SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 3/15/2020 1180912 NHL observations: Season ‘pause’ because of the 1180941 Film study: Could the Stars defensemen be the key to coronavirus has an unpredictable aura unlocking more offense? 1180913 Ducks’, Kings’ skating facilities closed to public because of 1180942 Mavericks, Stars to compensate American Airlines Center coronavirus pandemic staff for suspended home games during NBA hiatus 1180943 ‘We’re canceling stuff for a glorified cold.’ Worst reactions to coronavirus cancellations 1180914 What we know — and what we don't — about coronavirus and the Arizona Coyotes Red Wings 1180915 With the NHL season paused, you have Coyotes 1180944 Here's what to watch if you're craving epic sports action questions: We tried to answer them during coronavirus pandemic 1180945 Ilitches' $1M employee fund might not cover LCA's food, beverage workers 1180916 Bruins players donate to fundraiser to help TD Garden 1180946 What’s next for NHL, Red Wings during, after coronavirus employees out of work due to coronavirus hiatus? 1180917 Spanish Flu resulted in not being awarded in 1180947 The key Red Wings questions amid a suspended NHL 1919 season 1180918 NHL trophies, if the season has ended: And the winners are … Oilers 1180919 Bruins players contribute to GoFundMe supporting TD 1180948 Lowetide: What does Jesse Puljujarvi’s Liiga season tell Garden workers us about his future? 1180920 Bruins' Charlie McAvoy among 2016 NHL Draft classes best in this category Panthers 1180921 Bruins players donate to GoFundMe campaign for TD 1180949 Panthers’ Bobrovsky to donate $100K to help workers at Garden workers BB&T Center 1180922 Sabres mailbag: How will coronavirus impact offseason 1180950 Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Staples Center provide plans? millions in aid for arena workers 1180923 PSE to compensate arena employees if games are 1180951 NHL observations: Season ‘pause’ because of the canceled coronavirus has an unpredictable aura 1180924 While we await the next faceoff, the Sabres and NHL face 1180952 Ducks’, Kings’ skating facilities closed to public because of lots of questions coronavirus pandemic 1180925 Mike Harrington's NHL Power Rankings 1180926 In uncertain times, Sabres’ game-night staff faces sudden loss of income 1180953 Idle Wild staying prepared for whatever resumption of season brings Flames 1180954 Coronavirus fallout will be costly for Twin Cities sports 1180927 offer up details on ticket refund options franchises, related businesses 1180928 Flames part-time employees won't be paid for cancelled 1180955 Stopped by COVID-19, sports must protect overall health shifts 1180929 NHL could be out weeks or months, according to Calgary Canadiens health expert 1180956 A retrospective look at how Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s season plummeted into darkness 1180930 Canes owner Tom Dundon commits to relief for PNC part-timers: “We’ll do something” 1180957 Predators prospect Egor Afanasyev faces the end of a whirlwind first OHL season Blackhawks 1180931 Bulls and Blackhawks will pay employees — approximately 1,200 people — through the remainder 1180958 After coronavirus halts NHL season, what will league do of about remaining games, playoffs? 1180932 Potential formats for NHL season, playoffs after various lengths of coronavirus delay 1180933 ECHL cancels the rest of the 2019-20 season 1180959 After opening with a record run, the Islanders have 1180934 How Dave Bolland triumphs over Twitter trolls trended downward 1180935 Blackhawks announce plan to compensate day-of-game staff during NHL hiatus 1180936 Former Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling leaves Europe as 1180960 Coronavirus break could push K’Andre Miller’s Rangers COVID-19 spreads debut to next season 1180937 Dollars and sense: Will Reinsdorf, Ricketts and Wirtz step 1180961 Rebuilding Rangers made huge strides this season and up for their workers? were in playoff picture 1180938 Kroenke Sports and Entertainment pledges to pay arena 1180962 Players and staff advised to 'self-quarantine' with NHL workers for next 30 days schedule on hold 1180939 Chambers: Health is more important than hockey, but Avalanche to benefit during “pause” 1180940 Layoff may help Blue Jackets get some injured regulars back Flyers 1180963 PhilNHL, Flyers still on hold, though players’ association chief says practices could return soon 1180964 Franchise pillar Bob Clarke excited by , and competitive Flyers 1180965 Remainder of Wheeling Nailers’ season canceled 1180966 ‘If the season ended today’ — how it would look if NHL’s resumption is the playoffs 1180967 NHL players to be paid thru season, can go home in coronavirus pause 1180968 Media column: Local sports radio, TV outlets prepare for a world without games St Louis Blues 1180969 No matter what happens next, it's already been a season to remember for Blues 1180970 Break in the action a big loss for workers in sports and entertainment arena Maple Leafs 1180971 Looking back at halted hockey 1180977 Patrick Johnston: If NHL pushes play after pause, Canucks would have a healthier lineup 1180978 Ben Kuzma: Passionate patrons hoping Canucks' season is salvaged 1180972 Top 5 moments of the NHL season 1180973 Las Vegas hockey community feeling the impact of lost income and opportunity 1180974 Tom Wilson is enjoying life as a dad to his rescued puppy 1180975 Scenes from series past and big moments: NBC Sports Washington needs content Websites 1180979 The Athletic / History circles back on family of , NHL star killed during 1919 pandemic 1180980 The Athletic / Bourne: Questions left unanswered by the NHL season so far — and maybe for good 1180981 .ca / Quick Shifts: If the NHL must jump right into playoffs... 1180982 USA TODAY / What do sports TV networks show when there's no sports being played? Jets 1180976 Jets ownership doubles down on decision not to pay casual, part-time staffers

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1180912 Anaheim Ducks Bettman on Friday offered an optimistic if vague outlook about what’s to come and whether games now classified as postponed can be played. “I believe that in a credible, sensible way we’ll be able to, at some point, NHL observations: Season ‘pause’ because of the coronavirus has an complete the season and get through the playoffs and award the Stanley unpredictable aura Cup,” he said. “I don’t see how I could set a timeframe one way or the other.”

Stretching the season past late June is an option, but it gets complicated. By HELENE ELLIOTT SPORTS COLUMNIST Warmer weather and summer humidity make it difficult to maintain good ice, even in northern cities. Also, the annual NHL awards show is MARCH 14, 20203 PM scheduled for June 17; the draft, on June 26-27; and free agency, for July 1.

Eleven games were on Saturday’s NHL schedule. In one of them the “When can we hold the draft? If we can’t hold the draft, do we do a Kings, whose kids and veterans had found a successful balance during a conference call? Do we move the awards show? There’s no shortage of seven-game winning streak, were going to host the Ducks at Staples things for us to be considering which we’re doing and analyzing,” Center. Both teams were out of playoff positions, but pride and history Bettman said. “But they’re all contingencies because we don’t know always bring emotions to their matchups. when and we don’t know the circumstances.”

But there are no games today. An eerie silence has fallen upon the NHL, There are some sticky situations to resolve if the NHL jumps directly to the other major professional sports leagues in North America, and many the playoffs. Winnipeg holds the first wild-card spot in the Western other leagues around the world. Conference with 80 points in 71 games, but Nashville and Vancouver, each with 78 points in 69 games, have better points percentages (points When the NHL locked players out in 1994, in 2004 — sacrificing the earned divided by possible points). season to get a salary cap — and again in 2012 it was easy for fans to be angry at one side or the other or both. They could criticize owners for In the East, Columbus has the second wild-card spot with 81 points in 70 being greedy or denounce players for being privileged, but they knew games (.578). The New York Islanders trail the Blue Jackets by a point play would eventually resume and everything would return to normal. It but have a better points percentage (.588). What happens in those did, and fans returned in droves. situations?

The “pause” invoked Thursday by Commissioner Gary Bettman in Also, Draisaitl likely would win the scoring title, with a 13-point lead over response to the coronavirus pandemic feels different. This is more McDavid, but Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Boston’s David Pastrnak ominous, less predictable than the blustery verbal salvos of labor are tied for the Rocket Richard trophy (most goals) with 48 each. Who negotiations. The league and the NHL Players’ Assn. on Friday advised would win? players to self-quarantine at home for about a week to minimize their The NHL will take an enormous economic hit no matter what happens, chances of becoming ill or spreading the virus. because it depends more on gate revenues than the NBA, NFL, and Unlike the lockouts, there’s no one to blame for this. There’s also no idea Major League do. Initial NHL revenue projections for this when the NHL, which must heed the guidance of public health officials in season were $5 billion; if there are no more games, the could be the United States and Canada, will be allowed to restart. If it does, the $4 billion. first few games could be played without fans in diligently disinfected The escrow on players’ paychecks — the amount withheld to get a 50-50 arenas. split of hockey-related revenues between players and owners — is 14%. Instead of debating whether Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl should win most It’s adjusted at the end of the hockey season, and players usually get a valuable player honors over teammate Connor McDavid or if Colorado small portion back. This year, they might instead have to give up an extra defenseman Cale Makar will top Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes for rookie of 5%. the year, we’re now wondering if we’ve seen the final NHL games this There’s other fallout, notably the pain inflicted on those who depend on season. jobs as vendors, ushers, maintenance workers, and other roles. It’s Bettman hoped to keep going as long as possible and had made plans reassuring to see the Ducks, Kings, , , for teams to play without fans in the buildings. Everything changed when New Jersey Devils, , Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Rudy Gobert of the tested positive for the coronavirus Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Capitals have made plans to pay their Wednesday and the NBA screeched to a halt. workers for lost shifts.

At that moment, Bettman told the NHL Network on Friday, “It occurred to The Buffalo Sabres said Saturday they’ll pay workers if games are me quite vividly that it was highly unlikely that we were going to get canceled, but so far games have only been postponed. The Calgary through the rest of our season without a player testing positive, and I Flames told hourly and event employees they won’t be paid for canceled wanted to then get ahead of a scene like the NBA had on Wednesday shifts. Remember that the next time those teams want tax breaks. night and simply stop things and pause so that we could wait to see how The stoppage also affects players’ pursuit of milestones and records, the pandemic plays out. ... including Ovechkin’s chase of ’s NHL record of 894 goals. “I just decided in light of the fact that this pandemic seems to be affecting Ovechkin‘s 48 goals in 68 games this season gives him 706 for his more and more people, and the more people you interact with the more career, ranking him eighth. He will be 35 in September and every likely it is you’re going to come in contact with it, and the fact that two of unplayed game reduces his odds of catching Gretzky. our teams occupied the locker rooms within 24 hours in the last week of So far no NHL player, coach or staff member is known to have tested the time the Utah Jazz did, again, the likelihood that we were going to positive for the coronavirus. One positive test — with the need to trace have a player test positive was only going to increase the longer we back and notify others that person came in contact with — could end the played.” season. A memo sent Friday on behalf of the NHL and the NHL Players’ Assn. to So we sit and wait, hoping we can exit the Twilight Zone with nothing players, teams and agents outlined the next possible steps, according to more to show from the journey than a few spare rolls of hoarded toilet a person familiar with the memo but not authorized to speak about it paper. publicly.

Players will receive the last three paychecks they were due. They can’t work out at team facilities, but starting Saturday, injured players were LA Times: LOADED: 03.15.2020 allowed to visit those facilities for treatment. If no players or staffers test positive in the coming week, players would then be allowed to train at their team’s rink in small groups and, perhaps, to skate.

If all continues to go well, the NHL would set a date to restart and set parameters for a mini-training camp. 1180913 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks’, Kings’ skating facilities closed to public because of coronavirus pandemic

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: March 14, 2020 at 4:09 p.m. | UPDATED: March 14, 2020 at 4:12 p.m.

Great Park Ice in Irvine, home of the Ducks’ practice facility, and Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, the Kings’ practice facility, are among a number of Southern California ice rinks and other community sports facilities that have been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All events and programs scheduled for The Rinks ice skating and inline facilities in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Lakewood, Irvine, Poway, Westminster and Yorba Linda were suspended Saturday through the end of the month.

“These unprecedented steps are being taken for the betterment and well- being of our community that we’re proud to be a part of,” The Rinks said in a statement. “The health of everyone associated with The Rinks has and will continue to be our number one priority.

“The Rinks will continue to consult with the State of California and local health officials as we closely monitor developments regarding COVID-19. We will re-evaluate the situation on March 31. We are hoping to resume programming in April and are looking to reschedule missed sessions and

In addition to the El Segundo facility, L.A. Kings Pickwick Ice in Burbank and the L.A. Galaxy Soccer Center in Torrance were shuttered Friday in response to the coronavirus after consultation with Los Angeles County health officials.

Toyota Sports Performance Center said in a statement: “We apologize for the inconvenience to our guests while each facility is closed, but we remain committed to the safety and well-being of our customers and staff and we look forward to engaging again soon during the unprecedented time that continues to impact our entire community and country.

“American Sports Entertainment Company along with our partners the L.A. Kings and L.A. Galaxy will continue to monitor the situation closely and take direction from local and state officials along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the L.A. County Department of Public Health while re-evaluating (Friday’s) decision.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180914 Arizona Coyotes Arizona Republic LOADED: 03.15.2020

What we know — and what we don't — about coronavirus and the Arizona Coyotes

Richard Morin, Arizona Republic

Published 6:36 p.m. MT March 14, 2020

It's been a lot of radio silence since the NHL followed the NBA's lead and suspended the 2019-20 season on Thursday. No one is sure when play might resume again, and everyone — including those involved — have an assortment of questions.

There is a whole lot we don't know about the current situation around the Coyotes and NHL, so let's take stock of what we do know.

We know that NHL players are currently under self-quarantine obligations. That means no skating and no visiting team facilities. Reached by text message, one Coyotes player said he expected the team to communicate in the coming days regarding plans to stay in shape, etc. should the season start back up.

Right now, players are under orders to stay in their home city unless they have immediate family elsewhere in North America. Still, players who plan to travel (even domestically within the United States) are required to communicate with their general managers first.

Players will also be paid normally during the pause. The NHL on Saturday clarified that also goes for players in the (AHL).

We also know that, at the time of this writing, no NHL player has tested positive for coronavirus. It is unclear how many Coyotes players have been tested, or if any have been tested at all.

Coyotes President of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Chayka said on a conference call with reporters on Thursday that no Coyotes player had tested positive for the virus and that, should a member of the organization contract COVID-19, we would likely hear about it.

Employees of the Coyotes, whose offices are inside Gila River Arena, have cleared out and are working remotely until further notice.

We know that the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) season has been canceled.

We know that NHL executives are talking daily about the steps moving forward. Whether that means skipping right to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, playing out the remaining 15 percent of the regular season or something else entirely remains to be seen.

We don't know what is happening with the arena staff, who are employed by ASM Global and not the Coyotes. These workers not only cover Coyotes games but also various concerts and events held at Gila River Arena.

Still, despite the fact they are not team employees, Coyotes owner released a statement Saturday saying he and his team and working on a solution for "team members" during the hiatus. One would assume that includes the arena workers.

And we don't know how this might affect scouting and the NHL draft. The Under-18 men's championship has been canceled, along with the remainder of the college hockey season. More than ever, video scouting should become increasingly prevalent as teams scramble for all the information they can get in an amended hockey season.

The NBA reportedly expects to remain suspended about 30 days. Given the fact that 11 NHL teams share facilities with their NBA counterparts, it is safe to assume the NHL is adopting a similar timeline.

What does that mean for the rest of the season, and what does it mean for the Coyotes, who are just a few points out of a playoff spot?

That much we still don't know. But, as we've all seen, things change every day.

1180915 Arizona Coyotes Chayka said on a conference call Thursday said that no Coyotes have tested positive for the virus, despite some rumors swirling. A league source confirmed on Saturday that no NHL players had tested positive With the NHL season paused, you have Coyotes questions: We tried to for the virus as of Saturday. This is a fluid situation, however, so that answer them could change, given the two-week incubation period of the virus.

How many Coyotes have been tested?

By Craig Morgan The team has not divulged how many players or staff members have been tested but it is important to note that the Arizona Department of Mar 14, 2020 Health Services controls who gets tested for coronavirus and, as of Friday, the state still did not have enough test kits to meet the demand.

The Coyotes are not at liberty to test their entire team and staff, but There are many questions that cannot yet be answered in the wake of should the need arise to test a player or staff member suspected of the NHL’s decision to suspend its season on Thursday over coronavirus having contracted the coronavirus, the Coyotes will take the necessary concerns. Will the season resume, and if so, when? If the rest of the steps to make that happen. regular season is canceled, what will the league’s playoff format look Will arena staff displaced by the pause in the season still get paid? like? If the season does resume after a few-week break, will that resumption impact current dates and the format for the NHL Draft, or the It is unclear at this point. Arena staff members have been instructed by start of free agency? Will the postponement of other events such as ASM Global (the venue and event management company whose parent concerts and tours impact the NHL’s ability to schedule games in the fall organization is AEG, owned by billionaire ) not to speak to when those other events may also be rescheduled? media about any issues surrounding arena events, including whether they are getting paid. That said, multiple sources said arena staff asked “This is an unprecedented situation and an unprecedented time,” ASM Global on Thursday whether they will be compensated. They had Coyotes team president Ahron Cohen said on a brief conference call with not received a response as of Saturday. To be clear, these are not staff local media on Thursday. “This was an NHL decision. The NHL controls members paid by the Coyotes, they are paid by the arena manager. That these things and we’re supportive in the direction the NHL wants to go.” is an important distinction to be made in comparison to other teams, who As Cohen noted, team officials have been instructed to follow the NHL’s have said they will be paying their arena staff, whom they employ. lead. That means avoiding a laundry list of questions so that the Many members of the Gila River Arena staff also work other events, message is consistent and coming from one source: the league. Neither whether it’s concerts, Cactus League games or other sporting events. Cohen nor GM John Chayka has addressed the media since Thursday, The cancellation or suspension of most of those activities could have a but with a host of questions still lingering, we culled information from dramatic impact on their income. other sources to try to provide you with some answers. In spite of the fact that these are not Coyotes employees, the Coyotes Were the Coyotes on board with this decision? issued this statement on Saturday. We’ve talked all season about the cruel and unusual punishment that the Are players practicing on their own and will the league institute a mini- league levied against the Coyotes in the form of their schedule. The training camp if the season resumes to ensure players are in game safety of the community is clearly the overriding concern here, but if the shape? NHL season does not resume, the schedule will have played one last cruel joke on the Coyotes. Arizona is tied for the league-lead for most As for player-organized practices, not yet. As The Athletic’s Aaron home games remaining on its schedule with eight (Calgary, Carolina, Portzline reported, the league sent out a memo urging players to “self- Colorado and Washington also have eight remaining). That’s 19.5 quarantine in their own homes over the next week or so.” Data from other percent of the home schedule, and that could mean a lot of lost revenue. nations impacted by the coronavirus suggest that social distancing is a It’s no secret that the Coyotes need that revenue more than most teams, critical and effective means of preventing the virus from spreading. After given past years of lagging attendance, lagging corporate sales, lagging the “week or so” of self-quarantine, the league hopes to reopen its suite sales and a recent lack of playoff revenue. facilities so that players can resume their workouts, followed by a “training camp period” in which team practices could resume. Every team has expressed support for the league’s decision because that is the messaging required of teams in instances such as this, but From Portzline’s story: there is always dissension in the ranks. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the wanted to maintain the status quo and The league has cautioned players against holding “player skates” away keep playing before the NBA opted to suspend its season on Wednesday from the NHL rinks, similar to what most teams do in the buildup to evening in the wake of Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert testing positive for training camp. the coronavirus. “It is important that players maintain their personal fitness and readiness Despite their financial situation, the Coyotes were vehement in their to resume play to the extent reasonably possible,” the memo states while support to pause the season. Cohen’s legacy as team president may be adding, “(the league) will ensure that players are afforded sufficient time his steadfast commitment to community in whatever form that takes — to resume skating and game preparation activities prior to any inclusiveness, investment and now safety. Both he and Chayka resumption of play.” supported this shutdown because they understood the risks associated Players have been ordered to stay in their club’s city unless their with the virus, they had read the data projecting the growth of cases immediate family lives elsewhere in North America. A player is required across the country, and because they felt they had a moral obligation to to inform the general manager if he wants to “self-quarantine” in a home the community to do so. outside the club’s city. Injured players are allowed to continue getting How much of a burden would it be to reschedule the Coyotes’ remaining treatment. eight home games at Gila River Arena? Do players still get paid?

Perhaps not as great a burden as you might think. The NHL isn’t the only Yes. There were three pay cycles remaining in the 2019-20 season when organization to have canceled events at Gila River Arena. Six other the games were suspended, including the paycheck that players received events at GRA have been canceled and more may follow. As of now, on Friday. The collective bargaining agreement allows NHL owners the there are only three events scheduled for the month of April and five for opportunity to negotiate those payments if the league “suspends, ceases the month of May. There appear to plenty of dates from which the or reduces operations” due to “a state of war or other cause beyond the Coyotes and the league can choose, should the season resume. control of the League or of the Club,” but sources confirmed that the The Coyotes are in constant communication with all of their stakeholders normal payments will be made as scheduled. and partners to discuss all pertinent possibilities, so you can be certain How does the suspension impact the Coyotes’ scouting staff ahead of the team is already planning for multiple contingencies. the 2020 NHL Draft in Montreal in June and the start of free agency?

Have any Coyotes players tested positive for the coronavirus? Like the rest of team personnel, the scouting staff has been grounded. Clearly, that means a lot of lost data on potential draft picks or free- agents signings, but it’s not as if there is anything to scout at this point with so many cancellations, suspensions or pauses.

Aside from the NHL pausing its games, the IIHF canceled the Under-18 World Championship, scheduled to be played April 16-26 in Plymouth and Ann Arbor, Mich. The NCAA hockey tournament was canceled, and the next major tournament in jeopardy is the men’s world championship, scheduled to be played in Switzerland from May 8-24.

That said, at this point in the season, scouts generally have a good read on the players of interest with the remaining three months generally used to home in on select players and refine reports. The grounding of staff and the cancellation or suspension of events clearly means they can’t do that, and it also means that scouts cannot meet in person. The Coyotes did hold a scouting meeting in Arizona in mid-February, however, and the team has already implemented the widespread use of video scouting which it will rely upon even more heavily until league activities resume.

The Athletic’s Corey Pronman has a deeper examination of the impact on NHL scouting.

Where is the Coyotes staff working right now?

In accordance with various medical recommendations, the Coyotes instituted a work-from-home policy for all staff that began on Friday. The team is making use of technology to keep the staff in communication with one another.

“We’re doing so to promote a state of safety and well-being amongst all of our employees while allowing them the chance to be close to their families during a challenging and uncertain time,” Cohen said.

What happens to season and single-game ticket holders for those remaining eight games?

The Coyotes answered that question and a handful of others in this FAQ on the team’s official site.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180916 Boston Bruins

Bruins players donate to fundraiser to help TD Garden employees out of work due to coronavirus

By Brandon Chase Globe Correspondent

Updated March 14, 2020, 12:37 p.m.

A GoFundMe campaign for TD Garden workers furloughed due to the NHL and NBA’s suspension in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak is seeking to raise $250,000 to offset lost wages.

The campaign has already gotten a big boost from Bruins players themselves.

After launching on Saturday morning, the fundraiser received $1,000 donations from Tuukka Rask, Joakim Nordstrom, David Pastrnak, and Katrina Marchand, Brad Marchand’s wife.

Boston Globe LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180917 Boston Bruins It was during his Bulldog run in the NHA when Hall, age 29 upon arriving in Quebec City, entered into a fierce head-to-head rivalry with stellar Canadiens forward Edouard Cyrille “Newsy” Lalonde. By then, Hall was Spanish Flu resulted in Stanley Cup not being awarded in 1919 Quebec’s best backliner and Lalonde, a onetime reporter in his younger days (thus: “Newsy”), was the Flying Frenchmen’s perennial top scorer.

Lalonde was only 22 when he first joined the Habs in the 1909-10 By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff season. Bad Joe and Newsy, six years his junior, had their ample share of heated confrontations. Updated March 14, 2020, 8:02 a.m. When the NHA folded in the spring of 1917 and gave birth to the NHL, a

dispersal draft took place in which Montreal was quick to grab Quebec’s Joe Hall was one tough customer on defense, a veritable Terrible Teddy two stars, Joe Malone and Hall. For the next two seasons, Hall and Green of his day. Years prior to joining the Canadiens for their inaugural Lalonde not only were teammates, but became close pals and roomed NHL season late in his career, Hall’s trademark roughhousing on the ice together when the Canadiens were on the road. They were together to already had earned him the moniker “Bad Joe.’’ the end.

But in the end, neither the nickname nor the temerity that led to it, were Despite the NHL’s emergence as the top pro league in North America, it on Hall’s side during the Stanley Cup Final of March 1919. wasn’t until the 1926-27 season that the Stanley Cup became identified solely with the league, which by then had grown from four founding Pandemics, cruel and unremitting, can crush even the boldest, the most teams (the Habs, the , Ottawa, and Toronto) to 10, fit and brazen. including the five-team American Division (Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago). Born in Staffordshire, England, in 1881, Hall was 2 years old when his family emigrated to western Canada. He grew to 5 feet 10 inches, 175 In 1918-19, the NHL’s second season, Lalonde and right winger Odie pounds, and learned to play hockey in his hometown of Brandon, Cleghorn each led the Habs with 23 goals. Hall was Montreal’s top scorer Manitoba, which today remains fertile turf for the amateur game, on the backline, collecting 8 points in 17 games, equaling the output of including the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings — Malone, a center, his former Bulldogs teammate. decades ago the junior team that delivered defenseman Brad McCrimmon to the Bruins. The ’19 Cup Final had the Habs headed west for the full slate of games in Seattle, where the Metropolitans were the champs of the Pacific Coast Hall was 20 years old when he signed on with the hometown Brandon Hockey Association. Along the long train ride west, in hopes of keeping Regals of the Manitoba Senior Hockey League. In the summers, when their legs fresh for a tournament that would last nearly two weeks, the not playing the sport he loved, he was a “traveler,” selling tobacco goods Habs stopped for exhibition games in Regina, Calgary, and Vancouver. across the plains in Canada’s western provinces. Finally, the best-of-five series began on March 19, but not before Metros A known terror on the ice, Hall was ever-gracious and well-liked when out star center Bernie Morris was grabbed by cops and hauled off on a of uniform and not wielding a stick or trading punches. He undoubtedly charge of deserting the US Army. Morris (later a Bruin) was lost for the made a top-notch salesman, as smooth as a deep, savory draw from a series, leaving Seattle with only an eight-man roster, including top fine stogie, those costing more than the typical five cents of the day. Harry “Hap” Holmes.

When the Spanish Flu tore into Hall in the midst of the 1919 Cup Final, The Habs arrived on the coast with a roster of 13, including Hall as one Montreal vs. the , his Habs teammates knew it was of their four blue liners. They would head home with only 12, along with a serious. His wife and three children scurried to catch a train in Winnipeg GM, George Kennedy, his health seriously impaired after the flu also for the long haul across Canada and then down into Washington. landed him in the hospital.

Hall was hospitalized in Seattle, some 1,300 miles west, having By March 1919, the Spanish Flu had been raging for a little more than a collapsed early in Game 5 of the series at the Seattle Ice Arena. Reports year and would last nearly two more years, through 1920. During its of the day noted Hall’s temperature spiked to a dangerous 104 degrees. three-year scourge, in a world population then of less than two billion, it It was the Spanish Flu, a worldwide terror for more than a year at that would infect some 500 million people. Estimates of fatalities range point, that triggered his pneumonia. His mother, who lived not far away in widely, from 17 million to 100 million. Vancouver, British Columbia, arrived at his bedside. Game 1 of the 1919 Final had the Metros shellacking the Habs, 7-0, with The NHL, founded in 1917, was still some 15 years on the horizon when the Montreal net fronted by Georges Vezina. Yep, that Georges Vezina. Hall first entered the game’s amateur ranks in Brandon and then began making his way onto rosters in the initial professional leagues. The Metros entered Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead, but both goalies proved impenetrable, and the sides agreed to call it a 0-0 deadlock after He began his career as much more than a backline enforcer. He had legit two OTs failed to produce a . hands. In his first pro season, 1905-06, Bad Joe suited up as a forward and potted 33 goals in 20 games for Portage Lakes-Houghton, a Three days later, on March 29, the Habs and Metros were back at it, only -based squad in the International Professional Hockey League. to witness an exhausted Hall collapse on the ice in the first period and Bad Joe was pretty good at putting the puck in the net. exit for the hospital. With such short rosters, players could be seen collapsing on their benches during the Game 4 OTs. Not only was pay The earliest pros were typically nomads, dotting around the United States low in that era, but so were work standards and player education in and Canada and signing with whatever teams offered a better buck. regard to rest, nutrition, and hydration.

No one in Hall’s era grew rich off the game, something that remained a Habs left winger Jack McDonald finally fired in the Game 5 winner 15 constant well into the 1960s. The real money didn’t begin to arrive until minutes into OT, setting up the decisive Game 6 for April 1. But by then, Bobby Orr signed with the Bruins in the mid-’60s, and then it finally all but three of the Habs players were down with the flu, many poured in, like grain into an silo, when the nascent World Hockey hospitalized, including best pals Lalonde and Hall. Association began to raid NHL rosters at the start of the ’70s. Kennedy, the Habs’ GM, also fighting the flu, was left with little option but In the fall of 1910, Bad Joe found a home with the Quebec City Bulldogs, to forfeit Game 6. But Seattle GM Pete Muldoon refused the offer, even then a member of the National Hockey Association. He twice won the after Kennedy failed in his attempt to recruit enough players off the Stanley Cup with the Bulldogs (1912, ‘13), the Cup in those days in its nearby Victoria roster to cobble together a lineup for the title-deciding Challenge Cup era in which a number of leagues competed for the prized game. trophy that was first awarded in 1893. With one team willing to accept defeat and the other side unwilling to Hall also won the Cup in the spring of 1907 with the Kenora Thistles, claim victory, the series ended there. Now, 101 years later, 1919 stands then of the Manitoba Hockey Association. He scored five times in two as the only time the Cup hasn’t been awarded upon the completion of a playoff games, then went on to play for a half-dozen teams over the next season. Something similar happened in the spring of 2005, but no NHL three seasons before making a home the next seven years with Quebec games were played in 2004-05, the league and its players unable to City. agree to a collectively bargained contract after a league-imposed lockout. Bad Joe Hall, still hospitalized, succumbed to pneumonia at 3 p.m. on The Blueshirts entered the unscheduled break only 2 points out of a wild- April 5, one week after he collapsed on the ice. card spot and could use Kreider’s heft for a playoff push if the Zambonis come marching back … The Bruins were going to get their first look at According to writer Tom Hawthorn, who last year wrote a superb look- Danton Heinen and David Backes in Ducks garb with their game in back on events of the series published by TheTyee.ca, Lalonde acted as Anaheim Wednesday night. Heinen stood 1-3—4 in his first nine games a pallbearer at funeral services in downtown Vancouver. with the Quacks, and Backes 0-3—3 in six games … If it’s over for Joe Zdeno Chara, who earlier this season logged his 1,000th game as a Thornton, his career line reads: 1,636 games, 420-1,089—1,509. He has Bruin (all as ), will turn 43 on Wednesday. His contract, signed scored the most goals of any player every drafted as a Bruin (No. 1, this time a year ago (March 23), runs out at the end of this season and 1997), and he is second only to Bourque for assists (1,169) and points there is no telling if he’ll sign again here or anywhere. (1,579). Jumbo will be 41 on July 2. He said he hoped the Sharks would have dealt him to a contender at the deadline, but GM Doug Wilson There’s the chance Big Z could be outta here. couldn’t find a landing spot for him … Neely’s trunk of mementos includes this gem: His No. 21 sweater that he wore for 91 games with the “Not thinking about it right now,” said his longtime agent, Matt Keator. WHL’s Portland Winter Hawks, 1982-84. “That’s very cool,” he said. “Something we’ll all sit down with at the end of the year — Z, me, [Bruins Because, Neely explained, the sweaters in Portland were hand-me- GM] Don Sweeney — and figure out what’s next.” downs from the Chicago Black Hawks, and his 21 came directly from the Politely vague, isn’t it? And it should be concerning if you are a Black and legendary . “The year 1971 is inside,” said Neely, “and it’s got Gold fan. the old fight strap with the little hook.” Neely put the strap to the test, piling up 120 PIMs his rookie year in Portland. After 19 games the Chara responded much the same when he was asked about life after following year, he was on his way to full-time NHL work with the 2019-20 around the time he logged his 1,000th game in a Black and Gold Vancouver Canucks as an 18-year-old rookie … The aforementioned sweater. He defaulted to his rote, sincere refrain about how much he Bernie Morris suited up for six games with the 1924-25 Bruins, their loves hockey, cherishes competing, and otherwise lives to inhale and inaugural NHL season, back when they played their home games at ingest everything about the game. Boston Arena. Babe Ruth, when visiting with the Bombers, was known to stop in for a visit during the Bruins’ Arena days. The hot-dog-loving What a profoundly disappointing, anticlimactic finish it would be here if Bambino loved seeing the biscuit go in the basket. the NHL is forced to call it quits on the season and scrub the playoffs, and Chara either opts to retire or the Bruins figure it’s time to face life in the post-Z era. Boston Globe LOADED: 03.15.2020 If the NHL has packed up for good this season, and there’s no new deal to extend him, or he opts to call it quits, then Chara’s final skate will have been Tuesday’s 2-0 win in Philadelphia. The 6-9 Trencin Tower of Power logged 23:49 in ice time, second only to partner Charlie McAvoy’s 25:59, and picked up the secondary assist on the final goal of the night by Patrice Bergeron.

Chara’s career line to date: 1,553 games (1,023 with Boston), 205-451— 656. Not to mention 182 playoffs games (137 with Boston), including the waltz with the Cup here in 2011.

Chara ranks 15th all time in the NHL for games played. It’s doubtful the Bruins will get to play all, if any, of the dozen games left on their regular- season schedule. If they do, Chara could jump over Jarome Iginla (1,554) and Nicklas Lidstrom (1,564), which would place him 13th. Next in line at No. 12: Ray Bourque (1,612).

Chara also stands to become only the 56th player in NHL history to reach the 2,000 penalty-minute plateau. He is currently 44 PIMs short of sin bin sanctification. Come on, who wouldn’t want to be there right next to Uncle Harold Snepsts (2,009)?

Despite a vocal minority of detractors, Chara remains a vital member of the backline corps, his long stick and infinite playing intelligence still making him a legit No. 1 pairing D with the emerging McAvoy to his right. Yes, the game looks fast around Chara. It looks fast around everybody now. The key is, his size and strength and smarts still place him among the most difficult backliners to navigate around in the NHL.

Provided the salary cap goes up as projected recently — an assumption that may prove folly with the game now on coronavirus lockdown — Sweeney should have the financial space to bring him back.

The question then will be if Chara wants to give it another go. He politely said a lot of things when last asked about it, but he didn’t say yes.

Loose pucks

Even before the NHL’s decision Thursday to shut down business for the foreseeable future, the Bruins were among many franchises to trim back travel for their scouting staff. According to team president Cam Neely, the club instructed its European scouts to birddog only within the borders of their respective countries, and also to travel strictly by car whenever possible … Another of Keator’s clients, Boxford’s Chris Kreider, only stands to benefit with the passing of each day in coronavirus limbo. The Ranger left winger is healing from a foot fracture, suffered just days after he signed his long-term extension (seven years, $45.5 million) on Feb. 24. Original projections had him needing 4-6 weeks to get back in uniform. According to Keator, Kreider was skating again this past week, only two weeks after breaking the bone on a blocked shot. “He’s right there with [Chara] in his training and taking care of himself,” praised Keator. “You’re not going to find two guys more dedicated to their craft.” 1180918 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins — On most nights when Rask is in the net, he is the best goalie in the world. If not for his relatively light work load, he’d run away with this.

NHL trophies, if the season has ended: And the winners are … Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning — The netminder has been at the head of the Bolts’ charge up the standings after a slow start.

By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald Calder Trophy

PUBLISHED: March 14, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. | UPDATED: March 14, 2020 Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche — You know that there must be at 5:44 p.m. something good happening in Amherst when you think that UMass kept Makar there not just one year but two. Despite missing a chunk of games this year due to injury, his 12-38-50 totals put him just three points behind rookie leader Quinn Hughes, who played 11 more games. Despite his A week ago, we thought it might be a good idea to get a jump on the smallish stature (5-11, 187) and baby face, Makar is a player you notice NHL’s post-season awards races and project the men who should be the every time he’s on the ice, and for all the right reasons. He’s made a winners. good Avs team a bona fide Stanley Cup contender. One day he should But these may not be projections. With the earth-moving events of the be mentioned with the Hedmans, Josis and Drew Doughtys as a past week, this might be it. We don’t know if there will be any more perennial Norris candidate. games in the 2019-20 season — never mind regular season games — so Runners-up what you see here may be what you get. Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets — New Jersey’s Mackenzie Whatever the case, we present to you our beliefs on who should be Blackwood has played more and nailed down more wins, but Merzlikins handed these individual trophies — whenever and wherever that saved the Blue Jackets’ season against incredible odds. Not only were happens. the Jackets decimated by free agent departures to start, they were Hart Trophy crushed by injuries like no other team. We thought their latest and most significant loss, Seth Jones, would snap the camel’s back, but thanks to Leon Draisaitl, – He may benefit from playing alongside Merzlikins (2.35 GAA, .923 save percentage), the Jackets were still in a the world’s most electric player – Connor McDavid – but there is no playoff spot. denying the season that the German is having is perhaps a career year. He’s running away with the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s points leader Dominik Kubalik, — Will he be able to maintain his and leads all forwards in icetime at well with over 22 minutes a game. 19.1% shooting percentage his whole career? Who cares? Thirty goals is The Oilers, considered something of a soul-less if talented team before an estimable plateau to hit for any player. the season started, are fully ensconced in a playoff spot and Draisaitl is a Selke Trophy big reason why. Points are not the only thing in hockey, but when you outdistance the field like Draisaitl has, there’s really no reason to look too Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers — Couturier has become one of the far afield. premier two-way players in the league, excelling in both traditional and fancy stats. With the guidance of new coach Alain Vigneault, the rest of Runners-up the once helter-skelter Flyers have moved in the same direction as Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers — Though the Panarin acquisition Couturier. Having good goaltending helps, too, and the Flyers have was a big-splash signing, the Blueshirts were expected to be still in the gotten that for change, but Couturier is developing into the kind of heart lower stages of a rebuild. Panarin helped accelerate that. and soul player that a certain fellow Quebecois has been in Boston for the past decade. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins — Here’s hoping the league plays a couple of regular season games so Pastrnak gets a chance to hit 50 Runners-up goals. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins — Had Bergeron not missed nine Norris Trophy games, he’d get the vote here for a record fifth Selke. While his linemates (Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak) play with a conscience as well, Roman Josi, Nashville Predators — Throughout all the Predators’ ups they take a lot of chances to be the offensive players they are. Bergeron and downs this season, Josi has been a constant positive presence on makes it all work. the back end. Goalie Pekka Rinne has been good for a long time in the Music City, but his age has shown this year with an .895 save Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning — He’ll be a handful for the B’s top percentage. Juuse Saros has been better, but merely average. But line should these two teams meet again. thanks in large part to Josi’s workhorse efforts (he’s averaging almost 26 Jack Adams Trophy (voted on by league broadcasters) minutes a game), the Preds were just inside the playoff bracket when the season went dark. John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets — Merzlikins blossoming certainly helped, but Tortorella is responsible for placing that giant chip Runners-up with which the Jackets play on their shoulders. Already undermanned John Carlson, Washington Capitals — We thought for years that Carlson from the free agent departures, Columbus suffered myriad injuries to had these capabilities and now he’s arrived close to the top of his important players. Tortorella’s team gave the B’s all they could handle profession. Many observers will have him over Josi because he has more last spring and, though they would surely be underdogs if they played points (75 to 65). Boston in a series, it would not be as easy an out as some may think. Attitude can go a long way in this sport, and Tortorella’s has instilled a Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning — The Swede should be in this dogged one. conversation for the foreseeable future. Runners-up Connor Hellebuyck, — Dustin Byfuglien? Gone. Tyler Myers? Gone. Jacob Trouba? Gone. But the UMass-Lowell product is Bruce Cassidy, Boston Bruins — Despite the crushing loss in Game 7 still there in that lovely Manitoba ’burg, and because of that, the Jets last June that could have sent this team into an emotional tailspin, were still inside the playoff bracket. One of the few remaining workhorse Cassidy’s had the B’s in first place since the drop of the puck in , Hellebuyck leads the league in shutouts (6) and maintained September. He’s got a great leadership core, but he’s had to be creative a solid .922 save percentage in 58 games, despite losing all that blueline in the composition of his bottom nine forwards. experience in front of him. The Jets may have dropped down from the top Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins — The Pens hit a rough patch tier of Cup contenders they were last season, but Hellebuyck kept them recently, but his team has withstood serious injuries to remain a Cup from bottoming out. hopeful. Runners-up

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180919 Boston Bruins

Bruins players contribute to GoFundMe supporting TD Garden workers

By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected] | Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: March 14, 2020 at 1:08 p.m. | UPDATED: March 14, 2020 at 8:45 p.m.

