SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 3/22/2020 1181362 Half of NBA and NHL coronavirus cases are linked to 1181389 Half of NBA and NHL coronavirus cases are linked to Staples Center. What happened? Staples Center. What happened? 1181363 Second player tests positive for the 1181390 Men’s hockey world championships canceled because of coronavirus coronavirus outbreak 1181364 Men’s hockey world championships canceled because of coronavirus outbreak 1181391 The Devils and the lottery: What 100 simulations say about the 2020 NHL Draft 1181365 Coyotes sign Penn State forward Nate Sucese to 1-year deal 1181392 : Islanders will do what it takes to keep Bruins Mathew Barzal 1181366 Which NHL players will stay in shape? It’s “weight and 1181393 Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello takes part in Q&A session see” with fans 1181367 Bruins owner establishes $1.5 million fund for TD Garden workers affected by coronavirus shutdow 1181368 NHL Sunday Notes: What the playoffs could look like 1181394 Rangers must resist K’Andre Miller, Nils Lundkvist 1181369 Bruins announce $1.5 million fund for part-time gameday temptation workers 1181370 Uncertainty leads Power Rankings in Week 26 Ottawa Senators 1181371 Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask not ruling out retirement once 1181395 A second Ottawa Senators player has been diagnosed contract is up with COVID-19 after return from California 1181372 Bruins-Sharks Simulation: Secondary scoring came up big 1181396 Second Senators player tests positive for COVID-19, with when needed for B's in dominant win more tests pending 1181373 Jacobs family announces $1.5 million fund to help part-time TD Garden employees 1181374 Employees still leery after Bruins finally commit to helping 1181397 What in the world is Gritty up to without Flyers hockey? TD Garden workers 1181398 After seeing 3 NHL lockouts, Chris Therien explains how 2019-20 stoppage is different 1181375 The First Sabre: Joe Daley reflects on life in hockey, business – and playing without a mask 1181399 Yohe: Presenting the Penguins’ regular-season report card Flames 1181400 Penguins’ latest college free agents begin NHL journey in 1181376 COVID-19: Foundation donates $1.15 the weirdest way million to support agencies 1181377 College coach believes Flames signing Connor Mackey has bright future 1181401 San Jose Sharks say no players have been tested, shown symptoms Blackhawks 1181402 Sharks say no players have coronavirus symptoms, been 1181378 Need a pick-me-up during the coronavirus shutdown? tested yet Here are the best — and worst — Chicago athletes and broadc St Louis Blues 1181379 Malcolm Subban, Brendan Perlini made strange kinds of 1181403 Blues add a 5-foot-9 'sparkplug' in prospect from Western Blackhawks history this season Michigan 1181380 What's next for the Blackhawks, Part I: Forwards 1181381 Marian Hossa remembers special 2010 playoff game, which re-airs tonight at 7 1181404 NHLer Drew Doughty funds $10,000 essay contest for 1181382 2020 IIHF World Championship has officially been Canadian high school students canceled 1181405 Matthews' charge to 50, Keefe takes over, Hyman's play 1181383 Hawks Rewind: Game 5 of 2010 Western Conference among Leafs highlights Quarterfinals 1181406 SWEET RIDE: They're clunky and slow, but the 1181384 A 15-point plan for and the Blackhawks’ fascination with the Zamboni lives on offseason 1181407 How is Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon handling the 1181385 Columbus Blue Jackets captain, coach and GM make NHL pause? good use of downtime 1181408 Golden Knights’ juggles ‘toilet paper challenge’ 1181386 View from John Forslund’s bunker: Resumption of NHL to pass time season may be unfeasible 1181409 If NHL eventually resumes season, Golden Knights sit in advantageous spot 1181387 The best and worst Red Wings of the 2019-20 season: Our awards 1181388 Lowetide: Should Oilers prospect Philip Broberg play in North America next year? 1181410 NHL 20 Caps simulation: Lars Eller saves Washington in crazy win Websites 1181411 The Athletic / Second Senators player tests positive for COVID-19, with more tests pending 1181412 .ca / Quick Shifts: Will free agents who signed early make more money? 1181413 Sportsnet.ca / Islanders' Lamoriello on Barzal's future, why he likes small jersey numbers 1181414 Sportsnet.ca / Assessing which NHL defencemen have the best transition game 1181415 Sportsnet.ca / NHL Rewind: How McDavid sparked the Oilers past the Sharks in 2017 1181416 USA TODAY / Second Ottawa Senators player tests positive for coronavirus 1181417 CNN/Sports Illustrated / NHL Seattle Weighing Name Reveal, Ticket Plans Amid Coronavirus Pandemic World Leagues News 1181418 Half of NBA and NHL coronavirus cases are linked to Staples Center. What happened? 1181419 Premier League could resume before virus restrictions are lifted – Southampton chief 1181420 New Coronavirus Test Could Help Sports Leagues Resume Play Sooner 1181421 Coronavirus in : Need a dose of good news? Sports world rising up to help those with greatest need 1181422 Roger Goodell, NFL happily cashing in on the coronavirus pandemic 1181423 USA Track and Field call for Olympics delay 1181424 Coronavirus Compounds Financial Concerns in Women’s Sports

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1181362 Anaheim Ducks Enhanced cleaning procedures followed. Eighty-five additional staffers were brought in for postgame cleaning. Areas that visitors or staff touch were cleaned regularly: ATMs, doorknobs, elevator buttons, escalator Half of NBA and NHL coronavirus cases are linked to Staples Center. rails, food service areas, point-of-sale terminals, restrooms. Even What happened? telephones in the luxury suites. The arena purchased disinfectant products and new equipment to minimize the spread of germs in its five Staples Center seats more than 18,000 for hockey and 19,000 for locker rooms, 48 restrooms and slew of other private and public areas. basketball, with multiple locker rooms for the Lakers, Clippers, Kings and opponents. Wild Card Round - Minnesota Vikings v New Orleans Saints

SPORTS

NATHAN FENNOSTAFF WRITER Coronavirus tracker: Athletes and sports figures who have tested positive

MARCH 21, 20208 PM The Clippers eliminated a tradition where players slapped hands with fans while running onto the court before tipoff.

Though the NBA had circulated at least two additional memos related to The NBA’s reach extends across the globe, broadcasting to more than COVID-19 precautions — including one March 7 instructing teams to 200 countries and territories while generating almost $9 billion in annual identify a site that could test for the virus and to distribute hand sanitizer revenue. Its top players are the most powerful in sports, able to reach to all players and staff — the looming crisis remained fodder for some tens of millions and spark change with a single social media post. The kidding around. behemoth’s reach and influence across cultures and time zones is built on a massive sum of interconnected parts. During the game against the Clippers, Lakers star Anthony Davis appeared to lick his hand and high-five teammates LeBron James and It is a fragile behemoth too, those same woven connections vulnerable to Avery Bradley. Teammates jokingly dubbed them “The Corona Boys.” the chain reactions upon which a pandemic preys. Davis insisted he hadn’t licked his hand.

However, a pandemic didn’t seem to be on the minds of players as “I kind of like mimicked it and it was like this whole thing,” Davis said. “I’m recently as the first week of March, when the insouciance of the NBA cleaner than that.” mirrored that of sports at large and the rest of the country. Several Senators hockey players attended the game, reportedly in a The games went on, with the usual casual human contact: hugs, high- suite, as the Lakers defeated the Clippers in what looked like a preview fives, news conferences in cramped locker rooms, charter flights, hotel of the Western Conference finals. stays. Life went on, with grocery shelves still filled with cans of beans, bags of pasta, toilet paper. The spread of the novel coronavirus, which :: had reached the front pages, nonetheless still felt like someone else’s Two days later, on March 10, fans squeezed through the doors at problem. Staples Center before the Lakers played the Nets. Even though the first Behind the scenes, though, tension mounted. The league issued a series L.A. County death from COVID-19 had been announced earlier in the of increasingly alarming memorandums. Limit interactions with fans. afternoon, everything at the arena appeared normal. Some fans stopped Increase reminders to fans to wash their hands. Use fist-bumps instead at hand-sanitizing stations. Others didn’t. of high-fives. Prepare to play games with only essential personnel Though 20 cases of the virus had been diagnosed in the county, fans present. shrugged off talk about playing games without spectators.

Staples Center, home to the Lakers and Clippers and the NHL’s Kings, “It’s been blown out of proportion,” one said of the virus. ramped up cleaning procedures as part of a wide-ranging plan. The hub of sports and entertainment in Los Angeles hosted 39 events after the Local reporters embraced DeAndre Jordan, a former Clipper now with first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the county, including the the Nets, and Jared Dudley of the Lakers on the court before the game. memorial service for Kobe Bryant, the Grammy Awards, two nights of bull riding, 12 Kings games, and 19 games involving the Lakers or Clippers. But there were hints that all wasn’t right.

The final three games came during four days, ending March 11 when Staples Center added attendants in each restroom to continually disinfect sports at every level lurched to a stop because the rampant spread of the surfaces. virus had reached NBA locker rooms. Lakers forward LeBron James drives against the Nets on March 10, At least eight athletes who played in those games have been diagnosed 2020, during both teams’ final game before suspension of play in the with COVID-19: four Brooklyn Nets, including sidelined star Kevin Durant, NBA. two Lakers who haven’t been identified and two members of the NHL’s The NBA, along with Major League Baseball, the NHL and Major League Ottawa Senators. Identifying the source and site of the infection is Soccer, had limited locker room access to essential personnel and impossible, but the Lakers’ schedule during that final week put them mandated that interviews be conducted with six feet between media within four degrees of separation of every NBA team. The crossover members and players. What qualified as “essential” remained broad: between leagues — 11 arenas are home to both NBA and NHL teams — executives, equipment staffers, media relations staffers, support staffers. the densely loaded schedules, the proximity to closely packed stands, combined with an easily spread virus, created a new label for athletes: Jacque Vaughn, the Nets coach, told reporters he wasn’t worried about super spreaders. COVID-19.

Amid the tumult of sports at every level shutting down, followed by much For pregame and postgame Lakers news conferences, dozens of of the country, Staples Center is a common denominator among eight of reporters crammed into the locker room used by visiting hockey teams. the 16 cases of COVID-19 announced by NBA and NHL teams. The Senators would use the room a day later. Black curtains covered the lockers. About 30 chairs in the room for media members were so close This is the story of the last four days inside Staples Center. together that they touched. Some journalists stood next to walls. But :: Lakers coach Frank Vogel and players maintained a six-foot distance from media members. By the time the Lakers faced the Clippers on March 8, a Sunday, the NBA had already circulated a memo to arena general managers After a two-point loss to the Nets, Lakers player Danny Green was asked encouraging them to assemble a COVID-19 working group, increase if he had changed anything to deal with the virus. reminders to fans about personal hygiene and suggesting a range of “Some guys have, some guys haven’t,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter measures to ensure the cleanliness of their buildings like sanitizing cash to me. I haven’t. I still sign autographs. I still fist bump, shake hands, say registers and door handles. ‘what’s up.’ Extra sanitizer, but that’s not a focus right now. Just continue Staples Center, which hosts about 250 events each year and has up to to focus on playing basketball. Just have to adjust to whatever comes.” 1,700 part-time employees at games, installed 120 hand-sanitizing :: stations throughout the arena, including locker rooms, on March 1. The next day, March 11, the World Health Organization declared the While much of the country stays home to try to halt the spread of COVID- virus to be a pandemic. 19 — beleaguered by lost jobs, destroyed routines and pervasive uncertainty — the games feel like a hazy memory. But the question, one The NCAA announced March Madness games would be played without among many, still lingers around the final four days at Staples Center. fans. Several professional teams, including the Golden State Warriors, With so many precautions, how did this happen? did the same. That might never be known. The virus could have been transmitted just President Trump addressed the nation and limited travel with Europe. as easily in a team bus or charter flight or another arena or a thousand How the coronavirus is affecting sports leagues and events other places. The people involved will have to ponder the question in the same place as most everyone else. Home. Meanwhile, the Kings and Senators prepared to play hockey at Staples Center. About an hour before the scheduled start, the NBA announced it Staff writers Helene Elliott, Tania Ganguli, Andrew Greif, Jack Harris, would suspend its season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested Broderick Turner and Dan Woike contributed to this report. positive for COVID-19 before the team’s game in Oklahoma City. LA Times: LOADED: 03.22.2020 “I think people are taking enough precautions, and I am myself too, so I’m not particularly concerned,” one fan said.

A member of the Kings front office surveyed the tiny crowd — just 12,030 fans showed up, by far the smallest of the season — and wondered where everyone was.

The Kings, in keeping with new regulations to keep media members out of locker rooms, held their postgame news conference in the locker room the Nets used the previous night. The main concern was whether the NHL season would continue — the league suspended play the next day — not whether players or staffers were infected with COVID-19.

“The night felt strange,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

::

Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Jazz and Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons were the only NBA players who had tested positive for COVID-19 before the announcement last Tuesday that shook the league.

Four members of the Nets had tested positive. Durant, the 10-time All- Star who is out for the season while rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, was the only player to confirm he had it.

“Public health authorities and team doctors have been concerned that, given NBA players’ direct contact with each other and close interactions with the general public, in addition to their frequent travel, they could accelerate the spread of the virus,” an NBA spokesman said in response to questions about why players received tests when they are in short supply across the country.

The same day, the Senators announced an unidentified player had also tested positive, the first to do so in the NHL.

However, the Senators and Nets had not used the same spaces at Staples Center and took different routes to the arena floor. The only time their footsteps would have been the same is the walk from the team bus through the marshaling area and to the corridor where the locker rooms are located.

There wasn’t any “cross-pollination” between the Senators and Nets at Staples Center, according to Lee Zeidman, president of the arena, the Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live, because they didn’t use the same facilities.

On Wednesday morning, 14 Lakers players were tested for COVID-19 at the team’s facility in El Segundo. Team physicians and public health officials recommended the move after the positive tests by the Nets. A season aimed at a championship had degenerated into a 10-second procedure where a large swab was inserted up noses and twisted around.

The two positive results were announced the next day. Neither player has been identified, but the Lakers said both are asymptomatic and quarantined.

The stream of results continued Saturday when a second Senators player tested positive. Of the 52 players and staff who joined the team’s California trip that included stops in San Jose and Anaheim, eight have been tested. More results are pending. Last week, the team directed all members of the traveling party to self-quarantine.

No members of the Kings or Clippers have tested positive for COVID-19. But the eight positive tests by athletes with recent games at Staples Center are a tiny piece of the mushrooming public health crisis that has grown to more than 26,000 cases and 260 deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. 1181363 Anaheim Ducks

Second Ottawa Senators player tests positive for the coronavirus

HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST

MARCH 21, 202012:09 PM

A second player on the Ottawa Senators has tested positive for COVID- 19, the team announced on Saturday, making him the second known positive result among NHL players. As with the first player, whose positive result and “mild” symptoms were disclosed by the club late Tuesday, the Senators did not identify the player in question.

The Senators played the Sharks in San Jose on March 7, the Ducks in Anaheim on March 10, and the Kings at Staples Center on March 11 before NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman put the league’s season on hold in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The Senators then returned home to Canada’s capital.

The Senators’ statement said the player who most recently tested positive was part of the team’s traveling party for those games in California.

“The total number of people that travelled with the club is 52, including players, staff, media, guests and flight crew. Of those on the trip, 44 have shown no symptoms, eight people have been tested, and two positive results were received,” the statement said. “We are awaiting the results from tests that took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.“Everyone who took part in the Ottawa Senators trip to California was instructed to self-quarantine on Friday, March 13th and remain so. The Ottawa Senators’ medical team is actively monitoring players and staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater community.

“To be fully transparent with our fans and stakeholders, we will continue to provide periodic updates as appropriate, while maintaining the privacy of the individuals impacted.”

No other NHL players are known to have tested positive, though NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said earlier this week that some test results were pending.

NHL players have been instructed to self-quarantine at least through March 27. Players have not been allowed to work out at team facilities, though injured players have been permitted to receive treatment at those facilities.

LA Times: LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181364 Anaheim Ducks

Men’s hockey world championships canceled because of coronavirus outbreak

HELENE ELLIOTT

MARCH 21, 202011:45 AM

The 2020 men’s world hockey championships have been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Federation announced Saturday.

The tournament was to have taken place in the Swiss cities of Zurich and Lausanne starting May 8 and running through May 24. The women’s championships, which were to have been held in Canada starting March 31, were canceled two weeks ago.

“This is a harsh reality to face for the international ice hockey family, but one that we must accept,” Rene Fasel, the IIHF’s president, said in a statement released Saturday. “The coronavirus is a global problem and requires major efforts by government bodies to combat its spread. The IIHF must do all it can to support this fight. We have to set sport aside for now and support both the government bodies and the ice hockey family.”

The statement also said there were “obviously no possibilities to relocate” the event this year.

LA Times: LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181365 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes sign Penn State forward Nate Sucese to 1-year deal

MATT LAYMAN

MARCH 20, 2020 AT 9:57 AM

The Coyotes signed an amateur forward for the second day in a row on Friday, adding Penn State’s all-time leading goal scorer Nate Sucese.

The deal is a one-year entry-level contract for the 23-year-old, who had 61 goals in 147 career games over four years with the Nittany Lions. He had 140 points in that time, almost a point-per-game pace.

Penn State lists him at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds.

He previously played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.

On Thursday, the Coyotes announced the signing of Ryan McGregor, a forward from the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. He was signed to a three-year entry-level contract.

Both the NCAA hockey season and OHL season are canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, meaning the Coyotes weren’t waiting on the two players to finish their seasons anymore.

The entry-level deals are different lengths partly because of the players’ respective ages. The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) stipulates that players 24 and older can only sign ELCs of one year in length. A player’s contract age is determined by their age on Sept. 15 on the calendar year in which they sign the deal. Sucese will turn 24 in July.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181366 are very few guys on each team that aren’t dealing with some kind of ache or pain. Having what amounts to a second All-Star break isn’t going to hurt anybody.”

Which NHL players will stay in shape? It’s “weight and see” In the second week, he recommends a return to weight training. Boyle said most players should try to keep their on-ice skills as sharp as possible, given the unknown time frame. Matt Porter “There shouldn’t be as big a de-training effect after one week, but the March 21, 2020, 5:26 p.m. longer you go without, it becomes an issue,” Boyle said. “It’s hard to mimic the stress of a game in any sport. Going back to meaningful

games will be a difficult situation to put players in. It’s not an easy thing to Zdeno Chara was sweating away his 43rd birthday Wednesday morning do. It’s hard to stay in game shape without games.” on his stationary bike at home. Fellow Bruins defenseman John Moore The muscles most at risk during a layoff are the groin adductors and hip was doing pushups with his two young daughters on his back. flexors. Boyle recommends players jump on a slide board, a plastic sheet Elsewhere on social media, star Colorado winger Mikko Rantanen was with stoppers at each end, on which players can mimic a skating stride doing Bulgarian split squats — flexing his forward leg in a deep bend, by wearing soft boots and going back and forth. trailing leg resting on a chair — while holding two armfuls of his mud- Charlie McAvoy, the Bruins’ ice time leader, averages a little more than bellied Labrador. Vegas defenseman Deryk Engelland was bench- 28 shifts per game, lasting 50 seconds each. A slide board or sprint track pressing his son. Sergei Bobrovsky, the Panthers’ $10 million goalie, was doesn’t replicate that kind of full-body stress and mental processing of using his hands to catch tennis balls from an auto-serve machine. playing defense against superstars. In this new work-from-home environment, NHL players were doing what Athletes live for challenges. Staying performance-ready in these times is they could to stay active. Spending quality time with kids, pets, and as unique a challenge as any have faced. spouses was a goal — “We’re getting to know each other,” one NHL coach texted, jokingly alluding to the catch-up many in the sport were LOOKING AHEAD playing with their loved ones — but players were trying to get a sweat in however they could. Rask ponders his future

A TSN report this past week indicated players were discussing the idea I was there in Carolina on Dec. 23, 2018, when an unfocused bunch of of a training camp that begins in early July, with the end of the 2019-20 Bruins gave the Hurricanes a sackful of early Christmas presents. In that season later that month, followed by playoffs in August and September, a 5-3 loss, few Bruins were more generous than Tuukka Rask, whose shortened offseason, draft and free agency in October, and the beginning lackadaisical puck play gifted Sebastian Aho a shorthanded goal. of a full 82-game schedule in November. Afterward, ripped his starter for not fulfilling that part of the It looks like wishful thinking. No one knows how successful the United job. Down the hall, Rask muttered his displeasure with his coach’s States and Canada’s efforts to contain COVID-19 will be, or whether analysis. there will be a second wave of infection. Once the league returns, a I thought of that game several times this season when watching Rask positive test could send everyone back to isolation. play dump-ins and rims. He charged out, stopped the puck, and moved it. So players are essentially beginning their offseasons now. Quick, clean, decisive.

Though NHL team facilities are closed — and, increasingly, public and The most improved area of Rask’s game this season (26-8-6) has been private gyms with them — the average pro has some kind of basic setup his puck play. It has gone from shaky to solid, and is one of the reasons at home. Weightlifting and cardio intervals, the hallmarks of hockey he is a Vezina Trophy favorite. Rask himself said he changed nothing training, are possible under quarantine conditions even without access to over the summer. a home with a Peloton and squat rack. “I think it’s mostly our D getting to spots and getting open,” he said late “Whatever you’ve got,” said Mike Boyle of Mike Boyle Strength & last month, in a one-on-one conversation in the Conditioning. “If you can’t get outside and ride, or run, or row, run in dressing room. He said his rotation with Jaroslav Halak, which has kept place. A set of 100 bodyweight squats is better than nothing. We started him fresh, was more of a factor. posting workouts that you can do with one dumbbell or one kettlebell. I’ve “That’s pretty much it, yeah,” said Rask, who logged 41 starts before the seen guys doing workouts with cement blocks and a 2-by-4.” NHL paused. That was tied for 15th-most in the league. “I have the Most pros won’t have to be that creative. The dog-and-kid workouts are energy to go stop it more times and go move it quick. That’s it.” mainly for social media entertainment. They typically have the space Rask, who missed three games because of a concussion after a Jan. 14 (and disposable income) to supply a home studio fit for strength and skill knock from Columbus’s Emil Bemstrom, was feeling fresh. work. Those who don’t will have unique stories to tell. Once the NHL returns, it will be clear who had the will to attack this sudden offseason “It’s been kind of like last year,” he said, “which worked out for us.” aggressively. When I asked Rask his expectation for his future workload, the “Most of these guys are well versed enough to train on their own,” said conversation shifted. Boyle, who was hired as the Bruins’ first strength coach in 1990 amid a long run at Boston University. “The bad thing is some need to be pushed “I have one year left in the contract, so we’ll see if I even play,” he into doing it.” replied.

Most players take off the first week of the traditional offseason, with some Is that a real possibility? light cardio and stretching (if they’re doing anything at all). In the weeks “We’ll see,” he said. “Always a possibility.” after, they ramp up their weight training and on-ice sessions. Some players don’t skate much in the offseason, save for a few late-summer Rask’s eight-year, $56 million contract expires after the 2020-21 season. tuneups before training camp. It’s unclear how much the Bruins will be willing to commit to Halak, a pending unrestricted free agent. Halak’s age (35 in May) means his Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask is one exception. After playing 70 games last salary and bonuses will count against the cap. The Bruins are likely to let year, between the regular season and playoffs, he didn’t strap on the youngsters Dan Vladar, Jeremy Swayman, and Kyle Keyser vie for the pads until he returned to Brighton for camp. Rask, leading the league in Providence net this fall. They may have a great need to sign Rask, who goals-against average (2.12) and second in save percentage (.929) and would be 34 in the fall of ‘21, to another deal. shutouts (5), is one of several veteran Bruins who will benefit from a break. If Rask doesn't want one, would he return to play in his native Finland?

