich, despite his frequent objections, according to Michigan police documents from 2013.

The Hawks had requested a time extension in these legal proceedings in June and were given a Friday deadline to file.

The arguments in this motion to dismiss differ from those in the motion to dismiss the lawsuit by Doe 1, the former Hawks player. That motion argued the statute of limitations expired before the lawsuit was filed and that Doe 1 did not exhaust other legal remedies before suing.

But Friday’s motion also lays out what will likely be the Hawks’ defense against former skills coach Paul Vincent’s testimony regarding Doe 1’s alleged assault. Vincent told TSN he informed then-Hawks president John McDonough and current Hawks GM Stan Bowman and vice president Al MacIsaac about the incident but the leadership group rejected his request to notify police.

The Hawks argued that since Doe 1 was not a minor, not disabled and not in a care facility — the “three categories of individuals protected by mandatory reporting requirements under Illinois law” — it therefore “cannot be alleged that [the Hawks] had a statutory duty to report allegations of Aldrich harassing an adult hockey player to a government entity.”

The Blackhawks have hired the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block to investigate all the claims against them.

But Susan Loggans, the lawyer representing both Doe 1 and Doe 2, told TSN on Friday that she and her clients would not participate in the investigation because the Hawks and NHL paid for it and have not promised to publicly release its findings. 1217094 Colorado Avalanche

Pick 6: Is Trevor Story a sneaky Home Run Derby longshot? Will someone launch a 500-foot homer in LoDo?

By JOE NGUYEN | July 9, 2021 at 5:45 a.m.

Can Mets first baseman Pete Alonso defend his crown in the Home Run Derby on Monday or will Shohei Ohtani bring “Sho-time” to Coors Field? Maybe Trevor Story, in his home stadium, will become the first Colorado player to take home the title?

The Rockies shortstop is a bit of a longshot to win with +800 odds — meaning a $100 bet would win $800 — according to the DraftKings Sportsbook. His odds are seventh among the eight sluggers set to compete.

Ohtani, the Angels’ pitching-slugging machine who leads the majors with 32 home runs, is the favorite at +400. He’s followed by Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo (+450), Alonso (+525) and Oakland’s Matt Olson (+580). Royals catcher Salvador Perez is next at +700, ahead of Nationals outfielder Juan Soto (+750). Baltimore designated hitter Trey Mancini, who announced in November he is cancer-free after battling stage 3 colon cancer in 2020, rounds out the field at +1,000.

And just how far can these guys crush a at high altitude? DraftKings puts the longest home run distance over-under at 499.5 feet. Gallo (+350) just edges out Ohtani (+400) as the favorite to blast the furthest ball.

Here’s a look at some of the current odds in the world of sports.

+800

The odds Rockies shortstop Trevor Story will win the 2021 Home Run Derby, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Angels pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is favored at +400.

499.5

The over-under for how far the longest home run in the derby will travel on Monday, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

+500

The odds the Avalanche will win the 2022 Stanley Cup, according to BetMGM. Colorado is the favorite, ahead of the Golden Knights (+650) and defending two-time champion Tampa Bay (+750).

-560

The odds the U.S. men’s team will win the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

+1,500

The odds Giants starting pitcher and former Grandview High School standout Kevin Gausman will win the National League Cy Young Award, according to sportsbetting.com. Gausman is the third favorite, behind Mets’ Jacob deGrom (-714) and Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff (+1,200).

-110

The odds Italy will beat England to win the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship, according to BetMGM. England has slightly better odds at -120.

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217095 Dallas Stars

Stars legend Mike Modano ties John Smoltz with closing albatross at American Century Championship

By The Associated Press1:15 AM on Jul 10, 2021 CDT

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Nev. — Hall of Fame hockey player Mike Modano holed out from 205 yards on the par-5 18th Friday for the first albatross in American Century Championship history and a share of the first-round lead with John Smoltz.

“I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!” Modano said “My eyesight is shot at 51. So I’m, like, `I can’t see things halfway off the club.′ (Playing partner T.J. Oshie) went crazy. And some people over by the side went nuts. I was like, man, `That may have went in.′ So, pretty cool.”

After managing nine points on nine pars on the first 15 holes at Edgewood Tahoe, Modano earned 16 on the final three in the modified Stableford scoring event. The former Dallas star had three-point birdies on the par-5 16th and par-3 17th before earning 10 more on 18. In conventional scoring, he had a 1-over 73.

Smoltz, the Hall of Fame pitcher who has struggled playing the PGA Tour Champions on sponsor exemptions, matched Modano with 25 points. He shot 70, making five birdies and three bogeys.

Two-time winner Jack Wagner and NHL player Joe Pavelski were a point back.

Former LPGA Tour star Annika Sorenstam was at 23 with Kyle Williams and Vinny Del Negro.

Stephen Curry had 21, and two-time winner Tony Romo 20. Curry played alongside father Dell (13) and brother Seth (7).

Three-time winner Mark Mulder had 19 points.

Charles Barkley was tied for 82nd in the 88-player field at minus-16. Al Michaels was last at minus-31.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217096 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings 2021 NHL draft: Steve Yzerman picks a Michigan man

HELENE ST. JAMES

As Kent Johnson adapted to a more physical style of play, he was able to still show the skill set that makes him such an intriguing hockey player.

Johnson is among the top prospects in the 2021 NHL draft, the first round of which will be held virtually July 23. Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman holds the sixth pick, and it is vital his selection boosts the rebuild.

As Yzerman has noted, the Wings need help at every position: Offense, defense and goaltending. Since becoming GM in April 2019, Yzerman has used his first picks to draft defenseman Moritz Seider in 2019 and forward Lucas Raymond in 2020.

Previous editions of this series have examined forwards Mason McTavish and Dylan Guenther, and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. In this edition, Yzerman goes for a player who boasts high-end offensive skills. Johnson had a sold freshman year at Michigan, learning what he needs to hone as he eyes a future in the NHL.

“I think getting a bit more explosive will help,” Johnson said during a video conference this week. “But it was good to see a lot of my offensive instincts and a lot of my plays translate to playing offense in college.”

F Kent Johnson

Size: 6 feet 1, 165 pounds.

2020-21: 9 goals, 18 assists in 26 games at Michigan.

The buzz: Johnson’s creativity was on full display his last year in the British Columbia Hockey League (2019-20) when he recorded 41 goals and 60 assists in 52 games, boosting his points-per-game average from 0.80 to to 1.94. He adapted well to the more physical style of play in the NCAA, even as he switched from center to wing. Johnson played with Matty Beniers, anoither top-ranked 2021 draft prospect, and senior forward Luke Morgan to form a potent line.

Why he makes sense: Johnson is a talented forward who mostly played center until he got to Michigan, when he showed his adeptness at playing left wing. He’s got sky-high hockey IQ, able to find linemates with passes that others wouldn’t even think of. (In that regard, he should remind Wings fans of Thomas Vanek, who in his brief stints with the team showed a dazzling capacity for finding lanes. Of course, it helps when there’s someone who can finish on those scoring chances.) Under Michigan coach Mel Pearson, Johnson nourished his offensive skills while also honing his forechecking. He’s a smooth skater, adept on breakouts, and fearless with the puck. Like everyone else his age, he needs to gain strength, but as he matures into his body, he projects to be a two-way, top-six forward.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217097 Detroit Red Wings

Lightning's Nikita Kucherov shares special call with 'idol' Igor Larionov after Cup win

TED KULFAN

Detroit — Former Red Wings great Igor Larionov received an unexpected phone call late Wednesday night.

Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov put in a FaceTime call to Larionov, his hockey idol, while Larionov was at dinner with his son.

Larionov saw the call coming in, an unrecognized number, but answered it anyway.

Kucherov and the Stanley Cup, which the Lightning had just won, filled the screen of Larionov’s phone.

“You’re my idol!” Kucherov shouted six times to Larionov, the 60-year-old Hall of Famer who is a legend in Russian hockey. “Thank you!”

Kucherov has spoken often about his admiration for Larionov and the way he played within the Russian hockey system and with the on the Red Wings.

Likewise, Larionov has complimented Kucherov for the young player’s ability to see the ice and develop through the years.

Larionov’s son, Igor Larionov II, shared the exchange on Twitter.

“Coolest thing witnessed,” Larionov II said.

Less than an hour later, he showed the tweet to his father, who shared other parts of their conversation.

“Kuch also told him that he always watches his highlights,” Larionov II tweeted. “Every athlete can relate to watching your idol, but how amazing is it to win the biggest trophy in your sport and then FaceTime your idol. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”

With , , Slava Kozlov and Slava Fetisov, Larionov helped the Red Wings to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1997-98.

Tampa has also now won two consecutive Stanley Cups.

Ironically, Larionov was part of the Wings team that won 62 games in 1995-96 — did not win the Cup — then won two Stanley Cups.

Tampa won 62 games in 2018-19, with Kucherov enjoying a MVP season, but were eliminated in the first round in a four-game sweep.

The Lightning have since won the Stanley Cup two consecutive years.

Detroit News LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217098 Detroit Red Wings ► July 21, Seattle Kraken expansion draft: Seattle enters the NHL the same way the Vegas Golden Knights did, selecting one player from each team, excluding Vegas, for a total of 30 players — 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies. Expect a flurry of trades, as teams With draft and free agency on the horizon, busy month awaits Red Wings attempt to satisfy Seattle in creative measures and get rid of unwanted GM Steve Yzerman players and contracts. It'll be a busy few days.

► July 23, first round of NHL Entry Draft: The Wings select sixth (their own pick) and 22nd (the pick acquired from Washington in the Anthony TED KULFAN Mantha trade). This draft could be one of the most wide open in recent years, as scouting and junior leagues were severely impacted by the pandemic through the hockey season. Teams likely have differing Detroit — The Stanley Cup has been awarded to the Tampa Bay opinions on different prospects. Lightning (again), it's almost mid-July, and it's not possible to take a breather from the NHL just yet. ► July 24, Rounds 2-7 of NHL Entry Draft: The Wings have 10 picks in this portion of the draft — three in the second round (own, Edmonton's Because of the pandemic, the entire sports world calendar appears to be and New York Rangers'), two in the third round (own and Vegas'), two in backed up and disjointed — and the NHL is no different. the fourth round (own and Tampa Bay's), two in the fifth round (own and Ottawa's), and their own pick in the sixth round. The late start to the regular season has pushed the NHL's important dates deep into the summer, when the league would normally begin to go ► July 26, final day to submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents: on vacation. Jakub Vrana, Tyler Bertuzzi, Filip Hronek, Adam Erne, Michael Rasmussen, Evgeny Svechnikov, Cholowski and Lindstrom are potential So, here we are in the July, when Wings general manager Steve RFAs. Vrana, Erne and Bertuzzi are arbitration eligible. Yzerman is about to embark on some of his most important work in the next few weeks. ► July 28, unrestricted free agency opens at noon: Among Wings who are potential UFAs include goalie Jonathan Bernier, forwards Luke In rapid order, you have a buyout period, getting ready for the expansion Glendening, Bobby Ryan, Sam Gagner, Darren Helm and Valtteri draft, the NHL Entry Draft, and free agency before the end of July. Filppula, and defensemen Marc Staal and Alex Biega. There appears to At his season-ending press conference, Yzerman talked about this busy be mutual interest in terms of Glendening and Bernier returning, and stretch. possibly Staal. It's debatable among the others.

"Our priorities now are to get with our amateur scouting department to Detroit News LOADED: 07.10.2021 get organized for the draft, to get our draft list in order," Yzerman said in early May, soon after the regular season ended. "Between now and the end of the playoffs, we will spend some time with other clubs that aren't playing and as teams get eliminated, work your way around the league to find out if there is a match (trade possibility), similar to the trade deadline. Find out what teams are trying to do and if there is a fit that we can address any of our needs prior to the expansion draft.

"Things will happen really quickly once you get close to that expansion draft. We have to be really prepared for the draft, then free agency — to get ourselves organized to make sure we have identified any targets in free agency and be prepared to go.

"Because once we get the expansion draft, the NHL Draft and the free agency period, that will all happen very quickly."

Let's take a closer look at how the rest of this month develops for the Wings and rest of the NHL:

► July 9, first buyout period begins (and ends July 27): This actually began 24 hours after the Stanley Cup was awarded, so teams could have begun the process late Thursday night. It's an opportunity for teams to alleviate themselves of bad contracts and get their protection lists in order.

The Red Wings would appear to have one candidate for a buyout. Forward Frans Nielsen has one year on his contract remaining, with a salary cap hit of $5.25 million but only $1.5 million in actual salary due next season.

The actual savings would be $1 million to buy Nielsen out, with the salary cap hit dwindling to $4.25 million next season and $500,000 for 2022-23. Is that roster spot so important to buy out an alternate captain? The Wings did with Justin Abdelkader last year, but the financial cost was more substantial. This one is meager in comparison.

The buyout period ends the night before unrestricted free agency begins.

► July 17, protection list for expansion draft deadline: Teams must submit their list next Saturday and the NHL will release all lists on Sunday, July 18.

Most teams, including likely the Wings, will choose to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie (the other option is eight skaters, be it forwards or defense, and one goalie). The Wings' most intriguing question might be on defense and whom to protect among Danny DeKeyser, Troy Stecher, Dennis Cholowski and Gustav Lindstrom. One of either DeKeyser or Stecher will be exposed to satisfy minimum requirements. Who is other defenseman to keep? 1217099 Detroit Red Wings

Will Nicklas Lidstrom fan Simon Edvinsson be available for Red Wings?

Updated Jul 07, 2021; Posted Jul 07, 2021

By Ansar Khan

Will the Detroit Red Wings turn to Frolunda, one of the top development organizations in Sweden, for their first pick in the draft for the second year in a row?

Will they have that opportunity?

Big defenseman Simon Edvinsson could be long gone by the time the Red Wings select at No. 6 on July 23. If he is available, he might be difficult to bypass.

“A big, physically strong two-way defenseman that plays with confidence and is a leader on the ice,” is how NHL Central Scouting described the 6- 4, 198-pound left-shooting Edvinsson. “Moves the puck quickly – an excellent passer and playmaker. A hard-working competitor that never panics and makes good decisions. Calm with the puck and sees the ice well. Knows how to use his size and strength when needed. Has all the tools to become a star.”

Central Scouting went as far as to compare Edvinsson to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s , the second pick in the 2009 draft who is arguably the best defenseman in the league.

Hedman is among the group of defensemen that Edvinsson said he likes to watch, a group that includes Miro Heiskanen of Dallas, Cale Makar of Colorado and Quinn Hughes of Vancouver.

But his all-time favorite, not surprisingly, is former Red Wing Nicklas Lidstrom.

“He’s a legend here in Sweden and I think every defender here knows who (he is),” Edvinsson said. “He’s a terrific guy, an easy player who makes a great effort for the team. That’s what every defender wants to achieve, being there for the team and to play easy, to be strong, aggressive win one-on-one duels, to be hard to play against. That’s what I like about him. When he played, he was a leader. That’s the GOAT.”

Michigan defenseman Owen Power is widely expected to be selected first by Buffalo. Expansion Seattle picks second, followed by Anaheim, New Jersey, Columbus and Detroit.

Edvinsson said he has spoken to all those teams and a few more.

He also talked to Lucas Raymond, the right wing from Frolunda the Red Wings drafted fourth overall in 2020. Detroit’s third pick, center Theodor Niederbach, also played for Frolunda, as did 2019 picks Elmer Soderblom and Gustav Berglund.

Edvinsson played 10 games for Frolunda’s men’s team (no goals, one assist). He played 14 games each with Vasteras in Sweden’s second men’s division and Frolunda’s J-20 team.

Edvinsson figures to be the highest-drafted Swedish defenseman since fellow Frolunda product Rasmus Dahlin went first overall to Buffalo in 2018 and went straight to the NHL.

Edvinsson said his plan for now is to further develop in 2021-22 with Frolunda’s men’s team. That could change, however.

“I don’t know what the team that drafts me says, but I’m pretty open,” Edvinsson said.

“I try to be as good as possible at both ends (of the ice). I try to build up so much before I go over. Of course, when I feel ready and have done that I will go over to play there if the team gives me the chance.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217100 Edmonton Oilers Watson stayed on as an Oilers assistant coach in ’80-81 with Billy Harris, then retired and got a pizza place outside Washington in 1983, which eventually became known as Bugsy’s until he sold in 2013. Watson’s daughter, Lisa, works for Red Bull as national athlete marketing director. OILERS NOTES: It's Duncan Keith vs. Vlad Tarasenko on the Edmonton They represent P.K. Subban. trade front This ‘n’ that: The Oilers will play the Seattle Kraken in exhibition season here Sept. 28 and in Everett, Wash., Oct. 1 … Definitely on the Oilers’ free-agent radar is , because he can play right or left-wing, he Jim Matheson Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 9 hours ago can kill penalties and he’s a big body. Plus, he’s a Finn who could help Jesse Puljujarvi … The Oilers most likely do not want to qualify Jujhar Khaira at his $1.2 million to keep his rights before, but it’s suspected they Duncan Keith is obviously a very divisive player with the Edmonton might offer a two-year deal at $900,000 and $1 million for the fourth-liner, Oilers’ vocal fan base, which is fine. who is one of their top two -kill guys because he’s breaks up plays with his long arms and wins battles along the boards … The Oilers may He is 38 and he’s not the player he used to be. But he’s healthy and he also take a look at Leafs unrestricted free agent Freddie Andersen, who still would be a second pairing defenceman, not just with the Oilers, but has beaten them over and over again. The only problem is he turns 32 in possibly 15 other NHL teams, such as the stronger Bruins and Florida, October and they may want to look younger … Ullmark, who turns 27 at who have tried to trade for the durable Keith recently. the end of this month, intrigues a lot of teams as a free agent but injuries The loud dissenters want no part of a Chicago trade for a guy who makes have limited him to 91 games the past three years. The six-foot-four, $5.4 million the next two seasons, yet a good number want the Oilers to 215-pound graduate of the MODO hockey factory in northern Sweden, investigate St. Louis winger winger Vladimir Tarasenko, who has had was with Robin Lehner as a Sabres rookie. Scouts say he may have three shoulder surgeries, makes $7.5 million for two more years and more potential than Lehner but isn’t the same hard competitor Lehner is. whose game has regressed. In good part, because his shoulder won’t “Ullmark is extremely athletic, very cerebral. He can be a No. 1 allow him to shoot like he used to. A shoulder that may never be what it goaltender,” Biron said. He had a 2.63 goals-against average and .917 once was. save percentage in 20 games last year.

We know it’s all about what Oilers would have to give up to get Keith — Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.10.2021 not , not Ryan McLeod, not an A prospect or a top young player. If it’s too much, back off. But is Keith really any different than Zdeno Chara was in Boston when he was 38? Still effective.

“Here’s the deal with Keith. I’m sure (general manager Ken) Holland has talked to (Connor) McDavid and (Leon) Draisaitl and (Darnell) Nurse about whether he would help them. Same as Glen Sather asking Wayne Gretzky back in the day about a player on another team.” said a long- time NHL team executive. “Keith can teach them about what it takes to win.”

HAZY GOALIE PICTURE

If the Oilers are looking for a mid-20s goalie to partner with Mike Smith, rather than Mikko Koskinen, who turns 33 on July 18, free-agent names like Linus Ullmark (Buffalo) and Chris Driedger (Florida) are possibilities. But they could also make a call to Pittsburgh on Tristan Jarry as a trade. Penguins owner Mario Lemieux wants Marc-Andre Fleury back from Vegas with Pittsburgh’s Cup window closing. At 26, Jarry is the right age for the Oilers, has a friendly contract of $3.5 million for two more years before he hits the open market and has a strong history with Oilers goalie coach, Dustin Schwartz. Schwartz was his instructor with the junior Oil Kings when they won the in 2014.

“He’s solid technically. He’s not the type of goaltender who will “wow” you with any factor, but I think his form and his structure are really good. When he struggled (in the playoffs), you could see that he was second- guessing himself and his positioning,” ex-NHL goalie Martin Biron told The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz.

GOODBYE BUGSY

Bryan Watson, who coached the Oilers for the first 18 games of the 1980-81 season with Glen Sather stepping aside to handle just his GM duties, died at 78 of a lung ailment.

He was the antagonist, noted as an NHL checker of Bobby Hull through 817 games and 2,212 penalty minutes. His coaching run here wasn’t great, but he was a hard-nosed player and he helped the Oilers in the expansion draft process in 1979, also with a player named .

“Between Bryan and I, we played with just about everybody (NHL role- type players). Toughest 165 pound guy you’ll ever see,” said Sather, his teammate in Pittsburgh, before bringing him to the Oilers after his playing career ended with a stint with the . “I remember one night when we were with Pittsburgh some guy cross-checked him in the back, he fell down, and somebody hit with a shot square in the mouth, knocked all of his teeth out, top and bottom. Got up, skated to the dressing room. Other guys would have left on a stretcher.

“He played with Mark Messier, he helped us there when it came to the ’79 draft. One goal that year, but Bryan spoke so highly of Mark.” 1217101 Edmonton Oilers I was able to write about Philip Broberg several days before the 2019 draft because Holland had mentioned his name to the media for some time.

Which draft prospects will be available when the Oilers pick at No. 19? Last year was more difficult. I identified Dylan Holloway as one of three options but the combination of new management and picking later means identifying this year’s pick will be more difficult.

By Allan Mitchell Jul 9, 2021 Player types

Oilers fans haven’t seen Tyler Wright in action for long, but a quick look at his last three drafts (along with Edmonton’s pick of Broberg just after Last September, Oilers fans were getting ready for the first NHL Draft run Holland’s arrival) gives us some clues about the attributes Wright looks by new scouting director Tyler Wright. Daniel Nugent-Bowman’s for in a player. thorough examination of Wright’s backstory on previous drafts for The Athletic showed some first-round picks that fell short. There were also In 2018, Wright chose Filip Zadina at No. 6 for the Red Wings. He was astute selections after the first round during his time with the Columbus described by Red Line Report as an “unstoppable force below the circles Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings. in the offensive end” while Detroit’s 2019 first-round pick Moritz Seider had size, plus skating and a good first pass. As it turned out, Wright and his scouting staff delivered quality with every pick for the Oilers in their first draft together. Despite having just one pick In 2020, Holloway’s scouting report suggested he was a physical in the first three rounds, Edmonton landed six prospects headed in a specimen, “there were games this year where Holloway was the most good direction. physically dominant player on the ice in a college game.”

Oilers 2020 picks (2020-21 results) Wright likes players who are athletes and can skate. That’s the draft template. PLAYER AGE OCT 1 2020 LEAGUE TOTALS Possible selections Dylan Holloway There are over a dozen selections that we can count as certain to be off 19 the board by the time Edmonton makes its first-round selection. Big-10 Combining the fine work done by Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler for The Athletic, we can safely exclude over one dozen names who should 23 games, 11-24-35 be gone before Edmonton selects.

Carter Savoie Using the remainder of the top 25 from those lists, and adding in a couple of names who are athletic players with speed and skill, the pool that 18 might be available at No. 19 overall gives us a varied list of possible NCHC selections.

24 games, 13-7-20 Oilers potential first-round picks

Tyler Tullio PLAYER POSITION LEAGUE PLAYER TYPE

18 Sebastian Cossa

Slovak G

19 games, 4-9-13 WHL

Maxim Berezkin Giant goalie, he's a wall

18 Brennan Othmann

MHL LW

25 games, 13-15-28 Swiss

Filip Engaras Scorer, sixth sense for offence

21 Zachary L'Heureux

Hockey-East LW

22 games, 6-5-11 QMJHL

Jeremias Lindewall Skilled agitator plays at the edge

18 Corson Ceulemans

Allsvenskan RHD

36 games, 2-3-5 AJHL

Dylan Holloway could play NHL games this season, Maksim Berezkin Complete skill set, size, speed played in the KHL during 2020-21 and Carter Savoie showed exceptional Fabian Lysell offensive skill in his first NCAA season with the Denver Pioneers. There are many miles to go, but a year later there’s a good story attached to RW each name chosen by the scouts in 2020. SHL Predictable The new Ales Hemsky During the period when Edmonton was choosing at or near the top of the draft, fans became accustomed to finding out the first-round pick well Edmonton’s draft last year featured 100 percent forwards, so there’s less before the actual selection. Beginning with Taylor Hall in 2010, the of a need there. It’s possible we see a player chosen from any position in perceptive fan had a good idea about what management was hoping to the first round, and there are some great athletes in this group. see at the draft. I could see Edmonton taking any of these players in the first round. All bring something the Oilers value highly. Trading the pick

It’s possible we see Edmonton trade the first-round selection for two later picks. The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn published a handy guide to draft pick values in 2020 that offers guidance for what should be expected in trades involving only picks.

The No. 19 pick is worth a little less than two picks (Nos. 26 and 58) and a little more than two Montreal Canadiens selections (Nos. 30 and 62) according to Luszczyszyn’s math.

That might be an option for Edmonton.

As a matter of interest, last year’s trade by Edmonton (sending No. 76 to for Nos. 100 and 126) is considered equal value, according to Luszczyszyn.

What to expect on July 23?

The first round of the 2021 draft is likely to see deviation by about pick No. 14 and then all hell could break loose. Identifying the first 12-14 picks that are likely to be gone is possible but after that, it’s shades of grey.

I think the Oilers will select Sebastian Cossa if he’s available. The organization will know everything about him and if there’s a safe pick in this unusual year, surely it’s a big goalie who has been playing splendid hockey in their backyard for the last two seasons.

After that, it becomes less sure. I spoke with Wheeler about forwards who might fall to Edmonton and he suggested Brennan Othmann could be a target. Wheeler: “The Oilers scouting team knows Switzerland as well as any, and they are really comfortable with the Swiss hockey landscape. Brennan is a kid who went over and played there. This year, it took him some time and some adjustment, but he showed some real flashes and also looked good for Canada at under-18 worlds.”

Wheeler added, “he’s a goal-scoring winger who plays with a lot of smarts, knows his way around the ice and has great finesse to his game.”

I haven’t seen Corson Ceulemans connected to the Oilers but Pronman’s description in his final ranking is compelling. A big man who can skate while moving the puck has higher value every year and Ceulemans is a right shot defenceman and that adds to the appeal.

Zachary L’Heureux is a personal favourite, an agitating winger with impressive skill and an ability to play at the line and a little beyond. That kind of player should appeal to the Oilers after a season where bite was rewarded heavily in the playoffs.

Fabian Lysell is a bullet with great skill and the most dynamic forward likely still available when Edmonton chooses. He will remind Oilers fans of Ales Hemsky from 20 years ago, he has moves and courage that match the magical Czech.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217102 Florida Panthers

It’s a Florida Panthers Mailbag! Keith Yandle questions (and more)

Published 20 hours ago on July 9, 2021By George Richards

As we get into the heat of the Florida Panthers offseason, many questions are swirling around the local future of defenseman Keith Yandle.

When I kicked open the latest edition of our reader mailbag, I expected a few questions about what could happen between Yandle and the Panthers — and there was little disappointment.

You all did manage to ask some other questions as well.

Yeah, there is one about the team’s alternate jerseys.

As always, the questions our loyal readers send in are well thought out and made me think.

That’s a good thing.

Now, on to the summer Mailbag!

What do you think the chances are of: A) Keith Yandle waiving his NMC for the purpose of either a trade, buyout, or exposure in the expansion draft, and B) Chris Driedger staying with the Panthers? — Thomas Wareham

Well, we’re going to find out the answers to both of these scenarios very soon.

Let’s start with the Keith Yandle situation. The Panthers could buy out the remainder of his contract (two years) although that comes at a $5-plus million hit next season.

I have heard whispers of a handshake deal that was made between he and the team but nothing has been confirmed and when I asked Keith about it back before the season started, he told me the team has never asked him to waive his no-movement clause. You have to think they have by now although I have not been able to confirm that.

There are a couple of problems with the contract in that Keith has to want to play somewhere and the Panthers would have to facilitate a deal to said place. I do not think he will be playing for the Panthers next season, one way or another. Just a feeling.

Either he waives the deal and goes to Seattle (unlikely although I think he would become a breakout star there what with his personality and the popularity of a new team in a new market) or another team that needs to unload a contract. Buyout season is officially upon us, so we will see what happens in the next few days.

As far as the Driedger situation goes, it would be in the best interest of the Panthers if he were to sign a free agent deal with Seattle before the expansion draft and thereby become the Kraken’s Florida selection. Don’t know if that is going to happen.

The Seattle Expansion Draft: Who could the Florida Panthers lose?

With Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight here, Dreidger’s time with the Panthers is up. He deserves whatever he’s going to get next.

The Panthers would love to keep him; he would love to stay with the Panthers. It just isn’t in the stars — unless something like Bobrovsky being moved were to happen. And I do not see that happening, not this year.

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217103 Los Angeles Kings Beniers plays a strong 200-foot, two-way game with a big engine that consistently revs high. Beniers has a sneaky above-average skill level as well. Beniers excelled for Team USA at the 2021 World Juniors. Beniers is viewed by NHL scouts as the only legitimate projected NHL center in Prospect Profiles – Matthew Beiners & Kent Johnson our top 15 rankings. Other Top 15 prospects on the TSN list may play center now, but the consensus view of the scouts is that only Beniers will

play that position in the NHL.” By Jack Jablonski12 hours ago247 Tony Ferrari, Dobber Prospects

[Beniers] affects the game in so many ways from scoring at an Recently, the NHL made 10 prospects available to media, ranked among impressive rate to turning play around in his own zone. Beniers is an the top draft-eligible skaters. With the 2021 NHL Draft quickly incredibly intelligent and cerebral player who attacks the opponents at approaching, LAKI takes a dive into the possible options for the Kings at their weaknesses. their No. 8 draft position in the first round. Sam Cosentino, SportsNet Matthew Beniers [Beniers] plays a complete game and combines an excellent work ethic Vitals with fierce competitiveness.

Position – Center Potential Fit

Height – 6’1” Going by recent mock drafts, Beniers is likely to be taken before the Kings select at eight, but if the Massachusetts native is still on the board Weight – 175 Lbs. when the Kings are on the clock, he makes a lot of sense. Yes, he is a center and yes, it’s well documented that the Kings have a ton of centers From – Hingham, Massachusetts in the organization, but regardless, Beniers ceiling is extremely high and DOB – November 5, 2002 has the makings to be NHLer for many years to come. If indeed the Kings select Beniers, there are plenty of options with moving players to 2020-21 Season – University of Michigan (24 games, 10-14=24) the wing to maximize the forward prospects in the system, if and when Summary the time came.

As a freshman on a young and very talented University of Michigan team, Kent Johnson Beniers ranked third on the team in points (24) and was tied for the team Vitals lead in goals (10) alongside the 2020 first-round selection of the Vegas Golden Knights, Brendan Brisson. Both statistically, analytically and Position – Center/Left Wing through the eye test, Beniers’ season was regarded as one of the best Height – 6’1” among draft-eligible prospects, rising his draft stock towards the top of many boards. Weight – 167 Lbs.

At 6’1” and a solid build, Beniers is looked at as perhaps the top and From – Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada most complete two-way center in the draft. While his offense is extremely well-rounded, a lot of praise has been given to his defensive DOB – October 18, 2002 effectiveness and accountability. Beniers is a terrific skater and has very 2021-22 Season – University of Michigan (26 games, 9-18=27) good top-end speed, which allows him to do what does best, make plays. Known first as a playmaker and a pass-first player on the offensive side Summary of the ice, Beniers is a very impactful and relentless forechecker with great vision and a high hockey IQ. Beniers eye-opening 2021 started at In the 2019-20 season, Johnson played in the British Columbia Hockey the 2021 World Junior Championships when he solidified Team USA’s League, better known as the BCHL, a Canadian Junior league that second-line center slot and played a large role in helping the team to a allows players to play top-level hockey without losing their college Gold Medal. eligibility. During that season, Johnson, who played for the Trail Smoke Eaters (awesome name) and recorded 101 points (41-60=101) in 52 What They’ve Said games. Johnson was named the MVP of the BCHL that season. Taking the road less traveled as a Canadian, Johnson came to the United States Beniers on when he feels he’s ready to play in the NHL and played college hockey this past season for Michigan and shined. The I think it might be a few years. I do think I’m pretty close, but it takes a lot northern Vancouver native averaged over a point a game in his freshman of work to stay [in the NHL] and be impactful. I also have to be ready year and ranked second on the Wolverines in scoring. mentally and physically. I’m hoping it soon though, that would be pretty Johnson is an all-out threat offensively and holds two traits that rarely go cool.“ together – patience and aggressiveness. For the majority of the season, Beniers on how he played at the 2021 World Junior Championships for Johnson played left wing alongside Beniers……and they clicked. Team USA in route to their Gold Medal Johnson’s game is centered around his offensive creativity and elusiveness. He has the ability to make the types of plays that everyone I think my ability to make plays and see the ice, along with my hockey IQ dreams of making and practices in their backyards. He’s scored goals was pretty good. My ability to skate and have good edges allowed me to doing the “Svechnikov” or “the Michigan goal” and buried goals between play at the faster pace and have an impact while I was [at the WJC]. the legs. With high-end vision, quick acceleration and the ability to make plays in traffic, Johnson is a talented player in the offensive zone. The Beniers on the defensive side of his game left-handed offensive force is also dangerous on the power play along the I definitely take pride in it and make sure I’m playing well defensively. I half boards as a facilitator. think it comes along with my hockey IQ and how I played growing up. My At 167 Lbs, Johnson’s weight hasn’t allowed him to reach his full dad coached me when I was really young, and he was always potential both offensively and defensively. In time, Johnson will become emphasizing to play the game the right way, by playing defense and better in his board battles and those 50/50 pucks, giving him more making sure you’re behind the puck… Also, growing up watching opportunities to create on both ends of the ice. [Patrice] Bergeron, he’s one of the best two-way players in the game… It’s how I learned the game. I just try to continue that on, year after year What They’ve Said and focus on my defense before the offense. Johnson on when he thinks he’ll be ready for the NHL Reviews I’m pretty confident with the way my training is going, and we have a Bob McKenzie, TSN really exciting team [at the University of Michigan]. The team is ready to go for a national championship next year, but we will see how my development goes. I’m confident it’ll be sooner rather than later. Johnson on what he learned about his game in his freshman year at Michigan

I learned about some areas that I can improve in that I didn’t realize I had to in the BCHL. I learned that I can be a little bit more explosive, but it was also really good to see that a lot of my offensive instincts and a lot of my plays translated into creating offense in college.

Johnson on who his favorite player to watch is

I love watching Patrick Kane and Elias Pettersson. Both of those guys are very smart players and they make a little, subtle plays. I love watching both of them on the power play too, especially Pettersson, I watch a lot of the Canucks power play. [Pettersson] is was really good there.

Reviews

Bob McKenzie, TSN

Kent Johnson, a Canadian from Port Moody, B.C., is a flashy, skilled offensive forward who scouts project as an NHL winger. He’s been known to score highlight-reel goals. One scout had him as high as No. 2 for overall rankings.”

Mike Morreale, NHL.com

[Johnson] is an offensive sniper who plays with pace, skill and creativity, Johnson thrived at left wing this season. The 18-year-old led first-time NHL Draft-eligible NCAA players with 18 assists and 27 points in 26 games.”

Bailey Johnson, Smaht Hockey

Johnson is as creative as they come. Whether it’s passing and shooting between his legs, moves, or anything else you’d find on a highlight reel, if you can dream it, he can probably do it. Michigan coach Mel Pearson has a longstanding philosophy of allowing his skilled players the freedom to exercise their creativity, and Johnson has undoubtedly benefited from that thus far, whether it’s sending a spin pass to a teammate wide open in the slot or finding a lane between three defenders.

Potential Fit

The versatile forward makes an enticing case to be drafted by the Kings if he’s still on the board when the Kings are on the clock with the eighth overall selection. Projected to go right around eight, Johnson fits in well with what the Kings have going on in their prospect pool. As an offensive threat, Johnson’s biggest attribute to the Kings after his skill might be that he’s left-handed. With the Kings prospect pool slanting more towards the center position, and right wing after that, I wouldn’t say that he’d be filling a “void”, but he would definitely bolster the offensive producing left wing position in the Kings system.

The 2021 NHL Draft is scheduled for July 23 and 24. Following the addition of Victor Arvidsson in exchange for a 2021 second round pick and 2022 third round pick, the Kings now have seven picks in this year’s draft. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be showcasing several draft-eligible prospects here on LAKI, beginning with those selected by the NHL for media participation last week.

For more draft-eligible prospect content, you can find that on All The Kings Men as I am joined by draft experts to break down the 2021 Draft class in segmented groups.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.10.2021

1217104 Minnesota Wild building around as they form their first roster. On the flip side, if the Wild chose to protect Kahkonen, there’s a very good chance the Kraken would take Talbot, an established veteran who would provide a sense of calm in the crease. A look at who Wild could lose in NHL expansion draft, and what would hurt most 2. MARCUS FOLIGNO

This would hurt the Wild off the ice more than on the ice because Foligno might be the most popular player on the team. He has become a vocal By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: July 9, 2021 at 10:33 a.m. | leader in the locker room — he was a darkhorse to be named captain last UPDATED: July 9, 2021 at 10:21 p.m. offseason — and is more than willing to drop the gloves at a moment’s notice to stick up for a teammate. Add in the fact that Foligno has

developed into a solid two-way player on the ice, and losing him would There might not be a team in the NHL more impacted by the expansion be devastating to the overall makeup of the Wild. If he is left exposed for draft than the Wild. They lost two good players in 2017 when the Vegas some reason, it’s not hard to imagine the Kraken selecting him and Golden Knights came into the league, and they will lose at least one making him the first captain in franchise history. good player on July 21 when the Seattle Kraken fill out their roster. 1. MATT DUMBA Will current general manager Bill Guerin make a side deal to dictate This was always going to be the answer as Dumba has more potential which player the Wild lose in the expansion draft? than any other player on this list. His slap shot alone unlocks a different That might not be the best idea. Remember, former general manager dimension in the Wild offense, and that doesn’t even take into account Chuck Fletcher traded top prospect Alex Tuch to the Golden Knights his skating ability. It’s also worth noting that Dumba has steadily under the guise that they selected Erik Haula in the expansion draft. improved his defensive skills over the course of his career. While it feels Though that accomplished the goal of keeping the Wild’s blue line intact, like he’s been in the NHL forever, Dumba is only 26 years old, meaning Haula went on to score 55 points (29 goals, 26 assists) for the Golden he still has the better part of a decade to grow into a star. If Dumba is left Knights in their inaugural season, and Tuch has developed into a face of exposed, and the Kraken decide to take him, he would instantly become the Vegas franchise. a top-tier player on that team. How would the Wild feel watching a dynamic blue liner star for another team? Does the name Brent Burns Maybe the Wild should simply accept the fact they are going to lose one a bell? good player this time around. Better than making it worse by losing two. Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.10.2021 Logistically, there are a couple of options for the Wild before they have to submit their protection list on July 17. They can 1) protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender, or 2) protect eight skaters and one goaltender.

There are pros and cons to both options.

If the Wild choose to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender, for example, they would essentially guarantee that gritty wingers Marcus Foligno or Jordan Greenway are on their roster next season. But that would leave star defenseman Matt Dumba exposed since fellow defensemen Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin have no-movement clauses in their contracts, and thus, need to be protected by rule.

These are the types of things Guerin and the rest of the Wild front office will be discussing at length this week. In the meantime, here’s a list of players the Wild could lose in the expansion draft, ranked in order of which would hurt the most.

5. NICO STURM

On the surface, losing Nico Sturm might not seem like a big deal. He’s been a depth player throughout his career to this point, and while he boasts top-notch speed, his hands leave something to be desired. The reason this would hurt is because Sturm projects as a solid two-way player moving forward. He already has proven capable of playing a shutdown role and he flashed a scoring touch last season with 11 goals. Would he take the next step if given a bigger role on the Kraken? It’s certainly possible.

4. JORDAN GREENWAY

This would hurt because Greenway looked to take the next step last season. He finally embraced his 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame and ended up leading the Wild with 26 assists. But Greenway’s consistency was still somewhat of an issue, as it has been throughout his career. Maybe the Wild would feel comfortable rolling the dice and leaving him exposed if it meant keeping someone else safe in the expansion draft. That would be a risky move to say considering Greenway is only 24 years old and looks like he has a lot of room to grow.

3. EITHER GOALTENDER

No matter what the Wild do, they are going to have to expose either starting goaltender Cam Talbot or backup Kaapo Kahkonen. On the surface, protecting Talbot seems like a no-brainer because, well, he’s much better. But exposing Kahkonen might end up being a mistake because of his potential. He’s still only 24 years old, and while he struggled mightily down the stretch last season, there’s reason to believe he will be a No. 1 goaltender down the road. If Kahkonen is available in the expansion draft, the Kraken might decide he’s someone worth 1217105 Montreal Canadiens The health officials sent another joint letter to Bettman on Dec. 25 saying they supported the NHL’s return to play in Canada. The league began its condensed 56-game season on Jan. 13.

Canadian health officials wanted stricter protocols for NHL return, Overall, the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols worked pretty well, said Colin documents show Furness, an infection control epidemiologist with the University of Toronto.

“I think they had a smart plan,” he said. “The plan wasn’t foolproof and Gemma Karstens-Smith 7/10/2021 they responded fairly responsibly.”

Keeping infection rates low was always going to be difficult with so many players and staff involved, especially because they’re travelling and when Face masks were as prevalent as pucks throughout the NHL this season, at home, often living with people who aren’t subject to the same rules, but documents show Canadian health officials wanted the league to take Furness said. additional steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “It’s a perfect storm,” he said. “It just takes a moment’s inattention and The league introduced a number of protocols in a bid to get back on the then boom.” ice, including the daily testing of players and staff, rules around physical distancing and masks, and limiting the contact teammates could have The NHL released numbers on June 28 showing it had administered away from the rink. more than 350,000 COVID-19 tests over the course of the season, with 119 players receiving “confirmed positives.” Still, documents released to The Canadian Press under the Freedom of Information Act show health officials “strongly” recommended the league Keeping the numbers lower would have been hard, said Dr. Brian adopt additional measures before green-lighting its return. Conway, head of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre.

After receiving a draft of the NHL’s return-to-play protocols, health Everyone has skirted COVID-19 protocols during the pandemic, he said, officials from Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Public and people get a false sense of security when they don’t experience Health Agency of Canada sent a joint letter to commission Gary Bettman consequences like getting sick. on Dec. 23, 2020, urging the league to either add regular testing for the close contacts of players and staff to its protocols or use a “bubble “The [NHL’s] rules seem to have been quite appropriate, they seem to model” similar to what the league created in Toronto and Edmonton to have been applied appropriately. But you must recall that we’re dealing finish out the 2019-20 season. with human beings,” Conway said.

“Should any iteration of the bubble model not be achievable for the NHL, The virus forced 12 teams to shut down over the course of the season, we would recommend that the start of the season be delayed for a few postponing 55 games. weeks to allow for disease rates to drop and our health systems to The Vancouver Canucks experienced the league’s worst outbreak in late recover,” the letter read. March when the aggressive Gamma variant swept through the locker The health officials – including Alberta’s chief medical health officer Dr. room. Deena Hinshaw, B.C.’s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Twenty-one players and four coaching staff tested positive for the virus, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, with many experiencing symptoms that included extreme fatigue, fever, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams, Quebec’s chills and shortness of breath. Loved ones also fell ill, including wives national director of public health Horacio Arruda and Dr. Howard Njoo, and children. deputy chief public health officer with the Public Health Agency of Canada – also asked for the NHL’s help in getting Canadians on board Vancouver had several games postponed and didn’t play for more than with preventing transmission of COVID-19. three weeks.

“The NHL is well positioned to take on a strong role in promoting health The team said an investigation and contact tracing found the outbreak and safety measures, critical to reducing the spread of COVID in our was sparked by a single unnamed individual picking up the infection in a provinces. We would be greatly appreciative of visible leadership the “community setting” that was later identified as a “public exposure NHL could provide over the first few months of 2021 in a time when our location.” collective efforts to contain the virus will be critical to sustaining our health systems across the country,” the letter read. The Montreal Canadiens also had four games postponed in late March after two players were added to the COVID-19 list. Bettman replied on Dec. 24, saying the league had already incorporated input from various Canadian public health agencies into its protocols. Interim head coach Dominique Ducharme had to isolate, too, after testing positive for the virus on June 19. He watched his team complete its semi- “We do not believe that our Return to Play Plan poses a material risk to final series against the Vegas Golden Knights from home and missed the the health and safety of everyday Canadians,” his letter said. first two games of the against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bettman noted that players, staff and coaches would be tested daily and said the league would “make best efforts” to provide families and other A bubble environment like the one Canadian health officials requested close contacts with access to tests when requested. He added that the may have kept outbreaks from occurring this season, but only if there NHL’s protocols had been updated to include testing for a player’s close was total commitment from everyone involved, Furness said. contacts for 14 days if the player tested positive for the virus. “Bubbling works when the rules are clear,” he said. “Bubbling is smart.” The letter also noted that the NHL had changed its schedule to limit how often a team travels in or out of province, and said that the addition of a The epidemiologist said he hasn’t seen the NHL take up health officials’ “taxi squad” would limit cross-border travel. calls to be leaders in promoting health and safety measures around COVID-19. “We do not believe that either a ‘bubble model’ for the beginning of the season, nor a multi-week delay before beginning play, are feasible; nor “You’ve got to do more than nod your head. You’ve got to put your do we think they are necessary,” Bettman said. “We do believe in our shoulder into it to get the message out and it doesn’t seem to me that ability to stage a successful Return to Play without employing such they did,” Furness said. measures by ensuring appropriate risk mitigations are in place and that The league could have done better in terms of moral leadership, he our personnel strictly comply with those mitigations.” added, by helping to facilitate rapid testing during the season or The commissioner added that the league was “enthusiastically encouraging the public to get vaccinated. Instead of publicizing its embracing” the health officials’ request to encourage Canadians to take vaccine rules for players and staff, the NHL could showcase its stars steps to mitigate COVID-19 transmission. getting their shots, he said.