Several Bruins players have contributed to a GoFundMe account that is being circulated online to pay lost wages for TD Garden workers while events are postponed due to coronavirus concerns.

Six Bruins home games remained on the regular season schedule, along with nine Celtics games and several other events, that part-time workers as of now will not be compensated for.

Some NHL owners, such as New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris, announced they would pay their workers for lost time, but Bruins owner , worth a reported $3.5 billion, is not one of them. Jacobs is also the chairman of Delaware North, which owns TD Garden.

The GoFundMe page was created Saturday morning by Gunnar, Lola, Meghan and Jon Larson with a goal of $250,000, and had reached $20,000 by 8 p.m. Donations of $1,000 were contributed by Bruins players Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Tuukka Rask, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, David Krejci and Joakim Nordstrom. More than 250 donors had contributed to that point.

The page’s description reads: “COVID-19 precautions have led to pauses in NHL, NBA and Garden event activity. Hundreds of loyal TD Garden workers will lose considerable and critical income during the suspension of events. Bruins and Celtics fans should step up and help these families fill the void caused by this terrible health crisis. We should come together as a community to demonstrate our strength, mutual loyalty and commitment.”

Marchand shared the list on his Twitter account this morning.

Several pro athletes have stepped up to help cover costs where owners haven’t. 19-year-old rookie Zion Williamson pledged on Friday night to cover the salaries of all arena workers through March 30. Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is donating $100,000 for BB&T Center employees. His teammates have pledged to match that donation.

In the NHL, the Ducks have made a commitment to pay all workers, the Red Wings set up a fund of $1 million to go toward part-time staff, the Panthers have agreed to match player donations, the Flyers committed to pay through March 31, and Sharks and Capitals employees will be paid.

Some teams have outright refused, such as the Winnipeg Jets.

The Winnipeg News quoted Jets owner Mark Chipman saying, “Those people are on part-time agreements. They work when we work. So, regrettably, to the extent we’re not putting on shows and games, those people obviously would not have a call to work.”

The Buffalo Sabres sent a similar statement to the Athletic, stating “As of now, we expect the games to be rescheduled. We are evaluating next steps should the games be cancelled.”

The Bruins organization responded to the Herald’s request for comment late Friday with a statement:

“Delaware North has operations in over 50 sports stadiums, ballparks and arenas throughout the world. The hardworking associates at each location, including TD Garden, are facing great challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 on the sports industry. Delaware North at its core is a family company and our top priority is to provide our associates, and their families, with the assurances they deserve during this difficult time. We are actively exploring support options and will have further information in the coming days.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180920 Boston Bruins

Bruins' Charlie McAvoy among 2016 NHL Draft classes best in this category

By Erin Walsh

March 14, 2020 6:47 PM

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has held down the fort this season with Zdeno Chara.

The young blueliner struggled a bit in the first half of the season, but after scoring his first goal of the year found his stride at the right time for Boston.

McAvoy, drafted 14th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, ranks among some of the league's best in wins above replacement (WAR) for his draft class.

As you can see in the chart below, McAvoy ranks third in WAR and has continued to improve in that category since joining the league in 2016. The only players who rank higher are () and Matthew Tkachuk (Calgary Flames). McAvoy is the only defenseman in the top five in this category.

This chart proves the Bruins are much better with McAvoy in the lineup, but just about everybody knows that.

McAvoy has been and will continue to be one of the most valuable defensemen in the Bruins organization.

If the B's make it back to the Stanley Cup Final, McAvoy certainly will be a big reason why.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180921 Boston Bruins

Bruins players donate to GoFundMe campaign for TD Garden workers

By Patrick Dunne

March 14, 2020 12:29 PM

With many NHL and NBA owners stepping up to pay their employees while the leagues are shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Bruins' Brad Marchand donated and called attention to a GoFundMe effort started by his friends to help out-of-work TD Garden employees with no games in the near future.

So far, the donation list includes $1,000 in the name of Marchand's wife Katrina and $1,000 each from Bruins' David Pastrnak, Tuukka Rask, David Krejci, Joakim Nordstrom and Charlie McAvoy. As of Saturday afternoon, the effort had raised more than $20,000 with a goal of $250,000.

On Friday, Delaware North, the parent company of the Bruins and TD Garden, released the following statement via Mark Chmura, the Bruins vice president of marketing and communications:

“Delaware North has operations in over 50 sports stadiums, ballparks and arenas throughout the world. The hardworking associates at each location, including TD Garden, are facing great challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 on the sports industry. Delaware North at its core is a family company and our top priority is to provide our associates, and their families, with the assurances they deserve during this difficult time. We are actively exploring support options and will have further information in the coming days.”

Haggerty: What Bruins could look like if or when the NHL resumes

The intro on the GoFundMe page, started by Gunnar, Lola, Meghan, and Jon Larson, reads in part: "Hundreds of loyal TD Garden workers will lose considerable and critical income during the suspension of events. Bruins and Celtics fans should step up and help these families fill the void caused by this terrible health crisis. We should come together as a community to demonstrate our strength, mutual loyalty and commitment.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180922 Buffalo Sabres Nov. 25 through Jan. 28: 0-3-2, .858 save percentage.

Jan. 30 through Feb. 16: 5-2-0, .909 save percentage.

Sabres mailbag: How will coronavirus impact offseason plans? Feb. 18 through March 7: 1-5-0, .901 save percentage.

If the Sabres find a willing trade partner for Hutton, they will need to explore external options. Pending unrestricted free agents include By Lance Lysowski Braden Holtby, Robin Lehner, Corey Crawford, Craig Anderson, Jacob Published Sat, Mar 14, 2020|Updated Sat, Mar 14, 2020 Markstrom and Thomas Greiss. No matter who is constructing the Sabres' roster for 2020-21, they won't want to hand a lucrative long-term contract to a free agent goaltender.

The arenas are closed as athletes across professional sports have been Those rarely go well -- Sergei Bobrovsky is the latest disaster, though it told to self-quarantine for up to two weeks while awaiting word on was nice to read about his $100,000 pledge to part-time arena workers in whether games will resume anytime soon. Sunrise, Fla. -- and the Sabres appear to be committed to Ullmark, a pending restricted free agent in line for a raise. The team is more likely to Owners were hem hawing over whether to play in empty venues until the sign a cheap backup option it decides to part with Hutton. Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert tested positive for the noval coronavirus Wednesday night. Gobert's teammate, Donovan Mitchell, is also infected. Scott: What are the best and worst case scenarios for the Sabres' vacancy at second-line center? The NBA worked swiftly to suspend its season and does not expect to resume for at least 30 days. The NHL followed suit Thursday with the LL: Here are two best case scenarios for you: Cozens earns the job in hope of eventually finishing the season and awarding the Stanley Cup. camp over a promising offseason acquisition before winning the Calder Trophy or the team trades for an experienced center who scores 30-plus The NHL and its players' association laid out a plan to reopen team goals in his first season with Buffalo. facilities for small-group workouts as early as next week, but that will depend on how quickly the pandemic spreads in North America. The Worst case scenario: Marcus Johansson is forced to play that position reality is the Buffalo Sabres may have played their final game of the again in 2020-21. Give Johansson credit. He hasn't complained once season. about having to play out of position and showed improvement there while skating alongside Victor Olofsson and Dominik Kahun. However, Neither hockey nor professional sports are all that important right now. Johansson is much more effective on the wing. The Sabres need to Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. Be kind to one another. But maximize that $4.5 million investment by allowing him to play where he's talking hockey can be therapeutic. So, I answered reader-submitted most comfortable. questions about the Sabres and NHL: The Sabres are unlikely to sign a center in free agency. Botterill Rick: How does the team go ahead and make contract offers to the acknowledged it can be difficult to attract free agents, which is why he pending free agents when there’s not a full season to evaluate them? acquired Simmonds and Jeff Skinner before they reached the open LL: The Sabres should know by now who they are interested in bringing market. Arriving in a contract year allows the player to become back next season. The only exception could be Wayne Simmonds, who comfortable with the organization and city. has one assist in seven games since arriving in a trade on deadline day. Expect the Sabres to use their assets -- perhaps Brandon Montour -- to This coronavirus outbreak could create a significant challenge with player acquire someone who will compete with Cozens, Johansson, Kahun, development, though. Ruotsalainen, Casey Mittelstadt and others for the second-line Thirteen games may not sound like much, but that experience is pivotal assignment. The Sabres need more consistent offense -- a player with for a player like Rasmus Dahlin. He and other young players on the 30-goal potential would be ideal -- and gambling on another teenage roster, including Jack Eichel, were in line to face seven teams that would center could backfire. be in the playoffs or contending for a spot: Boston, Carolina, Florida, the RL Shaw: Do you think playoffs would be feasible if teams don't play for New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Washington and Philadelphia. the next month? Cancellation of remaining games would prevent the Sabres from applying LL: Absolutely. I don't see the NHL resuming with the regular season. lessons learned and systems used by Ralph Krueger when the intensity Sure, it's only 13-14 games, but that could take up to three weeks after a of regular-season play is never higher. mandatory training camp period. Teams contending for a playoff spot Additionally, this has forced the cancellation of seasons in Europe, hitting should be given some sort of play-in game to determine who qualifies for the pause button on the development of prospects such as Arttu the postseason, and we're likely going to see a shortened playoff Ruotsalainen, Oskari Laaksonen and Lukas Rousek, among others. schedule if the league resumes play in time.

Meanwhile, the Central Hockey League has suspended its season, The NHL is plotting out different schedules based on when games can be jeopardizing a potential long playoff run for Dylan Cozens and Matej played. This is unlikely to be a brief pause, so holding the playoffs and Pekar. Teams also aren't able to to properly scout players overseas awarding the Stanley Cup will require some creativity and sacrifice. because of travel restrictions and season cancellations, which will have a Steve: Will the league suspending play impact the Sabres' decision of significant impact on the draft and scouting combine. whether to keep Botterill as general manager? Dan: Who do the Sabres have as their backup goalie behind Linus LL: I don't think so. Contrary to what has been bandied about on social Ullmark in 2020-21? media, ownership has yet to make a decision on any potential personnel LL: As of now, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which Carter Hutton is changes for next season. The focus is on the global pandemic and efforts not on this roster next season. Jonas Johansson isn't ready for a full-time to handle the situation in KeyBank Center and LECOM Harborcenter. backup job and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen may not be ready until 2021-22. If a decision was made, Botterill would have been gone after the 0-4 road Hutton is also entering the final year of a contract that will count $2.75 trip. The season has not been canceled yet. As you can imagine, if play million against the cap. resumes an impressive winning streak would have to be taken into The Sabres need a replacement lined up if they're going to trade Hutton, consideration. Terry and Kim Pegula will take a long look at how far the and we all know how General Manager Jason Botterill feels about organization has come in three years since Botterill took over. buyouts. The latter spreads the cap hit over two seasons, which is not And yes, you need to consider the impact of making a change at that ideal considering we've learned how it's impossible to predict what the position. Firing Botterill would mean you're likely losing a very good salary cap ceiling will be in the future. scouting staff following the draft. Rochester coach Chris Taylor could Hutton has proven to be a capable NHL goalie, but consistency has been leave. The same goes for Botterill's management staff, including Steve an issue. His season at a quick glance: Greeley, who will likely be an NHL GM in the near future. It would also raise questions about Krueger's future after he did well in several Oct. 3 through Oct. 22: 6-0-0, .943 save percentage. different areas during his first season in Buffalo. Oct. 24 through Nov. 17: 0-4-2, .876 save percentage. The hiring process would also need to be sped up because of a shortened offseason, and it's important to note there's no question the roster has improved over the past 12 months.

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180923 Buffalo Sabres The Sabres became the 13th NHL team to announce a plan to compensate part-time arena workers in some way, though some clubs have pledged to pay those employees during the league's hiatus.

PSE to compensate arena employees if games are canceled The Edmonton Oilers' parent company, Oilers Entertainment Group, announced Saturday the organization was providing an assistance program for its 1,650 part-time staff. Each of those employees will By Lance Lysowski receive financial payment to bridge them between their Emplyoment Insurance -- Canada's temporary financial assistance program -- and Published Sat, Mar 14, 2020|Updated Sat, Mar 14, 2020 their regular average earnings.

The Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets, meanwhile, announced they Players, staff members and the Buffalo Sabres Foundation partnered won't be compensating part-time arena employees for lost wages. with Pegula Sports and Entertainment to alleviate some of the financial Pegula announced employees across all of PSE's companies have been burden arena workers could experience if games are canceled because given the option to work from home beginning Monday, with "some very of the coronavirus outbreak. limited exceptions." PSE has also prohibited all business travel, domestic Pegula Sports and Entertainment CEO Kim Pegula announced Saturday and international, for employees. afternoon that gameday employees at KeyBank Center in Buffalo and "This is an extremely difficult period of time for everyone," Pegula said. Blue Cross Arena in Rochester will be compensated if the games in "We urge our entire community to follow the CDC guidelines and the which they are scheduled to work are canceled. direction of our government agencies. These uncertain times have KeyBank Center was scheduled to host at least seven events this month, placed a lot of stress on our employees and we want to assure them we including five Sabres games and two for the Bandits of the National are doing whatever we feel is necessary to provide a safe and healthy Lacrosse League. At least seven events were impacted at Blue Cross workplace. We also want to thank our fans for their patience, Arena: four Rochester Americans games, two for the NLL's Knighthawks understanding and support.” and an All-Elite wrestling event.

Though NHL players are receiving a paycheck during the league's hiatus, Buffalo News LOADED: 03.15.2020 part-time arena employees across North America may wait weeks to be paid for lost wages.

"Our gameday employees at the arenas in Buffalo and Rochester will be paid for any lost wages due to regular season game cancellations," Pegula said in a statement. "They are part of our PSE family and even though we expect that the games will be played, we want to assure them they will be paid in the event that is not the case. We are grateful for the gestures from our players, staff and the Buffalo Sabres Foundation who have all offered to step up in a time of need."

Professional, minor and junior sports leagues across North America followed the NBA's lead in suspending play this past week after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coranavirus. Gobert's teammate, Donovan Mitchell, later tested positive.

The Sabres were waiting in their Montreal hotel Thursday afternoon when Commissioner Gary Bettman announced a suspension of the season with the hope of resuming at a later date. Players returned to Buffalo amid a cloud of uncertainty and awaited instructions.

The league and NHLPA issued a joint memo Friday in which players were instructed to self-quarantine for six days. All involved hope team facilities can reopen for small-group workouts as early as next week, despite NBA Commissioner Adam Silver saying his league will be suspended for at least 30 days.

Bettman told the Associated Press earlier Friday that he was not aware of any player or league employee testing positive for the coronavirus, but he could not say for certain that no one is experiencing symptoms or awaiting test results.

The Raleigh News & Observer reported Friday morning that Carolina Hurricanes broadcaster John Forslund is one of two team employees in self-quarantine after he stayed in Gobert's recently vacated Detroit hotel room.

Switzerland, Finland and Germany were among the 10 European-based hockey leagues to cancel the remainder of their seasons.

NBA and NHL teams, as well as professional athletes across North America, pledged to compensate part-time arena workers for lost wages. PSE monitored the local and global impact of the pandemic, and awaited word on how it may impact the NHL's intent to resume regular season play.

PSE issued the following statement Friday: “As of now, we expect the games to be rescheduled. We are evaluating next steps should the games be canceled.”

Delaware North runs concessions in KeyBank Center, while the Sabres employ part-time workers in security, ticket-takers, ushers and freelance broadcast workers. The arena, like many others across the globe, is shutdown and undergoing sanitization. 1180924 Buffalo Sabres him the chance it didn't give Murray. And if things go badly early next season, there's no reason the Sabres can't go the route of the Devils (Ray Shero) or Wild (Paul Fenton) and remove the GM during the While we await the next faceoff, the Sabres and NHL face lots of season. questions The organization has made no decision on Botterill. It was waiting to see how the season played out. There were still 13 games left. If those never get played? You wonder if he gets the benefit of the doubt. By Mike Harrington If the Sabres are done, what would the playoffs look like? In the East, it Published Sat, Mar 14, 2020|Updated Sat, Mar 14, 2020 would be Boston-Columbus, Washington-Carolina, Tampa Bay-Toronto and Pittsburgh-Philadelphia. In the West, it would be St. Louis-Nashville,

Vegas-Winnipeg, Colorado-Dallas and Edmonton-Calgary. That's if the Things had started to change by the time the Sabres beat the season is ended with the standings as is. The league, however, is going Washington Capitals on Monday night. The media was no longer in the to have issue at the ownership and GM level due to current inequities for dressing rooms and players were being brought to an interview area but the final wild-card slots. nothing else was really amiss. Practice the next two days was normal, The Islanders are one point behind Columbus with two games in hand albeit with the same media restrictions. Ralph Krueger waxed poetic and thus have a better points percentage and it's the same in the West, about what it would be like to coach a game in Montreal. where Nashville and Vancouver are tied for the last spot two points The Sabres headed to Montreal on Wednesday afternoon and that's behind Winnipeg, but each with the same two games in hand and better when things dramatically turned. The report of Utah Jazz center Rudy points percentage. You wonder if, as a way to bring hockey back, the Gobert's positive coronavirus test later that night in Oklahoma City league runs a baseball style play-in game, or even a best-of-three series, brought the sports world to a standstill and was a tipping point on the for the final spots on each side. The league is adamant about the Cup pandemic for society as a whole. Like other NHL teams, the Sabres were final being the standard best-of-seven series. We could see best-of-five told to stay away from the arena and not hold their morning meetings. By for at least a round or two before that, depending upon when play Thursday afternoon, we had a whole new definition for March Madness resumes. and the NHL season had been put on hold. Which teams benefit most from a break and then a resumption of the Clearly, no one knows how this situation is going to play out. Hockey's playoffs? Look simply at those with injuries. Tampa Bay's Steven hiatus brings many questions and we're going to try to answer them with Stamkos was almost certainly going to miss the first round after core the expectation that play will resume at some point and the Stanley Cup muscle surgery but that might no longer be the case and what a boost will be awarded. But as we learned the last few days, nothing is certain. that could be for the Lightning in a potential series against the Leafs. Colorado has been beat up for weeks and Nathan MacKinnon was going What's a reasonable return date for workouts? It's hard to believe it could to be out a week or two with a lower-body injury sustained just before the be this week, as NHL Players 'Association head Donald Fehr indicated pause. Now MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri and the other might be possible on Friday while speaking to the Associated Press. Avs could all be ready. Same story in the East with Columbus, which Players have been told to self-isolate and stay away from team facilities. would again be a live wild card with a full lineup. And while Pittsburgh They would initially return in small group skates but to think any sort of has struggled mightily of late, the unexpected return of Jake Guentzel to all-clear is going to be given so soon seems unrealistic. NBA an early-round series would be a huge boost. Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly said his league's break is going to be at least 30 days. You'd have to think the NHL and the PA should be What happens to the offseason calendar? These are the huge working on a similar assumption. unanswered questions most teams have. The draft lottery was expected to be held April 9 and that's not going to happen now until there's a Does the schedule just pick up or is the regular season over? It's all resolution on whether the regular season is over. But the more about the timing of when the teams are allowed to come back to work. complicated issues are the scouting combine in Buffalo the first week of They're going to need a short training camp before play begins. If you June, the NHL Awards Show June 17 in Las Vegas and the draft June want the Stanley Cup awarded before July – and it was given out on 24-25 in Montreal. Just like putting fans in arenas for games, no one June 24 in both the lockout seasons of 1995 and 2013 – then you're knows what the guidelines are going to be for large gatherings in a going to have to start the playoffs the first week of May. Maybe the couple of months. All of these could be pared back for this year. And it's schedule is shortened from 82 games to, say, 76 so all teams play the conceivable that July 1 won't be free agency day either, especially if the same number of games. Stanley Cup has just been awarded a couple of days before or even if it's still being contested in July for the first time in history. To keep pushing revenues, the league undoubtedly would like to play at least some of the remaining 189 regular-season games (the Sabres have What about the salary cap? The league has already indicated a number 13 left). That would help the players too in areas such as escrow from between $84 million to $88 million, a jump from the current $81.5 million. their paychecks and next season's salary cap. But it's going to be tough. But what if both the regular season and the playoffs are canceled? The Unless there's a serious push to start camps in the next two or three loss of revenue could be catastrophic to the point where the cap might weeks, the sense here is the season would be over and the league is actually go down for next season. You want to see cap-strapped teams simply going to have to decide how to proceed with its tournament. be in even worse shape? There's your scenario. Teams like the Sabres There's a decent chance we've seen our last Sabres games until with a lot of money to spend would definitely benefit, but we're still a long October. way from that kind of decision.

NHL, union express hope that teams can soon open facilities to players Forget the 2010s

Does the situation save Jason Botterill's job for now? Maybe. There's The Sabres' first home game postponed by the suspension of play was going to be so much chaos involved with the league's offseason calendar Friday night against Boston and it was going to be the team's 2010s – and so little chance to do any scouting and maybe player interviews Night as part of the 50th anniversary celebration. because of the virus outbreak – that it might be imprudent to fire the general manager and try to bring somebody else in. A new regime would Of course, there wasn't much to celebrate in the decade with no playoff have little chance to make its own evaluation of players and it might be games since 2011 and a revolving door of coaches and GMs after Darcy difficult to get new hockey operations staffers on board in the current Regier and Lindy Ruff were both fired in 2013. climate. My biggest question remains the first year. It's easy to forget the 2010 Botterill has obviously done a poor job in his three years. The Pegulas Sabres won the Northeast Division championship and were a clear probably fired Tim Murray a year prematurely, when the former GM knew favorite against Boston in the first round. They won Game 1 but lost he needed to spend the summer of 2017 shoring up his defense. Murray Game 2 after Boston's Johnny Boychuk chopped Thomas Vanek in the never got that chance because ownership had tired of him on a personal ankle. The Sabres were never the same again. A hobbled Vanek tried to level. Botterill knows he needs to shore up the imbalance in his roster return in Game 6 but was ineffective as the Sabres were eliminated. between forwards and defense, make a decision on Sam Reinhart, And while the 2011 Sabres had a 3-1 lead in the clinching Game 6 at perhaps get the ball rolling on a Rasmus Dahlin extension and utilize the home against Philadelphia before losing in overtime (to Ville Leino, of all large amount of cap space he will have. Ownership might want to give people) and then got blown out in Game 7, it's 2010 that's the real what- if. The '11 team erupted to a 16-4-4 finish after 's purchase of the team to sneak into the playoffs but the '10 squad was a seasonlong leader and Ryan Miller had the best season of his career, including his starring role in the Vancouver Olympics.

Those two years were worth celebrating. After that? Hard to say. Maybe the Sabres were planning a group howl to allow fans one more chance to pat themselves on the back for turning their back on their own team and rooting for the Arizona Coyotes.

Worlds likely to get shelved

You have to believe the World Championships set for May in Switzerland will be canceled when the IIHF Council holds a conference call Tuesday. NHL players would be in limbo about participating, first not knowing if the NHL regular season would be over by then and secondly about traveling to a country that has been likewise dealing with the virus and wiped out the season of its pro league.

The IIHF announced Friday it has canceled the Under-18 Worlds set for April 16-26 in Plymouth and Ann Arbor. That's a big loss for NHL teams, who heavily scout that tournament each year in anticipation of the draft. Same for the NCAA Frozen Four.

Around the rinks

• Folks at Canisius were understandably proud last week when former star Ryan Schmelzer was named AHL Player of the Week at Binghamton. But another interesting nugget from the land of the Ice Griffs is this: Schmelzer is one of five Canisius players who has appeared in the AHL this season, joining Cory Conacher and Logan Roe (Syracuse), Ralph Cuddemi (Laval) and Dylan McLaughlin (Rockford).

• When you want to talk about bad luck, you have consider the story of Hurricanes broadcaster John Forslund. The veteran voice, who also does plenty of work for NBC Sports Network, is at home in self-isolation after it was determined he stayed in the same Detroit hotel room occupied by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert just after Gobert had a positive test.

At this time last week, few of us had ever heard of the terms "self- isolation" and "flattening the curve." What a week. What a world. Wash your hands.

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180925 Buffalo Sabres 27. Anaheim Ducks. Miller up to 387 career wins. (27)

28. Los Angeles Kings. Didn't want a break: Seven straight wins, Iafallo up to 17 goals. (29) Mike Harrington's NHL Power Rankings 29. San Jose Sharks. Faced a long March with no fans at three home games. (28)

By Mike Harrington 30. Ottawa Senators. Need lottery luck, whenever league decides to Published Sat, Mar 14, 2020 hold draw. (30)

31. Detroit Red Wings. Don't need a break. Need the season to be over. (31) Through Wednesday's suspension of play. Last week's rankings in parentheses.

1. Boston Bruins. If season is canceled or moved right to playoffs, they Buffalo News LOADED: 03.15.2020 would be the only 100-point team. (1)

2. St. Louis Blues. A waiting game to see if they have a chance to defend their Cup. (2)

3. Tampa Bay Lightning. Outshot, 16-1, to start Tuesday's loss in Toronto. (3)

4. Philadelphia Flyers. Blanking by Bruins snapped nine-game winning streak. (4)

5. Colorado Avalanche. Season stopped just as they lost MacKinnon. (5)

6. Washington Capitals. Tried hard to beat Sabres by playing 20 minutes. Almost did. (6)

7. Vegas Golden Knights. Lehner's three games: 3-0, 1.67/.940. (8)

8. Pittsburgh Penguins. Just 3-7 in last 10 -- beating only Sabres, Sens and Devils. (7)

9. Edmonton Oilers. Draisaitl at 43-67-110, McDavid at 34-63-97. (10)

10. Carolina Hurricanes. At this point, the world would love to watch a Storm Surge routine. (19)

11. Columbus Blue Jackets. Were poised to host first game without fans until Gobert diagnosis rocked the nation. (12)

12. Toronto Maple Leafs. Return of Rielly makes a huge difference on defense. (13)

13. Winnipeg Jets. At least Sabres' Krueger got to coach in birthplace before play stopped. (17)

14. Calgary Flames. Join Jackets as only current playoff teams with negative goal differentials. (11)

15. Dallas Stars. Fell into 0-5-1 hole, with just nine goals in the six games. (9)

16. New York Islanders. Careened out of playoff slot with seven-game skid. (14)

17. New York Rangers. Super story being just two points out when no one thought they'd be in the hunt. (15)

18. Vancouver Canucks. Hughes leads rookies with 45 assists and 53 points. (16)

19. Minnesota Wild. On 7-3 run to pull within one point of a playoff spots. (18)

20. Florida Panthers. Bobrovsky with best save of the season by donating $100,000 to pay arena workers during suspension. (20)

21. Nashville Predators. Three straight wins after 8-3 crushing by Oilers. (21)

22. Arizona Coyotes. Have felt like the odd team out in West for a couple weeks. (22)

23. Chicago Blackhawks. Kane at the break: 33-51-84. (24)

24. . Sabres got to the city, never made it to the rink. (23)

25. New Jersey Devils. Breakthrough season for Blackwood in the net. (25)

26. Buffalo Sabres. Were slated to home open-and-home Sunday with Hurricanes -- looking to break 0-6-4 drought. (26) 1180926 Buffalo Sabres The Pegulas are hardly alone in their stance. Most teams have not yet announced their intentions, and a few have joined the Sabres’ owners in declining payments to game-night staff, including the Winnipeg Jets and In uncertain times, Sabres’ game-night staff faces sudden loss of income Calgary Flames.

“Those people are on part-time agreements. They work when we work,” said Jets governor Mark Chipman. “So, regrettably, to the extent that By John Vogl we’re not putting on shows and games, those people obviously would not have a call to work.” Mar 14, 2020 Like the Sabres, the Jets are operating under the assumption that people

will work eventually. Arena workers stream into the building hours before an event. Whether “With a postponement, it is different than a cancellation,” said Kevin they set up broadcast cameras as their primary source of income or Donnelly, vice president of venues and entertainment of True North usher fans to their seats as a side job, the game-night staff is an integral Sports and Entertainment. “If we can move an event from a date in part of the sporting experience. March to a date in August, then the work still occurs.” Some owners are taking care of them during these uncertain times. The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg has estimated that event-night workers for Others are not. the Chicago Blackhawks make a combined $258,000 per game. Buffalo Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is paying the part-time employees has a smaller building and Rochester’s arena is significantly smaller, but who were scheduled to work the postponed events in his arenas this the costs to the Pegulas would still be significant if they chose to pay month. In addition, his organization has launched “VSG Cares,” which workers. Plus, this comes at time when the gas and oil industry, of which will provide assistance to full- and part-time employees faced with the billionaire Pegulas are still involved, is getting drilled with huge immediate financial needs. The grants can be used for housing, utilities, losses. food, transportation and other things impacted by the coronavirus However, the public relations cost of not paying workers is also high. It national emergency. has been a season of discontent in Buffalo, where fans have revolted “We pride ourselves on doing the right thing for our employees, against the consistent losses, price hikes and careless mistakes that get especially in times of need,” said Steve Griggs, CEO of Vinik Sports magnified when they keep happening. Group. “We understand that our organization is where it is because of the So while the organization’s decision regarding game-night workers is not people that work here. Our ‘family’ is what makes our business so strong, unique, it stands in stark comparison to other owners. The franchises in and during these uncertain times, we want to step forward and be there Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Nashville, San Jose, Anaheim for these employees.” and Washington are among those who’ve joined Tampa Bay, New Similar gestures resounded from Washington to Anaheim, where owners Jersey and the in paying their part-time employees. said game-night staff would be paid through the end of March for the “In this time of uncertainty, we are committed to standing with and postponed sporting events, concerts and comedy shows. supporting our dedicated and hard-working colleagues and providing “In this time of need, we need to band together and take care of people,” them and their families the reassurance they deserve,” New Jersey Devils managing partner Josh Harris said. “Our teams, our Inc., parent company of the Red Wings, said in a statement. “Our sincere cities and the leagues in which we operate are a family, and we are hope is that this provides comfort to our colleagues in this difficult time. committed to looking out for one another.” When events resume, we look forward to our colleagues being safely back to work as normal.” The Buffalo Sabres are among those who have not adopted that approach.

“As of now, we expect the games to be rescheduled,” Pegula Sports and The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 Entertainment said in a statement. “We are evaluating next steps should the games be canceled.”

Essentially, the owners of four affected sports teams and stewards of two in-use arenas are saying since game-night employees will work eventually, they’ll get paid eventually. Kim Pegula reiterated that philosophy Saturday. The workers will be paid if games are canceled, but they will not receive income during this postponement phase.

“Our gameday employees at the arenas in Buffalo and Rochester will be paid for any lost wages due to regular season game cancellations,” Pegula said in a prepared statement. “They are part of our PSE family and even though we expect that the games will be played, we want to assure them they will be paid in the event that is not the case.”

KeyBank Center was set to house at least seven events this month, including five Sabres games and two games for the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League. The Pegulas also oversee Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, where postponements include four Amerks hockey games, two Knighthawks lacrosse games and a televised All Elite Wrestling event.

Delaware North runs concessions in the arenas, and the Buffalo-based hospitality colossus has not returned a request for comment from The Athletic. The Pegulas are the contracted employer for ushers, ticket- takers, security and freelance broadcast workers, which constitutes several hundred people. Cameramen and technicians who were scheduled to broadcast Friday’s postponed game between the Sabres and Bruins were paid for a five-hour shift, a source says, but there were no plans to compensate future postponed events.

Union leaders who represent the ushers and ticket-takers were discussing the decision Saturday. Their workers are also affected by postponements in theaters and the convention center. 1180927 Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames offer up details on ticket refund options

Staff Report

Postmedia News

Publishing date:6 hours ago

The Calgary Flames have delivered on their promise of a list of answers to questions about ticket refunds.

In a Frequently Asked Questions page, the Flames are reminding fans the season has not yet been cancelled and there is a chance the eight remaining home games will still take place.

Season ticket holders are being told payments will remain on their account and will be applied to rescheduled games.

If games are not rescheduled, season ticket owners should not expect a cash refund, but rather a “credit to their account.”

Season ticket holders also need to hang tight for word on extended deadlines for purchasing playoff tickets and renewals of their season tickets, as those dates will be announced shortly.

The Lanny McDonald bobblehead giveaway night that was scheduled for Thursday will be rescheduled “at an appropriate time,” according to the site.

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180928 Calgary Flames Lou De Asis, who works as a cashier at Saddledome concession stands during most Flames games, estimated part-time employees like himself stand to lose around $1,200 to $1,400 for shifts that had been scheduled Flames part-time employees won't be paid for cancelled shifts up until the end of April.

Concessions employee here. We're probably losing $1200-$1400 in pay for events cancelled between now and the end of April. That's 20 percent Sammy Hudes of my yearly income right there. This sucks.

Publishing date:7 hours ago A spokesperson for CSEC declined to comment further on Friday, adding the organization would communicate its plan “directly with employees.”

The Flames say they don’t know how long the work stoppage will last. After the Calgary Flames season was suspended due to the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the team has informed hourly and Some NHL teams have reportedly announced plans for programs to event employees they will not be compensated for lost shifts moving ensure part-time and event staff are compensated throughout March as forward. they await further details.

The NHL announced Thursday its season would be put on hold The Edmonton Oilers announced Saturday that part-time staff would be indefinitely as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. So, too, did the paid enough money to help “bridge them between their maximum EI National Lacrosse League and Western Hockey League, both of which benefits and their regular average earnings” for remaining regular-season have teams that call the Scotiabank Saddledome home. games.

On Friday, the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. — which owns Here’s a rundown of what NBA and NHL owners have announced the Flames, the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen and the NLL’s Calgary publicly regarding paying arena staff, part-time or otherwise: Roughnecks — said in an email to hourly and event staff they will not be paid for cancelled shifts during the stoppage, beyond shifts which had NBA been scheduled for the day before. : Owner , according to a report in the Atlanta “Unless notified by your supervisor, all scheduled shifts are cancelled. Journal-Constitution, told Hawks CEO Steve Koonin several weeks CSEC will pay for your March 12, 2020 shift if you were scheduled to before the NBA suspended its regular season “if we shut down, we have work as the notice of cancellation was less than the 24 hours required by to take care of our part-time employees.” Alberta Employment Standards. Any shifts on March 13, 2020 and : Steve Tasi responded to tweet from Nets guard Spencer beyond must be pre-approved by your supervisor,” states the email, Dinwiddie regarding taking care of nonsalaried arena workers with a which was obtained by Postmedia. tweet of his own indicating the organization is “working on a plan” for “Alberta Employment Standards requires that employers provide 24 Barclays Center staff. hours’ notice for cancellation of scheduled shifts. CSEC will pay : Although not mentioning owner by employees where the notification of cancellation was less than 24 hours. name, the franchise in a tweet indicated it would be “compensating all No payment will be made for shifts cancelled with greater than 24 hours’ [Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse] hourly and event staff team members as if notice.” every game and every event is still taking place!”

The Flames had been scheduled to face-off against the New York Dallas Mavericks: was among the first owners in major Islanders at the Saddledome on Thursday evening. The NHL season was professional sports to say all workers at American Airlines Arena would suspended earlier that day. be paid during the shutdown.