“I don’t think a week off at this time of the year is necessarily a bad thing “No. No, I wouldn’t,” he said. for these guys,” Boyle said. “Most of these guys are pretty beat up by Just be done with his career? game 70, or wherever their team is [in the season]. I would imagine there “Yeah. Family time.” Among the bigger over-35 names who are UFA (according to CapFriendly) and might not get another deal: Anaheim goalie Ryan Rask’s two young daughters are in school here. He and his wife, Miller, Ottawa defenseman Ron Hainsey and goalie Craig Anderson, Jasmiina, are expecting another. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard and defenseman Trevor Daley, Nashville “Just be home,” he said. “The wear and tear of the travel with two, almost defenseman Dan Hamhuis, and Toronto center Jason Spezza. three kids now, makes you think. I love to do it. But it’s tough.” Jay Bouwmeester, whose season was cut short Feb. 11 by a cardiac Rask, who makes his home in the suburbs, is likely finding time to crash episode, was undecided on his future after that. Saying he didn’t have around on that Metallica-themed drum set his teammates got him for another full 82 in him, former Carolina captain Justin Williams took the playing his 500th game. As of late February, he had used it “a couple” of first half off, and returned to the team Jan. 19. times. Hopefully the break will help these players heal, return, and have a “It’s in my basement,” he said. “It’s not soundproof. But quiet enough. At satisfying ride into the sunset. The hockey world can use all the positive least I don’t bug the neighbors. I try to play if they’re in school. I don’t stories it can get. want to [tick]anyone off. Just whatever, bang away.” The Bruins' Stan Jonathan watches the puck slide past Canadiens Maybe he’ll have a second act in a heavy metal band. Ken Dryden in Game 6 of the semifinals on May 8, 1979. “No. Not a chance,” he said, smiling. “Well, there’s always a chance.” The Bruins' Stan Jonathan watches the puck slide past Canadiens ETC. goaltender Ken Dryden in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals on May 8, 1979.JOHN BLANDING/ Chara’s colleagues are ones for the ages GLOBE STAFF Loose pucks Zdeno Chara didn’t win many footraces this year, and his offense was drying up when his 22nd season went on hiatus. Chara is private about While a handful of NBA players — including Celtics guard Marcus Smart his health, but those close to him said his recovery from last June’s — had revealed their positive tests for COVID-19, two NHL players — broken jaw made it a rough offseason. both unnamed Ottawa Senators — had tested positive as of Saturday morning. The Senators’ last two opponents before the pause, the Kings But his leadership remains an invaluable tone-setter for his franchise. His and Ducks, said none of their players have shown symptoms. The reach, strength, and smarts make him a fantastic killer and solid Ducks, whose roster includes ex-Bruins Danton Heinen and David defender. He was averaging a team-high 3:11 on the penalty kill, tied for Backes, said their players are quarantined at home. The Bruins’ 11th in the league, and the Bruins had the third-most effective PK. communications staff did not respond to multiple messages this past Chara, who turned 43 on Wednesday, plays plenty of even-strength week asking if any players, coaches, management, or staff had been minutes, too. He ranked in the 91st percentile of all skaters in non-special tested … The virus has wreaked havoc in the pro game, particularly with teams TOI. Astonishing for someone his age, but Chara is a unique force ECHL players who don’t make enough playing the game to live nearly as in this game. comfortable as their AHL and NHL peers. On the amateur side, it ended the championship dreams of thousands of scholastic hockey players, It’s hard to see him going out like this. including high school seniors and collegians who may not get another . Cornell University had one of the tougher breaks. Both its men’s But with the Great Pause here, it’s an open question if many proud vets, and women’s hockey programs were ranked No. 1 in their respective including Chara, will return. polls — with a combined 56-4-7 record — when the NCAA canceled all If the captain comes back, he will be the 11th player in league history to winter and spring sports championships. The women, whose season was wear an NHL sweater after turning 43. cut short in the NCAA quarterfinals, had never finished the regular season with a No. 1 ranking. The men, 23-2-4 entering their conference Teemu Selanne (2014), (2011), Claude Lemieux (2009), tournament, haven’t been a national powerhouse since Ken Dryden was , and Mark Messier (2004) played their last seasons at 43. in net a half-century ago. The NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to Doug Harvey (1969) and Tim Horton (1974) made it to 44. Jaromir Jagr athletes in spring sports, since their entire season was canceled. It is not (2017) was 45 when he finished up with Calgary. Chris Chelios hung on likely to do the same for winter … Surprised to see Canadiens prospect until 2010, when he was two-plus months past his 48th birthday. Then Cole Caulfield stay in school (Wisconsin) after the 19-year-old led the Big there’s Gordie Howe, who was well into middle age when he returned for Ten in goals (19) and was second in points (36) as a freshman. Much a final NHL season (after playing most of his 40s in the WHA). He relief for the Badgers, who finished 14-20-2 and last in the conference, clocked out at 52 years, 11 days, after a Whalers playoff loss to the and lost two underclassman stars to the pros: 6-foot-5-inch left-shot Canadiens on April 11, 1980. defenseman K’Andre Miller (Rangers) and center Alex Turcotte (Kings) … In my early 20s during the 2004-05 lockout, I devoured NHL 2K5 on a After the NHL absorbed his Whalers, Howe returned to Playstation 2. That, and street hockey in the driveway, was all that got on Nov. 18, 1979. Nearly 33 years before, Howe scored his first goal in me through. There was no YouTube. Today’s fans have it easier. Good the hallowed hall. He beat Frank Brimsek. A month prior, Enos Slaughter on the NHL, which along with the other major pro leagues made a heap slid into home with the winning run that beat the Red Sox in the 1946 of its games and content available for free. A February game between World Series. Howe had last played in the Garden in 1971, before the the waddling Ducks and woeful Red Wings never looked so appealing … NHL had expanded to become a “21-team bowl of watered-down chicken Now, please, go wash your hands and FaceTime your loved ones. soup,” wrote Ray Fitzgerald in the Globe, “with players who a generation ago would have had a hard time making it in the American Hockey Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league League.” Against the Bruins that night, Howe was, “in truth, not a factor,” and team sources was used in this report. wrote Fitzgerald, but it was remarkable and nostalgic to see him out there. Boston Globe LOADED: 03.22.2020

Joe Thornton made it clear he has not played his last game. Asked by TSN via text about playing next season, Thornton replied, “I have years to go!” Thornton, 40, had a 7-24—31 line in 70 games this season.

It seems unlikely his former San Jose running mate, Patrick Marleau, would give up his chase of Howe’s all-time NHL games record (1,767). The 40-year-old Marleau, flipped to Pittsburgh at the deadline, is 45 games shy of setting a new mark.

Would not expect similar from a few other unrestricted free agent veterans. A month before the pause, people close to 37-year-old Mikko Koivu believed this would be his last year. Despite a tough season that saw him skating on the fourth line and demoted from power-play duty, the Wild’s first captain stayed put at the deadline, rather than chase the Cup elsewhere. 1181367 Boston Bruins $3.3 billion in annual revenue, according to Forbes, and services more than 200 locations worldwide, including stadiums, ballparks, arenas, airports, casinos, national parks, and resorts.

Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs establishes $1.5 million fund for TD Garden Meanwhile, a GoFundMe started by fans named Gunnar and Lola Larson workers affected by coronavirus shutdown had raised $40,150 by the time the Bruins made their statement. The According to a statement, however, the employees will only get the funds donations included $1,000 kick-ins under the names David Krejci, Charlie if the six remaining games at the Garden are not played. McAvoy, Tuukka Rask, Joakim Nordstrom, David Pastrnak, and Katrina Marchand, Brad’s wife.

Saturday’s statement from the Jacobses made no mention of what would Matt Porter happen if the postseason was canceled.

March 21, 2020, 9:04 a.m. It also said nothing about arena workers affected by the suspension of the NBA season, which includes nine remaining Celtics games at TD

Garden. The Celtics, who are tenants at TD Garden, said they would pay Ten days after the NHL went silent, Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs and his their game-night employees — a smaller collection of staffers for the family spoke up. locker room and bench, scoring table, media room, and performers — for the final nine home games. They established a $1.5 million fund for part-time game-day employees affected by the NHL’s stoppage amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As management went silent this past week, concessionaires and other game-night staff privately expressed their worry. Saturday morning, they pledged to help those who “will be financially burdened if the six remaining regular-season Bruins games are not “Haven’t heard,” one longtime per-shift employee told the Globe on played," according to a statement. Friday. “Haven’t expected anything. Only one NHL team. You'd think from a PR standpoint alone, once people started falling in line … That apparently means help will only be available if the NHL decides to cancel the rest of the regular season. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman "I can’t believe how this has played out.” announced March 12 the league was pausing play, not canceling games. Boston Globe LOADED: 03.22.2020 Given a range of factors including the severity of the outbreak and the strict guidelines against large gatherings, it could be months before the NHL resumes play.

In an e-mail to the Globe, Bruins vice president of marketing and communications Matt Chmura said ownership was “communicating to the relevant Union leadership, and individual associates will receive communication if Bruins games are officially canceled.”

“I think this statement actually makes it worse,” said one frustrated TD Garden employee, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid blowback from his bosses. “I expect nothing.”

The Bruins, first in the NHL standings when the league froze, have been anything but a leader in these troubled times.

They were the last NHL team to inform their hourly workers about a compensation plan, and one of the only teams that have not said it will pay workers during the NHL’s pause.

In the days following Bettman’s announcement, nearly all franchises had made more generous commitments. Less than 24 hours after the pause began, the ownership of the Ducks, Blackhawks, Devils, Flyers, Sharks, Lightning, and Capitals said they would compensate employees scheduled to work suspended events. Nearly all other teams — some with help from players and other charitable funds — followed by the end of the week.

"We thank our associates for their patience and understanding while we worked through the complexity of this unprecedented situation,” the Bruins 55-word statement on Saturday read.

The Jacobses made a similar move to that of Sabres owner , who pledged to pay employees for canceled events.

The TD Garden employee said he and his colleagues were sent a message Friday, informing them that because of the pandemic’s wide- ranging impact on the company, they would be off work indefinitely, and should seek unemployment if necessary.

On Thursday, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey made public pleas for the Jacobses to lend a hand.

“These workers, they’re going to be hurting,” Healey told Boston.com in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. “They’re going to have trouble paying rent, buying groceries, and all sorts of things. , the Jacobs family, they need to step up here like other NHL teams have, like other owners have, and just find a way to get workers some relief.”

Jacobs, the chairman of Delaware North, has a net worth of $3.2 billion, according to Forbes. He has owned the Bruins since 1975. It is the fifth- richest team in the NHL, valued at $1 billion. The centerpiece of Jacobs’s holdings is TD Garden, in operation since 1995.

Delaware North, one of the world’s largest food service and hospitality companies, is one of the largest private companies in America. It takes in 1181368 Boston Bruins “There is an outside date beyond which nothing makes sense for anybody to save this season, either ours or the NBAs,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said on Sirius XM this week. “But in the final NHL Sunday Notes: What the playoffs could look like analysis, when it’s clear where we are and what the timing is, we can make a decision.” What the playoffs might look like If the pause goes on several more months and the NHL is still insistent on awarding the Stanley Cup, maybe they cut down on teams to eight or four in the postseason overall. That feels like an extreme case, though. MARISA INGEMI Perhaps through the power of the President’s Trophy, the Bruins are just March 21, 2020 at 6:15 p.m. named champions of the season.

All rather anti-climatic, and unlikely.

The NHL season is on pause. If the schedule permits with arenas, and it’s safe for people to go about by June, perhaps the NHL postseason can be saved. When — and if — it comes back, no one knows. Until then, everything about the remainder of the season is speculation. Then comes the rest of the NHL calendar.

But since we all have a lot of time on our hands, let’s speculate. The scouting combine in Buffalo was scheduled for June 1-6, the awards in Las Vegas for mid-June, and the draft in Montreal beginning on June It’s becoming tougher to believe the regular season will resume, with 26. teams playing between 11-15 games before the postseason. That would be unfortunate for several key playoff races, but any postseason is better Common sense says none of those will happen on time, at least on- than none at all. location, for the draft, especially if there’s hockey being played or about to be played. It’s just the NHL’s luck to be dealing with a situation similar to that of 100 years ago, when the end of the season was canceled in 1919 due to the So those events and dates could begin bleeding into the start of next Spanish Flu, ending the Stanley Cup Final prematurely and with no season, something the league has said they don’t want to be champion. Ironically this was also the last time Seattle was in the news in compromised. The plan is to start next season in October as scheduled, the NHL. The Stanley Cup Final that year? The Seattle Metropolitans but it would be a shortened offseason for all involved. against the . Again, all fun and speculation. But what else are we supposed to do right It’s been floated there could be a 24-team tournament with teams in the now? playoff race, but that’s complicated, and if the quarantines go on any Boston Herald LOADED: 03.22.2020 longer than a month — which appears likely — it becomes harder to cram in more games than normal.

So, let’s assume a regular postseason, skipping right to the conference quarterfinals, with typical eight-team brackets in each conference. What would that look like in say, early June (continuing to be optimistic)?

Going off the standings at the time of the pause, among the unfortunate are the , tied for the last wild card spot in the West but with one less regulation win; the Wild, just a point out of a spot; the Islanders, a single point out of a wild card spot in the East; and the Rangers, trailing the wild card by two points, with the Panthers a point behind them.

With that out of the way, the first round would look like this upon resuming:

Wild Card 2 Columbus at Atlantic 1 Boston

WC 1 Carolina at Metropolitan 1 Washington

A3 Toronto at A2 Tampa Bay

M3 Pittsburgh at M2 Philadelphia

WC 2 Nashville at Central 1 St. Louis

WC 1 Winnipeg at Pacific 1 Vegas

C3 Dallas at C2 Colorado

P3 Calgary at C2 Edmonton

That looks like a fun start to the postseason, if it ever happens.

There are some road blocks before that can happen, though, which gives us pause.

First, arena time. The NHL has asked arenas to identify open arena time through July. Typically, the playoffs end in June, with the last day of the Stanley Cup Final scheduled for June 13 of this year. Obviously, if there’s a postseason, it’ll run later than that.

With everything else postponed or canceled throughout society at the moment, finding empty arena time shouldn’t be too difficult if the NHL resumes, since other acts or events would also need to move dates. The NBA is the main complication there, but those postseasons run concurrently anyway, and are typically taken into consideration.

If the NBA were to also skip to the postseason, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Colorado and Dallas share their arenas. 1181369 Boston Bruins

Bruins announce $1.5 million fund for part-time gameday workers

MARISA INGEMI

March 21, 2020 at 6:01 p.m.

The Boston Bruins announced Saturday the creation of a fund for part- time gameday employees unable to work due to coronavirus concerns postponing the remainder of the NHL season.

“The Jacobs Family has established a $1.5 million fund for the Boston Bruins and TD Garden part-time gameday associates who will be financially burdened if the six remaining regular season Bruins games are not played,” the statement said.

“We thank our associates for their patience and understanding while we worked through the complexity of this unprecedented situation.”

Saturday’s statement came three days after the Herald highlighted the plight of several part-time employees, and two days after Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey spoke with the Herald and urged TD Garden and Bruins ownership to act on behalf of its workers.

The Bruins were the last of 31 NHL teams to release a statement on the matter.

The release did not, however, include a payment plan or timeline for when employees will be paid, saying only it is contingent on the final six games of the NHL regular season being officially canceled.

“A co-worker sent me a screenshot of the social media post of their statement,” one employee told the Herald on Saturday. “They haven’t contacted us at all.”

The Bruins confirmed that the workers had not been contacted directly. A team spokesperson told the Herald, “The TD Garden is communicating to the relevant union leadership, and individual associates will receive communication if Bruins games are officially cancelled.”

TD Garden workers are concerned with the timeline, because it might take weeks for the NHL to announce if those six remaining games will be canceled.

“I just am so embarrassed about this because I didn’t even find out from (food service employer Delaware North), I found out through a text group from work,” said another TD Garden employee. “Most of us work at TD Garden full time, which means every concert, every Celtics game, and every Bruins game, and it’s embarrassing that we might get paid for only six events if and only if they get canceled.”

Delaware North employees in other cities are also unsure of how or if they will be compensated. In Detroit, the Red Wings and Pistons pledged to pay their employees, but the language left out Delaware North food and beverage workers at Little Caesars Arena, where the teams play.

One employee at Little Caesars Arena said they were sent a note on Friday about how to apply for unemployment.

The Buffalo Sabres had previously released a similar statement, indicating they would pay employees upon cancellation of the season. On Friday, the Sabres’ parent company laid off all arena staff.

TD Garden workers continued to express similar fear of being laid off.

“I guess we will continue to wait with our pennies for unemployment,” one Garden employee said.

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181370 Boston Bruins 22. Columbus Blue Jackets: What if hockey comes back and they get a bunch of injured guys back? Might the Blue Jackets become a dangerous team?

Uncertainty leads Power Rankings in Week 26 23. Arizona Coyotes: An example of a team that just didn’t work out in the end.

MARISA INGEMI 24. Montreal Canadiens: This season fell apart for them in December, and it was one to forget. Luckily for them, people likely will now. March 21, 2020 at 5:45 a.m. 25. Los Angeles Kings: Weirdly had started to play really well? They were arguably the hottest team in the league when everything stopped.

No one knows if there will be hockey again this season, and if there is, 26. Buffalo Sabres: There are almost zero positives to take out of this it’s seeming more and more likely it’ll just be the postseason. That leaves season other than Jack Eichel is really good, but he’s too good for them. us with what is possibly the last NHL power rankings of the season, where teams are where they were left off last Thursday night when 27. San Jose Sharks: The best thing to happen for the Sharks was to just everything hit the fan. stop playing hockey.

1. Boston Bruins: Their win over the Flyers right before games were 28. Anaheim Ducks: The Danton Heinen era wasn’t off to a bad start until stopped was one of their best overall efforts of the season. they had to stop playing.

2. St. Louis Blues: If hockey does come back in any capacity, Vladimir 29. New Jersey Devils: Cory Schneider started playing well but the Tarasenko should be ready to play and the Blues have already been Devils’ hellish season had just about nothing else going for it until they scary. were forced to stop playing.

3. : Like the Blues, the Avs might have some injuries 30. Ottawa Senators: It was announced Tuesday night the Sens were the heal in time to do this all over again. first team to have a player infected with the coronavirus.

4. Vegas Golden Knights: Just their luck to slump all season and then 31. Detroit Red Wings: They were eliminated before everyone else, but finally get their act together in time for the season to stop in no one else is playing hockey anyway. The real winners of the 2019-20 unprecedented fashion. season.

5. : They won just three of their last 10 games after having been on a roll. Boston Herald LOADED: 03.22.2020 6. Philadelphia Flyers: Were brought back to the Earth by the Bruins, but that doesn’t erase how impressive a nine-game winning streak is.

7. Pittsburgh Penguins: If one of their goalies could have stepped up, it would feel like the Penguins are real dangerous.

8. Washington Capitals: Well, Alex Ovechkin reached 700 goals before the season paused, at least.

9. Edmonton Oilers: Leon Draisaitl may have lost the opportunity for back-to-back 50-goal seasons.

10. : So if the season starts up and they get and Brett Pesce back, the Hurricanes look pretty darn good.

11. Toronto Maple Leafs: Do we know yet if the Maple Leafs were good?

12. : They started playing pretty well when they realized Pekka Rinne isn’t the same guy he used to be.

13. Calgary Flames: Probably safe to say this team was the worst good team in the league.

14. : Really doesn’t make much sense how an offense with that much talent never got things together even when they started winning.

15. : Is Connor Hellebuyck the Vezina winner if the season is over?

16. Vancouver Canucks: Brock Boeser was just about to come back and that could have sent them in a great direction.

17. : The wildest part of this NHL season was how the Wild were somehow in a spot to contend for the postseason at the end of the world.

18. New York Rangers: They’re going to be pretty good the next couple of seasons if they get a defense.

19. New York Islanders: If this season were to continue, it would have been proven the Islanders weren’t all that good anyway.

20. : If there’s no more hockey, hey, they weren’t mathematically eliminated.

21. : The good thing is everyone will remember this as the season that paused, not the one where the Panthers had no idea what they were doing. 1181371 Boston Bruins

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask not ruling out retirement once contract is up

Erin Walsh

March 21, 2020 8:42 PM

Is Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask considering retirement when his current deal with the organization is up? It seems that way.

In a one-on-one interview with 's Matt Porter, Rask indicated that his future is up in the air and anything, including retirement sooner rather than later, is possible.

“I have one year left in the contract, so we’ll see if I even play,” Rask told Porter when asked about his future workload.

And when Porter asked Rask if it was really a possibility, he said anything is possible

“We’ll see,” he said. “Always a possibility.”

But, if Rask retired from the NHL, would he go on to play in his native Finland? The 33-year-old said he wouldn't, and that he'd be spending the time with his family.

The Bruins have had plenty of stability in the blue paint over the years, and that will most likely continue after Rask's tenure with the organization comes to close. Boston has some great talent in its system at the moment with Daniel Vladar, Kyle Keyser and Hobey Baker nominee Jeremy Swayman waiting to rise to the occasion.

If Rask retires, he'll be leaving his crease well tended to.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181372 Boston Bruins

Bruins-Sharks Simulation: Secondary scoring came up big when needed for B's in dominant win

Erin Walsh

March 21, 2020 6:28 PM

The NHL season has been put on hold due to the coronavirus crisis, meaning we may have to wait a while to watch the Boston Bruins again.

As a way to make up for the loss of Bruins action, we'll be using the EA Sports NHL 20 video game to simulate each game on Boston's schedule until they finally return to action.

Previous Simulations:

Bruins vs. Blue Jackets

Bruins vs. Ducks

Bruins vs. Kings

The Boston Bruins were supposed to take on the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, March 21, here's how our simulation of that game went.

The B's dominated the Kings from top to bottom in a 4-1 win at the Shark Tank.

Here are the game stats:

Three Stars of the Game + Game Stats

Tuukka Rask, Brandon Carlo and Torey Krug were the three stars of the game for the Bruins in a 4-1 victory over the Sharks. Although the Sharks led 27-21 in shots, Aaron Dell failed to make quality saves when needed for San Jose.

Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Anders Bjork and Chris Wagner potted goals in this simulation while Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo added two assists each. Nick Ritchie, Charlie Coyle, Karson Kuhlman and Sean Kuraly also had assists. Charlie McAvoy led in ice time with 31:59 and was key in Boston's victory.

Sharks Individual Stats

The Sharks lone goal was scored by Stefan Noesen and assisted by Tim Heed and Jacob Middleton. Dell had an .850 save percentage and wasn't great in goal for the struggling Sharks.

FINAL SCORE: Bruins 4, Sharks 1

Bruins Record (Includes simulated games): 46-15-13 (105 points)

*NOTE: We did not include Boston's games against the Buffalo Sabres or Toronto Maple Leafs in the simulation, therefore the simulated record isn't 100 percent accurate*

Next Simulation: vs. Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday

Be sure to keep an eye out for our Bruins vs. Red Wings simulation which is set to drop on Tuesday.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181373 Boston Bruins

Jacobs family announces $1.5 million fund to help part-time TD Garden employees

Joe Haggerty

March 21, 2020 10:32 AM

Amid a firestorm of criticism, including some from Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Boston Bruins ownership finally announced plans to support their part-time employees at TD Garden as NHL regular-season games are postponed or canceled.

More than a week following the announcement that the NHL season was going to be paused due to the coronavirus outbreak, and days after all 30 other NHL teams had made public their plans to financially back their employees, the Jacobs family announced Saturday morning they are establishing a $1.5 million fund for their part-time gameday associates.

Haggerty: No quarantine on answers to your HaggBag questions

The Bruins have postponed two home games since the season was suspended and had only six remaining regular-season games scheduled at TD Garden, but that could still mean hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for part-time Garden employees relying on that income. The Jacobs family never gave a reason for the length of time it took for this announcement to become public, and instead thanked their employees “for their patience and understanding” as they formulated a plan. They released the following statement:

“The Jacobs Family has established a $1.5 million fund for the Boston Bruins and TD Garden part-time gameday associates who will be financially burdened if the six remaining regular season Bruins games are not played. We thank our associates for their patience and understanding while we worked through the complexity of this unprecedented situation.”

Certainly, the announcement brings peace of mind for Garden employees, and there is a GoFundMe page that through Saturday morning had more than $37,000 in donations pledged to help assist them in the meantime.

Just a couple of days ago, Healey took to Twitter to criticize Bruins ownership for their lack of action, writing:

“This is really troubling. Delaware North owns the Bruins, and its the only organization in the NHL that hasn’t announced financial support to game day employees. These wages will make a huge difference to hourly workers at the Garden. I hope the Jacobs family will act soon.”