“The league, our clubs and our players will commit to assuming a strong “Because it’s that young male age group that we’re having a lot of trouble and visible role in promoting the health and safety measures in reducing with,” Furness said. “And these guys are role models and they know the spread of COVID-19 in your provinces,” he said. they’re role models and they know they have a huge audience.” Right now, about 23 per cent of Canada’s eligible population hasn’t received a COVID-19 vaccination, Conway said, and the NHL could help change that.

“Of those that aren’t vaccinated, four out of five want a vaccine and they’re either finding it too hard, they can’t be bothered, they’re saying ‘Well, if everyone else is vaccinated, I don’t really need to’ and like that,” he explained. “That group, I think the sports leagues, sports teams, sports stars could help us trying get these people to be vaccinated.”

The NHL will also have work to do in keeping COVID-19 at bay next season, the experts said.

Furness wants to see the league adopt rapid testing to help prevent the spread of the virus in arenas as fans return.

“This is still a Wild West. We just don’t know how we’re going to do large gatherings. Even if we ask for proof of vaccination, that could be easily forged,” he said. “The best thing to do with large gatherings is make sure people aren’t contagious at that moment and rapid tests are really good for that.”

It’s likely most sports leagues will be back to “near normal” around Labour Day, Conway said, with fans in buildings and teams travelling.

That doesn’t mean the pandemic is over, however.

“We have to recall that COVID is not gone. That’s not the end, it’s the end of the beginning. So what we will have to do is be very careful,” Conway said. “Assuming all goes well, we’re going to reopen but there will probably still be cases and there needs to be a very clear and appropriate and assertive, if not aggressive, protocol in place to deal with any cases that occur.”

Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217106 Montreal Canadiens During that stretch, Ducharme was forced into quarantine for two weeks after he tested positive for COVID-19. He missed four games in the third- round series against Vegas and the first two games in the final round against Tampa Bay. Sting of Cup loss not going away soon for Habs “It was a tough situation,” Ducharme said. “You feel so much, but it is out of your control. There was nothing I did to expose myself. It was bad luck I guess.” Marty Klinkenberg5-6 minutes 7/10/2021 Ducharme said he expected an announcement to be made soon about

his status with the team. Two days after their Game 5 loss in the Stanley Cup final, the Canadiens’ “I don’t think it will be very long,” Ducharme said. “We’ll see in the next players and staff met for the last time before they set out for a bittersweet few days.” summer. Bergevin, who was among the three nominees for NHL general manager Montreal’s postseason theatrics came to an end on Wednesday when of the year, just completed his eighth season in Montreal. the Tampa Bay Lightning won its second successive NHL championship. There is much the Canadiens will be able to look back at with pleasure, “I have one more year on my contract and I will honour that,” Bergevin but right now the disappointment of defeat is too fresh. said.

“It is everyone’s dream to not only be in the final, but to win it,” said Jeff The Canadiens played well at the start of the season and then tailed off, Petry, a defenceman and one of the alternate captains. “To be that close which caused Julien’s ouster. They never really returned to their early is an accomplishment for our team but it hurts.” form until the playoffs.

Petry, 33, has played a dozen years in the NHL. This was the first time They trailed Toronto 3-1 in the first round before rallying to beat the he had played on a team that made an extended run through the Maple Leafs in seven games and setting in motion their improbable run. playoffs. He understands the opportunity doesn’t come about very often, so he persevered despite an injury he suffered in the second round. “It went by real fast,” Bergevin said. “I wanted it to never end.”

He played more than half the games during the postseason with two Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.10.2021 fingers on his right hand taped together then sewn inside his because he broke his pinky during the second round. In Game 2 in Winnipeg, Petry put his right hand against the glass to brace himself and push off, only to have his finger get stuck in a tiny hole. Momentum carried his body forward and the finger snapped.

“It was a freak accident,” Petry said. “When I got back to the bench and looked at it, my finger was pointed sideways.”

This is where a pro hockey player is different than most of us. Petry opted not to have surgery or to have his digit placed in a cast because then he would be unable to play. An alternative was proffered and he only missed two games.

“I passed out when they taped my fingers together,” he said.

The Canadiens supplied Canada with a much needed COVID-19 breather

Why didn’t MacLean ask Bettman about the Blackhawks?

Montreal’s players sat for questions, one after another. The sting of losing hung in the air. It was the first time the team had reached the final series of the Stanley Cup in 28 years.

“The ending wasn’t what we were hoping for,” said Eric Staal, a 36-year- old centre. “It was a disappointing ending but I am proud of each and every guy. This run was special. It was a treat to come to the arena every day. I will hold these memories close and cherish them forever.

“I just wish it had ended with the right result.”

Staal, who was acquired at the trade deadline, won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.

“It doesn’t happen as often as you think,” he said. “For me, it took 15 years to get back there. That’s how hard it is.”

Corey Perry, another 36-year-old forward, has lost in the finals two successive years. He won the Stanley Cup in 2007 with Anaheim.

“It’s hard,” Perry said. “You work so hard all season, and it comes to a screeching halt.”

Sixteen players, coach Dominique Ducharme and general manager Marc Bergevin, participated in the video call that stretched on for six hours. Goalie , captain and forward were not involved. The latter discovered his home in Montreal had been broken into when he returned home from Tampa on Thursday.

Ducharme was installed as interim head coach on Feb. 24 when Claude Julien was fired. The Canadiens went 15-16-5 with him in charge during the regular season and did not lock down the last of 16 playoff spots until the final game. They then went on a run during the postseason that ended with the defeat in the Stanley Cup final. 1217107 Montreal Canadiens

Corey Perry hopes to return with the Canadiens next season

Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 6 hours ago

Corey Perry isn’t ready to hang up his skates yet and he hopes to play for the Canadiens again next season.

“Yes, I intend to play hockey next year,” Perry said Friday as the Canadiens held their exit interviews with the media after losing to the Tampa Bay LIghtning in the Stanley Cup final. “I think there’s still a lot of good hockey left in me and I would love to come back here and experience Montreal for being Montreal. It was a weird year, the family not being here and all that.”

The 36-year-old forward signed a one-year, US$750,000 contract with the Canadiens only three weeks before the start of this season as a free agent.

This marked the second straight season Perry lost in the Stanley Cup final to the Lightning. Last season he was with the Dallas Stars when they lost in six games and this year he lost in five games with the Canadiens.

Perry won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 when he was 22 and never made it back to the final again until last year.

“Same result for me, losing to the same team,” Perry said. “It’s tough. You work so hard all season and then it just comes to a screeching halt. You put the work in the summer and come back and try to do it all over again.”

Perry would love to do it all over again with the Canadiens, but said he hasn’t spoken yet with general manager Marc Bergevin about a new contract.

“I did tell him that I’d love to come back and be a part of this and see what we can do again next year,” said the veteran of 16 NHL seasons. “You get so close and you taste that feeling and you want to do it with those same guys that were in that dressing room.

“I really enjoyed my time here,” Perry added. “I thought this was a really close group and you saw that coming in Day 1 into camp how close the guys are on the team and the culture around here and the leadership group and the young kids coming up. There’s definitely a bright future here in Montreal and hopefully I’m part of that.”

Perry started this season on the taxi squad and ended up playing 49 regular-season games, posting 9-12-21 totals. He had 4-6-10 totals in 22 playoff games and formed a solid fourth line along with Eric Staal and Joel Armia. All three of them can now become unrestricted free agents.

“This group is so close,” Perry said. “It wasn’t a normal year, the guys couldn’t really hang out a whole lot, but you saw it in the dressing room how the guys got along. There’s no cliques on this team. It’s just 23, 24 guys that really get along and it definitely showed on the ice how you are in the dressing room and it shows on the play on the ice. I really enjoyed my time here.

“One of my first interviews when I signed here in Montreal I said that this was a team I grew up cheering for,” he added. ” It’s blown everything out of the water. It’s been a lot of fun, it’s been not the easiest season with the family not being here and all that, but hopefully I get to experience what Montreal is and have all those fans back at the next year.”

When asked what he would say to other free agents who might be thinking about signing with the Canadiens, Perry said: “To people out there who are looking at Montreal as a spot to land and come play, it’s been everything that you could imagine. It’s a first-class organization and everything that they do here is done with a purpose and I really enjoyed my time.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217108 Montreal Canadiens see now first-hand why I didn’t enjoy it because he’s an extreme competitor. Phenomenal in the (faceoff) circle, obviously, but I love the way he competes every day.

Phillip Danault's future with the Canadiens remains uncertain “As you can tell and as you can see, on a (playoff) run you don’t win without players like Phil Danault and that’s pretty evident,” Staal added. “Vastly important to a team to winning, especially at this time of year. He’s I want to say a lot similar to my younger brother Jordan (with the Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 7 hours ago Carolina Hurricanes). I mean you win with players like Phil Danault. He had a phenomenal playoffs for us. Great person, good teammate and, obviously, an uncertain future for him. Phillip Danault said he felt a sense of pride as the only French-Quebecer in the Canadiens’ lineup during the Stanley Cup final. “But if he ends up back here they’re going to be very lucky to have him.”

He added that eliminating the Vegas Golden Knights in the semifinals on No pizza deal — yet Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day at the Bell Centre was an “exceptional moment.” Danault made it a tradition to show up for his Zoom media session after Danault wants to return to the Canadiens next season, but there’s no each series victory in the playoffs with a pizza. guarantee that will happen since he can become an unrestricted free When asked Friday if he had received any pizza endorsement deals, agent. Danault smiled and said: “I did get some offers for pizza deals. But it “I think everyone knows I’m really proud to be a Montreal Canadien,” wasn’t the time during the playoffs. So I rejected. But I’m open now.” Danault said Friday as the Canadiens players held their exit interviews Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 with the media after losing the Stanley Cup final to the Tampa Bay Lightning. “I wear that jersey and I put my heart on the line for the team. If I wasn’t proud I wouldn’t have played that way in the playoffs. I would have packed up and get ready for free agency. So I think it shows a lot in my character and my desire to win. I’m very honoured to wear a Montreal jersey, especially with the Stanley Cup logo here. So it’s awesome.”

It was reported in January that the native had turned down a six-year, US$30-million contract offer from Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin last September. The news was leaked to the media and Danault admitted Friday that it upset him.

“I think it affected me,” said Danault, who had 5-19-24 totals in 53 regular-season games and didn’t score his first goal until the 25th game. “Even if you say it didn’t affect me … but it affected me because I wasn’t playing that good. I wasn’t playing my best hockey at that time at the start of the year. With everything that was going on it was tough … it was tough mentally. But you know what, I got way stronger mentally and I really believe that’s why I played that type of hockey in the playoffs. It got me stronger mentally.”

Danault only had 1-3-4 totals in 22 playoff games but was outstanding in a defensive shutdown role as the Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, and then the Golden Knights in advancing to the Stanley Cup final.

“Phil’s been good for us, but there’s also four other players on the ice,” Bergevin said Friday when asked about Danault’s defensive play. “So we value Phil a lot. I still hope we’ll be able to get something done, but that’s part of the business that I don’t discuss. But we value Phil quite a bit.”

Bergevin added that the next week will decide what happens to Danault with the NHL free-agent market set to open on July 28.

Danault said money wasn’t the main reason he turned down Bergevin’s contract offer last September. After young centres and played well in the playoff bubble last season in Toronto, Danault was concerned about what his future role with the Canadiens would be.

“It was all about the role,” Danault said. “In playoffs (last year) I said that my role was changed, but I was also scared a little bit that Suz and KK were going to take more minutes. But I think we saw around the league (this season) that if you win you need three really good centres … a little bit like the Islanders, too, like we did this year, too. It just shows that you need a lot of centres to win, good two-ways as well.

“Yeah, it played a role,” Danault added. “But I found my game. I know who I am, I know what I can give, I know what I can bring to a team and I know I can win. So it was a big year personally and as a team and mentally. So got stronger in many ways.”

Danault is one of those players that fans who only look at offensive stats might not fully appreciate until they’re gone.

Veteran centre Eric Staal, who can also become an unrestricted free agent, certainly appreciates Danault.

“Competing against Phil for a couple of years now and every time I have I didn’t enjoy it,” said Staal, who joined the Canadiens before the NHL trade deadline after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres. “So I can 1217109 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens' Jeff Petry provides gruesome details about finger injury

Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 8 hours ago

Jeff Petry provided more information Friday about how he injured his hand during Game 3 of the Canadiens’ second-round playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets and it was pretty gruesome.

Petry suffered the injury on a freak play at the Bell Centre when he was being checked by the Jets’ Paul Stastny and his right hand got stuck in the hole in the glass that is cut out for photographers.

“A freak accident,” Petry said as the Canadiens players did their exit interviews with the media after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup final. “You skate by those holes I don’t know how many times. I just put my hand on the glass to try to brace myself and my pinky finger went in the glass and my momentum basically just took it and broke my finger. I thought I dislocated it at first because I felt it move and then got back to the bench, took my glove off and it was crooked. So we casted it for a week. It was painful.”

Petry missed Game 4 against the Jets as the Canadiens swept the series and also missed Game 1 of the semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights. When he returned for Game 2, Petry had some scary- looking bloodshot eyes.

“The eyes were all because when they were setting my finger back into place to put the cast on, I basically passed out and popped all the blood vessels in my eyes,” Petry explained.

A Canadiens team doctor gave Petry the option of having surgery on his broken pinky, which had turned sideways, but that would have meant a six- to eight-week recovery period, ending his season.

“I wanted to do everything I could to get back and he said: ‘OK, well we’ll cast it for a week and give it another week after that to heal.’ That would have put us into the final and I said: ‘That’s not quick enough.’ There was no guarantee we’re going to get to the final, so I wanted to get back as quick as I could.”

After a week in a cast, Petry took part in the morning skate before Game 1 in , but there was too much swelling for him to play.

“So that’s where the training staff and doctors came in just finding what the best way would be to tape them together, sew my fingers together on my gloves and get the most range of motions with my other finger and the most strength to hold on (to the stick),” Petry said. “That’s pretty much how it went.

“I had to tape my fingers together, so it was harder to grip the stick, especially when I first came back in Vegas,” he added. “I guess it was kind of an adjustment just trying to figure out what worked, what didn’t work. I couldn’t really use my free hand to push off much.”

Petry is hoping the finger has healed enough now that he won’t need surgery, but won’t know for sure until seeing the doctor again.

Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said Friday that he’s not certain yet if captain Shea Weber will need surgery on his left thumb, which is believed to have ligament damage. Ducharme added that if Weber does need surgery, he should still be ready for the start of next season.

After the Stanley Cup final ended, Ducharme noted that Brendan Gallagher and were both playing with groin injuries. Gallagher and Toffoli both failed to score a goal in the five-game series.

“Everybody’s kind of bruised up and everything,” Toffoli said Friday. “So there’s no excuse for not being able to produce. Everyone had something going on. I think it was just frustrating overall, coming up a little short as well.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217110 Montreal Canadiens Bergevin said he’s not satisfied just making it to the Stanley Cup final. “The day you’re satisfied you’re not going to advance,” he said. “Am I

disappointed about not winning the Stanley Cup? One hundred per cent. Stu Cowan: Rocky road to Stanley Cup final took a toll on Canadiens GM But there will be 32 teams next season. There’s going to be 31 teams that won’t win the Stanley Cup. I think we did a lot of good things, our young players learned a lot. But satisfied? No. I worked last night starting to reshape the team for next season. We must never be satisfied, so I’m Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 5 hours ago not. Next season we go down like everyone to the bottom of the mountain, like the 31 other teams. We have to climb back up the mountain and the first step will be the playoffs.” Being general manager of the Canadiens is a job that’s probably not good for your health. Bergevin will be there next season, but on Friday he left us wondering what the future holds for him after that. The pressure and the long hours must take a toll, not to mention the fact every decision you make is second-guessed by every fan of the team as Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 well as the media.

Marc Bergevin has been GM of the Canadiens for nine years now and it certainly hasn’t been easy. When he first met the media after getting the job on May 2, 2012, there was only the slightest touch of grey in Bergevin’s short hair and he looked as crisp and sharp as the power blue business suit he was wearing with a shirt and tie.

When Bergevin met with the media on Zoom Friday afternoon, his long, messy hair was mostly grey and he was wearing a golf shirt, revealing the sleeve tattoos on both of his muscular arms. Bergevin is still a very healthy-looking 55-year-old, but there’s no doubt this job has taken a toll on him.

On Friday, Bergevin looked like he really needed a vacation, but his work is far from over this month.

Phillip Danault, Joel Armia, Corey Perry, Tomas Tatar, Eric Staal, Erik Gustafsson and all become unrestricted free agents, while and Jesperi Kotkaniemi become restricted free agents. There’s the Seattle Kraken expansion draft on July 21, the NHL Draft on July 23-24 and then the free-agent market opens on July 28.

Bergevin should be able to take a vacation in August, but then training camp for next season will start in early September. The job is a grind.

Before the start of the Stanley Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which the Canadiens ended up losing in five games, Bergevin said: “It’s a special opportunity to have a chance to take part in the Stanley Cup final to bring that famous trophy back to Montreal. I have different emotions: a bit nervous, a bit excited, but most of all proud to have the opportunity to bring the Stanley Cup back to Montreal. It would be the ultimate dream for me, and then I could retire afterwards.”

It seemed like Bergevin was joking at the time, but after his Zoom conference Friday you have to wonder how much longer he wants to remain as GM. Or maybe he’s just a guy who really needs a vacation.

Bergevin has one year remaining on his contract and when asked Friday if he wants to continue in his role beyond this year if an extension is presented to him, he would only say: “I have one more year on my contract and I will honour that.”

Bergevin has certainly earned an extension after leading the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1993. It was a rocky road to get there and he said it took a toll on him, the players and the entire staff during a pandemic.

“I know you’ll hear the old saying: ‘These guys make money, they shouldn’t complain,’ ” Bergevin said. “But it’s more than that. I think it’s on families, all the sacrifices we made and the players did an excellent job.

“It’s been hard on me,” he added. “It was hard this year. Mentally it was very difficult and I give credit to the players to be able to pull through this and (just) fell short of winning the Stanley Cup.”

Bergevin believed right from the start of this season that he had built a team capable of winning the Cup with all his off-season moves and said he never doubted that, even when things weren’t going well.

“From my nine years here in Montreal that’s the closest group I’ve felt as a team,” he said. “And when I say team, I believe teams win championships, not individuals. We have a team … we had a really good team. We didn’t have those superstars, but we have guys that believe in each other and fought for the guy next to him and that’s why we went this far. We just came up (against) a team that was doing the same thing and they were pretty deep in all positions.” 1217111 Montreal Canadiens

Opinion: Mayor Plante thanks the Habs, and Montrealers, for their teamwork

Valérie Plante • Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 14 hours ago •

From dreams, to confidence, to exhilaration — the Canadiens offered us all that and much more during the Stanley Cup Finals. Montreal was in dire need of some hope after more than a year of battling COVID-19. That hope came from a closely knit blue, white and red team that never gave up. It was just like Montreal and its citizens.

Now that this incredible adventure is over, we can only say thank you. Thank you for the thrilling emotions, for the determination, for the lasting memories. Thank you for bringing together a large family that was in great need of reconnecting.

Just a few weeks ago, no one had predicted that the Canadiens would reach the Stanley Cup Finals. This is a very special team that was able to come together, and each player gave it his best effort. The Canadiens are not a one-man show — they are a team. That’s also the secret of Montreal’s success.

Montrealers have been applying this approach in their daily lives for nearly 18 months. We’ve gone from being the epicentre of the pandemic to a model city, and today Montreal is more united, more resilient and more confident than ever.

As mayor, I am deeply inspired by all this and it proves that together, nothing can stop us. Montreal got through this crisis by working as a team, by collaborating with the public health department, the Quebec government, our entrepreneurs, our merchants, our artists and the population. When we play as a team, we can do great things. The Canadiens have proved this to us. Montrealers as well.

The feeling of disappointment may still be fresh in our minds, but I am convinced this is only the beginning for our Canadiens and for our beautiful city. We will be there, every step of the way, together and proud. Go, Montreal!

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217112 Montreal Canadiens

Joël Bouchard leaves Laval Rocket to join San Diego AHL team

Stu Cowan Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 11 hours ago •

Joël Bouchard is moving from Laval to San Diego.

The Anaheim Ducks announced Friday that Bouchard has been named head coach of the San Diego Gulls, their AHL farm team. Bouchard has spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens’ AHL farm team.

The Rocket finished in first place in the Canadian Division this season with a 23-9-4 record and Bouchard had an overall record of 83-67-24 during his time in Laval. Bouchard will replace Kevin Dineen as head coach in San Diego.

“We want to thank Kevin Dineen for all he contributed the last two seasons,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said after hiring Bouchard. “He was key in maintaining a winning environment in San Diego, including a difficult season during the pandemic.”

The Gulls finished third in the Pacific Division this season with a 26-17-1 record.

“The opportunity to bring in Joël Bouchard as head coach of our American Hockey League club was something that we could not pass up,” Murray said. “Joel has a strong track record coaching and developing players at the professional, junior and international level. This is the primary focus for us, and Joël fits the bill perfectly.”

Centre Jake Evans spent two seasons playing for Bouchard with the Rocket before making the jump to the Canadiens.

“He was so big for my development,” Evans said Friday. “He will definitely be missed. He’s one of those guys that sees things in his players and he pushes them to get to those spots in their career. So I can’t say enough about how much he helped me. I just wish him the best of luck. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

Bouchard’s contract with the Canadiens expired on July 1 and GM Marc Bergevin said he was offered the option of staying in Laval or becoming an assistant coach with the Canadiens under Dominique Ducharme. Bergevin said it was Bouchard’s decision to move on and take the job in San Diego.

The Canadiens hired Bouchard three years ago, shortly after hiring Ducharme to be an assistant coach with the NHL team. After Claude Julien was fired as head coach by the Canadiens this season, Ducharme took over as interim head coach. Alex Burrows, who had been an assistant coach under Bouchard in Laval, was promoted to assistant coach with the Canadiens after Julien and associate coach Kirk Muller were fired on the same day.

Before joining the Rocket, Bouchard spent seven seasons as general manager of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and also coached the team from 2014-18, posting a 160-80-32 record during his time behind the bench while advancing to the President’s Cup final in 2017 and 2018. Bouchard was also general manager of the Canadian national junior team for two years, winning a gold medal at the 2018 world junior championship and a silver in 2017.

Bouchard played 11 seasons in the NHL as a defenceman.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217113 New Jersey Devils

Devils re-sign defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler

By Associated PressJuly 10, 2021 | 2:35am

The New Jersey Devils re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler to a two-year contract worth $2,250,000 on Friday.

The contract has an average annual value of $1,125,000. The breakdown is as follows: $1,050,000 in the 2021-22 season and $1,200,000 in the 2022-23 season.

The 24-year-old Siegenthaler was acquired from Washington on April 11, 2021, for Arizona’s conditional third-round pick in the 2021 draft that was acquired in the Taylor Hall trade in 2019.

Siegenthaler skated in six games with New Jersey following the trade, missing time while in the COVID-19 protocol. Prior to the trade, he appeared in seven games with the Capitals this season.

In 105 NHL games, over the course of three seasons with New Jersey and Washington, he has two goals and 11 assists for 13 points. He was Washington’s second-round selection, 57th overall, in the 2015 draft.

New York Post LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217114 New Jersey Devils It seems weird to say, but even with Hughes and Hischier, center remains a long-term need for the Devils. Hischier is expected to develop into one of the top two-way centers in the league and could be tasked with absorbing a lot of the tough assignments that Zajac had. That could The Hunt: A deep dive into the Devils’ search for a No. 3 center allow the Devils to use a more offensive-leaning player at 3C, particularly if Michael McLeod settles in as the fourth center.

But the Devils are also going to want to get Hischier away from those By Corey Masisak Jul 9, 2021 matchups at times to help his offensive game, so another center who is capable at both ends of the ice would be ideal. It’s also worth noting that a center with above-average size could also come in handy in specific For years, Travis Zajac was a prototypical No. 3 center in the NHL — playoff matchups to come — the Devils don’t need a 6-foot-3, 215-pound great defensive player, produced offensively despite tough matchups and center to become a great team, but running into a team with someone situations, thrived on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle. like Evgeni Malkin or Anze Kopitar in the postseason might make such a player pretty useful. The Devils were not good enough in recent seasons for him to slot in as a No. 3 center, even though each of the past three campaigns began There are some intriguing options already with the organization, but last with plenty of pundits placing him there on the club’s depth chart. season the AHL affiliate in particular was very shallow at the position. Whether it was Pavel Zacha in 2018-19 (and 2017-18 after Adam General manager Tom Fitzgerald has said he wants to infuse more Henrique was traded) and Jack Hughes in 2019-20 not being ready for veterans into the lineup this offseason to help his young team, and this is the No. 2 role or an injury to Nico Hischier in 2021, Zajac just continued an obvious spot where he could add one. to find his way into a top-six role and earning more minutes than a guy that was supposed to be ahead of him on the depth chart. Internal options

Just when the Devils might have finally been ready to slot Zajac there Pavel Zacha this past season once Hischier was healthy and back to form, New Age: 24 Jersey traded him to the Islanders along with Kyle Palmieri for a first- round pick, a fourth-round pick and two AHL players (A.J. Greer and Contract: $2.25 million for one season Mason Jobst). 2021: 50 GP, 17 goals, 35 points, 17:09 average time on ice/game Having Hischier and Hughes as franchise pillars is a great place to start for the rebuilding Devils, but to reach its potential as Stanley Cup Fit: contenders, New Jersey is going to need to replace Zajac and find Zacha checks a lot of the boxes. He’s big, he’s sound defensively, he another high-level center to deploy when those two are not on the ice. skates well enough to keep up with dynamic offensive players and this This is the fourth edition of “The Hunt,” a series of stories that will attempt season he posted a career-best 51.5 percent in the faceoff circle. He has to identify some targets to fill the Devils’ biggest needs as they try to the tools to be a dynamic offensive player, but his production has lagged complete this rebuilding project and climb back toward the top of the NHL — though having No. 1 picks Hughes and Hischier around means he standings. The first one looked at the search for a high-end defenseman should slot in third behind them. (or two), the second looked at potential bona fide goal scorers and the But it’s far from certain that he will, or that he will be a center moving third ran through some options to partner with Mackenzie Blackwood in forward. Zacha had a lot of success this season on the wing. New coach net. Lindy Ruff gave him more power-play time, but also far less work on the A couple of great stories to reference during this series: penalty kill. Zacha has said he wants to be a center, but turning him into a shoot-first winger might be the best option for the Devils (and for his • Dom Luszczyszyn looked at a decade of Stanley Cup champions and future earnings, if he can continue to score goals at a 25-plus place). created a checklist based on what those teams had on their rosters. Michael McLeod • Shayna Goldman looked at how the final eight teams in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs stack up using Dom’s checklist. Age: 23

The Lightning are back-t0-back champions for a number of reasons, but Contract: RFA having the best third line in the league since adding and 2021: 52 GP, 9 goals, 15 points, 13:49 to play next to has been a huge advantage. Even though the Canadiens might not be the second-best Fit: team in the league, it’s not a coincidence that getting deeper at center, with the emergence of Nick Suzuki and the addition of Eric Staal, McLeod took a huge step forward in 2021. There were flashes of his coincided with this surprising run. ability in 2019-20, but at that point it was still no goals and five points in 33 NHL games and the underlying numbers were just bad. Now he’s Having a standout third line is a matchup buster in the modern NHL. proven he can play in this league, and play well as the center of the Most of the top teams are deep enough to go head to head with one of team’s “energy line.” Ruff’s confidence in that group swelled, and there your top two lines and match a defense-first trio with the other one. But were nights where McLeod was deployed like a No. 2 or No. 3 center. few teams in recent NHL history have had another line that could counter the Gourde-Coleman-Goodrow line. The next challenge is to add a little more playmaking and remain someone who could score 15 goals pretty consistently without losing the Here is the current Devils’ depth chart at center: other components of his game. If McLeod can play 12-14 minutes a night and help the Devils break even or win those minutes while providing the CENTERS energy-line elements Ruff is looking for, that will make him a valuable Jack Hughes, 20 (ELC) player. It might not make him the 3C. It’s also worth noting that his underlying numbers took a significant dip near the end of the season, Nico Hischier, 22 ($7.25 million) which was a team-wide thing but also speaks to the value of having someone like Zajac around to help out the young centers. Pavel Zacha, 24 ($2.25 million) Jesper Boqvist Michael McLeod, 23 (RFA) Age: 22 Jesper Boqvist, 22 (ELC) Contract: ELC Mikhail Maltsev, 23 (ELC) 2021: 28 GP, 4 goals, 7 points, 11:09 Dawson Mercer, 19 (ELC) Fit: Aarne Talvitie, 22 (ELC) This could be a big season for a lot of young Devils, but maybe not bigger for anyone than Boqvist. Where does he fit in the NHL, and can he establish that role in 2021-22? He has some of the attributes that could Fit: make him a solid No. 3 center, but it’s going to have to show up on the ice more consistently. Boqvist can really skate, and has the potential to Talvitie’s skill set could make him a No. 3 center if he develops well over be a strong defensive player. He’ll need to improve in the faceoff circle the next year or two. He’d probably need to max out on his skating ability, and continue to build up his body if he’s going to handle tougher but he’s got a body that can handle winning battles in the tough areas assignments. It’s possible that he could be on the same track as McLeod and is a smart, two-way player. — there were some flashes of the good stuff in 2021, and maybe he can Matthew Beniers (Courtesy Michigan Photography) start to put it all together next season. 2021 draft options Dawson Mercer Matthew Beniers/Kent Johnson/William Eklund/Mason McTavish Age: 19 2021: Michigan (NCAA), Michigan (NCAA), Djugardens (SHL), EHC Contract: ELC Olten (Swiss league)

2021: Chicoutimi (QMJHL) These are the top four centers in the draft, and they should all be off the Fit: board by the No. 9 pick. The Devils are currently at No. 4, and while one of the top defensemen fills a bigger need, this is a club that has stressed Mercer is an exciting prospect for a number of reasons, but his potential it takes the best player available as much as any in the league. If the versatility and positional flexibility are on the list. Could he end up as a Devils do take one of these guys, it’s probably more likely that he ends top-six winger? Sure. Could he be the solution for this specific area of up on the wing long-term next to Hughes or Hischier. But other things need? Maybe. He’s not big, but he’s already earned plenty of praise for can and will happen, and rolling with three top-four picks at center could his two-way acumen, and Mercer thrived as a skilled role player for be a significant advantage if the Devils can get the other key pieces in Canada at the world junior championships. He seems destined to be place needed to be a Cup contender. described as “someone you win with” regardless of where he slots in the lineup, and there are now 32 NHL teams that would like to collect as So let’s say the Devils do draft a defenseman (or top winger Dylan many of those types of players as possible. Guenther) at No. 4. What about a center with their second first-round pick of the 2021 draft? Yegor Sharangovich Here are some potential options if New Jersey goes that route at No. 29 Age: 23 or with its pick near the end of the second round as well:

Contract: RFA Fedor Svechkov

2021: 54 GP, 16 goals, 30 points, 16:48 2021: HDD Jesenice (Slovenia)

Fit: Fit:

Sharangovich looked like a natural on the wing in his rookie NHL season. Pronman’s take in his top 151 draft prospects: “He’s very skilled, showing The Devils have a big need there, and he seems like a potential long- a lot of confidence and creativity as a puckhandler. Svechkov can create term option already in place. That said, Sharangovich has been a center, for his teammates and shows half-wall playmaking ability to go with the both at the AHL and KHL levels. He would provide size and defensive plays he can make at pace. Off the puck, he’s physical, responsible aptitude, and he’s already a staple on the PK. He’s been compared to defensively and killed penalties at the VHL level. The skating is fine but Coleman (by several people, including me), but maybe he can still find a lacks the true quick in his feet to push defenders back and home at center for this club. pressure with speed.”

Mikhail Maltsev Wheeler’s take in his top 100 draft prospects: “He’s … not a particularly dynamic offensive presence. He’s not scary when he’s out there. What Age: 23 he is, though, is one of the most complete hockey players in the draft. Contract: ELC He’s an excellent defensive player who has a knack for disrupting and lifting pucks, is always in sound position, and supports the play low 2021: 33 GP, 6 goals, 9 points, 11:27 before he even thinks about going the other way.”

Fit: Francesco Pinelli

He had some moments as a rookie, and Ruff was definitely intrigued by 2021: HDD Jesenice (Slovenia) his size and ability to make plays in tight areas. If he can continue to improve his skating over the next couple of years, he could be a No. 3 Fit: center. If he’s close to maxing out in that area, he might be able to carve Pronman’s take: “Pinelli is a highly intelligent player who can make tough out a nice career as a Brian Boyle-type of player. If neither McLeod nor plays consistently. He has the small-area skills to make checkers miss Maltsev can become an above-average 3C, maybe they end up together and the vision to make plays off the flank and under pressure. He as almost co-centers on the fourth line. competes well enough to win puck battles even if he’s not overly Tyce Thompson physical.”

Age: 21 Wheeler’s take: “Pinelli’s game is archetypal of the way the game is trending. He’s a slick, creative puckhandler and facilitator who Contract: ELC manipulates set structures to create lanes for himself, slicing pucks through and around feet and sticks. He’s also light and airy on his blades, 2021: 7 GP, 1 point, 7:43 — also played for Providence (NCAA) and with skating mechanics around quick cuts and adjustable edges more Binghamton (AHL) than straight-line power.” Fit: Zach Dean Thompson could play center in the NHL but seems more likely to end up 2021: Gatineau (QMJHL) on the wing. There is still time for him to prove he can stick in the middle, though. He is a little taller than Hischier and Hughes, though he also Fit: needs time for his body to mature. Pronman’s take: “Dean is a well-rounded hockey player. He brings NHL- Aarne Talvitie caliber skill to the table to go along with quality skating ability and a high work level.” Age: 22 Wheeler’s take: “It’s impossible to dislike the way Dean plays hockey. He Contract: ELC works his tail off, he’s always applying pressure without the puck 2021: Penn State (NCAA) and Binghamton (AHL) defensively, he’s always in motion with or without the puck offensively, he plays on the inside of the ice, and he can be trusted in all situations.” Joshua Roy Fit:

2021: Saint John/Sherbrooke (QMJHL) Dickinson offers good size and a track record for having a significant impact on his club’s performance in the defensive zone. He hasn’t won a Fit: lot of faceoffs, and his offensive output feels like it’s never really matched Pronman’s take: “Roy isn’t a physical player and needs work off the puck. his potential. Ruff only coached him for 11 NHL games, but he’d have He has subpar footspeed and scouts question whether his game some familiarity with how he developed with the Stars. Dickinson is not translates to the NHL. He’s a tough player to figure out and one of the exactly someone the Stars will be itching to shed, but they could use a more divisive players in the draft due to his great skill and production, but little more breathing room with the cap and he might be an intriguing buy- also his warts.” low candidate for another team.

Wheeler’s take: “He’s hard on pucks, he’s got good hands in tight and Adam Henrique, Ducks around the net, and he scores a lot of weak-side goals. He’s not going to Age: 31 find a lot of highlight reels but I like his odds at becoming a complementary top-nine player who can drive shot attempts.” Contract: $5.825 million for three seasons

Colton Dach 2021: 45 GP, 12 goals, 21 points, 16:02

2021: (WHL) Fit:

Fit: There are several ex-Devils poised to be available on the UFA market, but what about a different kind of reunion? Henrique is not a perfect like- Pronman’s take: “He’s a big center with very good puck skills who can for-like replacement for Zajac, but he’d offer a few of the same qualities. show good flashes of playmaking to go with a good goal-scoring touch He’s not a good fit at that cap hit, but the Ducks are likely to eat some around the net. He’s fine off the puck, but Dach’s major limitation as he (maybe even half) if they are able to trade him. There also aren’t many advances levels will be the lack of quickness in his skating and ability to guys left who played with Rico, but it’s also hard to imagine him not being generate controlled entries despite his size and skill. Once he’s in the well received in the locker room. zone he is dangerous, though.” Rasmus Asplund, Sabres Wheeler’s take: “He’s got his brother’s size (I actually think he’s going to carry a little more weight around if he makes it) and defensive instincts, Age: 23 but there were times when he looked timid with the puck and sluggish through his stride. This year, some more assertiveness started to Contract: RFA develop and he looked a step quicker from a standstill than I expected 2021: 28 GP, 7 goals, 11 points, 12:51 (though more work still needs to be done there).” Fit: Brett Harrison Asplund doesn’t seem like the type of player a team like the Sabres 2021: KOOVEE U-20 (Finland) should be all that interested in losing. He didn’t make John Vogl’s Fit: protection list, but that could change if Buffalo trades Jack Eichel or Sam Reinhart before the lists are due. Pronman’s take: “He isn’t a player whose skill set jumps off the page, but he’s been productive. He’s an intelligent player who sees the ice at a The Sabres also haven’t really played him at center much or trusted him high level and makes difficult plays.” to take many faceoffs, but he did play there in the AHL. He doesn’t check all of the boxes, but he’s also just an intriguing player. Maybe the Devils Wheeler’s take: “His stride can look choppy and occasionally breaks have enough intriguing guys around his age with similar skillsets. It also down, but he generates decent power, does a good job keeping his feet wouldn’t hurt to make a phone call if his name isn’t on Buffalo’s final list. moving, and makes it hard for defenders to take back possession with his ability to protect the puck out wide to his body.” Evan Rodrigues, Penguins

Yanni Gourde. (Douglas DeFelice / USA Today) Age: 27

Pre-expansion-draft trade options Contract: RFA

The Athletic’s beat writers recently submitted projected protection lists for 2021: 35 GP, 7 goals, 14 points, 14:06 the Seattle expansion draft. Is there anyone out there who might get Fit: exposed whom the Devils could pry away in a trade before it’s Seattle’s turn to pillage? Rodrigues is probably destined to be a bit of a “tweener” — probably not a full-time 3C, but a guy who could play there or on the wing or center the Yanni Gourde, Lightning fourth line. But his last full season (2018-19) was a pretty valuable one, Age: 29 and he’s had some talented guys in his way in Pittsburgh. He’s had a positive influence at the defensive end every year of his career, Contract: Four years at $5.166 million according to HockeyViz’s isolated five-on-five impact. Like Asplund, just an interesting player that might not cost a lot to add for some team 2021: 56 GP, 17 goals, 36 points, 17:04 looking for a little boost at the margins. Does that make him a likely long- Fit: term solution for this problem? Probably not. Hey, it’s the guy who just won back-to-back titles while centering the best Calle Jarnkrok, Predators third line in the league. And the Lightning, again, have all kinds of salary Age: 29 cap concerns. In some ways, Gourde is obviously a great fit/target, but he’s not a perfect one, either. His contract might be a little steep for a 3C, Contract: $2 million for one season but the Devils have more flexibility there than most teams. He’s not big, but no one is going to question his toughness/grit/etc. at this point. There 2021: 49 GP, 13 goals, 28 points, 16:48 could be some concerns about how he will hold up into his mid-30s. It’s Fit: also possible that the Lightning just won’t want to move him, and will shed salary in other areas. Jarnkork has been a consistent, productive, defensively capable player for a long time in Nashville. The Predators are trying to re-tool an aging Jason Dickinson, Stars roster, so this might not just be about the expansion draft. He’s not big, Age: 26 but he kills penalties and can be a pain to play against. Only having one year left on his contract might not make him an enticing option though, Contract: RFA unless the price was pretty low risk. If he is available, his contract is the type that a current contender should be after. 2021: 51 GP, 7 goals, 15 points, 16:12 Alex Kerfoot, Maple Leafs to his potential — and struggled to stay in the lineup for non-hockey reasons — since the club won the Stanley Cup in 2018. It’s also a huge Age: 26 contract, though maybe Washington will eat a little of it if the Caps really Contract: $3.5 million for two years want to facilitate a deal.

2021: 56 GP, 8 goals, 23 points, 14:27 Is he a classic No. 3 center? Certainly not. If Kuznetsov was re- committed to being on the best centers in the league, would be it a lot of Fit: fun to see what a team with him, Hischier and Hughes down the middle looks like? Absolutely. Another ex-Devils forward … sort of. Kerfoot had the worst season of his career, and the Maple Leafs need to squeeze more out of their role Free-agent options players with limited cap flexibility. He’s not an ideal No. 3 center, but the best version of him is a good NHL player and the acquisition cost might Alexander Wennberg, Panthers be low. Here’s a weird thing — Kerfoot won 56 percent of his faceoffs in Age: 26 2018-19 and 40.8 percent last year. Contract: $2.25 million in 2021 Nic Dowd, Capitals 2021: 56 GP, 17 goals, 29 points, 18:10 Age: 31 Fit: Contract: $750,000 for one year What a fascinating career he has already had. A bit of an analytics 2021: 56 GP, 11 goals, 15 points, 14:22 darling in Columbus who also had one huge season (13 goals, 59 points Fit: in 2016-17), then fell out of favor and was bought out only to be reborn with a career-high in goals in South Florida. He’s a 6-foot-2 center who He has Cup-winning experience, he kills penalties and is a strong can play on both special teams. He didn’t rack up a lot of assists last year defensive player. Dowd has also been mostly a fourth-line center for the but has shown he can. There has to be a pretty nice market for him, Capitals, though injuries and COVID-19 issues earned him some time up right? in the lineup this season. This might be a classic example of “take a good team’s role player and try to ask too much” … but maybe not. Nick Bonino, Wild Washington has had three very good centers in front of him. It would Age: 33 need to be a low-risk bet. Contract: $4.1 million in 2021 Other trade options 2021: 55 GP, 10 goals, 26 points, 14:51 Mikael Backlund, Flames Fit: Age: 32 Bonino has the resume. He won back-to-back championships with Contract: $5.5 million for three years Pittsburgh as the No. 3 center. He finished in the top-15 of the Selke 2021: 54 GP, 9 goals, 32 points, 17:36 Trophy voting in 2019 and 2020. He wins faceoffs. Still, there is an obvious danger of paying for past performance here. Bonino will be 34 in Fit: April, but he can still be a good — and valuable — player on the right deal. He might not be the 3C when the Devils are ready to host Game 1 The Flames seem like a team that might want to re-tool the roster this of a playoff series, but he might be someone who helps the club get to summer, though Backlund isn’t one of the first names that comes up that point. when people start speculating. He’s also not the awesome two-way force he was earlier in his career, but he’s still been a good player the past Travis Zajac, Islanders couple of seasons. The only thing he wouldn’t provide is above-average size, but he ticks off pretty much all of the other things teams look for a Age: 36 3C who can also still be effective in a bigger role if/when needed. Contract: $5.75 million in 2021

Christian Dvorak/Nick Schmaltz, Coyotes 2021: 46 GP, 8 goals, 20 points, 16:26

Age: Both are 25 Fit: Contract: Dvorak — $4.45 million for four years; Schmaltz — $5.85 Why not replace Zajac with … him? Wherever he signs, it is obviously million for five years going to be for a lot less money. Maybe he will just try to stay with the 2021: Dvorak — 56 GP, 17 goals, 31 points, 18:24; Schmaltz — 52 GP, Islanders like Andy Greene did after last season. People have already 10 goals, 32 points, 17:03 made too big of a deal about Zajac’s quote during the playoffs about not fitting in with New Jersey. If the Devils are going to add veterans this Fit: offseason like Fitzgerald said, that isn’t going to be as much of an issue — and Zajac was trying to praise his current club more than put down his The Coyotes also seem likely to shake up their roster this offseason. old one, anyway. Both of these guys are good players that teams in normal circumstances wouldn’t really want to part with, but Arizona isn’t in normal Tomas Nosek, Golden Knights circumstances with mediocre results and way too many long-term contracts. Neither of these guys is big, but Dvorak kills penalties and Age: 29 wins faceoffs. He also has the better contract and would likely cost more Contract: $1.25 million in 2021 to obtain. 2021: 38 GP, 8 goals, 18 points, 13:00 Evgeny Kuznetsov, Capitals Fit: Age: 29 Nosek is one of several guys on this list that don’t scream “No. 3 center” Contract: $7.8 million for four years immediately, but he’s filled the role at times for the Golden Knights. He 2021: 41 GP, 9 goals, 20 points, 16:34 checks a lot of boxes — size, faceoffs, penalty killing, playoff experience — but he also hasn’t been asked to play more than 13 minutes per game Fit: in four seasons with Vegas. The Golden Knights played their top two centers a lot this season and the bottom two about the same amount — Now for the “let’s get nuts” portion of the program … maybe that would be a model to follow with someone like Nosek and It’s clear that Kuznetsov has had some issues with the Capitals, and they McLeod in the middle for the Devils. might want to move on. He’s an incredible talent, who has not played up Sean Kuraly, Bruins Age: 28

Contract: $1.275 cap hit million in 2021

2021: 47 GP, 4 goals, 9 points, 14:04

Fit:

There are some red flags here — the Bruins are typically a strong possession team, but not when Kuraly is on the ice. Some of the other advanced metrics that attempt to quantify individual on-ice impact don’t like him, either. That said, he’s a big, physical player who kills penalties and has won 53 percent of his faceoffs over the past three seasons.