CSEC said affected employees would be eligible to apply for employment : The owners, coaches and players are insurance, noting the federal government announced earlier in the week contributing $1 million to a disaster relief fund for Chase Center it would eliminate the standard one-week waiting period due to the employees, the team announced in a news release. coronavirus outbreak. : Owner Herb Simon, according to a report, will be “The details of this change are still in progress, however, it appears that providing financial assistance to part-time staff at Bankers Life employees asked to self-isolate by their employers when recommended Fieldhouse. by public health officials will qualify,” CSEC stated. “Employees must have sufficient insurable hours to qualify for EI benefits.” : CEO Tad Brown, according to a report, said the team is working on a plan regarding compensation for hourly workers at The organization noted employees would be paid Friday as previously Toyota Center. scheduled. Those eligible for part-time benefits would continue receiving them “at the current time.” /Lakers: A deal is near complete, per a report in the Orange County Register, for the Lakers and Clippers, both of whom play The email also included information about the virus, its symptoms, and at Staples Center, to compensate hundreds of part-time and contract what to do if employees had recently travelled outside Canada. workers, including game-night staff such as statisticians, announcers and No Flames players or staff had been tested for COVID-19 as of dance teams. Thursday, according to CSEC. : Owner Robert Pera will be compensating all game- During a news conference Thursday, CSEC president and CEO John night employees for any missed games through the end of the year, Bean said the organization was working to determine whether employees according to The Daily Memphian. would be compensated for lost shifts due to the various leagues’ : Josh Harris and David Blitzer, managing partners of suspensions. Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the “From a staff point of view, there is a number of HR issues that you’ll be 76ers, will pay their dozens of hourly and game-night staff for postponed dealing with as most organizations will deal with when you face situations games, according to a senior official. like that,” Bean said. NHL

“They’re very good questions and we’re working on those now.” Anaheim Ducks: Owners Henry and Susan Samueli have committed to Bean said CSEC has 250 full-time and 1,500 part-time employees. pay all workers on the schedule for the next three Ducks and Big West tournament games in addition to two concerts at Honda Center, “As an organization, we’re going to be working through a number of according to the Los Angeles Times. issues,” he said. Buffalo Sabres: Kim Pegula, the Sabres’ co-owner and team president “They all have questions as well and that’s who we’re really going to work said Saturday that all game day employees at the team’s arena in Buffalo closely with now, communicate with and make sure we can answer as and who work in Rochester, N.Y. on gamedays for the team’s AHL many questions and give them as much guidance as we can.” affiliate, “will be paid for any lost wages due to regular season game cancellations.” Chicago Blackhawks: Ownership said all day-of-game employees would would be paid through the remainder of the regular season.

Dallas Stars: President Brad Alberts said part-time workers that had been scheduled to work games through the end of March will be compensated.

Detroit Red Wings: Ilitch Holdings, which owns the club and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, is setting up a $1 million fund dedicated to part- time staff for both the Red Wings and Pistons.

Edmonton Oilers: President of Business Operations and COO Tom Anselmi said all part-time staff would receive pay “to bridge them between their maximum EI benefits and their regular average earnings for remaining regular season games.”

Florida Panthers: Ownership is planning to compensate workers following a tweet by goalie Sergei Bobrovsky announcing a donation of $100,000 toward salaries of workers at BB&T Center.

Philadelphia Flyers: “All game-day employees who were originally scheduled to work Flyers, 76ers and Wings games that have now been postponed between March 24-31” at Wells Fargo Center will be compensated, according to a report in the Courier-Post.

Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins will pay full- and part-time arena and service employees at PPG Paints Arena via Penguins players, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and the Foundation, per Trib Live.

San Jose Sharks: All part-time workers for the Sharks and AHL affiliate San Jose Barracuda are to be paid through the end of March, per a report in the San Jose Mercury News.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Team owner Jeff Vinik revealed a plan to pay part- time workers at Amalie Arena for seven Lightning games and six NCAA tournament games.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment is formulating a plan to help pay approximately 4,000 part-time and event workers.

Vancouver Canucks: Owner tweeted that the team has initiated a program, “based on individual need,” to part-time employees who require support.

Washington Capitals: Owner informed Capital One Arena staff that those slated to work events through March 31 would be compensated.

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180929 Calgary Flames transmission,” Mody said. “We’re going to use the number of cases per day as a surrogate of that, as a factor to consider … We’re going to want to see the number of cases flatten right off before we start to see that.”

NHL could be out weeks or months, according to Calgary health expert Mody explained that Alberta is currently on the rising end of the curve, which could take weeks or a month to peak.

Kristen Anderson, Postmedia On Friday, the province had 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19, all travel related or have been found in people with close contact with someone March 14, 2020 8:17 PM MDT who has recently travelled. Only a week ago, Alberta only had two.

The NHL — and other professional and amateur sports organizations — putting their seasons on hold or cancelling events altogether where there It is possible players could reconvene at facilities sometime this week are gatherings of large people, helps stop the transmission of the virus. following a “week or so” of self-quarantine, according to a memo sent out by the on Friday. at facilities sometime this And it’s impossible to predict how long it will take to contain. week following a “week or so” of self-quarantine, according to a memo sent out by the National Hockey League on Friday. “We don’t know the answer to that,” Mody said. “The problem with that is, it’s bad for the NHL. But it saves lives and that’s what the NHL is doing Shortly after, practice ice times could resume in a “training camp period,” … all we can say right now is we’re still on the upslope of the bell curve the league said. and we’re going to be on the upslope for a while.

The timing of all, of this, is fluid and evolving in the wake of the global “It goes beyond protecting fans and protecting players. You’re protecting outbreak of COVID-19 and its rampant spread. the rest of society.”

Teams went radio-silent over the weekend as buildings were shut down Legg said this very global issue transcends the NHL. following Thursday’s announcement of the NHL’s indefinite work stoppage which happened, in part, because of the National “In many respects, this is way outside of the confines of sport,” he said. Association’s decision to suspend play when one player tested positive “When public health officials can provide guidance as to when it’s not for COVID-19. going to be a public risk, leagues will be able to respond to that.

No one knows how long this will last. “But until that happens, they’re in a position beholden to the greater public good.” And no one, not even the NHL despite its precautionary measures and protocol, knows when — or if — there will be hockey again.

“This is unprecedented … there is no guide to how this could play out, Calgary Sun: LOADED: 03.15.2020 right?” said David Legg, a professor in the department of health and physical education at Mount Royal University. “There is no template. I do not recall anything similar in scope. It’s unique in the virus, in and of itself, it’s unique in the 24-hour news cycle, and it’s unique in how we communicate and how quickly information can spread. There’s nothing for us to really compare it to.

That’s what creates so much anxiety … wanting to know more.”

No NHL players are known to have been diagnosed with COVID-19. As of Thursday, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving said none of his players or staffers had been tested for the virus.

The league cautioned players against holding their own independent skates away from NHL rinks, but encouraged them to maintain personal fitness and readiness to hit the ice.

Locally in Alberta, gatherings of more than 250 people are banned and protocol in place as per Dr. Deena Henshaw, the chief medical officer of health. She also said on Friday that all travellers since March 12 should self-isolate for 14 days, while officials are recommending individuals do not travel outside of the country.

The spread of COVID-19 happens when people infected transfer droplets of water — like sneezes or coughs — to another or if those same droplets of water are on a surface and a person touches that surface, then subsequently touches their face.

“We know that the virus will stay on, let’s say, the handle of a door in a major NHL stadium for about an hour,” said Dr. Chris Mody, the head of the department of microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary. “So, you think, all of the people that are going to go through that door and touch that door in an hour could potentially be infected.

“That’s kind of a problem.”

Hitting the ice for meaningful games might not happen for weeks. Or months, according to Mody.

Banning large public gatherings, like NHL games, are a way to help “flatten the curve,” to reduce pressure on health services, and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What we want to see before we say it’s OK for people to go back to their regular activities and have large gatherings of people where people are going to touch common surfaces and are going to be in close proximity — we want to see the amount of virus in the community has gone down to a level where that’s not going to pose a threat in terms of 1180930 Carolina Hurricanes Nationwide, there’s another group of sports-based part-timers being left out: With no television broadcasts, the freelancers who get paid by the show and do almost everything behind the scenes are going to be hurting Canes owner Tom Dundon commits to relief for PNC part-timers: “We’ll as well. That’s a tougher group to help: Many work for multiple networks do something” broadcasting multiple sports in multiple venues.

But there are going to be many part-time groups like that across the of our lives, some obvious and others not, and eventually, BY LUKE DECOCK we’re going to have to figure out a way to help them all, because people like that fuel the machinery of our daily routine. MARCH 14, 2020 02:18 PM

News Observer LOADED: 03.15.2020 PNC Arena part-time workers’ shifts for the next few weeks disappeared from the scheduling system Friday and there’s no telling when they might be called back to the building for a hockey game or a concert or a convention. The Carolina Hurricanes weren’t the first team to pledge to helping them, but they won’t be among those that do not.

Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon said Saturday that there would be some form of relief for part-time arena employees who will be without work while the NHL is shut down for social-distancing because of the novel coronavirus. He said the plan was expected to be finalized by Monday.

“They’re pulling together who works consistently, how many games are we actually going to miss,” Dundon said. “We’ll do something, though.”

The Hurricanes have eight home games remaining on the original schedule, the most of any NHL team. The NHL paused its season Thursday over concerns about COVID-19, and two team staffers are self- quarantined after potentially being exposed at a Detroit hotel.

Across the NHL and NBA, owners and players have stepped up to help cover those employees. Zion Williamson donated $100,000 to New Orleans Pelicans employees, following the example of Kevin Love and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Blake Griffin. Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky did the same. Owners like Mark Cuban, Dan Gilbert and the Ilitch family have pledged to help — in the NHL, the owners of 13 other teams have done the same.

Meanwhile, in places like Winnipeg and Calgary — where Hurricanes defenseman Jake Bean’s father is the team president — owners have made it clear there will be no assistance. The employees they depend on to bring their arenas to life will be left to fend for themselves while sports are shut down for social-distancing because of the novel coronavirus.

In Boston, where Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs has so far declined to help out, fans started a gofundme fundraising page for arena employees. Bruins players are donating to it.

What form the Hurricanes’ assistance will actually take remains unclear. In Vancouver, employees are being asked to apply on a need-only basis. It’s possible the Hurricanes will ask employees to work games at a reduced per-game rate when games and events resume.

Dundon said he had been told Saturday that Hurricanes players were considering helping as well. Attempts to reach Justin Williams — the team’s most senior player — for comment Saturday were unsuccessful. But Dundon said any money donated by players would be above and beyond what the team intended to do.

“I’ve heard the players are asking about being involved,” Dundon said. “I haven’t asked them to be involved. I just found out about an hour ago that the players want to help.”

Anyone who is in the building regularly knows the names of the people who make their experience enjoyable, as they do those of the owners and players. There are some logistical hurdles, to be sure, but it’s better to commit to doing the right thing first — like the NCAA awarding an extra season of eligibility to spring-sport athletes — and figure out the details later.

In some arenas, part-time staff are paid and managed by companies or contractors otherwise unaffiliated with the teams that play there. Those cases are a little more complicated, but that’s not the case here.

While PNC is publicly owned, the Hurricanes manage the building. These part-timers are their people, from the catering workers to the elevator operators to the security guards, all of whom show up, shift after shift, game after game, concert after concert. Many have worked there since the building opened, not part of the organization but certainly part of the family. 1180931 Chicago Blackhawks the NBA’s are guaranteeing part-time and hourly workers at their arena workers full compensation for their remaining home games.

The outpouring of support offered at least a show of camaraderie amid a Bulls and Blackhawks will pay United Center employees — crisis that upended the sports landscape in America this week. approximately 1,200 people — through the remainder of the scheduled season after coronavirus shutdowns

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 03.15.2020

By JAMAL COLLIER

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

MAR 14, 2020 | 7:12 PM

The Bulls and Blackhawks will pay their staff of approximately 1,200 game-day employees through the remainder of their originally scheduled seasons, joining a chorus of players and teams who have rallied to support non-salaried workers in the days since the coronavirus pandemic brought the sports world to sudden halt.

The future for employees at the United Center had been uncertain since the NBA on Wednesday became the first American sports league to suspend its season after a player tested positive for the virus. The NHL and other leagues followed suit the next day.

Both the Bulls and Blackhawks had seven home games remaining on their schedules before the teams, along with the United Center, announced Saturday their decision to step up for arena workers left hanging by the indefinite suspension of games.

“Our employees, whether they be front-office staff or our approximately 1,200 day-of-game staff, are family,” a joint statement from Bulls Chairman and Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz read. “And we will navigate this unprecedented situation together.”

The NBA hiatus will last at least 30 days, which could put the livelihoods of the people working those games and thousands around the country scheduled to staff sporting events in jeopardy.

So several teams and players around the NBA and NHL have joined in on the camaraderie in recent days to help provide assistance.

Cavaliers forward Kevin Love started the wave by pledging to donate $100,000 to Cavs arena and support staff. Other NBA stars have followed suit in their respective cities with the same donation, including Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, Blake Griffin of the Pistons and Zion Williamson of the Pelicans.

Jazz forward Rudy Gobert, the first NBA player to test positive for COVID-19, pledged to donate $500,000 to part-time employees at the arena and coronavirus relief services in Utah, Oklahoma City and his native France.

In the NHL, Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky donated $100,000 to workers at the BB&T Center. His teammates are coming together to match his donation, and the team said it will pitch in with an undisclosed sum.

A few teams and ownership groups, who have far more resources and deeper pockets than even the players, also have announced plans or intentions to pick up the slack.

The Sharks, Capitals, Red Wings, among other NHL teams, have ensured their staffs they will be paid during the crisis.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban revealed his plans to compensate arena employees hours after the NBA season was suspended. The Cavaliers followed Love’s lead and planned to pay all Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse employees as if every game and event were still taking place. The Warriors have pledged to donate $1 million to a disaster relief fund for their arena employees, while the Bucks said they would match Antetokounmpo’s and any other player donations.

The Clippers are taking care of their employees with the ability to work remotely, providing laptops for those who did not have one, commission to the team working in ticket sales and paying part-time workers for missed games. Employees of the Staples Center, however, were still left with some uncertainty about their compensation.

Other teams, such as the Atlanta Hawks and NFL’s Falcons, also announced plans to pay their hourly employees during the crisis, while 1180932 Chicago Blackhawks If conference-championship series were included, the Blues would face the Avalanche (with the second-best record) or the Golden Knights (the other division leader) in the West, and the Bruins would face the Potential formats for NHL season, playoffs after various lengths of Lightning or Capitals (with the same respective qualifications) in the East. coronavirus delay

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 03.15.2020 By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Mar 14, 2020, 6:55am CDT

It has been only two nights since the NHL postponed its 2019-20 season indefinitely because of coronavirus concerns, and 15 previously scheduled games already have been axed.

A lot more are on the way.

The NHL’s ‘‘preference is for a short break,’’ TSN’s reported Thursday, with day-by-day evaluation for when the season might be able to resume.

But the NHL has no control over the severity, rate or frequency of the virus. So as much as the league might prefer a short break and prepares various plans for rescheduling and potentially reformatting the rest of the regular season (if it happens) and playoffs, there’s no way to know whether this postponement will last three weeks, three months or some duration in between.

That said, here are some logical formats for various lengths of the coronavirus-related delay:

A month or less

The shortest postponement probably would be three or four weeks, which would mean a resumption in early to mid-April. This would line up with the best-case scenario for , too, which has pushed its Opening Day on March 26 back by two weeks for now.

The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs were scheduled to begin April 8, and the NHL theoretically could ignore the rest of the regular season, take the top eight teams in each conference — based on points percentage in completed games — and begin the playoffs on time.

More likely, though, is that the league would finish the regular season in its entirety, then begin the playoffs at the end of April. That wouldn’t be difficult to execute because the playoffs started April 30 after the lockout in 2013. The Cup was awarded (to the Hawks) on June 24 of that year.

Six to eight weeks

This break would mean a resumption between late April and mid-May, a time frame that would start to crunch the schedule.

The NHL reportedly has asked teams to keep their arenas available through the end of July, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli. If the league sought to play the playoffs — which last season lasted two months and two days — in full, that would require starting them by late May.

A more balanced alternative, however, would be to cancel the rest of the regular season but add some play-in games or series to compensate for the premature cutoff of the wild-card race. The seventh- through 10th- place teams in each conference could play best-of-three series, for example, for the final spots.

The NHL then could shorten the typical first and second rounds to best- of-five series to expedite the process.

Two to three months

Commissioner Gary Bettman made it clear that the NHL’s top priority is to award the Stanley Cup this season, no matter what it takes.

If the delay stretches into the summer and requires drastic changes to the postponed season, the league could shrink the playoff field to perhaps the top four (or even fewer) teams in each conference. The effect on revenue would be steep, but the trophy at least could be awarded.

Coincidentally, if the NHL played the between the two current conference leaders, the Blues-Bruins matchup would be a repeat of 2019. 1180933 Chicago Blackhawks

ECHL cancels the rest of the 2019-20 season

Staff Report

By NBC Sports Chicago

March 14, 2020 8:28 PM

On Saturday the ECHL Board of Governors moved forward and decided to cancel the rest of the 2019-20 ECHL season.

64 games into the season, the South Carolina Stingrays and Florida Everblades were tied for the league lead in points with 92 apiece.

ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin released a statement, which can be read in full here. Here is an excerpt from Crelin's statement:

On behalf of the ECHL and our Board of Governors, we appreciate the Professional Hockey Players’ Association for their assistance during this unprecedented time and working as partners in hockey to reach this decision for the best interest of the ECHL and its Players. This decision allows our Players the opportunity to return to their homes and removes the uncertainty that currently exists.

While we are hopeful that this period ceases and an opportunity to return to normalcy for the hockey calendar presents itself, in the interim, we ask all Fans, Players, Coaches, Officials, and Staff to continue to abide by the measures put in place by their local authorities and follow precautionary protocols for their safety, as we will begin preparations for the 2020-21 ECHL Hockey Season.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180934 Chicago Blackhawks because my back, my ankle. I was getting paid. So things happen in the league and that's just the way it went.

"It's not really a sore spot or anything. I'm pretty sure if I didn't have any How Dave Bolland triumphs over Vancouver Twitter trolls Stanley Cups or any championships, it probably would be a sore spot and it probably would get to me, but the way my career went, not at all."

By Scott King Perhaps a lesson to be learned from Bolland's twitter interactions is that for those who dare type and send to any well-know figure, you never March 14, 2020 11:20 AM know who'll answer you back.

"Yeah," Bolland agreed. "Even Chicago fans. I love replying to some Chicago fans if they ever ask me questions or anything. It's always fun to When former Blackhawks forward and two-time Stanley Cup champ reply, to give back to Chicago for sure, but to chirp the Vancouver fans Dave Bolland was haunting Vancouver during its rivalry with Chicago more than anything." from 2009-2011, his Canucks connection was far from over.

As a Hawks winger, he would be able to throw their best players like the Sedin twins off their game and contribute some offensive fire power as Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 well.

Bolland has been providing entertainment to Hawks fans for the past year or so, retaliating against seething Canucks fans and sometimes baiting them into the exchange on Twitter.

On Thursday, the Toronto native kindly sparked an amusing battle on the social media site while stuck in Vancouver after visiting a friend that supplied a great deal of enoyment to many hockey fans sequestered in their home trying to avoid coronavirus. Dave noted the Vancouver airport seemed oddly normal despite growing concerns with the pandemic.

"My flight was delayed going home and it was just funny that I was in Vancouver and I just know how much Vancouver fans hate me, so I thought it'd be pretty funny just to go on and say, 'Hey, I'm stuck in Vancouver, please get me out of this city,' to see the reaction from all the Vancouver fans," Bolland said.

Just like the other times the No. 32 overall pick of the 2004 NHL Draft sparked scraps with Canucks fandom, he knew what he was getting into and what would transpire over the next two hours his flight was delayed.

"I kind of knew that once I started that it was going to be war," Bolland said. "So I was waiting to see what was coming up."

Some people may wonder what a two-time Stanley Cup champ who earned a good payday in the NHL and owns one of the best moment's in an team's rich history (17 seconds) is doing wasting his time with nameless and sometimes faceless Twitter trolls.

"I think it's fun," Dave said. "I think Twitter people want to hear back from me too and they get a rouse out of me, 'Dave Bolland's joking around with me. He's pretty cool.' I'd be the same way I think.

"I'm just a normal person, but I tried Ryan Reynolds' Aviation gin. I just tweeted a picture of it and he just sent a like back. So he's a big Canadian actor and he's actually from Vancouver.

"So it was pretty funny. I think fans can get a kick out of it, interacting with a player. You don't really see much of that, right?"

His social media habits may also have to do with the way he's wired and the way he played hockey.

"Yeah, that too," Dave confessed. "It was funny getting under people's skin during the game. Probably doing it off the ice as well. I don't do it at the bar or anywhere else, maybe just on Twitter."

"I know Vancouver doesn't have a Stanley Cup, so whenever their fans kind of get at me or try to say something that really gets to me, or they'll always say, ‘Nice grammar,’ or ‘You can't do this..." I was like, 'Well, I know I got two Stanley Cups and that's all I really need, more than grammar,' he said.

Getting called out on a misplaced apostrophe here and there doesn't matter much to the former NHLer.

"No. I don't really care," Bolland said. "I don't really care what people say to me. I didn't go to school to become an English teacher, I went to school to be a hockey player, but I know what I'm writing."

He doesn't let the more venomous participants get to him either. The most sinister of comebacks to Bolland have brought up his career getting cut short with an ankle and back injury.

"I played. I won two Stanley Cups," he said. "I've got a Memorial Cup and I've got a World Junior (championship). And I went on long-term IR 1180935 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks announce plan to compensate day-of-game staff during NHL hiatus

By Kelly Twardziak

March 14, 2020 4:19 PM

Rocky Wirtz and Jerry Reinsdorf have pledged to pay non-salaried Blackhawks, Bulls and United Center employees through the previously scheduled regular season. When the NHL indefinitely suspended its season in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, questions were raised about whether non-salaried arena workers will be compensated during the unprecedented hiatus.

In their statement, Wirtz and Reinsdorf stand by their employees.

Our employees, whether they be front office staff, or our approximately 1,200 day-of-game staff, are family, and we will navigate this unprecedented situation together.

The Bulls join a number of athletes and organizations pledging to support the arena employees who are so central to the game day experience. Around the NHL, the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks have all pledged to continue paying the salaries of arena staff while games are suspended.

Wirtz and Reinsdorf are compensating all 1,200 employees for the 14 regular season Bulls and Blackhawks games that have been postponed, which totals around $3.3 million. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the United Center’s payroll for arena workers is approximately $240,000 per game.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180936 Chicago Blackhawks

Former Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling leaves Europe as COVID-19 spreads

By Scott King

March 13, 2020 10:26 PM

Former Blackhawks goalie and 2015 Stanley Cup champion Scott Darling was playing in the Austrian Hockey League (HC Tiroler Wasserkraft Innsbruck of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga) as COVID-19 began spreading across Europe.

Darling plays in Innsbruck, Austria, about a 20 minute drive from the Italian border. Italy has been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak

Darling, a Lemont native, and his team were eliminated from playoff contention, and he was able to return to the United States before the travel ban went into place.

"Shortly after I left, they canceled the whole league, and things got pretty serious there," Darling told NBC Sports Chicago's David Kaplan on Friday during Sports Talk Live.

"We heard about it, but obviously we all know a lot more now," he said. "This was like a month or two ago. There was the first case in Vienna, which is, like, four hours from us, and then we heard about Italy, and we were like, 'Oh, we're right there. Is this the real thing?'

"You learn a little bit, but now we know a lot more. All of a sudden, a hotel in Innsbruck got quarantined, and we're all like, 'Oh boy, this is real.' And then for me personally, I was worried about the flight restrictions, was hoping I could get home.”

Scott was concerned he wouldn't make it back to the U.S. as the pandemic worsened.

"I was worried I'd be stuck there,” he said. Luckily, I made it out before the flight ban. But even so, I see now that Americans can still come back to the U.S., but that was my biggest concern."

When Darling was checking in on family and friends in America, the situation didn’t sound nearly as bad as what he was experiencing in Europe.

"I think when I was there, it was kind of a bigger deal there than it was here, because now it's like crazy obviously with everybody shutting down. I had tickets to a comedy show tonight. It got canceled.

"It's, like, really going off here, but when I was there, there's this team in the league that's in Italy, and, like, every team was afraid to go play them. We didn't want to go down there.

"They canceled handshakes after the game and stuff like that. It was a pretty unique experience."

One of Darling’s teammates recently went to Italy on a day off. He and his teammates haven't shown any symptoms, but they're shocked the player went across the border.

"We weren't that well-informed. Like, guys on the team who have wives and kids and pregnant wives were really worried about that because at the time, we thought kids were very vulnerable to it.

"One day, we had a guy on an off day go down to Italy, and we're like, 'Dude, what are you doing?' He comes back in the locker room the next day, and we're like, 'Stay away from us.' We got a league-wide email, no handshakes after the game. Fans started to be less and less every game, and, like I said, I'm just happy I made it out of there."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180937 Chicago Blackhawks You might be wondering how much money does it take to pay the people who help an arena operate during a sporting event?

Let’s break it down. Dollars and sense: Will Reinsdorf, Ricketts and Wirtz step up for their workers? According to information acquired by The Athletic, an average Bulls game employs nearly 1,400 hourly workers, plus vendors who work on commissions and tips. These hourly employees make around a By Jon Greenberg combined $230,000 per game.

Mar 14, 2020 Almost 1,500 hourly employees work the average Blackhawks game, not including the vendors, making around $258,000.

Fewer employees are needed for concerts (particularly for Levy Dollars and sense is a regular column about Chicago sports business Restaurants, the building’s concessionaire), just less than 900 total, but and media. they still earn nearly $200,000 per game.

UPDATE: Nearly eight hours after this story was published, Rocky Wirtz There are seven Bulls games remaining on the schedule. If the Bulls and Jerry Reinsdorf issued a joint statement: “The United Center don’t make any of those up, that would work out to around $1.62 million ownership and the and Chicago Blackhawks, on behalf of total owed to these hourly workers. (Not including the vendors and other our front offices and players, will pay day-of-game employees through assorted workers around the arena.) the remainder of the originally scheduled season. Our employees, whether they be front office staff, or our approximately 1,200 day-of- On Friday, the Blackhawks were scheduled to host the Ottawa Senators. game staff, are family, and we will navigate this unprecedented situation They too had seven home games remaining in a disappointing season. If together.” they don’t play those games and Wirtz wanted to pay the UC’s hourly employees, it would cost him about $1.8 million for the remainder of the On Thursday, as the cancelation of sports in the United States became a season. reality, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love offered up some, well, love. There were only six concerts listed on the United Center calendar through the end of April. That’s another $1.2 million. He pledged $100,000 to help pay arena workers in Cleveland for the time they were going to miss. It was a wonderful gesture, one copied by peers In total, we’re talking about a projected $4.6 million (before taxes), like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Blake Griffin, but if we’re talking about divvied up between the owners and maybe Levy. The teams are losing a what it takes to pay a stadium full of workers, a woefully inadequate one. fortune with missed games, as are the city, county and all the businesses that rely on sports fans as customers. (The amusement tax in Chicago While a hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money for any person, even and Cook County is 12 percent and the UC pays out about $228,000 per one making $30 million a year like Love, to donate, that figure would, for event in amusement taxes off tickets.) example, cover about half the payroll for the hourly employees who work one Bulls game at the United Center. Nearly $5 million just for hourly workers is not chump change, but it’s a reasonable number to work off and certainly doable for two very wealthy Shortly after Love’s tweet, the Cleveland Cavaliers responded by people. announcing the hourly and event staff members will be getting paid as if games are going on. That’s how it should be. Other teams and owners, While he gets a lot of grief for fiscal decisions involving his teams, beginning with Mark Cuban in Dallas, have made similar promises, but Reinsdorf is beloved by his full-time employees for his loyalty and as of Friday morning, we’ve heard nothing yet from Chicago’s teams. generosity. In 2012-13, he fought his fellow owners to save baseball’s pension plan for non-uniformed personnel. We joke about lifetime Let me reiterate this point. Zion Williamson, who is 19 years old, has contracts for John Paxson and Gar Forman, but you see the same faces offered to pay the arena workers at Smoothie King Arena for games year after year on the west and south sides. missed for the next 30 days, and we’ve yet to hear anything concrete from Jerry Reinsdorf and Rocky Wirtz. Wirtz has been a godsend to the Blackhawks since taking over for his late father Bill. Working Blackhawks games became a moneymaking It’s early and they’re juggling a lot of worries right now. But they need to endeavor once he took over and the team got historically good. This will step up and do it soon. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said there shouldn’t be be the third straight season without a playoff berth, but the Hawks are any sporting events in the state until at least May 1. This is an already averaging a league-high 21,441 fans per game and are second in anxious time without having to worry about how you’re going to pay bills. capacity at 108.7 percent. That’s what these hourly workers are doing right now if my email inbox is any indication. The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan wrote about this problem. The Bulls have watched attendance decrease this season to the point where their listed capacity for games is at 90 percent, instead of above When it comes to his employees, White Sox and Bulls chairman Jerry 100 (with standing-room tickets) percent. Still, they’re 11th in league Reinsdorf is known as a soft touch. (Dennis Wierzbicki / USA Today) attendance, just under 19,000 announced per game.

Reinsdorf, Wirtz, the Ricketts family and the various concessionaires The Cubs and White Sox employ scores of people in and around the (including at arenas like Allstate and Wintrust) have obligations to their park and while they haven’t lost any money yet, that time is coming. workers and the city. Reinsdorf and Wirtz, whose families co-own the wildly profitable United Center, should be leading from the front. The Cubs were scheduled to play 18 games in March and April, while the White Sox had 17 games. While the opening month of the season is A Levy Restaurants spokesperson said a plan was “still evolving.” A generally slow in terms of business, that’s more than 10 percent of the message left for Vince Pesha, the SEIU Local 1’s sports and schedule. Pity the bartenders in Wrigleyville, too. entertainment director who represents unionized vendors and stadium workers, was not returned. As of Friday morning, there had been limited communication with event workers. Several beer vendors told me they hadn’t heard anything from A spokesman for the United Center speaking for the Bulls and the their union or Levy yet. Blackhawks told The Athletic, “We are considering ways to help our impacted employees.” One retail worker at the United Center told me his boss informed them during a team meeting on Wednesday that they would “fight” to get them White Sox vice-president of communications Scott Reifert said in a paid for games missed. conference call with reporters that they’re planning on playing 162 games, with the option to backload games in the fall. If that doesn’t A suites employee at the UC said they’ve received little clarity so far and happen, then they’ll figure out a response. That seems to be the Cubs’ a group of employees is discussing filing for unemployment. idea right now as well, as they figure out how many games they’re going A employee told me he hadn’t heard a thing. to miss and what MLB’s plan is for the season. “And unfortunately,” he wrote me in an email, “I don’t expect to. We’re This is an ongoing story, but as games start to be missed, the people told from the outset of applying for the job that it’s a benefits-exempt who make the United Center, Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field temporary position. We’re all technically terminated and re-hired at the run efficiently need more than words. end of each season. So even though a lot of people, myself included, rely several attendees dropping out. Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky was on the job as a source of income, I doubt that we’re all going to receive one of the smart ones. Or more likely, one who didn’t need the quick help like some other orgs have been doing.” cash.

Isn’t that sad? But now it’s officially canceled. According to the schedule, VIP ticket- holders were set to receive a free Benito Santiago autograph. Almost everyone is losing money right now and that’s going to continue until things get better. But there shouldn’t have to be GoFundMe drives Marquee Sports Network is stepping up this month without any games to for security guards and concession stand workers. air. The Cubs-only station, still unavailable to half of the market, is airing “Run to The Ring,” a series that shows every Cubs victory (and their Hopefully, by the next time I write about this issue, the owners will do the three losses) from the 2016 postseason. The series will air right thing and I’ll have some good news. at 7 p.m. beginning March 18 and running through March 31. These I talked to ESPN 1000’s Carmen DeFalco on Friday afternoon just after games aren’t cheap. Marquee has to pay to air playoff games, which are he taped an “Odds Couple” show with Mike North to air that evening. The property of MLB. “Odds Couple” is a gambling show (Get it? Odds?), and with legalized “The games were always going to air, but we did not have 14 straight sports betting in Illinois starting this week, it would normally be a perfect prime-time windows,” Marquee spokesperson Danny Sternfield told me. time for that show. “Until now.”

March Madness is here, golf and horse racing are on the horizon. The NBA and NHL are supposed to be in their stretch runs before the playoffs start and baseball was supposed to be two weeks away. The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020

This Friday’s show was easy enough with the news being so fresh, but that show might be going on hiatus in a little bit unless it just becomes the old Mike North Show every week.

“Mike will do the show, no matter what,” DeFalco said. “He’s always full of vim and vigor, I guess you could say. But I don’t know what we’re going to do two weeks from now if there’s nothing to handicap.”

During the show, North joked (I think he was joking) about betting Brazilian league basketball, noting that one player was a drunk and that his team was laying nine, which was “a sucker’s bet.”

As for his day job hosting a mid-day radio show with John Jurkovic — who is golfing at Pebble Beach as the world burns, as only “Johnny Handsome” could — DeFalco will do what every other sports talk show host is going to do: Mix news updates with the usual B.S. and sprinkle in some “Remember when?” programming.

And oh yeah, talk NFL free agency, which begins next week. That certainly won’t be a change. Save us, Ryan Pace!

“The NFL will help, if that’s going to go forward as normal with free agency, at least,” DeFalco said. “That’ll be good for next week. (Producer Randy Merkin) and I were talking this morning about being creative. Maybe you do ‘Great games in Chicago history’ and you put a guest on that was a part of that game. Do a segment built around that every day or a couple times a week. We have to find ways to get creative. Follow the updates and talk to players and coaches, if they’re willing to come on, about what their lives are like right now. We’re going to have to do a lot of that.”

(DeFalco was a young reporter during 9/11, when sports took a complete backseat to the tragedies in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. He was scheduled to be at Wrigley Field that morning with Bruce Levine to interview Sammy Sosa.)

At The Score, director of operations Mitch Rosen sent out an email to his staff imploring them to take care of their health and the health of their families first, while also reminding them of their mission to entertain.

“What I told our hosts is that local sports radio can really benefit in this time because people and fans depend on us for information, new information,” he said in a phone conversation. “If there’s content related to sports, which there has been, we’re going to talk about it. But we’re also there to entertain and make people laugh a little bit. These are trying times. Our format becomes a great utility and a service to our community.”

Will there be enough to talk about if this shutdown goes until May or even later?

“I think there’s plenty to talk about,” Rosen said. “This is personality radio. We will adjust and continue to be flexible.”

The Score has more time to fill without Bulls and Cubs games in the evening. The good news is that means more shifts for hosts like Joe Ostrowski, Julie DiCaro, Anthony Herron, various producers and, of course, Les Grobstein.

Before Gov. Pritzker’s mandate about social gatherings being canceled, the Chicago Sports Spectacular, an autograph show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, was still planning on going forward, despite 1180938 Colorado Avalanche

Kroenke Sports and Entertainment pledges to pay arena workers for next 30 days

By MIKE SINGER | [email protected] | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: March 14, 2020 at 10:03 p.m. | UPDATED: March 14, 2020 at 10:44 p.m.

Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Nuggets and Avalanche among several other teams, announced late Saturday night it will continue to pay its part-time and hourly employees for the next 30 days as the leagues wait out their respective suspensions.

“One of the many consequences of the pandemic is its effect on area businesses of all sizes,” KSE vice chairman Josh Kroenke said in a statement. “Many companies – in particular the service industry – are temporarily laying off hard-working employees due to the cancellation of events amid an uncertain future. Our hourly KSE event staff plays an integral role in ensuring our fan experience is first class in every way, and it is with these thoughts in mind that KSE will continue to pay its part-time and hourly employees for the next 30 days. We also have asked our vendors and partners to do the same.”

Since the NBA suspended its operations Wednesday night, roughly two thirds of the league’s owners have committed to paying part-time workers during the hiatus. Superstars like Kevin Love, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson, Blake Griffin and Rudy Gobert have all pledged significant sums of money to aid arena workers who’ve lost work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

KSE also said it’s continuing its work with local food recovery program, We Don’t Waste. On Friday, they donated “six pallets of food that would’ve perished given the recent event suspensions.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180939 Colorado Avalanche

Chambers: Health is more important than hockey, but Avalanche to benefit during “pause”

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

March 14, 2020 at 6:27 p.m.

The NHL is taking an optimistically uncertain approach in resuming its season. In other words, resumption is expected but has no clear time frame.

For Avalanche fans, the league’s self-described “pause” has a clear-cut benefit — however selfish, given that the country’s health is more important than hockey. The injury-depleted Avs are getting healthy through the coronavirus scare, with five key players likely to return if and when the league resumes play.

Forwards Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky and Matt Calvert all were on “mid-March” return schedules, and superstar center Nathan MacKinnon is already a week into his projected one- to two-week absence.

That said, any such return is obviously insignificant to the world’s health.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly released a statement Friday saying the league is asking its players to self-quarantine but to be prepared for an informal return-to-work announcement by the end of the month. Similar to players-only “captain’s practices” in the weeks leading into training camp, Daly expects involuntary training to lead into mandatory participation.

“We envision there coming a time where we transition directly from ‘stay at home’ to opening club facilities to players to work out and skate on a voluntary basis in small groups,” he said in the statement. “At this point, I’m not in position to say when that will be. We will see how the next week or so plays out.”

For the Avs, when and if they resume captain’s skates might depend on an agreement with South Suburban Parks and Recreation, which owns the club’s practice space at Family Sports Center in Centennial. South Suburban is currently closed because of the rising COVID-19 cases in Colorado but will re-evaluate its closure Thursday.

If South Suburban/Family Sports remains closed when the NHL says captain’s skates can take place, the rink owner and the Avs would presumably make a deal to allow the team to carry on in its private areas of the facility, including the “Avalanche” sheet of ice. The Avs have a gated parking lot and a private entrance in the back of the facility.

“While we are definitely disappointed that the season is (hopefully very shortly) paused, we as players understand that the safety of teams & fans is paramount,” Avs defenseman Ian Cole wrote on Twitter. “On the bright side: my playoff beard is gonna be EVEN BIGGER!”

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180940 Columbus Blue Jackets D Seth Jones

Injury: Ankle fracture/high-ankle sprain (right)

Layoff may help Blue Jackets get some injured regulars back Background: Jones was also injured carrying the puck to the net off a solo rush. It happened with 8:39 left in the first period against Colorado on Feb. 8 and instantly changed the Blue Jackets’ season for the worse.

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Prognosis: Jones underwent "tightrope fixation" surgery on his ankle Feb. Mar 14, 2020 at 4:38 PM 11 and is progressing through an eight- to 10-week recovery. He was already eyeing the Jackets’ final game or two, so he will likely be ready to go.

The NHL season, like that of most other professional leagues, is now D Dean Kukan accompanied by "hold" music. Injury: Meniscus tear/articular cartilage damage The COVID-19 pandemic has it on pause, which means the Blue Jackets might have played their final game. The good news, however, is what this Background: Kukan was injured in the Jackets’ 2-1 overtime win in break could mean if the Jackets do play again. They still have a glut of Boston and has missed 29 games. injury issues, but time is usually a great healer. Prognosis: The meniscus tear was bad enough, but the articular cartilage Here’s a look at who’s out and their prognosis for playing again this damage to the knee is likely the reason Kukan is still out "indefinitely," season: and unlikely to play before next season.