Healey tweeted Saturday she was glad to see action taken.

While it’s good news that Bruins ownership has stepped up and done something to address the fears and concerns of their employees, the long delay in making the announcement is going to feed the notion they did it only after being prodded publicly.

This humble hockey writer doesn’t believe that to be the case and every indication NBCSportsBoston.com had received from Bruins sources the past week was that an announcement such as this would be made after discussions through the proper corporate channels. The Garden and the Bruins are part of the portfolio owned by the Jacobs' company, Buffalo- based Delaware North. Chairman Jeremy Jacobs, 80, has an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion.

It does seem as if the company could have bought themselves some good PR amid a very difficult time if they’d done this a week ago like just about everybody else around the NHL.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181374 Boston Bruins and seven acquaintances have been gathering at a friend’s house for dinner.

“We call it the Coronavirus Club,” she said. “We cook, eat, have a drink Employees still leery after Bruins finally commit to helping TD Garden or two, chitchat, laugh and try to have a good time.” workers She sounded in good spirits on Friday afternoon before the creation of the $1.5 million fund. She was angrier on Saturday.

Joe McDonald and Fluto Shinzawa “I don’t know what to do. I just don’t know,” she said. “We don’t know. Mar 21, 2020 30 The way all of (Jacobs’) lawyers and him presented this, somebody needs to set up and say it needs to (be in) place now, and not wait and see. Because people need some sort of income coming into their lives right now while we’re all sitting on hold.” Morale among TD Garden employees slightly increased Saturday morning when they heard Delaware North Company had established a Many other part-time employees feel a bit skeptical due to the timing. $1.5 million fund for part-time, game-day associates. “I’m happy that the Jacobs have finally stepped up and decided to The company, whose chairman is Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, compensate their workers,” another employee said. “I just don’t announced its program will help those financially burdened if the six understand why it took them this long. And, I hope it doesn’t take even remaining regular-season Bruins games are not played. longer to see funds that are desperately needed. We still have not received any info from DNC directly.” The release read: “We thank our associates for their patience and understanding while we worked through the complexity of this Prior to Saturday’s announcement by the Bruins, most NHL teams had unprecedented situation.” already committed to some form of financial support for employees hurt by the league suspending its season. The Bruins released the statement On Friday, employees received a letter from DNC with no mention of via email and on social media. possible compensation. The Bruins then announced the new plans just before 10 a.m. on Saturday. “I’m thankful they’re saying they will do something, but I’ll have to see what actually ends up happening after this announcement,” another part- “I’m happy they stepped up to help their dedicated employees who work time employee said. “There hasn’t been any direct communication to so hard for them,” one employee said. employees about it yet, so time will tell how it actually shakes out.” Another part-time employee at TD Garden, most recently as a bartender, Added another employee, “I am happy but hesitant. I want to trust that for 20 years, has at times worked 35 hours a week at Bruins and Celtics we will be taken care of, however, it’s difficult when Delaware North, the games and other Garden events. It might be that she will earn wages lost TD Garden and the Jacobs family have demonstrated disregard for the from the six remaining regular-season Bruins games if they cannot be financial stress of their employees during this time. It’s a shame that the played via the $1.5 million fund started by the Jacobs family. But until media had to put so much pressure on them to finally call someone to those games are officially canceled, the part-time employee will not action. I do thank the Jacobs family for finally showing support and collect any income from Delaware North. solidarity. I hope we actually receive benefits from this fund sooner rather “I think it’s still a douchey thing to do. It is,” said the employee, who than later.” requested anonymity because she feared repercussions. “Because what Not every employee, however, felt completely satisfied. about now? What’s happening to all your employees now? What are we waiting for? That’s what I thought. That’s just so wrong.” “Bullshit move,” another Garden bartender said. “Trying to recover from negative publicity without doing anything at all.” Saturday’s news of the fund came after part-time Garden workers first learned they would not be paid for events put on hold. The Athletic LOADED: 03.22.2020 “I felt really underappreciated,” the employee said. “Off the sweat of all our backs, you made money. With the living you’ve made off other people like us who’ve worked there for 20 years — and people who’ve been there a lot longer than me — that’s how you treat us, with no regard for what could happen?”

The employee is a Boston resident. She lives in her father’s house. He died last year.

“I’m OK,” she said of her current status. “It’s the bills, when they start to pile up when there’s no money coming in, you say, ‘Wait. What’s going to happen next month, two weeks, next week?’ That’s when you start to worry.”

After first learning Delaware North would not pay for events lost, she tried to file for unemployment over the phone. She was placed in a callback queue.

On Friday, she went to the Department of Unemployment Assistance, where she was told no in-person services were available. She missed a return phone call from the department during her drive home.

“I drank two cups of coffee in the morning, so on the way back, I had to go to the bathroom,” she explained. “I left my phone in the car and went to Stop & Shop to use the bathroom. Of course, they called back then! And they called from a private number, so you can’t call back.”

The Garden job was one of three the employee worked. Her primary employer, a Boston nonprofit, is keeping her on its payroll for now, even though it has told its employees to stay home. The nonprofit funds her medical and dental benefits and her 401k.

The employee has two grown children and four grandchildren. She spent the past week cleaning her house. She took bulky items like her comforters to a nearby laundromat so she could save on electricity. She 1181375 Buffalo Sabres "So Davey Keon said to me, 'He must have liked you because most of us in Toronto found out by the radio when we went somewhere.' He went back and gave you the courtesy of calling and telling you what he was The First Sabre: Joe Daley reflects on life in hockey, business – and doing." playing goal without a mask Daley followed the '70s Sabres closely, especially Perreault's career. It was just two years after Daley was traded that they made the playoffs for the first time and four years later they were meeting the Philadelphia Mike Harrington Flyers in the Stanley Cup final.

Sun, Mar 22, 2020 "I would have loved to have stayed in Buffalo. I was really comfortable there," he said. "And I was rooting for them in the Cup final in '75. I still

hope they do well today." WINNIPEG, Manitoba – He sits on a stool behind the glass cases of Expansion memories sports cards in a small shop on St. Mary's Road. It's about 3 miles from Bell MTS Place, the arena of his hometown Winnipeg Jets and the team The Sabres' first season ended with a 24-39-15 record, so Daley earned he became a star with during the franchise's 1970s glory days in the half the victories. The club used nine players who were 30 or older and . Perreault, only 20, set a then-NHL record for goals by a rookie with 38.

"I'm the answer to a trivia question," beams 77-year-old Joe Daley as he "You're fortunate to have one of the all-time greats as a rookie in Gilbert greets a visitor to Joe Daley's Sports & Framing. "I was the first Buffalo Perreault, but we had veterans too. Eddie Shack, Phil Goyette, Donnie Sabre." Marshall, Jean-Guy Talbot," Daley said. "Guys that toiled in the game for a long time, had won Stanley Cups and could certainly pass on a few Daley is correct. Gilbert Perreault is often – and incorrectly – referred to things to us younger guys. I played goal with and Dave as the Original Sabre, but the franchise's greatest skater was simply its Dryden and we all got along." No. 1 pick in the amateur draft in Montreal on June 11, 1970. Two days earlier, General Manager Punch Imlach acquired the franchise's first Still, there were plenty of tough times. The 64-save night in Boston saw player and first goalie when he plucked Daley, then 27, off waivers from the Sabres locked in a 2-2 tie through 40 minutes – even though they the Pittsburgh Penguins at the start of the league's waiver draft. were getting outshot, 42-12.

"I would have found out even then through the media and then Punch "It's a game I'll never ever forget. The first goal in the third period was an phoned me to offer a contract," Daley said. "There was a bit of back and offside goal by ," Daley recalled. "And then we never got out forth. In those days, we all worked our own deals. He made the deal prior of our end the rest of the period – and back then, you couldn't challenge. to the draft and that's why we use that trivia question." I cried after the game. I really thought we were going to tie it or win it somehow. Daley, in fact, is the answer to a lot of Sabres trivia: "I can remember looking over at the bench and seeing Gerry Cheevers • He's one of two goalies to play for the club without wearing a mask, on the bench and they were shaking their head. They couldn't believe it. going bare-faced for all 38 games he played during that 1970-71 season. had 15 shots that night, scored on the first one and never (The other was Rocky Farr, who went without one in his lone game in scored again on me." 1972-73.) During another game in Boston that season, a bench-clearing brawl • He still holds the club record for saves in a regular-season game, erupted in the wake of a fight between Wayne Cashman and Reg making 64 stops during an 8-2 loss in Boston on Dec. 10, 1970. The Fleming. You can find it on YouTube, with an unmasked Daley standing Bruins' 72 shots on goal that night in Boston Garden remain the most and leaning on the net as the fight rages behind him and then skating out ever against Buffalo and the 44-shot margin (72-28) is the widest gap in a few feet to talk to Cheevers and Eddie Johnston. franchise history. "Front row. I know where I'm safe," Daley said with a laugh as he • Daley also was in goal for what's still the worst loss in club history, an watched the clip. "I know Eddie isn't coming to fight and 'Cheesy' isn't 11-2 pounding against the Canadiens in the on Nov. 7, coming to fight either. Just chatting." 1970, just the 13th game in franchise history. It remains the club record for the most goals ever allowed and Daley gave up every single one. Daley had played at Memorial Auditorium during his AHL days with the Pittsburgh Hornets and Baltimore Clippers and the building was much the The game was tied 2-2 early in the second period before the Habs same in 1970-71, before the expansion to include the orange balcony exploded for seven goals, a standing record for the most allowed in one seats the next year. period by a Buffalo team. Final shots in that one were 54-21. "The locker rooms were small but the fans in Buffalo were great, just In the Sabres' first year, Daley led the club with 12 wins while going 12- great," he said. "And the guys who wrote about us back then were great 16-8 with a 3.74 goals-against average and .895 save percentage. He to us, too, that first year. They could have taken shots and said 'These faced nearly 33 shots per game and had one shutout, making 26 saves guys are horrible.' But it was a new team and they never did that. They in a 3-0 win over the California Golden Seals in the Aud on Feb. 12, were all fair the way they covered the games. That's something that 1971. stayed with me. Daley played 105 NHL games from 1968-72, with 38 in Pittsburgh, 38 in "You had Charley Barton (of the Courier-Express), Dick Johnston (of the Buffalo and 29 in Detroit. He was small, like many goalies back then, at Buffalo News) and Ted Darling (the legendary play-by-play announcer). 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds. Just super guys. I'll never know if Punch said to them, 'Look it, say "I enjoyed my time in Buffalo, even though it was short," Daley said. something nice about our guys instead of 'Holy Jeepers, another "Punch was very fair with me, very honest with me. I enjoyed the area. thrashing' because it was tough sledding on a lot of nights." Back then, we lived in Fort Erie and came across the bridge every day for Daley still has some memorabilia from his brief time with the Sabres to practice or the games. I enjoyed the guys I played with. It's the first year display, including an 1970-style hockey card he had made and old black- of a new team and we had a great mixture." and-white pictures taken by Robert Shaver, the legendary freelance Daley's time as a Sabre ended just over 11 months after it started. On photographer who shot much of the team's early history. May 25, 1971, Daley was sent to the Detroit Red Wings for Don Luce In the net and Mike Robitaille. Two pretty good pickups by Imlach. Daley's hockey career started as a youth when he went to the Bronx Park "I was working a hockey school with (former Toronto Maple Leafs) Dave Community Club in Winnipeg and signed up to play goal. Nobody else Keon and Billy Harris and I told Davey that Punch phoned me and said, had volunteered for the position and he figured it would be instant playing 'I'm trading you to Detroit because I'm bettering my hockey team,' " Daley time. It didn't hurt that one of his hockey idols was fellow Winnipegger recalled. " 'I didn't want to trade you. I wanted them to take (fellow Buffalo Terry Sawchuk, who was in the midst of a Hall of Fame career in goal in goalie) Dave Dryden. I wanted to keep you, but they they wanted you Detroit. back.' Daley wore a mask some in Pittsburgh under orders from coach Red and he has. He put his nose to the grindstone and the framing end of it is Kelly and for the final five years he played in the WHA. But never in very, very popular, productive and profitable for us." Buffalo. As crazy as it seems today, it was relatively normal back then. Daley said the business has been an ideal fit for him in a post-hockey "You knew the couple guys you had to look out for who could really wire life. a puck. It was just normal for me not to wear one," he said. "In Pittsburgh last game of the year vs. Philadelphia, and it was Gerry Meehan firing a "I have knowledge about sport and not just hockey," he said. "I've puck out of the corner and he got me. It's going up and I realize where it's learned about this industry and I love people. When someone walks in going and I go like this (turns head to the side) and I get a broken jaw. and sees an old gray fart sitting behind the counter, they go, 'Jeez, that's Joe' and we have a conversation. I really enjoy that aspect of it. "So the next season, we played as teammates in Buffalo. We laughed about it a bit. That was the worst one I had. You just learned how to "Travis has lots of work with framing. And now people build homes with protect yourself." their finished basements and their 'man caves' so we have that going for us in the business. We plug along. I call myself the Walmart greeter. He Daley was a journeyman until he decided to come home to play. To a does the work, I sit here and greet the people when they come in the new league. The Winnipeg Jets had shocked the hockey world in 1972 door." by getting to jump from the Chicago Blackhawks for a package that totaled $2.5 million, an unheard-of figure at that time. Hull In January 2019, the Jets unveiled a mural honoring Daley in the Bronx got a $1 million signing bonus, hopped a plane and did a ceremonial Park Community Centre. It shows him, big '70s hair and all, in his Jets contract signing outside at Portage Avenue and Main Street, the famous red white and blue making a save and posing with legendary Soviet Winnipeg intersection dubbed the "windiest corner in North America." goalie Vladislav Tretiak after the Jets beat the Soviet national team in a 1978 exhibition game. "The Jets were huge to us who lived here but people might not understand how big that team was in the history of hockey," said Sabres "As an organization, we’re always looking for ways to celebrate our coach and Winnipeg native Ralph Krueger, a teen in the '70s. "Expansion hockey history and stay connected with our local roots," Anders Strome, in the NHL doesn't happen nearly as fast without the WHA developing the Jets' director of player and alumni relations said at the unveiling. franchises to the point the NHL took them in (in 1979)." "This program was created to honor special individuals like Joe who defied the odds and made it to the big leagues, and along the way Daley didn't play for big money. He said he did OK and even doubled his became a huge source of pride for their communities. salary to go to the WHA but he had the time of his life at home. He played seven seasons and won three Avco Cups, the WHA's version of “We hope that this piece, along with others to come, inspires future the Stanley Cup. In back-to-back seasons (75-76 and 76-77), he won 41 generations of youth to follow their dream of playing for their home team.” and 39 games, respectively. By the time the league was absorbed into Daley said there were some dark days in his hometown and his business the NHL in 1979, Daley had finished as the WHA's all-time wins leader when the Jets left for Phoenix in 1996 but that it's been a glorious return with 167. for both entities since the NHL returned from Atlanta in 2011.

"The World Hockey was a godsend for me because I really don't know "There were times I would tell my wife that I think it was over," Daley what I would have done," he said. "I took a chance. I have no idea what said. "And she would ask 'What are you going to do?' I would say 'I don't Detroit would have offered me but I wasn't going to stay. Wasn't know' and she would say, 'Go to the store' So I kept it going, Travis came interested. back and the Jets came back. It's been wonderful."

"After my first three-year deal here, Minnesota had my rights and I Travis Daley, now 51, mostly stayed in a side room working on some negotiated with them and Winnipeg before I signed my second deal. I got framing projects while his father was talking. But as Joe moved across to stay home, travel the world, played international games against the the shop to greet a customer by name, Travis had one message he Russians, Czechs, Swedes, Finns. Lots of good benefits." wanted to convey.

Krueger said he still has autographs and memorabilia from the old Jets at "I've heard him talk about Buffalo before," he said. "He wasn't there a his parents' home in Winnipeg and was thrilled to become friends with long time, but I know he really enjoyed it when he was there. Until he former Jets star Anders Hedberg through his years in international came home, it was one of his favorite places. Make sure you tell people hockey. that."

"The team was so good," Krueger said. "You had Bobby Hull leaving Story topics: Buffalo Sabres/ Joe Daley/ Sabres 50th anniversary/ Chicago and signing a million-dollar contract at Portage and Main, Winnipeg Jets something people will never forget. You had the first group of Scandinavians, guys like Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg, Joe Daley Buffalo News LOADED: 03.22.2020 was a big part of their success, too. He was a real character for that group in those years."

A new life at home

After his career, Daley headed West for a few years to the Okanagan region of British Columbia. He briefly coached a junior team in Penticton and then went into private business. He worked in construction and then operated a restaurant with his wife, Darlene ("Daley's Family Restaurant at the Best Western Hotel damn nearly killed both of us," he said with a laugh).

After nine months in the restaurant business, the family returned to Winnipeg. Daley's son, Travis, saw a newspaper ad for a sports card business for sale in a small storefront and suggested it could be a growth opportunity.

"They wanted us to sign a three-year lease," Daley said. "I swallowed hard and his mother said, 'I think you've got to give the kid a chance' and here we are over 30 years later."

In 2013, the business moved from its original location closer to the airport and the now-demolished Winnipeg Arena to its current storefront. And the focus is much more on memorabilia and framing.

"Travis lived in Phoenix for a while and developed a shine for that end of it and when the Jets returned, he said he'd like to come back into the business," Daley said. "I told him he's the one who's going to make it tick 1181376 Calgary Flames

COVID-19: Calgary Flames Foundation donates $1.15 million to support agencies

Wes Gilbertson

March 21, 2020 6:28 PM MDT

The Calgary Flames Foundation will dole out $1.15 million in donations as part of a COVID-19 community support program.

The seven-figure initiative was announced Saturday, with a lengthy list of organizations — ranging from the Calgary Food Bank to the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter to four mental-health resources and five agencies that provide aid to vulnerable populations — set to receive funds.

“During this unprecedented time in our community and under extraordinary circumstances, it is the important work being done through these charities, health care professionals and critical service groups that make all the difference,” said Flames Foundation chairman Jeff McCaig in a statement. “We thank these individuals that are working on the front line and keeping us safe.”

There is money earmarked, through the United Way COVID-19 Community Response Fund, to assist with technological requirements for youth to continue their schoolwork from home and to support indigenous communities.

The full list of organizations that will receive donations also includes:

“It is because of the community support the Calgary Flames Foundation receives that we are in a position to assist,” McCaig said. “As our global community navigates through uncharted territory, please stay healthy and safe while taking precautions to ensure we are keeping others safe. We will continue to make all efforts to support our community.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181377 Calgary Flames Mackey’s stat-line from this past season shows seven goals, 17 assists and a team-leading plus-23 rating in 36 outings with the Mavericks. He was busted for 29 penalty minutes and bruised by 26 blocked shots.

College coach believes Flames signing Connor Mackey has bright future The Flames’ newbie was named to the All-WCHA First Team and was shooting to lead his squad to a second straight conference title before the remainder of the college schedule was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Wes Gilbertson pandemic. Before the shutdown, Minnesota State was sitting third in USA Today’s national poll with a 31-5-2 record. (They’d just been leapfrogged March 21, 2020 3:54 PM MDT by the Fighting Hawks, captained by Mackey’s soon-to-be teammate Poolman.)

Mike Hastings, over the phone from Mankato, Minn., is being quizzed Several NHL teams, including the one based at the Saddledome, would about Connor Mackey. have offered Mackey a contract a year ago, but he opted to stay in school. Which, for the head coach of the NCAA’s Minnesota State University Mavericks hockey program, is nothing new. He’s been skating on the Mavericks’ top defence pairing, quarterbacking their first power-play unit and, as proven by the results of Hastings’ Every week, all winter, NHL scouts were asking about the late-blooming confidential poll of his players around Christmas, was a quiet but well- blue-liner who ultimately inked an entry-level contract with the Calgary respected presence in the locker-room. Flames. In three seasons at Minnesota State, Mackey also managed to add about “Put it this way — he made one team happy (Friday), and I think there 25 lb. to his 6-foot-2 frame. (He now tips the scales at 200 lb.) were a lot of others that were disappointed that they weren’t the group that had the opportunity to sign him,” Hastings said. “He has a little bit of a natural nastiness to his game, where he’ll be aggressive, and the physical piece just came as he continued to get Mackey, shortly after putting pen to paper with the Flames on a one-year stronger,” Hastings said. “You need to have an edge to get guys to think deal for the 2020-21 campaign, acknowledged that “quite a few teams” about, ‘Do I really want to come in here? Do I really want to get inside the made some sort of pitch. dots? Do I really want to stay at the net? That, I think, is the maturation from his sophomore year — when he could have signed — to this past TSN’s Frank Seravalli put a number on it, reporting 28 squads had year. That consistency was there. His ability to get ice early defending expressed interest. That means only three didn’t. and not letting guys get inside him and being able to hold that with the Whoa. physicality and mentality that he has, I think that all of a sudden became an everyday thing. It was Monday through Thursday, and then it definitely Mackey, of course, wants to be more than just a sweepstakes prize. moved into the weekends. Considered the top-of-class among this latest wave of undrafted college free agents, the 23-year-old is determined to earn a job at hockey’s “He just had a really consistent year for us. He was rock-solid from the highest level. beginning of the year all the way through the end.”

“We think he’s close,” repeated Flames general manager Brad Treliving Even before the NHL scouts were really circling, Mackey was determined in several interviews Friday. to carve out a career in the professional-puck biz.

With the possibility of significant changes on Calgary’s back-end before When he arrived in Mankato, he vowed to complete his management the puck drops on next season, Mackey should get an shot to prove them degree in three years. He graduates in May, 12 months ahead of most of right. his peers.

The Flames’ current blue-line brigade includes five pending unrestricted “It’s a lot of work, but he did it,” Hastings said. “That’s another reason I free agents — TJ Brodie, Travis Hamonic and Michael Stone, and trade- have the confidence that I have in him moving on. Without much noise, deadline additions Derek Forbort and Erik Gustafsson. he finished that in three years. There are a lot of people that would stand there and say, ‘Hey, look what I did!’ But he didn’t mention it once. He Mark Giordano, Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson are under contract just wanted to get that done. for 2020-21 and beyond, while Oliver Kylington remains under club control as a restricted free agent. “He knows this is just the beginning,” Mackey’s college coach continued, switching his focus to Mackey’s on-ice future. “It’s definitely not, ‘Hey, I’ve And don’t forget about Juuso Valimaki, who was pencilled in as a full- arrived.’ He knows what he has in front of him as far as work, because timer for this winter before tearing his ACL prior to training camp. there are no guarantees and he understands that. I think he’ll attack it. Whether he gets to the NHL right away or not, I still think he’ll continue to Even if the Flames re-up a couple of those soon-to-be free-agents, the work. Because I saw that for three years. That never changed.” left-handed Mackey — on the radar since he attended development camp in Calgary back in 2017 — could be in the mix to open the next Calgary Sun: LOADED: 03.22.2020 campaign at the Saddledome.

(Neither Mackey nor fellow rearguard Colton Poolman, signed Friday after completing his stint with the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, would be eligible to suit up this season, if action eventually resumes.)

“Talking to guys at that level, it’s always, ‘We need guys to defend, we need guys to be able to get us out of our end, and then we need somebody to continue to be a distributor, as far as being able to move it, getting the puck to the net or finding people in the offensive zone,’ ” Hastings said. “The proverbial term right now is the 200-foot player. Everybody is looking for him, on both ends of the rink. And I do … I see that in Connor, as far as his size, his decision-making, his skating.

“And the thing that I really think is going to allow him to succeed is his mentality. What I mean by that is whether it goes well or it doesn’t, I don’t think that is going to change his demeanour or outlook on what he has to do every day. He is just going to go to work. If he succeeds early, great. But if there are some walls that are put up in front of him that he has to climb, I think he has a mentality that that’s what he has to do. I don’t think he has ever asked for anything to be guaranteed to him. He didn’t from Day 1 here. He has always been willing to go and do whatever work he needs to do.” 1181378 Chicago Blackhawks A recent message included a tour of framed Walter Payton photos in his home and the message: “Happy 40th birthday, man. Another amazing year on this amazing Earth. It gives you another opportunity to keep Need a pick-me-up during the coronavirus shutdown? Here are the best impacting kids.” — and worst — Chicago athletes and broadcasters on Cameo. Blackhawks

There are not many choices, but Bryan Bickell ($50) did one from Mexico TEDDY GREENSTEIN while wearing his Team Canada fishing jersey: “I’m pretty sure Canada is taking gold in the Pan-Am fishing games. … Shoutout for making this MAR 21, 2020 | 8:30 AM happen. Keep truckin’. Enjoy. Go, Hawks.”

