sign in sign up
<<
Home , Alex McKechnie, Bobby Webster, Craig MacTavish, Dan Blackburn, Daryl Katz, Evan McEneny

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 01/24/19 1127354 Ducks' 'uninspired' effort results in 5-1 loss to St. Louis 1127380 Avalanche stumbles into the all-star break as handful of Blues miscues lead to Wild’s 5-2 win 1127355 Ducks fall to Blues, reach All-Star break looking like a 1127381 Bednar on Avs’ latest defeat: ‘It’s not a goaltending loss. team in need of one That’s for sure.’ 1127356 Ducks’ Ondrej Kase to have season-ending surgery; 1127382 A conversation with Gabriel Landeskog Corey Perry could play soon 1127383 Avalanche lose 5-2 to Wild, head into All-Star break on down slope 1127384 Five Takeaways from Avalanche’s 5-2 loss to Wild 1127357 Coyotes fall to Canadiens after game-tying 1127385 Takeaways from Avs’ loss to Wild: It feels like this is rock overturned on review bottom 1127358 Calvin Pickard to start in goal, make Arizona Coyotes 1127386 Avs-Wild player grades: Deeper into the abyss debut 1127387 Morning skate notebook: Grubauer gets another 1127359 Coyotes’ Ekman-Larsson suffers lower-body injury, will chanceAdrian Dater have MRI 1127388 Staal scores twice, Wild ride 5-2 win over Avs into break 1127360 The Neutral Zone: Scratching and clawing is Coyotes’ 2018-19 tagline 1127361 Galchenyuk — with Canadiens experience ‘in the past’ — 1127389 Why Tyler Seguin, sooner or later, is bound to return to his starting to flash offensive firepower All-Star caliber production 1127362 At the All-Star break, let’s assess the Bruins roster 1127390 Detroit Red Wings have long, diverted, trek home due to 1127363 Former Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli dismissed by Oilers DTW closure 1127364 Bruins at the bye week: In good shape, but in need of an 1127391 Detroit Red Wings finally won again. Here's what was upgrade most satisfying 1127365 NHL Rumors: Oilers fire ex-Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli 1127392 Red Wings welcome long break in the schedule amid rough season 1127393 Pavel Datsyuk's agent floats ex-Red Wing's possible 1127366 The story behind all the Bruins nods in ABC’s ‘A Million return to NHL Little Things’ 1127394 Weather, airport closure delay Red Wings' return to Detroit 1127367 Why that number? Bruins explain origins of their uniform 1127395 Luke Glendening scores twice, Red Wings top Oilers 3-2 digits 1127396 Red Wings prospect report: Seth Barton and Kasper Kotkansalo 1127368 Redmond's record goal is winner for Amerks Oilers 1127369 In Eichel and Skinner, Sabres adding double dose of 1127397 Full transcript of media conference on talent to All-Star Game firing of Peter Chiarelli 1127370 Former Sabres top pick Nylander encouraged by progress 1127398 Keith Gretzky takes over Oilers GM role for now with Amerks 1127399 Oilers beat writers analyze Oilers next move 1127371 Sabres defenseman Lawrence Pilut won't play in AHL 1127400 Oilers in 60: Heads explode as Oilers fire Peter Chiarelli All-Star Classic 1127401 Oilers beaten by the Wings 3-2 1127402 Current Edmonton Oilers roster not where envisioned Flames when Peter Chiarelli took over 1127372 Treliving prepares for Flames break, last stretch of regular 1127403 Bob Nicholson wants Edmonton Oilers to look within season and, hopefully, beyond dressing room for run at playoffs 1127404 Edmonton Oilers still selling playoff hope, which seems unlikely 1127373 The Canes needed at least a point in the tough 3-2 OT 1127405 JONES: Peter Chiarelli leaves huge mess for Edmonton loss to the Oilers to clean up 1127406 'There’s something in the water': Oilers CEO Bob Blackhawks Nicholson says team will not give away the future 1127374 How the words on their sticks motivate Blackhawks 1127407 JONES: Who in their right mind is going to hire Chiarelli players — anything from 'swear words to happy stuff' now? 1127375 Volatile first half sets stage for Blackhawks' big dreams 1127408 Tychkowski: Edmonton Oilers fire Chiarelli, but the after All-Star break damage is done 1127376 Blackhawks still eyeing run from last place to playoff berth 1127409 Lowetide: Bob Nicholson’s press conference attempts to 1127377 Hawks power play since mid-December is second to none set the tone for Oilers moving forward 1127378 State of the Blackhawks going into All-Star break 1127410 How desirable is the Oilers GM opening and what 1127379 Four takeaways: Power play heater continues as questions are prospective candidates asking? Blackhawks go into break with shootout win 1127411 Willis: With Peter Chiarelli gone, this is what the Oilers need to do next 1127412 LeBrun: Possible candidates to replace Peter Chiarelli as Oilers GM 1127413 Lowetide: Peter Chiarelli’s inability to adjust, poor trades and free-agent misses at the centre of his firing Kings 1127414 Luc Robitaille says Kings' cycle of losing is 'unacceptable' 1127447 Carter Hart and the six other goalies the Flyers have used this season 1127448 Unlucky No. 7: A quick look at the Flyers and the other 1127415 Wild's offensive leaders headline three-game win streak at teams that have gone through seven goalies All-Star break 1127449 Grading the Flyers' forwards at the bye week 1127416 Wild-Colorado game recap 1127450 Justin Bailey felt a trade was coming before Flyers 1127417 Staal scores twice, Wild ride 5-2 win over Avs into break acquired him 1127418 Wild hits All-Star break on a high note after crushing 1127451 10 Flyers’ bye week statistical observations: Gordon vs. Colorado 5-2 Hakstol, Hart’s performance, PP struggles and more 1127419 Wild's J.T. Brown invited to All-Star Game for gamers 1127420 Want the Wild to rebuild and start over? It's harder -- and riskier -- than you might think 1127452 Success on kill, not power play, could lead 1127421 Wild expecting 'playoff game' vs. Avalanche Penguins to postseason success 1127422 For new Wild defenseman , it’s an exciting time 1127453 Tim Benz: The confounding cases of Steelers' Morgan 1127423 Nick Seeler plays the hero in Colorado as Wild head into Burnett, Penguins' Derick Brassard break on a high note 1127454 Everything you need to know about NHL All-Star Weekend 1127455 Teddy Blueger keeps working — and waiting — for that NHL call 1127424 Canadiens edge Coyotes to spoil Galchenyuk’s return to 1127456 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Adam Johnson is breaking away Montreal from the mental struggles of last season 1127425 In the Habs' Room: 'We find a way to win in different ways,' Julien says 1127426 About last night ... Canadiens head into break after huge 1127457 NHL Fan Fair in San Jose: What fans need to know win 1127458 2019 NHL All-Star Game: Which snubs most deserved trip 1127427 Canadiens edge Coyotes to earn franchise's 2,000th win to San Jose on home ice 1127459 The NHL All-Star Game’s return to San Jose conjures 1127428 Analyze This: Case can be made that Phillip Danault is memories of Owen Nolan’s called shot Canadiens' MVP 1127460 Grading the Sharks at midseason: High-scoring forwards 1127429 Canadiens vs. Coyotes: Five things you should know grade out well, led by Hertl and Pavelski 1127430 The process of getting the Canadiens power play out of their kitchen and into the opposing net St Louis Blues 1127431 Cracking the win: The hockey gods smile on the 1127461 Edmundson back in action as Bortuzzo becomes Canadiens spectator 1127432 Galchenyuk — with Canadiens experience ‘in the past’ — 1127462 Blues go on break with win over Anaheim starting to flash offensive firepower 1127463 Blues blast Ducks 5-1 as they head into break 1127464 Blues activate Bozak, Sanford from IR; Kyrou, Nolan sent to 1127433 Wednesday's recap: Predators 2, Golden Knights 1 1127434 Ryan Johansen set to return from suspension for Predators 1127465 Brayden Point is one of the NHL’s top goal scorers. Soon 1127435 Predators' Nick Bonino feeling lucky lately the Lightning may have to pay him like one. 1127436 Inside the dressing rooms after ‘Bite-gate’ incident in 1127466 Why Steven Stamkos is playing some of his best hockey Vegas 1127437 Ryan Johansen’s value to the Predators has never been higher 1127467 Maple Leafs double up Capitals to enter NHL break in style 1127468 A Kadri trick, and the stars click, in Leafs’ win over 1127438 The inspiration behind NJ Devils' Kyle Palmieri's All-Star Washington | The Star season 1127469 There’s no time like the present for the Leafs to lock up the future | The Star 1127470 Maple Leafs hope Marner can lift Matthews out of goal- 1127439 Comeback Season for Robin Lehner Spurs the Islanders’ scoring funk | The Star Resurgence 1127471 Maybe it’s time we tried to get Connor McDavid out of 1127440 Grueling schedule awaits Islanders after bye week and Edmonton | The Star All-Star break 1127472 Leafs’ Andersen adds to Capitals curse 1127441 Islanders loan rookies Michael Dal Colle, Devon Toews to 1127473 Defending champion Capitals in a mid-season skid Bridgeport 1127474 Coast to coast, Moore family excited to face Caps 1127475 Leafs’ John Tavares understands Ovechkin’s stance but happy to go to all-star weekend 1127442 Rangers looking at defensive dilemma when Neal Pionk 1127476 The Maple Leafs may finally have the real William returns Nylander back 1127443 Goldman: It’s clear that the Rangers need a number one 1127477 Leafs Report Cards: Game 49 vs. Washington defenseman. But how do they define what that means? 1127478 Kyle Dubas has a fine line to walk with Leafs in the coming weeks and months NHL 1127479 Like-minded GMs: Leafs Kyle Dubas and Raptors Bobby 1127444 Struggling Edmonton Oilers fire GM Peter Chiarelli Webster lean on each other and analytics 1127480 LeBrun Notebook: What’s wrong with the Leafs, Andre Burakovsky draws interest and Hurricanes remain active 1127445 Snapshots: Thomas Chabot will get a chance to learn from the best 1127446 Ottawa Senators head to break sitting in last place Websites 1127499 Canucks Post Game: Hurricane warning, health isn’t 1127508 The Athletic / Lowetide: Peter Chiarelli’s inability to adjust, wealth, Markstrom’s lament, El Nino arrives poor trades and free-agent misses at the centr 1127500 Canucks at Night: Time to talk about defence 1127509 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: A detailed breakdown of 1127501 Hurricanes 5 Canucks 2: Floodgates open for Canes in the subtle differences between the NHL and the WWE Vancouver 1127510 .ca / Matthews-Marner combo pays immediate 1127502 Reports say Canucks interested in Ferland. Who wouldn’t dividends for Maple Leafs be? 1127511 Sportsnet.ca / John Shannon's Top 25 NHL Power 1127503 Ben Kuzma: Horvat, Boeser know Pettersson doesn’t Brokers 2019 need pointers for All-Star show 1127512 Sportsnet.ca / NHL Power Rankings: Step Your Game Up 1127504 ‘I didn’t think I would play in the NHL’: Driven Elias Edition Pettersson readies for all-star game 1127513 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks plagued by lack of energy, speed 1127505 UPDATED: Canucks Game Day: Hurricanes prep for in loss to Hurricanes Pettersson storm, Virtanen gets message 1127514 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens embracing challenge of playoff 1127506 Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson credits ‘a lot of work’ for position battle getting him to the NHL All-Star game 1127515 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks owner talks playoffs, tanking in 1127507 The Athletties: The defence issue, the Calder race, the latest live tweet session Stecher story, the Oilers thing and chasing Ferland 1127516 Sportsnet.ca / Leafs' Tavares understands Ovechkin's choice, but it's not for him 1127517 Sportsnet.ca / How signing bonuses impact Senators' 1127481 With Nate Schmidt finding his groove, Knights set up for chances of keeping Duchene, Stone second half 1127518 Sportsnet.ca / Flames Thoughts: Calgary look like 1127482 Golden Knights fall to Nashville Predators, 2-1 — VIDEO contenders entering all-star break 1127483 Knights’ Valentin Zykov again sits; Oilers could eye 1127519 Sportsnet.ca / 3 things we learned in the NHL: Sharks McCrimmon can't stop pucks 1127484 GAME DAY: Golden Knights, Predators battle before 1127520 Sportsnet.ca / J.T. Brown furthering NHL's esports foray All-Star break with House of Chel selection 1127485 Golden Knights pepper Predators with shots but come up 1127521 TSN.CA / Kadri, Nylander steal the show in Leafs win over short Caps 1127486 Golden Knights can't convert late chances, fall to 1127522 TSN.CA / Koskinen contract the latest perplexing decision Predators in Edmonton 1127487 'We don't quit on our kids': Desert Pines' Jamel Brown 1127523 TSN.CA / Leafs desperate to find a spark before break turns second chance into football scholarship 1127524 TSN.CA / Chiarelli’s successor facing NHL's most 1127488 McPhee: Don't expect young call-ups to fill defensive void challenging fix 1127525 USA TODAY / Opinion: Somehow, Peter Chiarelli made the Oilers worse, despite having Connor McDavid 1127489 Capitals’ skid hits seven as they enter all-star break with 6-3 loss at Toronto 1127490 After sixth straight loss, Jeremy Roenick says Capitals are 1127497 Patient Chevy rolled past Oilers' high-speed wreck on way playing ‘awful,’ ‘high-risk hockey’ to NHL success 1127491 Kadri gets hat trick, Maple Leafs beat Capitals 1127498 Bourne and Ates: How stars play smarter, not harder and 1127492 Why a smiling Ovechkin was forced to leave Wednesday’s being ‘bullish’ on Winnipeg’s Cup chances game briefly in the first period 1127493 Alex Ovechkin in the lineup shows just how important Wednesday vs. Toronto really is SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1127494 Evgeny Kuznetsov is embracing his D.C. sports friendship with Bradley Beal 1127495 Capitals’ losing streak extends to six in stunning OT loss to Sharks 1127496 Inside Braden Holtby’s collaboration with the Capitals’ goalie coach 1127354 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks' 'uninspired' effort results in 5-1 loss to St. Louis Blues

By MIKE COPPINGER

JAN 23, 2019 | 11:05 PM

It seemed like the Ducks couldn’t sink to new depths to match their recent 12-game losing streak. But they did just that Wednesday.

The Ducks’ final game before the All-Star break — their last one at home for three weeks — ended with vociferous booing. The 5-1 defeat to the St. Louis Blues was perhaps their worst effort in a season full of forgettable performances. The players didn’t appear to be skating hard. Even goalie John Gibson, who’s been excellent all season, was yanked.

The club generated just 13 shots on goal during a lifeless performance that coach Randy Carlyle and his team will have plenty of time to ponder. Ryan Getzlaf, the team’s captain, called the effort “uninspired.”

“Bottom line is we had a team come in here and outwork our hockey club tonight,” Carlyle said. “We’re not going to accept that.”

Unless something drastically changes, the Ducks are on their way to missing the postseason for the first time in seven seasons. If the playoffs started today, the Ducks would be on the outside looking in.

“It was one of the worst games I’ve been a part of and we’ll leave it at that,” defenseman Cam Fowler told reporters outside the locker room. “I think the break sometimes comes at good times for teams, sometimes not so much. But I think it’s good for us. I think our guys need to get refreshed mentally and physically.”

A reprieve from the sort of emotionally draining defeats the Ducks have recently endured in losing 14 of their last 16 games can’t hurt. The club is hoping several key players will rejoin them on the road when they resume play in Winnipeg on the eve of Super Bowl Sunday nine days from now.

Forward Jakob Silfverberg (hamstring) could begin skating soon. Backup Ryan Miller (MCL sprain) could be cleared to return to practice after the break, as could Corey Perry, who hasn’t played this season as he recovers from knee surgery. The Ducks got some bad news when it was announced that forward Ondrej Kase will have surgery Jan. 30 to repair a torn labrum and will miss the rest of the season.

Injuries have been a challenge, but that doesn’t begin to explain the lethargic effort the Ducks put forth against the Blues.

“There’s no reason for it; no excuse for it,” Getzlaf said. “It’s too hard to park things right now, we’ve been doing it for a month already. I’m pissed off; I’m frustrated. It’s really, really frustrating to understand that our group’s in a playoff race still after everything and we can’t come out and compete hard around our net, around their net.”

The Ducks jumped out to a quick lead on Daniel Sprong’s goal, but that, coupled with the team’s ability to stay completely out of the penalty box, were the only positive developments. From there on out, the Blues bullied the Ducks off the puck and out-hustled them in seemingly every puck race and every battle for position.

Vladimir Tarasenko tied the score in the first period and a two-goal second period followed. After Tyler Bozak made it 4-1 with 8:42 remaining in the third period, Gibson was pulled from the net and replaced by Chad Johnson. The backup didn’t make a save, but allowed one goal.

LA Times: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127355 Anaheim Ducks guys aren’t there. As a collective group, we’re not competing hard enough or playing hard enough to compete in this league.

“We’ve got to find a way. Obviously, this break couldn’t come at a better Ducks fall to Blues, reach All-Star break looking like a team in need of time for our group. Hopefully, we can go away and relax a little bit and one stop gripping the sticks and understand what it takes to compete in this hockey league.”

By Elliott Teaford | [email protected] | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: January 23, 2019 at 9:51 pm | UPDATED: January 23, Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.24.2019 2019 at 11:01 PM

ANAHEIM — Team captain Ryan Getzlaf was angry and frustrated and unwilling to hide his emotions after the Ducks turned in a clunker of a loss to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night at Honda Center, their final game before the All-Star break and the bye week that follows.

“There’s no reason for it,” Getzlaf said after the Ducks’ 5-1 loss to the Blues, their 14th in the past 16 games, which followed a stretch in which they won 11 of 13 and appeared to have found a rhythm and a sense of place in the NHL’s playoff pecking order. “There’s no excuse for it.”

Getzlaf interrupted a question about whether the nine-day break would enable to the Ducks (21-21-9) to clear their heads and regroup for the final 31 regular-season games and perhaps recapture the mojo that carried them to a 19-11-5 record before their downward spiral began.

“It’s too hard to park things right now,” Getzlaf said. “We’ve been doing it for a month already. I’m pissed off and I’m frustrated. It’s really, really frustrating to realize our group is in a playoff race still after everything and we can’t come out and compete hard around our net, around their net, and do the things we did tonight. We’ve got to play and compete.

“Never in 14 years here have I had that feeling that we’re not going to compete on a daily basis. We’ve had three- or four-game stretches where things didn’t go our way and maybe we didn’t have the group we wanted (because of injuries), but never for a consistent period like this.”

Defenseman Cam Fowler was in no mood to unpack all that went haywire on Wednesday when the Ducks were outshot 32-13 and outplayed from beginning to end. He didn’t wish to revisit the Ducks’ many shortcomings in a game they led 1-0 for an all-too-brief period after Daniel Sprong’s early goal.

“I don’t have much to say. It’s one of the worst games I’ve ever been a part of, and I’ll leave it at that,” Fowler said. “Sometimes the break comes at good times for teams. Sometimes not so much. I think it’s good for us. I think our guys can get refreshed mentally and physically.”

Coach Randy Carlyle didn’t wish to reveal too much either.

“Right now, the emotions are running pretty high, so I don’t want to say anything and get myself into any situation where I say something I shouldn’t say,” Carlyle said. “The bottom line is we had a team come in here and outwork our hockey club tonight and we’re not going to accept that.”

Sprong’s eighth goal and 12th point in his 22nd game since he was acquired in a Dec. 3 trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead 6:44 into the game. It masked a great many things that had already gone wrong. It was the Ducks’ first shot on goal after the Blues had eight.

The Blues rallied for a 3-1 lead heading into the third period on goals from Vladimir Tarasenko, Zach Sanford and Oskar Sundqvist. St. Louis then extended its lead to 5-1 on third-period goals from Tyler Bozak and Sammy Blais. The Ducks had zero response.

Carlyle replaced All-Star goaltender John Gibson with Chad Johnson for the game’s final 9:25. Gibson gave up five goals on 31 shots, and Carlyle made the switch in order to spare Gibson further torment in a game in which the Ducks seemed two steps behind at all times.

“We didn’t have the puck,” Carlyle said. “We hung our goalie out to dry.”

Getzlaf found several more parts of the Ducks’ game that were lacking Wednesday, in particular, and for the past 16 games more generally. Without naming names, he blamed everyone on the roster for their inability to play with the necessary intensity and effectiveness.

“We’ve got play and compete, as a group, as five-man units,” he said. “At times we have one guy going or two guys going and the third or fourth 1127356 Anaheim Ducks edge. Especially in this division, in the Pacific Division, it’s still a man’s game, it’s still a heavy game.”

ROSTER MOVES Ducks’ Ondrej Kase to have season-ending surgery; Corey Perry could play soon The Ducks recalled center Sam Carrick from San Diego and placed defenseman Andrej Sustr on waivers. The other 30 teams in the NHL have until Thursday at 9 a.m. to claim him or he will remain with the By Elliott Teaford | [email protected] | Orange County Register Ducks, who could then send him to San Diego or keep him on their roster. PUBLISHED: January 23, 2019 at 7:07 pm | UPDATED: January 23, 2019 at 7:09 PM

Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.24.2019

ANAHEIM — The medical news was mixed for the Ducks on Wednesday.

Ondrej Kase was scheduled for season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum next week and could be sidelined for between five and six months, General Manager Bob Murray said. Kase is expected to be sound by the time training camp starts in September, though.

“Taking a faceoff,” Murray said, describing how Kase was hurt during a victory Jan. 17 over the Minnesota Wild. “From what Orr (Limpisvasti, the Ducks’ orthopedic surgeon,) says he had a couple of little tears in there and they became a big tear.”

Kase sat out the season’s first 18 games because of a concussion.

Corey Perry could play at some point on the next trip, which begins Feb. 2 at Winnipeg, having made faster progress from right knee surgery last September than expected. Murray couldn’t give a firm date on Perry’s return to the lineup, but it will be sooner than later.

Sign up for Home Turf and get exclusive stories every SoCal sports fan must read, sent daily. Subscribe here.

“I don’t know when he’ll be ready to play, but he’s ready to practice with the team,” Murray said. “Full go, according to Orr.”

Ryan Kesler’s surgically-repaired hip continues to trouble him and there is no timetable for his return to the ice. He is undergoing physical therapy and it’s believed the Ducks hope he’ll improve if he stays off the ice during the All-Star break and the bye week to follow.

“It’s the same hip, it’s the same thing,” Murray said.

Jakob Silfverberg was set to go for a light skate Thursday to test his injured hamstring, and if that goes well and he doesn’t suffer a setback before the Ducks’ next practice next Thursday, then he should be able rejoin the lineup for the Feb. 2 game against the Jets.

Ryan Miller has resumed skating after he sprained his knee in the third period of the Ducks’ victory over the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 9. Murray said there was a chance Miller could return to practice next Thursday and accompany the team on its trip.

Murray also said he would speak to Patrick Eaves on Sunday and they would decide the next course of action after he plays his fourth and fifth games with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. Eaves (rib) and the Ducks were granted an extension after he played his third game with the Gulls.

In addition, Murray said minor league players Kevin Roy (wrist surgery) and Jack Kopacka (wrist laceration) are nearing returns to the Gulls’ lineup. Roy needs about two more weeks before he can play again and Kopacka has been cleared to play Friday.

Defenseman Michael Del Zotto’s immigration papers were reviewed, processed and approved in time for him to make his Ducks debut Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues, after he was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in one of three trades Murray engineered Jan. 16.

The Ducks could use Del Zotto’s ability to pass and skate the puck out of trouble in his own end of the ice and also to make plays in the attacking zone. There’s been a disconnect between the Ducks’ defensemen and their forwards this season, and Del Zotto was acquired to help solve the issue.

“You see the skill that they have up front and it’s been unfortunate that they have had some injuries,” Del Zotto said when asked where he could help the Ducks the most. “Hopefully, they get some of them back pretty soon and we have a healthy squad and make a playoff push.

“I’d say I could help out for sure with clean breakouts and transitioning the puck. Defensively, I can help with adding a little bit of a physical 1127357 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes fall to Canadiens after game-tying goal overturned on review

Staff Report

The Associated Press

Published 8:43 p.m. MT Jan. 23, 2019 | Updated 10:08 p.m. MT Jan. 23, 2019

MONTREAL — Mike Reilly scored in the third period, Carey Price made 30 saves and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Arizona Coyotes 2-1 on Wednesday night in Alex Galchenyuk's return to his old city.

Jonathan Drouin also scored for the Canadiens, who have won five of six.

Price earned his 20th victory of the season. He has stopped 133 of the last 137 shots he's faced during a four-game personal winning streak.

Conor Garland scored for the Coyotes, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back set after a 3-2 victory in Ottawa on Tuesday night. Calvin Pickard, in his Coyotes debut, stopped 22 shots.

Reilly put Montreal ahead 2-1 with a one-timer from the point 4:48 into the third.

It looked like Galchenyuk had tied it with 3:39 left when he beat Price with a no-look shot on the power play. The Canadiens challenged successfully for offsides, and the goal was overturned.

Galchenyuk was the Canadiens' first-round draft pick in 2012 and played six seasons with Montreal. This was his first game in Montreal since being traded to the Coyotes for Max Domi on June 15. The 24-year-old was honored with a video tribute during a commercial break in the first period. Both Galchenyuk and Domi were held pointless.

The Canadiens got on the board first when their league-worst power play scored against Arizona's league-best penalty kill.

After a scramble in front of the goal, Tomas Tatar jumped on a loose puck and fed Drouin, who snapped a nine-game goalless drought with a wrist shot at 9:29 of the first period.

The home team could have easily scored a second or third goal, but Pickard was up to the challenge.

Pickard made two big saves to start the second period — point blank on Joel Armia in the slot with his mask before denying Victor Mete with the outstretched pad seconds later. The 26-year-old, playing his 99th NHL game, later stopped Armia on the breakaway.

Garland tied it at 18:28 of the second period while playing with the man advantage. Garland was left all alone at the side of the net after Artturi Lehkonen was forced to sprint to the bench because of a broken stick.

Arizona's Oliver Ekman-Larsson (lower-body injury sustained last game) did not play.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127358 Arizona Coyotes

Calvin Pickard to start in goal, make Arizona Coyotes debut

BY MATT LAYMAN

JANUARY 23, 2019 AT 2:24 PM

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Calvin Pickard is expected to make his Coyotes debut on Wednesday night in Montreal as Darcy Kuemper will rest on the second day of a back-to-back.

Pickard will finally see the ice in a Coyotes uniform for the first time, despite the fact that he was acquired on waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers all the way back on Nov. 29. At the time, Kuemper was hurt but Adin Hill held things down by the time Kuemper got healthy. Pickard was a healthy scratch for a length of time before going to AHL Tucson on a conditioning loan.

Pickard’s conditioning loan expired on Jan. 13, and Hill was reassigned to Tucson.

“All I know is this guy, for two months, has not complained,” coach Rick Tocchet said Wednesday. “He works hard. He went down on his own on conditioning. I’ve talked to other people on other teams, GMs, he’s just a fabulous guy. That’s the first thing — his character. I really hope we play well in front of him.”

His debut for Arizona will mark the fourth team with which he’ll have made an NHL appearance. He played 11 games with the Flyers this year, one game with the Maple Leafs last year and 86 games in three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche before that.

He has a career save percentage of .914, but his save percentage since leaving Colorado has been .863. The Flyers waived him this year after he posted a .863 save percentage and gave up four goals on six shots in his final game.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127359 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes’ Ekman-Larsson suffers lower-body injury, will have MRI

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

JANUARY 22, 2019 AT 7:30 PM

UPDATED: JANUARY 23, 2019 AT 11:45 AM

Arizona Coyotes captain and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson suffered a lower-body injury against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday and would not return to the game. John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station learned Wednesday that Ekman-Larsson will have an MRI on Thursday.

“He’s got to obviously get some tests done to his knee back in Arizona tomorrow,” head coach Rick Tocchet later said to media on Wednesday in Montreal.

It was not clear when Ekman-Larsson specifically got hurt but he was not on the bench at points in the second period.

The 27-year-old has six goals and 20 assists this season for a total of 26 points, which are all team-highs among defensemen.

Ekman-Larsson recently signed an eight-year extension with the Coyotes in July that has him under contract through the 2026-27 season.

The Coyotes have been ravaged by injuries this season. They lost center Nick Schmaltz for the season, while defenseman Jason Demers, forwards Christian Dvorak, Michael Grabner and Brad Richardson and goaltender Antti Raanta are all out indefinitely.

Despite that, the Coyotes were just two points out of a playoff spot on Wednesday morning.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127360 Arizona Coyotes Lyubushkin has brought a physical presence to the front of the net and the corners.

Tocchet also likes the energy he is getting from players such as Garland The Neutral Zone: Scratching and clawing is Coyotes’ 2018-19 tagline and Kempe, who are earning more minutes.

“It’s special for me because you’re talking about guys – and I use the By Craig Morgan term scratching and clawing – they are fighting every day to stay in the league,” Tocchet said. “I don’t want them to think ‘hey, every day I come Jan 23, 2019 to the rink, I need to be on edge.’ I just like the fact that it’s contagious. It kind of wakes up some other guys. They keep continuing to play like that

and they’re going to play (more).” MONTREAL — Rick Tocchet didn’t have marketing in mind when he first As for the scratching and clawing tagline, Tocchet isn’t sure how long it uttered the phrase, “scratching and clawing,” but he unwittingly created will last. The organization could start printing T-shirts and create a the perfect tagline for this Coyotes season. hashtag to capitalize on it, or it could start searching for a fresh but It fits the mascot, it fits the organization’s fight for survival in a suitable new slogan. challenging market, it fits a group without much bite due to injuries and a “We have used it a lot and I’m probably going to have to think of lack of high-end scorers, and it fits the team’s dogged refusal to admit it something else because guys are going to get sick of hearing it,” Tocchet is dead in the Western Conference playoff race, despite those said, smiling. deficiencies. McConnell’s long, strange trip As the Coyotes head into the All-Star break and subsequent, CBA- mandated break, they are two points off the playoff pace after a tough 2- Coyotes television play-by-play man Matt McConnell called his 1,500th 1 loss in Montreal on Wednesday night, despite the absence of starting NHL game on Sunday in Toronto. It was a special reward for a guy who goalie Antti Raanta, top-pair defenseman Jason Demers, centers Nick nearly hung up his mic not once, but twice, to celebrate a milestone Schmaltz, Brad Richardson and Christian Dvorak, forward Michael event in hockey’s mecca (sorry, Montreal). Grabner and now captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson. “I never thought I’d get to one, let alone 1,500,” McConnell said. “Riding In their place, Darcy Kuemper, Ilya Lyubushkin, Conor Garland, Mario those long bus rides in the IHL (International Hockey League), I thought, Kempe, Jordan Weal and others have tried to fill the void with simple ‘Wouldn’t it be great if someday these buses were planes and the hotels hustle, attention to detail, a hunger to earn a spot in the league, and were a little nicer and I could call games in the best league in the world?’ timely scoring. The Coyotes enter the break with six wins and 14 points I feel fortunate to have gotten a break.” in their past nine games. McConnell began his college tenure as a finance major at Michigan “I think our group is confident in the system we have bought into and the State. It lasted one semester. way we need to play,” center Derek Stepan said. “You hear Toc always mention that we’ve got to stay even keel. We can’t be a roller coaster “My first term, I failed math and science and got a B in English,” he said. regardless of win, loss or tie. Whatever it may be, you just go about your “Report card came home, my dad looked at it and said, “It says you’ve business and continue to work, but I think we’re confident in the identity got a 0.75 grade-point average. How can this be?’” we have started to build here.” McConnell’s uncle, John Walsh, was the sports editor of the Post-Tribune Stepan has mentioned often that the hockey gods are both real and in Gary, Indiana. Over Christmas break, the two were chatting about mean. Those deities threw two more cruel twists the Coyotes’ way on Matt’s future when McConnell told him he was interested in broadcast Tuesday. Ekman-Larsson suffered a knee injury early in the second journalism. period of a 3-2 win against the Ottawa Senators, and a mechanical “He sat there quietly, took a big ole sip of his scotch and water and said, failure on their plane forced the team to bus two hours to Montreal in ‘Matt, you don’t want to get 20 years down the road and say “what if?”’” place of what was scheduled to be an 18-minute flight. McConnell said. “I changed my major to telecommunications, which had Nobody complained. Director of team services Dave Griffiths had a bus no math requirement. About three weeks later I met (Coyotes radio play- on the tarmac 10 minutes after the flight was canceled, the staff unloaded by-play and fellow Michigan State alumnus) Bob Heethuis and he gave the plane and loaded the bus with head-spinning efficiency, and the me my first on-air radio gig at in January 1982.” players were laughing and joking as they boarded a packed bus for an McConnell’s first pro gig came covering the Flint Spirits in the IHL – “the old-school, minor-league-like trek across the border from Ontario to worst team in the history of the IHL (1985-86) at 16-60-6” – but a change Quebec for a 3 a.m. arrival. in ownership led to a new position covering the Peoria Riverman (St. The drive was the perfect metaphor for this Coyotes season. No matter Louis Blues affiliate). After two more years of long bus rides, McConnell what obstacles those hockey gods have thrown their way, the Coyotes thought he was done. have met the challenge with a determined and simple approach. He took a sales job for a magazine distribution company, first as a “We really don’t have a choice,” Stepan said. “We have to play simple. territory manager and then as an assistant district manager in New York. That’s how we have success. When we are simple, we’re dangerous. In four years, his Peoria position opened up and he realized how much We’re comfortable defending which is important. We’re comfortable he missed it so he jumped back onboard a team coached by former NHL making it a stingy game for both sides and we have found ways to player Rick Meagher. simplify and work hard. It’s a really hard thing to play against. If we can With the NHL expanding to Anaheim and Florida for the 1993-94 season, do that every single night, that’s how we have success.” he sent his resume to both franchises in one, last-ditch effort to crack the Kuemper has been a significant factor in that defense. Since returning NHL ranks. from injury and taking over the starting duties just as the team “Florida sent me a rejection letter in about 10 minutes and I never heard announced Raanta was out indefinitely, Kuemper has stopped 417 of from Anaheim,” he said. “For seven weeks, I was the assistant GM of the 456 shots for a .914 save percentage in 15 games that is six points Richmond Renegades (ECHL); the assistant GM had nothing to do with above the league average. He is 6-0-2 in his past eight starts. the hockey side. I ran the business side.

Just as important is the defense in front of him. The Coyotes have one of “I come home one night, I’ve had a lousy day and its 150 million degrees the better defending blue lines in the NHL, even if they don’t get the in Richmond in the middle of summer and my phone light is blinking. It’s requisite attention. Arizona was tied for eighth in goals allowed per game the Ducks. It’s (then-team president) Tony Tavares’ secretary. I thought it (2.85), tied for ninth in shots against per game (30.3) and the penalty- was a friend whose girlfriend was pulling a joke on me. I wrote the killing unit continues to lead the league at 87.2 percent. Niklas number down and opened the phone book to make sure the area code Hjalmarsson is having a retro Blackhawks year, Ekman-Larsson, Alex checked out with Orange County. Two days later, I was on a plane to Goligoski and Jordan Oesterle have cut down on their mistakes with the Anaheim and they offered me the job right there.” puck and in coverage, Jakob Chychrun is rounding into form after returning five weeks into the season due to offseason ACL surgery, and Now in his 26th NHL season, McConnell has worked for five NHL injury on a collision in the corner early in the second period and played franchises, covering Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya in Anaheim; Mario only 2:12 in the period before leaving. Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in Pittsburgh; Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk in Atlanta; and Marian Gaborik in Minnesota before coming to There were no further updates on forwards Michael Grabner (eye), the Coyotes in 2011 when the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg. Christian Dvorak (pectoral muscle) or Brad Richardson (hand) beyond what was reported in last week’s Neutral Zone. He has filled for Marv Albert, calling the NBA on TNT. He worked for NHL International when Ray Bourque won his first and only with Colorado in 2001. He covered the World Junior Championship in Ottawa The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 in 2009, and of course, he covered that Coyotes’ Western Conference Final run in 2012.

For his first two years in Arizona, he commuted back and forth to Atlanta, sometimes catching a red-eye home after games in Glendale. When the IceArizona ownership group completed its purchase of the team in 2013, he settled into the Valley as home.

“Anaheim will always be special because it was the first, but this stop in Arizona I have probably enjoyed the most,” he said of his longest-tenured gig. “The fans have been the best and for everything the organization has gone through, it cuts to your core and you want it to succeed; you want to do anything in your power to make it succeed.

“The Coyotes’ run in 2012 was special and it’s the closest I have been to the Cup. I hope I have the opportunity – I hope everybody has the opportunity to be around the team where they go all the way, but I think when I retire – hopefully not too soon – I won’t look back and remember the goals or specific games. I’ll look back and remember the stories of the game, the funny moments, the relationships. I think that part is the special part.”

Rick Tocchet finally uttered the words on Wednesday that goalie Calvin Pickard has been longing to hear. Pickard made first start as a Coyote in the team’s final game before the All-Star break in Montreal on Wednesday.

“He deserves a start,” Tocchet said. “The guy works as hard on and off the ice as anybody on our team. I think the players, young and old, see that and it’s a good thing.”

The Coyotes claimed Pickard from the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 29 after placing Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve. Raanta was later ruled out indefinitely, but Tucson Roadrunners goalie Adin Hill played so well early that Pickard couldn’t crack the lineup.

Pickard went down to Tucson for a two-week conditioning stint during which he played four games, but with Hill back in Tucson, he has been serving as the backup, awaiting the call.

“You never know what to expect when you get picked up by a team and Hillsy played really well right when I got here so I had to just stay ready,” he said. “It was good for me to go down to Tucson and get some game action; get my own net in practice. Coming back here, I feel better. I feel better about myself and feel more ready about the opportunity.

“I had some fun there (in Tucson) for two weeks. I had two home games there at the end with good crowds so it was a lot of fun and we got some wins, which was a bonus. I’ve seen my fair share of different situations in pro hockey. You never know what to expect. Obviously, it’s not ideal sitting out for this long. It’s kind of like being injured but I feel ready and I have had a lot of good practice time with (goalie coach Corey Schwab), who has been really patient working with me with me and we’ve been able to work some things out. I feel confident about going in there.”

Hot line, hot line

Derek Stepan and Richard Panik had chemistry on a line together last season. Now they have added Vinnie Hinostroza to the mix. With two goals against Ottawa on Tuesday, Hinostroza has three goals and four points in his past three games.

Stepan has two goals and five points in his past six games, and Panik, playing what is likely his best hockey of the season, has three goals and seven points in his past eight games.

“I feel pretty confident now, not just thinking about points but my game in general,” he said. “I am winning battles on the wall, making plays on the blue line. That’s helped me a lot to build that confidence.”

Injury updates

Captain Oliver-Larsson suffered a knee injury in the second period against Ottawa and will have an MRI and other tests on Thursday when the team returns to the Valley to begin the All-Star break. He suffered the 1127361 Arizona Coyotes talent to make a play like that, one on one, or make a play for my linemates.

“I’m an offensive player and I have to create offense. I have to produce. Galchenyuk — with Canadiens experience ‘in the past’ — starting to That’s what got me to the NHL at 18 years old and that has been my job flash offensive firepower my whole NHL career so far. I put a lot of pressure on the offensive side of my game and I have to find ways to contribute.”

By Craig Morgan Sunday’s play was the kind of play Tocchet wants to see more often.

Jan 23, 2019 “I think the last two, three weeks, he is starting to do that more but it’s something I’d like to see him do on a daily basis is to get that thought process of playing quick,” Tocchet said. “If you’re a middle-line-drive guy, keep doing the same thing. It’s hard to do but you have to have that MONTREAL – One of Rick Tocchet’s favorite qualities in forward Alex mindset. Don’t take shortcuts.” Galchenyuk is his outer shell. The last-guy-on-the-ice compliment is an overworked NHL cliché, but “He’s got a thick skin,” the Coyotes coach said. “I don’t want to always anyone who attends Coyotes practices can see how much time bark at him, don’t get me wrong, but I just feel he can take it. He’s not a Galchenyuk puts in. He works at his craft. That part, he said, was never pouter. He has no problem digesting it.” in question because nothing less was allowed by his father, Alexander, a Galchenyuk said experience and wisdom have brought him to that place, former Soviet and Belarusian hockey player who played for the but it would be foolish to discount the role that environment played after International Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals when Alex was born. viewing a news conference at the Ritz-Carlton Montreal here “He put me on skates when I was one year and eight months,” Wednesday. Playing for the Montreal Canadiens often requires protective Galchenyuk said, smiling. “He tried to put me on at 1½, but they couldn’t calluses – especially when you begin that hockey experience as an 18- find skates to fit and the doctor said my bones weren’t strong enough. My year-old. whole life, I remember being on the ice and skating so I have to give him The Coyotes did not hold a morning skate on Wednesday because they a lot of credit for that.” played Tuesday night in Ottawa and then had to bus to Montreal when All the while, his dad was hammering home a simple message. their plane experienced a mechanical malfunction, putting them in the city just before 3 a.m. This news conference was an exclusive event, “You can’t just go to sleep and wake up and feel confident,” Galchenyuk held solely so Montreal media could reminisce, interview or grill said. “You have to work for it and you get what you deserve. If you put in Galchenyuk in his first game back in the city after the Canadiens traded the work, you will get confidence from that.” him to the Coyotes for Max Domi in June. More than 20 media members and cameramen made the trek through falling snow, seven hours before There were reports in the Montreal media that Galchenyuk’s dad may the Coyotes were scheduled to play the Canadiens at Centre Bell. have had too much influence over his game with the Canadiens, perhaps more than his coaches. Galchenyuk trains with his dad in the offseason Galchenyuk agreed to do the news conference in the middle of the day because “nobody knows my body better than him,” but the perception so he could focus on the game that night, and he patiently answered that his dad is too involved is one Galchenyuk is eager put in his past question after question in what was largely a tame gathering, with one and one that Coyotes president of hockey operations John Chayka reporter asking if Galchenyuk missed the Montreal media. dismissed as “people searching for stories.”

“Uh,” Galchenyuk said, pausing as the gathering of reporters laughed. Chayka likes Galchenyuk’s recent stretch of games. “Obviously it’s a little bit different but I’m happy to be here standing and talking to you guys. It makes me miss you guys a little bit … not 200 days “Alex has been one of our most impactful players since regaining full a year.” strength from his injuries,” Chayka said. “He’s a dynamic offensive talent that can win us games with one play.” Galchenyuk has steadfastly refused to jump into the pool of opinions and accusations that flew his way during his six seasons in Montreal, and Galchenyuk said enough time has passed for his knee to fully heal and after the Canadiens traded him to Arizona. Whether they were questions the past to fade. about his off-ice activities as an 18- and 19-year-old in one of North “I feel better than I did a month ago but I still want to improve a couple America’s freest cities, the suspected influence of his father on his game things and I still have a game before the break so I am focusing on that,” and his self-esteem, his ability to man the center position, or Domi’s he said. surprising numbers since the trade, Galchenyuk has consistently taken the high road. He insists he is happy for Domi that he is producing on the other end of the trade (16 goals, 44 points in 50 games), but he knows that the “I enjoyed my time there and the people I met and I have nothing bad to Coyotes need more from him, and he knows he is still under the say about the Canadiens,” he said. “At the same time, that’s in the past microscope, even if it is not as intense as it was on Wednesday. and I have moved on.” “Coming into the league at a young age and going through the seasons Galchenyuk wanted so badly to make a clean break and an instant and opportunities and moments, you have to know the balance of when impact when the Coyotes began the season. A preseason game offered to adjust things and refocus or just brush it off,” he said. “The game I a tantalizing primer of what was possible if the parts of a rebuilt power play, there are going to come mistakes; there’s going to be turnovers. It’s play could ever click, but a knee injury that required minor surgery going to happen, but I’m on top of my game when I’m not scared or not sidelined him for the first seven games and hampered him well into his overthinking; when I’m just going. return. “It’s about how I bounce back from mistakes; how I try to get the puck “It is what it is,” he said. “It’s definitely tough missing training camp, back. It’s not fun for the coaches when I turn the puck over but at the end coming into a new team, new system, new environment — everything is of the day, I have to go out there and take the criticism and still play my new. Sometimes those things take time but I think I adjusted pretty well game and not be tight. I can’t play my game when I am tight. It’s how you and now it’s history.” deal with adversity; how you bounce back from it. I feel like I have Over his past 15 games, Galchenyuk has looked more like the player the bounced back pretty well.” Coyotes envisioned, scoring five goals and posting 14 points despite a dearth of center options for Tocchet to trot out because of injuries to Nick Schmaltz, Christian Dvorak and Brad Richardson. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019

Although, Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen made a terrific save on the play, Galchenyuk had a Grade-A scoring chance in Sunday’s win over the Maple Leafs by driving hard to the net with a jaw-dropping move.

“That’s definitely my game,” he said. “This game is so tight and some teams play man on man while others sort of do it, but I believe I have the 1127362 Boston Bruins Torey Krug — An ankle injury kept him out of the first 11 games of the season, but the veteran defenseman returned to play 38 games, posting a line of 5-27—32.

At the All-Star break, let’s assess the Bruins roster Brandon Carlo — The young defenseman missed three weeks with an upper-body injury, but returned in early December. Carlo, 22, scored his first goal in 116 games on Dec. 14 in a loss to the Penguins. He has a By Andrew Mahoney goal and two assists in 40 games.

Globe Staff Zdeno Chara — It’s been a rough year for the captain, who missed 19 games with an MCL injury. His return in late December has given the

defense a boost. He has three goals and three assists in 30 games, When the Bruins return to action next week, after the All-Star Game, they although he has yet to score since returning to the lineup Dec. 27. will have 33 games remaining in the regular season. They are on an Steven Kampfer — When the Bruins shed Adam McQuaid’s salary by extended break, as each of the 31 NHL teams will have a mandated shipping him to the Islanders in the preseason, they acquired Kampfer as seven-day hiatus this season. The Bruins are one of 10 teams that have a depth option on defense. He has filled in admirably at times for injured their bye week leading up to All-Star weekend. teammates, appearing in 25 games and collecting two goals and an With 49 games in the books and the team on that break, it seems like a assist. good time to examine the roster and see how each player is performing. John Moore — The Bruins signed the well-traveled defenseman last Above average summer to a five-year contract. He has appeared in 42 games, but did not dress for four of the last five heading into the break. He has a line of David Pastrnak — The forward is having a career year, registering a line 2-7—9. of 27 goals and 29 assists for 56 points and shouldering the load with some of his teammates battling injuries. Last season’s career-best marks Noel Acciari — With a line of 1-3—4, the fourth-line center does not of 35-45—80 are well within reach, provided he can stay on the ice. appear to be on track to match the 10 goals he had last season, but he still provides a physical presence. Jake DeBrusk — The young forward was out three weeks in December after sustaining a concussion. When healthy, he has been a bright spot. Needs improvement In 40 games, he has a line of 14-4—18. Danton Heinen — His defense has kept him in the lineup despite a lack Sean Kuraly — The forward has been a pleasant surprise, already of production (he has just 2 points in January). After posting a 16-31—47 matching his career highs from last season of 6-8—14. He has played in line in 77 games last year, the young forward has offered up just 6-7—13 48 games despite having his nose broken in a fight Dec. 9. in 47 games this season.

The most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. Ryan Donato — It’s been an up-and-down first full season for the forward out of Harvard. He was a healthy scratch Saturday against the Rangers, Chris Wagner — The Walpole native has thrived on the fourth line with tagged with a “DNP, coach’s decision” for the first time since the Winter Kuraly and Noel Acciari, bringing a physical presence at forward. He has Classic. matched his career high in goals, posting a 6-5—11 line in 46 games. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson — Forsbacka Karlsson has bounced around Patrice Bergeron — The first-line center is again putting up great this season, from seeing time on the first line when Bergeron was out numbers despite playing only 33 games because of a rib and shoulder with an injury, to being shipped down to Providence for a brief spell in injury suffered in November. Upon returning in late December, he picked early December. up where he left off and has managed 14 goals and 27 assists. David Backes — It’s been another rough season for the 34-year-old David Krejci — Krejci has managed to stay healthy, playing all 49 games. forward. He missed time at the beginning of the season with an upper- He spent a considerable part of the season centering the first line while body injury, then suffered a scary injury when he took a skate to the face Bergeron was out, and could surpass his career high of 51 assists after in early December. After dishing out an illegal hit to the head of New posting 10-30—40 so far. Jersey’s Blake Coleman, he was suspended three games, including the Winter Classic. He also was for a game last week, but returned Brad Marchand — Marchand, too, has managed to stay healthy and to score against his former team, the Blues. avoid trouble on the ice, which has been particularly essential this season with the Bruins ravaged by injuries. The veteran forward has Incomplete posted a 19-34—53 line in 48 games. While not on track to reach his career high of 39 goals, he could surpass his best mark of 51 assists. Kevan Miller — The veteran defenseman has been beset with injuries, missing 11 games with a broken hand, then being sidelined after he was Average struck by a puck in the throat, causing cartilage damage. In 23 games, he has three assists. Matt Grzelcyk — In a season that has seen the defense decimated by injury, Grzelcyk (1-12—13) has been a dependable presence, playing in Charlie McAvoy — McAvoy has been hampered by injuries in just his 46 games. He got a night off last week against St. Louis but was back in second full season, appearing in just 22 games after dealing first with a the lineup against the Rangers Saturday before the Bruins went on their concussion, then a foot infection. He recently turned 21 and still could be break. the franchise defenseman the Bruins hoped they were getting when they drafted him in the first round in 2016. Tuukka Rask — Rask got off to a slow start this season, then took a leave of absence to tend to a personal matter. When he returned, he appeared to be on the precipice of losing the distinction of being the No. 1 goaltender. But Rask got hot, going 6-0-1, before he suffered a Boston Globe LOADED: 01.24.2019 concussion Saturday. For the season, he is 14-8-3 with a .919 save percentage that is slightly below the .922 mark for his career.

Jaroslav Halak — Brought in to be a capable backup, Halak was more than up to the task early in the season, stepping up when Rask got off to a rocky start. He has tailed off in recent weeks, but has a 13-9-2 record with a 2.47 GAA. His .919 save percentage is his highest since he posted a .930 in 12 games after being traded to the Washington Capitals in the 2013-14 season.

Joakim Nordstrom — After signing a two-year contract last offseason, Nordstrom delivered a 5-2—7 line in 39 games before fracturing his fibula in the Winter Classic. The forward could return in the Bruins’ first game after the All-Star break. 1127363 Boston Bruins with top prospect Jack Studnicka for the compensatory pick they received when the Oilers hired Chiarelli.

Chiarelli likely will get another job in hockey. The network runs deep in Former Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli dismissed by Oilers this sport, and second (and third and fourth and fifth) chances almost are a given. For now, though, the train has crashed, and the rubble that’s left are the Oilers’ broken playoff hopes. By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected] | Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: January 23, 2019 at 12:17 pm | UPDATED: January 23, 2019 at 5:47 PM Boston Herald LOADED: 01.24.2019

The international nightmare shared by fans in Boston and Edmonton is over.

The Oilers fired general manager Peter Chiarelli at around 2 a.m. yesterday, ending a tumultuous run in for the former Bruins executive.

It probably was easy to see the train coming; with so many top draft picks, and arguably the best player in the world in Connor McDavid, the Oilers somehow are on track to miss the playoffs for the 12th time in 13 years. They’re three points out of a playoff spot, are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games, and morale is low.

Chiarelli wasn’t a complete disaster in Boston, helping piece together a Stanley Cup winner, but Bruins fans hardly need the reminder of some of his worst moves.

Most infamously he traded Phil Kessel to Toronto for the picks that became Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton, then shipped Seguin to Dallas in one of the worst trades in franchise history, essentially yielding Jimmy Hayes via Reilly Smith to Florida.

Then there was trading now perennial 70-plus point-scorer Blake Wheeler to Atlanta (Winnipeg) for Rich Peverley, among others. And the long-term extension to Milan Lucic.

But his decisions with the Oilers, all the way until the end, are arguably more catastrophic.

On Monday, as it turned out, mere hours away from his dismissal, Chiarelli signed Mikko Koskinen, a 30-year-old goalie with only 32 games of NHL experience, to a three-year extension worth $13.5 million, apparently cutting Cam Talbot’s time with the team short.

Reports yesterday morning indicated Chiarelli discussed that extension with Koskinen’s agent himself without the involvement of Oilers executives.

A parting gift, as it turns out.

Before that, the laundry list of Chiarelli’s history with Edmonton is rough. The familiar tune of trading the 2010 No. 1 pick, Taylor Hall, to the Devils for Adam Larsson was bad. Shipping Jordan Eberle to the Islanders for Ryan Strome, then swapping Strome to the Rangers for former Bruin Ryan Spooner, and waiving Spooner weeks afterward also is a lowlight.

Or how about trading a first-round draft pick that became Mat Barzal (a cringe-inducing name for Bruins fans regardless) for AHL star Griffin Reinhart, or a seven-year, $42 million contract for Lucic (there are many recurring Boston themes here) to top the list.

Not as egregious for the product itself, but the tone-deafness of trading for Brandon Manning, the player who injured McDavid in 2016.

The symbolism of the on-ice product Tuesday night when Koskinen allowed two bad goals in a 3-2 loss to the Red Wings looks like it was too much for the Oilers brass to take any longer, but the team likely had made the decision to let Chiarelli go beforehand.

Still, to have your recently extended goalie collapse hours after signing a questionable extension is poetic like a foreseeable yet unavoidable oncoming train collision.

Chiarelli left Boston with the chance to, despite his shortcomings in one of the biggest hockey markets in the league, put together a team that’s had the opportunity of a lifetime to build around elite talent. They’ve fallen into having McDavid, and top talent such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Leon Draisaitl. They had Hall and Eberle.

Then again, the Bruins had Cup talent — Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara in his prime, Tuukka Rask — and somehow that was too much, as well. At least for the cost of the wild ride, the Bruins ended up 1127364 Boston Bruins solved by going outside the organization for a top-6 winger like Wayne Simmonds, Micheal Ferland, Brayden Schenn or some other name in that class. Because it feels pretty certain that they need something added Bruins at the bye week: In good shape, but in need of an upgrade to their group if they hope to beat Tampa Bay come the postseason, and that’s been apparent since last season’s five-game playoff loss to the Lightning. Otherwise, the same fate could be awaiting the Bruins again this spring based on some of the offensive shortcomings as compared to By Joe Haggerty teams like the Lightning and the Maple Leafs. January 23, 2019 3:54 PM Defense and Goaltending: The Bruins are tied with Nashville and Dallas for the lowest goals against average (2.61) in the entire NHL, and they’ve managed to do that despite injuries to Zdeno Chara, Kevan Miller, The Bruins hit the bye week in a pretty good spot, even if they dragged Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug, and significant portions of the season bottom a little bit in getting there. where players like Steve Kampfer, Connor Clifton and Jeremy Lauzon have needed to step up and play important roles. Tuukka Rask started Losses over the last two weeks to a couple of non-playoff teams in the slowly this season per usual and Jaroslav Halak hit the skids going into Flyers and Rangers certainly revealed a team that was in need of a the All-Star break, but they have combined to be arguably the best break, but it also underscored some shortcomings with the Bruins team goaltending tandem in the league with the numbers to back it up. Halak in general. Some of those shortcomings can be addressed by was top-5 in goals against average and save percentage for most of the adjustments and the good coaching everybody has seen for three first half of the season, and Rask’s current .919 save percentage would seasons from Bruce Cassidy and Co. and some of it will need to be be his best mark in four years. solved by searching outside the organization. Given the way things played out over December and January, one would “I thought we had some really good games. You know we had some expect Rask is going to take on the traditional No. 1 goalie role in the games we could’ve probably played better, but overall I think we’re in a second half of the season after splitting equal time with Halak in the first good position going into the break. Obviously after the break it’s going to half of the year. What will be interesting, though, is to see how things be very important to keep playing strong and keep climbing in the break down in the playoffs, and whether or not the B’s coaching staff standings,” said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. “It’s going to obviously be would go with Halak if Rask isn’t playing his best in the big games. But the second half of the season. It’s always very important to play better for now both goalies have given the Bruins a chance to win on the and keep improving and closer you get to the playoffs, you know, you majority of games in the first half, and that’s the most a hockey club can demand to play the best hockey.” ask for. Perhaps even more young players like Peter Cehlarik and Trent Frederic Clearly the masked some of the issues that the Bruins were will provide some of those answers in the second half of the season having when they went through their spate of injuries, but the Bruins following the bye week and NHL All-Star weekend. But those questions seemed to have found ideal combos of puck movers and shutdown D- will be answered in the future over the next three months. men since everybody got healthy. Miller and Chara are still stalwart Now is the time to take stock with where the Bruins currently sit, and penalty killers and defensive warriors, and Brandon Carlo has arguably where they hope to be once the playoffs begin in April. made the most strides of any of Boston’s defensemen over the last calendar year. Even Matt Grzelcyk has offset some of his physical Offense: On the periphery, things are very good offensively for the weaknesses in the D-zone with his smarts, solid positioning and great Bruins. They managed to survive an extended period when both Patrice technique along with the ability to skate the puck out of the zone quickly Bergeron and Zdeno Chara were injured, and their Perfection Line once and efficiently. But there are definitely some defensive weak spots on this again led the way in the first half. David Pastrnak has gone supernova team. Krug is a minus-5 and goes through bouts where he gets trapped while on pace for 45 goals and 97 points in what would be one of the in the defensive zone against the elite offensive players he’s sometimes best offensive seasons for the Black and Gold in decades, and both matched up with. Donato is a team-worst minus-11 and had a trip to the Patrice Bergeron (28 goals and 82 points) and Brad Marchand (32 goals AHL for some remedial defensive work in the first few months of the and 89 points) are in line for outstanding offensive campaigns of their season, and Noel Acciari is a minus-8 while getting the short end of the own. Jake DeBrusk is on pace for 26 goals in his second NHL season, defensive stick on occasion. and David Krejci is on pace for a pretty strong 17 goals and 67 points as the second line center. Torey Krug is on pace for nine goals and 60 One area where the B’s could improve? They are middle of the road on points, which are close to his normal numbers in each of his previous the penalty kill with an 80.7 percent success rate. It’s certainly not terrible three seasons. and the penalty kill hasn’t been a major issue in most games, but they should be even better given the personnel, the goaltending and the way Multiple injuries to Charlie McAvoy have taken away some of the they’ve performed even strength for most of the season. While there are offensive bite from the back end this season, and have certainly played still plenty of areas for improvement up front for the Bruins in the second into a team that’s been inconsistent at even strength despite their half, the B’s appear pretty set on the back end. The only question is offensive stars. whether one of those D-men might be on the move in a big trade given that John Moore has become a healthy scratch over the last few weeks. The third line has been a season-long riddle for Bruce Cassidy, and the Players like Grzelcyk, Krug and Carlo would have significant trade value first half struggles for players like Danton Heinen, David Backes and in a package for a game-breaking forward and the Bruins have the kind Ryan Donato absolutely played into bottom-6 inconsistency. The Bruins of defensive depth where they could execute that kind of deal. brought up Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson to bring something to the third line, and there have been some moments for a kid third line of JFK, Donato and Heinen over the last month. But there’s still not much consistency in terms of secondary scoring from the third line, and the entire Bruins team Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 in general is struggling to do damage during even strength play. The Bruins are second in the league with a 27.2 percent success rate on the power play, and that’s been a major weapon for them all season. But they’ve also become overly reliant on special teams to win games, and their power play has allowed an NHL-worst 10 shorthanded goals this season.

The fourth line has been excellent over the last couple of months, and Chris Wagner is on pace for 10 goals and 20 points while Sean Kuraly has used a great past six weeks to put himself on pace for 10 goals and 25 points.

The real question is whether the Bruins can properly fix their even strength situation by inserting young players like JFK, Trent Frederic or Cehlarik, and perhaps also removing Pastrnak from the top line while pairing him with his fellow Czech in Krejci. Or can those issues only be 1127365 Boston Bruins

NHL Rumors: Oilers fire ex-Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli amid rough season

By Darren Hartwell

January 23, 2019 7:40 AM

Peter Chiarelli's second tenure as an NHL general manager was much shorter than his first.

The Edmonton Oilers fired Chiarelli as their GM late Tuesday night after losing their final game before the NHL All-Star break, TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported. The team has yet to confirm the news.

Chiarelli was named the Oilers' GM in April 2015 and began his tenure on a high note, selecting superstar Conor McDavid first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. He has failed to surround McDavid with enough talent, however, and has made several questionable moves since then, from trading away former No. 1 pick Taylor Hall to spending $42 million on Milan Lucic.

Things have gone from bad to worse this season in Edmonton, where the team is second-to-last in the Pacific Division entering the All-Star break and recently placed Ryan Spooner, whom Chiarelli traded young forward Ryan Strome to acquire in November, on waivers.

Boston Bruins fans may have seen this coming. Chiarelli spent nine seasons as the Bruins' GM and helped the club win a Stanley Cup in 2011 but couldn't build a roster that sustained success. Boston missed the playoffs in the 2014-15 season, leading to the Harvard alum's firing in April.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127366 Boston Bruins Nash wanted the show set in Boston — a city that felt both cosmopolitan and diverse and yet not too big that it would prove alienating to an audience. Nash wanted to capture the Green Line experience, with The story behind all the Bruins nods in ABC’s ‘A Million Little Things’ characters based in Back Bay, Newton, Cambridge and downtown. However, the unpredictable weather in the Northeast and the large majority of the production crew being based in Los Angeles made shooting in Boston a dicey endeavor. By Katie Strang Vancouver was chosen as the shooting location instead. Jan 23, 2019 Now, any Canucks fan is surely cringing here, remembering the fateful

Game 7 loss to the Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup final (hint: There will It takes only a few minutes into the pilot of ABC’s hour-long drama “A be a flashback to this game in the season finale, which airs in February). Million Little Things” for true hockey fans to realize there’s a fellow But Nash said that the people of Vancouver could not have been more puckhead behind the scenes. And that person’s allegiances are clear in welcoming. both stark and subtle ways throughout the show’s first season. He knew enlisting 350 Vancouver locals to fill out the Canucks’ old home There’s the deft backhanded goal from Bruins winger David Pastrnak in at Pacific Coliseum could’ve easily gone sideways, but Nash insisted the first episode, a backdrop that establishes the tie that binds among the they were fantastic. four main male characters of the show. There are the little glimpses “If I were shooting a show about the Canucks in Boston, the fans would peppered throughout the season — a quick peek at a Bruins jersey not be this gracious,” Nash said, chuckling. hanging on a closet door, a brief glimpse of a screensaver, or a cheeky Bobby Orr reference — and the more overt reminders that there is a There was also the intense amount of labor required to create game-like hockey lineage behind this studio production. In Episode 3, a dramatic atmosphere shots — hockey players who were hired to play these confrontation takes place on the ice at Bruins fantasy camp. scenes had to lay down between takes because they were so exhausted. And then also the financial considerations. The premise of the show is about a choice encounter between strangers — four guys stuck together in an elevator — who emerge as friends, with Nash said that it cost “a fortune” to outfit The Coliseum in yellow seats to the promise to start attending Bruins games as a group. When one of accurately reflect the environment of TD Garden but that ABC quickly those four abruptly ends his own life (don’t worry, this is not a spoiler; the obliged when he insisted that the show get it right. (“We had to do it.”) character’s suicide happens early in the first episode), it prompts his friends and family members to reevaluate their own lives. (Though there It is that attention to detail that Nash hopes will appeal to hockey fans, hasn’t been an announcement made yet about whether the show will and he had help. Actors did their own skating for the fantasy camp scene return for a second season, a recent move to a new night and time slot in Episode 3 (Romany Malco, a huge Bruins fans, was the most adept on marked the show’s most-watched telecast.) skates) and consultants have been used to make sure to get the vernacular correct. (“Remembah, games ahh won and lahst on the daht!” The show is the brainchild of executive producer DJ Nash, who pitched barks a grizzled old-timer right before a line brawl ensues on an opening the idea to executives about a friendship forged over 742 nachos, 1,100 face-off ). Even the director is a huge hockey fan; he wore his Maple beers and one pivotal fight between a Bruins and a Maple Leafs Leafs hat on the first day on set to mark his territory. defenseman. It should come as no surprise that Nash, who grew up in Newton and Brookline, is indeed a Bruins fan, and yes, there is quite a Nash hopes that is part of the show’s broader appeal as well, with backstory. authenticity being a key theme, not just to the show’s many hockey references but in the way the characters relate to each other and discuss Nash grew up loving the Bruins for one particular reason — his father. depression, cancer and mental health. Nash’s father, an attorney, went blind when Nash was a child and yet he’d routinely bring his son to Bruins games, buying the best seats he And he hopes that the central theme of the show hammers home the could even though it did him little good. Part of the fun for Nash was importance of friendship and family and the strong bonds created through cheering on the teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s, including rituals developed over time. players like Gerry Cheevers, Ray Bourque and Terry O’Reilly, the latter Nash’s father is now dealing with dementia. Throughout his career, his of whom wore his favorite No. 24 (Nash still keeps a Cheevers action father has always watched everything he has produced. That’s becoming figure on his desk). But an equal part of the amusement and delight was more difficult now; his father can’t quite grasp the intersecting storylines reveling in his father’s reaction. Nash’s father would bring along a radio and character arcs, but he knows about the show and what it’s supposed with them to games and, as such, he was also experiencing the game on to represent. a 10-second delay. Nash loved waiting and watching for his father to erupt in joy on a scoring play he knew was coming. Whether it’s a hockey game between father and son, a friends and family pizza night every Friday, or everything in between, it’s the reminder that Nash called his father, who is now 85 years old, his “North Star” and his serves as the show’s tag line: “role model.” “Friendship isn’t a big thing … it’s a million little things.” “It is such a part of my childhood,” Nash told The Athletic. “I don’t think about the Bruins without thinking of my dad.”

The idea of the show was borne of a philosophy that Nash harbors. He’s The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 always felt the way men communicate has been fascinating. He’s marveled in watching women speak face-to-face, articulating their emotions directly with friends and confidants. He’s been struck by how different that has seemed with how he and his male friends communicate. Within his own social group, Nash has found that sometimes, the best and most meaningful conversations have come while sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, like at a sporting event.

So when Nash, who has also created and executive produced the series “Truth Be Told” and “Growing Up Fisher,” wanted characters in the show to tackle difficult, important subjects like suicide, depression, infidelity and addiction, he conceived of a sporting event that would enable such discussions to arise organically. Naturally, he wanted to honor the favorite team of his childhood.

On a conceptual level, it made perfect sense. From an execution standpoint, there were some challenges. Namely, the location. 1127367 Boston Bruins “Nothing special. Growing up, I wore 26 because my mom chose that for me for my first hockey number because she really didn’t know what to do when we jumped into it. That’s my birthday, so she did 26. I’ve always Why that number? Bruins explain origins of their uniform digits tried to stay around that general ballpark. I thought about changing at the end of (my rookie season), but I stuck with it . And afterwards, I realized Christmas was on the 25th and I really enjoy that, so that’s sort of the reason around it.” By Joe McDonald No. 26: Colby Cave Jan 23, 2019 “It’s the closest thing to 25. (Bruins equipment manager Keith Robinson)

asked me coming into training camp, I think it was two years ago, (if I With the exception of Nos. 1 and 6, it’s impossible to wear a single-digit was called up from Providence) if there was a number I would switch to. I number for the Bruins — the rest are all retired. Eddie Shore (2), Lionel told him it really didn’t matter to me, so he gave me some options. Hitchman (3), Bobby Orr (4), Dit Clapper (5), Phil Esposito (7), Cam Obviously, Brandon (Carlo) had 25. He actually used to wear 26, so I told Neely (8) and Johnny Bucyk (9) all hang from TD Garden rafters. him we could switch to make it easier (laughs). At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what I wear. When my dad played football, he was The other numbers that have long been off limits are Nos. 15 (Milt always 23 and in hockey he wore 23. I just tried to keep it to 25 to keep it Schmidt), 24 (Terry O’Reilly) and 77 (Ray Bourque). Rick Middleton’s No. simple for everybody because I was 25 in Providence.” 16 joined them earlier this season. No. 27: John Moore The No. 1 is traditionally only worn by goalies. The last to wear that was Marty Turco in 2012. “My daughter was born on July 27. I wore No. 2 in New Jersey and it’s obviously not an option here, so I thought it would be cool to honor my Legend has it that No. 6 is cursed. Colin Miller was the last Bruin to wear daughter.” it. Former captain Joe Thornton wore it for three seasons before switching to No. 19. No. 33: Zdeno Chara

“People avoid it,” said Bruins equipment manager Keith Robinson. “I wore 3 in Ottawa and, obviously, it was not available here. The most common thing is guys will add the same number, or they go back to a So, what goes into the process of attaching a player to a sweater number they wore before. For me, it was pretty easy because I just number? added the 3 for 33. I also wore (No. 3) a little bit with the Islanders.”

Robinson explained that the Bruins are in a bit of a bind when it comes to No. 37 Patrice Bergeron sweater numbers because so many of the veteran players decided to keep the higher numbers they were given as rookies. It used to be that a “Junior hockey, I was a rookie as a 17-year-old, and there were like eight lower number meant higher status. Only minor-league players, or those numbers left, and I thought 37 was the nicer one of them all. I kept it with really no shot of making the team during training camp, would be because I had a good year in junior, and I stuck with it. They gave me 56 given the higher numbers. when I got to Boston. Then, Marty Lapointe was like, ‘Do you want that number?’ I wasn’t going to complain, and I didn’t care. Marty asked me, Now, it’s trending the other way, and younger players are given smaller ‘Well, if you got to pick, what would it be?’ I told him I wore 37 in junior numbers. For example: Anders Bjork, who is playing for Providence, was and I would like to keep it. He said, ‘Well, let me see if I can help you.’ I given No. 10, which is also the number he wore at Notre Dame. Zach got lucky, and I had it for my first regular-season game.” Senyshyn, also playing in Providence, is No. 19 on Boston’s roster. No. 40: Tuukka Rask Since many of the higher numbers are being worn, Robinson was forced to hand out the highest number ever (94) to Jakub Lauko during training “Ask (Keith Robinson) because it’s the number they gave me. I wore 30 camp. in Providence, and I didn’t ask for that either. I never really cared. In Finland, I had 87 because that’s what they gave me. I wasn’t bitching Here are the stories behind the current sweater numbers: about that, so anything goes after that.”

No. 14: Chris Wagner No. 41: Jaroslav Halak

“It was my high school number. I think I wore it when I was little in Mites “They gave it to me when I joined Montreal after I got drafted. I’ve just and Squirts.” stuck with it and never changed it.”

No. 17: Ryan Donato No. 42: David Backes

“It was originally No. 16 because I’ve worn it my whole life. I wore it for “It was given to me my first training camp (in St. Louis) – that’s it. I don’t Brett Hull, who was my favorite player growing up. Rick Middleton was know if I had a number in mind. I was given 25 in the minors. I was 18 in my dad’s favorite player growing up, so 16 was kind of a big number for college and 5 in high school and 5 in junior. Maybe I would have gone me. When I signed I was like, ‘If I sign, you gotta let me pick my number’ with one of those, but they were either taken or I wasn’t given that and they were like, ‘Any number you want.’ I picked 16, and they said, luxury.” ‘Actually, you can’t pick that number. We can’t tell you why, but you can kind of assume.’ I assumed it would be retired soon. There’s a lot of No. 43: Danton Heinen history with 17. Looch (Milan Lucic) wore it, and it was a great look on “I’ve always liked it. It’s different. My grandpa was born in ’43, so he likes him. The fans love that number, so I just went with it. If I could do it that I wear it. Other than that, I like the look of it.” again, I’d still pick 17 because it was close to 16. I feel like I’m at home with 17.” No. 44: Steven Kampfer

No. 20: Joakim Nordstrom “It was what I was given when I got here. I was 47 my first time (in Boston), and that was given to me out of camp. I liked it. I haven’t really “That was the first number I had growing up, probably when I was 9 or 10 had a number since I was a kid, to be honest. I play with whatever they when you got to pick numbers. That was the number I picked (here) give me. I was 47 when I went to New York because I had it in Boston, because 20 was available, so I figured I’d go back to my roots. It’s the and (the Rangers) thought I liked 47, so they gave it to me. When I was a first time I’ve had it in the NHL.” kid, I always wore No. 5 for (Nicklas Lindstrom). Other than that, no real No. 23: Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson reason behind my (pro) numbers.”

“No specific reason. Between juniors, college and pro, it was always 26, No. 46: David Krejci but 23 was the choice (when) I got here. I like 23, but it’s not really a big “It was given to me. I had 23 in Providence and in Czech, mostly. It was preference.” open in Providence, so I took it. But then when I came to the NHL No. 25: Brandon Carlo training camp, I was given (46). And once you make the team, you can’t really change it. At least that’s how it used to be. If I had the choice, I would’ve gone with 23. But I started liking (46), so I’ve stuck with it.” No. 47: Torey Krug No. 8: Team president Cam Neely

“I was 44 in college. And when I came to the team, there weren’t many “Actually, I wore 12 growing up when I was a kid. When I went to junior 40 options available. I thought 47 would be a good omen to have Bobby hockey, 12 was taken. So, I just reversed the numbers and wore 21. Orr and Ray Bourque, so that’s why I combined the two and that’s how I When I got to Vancouver (Canucks), 21 was available, so I took that. I came up with it.” came here, someone was wearing 21, and I was just given 8. I think it was Frank Simonetti was wearing 21 and he got sent back and I had No. 48: Matt Grzelcyk asked the trainer if I could switch to 21. The next day he said, ‘No. (Then- “I didn’t choose it; it was just given to me. I think a lot of players that got GM) likes you in 8, so you’re going to stay in 8.’ I said, ‘All called up they used to give them 48. I don’t mind it. There’s no huge right.” reason for it. I guess I’m still used to it now and I don’t feel like changing. My parents ask me sometimes (if I had a choice), and I bounced around numbers a lot growing up. Like any kid, when someone’s your favorite The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 player, (your number) changes. As a defenseman, I was always attracted to single digits. And when I got to BU, I loved No. 5 because David Warsofsky was there before me and I grew up idolizing him and wanted to play like him in college. I’m happy with any number now.”

No. 52: Sean Kuraly

“That’s what I got, and it’s going to stay that way. I was always a 7, and then I got 52. And 5 plus 2 equals 7. Can’t be 7 here, so that’s it.”

No. 55: Noel Acciari

“It was the number that was given to me. To be able to play up here, I’ll take whatever number is given to me. If you think of it, two fives equal 10. I was number 10 when I played (high school at Rhode Island’s Bishop) Hendricken and for the (Providence) Bruins. I was 24 at (Providence College) because 10 was taken. Whatever was given to me, I’ll take it.”

No. 63: Brad Marchand

“I didn’t choose it. The way it kind of worked out is, around that time, the year you were drafted, and the round you were drafted in, you were getting numbers like that. I was drafted in ’06 in the third round. I was always wearing 17, and I wasn’t getting that from (Milan Lucic), so I figured I would stick with 63. Any number in the NHL is a good number, so it worked out.”

No. 73: Charlie McAvoy

“There really weren’t that many numbers to pick, so 73 was just what I landed on. I remember there was 58 and 76 and that’s (the Penguins’ Kris) Letang and (the Predators’ PK) Subban (respectively), so I thought 73 was unique to do my own thing. I wore 7 in college and really liked that number. My favorite number when I was a kid was 25, but I missed that one here by one year because of Brandon (Carlo). I would never ask him for it, and now I’m not going to change. I like 73, and it fits me.”

No. 74: Jake DeBrusk

“They gave it to me. There are obviously some special players in Boston that have worn 7 and 4. If I got to choose, I’d probably go 29 because of my dad (Louie, who wore No. 29 for the Oilers, Lightning and Coyotes). I guess you make your own number, and that’s what I was told. I actually didn’t like 74 to start with, but it started to grow on friends and family and then it started to grow on me. So, I’m rolling with it.”

No. 86: Kevan Miller

“It was given to me. I had no idea. I wore 27 in Providence and 15 (at the University of Vermont) and that was really chosen, either. It was ‘Here’s what’s available.’ Growing up, I was 16 or 4. I’ve been a whole lot of different numbers. So, 86 was given to me and I’ll stick with it.”

No. 88: David Pastrnak

“They gave it to me. I got it here, and then I didn’t feel like changing. I didn’t have a number in my head so just kept it. I like it now, and I’ll probably never have another number than 88.”

Coach Bruce Cassidy

“I wore a lot of numbers. I made 37 popular before Bergy for the 18 games I wore it (laugh). I didn’t choose it because it was given to you back then as a young guy. (If I played in Boston), then 4 was my favorite but that’s in the rafters. I was No. 6 in junior and was a good junior player. I was one of those guys that peaked at 18, unfortunately.”

No. 32: General manager Don Sweeney

“That’s what they gave me. I didn’t even think about it. I never gave it a thought. They gave me the one I had, and I never gave it back. I just did my job.” 1127368 Buffalo Sabres

Redmond's record goal is winner for Amerks

By Staff

Published Wed, Jan 23, 2019

Danny O’Regan scored twice and derfenseman Zach Redmond’s record 19th goal of the season turned out to be the winner for the Rochestesr Americans in their 7-5 victory over the Binghamton Devils Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena.

The Amerks built a 3-0 first period lead on goals by Scott Wilson, O’Regan and Taylor Leier.. The Devils got one back before the first period was over when Nathan Bastian scored atih 45 seconds left.

Victor Olofsson’s 14th of the season made it 4-1 in the second but Binghamton scored three in a row by Eric Tangradi, Brandon Gignac and Bastian to tie it with 15:27 left in the second period.

O’Regan scored his 15th of the season less than three minutes later to restore the Amerks’ lead and Redmond scored at 16:21 with Kevin Porter assisting.

Redmond’s goal broke a record for goals by a Rochester defenseman that had stood for 46 year.

Nick Saracino of the Devils and Wayne Simpson traded goals in the third period.

Scott Wedgewood had 25 saves for Rochester. Cory Schneider stopped 23 in goal for the Devils.

First place Rochester (25-13-2-1) had 53 points and a three-point lead over the (23-18-3-1) in the North Division of the AHL. Utica willl visit Rochester on Friday night. The Amerks will face the Crunch in Syracuse on Saturday night.

Buffalo News LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127369 Buffalo Sabres It will be the first chance the media has to get the thoughts of Edmonton captain Connor McDavid on the firing of General Manager Peter Chiarelli, which took place late Tuesday night.

In Eichel and Skinner, Sabres adding double dose of talent to All-Star The only player who has begged off the game for rest is Washington Game captain Alex Ovechkin. He opted to play Wednesday night in Toronto in the Capitals' final game before the break and will take his NHL-mandated one-game suspension when the Caps host Calgary after the break and By Mike Harrington their bye week on Feb. 1.

Published Wed, Jan 23, 2019 | Updated Wed, Jan 23, 2019 Commissioner Gary Bettman will hold his annual All-Star briefing Friday afternoon and that will be followed by another press event where the

league will hold what's being called its "Innovation Spotlight" to discuss SAN JOSE — Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner will be in Silicon Valley advances in items like player tracking. making their second career appearances in the NHL All-Star Game Cooper is joined as a coach by Washington's Todd Reirden, Winnipeg's Saturday night, and their first as teammates. And in an up-and-down Paul Maurice and Calgary's Bill Peters. The only ex-Sabre in the game is season for their team, it's another small sign of the Buffalo Sabres having St. Louis center Ryan O'Reilly, who represented Buffalo in Nashville in more impact on the NHL scene. 2016. South Buffalo's Patrick Kane of Chicago is O'Reilly's Central With Eichel and Skinner in the game, the Sabres will have more than one teammate and will be making his eighth appearance, most of any player. representative for the first time since 2007 in Dallas. That year, goaltender Ryan Miller, forward Daniel Briere, defenseman Brian Campbell and coach Lindy Ruff represented the Presidents' Trophy- Buffalo News LOADED: 01.24.2019 bound Sabres in a game thaw saw the West beat the East, 12-9. Briere was the MVP after collecting a goal and four assists.

Eichel, who leads the Sabres with 52 points, made his All-Star debut last year in Tampa, in his third season in the league. Skinner played in 2011 in his home rink in Raleigh, N.C. while representing the Carolina Hurricanes as a rookie. At 18, Skinner became the youngest player at the time to ever play in an All-Star Game. Skinner, who has a team-high 30 goals, earned his slot in this game as the Atlantic Division winner of the "Last Men In" vote.

"You're not going to have a good season unless your teammates are playing well. That's the cool part," Skinner said when the vote was announced Jan. 11 on the day he returned to Carolina. "My family was thinking about it more than me. It just shows the passion and how much the fans love the Sabres. It's a pretty cool feeling."

The SAP Center, commonly referred to as the "Shark Tank," will be the host for the weekend's marquee events. It last hosted the game in 1997.

The All-Star Skills competition begins Friday night at 9:30 Eastern on NBCSN, with players competing in six disciplines: fastest skater, premier passer, save streak (for goalies in shootouts), puck control, hardest shots and accuracy shooting.

The game itself, the fourth year of a 3-on-3 tournament format, airs Saturday night at 8 Eastern on NBC. The first game, matching stars from the Central and Pacific Division, starts at 8:15. The Sabres' stars will hit the ice for the Atlantic-Metropolitan semifinal at 9:15. The two winning sides play the championship game at 10:15, with the winning team of 11 players splitting a $1 million prize.

Last year in Tampa, the Pacific beat the Atlantic, 5-2, to take the championship. Eichel and Toronto's Auston Matthews contributed perhaps the signature moment of the day with their "good goal" point, mimicking a referee during the Atlantic's semifinal victory over the Metropolitan. It came a few seconds after an Erik Karlsson goal for the Atlantic was wiped out after an offside challenge. Vancouver rookie Brock Boeser was the day's MVP.

Tampa Bay's Jon Cooper will coach the Atlantic and you would imagine he would keep Eichel and Matthews together like he did in last year's game, and perhaps give Skinner a shot with them as well. Florida's Aleksander Barkov, who is not in this year's game, was their partner in Tampa.

A busy three-day stretch for the All-Star players and coaches opens Thursday night when they face the cameras and notebooks during the league's annual All-Star Media Day. It will be held at City National Civic Auditorium, one of the city's major icons.

The Spanish Mission style building dates to 1933 and has been the site of famous concerts, including one by Barbra Streisand during her opening concert tour in 1963, sporting events like college basketball games and boxing matches featuring Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis, and a 1970 speech by Richard Nixon that denounced anti-war protestors outside and saw the President dodge eggs and other projectiles tossed at his motorcade as it pulled away. 1127370 Buffalo Sabres Entering Wednesday, Nylander was a combined minus-3 over his previous three games. Offensively, there are times he can appear invisible on the ice. He has only three goals and five assists in his last 18 Former Sabres top pick Nylander encouraged by progress with Amerks games.

That does not include his shootout winner against Laval on Jan. 4, when Nylander fooled goalie Michael McNiven with a backhanded shot. Taylor By Lance Lysowski is quick to point out Nylander's age and is encouraged by the progress he has seen on and off the ice. Published Wed, Jan 23, 2019 | Updated Wed, Jan 23, 2019 "He’s getting on pucks because he’s a big guy and he’s smart," Taylor

said. "I think he’s doing a really good job, and I think he’s starting to ROCHESTER – Alexander Nylander chuckled, leaned against the wall shoot the puck more, too. Overall, he keeps getting better. He’s focusing outside the Rochester Americans' locker room at Blue Cross Arena and on his needs and what he needs to do." revealed how he often has to remind himself that he is 20 years old. Nylander had an impressive training camp with the Sabres, only to not "I feel like I'm way older," Nylander told The Buffalo News following the make the opening roster. He wasn't the first forward called up, either. Amerks' morning skate Wednesday. "It's not a bad thing." While Casey Mittelstadt and Tage Thompson are learning in the NHL, General Manager Jason Botterill chose a different approach with Nylander, the Buffalo Sabres' eighth overall draft pick in 2016, is 38 Nylander. games into his third season with the Amerks and has appeared in 154 AHL games since beginning his professional career. The Sabres, four points out of the second wild-card playoff spot entering Wednesday's games, could use some help offensively. They are tied for He does not feel old physically. The winger is bigger and stronger after 22nd in the NHL with 137 goals in 48 games and are tied for 27th since the most important summer of his career, a fact illustrated by the Sabres' their 10-game winning streak ended Nov. 29. decision to send rehab and development coach Dennis Miller to work with Nylander in Sweden. Though the production has been sporadic, Nylander has posted a career- high shooting percentage (15.5), which could yield results with more But that many minor-league games can be mentally trying for a player of shots on goal – he was averaging 1.6 shots per game entering play Nylander's pedigree. While others his age or younger are thriving in the Wednesday. Though he wants to shoot more and do a better job of NHL, Nylander is still fine-tuning his game in the minors. That has creating space in the offensive zone, Nylander is encouraged by his own created both internal and external angst at times. progress and believes he is on the verge of accomplishing his goal.

"I’ve talked to him many times about patience," Amerks coach Chris “You want to be one of the first guys to be called up,” Nylander said. “If I Taylor said. "He can’t compare himself to his brother or anyone else in get called up I obviously want to be there to stay. I want to be ready the NHL. We just have to keep working on what he needs to do to when it happens.” achieve what he wants to achieve. He needs to worry about Alex and nobody else." Sabres defenseman Lawrence Pilut will not participate in the AHL All- Star Classic on Monday in Springfield, Mass. The 23-year-old was Entering Wednesday's game against Binghamton, Nylander had nine selected to play despite appearing in only 16 games for the Rochester goals among 25 points with a plus-8 rating. He is on pace to set AHL Americans. career highs in goals, assists and points after playing only 51 games last season because of a severe groin strain. His career totals in Rochester The AHL announced replacements for Pilut and three others Wednesday are 27 goals, 53 assists and a minus-13 rating. afternoon. That will allow Pilut to practice with the Sabres following the NHL All-Star break Sunday and Monday in preparation for a Tuesday Those numbers pale in comparison to his contemporaries. Eight of the night game in Columbus. top 10 draft picks in 2016 have played at least 114 NHL games. Nylander has one goal and one assist in seven games with the Sabres. Pilut, who signed an entry-level contract with the Sabres in May, was Meanwhile, Winnipeg's Patrik Laine, who was drafted second overall and selected an All-Star after having a league-high 22 points with a plus-19 is also 20 years old, has 105 goals in 203 career regular-season NHL rating for the Amerks. He has one goal among five points since joining games. the Sabres.

Nylander is also compared to his brother, William, a 22-year-old winger who signed a six-year contract extension with Toronto in December after Buffalo News LOADED: 01.24.2019 recording back-to-back 20-goal seasons. And there is Nylander's father, Michael, who recorded 679 points over 15 NHL seasons.

Alexander Nylander is used to the expectations attached to his last name and being a high draft choice. He insists neither crosses his mind. He relies on William and Michael as resources during difficult times, particularly last season. That is when Alexander discovered what he believes is the key to helping him stick in the NHL.

"I know the training I’ve been doing is working," said Nylander, who turns 21 in March. "It’s finally coming into my game. It feels good to be healthy this year. I was really unlucky the way I got injured last year. I’m just happy I’m 100 percent. My body feels really good. I just need to keep doing that so I can be my best on the ice."

Nylander was bothered by the groin injury all last season, and the timing could not have been worse. The Sabres were in need of scoring help and finished last in the NHL with 25 wins.

Though Nylander was drafted by the previous regime, he remains important to the Sabres. It is rare when he is not the most talented player in an AHL game. His skating and on-ice vision tantalize, and his shot shows it was no fluke that he scored 28 goals during his lone season with Mississauga of the Ontario Hockey League.

"Very skilled player with elite offensive instincts and vision," one veteran pro scout said. "He can make the play with the puck that a lot of players can't or just don't see. ... He seems to get frustrated easily but this could be due to young age and maturity. Projects as a top-six forward in the NHL if he rounds out his game." 1127371 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres defenseman Lawrence Pilut won't play in AHL All-Star Classic

By Lance Lysowski

Published Wed, Jan 23, 2019 | Updated Wed, Jan 23, 2019

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Lawrence Pilut is not returning to the minors after all.

Pilut, who has played 16 games with the Sabres since being recalled Nov. 27, will not participate in the AHL All-Star Classic next Monday in Springfield, Mass. The 23-year-old was selected to play despite appearing in only 16 games for the Rochester Americans.

The AHL announced replacements for Pilut and three others Wednesday afternoon. That will allow Pilut to practice with the Sabres following the NHL All-Star break Sunday and Monday in preparation for a Tuesday night game in Columbus.

Pilut, who signed an entry-level contract with the Sabres in May, was selected an All-Star after having a league-high 22 points with a plus-19 rating for the Amerks. He has one goal among five points since joining the Sabres.

That leaves defenseman Zach Redmond as the Amerks' only player heading to the All-Star Classic, which begins at 7 p.m. Sunday, with a skills challenge. The All-Star Challenge is at 7 p.m. Monday, featuring a round-robin, 3-on-3 tournament with one team for each division.

Cleveland forward Nathan Gerbe, who played four seasons with the Sabres organization, was among the four players added to the event Wednesday.

Buffalo News LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127372 Calgary Flames “Remind everybody to get some rest and enjoy their time off,” he said. “But recognize that when we come back, it’s a different game. We’ve got lots of young players so we try to remind them that the league ratchets Treliving prepares for Flames break, last stretch of regular season and, up. After the break when we’ll be at 30-some odd games left … that 30- hopefully, beyond some odd games goes by really, really quickly and just to prepare for it.”

Flames head coach Bill Peters explained the same thing to his group, although after Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Hurricanes, his Kristen Anderson, Postmedia message may have fallen on deaf ears. So, it was a good thing the boss hammered the message home.

“Once that (puck) went in, they were done listening to me,” Peters said The players were en route to sandier and sunnier destinations on with a chuckle, referring to Mikael Backlund’s strike with 15 seconds Wednesday, a day after wrapping up their final game before the National elapsed in the extra frame. “Tree actually talked to them and I was done Hockey League’s All-Star weekend, but Brad Treliving was stuck in the listening to him, too, because I already knew what he was going to say. I snow. was looking around the room and there was some good excitement. “We won’t be going to the beach,” said the Calgary Flames general “You know what? My message is: ‘Hey, you’ve earned the opportunity to manager. enjoy your break. We’re in a real good spot and enjoy your family and The Flames kicked off a nine-day hiatus which includes the All-Star break friends, be safe. And be ready to go when you come back to work. But and their NHL-mandated bye week, meaning the Flames won’t return to Tree had a better message than that.” the ice until Feb. 1 on the road when they square off with the Washington

Capitals. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2019 They went out with a bang, a positive one, with Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes. It solidified their second-overall spot in the NHL standings, improved them to 33-13-5 through 51 games, and extended their point streak to nine games giving them an 8-1-1 record in the last 10.

They’re tops in the Western Conference.

Tops in the Pacific Division.

So, despite a return of the white stuff and dipping temperatures, Treliving had little to complain about as everyone at the Scotiabank Saddledome went their separate ways.

“Certainly,” he quipped, “if you’re in a better position, your mood is usually better.”

Treliving aims to keep the good vibes rolling so his plans during the break include plenty of work, instead of a vacation. He and his staff spent Wednesday scouting the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Red Deer, which drew various NHL GMs in one place, doubling as a pre-NHL trade deadline powwow.

He’ll also spend time with their American Hockey League team in Stockton to observe their prospects in a pair of road games on Friday (against the Texas Stars) and Saturday (against the San Antonio Rampage).

The Flames recently had their mid-term meetings with their scouting staff, which allowed them to get a handle on how they can improve as an NHL club. Does that answer come from within? Or do they need to shop elsewhere to secure a depth forward, a veteran defenceman or a backup netminder ahead of the Feb. 25 deadline?

“Probably, for the most part, if teams haven’t had their (scouting) meetings, they’re having them right now,” Treliving said. “You try to do that five or six weeks before the deadline to get a sense of what your people see. And you start the dialogue with teams. I don’t necessarily think this year is any different from year’s past. What changes is where your position is, right? What you may be doing or not be doing … I say it all the time, and it sounds boring, but we continue to watch our team and continue to see if there are ways out there to help you.”

The Flames are in an enviable spot right now and gained valuable points in the standings to give themselves a cushion for the 2019 NHL post- season. Yes, there’s still snow on the ground and plenty of hockey is left on the table (31 games, to be exact).

But there’s no reason to think, at this point in the season, that the Flames will not be there at the end of the regular-season race and beyond.

“We don’t talk like that,” Treliving scoffed. “We are like everybody else right now. We’re trying to make the playoffs. They’ll put an asterisk beside teams that make it, we don’t have one yet … we think we have a good team. We’ve played well.

“But there’s lots more to give and a lot of work ahead of us.”

That was the subject of his post-game chat with the team, a rare dressing-room pep talk from the boss on Tuesday night. The gist of it? 1127373 Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes needed at least a point in the tough 3-2 OT loss to the Calgary Flames

BY CHIP ALEXANDER JANUARY 23, 2019 10:08 AM

Observations from the Carolina Hurricanes’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday: -- The Canes desperately needed to come out of the game with at least a point given the energy expended and quality start -- and some dazzling saves -- from goalie Petr Mrazek. It took a 6-on-5 goal by Sebastian Aho to get it but the Canes then needed to steal a win given where they are in the Eastern Conference standings. As Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said, “Unfortunately we’ve had too many of those results, playing like that.” -- Good to see some sheer emotion flow out of Aho and Teuvo Teravainen when the Canes tied the score late with the extra attacker. The Canes’ goal celebrations can be a bit muted at times but not that time, after Teravainen’s perfect pass to Aho in front. Also nice to see both appeared dejected after the game, saying all the right things to the media but their eyes giving away their disappointment in not winning. -- Overtimes continue to vex the Canes. Aho lost the opening faceoff to Mikael Backlund, there was a defensive breakdown and Backlund took a pass from TJ Brodie and walked in to beat Mrazek just 15 seconds into the OT. “Obviously we screwed up there,” Brind’Amour said. Possession is everything in overtimes, which once were wild and free-wheeling and have become a hockey version of the Princeton offense in hoops. -- Micheal Ferland leaving another Canes game with an “upper-body” injury was worrisome. Brind’Amour said he “tweaked” something, meaning the forward was not having a recurrence of concussion symptoms. The All-Star Game break and bye week are coming just when Ferland needs it most. -- With defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Ferland returning to Calgary for the first time since the June trade to Carolina, Brind’Amour was asked Monday about Hamilton’s play and said, “We’re still trying to figure him out and need to get more out of him.” Hamilton gave the Canes more Tuesday. Yes, he scored but it might have been his best game of the season. -- The Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau is fun to watch and was magical with the puck, even as the Canes held him without a point for the first time since Dec. 28. He could win the Hart Trophy as most valuable player. And the Flames’ Bill Peters could win the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.