RW Josh Anderson F Alexandre Texier

Injury: Torn labrum (left shoulder) Injury: Lumbar fracture

Background: Anderson’s current shoulder injury occurred during a fight in Background: One of the only downsides to the Blue Jackets’ 4-1 victory the first period Dec. 14 at Ottawa, possibly when he was thrown to the against the Florida Panthers on New Year’s Eve in Columbus was Texier ice while holding onto the jersey of Senators defenseman Mark leaving with what turned out to be a hairline fracture in his lower back. Borowiecki. Prognosis: Texier has missed the past 30 games and is still out Prognosis: Anderson missed the next 35 games before undergoing "indefinitely," but don’t count him out completely. A sports medicine surgery Mar. 2 to repair a posterior labral tear and is expected to miss expert told The Dispatch on Jan. 2 that it would probably require a four to six months post-op. He is likely done for the season. minimum of three months, which would put Texier’s quickest return in early April. RW Cam Atkinson

Injury: High-ankle sprain (right) Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.15.2020 Background: Atkinson sprained the ankle Dec. 19 against the Los Angeles Kings and missed the next 12 games. He returned Jan. 16 against the Carolina Hurricanes and played eight more games before re- injuring it Feb. 8 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Prognosis: Atkinson was set to return Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Additional healing time can only help one of the Jackets’ top goal-scoring threats if the season resumes.

RW Oliver Bjorkstrand

Injury: Ankle fracture/high-ankle sprain (left)

Background: Bjorkstrand was injured on a final rush at the Philadelphia Flyers’ net with time running out in the Jackets’ 4-3 overtime loss Feb. 20 at Nationwide Arena. The Jackets’ leading goal scorer crashed hard into the end boards and left hobbling.

Prognosis: Bjorkstrand underwent a procedure Mar. 3 called "tightrope fixation" surgery to stabilize his ankle and speed the healing process. His recovery estimate is eight to 10 weeks, which would put his earliest return at mid-to-late April.

F Brandon Dubinsky

Injury: Wrist (right)

Background: Dubinsky went through training camp and the preseason before the Blue Jackets announced Sept. 25 that he would miss the start of the season. Dubinsky has missed the entire season because of the injury, which required surgery prior to the 2017-18 campaign.

Prognosis: Dubinsky is not expected back.

F Nathan Gerbe

Injury: Groin

Background: Gerbe revived his NHL career, after undergoing double hernia surgery last season, by contributing significant minutes and goals following a Dec. 22 emergency recall from the Cleveland Monsters.

Prognosis: Gerbe missed the recent three-game trip to western Canada, and a source told The Dispatch recently that the injury is more serious than thought. Gerbe could require surgery that would keep him from playing again this season. 1180941 Dallas Stars Let’s look at Tuesday’s game against the Rangers for examples. New York is one of the most active teams in the offensive zone, asking defensemen to join the attack often. It’s a big reason the Rangers lead Film study: Could the Stars defensemen be the key to unlocking more the league in points from defensemen (183) and are one goal behind St. offense? Louis for most goals by defensemen (44). It’s also a big reason they’re a bottom-10 defense with 3.14 goals allowed per game.

Here’s a wonderful possession by the Rangers in the first period that By Matthew DeFranks results in an Artemi Panarin scoring chance that Ben Bishop needed to make a lunging save on. Watch how forwards Panarin (No. 10) and Ryan 10:35 PM on Mar 14, 2020 Strome (No. 16), and defenseman Tony DeAngelo (No. 77) interchange.

1. DeAngelo pinches down the wall, Panarin covers him up top. Right now, there are many unknowns — in the Stars’ world, in the hockey DeAngelo goes back to the point, and Panarin rejoins the attack. world and in the real world. 2. After a Panarin shot, DeAngelo dives below the dots to retrieve the The coronavirus pandemic has forced the suspension or cancelation of puck, and Strome covers him. all major sports events, including the NHL’s indefinite pause with the 3. As the puck goes to the other side and Panarin drifts high, Strome Stars riding a six-game losing streak. It’s unclear when hockey will goes to the slot. resume, or at what stage of the season. But the hiatus allows teams around the league to get healthy, and coaching staffs to dissect their 4. After another shot, DeAngelo slides back above the circles and team’s weaknesses (or maybe get an early jump on scouting for the Panarin cuts in from the opposite side of the zone. At this point, Joe playoffs). Pavelski is looking around for a man to cover, and Panarin is zooming past him for a chance. For the Stars, the focal point should be their scoring. The movement created confusion, and ended up with a scoring chance. Entering the league’s suspension, the Stars were in their toughest stretch That’s how the Rangers play. It’s exciting, and it also results in plays like of scoring in a season in which they’ve struggled to score goals. They this one when two Stars players go out to the blue line to block a point were shut out in consecutive losses to Nashville. They were held without shot from Rangers forward Phillip Di Giuseppe. a 5-on-5 goal in three straight games. The overall scoreless streak reached 2:56:07 before Roope Hintz scored against the Rangers on It also results in chances for the opposition like this one, when Tuesday. The 5-on-5 scoreless streak reached 4:22:54 before Andrew defenseman Adam Fox falls down at the end of a power play, and gifts Cogliano scored Tuesday. the Stars a 3 on 1 rush going the other way …

There is no panacea for the Stars’ scoring woes, not 69 games into a … Or this one when defenseman Jacob Trouba joins the attack, but then season and coached into an identity that prioritizes limiting opposing the Rangers turn the puck over, sending Jamie Benn off in transition. scoring chances. A potent power play helped mask offensive issues since the All-Star break. Last week, interim coach Rick Bowness said the The Stars won’t be the Rangers. That’s not the team they are. That’s not Stars needed more of a netfront presence and also needed to stop over- the team they want to be, two points out of a playoff position instead of passing the puck. Perhaps, the Stars best forwards are in matching four points up on a spot. It’s not a style the Stars believe works in the career-worst shooting slumps (Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov’s playoffs, and Dallas has built the last three seasons around playing good season-long shooting percentages are the worst in their careers). defense.

These things can all be true, but let’s look at another way the Stars can But can the Stars borrow a touch of the Rangers’ aggressiveness from create offense: with their defensemen. defensemen to generate more offense?

Bowness and the Stars coaching staff has asked the defensemen to be It’s not like the Dallas defensemen are stationary. They activate, as more involved in the offense, and that has mostly amounted to more documented here when talking about how the Stars completed a season- shots from the blue line. But could more activation from defensemen — changing comeback against Minnesota in October and here when talking pinching down walls, cutting through the middle of the ice — be an about how Jamie Oleksiak had played. Plus, Miro Heiskanen and John avenue to a more dangerous attack? Klingberg’s contributions, of course.

“I think we need to find a fine line with that,” defenseman Esa Lindell Here’s a shift from last week against Nashville, when both Heiskanen said. “Everyone wants to play offense, but then we’ve got to eliminate the and Oleksiak were active to keep the puck in the zone, ultimately turnovers. I think those have happened too much lately. That way, it resulting in a scoring chance on the doorstep from Roope Hintz. costs us, and the opponent gets more O-zone time. If the plays are there, The Stars defensemen tried joining the offense at times against the obviously, we want to make them. Just got to find the fine line.” Rangers on Tuesday, but it often led to Rangers rushes the other way. This season, Stars defensemen have 26 goals, tied for 23rd in the Oleksiak and Jason Dickinson (you can see him look back to judge league. Compare that with last season’s 41 goals and ninth-place finish, where he should be going) have a miscommunication, and the Brendan and it’s a significant drop in production from the back end. Lemieux nearly beats Bishop on the other end.

There are risks involved with asking defensemen to be more active in the Heiskanen enters the zone with the puck, pushing Blake Comeau back to offensive zone, most notable allowing dangerous odd-man rushes to go cover for him. As the puck gets turned over, Mika Zibanejad blows by the other way. There has to be trust from defensemen that the puck won’t both Comeau and Esa Lindell to create a backhand shot on Bishop. get turned over, the highest forward in the offensive zone will cover his Klingberg comes down the wall here, and no forward covers for him, spot at the point, and that the forward can slow transition if needed. making the Stars susceptible to a counter-attack if Heiskanen’s point shot “The guy with the puck is responsible to make the right plays, so you doesn’t get all the way through. It does, and the Stars are safe. don’t put your defensemen in that predicament,” Bowness said. “The D’s Of course, there have also been times that Stars defensemen have got to make sure he’s looking inside, he’s there, then he’s going. If he’s looked hesitant to join the play, both against the Predators and against 100% sure he can get there regardless, he goes. He’s got the green light the Rangers, as noted by color analyst Daryl “Razor” Reaugh. to go there. If there’s 50-50 doubt, then he’s got to make sure that guy is there.” Just as defensemen are obviously important in this strategy, so are the forwards, particularly the F3. With a forward playing high in the offensive Giving up odd-man rushes is not in the Stars’ DNA. When they opened zone, ready to reload possessions and cover for defensemen, it may the season 1-7-1 and their typically strong defense was porous, it was seem like a more defensive role on the surface. Bowness said it’s not. because they were giving up too much in transition. As that slowed, so did the opposing goal-scoring. There is no public data on how often “Your F3 is a threat offensively, he’s not just there for defensive reasons,” defensemen get involved in the offensive zone (but maybe the advent of Bowness said. “No, no, no, he’s there for offensive reasons. We get that puck and player tracking can pinpoint the most active teams and puck, then he’s a threat and he can come to the net and someone else defensemen), but the Stars’ defensive identity may mean they’re in the will fill that spot. It’s not a strictly defensive role at all. He’s very involved bottom half of the league in that. with the offensive part of the game, and when the puck goes to the defense, he’s up supporting them. That F3 is strictly not defensive at all.

“It’s just as important on the offensive side of the puck, and we encourage them to get involved. You’ll see them rotate the forwards, different guys coming into that area. You need him there for defensive reasons, but just as important is the offensive reasons. When you see us working three high at the blue line, which a lot of teams are doing now, he’s the guy.”

Are F3s doing that in the game?

“Sometimes he is, but not enough, no,” Bowness said. “Sometimes, he’s up there, and he’s not getting the puck. And the D are putting pucks back in behind the net when we are trying to use the guy up high. That’s why he’s there, for both side. Just as important is the offensive side. We used him better the last game against Nashville. We didn’t do it as well [Tuesday against the Rangers].”

The solution to creating more offense for the Stars is not as simple as simply asking the defensemen to be more active. But an added injection can help — help create chances, offensive zone time, drawn penalties, power plays and goals.

Crews clean and prepare to cover the Dallas Stars ice after all NHL were suspended due to coronavirus on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180942 Dallas Stars

Mavericks, Stars to compensate American Airlines Center staff for suspended home games during NBA hiatus

By Matthew DeFranks

10:36 PM on Mar 13, 2020

Hourly staff members who work Mavericks and Stars games at American Airlines Center will be compensated for wages lost due to the NBA and NHL placing their seasons in hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Mavericks on Friday announced that staff members will be paid for the six home games that were scheduled to occur during the NBA’s 30- day hiatus.

Stars president Brad Alberts said workers will be paid by the Stars and American Airlines Center their usual wages for the seven Stars games that were to be played in March because, “We do not want any of our great people to be negatively impacted financially.”

On Wednesday night, almost immediately after the NBA announced its hiatus following Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive test for COVID- 19, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban pledged to help arena workers, many of whom, he noted, live paycheck-to-paycheck.

The Mavericks on Friday said they were working with AAC leadership, and with Mavericks jersey sponsor Chime also allocating funds, to compensate hourly workers who include: security, police, parking attendants, housekeeping, in-arena entertainers and guest services staff.

“It is our hope,” the Mavericks’ news release stated, “that this will allow our valued team members to satisfy their economic needs during this unprecedented time.”

The Mavericks also said they are partnering with Chime and working with the franchise’s nonprofit partners to identify other support and service opportunities throughout North Texas.

NBA and NHL postponements left arenas around the country without events, and arena staffers without income they typically rely on.

Players around the sports world also volunteered to donate money to pay arena workers, starting with Cavaliers forward Kevin Love donating $100,000.

In hockey, Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky pledged $100,000 that the rest of his teammates matched. In basketball, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Pistons forward Blake Griffin said they would donate $100,000.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson wrote in an Instagram post he would help workers. The Red Wings, Devils and Penguins also formed plans to pay arena workers.

March was supposed to be the month with the most home games for the Stars, with 10 of the season’s 41 home games scheduled during the month. The Stars were able to play three of them before the NHL announced their suspension Thursday before the Stars hosted the Panthers.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban speaks to reporters after the Dallas Mavericks beat the 113-97 on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. During the game, the NBA suspended all games due to the spread of the new coronavirus.

MAVERICKS

Amid coronavirus concerns, Mark Cuban steps forward with logic -- but also warns further spread among players 'could kill the NBA season’

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180943 Dallas Stars

‘We’re canceling stuff for a glorified cold.’ Worst reactions to coronavirus cancellations

BY STEFAN STEVENSON

MARCH 13, 2020 04:15 PM

Some of us are handling this better than others.

The cancellation of nearly every major sporting event and suspension of professional and collegiate sports for at least the next month out of concern for the COVID-19 outbreak has generally been met with sadness but understanding for the vast majority of sports fans.

The news that the NCAA has canceled March Madness and the rest of spring championship competition annoyed many who accused the organization of overreacting. Many asked why it couldn’t just postpone events and play at a later date once the coronavirus dissipates.

A small faction of fans, however, see a conspiracy and assign nefarious reasons for the cancellations and suspensions.

Former MLB player and Brewer High School alumnus Aubrey Huff, who is no stranger to political controversies, thinks the outbreak is a conspiracy between Democrats and the Chinese government.

Star-Telegram LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180944 Detroit Red Wings Rating, run time: TV-MA, 80 minutes.

The buzz: Plus more Kurt Russell! Seriously, the actor spent time on the roster of the Portland Mavericks, a 1970s independent team that’s the Here's what to watch if you're craving epic sports action during subject of this documentary, for about a month in its inaugural season. coronavirus pandemic (His dad owned the team, though Russell was a decent player in his own right.) And just in case you’re not locked in on completing Russell’s complete filmography, there are plenty of other characters to keep you Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press entertained, as only independent baseball teams can.

Published 6:49 p.m. ET March 14, 2020 | Updated 6:57 p.m. ET March Football 14, 2020 'The Longest Yard'

Rating, run time: R, 121 minutes. The coronavirus pandemic has canceled nearly every sporting event from here through mid-April (if not beyond), leaving us sports fans with a The buzz: Whew, we’ve come a long ways from Stafford becoming the lot of viewing time on our hands – and on our Netflix queue. youngest NFL QB to hit 40,000 passing, haven’t we? Nine-ish games of Jeff Driskel, David Blough and the fear of someone called Kyle Sloter has probably inured you to the phrase “Washed-up favorite online video-on-demand provider – with apologies to any Hulu professional quarterback Paul Crewe” contained in the description. We or Amazon Prime truthers – and see what they’ve got to get us through kid, we kid, Lions, since it’s a football classic — released in 1974 — that the next few weeks of COVID-19-enforced sports withdrawal for the four certainly never had a remake with Adam Sandler filmed. Anyway, the climatic game featuring inmates vs. guards with rifles trained on the field will absolutely not remind you of the Hockey current CBA bargaining/voting this weekend, nope. 'Miracle' 'The Longshots' vs. 'Coach Snoop' Rating, run time: PG, 136 minutes. Rating, run time: PG, 94 minutes; TV-MA, approximately 240 minutes. The buzz: There are literally more feel-good, “chills down your spine” The buzz: Not really, but, hey, if you want to feel old, you can dial up Ice moments in the first hour of this one than the Red Wings have had all Cube playing coach to a plucky 11-year-old female QB in Pop Warner season. Sure, it’s a little too focused on the coach, the late Herb Brooks football. Or, you can call up the eight-episode 2018 docu-series covering (played by Kurt Russell), but by the end of the movie, you’ll feel like you the D-Oh-Double-G running a youth football league in Los Angeles. And won the gold medal at Lake Placid along with the squad made of mostly if you want to feel older, you can realize that Snoop Dogg is a of Minnesota and Massachusetts collegians. (St. Clair Shores’ Mark grandfather and his son, Cordell, left UCLA’s football program back in Wells, of Bowling Green State, was also on the team.) 2016. 'Ice Guardians' 'QB1: Beyond The Lights' Rating, run time: TV-MA, 108 minutes. Rating, run time: TV-14, approximately 1,000 minutes. The buzz: This one’s a documentary from 2016 looking at the changing The buzz: Admittedly, this one’s a bit of a haul, with three seasons – roles of enforcers in the modern NHL. Hit the play button for the fight each split into 10 35-minute episodes – of behind-the-scenes football footage, but stick around for the thoughtful takes from ex-NHLers action following three star high school quarterbacks each year. It’s including Jarome Iginla, Chris Chelios and . (Yes, we put “Brett especially timely next month, as one of the QBs from Season 1, Jake Hull” and “thoughtful” in the same sentence. There’s a first time for Fromm, is headed to the NFL draft. (The other two QBs from Season 1 everything.) didn’t hit it big, Tate Martell and Tayvon Bowers, and are on their second 'Goon' schools already.)

Rating, run time: R, 91 minutes. Basketball

The buzz: Speaking of, well, goons, this 2011 comedy is a bit raunchy 'Space Jam' but it has its heart in all the right places. The hockey’s nothing special – Rating, run time: PG, 87 minutes. then again, if you’ve been watching the Red Wings, you should be used to that. But the laughs are genuine and calling this one up a couple times The buzz: The Toon Squad, we mean. Not the Pistons. And in any event, this month will keep you from wearing out your “Slapshot” DVD. think of a rewatch of this 1996 classic as homework for LeBron James’ G.O.A.T. audition. Anybody can win an NBA title or three, but only Baseball could make Elmer Fudd and Daffy Duck basketball 'The Natural' legends. (James will get his chance next year, though.)

Rating, run time: PG, 137 minutes. 'Semi-Pro'

The buzz: No, it’s not a Miguel Cabrera documentary. It’s the classic Rating, run time: R, 91 minutes drama starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close and Robert Duvall and shot The buzz: The dramatic roster upheaval this season may have made you mostly in Buffalo. You probably know the “Roy Hobbs” story by now, and forget, but we’re just over a year removed from Blake Griffin and Reggie have seen plenty of clips. But it’s still worth a rewatch or three, especially Jackson virtually reenacting a not-so-good basketball play from this for the cinematography and soundtrack. And hey, maybe ol’ Ron movie. So just watch the original in all its teal-wearing, ’fro-showing glory. Gardenhire can find a spark plug for the Tigers, somewhere deep down on the bench whenever MLB starts up again. 'Iverson'

'Major League II' Rating, run time: TV-MA, 88 minutes.

Rating, run time: PG, 104 minutes. The buzz: Allen Iverson was on the downside of his career by the time he arrived in Detroit in a November 2008 trade with the Nuggets. But before The buzz: OK, look, there really just aren’t that many baseball movies on that, he was arguably the most influential player of his generation in Netflix, surprisingly. But hey,we’ve seen worse baseball comedies. Just defining basketball culture. Oh, and there was this: “I mean listen, we as watching this year’s Tigers figures to be a pale imitation of the good talkin’ ’bout practice. Not a game, not a game, not a game. We talkin’ Tigers teams of years past, this one’s a pale imitation of the original about practice. Not a game, not a, not a, not the game that I go out there “Major League.” Come to think of it, that’s probably the best way to and die for, and play every game like it’s my last. Not the game. We describe the past few years Tigers squads: They look “Major League,” talkin’ bout practice, man.” but just aren’t.

'The Battered Bastards of Baseball' Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180945 Detroit Red Wings The goodwill efforts of businesses extend beyond sports, with the temporarily closed Detroit Institute of Arts paying their employees, and Comcast offering low-income families two months of free Internet as Ilitches' $1M employee fund might not cover LCA's food, beverage schools shift to online learning, among many others. workers

Detroit News LOADED: 03.15.2020 Tony Paul, The Detroit News

Published 5:34 p.m. ET March 14, 2020 | Updated 9:02 p.m. ET March 14, 2020

Detroit — Ilitch Holdings' $1 million commitment to pay the salaries of part-time workers during the coronavirus shutdown for the next month will cover about 1,500 employees.

But it might not cover all who work at Little Caesars Arena.

The Red Wings, like the also-Ilitch-owned Tigers, contract out food and beverage services to Sportservice, a branch of the Buffalo, N.Y.-based Delaware North company. Delaware North has contracts with some 50 arenas spread across four continents.

Delaware North chairman Jeremy Jacobs owns the NHL's Boston Bruins and the Bruins' and Celtics' home arena, TD Garden. He's worth $3.5 billion and has more than 50,000 employees.

A spokesperson for Delaware North declined to comment when reached by The Detroit News on Saturday.

The Bruins issued a statement Friday to the Boston Herald which said, "We are actively exploring support options." That statement, though, applied only to TD Garden employees.

LCA's food and beverage workers are represented by Local 24, which has more than 6,000 members. A message for union president Nia Winston was not immediately returned Saturday.

The Ilitches announced Friday their $1 million commitment, on behalf of their vast group of companies, including the Red Wings, Tigers, Fox Theatre, 313 Presents and Little Caesars Arena.

"Our sincere hope is that this provides comfort to our colleagues in this difficult time," Chris Granger, president of sports and entertainment for Ilitch Holdings, said in a statement.

On Saturday, in response to an inquiry from The News, an Ilitch spokesperson said the fund, which went into effect Thursday, covers ticket sellers, ushers, restroom attendants, guest-relations representatives, security representatives, parking attendances, game- day production staff and "others." It wasn't immediately clear if food- and beverage-service workers fall under the "other" category; a followup message from The News wasn't immediately returned.

The fund covers those missing work at LCA, the Fox Theatre and the Tigers' spring home in Lakeland, Fla., . At this point, the fund doesn't cover workers for the Tigers, whose season will be delayed at least two weeks, and almost certainly longer than that. Many Delaware North employees work both LCA and .

Pistons star Blake Griffin also pledged a $100,000 donation for arena workers, and the Pistons have agreed to assist, as well. It's not clear how that money will be divided up, and a spokesperson for the Pistons didn't immediately return a message Saturday.

There are about 1,500 part-time employees of LCA, with an average of 500 work on game days for the Red Wings and Pistons or for a concert, an Ilitch spokesperson said.

Many sports teams and stars have leaped into action to make sure employees are compensated, the trend started by Dallas Mavericks owner and "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban. The United Center in Chicago was among the latest to act, pledging $3.3 million for Blackhawks and Bulls workers. Crain's Chicago said the United Center payroll per game was about $240,000. An Ilitch spokesperson wouldn't comment on the average payroll per event at LCA.

LCA is losing four Red Wings games, eight Pistons games and seven non-pro sports events, including the NCAA's Frozen Four, which was scheduled for April 9 and 11. Fox Theatre has lost five events, so far. 1180946 Detroit Red Wings If the remainder of the regular season is scrapped, how will that affect the draft lottery?

Other than the date (April 9) being pushed back, which is a given now, What’s next for NHL, Red Wings during, after coronavirus hiatus? there is no reason to believe the NHL won’t hold the lottery as usual to determine the draft order. The Detroit Red Wings have clinched the worst record in the league, so they will have the best odds at landing the top Updated Mar 14, 2020; Posted Mar 14, 2020 pick (18.5 percent) and can drop no lower than fourth.

By Ansar Khan | [email protected] Will the draft and start of free agency be pushed back?

Unless the season and the Stanley Cup playoffs are shortened or canceled, there appears to be a good chance the draft, scheduled for The NHL has experienced four work stoppages over the past 28 years June 26-27 in Montreal, and the July 1 start of free agency will be pushed due to labor disputes, including the unprecedented canceling of the back. 2004-05 season. If games are canceled or the playoffs wiped out will the salary cap The current suspension of the season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) decrease? is unchartered territory. The cap is linked to revenues, so it would be impacted. The current limit Many questions remain unanswered as the situation is fluid. Here is what is $81.5 million, and it was projected to rise to anywhere from $84 million we know and projections of what might happen: to $88.2 million for 2020-21. When will play resume?

Commissioner Gary Bettman provided no timeline when announcing the Michigan Live LOADED: 03.15.2020 “pause” on Wednesday because it’s difficult to predict. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on Thursday that his league will be shut down for at least a month. Chances are the NHL and NBA will be in lock- step on when to resume. The NHL’s decision to suspend its season came some 15 hours after the NBA’s. Their seasons nearly overlap and many teams in the two sports share the same building. So, it figures the earliest the NHL will resume would be mid-April.

Will the regular season continue, or will they start with the playoffs?

Bettman said in his initial statement that the league is hoping to “resume and complete the regular season schedule.” Teams have between 11 and 14 games remaining, so it would take about a month to complete.

If they resume in mid-April, the playoffs would start in mid- or late May. The latest a regular season game has ever been played is May 3, during the lockout-shortened 1995 season. The latest the Stanley Cup has been awarded was June 24, in 1995 and 2013, seasons affected by work stoppages.

Perhaps the schedule will be shortened, enabling playoff-bound clubs to get in a few games to prepare for the postseason when play resumes.

If the NHL plans on completing the regular season, it has two options for the playoffs: Shorten them (perhaps best-of-five for the first two rounds) to complete before July or play into July for the first time.

Will fans be allowed to attend games?

That is difficult to say at this time. It might depend on whether mass gatherings are being permitted outside of the sports world.

Silver hinted at the possibility in his open letter to NBA fans by saying, “If games are not played or played in an empty arena, teams will work with fans on a credit for a future game or a refund.” Again, the NBA and NHL likely will implement the same measures.

Will players test for the coronavirus?

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said there is no mandatory testing for players at this time, but if they exhibit symptoms, they should be tested. The league is encouraging players to self-quarantine in their NHL cities, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

How will players handle training during this hiatus?

Daly, in a statement, said the league is encouraging players to stay at home during the initial phase of the “pause.” He envisions clubs opening their training facilities at some point for players to work out and skate in small groups similar to what they do prior to training camp. No time frame was given; he said they’ll see how the next week or so plays out.

How will part-time workers at Little Caesars be impacted during this hiatus? litch Holdings announced Friday the establishment of a $1 million fund to cover one month’s wages for part-time staff that would have worked at games, concerts and events canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus crisis. 1180947 Detroit Red Wings Also interesting will be the cases of Tyler Bertuzzi, who managed a career high in points (48) in spite of a major drop-off in team scoring, and Robby Fabbri, who has been a revelation for the Red Wings since they The key Red Wings questions amid a suspended NHL season acquired him earlier this season. Bertuzzi seems to have secured a long- term place in the Red Wings’ core this season, and should be signed and paid accordingly, whereas Fabbri probably still has some uncertainty relating to his injury history. Nonetheless, he’s a piece who can help the By Max Bultman Red Wings, and the fact he had been experimenting at center is all the Mar 14, 2020 23 more reason this “pause” deprives Detroit of some important information going into his contract talks.

And there’s plenty more up in the air, too. The Red Wings have eight There are far more serious things to worry about, amid the COVID-19 RFAs in all, including newly added Dmytro Timashov, earlier Steve pandemic, than what it means for the NHL or the Red Wings. But as the Yzerman additions Adam Erne and Brendan Perlini, young center world around us all shifts indefinitely, there are nonetheless some Christoffer Ehn and defenseman Madison Bowey. Those players are pressing questions hanging over the league’s decision to suspend play. more short-term deal candidates, but the games either being lost or delayed here could matter to who was able to make the best case to One of the most important, fortunately, has been answered: Ilitch return next season. Companies announced Friday it would still pay the part-time employees at Little Caesars Arena, the Fox Theatre and Joker Marchant Stadium in 3. What might Gustav Lindstrom have shown down the stretch? Lakeland, Fla., the wages they would have earned working canceled or postponed events. Here’s one that doesn’t cast quite so long a specter, since in all likelihood Lindstrom has plenty of time to show what he can do in the NHL before Many other questions about the Red Wings, however, still linger. And any decisions need to be made on him. But it did seem like he was some, ultimately, could prove elusive when it comes to assessing the starting to hit a stride when the season was put on pause. eventual impacts. “I like his brain a lot,” coach Jeff Blashill said recently. “I like his compete Here are five of the most significant questions remaining on the hockey a lot, I like his demeanor a lot. He will grow as he gets stronger and side for the Red Wings. quicker. Those are the two areas he’s going to have to grow with, but he will. I think he’ll put the work in.” 1. How will this affect the draft? The questions that have followed Lindstrom to this point as a prospect Corey Pronman did a league-wide story on this aspect already, but for have mainly been about his offense and how much upside he could have the Red Wings, the main (non-health-related) questions in the wake of all as an NHLer knowing he likely won’t produce much. He’s never been this naturally revolve around the draft. These are uncharted waters, so particularly high-scoring as a pro, with six points in the SHL last season, the practical implications are hard to pin down, and NHL deputy and just five in Grand Rapids this year. That’s held up in Detroit, too, commissioner Bill Daly told Pierre LeBrun that no decisions had been where he has just one point in 16 games. But he’s also gotten some made yet with regard to the 2020 NHL Draft or its June combine. power-play run lately, and while that’s arguably as much about the Red What’s clear, though, is that a large amount of in-person scouting time is Wings’ situation as it is about Lindstrom’s upside, he has nonetheless going to be lost, as will some of the usual sample teams have to evaluate looked competent making the right decisions to get the puck up ice. If he prospects. Seasons were already winding down in leagues around the can help Detroit clear the zone faster and hold up well as a penalty killer, world, but the U18 world championship was to be held next month in Ann that’s a promising sign for his ability to carve out a role. He just might Arbor and Plymouth, Mich. Now cancelled, that’s a major missed have to wait a while to get the chance to show it. opportunity for some of the team’s decision makers to see several of the 4. How will this affect the prospects in Grand Rapids? draft’s top prospects in one place, against the same level of competition. That matters when you consider how varied players’ in-season quality of The AHL suspended its season Thursday as well, which arguably costs competition can be. How do you most easily compare prospects playing the Red Wings as much as the NHL pause does, considering how many in pro leagues in Germany, Sweden and Finland with ones playing junior top prospects they had participating in Grand Rapids’ playoff push. hockey in Quebec and Ontario? International tournaments are often part Recent first-rounders Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno, Michael Rasmussen, of that answer (even if they shouldn’t be given too much sway in the big Dennis Cholowski and Evgeny Svechnikov have the Griffins in third place picture). in their division, a playoff position. Playoff hockey could do all of them a lot of good, especially in terms of learning how to win as a group. Now, The franchise should have a good idea by now what it thinks about the who knows what happens? And with some of those prospects in line to contenders for its top pick (wherever it may fall), but these are still make genuine runs at the Red Wings’ roster next season, a major precious final viewings they’re losing out on, and they’ll likely matter for potential opportunity for their growth hangs in the balance. the team’s trio of Round 2 picks, too. So do the interviews and visits that take place at events like the combine, where a franchise can get a better 5. What are the implications for Blashill? idea for the less-obvious traits in potential draft picks. (Though, again, there have been no decisions made on that event.) Yzerman has said he’s not planning to make a change behind the bench as recently as the end of February, praising the job Blashill has done in For now, we know at minimum valuable scouting opportunities have been difficult circumstances. He hasn’t committed full-stop to bringing Blashill lost. But we don’t know how the rest of the process will be affected. back either, though, and so the post-deadline slate was the final chance for impressions in either direction. 2. What are the stakes for the team’s pending RFAs? In that span, the Red Wings have had a couple really terrible games, and Hanging very much in the balance of the NHL’s decision to pause the then one of their better weeks of the season. So it’s hard to think that season is what a “resumed” season would look like. The answer could sample could have resulted in any major changes to Yzerman’s thinking have fairly large ramifications for some of Detroit’s restricted free agents, either way. And whatever comes next probably won’t clarify much either. who certainly had something to play for trying to boost their value in the If the season is cancelled or goes straight to the playoffs, then there’s no final 11 games that may or may not ever get played. It doesn’t sound like more games for Detroit. If the league somehow resumes a full or much in an 82-game schedule, but when you consider Anthony Mantha abridged regular season, it would be be hard to pass meaningful has 43 games played, it does matter. judgment on whatever happens amid such unprecedented activity. Mantha will be the single most interesting contract the Red Wings sign And that’s to say nothing on what all of this could mean for this summer’s this summer, as he has taken his point-per-game pace (0.88) to a whole coaching carousel as a whole. There are high-profile candidates out new level this season, but won’t have the raw counting stats to match there, including Gerard Gallant, who could suddenly find themselves free that figure. And considering anything short-term would essentially walk agents deep into the summer, depending on what happens with the rest the power forward to free agency, the Red Wings and Mantha’s of the league’s season. But if Yzerman isn’t ready to make a change, that representatives are going to have to find something amenable to both may not matter for Detroit. sides long-term. Every data point helps with that process.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180948 Edmonton Oilers It’s interesting to compare each player and time spent on his most recent successful line (180-plus minutes) via Natural Stat Trick:

Milan Lucic-Connor McDavid-Jesse Puljujarvi, 2017-18 Edmonton Oilers: Lowetide: What does Jesse Puljujarvi’s Liiga season tell us about his 187 minutes, 54 percent shot share, 66.67 (8-4) goal share future? Evander Kane-Tomas Hertl-Donskoi, 2018-19 San Jose Sharks: 294 minutes, 57 percent shot share, 52.94 percent (18-16) goal share

By Allan Mitchell Carl Hagelin-Lars Eller-Richard Panik, 2019-20 Washington Capitals: Mar 14, 2020 244 minutes, 55 percent shot share, 52 percent (13-12) shot share

Puljujarvi was a teenager and clearly getting a push on the McDavid line, and Donskoi was in some pretty nice company in San Jose, too. All three At the end of each season, I like to have a long, hard look at each Oilers men spent some time on feature lines, and I think Puljujarvi will prospect and his performance. One of the key measures is finding eventually find his way back to the NHL and fill a role similar to Donskoi’s “comparable” players in the same league in previous seasons. Ideally, in San Jose and Eller’s in Washington. those comparable players have played when they were the same age as the prospect in question. Puljujarvi’s future

That formula ordinarily works well. In the case of Jesse Puljujarvi, at age Eller and Donskoi have never scored 20 goals or hit 40 points in the 21 and playing in Finland’s Liiga in 2019-20, there aren’t many NHL. The closest to pedigree for either came on Eller’s draft day, when comparable players over the past 10 years. The truly gifted players, such the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks as Sebastian Aho and Patrik Laine, are in the NHL as teenagers. completed a three-way deal that sent the No. 13 overall pick in the 2007 draft to Missouri (the Blues chose Eller). Puljujarvi was in the NHL as a teenager but didn’t stick. Over the past 10 years, no Liiga players performed at Puljujarvi’s level (53 points in 56 Since the day Puljujarvi was selected No. 4 overall in the 2016 draft, games) at age 21. we’ve had at least some questions about his offence. On the weekend he was chosen, I wrote “Jesse Puljujarvi is a physically mature teenager He’s in no man’s land. who romped over competition his own age in 2015-16. The young man (also) played in the Sm-Liiga but the time on ice and feature offensive How impressive is Puljujarvi’s season? Who is his most comparable Liiga roles went to others. His boxcars do not suggest a tremendous offensive player over the past decade? Did that player emerge as a quality NHL season should be expected,” and that’s exactly how it rolled out. Season player? Let’s have a look. after season. Comparable forwards Edmonton misspent his youth, at least the early portion, and his Liiga Having established that there are no direct hits, how close can we get? If numbers at age 21 (despite being impressive) do not suggest Puljujarvi is we expand the age range from 19 to 23, we get the following: going to be a premium scorer. He projects as a solid two-way NHL player with a career that might resemble the numbers posted by Eller and Lars Eller (23), 2012-13: 15 games, 5-10-15 (1.00) Donskoi. This isn’t about the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft; it’s about a young forward and his possible NHL career. Teemu Turunen (23), 2018-19: 57 games, 20-34-54 (.947) His comparable players in the Liiga (who made the NHL) over the past Jesse Puljujarvi (21), 2019-20: 56 games, 24-29-53 (.946) decade are complementary scorers who can play a responsible game. Ville Leskinen (23), 2017-18: 49 games, 23-22-345 (.918) The math of Puljujarvi has really never changed: He projects as a top- nine forward but is unlikely to deliver eye-popping goal totals. If he plays Joonas Donskoi (22), 2014-15: 58 games, 19-30-49 (.845) with an elite , like McDavid, those numbers could increase, but that’s true of any winger getting a push on 97’s line. Eller played in the lockout season and was in the NHL before and after his time in Finland, and his numbers (slightly more productive than The Liiga numbers are impressive, but they confirm what we’ve Puljujarvi, but Eller is two years older) are in the range. Eller is a nice suspected since his draft day: complementary scorer. We have Puljujarvi match in that he’s a good skater, has offensive ability and plays a good surrounded as an offensive player. two-way game. Although Puljuajrvi doesn’t get a lot of credit for responsible play, he was on the right side of the puck most of the time with Edmonton. It’s my belief he could fill that two-way role in the NHL as The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 a mature player.

Turunen is 24 and is a 20-goal scorer for two seasons running in the Liiga. Undersized but with great hands, he could land in the NHL someday but is currently established as a skill winger in Finland.

Leskinen is 26 and was close to a point-per-game (57 points in 58 games) scorer in the Liiga during the 2018-19 season. There was some buzz about his coming to North America a couple of years ago, but he signed in the SHL (Sweden) with Farjestad for 2019-20. Leskinen was back in Liiga at midseason and continues to be a productive player in Finland.

Donskoi is spending his fifth NHL season with the Colorado Avalanche after playing the first four with the San Jose Sharks. He owns a scoring line of 16-17-33 in 65 games. He’s a useful player who can plug in at multiple spots in the lineup and have success. As is the case with Eller, I think Puljujarvi could grow into a complementary role in the NHL similar to Donskoi’s path.

Eller and Donskoi

Per 82 NHL games, Puljujarvi has scored 10-12-22 in his brief, 139-game career. Eller (14-18-32 per 82 NHL games) and Donskoi (14-23-37) have had more offensive success in the world’s best league, but Puljujarvi played limited minutes in the NHL. His prime is straight ahead, and those numbers aren’t out of sight for the big Finn. 1180949 Florida Panthers

Panthers’ Bobrovsky to donate $100K to help workers at BB&T Center

By KEVEN LERNER

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL

MAR 14, 2020 | 10:53 AM

Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is leading the fundraising effort to help part-time workers at BB&T Center who are paid on nights of events.

Bobrovsky will donate $100,000 to workers that have been affected by the postponement of events at the arena due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Bobrovsky’s donation is being matched by his teammates. The Panthers’ ownership group also has pledged to contribute.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday the league will "pause” its season because of the coronavirus pandemic. The move came one day after the NBA suspended its season after a player tested positive for COVID-19.

The Panthers signed Bobrovsky as a free agent on July 1, following the retirement of 19-year veteran Roberto Luongo. Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner (2012-13, 2016-17), awarded annually to the NHL’s best goaltender.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180950 Los Angeles Kings

Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Staples Center provide millions in aid for arena workers

By DAN WOIKE STAFF WRITER

MARCH 14, 20203:23 PM

The Clippers, Lakers and Kings, along with Staples Center, established a fund to provide financial assistance to all hourly employees at the arena impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, the organizations said Saturday in a joint news release.