He also concluded one birthday greeting with a technological question: “Oh, I’m supposed to stop it?” Unsettling times like these call for the nation to come together like never before. Yes, the red button. Not as much fun as the red light.

And unprecedented times like these require sports media entities to show Radio analyst Troy Murray ($40) is available and joked of a fan coming to creativity like never before. a game on her birthday: “Happy 20 hat tricks … have a lot of fun. I’m going to warn everyone that you’re coming because I know you’re a lot of ESPN radio debated: What athlete, past or present, would you choose if trouble.” you needed to go to the store to snag the last roll of toilet paper? Legends and both command $200. DITKA!! Savard recently wished someone a happy 60th with: “Hockey players, My editor asked: If you needed some cheer, which Chicago athlete or you know, don’t really age.” broadcaster on Cameo would be worth your dime? Roenick looks like a bouncer and sounds like a comedian: “Happy 33rd Cameo is the West Loop-based company that connects celebrities and, birthday. You’re getting old, big man. You have a long way to go to catch um, “celebrities” with fans. For between $5 and $2,500, you can enlist up to me. I just turned 50. Holy smokes. I don’t feel it. I might look it.” one of 25,000 athletes/celebrities to record a personalized greeting that Roenick masters the art of personalization with messages sweet and lasts from about 10 seconds to four minutes. salty: “Stay calm because you’ve got a baby girl coming. In a couple A Jan. 14 Chicago magazine story called Cameo “the Most American weeks! Life changes, man. She will have you wrapped around her finger. Startup Ever.” You’re going to be one of those suck dads. … She will run your business like crazy, which is exactly how you want.” Celebs set their adjustable fees and keep 75%. Sarah Jessica Parker’s asking price surged from $300 to $2,500. And even at that whopper, Bulls she’s currently unavailable. Ryan Arcidiacano looks like the kid who snowblows your driveway and Rod Blagojevich is charging $100. I’d only pay to see him make a video charges about the same ($25): “I understand you wear No. 15 because back in his prison cell. of me. … Thank you so much … I saw you hit that 3 at the buzzer to win the game. Take care, have a good one and, yup, have a good one.” College basketball analyst Seth Davis waived his fee after the coronavirus hit, offering to boost downtrodden hoops junkies. He got I’m not sure Ben Gordon has a good grasp of the Cameo concept. He more than 500 requests and knocked out 175. charges $700 but says in reference to a good Jim Calhoun anecdote: “Gotta pay for the story.” There’s another one of him, shirtless, doing There are intriguing offers and great bargains out there for Chicago pushups. It’s easily the best of the bunch. athletes and broadcasters. Wendell Carter Jr. charges $200, Daniel Gafford $20. Denzel Valentine Need advice on a pick-me-up? asks for $90, and one of his videos lasted as long as a free-throw routine.

Read on. Eddy Curry is a solid play at $35: “I heard you might be having a tough time. … Take it from the king of the tough times! I’ve been through a lot Bears and I can tell you the tough times don’t define you. It’s the bounce-back.” The wonderfully grumpy Dick Butkus ($251) is a natural performer. He Tyrus Thomas, who was fined $10,000 for saying his only motivation to made me laugh out loud with this message: “I heard from some of your win the slam-dunk contest was “free money,” charges $35. college friends that they’re a little concerned about your habit of displaying photographs. … I understand your pleasure of having a photo Will Purdue ($50) is available, and Stacey King ($50) lasts four-plus of me and you — when you were 4. But Jesus, get over it. Start putting minutes and will attempt an Australian accent: “I understand you’re in up some pictures of your friends — if you have any! And especially your from Australia so: ‘G’day mate.’ ” fiancee, for Chrissakes.” Shockingly, the affable and loquacious Chuck Swirsky is nowhere to be How does that performance compare with other legendary linebackers? found.

A pep talk from Lance Briggs will set you back his uniform number ($55). Cubs A sample: “I would much rather have some of your pizza than have anything to do with one of Cody Parkey’s missed field goals.” You’ll pay a premium ($200) for Kyle Schwarber, but you get a radio- quality voice. And besides, the closest you can get to Anthony Rizzo is Mike Singletary charges $200 but is extremely expressive with lots of Dodgers reporter Alanna Rizzo ($20) and a TikTok rapper named Rizzy hand motions: “Go, Bears. Go, Bears. Not Packers. Boo!!” ($5).

If you want more of Brian Urlacher than highway billboards, he’ll make Side note: Kris Bryant is not on Cameo, but there’s a New York City radio you a short message for $540. host named Cubby Bryant ($15). What the …?

Matt Forte commands $350. Andre Dawson ($60), always in Cubs gear, can attest to this greeting: “You know if this birthday sucks there’s always next year.” Devin Hester ($120) closes out with: “Bear down, baby.” Radio play-by-play man Pat Hughes is a strong value at $50, with Dave Wannstedt ($50) seems to enjoy doing Cameos as much as his messages averaging nearly three minutes. His advice to a broadcasting WSCR-AM 670 hits. A recent message lasted more than 2½ minutes and hopeful: “You can learn only so much in a classroom or by listening to included: “I really believe: If you use Mitch Trubisky correctly, he will do others. ... You’ll have to do hundreds of games before you really feel like some things to give you a chance to definitely get into the playoffs. And you can develop your own style. … Go, Cubs. Stay healthy. And peace once you get in, who knows what happens?” on Earth.” WGN-TV’s Jarrett Payton will fire you up for a mere $20. Knowing him, he’d do it for free. Fergie Jenkins operates at the pace of 1960s games, banging out messages between 11 and 19 seconds. But he announced on Twitter that for the next week he’s donating his Cameo income (from a $60 fee) to out-of-luck Sloan Park employees.

Jon Lieber ($25), the king of getaway day, knocked one out last year from Yankee Stadium: “I just wanted to say: You dominate me every year in the Iowa poker tournament. I’m telling you, buddy, you’re going down next year.”

Another of Lieber’s: “You need to go set up that IRA account and stop being so freakin’ lazy.”

Aramis Ramirez charges just $15, and you get what you pay for.

If you know a young pitcher who is hobbled and looking for inspiration, former Cubs reliever Pedro Strop ($25) is your guy.

Call on ESPN’s Jesse Rogers ($15) to announce your softball lineup or fantasy team.

Not sure if Rafael Palmeiro ($75) charges extra for a finger wag.

David Kaplan pumps up his Instagram followers for free, but if you want a personalized message (“Listen here, Sparkles … I know you’re all-in on life”), it will set you back $50. Call on the Kapman if you want to burn your favorite (or most despised) Cardinals fan.

White Sox

Paul Konerko goes deep for his $100 fee, stretching past 1 minute, 40 seconds and offering advice for youth baseball and hockey players: “I think kids your age should be playing more than one sport. … Work hard. There is no substitute.”

At $60, Joe Crede sells solid Midwestern reliability, if not relatability.

Jermaine Dye ($75) looks terrific and records videos from idyllic locations, with palm trees. The 2005 World Series MVP salutes one admirer with: “You’re the real MVP of the family.”

Adam Engel ($20) is a bargain for a current player and recorded a recent message with: “Hope this quarantine goes well for you and your family. … Good health and happiness and enjoy this time off. Go, Sox.”

There’s no Steve Stone or Jason Benetti, but Chuck Garfien ($20) offers Lucas Giolito-like value.

A subdued Ozzie Guillen ($50) tried to cheer someone up by saying: “Matt, unfortunately this virus is killing everyone. … Mentally, it’s tough for everyone. … It’s a long summer, and you will see the White Sox play a lot. Love you, buddy.”

(I want to buy a Guillen Cameo to send to Jay Mariotti.)

Says Geoff Blum ($30): “Just like I was the hero in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series, he is the hero you need in this tournament. … Vote for Matt.”

Bobby Jenks ($30), who won exactly three games in 2006, ’07, ’08 and ’09, is the model of consistency. His three posted videos all last 12 seconds.

Michael Kopech is not on Cameo, but wife/actress Vanessa Morgan charges $125. She’s listed as temporary unavailable. (Honeymoon?)

Ron Kittle ($42) used his booming voice to say: “Your boys … wanted me to wish you Mazel Tov on your 47th birthday.”

What a mensch.

If you want to splurge, Bo Jackson ($400) stays on brand: “Take care of your mother and sister and don’t even think about breaking a bat over your knees. Always climb the wall for those you care about.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181379 Chicago Blackhawks Fortunately for Subban and Perlini, hockey’s record books and online archives are rarely used to identify the least remarkable careers. So their uniquely forgettable seasons likely will remain exactly that.

Malcolm Subban, Brendan Perlini made strange kinds of Blackhawks But unfortunately for Subban and Perlini, this quarantined world requires history this season digging for the smallest pieces of sports intrigue. So for now, their If the 2019-20 NHL regular season never resumes, the Hawks will make incredibly short tenures are worth a glance. some peculiar records, including the shortest career in franchise history. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 03.22.2020

Ben Pope

Mar 21, 2020, 2:24pm CDT

Malcolm Subban’s relief appearance March 3 against the Ducks was as forgettable as they come.

With Corey Crawford being evaluated for a concussion shortly after a collision with Ryan Getzlaf’s knee, Subban made his Blackhawks debut by manning the crease for a mere 1 minute, 10 seconds until Crawford returned.

Subban received a moment to warm up — the Hawks were leading 5-1 in the third period, after all — and didn’t face a shot on goal, although the Ducks did produce a decent chance that went wide.

But that one brief relief appearance could end up making franchise history — as the shortest Hawks career ever.

That stat would only hold up if the 2019-20 regular season never resumes, and if Subban doesn’t re-sign this summer. Those are two uncertainties, but they’re both likely at this point. The coronavirus situation is obvious to all, and Subban’s lack of use after his throw-in inclusion in the Robin Lehner trade indicated he probably wasn’t part of the Hawks’ long-term plans.

Subban’s one-minute tenure would break the strange record held by fellow goalie Christian Soucy, who made one career NHL appearance — playing three minutes in a 6-3 loss to the Capitals — for the Hawks in 1993-94.

But Soucy also played three seasons in the Hawks’ minor-league system, as did the vast majority of other entries in the one-career-Hawks- appearance database. It’s not too rare for a career minor-leaguer to come up for one game.

What makes Subban’s situation unique is that he’s an established NHL goalie, having played 63 career games for the Golden Knights (and two for the Bruins) before coming to Chicago.

Only two others, at least in recent -decades, have played one career game in the Hawks’ organization: Radek Smolenak — who was claimed off waivers from the Lightning, played 4:41 in an October 2009 loss to the Red Wings, then was waived by the Hawks and re-claimed by the Lightning — and 2018 emergency backup legend Scott Foster.

Subban also might become only the third player in Hawks history to play one game for the Hawks but 20 or more games for another NHL team in the same season.

Coincidentally, the second to do so happened earlier this season.

Brendan Perlini played 7:49 for the Hawks in their Oct. 12 loss to the Jets. Besides being a healthy scratch for nine other games, that was all he did before his Oct. 28 trade to the Red Wings (prompted by discontent about playing time).

In Detroit, however, Perlini played 39 games before the season postponement, meaning he’ll finish 2019-20 with 40 total appearances but only one with the Hawks.

The only other player to do that is Tony Tanti, the Hawks’ 1981 first- round pick who entered the lineup once in 1982-83 before being dealt to the Canucks, for whom he also played 39 games that season.

But Tanti had 16 points in his 39 games, whereas Perlini had only four. Tanti also scored 39 or more goals in each of the next five seasons; Perlini, on the other hand, could struggle to stay in the league five years from now. Technically, however, their odd seasons are one and the same. 1181380 Chicago Blackhawks wing for a while. The Ontario native is just 23, however, and he'd be a great third-line center on a true contender. A reasonable contract for both sides figures to carry a cap hit of between $3.5 million and $4.5 million What's next for the Blackhawks, Part I: Forwards for three years.

Dominik Kubalik:

John Dietz Stats: 30G, 16A in 68 games

3/21/2020 6:33 PM Contract status: RFA with arbitration rights on July 1

The skinny: Despite averaging under 14½ minutes a game and seeing only token time on the top power-play unit, Kubalik still managed to score What does the future hold for the Chicago Blackhawks? 30 times. He probably would have finished with 35 if the season were completed. GM Stan Bowman has been working with Kubalik's agent to With the NHL season in limbo due to the coronavirus, this is an excellent try and hammer out a deal. The Hawks absolutely can't let this kid get time to dive into what we can expect out of the current players. away, so I'd expect something to be completed before the off-season We'll split this exercise up into two days, with a look at the forwards in arrives. Part I and a look at the defensemen and goalies in Part II.

Jonathan Toews: Andrew Shaw: Stats: 18 goals, 42 assists in 70 games Stats: 3G, 7A in 26 games Contract status: Three years remaining with a $10.5 million cap hit Contract status: Two years remaining with a $3.9 million cap hit The skinny: The Hawks' captain truly found the fountain of youth after The skinny: The reacquisition of Shaw from Montreal is looking like a big rough campaigns in 2016-17 and 2017-18. He put up career highs last mistake as he missed more than three months with a concussion. The season (35G, 46A) and followed that up with an impressive 2019-20. The Hawks must hope he can return next year and give them 70-plus games 31-year-old really took off after being paired with Dominik Kubalik as he -- something the oft-injured Shaw has been unable to do since 2015-16. scored 13 goals and had 32 assists in the final 41 games. Ryan Carpenter: Toews must keep fending off Father Time, but he appears well equipped to do so for at least another season or two. Stats: 3G, 12A in 69 games

Patrick Kane: Contract status: Two years remaining with a $1 million cap hit

Stats: 33G, 51A in 70 games The skinny: Carpenter, a solid signing last off-season, helped the Hawks improve their dreadful penalty kill. He's also a quiet leader behind the Contract status: Three years remaining with a $10.5 million cap hit scenes, one who organized a team chapel so that a few of his The skinny: About the only questions when it comes to Kane is: A) When teammates can help grow their faith during the hectic regular season. will he finally slow down? B) Might he play until he's 40, 41 or 42? and C) David Kampf: Will he spend his entire career with the Blackhawks? Many of you may not be able to fathom this, but it is certainly plausible that Kane -- and Stats: 8G, 8A in 70 games perhaps Toews -- decide to finish their careers elsewhere. Much of it will depend on the state of the team and, not surprisingly, who is in charge. Contract status: One year remaining with a $1 million cap, then RFA with arbitration rights

The skinny: Kampf is a poor man's Marcus Kruger, a reliable fourth-line Brandon Saad: center who is solid on faceoffs (52.3%) and is a solid penalty killer. Just 25 years old, Kampf figures to stay in this role for another 2-4 seasons. Stats: 21G, 12A in 58 games Zack Smith: Contract status: One year remaining with a $6 million cap hit Stats: 4G, 7A in 50 games The skinny: Saad remains a very solid, two-way player and he's only 27 years old. So what do you do with him? Hold on and extend him to one Contract status: One year remaining with a $3.25 million cap hit more lengthy deal at approximately the same cap hit so he can be around as the rebuild gathers steam? Or trade him for a prospect or two The skinny: A veteran of 662 games, Smith has helped several young and/or draft picks? It's a tough call and it will be fascinating to see which forwards with sage advice behind the scenes. Still, if the Hawks ink road the Hawks take. another overseas talent and/or someone like Anton Wedin is ready to take the next step, it wouldn't be out of the question for Stan Bowman to Alex DeBrincat: buy out Smith's contract. That would cost the Hawks $1.083 million in each of the next two seasons. Stats: 18G, 27A in 70 games Drake Caggiula: Contract status: Three years remaining with a $6.4 million cap hit Stats: 9G, 6A in 40 games The skinny: Despite (likely) finishing with career highs in shots on goal per game (2.96) and total shot attempts per game (5.19), DeBrincat Contract status: RFA with arbitration rights failed to hit the 20-goal mark in 70 games. That's a steep decline in production after the diminutive forward took the league by storm by The skinny: I love Caggiula's game. He brings so much to the table and scoring 28 times as a rookie, then following that up with an eye-opening has been a fantastic addition. The problem is he keeps getting hurt and 41-goal campaign in 2018-19. One has to figure the puck luck just wasn't another concussion could end his career. So beg him to tone it down a with DeBrincat and that 30-plus goals are coming next season. If that's bit and offer a one-year deal between $1.5 million and $2 million. the case, it certainly bodes well for the Hawks' chances to return to the Kirby Dach: playoffs. Stats: 8G, 15A in 64 games Dylan Strome: Contract status: Two years left with a $925,000 cap hit Stats: 12G, 26A in 58 games The skinny: Dach averaged just 12 minutes of ice time in his first 24 Contract status: Restricted free agent (RFA) on July 1 games, then averaged 15:38 in his last 40. Despite mediocre offensive The skinny: It was an uneven season for Strome, who missed time with production, we've seen his confidence explode the last two months. After an injury and also struggled when tried playing him at what figures to be an intense summer of training, don't be surprised if the 197-pound Dach comes back at about 210-215 pounds. I'd expect a 20- goal, 30-assist campaign in 2020-21.

Alexander Nylander:

Stats: 10G, 16A in 65 games

Contract status: One year remaining with a $863,333 cap hit, then an RFA

The skinny: Nylander, while still making plenty of mistakes, did look more comfortable over the past month (4G, 5A in 13 GP). As I've written before, this kid has a world of offensive talent -- it's just about learning the nuances of the game and competing harder. If he does both, there's no reason he can't carve out a significant role for the next five years.

Matthew Highmore:

Stats: 2G, 4A in 36 games

Contract status: RFA with arbitration rights

The skinny: High-energy guy who is an absolute bulldog in the corners. He'll need every bit of that tenacity to earn another spot on the roster next season.

Fighting for jobs next season/trade bait: Brandon Hagel, Dylan Sikura, Anton Wedin, Philipp Kurashev, John Quenneville

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181381 Chicago Blackhawks

Marian Hossa remembers special 2010 playoff game, which re-airs tonight at 7

Scott King

March 21, 2020 2:24 PM

Blackhawks fans got a pleasant surprise on Saturday afternoon when legendary three-time Stanley Cup champion Marian Hossa had a special message about a certain 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff game.

The video was posted on the organization's Twitter and other social media accounts.

"Hi Blackhawks fans, Big Hoss here. I miss you guys," Hossa said. "I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and taking care of each other in these difficult times.

"Do you guys remember this game?"

Hossa turned to show a computer screen with Game 5 of the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Nashville Predators (which will re-air on NBC Sports Chicago Saturday night at 7 p.m. ) on pause.

"Well, I definitely do remember. I remember a few things I want to share with you,” Hossa said. "First, at the end of the game, one of the greatest games, up and down games, I got a five-minute penalty, and I go to the penalty box. I feel shame. I’m sweating bullets for five minutes.

“But good things happened. scoring [with] 13 seconds left in the game. We pulled the goalie and he tied the game up. It's 4-4. We go to the dressing room, and I'm sitting quiet in the corner of the dressing room, and I'm hoping we can kill another four minutes of my penalty. [Penalty kill] did an excellent job, and I'm jumping.

"We kill the penalty. I’m jumping on the ice. We can watch it together. Here's Bolland in the corner, and Dave Bolland did an excellent job passing to Brent Sopel, and you can see me coming in the corner from the penalty box in front of the net."

Hossa plays the sequence on the monitor and pauses it right before his goal.

"Puck is coming to me and what'll I have to do? Just put it in the net,” he said.

He lets the play resume to show his goal and iconic celebration down on both knees, pumping his arms.

"One of the most amazing feelings in my career, still get the chills, and we win the game,” Hossa said. "We go to Nashville (Game 6). We win the game there. We go to round two, round three, . We win the Stanley Cup for the Chicago Blackhawks. Being in the Stanley Cup Finals three times in a row, finally winning my first one, it was the best feeling as a hockey player.

"So I want to share with you this moment, and when I remember these feelings, those memories, it's just amazing. And where were you when I scored the overtime winner? Well, I hope to see you guys soon. It was a pleasure. Ciao, ciao."

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2020 IIHF World Championship has officially been canceled

Charlie Roumeliotis

March 21, 2020 10:00 AM

The 2020 IIHF World Championship has officially been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IIHF Council announced on Saturday. The tournament was scheduled to run from May 8 through 24 in Switzerland.

"This is a harsh reality to face for the international ice hockey family, but one that we must accept,” said IIHF President René Fasel. “The coronavirus is a global problem and requires major efforts by government bodies to combat its spread. The IIHF must do all it can to support this fight. We have to set sport aside for now, and support both the government bodies and the ice hockey family.”

"We accept this decision of the IIHF Council,” said Gian Gilli, General Secretary for the 2020 IIHF World Championship Organizing Committee. “But of course, this is a huge disappointment for the Organizing Committee. It is an exceptional situation for all concerned and it is now a question of resolving all the outstanding issues."

The Blackhawks had 13 representatives at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, including Patrick Kane, who served as USA's captain for the past two years and was named tournament MVP in 2018. He is also USA's all-time leading scorer with 42 points, breaking the previous record of 33 set by 1980 Olympic gold medalist Mark Johnson.

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Hawks Rewind: Game 5 of 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals

Scott King

March 21, 2020 9:07 AM

Saturday night at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Chicago, we have another classic "Hawks Rewind" for you. Tune in for Game 5 of the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Nashville Predators at the .

In one of the most thrilling games of the 2010 Cup run, Patrick Kane scored a short-handed goal that tied the game with 13.6 seconds left. The Hawks were able to kill a Preds' power play in overtime after Marian Hossa drew a major penalty for hiting Dan Hamhuis into the boards. Marian Hossa later sprang right out of the penalty box and scored 4:07 into overtime to win the game 5-4 and give Chicago a 3-2 series lead heading to Nashville.

Chicago led 3-1 earlier in the game before Nashville rallied for two third- period goals from Martin Erat.

Andrew Ladd, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Tomas Kopecky also scored for the Blackhawks.

Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for the Preds, and Antti Niemi stopped 17 for the Hawks.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181384 Chicago Blackhawks as the No. 2 next season. Kevin Lankinen and Matt Tomkins are probably the AHL goalies.

6. Re-sign Dylan Strome. A 15-point plan for Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks’ offseason After Kubalik and the goalie situation, Bowman can move on to re-signing Strome. Bowman will have a better idea then of his offseason budget and Scott Powers what he can realistically pay Strome, who doesn’t have arbitration rights. It would be ideal for the Blackhawks to give Strome a short-term deal, Mar 21, 2020 too. Some have recommended a two-year deal with a $3-$3.5 million cap hit.