News Observer LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127374 Chicago Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2019 How the words on their sticks motivate Blackhawks players — anything from 'swear words to happy stuff'

Jimmy Greenfield Chicago Tribune

The single word written on the blade of Dominik Kahun’s stick is “Spass,” and it doesn’t mean what you think, unless you know German. About five years ago, Kahun decided he needed a reminder to have more fun whether he was practicing or playing in a game. So he began writing “Spass,” which means “fun” in German, on the bottom of his stick. “I feel like it’s positive energy and to be happy,” Kahun said. “That’s the most important thing. So that’s what I have for my stick.” Kahun is one of many Blackhawks who have found putting a favorite phrase, word or the initials of loved ones on their sticks can motivate them or give them a boost when they need it. The NHL doesn’t restrict what players can write on their sticks, typically somewhere on the vast amount of tape that covers them. It’s essentially a blank slate a player can use to express himself. When Hawks goalie was a young player, his dad preached to him that hockey was meant to be fun. For years, Ward has written “Have Fun” on the blade of his stick. At the top of his stick, he writes the names of his children. “It’s nice to have on your stick to put things in perspective again when things may not be going your way,” Ward said. “You can quickly take a glance and realize it is a game that we’re playing, and I do play better when I’m enjoying it and having fun.” Defenseman Slater Koekkoek puts the letters “K-B-G-L-M” on the back of all of his sticks toward the knob. Each letter represents an important figure in his life. “My parents, my sister and my girl,” Koekkoek said. “And then God in the middle.” Koekkoek sits on the bench with his blade up, so he doesn’t see the letters when he’s taking a breather. But he never forgets they are there. “I pretend like they’re with me,” Koekkoek said. “I like having them there. Everybody puts something on their sticks. That’s just what I do.” Not all of the Hawks said they write something on their sticks. For Brendan Perlini, it’s a matter of how he feels on a given day. He said it could be anything from “swear words to happy stuff.” “If something before the game is on my mind or family-wise, I may put it on my stick for a reminder,” Perlini said. “It’s not a life-or-death situation. End of the day, a stick is a stick.” The phrase on Alex DeBrincat’s stick honors a person he barely knew but whose story resonated with him. Ian Jenkins was a promising Detroit- area goalie who died in a car accident in 2011 at age 15. Jenkins would write “Have a Purpose” on his hockey gear. DeBrincat adopted the phrase as his own after Jenkins died. “I didn’t really know him that well, but his story kind of reached me,” DeBrincat said. “It was a tough, tough story for the hockey world at that time. Try to carry out his legacy any time that I can.” Forward Caggiula came across the quote “Leave no doubt” as a college freshman and immediately began writing it on his sticks. He liked it enough that as a sophomore, he also had the quote tattooed on his arm. “You don’t want to go out on the ice and wonder: ‘Did I leave it all out there? Could I have done more?’ ” Caggiula said. “Leave no doubt in your own mind that you did everything you can to help the team win, help yourself have a good game. “I try to put it in little areas that, if I’m sitting on the bench, I can take a look at it and get back to my roots. It helps me stay mentally focused.” So keep an eye on what’s in the hands of your favorite player. You’ll probably find something that sticks out. 1127375 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.24.2019 Volatile first half sets stage for Blackhawks' big dreams after All-Star break

By Jason Lieser

The Blackhawks’ best games are also their most maddening, and the fluctuations of this season have been volatile enough to cause motion sickness. They stumbled through a pair of eight-game losing streaks as they plunged to the bottom of the NHL, then sprung to life with a 4-1-1 stretch in December against a bunch of playoff-bound opponents. In the run-up to the All-Star break, they got drubbed 8-5 by the lowly Devils, then clobbered the defending champion Capitals by the same score. They closed the first half of the season by taking down the -leading Islanders on Tuesday, slamming the door on New York’s five-game winning streak. “I don’t know — we play well against these good teams,” said Patrick Kane, echoing a mystified frustration shared by anyone who watches the Hawks. “We could take some momentum from that, and obviously we’re thinking about making the playoffs.” Kane won’t let that go. Three weeks ago, he mentioned getting the Hawks into the hunt by now. They’re still lagging at 45 points, while the Avalanche and Canucks went into Wednesday’s games tied for the second wild-card spot at 52. The new goal is staying mathematically alive as long as possible, and that will be the rallying cry when the Hawks resume Feb. 1 at the Sabres. They come out of the break with 7 of 10 games against teams currently outside the playoff field. Granted, not one of those teams is behind the Hawks. But after big wins over the Capitals and Islanders, they’ll spend the break dreaming big. “[We’ll] sit on this result for quite a few days, so good for everyone’s mental health,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “We played hard. We deserved to win. That should make everybody feel good to come back with more energy.” Putting aside the math of what it would take for the Hawks to break 90 points and give themselves a chance at the playoffs, there is good cause to be optimistic about them playing well when they return. They’re 9-6-4 since they started clicking in December, which is a 95-point pace over a full season, and while defense remains a glaring problem, many aspects look better. Nothing stands out more than their power play, which is by far the best in the league over that span at 35.7 percent. Over the first 31 games, the Hawks were last at 11.6 percent. Their stars are shining, too, and Colliton’s gamble of pairing Kane and Jonathan Toews has paid off tremendously with a combined 12 points in their first two games together. Kane leads the NHL in goals (14) and points (32) over the last month, Toews has 17 points in his last 13 games and Alex DeBrincat has seven goals in eight games as he tracks toward 40 for the season. The Hawks’ questions are at the other end of the rink and have persisted even in good times for the team. They’re giving up 3.74 goals per game, with a negligible improvement over the recent month, and there’s no obvious solution. Colliton is rotating defensemen until he finds the right six, this coming after he appeared to settle at least on Connor Murphy and Carl Dahlstrom as a lockdown duo, and remains intent on playing Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook heavy minutes. He’s also still switching between Collin Delia and Cam Ward while the team waits for a possible Corey Crawford return. In the Hawks’ best stretch of the season, they’ve allowed a league-worst 37.5 shots on goal, have the fourth-worst Corsi For percentage (a statistic that measures essentially what portion of the game they control the action) at 45.9 and yielded the most high-danger scoring chances at 12.2 per game. Overcoming all of that will be extremely difficult, but at their peak, the Hawks have somehow managed to do it. 1127376 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks still eyeing run from last place to playoff berth

By Jason Lieser

They don’t want to hear it. The Blackhawks know exactly where they reside in the standings and they don’t care. Whether it’s smart, or even worthwhile considering they’re currently in prime position for this summer’s draft, they steadfastly believe a playoff run is possible and intend to chase it. “We’re going to play until we’re out of it,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “No reason to give up. We’ll do everything we can. “We have to get better. We’re not good enough right now. We have to play better. And so that’s how we’re going to approach each day and then we add it up at the end, see where we’re at.” It needs to add up to a blizzard of points very quickly or Colliton won’t be able to play the we’re-still-mathematically-alive card much longer. The Hawks begin the All-Star break today with 45 points, the fifth-lowest total in the NHL. They’re in a tier with the Senators, Flyers, Kings and Blues. No one even considers those other teams making a charge, and no one would give the Hawks a sliver of hope if they didn’t have the iconic players who led them to three Stanley Cups. Two of those stars, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, are now playing on the same line in Colliton’s last-ditch move to turn things around. They both scored in shootout Tuesday night to close the first half of the season with a 3-2 win over the red-hot Islanders. Imagine how this season has wafted through the locker room. Kane, Toews, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith are less than four years removed from winning it all, and captured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference nearly two years ago before exiting pitifully in a first-round sweep by Nashville. “We’re all competitors,” Kane said. “We all want to win. It’s our job to instill that in these younger guys that it’s not just OK to be in the NHL every day and just playing a hockey game. It’s more important to take advantage of it.” Ah, the younger guys. That’s where this shifts if the Hawks can’t shock the hockey world by going from dead last to a playoff berth. Kane acknowledged the team has to, “go on a couple 10-game win streaks or something to get ourselves there.” Ten is daunting for a team that hasn’t strung together more than three straight wins all year. He also acknowledged what happens if they can’t make that grand ambition a reality. “If we don’t, the biggest thing is to try and not have that losing mentality creep into this locker room, especially for a lot of these younger guys,” Kane said. “The older guys have been there, they’ve done it. “We’ve been a part of winning and knowing what it feels like to win, and now we’re trying to do the best we can to implement that into the team and make the young guys feel that as well.” Is the nebulous concept of a winning culture more valuable than angling for Jack Hughes, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the draft? For better or worse, the Hawks have too much pride to willfully free fall like their United Center roommates, so their answer is yes. They’ll keep playing Toews and Kane heavy minutes, keep the door open for Corey Crawford to return and keep scrapping for wins like the one they got Tuesday.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127377 Chicago Blackhawks Indeed, the All-Star Game and bye week may not be coming at a great time. We'll see if nine days off cools down this unit -- or if the Hawks extend their goal-scoring streak to 10 straight games when they play at Hawks power play since mid-December is second to none Buffalo Feb. 1. Either way, it's been a heck of a ride. John Dietz "It's fun. Fun to watch," Colliton said. "They're making great reads, being clean with the puck, making great decisions, and we've got some guys Updated 1/23/2019 6:51 PM who are pretty skilled. So credit to them." hello Daily Herald Times LOADED: 01.24.2019 From exasperating to thrilling. From ice cold to en fuego. From pathetic to stunning. That pretty much sums up the Blackhawks' power play over two very bizarre segments of this season. During the first 35 games, the Hawks' PP units were completely inept, going a league-worst 12-for-105. But it wasn't just the numbers. It was the fact their entries were abysmal, they failed to get off many decent shot attempts and rarely retrieved loose pucks. "For a long time, it was not a great feeling," Jonathan Toews said after the Hawks' 3-2 shootout victory over the Islanders Tuesday. Now, the feeling is completely different as the Hawks have scored a power-play goal in nine straight games and are a ridiculous 19-for-48 over their last 16 games. That 39.6-percent success rate is far and away the best in the league since Dec. 18, with second-place Pittsburgh almost 8 percentage points behind. "Well, we got our confidence," Toews said. "We're relaxed." Toews said no major changes have been made systematically, although there does seem to be more movement once players get set up in the offensive zone. So why are the Hawks dominating this phase right now? A few reasons: • Coach Jeremy Colliton isn't afraid to play his top unit of Toews, Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome and defenseman Erik Gustafsson for 75 to 80 percent of the time. It's a combination loaded with high-end goal scorers, so why not leave them out there? • Kane and DeBrincat have developed some wicked chemistry on their cross-ice passes. DeBrincat, who has 6 PP goals during this hot streak, has fired home numerous one-timers. • Gustafsson's ability to run the point. The offensively gifted D man has done a fantastic job distributing the puck and knowing when to sprint to the boards to keep it in the zone. "Gus up top makes a big difference," Colliton said. Things are clicking so well that even when something goes wrong -- like when Toews' stick snapped during a 5-on-3 vs. the Islanders -- the Hawks are able to capitalize. As Toews retreated to the bench, Strome took a pass from Kane and fired it past Robin Lehner to tie the game at 1-1 at 6:05 of the second period. Seconds earlier, Strome whacked the puck away from Lehner just as the Isles' goalie was set to cover it up to force a stoppage. "(He) wasn't too happy because I kind of jammed it out of him," Strome said. "He saved Brinksy's shot and then it was kind of just sitting there, so I kind of just banged it out. Then Tazer's stick broke, and luckily enough, there was kind of an opening when I got it back from Kaner, and (I) just walked to the net." Toews also scored on the power play when he batted a rebound out of midair past Lehner with 22 seconds left in the second period. "We're not forcing anything," said Toews, who has 22 goals on the season, 12 away from his career high. "We're doing a good job of wearing teams down and then eventually the plays work out. It's nice for us to be able to make a big difference for our team right now. "For a long time it was not a great feeling. When we went on the power play it was almost taking the wind out of our sails. … It's huge for us to turn that around." Said Strome: "Every time we go out there we feel like we're going to score, so definitely our confidence is high and hopefully we can keep it up after the break." 1127378 Chicago Blackhawks

State of the Blackhawks going into All-Star break

By Charlie Roumeliotis January 23, 2019 12:55 PM

It's been a crazy first half of the 2018-19 season for the Blackhawks. There was a coaching overhaul, two trades, multiple call-ups, an injury to their star goaltender, a Winter Classic spectacle and an insane travel schedule looped into an already busy schedule with the club being tied for the second-most games played of any NHL team. The All-Star break and nine-day hiatus from game action is coming at a great time for the Blackhawks, to say the least. And they left off on a positive note, with back-to-back home victories against the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals on national television and a comeback shootout win over the No. 1-ranked defense and hottest Eastern Conference team in the New York Islanders. But in the bigger picture, the Blackhawks are still not where they want to be. Not even close. Going into Wednesday, they mathematically have a 1.4 percent chance of make the playoffs, according to hockeyreference.com, and that's likely to drop by the end of the day with eight Western Conference teams in action before the NHL shuts down for All-Star weekend. Only two other teams have a better chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick than the Blackhawks (11.5 percent), and that's Los Angeles (13.5) and Ottawa (18.5), the latter of which is actually Colorado's pick. "We’re going to play until we’re out of it," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "No reason to give up. We’ll do everything we can. However, my approach is still the same. We have to get better. We’re not good enough right now. We have to play better. And so that’s how we’re going to approach each day and then we add it up at the end, see where we’re at." The reality is, the Blackhawks are closer to the earning a top pick than making the playoffs. And that's fine, especially in a retooling year. In fact, it's better than sitting just outside the playoff picture because mediocrity is the worst spot to be in — it doesn't guarantee you an immediate impact-type player in the draft if you miss out on the postseason. But the Blackhawks have to come to grips with it. It seems like they have, although that doesn't mean they're going to lie down for the final 31 games. This is still an important stretch run to determine what you have going into the offseason. Scouting meetings are happening this week in Chicago, an annual occurrence where the organization gets together to decide how they want to approach the Feb. 25 trade deadline. Should they be sellers? If so, how aggressive should they get without creating more holes? Trade anyone you can to clear roster spots and open up even more cap space to take a big run at this upcoming unrestricted free agent class or only pull something off if you're filling a long-term positional need elsewhere? Right now, non-playoff and bubble teams across the NHL are asking themselves these same questions. If they're buyers, the Blackhawks will certainly be one of the teams they call to ask who's available. It's up to Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks front office to determine who is and who isn't, what the market value is for players drawing interest and whether a potential trade is something that benefits them in the long run but, at the same time, can make an impact as early as next season.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127379 Chicago Blackhawks Going into Tuesday, the Blackhawks had scored at least one first-period goal in 13 of their past 14 games. But the Islanders, who rank No. 1 in the NHL with a 2.42 goals against average, shut the door in the opening Four takeaways: Power play heater continues as Blackhawks go into frame and held them to only nine shots on goal — three of which came in break with shootout win the final minute. It was, however, the 31st consecutive contest the Blackhawks have played in where there was at least one first-period goal (from either By Charlie Roumeliotis Chicago or its opponent), according to NBC Sports Chicago's stats guru Christopher Kamka. Only three out of the 51 Blackhawks games this January 22, 2019 10:41 PM season have been 0-0 at the end of the first period.

Here are four takeaways from the Blackhawks' 3-2 shootout win over the Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 New York Islanders at the United Center on Tuesday: 1. Cam Ward bounces back After allowing six goals on 25 shots in an 8-5 loss to New Jersey last Monday, the Blackhawks gave Ward a chance to redeem himself going into the break. And he did just that. The 14-year veteran turned aside 34 of 36 shots for a save percentage of .944, which was his second-best percentage in a game this season. He stopped 18 straight to close out the game, including both shots he faced in the shootout. IT was a perfect bounce-back performance. "We knew coming into this game it was gonna be on our minds for the next eight days here over the break, and it was important that we leave on a good note," Ward said. "I certainly thought that our effort was deserving of the win tonight against a very tough team that’s been one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference. It’s a credit to the guys for the way they battled back despite being down, and to come up with a shootout win always feels good for a goaltender.” 2. Power play heater continues What else can be said about the power play other than it's on fire? The Blackhawks went 2-for-3 in that department, with one of the goals coming during a 5-on-3 advantage. It's the ninth straight games the Blackhawks have scored a power play goal and the fifth time in the past 12 games they've scored at least two power-play goals in a game. They didn't score more than one in any of their first 39 games of the season. The Blackhawks are now 19-for-48 on the power play since Dec. 18 for a success rate of 39.6 percent. The second-best team over that span is the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 31.8 percent conversion rate. It's come such a long way in a short period of time. "We got our confidence," said Jonathan Toews, who scored the second one. "We're relaxed. We know how to get pucks out of tough areas when we take shots or if there's broken plays. Everyone's just feeling confident that if we're mixing around or if I'm in the middle on the wall [Alex DeBrincat] can fill in or [Dylan Strome], [Patrick Kane]. We're filling different positions at different times. We just know where guys are and and we're relaxed. We know that if they dump it down it's no big deal, we're confident in our breakout. We're not forcing anything. "We're doing a good job of wearing teams down and then eventually the plays work out. It's nice for us to be able to make a big difference for our team right now. For a long time it was almost not a great feeling. When we went on the power play it was almost taking the wind out of our sails, but at the end of the day it should be giving us momentum if we're not scoring. It's huge for us to turn that around. Sometimes when it's snowballing in the wrong direction it's really hard to turn things around and we've done that." 3. Buckling down On Sunday against the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, the Blackhawks gave up only eight high-danger chances at 5- on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com. The Blackhawks allowed seven in the first period alone against the Islanders, and 15 total — 20 in all situations. That's an area the Blackhawks have been trying to fix all season long, and will continue to be a work in progress going forward. But they responded with a much stronger second period, outshooting the Islanders 18-7 and generating 19 scoring chances to their six. "I did, I loved our second period," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "Obviously the power play came through but our 5-on-5, I thought we carried the play and put ourselves in good situations a bunch of different times and I'd like to see more of that. I'd like to see us control the territorial battle a little bit more and make it easier on ourselves." 4. Rare first-period blank 1127380 Colorado Avalanche Colorado couldn’t overcome the 4-2 deficit in the final period as Devan Dubnyk and the Minnesota defense kept the home team from settling into any true offensive rhythm, while the Wild added another 5-on-3 goal. Avalanche stumbles into the all-star break as handful of miscues lead to Now, the Avalanche hope the time off will allow the team to recharge and Wild’s 5-2 win reverse course upon return, with Colorado still in the playoff picture despite all recent woes. By KYLE NEWMAN | [email protected] | The Denver Post “There has to be (optimism) in that,” Soderberg said. “We need to get some energy out of that, because even though we’ve had all these PUBLISHED: January 23, 2019 at 10:24 pm | UPDATED: January 23, losses, we’re still in it, and that’s a good thing.” 2019 at 11:09 PM

Denver Post: LOADED: 01.24.2019 If the first 50 games of the Avalanche’s season have proved anything, it’s that one of hockey’s youngest, most talented teams still has plenty of room to grow. That fact was underscored again in the Avs’ 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center, where Colorado hustled and battled for every puck against Minnesota but simply made too many mistakes to win. That has often been the case lately as the Avalanche has fallen from atop the Western Conference early in the season to the second wild-card spot heading into the all-star break. “We have to find a way to be more mature, and stick to the game plan, and continue to play (to it) whether it’s frustrating or not,” coach Jared Bednar said. “I’m still confident in our team, but nights like this where we don’t play a mature team game, it bothers me.” On Wednesday, it was a sloppy turnover, a pair of two-man disadvantages and a couple of undisciplined defensive possessions that enabled the Wild to send Colorado to its seventh defeat in the 10 games since the calendar turned to January. The Avalanche (22-20-8) isn’t in action again until Feb. 2, as all-star weekend is followed by the team’s bye week. “We didn’t take care of the puck,” Bednar said. “(We had) too many turnovers in the middle of the ice. We weren’t willing to skate the puck and chip the puck and make safe, smart decisions. … Every decision was looking to be too cute, too stubborn.” The Avalanche struck first at the 14:18 mark of the opening period when Matt Calvert fought for, and gained, possession of a loose puck behind behind the Wild net. Calvert zipped the puck to Colin Wilson, who followed with a quick pass to Carl Soderberg in front of the crease. The 33-year-old buried the tic-tac-toe look for his fifth goal in the last five games, and a career-high 17 goals for the season. But Colorado’s momentum was short-lived. Just over a minute later, a turnover by Sam Girard in the defensive zone led to a retaliatory goal by Minnesota’s Eric Staal to tie the game 1-1. The teams would continue to trade rushes after that until the first penalty of the game, a hooking call on Greg Pateryn, opened the door for another Colorado score. Tyson Barrie retook the lead less than a minute into the advantage, wristing home a goal through from center ice, off the inside of the left post and in for a 2-1 lead with 7:40 to play in the first. Again, though, the lead didn’t hold, with Jared Spurgeon’s goal at 3:33 making it 2-2 as the Wild notched its 31st defensive score this season (second in the NHL). “Our commitment to defend wasn’t where our commitment to play offense was tonight, especially early in the game, when we handed them a couple of easy goals,” Bednar said. Each defense cinched down slightly in the second, with the offenses staying aggressive but the shot rate dropping markedly. But Minnesota got its big chance about five minutes in, when Alex Kerfoot was whistled for hooking and Ian Cole was sent to the box for holding 58 seconds after that. Trips to the box continue to be problematic for Colorado, as the team entered the night ranked in the cellar of the NHL with 10.3 opponent penalty minutes per game. That left the Wild with a 5-on-3 opportunity, which Staal quickly converted from the wide-open back door with his second goal of the game to make it 3-2 at 12:36. Minnesota’s passing then continued to pick apart the Colorado defense, this time at full strength, with Spurgeon’s goal off assists by Jason Zucker and Ryan Suter with 23 seconds to play in the second. “It’s frustrating,” Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said. “We need to be better. We had two leads to begin the game, and we couldn’t build on them.” 1127381 Colorado Avalanche Like Grubauer said, there were a few occasions when the Wild had a five-on-three opportunity. One of those chances came when Matt Calvert was forced to play without a stick while defending the left side of the ice. Bednar on Avs’ latest defeat: ‘It’s not a goaltending loss. That’s for sure.’ That was further compounded as the Wild had one skater in front of the net, another in the left faceoff circle and a third player at the goal line just to Grubauer’s left while the power-play unit was being ran from the point. By Ryan S. Clark Wild forward Mikael Granlund started at the point but skated to the lower right side of the ice. It caused the Avalanche’s penalty kill to shift and Jan 23, 2019 move with the puck. Granlund had enough space to feed Staal, who was left open behind the stickless Calvert for the go-ahead goal with 12:37

left in the second. So much for that New Year’s Resolution. The promise in question has “Penalties and poor execution. Just not doing the right things with the nothing to do with weight loss or deviating from another vice. It has puck,” Bednar said. “We didn’t take care of the puck. Too many turnovers everything to do with Jared Bednar and his stance regarding who starts in the middle of the ice. … Just everything looking to be too cute, too between goaltenders Philipp Grubauer and Semyon Varlamov. stubborn with the puck.” Bednar was willing to reveal those plans to reporters until Jan. 7. That If there was a sequence that summed up the Avalanche’s miscues, it was was the day the Avalanche departed for their five-game, 10-day trip when the Wild took a 4-2 lead. Patrik Nemeth and Carl Soderberg were throughout , their longest venture away from Denver this entangled and could only watch Zach Parise have the puck behind the campaign. As he’s known to do, Bednar flashed a coy grin before stating net. As Parise was cycling through his options, Ryan Graves and Colin his New Year’s Resolution was to hold off on giving that information Wilson were covering both sides of the crease, but their heads were away. focused on what was going on behind the net. “I just don’t want to keep handing it out to visiting teams,” Bednar Sven Andrighetto was left alone to defend the slot, but even he was left explained. concentrating on Parise. That allowed Coyle to skate past him and score Most New Year’s Resolutions end by February and Bednar’s plan on a one-timer to double the Wild’s advantage. concluded Wednesday after morning skate. That’s when he informed The Wild added one more goal, via the power play, for a 5-2 lead in the reporters Grubauer would start against the Wild at Pepsi Center. third period. There was no acknowledging of why Bednar abandoned that objective, Losing for the third time in the last four games means the Avalanche but he did reveal why he opted to go with Grubauer instead of Varlamov. enter the All-Star break and their bye week facing a number of questions. “I just think it’s time to see if he can respond and (give him) a chance to Goaltending being one of them. play,” Bednar said. “He’s good in practice, working hard, hungry for the net and goaltending has been just OK. Need someone to step up.” “We’ve been trying to find a guy who can seize it and grab it and get us some wins,” Bednar said earlier in the week. “And we started with a little Now fast forward nearly 12 hours later after the Avalanche were pulled bit of a different approach. Laying out (the goaltending plan) a week at a apart in a 5-2 loss to the Wild. time. Ten days at a time. Who was going to get starts and we saw some “You’d like to see him make a save to help keep you in it at some point,” good goaltending. Then, I just think it’s been average.” Bednar said. “But it’s not a goaltending loss. That’s for sure.” Varlamov went 2-4-2 with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .874 save Here’s what makes Bednar lean toward giving Grubauer, who made 19 percentage over eight starts in December. He was pulled twice that saves, the benefit of the doubt. month. He ends January with a 2-4 mark along with another 2.87 GAA and a .888 save percentage. It comes out to a 4-8-2 record, a 2.87 GAA The Avalanche held a 1-0 lead when defenseman Samuel Girard had and a .881 save percentage over 14 starts. possession beneath the goal line. He was pressured by Wild center Eric Staal, which forced a turnover. Staal, after prying possession away from Grubauer received six starts in December. He was 2-3-1 with a 2.75 GAA Girard, freely skated to Grubauer’s blocker side while Charlie Coyle was and a .900 save percentage. Only to go 1-2 in his three January starts surveying the ice. with a 4.61 GAA and a .814 save percentage. Overall, he’s 3-5-1 with a 3.68 GAA and a .857 save percentage since Dec. 1. Ian Cole was in the area, but Coyle found Staal and it was enough space to beat Grubauer and tie the game at 1-1 with 13:10 left in the first “I’m trying to change my approach to it now, going game-by-game and period. pick a goalie that is going to give us the best chance to win the hockey game,” Bednar said Tuesday of his goaltending situation. “And then Defensive positioning proved to be an issue when the Wild tied it at 2-2 in reassess for the next start and see if we still feel that way after the the opening frame. Minnesota’s tape-to-tape passing was so crisp, it previous game. Hopefully, one of these guys can get hot. echoed all the way up to the seats in the 300 section. Defenseman Ryan Suter delivered a cross-ice pass to his defensive partner Jared “Hopefully, they can both get hot, but we need for one of them to get hot Spurgeon, who was camped out at the left faceoff circle. Spurgeon, who here for us and win us some hockey games.” had nobody near him, took advantage of a screen set by former Colorado began the day knowing a win over Minnesota would create a University of Denver star forward Jason Zucker. little bit of cushion as it would hold the top wild card spot. Zucker’s ability to shield allowed Spurgeon to skate a few feet closer to Now? The Avalanche are still holding down a playoff spot. Barely. They the net and launch a shot above Grubauer’s trapper to tie the game with have 52 points from 50 games. If not for the Canucks’ 5-2 loss to the 3:33 remaining. Hurricanes, the Avs would enter the All-Star break a point out of the And then came the penalties. playoffs. “I think we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit with the five-on-three’s “I don’t know if we’re out of the playoffs or we’re in the wild card spot right with too many penalties,” Grubauer said. “We had too many brain farts. now or not but we’re in for a fight,” Grubauer said. “We dug ourselves a Too many individual brain farts. I feel like not being aware, we gotta big hole and we gotta make sure we keep battling our way and work our figure that out.” way out of this.” Penalties have become a constant source of concern and frustration for the Avalanche. They entered Wednesday leading the NHL with 486 The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 penalty minutes and are tied for third with 9.9 penalty minutes per game. Guess what? It was once again an issue. The Avalanche were assessed for six penalties, which also highlights another problem. The penalty kill. Believed to be a strength based off last season’s performance, the Avalanche were stopping opponents at a rate of 76.7 percent prior to Wednesday. Minnesota finished 2-for-6 on the man advantage. 1127382 Colorado Avalanche Yeah, it’s close. It’s close. It can get pretty emotional on that show. I’m a docu-nerd. I watch a lot of documentaries. I know that, what’s it called? “Game of Thrones.” Do you watch that? A conversation with Gabriel Landeskog Hell yeah. But I have never been into stuff like that. I have been into more realistic By Ryan S. Clark stuff. That’s why I always watch documentaries. Melissa (Landeskog’s wife) gets pissed off at me because that’s all I want to watch. I find that Jan 23, 2019 you learn something out of that. I find that it’s real. But I got a lot of guys telling me to watch “Game of Thrones” but I just haven’t gotten into it.

To be blunt … You can currently hear his voice over the public address system at Denver International Airport. There is also a strong chance you likely saw I’m boring! his face on billboards throughout the city urging fans to vote him into this year’s NHL All-Star Game. Plus you also know him as a member of what No. Wasn’t going to say that. But would you say you’re a nerd then? is arguably the best line in the NHL. I’d say I’m a pretty nerdy guy. To a certain extent, I like my alone time. I Gabriel Landeskog, in a manner of speaking, has been everywhere this like my quiet time. But also when I get together with people, I like to have season. The Avalanche captain and left winger is enjoying what is fun and let loose and things like that. But with our schedule and travel already the strongest campaign of his eight-year career. Landeskog, and stuff like that, I like to be home. whose previous personal best was 26 goals, entered Wednesday with 29 Music-wise, what are you listening to? goals and that was tied for fifth in the NHL. Mix of everything really. I know that’s a boring answer. Country. I listen to The Athletic‘s Ryan S. Clark recently caught up with the 26-year-old a lot of . Lot of top 50 stuff. Mumford and Sons. Lumineers. Stockholm native where they discussed how he has grown as a leader, Stuff like that. whether or not he cries while watching NBC’s “This Is Us” and the immense national pride he feels while walking into an … IKEA? I have to ask this question. When you get homesick, do you go to IKEA or not so much? You think about the time from when you first became captain until now. How much have you learned about leadership? How much have you (Laughs.) Never. Never. I have gone a few times but mostly to buy changed as a leader? something. When I get homesick, I call my mom and dad but that’s about it. Just like anybody, you ask them what they’ve learned and how they’ve changed from the time they were 18, 19 years old until they were 26, What is it like being Swedish and going into an IKEA? there’s quite a bit there. Just being more comfortable as yourself. Knowing what’s expected from you. Knowing what you need in order to It makes you proud if anything, to be honest with you! I’m a proud perform. Really, obviously, building relationships with people around the Swede! Everybody should know that! When I walk into there, I am always organization. That continues to grow and as you move up in age, for the translating things. This is what this means. This is what that means. It most part, it makes it easier to talk to guys who are younger than you makes me proud. It makes me feel like I could give guided tours in there then when I was 19 and guys are 35. With experience comes being more but I don’t. comfortable and that’s been the biggest difference. Does anyone recognize you when you’re in IKEA? After games, you’ll tell reporters: “Go talk to younger guys. Go talk to No. guys who had a big night.” What makes you want to do that? How are the meatballs? I think there’s two parts to it. One, I think the people that deserve credit, (reporters) should talk to. The guys that have a big night and don’t They’re unbelievable at IKEA! People don’t give it enough credit. They’re typically get the headlines, they should get it. The second part is if my unbelievable. They’re not homemade. They’re never going to taste like voice is being heard every single day and people read quotes from me homemade. But they are dynamite. And the mashed potatoes! every single day, they’re not going to really pay attention much to what I have to say. There’s a little bit of supply and demand in there as well. For What makes them so good? the most part, I think that I don’t mind talking when we lose. But when we They’re symmetric. Good texture. Good color. And the mashed potatoes win, I think (it should be) the guys, whether that’s (Semyon Varlamov) or and the lingonberry sauce, it’s a good mix. You’re making me want to go (Philipp Grubauer) whose had a big game or the other guys that deserve there for lunch today. the credit.

When you’re going through these stretches of highs and lows, how does that change your job in terms of being captain? The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 I’d like to say it doesn’t. We put our heart and soul into what we do and when the team’s not doing well, it’s hard to just always stay even-keel. You always stay level-headed and all these things but it’s hard to do when you pour your heart and soul into something and it just doesn’t come out the right way. Sometimes, you lose sleep over that and you try to figure out solutions and ways to get to get this thing back on track. But for the most part, it’s having a good attitude. Being a good teammate. Your work ethic. Those are things that gotta be there every single day. What’s something that has happened to you this season that nobody knows about? I got married last summer! (Laughs.) But people know about that I guess! I don’t know if there’s anything. I’ve always tried to keep my private life pretty private and that’s the way I like it. Maybe that’s why people sometimes feel like they don’t know me off the ice. We’re in the spotlight so much, my life isn’t very exciting outside of hockey. I go home to my wife and my dog. Not a whole lot being done. Just kind of in my downtime, I like to read. I watch TV shows and things like that. So what are you watching? “New Amsterdam” is a great TV show. Great show. “This Is Us” is another really good show I watch with my wife. Do you cry during “This Is Us”? 1127383 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche lose 5-2 to Wild, head into All-Star break on down slope

By JJ Seaward January 23, 2019

The month of January has not been friendly to the Colorado Avalanche. Things continued to get worse Wednesday night as the Avs fell 5-2 to the Minnesota Wild. The loss pushes the Avs losing skid to two-straight games as they head into the NHL All-Star Break this weekend. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog will be representing the Avs in this weekend’s All-Star festivities that begins on Friday, Jan. 25 and concludes on Saturday, Jan. 26. “It [the break] can’t hurt,” Bednar said about the absence of games. “It could not be coming at a better time. I think this is a perfect time for a team to take a break, and reflect and get away from it for a while.” At a point of their season where the top line has been having troubles finding the back of the net, one bright spot for the Avs offense has been veteran forward Carl Soderberg. He tallied his 17th goal of the season, a career-high, for the first goal of the game for the Avalanche. Despite the Avs being able to tally the first goal of the game, the lead was short-lived as Wild forward tallied his first goal of the game. The first period continued to be a back-and-forth. Finally, the Avs’ top line got on the scoresheet when Tyson Barrie fired a low wrist shot from the point to beat Wild goaltender Devyn Dubnyk to give the Avs the 2-1 advantage. Minnesota defensemen Jared Spurgeon eventually tallied a goal of his own as the two teams headed into the middle frame tied 2-2. Following a strong first period, the Wild took over the remainder of the game as Staal notched his second goal of the game on a power-play. Later, forward Charlie Coyle notched a goal to give the Wild the 4-2 lead heading into the third period. Special teams was a large difference-maker in this game, as the Wild finished 2-for-6, while the Avs finished the game going 1-for-2 in the game. Nothing changed in the third period, as Wild defenseman Ryan Suter tallied a powerplay goal to put the game out of reach, and allow the Wild to come away with the 5-2 victory over the Avs. “I am still confident in our team,” Bednar said after the loss. “But on nights like this where we don’t play in a mature team game, then it bothers me because I know that we are capable of. I would just like to see us have a little bit more resolve than we have right now.” Following the All-Star break, the Avalanche will have 32 games remaining and they will get back to work when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Pepsi Center. “I think that your teams belief system has to be strong, and this allows you to do the right things in games like tonight [against the Wild],” Bednar explained. “You have to be able to fall back on your structure and your work ethic and all of those building blocks of a team foundation, and the break will hopefully allow us to get back to those fundamentals.” milehighsports.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127384 Colorado Avalanche

Five Takeaways from Avalanche’s 5-2 loss to Wild

By Evan Rawal January 23, 2019

A strong start ended up meaning nothing for the Colorado Avalanche, who now head into the All Star break in the middle of a total meltdown following their 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Colorado now sits at just 52 points, and have several teams in the West chasing them. What did we learn from this loss? While it’s really hard to pin down any of those goals as Grubauer’s fault, the German goaltender put together another sub .900 save percentage evening. The Avs have not had consistently good goaltending for two months now and you have to wonder if the All Star break forces them to completely re-assess the situation in net, with them possibly turning to Pavel Francouz for help. Carl Soderberg picked up his 17th goal of the year, giving him a new career-high in goals with over two months left in the season. He’s been a stabilizing presence down the middle for the Avs all year, and has seen his goal production go up in the last two weeks since moving to the second line. While good penalty killing can create momentum for your team, a poor power play can completely destroy it. Coming off a 5-on-3 penalty kill that should have created some energy for the team, the Avs power play came out flat, looking completely stationary and failing to create any good looks. The Avs struggled the rest of the period, including giving up a goal in the final 30 seconds to really put them a hole. The Avalanche came out in the third period, and played about as poor a period as they have all year. They put themselves into another 5-on-3 penalty kill, and had no energy to come close to scoring. Devan Dubnyk didn’t have to make a difficult save the entire period as the Avs made it very easy on him. Considering the circumstances, it was an awful showing from the Avs. The Avs have now only won 6 of their last 23 games, and are the NHL’s worst team since the start of December. If you’re Joe Sakic, can you really assess this team as a playoff team with the way they’ve played? Even though they’re still in the race, the trade deadline could be an interesting one in Colorado. The Avs don’t hit the ice again until Saturday, Feb. 2 when they take on the Vancouver Canucks. The game starts at 8 p.m. MT. milehighsports.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127385 Colorado Avalanche Jared Bednar looks really frustrated. He seems to have lost something in his connection to his players. He seems genuinely mystified as to why his players seemingly just don’t care enough right now, or why they keep Takeaways from Avs’ loss to Wild: It feels like this is rock bottom making the same mistakes over and over again. Has he “lost the room” or something like that? Oh, I’d doubt that. He’s not a ranter or raver in the room. A player currently on the team told me he By Adrian Dater rarely yells in the room. I don’t think he rubs players the wrong way with his actions. But right now, the players just don’t seem too inspired. Is this Posted on January 23, 2019 a coaching problem? I don’t know. But to me, Bednar does not seem like the problem. I think this is on the top guys, not doing enough right now,

goalies not making saves and guys taking too many stupid penalties. The They zoomed out to start the season and, at one time, were the envy of players need to get away and relax these next nine days. They also need the NHL – a young, talented team building on a previous playoff to look in the mirror and ask themselves if they really want this bad appearance, with the potential No. 1 pick in the draft coming and a enough entering the final 32 games.. couple other studs in the system. NOTES AND QUOTES FROM AVS PR The Colorado Avalanche goes into the All-Star break an object of pity, a The Avs are now 1-2-0 against the Wild this season with one more game skittering, bumbling team that has the worst record in the league since remaining in the 2018-19 series, on March 19 at Minnesota. The Dec. 3. Avalanche finished 1-for-2 on the power play and is now 4-for15 (26.7%) What happened? Honestly, it beats me. This extended Avs skid probably with the man advantage over their last four games. Overall, Colorado is hit a new low Wednesday night, with a sluggish, passion-free 5-2 loss to 47-for-187 (25.1%) on the power play this season, the sixth-ranked unit the division rival Wild at the Pepsi Center. in the league. These are my takeaways: INDIVIDUAL NOTES The game turned on a couple of things: the tripping call Ian Cole took on Carl Soderberg reached a new career high with his 17th goal of the Jason Zucker to give Minnesota 5-on-3, which they promptly scored on season, surpassing his previous career high of 16 set both last season with an Eric Staal marker. The other was a double-minor for high-sticking and in 2013-14 with Boston. He has tallied eight points (6g, 2a) over his to Tyson Barrie later in the second, which seemed to exhaust everybody last eight outings and is tied with Mikko Rantanen for the team lead in to the point they gave up a goal with 23 seconds left in the second, giving goals in the month of January (6). the Wild a two-goal lead. Tyson Barrie notched his sixth goal of the season and the 67th of his The defense and goaltending were, to be charitable, very spotty again. career. He’s just one goal shy of matching John-Michael Liles for second Philipp Grubauer did nothing to re-establish himself as a potential No. 1 on the franchise’s all-time list of goals by a defenseman. Barrie’s 39 goalie. Tough to defend against two 5-on-3s, but some of the other goals points in 2018-19 is tied for seventh among NHL blueliners. it just seemed like Grubauer was a half-second slow in his reaction times.

The biggest surprise for me in this slide? I’d have to go with how invisible Sam Girard seems most nights now. Seems like he’s lost the confidence BSN DENVER LOADED: 01.24.2019 to carry the puck as long as he used to. Where are the spin-o-ramas that always got him out of any potential harm’s way? Why does he seem a step slower than he once was? His giveaway in the first period led to a Wild goal. Avs only had 11 shots in the final two periods. For a team playing from behind, that’s embarrassing. What is up with this team’s discipline? So many penalties, and bad ones. The Avs entered this game as the team with the most penalty minutes in the NHL, at 486, an average of 10.3 a game. How does a team with no fighters, not many truly physical guys, have the most PIMs in the league??? Why is it that every time an Avs player loses a stick, it’s in the back of the net, or so it seems? I didn’t know why Matt Calvert got rid of his stick on the first of those 5-on-3s. He blocked a shot with it, and apparently it had a crack on it. But the stick still looked good enough to play with – it wasn’t in pieces, but Zach Parise pointed out to the refs that it had a crack, and the rule is you can’t play with a broken stick. It’s now essentially a 5-on- 2.5, and the puck winds up in the back of the net with Calvert unable to get a stick on the crossing pass in front to Eric Staal. Nathan MacKinnon just hasn’t been good enough. One goal in the six games before the break. Too many soft plays with the puck in the neutral zone. Taking too long to make decisions on the power play. Ryan Graves waaaay overstayed his shift on the goal that made it 4-2 at the end of the second. He was too gassed to move much toward the end of it, and the puck wound up in the back of the net partially because of that. Otherwise, I thought he was good. The whole Avs team was mostly on the same side of the ice prior to that Jared Spurgeon goal that tied it 2-2 in the first. Where is the discipline, to know you can’t all bunch up like that? Spurgeon had a clear lane down the other side when he got the puck. There are four other Western teams within one or two points of the Avs in the race for the spot the Avs still hold – the second spot in the Wild Card race. Someone on twitter pointed out that maybe the Avs’ own first-round pick might be a higher one than that of the Ottawa Senators – which they own. Hey, it might. Colorado only is nine points ahead of Ottawa. Forget about trading that pick, I’d say. I don’t think the Avs ever would have, but now you have to war plan for maybe that pick being the real lottery pick. 1127386 Colorado Avalanche was tired but he put in almost no effort to get to that puck and Minnesota scored right after. His delay of game already on the PK in the third was outrageously dumb. Avs-Wild player grades: Deeper into the abyss Matt Nieto (C) – The fourth line gig he’s been given recently is really more about trying to spark the offense in the top three lines. Nieto isn’t going to solve that issue and when he does get scoring opportunities, AJ Haefele such as the one he created short-handed, he regularly fails to cash in. Mikko Rantanen (C) – He was okay. Shot metrics are in favor of the top line but that’s pretty normal. The reality is that they simply weren’t Player grades for Colorado’s loss to the Minnesota Wild. anywhere close to good enough tonight. Getting the freebie assist on Barrie’s seeing-eye goal is nice for the stat sheet but they needed a Sven Andrighetto (D) – This is an experiment that it’s fair to say has whole lot more tonight. failed for the Avalanche. They’re simply playing out the string with Andrighetto right now. Given how much promise his Colorado tenure Carl Soderberg (B) – A great opening period as he got the Avs on the started with, it’s disappointing to see it coming to a likely close like this. board first. He has a new career-high in goals scored, which is great. He seems to play the game just a half-step too slowly to consistently Colorado needs secondary scoring and he’s stepped up more make a positive impact in the NHL. consistently than any other forward this year. Tyson Barrie (C+) – It was great to see him get on the scoresheet with a Colin Wilson (C+) – Combined with Calvert and Soderberg on Colorado’s PPG. They force the offense to run through him so much that he needs opening goal. Did not do much of anything else the rest of the way. to score more frequently to justify that usage. That four-minute penalty didn’t end up costing the Avs outside of having to defend for an avoidable Nikita Zadorov (B-) – Handled big minutes well and brought his typical four minutes in a game they were trailing. It felt like the only mistake the physical element to a game against the hated Wild. One of the few guys I Avs made tonight that wasn’t brutally punished. thought was more good than bad tonight. Gabriel Bourque (C-) – Like the vast majority of games Bourque appears in, his time on the ice was defined mostly by a lack of anything happening in any direction. Colorado’s fourth line continues to largely just BSN DENVER LOADED: 01.24.2019 be a net zero, which could certainly be worse but the complete lack of offensive threat here is adding to the pressure faced by the other three lines. Matt Calvert (B) – A great forecheck by Calvert sparked Colorado’s first goal. This was his seventh point in his last nine games as he’s very much settled into his Colorado digs. The stick breaking in his hand on Minnesota’s lengthy 5 on 3 was the worst kind of luck. Very indicative of the type of luck the Avalanche have had recently. Ian Cole (D) – I don’t have a major issue with his scrambly coverage on Minnesota’s first goal as Girard turned a puck over with nobody really around him and everyone else was trying to figure it out from there. And had offside been correctly called, Cole’s desperation penalty also never takes place and the Wild never get the 5 on 3. All this to say Cole undeniably suffered some bad luck tonight but just didn’t play a very solid overall game. J.T. Compher (C) – I really just didn’t notice much of JTC tonight. Very quiet overall. Sheldon Dries (C+) – He worked hard and drew a penalty right after the Avalanche killed one off with his skating and speed. That was the only time I remember noticing Dries all game. Samuel Girard (D) – The turnover to create Minnesota’s first goal was the stuff of true nightmares. It’s hard enough to stop teams from scoring but just giving them freebies? Good lord what a fiasco. The rest of Girard’s game left a whole lot to be desired. Ryan Graves (C+) – Graves put in another solid performance. He got caught out on a very long shift at the end of the second period that helped lead to the Wild’s fourth goal but none of the failed clearing attempts or various turnovers were his fault. He got trapped by the incompetence of Colorado’s forwards. A solid overall showing from Graves yet again. Philipp Grubauer (D) – Tough grade because this was a guy who got very, very little help tonight. Two goals were given up at 3v5 and the first two Wild goals weren’t really on Grubi but this was another huge night of offense for the opposing team. This is just a huge mess right now. Alexander Kerfoot (D) – Really felt Kerfoot played poorly in this one. He didn’t get much ice time but he really didn’t do much of anything out there. I don’t expect him to score every game but he can’t be a total non- factor like he was tonight. Gabriel Landeskog (C) – He always seems to find himself finding reasons to have high-speed collisions with Devan Dubnyk. It’s always a good time to watch. That was more or less the highlight of the night from the captain. Nathan MacKinnon (D) – That penalty in the third period for passing the puck with his hand is just inexcusably dumb. The truth is MacKinnon has been far too average overall recently. The Avs aren’t going to get anywhere if their dominant top line fails to dominate. Patrik Nemeth (D) – Like Graves, Nemeth got stuck on the long shift at the end of the second period. Unlike Graves, Nemeth actually ha a chance to win a puck that might have gotten them off the ice. I know he 1127387 Colorado Avalanche

Morning skate notebook: Grubauer gets another chanceAdrian Dater

By Adrian Dater Posted on January 23, 2019

Hi from the Pepsi Center, where the skittering Avalanche play everyone’s favorite team and uniform, the Minnesota Wild. It’s hard to believe that the Wild are now ahead of the Avs in the standings, but that is the case. This is as close to a must-win game as you can have for a team in January. Avs have to win this one, period. At least, IMHO. The lineup news: Philipp Grubauer gets the start in goal. Ryan Graves gets a start on defense, taking Mark Barberio’s spot. There could be another lineup change by game time, Jared Bednar said, but that seems unlikely. “I think it’s time to see how he can respond,” Bednar said of Grubauer, who has a 3.29 goals-against average and .895 saves percentage on the season. He’s been good in practice, working hard and hungry for the net. Goaltending has been just…OK. So, we need someone to step up.” While I agree goaltending has been the biggest problem of late, I’ve also been a bit concerned about the turnovers of late – by all five guys, not just the defense – and the lack of battle in front of the opposing net to score dirty goals. I worry that the Avs are just taking a look at the shot numbers of late and thinking they’re playing real good hockey, that the only thing is the goaltending. This game is a lot more than just shot totals, for and against. Some of these games of late, in which they’ve had more shots than the opponent, have been because they got in an early hole and the opponent sat back more. That was not the case in the last game, against Nashville, but in others it was. The Avs just have to go watch the tape of that win in Toronto for how they need to play. Puck support, small gaps, quick, efficient line changes, feet moving. That’s winning hockey. Devan Dubnyk in goal for the Wild.

BSN DENVER LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127388 Colorado Avalanche NOTES: Wild C Eric Fehr (lower body) could be back after the break. He's missed nine games. ... Wearing No. 77, D Brad Hunt was in the lineup after being acquired by the Wild in a deal with Vegas on Monday. Staal scores twice, Wild ride 5-2 win over Avs into break Hunt played college hockey at Bemidji State in Minnesota and his wife is from the state. "We have a baby on the way. She's excited for him to be born in Minnesota," Hunt said. ... Avs D Erik Johnson (head) missed a second straight game. By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

Jan 24, 2019 Updated 3 hrs ago LOADED: 01.24.2019

DENVER (AP) — Eric Staal and the Minnesota Wild have their timing down. Too bad they can't pass on the down time. Staal had two goals, including the tiebreaker on a second-period power play, Devan Dubnyk made 20 saves and the Wild rolled into the All-Star break by beating the slumping Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night. "You certainly wish you could keep playing if they're going to play like that," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It was really fun to watch." Tune in again on Feb. 1 for Wild hockey. "We're going to use it to our advantage and be able to recharge," said Charlie Coyle, who had a goal and an assist. "Down the road, we're going to have more juice in the tank." For the Avalanche, the break couldn't come at a better time as they finished 3-7 in January and lost ground in the Central Division chase. Tune in again on Feb. 2 for Avalanche hockey. "Rewind and get your mind off of things if that's what you want to do," Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "Study the game and make sure you come back hungry, because we're going to need it." Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Suter also scored for the Wild, who earned their fourth win in five games to remain in the thick of the playoff picture. Staal and Suter had goals on separate 5-on-3 power plays. Staal had another big performance, giving him three goals and two assists over his last two games. "He's reminding me of this time last year, when he started to go and find his legs," Boudreau said. "We're going to need it. Every team needs the big boys to play. When the big boys play well, we can play with anybody." Carl Soderberg and Tyson Barrie scored for the Avalanche. Philipp Grubauer stopped 23 shots as he got the start over Semyon Varlamov with Colorado searching for consistency in net. "I don't think he had a chance on any of those goals," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "It's not a goaltending loss. "I'm still confident in our team, but nights like this when we don't play in a mature team game, then it bothers me because I know we're capable of it." Dubnyk flashed his All-Star form to improve to 18-12-1 all-time against Colorado. That's his most wins versus one opponent. Staal broke a second-period tie during a two-man advantage — and another missing a stick. On the play, Colorado forward Matt Calvert broke his stick and couldn't cover Staal down low. Staal knocked in a pinpoint pass from Mikael Granlund through the middle. "Classic Granlund," Coyle said of the pass. "That's a pretty goal." With 22.1 seconds remaining in the middle period, Coyle made it a 4-2 advantage. That was more than enough for Dubnyk, an All-Star for a third time. Still, Suter tallied another in the third with a pair of Colorado players in the penalty box. The Avalanche took a one-goal lead on two occasions in the first period, only to be answered in short time. After Soderberg scored, Staal tied it up 1:08 later. And after Barrie gave Colorado a 2-1 advantage, Spurgeon soon knotted it back up with a liner over Grubauer's glove. Before the game, Colorado honored All-Stars Mikko Rantanen, MacKinnon and Landeskog with a tribute. The linemates have combined for 199 points this season, including MacKinnon and Rantanen picking up assists on Barrie's goal. Minnesota and Colorado are now idle for the rest of the month due to the All-Star break and the bye week. "Try and carry the momentum when we get back," Staal said. "But we're definitely going to enjoy the break." 1127389 Dallas Stars

Why Tyler Seguin, sooner or later, is bound to return to his All-Star caliber production

Matthew DeFranks

Matthew DeFranks, Stars beat writer for SportsDayDFW.com and The Dallas Morning News, answered questions about the team in a live chat Monday. Below are highlights from the full chat, edited for clarity. Have the hockey gods forgiven Tyler Seguin? Do you think his scoring production is something to be consistently counted on again in the 2nd half? DeFranks: I still think there is a little bit more of positive regression for Tyler Seguin's goal scoring. Depending on how heavily you believe in advanced stats like expected goals for, Seguin has been one of the best players in the league. According to MoneyPuck, Seguin's expected goals of 12.2 at 5-on-5 rank sixth in the league. Among the top 11 players in the league, he's the only one that has underperformed (meaning he has fewer actual goals than expected). It's a group that includes Johnny Gaudreau, Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, John Tavares and Joe Pavelski. Seguin's shooting percentage is closer to where his career average lies, but it's still not all the way there. He's getting his chances, his shots on goal and sooner or later, they'll drop in bunches like they did when he had three multi-goal games out of four. This is also a reminder that Seguin's 18 goals are tied for the team lead. His 27 assists are also tied for the team lead. Why does the league have such a long All-Star break this year? DeFranks: It's a really long break for the Stars because of the bye week. Some teams are still playing now while the Stars are off, but will get their bye week on the back end of the All-Star break instead of the front end. In the past, December/January used to be a pretty disjointed part of the calendar. First, you had Christmas break. Then, the All-Star break. Then, the bye week. Now, players get a longer break around the All-Star break that they can relax and take a vacation during, instead of stopping and starting all the time. Dunk contests, HR Derby, hardest slap shot -- which major sports league has the best All Star weekend events? DeFranks: Of the four major sports, the only All-Star week/end I have not attended has been the NBA. With that said, I think it's tough to beat baseball's. In 2017 in Miami, I was there for both the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, and it was such a cool event. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge were launching balls and the environment was really unique. The moshpit of humanity on the outfield concourse was something I loved experiencing. But I also never want to it again. Add in that the baseball All-Star Game most resembles the actual sport they play, and it's a feeling of authenticity in an exhibition game. As far as the NHL, it probably says something about the weekend when star players would rather miss it than participate. You don't see that with the NBA, which actually has players who didn't make the All-Star team volunteer to participate in the skills competition.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127390 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings have long, diverted, trek home due to DTW closure

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 1:40 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019

The Detroit Red Wings had a delayed start to their break.

They were supposed to arrive in Detroit in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after a red-eye flight from Edmonton, Alberta. But with Detroit Metro Airport closed overnight because of inclement weather, the Wings were diverted to Cleveland, landing around 5 a.m.

Then they flew to Toledo, thinking they might have to bus to Detroit. But by that time the airport had opened, and they flew to Detroit.

General manager told the Free Press the Wings finally arrived in Detroit around 11 a.m. Fortunately for them, the travel travails come as they enter a nine-day All-Star/bye-week break.

Several players have plans to go someplace warm for a week. Jimmy Howard is headed right back out west, to San Jose, Calif, to play in the All-Star Game. He made 32 saves Tuesday against the Oilers to secure the Wings a 3-2 victory and a good feeling headed into the break (that might have taken a toll after a long, hard night of travel).

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127391 Detroit Red Wings Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.24.2019

Detroit Red Wings finally won again. Here's what was most satisfying

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 6:41 a.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019 | Updated 2:44 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Detroit Red Wings earned themselves relief, earned a reward.

The winning feeling they take into the All-Star/bye week break gratified a group low on confidence after one good performance after another ended in a loss. The Wings are headed for a third straight playoff miss, but at least they headed out of Edmonton with a victory.

“I feel like we deserved a better fate on this trip, but that’s the way hockey goes some times,” Jimmy Howard said after Tuesday’s 3-2 final at . “It was nice to get two points here and go into the break feeling good about ourselves.”

Howard appropriately delivered an All-Star performance with 15 saves in the third period as the Oilers pressed; he’s headed to San Jose for All- Star weekend.

The Wings lost the first two games on the trip, blowing third-period leads at Calgary and Vancouver after starting well in both games. Coach Jeff Blashill described both loses as crushing.

“The most satisfying thing is that we’ve stayed with it,” he said. “It would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves after playing pretty darn good hockey and losing, and yet we started this game the way we have the last number of games. We played very, very good hockey for two periods, our pressure was good. We had the better of the play for two periods. Good for us for that.

“We found a way to end up with playing good and winning. We’ve talked about that, it was certainly not satisfying to play good and lose, you have to find a way to play good and win. We were able to do that. You’d have hated to play good again and not win. It certainly feels good going into the break with a win.”

Dylan Larkin contributed his third goal of the trip and 21st of the season, even as he at times matched up against Oilers superstar Connor McDavid.

"He’s been having a great year for us,” Howard said. “He’s our best player. As he goes, we go, so it’s great to see.”

Luke Glendening, who scored two goals, called Larkin, “outstanding. Every night he is our best player. We couldn’t ask for anything more from him. He’s vocal in the room when he needs to be, but just the way he carries himself, the way he has been playing, is outstanding.”

Larkin is driving the rebuilding process, doing so because he backs up his skill with his work ethic, like Henrik Zetterberg did. The two points boosted the Wings out of last place , but their effort hasn’t sagged as they sank in the standings.

“You look the past couple years, too, this group has always worked, even to the last game of the season,” Larkin said. “We’re always trying to get better. I think that’s the culture of this team. We could have easily wrote this one off and already been on break, thinking about being on a beach or being home with family, but we worked hard. We’ve done that even when we’ve been out of the playoffs the past couple of years, we come to the rink every day and work hard and that speaks to the older guys on our team that have brought that down from the past Red Wings before them.”

The challenge will be to continue to do so when they resume play Feb. 1. But as they left Western Canada, one victory lifted a locker room.

“It was nice to be able to finish one,” Glendening said. “This trip hasn’t been kind to us in that respect, but we’ve played pretty good hockey and to get some results right before the break is huge for us. The biggest thing for this team is just getting a little confidence going.”

1127392 Detroit Red Wings “There’s just certain unique challenges.”

When the Wings face Toronto Feb. 1, the Maple Leafs will also be coming off their bye week. But the Wings then travel to Ottawa for a Red Wings welcome long break in the schedule game the next night, and though Ottawa, too, will be playing its second game in two nights coming off a break. The Wings then find themselves off again for four days — odd scheduling, to be sure. Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News The Wings play every other night for, essentially the remainder of Published 6:56 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019 | Updated 5:16 a.m. ET Jan. 24, February, before tackling a onerous March schedule — 15 games in 31 2019 days, with 10 of those 15 games away from Little Caesars Arena.

“Scheduling is one of the most difficult things that people, the league, has to do,” Blashill said. “But the fact you come back and play back-to-back is Detroit — If you’re a Detroit hockey fan, and still enjoy watching the Red a really hard thing on the athlete. That’s something that we’ll have to Wings, prepare for withdrawl symptoms. keep looking at.” For nine days there won’t be any Red Wings hockey, as Detroit doesn’t play again until Feb. 1 against Toronto. Detroit News LOADED: 01.24.2019 The Wings are among 21 teams whose five-day “bye week" is on the back end of the All-Star Game — Jan. 27-31 — making for a nine-day hiatus (teams are allowed one practice, Jan. 31).

The remaining 10 teams had their “bye” this week — Jan. 20-24 — leading into the All-Star weekend, and will resume games Monday.

Players are free to skate on their own during the “bye week,” if they choose, but no formal workouts are allowed.

Although the pull of enjoying the sun somewhere warm is strong, players know it’s important to continue working out.

“Everybody who has been around for a little bit knows you have to do something over the break, and not just sit around,” defenseman Danny DeKeyser said. “It’ll be important to make sure that when you come back, you’re not pulling a groin or hip flexor.”

Goaltender Jimmy Howard isn’t going to get all nine days off. Howard will be headed Thursday for the All-Star weekend in San Jose as the Wings’ lone representative.

But Howard sees the time off as beneficial for the Wings, who have played 51 games, more than any team in the Eastern Conference. Five teams in the West have played at least 51 games.

“It’ll be good (for everyone) because it’s been a grind, it seems like we’ve been playing every other day, or at least it feels that way it feels,” Howard said. “A lot of guys will be just enjoying the relaxation and it’s a great chance to get recharged.

“It’ll be good mentally, to just get away and not be thinking about hockey. Obviously it’s our profession, that’s what we do, but at the same time, it’ll be nice to hit the reset button.”

The Players Association negotiated the bye week in exchange for agreeing to the present 3-on-3 All-Star Game format, which began in 2016.

In the first year, teams had their time off spread out from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2017. But the format was panned, because teams coming out of the rest were losing badly to teams who had been playing.

Last year, the NHL switched to a bye-week period (Jan. 7-15) compressed for everyone into a two-week window in January.

The competitiveness was evened out, but having two distinct chunks of time off played havoc.

Coach Jeff Blashill likes the idea of the bye weeks being attached to the All-Star break.

“I prefer this than to have a break a week ago for five days, then come back and go on an All-Star break,” Blashill said. “So, I like the fact that it’s tied to the All-Star break. It’s better that way for certain.”

Still, with so many days off, and players not in a competitive, active environment, it’ll be interesting to see if some players or teams lose their mental edge for a period of time.

And, there’s always always a concern over injuries. .

“From a physical standpoint I worry about hips, groins, hamstrings, things like that,” Blashill said. “Because you’re going from zero to 100 (mph). It’ll be interesting from a (mental) mindset. (But) everyone is in the same boat, so from a fairness standpoint, it’s 100 percent fair. 1127393 Detroit Red Wings

Pavel Datsyuk's agent floats ex-Red Wing's possible return to NHL

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News

Published 5:05 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019 | Updated 5:05 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019

Detroit — The odds are slim, but could Pavel Datsyuk return to the NHL?

Datstyuk’s agent, Dan Milstein, told Russia’s Match TV on Wednesday that Datsyuk could return to the NHL — and, possibly, the Red Wings, if they want him — next season.

“I can tell you Pavel is not ready to quit hockey in (the) next few years,” Milstein told the television network. “So again, it’s up to him, going to America or playing in KHL.”

Datsyuk, 40, spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Red Wings. He left the Wings to play in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League and to be closer to his daughter in June 2016, but his three-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg ends after this season.

In 44 games with SKA St. Petersburg this season, Datsyuk has 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists). Datsyuk led SKA St. Petersburg to the Gagarin Cup (their Stanley Cup) in 2017, and also captained the Olympic Athletes of Russia to a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics.

Datsyuk retired from the NHL in 2016. But given the three-year window of being unable to play will have passed, Datsyuk would be eligible to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019.

And Milstein, at least, envisions a reunion with the Wings.

“He will have a lot of options if he decides to return to the NHL,” Milstein told the Russian network. “But it’d be appropriate to return to Detroit where he spent all of his North American career.

“Though it’s up to Datsyuk. Will he want to make this comeback?”

General manager Ken Holland had no comment on the speculation.

Datsyuk was making $7.5 million per season when he chose to return to Russia — with one year left on his Wings’ contract — forcing the Wings to trade his rights to Arizona to alleviate salary cap concerns.

Though scouts have questioned whether Datsyuk can keep up with the NHL’s speed game these days, few doubt his smarts and instincts on the ice, and his ability to make plays.

“Pavel is getting slower with age, but his skill and vision are still there,” Milstein said. “People would go to the stadium to see him. It’d be lovely and appropriate for him to return to the North America. But again, he will make a decision.”

Detroit News LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127394 Detroit Red Wings

Weather, airport closure delay Red Wings' return to Detroit

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News

Published 3:25 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019 | Updated 3:25 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019

Detroit — The Red Wings’ start to their extended break was delayed because of Metro Airport being shut down due to the inclement weather.

The Wings defeated the Oilers on Tuesday night in Edmonton, 3-2, and were expecting to fly through the night to Detroit.

But with freezing rain closing down Metro Airport, the Wings were diverted to Cleveland, landing there at about 5 a.m.

The Wings’ traveling party cleared customs and spent just over three hours on the tarmac, a team spokesman said, before flying to Toledo — with the intent to take a bus to Detroit.

But once arriving in Toledo, they received a go-ahead to land in Detroit, arriving back home at about 11 a.m. —some 11 hours after leaving the arena in Edmonton.

The Wings begin a nine-day break in the schedule Wednesday, with the All-Star break this weekend, followed by four open days on the schedule, before playing again Friday, Feb. 1, when they host Toronto. They will practice Thursday, Jan. 31, at Little Caesars Arena.

With the arrival of the break in the schedule, the Wings assigned defenseman Filip Hronek to Grand Rapids.

Hronek, 21, had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 23 games with the Wings, while averaging 18 minutes, 25 seconds of ice time.

The Griffins will have four games before the Wings resume their schedule next week.

Detroit News LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127395 Detroit Red Wings

Luke Glendening scores twice, Red Wings top Oilers 3-2

Staff Report

By The Associated Press

Jan 23, 2019 Updated 20 hrs ago

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Luke Glendening was pleased the Detroit Red Wings were finally able to close out a game.

Dylan Larkin liked the timing, too.

Glendening scored twice and Detroit headed into the All-Star break with a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.

"It was nice to be able to finish one," Glendening said after his team squandered leads in each of its previous two games. "This trip hasn't been kind to us in that respect, but we've played some pretty good hockey and to get some results before the break is huge for us."

Larkin had a goal for the Red Wings, who snapped their two-game skid. Jimmy Howard made 32 saves.

"It feels really good to get two points going into the break feeling good about our game," Larkin said. "We played a solid game and we really didn't give (Connor) McDavid and (Leon) Draisaitl a whole lot even if they found a way to get on the scoresheet. We took a lot of time and space away from them. That's the way we have to play and it's a huge two points for us."

Draisaitl and Matt Benning scored for the Oilers, who have lost three in a row.

"Everybody here has to look in the mirror and ask themselves if they are doing enough and playing the right way and playing for the team," forward Alex Chiasson said.

Detroit broke a scoreless deadlock four minutes into the second period when Larkin got his 21st of the season on a quick wrist shot.

The Oilers got caught scrambling midway through the second, leading to a backhand goal by Glendening.

Draisaitl swatted in a puck out of midair for his 27th at 4:30 of the third period as Edmonton finally scored. Detroit restored its two-goal lead when Glendening somehow squeezed in a bad-angle shot past goalie Mikko Koskinen.

The Oilers pulled Koskinen early and it paid off with 2:26 left on a point drive from Benning, but they were unable to tie it.

"We just have to keep battling," said McDavid, the Edmonton captain. "We have said everything that there is to say. It is just up to us to do it now.

"I think guys are tired right now. Maybe it is a good time to step away and refresh and come back at it with a clear head."

NOTES: The Red Wings improved to 4-9-2 in their past 15 games. ... Edmonton won the only other meeting this season, 4-3 on Nov. 3. ... Koskinen made his first start for the Oilers since signing a three-year contract with an average annual salary of $4.5 million on Monday. ... Two players the Oilers placed on waivers Monday, and Ryan Spooner, cleared waivers Tuesday. Spooner dressed against Detroit, while Rattie was a healthy scratch.

Macomb Daily LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127396 Detroit Red Wings “Another late bloomer-type defenseman,” Wright said then. “Very good skater. Good size, good puck-moving defenseman. … We were pretty confident with the three (third-round picks) that we were going to be able Red Wings prospect report: Seth Barton and Kasper Kotkansalo to target some guys, and ultimately they were there.”

Funny enough, when we spoke by phone, Keith conceded that with Barton now off training at college, the “feet thing is probably not even an By Max Bultman issue anymore.” He already liked Barton’s stride and assumed that with added strength would come the power needed to back it up. Jan 23, 2019 And sure enough, when Bazin started talking about Barton’s potential …

“You’re talking about a kid who’s just short of 6-3, who has got a nice The Red Wings prospect report is a series from The Athletic Detroit that skating style, he’s got a good head for the game,” he said. “Really, his gives an in-depth look at the future of the organization. strengths are very good.” Seth Barton was not in the building when the Red Wings selected him in Barton is by no means a finished product. He’s still thin for his frame, and the third round (81st overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft last June — not a his coaches still have him working on moving pucks quicker to his surprise for an over-age player who was viewed as somewhat of an off- forwards. They also want him working on picking his spots to jump into board selection out of the British Columbia Hockey League. the play, for which Bazin says he generally has a good sense. But from To be sure, Barton was more of a long-view pick for the Red Wings — Bazin’s perspective, those things come down to experience. and at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, the young defenseman certainly needed to It’s important from a Red Wings standpoint, of course, to temper add strength. Barton didn’t draw much attention in the aftermath of the expectations. While Barton looks more intriguing than he might have on draft, partly because of the glitz at the top of the class, but also because draft day, that still leaves plenty up to development. We’re still talking there wasn’t a whole lot known about him. about a third-round pick here, and an ostensibly off-board one at that. Looking back, though, Barton may be one of the more interesting players Plus, with the number of mid-level defensive prospects already in the in Detroit’s draft class. Not just because he’s off to a solid start to his Red Wings’ system, it’s not like he’s suddenly become a central figure in college career with UMass Lowell, but because the path that brought him their rebuild. He also didn’t play this last weekend, for reasons that are to draft night was so sudden. Barton didn’t even play a full season of not yet clear. Junior-A hockey until he was 18. Nonetheless, Bazin sees something there with Barton. It may just take “People don’t understand how big of a jump the kid made — like, no one more time to figure out what exactly that “something” will be. had even heard of him,” said Cam Keith, Barton’s former coach with the “I think you’ve got a pretty good prospect on your hands, somebody that Trail Smoke Eaters, who now coaches for the Chilliwack Chiefs. “He could actually really help a lineup in time,” Bazin said. “He needs didn’t even get recruited by the Junior-A teams that were in his area. He strength, and he needs to put on some weight, and he knows both those basically built his own hype up from the beginning of the year. He hadn’t things come with age.” even talked to a Division I team coming in.” Kasper Kotkansalo has been logging significant penalty kill time for The natural question, of course, is how Barton leapt from obscurity so Boston University this year. (Allison Farrand / For The Athletic) quickly. That season with Trail was his only one in the BCHL, and yet, in that time, he jumped from midget major to a Division I scholarship and Kasper Kotkansalo, D, Boston University (2017 third-round pick) being drafted in the third round. Speaking of third-round picks at a Massachusetts college, Boston That selection was still surprising to some on draft day, but Keith wasn’t University’s Kasper Kotkansalo is another defensive prospect trying to exactly stunned. climb the ladder of Detroit’s crowded blueline.

“I think he always had the ability,” Keith said. “Right before junior, he The last time we wrote about Kotkansalo, a key theme was some came into junior hockey and he grew, I think, thee or four inches. And it perceived indecisiveness in his first college season. The Finnish kind of transformed his game from being a (small) defenseman to a 6-2 defender has generally projected to play a penalty kill type role, and kid who could play like he was still a smaller kid. So when he hit junior, that’s been no different this year. The Terriers “try to get him out there as (this) newfound size and strength kind of propelled him into just fitting in much as we can” when down a man, according to coach Albie O’Connell. to where the kids were already.” But one of the recurring concerns for Kotkansalo has been confidence — Because of his hockey IQ, Keith theorized, Barton trended upward a player who, by his coach’s assessment, is “his own worst critic.” quickly and some hype started to build. And with that hype, he said, more and more people came to watch. “He was, I think at the start of the year, pretty good,” O’Connell said. “And then I think we went through a stretch where his confidence level “It just snowballed into everyone liked him,” Keith said. was a little bit up and down. And (he’s) just trying to figure out what is going to give him success game in, game out. So I think he’s starting to That IQ, it seems, has continued to be a key for Barton at Lowell, the No. figure that out and he’s more playing to his strengths, which is good for 19 team in the country. His seven points in 20 games have him tied for him and good for us.” second on the team among defensemen. Even though he didn’t become the head coach until this year, O’Connell They’re modest numbers, but for a thin freshman making the jump from has watched Kotkansalo dating back to the prospect’s days in Finland, the BCHL to college, they’re respectable. River Hawks coach Norm and through his years in the USHL. He’s a player the coach knows well. Bazin has played Barton in bigger minutes than he usually would with a freshman (and this is at least in part due to the abundance of youth on “He’s got good hockey sense with his outlet pass; (he) normally makes the River Hawks roster) but he also thinks he has “tremendous upside.” pretty good reads with the puck,” O’Connell said. “He’s a big body, strong in the defensive zone. He’s a good two-way D. He can give you some “I think he’s someone who thinks the game very well, who can move a offense, but I wouldn’t call him offensive. He should be a sturdy, steady, puck,” Bazin said. “I think he’s learning the nuances of playing defense at two-way defenseman who can get up in the play, who can keep a good this level because the guys are a little stronger, a little bit bigger.” gap, whose skating is constantly getting better. And for him it’s just Keeping with the rapid surge of progress that got him drafted to begin keeping it simple and making the right reads.” with, one of the more interesting things about Barton is his skating. The As for the indecisiveness former coach David Quinn (now coach of the assessments of his feet reflect the latest step in his evolution. New York Rangers) spoke about last year, it sounds like it has carried Keith described Barton as working through some “Bambi syndrome” last over, at times, to the beginning of this season. Interestingly, O’Connell season, as he acclimated to his newfound size. His feet could get felt Kotkansalo could sometimes be too definitive on some plays — “caught in mud” in transition. making his decision before the play had fully developed. But ultimately, he agreed that closing in the defensive zone was where hesitation could But when Red Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright spoke creep in. right after the draft, that skating was one of the first things he praised. “Whether, instead of just worrying about the one guy he’s defending, he’s worried about a couple different things — the simplicity of just the one- on-one,” he said. “But he’s been good. … Overall, especially over this last little stretch, he’s getting more and more confidence, so hopefully that can continue.”

Kotkansalo himself, meanwhile, is working hard at his skating — a key takeaway from the Red Wings’ development camp this past summer. He’s aware there’s only so much improvement he can make to that end in one summer, but it’s where he has focused his energy, particularly with edge work.

He’s also improved at shot-blocking, leading BU with 41 in 21 games, embracing the likelihood “that’s going to be my game, moving up to the next level, too.”

But as with any prospect, confidence and development go hand-in-hand. And even while his coach has seen him hard on himself, Kotkansalo feels like he has made progress in that department.

“Freshman year, I think the beginning was pretty good for me, but then going towards the end — like after (the) World Juniors, my game was going up and down too much,” he said. “I kind of still am finding the consistency, I think I’m being much better with (that) this year. I’m much more confident now that I’m here for the second year, but that also came with time and just being here for the second year. So that helped a lot.”

Also helping has been the feedback of the Red Wings’ development coaches, namely Shawn Horcoff and Dan Cleary. Kotkansalo says they’ve been “here a lot,” and other times they just text him after games to keep in touch.

They’ll offer tips if they’ve seen the game, and also ask him about the physical side of his progress — how his body fat is trending, things like that. He likes that he has his own BU coaches to work with him day-to- day, but that he also can layer in feedback from two former NHLers.

“I really like that they talk with me, stay in touch with me, and are actually interested in my progression and stuff — because like that, itself, really motivates me to work hard,” Kotkansalo said. “Like, when they check on me, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I want to be there in a couple years, whenever the time is.’ It’s more like, what Shawn and Dan give me, like individual stuff in the game that I find a lot of value. I value those things a lot. Because of their experience they can give me that type of stuff.”

As with Barton, expectations for Kotkansalo should remain wide open. The Red Wings may not actually have many true defensive specialists near the top of their farm system, which could represent an opportunity for Kotkansalo, but there’s still a long way for him to get to that point, too.

He draws strong reviews for his locker room presence and is described as a judicious self-evaluator.

If he can make that work for him, he does have some tools to work with as he pursues a place in the organization’s future.

“He’s strong on his feet and he’s got good natural strength, and he’s done a good job in the weight room,” O’Connell said. “But just continually working to get himself as strong as can be and lean as can be so he can maybe be in a little bit more pace, and keep the same strength. I think that’s probably the biggest thing. Just becoming more seasoned, too. Just more games, he’s playing more situations, the game becomes easier for you.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127397 Edmonton Oilers We looked at the depth of the goalies that would be available next year. We really believe in Mikko. We had to make a decision between Mikko and Cam.

Full transcript of Edmonton Oilers media conference on firing of Peter We made that decision to go with Mikko and sign him to a three-year Chiarelli deal. Talbot is still a big part of this team and he’s been a great teammate, and we hope that Cam will continue to play well for the team.

Staff Report TJ: Terry Jones, Edmonton Sun and Journal. Can you back us up to when you basically delivered the word to Peter. Did you say second POSTMEDIA NEWS period?

Updated: January 23, 2019 BN: Yes, I called Peter, went and met with Peter, and we did it after the second period for two reasons. One, I thought it was right that Peter

would have the chance to leave the building in the way that he saw fit. The full transcript of Oilers Entertainment Group chief executive officer I can tell you I had a good conversation with Peter. He was very and vice-chairman Bob Nicholson’s media conference on Wednesday, professional about it. I’ve already had a couple of texts back with Peter, Jan. 23, 2019, in which he confirms the firing of Edmonton Oilers general but the focus for me was to be able to get in front of the staff and to get in manager Peter Chiarelli and details immediate team management plans. front of the leadership group and the players before they went on break, Bob Nicholson: Welcome, everyone. First of all, I’d like to say yesterday and we did that last night. was a very tough day for the organization. I’d like to thank Peter Chiarelli TJ: Are you suggesting that if the team had gotten off to a different start for his time with the Oilers organization. in the game, you might’ve delayed that a day or something? It was really felt that with the way the team was trending that we had to BN: No, that decision was made before the game started. make this change, and I want to clearly give the message … I know there’s people out there that believe this team can’t make the playoffs. TJ: And just again on the overview, there’s a whole city out there that We believe in the organization, we believe in the dressing room, that we wonders how the hell you’re going to fix this. How would you answer can. that?

I think the other key is we’re not going to trade any of our assets away for BN: I can tell you clearly. You look at the way this team’s played at times a quick fix. We’ll make some trades at the deadline if they’re the right this year, we just have to get them consistent and playing that way. We trades to get us in the playoffs but not giving away the future. know that we have to bring in some other pieces, but we’re not … we’re going to put all the onus on the group in the dressing room because they Going forward today, Keith Gretzky will take on more of the general have shown that they can do it. manager’s duties. I will oversee hockey operations. My main task will be looking for a general manager, and we’re not in a rush, but as soon as We will look to try to bolster the offence and the defence, but again, we’re we find a general manager that we feel is right for the culture of the not trading away our first pick. When you look at some of our other top Oilers, we’ll name that person. When that will be, there’s no deadline on prospects, we’re not giving them away unless we are getting some real that. good pieces back.

Last night, we made the decision with Peter Chiarelli after the second RB: Hi, Raffy Boudjikanian, CBC News. Given that these Twitter period. We’d made that decision before the game started. I thought it was hashtags were trending about firing Peter Chiarelli, and also, you said necessary to do it with the team having the (all-star and bye-week) break. that this decision was not made yesterday, it was made prior to that, how surprised did he see when you delivered the news to him? After the game, I had the opportunity to meet with the leadership group. I wish it would’ve been longer but had a good conversation, and there has BN: He was disappointed is how I took it when I spoke to Peter. He really to be more conversations with this group because we have good leaders felt he had let the organization down and not having this team in the and we have good players on this team. Also met with the overall staff playoffs. and with the players. And I think any time that it happens, a person is shocked, but I really feel We have a lot of work to do here in the organization over this break. We that he knew there was a lot of chatter, so it wasn’t a huge surprise to have some good time to do that, and we’ve got to find out answers of him. how we can make this team better to make the playoffs, but I emphasize again, we’re not going to give away the future. Thank you. GP: Bob, Gene Principe with Sportsnet. When you spoke to the leadership group, particularly with Connor (McDavid), I don’t know if Tim Shipton: OK, we’re going to open it up to questions. Please state reaction is the right way, just your sense of the response because maybe your name and media affiliation and just wait until the microphone comes they felt like something might happen prior to the break. to you. Let’s go to Ryan first. BN: They were really good, Gene, you know. They felt they’d gone Ryan Rishaug (TSN): Bob, was there a tipping point in the last period of through a head coach they’d gone through a general manager now. The time which you were making this decision that you decided this had to be responsibility goes back to them in the room. We have to make sure we done mid-season, which generally is rare. give them the right tools to find the winning formula here. We’re going to have a lot more discussion with that group. We have good leaders. Are BN: Yeah, I think the key thing is just the way our team started to play there others pieces we have to try to bring into this room? That’s what again. We made a coaching change. When we made the coaching we’re going to look at in the next 10 days. Nothing huge, but I think change, I really thought the team played well. you’ve seen that before, some small tweaks can make a real difference. We saw that we have it within the players in the dressing room to play at DN: Bob, Dustin Nielson, TSN 1260. You said you’re going to search for a top level in the league. We’d slipped again. Some of the moves that the next general manager. Will that also be a similar position — president we’ve made have not worked, and I felt that Peter had done everything of hockey operations and general manager? Are you searching just for that he could to make this team better, so we needed a new direction. one guy, or as you go through the process, would you be looking to more So we’ve been talking about it for the last few days. The decision was significant changes in hockey operations? made before last night. BN: You know, that’s a real good question. That’s too early to define that MS: Bob, Mark Spector, Sportsnet. If you’ve been thinking about this for right now. a few days, it would pre-date the Koskinen deal. I would ask how much We’re going to really look for a person that can assess talent. I think oversight was there on that Koskinen deal, and did you give a GM with that’s a real key with the general manager today, and look for someone two days left in his tenure the flexibility to make that deal all by himself? who can help run all parts of the hockey operations as a GM’s role. BN: Peter did not make that deal all by himself. This deal really started I want to stress we really feel that our draft picks the last couple of years when we got together with our pro scouts in Palm Springs in our have been good. I think how we’ve set this up under Keith Gretzky’s meetings. direction on the draft and the pro side, we’ve done a good job. We’ll look at it again, and do we have to make some changes? Could be, RR: Bob, Ryan Rishaug from TSN. Maybe on the developing of young but it’s too early to define that right now. prospects, you’ve got a couple of young players in the lineup every night. They’re high draft picks. You’ve got another one coming in Evan DVD: Bob, Derek Van Diest, Edmonton Sun and Edmonton Journal. I just Bouchard. Are yo comfortable with the way this organization is want to ask you about Keith Gretzky’s role. Does he have now the developing its high-end young talent or do you think a fundamental shift autonomy to make trades or is this a group thing? Does he have to come is needed in that thinking? talk to you, does he have to talk to other people? How are you guys going to approach the deadline? BN: Great point, Ryan, and we’re going to push back that we want our younger players to develop more in the American Hockey League. BN: That’s a real good question. Keith is going to be the key point person for it, but we’re going to use all our assets before we make any types of We have some real good players. I think that we bring them up a little too deals, but Keith will lead that in conjunction with myself. But we’ll be early in hope that they’re going to be ready when they’re really, really talking to all our pro scouts and our amateur people before we make any close. I think we’ve got to leave them down there until they’re overripe, type of deal. and that is a change that we have to make here.

RT: Hi Bob, Rob Tychkowski, Edmonton Sun and Journal. In the last 10 You see that we’ve sent Yamo (Kailer Yamamoto) down. He’s on the years, this team has had eight different head coaches, this will be their verge, but he has to play a lot of minutes. We really believe in this player fourth general manager. It seems like the problems run much deeper and we have to do that with more of our assets going forward. than head coach and general manager. Why can’t this organization get it right? FK: Fletcher Kent with Global News. Speaking with some of the fans in the last little while, there was a bit of a worry that Chiarelli has gone that BN: You know what, I think your point there about changing, changing, is this may be the beginning of yet another rebuild, that there’s a big hole to dead on. That’s why we’re not going to be in a real rush to get a general dig out of. How accurate is that, and how far do you think we are away manager. from having a very competitive, winning hockey team.

We have to get the right one, and if that takes us some time, because we BN: We’re not into a rebuild. I truly believe we’re not into a rebuild. We have to look at all parts of this organization, I want to emphasize again, have the best player in the world. We have other real good players in that we’ve got some real good staff, but there’s something in the water here in dressing room. It’s going to be great to have Oscar (Klefbom) back. We Edmonton that we don’t have right, and we’ve got to get that figured out. need his depth on defence. And the way that you figure that out is to talk to people. I’m going to try to open up more doors in all aspects of this organization to find out those We’ve got real good pieces. Do we have to supplement that better? Yes, little things that just haven’t been fixed over the last number of years for but I really believe a lot of the solution is right inside the dressing room. us not being in the playoffs. Our fans have seen it. They just want us to be much more consistent.

I saw it two years ago. It was a blip, but there are some key parts in that BS: Bob, Bob Stauffer here, Oilers radio. Peter built a heavy team, big that we’ve got to make sure that we save here, and I really believe, when team, league moved in another direction. Will there be more of a I watch this team through games this year, we can be a real good team, philosophical approach to emphasize speed and skill moving forward, but we’ve just haven’t shown it and haven’t shown it consistently, so what and will that be something you look for in terms of the general manager is that? We need to make sure that we have the right chemistry in the you’ll ultimately hire? room, the right character in the room, to bring the best out of all of our BN: You know what, Peter really came in here and really wanted to get a players. heavier team. We wanted to be a place, when you came into this AC: Bob, Adam Cook, CTV Edmonton. You just pointed out what’s in the building, that we own this building. I thought he did a good job in that. water, what’s the solutions here and there’s a perception from the fan The game is changing, you know. Speed and skill is a big part of the base, accurate or not, that this is a team that kind of hangs on to the game today, but s I first go inside and look at this, character is going to glory days, and there’s still some prominent figures from those glory days be the one thing we’re going to look at. We want to look at the character that are behind the scenes helping to make key decisions, and the fans of the players inside. They have to play for each other. If they don’t want think ‘well, here we go again.’ Maybe it’s time for another fresh set of to play for each other, we don’t want them in the room. eyes, but it seems to be a perception problem for this team. How do you tackle that? Are you aware of that? TJ: Can you discuss at what point — I’m assuming Daryl Katz had a say and a role in this — at what point he got into it, and backing up to when BN: Yeah, you know what? I’m into three-and-a-half years into my role you hired Peter, and Todd (McLellan) came on board, the feeling here are and I hear that all the time. It’s the old guard or the Oilers of the ’80s was ‘at last,’ with Connor having just been drafted, there’s some stability that are making the decisions. That’s not true at all. of high-profile, successful people. Where did you go wrong?

Peter Chiarelli was the president and GM of this hockey team. We gave BN: You know, what I think, you roll that back, you’re right, Jonesy. When him the authority to make those decisions. He brought in the majority of we made the announcement, and they’re sort of back-to-back and Peter his own staff. We have people from those days in the organization. and Todd, they thought there is a … we’d really changed the page. I is so important to this organization, but Kevin Lowe hasn’t thought the team did progress. been in hockey operations decisions. Kevin Lowe is a leader and he’s We made it into the playoffs, and then we fell back. We’re not back to leading us now in different parts of the organization, but it’s a perception where we were because we have a lot of better assets today than we that’s out there, that they think they are. I can tell you and tell all the fans had back then. We’re going to do the same type of search here, first of all that’s not true. for a general manager, on who can be the best general manager for the MD: Bob, Min Dhariwal, CBC Edmonton. What would you say to the players of today. fans? Obviously, you’re in the business of trying to win games, but it’s The league has changed again. t’s different than what it was three-and-a- also entertainment as well. A lot of tickets and luxury boxes and things half years ago, and we have to make sure that we get the person that fits like that are up for renewal, and some people are saying the product isn’t right for this team and right for this city. worth renewing, so what do you say to them as far as from a business perspective? TC: Bob, Tim Campbell, .com. How will Ken Hitchcock’s role change, if at all, going forward? BN: Those are questions we’re doing surveys every day with our season- ticket holders. We’re getting feedback and we’re getting that feedback: BN: Ken’s will not change. We made the statement when Ken Hitchcock Give us an effort, you know … if you give us an effort, give us 100%, we was hired that he is the head coach ’til the end of the year, and we’re not can lose 3-2, and that’s what we have to do in this city. talking to Ken on any other positions until the end of the year. Ken is the head coach. You know we have the best fans. Our best fans in the league are frustrated right now, so we have to get inside the room, no matter what Any time that you have the head coach, he has to be the key guy the talent is, we have to have a better effort in, and day in and day out, responsible for what goes on in the room day-to-day, and that will that’s what our goal is going to be going forward, and that’s what we continue throughout the rest of the year. have to get fixed here in the next 10 days as we get into a playoff run.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127398 Edmonton Oilers

WATCH: Keith Gretzky takes over Oilers GM role for now

IAN KUCERAK

Updated: January 23, 2019

Bob Nicholson CEO and Vice-Chair, Oilers Entertainment Group, said the decision was made about firing General Manager Peter Chiarelli during the team’s lackluster game versus the Detroit Red Wings in Edmonton on Tuesday. He said the team isn’t going to make big changes right away but must find a way to win as their season has fallen apart.

As of Jan 23, the team stands second last in the Western Conference, only ahead of the . Nicholson said that while they will have Asst. Keith Gretzky take over in the interim, they aren’t looking for a new permanent general manager right away.

“We have to get the right one. And if that takes us some time, because we have to look at all parts of this organization. I want to emphasize again, we got some real good players,” he said. “We got some real good staff. But there’s something in the water here in Edmonton that we don’t have right.”

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127399 Edmonton Oilers

WATCH: Oilers beat writers analyze Oilers next move

IAN KUCERAK

Updated: January 23, 2019

Sports columnist Terry Jones and hockey beat writers Derek Van Diest and Rob Tychkowski discuss the Edmonton Oilers’ firing of general manager Peter Chiarelli on Jan. 23, 2019, following a press conference with Oilers chief executive officer Bob Nicholson.

Chiarelli was let go the night before, during the team’s loss to the last- place Detroit Red Wings.

Nicholson, speaking to media at the Oilers Hall of Fame room at Rogers Place, said they aren’t looking to fill Chiarelli’s job right away, with Nicholson overseeing hockey operations in the meantime and assistant GM Keith Gretzky performing general-manager’s duties until Chiarelli’s replacement is hired.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127400 Edmonton Oilers

Oilers in 60: Heads explode as Oilers fire Peter Chiarelli

TREVOR ROBB

Updated: January 23, 2019

It finally happened.

The timing of it is questionable, but the Edmonton Oilers fired general manager Peter Chiarelli just hours after they dropped a 3-2 decision to the league’s worst Detroit Red Wings, and just one day after the team announced a $13.5 million extension for goaltender Mikko Koskinen.

Huh?

From a fan’s point of view, the move makes sense. Chiarelli had to go — no question. But why do it mid-season? Why would the team allow Chiarelli to sign Koskinen to such a lucrative deal to only fire him the next day?

Assistant GM Keith Gretzky is expected to take over the reins as interim general manager, but last I checked the Oilers still have former team managers Craig MacTavish and Kevin Lowe on staff.

Why aren’t they held to the same standards as Chiarelli? How are they not all to blame? Could you not make the case to fire them all?

Bob Nicholson is scheduled for a 10 a.m. press conference.

So many questions. My head hurts. Go Oilers. I guess.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127401 Edmonton Oilers

WATCH: Oilers beaten by the Wings 3-2

LARRY WONG, EDMONTON JOURNAL

Updated: January 23, 2019

Edmonton Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock had little to say after his team lost their third straight game at home, this time 3-2 against the Detroit Red Wings in Edmonton on Tuesday January 22, 2019.

The Detroit Red Wings, with four wins in their previous 19 games, came in and beat the anemic Oilers 3-2 Tuesday night, handing them their third straight loss at home as they finished a six-game Rogers home stand 2-4 against Florida, Arizona, Carolina, Detroit, Buffalo and Calgary with only the Flames in the playoffs.

So they head into the all-star break and another five days off as per NHL mandate for all 31 teams at some time in the schedule, the Oilers are still three points out of a wild-card.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127402 Edmonton Oilers Kevin Gravel: Actually a good defenceman for the value, but forced to play behind more expensive options.

Mikko Koskinen: Apparently the Oilers goaltender of the future. Was Current Edmonton Oilers roster not where envisioned when Peter signed to a three-year, $13.5-million extension by Chiarelli before he was Chiarelli took over fired.

Cam Talbot: Dead goaltender walking. After four years of service – most Derek Van Diest of it good – was unceremoniously dumped.

January 23, 2019 9:40 PM MST Long term injured reserve

Andrej Sekera: May never play again due to Achilles injury sustained in summer. Still has two years at $5.5-million coming to him after this one. It is understandable things do not always go according to plan. Buried in minors However, considering Peter Chiarelli started his tenure as Edmonton Oilers general manager by drafting generational talent Connor McDavid Ryan Spooner: The eventual return on the Jordan Eberle trade. Spooner first overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, it’s hard to fathom how he ended was assigned to Bakersfield on Wednesday and may not be back for a up with one of the most expensive, yet least effective rosters in the NHL. while.

The Oilers roster this season is the fourth most expensive assembled in Al Montoya: Chiarelli traded for the veteran goaltender with concussion the league, but they are currently 23rd in the standings and on the verge issues. His lasting legacy in Edmonton is that he doesn’t talk on game of missing the playoffs for the 12th time in 13 seasons. days.

Here is how the current roster breaks down: Buyouts

Connor McDavid: Generational talent, worth every penny of the $12.5- Benoit Pouliot: Still getting $1.333-million from Oilers through 2020-21 million per season he’s earning. He’s locked up through the 2025-26 season. Not Chiarelli’s signing. season. The plan was for the Oilers to be a perennial Cup contender by Eric Gryba: Is costing Oilers $300,000 this year and next. Chiarelli’s then, but they have fallen behind and are likely to miss the playoffs for signing. the third time in his first four seasons.

Leon Draisaitl: Is also worth the $8.5-million per season he’s making. Does his best work as McDavid’s sidekick but can carry his own line if Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2019 needed to..

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: Hard to believe Oilers were rumoured to be shopping him around two years ago. Imagine where they would be without their most versatile forward who has two seasons left after this one at $6-million per?

Milan Lucic: Had a solid first season, but his value now is nowhere near the $6-million price tag. The biggest problem for Oilers is that Lucic has four more years after this one on his contract. He will be an expensive buyout.

Tobias Rieder: Oilers thought they were getting dependable forward who could chip in offensively at $2-million. They were wrong.

Zack Kassian: Has his moments, but not consistent enough to justify $1.95-million price tag with another year left after this one.

Kyle Brodziak: Does a lot of heavy lifting for his $1.15-million per year. Would be nice if he would score more though.

Jesse Puljujarvi: Should be in the minors developing his game. Oilers rushed to select him in 2016 NHL Draft, now might be regretting it. Finnish GM passing on him should have been a red flag.

Ty Rattie: Coach Ken Hitchcock doesn’t like him, so rarely plays.

Colby Cave: Has only played four games with Oilers. Need bigger sample size.

Jujhar Khaira: Developed into a solid NHL player. But if he wants to be paid on second contract, needs to produce more offensively.

Alex Chiasson: How was this guy only able to get PTO with Oilers this summer? One of the few bright spots in a bad season.

Oscar Klefbom: The Oilers best defenceman, who is locked up for great value at $4.167-million per year for next five seasons.

Adam Larsson: Regardless of what he does, will always be known as the guy traded straight up for a league MVP.

Kris Russell: Cowboy tough, but perhaps overpaid at $4-million per season, particularly considering he provides little offence.

Darnell Nurse: A star in the making. Going to cost Oilers money they don’t have once his bridge deal expires after next season.

Brandon Manning: Still trying to figure out appeal, considering checkered past with McDavid and another year left at $2.25-million.

Alex Petrovic: A $1.95-million depth defenceman. 1127403 Edmonton Oilers

Bob Nicholson wants Edmonton Oilers to look within dressing room for run at playoffs

Derek Van Diest

January 23, 2019 9:41 PM MST

Despite firing the person responsible for putting the roster together, Oilers Entertainment Group CEO & vice chair Bob Nicholson threw the gauntlet to the players Wednesday.

According to Nicholson, it’s up to the current roster to lift the Oilers into a playoff spot once they resume play in February following the All-Star break and bye week. The cavalry is not coming.

“We’ve gone through a head coach, we’ve gone through a general manager now, the responsibility goes back to them in the room,” Nicholson said. “We have to make sure we give them the right tools to find the winning formula here. We’re going to have a lot more discussion with that group. We have good leaders. Are there other pieces that we have to bring into this room? That’s what we’ll have to look at in the next 10 days.”

The Oilers are lacking assets and have few players on their roster outside of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse, who are being touted by other clubs.

Such is the reason Peter Chiarelli was making fringe moves leading up to his firing, which included acquiring defencemen Alexander Petrovic, Brandon Manning and picking up Colby Cave on waivers.

The only thing left to play for Chiarelli was the Oilers first-round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. But Nicholson took the bat out of Chiarelli’s hand before he could swing for the fences with it.

“We know that we have to bring in some other pieces, but we’re going to put all of the onus on the group inside the dressing room,” Nicholson said. “They’ve shown that they can do it. We’re going to try and bolster the offence and the defence, but we’re not trading away our first pick. When you look at some of our other top prospects, we’re not giving them away unless we get some really good pieces back.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127404 Edmonton Oilers Zack Kassian, who has another year on his contract after this one at $1.95-million per season has five goals and nine points in 47 games.

Kassian does still bring a physical element to the game and did have Edmonton Oilers still selling playoff hope, which seems unlikely Calgary Flames pest Matthew Tkachuk cowering in the fetal position on his own logo earlier this year. But the Oilers need a bigger bang for their buck. Derek Van Diest On the back-end, Adam Larsson, who Chiarelli traded straight up for January 23, 2019 9:44 PM MST Taylor Hall, last season’s Hart Trophy winner, is having his worst season as a professional.

Larsson, a stay-at-home defenceman who can be at tough as a coffin Peter Chiarelli was responsible for the quagmire the Edmonton Oilers nail at times, is minus-12 on the season and is struggling in his own end. find themselves in, and took the bullet for it. That’s a big problem, considering he provides so little at the other end Yet, despite firing their fourth general manager under the decade-long with one goal on the year. ownership tenure of Daryl Katz, Oilers Entertainment Group CEO & vice Oscar Klefbom, who was having an outstanding season, is out until chair Bob Nicholson still believes there is hope for this season and was February, trying to recover from a broken finger sustained blocking a selling it hard Wednesday. shot. Having missed 19 games to injury, Klefbom is still the Oilers’ The Oilers go into a 10-day break, seventh in the Pacific Division seventh-leading scorer and his three goals and 15 points are more than standings, three points and four teams back of the final wild card spot in Lucic, Kassian, Jesse Puljujarvi, Rieder, Ty Rattie, and Brodziak have the Western Conference. been able to register this season.

“We felt that the way the team was trending that we had to make this And in goal, Chiarelli put his eggs in a Mikko Koskinen’s basket and his change,” Nicholson said. “And I want to clearly give the message; I know 28 games of experience this season. Why Chiarelli was allowed to there’s people out there that believe this team can’t make the playoffs. negotiate the contract when he was hanging on by a thin thread, is head We believe in the organization, we believe in the dressing room that we scratching. can.” “Peter did not make that deal all by himself,” Nicholson said. “This deal The Oilers are still in a playoff race due to the ineptness of other teams in really started when we got together with our pro scouts in Palm Springs the conference. If they were in the East, the Oilers would be nine points in our meetings.” out of the second wild card spot and talking about next season.

But with 32 games left once they return from the All-Star break and their Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2019 bye week, do they have a realistic chance at the post season?

Not with this current group of players.

The Oilers are going to have to make major changes between now and the Feb. 25 trade deadline to have a shot at a playoff spot, which according to Nicholson, is the plan moving forward with Keith Gretzky at the helm on an interim basis.

“He is going to be the key person going forward,” Nicholson said. “We’re going to use all of our assets before we make any types of deals. Keith will lead that in conjunction with myself and we’ll talk to all of our pro scouts and amateur people before we make any types of decision.”

The Oilers current roster is riddled with more holes than Bonnie and Clyde’s car, which was the case when Chiarelli took over as general manager from Craig MacTavish in April 2015, just nine days after being fired by the Boston Bruins.

The Oilers have the best player on the planet in Connor McDavid, who has a Hart Trophy, two Lester Pearson Awards and is the two-time NHL scoring champion all before turning 22.

After selecting McDavid first overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, it seemed to go all downhill from there for Chiarelli.

What he left the Oilers is a roster with two star players in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, a dependable two-way centre in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, an overachieving winger in Alex Chiasson, and then a lot of deadweight up front.

After Chiasson the Oilers’ next highest goal-scoring forward is Milan Lucic, who has five goals on the year, four of which were scored in January.

Lucic is in the third year of a seven-year $42-million contract and is on pace to be paid in the neighbourhood of $1-million per goal. Not bad work if you can get it.

“Peter came in here and wanted to get a heavier team and wanted to be a place where teams came into this building (Rogers Place) and that we owned this building,” Nicholson said. “I thought he did a good job in that. The game has change, speed and skill is a big part of the game today.”

The Oilers are not getting much in the way of production from their bottom two lines.

Tobias Rieder, who Chiarelli signed as a free agent for $2-million this season, has yet to score in 36 games. , signed for two years at $1.15-million this season has four goals. 1127405 Edmonton Oilers way. We know we have to bring in some other pieces but we are going to put the onus on the group inside the dressing room because they have show that they can do it.

JONES: Peter Chiarelli leaves huge mess for Edmonton Oilers to clean “No matter what the talent is, we have to have that day in and day out. up That’s what we have to get fixed in the next 10 days going into the playoff run. Character is going to be a big thing going forward. If they don’t want to play for each other we don’t want them in the room going forward.” Terry Jones Nicholson also made the statement about the young talent like Jesse January 23, 2019 9:42 PM MST Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto and Caleb Jones who have been overwhelmed in the last few games.

“We’re going to push back and want our young players to develop more Peter Chiarelli, it was written, had become a lame duck general manager. in the American Hockey League. We have some real good players and But nobody knew exactly how lame. we bring them up a little bit too early and hope they are going to be ready The GM, who had been operating like he as in the witness protection when they are really, really close. program had been a terminated without his knowledge before he arrived “I think we have to leave them down until they are over ripe. That is a at Rogers Place Tuesday. change we have to make.” The news of Chiarelli being fired broke after the Edmonton Oilers lost 3-2 “We’re not into a rebuild. I truly believe we’re not. We have the best to the Detroit Red Wings, the 31st place team in the league. player in the world. We have other real good players in that dressing He was informed after the second period. room. It’s going to be great to get Oscar Klefbom back. We have real good pieces. We have to supplement that better, yes. But I really believe “We made the decision before the game started. I thought it was the solution is right inside that dressing room.” necessary to do it with the team having the break,” said Oilers Entertainment Group CEO Bob Nicholson who made it official that I go back to the question. How the hell you are going to fix this? assistant GM Keith Gretzky would take over as interim with Nicholson Chiarelli has left the Oilers with no cap space, empty effort players such taking over as head of hockey operations and beginning the search for a as Ryan Spooner, Brandon Manning, Alexander Petrovic, Ty Rattie and new GM that he said has no timeline. Tobias Rieder. “We did it after the second period for two reasons. I thought it was right Jones, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi aren’t developed yet. And Lucic and that Peter would have a chance to leave the building. And I thought it others can’t be moved with the contracts they have. was important to get in front of the players and the staff before they went on the break and we did that,” said Nicholson. Nicholson was selling hope. But finding hope isn’t easy.

Without doubt, Chiarelli had lost the town, the media, and if it’s possible Then again, he did fire Chiarelli. So there’s that. for a GM to lose the team, the players, too.

Nobody inside or outside the organization wanted to risk another bad trade or bad signing like the ones involving Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2019 the draft choices for Griffin Reinhart and his latest batch of brutal trades. And that’s not to mention the long-term $6-million-a-year deal for Milan Lucic and lengthy list of bad contracts that have left Edmonton up against the cap with no wiggle room and next to nobody of value to trade from the supporting cast to Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent- Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom and the top-end talent.

And that’s where the real rub is here. Chiarelli may now be gone but what can the Oilers possibly do to fix it?

“It was really felt with the way this team was trending that we had to make this change,” Nicholson began at a 10 a.m. press conference.

“I think the key thing was the way our team started to play again. We made a coaching change. When we made the coaching change, I really thought the team played well,” he said of Ken Hitchcock going 9-2-2.