A team like the Devils could look at him as a potential low-risk investment, and he can’t handle the No. 3 center role he could still provide value on the wing or the fourth line. Also, if we’re really in “trying to play chess instead of checkers” mode … signing one of Coleman’s best friends might be a nice recruiting pitch, if the Devils were interested in bringing him back.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217115 New York Islanders draft. However, it’s more likely the Islanders’ key UFAs — Cizikas, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, defenseman Andy Greene and goalie Cory Schneider — will not be poached in that short window.

Islanders' GM Lou Lamoriello has to make more than hockey decisions That leaves some attractive prospects for the Kraken among the this offseason Islanders’ list of unprotected players.

Start with Leddy, a slick-skating defenseman who won a Cup with Chicago in 2013. His defensive game can be a concern, but his veteran Updated July 9, 2021 6:45 PM leadership and playmaking ability would instantly help an expansion franchise. Plus, he has just one more season left on his deal so the By Andrew Gross Kraken would not be locked into a long-term financial commitment.

It would also be risky for Lamoriello to leave Eberle, Barzal’s right wing Lou Lamoriello often laments — or, at least, notes — the difficulty of on the top line, exposed but, like Leddy, this would be more of a financial executing pure hockey trades or personnel moves under the salary cap. decision than a hockey one. Eberle also carries a $5.5 million cap charge Having run NHL teams since 1987, the Islanders president and general — his goes through 2024 — and the only way the Islanders will likely manager can certainly remember making decisions without being have a chance to re-sign Cizikas and/or Palmieri along with their three beholden to a financial bottom line. key RFAs is to delete Leddy and Eberle’s contracts from their ledger.

But Lamoriello’s strategy this offseason will be shaped by a flat $81.5 The Kraken are not likely to be intrigued by Komarov, who has one million cap ceiling. The Islanders have approximately $5.7 million in cap season left on a four-year, $12 million deal, but could value either space; only the Penguins and two-time Stanley Cup-champion Lightning Clutterbuck or Martin’s scrappiness. Martin — Mr. Long Island — is just have less. one season into a four-year, $6 million deal while Clutterbuck has one season remaining on a five-year, $17.5 million deal. Neither veteran Which is why a core player such as defenseman Nick Leddy and his $5.5 wants to leave the Islanders for an expansion team out West. million cap hit is a strong possibility to be lost in the upcoming expansion draft to the Seattle Kraken. On pure hockey merits, it makes little sense Much of this will depend on which financial avenue the Kraken choose to to lose a top-four defenseman for nothing. take and how many pricier contracts they choose to select.

Remember, last offseason, Lamoriello was forced to trade defenseman As Lamoriello knows, there are few pure hockey decisions made Devon Toews to the Avalanche for a pair of second-round picks because anymore. of cap considerations. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.10.2021 The expansion draft is July 21 and teams must submit their list of protected players on July 17.

The Islanders can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie — the more likely option — or eight skaters (forwards and defensemen) and one goalie.

All players with no-movement clauses who decline to waive those clauses must be protected and all first- and second-year professionals and unsigned draft choices are exempt from protection.

Andrew Ladd, who has two seasons remaining on his seven-year, $38.5 million deal, would have been left unprotected but he has not played enough the past two seasons to be eligible for the expansion draft.

Projected Islanders’ protected list:

Forwards (7): Josh Bailey, , Anthony Beauvillier, Otto Koivula, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Defensemen (3): Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock

Goaltenders (1): Semyon Varlamov

Lamoriello indicated signing his top three restricted free agents — Beauvillier, Pelech and goalie Ilya Sorokin (who does not need to be protected) — was an offseason priority.

Barzal, Lee, Nelson, Pageau and Pulock are no-brainers to be protected. Mayfield makes more sense to protect than Leddy, his defense partner, because of Mayfield’s extremely team-friendly cap charge of $1.45 million.

Bailey is beloved by the coaching staff, though not a slam-dunk to be protected with a $5 million cap charge. Protecting Koivula would provide insurance if identity-setting, fourth-line center Casey Cizikas leaves as an unrestricted free agent.

The Islanders could gamble on exposing Varlamov, who has two seasons left on a four-year, $20 million deal, especially with Sorokin expected to get a significant raise off his one-year, $2 million deal. Instead, Lamoriello will likely expose minor-leaguer Ken Appleby as both he and coach Barry Trotz believe in building their teams from the net on out.

Projected significant players to be exposed to claim:

Cal Clutterbuck, Jordan Eberle, Leo Komarov, Nick Leddy, Matt Martin

The Kraken will have a window to sign UFAs and RFAs prior to the expansion draft. So, in the unlikely case the Kraken sign one of the Islanders’ free agents, they will not lose another player in the expansion 1217116 New York Rangers

Rangers sign Brett Howden ahead of expansion draft deadline

By Mollie WalkerJuly 9, 2021 | 11:47am | Updated

The Rangers officially began their offseason Friday morning by re-signing restricted free agent Brett Howden, a strategic move that broadens their options for the upcoming Seattle Kraken expansion draft.

With roughly a week until the deadline for each NHL team to submit its final protection list for the expansion draft — which is set for July 21 — the Rangers signed Howden to a one-year contract worth $885,000, The Post has learned.

The move gives the organization another option to fulfill the expansion requirement of exposing two forwards who are under contract in 2021-22. Prior to signing Howden on Friday, the only logical choices the Rangers had were Kevin Rooney and Colin Blackwell. The Rangers are expected to protect Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Pavel Buchnevich, Ryan Strome and Filip Chytil.

Now, Howden is even more susceptible to being exposed, and will come with a cheap price tag that may be enticing to the Kraken.

Brett Howden skates with the Rangers.

Leaving Howden exposed would allow the Rangers to protect Blackwell, who forced his way into the top six this past season with 12 goals and 10 assists in 47 games. Blackwell, a grinder who wins puck battles and gets in the dirty areas, brings many of the qualities the Rangers are hoping to increase in their lineup in order to become a playoff contender.

Howden, a first-round pick by the Lightning in 2016, has played all 178 games of his NHL career with the Rangers, over the past three seasons. A penalty killer primarily in a bottom-six role, Howden is coming off an underwhelming 2020-21 season offensively, with just one goal and six assists in 42 games.

Since he was acquired by the Rangers in February 2018 as part of the deal that sent former captain Ryan McDonagh to the Lightning, Howden has 16 goals and 33 assists.

New York Post LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217117 New York Rangers claim him then, and no one wanted him at the trade deadline. He would certainly help the Kraken on the ice, but it’s unlikely they would claim him. If they want him, they can wait for the Rangers to buy him out of the final year of his contract and then attempt to sign him as a free agent at a Rangers GM Chris Drury has a very busy summer agenda discounted rate.

The Kraken, then, are more likely to take from the group of Blackwell, Rooney and Gauthier. Blackwell, a journeyman when he signed with the Updated July 9, 2021 6:39 PM By Colin Stephenson Rangers before last season, surprised everyone by scoring 12 goals and adding 10 assists in 47 games. Rooney, a 6-2, 190-pound, penalty-killing forward, had career highs in goals (eight) and assists (six) in a fourth-line New Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury has kept a role, and Gauthier, a former first round pick of Carolina, hasn’t lived up to relatively low profile since being elevated to his new position two months expectations, but is still only 23. ago. He did fire coach David Quinn, hired new coach Gerard Gallant, hired old college teammate Mike Grier to a front office position, and Of course, the Rangers could certainly make some side deals with the quietly started to reshape the organization’s team directory. Kraken, too. If there’s someone on their exposed list they really don’t want to lose — say they want to hold on to Rooney — they could offer But Drury’s summer is about to get really busy. Seattle a draft pick or something to encourage them to take Blackwell or Gauthier, instead. On July 21, the NHL will hold its expansion draft to stock the roster of the league’s 32nd team, the Seattle Kraken, which begins play in this coming Or, if, say, Seattle wanted Georgiev, and were willing to make a deal with season. On July 24 and 25, the NHL’s annual entry draft will take place, the Rangers to have them protect Kinkaid and expose Georgiev, Drury and then, on July 28, free agency begins. might be interested in that. Maybe there’s a player exposed by another team the Rangers want, and Seattle could choose that player and trade And Drury, by the way, still has to hire assistant coaches for Gallant’s him to the Rangers later. staff, plus hire an assistant GM, as well as filling some other front office and scouting positions. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.10.2021 Drury, elevated from his associate GM position after the shock firings of President John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton on May 5, is charged with making sure the Rangers make the playoffs next spring after missing the postseason for four straight years. Successfully navigating the expansion draft, entry draft and free agency will be a big key to that.

The expansion draft is first up. The Kraken will select one player from each team, except the Vegas Golden Knights, who entered the league four years ago. That means the Rangers will lose one player.

But it won’t be a core player. The expansion draft rules are the same as they were for Vegas’ entry into the league in 2017: Teams get to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie — or eight skaters and a goalie — with first- and second-year professionals, as well as unsigned draft picks, exempt from the draft.

That means the Rangers don’t need to protect Norris Trophy winner , No. 1 goaltender Igor Shesterkin, All-Rookie Team defenseman K’Andre Miller, forwards Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere, or prospects like defenseman Zac Jones or forward Morgan Barron.

So the Rangers will be able to protect all their core players, and their protected list has no doubt been settled for some time now. But there are always last-minute contingencies to adjust to, and there will be opportunities to improve the roster that come out of the expansion draft.

Projected Rangers protected list:

Forwards (7): Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Ryan Strome, Pavel Buchnevich, Chris Kreider, Filip Chytil, Brett Howden.

Defensemen (3): Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, Libor Hajek.

Goaltenders (1): Alexandar Georgiev.

The biggest decision for Drury and Gallant is who the seventh protected forward should be. The choice is between Howden, Colin Blackwell, Kevin Rooney and Julien Gauthier.

Howden, who signed a one-year, $885,000 deal Friday, struggled through a difficult season in which he had just one goal and six assists in 42 games, and missed eight games after being placed on the NHL’s Covid list. His biggest fan, Quinn, is no longer the Rangers’ coach, so whether he fits into Gallant’s plans remains to be seen. He is still just 23, though, is a former first round pick, and is 6-3, 200 pounds.

Projected significant players to be exposed to claim: Tony DeAngelo, Blackwell, Rooney, Gauthier, Keith Kinkaid, Anthony Bitetto.

The best player available is DeAngelo, the defenseman who scored 15 goals and had 53 points in 68 games in 2019-20 and signed a two-year, $9.6 million contract before last season.

DeAngelo’s hot temper and volatile personality got to be too much for the Rangers, and he was waived after getting into a fight with Georgiev following an OT loss to Pittsburgh in late January. No one was willing to 1217118 New York Rangers

Rangers re-sign Brett Howden to one-year deal

By Colin Stephenson

July 9, 2021 4:44 PM

Brett Howden struggled to make an impact for the Rangers in the 2021 season, putting up just one goal and seven points in 42 games. But the Rangers announced Friday that Howden, 23, has agreed to terms with the club on a one-year contract, which a source said is a one-way deal that will pay him $885,000.

Howden, a 6-3, 200-pound center who can also play wing, was acquired by the Rangers along with Libor Hajek as part of the 2018 trade deadline deal with Tampa Bay that sent Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to the Lightning. Howden made the Rangers in his first training camp that fall and has played three seasons, with 16 goals, 33 assists and 53 penalty minutes in 178 games.

He is the second player signed this summer by president and general manager Chris Drury. The Rangers signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a three-year deal in May, days after the season ended.

Signing Howden is one of the less complicated items on Drury’s long to- do list this summer. His most immediate priority is to hire a staff of assistants for new coach Gerard Gallant, but he also needs to hire an assistant GM and other front office personnel, all while preparing for the Seattle Kraken expansion draft July 21, the NHL entry draft July 24-25 and free agency beginning July 28.

Drury also needs to re-sign the Rangers’ own restricted free agents, as he did with Lindgren and Howden. Top-six right wing Pavel Buchnevich, who had perhaps his best season in 2021, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and figures to be in line for a decent raise over the $3.5 million he earned last season. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin, defenseman Libor Hajek and forwards Filip Chytil and Julien Gauthier all are coming off entry-level contracts and are restricted free agents. Shesterkin, who took over as the No. 1 goaltender in 2021, is eligible for arbitration.

Drury also will likely need to buy out the final year of the contract of defenseman Tony DeAngelo, whom the team waived in January. The NHL’s first buyout window opened Friday and remains open until July 27. Drury likely will wait until after the expansion draft to buy DeAngelo out. That way, he can leave the defenseman exposed for Seattle to take if they wish.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217119 Pittsburgh Penguins

Former Penguins defenseman Bryan Watson dies at 78

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, July 9, 2021 2:07 p.m.

Former Penguins defenseman Bryan Watson.

Former Penguins defenseman Bryan “Bugsy” Watson has died at the age of 78. The team announced his death through its Twitter account, but details were not revealed.

A native of Bancroft, Ontario, Watson was a wildly popular player for the Penguins throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s due to his combative nature.

During parts of six seasons with the Penguins, Watson appeared in 303 games for the Penguins and recorded 65 points (eight goals, 57 assists) as well as a robust 871 penalty minutes, the fifth-highest total in franchise history, and 48 fighting majors.

His signature season with the Penguins came during the 1971-72 campaign when he led the NHL with 212 penalty minutes in 75 games.

In addition to the Penguins, Watson played for the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Oakland Seals and St. Louis Blues. He also briefly served as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers in the early 1980s.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217120 Pittsburgh Penguins the New York Islanders, Matheson appeared in six games and did not record a point.

The future: While the Penguins were largely satisfied with Matheson’s Penguins A to Z: Can Mike Matheson ever live up to his contract? play this past season, management would not be terribly upset if it could find a way to be free of his behemoth of a contract.

With regards to this month’s expansion draft, Matheson likely won’t be SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, July 9, 2021 10:56 a.m. protected, but it’s difficult to see the Seattle Kraken opting to select a player in his late 20s that has that much term remaining.

So, assuming Matheson is back for the 2021-22 season, he’ll likely In 44 games last season, Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson 16 resume his role on the Penguins’ second pairing and get the occasional points (five goals, 11 assists). deployment with the second power-play unit. With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is A first-round pick of the Panthers in 2012 (No. 23 overall), Matheson looking at all 48 players currently under NHL contracts to the failed to live up to his potential in Florida. As a member of the Penguins, organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari under assistant coach Todd Reirden, Matheson began to harness his to top-six winger Jason Zucker. skills. Mike Matheson He still has a ways to go before he can truly start to live up to the Position: Defenseman expectations of his contract, but Matheson took a step in the right direction in 2020-21. Shoots: Left Tribune Review LOADED: 07.10.2021 Age: 27

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 188 pounds

2020-21 NHL statistics: 44 games, 16 points (five goals, 11 assists)

Contract: Third year of an eight-year contract with a salary cap hit of $4.875 million. Pending restricted free agent in 2026.

(Note: Beginning in the 2021-22 season, this contract contains a modified no-trade clause that allows Matheson to submit a list of eight teams he will not accept a trade to.)

Acquired: Trade, Sept. 24, 2020

2020-21 season: Just based on the person he was traded for, Mike Matheson was always going to be fighting an uphill battle for acceptance in Pittsburgh.

Patric Hornqvist was a wildly popular power forward whose style of play made him easy to root for as he played a vital role in two Stanley Cup championships.

And his nickname is “Horny.”

When the Penguins traded for him, Matheson was already the target of scorn simply because he wasn’t Hornqvist.

Plus, there was the matter of his monster of a contract. Signed in 2017 as a member of the Florida Panthers, Matheson’s deal was under heavy scrutiny from the get-go.

He did little to sway public opinion when the 2020-21 season opened.

In the Penguins’ season-opener, a 6-3 road loss to the on Jan. 13, Matheson lost a one-on-one battle in front of his own cage on a sequence that led to the Flyers’ first goal.

Two nights later, during a 5-2 road loss to the Flyers, Matheson suffered an undisclosed injury that sidelined him for eight games.

Back in the lineup by Feb. 6, Matheson and partner Cody Ceci, each of whom did not have the luxury of a true training camp to adjust to their new surroundings, eventually took over as the second defensive pairing, supplanting John Marino and Marcus Pettersson.

By late February, Matheson, now more comfortable with the Penguins’ systems, began to show the skating ability and puck skills that prompted management to trade for him.

Matheson’s most productive stretch of the season came between March 24 and April 24 when he posted 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 16 games.

On May 1, Matheson’s regular season came to an abrupt ending as he was struck in the face on a clearing attempt by goaltender Tristan Jarry. An undisclosed injured sidelined him for the Penguins’ final four games before the opening of the postseason.

Matheson returned to the lineup for the opening of the postseason, wearing protection on his face. During the Penguins’ first-round loss to 1217121 Pittsburgh Penguins But Kucherov is superior on the power play. He had four goals and 27 assists on the PP over Tampa Bay’s back-to-back Cup runs, four goals and 15 assists this year alone.

Mark Madden: Sizing up Penguins, Lightning back-to-back Stanley Cup Kucherov won the regular-season MVP and scoring title in 2019. He’s teams been a first-team All-Star twice, a second-team All-Star once. He’s got 547 points in 515 career regular-season games, 127 points in 113 career postseason games.

MARK MADDEN | Friday, July 9, 2021 6:01 a.m. Yet, he’s rarely mentioned in the same class as Crosby, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, etc. Perhaps now he will be.

If Tampa Bay wins a third straight Cup next season, they get the nod Tampa Bay has won the Stanley Cup a second straight time, like the over the Penguins from ’16 and ’17. But that’s going to be tough. Penguins did in 2016 and ’17. You can compare the teams, but the accomplishment is exactly the same. The salary cap will stay flat. Kucherov’s $9.5 million cap hit will count this time. Not only will they not be able to retain free agents such as Blake Penguins fans grouse that Tampa Bay cheated the salary cap because Coleman, Barclay Goodrow and David Savard, the Lightning might have winger Nikita Kucherov didn’t play during the regular season (thus not to shed players to get under the cap. counting against the cap) but returned for (and dominated) the playoffs. The Lightning circumvented the cap by $18 million. Tampa has Vasilevskiy and Kucherov. The Penguins had Crosby and Malkin. Victor Hedman has a better resume than Kris Letang atop each But if a rule isn’t broken, no cheating occurred. The Lightning was OK by team’s depth chart at defense, and Letang missed the ’17 playoffs. But the parameters of the CBA agreed to by the NHL and the NHL Players the blue lines are mostly comparable, as is the depth. Association. It’s close, but the Penguins are the pick because of Crosby. Besides, Kucherov was hurt. (For a while. Probably.) Tribune Review LOADED: 07.10.2021 It’s also noted Tampa Bay played two shortened regular seasons. True, but that was intertwined with the considerable demands of dealing with the pandemic.

Each team won 32 playoff games en route to their two Cups. Tampa Bay faced only one elimination game: Game 7 of this season’s semifinal against the New York Islanders. The Penguins dealt with four elimination games: two in 2016 and two in 2017.

That means the Lightning was more dominant and/or the Penguins were more resilient.

The real story comes next year, when Tampa Bay tries to become the first team to win three straight Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders won four from 1980-83.

Here’s betting against the Lightning. They’re great, but the Penguins were exhausted when they tried the same in 2018, and in 2010 after playing in the previous two finals.

Comparing the teams boils down to hockey’s two most important components: goaltending and center.

Tampa has the better goaltender in , this year’s winner as playoff MVP.

The Penguins had the better centers in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Matt Murray was good then (but not since). Marc-Andre Fleury was good then (but better now). Vasilevskiy is a generational talent. He’s 6-foot-3 but plays even bigger. Vasilevskiy is technically sound, but his athleticism lets him improvise as needed. At 26, he’s got two Cups, a Vezina Trophy (top goalie), two first-team All-Star selections and now playoff MVP. He’s a phenom.

But at center, it’s not close. Crosby and Malkin are Hall of Famers. is Tampa Bay’s No. 1 center and had 14 goals in 23 playoff games this year, but he’d be the Penguins’ third-line center (and would be hard-pressed to outplay Nick Bonino in 2016).

The wild card in this discussion is Kucherov.

No Penguins winger in ’16 and ’17 compares to what Kucherov did in these last two playoffs. Crosby was playoff MVP two straight times, but his numbers are bettered by Kucherov’s.

In ’16 and ’17, Crosby had 14 goals and 32 assists in 48 playoff games.

In ’20 and ’21, Kucherov had 15 goals and 41 assists in 48 playoff games. He is one of three players to register 30-plus points in consecutive postseasons. The other two are Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. (It’s amazing Kucherov didn’t get playoff MVP either this year or last.)

Crosby plays a much better 200-foot game. He’s a top-five player all- time. Kucherov isn’t. 1217122 Pittsburgh Penguins

Former Penguins defenseman Bryan 'Bugsy' Watson dies at 78

Stephen Whyno Associated Press Jul 9, 2021 9:19 PM

Former NHL defenseman Bryan “Bugsy” Watson, who played for Scotty Bowman, with Doug Harvey and coached Wayne Gretzky during his time in hockey, has died. He was 78.

A Washington Capitals spokesman said Friday that Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the club, learned of his death Thursday from a member of Mr. Watson’s family. A Penguins spokeswoman said the team was told Watson died at his home in St. Michaels, Md. The cause of death was not revealed.

The Penguins Alumni Association called Mr. Watson a fan favorite known for his feisty play. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, Mr. Watson led the league with 215 penalty minutes during the 1971-72 season during an era of hockey which line brawls and fighting were prevalent. Mr. Watson scored eight goals and had 57 assists with the Penguins in 303 games from 1968-74 — and logged 871 penalty minutes.

A native of Bancroft, Ontario, Mr. Watson played 1,009 games in the NHL for Montreal, Detroit, Oakland, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Washington from 1963-1978 before finishing his on-ice career with Cincinnati in the World Hockey Association in 1979.

Mr. Watson played junior hockey under Mr. Bowman — who holds the record for the most Stanley Cup titles — with Peterborough. He also was paired with Hall of Famer Harvey with the American Hockey League’s Quebec Aces during his second pro season and later coached a young Mr. Gretzky.

Mr. Watson was the Edmonton Oilers’ first coach for their inaugural NHL season in 1980 after moving over from the WHA. General manager Glen Sather replaced Mr. Watson behind the bench after the team started 4-9- 5.

Although he only played 155 of his 877 regular-season games for the Capitals, Mr. Watson is known well in the Washington area. He and wife Lindy opened a pizza restaurant in Alexandria, Va., in 1983 that they renamed Bugsy’s in 1998 and sold in 2013.

Post Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217123 Pittsburgh Penguins Bryan Jr. always encouraged his son to play as a skater. With natural athleticism and good size, he’d make a great defenseman.

But the crease was Hextall’s calling. The many masks of Ron Hextall: Penguins GM enters offseason with As a 2-year-old kid, he’d throw a rolled up sock up the stairs, wait for it to unbreakable poker face bounce down and then sprawl on the floor to make a save. In class, while the rest of the kids were practicing their multiplication tables, the young Hextall would doodle pictures of Rutherford and other goalies in his Mike DeFabo12-15 minutes 7/9/2021 notebook.

Finally, when he was about 8 years old, Ron began playing organized hockey in Western Pennsylvania at the local rinks at South Park and the Ron Hextall is a man of many masks. Rostraver Ice Garden in Belle Vernon. The way Hextall remembers it, the His collection at a summer home on Lake Wallenpaupack features more coach’s son was the starting goalie. But one day, as they drove to the than a dozen different designs. From the old-school, full-face masks of rink, Hextall noticed the coach’s car in front of them. No sign of his son. his midget hockey days to the famous “The Puck Stops Here” helmet he “I told my mother, ‘I think it’s my turn to play goal today,’” Hextall wore in Philadelphia to the snarling bear face he sported on the Quebec remembers. “Sure enough, I played goal that day. I stayed in. That was Nordiques, the headgear spans decades and stretches across eras. it.” “I’ve got a fascination with masks,” the former goaltender turned And his headgear? Well, the funny thing is that Hextall didn’t just put that Penguins general manager said. “It started when I was a kid. The Gerry Rutherford mask on a shelf or hang it on a wall. He actually wore it. Cheevers mask [with the stitches on it] was my favorite growing up. It just sort of grew from there.” And he has the false tooth to prove it.

Hextall loved Ken Dryden’s target-style mask when he was with the Hextall can still remember the practice just outside of his hometown of Montreal Canadiens and Tony Esposito’s distinctive white shield. But the Brandon, Manitoba when he was 12 years old. A big kid on the team collection began serendipitously thanks to, of all people, former Penguins skated in and wound up to shoot. Just then, a power outage cast GM Jim Rutherford. darkness over the arena.

In the early 1970s, before he became a Hall of Fame team builder, By the time they turned the lights on, Hextall was missing a front tooth. Rutherford was a teammate of Ron’s father, Bryan Hextall Jr., on the Penguins and a next-door neighbor in the Green Tree neighborhood. “That doesn’t surprise me,” Rutherford laughed. “The first day I wore a Rutherford took the young, elementary-school aged Hextall under his mask, I lost four teeth. In those days, the masks were new and didn’t wing. They’d play ball hockey out on the street, in the hallway or protect you too much. anywhere else there was enough room for a makeshift net. A rookie sensation earns his stripes and his first NHL mask “Ron was a great kid,” Rutherford said. “He loved hockey. It was hockey, When Hextall joined the Philadelphia Flyers’ NHL camp ahead of the hockey, hockey.” 1986-87 season, his mask was reflective of his position on the depth One day, Rutherford — who famously was the first goalie to wear a chart. painted mask — had a gift. Since he wasn’t using the old, flat Detroit Red No ornate designs. No logos. Just a plain helmet and a cage. Wings mask with the big eye holes anymore, Rutherford figured the kid would appreciate it. “It was a lot different back then,” Hextall said. “You kind of had to make it to get a mask.” “To this day, it’s one of my prized possessions,” Hextall said. Hextall, a sixth-round pick in 1982, had won the American Hockey Two playing careers and four decades later, Rutherford unknowingly League’s rookie of the year in the previous season. Still, he was handed Hextall another gift: his seat in the Penguins’ front office. considered a long-shot to make the NHL club. Just seven games into the 2020-21 season, Rutherford resigned. The Not only did Hextall play well enough in the exhibition game to earn a abrupt move left the Penguins searching in the infant stages of the roster spot, he started the first game of the season. But on the first shot season for a new leader to call the shots. On Feb. 9, they tabbed Hextall he faced in his first NHL game, Hextall’s allowed a goal to Edmonton as general manager and Brian Burke as president of hockey operations. Oilers' Jari Kurri — essentially the polar opposite of Mario Lemieux’s So how did Hextall — a member of the Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Fame, famous first-shift, first-shot goal. a goalie who famously chased Penguins forward Robbie Brown around For any goalie, what goes on behind that mask and between their ears is the rink and the former Flyers general manager for four-plus seasons — often even more important than any physical skill. Hextall responded in a wind up as the key decision maker in the final years of the Sidney Crosby big way. window? The rookie sensation posted a 37-21 record with six ties on the way to As with many goalies, the masks tell a story. To look back on them now earning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie. More than just the is like turning the pages from chapter to chapter of a charmed hockey numbers, it was the way in which Hextall played the game that made him life. a trail blazer. A kid from a hockey family charts his own path He routinely ventured from the net, dazzling with his stick-handling like a The words Hextall and hockey were synonymous even before Ron was third defender at a time when no one else was doing it. He backed it up born in 1964 in the puck-crazed Canadian province of Manitoba. with bold confidence, saying he planned to become the first goalie to score in an empty net — a feat he’d eventually accomplish once in the His grandfather, Bryan Sr., lifted the New York Rangers to the 1940 regular season and once in the playoffs. Stanley Cup by netting the series-clinching goal during his Hall of Fame career. Hextall’s father, Bryan Jr., and his uncle, Dennis, both The dominant rookie goalie led the Flyers all the way to the Stanley Cup earned their place in the league thanks to will more than skill. The two Final against the Edmonton Oilers. Even though the Flyers dropped the forwards racked up a combined 1,230 games played in the NHL ... and series in Game 7, Hextall was still awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as 2,136 penalty minutes. most valuable player of the playoffs.

For five of Bryan Jr.’s NHL seasons, from 1969-70 to 1973-74, he and his While there may have been doubts about Hextall in camp, he proved he family called Pittsburgh home. belong — and earned a mask in the process.

“I remember being at the Civic Arena many times, jumping seat to seat,” He chose a simple design with the team colors and big logos that fans Hextall said. “A tough team would be in town, and I’d just be hoping my could see from the stands. So while he may have planted his hockey dad wouldn’t have to fight everybody.” roots in Pittsburgh, Hextall’s career was coming into full bloom on the opposite side of the state. ‘The Puck Stops Here’ they enter their final year of their respective contracts? And what will he do in net after a shaky postseason performance from Tristan Jarry? Of all the masks Hextall wore over his 13-year NHL career, perhaps the most distinct is the so-called “Puck Stops Here” motif, complete with a Those answers will come in time. But here’s one thing that’s for sure: large, downward arrow on the goalie’s forehead to tell the opposition who Hextall’s style as a general manager will be markedly different than the was in charge. last seven seasons under Rutherford.

“That was the painter,” Hextall said. “That was his idea. People liked it, While Rutherford was a wheeler and dealer who would fix one bad trade so I said, ‘All right, I guess it looks all right.’” by making three more transactions, Hextall is more deliberate, calculated. He has made just one move in five months, when he Even if it wasn’t his idea, the swagger Hextall displayed on his mask orchestrated a reunion with Jeff Carter. matched his snarling on-ice personality. He swung his stick. He barked at opponents. And more than once, he fought other skaters and other While Rutherford would freely admit he was looking for a forward to goaltenders. round out the top six or a defenseman in free agency, Hextall answers questions about the future of the club politely — but also often not at all. “I grew up with hockey in the 70s,” Hextall explains. “Hockey in the 70s was very emotional. Physical. Fighting. It’s a different era. That’s when I “Good question,” he’ll say before stick-handling around it. was growing up, so that’s what I learned.” “We’re going to keep that internal,” he’ll say, respectfully, to another. Hextall still holds the NHL record for most penalty minutes by a goalie with 584 and was suspended on several occasions. In 1987, he received Most fittingly of all, when asked about the expansion draft, Hextall said, an eight-game ban for slashing Kent Nilsson in the Stanley Cup Final. “We’re not going to lay our cards on the table at all for anyone.” Then, in 1989, the Canadiens’ Chris Chelios concussed the Flyers’ Brian That fiery goalie may have once worn his emotions on his sleeve. But Propp with an unpenalized elbow. Hextall exacted revenge, swinging his now, with playing career behind him and his mask off, he wears an easy- stick at Chelios on a play that would later earn him a 12-game going smile ... and a hard-to-crack poker face. suspension. Post Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 But for Penguins fans, the most well-known incident came earlier in those 1989 playoffs. In the midst of a wild 10-7 Penguins win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5 of the Patrick Division final, Lemieux found Brown on a backdoor play. Furious with Brown’s windmill celebration, Hextall barged out of his crease and chased Brown around the rink with his stick aloft.

Now, decades after those suspensions, Hextall is asked what words he’d use to describe his playing style.

“Totally unfair,” Hextall deadpanned. “I should I have never been suspended, and I never did anything wrong.”

Just in case the sarcasm wasn’t obvious, the new GM added a laugh.

“When you’re born, you’re born with certain personality traits,” Hextall said. “Quite frankly, I felt like I was a better player when I was emotional. If I was flatlined, I wasn’t near as good a player. I tried to play on the edge.”

Unmasked, a poker-faced GM takes the reins

Today, Hextall has removed his mask for good and shaved the facial hair he sported for most of his career. It reveals a second-time general manager with a surprisingly calm demeanor, an approachable personality and a quick wit.

“I’m actually a lot different, thankfully, as a manager,” Hextall said. “You really can’t make emotional decisions. Emotional decisions as a manager typically aren’t good ones.”

Even at 57, Hextall remains tall and lean. He speaks softly and slowly, deliberating choosing each word. Let’s put it this way: If there’s someone screaming and yelling in the Penguins’ box, it’s probably Burke, not Hextall.

“[Hextall] is a very thoughtful guy,” Burke said. “He’s a serious, deep thinker. He thinks everything through in great detail.

“When you say, ‘What about this guy? He’s available.’ He’ll take a few minutes to think about it and say, ‘I don’t think it’s a good fit for our team and here’s why.’ And he’ll come up with four good reasons.”

Burke’s assessment is in line with Hextall’s reputation as a patient general manager. He lifted the Cup in Los Angeles as assistant general manager in 2012 thanks to a build-through-the-draft approach, coupled with a few gutsy trades. And even though he was fired from his GM post after four seasons in Philadelphia, his ability to restock the Flyers’ pipeline with players who remain an integral part of the core was part of the reason he earned this new opportunity.

During his first partial season in Pittsburgh, Hextall remained mostly in evaluation mode. Watching. Waiting.

That’s about to change, as big offseason decisions are about to come in waves. Which players will Hextall protect in the July 21 expansion draft? On July 23, how will he spend the second-round pick he made sure not to trade? Will he extend Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust as 1217124 Pittsburgh Penguins Mooney believes in rooting for the home team, so he transferred his football loyalties to the Bucs and plucked down $6 per game for season tickets in 1983.

Joe Starkey: Former Penguins know — ‘Champa’ Bay wasn’t always this “I went through 14 consecutive losing years,” he says. way Soon enough, though, Tampa’s teams started to come around. The Lightning fan base, once fueled by transplanted northerners, now is packed with homegrown Tampans, including those people’s kids. Joe Starkey5-6 minutes 7/9/2021 Used to be the road team always had home-ice advantage in Tampa. Fans from Montreal, New York, Toronto, Pittsburgh, etc., would fill the place. “I don’t know when it’s going to stop,” Roger Mooney says. “But I’m not going to wake up from this dream until I have to.” “Our biggest games were when we played Montreal and Toronto,” Young said. “I’d get scored on, and the place would erupt in cheers. It’s That’s how they talk in Tampa Bay these days. Champa Bay, they say, phenomenal how things have changed. Being a part of the original team referring to their lucky selves, and even if that term might make you want and an original player, I’m proud of what they’ve done.” to punch something, you have to admit: It’s well-earned. Lightning games are a hot ticket these days. There’s a waiting list for Every time you turn around, Tampa’s winning another title. season tickets. Fans even jam the area outside to watch The latest happened Wednesday, when the Lightning made it back-to- games, just like the big screen days outside PPG Paints Arena. back Stanley Cups with a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. It’s like a dream down there, and there’s no telling when it’s going to stop. That is now three major titles in the past 283 days, if you’re scoring at Post Gazette LOADED: 07.10.2021 home, which is one more than in the approximate 33,580 days of professional sports in Tampa before that.

Also, that doesn’t include the Rays taking the Los Angeles Dodgers to six games in last year’s .

It does include the Tom Brady-led Bucs winning last year’s Super Bowl on Tampa Bay’s home field.

But if you’re feeling jealous, or even livid when you think of Brady, maybe cut Tampans a break: They went through an awful lot of losing to get here.

One-time Penguin Peter Taglianetti will attest to that. He was a member of the Lightning’s first team in 1992-93, part of the NHL’s southern expansion.

The team motto back then: “Kick Ice.” Total number of season-ticket holders: 4,700.

Taglianetti and his former Penguins teammate, goalie Wendell Young, were chosen in the expansion draft. They didn’t know what to make of their new surroundings.

The Lightning did not yet have an arena, so they were forced to play in a place called “,” which was so cramped they kept the Zamboni machine outside.

“It’s where they had the state fair, rodeos and things like that,” Taglianetti recalled Thursday. “Our first impression was, ‘Wow, what did we just get ourselves into?’

“Just east of the city was the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, which is where they staged all the animals. So you’d walk out of the arena sometimes and there was elephant crap everywhere, and horse crap.

“But it was pretty interesting to see the animals up close. They let us do that.”

Young had similar recollections.

“Our locker room was so small we actually did our stretching outside,” he said. “We’d hang out and sit at picnic tables. Some guys brought fishing rods. When the hunting and game shows were over, they’d throw little bass in the ponds, and guys would fish.”

Mooney, too, will tell you the joy of current times was well-earned. He is a transplanted Pennsylvanian from Brockway, near Dubois, 2 1/2 hours from Pittsburgh. He grew up rooting for the 1970’s Steelers dynasty.

After graduating from IUP in 1983, Mooney, 60, moved to Tampa, where the only team in town was the Buccaneers, who were decidedly not a dynasty. About all they were famous for was producing maybe the greatest sports quote of all-time.

When his expansion Bucs were hurtling toward an 0-14 season in 1976, coach John McKay fielded the following question: “What do you think of your team’s execution, coach?”

His legendary reply: “I’m in favor of it.” 1217125 Pittsburgh Penguins course I know really well, Sunnehanna, where I’m actually a member, a non-resident; so it just kind of worked out to try to do it.

What is the best part of your golf game? Q&A: Penguins’ Sam Lafferty on his attempt to qualify for golf’s U.S. Kind of depends on the day. When it all clicks, it’s nice, but you kind of Amateur Championship just kind of have to roll with what you got on a given day.

What did you in at this qualifier? By Rob Rossi Jul 9, 2021 Yeah, the putts didn’t go, so that was the thing. I mean, I was hitting good putts; just missing, you know, and catching a lot of lips. A few more putts than there could have been and it would have been a lot better. Not every professional hockey player heads for the golf course once his club’s season has ended. But Sam Lafferty did after the Penguins were Were you recognized at the qualifier by your playing partners? eliminated early from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Yeah, and when I play in this area, people usually piece it together. And, Lafferty, though, isn’t just any professional hockey player when it comes you know, everyone’s very respectful; we ended up just kind of shooting to swinging a club at a round ball instead of handling a puck with a the breeze and having fun conversations. bladed stick. Not too competitive to enjoy the moment? “I played hockey and golf since I was 6,” Lafferty said during a phone It’s just amateur. It’s actually pretty laid back. Groups are different, conversation earlier this week. “Two seasons just went hand in hand. So depending on the day. But it’s pretty relaxing, and just kind of a fun I’ve been playing golf, like, pretty seriously since then. And I was actually experience. Everyone’s out there and it’s not like their jobs are on the able to play in college, just in the spring season … right after the line. (hockey) season ended I would play for a few weeks, couple tournaments.” Sam Lafferty sounds like a golfer’s name. When you’re done with hockey, do you plan to take a shot at a second career as a pro golfer? Battling to earn his way into the NHL occupied Lafferty’s time after he completed four seasons at Brown University and signed with the I don’t think so. I really like amateur golf, it’s just really fun; there’s just so Penguins in March 2018. Within two years, he had kind of made the NHL many fun events and different things you can play. And as an amateur cut; Lafferty’s first 50 games came before the league suspended play when you turn professional, it really limits what you’re able to play in. So I amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. think amateur golf is definitely the thing for me.

Even after returning for his lone postseason appearance a few months Are you the best golfer among current Penguins? later, Lafferty used the NHL’s extended break before and after its bubble playoffs to reconnect with his roots on the greens. We actually have a lot of guys that love to play. I’m not sure if I’m the best, but we have a lot of really good players. (Former Penguins His second NHL season was far from ideal. Lafferty recorded only six defenseman) Justin Schultz was quite a good player; I enjoyed playing assists this past season, compared to scoring six goals as part of a 13- with him. But I like playing with all the guys. Everyone’s pretty into it. It’s point rookie run, and he was a healthy scratch in the Penguins’ opening- a lot of fun when we get the chance. round loss to the Islanders. A previous generation of NHL players used to take clubs on trips to He could be forgiven for wanting to focus on anything other than hockey Florida and . Does that still happen? in the weeks that followed. With the U.S. Amateur scheduled for Aug. 9- 15 at the legendary Oakmont Country Club, which is about as close to That definitely does not happen. It would be nice if that could happen, but PPG Paints Arena as the Penguins’ practice facility, Lafferty gathered his it’s not the case. bag and plus-2 handicap and attempted to qualify at another familiar A golf swing is fairly violent. Do you ever have concerns playing regularly course, Sunnehanna Country Club. The club, located a mere 39 miles could cause some physical damage? from his native Hollidaysburg, Pa. — which, as Lafferty has repeatedly said, was Penguins Country long before he joined Pittsburgh’s The motion is actually pretty similar in terms of the impact and organization — played host to a qualifier on Tuesday and Wednesday. everything. It’s kind of a nice blend; you have to be able to strike the ball pretty well, but then you have to have touch and things around the green. Lafferty made it past Day 1. His go-big dream ended on Day 2. Guys with good hands — it kind of bodes well, so I think the overall blend After returning to Phoenix, where he trains in the offseason, Lafferty of everything combined with the seasons just works out really well. talked a little links with The Athletic. You train in Phoenix, where there are a lot of courses. How often will you Sam Lafferty's qualifier results play golf at this point in your offseason?

FINISH ROUND 1 ROUND 2 SCORE I usually try to head out in the afternoons. You know, once I finished all my work with training and skating and things like that, if it’s nice, then I try 43rd (tied) to head out to the course, kind of later in the afternoons.

75 Do you watch golf on television?

77 Definitely, yeah, I’m a huge fan. I love watching it on TV, especially the majors. plus-12 Wasn’t there some big match with a couple of golfers and NFL players? Well, apparently you know how to golf. Were you pleased with your effort at the Sunnehanna qualifier? You mean “The Match”? I got to see a decent amount of that. I thought that was awesome. I thought it was really fun because you really get Honestly, no. I would just give myself, like, a C-minus for the inside the ropes and get to hear all the banter and things like that. I hope performance. But, you know, tournament golf is a lot different — just kind they keep doing stuff like that. of a putt here, a putt there, keep the momentum going sort of thing. It was still a really fun experience. I like playing golf in the offseason just to Who would be in your “The Match” if you could pick anybody that’s alive? compete a little bit and try to stay sharp that way. Oh, wow — that’s fun to think about. Definitely . And then Had you previously tried to qualify for the U.S. Amateur? Why did you try in terms of the golfers, I’d love to have Tiger (Woods) and probably Phil this year? Mickelson in there. I think that’d be awesome. And then I’m not sure where, but maybe somewhere on the West Coast, like, Pebble Beach. No. The fact that it (the U.S. Amateur) was at Oakmont — that’s a course that I’ve had the chance to play a few times and just the history of that Why Jordan? place got me interested. And then the qualifier happened to be at a It’d be awesome just to be around him. And, you know, one of the greatest athletes I’ve read about it. I know he’s a huge golfer and loves to be out there. So I think it’d just be a fun time.

So, uh, you might know somebody who could make that happen. There’s a guy in your organization who is friends with MJ. Just saying

That’s a good point.

Want to change that answer and replace MJ with Mario Lemieux?

I mean, either one would be awesome.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217126 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Falling Stanley Cup Odds; Bettors Run to Vegas

Published 9 hours ago on July 9, 2021By Chase Wilpert

The 2021 Stanley Cup parade has not yet begun, and the city of Tampa has not yet reveled with a beer-soaked trophy along the bay. That hasn’t stopped the oddsmakers sports betting enthusiasts from already setting favorites and odds for the 2022 Stanley Cup. And money seems to be moving away from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Initially, the Penguins opened the NHL betting at 20-1 (+2000), but numerous casinos have moved the Penguins down to 23-1, and some have gone as high as 25-1.

The slow Pittsburgh Penguins offseason has perhaps both dulled expectations as much as three straight first-round losses. Despite significant scoring chances and puck possession, the Penguins lost to the New York Islanders in six games.

The multiple failures to get out of the Round One despite regular season charges have set the Penguins as their biggest longshot since 2006. And so it ends as it began?

The Penguins will again have to navigate a stacked Metro Division. A 16th straight playoff appearance will not be a given, despite winning the East Division this season.

The Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche are the early favorites at +550 (5.5-1), and the now two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning are a 6.5-1 shot for a three-peat.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a surprising 12-1, and the Boston Bruins, who may have one more great run left, are 15-1.

Despite an offseason to work on defensive deficiencies and a Hall of Fame GM, the Edmonton Oilers, with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, are 25-1.

And despite the Vegas run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, the Seattle Kraken are +5000 (50-1).

Lastly, but perhaps least, the soon-to-be Jack Eichel-less Buffalo Sabres are 250-1. If you bet on the Sabres to win the Stanley Cup, can we interest you in some magic beans and the fountain of youth water?