7. Balance the budget. Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman will return next season. Bowman has to assume that the cap ceiling isn’t going to be greater than He probably knew that already. We do now, too. its current point of $81.5 million. With Crawford being the only So Bowman will continue to attempt to right the Blackhawks’ ship. From unrestricted free agent on the roster, there isn’t much money all he and team president John McDonough have said in recent months, automatically becoming available. The Blackhawks will also have a cap the goal is to make the Blackhawks great again and not just be a overage due to bonuses. Bowman may have some difficult decisions to borderline playoff team. make this offseason to ensure the Blackhawks are cap compliant. He could trade or walk away from some restricted free agents, trade other That’s easier said than done and may take more than just another signed players or buy some out. Those are all things Bowman has to be offseason. But for now, let’s focus on the short term. Here’s a 15-point considering now. checklist Bowman should consider in the coming months. 8. Discuss Andrew Shaw’s future. 1. Create a realistic plan with a realistic timeline and stick to it. Shaw didn’t play a game after November 30 after being placed in Bowman somewhat outlined a plan in late February. It was pretty loose concussion protocol and recently shut down. It’s fair to wonder whether without an exact timeline. Adding assets is smart and obviously everyone Shaw will ever play again. He’s suffered multiple concussions, has a wants to pile up high-end players, but that’s not much of a structured young family and has already accomplished a lot in his career. Is playing plan. The Blackhawks have to figure out first whether they really believe again worth the risk? It’s something that he and the Blackhawks need to they can win another Stanley Cup in the next year or two or if this is more figure out. It’s unlikely Shaw would officially retire because he would then a long-term strategy. Either way, there has to be a roadmap. Most teams give up his contract, but going on long-term injured reserve for the don’t enter a season thinking they may or may not be a Stanley Cup remainder of his deal would be an option. If that occurred, Bowman contender. It’s usually more definitive. The Blackhawks have to take a would then have another set of options he’d have to consider like he did hard look in the mirror and determine the best route to being a contender with Marian Hossa. again. 9. Have plans in place if Seabrook and/or Shaw can’t play to begin the Plus, they have to stick to the plan. The message from the front office season. has been here, there and everywhere in recent years. We’ve heard everything from the front office being irate after the Nashville series Seabrook is coming off three surgeries, and Shaw’s future is uncertain. sweep to still believing the Blackhawks were a playoff team after firing It’s possible both players return to the lineup in the fall or soon after, but to saying it was just important to get into the playoffs it’s also possible they don’t. Either way, the Blackhawks need to have this season. Fans are frustrated without a clear direction. plans in place. Bowman acquired Shaw last offseason and signed Seabrook to his long-term deal with the idea they would both be key 2. Discuss the future with the core. pieces to the Blackhawks’ future. They carry two of the team’s larger cap hits. Whether they play or not affects what the Blackhawks can do in the Patrick Kane, , and near future. Bowman has to be ready for that. should have an idea of where the organization sees itself going and have some input. Bowman doesn’t have to do what those players say — they 10. Explore college and European UFAs. may have some great ideas — but that communication could go a long way in making them feel included and confident in the future. If those four Blackhawks chairman mentioned how Europe has been a players are part of your team, you need their buy-in. They often control fruitful place for the team to sign players, like Artemi Panarin, Kubalik and the mood and work ethic of the team and definitely the message the others. The Blackhawks haven’t obviously kept all their European public gets through the media. players, but they have often given them opportunities and the players have often succeeded. That’s something the Blackhawks can sell to 3. Re-sign Dominik Kubalik. future European targets. They should be exploring that market now. Forward Julius Nattinen and Pius Suter are two of the bigger names Of the Blackhawks’ upcoming roster decisions, re-signing Kubalik should available this year. It’s worth taking a look at some college free agents, be the priority. He just scored 30 goals and did so while being scratched too. Forward Josh Dunne and defenseman Jack Ahcan are two of the a few games and spending part of the season on the third line and on the better college players available. second power-play unit. A short-term deal with a $3-$4 million cap hit for Kubalik is ideal, but the negotiations may not be that simple, according to 11. Plan for another top-10 pick in the 2020 draft. a few sources. Kubalik’s cap hit will determine how much more the Blackhawks can possibly spend this offseason. Considering the stoppage The Blackhawks currently have the ninth-worst points percentage in the in play and the uncertainty of the season resuming, the cap ceiling could NHL. Maybe they get lucky again and land a higher lottery pick, but the be much lower than expected. That’s bad news for the Blackhawks who odds are they’ll be picking around No. 9. The Blackhawks can still get don’t have a lot of money coming off the books. plenty of value there. It just might be a few years before they see that player. Either way, it’s vital for the Blackhawks to draft well. Mark Kelley 4. Sign Ian Mitchell. has more often than not guided the Blackhawks to quality players, whether they’ve kept them or not. All signs point to Mitchell signing with the Blackhawks before next season, but no one is going to breathe easy until it’s official. He’s a key 12. Assist Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist in offseason development defenseman piece to the Blackhawks’ future and should push for an NHL plans. spot next year. He seems to be the real deal. Signing soon would also be some positive news for the Blackhawks and their fans. The Blackhawks’ ceiling next season could largely depend on the strides Dach and Boqivst can make in the offseason. The Blackhawks are good 5. Figure out the goalie situation. at designing strength and conditioning offseason plans for players, but there should also be some dialogue about development coaches. That’s Do the Blackhawks want Corey Crawford back? Does Crawford want to a huge piece to a player’s offseason puzzle. You’ve seen that in Kane for return? If so, what’s a cap hit they can agree on that works in the team’s many years and lately Toews, Brandon Saad and Connor Murphy have budget? The Blackhawks need to figure that out first. Then they can seen the benefits of an offseason working with development coaches. move on to either exploring other goalie options or moving down their Dach has worked with Darryl Belfry in the past and that should continue own list of players to re-sign. Collin Delia probably makes the most sense to be encouraged. If Dach and/or Boqvist stick around Chicago, Brian Keane has had success working with local players. The Blackhawks should also discuss a similar plan with Alex Nylander about working on his mechanics and slowing down his game. Nylander has a ton of skill, but he isn’t always able to tap into it.

13. Discuss how to improve the power play with Jeremy Colliton.

The Blackhawks focused on the penalty kill last offseason and turned that around. It’s now time for the power play. The Blackhawks are 29th in the league in power-play percentage. If they were even somewhere in the middle of the league, they’d probably be a playoff team. Colliton seems to understand what’s wrong with the power play, but it’s a matter of addressing it. Do they bring on a new assistant to focus on that part of the game? Can it be addressed with roster changes in the offseason? This offseason it’s time to find some answers.

14. Have an honest conversation about the defense.

The Blackhawks were again one of the worst defensive teams in the league. That’s been a trend for several years now. It began under Quenneville and has continued under Colliton. There were spurts this season where the Blackhawks had better analytics, but they never proved sustainable. There are a lot of reasons why the Blackhawks have failed to be a possession team like they were in the Stanley Cup years. Some of it falls on the forwards. Another Marian Hossa isn’t walking through that door. But it does have a lot to do with the defensemen. The Blackhawks struggle at stopping opponents from cycling the puck, denying high-end scoring chances and efficiently exiting the defensive zone. Calvin de Haan returning could help that. Lucas Carlsson could be a solution, too. Could Mitchell fill a spot? Can Seabrook bounce back? Olli Maatta had an up-and-down season. Where does he fit? This offseason should give Bowman and Colliton another opportunity to determine what players play best together and really dive into the numbers, examine Colliton’s system and what works and have a plan for next training camp again.

15. Clarify Bowman’s contract status.

This may be something for McDonough to do, but it’s just strange that no one has been willing to give a definitive answer about whether Bowman was given an extension. It’s just another thing fans have grown frustrated about. The Blackhawks have never been secretive about such things in the past. Bowman’s last contract was announced, and other such contracts have been announced in the past. Sure, it might have been strange to give Bowman an extension after missing the playoffs again last season and putting the blame more on Quenneville, but McDonough and Wirtz could have explained they have faith in Bowman. They obviously do. If Bowman doesn’t have an extension, he will be entering the last year of his contract next season. Whatever the case, the Blackhawks would probably benefit from being more transparent. The organization needs their fans, especially season ticket holders, to believe in the direction for the future.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181385 Columbus Blue Jackets Tortorella and his wife, Christine, were tending to their rescue animals last week during an interview on Sportsnet, a Canadian broadcasting outlet. As Tortorella chatted with the three co-hosts, including former Columbus Blue Jackets captain, coach and GM make good use of NHL GM Brian Burke, the sound of birds chirping nearly drowned out his downtime words at one point.

“Do you have birds or are you outside?” Burke asked.

Brian Hedger “I’m in my barn,” Tortorella replied. “You know, Burkey, I have three rescue horses, four rescue (pit bulls) … I’ve got stuff flying in this barn all Mar 22, 2020 at 5:01 AM over the place. This is what my wife and I do. If it’s not hockey, this is what we do.”

What Tortorella doesn’t have flying around is any idea where things are John Tortorella, the Blue Jackets’ head coach, is puttering about his barn headed with the remainder of the season or the ongoing health crisis. while tending to his rescue horses and dogs. “I just don’t know where it all goes, how long it’s going to be,” Tortorella Jarmo Kekalainen, the team’s general manager, is grinding through said. “I don’t think anybody knows what’s going to happen. As I watch the workouts at home, just like his players, uncertain of the path ahead for news daily and hear about where these pockets (of outbreaks) are and his team, the NHL and the world at large during the coronavirus where it’s all going to go, it’s hard to really pinpoint what we should do.” pandemic. Like the rest of North America, no one in hockey saw this coming ‒ at And Nick Foligno, the Jackets’ captain, is helping his three young least, not this rapidly or to this extent. children discover their imagination, passing time during a self-quarantine by making up games to play and logging hours of knee hockey. “You see everything changing so quickly,” said Kekalainen, who huffed and puffed into a cellphone during a workout last week. “You can He’s also helping his wife, Janelle, as “principal, teacher, lunch man and basically see that nobody could anticipate what was happening and how janitor,” for his 6-year-old daughter Milana’s new school ‒ inside their quickly this was evolving. home. “We’re going to keep monitoring it, keep evolving and do everything we This is social distancing, NHL-style. can to prevent the spread of the disease.” “It’s frustrating, but it’s frustrating for everybody in the world, not just In the meantime, they’re all going to keep themselves busy. hockey players,” said Foligno, who is a week into following the NHL’s recommendation that players self-quarantine for a 14-day period ending “My kids ask me every day, ‘When’s your next game?’ ” Foligno said with March 27. a laugh. “I’m like, ‘Uh, I don’t know! I don’t think you realize Dad’s going to probably be here for a while.’” “I know we’re in the media a lot, so people want to know about us, but it’s got to be frustrating for everyone,” he added. “I mean, it’s changed Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.22.2020 everyone’s lives. I’m part of that and I feel for everybody because you’ve literally gone from one day, when everything was normal, to complete and utter lockout of everything.”

For hockey players, that includes the barring from team facilities for all except injured players who must continue daily rehabilitation. It also means a lot of downtime, the majority of which isn’t spent cranking out home workouts.

Foligno has a gym area in his home, which helps him stay in shape and release pent-up frustrations, but other Blue Jackets players dwell in Downtown apartments. To them, self-quarantine means long hours in relatively cramped confines and decisions like whether to use the elevator or stairs.

Players are, however, permitted to wait out the league’s hiatus and self- quarantine at their offseason homes.

“I don’t blame those guys for wanting to go back to summer homes, where maybe they’re better set up or where maybe they have access to more land just to move around,” said Foligno, who said he has left his home only once, to get groceries and gasoline, since the NHL announced its stoppage on March 12. “If I was stuck in an apartment, I’d be losing my mind right now.”

Instead, Foligno is enjoying a lot of family time at a point on the calendar when he’s usually laser-focused on getting the Blue Jackets into the .

“March is a time where I’m usually gearing up to focus on the playoffs, so my mind … it’s not that it’s not with my family, but there’s always time throughout a season where it’s just a little more dialed into your job,” Foligno said. “So it’s been really fun in that way.”

All three of Foligno’s children had health issues last season, ranging from 4-year-old son Landon suffering a broken leg to Milana needing a heart valve replacement and 2-year-old son Hudson battling a case of pneumonia.

“I think I’ve learned from a lot of (things), so I told my wife, ‘Let’s make the most of this,’ ” Foligno said. “This is time that we may never get again, because our lives are going to get so busy after this. So let’s enjoy sitting around playing board games or just making up games.”

His coach, meanwhile, is whiling away the hours in his barn. 1181386 Columbus Blue Jackets

View from John Forslund’s bunker: Resumption of NHL season may be unfeasible

Michael Arace

Mar 21, 2020 at 6:46 PM

On March 8, John Forslund, the television voice of the Carolina Hurricanes, checked into the Detroit hotel room that was vacated by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert patient zero for COVID-19 in American professional sports. Forslund is in self-quarantine in the finished basement of his Apex, North Carolina, home until Monday. He has shown no symptoms of the virus. The Dispatch is making daily checks on Forslund, a featured play-by-play telecaster for NHL games on NBC. Here’s the latest installment of Johnny’s Bunker Report:

By the midpoint of his quarantine, Forslund had already spent hours and hours thinking about how a restarted NHL season might look. He shared his thoughts in an early Bunker Report:

Way back at the beginning of last week, Forslund suspected that the remainder of the regular season would be scuttled and the league would go right into an expanded playoff format. (Among other things, he said, "The Blue Jackets have done a remarkable job just to be in the race. Let Torts rally the troops and try to play their way in. It’d be fabulous television. Whenever it comes back, the country is going to be so happy for sports that everyone’s going to go crazy.")

In the days since, Forslund’s thoughts have been remolded. Amid his isolation, he has consumed copious amounts of cable news. He has watched the pandemic spread and expand like a spider web across a cracked windshield. It has sharpened his perspective.

"Hockey is not exactly a priority right now," Forslund said.

"Let’s step back and think," he added. "Best case is the league reconvenes at the end of April. Best case. But I don’t think they can. MLS has already pushed things into May. If you’re saying April and you keep changing on the fly, you’re keeping the players in a state of flux, and I don’t think that does them any good.

"Hockey is not like a lot of other sports. There is a physical training, a fitness level and a synchronization of play that are all vital. In basketball, if everyone’s in great shape, a game right off the street and it’ll look a lot like basketball. It’s awfully hard to play hockey right off the street. It’d be a totally different game.

"Let the players have an offseason. If you come back in June or July, there’s not much offseason until the next season. All these players, they need a chance to stop and recharge."

Forslund believes the NHL is closely monitoring all of this, including the need for an offseason, even if the league gets back to playing in July or August.

"Maybe we overlooked, or underestimated, the enormity of this," he said. "Things have changed. Resumption doesn’t seem as attainable as it once did. At this point, I don’t know why you would (resume).

"It’s almost got to be really clear from the health officials, with little or no doubt, that it’d be safe. I’m not a medical person, I’m not a genius, but that’s how I see it. What if you come back and a player tests positive? What do you do then? Shut it all down all over again?

"That’s why I’m really not thinking about hockey. When I get back, we’ll see where it’s at and go from there. We’ve all got bigger things to worry about."

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181387 Detroit Red Wings Most disappointing forward(s)

Abdelkader, Nielsen, Filppula: A group award that goes to Justin Abdelkader (three assists, minus-14 in 49 games against $4.25 million The best and worst Red Wings of the 2019-20 season: Our awards salary cap hit), Frans Nielsen (nine points, minus-13 in 60 games against $5.25 million cap hit) and Valtteri Filppula (21 points, minus-42 in 70 games against $3 million cap hit). I anticipate Nielsen and Filppula will Helene St. James still play in Detroit next season, because they can still skate/take faceoffs/kill penalties, but Abdelkader will be waived and sent to Grand 1:35 p.m. ET March 21, 2020 Rapids.

[Red Wings will do anything to stay in shape during coronavirus crisis] The Detroit Red Wings’ season was postponed one game after they Top rookie assured they’d finish where they belong: At the bottom of the standings. Filip Zadina: From his season debut Nov. 24 until an ankle injury The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered professional and amateur sidelined him Feb. 1, Zadina was third on the team with 15 points in 28 sports leagues, with the NHL putting the 2019-20 season on pause games. He was making plays and finishing them, and using the strength March 12. The league and players association are mulling scenarios for a he’d gained from two seasons in the Wings’ system to look more like the possible return, though based on the Centers for Disease Control and player the Wings hoped they drafted at sixth overall in 2018. Prevention advising against public gatherings of more than 50 people through at least the first week of May — and the general uncertainty Brightest stretch sparked by the COVID-19 crisis — cancellation is a possibility. That mirage of a 3-1 start in which the Wings won at Nashville, against It’s moot for the Wings, who at 17-49-5 will finish 31st. It has been bleak Dallas and at Montreal. It turned out beating the Canadiens was the only with few bright spots, and that is reflected in a look back at this very un- reliable measure, as the Wings went 4-0 in the season series. award winning season: Bleakest stretch Best defenseman The Wings followed up opening week with an 1-11-1 stretch that plunged Filip Hronek: The Wings had so many injuries on the back end that they them to 30th place. They never rose higher the rest of the season, and rolled through 14 defensemen. Their top defender, Danny DeKeyser, was guaranteed finishing 31st when they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes on lost to a back injury eight games into the season (it speaks to how bad March 10. their defense is that DeKeyser still ranks seventh in scoring among team defensemen with four points). Hronek was cast into a larger role than Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.22.2020 planned because of the DeKeyser injury, and largely handled the burden well. Hronek led team defensemen in average power play minutes and shorthanded minutes per game (both 2:53) and led all skaters with in average ice time (23:54). He was second on the team with 74 blocked shots, and fourth with 125 shots. Hronek makes smart plays with the puck, doesn’t panic, and plays with bite. And he’s only 22 and has played in 111 career games.

Most disappointing defenseman

Dennis Cholowski: Veterans Trevor Daley (seven assists, minus-22 in 43 games) and Mike Green (11 points, minus-32 in 48 games before being traded to Edmonton) disappointed, but they aren’t part of the team’s future and both struggled with health. It’s Cholowski (eight points, minus- 26 in 36 games) who disappointed the most — he seemed like he was off to a good start, but while he’s a good skater and can move the puck, he didn’t show the assertiveness the coaching staff — and general manager Steve Yzerman — has urged him to play with. Cholowski, 22, is from the same draft as Hronek (2016) and was drafted in the first round (20th overall), but he had a chance to show he belongs in the lineup this season and failed to do so.

Most Valuable Player

Jonathan Bernier: He gave the Wings a chance to win most nights, especially since Dec. 15 (.915 save percentage, 2.72 goals-against average in 23 games). With Jimmy Howard having such a poor season (.882 save percentage, 4.20 GAA in 27 games; last victory was Oct. 29), Bernier started or appeared in 18 of the last 19 games. The Wings’ minus-122 goal differential is the worst in the NHL by minus-70 (Ottawa checks in at minus-52), but it would be even worse if not for Bernier.

Best all-around forward

Dylan Larkin: He’s the face of the rebuild, acknowledges when he doesn’t play to expectations and has faced the media after games more than any teammates. When the NHL paused the season, Larkin led the Wings with 53 points in 71 games (he and Tyler Bertuzzi were the only skaters to not have missed a game). Larkin plays both special teams, and plays in all situations. This is the guy who has earned the right to be the next captain.

Best defensive forward

Darren Helm: He deserves recognition for having a minus-6 rating on a team in which all of the other forwards who appeared in at least 45 games are in double digits. Helm’s production (nine goals, seven assists in 68 games) is respectable considering he plays in the bottom six and averages 13:44 in ice time, 1:39 of which is shorthanded time. 1181388 Edmonton Oilers 25-25

Erik Brannstrom

Lowetide: Should Oilers prospect Philip Broberg play in North America 2017-18 next year? 15:15

24-27 Allan Mitchell Philip Broberg Mar 21, 2020 35 2019-20

13:59 Edmonton Oilers fans are a learned bunch when it comes to the NHL Draft. Ten years of no playoffs followed by learning about and tracking 23-23 lottery picks will do that to a fan base. Broberg's team (Skelleftea) was among the better SHL teams in 2019-20, So when Ken Holland passed on USHL forwards Trevor Zegras, Matthew with an even-strength goal differential of 118-102 (+16). His 23-23 Boldy and Cole Caufield to select Swedish defenceman Philip Broberg at differential places him behind four defencemen in even-strength goal No. 8 overall at the 2019 draft, literally hundreds of paying customers differential on the team. This is completely appropriate for a rookie player were doing an offence-versus-defence calculation in real time. on a deep team filled with veterans. When a player steps up a league in quality, survival is success. Broberg was often paired with Filip Berglund, What kind of offence would Broberg need to deliver to justify being drafted by Edmonton in 2016. He finished 31-28 on the season. chosen ahead of those three forwards? Is he a shutdown defenceman? Is he a complete defenceman? Soderstrom's draft-plus-one season is 2019-20, just like Broberg's. It was Soderstrom's second season in the league, so it's reasonable to expect And now that Broberg has played in the SHL, what did we learn from his he would play a larger role. Soderstrom's even-strength ice time might be first post-draft season? Should he come to North America in the fall and a good projection for Broberg in 2020-21 should he remain in the league play the 2020-21 season with the AHL Bakersfield Condors? next season. Soderstrom's Brynas club isn't as strong as Skelleftea, with an even-strength goal differential of 87-113 (-26). Soderstrom's 25-25 Let’s see how many questions we can answer. differential is one of the more impressive totals on his team.

Offence Brannstrom's draft-plus-one season in the SHL was spent with HV71 How much offence does Broberg deliver? Ask an Oilers fan and you (Soderstrom's team). The team's even-strength goal differential in 2017- might hear about his unimpressive boxcars (1-7-8 in 45 SHL games this 18 was 103-90 (+13), similar to Broberg's Skelleftea season this year. season) and lack of power-play time (less than 20 minutes all season). Brannstrom's 24-27 goal differential was in the red and well behind the Recent SHL draft picks like Erik Brannstrom (44 games and 2-13-15 in team's best defenders. draft plus one, same league) and Victor Soderstrom (35 games and 5-11- Defensively, Broberg's performance doesn't imply he is a strong 16 in draft plus one, SHL) posted more impressive overall numbers than shutdown option, but it does show he held his own in making the leap to Broberg in their matching seasons coming out of the draft. Sweden's best league.

One of the key elements in comparing prospects is making sure we’re Broberg's Atlantic crossing looking at numbers compiled in the same game state. If we tear away the power-play minutes and evaluate the three young prospects on an even There are two considerations regarding Broberg staying in Sweden for playing field (even strength), the picture is not as many fans believe. another season. Is he challenged by SHL competition? And will he get enough playing time in the SHL next year? Victor Soderstrom I think the answer is obvious in both cases. Broberg played third pair 2019-20 based on minutes played and delivered a solid rookie year. He didn't 35, 2-6-8 dominate offensively or defensively, but he held his own. He would benefit from moving up the depth chart and from added power-play time. 0.82 He is likely to see an increase in playing time with Skelleftea in 2020-21.

Erik Brannstrom What does it all mean?

2017-18 I think we can call Broberg a two-way defenceman and assume his offensive numbers will spike when he's given power-play minutes. He 44, 2-7-9 can move the puck expertly by transport, and his performance at the 0.81 Hlinka Gretzky tournament in his draft year implies there's real potential in this area. Philip Broberg Broberg performed well defensively in 2019-20, breaking even in a men's 2019-20 league while learning to adjust to the increase in pace and physical play. He has shown he can play at this level and should win extra minutes on 45, 1-6-7 merit this fall. 0.67 Based on the numbers, there's no obvious reason to bring Broberg to The even-strength offence is similar in draft-plus-one seasons. Broberg North America. He's playing in a league that challenges him and is trails marginally, but he's the only player in this group playing in his first having success. Oscar Klefbom played two seasons post-draft in the SHL season. A reasonable conclusion: Broberg's performance is SHL before arriving in North America and splitting his time between comparable to the other two men offensively in draft plus one. He is Edmonton and the AHL Oklahoma City Barons. Fans can point to lacking in power-play opportunity, something that should arrive as soon Broberg getting just 24 seconds a night with the man advantage in Year as next season. 1 after his draft, but Klefbom received just 30 seconds on the five-on-four in his draft-plus-one season and developed into a productive NHL power- Defence play performer. Projecting any Swedish defenceman from here (in terms of power-play usage in the future) is folly. Is Broberg a shutdown defenceman? Is he a complete defenceman? Broberg emerged at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament right at the beginning Victor Soderstrom of his draft season. He flourished in tournaments against players his age, 2019-20 but scouting reports had him as a depth player who showed little offensive flair with AIK (in the pro league just below the SHL) in 2018-19. 16:42 What do we know now that we didn't know then? We know Broberg can play effectively at even strength in Sweden's best league at age 18 (he won't turn 19 until June). We know there's plenty of room to grow and that his offence is on par (at even strength) with players who were drafted high in the first round and played in the SHL in Year 1 after the draft.

What don't we know and what is still to be answered? Questions remain about Broberg's outer marker at both ends of the rink. He is matriculating, and nothing about his season is disappointing.