“We saw we have it with the players within the dressing room to play at a top level in the league. We slipped again. Some of the moves we made have not worked and I felt that Peter had done everything he could to make this team better. So we needed a new direction.

“And I want to deliver this message. I know there are people out there who believe this team can’t make the playoffs. We believe in the organization. We believe in the dressing room that we can.”

He was only 42 seconds into it when Nicholson relieved fears that the Oilers would pull a Chiarelli and trade away a first round pick like the 16th overall selection that turned into Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal for Reinhart.

“We’re not going to trade any of our assets away for a quick fix. We’ll make some trades at the deadline if they are the right trades to get us in the playoffs but not giving away the future… I emphasize again, we’re not going to give away the future.”

Three questions in, I asked the question point blank.

“There’s an entire city out there wondering how the hell you are going to fix this? How would you answer that?” was how I phrased it.

“I can tell you quite clearly. You look at the way this team has played at times this year. We just have to get them consistent and playing that 1127406 Edmonton Oilers

'There’s something in the water': Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson says team will not give away the future

Staff Report

Canadian Press

January 23, 2019 1:55 PM MST

EDMONTON — Peter Chiarelli has been fired as president of hockey operations/general manager of the Edmonton Oilers.

The NHL club made the announcement on Wednesday, saying Chiarelli was informed of the decision after the second period of a 3-2 loss at home to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

Oilers Entertainment Group CEO/vice chair Bob Nicholson will oversee hockey operations. Assistant GM Keith Gretzky will inherit many of Chiarelli’s duties, Nicholson said.

“There’s something in the water here in Edmonton we don’t have right,” Nicholson said at a news conference. “And we’ve got to get that figured out.”

The Oilers lost their third in a row on Tuesday and now sit three points out of a playoff spot.

Edmonton enters the all-star break one game under .500 at 23-24-3 and doesn’t play again until Feb. 2. The Oilers are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season and third time in four years under Chiarelli.

The Oilers have won just one playoff series since reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2006. In the past 10 years, the organization has had eight head coaches and three GMs.

Chiarelli was originally hired to rebuild the Oilers around superstar Connor McDavid in April of 2015, but has struggled to find the right pieces to play alongside the reigning Art Ross Trophy winner.

“I truly believe we’re not into a rebuild,” Nicholson said. “We have the best player in the world. We have other real good players in that dressing room … Do we have to supplement that better? Yes. But I really believe a lot of the solution is right in the dressing room.”

Chiarelli’s last move as GM was signing goaltender Mikko Koskinen to a three-year contract extension with an average annual salary of US$4.5 million on Monday despite the netminder being 30 years old and having only 27 games with Edmonton. Nicholson said the move to sign Koskinen was a group decision.

Chiarelli brought in Todd McLellan to be his coach in 2015-16 but a slow start to this season led to McLellan being let go in November and Ken Hitchcock being brought in.

Edmonton was 137-133-26 under Chiarelli.

“We are not going to trade any of our assets away for a quick fix,” Nicholson said. “We’ll make some trades at the deadline if they’re the right trades to get us in the playoffs, but we’re not giving away the future.”

Chiarelli, a native of Nepean, Ont., was fired by the Boston Bruins in April 2015. Boston won the Stanley Cup in 2011 with Chiarelli as GM.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127407 Edmonton Oilers Why in mid-January? And why for $13.5 million? Why so much money on such a small sample size of NHL work?

Conventional wisdom says you don’t fire a G.M. at this point of the JONES: Who in their right mind is going to hire Chiarelli now? season. But it’s difficult for most fans to think of one good reason to keep him around to mess this up any more than it is.

Terry Jones I wrote that following the game. And I also wrote that it was no longer a hockey decision, that with an inordinate number of people sitting in the January 23, 2019 4:20 PM MST stands on significantly discounted secondary market tickets in the $40-to- $60 range — and a third of the long-term premier seating season

subscribers deals up at the end of this year — a message must be Hired only days after the Edmonton Oilers drafted Connor McDavid, delivered to them. Peter Chiarelli was fired Tuesday evening after losing their ninth home Now that the deed is done, I believe Chiarelli so spectacularly screwed game of the last 11. up the situation with McDavid and mates in Edmonton that he may never A lame duck general manager throughout most of the seven game general manage at this level again. stretch leading into a 10-day All-Star Break, it was clear 48 hours earlier Chiarelli traded away Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall for struggling Adam Chiarelli had no hope of finishing his five-year contract. Larsson. Chiarelli and unfairly fired coach Todd McLellan represented He shipped out Jordan Eberle for what turned out to be Ryan Spooner, a experienced, successful, high profile stability to go with McDavid, Leon player the Oilers waved Monday then returned to the line-up Tuesday Draisail, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and a core of top talent. All the former where he was a passenger yet again. GM of the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins had to do was surround them with support players and developing talent. And then the was the trade for Griffin Reinhart for the 16th and 33rd picks in the 2015 draft. Reinhart is still in the minors and the 16th turned Chiarelli looked to be well on his way to succeeding two years ago when out to be Calder Trophy winner Matthew Barzal who has played 132 NHL the Oilers finished with 103 points and went to Game 7 in the Pacific games with New York Islanders with 32 goals and 129 points produced Division final in the Stanley Cup playoffs. so far. Then his history of salary cap mismanagement and bad trades kicked in Add in the $6 million a year he signed Milan Lucic to that still has four and the team nose-dived out of the playoffs for the 11th time in the last and a half years to run and several other salaries that have left his 12 years. successor with handcuffs and even his recent trade for Brandon HE’S BAAAAACK? Manning, the worst player on the ice Tuesday.

Two months ago it looked like he’d brilliantly bailed himself out when he Who in their right mind is going to hire him now? fired McLellan and hired the NHL’s third winningest coach in history in

Edmonton native Ken Hitchcock. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2019 The retired coach went 9-2-2 out of the gate. He found production from Alex Chiasson, a training camp professional tryout player. And his controversial $2.5 million KHL 30-year-old back-up Mikko Koskinen won his first seven starts at home.

But his off-season refusal to find top-four pairing defensive help and quality wingers for McDavid, Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins to play with was a house of cards that came crashing down at the point of the schedule where the Oilers were expected to make their move in the Great Turtle Derby of 2019.

Six of the last seven games leading into the break were at Rogers Place and six of the seven were against teams currently out of the playoffs. Despite winning the one game on the road in Vancouver, the Oilers went 3-4 in the run and lost the last three.

Many expected Chiarelli to get fired after the Oilers embarrassing loss to Carolina Sunday in which they were down 3-0 after 11 minutes and 6-1 later.

Incredibly he remained and signed Koskinen to a $13.5 million three-year extension Monday.

There were ‘Fire Chiarelli’ chants in the middle of the second period and again at the end of the 3-2 loss to 31st place Detroit Red Wings Tuesday and Chiarelli was fired just prior to midnight with the Oilers record having dropped to 23-24-3 with sudden separation from the teams they were battling in the Great Race to Save Face in the Western Conference.

If somebody in the organization figured that signing Mikko Koskinen to a $13.5 million US three-year extension Monday would stop the latest skid or change the conversation, it didn’t happen.

If anything it dialed up the volume as the six-foot-seven Finnish goaltender failed to make a difference with the new deal in his pocket.

He gave up a weak goal early in the second period and ghastly goal late that broke their back.

But it was Chiarelli who called in and offered the blindfold and cigarette as the fan base asked the question.

Why was a lame duck general manager with almost no chance of being here next year still in position, with his record, to make the deal? 1127408 Edmonton Oilers

Tychkowski: Edmonton Oilers fire Chiarelli, but the damage is done

Robert Tychkowski

January 23, 2019 7:51 AM MST

It was one of those firings where nobody had to ask why.

Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson.

Jordan Eberle for nothing.

A 16th overall pick and a 33rd overall pick (one of which could have been Matthew Barzal or Brock Boeser) for a defenceman who never played here.

Milan Lucic for seven years at $6 million a year.

Without even factoring in lesser moves that sent useful players like Drake Caggiula and Ryan Strome out of town in exchange for dead weight like Tobias Rieder and Ryan Spooner, Peter Chiarelli’s continued dilution of the Edmonton Oilers roster finally caught up with him Tuesday.

The organization, which appears on its way to missing the playoffs for the 12th time in 13 years, cut its losses and parted ways after three and a half years.

The move will have no impact on this season — the damage is done and will take years to repair — but in the wake of Chiarelli’s recent moves, most of which seemed to do more harm than good, they didn’t want the steering wheel in his hands heading into the trade deadline.

The Oilers, meanwhile, are a mess. Too slow for today’s NHL. Not skilled enough for today’s NHL. Not deep enough. Not enough hunger or intensity. And currently in the process of ruining the next wave of young players the same way they ruined Justin Schultz.

They’re also up against the cap, are locked into some untradeable assets, just went all in on a giant question mark of a goalie and, four years into their third failed rebuild, solidified their league-wide reputation as a laughingstock.

Throw in a culture of failure and defeat and that’s what the next guy has to work with. This will be the fourth GM in 10 years under owner Daryl Katz. There have also been eight different coaches.

To be this bad, after the NHL handed them nine top 10 draft picks in the last 10 years, including the last two Hart Trophy winners, is beyond comprehension.

To be no further ahead four years into Connor McDavid’s career is gone from frustrating to just plain sad.

Quick fix? The Oilers are looking at three or four more years of nuclear winter.

Dress warmly, Edmonton.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127409 Edmonton Oilers About the old guard

“I’m three and a half years into my role here and I hear that all the time. It’s the old guard, the Oilers of the ’80s that are making the decisions. Lowetide: Bob Nicholson’s press conference attempts to set the tone for That’s not true at all. Peter Chiarelli was the president and GM of this Oilers moving forward hockey team. We gave him the authority to make those decisions.”

Given that Nicholson uses his words carefully and spent much of the By Allan Mitchell avail smoothing the edges of his comments, his straightforward approach to this question suggests he is sincere. Jan 23, 2019 On player development

“We’re going to push back that we want our younger players to develop Bob Nicholson, CEO and vice-chair of the Oilers Entertainment Group, more in the American Hockey League. We have some really good took the podium shortly after 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The players. I think that we bring them up a little bit too early in hopes that reason for the press conference was known (firing general manager and they’re going to be ready when they’re really, really close. I think we got president of hockey operations Peter Chiarelli) but major questions to leave them down there until they’re over-ripe.” remained and the gathered media spent 15 minutes drilling down on reasons for Chiarelli’s dismissal and the new course for the team. This is a universal positive. Oilers fans will have no problem with the organization slow-playing prospects and making sure they can have a Nicholson is a veteran in media events and his casual style is a good fit substantial impact upon arrival. Edmonton is the most aggressive team in for Edmonton and the fan base. With the exception of a throwaway line the league in terms of throwing young players into the NHL lineup based (“there’s something in the water here in Edmonton that we don’t have on evidence from 2010 through 2017. right”) that ended up on a t-shirt within 30 minutes, Nicholson negotiated the rapids created by the gathered media in a professional manner. On this being a rebuild

Nicholson began by saying “the way this team was trending, we needed “We’re not into a rebuild. I truly believe we’re not into a rebuild. We have to make a change” before pausing and putting a great deal of emphasis the best player in the world. We have other really good players in that on this year’s playoff run. “I know there’s people out there who believe dressing room. It’s going to be great to have Oscar back. We need his this team can’t make the playoffs, we believe in the organization, we depth on defence. We’ve got really good pieces; do we have to believe in the dressing room that we can.” His other main point at the top supplement that? Yes. I really believe a lot of the solution is right inside of the avail was to reiterate the club had no plans to trade away any the dressing room. Our fans have seen it, they just want us to be much assets on a quick fix. more consistent.”

Nicholson then told the gathered media that Keith Gretzky would take on I think this is what happens when people watch Connor McDavid on the more of the general manager’s duties, and that he (Nicholson) would ice and believe that’s the Oilers team; the Oilers with McDavid on ice and take on the additional role as head of hockey operations. His main task McDavid off ice are two different teams. In my opinion, Nicholson’s will be looking for a general manager, and no specific timeline was comments pertain only to the team when McDavid is on the ice. The placed on the search. Although Gretzky’s role will be interim general team without McDavid is in a state of constant rebuild. manager based on job description, no additional title (he is AGM) was About adding speed and skill mentioned during the press conference. “Peter came in here and really wanted to get a heavier team. He wanted Firing timeline it to be a place when you came into this building, we owned this building. The Oilers fired Chiarelli after the second period of Tuesday night’s game He did a good job of that. The game is changing. Speed and skill is a big against the Detroit Red Wings, although the team made the final decision part of the game today but as I first go inside and look at this, the to make the move earlier in the day. “We made the decision before the character is going to be the one thing we’re going to look at. We’re going game started, I thought it was necessary to do it with the team having the to look at the character of the players inside. They have to play for each break. After the game I had the opportunity to meet with the leadership other. If they don’t want to play for each other, we don’t want them in the group, also met with the overall staff and with the players.” Nicholson room.” then said management has a lot of work to do over the break; one This is the kind of answer Nicholson often gives, there are elements of conclusion could be a roster shuffle involving Bakersfield (Ryan Spooner everything under the sun contained inside. I broke down one of his and Kailer Yamamoto were sent down to the Condors as the avail was previous interactions a year ago and came to the conclusion that it was ongoing). He then wrapped up the monologue by once again stating the possible to read almost any outcome from his answers. One has to team had no plans to give away the future. assume it is by design. There’s something for everybody in the The following italicized quotes are all from Nicholson’s Wednesday statement, but the vagueness of the answer doesn’t give Oilers fans who morning availability. believe there’s a massive skill gap a lot of comfort. What does character look like? Milan Lucic? Oilers fans have been watching the home team Discussing the new general manager search lose races to the puck on a regular basis with Connor McDavid off the ice, so character for many Edmonton fans might look like Taylor Hall. Is “It’s too early to define that (search) right now. We’re going to look for that the kind of character the team is looking for? someone who can really assess talent. I want to stress that we feel that our draft picks over the last few years have been really good.” What does it all mean?

There’s no doubt Chiarelli’s inability to get full value on trades was a Peter Chiarelli is gone. The new man has the best player in the game, major failing and has impacted the organization’s future ceiling. The draft some impressive additional pieces and some major challenges. The new evaluation is a difficult assessment, since little time has elapsed and man faces a fan base that has every right to expect wins and playoffs players from those two drafts are (mostly) in junior or college. and eventually a push toward the Stanley Cup. The roster needs a replacement for Taylor Hall, a two-way centre (if Draisaitl or Nuge are About Keith Gretzky’s role going to play the wing) and a replacement for Andrej Sekera on the “Keith is going to be the key point person but we’re going to use all of our second pairing (probably right-handed). The general manager who can assets before we make any type of deal. Keith will lead that in untangle the roster and make this organization an annual Stanley Cup conjunction with myself but we’ll be talking to all our pro scouts and contender will own this city forever. The search begins. amateur people before we make any type of deal.”

This could be an important area as the team gets close to the deadline, The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 and Gretzky may view it as an opportunity to prove himself to the organization. The last several trades have been poor, so the next deal will have a low bar to clear. It’s likely Oilers fans are hoping for a quiet deadline and Nicholson’s words on picks and prospects suggests they might get it. 1127410 Edmonton Oilers he asked. “You’re not going there unless you’re actually calling the shots.”

3. Can you fix it? How desirable is the Oilers GM opening and what questions are prospective candidates asking? Nicholson hinted at the mandate expected to be given to the next general manager. They don’t believe it’s a rebuild in Edmonton but won’t sacrifice their first-round pick or prospects for a quick fix. They also want By Craig Custance to rethink how they develop young players, preferring to let them properly marinate in the AHL before rushing them to the NHL. Jan 23, 2019 “We bring them up a little bit too early and hope they’re going to be ready when they’re really, really close,” Nicholson said. “I think we have to leave them down there until they’re overripe. That is a change that we During his press conference explaining the firing of GM Peter Chiarelli, have to make here.” Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson made a couple things clear. One, the Oilers still believe they can make the playoffs this season and will look to make All that must be weighed by candidates figuring out if it’s possible to fix the necessary roster changes to help make that happen. The the issues in Edmonton. responsibility of that will fall to interim GM Keith Gretzky, who will be the point person for teams around the league. Two, there won’t be a rush to “I think it’s fixable,” said an NHL source. “They have some good fill the GM position, a hire they absolutely have to get right. prospects.”

“As soon as we find a general manager we feel is right for the culture of In August, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman rated the Oilers farm system at the Oilers, we’ll name that person,” Nicholson said. “When that will be, No. 22, highlighting RW Kailer Yamamoto, D Evan Bouchard and C Ryan there’s no deadline on that.” McLeod as the organizations’ top three prospects. But since then, it’s fair to say there’s been additional skepticism in the industry as to whether or To Nicholson, this isn’t a rebuild. And really, it shouldn’t be when you’ve not Yamamoto will be a legitimate top-six forward at the NHL level. got the best player in the world in his prime. But fixing what ails the Oilers is more than about adding character and culture, two words that came up “I’m not going to say no. It’s not a slam dunk,” said an NHL scout on often in Nicholson’s presser. Wednesday when posed that question. “I’m not a big fan of him.”

Despite the turmoil, this will be a coveted job, in large part because of And, of course, there’s Jesse Puljujarvi, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 Connor McDavid and in part because they don’t become available very draft who is struggling to find his way in the NHL while his often. One source was talking about another position but summed up the contemporaries flourish. attitude towards jobs like the Oilers GM opening quite well. “They rushed him,” said an Eastern Conference talent evaluator. “I don’t “There are only 31 of these jobs in the league,” he said. “That’s the first think he was ready to play with pace.” checkpoint in the flowchart.” “I just don’t see it with him, man,” said an NHL scout on Wednesday. “I On Wednesday, an executive helped break it down further by paring the don’t see it.” Oilers job evaluation down to three key questions candidates will weigh If your conclusion is that significant help probably isn’t coming from the before deciding if it’s the right fit: pipeline, you may be in the majority.

1. Is ownership committed and willing to spend? But with the Oilers, it comes back to the high-end talent already in the This is a fairly easy one in the evaluation. Money isn’t an issue in NHL. Franchises can spin their wheels for decades and not have a crack Edmonton. According to CapFriendly.com, the Oilers have the league’s at a player of McDavid’s caliber. That’s undeniable. fourth-highest payroll and projected cap space of just $51,000. The “The good news is you have Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan bigger issue other than spending is future cap space, and there’s work to Nugent-Hopkins,” said an NHL executive. “The bad news is that you be done there for the next GM. Milan Lucic still has four years left on his have not much else.” deal worth $6 million annually. Chiarelli’s last move was signing Mikko Koskinen — a goalie with 32 career NHL games — to a deal worth $4.5 million through 2021-22. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 “You have some anchors you can’t get rid of,” said one NHL source. “Their cap plan is not good.”

The good news is that the biggest contract on the books, McDavid’s deal worth $12.5 million per season, could end up looking like a team-friendly one in the not-too-distant future, if it isn’t already.

2. Will the new GM have unfettered access to hire and fire anyone they want to do the job properly?

This one isn’t so simple.

There’s long been the perception that the old boys club is alive and well in Edmonton and that the Oilers from the glory days have way too much influence. Nicholson tried his best to minimize those concerns.

“I hear that all the time. It’s the old guard, the Oilers of the 80s making the decisions. That’s not true at all,” Nicholson said. “Peter Chiarelli was the president and GM of this hockey team. We gave him the authority to make those decisions. He brought in a majority of his own staff.”

Even in saying that, Nicholson was quick to praise recent drafts and suggested that there are key people already in place in the organization.

“How we set this up under Keith Gretzky’s direction on the draft and the pro side, we’ve done a good job,” he said.

This potential interference was a legit concern from one NHL executive.

“I don’t know how much latitude the next GM is going to have when they go in there. Do you have to keep Keith Gretzky and those sort of things?” 1127411 Edmonton Oilers Those three make convenient punching bags, because they’ve been around off-and-on for a long time. From an optics perspective, the easiest thing to do would be to do what so many fans online suggest: fire Willis: With Peter Chiarelli gone, this is what the Oilers need to do next them all, just to be safe.

That may ultimately happen under the next GM, who will have the right to make his own staffing choices. Certainly other departures are going to be By Jonathan Willis part of the process of restructuring Edmonton’s front office. But don’t make the mistake of believing that Chiarelli was handcuffed by some Jan 23, 2019 mysterious Boys on the Bus cabal. He had the power, he used it, and the results are what they are.

Peter Chiarell’s disastrous run as general manager of the Oilers came to All of this is an aside from the main point, though. Katz entrusted an end Tuesday night. His sins have been related in detail here and Nicholson with his organization and Nicholson entrusted Chiarelli with its elsewhere, and were of major importance just 24 hours ago. Now the hockey operations. Chiarelli has been wanting in that role for a long time focus shifts to the matter of finding his replacement. and was finally fired. Attention now shifts to Nicholson.

Despite his track record, this is more difficult than it sounds. After all, the Nicholson is in a tricky spot. He has been staunch in his defence of original hiring of Chiarelli was meant to bring Edmonton in line with NHL Chiarelli and his support of Chiarelli’s plan all down the line. As recently best practice. as mid-December, he told The Athletic that Chiarelli’s job would be safe if the Oilers made the playoffs. The Oilers first brought in an outside figure, former Hockey Canada head Bob Nicholson, and had him conduct what was called a “forensic audit” of “Yeah. There’s no question,” Nicholson stated. “I think there’s a lot of the organization. He did this for most of a year before being named CEO things that Peter hasn’t gotten credit for. He’s really started to build. on Apr. 20, 2015, tasked with the responsibility for the entirety of the You’re starting to see some of them come up now with the (Caleb) sprawling Oilers Entertainment Group. Joneses and the (Evan) Bouchards. We have a lot of assets, which this organization hadn’t had for a while. Peter deserves a lot of credit for “The first thing that you do is make sure you have the right people in that.” place,” Nicholson said when he was promoted to the top job. “I really believe that if you have the right people you give them the authority to do How much does it compromise Nicholson that he made the decision to their job and that’s what I’ll be doing.” hire Chiarelli, that he has been vocal and effusive in his public support of the GM, that he allowed the GM to make major trades and signing Edmonton owner Daryl Katz is often criticized for the state of the Oilers, decisions with lasting repercussions right up to the end? but his initial plan was good. He brought in someone credible, gave him time to review the entire organization, and then sent him out with the task At the very least, it raises questions about Nicholson’s ability to evaluate of hiring the right people and empowering them to do their jobs. the work of the general manager. He seems an unlikely candidate to do the kind of work that Brendan Shanahan has done in Toronto. Four days after being named CEO, Nicholson named Chiarelli as general manager. The next month, Todd McLellan was hired as head coach. Shanahan famously assembled a front office with multiple strong Both hires were almost universally praised at the time. viewpoints. The belief in analytics tends to get top billing, but Lou Lamoriello, Mark Hunter and Mike Babcock are all long-established in the Chiarelli’s history in Boston would increasingly be seen as a red flag as hockey mainstream, while Kyle Dubas worked his way up from the junior he repeated his mistakes with the Oilers, but early on most of the focus ranks. was on the Bruins’ successes rather than their failings under his watch. Perception of McLellan’s time in San Jose initially focused on how good As Hunter and Lamoriello have moved out, the Leafs have continued to that team was in the regular season and only later shifted to the Sharks’ work to add different perspectives. Laurence Gilman, an executive from a inability to get it done in the playoffs. non-traditional background but with a long history of NHL work, was brought in (and incidentally should be on Edmonton’s interview list for The process behind these decisions was good. The two most commonly their top job). The Leafs have also tapped into up-and-comers in the raised objections are the lack of a proper, comprehensive search for the junior ranks, in analytics, in college and women’s hockey. general manager and the continued employment of executives with long- running ties to the organization. Both are red herrings to some degree. The Leafs aren’t the only template for this type of front office. Sometimes it comes from the general manager. A proper search would have been a good idea, and is certainly what the Oilers should do now. However, it’s debatable that Nicholson would have When Steve Yzerman was in Tampa Bay he built a staff which borrowed made a better choice. His history with Hockey Canada meant he’d dealt from his roots in Detroit, but he also grabbed qualified people wherever with most of the relatively small world of top-level North American he could. Julie Brisebois, the up-and-coming executive who did such managers, and he didn’t pick Chiarelli due to any ignorance as to his work in Montreal’s system, was recruited. So was Jon Cooper, a coach other options. He picked him because he thought he was the right with another non-traditional background. The Bolts hired Michael choice. Peterson from outside hockey to run their analytics department. They grabbed the well-respected Al Murray, a long time Kings scout, from the The continued employment of various executives is even less relevant. Canadian national team.

Kevin Lowe’s current role is explicitly a business one, where he The Oilers don’t need Nicholson to duplicate Shanahan’s work “continues to work towards and promote the growth and development of necessarily. He empowered Chiarelli; they just need to make sure that Oilers Entertainment Group in its many new business initiatives.” If that when he picks the next general manager he grabs one capable of wasn’t clear enough, Nicholson emphasized in his press conference building a front office in the mold of Toronto or Tampa Bay. Wednesday that Lowe was not involved in hockey operations and had not been for some time. Analytics are obviously an important part of the equation. Chiarelli spent most of his tenure running against mainstream analytic thought. His Craig MacTavish, was sidelined and demoted, with the players he’d biggest moves, from Griffin Reinhart to Taylor Hall to Milan Lucic to signed railroaded out of town and many of his lower-level staffing Jordan Eberle and so on, were immediately criticized in the analytics decisions reversed under the new regime. One has to wonder if he community. If he’d had a strong analytic voice on his staff, and been wishes that he’d just quit, since his current role tars him by association willing to take it seriously, it’s possible he’d still be employed today. while giving him a front row seat as his moves were unmade. It goes beyond analytics, though. Both Toronto and Tampa had no was sidelined and demoted, too, going from a senior vice shortage of traditional hires, but they brought in people with a history of presidency to an advisory/pro scouting role. When he was brought back success in their specific fields. Edmonton’s new GM will need to quickly into the main fold in 2017, it was in a player development role, where by identify which internal voices are capable of being part of that process, his own description his job is to speak to and watch Edmonton’s various and which ones need to be replaced. non-AHL prospects and do a little bit of pro scouting from his home base in Columbus. Establishing that group is the hard part. Once it comes together, revamping the Oilers is going to be an easier task than is commonly believed.

It starts with Connor McDavid. When we looked a week ago, there was no substantial difference between what happened in Edmonton with McDavid on the ice and what happened in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby or Tampa Bay with Nikita Kucherov. The problem lay elsewhere:

“The difference between Edmonton and the Lightning or Penguins at even-strength comes down to what happens when the superstar steps off the ice. Pittsburgh is plus-13. Tampa Bay is plus-24. Edmonton is minus- 53.”

In McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Oscar Klefbom the Oilers have the foundation of a contender. All are signed long-term. They have other pieces, both in the minors and on the current roster, capable of playing supporting roles.

They also have a bunch of deadwood and some significant cap problems, but those are correctable. Ryan Spooner and Brandon Manning can be stashed in the minors for a year, if necessary, and then their contracts will be gone. An Andrej Sekera buyout is entirely reasonable, assuming he doesn’t move to the Edmonton equivalent of Robidas Island.

There will be hard decisions to make on Milan Lucic – and perhaps Mikko Koskinen, depending on where his game goes – but if the Oilers take a firm line on their depth pieces they can be out of cap hell surprisingly quickly.

Moreover, the team has prospects on the way. The scouting staff from 2015, which has largely been turned over, left behind a pair of late-round gems in Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear. The failures of 2017-18 resulted in landing Evan Bouchard and to a lesser extent Ryan McLeod at the draft. The farm team in Bakersfield has a wealth of cheap young players with NHL potential.

The difficulty will be in finding players to fill the middle ground between Edmonton’s elite top-end and the bottom of the roster. With careful management, the Oilers can scrounge together some money and some assets, but they’ll need to be judicious in free agency and successful on the trade front.

This, though, is where a capable GM candidate should be licking his lips. There’s an opportunity in Edmonton to step into a situation where a team has an elite young core locked up forever and a bunch of assets on the way, but where things have been so bad for so long that righting the ship would be regarded as a major accomplishment.

The first step in all of this is the same one Nicholson identified four years ago: find the right people and give them the authority to do their job. They got it wrong once. This time they need to get it right.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127412 Edmonton Oilers otherwise. Where that would leave Edmonton potentially in terms of its timeline is tough to tell.

Bill Zito LeBrun: Possible candidates to replace Peter Chiarelli as Oilers GM The Blue Jackets assistant GM is as smart as they come. The former agent has been a key cog in Jarmo Kekalainen’s operation, running the By Pierre LeBrun AHL team while steering the ship on contracts and CBA matters. His interview for the Buffalo GM position a few years ago went very well and Jan 23, 2019 he’s prime for an opportunity if an owner is willing to take a chance on an up-and-comer.

Pat Verbeek Waiting until the offseason to evaluate the GM position was no longer an option for an Edmonton Oilers organization flailing away and struggling to Verbeek is a smart hockey man who oozes integrity with a work ethic regain its footing. through the roof. He’s part of that Tampa brain trust which has built the best team in hockey, one that also has more talent coming. They’ve been Imagine if someone told the passionate Oilers fan base four years ago a model franchise in the salary cap era and he’s been part of those when Peter Chiarelli and Todd McLellan were hired in the wake of decisions. winning the lottery and getting Connor McDavid just how it would all turn out. Ron Hextall

One playoff appearance. And mostly more misery. Again. A good ol’ Western Canadian boy if that matters at all to the Oilers brass. What should matter more is that before being fired by the Flyers he had I hate saying fans “deserve’’ better but honestly, Oilers fans really do. restocked the prospect cupboard. The rival Canucks have surpassed them in their rebuild. Their future Scott Mellanby legitimately looks brighter. Down in Calgary? Ouch. The first-place Flames have a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup. The Habs assistant GM is known as a hard worker who rolls up his sleeves and puts in the hours. He’s also had a front-row seat to the While I believe CEO Bob Nicholson was hoping to make it through the pressure-cooker his boss Marc Bergevin has lived through over the season before deciding whether he had to make this change, the years, experiencing that roller-coaster, which would serve him well if he’s constant losing and less-than-impactful transactions on the roster forced ever running a franchise that’s under that kind of a spotlight. his hand after yet another loss. Chiarelli was fired late Tuesday night, a move that was inevitable. Mike Futa

With that, I give you the list of candidates that I would look at if I were the The Kings assistant GM is a popular interview request when openings Oilers brass (and for the same reasons Steve Yzerman stepped down as come up but he hasn’t yet landed a GM gig. However, I think some of GM in Tampa Bay, I very much doubt he would be a candidate for the that is him being happy in L.A. and waiting for the right opportunity. Oilers job either so that’s why you won’t find him on this list): Bill Guerin Kelly McCrimmon A former Oilers star who learned his craft in Pittsburgh as the assistant The assistant GM of the Vegas Golden Knights will be among the GM while winning some Stanley Cup in the process. He knows the candidates for the GM job in expansion Seattle for obvious reasons but Edmonton market and he’s a personable guy who works well with others. perhaps the Oilers can snatch him before then. The longtime executive and owner checks all the boxes for Edmonton Laurence Gilman other than he hasn’t been an NHL GM. I suppose that’s where the risk The former Canucks assistant GM and current Maple Leafs assistant GM lies. But otherwise, his credentials are impeccable. No question in my knows what it’s like to work in a frying pan. He’s got the experience and mind Nicholson has already mentioned his name internally. To me, he’s pedigree necessary to at least warrant a look in my mind. the front-runner in the early going. Randy Sexton Mark Hunter The respected right-hand man in Buffalo is a trusted voice to Sabres GM The former Maple Leafs assistant GM has a wonderful/profitable gig Jason Botterill and has loads of responsibility in Buffalo. The former running the OHL’s London Knights so his return to the NHL would most Senators and Panthers GM has the kind of experience that could handle likely only come as a GM and for the right fit. His work in the draft for the the Edmonton market. Leafs speaks for itself. He obviously felt he was ready to take on the GM duties before Kyle Dubas got the nod, hence his tremendous Norm MacIver disappointment at the time. Definitely worth a call if you’re the Oilers. And I think that call will come. The longtime Blackhawks assistant GM is a former Oilers player which may or may not work in his favour given the fan base’s criticism of Oilers Doug Armstrong brass hiring former players. But he’s got three Stanley Cup rings from the most impressive run by any team in the cap era. That should count for OK, so this one is a bit strange I know because he’s currently an active something. GM on another team and you almost never see this type of a lateral move in hockey. Plus Armstrong signed an extension last year which still Sean Burke has another three years left on it after this season. But let me throw this out there: what if Nicholson phoned up Blues owner Tom Stillman and This is a guy that deserves a break at some point. Canada’s Olympic GM asked the question? The Blues are having a very disappointing season. from last year was a longtime assistant GM in Arizona. He’s put in his Would Stillman see it as a chance to change things up and have another time. team pick up the tab on his GM? From Edmonton’s perspective, Armstrong has built regular contenders in St. Louis over the years and has Team Canada experience connecting him to Nicholson. And, deep The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 down, I believe it is a checklist item for Armstrong to one day run a Canadian NHL team if at all possible. Just saying …

Ken Holland

See Armstrong above. While it’s unusual to go after a current GM, Nicholson and Holland go way back. With Holland also believed to be on Seattle’s radar, I don’t see why the Oilers wouldn’t at least reach out to inquire on Holland’s future in Detroit. Holland would probably want to wait until the summer to make any decision on his future in Detroit, Seattle or 1127413 Edmonton Oilers The Hall trade was a mortal blow to Chiarelli’s team-building strategy. Combined with McDavid, the Oilers had been gifted two forwards who could drive results 5-on-5 and could “push the river” against the best Lowetide: Peter Chiarelli’s inability to adjust, poor trades and free-agent opposition available across the NHL. Edmonton’s ability to showcase this misses at the centre of his firing massive advantage was cut short due to McDavid’s injury and then a rare slump by Hall in the back half of the 2015-16 season. Chiarelli incorrectly calculated that Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins were close enough in quality to represent “Hall replacement level” production on the By Allan Mitchell second line. That bet was a losing one and a major contributor to today’s Jan 23, 2019 news that Chiarelli has been relieved of his duties.

Cap shortcomings

In the end, Peter Chiarelli’s custom-built Oilers simply didn’t have enough The Oilers have had an issue with the cap since it became part of the skill. An NHL team can win with big players but they have to score landscape after the lockout in 2004-05, but nothing Oilers fans saw enough to deliver more than 50 percent of the total offence. Chiarelli before 2015 prepared them for the wastage that occurred on Chiarelli’s seemed to focus most of his attention on big shutdown defencemen watch. The big free-agent signings above have been noted, but consider (Griffin Reinhart, Adam Larsson, Brandon Manning) while the rest of the the following: world pursued smart, skilled and fast. Chiarelli’s replacement will be June 30, 2015: Traded Boyd Gordon to Arizona for LW Lauri Korpikoski. gifted the game’s best player and a fine support group numbering less Both veterans were eroding in terms of skill but Gordon had one year left, than six, along with several albatross contracts that represent a hornet’s Korpikoski two. Chiarelli had to buyout Korpikoski’s final year. nest of difficult decisions going forward. June 29, 2017: Bought out Benoit Pouliot, who struggled in 2016-17 but Chiarelli’s best and worst moment: Same day remained an effective penalty killer and complementary scorer (he would You can bleed draft picks and young talent, but you can’t do it forever— score 13 goals for Buffalo in 2017-18). and it’s imperative those assets are traded for something of value. This winter’s procurement of overpriced talents Ryan Spooner and Chiarelli’s first official act as general manager was a walk to the podium Brandon Manning, both of whom have another year on their respective at the 2015 entry draft to announce Connor McDavid as the first overall contracts. selection. Music! One of the greatest moments in Oilers history, another generational talent and this one guaranteed to lead the organization out Summary of the wilderness. Peter Chiarelli lost his job through a combination of trades that left Oilers fans had little time to bask in the glow of that incredible moment, Edmonton consistently weaker, misspent free-agent dollars and a as Chiarelli began trading precious picks with wild abandon. The general mountain of traded draft picks. He also showed a consistent manager traded picks No. 16 and No. 33 to the New York Islanders for stubbornness in regard to his team’s style, time and again pushing back Reinhart who is currently toiling in the AHL for the on criticism in regard to the team’s speed and skill. Oilers fans endured (Edmonton lost Reinhart to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion multiple media availabilities from the general manager in which he draft). The cost of that trade (Islanders selected Mathew Barzal with the expounded on the difference between “speed” and “pace” all the while first pick) will arc across central Alberta like the northern lights for remaining true to his vision of a “Bruins west” concept in Edmonton. decades. Later in the draft, Chiarelli traded picks No. 57 (Jonas Siegenthaler), No. 79 (Sergei Zborovsky), No. 184 (Adam Huska) to the In the end, Chiarelli found his hill to die on. His refusal to adjust, along New York Rangers for G Cam Talbot and the No. 209 (Ziyat Paigin) pick. with devastating losses on the trade market and misspent free-agent dollars, sealed his fate. Oilers fans are left to ponder what might have The net result from the 2015 draft: A generational talent bought and paid been. for via another losing season before Chiarelli arrived and a massive whiff that began the moment he got to work. It was a disastrous draft in terms of adding supporting talent that could grow with the McDavid cluster and The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 would eventually contribute to the downfall of the new general manager.

July 1: Too much for too long

Chiarelli correctly focused on free agency upon his arrival, knowing the team badly needed an upgrade on defence and at centre. On July 1, 2015, Edmonton signed Andrej Sekera and Mark Letestu. Both men provided quality play early in their contracts, Sekera specifically giving the club two impressive seasons (and a strong playoff) before being injured in the 2017 series against the Anaheim Ducks. His loss was a major turning point in that playoff and Sekera hasn’t been the same since. Still, Sekera (and Letestu) provided value early in their contracts.

On July 1, 2016, the Oilers signed winger Milan Lucic to a seven-year, $42 million contract with devastating buyout penalties attached. For all intents and purposes, Edmonton has been in cap trouble since the deal was signed. On June 23, 2017, Edmonton signed Kris Russell to an expensive extension and that deal represented the final big-money free- agent deal signed by Chiarelli. In a classic case of give ’em enough rope, he was unable to improve the team enough in the summer of 2018 in part due to his own work in previous summers. Chiarelli effectively cut off this avenue of procurement with the Lucic contract.

His best free-agent signing might have been Alex Chiasson, who agreed to a PTO before training camp 2018 and a one-year, $650,000 contract just before the season.

Devastating trades

Chiarelli’s signature moves as Oilers general manager were mid-to-late June trades that sent away talented players for lesser pieces. The Reinhart deal was made on the draft floor in 2015, while the big 2016 trade (Hall for Larsson) came on June 29. In 2017, Jordan Eberle was dealt for Ryan Strome. 1127414 Los Angeles Kings season. “I think we made it clear that in the summer that we were going to look at every option and Willie is ahead of everyone on his audition,” Robitaille said. That seems like another mistake.

Luc Robitaille says Kings' cycle of losing is 'unacceptable' In the meantime, Doughty will represent the Kings at the All-Star game in San Jose this weekend and then join his teammates in taking a few days off before they reconvene for practice on Feb. 1. The break is also By HELENE ELLIOTT beneficial for fans, who have shown their displeasure through boos and shrinking attendance in the face of frequent dispirited performances. JAN 23, 2019 | 7:35 PM “It’s unacceptable,” Robitaille said. “It’s well below the standard we set

out for this organization and this is not the expectation that we have and Rooted in the depths of the NHL standings — entirely on merit — is not we know that’s not what our fans expect from us.” where Kings President Luc Robitaille expected his team would be sitting He feels your pain. Now it’s up to him and Blake to end that pain and at the start of the All-Star break and bye week. provide reason for hope next season. No more miscalculations allowed. “When we set out and we did our work at the end of last year and you take out that we missed Jeff Carter for over 50 games and we got 98 points, we kind of based this season off of that team,” Robitaille said. LA Times: LOADED: 01.24.2019 “And that was the reasoning for adding a player like Ilya Kovalchuk that would hopefully help us get a few more goals. And then you look at it if you win two or three more games you end up with 102 and 104 points, and it changes your position for the playoffs.”

That miscalculation by Robitaille and general manager Rob Blake is one of many mistakes that have consigned the Kings to defeat this season.

They stand 29th, with a league-low average of 2.26 goals per game and a league-worst goal differential of minus-36 at the break. Their defensive failures are the most surprising. They weren’t a high-scoring bunch but during their Stanley Cup runs in 2012 and 2014 they established an identity as a tireless and formidable defensive team. That has been shredded by opponents who are faster and play faster, emphasizing the Kings’ unaddressed need for speed. Kovalchuk, signed to a three-year contract at age 35 worth $18.75 million, has had some good stretches but also has been misused by interim coach Willie Desjardins. Kovalchuk has nine goals (three on power plays) and 22 points in 40 games.

Blake’s attempts to a spark have failed. He fired the coach he hired, John Stevens, after a 4-8-1 start and traded winger Tanner Pearson, who didn’t fulfill projections he’d become a pillar of the next generation. And still the Kings haven’t broken their cycle of losing. “To ask, ‘Are you disappointed?’ Yeah. It’s unacceptable the way we’ve played this year and the way our team has responded,” Robitaille said Wednesday, adding that he was speaking solely for himself. “Injuries are not an excuse. You always got to find a way to come through and we didn’t. We have not. I would say we did not to this point and we have not because there’s still 32 games.”

At least publicly, Robitaille hasn’t given up on mounting a playoff push. That means he’s not ready to implement a “Lose for Hughes” strategy and tank in order to get in the draft lottery and improve the Kings’ odds of choosing top-ranked forward Jack Hughes. That could change in the weeks before the Feb. 25 trading deadline, and it should. Making a brief playoff appearance is counterproductive to an organization that needs a massive infusion of talent through the draft and through trading whatever contracts they can off-load to teams seeking the final pieces to a championship roster.

“It’s going to be a challenge but I never count these guys out,” Robitaille said. “I will never count Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown out because I know they’ve done it in the past. We always believe in that. I expect them to play to win every day and I expect them to have a chance to make the playoffs. That’s the way our guys think and that’s the way I want them to think.”

That kind of thinking got them in this hole.

Dean Lombardi, Blake’s predecessor, traded away first-round draft picks in 2013, 2015, and 2016 to keep a championship team going. His reasoning was sound but his execution wasn’t always good. Trading the 2013 pick, which brought Carter from Columbus and boosted the Kings to their two championships, was a success. The 2015 pick was thrown away for Milan Lucic and the 2016 selection was given away for 16 games of Andrej Sekera. Both left without compensation. Players the Kings might have drafted those years would have been blossoming now. That hurts, especially because 2017 first-round pick Gabriel Vilardi has had back problems that limited him to four minor league games this season. That’s worrisome for a 19-year-old kid.

Robitaille also confirmed Desjardins will finish this season behind the bench and will be considered for the job on a permanent basis after the 1127415 Minnesota Wild

Wild's offensive leaders headline three-game win streak at All-Star break

By Sarah McLellan JANUARY 24, 2019

DENVER – A three-game win streak will be waiting for the Wild once it reconvenes after an eight-day layoff that starts with the NHL All-Star break, a run that has lifted the team to the third spot in the Central Division. And perhaps not surprisingly, this climb has been accompanied by a spike in production from the team’s offensive leaders – a trend that was at the forefront of the group’s 5-2 victory over the Avalanche Wednesday at Pepsi Center. “It’s nice to help contribute on the scoresheet,” winger Charlie Coyle said. “When we’re playing that role, that’s what we have to do.” Six of the team’s top seven point-getters have chipped in at least a goal during this three-game stretch, and all eight of its point leaders have managed at least a point. Among the headliners are center Eric Staal, who’s scored three times in his last two games and boasts nine points in his past six, and Coyle has a goal in back-to-back contests – notching four points in his last three. The top defensive pairing has also been involved. Jared Spurgeon has 10 points, including four goals, in his last 12 games, ranking tied for second among NHL defensemen in goals and tied for fifth in points in that span. And Ryan Suter went into the break with three points in his last two games. His goal against the Avalanche, No.6 on the season, matched his output from 2017-18. “We’re finally getting going, getting some breaks for us,” Suter said. “Hopefully we can continue that.” More subtle plays were also critical for the Wild. Winger Pontus Aberg kept the play alive in the Avalanche’s zone with a save at the blue line during a Wild power play – which led to a holding penalty by defenseman Ian Cole to give the Wild a 5-on-3 look that it converted. And defenseman Nick Seeler had three shot blocks in the same shift to help set up an eventual insurance goal by Coyle. “That’s huge,” Coyle said. Overall, the power play contributed twice, encouraging output for a unit that’s been struggling to recalibrate since the loss to defenseman Matt Dumba to a torn pectoral muscle. Both goals came during a 5-on-3 advantage, but it looks like the units – which features newbies in Aberg and defenseman Brad Hunt – is finding a groove. “Obviously, it gets easier game-by-game,” said winger Mikael Granlund, the architect for both tallies Wednesday. “But we know we can do better.” After starting his Wild debut alongside Jonas Brodin, Hunt ended it next to Nick Seeler – a change that seemed to suit the recently-acquired defender as he seemed to get more comfortable as the game progressed. Overall, Hunt logged 16 minutes, 50 seconds while finishing a minus-1. “He struggled early on,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “ … But in the third, he looked more at home. He was making some pretty nice plays, and that’s what we got him for. Let’s understand he hasn’t played since Jan.[4], and let’s also say he’s played 13 games. … So we gotta get him in hockey-playing shape, and I know he keeps himself in good shape; I’m not saying that. But he’s going to need a few games under his belt.” Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127416 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Colorado game recap

SARAH MCLELLAN

GAME RECAP STAR TRIBUNE’S THREE STARS 1. Eric Staal, Wild: The center racked up three points, including two goals. 2. Ryan Suter, Wild: The defenseman chipped in a goal and an assist in 28 minutes of ice time. 3. Charlie Coyle, Wild: The winger had a goal and assist. BY THE NUMBERS 2 Power-play goals for the Wild during 5-on-3 setups. 5 Goals for the Wild for the first time since Dec.13. 8 Different Wild players registered at least a point. Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127417 Minnesota Wild lineup after being acquired by the Wild in a deal with Vegas on Monday. Hunt played college hockey at Bemidji State in Minnesota and his wife is from the state. "We have a baby on the way. She's excited for him to be Staal scores twice, Wild ride 5-2 win over Avs into break born in Minnesota," Hunt said. ... Avs D Erik Johnson (head) missed a second straight game.

UP NEXT By PAT GRAHAM Associated Press JANUARY 24, 2019 Wild: Off until Feb. 1 when they play in Dallas.

Avalanche: On hiatus until Feb. 2 when they host Vancouver. Barrie said DENVER — Eric Staal and the Minnesota Wild have their timing down. for the break he's going to "find a beach somewhere and relax." Too bad they can't pass on the down time. Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2019 Staal had two goals, including the tiebreaker on a second-period power play, Devan Dubnyk made 20 saves and the Wild rolled into the All-Star break by beating the slumping Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night. "You certainly wish you could keep playing if they're going to play like that," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It was really fun to watch." Tune in again on Feb. 1 for Wild hockey. "We're going to use it to our advantage and be able to recharge," said Charlie Coyle, who had a goal and an assist. "Down the road, we're going to have more juice in the tank." For the Avalanche, the break couldn't come at a better time as they finished 3-7 in January and lost ground in the Central Division chase. Tune in again on Feb. 2 for Avalanche hockey. "Rewind and get your mind off of things if that's what you want to do," Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "Study the game and make sure you come back hungry, because we're going to need it." Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Suter also scored for the Wild, who earned their fourth win in five games to remain in the thick of the playoff picture. Staal and Suter had goals on separate 5-on-3 power plays. Staal had another big performance, giving him three goals and two assists over his last two games. "He's reminding me of this time last year, when he started to go and find his legs," Boudreau said. "We're going to need it. Every team needs the big boys to play. When the big boys play well, we can play with anybody." Carl Soderberg and Tyson Barrie scored for the Avalanche. Philipp Grubauer stopped 23 shots as he got the start over Semyon Varlamov with Colorado searching for consistency in net. "I don't think he had a chance on any of those goals," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "It's not a goaltending loss. "I'm still confident in our team, but nights like this when we don't play in a mature team game, then it bothers me because I know we're capable of it." Dubnyk flashed his All-Star form to improve to 18-12-1 all-time against Colorado. That's his most wins versus one opponent. Staal broke a second-period tie during a two-man advantage — and another missing a stick. On the play, Colorado forward Matt Calvert broke his stick and couldn't cover Staal down low. Staal knocked in a pinpoint pass from Mikael Granlund through the middle. "Classic Granlund," Coyle said of the pass. "That's a pretty goal." With 22.1 seconds remaining in the middle period, Coyle made it a 4-2 advantage. That was more than enough for Dubnyk, an All-Star for a third time. Still, Suter tallied another in the third with a pair of Colorado players in the penalty box. The Avalanche took a one-goal lead on two occasions in the first period, only to be answered in short time. After Soderberg scored, Staal tied it up 1:08 later. And after Barrie gave Colorado a 2-1 advantage, Spurgeon soon knotted it back up with a liner over Grubauer's glove. Before the game, Colorado honored All-Stars Mikko Rantanen, MacKinnon and Landeskog with a tribute. The linemates have combined for 199 points this season, including MacKinnon and Rantanen picking up assists on Barrie's goal. Minnesota and Colorado are now idle for the rest of the month due to the All-Star break and the bye week. "Try and carry the momentum when we get back," Staal said. "But we're definitely going to enjoy the break." NOTES: Wild C Eric Fehr (lower body) could be back after the break. He's missed nine games. ... Wearing No. 77, D Brad Hunt was in the 1127418 Minnesota Wild Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2019

Wild hits All-Star break on a high note after crushing Colorado 5-2 Eric Staal scored twice vs. Colorado as team won its third in a row.

By Sarah McLellan JANUARY 24, 2019

DENVER – With the Western Conference playoff race snarling like stop- and-go traffic during rush hour, nothing is a given with 32 games to go. But the Wild guaranteed it will maintain possession of the third seed in the Central Division when it resumes play after an eight-day All-Star Game break. That’s because the team rolled by the Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday in front of 17,310 at Pepsi Center, going into the layoff on a three-game win streak that sealed a three-point cushion over Colorado and Dallas, another division rival. “When you get a step on teams, you want to solidify that and get even further ahead,” winger Charlie Coyle said. “We want to set ourselves up as best as we can here come playoff time. They’re obviously right behind us in the standings. This isn’t the be-all, end-all, but that’s another step in the right direction.” This push, which culminated in 55 points and started with a 2-1 victory on home ice Saturday over the before continuing Monday in Vegas with a 4-2 rally over the Golden Knights, has been sparked by the team’s leaders — an encouraging sign for when the group reconvenes Feb. 1 in Dallas against the Stars. Center Eric Staal scored twice and assisted on another, defenseman Ryan Suter turned in a goal and an assist in a game-high 28 minutes and Coyle delivered his second goal in as many games. Add in 20 saves by goalie Devan Dubnyk, who improved to 6-1 in his past seven road contests, and the Wild followed up a miserable December with a respectable 8-4 January. Sarah McLellan recaps the 5-2 win over the Avalanche in her Wild wrap- up. “You certainly wish you could keep playing if they’re going to play like that,” Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. Twice in the first period, the Wild had to play catch-up. After center Carl Soderberg finished off a tic-tac-toe passing sequence 5 minutes, 42 seconds into the first period to give Colorado a 1-0 lead, Staal responded at 6:50 when he redirected a Coyle pass off a Colorado turnover. The Avalanche retook the lead on a power-play shot from defenseman Tyson Barrie at 12:40, but the frame ended 2-2 after defenseman Jared Spurgeon buried a give-and-go with Suter with 3:33 to go. In the second, the Wild capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play that felt like a 5-on-2 after winger Matt Calvert lost his stick and left Staal open for another put-back at 7:24 off a pass by winger Mikael Granlund that came after a keep-in by winger Pontus Aberg. Staal has three goals in his past two games and nine points in his past six. “I’ve been the beneficiary of some good plays,” he said. Despite blanking on a four-minute power play later in the period, the Wild still grew its cushion after an impressive sequence of shot blocks in its own zone by defenseman Nick Seeler — who had three — and winger Marcus Foligno. “Unbelievable,” Boudreau said. Once the puck transitioned up ice, winger Zach Parise eventually retrieved it along the boards and fed Coyle for a one-timer as he crashed the net at 19:37. “You know that the team is committed, and you got a good chance of winning,” Boudreau said. “That’s how I felt after that shift.” The Wild was awarded another 5-on-3 look in the third, and it capitalized again — this time on a rising shot from Suter at 8:13 that was also coordinated by Granlund and Aberg. Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer had 23 stops. “Hopefully we’ll come back and be re-energized,” Staal said, “and excited about finishing strong.” 1127419 Minnesota Wild “Feeling really good,” he said. “I’ve felt a lot better the last couple days, and I’m happy where my body is at now.”

Fehr has been out since he was hurt Jan. 7, falling to the ice after he hit Wild's J.T. Brown invited to All-Star Game for gamers his head on the boards following a late check. He wanted to return before The Wild's J.T. Brown will take part in an e-sports exhibition in San Jose. the layoff but also appreciated the extra time to prepare. “I’ll try to stay in shape over the break a little more than the other guys,” Fehr said. “I had a little more time off. I’ll make sure I’m ready when I get By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JANUARY 23, 2019 back.” Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2019 DENVER – Goalie Devan Dubnyk won’t be the only player representing the Wild at the NHL All-Star Game. Winger J.T. Brown will also be in San Jose on Thursday through Saturday to take part in the league’s gaming house experience. “It seems like a fun event, and hopefully this is the first of many,” Brown said. An avid gamer, Brown was invited to showcase his skills on “NHL 19” along with a handful of other prominent names in the e-sports world in what’s being called House of Chel — the first event of its kind by the NHL. Aside from battling with their controllers, the participants will also compete in challenges at the multimillion-dollar mansion in the hills of Palo Alto, Calif., that’s hosting the event. The home includes an ice rink, golf course, movie theater, sports court, pizza room and turf field. “Pretty excited to just see it and be able to stay there for a few days,” Brown said, “but also meet some other content creators and other players who are pretty good at the game of NHL. I wouldn’t say that’s my best game that I have, but I still think it’ll be fun to get out there and obviously make content.” Beavers reunion The trade that brought defenseman Brad Hunt to the Wild didn’t just reunite him with Minnesota after he played four seasons at Bemidji State. It also put him in the same organization as his former Beavers teammate Matt Read, a forward currently with Iowa of the American Hockey League who appeared in five games with the Wild this season as a call-up. “He FaceTimed me [Monday] night actually,” said Hunt, who made his Wild debut Wednesday against the Avalanche on the left side of Jonas Brodin. “Me and Matt are really close. Obviously, I was at school with him for three years and we had that special run to the Frozen Four. He’s a great kid, and I have a lot of respect for him and we’ve created quite a bond over the last couple years being from Bemidji, where not a lot of guys have gone pro. I think a lot of people back in Bemidji are proud of us, too, and I think it’s a pretty cool thing.” Memory lane This week has been a trip down memory lane for Jason Zucker. After playing Monday in Las Vegas, where he grew up, the winger was at his alma mater — the University of Denver — for the Wild’s practice Tuesday. “It was fun,” Zucker said. “It was a great place. It was a great place for me to go to school. I absolutely loved it there.” Zucker caught up with some familiar faces, visiting with equipment managers and head coach David Carle, who was a student assistant coach when Zucker was with the program from 2010-12. In two seasons, Zucker tallied 45 goals and 91 points in 78 games. “I have nothing but great memories about that place,” Zucker said. Reset time The eight-day break is coming at a helpful time for new members of the Wild, allowing them the chance to get settled into the Twin Cities and return to their previous homes to tie up loose ends. Center Victor Rask will return to Carolina where he has an apartment he purchased a few years ago. He plans to hold onto the property for now and potentially rent it out to Hurricanes players. “I’m probably not going to bring too much with me,” he said. “… Packed a big bag the first day I came.” Injury update Center Eric Fehr (lower-body injury) didn’t suit up Wednesday, but the veteran is hoping to be back in the lineup Feb. 1 when the team resumes action against the Stars in Dallas. 1127420 Minnesota Wild wonder if they really needed a new stadium, but that’s a story for another day).

The Wild, though, is shown as having an operating income — earnings Want the Wild to rebuild and start over? It's harder -- and riskier -- than before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as noted by Forbes you might think — of $4.5 million. That’s still on the plus side, but it’s a much thinner margin. (The franchise is valued at $490 million, more than twice what Leipold paid for it a decade ago, so try not to feel too bad for him). By Michael Rand JANUARY 23, 2019 Then consider that it’s generally accepted that every home playoff game is worth another $2 million — crunching numbers backs up that rough estimate — meaning that even quick exits with just two home games (as The Wild will have a week off for the All-Star break starting Thursday and happened last year) bring in $4 million in extra revenue while trips to the will arrive at the unofficial midpoint (50 games played is not half of 82) in second round can bring in $10 million-plus. a familiar position. The Wild is very much in the mix for a playoff spot — a little better than a coin flip, depending on where you look at So let’s say the Wild decided to rebuild, and as a function of that rebuild probabilities — but Minnesota clearly isn’t one of the NHL’s very best attendance dropped 10 percent (a modest amount compared to other teams. Top 16? Possibly. Top five? No chance. markets that have bottomed out, but this is the State of Hockey so let’s be conservative). Lop off $5-6 million a year from gate receipts and cut This middle ground has defined much of the last seven seasons another $7 million from playoff revenue (the average of what the Wild as (counting this one) since the signing of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to made, at $2 million a game, for their last six playoff appearances) and matching $98 million contracts in 2012. And as years have gone on, with suddenly the franchise is operating at a net loss of $8-9 million. six consecutive playoff berths but not much to show for them, a growing segment of local fans (and media members) have grown increasingly Tank in another league, and you’re cushioned by huge TV deals and fond of the idea of the Wild blowing things up and starting all over. other sources. Tank in the NHL, with a hard salary cap and hard salary floor, and you’d better hope financially that either your fans stick with you They might not call this outright tanking — an odorous word given to or they repay you even more during deep playoff runs if and when you losing on purpose to increase draft odds — but the process of bottoming return to relevance. out and gambling on an uncertain feast-or-famine future instead of holding steady and hoping for incremental progress is one that is Draft decisions embraced by frustrated fans across all U.S. team sports. Pittsburgh and Chicago are often held up on the positive side of the In thinking about and examining the Wild’s situation in particular, though, bottoming out argument. Both franchises parlayed a string of poor I’ve arrived at arrived at a series of conclusions that can be boiled down seasons (which included awful attendance) into high draft picks — with to this: If you want the Wild to bottom out and start over, it’s a lot riskier the Penguins getting Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in back-to-back and harder than you might think. In fact, bottoming out in the NHL might years and the Blackhawks doing the same with Jonathan Toews and be riskier and harder than in any other U.S. pro sports league. And at Patrick Kane — and three Stanley Cup titles apiece since those least in the short-term, I don’t think it makes sense for the Wild to try it — selections. nor do I think they will. They are less likely to mention the high volume of failed attempts to Business factors replicate this model, though fans in Edmonton and Buffalo could surely give you a brief history as a good start. Let’s start here because the bottom line has a heavy influence on all decisions. Committing to a rebuild means committing to being bad enough to have a legitimate chance at a top-three pick (the NHL draft has a lottery system It certainly played into owner green-lighting those contracts similar to the NBA, with the worst teams given a better chance at those for Suter and Parise. The Wild’s 409-game sellout streak ended in 2010- top three picks while all non-playoff teams are eligible to move up). And 11, and by 2011-12 average attendance dipped below 18,000 per game then it means making the right choices — a crap shoot outside of the rare for the first — and as it turns out, only — time in franchise history. Suter can’t-miss prospects — with 18-year-olds likely several years away from and Parise (and winning) have been very good for the bottom line their best seasons. In the NFL, NBA and MLB, as national TV contracts have swelled to And while one player like Crosby can make a big difference, an NHL massive proportions, revenue from ticket sales has become decreasingly team is more dependent on balance than, say, the NBA. The best NBA important in recent years. But in the NHL — and to the Wild — it still players will spend three-fourths of the game on the floor. The best NHL matters a lot. forwards will be on the ice for maybe a third of the game. An NFL team might tank for a chance at a franchise quarterback that sets it up to win Assuming even splits among all teams for existing national TV deals, for more than a decade. Hockey players — outside of goalies, who are every NFL team takes in $94 million a year in national TV money; NBA rarely chosen with lottery picks — tend not to have such a singular teams each get $86 million a year; MLB teams each get $52 million a influence on a team. It often takes two or three high-end players, with the year; and NHL teams all get somewhere between $17 and $20 million a right supporting cast around them, to turn things around. year (depending on the current value of the Canadian dollar since the biggest of the two TV contracts is in Canadian funds). On-ice influences Looking at data collected by Forbes, we see just how dependent the Wild OK, so maybe you’ve read to this point and you aren’t concerned about is on attendance for its bottom line. the warnings about draft picks nor do you care a bit about the owner’s wallet (even if he does). You’re just tired of the current roster. Trade In its most recent calculations for the Wild, Twins, Vikings and everyone and start over! Timberwolves, Forbes shows the Wild with $142 million in yearly revenue — with $56 million of that coming from gate receipts. The Twins have Well … unless they want to be traded, Parise and Suter aren’t going $261 million in yearly revenue, with $70 million from gate receipts. The anywhere. They have full no-move clauses included as part of their 13- Vikings have $408 million in revenue, with $65 million from gate receipts. year deals, of which there are still six years left after this. Mikko Koivu, a The Timberwolves have $204 million in revenue, with just $23 million free agent after next season, also has a full no-move clause while Eric from gate receipts. Staal (free agent after this year), Devan Dubnyk (two years left) and Jared Spurgeon (one year left) all have modified no-move clauses Assuming those numbers are accurate, they become even more (meaning they can’t be traded to certain teams). staggering when we look at them this way: Here’s the percent of revenue for each team that comes from gate receipts: Parise, Suter and Koivu combine to account for more than a quarter of this year’s salary cap and will come close to the same next year. The Wild: 39.4 percent Wild already has $68 million tied up in contracts on the cap (projected at Twins: 26.8 percent around $83 million, up from $79.5 million) for next season. Vikings: 15.9 percent If the Wild was further down in the standings this season — trying to shed some of that salary now, while difficult, might make sense. But the Timberwolves: 11.3 percent playoffs are still a real possibility, and even if this core group has produced just two series wins in six years this is the NHL. Upsets happen Thanks to those massive national TV contracts, all three of the other all the time, and one hot month from Dubnyk plus a couple of good teams were shown as having comfortable operating income (different bounces could produce some sort of run. from revenue) on the positive side of the ledger. (The Vikings, at $90 million, had more operating income than gate receipts. Makes you So it seems likely that the short-term strategy the Wild will (and should) employ is to “tweak” the roster — the word often used by Leipold and Paul Fenton when he was hired as GM less than a year ago. Indeed, Fenton has already begun the tweaking in earnest with one medium-level move (Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask) and two low- leverage pickups to bolster forward (Pontus Aberg) and defense (Brad Hunt) depth. At least Fenton doesn’t seem as eager as predecessor Chuck Fletcher to give up high draft picks as part of his midyear roster building. The Wild didn’t pick until the third round in the 2017 draft and didn’t have a second-round pick in 2018 as a result of Fletcher’s moves, among others. What Fenton wants to avoid is the descent into a lesser mediocrity — a team that consistently misses the playoffs but isn’t bad enough to get really high draft picks. That was the Wild’s purgatory in the four seasons before Parise and Suter arrived, when they did reasonably well in the first round by taking Nick Leddy (No. 16), Mikael Granlund (No. 9), Jonas Brodin (No. 10) and Matt Dumba (No. 7) in consecutive drafts. The last three are core players for a perennial playoff team (and the first should have been), but they’re not the kinds of superstars you get a crack at at the top of the draft. Or maybe you’d rather if in 3-4 years the Wild matched some promising young players with a pair of good expensive free agents and tried to relive the last seven years all over again? Beyond this season, Fenton should probably make some bigger trades and hope that one of two things happen: They either rebuild the Wild on the fly into a more legitimate contender or they position the Wild organically for a dive that is somehow both deep and brief in order to acquire young talent and draft picks for the future without alienating the fan base. The former would be very hard to do. The latter would be a lot harder than you think. Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127421 Minnesota Wild

Wild expecting 'playoff game' vs. Avalanche

By Sarah McLellan JANUARY 23, 2019

DENVER – The Wild has just one more game to play before it’ll embark on an eight-day break in the schedule, but this final test is significant since it’s against a Central Division rival in the Avalanche that’s only a point shy of the Wild in the standings. “I think both teams are going to feel the same way,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “To me it’s a playoff game.” This is the Wild’s final trip to Colorado during the regular season, but it’ll host the Avalanche one more time – a matchup that could help decide seeding for both. NHL standings, broken down by division leaders and a look at race for the Wild Card spots in each conference. After the Wild fell 4-1 at Pepsi Center in its season-opener, the team held off the Avalanche 3-2 at Xcel Energy Center Oct.27. Overall, the Wild has lost its last four meetings in Colorado. “Starts against this team are really important,” Boudreau said. “You just look at our record here last year and their starts against us and even after Game 1 here, it was 1-1 after one but they had outshot us 14-5. We gotta be ready. Recently we’ve been better at it, so hopefully it’ll continue tonight.” Defenseman Brad Hunt will make his Wild debut after getting added in a trade Monday. He’ll play on the left side, while Jonas Brodin will shift to the right. The plan is for Brodin to pair with Greg Pateryn on defensive-zone draws, a rotation the Wild used previously when Louie Belpedio was with the team. Center Eric Fehr remains out, but Boudreau believes Fehr’s lower-body injury will be healed after the break. “He’s close right now,” Boudreau said. Projected lineup: Jason Zucker-Mikko Koivu-Mikael Granlund Jordan Greenway-Eric Staal-Charlie Coyle Zach Parise-Victor Rask-Pontus Aberg Marcus Foligno-Joel Eriksson Ek-Luke Kunin Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon Brad Hunt-Jonas Brodin Nick Seeler-Greg Pateryn Devan Dubnyk Key numbers: 19: Goals surrendered by the Wild in its last four visits to Denver. 64: Saves on 67 shots for goalie Devan Dubnyk over his last three games. 9: Points for defenseman Jared Spurgeon in his last 11 games. 8: Multi-point games this season for center Eric Staal. 7: Hits Monday for winger Jason Zucker. About the Avalanche: Colorado has gone 2-5 in its last seven games. The team is coming off a 4-1 loss to the Predators Monday that enabled the Wild to leapfrog the Avalanche in the standings with its win over Vegas. Still, the Avalanche boasts one of the most dynamic lines in hockey with Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. The three has combined for 197 points, the second most of any three teammates this season. Rantanen’s 73 points before the All-Star Game are an Avalanche record. Star Tribune LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127422 Minnesota Wild

For new Wild defenseman Brad Hunt, it’s an exciting time

By Michael Kelly / Special to the Pioneer Press

DENVER – Life as an NHL player is rewarding but unpredictable. The past few days have checked both boxes for defenseman Brad Hunt. Hunt drove to T-Mobile Arena on Monday night a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, and after their 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild he headed home. Before he pulled into his driveway he was the newest member of the Wild. “I was three minutes from our house and got the call,” Hunt said. “As soon as you hear it’s the GM, you know something’s going on. It’s sad to leave your teammates but it’s an exciting new opportunity. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the guys here and this organization.” Just 36 hours after getting the call from Vegas general manager George McPhee, Hunt was skating at Pepsi Center and preparing to play his first game as a member of the Wild against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night. “It’s all part of it, it’s all part of the business,” Hunt said after the morning skate. “It’s one of those things that you’ve just got to be a pro about it and come ready to play. You don’t get too many chances to play in the NHL, and when you do you have to make sure you’re on your ‘A’ game. I’m excited to be part of a new group.” A journeyman defenseman, Hunt was an original member of the Golden Knights but was little used this season. He had two goals and five assists in 13 games and now will get an immediate chance to make his mark with the Wild. He normally plays on the right side but will be on the left and paired with Jonas Brodin. “Brods has had more experience playing the right side, so he’ll play the right side and Hunt on the left,” head coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We’re probably going to do it similar to how we did with (Louie) Belpedio; defensive zone faceoffs probably (Greg) Pateryn will be there.” Trades are oftentimes disruptive to a player’s family but in Hunt’s case it is all positive. His wife, Katie, is from Grand Rapids, Minn., and her parents still in state. She is expecting a son in April. “It’s a new beginning. Her family’s from Minnesota, she was born and raised in Minnesota, so she’s excited to be going home,” Hunt said. “We have a baby on the way so she’s excited for him to be born in Minnesota.” Hunt said he will go back west during the upcoming eight-day break to get things organized and relocate to Minnesota after quickly getting to Denver to join his new team. “I was throwing stuffing stuff in the bag and I was like, ‘I could have packed for this whole break,’ ” he said. “I was pretty much standing on my suitcase to close it. Pack for this trip then I’m going to go straight from here to home to set stuff up at the house in the nursery.” FEHR CLOSE Boudreau said center Eric Fehr is close to returning from a lower-body injury and should be back for the next game, Feb. 1 at the Dallas Stars. “I think he’ll be ready,” the coach said. “It’s eight days and he’s close right now.” Fehr has not played since Jan. 7 at Montreal, missing nine games. VACATION TIME Most of the Wild players and coaches get an extended vacation after landing in Minnesota early Thursday morning. The All-Star break ends Sunday, but the Wild get an additional four days off before playing at Dallas. Most have made plans, but Boudreau hasn’t decided what he will do. “I’ll figure something out,” he said. “I’ve got eight days to figure it out. There’s not enough hockey to watch, too, so that’s going to be a little boring. It’s probably the biggest downtime in sports. The NBA will be ready to go on their All-Star break, football there’s only one game left and baseball hasn’t started. I’ll pull my hair out.” Pioneer Press LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127423 Minnesota Wild With Philipp Grubauer looking behind him to the right anticipating a Parise wraparound try, Parise instead fed an oncoming Coyle to the left of the goalie for a dagger of a goal. Nick Seeler plays the hero in Colorado as Wild head into break on a high Embedded video note Giles Ferrell

@gilesferrell By Michael Russo Coyle buries the one-timer from Parise to make it 4-2.

11 DENVER — Nick Seeler now has eight days to ice down his battered body, elevate his achy limbs and spread some Arnica cream over his 11:18 PM - Jan 23, 2019 myriad bruises. See Giles Ferrell's other Tweets The All-Star break and subsequent bye week come at the perfect time for the Wild’s rookie warrior, who so richly deserved the Ramsey County Twitter Ads info and privacy Sheriff’s Office “Hero of the Game” hat that was hanging in his Pepsi “On Charlie’s goal, there were so many good things on the goal that Center stall after the Wild’s impressive 5-2 victory over bitter rival we’ve been practicing, too, and then coming off of the blocks, it was Colorado on Wednesday night. really enlightening,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “It was fun to watch.” In one of the gutsiest shifts you’ll ever see, late in the second period with The Wild built on the momentum. They dominated the third period, the Wild ahead by a goal, Seeler threw his body in front of back-to-back- getting a second 5-on-3 goal of the game (Staal in the second period, to-back shots 17 seconds apart. then Ryan Suter in the third, both set up by Mikael Granlund) and held Giles Ferrell the Avs without a shot for the final 13:35 of the hard-fought, intense contest. @gilesferrell The Wild, who had lost four of their previous five games in Colorado in · 5h largely one-sided games, entered the eight-day break feeling good about themselves with victories in four of their final games and five goals for the Nick Seeler with a couple of big blocks just prior to Coyle's goal. (r first time since Dec. 13. @RussoHockey) The sinking Avs, on the other hand, fell three points back of the third- Embedded video place Central Division team, Minnesota, with a 12th loss in their past 15 Giles Ferrell games. @gilesferrell “The boys deserve a break, but you wish you can keep playing if you’re going to play like that,” said Boudreau, including Monday’s win in Las Here is the entire sequence where Seeler is credited with three blocks. Vegas in his thought process. “I don’t think (the Avs) had a shot the last pic.twitter.com/40pTaDQRsl 14 minutes. We defended so well. It was really fun to watch as a coach.” 148 The Wild, per usual, gave up the game’s first goal, but they went on to win for the 15th time in such a scenario. That’s the second-most victories 11:27 PM - Jan 23, 2019 in the NHL behind only Tampa Bay (16) when trailing 1-0. Twitter Ads info and privacy Staal led the charge with two goals and an assist, including the tying goal after Carl Soderberg’s opening tally. It was Staal’s 66th career multi-goal Embedded video game and 77th career three-plus-point game. 53 people are talking about this Embedded video Two came against Western Conference-leading scorer Mikko Rantanen. Minnesota Wild The first hit Seeler’s right ankle. He slowly got to his feet, got back in position, then challenged Rantanen again. The final one was a rocket ✔ shot from a few feet away off the stick of Ryan Graves. @mnwild “I think one got me in the hand, one got me in the calf, and then, uh, I forgot the other one,” Seeler said like it was no big deal. “It could have Forechecking leads to good things  #MINvsCOL been worse places.” 75 Grateful teammates lost their minds on the bench. 9:55 PM - Jan 23, 2019 “We were all up going wild,” Charlie Coyle said. See Minnesota Wild's other Tweets “He blocked so many shots that shift, it was kind of funny actually,” Eric Staal said. Twitter Ads info and privacy “That was absolutely nuts,” appreciative goalie Devan Dubnyk said. “You What’s encouraging is Staal, after going through a drought of one goal in can look at that shift as the biggest one of the game. We’re winning by a a 14-game span, is heating up again with four goals and five assists in goal, we get stuck in our end against their big line, and he’s sacrificing his past six games. himself all over the place. And (Marcus) Foligno, too, he ate a full one- timer right off the pipe there. That’s a big point in the game, and then we “He’s reminding me of this time last year when he started to go and find get the fourth one right after.” his legs,” Boudreau said. And that was the most gratifying part of the hockey game from a Wild Staal also brushed off a game’s worth of Nikita Zadorov cross-checks perspective. and slashes without the benefit of even a penalty drawn. Perhaps the young, physical blueliner will now realize it’s pretty difficult to get inside Foligno’s final block led to an outlet and a full-on line change and the head of the savvy, experienced vet. suffocating offensive-zone shift. Teammates then paid Seeler and, yes, Foligno back by scoring a minute later with 22.1 seconds left to take a 4- “Staal’s too smart for that,” Boudreau said. 2 lead. “I just didn’t like that one late hit,” Staal said of the abuse. “I didn’t see “It’s all worth it when you’re able to get a goal after and ultimately get the him coming, blindside, so I kind of went back at him and then took his win,” Seeler said. stick over the shoulder in half. It was competitive. I like that sometimes. It gets you going.” With Staal and Zach Parise battling hard behind the net, Coyle came off the bench without any Avalanche player noticing. Parise did notice. Tyson Barrie gave Colorado a one-goal lead again on a power play, but before the end of the first, Jason Zucker won a battle, got the puck back for Jared Spurgeon, and two passes later, Spurgeon buried Suter’s cross-slot pass for the tying goal. Embedded video But the Wild held their ground and made Avs fans file out early like they did so often during a 17-4-3 run in Denver before the blips the last few Minnesota Wild years. ✔ “We haven’t had success in this building for awhile,” Dubnyk said. “First game this year plus the entire year last year, so it’s nice to get back to a @mnwild winning feeling in this building. They’re always very emotional games, Spurgeon ➡️ Suter ➡️ Spurgeon #MINvsCOL and when you can come into their building and quiet everybody down, it feels great.” 94 It was a big win in part because of the daunting schedule the Wild face 10:17 PM - Jan 23, 2019 after the long break. 16 people are talking about this The team reconvenes in St. Paul on Jan. 31 but isn’t allowed to practice until 2 p.m. It will then get on a flight and fly to Dallas and arrive oddly in Twitter Ads info and privacy the evening for a game the next night against the Stars, who will already have had a game since their bye. Staal and Coyle scored in the second, the Coyle one coming after Seeler’s series of blocks. The Wild then return home the next night to face Chicago on the second of a back-to-back. Michael Russo “Good thing the travel’s OK,” Boudreau said, sarcastically, a shot at the ✔ NHL schedule maker who every year somehow thinks Dallas and @RussoHockey Minnesota are right around the corner from each other. So, Nick Seeler's blocks were right leg on Rantanen, then limps away, This will be the Wild’s second road-home back-to-back starting in Dallas gets back into position, then dives head-first into Rantanen, then slowly this season. And those are the first two games of a hectic 14 in 26 days. gets up, gets back into position and then skates right into Graves' bomb. “It’s going to be difficult,” Boudreau said. “We’ve got a really tough Get that guy an ice bath and three ibuprofen schedule. There’s one point in there we’re playing all the heavy hitters. There’s a lot of good teams we’re playing in there.” 384 Well, good thing it’s the good teams the Wild usually play well against. 11:25 PM - Jan 23, 2019 Hunt has tough debut Twitter Ads info and privacy Defenseman Brad Hunt, acquired Monday night from the Vegas Golden 60 people are talking about this Knights, played for the first time since early January and only for the 14th time this season without even the benefit of a practice with his new team. Seeler, 25, blocked five total in the game and leads all NHL rookies with 79 blocked shots. It showed during a rocky first 40 minutes. “It’s part of my game,” Seeler said. “I try to get in front of pucks and help He was knocked off the puck on Colorado’s first goal, surrendered a Duby out a little bit. Anytime I can step in front of one and block a shot, I couple odd-man rushes and was caught running around a few times. will. Thankfully I got a couple tonight. Just doing my job. But, what a team effort. We all bought in. Everyone was just excited to try to come out of “First couple periods, getting back into it, game legs and game timing, it here with a win. We played really well and got an extremely important wasn’t good,” Hunt said. “But the guys supported me so well and the third two points.” period I started to feel a lot better. Just getting comfortable with the guys you’re playing with and different systems and stuff, it takes a little bit.” That’s for sure. Hunt, who played both the left and right side, did play a strong third Boudreau said after that shift with Seeler paying the price and Foligno period — especially on the power play, where he showed off his strong also laying out for one, he knew the team was committed to battling for puck-handling skills and shot. the victory. “He struggled early on,” said Boudreau, who spoke with general manager “Not many people see that on the scoresheet, but three big shots, that’s Paul Fenton, who was scouting, by phone after the game. “I just told Paul so huge from Seels,” Coyle said. on the phone, in the third, he looked more at home. He was making some pretty nice plays. That’s what we got him for. Let’s understand he Added Staal, “He’s a competitor. In a game like this, it’s emotional. He’s hasn’t played since (Jan. 4) and then let’s also say he has played 13 engaged. Those are big plays for us and got everyone excited. Fun to games. We’ve got to get him into hockey-playing shape. He keeps see a guy like that competing hard.” himself in good shape, but he’s going to need a few games under his Seeler, laughing, said he’ll have the break to “rest my body and ice down belt.” … a little bit.” Center Eric Fehr missed his ninth game with an undisclosed injury, but No doubt about that. Seeler will wake up Thursday morning feeling the he is expected to return after the break. To make room, the Wild will have effects of Wednesday’s game. to make a roster move, whether that be reassign Joel Eriksson Ek or Luke Kunin or put a player like J.T. Brown or Matt Hendricks on waivers But it was worth it. Against one of their most loathed rivals, the intensity (barring another type of transaction, like a trade, of course). felt like a mini-playoff game. It was fast, physical, at times nasty. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 Gabriel Landeskog was his typical annoying presence. He ran Dubnyk, he confronted Joel Eriksson Ek, he found himself a fixture in many post- whistle scrums. Embedded video Giles Ferrell @gilesferrell Landeskog runs into Dubnyk. Spurgeon escorts the Avs captain out of the crease area. 282 11:42 PM - Jan 23, 2019 66 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy 1127424 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens edge Coyotes to spoil Galchenyuk’s return to Montreal

KELSEY PATTERSON

Defenceman Mike Reilly scored in the third period and Carey Price made 30 saves as the Montreal Canadiens beat the visiting Arizona Coyotes 2- 1 on Wednesday night in Alex Galchenyuk’s return to Montreal. Jonathan Drouin also scored for the Canadiens (28-18-5), who have won five of their last six games. Price earned his 20th victory of the season. The Canadiens goalie has stopped 133 of the last 137 shots he’s faced on a four-game personal win streak. Conor Garland scored the lone goal for the Coyotes (23-23-4), who were playing the second game of a back-to-back set after a 3-2 victory in Ottawa Tuesday night. Calvin Pickard, in his Coyotes debut, stopped 22- of-24 shots. With the score tied 1-1 in the third period, Reilly scored the winner with a one-timer from the point that beat Pickard just below the blocker at 4:48. It looked like Galchenyuk had netted the equalizer with 3:39 left in the game. The Canadiens first-round draft pick, who played six seasons in Montreal, beat Price with a no-look shot on the power play. But the Canadiens challenged the play for offside and the goal was overturned. It was Galchenyuk’s first game in Montreal since being traded to the Coyotes for Max Domi on June 15. The 24-year-old was honoured with a video tribute during a commercial break in the first period. Both Galchenyuk and Domi were held pointless. The Canadiens got on the board first when their league-worst power play scored against Arizona’s league-best penalty kill. After a scramble in front of Pickard’s goal, Tomas Tatar jumped on a loose puck and fed Drouin, who snapped a nine-game goalless drought with a wrist shot at 9:29 of the first period. The home team could have easily scored a second or third goal but Pickard was up to the challenge. Pickard made two big saves to start the second period – point blank on Joel Armia in the slot with his mask before denying Victor Mete with the outstretched pad seconds later. The 26-year-old, playing his 99th NHL game, later stopped Armia on the breakaway. Garland thanked his goalie by levelling the score at 18:28 of the second frame while playing with the man advantage. Garland was left all alone at the side of the net after Artturi Lehkonen was forced to sprint to the bench because of a broken stick. Notes: Arizona’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson (lower-body injury sustained last game) did not play. With the all-star break followed by a bye week, the Canadiens don’t play again until Feb. 2. Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127425 Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs' Room: 'We find a way to win in different ways,' Julien says Montreal head coach pleased with win over the Coyotes after his gutsy challenge late in the third period helped preserve a 2-1 margin.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE

The first star in the Canadiens’ 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes was a forward who failed to earn a point. It could very well have been someone who never stepped on the ice. The Coyotes appeared to score a tying goal late in the third period when Alex Galchenyuk beat Carey Price seconds after the end of an Arizona power play. As the Coyotes were celebrating, assistant coach Dominique Ducharme was getting a message from Mario Leblanc and Eric Gravel, the Canadiens’ video coaches. “Dom was getting a message in his ear that it was offside, but I had to look at it and what I saw was white space between the puck and the blue line,” said head coach Claude Julien, who issued what proved to be a successful challenge. “I had to see it before I challenged because if we were wrong, it would have been tied 2-2 and they would be back on the power play,” Julien said. “But I was confident because I saw it and I know the people in Toronto have better equipment.” The No. 1 star on a night when Carey Price stood out with 30 saves was forward Joel Armia. If you look at the statistics, Armia came up empty on three shots, but it was his play in a defensive role that tipped the balance in this game. On the Coyotes’ first power play, he forced two turnovers, had a shot on goal and kept the Coyotes from launching a shot. And he controlled the puck at the end of the game when Arizona was pressing for a tie. “He was so heavy on the puck, he killed the last 30 seconds,” captain Shea Weber said. “On the PK, he had the puck for I don’t know how long. He was playing big.” This was the Canadiens’ last game before an extended break, which includes time off for the all-star break and the team’s bye week, The Canadiens don’t practise again until Jan. 31 and their next games are the traditional Super Bowl weekend matinees when the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers are in town on Feb. 2 and 3. The Canadiens have reason to believe they earned the rest. The win Wednesday gave them a 5-1-0 record in their last six games and they moved into third place in the Atlantic Division with 61 points. They are one point ahead of idle Boston, but the Bruins have two games in hand. The Canadians are one point back of second place Toronto and, again, the Maple Leafs, have played two fewer games. “We’re in a good spot, we’ve positioned ourselves well, but we have to step up our game,” Julien said. “The thing I like about our game lately is that we have found ways to win. That’s part of the success. We talk a lot about 82 games, but we focused on this six-game segment. You can’t be perfect, you can’t win every game. We wanted to put ourselves in a position where we were still in a playoff position. “We’ve had games where our goaltenders came up big and there have been games like the other night in Columbus where we scored big goals at the right time,” Julien added. While the Coyotes were no doubt disappointed to lose, Julien gave them credit for playing a strong game. “You have to give Arizona credit because they were playing their third game in four nights and they came in here after a tough game in Ottawa last night,” said Julien. “They’re playing their best hockey. I think they’ve won six of eight with a couple of ties. They did a great job, but we were able to find a way to win. It wasn’t pretty and it was not perfect, but we find a way to win in different ways.” Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127426 Montreal Canadiens

About last night ... Canadiens head into break after huge win

MIKE BOONE

Wasn’t that a helluva hockey game? The Canadiens are idle for the next nine days, during which the team’s fans can reflect on this amazing season. How amazing? Exhibit A: Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over Arizona, which included: • A power-play goal – ! – by Jonathan Drouin – !!! • Yet another lights-out performance by Carey Price, who made 30 saves • Joel Armia’s best game of the season. That late shift, when he and the Kid burned all that time in the Arizona end? Superb. • .Claude Julien’s coach’s challenge, which wiped out Alex Galchenyuk’s late tying goal. The Canadiens’ video guys were on their game … but so was everyone else. Despite playing last night and arriving really late from Ottawa, Arizona took it to the Canadiens for several scary stretches of the game … notably in the late going. But the home team didn’t crack. And when the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the Canadiens found themselves third in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. Did anyone expect this when the season began? No. The Canadiens, on paper, were an iffy team heading into the season. Galchenyuk and Max Pacioretty were gone. Shea Weber was rehabbing a severe injury. Carey Price was coming off a sub-par season. No one knew much about Max Domi … except that he was Tie’s son and had two very ordinary seasons in Arizona. No one knew much about Tomas Tatar, who was a healthy scratch during Las Vegas’s amazing playoff run. No one knew much about Armia. No one had ever heard of Brett Kulak. And everyone wondered why general manager Marc Bergevin used his first-round draft choice – third overall – on a skinny Finnish teenager most scouts rated outside the Top 10 prospects. Well, here we are: 51 games in the books, 31 to go … and man, this team is fun. All of Bergevin’s moves have come up roses – and roses are hard to cultivate in frigid Montreal. And beyond the personnel improvements, the Canadiens have played with a verve and work ethic that were sadly lacking last season. In his on-ice interview after the game, Tatar said: “I think this city deserves to see playoff hockey.” Will Montreal get what it deserves? There’s still a lot of hockey to be played – including a California road trip and six more sets of back-to-backs. So don’t pick out your spot for the Stanley Cup parade just yet. But enjoy the break, and look forward to more eye-pleasing and pulse- pounding hockey down the stretch. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127427 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens edge Coyotes to earn franchise's 2,000th win on home ice Carey Price makes 30 saves as he outduels journeyman Calvin Pickard to give the Habs a 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes at the Bell Centre.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Carey Price is having a very good new year. Price made 30 saves Wednesday night as he outduelled journeyman Calvin Pickard to give the Canadiens a 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes at the Bell Centre. The win gave Price a 5-3-0 record in 2019, but that figure is a bit deceptive because Price has done enough to win most of those games. He has allowed only 12 goals in those eight games. If you’re counting, it was the Canadiens’ 2,000th home win in the NHL. Mike Reilly snapped a 1-1 tie who he scored at 4:48 of the third period. Jeff Petry carried the puck around the Arizona net and teed the puck up for Reilly’s shot from the left point. It was Reilly’s third goal of the season, while Petry raised his points total to 35 and is on a pace to eclipse the career-high 42 points he collected last season. Galchenyuk goal challenged Former Canadien Alex Galchenyuk, who was quiet for most of the game, thought he had tied the score with 3:39 to play in the third period. But Claude Julien challenged the goal and the replay showed the Coyotes were offside on the play. The Canadiens took a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 9:29 of the first period. It might have been a coincidence, but Montreal scored on the first power-play opportunity since head coach Claude Julien assumed responsibility for the power play at practice on Tuesday. This was a matchup between the worst power play in the NHL against the team with the best penalty-killing record, but it appeared as if the Canadiens had some idea of what they were doing. Early in the advantage, Jesperi Kotkaniemi threaded a pass from the wall to Joel Armia in the slot. This should have been a goal, but Armia failed to get off a strong shot. Moments later, Jonathan Drouin scored his 14th goal of the season as he moved in on the right side and took a feed from Tomas Tatar. The goal came after a flutter of activity in front, which started when Shea Weber’s shot went off the end boards. The Coyotes pulled even with a power-play goal late in the second period. Nick Cousins found Conor Garland parked at the back door and Price had no time to react. Unremarkable return for Galchenyuk This game marked Galchenyuk’s return to Montreal for the first time since he was traded to the Coyotes last June and it wasn’t a very memorable return for the former first-round draft choice. Galchenyuk did show a little more defensive commitment than he did with the Canadiens and was credited with three blocked shots and a couple of hits. Galchenyuk also registered two shots on goal. His work in the faceoff circle reinforced the idea that Galchenyuk is not a centre. He won only four of his 12 faceoffs. The Canadiens had two lineup changes, as Price returned to play goal and Matthew Peca replaced Kenny Agostino on the fourth line. The Canadiens now get some time off. Their bye week follows the all-star break and they won’t be back in action until Super Bowl weekend on Feb. 2 and 3, when they play matinees against New Jersey and Edmonton. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127428 Montreal Canadiens It’s unlikely Danault will receive a lot of votes for the Selke Trophy — awarded annually to the forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game — even though he should be Analyze This: Case can be made that Phillip Danault is Canadiens' MVP considered, but his role with the Canadiens is crucial to their success, and he’s doing a great job fulfilling all his responsibilities. At age 25, the Canadiens' shutdown centre is playing excellent hockey and facing the best players in the NHL while he does it. There’s a legitimate argument to be made that he’s been the Canadiens’ most valuable player this year by a decent margin.

At age 25, he’s in the statistical prime of his career, playing excellent MARC DUMONT, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE hockey and facing the best players in the NHL while he does it. You can’t ask for much more than what Danault provides to the Canadiens. During the past eight days, the Canadiens faced teams that have some of the best lines in the NHL at their disposal. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2019 The Colorado Avalanche (Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog), Boston Bruins (David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand) and Columbus Blue Jackets (Artemi Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Cam Atkinson) presented the perfect opportunity for the Canadiens’ shutdown centre, Phillip Danault, to test his mettle against some of the top players in the league. And there’s absolutely no doubt about it, Danault passed the incredibly tough tests with flying colours. Facing those top lines, Danault & Co. put on a defensive clinic and did not surrender a single 5-on-5 goal. With 50 games under his belt this season, we can comfortably compare Danault’s on-ice results with last season, when he played 52 games for the Canadiens. The sample size is almost identical — 700 versus 680 minutes. As the chart below shows, Danault maintained very respectable underlying numbers last season in three important categories: Corsi For percentage (how many shots his team controls while he’s on the ice), Scoring Chances For percentage and High Danger Shots For percentage. The only metric that fell under 50 per cent was the amount of goals-for during his shifts, though that was a team-wide issue rather than a Danault problem. This season, however, Danault has ramped it up several notches, improving his numbers by a very significant margin. Not only does he face the best lines in hockey on a nightly basis, but he also does so while controlling the play in a dominant fashion. Danault ranks fifth in the NHL among centres when it comes to his share of shots while he’s on the ice. It’s an impressive feat considering that the top-10 list features such players as the San Jose Sharks’ Joe Thornton, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Ryan Johansen of the Nashville Predators and Bergeron. In mid-November, we looked at Danault’s value to the Canadiens, and how it went beyond his rather underwhelming production. But recently, Danault — who had eight goals and 25 assists heading into Wednesday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes — has lifted his production to new heights. Though we must note that, unlike the majority of the best centres in the NHL, Danault does not enjoy much power-play time, playing a little over 12 total minutes on the man-advantage this season. That is why we need to focus on his 5-on-5 production to even the playing field with the rest of the league, because it would be unfair to penalize Danault for playing over two minutes a night on the penalty kill. In 5-on-5 situations, Danault’s 27 points rank 23rd among all centres this season tying him with Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews. And Danault is ahead of such players as Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars, San Jose’s Joe Pavelski, Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. For an in-house example of how solid his production has been, Danault finds himself only two 5-on-5 points behind teammate Max Domi, who leads the team in scoring, with 16-28-44 totals. His surprisingly strong ranking among centres is explained by yet another significant statistical increase — his individual production rather than his on-ice results. Starting with goals scored per 60 minutes of ice time, Danault has increased his production across the board compared with last season, and the result has seen his 1.49 points per 60 rise all the way to 2.3 points per 60. There are very few centres in the league that can face the most skilled opponents in the NHL every game and still finish among the best players when it comes to controlling the play. Bergeron, the L.A. Kings’ Anze Kopitar, the ’ Aleksander Barkov and Sean Couturier of the Philadelphia Flyers are likely to come up when discussing elite shutdown centres, but given the amount of evidence we’ve accumulated, it might be time to add Danault’s name to the mix. 1127429 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens vs. Coyotes: Five things you should know Game marks Alex Galchenyuk’s first game in Montreal since he was traded to the Coyotes for Max Domi last summer.

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-Coyotes game at the Bell Centre Wednesday (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN-690). The matchup: The Canadiens have struggled at home this season with a 13-10-2 record after a disappointing loss to the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be going all out for this game because they’re looking at a long rest period. The entire league will get time off for the all-star break — there are no Canadiens going to the game — and Montreal is also getting its bye week, which means the Canadiens don’t play again until Super Bowl weekend. Arizona is on the second half of a back-to-back set after beating Ottawa 3-2 Tuesday night. Julien takes over power play: Head coach Claude Julien took things in his own hands Tuesday as he accepted responsibility for the power play, a job that had been shared by associate coach Kirk Muller and assistant coach Dominique Ducharme. Julien had Shea Weber and Jonathan Drouin on the points with Joel Armia, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Tomas Tatar up front, while the second unit had Mike Reilly and Jeff Petry with Charles Hudon, Max Domi and Brendan Gallagher. The Canadiens have the worst power play in the league with a success rate of 12.6 per cent. Hudon faces a test: Charles Hudon is filling in for Paul Byron, whose three-game suspension ends with this game. Hudon may be running out of chances to prove he has a future with the Canadiens. The 24-year-old forward was on a line with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia in Saturday’s loss and he said it might have been his best chance to show what he can do. Hudon was on the ice for a shade over 15 minutes and had three shots on goal and a couple of hits. The bottom line is that he didn’t collect any points and was a minus-1. Evaluating the trade: This game marks Alex Galchenyuk’s first game in Montreal since he was traded to the Coyotes for Max Domi last summer. It’s safe to say that Domi has benefited more from the change of scenery. He has given the Canadiens a reliable centre and he leads the team in scoring with 44 points, including 16 goals, in 50 games. Galchenyuk’s transition was slowed by injuries and he has eight goals and 25 points in 38 games. It didn’t take long for the Coyotes to determine Galchenyuk is not a centre and he has settled in as a third-line winger. The other guys: The Coyotes rank 28th in offence with an average of 2.63 goals a game. Clayton Keller is the team’s leading scorer with 34 points, including 11 goals, which ties him for the team lead with Brad Richardson and Christian Fischer. The defence ranks 22nd, with Darcy Kuemper carrying the load after Antti Raanta was sidelined with a lower- body injury. There is one thing the Coyotes do very well and it’s not good news for Julien’s revamped power play. Arizona has the best penalty- killing unit in the NHL, with a success rate of 87.2 per cent. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127430 Montreal Canadiens “Every team has a weakness, ours is a big weakness on the power play,” Julien said Tuesday. “And we must, I’ll repeat myself again, we must rectify the situation. That’s what we’ll continue to try to do and work on it. The process of getting the Canadiens power play out of their kitchen and You saw today, we’re going to try some things that are a little different into the opposing net from what we were doing before to try and help us out of this situation.” The biggest problem, as Julien explained over and over that day, were zone entries and getting set up in the offensive zone. By Arpon Basu Jan 23, 2019 “We have trouble entering the zone and gaining possession of the puck and controlling it in the offensive zone” he said Tuesday. “We always have pressure, but we don’t find a way to gain control. That’s something To fully appreciate the extent to which the power play was firmly lodged we worked on today, to try and win that, and once we’re in position it will in the Canadiens’ collective kitchen, we must go back to St. Louis, the be a matter of manufacturing scoring chances. That could mean a guy site of a dreadful 4-1 loss on Jan. 10. who feeds Shea Weber, but if not there are other ways. Sometimes it’s not complicated, you shoot on net, you have players going to the net – The Canadiens were down 1-0 when they were handed two straight not just one but often two, three or even four – and we’ll get some power plays late in the first period. They not only failed to tie the game chances. We need to be a little simpler for now until we get our but wound up allowing a shorthanded goal on a breakaway by Oskar confidence.” Sundqvist on the second power play after he had already failed to score on a breakaway on the first power play. Fast forward to the Canadiens first power play against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday. Here’s the zone entry. Sometimes it really is After the game, Brendan Gallagher succinctly expressed the urgency of simple. the situation. So once that’s done, the next priority is setting up Weber for a shot. After “If we are going to get in the playoffs, you have to think the power play is spending the entire practice Tuesday and the morning skate Wednesday going to play an important role,” Gallagher said that night. “It’s not with Weber at the left circle, he was posted on the blueline Wednesday something we’re going to give up on, we have to keep working at it but with two options to feed him at the half-wall on either side – Jonathan you’re slowly running out of time. I think it’s important for us to figure it Drouin on the left and Jesperi Kotkaniemi on the right. out.” Weber got two shot attempts on that power play, the first of which was Gallagher, of course, is right. tipped wide by Tomas Tatar but still resulted in a decent chance. The Since the 2004-05 lockout through last season, there have been 47 second resulted in a goal. teams who finished a season with a power play at 15 percent or worse in Both attempts came off a pass from Kotkaniemi on the half-wall on the 13 seasons. Only six of those teams made the playoffs, and the last team right side. to do it was in 2012-13 when the Boston Bruins not only made the playoffs but reached the Stanley Cup final despite a power play that “It’s just a couple of different looks,” Weber said, explaining why he was clicked at 14.8 percent. up top when they had practised with him at the circle. “Obviously the biggest thing for us is getting set up and we did a good job of that. Maybe That Bruins team was coached by Claude Julien, but it’s clear he doesn’t eventually we’ll get into that position (with Weber at the circle), but for want to tempt fate again this season. tonight it was working great. KK was giving it to me and there was a shot That night in St. Louis, Julien expressed his disgust with what he saw on both times he gave it to me up top.” the power play, the first sign of real impatience he has shown with the Once the shot was taken by Weber, that’s when Julien’s message really situation. rang true. Shoot the puck at the net and attack the net. “Right now we’re being outworked. Loose pucks, we’re losing those Here’s where the Canadiens were positioned as Weber’s shot went wide battles or even those races to loose pucks,” he said that night. “So because it deflected off Richard Panik’s stick. No one aside from Armia is definitely we have to pick up the pace there, the pace and the work ethic close to the net. on the power play.” After Weber’s shot hits off the boards behind the net and Tatar manages Personnel changes were made, but still, the Canadiens went 1-for-9 over to get a stick on it, a battle ensues, one that only involved Tatar and the next four games, a success rate that was actually helped by the fact Armia at first. Kotkaniemi comes in hoping for a puck to bounce loose to they didn’t get a power play opportunity in a 3-2 overtime win in Boston. him. Then the Canadiens lost 5-2 at home to the Philadelphia Flyers on Once that puck doesn’t spring loose for Kotkaniemi, he also gets involved Saturday, and though they only went 0-for-1 on the power play, that one in the battle in front, giving the Canadiens three guys in front of the net. failed opportunity was clearly the turning point in the game. Replacing Kotkaniemi as the guy who hopes the puck comes free is Julien was livid. Drouin, giving the Canadiens four guys in the net front area. “It’s hard to explain because we’re a better team at 5-on-5 with those Remember what Julien said after Tuesday’s practice: “not just one but same players than we are 5-on-4, so something there has to get better,” often two, three or even four” guys going to the net. This was that. It was Julien said after that loss to Philadelphia. “The decision making and the the players executing what the coach wanted, and having it work. choices of plays and those different things have to get better. We’re not a Going 1-for-2 on the power play elevated the Canadiens to 13 percent on threat at all on the power play, especially tonight. We got a little bit better the season, still last in the NHL and still far from acceptable. But heading and the last few games when we had some, but tonight was one power into an extended break in the schedule, the effect of not only that goal play and it was a dead one.” but the general effectiveness of the power play could perhaps help On Tuesday the Canadiens had their third practice in 12 days since that alleviate just how much of a mental block the ineffectiveness had loss in St. Louis, and something had changed. As opposed to Kirk Muller become. It could maybe extricate the power play from the Canadiens’ and Dominique Ducharme running the power play in practice, it was kitchen and allow them to build on the success of one night against the Julien. He was front and centre barking out orders, whistling plays dead best penalty kill in the league. to give instructions, taking charge. The power play is Muller’s The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 responsibility, with Ducharme’s help, but enough had become enough and Julien knew he was the one ultimately getting the blame, so he decided to put his foot down. “Today was one of those days where I got a little bit more involved and made sure that everything is clear, and then it goes back to the guys that are in charge of it,” Julien said after practice Tuesday. “But you know what? I have to take a big chunk of the responsibility because at the end of the day, it’s on me.” Julien took 12 questions after that practice, and six of them were about the power play. So yes, it is on him because he takes the bullets when it’s not working. 1127431 Montreal Canadiens Sabres, but it actually boosted the Canadiens right out of the wild-card race and into the divisional race. Their opponents have games in hand, but as it stands the Canadiens are third in the division, still just one point Cracking the win: The hockey gods smile on the Canadiens behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not to mention, according to NaturalStatTrick, Carey Price now ranks 10th in the league in goals- saved above average. Look out, NHL. By Marc Dumont Jan 23, 2019 It wasn’t a pretty win, especially since the Coyotes employed a strategy which consisted of protecting a one-goal deficit, but at this point in the year the process starts to take a backseat to the results. Though the storyline of the week was Alex Galchenyuk’s return to the Going into the bye week, the Canadiens can be proud of their results. Bell Centre, there was much more at stake as the Canadiens faced the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 With the upcoming All-Star weekend and bye week, the Canadiens’ upcoming schedule is rather light: they don’t play another game until Feb. 2 against the New Jersey Devils. A loss to the Coyotes would mean entering the break on a sour note, whereas a win would not only boost morale, but also pad their playoff positoning. Thanks to some timely production from the blueline and a rather lacklustre performance by the Coyotes forwards, the Canadiens were able to secure a 2-1 win, but not before the hockey gods decided it was time to shine a light on their old friends. Field artillery There are few things in sports more terrifying than a Shea Weber howitzer. Time and again, his shot either goes straight through goalies, or creates enough havoc to give the forwards time to score. Those are actually the only two ways the Canadiens seem to be able to score on the power play this season. This goal was the latter, as Calvin Pickard was forced into a breakdance routine due to the threat of an incoming Weber blast. Legend has it that once the fans have gone home and the lights are turned off at the Bell Centre, if you listen very closely you can hear the sound of a hundred goalies taking a deep breath. A bench too far Once Artturi Lehkonen handed his stick to Weber, which was essentially like handing him a mini stick, he had a decision to make. Either go to the bench to retrieve a new stick or maintain your position for the rest of the power play. I’m actually a proponent of getting a new stick while on the penalty kill, if the situation allows it. In this particular case, there was very little time left on the Coyotes power play, and seeing as it took place in the second period, the Canadiens bench was at the far end of the ice. Lehkonen never retrieved that stick, instead Joel Armia took his place, which makes me wonder whether or not it was the coach who ordered the change. Regardless, it was a mistake. Petry dish The Canadiens are a middle of the pack team when it comes to defencemen engaging. However, against the Coyotes the blueline was supporting the attack at every turn. First it was Brett Kulak jumping into the play, then it was Victor Mete getting a(nother) fantastic scoring chance, and finally, it was the ever-productive Jeff Petry setting up Mike Reilly for the game-winning goal. Divine intervention Luck is a funny thing. Sometimes it goes your way, and other times it takes a frustratingly long time and a micrometre to determine the outcome. I’m convinced the hockey gods are back on the Canadiens’ side, a nice change of pace following a season in which they certainly had their fun at the expense of the fan base. Last year, not only would Galchenyuk’s tying goal with 3:39 left in regulation have counted, but it wouldn’t have mattered because a 44-year-old emergency backup goaltender from the SPHL would have pitched a 63-save shutout while Lawson Crouse scored five goals. But this year, things are different. The Zapruder-quality footage was much more favourable toward the Canadiens. Courtesy NHL public relations Final Word This was a key victory in the grand scheme of things. Not only did it put more distance between the Canadiens and the ninth-place Buffalo 1127432 Montreal Canadiens talent to make a play like that, one on one, or make a play for my linemates.