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.10.2021

1217127 Seattle Kraken preseason games in WHL venues should help those teams after they were hit hard by the early cancellation of the 2019-20 season and their abbreviated 24-game schedule without fans this winter due to pandemic concerns. Kraken won’t play first preseason home games at but says venue ‘on track’ for regular season “There’s something about this plan that we love, which is giving back and growing the game,” Leiweke said. “These teams have been hit hard, so anything we can do to help. The big litmus test of everything we’re doing is going to be in five or 10 years, seeing how these junior teams are By Geoff Baker doing.” Seattle Times staff reporter Campbell said he hopes to get a capacity crowd of just under 6,300 for the Kent games. Most WHL arenas operate with near identical player safety infrastructure compared with NHL venues, though Campbell said president Colin Campbell became the designated his arena is installing a softer plastic cap covering for its rink boards to point-man the Kraken kept returning to the past two months as it became bring them up to standard. apparent Climate Pledge Arena might not be ready in time to host preseason NHL home games. Silvertips chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the Everett venue had already put the “soft-cap boards” in nearly two years ago, something all Campbell’s fellow executives from the , , WHL clubs are moving toward within the next season or two. Rajcic said Tri-City Americans and — comprising the Western OVG and Climate Pledge Arena officials had visited the Everett facility Hockey League’s U.S. Division — had tasked him with brokering the deal during recent Storm WNBA games to prepare for when that team moves announced Friday that will see the Kraken play all three of its preseason to the bigger arena. home games at WHL venues. Rajcic, who hopes for a capacity crowd of just under 8,300, said Kraken The Kraken announced a six-game preseason schedule with an ticket operations staffers dropped by the arena Thursday to check out inaugural home contest Sept. 26 at Spokane Veterans Memorial “the logistical back end of things” to ensure enough seats are allocated Coliseum against the Vancouver Canucks, followed by games Oct. 1 at for television personnel, medical staff and other NHL requirements. He in Everett against the Edmonton Oilers and said the Silvertips had a lone meeting with NHL special operations Oct. 2 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent versus the Calgary personnel to run through a checklist of arena infrastructure and no Flames. obstacles came up.

The Kraken is also planning to begin the regular season playing up to “We in the WHL try to emulate the NHL as much as possible,” he said. three regular-season road games before a Climate Pledge Arena debut sometime toward the end of the third week in October. For now, the Rajcic said he was impressed by how the Kraken’s proposal developed forced move to WHL locales for preseason contests enables the Kraken beyond a revenue-generating opportunity for the NHL and WHL teams. to showcase itself throughout the region and state and was readily “Our whole thing was, we can sell the tickets and it can be a revenue- welcomed by the host teams. driven thing,” he said. “But how do we improve the visibility for hockey “The idea that we want to build the foundation that we’ve got syncs up and junior hockey? That was the messaging from our standpoint. And with what they want to do as far as growing youth hockey in the area and then secondarily, is there a way to help our youth hockey partners in our all kinds of things,” Campbell said. “But this wasn’t really going to be various regions? something until they knew the building was going to be running a little bit ‘It’s going to be interesting and it should be a lot of fun.” late. So, it got floated out a little while ago but it didn’t get buttoned up until really the last week-and-a-half or so.” Seattle Times LOADED: 07.10.2021 Campbell said it was last week the Kraken first proposed donating a portion of ticket revenue to its One Roof Foundation philanthropic arm with a goal of raising more than $500,000 to expand youth access to hockey. The Kraken is also giving all five WHL teams an allotment of 500 tickets apiece that they can combine for sale within partial season-ticket packages to their own games.

“So, we’re able to kind of leverage the opportunity to increase awareness of us and reach the markets that we’re in,” Campbell said. “So, we’re excited for what the opportunity is and can use it to kick off our season as well, too, because our home opener is the following weekend.”

Kraken season-ticket holders with preseason games included in their packages will be offered account credits. Tickets to the preseason games are being sold by the WHL teams; with early presale opportunities for their own season-ticket holders followed by a general public sale July 16 at noon on angelofthewindsarena.com for Everett, seattlethunderbirds.com for Kent and ticketswest.com for Spokane.

The Kraken’s three preseason road games are Sept. 28 at Edmonton, Sept. 29 at Calgary and Oct. 5 at Vancouver.

Kraken CEO said Climate Pledge Arena remains “on track” to finish its more than $1 billion renovation in time to host games just after mid-October and following an anticipated Oct. 12 league start date. Leiweke said in an interview the team will play two or three road games before its home debut.

“We’re in good shape with that,” he said.

The New York Islanders have announced they expect to play the first month of the season on the road as their new arena on Long Island — developed by the same (OVG) company handling the Climate Pledge Arena renovation — is completed.

Leiweke said crews of 1,000 workers a day are racing to complete the Kraken’s venue amid challenges that have included global supply chain slowdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said playing the 1217128 Seattle Kraken A: Not sure I’d go that far. Let’s see how fans take to the concept and what quirks get discovered about two scoreboards that nobody envisioned. That said, I love the concept. Fans at the far ends of the ice get closer access to video replays and anything else they might have Kraken mailbag: Could Vladimir Tarasenko, Duncan Keith be in side missed at the opposite end. deals? Will two scoreboards become a trend? Also, the big scoring action takes place at either end. So fans watching the puck in those end sections at key moments won’t have to swing their heads in another direction to check out a typical lone scoreboard at By Geoff Baker center ice for time remaining and other key info. Seattle Times staff reporter And fans in the most expensive seats in the middle of the ice won’t have scoreboards in their direct frontal vision. When I took a virtual reality tour in February 2020 that replicated being inside the finalized arena, it really The Kraken is on the clock after the Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up a seemed to open up the sightlines from those middle sections. second consecutive Stanley Cup title Wednesday by beating the Montreal Canadiens in five games. Still, I’m sure someone will find something they don’t like — which is typical for anything new. So we’ll see. So it’s on to the July 21 NHL expansion draft for the league’s 32nd team, followed by the July 23-24 entry draft, with the Kraken picking at No. 2 Q: Do you think Seattle would have any interest in goalie Braden Holtby overall. Lots to look forward to. in the expansion draft?

With the Cup awarded, expect the NHL to release its regular-season A: Yes, but only if it feels Holtby still works as a No. 1 or No. 1(a) in a schedule — two versions are reportedly circulating among teams, with tandem. Sure, there are cheaper options for backup types, but they one assuming the NHL sends players to the Winter Olympics, the other haven’t had Holtby’s sustained success as a No. 1 goalie. And that in case it doesn’t — within a couple weeks. matters when gauging upside, as opposed to, say, Allen, who has never looked completely comfortable as a No. 1 throughout his career. By the way, the William Hill sportsbook has the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche as 6 to 1 co-favorites for next season’s Cup That said, Holtby’s .889 save percentage in 21 games with the title, with Tampa Bay next at 8 to 1. The Kraken is tied with the Buffalo Vancouver Canucks this past season was his worst. The advanced stats Sabres and Detroit Red Wings for the lowest Cup odds at 200 to 1. show he allowed 8.41 more goals than expected given the quality of shots faced — among the worst by an NHL regular. OK, let’s get to your mailbag questions: Holtby’s .897 save percentage the previous season with the Washington Q: What teams do you feel will have to make side deals with Kraken to Capitals had been his low, though it was for a campaign aborted due to either try to offload salary cap, or protect assets? COVID-19 with a dozen games remaining. Over two seasons, you’re talking a shortened sample size of 68 starts — only two fewer than A: Well, some interesting scenarios emerged in recent days, as winger Holtby’s 2015-16 campaign. He ranged between .911 and .922 for nearly Vladimir Tarasenko, 29, of the St. Louis Blues and defenseman Duncan a decade, which is why he once seemed a certain Kraken pick. Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks reportedly asked for trades. Tarasenko is reportedly unhappy over medical treatments by Blues team physicians. Can he bounce back? Or is regression setting in for a player who will turn Keith no longer fits a rebuilding Chicago team, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte 32 come training camp? Also, Holtby’s contract is backloaded — his Friedman reported that Keith wants to be closer to his 8-year-old son in salary-cap hit isn’t terrible at $4.3 million for next season, but he’s owed British Columbia. $5.7 million. Still, it’s only one year of money, and he’s enough of a name that you could flip him to a contender as playoff insurance if things don’t For those wondering whether Kraken general manager Ron Francis has go the Kraken’s way. had direct conversations with the Blackhawks about Keith, he doesn’t comment on specifics. But I can’t imagine he hasn’t had talks, as Keith Also, it’s not as if the Canucks offer many tempting options. Defenseman provides a veteran blue-line leader and possible first-team captain for was acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline, money that isn’t outlandish. ostensibly so the Canucks would have at least one required blue-liner to expose — which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. “I have had direct talks with all the teams covering a variety of scenarios. Chicago included,” Francis said via text. The best of the Canucks’ lot may be winger Jake Virtanen, a former first- round pick who seemed on his way to becoming a 20-goal, 40-point guy Keith, who turns 38 next week, has a no-movement clause in his before popping only five goals — with zero assists — in 38 games this contract, so he controls his destination. At issue is a $5.54 million salary- past season. There’s also an ongoing civil lawsuit filed against Virtanen cap hit each of the next two seasons. But it’s a front-loaded contract, so in April, in which a woman claimed he sexually assaulted her in a hotel total money owed is $3.6 million through 2022-23. Plus, with the draft room in 2017. upcoming, a deal could be swung in which Chicago retains cap space in return for steering the Kraken’s pick. Virtanen has refuted the claims in court, and a police investigation remains ongoing. But if you’re the Kraken, why go there? Especially in a Tarasenko, the face of the Blues most of the past decade, apparently Seattle market that has had its share of cases of violence between became disgruntled with the team’s handling of his recent shoulder athletes and women? Sometimes, the smart play is to not try to prove surgeries. He’s much younger than Keith, obviously, but there’s a $7.5 how smart you are. If the Kraken wants to take risks, at least with Holtby million cap hit in each of the next two seasons. you’re dealing with on-ice questions alone. Still, Tarasenko was a perennial 30-goal scorer when healthy. And his Seattle Times LOADED: 07.10.2021 longtime agent until a couple of months ago was Mike Liut, a cousin of Francis. So the Kraken might still get some reliable backroom information on Tarasenko beyond standard agent-speak. The Blues need cap relief, and they’d get it if Tarasenko is dealt — though they’d likely need to eat some money. And that’s again where an side deal could occur.

Other potential side-deal partners include cap-strapped Tampa Bay. The Lightning wants to unload Spokane native Tyler Johnson and needs to entice the Kraken to take his contract and maybe others. Cup finalist Montreal might also push the Kraken to take talented but enigmatic forward so it can otherwise protect goalie and key pieces from its surprising playoff run.

Q: Let’s talk about Climate Pledge Arena. Is two scoreboards going to be the new norm? 1217129 Seattle Kraken The larger question is: Will they put all their eggs into one goaltending basket as the Golden Knights did? Or try to hoard as many goaltenders as possible and then act as an offseason broker for any team suddenly in need of a starter or a backup? Duhatschek notebook: The Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft moves could shake the NHL to its core By rule, Vegas was obliged to take 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders — and then could use the remaining four choices on whichever position they wanted to. The Golden Knights had the option of selecting up to seven goaltenders, if they’d wanted to. By Eric Duhatschek Instead, they opted for extra defensemen. The reality is, of the three Jul 9, 2021 goalies they selected in the expansion draft, two (JF Berube and ) never played a single regular-season game for them.

Now that the Stanley Cup playoffs are over and the Tampa Bay Lightning But the feeling around the league is Seattle could veer in an entirely are two-time champions, hockey’s offseason begins immediately, with different direction there. One NHL source hypothesized that up to 17 the July 21 expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken the No. 1 priority for teams might need either a starting goalie or a backup by the time next the vast majority of teams. season rolls around. Sometimes because of a current need and other times because a team with two attractive goaltending options today is A few teams will escape the exercise relatively unscathed, but most going to lose one to Seattle and thus, will immediately be in the market stand to lose a player of reasonable significance — and the big question for a replacement. now is, to what ends will teams go to protect that player of reasonable significance, given how a strategy of overthinking matters backfired on so Every summer, there tends to be some NHL version of goalie musical many teams when it came time to stock the Vegas Golden Knights’ chairs; and almost always, once the dust settles, one or two players are expansion team. left without a seat.

In recent weeks, I’ve canvassed decision-makers around the league to It’s primarily why the Golden Knights went with the goalie minimum — take the temperature and see what, if any, lessons were learned from the the fear that if they selected extra goalies and couldn’t move them along, Vegas expansion. Here, at The Athletic, we’ve done multiple mock drafts they’d either be stuck with the contract, or forced to put them on waivers, and if you were to cursor down to the reader comments, virtually every and lose them for nothing. single time, there’s been a robust debate about strategy — and the It’s hard to argue with the goalie strategy Vegas adopted in its inaugural theory that teams burned once in 2017 by Vegas will approach the year. Seattle expansion with their eyes wide open and they will tread far more cautiously this time around. But what if Seattle goes the other way and chooses extras?

The reality is, I suspect Seattle will be even busier than Vegas when it Maybe not seven, though that would be a bold strategy — isolating the comes to making pre-arranged trades ahead of the expansion draft. teams with the most value goalie-wise, determining if they had any viable Financially, if 2017 represented salary-cap purgatory for some desperate replacements waiting in the wings and then act as a goalie broker, teams, 2021 is pure salary-cap hell for others, thanks to the flat-cap trading them around the NHL to teams suddenly in need of an world that they’ll operate within for the foreseeable future. Tampa Bay experienced NHL hand between the pipes. leads the pack there, but there are lots of others also feeling the squeeze. In short, Seattle will really have two objectives running parallel here.

The biggest intrigue may well be what will Seattle do with regards to One is to create a tandem that works for them, short-, medium-, and goaltending. long-term. And second is to find that extra piece or pieces that will create value for another team. If the Kraken have designs on following the Vegas template and try to get competitive right out of the gate, then their most important decision will Remember, the Kraken really don’t need or want 30 NHL players (or 30 be to figure out who might be the 2021 answer to Marc-Andre Fleury. NHL contracts) for their inaugural season. Partly what they’ll be doing is creating a player base for themselves, and partly they’ll be identifying Remember, back in 2017, the Pittsburgh Penguins had what seemed like players that have value around the league, so they can get an asset in a difficult choice to make: Either protect their long-standing star in goal exchange when they flip the contract. (Fleury) or Fleury’s heir apparent (Matt Murray). Where do the greatest goalie values lie? Both had played instrumental roles in the Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cup championships of 2016 and 2017, but the key stat at this point were Until we see the actual protected lists — set to be unveiled July 21 — we the respective dates on their birth certificates — Fleury born in 1984, won’t know for sure. But there are some teams with tough calls ahead: Murray in 1994. So there were more than 10 years difference in age. Minnesota (Cam Talbot or Kappo Kahkonen?) and Washington (Ilya NHL GMs are paid to think long-term thoughts. In June of 2017, Jim Samsanov or Vitek Vanacek?) for two. Several teams are obliged to Rutherford, then at the helm of the Penguins, reasonably assumed protect goalies because they have no-movement clauses. Florida Murray would be the team’s goalie of the future for perhaps up to a wouldn’t protect Sergei Bobrovsky if there was any way to squirm out of decade. his contract and Dallas might not with Ben Bishop either.

Little did he know, or anticipate, that almost from the moment Fleury left Montreal will happily protect Carey Price, but that leaves Jake Allen town to join Vegas, Murray’s career would take a dip and ultimately, he available. would end up in Ottawa, as the Senators’ goalie of the present. There was a time when the Los Angeles Kings’ Jonathan Quick might People may even forget that Pittsburgh included a second-round draft have topped the list of available goalies, and he might — might — still be choice as a sweetener to Vegas to select Fleury as their choice in the an option for Seattle because he is ultra-competitive, though maybe he expansion draft. Even the most casual fan knows what happened next. doesn’t have the same ability to go post-to-post as he once did. Notwithstanding what Nikita Kucherov might think, Fleury has been an Quick’s cap number isn’t great (a $5.8 million AAV for this year and next), absolute star in four seasons with the Golden Knights and last week, took but the actual dollars are modest ($3 million for next year only $2.5 home the Vezina Trophy, as the NHL’s top goalie, voted on by NHL GMs. million for the final year of a 10-year, $58 million contract signed in July Vegas made any number of shrewd deals — to land from of 2012). Anaheim, Alex Tuch from Minnesota and to maneuver Florida into giving No one was quite sure if Fleury had a final act until he got to Vegas and up two-thirds of what has been a top-two line for the Golden Knights proved to the world that he did. since their inception (Jonathan Marchessault plus Reilly Smith). Does Quick? For that matter, does Braden Holtby? But realistically, nothing tops what Fleury has brought to the mix from that first Vegas lineup reveal. Early on, when he was still with Washington, Holtby looked as if he would be a desirable candidate for Seattle because he isn’t old by goalie Seattle has studied closely what Vegas did — and the general belief is standards (32 this coming September) and he did win the Stanley Cup as that the Kraken will try to land their own answer to Fleury. recently as 2018. But Holtby didn’t have a great year in Vancouver, and ALSO: Seattle will have money to spend. At a time when most NHL so if you chose him, it would be because you thought he could play for teams are counting their pennies, the Kraken begin with a clean financial you. As a trade piece at $4.3 million, that probably isn’t going to work. sheet.

Last month, our correspondents projected the protected lists for their own Officially, under terms of the expansion draft, Seattle must select players teams and the biggest surprise for me was seeing Tristan Jarry’s name with “an aggregate expansion draft value between 60 and 100 per cent of available in Pittsburgh (in our exercise, Casey DeSmith was protected). the prior season’s upper limit for the salary cap.”

If Jarry is actually available, that — to me — makes it easy. He’d be the Logically, when it comes to selecting its team, Seattle will stay as close to obvious choice from Pittsburgh. I don’t see it happening myself, but that’s the minimum salary threshold as legally permitted to save as much cap the best part of speculation — everyone is entitled to their own take. space as possible for other transactions.

Hypothetically, what if Seattle went down the path of choosing the That, in turn, would give the Kraken a chance to add a few bad contracts maximum seven goaltenders in the expansion draft and ended up with from teams desperate to dump money but would also leave them with a Jarry, Dallas’ Anton Khudobin, Arizona’s Adin Hill, Talbot or Kahkonen decent financial cushion to bid selectively for the free-agent class of from Minnesota, Vanecek or Samsonov from Washington, UFA Chris 2021. For any player interested in exploring the market to see what’s out Driedger from Florida and a young goalie, on a modest contract? Two there, it’s hard to imagine Seattle getting outbid by anyone. would play for the Kraken, the other five would be dangled as trade bait in front of existing teams trying to fill a hole in goal. And it isn’t just the free-agent names you see currently listed on CapFriendly or Puckpedia that they’ll have interest in. There’ll be other It would, of course, be a risky play, but not unprecedented. If you go back names joining the list once teams make decisions about qualifying offers, in time to 1998, the chose five goaltenders out of the or what to do with restricted free agents with arbitration rights. 26 players they selected in the expansion draft: Frederic Chabot, Mike Dunham, Mike Richter, Mikhail Shtalenkov and Tomas Vokoun. Francis hasn’t said much publicly about tactics, but on a conference call with reporters in mid-April, he did raise the latter as a general possibility, Of the five, Vokoun was the least known — but ultimately paid the noting “a lot of teams have some really good players whose contracts are greatest long-term dividend for the Predators. coming up and it’s a challenge to find the money to pay those guys. So, we’re looking at all those different situations on a lot of different teams to I thought Vegas might adopt a similar strategy of loading up on goalies see if there’s anything that will make sense for us.” and was proven wrong. Maybe it’ll be different for Seattle. And finally My take One of the things Francis stressed when he hired as the There’ll be a lot of moving parts in the next week or so, but I’m sorry, I Kraken’s first head coach was his ability to work with people and make cannot see any scenario under which Minnesota loses Matt Dumba in the them better. They have a deep analytics department, which will crunch all expansion draft. the data, but Francis won’t overlook the human side of the equation Someone suggested the Wild will, at some point, ask Ryan Suter to either. Relationships matter in hockey. waive his no-move clause and if he does, he won’t get chosen by Seattle Francis developed relationships with both Hakstol and assistant GM and they’ll be able to protect Dumba. At that point, the most attractive Jason Botterill when they all worked together as part of Canada’s option from Minnesota would likely be a goaltender, and I’m going to management team for the 2019 world championships. theorize it’s Talbot that’ll be available. Botterill can provide insights into Buffalo and Pittsburgh, his two previous If I’m Seattle, I’d be more than content with a duo of Talbot, who is 34, NHL stops prior to Seattle. Hakstol can provide insights into Toronto and and Driedger, who 27, because I’m also certain that I can land extra first- Philadelphia, his two previous NHL stops. round draft choices in the same way Vegas did (the Golden Knights had three their first year). The Kraken could then use one first-rounder on a So, for example, in mock drafts for the Flyers, we’d been pondering the goalie prospect, either Jesper Wallstedt from Lulea in Sweden or merits of James van Riemsdyk versus Shayne Gostisbehere versus Sebastian Cossa of the . Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

The goal would be to get them in the pipeline right away, let them slowly Hakstol coached the Flyers for three-plus seasons, beginning in 2015-16 mature, and at some point in probably four or five years down the road, and ending 31 games into the 2018-19 season. In 2015-16, Gostisbehere they’d hopefully be NHL ready. And for all the other goalies I pluck in the scored 17 goals in a breakthrough season in which he accumulated 46 expansion draft, they would have to have some trade value this summer. points. In 2017-18, Gostisbehere contributed 65 points, which was fourth Or I would give them a pass. in points by a defenceman, behind John Carlson (68); and Brent Burns and John Klingberg (67) and just ahead of Victor Hedman (63). Free-agent watch Gostisbehere’s offensive slide coincided with Hakstol’s departure, but he When Ron Francis first got the job as Seattle GM, he made a joke — that is only 28 and obviously thrived under Hakstol’s watch. based on Vegas’ early success, it might have been better to be Seattle’s The minute Hakstol was announced as the Seattle coaching hire, I second GM, because the first would have so much pressure on him to changed my mind about how the Kraken would approach the Flyers’ succeed right out of the gate. protected list — and penciled in Gostisbehere instead of van Riemsdyk.

But Vegas did Seattle one important favor as it relates to free agency, by Could be right. Could be wrong. proving that playing for an expansion team in 2017 was a completely different exercise than it was back in 2000, the last time the NHL But there’ll be extra insight coming from Hakstol on what they might want expanded. to do with Philadelphia’s protected list and what they might want to do with Toronto’s (Travis Dermott, Alex Kerfoot or someone else?). In the In 2000, there was no salary cap — and established teams could protect end, the decisions they make with Hakstol aboard could result in the virtually every attractive asset in the organization. Kraken going in a different direction than if they’d hired someone else to Adding four expansion teams over a three-year span further diluted the coach. player pool. Those four teams (Nashville, Columbus, Atlanta and For the longest time, the Seattle expansion hovered vaguely, hazily on Minnesota) didn’t get a lot of immediate help from their NHL peers and the horizon. Now, it’s just around the corner — less than two weeks away thus really weren’t an attractive destination for free agents. and counting. Vegas’ wheeling and dealing was completely fascinating. Vegas changed all that. My prediction: Seattle will crank it up to an even higher level, with some out-of-left-field maneuvering that will shake the league to its core. Vegas got to the Cup Final in its first year. The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 Seattle might not do that, but Seattle has a chance to be competitive out of the gate, and that will check an important box for any free agent that hits the market this summer. 1217130 Seattle Kraken Moving Duncan Keith prior to the expansion draft would achieve a few items for the Blackhawks. It allows them to protect one more defenseman knowing Keith and the mandatory no-movement clause that would force the Blackhawks to protect him would no longer be a concern. Figuring Dougie Hamilton? Duncan Keith? 6 situations to monitor ahead of the out what defensemen they protect in his place could create a bit of Seattle Kraken expansion draft intrigue, though. The Blackhawks would have three spots to determine who they would choose to retain among Calvin de Haan, Connor Murphy,

Riley Stillman and Nikita Zadorov. By Ryan S. Clark It starts with the 30-year-old de Haan, who is both the oldest and most Jul 9, 2021 expensive of the group. He has one year remaining on his contract worth $4.55 million. Murphy, who turned 28 in March, also has a year remaining on his deal but at a slightly cheaper $3.85 million. The 26- year-old Zadorov is a pending RFA who could enter free agency next So often the narrative around the NHL for the last few years was that the season unless the Blackhawks signed him to at least a two-year contract. expansion draft was off in the distance. That it would be something front Stillman, on the other hand, is the cheapest and youngest option while offices would get a chance to eventually address knowing they had other also having the longest remaining term on his contract. The 23-year-old items to handle first. signed a three-year extension in April carrying a $1.35 million cap hit. Now? The object in the league’s collective mirror is closer than it Exposing de Haan would allow the Blackhawks to shed his cap while appears, and it is only going to gain more ground. In less than two retaining three defensemen who are cheaper and younger. But that is weeks, the expansion draft will allow the Seattle Kraken to go from being only if they can find a suitor for Keith leading up to the expansion draft. a concept with a contemporary color scheme and an eye-catching logo to So what happens if they do not find a trade partner? That would then a team with an actual roster. Figuring out what players are heading to the leave the Blackhawks only two defensemen they could protect. Opting to between now and then remains something of a go with Murphy and Zadorov allows them to retain two defensemen with guessing game. experience knowing they could recoup de Haan’s cap space should he What is clear is the reality that much can change leading up to the draft go to Seattle. But there is also the possibility the Kraken could elect to go on July 21. For example, the Nashville Predators went from risking losing the cheaper route by taking Stillman with the understanding he has only forward Viktor Arvidsson for potentially nothing in the expansion draft to played 56 NHL games compared to a veteran like de Haan who has 451 gaining assets for the future with two draft picks in a trade with the Los games. Angeles Kings. Better yet? Look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs did Colorado Avalanche Thursday by signing defenseman Travis Dermott to a two-year extension. Suddenly, Dermott and his $1.5 million cap hit could create a few more Captain Gabriel Landeskog is a pending UFA. As is Vezina Trophy questions regarding the expansion draft. finalist Philipp Grubauer. Getting new deals done for those two comes in the same offseason when Norris finalist Cale Makar is an RFA in need of It is plausible that other teams could follow suit and find the deals that a new deal. In other words? The Avalanche are a team that could be in allow them to strengthen their rosters while feeling less hesitancy about the market for creating cap space. And if that is the case, it could alter who they could expose. Or there is the possibility that there might not be what options could be available going into the expansion draft. Enough is a deal to be struck other than with the Kraken in what will be an exercise in place to suggest the Avs would go the 7-3-1 route with the idea in asset management. veteran defenseman Erik Johnson waives his NMC so they could then Carolina Hurricanes protect Devon Toews in addition to Samuel Girard and Makar.

Here is where it gets a bit cumbersome. What happens with pending That would then leave Ryan Graves exposed. Selecting Graves would UFA defenseman Dougie Hamilton presents a few hypotheticals for the give the Kraken a 26-year-old defenseman who can operate in a top-four Hurricanes. One of them could be Hamilton gets traded and the Canes role while also logging heavy minutes on the penalty kill. Plus, it would receive something in return. That haul could impact how they configure allow the Avs to clear $3.16 million in cap space with two more years their protection list to reflect those changes. It would still leave the Canes remaining on Graves’ deal. CapFriendly projects that the Avs will have plausibly protecting defensemen Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei and Jaccob $25.489 million in available cap space. Moving on from Graves would Slavin. Going that route protects three experienced defensemen yet it only add to that figure. But is that enough knowing they could get new means exposing another promising option in pending RFA Jake Bean. contracts completed for Grubauer, Landeskog and Makar while having Barring a side deal, the Kraken could take Bean leaving the Canes with some money left over to improve their roster? And that is not taking into the task of trying to find replacements for both Bean and Hamilton going account what could happen with UFA Brandon Saad and whether or not into next season. he has a future with the team.

That is just one scenario. Another would be if Hamilton returns, as getting Losing Graves and taking advantage of his savings is one hypothetical. him under contract would change the Canes’ protection plans. It would But is that enough? The Avalanche have used the draft to build for the likely prompt the Canes into protecting Hamilton, Pesce and Slavin. That, future and the last two seasons have left them with three picks — a first, in turn, would then leave both Bean and Skjei exposed within a 7-3-1 a third and a seventh — in the upcoming draft. Would they be tempted to protection model. Going the eight-skater route in an attempt to protect try to move Graves knowing they could both save money while receiving four defensemen would potentially lead to forwards like Nino Niederreiter picks to help bolster their farm system? If so? That could result in Avs or Vincent Trocheck being exposed. Protect seven forwards means Bean potentially clearing even more cap space should the Kraken decide to and Skjei would be unprotected. Still, that means the Canes only lose take forwards J.T. Compher and Joonas Donskoi. Compher has two one defenseman compared to two defensemen, with one of them being a more years left at $3.5 million while Donskoi also has two more years second-team All-Star selection who was fourth in Norris Trophy voting in remaining at $3.9 million. It creates questions about what might be the Hamilton. most advantageous path for the Avs. Are they better off losing one player for nothing in the expansion draft? Or do they make a trade to clear cap As it stands, it appears the Kraken are going to be able to find top-four space and add assets while reducing their wage bill even more through defensive options in greater supply compared to top-six forwards. That the expansion draft to have the needed space to re-sign players? could prompt the Kraken to find defensemen elsewhere, which would allow the Canes to keep Bean and Skjei. But it presents the possibility Florida Panthers they could lose pending restricted free agent forward Warren Foegele Understanding the role Chris Driedger could play this offseason means instead. The 25-year-old power forward serves in a middle-six role. Yet examining the overall goaltending landscape. He is part of a UFA goalie the forward landscape within the expansion draft could be an opening for class that features Frederik Andersen, Jaroslav Halak, Petr Mrazek, Antti him to receive top-six minutes with the Kraken. Landing Foegele would Raanta, Tuukka Rask, James Reimer, Mike Smith and Grubauer, among present the Kraken with a sizable net-front presence. Yet that comes with others. Some of those goalies are expected to hit the open market while the possibility other teams could be interested in Foegele and allow the others might remain in their current situation. Expansion draft rules Canes to move him while receiving something in return prior to the prevent the Panthers from exposing Sergei Bobrovsky because of his expansion draft. NMC while the rise of prospect Spencer Knight has also played a role in Chicago Blackhawks why Driedger could be available. It’s what makes the dynamic surrounding Driedger alluring to other The expansion draft would also be a chance for the Lightning to clear teams. The 27-year-old Driedger is an option who could be used in a space. But at what cost? The Kraken could take one of two pending tandem while having a manageable cap hit. Getting him now could create RFAs in forward or defenseman Cal Foote. Losing either a bidding war that could have the potential to be even more intense one would take a cheaper contract away from the Lightning while also should he reach free agency later this month. The Athletic’s Pierre missing out on a player for the future. That would also leave the Lightning LeBrun reported Thursday that the Panthers are taking calls on Driedger without any sort of financial relief. Even if the Lightning opted for the 7-3- in a move that could impact both the Kraken and other teams looking for 1 model, there would still be questions. Both Colton and Foote would be a goalie. exposed. As would Johnson. But it would then create a discussion about protecting the 24-year-old Cernak and his $2.95 million cap hit versus For the Panthers, the impetus in getting a deal done before the that of the 32-year-old McDonagh and his $6.75 million AAV. expansion draft goes back to maximizing their leverage. It’s likely they would seek to find a trade that allows them to get something in return The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 instead of losing Driedger for nothing at the expansion draft or before he goes into free agency. For the Kraken, it would be one less goalie who could be available. But the Kraken could also find goaltending through the expansion draft with the idea they could also dip into free agency knowing how they manage the cap would dictate their approach.

Minnesota Wild

Managing a cap crunch while trying to re-sign key players was already enough. Only to then add the challenge of the expansion draft which has only heightened a period of uncertainty when it comes to the Wild. Having five players with NMCs who must be protected means going with a 7-3-1 protection model appears to be the most prudent decision. Yet it would result in the Wild exposing forwards such as Victor Rask and Nico Sturm. It would also result in defensemen Matt Dumba and Carson Soucy getting exposed while determining what goalie to retain between Kaapo Kahkonen or Cam Talbot.

Rask’s departure would clear $4 million in cap space and offer financial relief. But would the Kraken take Rask with the idea they could potentially maximize their leverage over a team that needs the money? Taking Sturm would clear a roster spot but his $725,000 cap hit would not have the same impact compared to Rask. Going after Dumba would leave the Wild without one of their top-four defensemen but it would take $6 million in cap space off their books whereas losing Soucy takes away their advantage of someone who can play minutes for a $2.75 million cap hit. The Kahkonen-Talbot debate would be one about finances and youth. Kahkonen, who is 24, has one year remaining on his deal at $725,000 before he becomes a pending RFA under team control. Talbot, who is 33, has two years remaining at $3.667 million before he becomes a pending UFA.

All of this plays into why the discussions about a Zach Parise buyout will not go away. Buying out Parise, who has a NMC, would save the Wild a little more than $5 million in cap space in the first year. It would present the Wild a temporary solution that gives them a little more time to sort out new contracts for Kevin Fiala and Calder Trophy winner Kirill Kaprizov. among other items. Going that route would also clear up one more protection spot should the Wild go the 7-3-1 route, which would create a decision about Rask or Sturm at a time when managing money is paramount.

Tampa Bay Lightning

CapFriendly projects the Lightning will be around $3.5 million over the salary cap next season. There are ways the Lightning can shave that kind of money off their books. Using the expansion draft is one method. Making a trade before the expansion draft is another avenue. It is possible the Lightning could protect eight skaters in an effort to keep their defensive quartet of Erik Cernak, Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh and together. Protecting eight skaters means the Lightning would expose veteran forwards such as Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, and Ondrej Palat.

A trade before the draft involving any one of those four forwards would immediately allow the Lightning to become cap compliant. It could potentially allow the Lightning to add more assets in terms of prospects on cheap contracts or draft picks. The Lightning own six picks in this year’s draft but their actual first selection will not come until the third round while gaining picks for the 2022 draft could see them climb back into the second or third rounds. Earlier this season, the Lightning placed Johnson on waivers twice — once in the offseason and the other which made him a healthy scratch on opening night. Finding a deal that would allow the Lightning to clear Johnson’s $5 million cap hit over the next three seasons would create savings. But it could also be the sort of move that would prompt a trade partner to seek leverage knowing the Lightning need the cap space, whether that deal involves Johnson or someone else on the Lightning’s roster. 1217131 St Louis Blues “The city was beautiful,” Wideman said. “Tons of good restaurants. My wife and I, we basically went on a date every night for 2 ½ months.”

There were good Mediterranean and Turkish restaurants. Some places From Russia with love: Successful KHL season could relaunch served American-style food. Or Italian. As for Russian cuisine? Wideman's NHL career “I don’t think there was anything that they eat that I’m like dying to eat again,” Wideman said, with a chuckle. “But I tried. Borscht is good. I’m not on Yelp typing in ‘borscht’ to find a place in St. Louis. But if Jim Thomas somebody wanted to have a fresh batch made, I’d have a bowl.”

9 hrs ago The KHL is huge in Russia. In Nizhny Novgorad, the Torpedo have been around for 75 years, and the players practically have rock-star status.

“We’d go out for dinner and people would be just like — they were like Every morning as Chris Wideman left for work, there was a warm car star-struck,” Wideman said. “They couldn’t believe it. It was really cool waiting in the cold Russian winter. because a lot of people that couldn’t speak English would just be like “Eugene would be waiting outside the apartment,” Wideman said. smiling at you with big thumbs-up.” “Biggest smile on his face. He’s a huge hockey fan. Basically stays up all Any locals who spoke some English relished the opportunity to “practice” night, watches NHL games. And then he’d be, ‘Did you see so and so?’” the language with the hockey imports from North America. Eugene was Wideman’s driver and, as such, his lifeline throughout the “So they’d come over and they’re asking you about New York City or LA, 2020-21 season playing in the Kontinental Hockey League. Eugene or something back home,” Wideman said. “You almost can’t get ’em to made sure Wideman — and later in the season, Wideman’s wife, go away because they just want to speak English all night.” Caroline — got to the rink, to the grocery store, to restaurants in Nizhny Novgorad, a city of 1.25 million located 250 miles east of Moscow. Over the course of the season, Wideman played road games in Finland, Siberia, the Ural Mountains region and, of course, in Moscow. Playing in Eugene is gone but not forgotten for Wideman, a Chaminade product Finland was a little different due to COVID restrictions. Wideman said the now back in his hometown of St. Louis. team got off the plane, was immediately tested for COVID, then hopped “I still stay in contact with him,” Wideman said. “My wife absolutely on busses and headed “to like a little spa retreat in the woods.” adores him. He was just so helpful. The first couple times we went out to As for the Nizhny Novgorad team, Wideman said about 70% of the dinner, we’d bring him to the restaurant. He would help us find an players knew at least some English, including Zyiat Paigin, a former English-speaking waiter.” Edmonton Oilers draft pick with whom Wideman was paired with on With his NHL career stalled and the coronavirus pandemic making a defense. hockey job problematic in North America, Wideman cast his lot in the The head coach, David Nemirovsky, is of Russian descent but was born KHL a year ago. There were complications along the way, namely getting and raised in Toronto. married and then getting his wife to Russia. “They were super-patient with me and the other North American players Chris Wideman and Caroline Morehead became man and wife last July in terms of trying to help us learn Russian to communicate with guys in 29. Two weeks later, without the benefit of a honeymoon, Wideman was the locker room,” Wideman said. “As far as the coaching staff, they would off to Russia minus Caroline. Because of COVID-related visa issues, it address the team in Russian and then we would get like the bullet-point was tough to get her overseas right away. version from one of the assistant coaches during the meeting in English. Worth his while It actually ending up being pretty smooth.”

“She’s been awesome, very supportive throughout everything in my Chris and Carolina finally got that honeymoon — in June in Bermuda. career,” Wideman said. “But as I was leaving right after our wedding, This is almost the time of year when imports head back to Russia for the she’s like: ‘If you’re going to go over there, you better make it worth your start of the next KHL season, which begins earlier than the NHL’s. while.’” Staying home He took those words to heart, with a banner season for the Nizhny Wideman is staying in the States, excited to see what the future brings Novgorad Torpedo. Always known as a puck-moving, quick-skating and hoping to sign with an NHL team once the free agency period begins defenseman, Wideman led all KHL defensemen in scoring, with 41 points July 28, (nine goals and 32 assists) in 59 games. He also had a goal and an assist in four playoff games, with the Torpedo getting swept in the first “That’s definitely the goal,” he said. “If I didn’t think that that was round by Ak Bars . attainable, then I’d probably be getting on a flight back to Russia in about a week and a half, two weeks.” Wideman returned home for a while after the KHL season, then was back overseas in late May and early June, playing for Team USA’s bronze- Wideman wouldn’t name any potential NHL landing spots but said: “I feel medal team in the World Championship in Latvia. confident enough right now to have passed up some pretty substantial offers back in Russia. I feel like I’m probably playing the best hockey of It “was one of the coolest experiences of my career to win a medal my career. Which at 31 is kind of cool to say.” representing USA Hockey,” Wideman said. “It was incredible.” Rest assured, if Wideman is back in the NHL this coming season, But merely the cherry on top of an amazing year abroad. Eugene will be watching. “I’m very thankful that it was a good season and that I had the St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.10.2021 opportunity to play a full season,” Wideman said. “I think there was a lot of guys that didn’t get that opportunity, so I’m thankful that I was presented with it.”

‘Life experience’

Wideman has played 181 NHL games (mainly for Ottawa) but none since the 2018-19 season. He was strictly an AHL player in 2019-20. This past season, the AHL started late, and most teams played only 30-35 games. So playing in Russia proved to be a good move in more ways than one.

“It was a great hockey experience but even a better life experience,” Wideman said.

Caroline was finally able to get to Russia for the final 2 ½ months of the season. 1217132 Tampa Bay Lightning is obviously a factor, so it’s not good for you when you’re drinking a little bit, so you’re making it a little bit worse.”

Ultimately, this team learned its toughness from last season’s squad. Lightning’s toughness defined by willingness to grind through injuries Stamkos missed all but 2:47 of last postseason. He scored one of the Last season’s team learned the power of physical sacrifice. It used that biggest goals in Game 3 of the Cup final. He reaggravated a core muscle lesson to win a second straight Stanley Cup. injury, prompting a second a second surgery over a seven-month stretch. Kucherov pulled his groin in the first round, an injury that eventually contributed to the hip surgery that forced him to miss the 2021 season. And Hedman played the entire postseason with a left leg injury. By Eduardo A. Encina “I think we found out last year that’s what you need to do to win,” Published Yesterday Goodrow said. “And I feel like this year there were just a lot of guys playing through a lot of things that it’s pretty crazy.”

TAMPA — The impact of taking a puck shot at 101.6 mph to his left leg Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.10.2021 was enough to make Lightning forward Barclay Goodrow crumble to the ice.

With just over seven minutes remaining in the Lightning’s Stanley Cup- clinching win over the Canadiens Wednesday at Amalie Arena, Goodrow skated in front of the Tampa Bay net, taking away an open look by Montreal defenseman Shea Weber with his body.

Goodrow fell. He tried to get to his feet but dropped back to his knees. He skated off slowly, each stride more painful to watch than the previous one. His return for the final minutes of a one-goal game seemed doubtful.

But Goodrow returned for his next shift and made the final block with 27 seconds left in the Lightning’s 1-0 win, sending Tampa Bay to its second straight Cup title.

After the game, Lightning coach called Goodrow’s block the moment that exemplified the character of his team and the physical sacrifice the players made for a shot at history.

Goodrow said he took cues from his teammates.

Forward Nikita Kucherov played the postseason’s final six games with a cracked rib after he was on the receiving end of a Scott Mayfield cross- check in Game 6 of the semifinal series against the Islanders. Forward Alex Killorn broke his left fibula in Game 1 of the final, had a metal rod surgically inserted to make the bone stable and nearly returned for the series.

Captain was “good enough to play,” in his own words, after a lower-body injury sidelined him for the final month of the regular season. And defenseman Victor Hedman played through a lower-body injury suffered March 30 against Columbus. And those are just the injuries that have been revealed so far.

“Some stuff that some of the guys played through is pretty remarkable,” Goodrow said. “When you see one guy battling through it, it just makes you want to battle through whatever you’ve got going on that much more. You want to be there for your teammates, you want to just do whatever you can to help out the team. So you see one guy battling, you’re going to start battling, another guy’s going to see you playing through whatever it is, they’re gonna do the same thing.”

Kucherov, who led the league in postseason points for the second straight season, received multiple injections and played with protective padding under his jersey to keep him on the ice. When the Lightning had an extra day between Games 3 and 4 of the final, he left Montreal to return to Tampa for additional medical care.

“He played through some pretty grueling injuries here in the postseason,” Lightning forward Blake Coleman said. “And that’s something that’s not skill, that’s just all heart.”

Like Goodrow, Killorn skated off the ice in pain after blocking a shot in Game 1. Unlike Goodrow, he didn’t return and Cooper considered him day-to-day even though his leg was swollen from surgery. Killorn tested his leg during warmups before Game 4 Monday in Montreal but couldn’t go. He still held out hope, saying Wednesday that if the final went to six or seven games, he might have had a chance to return.

Killorn said he will be back to full strength in three to four weeks, which still sounds like a remarkable timetable. But that process might be slowed by the swelling he’s experiencing while celebrating with the Cup.

“There’s not a ton of rehab just because there’s a rod in it now, so the bone is stable,” Killorn said. “It’s just about managing it and the swelling 1217133 Tampa Bay Lightning “It’s hard to go back-to-back,” Savard said. “I got really lucky to be here and to get to enjoy the second ride with them.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.10.2021 Lifting Stanley Cup for first time ‘special’ for Lightning’s David Savard

Acquired at the trade deadline after 10 seasons in Columbus, the defenseman’s first year with the Lightning was a memorable one.

By Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — David Savard is still struggling to find the words to describe what it meant to him to to raise the Stanley Cup Wednesday night at Amalie Arena.

Unlike most of the players on the ice, the Lightning defenseman was celebrating an NHL championship for the first time in his 10-year career.

When Savard checked his phone after the game, hundreds of messages from family, friends and former teammates flooded the screen. Many sent pictures of their televisions, too, as evidence that they had seen him hoist the hardware.

“It was pretty special,” Savard, 30, said. “It was fun. It took me a while to answer most of the texts, and I’m still not done.”

Savard spent the entirety of his NHL career with the before he was acquired by the Lightning in April, just before the trade deadline.

“I spent a lot of years (in Columbus),” Savard said, “And you battle with those guys, I think they were proud of me and happy for me to finally get to touch (the Stanley Cup) and go on a lap. It was definitely special to me to see how much those guys were happy for me.”

Savard was one of two players (along with rookie Ross Colton) who skated with the Lightning this postseason that were not part of last season’s Cup run. He was the third player to receive the Cup, following captain Steven Stamkos and defensemen Victor Hedman, the longest- tenured players on the team.

From the moment he arrived in Tampa Bay, Savard knew he had a special opportunity in front of him, with the Lightning’s sights on a second straight Cup. He saw firsthand how the team operated day in and day out during its playoff run.

“I think it’s just the commitment to winning (that makes this group special),” Savard said. “Everybody has their role. Everybody has thrived in their role, and they’re trying to be the best they can be and that’s why it’s working.”