According to sources not authorized to speak publicly, the assistance package is expected to be worth more than $5 million, though an exact number is fluid because no one knows for sure how many games and events will be canceled.

Payments from the fund will go to more than 2,800 Staples Center employees for shifts lost to cancellations through the end of the NBA and NHL regular seasons.

“We understand that these extraordinary events have impacted all of our lives and, as a valuable member of the Staples Center team, your health and well-being is important to us,” said a letter to employees co-authored by Staples Center owner AEG, the Clippers, Lakers and Kings.

Staples Center becomes the latest NBA venue to assist support staff, a movement that gained momentum in the immediate aftermath of the NBA’s suspension of its season.

Cleveland’s Kevin Love, Detroit’s Blake Griffin, New Orleans’ Zion Williamson and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo all have pledged sizable donations to help compensate arena staff.

Earlier this week, Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said they will pay all full-time and part-time employees through the end of March while the Golden State Warriors ownership group, players and coaches will provide a $1-million relief fund for 1,000 part-time employees who work in food service, security, guest services and maintenance.

On Saturday, the NBA’s first known coronavirus carrier, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, donated $500,000 to relief funds in Utah, Oklahoma City (where he tested positively) and his home country of France.

“I am humbled by the tireless efforts and care of people around the globe for those affected by COVID-19, especially my own communities of Utah and France, in addition to my appreciation for the state of Oklahoma and my care there, and of course, my Utah Jazz family,” Gobert said in a statement.

“I know there are countless ways that people have been impacted. These donations are a small token that reflect my appreciation and support for all those impacted and are the first of many steps I will take to try and make a positive difference, while continuing to learn more about COVID- 19 and educate others. Much gratitude.”

LA Times: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180951 Los Angeles Kings Players will receive the last three paychecks they were due. They can’t work out at team facilities, but starting Saturday, injured players were allowed to visit those facilities for treatment. If no players or staffers test NHL observations: Season ‘pause’ because of the coronavirus has an positive in the coming week, players would then be allowed to train at unpredictable aura their team’s rink in small groups and, perhaps, to skate.

If all continues to go well, the NHL would set a date to restart and set parameters for a mini-training camp. By HELENE ELLIOTT SPORTS COLUMNIST Bettman on Friday offered an optimistic if vague outlook about what’s to MARCH 14, 20203 PM come and whether games now classified as postponed can be played. “I believe that in a credible, sensible way we’ll be able to, at some point,

complete the season and get through the playoffs and award the Stanley Eleven games were on Saturday’s NHL schedule. In one of them the Cup,” he said. “I don’t see how I could set a timeframe one way or the Kings, whose kids and veterans had found a successful balance during a other.” seven-game winning streak, were going to host the Ducks at Staples Stretching the season past late June is an option, but it gets complicated. Center. Both teams were out of playoff positions, but pride and history Warmer weather and summer humidity make it difficult to maintain good always bring emotions to their matchups. ice, even in northern cities. Also, the annual NHL awards show is But there are no games today. An eerie silence has fallen upon the NHL, scheduled for June 17; the draft, on June 26-27; and free agency, for the other major professional sports leagues in North America, and many July 1. other leagues around the world. “When can we hold the draft? If we can’t hold the draft, do we do a When the NHL locked players out in 1994, in 2004 — sacrificing the conference call? Do we move the awards show? There’s no shortage of season to get a salary cap — and again in 2012 it was easy for fans to things for us to be considering which we’re doing and analyzing,” be angry at one side or the other or both. They could criticize owners for Bettman said. “But they’re all contingencies because we don’t know being greedy or denounce players for being privileged, but they knew when and we don’t know the circumstances.” play would eventually resume and everything would return to normal. It There are some sticky situations to resolve if the NHL jumps directly to did, and fans returned in droves. the playoffs. Winnipeg holds the first wild-card spot in the Western The “pause” invoked Thursday by Commissioner Gary Bettman in Conference with 80 points in 71 games, but Nashville and Vancouver, response to the coronavirus pandemic feels different. This is more each with 78 points in 69 games, have better points percentages (points ominous, less predictable than the blustery verbal salvos of labor earned divided by possible points). negotiations. The league and the NHL Players’ Assn. on Friday advised In the East, Columbus has the second wild-card spot with 81 points in 70 players to self-quarantine at home for about a week to minimize their games (.578). The New York Islanders trail the Blue Jackets by a point chances of becoming ill or spreading the virus. but have a better points percentage (.588). What happens in those We’ve taken a detour out of the insular world of hockey and into an situations? unfamiliar region of the Twilight Zone. Also, Draisaitl likely would win the scoring title, with a 13-point lead over Unlike the lockouts, there’s no one to blame for this. There’s also no idea McDavid, but Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Boston’s David Pastrnak when the NHL, which must heed the guidance of public health officials in are tied for the Rocket Richard trophy (most goals) with 48 each. Who the United States and Canada, will be allowed to restart. If it does, the would win? first few games could be played without fans in diligently disinfected The NHL will take an enormous economic hit no matter what happens, arenas. because it depends more on gate revenues than the NBA, NFL, and Instead of debating whether Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl should win most Major League Baseball do. Initial NHL revenue projections for this valuable player honors over teammate Connor McDavid or if Colorado season were $5 billion; if there are no more games, the number could be defenseman Cale Makar will top Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes for rookie of $4 billion. the year, we’re now wondering if we’ve seen the final NHL games this The escrow on players’ paychecks — the amount withheld to get a 50-50 season. split of hockey-related revenues between players and owners — is 14%. Bettman hoped to keep going as long as possible and had made plans It’s adjusted at the end of the hockey season, and players usually get a for teams to play without fans in the buildings. Everything changed when small portion back. This year, they might instead have to give up an extra Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus 5%. Wednesday and the NBA screeched to a halt. There’s other fallout, notably the pain inflicted on those who depend on At that moment, Bettman told the NHL Network on Friday, “It occurred to jobs as vendors, ushers, maintenance workers, and other roles. It’s me quite vividly that it was highly unlikely that we were going to get reassuring to see the Ducks, Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, through the rest of our season without a player testing positive, and I New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose wanted to then get ahead of a scene like the NBA had on Wednesday Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Capitals have made plans to pay their night and simply stop things and pause so that we could wait to see how workers for lost shifts. the pandemic plays out. ... The Buffalo Sabres said Saturday they’ll pay workers if games are “I just decided in light of the fact that this pandemic seems to be affecting canceled, but so far games have only been postponed. The Calgary more and more people, and the more people you interact with the more Flames told hourly and event employees they won’t be paid for canceled likely it is you’re going to come in contact with it, and the fact that two of shifts. Remember that the next time those teams want tax breaks. our teams occupied the locker rooms within 24 hours in the last week of The stoppage also affects players’ pursuit of milestones and records, the time the Utah Jazz did, again, the likelihood that we were going to including Ovechkin’s chase of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals. have a player test positive was only going to increase the longer we Ovechkin‘s 48 goals in 68 games this season gives him 706 for his played.” career, ranking him eighth. He will be 35 in September and every The NHL board of governors signed off on it during a conference call unplayed game reduces his odds of catching Gretzky. Thursday afternoon. So far no NHL player, coach or staff member is known to have tested You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles positive for the coronavirus. One positive test — with the need to trace Times. back and notify others that person came in contact with — could end the season. A memo sent Friday on behalf of the NHL and the NHL Players’ Assn. to players, teams and agents outlined the next possible steps, according to So we sit and wait, hoping we can exit the Twilight Zone with nothing a person familiar with the memo but not authorized to speak about it more to show from the journey than a few spare rolls of hoarded toilet publicly. paper.

LA Times: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180952 Los Angeles Kings

Ducks’, Kings’ skating facilities closed to public because of coronavirus pandemic

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: March 14, 2020 at 4:09 p.m. | UPDATED: March 14, 2020 at 4:12 p.m.

Great Park Ice in Irvine, home of the Ducks’ practice facility, and Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, the Kings’ practice facility, are among a number of Southern California ice rinks and other community sports facilities that have been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All events and programs scheduled for The Rinks ice skating and inline facilities in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Lakewood, Irvine, Poway, Westminster and Yorba Linda were suspended Saturday through the end of the month.

“These unprecedented steps are being taken for the betterment and well- being of our community that we’re proud to be a part of,” The Rinks said in a statement. “The health of everyone associated with The Rinks has and will continue to be our number one priority.

“The Rinks will continue to consult with the State of California and local health officials as we closely monitor developments regarding COVID-19. We will re-evaluate the situation on March 31. We are hoping to resume programming in April and are looking to reschedule missed sessions and games.”

The Rinks directed further questions to its website: www.therinks.com.

In addition to the El Segundo facility, L.A. Kings Pickwick Ice in Burbank and the L.A. Galaxy Soccer Center in Torrance were shuttered Friday in response to the coronavirus after consultation with Los Angeles County health officials.

Toyota Sports Performance Center said in a statement: “We apologize for the inconvenience to our guests while each facility is closed, but we remain committed to the safety and well-being of our customers and staff and we look forward to engaging again soon during the unprecedented time that continues to impact our entire community and country.

“American Sports Entertainment Company along with our partners the L.A. Kings and L.A. Galaxy will continue to monitor the situation closely and take direction from local and state officials along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the L.A. County Department of Public Health while re-evaluating (Friday’s) decision.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180953 Minnesota Wild the playoffs. And as it stands now, the Wild is one point out of a spot at 35-27-7 with 77 points.

Should the Wild get to compete, its urgency will probably eclipse the Idle Wild staying prepared for whatever resumption of season brings make-or-break vibe that had hovered over the team in recent weeks.

The group may not have much time to nab a playoff berth, making the margin for error slim. It’s possible, though, the lull enables players to By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune return rested and rejuvenated and puts the Wild at full strength. At the time of the pause, defenseman Carson Soucy was still sidelined with an MARCH 14, 2020 — 10:21PM upper-body injury.

There’s also a chance the Wild’s season ended Thursday — because of Just days ago, what was intriguing about the Wild was its play and the a playoffs-only schedule or due to the entire league remaining shuttered. players. That scenario would unleash a wave of what-ifs.

Could the team corral a playoff spot after a miserable start? Fiala’s remarkable rise to become the Wild’s leading scorer at 54 points after a 14-goal, 12-assist tear over his last 18 games would be cut short, Will Kevin Fiala’s second-half surge continue? ending the best season of his career with 13 (or more) games to go.

Is this the last chapter of captain Mikko Koivu’s career? Koivu hasn’t announced whether this season is his last; he’s in the final months of his contract and just turned 37. Either way, he’s lost time near But now, those former focal points have taken a back seat. the end of his NHL journey. Like the rest of the sports world, the NHL came to a screeching halt on And the potential of this version of the Wild will remain a mystery, Thursday after the league paused its season during the coronavirus although it looked like it could have closed the gap on the playoffs after pandemic. Players have been instructed to self-quarantine, and no winning eight of its past 11 games — a run sparked by an outpouring of timeline has been given for when action could resume. offense and steady goaltending. But if the team doesn’t continue playing Wild captain Mikko Koivu (9) returned from an injury before the NHL because it missed out on the playoffs, not banking one or two more halted play in what could be the 37-year-old’s final season with the team. points would be an agonizing start to the offseason after the team was so He is in the last year of his contract. recently energized.

What isn’t unclear, though, is how there’s a shortage of answers for a “It’s going to be very fun,” Fiala said only last Wednesday. surplus of questions during an unprecedented time that has left the entire While the present is cloudy, so is the future if that’s what’s next for the state of the Wild in flux. Wild. “It is unique, and I’m not even sure it’s fully set in at this point,” player Not advancing to the postseason would shift attention to the draft, but agent Brian Bartlett said. scouting has been affected since the junior ranks, college hockey and As jarring as it felt to have hockey come to an abrupt stop with less than other development leagues have also stopping playing. One NHL scout a month to go in the regular season, this isn’t the first time the NHL has said most teams have preliminary lists but would rely on video of players been affected by an outbreak. and analytical departments to tweak them.

In 1919, the Stanley Cup Final was canceled due to the Spanish flu — This restock and how the Wild continues to evolve under General one of two instances in NHL history where the Stanley Cup wasn’t Manager Bill Guerin would take center stage, especially if prized awarded. The other came in 2005 after a season-long lockout. prospect Kirill Kaprizov finally joins the team from Russia.

While the circumstances are different, the most recent lockout in 2012 All that is certain for now, though, is the waiting — a holding pattern that could offer up some clues about how the league may resume play if it has a definite start but no end in sight. decides to do so.

After the NHL and NHLPA reached a new collective bargaining Star Tribune LOADED: 03.15.2020 agreement on Jan. 6, 2013, an abbreviated, 48-game season began on Jan. 19 — giving teams and players a 13-day buffer to reorganize and prepare for the upcoming schedule.

A similar lead-up could happen after this current hiatus. It might be shorter, since teams have already logged the bulk of their seasons and players have been encouraged by the NHL to stay in shape during this downtime.

Still, a memo sent out to players Friday made it clear the league would allot enough time for players to skate and get ready for games before actually playing.

“You probably need a week to get it back going again,” said Bartlett, whose clientele includes the Wild’s Jordan Greenway.

If the NHL does pick back up, how the rest of the season shakes out is up in the air.

Depending on how long this stoppage lasts, the league could try to salvage all remaining games, opt for a condensed regular season or go straight to playoffs. Perhaps even a new playoff format is considered, maybe one that trims down the usual best-of-seven series if it looks like the season may spill deeper into the summer.

Typically, the Stanley Cup is handed out in mid-June. During the 2013, season, it was lifted June 24. A Game 7, if needed, was scheduled for June 28.

Building availability is a major factor, and clearly the shorter this break lasts the better the outlook is for the Wild because as additional postponed games are wiped off the calendar, the more likely it seems the NHL will have to scrap some action and potentially focus on just saving 1180954 Minnesota Wild in mid-April, mid-May or mid-June,” St. Peter said. “I’m not really sure how fans are going to react when we start playing games again. Will they come back as if it’s a normal course of business or not?”

Coronavirus fallout will be costly for Twin Cities sports franchises, related For the NBA and NHL, the question is whether they will resume the businesses regular season or just skip to the playoffs, if they’re able to salvage this season at all.

Carter, the USC professor, said it’s hard to sum up what the total By Megan Ryan Star Tribune economic impact might be since this is still so new. The different sports leagues also have different business models and rely on different MARCH 14, 2020 — 10:11PM revenue. For example, the NBA has a $24 billion TV deal, meaning it is less reliant on ticket sales than leagues like the NHL and MLS.

The coronavirus pandemic razed the American sports world last week. But who takes the hit when it comes to those media rights deals — as The fallout will cost billions. well as other corporate partnerships, sponsorships, advertising, etc. — will come down to contracts, which could take years to sort through, With fans unable to watch their favorite teams and many of those teams according to Kent Schmidt, a partner at international law firm Dorsey & facing financial doubt, one Chicago-based sports research firm estimated Whitney who specializes in business litigation. North American sports could be looking at a collective $2.5 billion of lost revenue per month, factoring in gate revenue, sponsorships and media The NCAA men’s basketball tournament, for example, will not be played rights. this year. The NCAA made about $900 million on the tournament last year, thanks in part to an eight-year, $8.8 billion agreement with CBS and Using figures from the most recent Forbes report, Navigate Research Turner Sports in 2016 to broadcast the games. estimated the Timberwolves could lose $7.2 million in gate revenue if they couldn’t finish the regular season, and the Wild $8.5 million or more That eventually trickles down to college conferences and individual because of a potential playoff run. The Twins could lose $2.4 million, schools in the form of distributions. Last year, the NCAA distributed Navigate estimated, if the games during the two-week delay to the start nearly $600 million. Conferences also distribute money annually to their of the season are not made up. member schools to share money from broadcast deals. These distributions will likely decrease. “The impact’s huge,” Navigate founder AJ Maestas said. In fiscal year 2019, the Gophers athletics department took in almost $10 From local businesses to professional leagues, from arena workers to million in NCAA and Big Ten Conference distributions. The Gophers’ star players, the financial ramifications of suspending one of the U.S.’s main revenue-generating sports (football, men’s basketball and men’s biggest multibillion-dollar industries will have an effect. Just how big that hockey) had already completed all their home games before the effect will be remains unclear. cancellations, so the Gophers stand to lose only about $100,000 in ticket sales from spring sports like baseball and softball, per the most recent “We don’t know where this is going to end up. We just don’t have any athletics department budget. idea how long or how deep it’s going to go,” said David Carter, sports business professor at the University of Southern California. “And until you Stadium crews suffer have a better picture on that, it’s hard to even begin to forecast the economic impact.” Many expect professional salary caps to decrease next season as well, particularly in the NBA and NHL. How players’ salaries will take a hit The reach will radiate deep into communities that house major league depends on the different collective bargaining agreements. ESPN teams or were planning to host major events. , for example, approximated NHL players’ share of revenue from this season could fall was on deck to host the NCAA Wrestling Championships for three days $200 million if the rest of the season doesn’t take place. next week at U.S. Bank Stadium. But it’s not just people and organizations already worth millions or billions An NFL stadium has never hosted the event, so organizers expected it to of dollars that will lose money. The absence of sports will ripple to the shatter attendance records for six sessions. concession stand staff, ride-share drivers, luggage handlers at the airport and beyond. The impact on those workers, many of whom might make Jeremy Williams, the general manager of Bus Stop Burgers and around only $30,000 a year, could be significant. Several team owners Brewhouse, a block from the stadium, has started calling his vendors to and pro athletes have pledged to help financially support venue cancel all his over-orders of supplies and informing his staff to stand employees during the hiatus. down. He anticipated a big bump in business, especially after last year’s Final Four men’s basketball tournament significantly boosted the now-16- Helping one another is maybe the only way to weather such an uncertain month-old restaurant. That championship brought a $143 million economic situation. economic impact to Minneapolis, according to Pennsylvania-based Rockport Analytics. “Most of these entities — the union, the league, the broadcasters, the owners, the venues, etc. — they have to find a way to work together But the past week dashed any hopes of that when the NCAA canceled all because they’re all going to be harmed if they don’t,” Carter said. “If they of its championships for the rest of the school year. don’t pull in the same direction, their recovery is going to be slower.”

“A lot of people were looking forward to bigger paydays, and that’s obviously not going to happen now,” Williams said. “… Especially for the service industry, it’s just going to take a big blow over the next couple Star Tribune LOADED: 03.15.2020 months, and to really keep our bartenders and our cooks and everybody employed is going to be tough.”

‘Major economic impact’

Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer suspended play at or near the starts of their seasons, hoping it’s only a couple of weeks. That would give them time to make up missed games.

Twins President Dave St. Peter said the team is still working under the premise it will play all 81 home games, though he admits these are unprecedented times, and there’s no question that “there’s going to be a major economic impact across sports.”

The only good news for the Twins is that if they had to lose games, April is probably the best time to do it, since it’s not their peak month.

“It’s difficult to gauge what the impact ultimately will be from this pandemic on people’s attitudes over time, whether we’re playing baseball 1180955 Minnesota Wild and branding rights in stadiums they expect to be open for an entire season.

‘NO INSURANCE’ Stopped by COVID-19, sports must protect overall health Carter said discussions between leagues and partners will be nuanced and likely move beyond the language in contracts — even if some contain contingencies for events outside the teams’ reasonable control, By JOHN SHIPLEY | [email protected] | Pioneer Press so-called force majeure events. This would be of particular importance for the NCAA and its broadcast partners because their lucrative men’s PUBLISHED: March 14, 2020 at 5:17 p.m. | UPDATED: March 14, 2020 basketball tournament was simply canceled. at 6:44 p.m. “Their agreements have all kinds of contingencies for displaced,

canceled or postponed games,” he said. “You hear so much about force MN Gov. Walz declares state of emergency. Gatherings of 250 now majeure contracts, but I’m sure the NCAA will work collaboratively with discouraged. Social distancing now recommended. (CBS) and TBS to do what’s best for everyone. It’s not in anyone’s interest to say, ‘We’re not paying you’ or ‘we’re not giving anything back.’ Every major sports organization in the U.S. suspended or canceled ” operations this week, leaving millions of dollars on the table and a giant hole that has swallowed some of America’s most popular, ubiquitous and There are legal strategies and contingencies for teams losing events, and reliable obsessions indefinitely. certainly there is language in collective bargaining agreements to guide, or enforce, how to compensate players during a hiatus. But the narrative Now comes the hard part. that teams can fall back on insurance policies is misleading.

In the nation’s first focused, large-scale effort to help combat the novel Asked if leagues have insurance policies for such events, one sports and deadly coronavirus COVID-19, large pro and amateur sports leagues executive said, “There isn’t, and I don’t think the other leagues have it, suspended or canceled virtually all competition this week. Within about either.” 48 hours, the NCAA canceled the NCAA basketball tournaments, the NHL and NBA suspended their active seasons, and Major League An executive from a different league concurred. The premiums on such a Baseball stopped and pushed back the regular season by policy would be so astronomical they wouldn’t make financial sense. at least two weeks. “You can get insurance for facility damage, but there is no insurance for According several sports and business sources, including two executives lost games due to a pandemic,” one executive said. “There is no of major professional leagues, who spoke to the Pioneer Press on insurance policy that will rescue sports.” condition of anonymity, the industry is just now waking up to the reality of The NHL and NBA can still recoup games and perhaps their entire what they did and starting work on what comes next. postseason, and MLB and MLS could still play most of their seasons. But When and how might they resume play? How will they compensate losing money is inevitable, even if it’s just on lost attendance. For a players for a shorter season? How might this season’s corporate hockey or basketball team, that could be as much as $1.5 million per sponsorship and broadcast deals change? And how much money might game. they lose? “Dark nights are not good for anybody,” one exec said. “From a financial perspective, it’s just not a good thing,” one executive That’s especially true for the many hourly workers cleaning and selling said Friday. “As of yet we’ve been so busy dealing with the issues of this concessions at stadiums, as well as hospitality businesses that rely on disease that we haven’t run any numbers to determine what our not just regular-season games, but large events such as next weekend’s downside is.” NCAA wrestling championships in Minneapolis and NCHC Frozen The past few days, said the other, was spent getting “our people settled.” Faceoff in St. Paul, both canceled this week.

Major League Baseball players were given three options on Friday: stay That was the initial reaction to this week’s cancellations for John Budd, a near spring training facilities, where they can continue to work out with a professor of work and organization at the University of Minnesota’s limited staff; go to the cities where their teams are based, where they can Carlson School of Management. use those facilities; or go home to their permanent residences. “As someone who studies work and labor, the first thing that really jumps They cannot travel to Europe, Japan or South Korea, out is the losses that largely invisible workers are going to suffer,” Budd said. “These are not the stars in the NBA or the NHL, but the workers NBA and NHL players have been asked to stay in their home markets behind the scenes, selling concessions and cleaning up. Hopefully these and, as much as possible, in their homes. The NHL has barred players teams and leagues can take care of those workers so they really don’t from team facilities through at least the weekend and asked them not to feel the impact.” work out at independent gyms. A group of NBA players that includes former Timberwolves star Kevin As of Saturday afternoon, the only U.S. athletes known to have tested Love is helping pay the salaries of hourly employees at their arenas, and positive for COVID-19 are Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Jazz. Cleveland Cavaliers have announced plans to pay arena staff for the next several weeks. “The next step is to work with the unions and other partners to determine what constitutes a meaningful resolution to the season,” said David M. Several NHL teams, not including the Wild, have pledged to continue Carter, Principal of the Sports Business Group and an associate paying hourly staff during the work stoppage, as well. Still, there will be professor with USC’s Marshall School of Business. many ancillary casualties, Budd said.

“Is it half the remaining games and a full slate of playoffs? Is it to move “Athletes are in the spotlight, but really it’s the thousands, or millions, of forward now and whoever is in the playoffs now made the playoffs? It’s really the most vulnerable workers who stand to lose the most,” he said. now about working in unison with your funding partners to figure out what “They have no option of working at home or telecommuting, and in most is the best of some very bad options.” cases don’t have a lot of savings. They’re in a precarious situation; it doesn’t take much to take their finances in a different direction.” The sports leagues have earned some cachet with their decision to suspend activity, Carter said, showing a concern for their players and The generosity and concern some players and teams are showing for customers. Now they must navigate issues such as whether players will hourly workers is indicative of a general unity between players and be paid for lost games and how corporate sponsors and broadcast management in the immediate wake of the decisions to suspend or partners will recoup lost income. cancel play. That, Budd said, is unlikely to last.

Television networks CBS and Turner Broadcasting have lost the 10th At some point, leagues and players unions will have to agree on year of a 14-year broadcast rights deal for the NCAA tournament for compensation adjustments. It was one of many topics discussed Friday which they paid $10.8 billion. Corporations pay teams for suites, signage and Saturday by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark during meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“In all the professional leagues there is a history of contention between labor and management,” Budd said. “You don’t have to be too old to have a memory of a contentious work stoppage, so I would expect a certain amount of contention here, as well.”

All the sports, particularly baseball, will have to make time for players to prepare physically for a return. The NHL and NBA will need to decide how many regular-season games will be enough to determine playoff teams. MLB suspended spring training with more than two weeks remaining, and even the Twins — a team that won 101 games and the Division last season — was still making personnel decisions.

The initial hope was that play would be suspended a few weeks while the U.S. contained the coronavirus, but most suspect that timetable is optimistic. The longer the teams don’t play, the more difficult the return will be.

Teams, players and sponsors, Carter said, would do well to think beyond their legal agreements and consider the long term health of their leagues, teams and relationships.

“This is not a time to play hardball with you strategic partners,” he said. “They need to make sure they’re all rowing in the same direction.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180956 Montreal Canadiens “I think the coach knows what’s best for me,” Kotkaniemi said initially. “He told me he had done this before with the younger guys, so I trust him and I think he knows what’s best for me.”

A retrospective look at how Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s season plummeted into He was prepared with that answer. He knew what he would say and darkness stuck to it, repeating that Julien knew what was best for him numerous times. But when he was asked if he was fatigued in any way, he couldn’t do it.

By Arpon Basu “I don’t think so. I don’t feel too tired,” he said. “But like I said, I think the coach knows what’s best for me, so I trust him.” Mar 14, 2020 Kotkaniemi sat out a second game against the Sharks, a game the

Canadiens lost, Antti Niemi’s last in a Montreal uniform. Kotkaniemi did Just think about how it was announced. play the next game in Anaheim when Tomas Tatar came down with the flu, but he didn’t play all that well and the Canadiens got blown out, Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s season ended Wednesday afternoon, one day causing Carey Price to smash his stick to bits against the goal post. before the entire hockey world shut down. From that point on, Kotkaniemi’s place in the lineup was tenuous. He had It was a massive development for the Canadiens organization, and it was hit a wall, in Julien’s eyes, and the games were too important. He would handled like an afterthought. be scratched again. He would play at left wing. He would be benched in the third period. The announcement came via the Laval Rocket’s Twitter feed, a vague tweet that an injury to Kotkaniemi’s spleen would keep him out of action And maybe Julien was right, maybe Kotkaniemi was tired and simply for the rest of the season. The Canadiens organization has barely said didn’t realize it. Or maybe he was just playing poorly because the pace of anything about the injury since it happened in Cleveland on March 6. play at that time of year elevates and he didn’t have an extra level to elevate to. Either way, Kotkaniemi was left to figure that out on his own at There was no comment from general manager Marc Bergevin. No press age 18. release from the Canadiens. Just a tweet from the Laval Rocket. That’s it. But at the end of the season, just after the final game, Kotkaniemi’s response to how his rookie season had gone had nothing to do with his We don’t know anything about the nature of the injury to Kotkaniemi’s own struggles down the stretch. spleen. What exactly happened to it? Was it a bruise? A rupture? Is his career in jeopardy in any way? What is the treatment plan? A request for “A little bit disappointed,” he said. “It didn’t go the way we wanted. Pretty further information from the Canadiens on Wednesday came up empty. good group of guys going here, but didn’t make it in playoffs, so it’s sad. No further details to be shared. Reached via text, Kotkaniemi answered We were close.” he was not at liberty to talk about it, which is understandable considering how opaque the Canadiens are being on his condition. Several weeks later, after recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and just before heading home for the summer, Kotkaniemi admitted there All we know is that Kotkaniemi will not require surgery and that he was was an adjustment that needed to be made to playing limited minutes. well enough after one day in a Cleveland hospital to return home when he was originally scheduled to be under observation for three days. So, “It wasn’t an easy situation for me,” he said. “I had never been in that good news. situation, never played 10 minutes in a game. I’ve always been a top guy, so I need to learn how to do that, how to play in every situation, even if Here’s the sequence that likely caused the injury. There is no better it’s only 10 minutes in a game.” angle of Kotkaniemi getting hit into the boards by Cleveland Monsters forward Brett Gallant at the very end of the video, a seemingly innocuous There’s sometimes a snowball element to a player struggling, because hit, but one that may have produced a blow to Kotkaniemi’s abdomen those struggles lead to less ice time, and less ice time leads to more from the boards, which is the most common way a spleen is injured. He struggles, and suddenly you have lost your game and you’re not sure left the game after the hit and did not return. what happened.

The hit occurred on March 6, a year and a day after Kotkaniemi was a “I liked the way he really trusted me in the first part of the season,” healthy scratch for the first time for a game against the Kings in Los Kotkaniemi said in May. “I just lost my confidence a little bit.” Angeles because, as Claude Julien explained at the time, he was tired. It He hasn’t really found it since. was front-page news at the time, the scratch heard ‘round the world, because Kotkaniemi represented so much to the Canadiens. The day after Kotkaniemi’s first game of the preseason, a game played in Bathurst, N.B., he came off the ice after practice in Brossard and sat at He represented hope of better things, a talent to potentially build around, his locker. He wasn’t happy with himself. the mythical top centre they have missed for decades. “Did you see that game?” he asked that day. “I was terrible.” A year later, Kotkaniemi’s injury to his spleen doesn’t warrant a comment or an explanation or even a tweet from the Canadiens. Earlier in the By the end of training camp, his confidence had not improved because week, on Monday, when Julien was asked about his injury, he appeared he still wasn’t playing all that well. more annoyed to answer than concerned about the injury. And before that, Bergevin publicly questioned Kotkaniemi’s work ethic for seemingly “Still five games, zero points,” he said towards the end of camp. “I’m not arriving at training camp in subpar condition in an interview with La there, but I think it’s good to have the bad part now, in preseason instead Presse. of during the year.”

How did we get here? How did Kotkaniemi’s importance, at age 19, sink In his first regular season game, Kotkaniemi scored the first road goal of so low, so quickly in the eyes of the organization? his career in Raleigh. He scored on the road again in Buffalo two games later. Things were starting to look up. But it was around this time he It happened gradually, through incremental steps. Let’s look at those suffered an injury that began to nag him, and slowly worsened. It was steps, starting with that scratch in Los Angeles a year ago. described as a core injury by Bergevin, one Kotkaniemi had been playing through for roughly a month when he was shut down on Oct. 30 after Kotkaniemi watched part of that game against the Kings from the Staples collecting one assist in his previous nine games. Center press box. His mood appeared to be as one would expect it to be. His trademark smile was nowhere to be found, except for when a He returned on Nov. 16, but things had not improved. He was still unable member of the Canadiens’ staff brought some people to the press box to to produce, collecting a goal and an assist in 10 games, but toward the take a picture with him. He smiled for that. But otherwise, he sat and end of November he began to spend more time in the offensive zone. watched. There was a glimmer of light in his game. Over a five-game span from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, Kotkaniemi had the best 5-on-5 possession numbers The following day in San Jose, on March 6, 2019, Kotkaniemi met with among all the team’s forwards, according to Natural Stat Trick. His on-ice the media and he was in an impossible position. A day earlier, Julien told expected goal share over those games was at 60.8 percent and he was everyone Kotkaniemi was tired. He didn’t agree. no longer bleeding high danger scoring chances against, something that was highly problematic over the first month of the season.

The concussion he sustained Dec. 5 against Colorado cost him another three weeks, and he scored a goal in each of his first two games when he returned. But he was not able to pick up where he left off, the opposing scoring chances with him on the ice began to climb again and he appeared lost on many nights.

Over his final 12 games in a Canadiens uniform this season, Kotkaniemi scored one goal. His expected goal percentage plummeted to 44.75 percent, his possession numbers slipped similarly and his ice time began to dwindle. The trust Julien had in him early in his rookie season had completely evaporated and, mercifully, Kotkaniemi was scratched on Jan. 30 before being sent down to the Rocket on Feb. 1.

Julien explained the decision that morning, and after answering two questions on Kotkaniemi’s demotion in French he cut off that line of questioning.

“Are we going to talk about the game?” he said. “I feel I’ve explained enough about Kotkaniemi.”

Later, in English, Julien explained how the organization viewed it.

“We don’t look at these things as negative things, we look at these things as positive things,” he said. “That’s the problem here, we always look at the negative (instead of) the positive. Right now, KK’s had a couple of injuries, hasn’t quite found his game and is probably losing confidence too. So we want him to gain some confidence, we want him to find his game. There’s nothing negative about that. I think it’s more positive, and that’s what we need to see. He has great potential, that hasn’t changed from day one.”

This was good, because Kotkaniemi viewed it much the same way.

As he got a ride to Laval that day with Cale Fleury, Kotkaniemi did not have some kind of sense of impending doom. He had the opposite sense.

“I was very excited,” Kotkaniemi said after playing in Laval that night.

Excited about what?

“That I would play more than nine minutes,” he said. “That was the first thing that came in my mind.”

Kotkaniemi continued to play more than nine minutes a game in Laval and learned to love the game again, to have the puck on his stick and making plays, to feel important to his team’s success. While his former teammates in Montreal were playing their way out of the playoffs, the Rocket were making a push to make it for the first time since moving to Laval.

It really was something positive for the Canadiens’ most important prospect, the one they used a third overall draft pick on, the one that had so much promise only a year earlier and was already being written off by large swaths of the fan base.

Now, this.

“It’s been a weird season,” Kotkaniemi said at the beginning of January, “let’s put it that way.”

In a way, hockey being suspended probably makes Kotkaniemi’s current situation a tiny bit easier to handle because he is not missing anything. But he still has an injury to an internal organ, an injury he is not at liberty to speak about, an injury the Canadiens for some reason have said absolutely nothing about. Is this something to be concerned about long term? No one knows, because no one is saying.

It is difficult to imagine any other significant Canadiens player being officially shut down for the season and having so few details released on why exactly that decision was made.

What was once the Canadiens’ brightest young light is now plunged in darkness. He will need help to find his way back to the light, and we will see if the Canadiens know how to provide it.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180957 Nashville Predators Quickly, he changed the coaching staff’s minds, too. Even though he wasn’t producing, he was learning to use his size (these days he’s 6-foot- 4 and more than 200 pounds) defensively.

Predators prospect Egor Afanasyev faces the end of a whirlwind first “He was a hard, hard worker. He loved doing individualized work, he was OHL season really big on video. He put in lots and lots of hours,” said Lumberjacks head coach Mike Hamilton, who is now the team’s assistant general manager.

By Scott Wheeler Once the language barrier faded, he also came out of his shell — though he was never particularly shy to begin with. Mar 14, 2020 “He was able to get Americanized a little bit and he’s a goofball. He’s like

a big kid. He’s a very serious player with regards to what he demands of When Egor Afanasyev picks up his phone at 5:40 p.m., he’s already the himself but at the end of the day he’s a goof,” Hamilton said. last man standing. The first word Lumberjacks assistant coach Josh Nelson uses to It’s Friday, March 13, and a little more than 24 hours earlier he was describe Afanasyev is bubbly. sitting with his teammates, each of them glued to their “Like I’m telling you, he’s a kid that every day you walk into the room and phones as they were supposed to be preparing for another game, when he is smiling,” Nelson said. “He’s a loving kid; he loves hockey, he loves head coach Trevor Letowski told them it was cancelled and called a 5 his teammates, he loves his family, he loves the grind of it. He’s just a p.m. meeting. super lovable kid. He rarely has a bad day.” Before the meeting, when Afanasyev read online that the NHL had When Afanasyev returned for his second year in the USHL and his first paused its season, he assumed the OHL would follow. crack at the NHL Draft, the Lumberjacks gave him a fresh start. “And then we went in the meeting and the coaches just said ‘Hey guys, And he took advantage. you know what’s going on, everyone go home,'” Afanasyev remembers. “I’ll say this about the kid: He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met,” By Friday morning, Afanasyev, who was born in Tver, Russia, knew he said Kosiecki. “He already had an elite NHL shot in my opinion and he’s was going to be the only Spitfire to stick around. All of his Canadian and big and skates well but he did more video and analytics with me last year American teammates had either gone home or were in the process of than anybody else on the team. He’s a kid that’s open to taking criticism doing so. The team’s two Finns, goaltender Kari Piiroinen and on parts of his game that he needs to improve on and it just clicked for Ruben Rafkin, had already booked flights home for him.” Saturday. After what a big summer, in which staff said he learned to take care of his It all still felt wrong — almost impossible. Today, Afanasyev was body, Afanasyev scored a hat trick in his first game of the year — and supposed to be in Guelph, preparing for the second half of a back-to- another goal the next night. back. The rest was history. “To be honest, today I woke up and I was like ‘Holy, what’s going on?’ I was like ‘Oh, I’m not going to the rink, I’m not going to have a practice “If you were around Egor, you knew he would develop and be there. He today, I’m not going to see the guys.’ It’s weird,” Afanasyev said. “The just loves playing hockey, a true, genuine love for the sport,” said Nelson. last couple of days have been stressful. You look at the news and stuff “He was a kid that you would find every single day after practice shooting and what’s going on and it’s not a joke. It’s more than hockey now. It’s pucks. He shoots more pucks than anybody, one the ice in practice and crazy.” off the ice in one of our shooting galleries. It was just a matter of time before he popped if you will.” This isn’t the first time Afanasyev has faced an unusual set of circumstances. He has been up against a unique, often lonely journey for The skill was always there, all three coaches insist. So was the work his entire hockey career. ethic. When the Lumberjacks would do optional skills sessions some morning, Afanasyev would never miss one. When they needed shooters He and his mom, Galina, moved to Detroit when he was 15 so that he for the goalies, he was always the first player to volunteer. Staff laugh could play his Triple-A hockey in North America. Neither of them could about all of the times they had to yell at him to get off the ice and rest. speak English. He needed muscle and experience. He still remembers poking his head into the Detroit Little Caesars team’s dressing room and yelling “Hi guys!” to a chorus of laughter from his new “He has always had the ability to shoot but strength was his biggest area spring hockey teammates. of opportunity that he improved upon because he was getting knocked off pucks. When he returned we knew what he was capable of,” Hamilton “Everybody started dying and started chirping me. I didn’t understand said. one thing. It was pretty awful,” he said, laughing. “We didn’t think he was going to take quite the point jump that he did but He was never a top prospect, either. After a year with Little Caesars, the he took advantage of the opportunity and right away he was a skating, USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks took a chance on him because he was scoring machine who was responsible in all zones. He wasn’t just an big, drafting him 156th overall with the fourth-to-last pick of the entire offensive player.” draft. After a 14-point rookie season, Afanasyev led the Lumberjacks in scoring When he showed up to the Lumberjacks in 2017, the coaching staff with 62 points in 58 games, helping them to the conference final. He agreed he was there too early — that he was too raw. Even assistant finished second among all under-18 USHL players in scoring behind coach Ryan Kosecki, who’d coached against him in minor hockey, had Flyers 2019 second-round pick Bobby Brink. This time, when he was his doubts. drafted, it was less about a team taking a late-round risk than it was Then general manager had to convince them, after about how high he might go. The Predators pounced, drafting him 45th watching him a lot with Little Caesars, that they were wrong and that he overall. could play a fourth-line role on a deep team. In the season that followed, By then, nobody with the Lumberjacks was surprised by Afanasyev he didn’t get any power play time and his numbers were paltry. anymore. But he grew up. After his mom returned home to Russia and he was “I literally can’t speak more highly of the kid. He gets along great with assigned a billet and a new high school, he slowly began to pick up the everyone. He’s just a great kid who wants to do well,” Kosecki said. “And language. I think his skating is underrated. And he’s willing to bang. He knows at “The hardest thing was the language definitely,” he said. “You’re trying to the NHL level that he’s probably going to be a power forward. He has the talk to people but you cant. And then when you start understanding mindset to go to the dirty areas.” people you can’t really say anything because you just didn’t get used to it.” Nelson calls Afanasyev’s skating deceptive and his offensive game the Canada-Russia series in December to support his star player’s efforts creative. to try to make Team Russia’s world juniors squad.