“I’m an offensive player and I have to create offense. I have to produce. Galchenyuk — with Canadiens experience ‘in the past’ — starting to That’s what got me to the NHL at 18 years old and that has been my job flash offensive firepower my whole NHL career so far. I put a lot of pressure on the offensive side of my game and I have to find ways to contribute.” By Craig Morgan Jan 23, 2019 Sunday’s play was the kind of play Tocchet wants to see more often. “I think the last two, three weeks, he is starting to do that more but it’s something I’d like to see him do on a daily basis is to get that thought MONTREAL – One of Rick Tocchet’s favorite qualities in forward Alex process of playing quick,” Tocchet said. “If you’re a middle-line-drive guy, Galchenyuk is his outer shell. keep doing the same thing. It’s hard to do but you have to have that mindset. Don’t take shortcuts.” “He’s got a thick skin,” the Coyotes coach said. “I don’t want to always bark at him, don’t get me wrong, but I just feel he can take it. He’s not a The last-guy-on-the-ice compliment is an overworked NHL cliché, but pouter. He has no problem digesting it.” anyone who attends Coyotes practices can see how much time Galchenyuk puts in. He works at his craft. That part, he said, was never Galchenyuk said experience and wisdom have brought him to that place, in question because nothing less was allowed by his father, Alexander, a but it would be foolish to discount the role that environment played after former Soviet and Belarusian hockey player who played for the viewing a news conference at the Ritz-Carlton Montreal here International Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals when Alex was born. Wednesday. Playing for the Montreal Canadiens often requires protective calluses – especially when you begin that hockey experience as an 18- “He put me on skates when I was one year and eight months,” year-old. Galchenyuk said, smiling. “He tried to put me on at 1½, but they couldn’t find skates to fit and the doctor said my bones weren’t strong enough. My The Coyotes did not hold a morning skate on Wednesday because they whole life, I remember being on the ice and skating so I have to give him played Tuesday night in Ottawa and then had to bus to Montreal when a lot of credit for that.” their plane experienced a mechanical malfunction, putting them in the city just before 3 a.m. This news conference was an exclusive event, All the while, his dad was hammering home a simple message. held solely so Montreal media could reminisce, interview or grill Galchenyuk in his first game back in the city after the Canadiens traded “You can’t just go to sleep and wake up and feel confident,” Galchenyuk him to the Coyotes for Max Domi in June. More than 20 media members said. “You have to work for it and you get what you deserve. If you put in and cameramen made the trek through falling snow, seven hours before the work, you will get confidence from that.” the Coyotes were scheduled to play the Canadiens at Centre Bell. There were reports in the Montreal media that Galchenyuk’s dad may Galchenyuk agreed to do the news conference in the middle of the day have had too much influence over his game with the Canadiens, perhaps so he could focus on the game that night, and he patiently answered more than his coaches. Galchenyuk trains with his dad in the offseason question after question in what was largely a tame gathering, with one because “nobody knows my body better than him,” but the perception reporter asking if Galchenyuk missed the Montreal media. that his dad is too involved is one Galchenyuk is eager put in his past and one that Coyotes president of hockey operations John Chayka “Uh,” Galchenyuk said, pausing as the gathering of reporters laughed. dismissed as “people searching for stories.” “Obviously it’s a little bit different but I’m happy to be here standing and talking to you guys. It makes me miss you guys a little bit … not 200 days Chayka likes Galchenyuk’s recent stretch of games. a year.” “Alex has been one of our most impactful players since regaining full Galchenyuk has steadfastly refused to jump into the pool of opinions and strength from his injuries,” Chayka said. “He’s a dynamic offensive talent accusations that flew his way during his six seasons in Montreal, and that can win us games with one play.” after the Canadiens traded him to Arizona. Whether they were questions Galchenyuk said enough time has passed for his knee to fully heal and about his off-ice activities as an 18- and 19-year-old in one of North the past to fade. America’s freest cities, the suspected influence of his father on his game and his self-esteem, his ability to man the center position, or Domi’s “I feel better than I did a month ago but I still want to improve a couple surprising numbers since the trade, Galchenyuk has consistently taken things and I still have a game before the break so I am focusing on that,” the high road. he said. “I enjoyed my time there and the people I met and I have nothing bad to He insists he is happy for Domi that he is producing on the other end of say about the Canadiens,” he said. “At the same time, that’s in the past the trade (16 goals, 44 points in 50 games), but he knows that the and I have moved on.” Coyotes need more from him, and he knows he is still under the microscope, even if it is not as intense as it was on Wednesday. Galchenyuk wanted so badly to make a clean break and an instant impact when the Coyotes began the season. A preseason game offered “Coming into the league at a young age and going through the seasons a tantalizing primer of what was possible if the parts of a rebuilt power and opportunities and moments, you have to know the balance of when play could ever click, but a knee injury that required minor surgery to adjust things and refocus or just brush it off,” he said. “The game I sidelined him for the first seven games and hampered him well into his play, there are going to come mistakes; there’s going to be turnovers. It’s return. going to happen, but I’m on top of my game when I’m not scared or not overthinking; when I’m just going. “It is what it is,” he said. “It’s definitely tough missing training camp, coming into a new team, new system, new environment — everything is “It’s about how I bounce back from mistakes; how I try to get the puck new. Sometimes those things take time but I think I adjusted pretty well back. It’s not fun for the coaches when I turn the puck over but at the end and now it’s history.” of the day, I have to go out there and take the criticism and still play my game and not be tight. I can’t play my game when I am tight. It’s how you Over his past 15 games, Galchenyuk has looked more like the player the deal with adversity; how you bounce back from it. I feel like I have Coyotes envisioned, scoring five goals and posting 14 points despite a bounced back pretty well.” dearth of center options for Tocchet to trot out because of injuries to Nick Schmaltz, Christian Dvorak and Brad Richardson. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 Although, Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen made a terrific save on the play, Galchenyuk had a Grade-A scoring chance in Sunday’s win over the Maple Leafs by driving hard to the net with a jaw-dropping move. FREDERIK ANDERSEN EXECUTES A POWERFUL PUSH TO SHUT DOWN A GREAT MOVE BY ALEX GALCHENYUK. THE BIG LEAN WAY FORWARD AT THE END GIVES HIM A BIT MORE STRETCH/EXTENSION. PIC.TWITTER.COM/GGDX7GDEIS — INGOAL MAGAZINE (@INGOALMEDIA) JANUARY 21, 2019 “That’s definitely my game,” he said. “This game is so tight and some teams play man on man while others sort of do it, but I believe I have the 1127433 Nashville Predators

Wednesday's recap: Predators 2, Golden Knights 1

Paul Skrbina, Jan. 24, 2019

LAS VEGAS -- The 2017-18 Western Conference regular-season champion Predators and the 2017-18 Western Conference champion Golden Knights entered Wednesday's game with identical 29-18-4 records. Nashville, which won the President's Trophy last season, reached 30 first, stopping Vegas, at least temporarily, from becoming the first NHL franchise to reach that number of victories in its first two seasons by virtue of its 2-1 victory at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season last year. Predators center Ryan Johansen returned from a two-game suspension, just in time for his team to take a seven-day break that includes All-Star weekend. Goalie Juuse Saros made big save after big save and stopped a career-best shots in all for the Predators. After Max Pacioretty put the Knights up 1-0 in the first, Johansen's rebound tied the score 1-all 52 seconds into the second. Nick Bonino continued his hot streak by scoring his sixth goal in seven games to put the Predators ahead by a goal at 3:53 of the second. P.K. Subban said he was bitten on the finger by Pierre-Deouard Bellemare late during the second period during a skirmish in front of Saros. The chomp drew blood but Subban was assessed a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. He was not on the bench for the start of the third period but later returned to the game after Rocco Grimaldi served his penalties. Pekka Rinne and Roman Josi will represent the Predators at All-Star weekend in San Jose, Calif., and Subban will do a one-hour special after the skills competition on Friday. The Predators don't play again until Feb. 1 at the Florida Panthers. Big number I: 1. Shots on goal by the Predators in the third period. Big number II: 0-for-26. Predators on the power play recently, dropping them to 23-for-175 this season. Notable: Golden Knights goalie Malcolm Subban, brother of Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, did not play. He is on injured reserve. Quotable: "After a little bit of a slow start to the season they’ve really cranked it up and played well as of late. I thought we were good in Colorado. A little slow coming out of the gate. We can't afford hat luxury tonight." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette on the Golden Knights. Next: At Florida, 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1 at BB&T Center, Sunrise, Fla. TV/radio: Fox Sports Tennessee/102.5-FM. Tennessean LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127434 Nashville Predators

Ryan Johansen set to return from suspension for Predators

Paul Skrbina, Jan. 23, 2019

LAS VEGAS -- The Predators' leading scorer is out of timeout and will return to the lineup Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Ryan Johansen, who was suspended for the last two games for high- sticking the Jets' Mark Scheifele on Thursday, said he understood the punishment handed down by the league but called the incident incidental. "All in all my stick got a little careless," Johansen said. "Obviously it wasn’t intended to happen – a slash in the neck area like that. But it's over with and I'm excited to get back on the ice." Predators coach Peter Laviolette agreed the contact was accidental. Johansen leads the Predators with 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists). His return will be short, though. The Predators will be off for seven days beginning Thursday. Their next game is Feb. 1 at Florida. Tennessean LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127435 Nashville Predators

Predators' Nick Bonino feeling lucky lately

Paul Skrbina, Jan. 23, 2019

LAS VEGAS — Nick Bonino was off by one. But the Predators center knew he was off to begin the season. The 30-year-old went 18 games without a goal to start the year, a number he exaggerated by one when he brought up the streak unsolicited. Bonino has 13 in 32 games since, including four in his previous four going into Wednesday night's game against the Golden Knights. "I can't explain it. I wish I could do this all the time," he said. "Sometimes you get bounces. I think a lot of it is confidence. You see the puck go in once. I try to play the same way regardless of production. It's nice when it goes in." His 13th occurred Monday afternoon, when the Predators topped the Avalanche 4-1 to give coach Peter Laviolette his 600th career victory. And the timing was everything. Bonino had just been called for an infraction early in the second period that allowed Colorado's Matt Nieto a penalty shot, which would have furthered the team's streak of bad starts had Pekka Rinne not made the save. "That was crazy," Bonino said. "That was the cleanest stick lift I’ve ever done. I was very surprised (at the call). I think we all were. Pekks did his job. He was ready, cool, calm, collected." Soon after that, Bonino spit a pass from Calle Jarnkrok past Semyon Varlamov for his 100th career goal and a 1-0 lead the Predators badly needed. Bad luck, good luck? Bonino believes in making his own luck. Bonino, who wears No. 13, had 13 goals and 13 assists going into Wednesday. But he's not above feeling unlucky. "It's easy to blame luck when (the puck) is not going in," he said. "I definitely do that. That one (Monday) was lucky. ... I'll take those when they happen." So will the Predators, who have needed Bonino's offensive contributions with a tattered roster. Laviolette said Bonino's 100th goal wasn't luck, but rather "a beauty." "He seems to be on a little bit of a tear," Laviolette said. "We're asking him to play against top players. He's good defensively. He's good in the faceoff circle and good in the penalty kill. Now he's been able to contribute quite a few points in a little bit of a stretch. "That's a little bit of a bonus for our team with guys out of the lineup like (Ryan Johansen, who returns from a two-game suspension Wednesday) and Kyle Turris." Tennessean LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127436 Nashville Predators THE PLOT THICKENS. DID BELLEMARE BITE, OR DID SUBBAN GIVE HIM THE OLD FISH HOOK? BELLEMARE APPEARS TO THINK IT WAS THE LATTER. PIC.TWITTER.COM/DRZ19QLWGV Inside the dressing rooms after ‘Bite-gate’ incident in Vegas — RYAN QUIGLEY (@RP_QUIGS) JANUARY 24, 2019 “I don’t know why he’s going absolutely crazy there,” Bellemare said. “I By Jesse Granger Jan 24, 2019 don’t know what to do in this situation. I have a half of a glove in my throat, and playing with the back of it and pulling me up.

“The ref didn’t say anything to me,” Bellemare said. “He came to me and It’s the most famous biting-related incident in Las Vegas since Mike said (what is) the situation and I told them ‘I don’t know what to tell you. I Tyson sunk his teeth into Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1997. got choked. Choked and head locked.’” In a matter of moments, Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban went from In the end Subban and Reaves received matching unsportsmanlike administering a headlock on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, to tossing his conduct penalties, and Subban was given an additional two-minute minor glove to the ice and shaking his bloody finger in agony, to nearly fighting for roughing. Ryan Reaves. “I wasn’t involved with the referees conversation,” Golden Knights The scene in front of the Predators’ net during Wednesday night’s assistant coach Mike Kelly said. “We looked at it in the dressing room contest between the Golden Knights and Predators was bizzare and after and it looked like a scuffle. We didn’t get a clear picture of it. As far chaotic. as I’m concerned it was a scuffle. Tempers ran high.” It began with a relatively routine play. Bellemare crashed the front of the In the moment it seemed more violence in the third period was inevitable, net as goaltender Juuse Saros covered a loose puck, and Subban tied but very little happened. Bellemare up in front of the net. “(Subban) came a few times and hit me in the back of the head,” Subban wrapped his right arm tightly around Bellemare’s neck with his Bellemare said. “That’s the game. We lost the game and that has nothing hand smothering his face. to do with it, so it’s a tough loss.” “I’m in front of the net and I’m trying to get the rebound, and suddenly I’m The Predators went on to erase an early one-goal deficit to escape T- in a headlock with an entire glove in my mouth,” Bellemare told The Mobile Arena with a 2-1 win despite being outshot 48-27. Saros stopped Athletic, impassioned in the dressing room with cuts around his mouth. a career-high 47 shots to improve to 3-0 against the Golden Knights and “I’m choking, so obviously when he put his hand in there he removed my help Nashville enter the All-Star break with a huge road win and mouth guard, and then he tried to pull me up and he feels my teeth.” momentum. Subban immediately pulls away, both gloves falling to the ice, and is Meanwhile Vegas limps into the break losing 4-of-6, but with the waiving his fingers and motioning to the officials that he had been bitten. confidence that it has played well and controlled play in most of those games. “He started yelling that I bit him, I bit him,” Bellemare said. “I don’t know what you have in your mouth, but if you put your hand all the way in at The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 one point, and you pull up then you’re going to feel the teeth. I don’t know what the fuck he’s doing.” Subban obviously saw the situation differently. “He knows he bit me,” Subban said. “I’m not trying to rip his head off or anything like that, I’m not that type of player. So, it is what it is. He bit me, so, my finger was bleeding. All I tried to do was grab him. I grabbed him by the head to pull him up and he bit me, so that’s it.” After a few seconds of Subban pleading his case to the officials, he made a move toward Bellemare and teammate Ryan Reaves immediately intervened and attempted to fight Subban. “After that he came back and started to talk to me so I was like ‘All right, fuck, let’s go,’” Bellemare said. “Before anything happened Reavo jumped in there to protect me, so respect to him for that. That’s my (linemate) and I know he’s the kind of guy who’s going to jump and take a bullet for me. You have the biggest respect for those guys. ” Subban and Reaves never engaged as the officials quickly separated the two. The linesman clung desperately to Reaves’ waist, pulling him into the boards behind the Predators’ net as another grabbed Subban and escorted him in the opposite direction. “I don’t even know what started it, I just saw Subban coming at Belly with his gloves off, and I’m not going to let that happen,” Reaves said. “I know he had his gloves off before, but either way he’s coming at Belly with his gloves off so I’m obviously going to step in there.” Reaves and Subban exchanged words before Reaves made his way to the penalty box, and Subban to the dressing room. “I told him to stop shaking his hand,” Reaves said, implying Subban was embellishing. “Then he’s acting on it, so I don’t know what to tell you really,” Bellemare said, corroborating Reaves’ point. “He started yelling that I bit him, I bit him.” A frustrated Subban remained adamant after the game that he was unjustly punished for the whole situation. “I mean refs are human, they don’t have X-ray vision,” he said. “But once there’s evidence and there’s blood, I know you can’t assume to do it, but you are giving me four minutes in penalties for what? Because I reacted because a guy bit me? What am I supposed to do?” The officials spoke with Bellemare on the ice, who maintained that he never bit Subban. 1127437 Nashville Predators goal, already matching his career high with 14 primary assists at 5-on-5 (tied for 13th in the NHL) and averaging 0.86 points per game, just shy of his career-best 0.87. Ryan Johansen’s value to the Predators has never been higher And sure, it would be nice if Johansen scored more goals like he used to do with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he doesn’t need to to be successful in his current role (though it should be noted that his 8.42 By Adam Vingan Jan 23, 2019 expected 5-on-5 goals are the most on the team.) Johansen has evolved into an exceptional playmaker who positively impacts his linemates without having to shoulder the burden of being the Predators’ go-to scorer. LAS VEGAS — Ryan Johansen loves a challenge. “I think I still have a little more to go, but I think I did take a step since my He craves pressure and tends to thrive in it. It’s been that way since time being here in creating more offense and being a more productive Johansen got to Nashville three years ago, when the Predators player throughout the season,” Johansen said. “There’s still some more I immediately anointed him as their franchise center and expected him to think I can give here and plan to give once we’re making these last perform like one on a nightly basis. To his credit, Johansen has largely couple months of push into the playoffs.” succeeded. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 So when serious injuries to Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg stripped Johansen of his trusty wingers, he didn’t see it as a problem. He saw opportunity. “One hundred percent,” Johansen said last week. “With those two guys out, where I really hadn’t missed a game with them for a long time before that stretch there, it was looked at in conversations with coaches as a great opportunity for me to be a big-time leader in those games and take charge in the games and try and help drive our team. It was definitely tough because those two are unbelievable players. We all know that.” Indeed we do, but Johansen is no slouch. His play during a nearly two- month, 27-game stretch without Arvidsson, Forsberg or both by his side further underscored his importance to the team. “I think that Ryan has been really good all year, productive all year long,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. “It becomes a little bit more challenging when you lose your linemates like that. But it didn’t matter to him. He worked to make our team successful and to make the players around him on the ice better as well. That’s always a tough situation for a guy like him, but I thought he handled it really well and did a nice job.” COMBINATION SAT% GF% SCF% HDCF% SH% Forsberg-Johansen-Arvidsson 62.16 58.06 (18-13) 62.27 68.37 12.24 Johansen without Forsberg/Arvidsson (Nov. 12-Jan. 5) 55.23 37.5 (9-15) 51.12 50 8.57 As one might expect, the absences of Arvidsson and Forsberg impacted the potency of the Predators’ top line, which has basically been inseparable since its formation. (Johansen was without Arvidsson and Forsberg for 241:13 between 2016-18. That total is 199:55 this season.) The plunge in goal differential was more a reflection of the team’s lack of alternatives on the wings than anything else. Johansen, for his part, helped keep things afloat, tying for the team lead with 19 points over that 27-game span. (The Predators’ temporary top line of Johansen, Kevin Fiala and Ryan Hartman had a 55.97 expected goals percentage, though it benefitted from a high percentage of offensive-zone starts.) “With everything being different — power play, penalty-kill partners, 5-on- 5 — it was a big adjustment,” Johansen said. “You’ve really just got to focus on the little things in the games and just try and play really solid at both ends of the rink. I think there were times in that stretch where I struggled. I could’ve been playing better. But for the most part, I think I was happy with how hard I competed and just showed up for these guys and tried to be that difference-maker.” It was recently argued in this space that Arvidsson is the Predators’ most irreplaceable player. But Johansen could just as easily claim that title. The Predators were outplayed at 5-on-5 by the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche as Johansen served his two-game suspension for high-sticking Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele. (Johansen’s reaction to the punishment: “I felt like it was such an accident that maybe didn’t it deserve two (games), but then you watch the replay, and it looks pretty bad.”) Granted, it’s hard to draw definitive conclusions from a two-game sample, but Johansen’s presence and ability to push the offense were clearly missing. Arvidsson and Forsberg are less effective without Johansen, whose production hasn’t suffered as much when apart from them. “I think he’s just been taking charge,” Forsberg said. “He’s our first-line center. He’s leading the team and been playing really well.” Before the season, Johansen’s aim was to translate his recent postseason play to the regular season. He’s on his way to meeting that 1127438 New Jersey Devils The long-term goal is a little bigger. It’s about more than just events. Some studies estimate that as 30 percent of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars suffer from PTSD and/or depression. There is a stigma The inspiration behind NJ Devils' Kyle Palmieri's All-Star season that exists in our society when it comes to mental health issues, but some would argue it’s worse in the military, where soldiers are bred to be tough. Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer Published 9:17 a.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019 Through the foundation, Palmieri hopes to help ease the stigma surrounding PTSD and, specifically, seeking help for it. He’s not going to shy away from the tough issues. NEWARK — Kyle Palmieri is headed to San Jose this weekend for the “It’s not a seamless transition. I don’t think a lot of them have an easy NHL All-Star Game, and it’s a huge honor for the Montvale native to time translating back into civilian life,” Palmieri said. “It’s almost sickening represent the Devils and the state of New Jersey. to think of the stats that surround veterans and suicide and what they deal with. PTSD, coming back and being homeless, not being able to find But there’s another event in February he’s looking forward to. a job, it’s incredible to think that these men and women go and serve and On Feb. 23, it will be Palmieri doing the honoring for the active duty have trouble finding a way to live a normal life.” military and veterans of New Jersey and New York when the Kyle New initiatives will come with time. The foundation is still in its infancy Palmieri Foundation hosts its inaugural military ball. and Palmieri is excited about all of the potential. Right now, he’s gotten The foundation launched in August, prior to the start of the 2018-19 NHL everything off the ground and the next step is the signature event, the season and prior to Palmieri’s 22-goal, 38-point first-half performance. ball. During this time, he came to realize just how much goes into running a “It’s a way of getting people together and shining a light on the different charity. But with the help of his fiancé, Ashlee Casper, the foundation has programs we’ve partnered with,” he said. “It’s a way to have a fun night its first marquee event. and raise awareness and money that will go toward doing some pretty New Jersey Devils' Kyle Palmieri talks to reporters during media day at good work.” the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Thursday, September 13, 2018. Bergen Record LOADED: 01.24.2019 The Kyle Palmieri Foundation began as Squad 21, a military recognition program that worked with various groups such as Vet Tix and TAPS to bring active duty military and veterans out to games. But with so much of his family in the military, Palmieri had bigger plans for it that he’s now seeing come to life. “It grew into wanting to do a little more,” Palmieri said. “That started with establishing the foundation and getting things going with the event in February." Both of Palmieri’s sisters are involved with the military. His sister Taylor is a member of the National Guard, while his sister Tahrin’s husband, Stephen Ficchi, is an Army Ranger. A niece of his also recently enlisted in the Navy, and he has various other family members either currently serving or who have served. New Jersey Devils right wing Kyle Palmieri, right, celebrates his goal as Los Angeles Kings right wing Tyler Toffoli skates in the background during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Los Angeles. “It was something that was always kind of special to me,” Palmieri said. “I was always around military and had some personal connections to it, but I was always drawn to it whether it was reading books about it or learning about different experiences. I saw firsthand what it’s like for families during a deployment.” Palmieri watched in awe as Tahrin, who has two young kids, packed up her home several times as Stephen’s assignments have changed. His nearly 3-year-old niece has already lived in a handful of states, including New Jersey, where Tahrin briefly returned to be with family during one of her husband’s deployments. Meanwhile, 30-year-old Taylor has climbed the ranks in the National Guard and is applying for medical school. A former gymnast and college rugby player, the respect and admiration Palmieri has for his sister is evident in the way he talks about her. “She’s always been so tough,” Palmieri said. “I’m so proud of her and I know she’s proud of the work she does.” The short-term goal of the foundation is to aid some of the smaller military groups around the region, as well as two groups important to Palmieri’s family, the Military Family Relief Assistance Program and the Service Women’s Action Network. Palmieri has helped raise money through events with the Devils, such as Military Appreciation Night, and has continued to bring groups of servicemen and women to games for private meet-and-greets. The ball will be the biggest revenue generator. The military ball and other community events provide ways for military families to interact, helping them temporarily forget about the stressors of an overseas deployment. The 2019 ball will benefit three specific organizations, the two aforementioned organizations and Pets for Vets. Dec 10, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Kyle Palmieri (21) sakes during a break in the game against the San Jose Sharks in the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. 1127439 New York Islanders “I hadn’t played with anyone on this team before, but as soon as I signed, I think the whole team sent me a text message,” said Lehner, who has a young son and daughter with his wife, Donya. Comeback Season for Robin Lehner Spurs the Islanders’ Resurgence Cal Clutterbuck, an Islander since 2013, has marveled at Lehner’s focus and dedication from the start of their relationship on the ice. By Allan Kreda “You know you can’t go through something like that alone, and he’s got a nice support system here,” Clutterbuck said. “He’s living his life the right way and getting rewarded for it.” Islanders goalie Robin Lehner heard his name chanted loudly at Nassau Trotz, who also heard his name chanted Sunday as the Islanders won for Coliseum in the closing minutes of Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Anaheim the fifth time in seven games back at their raucous former home, said Ducks, another sterling performance in a renaissance season for him and Lehner’s achievements in tandem with Greiss are a boon for the team’s his team. He clapped in appreciation and smiled toward the sellout psyche. crowd. “He knows how important he is,” said Trotz, who joined the Islanders Ten months ago he had reached rock-bottom. As he wrote in an essay after winning the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals last season. for The Athletic in September, Lehner was drinking a case of beer a day “He and Greisser have been exceptional. When you feel that you’re part and taking pills to sleep. He thought about suicide. Then in March he had of the success and part of the reason you’re having success, it’s got to a panic attack during a game with the Buffalo Sabres. Soon he entered feel good.” the league’s substance abuse recovery program and received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder with manic episodes. Amid the relentless swirl of the season, Lehner said he had not fully absorbed what his turnaround might mean for those encountering similar Now, he is 10 months sober and an integral part of the Islanders’ life battles. He is more focused on managing his crease and being a stunning turnaround under their new coach, Barry Trotz. husband and father. Lehner, 27, is 11-1-1 mark since mid-December and entered “I still have a lot of emails and letters to go through,” he said. “It’s not Wednesday’s games leading the league in goals-against average (2.02) about being an inspiration figure. It’s about shining a light. If you have and save percentage (.931). these problems, it’s treatable. You need to get help. You need to find support. You can’t do it alone. That’s all the message there is.” Last year the Islanders allowed a league-worst 293 goals. Behind their goalies Lehner and Thomas Greiss and Trotz’s defense-oriented game And Clutterbuck said Lehner’s revival has inspired him and by extension, plan, the team has reversed course, winning 15 of its last 19 games the entire team. heading into the All-Star break this weekend. They are in first place in the Metropolitan Division, a position few pundits thought even remotely “He’s had a glimmer in his eye all season,” Clutterbuck said. “We are possible before the season. rooting for his success, all pulling for Robin as a person. I couldn’t be happier for him.” “We started off the year with a belief in a new coach and new system and I think everyone has bought in,” said Lehner, who is 15-7-4 with three New York Times LOADED: 01.24.2019 shutouts, already surpassing his victory total with the Sabres last season. “When you come to work with purpose every day and everyone buys in every day, it gets the focus going.” Since last March Lehner has worked to resuscitate his personal life and on-ice livelihood. Admitting he had never had a sober season during his hockey career, he focuses daily to control his addiction. “I’m an alcoholic and I have a few other things, but it’s treatable,” said Lehner, who was also found to have A.D.H.D. and post-traumatic stress disorder. “I was in a very dark place. I didn’t see much in the future at one point. Now I feel good. I’m coming along.” Lehner, whose father was a goaltending teacher for the Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist in Sweden, played parts of five seasons with the Ottawa Senators before tending goal for the next three years in Buffalo. Islanders General Manager Lou Lamoriello signed Lehner to a one-year contract in July and paired him with Greiss under Trotz and the goaltending gurus Mitch Korn and Piero Greco. “I knew about the ability and talent he had and things for whatever reason went in the wrong direction,” Lamoriello said during training camp. “I just called — I knew the agency that he is with — and I said, ‘why don’t you come in and let’s have a conversation.’ It was something we felt very comfortable with.” The Islanders have emerged as a surprising story line after the departure via free agency of their former superstar captain John Tavares to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Fans were furious over Tavares’s exit and seemed resigned to a rebuilding season. But the team’s defense has forged a fresh confidence under Trotz, allowing a league-low 118 goals through 49 games. The offense has flourished with steady production from all corners. Eight Islanders have scored at least 11 goals, the first time since the 1984-85 season that the team has generated such a balanced attack at this juncture of the season. Lehner emphasized that success is a byproduct of the team’s cohesiveness. Players and their families live in proximity of one another, the team’s practice home in East Meadow, and Nassau Coliseum, where they are playing half their home games this season. Lehner said he detected a positive environment with his new squad even before moving to Long Island to train with his teammates over the summer. 1127440 New York Islanders

Grueling schedule awaits Islanders after bye week and All-Star break

By Andrew Gross

The Metropolitan Division-leading Islanders went into their combined All- Star break and bye week losing a 3-2 shootout at Chicago on Tuesday night, knowing they need to play better than they did against the Blackhawks in their playoff push and expecting a majority of their remaining 33 games over the season’s final nine weeks to be the same type of closely contested battles. “Every game has been hard for us,” said goalie Robin Lehner, who went into the eight-day break leading the NHL with a 2.02 goals-against average and tied for first with a .931 save percentage. “We don’t expect it to be easy coming off the break but if we keep playing for each other and keep playing our game, I like our chances for a good push.” The Islanders (29-15-5), who have not made the playoffs since 2016, went into the break on a 15-3-1 run. They do not practice again until Jan. 31 and resume their schedule the next day against the NHL-leading Lightning at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. It’s the start of a grueling schedule in February (14 games in 28 days), March (16 games in 31 days) and April (three games in six days). That leaves limited practice time between Feb. 1 and the regular-season finale on April 6 at Washington – “Bet you can count the number of practices on two hands,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said – as the priority will be on rest and recovery. “We’ve put ourselves in a position to be there,” Trotz said of playoff contention. “But for all the good work you’ve done, it can turn on you on a dime, in milliseconds. We want to get back into the postseason. We have an opportunity. If we take care of our own business, then we’ll be fine.” Which is why the shootout loss to the Blackhawks should serve as a lesson. The Islanders, after holding their previous three opponents to fewer than 20 shots, gave up 40 to the Blackhawks. And instead of limiting shots to the outside and minimizing rebound opportunities, the Blackhawks were able to work the puck toward the crease with regularity, especially in outshooting the Islanders 18-7 in the second period. “Absolutely one of the worst periods in a long time,” Trotz said. Trotz led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in June before joining the Islanders. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk, who won the Cup with the Bruins in 2011, also is keenly aware of what lies ahead. “It’s going to be tough,” Boychuk said. “We can’t get complacent. We’ve got to keep playing the way that we know how to and, if we do that, we’ll set ourselves up for a nice playoff run.” Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127441 New York Islanders

Islanders loan rookies Michael Dal Colle, Devon Toews to Bridgeport The Islanders' Michael Dal Colle takes a shot

By Andrew Gross

The Islanders loaned rookies Michael Dal Colle and Devon Toews to Bridgeport (AHL) on Wednesday, presumably for temporary assignments during the team’s All-Star break and bye week. Dal Colle, 22, who has 16 goals and 12 assists in 28 games for the Sound Tigers, will participate in the AHL All-Star Classic, Sunday and Monday, in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Islanders, who lost a 3-2 shootout on Tuesday night at Chicago, do not reconvene for practice until Jan. 31 and resume play the following day against the Lightning at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. Bridgeport hosted Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday and will host Lehigh Valley on Saturday. After that, the Sound Tigers do not play again until Feb. 1. The Islanders' Devon Toews shoots the puck during The Islanders' Devon Toews shoots the puck during Both Dal Colle, on third-line center Valtteri Filppula’s left wing, and Toews, 24, paired with Scott Mayfield and on the second power-play unit, have forged regular roles in the Islanders’ lineup. Toews has three goals and two assists in 15 games since his recall on Dec. 19 and Dal Colle has a goal and an assist in 13 games and has been in the lineup for 11 of 13 games since his second recall this season. Islanders coach Barry Trotz said neither defenseman Thomas Hickey (injured reserve/upper body) nor left wing Andrew Ladd (injured reserve/lower body) will be ready to return immediately after the Islanders’ break. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127442 New York Rangers increasing to $1.075 million for “buried” contracts. A buyout following this season would mean cap hits of $970,000, 833,000, $3,145,833, $1,145,833 and $1,145,833, respectively, for the next four years. Rangers looking at defensive dilemma when Neal Pionk returns Assignment to the Wolf Pack next year followed by a buyout would mean cap hits of $3.275 million, $2,783,33, $2,783,333 respectively for the next three years. By Larry Brooks January 23, 2019 | 10:04PM 4. Signing Marian Gaborik to his five-year, $37.5 million contract on July 1, 2009 represents the greatest free-agency move in Blueshirts’ history. Not only did The Great Gabby record two 40-plus goal seasons in his four years in New York, but his subsequent 2013 deadline trade to Regarding the Rangers, who reconvene for practice on Sunday: Columbus netted Derek Brassard, whose trade to Ottawa after three 1. It is unclear when Neal Pionk, sidelined for four of the past five games years of commendable service yielded Mika Zibanejad and the second- heading into the All-Star break with a lower-body issue, will be cleared to rounder the Rangers used to move up to select K’Andre Miller last June. return. But when he is, coach David Quinn will face one of the trickiest New York Post LOADED: 01.24.2019 lineup decisions of his brief tenure. That is, does Pionk necessarily rejoin the lineup the moment he’s ready, and if so, who comes out? Tony DeAngelo? Adam McQuaid? Kevin Shattenkirk? DeAngelo has taken the baton passed to him in Pionk’s absence and has run with it, not only playing the most consistently constructive hockey of his brief NHL career, but combining with Marc Staal to form the team’s most solid first pair yet, though we’re not quite talking Brian Leetch-. Not even Marek Malik-Michal Rozsival. But still, as they say about the one-eyed man in the land of the blind … It’s a small sample size, of course. A teeny sample size, that too. But the fact is that in 102:33 of five-on-five, the Staal-DeAngelo tandem has a 52.3 Corsi rating, a 53.3 shot share and a plus-three (8/5) rating with a 34.5 offensive-zone start percentage per Naturalstattrick.com. Meanwhile, in 534:01, the Staal-Pionk pair has a 41.0 Corsi, a 41.0 shot share and a minus-five (19/24) with a 40.06 O-zone start number. Now, these numbers are not dispositive. This column is not a slave to Corsi and the attendant numbers scraped off official game sheets replete with errors. There wouldn’t be a dozen pie charts here even if the format were friendly to such graphics. And the Rangers maintain their own analytical records, compiled by the coaching staff after reviewing video. A week ago, though, Quinn told The Post the staff’s own numbers generally align with the information available in the public arena. This was a general observation, certainly not one about any defense pairing. But the truth is the numbers also align with the eye test. So would the coach break up the top pair that was intact through the three-game winning streak the Blueshirts will seek to extend on Tuesday when the Flyers come to the Garden? It makes no sense for DeAngelo to sit either in a macro- or microanalysis of the situation. The Blueshirts are on a need-to-know basis on No. 77, who has driven offense while playing responsibly on the defensive side of the puck and who has behaved responsibly in all areas. This is the time to find out whether DeAngelo is a viable top-six option. Sitting Shattenkirk is a non-starter. For not only is No. 22 playing his best hockey since November 2017 while both manning the first power-play unit and getting meaningful time killing penalties in Pionk’s absence, the Rangers need to showcase him in case other teams are interested in dealing for him. Would Quinn scratch McQuaid, whose toughness and leadership the coach extols at every opportunity and whose presence on Brady Skjei’s right side has provided somewhat of a security blanket for No. 76? Would he sit McQuaid, when the Rangers need to pump up the pending free agent’s value on the trade market? This will be a tricky call for Quinn, and injuries often resolve such situations, but at this moment there seems little reason to force Pionk back into the lineup. 2. The Rangers called up Boo Nieves one game too late. With 80 games the cutoff for unrestricted Group 6 free agency, Nieves has played a career total of 45, with 34 games remaining. Thus, the Blueshirts need to either extend the center’s contract, move him by the deadline, or take the chance on allowing the Michigan product to go scot-free. 3. Financial considerations as they relate to Brendan Smith, who has rehabilitated himself after last year’s debacle, but has no future on the Blueshirts’ blueline while carrying a contract with a $4.35 million NHL cap hit for two more seasons: Defenseman sent for AHL tune-up with return to Rangers uncertain A trade in which the Rangers pick up 50 percent of the deal would mean a $2,612,500 cap hit the next two years. Assignment to the AHL would mean a $3.275 million cap hit each of the next two years, the allowance 1127443 New York Rangers latter may be true, just not in the sense of expanding the players’ role to the first pair.

The leader of the Rangers defense in Game Score is Tony DeAngelo. Goldman: It’s clear that the Rangers need a number one defenseman. DeAngelo hasn’t been a mainstay in the lineup this year and is far from a But how do they define what that means? first pair defender, but he should at the very least be playing more consistently. After DeAngelo, Kevin Shattenkirk ranks second. Both may be slightly overrated via Game Score as offensive defensemen, but both By Shayna Goldman Jan 23, 2019 should be playing more than they have. However, neither is the team’s answer to finding a long-term number one defender.

Since defense is underrated with Game Score, we can look at it another On some teams, the number one defenseman paves the way for the rest. way by diving into the underlying numbers of defensemen. This isn’t as That defender is leaned on the most, deployed in crucial moments and cut and dry as sorting the team’s best, because some of the names that often in all situations and is a leader on the blue line – even if just by rank the best on each team are depth defenders that haven’t even example. dressed in all of this year’s games. The names included here are all the highest-ranking defenders on a team in these categories, but range from Other teams can rely on a strong defensive core and more evenly first to third pair defenders that have played in at least half of this distribute responsibilities. Even on those teams, there’s often still a season’s games. number one that’s leading the way, although it may not be by as wide of a margin. The other challenging thing is whether to analyze just how a player suppresses shots and quality chances or how much their offensive Neither has been the case in New York – not since the departure of Ryan impacts outweigh their defensive impacts. Many may side with the McDonagh, the team’s last number one defenseman. While establishing former, since in the most traditional sense, a defenseman’s role is to shut that top defensive player may not have been a priority this year, it’s going down the opposing team’s offense – ideally, they don’t shut their own to become one as they reshape into contenders, since rebuilding their team’s offense down in the process. blue line is an essential part of the process. One-dimensional defenders still have a role in today’s NHL, but with the To do that, the Rangers have to both define what it means to be a shift towards speed and skill, having a mobile blue line has become more number one defenseman and also figure out whether they have the important. And no matter the trends, the goal is the same for each and personnel in their organization. every game: outscore the opponent. Having a defense that can Trading McDonagh may have been a necessary evil in the Rangers’ contribute gives a team a better chance to do that, because without quest to rebuild into a contender for years to come, but there’s no scoring, how well a team defends only gets them so far. question that it opened a gaping hole on their defense that they still With that in mind, we can start with their rates against to show the haven’t been able to fill. defensive side of the game, but have to build on it to paint a fuller picture After a 40-game rookie season on the second pair, McDonagh spent the with their Corsi and expected goal shares. next seven years on the first pair and emerged as their number one For the Rangers, once again, it’s new names being added to these lists defender. His versatility and usage in all situations made him a key part because they don’t have any defensemen that have played well enough of the team, from the points he produced to how much he helped his to lead the way. This time it’s Brendan Smith who stands out with the team generate shots for and limit those against. highest Corsi and Fredrik Claesson for his shot suppression. Smith is a With the Lightning, McDonagh’s role and responsibilities have slightly frequent occupant of the Rangers’ press box. Claesson, on the other changed since they have a number one already in Victor Hedman. In hand, may be a source of stability on the team’s struggling blue line, but Tampa Bay, having another defender that’s capable of being a number isn’t the caliber of a number one either. one makes their blue line that much more dangerous, as they both can While the Rangers have had a number of players featured on these lists contribute in different ways and know the responsibility they have on the and technically have a two defenders taking on minutes reflective of top back end. pair defensemen, they’re still missing that clear number one. It was How contenders load up to not just have one number one defensemen, assumed that Skjei would step into the role and his minutes have since but two, like the Lightning or the San Jose Sharks with Brent Burns and increased, as have Pionk’s, but neither have actually filled McDonagh’s Erik Karlsson shows the importance of having dynamic defenders. And role. They’ve expanded their workloads, but don’t compare to the number that’s something the Rangers are missing. one defensemen around the league. How the Rangers finally fill that role and then support it depends on how A look around all 31 teams shows that a number one defender can have they define it. What does it take to be a number one defenseman? different strengths. They can be elite offensively or excellent in their own end. Maybe they’re an elite defender that takes on so much responsibility In the simplest terms, it could be leading the way in ice time. and tries to carry the defense on their back or one that has support which makes them that much better. Maybe they’re just across the board elite, The above chart looks at the defender on each team that leads in most like Seth Jones, Kris Letang, Dustin Byfuglien, Giordano, and Karlsson. facets of ice time on average. Most of these backs that lead the way in all situation minutes are thought of as the number one on their respective Almost every team has that clear number one that the Rangers just can’t clubs. Many of them also lead the way in average power play minutes. compare to right now, but that they should strive to have in the future. Some of the few that don’t, such as Hampus Lindholm and Ivan The challenge is going to be identifying players with that potential and Provorov, make up for it on the other side of the ice on the penalty kill. developing them. Even in this rebuilding year, when the defense was expected to remain a weakness, it’s likely been determined that it will As much as being a number one defenseman means being relied on the probably have to come from outside of their roster. The current defenders most, there’s more to it than just absorbing the most minutes – otherwise are placeholders for absorbing the minutes, but there doesn’t seem to be the Rangers would simply have a number one in Neal Pionk, who has the a potential number one in that group. Ideally though, they develop into a highest average ice time in all situations, or Brady Skjei, who leads at 5- supportive core that helps the Rangers form a defense in the mold of the on-5. Lightning, Predators, Hurricanes and Sharks. Being a number one defenseman can also mean being the most skilled That number one defenseman may not be on the roster, but could defender. The simplest way to look at that is points, but to dig in deeper already be in the organization. Maybe it’s from one of the defenders they we can look at Game Score, which is a combination of statistics including drafted in June or one they have yet to acquire – whether it’s a young goals, primary and secondary assists, shots, blocks, and 5-on-5 Corsi NHL ready defender ready to take on an expanded role, a prospect or a and goal differential. draft pick. This chart features the Game Score leader for each team on defense. A The question isn’t just whether they can acquire it, but whether they can number of these line up with the time on ice chart and show why teams identify a defender that can grow into the current void. Can they identify have chosen to lean on defenders like John Klingberg, Alex Pietrangelo, the next cornerstone of their franchise? With how they’ve evaluated and Mark Giordano the most, . defense in recent years, that’s a concern. It doesn’t line up for every team though. For the Hurricanes, Dougie As the Rangers have progressed with their rebuild, they’ve created holes Hamilton may have the edge in his ranking because offense can be for themselves to fill. As necessary as it may have been to dig that hole, overrated and more defensive players like Jaccob Slavin can be can they dig themselves out? underrated with Game Score. These values may also signify that players should be getting more ice than they’ve been given. For the Rangers, the Until a number one defenseman emerges, it’s question that they have to face. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127444 NHL signed goaltender Mikko Koskinen to a three-year contract extension worth $4.5 million a season.

STEPHEN WHYNO Struggling Edmonton Oilers fire GM Peter Chiarelli Seattle Times LOADED: 01.24.2019

By STEPHEN WHYNO

Edmonton fired Peter Chiarelli on Wednesday in an indictment of his roster moves in three-plus years as general manager, with the Oilers in striking distance of a playoff spot during another losing season. The team announced Chiarelli’s abrupt dismissal in the aftermath of its third consecutive loss. Edmonton has lost 12 of its past 16 games going into the All-Star Break. The Oilers are 14-14-2 since firing coach Todd McLellan and replacing him with Ken Hitchcock. CEO Bob Nicholson will oversee hockey operations and the search for Chiarelli’s replacement. Nicholson said at a news conference in Edmonton that Keith Gretzky will assume GM responsibilities for the time being, including the point role ahead of the Feb. 25 trade deadline. Nicholson said the Oilers, who are three points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, still believe they can make the playoffs but won’t sacrifice the future to try to make quick fixes. He said the organizational decision was made this week to fire Chiarelli, who was told at the second intermission of a loss Tuesday night to Detroit so he could quietly leave the arena. UW Huskies 2019 outlook: What will offense look like with Jacob Eason, Salvon Ahmed in backfield? Nothing else about Chiarelli’s tenure in Edmonton was quiet. He was hired in 2015 after the Oilers won the draft lottery and selected star Connor McDavid. He was heralded as the right executive to get the Oilers back to respectability. They’ve made the playoffs just once in McDavid’s three seasons despite him putting up 329 points in 258 games, leading the league in scoring twice and winning the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. “There’s something in the water here in Edmonton that we don’t have right,” Nicholson said at the news conference. “And we got to get that figured out.” Chiarelli is the second GM to be fired this season. The Philadelphia Flyers dismissed Ron Hextall in November and named Chuck Fletcher his replacement. Nicholson said Hitchcock will remain coach for the rest of the season as Edmonton tries to close the gap and qualify for the postseason with 32 games left. Moves made by Chiarelli along the way contributed to the Oilers struggling for much of the first four seasons of McDavid’s career. Chiarelli traded 2010 top pick Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils one-for-one for defenseman Adam Larsson. Hall won the Hart last season and led the Devils to the playoffs. He signed Milan Lucic to a $42 million, six-year contract that now appears to be unmovable. The big winger has 96 points in 214 games with the Oilers, including just five goals this season. And he traded 2008 first-round pick Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome, who he sent to the New York Rangers earlier this season for Ryan Spooner. The Oilers put Spooner on waivers Monday. Chiarelli was expected to give the woebegone Oilers steady leadership with McDavid. He won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011 but made similar personnel mistakes in Boston, most notably a failed trade of Tyler Seguin to the Dallas Stars that contributed to losing his job. Edmonton had missed the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons before replacing Craig MacTavish with Chiarelli. A trip to the second round of the playoffs in 2017 looked like the start of success, but the Oilers finished 17 points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference despite McDavid putting up an NHL-best 108 points to win the Art Ross Trophy. Last summer, Chiarelli did little to improve the roster around McDavid. The result was 11 losses in their first 20 games that led to the firing of McLellan and later a series of reactionary moves. Beyond the Strome for Spooner deal, Chiarelli sent 24-year-old forward Drake Caggiula to Chicago for bottom-pairing defenseman Brandon Manning. This week, he 1127445 Ottawa Senators That might be the case, but Boucher has a funny way of showing how much he likes Wolanin.

The club dressed seven defencemen against the Coyotes and he played Snapshots: Thomas Chabot will get a chance to learn from the best only 8:08 —which included two minutes of power play time. Wolanin was immediately added to the roster of the AHL all-star game Bruce Garrioch which will take place in Springfield, Mass. Monday and Tuesday. He joined forward Drake Batherson, who was named earlier this season season … With eight healthy blueliners, Wolanin might have to be Thomas Chabot is headed for a sunny destination this weekend, but he’s patient. bringing his equipment with him. Ben Harpur was scratched Tuesday and the Senators don’t want to have As many of the Ottawa Senators scattered for places like Florida two defencemen sitting every night. Wednesday morning, Chabot was at home packing his bags and preparing to leave for San Jose Thursday to participate in the all-star A lot of what happens here could depend on what takes place at the weekend for the first time in his NHL career. trade deadline. Chabot will be part of the Atlantic Division team in the three-on-three There has been no shortage of speculation about the future of blueliner tournament for $1 million Saturday night and will participate in the skills Cody Ceci with teams calling about his availability. competition on Friday with the likes of Toronto’s John Tavares and Everyone is speculating about the future of defenceman Cody Ceci Auston Matthews along with Tampa’s Steve Stamkos. He will be a restricted free agent at the July 1. He plays big minutes and The Senators believe the experience will be good for him. if general manager Pierre Dorion decides to deal him then the club would “He has the pride now, but being there he’s going to be with guys he want a big return. watched on TV a few years back and dreaming of being in the NHL,” said Senators’ prospect Alex Formenton, who wasn’t able to participate for coach Guy Boucher after the club’s 3-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes Team Canada in the world junior championships because of a knee Tuesday night. injury, has been working out in Ottawa and preparing to return to the “First of all, (he should) take it in and appreciate the fact that you’re there. OHL’s London Knights early next month. His family is going to be there and I’m sure some friends. Not a lot of He has been skating for about a week under the guidance of the training people can say they played in an all-star game in the highest league of staff. “I’m pretty close to stepping back into the lineup but everything has their sport. to go as planned,” Formenton told TSN 1200 Wednesday. “I’m going to “(Plus) get the experience from what you hear and what you see. Not so start ramping up the skating really soon and then I should be back in much from the games, but see how people conduct themselves. Over the London skating with my linemates. If everything goes right and, as years, when you see high-end players, people and leaders and when you planned, then it should be pretty soon.” see how they conduct themselves, it definitely helps you to see what Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.24.2019 you’d like to, and need to be, for the future. AROUND THE BOARDS The Senators will have centre Colin White back from a shoulder injury next week against the Penguins. He skated with his teammates Monday and Tuesday, but needs to be cleared for contact. That’s expected to be the case next week and, if so, the Senators will be completely healthy. “That’s not a problem, that’s having all your tools in the toolbox to make the right decisions on who’s in the lineup and what lines,” Boucher said. “That’s a lot more depth than we’ve had all year.” You can expect White to return skating with Brady Tkachuk and Stone because the trio had success before the injury Jan. 9 vs. Anaheim … There was a lot of concern about Tkachuk’s play Tuesday after two bad giveaways against Arizona in the first period. The second resulted in a goal by Arizona’s Vinnie Hinostroza. “(That happens to) everybody in the NHL. You have those games whether you’re 19 or 35-years-old,” Boucher said. “You’ve got to fight through it, and fight back, and he did the rest of the game. He pushed back.” Tkachuk was minus-2 with 14:22 of ice time. THE LAST WORDS The Senators sent forward Rudolfs Balcers and defenceman Christian Wolanin to the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville Wednesday so they have a chance to play during the nine-day break. Both were eligible to be sent down and can be brought back when the club returns to work next Thursday in Pittsburgh. The most likely candidate to return is the 23-year-old Wolanin. Boucher sung Wolanin’s praises before facing the Coyotes at home. “He’s been doing very, very well. He was sent down (after camp) because he needed to work on his defensive game,” Boucher said Tuesday morning. “Some guys are sent down for the opposite. He’s 100% an NHL defenceman with the puck, he just needed to go down to perfect his defensive game. He’s improved a lot and what we find here is he’s improving here. He’s come up and every day, practice and game he’s shown some terrific stuff on both sides of the ice. I’ve always been a big fan of his.” 1127446 Ottawa Senators usually starts to kick in at the beginning of December and our young guys have really been pushing hard through it.

“That’s (the break) going to help the older guys, obviously, but the Ottawa Senators head to break sitting in last place young guys also get a breather and get some energy to get going after (the break). It’s a lot to ask of some young guys every night and they’ve given us everything they’ve had and they deserve a break right now.” Bruce Garrioch The Senators better come back energized from their holiday because with 32 games left on the schedule and the distraction of the Feb. 25 trade deadline to deal with they’ve still got a lot of work ahead of them. The Ottawa Senators didn’t have a worry in the world as the headed their separate ways for a nine-day break Wednesday. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.24.2019 But, when they get back to work next week, they’ll have to try to come up with a solution to try to get out of the basement. The Senators knew this rebuild would be a challenge, however, after dropping a 3-2 decision to the Arizona Coyotes Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre they woke ranked last at No. 31 overall in the league Wednesday morning and that’s where they’re going to sit for awhile. The challenge when the Senators return against the Pittsburgh Penguins next Friday at the PPG Paints Arena in their first game will be to try to find a way to climb out of last place after two straight losses before starting the all-star break then the mandated five-day hiatus. Naturally, this wasn’t where the Senators expected to be. “When you talk about it, and you look at some of the games that we’ve let get away in games that we were in, (there were) young mistakes, veteran mistakes and everybody across the board is responsible for us being out of shooting distance right now,” said winger Bobby Ryan Tuesday night. “We’ve got to play our way in, we’ve dug ourselves a hole, but we feel we should be a little bit closer. Things are just going against us.” No, the Senators can’t talk about being a playoff contender, but they can focus on trying to get back to respectability. Heading into Wednesday night’s action before the league shuts down until Monday, the Senators were 15 points behind the Buffalo Sabres for the final wildcard spot in the East. This season is about “progression” for the Senators and they’re not really spending a whole lot of time looking at the standings. The measuring stick at the end of this year for Guy Boucher and the rest of the coaching staff will be the development of the young players. The Senators have put the likes of , Colin White, Maxime Lajoie and Christian Jaros in big roles this season. Boucher has stated several times in the last couple of weeks he feels he’s seen those young players get better and he wants that continue down the stretch into April. The Senators have played better defensively, which is a step in the right direction, however, it hasn’t always translated into results. “I missed a month and I wasn’t there for some of the growth we had but being back in the last couple of games I think we’re playing better hockey,” said top goaltender Craig Anderson, who returned from a concussion Saturday. “We’re giving ourselves a chance to win on a nightly basis. “We’re going in the right direction, there’s just a couple of things here _ bounces or plays _ that we can clean up, myself included. We can all be a little bit better, but I do feel like we’re going in the right direction, we’re playing better hockey and we’re giving ourselves a chance to win.” Anderson said the least of the Senators worries should be where they sit in the standings. “You can’t control it so don’t get caught up in it,” Anderson said. “Your focus has to be on how you’re playing and what you can do for that next game. That’s the learning curve. We’ve got a bunch of young guys so it can be frustrating if you come in and look at the standing and dwell on it. “You can’t dwell on it. You’ve got to look at the positives, you’ve got to look at the growth and I think if you look at the growth and the positives then we’ve kind of made some steps here.” Is now a good time for a break? “People always want to make something out of a break,” Boucher said. “It always depends on how you come back. If it goes well, it was a good break and if it doesn’t go well it was a bad break. “Right now, with the young guys we’ve got and the team that we’ve got, I have to admit it’s been hard for some young guys. The grind of the NHL 1127447 Philadelphia Flyers Anthony Stolarz – Beat Pittsburgh on Dec. 1. Biggest save was on a shorthanded breakaway by Derek Grant.

» READ MORE: It’s been quite a ride for Anthony Stolarz Carter Hart and the six other goalies the Flyers have used this season Brian Elliott – Replaced Pickard and stopped all 16 shots to help the Flyers rally for an overtime win against Phoenix. Two days later, he by Ed Barkowitz, notched his only shutout of the season. Michal Neuvirth – That’s easy. Beat the Rangers two days before Christmas. It’s his only win of the season. It’s been quite a season for the Flyers. New coach. New GM. Lots of frustration. Plenty of goaltenders. Alex Lyon – Mrs. Neuvirth giving birth in mid-December. Neuvirth went to be with his wife and Lyon was called on to relieve Stolarz in a Dec. 15 On the subject of the latter, here’s a look at the seven guys who’ve game at Vancouver. He’s not played for the Flyers since. started games, which has tied a dubious NHL record. The outlook for stability has improved, however, since the promotion of certain rookie Calvin Pickard – Stopped 31 Rangers’ shots on Nov. 23 for his first who has energized the locker room. shutout in two years. Less than a week later, he was waived. Carter Hart – Has staked a solid claim to be the Flyers No. 1 goalie for Lowlight of the season the remainder of the season. Carter Hart – Personal five-game losing streak included getting pulled for Mike McKenna – Currently the backup, probably will be replaced once the first time in his career, Dec. 31 at Carolina. someone else gets healthy. Mike McKenna – Essentially scored on himself by redirecting a Capitals’ Anthony Stolarz – In the minors rehabbing a lower-body injury, could be pass into the net. back next week Anthony Stolarz – The Flyers led Calgary 5-3 with 69 seconds left and Brian Elliott – Injured, lower-body, no timetable for return lost in overtime, 6-5. Stolarz didn’t play poorly, but it was one of the worst losses of the season. Two days later, coach Dave Hakstol was fired. Michal Neuvirth – Injured, lower-body, no timetable for return Brian Elliott – Games played since Nov. 16: Carson Wentz, 4; Brian Alex Lyon – Is 10-9-1 with a .917 save percentage for Lehigh Valley Elliott 0. (AHL). Coming off a ridiculous 49-save outing in a shootout win over Rochester on Saturday. Michal Neuvirth – Just about all of it. Calvin Pickard – Waived in November, now with Arizona. Alex Lyon – Lit up by Buffalo on Nov. 21 in his only start of the season. The Sabres scored four goals in the first period to chase Lyon. Carter Hart made 33 saves to improve to 6-5-1 in 12 career starts. Calvin Pickard – Gave up four goals in 12 minutes in a loss at Toronto on Since 1997-98, only seven goaltenders have made more starts before Nov. 24 and was waived four days later. Claimed by Arizona. age 21 and only four have recorded more wins before that age. #NHLStats #PHIvsMTL pic.twitter.com/9MCVSpEGLS Starts this season for Flyers — NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 20, 2019 Carter Hart – 12 (6-5-1) 2018-19 salary Mike McKenna – 1 (0-1-0) Carter Hart – $650,000 Anthony Stolarz – 7 (2-3-2) Mike McKenna – $700,000 Brian Elliott – 13 (6-7-0) Anthony Stolarz – $761,250 Michal Neuvirth – 6 (1-4-1) Brian Elliott – $3 million Alex Lyon – 1 (0-1-0) Michal Neuvirth – $2.25 million Calvin Pickard – 8 (4-2-2) Alex Lyon – $750,000 » Full Flyers' goaltender stats Calvin Pickard – $800,000 How old are these guys? Source: Spotrac.com Carter Hart – 20 Brian Elliott, who started on opening night, has played in just 14 games Mike McKenna – 35 this season because of injuries -- none since Nov. 15. Anthony Stolarz – 25 Brian Elliott, who started on opening night, has played in just 14 games Brian Elliott – 33 this season because of injuries -- none since Nov. 15. Michal Neuvirth – 30 Contract status Alex Lyon – 26 Carter Hart – Signed through 2020-21 season. Calvin Pickard – 26 Mike McKenna – Unrestricted free agent after this season. Where they from? Anthony Stolarz – Restricted free agent after this season. Carter Hart – , Alb. Brian Elliott – Unrestricted free agent after this season. Mike McKenna – St. Louis Michal Neuvirth – Unrestricted free agent after this season. Anthony Stolarz – Edison, N.J. Alex Lyon – Signed through 2019-20 Brian Elliott – Newmarket, Ont. Calvin Pickard – Now with Arizona; free agent after this season. Michal Neuvirth – Usti Nad Labem, Czechoslovakia Highlight of the season Alex Lyon – Baudette, Minn. Carter Hart – His parents’ emotional reaction when he became the youngest Flyers goalie ever to win his NHL debut. Calvin Pickard – Moncton, N.B. » READ MORE: Hart’s family in the house for his debut Who’s the biggest? Mike McKenna – Either meeting Gritty or stopping five Alexander Carter Hart – 6-2, 181 Ovechkin shots in his only game. It’s a toss up. Mike McKenna – 6-2, 183 Anthony Stolarz – 6-6, 210 Brian Elliott – 6-2, 209 Michal Neuvirth – 6-1, 209 Alex Lyon – 6-1, 201 Calvin Pickard – 6-1, 200 Note: Stolarz is the tallest goalie in Flyers history. Originally drafted … Carter Hart – By the Flyers in 2016, 48th overall (2nd round) Mike McKenna – By Nashville in 2002, 172nd overall (6th round) Anthony Stolarz – By the Flyers in 2012, 45th overall (2nd round) Brian Elliott – By Ottawa in 2003, 291st overall (9th round) Michal Neuvirth – By Washington in 2006, 34th overall (2nd round) Alex Lyon – Undrafted Calvin Pickard – By Colorado in 2010, 49th overall (2nd round) On Twitter Carter Hart – N/A Mike McKenna – @MikeMcKenna56 Anthony Stolarz – N/A (previously @StolieTheGoalie) Brian Elliott – @KidElls1 Michal Neuvirth – @MNeuvirth30 Alex Lyon – N/A Calvin Pickard – @CPickard1 Mike McKenna is channeling Gritty on his new helmet. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/939VrrOamp — Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 15, 2019 Goalies used by NHL teams (Standings and rosters through Tuesday, Jan. 23) Eastern Conference Projected playoff teams – Tampa Bay (3), N.Y. Islanders (3), Toronto (3), Washington (2), Columbus (2), Boston (2), Montreal (2), Pittsburgh (3). Outside looking in – Buffalo (2), Carolina (3), N.Y. Rangers (2), Florida (3), Detroit (2), Flyers (7), New Jersey (3), Ottawa (5) Western Conference Projected playoff teams – Calgary (2), Winnipeg (2), San Jose (2), Nashville (2), Vegas (2), Minnesota (2), Dallas (3), Colorado (3) Outside looking in – Vancouver (4), Anaheim (3), Arizona (4), Edmonton (2), St. Louis (3), Chicago (3), Los Angeles (4) Season in a sentence Carter Hart – Finally, a reason for optimism. Mike McKenna – Was on three NHL rosters from Jan. 2-4 after Vancouver traded him to Ottawa and the Flyers picked him up off waivers. Anthony Stolarz – Still can work his way into backing up Hart. Brian Elliott – Can’t help the club when you’re always in the tub. Michal Neuvirth – Has made so many trips to IR he should get frequent- flier miles. Alex Lyon – Kid went to Yale, he’ll be fine. Calvin Pickard – Hope you enjoyed the merry-go-round. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127448 Philadelphia Flyers

Unlucky No. 7: A quick look at the Flyers and the other teams that have gone through seven goalies by Nick Tricome,

The Flyers’ long run of goalie issues have been at their worst this season. With Mike McKenna’s start in Washington on Tuesday, he became the seventh goaltender to play for the Flyers in the 2018-19 campaign, tying an NHL record reached by just three other teams (the 2007-08 Los Angeles Kings, the 2002-03 St. Louis Blues and the 1989-90 Quebec Nordiques). It’s not exactly a record you want attached to your club’s name, especially when the Flyers reached it just over halfway through the season. It isn’t one that bodes well for playoff hopes either, as the 2002- 2003 Blues are the only ones to have made postseason despite their instability in goal. Injuries, quick-fix waiver claims and call-ups and the sooner-than- expected arrival of Carter Hart have led the Flyers to this point. Here’s how they compare to the other three teams that had to use just as many goalies... 2018-2019 Philadelphia Flyers 15-22-6 (36 points), 8th in Metropolitan Division The Flyers' goaltending statistics following Tuesday's loss to Washington. Of note... The Flyers have allowed the third most goals in the NHL (155) following Tuesday’s loss. 2007-2008 Los Angeles Kings 32-43-7 (71 points), 5th in Pacific Division, missed playoffs The Los Angeles Kings' goaltending statistics for the 2007-08 season. Of note... Jonathan Quick, at 21 years old, made his debut in an 8-2 win over Buffalo on Dec. 6, 2007. He stopped 15 of 17 shots, but would only appear in two more games for the 2007-08 campaign. He started in half the Kings' games the next season and emerged as their full-time starter going forward. Los Angeles gave up 263 goals, the third most in the NHL for the year. 2002-2003 St. Louis Blues 41-24-11-6 (99 points), 2nd in Central Division, made playoffs (lost first round to Vancouver in seven games) The St. Louis Blues' goaltending statistics for the 2002-03 season. 1989-90 Quebec Nordiques 12-61-7 (31 points), 5th in Adams Division, missed playoffs The Quebec Nordiques' goaltending statistics for the 1989-90 season. PHILLY.COM / PHILLY.COM The Quebec Nordiques' goaltending statistics for the 1989-90 season. Of note... Quebec allowed 407 goals that season, the most in the NHL. Flyers interim coach Scott Gordon played 10 of his 23 NHL games for the Nordiques that season. He has a career .830 save percentage and a 5.60 goals against average. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127449 Philadelphia Flyers to rediscover his game again, including playing some hard minutes on the PK with his TOI back in the 17-minute range.

Jake Voracek Grading the Flyers' forwards at the bye week Grade: C+

Stats: 11 G, 28 A, 39 P, minus-13 By John Boruk January 23, 2019 Voracek, arguably the most frustrating player on the team, has the ability to dominate at times and is an absolute force with the puck, but it comes After dissecting goaltending and the defense over the past two days, we sometimes at the expense of trying to force plays that simply aren’t there. turn our attention up front to the point producers. Turnover prone and doesn’t exert max effort on the defensive side of the puck as well. In our final bye-week installment of the midseason report cards, we break down the Flyers' forwards. No forward has been more greatly affected by the Flyers' horrific power play than Voracek, who’s offensive output was dependent on the PP. Sean Couturier Last season, 41 percent of his production came on the power play, compared to just 21 percent this season. Grade: B+ Wayne Simmonds Stats: 19 G, 20 A, 39 P, minus-3 Grade: C+ Couturier, proving that 2017-18 wasn't a fluke as the Flyers' No. 1 center, is on pace for back-to-back 30-goal seasons. It took a while for his Stats: 15 G, 8 A, 23 P, minus-11 season to get going following a knee injury he suffered during a charity game prior to training camp. He had eight scoreless games in October Simmonds’ season has been a rollercoaster one with contract alone but just 11 in the three months since. negotiations and trade rumors swirling heading into a summer of free agency. Still doesn’t seem to have that explosiveness that he once had Defensively, not as flawless as last season when he finished second in and doesn’t carry much speed through the neutral zone. Selke voting, but he still does all the little things required of a two-way center. Currently playing some of his best hockey with four goals and six As much as the Flyers need his edge, grit, power forward mentality of assists and a plus-6 during his six-game point streak. crashing the net and working the dirty areas, Simmonds still gets caught up with not making the smart, simple play in his end of the ice that can Claude Giroux lead to a turnover and eventually a goal. Simmonds also needs to cut down on penalties, leading all Flyers with 12 minors. Grade: B+ James van Riemsdyk Stats: 14 G, 38 A, 52 P, plus-4 Grade: C Would you believe that Giroux has just four fewer points through 48 games than he had at this point last season on his way to a 102-point Stats: 12 G, 10 A, 22 P, minus-5 season? Actually, Giroux has been a better point producer this season at 5-on-5 with 2.94 pts./60 min. compared to 2.81 a year ago. Continues to Suffering a leg injury in the second game of the season derailed JVR’s be a monster in the faceoff circle. start to the season. Played very passively trying to understand his role while learning on-the-fly. Could bear down a little more defensively in his Has already exceeded his shorthanded TOI from last season and his own zone. inclusion on the PK has been one reason for the turnaround. Giroux’s move back to center has helped balance the lines. Still has some Following a meeting with Scott Gordon, JVR has turned it loose with six occasional defensive lapses and his backchecking is lukewarm at times. goals and eight points over his last five games, displaying a net-front presence with an excellent set of hands capable of scoring in a myriad of Scott Laughton different ways. Grade: B Nolan Patrick Stats: 7 G, 12 A, 19 P, plus-5 Grade: C- Currently on pace to become the first Flyer since Joel Otto in 1996-97 to Stats: 9 G, 8 A, 17 P, minus-3 score 30 points in a season — all at even strength or shorthanded. Personally, I think Laughton is more effective at left wing than at center, After having a full offseason regimen without dealing with a major injury, where he plays a tougher, hard-checking game along the boards and Patrick started the season with nine points in his first 14 games before doesn’t have to worry as much with the defensive responsibilities. enduring a major dropoff. From there, Patrick played with no speed and no attacking mentality in the offensive zone, and as a result, the Flyers' So far, 2018-19 has been another positive step in Laughton’s second-year center went through a profound slump from mid-November development to become a complete player that can be counted on at to mid-January with no goals over a 24-game stretch. both ends of the ice. No Flyers forward has logged more time on the penalty kill than Laughton. He’s had some assignment breakdowns Defensively, Patrick is rarely out of position and plays like a third defensively but has shown improvement. defenseman at times. Better suited as a third-line center. Now that he has racked up four goals over his last three games, we’ll see if he carries Travis Konecny that confidence over from the bye week. Grade: B- Michael Raffl Stats: 12 G, 14 A, 26 P, minus-3 Grade: C- Konecny has been paying more attention to the small details while Stats: 3 G, 5 A, 8 P, plus-1 eliminating high-risk plays and low percentage passes from his game. Still gets caught at times abandoning his defensive responsibilities, If the Flyers can somehow manage a sixth-round pick in a trade for looking for that breakaway attempt. Even though Konecny leads the team Jordan Weal, it will be interesting to see how the Flyers handle Raffl for with 99 shots on goal at even strength, his shooting percentage is down the remainder of the season. He could be moved for a mid-round draft from last season. Expect his goal total to pick up over the second half of pick. the season. Raffl has been much more involved when playing with more talented Oskar Lindblom forwards like Voracek and Couturier and seems less engaged in a fourth- line role. However, he has been a solid contributor on the penalty kill as Grade: B- he’s been on the ice for just four power-play goals in 36 minutes of PK time. Stats: 5 G, 10 A, 15 P, minus-2 Dale Weise After a very productive road trip in early December that included a five- game point streak playing alongside Nolan Patrick, Lindblom seemed to Grade: D+ hit a wall, produced very little offense and was banished to the fourth line, where he went scoreless for the entire month of December. He's starting Stats: 5 G, 6 A, 11P, minus-6 It’s been a tale of two Dales. The Dave Hakstol version of Weise saw second-line minutes back and played some solid hockey with three goals in five games, but under Gordon, Weise has been appeared to be going through the motions, not playing with exerted effort and with very little energy. Now that he’s been told to stay at home and wait for a trade, it will be interesting to see how the situation plays itself out. Phil Varone Grade: D Stats: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, minus-4 Now 18 games played with the Flyers, Varone is one of those “tweeners” where he excels at the AHL level but it doesn’t translate to the NHL. While he has been mindful of playing solid defensively, Varone also spends the majority of his shift in the defensive end. He had a burst to his game early into his call-up but has slowed down since. Doesn’t win too many board battles. Jori Lehtera Grade: F Stats: 1 G, 2 A, 3 P, minus-7 There’s really no value Lehtera brings to the Flyers. Not agile and aggressive enough to help kill penalties. Lacking the necessary foot speed to play center. As a winger, Lehtera is physical but can’t establish himself as an effective forechecker. Much rather see Nicolas Aube-Kubel in that fourth-line role. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127450 Philadelphia Flyers Phantoms Connor Bunnaman and Frank Hora in junior hockey. He knew the Phantoms had top notch facilities when he came to town for the 2017 All-Star Classic. Justin Bailey felt a trade was coming before Flyers acquired him Of course, like everyone else on the Phantoms’ roster, the goal is to be in Philadelphia. Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 12:50 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019 “When I go up there I want to make sure it’s not just because and then I get sent back down,” Bailey said. “I want to go up there and play my best hockey, doing all the right little things and that when I go up there hopefully it’s to stay.” ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Justin Bailey is quite familiar with the feeling that a lot of his teammates with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms have now. Courier-Post LOADED: 01.24.2019 There was a new general manager in town and it’s not the one who drafted him. Did he have a future with the Buffalo Sabres, who drafted him in the second round in 2013? Bailey, a 23-year-old winger from suburban Buffalo, figured he might get moved and last week he did when the Flyers traded Taylor Leier to acquire him. “I knew was a possibility as we got closer to the trade deadline,” Bailey said. “It was something I was prepared for and something I was looking forward to, getting to an organization that hopefully has plans to see me play games in the NHL and earn my way to that opportunity. “I was drafted by (Darcy) Regier in ‘13 and I think he got let go the year after. It went to Tim Murray and Tim Murray was the one that signed me, so I made a pretty decent impression on Tim there and I think I played the most amount of my NHL games in my second year. Then he was gone, and they bring in Jason Botterill and last year they had me up early in the season and unfortunately due to injuries and stuff like that early on I wasn’t able to stay up there for as long as I would have liked. This year a change of scenery was definitely needed and was a good thing for me.” The 6-foot-4, 214-pound winger would be one of the bigger Flyers if he were on the NHL roster. He’ll have to prove he’s worthy first and so far, early impressions are good. He had two assists in his first three games. Phantoms interim coach Kerry Huffman plans on using Bailey as a key player in all three facets of the game. Leier left a large void, but Bailey is the kind of player that can be effective in all those roles. “It’s only been a couple games, but he’s been a big part of getting four out of the six points,” Huffman said Tuesday. “If we didn’t have him, I’m not sure how we would have done. That line with him, (Mikhail) Vorobyev and (Colin McDonald) were playing together they were real good for us, real good. He’s played hard. He’s skated. That’s what he has to do. He’s a big body so everyone assumes he has to be a physical presence, but he skates so fast, that’s his asset. I think he is no different than a lot of big-bodied young players. When their feet aren’t moving they’re not effective. When he has that consistency in his game, he’s a good player. He’s hard to play against.” Some of the early returns might be the adrenaline of coming to a new team via trade or finally knowing that, yes, the team he’s playing for sees potential. Bailey said that when Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher called him it felt a bit like draft day when he heard tangible evidence that the team wanted him. The big winger said he doesn’t want to be given anything other than an opportunity to earn a spot in the NHL. What’s keeping him from being up there, anyway? “I think being my size, I definitely need to bring that physical presence night in and night out,” Bailey said. “I think I show flashes of being physical but being able to do that more consistently. For me, my game, obviously I have the speed and I have the size and I need to make sure I’m bringing those two components every game and the other team’s defense and even my team notices the way I’m playing with speed and size.” He got that out of the way against his old team pretty quickly. Only two days after Leier and Bailey were traded for one another, they faced each other at the Phantoms’ home rink, PPL Center. Bailey had played the night before in a 6-5 Phantoms’ overtime loss to Hartford. Leier didn’t immediately go to his new team, instead staying in Allentown to gather his belongings so he could leave with the Rochester Americans when the game was over. “It’s a guy that has…I don’t know if he’s been here the longest or one of the longest,” McDonald, the Phantoms’ captain, said of Leier. “A fan favorite and significant time with the Flyers. It was an awkward situation. It was weird. It was the first time in my career and some of these guys might never see that type of situation happen again. That said, you wish him nothing but the best. He was so well-liked, well respected.” In time, Bailey may earn that level of respect as well. He’s developing some familiarity with his new teammates and had already played with 1127451 Philadelphia Flyers inability to find a long-term solution to its goaltending issues. But how rare is Hart’s path across the league?

With the help of Hockey Reference, we can answer that question. Over 10 Flyers’ bye week statistical observations: Gordon vs. Hakstol, Hart’s the past 20 NHL seasons, only 10 other goalies made appearances in 10 performance, PP struggles and more or more games in their third season after being drafted (removing goalies from the pool who were passed over by NHL teams in at least one draft). The list, unsurprisingly, contains quite a few familiar names. By Charlie O'Connor Jan 23, 2019 Player Games Played Year Save Percentage GA%-

Steve Mason 61 Draft+3 0.916 92 With no games this week, the many faithful readers of our Philadelphia Flyers coverage may assume that our regular 10 Things column will be Carey Price 41 Draft+3 0.920 88 taking a brief hiatus. Dan Blackburn 31 Draft+1 0.898 110 Instead, for your reading pleasure today, we have an upgraded version of Roberto Luongo 24 Draft+3 0.904 100 the normal observations column. I will focus on 10 key statistical trends, random tidbits and deep-dive pieces of analysis related to the Flyers Marc-Andre Fleury 21 Draft+1 0.896 116 organization as a whole. The team may not play again until Monday, but the content never sleeps here at The Athletic. Rick DiPietro 20 Draft+1 0.878 126 1: Hakstol vs. Gordon by the numbers Andrei Vasilevskiy 16 Draft+3 0.918 96 Now that Scott Gordon has coached the Flyers for over a month, it’s time Andrew Raycroft 15 Draft+3 0.890 N/A to take a quick look at the team’s metrics under the interim head coach Braden Holtby 14 Draft+3 0.934 76 and compare them to those under the departed Dave Hakstol, who was relieved of his duties on Dec. 17. Carter Hart 12 Draft+3 0.918 89 Vocal fan sentiment regarding Hakstol had become hostile by the end of Kevin Poulin 10 Draft+3 0.924 N/A his tenure, but the simple fact that new GM Chuck Fletcher would eventually want to bring in his own hire rather than stick with the man A few points of note. First, this list makes it clear that goalies don’t handpicked by predecessor Ron Hextall was the driving force behind usually ascend to the NHL at such a young age — it happens about once Hakstol’s exit. Still, Gordon’s hire led to a consensus feeling of cautious every two years. In addition, it’s only occurred once in the past eight excitement in the fanbase, with most curious if the longtime Lehigh Valley seasons (Vasilevskiy) prior to Hart, hinting at a newfound patience within Phantom head coach could get more out of the team than Hakstol. The NHL front offices when it comes to goaltender development. early returns are mixed. Second, this is a list of mostly good-to-great goalies. Blackburn’s Team Metrics Under Hakstol Under Gordon promising career was ruined by injury (he could no longer use a catching Advantage glove), DiPietro and Raycroft busted, and Poulin was more an injury- replacement (for DiPietro) during a lost season in New York than truly a Record 12-15-4 7-8-2 Gordon highly touted prospect. Aside from those four (really just DiPietro & Raycroft), making the NHL at a very young age as a goalie seems to Points Percentage 45.16% 47.06% Gordon bode fairly well for one’s future. 5v5 Corsi For % 50.12% 48.39% Hakstol Third, regarding the GA%- metric — think of it as “save percentage 5v5 xG For % 51.62% 47.65% Hakstol relative to league average.” A goalie who posts a 100 essentially stopped a league-average number of pucks; anything below 100 means he 5v5 Goals For % 48.89% 46.27% Hakstol stopped more than average, while anything above 100 means he did worse than average. Hart, notably, trails only Price and Holtby so far in All-Situations Save % 87.43% 90.26% Gordon his small sample. Record-wise, the Flyers have performed slightly better with Gordon at the Finally, it’s important to remember that Hart is very young for his draft helm as compared to Hakstol, but not nearly well enough to battle back year. Compare him to Holtby, who because of his birthday was 21 years into the playoff race. They’ve still lost more games than they’ve won, old when he first hit the NHL and already had spent a full season (his largely due to an eight-game skid that started right after Christmas and Draft+2) in the minor leagues. Hart, on the other hand, doesn’t turn 21 didn’t end until two weeks ago. As for the team’s performance at 5-on-5, until August, and had just 17 minor league games to his credit before the Hakstol-coached club has the edge in shot-, chance- and goal-based receiving the call. With 34 games remaining in the Flyers’ season, Hart metrics. But Gordon’s team has received far better goaltending, which could rapidly climb in the ‘Games Played’ section of this chart — he only makes sense considering the start of Gordon’s tenure lined up perfectly needs to appear in 55 percent of Philadelphia’s remaining contests to with the recall of Carter Hart (both occurred on Dec. 17). pass Blackburn for third. The numbers may imply that Hakstol’s team was “better” than Gordon’s, Right now, it truly does look like his best comparable is Price, not just in but that’s not a full accounting of the situation. System-wise, Gordon has terms of current stats, but also in terms of NHL games played at this only made minimal tweaks to Hakstol’s tactics, due to the lack of stage of a career (if he gets two-thirds of the starts the rest of the way, consistent practice time since his hiring. In addition, the fact that the Hart will appear in 34 games), and in terms of age as well (Price also has Flyers began Gordon’s tenure largely out of the playoff race surely had a an August birthday). That’s not a bad comparable at all. degree of impact on the team’s psyche, just as the turmoil of the season has at times seemed to wear the club down. Comparing Gordon and 3: Frost doing great, but that doesn’t guarantee stardom Hakstol’s 2018-19 tenures, therefore, can’t be done in an apples-to- apples manner. As The Athletic Philadelphia’s No. 1 prospect continues to shine at the NHL level, our No. 2 isn’t doing too shabby either in junior hockey. The biggest feather in Gordon’s cap has been the recent resurgence of Morgan Frost, the latter of Philadelphia’s two first-round selections in previously struggling players, such as James van Riemsdyk, Nolan 2017 (the former obviously being Patrick), posted a five-goal game on Patrick and Oskar Lindblom. One of Gordon’s apparent strengths as a Sunday, moving his full-season point total to 75 over 38 games. coach appears to be his direct communication approach when it comes to his players, and conversations with both JvR and Patrick have The 1.97 points-per-game rate that he holds currently leads the OHL, seemingly had the desired impact. Still, in terms of team-wide and it’s undeniably impressive. But just how impressive? Is his scoring performance, it’s not like Gordon’s presence has been anything close to success unprecedented, to the point that its rarity hints that Frost might a panacea. The fact that the Flyers’ record under Gordon is slightly better have superstar potential? That might be going a bit too far. than what it was this year under Hakstol is instead largely due to the As it turns out, over the past five seasons (including this one) in presence of Hart and his 0.918 save percentage. Canadian major junior hockey, there have been 21 instances of a player 2: How rare is Carter Hart? posting a point-per-game rate over 1.90. Examining those 21 seasons, eight came from a player in his Draft+2 year (as is the case with Frost Flyers fans know that what they are in seeing in Carter Hart — a 20-year- now) who had never crossed the threshold previously. Let’s take a quick old in his Draft+3 season holding his own as a regular NHL netminder — glance at the list of eight. is rare for this particular organization, considering the team’s persistent Player League Year PPG Scoring Rate Christian Dvorak OHL 2015-16 2.05 replicating past good seasons isn’t good enough. The baseline for what can now be viewed as solid or even great production has been raised. Oliver Bjorkstrand WHL 2014-15 2.00 So going down that road, let’s take a look at the new baselines in 2018- Morgan Frost OHL 2018-19 1.97 19 for scoring by forwards. One way I’ve always liked to complete this Jordan Kyrou OHL 2017-18 1.95 exercise is by breaking down NHL forwards in groups of 93 by a given metric, ranked by efficiency. Since there are 31 teams in the NHL and Kevin Labanc OHL 2015-16 1.95 each line of forwards has three players, any individual ranking in the top- 93 by a given metric has performed at a “first-line” rate, compared to their Cody Glass WHL 2018-19 1.94 peers in the league. Second-line caliber results would be 94-186, and so forth. Mathew Barzal WHL 2016-17 1.93 Since we’re looking to check scoring performance, let’s limit our research Daniel Sprong QMJHL 2016-17 1.90 to 5-on-5 play (we’ll get to the power play later in this article). So when Now, these aren’t bad players. Barzal is obviously a star for the looking at Points Scored per 60 minutes of 5-on-5, and limiting the list Islanders; both Bjorkstrand and Labanc have 40-point NHL seasons to only to those in the NHL with more than 200 minutes in the situation (410 their credit already; Dvorak has two 30+ point years and has earned a players in total), what are the new tiers? lucrative long-term extension from the Coyotes; and Kyrou and Glass First Liner: 2.08 – 3.53 Points/60 both ranked in the top 10 of Corey Pronman’s recent Top Prospects list. But it’s also not a list full of slam-dunk, immediate impact superstars. Second Liner: 1.58 – 2.07 Points/60 That’s not to say that Morgan Frost won’t turn into an impact player at the Third Liner: 1.22 – 1.58 Points/60 NHL level. He certainly has the ability to do so, and scoring lots of points in a Draft+2 junior season is far better than the alternative. Just don’t take Fourth Liner: 0.83 – 1.22 Points/60 his success this year as a guarantee that he’s poised to explode in a Barzal-esque manner during his coming professional debut in 2019-20. Worse than Fourth Liner: below 0.83 Points/60 4: Voracek starting to drive play again Now, let’s check to see in which tier each regular Flyers forward falls. As it turns out, they grade out better than one might think. Jakub Voracek’s scoring rate is basically where one would expect it to be in a “down” Voracek season. Since his breakout half-season in 2012-13 Tier Player after the lockout ended, Voracek has basically alternated between great First Liner Giroux (2.79), Konecny (2.10) and “just-OK” point production years, going from near point-per-game pace to 62 in 82 games, then 81-in-82, 55-in-73, 61-in-82, and then his Second Liner Couturier (2.02), van Riemsdyk (1.88), Patrick 85-point career-best last year. Aside from that back-to-back stretch from (1.81), Voracek (1.78), Lindblom (1.63), Laughton (1.61) 2015-2017, this has been Voracek’s regular pattern, so the fact that he’s scoring at a 66-point pace this year shouldn’t come as a shock or a Third Liner Simmonds (1.26), Weise (1.26) concern. Fourth Liner Raffl (1.15) The real concern, however, came in the form of Voracek’s underlying Healthy Scratch Lehtera (0.61), Varone (0.44) shot and chance metrics. After being one of the league’s best play- driving wingers at 5-on-5 for the bulk of his 20s, Voracek’s performance The Flyers actually have eight players in the top 186 among forwards in by Corsi and xG started to hover around the break-even point in 2016-17, 5-on-5 Points/60, and two more that rank as top-nine scorers. In addition, and appeared to hit a nadir after the first two months of 2018-19. there are quite a few players here who show up as being far more Suddenly, the Flyers were driving play 5+ percentage points better with efficient from a point production standpoint than one would guess — Voracek on the bench than they did when he hit the ice — a very Patrick and Lindblom don’t feel like they’ve scored at second-line caliber concerning development, particularly for a 29-year-old with five years left rates, for example, and all of the posts and missed opportunities from on a contract containing an $8.25 million cap hit. Konecny makes it odd to see him in first-liner territory. Luckily for the Flyers (and Voracek), it appears that Jake’s play-driving Yet the numbers don’t lie in this case. Granted, when the same exercise game is coming around, and has been for quite a while. To illustrate this, is done for Primary Point production (just goals and first assists) at 5-on- let’s take a quick look at a ten-game rolling average chart of Voracek’s 5- 5, there are some minor changes — Patrick and Simmonds switch spots, on-5 Corsi For Percentage, and line it up against how the team Weise falls to fourth-liner levels, Lehtera jumps out of healthy scratch performed when he was off the ice. world — but the overall breakdown of players is fairly similar. Bottom line: 5-on-5 scoring (at least from the forwards) hasn’t been a major problem To clarify for those who might be confused: the blue line indicates — it’s not an accident the team ranks a decent 14th in 5v5 Goals For/60. Voracek’s 10-game rolling average Corsi For Percentage from this season; the orange line signifies the team’s performance at the same 6: Laughton the only ‘breakout’ scoring forward time when Voracek sat on the bench. Essentially, whenever the blue line is above the orange line, the team is doing better with Voracek than Still, the Flyers merely rank 19th in all situations Goals Scored per 60, without him; the reverse is true when orange is above blue. and while the overall power play (again, we’re getting there) is a driving force behind that below-average standing, so to has been the fact that in For the first 30 or so games of the year, Voracek was dragging down the a high-scoring season for the league, there has been a noticeable shot differentials of his team, often by as much as 10 percentage points. absence of Philadelphia forwards delivering breakout or career-best But around the 30-game mark, he stabilized, basically breaking even seasons. relative to his teammates. And finally, over this most recent stretch of games, Voracek is back to where he should be — outperforming the rest The one exception? Scott Laughton. His 19 points in 48 games may not of the team from a play-driving standpoint. The overall trend holds when seem eye-popping, but for a bottom-six forward who doesn’t receive one looks at his results by Expected Goals For Percentage, as well. power play time, it’s legitimately impressive. As noted above, Laughton has scored at a second-liner level at 5-on-5 this year, and is on pace to What changed around the 30-game mark for Voracek? It’s impossible to blow away his career-best single-season point total of 21. know for certain. Maybe bounces started going his way more. Maybe he increased the desperation level in his game. Maybe the removal of Aside from Laughton, are any of the other forwards anywhere near Hakstol as coach and hiring of Gordon (which occurred after Game 31) career-best paces? Not really. had a larger impact on Voracek than on his teammates. Regardless, Player Career-Best 82-Game Pace 2018-19 82-Game Pace since the start of December, Voracek holds a 51.41% Corsi For Difference Percentage (+4.77% Relative to his teammates) and a 53.35% xG For Percentage (+6.84% Relative). That’s much closer to what Voracek Claude Giroux 102 88.83 minus-13.17 delivered during his prime years than whatever he was doing over the first two months of the 2018-19 season. Sean Couturier 76 71.30 minus-4.70 5: 5-on-5 forward scoring hasn’t been a major problem Jakub Voracek 85 66.63 minus-18.37 In my column after Saturday night’s victory over the Canadiens, I noted Travis Konecny 47.58 44.42 minus-3.16 that many of the key Philadelphia forwards aren’t pacing for terrible scoring seasons, despite the club’s overarching struggles. A fair Wayne Simmonds 60.74 39.29 minus-21.45 response to that point — raised in the comment section — was that James van Riemsdyk 62.53 56.38 minus-6.15 because scoring as a whole has been up this year in the NHL, merely Scott Laughton 24.25 32.46 plus-8.21 In other words, a median 5-on-5 offense has been more successful in producing tangible shots, chances and goals than Philadelphia’s three Nolan Patrick 33.70 34 plus-0.30 most talented youngsters on the ice together with the team a man up this Oskar Lindblom 21.39 24.43 plus-3.04 year. One can argue their shifts are short due to the primacy of PP1, and that the PP2 personnel has been shuffled regularly, but the trio really Dale Weise 31.18 21.48 minus-9.70 should be able to generate more than a middling 5-on-5 attack considering the circumstances. Michael Raffl 34.27 19.27 minus-14.98 9: Couturier’s advanced stats look great … when not facing the Sharks Now, this isn’t to say that Claude Giroux’s current 88-point pace is underwhelming, or that Sean Couturier should be criticized for not pacing On Tuesday night, I submitted my ballot for the PHWA’s (non-binding) for more than 71 points while also taking on the toughest minutes at both midseason awards voting exercise, and in a stark reversal from last April, 5-on-5 and on the PK. But the fact that Laughton is the only player on did not include Couturier on my three-man Selke Trophy ballot. My track for a true breakout season — Patrick and Lindblom were truthfully reason? Couturier’s defensive metrics have been more “passable” than expected to take bigger scoring jumps than this — is one of the reasons actually strong this season, and at least at this point in the year, there are why the Flyers haven’t taken the “step forward” that was the mantra of more deserving candidates for the award. the club heading into training camp. But there’s an interesting quirk when it comes to Couturier’s advanced 7: How unprecedented is the power play’s struggles? metrics this year. Take two specific games out of the equation, and there doesn’t seem to be much of a year-over-year dropoff. Even more Talk to both the Flyers players and the coaches this season regarding intriguing is the fact that both of those performances came against the the team’s floundering power play, and at least publicly, they’re largely same team — the Sharks. apoplectic regarding its struggles. The quality chances are there, they note, as is the puck possession and entry creation. They just can’t seem Sample 5v5 Corsi For % 5v5 xG For % to take all of those good things and turn them into actual goals. Couturier 2018-19 53.50% 49.23% At this point, fans are tired of hearing that the PP has just been unlucky. And based on Couturier’s mindset after the loss to the Devils two Couturier 2018-19 without SJ Games 54.58% 53.22% Saturdays ago, the players have reached that point as well. Yet the Couturier 2017-18 53.62% 55.35% numbers continue to tell us that the Flyers have dealt with what can accurately be called historical misfortune when it comes to the scoring In two appearances against the Sharks, Couturier posted a horrid efficiency of their power play units. 30.15% Corsi For Percentage and an even-worse 16.03 percent by xG. The Sharks crushed Couturier, both in the home-opening 8-2 blowout, Currently, Philadelphia holds an Expected Goals Created Per 60 rate of and the 4-3 OT loss in the middle of the team’s late October/early 7.72 during 5-on-4 situations — third in the NHL. Their actual 5-on-4 November road trip, dramatically dragging down his numbers. Remove Goals For per 60 rate, however, sits at 4.58, a minus-3.14 gap between those two games — which obviously one cannot do when evaluating a the expected number and real life. How does that match up with other full season — and Couturier is right in the thick of the Selke race, NHL teams since 2010 (excluding the lockout half-season)? It’s actually considering his point totals, strong PK work and typically difficult usage. the biggest discrepancy of the decade. 10: A final look at playoff possibilities Team Difference between Actual GF/60 and Expected GF/60 at 5- on-4 Over the past few weeks, I’ve noted that for the Flyers to reach the 97- point threshold that the final Eastern Conference playoff team met last 2018-19 Flyers minus-3.14 season, they would have to earn standings points at around the pace that 2015-16 Leafs minus-2.49 the Lightning have maintained over the season’s first half. That still holds — to reach 97 points, Philadelphia would need 53 out of their final 68 2017-18 Canes minus-2.45 possible points, a 77.94% points percentage, which is just above the 77.55 percent rate that Tampa Bay has produced thus far. 2017-18 Flames minus-2.41 But wait! Here’s some good news for all the playoff optimists out there. 2018-19 Leafs minus-2.38 Micah Blake McCurdy, operator of the invaluable HockeyViz.com website, projects that 92 points might be enough this year to lock down a 2013-14 Sharks minus-2.15 postseason berth in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference. 2017-18 Oilers minus-2.09 That makes the Flyers’ road significantly easier. Instead of being forced to play at the level of the powerhouse Lightning over the final 38 games 2013-14 Ducks minus-2.01 of 2018-19, they would merely have to produce points just a bit more efficiently than the second-in-the-league Flames have thus far. Feel 2010-11 Blue Jackets minus-1.93 better? Thought so. 2013-14 Panthers minus-1.89 The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 No team this decade has finished with as large of a gap between the xG- related process and actual results on the power play than the Flyers, and it’s not particularly close, either. One piece of (possibly?) good news for the Flyers from the above chart, however? The 2015-16 Leafs famously rode weak goaltending and an unsustainably poor power play to the worst record in hockey that season, earning the No. 1 overall pick and Auston Matthews as a result of the draft lottery. Sound like a familiar process? 8: PP2 laughably inept, though But it’s not time to let Flyers assistant coach Kris Knoblauch off the hook just yet. One of his tasks upon taking stewardship of the power play to start the 2017-18 season was to revive a moribund second PP unit, a group that was starting to be infused with high-end young talent. No one assumed PP2 would start to rival the top unit in terms of firepower, of course, but a move toward competency was a fair expectation. Instead, here’s what the core 22-and-younger trio of Travis Konecny, Nolan Patrick and Ivan Provorov have produced while together in 39:10 at 5-on- 4 this year. Group/Team Shot Attempts/60 Scoring Chances/60 Goals/60 Patrick-Konecny-Provorov at 5-on-4 53.62 22.98 1.53 16th-best team by metric at 5-on-5 56.32 25.66 2.47 1127452 Pittsburgh Penguins The improved results have given the Penguins some special teams optimism as the postseason draws nearer.