He may come to North America in the fall, but there's no obvious reason to do it. Broberg is developing his game in Sweden, and another year in the SHL should benefit him.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181389 Los Angeles Kings Enhanced cleaning procedures followed. Eighty-five additional staffers were brought in for postgame cleaning. Areas that visitors or staff touch were cleaned regularly: ATMs, doorknobs, elevator buttons, escalator Half of NBA and NHL coronavirus cases are linked to Staples Center. rails, food service areas, point-of-sale terminals, restrooms. Even What happened? telephones in the luxury suites. The arena purchased disinfectant products and new equipment to minimize the spread of germs in its five Staples Center seats more than 18,000 for hockey and 19,000 for locker rooms, 48 restrooms and slew of other private and public areas. basketball, with multiple locker rooms for the Lakers, Clippers, Kings and opponents. Wild Card Round - Minnesota Vikings v New Orleans Saints

The Clippers eliminated a tradition where players slapped hands with fans while running onto the court before tipoff. NATHAN FENNO Though the NBA had circulated at least two additional memos related to MARCH 21, 20208 PM COVID-19 precautions — including one March 7 instructing teams to identify a site that could test for the virus and to distribute hand sanitizer

to all players and staff — the looming crisis remained fodder for some The NBA’s reach extends across the globe, broadcasting to more than kidding around. 200 countries and territories while generating almost $9 billion in annual During the game against the Clippers, Lakers star Anthony Davis revenue. Its top players are the most powerful in sports, able to reach appeared to lick his hand and high-five teammates LeBron James and tens of millions and spark change with a single social media post. The Avery Bradley. Teammates jokingly dubbed them “The Corona Boys.” behemoth’s reach and influence across cultures and time zones is built Davis insisted he hadn’t licked his hand. on a massive sum of interconnected parts. “I kind of like mimicked it and it was like this whole thing,” Davis said. “I’m It is a fragile behemoth too, those same woven connections vulnerable to cleaner than that.” the chain reactions upon which a pandemic preys. Several Senators hockey players attended the game, reportedly in a However, a pandemic didn’t seem to be on the minds of players as suite, as the Lakers defeated the Clippers in what looked like a preview recently as the first week of March, when the insouciance of the NBA of the Western Conference finals. mirrored that of sports at large and the rest of the country. :: The games went on, with the usual casual human contact: hugs, high- fives, news conferences in cramped locker rooms, charter flights, hotel Two days later, on March 10, fans squeezed through the doors at stays. Life went on, with grocery shelves still filled with cans of beans, Staples Center before the Lakers played the Nets. Even though the first bags of pasta, toilet paper. The spread of the novel coronavirus, which L.A. County death from COVID-19 had been announced earlier in the had reached the front pages, nonetheless still felt like someone else’s afternoon, everything at the arena appeared normal. Some fans stopped problem. at hand-sanitizing stations. Others didn’t.

Behind the scenes, though, tension mounted. The league issued a series Though 20 cases of the virus had been diagnosed in the county, fans of increasingly alarming memorandums. Limit interactions with fans. shrugged off talk about playing games without spectators. Increase reminders to fans to wash their hands. Use fist-bumps instead of high-fives. Prepare to play games with only essential personnel “It’s been blown out of proportion,” one said of the virus. present. Local reporters embraced DeAndre Jordan, a former Clipper now with Staples Center, home to the Lakers and Clippers and the NHL’s Kings, the Nets, and Jared Dudley of the Lakers on the court before the game. ramped up cleaning procedures as part of a wide-ranging plan. The hub But there were hints that all wasn’t right. of sports and entertainment in Los Angeles hosted 39 events after the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the county, including the Staples Center added attendants in each restroom to continually disinfect memorial service for Kobe Bryant, the Grammy Awards, two nights of bull surfaces. riding, 12 Kings games, and 19 games involving the Lakers or Clippers. Lakers forward LeBron James drives against the Nets on March 10, The final three games came during four days, ending March 11 when 2020, during both teams’ final game before suspension of play in the sports at every level lurched to a stop because the rampant spread of the NBA. virus had reached NBA locker rooms. The NBA, along with Major League Baseball, the NHL and Major League At least eight athletes who played in those games have been diagnosed Soccer, had limited locker room access to essential personnel and with COVID-19: four Brooklyn Nets, including sidelined star Kevin Durant, mandated that interviews be conducted with six feet between media two Lakers who haven’t been identified and two members of the NHL’s members and players. What qualified as “essential” remained broad: Ottawa Senators. Identifying the source and site of the infection is executives, equipment staffers, media relations staffers, support staffers. impossible, but the Lakers’ schedule during that final week put them within four degrees of separation of every NBA team. The crossover Jacque Vaughn, the Nets coach, told reporters he wasn’t worried about between leagues — 11 arenas are home to both NBA and NHL teams — COVID-19. the densely loaded schedules, the proximity to closely packed stands, For pregame and postgame Lakers news conferences, dozens of combined with an easily spread virus, created a new label for athletes: reporters crammed into the locker room used by visiting hockey teams. super spreaders. The Senators would use the room a day later. Black curtains covered the Amid the tumult of sports at every level shutting down, followed by much lockers. About 30 chairs in the room for media members were so close of the country, Staples Center is a common denominator among eight of together that they touched. Some journalists stood next to walls. But the 16 cases of COVID-19 announced by NBA and NHL teams. Lakers coach Frank Vogel and players maintained a six-foot distance from media members. This is the story of the last four days inside Staples Center. After a two-point loss to the Nets, Lakers player Danny Green was asked :: if he had changed anything to deal with the virus.

By the time the Lakers faced the Clippers on March 8, a Sunday, the “Some guys have, some guys haven’t,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter NBA had already circulated a memo to arena general managers to me. I haven’t. I still sign autographs. I still fist bump, shake hands, say encouraging them to assemble a COVID-19 working group, increase ‘what’s up.’ Extra sanitizer, but that’s not a focus right now. Just continue reminders to fans about personal hygiene and suggesting a range of to focus on playing basketball. Just have to adjust to whatever comes.” measures to ensure the cleanliness of their buildings like sanitizing cash registers and door handles. ::

Staples Center, which hosts about 250 events each year and has up to The next day, March 11, the World Health Organization declared the 1,700 part-time employees at games, installed 120 hand-sanitizing virus to be a pandemic. stations throughout the arena, including locker rooms, on March 1. The NCAA announced March Madness games would be played without That might never be known. The virus could have been transmitted just fans. Several professional teams, including the Golden State Warriors, as easily in a team bus or charter flight or another arena or a thousand did the same. other places. The people involved will have to ponder the question in the same place as most everyone else. Home. Meanwhile, the Kings and Senators prepared to play hockey at Staples Center. About an hour before the scheduled start, the NBA announced it Staff writers Helene Elliott, Tania Ganguli, Andrew Greif, Jack Harris, would suspend its season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested Broderick Turner and Dan Woike contributed to this report. positive for COVID-19 before the team’s game in Oklahoma City. LA Times: LOADED: 03.22.2020 “I think people are taking enough precautions, and I am myself too, so I’m not particularly concerned,” one fan said.

A member of the Kings front office surveyed the tiny crowd — just 12,030 fans showed up, by far the smallest of the season — and wondered where everyone was.

The Kings, in keeping with new regulations to keep media members out of locker rooms, held their postgame news conference in the locker room the Nets used the previous night. The main concern was whether the NHL season would continue — the league suspended play the next day — not whether players or staffers were infected with COVID-19.

“The night felt strange,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

::

Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Jazz and Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons were the only NBA players who had tested positive for COVID-19 before the announcement last Tuesday that shook the league.

Four members of the Nets had tested positive. Durant, the 10-time All- Star who is out for the season while rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, was the only player to confirm he had it.

“Public health authorities and team doctors have been concerned that, given NBA players’ direct contact with each other and close interactions with the general public, in addition to their frequent travel, they could accelerate the spread of the virus,” an NBA spokesman said in response to questions about why players received tests when they are in short supply across the country.

The same day, the Senators announced an unidentified player had also tested positive, the first to do so in the NHL.

However, the Senators and Nets had not used the same spaces at Staples Center and took different routes to the arena floor. The only time their footsteps would have been the same is the walk from the team bus through the marshaling area and to the corridor where the locker rooms are located.

There wasn’t any “cross-pollination” between the Senators and Nets at Staples Center, according to Lee Zeidman, president of the arena, the Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live, because they didn’t use the same facilities.

On Wednesday morning, 14 Lakers players were tested for COVID-19 at the team’s facility in El Segundo. Team physicians and public health officials recommended the move after the positive tests by the Nets. A season aimed at a championship had degenerated into a 10-second procedure where a large swab was inserted up noses and twisted around.

The two positive results were announced the next day. Neither player has been identified, but the Lakers said both are asymptomatic and quarantined.

The stream of results continued Saturday when a second Senators player tested positive. Of the 52 players and staff who joined the team’s California trip that included stops in San Jose and Anaheim, eight have been tested. More results are pending. Last week, the team directed all members of the traveling party to self-quarantine.

No members of the Kings or Clippers have tested positive for COVID-19. But the eight positive tests by athletes with recent games at Staples Center are a tiny piece of the mushrooming public health crisis that has grown to more than 26,000 cases and 260 deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S.

While much of the country stays home to try to halt the spread of COVID- 19 — beleaguered by lost jobs, destroyed routines and pervasive uncertainty — the games feel like a hazy memory. But the question, one among many, still lingers around the final four days at Staples Center. With so many precautions, how did this happen? 1181390 Los Angeles Kings

Men’s hockey world championships canceled because of coronavirus outbreak

HELENE ELLIOTT

MARCH 21, 202011:45 AM

The 2020 men’s world hockey championships have been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced Saturday.

The tournament was to have taken place in the Swiss cities of Zurich and Lausanne starting May 8 and running through May 24. The women’s championships, which were to have been held in Canada starting March 31, were canceled two weeks ago.

“This is a harsh reality to face for the international ice hockey family, but one that we must accept,” Rene Fasel, the IIHF’s president, said in a statement released Saturday. “The coronavirus is a global problem and requires major efforts by government bodies to combat its spread. The IIHF must do all it can to support this fight. We have to set sport aside for now and support both the government bodies and the ice hockey family.”

The statement also said there were “obviously no possibilities to relocate” the event this year.

LA Times: LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181391 New Jersey Devils No. 2 pick and the chance to select Quinton Byfield outweighs the disappointment of the Coyotes’ pick dropping back two spots to No. 12.

Simulation No. 64 The Devils and the lottery: What 100 simulations say about the 2020 NHL Draft Welcome to the darkest timeline for Devils fans. Not only do both picks drop the maximum three spots, but the rivals across the Hudson River also move up from No. 13 to No. 1. This exact scenario is expected to Corey Masisak happen 7.5 times in every one million simulations.

Mar 21, 2020 Here are the results of the 100 spins of the lottery wheel:

New Jersey landing the No. 1 pick 12 times in 100 tries is high. The odds for the Devils and that pick are only 7.5 percent. Winning a lottery pick 25 The 2020 NHL Draft is less than 100 days away. Well … maybe not. times is also a little high (odds are 23.3 percent).

What could be one of the most important days for the Devils franchise in Arizona gets to keep its pick in 14 of these 100 scenarios, up from the the past 15 years is, like the rest of the NHL calendar, in flux. The league 11.4 percent odds. There is less than a .01 percent chance that pick slips has put the 2019-20 season on hiatus during the pandemic, and what to No. 13, but as we saw earlier, it is still possible. that means for the 2020 draft remains to be determined. The most likely scenario is the Devils end up sliding back one spot with We don’t know when the draft is going to happen or if it will still be held at their pick to No. 7 while getting the No. 10 pick from Arizona. Even if it Bell Centre in Montreal. When it is time, will the NHL use the same draft also slides back a spot, getting the No. 11 pick in a trade where the other lottery system and odds to determine the first 15 picks? team was buying is a very fortunate outcome for the Devils.

But … we also have a lot of time between now and whenever some of Who are some of the Devils’ options? those questions will be answered. Teams such as the Devils are definitely using this time to do more homework on the 2020 draft class, Let’s run through the potential landing spots for the lottery choices, along even if they can’t watch the prospects play live. with the Canucks’ pick if it remains at No. 17.

New Jersey could have three picks in the first round. It would be the first No. 1 time in franchise history. The Devils also could have two top-10 picks, It’s Lafreniere. He’s been the consensus No. 1 pick in his draft for at least which would be another franchise first. as long as Jack Hughes was the top guy in the 2019 class. Lafreniere, a If there are no more regular-season games and the lottery system left-shooting left wing, would be a long-term replacement for Hall and remains the same, the Devils would have the sixth-best odds to claim the give the Devils a third player with face-of-the-franchise potential. No. 1 pick with their own choice. The Coyotes would have the 10th-best No. 2 odds. If Arizona’s pick lands in the top three, the Coyotes will keep it. If it ends up at 10, 11, 12 or 13, the Devils would receive it as part of the This pick is going to be Byfield. Yes, he is a center. No, that won’t matter Taylor Hall trade. if the Devils land at No. 2. Lots of players are centers when they get drafted but not when they reach the NHL. Byfield or Hughes can slide to New Jersey would get Vancouver’s pick, which is currently No. 17, if the the wing if needed, or the Devils will roll out the best 1-2-3 punch down Canucks do not reach the conference finals. the middle in the NHL in a few years. Byfield is also listed at 6-foot-4 and How could it all shake out, and which prospects could be on New 215 pounds, and his size would be a welcome commodity at any position Jersey’s radar? for New Jersey.

We’re going to take a look at both questions, with some help from the There was a big, powerful wing drafted at No. 2 last year. And some essential website for any fan of a lottery-bound team, Tankathon. It has people would see the Rangers’ long-term need for a center to pair with an NHL Draft lottery simulator. The Athletic ran the simulation 100 times. Mika Zibanejad, and that the Devils already have two franchise centers. So, we asked one of The Athletic’s prospect experts, Scott Wheeler, the A reminder that the NHL does a lottery for each of the top three picks. question that will inevitably come up if New Jersey ends up with the No. 2 New Jersey’s own pick could land at 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 or 9, given the current pick: standings. The No. 2 pick (Byfield) for … who says no? Here’s a quick spin through the 100 simulations: “I would lean Byfield, so the Devils probably say no,” Wheeler said. “He Simulation No. 1 plays the more important position, he’s a better skater, and he’s a year and a half younger. I’m relatively confident in a year and a half that Well, that wasn’t the best start. The Devils would have to wait a year, Byfield will be able to produce more than Kakko did this year, and I think though the Coyotes’ first-round pick will be unprotected next season. you have to approach their evaluations with that context in mind. Byfield Adding a player such as consensus No. 1 pick Alexis Lafreniere would doesn’t turn 18 until the end of August. Neither are perfect players, but I’d certainly help Arizona’s quest to get back to the playoffs. If there is a bet on the center with more runway and one extra year on his ELC.” silver lining for the Devils, landing Lafreniere might help persuade Hall to stay in the desert. If that happened, New Jersey would get Arizona’s first- No. 3, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and second-round picks in 2021. This will be the point in the draft where the people on the television set Simulation No. 8 and about 50 writers on Twitter will say “this is where the draft really begins.” There is no consensus player at the No. 3 spot. Much like last This is a good-news, bad-news situation. The Devils would be thrilled to year, there are two guys at the top and then an intriguing cluster of land the third pick, even if that’s the spot in this draft where the players behind them. There wasn’t a lot of separation between Kirby consensus ends. But they would miss out on a second top-10 selection. Dach, who went third to the Blackhawks, and Trevor Zegras, who went Also, there’s an 11.5 percent chance the lottery goes from being a bad ninth to the Ducks. night for Sharks fans to a terrible one. Like it would in this scenario. Wheeler and Corey Pronman had seven of the eight players from 3-10 Simulation No. 12 the same in their midseason draft rankings, just in a different order. Here is the best-case scenario on lottery day for the Devils. New Jersey Here’s a quick snapshot of this group, in alphabetical order: lands the No. 1 pick for the third time in four years. And the Coyotes’ pick • Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA St. Petersburg (Russia) stays at No. 10. He’s had a couple of slip-ups in his draft season, and teams might not Simulation No. 40 see him as a player with generational talent at a position that is hard to Chaos! This is the worst-case scenario for four teams — Detroit, Ottawa, project anyway. We’ll discuss him more later. Los Angeles and Anaheim. It’s a mixed bag for the Devils, but landing the • Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie (OHL) He’s not big, but he’s the consensus No. 1 defenseman in this draft. the Avalanche as a potential landing spot for Spencer Knight last year because Colorado had picks Nos. 4 and 16. Knight went 13th to Florida, • Alexander Holtz, LW/RW, Djurgarden (Sweden) and the Avalanche are happy to have Alex Newhook in the pipeline now.

• Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw (OHL) The Devils could be making their third pick of the night at No. 17. Would • Lucas Raymond, LW/RW, Frolunda (Sweden) they consider Askarov if he’s still there?

• Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa (OHL) Mackenzie Blackwood has grabbed control of the New Jersey net, and he’s 23 years old. That said, his NHL résumé is still only 70 games deep, • Tim Stützle, LW, Adler Mannheim (Germany) and Askarov’s potential is tantalizing.

There are five forwards in this cluster, and none of them is listed at taller One last question for Wheeler: than 6-foot or more than 185 pounds. Rossi is the smallest at 5-foot-9, but he also plays for the New Jersey 67s (Ottawa has four Devils If the Devils get No. 17 from Vancouver and Askarov is still there … prospects on the roster). Perfetti has generally been ranked near the yeah? maybe? no? back of this group, but the others have shuffled up and down inside the “Somewhere between yes and maybe,” he said. “There’s a good chance top 10 dating to last season. he’s the top-ranked player left on my board there, but it would depend on Should the Devils end up with the No. 3 pick, it will be their job to choose fallers. He’s not a top-nine pick for me, but I’m comfortable with him in the best player from this group. New Jersey has needs at every position, the mid-to-late first round.” but the allure of Drysdale, if the club projects him to be a potential The Athletic LOADED: 03.22.2020 headliner for the defense corps, is pretty obvious.

This leads us to an obvious question:

Assuming every team wants to draft the best player available, how high would it be reasonable for someone to take Drysdale and claim he’s the BPA on their board?

“I think No. 3 is reasonable for that argument to be made,” Wheeler said. “I’ve said all year that there is a reasonable argument to be made for anyone in the 3-8 range for third overall, maybe even the 3-9 range. Drysdale is right in that mix, just like Byram was a year ago for me. I wouldn’t fault a team for taking him third overall. He probably won’t be the third-ranked player in my final draft ranking, but I’ll certainly understand the case.”

If the Devils’ own pick ends up in the 6-9 range, they’ll have to adjust to who is left on the board, but surprises do happen. The Red Wings and Canucks did not expect Filip Zadina and Quinn Hughes to be available at Nos. 6 and 7 in 2018, but after smaller surprises at No. 3 (Jesperi Kotkaniemi) and No. 4 (Brady Tkachuk) and a bigger one at No. 5 (Barrett Hayton), two guys who could have been the third pick slid into welcoming arms outside the top five.

No. 10, 11, 12, 13

It will be a wait-and-see situation with the Coyotes’ pick, but it’s plausible that one of the players from the cluster ends up sliding to No. 10 or 11. There were fewer opportunities to scout these players because of the coronavirus shutdown, and the ongoing wait could lead to less pre-draft access (interviews, medical tests, etc.) If weird stuff happens at the 2020 draft, there will be good reason for it.

All of the pre-draft rankings are going to start to look more different from each other at this point once those guys from the third tier are gone. Expect the Devils to again grab the best player available. They need impact players, and if their draft board dictates that they take two wings or two defensemen, that’s likely what they’ll do.

If the Devils don’t nab Drysdale with the first pick, there will likely be a lot of fans hoping the second selection is someone at the position. So …

Assuming the Devils get pick No. 10-12 from Arizona, are there any defensemen after Drysdale who would be reasonable to draft in that range?

“I would probably argue that there aren’t, though it wouldn’t be completely off the board,” Wheeler said. “There are a handful of defensemen I’d consider in the teens (Jake Sanderson, Emil Andrae, Jeremie Poirier and Lukas Cormier are probably the four front-runners), but I would probably have a tough time taking them 10-12, especially if one of the top eight or nine slips, which normally happens.”

Moving back a few spots and still landing a player the Devils like, while also recouping an extra draft pick (they don’t have a second- or third- rounder in this draft), could be a worthwhile endeavor.

No. 17

The permutations on who might be available at this point are unwieldy, but there is one name worth discussing here: Askarov. Generally, teams have not drafted early over the past decade or so. Often, when a team has extra first-round picks, it becomes a potential suitor for the top goalie in that class. There was plenty of pre-draft chatter about 1181392 New York Islanders

Lou Lamoriello: Islanders will do what it takes to keep Mathew Barzal

Field Level Media

March 21, 2020 | 10:49PM

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello recently discussed the long- term future of Mathew Barzal and the immediate status of defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

Lamoriello was asked if he would match an offer sheet should one be presented to the 22-year-old Barzal, who will be a restricted free agent in the offseason.

“It is our intention to not allow it to get to that point, but should that happen, the answer is yes,” the GM said in remarks published Saturday on the Islanders’ team website.

Barzal recorded team-leading totals in assists (41) and points (60) in 68 games for the Islanders prior to the season being put on pause March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

A former Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) recipient, Barzal has 207 points (59 goals, 148 assists) in 234 career games since the Islanders selected him with the 16th-overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft.

As for Boychuk, Lamoriello said he expects the veteran defenseman to be ready to play when the NHL is set to do the same.

Boychuk required 90 stitches to repair a cut around his eyelid after being hit in the face by the skate of Canadiens left winger Artturi Lehkonen in the Islanders’ 6-2 loss to Montreal on March 3.

The 36-year-old veteran has two goals and nine assists in 64 games this season.

Boychuk has spent the past six years with the Islanders after playing the previous six with the Bruins. He has 54 goals and 152 assists in 725 career games with the Avalanche, Bruins and Islanders.

New York Post LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181393 New York Islanders

Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello takes part in Q&A session with fans

Andrew Gross

March 21, 2020 8:13 PM

The NHL season is on pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic with no timetable for play to resume.

But, looking ahead to next season, Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello expects injured top-pair defenseman Adam Pelech will be ready for training camp, top goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin will finally join the organization and top-line center Mathew Barzal will be re-signed.

Those were among the responses Lamoriello gave in a question-and- answer session with fans conducted via Twitter and posted on the Islanders’ team website.

Lamoriello said defenseman Johnny Boychuk and Casey Cizikas, both who suffered severe lacerations from skate blades, would be ready if the current season resumed and that Pelech, who suffered an Achilles’ tendon injury on Jan. 2, would be ready for training camp.

Sorokin, 24, drafted in the third round in 2014, has starred in the Russian KHL but his contract with CSKA Moscow is expiring. Lamoriello said there have been discussions to bring him to North America.

“We have every indication that he will be here for next season,” Lamoriello said.

Barzal and defensemen Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews are all impending restricted free agents and Lamoriello said the intention is to re-sign all three.

There’s been speculation that Barzal, who does not have arbitration rights as he concludes a three-year, $2.775 million entry-level deal, could attract a lucrative offer sheet from another NHL team.

Lamoriello was asked whether he would match it.

“It is our intention to not allow it to get to that point,” Lamoriello said. “But should that happen, the answer is yes.”

The coronavirus outbreak could certainly affect the construction plans of the Islanders’ new arena at Belmont Park.

But Lamoriello expressed confidence in the current timetable.

“I have all indications that the Belmont Park Arena is on schedule and will be ready for the 2021-22 season.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181394 New York Rangers Boston’s ownership took a public pounding throughout the week when it appeared as if the Jacobs family was going to be the league’s lone holdout. That criticism was justifiable.