Savard said having teammates willing to sacrifice individual needs for the good of the group — some, like Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov, fighting through injuries — created a tight bond that was hard to break.

“They’ve been really good for years before I showed up, and I know how hard it was to play against them,” Savard said. “And when you get a chance to see it from the inside, they’re a special group.”

The Quebec native contributed in a big way to the Cup-clinching victory, assisting on Colton’s winning goal in the Lightning’s 1-0 triumph over the Canadiens.

With just over six minutes to play in the second period, defenseman Ryan McDonagh pulled the puck out of a scrum along the boards, skated to the center point and passed to Savard.

Savard moved into the right circle and passed through traffic to Colton, who was standing just outside the crease. Colton redirected the puck past goaltender Carey Price and into an open net.

The assist was one of five in 20 games this postseason for Savard, including two in the final series.

Savard doesn’t know what will happen to him in the weeks to come as he enters unrestricted free agency this offseason. The Hockey News lists him as one of the top 30 unrestricted free agents available.

But for now, he’s enjoying celebrating the Cup win with his current team. 1217134 Tampa Bay Lightning

After beer-guzzling news conference, Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov ‘signs’ deal with Bud Light

The company will supply all of the beer for the team at Monday’s celebratory boat parade.

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Nikita Kucherov’s shirtless, beer-guzzling news conference following the Lightning’s Stanley Cup-clinching win Wednesday at Amalie Arena drew the attention of Bud Light.

Kucherov, who arrived at his postgame presser clearly having already kicked back a few, was as unfiltered as could be. He took a seat in front of a Zoom camera and answered reporters’ questions while chugging cans of Bud Light, at one point sliding an empty can down the interview table and then cracking open another in a motion as slick as one of his touch passes.

He also turned away what appeared to be Bud Light in a champagne bottle mid-interview, asking for the bubbly instead.

So on Friday afternoon, Bud Light posted a tweet saying the brand, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch, signed the star forward to a deal.

Moments later, the company issued a release, detailing the terms of the deal:

“Bud Light will ensure Kucherov and his teammates continue having a legendary championship celebration by supplying all of the beer for the team at Champa’s Stanley Cup Parade on Monday.”

The release also included a statement from Kucherov:

“After my Stanley Cup championship press conference, how could Bud Light not sign me onto their team. I am excited to be part of the Bud Light team and can’t wait to celebrate our back-to-back championship with Lightning fans next week ... with some free Bud Light.”

Bud Light isn’t the only company battling for the Stanley Cup spotlight. Coors Light is producing a special Champions Ice brew that was made from filtered ice shavings from Amalie Arena ice following Game 1 of the final.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217135 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov played through cracked rib in playoffs

The cross-check he took in Game 6 of the semifinal lingered until the end of the Stanley Cup run.

By Eduardo A. Encina

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Nikita Kucherov played the final six games of the Lightning’s Stanley Cup run with a cracked rib that had knocked him out of Game 6 of the semifinal round, his agent Dan Milstein confirmed Friday.

The star forward, who led all skaters with 32 postseason points after missing the entire regular season recovering from hip surgery, was clearly playing through pain down the stretch but grinded through the final series.

Kucherov was injured on his first shift of Game 6 at , crumbling to the ice after Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield cross- checked him from behind in the first period of the Lightning’s 3-2 overtime loss.

And this happened, as well https://t.co/6rHPuQpEZA

— ����������� (@faiello_mari) June 24, 2021

He missed the rest of that game but returned for the Game 7 win over the Islanders and recorded five points in the final against the Canadiens (including two goals and an assist in Game 1) while averaging 19:06 of ice time.

Kucherov wore additional protection to absorb hits to his rib area, received multiple injections and even traveled back to Tampa from Montreal between Games 3 and 4 of the final to receive additional medical care.

“He played through some pretty grueling injuries here in the in the postseason,” Lightning forward Blake Coleman said following the Lightning’s Game 5 win over Montreal. “And that’s something that’s not skill. That’s all heart.”

Several days after his injury, Kucherov played it off as if it didn’t exist. “There was no injury. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said when asked about it.

Last postseason, Kucherov tweaked his groin in the Lightning’s first- round series against Columbus and played through it, leading all postseason scorers with 34 points, but it led to the hip injury that needed offseason surgery to correct. After leading the league in postseason scoring again this year, he joined Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemeiux as the only players to do so in consecutive seasons.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217136 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov FaceTimes ‘idol’ after Stanley Cup win

A FaceTime request from an unknown number appeared on Igor Larionov’s phone as he dined with his son.

By Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Nikita Kucherov’s Stanley Cup celebration didn’t end with the on-ice revelry or locker room party with family and friends.

It spilled over to his hockey idol’s dinner.

Igor Larionov was dining with his son when Larionov got a FaceTime call from an unknown number. He answered it, anyway, and Kucherov and the Stanley Cup filled his screen.

“You’re my idol!” the Lightning forward and playoff scoring leader shouted to Larionov in Russian. “Thank you!”

Larionov’s son, Igor Larionov II, shared the exchange on Twitter, calling it the “coolest thing witnessed.” Less than an hour later, he showed the tweet to his father, who shared other parts of their conversation.

“(Larionov) said ‘Kuch’ also told him that he always watches his highlights,” Larionov II tweeted. “Every athlete can relate to watching your idol, but how amazing is it to win the biggest trophy in your sport and then FaceTime your idol. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”

Larionov, 60, was one of the famed “Russian Five” for the Detroit Red Wings in the 1990s. Alongside Sergei Fedorov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Slava Kozlov and Slava Fetisov, he helped the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships under Scotty Bowman in 1997-98. i showed my dad this tweet & he said kuch also told him that he always watches his highlights. every athlete can relate to watching ur idol, but how amazing is it to win the biggest trophy in ur sport and then ft ur idol. gives me goosebumps thinking about it

— Igor Larionov II (@Igor_LarionovII) July 9, 2021

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the exchange:

Hockey is beautiful https://t.co/68INQgSC8j

— L May (@LDMay) July 9, 2021

Kuch drunk calling legends https://t.co/oa9jJYwCJh

— Blake (@SoldierFieldBlg) July 9, 2021

Every time I answer a call from random number it’s about the car I don’t own’s extended warranty expiring.

It’s never Nikita Kucherov. https://t.co/GEER90fvkp

— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) July 9, 2021

Drunk Dialing: Stanley Cup Edition. https://t.co/B7bi3sBI36

— Angela Dallman (@angeladallman) July 8, 2021

This is why you gotta answer those random numbers https://t.co/XkaIHcxGLI

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) July 9, 2021

Greatness recognizing greatness #HonourThePast | #NHLAlumni https://t.co/GJjQ4lFBRf

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) July 9, 2021

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217137 Tampa Bay Lightning THE FINAL NUMBERS ARE IN… #GOHABSGO VS #GOBOLTS BECOMES THE MOST-WATCHED #STANLEYCUP FINAL IN @SPORTSNET HISTORY ⌛

This is how it ends for the NHL on NBC — a small ratings bump for the OVERALL, THE 2021 #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFFS REACHED 26M Stanley Cup Final VIEWERS ACROSS SPORTSNET, CBC & TVA SPORTS – 70% OF �� POPULATION!

THANKS FOR TUNING IN, CANADA! By Bill Shea PIC.TWITTER.COM/SAFBN0HQCZ

Jul 9, 2021 — SPORTSNET PR (@SPORTSNETPR) JULY 8, 2021

Specific data wasn’t available for French-language TVA that aired the The numbers are in, and this is how it ends for the duo of NBC and Final, but a Canadian source estimated that specific audience at about hockey. 1.5 million.

The network, which surrenders its National Hockey League broadcast That means an average of 5.6 million Canadians watched the series rights to ESPN/ABC and Turner Sports next season, said Friday that the versus 2.52 million Americans. Tampa Bay Lightning’s Game 5 Stanley Cup Final clincher over the Canada’s population of 38 million is a fraction of the United States’ 330 visiting Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday averaged 3.62 million U.S. million, but is baked into the Canadian national character — viewers. That’s both TV and streaming. so much so that an image of kids playing hockey was depicted on the The entire five-game series, which was mostly one-sided as Tampa Bay country’s $5 note for several years. So it’s not terribly surprising the Final defended its title, averaged 2.52 million, the network said. That’s up from did better on TV there with a Canadian team finally present after a last year’s Final — played out-of-season in September and in a fan-less decade. Edmonton “bubble” because of COVID-19 — that averaged 2.15 million In the U.S., the seven-game Vancouver-Boston series in 2011 averaged across linear TV and streaming. 4.57 million on NBC and NBCSN (the last year it was called Versus). In The Lightning’s Game 6 clincher in 2020 averaged 2.95 million across Canada, its CBC audience for Game 7 that year was 8.64 million. NBC properties while airing against a “Monday Night Football” game The NHL has a 12-year, $4.9 billion Canadian TV rights contract with between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens that got 14 million (which owns Sportsnet and handles the CBC viewers on ESPN. NHL feed) that ends in 2026.

But 2020 was a weird outlier. Two years ago, the last pre-pandemic Regardless of this year’s U.S. television numbers, the league’s America Stanley Cup Final, the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins series broadcast deals get much more lucrative starting next season — averaged 5.33 million on NBC/NBCSN for one of the most-watched Final doubling to nearly $4.4 billion long-term. NBC opted to avoid a bidding in decades. Game 7 that year averaged 8.72 million viewers. war with Disney’s ESPN/ABC and AT&T WarnerMedia’s Turner Sports to Still, with all that’s happened with live sports and the television industry keep the NHL. over the past year-plus, NBC and the NHL got decent numbers for the ESPN/ABC will pay a reported $2.8 billion through 2027-28 for live NHL finale of their business partnership. games. That’s about $400 million a season for the league’s primary 2021 Stanley Cup Finals U.S. viewership package in a deal struck in March.

Game 1 In April, the NHL and Tuner Sports agreed to a reported seven-year, $1.57 billion deal. That’s about $225 million a season. 1.57 million NBC landed NHL games in 2005 and its now-expired deal paid the NBCSN league $2 billion over 10 years, or $200 million a season. It’s aired games on its over-the-air national channel along with its CNBC and USA Game 2 cable networks, the soon-to-shutter NBC Sports Network, and the 1.65 million Peacock streaming service.

NBCSN NBC’s 82-game full slate of Stanley Cup playoff games this season (12 on NBC and 70 on cable) averaged 1.01 million per game, the network Game 3 said. That was up 7 percent from last year’s Edmonton/Toronto bubble playoffs. 2.38 million It’s down, like most things, from 2019 when NBC’s average was 1.48 NBC million for TV and streaming across all of its channels and platforms. Game 4 The 2021 pandemic-shortened NHL regular season averaged 391,000 2.92 million TV and digital viewers across NBC and NBCSN, according to Sports Business Journal. That was the smallest average for any season under NBC the network’s current deal. The peak was 590,000 in 2012-13.

Game 5 Most NHL games air on local networks. NBC and its cable and digital channels aired 103 games this season. The average over the 10-year 3.62 million broadcast rights deal was 101 games. NBC The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 It’s important to note that the league gets eyeballs and dollars north of the border, too (or south of it, if you live in downtown Detroit!).

This year’s series was the first Stanley Cup Final to include a Canadian team since the Vancouver Canucks in 2011. And not surprisingly, Canadians tuned in to see the Habs in their first appearance in the Final since winning an NHL-record 24th championship in 1993.

The English-language Canadian broadcast on Sportsnet/CBC averaged 4.1 million for Game 5 and 3.6 million for the series. 1217138 Tampa Bay Lightning Colton’s coach at the University of Vermont, Kevin Sneddon, is a Canadiens fan. But his allegiance flipped pretty quickly when the rookie scored.

Behind the rise of Ross ‘The Boss’ Colton and his Cup-clinching goal for “I jumped around in my living room,” Sneddon said. “Just knowing what Lightning Ross must be feeling.”

Scott Bertoli’s first “wow’ moment with Colton came his freshman year of high school. By Joe Smith Colton went to Princeton Day School in New Jersey, getting to play with Jul 9, 2021 his brother Rob. They were playing in a game at The Hill School, a boarding school in Pottstown, Penn. They had taken a half-hour bus ride

to get there, and the players were getting changed in the locker room. All Ross Colton remembers his first up-close look at the Stanley Cup of a sudden, Colton came out, looking like he was going to cry. playoffs was watching the Devils in their run to the Cup final in 2012. “Coach, I don’t have any skates,” he said. Colton was 15 at the time, and he and his brother Rob would search Colton must have left his skates in his other bag for his travel team. online for the cheapest StubHub tickets, then take the train from Robbinsville, N.J. to Newark to the . They’d sit in the Bertoli was good friends with the opposing coach, so he asked for help. nosebleeds, but Ross — in his John Madden jersey — and Rob — in his Martin Brodeur jersey — were wowed by the effort it took in the playoffs. “Who is it, one of the Coltons? Let me guess, the little one?” the Ross was also struck by the passion and leadership of his favorite player: opposing coach said. “Watch, I’ll give this kid skates and he’ll score a hat trick.” Zach Parise. “Come on,” Bertoli said. “He’s just a freshman.” “I tried to model my game after him,” Colton said. They brought Colton to the JV team’s room and all the players’ skates On Wednesday night, the roles were reversed. With Colton, the 24-year- were hanging at their stalls. Colton was told to take any pair he wanted. old Lightning rookie, delivering the Cup-clinching goal in a 1-0 shutout of The best they could find was a pair a half size too big, and Colton the Canadiens, it was Parise impressed while watching from his home in stumbled around in warmups. But Colton scored in the first period late on Minnesota. a rebound goal. During the second goal, he took the puck from his goalie, going end to end. He beat a defender twice and then went from a “That was awesome,” Parise said Wednesday night. “I like how he plays. forehand to backhand deke to beat the goalie. Quick skater. Holds on to the puck. In Tampa, that’s contagious, everyone does it.” “The most amazing goal I’ve ever seen at that level,” Bertoli said. “It was almost in slow motion.” LIGHTNING STRIKE FIRST Late in the third period, Colton stripped the puck from a player behind the ROSS COLTON PUTS TAMPA BAY UP 1-0 IN GAME 5 OF THE net, dumped it in for an empty-netter. They won 3-1, with Colton scoring STANLEY CUP FINAL. all three. @NHLONNBCSPORTS PIC.TWITTER.COM/L2CQ3QVVF5 “In the handshake line, my buddy said, ‘Son of a bitch, I told you he’d — THE ATHLETIC (@THEATHLETIC) JULY 8, 2021 score a hat trick,'” Bertoli recalled. “Every time I see him, we laugh about it. He was the first one to text me after a goal in these playoffs. It was Colton’s first goal in a month, but the biggest one of his life. He darted to the net, fought off veteran defenseman for “The kid is still doing it.” position and redirected a David Savard pass in the net. Colton was a great all-around athlete, a starter on the baseball and “There’s no really words to describe it,” Colton said. “I’m still speechless, soccer teams. But hockey was his first love. He and Rob would play roller it was just such an unbelievable feeling.” hockey in the family driveway, making their dad, Rob, dress up in goalie gear (street hockey pads, baseball chest protector and helmet). Colton has been a revelation this season, with the fourth-round pick scoring on the second shift of his NHL debut and nine in his first 30 “We’d be peppering him with shots for hours until he couldn’t take it games, earning the “Ross the Boss” nickname from teammates. He’ll be anymore,” Rob said. “He was no Brodeur.” even more important next year with the roster expected to change due to Rob tried to keep up with his younger brother, even when the two played the salary-cap crunch. Colton already put himself into Lightning lore with together in high school. Despite a smaller stature, giving up five, six this goal, and then poured beer on Rob and his father in the postgame inches and 40-60 pounds on players, Colton would be effective, dynamic celebration. There was just one special person missing, his mother, and, most importantly, productive. Bertoli was struck by how he was so Kelly, who stayed home in Robbinsville with the flu. confident and aggressive in shooting the puck. He compared him to his Colton said his first call during the on-ice celebration was to his mom, his former Princeton University teammate, and current Lightning assistant, “biggest fan.” Jeff Halpern.

“Can you believe it?” Kelly Colton texted right after her son’s goal. “Some kids, they get chances, and they’re not ready. they double clutch, “Honestly, I’m crying I’m not there. I’m wearing his jersey, watching and they fan on it,” Bertoli said. “The ability to one-time a puck, I couldn’t do Rocco our dog is barking.” that until I was playing pro hockey. I’d be happy if he could do it as a freshman in college. Colton was doing it as a freshman in high school.” Those who have been part of Colton’s path were not surprised he came through with the clutch goal. Chris Barcless, Colton’s coach with the Robbinsville is a small suburb (13,000 population) about 25 minutes from Mercer Chiefs, said he saw the goal developing five seconds before. Princeton, and there’s not an abundance of rinks. And while Princeton Day school is a strong program, players like Colton don’t come along too “The shift right before was a great shift,” Barcless said. “When the scrum often. So Bertoli said it’s meant a lot for the area to see Colton have NHL was on the boards and he was in good position when it went up to the success and continue to come back for alumni games and be an point, he was the closest guy to the paint. I knew that was exactly where ambassador for the school. he was heading.” “We recognized he was an exceptionally talented kid with qualities most “The fight to the paint and heavy on the stick,” said Mark Carlson, of us had never seen before,” Bertoli said. “You talk to any of his Colton’s coach in USHL Cedar Rapids. “Just love it!” coaches, if there was a kid you could project to be an NHL player, it was someone with Ross’ ability, work ethic and compete level. “He goes to the net like no one else I’ve played with,” said former high school teammate Conrad Denise, a good friend. “I’ve seen that one “This isn’t Minnesota. This isn’t New England. This isn’t Canada or before many times.” Michigan. He’s one in a million here.” Carlson remembered recruiting Colton out of Robbinsville. Colton’s The 75-minute on-ice workouts were grueling, starting at 6 a.m. The first parents were athletes, too, with Rob playing college baseball and Kelly a 30-35 minutes were all about skill development, including stick handling basketball player in high school. There were several youth coaches and and skating, then a mix of one-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-two trainers who played a big role in Colton’s development, from Barcless to competitions. For eight months, Colton did this, believing it’d give him the Kevin Wagner, but after playing for Taft Prep School in Connecticut, it best shot to make the Lightning lineup when the 2020-21 season started. was time to make the jump. Carlson just had to convince him the next step should be in Cedar Rapids. “The college guys, junior guys were skating their butts off, and a guy like Ross never thought he was too good for anyone,” Barcless said. “He Carlson loved Colton’s ability to skate, his work ethic and his family embraced all the hard work. He never dogged it, never took a session off. background. “He just worked his tail off,” Carlson said. Colton scored 35 Not a lot of guys would be there at 6 a.m. every day if they didn’t have goals by his second year there, no easy feat for that league. to.”

“(Carlson) told me, ‘If you stay a second year, you’ll gain some more Colton was disappointed when he didn’t make the Lightning out of camp, confidence, be a leader on this team and take that next jump,'” Colton but a little over a month later, he got his first NHL call-up, taking a private said. “It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I stayed and took a jet with fellow prospect Alex Barre-Boulet to meet the team in Tampa. He leadership role and got bigger and stronger. I took that leap playing more made his NHL debut on Feb. 24 against Carolina, scoring a goal in his power-play time, PK, top six, and it was huge.” second shift. He went hard to the net, as he did in the Cup-winner, pouncing on a rebound from a Victor Hedman shot. So was Colton’s decision to go to the University of Vermont. He fell in love with the rink and the history of the program — which produced Hall His parents, his brother, his grandmother and good friends like Denise of Famer Martin St. Louis. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t end up choosing were in Tampa for it. None of them were surprised. Denise called it a there,” he said. “Cinderella story.”

Colton spent two years at Vermont, with Sneddon impressed by how Not sure anyone saw Colton scoring eight goals in his first 17 NHL much of an impact he made right away. He had a unique combination of games, though. intensity (“He absolutely hates to lose”) but he was coachable. Colton was drafted in the fourth round by the Lightning in 2016, before his “Everyone always said he was too small or he wasn’t going to be fast freshman year, but Tampa Bay felt he needed some college seasoning enough at the next level,” Denise said. “He’s continued to make everyone before going pro. Sneddon will always remember the phone call he got that said that look silly. He continues to prove everyone wrong. People from Colton in June 2018. He was sitting in his recliner in Burlington said he wouldn’t be able to do it in the USHL or at UVM, and he led his watching TV when Colton phoned him, telling him, “Coach, I’ve got some teams in points. Then he went to Syracuse and people said, ‘Oh he’s good news, but tough news for you.” doing well in the AHL, but I don’t think he’ll make the NHL.

He was signing his entry-level contract with Tampa Bay and heading for “He just continues to surprise.” AHL Syracuse. So how did Colton’s “Ross the Boss” nickname come about?

“There was no doubt in my mind he’d get there,” Sneddon said of the It’s not a Bruce Springsteen reference, though the Jersey kid does like NHL. “He’s just a very motivated person, absolutely loves hockey and “The Boss” along with country music. wants to be the best. It’s no shock that he got his first chance and made the most out of it.” Colton told Denise the name was sparked in a video session with assistant coach Derek Lalonde. One of Colton’s linemates, either Pat Development isn’t always a straight line, and Colton was far from a Maroon or , had scored a goal, but Lalonde pointed out finished product when he arrived in Syracuse in the fall of 2018. the play, and pass, Colton made.

“I remember his first year here, he was dying after 20-25 seconds,” “See how Ross did that,” Lalonde said. “He’s a team guy. He likes to Crunch coach Ben Groulx said. “The skating was not adequate for him to make plays. You’ve got to be more like ‘Ross the Boss.'” be a good player at our level. His first year was a real eye-opener for him.” Lalonde said he first heard Ondrej Palat call Colton that name while on the bench during a game. Colton took the constructive criticism and worked at it, with his conditioning from his first to second year improving “100 percent,” Groulx “I for sure pounded, ‘Ross the Boss,’ in the next few video sessions and said. Colton said Wednesday he gives a lot of credit to Groulx and the probably gave it some legs,” Lalonde said. Crunch coaching staff. The name caught on, with Denise said he’s creating some “Ross the “He saw something in me and wanted to push me to my max potential,” Boss” merchandise. Many Lightning players have their own brands, like Colton said. “It wasn’t easy. He pushes guys, whether it’s doing extra Alex Killorn’s “A17.” Denise said the hat will have RTB on the front, with stuff on the ice, doing one-on-one drills and competing. He forces guys to the ‘T’ shaped like a Lightning bolt, the shirts will just read “Ross the get out of their comfort zone and push hard. There are days you leave Boss.” the rink exhausted but you definitely get better. He turned me into a “We were hoping he’d get a couple more goals and the team would have player I didn’t know I could be.” success in the playoffs, and then we’d drop it,” Denise said. “We’ll see, Colton said he gave Groulx a big hug in the dressing room after Ross has the final edit.” Wednesday’s Cup clincher, with both reflecting how far he’d come. He Maroon said Colton fit in with the Lightning team right away, saying the told Groulx, “I definitely wouldn’t be here without you.” rookie had the right blend of confidence but an appreciative attitude. He Groulx said when you’re a first-year pro, you can sometimes deal with was fearless on the ice, a relentless forechecker who was fierce below challenges you’ve never had to face in the past. It all depends on how the dots and responsible defensively. He had some swag, too, not afraid you respond to that. to shoot when he had the chance. Colton’s shootout goal in Dallas early on was a moment when teammates turned their heads and admired his “Some guys have challenges but don’t fix it,” Groulx said. “I think Ross skill — and guts. understood quickly what he had to do to get better, what was required to play in the NHL. The second year, he came in and was more fit, faster. Colton said it took 15-20 games for him to truly settle in, noting that he And this year he was even more fit and faster. When you see that, you was just trying not to make a mistake early on but gradually took more know the guy understands and knows he’s on the right track. It’s a sign of chances. Teammates and coaches told him to play his game and maturity, a sign of understanding, a sign you believe in the process.” “embrace the moment.” And that’s what he did.

The turning point came last summer. “I always felt he could be a top-six guy but also could be a 7-through-12 guy,” Barcless said. “Some guys can’t do that. Some guys, if they’re not When the pandemic hit and the hockey leagues shut down, it meant that in the top six, they’re not productive, and they can’t be a 7-through-12. Colton and many other prospects faced the idea of having to go around Ross understands the game well enough where he can play both.” 9-10 months between games. Colton called Barcless, who was his coach for Pee Wee and Bantam. They worked out a training group that included The big moments never seemed too much for Colton throughout his some other pro players, some Princeton University guys, some from career. There was something about him that was just different. Barcless junior, others from Europe. There were about a dozen overall. recalled an Under-12 district program during youth hockey where two coaches drafted teams. One coach was not very high on Colton.

“You’ve got to draft this kid, Ross,” Barcless said. “Trust me, if you get Ross, it’ll be a steal.”

The coach passed. The other team, however, didn’t. Colton was the tournament MVP and they won the title.

“The kid is a gamer,” Bertoli said. “He shows up and wants to be in those moments.”

The whole town of Robbinsville was rooting for Colton during the playoff run. Bertoli said they hope to do something for one of their more famous alumni at the school at some point. Barcless said Colton usually comes back and talks to the same Mercer youth teams he once played for.

The kid who grew up idolizing Parise now has a fan in the veteran Wild forward, who reached out to the Lightning rookie on Thursday to offer his congratulations. Parise said it was humbling to hear Colton looked up to him. And now it’s Colton who’s setting the example, the first rookie to score the Cup clincher since Mike Rupp did for the Devils in 2003.

“My 8-year-old son Owen is shooting pucks thinking he’ll play in the NHL,” Bertoli said. “And Ross has a lot to do with that.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217139 Toronto Maple Leafs how players played at 17, sometimes 16. There are sure to be more than a few mistakes made. There will be lots of “late bloomers” as they say. Teams are probably as likely to hit on a pick late as they are early.

Don’t blink, hectic NHL off-season is already well under way For the Leafs, no need as of yet to tune in on July 23. The Leafs don’t have a pick. As things stand, they only have three picks — their own second, fifth and sixth. Gone are the first (Nick Foligno), third (because Jack Campbell re-signed), fourth (Foligno) and seventh (traded to Boston By Kevin McGran so the Leafs could draft Ryan Tverberg last year). Staff Reporter Dubas has been creative at drafts, trading in and out, up and down. If he Fri., July 9, 2021 updated 10 hrs ago wants in, he’ll get in. Perhaps if contract talks with Hyman and Andersen are going badly, he could trade negotiating rights away for picks.

Free agency: July 28 is the new July 1, for one year only. The frenzy will The 2020-21 NHL season is over . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . And now begin at noon. The cap is flat, at $81.5 million, so teams will be putting on to 2021-22. pressure on players to keep salaries low. Some teams are choosing to wait to re-sign their UFAs because it will make their expansion protected It’s not going to take long for the NHL, its (now) 32 teams, agents, lists a tad easier, though it comes with a heightened risk of losing a key players, media and fans to get going for next season. player for nothing. Seattle actually has early negotiating rights. A lot is coming down the pipe, quickly. Big unrestricted free agent names scheduled to hit the market include First up: The expansion draft. Teams have until July 17 to submit their Washington captain Alex Ovechkin, who would love to return to the protected lists for the July 21 draft. The lists will be made public July 18. Capitals, Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog, Boston winger Taylor Hall The Seattle Kraken must take a player from every team, achieving at and goalie Tuukka Rask, Carolina defenceman Dougie Hamilton, least the salary cap’s lower limit of $60.2 million. (Except Las Vegas. The Edmonton defenceman Tyson Barrie and Vegas defenceman Alec Golden Knights are exempt. Their owner does not share in any of the Martinez. $650 million expansion fee, either.) The Leafs stand to lose Hyman, Andersen, Foligno and Alex Teams can protect seven forwards, three defencemen and one goalie, or Galchenyuk. any eight skaters and one goalie. The latter would be the choice for a Some restricted free agents, who could have interesting times team — maybe like the Maple Leafs — that would rather protect four negotiating contracts and be subject to ill-founded rumours regarding the defencemen. unicorns called “offer sheets,” include Columbus winger Patrik Laine, It also must be remembered each team is required to include on its Islanders forward Nathan Beauvillier and goalie Ilya Sorokin, Winnipeg unprotected list a goalie, two forwards and a defenceman under contract defenceman Neal Pionk, Buffalo winger Sam Reinhart, and Florida for next year. For the Leafs, Michael Hutchinson, , winger Sam Bennett. Jason Spezza, Wayne Simmonds, Pierre Engvall, Adam Brooks, Justin Toronto Star LOADED: 07.10.2021 Holl and Travis Dermott fit those requirements.

Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has options. The 8-and-1 choice would see Kerfoot and one of Dermott or Holl left dangling. The 7-3-1 would see both Dermott and Holl left dangling.

The interesting thing here is the new Leaf ties to the Kraken. Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol was a Leafs assistant for the last two years. Hakstol hired former Leafs assistant coach Paul McFarland. Between them, they’ll know the available Leafs pretty well, and will be able to lobby GM Ron Francis for whoever they want.

It has been speculated, however, the Leafs at least have a heads-up from Seattle on who they might like to pluck from the roster as a favour for allowing Hakstol to leave. Maybe there’s even a deal in place, though that might be a stretch. Teams rarely stand in the way of this kind of promotion.

The Seattle Kraken will also have early access to unrestricted free agents — like Zach Hyman and Frederik Andersen.

Pucks advertise the NHL's newest franchise during the grand opening of Seattle Kraken team store on Aug. 21, 2020 in Seattle.

Trades: The expansion draft puts extra pressure on teams worried about losing a player for nothing. They may be shopping veterans around for prospects or draft picks — something that can be hidden away from the Kraken.

Meanwhile, a whole bunch of players have either asked for trades or are on the market: Buffalo captain Jack Eichel, Columbus defenceman Seth Jones, St. Louis forward Vladimir Tarasenko, Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau and Chicago defenceman Duncan Keith.

Entry draft: That’s July 23 (for the first round) and July 24 (for the second-through-seventh rounds), another draft by Zoom calls. It promises to be one of the craziest and most dramatic drafts in history. And the drama starts at the top. Michigan defenceman Owen Power of Mississauga is the prohibitive favourite to go No. 1, a pick owned by Buffalo. The Sabres however are believed to be shopping it. Power is considering returning to college next year. He’s already got a world championship gold medal to his credit.

So hang on from that perspective. But just consider that so few players actually played, and those that did played fewer games than normal, due to the pandemic. Scouts will be advising general managers based on 1217140 Toronto Maple Leafs So what does the future hold for Danault? First and foremost, he’d like to return to Montreal.

“I think everyone knows I’m really proud to be a Montreal Canadien, to TRAIKOS: Danault deserves big payday after shutting down the best in wear that jersey,” he said. “I put my heart on the line for the team. If I the playoffs wasn’t proud, I wouldn’t have played that way in the playoffs. I would’ve packed up and got ready for free agency. So I think it shows a lot of character and my desire to win.”

Michael Traikos The only question now is whether Montreal can afford him? With Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson-EK recently signing for eight years and $42- Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 8 hours ago million, the asking price for Danault is likely to be around $5.5-million annually. That’s a lot of money for a Canadiens team that has to re-sign Kotkaniemi this summer, Suzuki next year and Caufield two years from Is $5-million too much for a defensive centre who scored five goals this now. year and has never had more than 13 in a season? By then, Danault might only be the Habs’ third-line centre. Of course, it’s Let’s phrase the question differently: will $5-million be enough for a a role that has become more and more important after this year’s defensive centre who limited Auston Matthews, Blake Wheeler, Mark playoffs. Stone and Brayden Point to a combined one goal in the playoffs? Heck, even pizza restaurants are offering Danault endorsement deals That’s the real value of Montreal’s Phillip Danault, who is perhaps the these days. “I did get some offers for pizza deals,” he said. “It wasn’t the most intriguing name in this year’s free agency. time during the playoffs, so I rejected them. But I’m open now, if you guys want to know.” Danault doesn’t come with the same offensive gifts as Taylor Hall, David Krejci and some of the other two-way forwards on the market this It won’t be the contract offer he receives. summer. He doesn’t produce goals. He prevents them. He backchecks, wins face-offs and kills penalties. He is a throwback to a time when top- Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.10.2021 six forwards were strictly one-dimensional scorers and bottom-six forwards were defensive grinders.

As we saw in the playoffs, where Danault shutdown the league’s best scorer and was part of the penalty-killing unit that allowed five power play goals on 61 attempts, there is value there. The kind of value that Toronto or Edmonton or any other team with championship aspirations require in order to take that next step.

“You don’t win without players like Phillip Danault,” said Eric Staal, who compared Danault to his younger brother, Jordan, a former Selke Trophy finalist.

As much as Nick Suzuki and enjoyed their coming out party in the Canadiens’ run to the Stanley Cup final, Danault was arguably the team’s most valuable forward in the playoffs. You just had to look past the offensive numbers to realize it.

Danault was the embodiment of a Montreal team that grinded its way to victories. He was the guy who shadowed and sacrificed his body, and then looked like Captain Morgan celebrating with a slice of post-game pizza in the zoom interview afterwards. And while he didn’t score much — Danault’s four points in 22 games had him tied for 14th on the team in playoff scoring, with as many goals (1) as stay-at-home defenceman — few others did too when he was on the ice.

“I think we saw around the league that if you want to win you need three really good centres like Tampa, like the Islanders, like we did this year too,” said Danault. “It just shows that you need a loot of centres to win, good two-way as well. I know who I am, I know what I can give. I know what I can bring to a team. I know I can win. So it was a big year personally and for us as a team.”

It wasn’t always this way. Danault, who didn’t score until the 25th game of the season, wasn’t always secure in his role as a Selke Trophy nominee. He worried that if he didn’t score enough, he wouldn’t make enough money in free agency. Or worse — that he would lose his spot in a lineup that was getting younger and more dynamic.

When a report leaked that Danault had reportedly turned down a six-year deal worth an annual average of $5-million during the second week of the season, the 28-year-old took a lot of criticism for what many believed was a fair — if not generous — contract offer. But Danault said it was less about the money and more about his spot in an evolving lineup.

“Absolutely, it was all about the role,” he said of turning down the offer. “I was also scared a little bit that Suzuki and (Jesperi Kotkaniemi) was going to take more minutes. Yeah, I think it affected me. Even if you say it doesn’t affect me, it affected me because I wasn’t playing that good, I wasn’t playing my best hockey at that time at the start of the year with everything that was going on.

“It was tough. It was tough mentally. But I got way stronger mentally and I really believe that’s why I played that type of hockey in the playoffs. It got me stronger mentally and I felt like nothing could push me on the mental side if anything happened.” 1217141 Vegas Golden Knights Comparing the divisions solely off points percentage certainly has its problems. The past season was so different from other years because teams only played within their division, which throws things off. However, the difference between the Pacific and the other three divisions is drastic How a weak Pacific Division in 2021-22 could impact the Golden Knights’ and other metrics paint a similar picture. offseason strategy Take the last two seasons, for example, and look at how many combined playoff wins each division has over that span.

By Jesse Granger DIVISION COMBINED PLAYOFF WINS (2019-21)

Jul 9, 2021 Atlantic

71

The NHL divisional landscape will be shifting rather considerably for the Metropolitan 2021-22 season, especially as it pertains to the Golden Knights. 53 The four divisions will return to their normal setup, prior to the reconstruction for the 2020-21 season. That means the return of the Central traditional Pacific, Central, Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions. 52 That’s great news for the Golden Knights, considering they will be losing Pacific Colorado, Minnesota and St. Louis from their division – the three top teams aside from Vegas this past year. And those teams will be replaced 38 by Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. The Pacific is once again shockingly behind the pack, with only 38 The Pacific Division will be altered further though, thanks to the league’s combined playoff wins compared to 71 for the Atlantic, 53 for the newest team. The Seattle Kraken, who will select the bulk of their roster Metropolitan and 52 for the Central. And just as with the points in the July 21 expansion draft, will replace the in the percentage, the Golden Knights make up for the vast majority of the Pacific. The Coyotes will shift to the Central. success of the division. Vegas accounts for 22 of the 38 playoff wins over the last two seasons. Vancouver has 10, with three of those wins coming (Graphic from the NHL) in last year’s qualifying round, and it’s arguable if that should even count There’s no telling how competitive Seattle will be. The Kraken could as the true postseason. Beyond the Canucks, only the Flames (five) and follow in the Golden Knights’ footsteps as an immediate threat – they will Oilers (one) have tasted victory in the playoffs since 2018-19. have the same expansion rules, after all. Or they could be the bottom- In fact, the Golden Knights are the only 2021-22 Pacific Division team to dwellers most expansion teams are expected to be out of the gates. have even won a single postseason game this past season. Edmonton Regardless of that, the Pacific Division is shaping up to be the easiest to was the only other team to qualify for the playoffs and was swept by win in the NHL, and by a pretty considerable margin. Winnipeg. Meanwhile, the Central and Atlantic each have five returning playoff teams, the Metropolitan has four. DIVISION 2021 AVERAGE POINTS PERCENTAGE In just about every measurable way the Pacific Division projects to be the Central league’s weakest next season. Obviously things change from year to year. Seattle could surprise. Edmonton has the top-end talent that could .576 potentially figure things out. Calgary and Vancouver have had mild Metropolitan success recently despite a poor 2020-21.

.576 So why does this matter now, in July? Because the Golden Knights’ front office may consider this when making some decisions this offseason. Atlantic Vegas is obviously very close to the salary cap ceiling and will need to make some difficult choices. .557 With a division that appears weak enough to sleepwalk through to a Pacific playoff berth, perhaps the Golden Knights might hold some salary cap .510 space until the trade deadline rather than maximizing their roster for opening night. They actually did something similar in 2019-20 when they Comparing 2020-21 points percentages, the Pacific is the league’s dealt Erik Haula, Colin Miller and Nikita Gusev to open up cap space weakest division. The other three divisions are all relatively equal, all prior to the season starting. falling within 1.9 percentage points of each other. And then there’s the Pacific, 4.7 percentage points behind the next-worst division. That’s As the season goes on, that cap space becomes more and more largely due to the weak bottom half of the division – Anaheim, Los valuable because a player’s cap hit only applies to the number of games Angeles and San Jose were putrid this past season – but it’s also they play on that particular team. It means that $5 million in cap space at because of the shift. The division is now losing Colorado, which won the the trade deadline (more than halfway through the season) is actually President’s Trophy with the best record in the regular season; Minnesota, enough room to add close to a $9 million player. Vegas used this which had the ninth-best record in the league with a .670 points strategy to add Chandler Stephenson, Alec Martinez and Robin Lehner percentage; and St. Louis. midway through that season. The Golden Knights didn’t have the cap space to carry those players all season, only for a portion. General And those three strong teams are being replaced by Vancouver, which manager Kelly McCrimmon said that was the plan from the beginning, finished with the worst record in the North Division; Calgary, which when they opened the salary cap space to begin with. struggled mightily to a .491 points percentage; and Edmonton, which qualified for the playoffs but was quickly swept. If Vegas’ front office looks at the Pacific Division and feels their team can earn a playoff spot without pushing to the salary cap ceiling, it would give Vegas’ stellar record actually skews the data even further. If you remove them the opportunity to add a star player at the deadline, one they the Golden Knights from the equation, the average points percentage for wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. next year’s Pacific Division teams was only .473. Another benefit to this strategy is the Golden Knights would likely be able Not only were the three teams being added back into the division worse to afford the player acquired at the deadline in the future, meaning the than the three they’re replacing in 2021, but they’ve also historically player wouldn’t simply be a deadline rental. That’s because while Vegas struggled against the Golden Knights. Vegas has a combined all-time is currently strapped for salary cap space, that changes in 2022-23. record of 22-24-3 against Colorado, Minnesota and St. Louis, for an There are five contracts coming off the books after next season, including average points percentage of .480. Meanwhile, they’ve excelled substantial cap hits for Marc-Andre Fleury ($7 million) and Reilly Smith historically against the incoming teams, going 22-7-3 all-time for an ($5 million). average points percentage of .734. That leaves Vegas with $26.2 million in projected cap space for the 2022- 23 season, according to Cap Friendly, and would allow the Golden Knights to keep whatever impact player they acquired at the 2021-22 trade deadline well beyond this season.

It’s a risky strategy, but holding onto a few of their poker chips and playing with a less-than-optimal roster for the regular season could be a real option for the Golden Knights. They’ve done it before, and a weak Pacific Division could allow them to create the best possible team come playoff time next season.

Finding ways to maximize the salary cap is a key to winning. Look no further than the team that just hoisted the Stanley Cup.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217142 Vegas Golden Knights The Pittsburgh Penguins could expose 20-goal scorer Jared McCann or big personality grinder Brandon Tanev but the Washington Capitals might be the top team for the Vegas Golden Knights to watch.

Golden Knights Trade Opp; Kraken Draft Exemption Creates BIG The Capitals could expose one of two potential top-four defensemen. Chance Only one of Brenden Dillion or Michael Kempny is likely to be protected.

And McCrimmon should pounce like a desert cat, pending conversations with pending free agent Martinez. By Dan Kingerski The Carolina Hurricanes might leave one prime defenseman Published 6 hours ago on July 9, 2021 unprotected. The pending free agency and NHL trade drama with top RHD Dougie Hamilton will have cascading effects. If Carolina gives up

and lets Hamilton walk, they will protect their top two left-side Assuredly, if the NHL and GMs across the league knew they would defensemen. create a Stanley Cup contender from their spare parts, the Vegas Golden If Hamilton sticks around or is protected, second-pair LHD Brady Skjei Knights would not have been exempt from the next expansion draft. could be available. Skjei is a 27-year-old defenseman who could replace Instead, they have to deal with the downside of exemption but have a Alec Martinez for a little more cost ($5.25 million). huge opportunity on the NHL trade market. The Nashville Predators made the first strike on the NHL trade front If everyone knew how good the Golden Knights would be, the expansion when they dealt former 30-goal scorer Viktor Arvidsson to the LA Kings rules might not have been beneficial. However, the previous expansion for a second (2021), and third-round(2022) picks. Nashville realized teams in Columbus, Nashville, and San Jose had long-standing Seattle would select Arvidsson, so GM David Poile got something for struggles. They served as a warning to the NHL that fanbases are far him. more difficult to build when a team stinks. McCrimmon has carte blanche do to the same. He can load up with more And stinks for years. than seven protectable forwards and more than three protectable The Golden Knights broke the expansion mold AND are exempt from the defensemen. 2021 expansion draft on July 21. Believe it or not, that is not entirely a For now, we’re left to speculate on unprotected lists, but on July 17, good thing. those lists become public. In the days before the lists are locked, there But Kingerski, how is keeping good players a BAD thing? will be defensemen available and teams who wouldn’t mind an asset in return. The days leading up to the 17th could be wild as teams wheel and Glad you asked. Because Vegas will keep all of its players, they will not deal. lose a salary, and they will not have a spot in their lineup which will create some necessary change. Instead, GM Kelly McCrimmon will have And one more scenario to consider. to do it all the hard way. What if the Golden Knight could acquire a few assets on the cheap and (By the way–Thank you for welcoming me to Las Vegas. I so enjoyed ship them to the Buffalo Sabres for a No. 1 center? covering the Round Two series. I’m spending part of the summer here Seattle and Francis should have stiff competition for those exposed and in Pittsburgh as we build the National Hockey Now network, which is players. It’s an opportunity For the Vegas Golden Knights as good as now in 10 markets across the league. Stay tuned for No. 11). playing the worst team in the playoffs in the NHL Semifinal. McCrimmon will have to work the NHL trade front harder. He will have to Sorry, too soon? find a way to shed some salary and create turnover but only with a willing dance partner. Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 07.10.2021 Just for fun, you can play on the PuckPedia.com Expansion Draft Tool to see who the Vegas Golden Knights may expose. It’s an interesting exercise because McCrimmon would be in a prime position to expose a large salary if he chose.

The top seven Golden Knights forwards would be protected, but in a different world, would they have exposed Reilly Smith to expunge the $5 million cap hit? Maybe the $5 million William Karlsson who scored 39 points in 55 games?

Which goalie would McCrimmon protect? That is something to chew on, isn’t it?

With a quick stroke, the Golden Knights, who have just $5 million to fill three lineup holes, including top-pair defenseman, could free up another $5 million.

That’s a lost opportunity, but it also leads to greater opportunity.

NHL Trade Market Opportunity

The Golden Knights also have a gigantic opportunity on the NHL trade front. Because the Golden Knights will not lose a player, they can load up. While their top competitors like the Colorado Avalanche are agonizing over difficult choices and the reportedly sky-high asking price to make side deals with Seattle, McCrimmon can go on a shopping spree.

How many teams would love to get something back for their soon-to-be exposed players instead of waving goodbye for nothing?

Because of the rules, Kraken GM Ron Francis should have plenty of competition before the July 21 deadline. The deep Metro Division will have a plethora of exposed forwards and defensemen. 1217143 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Already 2022 Stanley Cup Favorites

By Dan Kingerski

Published 18 hours ago on July 9, 2021

The 2021 Stanley Cup is still warm, and the Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t dropped it in the river yet, but the oddsmakers are already collecting bets on the 2022 Stanley Cup–and they sure like the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights were upset by the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL Semifinal, but that was a one-time COVID forced matchup, and Montreal will return to the Eastern Conference next season.