“I think we’re all just trying to work hard and work as a unit out there,” Success on penalty kill, not power play, could lead Penguins to Rust said. “We’re playing on our toes. We’re not thinking too much. Just postseason success going out there and playing off our instincts, and things have been going well.” JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019 Tribune Review LOADED: 01.24.2019

The Penguins’ Jack Johnson and Ducks’ Brian Gibbons battle for the puck along the boards during the first period Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. Editor’s note: As the Pittsburgh Penguins hit their bye week, beat writer Jonathan Bombulie looks at four characteristics usually shared by Stanley Cup champions and where this year’s team stacks up in those areas. What were the most memorable moments from the 2016 Stanley Cup Final? Plenty of fans probably remember Kris Letang’s winning goal in the second period of a clinching Game 6 in San Jose. Others might recall the massive crowd that gathered outside PPG Paints Arena for Game 5, hoping to celebrate a championship at home. How many know the Penguins gave up a grand total of one power-play goal in the series, including a perfect 16-for-16 record in the final five games? What memories stand out from the final series in 1992? Most would undoubtedly cite a moment from a Penguins comeback victory over Chicago in Game 1, either Jaromir Jagr’s legendary individual effort to tie the score or ’s buzzer-beating winner. How many recall that the Penguins gave up just one power-play goal in the series, successfully killing the last 15 penalties they took? Those Penguins teams aren’t outliers. Seven of the last 10 Stanley Cup champions have been excellent penalty-killing teams in the regular season, ranking in the top 11 in the league. Being good on the power play, meanwhile, doesn’t correlate nearly as strongly to postseason success. Only two of the last 10 champs, the Washington Capitals last year and the Penguins in 2017, finished the regular season in the top 15 in the league in power-play effectiveness. It’s hard to figure why that is. Perhaps the component parts of a good penalty kill — sound structure, a commitment to shot blocking and great goaltending — are the kind of things that help playoff teams succeed in all manpower situations. Whatever the reason, it’s hard to dismiss. When trying to decide whether a team has championship mettle or not, it’s better to look at its PK stats than its PP numbers. “I think when it gets later on, there’s so much energy and there’s so much momentum one way or the other that I think a big penalty kill or a big power-play goal can either really deflate or really inflate your team,” Penguins winger Bryan Rust said. “I think your ability to kill off a penalty at a big time gives momentum to your team and kind of builds energy.” This year’s Penguins team stacks up well in most special teams metrics. In fact, coming into Wednesday night’s games, they were the only team in the league to rank in the top five in both the power play and penalty kill. They’re fifth on the power play (25.7 percent) and fourth in penalty killing (84.2 percent). Having a potent power play is nothing new for the Penguins. They consistently have been among league leaders since Mike Sullivan took over as coach in December of 2015. The penalty-kill success is a relatively recent phenomenon, however. In the regular season last year, the Penguins ranked 17th in the league. In a second-round playoff loss to Washington, they gave up a power-play goal in each of Games 2 through 5. The Penguins made significant changes to their PK personnel between now and then. Among the team’s top four defensemen and top four forwards in short- handed ice time per game, Ian Cole, Matt Hunwick, Carl Hagelin, Carter Rowney and Tom Kuhnhackl are out and Jack Johnson, Olli Maatta, Rust, Matt Cullen and Zach Aston-Reese are in. 1127453 Pittsburgh Penguins "In Green Bay, our defense was interchangeable," Burnett said the day he signed.

But last week, word came out that Burnett wanted to be released or Tim Benz: The confounding cases of Steelers' Morgan Burnett, Penguins' traded, because he was unhappy with the position of essentially playing Derick Brassard a dime linebacker. Spoke with #Steelers S Morgan Burnett, who tells me he wants to be TIM BENZ | Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019 released from his deal before free agency. During his time in Pittsburgh, he felt he played out of position as a dime LB. Burnett, with 2 yrs left on his contract, wants a new start & a chance to play safety again Let's focus on a pair of Pittsburgh athletes. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2019 The first player came to Pittsburgh in 2018. His acquisition was widely The funny thing is, coming out of Green Bay, Burnett had the reputation applauded as a solid move by management. of being a solid team-oriented guy and a positive meeting-room presence. Maybe the toxins in the Steelers locker room seeped in on The player's arrival filled what had been deemed to be a significant hole him. for quite some time. The Steelers would be best-served granting Burnett's request and getting He was going to get a minor role change, yet publicly welcomed the him out of town. It looks like he's unable and unwilling to be the player challenge saying the fit seemed like a good one in Pittsburgh. they wanted him to be. While Burnett would cost $2.83 million in dead money, the team would save $3.63 million ditching the 30-year-old . But since the moment he has arrived here, he has been injured, ineffective and apparently unhappy with his job description ... As far as Brassard goes, maybe another NHL team under his modified no-trade clause could see him as a better fit and be willing to take on the ... and the other guy is Penguins forward Derick Brassard. remainder of his $5 million salary before March 1. I'd be in favor of that if I was actually describing soon-to-be-former Steelers safety Morgan a good forward comes back for him. Burnett. If Crosby or Malkin gets injured after a deal, though, that would've been Can you tell the difference, though? I can't. They are virtually the same the perfect time to elevate Brassard in hopes he'd mesh with the players player. he wants and payoff the power play time he desires. I mean, have you ever seen either guy in the same place at the same Given Terrell Edmunds' ascent as a rookie, I'll bet Burnett is done in time? Yeah. Me either. Suspicious, isn't it? Pittsburgh. As for Brassard, I believe Rutherford will hang onto him until the trade deadline and just hope this situation gets better. That may be Unfortunately, neither of these Clark Kents have ever turned into determined based on the health of other players. Superman. Regardless, both players could be described as addition-by-subtraction Stunningly, on the surface, both seem like pleasant, engaging, media- once they are dealt. friendly people. Sadly, other commonalities between the two include: Your turn, Lonnie Chisenhall. Do better. • Negative draws on the salary cap Tribune Review LOADED: 01.24.2019 • Similar allergies. Burnett to coverage. Brassard to contact • Both may be out of Pittsburgh in March. I'm as surprised as anyone that these two haven't panned out here. I lauded the Brassard trade, and I gave a thumbs-up to the free-agent signing of Burnett. That makes me a resounding 0-2 on this front, as are many other Pittsburgh-area fans and media members. Brassard seemed like the perfect acquisition by Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford to replace Nick Bonino. In previous stops at Columbus, Ottawa and New York, he had been an effective two-way center who seemed pesky and prone to playing his best in big games. The hunch was that "Big Game Brass" was a well-above-average second-line center on average teams. The assumption was that he would become a standout third-liner behind Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Since coming here, though, Brassard had injury problems. Also, he never has fit into that third-line role. He has failed to jell with wingers, and he often has seemed more excited to play on Sidney Crosby's wing, while simultaneously alluding to a lack of ice time for his lack of point production. At the end of last season, coach Mike Sullivan specifically offered up an absence from the power play as a reason why Brassard may have had problems engaging offensively. With Crosby, Malkin, Phil Kessel and Patric Hornqvist on this team, first- unit power play time and second-line action was never in the cards. Brassard seemed to be aware of the circumstances when Rutherford got him from Ottawa. "I'll play wherever they are going to put me. I know there are a lot of good centers," Brassard said his first day at PPG Paints Arena. "We are really good at that position. Whatever the coaches decide, I'll do whatever." Reports since then, though, have suggested Brassard has been less than thrilled with his job description and has not been particularly inspired to take on the tasks the Penguins have asked of him. Brassard has 14 points in 39 games this season. Since the start of January, he has just two points — a pair of goals in losses — and is a minus-2. Similarly, Burnett said all the right things when he signed with the Steelers. He embraced the idea of essentially playing a hybrid strong safety/free safety/linebacker spot. That's something he did to a degree with his former team, the Packers. 1127454 Pittsburgh Penguins

Everything you need to know about NHL All-Star Weekend

JASON MACKEY

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It was like they never left. A couple days after the Penguins’ bye week began following a 7-3 loss at Vegas on Saturday night, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang will appear throughout NHL All-Star Weekend here in San Jose. Here’s what you need to know for those days: The schedule Media day starts things off. That’s Thursday from 8-10 p.m. EST at City National Civic Auditorium in Downtown San Jose. Commissioner Gary Bettman will talk on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Friday night (9 p.m. EST, NBCSN) will be the Skills Competition, which features six events: fastest skater, premier passer, save streak, puck control, hardest shot and shooting accuracy. It’s not yet been announced who will do what. The game — a three-on-three tournament between the four NHL divisions — will be Saturday around 8 p.m. EST. The first semifinal will be the Pacific and Central followed by the Metropolitan and the Atlantic at 9:15 p.m. The championship game will be around 10:15, and the winners split a $1 million prize. Last year, the Metropolitan Division went out early, losing to the Atlantic, 7-4, and the Pacific Division won it all. Crosby actually played a lot last year with Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, although that will have to change because Ovechkin has opted out of the event. They said it “There are so many good players in this league. It’s fun to see that the fans really rally behind you and try to push you in. It makes you feel special,” Letang on winning the “Last Men In” fan vote to make it. The numbers This is the eighth selection for Crosby and the fifth for Letang. Crosby leads the Penguins in points (57) and ranks second to Brian Dumoulin (plus-26) in plus/minus at plus-19. He’s also winning a career- high 56.4 percent of his faceoffs and ranks third among skaters who’ve logged at least 500 five-on-five minutes in goals-for percentage (70.67). Letang is tied for third among NHL defensemen in goals (11) and ranks sixth in points (40). He’s averaging 26:08 of ice time per game, the second-highest mark in his career and third league-wide. Post Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127455 Pittsburgh Penguins Faribault, Minn., boarding school ESPN once dubbed the “Hogwarts of hockey.”

“When you come here, you’re pretty dialed in on what your goals and Teddy Blueger keeps working — and waiting — for that NHL call dreams are,” Shattuck assistant coach Des Christopher said. “It’s like a He's seen peers come and go in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and the mini college where your routine is so set. You’re going to class, you’re Penguins think he's ready for Pittsburgh. But when? going to the rink, you’re going to the gym, you’re going to skills sessions.” Christopher said Blueger, who attended an English-language school in Latvia, was a “great student” and a “great person,” respectful to everyone MATT VENSEL from teachers to rink staff to opposing coaches. Years later, while Blueger was attending college, Christopher trusted him to babysit his kids. WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Step through the sliding doors to enter the ice Blueger was already a rink rat then, one of the hardest-working kids rink on Coal Street, resist the urge to pop into the merchandise shop and Christopher has coached at a school that Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise head toward the hum of the idling Zamboni. As you approach the ice and and Jonathan Toews once attended. Blueger loved the game, getting the hallway to the locker room, they are right there, staring back at you. better, hanging around the locker room with his teammates. He was usually the last one out, making sure the last ball of hockey tape was In this hushed lobby at SportsPlex, the corporate name for the picked up. cozy training facility for the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, two white cinderblock walls face each other. Hanging from them in black Christopher said Blueger, who spent all four years of high school at frames are action photos of prospects who came through this old mining Shattuck, had oodles of skill and “a really, really high hockey IQ.” He town in northeast Pennsylvania, put in the work and eventually got that chuckled when describing Blueger’s “hunched-over” but powerful skating phone call. stride. It turned off some scouts, but Christopher saw something special. Stamped above them in bold black type: “THE ROAD TO PITTSBURGH “You knew that he was dynamic and gifted and made all the players STARTS AT COAL STREET”. around him better,” he said. Jake Guentzel, Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon aren’t up on those Teddy Blueger Latvia walls yet. But given their going contributions to the NHL club, it’s probably just a matter of finding the space to squeeze them in. College and pro scouts eventually realized that as Blueger led Shattuck to back-to-back USA hockey national titles, with Blueger totaling 88 Now walk through the next set of doors to feel the chill of the ice or down points in 51 games as a senior. The Penguins drafted him a round before the hallway to the weight room, and there’s a decent chance you’ll spot Matt Murray in 2012. the NHL-ready 24-year-old prospect who is somehow still here, working maniacally to get on that wall. But Blueger was off to college, having signed on to play at Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., one of the first schools to show Strike up a conversation with anyone who has regularly been inside this interest. ice rink the past three years and ask them about Teddy Blueger. You’ll soon hear a story about his work ethic. Mankato is perhaps best known for being the former training camp home of the Minnesota Vikings until last summer. In the hottest of days, when Like last spring, when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton got knocked out of the the Minnesota State hockey team was on campus for summer skates playoffs and assembled for exit interviews, and the center shook some and offseason conditioning, a purple-clad horde took over the town. hands and exchanged some hugs then, as some booked it to the airport to get the heck out of town, he immediately started pumping iron. Some Mavericks upperclassmen spent a few of those summer nights in local bars, occasionally crossing paths with Vikings players who may or Or the numerous times Blueger, told by the coaching staff to get some may not have been out carousing past team curfew. rest, sneaked back onto the ice to sharpen his edge work or hone some skill, and a veteran teammate had to tug him off the ice by his jersey. “One of my roommates, we ran into Cordarrelle Patterson downtown, and he pulled him by his dreadlocks. He just turned around and booked it,” Or when a new guy tries to keep pace with Blueger after practice before, Blueger, laughing sheepishly, said of the Pro Bowl returner who now his tired legs wobbling like Jell-O, trudging off the ice. plays for the New England Patriots. “Nothing ended up happening thankfully.” “He works his butt off,” said former teammate Tom Kostopoulos, now a player development coach with the organization. “Most young guys, you On the ice, Blueger made an impact as a freshman then as a sophomore need to tell them to be out on the ice longer, they need to be in the gym tallied three points when the Mavericks won the WCHA championship. more, they need to be working harder. Teddy, he’s the opposite. He’s His last two years, he climbed into the top 10 of the school’s all-time very mature and very driven. He knows what he wants and how to get scoring list and was a first-team All-WCHA selection in 2015-16. there. “I got pretty lucky,” Blueger said. “The year I came in, Mike Hastings “His impatience to get there is what makes him great. ... It will come.” became the new head coach and turned the program around a little bit. I was fortunate enough to go in there with him.” Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan yells instructions during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks His senior year, he discovered his favorite hobby. Someone suggested in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. The Blackhawks won 5-3. he read “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari,” a self-help book by Robin Sharma that Blueger said is about “lifestyle and being the best you can Jason Mackey: Penguins' Mike Sullivan deserved a World Cup shot be.” He “loved it” and started looking for his next book to devour. He now Before Pittsburgh picked him in the second round in 2012, before he was finishes one every week or two. The subject matter is all over the a first-team Western Collegiate Hockey Association selection in the land spectrum. of Vikings, before becoming a do-everything player in Wilkes-Barre, “Lately I’ve kind of been on a crime kick,” he said. “I’ve been reading Blueger was a bright but quiet Latvian teen looking for a place to play. about a lot of the local dons from Wilkes-Barre back in the day. But my Born in Riga, the capital city on the Baltic Sea, Blueger had a favorites are probably a good sports autobiography.” comfortable upbringing. Whether he is curious to see what makes elite athletes such as Andre His father, Valentin, is a lawyer, and stay-at-home mom Jana was tasked Agassi tick or simply interested in the crazy tales told by characters such with taking Teddy and younger brother Robert to their many practices. as ex-NHLers Theo Fleury and Sean Avery, he’s always eager to learn Teddy played soccer and tennis, swam and dabbled in snowboarding. more. But nothing beat skating on an outdoor rink during those brutal winters. “Jimmy Connors has a good one. It’s just interesting what they go When Teddy was a toddler, Valentin played in a men’s league, and Jana through in tennis behind the scenes,” he said. “It’s such an individual often brought the boys. They started with “mini sticks” at home. Then it sport, and you don’t know how much they get inside their own head. was on to organized hockey. Teddy fell in love, and every morning he Those guys battle themselves, too. It’s just cool some of the things they raced to his computer to pull up highlights of Peter Forsberg, the go through, their success and failures, and you can find parallels to playmaking, two-way center who won a pair of Cups in Colorado. yourself.” When Blueger hit his teens, his parents sought better competition than Kostopoulos said Blueger arrived in Wilkes-Barre in spring 2016 as a what Latvia had to offer. Teddy had tryouts in Russia and visited prep “dependable, mature player” whom Clark Donatelli and the coaching staff schools in New England before heading to Shattuck St. Mary’s, the could feel comfortable putting on the ice in any situation. Blueger had 31 points with a plus-24 rating in 54 games in his first full AHL season. He also watched Guentzel, who came in with him, get promoted to Pittsburgh and become a postseason hero. Last season, he scored 21 goals — tripling his rookie total — and dished out 24 assists. He also watched Simon and Aston-Reese, the same age as Guentzel and him, get their first chances in the NHL. In 43 games this season, Blueger already has 18 goals, 17 assists and a plus-16 rating. He kills penalties and is a focal point of the power play. He’s excellent in the faceoff circle and has continued to grow, especially in the offensive end, to become the team’s top center. He also watched Garrett Wilson join Guentzel, Simon and Aston-Reese as regulars in Pittsburgh. “Jake deserved to get called up when he did and obviously it’s good to see him do so well. Same with Dom and Reeser and Willy,” Blueger said. “Willy, he’s a good friend of mine. You root for him and you want him to do well. But at the same time, you’re still competing for a job basically. “It’s tough. So I try to focus on working and doing everything I can and kind of forcing their hand and putting them in a situation where they just can’t not call me up, where they’ve got to find a way to get me up there because my game is at a point where I’m definitely good enough.” The Penguins do feel he is ready. Assistant general manager Bill Guerin, who oversees the AHL club, said so before this season. Donatelli said the “perfectionist on and off the ice” will be in the conversation should the NHL club need more reinforcements. Kostopoulos, who can relate to his frustration, has no doubt that he will eventually get the call. His teammates can’t believe his phone hasn’t buzzed yet. After a practice last week, when a stranger from Pittsburgh was introduced to Blueger in their boisterous locker room, a few sweaty eavesdroppers exclaimed, “Pittsburgh?! Why isn’t this guy up there?!” That many Wilkes-Barre/Scranton players are openly campaigning for their leading scorer to get taken from them says something about how popular Blueger is among his peers. It probably also says something about how much hockey players relish busting each other’s chops. When the stranger promised to pass their message along, Blueger flashed a gap-toothed grin and joked, “My agent is already doing that.” At the NHL level, Blueger projects to be a role player who can at least be counted on to kill penalties and win faceoffs. If he continues to improve his skating and offensive skill level, maybe he can center a scoring line. At the moment, though, Pittsburgh has five NHL-caliber centers, forcing one to play on the wing. Perhaps that changes if the Penguins trade away disappointing third-line center Derick Brassard in the next few weeks. In the meantime, Blueger isn’t going to pout. He will keep working and working and working and won’t stop once the long road to Pittsburgh is complete. Post Gazette LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127456 Pittsburgh Penguins stretch of 17 games without a goal, then tallied five in an eight-game span before finishing the season with only two more goals in the final 18 contests. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Adam Johnson is breaking away from the It was obvious to Johnson that he needed to become consistent, but mental struggles of last season before that could happen, he had to gain confidence. “I worked on my mental game over the summer, and I think I’m slowly By Tom Venesky Jan 23, 2019 improving in that area,” Johnson said. “This year I have more confidence. That makes a big difference.”

Johnson has had his dry spells – the longest last for nine games without Adam Johnson felt like he let his team down after failing to score on two a goal – but he is currently on a three-game scoring streak. He also has breakaways in overtime against Grand Rapids on Jan. 4. three two-goal performances this season. But Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli saw The confidence is there, and the goals are coming, and Johnson just nothing but success. hopes he can translate that consistency to his breakaway attempts as well. The fact that Johnson generated a pair of breakaway opportunities – something he has been doing with regularity this season – told Donatelli “It’s good to get all those breakaways, but at the end of the day, you can’t that the second-year winger has learned how to use his speed. just keep getting them and not score. You have to bury them,” he said. “Now that I finally got one to go in, I’ll be a little more confident on the “He’s just timing everything right. He’s using his speed to get to the next one and hopefully more effective in that part of the game.” outside and then he’s cutting in, carrying the puck to the net,” Donatelli said. “It’s forcing defensemen to give him a little more room, and that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton notes keeps leading to more breakaways.” Defenseman Ethan Prow is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’ second-leading At the time, Johnson didn’t see a silver lining. After coming up empty on scorer with 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 42 games this season. so many breakaways, he admitted it was taking a toll mentally. (KDP Studio) For an undrafted player who left college two years early after being • Defenseman Ethan Prow continues to shine during his breakout season recruited by Penguins assistant general manager Bill Guerin, there’s a lot as he scored his 12th goal on Jan. 21 in overtime against Lehigh Valley. riding on all those breakaway attempts. Prow is second among AHL defensemen in goals and sixth in points with That’s why Johnson felt overwhelmingly relieved during a game against 30. He is also on a six-game scoring streak (two goals, eight points) and Rochester on Jan. 18 when he raced down the ice on another has five power-play goals and three game-winners. On the defensive breakaway, flipped the puck up high and, finally, watched it hit the back side of things, Prow’s plus-15 rating is tied for second on the team, of the net. behind Teddy Blueger (plus-16). The goal was a confirmation, of sorts. • Speaking of Blueger, he’s been centering a line with Anthony Angello on the wing and has seven goals and 12 points in his last nine games. Johnson knew he was fast. Blueger leads the Penguins in goals (18) and points (35). Angello has also benefited from skating with Blueger, as he recently enjoyed a five- He understood how to position himself for breakaway opportunities. game point streak, totaling four goals and four assists. And now, most important of all, Johnson was confident he could finish • Tristan Jarry rebounded from a pair of rough outings where he allowed those chances. nine goals on 64 shots to hold Lehigh Valley to one goal during all of “I’ve been hearing everyone say they’ll start going in, but it’s hard to regulation and overtime on Jan. 21. Jarry has been up-and-down this believe it at the time,” Johnson said. “I think I had 20 in the last two season, holding opponents to two goals or less in 10 starts, but he weeks before that one (against Rochester). It’s nice to get that pressure allowed four goals or more on seven occasions. In 23 games, Jarry has a off my back.” 2.79 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. Still, breakaways are only part of the equation for Johnson. While it’s an • Newly-acquired forward Joseph Blandisi, who was re-assigned by area where he has struggled at times, the rest of his game has noticeably Pittsburgh on Sunday after arriving in a trade for Derek Grant, flew into improved. Wilkes-Barre on Monday night and was greeted with a cold wave that saw the temperature plummet below zero. Considering that Blandisi had He’s been a mainstay on the power play, manning the half wall and been playing on the West Coast with the San Diego Gulls, one would working the puck with ease, leading to five goals with the man think the bitter cold was a shock, but the Ontario native took it all in advantage. stride. “I felt pretty spoiled living (in San Diego) for a year. I felt like over the last year my skin got soft, so it’s good to be back in the cold,” he said. The overall scoring has increased as well, as Johnson’s 13 goals in 43 “It feels like hockey now.” games already exceed the 11 he put up during 70 games as a rookie last season. • Donatelli said Blandisi will skate on the top line with Blueger and Angello, and he’ll be counted on to produce. The 24-year-old had eight The 24-year-old winger has also proven to be remarkably durable, having goals and 23 points in 27 games with San Diego this season. yet to miss a game this season and sitting out just six times last year as a healthy scratch. Prospect tracker And to his credit, Johnson is shooting the puck much more this season. Here’s a glance at all the Penguins’ prospects, as well as other minor He already posted 114 shots, just five fewer than he did all of last year. leaguers on NHL contracts who aren’t currently on the NHL roster. Players are listed with their statistics through Tuesday: But there’s one improvement that Johnson said ties everything together. Note: Zachary Lauzon has yet to play this season due to injury. He has confidence – an attribute that was missing from his game last season. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 “I didn’t have it down mentally. I came in last year and, maybe, I didn’t think it was going to be as hard as it actually was,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t prepared.” And it showed. While scoring goals wasn’t a problem for Johnson during his last season at the college level, he couldn’t do it consistently during his first year as a pro. In his first 26 games last season, Johnson found the back of the net just three times. Even after he recorded two goals in four games and it seemed like Johnson was figuring things out, he took another nosedive. He endured a 1127457 San Jose Sharks Sunday 11 a.m. — Former Sharks player Dan Boyle (Autograph Stage); Former Sharks player Evgeni Nabokov (NHL Theater). NHL Fan Fair in San Jose: What fans need to know Noon — Evgeni Nabokov (Autograph Stage), Dan Boyle (NHL Theater).

1 p.m. — NHL Mascot Showdown (relay races at Playmobil 2019 NHL By Curtis Pashelka |PUBLISHED: January 23, 2019 All-Star Rink); Former Sharks player Jonathan Cheechoo (Autograph Stage); Former Sharks player Mike Ricci (NHL Theater). As part of NHL All-Star weekend in San Jose, the league is holding its 2 p.m. — NHL Mascot Showdown Trophy Presentation (Playmobil 2019 Fan Fair from Thursday to Sunday inside the McEnery Convention NHL All-Star Rink); Mike Ricci (Autograph Stage); Jonathan Cheechoo Center at 150 W. San Carlos St. (NHL Theater). NHL All-Stars such as Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, Edmonton 2:30 p.m. — Pure Hockey Shooting Skills Challenge (Playmobil 2019 Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson NHL All-Star Rink). — along with several former Sharks players — are all scheduled to make San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.24.2019 appearances at one time or another during the four-day event. Also included are U.S. and Canadian women’s national hockey team members and mascots S.J. Sharkie and Gritty, the seven-foot, bright orange Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot with googly eyes whose mischievous personality turned him into a social media star after he debuted in September. Doors are open: Thursday and Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are required: Can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com or at McEnery Convention Center box office during normal hours of operation. In advance, $17 for adults and $15 for youth, seniors, college students military members (subject to applicable fees). At box office, $20 for adults and $15 for youth, seniors, college students, military members. Admission for children under two is free. Wednesday, the NHL announced federal executive branch employees can receive complimentary admission tickets. Parking: Convention Center/South Hall Parking (fills up quickly): $1 per 20 minutes, $20 daily maximum, Monday through Sunday. Special rates posted at facility may apply during special events. Schedule of events Thursday 6 p.m. — NHL mascots S.J. Sharkie and Gritty autograph session (Autograph Stage); Sharks GM Doug Wilson (NHL Theater). 6:30 p.m. — Former Sharks player Owen Nolan (Upper Deck); U.S. and Canadian women’s national team members Kendall Coyne, Brianna Decker, Rebecca Johnston and Renata Fast (SAP NHL All-Star Skills Zone). 6:45 p.m. — Rogers NHL Skills Showdown with Connor McDavid (Playmobil 2019 NHL All-Star Rink); Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (SAP’s Battles from the Bench). 7 p.m. — Sharks GM Doug Wilson (Autograph Stage). 8 p.m. — NHL Mascot Showdown (scavenger hunt and dodgeball at Playmobil 2019 NHL All-Star Rink) Friday 6 p.m. — Former Sharks player (Autograph Stage); Keeper of the Stanley Cup Phil Pritchard (NHL Theater). 7 p.m. — Hockey Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier (Autograph Stage), Adam Graves (NHL Theater), NHL Mascot Showdown (dance competition at Playmobil 2019 NHL All-Star Rink) 8 p.m. — Bryan Trottier at (NHL Theater); Pure Hockey Shooting Skills Challenge (Playmobil 2019 NHL All-Star Rink). Saturday Noon — NHL Mascot Showdown (musical chairs and broomball (Playmobil 2019 NHL All-Star Rink); former NHL player Jeremy Roenick (Coors Light ‘The Silver Bullet Slapshot’); Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson (Upper Deck). 1 p.m. — Pure Hockey Shooting Skills Challenge (Playmobil 2019 NHL All-Star Rink); Former NHL player Shane Doan (NHL Theater). 2 p.m. — U.S. and Canadian women’s national team members Kendall Coyne, Brianna Decker, Rebecca Johnston and Renata Fast (Autograph stage); Owen Nolan (NHL Theater). 3 p.m. — Owen Nolan (Autograph Stage); U.S. and Canadian women’s national team members Kendall Coyne, Brianna Decker, Rebecca Johnston and Renata Fast (NHL Theater). 1127458 San Jose Sharks

2019 NHL All-Star Game: Which snubs most deserved trip to San Jose

By Marcus White January 23, 2019 7:00 AM

There will be some notable absences at the 2019 NHL All-Star Game in San Jose. Days after scoring a hat trick against the Sharks, Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin will skip the game to rest. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who recently returned from an injury, is also sitting out. Both players will be suspended one game for not attending. And then there are the players who didn’t make it at all. Yes, we know there will always be snubs. Each of the league’s four divisions have 11 representatives (nine skaters, two goalies), and all 31 teams are required to have at least one All-Star -- at least on the initial roster. That leaves 13 spots for how many deserving candidates? But even with that disclaimer in mind, some absences are particularly head-scratching. Considering on-ice performance and in keeping with the spirit of the event, here are a few players we think should've been in San Jose this weekend. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127459 San Jose Sharks “It’s funny to look back,” Nolan said. “In the same game, I set the record for the fastest two goals in an All-Star Game, but no one remembers that. All they remember is the point.” The NHL All-Star Game’s return to San Jose conjures memories of Owen As scheduled, Hasek replaced Brodeur in the Eastern Conference net for Nolan’s called shot the start of the third period. Nolan tested him almost immediately. At the 23-second mark, Amonte sent Nolan in on an unsuccessful By David Pollak Jan 23, 2019 breakaway. A little less than eight minutes into the period, Hasek flopped to the ice and stacked his pads to stop Nolan’s point-blank shot. Nolan had two more pokes at the puck in that sequence, but Hasek — playing without his stick — held his ground. With 2:07 remaining in the 1997 NHL All-Star Game in what was then called the San Jose Arena, Sharks forward Owen Nolan scooped up a Hasek, then with the Sabres, would frustrate Nolan two more times on loose puck at center ice and skated in alone on goalie Dominik Hasek. shots from just outside the crease, one with 5:07 left in the game and another 47 seconds later. Two seconds later, Nolan reached the top of the left faceoff circle, looked at the net, lifted his right hand and pointed to the far top corner. He Still, Nolan says now, his called shot did not grow out of frustration. already had two goals, but Hasek had made five spectacular third-period saves that had denied Nolan a hat trick in front of his hometown crowd. “No, I wasn’t too concerned about it,” he said. “Obviously, I’d like to score my third and earlier I had some opportunities, but the whole weekend is Was Nolan trying to distract Hasek? Maybe throw him off his game? about having fun and getting to play with guys you normally don’t get a chance to play with.” “No,” Nolan recalled in a phone interview this month. “I just tried to have some fun with it.” The sequence leading to Nolan’s most memorable shot began when of the Rangers over-skated the puck at center ice. Nolan, With 2:03 remaining, he snapped off a quick shot from the slot that found who would become the Sharks captain the following year, circled around the back of the net at precisely the spot where the power forward had to pick it up then headed straight to the net. pointed. “That was definitely not designed. It was spontaneous,” he said of the That called-shot goal became an instantly iconic All-Star moment in an called shot. event that has not had many. Caps showered the ice as the crowd of 17,422 roared its approval, knowing it had witnessed something special. Fleury, a feisty nemesis of the Sharks during the regular season and playoffs, was the first to reach Nolan. Yet one person said he missed the gesture that made it special: Hasek. “That was definitely one of those moments that you sit back and you kind “The reporters are asking me after the game about Owen Nolan pointing of smile and you laugh because you were a part of it,” Fleury said in a while he was shooting,” Hasek said last week in a phone interview about recent phone interview. “What was really cool, you know, is that it was the event 22 years ago. “I had no idea what the people are talking about Dominik Hasek.” because I was looking at the puck or I don’t know what. Despite the fact that Sharks fans treated Fleury as public enemy No. 1 “I found out later. I saw the replay and he was pointing while he was throughout his career, he said he loved skating alongside Nolan that day. shooting. Probably 16,000 people who were there saw what he was doing. I was the only one who had no idea he was pointing.” “I was probably the most hated guy in San Jose,” Fleury said. “So to be playing on a line with one of the Sharks who got a hat trick in the game, it With the NHL All-Star Game coming to SAP Center this weekend — back was nice to hear some cheers as opposed to the boos all the time when I in San Jose for the first time since that called shot — this is a good time played there.” to journey back to that moment and how the principal participants remember it now. Goalies are usually the patsies in NHL All-Star Games, often the only serious line of defense in a contest that lacks hockey’s typical grit. But Nolan, now 46 and almost a decade removed from his last NHL shift, Hasek stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced that day and seems to take isn’t the first person you might expect to be that light-hearted about a comfort in the fact “we won the game despite my letting one in.” shot on net. Chosen first overall in the 1990 draft, Nolan played an intense, hard-nosed style, earning 1,793 penalty minutes in 1,200 NHL The genetic makeup of NHL goalies — especially one as competitive as games to go along with his 422 goals and 463 assists. According to Hasek — demands that they make every effort to stop every puck. Still, hockeyfights.com, he dropped the gloves 75 times. considering the circumstances, is it possible Hasek gave the crowd what it wanted? But Nolan doesn’t buy the suggestion that his called shot was out of character. Maybe his game face usually had a scowl on it, but he said he The question had to be asked: He beat you legitimately, right? also liked having fun around the rink. And, in truth, the All-Star Game is more of an exhibition. “I think it was a great shot. It hit the top corner of my catching glove,” Hasek said. “You know, he was always a goal scorer. I don’t know how “As far as the game, you always want to win. You can’t put that many many he scored in the NHL, about 400 maybe?” professional athletes in the same spot and not have it be competitive,” said Nolan, who played in five All-Star contests. “But at the same time, Hasek asked if Nolan had won the MVP award in what ended as an 11-7 it’s loosey-goosey.” victory for the Eastern Conference. Oddly, that designation went to Recchi — perhaps because the decision was made before Nolan’s called All-Star Games are more for the fans than the players, said Nolan, who shot. played for six franchises over his career. “It would have been a nice honor, but I didn’t lose any sleep over it, for “It’s more like a shinny game and you get to do things you wouldn’t sure,” Nolan said. normally do and show creativity to the fans that might not happen during a regular game,” he said. The three players who were closest to the called shot have long since retired and moved on to other things. For most of the first two periods, the 1997 All-Star Game did not go particularly well for Nolan or his Western Conference teammates. The Fleury, 50, played his last NHL game with the Blackhawks in the 2002-03 Eastern Conference built a 10-4 lead with forward Mark Recchi of the season. Six years later, he wrote about being sexually abused by his Canadiens getting a hat trick of his own. junior hockey coach, Graham James, and acknowledged turning to drugs to try to dull the pain. Now, Fleury counsels others dealing with similar Then, with a little more than a minute left in the middle frame, Nolan and demons. his linemates — Theo Fleury of the Flames and Tony Amonte of the Blackhawks — went to work. Before the intermission break, Nolan would “I work in the field of trauma, mental health and addiction because all score two goals only eight seconds apart. three are connected,” said Fleury, who turned to music to help himself deal with the pains of others and is recording his second album. “I try to The first came at 18:54 when Fleury had the puck behind the goal line encourage people to get on a path of healing and self-discovery.” then sent it to Nolan just outside the crease for a one-timer that beat Devils netminder Martin Brodeur. Then, at 19:02, Nolan took a cross-ice Hasek, 53, finished his career in 2007-08 after a second stint with the pass from Amonte and blasted the puck past Brodeur from the top of the Red Wings. He lives in the Czech Republic but periodically returns to right faceoff circle. Buffalo, where his charity foundation, Hasek’s Heroes, is based. He is president of the Czech Hockey Hall of Fame and plays in a weekly beer league — as a defenseman. Nolan played one season in Switzerland after finishing his NHL career with the Wild in 2009-10. He continues to make his home in the San Jose area, where his wife Diana grew up. For a while, he was host of a cable TV outdoors show, then had a change of heart. “I realized I was missing too much of my kids’ sporting events, so I decided to put it on hold,” Nolan said. “The TV show can always be started up again when the kids are out of the house.” Nolan’s daughter Jordan, 15, is on a cheering squad. His son Dylan, 11, skates at forward on a peewee team in the Junior Sharks program. Another former Shark, Curtis Brown, coaches the team while Nolan and another San Jose Hall of Fame member, goalie Evgeni Nabokov, serve as assistants. This weekend, however, Nolan is back in the spotlight because he decided to interject a little showmanship into a breakaway rush more than two decades ago. “You think back and if it doesn’t work out, you look like a fool for a week,” he said. “But if it works out, here we are 22 years later talking about it.” The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127460 San Jose Sharks Sharks’ best line no matter which one he’s been on this season, including earlier in the season when he was with Couture and Timo Meier.

With 45 points (22g, 23a) in 47 games, Hertl is undoubtedly having his Grading the Sharks at midseason: High-scoring forwards grade out well, best season as a professional. He’s fast, powerful, has soft hands and led by Hertl and Pavelski doesn’t experience some of the prolonged scoring slumps that he suffered through earlier in his career. The four-year, $22.5-million contract he signed in the offseason could end up being a huge bargain, By Kevin Kurz Jan 22, 2019 because a strong case can be made that he’s been the Sharks’ best player this season.

Evander Kane: B+ Disastrous road trip: averted. When the Sharks signed Kane to that seven-year contract extension in Less than one second from going 0-4-0 on a four-game swing leading May, they surely expected him to be a 30-goal scorer for now and the into the All-Star break, Evander Kane scored just before the third period foreseeable future. After his recent surge playing with Hertl in which he’s horn and Tomas Hertl completed his second hat trick in five games in posted 10 goals in 11 games, Kane should be able to reach that mark — overtime to give the Sharks a thrilling 7-6 win in Washington over the he has 21 goals in 52 games this season. Kane is also the Sharks’ leader defending Stanley Cup champions on Tuesday. among forwards in shots on goal (189) and hits (110). When he’s playing his game, Kane can be a force all over the ice, as Sharks fans saw last While the team defense and goaltending on the trip left much to be season immediately after he was acquired from Buffalo. desired as the Sharks allowed six goals in each of the four games, scoring has rarely been a problem this season. They have 184 total goals While it’s not realistic for Kane to keep up his current pace, he’ll have to in 52 games, or 3.54 per game, good for third in the NHL. avoid the kind of slump he endured earlier, when he had just three goals in a 25-game stretch. Not only was he not scoring, he wasn’t doing much With that in mind, let’s take a look at the team’s deep forward group, as of anything else most nights. Still, Kane is probably right where the the Sharks will go into the 10-day respite with a 29-16-7 record and in Sharks expected him to be stat-wise at the All-Star break. second place in the Pacific Division. Kane loses some points because he’s taken the most minor penalties in (In case you missed it, we looked at the Sharks’ defense and goaltenders the NHL (27). on Monday). Melker Karlsson: C Logan Couture: A- Karlsson has eight goals, which already equals his total from last season, There isn’t much to say about Couture other than he’s having a typical to go along with three assists. But he posted just one assist through his Couture season. He’s often tasked with skating against the opposition’s first 22 games and wasn’t doing much of note during that stretch. Still, top line. At 44 points (18g, 26a), he is just about on the same scoring Karlsson remained in the lineup because coach Pete DeBoer has always pace as last season and he remains a key part of the Sharks’ power play appreciated Karlsson’s work ethic and penalty-killing prowess, and it’s and penalty kill. He’s still as vital a piece to the Sharks’ forward group as tough to disagree with him. The Sharks simply didn’t have anyone to take anyone on the roster. up Karlsson’s minutes and the result has been a more productive forward Something to monitor over the next little while, though, will be whether since the middle of November. the Sharks can find the right linemates to pair with Couture, who seems Karlsson loses points because he’s overpaid at $2 million annually to miss having Tomas Hertl on his left. Couture went through his longest through next season. There’s little doubt the Sharks expected more from scoring drought of the season from Jan. 7-15 (five games), although he him when they signed him to a three-year, $6 million contract in the 2017 goes into the All-Star break with five points in his last four games (3g, offseason. Regardless, Karlsson is still a good depth guy to have around. 2a). Kevin Labanc: C Joonas Donskoi: B Probably the most polarizing player on the Sharks among their forward It’s been a heck of a resurgence for Donskoi lately, after he was bumped group, Labanc has already reached the 30-point mark this season, with to the fourth line earlier in December when he had just one goal and five goals and 25 assists. Most of his success has come on the power three assists in a 16-game stretch and was in danger of losing his place play, as Labanc has one goal and 11 assists with the Sharks enjoying a in the lineup altogether. But since he was placed on Hertl’s line after man advantage. He deserves credit for generating the offense that he Christmas, Donskoi has eight goals and three assists for 11 points in 14 has. games, finding his confidence and once again showing he can be a consistent point producer. But the problem with Labanc is persistent — he’s still just not very strong in the other two zones, has taken too many penalties and has been At this point in his career, it’s fair to assume that Donskoi is simply a caught out of position or not working hard enough defensively too many streaky player, based on his first three-and-a-half NHL seasons. But as times for DeBoer to fully trust him. At even strength, Labanc seems to long as he remains healthy and has chemistry with his centerman, like he bring down whichever line he’s on, including on Saturday in Tampa Bay appears to have with Hertl, he can be a valuable player. He’s already when he got another look on the Couture line but missed an assignment equaled his goal total from last season (14). on one Lightning goal and took a penalty leading to another. He was Barclay Goodrow: B- quickly demoted back down to the fourth line. The organization showed its faith in Goodrow when it signed him to a Labanc might eventually figure it all out and become a complete player. two-year contract extension on Oct. 4. He’s been a steady presence on In the meantime, he’s in danger of losing his place on the active roster the Sharks’ fourth line, which has had its ups and downs throughout the and is a good candidate to get moved before the trade deadline if the first half. Goodrow checks in with 12 points (5g, 7a) in 52 games, after he Sharks are looking for an upgrade at wing. He’s a nice option for the had 14 points (7g, 7a) in 47 NHL games last season. power play, but the Sharks have enough other weapons that can play there, too. The biggest issue with Goodrow is that he’s never really shown an ability to play up in the lineup, like frequent linemate Melker Karlsson has. He Timo Meier: A could probably do more to get under the opposition’s skin, too, the way While Meier’s recent goal drought is concerning, as he went 17 games big fourth-liners like him are supposed to. Still, Goodrow deserves credit without one before finally getting a goal in Florida on Monday, he’s just in that he’s still playing out of position as a center. That’s more the one point behind Couture for the scoring lead among forwards with 46 organization’s fault for not finding a reliable fourth-line pivot than it is points (19g, 27a). He has 11 assists in his last 12 games and is the Goodrow’s, because he should be on the wing. Recall last season when Sharks’ leading scorer at even strength (39 points). Goodrow was much better after Eric Fehr took over fourth-line center duties. Even during the drought, Meier was getting pucks to the net, with 55 shots in those 17 games (he’s third on the Sharks overall with 159). We’ll Tomas Hertl: A+ predict that he still finds a way to reach the 30-goal mark, because Well, it finally happened. In his sixth NHL season, Hertl finally showed Meier’s game hasn’t changed all that much from the start of the season. that he has what it takes both physically and mentally to center his own He’s simply been a consistently effective power forward, and, at 22 years line. Along with Donskoi and Evander Kane, Hertl’s line has easily been old, probably will be for a very long time. the Sharks’ best since it was put together in the third period of a game Joe Pavelski: A+ against Arizona on Dec. 23. Hertl has seemingly been a part of the After getting another goal on Tuesday in Washington, Pavelski is on pace for about 43 goals this season, which would surpass his career high of 41 in 2013-14. Despite being 34 years old and seemingly slowing down by a half-step over the course of the last few years, the captain has found a way to keep producing. While the pending unrestricted free agent — and a guy who has helped to set the culture in the dressing room for at least the past half-decade — could very well be annoyed that the Sharks haven’t had any serious negotiations yet about a contract extension, Pavelski hasn’t let that affect his play. Pavelski is a a true professional, an inspiring leader, an All-Star and, frankly, a Sharks legend who should be mentioned in the same breath as guys like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Owen Nolan and Evgeni Nabokov. Will he be back after this season? That’s a question for another day. For now, enjoy watching Pavelski do work. Lukas Radil: A- Even DeBoer admitted earlier this month that he didn’t really expect Radil to be more than a fourth-line player after seeing the 28-year-old in training camp. That said, Radil did have a good camp, so it wasn’t all that surprising that he was one of the early recalls from the Barracuda. Not only has the Czech native shown he can create offense, with six goals and four assists for 10 points in 27 games, but he’s been given more responsibility, playing on the Couture line for most of January. That allowed the Sharks to move Hertl to center. Whether Radil stays in a top-six role is uncertain and it can be argued that the fact he’s playing in that spot means that the Sharks should target another winger prior to the trade deadline. But for now, Radil’s emergence as a responsible two-way forward with a big body has been one of their more pleasant surprises of the season. Marcus Sorensen: B The Sharks see some potential in the 26-year-old Sorensen, as evidenced by the two-year, $3 million contract extension he signed in mid-January. He has 10 goals and seven assists in 52 games and has learned that he has to give full effort on a nightly basis in order to be effective — something that was an issue in his first two years with the organization. His numbers are probably right where they were expected to be, as Sorensen has a ton of speed and plays with an edge but doesn’t necessarily the same skill level as of some of the other wingers on the roster. Playing as a third-line winger could be the best-case scenario for a guy like Sorensen, but that’s not a bad thing. Joe Thornton: B The toughest guy to grade on the entire Sharks roster is Thornton. Who knew what to expect from the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer coming off of two major knee surgeries? Some might argue he’s not been playing up to expectations, while others might say anything you get out of Thornton at this point in his career is a bonus. Making it more complicated is that Thornton recently played through some sort of non-knee related injury. He wouldn’t disclose exactly what it was, only to say two weeks ago that “it was bad before, but now it’s good.” While we’ll probably get a better read on Thornton after he gets to shut things down for a full 10 days with the All-Star break, he has still been generally effective this season, including at least one point in seven of his last nine games. He has 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 43 games and a team-leading 59.6 shot-attempt percentage; when you consider he’s now the third-line center and doesn’t get top power-play time anymore, those are respectable numbers. If Thornton can improve in the second half, it could allow the Sharks to match up with just about any team in the league in terms of depth down the middle. But even if he doesn’t, the Sharks could do a lot worse than Thornton when it comes to that third-line center role. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127461 St Louis Blues The Blues kept Mackenzie MacEachern with the team and played him in his sixth game Wednesday. MacEachern will probably go down to San Antonio so he can keep playing over the Blues’ upcoming break. Edmundson back in action as Bortuzzo becomes spectator St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2019

Tom Timmermann

ANAHEIM, Calif. • Defenseman Joel Edmundson had a chance to watch the Blues’ games with Ottawa and Los Angeles, though it wasn’t something he wanted to do. Edmundson was a healthy scratch for those two games, as well as for the game Jan. 5 against the Islanders. It was an unlikely, and unexpected, event for a player who had become one of the regulars in the team’s defensive unit, third among the defensive corps in ice time and often skating on the top pairing. “It was definitely out of the blue,” he said Wednesday morning. “I didn’t see it coming. I was playing good hockey. You can always be better. Other guys were playing good hockey, they were getting some points, they were stepping up in the play and getting some goals for us. You can’t take those guys out of the lineup when they’re playing that good. It definitely caught me by surprise, but looking back at it, at the same time, not really. I’m just excited to get back in there.” Edmundson was back in the lineup Wednesday against the Ducks, partnered with Vince Dunn. Robert Bortuzzo was the scratch Wednesday, the first time this season he has missed a game as a healthy scratch. On Monday against Los Angeles, Bortuzzo committed a four-minute high sticking double minor that accelerated the reversal of fortunes in a game that turned into a painful 4-3 loss for the Blues. When interim coach Craig Berube first scratched Edmundson, he pointed to a decline in Edmundson’s aggressiveness. For the second set of scratches, he just said that with seven experienced, healthy defensemen, someone was going to have to sit out. Edmundson thinks he’s been aggressive but says there’s always room for more. “I think it’s been there,” he said. “I think I’m still finishing all my checks. I think I can still be more assertive and aggressive in the D zone. I got a chance to watch a couple games and when you watch a couple games, you learn a lot. You see how much time and space you have. When you take those games off, it’s not just to sit out, you want to watch and pick up little things, so I’m looking forward to tonight. “It’s not easy (to be out). It’s definitely frustrating. We have seven healthy D-men and the six guys who are playing have been playing really good hockey, so I was just the odd man out. It’s the way it goes sometimes.” STILL NO FABBRI The game Wednesday was the third consecutive healthy scratch for forward Robby Fabbri and his fourth in six games. Since returning from a shoulder injury Dec. 29, he’s been scratched six times and played in just eight games, with one assist. “I think it’s been a tough go for Fabs with the injuries,” Berube said. “He’s been out a long time. We just haven’t seen enough with his skating and his type of play.” One noteworthy number for Fabbri, who turned 22 on Tuesday, is that in those eight games, he had just one hit. In the 15 games before he hurt his shoulder, he had 18. Berube admits there could be some hesitancy on the winger’s part. “That all plays into it,” he said. “It’s a confidence thing for Fabs right now too, and once he gains his confidence back and feels better, he’s going to be a better player.” TWO JORDANS DOWN To activate Tyler Bozak and Zach Sanford, the Blues sent two of their three Jordans — Nolan and Kyrou — back to San Antonio. Kyrou has now gotten three looks with the big club this season but continues to get minimal minutes when he’s up. Against the Kings on Monday, he played just 4:55. In the five games in this call-up, the most ice time he got was 10:14 against the Islanders, and he had just two shots on goal in the five games. “It’s hard to come up in midseason like this when the games are hard right now,” Berube said. “He needs to work on his play without the puck and move his feet more. Things like that are definitely part of what he needs to go down there and work on. The games are real hard right now. He’s a young kid but he’s going to be a good player.” 1127462 St Louis Blues having scored against a goalie in 23 games, on a line with Bozak and Alexander Steen. Sanford played with Sundqvist and Maroon.

“I just wanted to balance it out a little more, get a little bit more scoring,” Blues go on break with win over Anaheim Berube said. “Try Schenner on the wing, get Schwartzie a new centerman and see if we can get a little more scoring out of those guys.” Tom Timmermann It worked. The Blues had fallen behind 1-0 on an Anaheim goal that came against the run of play when O’Reilly’s new line went to work. The Blues’ All-Star selection not only got to a puck behind the Ducks’ goal, but his forecheck took out two Anaheim players. Schenn got the puck ANAHEIM, Calif. • With a nine-day break coming up until their next game, and passed in front to Tarasenko, and before Anaheim goalie John the Blues had not just their well-being in the standings staring at them Gibson could make a move to cover the other half of his net, Tarasenko Wednesday night, but also their mental well-being. How much can you shot the puck home for his 17th goal of the season and sixth in the past relax if you’ve dropped four of your last five and have blown a chance to 10 games. close ground in the playoff race? "That line looked really good and I thought Schenn had a heck of a game “We’re fighting for our lives right now,” center Ryan O’Reilly said, “and on wing," Berube said. "They had the puck in the offensive zone a lot, did every point matters. This one is going to sit with us for a while.” a lot of good things with it, and I thought they looked good together." This is one the Blues can live with, wherever their midseason vacations Sanford gave the Blues a 2-1 lead on an unassisted goal 2:04 into the take them. They dominated Anaheim — give the Ducks some of the second period. He retrieved the puck in the neutral zone, skated it into credit for that — in a 5-1 win at Honda Center. The win sent the Blues the zone, gave a slight deke, took the puck to the net and took a shot that into the break three points out of the second wild-card spot in the Gibson saved, but he then put in the rebound for his seventh goal of the Western Conference, though with three teams between them and that season. spot in a tightly packed race. It makes the loss to the Kings on Monday sting even more. If the Blues had won that one, they would be one point "(Sundqvist) did a great job driving the backdoor to pull that other D man out. over and give me that lane," Sanford said, "so I wouldn't say I didn't need any help. Our line was playing well. We were having fun and clicking out "I feel like we put a great team effort tonight," said Vladimir Tarasenko, there." who scored the first goal of the game for the Blues, "and it was nice to get a win before the break. Everyone leaves in a good mood and we "That was a hell of a play," Maroon said. "He showed some poise and have time to recharge and come back stronger." good hands, puck protection there and getting his own rebound. He's a big man with good skill, sees the ice really well and good hands. That "It feels good," said wing Pat Maroon, whose backhand toe drag on a was a heck of a play by him." drive to the net to set up a goal by Oskar Sundqvist may have been the play of the game. "Losing that game in LA, our main focus tonight was The lead went to 3-1 on a goal by Sundqvist, his 10th of the season, getting those two points. They're a desperate hockey team over there just which by itself is one of the most surprising aspects of this season. This like us. We're all fighting for that wild card spot. To have this win going goal was the result of a great drive by Maroon, who stickhandled his way into the break is huge. Hopefully we can get some momentum off this." past Michael Del Zotto till he got to the goal line and backhanded a pass to Sundqvist, who acted like the goal-scorer he has become and buried The Blues, and most of their Central Division brethren, are now off until it. after the All-Star Game. The next time one of the teams the Blues are battling with takes the ice is next Wednesday, when Dallas plays. The "Oh my God," Sanford said. "We call that his patented move, a little Blues resume practice Jan. 31 and play their next game on Feb. 2 at backhand toe drag. He's always pulling it off in practice, he's done it a Columbus. In the meantime, most of the team is scattering for someplace couple times in games. That was pretty slick by him and great job by warmer. Now they can think warm thoughts as well. Sunny to be there to finish it off." The Blues dominated the game. They outshot Anaheim 32-13 and had "I've always done that move," Maroon said. "For a big man, I have soft 68 shot attempts to 46 for Anaheim. The booing from the Anaheim fans hands so sometimes D don't realize it, so I can expose them if I do the at the end of the game was louder than anything the Blues had heard this move. Fortunately Sunny buried it. I'm just glad our line got rewarded season. tonight. Sunny's off to a really good start and I'm glad Sanny came back and got rewarded to. I'm happy for these two points and hopefully we In addition to being key as far as the standings go, the game had a right- have a good break, rest up and come back ready to go." the-ship quality after the loss to the Kings on Monday in which the Blues blew a 2-0 lead. Anaheim came into the game with just two wins in its Anaheim came out aggressively to start the third, but the Blues scored past 15 games, so the Blues wanted to come to assert control of the twice in the span of 34 seconds to put the game away. Bozak got his game. goal when Gibson blocked a shot by Schwartz and he got the rebound. Bozak’s attempt to pass hit the skate of Anaheim’s Nick Ritchie and bled Which they did. The Blues applied pretty constant pressure to the Ducks, into the goal to make it 4-1. And right after that, Mackenzie MacEachern who had only nine shots on goal through two periods. It seemed like got his first NHL assist after his wraparound attempt was blocked by when the Ducks had a scoring chance, the puck got away from them. Gibson, but the rebound came right to Blais, who shot it in for his second (Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf called his team's effort "uninspired." goal of the season. That was enough to drive Gibson from the goal in Defenseman Cam Fowler called it "one of the worst games I've been a favor of former Blues backup Chad Johnson. part of.") The Blues, meanwhile, made the most of their chances and, in a rare case of good timing, got goals from Tyler Bozak and Zach "I think we're playing well right now," Bozak said, "gaining a lot of Sanford, who both had been activated from the injured reserve list chemistry. Pucks are starting to go in a little bit more for us. We're Wednesday morning and were playing in their first games since returning playing a lot of good teams but it's going to be tough. Everyone plays a from concussions. little bit better after the break and it tightens up a little out there. We have a lot of games in February, a lot of road games. I think we love playing on "We wanted to get on them as quick as we could," Bozak said. "It's the the road as a team so I'm excited for that." last game before break, we wanted to have a good game to be feeling good going into the break. Our D were doing a really good job defending "When we come back, it's a grind," Berube said. "February is a tough and getting the puck to the forwards and I thought we were doing a good month, a lot of games, a lot of road games, but we've been a good team job of spending time in their zone and getting pucks to the net." on the road this year. If we play hockey like this we're going to win our share of games. Going into February and March, things like five-on-five Sanford also had an assist and the Blues also had goals from Tarasenko, hockey, penalty killing, all that stuff so important. You have to be really Sundqvist and Sammy Blais. Jordan Binnington made his third straight good five-on-five, we have to go into the break and going into February start in goal, with the last two notably on the road where Jake Allen has we have to play real good defense and we have to play hard." had his better numbers this season. (Interim coach Craig Berube said he had a gut instinct to go with Binnington.) The rookie didn’t have a whole St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2019 lot to do, facing just 13 shots, a season low for shots allowed by the Blues. The returns of Bozak and Sanford led to total reconfiguring of the Blues’ lines, with Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz being separated for the first time since Schwartz returned from his hand injury Dec. 11. Berube moved Schenn from center to wing, putting him on a line with O’Reilly and Tarasenko, and putting Schwartz, who came into the game without 1127463 St Louis Blues

Blues blast Ducks 5-1 as they head into break

Jim Thomas

The Blues entered their break on a high note, blasting the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 Wednesday at Honda Center. The Blues started strong, outshooting the Ducks 13-2 in the opening period and never really let up. Two players returning from concussions, Zach Sanford and Tyler Bozak, scored for the Blues, who are 22-22-5 and just three points out of a wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference. Because of the All-Star break and the Blues' bye period, the team doesn't play again until Feb. 2 at Columbus. "We needed the win for sure," interim coach Craig Berube said. "And going into the break, it's a good way to go in on a positive note for sure." Vladimir Tarasenko, Oskar Sundqvist and Sammy Blais also scored for the Blues who outshot the Ducks 32-13. "We attacked right away in the game," Berube said. "Skated. Forechecked hard. When we're on our toes like that and we're shooting pucks and attacking and winning puck races, I know we're ready to go." Starting his third game in a row and for the seventh time in 10 games, rookie goalie Jordan Binnington improved to 5-1-1. He made some quality saves, but had a light night against the Ducks (21-21-9). The Ducks' shot total was a season low for a Blues opponent this season. The five-goal outburst by the Blues marked only the second time since Thanksgiving weekend they have scored five or more goals in a game. (Second Period) Activated from injured reserve Wednesday after suffering a concussion Jan. 15 against the New York Islanders, Zach Sanford had a goal and an assist to help stake St. Louis to a 3-1 second-period lead against the Anaheim Ducks. Just 2 minutes 4 seconds into the second period, Sanford stole the puck from Anaheim's Daniel Sprong near the Ducks' blue line. With Oskar Sundqvist on his left for a 2-on-1 rush, Sanford skated in on Ducks goalie John Gibson and sent home his own rebound for his sixth goal of the season. About 5 1/2 minutes later, Sanford got a secondary assist on Oskar Sundqvist's 10th goal of the season. Pat Maroon did some nifty puck- handling on the play, and then put a backhand pass from below the goal line in front. Sundqvist was there and his one-timer made it 3-1 Blues at the 7:41 mark of the period. (First Period) The Blues took the first eight shots of Wednesday's game at Anaheim, but when the Ducks finally got their first shot _ 6 minutes 44 seconds into the game _ it went in the net. The Ducks' Daniel Sprong skated deep into the right faceoff circle and beat goalie Jordan Binnington high and glove side for a 1-0 Ducks lead on his eighth goal of the season. But less than four minutes later, the score was tied 1-all on Vladimir Tarasenko's 17th goal of the season. All-star Ryan O'Reilly, playing in his 700th NHL game, helped make the play by taking two Ducks out behind the Anaheim net. That left the puck there for Brayden Schenn who passed to Tarasenko in front for a quick goal _ Tarasenko's fifth in his last seven games. So there were assists for Schenn and O'Reilly, and for O'Reilly it extended his current points streak to six games. The Blues outshot the Ducks 13-2 in the period, dominating play. Jaden Schwartz hit the post in the closing seconds of the period. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127464 St Louis Blues Sanford-Sundqvist-Maroon MacEachern-Barbashev-Blais Blues activate Bozak, Sanford from IR; Kyrou, Nolan sent to San Antonio Defensemen Gunnarsson-Pietrangelo Tom Timmermann Bouwmeester-Parayko Dunn-Edmundson ANAHEIM, CALIF. • The Blues activated forwards Tyler Bozak and Zach Goalie Sanford off of injured reserve on Wednesday while sending forwards Jordan Nolan and Jordan Kyrou to San Antonio of the AHL. Binnington The Blues didn't activate forward Robert Thomas, who was considered Net Front Presence: NHL replay reviews and more Blues struggles possible as he recovers from his shoulder injury. He'll be out until the COST OF LOCKING UP GOLDSCHMIDT? team resumes play after the All-Star break and their bye week. "He's not ready to go," Berube said. Cardinals introduce Paul Goldschmidt Bozak has missed nine games with a concussion and Sanford has QUESTION: Would 6 years and $175 million get it done for Paul missed three. Goldschmidt? With the return of those two, it led to reconfiguring of all of the Blues lines BENFRED: Five years, $150 million seems to be a good starting point. for their game Wednesday night vs. the Ducks. Brayden Schenn moved to the wing and will play on Ryan O'Reilly's left. Bozak will center Jaden I'm sure he sees what is happening around the league with free agents Schwartz and Alexander Steen, and Sanford will play on the left on the similar to his age. He's better than almost all of these players, though. third line, centered by Oskar Sundqvist. And he has already accepted a team-friendly deal in the past. If he was determined to flex his free-agent muscle, he likely missed his best "I wanted to try to balance it out a little more, maybe get a little more window. Doesn't mean he won't ask for the moon, or shouldn't. scoring," interim coach Craig Berube said. "Try Schenner on the wing, Schwartzie gets a new centerman. See if we can get a little bit more Follow-up: Do you think it's possible the Cardinals and Goldschmidt scoring out of those guys. agree to an extension before the beginning of the regular season? "I'm putting (Schenn) there as someone who can play down in the BENFRED: It sure seems like the Cardinals would love that, but offensive zone and maybe spark something there and get him scoring a Goldschmidt would have to want it. He has talked about how spring little bit more. He's played center most of the season this year, maybe training is really the chance to get to know the team, and start to feel out wing when he first came back from his injury. We'll see how it goes." an organization, so I would be surprised if he's willing to agree to anything before the season begins. Some guys shut down contract talks "I think it's good," said O'Reilly. "I think he's very comfortable down low once games count. Will be interesting to see how he handles this. He's in as well, so I think it can help us play a little quicker. If he's first back, he's the driver's seat. very comfortable there, so it's good that I don't feel a responsibility that I have to be the guy getting back there. I think it helps us play a little To another question about the Cards' interest in a Goldschmnidt faster. And he's a great player. His intensity, his versatility, he's a Swiss extention, BenFred replied: Army Knife. He can do everything. It's a great opportunity for us to go into The day of the Goldschmidt press conference in December, I wrote about the break and feel good because I think it's a great line." the Cardinals' strong desire to extend him. They would not have made Nolan has seen ample ice time on the fourth line since his callup on Jan. the trade if they didn't think they had a fighting chance to do that. They 13. In the past two games, he has logged double-digit minutes, playing were stiff-arming the truth a little bit then, but their tune drastically 12:14 against Ottawa and 10:27 against Los Angeles. In those games, changed at Winter Warm-Up. They are now officially recruiting, and he had a combined six shots on goal. viewed the fan reception at WWU as a key point of that. So, that's a goal. “He had good wheels,” Berube said prior to the Kings game. “I thought he WHY HOPE FOR HARPER WHEN YOU'VE GOT GOLDY? was moving really well and did a good job checking. He had some real Cardinals-Diamondbacks Trade Baseball good O zone time, they hemmed in there, I thought they were working really well, I thought they were working and doing a good job for us. He QUESTION: I understand the Cardinals' hesitation regarding big, long deserved the minutes.” contracts, but Bryce Harper is the best middle-of-the-order hitter they would have since Albert Pujols, and he's young. Why not do it? Kyrou, meanwhile, continues to struggle to get ice time in his occasional encounters with the NHL. While he's rolling up points in the AHL with San BENFRED: The Cardinals did add their best middle-of-the-order hitter Antonio, he has one goal and one assist in 16 NHL games and in four of since Pujols this offseason. Paul Goldschmidt, as Whitey Herzog said the five games in his most recent callup, he was in single digits in this weekend, is a top-5 hitter in the National League. I'm not sure where minutes. fans got the idea that when the Cardinals said they needed a middle-of- the-order bat, they were going to get two. I harped for Harper harder than Against the Kings on Monday, he played just 4:55 with no shots on goal anyone, in part because I did not think Arizona would actually trade the and committed a hooking penalty. In his five games in this callup, he had face of their franchise. The Cardinals got him for a steal. And when that just two shots on goal and three total shot attempts. Against Boston, he happened, I knew they were not going to get Harper. was on a line with Ryan O'Reilly and but didn't generate many chances. The Cardinals will never say it, but they heaved sighs of relief as the Pujols contract played out in Los Angeles. They are also starting to feel "He's a young kid," Berube said. "It's hard to come up in midseason like they dodged a bullet when Stanton turned them down. What will be this when the games are hard right now. He needs to work on his play fascinating to watch is how they continue to toggle the needle between without the puck and move his feet more and things like that are sustained success at a historic level and desperation to win now, based definitely part of what he needs to go down there and work on. The off recent postseason misses. games are real hard now. He's a young kid but he's going to be a good player." I would argue there has been some toggling toward the right (win now) this offseason. Trading years of control for Goldschmidt on one In sending down Nolan and Kyrou, it means the Blues chose to keep guaranteed season is an example of that. As much of an example as the Mackenzie MacEachern on the roster. fans would have liked? Probably not. But when do those views ever line “He's a good skater and he really gets on top of people," Berube said. up? “We like the way he's playing. He's aggressive, he's physical and we like MOVING ON FROM OZUNA? that. He's doing a good job.” White Sox Cardinals Baseball LINES COMMENT: Probably a minority opinion, but if Marcell Ozuna bounces Forwards back, I think the Cards should try to extend him along with Wacha, Schenn-O'Reilly-Tarasenko Mikolas, and Goldschmidt. Schwartz-Bozak-Steen BENFRED: There are multiple reasons for the Cardinals to prepare for But no, I don't want the Rams to win. Of course I don't. While they are life without Ozuna, as things stand today. Could that change? Sure noted cheaters, the Patriots' Super Bowls are easy enough to ignore at That's what this season is all about. But where things stand right now, he this point. They all kind of blend together. Here's a question: If St. Louis had a disappointing 2018 that stemmed from a shoulder that they were beat the Patriots in the 2002 Super Bowl, would the Rams be in Los not pleased with how it was handled by the player. And then the Angeles today? And you all wondered why I don't watch NFL anymore. offseason surgery comes during the so-called offseason of accountability, and they can't get their staff's eyes on Ozuna. The Follow-up: A previous poster mentioned taking comfort in Stan Kroenke Cardinals have not seen him in person and won't, until Mozeliak goes to meeting his maker. First, I'm an atheist, so that doesn't do much for me. the Dominican Republic for the high school graduation at an academy And, if moving an NFL team sends you to hell, well, that's a pretty high the Cardinals have there. standard. Seems to me this Super Bowl Sunday is a perfect reason for Netflix. One more thing: Ozuna's agent is Scott Boras, and he is likely going to steer his client toward free agency in an attempt to get the last dollar on BENFRED: Ha! The moving the NFL team would not be first on the list. the table. If Ozuna has a monster season, the Cardinals could decide Pushing poor people off of the ranch land they had leased for years they have to have him moving forward. This season is going to determine would rank above that, along with a long list of close friends betrayed in a lot, but right now it does not look like an extension waiting to happen. business deals and lawsuits. Stan is rich, but he's poor when it comes to Especially when you consider some of the outfield prospects on the rise. what matters most. And that has NOTHING to do with football. Follow-up: Safe to say the optics aren't good on the Marcell Ozuna BLUES SHOULD BE SELLERS — THEY'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH offseason communication, or lack thereof? Seguin, Bishop lead Stars to 3-1 win over Blues BENFRED: The best word for the situation is anxiety. The Cardinals are COMMENT: I hope Blues management will come to its senses and figure not sure what they are going to get when Ozuna rolls into spring training, out the Blues should be sellers at the trade deadline and get over this and this offseason was supposed to be all about the opposite of that. delusion they are a playoff team. How can you beat the Caps twice and Molina's comment about Ozuna struck me. lose to the Kings twice? "He told me he is feeling a little bit better. He wants to be ready for BENFRED: They lost three out of their last four after that three-game Opening Day. I told him to take it easy, don't push it. He wants to be winning streak, the first of their season, the one they became the last there for us, so he's going to try to push it. Hopefully he is fine for team in the NHL to secure. I said pump the brakes, and I got hammered Opening Day." for being Negative Nancy. And, here we are. They played a little bit better Opening Day?!? Buckle up. for a while. Then they regressed again. TRAFFIC JAM IN THE OUTFIELD They are who they are: Not good enough. Not committed enough. Too quick to pat themselves on the back. They don't turn corners. They just Royals Cardinals Baseball keep spiraling. Yes, the Blues should sell. QUESTION: Why have Tyler O’Neill on the big league roster wasting SILENCE IN ST. LOUIS away behind Fowler and J. Martinez, when he can pick up ABs tearing up Class AAA? Wouldn’t Adolis Garcia make more sense as a defensive Another push to bring soccer to St. Louis replacement and 5th OF? QUESTION: Sacramento just got a multi-billionaire to back its MLS bid. BENFRED: So Adolis can waste away? It's not a great scenario for either Any idea how this may affect STL's getting the final bid into the league? guy. O'Neill has less to gain and less to prove in Class AAA than Adolis. BENFRED: As far as what it means, I'm not exactly sure, other than And he's fine defensively, and can play any of the positions out there. saying any good news for the competition is probably not good news for The Cardinals really, really like the projections on O'Neill long term. Don't St. Louis at this point. I asked more than a week ago to chat with the sleep on him, especially as the Ozuna outlook looks a little shaky at the ownership group about how things are going and what boxes are left to moment. check, and was told they are not doing interviews at this time. Follow-up: I’m not sleeping on O’Neill, I like him better than Ozuna, better Follow-up: If St. Louis doesn't get an MLS franchise in this round of than Fowler, better than J-Mart. But where will the ABs come with this expansion, should the city just abandon going for this league? logjam? BENFRED: This ownership group has given a now-or-never vibe, but so BENFRED: If everything goes according to plan, the at-bats for O'Neill have other ownership groups that have attempted in the past. It's will be hard to find -- this season. But things rarely go according to plan, leverage. Sometimes, it's not exactly true. MLS has confirmed it will right? Ozuna's shoulder is a concern. Fowler's feet are a concern. Bader expand beyond 28 teams. has never played a full season in MLB center field. O'Neill will get AS YADI GOES, CARDS GO chances. +40 Follow-up: The offensive stability of Martinez doesn't justify playing him over the significant defensive upgrade/offensive potential of Tyler. St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs BENFRED: When he's the second-best hitter on your team the past two David Carson sesaons and O'Neill strikes out 40 percent of the time, it does. Let's see what O'Neill can do with (new hitting coach) Jeff Albert. Let's see how COMMENT: When the Cardinals win the division this year, should fans Martinez holds up. send Kris Bryant a thank-you card? The team goes as Yadi goes. But there's no reason Martinez should not be slotted ahead of O'Neill at BENFRED: Agreed. Harrison Bader said it best. Here's a long quote the moment. None. worth reading. WHO SHOULD ST. LOUIS ROOT FOR IN THE SUPER BOWL? "I think the most important thing about everything that happened was Yadi's response," Bader said. "And obviously I don't necessarily believe +28 Kris Bryant meant anything malicious, but regardless, I think it is important that Yadi said what he said. And obviously anything he says April 15 • St. Louis vs. Stan Kroenke we support. And I obviously disagree (with Bryant) – I think this is an A popular "Postcard From St. Louis" drawn by Dan Martin of the Post- incredible place in regards to baseball, there really isn't any better place Dispatch. to play. So his comments were sort of insensitive in that matter." QUESTION: Which team should St. Louis pull for in the Super Bowl? It's "You just learn very quickly about certain guys, just looking at personnel a rather grim question. on and off the field. And one of the first people I just obviously gravitated towards in terms of someone who you want to emulate both on and off BENFRED: I'm rooting for an overflowing toilet in the owners' boxes. the field is obviously Yadier Molina. And then just getting the opportunity Kidding. Not really. It would be great for the Rams players, who had to play with them on a nightly basis really is an honor. I know we kind of nothing to do with the relocation rip job, to win the Super Bowl. And it toss that around, because in many ways maybe taking it for granted, would be fun to watch the NFL own the fact that their terrible officiating because you just go out there and play baseball. But just his presence system and perhaps worst blown call in football history produced the night to night, and just the way he goes about his business, it truly is an Super Bowl winner. I don't mind the notion of Kroenke's Super Bowl ring honor. having an asterisk of diamonds in the middle. "There's no reason why he shouldn't be excited, because he's been on SLU v Butler some incredible teams, and I like to think that this is, in his mind, shaping up to be one of those as well. So the energy he feeds us just purely by QUESTION: Lots of season ahead, but as it stands now, would SLU who he is and what he does really does lift the locker room up. And it's have to win the A-10 Tournament to go to the NCAA? I have an uneasy just incredibly fortunate to have a presence. Shildty made a comment feeling the A-10 may only have one team in The Dance. about anything (Yadi) says you listen to. He's very vocal, but at the same BENFRED: Agreed. SLU did itself a favor with a tough non-conference time, he really doesn't speak a lot. He's just very particular about the way schedule, but not every other team in the league can say the same. I he goes about his business. And it's just the personality that you just you don't think SLU would want to leave its fate in the hands of the want to latch onto as best you can. So it's going be a great year, and I'm committee. They should be viewing it as win the tournament or go home, happy he's excited for it." even if it's not. Could be close. CARDS STILL SEARCHING FOR LEFTHANDED HITTER? REASONS FOR THE FREE-AGENT FREEZE Blue Jays Rangers Baseball Mike Moustakas, Craig Kimbrel, Dallas Keuchel QUESTION: Have the Cardinals given up the thought of getting a LH Among the free agents still on the market (from left): third baseman Mike bench bat more proven than Drew Robinson? Moustakas, closer Craig Kimbrel, starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel. BENFRED: This remains a bit of a mystery. At the time of the Patrick QUESTION: Is tanking doing as much, if not more, damage to free Wisdom trade, Robinson was said to be a guy who could be in St. Louis. agency than the aging curve? Then he was described as an option to be in St. Louis. He was at Winter Warm-Up, but was not mentioned by the team in the big moves they BENFRED: I've argued the same point. Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt made for 2019. Jr. says every owner wants to win, but they take different routes. And it has been pointed out that the Cardinals have benefited (Ozuna, What does that mean? I think they are still looking for potential upgrades Goldschmidt) from teams that are pivoting toward rebuilds. DeWitt is for that role, depending on who winds up looking for a pillow deal. going to stick up for owners, just like players stick up for players. Asdrubal Cabrera is out, by the way. Rangers got him for one season at a reported $5 million. But we see what we see. Not every team cares about competing in the present, or even the near future. And it does hurt the players, because FINDING RELIEF WHILE STILL PAYING FOR CECIL? that means fewer teams are interested in paying good players in their +17 prime. If it's 2019 and your goal is to build toward 2023, then of course you are less interested in the star free agent right now. For many reasons Cardinals Rockies Baseball -- international draft, increase in analytics that has made every team view players similarly, increase in spending on development -- free agents QUESTION: Does Brett Cecil's remaining money make it improbable this have less leverage than before. But the amount of teams who are not offseason that another (pricey) quality veteran arm is added to the interested in winning now, and actually want to avoid it so they can get bullpen? better draft picks, should not be dismissed as a big factor in the free- BENFRED: It shouldn't. That's an area the Cardinals can afford and agent freeze. should find some more certainty. Go get another strikeout pitcher and let IS IT ON THE PLAYERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM? the chips sort themselves out at spring training, especially when the good relievers without deals begin to get very, very nervous during spring Yasmani Grandal training. A Bud-Norris-like deal worked out for the Cardinals last season. The Cardinals will be seeing more of Yasmani Grandal this summer after SHOW ME ... THE NBA? he signed a one-year deal with the Brewers. (AP Photo / Billy Hurst) +14 QUESTION: If, as a player, you are not a free agent until the age no one wants to sign you, is free agency dead? Bulls host Grizzlies in NBA preseason basketball BENFRED: Not dead, but it needs to be tweaked. Players should stop Robert Cohen complaining about owners not handing out bad deals, and start looking at QUESTION: Isn't it odd that Missouri doesn't have an NBA team? Two ways to make sure they reach free agency sooner. They should fight for MLB teams, one NHL team, used to be two NFL teams, yet zero NBA fewer arbitration years and for decreasing service-time tinkering. Arguing teams for the past 33 years (over 50 years in this market). What is the against the age curve is not sound logic. Owners have adjusted to it. reason? Players have not. Their power is limited until the CBA expires after the 2021 season. BENFRED: No love for the Bombers and the Hawks? Their discussions can get a head start, and they have, according to the There's been some NBA to STL chatter recently. Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz players who spoke during Winter Warm-Up, guys like Goldschmidt and got it rolling. I've asked him if he would like to expand on that, but have Miller and Flaherty and Carpenter. The owners are getting crushed for not heard back. KC has also made it known they have folks there who being cheap, and some truly are cheap, but it goes ignored that these might be interested. players have agents who are working to drag this process along as much as possible. That never, ever gets mentioned. Harper and Machado You can find some in NBA circles who say the league has interest in STL should be absolved from the 30-year-old-plus free agent discussion until as a potential market, but there has been no official interest expressed by they sign a contract that shows they got a raw deal. I don't think that will the league. I think having a team in Memphis and Indianapolis makes it a be the case. Lumping them in now is premature, and potentially bit crowded here regionally. I also think KC might be more appealing to inaccurate. See what they get, then let's talk. the league at this point. And don't forget the agents are competing here as well. Owners got I have no doubt STL would support the NBA. Anyone who says otherwise ripped when Yasmani Grandal turned down a multi-year deal worth $60 is misinformed. Problem is, the league has to want to be here, and there million from the Mets, then had to scramble for a one-year, $18 million has to be an ownership group with the cash to make it happen. Until deal with the Brewers. Why didn't his agent get ripped ? The agent then, it's just a pipe dream. steered his client away from a better deal than the one he steered him toward. FLASHBACK: DARK DAYS AT THE DOME National media types, especially, shape the discussion. They St. Louis Rams v Tampa Bay Buccaneers intentionally leave out the agents if there is anything negative to say. QUESTION: Is Sean McVay that good of a coach, or was Jeff Fisher just Why? Because they get info from agents. Think about it. Let's see what that bad? Harper and Machado get before we trot them out there as the signs of a broken system. Especially when there is a massive pile of 30-plus FAs BENFRED: Combination of both. Fisher was archaic and outdated. It that truly show the system is broken. says a lot that no team has touched him in any capacity. The game had passed him by, and Stan Kroenke was the only one who did not see it -- THE DH DEBATE (CONTINUED) or he didn't care enough to act on it as he wanted the team to shrivel and +7 die in St. Louis. I'll take the latter. Cardinals v Pirates Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to go throw up. QUESTION: Please help me understand the pro-DH-in-the-NL position. SLU'S NCAA TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK Last season, Cardinal pitchers only averaged two plate appearances per game. Eliminating those is not going to make any difference in gaining the interest of someone who is not already interested in MLB. But adopting the DH in the NL is going to infuriate and alienate a sizable percentage of the existing fan base that enjoys the strategy of pinch hitters, double switches, and lineup construction. Why would NL owners do this? BENFRED: I don't think the pro-DH argument's strongest point is that it will increase interest in the game, at all. Players want it because it will create job security for older sluggers, and players tend to fight harder for guys who have been there, and done that -- it's one of the reasons the big free agency clash is happening right now. Players point to what they have done. Owners are increasingly asking what they can do next. I think you have overestimated the size of the crowd of fans who will go bananas if the DH comes to the NL. There seems to be, to me, an age- related split. The older generation tends to strongly dislike the DH. The younger generation tends to strongly dislike watching pitchers hit. DH solves that. And then the last one: Why would NL owners do this? Because players could prioritize it in the upcoming CBA discussions, and owners -- whether they will admit it or not -- realize they are at a disadvantage when it comes to signing certain players because they don't have a DH spot to offer, and because some also realize it's just a matter of time until the league adopts the same rules across the board. There are fewer and fewer people willing to die on the no-DH hill. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127465 Tampa Bay Lightning So, with the Lightning likely not dealing with an offer sheet and a Nylander-like holdout unlikely, the Lightning will likely sign Point to an extension in the offseason. That could come in the form of a bridge deal Brayden Point is one of the NHL’s top goal scorers. Soon the Lightning similar to Kucherov or a long-term deal. As to what a fair deal would be, may have to pay him like one. that remains up in the air as Point continues to tally more and more points.

Point didn’t make the All-Star Game, but he is putting up better numbers By Nick Kelly this season. He tallied 32 goals and 34 assists last season. This season, he has 30 goals and 35 assists with 33 games to go.

He’s on pace for 108 points. TAMPA — One of these things is not like the others. Compare that to Nylander, who tallied 61 points in each of the previous Take a look at the NHL’s top goal scorers and their annual average two seasons. That earned him a six-year contract with an AAV of $10.2 value, according to capfriendly.com. One of these contracts doesn’t million this season and a $6.962 the next five seasons. belong: Look to the Lightning’s own for another recent long-term extension. This Alex Ovechkin ($9.538 million) past November, the Lightning inked Yanni Gourde to a six-year deal with an AAV of $1 million this season and $5.166 million the next five Brayden Point ($919,167) seasons. That extension came after Gourde turned in a 64-point season John Tavares ($11 million) last year. He didn’t have multiple 60-point seasons like Point. Only one. Gourde, however, had more leverage than Point as he would have Jeff Skinner ($5.725 million) become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Johnny Gaudreau ($6.75 million) If the Lightning signs Point to a long-term deal, BriseBois will have to get extremely creative with the salary cap with Gourde and Kucherov’s deals Connor McDavid ($12.5 million) each increasing their cap hits in the second year. Fortunately for the Patrick Kane ($10.5 million) Lightning, the salary cap is expected to increase. Gabriel Landeskog ($5.57 million) Enjoy this team now, Lightning fans. This summer, things could get interesting. Can you tell which contract is not like the others by the time ... okay, you get the point. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.24.2019 If you haven’t figured it out by now, there’s your answer — Point. His contract is missing the word million. That’s not a typo. Point, 22, doesn’t make that much. He is still playing on his entry-level contract. It makes him, one of the NHL’s best scorers, also one of its best bargains. He knows it. Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois knows it. Heck, the whole league knows it. Minnesota Wild coach Bruce Boudreau even knew it just weeks into the season, calling Point the best player in the league that no one knows how great he is. “Come contract time next year,” Boudreau said, “they’ll know.” What that number looks like and for how long remain uncertain as Point is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason. That number will certainly be much higher than it is now, though. “I don’t know what I’m going to have to pay Brayden Point,” BriseBois said. “And he’s going to obviously be a priority in the offseason.” Here’s what else we know: Don’t expect the Lightning to negotiate a deal with Point before the offseason. BriseBois said he does not see any discussions before the offseason based on the team’s perspective and conversations with Point’s agent, Gerry Johannson. Another team likely won’t steal him away with an offer sheet. The Lightning can match any offer that another team would make to him because he is a restricted free agent. “I’m not concerned at all about offer sheets,” BriseBois said. “The way it’s set up, there’s no point in making an offer sheet if you’re not going to get the player. And teams match, you’re not going to let go of these good young players that can be good for your team for many, many years to come.” Point does not have arbitration rights. This is where things can get tricky as William Nylander and Toronto showed earlier this season. Nylander, also 22 and a restricted free agent this past offseason, sat out the first 26 games of the season before he and the Maple Leafs came to agreement minutes before the restricted free agency deadline on Dec. 1. Nikita Kucherov didn’t miss any games but did sit out training camp and preseason when he was in the same situation as a restricted free agent three years ago. He accepted a three-year bridge deal instead. He went on to sign an eight-year extension this past summer. It’s not likely Point reaches the stage to where Nylander got as most don’t, but it is an option for Point’s camp as Nylander showed. Diana C. Nearhos joins Rick Stroud to talk about the historic season the Lightning has together to this point. #TBLightning #GoBolts @TBLightning @NFLSTROUD @dianacnearhos @TB_Times @SportsDayTB https://t.co/8QwJ7kRERG — TampaBayTimesSports (@TBTimes_Sports) January 23, 2019 1127466 Tampa Bay Lightning Stamkos was coming off a strong season, by most standards, with 86 points in 78 games, with a career-high 59 assists. He gladly settled into a playmaking role playing alongside 100-point scorer Nikita Kucherov but Why Steven Stamkos is playing some of his best hockey wanted to even that out more and be more “aggressive” in his goal scoring. Stamkos hoped to “get back to that level where I’m creating more for myself and using my speed to take the puck to the net and driving those areas.” By Joe Smith Jan 23, 2019 He wanted to be more of an even goal-assist type player. And now

Stamkos is, with 26 goals and 31 assists. TAMPA, Fla. — Lightning captain Steven Stamkos curled just inside the “I mean, early in my career, I was always known as the goal-scorer, the Sharks blueline Saturday night, anticipating a drop pass from Nikita shooter,” Stamkos said. “Within the last year and a half — I always Kucherov. believed in myself and my ability to be a playmaker and make passes. Only Stamkos, 28, knew what was coming next — a brilliant deke, faking But it all depends on who you’re playing with. And what type of reads to his forehand then whipping back to leave San Jose winger Joonas you’re making. I always believed that I had had the ability. But as you Donskoi in his wake. progress in your career, I have that little extra poise with the puck in certain situations. And that’s been helpful.” That footwork and stickhandling at that speed? Come on. Then came Stamkos’ snipe, a wrist shot from the slot that soared into the tiny hole Case in point was Stamkos’ toe-drag setup of Ondrej Palat on Saturday above the right shoulder of goalie Martin Jones. in San Jose.

“There’s a stream of consciousness that happens with great players Stamkos has been very dynamic playing with Palat and Yanni Gourde, when they’re in the zone,” Fox Sports Sun analyst said, his linemates for most of the past month. Hall of Famer Phil Esposito felt “and Steven Stamkos is in the zone.” a turning point for Stamkos this year was splitting up Stamkos and Kucherov, so both could know they’re the designated shooter on their Stamkos is feeling it, playing his best hockey in years heading to his sixth lines — instead of just deferring to each other. All-Star Game this weekend in San Jose. It’s not just Stamkos’ scoring, though his 26 goals are just one shy of last year’s total, putting him on “I thought it was a brilliant move by the coaching staff to put Stamkos on pace for just his second 40-goal season since racking up 60 in 2011-12. a line with Palat and Gourde,” Esposito said. “They can score and get 20 That was when he was 21. Stamkos’ 14 goals in December were more goals maybe. But Stamkos is a shooter, and he knows it. So that’s what than any month in his career, even that 60-goal season. he’s doing now; he’s shooting.”

But Stamkos takes pride in other parts of his game, like his career-high Palat and Gourde are puckhounds, creating space (and shots) for 54.8 percent in the faceoff circle, six points above his average, which has Stamkos. earned him more high-leverage minutes on the penalty kill and late in “You see the tenacity (Gourde) has, hounding the puck, retrieving the games. His poise with the puck is a click better, resulting in 31 assists puck in the offensive zone,” Stamkos said. “You know he’s going to be in and a 53.4 Corsi rating. There is still work to be done, as Stamkos is still those tough areas. He creates some space out there and allows (Palat) a minus-one, and he’s not routinely drawing the Brayden Point-like and I sometimes to find some seams. Slowly, I can feel the chemistry shutdown assignments of other teams’ top lines, but he’s getting better. growing.” “He’s evolved into a world-class, two-way player,” Victor Hedman said. Jon Cooper said one key to Stamkos’ success is he’s shooting. Stamkos This is a different Stamkos than the fearless phenom, the teenager taken had a team-high 18 shot attempts Thursday against Toronto (10 on goal). No. 1 overall in 2008. Stamkos, a decade into his career, has matured, Even though he was shut out, it showed Stamkos’ aggressiveness and partly out of necessity due to two serious injuries (a broken leg in 2013 confidence. and a torn meniscus in 2016). It’s his “new norm,” as he calls it. The “He’s attacking with the puck,” Engblom said. “Driving to the net. Not just scars aren’t just physical ones, either, with the face of the franchise trying to get open for a pass. He has the puck and is making plays, naturally taking some blame for his part in the Lightning coming up short forcing the opposition to make decisions and taking advantage of them.” again last spring; Stamkos was held point-less the final three games of the Eastern Conference loss to the Cup champ Capitals. Stamkos is averaging a half a shot a game more than last year (at 3.12), about a half a shot below his best (3.70 in his 60-goal season), though he But watching Stamkos fly around the ice, “darting into daylight,” as averaged four minutes of ice time per game more in 2011-12. If you look Engblom calls it, you get a sense the captain is playing with as much at Stamkos’ shot charts (via Sean Tierney @ChartingHockey) and where confidence as he has had in a long time. his goals are scored, there’s not a huge difference between this year and So I asked Stamkos, when was the last time you felt this good? last.

“You go through stretches — before the injuries — every day,” Stamkos The one difference is Stamkos’ average shot distance is five feet farther said. “You go through ups and downs. I’ve tried to stay consistent with than last year, which Tierney points out is a significant bump, relatively the effort and the way it feels on the ice. I’ve taken more responsibility in speaking. “It might even signify a purposeful strategy,” Tierney said. my overall game in certain areas and getting rewarded for that work.” “Steve is a shooter,” said Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman, who Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) is congratulated by defenseman attends most Lightning home games. “He seems to be enjoying that part Victor Hedman after Stamkos’ goal in the third period Saturday night again. He’s also really into the faceoffs. Teams are matching up big time against San Jose. (Kim Klement / USA Today) on Point, (Tyler) Johnson and Kucherov, so they can’t match up all the lines with their top d-men.” Stamkos’ resurgence started in the summer, with his infamous workouts with former Lightning teammate Gary Roberts. He has typically picked Stamkos’ jump in the faceoff dot is not insignificant. For years, Stamkos the best partners to work out with, the likes of Connor McDavid, Mark has talked about wanting to be a guy the Lightning coaches can depend Scheifele. on in late-minute, high-leverage situations. On the penalty kill. One way to do that is getting better in the dot, and Stamkos’ six percentage point “If he ever lost a race, or got beat in a time trial, he would want to re-do jump in faceoffs has earned him some shifts in key moments. Stamkos’ the exercise,” Roberts once told me. “‘I want one more try. Nobody is 54.8-percent clip is second to Gourde (54.9), though Stamkos has taken beating me today.’ And (it’s) not often he’s lost.” nearly three times as many draws.

The difference this summer was that Stamkos wasn’t going through a Stamkos’ 62.3 percent success rate on faceoffs on the penalty kill is the lengthy rehab, like the summer before with his torn meniscus. “To have a best on the team, the reason there’s only one center who has taken more full summer where I could train the way I’m used to training, and just get short-handed draws (Anthony Cirelli). Though many have credited first- back to it a little quicker, it felt good,” Stamkos said. “You want to feel year assistant Jeff Halpern — a long-time NHL center — with their good going into camp and don’t want to feel hesitation at all. I feel strong, improvements in faceoffs, Halpern said Stamkos’ improvements are all and I feel the work I put in I hope can translate to feeling fresh more with on him. your legs and your speed and skating ability. I focused on that this summer.” Halpern said Stamkos’ experience, learning other players’ tendencies, and execution, have been key factors. There are times when Stamkos is the one in meetings/video sessions to make suggestions to other guys.

“I think, especially in the faceoff circle this year, I’m trying to be a guy that can be counted on so I can be out there in more situations,” Stamkos said. “Whether it’s a big draw on penalty kill or a big draw at the end of the game, I can see myself in those areas and being a guy that coaches have confidence in throwing over the boards.

“It’s nice to be counted on in those areas, other than power play, offensive chances.”

Stamkos said he’s found himself in better situations on the ice by “working harder and smarter” in certain areas of the ice. His ability to make the right reads has been a strength, as pointed out by Hall of Famer and long-time linemate Marty St. Louis. You can see that in how Stamkos has been determined to use the middle of the ice more.

“Sometimes, in the past, I’ve had a tendency to swing away from the puck and go for the home-run pass,” Stamkos said. “Where, for me, trying to be in the middle of the ice, I can be the guy to have the puck with speed, and it has been helpful.”

Stamkos is producing in all facets this season, with 26 goals, 31 assists and a career-high 54.8 percent in the faceoff circle. (Kim Klement / USA Today)

It certainly doesn’t look like Stamkos is thinking about, or favoring, his surgically-repaired leg or knee. “Obviously, I’m feeling good. I can tell in my skating, the strength is there, the confidence is there,” Stamkos said. “I just want to ride that as long as I can.”

As much as Stamkos has evolved as a player, I ask him what he’d like to take from his 20-year-old self and bring to his game today.

He laughed.