“He’s always wanting to push the middle of the ice and he’s better on “He’s just a solid young man who is a better kid than he is hockey entries than people expect. He’s got that Russian kind of vision. His side- player,” Bowler said. “He has just been a great addition to our locker to-side stuff is underrated,” Nelson said. room both on and off the ice. Juri’s English isn’t great but we had a few laughs. You can see where Egor gets his personality from.” “A lot of those kids that were really good when they were young, they kind of peak and flatline for a few years and Egor is going to be one of Letowski echoed that sentiment. those kids who just continues to get better and better every year and work on his weaknesses.” “It was real easy for him. When you meet him, you just kind of know. He’s not phoney. That’s just him. He’s like that with everybody,” Letowski said. At the end of his second season in Muskegon, Afanasyev’s strength and growth were no longer a problem, either. “He has no ego at all. He’s not coming in here thinking he’s a big shot because he’s a second-round NHL pick and he’s on the first line. He’s “He’s an ox,” Hamilton said, laughing. “He’ll continue to have just coming in and he’s part of the team, which is great for us.” improvement in his strength because he has an unbelievable shot. It’s just a matter of him coming out of dirty areas with pucks and not taking Afanasyev said his latest move to Windsor didn’t feel all that difficult or knocks. Because he can skate. He’s a guy where the ceiling is very, very uncomfortable because of everything he’d already gone through at a high. We’re really excited for what he’s doing and what he’s going to be.” young age. On Day 1 of training camp, he wanted to be a leader, not a rookie. Afanasyev’s move to North America, his time with Little Caesars, and his two years in Muskegon helped him prepare for another new experience His summer was hectic, though. He didn’t get to go home, due to when he decided to play his post-draft season in the OHL. everything involved with the combine, the draft, prospect tournaments and his first training camp. He was surprised — and elated — when he The move to Windsor — and to another new country — came a little played his way into a Predators preseason game, which was his goal more naturally. heading in.

“It’s something you get used to. First it was about a new team, a new “That was awesome for me, and we had a packed arena in Nashville. environment, new coaches. For me it’s not that hard, it’s just part of the The fans are crazy. I love it,” he said of his first taste of the NHL. process,” Afanasyev said. He felt at home, almost from the beginning, with his new billets, Rob and Being away from home forced him to grow up, too. Shelbie Keech. Rob is Australian and Afanasyev is a big fan of his billet dad’s cooking. He has enjoyed getting to know their two children, Owen, “Maturity comes fast. It’s dedication. You’ve got to leave some stuff. 21, and Zoey, 15. He now has a girlfriend he met in Windsor. You’ve got to sacrifice. I missed my best friends from childhood. Sometimes it’s like ‘Oh, I wish I could go talk to them,’ but FaceTime is With his season in jeopardy, he has chosen not to go home. After always here,” he said. conversations with his agent, Greg Landry, and his parents, he decided against the 15-hour flight back to Russia and the current risks that come These days, that goofball people talk about oozes out confidently as with travel. Afanasyev is completely fluent. His new coaching staff with the Spitfires is shocked by the level of his English — just as his old ones in Muskegon Though he was cut by Team Russia, he’s happy with his season and couldn’t believe how quickly he picked it up. He has now graduated high confident he’ll make the national team for next year’s world juniors. school. “It was a goal to make it but coaches didn’t pick me. It’s fine. I’ll have When Letowski met Afanasyev for the first time last summer, after the more motivation to make it next year. Just keep working hard, you Spitfires acquired his rights from the Ottawa 67’s, he came away from know?” he said. their lunch wowed by how respectful and pleasant he was. And he was eager to play for Windsor, which they weren’t completely sure about When the season was paused, his 31 goals and 67 points in 62 games when they made the trade. led the Spitfires. He hopes the season isn’t over, though — and feels for his draft-eligible teammates who want to use the playoffs as a showcase. “There’s an energy about him. He’s the type of player that wants to play against the best,” Letowski said. “I felt pretty good about my year. I’d be sad if it was the end of the season but it is what it is. “He just loves the game, he respects the game, and he just wants to be better. He’s just an easygoing player that’s excited about being at the “I worked on my game defensively. That’s what Nashville wants from me. rink. That’s what you want from your best players. He really spreads that Just playing that all-around, physical, big man’s game.” energy to everybody else.” In the short term, he hopes he can use his spare time to get back in the The first time Letowski saw Afanasyev on the ice during a player-run gym — and maybe even on the ice — by himself. He has spent a lot of summer session, he was surprised with how quick and agile he was, time on the phone with his parents. particularly given his big frame. And though he’d heard reports about how “It’s a lot of free time. It’s kind of weird. But at the same time it is what it is Afanasyev was just a shooter, Letowski quickly learned that his new and I’ve just got to stay in shape and be ready for the call when we get winger could play a north-south playmaking style too. back,” Afanasyev said.

“He’s got his eyes up all the time and he likes to distribute it and get it “Hockey is my life so it’s weird. I hope everything is going to get better in back. That’s impressive for me, is a guy that’s that big that can skate like the world because I want to get back to my daily routine. Who knows that and can shoot like that and can also make a play. That’s exciting,” what’s going to happen tomorrow? It’s crazy. It’s day by day at this point.” Letowski said.

“One part of his game where he can be better is using his body better and really protecting pucks and creating offence out of the offensive zone The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 instead of just off the rush. Just being a little heavier, because he’s so strong.”

After a slow start for himself and the team in Windsor, which Letowski attributes to too much early season line juggling, Afanasyev quickly adjusted after he settled in on a line with Blue Jackets prospect Tyler Angle. They also moved him to his off-wing on the power play, where he was able to better use that shot — mainly his one-timer — to his advantage.

Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler called Afanasyev’s transition seamless — on and off the ice. Bowler drove to Kitchener with Afanasyev and his father, Juri, a retired former member of the Russian military, for 1180958 New Jersey Devils Along with having their own first-round pick slotted with the seventh-best lottery odds, the Devils also own the Arizona Coyotes’ first-round pick, if Arizona doesn’t jump into the top three of the draft. As it currently stands, the Coyotes have the 10th-highest lottery odds, so there would be a very After coronavirus halts NHL season, what will league do about remaining good chance the Devils get a pick in the 10-12 range. games, playoffs? The Devils also own the Vancouver Canucks’ first-round pick, if Vancouver makes the playoffs. Based off points percentage, the Canucks would currently make the postseason, which would give the Posted Mar 14, 2020 Devils another first-round selection. By Chris Ryan

Star Ledger LOADED: 03.15.2020 When the NHL halted play and went on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, commissioner Gary Bettman said he hoped to resume normal play as quickly as possible.

But with uncertainty still surrounding when the league will be able to return to the ice, there are plenty of questions about how the league will go about finishing the season.

In the grand scheme of things, there are much bigger concerns than this. But for discussion’s sake, here are a few things to keep in mind.

How far would the NHL push the season into the summer?

This question remains up in the air. Bettman said he didn’t know how deep into the summer the league would be able to play if the hiatus lasts long enough.

TSN’s Frank Seravalli reported the NHL asked teams to provide what type of arena availability they would have into July.

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Pushing the end of the season as far as July would also present some other issues. Players in the last year of their current contracts have those deals expire on July 1, when they would become free agents. How would the league handle that issue if play needed to be extended that long?

The NHL Draft is also scheduled for June 26 and 27 in Montreal. If the season conflicted with those dates, the NHL would need to move that event back as well.

What the playoffs would look like if NHL used current standings

If the NHL elects to forgo the remainder of the regular season and jump right into the playoffs when play resumes, it would use the current standings to determine the seeds.

All teams haven’t played the same number of games, so points percentage, rather than overall points, would be used. Here’s what the playoff picture would look like in each conference. Each team’s point percentage is listed in parentheses:

East

WC2 Islanders (.588) vs. A1 Bruins (.714)

A3 Maple Leafs (.579) vs. A2 Lightning (.657)

WC1 Hurricanes (.596) vs. M1 Capitals (.652)

M3 Penguins (.623) vs. M2 Flyers (.645)

West

WC2 Flames (.564) vs. C1 Blues (.662)

C3 Stars (.594) vs. C2 Avalanche (.657)

WC1 Predators (.565) vs. P1 Golden Knights (.606)

P3 Canucks (.565) vs. P2 Oilers (.585)

Using this system, rather overall points, would prompt some changes based on the current standings. The Islanders and Canucks are both currently outside the playoff picture in their respective conference. But using points percentage would vault both of them into the postseason, while the Columbus Blue Jackets in the East and the Winnipeg Jets in the West would both be bumped out.

There would be one team that would greatly benefit at the NHL Draft if the current standings stood for the purposes of the playoffs: The Devils. 1180959 New York Islanders a franchise-record 33 games. Varlamov has played the majority of games since then, including a season-high eight straight appearances (seven starts) from Feb. 11-25.

After opening with a record run, the Islanders have trended downward “I think I’ve got to get better,” he said before the season was suspended. “I’ve given up a lot of goals lately. I’m not happy about it.”

Varlamov is 19-14-6 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .914 save By Andrew Gross percentage. Greiss is 16-9-4 with a 2.74 GAA and a .913 save percentage. He went 23-14-2 with a 2.28 GAA and a .927 save [email protected] @AGrossNewsday percentage last season. Updated March 15, 2020 12:25 AM Missing the fourth line

The identity-setting fourth line of Cizikas centering Matt Martin and Cal The Islanders have been trending downward since Thanksgiving. Clutterbuck has been healthy together for only 18 of the Islanders’ 68 games. That has hurt Trotz’s ability to get four-line balance. Whether they will get the chance to reverse that is in question with the NHL season on pause in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Islanders are 10-7-1 with their preferred fourth line intact and 25-16- 9 otherwise. But since a franchise-record 17-game point streak (15-0-2) from Oct. 12- Nov. 23 built them a huge cushion in the standings, the Islanders have Martin, 30, is coming to the end of a four-year, $10 million deal, and gone 19-20-8. They stumbled into the pause on an 0-3-4 slide, part of a Lamoriello faces an interesting offseason question about whether to re- larger 2-7-4 slump since Feb. 13, coinciding with center Casey Cizikas’ sign him. absence after he suffered a left leg laceration from the skate blade of

Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.15.2020 That leaves the Islanders one point behind the Blue Jackets for the Eastern Conference’s second and final wild-card spot. They have played two fewer games than both Columbus and the Rangers, who are just one point behind them.

But what if the NHL is not able to re-start the season or conduct the Stanley Cup playoffs? Here are some takeaways from what would have to be considered a lost season, in more ways than one:

More pop was needed

After the Islanders were swept by the Hurricanes in last season’s second round, coach Barry Trotz’s assessment was that more scoring pop was needed in the lineup.

That again will be this offseason’s priority even after the Isles acquired center Jean-Gabriel Pageau from the Senators at the Feb. 24 trade deadline and signed him to a six-year, $30 million extension.

The Islanders are 23rd in the 31-team NHL with 192 goals scored. Their goal differential — which president and general manager Lou Lamoriello always cites as the more important statistic — is a minus-1.

Their power play is 24th in the NHL at 17.3% (29-for-168). Anders Lee, who scored 10 of his 28 goals on the power play last season and 14 of his career-high 40 goals with the man advantage in 2017-18, has scored only two of his 20 goals on the power play this season.

Jordan Eberle has scored eight of his 16 goals in the last 15 games. has one goal in the last 17 games and Anthony Beauvillier has one goal in the last 14 games.

More scoring consistency is a must.

Opponents figured them out

Last season, the Islanders allowed a league-low 191 goals as goalies Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss shared the Jennings Trophy.

This season, the Islanders’ total of 190 goals allowed is tied for fifth in the NHL, still a very respectable position. However, they allowed at least four goals in five of their last seven games.

In general, teams seem to have better strategies to attack the Islanders’ defensive structure. More traffic has gone to their crease, so Greiss and his new partner, Semyon Varlamov, are seeing more screened shots and facing more rebound attempts.

“Last year, being the No. 1 defensive team was a huge feat,” defenseman Devon Toews said before the season was suspended. “I think teams are trying to figure out ways to break us down and find us in more vulnerable positions defensively and kind of find us out of our structure, out of our comfort zone. You’ve got to give them a little bit of credit for doing that and we’ve just got to work with it.”

The goaltending sagged

Speaking of Greiss and Varlamov, the numbers just haven’t been as good this season. Trotz started the season alternating his netminders for 1180960 New York Rangers

Coronavirus break could push K’Andre Miller’s Rangers debut to next season

By Brett Cyrgalis

March 14, 2020 | 9:10PM

The pause in the NHL schedule has a ripple effect on every aspect of the sport, and it could mean the Rangers won’t get to glimpse defensive prospect K’Andre Miller in the pro game until he shows up at their next training camp — whenever that may be.

Miller, 20, decided over the weekend to leave Wisconsin after two years and sign his entry-level deal with the Blueshirts, who traded up to take him with the No. 22-overall pick in 2018. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound lefty- shot was set to go to AHL Hartford on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season before his three-year entry-level deal started next season.

But now the NHL is on hold due the coronavirus pandemic, with the optimistic hope of returning at some point. It’s the same for the AHL. If it’s possible the NHL does start again, it’s less likely the AHL, with far less financial incentive, will resume play.

That would mean Miller won’t get that short experience in the pro game — and the chance of a late-season call-up — until the 2020-21 season.

The organization thinks very highly of the affable Minnesotan, who did not have a great year for the disappointing Badgers, nor did he have a great World Junior Championship for Team USA. Even if it’s unfair, the lasting memory of that tournament for Miller is still his turnover and subsequent goal to presumptive No. 1 pick, Canada’s Alexis Lafreniere, in the group stage.

Yet his talent, athleticism, and ceiling for improvement are what make him such an attractive prospect for the Rangers. It also likely played a part in them being able to trade another lefty-shot, Brady Skjei, sending him and his $5.25 million salary-cap hit for the next four seasons to the Hurricanes on deadline day in exchange for a first-round pick.

If Miller turned pro at any point after his college season ended, he was going to get a good chance to make the Rangers in training camp. He likely would have had to blow the doors off in camp to make the opening- night roster and not start with the Wolf Pack. That still might be the case, whenever that camp commences.

But there are quite a few lefty-shot defensemen in the Rangers’ system, with Libor Hajek and Yegor Rykov already spending most of this season with Hartford, while Ryan Lindgren has proven to be a throwback defender ready for the spotlight at the NHL level. Matthew Robertson, the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder who had been playing in juniors out at WHL Edmonton, is also thought of very highly. And veteran Marc Staal has one more year left on his deal.

So Miller is coming, it’s only a question of when and where. And that’s anyone’s guess.

New York Post LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180961 New York Rangers Panarin has proved to be worth every penny of the seven-year, $81.5 million contract he signed, putting up career highs in goals (32), assists (63) and points (95) and elevating his teammates’ play all season. The 28-year-old Russian ought to be at least a finalist for the Hart Trophy as Rebuilding Rangers made huge strides this season and were in playoff the league’s MVP. picture Mika Zibanejad has taken huge strides in developing into one of the league’s truly elite players over the past three seasons, and especially this one. He has scored a career-high 41 goals, including a team record- By Colin Stephenson tying five in the 6-5 overtime win over Washington on March 5. The 26- [email protected] @ColinSNewsday year-old Swede has scored goals in each of the last six games and in 12 of the last 13. He has 23 goals in the last 22 games, and his 75 points (in Updated March 15, 2020 12:19 AM 57 games) is a career high.

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo (15 goals, 38 assists) and Ryan Strome (18 goals, 41 assists) have had career years, and the kids have been great, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman remains hopeful that the 2019-20 too. season, which was “paused’’ on Thursday because of the coronavirus pandemic, will resume at some point. Even if tweaks or modifications Fox (eight goals, 34 assists) has forced his name into the discussion for have to be made by the league, Bettman told several media outlets on the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year), and he and fellow rookie Ryan Friday that he hopes to be able to crown a Stanley Cup champion this Lindgren — both are 22 — have become the Rangers’ best defensive summer. pairing.

No one knows whether the NHL will drop the puck again this season, And, of course, there is rookie goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who is 10-2 though. If the league does restart, no one can predict whether teams will with a 2.52 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. He has left be able to play a full 82-game regular season followed by playoffs; play a no doubt that he is the Blueshirts’ new No. 1 goalie. shortened regular season, followed by playoffs; proceed directly to the playoffs, or do something no one has even thought of yet. It’s been a wonderful season for the Rangers, and one that seems perfectly scripted as part of the rebuilding plan. If they don’t get to play There could be a different playoff format — perhaps with an expanded again this spring, they can enter the offseason knowing that what they number of playoff teams, perhaps with a reduced number of teams. did this season will lead to some good times next season and for the next few years after that. Right now, though, no one can say if the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday was their final game of the season. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.15.2020 If it was, then the season was a smashing success.

When play was halted Thursday, the Rangers (37-28-5) had 79 points, which left them two points out of a playoff spot. And if that’s where it ends, then they have made tremendous progress in the 25 months since they announced they were going into rebuild mode.

If Wednesday was their last game, they went out fighting and scrapping to earn one final point, thanks to Pavel Buchnevich’s tying goal with 13 seconds left in regulation.

After being major sellers at the trade deadline in each of the previous two seasons, they finished 20 points out of the playoffs each time. For a team with three rookies — and four players 22 years old or younger — to have played as well as they did the last two months, and to have pulled this close to a playoff spot, was an invaluable experience for the core of the roster.

“We want them to go through the experience of a chase down the stretch for the playoffs,’’ team president John Davidson said Feb. 24 after the Rangers traded defenseman Brady Skjei but kept everyone else at the trade deadline.

“That’s very important for young people in particular — and the veteran players, too. If we get there, fantastic. If we don’t, it will be a good experience, and we just keep moving along as we’re trying to build this into something.’’

Davidson, who took over as president last summer (after the retirement of ), and general manager Jeff Gorton are working to build the Rangers into a solid, legitimate, long-term Stanley Cup contender. So far, everything — from getting back the right prospects in trades, to picking the right coach in David Quinn, to now getting within a whisker of a playoff spot with one of the youngest teams in the league — has fallen into place perfectly.

The teardown part of the Rangers’ rebuild ended at last season’s trade deadline when they dealt popular veterans Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes as well as defenseman Adam McQuaid.

The build part began when Gorton traded draft picks to the Carolina Hurricanes to get defenseman Adam Fox, a Jericho native, and accelerated when the Rangers won the No. 2 pick in the draft lottery and selected Finnish forward Kaapo Kakko.

It accelerated even more with the signing of dynamic free agent Artemi Panarin and the trade for defenseman Jacob Trouba from Winnipeg. 1180962 Ottawa Senators city. (In instances where a player wants to ‘self-quarantine’ in a ‘home’ outside his club’s city, he shall inform his club’s general manager of same,)” Daly said.

Players and staff advised to 'self-quarantine' with NHL schedule on hold “Once ‘home’, you should avoid further travel by airplane, train or other forms of public transportation (taxis, ride-sharing) to the extent reasonably possible.”

Bruce Garrioch During the summer, players normally organize informal skates to either get ready for training camp or stay in shape. You would think that might March 14, 2020 4:30 PM EDT happen here because the players expect the season to resume with a little over three weeks left on the schedule, but the league has made it clear it doesn’t want that to be the case for the time being. Leafs had expected playoff spot when NHL hit pause, even if path had twists and ... “Club skates and practices should not be held, and as stated above, we would recommend that players not organize ‘player skates’ at any public Hello out there, we’re off the air. facility or other location during this time,” Daly said. “As noted, we will ensure that players are afforded sufficient time to resume skating and was put on hold Saturday night with the NHL game preparation activities prior to any resumption of play.” entering unprecedented territory after shutting down indefinitely because of the novel coronavirus outbreak across the world. Bettman said in an interview with the league’s website he’s hopeful the season will resume. And nobody has any idea when the NHL — or any of the other major sports leagues for that matter — will return to action, but it doesn’t sound “We may have the benefit of time to complete the season and the like it will be any time soon. playoffs in an appropriate manner, and there’s no reason at this point in time to preclude any of our options, even though we don’t know what In a memo sent to the board of governors, general managers, team they are yet,” Bettman told NHL.com. presidents and the more than 700 players by NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly on Friday night, the league said it has created an initial road The league also noted that players will receive their paycheques map everybody involved should be following with the concern about the regularly. spread of the disease.

After a conference call with the league’s board Thursday afternoon, commissioner Gary Bettman announced the NHL would pause its Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.15.2020 schedule to make sure nobody is put at risk because of the rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide. At this point, the league is advising everybody involved to self-isolate and to try to leave home as little as possible during the initial phase of this decision by the league.

“In order to minimize the exposure to COVID-19 for our players, club personnel and other arena personnel who are integral to playing NHL games, we have made the determination to temporarily pause the playing of NHL games until further notice, with the intention that play will resume at a later date,” Daly wrote in the memo that was obtained by this newspaper Saturday.

According to Daly, players and staff should stay away from the rink until the league has given the clearance for the facilities to reopen for access. Yes, injured players can still go to the rinks for treatment if they must, but even they’re being encouraged to speak with medical officials remotely. The memo added that there were no cases of the coronavirus in the league.

The four-page memo outlines where the league currently stands on all issues with the virus.

“We strongly encourage players on all NHL clubs (and club personnel who are in close contact with players on a frequent basis) to follow the principles of ‘self-quarantine’ in their own home over the next week or so (unless you are provided additional instructions before that time), to the extent reasonably possible, as described in more detail below,” Daly added.

“While ‘self-quarantine’ will undoubtedly impose lifestyle limitations and may seem like an overly (precautionary) measure, adherence to these principles for the relatively brief period of time that our medical experts deem important should allow us to be in the best position possible to assess next steps regarding the potential resumption of play.”

Players who don’t have a primary residence with their family in the city they play in can leave their NHL city, but if they do travel they’re being advised to stay away from the public and minimize travel, and must inform the general manager of their departure.

“Remain in your home as much as possible and practicable, and while there, avoid unnecessary interactions with non-family members or roommates,” Daly added.

You can’t tell people what to do, but it appears the league doesn’t want any European players returning overseas during this unspecified break.

“For these purposes, your ‘home means your residence in your club’s city, another primary residence in North America where your family is currently living or a residence within reasonable proximity to your club 1180963 Philadelphia Flyers

PhilNHL, Flyers still on hold, though players’ association chief says practices could return soon

by Sam Carchidi

NHL players could be working out at their training facilities as soon as next week.

That, at least, is what Donald Fehr, the NHL Players’ Association chief, told the Associated Press.

The league suspended play Thursday because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher was contacted Saturday for an update on the team’s practice plans and if practices will be open to fans when players do return to their Voorhees facility.

“We will do whatever we are advised to do from the league,” Fletcher said.

On Thursday, Fletcher said stopping the season was the right thing to do. Flyers coach Alain Vigneault agreed.

“What’s important," Vigneault said Thursday in Tampa, Fla., where the Flyers’ game with the Lightning was postponed, “is everybody’s safety."

Players have been asked to stay home this weekend to avoid the risk of being infected. No NHL player has contracted the coronavirus.

A San Jose Sharks part-time employee at their arena tested positive for the virus, the team announced. The person last worked a game March 3 against Toronto and is under self-quarantine, the club said.

LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180964 Philadelphia Flyers "It’s fun watching those guys, all these guys, getting better. The young players are developing. We’re in a position that we could be a good team for a long time.”

Franchise pillar Bob Clarke excited by Alain Vigneault, Chuck Fletcher Alain Vigneault, Bob Clarke, Chuck Fletcher and competitive Flyers Clarke, in his 48th season as a member of the organization, downplays his impact on the Flyers.

By Jordan Hall Much of that has to do with his faith in Fletcher's guidance of the team.

March 14, 2020 5:30 PM "I don’t think I’m a resource," Clarke said. "I talk with Chuck a lot and we talk hockey and everything else, but he’s been a general manager for a long time. I’m allowed to express my opinions and stuff like that, but I would never want to do anything to overstep my boundaries. Bob Clarke didn't know Alain Vigneault personally before the bench boss arrived to Philadelphia. "Everybody tries to win but they use different methods. Chuck’s method is one that includes everybody. He talks with everybody and he listens to He was cognizant of the head coach's previous stops, but that was the everybody. He has to make his own decisions, he’s held responsible for extent of his Vigneault knowledge. the decisions he’s made, but he should also be given credit for the "When he was working for other teams, I wasn’t paying attention to what decisions, the coaching staff, the additions he’s made to our club on he did," Clarke said. "I know he had lots of success." defense and then up front, at the trade deadline."

Vigneault, a Jack Adams Award winner with two Stanley Cup Final During the NHL's hiatus, the Flyers own a 99.7 percent chance to make appearances, meet Clarke, winner of two Cups, a Hall of Famer and the the postseason and 30.5 percent chance to win the division, according to all-time greatest Flyer. Hockey-Reference.com.

Oh to be a fly on the wall for those conversations. If/when the Stanley Cup Playoffs are held and if the Flyers earn a berth, could they go on a run? Clarke, now a senior advisor for the Flyers, is not one to pump up his own value or insight. His interactions with Vigneault don't involve much “That’ll depend on the coaches and the players, that’s not for me to make earnestness or strategy. any predictions," Clarke said. "But I don’t think we’re a team that anybody looks forward to playing against. [In the playoffs], if you’ve got to find He has watched the work of Vigneault and assistant coaches Michel somebody to play against, I don’t think that we’re the first choice Therrien, Mike Yeo, Ian Laperriere and Kim Dillabaugh. anymore. We might’ve been at one time, but now I don’t think teams want to play us.” “They don’t need me," Clarke said Friday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. "They’re really good, I get to sit down and bulls--t with them and talk hockey and stuff, ask questions. Not for any of their pleasure, but for mine. I’m lucky that I’m able to do that, I really enjoy it. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 But I’m not pretending that I’m any benefit to them.”

Amid the NHL's suspension of the 2019-20 regular season because of the coronavirus outbreak, the Flyers are sixth in the NHL at 41-21-7 and 89 points through 69 games, a point behind the first-place Capitals. Last season, the Flyers went 37-37-8 with 82 points, their fewest in a full season since 2006-07.

To begin his first offseason as Flyers general manager, Chuck Fletcher brought in Vigneault. Together, they hired Therrien and Yeo. The GM then got to work on the roster with the summer acquisitions of Kevin Hayes, Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun and Tyler Pitlick, while adding Derek Grant and Nate Thompson at the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Clarke, a mentor of Fletcher's, has been impressed by more than just his protégé's moves.

He’s done an incredible job. Equally as important, he’s included everybody in being part of the team. He talks to everybody and he asks questions and he listens. He’s the man making the decisions, but he allows everybody to express their own opinions, all those kind of things, and he listens.

In the end, the decisions he has made have been terrific. They’ve obviously strengthened [the team]. It’s gone from a club that would have struggled to make the playoffs to a team that’s fighting for top place — because of his additions, his biggest of course being Vigneault.

The 58-year-old head coach has incorporated a system that has cleaned up the Flyers' defensive issues while simultaneously making them the aggressor. The Flyers have a -best plus-36 goal differential, are allowing an NHL-low 28.7 shots per game and surrender 2.77 goals per game, down from 3.41 in 2018-19.

A byproduct of Vigneault's stylistic preference is a balanced group — not overly reliant on one or two players.

"I think he and his whole staff have done just an incredible job with making this into a team — and the players have benefitted," Clarke said.

"[Sean] Couturier has gotten better, [Ivan] Provorov, everybody has gotten better. [Jakub] Voracek, a top-end player, is a better player now than he was last year when he scored more points. I think [Claude] Giroux plays both ends of the rink now terrifically. He may not score as much, but I think he’s a better all-around player. 1180965 Pittsburgh Penguins

Remainder of Wheeling Nailers’ season canceled

SETH RORABAUGH

Saturday, March 14, 2020 9:23 p.m.

The remainder of the Wheeling Nailers’ 2019-20 season has been canceled as a result of the coronavirus that has impacted seemingly every walk of life around the globe.

The ECHL announced it would be canceling the season Saturday night.

Wheeling, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ ECHL affiliate, was 24-30-5-0 and in last place of the Central Division. The Nailers had 13 games remaining in their schedule and were unlikely to qualify for the postseason.

On Thursday, the ECHL had suspended play indefinitely.

ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin issued a statement:

“The decision by the ECHL to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 Season does not come lightly, as this is an emotional time for our Players, Coaches, Member Teams, Fans and Staff. At this point in the Season, there has been immense dedication and countless hours committed in moving towards what is traditionally the most exciting part of the hockey year.

“With that said however, as each passing day raises additional concerns for the safety of those in the ECHL community and as we take precautionary measures in conjunction with our local authorities across the continent to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it has become apparent that this is the prudent decision. Our game and our product are based on our Fans and their ability to cheer on their favorite ECHL team and Players at one of our many facilities around the continent. Without that social environment and game atmosphere, the ECHL simply isn’t the same.

“On behalf of the ECHL and our Board of Governors, we appreciate the Professional Hockey Players’ Association for their assistance during this unprecedented time and working as partners in hockey to reach this decision for the best interest of the ECHL and its Players. This decision allows our Players the opportunity to return to their homes and removes the uncertainty that currently exists.

“While we are hopeful that this period ceases and an opportunity to return to normalcy for the hockey calendar presents itself, in the interim, we ask all Fans, Players, Coaches, Officials, and Staff to continue to abide by the measures put in place by their local authorities and follow precautionary protocols for their safety, as we will begin preparations for the 2020-21 ECHL Hockey Season.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180966 Pittsburgh Penguins

‘If the season ended today’ — how it would look if NHL’s resumption is the playoffs

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Saturday, March 14, 2020 2:53 p.m.

“If the season ended today…” is an overused expression in the sports world that has become beyond cliché and is typically an exercise in futility.

It just so happens, though, that these unprecedented times offer — for perhaps the first time in league history — relevance to discussions about what the NHL’s playoff picture would look like if the regular season ended today. That’s because it very well might have, indeed, ended after the games did on Wednesday.

With the NHL on “pause” as the world at large grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, myriad questions remain unanswered in what is the comparatively unimportant world of sports. No one knows when — or even if — the 2019-20 season will resume.

And if it does, will there be any resumption to the regular season? With its original schedule ending April 4 and a certain need for a “ramping-up” period to get players and teams back into shape, it seems almost unthinkable at this juncture that NHL game play could resume in time for any games to be played on their originally-scheduled dates.

It has been reported that the NHL asked its teams to look into arena availability well into July, and that suggests the league is keeping open the option of rescheduling missed games first prior to starting the playoffs in, say, May (or beyond).

Still, because the Stanley Cup playoffs are by far the NHL’s highest- profile (and most lucrative) period of the year, a scenario in which the league re-starts by immediately jumping into its postseason isn’t a farfetched one. It might, in fact, be the most likely scenario — if, god- willing, this season resumes at all.

While it should be stressed that there are no formal plans for such, let’s take a look at how the Stanley Cup playoffs could look if/when they start weeks or months from now (after it would be at all practical to consider playing more regular-season games).

For this exercise, since it’s a hypothetical, points percentage (rather than points) will be used for the simple reason that teams have played differing numbers of games (between 68 and 71 of their scheduled 82).

Also, in an effort to appease teams that were on the playoff bubble and would lament not being given the chance to make up ground, we’ll qualify 10 teams (instead of the usual eight) for the postseason from each conference. This will keep a format with the top three from each division clinching playoff berths while the top four in the wild-card standings will meet, for the sake of argument, in a pair of best-of-three “qualifying round” series in each conference.

That concept is inspired by a similar precedent (albeit one for a drastically different reason): the 1982 NFL season that was shortened from 16 to nine regular-season games because of a 57-day players’ strike. The NFL took eight teams from each conference into the playoffs instead of the originally-intended five.

Without further ado, the NHL playoffs — all together now — if the season ended today.

Tribune Review LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180967 San Jose Sharks

NHL players to be paid thru season, can go home in coronavirus pause

By Marcus White

March 14, 2020 10:00 AM

NHL players will get their remaining paychecks for the season, even as the league pauses play amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN on Friday that players will receive checks for pay periods of Feb. 24 to March 5, March 6 to March 23 -- and March 23 through the remainder of the regular season. The NHL's collective bargaining agreement contains a paragraph allowing teams to negotiate new salaries for players if the league "suspends, ceases or reduces operations" in-season because of "a state of war or other cause beyond the control of the [NHL] or of the [team]."

Daly told ESPN the NHL has "advised clubs not to rely on [the] paragraph and to pay players and provide benefits in accordance with CBA and [standard player contracts]."

The NHL indefinitely suspended its season Thursday, fewer than 24 hours after Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the NBA did the same. Commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL Network on Friday that the league intends to "complete the season and get through the playoffs and award the Stanley Cup," but there is no "timeframe ... one way or the other."

In the meantime, players are to remain in their team's "home cities absent unusual circumstances," Daly told TSN's Ryan Rishaug on Friday. The NHL will allow players to return to their families if their team's "city residence is only temporary at this point."

The NHL will not mandate testing players for the coronavirus, unless they are showing symptoms or get sick. The league advised against players conducting informal skates during the "initial phase" of their pause, but Daly admitted the NHL envisions opening team facilities to allow players "to work out and skate on a voluntary basis in small groups."

"At this point, I'm not in a position to say when that will be," Daly said. "We will see how the next week or so plays out."

Solar4America Ice at San Jose, which houses the Sharks' practice facility, is closed through at least March 22 after Santa Clara County revised its mass-gathering ban Friday and barred gatherings of 100 or more people. The public health department said Santa Clara County currently has 79 confirmed cases, and the United States surpassed 2,000 nationwide Friday afternoon.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180968 San Jose Sharks After checking out segments of every show on both stations over the past few days, everyone seemed to be handling this new reality pretty well. Hosts did a nice job across the board discussing the sports ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic while informing the public and maintaining Media column: Local sports radio, TV outlets prepare for a world without the correct tone. I texted this bit of praise to one talk-show host, then games asked how he hopes to keep the content machine going while we wait for the danger to subside.

“Thanks,” he texted back. “Ideas?” By Steve Berman Another radio source had no idea how the stations would get through an Mar 14, 2020 extended break from sports. But in the short term? “Football, football, football,” he said.