Significant changes could be in the offing for the Golden Knights, too. There are rumblings the Golden Knights are chasing star center Jack Eichel, and the front office will decide over the next few weeks what to do with the dual-goalie situation.

Marc-Andre Fleury or Robin Lehner could be on the move, so the Vegas Golden Knights have cap space to add to their already formidable roster.

Before the Seattle, Kraken expansion draft happens in 12 days, before the NHL Draft in 14 days, and before the NHL free agent frenzy takes place on July 28, the Golden Knights and their closest rival, the Colorado Avalanche, are already most bettor’s choices to end the Tampa Bay reign.

Both teams tied for the most points in the NHL at 82, but Colorado won the President’s Trophy on tiebreakers.

Both Colorado and the Golden Knights are +550 (5.5-1) to win the Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay is right behind them as bettors like a three-peat at +650.

Many oddsmakers have Vegas at +550, but DraftKings dropped their odds to +600.

As Las Vegas has lots of transplants and re-homed hockey fans, you may like some of your former teams, too.

Toronto Maple Leafs are a surprising 12-1.

The Boston Bruins, who may have one more great run left, are 15-1.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are all over the map. They’re +2000 at some casinos. They’re +2300 (23-1) at DraftKings.

The Seattle Kraken are +5000 (50-1).

And lastly, but perhaps least, the soon-to-be Jack Eichel-less Buffalo Sabres are 250-1.

If you bet on the Sabres to win the Stanley Cup, can we interest you in some magic beans and the fountain of youth water?

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217144 Washington Capitals

Capitals ranked eighth-best playoff team in salary-cap era poll

BY ANDREW GILLIS

It’s no secret the Capitals have been one of the NHL’s most successful teams since the salary cap was instituted for the 2005-2006 season. But in terms of playoff success, they might be a little lower than first thought.

This week The Athletic published a ranking of each NHL team over the salary-cap era by virtue of their playoff success. The most points were given for winning a Stanley Cup, followed by losing in the Stanley Cup, then losing in the conference finals. Making the playoffs counted for one point.

The top of that list should surprise no one, as the Penguins ran away from the pack — a fact Capitals fans are all too aware of. The Capitals lost to the Penguins in the 2009, 2016 and 2017 second round of the playoffs — and each year, they hoisted the Stanley Cup.

The Capitals placed eighth, falling behind teams like the Blackhawks and Lightning, who have multiple Stanley Cups, and were tied with the Sharks, who have made it a point to continually knock on a title’s doorstep since the lockout.

Before their Stanley Cup victory in 2018, the Capitals were the encapsulation of regular-season success without playoff success to follow. Up until that Stanley Cup win, the Capitals had never reached the conference final in the Alex Ovechkin era. That came despite the fact that they'd made the playoffs in each season but one since 2008.

Since the 2005-06 season, the Capitals have the second-most points of any team with 1,524 (688 wins, 416 losses and 146 overtime losses) behind just the Penguins (1,536 points, 704 wins). When it comes to winning games over the last 15 years, nearly no team has been better than the Capitals.

But winning a Stanley Cup is mighty difficult, which should make the Lightning’s feat of going back-to-back all that more impressive.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217145 Washington Capitals

What will the Caps do in free agency?

BY J.J. REGAN & ANDREW GILLIS

With a flat salary cap, some expiring contracts and the Seattle expansion draft, this is going to be a busy offseason for the Capitals. To get you ready, Capitals writers Andrew Gillis and JJ Regan are breaking down the biggest offseason questions with their thoughts.

Today's question: What will the Caps do in free agency?

Andrew: I think the Capitals will be essentially forced to work around the edges, which makes this tough to say without knowing what they’ll need to do after the expansion draft.

I don’t believe a potential Evgeny Kuznetsov trade would impact too much of free agency. Any free agents the Capitals sign will have to be of the cheaper variety and likely take place after the initial wave of free agency happens.

This has worked to their benefit in the past, like last year when they got Connor Sheary and Zdeno Chara for cheap. They also added goaltender Craig Anderson, who earned the win in their only playoff victory. So if the Capitals don’t add anyone in the early stages of free agency, which they might not even have the salary cap space to do without a major move or two, then don’t fret.

Otherwise, I think they keep their goaltending the same with Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek and then use Martin Fehervary and Alex Alexeyev as defensive additions. If anything, I think they could use a player that could play a Michael Raffl role, in that he was a player that could play both wing and center in a pinch. But that role might be filled by Connor McMichael.

All of that is to say that not only do the Capitals not have roster space to do much in free agency, they might not have much money either. I expect it to be a very quiet free-agent period in Washington.

JJ: Looking at a Caps team that currently does not have enough cap space to re-sign Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Samsonov, my first instinct is to say the team won't do anything in free agency. There are, however, two things to keep in mind. First, we are answering this question based on incomplete information. The team must move salary this offseason and just who they move will determine how much space they have and what, if any, additional needs the roster will have at that point. Second, Brian MacLellan is an aggressive general manager who always seems to have some sort of unexpected trick up his sleeve. Because of that, yes, I do expect them to make some sort of addition in free agency. I don't expect them to be in on the big-name free agents like Taylor Hall and Dougie Hamilton, but I do expect at least some sort of minor move.

Again, just what they may look for will depend on what they lose in the offseason either through the expansion draft, free agency or additional trades. But if there is one area of need I think will be addressed, it will most likely be center depth.

Center depth was a question mark going into last season, it was one of the few areas in which MacLellan did not add in the offseason and, sure enough, that led to T.J. Oshie playing center a handful of games with no other viable options for the NHL roster. Depth center/forward would then be the most likely offseason target and I do not see Connor McMichael being able to step into that role just yet. The good news for Washington is that depth players are getting squeezed into taking smaller contracts due to the flat cap. That will benefit a Capitals team with little room under the cap ceiling with which to work.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217146 Winnipeg Jets on the blue-line in recent years (13 defencemen, 12 forwards and four goalies over the last five drafts), a focus up front might be in order.

4) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: There are eight in the fold, who Jets have decisions to make before Kraken draft can also shop their services around to the rest of the league if not re- signed by July 28. Forwards Paul Stastny, Mathieu Perreault, Trevor Lewis and , defencemen Derek Forbort, Tucker Poolman and Jordie Benn, and backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit. Mike McIntyre I’d be surprised if at least a few of these familiar names aren’t back for 7/9/2021 another run. Brossoit is a perfect companion to Connor Hellebuyck, Poolman is a drafted and developed player that Paul Maurice is high on, and Stastny is beloved by the team for all he brings. But again, it’s a Fare thee well, 2021 NHL season. We weren’t sure what to expect when matter of what they might fetch elsewhere, too. With the bulk of the core you started cautiously and quietly back in early January, but you sure signed long-term, and existing holes on the roster needing to be filled, packed a punch by the end. there’s only so much money available.

That was quite the swan song down in stormy Florida this week, one that 5) RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Andrew Copp and Neal Pionk, both should have every other organization green with envy. From pulling off with arbitration rights, are major priorities. They’re both coming off the rare Stanley Cup repeat to having a jam-packed arena that brought a impressive campaigns and likely in line for big pay hikes. Pionk made $3 boatload of cash to their coffers, there’s no doubt the Tampa Bay million last year while Copp made $2.28 million. Lightning are on top of the hockey mountain right now. The Jets already took Copp to arbitration two summers ago, an The question now for 31 jealous other teams: How the heck can we get experience that left a chip on the shoulder of the versatile 27-year-old there next year? Work on that front should already be well underway, Michigan product, who can play centre or wing and up and down the with the sprint that is the off-season now upon us. lineup. They’d be wise to avoid it again. Locking them up on long-term extensions would be the best-case scenario, but I have to think you’re A flurry of events are on tap. The window for buying out contracts, starting with a "4" on both players when it comes to average annual decisions on restricted free agents including potential arbitration salary. hearings, re-signing or cutting loose pending unrestricted free agents, finalizing protected lists, the Seattle Kraken expansion draft, the league’s Stanley, provided he isn’t scooped by Seattle, is the other RFA, but his annual amateur draft and free agent frenzy will all happen later this deal will be far more simple, and inexpensive. month. We’ll also get the release of the 2021-22 schedule and a final decision on Winter Olympics involvement. 6) FREE AGENT FRENZY: Much of what the Jets do starting July will be based on decisions made with their own UFA’s and how much they’re So much for the lazy, hazy days of summer. spending (or projecting to spend if the deals aren’t done) on Copp and Pionk. But there’s no question the blue-line has to be a top priority, with With that in mind, here’s what the to-do list of Winnipeg Jets general the focus on landing a big fish if possible. manager Kevin Cheveldayoff currently looks like, along with my two cents on how he should approach the important tasks at hand. Problem is, there’s not a whole lot out there except for Dougie Hamilton, who is likely going to get a massive haul as part of a bidding war for his 1) BUYOUTS: The Jets are fortunate not to have any of the so-called services. boat anchor contracts dragging them down, especially with the salary cap stuck at US$81.5 million for the foreseeable future. Are some deals There are some intriguing veteran second-tier names, such as Alec concerning? Sure. Blake Wheeler’s, for example, probably won’t age Martinez, Alex Goligoski, Jamie Oleksiak, Alex Edler and Niklas well. But there’s nothing to see here in terms of one you’d be willing to Hjalmarsson on the left side, and Tyson Barrie, Brandon Montour, David pay the price to get out of. Savard, Adam Larsson and Travis Hamonic.

2) PROTECTED LIST: I’d expect Winnipeg to protect the following 11 Bottom line: With only Morrissey, Pionk, DeMelo, Stanley and Nathan skaters under the 7-3-1 format: Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Beaulieu under team control next year, in addition to young players such Connor, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Blake Wheeler, Andrew Copp and Adam as Sami Niku, Ville Heinola and Dylan Samberg, there’s a lot of work to Lowry up front; Neal Pionk, Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo on the be done. Throw in potentially needing a new No. 2 goalie, a couple blue-line and Connor Hellebuyck in goal. middle-six skaters and several depth forwards and defencemen to round out a roster, and this really could be a frenzy around here. Which likely means losing either Logan Stanley or Mason Appleton. 7) THE CHICAGO SITUATION: Last, but certainly not least. No question that will sting, but Cheveldayoff would be wise to avoid a Cheveldayoff will be doing multiple media availabilities coming up, and side deal which could actually make the situation worse. the former assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks will be asked what I might be enticed to protect Stanley, and expose DeMelo, gambling that he knew about two players who reported to management back in 2010 the Kraken would then choose a young forward like Appleton rather than that they were sexually assaulted by video coach Brad Aldrich. a solid stay-at-home defender like DeMelo. Cheveldayoff must submit his In a subsequent lawsuit, one of the players accuses the organization of a list by July 17, ahead of the July 21 expansion draft. cover-up. Former associate coach John Torchetti and former 3) ENTRY DRAFT: The Jets have the 17th-overall pick in the first round defencemen Brent Sopel and Nick Boynton have all confirmed publicly it of the entry draft on July 23, which will be done virtually for a second was well-known within the organization. An independent investigation straight year. That should give them a solid future prospect. Zach Parise, has been launched. Tomas Hertl and a guy you may have heard of around here, Kyle It’s important to note Cheveldayoff was not reportedly present for an Connor, all went in that same spot in previous years. internal team meeting where the matter was discussed, then ultimately Winnipeg has four other selections on July 24, in the second, third, fifth not reported to police. Aldrich left the organization, was given a glowing and seventh rounds after previously trading their fourth-round pick (to letter of reference and went on to molest a high school hockey player, for Vegas for Cody Eakin in 2020) and sixth-round pick (to Vancouver for which he was convicted and jailed. Still, as a former member of that Jordie Benn in 2021). Stanley Cup-winning club, the elephant in the room must be addressed.

This is where the amateur scouting department, which has been a real Add it all up and business, as they say, is about to pick up. And the Jets strength of Winnipeg’s, will need to do the heavy lifting. Many of these of today may look a heck of a lot different in a few weeks from now. teenagers have barely played over the past 16 months due to the global Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.10.2021 pandemic, so the crapshoot that is the annual talent show is an even bigger roll-of-the-dice this year.

As always, my advice would be to pick the best player available, regardless of position or organizational need. But after a heavy emphasis 1217147 Vancouver Canucks “So, I have to do that extra work in terms of taking notes and studying and it translates to my hockey game since if I’m not doing any extra stuff in the summer, or during the season, and I’m not on top of my nutrition, not doing everything that I physically can, then I’m not going to get the Canucks top 10 prospects: Aidan McDonough's got poise, at least results.

Lanky collegiate winger Aidan McDonough has got lots of tools, but still “I learned the hard way throughout my college and my high school career needs to be a better skater. that in order for you to be successful I really have to pay attention to every single little detail.”

In hockey, it’s the details that really do count. To that end he’s working Patrick Johnston with a power-skating coach this summer. Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 11 hours ago “Watching the NHL playoffs and how fast that is, I have some work to do,” he said. “I started skating with a power-skating coach this summer, which the Canucks recommended that I do … I’d never worked with a Consistency, Vancouver Canucks prospect Aidan McDonough admits, power-skating coach before. This is the first summer I’ve done it and I remains a work-in-progress. feel great already on the ice.”

The lanky Northeastern University winger is No. 8 on our list of the top 10 Soon enough, he will be hoping to see his hard work pay off. Canucks’ prospects this year, up one spot from the last time we did this ranking in fall 2020. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.10.2021

McDonough’s strengths have long been evident. He’s got a great shot and works hard battling for pucks. But if he’s going to make it as a pro one day, it’ll come down to his skating. And it was in response to a question about the state of his footwork that he brought up the word consistency.

“I’d like to be a bit more consistent throughout my whole entire game, throughout the season,” he said over the phone from his family home near Boston on Friday. “But I think for me it just starts with moving my feet. I think when I’m moving my feet, I have a big impact on the game, and then games where I don’t move my feet as much, I don’t.

“And I think towards the second half of the season, I started moving my feet a lot more, and I made more of an impact. With more of an impact comes points and goals and assists, which ultimately are not what I’m setting out to do every game, I’m just setting out to have an impact and compete.”

Humility, it seems, comes easily to the 21-year-old. He’s been nearly a point-per-game player over his first two seasons of U.S. collegiate hockey. He’s going to be an assistant captain next year for Northeastern.

The Canucks thought highly enough of his potential that they drafted him in the seventh round in 2019. (He was one of two picks in the final round of the NHL Draft that year, along with our No. 9 prospect, Arvid Costmar.)

AIDAN MCDONOUGH

(Prospect No. 8 in daily countdown.)

Age: 21.

Height: 6-2. Weight: 205 pounds.

Shoots: Left. Position: Winger.

Draft year: 2019, seventh round.

Current team: Northeastern University (NCAA).

Outlook: Energy winger.

He’s on the pro radar not just because of his ability to work hard and win puck battles, but also because he can score. Being able to score is what gets you to the NHL.

It’s the skating and work ethic, though, that will keep you there.

And in that sense, McDonough has a lot going for him. Just from the fact that he’s been taking a summer course at Northeastern in supply-chain management, you can hear his understanding of how important it is to have a get-it-done attitude, that every moment counts.

“We were talking about how COVID has totally thrown off everything in the supply chain and our professor’s trying to convince all the kids in the class that they should be supply-chain majors, that they’re in demand, and that if you can figure out how to fix some of the stuff that’s going on you’re going to make a lot of money,” he said, with a chuckle. “I think the biggest thing is knowing yourself as a student and knowing yourself as a person. I know that I have to study. I have to put in the work and that if I just show up in the lectures and not really pay attention and then go to the exam, I won’t do well. 1217148 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks to be Seattle Kraken’s first-ever pre-season opponents

The Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken will play Sept. 26 in Spokane.

Patrick Johnston

Publishing date:Jul 09, 2021 • 11 hours ago

Let the rivalry begin.

The Seattle Kraken released their 2021-22 NHL pre-season schedule Friday morning and their first-ever opponents will be the Vancouver Canucks.

The I-5 rivals will face off for the first time Sept. 26 at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

It’s the third time the Canucks have taken part in an NHL expansion team’s pre-season debut, as they were the first opponents for the San Jose Sharks in 1991 (they were also the Sharks’ first regular-season opponent), as well as the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017.

The Kraken’s home pre-season games are all at WHL arenas around Washington state — their other two home pre-season games are in Everett (Oct. 1 vs. Edmonton) and Kent (Oct. 2 vs. Calgary).

We’re *another step* closer, fam.

The first #SeaKraken preseason schedule is here with our “home” games taking place in @TheWHL arenas across Washington State before we return to @climatearena for our inaugural season home-opener → https://t.co/DObJuRvNqK pic.twitter.com/4apaJ5skQr

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) July 9, 2021

The Canucks are hosting the Kraken at to close out Seattle’s pre-season schedule on Oct. 5.

The Kraken will begin building their NHL roster with the expansion draft on July 21.

The Canucks haven’t yet released their 2021 pre-season schedule.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217149 Vancouver Canucks that the team definitely doesn’t want to get rid of Roy but might be open to the idea of listening to offers.

Practically speaking, this means that the Canucks would likely have to The Canucks’ search for a third line centre: 9 trade and UFA options to pay an above-market value rate to pry him out of Vegas. But if the club is target confident that there’s an untapped upside, paying a premium price could well be worth it for a young, inexpensive centre that could potentially be a long-term fit as a 3C.

By Harman Dayal Mikael Granlund, C/W, Nashville Predators

Jul 9, 2021 Contract Status: Pending UFA

Age: 29

It’s no secret that the Vancouver Canucks have a major hole down the 2020-21 stats: 51 GP, 13G-14A-27P middle after Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat. If the club wants to push for a playoff spot, they can no longer rely on Brandon Sutter in that role. The Canucks might not have the cap flexibility to make a push for Mikael Granlund, but if they find a way to move some money out, he’d be a very J.T. Miller, who spent the second half of the season at centre following sensible target. Pettersson’s season-ending wrist surgery, appears to be the incumbent to hold down the third line centre spot next season. Miller’s such a high- It’s going to be fascinating to see how the market shapes up for a player end, versatile player that it’s perfectly reasonable to bet on him as a like Granlund. He was squeezed hard into signing a one-year, $3.75 quality third-line centre. The problem is that he’s even more valuable on million contract as a UFA last offseason and while that kind of team- the wing, which is the ideal position for him to play if the team wants to friendly price seems unrealistic this time around, the flat cap could still maximize his value. have a deflationary effect on middle-class players. If he becomes available on a two- or three-year deal in the $4-5 million per year range, Vancouver’s goal this offseason should be to acquire top-nine forwards the Canucks could consider kicking tires. irrespective of position. But in an ideal world, they’d be able to bring in one or two candidates that can also play the middle. That would give the Granlund is a versatile and intelligent all-around playmaker who can play coaching staff multiple options and versatile looks to building their third both centre and wing. I wonder if playing in Nashville has also line. Some of these players, including Derek Ryan, Derick Brassard and suppressed his point totals since it’s a very tough environment for Derek Stepan, were already profiled in our under the radar forward forwards to produce, in large part because of the club’s anemic power targets piece. play and lack of high-end finishers. Granlund definitely looks like the kind of player who can produce more in a new environment as he scored 118 Here are some of the top options to consider from both the trade and free points in 140 games (a 68 points per 82 games pace) during his last two agency market. It includes a mix of potential breakout candidates, young seasons in Minnesota. players that need a change of scenery and established veterans. The 29-year-old Finn is more than just an offensive player too, he’s very Nicolas Roy (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today) competitive away from the puck and kills penalties as part of a high- quality two-way game. Adding a piece like Granlund would give the Nicolas Roy, C, Vegas Golden Knights coaching staff the option to test both Miller and Granlund as the 3C and Contract Status: One year left at $750,000 potentially even rotate them for different looks considering that both can play the wing really well. As a top-notch setup man, Granlund could pair Age: 24 very nicely with a shooter like Brock Boeser.

2020-21 stats: 50 GP, 6G-9A-15P If the price and term are reasonable and if the necessary cap space can be carved out, Granlund would be an attractive fit in Vancouver’s top Nicolas Roy may not have the gaudiest boxcar stats but there’s a lot to nine. like about him as a potential breakout candidate. At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Roy boasts a robust power forward style but he brings more than just an Pierre Engvall, C/W, Toronto Maple Leafs enticing physical package. There appears to be genuine untapped offensive upside. Contract Status: One year left at $1.25 million

The 24-year-old right-shot centre isn’t dynamic but he has very good Age: 25 hands that help him make solid plays with the puck, including the 2020-21 stats: 42 GP, 7G-5A-12P occasional flashes of finesse in high traffic areas. He was the first pick in the QMJHL draft in 2013, he has an offensive pedigree and has What Pierre Engvall may lack in offensive upside, he more than makes translated it in spurts at the NHL level. up for with his other attributes. Engvall is a large, rangy 6-foot-5 forward with really good skating and defensive ability. Like many of the other Roy split time between the AHL and NHL in 2019-20 and emerged as a players on this list, he’s versatile in being able to play both wing and full-time big-league player last season. While he’s only notched 11 goals centre and can have a smothering impact on opposing teams with how and 25 points through those 78 regular season games, lack of ice time well he forechecks and eliminates time and space defensively. on a deep Vegas roster has been a major contributing factor. Roy’s certainly held up his end of the bargain when he’s gotten the chance as Engvall’s defensive metrics are excellent and he’s surrendered five-on- he’s scored 1.5 points for every 60 minutes of five-on-five ice time that five goals against at the lowest rate of all Leafs forwards who’ve skated he’s received, which translates to a very respectable third line rate. at least 800 minutes over the last two seasons.

The limited microstat tracking that Corey Sznajder did in 2019-20 reveals TOR Forwards 5v5 GA/60 Last 2 Seasons a player with underrated skill who proficiently sets up scoring chances. PLAYER 5V5 GOALS AGAINST/60 Viz by CJ Turtoro, data via Corey Sznajder Pierre Engvall Roy’s underlying profile affirms his ability to quietly drive offence as the Golden Knights controlled 56.1 percent of expected goals at five-on-five 2.17 with him on the ice last season. The caveat is that he’s mostly done this Auston Matthews against soft matchups but he impressed with both his offence and play- driving when forced up the lineup in the playoffs due to top-six centre 2.17 Chandler Stephenson’s injury. Ilya Mikheyev Vegas certainly won’t be eager to move Roy but they have Stephenson and William Karlsson already locked in as their top two centres and also 2.21 have top prospect Cody Glass pushing for a full-time roster spot. I William Nylander reached out to our Golden Knights beat writer Jesse Granger who noted 2.43 Zach Hyman , C,

2.43 Contract Status: RFA

Mitch Marner Age: 23

2.59 2020-21 Stats: 1GP, 0G-0A-0P

Jason Spezza Logan Brown, meanwhile, has clearly fallen out of favour in Ottawa. He’s a 6-foot-6 playmaking centre with competent two-way tools and an 2.62 auspicious AHL scoring profile. Brown hasn’t been able to stick in the Alex Kerfoot NHL, however, which is surprising when one considers the season- ending injury that centre Derek Stepan suffered. 2.69 Neither is a sure thing as a top-nine forward but there is reason to bet on John Tavares them when one considers the history of highly coveted prospects who get drafted high and morph into top defensive players when they don’t reach 2.76 their offensive potential. Manny Malhotra, Valeri Nichushkin and Joel Toronto’s seemingly had a hot and cold relationship with Engvall. They Armia are a few examples that stick out. bet on his upside during the 2019-20 season when they paid a slight Tyson Jost in Colorado would be the most recent model example. He’s premium on a two-year extension at $1.25 million annually. After a slow never lived up to his offensive potential but has carved a role for himself start, some wondered if the perpetually cap-strapped Leafs might move over time as a gritty, defensively sound third-line centre. his contract to carve out a few hundred thousand dollars of flexibility but he had a decent finish to last season. The problem now is that he’s Patrick and Brown have the physical tools to where they could potentially unlikely to be protected in the upcoming Seattle expansion draft. be groomed down this path if the Canucks feel the two players have the requisite defensive foundation. Vancouver could swoop in and employ the 25-year-old’s ability to suppress chances and prevent goals on a defensively focused third line. Vancouver would need to do a lot of homework on both players before pulling the trigger but if they see the upside, they could be staring at Alex Kerfoot, C/W, Toronto Maple Leafs decent buy-low opportunities. Contract Status: Two years left at $3.5 million annually Ryan Getzlaf (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today) Age: 26 Ryan Getzlaf, C, Anaheim Ducks 2020-21 stats: 56 GP, 8G-15A-23P Contract Status: Pending UFA Alex Kerfoot honestly isn’t one of my top choices on this list, but he might Age: 36 be relatively easy to obtain compared to some of the other targets. He’s an effective middle-six player but because of his $3.5 million cap hit, the 2020-21 stats: 48 GP, 5G-12A-17P Leafs may consider trading him in a move that would be similar to the Andreas Johnsson deal from last offseason. Ryan Getzlaf’s future in Anaheim isn’t quite as certain as you might imagine. Ducks GM Bob Murray confirmed that he shopped his longtime A Vancouver native, Kerfoot is a speedster who can put defenders on captain at the trade deadline and that Getzlaf would have been willing to their heels. He’s primarily a setup man and can slide up and down the entertain a trade. A deal didn’t ultimately materialize but the veteran lineup to fill multiple roles. playmaking centre is now facing the prospect of hitting free agency.

Certainly, the offensive ability is there as he had two 40-point campaigns Getzlaf can either return to the only team he’s ever played for while they with Colorado while producing at a 35 points per 82 games clip during his continue rebuilding or he can test the market and try joining a team on most recent time in Toronto. the rise, similar to what Joe Thornton did last offseason. He’s probably more likely to stay than he is to go but that outcome isn’t etched in stone. Kerfoot is a bit undersized and he functions better as a complementary winger than he does as a play-driving centre so the fit isn’t perfect but The 36-year-old has slowed down over the last couple of seasons but he’s still a handy player that would represent a sizeable upgrade from the he’s remained a strong play-driver who can still control the two-way flow kind of talent the Canucks usually boast on their third line. of the game. It’s also conceivable to think he could perhaps produce more in a new destination where he could feast on softer minutes as a The high pedigree change of scenery bets: Nolan Patrick or Logan third-line centre rather than still being asked to drive the bus as a 1C for Brown an offensively weak Anaheim squad. I’ve bundled Nolan Patrick and Logan Brown together because the This kind of opportunity at the right price could make sense for a team premise behind acquiring them would be very similar. In both cases, like the Canucks. It just all comes down to whether Getzlaf is willing to sit you’re looking at recent lottery picks born in 1998 that have had a rocky through a rebuild or if he’d prefer to chase a new opportunity. time with their development and could use a fresh start. Nick Schmaltz, C, Arizona Coyotes Nolan Patrick, C/W, Philadelphia Flyers Contract Status: Five years left at $5.85 million annually Contract Status: RFA Age: 25 Age: 22 2020-21 stats: 52 GP, 10G-22A-32P 2020-21 Stats: 52GP, 4G-5A-9P Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: Nick Schmaltz is a very In Patrick’s case, injuries have really hurt his stock in Philadelphia. The good player but his contract comes with significant risk. Truthfully, the 2017 No. 2 pick missed the entire 2019-20 season with symptoms only scenario where he’d make sense for the Canucks is if they can send related to a migraine disorder. He returned to action this year but back an expensive contract like Tyler Myers or Nate Schmidt. struggled mightily with nine points in 52 games. It goes without saying that you’d have to be confident he can put his injuries completely past Schmaltz’s contract is an issue for a budget-conscious Coyotes franchise him to be worth the bet, but if he can do that, there may be strong not just due to the big cap commitment but because the deal is heavily bounce-back potential. Patrick notched 30 points in 73 games as a 20- backloaded with $34.95 million in hard cash that still needs to be paid year-old rookie and had nearly identical production as a sophomore. out.

If he can return to that kind of level, he could resemble a third-line centre. Despite that, the 25-year-old is young enough that his production should The Flyers might not be the ones to stick around to see that through, stay relatively constant through the remainder of his contract. Schmaltz is however, as colleague Charlie O’Connor wrote that he’s a player the a highly skilled playmaker who stacks up as a second-line calibre centre Flyers are probably willing to move. when one considers that he’s notched 91 points in 139 games over the last two and a half seasons with the Coyotes. That amounts to a 54 points per 82 games pace which is pretty impressive considering how hard it is to create offence in Arizona.

It’s tough to imagine that Arizona would be interested in Myers but could they be intrigued by Schmidt considering that veteran defencemen Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers and Niklas Hjalmarsson are all hitting the open market? This kind of one-for-one swap would save the Coyotes $14.15 million in cash, would put them on the hook for one less year of term and give them an experienced top-four defenceman who can replace some of the big minutes they’re going to lose in free agency.

For Vancouver, this kind of swap would turn an older top-four defenceman who hasn’t been a fit into a younger second-line quality centre with less age-related decline risk.

I’m not sure if I’d actually do this trade because it’d create a massive hole on the back end, would leave Vancouver with a ton of money committed at centre in two years time when Horvat and Pettersson have substantially more expensive contracts and because of the extra year of term on Schmaltz’s deal but the idea definitely provides some food for thought.

Ryan Donato, C/W, San Jose Sharks

Contract Status: Pending RFA

Age: 25

2020-21 stats: 50 GP, 6G-14A-20P

The San Jose Sharks probably won’t qualify forward Ryan Donato at $1.9 million, according to colleague Kevin Kurz, which would result in him becoming a UFA.

If that becomes the case, he could make sense for a team like the Canucks in the one-year, $1 million range. Donato is probably too inconsistent defensively to be a full-time 3C but he’d be a low-risk signing that would give Vancouver extra lineup options.

A second-round pick from 2014, Donato has a ton of one-on-one skill and offensive creativity. He can create a high volume of shots and chances for himself and has scored five-on-five points at a second line rate over the last three seasons.

Donato’s a very streaky producer but when he’s on, he can go on big runs like the 16 points in 22 games bender he had to finish the 2018-19 season when he joined the Minnesota Wild via trade.

The 25-year-old seems like a reasonable bet for sheltered bottom-six scoring. The Canucks could catch lightning in a bottle for the bottom six with the kind of inexpensive deal he’ll likely be available for.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217150 Websites THE FINAL NUMBERS ARE IN… #GOHABSGO VS #GOBOLTS BECOMES THE MOST-WATCHED #STANLEYCUP FINAL IN @SPORTSNET HISTORY ⌛

The Athletic / This is how it ends for the NHL on NBC — a small ratings OVERALL, THE 2021 #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFFS REACHED 26M bump for the Stanley Cup Final VIEWERS ACROSS SPORTSNET, CBC & TVA SPORTS – 70% OF �� POPULATION!

THANKS FOR TUNING IN, CANADA! By Bill Shea PIC.TWITTER.COM/SAFBN0HQCZ

Jul 9, 2021 — SPORTSNET PR (@SPORTSNETPR) JULY 8, 2021

Specific data wasn’t available for French-language TVA that aired the The numbers are in, and this is how it ends for the duo of NBC and Final, but a Canadian source estimated that specific audience at about hockey. 1.5 million.

The network, which surrenders its National Hockey League broadcast That means an average of 5.6 million Canadians watched the series rights to ESPN/ABC and Turner Sports next season, said Friday that the versus 2.52 million Americans. Tampa Bay Lightning’s Game 5 Stanley Cup Final clincher over the Canada’s population of 38 million is a fraction of the United States’ 330 visiting Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday averaged 3.62 million U.S. million, but ice hockey is baked into the Canadian national character — viewers. That’s both TV and streaming. so much so that an image of kids playing hockey was depicted on the The entire five-game series, which was mostly one-sided as Tampa Bay country’s $5 note for several years. So it’s not terribly surprising the Final defended its title, averaged 2.52 million, the network said. That’s up from did better on TV there with a Canadian team finally present after a last year’s Final — played out-of-season in September and in a fan-less decade. Edmonton “bubble” because of COVID-19 — that averaged 2.15 million In the U.S., the seven-game Vancouver-Boston series in 2011 averaged across linear TV and streaming. 4.57 million on NBC and NBCSN (the last year it was called Versus). In The Lightning’s Game 6 clincher in 2020 averaged 2.95 million across Canada, its CBC audience for Game 7 that year was 8.64 million. NBC properties while airing against a “Monday Night Football” game The NHL has a 12-year, $4.9 billion Canadian TV rights contract with between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens that got 14 million Rogers Communications (which owns Sportsnet and handles the CBC viewers on ESPN. NHL feed) that ends in 2026.

But 2020 was a weird outlier. Two years ago, the last pre-pandemic Regardless of this year’s U.S. television numbers, the league’s America Stanley Cup Final, the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins series broadcast deals get much more lucrative starting next season — averaged 5.33 million on NBC/NBCSN for one of the most-watched Final doubling to nearly $4.4 billion long-term. NBC opted to avoid a bidding in decades. Game 7 that year averaged 8.72 million viewers. war with Disney’s ESPN/ABC and AT&T WarnerMedia’s Turner Sports to Still, with all that’s happened with live sports and the television industry keep the NHL. over the past year-plus, NBC and the NHL got decent numbers for the ESPN/ABC will pay a reported $2.8 billion through 2027-28 for live NHL finale of their business partnership. games. That’s about $400 million a season for the league’s primary 2021 Stanley Cup Finals U.S. viewership package in a deal struck in March.

GAME VIEWERSHIP NETWORK In April, the NHL and Tuner Sports agreed to a reported seven-year, $1.57 billion deal. That’s about $225 million a season. Game 1 NBC landed NHL games in 2005 and its now-expired deal paid the 1.57 million league $2 billion over 10 years, or $200 million a season. It’s aired games on its over-the-air national channel along with its CNBC and USA NBCSN cable networks, the soon-to-shutter NBC Sports Network, and the Game 2 Peacock streaming service.

1.65 million NBC’s 82-game full slate of Stanley Cup playoff games this season (12 on NBC and 70 on cable) averaged 1.01 million per game, the network NBCSN said. That was up 7 percent from last year’s Edmonton/Toronto bubble playoffs. Game 3 It’s down, like most things, from 2019 when NBC’s average was 1.48 2.38 million million for TV and streaming across all of its channels and platforms. NBC The 2021 pandemic-shortened NHL regular season averaged 391,000 Game 4 TV and digital viewers across NBC and NBCSN, according to Sports Business Journal. That was the smallest average for any season under 2.92 million the network’s current deal. The peak was 590,000 in 2012-13.

NBC Most NHL games air on local networks. NBC and its cable and digital channels aired 103 games this season. The average over the 10-year Game 5 broadcast rights deal was 101 games. 3.62 million The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 NBC

It’s important to note that the league gets eyeballs and dollars north of the border, too (or south of it, if you live in downtown Detroit!).

This year’s series was the first Stanley Cup Final to include a Canadian team since the Vancouver Canucks in 2011. And not surprisingly, Canadians tuned in to see the Habs in their first appearance in the Final since winning an NHL-record 24th championship in 1993.

The English-language Canadian broadcast on Sportsnet/CBC averaged 4.1 million for Game 5 and 3.6 million for the series. 1217151 Websites essentially learned that the league had a much larger divergence between good and bad this season and that resulted in 10.3 percent of games with a favourite above 70 percent. Last year it was 3.3 percent, over three times smaller. The Athletic / Predictions review: What I got right and wrong about the 2020-21 NHL season Over the last two seasons, there have been nearly 2,000 NHL games played and in that time this model has been pretty well-calibrated. The goal isn’t to predict winners, but to create probabilities. If the model assigns a team odds of “70 percent” it should mean that team will win 70 By Dom Luszczyszyn percent of the time. In the two years this model has been active, every Jul 9, 2021 bucket except one was in line with its expected range. Not bad.

That’s all well and good, but that needs to be measured against other models as well. This season, Twitter user @hockeystatisti1 graciously The 2020-21 season is over and that means looking back on all my tracked the odds of eight public models as well as the market odds predictions, projections and probabilities over the last season. That’s my throughout the season. Our model led the pack and was the only model job around here and it’s always been important to me to go back to check with a lower log loss than the implied odds from the market price — by a how those numbers turned out. Readers deserve that transparency to fairly significant margin too. know whether any of these numbers are worth the thousands of words that surround them. This is now the fifth edition of this retrospective. OVERALL LOG LOSS ON GAME PROBABILITIES FOR THE REGULAR SEASON 20/21: PIC.TWITTER.COM/PWWJSGKIBK 2016-17 Predictions Review — HOCKEY-STATISTICS (@HOCKEYSTATISTI1) JUNE 6, 2021 2017-18 Predictions Review Beating the market is usually the best sign of a model’s strength and this 2018-19 Predictions Review one has done so in each of the last three seasons. In each season, the model was profitable from a betting perspective. 2019-20 Predictions Review Profitable does not mean my betting experience was a pleasant one, Before last season I made major changes to the model — changes that however. This season felt like an extreme roller coaster and that’s likely paid off greatly in terms of preseason projections, in-season game because it was a very different season. The pandemic played a major probabilities and playoff odds. That success continued this season … up role in terms of division structure, scheduling, home-ice advantage, injury until the playoffs, which were much more chaotic than anticipated. reports and a whole mess of other factors that created a uniquely Below, I’ll go through each set of predictions (preseason, game and frustrating betting environment. playoffs) as a whole and then go through each team one by one. March was an especially daunting month and it led to me making Preseason projections changes to account for recency and matchups — two adjustments that seemed very pivotal during a pandemic-ravaged season played entirely As usual, I did a season preview for each team, outlining what to expect in one division against the same opponents. While it helped get out of the in terms of point projections and playoff probabilities. On average, our March tailspin, it may have been my undoing come playoff time. point projections were off by 7.46 points, the lowest error among the seven model outputs collected by JFresh. Playoff probabilities

IT BRINGS ME ABSOLUTELY NO PLEASURE TO REPORT THAT Everything that went well during the regular season ceased in the @DOMLUSZCZYSZYN BARELY BEAT ME IN THE PRESEASON playoffs. It’s not that my model projected anything different from other STANDINGS PREDICTION RACE. PIC.TWITTER.COM/Q6UWKTPB5V models or the market (there wasn’t a single series where a team I had favoured was the underdog by the betting market), it was about — JFRESH (@JFRESHHOCKEY) MAY 20, 2021 misplaced certainty.

Not listed above was the average error from the market. According to After such a chalky regular season, it was only fitting that the playoffs lines posted here, the average error was 7.53 points — close, but still would be rooted in chaos. Two fourth seeds made the final four, but no slightly worse. That the average error was close isn’t all that surprising as division winners. Teams with a greater than 75 percent chance to win a the lines themselves ended up being pretty close to what my model series won just two of five. That can happen — low seeds go deep all the figured. time and 75 percent doesn’t mean 100 percent — but it’s hard to expect It’s why there weren’t that many preseason best bets on team point from the outset. totals. Since I was very busy at the time, colleague Harman Dayal took The issue is that some of the already high odds looked even more certain the reins on the annual best bets article. Of the nine point totals listed, six after adjusting for matchups and recent play. Toronto vs. Montreal, hit. As for playoff bets, those were much more fortuitous, which isn’t Boston vs. Islanders and Colorado vs. Vegas are the three series that shocking considering how soft those lines generally look. Those went 17- come to mind most. All three of Toronto, Boston and Colorado came into 2. Easy money. the playoffs hot, playing their best hockey and the adjustment tilted the All in all, these did very well. odds even further than expected — only to see the underdog come out on top. Usually, coming into the playoffs hot does matter, it’s why I made Game probabilities the adjustment, but it did a lot more harm than good in these playoffs. A Stanley Cup Final featuring Tampa Bay and Montreal, two of the coldest The bread and butter of any projection model is its accuracy in predicting teams going into the postseason, is more evidence to that. games. While most will care more about what a model projects before the season or playoffs start, what a model spits out at any point is Naturally, the model had a tough time in the playoffs relative to other generally based on how it predicts game outcomes. That’s the foundation models and lost a fair bit of money in the process as it did worse than the for predictions and generally the best reflection of a model’s strength. market odds as well. A year after having the second-best playoff model, it Variance can make a model look better or worse over just 31 point was the second-worst this season. projections or 15 series probabilities, but that’s harder to accomplish over 868 games. TAMPA BAY WINNING THE CUP MARKS THE END OF THE PLAYOFFS. HERE'S THE PREDICTIONS FOR THE FINAL SERIES This was by far the chalkiest season I’ve ever covered, with favourites AND THE RESULTING LOG LOSS.@TOPDOWNHOCKEY AND winning a shockingly high percentage of games. Generally speaking, the @EVOLVINGWILD HAD THE BEST SERIES PREDICTIONS. favoured team usually wins somewhere between 56-60 percent of games PIC.TWITTER.COM/KNAZHNYQN3 according to my model and that’s the range it’s been at over the last few seasons. The betting market has been similar. This season was very — HOCKEY-STATISTICS (@HOCKEYSTATISTI1) JULY 9, 2021 different, with favourites winning nearly 62 percent of games. When These playoffs have been humbling to the bankroll, but considering there bucketing games into five percentile ranges, nearly every result falls on weren’t very many expecting a final four featuring the Islanders and the high side of the range. There was also a much higher percentage of Canadiens, I don’t think it’s a result that requires wholesale changes to lopsided games this season as a result of this effect. My model the model. I’ll definitely have to reconsider whether the recency adjustment is still worthwhile, but after such a strong regular season I’m chance against Toronto and Vegas and won both. The third time was not still happy overall with how it performed. Maybe there’s something the charm against Tampa Bay, though, so at least there’s that. different to the playoffs that the model doesn’t incorporate well and is worth exploring, but if that were the case it wouldn’t have done as well in The biggest thing I was wrong about was doubting Carey Price in the the 2019-20 playoffs. playoffs. He looked awful for two straight seasons and was coming off an injury — it was fair to be skeptical of the mythos. That was clearly playing It’s a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season, but it’s not with fire as he put on an incredible run through the first three rounds of something worth getting too worked up about. Again, predicting roughly the playoffs. We apologize for all the negative Price talk. 1,000 games well means a lot more than 15 playoff series. Vegas Now on to the team-by-team breakdowns. On some teams, my model will be bang on. On others, it would’ve been dead wrong. That’s the beauty Season Preview of trying to predict a game as chaotic as hockey — you have to be “This is Vegas’ best chance to win yet with a team led by elite talent at prepared to be wrong a lot. The secret is being the least wrong as well as every position. It’ll be an epic battle to come out as the last one standing learning why you got something wrong. Going through each team should against Colorado and St. Louis and Vegas looks well equipped to be that illuminate that. team.”

Team-by-team breakdown Vegas was indeed the last team standing in its division after upsetting the Tampa Bay Avalanche. Unfortunately, Vegas was not prepared for the mighty Montreal Canadiens right after. Funny how that works but the Golden Season Preview Knights were simply another victim of Montreal’s underdog chaos magic. The model’s odds for Vegas in that series were actually lower than the “Now comes the next challenge for Tampa Bay: winning another one. market’s, but I was too cowardly to actually bet on the Habs. That’s an L. The Lightning are well-poised to do it again with the league’s second- best odds, but they would have been in an even better position if they Vegas finished the season 10 points stronger than expected and beat the didn’t lose their best player, Nikita Kucherov, to injury.” Avalanche, so it’s fair to say the model underrated the Golden Knights this season. Alex Pietrangelo delivered, Alec Martinez was phenomenal The Lightning did it again: back-to-back champions. Thankfully, Kucherov and Chandler Stephenson was indeed a fine top-line centre after all. The did return for the postseason and that knowledge at the time would’ve biggest miss, however, was on Marc-Andre Fleury, who everyone given Tampa Bay the best Stanley Cup odds at 17 percent. That believed to be cooked at the time. Instead, he put up a Vezina Trophy information wasn’t a given then, though. The Lightning were projected to season for the ages. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy and I was earn 73.4 points and finished with 75, a fairly accurate projection that the more than happy to be wrong about him. team would still be elite without its best player. They didn’t win the division, but they did come close. Islanders

Halfway through the season, it was revealed Kucherov would very likely Season Preview be ready for the playoffs and that boosted Tampa Bay’s Cup chances heavily, making the Lightning the favourite once again for a decent chunk “During the playoffs, the Islanders were legitimately a team this model of the season. But then the team’s play started to fall off a bit down the would’ve loved, an actual analytics darling. If that’s the team that shows stretch, especially in the final month. That led to the team’s expected win up this regular season, New York will cruise into the playoffs rendering percentage dropping to second behind Colorado and their path to the the bearish projection outlined above moot.” Cup would be harder as the third seed. Tampa Bay started the playoffs The Islanders indeed continued their 2020 playoff showing and looked with the third-best odds, partially as a result of playoff path, but the like an analytics darling for much of the season, cruising to the playoffs Lightning found a way to win regardless. They were favoured in every as expected. The model was wrong, but thankfully I hedged after seeing single round. the 2020 playoff run. It really was impressive. The Islanders kept up that The model got the Lightning right, though that doesn’t deserve too much high rate of play and the model did indeed acknowledge that with the praise. There was a bit of skepticism with the Kucherov injury of whether team’s expected win percentage slowly rising throughout the year. That the team could in fact remain elite without him, but that wasn’t exactly a was until an injury to Anders Lee that derailed all that. The team’s common opinion. numbers began to tumble as they struggled to replace the contributions of their top-line captain. Any team would. Montreal That led to a lowered rating going into the playoffs, especially with recent Season Preview data being weighted more heavily. That looked prescient for most of the series against the Penguins, but the Islanders completely solved Tristan “This was an analytic darling that controlled play at an elite rate and Jarry and eventually found their game as well. New York got better and though they struggled to convert as often (their goal rate was 3.3 better as the postseason went on, besting the Bruins in six and taking the percentage points worse than expected) due to their lack of finishing and Lightning to seven. goaltending talent, they deserved a better fate than the one they had last season.” The 20 percent probability against Boston is of course the most contentious of the playoffs, one the Islanders made a mockery of. That Reaching the Stanley Cup Final is definitely a better fate, though it’s had a lot more to do with believing in Boston than it did about obviously not what I envisioned, nor most people at any point this disrespecting the Islanders. That belief was misplaced, a result of season. OK, maybe at the start when the Canadiens got off to a red hot believing recency and going into the playoffs hot was meaningful (based start that had some proclaiming the team “a juggernaut,” but for much of on the fact it was meaningful in previous playoffs). the season these were the same frustrating Canadiens. Montreal was projected to finish with 66 points and ended up with 59, the eighth Either way, I was wrong again about the Islanders, but at least this time I highest disappointment of the year. The Canadiens improved from the was prepared for it. Even if the model didn’t give the team enough credit, 24th best record to the 18th best record but almost gave away their I usually bent over backward to do so because the team does deserve it. playoff spot with some really rough play down the stretch. Colorado And then the playoffs happened where Montreal predictably went down 3-1 to Toronto and all hope seemed lost. At that point in time, it would’ve Season Preview been fair to say the model overestimated Montreal’s ability — ranking the “The Avalanche are projected to be the league’s best team and they’re Canadiens second in the North before the season — before finally well-positioned to make the top of the league their home for the getting it right at the end. That is obviously not what happened next as foreseeable future. Last season was only the beginning. Colorado is Montreal mounted an incredible comeback from down 3-1, something the going to be a powerhouse for years to come.” team had just a 5 percent chance of accomplishing. The Canadiens were outscored for the series, but were able to win the close games and that The Avalanche were the top preseason team and finished as the top propelled them forward for two rounds, dominating Winnipeg and team in the regular season, winning the Presidents’ Trophy with 82 outplaying an elite Vegas team. Montreal had a less than 25 percent points. That’s higher than the model’s projected 75 points, but that’s always expected for a Presidents’ Trophy winner. Colorado was was on pace for 69 points prior to the deadline before going 12-4-1 to projected to be the top regular season team 22 percent of the time. close the season.