“Back then, it was just go-go-go, fearless, reckless abandon,” Stamkos said. “I never had an injury, just went out and whatever happened, happened. I’m a little more meticulous in how you go about it on the ice in different situations. As you mature as a player, too, you don’t need to go 100 miles per hour all the time. There are certain spots where you need to slow it down, or take a second and stickhandle with the puck. That’s what I’ve done.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127467 Toronto Maple Leafs Given how reluctant Leafs head coach Mike Babcock was to finally put Matthews and Marner together on a regular basis, it is anyone’s guess if the pairing will last when the team returns from its break on Feb. 1. Maple Leafs double up Capitals to enter NHL break in style “I’m not sure Babs likes it too much but I enjoy playing with [Marner] a lot,” Matthews said. “It’s up to him obviously and whoever he puts there

after the break I’m happy with. If he keeps [Marner] I’m happy.” DAVID SHOALTS Outside of saying they were “fine” together, Babcock did not want to get into any discussion of the matter after the game. As magic acts go, Auston Matthews’s and Mitch Marner’s first game as a “I don't know. I haven't watched the game, I'll go through it and see what pair wasn’t exactly Penn & Teller. happens,” the coach said. But that didn’t matter as William Nylander, of all people, and Nazem Early in the game, it looked like it was going to be Ovechkin’s night even Kadri had their mojo working, not to mention the Toronto Maple Leafs if he did get off to a rough start. The Capitals came into the game in as power play. Kadri finished with three goals and his linemate Nylander big a funk as the Leafs, having lost six games in a row. They were also chipped in three assists to send the Leafs into their combined NHL all- playing the second of back-to-back games, having lost in overtime to the star and five-day break with a 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals on San Jose Sharks at home on Tuesday. Wednesday night. Their woes were illustrated seven minutes into the game shortly after It was just the Leafs’ fourth win in the last 10 games but they were able to Ovechkin missed a scoring chance. When he made his way back to overcome the bad luck they have long complained about with a strong centre, Ovechkin was caught by his linemate T.J. Oshie in a thundering application of hard work after a slow start. Nowhere was that more blind-side accidental collision. evident than in the play of Kadri and Nylander. The latter has been Ovechkin took a while to get up and was sent to the dressing room to getting an earful from the fans and media after producing just four points undergo concussion protocol by an NHL concussion spotter. He missed in 20 games after his contract dispute was finally settled. several minutes but was able to return to the game late in the first period. On Kadri’s first goal, Nylander and Morgan Rielly dug the puck out from Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.24.2019 behind the Capitals’ net to allow Kadri to cash in. On the Leafs’ second goal, Nikita Zaitsev’s first of the season, Nylander got the puck on a nice back-check on Alexander Ovechkin to start a rush and then took a hit in the Caps zone to protect the puck and set up Zaitsev for the shot. Then there was the puck-luck the Leafs have said they weren’t getting lately. On Kadri’s third goal, Connor Brown bounced the puck off the crossbar and a post and had it land right in front of Kadri. “It’s always nice to get some breaks, get some bounces,” Kadri said. “Early on in the game, you catch a break like I did, just crashing the net, you know it’s going to be a good one.” As for the Brown shot, Kadri said, “Yeah, that was quite the fortunate bounce. It wasn’t spinning or anything, just laid up on the tee for me.” It all added up to a nice week ahead for the Leafs. “We wanted this one, for sure,” Kadri said. “We wanted to feel good about ourselves heading into the break. It’s definitely nice to play a full 60 and beat a good team. “We were just working. The work ethic was there, just making responsible, reliable plays and letting our skill take over once we were in the offensive zone.” Kadri also told the media he figures Nylander’s big night should finally get him going on one condition: “Yeah, if you guys would just get off his back I think he’d be okay.” The Matthews-Marner combo, along with left winger Patrick Marleau, did not come flying out of the gate. However, Matthews did manage to get a power-play goal to give the Leafs their first lead of the game and then Kadri and Nylander applied the finishing touches in the third period. Marner closed out the scoring with an empty-net goal. The power-play goal, at 16:19 of the third period, was Matthews’s first goal in eight games and first power-play goal since Dec. 20. It was also the Leafs’ first power-play goal since Jan. 12. While the power-play goal came on the Leafs’ lone opportunity, the first power-play unit looked overpowering for the first time since October when it was scoring at will. There were three tremendous scoring chances before Matthews potted his 21st goal of the season and looked skyward in a big sigh of relief. “That’s how we pretty much need to do every power play,” Matthews said. “We were relentless on the puck. We kept getting it back. We shot it and got it back consistently and then were able to capitalize.” Alexander Ovechkin scored for the Caps to tie Sergei Fedorov for most career NHL points (1,179) by a Russian player. Nicklas Backstrom and Matt Niskanen also scored for the Capitals. While Matthews broke his scoring slump it did not come during five-on- five play with Marner. The duo’s work at even strength was mixed and hardly reminiscent of Marner’s chemistry with his usual centre, John Tavares. 1127468 Toronto Maple Leafs “We’re staying positive in the locker room,” Matthews said before the game. “We’re going through a rut everyone knows it. We want to have fun on the ice and go into the break feeling good about ourselves.” A Kadri trick, and the stars click, in Leafs’ win over Washington | The Star The Capitals had lost six in a row and were struggling to keep the puck out of the net, having given up 15 goals in their last two games and 24 in their last four. The Capitals suffered their seventh straight defeat (0-5-2, By Kevin McGran their longest slide since Jan. 12-24, 2014). This and that: The game was dedicated to mental health awareness through Hockey Talks, a partnership with 11 NHL clubs, including all Click. Nazem Kadri: hat trick. seven Canadian clubs ... Trevor Moore was called up from the Marlies to replace Andreas Johnsson (concussion) ... Jake Gardiner (back spasms) Click. William Nylander: three assists, and points in two straight games. also missed the game. Nazem Kadri, centre, had a hat trick in the Leafs’ win over Washington Up next: Auston Matthews and John Tavares are off to the all-star and combined for nine points with linemates William Nylander, second festivities Friday and Saturday in San Jose. The Leafs next game is Feb. from right, and Connor Brown, right. 1 in Detroit. Nazem Kadri, centre, had a hat trick in the Leafs’ win over Washington Toronto Star LOADED: 01.24.2019 and combined for nine points with linemates William Nylander, second from right, and Connor Brown, right. (Richard Lautens / Toronto Star) Click. Auston Matthews: his first goal in eight games. Indeed, the Maple Leafs were clicking on Wednesday night, beating the Washington Capitals 6-3 to head into a weeklong break on a high and holding second place in the Atlantic Division. Kadri was the offensive hero, with a three-goal night and a new-found chemistry with Nylander. But the weight seemed visibly lifted off Matthews with his power-play goal, and Nylander had a strong night of creating plays. With their lines juggled as the losses and slumps piled up, the Leafs put in one of their more complete efforts of the season, skating hard, with a nose for the net and a tenacity around the puck that had been lacking for much of January. Mix ’n’ match: Matthews and Mitch Marner started the game together, a pairing fans have wanted to see for two-plus years, but one rarely executed 5-on-5 by coach Mike Babcock. “We’re obviously excited to play with one another,” Matthews said. “We just want to have fun out there, compete and play hard, create some offence and score some goals.” The Leafs’ recent funk was the reason. “We need those guys to be good every night, both of them are capable of driving a line,” said Babcock. “We need them both to drive a line. Right now, we’re doing this to get ourselves going.” For the Leafs: Kadri scored his 11th of the year, digging at the puck in front of Braden Holtby to tie the game 1-1 in the first period, less than a minute after Washington opened the scoring ... Nikita Zaitsev scored his first of the year on a long shot to tied the game 2-2 at 13:11 of the second ... Matthews scored his 21st, and first in seven games, on a nice power-play deke for a 3-2 lead at 16:19 of the second. Alex Ovechkin was off for cross checking ... Kadri scored again at 2:10 of the third, converting one-timer off a pass from Connor Brown, then completed his hat trick at 10:15 after Brown’s hard shot caromed off both posts ... Marner scored into an empty net with 33 seconds left ... Frederik Andersen faced 44 shots ... Toronto is 2-0-0 against Washington in 2018- 19 with the final game in the series Feb. 21. Just say Ovie: Ovechkin had a choice to make for declining an invitation to the all-star weekend: Miss the game before the all-star weekend, or the game after. Given his career numbers against Toronto – 37 goals and 66 points in 46 games coming into the contest – and his love for the spotlight, there was no way he was missing Wednesday’s game. He scored Washington’s second goal. Already Russia’s all-time leader in goals, Ovechkin tied hall-of-famer Sergei Fedorov for the most points by a Russia-born player. Ovechkin has 1,179 points (644 goals, 535 assists) in 1,052 NHL games. Fedorov finished his NHL career in 2008-09 with 1,179 points (483 goals, 696 assists) in 1,248 games. More for the Capitals: Nicklas Backstrom opened the scoring at 18:47, a power-play goal with Patrick Marleau off for hooking ... Matt Niskanan scored at 17:14 of the third as Washington poured it on to try to tie. Tales of woe: Both teams were having struggles coming into the game, the last before the all-star weekend in San Jose. The Leafs had lost two games in a row and seven of their last 10 while struggling to score. They managed to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season. 1127469 Toronto Maple Leafs

There’s no time like the present for the Leafs to lock up the future | The Star

By Mark Zwolinski

Auston Matthews is relaxed when it comes to addressing the talks between the Leafs and his agents regarding a contract extension. Matthews’ future is bright and he is in a prime position to take NHL salary levels to new heights. But the 21-year-old knows he’s far more valuable to the Leafs at the moment if he snaps out of a goal-scoring slump. “My agent handles (negotiations), and obviously they’re making some progress,” Matthews said Wednesday morning. “I’m not too worried on it or focused on it … If (the agents) come to me with something to sign, obviously we’ll sit down and figure it out.” Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said Tuesday that he continues to have dialogue with Matthews’ representatives, Judd Moldaver and Jeff Jackson. Dubas would like to lock up Matthews and new linemate Mitch Marner as soon as possible, and definitely before the July 1 free-agency period. It could be a watershed moment for the GM and the players: Matthews and Marner represent the future for the Leafs, and could end up with long-term deals that pay at least $10 million annually. Marner’s camp has said it would prefer not to negotiate in-season, but there is belief in some circles that a Matthews deal might be closer than expected. There’s no timeline but Dubas learned a thing or two from letting the William Nylander contract talks drag on and will want to avoid a repeat of that situation. “Yes, it would be selfishly beneficial,” Dubas said about getting deals done early. “But, for the players, I think they have to make sure they’re fully comfortable in going into any arrangement.” Matthews could be asking for a record-setting deal — the Oilers’ Connor McDavid is highest paid NHLer with an eight-year deal at an average annual value of $12.5 million — and that is something the Leafs likely are prepared for. Ultimately, the team’s priority is to sign its two top stars, which would give the club cost certainty for the next several years and allow Dubas and his staff to focus on which potential trades they may want to target to complement the current roster. Dubas, who is as involved on the scouting end of his job as much as any NHL general manager, may also have to tap European markets, when the new contracts begin to weigh on the club’s daily cap considerations. While the GM has immediate concerns — getting the Leafs out of their mid-season slump, for one, and evaluating the strengths and needs of his roster for the playoff push — Matthews and Marner provide an opportunity to invest in what appears to be a bright future. As for the present, Matthews entered Wednesday’s game against Washington with one goal in his last 13 games. His numbers — 20 goals and 42 points in 34 games through Tuesday — are still impressive but he’s fallen off his pace of a month ago, when he was among the league leaders in goals per game. He has been quietly working on his skating lately, with coaches taking video of his edging. He has also skated extremely hard during practice drills and rushes this week, looking to bolster his status as one of the best and most dangerous players in the NHL. Toronto Star LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127470 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs hope Marner can lift Matthews out of goal-scoring funk | The Star

By Mark Zwolinski

The Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are looking forward to being linemates Wednesday night when Toronto hosts the Washington Capitals at . The two stars will be on the same line for the first time this season. For Matthews, playing with Marner, the Leafs’ leading scorer, could very well help end his goal-scoring slump. “We’re obviously excited to be playing with each other, we have a great relationship off the ice, and it will be fun playing together tonight,” Matthews said at the morning skate. Coach Mike Babcock initially shuffled his lines following a loss to Arizona last Sunday. Matthews didn’t score in that 4-2 loss and has one goal in last 13 outings. Matthews’ production is still superb — 20 goals and 42 points in 34 games — but he has fallen off his pace of a month ago, where he was either leading or near the top of the NHL in goals per game average. “We’re going through a time like that as a team, through some adversity,” Matthews said. “I think in the long run, you have to think big picture. In the end, hopefully this is good for us and good for me personally.” Babcock worked his power-play units at the morning skate, especially the top unit that features Matthews and John Tavares. The Leafs’ power play, though, rarely gets an opportunity to see the ice, as the Leafs are third-lowest in the NHL in terms of drawing penalties. Also, Babcock said he has not been told injured defenceman Jake Gardiner would be able to suit up against Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals. Gardiner, who missed the last game because of back spasms, was on the ice and skating well at Wednesday’s morning skate. Andreas Johnsson, out with a concussion, also skated Wednesday. But the Leafs recalled Trevor Moore from the Marlies and will start him on the fourth line. Toronto Star LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127471 Toronto Maple Leafs It’s like he lost a contest, or a lottery. As then-Oilers winger Pat Maroon said in 2017, “You can’t just rely on one player every year. You can’t wait for him to do it. Someone else has got to do it.” What’s really changed? Maybe it’s time we tried to get Connor McDavid out of Edmonton | The So the rest of hockey should go break him out, so he can start a new life. Star Except, the Oilers could make the playoffs this year, because the West is five teams and a bag of hammers. And maybe this time they’ll get the right GM, and it will only take a few years to make Edmonton a By Bruce ArthurSports Columnist contender. But if you were McDavid, would you bet on that? The only generational player who has ever started a career in this bad a situation for this long We’ll need suction cups and ropes, flashlights and hacksaws. We’ll need was Mario Lemieux. Every lost year is a waste of a nonrenewable, once- a balaclava or two, and a plan. in-a-lifetime resource. Because it’s time to start thinking about freeing Connor McDavid. Still, the bottom line is this: Nobody can break Connor McDavid out except Connor McDavid, and he has never shown the slightest Edmonton Oilers fans will become spittle-flecked rage zombies at the inclination. Maybe this time the Oilers will get it right. For his sake, for the mere notion, and that’s fine. That Oilers fans still have a hockey soul left, sake of hockey history, you hope they do. that they are not simply dead-eyed and gazing at the wall above the TV, speaks to the power of human resilience. And if they don’t he should borrow a hacksaw, and start hatching a plan. The best thing that has happened to Oilers fans in the last 13 years was Toronto Star LOADED: 01.24.2019 winning the McDavid lottery, and getting to watch the best player in the world play every night. Second place was Peter Chiarelli getting fired. That happened late Tuesday night, when Edmonton’s general manager was canned during a 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. It happened right before the all-star weekend, so the franchise player can have a relaxing weekend answering questions about it in California. Sounds fun. “We’re not going to be in a real rush to get a general manager,” Oilers president Bob Nicholson said at a news conference in Edmonton. “We have to get the right one. And if that takes us some time ... because we have to look at all parts of this organization. I want to emphasize again, we got some real good players. We got some real good staff. But there’s something in the water here in Edmonton that we don’t have right. And we got to get that figured out.” “I really believe when I watch this team through games this year we can be a real good team. But we just haven’t shown it and we haven’t show it consistently. So what is that? We need to make sure we have the right chemistry in the room, the right character in the room to bring the best out in all our players.” But ... Nicholson was hired in 2014, and has been in charge since 2015. He hired Chiarelli and left him to make the kind of mistakes that set a franchise back years. And teams that sing songs of character and chemistry — especially after bleeding talent in trade after trade and transaction after transaction — are just lost. The talent pipeline is mediocre. They’re not good enough. They’re slow. It shows. So Nicholson wears this, too, because he let the car crash. Chiarelli came in saying the Oilers would play heavy, in a league that was slimming down and speeding up. His very first trade was moving first- and second-round picks (one of which became, of course, Islanders star Mathew Barzal) for washout Griffin Reinhart. A year later he dealt former No. 1 pick and future MVP Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson, one for one, and agreed to that ponderous Milan Lucic contract. A year later he traded Jordan Eberle for Ryan Strome, who became Ryan Spooner, who recently cleared waivers. Those are just the hits, and but every one was a hydrogen blimp crashing into a power line, right up to and including signing a no-track-record, 30- year-old goalie to a rich contract last week. Chiarelli won a Cup in Boston by mostly not making moves; maybe that was the problem. Edmonton asked him to do something. But when the Leafs spent decades submarined by greed and incompetence, it came from the top. It always does. Owner Daryl Katz has cycled through old Oilers for years; Keith Gretzky as interim GM seems like dark comedy, honestly. But this one is on the imports. Connor McDavid doesn’t deserve this. He shouldn’t be trapped in hockey hell. He hasn’t even hinted he wants anything else; he’s a hockey player under contract, after all. He took the money, though less than he could have. And surely, after everything — after the owner swanning around semi-threateningly in Seattle with , after paying for a rink, after enduring this soul-sucking hockey farce for a hockey generation — Oilers fans don’t deserve to watch him leave. But the franchise is wasting a singular career. This is not arguable. The Oilers have made the playoffs once in McDavid’s first three years because they ran a goalie on a hot streak out there 73 times, and Edmonton outscored opponents 77-47 at 5-on-5 with McDavid on the ice. In McDavid’s career the Oilers have outscored opponents by 55 goals at 5-on-5, and been outscored by 90 when he is on the bench. 1127472 Toronto Maple Leafs When they do reconvene, they’ll have a six game home stand, but spend a chunk of the schedule’s remainder on the road.

“We understand there’s a lot of work to be done when we get back,” Leafs’ Andersen adds to Capitals curse Reirden said. “But I have a lot of confidence in our leadership group and the group in that room who’ve been through adversity and shown their true colours when push comes to shove.” Lance Hornby Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.24.2019

To everything else that’s contributed to the Washington Capitals late- arriving Stanley Cup hangover, add 41 saves from Frederik Andersen. The Leafs netminder was good early and late Wednesday to help his own team end a home-ice funk and hand the defending champions their seventh straight loss. It was win No. 93 as a Leaf, tying Andersen with Ed Belfour for ninth in franchise history. “I tried to battle and enjoy the game, it’s a fun one to be in against a good team,” Andersen said. “We showed again we can play with the top teams in this league (beating first-place Tampa Bay on the road last week).” But it has been a difficult post-Christmas period for Andersen, a groin injury and coming back to a team with many cold shooters and apparently incompatible lines. That ironed itself out in this 6-3 win with a better defensive effort and four points from blueliners. Andersen was reluctant to divulge what warm destination he’s going to during the all- star break, but warned the Leafs can’t return on Feb. 1 feeling smug. “You want to come back ready to go and not have to catch up again,” he said. The Caps seemed free and clear of the focus issues most teams have after winning a title and the ensuing short summer. They rolled up to New Year’s Eve with 51 of a possible 76 points, a good transition from Barry Trotz to Todd Rierden behind the bench. Now Reirden is hearing increasing talk that his team is paying the price for playing into the previous June. The Caps will welcome the break, too, with the past three losses coming in four nights. “I’m not going to use (fatigue) as an excuse,” Reirden said. “If I was to evaluate the first 50 games, our team has gone through adversity this year already from suspensions to injuries to key players to other issues where we’ve had to battle to even get to where we are in the standings now. Some of that is catching up with us.” He did not go as far to call Wednesday a must-win before puck drop, but after a 7-6 Tuesday overtime marathon against the Sharks, he did use goalie Braden Holtby in the back-to-back despite the latter headed to the busy showcase in San Jose this weekend. Alex Ovechkin, with the option of sitting Wednesday out as his one-game suspension for skipping the all-star game, decided to miss the Feb. 1 home game against Calgary instead. After a hat trick the night before, he scored his 37th of the season and 38th against Toronto in his career, the most against any opponent. He also tied Sergei Fedorov with the highest NHL point total of any Russian. Ovie insisted there are days he just feels like playing and any talk of burn out melts away, but sounded grateful this hiatus is here. “We have a break, let’s move on,” he said. “We need it right now. Enjoy the time with family and friends and come back fresh.” The Caps staged a players-only meeting after an 8-5 loss to Chicago on Sunday and a dressing room heart-to-heart with the coaches the next day. “This group isn’t guys yelling. We’re close,” winger Tom Wilson told reporters earlier this week. “We know how we need to play.” Wednesday’s first period typified the luck the Caps have had lately. Evgeny Kuznetsov had an A1 look at Andersen and though credit a fine save, Andersen had no idea where the rebound was before it squirted out with no Cap in sight. Then came a major scare after Ovechkin fell while trying to convert in front of the Leaf goal. He rushed back to join play at the other end and had a centre ice collision with T.J. Oshie. He missed a chunk of the first period in league-mandated concussion protocol. “I was surprised (to get pulled),” the rugged Ovechkin said. “You know me.” Nicklas Backstrom’s power-play goal had given the Caps a start, but in a continuing source of frustration for Reirden, the lead stood just 39 seconds as pinching defenceman Morgan Rielly was able to get behind Holtby and help set up Nazem Kadri’s first of three. Ovechkin’s go-ahead goal was soon answered by a Toronto power play with himself in the box. The Caps have 14 goals the past three games despite the defeats. 1127473 Toronto Maple Leafs

Defending champion Capitals in a mid-season skid

Lance Hornby

The Washington Capitals now have nine days on the couch to shake what has become a late-arriving Stanley Cup hangover. It seemed they were free and clear of the focus issues most teams have after winning a title and the ensuing short summer. They rolled up to New Year’s Eve with 51 of a possible 76 points, a good transition from Barry Trotz to Todd Reirden behind the bench. But Wednesday’s 6-3 loss to Toronto marked a disturbing seven straight loss. Reirden, no doubt feeling some heat, would not go as far to call the final pre-all-star-break match a must-win before puck drop, but after a 7-6 Tuesday overtime marathon against the Sharks, he did use Braden Holtby in the back-to-back with the goalie headed to the busy showcase in San Jose this weekend. Alex Ovechkin, with the option of sitting Wednesday out as his one-game suspension for skipping the all-star game, decided to miss the Feb. 1 home game against Calgary instead. But for Ovie, Wednesday was a conference game and he felt spry after notching a hat trick the night before. The Caps staged a players-only meeting after an 8-5 loss to Chicago on Sunday and a dressing room heart-to-heart with the coaches the next day. “This group isn’t guys yelling. We’re close,” winger Tom Wilson told reporters earlier this week. “We know how we need to play. We just needed to address it. We needed to talk it out a little bit, get on the same page.” Wednesday’s first period very much typified the luck the Caps have had lately. Evgeny Kuznetsov had an A1 look at Frederik Andersen with a nice set up and, though credit a fine save, Andersen had no idea where the rebound was before it squirted out with no Cap in sight. Toronto passes were hitting stanchions, officials and taking funny hops off the boards to leave Washington defending odd-man situations. Then came a major scare after Ovechkin fell while trying to convert in front of the Leaf goal. He rushed back to join play at the other end and had a centre-ice collision with teammate T.J. Oshie. He missed a chunk of the first period in concussion protocol before returning. Nicklas Backstrom’s power-play goal gave the Caps a start, but the lead stood just 39 seconds as pinching defenceman Morgan Rielly was able to get behind Holtby and help set up Nazem Kadri’s first of three. Ovechkin’s goal, his 67th point in 47 games against the Leafs, was another promising development, but his first was answered soon after by a Toronto power play with himself in the box. The Caps have 14 goals the past three games desite the defeats. When they do re-convene, they’ll have a six game homestand to get their act together, but spend a chunk of the schedule’s remainder on the road. Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127474 Toronto Maple Leafs

Coast to coast, Moore family excited to face Caps

Lance Hornby

He had followed his son’s NHL baptism against the Predators, Canucks, Wild, Blue Jackets, Islanders and Red Wings. But Dave Moore would be the most fired up, watching back in Thousand Oaks, Calif., as Trevor played his seventh and most high-profile opponent on Wednesday night. Trevor was on the same ice with Alexander Ovechkin, captain of the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. “I know my Dad will be excited, he was always a huge fan of Ovie,” said Trevor, who was recalled in the morning from the Marlies to replace the concussed Andreas Johnsson. “My Dad’s a hard working guy and thinks Ovie works hard and hits guys … and scores.” Trevor described his father as a role model who steadfastly made his own way up in the world, literally from the bottom. Dave began as a bricklayer in his youth and was able to start up his own successful structural concrete business. “His company does projects all over California,” Trevor said proudly. This was the third time Moore was called up from the farm, a very encouraging sign given there’s a few young forwards who’ve been hot on the Marlies. He had 27 points in 32 games and had been picked with defenceman Calle Rosen to be Toronto’s reps in the 2019 AHL all-star game in Springfield, Mass., next week. “The team is rolling right now and it was good to step into that and kind of help keep that going,” Moore said. “It was important for me to have those minutes. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to come back here. It feels a little different this time, just having a little bit of experience (one goal and two assists in his six first games) and knowing guys a little better.” Any period of time spent in the Scotiabank Arena environment makes a young player hunger for more. “One hundred per cent,” Moore said. “I just have to keep taking those steps and doing my best to improve and keep getting the call.” Moore fared well against the Caps, playing a steady 10:53 of ice time before being returned to the Marlies roster after Wednesday’s game. Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127475 Toronto Maple Leafs The Leafs recalled forward Trevor Moore to take the place of Andreas Johnsson, who suffered a concussion against Arizona. Johnsson took part in the morning skate but will not play. Leafs’ John Tavares understands Ovechkin’s stance but happy to go to “It will definitely be special (playing against Ovechkin)” Moore said. “I all-star weekend know my dad (Dave) will be excited, he was always a huge fan of Ovie. My dad’s a hard working guy and thinks Ovie works hard, hits guys and scores.” Terry Koshan The Leafs will play host to the seventh annual Hockey Talks Night in support of mental health, with various initiatives during the game aimed at continuing to raise awareness of mental health issues. John Tavares understands Alex Ovechkin’s all-star position. Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.24.2019 It’s not a route, however, that the Maple Leafs centre would take. Ovechkin announced weeks ago that he will skip the all-star game and its festivities this weekend in San Jose, citing rest. Ovechkin will be suspended by the for one game as a result. It won’t be on Wednesday night, though, as Ovechkin will be in the Washington Capitals lineup to face Tavares and the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. While Tavares could see plenty of Ovechkin on Wednesday, not so this weekend, though Tavares never considered sitting out the all-star game once he was announced as a participant. “Not really,” Tavares said after the morning skate. “I definitely can understand it, but at the same time, I try to look at it as although there are a lot of demands when you show up for the weekend, being an all-star is a special recognition and usually means you are having a pretty good season and it’s nice to experience it. “One day I won’t be playing the game any more, I won’t be around these all-star games, so you go out there and try to enjoy it. San Jose is a beautiful area, great location, be able to get a little bit of warm weather and be able to try to enjoy the down time and being around some of those players.” Tavares — who will play in his sixth all-star game — noted that Ovechkin has played a lot of hockey in the past year, and at a high, intense level, none greater than when Ovechkin helped lead the Caps to a Stanley Cup title last June. “The amount of hockey he has played in the past 12 months has been quite a lot and the level he is playing at this season and the level he was at last year, I can understand (taking) two or three extra days and what that can do for you physically and even mentally,” Tavares said. Once the all-star weekend is done, Tavares will head to San Diego for a few days of relaxing before the Leafs are scheduled to re-convene for practice next Thursday in Detroit. Before any of that, of course, the date with the Caps marks a meeting between a pair of struggling hockey teams. The Leafs have lost four of their past five and have three wins in 10 games; the Capitals arrived in Toronto in the small hours of Wednesday morning after losing at home in overtime against the San Jose Sharks, running the their losing streak to six games. The Leafs, who could have Jake Gardiner back after the defenceman did not play on Sunday against Arizona because of back spasms, were loose during the morning skate. “That’s the most important part,” Auston Matthews said. “I think we’re just staying positive in this locker room. We’re going through a rut, everybody knows it, there is no doubt about it, so for us, we’re trying to stay positive and have fun on the ice.” Matthews, with one goal in his past 13 games, will be on the same line good pal Mitch Marner, and veteran Patrick Marleau. “I think we’re excited to play with one another,” Matthews said. “Hopefully, we complement each other well. We have a really good relationship off the ice, all three of us do, so we want to have fun out there and compete, play hard. We want to create offence and score some goals.” General manager Kyle Dubas indicated on Tuesday in a scrum with reporters that there has been progress in contract talks with Matthews’ agent on a new contract, which Matthews naturally finds encouraging. “They’re talking and making some progress and that’s great,” Matthews said.”I’m not really too worried or too focused about it. If they get something done and my agent comes to me and says I think we’re ready to sign, we’ll sit down and figure it out. For right now, my focus is here on this team and on tonight’s game. That stuff, when it’s ready, it will be ready and I will be there.” 1127476 Toronto Maple Leafs Nylander came in that morning with his wildly growing beard shaved off, noting that it was getting a little out of hand, “so I just wanted to get it off.”

It seemed clear that he was trying to shake things up and also loosen up The Maple Leafs may finally have the real William Nylander back where possible. After most of his teammates had left the ice during the morning skate of the Coyotes game on Sunday, Nylander hung around and set up one-timers for Kasperi Kapanen. The two tossed around a big By Jonas Siegel Jan 23, 2019 ball of tape in the team’s dressing room at SBA a few minutes later, Nylander flashing a big grin.

The Swede got his first assist in more than five weeks that night in the It was probably the best shift that William Nylander has played all Leafs loss to the Coyotes. season. And then came Wednesday night’s performance, in the Leafs final game It finished with a goal, and the kind of gifted passing work typical of the before the All-Star break. 22-year-old. But it was all the stuff that came before Nikita Zaitsev’s first marker of the year that had to be encouraging for the Leafs and what “I might not have wanted a break right now,” he said smiling after the 6-3 made the play so significant at this stage — now 21 games in — of win. “Everything’s feeling better and better. I felt better probably like six, Nylander’s bumpy third season. seven games ago. But missing nets and stuff has obviously affected that.” It started with persistence, with Nylander hustling back hard into the Leafs zone to catch Alex Ovechkin before lifting the stick of the goal Asked if this was his best game since he rejoined the Leafs at the scoring juggernaut to break up a likely scoring chance. The Leafs trailed beginning of December, Nylander said: “I think I’ve had good games, just Washington 2-1 at the time, having gone down earlier in the period when where the puck hasn’t gone in. But I think this was a good game, it was Ovechkin wired a slap shot past Frederik Andersen. good for the confidence for sure when it comes to the production side of it.” The work didn’t stop there for Nylander, though. When the puck came his way at the other end of the ice on the same shift, Nylander absorbed a hit Beyond the marks on the scoresheet, which were due given some of the from Matt Niskanen along the boards, controlled the puck in his feet and lowly shooting numbers since he’s been back, Nylander also looked back then delivered a strike to Zaitsev who fired a bullet past Braden Holtby. in other ways. At one point in the second, Nylander rushed into the Caps end with speed, stopped on a dime, scanned the ice and found the trailer “I just thought that I was going to be able to catch — or almost catch for an opportunity. It’s the stuff Kapanen said he noticed most when Ovie,” said Nylander, who bounced around the Capitals dressing room as Nylander was flying highest. a kid while his father Michael played with a much younger version of Ovechkin in Washington. “And then I just turned up and I just saw that “He scans the ice and he doesn’t see anything and he just cuts back and the D-man (Niskanen) dropped his stick so I had some more time there the (defenceman) can’t stay with him and he starts coming up the wall on the boards and Z made a great goal.” and then he’s gonna throw a backhand saucer or he’s gonna do something amazing,” Kapanen said. “I think that’s when you know he’s Nylander finished the night against the defending Stanley Cup champs on his best.” with a career-high three assists, or the same number of points as he’d racked up over his first 19 games back with the Leafs following a contract Perhaps Nylander did think, as Babcock suggested, that it would be standoff that lasted two months. easier getting back to normal after missing the first 28 games of the season. He had two points in his third game on Dec. 11 but then didn’t Asked afterwards what stuck out about Nylander’s performance in his find the scoresheet again until he mercifully scored his first goal on Jan. 21st game of the season, Leafs coach Mike Babcock came back 3. immediately with this: “Just being competitive, winning battles.” “It’s hard to catch up,” Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said on Babcock then pointed back to Nylander’s efforts on the Zaitsev goal. Tuesday. “That’s what I’ve and what we’ve tried to tell him the whole time Nylander added helpers on two of Nazem Kadri’s three goals, including a is that it’s not going to be an overnight process where he’s gonna go crafty set up that Connor Brown hammered off two posts before Kadri back to being the player that he always has been.” banged it home. A career 11 percent shooter coming into the year, Nylander is still Missing the net like crazy since he returned, Nylander also attempted shooting just 2.6 percent so far, which means, if he keeps hitting the net four shots and hit the target three times. The Leafs outchanced the with any regularity, that the goals should start finding their way in soon. Capitals 13-9 when he was on the ice and outscored them 4-0. Perhaps some chemistry is starting to develop with Kadri, too. In short, it was a quality 13 minutes chock-full of signs that Nylander Nylander has yet to notch a single point on the power play, meanwhile, might finally be back. which may or may not be a source of production moving forward given It’s been about seven weeks since he first debuted after signing for six the instability that unit has shown since Nylander returned. years and $45 million on Dec. 1 and that road has obviously been littered Nylander’s pace was back against Washington, and with all the other with hurdles — many of them expected. stuff — the passing, the intensity (which can be hit or miss), the vision — Everything seemed to bubble up and just about over a few days before the Leafs look like they may just have the player back who shined so his breakout game against the Caps when Nylander was dropped to the brightly over his first two full seasons, the player who kicks the franchise fourth line to start the second period of a mostly listless loss last Friday in up another notch. This is a much more imposing squad to handle with Florida. He remained there when the Leafs hosted Arizona the following Nylander humming alongside an increasingly back to full strength version Sunday. That morning Babcock met with Nylander and sensed that the of Auston Matthews, a steady John Tavares and an excitable Mitch pressure of not producing — he had just three points in 19 games — was Marner. getting to him. And drama aside, all that really matters for the Leafs is Nylander getting The Leafs coach hoped that limiting his exposure, and pulling him from it back before the playoffs. In other words, he’s got plenty of time to keep the limelight slightly, would get Nylander to relax and get out of his own trending in an upward direction. way. “Willy’s a good player,” Kadri said. “He’s too good not to be productive.” “I think he just thought things were going to come easier and then when it The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 didn’t come and then you’re pressing and you press some more,” Babcock said of Nylander’s hike back to full speed. “In fairness to the kid, he hasn’t been the way he normally is. Normally he’s a dominant player, he shoots the puck, he carries the puck, wins battles, he’s good with the puck and that hasn’t been the case.”

Babcock concluded: “Ideally, this will allow him to take some heat off himself and just get playing.” 1127477 Toronto Maple Leafs John Tavares – 18.8 minutes, one assist, 11 shot attempts, six shots, plus 12 Corsi, somehow zero goals

Tavares couldn’t buy a damn goal tonight, but dammit did he ever try. He Leafs Report Cards: Game 49 vs. Washington was a man on a mission, buzzing around the net, firing 11 attempts at Holtby. So many times it felt almost unbelievable that what he was doing tonight wasn’t enough. It was also encouraging at how dominant he and By Dom Luszczyszyn Jan 23, 2019 his line was, even with Marner on the right side. Having said that, it did seem like he had less space than usual as a result of that, and maybe he

would’ve found the net with a bit more time. Still, the effort was there for You know what they say: when you need some goals, it pays to get the him and he was the best forward on the shot clock. defending Stanley Cup champions and Braden Holtby on the schedule … Auston Matthews – 17.5 minutes, one goal, five shots, a lot of dangles Wait. Finally, a goal. Matthews, one of the league’s best goal scorers had been Yeah, the Capitals have been struggling mightily of late, but that’s still a struggling in that department of late and you could tell tonight’s goal took big win for Toronto heading into the bye week. The team has looked very a load off him. It was a classic, a toe drag snipe from the circle that inconsistent of late, and while things started that way early, the team completely fooled the goalie. That it was on the power play was a very began to press in the second and ultimately ran away with the game encouraging sign too. Aside from that, Matthews had a lot of great against a good opponent. Some rest and rejuvenation will serve this chances tonight and was electric with the puck, treating it like it was team well where they can hopefully finish the regular season strong en attached to a string. He looked more and more like his dominant self from route to the playoffs. the start of the year, though there were still times where he was muscled One or two words to describe how the team looked off the puck more than you’d like.

Free Reign — I counted (and keep in mind, I do miss a few) 61 zone Morgan Rielly – 26.7 minutes to lead all Leafs, two assists, plus-18 (!!!) entries for the Leafs tonight – 42 of them were controlled. If it felt like the Corsi team was actively possessing the puck and carrying it into the zone often That was an elite No. 1 defender type of performance from Rielly. The tonight, it’s because they were. The Capitals let the team come at them, Leafs were dominant from start to finish whenever Rielly was on the ice and the Leafs made them pay on multiple occasions, right off one of and it showed on the shot clock where they outshot Washington by 18 those many entries. when Rielly was on. Even the Corsi skeptics can probably admit a Player Reports number that high isn’t an accident. Rielly led all Leafs tonight with six controlled exits, five from passes and was instrumental on the power play 䈏䈏䈏䈏䈏 goal, keeping the puck in at the line after Wilson tried to clear it. To top it all off, his near-27 minute night was huge, one of the highest he’s had Best player on the ice: Nazem Kadri – 15.0 minutes, three goals, one this season. assist, four shots, plus-four Corsi, plus-four at 5-on-5, one very large monkey off his back 䈏䈏䈏䈏

The man with back-to-back 32 goal seasons has been struggling to get Frederik Andersen – 41 saves on 44 shots, making them all look easy anywhere close this season, scoring just 10 times over the first 48. Tonight’s game was a very welcome sigh of relief. Three goals and an It’s genuinely amazing how effortless Andersen makes a 40-plus save assist, to put him back up to a 22-goal, 54-point pace. That’s more like it, night look. Washington had their chances, yes, but when Andersen is on, and it feels like the floodgates are opening for him as his luck begins to he’s never in doubt: he’s saving it. Even on Washington’s best chance – reverse. The first one was greasy, one he deserved after all the bad early in the first with Kuznetsov alone in the slot – when he had no idea bounces he’s had lately. The third he deposited to an empty net after where the puck was, it still felt that way. On a night where the Leafs Brown hit both posts – another reversal of fortunes. His second was all popped five and an empty-netter, he wasn’t the reason they won, but him (well, Brown did have a nice pass) as he wired a one-timer from the he’s always the reason the team feels safe. slot off his entry and a proper give-and-go with Brown. It was a perfect Ron Hainsey – plus-15 Corsi (!!!), one unfortunate bounce off his skate game from Kadri, one that makes it feel like he’s back on track. Before I took a gander at the #Analytics tonight, and before a puck William Nylander – 13.8 minutes, three assists, three shots, a few end-to- unceremoniously bounced off his skate and in I had a thought: was end rushes, another very large monkey off his back Hainsey having a … good game? He was quietly effective all night, It was the whole Kadri line that was clicking as Nylander finally broke Washington wasn’t getting by him, there were no big defensive gaffes through. For much of his season he’s looked like the best Leaf between and he was moving the puck well with three controlled exits. I check the the bluelines and not so great inside them. Tonight was very different. He stats and bam, the top pair was crushing it on the shot clock. See, was still dominant in transition, but he followed that up with his best effort sometimes the eye test and the numbers can be friends! in the other two zones. The first goal gave him a very generous assist, as Nikita Zaitsev – actually scored a goal … no, for realsies he didn’t do much, but the effort was there down low. The second one, though? That’s exactly what we’ve all been waiting for from Nylander, the Zaitsev scored his first of the season, a snipe from the slot as he walked reason he got $7 million and a shift that hasn’t been seen this season in off the rush. A helluva goal by the much-maligned defender. It’s yet. Nylander had a great backcheck to lift Ovechkin’s stick after an enough to give him four stars tonight, but only barely as we shouldn’t errant Dermott pinch, then he gets back up ice, enters the zone, takes a really gloss over the fact that he had some very poor defending on hit off the boards, maintains possession and finds a streaking Zaitsev for Backstrom for Washington’s first goal. Oh well, he got it back, right? the goal. It was a perfect shift. The third was a secondary assist, but it was Nylander coming in along the boards, finding Brown for the shot that Trevor Moore – clear-cut NHLer Kadri ultimately put home. Tonight felt like the night Nylander finally puts It’s becoming very obvious that this guy deserves to stick in big leagues. it all together – this is the game that brings it all back for him. Anytime the fourth line did anything tonight, it was Moore who was doing Connor Brown – 13.4 minutes, two assists, plus-seven Corsi, somehow the heavy lifting for them. He was great on a down low cycle, had a zero shots on net terrific defensive effort to break up a rush, worked well along the boards and found Tavares for a chance in the slot in the third with some smart Maybe overshadowed by the two higher-profile Leafs having four- and poise and patience. Moore is the real deal. three-point nights, Brown also came to play tonight. He carried the puck into the zone himself a few times, set up a terrific screen on Zaitsev’s 䈏䈏䈏 goal, does a smart circle back off the entry to find Kadri for the one-timer (with a perfectly placed pass in his wheelhouse to boot) and then added Kasperi Kapanen – The Tavares line had a lot of possession tonight and a second assist off a shot that – unfortunately for him – hit both posts. If Kapanen was the guy who got them from point A to point B most of the this line can keep this up, the Leafs could have one of the league’s best time. He had four controlled exits, a tie for the team lead, and five third lines, that’s for sure. controlled entries, also a tie. Martin Marincin – Not encouraging tonight was that Martin “Corsi Boy” Marincin did not get the Corsis (a testament to the skill of Travis Dermott getting the most of his minutes with Oz). Encouraging though were two big plays: a 2-on-1 break-up in the first with a good stick and a stretch pass out of the zone that turned into an assist. Overall, not a bad effort.

Zach Hyman – Two chances to score on an empty net. Two misses. You absolutely hate to see it. He had another chance earlier in the game, but sailed it way wide. Goalie or no goalie, it didn’t seem to matter for Hyman tonight. The Tavares line was the best at possessing the puck tonight, and Hyman was a big part of that, as usual, with his board work.

䈏䈏

Travis Dermott – Dermott was great at exiting the zone as usual, but there were a couple of defensive miscues that drops his mark tonight. On one instance he switched sides and left a completely open lane for a one-time chance. On another, he lost Lars Eller multiple times in one shift before he had his own chance right in front. And there was, of course, the pinch that led to an Ovechkin rush, that, to his credit, he thwarted with a hard backcheck. I think it’ll take some time for him to adjust to a top-four role, and while there are some encouraging signs, there’s still some kinks to work out too.

Mitch Marner – Aside from an empty-netter to seal the game, his 14th in 17 games, I’m hard-pressed to be all that impressed with Marner tonight. He had the puck on his stick a lot and had a lot of touches in transition, but I’m not sure he actually did all that much with the puck tonight. I will give him this though – Matthews had a lot more space tonight to do his thing, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence it was when Marner joined his line (especially with Tavares not finding as much space himself tonight). It pays to have two players with gravity on one line, a luxury the Leafs have in abundance and while I wasn’t that impressed with the Matthews- Marner experience tonight (more so the Marner half) I’m still very excited to see what they can do going forward once they find their games together. I’d also like to see Marner skate with the puck more, as he was when he was carrying the team. He had five controlled entries tonight, but also five dump-ins. That latter number led the team and might have contributed to the line getting outshot tonight.

Par Lindholm – He had some good offensive zone shifts early and showcased some decent cycling and board work, but his noticeable moments were few and far between, plus not all that important tonight.

Worst player on the ice: Did he even play tonight or am I blind? Igor Ozhiganov – I hated every part of Ozhiganov’s game thanks to some defensive miscues and bad decision making, but man was that stretch pass to start the fifth goal money in the bank. It’s always nice when the worst of the Leafs still has a decent outing.

Frederik Gauthier – Idea: When Johnsson comes back, Lindholm goes back to centre, Moore stays in and Gauthier heads six stories up.

Editor’s note: Dom forgot Patrick Marleau existed tonight, and it isn’t the first time that’s happened to Marleau in the report cards this season.

Game Score

Most important GIF of the night

Nazem Hatty.

NAZEM KADRI  PIC.TWITTER.COM/BQWCNZMOBD

— FLINTOR (@THEFLINTOR) JANUARY 24, 2019

Final thoughts from the game

It felt like the Leafs controlled this game from start to finish, though it took a bit of time for the team to actually look dangerous. Once they did, the team started to look like the one that spent much of the first two months stringing wins together. Most importantly, it was a big game for three of the team’s slumping stars as Kadri piled on some goals, Nylander had a multi-point effort and Matthews (and the power play) finally got one. I wouldn’t call this the team’s “A” game, but it was pretty damn close.

Final Grade: B+

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127478 Toronto Maple Leafs “Yes it would be, selfishly, for me beneficial,” Dubas said of knowing the exact structure of those deals for Matthews and Marner, “but for the

players, I think that they have to make sure that they’re fully comfortable Kyle Dubas has a fine line to walk with Leafs in the coming weeks and in going into any arrangement when they’re fully happy and ready to do months so.”

By Jonas Siegel Jan 22, 2019 42 The Leafs GM repeated his stance that the team was more likely to pursue roster upgrades with team control beyond this year, but he also wasn’t against injecting expiring deals onto the roster if the fit — and cost — was right. Kyle Dubas remembers being swept up in the highs and lows of the hockey season back when he was running the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Here, again, it’s tricky for the Leafs.

“Every loss was the end of the world and every win was the greatest thing ever,” Dubas recalled. Any player on an expiring deal that actually bolsters the roster in an area of need — left wing and right defence above all — would presumably be So no, the first-year Leafs GM wasn’t overly concerned with his team’s costly anyway, making it more worthwhile to use assets (prospects and recent slide of seven losses in 10 games, nor would it impact his thinking picks) on someone with added value beyond this season. That would be when it came to the trade deadline — roughly five weeks away on Feb. two playoffs run in the case of Pietrangelo. 25. The cost in any case for a premium upgrade figures to be high and that’s of great importance to the Leafs when it comes to balancing the now and later. “We’re happy with, overall, where the team is at,” Dubas said during a rare meet-up with media at the Maple Leafs practice facility on Tuesday Erik Karlsson cost the Sharks two roster players, two prospects, as well morning. “I think we’ve had some games where we’ve played very well as first and second round picks. and the puck just hasn’t gone in, whereas I think earlier in the year we had some games where we didn’t play very well and the puck was going Do the Leafs have enough if it takes a similar package to land in at those times. Pietrangelo? Can they afford to pull a player from the current roster, especially if it’s someone young and helpful like Kapanen or Johnsson? “In life and in hockey, it all seems to balance out.” Is the prospect pool deep enough otherwise to withstand a loss or two?

But there’s no doubting that Dubas has a fine line to walk in the coming This note, in particular, struck a chord with Dubas, the architect of last weeks and months. season’s Calder Cup champions who just happened to be wearing a black Toronto Marlies zip-up on this particular day. As with most GMs around the league, but particularly those icing Stanley Cup contenders, Dubas is navigating two tracks: ensuring that the Leafs are sturdy enough to compete for that Cup this year and set up for as many years of contention “as many as humanly possible” after that. Dubas didn’t think the Leafs’ organizational depth, beyond the big league club, was getting the credit it deserved.

“I think frankly, we have some discussion about the way that some of our The latter process will be impacted greatly by those much-talked about prospects are rated and where our system is at, and I just think that the second contracts for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, who should get analysis that’s done is so littered with recency bias,” Dubas said. a rare shot to play together when the Leafs host the defending champion “Basically, anybody who played in the world juniors is rated very high and Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. Dubas said he was having anyone who didn’t, for whatever reason, is rated much lower.” “healthy” dialogue with the Matthews camp on what should be a seriously large (and deserved) extension, but had been holding off on discussions Rasmus Sandin, Dubas’ first pick as Toronto GM, was the only Leafs with Marner (as his camp would prefer) until the offseason. skater to crack Corey Pronman’s recent midseason rankings. Joseph Woll ranked seventh among goalie prospects and Ian Scott, a member of Team Canada’s recent world junior entry, sat 21st.

Ideally, Dubas acknowledged, the front office would know the exact structure of those deals ahead of the deadline next month. “But that’s a very big personal decision for the players and I don’t want it to come off The Leafs were 19th in the Athletic’s farm team rankings last summer. as we’re putting pressure on them to do so,” he said. Will Mike Babcock get a chance to coach Timothy Liljegren with the Leafs? Or will the Leafs exchange him for more immediate help? (David Banks/USA TODAY Sports) While they surely possess a general framework for those contracts, it would be helpful for Dubas, and his lieutenants in the Leaf front office, Timothy Liljegren was listed then as the only “very good” prospect, while Brandon Pridham and Laurence Gilman, to know precisely what chunk of others like Johnsson, Sandin, and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev were next season’s roughly $83 million cap will be allocated to Matthews and described as “legit” in terms of their NHL chances. Marner, especially with new deals also required for Kasperi Kapanen, Dubas has long held that recency bias is a real thing when it comes to Andreas Johnsson, Igor Ozhiganov, Garret Sparks, Par Lindholm, and external and internal rankings, noting as much during his talk at the perhaps Jake Gardiner and Tyler Ennis. Sloan Sports Analytics Conference shortly before the trade deadline in A six-year deal for Marner, for example, will come with a lower cap hit 2015. than a pact that lasts eight years, and that could have an impact on what That bias, he said, was “most harmful” around the deadline in particular the Leafs feel comfortable acquiring before the deadline. when trades were often made based around which prospect had excelled Can they take on Alex Pietrangelo, who has another year remaining on on the big stage of the world juniors or recently. his deal at a $6.5 million cap hit? “I think the consternation regarding our prospect pool — I just think is a Getting Trevor Moore and Calle Rosen under contract for the next two little bit ill-informed,” Dubas said on Tuesday. “And I can tell you that seasons helps in defining some part of the future, and the Leafs can based on the calls we get from other teams asking about a litany of always take on a upgrade with term like Pietrangelo and if necessary, players within that system. So I feel we have the prospect capital both to move out other pieces in the summer to make it all work. develop very good NHL players to help us out, to make trades if we need to, and we also have all of our draft picks and then some. So I think we’re There again is that balance Dubas has to strike between now and later. very well-suited to do whatever we need to do when it comes to moving out various elements of our club to better our club now.” “I think they’ve earned the right for us to explore ways that we can continue to make the team better,” Dubas concluded. “So we’re trying to Rankings aside though, which prospects would really move the needle in do that, and if there are things that are fair, we feel that fit for us in the the kind of trade that would give the Leafs a serious boost? Liljegren short and long-term then we’ll continue to explore all that.” missed the world juniors because of injury, but certainly would seem to hold appeal with his skill-set and first round pedigree. Same with Sandin, The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 who got hurt while representing Sweden in Vancouver.

But beyond that?

Rosen is intriguing. He’s excelled as the Marlies No. 1 defenceman, looks capable of contributing in a depth role at the NHL, and is signed for almost nothing ($750,000) for the next two seasons.

Moore is similarly locked up for little and appeared ready for NHL duty during a brief stint recently with the Leafs (with another coming up here soon, with Johnsson now sidelined by a concussion).

Jeremy Bracco, meanwhile, is tied for the AHL lead in assists in his second season with the Marlies, Andreas Borgman is still only 23, and Carl Grundstrom has managed 27 points in 39 games during his first full season in North America.

“I think there’s lots of players down there that are on the cusp of coming on,” Dubas said.

He added: “I think there’s four or five, six forwards we’d be confident in calling up right now and knowing they could fill in, much in the way Moore did.”

Quibbles on the quality or depth of the pool is one thing. Do the Leafs have enough coming that they can part with the best of that bunch? Can an organization that’s already thin on right defence really afford to deal Liljegren, who might be able to fill a spot for cheap next season? Same goes for Rosen, who could conceivably slide onto the third pair if Gardiner doesn’t return and Travis Dermott jumps higher in the lineup.

Moore and Grundstrom, too, could be useful sources of depth next season when things are tight around the cap.

The Leafs are in win-now mode today though, needing to maximize what the group can possibly accomplish this year. It would be hard not to push whatever chips necessary into the middle if the upgrade is real and boosts the chances of a championships during a prime year of John Tavares, Nazem Kadri, and Frederik Andersen, Gardiner’s (likely) last year in Toronto, and Marner, Matthews, Dermott and Kapanen on entry- level deals.

There’s also that window though and the need to keep it to open as long as possible and a big part of that is keeping enough stocked internally for when the roster turns over — for when Ron Hainsey potentially moves on (2019?), and when Patrick Marleau (2020) and perhaps Connor Brown (2020) and/or Zach Hyman (2021) join him after that.

“You’re right,” Dubas said when asked about maximizing possibilities during a year when Matthews and Marner are still on entry-level contracts, “we may not have the same cap space at the deadline in the future, but I think that’s where we’ll be expecting our development model and our program here and some internal development of our (own) guys.”

This is what being a GM is all about, but it’s a particularly challenging balance to strike for someone in Dubas’ position. He’s not only trying to bring the Leafs their first championship in more than 50 years, but keep them positioned to challenge for more long after that.

In more present terms, Dubas suggested that luck was in some ways evening out when it came to the recent pile of losses, noting those nights earlier in the year when the team didn’t play particularly well but still stacked up wins on the strength of a scorching offence (and goaltending). He pointed to the team’s recent performance against Tampa (win) and Boston before that (loss) as proof that things were not quite as bad as they seemed.

He was also proud of how his Leafs weathered the absences of Matthews, Nylander, and Andersen, remaining (just) inside the top-10 standings league-wide during this recent slide.

1127479 Toronto Maple Leafs developing, where we were going to build it out and the players were involved in that every step of the way.”

Like-minded GMs: Leafs Kyle Dubas and Raptors Bobby Webster lean on each other and analytics Webster knew he could use that advice and repurpose it because the Raptors have a year to sell Leonard, rather than a single meeting in July.

Webster jokes that the Raptors are planning on playing into late July so By Scott Wheeler Jan 22, 2019 22 that Leonard will only have a couple of days to bask in the success of a championship.

Shortly after Raptors general manager Bobby Webster traded for , he called Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, who was in his “We’re going into the entire process with him with it being all about us car on a scouting trip at the time, with a simple request. being authentic to who we are. We’re proud of the , of what we’ve built here. Everyone can relate to that approach. When you’re “You’re going to have to give me all your tips on how you guys got being recruited, you don’t want to every second of every day to be ‘Hey Tavares,” Webster said. Kawhi, how’s it going, what can we do better for you?’ You want it to be natural,” Webster said. On Monday afternoon, inside a conference hall at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, they joined each other as the Empire Club of “You want to build a relationship with the person first, listen to their Canada’s latest speakers under the veil of a panel on how big data is complaints and at the end of the day we’ll see how the season ends up changing professional sports. and June going into July I’m sure we’ll have a lot of conversations about what we want that pitch to look like and how much of it focusses on But their panel, which hosted roughly 400 guests, ranging from Arkells basketball, on business, on Toronto, all the things that we know here. It’s frontman Max Kerman to Centennial College students and business as all-encompassing as you could imagine.” executives from across the country, offered insight into more than just the pair’s progressive use of analytics. More than that, though, they’re like-minded in other regards. The first thing they both look at after a game is their proprietary data in order to When Dubas, then 32, picked up that phone call, and Webster, then 33, pick up on anything their eyes may have missed. asked for his advice, it wasn’t the first time — and it had nothing to do with data. The two share more than just their age, their analytics bent Webster’s postgame package exists in two parts. and their mirrored roles within their respective sports. These days, they share friendship and a common view on team-building and management.

In more ways than one, both teams are in similar situations, from their “If you’re watching to have more of an analytical bent on it, you want to general managers right down to their contending roles in their leagues look at ‘how many chances did we have to score?’ There’s different ways and their pursuit of reaching that next rung on the ladder: A of looking at that. If you have turnovers that means you lost chances, if championship. you have offensive rebounds that means you gained chances. And then if you did have chances to score, you want to look at efficiency and field goal percentage,” Webster said.

Then there’s Leonard and Tavares. And Dubas and Webster, the former insists, talk about everything. In many ways, the two sports aren’t different in that way. Dubas’ postgame analysis of how his team played focusses on shot quality, rather than outcomes, too. “We’re of similar age and we’re very lucky to have … they’re not jobs,” Dubas explained. He paused. “I learned a lot from them, I really enjoy “It has been proven over time that the percentage of the shot attempts basketball and watching basketball and they’ve been at it in terms of that you have matters and we look at that and then how the individual contending for longer than we have so it has been fun from the time that players faired game-to-game and various other proprietary measures as I’ve been in Toronto because they’ve been building patiently and sticking well. But as analysis has grown deeper and deeper, now you’re able to with their plan and just watching the organization evolve.” measure the quality of every shot and what it could do to your expected goals. If you have a shot from a certain position on the ice, what’s the Signing Tavares had nothing to do with analytics or data. The Leafs were percentage chance that that goes in? And how does that impact the able to sign Tavares because they had an existing core of young players expected goals that your team should score on that night?” Dubas said. that included Morgan Rielly, Nazem Kadri, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Frederik Andersen and Jake Gardiner (who Because basketball is so much further ahead than hockey is, Dubas has Dubas pointed out had been around longer than anyone) and all but the tried to prepare for tracking’s inevitable arrival in hockey with the help of latter two were drafted by the team. Webster and his staff.

Dubas remembers, while scouting for the Soo Greyhounds, watching These days, Webster says the Raptors employ five full-time analytics Tavares play before he was an NHL player, becoming familiar with him people in their staff of 50 people in basketball operations (a rate of three and his parents and learning that he had a pristine reputation. But that or four staff per player). The Leafs also employ five full-time analytics doesn’t mean there was a fit. And the Raptors, he told Webster, would staff, as well as one part-timer. have to do the same due diligence before making a longterm commitment to Leonard.

Before the Leafs got to that point, Dubas and president Brendan Shanahan sought out Webster and Raptors assistant coach and director “In the end, people can talk about whatever they want but John came to of sports science Alex McKechnie for help in the hiring process during Toronto because of the players that were here and really no other Dubas’ first year with the team. reason. This goes for any business when you go find a superstar talent, make sure they fit within the fabric of the program. That was very Under their guidance, Dubas and Shanahan hired Leafs director of sports important to us. So you want to make sure that all of the core of our science Dr. Jeremy Bettle. group was onside with John coming in. The first part was, do we want to “Our analytics arm is only going to continue to grow as our needs and the go after John, is it the right time for us and the answer was unanimously different things that we’re measuring across the organization grow. I yes. And then it was calls to each of the core players on our team to see would say that our actual hockey operation, so our daily analysis of our if they were on board and resoundingly they were,” Dubas said. team and our scouting and drafting, is where they spend most of their “That was great for me because I’d been around the team for four years time,” Dubas said. but it was my first stretch as manager and they were excited that we “But second to that would be our sports science side and I would say that were giving it a shot. So we put it together: How John would fit in, where the amount of data that we’re collecting on that side, and it’s directly our group was at, where it was going, how we were evolving and stolen from the Raptors, has been a major help to make sure our players are operating at our peak performance and that we’re doing all we can to “You want to use these tools to see through the emotion. We won but take all the data and guide our practice philosophies and our training should we have? Are we happy with how we played? And it’s incredibly philosophies and that we’re not over-stressing them so that on tough and something we work on every day with our players. Last year Wednesday when we play Washington they’re at their optimal level.” when we decided we wanted to change our offence and Kyle and DeMar had had some success and initially there was pushback from them, one of the tough things we had to argue with them was: ‘We’ve won 50 Naturally, this summer, when the Raptors began an exhaustive search games for however many years in a row, why are we changing this?’ We for a new head coach, the need for that person to have a pre-existing had to educate them on why you should commit. Those are tough analytics bent was huge, according to Webster. conversations,” Webster said.

“Whoever you’re hiring needs to be facile in understanding whatever In hockey, that gap is just now beginning to bridge, a few years behind analytics are relevant to your industry. When we talk to about basketball’s timeline. But the players are starting to see its value. analytics that’s a huge part of why we hired him and how he assembles his staff. It’s a huge part of adding someone to our medical group. Do they understand how we create baselines for the players or how we’re “If the team isn’t doing it then the players often hire their own people. If going to evaluate their progress if a player is injured? That part of it goes you don’t have a staff that’s helping to provide the coaches with that info, into every hiring,” Webster said. they’re going to hire other people to break down their game on a deeper level and it has kind of become its own industry within hockey,” Dubas It plays out on the court, more and more, too. said.

This season, the work the Raptors do has been more noticeable in the But the conversation about process and analytics remains the same in public eye because of the care they’ve taken with their data to make sure both sports. Leonard is getting the rest he needs. “When you talk to the players immediately after, I notice more and more every year, whether we won or we lost you get into how you actually When Leonard arrived in Toronto on July 20, the first thing Webster and played and you shift away from what the result was on the scoreboard his staff did was outline five benchmarks that they were going to track into these various different things that we’re trying to work on: How we’re through analytics and develop a process for tracking them. When Lowry exiting our own zone with the puck, how we’re entering their zone, where returns from a back injury that has resolved completely, the decision to we’re doing it, are we on the outside or in the middle? When you start to play is largely his. Leonard’s case is different. He’s trying to get back to break down how we operated in those individual areas, the term they’ll playing at a “super-high level consistently.” They can ask him how his use more as players and coaches is: ‘How did we play?’ rather than: legs and his knees feel — and they do — but there’s more to it than that. ‘What was our process like?’ because they don’t know what you mean,” Dubas said.

“It’s more about the X and O execution that we’re trying to become elite “How are we going to keep track of those things over the course of the at and there’s more of a conversation revolving around that versus just year so that we know when he’s tired, we know when he’s been working did we win or lose 4-2?” too much, we know when he’s stressed. That’s an analytical piece where you have to have people who know what they’re tracking, know what Despite progress made, Dubas recognizes that the NHL lags behind the they’re measuring, and then be able to tell me, tell Masai, or tell coach NBA in terms of the way sports science has been integrated into much of Nurse in a way that we can understand when he needs to sit,” Webster the decision-making. He’s not convinced NHL players would willingly rest said. in the same way Leonard and other NBA players do, although goalies have started to. For example, goalies seldom play back-to-backs now. “He’s very structured. We set up a plan for him so he knows what to expect and it doesn’t have to be a game-by-game thing. It’s not like ‘Oh, I “There’s strong statistical history that shows you can expect a certain wake up in the morning, how do I feel, do I want to play?’ Now Alex sits drop-off in performance if goalies play consecutive nights. So that’s an down with him and shows him his schedule for the next couple of weeks easier sell. Plus, in recent times there’s a lot of research on goalies so he knows what to expect.” reaching a certain threshold and it impacting their success in the playoffs, much like with pitchers and innings limits. But it’s not yet there among Basketball’s well-documented adoption of sports science in recent years forwards and defencemen,” Dubas said. has slowly been accepted by the players, as they become more open to the analytics of their on-court performance. Webster said that learning curve has taken years though. “The one thing with hockey is the number of players on our roster who He had to educate Raptors players to make sure they were speaking the aren’t playing as much is not as large as it is in basketball and baseball same way about their performance. Early on, they wanted to talk to where there’s no salary cap. So if we want to sit a star player who is a Webster about points per game. Now he has them talking in terms of higher percentage of our cap to bring in somebody else it eats away at points per 100 possessions “in order to normalize how many points we what’s available. But as you get later in the year and your position scored, whether in a fast or slow game.” But he’s trying to get them to dig becomes secure, or if a team is competitive year after year like San deeper than that too. Antonio when you’ve had 20 years, you’re Greg Popovich, it’s a lot easier. It will move to hockey though.”

From a team level, everyone certainly understands the impact rest has “Now you’re talking to the players in the terms you want to talk to them in. on outcomes more now than ever. Now at the end of the game, we may have won the game by two points but accounting for pace and all of the other variables we were actually 10 “When you have to take a red-eye and go to work the next day, you’re points better than them. There’s an early education process for them just bad. And Vegas has been able to quantify it. If you play back to back, because if you hit them with all this proprietary stuff they have no idea the second game you automatically get docked two points on the line. It what it means. And once we educate them, it just rolls off your tongue doesn’t matter if you’re the Raptors or Golden State, you’re going to start and you can have a daily conversation with them,” Webster added. the next game down two on the line. They’re staying, we just know over the course of how many games we’ve studied,” Webster explained.

That can be challenging though. Hockey is no different. If the players play well in a loss, it can be hard to convince them to look past the end result. If they play poorly in a win, challenging them to be better can also prove difficult. Sometimes he even has to remind Nurse in At the beginning of each season, the Leafs’ analytics department tells their postgame office chats. Dubas and his staff whether their schedule will negatively or positively impact them in the standings relative to the league’s other 30 teams. The Leafs can measure the expected points per 82 games played they should coaching staff but they can’t just sit back and tell Nick ‘don’t pass here.’ produce out of a game dependent on opponent and rest. You have to set those parameters before the season so that we don’t end up going down too many wild goose chases as far as looking at “Last night both teams were fresh. Arizona didn’t play the night before everything,” Webster said. and we didn’t, so the points per 82 you can expect are equal. But if you go to a situation like we’ll be in, in a back-to-back situation next weekend “You have to agree within your group what you’re going to focus on. I when we’re in Detroit and then we play Pittsburgh the next night, our data think is probably our most receptive. I tell some of our people produce for us the expected effect of our schedule. So at the start coaches who are more analytically inclined, go coach youth or high of the season we know if we’re minus-two and Tampa Bay is plus-two, school basketball. We need to teach those kids that because otherwise, that gives us a four-point gap to close,” Dubas said. they’ll come up lacking that education.”

The players aren’t the only ones who need convincing, either. And while Until that happens, until there’s adoption by all sides, likeminded people Dubas admits he has had to contend with “old school voices,” he also have to lean on each other. Webster has to call Dubas — or vice-versa. insists his story is more diverse than the analytics wunderkind storyline that has been told of him. He started in scouting and player development, The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 he often has to remind people.

“Soo is a small market, its revenue is small, and the expenses are far greater than most other teams so we didn’t have the resources to compete with a massive scouting staff, expensive innovative ventures. We couldn’t be wrong as much as others because we couldn’t just spend more to make up for our mistakes, and so that’s where we started to incorporate data into our decision-making to arm us better,” he said.

“The biggest advantage I have in terms of educating and working with people who are anti the use of analytics in our sport, whether we work with them, media people who are very negative, or other teams, was my background because it’s ‘This was my life before in scouting and this is how data helped us to turn our program around’ and that seems to help,” Dubas said.

What’s next is anybody’s guess.

All they know is that the rate of growth is exponential. In basketball, the few hundred data points a boxscore provided was quickly eclipsed by play-by-play data decades ago because it told teams who passed the ball ahead of a shot and where that shot came from.

Nowadays, with player tracking in every NBA arena, there’s an entire virtual world of data. Today’s NBA tracking happens at a rate of 25 times a second for the ball and all 10 players on the court to the rate of more than a million data points per game. NBA cameras can identify when Kyle Lowry and run the pick and roll and produce an expected value for the shot that considers who shot and who passed it.

“Now you have all these things that help you get a better understanding of what happened in a game as opposed to just what you remember,” Webster said.

“The next one for us is injury prevention. And that’s important for us because with the payroll of around $140 million, if we miss 10 percent of the games with people injured, now you’re at a $14-million loss. How do we make that basically zero and ensure all of our players play as many games as they can as healthy and productive as they can? How do we project what’s going to happen on the court? How do we know what Kyle’s going to do tomorrow or what Kawhi is going to do for the next five years?”

Eventually, the institution of player tracking in hockey will close the knowledge gap with the NBA. That’s hockey’s next frontier. Because until then, NHL teams can’t be 100 percent confident in anything they use. Dubas wants to know exactly how the puck and his players transport across the ice.

“Right now a lot of the available information is manually tracked or digitally tracked by computers but then manually confirmed. Once we’re able to verify all those with player tracking, it will open up the ability to confirm a lot of those metrics, like expected goals,” Dubas said.

Without complete and utter verification, players and coaches may never fully adopt the use of data and analytics into the decisions they make on the bench, the court, or the ice.

Webster sees those limits firsthand, even in a progressive organization.

“During the offseason there’s a lot of time to dig deep and go down endless rabbit holes and talk about how we want to build the team but a good example is during the game. We have analytics people on our 1127480 Toronto Maple Leafs a better place mentally. They had it easy for a long time this season, they were probably winning games that they shouldn’t have won, just on

talent. LeBrun Notebook: What’s wrong with the Leafs, Andre Burakovsky draws interest and Hurricanes remain active “Coaches will tell you that you can’t win like that when it matters. I bet

that’s what is going on right now with Toronto.’’ By Pierre LeBrun Jan 22, 2019 92 Burakovsky bidding

There’s some curiosity around the league about what exactly the The white noise is growing louder around a slumping Toronto Maple Washington Capitals are going to do with Andre Burakovsky. Leafs team. Teams are calling and the reigning Cup champs are certainly listening to their offers. The 23-year-old winger has fallen out of favour this season in Washington, having been scratched on multiple occasions. But he’s also What’s wrong with the Leafs lately? a first-round pick (23rd overall in 2013) with obvious talent.

I’m always curious to hear the thoughts of rival hockey people so I put that question to a few sources from opposing NHL teams on Monday. Arizona, Vancouver, Colorado and Dallas are among the teams that I Their response? Basically, no one out there thinks there’s much the believe have looked at him but I think that’s just scratching the surface. Leafs should be worried about. There would be other teams that would at least inquire. It’s a situation that screams change of scenery. Teams love a buy-low opportunity with “There are no free nights,’’ said one Eastern Conference coach. “Teams a guy that has a high ceiling. know that the Leafs have lots of weapons and have to bear down defensively. Also, lots of teams that started really well this season are But the Caps weren’t born yesterday. There is no chance that GM Brian slowing down a bit this time of year.’’ MacLellan is going to just give Burakovsky away.

The tricky part, too, is that the Caps would no doubt want to replace him with a veteran, top-nine piece in their quest to repeat as champs. Getting Said a Western Conference team executive: “I think they’re fine. Just futures in that trade doesn’t really help. experiencing some bad luck and trying to come together as a team. They need to improve their D (however) if they want to be a true contender.’’ Unless of course Washington simply turns around those futures in an effort to acquire a veteran via a separate trade. That is certainly a Outside of Tampa Bay, all of the other contenders around the league possibility to look at. have taken turns hitting speed bumps. However, one Western Conference team executive said his group But especially on a team that is built around youthful talent, this kind of decided to take a pass on Burakovsky for this simple reason: For a thing doesn’t surprise one veteran observer. player trying to find his game, it’s a little rich that he’s making $3.25 “That’s one thing with younger players, they’ll run out of gas whereas the million in cash and his AAV is $3 million. Furthermore, Burakovsky’s experienced guys have done it before and they’re used to going through qualifying offer would be $3.25 million, which in this exec’s eyes is a big the paces, they have more consistency to their game,’’ said the NHL investment if you’re not sure about the player. veteran scout who has watched the Leafs of late. “The young guys have Busy Hurricanes more highs and lows. That’s the thing you have to put up with.’’ The Hurricanes are far from done ahead of the trade deadline after

acquiring Nino Niederreiter last week. With the pressure mounting and the trade deadline just over a month They’re very likely going to move pending UFA winger Micheal Ferland away, the scout also said he thinks it’s important for the Leafs not to and they’re still listening to offers on some of their defencemen. They’re overreact. They’ve got a lot of good pieces but still haven’t figured out willing to move one of their top-four guys — teams are calling about how they all mesh together, he said. Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce — in exchange for a top-six forward with offensive skill.

“They’re in a danger zone right now,’’ the scout said. “They’ve got lots of parts. But they have to make the right decisions. You can’t be wrong. There are still lots of moving parts and conversations being had within You have to be patient with young players. But you also have to decide the Hurricanes’ front office and my sense is that GM Don Waddell’s how it all fits.’’ phone really started to buzz after he made the deal with Minnesota last Toronto’s issues on the blueline are obvious but the same scout said week. It’s as if other teams who were staying in touch with Carolina they’ve got an in-house candidate that warrants a bigger role. realized it was time to get more serious about those conversations.

“They’ve got a guy who’s a third pairing guy who might just be the guy to First, let’s update Ferland. The pending UFA winger is all but gone. The put them over the top in a couple of years,’’ the scout said in referring to only way he stays put is if there’s breakthrough in talks between the two Travis Dermott. “He’s got the hockey sense, if he keeps developing, he’s sides but I don’t see that happening at this point. Depending on who you that quarterback you’re looking for down the road.’’ talk to, it’s either because his salary demands are too rich for the ‘Canes or simply because he’d like to test the July 1 market which hey, is One Eastern Conference front office executive sees the silver lining in certainly his right. what is happening with the Leafs right now. While you can name almost any top contender and link that team to “To me, this isn’t a bad thing what Toronto is going through,’’ he said. “I Ferland — he’d be a heck of an addition for any top contender — a new think teams that face adversity and come out of it, the players will rally team to throw in the mix which I hadn’t heard before now is the Penguins. around one another, this is an important moment for them. I don’t know You know veteran GM Jim Rutherford is always active ahead of the that dressing room but John Tavares seems like he’s all hockey. Mitch deadline, and he’s already made a few deals this season, but I hear that Marner is all hockey. These guys are going to dig in and they’re going to Ferland is among the targets for Pittsburgh if there’s a deal that makes find a way to get out of it and they’re going to be better for it. sense. Again, Rutherford’s not alone. Most contending teams have pending UFA power forwards like Ferland and Wayne Simmonds on their

wish list. “More importantly, Babcock probably let them play the way they wanted As I’ve reported before, I think the Hurricanes would want a first-round to play and now he’s probably telling them it doesn’t work like that, pick and a prospect in a Ferland trade. especially come April. These guys will button it down come playoffs and play the right way and give themselves a chance to win close games. I think after the All-Star break and bye week, these guys will probably be in Carolina, meanwhile, stayed busy by signing Teuvo Teravainen to a five- year deal worth $5.4-million AAV per season. It’s a fair deal for both sides in my mind but also shows owner Tom Dundon will loosen the purse strings when he feels it’s warranted.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019

1127481 Vegas Golden Knights It’s all nitpicking for a player again spending more time on the ice than any Knight, and it was Schmidt who kept it a 2-1 game Wednesday when he swiped the puck off the goal line at 17:52 of the third. With Nate Schmidt finding his groove, Knights set up for second half His team just couldn’t rally, because if you think the Wild has Vegas’ number, they’re nothing compared to Nashville backup goalie Juuse Saros, now 3-0 against the Knights after stopping all but one of 48 shots. By Ed Graney / Las Vegas Review-Journal Such brilliance was momentarily interrupted late in the second when forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare got tangled up with Nashville star P.K. Subban and, somehow, some way, Subban’s finger ended up in The answers to turning around 8-11-1 don’t come easily and almost Bellemare’s mouth. never begin and end with one name. Yeah, the Knights need this break, is right. Things aren’t that simple in professional sports. But unlike when it began the first half, Vegas will start the second with its Unless they are. most significant skater. The Knights on Wednesday night reached the All-Star break with a 2-1 Nate Schmidt is that big a deal around here. loss to Nashville before an announced gathering of 18,477 at T-Mobile Arena, meaning the third largest regular-season home crowd in franchise LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.24.2019 history watched its side lose for the fourth time in six games. Meaning this break couldn’t come at a better time. Meaning rest might be good now that guys might be biting others. (More on the chomping later). Vegas still sits third in the Pacific Division at 62 points, just six fewer than it had at this time last year, again headed for a playoff berth unless something totally unexpected occurs. Or, specifically, it loses Nate Schmidt for any significant amount of time. You get different reasons from players and coaches when inquiring about what happened between the season’s opening 20 games and now, how things went from bad to good, from owning the second worst record in the Western Conference to its fifth best, from a Stanley Cup Final hangover to among the betting favorites for again reaching a championship round. It always starts with Schmidt. Usually, it finishes with him. He was suspended for violating the NHL’s performance-enhancing drug policy and yet no sooner did he return at Edmonton on Nov. 18 that the Knights suddenly looked a lot like, well, the Knights. They beat the Oilers 6-3 that chilly evening and have since gone 20-8-3, their best defenseman and a guy gifted at keeping the locker room loose during a season’s more trying times back averaging the most ice time and on track for his best season statistically over what is now 308 NHL games over parts of five years. “I think, mostly, it was about getting our identity back as a defensive core,” said Schmidt. “It’s so important when we skate the puck and transport it and dictate the tempo of a game. That’s what I wanted to bring back the most.” He brought back a ton: Despite missing those 20 games, Schmidt leads the team in plus-minus at 14, and his 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) puts him on a 62-game pace to challenge his career high of 36. The Knights are just better with him, better creating plays, better advancing the puck, better transitioning from one end to the next. He’s a more complete player than last season, unquestionably in the offensive zone, and was pretty darn good then. But he’s also a harsh critic of those things he can improve upon as the Knights prepare to make a run at a second division title. His top defensive pairing with Brayden McNabb has produced far more positive than negative results, but Schmidt will tell you he can be better. Knights show bite Maybe he shouldn’t have pinched as much recently when Winnipeg scored its first goal of a 4-1 victory short-handed. Maybe he could have done more when on the ice for two of Pittsburgh’s three goals Saturday, although he and McNabb handled the Penguins top line over the final 30 or so minutes of a 7-3 win. Maybe it’s true Schmidt would just as soon forget that ridiculously good move Jason Zucker of the Wild put on him in Monday’s 4-2 loss, when the former spun Schmidt around before having his shot hit the post. “I take stuff like that really personally,” said Schmidt. “It was an amazing play, but thank goodness he (didn’t score). That way, I only made half of the highlight reels instead of all of them.” 1127482 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights fall to Nashville Predators, 2-1 — VIDEO

By David Schoen / Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Golden Knights could have been daydreaming about sandy beaches Wednesday or checking the clock as they counted down the minutes until their break. Instead, they put in a full shift and couldn’t be faulted at all for their effort. It just wasn’t enough against Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros. The Knights fired 48 shots on goal, but will limp into the All-Star break on the heels of a 2-1 loss to the Predators in front of an announced crowd of 18,477 at T-Mobile Arena. The Knights, who are off until Feb. 1 when they play at Carolina, lost their second straight in regulation at home for the first time this season and have dropped four of their past six games. “We really liked the way we played tonight,” Knights assistant coach Mike Kelly said. “I thought we played pretty hard lines one through four, the six defensemen and our goaltender. I thought we played pretty well. It doesn’t always guarantee a win. That’s the tough part about it, but there’s a lot to be encouraged about heading into the break, I think.” Saros won for the third time in three games against the Knights, and his 47 saves were a career high. He has stopped 114 of 116 shots in those three appearances. Ryan Johansen and Nick Bonino scored second-period goals 3:01 apart for the Predators, who picked up their 30th victory and moved into a tie for first place in the Central Division entering the All-Star break. Max Pacioretty had the lone goal for the Knights in the first period. “There’s games you feel you deserve to win, games you feel you probably deserved to lose and got lucky,” Pacioretty said. “Right now, we’re probably not at our best, but I believe we’re not far off. Couple breakdowns here and there are the difference right now, but we’ve seen what this team is capable of doing when we play with confidence.” Johansen, in his first game back after he served a two-game suspension for high-sticking, tied the score 1-1 less than a minute into the second period. Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (25 saves) made a shoulder save on Roman Josi, but Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb cleared the puck out of the crease and it deflected in off Johansen. The Predators went ahead 2-1 at 3:53 of the second when Austin Watson freed the puck at the side of the net and sent a pass to Bonino, who broke free from Deryk Engelland in the slot before netting his 14th goal. Saros’ biggest stop came with 3:24 left in the second when he slid across his crease to turn away William Karlsson on a 2-on-0 with Paul Stastny. “I think we had almost 50 shots,” Knights winger Ryan Reaves said. “The goalie played really well. They used their speed against us. I think it could’ve gone either way but we didn’t bury opportunities. Just a little too sloppy in some spots.” Saros earned the start for Nashville on the strength of his 2-0 record, 0.50 goals-against average, .985 save percentage and one shutout lifetime against the Knights and was under pressure from the opening faceoff. The Knights fired 18 shots on goal in the first period and missed the net on a handful of other scoring chances. Pacioretty tallied his 15th goal at 8:03 of the first after good work down low by Stastny and a pretty pass across the slot by Alex Tuch. “There’s a lot of positives out of the game we can take,” Knights center Cody Eakin said. “We didn’t get there on the scoreboard, but I thought we played a pretty good game. Worked hard right until the very end. These types of games happen sometimes.” LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127483 Vegas Golden Knights

Knights’ Valentin Zykov again sits; Oilers could eye McCrimmon

By Ben Gotz / Las Vegas Review-Journal

Golden Knights forward Valentin Zykov again watched and waited Wednesday night. The 23-year-old was a healthy scratch against the Nashville Predators and sat for the 11th time in 12 games since he was claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 29. Zykov has played 9:26 after arriving in Las Vegas on Jan. 2 after dealing with a customs issue. “We like the way our lineup has been playing recently,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “He’s a guy that’s going to get an opportunity sooner or later. We’ll see what happens. He’s working hard, he’s a talented guy, so when he gets the opportunity hopefully he’ll take advantage of it.” General manager George McPhee compared Zykov’s situation to forward Ryan Carpenter’s last season. The Knights claimed Carpenter on Dec. 13, 2017, but he didn’t play his first game until Jan. 5, 2018. Carpenter then appeared in 36 of the Knights’ last 42 regular-season games. “We got (Carpenter) in the right place and when we put him in he was a pretty effective player for us,” McPhee said. “We just saw (in Zykov) a player that we thought, ‘There’s some real upside there.’ And he’s at the right age. We don’t have a lot of players at that age. We’re working with him and we’ll see where it goes.” Oilers looking at McCrimmon? At least one person close to the Oilers believes Knights assistant general manager Kelly McCrimmon could be a candidate for Edmonton’s vacant general manager position. Oilers radio analyst Bob Stauffer tweeted that McCrimmon was one of four GM candidates he’d tell fans to watch. The Oilers fired GM Peter Chiarelli during the second period of their 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday that dropped their record to 23-24-3. The Knights declined to make McCrimmon available for comment. McPhee told the Review-Journal in December that if Seattle’s expansion franchise asked permission to interview McCrimmon for its GM position the Knights would grant it. “This organization doesn’t stand in anyone’s way,” McPhee said. “If there’s a promotion for somebody with another organization, we would always allow it.” Odds and ends — Forward Reilly Smith (injured reserve, undisclosed) participated in the Knights’ morning skate in a blue non-contact jersey. — Coach Gerard Gallant said backup goaltender Malcolm Subban (IR, undisclosed) would “be back shortly after the break if not right after the break.” — Defenseman Nick Holden missed his first game of the season Wednesday and Jon Merrill replaced him in the lineup. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127484 Vegas Golden Knights Marc-Andre Fleury LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.24.2019 GAME DAY: Golden Knights, Predators battle before All-Star break

By David Schoen / Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Golden Knights play their final game before the All-Star break Wednesday when they meet the Nashville Predators at T-Mobile Arena. Opening faceoff is 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on NBC Sports Network. “I’m hoping (Wednesday) is going to be a great game,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “Nashville played a real spirited game the other day in Colorado, so we’re getting ready for a big game. It’s going to be the last one before the break. After you lose a game, you want to win the next one, so hopefully we’re going to be ready to bounce back and play a real good game against Nashville.” The Knights (29-18-4, 62 points) lost 4-2 to Minnesota on Monday and have dropped three of their past five games. They will enter the All-Star break in third place in the Pacific Division regardless of the outcome against the Predators. The Knights begin their bye week starting Sunday and do not play again until Feb. 1 at Carolina. Center Paul Stastny has points in four straight games and 17 points in 18 games since he returned from injured reserve on Dec. 14. Defenseman Colin Miller, who was activated from IR on Saturday after missing 13 games, has back-to-back multipoint games for the first time in his career (0-4-4). The Knights lost 4-1 at Nashville on Oct. 30 and are 6-5-0 against the Central Division. “They’re a great transition team, but the way you counteract that is to slow them down by getting into their body a little bit,” Knights right wing Ryan Reaves said. “And you have to use your speed. We’re one of the fastest teams in the league, too. So we have to make sure we’re quick on the transition too. When they turn the puck over, we’ve got to get going the other way with five guys.” Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury did not play in the first meeting with the Predators and went 1-1 with a 0.51 goals-against average, .982 save percentage and one shutout in two games against Nashville last season. The Predators (29-18-4, 62 points) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory at Colorado on Monday. Coach Peter Laviolette earned his 600th career victory, becoming the 20th coach in NHL history to reach the mark and the second American to do so. Center Ryan Johansen, Nashville’s leading scorer with 42 points, is set to return after he served a two-game suspension for high-sticking. Viktor Arvidsson leads the Predators in goals (19), and Filip Forsberg has seven points in eight games since he was activated from IR (hand). “I think we consider ourselves a measuring stick, too,” Reaves said. “They’re a team that has done really well for awhile now, especially in the regular season., They seem to dominate the regular season every year and they’re doing really well again this year and it’s because they frustrate teams with their speed. They’re fast. They’re skilled. It’s a team you definitely want to beat.” Golden Knights projected lineup Forwards Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Brandon Pirri Max Pacioretty-Paul Stastny-Alex Tuch Oscar Lindberg-Cody Eakin-Ryan Carpenter Tomas Nosek-Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Ryan Reaves Defensemen Brayden McNabb-Nate Schmidt Shea Theodore-Deryk Engelland Nick Holden-Colin Miller Goaltender 1127485 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights pepper Predators with shots but come up short

By Justin Emerson (contact)

Take a peek at the stat sheet from Wednesday’s Golden Knights game without looking at the score and it would be hard to conclude that Vegas lost. The Golden Knights held the Nashville Predators to two shots on goal in the third, opened the game on a 10-1 shots advantage and finished with a commanding lead in shots on goal, Corsi, scoring chances, and high- danger chances. But the Predators had goalie Juuse Saros, who continued his domination of the Golden Knights with a career-high 47 saves in helping Nashville beat Vegas 2-1 at T-Mobile Arena. “It happens. I liked the way we played though,” forward Cody Eakin said. “Sometimes that’s the way it goes.” Wednesday was Saros’ third-career game against the Golden Knights and his third win. He has stopped 114 of the 116 shots Vegas has sent his way in those games, good for a .983 save percentage and an 0.67 goals-against average. “I thought we played really hard and played a pretty good game,” said assistant coach Mike Kelly, who had postgame media duty instead of head coach Gerard Gallant. “He was excellent.” As the numbers suggest, the Golden Knights played a good game. They came out of the gate flying and squeezed the life out of any third-period scoring chances Nashville tried to muster. The Predators scored both of their goals in the first four minutes of the second period, but the game was all Vegas. It was a playoff atmosphere inside T-Mobile Arena, which was expected. Nashville won the Presidents’ Trophy last season, which prompted the Golden Knights to poke fun at the Predators’ Regular Season Western Conference Champions banner in the pregame video. The fans were fired up, a regular occurrence as the season enters its final 30 games. “We’ve had a lot of those the last week — fun games to be a part of and that was one of them,” defenseman Nate Schmidt said. “It sucks to lose it, but I like the energy our guys brought." For the first time this year, the Golden Knights look vulnerable at home. Wednesday marked the first time the Golden Knights lost back-to-back home games in regulation and the first time they have lost three of four at home. They have lost four of six overall going into the All-Star break and the bye week. The Golden Knights were the better team Wednesday night. A terrific performance by Saros helped Nashville steal one, and as some of the players said, sometimes that’s just how the chips fall. “It was just a great hockey game,” Schmidt said. “You had two teams that are going to be there at the end taking punches back and forth.” LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127486 Vegas Golden Knights Tonight poses a similar issue. Vegas is about to take eight days off for the All-Star break and its bye week but first need to get through the Nashville Predators at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena. It doesn't hurt the focus Golden Knights can't convert late chances, fall to Predators to play one of the Western Conference's best teams. "It helps having Nashville come in. You're going to have to play hard; you know it's not going to be an easy one whatsoever," Golden Knights By Justin Emerson (contact) defenseman Shea Theodore said. "When guys are focusing on the task at hand and playing hard every shift, then I think we should have a good result." The Golden Knights scored first, but allowed two quick goals in the The Predators come into tonight's game with the same 29-18-4 record as second period and dropped a 2-1 decision to the Nashville Predators on the Golden Knights, and that's not where the similarities stop. Neither has Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena. a superstar forward, instead spreading the puck around, and both have five double-digit goal-scorers without a player with 20. They both have It is the first time this season the Golden Knights have lost two games in goaltenders with legitimate Hall of Fame cases. a row at home in regulation. And they were the last two Stanley Cup representatives from the The Golden Knights and Predators traded penalties in the third period, in Western Conference. what turned out to be Vegas' best chance of the frame. "We're both deep in all positions — forward, D and goaltending — and Rocco Grimaldi got a hooking call, Max Pacioretty got a hooking call, they're the same," Vegas forward Ryan Carpenter said. "They just know then Mattias Ekholm took a delay of game. The Golden Knights had a how to win and play that playoff-style hockey. Playing against them, you power play, went to 4-on-4, then a 4-on-3 penalty, then 4-on-4 again know it's always going to be a hard game, but those are the fun ones to before the 5-on-4 power play. play into." They did not score on any of them and finished the night 0-for-5 on the The last game before the break also provides a unique opportunity. With power play. no practice Thursday, a week off and no game until Feb. 1, the Golden Nashville had only two shots on goal in the third period to the Golden Knights don't have to leave anything in the tank. Knights' 14, giving Vegas a 48-28 edge for the game. "Obviously you play hard every night, but knowing you have a couple Predators take the lead days off to relax, it'll push some guys," Theodore said. "I think that'll be good." Nashville made sure the Golden Knights didn't have a lead long into the second period, then grabbed one of its own, ending the period with a 2-1 Emerson's Prediction: Golden Knights 4, Predators 3 lead. Season record for predictions: Keefer 5-4, Emerson 12-6 The Predators' initial shot Marc-Andre Fleury in the shoulder, and TV: NBC Sports Network (DirecTV 220, Cox 1038, CenturyLink 640) bounced around near the crease. Brayden McNabb tried to clear it, but Ryan Johansen got a piece of it and the puck bounced into the net 52 Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM seconds into the period to even the game. Betting line: Golden Knights minus-135, Predators plus-125; over/under: The Predatirs added another less than three minutes later. FleuryAustin 6 (plus-110, minus-120) Watson appeared to pass the puck behind Fleury and into the slot, where Nick Bonino was there to put it home on an empty net, making it 2-1 Golden Knights (29-18-4) (16-5-3 home) Predators with 16:02 to go in the second. Coach: Gerard Gallant (second season) The Golden Knights' best chance came at the end of a Jon Merrill penalty, when an errant offensive-zone pass put Paul Stastny and Points leader: Alex Tuch (39) William Karlsson on a 2-on-0. Stastny slid the puck to Karlsson, whose Goals leader: Jonathan Marchessault (17) shot was denied by a tremendous kick save from Juuse Saros. Assists leader: Alex Tuch (23) With 26 seconds left in the period, P.K. Subban and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare got tied up, and Subban's finger ended up in Bellemare's Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.50 gaa, .911 save percentage) mouth when Subban had him in a headlock. Subban must have said something, because Ryan Reaves started chasing Subban looking to Predators (29-18-4) (13-9-4 road) throw down, but refs didn't let them go. Subban was charged two minutes Coach: Peter Laviolette (fifth season) for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Vegas wil start the third with 1:33 of power-play tome. Points leader: Ryan Johansen (42) Pacioretty nets first-period goal Goals leader: Viktor Arvidsson (19) Any worries that the Golden Knights may be looking past Wednesday's Assists leader: Ryan Johansen (34) game against the Nashville Predators to their eight-day break were quickly put to bet. They came out flying in the firt and led 1-0 then the Expected goalie: Jusse Saros (2.67 gaa, .908 save percentage) period came to a close. Golden Knights expected lineup Paul Stastny, Alex Tuch and Max Pacioretty came out of the gates flying Forwards and may not have scored on their first two shifts, but made the third one count. Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Brandon Pirri, Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny, Alex Tuch, Oscar Lindberg, Cody Eakin, Ryan Carpenter, Stastny collected a rebound, twirled around a defender right of the net Tomas Nosek, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Ryan Reaves and flipped it over to Tuch. All the Predators thought Tuch was going to shoot, including goalie Juuse Saros, but instead Tuch shoveled the puck Defensemen on the backhand to Pacioretty, who had an easy finish to make it 1-0 at 8:03. Brayden McNabb, Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore, Deryk Engelland, Nick Holden, Colin Miller The Golden Knights had the game's first five shots on goal and 10 of the first 11, which included Pacioretty's goal. Vegas led in shots on goal, 19- Goalies 15. Marc-Andre Fleury, Maxime Lagace The Predators had the period's only power play, and had three shots on goal. LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 01.24.2019 Pre-game Last month, in the days leading up to the Christmas break, Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said he didn't like the team's effort, and Vegas dropped two overtime home games in a row before taking three days off. 1127487 Vegas Golden Knights going to law school. Along the way, he’ll try to be that “dog” coaches think he can be.

“He’s a resilient, tough kid,” Rodriguez said. “Of all the (prospects) we 'We don't quit on our kids': Desert Pines' Jamel Brown turns second have in the program, he became the alpha leader. He brought such a chance into football scholarship strong energy to the program. He’s not a big talker — just a big doer.” LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 01.24.2019 By Ray Brewer (contact)

Jamel Brown could have easily quit in his pursuit of a college football scholarship. Yet, he stayed the course, even with the setbacks: Being suspended from the Desert Pines High team for most of 2017, opening his senior season last fall as the Jaguars' third-string running back, bombing the college standardized exams because he didn’t realize they were timed, and seeing his lone scholarship offer wiped out last month when the coach was fired. A few weeks before national signing day on Feb. 6, Brown’s fortunes changed. His coaches at Desert Pines have a relationship with new UNC Charlotte defensive coordinator Marcus West, who reached out to the local power looking for a “fast kid who was a dog,” Jags assistant coach David Hill said. “I told him we have the perfect kid,” Hill said. “Thirty minutes after he watched (Brown’s) film, he offered the scholarship.” Brown verbally committed to Charlotte shortly after his visit last weekend, becoming emotional in a Twitter post about his appreciation for the Desert Pines staff helping him along the way. Take counselor Kristine Korth, whose persistence was the difference in increasing his grade point average from 2.6 when he arrived at the school as a freshman to 3.7, which was vitally important to become an NCAA qualifier. She also got him practice taking the SAT. He learned to answer questions every six seconds to complete the entire exam. He received a qualifying score on his second attempt. There’s Desert Pines coach Tico Rodriguez, who allowed him to be the team’s manager last season after suspending him. (The coach, legally, can’t discuss discipline.) “He’s a tough-minded kid,” Rodriguez said. “He got in a little bit of trouble but stayed with the team and learned his lesson. It shows we don’t quit on our kids at Desert Pines. He made a mistake and fixed it.” Brown started his senior season last fall behind Cameron Wiley (who is committed to Minnesota) and Devin McGee (New Mexico) at running back. He was a defensive starter at safety. By the time the season ended, he was named the team’s most valuable player after rushing for 600 yards and recording 80 tackles with five interceptions. Still, he remained under the recruiting radar, which he admits was concerning. “I had to trust the process and plan the coaches had for me,” Brown said. “I wasn’t going to give up.” Part of Brown’s makeover happened last spring when he won a state championship in track’s 300-meter hurdles at 40.16 seconds. He previously ran track to be around friends and wasn’t the most dedicated participant. But it was different in the spring — he put in the work and saw the rewards. Instead of being labeled as someone with the potential to be elite, he finally lived up to the billing of a gifted athlete. The track title also helped repair his reputation with his football teammates, who voted him as the most valuable player. “I was tired of the bad vibes,” Brown said. “I didn’t want to be considered a bad kid.” The staff at Desert Pines consistently finds the good in students whose backgrounds aren’t traditional. After all, it’s an at-risk school with plenty of children in need of someone to advocate for them, whether that’s with a meal after school, a teacher taking on the role as father figure, or helping a football player secure a scholarship. They have mastered that, with about 20 getting full rides to Division I programs in Rodriguez’s six years as head coach and many others landing at lower-tier schools. Just because a player has a setback doesn’t mean Rodriguez or Hill will stop investing in him. They’ve repeatedly handled season-ending injuries, family member deaths, tough defeats and dealing with the hardships of the inner city with a pro-kid attitude that’s refreshing. For Brown, it was life-changing. He will soon leave for Charlotte to attend college, where he plans to major in criminal justice with aspirations of 1127488 Vegas Golden Knights

McPhee: Don't expect young call-ups to fill defensive void

By Justin Emerson (contact)

Just because the Golden Knights are down a defenseman after the Brad Hunt trade to Minnesota does not mean that one of the highly touted blue-liners in the AHL is any closer to joining the big club. Golden Knights general manager George McPhee said on Tuesday not to expect AHL All-Star Erik Brannstrom or any other call-ups to Vegas, but stressed he’s confident in the players in the minors if the need arises. “We’re at a place now, finally, with our young defensemen that if we have to reach down to the AHL for any reason to get a player to help us out, we have several on the blue line down there, all kinds of different flavors, that could come up and help contribute,” McPhee said. “They’ve really come along extremely well this year.” McPhee said Hunt’s agent approached him with concerns about his client’s next contract and how his lack of playing time may affect the prospects of the free-agent-to-be this summer. "He’s a terrific human being, really good hockey player and hasn’t been playing much here, so it was time to give him an opportunity elsewhere,” McPhee said. McPhee said Hunt told him that if he was going somewhere where the playing time would be similar, he would rather stay in Vegas, but McPhee thinks he will play with the Wild. The trade leaves the Golden Knights with seven defensemen, a number McPhee said he is comfortable with. The team has 22 players on its roster, with Reilly Smith, William Carrier and Malcolm Subban on injured receive. McPhee did not give a timetable for the return of the injured players, and said he does not know if Erik Haula, who has not played since Nov. 6, will return this season. He also said he did not know how active the team will be in the month leading up to the Feb. 25 trade deadline. The team projects to have about $3.6 million in cap space, which could be used to acquire a veteran player. “We’ll be active in terms of knowing what’s going on in the market and talking to everyone, but I couldn’t tell you right now what we’d be planning on doing,” McPhee said. “What we’d like to do is if we could get this club healthy and see what it is, and then see if it needs anything. “You have some thoughts on what your team is going to look like at the start of the year when you put it together and cross your fingers and hope it’s going to be a good one. At some point you’d like to see them all together. We haven’t been there yet.” LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127489 Washington Capitals Ovechkin was slow to get up, holding his head on the ice before returning to the bench. But he later went to the locker room when an NHL concussion spotter informed the bench that he needed to be evaluated Capitals’ skid hits seven as they enter all-star break with 6-3 loss at for a head injury. Toronto Just as Washington was about to go on its first power play of the game at the 16:49 mark, Ovechkin returned to the ice and took up his left faceoff circle post. By Isabelle Khurshudyan January 23 at 10:39 PM “I just lost my breathing, and I was surprised the NHL called and tried to see what happened,” Ovechkin said. “You know me.” TORONTO — The sprinkling of hats prolonged the Washington Capitals’ With two seconds left in that man-advantage, Nicklas Backstrom pain, and it’s a sight the team has had to endure often in the past week. redirected Evgeny Kuznetsov’s pass for a 1-0 lead, the first time the Forward Brett Connolly scooped up one cap and dumped it into the Capitals have scored the first goal in five games. space between the benches in an effort to speed up the cleanup effort. But after one of Washington’s more organized frames in recent memory, Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri had just scored his third goal of Toronto tied the game less than a minute later. Holtby didn’t cover up a the game, the tally that ensured the Capitals would return to their locker bouncing puck in the crease, and before he could get to it, Kadri knocked room losers again. In an indictment of the team’s loose play of late, that’s it in with just 24 seconds left in the first period. the fourth hat trick Washington has allowed in the past five games. This one sealed a 6-3 defeat to the Maple Leafs that extended the Capitals’ The Capitals responded shortly after intermission. losing streak to seven games — and Washington’s free fall will now be Ovechkin scored his league-leading 37th goal of the season 3:51 into the paused by a week-long break. frame, tying former teammate Sergei Fedorov for the most career points “It’s done,” captain Alex Ovechkin said. “That’s it. We have a break, so by a Russian-born player. let’s move on.” But Washington started to unravel after that, and it was Toronto who took Through Wednesday’s results, the Capitals still sit in second place in the a 3-2 lead into the third period. Metropolitan Division, three points back of the first-place New York “We need better efforts from everybody,” Backstrom said. “You can talk Islanders. But while it may be too soon for Washington to panic about its about it, Watch video, but I think this is a work thing. Everyone’s got to postseason position, a team that returned the vast majority of its work a little harder and work a little better as a team.” championship roster hoping to defend its title looks lost. With Washington trailing, 5-2, late in the game, defenseman Matt [Jeremy Roenick says Capitals are playing ‘awful,’ ‘high-risk hockey’] Niskanen scored. “You can’t just keep saying it’s all going to be okay and keep doing that,” The Capitals formed a group hug after the goal, but there was no goaltender Braden Holtby said. “We’ve got to put the work in. It’s just a celebrating. little bit of accumulation of maybe not pushing ourselves hard enough all year. When the luck’s not going your way, it kind of snowballs.” Washington Post LOADED: 01.24.2019 With the Capitals down by a goal entering a crucial third period, Kadri made it a 4-2 game with a one-timer from the high slot 2:10 into the frame. And while Washington certainly showed some signs of improvement against the Toronto, particularly in the first period, the Capitals have allowed 30 goals in the past five games, a departure for a team that won a Stanley Cup last year with its suffocating, stingy style of play. Kadri’s third goal came eight minutes later, followed by the hats. Asked before the game if he would consider this a “midseason must-win” game, Capitals Coach Todd Reirden said, “for sure, I want a response from our team.” [Todd Reirden: ‘The mistakes we’re making, they’re big ones’] It wasn’t a favorable situation for a club mired in a slump — the second game of a back-to-back set on the road and the last contest before a week-long break for the All-Star Game and bye week. Reirden opted to start Holtby after he’d played in Tuesday’s overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks in a decision he said was “a signal to our team that we’re doing everything we can to win this hockey game.” Holtby never started both games of a back-to-back last season, but he did it in the first two games of this one. When playing in a second game in as many nights throughout his career, Holtby was 9-4-3 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.85 goals against average entering Wednesday’s game. He’s been struggling of late, allowing seven goals on 43 shots on Tuesday night, two days after he allowed four goals on 11 shots to the Blackhawks before being pulled in the second period. The Capitals also decided to play Ovechkin in this game. Because he’s skipping the All-Star Game in San Jose this weekend after being voted the Metropolitan Division captain, he has to serve a one-game suspension from the NHL in either the game immediately before the event or the one right after it. Washington decided to have Ovechkin play against the Maple Leafs, so he’ll miss the Capitals’ Feb. 1 home game against the Calgary Flames. It added weight to Wednesday’s result; Washington will now have to try to snap this seven-game losing streak without its best player next game. That choice nearly backfired just 7:30 into the game. Ovechkin and teammate T.J. Oshie collided in the neutral zone, both dropping to the ice in pain. 1127490 Washington Capitals

After sixth straight loss, Jeremy Roenick says Capitals are playing ‘awful,’ ‘high-risk hockey’

By Jake Russell January 23 at 1:41 PM

Highlighted by a stick to the eye of Braden Holtby, an Evgeny Kuznetzov demotion, a triumphant return for former head coach Barry Trotz, a players-only meeting and a literal last-second goal to send Tuesday’s game against the Sharks to overtime, the Washington Capitals find themselves in a downward spiral that is seemingly self-inflicted. Having lost six straight games, the team is well aware of its current situation but still hasn’t been able to find the magic antidote to get back on the winning track. Not since January 2014 have the Capitals experienced a slide like this. That also happens to be the last season the Caps missed the playoffs. Tuesday marked Alex Ovechkin’s 23rd career regular season hat trick and the first time the Caps had lost on such an occasion. Watching the defending Stanley Cup champions blow that kind of opportunity to end their losing streak didn’t sit right with NBC Sports Network analyst Jeremy Roenick. “They are playing such high-risk hockey,” Roenick said on the heels of Tuesday night’s heartbreaking loss to the Sharks. “They are playing by the seat of their pants. They’re playing loosey-goosey hockey.” Roenick went through game film to detail examples of the Capitals’ poor play on Tuesday, declaring, “That is awful hockey for a team that has lost five games in a row. You can’t play that way.” The Caps averaged a goal a game in the first four games of their current skid but have put 11 pucks in the net in their past two games. Washington’s defense has been an issue throughout, allowing 30 goals in their past six games and 15 in their past two. “You have to get down to the logistics, get down to playing smart hockey, hard hockey and not having hope-for passes and trying to do things because you’re talented just to win games . . . When you’re on a five- game losing streak, you’re supposed to tighten it up. Throw the puck into the corners. Start getting into your forecheck. Start grinding the puck. Start playing stronger defense.” “Even on the winning goal — Ovechkin played a great game tonight, he’s been great all year — he loses a battle behind his own net. And then on the backcheck he stops skating at the blue line and the puck goes right past to [Tomas] Hertl and in the back of the net. “This is a great hockey team. Don’t get me wrong. The Washington Capitals are the Stanley Cup champions. They can turn it on when they want to but . . . with the way some of these teams are playing, especially in the Metro division, they could find themselves in a wild-card position and, if they’re not careful and don’t start playing the right way, they could find themselves out of a playoff position.” The Caps will look to right the ship Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their final game before the NHL’s all-star break. Washington Post LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127491 Washington Capitals The Capitals got a scare earlier in the period when Ovechkin collided with Oshie near center ice. Ovechkin stayed down for a few moments before leaving the bench as part of the NHL’s concussion protocol. He Kadri gets hat trick, Maple Leafs beat Capitals returned in time to be on the ice for Backstrom’s goal. NOTES: Fedorov played 1,248 regular-season games. Wednesday was the 1,053rd appearance of Ovechkin’s career. … Capitals defenseman By - Associated Press - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Brooks Orpik (rest) got the night off. … Both the Leafs and Capitals don’t play again until Feb. 1 because of the NHL All-Star break and their league-mandated bye week. … Toronto defenseman Jake Gardiner missed a second straight game with back spasms. TORONTO — Nazem Kadri recorded the fifth hat trick of his career and added an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated Washington 6-3 on UP NEXT Wednesday night and dealt the defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals their seventh straight loss. Capitals: Home against Calgary on Feb. 1. Auston Matthews, Nikita Zaitsev and Mitch Marner also scored for Maple Leafs: At Detroit on Feb. 1. Toronto. William Nylander added three assists, while Morgan Rielly and Connor Brown had two each. Frederik Andersen stopped 41 shots for the Washington Times LOADED: 01.24.2019 win. The Leafs came in having lost two straight, four in a row and five of six at Scotiabank Arena, and seven of their last 10 overall. Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and an assist, and Alex Ovechkin and Matt Niskanen scored for Washington, which was playing for the third time in four nights. Braden Holtby, who had allowed 11 goals on his last 54 shots against coming into Wednesday, finished with 31 saves. T.J. Oshie added two assists for the Capitals, who have allowed 30 goals in their last five games. With his second-period goal, Ovechkin tied Sergei Fedorov for the top spot among Russian-born players with 1,179 career points. Matthews, who had gone seven straight games without a goal and had just one in his last 13 contests, snapped a 2-2 tie with 3:41 left in the second when he netted his 21st of the season through Holtby’s pads on a Toronto power play. The goal was a relief for Matthews and for the Leafs‘ power play, which had gone just 6 for 52 since early December. John Tavares was denied at the side of the net seconds before Matthews broke through. Kadri made it 4-2 with his second of the game at 2:10 of the third, blasting a shot off the rush past Holtby’s blocker. The Toronto center then completed the hat trick at 10:15. Nylander carried the puck into the Washington zone before dropping it to Brown, whose shot went off the crossbar and post before ricocheting to Kadri, who deposited the puck into an open net. The Capitals got one back with 2:46 to play when Niskanen’s shot went in off a Toronto player in front. Marner scored his 20th into an empty net with 32.6 seconds left. Washington, which came in on an 0-4-2 run, including Sunday’s 8-6 loss in Chicago and Tuesday’s 7-6 overtime defeat at home to San Jose, has now given up 20 goals in its last three games. Kadri is also the third straight member of the opposition to record a hat trick against the Capitals after Chicago’s Jonathan Toews and San Jose’s Tomas Hertl. Tied 1-1 after the first, the Capitals pushed ahead at 3:51 when Ovechkin blasted a shot from the top of the right face-off circle past Andersen’s blocker for his 37th goal of the season and the record-tying point. Ovechkin leads all active players with 38 goals against Toronto in his career, despite ranking 11th in games played at 47. Toronto turned in a couple of spirited shifts before Zaitsev took a pass from Nylander in the slot and scored his first of the season and first in 53 games dating to March 30, 2018. Nylander, who has just one goal in 21 games since ending his contract impasse, played his best game of the season so far. That included a nice back-check on Ovechkin earlier in the shift before taking a hit and setting up Zaitsev. Backstrom opened the scoring on a power play with 1:13 left in the first when he took advantage of some soft defending from Zaitsev in front to tap home his 13th. Toronto got that one right back with 26 seconds remaining in the period when Rielly and Nylander pressured the puck behind the Washington net before it squirted in front. Holtby tried to cover the puck with his glove in the crease, but Kadri was quickest to the mark and poked it over the line. 1127492 Washington Capitals

Why a smiling Ovechkin was forced to leave Wednesday’s game briefly in the first period

By J.J. Regan January 23, 2019 7:59 PM

A nasty collision between Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie resulted in Ovechkin getting pulled into the locker room in the first period of Wednesday’s Capitals game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Early in the first period, Oshie skated past Morgan Rielly attempting to chip the puck away from him along the boards. As he kept skating, he came directly into the path of Ovechkin and the two collided violently in the neutral zone. Oshie popped up quickly, but Ovechkin stayed down on the ice.