Something we’ve all been confronted with during the rapidly escalating That’s assuming the NFL sticks with its normal offseason calendar, which COVID-19 pandemic is how interconnected everything is in our society. includes the start of the league’s so-called legal tampering period on No decision, no matter how well-intentioned, can be made without Monday, followed by the 2020 league year and free agency commencing consequences being felt in other areas. Sports seems trivial at a time like two days later. That should fuel enough chatter for a few weeks, and then this, the media side even more so. But while the leagues are already the NFL Draft is right around the corner … but that’s assuming everything being impacted, both financially and logistically, they have the ability to goes according to plan. Fears over COVID-19 will make face-to-face close up shop and put everything on hiatus. meetings between teams and players, and physicals conducted by team physicians, either difficult or logistically impossible, possibly leading to The outlets that carry and cover their games don’t have that luxury and more postponements. are now left to contemplate how they can possibly replace the content that directly or indirectly filled their days and evenings. The games aren’t If football topics run dry and this crisis stretches for a longer period than there. Not in the immediate term and perhaps not for a very long time. most would’ve even considered just a week ago, we can probably expect But filling all of that time — every hour of every day for the local radio a lot of interviews and probably nearly as much non-sports chatter. Papa stations; prime-time hours for NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports and Lund gave us a preview of that this week, when they ended their California — will require the kind of creativity that wasn’t required when Thursday show with a long segment on different dating apps and how the constant churn of pregame shows, games and postgame shows and they could be affected by this new era of social distancing. We should storylines was a daily companion. A companion that all of us, either expect more discussions like that as time goes on and the hours get inside or outside the industry, probably took a little for granted. tougher to kill, which is fine, because these stations can provide a service for folks who find themselves in isolation more than ever before. Whether The first priority for everyone is staying safe. 95.7 The Game’s first step it’s as a source for the latest news on the pandemic and how it affects the was setting up their hosts to do their weekday shows from home. sports world or just some familiar voices sharing a few laughs, these stations and their shows might be able to provide a little comfort during a This still requires at least one employee to remain at the station’s stressful time. It’s not the same escape as an actual game, but people downtown studio to operate the board and produce the show. Even with might be willing to settle for anything close. today’s technology, a terrestrial sports talk show can’t be aired from one’s living room. While the radio stations might not feel the full brunt of this immense change in our routine as sports fans until the shock of the pandemic Greg Papa already does his show from home, but the rest of KNBR’s subsides, the blow to NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California is hosts — including Papa’s co-host, John Lund — were still in the studio immediate. Unlike the radio stations, they have no longer have anything through the end of the week. Some even prefer that arrangement, as that resembles a daily talk show. Other than oft-repeated airings of they enjoy being able to see their producers, board operators and co- shows like “Forever Giants: Rich Aurilia,” the original content from these hosts, and figure they’re probably safe behind the glass, without having stations has centered completely on games played by the Warriors, to brush shoulders with many other humans while working. But it seems Sharks, Giants and A’s. likely that KNBR’s hosts will soon end up doing their shows remotely from their houses and apartments, as offices throughout the Bay Area Executives are scrambling right now to figure out how to produce and elsewhere are deciding at different times that working from home is content, according to a NBC Sports Bay Area source. Without live sports the prudent solution to “flatten the curve” and prevent future infections. as an anchor, the directive now is to focus on the digital side, with stories focused on current events written by the network’s array of insiders and Despite all of the fear and uncertainty, the first week of cancelations due producers. to the outbreak will probably end up being the easiest for the local radio stations, simply because topics were plentiful. Every in-season league While they haven’t started doing this yet — a look at the regional announced a cancelation or postponement of some kind, so the news networks’ prime-time schedules features an array of informercials just kept on coming. It all led the sports-focused stations to make a interspersed with occasional features on ex-Giants and current Warriors noticeable pivot, to a combination of sports and straight news. — we can probably expect them to start re-airing some classic games. Perhaps a Tim Lincecum no-hitter or Klay Thompson scoring 37 points in The only reasonable comparison to the current situation might be what the third quarter against the Kings on NBC Sports Bay Area. Classics like happened during and after Sept. 11, 2001. Gary Radnich was hosting Dallas Braden’s perfect game or the Sharks’ comeback win in Game 7 of KNBR’s morning show on that fateful day. Similarly to how Al Michaels their first-round series against the Golden Knights a year ago could be transitioned from sports to breaking news after the Loma Prieta welcome diversions provided by NBC Sports California. earthquake struck minutes before Game 3 of the 1989 World Series was about to begin, Radnich found himself describing initial reports of the Or they could follow this suggestion: biggest national tragedy in decades. Another complication, and it’s one that will be felt by all of these stations, KNBR’s tone shifted in the weeks and months that followed 9/11. The comes from the sales and marketing side. Games provide a lot of station started airing ABC news updates at the top of each hour, a inventory for ad sales teams, and most of that work has been done routine it maintained for several years. But there was one obvious, already for the Giants (KNBR/NBC Sports Bay Area) and A’s (NBC enormous difference. Major League Baseball suspended play until the Sports California). 95.7 and NBC Sports Bay Area only had a handful of following Monday, Sept. 17. The NFL moved its Week 2 games that were Warriors games remaining, but most of those were expected to feature scheduled for Sept. 16-17 to Jan. 6-7, then played a full Week 3 slate in Steph Curry. As we reported in December, some advertisers got extra stadiums packed with patriotic fans. We’re now facing a different kind of spots that were run free of charge when Warriors games didn’t hit crisis, one sports can’t be counted on to help heal. If anything, the previously agreed upon ratings targets. Cumulus has an “EPiC inherent dangers in bringing people together, and the unknown toll the Guarantee” that extends campaigns when the audience doesn’t reach a virus might take, all create a situation in which none of us can predict set minimum. These agreements will almost certainly come into play in when the games will resume. This void we never thought we’d face, and future months with live sports now on hold. the uncertainty that comes with it, is sure to make things difficult in the coming weeks for those paid to talk for three or four hours each day These are small concerns in the grand scheme of course, and about the games and storylines they provide. businesses in every sphere will face similar financial dilemmas or worse as COVID-19 affects us all. For now, the main worry is to find a way to keep everyone safe — and hopefully entertained — while we all wait for the day when this pandemic is under control and it’s safe to play and attend live sporting events once again.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180969 St Louis Blues Dec. 29 (Winnipeg), and eight straight from Feb. 18 (New Jersey) through March 3 (New York Rangers).

No other team in Blues history had put together three winning streaks of No matter what happens next, it's already been a season to remember seven or more games. for Blues “Our team knows how to win,” coach Craig Berube said after a shootout goal by O’Reilly gave them a 4-3 win over Dallas on Feb. 29, keeping that second eight-game streak going. “You win seven, eight in a row Jim Thomas 6 hrs ago three times, it means you’re winning games where you’re probably not playing your best hockey.”

And there was that one bad streak. For those awaiting the Cup hangover, The plane was on the tarmac, the Blues were on the plane, ready to roll it came Jan. 15 through Feb. 16 — a 2-7-3 stretch — during which out to Columbus for the preseason finale later that afternoon of Sunday, Jordan Binnington may have had trouble stopping a Justin Bieber shot, Sept. 29. and the Blues’ normally stout defense suffered uncharacteristic But they waited and waited some more. After an hour delay, they breakdowns, miscues, lapses. stepped off the plane and headed home. Due to mechanical problems, “Things aren’t always gonna go your way,” Binnington said. “You just there was no flight and no game. Goodbye, Columbus. gotta keep your head down and keep working, and nothing changes no That’s how the preseason ended. Unlike the flight to Columbus, the matter what the outcomes are. Just try to be the best version of myself 2019-20 season did get off the ground. But what a long, strange trip it’s every day, and I’m gonna continue to do that.” been: Binnington got his mojo back, as did the D-corps. Extended afterglow Individually, there were all sorts of streaky players. Brayden Schenn For a while, it seemed like the season would consist of one post-Stanley became Mr. October after signing a $52 million contract extension one Cup celebration after another. First came the rings. The day after the game into the season. David Perron became Mr. Overtime, with all sorts canceled Columbus trip, they were handed out during a team banquet at of game-winning goals. the Missouri History Museum. Zach Sanford got hot after the All-Star break, scoring 12 of his 16 goals They were huge and gaudy, with 16 blue custom-cut sapphires since then. Colton Parayko has scored eight of his 10 goals since Feb. 4. representing each of the team’s 16 postseason victories. As well as 75 All-Star fun diamonds signifying the team’s 75 playoff goals scored. Plus, all kinds of detail (and details) from the championship season. The hockey world gathered in the Gateway City in late January when St. Louis played host to the NHL All-Star Game for only the third time in “I don’t think it’s an everyday kind of ring,” Ryan O’Reilly said. “It’s like ... franchise history. A good time was had by all, with the possible exception a trophy in itself.” of Green Day. There was the banner-raising at the Oct. 2 season-opener against the Fans crowded to Union Station for the NHL’s Fan Fair. , Washington Capitals at Enterprise Center. A ring ceremony at the age 80, scored a goal in the Blues/NHL Alumni Game. Players shot in Toronto on Oct. 7 (with the Blues presenting one pucks from the stands at targets on the ice during the skills competition. to the Hall). A visit to the White House on Oct. 14. Former St. Louis hockey greats made cameo appearances on the ice, A good time was had by all except for newly-acquired defenseman Justin from Brett Hull to Bernie Federko to Wayne Gretzky. St. Louisan Matthew Faulk. He was there in neither body nor spirit for any of the festivities. Tkachuk removed his Calgary Flames jersey to reveal a Yadier Molina “I’m not a part of that,” he said before the White House visit. “So it’s not Cardinals jersey during the skills competition. really for me to be there. It doesn’t bother me one bit. ... I wasn’t And Binnington — well, he may have had the most fun of all. involved.” Low-key for much of the season, his “Do I Look Nervous?” and He did not attend the ring banquet. Ducked back into the locker room sunglasses-at-night side reappeared with full force over the weekend. during the banner ceremony. Went fishing in the Toronto area during the After he won the goalies’ save competition, he was asked about the Hall of Fame visit. Had a long, late lunch in Washington, D.C., during the victory on live TV. His reply: “You know, haven’t skated in a couple days. Rose Garden ceremony at the White House. Uh, had a few drinks. And ya know, I’m happy with this outcome.” Down goes Vladi Armstrong, the GM, must have spit out his red wine when he heard those Late in the first period of a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Oct, remarks. 24, Vladimir Tarasenko was trying to get loose for a breakaway when Binnington’s post-skills contest media session was a 15-minute audio Sean Walker of the Kings caught him and spun him around. After play highlight reel. During which he explained that his request to have “Pony” stopped, Tarasenko left the ice and did not return. by Ginuwine as his “introduction” song was shot down by the league. In real time, it looked like either Tarasenko took an elbow to the ribs, or “I thought (‘Pony’) was a good choice, but everyone’s so sensitive these his left shoulder — the same shoulder that underwent surgery after the days with what you put out there,” Binnington said. 2017-18 season — was stretched or extended. We assume he was kidding. The Pony lyrics are sexually explicit. Turned out to be the latter. On Oct. 29, Tarasenko underwent left shoulder surgery and was to be re-evaluated in five months. Goodbye Honda Center hell Stanley Cup, right? Since the start of the 2014-15 season, only Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares had scored more goals than Tarasenko in Please forgive the Blues if they never want to set foot in Honda Center the entire NHL. This was a potentially crushing loss. again. That’s the home of the Anaheim Ducks, and when the Blues played there Feb. 11, veteran defenseman Jay Bouwmeester collapsed “He’s a great goal-scorer,” general manager Doug Armstrong said at the on the bench with cardiac arrest. The immediate efforts of trainers and time. “You can’t just go make somebody a great goal-scorer. It’s a team medical personnel saved his life, he’s doing well by all accounts at this thing and we all gotta just keep doing our jobs and it’ll take care of itself.” time. But that night and the immediate aftermath was a shock to the players, the team, and those along for the Dads’ Trip. Streaks and more streaks The game was postponed and rescheduled for March 11. When the team A franchise-record 11-game winning streak propelled the Blues from near returned to Anaheim Wednesday for the makeup game, the NHL season the back of the pack to playoff position during last year’s Stanley Cup was shut down indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. run. This season, the Blues flirted with that franchise record on three occasions, winning seven consecutive games from Oct. 27 (Detroit) Technically, that happened the next day. But the writing was on the through Nov. 9 (Calgary); eight in a row from Dec. 12 (Vegas) through greaseboard that night when the NBA announced it was suspending play after one of its players tested positive for the virus. Wednesday began with Ivan Barbashev entering the visiting team locker room after the morning skate and wondering: “Where is everybody?” That’s because reporters no longer were allowed in the locker room as a coronavirus precaution.

It was a rapidly-changing landscape, to the point where Berube indicated after the Blues’ 4-2 victory that a suspension of play was a possibility.

“It’s a bigger issue than a hockey game,” Berube said.

So is the health and welfare of Bouwmeester. He’s not playing for the rest of the season.

Then again, the same may hold true for the rest of his teammates.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180970 Tampa Bay Lightning after pausing. “I mean, there’s so many things that are, I can’t believe they’re closing NCAA.

“As a mother of three boys I’ve seen everything as for smells and stuff, Break in the action a big loss for workers in sports and entertainment they’re still living, but this is all common sense. I just did two days at the arena Super Bowl. I can’t understand what is actually going on. We all know we have to wash our hands. We all know that we are going to get sick. What am I missing? The bigger picture? What am I really missing? ... At the Trop, we’re inside, just like here. And I’m like, so many people are going By Rick Stroud to miss out on so many things.” Published Yesterday Prindle turns 48 this weekend. Updated Earlier today “And coronavirus is not going to kill my spirit,” she said.

You know him as Marc Haze, a host at Tampa’s NPR station, WUSF- TAMPA ― Karen Prindle arrived for her shift as an independent security 89.7, for the past three decades. His real name is Marc Miller. He has guard at Amalie Arena at 8 a.m. She expected to watch the Tampa Bay moonlighted all that time as an engineer for sports broadcasts involving Lightning players pour onto the ice for their morning skate in preparation USF, spring training games for the Rays and Red Sox, and games at for Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Amalie Arena and Tropicana Field.

A 47-year-old single mother with three sons and the main provider in her “(Thursday) morning, this was a thriving little business," Miller said. household, she works at all three major sports venues — including “Engineering games, booking road engineers for the Lightning and being Tropicana Field and Raymond James Stadium — in Tampa Bay. an NFL Frequency Coordinator. It’s about 130 work days a year.

But on this day, there wasn’t the familiar ksssh-ksssh-ksssh sound of “This afternoon, I am out of business. I had 25 workdays booked during blades cutting through the fresh sheet of ice or the thwack of pucks spring training and the Rays’ Spanish (broadcasts) beginning opening smacking the glass. day. (It’s my equipment in that booth).

The National Hockey League had suspended play so the real work of “With the NHL, MLB and NCAA all down, I have no gigs left on the defeating the coronavirus pandemic could begin. calendar until whenever play resumes.”

“I just heard the meeting was at 1 o’clock and that’s when all my venues Miller, however, agrees with the decision to shut down the games and came up that they were canceled — Valspar, NCAA (basketball cancel events, even its the rest of a hockey or basketball season. tournament), Rays — because opening day is less than two weeks “The spread of this virus must be contained," Miller said. “While I would away," Prindle said. “We are right down to the wire on everything and I likely survive being exposed and infected, I can not live with the can’t believe they just suspended the season.” possibility, even probability, that my exposure would result in the infection Until the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the idea of shutting down of somebody else at great risk of death before I even knew it. sports for even a week was unthinkable. Baseball lost some games at “I have the luxury of considering this work extra and disposable income. the start of World War I and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in 1945. The It isn’t that way for many of the people whose entire income depends on NFL was properly admonished for playing on between the days of the games being played." assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy and his funeral. It’s not just the cancelation of games impacting contract workers, but But this was the day the sports world stopped rotating, in spring of all concerts, too. times, with the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Major League baseball only weeks away. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament J.T. Squillante, 25, works as a security guard part-time at Ruth Eckerd halted its march. Madness. All brackets busted. Hall in Clearwater. He is putting himself through college.

But for Prindle and all those whose livelihoods depend on the games and On Friday, Ruth Eckerd Hall announced it was effectively shutting down the concerts being played, what happens now? operations until April and postponing some additional shows through May. “I’m a mom of three boys, (two) work at the Trop with me and my other son works (at Amalie)," Prindle said. “He just said, ‘What about the job “Working there is my second job, and I cannot afford to live on just one tonight?’” Prindle said. “I assume my job in (security) command is safe. income,” Squillante said. “I live on my own … so losing that extra income I’ll be there every day, but it’s the vendors. They’re wanting to know will directly affect how much money I have for gas and food for the what’s going to happen to their paychecks. What’s going to happen month.” here? Chris Baker is an assistant principal at Baulder Elementary School in “I’m just nervous for more employees, players, families, the building." Seminole. He works part-time as an independent security contractor at all the major sports venues. “It’s my fun job," Baker said. “I get to work Workers will get a bit of a reprieve. At least through March. concerts and baseball and all that stuff." Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and his Vinik Sports Group plan to He was floored by the news of the NHL and all the local events shutting compensate for lost hours due to canceled hockey games and other down just as the sports season begins to reach full bloom. events this month. “I’m real shocked," Baker said. “It’s our spring break from school. We Even before that news Friday afternoon, Prindle was confident Vinik planned to go and watch Valspar, the NCAA basketball tournament. And would find a way to take care of workers. I’m like, ‘What are we going to do now?'" “He’s the best (in the area)," Prindle said. “I’m sure they’re in there Baker said he had planned on taking his wife and 6-year-old child to figuring out how we can try to go forward by keeping our own employees Universal Studios (before it, too, was closed), but would have had to safe and then leading that right into the fans because that goes right leave their six-month old with his parents. down the line. ... They’ll come up with a plan and I’ll be right behind them in terms of safety. Safety’s first." “I got to thinking about my parents," Baker said. “What if I bring (coronavirus) back to them? And they babysit for us. Prindle, a native of Erie, Pa., has lived in Tampa for 19 years. She has been through worse. She is a survivor of domestic violence and was only “As much as I think maybe it could be a little overblown, we want to be six months into her current job as the only female in security command at safe." Amalie Arena when the games stopped. The impact of stadiums and arenas going silent will impact non-profits. “I work very hard at the Rays for the employee gate and I do Sentry How? Large food service companies such as Levy and Legends, which (Event Services), so I’ve done XFL — that ... what are we going to do for contract with the Bucs, Lightning and Rays, provide those organizations WrestleMania (scheduled for Raymond James on April 5)?" she said an opportunity to raise money working in concessions. Typically, the teams donate 10 percent of the sales. Anything from youth teams for dance, gymnastics, high school groups — they will be affected not only by the silent venues but by loss of revenue.

It’s all worth it, of course, in the name of public safety. We’ll miss the sounds of sports. Among them, the chime of the cash register.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180971 Toronto Maple Leafs crazy talk,” was the refrain from many players determined to protect their turf.

BATTLEGROUND: Both sides dug in hard, but by Christmas, reports of Looking back at halted hockey cracks among the union rank and file about accepting a cap were growing. Up to mid-February, some hope of playing a shortened schedule was retained, with the players considering a cap maxed close to $50 million US, but both sides were unable to agree on related issues. Lance Hornby Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky came into meetings at the last March 14, 2020 7:09 PM EDT second, but the season could not be saved and a deal — with a cap — was eventually reached in July.

AFTERMATH: Many players were incensed their leadership caved on the This isn’t the first time an NHL season has been thrown into chaos with cap as well as losing a year’s full pay. It paved the way for Goodenow’s fears the Stanley Cup won’t be awarded. exit and a PA power struggle that saw Donald Fehr eventually take over. Several amateur teams wrote to the NHL to request the right to play for But unlike the COVID-19 crisis that’s brought the league and the rest of the idle Cup. With no pre-determined draft order, Sidney Crosby the sports world to a halt, every other regular season disruption was a randomly went first overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the ‘new’ NHL man-made problem that was all but resolved to allow fans to watch with several rule changes was launched. hockey: 2012-13 OWNERS LOCKOUT 1992 PLAYERS STRIKE DURATION: Four months DURATION: 10 days, April 1-10 GAMES LOST: 510, including the outdoor game and all-star week. GAMES AFFECTED: 30 (all re-scheduled) MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Donald Fehr, Steve Fehr NHLPA, Gary MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Bob Goodenow NHLPA, John Ziegler NHL. Bettman, Bill Daly, Larry Tanenbaum NHL. BACKGROUND: As the CBA was due to expire in the autumn, both BACKGROUND: The owners were upset the players were receiving 57% executive branches were in a state of upheaval, the players having just of hockey related revenues, trying to shave it to 46. The union tried to turfed Alan Eagleson as their long-time director, accused of being too uncouple the link between the cap and fixed revenues. The paying public chummy with owners for his personal gain, while some of the bosses felt was simply fed up with another war between millionaires vs. billionaires. long-time president Ziegler lacked the vision for expansion and lucrative broadcast money. BATTLEGROUND: As negotiations stalled in December, the union considered anti-trust proceedings against the league. That didn’t BATTLEGROUND: The vote was 560-4 to walk out, designed to wound materialize, but with one eye on the calendar, the two sides finally owners just before playoff revenues flowed in. A U.S. mediator was established new guidelines on contract extensions and a higher ceiling called in to try and find a path and as the deadline approached to scuttle and floor to the cap. There was time for a 48-game season, again the season, with the most contentious point revealed as hockey card restricted to each conference. revenues. “A player should make cards of players and owners should make cards of owners,” scoffed player agent Steve Bartlett. “Let’s see AFTERMATH: “We apologize for not playing,” said Toronto captain Dion what a (board chairman) rookie card is worth.” Phaneuf. “We hope the fans come back.” Chicago defeated Boston for the Cup, the season ending June 24. Though both sides could have AFTERMATH: A new one-year CBA was signed. Goodenow solidified his opted out of the current CBA in the autumn of 2020, this pact stays in position, but owners were perceived as the losers and Ziegler was place through the 2021-22 season. bumped, first for the Gil Stein, then for Bettman. Owners did get their desired 84-game season.

1994-95 OWNERS LOCKOUT Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.15.2020 DURATION: Three months, 10 days, Oct. 1-Jan. 11

GAMES LOST: 468, including all-star week.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Bob Goodenow, Mike Gartner NHLPA, Gary Bettman, Jeremy Jacobs NHL.

BACKGROUND: After a year without a CBA, owners wanted a salary cap or at least a luxury tax on their highest spending teams, which the players dismissed as a cap in disguise. Bettman, needing to show his toughness at the table, argued for a leash on salaries if struggling teams were to stay afloat, while the players preached revenue sharing as an alternative. Enough teams eventually moved away from the cap, but the players took a hit on rookie salaries and less gains in free agency. A six- year CBA was reached with no time to spare and a 48-game schedule within the two conferences through early May was drawn up. New Jersey won the Stanley Cup on June 24.

AFTERMATH: The increase in player salaries in American dollars hit small Canadian teams hard and within a couple of years, the had moved to Colorado and the original Winnipeg Jets were off to Phoenix. The schedule was reduced to 82 games.

2004-05 OWNERS LOCKOUT

DURATION: 10 months

GAMES LOST: 1,230, plus playoffs

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Bob Goodenow, Ted Saskin NHLPA, Gary Bettman, Bill Daly NHL.

BACKGROUND: Though it was decided early on in the previous CBA to extend the current agreement, both sides prepared their war chests for this climactic season in a showdown over revenue. “Salary cap? That’s 1180972 Vegas Golden Knights Everyone waited with bated breath to see how 42-year-old Toronto Marlies Zamboni driver David Ayres would do when pressed into service by the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 22. The answer: Quite well.

Top 5 moments of the NHL season Ayres stopped eight of the 10 shots he faced from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 28:41 to become the first emergency goaltender in NHL history to register a decision — a win. He provided a key two points for the Hurricanes in their chase for a playoff spot and sent Canada’s largest city By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal into panic mode. March 14, 2020 - 4:32 PM Not bad for a guy more used to resurfacing the ice than skating on it.

1. The “Great Eight” stares down “The Great One” Remember hockey? The best part of this story is that it’s not over. Remember the crunch of a hit? The whack of a slap shot? The The coronavirus may slow down Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzy’s cacophony of music, cheers and horn that followed a puck going into the goal-scoring record, but it won’t stop it. Oveckin made that clear this net? season when he scored 48 goals —tied for the league lead — in his age- It’s gone away for now, but it’ll be back — sometime. There’s no telling 34 season. when in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic. There’s no telling This year erased almost any doubts that the Capitals’ captain will be able when or how of even if the 2019-20 season might resume. Even if it to maintain his elite scoring ways for the foreseeable future. His shot is doesn’t, it was still an incredible year, full of heartwarming stories, unstoppable as ever. He’s stills surrounded by great talent. The sky breathtaking skill and a zamboni driver who captured the imagination. appears to be the limit. Here are five moments to keep people feeling warm (or cold?) as they Ovechkin ranks eighth all-time with 706 goals. He’s 188 away from wait for hockey to return: Gretzy’s record and the chase should only heat up in coming seasons. 5. Mega Mika The Russian star has been incredibly durable — he’s missed more than four games only once in 15 years — so the coronavirus may only be The names atop the NHL’s goal-scoring race were fairly familiar this delaying the inevitable. season.

David Pastrnak. Auston Matthews. Alexander Ovechkin (more on him in a bit). LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.15.2020

But Mika Zibanejad swooped in to crash the party. The New York Rangers center ranks fifth with 41 goals, and he’s played 11 fewer games than anyone in the top four.

He’s been unstoppable, with 75 points in 57 games. No game better illustrates that than March 5.

Zibanejad scored five goals that night — including two in the third period and the overtime winner — to defeat the Washington Capitals 6-5. He became only the seventh player in the last 25 years to score five goals in a game, and the third in Rangers history.

Thanks to efforts like that, the Rangers were only two points out of a playoff spot when play halted Thursday.

4. Goalie goal!

Pekka Rinne took aim at history Jan. 9.

The Nashville Predators goaltender received a Chicago Blackhawks dump-in behind his net with 27 seconds left, his team leading 4-2. And he decided to go for it.

With no one near him, Rinne lined up his shot and flung the puck from behind the goal line. It landed just inside the offensive zone before skimming safely into the Blackhawks’ empty net.

Suddenly, Rinne was an instant legend, the 12th goaltender to score a regular-season goal and the first since 2013. He was also the fifth-oldest player —at 37 years and 67 days — to score his first career goal. Old goalies can learn new tricks, apparently.

3. Ryan brings light after darkness

Ottawa Senators left wing Bobby Ryan was known for his expensive contract before this year. Then he was known for taking a leave of absence in November to take part in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Now maybe he’ll be known as the guy who fought his way back.

Ryan scored a hat trick in his Senators return Feb. 27 after struggling with alcoholism and mental health issues. Fans waved signs. They chanted “Bobby.” They provided support.

And Ryan showed them what true perseverance looks like.

2. EBUG (emergency backup goalie) infestation

The hockey world stops on a dime for few things. Emergency goalies are one of them. 1180973 Vegas Golden Knights because you weren’t really expecting it. You didn’t know it was your last game.”

Saxe is one of three seniors on the team, along with Erik Eidissen and Las Vegas hockey community feeling the impact of lost income and Tristan Mayer. Like thousands of student-athletes across the country, in opportunity all sports, UNLV seniors were robbed of the opportunity to finish their collegiate career.

“That’s the worst part about it,” Saxe said. “We’ve been through a lot this By Jesse Granger season. It just sucks. We were really looking forward to the tournament. I’m not sure what the plans are next year, for now. It really sucked not Mar 14, 2020 being able to go out there playing for the last time.”

Saxe played all four seasons at UNLV but has one year of eligibility The hundreds of workers — ushers, security guards, concession remaining after missing most of last season with a concussion. He is workers, production staff and custodians — all came into work that getting close to graduating with a degree in finance and isn’t’ sure if he’ll morning expecting to welcome thousands of college basketball fans exercise his final year of eligibility next season. through the doors for Day 2 of the Pac 12 college basketball tournament; “Especially now, it’s definitely a consideration,” said Saxe, who finished instead, the doors were closed. second on the team in points with 16 goals and 15 assists this season. The employees were informed that the basketball tournament had been “It’s kind of like unfinished business at this point. I was really excited to canceled and the NHL season was on hold. The next two days of work – play in nationals this year and finish something we started, because I’ve canceled. The three Golden Knights home games over the next week – played in the tournament every single year that I’ve been at UNLV.” canceled. André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra (March 20), the Because it isn’t an NCAA-sanctioned team, the UNLV hockey team isn’t Zac Brown Band concert (March 27), and six performances of Cirque du funded by the university and pays for its own travel. Luckily they were Soleil’s new ice show, Axel — all canceled. able to cancel hotel reservations without charge and expect to receive “My son was excited I could spend more time with him until he found out credits from the airline for the canceled flight. that we won’t have money to pay bills,” one arena employee told The “We’ve been through a lot this season,” Saxe said. “It just sucks. We Athletic. were really looking forward to the tournament.” It’s the brutal reality of the situation. With the sports world coming to a The coronavirus has impacted hockey at every level in Las Vegas, right halt, there are much larger ramifications than the absence of some of our down to the youth hockey camps. favorite forms of entertainment. The NHL confirmed players will receive their last three paychecks for the season. Golden Knights’ employees, Friday night, the Golden Knights officially suspended all hockey along with those working at the practice facility City National Arena, will programs at City National Arena. all continue to be compensated during the downtime, according to sources. This news was met with disappointment amongst the children and parents. In a chaotic time, sports can provide some sense of normalcy, Many teams have announced they will pay arena employees during the and they’ve all been eliminated for the time being. stoppage, but the Golden Knights’ situation is unique. Unlike many of those teams, the Golden Knights don’t own the arena and the employees The timing was particularly unfortunate for one man: Nigel, who plays for work for a combination of different companies, including MGM Resorts, the Northern Ireland Tridents police hockey team. Nigel and his Trident AEG and Levy Restaurants. Those companies are each dealing with teammates became close friends with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police their own separate issues — namely, MGM Resorts recently announced Department hockey team after playing against one another in the World layoffs, closures and that several employees have COVID-19. There’s Police and Fire Games six years ago. also the fact that the NHL has yet to make a decision on how it will Nigel was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and proceed moving forward and whether or not the remaining regular given three months to live. His team captain decided to schedule a last- season games will be played. minute trip to Las Vegas to attend Golden Knights games and skate with Due to these circumstances, the team has yet to announce a plan to pay the officers’ hockey group at City National Arena. Over the last three arena employees. The Golden Knights’ next scheduled home game is on seasons, Nigel has become a diehard Golden Knights fan, so much so Wednesday. It seems that discussions are already happening to figure that he refuses to play hockey without his white, Golden Knights gloves. out the best way to proceed, but due to the complicated nature of the Upon hearing the tragic news, the Golden Knights organization helped situation, it could take some time to iron out. schedule a VIP treatment for Nigel for his trip out here, but due to the “They told us that we should keep in touch with them as they don’t know shutdown, it’s all been canceled. Players have been given strict when the league will resume play,” one employee said. instructions from the NHL to self-quarantine, so they aren’t left with many options. If health allows, the group is hoping to fly Nigel back to Vegas According to The Athletic’s Scott Burnside, NHL teams generate between whenever the NHL season resumes. $1.5 million and $3 million per home date. The Golden Knights have sold out every home game with an average capacity of 105.4 percent, and with four remaining home games on the schedule, the team could The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 potentially lose millions in revenue.

And the Golden Knights are not the only hockey team being impacted in Las Vegas.

The UNLV hockey team already had its plane tickets and hotel reservations made for the 2020 ACHA National Championship Tournament in Frisco, Texas, when it was canceled. The Rebels went 22-13-1 this season, finishing No. 15 in the country in the ACHA final rankings. Thursday morning the players were on the ice at City National Arena practicing for their first-round matchup with Arizona State right before finding out they would not play that game.

“We have a group chat with all the players on the team, and after practice someone took a screenshot of the ACHA website saying the tournament was canceled and posted it in the chat,” UNLV senior forward Jake Saxe said. “We were all getting ready, all pumped, and then everyone was just pretty bummed out. Everyone was posting in the chat that it was a pleasure playing with everyone. It’s definitely a tough way for it to end 1180974 Washington Capitals

Tom Wilson is enjoying life as a dad to his rescued puppy

By Ryan Wormeli

March 14, 2020 8:22 PM

If you ask some Caps fans, the most important thing in the world isn't the team, wins and losses, or even Alex Ovechkin.

It's Tom Wilson's newest family member, Halle.

The eight-week old black lab mix has only been in Wilson's life for a week, and he already can't imagine life without her.

"We've had her for a week or so, and you already can't think what it would be like without her," Wilson says when asked about the transition to becoming a dog owner. "She's definitely in the middle of eveything."

While there's a lot of love for young Halle in the Wilson home, it's not all fun and games.

"She's a smart dog, but there's times definitely where you have to take a breath and clean up after her," he continued. "Just try to go through the ins and outs of learning how to be a dad to a cute little pup. So it's been fun."

With the NHL on an indefinite hiatus, Wilson will have plenty of free time to learn how to be an even better puppy dad than he already is.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180975 Washington Capitals Of course, the series clincher against Atlanta is hardly the most memorable performance from the Wizards’ 2017 run. But as of now, NBCSW can’t run games from that spring’s second-round series against the Celtics, a legendary seven-game battle that’s fondly appreciated in Scenes from series past and big moments: NBC Sports Washington D.C., even if it concluded with a Boston victory. The network doesn’t needs content have the rights to series beyond the first round. NBA and NHL playoff first-round series are on local and national broadcasts while the ensuing

ones are exclusively national. Yes, that means NBCSW can’t run replays By Fred Katz of Paul Pierce’s “I called game” or John Wall’s 2017 game-winner against Boston. The network is trying to gain the ability to show Stanley Cup Mar 14, 2020 games, but it’s, of course, still in the beginning processes of that.

After all, it’s not like NBC Sports Washington was planning for all sports to evaporate. The NBA’s and NHL’s cancellations were as abrupt for WASHINGTON — Justin Kutcher better fix his Apple TV. them as they were for anyone else. The first-year Wizards play-by-play broadcaster is in self-quarantine after It plans to go back in the archives and reach for old games, but turning the team’s medical staff advised people around the organization to them TV-ready will take more than a moment. The Wizards and Capitals isolate for three-to-four days following Rudy Gobert’s positive COVID-19 have been on NBCSW since it launched as Home Team Sports in 1984 diagnosis Wednesday night. Washington played Gobert’s Jazz — who’s (it changed to Comcast SportsNet in 2001, then became CSN and finally shooting guard, Donovan Mitchell also tested positive for COVID-19 — NBCSW a few years ago), which means old games are plausible. less than two weeks earlier. And now, a man with newly uncovered, There’s a crowded room filled with tapes and reels at headquarters, but unwanted free time is looking for a show to binge, ready to watch many of the highlights aren’t yet digitized. Look out for a Michael Jordan- Netflix’s The Morning Show or Amazon Prime’s Hunters. era Wizards game once they get that far. He’ll have to wait until he gets that darn ineffective, square box working For now, the talent will contribute to digital content. That means social first. And he didn’t make much progress during day two of locking himself media videos from Wizards sideline reporter and studio host Chris Miller at in his Arlington apartment. or website content from Chase Hughes and others. Kutcher is standing He did laundry. He paid bills. He took a two-hour nap that could have by to see what’s next. been longer, considering he didn’t even set the alarm. “Everything is so new right now that they’re still trying to figure things This is not the norm. Kutcher is usually active. He works out. He golfs. out,” he said. “I’m here to help out however I can and to make things fun, But when he’s home, he has one particular viewing habit. And today, he but as far as what that entails, I don’t know. … Hopefully, I don’t sit is a sports addict jonesing for the subtlest taste of competition; a single around and just get fat.” Isaac Bonga back-door cut or even the most routine spring training Kutcher wasn’t anticipating much time off. If the Wizards’ season ended pitching change might do the trick. when expected, April 15, he would have taken a couple of weeks to But he won’t see either for a while. himself, then started calling MLB for FOX in May. He’d transition to the U.S. Open in June, then the Senior Open after that. He does the Atlanta “I was proud of myself. I showered today,” Kutcher said with a chuckle. Falcons’ preseason games in September. “That was really key. I shaved. … To me, this is the greatest time of the year. So, it sucks. And that’s being selfish. Obviously, the No. 1 concern On previous days off, he’s looked for sports. Like many, he’s figuring out is making sure everybody is healthy, and we keep this thing under how to pass the time without them. control, and it doesn’t affect too many people. Yes, we all know that. That “None of us have ever dealt with this, and I hope we don’t deal with it almost goes without saying. As a sports fan, as a person who just is a again,” he said. “I love my job. I love going to work every day. It doesn’t diehard sports fan, this is my favorite time.” feel like work. I know I’m incredibly lucky and I’m still incredibly lucky, The NBA, along with just about every other American organized sports even though you get this. I’ve gotten phone calls and text messages from league, suspended or canceled its season earlier this week because of all these different people saying, I guess you got some time off right now. concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus. Kutcher was ready I’m like, I do. Unless the golf courses are open, I don’t know what I’m for the final 18 games of the Wizards’ season, the NCAA tournament, gonna do.” MLB opening day and the Masters, then for playoff hockey and basketball to follow it. The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 “There’s a void,” he said. “There’s a void trying to figure out what you’re gonna watch on TV.”

Kutcher isn’t the only one left wondering what to do. Amidst far more serious concerns, fellow sports fans will search for other ways to distract themselves as many spend even more time at home than previously. And the network Kutcher works for is trying to figure out a corporate version of the same problem: What to put on television.

No Wizards or Capitals games mean NBC Sports Washington has giant gaps to fill in its schedule. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday on TNT that it will be at least 30 days before the league reevaluates a possible return. The NHL is under indefinite suspension.

The Capitals were supposed to play the Red Wings on Thursday night. Of course, they did not. So, NBCSW instead ran highlights of each of Alex Ovechkin’s first 700 career goals during that time slot. The next game was supposed to be Saturday. In its place, this time will be highlights from every Ovechkin hat trick.

Gaps the Wizards were supposed to fill will be similar. At a meeting Friday, NBCSW management tossed around the idea of showing highlights from each of Bradley Beal’s ten 40-point games this season, though they haven’t officially decided on that. Plenty of ideas are on the table. The Wizards were next scheduled to play Sunday. Instead of that game, the channel will run Game 6 of the team’s 2017 first-round series against the Hawks, a 115-99 victory that would send Washington to the Eastern Conference semifinals. 1180976 Winnipeg Jets CSEC will pay employees where the notification of cancellation was less than 24 hours. No payment will be made for shifts cancelled with greater than 24 hours’ notice.”

Jets ownership doubles down on decision not to pay casual, part-time Meanwhile, in Boston, where the team’s ownership has not extended its staffers financial support to affected workers, players have taken the lead.

Bruins’ superstar forward Brad Marchand tweeted out a link on Saturday to a GoFundMe page looking to raise $250,000 for workers affected at Scott Billeck TD Garden.

March 14, 2020 10:30 PM CDT As of Saturday night, the campaign has raised nearly $25,000, with several Bruins, including David Pastrnak, David Krejci, Tuukka Rask, and

Charlie McAvoy, making $1,000 donations. True North Sports + Entertainment is doubling down on its decision to In TNSE’s letter on Saturday, Olfert said he wanted to reaffirm that “True shun its casual and part-time employees. North values, cares for, and is mindful of all True North stakeholders,” In a letter obtained by the Winnipeg Sun and sent to the company’s which includes part-time and casual employees. 1,050 casual and part-time staff on Saturday, TNSE reaffirmed its Olfert wrote that employees will be paid when they work the shifts for position on not paying its staff for the remaining four NHL games plus games and other events once they are rescheduled. affected dates for the American Hockey League’s , as well as other events such as concerts that have been cancelled due to At the moment, there is no timeline for any of that. the coronavirus outbreak. The Jets are co-owned by David Thomson, Canada’s wealthiest man, The letter, signed by TNSE president and chief operating officer John with an estimated fortune of $34.1 billion, according to Forbes. Olfert, states that “for approximately 97% (of the 1,050 casual and part- time employees who worth at True North venues), income from True North is not their primary source of income. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 03.15.2020 “For this group, True North shared that the principle of paying employees when shifts are worked will remain,” the letter read.

The letter said for the other 3% of employees who count on the income for their livelihood, “other arrangements have and are being explored.”

The letter does not mention how TNSE arrived at the numbers it did.

It can be read in full here:

Saturday’s letter follows Thursday’s declaration from Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman, who spoke to the assembled media at Bell MTS Place just hours after the NHL made the decision to suspend the 2019- 20 season indefinitely.

“Those people are on part-time agreements,” Chipman said. “They work when we work. So, regrettably, to the extent that we’re not putting on shows and games, those people obviously would not have a call to work.”

Chipman’s comments, coupled with the decisions of over half of the NHL’s 31 teams to pay their casual and part-time staff during the pause, has been met with fierce criticism online.

“We do not want any of our great people to be negatively impacted financially,” Dallas Stars president Brad Alberts said in a release from Winnipeg’s Central Division rival.

Another Central Division foe, the Chicago Blackhawks, announced Saturday that they would be doing the same thing.

“Our employees, whether they be front office staff, or our approximately 1,200 day-of-game staff, are family, and we will navigate this unprecedented situation together,” statement on behalf of the United Center ownership, along with the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks said.

Other teams have rolled out different programs.