Rangers must resist K’Andre Miller, Nils Lundkvist temptation But do you know whose ownerships have generally escaped scrutiny as the impact of the coronavirus moves at warp speed through society and we careen from one trauma to the next? Larry Brooks The ownerships of the Sharks, Blue Jackets and Capitals, that’s who. March 21, 2020 | 6:09pm Despite the fact the Santa Clara County public health officials recommended canceling sporting events, the Sharks opened their gates and played a March 5 home game against the Wild that had an K’Andre Miller is under contract, Nils Lundkvist should sign at some point attendance of 14,517. during this undefined offseason, and so both youngsters representing the forefront of the next wave of Rangers defensemen are expected to be at Despite the fact Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine suggested that all sporting training camp preceding the 2020-21 season. events in the state be played without spectators, the Blue Jackets thought they knew better and were prepared to open the gates in That is of course welcome news for the Blueshirts, who drafted the left- Columbus for matches on March 12 and 14 before they were postponed. handed Miller 22nd overall in 2018, six slots ahead of where the right- handed Lundkvist was selected. Who knows? At some point, and maybe The press release announcing the decision included the phrase, “Given not all that far off in the future, they will become a matched set, ala Adam the facts before us …” Fox and Ryan Lindgren. Given the facts before us, the Columbus ownership stands indicted as But not next year, at least not on Broadway, and no one should anticipate either insensitive, willfully ignorant, or greedy. Or all of the above. or even hope otherwise. Because the worst thing management could do would be to heighten expectations and then rush either or both of these Despite the fact the Washington D.C. Health Department issued a young men into the NHL. They’re going to need time, both of them, and recommendation that non-essential mass gatherings [of 1,000 people or they should get that time in Hartford with the Wolf Pack. more] be postponed, the Caps were prepared to open their doors to fans for a March 12 match and beyond until the NHL hit the pause button on In fact, once 2020-21 training camp concludes, the Rangers should March 11. pretend Miler, who turned 20 in January, is actually still at the University of Wisconsin, where he encountered a few potholes as a sophomore. Someone might have wanted to inform the team’s Monumental They should pretend Lundkvist, who will turn 20 in July, is still plying his Ownership that, a) Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of ’s all-time trade overseas in Sweden, where he had a big-time, step-up year for goal-scoring record is non-essential; and, b) that its decision to ignore Lulea in which he eclipsed teenaged totals previously posted by the likes health officials reeked of Monumental Arrogance. of Erik Karlsson. Here is Coach A, in the : 1,400 games behind the It is important for the Rangers to get their organizational jewels into the bench (10th in NHL history), 684 victories (11th), .556 winning organization, more so since the AHL operation under GM Chris Drury percentage, 183 playoff games (fifth), 94 playoff victories (sixth), two and coach Kris Knoblauch has become a genuine development program. finals, no Stanley Cups. It is important for the 6-foot-5 Miller, who can skate and move the puck Here is Coach B, not in the HHOF: 1,386 games behind the bench but needs work to become a reliable player on both sides of the puck, to (11th), 672 victories (12th), .551 winning percentage, 173 playoff games gain experience and learn the pro game. It is important for the 5-10 (sixth), 96 playoff victories (fifth), four finals, one Stanley Cup. Lundkvist, a slick driver of offense, to learn the North American game. Coach A is Pat Quinn. Everyone is flying blind here. Personnel decisions will of course be dramatically affected by the cap and the cap may be dramatically Coach B is Mike Keenan. affected by this interruption, and hypothetical cancelation, of the 2019-20 season. The cap number may remain stagnant. Amnesty buyouts might And finally … become part of the picture. Because you never know what is around the corner, because you never Regardless, the Rangers should not and must not rush Miller and know how much time anyone has, because all of this is so fragile, why Lundkvist, even if they have terrific camps and there is some external wait when there is no need? pressure to bring them to Broadway. They will need time. Management So again, only this time with added urgency, when hockey returns, let’s must be wise enough and resolute to give it to them. get the number of the second-greatest defenseman of his era and the The NHLPA held a membership-wide conference call Friday in which the second greatest defenseman in franchise history up to the pinwheel players essentially decided to defer a decision on how to handle ceiling of the Garden. upcoming crushing escrow losses until a verdict on this season is Let’s honor No. 2, Brad Park. rendered, per a source who participated in the give-and-take. Stay safe, folks. As we reported Thursday, the league has informed the union that cancelation of the season could mean a revenue loss of up to $1 billion. New York Post LOADED: 03.22.2020 That would translate to approximate escrow losses of up to 35 percent per player.

If there is nothing the union can do about that, and it seems to be locked in by the collective bargaining agreement 50-50 partnership on hockey- related revenue, the players are sure going to want to hold next year’s number down as much as possible, which is why it is impossible to predict what that cap might be, and what the personnel fallout might be across the league.

It also was reported by Canada’s TSN that owners will hold another conference call Monday on league financial issues.

So the Bruins of “Mr. Jacobs” are in, on Saturday becoming the final NHL operation to provide financial assistance for arena game-night laborers. It took a while, but it’s done, all 31 teams in, and it’s a good look for the NHL. 1181395 Ottawa Senators League officials and members of the NHL Players’ Association were informed of the most recent positive test Saturday afternoon. For privacy reasons, neither player’s name has been released and won’t be unless they make the decision to come forward themselves. Those who have A second Ottawa Senators player has been diagnosed with COVID-19 come in contact with the two players have been notified by club officials. after return from California “The Ottawa Senators’ medical team is actively monitoring players and staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater Bruce Garrioch community,” the statement added. “To be fully transparent with our fans, Published:March 21, 2020 and stakeholders we will continue to provide periodic updates as appropriate, while maintaining the privacy of the individuals impacted.” Updated:March 21, 2020 6:26 PM EDT Last Monday, Senators owner instructed all members of the club’s staff to work from home and, at that point, anybody who had been on the trip with the club was already doing that and wasn’t going to Another member of the Ottawa Senators has tested positive for the novel the rink. For example, general manager Pierre Dorion has been working coronavirus. from home since the club returned from its trip west. In a statement released by the club Saturday afternoon, the Senators Though people have tried to come up with several theories as to how the confirmed a second unnamed player has the virus. Eight of the 52 people Senators players contracted the virus, it’s difficult to say. Other players who were on board the club’s charter through California from March 6 to around the league have been tested and these are the only cases that March 12 have now been tested and, at this point, there have been two have been confirmed. Since test results aren’t available immediately, positive results. we’ll have to see what happens when other results come in. The Senators confirmed Tuesday night a player had tested positive and Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.22.2020 was in self-isolation at home, with more positives possibly coming, depending on the outcome of testing.

Before the NHL decided to pause the season, the Senators made stops in San Jose on March 7, Anaheim on March 10 and Los Angeles on March 11. The Senators were scheduled to fly to Chicago to face the Blackhawks on March 13, but after sitting on the runway at LAX on March 12 the club came back to Ottawa on its Air Canada Jetz charter in the evening.

The club also had an off day in Anaheim, and many players attended an NBA game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers in a private suite.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told a Vancouver radio station Thursday that testing of players was being conducted with the co- operation of local health officials. Ottawa Public Health has made it clear that only those who have symptoms should be tested.

“A second Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for COVID-19. The player was part of the recent away trip that included games in San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles,” the club said in its statement.

“The total number of people that travelled with the club is 52, including players, staff, media, guests and flight crew. Of those on the trip, 44 have shown no symptoms, eight people have been tested, and two positive results were received. We are awaiting the results from tests that took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”

These are the only two known positive cases in the NHL at the moment.

Before the Senators left for California, there were warnings from health officials with Santa Clara County that large gatherings shouldn’t be held and they indicated that the Sharks should play their games with the stands empty. The Sharks opted to ignore those suggestions because it wasn’t an order and went ahead with games against the Senators and the Colorado Avalanche.

After the Senators arrived home from California on March 12, everyone who had been aboard the plane was instructed to self-isolate until March 27. Though some players returned to their homes outside of Ottawa after being given permission by the league to do so, they were also instructed to stay in self-isolation when they arrived in whatever part of the world their homes were located.

After the first Ottawa player tested positive, the Kings and Ducks both released statements saying they were aware of the situation with the Senators and they were monitoring their players closely while they were all in self-isolation.

“Everyone who took part in the Ottawa Senators trip to California was instructed to self-quarantine on Saturday, March 14 and remain so,” the club said.

Anyone from the flight with symptoms is being told to contact the club, and that’s why eight people who were on the plane have undergone the testing in the past three days. 1181396 Ottawa Senators

Second Senators player tests positive for COVID-19, with more tests pending

By Hailey Salvian

Mar 21, 2020

The NHL has its second confirmed case of COVID-19, again by way of the Ottawa Senators.

A second unnamed Senators player has tested positive for the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the team said in a statement Saturday afternoon. News of the first positive test came late Tuesday night.

The Athletic previously reported it was believed multiple members of the team were ill. The Senators confirmed Saturday that eight people who travelled with the team to California have been tested for COVID-19.

The team said it is awaiting results of tests that took place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The 44 other members of the travelling party (players, staffers, guests, media and flight crew) have not shown any symptoms and have not been tested.

The Senators had just completed a six-day trip in California — a growing hot zone for coronavirus infections — when the NHL paused its season on March 12.

The Senators played the Los Angeles Kings on March 11, the day after the Brooklyn Nets — the NBA team with four players who have tested positive for COVID-19 — faced the Lakers at Staples Center. The contest was the last NHL game completed before the shutdown went into effect.

The Senators also played games in San Jose and Anaheim earlier in the week. The Senators-Sharks game on March 7 was played despite a recommendation from public health officials in Santa Clara County that the public avoid large gatherings in the area.

The team also had a day off before facing the Ducks, and players posted photos on social media of team members enjoying various activities, including a trip to Disneyland, golfing and attending a Lakers-Clippers game at Staples Center.

The Senators were scheduled to travel from L.A. to Chicago last Thursday, but they delayed their flight to await the NHL’s decision regarding the regular-season schedule. When the season was put on pause, the team flew back to Ottawa. According to the team, everyone who took part in the trip to California has been in self-quarantine since last Saturday.

On Wednesday, the Ducks and Kings said in separate statements that no player within their organizations indicated the presence of COVID-19 symptoms. It is unclear if any Ducks or Kings players have undergone testing for COVID-19, but it is believed that they would be encouraged to do so only if symptoms become present, as per the recommendation from public health officials.

It’s been 10 days since the NHL put its season on pause amid concern over the pandemic. The decision came a day after the NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus. The league knew the likely impact of the virus on the NHL community.

“Following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus — and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point — it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time,” the NHL’s statement read.

When asked about the first positive test, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside that it was “only a matter of time.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181397 Philadelphia Flyers

What in the world is Gritty up to without Flyers hockey?

By Brooke Destra

March 21, 2020 4:03 PM

It’s been over a week without the Flyers and while we should all be preparing for an away game in Nashville tonight, we’re far from that. We all miss it. A lot.

It got me thinking … without hockey, what in the world is Gritty up to? Typically, when Gritty is away from the sport (a.k.a the offseason), the mascot can stay busy by visiting Citizens Bank Park and the Phanatic, attending events at camps and schools and even enjoying some time down the shore.

Now? Gritty can’t do any of that.

Luckily, the mascot has been checking in via social media — making his first statement since the season stopped, going back and forth with Kevin Hayes and even checking in for when the NHL Network replayed the “Behind the Glass” series that featured the Flyers.

Collectively, that takes up only a little bit of the day … and since there is no hockey to discuss … I had to fill in the blanks of how Gritty has been passing the time.

Here’s what I came up with ... and yes, this is exactly what I've been thinking about after 10 days without hockey.

If Gritty does still reside within the Wells Fargo Center, I’m sure there are tons of things to keep busy. From exploring the depths of the arena, to keeping tabs on the Gritty C.O.M.M.A.N.D. center, to taking a crack at cooking behind the concession stands (you know Gritty is averaging 36.4 hotdogs a day) and even running around in the rafters since, well, no one can stop him from doing so.

Many have been told to try to stick to their daily routines and luckily for Gritty, chances are he can do that by continuing to train. Yes, Gritty trains. How else can one be prepared for dumping popcorn on fans for opposing teams or smacking them in the face with sheet cakes? It's also important to stay up to date with all of the latest dance trends. A mascot's job is far from easy.

Then there has to be time to brainstorm concepts for creating signs in order to troll rival teams. Being creative to keep the mind flowing is essential during times like this.

Now, with the Sixers having played the last game at the Center, the hardwood is most likely still down. No ice certainly changes the routine just a tad, but I'm sure Gritty is attempting trick shots from around the court and stands.

And if you don’t think the toilet paper fort has been turned into a castle on the main concourse by now, you must not know Gritty. There’s also no doubt in my mind that he found a way to stream their Netflix account on the Jumbotron. Truly living the good life.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181398 Philadelphia Flyers

After seeing 3 NHL lockouts, Chris Therien explains how 2019-20 stoppage is different

By Joe Fordyce

March 21, 2020 9:00 AM

With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan Hall

If there’s any league prepared to handle a work stoppage, it’s the NHL.

However, the current hiatus is quite unprecedented. Former Flyer and current Flyers Pregame and Postgame Live analyst Chris Therien has been through three lockouts — two as a player and one as a broadcaster for the team.

He said the current hiatus presents much bigger issues.

“Everyone has to do the best they can to stay in shape, but access to ice rinks is going to be an issue,” Therien said Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia.

After President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency last weekend, access to virtually any non-essential establishment has become problematic. Many cities in North America have been shut down and this was not an issue NHL players faced during the 1994-95 lockout.

Therien and his teammates were able to keep playing hockey during that hiatus. The 1990 third-round draft pick appeared in 34 games for the AHL’s Hershey Bears.

“The first one wasn’t hard,” Therien said. “I made the Flyers, I had never played an NHL game and I was ready to go. Terry Murray called me into his office and told me I was going down to Hershey. He said we need you to play and that if we had a game in a couple of days, I would be in the lineup.”

Ten years later, the situation was much different, as the NHL once again locked its doors in 2004-05.

“We knew it was coming,” Therien said. “Keith Primeau and a couple of guys, along with myself, got the ice at Medford Ice Rink. We did that for a while, but then it got old, and you would notice some of the guys stopped coming. Guys did go play in Europe, I didn’t. I had a young family at the time. We tried to stay busy, but it wasn’t like this.”

Eventually the league cancelled the entire season, a move that Therien never believed was a possibility.

“I didn’t ever think they would actually cancel a whole NHL season,” he said.

That reality seems to be on the table once again. With the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, anything is on the table for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

“I’m anticipating and hoping we play again,” Therien said. “The players, the media and the fans, though, may have to prepare for that reality. I never thought it would happen in 2004 and that wasn’t anything like what we’re dealing with now.”

The 1994-95 and 2012-13 lockouts resulted in condensed seasons, which Therien referred to as “mad scrambles” to the finish. When asked to compare what this year could be like if/when play resumes, Therien said 2019-20 will be much different.

“You’re going to start at the playoffs,” Therien said. “You’re supposed to be getting ready now and you’re not, that’s the big difference. This isn’t January, we’re already in it.”

Until then, the hockey world waits for the tape-to-tape passes, the shaking of the boards and the sound of the goal horn to return.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181399 Pittsburgh Penguins needs to win more draws and be more steady. Is he a winger? If so, he needs to score more consistently. I like the player, but I don’t necessarily like what I’ve seen from him for much of the season.

Yohe: Presenting the Penguins’ regular-season report card Nick Bjugstad — Incomplete

I’m not so sure that he fits. But I also don’t think we’ve seen enough of him to truly say one way or the other. By Josh Yohe Dominik Simon — C Mar 21, 2020 He’s a really good hockey player. I mean that sincerely. He does so many things so well, from distributing the puck to protecting it. There is much to like about him, but he needs to produce more. Bottom line. Like all of you, I hope the NHL season returns sooner rather than later and that life quickly returns to normal. Brandon Tanev — A-minus

However, I think we can all conclude at this point that, if there is hockey He’s hit an offensive funk lately, but let’s not ignore all the wonderful played again this season, it will be postseason hockey only. Thus, we things he’s done. Tanev has made the Penguins faster, he’s made them have the opportunity to look back at what was generally an impressive more physical, he’s made them deeper and he’s greatly enhanced their regular season for the Penguins and dish out some individual grades. penalty killing. I’d love to see him get occasional top-six duty. He’s been that good. As always, a reminder: These grades are based on expectations. I know that Sidney Crosby is a better hockey player than Chad Ruhwedel. Teddy Blueger — B

Away we go with a look at the 2019-20 Penguins, who, hopefully, will get I could be picky and say he needs to win more draws (he does) and a chance to play again this spring or summer. needs to finish a bit more — but just a bit. This guy is legit and keeps getting better. Really solid season. Forwards Zach Aston-Reese — C-plus Sidney Crosby — B Pretty solid. The fourth line certainly took a hit when he was injured last Crosby is at 1.15 points per game, a bit below his career average. He month. I’ll say the same thing about him that I’ve said about Simon and seemed particularly off his game in recent weeks, though I find it difficult Blueger: good player, needs to finish a little more, and he knows it. Solid to be too hard on him. He was playing in pain in October and November, player, good kid. Just still waiting for him to take one more leap. I think he during a time when he absolutely knew he was going to require sports has it in him. hernia surgery. He put the operation off because so many Penguins players, namely the next player on this list, were injured. There is Conor Sheary — Incomplete something to be said for that. We’ve seen some good things. He is who he is. Streaky but skilled. Evgeni Malkin — A Patrick Marleau — Incomplete Yeah, he’s back. Malkin showed up in marvelous condition at training camp, said he was going to have a big season and did. He’s been the Have we seen him in his final game with the Penguins? I hope not. Penguins’ best player all season and, if not for that injury in October, Classy guy who can still play. would be in the MVP conversation. His talent has been on display all Evan Rodrigues — Incomplete season but, even more so, have been his competitiveness and will to win. He’s been great. There’s some talent there. Interested in seeing more from him.

Jake Guentzel — A Sam Lafferty — C

He played only one half of the season, but let’s not forget what he did: He’s been fine, but after that good October, I’d say he was a little better than a point per game, on pace for 40 goals and always-improving disappointing. Just a little, though. He’s an NHL player. But he was far defensive work. And just stunningly consistent. He went only four games too invisible in most games during the second half of the season. without scoring a goal one time this season. What a player and what a horrible loss for the Penguins. Defensemen

Jason Zucker — A-minus Kris Letang — C-plus

He had only about a month with the Penguins, but so far, he’s been Does this feel about right? I didn’t like his game for the past two months, impressive. You know that he’s scored six times in 15 games, which is a but then, he was playing much of that time without his regular defense 33-goal pace over an entire season. What I’m really encouraged by is partner. So we’ll keep that in mind. But he’s been responsible for far, far Zucker’s ability to do the little things. Check out the way he works down too many goals against during the second half of the season. If hockey low, the battles he wins. He’s been solid in every way and has been very returns this season, the Penguins need him to be better. well received in the locker room. So far, so good. Brian Dumoulin — B

Bryan Rust — A-plus Tough to gauge because he missed so much time this season, but I can’t imagine he can play much better than this. He’s produced 27 Dumoulin is so good, and so steady, that we shouldn’t be taking him for goals and 56 points in 55 games. Rust gets better every season. He’s a granted. Quite a hockey player. good penalty killer, so good defensively, draws penalties, sees the ice John Marino — A-plus like never before and is scoring a ton of goals. He shows up every game. At $3.5 million per season, he’s a remarkable bargain. In him, I see greatness.

Patric Hornqvist — B-plus Marcus Pettersson — B-minus

He bounced back in a very big way this season. Many think he’s a Not bad. But I feel like there’s another level for him to reach. He’s a really candidate to be moved because of his hefty contract. I get it. He’s taken good third-pairing defenseman right now. Is he a top-four guy? I think a beating, and he’s not a kid anymore. But I wouldn’t be so quick to move he’s well on his way. He’s still young. I like him. on from him. History tells us that, when the playoffs arrive, you want this guy on your team. And this regular season showed that he still has it. Jack Johnson — C-plus

Jared McCann — C He’s been better this season but has played poorly during the past month. Was badly miscast in a top-four role. On the third pairing, he’s What to make of McCann? He was superb in the first half of the season fine and his penalty killing has been fairly solid. and carried the second line for stretches when Crosby was out. He also hasn’t scored a goal since Jan. 14. Is he the third-line center? If so, he Justin Schultz — D I know injuries have played a role, but given his talent level and his pricey contract, he’s been among the team’s most disappointing players. He showed glimpses of his old form in recent games. But for the most part, he really looked out of sorts.

Chad Ruhwedel — A-minus

I give this guy so much credit. Solid as a rock defensively. He was having his best season with the Penguins.

Juuso Riikola — C-plus

This is a tough one. Many want to praise him relentlessly to justify his going into the lineup over Johnson. But how good is he? He can skate, has a good shot and has a physical edge. He’s not bad. But it doesn’t take much for him to annoy the coaching staff.

Goaltenders

Matt Murray — C

He rebounded very nicely in recent weeks, but Murray still endured a horrendous November and December. He’s among the most puzzling players in hockey. He has two rings, and he earned them fair and square. He has the credentials. But is he a great goaltender worth locking up with a long-term deal? I’m not so sure.

Tristan Jarry — A-plus

The Penguins tried to trade him last summer, for his own sake, but had no takers. Since then, he’s become an NHL All-Star, perhaps the Penguins’ goalie of the future and perhaps a star. Not so bad.

Coach

Mike Sullivan — A

The last few weeks weren’t so becoming, but these things happen. On the whole, Sullivan did a marvelous job with the Penguins this season. Consider how he got them to buy into two-way hockey, how he handled the Penguins with so many stars injured and how consistently well they played. The coach deserves an enormous amount of credit for the success the Penguins have enjoyed. There are issues: The power play hasn’t been fixed, the blue-line deployment has been curious at times, and the wingers in the top six need to be sorted out. Nonetheless, Sullivan is a great coach, and this season only further solidified that.

General manager

Jim Rutherford — A

He’s had a great season. The Penguins are younger and better than they were last season at this time. His decision to bring Marino into the organization was obviously significant. The Zucker trade looks like a real winner. All of the other moves have been sensible.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181400 Pittsburgh Penguins O’Connor: “I’m not super familiar with the city. I was there once. My second year of U-18s we played nationals out in Pittsburgh, so I was able to see the practice facility and everything.”

Penguins’ latest college free agents begin NHL journey in the weirdest Lee: “I grew up skating with (captain Sidney Crosby) in the summers. I way remember the first time, I was probably in high school. He was just an awesome guy. He did reach out to me after seeing I signed with the Penguins. He just said congratulations, and then ‘make sure you’re staying safe with all this stuff going on.’” By Rob Rossi On some things that might come up with future teammates Mar 21, 2020 O’Connor: “I was pretty small for a little while. I was a late bloomer, for

sure. I think I was around (5-foot-8) my senior year of high school. So I It’s probably true that few professional hockey players begin their careers did grow pretty late.” as expected. wouldn’t put on a Penguins jersey at the (Note: O’Connor is now listed at 6-foot-33 and 200 pounds, and the 1984 NHL draft. Sidney Crosby was a lottery prize in 2005. Evgeni Penguins view him as modern-day power forward who projects to quickly Malkin was injured in his debut training camp a year later. reach the NHL.) Nobody dares compare Drew O’Connor or Cam Lee to the three most Lee: “I never got to see (uncle Jean-Sebastien Giguere) play. Probably impactful players in Penguins history. But no matter their futures, the best part was the year he won the Conn Smythe was the year he O’Connor and Lee will be able to look back with wonder on their earliest married my mother’s step-sister. He brought the Conn Smythe to the days as pros. wedding, and that was probably one of the best moments I had with him.” “I’m still at school, staying away from everything that’s going on,” said Yes, Lee held the trophy at the wedding. Lee, a defenseman who assisted on five of Western Michigan’s goals in a win over Miami (Ohio) on a senior night that unexpectedly became his Listed at 6-foot and 190 pounds, Lee will continue to bolster the collegiate finale March 7. Penguins’ prospect system on defense, which began last summer with the acquisition of Pierre-Olivier Joseph as part of the deal with Arizona O’Connor, a forward, watched his college career end the same day when that sent winger Phil Kessel to the Coyotes. Dartmouth lost to Princeton in the opening round of a conference tournament. He had been spending the weeks since between campus The Penguins would not need to rush any of their younger defensemen and his home in Wayne, N.J., but … for the 2020-21 season, as only Justin Schultz and Juuso Riikola are on expiring contracts. Only Schultz will be an unrestricted free agent when “I’m back (home) now, sitting in my room mainly — all day,” O’Connor the offseason occurs. said. The traditional start of a new league year, July 1, is also up in the air The Penguins added both players on two-year contracts that pick up for because of the currently suspended season. the 2020-21 season. The catch, of course, is that nobody knows when or if there will be a 2020-21 season for any hockey league. Not that the Penguins would be against any of their young defensemen, even Lee, pushing for a roster spot. John Marino won one with a superb There is still that not-so-small matter of finishing the current NHL season. training camp last September and, at the time of the NHL’s suspension of If or when that happens, neither Lee nor O’Connor would be available to the season, was viewed by coaches as no worse than the third-best play for the Penguins in a version of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. They defenseman even though he made the jump from college. had been ticketed to join Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the final games of the The benefit to the Penguins, who are regularly straining against the AHL season — a sort of foundation-setting experience to carry into an NHL’s salary cap, of getting production from players on entry-level offseason prospect camp in Pittsburgh. Again, though, there is no contracts cannot be understated. Even if players on entry-level deals do guarantee of a prospect camp in Pittsburgh or in any NHL city this not exceed reasonable expectations — as did Marino and winger Jake summer. Guentzel before him — merely becoming NHL regulars while on entry- A novel coronavirus pandemic certainly has changed everything for Lee level deals affords general manager Jim Rutherford cap flexibility to and O’Connor (and, well, all of us). Restrictions on travel and calls for improve the club with in-season trades. isolation measures will prevent them from training, meeting in person Lee is probably a long shot to pull a Marino next season. with Penguins personnel and who knows what else in the coming weeks and possibly months. It’s possible, however, that O’Connor could make enough of a mark in training camp to force his way into the NHL. If not, he could play his way “It’s kind of crazy, because it was only, like, a week ago that I was onto the roster after only light seasoning in the AHL. The Penguins will planning on getting ready to go to Wilkes-Barre,” O’Connor said Friday always have room for a strapping forward whose skating is as reputably afternoon. Added Lee, who was part of a joint conference call with strong as his hands are thought to be soft. Pittsburgh media: “What he said.” They haven’t developed too many of those during the Crosby-Malkin era. Some highlights from that conference call: “Scott was great about kind of telling me how I’ll be able to fit in,” On their decisions to sign with the Penguins O’Connor said. “He just said to be able to fill any role that’s asked of me, O’Connor: “A big part of joining the Penguins was their history with keep developing over the next couple of years and keep improving. college free agents and college players in general, and kind of the “We will go that route.” success they’ve had with those players and how they’ve developed them.” At some point, anyway.