C'mon guys, we're aiming for the BLUE jerseys! 臘 pic.twitter.com/N36Ku2JM4N — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 24, 2019 After a few nervous moments, Ovechkin got back onto his feet and was seen smiling on the bench and joking with Oshie about the hit. He also appeared to be grabbing his chest. A few moments later, head athletic trainer Jason Serbus was seen talking to Ovechkin and Ovechkin got up off the bench and walked into the locker room. Ovi is heading to the locker room for concussion protocol after that accidental hit. Stream #CapsLeafs here: https://t.co/nzl6CAeNNu pic.twitter.com/ZxiBQnUXqW — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 24, 2019 It was later confirmed by the NBCSN broadcast that Ovechkin was pulled by the concussion spotter after it appeared Ovechkin’s face crashed directly into Oshie’s shoulder. Concussion spotters are authorized to require a player’s removal from play in order to evaluate them for a concussion following a blow to the head. If the player passes all concussion tests and is deemed not to have suffered a concussion, he is able to return. While it appeared Ovechkin was fine after the hit, the concussion spotter saw enough on the hit to believe Ovechkin needed to be evaluated. It may be an inconvenience, but could prevent players from remaining on the ice after suffering a concussion. Luckily for the Caps, Ovechkin returned late in the first literally just in time for Washington’s first power play of the game. The Caps did score on the power play, though Ovechkin did not record a point on the play. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127493 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin in the lineup shows just how important Wednesday vs. Toronto really is

By J.J. Regan January 23, 2019 3:48 PM

The Capitals have one last piece of business to tend to before the All- Star break. They head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs Wednesday (7:30 p.m., NBCSN) in an absolute must-win for Washington. Here’s what you need to watch. Alex Ovechkin is in Because Ovechkin decided not to participate in the All-Star Game, he has to serve a one-game suspension. The team had the option of Ovechkin missing the last game before the All-Star break or the first game back. Ovechkin was asked after the game Tuesday if he would be playing against the Leafs and he said yes. Head coach Todd Reirden confirmed that he would indeed be playing Wednesday. So, coming off a hat trick performance, Ovechkin will be back in the lineup Wednesday in Toronto. The decision comes as no surprise. The Caps desperately need a win Wednesday or they will head into the All-Star break on a seven-game losing streak which will fester until the team finally returns to the ice after the bye week. Ironically enough, the last time Ovechkin played in Toronto was on Nov. 25, 2017, the famous Alex Luey game in which Ovechkin also tallied a hat trick. By playing Wednesday, Ovechkin will have to sit out the team’s first game back from the break on Feb. 1 against the Calgary Flames. Who will play in net? With the high stakes of this game, could we see Braden Holtby back between the pipes despite playing Tuesday? It’s possible. Reirden said after Tuesday’s game that he had not yet reached a decision on which goalie would play in Toronto. On the one hand, this is a game the team really needs to win so it would make sense to play your top netminder especially before the prolonged All-Star break. On the other, Holtby has really struggled in his past two outings giving up four goals to Chicago on just 11 shots and seven goals to San Jose on 43 shots. Holtby’s break will also be shorter given that he will be participating in the All-Star festivities. Pheonix Copley has been a dependable backup this season, but he certainly seems to be showing some cracks the last few games. He has given up 14 goals in his last three appearances, one of which was only half a game in Chicago. It’s been a long time since Washington has lost seven straight The last time the Caps lost seven straight games was in January 2014. From Jan. 12 to Jan. 24, the Caps went 0-5-2 in Adam Oates’ second and last season behind the bench. That streak was particularly messy as Washington had three goalies on the roster -- Holtby, Philipp Grubauer and Michal Neuvirth -- and all three played during that stretch. What should concern Caps fans the most is that not only was that the last time Washington lost seven straight, it was also the last time it missed the playoffs. Toronto could really use this game too For any optimists out there thinking maybe the Leafs will be looking ahead to the break and may just mentally take this game off, that’s not going to happen. Toronto needs this game about as much as the Caps do. The Maple Leafs have lost four of their last five and seven of their last 10. Given what hockey means in Toronto, you can guess what the mood is like in that city. To say people are panicking would be grossly underselling it. When the puck drops on Wednesday, two desperate hockey teams will be facing off. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127494 Washington Capitals

Evgeny Kuznetsov is embracing his D.C. sports friendship with Bradley Beal

By Bob Trosset January 23, 2019 10:23 AM

Washington Capitals sixth-year forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has a unique D.C. sports friendship you may not have known existed. We've seen similar cross-team bonds form before in this city. Remember the Tom Wilson-Chris Thompson jersey exchange? Kuznetsov has formed a similar bond with Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal, and the blossoming friendship isn't all that new. "Been to his house a couple times," Kuznetsov told Sports Illustrated. "Big fan of hockey." Just one calendar year separates the two respective stars and both have been seen attending each other's games from time to time. Beal was most recently in the house for the Washington's game against San Jose Tuesday night inside Capital One Arena. Kuzy hopes to cultivate a similar friendship with D.C. United star Wayne Rooney in the future to pick his brain on business-related aspects of being a professional athlete. "I will for sure when I get older," he told SI, "when I am not shy." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127495 Washington Capitals

Capitals’ losing streak extends to six in stunning OT loss to Sharks

By J.J. Regan January 22, 2019 9:49 PM

The Capitals were one second away from snapping a five-game losing streak, but instead saw that streak extended to six games as Evander Kane scored with one second left to force overtime and Tomas Hertl scored the winner in a 7-6 overtime thriller. Here are five reasons the Caps lost. 1. Evander Kane’s miracle buzzer-beater The Caps clung to a 6-5 lead late in the third when Kane found the puck on his stick in front of the net and shot it in with just one second remaining on the clock. Just one second away from claiming two points and ending a miserable five-game losing streak, Kane’s goal forced overtime and helped extend Washington’s streak to six. 2. Hertl’s hatty Ovechkin netted a hat trick for the home team, but Hertl matched him with three goals of his own to win the game. Hertl scored two power-play goals, including one in the third to pull the Sharks within one. He also scored the overtime winner to crush the Caps’ hopes of snapping their losing streak. 3. 12 seconds For a team that has lost five straight and looking for some confidence, you could not have drawn up a worse start to this game. A won faceoff for the Sharks went straight to Brent Burns at the blue line. He threw the puck towards the net and it bounced off John Carlson right to the stick of Joe Pavelski who backhanded it in. Braden Holtby had committed to the original shot and there was no way for him to recover leaving an empty net for Pavelski to shoot on. It took just 12 seconds for the Sharks to get on the boards. 4. Too many penalties You can’t give up six power plays in a game and live to talk about it. San Jose tied the game at 2 in the second period thanks to a power-play goal from Hertl who unleashed a one-timer from the slot to beat Holtby. In the third period, Washington took two different minor penalties and the Sharks cashed in on the second. The goal came from Hertl who unleashed a one-timer from the slot to beat Holtby. The two power-play goals looked almost identical. The second made the score 6-5, pulled San Jose within one of Washington and sparked the comeback. 5. The first minute of overtime For nearly the first minute of overtime, the Caps looked as dominant as a team can look. They would not allow the puck to get out of the Sharks’ zone and got a number of opportunities to finish the game including a 3- on-1 with Tom Wilson’s shot just deflecting wide. If the losing streak has taught Washington anything, it’s that they must take advantage of their opportunities. They didn’t finish the Sharks at the start of overtime and Hertl ended up with the game-winner. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127496 Washington Capitals draws that line really well where he keeps the team and coaches and stuff on our side. Because that can happen real quick, a divide between the goaltending department and the coaching staff and he keeps us kind Inside Braden Holtby’s collaboration with the Capitals’ goalie coach of tied together and working as a unit. That’s a big thing.” Said Murray: “Probably the foundation of any relationship is making sure that the athlete believes in you as a human being first and trusts you and By Chris Kuc Jan 23, 2019 that’s kind of been the way we began it and built it from there. It’s been growing nicely ever since.”

The goalie and coach share a bond that has been cultivated from The media can wait. working closely on and off the ice. So can a shower and postgame meal. “It’s definitely a partnership, it’s not at all a dictatorship and it’s better that way because you can go back and forth,” Murray said. “We both see Win or lose, the scene in the Capitals dressing room following each start things sometimes the same and sometimes he has a different point of by Braden Holtby is the same: The veteran netminder — often drenched view so it’s great to go back and forth because he’s a smart guy and I get in sweat and with his pads still on — sits at his stall and huddles with better from working with him for sure.” goaltending coach Scott Murray. The dynamic between Holtby and Murray has been a plus for Todd While some of his teammates conduct interviews and others go through Reirden, who has one less thing to worry about in his first season as their postgame rituals, Holtby takes a few minutes with Murray to discuss head coach. what transpired over the course of the previous three hours while it is still fresh in their minds. “Scott has really been able to connect with Braden and form a great working relationship and you can see success has followed,” Reirden “We try and get a feel right after the game while emotions are still high,” said. “Braden was a huge reason why we were able to win the Stanley Holtby said. “We’re trying to analyze it right after to get that perspective Cup and to me that goes back to how the relationship between the goalie and then later you Watch video and then you come back and converse coach and the goalie is. It’s a different player to deal with, that position, the next day. So it’s kind of three different perspectives to try and gain as so I’m happy to have (Murray) on our staff.” much knowledge with your game.” Throughout the history of the NHL, goalies have notoriously been viewed The postgame conversations with Capitals goalies began with Mitch upon as different — having a frozen puck careening toward your head at Korn, Murray’s predecessor who followed coach Barry Trotz to the 100 mph tends to make one, let’s say, quirky — but that is a concept Islanders last summer. Holtby and Murray try to avoid in the Capitals’ dressing room. “After a game you’re usually being forced out to talk to media so you “You can have that idea in your head that goalies are just different and don’t have much time but Mitch said, ‘no, we’re learning here, this is for it’s one of those stigmas that you try to keep breaking down,” Holtby said. us,’” Holtby said. “It’s one of those important steps in trying to get better.” “It’s a different position and it’s almost like a different sport because Murray finds the discussions a productive part of his job during his first everyone is getting amped up for a game and you’re getting mellow season as the No. 1 man in charge of the Capitals’ goaltending corps. because you have to react and everyone else can initiate. Guys like Scott can tie those two together and get the respect of the guys. I want to be “It’s more just to recap whether it’s the game as a whole or certain plays treated as one of the guys and I want to treat everyone else that way too. that happen out on the ice,” Murray said. “We kind of put closure on the I don’t want special privileges or to be left alone. When you have a team game so that Braden can think about it, digest it and then move on to you need to have that cohesiveness.” what the next opponent is going to do. After a rough go of late, Holtby sports a 17-11-3 record, 3.04 goals- “He’ll look at certain situations and talk about how he played it and if he against average and .905 save percentage, with the numbers good should have made some adjustments or physically what maybe his body enough to have him selected to the 2019 NHL All-Star Game to be was doing. We’ll talk about both physical and mental aspects of what played this weekend in San Jose. Holtby had to alter some plans for the happened.” All-Star break after being a bit of a surprise selection to the Metro Division roster — his fourth All-Star Game honor. There are few players in the NHL who crave knowledge and study the game more than the 29-year-old Holtby, who has never rested on his “I was a little shocked by it,” Holtby said. “But everyone knows the way laurels, including after winning the Vezina Trophy in 2016 and then the All-Star Game is set up with needing a player from every team, some helping the Capitals capture the Stanley Cup last season despite briefly of the best guys get left off. It’s an honor that way. It’s obviously a very losing his starting job to then-backup Philipp Grubauer. tough thing to choose these teams and, for myself, I feel like there are other guys on our team that deserve it more than me this year. That’s the “I learned a lot last year, both the way we play and the way the game is way it is and I’m just happy to represent the Capitals.” going,” Holtby said. “I was getting frustrated with the fact more goals were going in regardless of how I was playing. And that can be a learning The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 experience. You just have to step back sometimes and analyze it realistically and just be confident in your game, confident in what you’re doing with the goaltending department here. “Sometimes you feel great and sometimes the puck just goes in. You make a small mistake and it ends in the net. Little things are going to happen in every single game whether you’re good or bad. Those ones you kind of let go. For the most part, I’ve felt pretty confident with the way things are going but there’s obviously still a lot of room for improvement.” Helping Holtby and backup Pheonix Copley improve is Murray, who has been with the Capitals’ organization since 2013. While 2018-19 is Murray’s first season as the head goaltending coach, he worked at the NHL level in 2017-18 while Korn took on more of a behind-the-scenes role, and the transition has been a smooth one. “We kind of planned for this so Scott has gradually increased his exposure to Holtby,” general manager Brian MacLellan said. “They’ve had a chance over the last couple of years to build a relationship so Scott wasn’t coming in cold. I think that’s been a good thing for us.” The 40-year-old Murray, who also spent four seasons as goaltending coach for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL after playing hockey at the collegiate level at Lake Superior State, is part coach, friend and confidant to Holtby, and the two have formed a close bond. “If you know Scotty, he’s not hard to build a friendship with,” Holtby said. “He has a great personality, he’s a great people person in that sense and then he’s very knowledgeable of the game and very open-minded. He 1127497 Winnipeg Jets slower, less skilled and more expensive despite having the best player on the planet in McDavid fall into his lap.

Trading Taylor Hall for pennies on the dollar. Trading Jordan Eberle for Patient Chevy rolled past Oilers' high-speed wreck on way to NHL pennies on the dollar. Trading the draft pick that turned into Mathew success Barzal for a bust of a defenceman. Signing the sloth-like Milan Lucic to an absolute boat anchor of a contract. Repeatedly failing to address needs on the blue line by signing pylons instead of puck-movers. Cycling By: Mike McIntyre | Posted: 01/23/2019 7:00 PM through head coaches. Repeatedly failing to address needs in goal. The list goes on. The level of incompetence and mismanagement is staggering, really. OPINION And despite cutting ties with Chiarelli, the damage is already done. There's no quick fix in store for the Oilers. Not even Houdini could help At first glance, Kevin Cheveldayoff and Peter Chiarelli appear to have them escape the mess they're currently in. plenty in common. That's not to say Cheveldayoff has been perfect. There have been Both were hired to lead teams in lucrative Canadian markets after missteps along the way — the Steve Mason signing and subsequent experiencing success with their previous employers. Cheveldayoff as the trade along with Joel Armia to free up cap space being the most recent assistant general manager of the 2010 Stanley Cup-champion Chicago example — but none have been of the devastating, long-lasting variety. Blackhawks, and Chiarelli as the architect of the 2011 Stanley Cup- champion Boston Bruins. Yes, he got lucky when former captain Andrew Ladd turned down a lucrative contract extension to remain in Winnipeg during the 2015-16 Both were the beneficiaries of big-time luck when the draft lottery ping season — rumoured to be six years for $36 million. Given Ladd's rapid pong balls bounced the right way and gifted them franchise players in decline in play since signing with the New York Islanders, that's a move Connor McDavid (first overall in 2015) and Patrik Laine (second overall in that, in hindsight, could have been Lucic-like for the Jets. 2016). Proving once again that sometimes the deals you don't make are better Both felt mounting pressure and even calls for their ouster from than the ones you do. A sentiment Chiarelli likely wishes he'd adopted. increasingly frustrated fan bases as years of disappointment piled up. #FireChiarelli hashtags on social media in Edmonton, It's fun to wonder what the Jets and Oilers might look like had #WhatHasChevyDone hashtags in Winnipeg. Cheveldayoff and Chiarelli switched places. But that's where the similarities end. Given his track record, there's a good chance Chiarelli would have shipped the likes of Scheifele and Hellebuyck and Morrissey out of town Because while Chiarelli was given the boot late Tuesday night by an when they didn't immediately make an impact after turning pro. Edmonton Oilers team once again near the basement in the NHL standings, Cheveldayoff is enjoying life from the penthouse as his As for the Oilers, it's now clear that some Cheveldayoff-style patience Winnipeg Jets appear poised to make another deep playoff run in the could have gone a long way for this once-proud franchise. spring. It's hard to believe that Chiarelli seemed to have his team on the right How these two ended up on such different paths should serve as a track after the Oilers snapped a 10-year playoff drought in 2016-17, cautionary tale for executives across the NHL. beating San Jose in the first round before losing in seven games to Anaheim. That run now appears to be a blip on the radar following a 25- Where Chiarelli hit a bump in the road, stepped on the gas and then point setback last year, followed by more disappointment this season. plunged his team right off a cliff, Cheveldayoff took the Jets on a longer, safer route. Sure, there were some potholes along the way, but at least Meanwhile, rumblings about Cheveldayoff's job security were getting everyone arrived intact and there was no smouldering wreckage left louder around these parts following that same season, in which Winnipeg behind. failed to qualify for the post-season for the fifth time in six seasons under his watch. Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55), Patrik Laine (29) and Jacob Trouba (8) and Josh Morrissey (44) are part of a young Jets core that is the envy But the seeds planted Cheveldayoff finally took root last year as the Jets of the league. went on to finish second overall in the NHL with a franchise-record 52 wins and 114 points, then went three rounds into the playoffs before The so-called draft-and-develop model may not always be the most losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final. exciting or produce instant results, but playing the long game has certainly paid off. Cheveldayoff was a finalist for GM of the year, and there's a good chance he could be nominated again this season with the Jets currently leading The Jets are now stacked with the type of talent and depth that most the Central Division and near the top of the overall standings. teams dream of. They are no one-hit wonder, instead built for sustained success. As one of the youngest teams in the league, there is still plenty Yes, the #FireChiarelli movement finally got its wish this week. And of room for internal growth. The biggest concern right now is how to keep although it took a lot longer than many would have liked, the as much of the band together going forward while navigating the salary #WhatHasChevyDone question is finally being answered loudly and cap. clearly. Just look at the roster as currently constructed. Aside from the obvious Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 01.24.2019 gift that was landing Laine — a no-brainer pick after Toronto selected Auston Matthews first overall — Cheveldayoff and his staff have done a terrific job at identifying potential talent and bringing them into the fold, slowly but surely. Roster players in Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, Jacob Trouba, Josh Morrissey, Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, Adam Lowry, Andrew Copp, Jack Roslovic, Mason Appleton, Nic Petan and Sami Niku were all drafted by the organization. Very few, if any, were immediately viewed as "can't-miss" picks, either. All of them required some patience before they would make an impact. Mathieu Perreault, Brandon Tanev and Laurent Brossoit were important free-agent signings. Tyler Myers and Brendan Lemieux were acquired in trades. Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little and Dustin Byfuglien were key parts of the inherited core from Atlanta, locked up with long-term extensions. Chiarelli traded a first round draft pick for defenceman Griffin Reinhart. That draft pick turned in to New York Islanders young phenom Mathew Barzal. As for Chiarelli? He's repeatedly pushed the panic button in his attempt to get the Oilers back to their glory days. Instead, he accidentally hit "self- destruct" on numerous occasions while somehow making his team 1127498 Winnipeg Jets Should guys like Scheifele/Wheeler be playing less? I don’t think it’s going to hurt them come playoffs. They seem smart about knowing when to go, and winning that Central is pretty key to going the distance.

Bourne and Ates: How stars play smarter, not harder and being ‘bullish’ Ates: Any response that speaks well of Lionel Messi sits well with me. on Winnipeg’s Cup chances Also, speaking of going the distance, I have a distinct memory of asking Blake Wheeler about what it was like to get some rest between Minnesota and Nashville during last year’s playoffs. I can’t remember By Murat Ates Jan 23, 2019 how I phrased the lead-up but essentially, I asked if it was restorative not to have to be at his “peak” for a couple of days.

He looked me dead in the eyes and said without arrogance or irony: “I’m One of the distinct joys of writing for The Athletic has been discovering all ALWAYS at my peak.” In that moment, with Bryan Little laughing at my of the great talent we have spread out across the NHL. foolishness in the background, I believed him. The first time I read Alison Lukan discuss analytics with Columbus Blue Speaking of Nashville, I think Wheeler’s best 5-on-5 game of the season Jackets, I found a source of insight I wanted to use in my own work. came against the Predators last Thursday. He controlled play in all three When Pierre LeBrun came to Winnipeg during the playoffs and Eric zones and the Jets played one of their best games of the season as a Duhatschek visited us this fall, I did everything I could to soak in the result (their absolute best, in my opinion, was a 5-4 overtime win against wisdom of the greats. Unsurprising, behind-the-scenes tidbit: LeBrun and Tampa Bay in December.) He’s scored a ton of points on the power play Duhatschek both know more about wine than I ever expect to learn. and a few into empty nets of late, while Winnipeg has been very average Moving on. Every time Justin Bourne writes a “Systems Analyst” piece, I at 5-on-5. From an analytical perspective, I’d put more stock in 5-on-5 quietly obsess over it and read it at least twice — once for my own results because so much of the game takes place in that state, plus they enjoyment, and then I scroll back up and prepare to take notes. I’ll go tend to be more repeatable. But have you ever been part of a team that through those pieces as many times as needed to study how the former gets concerned about how it wins? Should they be? Or is it simply a Toronto Marlies video coach’s analysis applies to the team I cover: the source of pride to have a few different ways of earning points. Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets. Bourne: Regarding the first point, I think the idea there may be that it’s It started with this breakdown of how NHL teams create offence at 5-on- not that he’s not trying to be at his best at any point, he’s just doing what 5. The Jets switch sides in the offensive zone as Bourne describes in this he believes maximizes his “peak.” Not to mention, some players are just piece all of the dang time. Then, towards the end of last season, Bourne so talented these concepts (intentional in-shift rest) aren’t necessarily wrote the best analysis of Patrik Laine’s howitzer that I have seen on any conscious, they just … do it. They do whatever they think is best, and site. In the playoffs, he described how Winnipeg beat the Wild and what they’ve been proven right over and over and over. And finally on this, the Jets needed to do to beat Vegas. Here we have a guy at The Athletic Wheeler and Scheifele are two of three guys on the Jets (with Little) for whom breaking down video for professional hockey players was signed through 2024. There are only two other players who have deals literally his job. beyond this season right now, and both expire in 2021. Which is to say, they’re pretty comfortable with their spots on the club, pretty comfortable Bourne played college, ECHL, and AHL hockey before becoming an AHL with the team’s spot in the division, you’re not gonna see a ton of coach and then got better and better at writing until we stole him for his desperation right now. insights. This kind of expertise is exactly why I was thrilled to corner him for a lengthy conversation 100 percent dedicated to the team you’ve And yes, I’ve been on teams that care how they win, and in my opinion, come here to read about: the Winnipeg Jets. that’s more important than wins/losses in the regular season (provided your team is accruing enough points to think that way). The best coaches Murat Ates: So the first thing I want to ask you is about star players and I ever played for didn’t come into the room after a 2-1 loss and default to how much to play them. I think we can agree that the Jets have been a yelling or default to celebrating after our 3-2 win. They came back to very good hockey team so far this season – they enter their bye-week what’s now a punchline in pro sports – trust the process. You’d rather sitting first in the Central and Dom Luszczyszyn gives Winnipeg the third play well and lose because if you play well more often than not, you’re best odds at Stanley. going to win more often than not. Most coaches today accept that, and I’d say that’s one of the bigger shifts in sports mentality over the past Winnipeg, in my mind, is enjoying a “double-peak” of sorts — Blake decade or so, even with fans. Wins and losses used to be all that Wheeler (61 pts, 48 games) is still capable of dominance while Mark matters. Now we learn more from a single game than who got the two Scheifele (59 points, 48 games) to my mind, has become their most points and who didn’t. (Though of course, you’ll happily take a few points important player. But they play so much — and they do it at all three away from poorly played games just to balance things out.) strengths. Ates: “Trust the process” has been said so many times in Winnipeg Among forwards, Scheifele is third in ice time per game and Wheeler is circles that it’s become something of a meme in Jets Twitter. As 10th. And there have been games where the team appears to coast for something of a nerd, I find that to be a bit encouraging, actually. When long stretches before trying to win the game in a shift or two. They’d Wheeler talks about “offence” in terms of quality chances or Maurice never admit fatigue to the media but, in your experience, how much is too drops “expected goals” into his postgame responses, I feel like there is much? When I watch and wonder if Scheifele and Wheeler are exactly the awareness you’re talking about. I want to ask you about sometimes sandbagging/conserving energy, am I just imagining things? players on the other side of the roster. When Nic Petan entered training Or, with their minutes, do you think there could be something real there? camp with a non-waivers-exempt contract, I thought his NHL spot was all Justin Bourne: I think you’ve caught on to a very real thing here. I but assured. His “process” numbers have been stronger in the NHL than obviously can’t relate to the level at which those guys do it, but I’ve lead the man who’s taken his spot, Brendan Lemieux. Obviously, these guys both junior and college hockey teams in scoring in the past and dealt with have very different styles to their game – Petan more cerebral, Lemieux the ice time that comes with that. I certainly had games where – it’s not more aggressive. You’ve scouted these guys for the Marlies – what’s the that I wasn’t trying, but I wanted to be smart about burning myself out, difference between them in your mind and who is harder for a team to knowing I’d be asked to do more later in the game regardless of how any play against? mid-game shift went. Bourne: There’s a really tough thing when you’re a coach/manager and You’re almost lurking, waiting for a chance to justify using the making decisions between players, and that decision is “long-term afterburners. Were it a playoff game, things might be different, but upside” versus “what helps us win tonight?” The American League is certainly in game 49 of the year or whatever, constantly going 100 littered with players who scored a ton in junior, are a bit undersized, and percent doesn’t even really make a ton of sense for players like that. One are waiting for their physical build or abilities to adapt to playing against of my favourite related topics to this: in professional soccer your average the biggest, best players in the world. Sometimes that never happens. I player runs like 7-9.5 miles. Lionel Messi runs around five because he’s use Seth Griffith as an example of a guy who can be unstoppable in the smart, he conserves, he takes better angles and routes, so when it’s his AHL and just couldn’t do it. Some guys like Frank Vatrano seemed like time to shine, he can SHINE. Sometimes I think we mistake offensive they could go the same way, then suddenly it clicks. When it clicks, smarts for laziness. you’re laughing — Vatrano now has 16 goals before February and is playing on the top line in Florida with Barkov and Dadonov. (Ironically, Griffith is in the Jets system with the Moose now and has just six goals in whiteboard that he didn’t think to check. Guy had a tattoo appointment. 33 games.) He was already on thin ice, so he got sent down before dinner the same day. Point being, if it clicks for Petan, you’ve got another weapon. He’s an excellent player, talented as hell, can beat you in tons of clever ways. But Ates: LOL. A hockey career is temporary, ink lasts forever? That’s too you never know what you’re going to get, and when he’s off, well, teams funny. And sad for the guy. can sleepwalk their way past him. As you know, Lemieux doesn’t do much sleepwalking. He’s a honey badger, and you know regardless of Bourne: Haha, yeah I guess. But there really is a requirement to take the the linemates, game score, or situation in general, he’s going to be job seriously. The best and brightest can mess around a little bit, but hunting pucks and causing a ruckus and bringing your team energy. To those fringe jobs are basically the Hunger Games for everyone else. me Lemieux is the more consistent guy, Petan has the higher ceiling and Ates: On the note of the “best and brightest,” I want to ask you about one lower floor. So, that’s up to the Jets each day – do we believe Petan can of my favourite headlines that never went live on our site. “Patrick Laine’s get there, so we should give him the opportunity to succeed? Or are we dumb-good shot is going to win him the Rocket Richard Trophy.” What’s happy taking a pretty good player and knowing what we’ll get most nights the story there – and, just as vitally: I have a lot of pet theories about in Lemieux? what kind of player he’s most ideally suited to. I’m going to keep my Ates: Your point about projection is a compelling one. To me, Lemieux is mouth shut but what do you think Laine needs to get him going again? a guy who has some pretty big holes in his game right now. The I mean, if you look at his last goal, this front-footed one-timer off a forechecking routes he takes strike me as more about laying a hit than bouncing puck that no one in Winnipeg saw before it beat John Gibson. getting the puck back and his possession numbers are not good. That Needless to say, his dumb-good shot is alive and well. said, I get the sense that Winnipeg’s coaching and management believe that, long term, Lemieux is a player. Bourne: It is most impressive that the guy has 25 goals in 48 games at 20 years old and we both agree he “needs to get going.” But yeah, he’s Other than a preference for sandpaper, that’s the biggest reason I can got two goals in his last 16 games and should get two every 16 minutes. think of for his prominence with the team. Plus, as much as I can tell you In my estimation, he has the biggest “wheelhouse” of anyone not named his possession numbers are bad, I can’t tell you if they’ll get better. Adam Ovechkin, though it might include Ovi. He can take a pass a foot ahead Lowry, for example, came into the NHL as a guy who absolutely could of his front foot and mash it, a foot behind, it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t not drive play – now he does it against the NHL’s best players every need to be moving, doesn’t need a wind-up, he just needs the puck in a night. soft area of the ice so he can shoot it. To me, he needs two things: That’s not me saying Lemieux will become Lowry – personally, that idea linemates who get the puck back, and linemates who can find him, strikes me as absurd – but I’m just trying to acknowledge the limitations because he finds holes in the offensive zone very well. of pointing at his weaknesses today. It’s not a complete, long-term Ates: I tried to get Laine to explain how he took that one, by the way. “I assessment. know how to shoot it. It just comes naturally.” Thanks, Patrik. I can totally There’s another thing about these two guys that I’m curious to get your do that now. insight on. Back in September, before the tragic passing of his father, Bourne: Haha, yep, that’s a best-selling tutorial video waiting to happen. Petan looked like he was having all kinds of fun in training camp. He was joking with his teammates, ribbing rookies and veterans alike, and Ates: To be honest, I was hoping you’d say something wildly different staying on the ice to play around with guys when practice was over. than my own pet theory so I could argue with you a bit. The truth is I see Lemieux is largely the same, if a little more abrasive (in a friendly way.) it the same way. I think the single most important issue is that Laine He’s known for sticking around at the end of practice to tip pucks with needs to spend more time in the offensive zone than he has. He doesn’t Blake Wheeler and I’ve seen him get into shooting competitions (and do that by himself, so he needs a puck hound or two in my opinion and bets!) with Laine and others. the rest will take care of itself. He does find soft ice – I agree with you – and, for as much criticism as he can get, even on the powerplay, he My question here is: when you’re a fringe guy, does all this probes lanes plenty often enough for my liking. Little and Perreault can extracurricular stuff genuinely impact whether you can squeeze into the be those guys and Scheifele plus Wheeler have worked in the past, too. lineup or not on gameday? I mean, coaches are people and this has to Moving forward: heading into the trade deadline: what are this team’s resonate at least a little bit, no? weaknesses? How do you line it up against Toronto or Tampa Bay?

Bourne: Yeah, and this is something that probably translates to many, Bourne: Well, that’s a tough spot when you’re talking about a team that’s many fields of work. At some point, as a coach/manager/boss, you’re first in their division and chasing down first in the conference. They’re not genuinely not sure about who’s going to provide your club more value. weak anywhere per se, but the problem in the playoffs is, you don’t need The conversation we’re having about Lemieux and Petan, the coaching to be better than average, you need to be among the best in a lot of staff has likely had too. And commonly, there isn’t a consensus, and not areas. Do they have the best goaltending? Probably not. It’s quite good, just “not a consensus” – sometimes individual people, maybe the highest but a couple teams have better. Do they have the best bottom six ranking ones, can’t really decide even for themselves. And the smartest forwards? How much can their bottom pair handle against the best teams ones are the ones who can admit that and not just pick a random horse (and even, is their top pair as good as the top duo on the best teams)? to ride and hope. Every single team that has Cup aspirations has roster doubts, particularly Those little things make a difference in two ways. One, if the trainers are in the salary cap era. You can’t be perfect everywhere. If they could grab complaining because one player is always staying on the ice late and a little depth at the deadline without sacrificing anything off the roster that working out late after practice so they have to wait to do laundry … but might help their odds a bit. But in general, I’m very bullish on the Jets. as a coach, you want to reward that player’s behaviour. I believe those behaviours eventually reward themselves (I’ve mentioned the idea of the Ates: Hmm. OK. We’re getting short on time so I have two more for you, aggregation of marginal gains before — here’s “On the early comforts of rapid-fire. being a top prospect in the minors and how quickly that window can 1) Wheeler and Scheifele play together all of the time and have said out close.” If you’re going to pick a horse to ride, the guy putting in the extra loud that they like to but I’m not convinced that’s “optimal.” To what work seems like a good bet, no? extent do stars have the power to choose linemates? The opposite happens just as frequently, BTW. There are plenty of times 2) The numbers didn’t say Brossoit would be particularly good but he’s 10 minutes after practice where a coach remembers something he been phenomenal. We’re still dealing with a tiny sample, math-wise, but wanted to tell the team, and one guy has already showered and left, in the room, how long does it take to earn trust? And what is trust worth? somehow. That’s a really bad look – pro hockey doesn’t require many hours on practice days, so you better have a darn good reason to be Bourne: 1) I’d say very little — in reality, it should be none — but these running out of the rink. are the guys who drive the bus, who have long-term deals, who fit into the “as they go, we go” mold. You’d like to keep them happy. In sum, you Ates: Is there a first-person story there, Coach Bourne? consider their interests. I also think there’s a level of skilled player that Bourne: Without naming names, the one that sticks out to me is a guy elite players need to play with to get the most out of their abilities. They that left the rink sooner than the timeframe I mentioned above and there just think the game so differently (here in Toronto, I think Tavares/Marner was a late-addition video meeting post-practice that was written on the showed that in the first half), they often need someone else who does, too. That said, I think there are enough talented forwards on the Jets that nobody is going to be asked to play alongside a couple tomato cans if they shuffle the deck.

2) I would say the start he’s had has been enough to earn the benefit of the doubt on the trust score sheet, but guys probably still need to see more to be 100 percent sure this guy is the real deal. As for what that matters, I’m not sure all that much unless the guys really believe their goalie sucks (they’ll run out of position to try to take away shots, get passed around), or think he’s awesome (will stay in their position and trust keeper to stop basic shots).

Ates: Let me end by following up on your “bullish” comment.

It’s funny, in Winnipeg I perceive myself as more critical of the Jets than the average person.

The construction of Winnipeg’s second line — largely out of an insistence that Wheeler/Scheifele stay stapled to each other at the top, in my opinion — strikes me as an unnecessary weakness. I don’t like Ben Chiarot as a top-four defenceman on a Cup contending team. I’ve pointed out how much easier it is to create chances from the middle against Winnipeg this season than last (they’ve gone from top-tier to mid- pack, defensively.)

And yet, despite all of that, I’m also “bullish” on the Jets. Nashville will remain an absolute war and Vegas/Calgary are very, very good. But Winnipeg has too many strong pieces not to be considered a contender in the West. When it comes to “picking your horses” to ride and to hope with, the Jets are almost fully loaded. And they project to have cap space to work with at the deadline. In the years to come, Winnipeg will struggle to keep all of the talent they have. I think we’re all sure of that. But right now, for one more season, it looks like they’re pointed up.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127499 Vancouver Canucks pucks at the wall. And their Ds were coming down and we just couldn’t get by them — it changed the momentum of the game.

“We need to stick with want we want to do. In a game where we’re not Canucks Post Game: Hurricane warning, health isn’t wealth, Markstrom’s playing our best, keep it simple. Chip pucks and out and just chip away at lament, El Nino arrives it. We didn’t want to open it up like we did and they buried a few in that 10-minute span that kind of put the game away. We have to come back ready to go and with where we are in the standings, we have to be Ben Kuzma excited about it and relish the challenge to play in the playoffs.” That didn’t seem to be the case Wednesday. The Canes pinched, won battles, threw pucks at the net and got goals to win in Vancouver for the Points to ponder on a sobering night in which the Hurricanes proved that first time since 1999. speed kills — and so does shooting from here, there and everywhere — as they took it to the Canucks in a convincing 5-2 decision Wednesday in “They’re a quick team and outplayed us,” admitted Sutter. “It’s coming the second half of back-to-back games for Carolina that exposed foot out and proving it and being more engaged early in the game and not speed and decision-making warts for the locals as they limped into their getting frustrated when we’re not getting our chances. We get up in the break: second period and have a lull where we’re turning pucks over. We weren’t at our best and we have to take a deep breath.” Hurricane Warning: They shoot, they score, you lose You simply can’t blame this one on Markstrom Carolina came as advertised and the Canucks didn’t heed the storm warning. Three of the first five shots on Jacob Markstrom were of the Grade A variety. The rejuvenated Canes entered the night averaging a league-best 35.8 shots per outing and they piled up 34 more to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 There was a save on Aho on a partial break — after he turned Pouliot advantage in the second period with two goals in a 25-second span and inside out — and then stopping Niederreiter’s backhand in the slot. That another less than three minutes later. was followed by an Aho backhander and Niederretier finding iron and it was clear that the Canes’ top line came to play and that the Canucks It wasn’t just the amount of goals, it was how the Hurricanes pounced on could be in trouble. And it only got worse in the second period. the Canucks. They couldn’t contain the Canes and they couldn’t get pucks out of their own zone. And considering the manner in which the “It wasn’t out best period for sure,” said Markstrom, who finished with 29 Canucks had been able to string together a 3-0-2 run despite slow starts, saves. “They had a lot of chances and I’ve got to come up with a couple a struggling power play and great goaltending, this was like a smack-in- of saves, but they forechecked hard and were all over us in the second the-face wake-up call. and won most of the battles and it paid off. After all, they allowed momentum to shift less than two minutes after “They shoot a lot and shots create shots and rebounds and a lot of bang- assuming a 2-1 lead on a tic-tack-toe sequence between Elias bang plays and we weren’t ready for that. They wanted these two points Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Sven Baertschi that will find the highlight more than we did. reels. The Canucks might want to burn the rest of the tape. “We know we’ve got to play a lot better if we want to be in the (playoff) First, it was Derrick Pouliot failing to make a simple clear up the wall. The talks. It’s not going to get any easier Canucks lost a board battle and Greg McKegg was all alone in the slot. Then it was Alex Edler making a clearing gaffe up the wall, and after Niederreiter finds mojo with fast-paced Canes another lost battle, the newly-acquired Nino Niederreiter took a Sebastian Niederreiter and countryman Baertschi had an extended post-game Aho feed for the first of his two goals. conversation outside the dressing rooms and the newest member of the Derrick Pouliot skates past as Hurricane Dougie Hamilton jumps against Canes couldn’t stop smiling. After playing in Minnesota’s more stifling the boards after scoring in the second period. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG defence-first system — the Wild are 18th in shots per game — Niederreiter looks reborn. If that wasn’t bad enough, Teuvo Teravainen was allowed to thread a pass from behind the net to a wide open and pinching Dougie Hamilton. He scored 28 seconds into Sunday’s outing in Edmonton during a 7-4 romp and less than 11 minutes later, the winger had two goals in the first “It wasn’t very good,” understated Bo Horvat. “We gave ourselves a period. He was acquired Thursday from the Wild in exchange for winger chance in the second period and right after that, we took our foot off the Victor Rask. Niederreiter played with Baertschi in Portland of the WHL gas and gave up way too many Grade A opportunities in our slot and and has joined Aho and Justin Williams to form a formidable first line in Marky had no chance. We’ve got to start playing better in front of him. Carolina. “We definitely haven’t been our best the last three games and we have to Niederreiter, 26, had nine goals in 46 games with Minnesota and Rask, be a lot better coming out of the break if we’ve going to make a run for it. 25, just one in 26 games with Carolina. Niederreiter is a $5.25 million US Over the break, it’s going to be in the back of our minds that we weren’t cap hit the next three years and Rask is on the books for three more at good enough and we’re going to have to push that much harder. $4 million annually. They both needed a change of scenery and Niederreiter has four goals in four games. “We knew they were going to come out fast and get lots of shot and we didn’t execute.” He was so into Wednesday’s game that he had eight shots, 10 attempts and even got away with an elbow to the mug of Antoine Roussel in the Said Travis Green: “It wasn’t just the second period, we struggled against third period. The Canucks’ agitator went bonkers, chased Niederreiter their quickness. I was open and honest when I said our last two games and was assessed cross-checking and unsportsmanlike minors and a 10- weren’t great. It’s not our best stretch of games and we’ve struggled minute misconduct. against the quickness of the last three teams (Carolina, Detroit, Buffalo). “It’s a good opportunity for him, a little bit of a fresh start,” Baertschi said “It affects your game. You’re a little late getting to pucks and they’re on of Niederreiter. “I’ve been watching him for a long time and there was top of you and you’ve got to be able to make passes and get open for something missing within the last half year or so in Minnesota. He ended passes. And you’ve got to be able to handle the pressure.” up going to a good team. He’s a sniper. He’s got a well-rounded game and definitely a shooter first, but if you put him with the right players, it’s What happened to roster health equalling wealth? hard to defend. There was really nothing to hang this loss on like injuries, fatigue or the “Even in Portland, we tried to one-up each other and that’s something schedule — no crutch of convenience to explain everything. that really helped me. Two guys from small towns in Switzerland are If winning solves everything, then losing exposes the ugly things. It was pretty much competing against each other. It wasn’t a rivalry, we kind of just one loss, but the disturbing trend of starting slow — especially pushed each other to do well.” against goalie Alex Nedeljkovic making his NHL debut — and being The Canucks should consider a change-of-scenery move for Nikolay outshot 11-4 before Niederreiter opened scoring, can’t keep happening. Goldobin. The winger has been scratched the last four games and six of The power play is now in a 1-for-21 funk and getting the puck out of the the last nine. If he’s isn’t part of the future on an expiring contract — defensive zone has turned into an adventure — especially in the second especially with his ongoing questionable play without the puck — why not period. move him and roll the dice with a forward in a similar circumstance? “We just couldn’t bring the puck out the way we wanted to,” said Brandon Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2019 Sutter. “Our Ds were working the corners and we were kind of punching 1127500 Vancouver Canucks One of many things the aggressive Hurricanes did well on this night was limit the Canucks’ breakout windows.

“They came super hard on us dmen,” Stecher said. Canucks at Night: Time to talk about defence The Canucks’ breakout looks for long passes as well as having the centre dropping deep to collect short passes off the defencemen. That Patrick Johnston creates targets for forecheckers and when done quickly and effectively, it creates nightmares for the defending team.

We saw that time and again for the Canucks. The McKegg goal, which That is not the kind of game you want to go into a nine-day break with on tied things up at 2, came directly off a failed breakout. your mind. Tip of the Cap to the Canes coaching staff who have the squad well The Canucks’ defence has been a story of improvement the last six prepared for the #Canucks breakout system, hitting them with the full- weeks or so. court press, taking away the half boards. The Canucks have absolutely zero answer for it right now, we'll see if they can adjust in the 3rd. Shots for the opponents from the key scoring areas in the slot were hard to come by. The forwards and defence had been working hard as a unit. — Darryl Keeping (@dkeeping) January 24, 2019 And then, Wednesday, it all fell apart. “That’s our game, getting on them,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told me post game. A quick Hurricanes squad kept the Canucks chasing and forced turnovers all over the ice. “We don’t want to play in our end,” he said with pure honesty. “We struggled with their quickness tonight,” Travis Green said post- “Forwards just worked.” game. Plus-minus is a flawed stat “If you’re a little late getting to pucks, quick teams are on top of you. It’s not just one area of your game, it affects all areas and you need to be Ben Hutton and Troy Stecher were plus-2. able to handle the pressure.” But in the shot attempts department, they were minus-12. That’s an ugly It’s not been a good stretch of games on the defensive end, he said. number from the duo who have each been very solid for much of the year. The Canucks gave up 39 shots to the Sabres last Friday and 37 to the Red Wings on Sunday. Wednesday, the tally was 34 for the Hurricanes, They did not have a good game but someone who only looked at but that was also after a third period that saw everyone dialled down a plus/minus might think otherwise. notch — other than the Roussel/Gudbranson incidents, of course. Boiling point Left side defence? Antoine Roussel wears his heart on his sleeve. Sometimes that presents That this was an ugly night for Derrick Pouliot doesn’t really need to be itself as frustration. repeated. Gudbranson goes for it That the left side defence spot on the bottom pairing is currently his by That’s not a great hit from Svechnikov. You can see why Gudbranson default is also obvious. Michael Del Zotto is gone. was so mad. You can see how the Juolevi plan was now likely to play out, but he’s not Andrei Svechnikov hits Erik Gudbranson who gets some mad and an option either. tries to get at the rookie. Looks like Gudbranson's night is done as he So, who’s behind him? Ashton Sautner in Utica has drawn praise from went down the tunnel to the locker room. There was a penalty on the play the Canucks in the past. against Carolina #Canucks pic.twitter.com/uRLJRJkOMp He suited up for five games last year. The Canucks re-upped him for two — Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) January 24, 2019 more years last spring. Playoff chase But he’s been out for more than a month now and could return in the next The Canucks’ pace has been a talking point for the past four seasons. week or two. It seems probable that he’ll get a look, given Jim Benning’s They’ve been very close to one another until roughly February. Then comments today on Sportsnet 650, referring to defencemen in Utica who things have always fallen apart. have been injured but were showing well. It doesn’t “feel” like this will happen this season — surely it’s the The other name would be Evan McEneny. He’s made a strong return Pettersson effect — but the team is playing on such a knife’s edge. since recovering from a devastating knee injury just over a year ago. Those who watch Utica with regularity have almost nothing but praise for By rough estimate, 88 points appears to be the minimum bar this season him. for the final playoff spot in the west. The Canucks will need 36 points from their final 31 games — yes, 18 wins — to reach that standard. Shots shots shots (By the way, 88 points is seven points below the minimum mark last “When we’re playing well, we get lots of shots. We don’t go in saying we season, so it feels more likely that the final playoff team could still have a need x number of shots,” Rod Brind’amour said after the game. 9 at the beginning of their final standings points tally.) The Hurricanes play fast hockey that leads to a ton of shots against — Getting 18 wins isn’t impossible, but it will be a challenge. and it wasn’t a surprise to the Canucks. When they return from the break, it’s a road trip to Colorado, “A team that has that many attempts, not just tonight but throughout the Philadelphia, Washington and Chicago. Then it’s home for Calgary and whole season, it’s a staple of their game,” Troy Stecher said. San Jose. “We talked about it before the game, we knew they were going to come Then there’s a three-gamer in California. out and be a really fast team,” Bo Horvat said. Just eyeballing, but it looks like four of those games are must-wins And yet…well they showed a lot of gaps in their game. (Philly, Chicago, Anaheim, Los Angeles). That means pulling another win The picture at the other end of the ice from the other five, and then also really needing to find another. Six wins in nine games would be quite the push. Five is the minimum, really. Not a good shot map for the Canucks. That takes things to Feb. 16, nine days out from the trade deadline. The Canucks have been working hard to get more shots from on top of There’s four days off, then there are a pair of games at home before the the crease, but some nights that’s just no happening. It’s fitting that both deadline, against Arizona and the Islanders, which could truly make or of their goals came in tight, a good emphasis point. break the year, even if the Canucks do somehow pull out six wins in that nine game stretch. Getting there, though, takes work. It didn’t happen in this one. Quote of the night Those breakouts Troy Stecher on why things went south after pulling in to a 2-1 lead five minutes into the second. “Everybody cares but when you care a little too much you might try a little too much. The forwards got on the dmen for not moving the puck quick enough. But it’s a balance between the forwards and the dmen working together, I think there was some separation tonight.” Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127501 Vancouver Canucks Then there was the tic-tack-toe go-ahead goal by Baertschi, finishing off a passing play that started with Brock Boeser shifting the puck to Elias Pettersson who was to the right of the goal. Hurricanes 5 Canucks 2: Floodgates open for Canes in Vancouver Pettersson then calmly directly the puck across the top of the crease to an unchecked Baertschi, who put the puck hard into the back of the net. Patrick Johnston (Baertschi had had a similar chance on a previous shift, but Nedeljkovic made a strong kick save.)

Screen The Canucks are off for a week. Nedeljkovic never saw Leivo’s deflection. Antoine Roussel’s screen was That will either be a blessing — long enough that they can forget about so well-placed that the rookie netminder never really had a chance. how things went Wednesday night at Rogers Arena, a 5-2 loss to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes — or it will be a nightmare, since they will Nedeljkovic leaned to his left, looking around Roussel to catch Stecher have to think about this game, one against a team that had played the with the puck. Stecher waited long enough that when he released the night before, until they play next, a week Friday in Denver. shot-pass towards Leivo, the goaler couldn’t track the puck and only realized the puck was goal-bound as it fluttered past his ear. After another quiet first period for the Canucks, it all went wrong for the home team, who conceded five goals to the Hurricanes and none were Rookie goalie about bad luck: they were all cases of bad, bad defending. Nedeljkovic started his first-ever NHL game against the Canucks. The The Canucks did manage to pot two of their own in the middle frame — Hurricanes had the young Ohioan in the lineup because Petr Mrazek they led 2-1 after 5:14 of the second — but the Hurricanes then made played Tuesday night in Calgary and Curtis McElhinney stayed home in mincemeat of the Canucks. Raleigh, N.C. with a knee issue. Both Canucks goals, by Josh Leivo and Sven Baertschi, were lovely night pieces of work, but their memories had faded by the time the second The Canucks recognized local Indigenous peoples before the game on period was over. The Hurricanes opened the scoring on the power play, Wednesday and had former Canuck Gino Odjick on hand, along with with new acquisition Nino Neiderreiter whacking home a rebound, his first Fred Sasakamoose, the first Indigenous person to appear in an NHL of two on the night, less than two minutes in the second. game. The Canucks got their two. Then the floodgates opened: Carolina scored “It was amazing, nice to see the support, I’m really happy the Canucks four unanswered goals, seizing control of the game. honoured the first nations community around Vancouver,” Odjick said. Grant McKegg tied it up after the Canucks failed repeatedly to clear, a Leaders and ceremonial drummers from the Musqueam, Squamish and minute and a half after Baertschi put the Canucks in front. Niederreiter Tsleil-Waututh nations joined Odjick and Sasakamoose for a ceremonial got the visitors in front, as he found himself all alone on top of Jacob pre-game faceoff, while the Canucks made recognition of the land that Markstrom’s crease and fired the puck home. Rogers Arena sits upon as unceded territory of the three nations. Dougie Hamilton got the visitors’ fourth goal as a turnover on the boards “Tonight we play hockey upon the unceded territory of the Musqueam, saw Teuvo Teravainen whip the puck into the slot for the unchecked Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations,” PA announcer Al Murdoch said. Hamilton, who roofed another shot past Markstrom. “The three nations happy to share the land in the belief of the spirit of The fifth goal of the miserable period was picked up by Teravainen, who sport. The drums welcome, bless and cleanse the ice, creating good wired home off a 4-on-2. spirits.” Here’s what we learned: Tonight we play hockey upon the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, three nations happy to share the All those breakdowns land in the belief of the spirit of sport. pic.twitter.com/bQgXD8ZhzD The four even-strength goals for Carolina all came as a result of bad — Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 24, 2019 reads or poor clearances. Embellishment It was an especially rough period for the Derrick Pouliot-Erik Gudbranson pairing, who couldn’t clear the puck on both the Hamilton and McKegg You don’t see it called often on its own, but Canes captain Justin goals. The second Neiderreiter goal saw the Swiss winger elude Alex Williams was whistled in the second period for embellishment after the Edler. referees ruled he feigned being fouled by Stecher. The fourth goal came off an odd-numbered rush, one that developed as The Canucks defenceman was checking Williams closely and Williams the three Canucks forwards were caught deep in the Carolina end. obviously felt it was too close, but Stecher spread his arms, claiming innocence and the referee agreed. Remarkably, the pairing of Ben Hutton and Troy Stecher came away from the period with a plus-2 goal rating, despite the Hurricanes getting Williams plead his case but the referee wasn’t interested. 12 more shots attempts on the Canucks goal than the Canucks had on Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2019 the Hurricanes’ cage through two periods. 20 years! The last time the Carolina Hurricanes won in Vancouver was last century: Oct. 15, 1999. Kevin Weekes was in net for the Canucks and the lone goal was scored by Andrew Cassels. The Canes won 4-1, led by two goals from now-TSN analyst Jeff O’Neill. Tonight, the #Canes seek their first win in Vancouver since 10/15/99 — just more than five months before Andrei Svechnikov was born (0-7- 3). — Mike Sundheim (@MikeSundheim) January 23, 2019 Zzzzs in to Bzzzs After a four-shot first period that fit right in with the Canucks’ recent stretch of slow starts, the second period was a total reversal. The Canucks bagged two goals in the frame’s first five minutes. First there was the Leivo goal, a deflection of a shot-pass by Stecher. 1127502 Vancouver Canucks Jim Benning said Wednesday on Sportsnet 650 that he’s not going to mortgage the future to make the playoffs, which suggests he’s not moving one of the handful of prospects he has. The Canucks can’t really Reports say Canucks interested in Ferland. Who wouldn’t be? afford to let any young players of promise go, given they’re not bursting at the seams with them.

The most likely factor in all this is clear: where does the team stand in Patrick Johnston relation to the playoffs. They’re in the mix right now. They’re off for nine days after Wednesday’s tilt with Ferland’s Hurricanes. Then they’re on the road for a week. Will they still be in the playoff hunt then? Alexander Edler chases Michael Ferland in a 2017 game. Ferland was Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2019 traded by Calgary to Carolina in 2018. Logic, not just rumours, suggest the Canucks would love to add another top-six winger. There’s still a month to go until the trade deadline, but it’s really no surprise the NHL’s hot stove is already heating up. Two weeks, two reports of interest from NHL insiders. Last week, there was Elliotte Friedman floating the question, in his weekly 31 Thoughts column. This week, it was , speaking on TSN 1040 on Tuesday. “Top six player,” he said. “Tough as nails.” There’s little doubt, given the ongoing rotation through wingers on the top two lines — at practice Tuesday, Nikolay Goldobin was back in the mix skating with Bo Horvat, replacing Markus Granlund, though it turned out to be a smokescreen and he was scratched again on Wednesday — that the Canucks are looking for a solution to the question of who plays with Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson in the long run. Coming into the season, they hoped Goldobin would make himself a permanent fixture on Pettersson’s wing, opposite Brock Boeser. Certainly, he’s put up points, but his regular scratching since the turn of the new year has told a story on its own. The offensive talent is there, Travis Green has said, but to hold down a spot as a winger for Horvat or Pettersson, you need to show much, much more. Which brings us back to Ferland. It’s pretty clear he’s not going to re-sign with the Carolina Hurricanes, despite the fact he’s in the midst of a second-straight season of solid second-line production. (Which, by the way, he’s producing in third-line minutes.) The 26 year old carries a very affordable $1,750,000 cap hit this season. It’s expected he’ll have plenty of suitors this summer, should he get to free agency. And therein lies the rub. Trading for him is no guarantee he’ll stick around, unless you offer up more than he might expect to make on the open market. There are surely plenty of teams who would consider making such a move. There are plenty more who’d like to have a crack at him in free agency. Dreger suggested half the league might have an interest come summertime. That’s advantage: Ferland. That should put a chill into the potential buyers: the asset will almost certainly not be worth it, and that’s without even getting into his injury history. He missed nearly a month earlier this season with a concussion, the second of his career. And he missed Wednesday’s game against the Canucks with an undisclosed upper body injury. His rough-and-tumble style makes you wonder how common injuries are going to be in his story going forward. And let’s be honest: the Canucks’ margin for error on every move is very, very narrow. Ferland would have to be a slam dunk to sign in Vancouver if he were somehow landed in a trade. But, who what could they trade? The Canucks are hosting the draft this June; can you really imagine them trading away picks of value? They do currently hold a trio of of picks in this year’s sixth round, but trading for Ferland would take a lot more than that. There’s always the chance they deal Alex Edler (or even Chris Tanev) but given how thin the team is on the left side, it’s hard to see them moving Edler while they still have playoff hopes. Nikolay Goldobin may have some appeal in a trade, but again, he alone isn’t bringing back Ferland. 1127503 Vancouver Canucks Pettersson even surpassed the career under-20 regular season and playoff production of Henrik and Daniel Sedin. His 75 combined points (34-41) in 57 games topped Henrik, who had 61 points (14-47) in 63 Ben Kuzma: Horvat, Boeser know Pettersson doesn’t need pointers for games in 1999-2000, and Daniel, who compiled 56 points (24-32) over All-Star show 63 games in the same season. “I always believed in myself, but when I was growing up, I didn’t think about playing in the NHL,” admitted Pettersson. “I was just practising Ben Kuzma hard and always working and took it step by step and now I’m here living my dream. Nothing has come easy. I’ll continue working.

“I was doubted that I can’t play because I’m not a big person and too Calder Trophy front-runner has made a seamless transition to North skinny, but I come up with a way to use that as an (motivational) America advantage. So far, it’s been good.” Bo Horvat met Snoop Dogg. Brock Boeser met Sidney Crosby. Elias That’s an understatement. Pettersson will meet the microscope. Travis Green didn’t hesitate to play Pettersson in the middle because The NHL skills competition and All-Star Game this weekend in San Jose that’s where he projected and the Canucks coach wanted to get the are about an easygoing atmosphere to build the game’s brand, but it’s project up and running. And the player you see today isn’t the same one difficult to imagine Pettersson won’t approach it like he does everything Green watched during the rookie tournament in Penticton or at training else. camp in Whistler. He’ll be ramped up and probably nervous to meet the hockey elite “In Penticton, he was pretty average, and even in Whistler, he was kind gathered in California. of finding his way in the middle of the ice through exhibition,” said Green. “But every five to 10 games he’s made steps and continues to improve.” Horvat experienced that two years ago in Los Angeles and Boeser did the same last year in Tampa Bay. Sven Baertschi benefited from two WHL seasons in Portland after leaving his native Switzerland. He marvels at how quickly Pettersson has “It was a huge eye-opener for me,” recalled Horvat. “Seeing all the top grasped everything about North American life. players and how they prepare was definitely one of the coolest experiences of my life. I was super nervous because you have this sense “I didn’t expect him to come into camp and just tear some of our players of, ‘Do I deserve to be here?’ apart on the ice,” said the Canucks’ winger. I was: ‘Holy, what’s going on?’ “You’re kind of star-struck, but Petey will be great when he gets there.” “He’s strong on his skates and his stick is his weapon. It’s how quick he Boeser was beyond great a year ago. is with it — whether he’s lifting a stick or holding it down — and he’s a He won the accuracy competition by striking five lighted targets — and step ahead in his development. He seems like a grown man already.” breaking one — in 11.136 seconds to earn US$25,000. He was then Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2019 named most valuable player of the 3-on-3 tournament format with two goals for champion Team Pacific and became the first rookie since Mario Lemieux in 1985 to be named MVP. That was worth a $212,500 bonus in his contract, and Boeser pocketed the same amount for being named to the event and an additional $100,000 as member of the winning team. His all-star advice for Pettersson? “Enjoy the whole thing,” said Boeser, who entered that weekend with 24 goals in 46 games. “I don’t know how nervous he gets — he’s got a good head on his shoulders — but it’s just kind of humbling to be in the same room as all these older guys. “When I got to meet Crosby it was such an eye-opening experience and super fun.” Well, there were pre-accuracy competition jitters. “I was thinking about it a lot the whole flight there,” he recalled. “My hands were sweaty even before I shot and it was more nerve-racking in front of the crowd and all those guys. I’m sure Petey will be more together in that aspect.” If Pettersson is in the Friday accuracy competition — in advance of the Saturday tourney — you have to like his chances. He seldom misses the mark with a laser-like wrist shot that packs velocity and accuracy. “Maybe there will be some nerves because it’s players I’ve been watching growing up, but it will be fun to get to know some of them,” said the 20-year-old centre, who took a team-leading 44 points (23-21) in 39 games heading into Wednesday’s meeting with the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. “I’m nervous before important games, but my dad told me when you’re nervous, that’s a good thing because that means you’re ready.” Pettersson has always had confidence in himself, but the NHL wasn’t really ready when the fifth pick in the 2017 NHL draft picked up where he left off last season. He dominated the Swedish Hockey League last season as a rookie to earn regular season and playoff MVP honours. He had 56 points (24-32) in 44 games and 19 (10-9) in 13 postseason games to lead Vaxjo HC Lakers to the league title. Pettersson played right wing and just nine games at centre last season, but his transition to the middle on the smaller NHL ice has been remarkable because he was wiling to put in the work here, just like he did in Sweden. 1127504 Vancouver Canucks Pettersson doesn’t know yet which skills competition he’ll be in this weekend, but had some comments about Boeser’s performance last year. ‘I didn’t think I would play in the NHL’: Driven Elias Pettersson readies for “He was lucky,” Pettersson said with a smile. all-star game The young Canuck should line up against the other all-stars in this year’s accuracy event, Boeser said. Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press “Are you kidding me?” he said. “You see how good his accuracy is out there. It wouldn’t surprise me. But I mean, he’s so skilled at everything else, so who knows what they’re going to put him in.” VANCOUVER — Elias Pettersson didn’t always envision himself skating among the greats. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2019 “I always believe in myself. But to be honest, growing up I didn’t think I would play in the NHL,” the Vancouver Canucks’ star rookie said Tuesday. “I was just practising hard, always working and took it step by step. And now I’m here, living my dream. Nothing’s come easy.” Pettersson will live out a whole new dream this weekend when he takes part in the NHL’s all-star weekend. The 20-year-old native of Sundsvall, Sweden, has earned his spot in the event with eye-popping performances over his first four months in the league. He leads the Canucks in scoring with 23 goals and 21 assists, despite having missed 11 games with injuries. Ottawa Senators centre Colin White is the current runner-up in the rookie scoring race with 26 points. Pettersson has shown steady growth since joining the Canucks’ prospect camp in July, said head coach Travis Green. “Obviously, he’s improved,” Green said. “The rate of improvement for young players, it’s not the same for every player. I think elite players tend to make adjustments and improve a lot quicker. And I think he’s done that.” There’s still more to do, Pettersson said. “I’ll still continue working. Even though I’ve had some success lately, it’s a lot of work behind it,” he said. The six-foot-two, 176-pound Pettersson has also been motivated by the criticism that he’s too small to hold up in the NHL. “I’ve been doubted that I can’t play because I’m not a big person, I’m too skinny,” said Pettersson, who has focused on what he’s good at, particularly his hockey mind, and honed strengths that other players may not possess. Now he’s about to share the ice with some of the greatest hockey minds in the league. Pettersson said he didn’t grow up watching the star-studded game on television but would often catch the highlights on YouTube. “For the most part I think it will be fun to be able to see all the good players and maybe get to know some of them,” he said. Brock Boeser was a rookie last year when he represented the Canucks at the event and said it was “humbling” to be around some modern hockey legends. “When I got to meet (Sidney) Crosby and all those guys — the list goes on (Brett) Burns, (Anze) Kopitar and all those guys on my team — it was such an eye-opening experience and it was super fun,” said the 21-year- old right-winger. Boeser said he thought about what the experience would be like for much of his six-hour flight to Tampa Bay and was incredibly nervous before his turn in the shooting accuracy event. “My hands were sweaty before I even shot. I wasn’t even nervous to shoot in front of the crowd. It was more nerve-racking to shoot in front of all these guys,” he said. “I thought I was screwed.” Despite the nerves, Boeser hit all five targets in 11.13 seconds to win the competition over Crosby, Blake Wheeler, Steven Stamkos and four other all-stars. Afterwards, Crosby skated over to introduce himself and chat while technicians fixed the targets. Boeser’s shot had broken the plastic. “Once you get out there and do it and you get out there in the game, you’re not nervous anymore and you can enjoy the whole thing,” said Boeser, who went on to tally 55 points in his first full season before he was sidelined with a broken bone in his lower back. 1127505 Vancouver Canucks “I’m putting Jake there to help out a line,” said Green. “When he’s on top of his game, he doesn’t need help. It’s about consistency over the long haul and it’s about a young player that we want to develop into a force UPDATED: Canucks Game Day: Hurricanes prep for Pettersson storm, every night. That line is a combination of two guys in Rous and Jake who Virtanen gets message are a handful when they’re on top of their games. They can make life hard on the other team and Sudsy is extremely smart.”

Goldobin is on an expiring contract and the Canucks must decide Ben Kuzma whether they can balance his skill with a waning will to become a complete player they can win with when playoffs become more the norm than the exception. Goldobin’s penchant for taking bad penalties because he’s reaching instead of skating — or being lax on the back- Rookie Andrei Svechnikov, the second overall pick in 2018, has been a check — is preventing him from getting his game to a dependable level. right-wing, second-line fixture for the Hurricanes but has hit the production wall. 2. Power play has pieces, needs tweaks NEXT GAME: WEDNESDAY Health is wealth, and a power play that has gone one-for-19 the previous seven games should finally get on track — especially the first unit. The Carolina Hurricanes at Vancouver Canucks last man-advantage goal came from second-unit centre Brandon Sutter 7:30 p.m., Rogers Arena, TV: Sportsnet Pacific, Radio: Sportsnet 650 against Edmonton on Jan. 16. The first unit of Pettersson, Brock Boeser, AM Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi and Alex Edler has two heavy shots from the dots, a down-low option in Horvat and Baertschi in the bumper slot spot. THE BIG MATCHUP What hasn’t worked, despite Pettersson’s team-high six power-play goals Elias Pettersson vs. Andrei Svechnikov and five from Horvat, is predictability in trying to load up Pettersson or Boeser, or Horvat trying to reverse beside the net and either jam a puck Take the 44-point, front-running Elias Pettersson out of Calder Trophy home or get it up. How about a back-door feed to Baertschi or a pinching domination and a pack of 20-plus point producers — including Rasmus Edler? Dahlin, Colin White, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Brady Tkachuk, Andreas Johnsson — and Andrei Svechnikov would be in top-rookie contention. 3. Riding Markstrom’s wave into break What separates Pettersson and Svechnikov is more than age — the A rested Jacob Markstrom is a good Markstrom, but there’s plenty of time Canucks centre turned 20 in November and Svechnikov turns 19 next for the starter to physically and mentally recover from a gruelling month — because the sensational Swede played against men and October, November and December on the upcoming break. The Canucks dominated the Swedish Hockey League last season, with MVP honours don’t play again until Feb. 2 in Denver. in the regular season and playoffs to lead Vaxjo HC to the league title. That said, there’s something to be said for carrying his momentum — just Aside from a four-game point drought in early November, Pettersson has three regulation losses in his last 16 games and tied for sixth in wins with maintained remarkable consistency, including a pair of five-point 19 — into down time with an upbeat effort. Markstrom will start tonight. performances and a hat trick to go with amazing three-zone awareness in showcasing a complete game. Markstrom is coming off a 35-save outing in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Detroit, and his 2.78 goals-against average and .909 save percentage Svechnikov, the second overall pick in 2018, has been a right-wing, speak to an improved calmness in the crease. There was also something second-line fixture but has hit the production wall. The 6-2, 195-pound to be said for giving Thatcher Demko another look after his second Russian ended a nine-game drought Sunday with his 12th goal of the career regular-season start in a 36-save showing Friday in a 4-3 win over season and 22nd point. It was just his second goal in 15 games but the Buffalo. That’s not happening. winger, who was physically tested by a blindside Tom Wilson hit, has shrugged it off. “Physically, I feel great,” he said. 4. Penalty kill becoming a thrill FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME The Canucks have had perfect penalty-kill nights in six of their last seven outings, with a 14-for-15 effort after a run of allowing five power-play 1. Goldobin doesn’t get tossed a bone, Virtanen does goals over the course of four games. Travis Green wouldn’t commit to his lineup for Wednesday, but the coach Roster health helps because there’s now symmetry in the alignments of sent a couple of pointed practice messages Tuesday, especially with the Jay Beagle with Markus Granlund, and Antoine Roussel with Loui All-Star weekend and mandated team break approaching. Nikolay Eriksson and Brandon Sutter available to take defensive-zone draws to Goldobin was back on the top line after being scratched for three games, keep the pressure off Horvat and let him log more manageable minutes. while Jake Virtanen wasn’t in the line-rush mix and could sit for the first time this season. 5. Quick return on Niederreiter investment That all changed Wednesday morning with Virtanen on a line with Nino Niederreiter scored for the Hurricanes just 28 seconds into Antoine Roussel and Brandon Sutter while Goldobin was the odd-man Sunday’s game in Edmonton during a 7-4 romp. Less than 11 minutes out along with Tim Schaller. Travis Green never said Virtanen wouldn’t later, the winger had two goals in the first period. play, but it was an interesting 24 hours. Niederreiter was acquired Thursday from Minnesota in exchange for Virtanen hasn’t scored in a dozen games, while the error-prone Goldobin forward Victor Rask. Niederreiter played with Sven Baertschi in Portland remains fourth in club scoring with 23 points (5-18). Playing on a line of the WHL and has joined Sebastian Aho and Justin Williams on the first with the hard-charging Roussel and dependable Sutter should help line in Carolina. Virtanen be better in transition and still use his speed to take a direct CANUCKS’ LINES route to the net. Then again, Virtanen has been put out in key situations late in games to make something happen or protect a lead. Forwards “I have to be good every shift and not have one or two shifts and then a Markus Granlund — Bo Horvat — Josh Leivo bad one,” said Virtanen. “I have play on a more consistent basis every shift and we’ve talked about it. I definitely feel like I’ve got to use my Sven Baertschi — Elias Pettersson — Brock Boeser speed a lot more on a more consistent basis and bring pucks to the net and be a guy who finds loose pucks in front of the net — I’ve got to work Antoine Roussel — Brandon Sutter — Jake Virtanen on that. I need to have a fresh mind-set and go from there.” Loui Eriksson — Jay Beagle — Tyler Motte As for the Tuesday eye-opening practice, it seemed like a motivational Defence nudge for Virtanen to not be in the line mix. Alex Edler — Chris Tanev “It’s definitely frustrating,” said Virtanen. “But I came to the rink today and was a on a line and it’s nice to see, but I’ve got to show what I can do Ben Hutton — Troy Stecher tonight.” Derrick Pouliot — Erik Gudbranson As for tonight’s alignment, Green stressed Virtanen isn’t on right wing looking for help from Roussel and Sutter. When he’s going, Virtanen is a Goalies good complementary piece. Jacob Markstrom, Thatcher Demko HURRICANES’ LINES Forwards Nino Niederreiter — Sebastian Aho — Justin Williams Michael Ferland — Lucas Wallmark — Teuvo Teravainen *Andrei Svechnikov —Jordan Martinook — Brock McGinn Warren Foegele — Greg McKegg —Saku Maenalanen (* Svechnikov suffered upper-body injury Tuesday in Calgary). Defence Jaccob Slavin — Dougie Hamilton Brett Pesce — Justin Faulk Calvin De Haan — Trevor van Riemsdyk Goalies Alex Nedeljkovic — Petr Mrazek SICK BAY Canucks: No players on Injured Reserve; Hurricanes: Jordan Staal (upper body, IR), Curtis McElhinney (knee, day-to-day) SPECIAL TEAMS Power play Canucks: 23rd (17.0%); Hurricanes: 22nd (17.1%) Penalty kill Canucks: 21st (79.0%); Hurricanes: 20th (79.1%) Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127506 Vancouver Canucks “He was lucky,” Pettersson said with a smile. The young Canuck should line up against the other all-stars in this year’s accuracy event, Boeser said Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson credits ‘a lot of work’ for getting him to the NHL All-Star game “Are you kidding me?” he said. “You see how good his accuracy is out there. It wouldn’t surprise me. But I mean, he’s so skilled at everything else so who knows what they’re going to put him in.” Gemma Karstens-Smith Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.24.2019

Elias Pettersson didn’t always envision himself skating among the greats. “I always believe in myself. But to be honest, growing up I didn’t think I would play in the NHL,” the Vancouver Canucks’ star rookie said Tuesday. “I was just practising hard, always working and took it step by step. And now I’m here, living my dream. Nothing’s come easy.” Pettersson will live out a whole new dream this weekend when he takes part in the NHL’s all-star weekend. The 20-year-old native of Sundsvall, Sweden, has earned his spot in the event with eye-popping performances over his first four months in the league. He leads the Canucks in scoring with 23 goals and 21 assists, despite having missed 11 games with injuries. Ottawa Senators centre Colin White is the current runner up in the rookie scoring race with 26 points. Pettersson has shown steady growth since joining the Canucks prospect camp in July, said head coach Travis Green. “Obviously, he’s improved,” Green said. “The rate of improvement for young players, it’s not the same for every player. I think elite players tend to make adjustments and improve a lot quicker. And I think he’s done that.” There’s still more to do, Pettersson said. “I’ll still continue working. Even though I’ve had some success lately, it’s a lot of work behind it,” he said. The six-foot-two, 176-pound Pettersson has also been motivated by the criticism that he’s too small to hold up in the NHL. “I’ve been doubted that I can’t play because I’m not a big person, I’m too skinny,” said Pettersson, who has focused on what he’s good at, particularly his hockey mind, and hone strengths that other players may not possess. Now he’s about to share the ice with some of the greatest hockey minds in the league. Pettersson said he didn’t grow up watching the star-studded game on television but would often catch the highlights on YouTube. “For the most part I think it will be fun to be able to see all the good players up close and maybe get to know some of them,” he said. Brock Boeser was a rookie last year when he represented the Canucks at the event and said it was “humbling” to be around some modern hockey legends. “When I got to meet (Sidney) Crosby and all those guys – the list goes on (Brett) Burns, (Anze) Kopitar and all those guys on my team – it was such an eye-opening experience and it was super fun,” said the 21-year- old right-winger. Boeser said he thought about what the experience would be like for much of his six-hour flight to Tampa Bay and was incredibly nervous before his turn in the shooting accuracy event. “My hands were sweaty before I even shot. I wasn’t even nervous to shoot in front of the crowd. It was more nerve wracking to shoot in front of all these guys,” he said. “I thought I was screwed.” Despite the nerves, Boeser hit all five targets in 11.13 seconds to win the competition over Crosby, Blake Wheeler, Steven Stamkos and four other all-stars. Afterwards, Crosby skated over to introduce himself and chat while technicians fixed the targets. Boeser’s shot had broken the plastic. “Once you get out there and do it and you get out there in the game, you’re not nervous any more and you can enjoy the whole thing,” said Boeser, who went on to tally 55 points in his first full season before he was sidelined with a broken bone in his lower back. Pettersson doesn’t know yet which skills competition he’ll be in this weekend, but had some comments about Boeser’s performance last year. 1127507 Vancouver Canucks A couple of weekend wins against bad teams mask it but the past three have been the Canucks worst run of games this season.

It doesn’t make sense. The team has been home, healthy and has had a The Athletties: The defence issue, the Calder race, the Stecher story, the beneficial schedule playing tired teams. Oilers thing and chasing Ferland But the Canucks have played as slow as they have all year and it’s started with their breakouts. By Jason Botchford Jan 24, 2019 A massive percentage of the goals against this month have been preceded by the defence’s inability to get clean zone exits. BEST TRUTH Believe it or not, the Canucks had the lead tonight near the midway point before Pouliot and Guddy went to work. If you thought the Canucks needed a reality check to ensure they stay patient with a long-term approach as they parachute toward the trade Similarly on the Canes’ fourth goal, Edler had the puck deep but couldn’t deadline, their owner couldn’t have picked a better game to pore over in execute a clean exit. detail so he could live-tweet it. It makes all the difference in the world. With smoke still billowing in from the Edmonton Oilers tire fire, the STECHER: “It sounds so cliché to say this is a game of inches. Canucks had one of those games which left the market aghast, wondering why they willingly chose to come back this year with the same “But if you get that puck an inch past the blueline it forces all five of their defence as last season. guys to tag up. The issues on their blueline are not dissimilar to the ones which “It’s especially important for us because we’ve been hyping all year that unravelled the Oilers and hung a giant “L” around Peter Chiarelli’s neck we want our defencemen moving up on the rush to create offence. after he made a series of poor decisions that reeked of panic. “So when you don’t get it out and your group is pushing up the ice, you In other words, they need to tread carefully in figuring out what’s next. have guys floating behind you and you’re kind of hitting the brakes and you’re scrambling. Yes, finding effective NHL defencemen is hard. But both the Canucks and Oilers have made the search for them the equivalent to establishing “You start running around and it becomes a snowball effect. life on Mars. “The reasons are a mix. I had one play today where I tried to force it to Five years ago, when Benning arrived, the Canucks two best Petey. defencemen were Chris Tanev and Alex Edler. It remains true today, with all due respect to an improving Troy Stecher. “The next thing I know I’m caught on the ice for two minutes. I was running around. I was getting straight legged and I’m missing Tanev is 29 and Edler is 32. Their best days are behind them and in most assignments.” years the Canucks would now be thinking about trading one, or both, for a haul at the deadline. BEST QUOTE Imagine packaging them both up as a ready-made No. 2 pair for a “They came really hard. They sent two guys. Their D-men were always contender. What would that be worth? on top of our wingers on the boards. But the gut of the Western Conference is bad. It’s put the Canucks in this “That was stuff we pre-scouted too. But we just didn’t stick with our game awkward position where they’re in a playoff race. plan.” People can argue day and night about how a playoff run may impact — Stecher them in the big picture. BEST THEME But on this, there is no argument. The defence is not good enough and For the sixth time in seven games, the Canucks unveiled their most Quinn Hughes is going to need some help. It lacks speed and when controversial weapon. teams forecheck aggressively with two forwards like the Hurricanes did today, it’s left exposed and vulnerable. The slow start. When Hughes arrives it will go some way in fixing this but so much more If you like it slow, you loved the Canucks first period. is going to be needed. They were outshot 10-4. The process by which the Canucks have chosen to acquire defencemen hasn’t been effective overall. They were outchanced 13-2. Mostly, they shopped at dollar stores, picking up underperforming Theories abound. defencemen hoping they were actually good, only underutilized. None better than Roussel’s. Turns out, they’re not. “Guys are tired to be honest with you. I’m tired. The one marquee name on defence the Canucks chased and landed in “It’s a long season and this break couldn’t have come at a better time.” these five years is the most troubling of all. They surrendered significant assets to bring in Gudbranson and they extended him with a contract that BEST SIX suggests they think he’s a bonafide top-four player. This looks hard to top this season to be honest. He hasn’t been playing like it and the millions the Canucks gave him don’t seem to be helping. 8 MORE WEEKS BEFORE THEY GET QUINN HUGHES. Gudbranson played just 13:38 and was on the ice for three even-strength EDLER-TANEV goals against. This month the Canucks have been outscored 12-5 at even strength with Gudbranson playing and that’s with some pretty HUGHES-STECHER decent goaltending. HUTTON-BIEGA His season-long plus-minus has sunk to minus-20. Only one defenceman — ROBBING TIME #SKIMASKSZN (@RICHSMOOTHIE23) JANUARY in the league is lower. 24, 2019 Gudbranson didn’t work well when playing with Ben Hutton, a duo which BEST NEWS was arguably the worst performing pairing in the league. 5 GOALS FOR CAROLINA. 0 POINTS FOR "DON'T SLEEP ON" His head coach mercifully broke them up… SVECHNIKOV. 1 POINT FOR EP40 #CALDERWATCH @BOTCHFORD But somehow Gudbranson with Derrick Pouliot has seemed worse. — KEVIN SORENSON (@THEHOLYBEARDMAN) JANUARY 24, 2019 And if that doesn’t work, who can he play with? And what a point it was. BIGGEST ISSUE It was an unreal give-and-go play during which EP drives the middle of It wasn’t all bad the ice and executes a no-look, behind the back, backhand pass to Boeser, landing the puck on Boeser’s blade in stride. STECHER'S NOW TOP-50 AMONG NHL DEFENCEMEN FOR EVEN- STRENGTH POINTS. HTTPS://T.CO/S0J4WMKHAU Your move Svech! — HARMAN DAYAL (@HARMANDAYAL2) JANUARY 24, 2019 BEST ANSWER Stecher played more than 18 minutes tonight and it seems Green is Sure, Svech! was left off the scoreboard but he enraged Guddy after he realizing he can deploy him as his right-side second pairing blueliner. slammed him into the boards. STECHER: “The game is changing so much. It didn’t end well for the Canuck who chased Svech! down only to take a double roughing minor and a 10-minute misconduct. “You see so much more possession now. You see guys swinging back and attacking the zone almost like you would in roller hockey. BEST DOCUMENTARY NAME “The game is going that way. COINCIDENTALLY, “CHASING SVECH” IS ALSO THE NAME OF THE MINI-DOCUMENTARY OF ELIAS PETTERSSON’S FIGHT FOR THE “I think if you have a 6-foot-4 guy and a 5-foot-10 guy and they can do CALDER TROPHY. the same thing, they’re always going to pick the 6-foot-4 guy. — ADAM (@JOHNNYNUCK) JANUARY 24, 2019 “You have to find a way to get an edge on those guys. BEST Q&A “I don’t look at the zone exits or entries, but I hope they’re good. From what you’ve told me they were and I hope they still are. I DON'T SEE SVECHNIKOV ON THIS LIST… CAN SOMEONE GET HOLD OF THE CANES PR DEPT? PIC.TWITTER.COM/GFPQYHOOGZ “It goes back to possession. I’d always rather try to make a pass than flip a puck off the glass. — BRODY (@BRODYVANCITY) JANUARY 24, 2019 “There are times in games when you have to flip it and give your BEST NUGGET forwards a chance to race onto it.” With the Philadelphia goalies getting healthy the expectation is Mike BEST STAT 2.0 McKenna will be back on waivers. Hits The Canucks would need for the rest of the league to pass on him before he’d be returned and assigned to Utica. Pettersson – 23 There were two claims put on him after the Canucks waived him. Eriksson – 1 One was the Flyers and the other … wait for it … was the Toronto Maple Is Little Things getting better? Leafs. Let’s take the temperature of this one after 50 games. Now, that would have been some story if the Leafs claimed him because BEST SURE, BUT the Canucks were in Toronto that week. MORE BENNING ON @SPORTSNET650 "I'M NOT GOING TO It didn’t seem to matter that Sam Gagner had been loaned to help out MORTGAGE THE FUTURE JUST TO TRY TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS" Toronto’s farm club. — SCOTT RINTOUL (@SCOTTRINTOUL) JANUARY 24, 2019 Circumstances have changed and Toronto wouldn’t need to claim him now. Sure, but would he mortgage the present to try and make the playoffs? But that’s the thing, the NHL goalie situation is fluid. Because that could be a win-win. Even if the Flyers and the Leafs get healthy in net and don’t need How about he look into trading players like Gudbranson and other McKenna, the circumstances could change for other teams. veterans for futures which could actually make the team better? He’s obviously coveted enough he could get claimed again. Like, better right now. BEST DESPERATION I did laugh hearing Jim say several times “When we’re good we’ll…” How bad is it? WORST TIMING This bad: You just had a feeling this may not end well. I'M READY FOR LUKE SCHENN. HAS TO BE BETTER It did not. — JEFF HOOKER (@HOOKS41) JANUARY 24, 2019 BEST FYI BEST ONE UP-ING PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT "TANKING" FOR DRAFT REASONS DON'T GET IT. EVERY PLAYER IN THE NHL BEAT OUT 10,000 FROM CHIARELLI FILE, ONE TRADE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN: 2016 OTHER GUYS TO GET HERE. THEY HAVE PRIDE. THEY HATE TO DRAFT. #FLAMES WANTED TO FLIP PICKS TO ENSURE EITHER LOSE. IF YOU DON;T UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU DON'T TKACHUK OR KELLER. BELIEVE OFFER FROM CGY WAS UNDERSTAND THE NHL. BACKLUND AND WIDEMAN TO FLIP PICKS PLUS A 2ND RD'R FROM EDM. I THINK #OILERS WE’RE REALLY INTERESTED IN — FRANCESCO AQUILINI (@FR_AQUILINI) JANUARY 24, 2019 SERGACHEV. FYI, the use of the word “tanking” is not about asking players to willingly — FRANK SERAVALLI (@FRANK_SERAVALLI) JANUARY 24, 2019 lose games. Only to be topped with: Tanking in fact has nothing to do with the players’ approach or mindset. Yeah, well, there’s also this. It’s an organizational plan to get the highest draft picks possible in order to have the best chance at acquiring elite, impact NHL players. Moments before trading picks No. 16 and 33 for Griffin Reinhart, Chiarelli was about to trade those same two picks for Erik Gudbranson. The so-called difference makers. That, by the way, would have been the first ever trade orchestrated by It can take many forms but among the most successful is to trade valued the Computer Boys and what a trade it would have been. veterans in the 29-to-32-year-old range for draft picks or young players with upside. How would that have changed history in Vancouver if it went through? You have several who fit into that category this season. Not sure what would have happened with McCann and Benning, but the GM loved DeBrincat who was available with the second-round pick the Think about it. Canucks used to sweeten the Guddy offer. Because I have news for you. BEST STAT 1.0 You know that Elias Pettersson kid who changed everything? Fair or not — and who am I to say? — media carrying water for Edmonton executives is the stuff of legends. Your team tanked to get him. As the joke goes, a Hockey Man doesn’t walk through that town without BEST MIC DROP first getting some media-sponsored spit shines. Oh snap. Who can forget this masterpiece: BEST HOPE “The stats geeks still hate the Hall trade. The reason? Because their craft BEST COMPARISON isn’t far enough along at this point to quantify the qualities in Larsson’s game that makes Edmonton better. Playing 5-on-5, Horvat with Goldobin: “Conduct a poll of 200 hockey men, and it might be unanimous: Playing 5-on-5, Horvat with Roussel: Edmonton got what it needed in that deal, and giving up Hall was well worth it.” BEST NO WORDS So I sat with great excitement to watch old takes surface and bear Is it just a coincidence that the Canucks play their worst three games of witness the dunk off you knew was coming after Chiarelli got hooked for the year and Goldy doesn’t play in any of them? good. BEST HEADS UP Things did not disappoint. HEY DERRICK POULIOT, Six weeks later: THERE ARE 11 GAMES LEFT ON MICHIGAN HOCKEY SCHEDULE. But I was waiting for the Spec dunk off. START PACKING YOUR SHIT. @BOTCHFORD #HUGHESTIME I got a little impatient. — MIKE JOHNSON (@MJVANCITY) JANUARY 24, 2019 So I asked my crack research team to do some work and by that I mean I BEST MYTH BUSTING searched Twitter for some Chiarelli takes from Spec. The charge: What I found shocked me. This next tweet was inspired by a gathering of The Athletic Vancouver I found nothing. contributors. Not one. The reality: Like, ever. The Athletic was the first media outlet to point out the playoffs were in fact possible with Pettersson. Wait, what? So a tip of the hat to Boy Genius seems deserved here. Spec has never mentioned Chiarelli before today on Twitter? BEST JERSEY Oh come on. Blessed. He sure wrote about him a lot. @THESTANCHION @BOTCHFORD HERE’S A LONG DISTANCE ONE There’s lots of Sportsnet headlines from him with Chiarelli named. FROM THE OPENING LINE. PIC.TWITTER.COM/XTNGRGB7G0 Did he really scrub Twitter of all his Chiarelli mentions? — NEIL HILLBRANDT (@NEILHILLBRANDT) JANUARY 24, 2019 Damn. BEST REMINDER That’s some work. Anyone want to fire up The Jensen Train again? At least we’ll always have all the times he defended the Gudbranson It feels like it’s time. trade from a Canucks perspective. @BOTCHFORD @THESTANCHION EARLY ENTRY FOR THE Hold the phone. #ATHLETTIES PIC.TWITTER.COM/67ZSDM7XPH There are none of those either? — ALSTAR (@ALSTAR101) JANUARY 24, 2019 Damn. BEST WHO WORE IT BEST? Good job, Spec! @BOTCHFORD NAME A MORE ICONIC DUO. PIC.TWITTER.COM/CDNFRKQOGC BEST EL-OH-EL — KOSTYA POLYAKOV (@KPOLYAKOV) JANUARY 24, 2019 YEAH TORONTO IS THE MODEL BUT I'M SORRY WHY DO THE OILERS HAVE TO GO HEAVY INTO ANALYTICS JONATHAN? I BEST RESEARCH KNOW YOU'RE A BIG FAN. SOME OF ANALYTICS LEAVES ME COLD HTTPS://T.CO/6L33YB5F39 It was impossible from here not to get absorbed in the drama which has been ballooning in Edmonton for years. — JIM MATHESON (@NHLBYMATTY) JANUARY 23, 2019 The Oilers are a long-time Vancouver rival and their obsession with How do you explain this? alumni and an era now 30 years old is so layered and institutionalized their fans can’t even celebrate the end of Chiarelli’s reign, a run which BEST SPIT SHINE will be remembered as one of the worst runs of managing in the post- New guy didn’t have to wait long. millennium NHL And: THIS IS LIKE WHEN YOU FINALLY BEAT THE WORLD 1 BOSS IN MARIO 3 AS A KID AND THEN REALIZE THERE’S 6 MORE WORLDS FROM @BYTERRYJONES: 'THINK ABOUT IT. REPLACE CHIARELLI AND BOSSES TO FACE. HTTPS://T.CO/6W8TR8WB2X WITH ASSISTANT KEITH GRETZKY AND GIVE HEAD COACH KEN HITCHCOCK THE CALL TO MAKE THE MOVES THAT HE THINKS — WHEATNOIL (@WHEATNOIL) JANUARY 23, 2019 OUGHT TO BE MADE'#OILERS #LETSGOOILERS #NHL Not only is it riveting, and fun, to try to predict what the Oilers will do next, HTTPS://T.CO/MXTEWGGK2N there’s another level of entertainment in watching how the Edmonton — EDMONTON JOURNAL (@EJ_OILERS) JANUARY 21, 2019 media responds to all of this. BEST CAUTIONARY TALE Because if Vancouver has a reputation as being the toughest media market in hockey, Edmonton’s is the polar opposite. I really enjoy watching Ferland play the hockey. The guy can hit, score and he tormented Kevin Bieksa in what was one of the great playoff series we’ve ever seen an opposing power forward have against the Canucks. Ferland can do all the things so many NHL general managers openly chase. By that I mean he can “create space” and provide a “safe working environment” and “get in on the forecheck” and, oh yeah, “play the right way.” He has “snarl” and is “physical.” He’s willing to “dig into corners” and he’s effective at retrieving pucks. Effective power forwards are closer to being unicorns than they are being found regularly by NHL teams. And that makes Jake Virtanen’s development pretty important to the future of this Canucks core. Virtanen, by the way, is 22. He has scored 11 goals. Ferland is about to turn 27 and has 13. When Ferland was 22 he scored two goals in part of an NHL season. When he was 23, and played an entire year, he scored four. His breakout season came at 24 when he scored 15 goals in 76 games. Expectations are so intertwined with the Virtanen story and perception. Stories like Ferland’s can help because he’s now someone like half the league is apparently chasing. I hear people in the market mocking Virtanen with “Shotgun Blank,” and they’re the same people who don’t get why people like me have so much time and patience for him. Because power forwards who can score 20 goals are so freaking hard to find. And that brings us back to Ferland and the Canucks interest in the Carolina forward who is likely to get moved before the deadline. Someone sent me a rundown of his data and it is pretty impressive. Impressive. But I can’t seem to shake the feeling that in four years he’s going to turn into what Dave Bolland turned into and some mark is going to be stuck paying him more than $5 million a year. Is it likely? Here was the Boy Genius take and it’s illuminating. “He won’t be the play driver for any line, but he’s got enough skill that he can be a solid complementary piece in your top six. “As far as power forwards go, Ferland skates well enough that he can keep up with the modern game. “But I’m concerned about how Ferland might look two to three years down the line. “He’s fought through injuries this year including his second concussion. “We know that players who play a heavy, physical game like Ferland tend to age worse and he’s turning 27 in a couple of months. “I’m worried about age and injury-related decline, particularly when you look at someone like Milan Lucic who’s fallen off a cliff despite being just 30. “I also wonder about how well Ferland’s offensive play style would fit on the Canucks.” (And here comes the mic drop.) “A fair bit of his goals come off the rebound, particularly on the power play and if you look at some of the data, the Canucks are among the worst teams in the league as far as creating rebound opportunities goes with only 95 at 5-on-5. “Conversely, in Carolina right now, the Hurricanes as a team have generated more than double, with 191 rebounds at 5-on-5. “We’ve already seen a player who thrived on rebound opportunities for scoring in Loui Eriksson struggle in Vancouver so I’m wary about that aspect.” Me too. The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127508 Websites enough in quality to represent “Hall replacement level” production on the second line. That bet was a losing one and a major contributor to today’s news that Chiarelli has been relieved of his duties. The Athletic / Lowetide: Peter Chiarelli’s inability to adjust, poor trades Cap shortcomings and free-agent misses at the centre of his firing The Oilers have had an issue with the cap since it became part of the landscape after the lockout in 2004-05, but nothing Oilers fans saw By Allan Mitchell Jan 23, 2019 before 2015 prepared them for the wastage that occurred on Chiarelli’s watch. The big free-agent signings above have been noted, but consider the following: In the end, Peter Chiarelli’s custom-built Oilers simply didn’t have enough June 30, 2015: Traded Boyd Gordon to Arizona for LW Lauri Korpikoski. skill. An NHL team can win with big players but they have to score Both veterans were eroding in terms of skill but Gordon had one year left, enough to deliver more than 50 percent of the total offence. Chiarelli Korpikoski two. Chiarelli had to buyout Korpikoski’s final year. seemed to focus most of his attention on big shutdown defencemen (Griffin Reinhart, Adam Larsson, Brandon Manning) while the rest of the June 29, 2017: Bought out Benoit Pouliot, who struggled in 2016-17 but world pursued smart, skilled and fast. Chiarelli’s replacement will be remained an effective penalty killer and complementary scorer (he would gifted the game’s best player and a fine support group numbering less score 13 goals for Buffalo in 2017-18). than six, along with several albatross contracts that represent a hornet’s This winter’s procurement of overpriced talents Ryan Spooner and nest of difficult decisions going forward. Brandon Manning, both of whom have another year on their respective Chiarelli’s best and worst moment: Same day contracts. You can bleed draft picks and young talent, but you can’t do it forever— Summary and it’s imperative those assets are traded for something of value. Peter Chiarelli lost his job through a combination of trades that left Chiarelli’s first official act as general manager was a walk to the podium Edmonton consistently weaker, misspent free-agent dollars and a at the 2015 entry draft to announce Connor McDavid as the first overall mountain of traded draft picks. He also showed a consistent selection. Music! One of the greatest moments in Oilers history, another stubbornness in regard to his team’s style, time and again pushing back generational talent and this one guaranteed to lead the organization out on criticism in regard to the team’s speed and skill. Oilers fans endured of the wilderness. multiple media availabilities from the general manager in which he Oilers fans had little time to bask in the glow of that incredible moment, expounded on the difference between “speed” and “pace” all the while as Chiarelli began trading precious picks with wild abandon. The general remaining true to his vision of a “Bruins west” concept in Edmonton. manager traded picks No. 16 and No. 33 to the New York Islanders for In the end, Chiarelli found his hill to die on. His refusal to adjust, along Reinhart who is currently toiling in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves with devastating losses on the trade market and misspent free-agent (Edmonton lost Reinhart to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion dollars, sealed his fate. Oilers fans are left to ponder what might have draft). The cost of that trade (Islanders selected Mathew Barzal with the been. first pick) will arc across central Alberta like the northern lights for decades. Later in the draft, Chiarelli traded picks No. 57 (Jonas The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 Siegenthaler), No. 79 (Sergei Zborovsky), No. 184 (Adam Huska) to the New York Rangers for G Cam Talbot and the No. 209 (Ziyat Paigin) pick. The net result from the 2015 draft: A generational talent bought and paid for via another losing season before Chiarelli arrived and a massive whiff that began the moment he got to work. It was a disastrous draft in terms of adding supporting talent that could grow with the McDavid cluster and would eventually contribute to the downfall of the new general manager. July 1: Too much for too long Chiarelli correctly focused on free agency upon his arrival, knowing the team badly needed an upgrade on defence and at centre. On July 1, 2015, Edmonton signed Andrej Sekera and Mark Letestu. Both men provided quality play early in their contracts, Sekera specifically giving the club two impressive seasons (and a strong playoff) before being injured in the 2017 series against the Anaheim Ducks. His loss was a major turning point in that playoff and Sekera hasn’t been the same since. Still, Sekera (and Letestu) provided value early in their contracts. On July 1, 2016, the Oilers signed winger Milan Lucic to a seven-year, $42 million contract with devastating buyout penalties attached. For all intents and purposes, Edmonton has been in cap trouble since the deal was signed. On June 23, 2017, Edmonton signed Kris Russell to an expensive extension and that deal represented the final big-money free- agent deal signed by Chiarelli. In a classic case of give ’em enough rope, he was unable to improve the team enough in the summer of 2018 in part due to his own work in previous summers. Chiarelli effectively cut off this avenue of procurement with the Lucic contract. His best free-agent signing might have been Alex Chiasson, who agreed to a PTO before training camp 2018 and a one-year, $650,000 contract just before the season. Devastating trades Chiarelli’s signature moves as Oilers general manager were mid-to-late June trades that sent away talented players for lesser pieces. The Reinhart deal was made on the draft floor in 2015, while the big 2016 trade (Hall for Larsson) came on June 29. In 2017, Jordan Eberle was dealt for Ryan Strome. The Hall trade was a mortal blow to Chiarelli’s team-building strategy. Combined with McDavid, the Oilers had been gifted two forwards who could drive results 5-on-5 and could “push the river” against the best opposition available across the NHL. Edmonton’s ability to showcase this massive advantage was cut short due to McDavid’s injury and then a rare slump by Hall in the back half of the 2015-16 season. Chiarelli incorrectly calculated that Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins were close 1127509 Websites WWE: The company runs additional shows under the banner of NXT, a farm system of sorts that allows prospects to get experience before joining the main roster at some point in the future. The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: A detailed breakdown of the subtle NHL: Confused Penguins fans are trying to figure out the meaning of differences between the NHL and the WWE words like “farm system,” “prospects” and “future.” WWE: If you see someone set up a large stepladder and begin to climb By Sean McIndoe Jan 23, 2019 it, it means they are attempting to retrieve the “Money In The Bank” briefcase hanging over the ring.