In Vancouver, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini tweeted Saturday that the organization has created a program based on “individual need.”

“Canucks Sports & Entertainment has initiated a program, based on individual need, that will help any part-time employee who requires support to avoid financial hardship during this unexpected employment disruption,” the tweet read.

The Jets have been joined by Calgary, who have stated they will not pay their staff either during the pause.

“Unless notified by your supervisor, all scheduled shifts are cancelled. CSEC will pay for your March 12, 2020 shift if you were scheduled to work as the notice of cancellation was less than the 24 hours required by Alberta Employment Standards. Any shifts on March 13, 2020 and beyond must be pre-approved by your supervisor,” an email obtained by the Calgary Herald stated. “Alberta Employment Standards requires that employers provide 24 hours’ notice for cancellation of scheduled shifts. 1180977 Vancouver Canucks Wednesday the Canucks declared him out “.” He’d taken a hit into the end boards from Isles captain Anders Lee midway through the third period and left the ice not long after, looking awkward in the process.

Patrick Johnston: If NHL pushes play after pause, Canucks would have a It wasn’t explained what was injured, but it was clearly something related healthier lineup to one of his legs, perhaps a groin or hip problem. The suggested timeline does not bode well though.

If it turns out he has a sprain, and not something more serious like a PATRICK JOHNSTON hernia or other groin issue, and he’s able to return in a month, that’s a boon to the team’s playoff hopes. March 14, 2020 4:19 PM PDT Now, he’s not the defender he once was and there’s a case to be made

that he’s held Quinn Hughes back — his shot-attempt-share away from We all know what a return to action would mean for the Canucks when Hughes is abysmal — but he remains a quality penalty killer and the their MVP is ready. Canucks need every asset they have if and when their chase for the post-season resumes. In the spirit of optimism, the kind of optimism that we get from paying attention to sports, that needed distraction from the brutality of the world, Brock Boeser hopeful that hockey will be back sooner rather than later, here’s a The sniper finally returned to the lineup Tuesday, after missing a month thought: when the Canucks return to action, they should be healthier, with damaged rib cartilage. The context to this speculation, of course, is immense. Presumably he was as healed as he was going to be before the playoffs, We don’t know how the next few weeks are going to play out in the but injuries to rib cartilage have a tendency to linger, so being forced to NHL’s “paused” season. We know that many people are likely to become rest will only help him heal, something he wouldn’t have been able to do ill. until the off-season.

The coronavirus pandemic may prove to be a bigger problem than almost Jay Beagle any of us could imagine and that the edicts preventing large gatherings We still don’t know what his exact injury is, but it’s assumed he’s dealing from taking place last so long that the 2019-20 NHL season is never with a foot problem related to a blocked shot two weeks ago against the resumed. Toronto Maple Leafs. Still, in practical terms, time off to heal will help every athlete out there. At this point it’s him or Brandon Sutter as the team’s fourth-line centre, so For the Canucks, there are four players who will be fitter and possibly it’s a bit of a coach’s preference here. Other than Tyler Graovac, there’s even ready to play in a few weeks. no obvious call-up at centre should any other Canuck centre go down. Jacob Markstrom

You’re familiar with the Canucks’ MVP goaltender. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.15.2020 At last check, he had resumed skating. Canucks head coach Travis Green confirmed that Tuesday.

What form that skating took, we don’t know. But it had been a day shy of two weeks since the goaltender had an operation on his knee, with the expectation he’d be fit to return in three or four weeks’ time.

Obviously, the fact teams are being blocked from practising puts a limit on how he is able to rehabilitate the knee, but the good news is that time to heal is the biggest challenge.

He clearly now has plenty of that. It’s safe to assume that play is going to be stopped for at least two weeks and almost certainly a month. That would put Markstrom well past the recovery window that’s been mooted for him (some sources have suggested six weeks as a possible scenario).

So, if hockey resumes in late April or early May, Markstrom should be back.

The question then, is, for how many games? If he had been able to return sometime next week, it seems unlikely he’d have been ready to play the scheduled game on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Next weekend the Canucks were supposed to play three games in four days — in Anaheim and then Los Angeles back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, then travel to Las Vegas for a Monday night clash with the Golden Knights.

Perhaps he’d have travelled on that trip, but it seems far more likely he’d have returned to action, if he were ready, in the following week.

The Canucks were meant to host the San Jose Sharks on March 25. Including that game, the Canucks had seven games remaining on the regular-season schedule. He still had a chance to make a big impact.

Backup netminder Thatcher Demko has been fine, but we all know how massive Markstrom has been this season. With the Canucks teetering on the edge of the playoffs, getting him back and healthy for whenever the season resumes will be huge.

Chris Tanev

Defenceman Tanev was the healthiest he had ever been before he was hurt Tuesday against the New York Islanders. 1180978 Vancouver Canucks “I know the team is not a true contender, but if you get into the playoffs, anything can happen with a hot goalie. And that stems from all the excitement from me and my buddies.”

Ben Kuzma: Passionate patrons hoping Canucks' season is salvaged And whether the season is over or extended, the only certain thing for McPhee is that the Canucks should have back-to-back Calder Trophy winners and three-consecutive seasons of finalists. So, is it Hughes?

BEN KUZMA “It has to be — that’s an easy decision,” McPhee said of Hughes compiling 53 points (8-45) in 68 games compared to Cale Makar of the March 14, 2020 3:38 PM PDT Colorado Avalanche, who has 50 (12-38) in 57 games.

“The metrics I’ve seen has given him a slight edge, but if you look at the Vancouver super fans Adam McPhee, left, and Jimmi Karvelis were value he brings to his team (Canucks), he’s got the edge because of the mourning the possible end of the Canucks' season on Saturday in way he carries the play — it’s crazy.” Vancouver. The arena atmosphere has been ramped up by a better product and “The True fans temper seriousness of the coronavirus with a silver lining that Larscheiders” are doing their Level 300 thing of being very loud and the injured Markstrom and Tanev get more recovery time proud.

They get it way up there in the cheaper seats. “It’s pretty good and has definitely got better the last couple of years,” acknowledged McPhee. “The in-house entertainment has also taken a Want to get a real feel for how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting good step forward and there’s interest in coming back to the games. faithful followers of the Vancouver Canucks? Listen to patrons of The 300 Level at . Hear out those leather-lunged loyalists who grind “You go to a Friday game with a big rival in town and it’s just insane. away to find a way to secure season tickets, but also understand the Maybe not as much mid-week, but that’s the ebb and flow. I’ve seen lot NHL season being put on hold was a prudent decision. more intensity.”

Not that they don’t hope the season might resume in a month. Sam Lu, 28, has two season-ticket seats in Section 108. His allegiance to the Canucks is understanding the present and hoping for the best in the True fans temper seriousness of coronavirus with a silver lining that the future. He didn’t have to be sold on the NHL taking a pause in light of the injured Jacob Markstrom and Chris Tanev are getting more recovery time coronavirus. and Brock Boeser can keep strengthening his stride. So, the Stanley Cup Final in July? Bring it on. “Honestly, it brings clarity to the situation,” said the West End resident employed in real estate. “You don’t want to go to a place where there are “Oh, yeah — absolutely,” said a hopeful Adam McPhee, 25, who works in 18,000 people. It doesn’t feel comfortable going to a game. The fact they communications and shares two Section 321 seats. “It would be a actually suspended the season helps everyone. massive disappointment if the whole season didn’t happen and nothing kind of came from it in the end. “You’ve just got more important things in your life to deal with right now. You’re thinking more ‘how do we all stay safe?’ and sports becomes “I think people would be on board and it’s only fair for the players to be secondary. It would be nice to have this escape, but you can’t have it.” able to go out and actually finish what they started. We were really looking forward to the push toward the playoffs. Give Marky some more When Lu does have his escape, there’s nothing better than live sports. time to heal up and Boeser some more time to recover.” He said he’s “too small” to play hockey, but the Canucks game In a perfect world, all that makes sense. But today’s world is far from environment has elevated his interest level and vocal range. perfect. “It has been a mixture of shouting and cursing Tyler Myers’ name and Amid a pandemic with heightened awareness, people working from praising Quinn Hughes’ name — so you get a little mixture,” he laughed. home, avoiding mass-gatherings and countrywide travel restrictions, “Of the 20 seats around me, I can tell five or six fans who are constantly even hard-core fans are pumping the enthusiasm brakes. there most games and a whole bunch shifting in and out. There are diehards and it doesn’t feel corporate yet, or maybe I’m just in the wrong “While it might seem premature to some people, it’s important to get club section.” ahead of these kinds of things,” added McPhee. “So, I totally understand why they did it. And while it’s unfortunate, it’s bigger than hockey and Maven Gill, 30, of Abbotsford is in sales support for Apple and has two totally makes sense.” season tickets in Section 321.

The NHL remains wary of coronavirus concerns. He grudgingly understands the edict over coronavirus concerns, but that doesn’t make it easier to stay in the Fraser Valley and not trek to Rogers Players will remain in their team cities, but those in a temporary Arena. residence and separated from families should be permitted to go home in the initial phase of the “pause” period — which brings about the self- “Realistically, from a fan perspective it’s tough,” he admitted. “You’re imposed, 14-day quarantine for Canadians travelling to the United already being told to stay home as much as you can and not having States. At some point, club facilities will reopen for players to skate on a those things to watch as a sports fan sucks. But for the long term it voluntary basis in small groups. probably makes sense.

There is no timetable for that to occur and will be revisited later in the “They (Canucks) sent an email saying they were going to have 150 week. The league is advising against informal skates until customary more sanitation sections. There is still some uncomfortableness there training for resumption of play that affords protection via the standard and even in the general population. I just stick to see what people are player contract. There also won’t be mandatory coronavirus testing doing as opposed to not seeing what they’re doing.” unless a player becomes sick or exhibits symptoms. Gill has been a Canucks patron since he was 18 and he’s jacked up by True fans support their club though thick and thin. However, the the improving atmosphere at home games. possibility of five years without a post-season berth is balanced by the “The vibe in the arena with how loud it is has completely changed belief the Canucks have turned a competitive corner. And for those who because the team has got a lot better and whether they’re realistically can’t afford higher-priced season tickets, being part of the boisterous there (contender) it’s fun to watch,” he said. “It’s frustrating at times backers means everything. because people think they’re further along than they truly are. “The team has kind of been in a slump for years but I like the emergence “There’s still time to build to get to where they need to be, but the main of (Quinn) Hughes and Petey (Elias Pettersson) coming into his own,” reason we got them (season tickets) was for availability to go to the added McPhee, a Kitsilano resident, who grew up playing the game and playoffs.” still straps on the skates. “And even a guy like (J.T.) Miller punching above his weight and Markstrom have been lights out — it was kind of And that’s one thing McPhee, Lu and Gill can agree on. Amid all the looking exciting. uncertainty, renewing their season-ticket commitments is a no-brainer.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180979 Websites “I gather, from family tales, that he was 180 degrees from the person he was with the skates off,” said McLachlan. “He was a very different person: Quiet, unassuming and kind. He would spend time with his young family.” The Athletic / History circles back on family of Joe Hall, NHL star killed during 1919 pandemic “We always heard about him: Sometimes called ‘Bad Man Joe Hall,’ and sometimes called ‘Bad Joe,’” said Larry Hall, another of his grandchildren. “It’s part of our history.”

By Sean Fitz-Gerald Larry Hall said he has a copy of his grandfather’s final professional contract in his office. He said the Canadiens had agreed to pay Joe Hall Mar 14, 2020 $600 for the season, with a $100 bonus if they went on to win a championship.

Dr. Sarah Hall is an anesthesiologist on Vancouver Island who is bracing Joe Hall also played professional lacrosse, and he sold cigars in the for what is to come. She will be among the front-line medical offseason. professionals putting breathing tubes into patients suffering the worst “Rumour has it he actually made more money selling cigars than he did effects of COVID-19, a pandemic that presents the doctor with an in both of those professional sports,” said Larry Hall. unusual personal symmetry. His father, Joseph, was the eldest of the three children. And even then, Her family name has been entwined with the term pandemic for 101 he did not have clear memory of Joe Hall. And that was largely because, years, ever since the Spanish Flu tore across the world and into Stanley between hockey and lacrosse and his sales job, Joe Hall was on the road Cup history. She is the great-granddaughter of Joe Hall, a rough and for most of the year. rugged defenceman with the Montreal Canadiens who died from complications of the flu in 1919. In the days following his death, The Toronto World published a story with one promising section about the future Hall had built for his young family. “I have to say, I did think about it,” said Dr. Hall, “because of the way he died.” “Hall was one of the few professional athletes who saved his money,” the newspaper reported without a source or citation. “He worked on the Joe Hall was a few weeks shy of his 38th birthday when he collapsed railroad during the summer months, and this, with his hockey earnings, during a game in Seattle, leading officials to cancel the final game in the enabled him to purchase property in Brandon, which will leave his wife championship series. He was eventually moved from his hotel room into and three children … in comfortable circumstances.” a local hospital bed, where he died of pneumonia. Larry Hall was not sure if that part was true. Word of his death ran in newspapers across Canada. Hall became an avatar for the pandemic’s impact on the sport. Until the NHL locked out As the eldest, his father helped the family financially. He got a job selling its players for the entirety of 2004-05 season, the only time the Stanley lightbulbs. Cup was not awarded was the year Joe Hall died. “Like most people who have gone through the Depression, a lot of it was What was not as well known was what would become of the family he left pretty tough times,” Larry Hall said. “Selling a lightbulb in the Depression behind. was not an easy task. But he became an awfully good salesperson.”

Joe Hall and his wife, Mary, were raising three young children in Joseph Hall, the son of the fallen hockey star, eventually became an Brandon, Man., when he set out for that final road trip. Mary — who executive with Sunbeam. One of his sons, Joseph David Hall, was smart commonly went by Clare, one of her middle names — was still on a and strong and athletic. He played football and had dreams of becoming westbound train when she received word of what happened to her a nuclear scientist until he started having trouble with his back. husband. Doctors discovered a tumour on his spine. He died, of lung cancer, at the Suddenly, she was alone with three young children. They were still in the age of 21. A scholarship was created in his name, and is still awarded middle of a pandemic, with the world still recovering from war, and with annually at the University of British Columbia. It was created to pay the Great Depression looming a decade away. Clare buried her husband tribute to “a brilliant student, whose scholarship, sportsmanship, personal in Vancouver, where she settled with her two sons (Joseph and William) qualities and courage in adversity won the admiration of all who knew and her daughter (Margaret). him.”

She became a teacher, working in a school that was only a 15-minute It is available to UBC students living with a spinal cord injury. walk from the cemetery. Joe Hall was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961. The family “I think that’s where the determination comes in,” said Bill McLachlan, has donated a gold watch he received for his time with the Quebec one of her grandchildren. “And that’s one of her prime characteristics. Bulldogs to the museum, and it rests in the vault attached to the Great She was a Baptist. Hall, where the Stanley Cup resides.

“She did not go to church regularly. She went to church irregularly. She “It’s part of our being,” said Larry Hall. “It’s part of the family history that’s just took it that, ‘This is the hand that I’ve been dealt, and I’m going to well known, and a bit notorious.” resolve it.’” The term pandemic is also now part of hockey’s present, especially since McLachlan’s mother, Margaret, was only five years old when Joe Hall the NHL announced it would “pause” its season in light of global died. She had no living memory of him, but the stories were passed on. developments. Dr. Sarah Hall has never been much of a hockey fan — McLachlan grew up in the Original Six era, and ended up cheering for the she said she is the exception in her family of “crazy sports nuts” — but Canadiens. she has also been planning.

“I began to hear stories about his hockey exploits,” McLachlan said with a She has been part of the team preparing Nanaimo Regional General chuckle. “Hockey was quite a different game in those years. He was a Hospital for whatever might arrive at its doorstep. She will work to save rover — which was roving around the ice, flattening people into the the lives of patients struggling with the effects of the pandemic, a century boards.” after doctors tried to save her great-grandfather from the effects of another global outbreak. Joe Hall had 100 penalty minutes in 21 regular-season games the year before he died. He was arrested after an incident in Toronto that January. “I’m not an overly dramatic person, and I’m also pretty calm, which is the According to a report in The Globe and Mail, Toronto player Alf Skinner nature of my business — I have to be,” she said. “I think I’m just sort of was on the ice when “Hall raised his stick and brought it down upon preparing for what I feel is inevitable. I’ll put myself wherever I need to be Skinner’s head,” and rendered his opponent unconscious. to make the most difference.”

Hall — referred to as “Bad” Joe Hall in the Globe story — was left with a bloody face as the result of an earlier collision with Skinner. Toronto police charged both men with disorderly conduct. The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180980 Websites 3. Will age and circumstance deny Chara another Cup after losing twice in the Finals since winning one? Will Marleau be denied his first? Or Kovalchuk?

The Athletic / Bourne: Questions left unanswered by the NHL season so One thing about the potential of being denied a winner is that not far — and maybe for good everyone just gets to come back to give it another kick at the can with all things equal. I didn’t mention Justin Williams in the headline, but he came back to pursue a fourth Cup for a team that pushed some chips in at the deadline to get aggressive. Because of his Cup-winning history, we feel By Justin Bourne less sympathy for him, but these other guys … man. Mar 14, 2020 Zdeno Chara has one, so maybe you don’t feel terrible there, either, but he’s as competitive as they come, has lost two in the Final since his win and is on the best team in the NHL through 70 games. Being denied is There are few things in this world I hate as much as the feeling of not just the legacy part but also the experience that comes with uncertainty, but sometimes it’s just unavoidable. Usually, almost always, summiting our sport’s highest peak. It feels cruel. At 42, does he lose a really, that feeling dissipates in fairly short order. The awkward half-step too much before next season? Are the Bruins maybe less conversation you’ve been dreading happens, the crucial business dominant? decision gets made, or (whatever it is that’s been giving that feeling) gets sorted out. That might not be the case when it comes to the 2019-20 From there, there’s almost a guy on every team; surely someone is NHL season. gonna miss his Ray Bourque moment. Was it to be Patrick Marleau’s? Ilya Kovalchuk’s? Derek Engelland in Vegas? There was a story and a The NHL has justifiably set its sights on a return something like a month changed legacy that now may not ever happen. down the road, but it’s impossible to not see how it could take much, much longer for players to return to full action. If you look at where the 4. Were the Lightning going to get over the hump? Was Philly going to do U.S. and Canada are now in terms of the spread of the coronavirus the unimaginable from just a few months ago? compared with the more heavily affected areas — and look at where this I know the NHL wants to award the Stanley Cup this season, and I can thing likely goes — it’s almost impossible to see the graph of infected see it happening, for sure. But as I said in the introduction, it’s not at all people suddenly change in a drastic enough way to say “OK, it’s safe to unimaginable that it’s just not feasible. And, boy, were there some have 20,000 people under the same roof today” in four weeks. potential stories waiting to be told. The Lightning have been poised to win There are many other possibilities, of course. One I can definitely see is a Cup for a good run of years, and last season’s crushing disappointment a return to playing without fans in attendance until officials rule mass seems to have shaped them into a contender much more built to gatherings to be safe again, whenever that may be. But regardless, I withstand the rigors of the postseason. Their story might have been think it’s quite possible we just don’t get hockey again until the 2020-21 building toward a crescendo of sorts, one their fans may never get to season, full stop. (Bleak, I know.) But even if we do, it’s impossible to hear. A year in the NHL changes a lot. guess what a cobbled-together regular season and postseason would How about the rise of Philadelphia and the story a postseason Carter look like. Hart could’ve told. According to MoneyPuck.com — the stat-based One thing I’m a big believer in is a concept out of the Pixar film “Inside analysis hockey site that had the St. Louis Blues as Cup favourites Out,” which basically says sometimes when things are sad, you just gotta heading into last year’s postseason — the Flyers are the current faves to be sad. There’s no point in trying to happy it up. If you don’t feel the win the Cup. Imagine that gets denied, while an important player like bottoms, the highs are never as sweet. And dammit, we’re at a bottom, ages just a breath further from his prime, and teams so let’s just wallow here for a while. around them are given offseasons to fix their problems?

What follows are the questions a cancelled season would leave Repeat champs? A title in Vegas? Something apocalyptic like a unanswered — questions I was so looking forward to getting conclusions Canadian team winning the Cup? on. 5. More simply: How many Canadian teams were going to make the 1. Would Ovechkin have pulled away to claim his ninth Rocket Richard playoffs? Trophy and make progress toward Gretzky’s record? I realize this doesn’t interest everyone south of the border as much as it Current leaderboard: Alex Ovechkin (48), David Pastrnak (48), Auston does those of us living up north, but guys, you gotta understand. It’s been Matthews (47) lean. Lean, lean, lean years. The possibility of Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg all getting in was right there for the First, I know they’d still hand out this award even with the shortened taking. It’s been a billion years since any team in Canada has won a Cup. season, but it’s not quite the same without the thrilling chase down the Five in the postseason felt like a real shot at it. And to go with that … stretch, is it? 6. What about the ? WE WERE SO CLOSE There are three guys who have realistic shots at winning the Rocket with a dozen games to go for Pastrnak and Matthews, while Ovechkin has a I know I’m beating the Canada drum pretty hard, but the teams haven’t baker’s dozen. Would he have done it or fallen behind? Would he have met in the postseason since 1990, and do you remember their regular- eaten further into the gap between him and Gretzky on the all-time goals season games? What would’ve been must-see TV could be can’t-see- list? Imagine if Ovechkin eventually gets painfully close to Wayne TV. Gretzky but falls just a few goals short. 7. Makar vs. Hughes for the Calder? 2. Would Matthews have won his first Rocket Richard Trophy? There are few people who would categorize the race as much more than Statistically speaking, it’s Auston Matthews who’s second to Ovechkin in a “52 percent for one guy, 48 percent for the other” type of race, with just goals per game since he came into the league as a rookie in 2016-17 … a dozen or so games left down the stretch. A decent run from either Cale albeit by a breath. Going back over those (almost) four seasons, the Makar or Quinn Hughes could have gotten it done. One of them will still three leaders in goals per game are, fittingly, Ovechkin (.58), Matthews win it based on what’s to come, but voters tend to have a recency bias (.56) and Pastrnak (.53). That trio is followed by Nikita Kucherov (.50), and tend to weigh the games closest to the finish line as the most Connor McDavid (.49) and Leon Draisaitl (.47). important (just given that you know the stakes). It’s possible that whatever outcome we get may have looked different with an extra month Certainly, Pastrnak has as good a shot as anyone — I’ve said many of hockey. times on radio throughout the season that I think he gets it done — but it certainly wouldn’t be the story of Matthews winning a major trophy, just 8. Could McDavid have made the Hart race interesting? given the utter lack of them in the sport’s heaviest media market. And he Of all the people who could catch Leon Draisaitl in the Hart Trophy race, feels like the type of player who could win multiple. With his being just a the one who still intrigued me most was McDavid. I know it’s tough to goal behind, are we denied some thrilling late-season performance to untangle the two, and I know Draisaitl was very good in McDavid’s claim his first crown? absence, but I did wonder how things would look if McDavid caught fire down the stretch. If the game was narrowed to just a few points, I think there’s a lot of people, like me, who believe that Draisaitl is very deserving of the Hart but in the big picture believe McDavid is still the biggest engine for the Oilers. As things stand, it’s not really that close. But I did see a scenario where McDavid could make it a conversation.

9. What depths could Detroit’s goal differential have really reached?

The Red Wings have allowed 122 more goals than they’ve scored, which … is bad. For context, last year, the worst team was the Kings, who finished at minus-60. The Sabres were minus-80 the season before. Call it morbid, but a little part of me really wanted to see just how low the Red Wings could really take it.

10. What about the legacy-changing runs that won’t happen?

If Phil Kessel doesn’t have the postseasons he does, his career is looked at in a vastly different way when it’s all said and done. That’s what the postseason is partially about — finding out the guys who we didn’t see coming who change the way we think about them by rising up in the biggest moments. There’s a number of players in Carolina, Toronto, and even Tampa Bay who would’ve loved a crack at changing the narrative around them.

Off the ice, Jim Benning’s pushing in on the Canucks — a move not smiled upon by many analysts last summer — had the chance to get validated. The best-laid plans of so many mice and men were about to take the biggest test, and we’ve been denied the results.

As I’ve said, it’s all just so sad (obviously not just from a hockey perspective, but that’s what we’re justifiably focusing on here). The hope is that this article can be repurposed in a few weeks with the approach of “Here are the questions I’m excited to find out the answers to!” It’s not over yet. We may have gotten out ahead of the problem, and the answers may still be coming. But if they’re not, some awfully exciting storylines were ready to play out in the months to come. Here’s to hoping at some point in the near future we can talk about them all without the backdrop of sadness.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.15.2020 1180981 Websites Avalanche (.657) vs. Stars (.594) Golden Knights (.606) vs. Predators (.595)

Oilers (.585) vs. Canucks (.565) Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: If the NHL must jump right into playoffs... Just outside: Jets (.563), Wild (.558), Coyotes (.529)

Off the top, an easy modification is to reduce all series to best of five Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox (except, if possible, the Cup Final). March 14, 2020, 8:45 AM More painful would be chopping the playoff-qualification line to the top- four teams per conference, instead of the top eight.

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious Further, we’d love to see the six teams just outside of the playoff bubble, and less so, and rolling four lines deep. We understand if you’d like to get an opportunity to play in via a handful of regular-season games or socially distance yourself from this week’s column. some sort of wild-card, play-in mini-tournament. Restrict it to two sites, one in the East, one in the West. 1. I was totally going to catch up on Better Call Saul. It feels unjust to not allow the following clubs a last gasp without them After watching a bit of Wednesday’s Jets-Oilers game, I had intended to knowing they’re literally in must-win mode. Maybe they pull a goalie in a switch my hockey brain off for a bit, with the understanding I’d be tied game. Or maybe a hurting player guts through pain. A star goalie hanging around a rink watching practices and covering live games for the willing to play back-to-back. Desperation gives us different results. next few days. Parity has given us races that can be swung one way or another with just Then Rudy Gobert tested positive, the NBA suspended its season and one score. Heck, the Jets are a 0.001 points percentage away from reality smacked like a Mack Truck. My beloved Bob Odenkirk could wait. supplanting the Flames in the second wild-card spot. It’d be a shame if they’re deprived one final shot. I socially distanced myself from my family, crept down to the basement and glued myself to the final two periods of Jets-Oilers, knowing full well “Everything for consideration is on the table,” commissioner Gary it would be the last hockey game I’d watch in real-time for a long while. Bettman told Hockey Central at Noon Friday of the playoff possibilities. “My hope and expectation is that we can finish the season in some form Funny how we start cherishing things when we know they’re running out. and award the Stanley Cup.” We invite friends over to watch The Sopranos finale. We soak in the 3. Flip the standings page upside down, and you discover another issue band’s encore. We savour the eighth piece of the black dragon roll. We that’ll be needed to sort through. ration the last spool of toilet paper in the house, apparently. While the aggressively tanking Red Wings managed to lock up 31st I have no rooting interest in the Jets or Oilers, but I was overcome with place — and the highest draft lottery odds (an 18.5 per cent chance at the urge to lap up every second of the action because there was no way first overall) — prior to the pause, a scant two standings points separated I’d have a Toronto Maple Leafs–Nashville Predators game to cover the 30th-place Senators, 29th-place Sharks and 28th-place Kings. Thursday. Only a 10-point gap divided the Sens from the 23rd-place Blackhawks, I started missing hockey before it left. who would now have just a five per cent shot at winning the lottery. Every This morning I awoke to my nine-year-old son on the iPad. He was ball in the hopper matters. sucked into a highlight package of Tuesday’s Carolina Hurricanes– While on the surface it’s easy to dismiss games involving the bottom-10- Detroit Red Wings game. Our routine is catching up on the previous or-so teams as meaningless, they have meaning for other reasons. night’s highlights over cereal. 4. If 2019-20 hockey does return, the timing of this “pause” — a much “Hey, Willie. You know there were no games last night. You remember gentler term than “suspension,” eh? — could actually serve to benefit a the NHL stopped, right?” I said. few teams with Stanley Cup dreams. “Yeah, I know,” he replied. “There was nothing new, so I started working Generally, bumps and bruises are being given time to heal. As a result, my way backward.” fans could be treated to a faster, fresher on-ice product. In that moment, I didn’t have the heart to tell the boy his minor atom More specifically, consider what a pushed-back schedule could do for playoff games had been cancelled. So, I put that info on pause. contenders with injuries to key players. Some examples: Canucks (Jacob 2. “You don’t close the door to any idea.” Markstrom), Lightning (Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos), Blues (Vladimir Tarasenko), Golden Knights (Mark Stone), Maple Leafs (Jake Muzzin, Those words came from Prime Minister Trudeau on Friday. He was Ilya Mikheyev), Bruins (Torey Krug), Avalanche (Nathan MacKinnon), talking about the country’s COVID-19 strategy, of course, but that same Hurricanes (Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Sami Vatanen), Blue Jackets openness to brainstorming should be applied when (fingers crossed) the (pretty much everybody). NHL tries to squeeze in a 2020 post-season and award the Stanley Cup. 5. It should go without saying that health and safety comes first, second Hey, it’s not like the league has a history of keeping its playoff format and third, but in this vacuum, we can see great benefit to being the first unchanged. sport back on-air.

If Wednesday’s Ottawa Senators-Los Angeles Kings tilt was indeed the Junkies will be craving live events, and with people spending more time final game of the 2019-20 regular season, here is how the playoff on the couch, the eyeballs will be ready. brackets would look (according to points percentage, the only fair way considering the differences in games played). The danger, of course, is coming back too soon and having to hit pause again. It’ll be fascinating to see not just when leagues get going again but Eastern Conference how.

Bruins (.714) vs. Islanders (.588) 6. Bettman states the NHL intends to play full 82-game regular season in 2020-21, unless the pandemic continues. Lightning (.657) vs. Maple Leafs (.576) So much has already been invested into this season — some clubs have Capitals (.652) vs. Hurricanes (.596) played 71 games — that personally I’d rather see it through to Flyers (.645) vs. Penguins (.623) completion, even if 2020-21 had to get truncated a bit. At least then everyone would know the stakes going in, like the 2012-13 lockout. Just outside: Blue Jackets (.579), Panthers (.565), Rangers (.564) Not only are these playoff races tight, but some fascinating individual Western Conference stories are in danger of coming to a premature conclusion. The Rocket Blues (.662) vs. Flames (.564) Richard Trophy sprint has three players — David Pastrnak, Alex Ovechkin and Auston Matthews — within a goal of each other. Quinn “I left one at his table before they got back from the road trip,” Atkinson Hughes and Cale Makar are neck-and-neck for the Calder. And Leon told reporters. “As you can imagine, he was like, ‘Who the eff did this?’ I Draisaitl has an outside chance of becoming the first Triple Crown winner said, ‘I did.’ He was laughing.” (goals, assists and points) since Mario Lemieux in 1996. Buy one for yourself here. Were this season to trickle past July 1, things could get complicated. Impending free agents would have to sign off on extending their contracts 11. There is a palpable difference talking to Frederik Andersen when he’s beyond June 30, for example, but Brian Burke has said pushing back on his A-game and when he’s seeing his save percentage slip. free agency is a relatively manageable hurdle. The Leafs goaltender had found his groove before the pause and was More complicated might be maintaining decent ice in warm-weather cities happy to chat after the club’s final practice Wednesday. Andersen said in the heat of July and/or August. he “definitely” performs better with emotion.

7. Albeit not of the game variety, there is still some fresh hockey content “There has to be some sort of like a feeling where you want to leave floating out there. The NHL’s new Men in Blazers on Ice YouTube everything out there,” he explained. “As a goalie, I’m not going to be the interview series is a fun, breezy time-killer enriched by Roger Bennett’s loudest guy in the room. I’m playing a different sport than the other guys, accent. technically.

The best part of Episode 1 is T.J. Oshie breaking down his pre-game “The way I lead is just by playing my heart out.” ritual… And by opening his wallet. When the Leafs toured Florida at the end of …and Matthews flashing back to his four-goal NHL debut highlights February, Andersen grabbed the dinner bill for the whole team in Tampa. Episode 2: “He does stuff like that yearly, and I think it’s something that guys really 8. OK, time for some hockey notes because it feels important familiar. appreciate and that other guys do as well,” Matthews said. “Stuff like that and keeping the group close and doing kind of outings and stuff like that Travis Dermott has had a trying campaign returning from off-season is extremely important, especially at this point in the season.” shoulder surgery. With Jake Gardiner moving on, this was supposed to be the winter the young left-shot with the quick switch and graceful stride Besides the guys with letters on their chest — Matthews, Rielly, Mitch was supposed to soar into the Maple Leafs’ top-four and establish Marner and John Tavares — Toronto’s official leadership group includes himself as an integral cog of the blue line for years to come. Muzzin, Hyman and Andersen.

His trajectory wasn’t so smooth, however, and the way rehab mate Zach Foremost in how a goaltender should lead, according to Keefe, is through Hyman exploded out the gate from his injury return provided quite the consistent preparation, demeanour and performance. That instills a contrast. confidence from the net out.

Yet there was Dermott out protecting the Leafs’ one-goal lead Tuesday in “He’s not a guy that speaks a lot, but he is a guy that when he speaks, the club’s most important regular-season game against Tampa Bay. And he’s got meaningful things to say. You listen. You pay attention to it,” there was Dermott skating a game-high 25:06 that night, his seventh Keefe said. “As a part of our leadership group, when we have our consecutive game with 20 minutes plus. discussions, he’s there and he weighs in on different things that are happening with the team, and you respect his experience and his Being counted on to hold the fort in the pressure cooker that is 6-on-5 is perspective on things.” a role the 23-year-old is still getting accustomed to. 12. When you need a smile, remember how brilliantly trolled Brad “It can definitely be nerve-racking at times,” Dermott said. “You just try to Marchand during the Flyers’ last game played. keep your mind clear of all the nerves and stresses that can be out there. It’s kind of just rely on everything that we’ve been taught.”

Dermott was a dash-4 last season. He now leads all Leafs defenders in Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.15.2020 plus/minus with a positive-14 rating. Recent left-side injuries to Jake Muzzin and Morgan Rielly increased his role by necessity, but his responding well to the pressure has been a boon for the impending RFA’s conviction.

“I’ve never really been that guy that’s been out there last minute, so getting the opportunity to be out there the last couple games here has felt really nice,” Dermott said. “It really gives you that push and that confidence that coaches trust you enough to put you out in the last minute, and you really start believing that you can do it.”

When coach Sheldon Keefe arrived, he said he wanted to see more from Dermott. This week the coach’s tune was more complimentary than challenging.

“He’s stepped up and done a really good job,” Keefe said Wednesday. “He’s earned that through the fact he’s improved his play and his confidence, and a lot of its come through the additional opportunities that we’ve given him.”

9. Quote of the Week goes to Reilly Smith, memorably traded by the Florida Panthers to the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2017 expansion draft:

Zing!

10. This flew way under the radar — for good reason — but we loved Cam Atkinson creating and handing out these TORTS 2020 three- quarter-sleeve T-shirts for all his Blue Jackets teammates.

(Columbus, we remind you, far and away leads the NHL in man-games lost — a staggering 352, not including Brandon Dubinsky — yet was still firmly in the wild-card hunt the day the music died.)

Atkinson gave John Tortorella one of the shirts, too. 1180982 Websites Broadcasting old games isn’t the same, but sports viewers still will want to watch something in place of live events.

NBC will air last year’s Players Championship golf event Sunday after USA TODAY / What do sports TV networks show when there's no sports this weekend’s event was cancelled. That’s a good strategy for big being played? events that dropped off the calendar, said Neal Pilson, the former president of CBS Sports.

For the 2020 Masters event next month, which has been postponed, Brent Schrotenboer Pilson recommends playing last year’s event that was won by Tiger Woods and bringing in the top finishers to comment on it with their

memories and insight during the replay. What does a sports TV network put on TV when there are no live sports “It’d be like a rain delay,” Pilson told USA TODAY Sports. “You put up a anymore? little notice saying this is the 2019 event. Frankly, it might get better The answer for them and other sports networks right now is unclear in ratings than anything else you might want to do.” the long term. They’re all trying to figure it out after games in all major sports were cancelled or postponed to slow the spread of COVID-19. USA TODAY LOADED: 03.15.2020 “We appreciate your patience as we work through modifications for the days ahead,” ESPN vice president Josh Krulewitz said in response to programming inquiries. “Our programming team is hard at work to fill the holes on our networks, and we will provide updates when finalized.”

They’re scrambling just like many other businesses these days. And their attempts to fill the void will test their creativity for an indefinite period.

Unlike other TV networks that can fill their programming lineup with re- runs, movies and non-sports news, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, NBCSN and others rely on games to attract viewers and then fill the rest of their time talking about those games. But now that there are no games, the TV guide on Friday said “To be announced” in some time slots, with replays of old games scheduled in others.

“The problem for sports (networks) is that it’s never been based on a deep bench of previously made content,” said Robert Thompson, professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse. ”Sports has always been about stuff that is really timely, either games that are being played live or discussion about games that are very, very recent or games that are about to come up.”

The short-term solution is to televise re-runs of classic games, plus documentaries and news, if there is news besides the big news of cancelled games.

►ESPN faces a situation that is both more difficult and easier than others. It has more holes to fill on its several channels, but it also has a robust library of 30-for-30 documentaries and historic games that already air regularly on ESPN Classic. ESPN aired its SportsCenter news show and others talk shows Friday in place of the cancelled Southeastern and Atlantic Coast conference basketball tournament games.

ESPN’s sister station, ABC, is airing the 30-for-30 film “I Hate Christian Laettner” to replace Saturday’s cancelled XFL game between Houston and New York. Without live events, SportsCenter also still can discuss NFL topics year-round like it normally does.

►Basketball fans will miss the NCAA basketball tournament on CBS, but CBS won’t have too much of an adjustment to make because it’s not a full-time sports channel. It plans to air its popular sitcom “Young Sheldon” on Thursday night to replace the first-round games, according to the CBS website. That show has been getting around nine million viewers, compared to 6.22 million for last year’s most-viewed first-round game between Duke and North Dakota State.

Asked for comment about its replacement programming, CBS Sports replied with a statement: “We are fully supportive of the NCAA’s decision to cancel this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.”

►FS1 planned to air replays of Big East and Pac-12 games to replace those basketball tournaments that were cancelled this weekend.

►Sports league networks can go into offseason mode, with their own content libraries and talk shows. After the cancellation of Friday’s game between San Jose and St. Louis, the NHL Network replaced it with Game 5 of the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals, when Wayne Gretzky led Edmonton to the championship over Philadelphia.

The bigger question for these networks and regional sports networks beyond that is how much it will affect their revenue. Live sports content brings in huge advertising revenue because it attracts huge audiences watching live instead of recording it to watch later, when they can fast- forward through those advertisements.