In the season preview, I wrote that “this team is stupid good” and that That hot stretch looked legitimate given the team’s underlying numbers was incredibly apt for what we witnessed this season as Colorado and it felt like the additions of Taylor Hall, Mike Reilly and Curtis Lazar routinely destroyed opponents all year. The Avalanche earned the really unlocked the team’s potential. The model was already a big fan expected goals record at 60 percent, obliterating the previous high. They and became an even bigger fan. Probably a big enough fan. As lived up to the hype and came into the playoffs with sky-high mentioned earlier, I made an adjustment to weigh recent games a bit expectations, the highest this model has ever given any team. In Round more heavily and that really played into Boston’s favour in the playoffs, 1 they had an 89 percent (!) chance to topple St. Louis and that free pass rating the team even higher than its already lofty heights. That led to a was a big part of why the team had a stunning 38 percent chance of now absurd 80 percent probability in the second round against the winning it all. Both lofty predictions look high in hindsight and were a Islanders, who happened to come into the playoffs ice cold. The Bruins result of the recency adjustment, one that really favoured the Avalanche had an excellent team, but that series probability was far too lopsided. who were playing some of their best hockey down the stretch. Winnipeg That also helped give the team a sizeable edge over Vegas in Round 2, a series Colorado lost despite being 69 percent favourites. That was a Season Preview little higher than the market, but not by too much and I think what we “What Winnipeg has going for it is the possibility that the model is witnessed was the 31 percent. A series where Nathan MacKinnon and underrating its ability due to a reliance on public expected goals models. the top line went ice cold, the Avalanche were completely outclassed for This is a team with a lot of finishing talent, arguably the league’s best three straight games (something that hadn’t happened in four years) and goaltender and a system that likely prioritizes things other than shot one of the league’s best penalty drawing teams suddenly couldn’t draw a location, the main priority of public models. While some of that is penalty after Game 3. (Conveniently after Vegas coach Pete DeBoer accounted for by using boxscore stats and actual five-on-five goal made a fuss about it, but I’m sure the two are unrelated.) metrics, it may not capture the full effect for the Jets. That doesn’t mean I’d have an easier time believing my model was wrong about Colorado the team is a contender by any means, but it could mean they’re closer to being better than Vegas if we didn’t see Vegas completely crumple the next three teams than they are to Vancouver.” against the 18th best regular season team. Sometimes a single playoff This is a tricky one. All season I felt the Jets were a paper tiger, which series isn’t the best reflection of the two teams playing — it’s just one got a lot of pushback when the team was winning unconventionally — version of potential events and that’s why these odds are created in the just as it did a year prior. Then Nikolaj Ehlers went down to injury and the first place. Colorado’s odds probably were a little high, but if there was a team imploded, looking even worse than my unkind words made them series do-over immediately after, I would have a hard time favouring out to be. Vegas even after watching the Golden Knights win the first time around. After a terrible end to the season, it felt like the pendulum swung a bit too Carolina far the other way and I ended up being one of the few saying “no, Season Preview Winnipeg does indeed have a chance against the Oilers.” Then the Jets swept the Oilers, we collectively went back to the other extreme, only for “The big question going into this season is whether the Hurricanes can Winnipeg to get thoroughly demolished by Montreal. When it comes to take the next step and establish themselves as a bona fide contender. such an average team, opinions don’t have to be so extreme. I was The Hurricanes are a good team, but can they be a great team? I think probably more right than wrong about the Jets this year and they only the answer is yes, and this is the year they prove it.” ended up two points higher than their preseason projection of 61 points. That’s pretty damn close. An 80-point season where the Hurricanes finished first in a very tough Central and two points away from first in the league definitely counts as Florida proving it. The Hurricanes established themselves as legitimate contenders, smashing their preseason expectations by 11 points. Credit Season Preview star power and depth for the team’s rise, but also goaltending, as the “The Panthers are stuck in a level below mediocrity. This is what they are team finished third in save percentage. The model might have been on to until proven otherwise and if it’s not this season, it’ll be difficult to see something when it controversially projected Carolina to have the league’s how this core – one that once looked like it could contend for years to seventh-best goaltending to start the season … just saying. The come — ever takes that next step.” resurgence of Vincent Trocheck also helped the team a lot as he returned to his previous peak as a three-win player, well above the 0.8 Finally! The Panthers broke free to become the contenders they were wins the model projected. In the playoffs, Carolina got by Nashville as always supposed to be. They were this year’s biggest surprise, finishing expected and was beat by Tampa Bay, also as expected. There’s no 18 points higher than projected and that meant a lot of things were poorly shame in the latter, given the Lightning are now back-to-back Stanley projected. Aleksander Barkov was underrated as he put up the most Cup champions, but it does show there’s still a bit of a way to go for the dominant season of his career. Aaron Ekblad proved he could be a Hurricanes to reach their ultimate goal. legitimate No. 1 defender before his injury and MacKenzie Weegar stepped up in his absence. He was an elite force. Chris Driedger Boston continued his dominant small sample play and gave the Panthers Season Preview excellent goaltending whenever Sergei Bobrovsky faltered. Mostly, it was two forward additions that proved to be immensely valuable: Anthony “Despite very real concerns with the roster’s current balance and Duclair and Carter Verhaeghe. The model already figured Duclair was construction, there’s still too much talent on the team overall, especially top-six calibre. But next to Barkov he looked top-line calibre. Verhaeghe, at the top of the roster. As long as those players are still playing at a high a fourth-liner in Tampa Bay the year prior, broke out in a big way and level with some depth around them, the Bruins will be in a position to looked like an elite forward next to Barkov. The two created an incredible contend.” duo and Verhaeghe ended up scoring 36 points in 43 games, most of which was at five-on-five where his two-way impacts were dominant. Boston struggled relative to expectations to start the season but Other models were a bit higher on his impact there, but not this one, eventually ended up almost exactly where it was expected to be. The which didn’t foresee Verhaeghe’s big breakout. He looks legit. Bruins were projected for 71 points and finished with 73, though in a tough division that was only enough for the third seed. Even for an elite At the deadline, Florida added two more players that weren’t model team, the expectation at the start is to only win one round of playoff standouts, Sam Bennett and Brandon Montour, and both players thrived hockey, the rest is gravy, and Boston did just that with a convincing five- in their new surroundings. There may be something in the water in South game win over Washington. Florida, and my model didn’t see a lot of it coming. Florida is a fascinating study in how systems affect player value. On the surface, the preseason Boston predictions look strong, right down to the doubt regarding the team’s balance. I spent a lot of time in the Pittsburgh preview wondering if the model was wrong about the Bruins given how weak their blue line looked. It wasn’t until that was fixed at the deadline Season Preview and the team added a top-six winger that Boston really clicked. Boston “After the last two playoff performances, it’s difficult to have much faith. being all that close. The Capitals played at a 112-point pace, somehow, Past titans of the Penguins’ era of Stanley Cup contention — Chicago, and kudos to them for that, but I remain mystified at how they manage Los Angeles, San Jose — have fallen rapidly in recent seasons and a that. Especially come playoff time where they end up looking exactly as similar Pittsburgh demise is an inevitability. It’s just a matter of when at poor as the model figures. Go figure. Maybe next year the model will be this point. right about the team during the regular season, but at this point I doubt it. Can only hope that the recent playoff trend continues. “The model doesn’t believe that time is this season. Frankly, it’s not that worried at all and ranks the Penguins as the second-best team in the Minnesota East Division behind only Boston, and the sixth-best overall.” Season Preview If you believed both schools of thought going into this year, the Penguins’ season should’ve been entirely predictable: still crush it during the “And then there’s the West, where the Minnesota Wild — a below- regular season, only to blow it in the first round again. Even still, average team — have essentially been gift-wrapped a playoff spot. OK Penguins not named Tristan Jarry can be mostly excused for this year’s not exactly, the Wild are far from a guarantee, but they only have to be playoff showing, a series where the team mostly outplayed a very strong better than Arizona, Anaheim, San Jose and Los Angeles. How hard can Islanders team. This first-round loss wasn’t nearly as bad as prior that be?” seasons. It’s still a little Wild to me that people keep writing off Sidney As it turns out, not hard at all. It wasn’t hard to be better than the Blues, Crosby and the Penguins before the start of every season, only for the either, and Minnesota ended up as the West’s third seed. The Wild team to play above a 100-point pace anyway. weren’t below average at all, they were actually good and that’s primarily Toronto a result of good goaltending for the first time in a long time. No longer was a good defensive structure being skewered by Devan Dubnyk’s Season Preview shenanigans, which was already expected by the model. Cam Talbot only needed to be average and he turned out slightly better, which “That’s because the best team in Canada is Toronto, and it’s not helped a lot. That and the play of Kirill Kaprizov really ignited the Wild to particularly close.” reach new heights. The Wild finished 12 points above their projection, That was the money quote from the preview. It looked incredibly astute making them one of this season’s biggest surprises. by season’s end after Toronto won the North Division with ease. But it That they took Vegas to seven in the opening round was very impressive. looked incredibly foolish two weeks later when the Leafs did what they This model was pretty quick to realize Minnesota was actually good and I always do, choke in the first round. At the time of the loss, the Leafs made a decent chunk of change backing them throughout the season. looked like a league laughingstock and while they still do, the loss looks Thanks for the wonderful memories, Minnesota. like less of a joke now after seeing Montreal march all the way to the final. That the Canadiens were also able to best Vegas in Round 3 Edmonton signified that they probably deserved a lot more credit than they got, that it wasn’t just a Leafs choke, but a Habs team that was genuinely good. Season Preview

The model has nothing in the way of measuring intangibles or killer “If the two players were just average defensively, they would be worth 5.3 instinct come playoff time — something the Leafs seemed to have fixed and 4.5 wins, respectively, a combined 1.4-win jump that would place the with all their moves to bring in grizzled veterans — so that will always be Oilers in the league’s top 10. It would be enough to make McDavid the a blind spot. I’ve never been one to put too much stock into those things, undisputed best player in the world and put Draisaitl in the conversation but it’s hard not to after Toronto’s latest collapse. It inspired me to start for second best.” working on changes to next year’s model. For the first time in a long time, the Oilers came into the season with WORKING ON SOME MODEL UPDATES FOR NEXT SEASON! actual expectations — and they delivered. Edmonton cleared its modest PIC.TWITTER.COM/FWXVOHMAFS 64-point projection to finish with 72 points, 11th in the league. That’s just outside the top 10 and yes, you can thank McDavid and Draisaitl for — DOM AT THE ATHLETIC (@DOMLUSZCZYSZYN) JULY 1, 2021 taking their defensive games higher to be the best version of themselves, anchoring two very dangerous lines. Kidding aside, I really don’t know what the lesson is with Toronto’s season. The Leafs finished first in the North, outplayed and outscored At the time of writing, there was a lot of discussion regarding whether their first-round opponent and lost in seven games to a Stanley Cup McDavid was the “undisputed” best player in the world. It was never a finalist. It happens to the best of them, right? The problem is how it question of talent, just whether the complete value was there. Maybe happened and how it always happens to This Specific Team. That’s not McDavid heard the whispers about MacKinnon being better and he did something a model can account for, nor should it try. But it is something see his teammate win the Hart Trophy in 2019-20. What we got was an that should come up more in the writing surrounding the model. all-time “I’ll show you” season, one of the greatest ever in the sport. McDavid putting up 105 points in 56 games in this era is one of the most I promise I’m not overrating the Leafs on purpose, it’s a silly thought absurd sporting feats in my lifetime, and he complemented his scoring because it invites that kind of discourse, which I never want to deal with. with a complete well-rounded game. His added defensive value allowed I’ve watched the Leafs my whole life, a relatively short life at that. I know McDavid to thrive even more on offence. When models like mine better than to believe they’ll do anything worth a damn because they projected that McDavid had more to give, which was a scary thought, the haven’t since I was in elementary school. If there was any shading being 2020-21 season is exactly what we pictured. Well, not exactly, it was done or subjective bias added it would be done in the opposite direction even better considering the model put him at 5.3 wins if he played because that’s what the team deserves. The model doesn’t know the average defence. McDavid was worth nearly seven over 82 games this team is cursed. season.

Washington I was absolutely wrong about McDavid and was glad to be proven wrong Season Preview that yes, he can play better defence. I was wrong about Mike Smith as well, but so was everyone else. I was wrong about Darnell Nurse, who “I can’t say I know the end for Washington or when it’s coming, but it played like a legit No. 1 defender this year. The rest of the team, though, feels like it’s a lot sooner than people recognize. This might just be the specifically the lack of depth? That remained a problem and it was the last year that the Capitals are a playoff team, if they get there at all.” team’s undoing in the playoffs, somehow getting swept by Winnipeg. The model did call that a much closer series than many were giving the Jets Finally, the model was right that the Capitals wouldn’t win the division. credit for, one of its very few wins during the playoffs. Celebrations are in order! Nashville “They were tied for first and outperformed the model’s projection by 13 points, idiot.” Season Preview

Ah, semantics. “More than any team, it feels like there are a million ways this season can end for the Nashville Predators. They can be good, they can be great. Once again, the model was bested by Washington during the regular They can be bad, they can be awful. They can be boringly average too, season, yes. But once again it was also bang on come playoff time. This was the third straight first-round exit for the Capitals with the last two not that’s always a possibility and for the Predators it’s the most likely one as Dallas it’s exactly what they are: average.” Season Preview It’s always great to nail it in the first sentence as Nashville somehow managed to literally be all of those things over the span of one shortened “Those two pieces are obviously difficult to replace and the Stars are a season. The Predators started out somewhere between bad and awful, top 10 team when fully healthy. Without, they’re a lot closer to average only to go on one of the hottest stretches of any team to close out the and their playoff chances take a pretty big hit as a result.” season. They were somewhere from good to great, salvaging what As predicted, the Stars were not a playoff lock despite reaching the final looked like a lost season to make the playoffs. In fourth. With 64 points. the year prior. Not with two of their best players sidelined for a majority of Exactly as expected. the season. The model likely overestimated the team’s chances too as it The regular season prediction ended up being bang on, and the playoff figured both Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop would be back in March. preview was pretty spot on, too. The Predators were underdogs, but Seguin played three games while Bishop missed the entire season. That while many were expecting the Hurricanes to roll them quickly, the model helps explain why the model was off by six points, as does the pile of figured the series would be a bit closer than expected. Nashville lost in injuries suffered by other key players too. Dallas was in a fight for fourth six, but the final four games were all decided in overtime as the place all season, one it ultimately lost to Nashville. Predators hung around enough to make it interesting. On the flip side, the model did also vastly underestimate the impact of St. Louis both Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson, so that might balance things out. I definitely didn’t see Robertson’s breakout coming and that’s plainly Season Preview evident by this misguided sentence: “Unless Gurianov takes a massive step, there likely isn’t anyone coming that can be the go-to guy on “The fight for first is going to be epic and it’ll be one these teams take offense once those guys decline either.” Oops. seriously. It’ll be the difference between facing another contender in Round 1, or facing a minnow; the difference between having a 75 percent Philadelphia chance or a 55 percent chance of advancing to the second round, give or take. Season Preview

“For now, the St. Louis Blues start at the bottom of that pile, but there “The Flyers are a weird team, one that simply does the opposite of isn’t much separating them from either Colorado or Vegas and a spot whatever is expected of them.” anywhere in the top three looks almost equally possible.” Was the model wrong about the Flyers? Absolutely. Did I nail exactly There are rumours swirling around the comments section of some Blues how the season would go down in the story’s lede? Also yes, with that posts that I hate the Blues, rumours that I simply must confirm. I quote above being the very first sentence of the preview. The Flyers absolutely hated the 2020-21 Blues. That does not mean I hate the have even-year magic within them and that’s more powerful than any franchise, nor does it mean I will hate them next year (every year is a forecast could ever dictate on its own. The team’s lofty 67-point clean slate), but I can’t deny that I hated this year’s group. That hate prediction was always doomed to fail and the Flyers missed the mark by comes from a good place: I thought they would be good! Great even. A nine points. Part of the team’s issues came on the back end after Matt team good enough to compete for one of the top two seeds, according to Niskanen’s surprise retirement, namely from No. 1 defender Ivan the season preview. They were not. They were a bad team and I realized Provorov. In the preview, I questioned whether he would be able to carry that far too late, sinking way too much money backing them. Then I a pair on his own, which partly explained his lower projected value. Lo would lose more money betting against them. I can’t recall a more and behold, that’s exactly what happened. infuriating team that would lose so many games they shouldn’t have and Calgary then win when it’s not expected. Essentially, I was continuously wrong during the season. Season Preview

The hatred was never personal — next year another frustrating team will “Like Edmonton, the Flames are no lock, but at 70 percent their chances surely take the Blues’ place — but I did feel great joy seeing St. Louis get are good. It would be a surprise to see Calgary miss the playoffs.” pumped in the first round of the playoffs after giving them the lowest Surprise! The Flames did indeed miss the playoffs by finishing with 55 playoff series odds of any team in my model’s existence. It felt like points, 10 fewer than projected. This was a pretty big surprise for the vindication after a year of pain. Apologies to Blues fans, I’ll be nicer next model, though I do recall some skepticism at the team’s rosy projection. year, I promise. The optimism was mostly a result of the team presumably fixing its Rangers goaltending issues by signing Jacob Markstrom. That didn’t exactly come to fruition, though, as Markstrom mostly struggled in his first season with Season Preview the Flames. The team’s best forwards didn’t really bounce back all the “For all four teams projected to land on the outside of the playoff picture, way, with Sean Monahan especially continuing his decline. On the back it’ll be the same story to start each time: this division is hell. The Rangers end, Mark Giordano wasn’t the same player he was the previous few start the season with just a 34 percent chance at making the playoffs and seasons while Rasmus Andersson didn’t blossom into the top pairing it’s mostly a result of being in the East Division.” defender this model expected him to be. A lot went wrong for the team, which ultimately wasted an incredible resurgence season from Chris The Rangers were projected for 59.9 points and ended up with 60. Right Tanev, one this model didn’t come close to predicting. It expected him to on the money … except it’s worth noting that projection changed to about be worth 0.1 wins over 82 games. Tanev ended up playing like one of the 61.6 points once lineups were finalized. Either way, extremely close. The 15 best defencemen in hockey thanks to an incredible defensive Rangers were a tough team to get a read on with all the moving parts performance. I was not kind to that signing and turned out very wrong and young talent, but it wasn’t difficult to still see them land on the about it. outside of the playoff race. The rest of the division was just too good and it’s fair to wonder what New York’s season might have looked like in a Chicago different circumstance. Season Preview

One interesting player note is some of the stuff written about Mika “Really, there isn’t much of a point trying because the team isn’t currently Zibanejad. There were a few who believed the model underrated him capable of going deep. Any run only worsens the team’s odds at the draft after his red hot finish to the 2019-20 season, but it turned out to be and the goal should be bottoming out.” pretty accurate in forecasting regression. He came on strong after a sluggish start, but still finished well below his pace from the previous That quote above wasn’t exactly the nicest thing to write, and it was season. Take the average of his best (2020) and worst (2021) case and written before any knowledge of ’ injury situation. That that’s likely close to his true talent level. made things even more dire for the Blackhawks. After accounting for final rosters, Chicago’s projected point total was 54.8 points (though that Also, it’s worth noting the Adam Fox love started really early, with the assumed Toews would return at some point), just 0.2 points off the model earmarking him as elite before the season started. His projected team’s actual total. The Blackhawks point projection was by far the most 2.4 wins was the 10th highest at the time so the numbers were clearly on accurate and that makes the pulled quote from above all the more to something there. prescient. The team went on a run of sorts and stayed in the playoff mix for some parts of the year, but ultimately landed with exactly as many braining something so obvious and it helps that’s exactly what happened. points as expected and outside the top 10. That doesn’t do much for the What the model did get wrong, though, was the order. The Kings finished immediate future as it put them in no man’s land: away from both the atop the California trash heap, but still finished below their projected 51.6 playoffs and a top pick. In a leaguewide context, I did think they would be points. The model was off by just 2.6 points here, which is very strong. worse. San Jose Arizona Season Preview Season Preview “The present very likely won’t be pretty and it’s better to have no “The Coyotes don’t have a good team, but in the West they don’t really expectations at all and be pleasantly surprised in the rare case need one to be a playoff threat.” everything works out. For the Sharks, there’s a whole lot that needs to work out.” The Coyotes briefly flirted with playoff relevancy after one hot stretch coincided with the Blues falling off the map, but that didn’t last long. They The Sharks were given just a 9 percent chance of making the playoffs ultimately weren’t a good team, but also not even a good enough team to and were never really all that close to threatening for a spot. There was a be believably in the playoff mix. brief time when the Blues faltered where the door seemed slightly open, but even then it was a massive long shot. The Sharks had a very modest One of the main reasons for that was a lack of elite talent or star power, projection of 53 points and failed to deliver even that, finishing with 49 something the season preview made a large point of. It did say Jakob points, sixth worst in the league. No surprises here. Chychrun was the team’s best chance at finding a star and it was only a matter of when. That turned out to be this past season, but even that Detroit wasn’t enough. Season Preview Ottawa “Regression is coming in the form of an average season of 49.6 Season Preview projected points, but regression here means ‘joining the rest of the league in the NHL’ rather than playing in a pitiful league of their own.” “Ottawa’s destiny is the most certain of any team. In terms of divisional rankings, there’s a 71 percent chance the Senators finish seventh in their The Red Wings still finished in the league’s bottom five, but they weren’t division, by far the highest mark of any divisional placement in the the league’s worst team. It was a respectable season for Detroit as the league. Overall, there’s an 89 percent chance Ottawa is one of the Red Wings indeed looked like an actual NHL team compared to 2019-20. bottom 10 teams by season’s end.” Regression was expected — no team is that bad on true talent alone — and the team finished within one win of their preseason forecast, good for Ottawa was projected for 49.5 points and finished with 51, making its the fourth closest projection. forecast one of the most accurate of the season. In the season preview, I figured the Senators would be the division’s punching bag, with an Columbus extraordinarily high chance of finishing last in the division at 71 percent. For a majority of the season that looked bang on, especially after a Season Preview woeful 2-12-1 start. Things really turned around after that, though, “The Blue Jackets know what it takes and work hard to be more than the especially down the stretch when Ottawa really came into its own, sum of their parts. playing legitimately good hockey and winning 10 of its last 14, including three of four against Vancouver. That was enough to vault into sixth, so, “They’ll no doubt be in the playoff mix in the Central Division this season, not last in the North. After that very rocky start, the Senators really were but some offseason moves and notable injuries currently have Columbus a tough matchup on most nights and although the point projection was just outside the top four with a 50-50 shot at the postseason.” really close, the distinction of “division punching bag” was way off. Despite coming off a strong postseason showing, the model did expect Vancouver Columbus on the outside of the playoff bubble. The division looked competitive and while the Blue Jackets had a decent team with 50-50 Season Preview odds, they were still fifth in the pecking order.

“Development isn’t linear, and while the Canucks took a massive step Ultimately, that was way too high and what we saw instead was what last season toward realizing their potential, a step back looks to be in many expected in the 2019-20 season: a drop to the league’s basement. order.” That was hard to fathom at the time, with Columbus having just a 4 Given Vancouver’s depth chart, predicting a drop-back was an easy call. percent chance of finishing last in the Central Division. That’s the least Really easy. The playoffs really do have a way of messing with likely divisional finish of the season with the 15-point difference from perception and Vancouver was a perfect example of that. If not for a preseason projections being the third highest. The model, like everyone nasty COVID-19 outbreak, the Canucks probably would’ve finished sixth, else, was very wrong about the Blue Jackets. exactly as expected. Vancouver ended up just one point behind Ottawa. It overrated the impact would have. It overrated how good But that does the team’s season a bit of disservice. No one could’ve Seth Jones would be (a truly hilarious sentence to type considering the expected Quinn Hughes to fall off the way he did or for the vaunted top preseason discourse surrounding Jones). The biggest error, though, was line to struggle out of the gate. Elias Pettersson only suited up for 26 overrating Pierre-Luc Dubois as a No. 1 center. That was a common games, too. And then there was Thatcher Demko turning into a star sentiment before the season with many expecting him to take a leap, but goalie capable of carrying a modest team to some victories. he just didn’t look the part all year. That he was traded very early into the season obviously didn’t help the accuracy of the forecast, but it was all Considering the preseason forecast was 61 points and the Canadiens downhill from there for Columbus in a very messy season. made the playoffs with 59 points, it’s not all that far-fetched to believe Vancouver could’ve made the playoffs under better circumstances. The New Jersey Canucks were a 50-50 bet to start the year and made things somewhat Season Preview interesting after a rough start. Still, the 50-point finish was disappointing to even this pessimistic forecast. “In the league’s toughest division, there aren’t many out there with much hope for the Devils being competitive next season. This model agrees Los Angeles with that sentiment, putting New Jersey at the bottom of the East Season Preview Division.”

“There’s a chance, sure, but it’s a pretty safe bet that there’ll be a team The Devils didn’t finish last, but that’s only because Buffalo exists. New from California at the bottom and that the two teams ahead of it will also Jersey needed a lot of things to go right to make noise in its division and be from California. Los Angeles has the best chance to be that team in that just didn’t happen. The Devils ended up being nearly 10 points eighth.” worse than expected but did have a number of injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak to deal with. That captain Nico Hischier only suited up for 21 It did not take rocket science to have all three California teams at the games (and only scored 11 points) definitely contributed to that. Other bottom of the West. It’s a sign of a strong model that it’s not galaxy- than that, New Jersey’s season went about as expected. Anaheim

Season Preview

“Most importantly though is that Gibson needs to be the best goalie in the world again. It’s not a tall order, but if a team’s best bet at squeaking into the playoffs is having the best goalie in the world, perhaps that team isn’t quite ready for prime time. Another year at the bottom should be this team’s goal.”

Anaheim was projected to be a bottom-five team, but because of division strength, the Ducks actually had some decent playoff odds. Those odds hinged on a resurgence from John Gibson carrying an awful group of skaters, something that ultimately didn’t manifest. While Gibson started hot, he regressed soon after and finished the season allowing 3.5 goals above expected, ranking 47th in the league. That, coupled with the predictably awful team in front of him was enough to make Anaheim the NHL’s second-worst team. The Ducks started the year with a 28 percent chance of landing in the bottom five and that’s exactly where they ended up.

Buffalo

Season Preview

“It means a lot has to go right this year which feels unlikely in a sports city where everything often goes wrong.”

It’s funny to look back on preseason sentiment for a team like Buffalo where hopes were so high after a strong offseason that I didn’t want to be a Debbie Downer. Relative to other models, mine was pretty bearish on Buffalo even after acquiring Taylor Hall and Eric Staal. I remember it being not something I agreed with either, buying into the Kool-Aid that everyone else was also drinking. At the time, it was very hard not to. I really did believe Hall would dominate with Jack Eichel. It would’ve helped if they played more than 165 minutes together.

This is Buffalo, where dreams go to die. Just when you think “there’s no way it can get any worse” the team sinks to a new low. Buffalo’s likeliest spot in the East was indeed eighth, but not like this, not while playing at an abhorrent 54-point pace. It was an unfathomably low result, one that happened in just 1 percent of simulations. Where there’s a will, there’s a way and Buffalo found a way to be that 1 percent.

The model was off by 18 points with Buffalo, the largest margin of error this season. The model already projected Buffalo wouldn’t be very strong and this was still the most wrong it was about any team because the Sabres found a new level of awful.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217152 Websites He continues to shoot 300 pucks a night in his basement, but he’d rather be out with his friends, who he hasn’t seen in months.

“Not the homecoming you’d expect,” said Clarke. The Athletic / Diary of a draft year, part 3: Brandt Clarke’s European (Courtesy of Tony Greco) adventure ends as the draft looms Monday, April 13, Ottawa, Ontario: It’s 5:15 p.m. and Greco has just

finished up another day of workouts. A couple of hours ago, one of his By Joshua Kloke and Scott Wheeler athletes, NHL defenceman Ben Hutton, was dealt from the Anaheim Ducks to the Toronto Maple Leafs moments before the 2021 NHL trade Jul 9, 2021 deadline.

Greco works with most of the top junior, college and pro players from Ottawa and its surrounding areas, with clients ranging from Philadelphia The COVID-19 pandemic has turned this hockey season upside down, Flyers captain Claude Giroux to Buffalo Sabres 2020 No. 8 pick Jack which threatens the development and future of many top prospects. Quinn. Brandt Clarke, a highly-touted 17-year-old expected to be selected at the But he has never met anyone quite like ‘B’ his nickname for Brandt. very top of the 2021 NHL Draft, is living through that uncertainty. The Brandt’s the kid who, whenever he’s done an afternoon at the gym and OHL did not have a season, and the Barrie Colts defenceman went on Greco asks what he’s doing for the rest of the night, he’ll answer that he loan to HC Nove Zamky in Slovakia. His uncertain season was spent needs to go to the rink to practice his edges or home to shoot some trying to ensure he is ready for the draft, and that his development can pucks. continue against an unprecedented set of circumstances. “He’s always practicing his daily disciplines. It’s nonstop. It really is,” To provide a glimpse of the challenges he faced this season to realize his Greco said. “B is a bull.” goal of playing in the NHL, Clarke granted The Athletic access into his season for a series of stories leading up to the draft, chronicling what will Brandt and Graeme have worked with Greco for the last few years. In undoubtedly be one of the strangest, but hopefully most fulfilling, years of Slovakia, Greco watched closely, unsurprised as his client slowly began his hockey career. to take over the league.

Read parts one and two of this series here. “I thought he did amazing in Slovakia. Some of the moves that he pulled, only someone with confidence can make those plays where if it doesn’t Sunday, March 21, Nove Zamky Ice Stadium, Slovakia: It is HC Nove work it’s like ‘oof, that’s a breakaway, that was a dumb move,’” Greco Zamky’s final game of the regular season, but Clarke is sitting in the said. “But that’s B. If you’re on the team and you have a captain and he’s stands. Tomorrow morning, his European adventure will end. The team is not the captain, he’s going to call the play anyways. I call him the only playing players available for their playoff run, which leaves Clarke director.” out as a healthy scratch. As soon as Brandt returned from Slovakia and finished his mandatory Ten days ago, Clarke received a call from his agent informing him that quarantine, he got back in the gym with Greco to prepare for U18 worlds. Hockey Canada wanted him to play in the U18 world championship in On his first day, Greco felt like he was meeting a whole new person. April. Clarke wanted to stay in Slovakia, play some playoff games and fly directly to the tournament in Dallas. But COVID-19 restrictions dictated “I said ‘holy jeez Brandt, you frigging look like a man,’” Greco said. “And he return to Canada and first undergo a 14-day quarantine. then B says ‘Tony, I feel so explosive on the ice.’ He’s fit around the waist, the glutes, the hamstrings, all of the hockey muscles. The guy is Over 50 fans gather outside the arena to make sure he won’t forget his checked in.” last game. They unfurl a large banner reading “Thank you Brandt.” Other fans shower Clarke with gifts including T-shirts and jerseys, and the In the gym, Brandt has always been a leader according to Greco, so mayor of Nove Zamky presents Clarke with a letter of appreciation for his much so that he incorporated him into his pro group earlier than he time in the city. normally would for a kid his age — and so much so that Brandt’s personality didn’t change in a room with some pretty big egos. “I can’t even speak to most of these people, and I impacted them in this positive way. They’re coming out to wish me safe travels back. That was “Brandt knows that he’s got what it takes and Claude grounds him, which pretty special,” said Clarke. makes him better. And now that Claude’s not in the group because he’s in Philly, it’s clear he has the confidence to be the guy in the group. He’s It was easy for him to forget that when his brother Graeme left his side in the first guy there, he wants more, and it’s always ‘let’s go TG, let’s get Slovakia to play in the AHL and he felt “discombobulated.” He struggled more on there.’” to produce until he learned to adopt a positive mindset. He will leave Slovakia on a five-game point streak, his longest of his season. That vibrant personality is infectious, raising up those around him.

“The numbers came together,” said Clarke. “I felt like everything was “He does all of the right things and he’s into it. He has given me more happening at the right time.” energy,” Greco said. “Brandt has kind of got the cockiness, which is good in leadership. And he’s a smart guy too. He’s got all of the qualities to Monday, March 22, Nove Zamky, Slovakia: The sun has yet to rise as really be that leader.” Clarke puts the finishing touches on his packing for his early-morning flight back to Canada. He is filled with sadness as he steps out of He’s also different from Graeme in ways that allow the two brothers to Penzion Pohoda one last time. feed off of one another. If Brandt sees that Graeme did five reps in a six- rep set, you’ll quickly hear him shouting from across the room for one “I wasn’t too happy about having to leave,” he said. more. That sadness lingers throughout his entire flight home until he lands in “If I push Brandt a little bit, he fights back right away. If I push Graeme, it Canada and sees his family standing at the bottom of an escalator in the takes him a second to ramp up. Brandt’s more of the fighter and Graeme Ottawa International Airport. His mother, Trish, starts crying, and Clarke is just calmer. Brandt will tell you to eff-off,” Greco said, laughing. “And takes some playful jabs. oh my god they’re very competitive. It’s almost like they’re meant for it.” When the family returns home and Clarke wins a game of Scrabble, the Maybe more than anything else, though, Greco knows Brandt as a kid smile on his face grows. who is hungry and isn’t going to take no for an answer. Friday, April 2, Nepean, Ontario: It is Day 12 of his quarantine, and In the block workouts that Greco runs at his gym, Brandt is always the kid Clarke is getting really, really bored. There is a small gym in his most determined to finish his sets first. basement, and his trainer, Tony Greco, has sent him a series of workouts. “He hates finishing last. Hates it, hates it, hates it. Even the other day, he was like ‘that was good but I could have done better,’ and I was like ‘No “It’s hard to motivate yourself,” said Clarke. “But it’s an adjustment.” B, you did great.’ But it wasn’t excellent in his mind and that’s who he is. You can’t teach that,” Greco said.“He messes up on a hurdle doing some footwork and he’s like ‘I’m going to start over’ whereas most players can’t He insists he doesn’t like opposition teams having too much offensive wait to get it over with and they’re not going to start over. I look for things zone time. like that because some of these guys just do it because they have to. B understands it’s a purpose and his strength went way, way up last “That’s why there’s not too many clips of me scrambling in my own zone,” offseason as a result.” said Clarke.

That mindset, Greco is convinced, will take Brandt to his NHL dream. The questions continue throughout the month:

“He’s unbelievable. I love the kid. He’s a stud,” Greco finished. “I think What does his summer training look like? he’s got a chance to go first overall.” What is he focusing on in his on-ice sessions?

Sunday, April 17, flying to Dallas, Texas: Clarke is alone with his What is he doing to make himself a better hockey player? thoughts once again. He has come to terms with the fact that there will be no OHL season, and the U-18 World Championships will be his last “It’s that kind of stuff that they don’t have the privilege of knowing without chance to showcase his abilities on the ice before the draft. coming directly to the source,” said Clarke. “All the teams have said they really like how passionate I am on the calls.” “I can’t be slow out of the gates. I need to pop off right away,” said Clarke. And he will passionately stick up for himself, too.

He reviews what he needs to do: make smart decisions with the puck, Most of the scouting reports on Clarke reference his awkward skating skate with confidence and be responsible in his own zone. stride. He knows this, but he has his own thoughts on the matter.

Oh, and of course, win the tournament. “I don’t personally understand it,” said Clarke. “Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve been able to move pretty good. In Slovakia, I was playing against men “Anything less than a gold medal will be a disappointment,” said Clarke. and I was able to get around them, I don’t want to say with ease, but I Tuesday, April 27, Children’s Health StarCenter, Plano, Texas: Clarke was able to keep up with them. I could burn some defenceman wide. hasn’t played a game in a month, and some of his Ontario-based People say my stride is unorthodox, and maybe it is orthodox, but I’m in teammates haven’t played in over a year, leading to some underlying the right spot all the time. I think the game ahead of the play. People say anxiety. I’m on my inside edges a lot, but I feel like that just saves me an extra half-second. I just lift one foot and I’m already ready to push one way and “We didn’t want to say it, but we all kind of thought that we might come push the other way. Some people don’t realize that, they just say ‘Look, slow out of the gates,” said Clarke. “We were worried about that Sweden he’s riding his inside edges.’ But it’s actually me just bracing and saying, game.” ‘I can go left or right now.’ Or I can just turn my ankles even a little bit more and start backpedaling. Their worries are eased as they win their opening game against Sweden 12-1. Clarke logs two goals and two assists. “Maybe I don’t skate like Mathew Barzal, but I don’t really appreciate when people just see that I have a different style and they say, ‘Oh, that’s “That got pushed to the side pretty quickly,” said Clarke. not going to work at the next level.’ It’s worked at the next level when I For the remainder of the tournament, workouts take place over Zoom. was in minor-midget, it worked when I was in the OHL, it worked in Clarke estimates he spends five hours a day during the tournament on Slovakia and at the U18 tournament. When have I got burned? When Zoom. have I been out of position? When has it ever really impacted me to the point that I looked out of place? That hasn’t happened yet. I don’t think “Draining,” said Clarke. that will happen. So I think I’m doing just fine in that department.”

Downtime is filled with Netflix and golf games on PlayStation. The Wednesday, June 2, Nepean, Ontario: Clarke is sitting on his couch, windows in his hotel room don’t open, and he cannot travel outside the watching the NHL Draft Lottery unfold on TV. hotel or the rink, which means outdoors time is limited. As NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly reveals the teams who will pick “It was a struggle, not having a lot of fresh air,” said Clarke. towards the beginning of the draft, Clarke receives a text telling him there’s some interesting places to live in his range, including some of the Nevertheless, Clarke does virtually everything he set out to do in the California-based teams. tournament, playing composed but dynamic hockey. “No way,” Clarke replies succinctly, and as is his custom, confidently, “I gelled with the guys pretty quickly. I was one of the more vocal leaders. before looking at the top two draft picks on the board. “Buffalo or Seattle, When I’m at my most comfortable with everybody, that’s when I play my that’s it.” best on the ice,” he said. Mid-June, Nepean, Ontario: Clarke is staring at a computer screen with He finishes the tournament with seven points in seven games and is eight members of his favourite team, the Ottawa Senators, on it. named to the tournament’s All-Star team, helping Canada to that gold medal. But hugging teammates, screaming and singing in their dressing “We just started talking about past seasons, when I was at the games,” room after the 5-3 gold medal game win over Russia is what Clarke will said Clarke. “I was at the (2013 playoff game) when (then Senators remember. forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau) had a hat trick. I was talking with these guys who ran the team, and I was just sharing my experiences as a fan “I’m going to treasure those memories for a long time,” said Clarke. and remembering my 12-year-old self watching the Sens and going to BRANDT CLARKE MAKES IT 2-0 FOR CANADA! �� #U18WORLDS every game.” PIC.TWITTER.COM/PLY1M80LCK That pre-draft interview became his most memorable. Yet as — TSN (@TSN_SPORTS) APRIL 28, 2021 heartwarming a story as it would be for Clarke to play for his hometown team, with the Senators drafting at 10, he’s not anticipating that Mid-May, Nepean, Ontario: Clarke is fielding multiple calls a day from happening. NHL teams. “I have my eyes set higher than that,” said Clarke. “And that’s not saying If he was intimidated at first, he’s now excited every time he virtually anything against them.” discusses his game with them. Wednesday, June 30, Gatineau, Quebec: Just as he did back in “They want to know my perspective of myself. If they’ve never seen me November when Clarke was forced to change into his hockey equipment before, how would I sell myself? And what faults do I think I have that in the parking lot of a rink, Clarke is adapting to change. maybe aren’t as apparent? And what are my strengths, the little things, that aren’t super flashy?” said Clarke. He is driving across the Chaudiere Crossing, which connects the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, en route to Gatineau. He memorized He makes a point on every call to remind teams that while he’s billed as his new route by heart, because he has to: COVID-19 restrictions have an offensive defenceman, “I like to pride myself on my defence.” forced him and his trainers to practice four days a week at the brand new Gatineau Olympiques rink, which is yet another reminder of just how “People know my flashy, passing abilities,” said Clarke. “But they don’t strange a season it has been for Clarke. always see that I can shut guys down at the blue line.” “It’s just part of my day now,” said Clarke.

Puck retrievals, working on his shot and battle drills were the focus of the day’s work. He is not working through drills tailored to him, because he does not have specific instruction from a team on where he needs to improve the most.

For now, everything he is doing is working towards the most important day of his young life: his NHL draft day.

“It’s a weird feeling,” admitted Clarke. “I’ve realized that: it’s going to be a big part of my life, wherever I end up going. I might live there for 20-plus years! (Draft day) is going to be a big wake-up call.”

Since the lottery, Clarke has spent his downtime researching depth charts of teams where he could get drafted, and reading about cities he could be calling home.

“There’s been teams I’ve had good calls with, and I’ve said, ‘Wow, I’d be a good fit there.’ Or, ‘I’d have to battle for a little bit more ice time there.’ Or, ‘I didn’t know this guy was in that system,” said Clarke.

Clarke has booked an entire patio at a downtown Ottawa restaurant to welcome 35 extended family and friends to watch the draft unfold.

“It’ll be my own draft party,” said Clarke.

Watching on TV is not how he envisioned his draft unfolding, but it’s just another part of how his unconventional draft year has taught him resilience he may not have acquired otherwise.

So many young hockey players follow the same worn-down path in their draft year. From Ontario to Slovakia to Texas, Clarke’s draft season was different, and he believes it has better prepared him for the NHL.

“I learned that I could just overcome (adversity),” said Clarke. “I feel like I’ve had a pretty easygoing career. Everything just kind of went the way I wanted it to so far. But I had trouble at the start in Slovakia. People not speaking my language, teammates not really knowing how I play, my brother leaving. I was down for a bit there. But knowing that I could uplift myself and get back in the right mindset and then translate that to on-ice play, I realized if I can do that against men, I feel like when I get to the NHL one day I should just bring back the same kind of attitude.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217153 Websites Why they might not: Who they lost in expansion was “literally half the roster.” Yeah, it gets complicated, but let’s just say I don’t see the Canadiens having the same problem with Seattle.