NHL: If you see someone set up a large stepladder and begin to climb it, This weekend is one of the stranger ones on the sports calendar. We’re it means that Tyler Johnson has something he needs to tell Victor in the middle of the two-week break between the NFL conference Hedman. championships and the Super Bowl, and with the 800-pound gorilla of the sports world going quiet apart from the Pro Bowl, there’s a chance for WWE: Becky Lynch has recently become one of the company’s most everyone else to strut their stuff. popular stars, thanks in part to an unfortunate incident in which she absorbed a roundhouse punch directly to the face. That includes the NHL, who’ll be gathering in San Jose for their annual All-Star weekend. But if they want to steal the sports spotlight, they’ll NHL: That might not help Matthew Tkachuk, fans of other teams have some tough competition, because the WWE will be putting on their acknowledge, but they’re sure hoping somebody gives it a try anyway. annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view. WWE: One of the company’s most memorable moments to this day is Granted, we’re getting a little loose with the definition of sports here. But CM Punk’s infamous 2011 “pipe bomb” promo, in which he took the NHL and WWE have a lot in common, and it’s possible that some advantage of a live microphone to rant angrily, swear repeatedly and fans might get them mixed up with both running major events over the brutally insult most the company’s key employees. same weekend. So just in case, let’s walk through some of the key NHL: Sounds like a pretty standard day at the office, thinks Jim Lites. differences to help everyone tell the two organizations apart. WWE: If you suddenly hear an engine revving late in a match, it could WWE: An anguished voice screaming “Burn it down!” signals the arrival mean that The Undertaker is about to make a surprise return in his old of former world champion Seth Rollins. biker gimmick. NHL: An anguished voice screaming “Burn it down!” signals that another NHL: If you suddenly hear an engine revving late in the third period, it Los Angeles Kings fan has just looked at the roster. means that Sergei Bobrovsky is already on the team bus and is ready to WWE: Fans are expected to suspend their disbelief and play along with leave now. the show despite the occasional presence of wrestling demons, cult WWE: The three-hour shows are still referred to as “pay-per-views” even leaders who can teleport, and 7-foot-tall zombie morticians with though these days most fans actually access the events through an superpowers. online network that allows them to watch on mobile screens. NHL: Fans are expected to suspend their disbelief and play along when NHL: Three-hour shows watched on a mobile screen are referred to as Gary Bettman swears he doesn’t want a lockout this time. “offside reviews.” WWE: Phrases like “shattered dreams,” “rock bottom” and “tombstone” WWE: If you see a man drive into the arena in a beer truck, chug six refer to popular finishing maneuvers from the sport’s glory days in the cans at once, and then begin spraying beer on all the fans with a late 1990s. firehose, you’ll know that legendary star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has NHL: Phrases like “shattered dreams,” “rock bottom” and “tombstone” returned to reenact one of his most famous moments. refer to experiences a Blackhawks fan can look forward to before the NHL: If you see a man drive into the arena in a beer truck, chug six cans team is ready to win another Stanley Cup. at once, and then begin spraying beer on all the fans with a firehose, WWE: You may find yourself wondering why the competitors are often you’ll know that somebody has reminded Alexander Ovechkin that he seen openly discussing their nefarious plots against their enemies won the Stanley Cup. without noticing the various cameras around them that are filming them WWE: One of today’s most popular performers is a relative newcomer and broadcasting every word they say. named Elias, who can often be seen delighting the fans right up until the NHL: Actually, that’s a surprisingly easy mistake to make, mutter several point where one of his dastardly opponents blindsides him by brutally Ottawa Senators crammed into an Uber. attacking him when he can’t defend himself. WWE: Fans will often count backwards from 10 in unison, signaling that NHL: Look, the Canucks swear that if that happens six or seven more a new competitor is about to arrive in the Royal Rumble. times this season they’re totally going to get around to doing something about it. NHL: Fans will often count backwards from 10 in unison, conclusively proving that the most recent Tom Wilson hit wasn’t really that late. WWE: “Empty arena match” refers to a rare type of contest that takes place without the presence of an audience. WWE: Brock Lesnar has been known to infuriate fans because he makes more money than pretty much everyone, disappears for long stretches NHL: “Empty arena, match” is Kyle Dubas’s answer to the two-part and only seems to show up once every month or two. question “What’s stopping the Coyotes from offer-sheeting Auston Matthews this summer” and “What will you immediately do if they try?” NHL: Same, but with William Nylander. WWE: If you see a superstar desperately fighting to reach the exit, WWE: If you hear thousands of people all furiously screaming things like clawing and scraping with every fiber of will they can summon despite “Get him!” and “Make him pay!” and “Rip his stupid head off!”, you’ll know being mercilessly dragged back away from the door, you’re probably that one of the show’s bad guys is doing an especially good job of riling watching what’s known as a steel cage match. up the crowd. NHL: If you see a superstar desperately fighting to reach the exit, clawing NHL: Don’t worry, that’s just Islanders fans scrolling down to the and scraping with every fiber of will they can summon despite being comment section. mercilessly dragged back away from the door, you’re probably watching Connor McDavid after the latest Oilers game. WWE: Braun Strowman is a massive wrestler from Carolina who can often be heard screaming his catchphrase, “Get these hands.” The Athletic LOADED: 01.24.2019 NHL: It’s been years since anyone in Carolina had any hands. WWE: If you see someone furiously sprinting toward the action after it’s already begun, you’re probably seeing what’s known in the wrestling world as a “run-in.” NHL: If you see someone furiously sprinting toward the action after it’s already begun, it’s probably just Charlie McAvoy trying to get to a team meeting. 1127510 Websites “I think in the long run, you’ve got to think big picture, and in the end, hopefully this is good for us and good for myself personally.”

Getting to skate alongside Marner and Patrick Marleau seemed to put a Sportsnet.ca / Matthews-Marner combo pays immediate dividends for bounce in his step. He made no secret of his desire to see it continue. Maple Leafs The main reason why Babcock has been reluctant to pair his offensive dynamos throughout the last two-and-a-half years is because he believes Chris Johnston they can each drive a line independently. Like the Chicago Blackhawks in their heydey with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, he’d prefer to split the matchup attention of an opponent rather than offering up one top- heavy unit to focus on. TORONTO — In all likelihood, this shall remain the nuclear option. Kept under lock and key until Mike Babcock feels his Toronto Maple Leafs There may also be a secondary concern about their play in the defensive need a big jolt. zone, although Babcock has never said so explicitly. But on Wednesday night he certainly didn’t sound like someone inclined to put No. 16 back Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner get to play together at 5-on-5 about beside No. 34 when the Leafs return for a Feb. 1 visit to Detroit. as often as you can expect to see a solar eclipse, and even after Matthews ended a goal drought and the Leafs produced a feel-good win “I don’t know,” said Babcock. “I haven’t watched the game, I’ll go through over the Stanley Cup champs, it didn’t seem likely to come around again it and see what happens.” soon. Matthews seemed to be bracing for things to revert back to the way “I’m not sure Babs likes it too much,” Matthews said after Wednesday’s they’ve been. And it’s not as if he can claim the old way of doing things 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. has held either him or Marner back offensively during their time in the show. “They were fine,” said Babcock. “It was good for Matty to get one. He got one on the power play.” “You know, it’s up to [Babcock] obviously and whoever he puts there after the break I’ll be happy with,” said Matthews. Sportsnet NOW gives you access to over 500 NHL games this season, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, the entire 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. The coach isn’t trying to play the grinch who stole offence. The Matthews-Marner duo has only played to mixed reviews so far. They generated 47.9 per cent of the even-strength shot attempts while largely facing Evgeny Kuznetsov’s line on Wednesday and were on the wrong end of the scoring chances, 14-11, according to Natural Stat Trick. Kuznetsov had a golden opportunity against them on the second shift of the night — defenceman Igor Ozhiganov and Matthews were both slow to take away the Russian in front of the net — and surely that Grade A didn’t go unnoticed from the bench. There were a handful of other lengthy defensive zone shifts, too. The counter argument from the players would almost certainly be that they haven’t had enough time to get comfortable together. Absent two November games last season, and this one here, Matthews and Marner have been on separate lines for almost all of their other 171 times playing together in Toronto. “I thought it went well,” said Matthews. “We had some really good opportunities, we controlled the play a lot. I mean I’ve never really played a full game with Mitch — besides power play, never really 5-on-5 — so obviously it’s a little bit of a feel-out process, but he’s so fun to play with. You get a sense of where he’s at on the ice and when he’s got it he creates so much space for himself with his edge work and everything he can do. “You just try to get open.” Babcock only triggered the big-red button ahead of the Capitals visit because his team had dropped six of seven at Scotiabank Arena and Matthews was uncharacteristically skidding along with one goal in the last 13. It worked in a way he might not have originally intended, with the newly formed third line of Connor Brown, Nazem Kadri and William Nylander doing all kinds of damage at even strength. Kadri registered his fifth career hat trick against the struggling Caps while Nylander added three assists and Brown picked up two helpers. That group had a good run of play against Lars Eller while John Tavares, skating with Zach Hyman and Kasperi Kapanen, was solid in his match- up role against the Alex Ovechkin/Nicklas Backstrom/T.J. Oshie trio. This was a tension-relieving win for the Leafs before their eight-day vacation during the all-star weekend and CBA-negotiated bye week. No one was more relieved than Matthews, who heads to San Jose as the captain of the Atlantic Division All Stars and had come to rue a series of tough bounces these last two weeks. He celebrated enthusiastically after breaking through on a second-period power play with a curl-and-drag from his usual spot in the left circle and beating Braden Holtby. “It’s a stretch of games where you know you’re not scoring, you’re not producing the way you want to,” said Matthews. “You know you’re going to go through times like that and we’re going through a time like that as a team. Through some adversity. 1127511 Websites He is a big part of the frenzy in Toronto, and the possibility of winning the team’s first Stanley Cup in 52 years.

Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares. Sportsnet.ca / John Shannon's Top 25 NHL Power Brokers 2019 Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares. (Nathan Denette/CP)

21. Kyle Dubas and Brad Treliving: John Shannon |January 23, 2019, 9:17 AM Living under the microscope hasn’t stopped either of these Canadian- based GMs from assembling teams that win far more than they lose. When I made my first visit to the NHL office in New York City in the late Both have been creative and unafraid of change in their pursuit of deep ’70s, seven employees worked there. Seven! In 2019, I think there are playoff runs, and it will be interesting to see whether they stand pat over well over 400. That growth reflects the change from cottage industry to the next month or help their teams with a timely trade. The pressure to mainstream sports and entertainment juggernaut, a change that has win in a Canadian city is immeasurable. Not bowing to pressure — from resulted from the work of many people both in the league office and ownership, media and fans — is a full time job. Staying the course and beyond its walls. This list is a little glimpse at some of those people, who believing in the process makes you stronger. While Dubas has improved are still working to grow the game. his team through the financial resources of MLSE in free agency, Treliving has fired his coach and traded away the highest-scoring There are more players on this year’s Power 25 than there were in 2018 defenceman in the NHL and seen those moves pay off. And his trades on or 2017. There’s one simple reason for that: The game on the ice recent draft days are proof of his desire to build a winner in Calgary. Both demands it. Players today are younger and more creative, and they’re GMs have stressed building from within, and that approach has demanding a share in the business. Over the next year, that trend will delivered, with the likes of Travis Dermott, Rasmus Anderson, Mitch evolve even more as 2019’s restricted free agent market manoeuvres for Marner and Matthew Tkachuk becoming vital players for their teams. new and bigger contracts, putting salary cap pressure on teams across the league. 20. Connor McDavid: There is also a greater focus on Canadian teams and their contributions For my money, No. 97 is the most exciting player in the NHL, a guy who to the game. Again, the explanation is simple: They have produced some consistently delivers those moments that make you turn in disbelief and of the best stories of the season. Calgary, Toronto and Winnipeg are all say, “Did you see that?” He has returned the Oilers to their place as one near the top of the standings. Montreal and Vancouver are surprising of the most interesting franchises in the league, and willed his team to playoff contenders, and Edmonton and Ottawa remains tremendously, victories with skill and pure heart. I would like to see him be more compellingly frustrating for their fan bases. In short, passion for the game demonstrative on the ice. Get angrier. Get louder. Don’t let the opposition is alive and thriving throughout the whole country. and officials take advantage of his ability to recover from interference, holding and slashes. He chooses not to because raising a fuss just isn’t Agree or disagree with these rankings. Rant or rave about them if the in his DNA. In the end, one player can’t will his team to the playoffs. He mood strikes you. But promise me one thing: Enjoy! needs help. But that won’t stop the hockey world from marvelling at his skill, speed and scoring. 25. : 19. Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello: Healy has seen the game from many angles and his passion to get it right always shines through. He is now executive director of the NHL When the Maple Leafs faced the Capitals in the playoffs in 2017, I don’t Alumni Association, that group of retired players that at times has felt think any of us imagined that Trotz and Lamoriello would work for the ignored by the players’ union and the league. Through Healy’s bulldog same team anytime soon — and that the team would be the Islanders. style, though, that’s changing. The Alumni has built some strong Well, it happened, and the structure and accountability they’ve instilled corporate partnerships and leveraged the ability of players to sign their on and off the ice have made the Islanders a factor in the Metro Division. rights back to the group as a whole so that there are now more than Like all great coaches, Trotz is thorough in his preparation and relentless 1,600 former players receiving some level of compensation. Healy’s in his execution. He has turned the blue line from a liability into an asset ability to sell both corporations and the game’s great former players on and might be coaching at an all-time high this season. As for Lamoriello, the aim of “good of all” is key to the Alumni’s renewed profile and his return to the New York area has only reinforced his image as the success. Next on the agenda has to be to create a better relationship Godfather. Players always know where they stand and that he always with the NHLPA, where Healy once worked. has their backs. And there are rules. Lamoriello and Trotz have proven that the franchise can be relevant, even without Tavares. They’ve 24. Kay Whitmore: rekindled the Islanders’ pride, and just might make the playoffs. The added challenge of having two home arenas hasn’t helped, but one has The former Whalers and Canucks goaltender has been instrumental in to think that Lamoriello will be able to solve that sticky issue sooner than the evolution of goalkeeping equipment as a member of the NHL’s later. Hockey Operations group. Soldiering on despite complaints and criticism with support from the rest of Hockey Ops and a few current goalies, 18. Brian MacLellan: Whitmore has championed the streamlining of equipment, working diligently, and well, with the NHLPA and manufacturers. Pads, pants, MacLellan now has his name on the Stanley Cup as both a player and a chest and arm protectors continue to be works in progress, and the glove GM, and not to knock his playing career, he’s had much more impact on is next to draw Whitmore’s focus with the hope that its radius will be the game from the Washington Capitals front office. He’s worked to give reduced by more than two inches and the cuff (normally called “the his team a better chance to win at the trade deadline, and his cap cheater”) will shrink as well. management following the Stanley Cup victory — moving goaltender Philipp Grubauer and D-man Brooks Orpik to Colorado in order to sign 23. Shyam Das: John Carlson (only to re-sign Orpik after the Avs bought him out) — was brilliant. Along with his assistant GM, the great player evaluator Ross An independent arbitrator who has worked for Mahoney, MacLellan has brought stability to the Caps’ front office, which and the National Football League, Das is the man the NHL and the in turn smoothed the coaching transition from Trotz to Todd Reirden. NHLPA have agreed to use for appeals of any suspension greater than Though he’s certainly not the most outgoing manager, making the six games upheld by the commissioner. In three recent decisions, Das Capitals a championship team has made MacLellan one of the most reduced the amount of games in the original suspensions for Dennis influential. Wideman (from 20 to 10), Austin Watson (from 27 to 18) and Tom Wilson (from 20 to 14), and he looks like he’ll remain the game’s neutral 17. John McDonough: discipline arbitrator for the foreseeable future. After turning the organization around and putting his name on the Stanley 22. John Tavares: Cup three times since 2010, the president and CEO of the Blackhawks has his work cut out for him as he tries to rebuild the team without Choosing Toronto in free agency, Tavares potentially changed the fate of compromising the tremendous growth he has supervised. Like the Red two franchises, one he loved from childhood, the other he joined as a Wings of the 1990s and 2000s, Chicago has become the best ratings child and left as a man. Leaving money on the table for his best chance grabber for network television in the United States. But facing the to win in Toronto — and the chance to move home — he just might have possibility of missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season will set a precedent that others will follow. After all, hockey is a game of put McDonough’s guile and elite marketing skills to the test. There is no tradition and loyalty. Matt Duchene, Artemi Panarin, Jeff Skinner, Erik doubt the dismissal of Joel Quenneville as coach came directly from Karlsson — all took note of Tavares’s decision, and the success that McDonough’s office. The confidence and autonomy given to him by followed. His influence just might be a factor for some of those owner is testimony to everything McDonough has done for unrestricted free agents this summer. And Tavares has also delivered for this once sad franchise. Now, though, he and his right-hand man Jay the Maple Leafs as a leader, goal scorer and consummate professional. Blunk, must keep the cavernous United Centre filled while Stan Bowman hockey, expanding his purview well beyond the typical head hits the re-tools on the fly, handcuffed by a few of those long-term contracts department was created to police, tackling things like the often-ignored given out while the Hawks were the talk of the hockey world. stick fouls and slew-foot plays guys felt they could get away with. Has he raised the bar? Probably, a bit. Has he gone too far? For some, yes; for 16. Stephen Walkom: others, not far enough. Parros hasn’t been afraid to use the power of the The NHL’s VP and director of officiating still thinks like an official and has CBA and levy fines without hearings to keep players aware that someone built a team of on-ice personnel that think the same way. Walkom faces a is watching. His aggressive approach to leadership of the department huge operational challenge: Trying to get that many people to watch the makes the decision to put one of the toughest players ever to wear same game the same way and make the same decision is close to skates in charge a wise one. impossible. In those terms, he has done a very good job, and I have seen 10. Mark Chipman: firsthand at officials’ training camp the camaraderie and loyalty he has promoted amongst the referees and linesmen. The best example of The last year has been a good one for the co-owner of the Winnipeg Walkom’s feel for the game was his insistence on having a supervisor in Jets. His team has become a powerhouse in the Western Conference, the situation room as a conduit with the officials on the ice. While some and Chipman, along with his partner, David Thomson, deserve credit for feel it isn’t necessary, it created the perception of authority working helping give downtown Winnipeg a bit of a facelift around the arena. together, and quelled the public critiques of the coaches’ challenge. Also Chipman’s stature within the NHL family continues to grow. He’s a know that Walkom is in constant communication with his staff to ensure member of the commissioner’s Executive Committee and a strong voice the standard of calls is as consistent as possible. He has a huge impact from one of the smallest markets in the league — and a Canadian small on the shape of the game on the ice. market at that. His management skill in landing the Atlanta Thrashers remains a tremendous example of how to navigate the demands of NHL 15. Judd Moldaver and Mike Liut: owners and the New York Office. Chipman has also joined the selection Agents Moldaver and Liut will be taking a lot of calls in the months to committee for the Hockey Hall of Fame, cementing his position as a true come. Moldaver, from Wasserman/Orr, has Auston Matthews; Octagon league insider. Sports’ Liut has Mikko Rantanen, Brock Boeser and Patrick Laine. All of 9. Sidney Crosby: those players are in the final months of their entry level deals, and the challenge for the agents is simple: how to create leverage in restricted Crosby remains as prolific on the ice as ever, and it’s almost as if his free agency, which still puts much more control on the side of the teams. greatness is now taken for granted. He still is the most marketable player Moldaver, Liut and agents like them will try to dictate the market and in the NHL, his endorsement deals reflect that fact. And there is little create budget problems for the teams. Also out there is the possibility doubt that as long as he’s healthy, the Penguins remain one the game’s that one or two of their clients might receive an offer sheet from a team in elite franchises. After starting his career as one of the loudest rookies, desperate need of a marquee player. Is Matthews worth giving up maybe chirping a few too many times, Crosby has become a public voice multiple first round picks? Maybe. Laine? Maybe. Marner? Interesting. of reason. He knows what’s expected of him, and he delivers. On the ice, We have never seen a summer like this in the NHL. So many quality, that calm demeanour is replaced by a demanding one, with a great will to young players seeking new long-term contracts. Moldaver, who moved win. His work ethic truly leads his team on a daily basis, and is the single over from CAA with Matthews, and Liut, the former NHL goaltender, are biggest reason the Pens compete at such a high level. going to be front-and-centre in the negotiations. Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby (87) 14. René Fasel: 8. P.K. Subban: Fasel’s time as president of the International Federation is coming to an end. It’s common knowledge in international hockey circles, The Nashville defenceman has had tough year on the ice, missing 19 that he will probably be gone of his own volition in the next two years. But games with back issues, but make no mistake about it, Subban and his he wants to leave a legacy. Fasel’s inability to convince the NHL to send personality remain crucial to the NHL. We all joke about “growing the its players to South Korea, after great success in Vancouver and Sochi, game,” but Subban wields the power to spark and nuture that growth. His was as frustrating as it gets. So recently, when he announced the 2020 outgoing personality transcends our sport. Whether it be his charitable World Championships in Finland and perhaps the 2022 Winter Games in work or his work for minorities, Subban’s voice is one that gets heard. As Beijing will be played on NHL-size ice, it was viewed as the first of many he matures, his message of fun and inclusiveness can help the game in olive branches meant to convince Bettman and Co. to consider the a serious way, particularly outside the core hockey audience. His next Beijing games. While Fasel is probably supported by the IOC, NHLPA, step is to create a production company and partner with NBC for an NBC, CBC and European Broadcast Union, it will certainly be difficult to upcoming series of shows. And, oh yeah, he can still really shoot the convince NHL owners to sacrifice prime February dates — particularly puck from the point and play some decent defence for the perennially when the NHL has its own plan for the Chinese market. Fasel wants to great Predators. leave his mark. NHLers on the ice in Beijing would be that mark. 7. Colin Campbell: 13. Peter DelGiacco: I have always believed that Campbell is the conscience of the game. As Hockey fans see DelGiacco’s influence at every game. As the league’s a former player and with his name on the Stanley Cup, there isn’t a chief technology officer, DelGiacco is responsible for every piece of waking moment that he isn’t thinking about what is best for the sport. Any technology the NHL uses. Cameras on the blue lines, video review, rule changes under consideration will have been sliced and diced by tablets on the benches and with the referees, and the arena-to-situation Campbell. A disciple of the late, great , Campbell thinks room intercom are all part of his domain. His biggest current challenge the game at a much higher level than most, and with the betterment of all might end up being his greatest influence in the game: player tracking. top of mind — from owners to players and fans. Don’t let the Not only could tracking make the game more watchable for some, it will Southwestern farm boy cadence fool you, Campbell is one smart cookie. become the backbone of the NHL’s new partnerships in sports betting. Staying in his position for as long as he has is testament to that, and to DelGiacco has consistently and quietly delivered for the league on every his love of the game. The fact he isn’t in charge of player discipline has, project. His work touches every department from marketing and sales to in fact, become a blessing as he’s able to devote more time to ensuring hockey operations to game presentation to the NHL Network, the the quality of play is at its best, and technology has its proper place in the archives and beyond. Delgiacco is that low-key guy in the background game. He is still one of the great complex thinkers in hockey, and that always gets things done. remains one of the commissioner’s closest advisors. 12. Mathieu Schneider: 6. Elias Pettersson: Mandatory days off, the five-day mid-season break, the all-star format If there was still any question how the Canucks were going to fill the four and some recent equipment safety measures have Schneider’s influence skates of Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Pettersson has answered them by written all over them. The former defence man who played for more than filling all four himself. Comparisons to Gretzky — because of his slight two decades and 10 NHL teams has become Donald Fehr’s consigliere, frame and his shooting style — have been made. The Canucks have his hockey whisperer. At the same time, Schneider has learned a great become a good road attraction, and have given their rabid fan base hope deal from Fehr about the art of negotiation. Over the next few months, as for years to come. As good as Pettersson is in the offensive zone, he’s the CBA becomes an issue and the tweaking of some player-first also working hard to perfect his defensive play. And, remember, he only demands becomes public, we’ll start to see Schneider’s influence there played centre seven times last season before filling that position in as well. He has always worked hard on behalf of the players. Vancouver. Coach Travis Green, himself a pretty good player, admits he doesn’t really coach Pettersson about hockey, focusing instead on life in 11. George Parros: the NHL. Not that Pettersson seems to need much off-ice guidance either. He is polite, honest, articulate and confident without being cocky. Princeton trained and street smart, Parros has put his stamp on the Constantly in demand for interviews, he appears to understand that it is Player Safety Department. He has tried to instill a more respectful style of part of the job. Quite frankly, I think he’s really having fun, and it shows. And give the Canucks credit too, for creating a small Swedish culture for in his own skin. He is more relaxed, accessible and willing to delegate to EP40. Having a handful of other Swedes on the team probably cuts down his senior management team than at any time since 1993. That is an on Pettersson’s time thinking about home. indication of his confidence in what he has done and in the game itself. All that and the Hockey Hall of Fame, too. As for the near future, 5. Jeff Vinik: franchise stability is always paramount for the commissioner. You would Vinik is the posterchild for how new NHL owners should conduct have to think that Ottawa and Arizona will need some quality time with themselves. Take a moribund franchise, hire quality hockey people and Mr. Bettman. watch the world unfold as it should — as if it was that easy. How about Ones to WATCH: right place at the right time? Sure, but you have to be able to execute a plan to be successful. Vinik has done a great job with his team, his arena 1. Travis Green. Green appears much younger than his 48 years, and he and the surrounding area. He has also become a community leader in has brought a new attitude to NHL coaching. Part tough love, part player- the Tampa area, and gives hundreds of thousands of dollars away every first. Having already paid his dues in the WHL and AHL, he is a huge part season to community groups at home games. A visit to is of the Canucks’ resurgence. impressive, with great in-game entertainment, knowledgeable hockey fans and a quality product on the ice. Vinik has also become a go-to guy 2. Chris Pronger. The great former player has worked in the NHL office for the commissioner. He is a member of the Executive Committee that and now the Panthers front office. He has to be on the short list when the most often sets the agenda for the other owners, and has become a next round of NHL GM jobs open up. barometer for Bettman on key business issues. You got a true sense of 3. Kelly McCrimmon. McCrimmon is key in the expansion front office in how Vinik runs his business with the departure of Steve Yzerman as GM. Las Vegas. His long tenure with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings and his The team on and off the ice just kept on motoring, a testament to what ability to evaluate players make him a GM in the future. Yzerman built for sure, but also to Vinik and his organization. 4. Darren Ferris. Ferris has been on his own as an agent for just six 4. Alex Ovechkin: years but he’s not afraid to ruffle feathers. He’s had two RFAs with little The Great 8 had a very good 2018. He finally won the Stanley Cup, and or no leverage sit out camp (Josh Anderson and Andreas Athanasiou), with it (finally) earned the unqualified admiration of the hockey world. If and both Taylor Hall and pending RFA Mitch Marner number among the we ever doubted that Ovechkin wanted to win in North America, those 26 players he reps. thoughts were doused in the Stanley Cup Final last June, and in the 5. Adam Oates. Oates has created his own business model. He has many fountains and champagne celebrations that followed across the become a personal coach for shooting and passing (almost like a swing world. At this writing, he is again leading the NHL in goal scoring, proving coach in golf), putting his Hall of Fame stick to work with players around he is the best pure goal-scorer since the league expanded in 1967. As a the league. And now, the Kings are using Oates, who helps with the proud Russian, Ovechkin voiced his displeasure at not being able to join power play and breaks down tape with each individual on the team. his country’s Olympic team in 2018, and many saw his early January announcement that he would not attend all-star festivities in San Jose as 6. Jim Murren. The Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International a protest. True or not, the reaction to that pending absence was a real was first in line to sign a sports betting deal with the NHL. He just might sign of respect to a player who has endured more criticism than any become one of the league’s best and biggest corporate partners. superstar in any sport, all the while posting scoring records and missing just 29 games in 14 seasons. 7. Valerie Camillo. Camillo is the new president of business operations for the Philadelphia Flyers and Wells Fargo Arena. She joins Amy 3. Bill Daly. Latimer, who runs TD garden in Boston, as high-profile women at the team level in the NHL. Camillo will oversee sales, marketing and all When Gary Bettman delegates, much falls onto the desk of the deputy business for the team and arena. commissioner. International hockey, NHLPA relations, concussion protocol and more all fall primarily on Daly. But in reality, everything that 8. Tod Leiweke. As Seattle prepares to join the NHL in 2021, we will hear falls on Bettman’s desk, also finds its way down the hall to Daly’s in some Leiweke’s name a great deal, tied to arena construction, the unveiling of form. In the two previous editions of the Power 25, I’ve mentioned how colours and name and the hiring of a hockey operations group. approachable Daly always appears to be; nothing has changed. I truly believe that as Bettman has relaxed as commissioner, it has enabled 9. . Eakin’s first NHL tenure in Edmonton was a disaster — Daly to be much more persuasive and authoritative. He can easily work for many reasons. But he has taken his time in the AHL to become a on the broadcast file in both Canada and the United States, as well being better coach and will be back in the NHL somewhere, sooner than later. a source of information and counsel for the owners. Ever since the 10. Gritty. Honestly, I tried to avoid putting the old redhead on this list, departure of former NHL chief operating officer John Collins, the senior but I couldn’t help myself. No other mascot has become as universally team has reported directly to Bettman and Daly has taken a more active recognizable as fast as the Flyers’ hairy monster. In a year in which the role in the business side of the NHL. And with Player Safety situated in iconic franchise has lost far more than it’s won, Gritty has played a key NYC, rather than Toronto, you have to know he has some influence on role in deflecting from the on-ice product. Mind you, being owned by a that high-profile group as well. multi-tiered media company, sure helped get Gritty a fair share of 2. Don Fehr. network time. There is no question Fehr is brilliant, and while he has had a few Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 detractors, it would appear the rank and file of the NHLPA have full trust in their executive director and his lieutenants. With the help of Schneider, Fehr has built a structure of outreach, a layer of regional player reps such as Steve Webb, Chris Campoli and Rob Zaminer to maintain constant communication with the players. What is interesting to me is that this group, led by Fehr, also appears open to building revenue. The World Cup and the new player tracking are two great examples of ways the partnership between the league and union can grow while contentious CBA issues continue to be negotiated. It should also be noted that quietly, he has also used former NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow as an advisor. One cautionary note about Mr. Fehr: He loves deadlines and negotiates accordingly. The first deadline isn’t until September. Just sayin’. 1. Gary Bettman. Boring, I know. But make no mistake, Gary B. Bettman still has a hold on the NHL game like no other. In many ways, the commissioner is coming off his most successful calendar year on the job, both personally and professionally. Revenues are up, and with sports betting on the horizon, the opportunities to increase those dollars are certainly there. The game on the ice is very good, and an is in the midst of putting $650 million in the pockets of its owners. As 2019 begins, and with CBA discussions already underway, Bettman once again finds himself at the centre of the action. Let’s face it, while he will downplay the conflict between the league and the PA, he was born to negotiate. He loves the fight. By the way, I have never seen the commissioner more comfortable 1127512 Websites egg: Subban needs more work to keep the Flower fresh; Subban needs to perform better to be trusted with more work.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets Sportsnet.ca / NHL Power Rankings: Step Your Game Up Edition It’s incredibly bizarre to see the Blue Jackets succeeding despite, not because of, Sergei Bobrovsky. Under the weight of an uncertain future, Luke Fox | January 23, 2019, 8:40 AM the two-time Vezina champ has been abnormally streaky. Goalie Bob’s .904 save percentage is below the league average (.908) and certainly not helping his case to be elevated to Carey Price’s tax bracket. I believe it was the great poet O’Shea Jackson who warned, “You betta 9. Pittsburgh Penguins check yo’ self before you wreck yo’ self.” Derick Brassard (14 points in 39 games) has been an ill fit in Pittsburgh, As the National Hockey League breaks for all-star weekend and and now he’s being shopped at the second consecutive trade deadline. everyone gets a chance to tap the reset button with a few sunny days off, Perhaps if he’s given a second-line centre role, he can rediscover his a list of under-performing players should think long and hard about where game. their game is at between sips of their bye-week Mai Tais. 10. Boston Bruins In our NHL Power Rankings: Step Your Game Up Edition, we single out a player from each organization who hasn’t lived up to expectations Part of the reason Boston will be scouring for secondary scoring ahead of through the first 50 games of 2018-19. the deadline is that young forwards like 23-year-old Danton Heinen (six goals, 13 points in 47 games) have taken a step backward in terms of All of the culprits below could help their teams by making big strides production, failing to springboard after a promising 2017-18. down the stretch. 11. Toronto Maple Leafs With 6 grams of delicious, crunchy, energy-giving protein, there’s nothing you and almonds can’t do. Visit Almonds.com for more ways to slay your Frederik Gauthier, Ron Hainsey, and Igor Ozhiganov each have more day. goals than William Nylander. For those scoring at home, none of the first three Leafs mentioned will cash a juicy $8.3-million signing bonus on July 1. Tampa Bay Lightning 1. OK, I’m questioning this week’s theme already. The Lightning are quite 12. Washington Capitals light on under-performers, but we’ll go with Yanni Gourde. The top-six winger wowed with a 64-point rookie campaign but has struggled to light The Capitals are fielding trade offers for winger Andre Burakovsky, a the lamp of late. Gourde scored just once in 20 games prior to finding the first-round pick in 2013. The fifth-year NHLer is mired in the worst season net versus San Jose Saturday. of his career. He’s only 23 and could have 20-goal potential, but right now he’s hard-pressed to reach 10. 2. Calgary Flames 13. Montreal Canadiens For all the good things Brad Treliving has done, James Neal’s five-year, $28.75-million contract sticks out like a sore thumb. The Real Deal ranks We don’t blame anyone for taking the money, but the fact Karl Alzner has 11th on his own team in goals (five) and holds a team-worst minus-10 contributed more of his season to the , a middle-of-the-pack ranking. AHL squad, than the Montreal Canadiens is atrocious. Is it too early to talk about the fact that James Neal brings magic to 14. Carolina Hurricanes every team he has played with? Coach Rod Brind’Amour admits he’s still trying to figure out Dougie I think this makes up for the fact that he isn't scoring. Hamilton, the blue-chip blue-liner for whom the Hurricanes gave up a ransom of goods. Hamilton is producing offence at the worst rate of his — Leah Kessel (@leahflame) January 22, 2019 career (0.33 points per game) and the puck goes in his team’s net when he’s on the ice (minus-13). Available for trade, again, at age 25. 3. Winnipeg Jets 15. Minnesota Wild We’re big on the Jets, so this is nitpicking. Winnipeg’s winning percentage is, shockingly, better when Laurent Brossoit is in net. The It’s never cool to pick on the new guy. And, yes, he’s been hurt and backup has a save percentage (.943) 33 points better than last year’s traded. But former 21-goal centreman Victor Rask has just one goal and Vezina finalist, Connor Hellebuyck (.910). Despite playing behind one of six assists this season. He’s only 25. Step yo’ game up. the league’s elite D corps, Hellebuyck’s performance thus far has hovered around the NHL average. Average goalies don’t win Cups. 16. Colorado Avalanche There’s another level for Bucky. The Avalanche gave up the 47th pick in the 2018 draft and ate Brooks 4. New York Islanders Orpik’s old contract so they could acquire Philipp Grubauer, arguably the most promising emerging starter available last spring. He fumbled away Tough to criticize one of the greatest stories in hockey. If we need to his temporary starting job in Washington during Round 1 of the playoffs single out an underwhelming Islander, it must be Andrew Ladd. The Isles’ and has posted just a .895 save percentage this season. Semyon highest-paid forward next to Jordan Eberle can’t stay healthy, and with Varlamov (13-12-5, .908) hasn’t run away with the gig either. Colorado four-and-a-half seasons still remaining on his hefty contract, he’s become needs more from its netminders. a very expensive third-liner. He has seven points in only 14 games played. 17. Buffalo Sabres 5. San Jose Sharks The Sabres are being dragged down our Power Rankings by a lack of depth. Kyle Okposo and his pedestrian 19 points top a group of well- Marc-Edouard Vlasic is usually the picture of quiet consistency and compensated forwards (Jason Pominville, Vladimir Sobotka, Conor reliability. But this season he has taken a noticeable and curious step Sheary) who need to provide more punch. backward. The 31-year-old is a team-worst minus-13 and is on pace for his first negative plus/minus season in 11 years. 18. Dallas Stars 6. Nashville Predators We’ll save the expletives, but we do agree that 90 players should not be outscoring Jamie Benn. He’s too good. Kyle Turris simply has not been the impact player Nashville hoped he’d be when they gave him his payday. The centreman was a ghost in the 19. Vancouver Canucks playoffs, and now his first full season as a Predator has been hampered Here’s your regularly scheduled reminder that Loui Eriksson is the by injury and middling production (six goals in 30 games). highest-paid member of the Vancouver Canucks. 7. Vegas Golden Knights 20. Arizona Coyotes As wonderful as Marc-Andre Fleury has been — I voted him No. 1 on my As the club’s leading scorer, Clayton Keller will represent the Coyotes at Vezina ballot for the PHWA’s Mid-Season Awards — the Golden Knights all-star weekend, but the 20-year-old is actually on pace to come up shy have instilled little trust in the sparingly used Malcolm Subban. The of the 20-goal mark and take a step back offensively from his incredible backup is 2-5 with a .904 save percentage. The scenario is chicken-or- rookie campaign. 21. Florida Panthers Injury-hampered Nick Bjugstad was a 24-goal player on the rise at age 22. At 26, we’re already wondering if his best playing days are behind him. 22. St. Louis Blues We live in a world where David Perron is out-sniping Vladimir Tarasenko in St. Louis, and the latter is the one subjected to trade rumours. 23. New York Rangers We’re starting to wonder if Vladislav Namestnikov’s numbers may have been pumped up by some of his talented linemates in Tampa. With four goals, 16 points and a minus-11 rating, he looks like a shadow of the Lightning’s 20-goal solid role player. 24. Edmonton Oilers It’s wonderful that Milan Lucic recently celebrated a two-goal game. But the mere fact that a big deal is made when a $42-million investment scores twice within 60 minutes indicates where the never-ending rebuild sits. 25. Anaheim Ducks Time and pain have caught up to Ryan Kesler, who’s been braving lingering injuries to the tune of four goals and six points through 44 games and is now back on the injured reserve. Tough contract for the organization to swallow at this point. 26. Philadelphia Flyers Take away Gritty and Claude Giroux and there are a lot of under- performers to choose from. Top-10 draftees Ivan Provorov and Nolan Patrick stick out. Patrick’s struggles as a sophomore have been underscored by the rise of Elias Pettersson, the centre selected three picks later in 2017. 27. Los Angeles Kings Sniper-for-hire Ilya Kovalchuk commanded (and received) the price of a 30-goal scorer. His goal column is still stuck in the single digits. 28. Ottawa Senators There are three more seasons beyond this one attached to Bobby Ryan’s contract, which carries a $7.25-million cap hit. Ryan is actually having his best showing in three years (29 points in 46 games), but the output will be hard-pressed to measure up to the pay rate. 29. New Jersey Devils Marcus Johansson has never been the same player since he left Washington. The concussions didn’t help, of course. The 28-year-old forward has a disappointing point line of 7-9-16, and New Jersey isn’t deep enough to hide a $4.6-million trade bust. 30. Chicago Blackhawks Riddled with injuries, Corey Crawford has a record of 6-14-2. Plan B, Cam Ward, is operating with a .884 save percentage. It’s the type of goaltending that ensures a trip to the draft lottery. 31. Detroit Red Wings No one expects Justin Abdelkader to light the world on fire with his production, but when you’re pulling down $4.25 million for five more years, they need you to do better than 13th in team scoring. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127513 Websites "I don’t think it was just the second period," Green said. "I thought we struggled against their quickness. I’m not worried about it being a wakeup call. We’ve been honest with our team all along." Sportsnet.ca / Canucks plagued by lack of energy, speed in loss to Veteran centre Brandon Sutter said: "Our last three games have been Hurricanes the same tale: we just haven’t been our best. That second period, that 10-minute stretch just got away from us and then it was over. We just have to come back ready." Iain MacIntyre | January 24, 2019, 2:05 AM If the Canucks need to play more often in order to play well, they’ll get their wish in February. They play nine times in 15 days, seven of the game on the road, starting on Feb. 2 against the Colorado Avalanche in VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks have earned their winter Denver. That first Canucks practice back at altitude is going to be a holiday. Just not on Wednesday. doozy. With the NHL all-star break and Vancouver’s bye week combining to give The Canucks and Avalanche hit the all-star break tied for the final wild- players seven complete days off, it looked like most of the Canucks card playoff spot in the Western Conference. Before this season, that already had one skate on the plane to Hawaii or Mexico or Vegas when would have seemed like a miracle on the West Coast. The Canucks have they lost 5-2 Wednesday to the Carolina Hurricanes. 31 games to go. But they could be out of the race by the middle of February if they don’t find their form. The dismal loss – the Canucks defended atrociously and surrendered four straight second-period goals – ended Vancouver’s pre-holiday "I just think we’ve got to get back to what we did when we were playing homestand at 3-1-2. Four months ago, taking eight points out of 12 on a well," defenceman Alex Edler said. "It’s all little things. It starts in the D- homestand might have earned everyone here a civic holiday. zone. You take care of that, the offence will take care of itself. Every once in a while you just have to click the reset button and get back to But Vancouver’s record was a false economy heading into Wednesday’s playing simple, hard hockey. We need everyone every night. We say that game. The Canucks had been badly outplayed in the first 30 to 40 all the time." minutes of their previous three games. Goaltending, timely scoring and luck had allowed them to go 2-0-1. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 Canucks coach Travis Green revealed after Sunday’s 3-2 escape against the Detroit Red Wings that he told his players in the second intermission he was unsure whether to yell or feel sorry for them because they were playing so badly. They may have been worse on Wednesday. At least Green wouldn’t have been conflicted. But he may have needed throat lozenges for the third period. Green, who was a poker player of note before he became a coach, bluffed everyone Tuesday when he deployed Jake Virtanen as an extra forward in practice. Virtanen was not healthy scratched on Wednesday, when presumably he would be fired up by his coach’s not-so-subtle message. But Virtanen did not look fired up. He played nine minutes and was minus-two. None of the Canucks were fired up. They were outshot 19-7 by Carolina in the first 30 minutes, bringing their territorial deficit to 78-34 in the first half of the final four games of the homestand. They didn’t move their feet, couldn’t move the puck out of their own zone and were dominated by the best Hurricanes. Teuvo Teravainen had a goal and two assists for Carolina, Nino Niederreiter scored twice and Sebastian Aho and Dougie Hamilton had two points apiece. Even Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom, on the greatest and most consistent two-month run of his NHL career, was powerless this time to plug the holes in his team’s defence. The third pairing of Erik Gudbranson and Derrick Pouliot looked almost unplayable. Canucks winger Antoine Vermette, who padded his penalty minutes by taking a double-minor and 10-minute misconduct against Niederreiter with 13:30 remaining, said after the Detroit game that his team had lost its rhythm. After playing about every second night for nearly two months, when only the Vegas Golden Knights played as often and in as many road games as the Canucks did, Vancouver’s six-game homestand was spread leisurely across 17 days. The time between games was divided between quality practices and full days off. So, yes, the Canucks’ rhythm was disrupted. But that doesn’t sufficiently explain their lack of energy and foot speed the last week. With six winnable games, plenty of rest and practice time to prepare for them, and the rare bonus of a fully healthy lineup, eight points was the over-under for a successful homestand. The Canucks arrived there in an unorthodox manner, and yet had a terrific chance to get 10 points. They just needed to muster one superior performance – one inspired start and 60 minutes of crisp execution. Another win was sitting right there for them when Sven Baertschi finished a pretty passing play with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser to somehow put Vancouver ahead 2- 1 at 5:14 of the second period. Then the Canucks surrendered four goals in a 10-minute span. 1127514 Websites But the Coyotes came into Thursday’s action with over 200 man-games lost already, having grown accustomed to playing well short-handed — and perhaps underestimated. Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens embracing challenge of playoff position battle “That’s a good hockey team over there,” said Gallagher. “They work really hard, their structure is good.” Eric Engels January 24, 2019, 12:30 AM It was on this night, too. But Montreal’s power-play came through on its first opportunity with Jonathan Drouin scoring his 14th goal of the season. Mike Reilly made it MONTREAL — This was supposed to be a slam dunk for the Montreal 2-1 less than five minutes into the third period. And the contributions Joel Canadiens, wasn’t it? It was a chance — coming off four days of rest — Armia made — accounting for four of the six takeaways the Canadiens to beat an injury-riddled Arizona Coyotes team that had played a night were credited for, earning the clean zone-entry on the power play that led prior and was starting its backup goaltender. A glorious opportunity to to the game’s first goal, hemming the Coyotes in their own zone as cement their place in the playoff picture before heading into a 10-day precious seconds ticked off the clock — were as good as can be in a break that will allow the teams around them to make up games in-hand. game where he didn’t hit the scoresheet. Here’s the thing about that: If you go back to September, few people in All in all, looking up and down Montreal’s bench, it was hard to find a and around the sport thought the Canadiens would be favourites in any player who didn’t put in the appropriate effort — even if execution fell of their games this season. Especially this deep in — with the all-star short for some of them. break on tap and 31 games remaining on their schedule. Now this team rests having established itself as a good one. A team at They’ve been a surprise from the start, slowly earning the expectations peace with what it’s accomplished to date and hungry to take on the that have come with establishing themselves as a playoff hopeful. challenge ahead. “Good teams find a way to win when they’re expected to,” said Brendan “[The break is] going to be huge for us,” said Price, who has played Gallagher after the Canadiens delivered a 2-1 victory over the Coyotes through most of his 38 appearances with a minor lower-body injury. “I Wednesday. think any time you can take some time off like this is going to be great for the body and for the mind. It’s been a grind this season. The schedule’s Good teams dominate the play for the majority of games like these. They not getting any easier, so just to take some time off to exhale is going to earn the lion’s share of the scoring chances. They push the pace and put be huge for us.” in an empty-the-tank type of effort. Great teams win them convincingly if they do all those things. It could allow the Canadiens to be at full health for the first time all season if Andrew Shaw recovers from his neck injury and is ready to play The Canadiens aren’t quite there yet, but they managed the game as when they resume at the Bell Centre on Feb. 2. That would be a blessing well as possible in all of those ways and prevailed in the end. Consider it for a team that’s feeling strong and confident. another small step for the NHL’s second-youngest team. “We set ourselves up nicely,” said Gallagher. “All the talk since the Sure the score finished 2-1, a late goal from former Canadien Alex beginning of the year was that we wanted to be in a playoff spot, and Galchenyuk was reversed for offside thanks to the watchful eyes of video we’re in that position. I think it’s exciting, but I think everyone knows the coaches Eric Gravel and Mario Leblanc, and the shot attempts were 59- stretch run is only going to get tighter. It’s a challenge for it, but it’s 55 in Arizona’s favour. But make no mistake — the Canadiens would’ve something we should embrace.” stormed away with two points if Coyotes backup Calvin Pickard was even a fraction off his best self. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 They took them anyway, leapfrogging the Boston Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division and staying within a point of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second. Their fifth win in their last six games gave them a seven-point advance on the Buffalo Sabres and guaranteed they’ll maintain their place in the playoffs when they resume play on Feb. 2. With the win tonight, #Habs guaranteed they'd remain in a playoff spot when they resume play on Feb. 2. They own a 7-point advance on BUF and will be even with them, the Bruins, the Canes and the Penguins in games (51) come that date. The Leafs, one point up, will have played 50. — Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 24, 2019 That the Canadiens put themselves in that position with this charge says much about who they are versus who most expected them to be this season. “The one thing you can say is that we found ways to win,” started Canadiens coach Claude Julien. “I know I repeat myself a lot with those 82-game schedules, but you can’t always be perfect, and in order to be good, you’ve got to find ways to win. And throughout this six-game segment that we had had before this break, we wanted to put ourselves in a position where we could be still in a playoff position, and we were, and we needed to have a winning record (to do it). So guys did a good job of that. “Some games our goaltenders came up big for us (consecutive wins over the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers saw Carey Price and Antti Niemi combine for 93 saves on 96 shots faced), some others it was… when you look at (the 4-1 win over) Columbus we scored some goals at the right time and we were patient when we had to be. And tonight’s another good example.” Against a Coyotes team that had won six of eight games and beaten some of the best teams in the NHL in the process — the San Jose Sharks and Maple Leafs among them. Granted, Arizona was missing its best defenceman in Oliver Ekman- Larsson, who was hurt in the 3-2 win the Coyotes notched over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. It’s also noted they were missing forwards Brad Richardson, Nick Schmaltz, Michael Grabner, Christian Dvorak and blue-liner Jason Demers. 1127515 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Canucks owner talks playoffs, tanking in latest live tweet session

Sportsnet Staff | @Sportsnet January 24, 2019, 1:26 AM

Back in November, Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini decided he would pick a game against the Colorado Avalanche to be the first one he would live tweet from his personal account. On Wednesday night, Aquilini was back at it, this time picking a Canucks matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes to give the Twitter app on his phone the workout. However, unlike in November, where he mostly just showed off his Canucks fandom, on Wednesday night Aquilini broached a rather divisive topic for Vancouver fans: The post-season. Pre-season, nobody had us in the playoff race at all-star break. Long way to go, but I like the way this group is coming together. — Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) January 24, 2019 The observation Aquilini made is by no means factually false, but as he alluded to, this wasn’t supposed to be a season as competitive as it’s turned out to be for the Canucks and there are some in the fanbase who, after seeing how things have gone, might think the team could be buyers with the Feb. 25 trade deadline just around the corner. Aquilini quelled these thoughts, however, saying that while he’s all in on playoffs, he doesn’t want it to be at the expense of his club’s future. Lots of playoff feedback. Sure, would be great to make playoffs, but not at expense of our long-term plan. We want to build a team that challenges for the Cup year after year. Like we had 2008/9/10/11. That's the path we're on. — Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) January 24, 2019 And on the flip side, there are also Vancouver fans who are upset that the team isn’t living up to its pre-season basement-dwelling billing and aren’t just trying to play for the most lottery balls possible. Aquilini addressed this sentiment too, but expressed confusion over why anyone would want to see their team “tank,” citing the pride of NHL players as a reason why this is something that will never happen. People who talk about "tanking" for draft reasons don't get it. Every player in the NHL beat out 10,000 other guys to get here. They have pride. They hate to lose. If you don;t understand that, you don't understand the NHL. — Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) January 24, 2019 For those in favour of tanking, they should be happy as Vancouver fell 5- 2 to Carolina on Wednesday, but seeing as Aquilini was talking playoffs, this definitely wasn’t the result he was looking for. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127516 Websites Tavares, too, has that drive — and that includes playing at a level where he continues to be invited to all-star games.

“You never know,” he said. “Hopefully I’m fortunate enough to get a few Sportsnet.ca / Leafs' Tavares understands Ovechkin's choice, but it's not more.” for him Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019

Luke Fox January 23, 2019, 1:26 PM

TORONTO — John Tavares understands Alex Ovechkin’s choice, but it’s not one he can envision himself making. Fans elected Ovechkin captain of the Metropolitan Division all-stars at this weekend’s NHL All-Star Game in San Jose, but the league’s reigning goals leader has opted to skip the spotlight in the name of more downtime. As a league-enforced punishment for bailing out, Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals were given the choice to sit the star for either Wednesday’s game in Toronto or the club’s Feb. 1 home date versus Calgary. Following Tuesday’s dramatic 7-6 overtime loss — the defending champs’ alarming seventh straight defeat, despite an Ovie hat trick — the Capitals announced that Ovechkin would suit up against Maple Leafs. It never crossed the mind of Tavares, the Maple Leafs’ leading goal scorer, to duck what will be his fifth consecutive All-Star Game and sixth overall. “One day, I won’t be playing the game anymore. I won’t be around these all-star games. You go out there and try to enjoy it. San Jose is obviously a beautiful area, great location. So, I’ll enjoy the downtime and also enjoy being around those players,” Tavares said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “I try to look at it as, although there are a lot of demands when you show up for the weekend, being an all-star is a special recognition, and it usually means you’re having a pretty good season. It’s nice to experience it.” Tavares vividly recalls his first all-star invite, in 2012 to Ottawa, a city close enough to his hometown that a cadre of friends and family made the trek to share in the fun. He was just 21. “I remember looking around the locker room kind of in awe. A pinch- yourself kind of moment, being around that type of talent,” said Tavares, noting the thrill of meeting Ovechkin and Martin St. Louis in particular. “At that point I was starting to get used to competing against them, but when you get to rub shoulders with them and see what makes them who they are, you certainly try to enjoy it.” He thinks fondly of L.A.’s NHL 100 celebration in 2017, when he and Ovie’s Metro grabbed Wayne Gretzky as its emergency coach for the 3- on-3 tournament. “That was the first time I really got to meet [Gretzky] and got to know him,” Tavares said. “It was a game you didn’t want to end.” Tavares still cherishes the personalized autographed sticks he keeps from Mike Modano and Paul Kariya (“just legends in my eyes”) and now knows to pack a few extra twigs of his own now for the younger generation who want a baton. Even at his seventh go-around, Tavares will make the effort to get a sweater signed by all his fellow all-stars before he travels to San Diego for some deserved R&R over the bye week. “They might be a pain to try to get on a weekend like this, but I know down the road I’ll appreciate looking back on them,” Tavares explained. “There’s an appreciation for those battles you have against best the world. You take those moments to show respect to one another.” May every 28-year-old be blessed with the perspective of Tavares, who can also rationalize Ovechkin’s decision. “The amount of hockey he’s played the last 12 months has been quite a lot, and the level he’s playing at again this season and certainly last year, I can understand what two or three extra days can do for you mentally and physically,” Tavares said. “He’s also taken his fair share of criticism at times. What’s impressive about him is, he’s never let that deter from who he is as a player, but I think he’s grown. “When you’re driven to get the ultimate prize, you’ll do whatever it takes.” 1127517 Websites It’s also conceivable the Senators could load up one bonus-heavy contract, say, Stone’s. But could they afford two long and lengthy bonus deals? It is far more challenging for a franchise with cash flow issues, like Sportsnet.ca / How signing bonuses impact Senators' chances of Ottawa, to compete in this bonus arena with a club like the Maple Leafs, keeping Duchene, Stone who are swimming in cash. The player agent didn’t want to comment on the worth of players (eg. Stone, Duchene) he doesn’t represent, but for background said it is “safe Wayne Scanlan January 23, 2019 to assume those two players, on the open market, if they reach the open market, will have opportunity to sign deals that are heavily laden with signing bonus over salary each year.” Hockey bonuses used to be the sizzle on a contract steak. Advantage: the well-to-do of the NHL. Players would get a signing bonus on the day of the deal and perhaps As the sports blogging site SB Nation noted last summer: smaller incentive bonuses tied to achievements, such as individual player awards or statistical targets. The base salary was the big ticket. “To pay these epic signing bonuses, you need to have the kind of cash flow very few teams can boast. This is a strength of the Leafs as a cash- Today, such contract structures seem quaint and outdated. At least for rich team with an almost non-existent debt load. They can cut a cheque the NHL’s best players, bonuses have become the meat on the bones of for $15 million and smile about it.” the deal — in some cases comprising 90 per cent or more of the total contract. In Ottawa, they smile through such largesse with gritted teeth. That is, if they can manage such generosity at all. Consider the massive deal signed by John Tavares with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2018-19, Tavares is receiving $15.25 million US as a The reality around the Senators and the ownership of is signing bonus and a measly $650,000 as a base salary, which used to be that the franchise carries a heavy debt load, is suffering through another the major element of a player’s contract. season of declining attendance with no playoff revenues to count on in 2018 or 2019. In salary, Tavares is paid like a fringe fourth-liner. In bonus, he is paid like a king. Over the seven-year term of his deal, Tavares never exceeds The Senators act as though Bobby Ryan’s annual $2 million US signing $910,000 per season in salary, while the signing bonus doesn’t dip below bonus is onerous. It began in 2015-16 and runs through to 2021-2022, a $7 million. The total payout is $77 million with a cap hit of $11 million. $14 million commitment along with an annual base salary of $5.5 million. Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning has a similar deal, although Yet, that figure is puny by comparison to the bonus payouts it’s expected signed a year earlier, and not as lucrative as the Tavares windfall. Of the Stone or Duchene could command, especially as unrestricted free agents $68 million for Stamkos, $60 million is paid in bonus and just $8 million in this summer. base salary over eight years. The salary cap was supposed to be an equalizer in the NHL, but just as Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is receiving $13 million of this season’s agents figure out ways around the CBA, franchises who are deep in cash payout as signing bonus, and $2 million as salary. By 2025-26, he will can use contract structure to their advantage, regardless of cap limit, and have received $86 million in bonus, versus $14 million in base salary. leave the smaller markets behind. Why are the agents of the NHL elite structuring contracts this way? There has been talk that in the next CBA, the NHL would like to limit the amount of signing bonus that can be paid out each year to an individual Three main reasons: The bonus money is paid up front, and who player. That concern is coming from teams that can’t or won’t pay these wouldn’t like to receive tomorrow’s pay cheque today? Just as bonuses. importantly, the bonus money makes the contract virtually buyout proof (buyouts are calculated on salary, not bonus money) and lockout proof, The NHL could also argue that these bonuses are a way of should there be a work stoppage prior to the 2020-21 season. circumventing the buyout provision in the current CBA. Players up for new deals are wanting to ensure their bonus money gets Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 paid in a single shot (“lockout insurance”), even if the base salary gets shut down along with all or part of the 2020-21 NHL season. There are also income tax savings, which vary by state or province, by getting the bulk of your cheque as a bonus. Keep this in mind when considering the Ottawa Senators‘ ability to pay pending free-agent forwards Mark Stone, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel. Stone and Duchene, in particular, are in position to ensure they receive the bulk of their contract regardless of whether or not the NHL and its Players Association agree to a new CBA in time for the 2020-21 season. A prominent NHL agent says that while these types of deals are becoming more widespread, they are generally “reserved for the elite players, most of them unrestricted free agents signing with a new team. Or reserved for the franchise player on certain teams. “Certain owners, for example, the guy in Ottawa, aren’t known to offer those kinds of deals. I don’t think that was ever part of the (Erik) Karlsson offer, made to him before he was traded. “It does give certain teams in certain markets a competitive edge in signing players.” The representatives of Stone and Duchene wouldn’t be viewed as greedy or unreasonable in asking for bonus-laden contracts, but simply acting in the best interests of their clients. On Hockey Night In Canada, Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos suggested Duchene was the subject of a contract offer from Ottawa in the neighbourhood of eight years, $64 million. Elliotte Friedman surmised that the offer for Stone would exceed that. The topic of bonus structure was not discussed, but it’s reasonable to assume these two pending UFAs would want the majority of their pay in bonus, for the reasons stated above. It’s possible Stone could accept a smaller bonus and a more classic contract in order to remain in Ottawa and become the Senators’ next captain. 1127518 Websites return to the lineup – hopefully shortly after the team’s nine-day break – the Flames will have eight NHL-calibre defencemen and the type of depth that’s necessary for a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sportsnet.ca / Flames Thoughts: Calgary look like contenders entering With that said, I still expect Treliving will attempt to add a veteran left- all-star break shot D-man before the trade deadline. In goal, David Rittich has been outstanding. Will he continue to play like a Derek Wills | January 23, 2019, 9:42 PM true No. 1 goaltender down the stretch and into the playoffs? Only time will tell, but he’s shown little to no signs of regression. As for Mike Smith, while I may be in the minority, I still believe he will play a role – potentially a prominent one – for the Flames this season. The Calgary Flames enter their mid-season vacation in a fantastic position. They top the Pacific Division by six points and occupy the top FIND-A-WAY FLAMES spot in the Western Conference as well. While the Flames have done a great job of finding ways to win games of Here are some Flames thoughts as Calgary begins a well-deserved late, chances are they’re not going to win many, if any, best-of-seven break. series with the type of hockey that they’ve been playing of late. Sportsnet NOW gives you access to over 500 NHL games this season, Bill Peters has been preaching to his players for quite some time that blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown they have to tighten up defensively, improve without the puck and be Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, the entire 2019 Stanley smarter in how they manage games. Cup Playoffs and more. Ask yourself this question: if you were a player, would you rather win 2-1 DOG DAYS or 6-4? In my opinion, the dog days of the NHL season fall between the The answer is 6-4 because the team wins and the player wins with Christmas break and the all-star break/bye week. padded stats. Almost halfway through what is a gruelling 82-game regular season The challenge that Peters faces right now is convincing the players – schedule, most players look forward to getting away from the game for a while they’re winning and accumulating plenty of points – that when the few days. With that said, getting three, four or five days off at Christmas competition gets stiffer and the games get harder, they’ll have to be able can be as hectic as it is relaxing for players, especially those who spend to win low-scoring, tight-checking matchups. parts of two days travelling to see family and friends before returning to work. Hopefully, the Flames won’t have to learn this lesson the hard way. Fortunately, for most players, coaches and managers (and HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR (OR NOT) broadcasters!), it’s easier to get some much-needed R&R during the all- The NFL Pro Bowl is a joke. The NBA All-Star Game is awful. The MLB star break (for those not participating) and the bye week, which this All-Star Game is really good, in part, because there’s actually something season, the NHL has tied together, giving all 31 teams at least one week on the line. As far as the four major sports are concerned, I would rank off. the NHL All-Star Game at No. 2. Almost every player I asked about the subject admitted that being at their While I wasn’t a big fan of the game when it was played 5-on-5, I really best between the two breaks can be a challenge. I suspect it can really enjoy it 3-on-3. be challenging for players on teams that are comfortably in (or uncomfortably out) of a playoff spot, especially when they‘re playing an One of the great things about the game of hockey is the physicality of the opponent that’s more desperate for points. sport. Unlike the MLB All-Star Game, the NHL All-Star Game is basically a no-hitter. While the Flames were far from their best in some – maybe even most of – the 14 games that they played between the two breaks, statistically Five-on-five, that is not an accurate representation of the way the game speaking, they were the best team in the NHL between the Dec. 27 and is played. As for 3-on-3, because there’s so much more open ice, there is Jan. 22, going 11-1-2. hardly any hitting in three-on-three overtime in regular season games that matter, so it’s not much different at the All-Star Game. There’s an old saying, “It’s not how, it’s how many” and the Flames picked-up 24 of a possible 28 points between the two breaks. Very Three-on-three hockey is way more about speed, skill and puck impressive. possession, which is a great way to showcase some of the best players in the world. Personally, I love the overtime format in the regular season BEST IN THE WEST so much that I’d love to see the NHL a few more minutes of OT before By nature, I’m an optimist. But I must admit, as much as I liked the deciding games in shootouts. Flames going into the 2018-19 season (I predicted they would finish Johnny Gaudreau, with his speed and skill and hockey sense, is one of second in the Pacific Division, behind the Sharks), I certainly didn’t see the best players on the planet in 3-on-3 situations, so it’s no surprise that them going into their nine-day break 20 games above .500 and with a for the fifth time in five NHL seasons, he’ll represent the Flames at the six-point lead atop both the Pacific and the Western Conference in my NHL All-Star Game. crystal ball. The strange thing is, I don’t even think the team has played to its potential. If the league handed out mid-season awards, Gaudreau – who is tied for second in the Art Ross Trophy race with 73 points – would almost At forward, as fantastic as the first line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean certainly be a finalist for the Hart Trophy, and his head coach, Bill Peters, Monahan and Elias Lindholm has been (they are tied for second, eighth would likely be a finalist for the Jack Adams Award (I get a vote, and he’d and 14th in the Art Ross Trophy race, respectively), I strongly suspect be one of the three names on my ballot). Peters will be behind the bench the other three lines will provide the Flames with more consistent of the Pacific Division All-Stars in San Jose this weekend and should secondary scoring in the second half of the season. probably have at least one more Flames player on his team. Case in point: James Neal. Mark Giordano is second in the league in points among defenceman and Neal, who scored at least 21 goals in each of his first 10 NHL seasons, would almost certainly be one of the three finalists for the Norris Trophy if only tallied five times in his first 49 games with the Flames. Neal’s career it was awarded at the all-star break. While the Flames captain should be shooting percentage is 11.8. It’s 4.6 per cent this year. That’s participating in his third All-Star Game, the fact that he isn’t could be a unsustainable. blessing in disguise. Giordano is 35 and a nine-day break now could help him in the spring. On defence, there’s not much to complain about. Mark Giordano has arguably been the best defenceman in the league this season. The 35- Because his left-winger has been one of the best players in the league year-old is second in the NHL in points among blueliners with 52 in 49 this season, Sean Monahan hasn’t received the credit that he deserves. games and leads the NHL with a plus-29 rating. Monahan is tied for ninth in the NHL in goals with 27 and eighth in points with 61, which are all-star worthy stats. On top of that, Giordano’s partner T.J. Brodie has returned to the top pairing and back into form. Noah Hanifin and Travis Hamonic have been Speaking of Gaudreau’s linemates, Elias Lindholm, has arguably been terrific, too. the Flames best two-way forward this season. Lindholm’s previous career high for goals in a season was 17. His previous single-season As good as the rookie pairing of Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Andersson best for points was 45. has been, when fellow rookie Juuso Valimaki and veteran Michael Stone Fifty-one games into his first campaign with the Flames, Lindholm has 21 goals and 58 points. He could be an all-star. If Matthew Tkachuk played for a different team, he might be on the ice at SAP Center. The same could be said for David Rittich. I know some fans are bent out of shape because Peters and Gaudreau are the only guys representing the Flames at the NHL All-Star Game. While I understand where you’re coming from, ultimately, if a mid-season break helps Giordano, Monahan, Lindholm, Tkachuk and Rittich recharge their batteries going into the second half of the season, it’s a trade-off that could pay dividends for the Flames this spring. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127519 Websites #ALLCAPS Alex Ovechkin becomes the 9th player in NHL history to score 35 goals in 11 different seasons.

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 23, 2019 Sportsnet.ca / 3 things we learned in the NHL: Sharks can't stop pucks Hamilton makes most of return to Calgary

After producing three consecutive 40-point seasons with the Calgary Josh Weinstein | January 23, 2019, 8:45 AM Flames, Dougie Hamilton was traded in one of the headline deals of this past off-season. Well, Hamilton’s anticipated return to Alberta as a member of the visiting Carolina Hurricanes finally arrived, and the Alex Ovechkin netted another hat trick, Dougie Hamilton scored in his defenceman was sure to make the most of it. return to Calgary and the Sharks allowed plenty of goals again, but still won. Hamilton proved just how much he was looking forward to his return to the Saddledome, scoring his seventh goal off a redirection in front in the Here are three things we learned in the NHL on a five-game Tuesday. first period against his former club. Unfortunately for Hamilton, the Canes weren’t able to hold on and fell 3-2 in overtime. Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown The 25-year-old blueliner hasn’t produced as much offensively with just Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. 17 points in his first season with Carolina, which could be partially attributed to playing on one of the league’s lowest scoring outfits. Sharks win, but keep allowing goals aplenty Despite struggling to meet his standards thus far, performances like the When your team is up against a red-hot Ovechkin and the Washington one Hamilton put forth against the Flames could go a long way in helping Capitals, brace for some goals against. him regain some of the scoring touch he displayed last season. The San Jose Sharks found that out first-hand when they surrendered six Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019 goals (including three from Ovechkin) to the defending Stanley Cup champions, but were still able to come away with a 7-6 overtime win. San Jose became the first team since the 1995 Anaheim Mighty Ducks to allow six or more goals in four consecutive games. The #SJSharks have allowed six goals to the Capitals tonight, with 14:08 still to play in the 3rd period. They're the first team to allow 6+ goals in four consecutive games since the then-Mighty Ducks did so in December 1995. — Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) January 23, 2019 Considering the Sharks allow the second-fewest shots-against in the league this season at just over 28 per game, this statistic becomes all the more puzzling. Trading for a potential upgrade in net or on the blue line could go a long way to compensate for San Jose’s injury woes. Does acquiring Cam Talbot or Jimmy Howard sound enticing, Sharks fans? Thanks to a last-second goal in regulation from Evander Kane and Tomas Hertl’s overtime winner (which gave him a hat trick of his own), the Sharks overcame allowing six goals this time around and snapped their three-game slide. Meanwhile, Washington has now lost six games in a row. Hertl and Ovechkin scoring three apiece marks the first time since 2016 that a player from each team has netted a hat trick in the same game. The last time a player from each team had a hat trick in the same regular-season game was Jan. 3, 2016 when Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin (3-0—3) and Vancouver’s Jannik Hansen (3-0—3) did so in a 5-4 Penguins win. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/xn1kLlso88 — NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 23, 2019 Ovechkin passes Andreychuk on all-time goals list When Ovechkin is parked in front, it’s almost a sure thing any potential rebound will get buried into the back of the net. Ovechkin proved as much on Tuesday, cleaning up after T.J. Oshie’s miss in the first period to score his league-leading 34th goal of the season. The Russian’s first-period goal moved him into 14th all-time on the NHL’s career goals list, passing Dave Andreychuk (640 goals). The Capitals captain wasn’t done there, putting home another puck in the second period, then finding twine once again to complete his hat trick performance and give him 36 goals on the campaign. Ovechkin’s hat trick was the 23rd of his career, which now ranks tied for 10th all-time. After his trio of goals, Ovechkin only needs 14 more markers to pass Brendan Shanahan (656) for 13th all-time. The Great Eight leads the pack in goal scoring among active players, with Patrick Marleau next on the list at No. 30 with 546 career goals. Aside from Ovechkin and Marleau, no other active player is a top-50 all- time goal scorer. Sidney Crosby, who’s tied for 69th all-time with 432 goals, is the next closest active player. 1127520 Websites For now, as far Brown’s gaming career is concerned, organizing a massive NHL-only Fortnite event will have to be put on the back-burner as he’s got some much more important goals to tackle in the House of Sportsnet.ca / J.T. Brown furthering NHL's esports foray with House of Chel. Chel selection “Try not to lose very badly. I know I’m going to lose, but try to keep it close.” Steven Loung |January 23, 2019, 9:04 AM Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.24.2019

This weekend, hockey’s brightest stars will descend upon northern California for the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. Names such as Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Sidney Crosby and J.T. Brown. Wait, J.T. Brown? Yes, though he only has four points on the season, the Minnesota Wild winger will also be featured prominently throughout the all-star festivities — just not at the SAP Center where the skills competition and all-star tournament will be held. Announced Tuesday, Brown will be 20 minutes away in Palo Alto, Calif., participating in the NHL’s first-ever ‘House of Chel’ gaming house event. Taking place from Jan. 24–26, this event appears to be another foray into esports that the NHL is attempting — coming on the heels of the league’s inaugural NHL Gaming Championship last year. For the NHL’s second esports act, they’re going for something more ambitious than just a simple tournament. Though the video game that will be played will basically remain the same — another EA Sports NHL title in NHL 19 — the concept will be vastly different in that Brown, and other invited gamers, will be in a house participating in a series of challenges that will be streamed via the NHL’s Twitch channel throughout the course of the four days. “What they’re doing is they’re bringing myself, a few of the top-tier NHL 19 players around, and influencers as well,” Brown told Sportsnet over the phone. “So it’s going to be a back and forth of streaming, a little bit of question-and-answer time, along with different activities.” Joining Brown in the house will be esports team FaZe Clan member “CBass,” “GlitterXplosion,” esports outfit Team Rogue’s assistant general manager, NHL 19 content creators “Nasher” and “TDI Hockey.” The streamed segments will be hosted by Marissa Roberto, host of Super Channel television program “HUD,” and online hockey coach “Coach Jeremy.” Additionally, there’s a chance that as the event gets going, others will drop by the house, including, perhaps, other NHL players. “I’m pretty sure [the organizers] said they were going to have other people stop by because we’re not that far from the all-star game,” said Brown. That the NHL chose to involve Brown shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, despite his small stature within the game. This is because he himself is a self-described avid gamer off the ice who spends more than a little time checking out esports on Twitch. “I probably spend more time than I’d want to admit watching different video games, but it’s always cool being able to watch the best of the best compete. Whether it’s in Fortnite, Overwatch League and all the different games that they have different tournaments for.” But Brown doesn’t only watch Twitch, he also streams a fair bit on his own channel and famously held a 24-hour Fortnite charity stream last July in support of the Hockey is for Everyone initiative. During that stream, the biggest highlight, according to Brown himself, was during the first couple hours of it when he managed to rope in about 35 NHL players to play with him. At the moment, he’s thinking about doing it again, or at least something similar. “I haven’t really formulated the whole thing. I’m going back and forth over whether I want to do a 24-hour stream,” he said. “I think that the highlight of the 24-hour stream was the beginning few hours when we had 35 NHL players playing at one time. “So I want to grow that number and make it longer because that was kind of the consensus from the guys at the beginning. They were like, ‘Hey, are we done?’ I didn’t want to take up too much of the guys’ time in the summer, so I just said, ‘Hey, let’s just play for two hours.’ But maybe if we play a little bit longer we can have more of a tournament. “So I think that’s kind of why we’re going in between the 24 hours.” 1127521 Websites Matthews on a mission As much as both Kadri and Nylander needed to boost their offensive games, so too did Matthews. Like Kadri, he had one goal in 13 games TSN.CA / Kadri, Nylander steal the show in Leafs win over Caps prior to Wednesday, and had consistently been generating great chances that simply weren’t going in. Kristen Shilton Putting Matthews back on track is part of what spurred Babcock to try him with Marner, a nuclear option if ever there was one for the Leafs' coach to pursue. Paired alongside Patrick Marleau, the chemistry between Matthews and Marner wasn’t instant but it grew as the game TORONTO – When the Maple Leafs took on the Washington Capitals went on, especially after Matthews finally broke out of his scoring slump Wednesday night, all eyes were on how Auston Matthews and Mitch with a power play goal in the second period. That was only the second Marner would fare in a rare outing as linemates. But it was Nazem Kadri man advantage goal for the Leafs in 10 games (2-for-19), so Matthews’ and William Nylander who stole the show in Toronto’s 6-3 victory over exuberant reaction to the puck going in was out of relief on both counts. the defending Stanley Cup champions. And, that marker seemed to only ignite Matthews, and he and Marner Their unit with Connor Brown was dominant from start to finish for the looked more fluid at even strength from there. While they didn’t connect Leafs, producing a four-point night for Kadri (three goals, one assist), on any goals (Marner scored an unassisted empty-netter), the two three assists for Nylander and two for Brown. It was the fifth hat trick of combined for eight shots on goal while hovering at 50 per cent Kadri’s career, and marked his second multi-goal game of the season. possession. Babcock was non-committal on whether he will keep Marner on Matthews’ wing after the break, or deposit him back on John Tavares’ Not only did the victory halt Toronto’s two-game slide and send them right side, but Matthews was so pleased with the effort, he said “if happily into seven days off for the NHL’s All-Star Break and their bye [Babcock] keeps it, I’ll be happy.” week, it also broke lingering slumps for Kadri (one goal in 13 games before Wednesday) and Nylander (one goal, three assists in 20 games), Andersen all over it who now has points in back-to-back games for the first point streak of his season. Rebounding from an average showing in Toronto’s loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday, Frederik Andersen came out strong against “We had a good effort tonight, it was good for guys to be rewarded,” Washington and was a difference-maker until the end. surmised coach Mike Babcock. “I thought Brown, Willy and Naz, it was a real good night for them and it’s good for all of them to feel good. Seeing 29 shots through the first 40 minutes alone, Andersen had his Important for Willy but I think important for Brownie and Naz as well, they work cut out for him facing the Capitals’ quick transition game, but the were an important line for us. We had a lot of guys on deck tonight.” Leafs did a better job boxing out in front of him and gave Andersen time to make key reads. The goaltender didn’t have the right beat at all on The Leafs were staunchly determined to deliver on a good team effort, Alex Ovechkin’s slapshot in the second as it sailed past him, but from and start effectively turning out of their recent skid. Since Christmas, there he tightened up and bailed out his teammates on a few series Toronto is 5-7-0, and Wednesday was only its second victory at home in where they were running around aimlessly in the defensive end. the past month. Players insisted it wasn’t for lack of effort, but the lack of puck luck that had lately been tripping them up. Andersen flashed the leather on a few fine saves in the third to hold the Capitals’ push off, being fooled only once by Matt Niskanen in that frame In that respect, at least, Wednesday was a different story. After Nicklas when Washington cut Toronto’s lead to 5-3. He finished with 41 saves on Backstrom opened the scoring for Washington on an early power play 44 shots from the Capitals, one stop off his season-high of 42. chance, Kadri scored the tying goal 46 seconds later just by rushing Braden Holtby’s net and sliding a loose puck in. Rielly keeps rocking Later, with the Leafs’ up 4-2, Kadri tallied his third score after Brown rang With two assists on Wednesday, Morgan Rielly officially became the sixth a previous shot off both posts to send the puck directly to Kadri with a defenceman in Leafs’ history to post back-to-back 50 point seasons, the gaping cage to fire on. first since Tomas Kaberle did it in three consecutive seasons from 2005- 08. Rielly reached that mark in only 49 games this season, the fastest Toronto’s six goals on the night (three by Kadri, one each by Nikita Leafs defender to do so since Bryan McCabe in 2005-06 (45 games). Zaitsev, Matthews and Marner) was the most they’d scored in a game since Dec. 20. By finally practising what they preach, and getting towards Striving for Mo(o)re the net where those scoring opportunities develop, the Leafs found a way to look like their dominant selves once more. Even in his limited NHL experience this season, Trevor Moore has consistently been able to make an impression by always being the “We got a lot of bounces with us tonight,” acknowledged Nylander. “But I hardest working Leaf on the ice. Wednesday was Moore’s seventh game think we were working and deserved some of those goals. [Before I] of the season, after he was recalled that morning from the American might not have wanted a break right now, but now we get a good break Hockey League to fill in for the injured Andreas Johnsson. Right out of here and we’ll come back recharged.” the gate, Moore had a key backcheck that broke up a scoring rush by the Capitals that could easily have turned into a goal, chasing the puck “It’s always nice to get some breaks and get some bounces,” added carrier up the ice and dislodging the puck easily. In his handful of shifts Kadri. “We wanted this one for sure. We wanted to feel good about each period, Moore found positive plays each time, and he plays much ourselves heading into the break. Previous games we felt like we’d been harder on the puck than his 5-foot-10, 182 pound frame would suggest. trending in the right direction but didn’t get the result. It’s definitely nice to He finished with two shots on goal. play a full 60 and beat a good team like that.” Blue and White Trending The Leafs hadn’t done that much lately, either. Before Wednesday, Toronto had topped only one playoff-positioned team – the Tampa Bay Tracking Leafs’ trends all season long Lightning – in the last four weeks. But while it was encouraging for the Leafs as a whole to pull a positive outcome against Washington, it was Wednesday was the eighth time this season the Leafs have faced the especially important for Nylander to produce the way he did. prospect of losing three games in a row, and for the eighth straight time they halted their losing streak at two games. The six weeks since Nylander returned from a protracted contract negotiation have been the self-declared worst slump of his life, and being Next up an effective part of the Leafs' offence again was his constant goal. On Toronto will have a week off for the All-Star Break and their designated Wednesday, the 22-year-old notched a career-first with three assists in a bye week before facing the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 1. single game, and it was only the second time he'd ever collected three points of any kind in one night. Like the rest of his team, Nylander was Last Word pleased - and maybe relieved - to see the sum of his work actually paying off. “I’ve never really played a full game with Mitch, besides power play, never really 5-on-5, so it’s a bit of a feeling out process, but he’s so fun to “I think I’ve had good games where the puck hasn’t gone in, but I think play with. You get a sense of where he’s at on the ice and he creates so this was a good game,” Nylander said. “Good for the confidence for sure much space for himself with his edge work. I’m not sure Babs likes it too when it comes to the production side of it. [The team has] had chances in much, but I enjoyed playing with him a lot.” past game but we just haven’t been able to score, so it’s nice heading into the break and leaving with a good game and a nice win.” – Auston Matthews on playing with Mitch Marner in Wednesday’s 6-3 win over Washington TAKEAWAYS TSN.CA LOADED: 01.24.2019 1127522 Websites Contrast that with a player like Talbot, who has nine times the sampling data. We assess his true talent save percentage around 92.2 per cent, but our band is much narrower – somewhere between 91.9 per cent and TSN.CA / Koskinen contract the latest perplexing decision in Edmonton 92.7 per cent. The ceiling for Koskinen is marginally higher than Talbot, but the floor is much more daunting. Talbot has fully established himself as a goaltender in this league on the base of thousands upon thousands of shots. Travis Yost I bring up Talbot for a couple of reasons, but the key point here is that this contract reeks of desperation and recency bias. Even if the Oilers felt there was a soft future goaltender market and believed they had to Peter Chiarelli’s tenure as the Edmonton Oilers general manager is over. overpay on the position, it’s not clear why they would target a player with His reign was bookended by two of the most perplexing decisions of his such limited NHL action for a fairly sizable and obviously risky multi-year three-and-a-half-year stint. deal. On the front end, you had the ill-fated decision to trade a bona fide first- Quite frankly, I think the better bet is that Talbot rebounds after this poor line winger and future Hart Trophy candidate Taylor Hall to the New season than it is that Koskinen becomes a bona fide starter in this Jersey Devils for a second-pairing defenceman in Adam Larsson. The league, which is really what Edmonton is betting on now. deal was perplexing for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which was the fact that Hall was tremendously (and consistently) productive in every It’s this type of move that has killed Edmonton over, and over, and over. single season with the Oilers. It is death by a thousand paper cuts on their salary cap situation and an overpay for performance that hasn’t even been there – if not because Whichever way you slice the deal, the Oilers made a critical Koskinen hasn’t been a great player this season, then because we just misevaluation. Either they thought Hall wasn’t as valuable as his Oilers’ have so little performance data on the player. career statistically showed, or they believed Larsson would develop far more than he has during his time in Edmonton. Perhaps it was a While I don’t think you can nail Chiarelli on this transaction (mostly combination of the two factors. because the organization publicly stated on Wednesday that they surveilled the contract and agreed with it), it speaks to a larger issue A few minutes after the deal was announced, I remarked that the trade within the franchise – one that suggests an inability to properly assess was a fireable offence. Turns out that was an appropriate forecast of and evaluate talent. Chiarelli’s future with the team. The next Oilers general manager, whoever it ends up being, will have his Any front office is capable of making a move that backfires. The analytics work cut out for him. community was sharply – and rightly – critical of the Hall deal, but that was one move in a vacuum. To me, the real grade of a general TSN.CA LOADED: 01.24.2019 manager’s performance needs to focus on the entire body of work. Chiarelli’s body of work, of course, was objectionable – from the Jordan Eberle trade, to the Griffin Reinhart deal, to the poisonous seven-year contract for Milan Lucic, there was comprehensive evidence that the Oilers general manager was failing. There is something poetic about Chiarelli’s last move as Oilers’ general manager being comparatively perplexing. Thirty hours before his termination, Chiarelli completed the negotiations to extend goaltender Mikko Koskinen on a three-year, $13.5 million deal with the oversight of the rest of the Oilers organization. Koskinen has certainly been respectable for the Oilers this season, but another sizable cap hit – and at the goaltender position – for a team already up against the ceiling? It seemed curious. Whether or not Chiarelli had exclusive say or partial say on the extension, the reality is the front office signed off on this move to improve the long-term outlook of this team. The underlying facts of the contract are concerning. Koskinen has played all of 32 games in his NHL career; four of them with the Islanders in 2010-11 and another 28 with the Oilers in 2018-19. In those 32 games, he has faced 708 shots at 5-on-5 and has posted a 91.3 save percentage. On the surface 700 shots may seem like enough to get a feel for a goaltender’s true talent. But that’s not true. Consider Cam Talbot, Koskinen’s counterpart in Edmonton. Talbot, who is around the same age, has faced 6,500 5-on-5 shots in his career. So in a vacuum, we should be about nine times more confident in what type of goaltender Talbot is than Koskinen. Using similar methodology as Brian Macdonald (former director of analytics for the Florida Panthers), we can come up with reasonable approximations of each goaltender’s true talent when it comes to stopping shots. As I mentioned earlier, we would expect that Talbot’s band is much tighter in nature due to the impressive sample size of data we have with him relative to Koskinen, who is effectively a rookie. Here is our best guess on each of the two Edmonton goalies: Our best guess for Koskinen right now is a goalie who can stop about 92.0 per cent of shots he faces at 5-on-5. But the range on that forecast is quite wide. To the 95 per cent confidence interval, we could reasonably expect Koskinen’s performance to finish somewhere between a goalie stopping 91.1 per cent of shots and 92.8 per cent of shots. If that seems like a wildly variant forecast, it is. We just don’t know much about Koskinen as a player in this league. Moreover, we’ve seen goalies play like this in the past – some of them end up evolving into journeymen roles, others establish themselves as starters. At any rate, it’s close to impossible to know what to make of Koskinen right now. 1127523 Websites Washington has lost six straight now, and will want every ounce of its own star power working for a win on Wednesday.

Toronto’s stars will be doing the same. TSN.CA / Leafs desperate to find a spark before break “To beat yourself down day after day and feeling sorry for yourself really isn’t going to get you anywhere,” Tavares said of the Leafs’ struggles. Kristen Shilton “So it’s about finding the solutions and the areas where we can get better and be more consistent, continue to push one another as a group, and look forward to the next opportunity. That’s tonight.” There were plenty of high-fives and boisterous whoops as the Maple Maple Leafs projected lines vs. Washington: Leafs went through their morning skate on Wednesday, showing few signs of a team that has a 4-6-0 record in 2019 and only one win at home Hyman-Tavares-Kapanen in the last month. Marleau-Matthews-Marner In reality, the Leafs are painfully aware of their plight, and how there’s Brown-Kadri-Nylander only one game left – tonight against the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals – to start turning the tide before everyone splits for Lindholm-Gauthier-Moore the All-Star Game and bye week. Rielly-Hainsey “We’re going through a rut. Everybody knows it, there’s no doubt about it,” said Auston Matthews. “[We’re] trying to stay positive in this locker Dermott-Zaitsev room and have fun out there on the ice, and then be able to compete Marincin-Ozhiganov tonight against a good team and go into the break feeling good about ourselves.” Andersen starts It’s with that goal in mind Mike Babcock is exercising a rarely used option Sparks with his line combinations, putting Matthews with fellow third-year star Mitch Marner. Only in the direst of situations have the two ever played on TSN.CA LOADED: 01.24.2019 a regular unit together and it’s never been for long. But the Leafs’ tough times have come during a difficult individual stretch for Matthews, where he’s managed just one goal and six assists in 13 games. Marner is the Leafs’ undeniable spark plug, and if anyone can help ignite Matthews – and subsequently, the entire team – it’s him. While tied to the wing of John Tavares through the season’s first half, Marner has jumped out to the team lead in points (61) and assists (42). “We need those guys to be good every night,” Babcock said of Matthews and Marner. “Both of them are capable of driving a line. We need them both to drive a line, but right now we’re making [it] this [way] to try to get ourselves going.” Rounding out that unit on Wednesday will be the veteran Patrick Marleau. Babcock plans to continue playing Marner against the opposition’s best, which in Washington’s case projects to be a line with Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie. If Matthews and Marner want to see this experiment continue, they’ll have to be as good defensively as they are offensively. “I think we think the game exactly alike,” Marner said. “Sometimes we do it a little too much and that goes against you, so we have to play everything the right way. If mistakes happen, they’re going to change lines real quick again, I’m sure. If we want to stay together we have to do things right.” Babcock hasn’t committed to keeping the new-look line together past warmups on Wednesday, but assuming they do start the night that way, Marner is confident the right execution will end Matthews’ slump in short order. “I’m sure his first goal back, knowing that guy, it’s going to be a real nice goal,” Marner grinned. “But sometimes that breaks with just a dirty puck around the net. In this stretch, he’s been calm and collected with everything, hasn’t stressed about anything. A goal scorer of his type, you know it’s going to break eventually and when that breaks it’s going to be another hot streak for him.” While this last month has been the most difficult stretch on the ice for Matthews since early in his rookie season, the centre has matured enough to appreciate the larger forces at play. “It’s a stretch of games where you’re not scoring, not producing the way you want to,” he conceded. “You’re going to go through times like that. We’re going through a time like that as a team. I think in the long run you have to think big picture. In the end, hopefully this is good for us and good for me personally.” There’s no time like the present to right what’s been wrong with the Leafs, and to try and take advantage of a Capitals’ team coming off a 7-6 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. There was a chance Ovechkin wouldn’t dress for the game in Toronto, since he’s facing a one-game suspension either directly before or directly after the coming all-star break for choosing to skip the festivities. But 1127524 Websites Now, the Oilers are in salary-cap jail. They are hog-tied by “heavy” Milan Lucic’s near buyout-proof contract which is laden with signing bonuses and a no-move clause. The new boss will inherit unproven netminder TSN.CA / Chiarelli’s successor facing NHL's most challenging fix Mikko Koskinen’s $13.5 million deal, signed 30 hours before Chiarelli’s departure.

There are no Oilers in TSN’s Top 50 ranking of affiliated prospects, very Frank Seravalli few top-end youngsters who could be flipped for an immediately impactful return. Jesse Puljujarvi, the fourth-overall pick in Chiarelli’s second draft in 2016, is viewed league-wide as a project and not a weighty trade chip. On the day he was hired in 2015, Peter Chiarelli stood at the podium and used the word “heavy” an astonishing 23 times to describe his vision for On the back end, the Oilers were so crippled by the loss of defenceman the Edmonton Oilers. Oscar Klefbom – who is not viewed as a No. 1 blueliner in league circles – that they limped into the all-star break on a 6-12-1 skid without him. A His outlook flew in the face of the new NHL, one that was morphing in well-constructed roster should not crumble in the absence of one player. front of everyone’s eyes, hurtling toward an era of red-line speed and high-end skill like never before. Roster construction was almost as much of a flaw as asset management. In 19 months, Eberle became Ryan Strome, who became Ryan Spooner, But Chiarelli went to Harvard and heavy is what won him a Stanley Cup who became waiver fodder. Even the little transactions, like acquiring in Boston in 2011. defenceman Brandon Manning, all went to hell for Chiarelli. Manning was Hedging a big bet on a contrarian blueprint meant that there were only a healthy scratch for four of his first seven games after the trade on an two outcomes for Chiarelli’s tenure as the Edmonton Oilers’ general already depleted blueline. manager: absolute genius or abject failure. The argument could be made that if Chiarelli never picked up the phone Less than four years later, the answer is clear. as GM, the Oilers would likely be in a better spot than they are now. Chiarelli was fired by the Oilers late Tuesday night after almost every bet It’s tough to argue against that. On track to miss the playoffs for the 12th he made – right from his first transaction acquiring Griffin Reinhart – time in 13 seasons, they are back at square one nearly a quarter of the turned out to be the wrong one. way through McDavid’s career. Chiarelli, 54, joined Philadelphia’s Ron Hextall as the second GM fired Hard to believe. All of it. this season. The in-season body count is now up to seven, including five TSN.CA LOADED: 01.24.2019 head coaches jettisoned since Nov. 4. The situation in Edmonton had become so toxic, turning one of the most passionate fan bases in the NHL into an apathetic one, that the Oilers had little choice but to remove Chiarelli from the controls one month before the trade deadline with the team just three points out of a historically weak playoff chase. The man tasked with eradicating the dysfunction in the Oilers’ front office only created more. "There's something in the water here in Edmonton that we don't have right," Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson told reporters Wednesday, not mentioning that leftover brass from regimes past Craig MacTavish, Kevin Lowe and Scott Howson remain on the payroll. Assistant GM Keith Gretzky, younger brother of Oilers vice chair Wayne Gretzky and Chiarelli's cohort from Boston, will assume part of Chiarelli’s duties on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found. There will be no shortage of interested candidates. The problem for whoever inherits Chiarelli’s chair is that there is no quick fix. One of the most frustrating tenures in league history has now paved way for one of the most challenging fix-it jobs in league history – but not because of the obvious flaws. Many GMs over the years have inherited bigger messes. But none have taken on the job of providing a platform for the most highly evolved player of his time to shine. That carries an enormous responsibility that is above the pressure to perform in a passionate market. Chiarelli dropped the ball on that awesome responsibility. He degraded the Oilers’ skill to the point that it left McDavid on an island with Leon Draisaitl nightly. That was his ultimate undoing in Edmonton. You know something’s amiss when a league-leading 108-point season from McDavid can’t get your team within 17 points of the playoffs. Yes, the Oilers are statistically the best team in the league when McDavid is on the ice and the worst when he is off of it. Coach Ken Hitchcock said it all after Tuesday night’s crushing loss to 31st place Detroit when asked if he had enough on his roster to compete. “The other team can sit back against one line and defend,” Hitchcock said. One line. What makes Oiler fans nauseous is that Chiarelli inherited more than just a one-line team in 2015. That he traded away Edmonton’s jewels, top picks Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle who came only as a result of years of pain, only added insult to injury. Hall had his character assassinated on the way out of town and went on to win the Hart Trophy last season. Eberle was dealt after a career-worst shooting percentage season. 1127525 Websites

USA TODAY / Opinion: Somehow, Peter Chiarelli made the Oilers worse, despite having Connor McDavid

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Published 9:23 a.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019 | Updated 1:10 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2019

As Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli does a postmortem on his dismissal, he has no one other than himself to blame. The team announced Chiarelli was fired after the Oilers lost 3-2 to a Detroit Red Wings team that had blown two third-period leads over the previous four days. The 45-point Red Wings are two points out of last place in the NHL. Edmonton, which has lost three in a row, has a 23-24-3 record. The Oilers are on pace to miss the playoffs for the 12th time in 13 seasons. (They reached the playoffs in 2017 under Chiarelli, losing in the second round.) In professional sports, people are dismissed because of bad luck as much as poor performance. This is a business in which one team must fail for another to succeed. But Chiarelli’s job was lost not because his team is under-performing, but because his time in Edmonton has been marked by poor decisions that have left this team in a mess. Since 2015, Chiarelli has had Connor McDavid, the NHL’s most dynamic offensive star, and yet somehow Chiarelli has made so many managerial mistakes that the Oilers seem no better today than they did when he arrived. His body of work: ► Griffin Reinhart deal: In 2015, even though there were already doubts about Reinhart’s ability to play in the NHL, Chiarelli gave up the No. 16 and No. 33 draft picks to the Islanders for Griffin. The Islanders used the No. 16 pick to draft Mathew Barzal, who is a young star. Today, Reinhart is with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League. ► Milan Lucic signing: On July 1, 2016, Chiarelli signed Lucic to a seven-year, $42 million deal. But Lucic's bruising style and poor skating aren't a fit for today’s fast-paced NHL. Chiarelli desired Lucic’s toughness and grit, but didn’t foresee Lucic's decline in offensive production. He has scored 15 goals over his past 132 games. ►Taylor Hall deal: In June 2016, Chiarelli traded Hall to the Devils for defenseman Adam Larsson. Hall became the NHL’s 2018 Most Valuable Player and Larsson said earlier this week that he’s playing worse than he’s ever played in his life. Larsson can be a valuable player, but Chiarelli should have gotten more for Hall. ► Jordan Eberle trade: In June 2017, Chiarelli traded Eberle to the Islanders for Ryan Strome. When Strome, the No. 5 pick in 2011, didn’t work out, he traded Strome for Ryan Spooner, who was placed on waivers this week. In fairness to Chiarelli, Eberle seemed to need a change of scenery. But even at the time of the trade, the league consensus was that Chiarelli hadn't received enough in return for a 20- plus goal scorer. Even though Eberle isn’t having the best of seasons, he will still probably net around 20 goals on an Islanders team that has the NHL’s fifth-best record. These are just some of the lowlights in a long list of missteps since Chiarelli took over as GM in 2015. Despite having McDavid and his speed, Chiarelli hasn’t been able to transform the Oilers into a skating team. He hasn’t been able to fix the defense. The additions of Brandon Manning and Alex Petrovic did not address major holes. And he ended his tenure by signing 30-year-old goalie Mikko Koskinen to a three-year, $13.5 million deal on Monday. Koskinen has played 32 games in the NHL. The Oilers hired Chiarelli because he had built a championship team in Boston. They wanted him to bring magic to the Oilers. Instead, he gave them Tobias Rieder and Kyle Brodziak. That’s why Chiarelli is out of work today. USA TODAY LOADED: 01.24.2019