The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Underdog runs that ended badly in the 1993 Los Angeles Kings Cup Final (and whether that should worry Habs fans) The underdog: Los Angeles finished the season with just 88 points in a conference where five teams had 97 or more. They also had a franchise player who was injured for half the season (Wayne Gretzky) and a new By Sean McIndoe and largely unknown coach with cool hair (). Hey wait a second … Jul 9, 2021 The unexpected run: The Kings upset the Flames and Canucks, both in

six games, to take the Smythe crown. Then they pulled off a memorable While it didn’t end the way they’d hoped, the Montreal Canadiens just seven-game win over the Maple Leafs that you may have heard about. pulled off one of the great underdog runs in NHL history. They went from The Final: The Kings went into the Forum and took Game 1 over the finishing 18th and going into the playoffs as an afterthought all the way to favored Habs, and were on the verge of taking a 2-0 series lead when the Final, and finished just three wins short of doing the unthinkable. It Marty McSorley taught us all about the NHL’s illegal stick rules. Montreal was pretty amazing. swept the rest of the series, winning in five. It also wasn’t especially rare in the modern era, and that’s where this But then: It all collapsed shockingly quickly. Melrose only lasted one gets a bit tricky if you’re a Habs fan looking toward the future. For more full season, Gretzky was traded in 1996, and L.A. wouldn’t make reasons I’m not quite clear on, the NHL tends to serve up one of these the playoffs again for five years or win so much as a round until 2001. underdog runs to the Stanley Cup Final every few years, including some featuring teams that were bigger longshots than the Canadiens. But they Why they might worry Habs fans: There are a lot of similarities here, all seem to end the same way — with the underdog losing in the Final, including the Melrose/Dominique Ducharme comparison and the injured sometimes decisively. And it’s the part that comes next that should worry superstar. There’s even the all-Canada angle; Montreal played in the Montreal fans: A lot of these teams never came close to contending North Division, while the Kings only faced Canadian teams on their run. again. Why they might not: Unlike the 2021 Habs, this miracle run actually History can teach us some things, but it doesn’t necessarily predict the ended in a Montreal win. (Sorry, sorry, I’m trying to delete it.) future. So today, let’s look back on 10 underdog teams from modern NHL history that had a similar run to what the Canadiens just pulled off, and 1994 Vancouver Canucks how the rest of their story unfolded once the Final was over. We’ll look for The underdog: The Canucks finished the season with 85 points, making any similarities or key differences when it comes to this year’s them the seventh seed under the league’s new conference-based playoff Canadiens. format. Nobody gave them much of a chance, especially when they fell I’ve picked 10 of the biggest underdog runs from the last 30 years. We behind 3-1 in the opening series. could probably argue over some of these, or try to cram in a couple The unexpected run: It took three overtime games, but the Canucks more. I didn’t include a few teams you might be expecting to see, like the clawed back to win that opening round against Calgary, finishing it with 2002 Hurricanes (who won their division and had home ice through the one of greatest OT goals ever. They went on to beat the Stars and Leafs, first three rounds), the 2012 Devils (who had 102 points despite being the both in five games. No. 6 seed), the 2016 Sharks (who had a respectable 98 points and had been to two recent conference finals), or the 2018 Golden Knights (who The Final: The Canucks faced the Presidents’ Trophy winning Rangers, a were certainly shocking as an expansion team, but had a dominant 109- 112-point powerhouse riding high off of Mark Messier’s guarantee and a point regular season). memorable conference finals win over the Devils. The Canucks fell behind 3-1, then fought back to delay the coronation before finally Maybe we’ll learn something. Or maybe we’ll just remember some dropping a heartbreaking Game 7. underdogs. Either way, we’ll start 30 years ago and work our way forward, meaning we get to kick things off with what might still stand as But then: The Canucks did win a round in 1995, but it would be the last the most shocking underdog run in modern NHL history. one they’d win until 2003, including a four-year span with no playoff appearances at all. 1991 Minnesota North Stars Why they might worry Habs fans: I mean, they fell behind 3-1 to a The underdog: The North Stars were a legitimately bad team, ending the Canadian rival in round one, came back to win that series based on year with just 68 points to finish 16th in a league that only had 21 teams. overtime magic, won the next two rounds in just ten total games, then And to make matters worse, this was the one year that the Norris faced the best team in the league. Division was actually good, with Chicago and St. Louis finishing as the NHL’s top two teams to set up an inevitable battle for the ages we all Why they might not: The Canadiens aren’t dumb enough to sign Steven assumed we’d get in round two. Stamkos as a free agent in three years and watch him wreck the team from the inside … are they? The unexpected run: The North Stars shocked the Blackhawks in six and then did it again against the Blues. For their trouble, they earned a 1996 Florida Panthers conference finals meeting with the defending champions, an Oilers team that hadn’t been very good during the season but still had plenty of The underdog: In just their third season, the Panthers finished with 92 remnants of the dynasty years, including Mark Messier and . points to make the playoffs for the first time, largely on the strength of Minnesota beat them in five. defense and goaltending (they finished the season sixth in goals allowed). The Final: The North Stars faced the powerhouse Penguins in the Final, and actually led that series 2-1 after three games. But Mario and friends The unexpected run: The Panthers quickly eliminated the Bruins in five were too much, and Minnesota’s miracle run fell two wins shorts of the before knocking out the 103-point Flyers in six. That set up a conference most unlikely championship in NHL history. finals with the Penguins, an offensive powerhouse that had averaged nearly 4.5 goals per game and had three of the league’s top four scorers. But then: The North Stars didn’t get any sort of boost from their run, With everyone salivating over an inevitable Penguins/Avalanche Final, finishing 1991-92 with just 70 points. Worse, they never won another the Panthers came back from down 3-2 to pull off the upset. playoff round in Minnesota, moving to Dallas in 1993. The Final: Pass. Why they might worry Habs fans: A huge factor in the downfall of the North Stars was who they lost in the expansion process that welcomed a But then: This is easily the worst of the bunch, as the Panthers haven’t new team to a West Coast market. won so much as a playoff round in the 25 years since this run. They’ve only made the postseason six times, and that’s if you include last year’s qualifying round. Why they might worry Habs fans: The Panthers were a defense-first (and But then: Any momentum was interrupted by the 2005 lockout, but when second and third) team without any elite forwards but riding a 30- the league resumed the Flames made four consecutive first-round exits, something former Vezina-winning goalie on a hot streak, right up until then missed the playoffs entirely for five straight seasons. They wouldn’t they got their doors blown off in the Final by a team stacked with win another round until 2015, which remains their only series victory in offensive talent and an even better goalie. the 17 years since this run.

Why they might not: (Stares at that last paragraph in horror.) Uh, John Why they might worry Habs fans: Teams that lose to the Lightning in the Vanbiesbrouck was 32 and Carey Price is 33 so it’s totally different. Let’s Final don’t seem to follow that up with a lot of success. move on. Why they might not: Montreal was at least kind enough not to make us all 1998 Washington Capitals listen to lectures about parallax view.

The underdog: One year after missing the playoffs, the Caps finished Hey, wait a second … with 92 points, leaving everyone to wonder which round they’d pick to blow a 3-1 series lead to the Penguins. Before we get to the last few teams, let’s quickly address a question you may be wondering about: Have any underdogs who made the Final in the The unexpected run: Skipping the Penguins altogether, the Capitals rode last 30 years gone on to actually win the Cup? the hot goaltending of Olaf Kolzig and knocked out the Bruins, Senators and Sabres without ever even facing elimination. The answer is, well, maybe, and it depends on who you’re willing to call an underdog. That can get tricky, especially with the benefit of hindsight. The Final: That set up a meeting with the Red Wings, the defending After all, once a team starts doing laps with the Cup, they might stop champs looking for a repeat. With all of the doubters and naysayers feeling like an underdog, at which point we all agree to retcon them into expecting the Red Wings to sweep … well, the Red Wings swept. something more. And on the other side of the coin, some of the teams that are remembered as unlikely winners really weren’t. But then: The Caps plummeted to 68 points in 1998-99, missing the playoffs by a mile. That would lead to the failed Jaromir Jagr experiment For example, the 1995 Devils were certainly underdogs to the Red Wings and the bottoming out that led to the Alexander Ovechkin era. They in the Final. But those Devils were one year removed from having the wouldn’t win another playoff round until 2009. second-best record in the NHL in 1993-94, and were tied for ninth-best in 1994-95. The 2018-19 Blues were a fantastic underdog story when you Why they might worry Habs fans: You saw the part about the defending consider they were dead last midway through the season, but their strong champs easily beating the plucky underdog, right? second-half had pushed them into the top half of the playoff field in terms Why they might not: The 1998 Capitals were a stunningly old team, even of their pre-playoff Cup odds. And if you stretch our timeframe just a bit by 1990s standards; of the 17 players who recorded more than one point you can mention the 1990 Oilers, a middling 90-point team everyone in the playoff run, 14 were in their 30s, including key minutes from 35- assumed was a non-factor in the post-Gretzky era. But they had had year old Adam Oates, 33-year-old Brian Bellows and 37-year-old Dale home ice in every round but the Final, and can a team that wins its fifth Hunter. This year’s Habs have some old guys too, but there’s a young Cup in seven years really be considered a shocking upset? core in Montreal that just wasn’t there for Washington. In the end, I think our best bet is the 2012 Kings. They were the eighth 2003 Anaheim Ducks seed in the Western Conference and the 13th seed overall, and they never had home ice. They did have 95 points, so they were hardly in The underdog: In their 10th season, the Ducks finished with 95 points to North Stars territory, and of course all the analytics folks were screaming make the playoffs for the third time in franchise history (and first since that they were a secret powerhouse based on the underlying numbers 1999). that few of us really understood at the time. But the biggest problem with the 2012 Kings is that by the time they got to the Final against the Devils, The unexpected run: The Ducks were given virtually no chance against they weren’t underdogs anymore — they were the betting favorites in that the defending champion Red Wings, but swept them in four straight. series. They followed that with a six-game win over the Stars and then another sweep over the Wild, arriving in the Final with a 12-2 postseason record. So no, you could argue that there really hasn’t been a genuine Cinderella run all the way to a Stanley Cup championship in recent NHL history, The Final: Facing a Devils team seeking its third Cup in nine years, the despite plenty of teams coming close. Given how many surprise teams Ducks fell behind 2-0 and 3-2 in the series but kept clawing back. They made it to the Final, that’s weird, right? eventually dropped Game 7, although goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was still awarded the Conn Smythe, the most recent player from OK, let’s finish this off… a losing team to earn the honor. 2006 Edmonton Oilers But then: A shocking breakup with franchise icon Paul Kariya saw him jump to the Avalanche. Coach followed Kariya out the The underdog: The Oilers finished the season with 95 points, making the door after missing the playoffs in 2003-04, but the Ducks rebounded after playoffs by three points and earning the Western Conference’s eighth the lockout and won the Cup in 2007. seed.

Why they might worry Habs fans: Unless Price has an escape clause in The unexpected run: The first round brought a matchup with a 124-point his contract that we don’t know about, it probably doesn’t. Red Wings juggernaut, with the Oilers pulling off one of the great upsets in modern history in six games. They’d beat the Sharks and Ducks to Why they might not: Winning a Cup within four years of their Final loss head to their first Final since 1990. makes the Ducks pretty much the best-case scenario among all the teams on this list. The Final: The last obstacle in the Oilers way was a Hurricanes team that everyone pretends was bad even though they had 112 points. Disaster 2004 Calgary Flames struck early, as Dwayne Roloson’s injury in Game 1 pushed the Oilers from plucky underdog status into “need a miracle” territory. They almost The underdog: This team was probably a little better than you remember, pulled it off, pushing the series to seven games before losing. finishing with 94 points and earning the sixth seed in the Western Conference. It was the first time they’d made the playoffs in eight years. But then: Oiler fans call what came next the “decade of darkness,” but it’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s just that for 10 straight years, everything The unexpected run: The Flames knocked off the division-leading about this team was complete and utter darkness. Wait, I guess that is Canucks in seven, then stunned the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Red kind of bad. Wings in six before punching their ticket to the Final with a six-game win over the Sharks. Why they might worry Habs fans: Maybe it’s me, but this run feels the most similar to Montreal’s in terms of pure “this can’t actually be The Final: Facing the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Lightning happening” energy. Just to be on the safe side, if Shea Weber demands (making for their fourth straight matchup with a 100-point team), the a trade under mysterious circumstances, say no. Flames very nearly finished their Cinderella run with a championship. But a 3-2 series lead collapsed thanks to a controversial non-goal and two Why they might not: If this really is your destiny, you’ll at least get a hell heartbreaking one-goal losses. of a franchise player with the No. 1 pick in the 2030 draft. 2010 Philadelphia Flyers But then: This year’s Stars flipped the script, getting off to a good start but then flatlining and missing the playoffs entirely. (And yes, I suppose The underdog: With just 88 points, the Flyers went into the playoffs as we need to mention that they still finished with a better record than the the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed. Canadiens.) Was that a one-year blip or the start of the sort of long-term The unexpected run: This one isn’t so much about what the Flyers did as collapse so many of these teams have seen? Time will tell. about how the entire playoffs shook out. Philadelphia knocked off the Why they might worry Habs fans: A team signs Corey Perry, proves that 101-point Devils in the first round, then watched as every other favorite in an early record can be deceptive, changes coaches midway through a the conference except the Penguins also lost. That set up a manageable COVD-19 shortened season, goes on a surprise run on the strength of a second-round matchup with the Bruins, and after winning that, the Flyers veteran goalie who gets red hot at the right time, beats the Golden actually had home ice against the eighth-seeded Canadiens in the Knights to get to the Final and then loses to the Lightning. Huh. No, not conference finals. They won that series in five. ringing any bells.

The Final: The 112-point Blackhawks were heavy favorites, but didn’t feel Why they might not: (slowly backs out of room without making eye like a sure thing — remember, this was a young Chicago team that contact) hadn’t won anything yet. The Flyers gave them a series, but the Hawks took the Cup in six games. The Athletic LOADED: 07.10.2021

But then: The Flyers didn’t collapse, and would win a round in each of the next two seasons. But they haven’t been out of the second round since.

Why they might worry Habs fans: One thing you’ll hear often from Montreal fans is that they’re not worried about the future because of the team’s young forward core of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. But the Flyers had Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux, and it didn’t translate to future success (and in fact two-thirds of them were gone within just over a year).

Why they might not: Those 2010 Flyers rode Michael Leighton and to the Final, leading a generation of fans to wonder if you could win a Cup without even above-average goaltending. In other words, pretty much the mirror opposite of this current Habs team.

2017 Nashville Predators

The underdog: Despite several strong regular-season showings, the Predators had never been out of the second round in franchise history. And their 2016-17 season was one of their worst in recent memory, as they finished with just 94 points and went into the playoffs as the Western Conference’s eighth seed.

The unexpected run: The Preds served notice immediately by sweeping the heavily favored Blackhawks, then knocked off the Blues and Ducks in six.

The Final: The 111-point Penguins were looking to become the first back- to-back Cup winners of the cap era, and jumped out to a 2-0 series lead. Nashville fought back with home wins in Games 3 and 4 before running out of gas, dropping a pair of shutout losses to end the series in six.

But then: The Predators might be the only team on this list that got significantly better after their Final loss, at least temporarily, winning the Presidents’ Trophy with 117 points in 2017-18. But they were upset in the second round that year, haven’t won a round since, and are now floundering as one of the league’s dreaded “stuck-in-the-middle” teams.

Why they might worry Habs fans: The Predators were built around a stud defenseman in Roman Josi, an aging star goalie in Pekka Rinne, and a group of young forwards who didn’t score a ton but spread the offense around, and they lost to repeat champions. This sounds vaguely familiar.

Why they might not: I mean, you could do worse than following up a Final run with a 117-point season.

That’s our 10th team if you’re keeping track, but I’m guessing there may be one more you were waiting for. So let’s finish off with a bonus entry, even if we don’t really know how this story ends.

Bonus team: 2020 Dallas Stars

The underdog: After a legitimately terrible start seemed to derail their season before it started, the Stars heated up and made the playoffs with room to spare. With a prorated 97-point pace slotting them in as the Western Conference fourth seed prior to that weird round-robin thing, the Stars might be the best team on this list, and you could even make the argument that they weren’t really underdogs at all, which is why I wasn’t sure if I should even include them. But we kind of have to, if only because we know how recency bias works.

The unexpected run: After taking out a Flames team they were expected to beat, Dallas pulled off two legitimate upsets by eliminating the Avalanche and Golden Knights.

The Final: The Stars gave the favored Lightning a fight, but dropped the series in six games. 1217154 Websites liability for any loss, injury, infectious disease or damage that I, or my property may suffer in relation to my participation in the Games.”

Personally, if I was covering the Olympics and got sick, I’d be expecting Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: Where NHL's Olympic participation stands my employer to handle it, but that's not going to happen in this case. as off-season begins Players are going to have to accept that risk. And their answer, as things stand now, is, “We’re in.” I wondered if Jonathan Toews’ admission to The Athletic that he’s “probably” a COVID long-hauler might create some pause, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. He got it before Elliotte Friedman@FriedgeHNIC vaccination was readily available in North America. July 10, 2021, 12:51 AM That’s why, whenever, the NHL schedule is released, I’d expect to see the Olympics on it. But — and this is a big “but” — I’d also expect in any closing negotiation with the IOC an understanding that if things take a • Where the NHL's Olympic participation stands turn for the worse in the days/weeks/months before February, there will be some kind of alternate or cancellation plan. • What will the Canadiens look like next season? 33 THOUGHTS • The latest off-season news on the Leafs, Flames, Oilers and Canucks 1. During his end-of-season media availability on Friday, Montreal • Can Tampa re-tool to pull off a three-peat? Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said, “I have one more year under The Stanley Cup is awarded; fun time is over. Now we get down to contract, and I will honour that.” He added the last 16 months were business. "tough on me. Mentally, it was very difficult.” Prior to the end of the regular season, there was plenty of reason to believe owner Geoff The buyout window is open until July 27. Protected lists for the expansion Molson was firmly in Bergevin’s corner and had offered the GM an draft are due next Saturday. The Seattle Kraken select their players July extension. But one source warned to be careful. He said Bergevin was 21. The NHL Draft goes July 23-24, with free agency following on the burnt out and may not want to return. 28th. There’s a lot going on, and it’s going to happen fast. At the very least, today’s comments are some confirmation of that. In the middle of this, the NHL and NHLPA are trying to finalize Olympic Staying another season gives everyone time to breathe, but it’s not like participation. During their media conference prior to Game 1 of the Final, the white-hot spotlight of Montreal is going to decrease. I do wonder if commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly said they Bergevin and Molson discuss a new front office structure, where would honour their deal with players to go to Beijing in February 2022 — Bergevin moves up to a President of Hockey Operations-type role and provided an agreement could be made with the International Olympic either Scott Mellanby or Martin Lapointe becomes GM. Committee. 2. After the Canadiens beat the Pittsburgh Penguins and lost to the You didn’t need to be a Negreanu-esque poker player to recognize they Philadelphia Flyers in the 2020 bubble, Bergevin doubled-down on his weren’t thrilled about it. theory that his team would be a tough out in the playoffs — if the “We have real concerns about whether or not it’s sensible to be Canadiens got there. That proved to be correct, as Montreal became the participating,” Bettman said. first team since the 1965 Chicago Blackhawks to reach the Stanley Cup Final despite going pointless in their last five regular-season games. (The For many elite-level players, especially those who haven’t been 2020 Dallas Stars finished 0-4-2 before the pandemic pause, while the Olympians, this was a supreme downer. 2015 Blackhawks went 0-4.) Now we see how that factors in his decision- making. “This might be the last chance I get, so it sucks to hear,” said Victor Hedman, who would lead Sweden’s defence. Two key immediate decisions: expansion draft and Phillip Danault. Expansion: does Montreal protect the “big four” defencemen, risk one “As players, we’re expecting to go,” added Connor McDavid, who may unprotected or cut a deal with Seattle? As for Danault, who confirmed crack Canada’s top-nine. “We’re expecting the league to make that turning-down a long-term deal before the season, Bergevin said, “He's happen.” still in our plans and we hope he remains with our team.” It is believed One major hurdle is COVID-related insurance. What happens if a player team and player were $500,000-$750,000 per year apart on an misses time due to a COVID-related illness after the Olympics? From extension. what I understand, only a small percentage of NHLers who would be The Canadiens appear strong down the middle with Nick Suzuki, Jesperi participating are covered for that, and the NHL/NHLPA are being told this Kotkaniemi and Jake Evans (who Ducharme clearly trusts), plus Ryan insurance is no longer available to be bought. My response was, surely Poehling ready for the next level. But Danault led them in playoff ice-time some high-risk insurer would do it, albeit at a ridiculous price, but the among forwards (by one second over Suzuki). Montreal became the first answer is always, “No, they won’t accept that risk.” So, the question is team since 2001 to play 20 post-season games while having their most- how that is covered and who assumes it. (In 2014, the last time the NHL used forward score only once. went to the Games, the International Olympic Committee paid the insurance costs, estimated at approximately $11 million U.S.) 3. We’re all expecting Montreal to get Dominique Ducharme locked up. And no one’s going to be stunned to see Alexandre Burrows coaching The IOC knows the power of the rings. When I worked Olympics for AHL Laval. Luke Richardson’s contract is up, too. Does he stay or look CBC, it was almost without fail that our analysts proudly wore a ring with elsewhere? the logo or had the emblem tattooed somewhere on their body. Ask them about it, and you’d get a huge smile and lengthy discussion of the 4. Chicago and Edmonton have been grinding away on a Duncan Keith competition and/or the social life. There’s a magic in it and I loved deal for almost two weeks now, and we’re getting to the point of, “Does hearing their stories. this happen, or not?” It’s believed Edmonton’s turned down some of the asks, such as Ethan Bear and/or Ryan McLeod. There’s definitely a NHL players are no different. According to multiple sources, the NHLPA desire for finality. has canvassed its membership since Bettman/Daly’s comments, and the response has been “we want to go.” Even if it is not the Olympics as we 5. I also believe the Oilers have begun talking to Darnell Nurse about an are used to. extension. He’s eligible this summer, with one more season before unrestricted free agency. In goal, it sounds like they are juggling multiple The Washington Post reported Thursday that the IOC is asking balls, from Mike Smith to someone younger. competitors for the Summer Games, scheduled to begin in two weeks, sign waivers before competing. “I agree that I participate in the Games at 6. Calgary has begun extension discussion with Johnny Gaudreau. This my own risk and own responsibility,” it reads, “including any impact on is purely my guess, but Flames probably have to jump over Matthew my participation to and/or performance in the Games, serious bodily Tkachuk’s $7 million per season. He’s at $6.75 million now. injury or even death, raised by the potential exposure to health hazards such as the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious disease or 7. Don’t know if it still works, but Toronto liked Tyler Bertuzzi this season extreme heat conditions… To the fullest extent admissible under — moving elsewhere when it became obvious he wasn’t going to be applicable laws, I irrevocably release the Released Parties from any healthy. Barring a major change, Zach Hyman won’t be back with the Maple Leafs, a big loss for them. It’s expected Detroit will be among his Fortunately, the worst missed us. This may be recency bias, but if there pursuers, although the Red Wings won’t be the only ones. was a tournament featuring all the salary-cap era Stanley Cup winners, I’d bet on the 2020-21 Lightning. Back-to-back cups under these 8. There’s a lot of linkage with Toronto and Rick Tocchet for the open circumstances? That’s incredibly impressive. assistant coaching job. It sounds like the Maple Leafs reached out pretty quickly. If Richardson hits the market, that might make sense, too. 20. The moment the clock hit zero, one exec texted: “The tampering is underway for (Blake) Coleman and (Barclay Goodrow).” There was a 9. Vancouver’s looking for defence and a centre with some heft. tearful laughing emoji at the end. In all seriousness, I think those kinds of Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre reported Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson players will be heavily pursued. There are varying degrees, but we’re are looking at short-term deals for cap reasons. As has been reported, talking those who play a hard game and can line up with good players. they are working to find a new home for Nate Schmidt. Hyman falls into that category and so does Joel Armia.

10. There were rumours Jack Eichel backed away from the disc 21.I’m very, very curious to see what Tampa Bay is going to do here. If replacement surgery and would consider a fusion instead, but several we’ve learned one thing about the Lightning, it’s that they will do sources refuted that. Not true. There was a time I thought a trade might everything possible in the pursuit of victory. Even with difficult decisions happen sooner rather than later, but after the expansion draft looks more to make, count-out a three-peat at your peril. A couple of agents and likely. Who’s in there? My guess is Anaheim, Calgary, Minnesota and executives feel they will have an easier time moving Tyler Johnson if Vegas, with Boston, the Rangers and possibly Los Angeles on the that’s still the goal, because he played well and also because his contract periphery. is now with three years to go instead of four. There will still need to be a Tough to read the Kings on this one. The Sabres are looking for youth. sweetener, but it appears as if his perception is improved from last fall. High-level prospects and picks. The complicating part is Buffalo’s been Mathieu Joseph is definitely ready for a regular role. But, would anyone very careful with Eichel’s medical records. They want to make sure be surprised if they pulled off some shocker to accomplish what they trading partners are serious before allowing access. That’s a little wish? different than St. Louis, which has indicated it will make Vladimir 22. Thanks to Nikita Kucherov, I learned something new. There’s a Tarasenko’s available. specific exemption for players to endorse “malt beverages” in the CBA. 11. Tarasenko and the Blues will do everything possible to facilitate a They can’t endorse other forms of alcohol. Is this still necessary? Seems move. He asked for a trade, but the organization also recognizes it is archaic. As for his crazy post-game media availability, we can’t complain time. This one will be very challenging due to the shoulder injuries and players are boring and then rip them when they aren’t. Laughed my head the fact his actual cash is $9.5 million next season. off, while also recognizing the Canadiens are going to hunt him down in their first meeting next season. 12. I’m going to stress that this situation has been described as “not acrimonious” to me, but Philadelphia and Jakub Voracek have discussed 23. Kucherov has 127 points in 113 playoff games, 1.12 points per game. that it might be time for a change, as well. Voracek is expected to be left Among players with that many post-season appearances, only Wayne unprotected for the expansion draft (and was told so), where former Gretzky, Mark Messier, Mike Bossy, Jari Kurri and scored Flyers coach Dave Hakstol would weigh in. Should that fail, Philly will at a higher rate. Really impressive. look elsewhere. There are three years left on his contract, with cash 24. One fan who was thrilled to see Steven Stamkos raise the Stanley slightly lower than his cap hit of $8.25 million. Both sides are also Cup: 21-year-old Zach Kennedy from Kitchener-Waterloo. Zach, who is prepared for the possibility a trade won’t occur, so he stays put. But there battling Ewing’s Sarcoma, is a massive Stamkos fan, and has received will be a legit attempt to move him. both a signed stick and personalized video from the Lightning captain. 13. The Seth Jones-to-Philadelphia discussions appear off, for now. The During a recent stay in hospital, Zach kept a Stamkos jersey next to his Flyers can’t get the commitment they want from Jones. That’s his right, to pillow for inspiration while watching the games. Wonderful the Kennedy wait unless he’s certain, but Philly won’t make the deal without it. family was able to enjoy the victory.

14. Goaltending situation to WATCH: will Carolina qualify Alex 25. Saw Martin St. Louis in a hotel room on NHL Network on Wednesday Nedeljkovic? It seems crazy to ask, but there are rumours the Hurricanes and assumed he was in Tampa Bay for the clincher. Bad guess, he was are not crazy about his arbitration award potential. I’m not always good in Buffalo with his son, Lucas, for a tournament. Lucas was just taken with comparables, but Vancouver’s extension with Thatcher Demko put 20th overall by Dubuque in the USHL Draft, and St. Louis' eldest son, his last two non-UFA seasons at $2.5 million and $4.5 million (including a Ryan, who plays for the US National Development Team, looks like a $1-million signing bonus). Same situation Carolina’s going through with mid-round selection in the upcoming NHL Draft. Good luck to him and the Warren Foegele. There’s been a lot of interest with him. family.

15. One Coyote who teams definitely are interested in: centre Christian 26. As I watched the Lightning overpower Montreal, I thought how good Dvorak. He’s signed for four more years at $4.45 million — although it is the Islanders were to push them to 1-0 in a seventh game. back-ended. He’s a good centre, and they are valued. 27. This is a true nerd special: Seattle assistant coach Jay 16. Even with Viktor Arvidsson, wouldn’t be surprised if Los Angeles Leach scored one career NHL goal, an empty-netter — which makes him looks hard at another winger, a Brandon Saad or Jaden Schwartz type. part of a unique club. Jeff also knew Boston’s Zach Senyshyn is another. I can add a third, Jim Vesey (father of current NHLer Jimmy Vesey). I 17. My bet is Gabriel Landeskog gets done in Colorado, but I could also was in attendance at Maple Leafs Gardens for his only goal, which see the Kings around there. Possibly the Blues if they can move clinched a 7-5 win for visiting St. Louis. Tarasenko. Landeskog is the kind of player St. Louis lusts after. 28. Expect a deep dive on crosschecking this off-season. A few years 18. I didn’t think we’d see many eight-year deals, but stretching AAV over ago, it was slashing — which became heavily penalized. term (Joel Eriksson Ek, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) is becoming a thing. 29. Commissioner Bettman mentioned the possibility of a Heritage 19. You know the old line: you don’t know how much you miss something Classic next March. The last time this was on the radar for Canada, until it’s gone. What an enjoyable end to the season, being on the road Edmonton was the desired city. The Oilers hosted the first one, and it’s for big games. Montreal was a lot of fun, especially a lot of us on the their time once again. Hockey Night team hadn’t been together all year. The people were obviously excited, although the Lightning showed their enormous killer 30. When the Rangers acquired Adam Fox from Carolina, then-GM Jeff instinct by wrenching Game 3 from the Canadiens moments after the Gorton took heat. It was widely-believed Fox wanted to be in New York, puck dropped. and if he went back to NCAA Harvard for one more season, they could get him for free. Why waste the assets? Instead, the Rangers brought The full arena in Tampa Bay was really something. Sometimes crowds him in and got his pro career started. One season later, he’s the Norris are nervous. Sometimes they are confident. That Tampa crowd was Trophy winner. It’s a lesson: if you really want someone, don’t wait. Go wired for Game 5, and they had zero doubt their team was going to win. get them. The whole trip to Florida was an adventure because of Hurricane Elsa. Not long after arriving, we got an emergency alert on our phones to stock 31. There are a lot of really good young or youth coaches out there who up for three days, which is why I had that giant jug of water. crave information, and I’d like to support them as much as possible. Florida Panthers video coach Andrew Brewer launched a new project this week, called 200 Foot Coaching. His goal is to provide affordable personalized training for coaches at all levels. If you’re truly interested in improving, information is power. Good luck to Andrew, and to all coaches with a dream.

32. Before wrapping up the blog for this season, I wanted to re-state that I hope the day will come that we get clarity on what happened in Chicago 11 years ago. When the NFL fined Washington $10M last week after an investigation into the team’s culture, attorneys who represent 40 former team employees blasted the decision to keep the report private. (It should be noted that some lawyers have told me they prefer private reports because people won’t be as honest if things are made public.) This will not go away quietly.

33. This is the end of the blog for the 2020-21 season. Things change too quickly around this time of year to do it as properly as I’d like. And, after free agency, I’m going to need a mental break. Thank you to Sportsnet’s editors. If you saw how I submitted this stream of consciousness, you wouldn’t believe it. They do a fantastic job and I am appreciative. But mostly, I’d like to thank you, the reader. There’s no point in doing this if no one is interested. Thank you for investing your time in this gibberish. You’re what it’s about.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217155 Websites question about his future, which was couched with an acknowledgement that being a GM in Montreal is particularly difficult.

“Oh,” interjected Bergevin as a grin washed over his face, “I didn’t Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' off-season to be dominated by speculation realize.” about Bergevin's future But he went back to serious mode as the question was being completed.

“Did making it to the Final fuel the fire for you, and would you like to Eric Engels@EricEngels obtain a contract extension?” the reporter asked.

July 9, 2021, 8:18 PM “Honestly, again, this ended two days ago and I haven’t had time to think about anything,” Bergevin said, “and for the moment, there are more pressing issues to take care of.”

MONTREAL — They are the 13 words certain to generate more Bergevin was unequivocal about removing the interim tag coach conversation around Montreal than anything else over this coming off- Dominique Ducharme has been wearing since he took over from Claude season. Julien on Feb. 24.

“I have one more year on my contract, and I will honour that,” said Though the two don’t have a contract extension worked out quite yet, he Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin on Friday. said it’s a top priority to get hammered out over the coming days, and that will be to the delight of many players who sung Ducharme’s praises What he didn’t say will also fuel endless speculation. in their end-of-season Zoom conferences. Bergevin was asked about whether he’d like to continue in his role as GM Remaining Time -1:10 beyond next season, but he declined to comment. Ducharme had no intentions of benching key veterans Gallagher or Sign up for NHL newsletters Toffoli Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to “He’s a head coach,” said 36-year-old Corey Perry. “He’s to the point, he your inbox! gets his point across, and he’s definitely detailed and structured. That’s *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. everything you want from a head coach. He’ll talk to you, let you know where you stand, and I can’t say enough about him. He did a tremendous There was no point asking if Canadiens owner had offered job for us.” a contract extension. The two have an exceptionally close relationship, one forged by all the trials, tribulations and successes they’ve enjoyed Nick Suzuki, 21, echoed the sentiment. since partnering back in 2012, and Molson’s faith in Bergevin was “(Ducharme) came in at a tough time,” he said. “We weren’t playing that certainly bolstered over the last eight months. great, but he implemented his system and what he believed in, and I He gave Bergevin over $100 million to solidify the Canadiens’ roster last think as a team we really embraced that. He did a great job with our off-season—at a time the business was suffering considerably and whole group, listening to the players and really trying to get the most out without any guarantee it would recover in the near future—and he sat of us. back and watched the resulting moves Bergevin made turn into a playoff “And the conversations that I’ve had all season with him, just trying to berth and a run to the Stanley Cup Final. Months later, he saw Bergevin help me out as much as possible, trying to give me little bits here and receive more first-place votes than any other candidate for the Jim there of how to take my game to a higher level. So, he really did a great Gregory Award for GM of the Year and probably felt vindicated for job.” placing as much faith as he had in the 55-year-old. As did Bergevin, though his detractors would argue the Canadiens were Just before that, Elliotte Friedman reported conversations about a new still the last team to qualify for the playoffs and the lowest-ranked one to contract between Molson and Bergevin had begun, and we followed that compete in them. up by reporting a well-placed source was suggesting Bergevin had a three-year extension on offer. But the Canadiens started off the year in a playoff spot and remained in one until the season ended in April. And they rode to the Stanley Cup Neither reports were confirmed by either men, but we stand by them. Final playing better hockey than every team but one, and they did it in Remaining Time -0:35 large part because of the moves Bergevin made.

Suzuki talks forming lethal partnership with Caufield next season He traded for and signed Jake Allen as the backup to Carey Price to help the Canadiens get through the regular season. He added Joel One thing not discussed with either party but made clear to us by several Edmundson to help complete what might be considered the NHL’s sources in the lead up to that moment was that no one was quite sure nastiest defence corps. He brought in Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson and Bergevin wanted to continue in his role beyond his 10th and final season Corey Perry up front before the season started, and went against the under contract. The sense that the job had taken a lot out of him grain to add Eric Staal, Erik Gustafsson and Jon Merrill at the trade throughout the years gained traction with people close to him, and it was deadline—moves that proved valuable as the Canadiens advanced heightened over the last 16 months. through the playoffs.

When we asked Bergevin—two days after his Canadiens lost Game 5 And as almost every player who spoke on Friday referenced how bonded and watched the Tampa Bay Lightning hoist the Stanley Cup they had the group was, it became more and more evident how they felt about worked so hard to capture—how the events of this year had affected him, Bergevin applying the glue. he made it clear they had in a profound way. “He built this team,” said defenceman Ben Chiarot. “It’s his team. He gets “It's been hard on me,” he said after first deflecting the attention towards all the credit for bringing this group together and seeing not only how his players and the sacrifices they made to see this season through. “It important good players are but how important having the right people in was hard this year. It was mentally very difficult.” the room is—bringing in winners, guys who have won Stanley Cups, all that experience, bringing in character. I think that’s what pushed us It’s clear nothing’s been easy from the start, when Bergevin came over through the playoffs was the character in the room and just how we from the Chicago Blackhawks equipped with years of experience in gelled together. management—and with enough comedic material banked to headline a Just For Laughs Gala. “He was up for GM of the year for a reason. He did an unbelievable job and all the credit goes to him.” He flashed his well-renowned sense of humour a lot back then but has done so less and less with every passing season, and it’s Remaining Time -1:01 understandable given the ever-increasing stress of doing this job. Bergevin’s only joke on Friday ironically came as a reaction to another Chiarot reflects on Weber's role as the leader and seeing him come up short Whatever success the Canadiens enjoy over the coming few years will also have Bergevin’s fingerprints all over it.

Whether his hands remain on the rudder beyond next season is, however, in doubt.

Not that any of that uncertainty is getting in the way of the tasks Bergevin must undertake right now.

He’ll settle with Ducharme, prepare the Canadiens for the expansion draft, the entry draft and do what he can to retain unrestricted free agents Tomas Tatar and Joel Armia before scouring the market for others.

To Phillip Danault, the shutdown centre Bergevin confirmed he offered a long-term extension to back in September of 2020, the GM reaffirmed his commitment.

“We love Phil Danault,” Bergevin said in French. “He’s still in our plans and we hope he remains with our team.”

Remaining Time -0:49

Danault on why role changes in Canadiens lineup could sway contract talks

Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Artturi Lehkonen are most likely not going anywhere, either.

Bergevin will have to get both restricted free agents under contract prior to the start of next season, and he’ll have to deal with a handful of others currently on his American Hockey League roster.

Regarding the Laval Rocket, they’re in need of two new coaches after it was announced on Friday that Joel Bouchard had taken a position at the helm of the San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks farm team) bringing assistant Daniel Jacob with him.

“There were several options on the table for Joel Bouchard, including returning to Laval or becoming an assistant to Dominique Ducharme,” said Bergevin, “but he made the decision, and we wish him the best of luck.”

As for his own future, Bergevin just said, “I still have another year, so nothing’s pressing on my end.”

“The future will bring whatever it will bring,” he added, “and I have no idea what it will bring.”

That won’t stop anyone from discussing it, until more clarity emerges.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.10.2021 1217156 Websites reached out to the alleged victim, they offered to assist the individual in filing a police report with the Oxford Police Department. The individual declined to make a report.

TSN.CA / Former Blackhawks player won't take part in "window dressing" “A second adult alleged victim came forward in 2018 and filed a police abuse investigation, lawyer says report with Miami University Police about an assault that occurred off- campus in 2012. That report was forwarded to the Oxford Police The lawyer for a former Chicago Blackhawks player who has alleged he Department.” was sexually assaulted by a former team video coach says the player will not cooperate with a team-financed investigation. Also on Friday, Julie Ann Rivers-Cochran, chief executive of The Army of Survivors, a Michigan-based advocacy group started by survivors of the sexual predator Larry Nassar, called on the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Hockey to commission their own independent investigation into By Rick Westhead Bowman, who is also general manager of the U.S. Olympic men’s TSN Senior Correspondent hockey team.

“In good conscience, the right thing for [Bowman] to do is step down or step aside unless and until he is cleared by the governing body’s The lawyer for a former Chicago Blackhawks player who has alleged he independent investigation,” Rivers-Cochran said in a phone interview. was sexually assaulted by a former team video coach says the player will “Organizations like USA Hockey and the USOC should take the time and not cooperate with a team-financed investigation. effort to do their own investigations independent of the team. That is the way to create more trust with the public.” “The Blackhawks have been lying all along, denying in court documents that this sexual misconduct even took place, so why would we have any Spokesmen for the USOC and USA Hockey did not respond to emails faith now in an investigation that has been paid for by the Blackhawks?” requesting comment. attorney Susan Loggans told TSN in an interview on Friday. “Also, there is no assurance from anyone, not at the Blackhawks and not at the NHL, TSN.CA LOADED: 07.10.2021 that the results of the team’s investigation will be made public.

“Why would we bother to participate in an investigation that may ultimately be buried and hidden from public view?"

In May, a one-time Blackhawks player who is identified in court documents as John Doe 1 filed a lawsuit against the NHL team that alleged former team video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him and a teammate during the 2009-10 season. After the team's sports psychologist James Gary told the player he was to blame for the incident, Blackhawks management then covered up the assaults, the player alleged.

While the Blackhawks wrote in a court filing that a team investigation concluded the allegations were meritless, the player’s account of a cover- up was corroborated by former Blackhawks skills coach Paul Vincent, who told TSN in an interview that he met with team management in San Jose during the 2010 Stanley Cup Western Conference final and asked that they report the alleged crimes to police.

Blackhawks management refused, Vincent said.

Loggans said she was originally willing to allow her client to be interviewed by attorneys with Jenner & Block, a Chicago law firm hired by the Blackhawks to conduct a purportedly independent investigation.

Loggans said she proposed that she would allow her client, the former Blackhawks player, to be interviewed so long as Jenner & Block ensured that she would also have the ability to interview Blackhawks executives including general manager Stan Bowman, vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac, team sport psychologist James Gary and former team president John McDonough. Loggans said her proposal was rejected.

"All I wanted was equal treatment," Loggans said. "The team says its lawyer is now doing an investigation, and I am doing an investigation. We're both attorneys with clients. No different. The Blackhawks are just looking to gain credibility by saying it will have another investigation but this is all just window dressing."

A Blackhawks spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

After Aldrich left the Blackhawks during the summer of 2010, the Blackhawks gave him a job reference, a second lawsuit against the NHL team alleges. That lawsuit was also filed in May by the family of a former high school hockey player in Michigan who Aldrich was convicted of sexually assaulting in 2013.

After he left the Blackhawks, Aldrich also worked as director of hockey operations with Miami University in Ohio. During his four-month tenure at that school, two adults filed complaints of sexual misconduct against Aldrich, the school confirmed on Friday.

“In November 2012, Miami University was made aware of allegations of an off-campus sexual assault involving a non-student adult and Brad Aldrich,” Miami University spokeswoman Jessica Rivinius wrote in a statement to TSN. “When the Miami University Police Department 1217157 Websites just to eliminate the possibility of goaltending diluting the data in either direction, we can use expected goals to illustrate the same point:

Keith is a Hall of Fame defender and it’s certainly within the realm of TSN.CA / Can the Edmonton Oilers run on Duncan? outcomes that he has a bounce back season of sorts playing with better teammates around him – and there’s no better teammate in the world Is the answer to what ails the Edmonton Oilers a 37-year old right now than Connor McDavid. defenceman carrying a $5.5 million dollar cap hit? More from Travis Yost. But the Oilers organization is trying to figure out how to inject talent into the lineup to deliver a more competitive roster. It’s hard to see how Keith provides help on this front, even if they can trade for him at a fraction of By Travis Yost the cost.

A fantastic player in his prime, but that prime appears long, long ago. Is the answer to what ails the Edmonton Oilers a 37-year old TSN.CA LOADED: 07.10.2021 defenceman carrying a $5.5 million dollar cap hit?

Sometimes you have to frame the question a certain way. In light of all of the trade talk surrounding the Oilers and soon-to-be Hall of Fame defenceman Duncan Keith, I think it’s a critical one to answer. The rumour mill has been flush with speculation over Keith, with a lot of the discussion centered around how much the Oilers should be willing to pay for a player at the tail end of his playing career.

Ultimately, we don’t know where the asking price for Keith and the final year of his contract will land. The bullish case – the one the Blackhawks are surely selling – is that there are still miles left with Keith, and that much of the overarching performance issues are a byproduct of the team around him. The bearish case is that Keith was a primary contributor to Chicago’s struggles.

A few key points here:

- Keith’s salary ($2.1 million) is dwarfed by his cap hit ($5.5 million);

- The Oilers (or any other team) could negotiate a trade where the Blackhawks retain up to 50 per cent of the player’s salary (including bonuses) and cap hit, but no higher than that; and..

- The Oilers have cap space today (approximately $16-million) to leverage, but also have 8 unrestricted free agents and 3 restricted free agents in need of new deals

The point being: Edmonton is in a tricky spot here. General manager Ken Holland and the rest of the Oilers organization have mounting pressure to deliver a true contender. The team has some cap space to play with, but it’s limited, meaning opportunity costs will exist.

So, in short: is Duncan Keith the piece to put the Oilers over the proverbial hump irrespective of what they have to give up?

Let’s start with the basics: how has Keith produced in recent years in Chicago? I’m using Goals Above Replacement as a proxy for player production here, but other measurements show a similar (and deeply discouraging) trend. I also think it’s worth juxtaposing this against a player like Patrick Kane – another veteran Blackhawks skater, also playing tough minutes with a depreciating team,

Over the last three seasons, Keith (anchoring the team’s top defensive pairing) and Kane (a fixture on the team’s first-line) have played 1,500 minutes together. That’s a lot of time, but it’s also in line with what we have seen from Chicago for most of the past decade. Because Chicago has been so dynastic (and so consistent) with deployment, we can see how their best units have fared together over the years, and then look again at how they performed when split apart.

Pay particular attention to Keith’s numbers here:

Perhaps Keith can no longer play the tough minutes the same way some of the other Blackhawks veterans can, but there is increasing evidence he’s no longer driving positive performance. Expecting any 37-year old to be productive with this many miles on his legs seems unrealistic, but the reality is an Edmonton trade would see him as a regular fixture in the lineup irrespective of what they offer.

There is something else that I think is worth addressing. One of the arguments I have read over the past week is that while Keith isn’t the player at 37-years of age that he used to be, he could still add value in lesser minutes in more of a depth defensive role.

Until we see that in practice, it’s somewhat hard to argue. But if we look at Keith’s performance relative to calibre of opponents over the last three seasons, we see two things: Keith’s play was noticeably better against weaker competition, but the Blackhawks were still in the deep red. And