Lee: “Same. They’ve been good at developing college players. That’s a For now, like everybody else in the hockey world, the Penguins’ latest big thing. And I was at development camp last year, and they were real college signees are stuck in place. welcoming.” The Athletic LOADED: 03.22.2020 O’Connor: “I primarily dealt with Scott Young (the Penguins’ director of player development). He came out to Dartmouth a couple of times and was great about explaining everything about the Penguins.”

On their familiarities with Pittsburgh

Lee: “I was there for that development camp, so that’s about all I know about it.” 1181401 San Jose Sharks “We had a call that night when we got off the plane, and it was a conference call of the whole hockey (operations) basically saying, ‘Hey, this is the plan the next couple days, no one’s going to leave town and we’re going to try and sort this out and see what this looks like.'” San Jose Sharks say no players have been tested, shown symptoms On March 5, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Santa Clara San Jose Sharks say no players have been tested or shown symptoms County had reached 20 with one death. As of Friday afternoon, there had of the coronavirus as the Ottawa Senators announce a second player been 263 confirmed cases in the county and eight deaths. has tested positive for COVID-19 “Even at that time, I don’t think anybody thought it was going to be this bad,” Boughner said of the time of the NHL’s announcement. “I thought, ‘OK, this might be a week, might be two weeks and we’re going to get By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] back to at least skating and practicing. Obviously every day after that, it Bay Area News Group just got worse and worse to the point where everybody just realizes this is going to be a long haul here.” PUBLISHED: March 21, 2020 at 2:42 p.m. | UPDATED: March 21, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. Boughner said he speaks to Wilson on a regular basis As far as the two talking about Boughner’s long term future with the Sharks, that will come at another time.

The San Jose Sharks said Saturday none of their players have been “There’s so many important things going on in the world that for us to tested for the coronavirus or shown symptoms of the infectious disease have a discussion on what my job looks like and everything moving after the Ottawa Senators announced that a second player on the team forward, we’re going to get to that,” Boughner said. “With the pandemic, has tested positive for COVID-19. everything has sort of stopped.”

The Senators said the player was on the team’s road trip that had games San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.22.2020 with the Sharks at SAP Center on March 7, the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 10 and the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on March 11.

The Senators announced Tuesday that a first player had tested positive for COVID-19. Neither player has been identified and as of Saturday afternoon, were the only two positive cases in the NHL.

The NHL ‘paused’ its schedule March 12 as concerns about the spread of the disease began to intensify throughout the sports world.

The Sharks’ game against the Senators came two days after the Santa Clara County Public Health Department recommended a moratorium on public gatherings of over 1,000 people. The Sharks played a home games March 5 against the Minnesota Wild, and hosted the Colorado Avalanche on March 8.

“To date, no Sharks players have exhibited any symptoms related to COVID-19,” Sharks general manager said in a statement to this newspaper through a team spokesman. “As such, organizationally, we are not pursuing any player testing as we feel it’s extremely important to help ensure that tests are available in our local community to those in the highest risk groups and those who are displaying symptoms.”

The Senators said 52 people traveled with the club, including players, staff, media, guests and flight crew. The Senators said 44 of those people have shown no symptoms, eight have been tested, and two positive results were received.

“We are awaiting the results from tests that took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,” the Senators’ statement said.

Sharks Sports & Entertainment announced March 12 that a part-time employee at SAP Center had tested positive for COVID-19. A news release from the organization said the employee’s last shift at the arena came March 3 when the Sharks played the Toronto Maple Leafs. Saturday, a team spokesman said the employee’s symptoms have subsided and that the person is feeling better.

Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner, now at home with his family in Ontario, Canada, said he has not been tested On March 16, the NHL said players could leave their cities of play and return to their permanent homes, but should self-quarantine. Boughner said he will begin to reach out to Sharks players this week.

The Sharks flew to Chicago on March 10 and played the Blackhawks the following day. After the game, a 6-2 Blackhawks win, the Sharks flew to St. Louis, where they were scheduled to practice March 12 at Enterprise Center and play the Blues on March 13.

Instead, after the NHL announced it was putting its season on hiatus, the Sharks flew back to San Jose.

“Getting up in the morning, we still hadn’t heard anything and made our way to the rink in St. Louis since we had practice that day,” Boughner said by phone Saturday. “Get down there and that’s when we got the call from (general manager) Doug (Wilson) basically saying that no one was allowed to practice. 1181402 San Jose Sharks

Sharks say no players have coronavirus symptoms, been tested yet

By Marcus White

March 21, 2020 3:25 PM

No Sharks players have tested positive for the coronavirus and none have been tested as a result, San Jose general manager Doug Wilson told Bay Area News Group's Curtis Pashelka on Saturday.

Message from #SJSharks Doug Wilson: pic.twitter.com/r3SABTp85F

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) March 21, 2020

Wilson issued his statement hours after the Ottawa Senators announced a second player tested positive for COVID-19. That player, according to the Senators, traveled on the team's road trip through California that included a game at SAP Center in San Jose on March 7. The Senators also played the Anaheim Ducks on March 10 at Honda Center and the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on March 11.

Ottawa said 52 people traveled on the trip to California, and eight have been tested so far. The team is awaiting results from tests conducted Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, they said in a statement.

The Senators confirmed Tuesday that one player had tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the league's first confirmed case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said coronavirus symptoms can manifest anywhere between two days and two weeks after exposure, and the Senators said every person who traveled to California has been self- quarantining since March 13.

California currently has the third-most confirmed cases in the United States (1,266), according to the CDC, state officials and NBC News reporting. The Sharks announced on March 12 that a part-time SAP Center employee tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee worked a March 3 game, two days before the Santa Clara County public health department recommended postponing mass gatherings.

The Sharks played the Minnesota Wild on March 5, the Senators on March 7 and the Colorado Avalanche on March 8. Santa Clara County officially barred gatherings of 1,000-plus people on March 9, and the team said they were prepared their remaining March home games in an empty SAP Center. The NHL officially suspended its season on March 12, a day after the NBA did the same when Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

The league ordered its players to self-quarantine through March 27. California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all 40 million of its citizens to indefinitely shelter in place Thursday, days after multiple counties in the Bay Area had issued similar orders.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181403 St Louis Blues Armstrong took in Western Michigan’s weekend series with then No. 4- ranked Minnesota-Duluth in late February. McGing scored the winning goal in one of those games, a 5-3 Broncos triumph.

Blues add a 5-foot-9 'sparkplug' in prospect from Western Michigan “He’s had a lot of big goals,” Murray said. “He plays better the bigger the games are. His senior night here (against Miami, Ohio), the last game that our team played just not quite two weeks ago on Saturday night, he had three goals and an assist in that game.” Jim Thomas Western Michigan’s season ended a week ago, just as the Broncos were 20 hrs ago getting ready to play St. Cloud State in the opening round of the NCHC playoffs. With the NCAA cancelling the remainder of the college hockey season because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Broncos finished with To say that forward Hugh McGing, the newest member of the Blues’ an 18-13-5 record and were ranked 16th nationally. organization, plays bigger than his size would be understatement. When all is said and done, Murray said this Broncos team will have six “He’s 5-9 and plays like he’s 9-5,” said Andy Murray, McGing’s coach at players sign with NHL squads. One of them, Wentzville native Austin Western Michigan University. Rueschhoff, signed Friday with the New York Rangers.

McGing, who has agreed to a two-year entry-level contract with the McGing headed back to his hometown of Chicago this week and will Blues, has heard that one before. complete the semester with on-line course as the Western Michigan campus has been shut down due to the virus. After this semester, he’ll be “That’s his favorite saying about me,” McGing said, laughing. just a couple of courses shy of his degree. McGing, 21, was a fifth-round selection, No. 138 overall, in the 2018 NHL “Our team was starting to play really good hockey at the end, which is draft by the Blues. It’s not unusual for drafted players to return to college when you want to get hot,” McGing said. “So it was tough for sure . . . in the NHL, and such was the case with McGing — for two more especially as a senior.” seasons. But McGing, who attended the Blues’ post-draft developmental camps in At Western Michigan, he scored 46 goals with 71 assists in 147 career the summer of 2018 and ’19, is ready for the next chapter. games over four seasons. This season, he had 13 goals, 22 assists and was plus-18 in 35 games. McGing was a team captain and was named “I’m definitely excited to take that new step, he said. “It’s just a waiting first-team in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, arguably college game for right now.” hockey’s top league. He’s the first player in Western Michigan history to earn first-team honors in the league. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.22.2020

“He’s one of those small players that uses his size to his advantage,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told the Post-Dispatch. “He gets low on people. He’s got a really good center of gravity, it’s hard to (get him off) pucks.”

Make no mistake, Armstrong isn’t calling McGing the second coming of Jaden Schwartz, a shorter, quicker player who has done great things for the Blues over the years. Schwartz, after all, was the 14th overall pick by the Blues in 2010; McGing is a fifth-rounder. But more and more smaller, quicker players seem to be finding their way in today’s NHL.

“The game is evolving and changing,” Armstrong said. “There’s a great opportunity. We’re not trying to make him out like he’s gonna come in and make our team out of the gate. But he’s a good prospect for us to develop and we’re happy to have him signed.”

Murray called McGing a “competitive, physical, spark plug” who will block shots, can play wing or center, and was a key performer on Western Michigan's power play and penalty-killing units.

“He’s quick and fast,” said Murray, who coached the Blues from 2006- 2010. “He just competes. Craig (Berube, the Blues' coach) is gonna love that. Obviously there’s work to do in making the jump from college to the NHL. But the Blues don’t sign guys to play in the American (Hockey) League. When they sign players, and I know from being in the business, you sign guys to be NHLers.”

Armstrong concurred.

“We’re not in the charity business,” he said.

Murray, by the way, knows Berube well, having coached him when Berube played for the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Blues tried to sign McGing a year ago after his junior year, but McGing wanted to return for his senior season of college hockey and continue working towards his degree in biomedical science. That’s right, biomedical science. McGing isn’t exactly, uh, skating through college.

“He’s taken courses that I can’t even pronounce,” Murray quipped. “He’s got a lot going for him.”

Blues amateur scout Keith Tkachuk spent a lot of time watching McGing play, to the point that Murray joked that Tkachuk probably saw him play more than his NHL sons, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk.

“Keith sat beside my wife at a lot of games here,” Murray said. 1181404 Toronto Maple Leafs

NHLer Drew Doughty funds $10,000 essay contest for Canadian high school students

By Doug Smith

Sports Reporter

Sat., March 21, 2020

Drew Doughty is giving Canadian high school students not only a reason to stay engaged with learning and developing important life skills in these most tumultuous of times, but also a chance to enhance their long-term educational future.

The London, Ont. native and Los Angeles Kings star is working with Scholars Education on an essay contest that will reward one Canadian high student with a $10,000 gift to apply to future learning opportunities.

The contest, which opened Friday and runs until March 31, invites any high school student to write an essay “explaining how they have overcome adversity and explore the connection to a positive response to the world’s current situation.”

Details are available through the Scholars Education website, www.scholarscanada.com.

“All of us are focused, and rightly so, on the front lines of this pandemic,” Peter Dyakowski, the former CFL star who is the chief executive officer of Scholars, said in a telephone interview. “High school students, whose future has suddenly become very uncertain, can benefit from this and stay engaged in these difficult times.”

According to the group, “eligible submissions will be judged by the Scholars Advisory Board, which is made up of Canadian university professors, with the winner chosen by Doughty himself. The $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student who shows exemplary writing skills.”

“He’s been very active, especially in London, with not a lot of fanfare,” Dyakowski said of the 30-year-old Doughty. “He’s not in this for himself.”

The group decided to open the contest now to hopefully give high school students, who aren’t able to attend classes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, something to challenge them educationally and provide an outlet for writing skills that may erode the longer they are out of school.

“Drew is used to assisting goals while on the ice, but now he is assisting students to reach their goals in the classroom,” Scholars president Matthew Baxter said in a news release. “First, he won Canada a gold medal at the world junior championships and then goes on to earn two gold medals at the Olympics. Now, he has achieved a hat trick with this incredible act of generosity.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181405 Toronto Maple Leafs In total, Keefe compiled a record of 27-15-5 as the Leafs demonstrated improvement in defensive areas. And remember that after Keefe took over, five players — Jake Muzzin, Andreas Johnsson, Morgan Rielly, Ilya Mikheyev and Cody Ceci — all had stints of at least 10 games on the Matthews' charge to 50, Keefe takes over, Hyman's play among Leafs sideline because of injury. highlights If the season is wiped out and the playoffs are too, we’ll be curious to see what Keefe can do with the club after having had the benefit of working with the players from the first day of training camp. Terry Koshan BEST WINGS IN TOWN Published:March 21, 2020 Mitch Marner was on the sideline for 11 games, a span ending Dec. 4, as Updated:March 21, 2020 11:04 PM EDT he recovered from a sprained ankle. After leading the Leafs in scoring last season, Marner and the club played tag in contract talks until September, when he signed a six-year, $65.3-million deal. He scored the game-winning goal in the Maple Leafs’ season opener and scored the game-winning goal in what could be the final regular-season Marner’s 67 points were second on the team to Matthews, and when the game of 2019-20. pair were together, often produced high-light reel goals.

They were two of the 47 goals Auston Matthews racked up before the Where Kasperi Kapanen and Johnsson under-performed, into the breach pressed pause on the season on March 12 in skated William Nylander and Zach Hyman. the wake of the world-wide coronavirus epidemic. Nylander played some sublime hockey at times after the disaster that Plenty happened, on the ice and off, for the Leafs in the months between was 2018-19, when he had seven goals and 20 assists in 54 games after Matthews’ first and last game winners. signing on Dec. 1, establishing himself as a premier winger. With 31 goals, we’re willing to bet Nylander is just getting started on what should The Leafs got 70 games in the books, winning 36 and losing 34 be a string of 30-goal seasons in the NHL. (including overtime and shootouts) prior to the halt. What else can be said of Hyman? The Leafs’ poster boy for work ethic, We take a look at some of the highlights — and lowlights — of a season Hyman put a large dent in the oft-held notion that a player can use that may or may not resume. missing camp and some of the start of the regular season as an excuse for a difficult adjustment once he returns. MATTHEWS’ MARCH Hyman missed the first 19 games after recovering from off-season knee One regret we’ll have if the NHL doesn’t pick up regular-season play will surgery, but sloughed the absence off, scoring 21 goals in 51 games to be Matthews’ missed opportunity to score 50 goals. He would have done tie his career high — done last season in 20 fewer games. so, it’s rather safe to say, had the season kept rolling. Hyman is going to get paid on his next contract. He’s slated to be an Just three Leafs in team history — Rick Vaive, Gary Leeman and Dave unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2021. The Leafs must find some Andreychuk — hit the milestone. When Vaive talked to us in January, he cash to keep him. knew his team record of 54 goals was in peril. BLUE-LINE WOES “I’m not going to pretend I’m cheering for him to break the record, but if he does, that would be great,” Vaive said then. “Records are meant to be The Leafs’ play in the defensive zone — both by the defencemen and broken, and it has been 38 years. With the ability he has, I can’t imagine No. 1 goaltender Frederik Andersen — didn’t always measure up. in the next three or four years he would not be able to surpass it, if he doesn’t do it this year.” Andersen went to the NHL all-star game for the first time, but had up- and-down performances from the opening week and when games were We would agree. put on hold, his .909 save percentage was 31st among NHL goalies who had played in at least 23 games. It wasn’t just Matthews’ pursuit of 50 goals that was a source of sporting entertainment. Jack Campbell, after being acquired from Los Angeles, helped make up for the underwhelming play of Michael Hutchinson, who was traded to In the first season of his five-year contract, the 22-year-old was Colorado. blossoming into a fine two-way centre, and was going about his business in an effective, stream-lined manner, recording just eight penalty minutes Injuries in the defence corps to Rielly, Muzzin and Ceci were an issue, in 70 games while leading the Leafs with 80 points, all the while bringing though we liked the emergence of Rasmus Sandin and the steadiness of the moustache back in vogue. Justin Holl.

KEEFE IN, BABCOCK OUT Ceci and Barrie, who initially got on track under Keefe before falling off again, are heading for unrestricted free agency and likely are done in When we asked Mike Babcock in Las Vegas on Nov. 18 about his job Toronto if games don’t resume. status, he answered in a way that only the headstrong Babcock could. WILDEST WIN “I have always bet on Mike Babcock, I’ll continue to bet on him,” Babcock said. Fans settling into their seats for a rare afternoon home start on Dec. 23 desired some early Christmas cheer in the Leafs’ final game before the The Leafs had endured one of their worst losses two days before, falling three-day break kicked in. 6-1 in Pittsburgh. The day after Babcock’s proclamation, the Leafs lost 4- 2 to Vegas to run their record to 0-5-1 in six games; about an hour after The crowd of 19,176 got that and much more, as the Leafs beat the practice on Nov. 20 in Scottsdale, Ariz., Babcock was summoned by Carolina Hurricanes 8-6 in a goofily entertaining game at Scotiabank team president Brendan Shanahan at the team’s resort hotel and told his Arena. services no longer were required. Marner tied a career high with five points (two goals and three assists) Sheldon Keefe was promoted from the by close friend and captain John Tavares set a team record when he had three points Kyle Dubas, and, for those around the team as the trip concluded in (two goals and one assist) in the opening five minutes 10 seconds for the Arizona and Denver, a pall was lifted. quickest three points to start a game in team history. The Leafs scored eight goals in a game for the first time in two years. Defenceman Tyson Barrie called the coaching change “a new lease,” not only for himself, but for his teammates. The win was the 11th in 15 games under Keefe, but it couldn’t have unfolded with less convention: The Leafs had a 3-0 lead, gave up five The Leafs won their first three games under Keefe and then went on a goals in a row, trailed 6-4 in the third and then scored four consecutive run starting on Dec. 14 that saw them win nine of 10, with the loss goals in the final nine minutes. coming in overtime against the New York Rangers on Dec. 28. How did it look from Andersen’s view? “New Year’s Eve, I think,” Andersen said. “Fireworks everywhere and it looked pretty. Incredible.”

WILDEST LOSS

Hard to believe that just four weeks have passed since the David Ayres story went down at Scotiabank, but yes, it was on Feb. 22 that the emergency backup made headlines.

Ayres stopped eight Leafs shots in 28 minutes 41 seconds of work, and allowed two goals, after Hurricanes goalies James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were injured in the game. With the publicity that followed, you would think Ayres had led the ’Canes to a Stanley Cup.

Carolina won 6-3 and within days, the 42-year-old Ayres was making appearances on national talk shows in the U.S. By the end of that week, he was donating his game stick to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Just about everyone found the bizarre story appealing — except those employed by the Leafs. Of course, the topper was Ayres’ every-so-often role as backup goalie at Leafs practices. The day after beating the Leafs, he was taking shots from Nylander and Mikheyev at the .

Before the Leafs played again, Dubas acknowledged that he didn’t know how the loss “is going to impact us.”

To their credit, the Leafs won their next three games after their biggest embarrassment of the season.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181406 Toronto Maple Leafs happy, Olympic champion figure skater Sonja Henie was so impressed with the machines when her show came through Paramount, she bought two for her tour.

SWEET RIDE: They're clunky and slow, but the fascination with the Frank built 13 more with successive improvements that soon went to Zamboni lives on rinks throughout the continent over North America. March 10 of this year marked the 65th anniversary of its debut in a Canadian NHL rink, at the Montreal Forum in a game between the Canadiens and Leafs.

Lance Hornby Any other night, the noisy arrival of a smoke-belching monster with a rotating chain on top would be news, but not at the midst of the Habs- Published:March 21, 2020 Leafs rivalry. Angry over what they saw as game-delay tactics by the Updated:March 21, 2020 10:57 PM EDT hated visitors in an eventual 0-0 tie, fans threw garbage on the ice, reportedly including pigs hooves. Events leading to the Maurice Richard riot in town that week pushed the new machine further from the headlines. With time and our hands and angst in our hearts, here are some great Canadian ... The Boston Garden had received its machine three months earlier and Laval, Que., was the first community rink in Canada to take delivery. Since David Ayres has cast the humble Zamboni machine driver in a heroic light, time for a close-up of the iconic ice-grooming machine that’s More than 12,000 have since been purchased worldwide, thanks in part melded in hockey culture. to the NHL doubling its order in the early 1990s so two per building could cut re-surfacing time from 15 minutes to eight. Machines now appear all Trailing the bulky beast with its top speed of 15.6 km/h, there’s a the way down to the tip of South America in the Cerro Castor rink in surprising history, a lot of water under the blade. For nine decades, it has Tierra Del Fuego. been the first on the ice every day and last off, still doing laps around everyone. The most travelled are a pair that originated in an arena in the Boston suburb of Tyngsborough, one winding up in New Zealand, the other in “It’s hard to believe it has been as successful as it has,” company Barrow, Alaska, inside the Arctic Circle. president Richard Zamboni told the Toronto Sun in a previous interview from his office in Paramount, Calif. In 1999, Gretzky’s last season, the NHL declared his fellow Brantford native Jimmy MacNeill ‘Zamboni Driver Of The Year,’ letting him take a Ayres went from his Zamboni machine perch at the Mattamy Centre in celebratory lap at the all-star game in Toronto. A million people voted for Toronto (old ) to Hockey Hall Of Fame recognition in their favourites on the Zamboni company site that winter. barely 28 minutes as the 43-year-old stepped in as an emergency goalie for the Carolina Hurricanes in a win over the Leafs. He joined Wayne “Everybody looks at you and thinks that this is such an easy job,” Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, NASCAR’s Richard Petty and Peanuts MacNeil said at the time. “Driving is a little bit of science, an art. You characters Snoopy and Woodstock as instantly famous drivers. have levers, you have buttons.”

Steven Galyean, who steers for the Carolina Thunderbirds of the Federal And you’ll always have at least one cleaning critic in the crowd. League, tried to convey the contraption’s unusual romance for spectators. “I can almost guarantee there isn’t one driver that hasn’t come off the ice and had some hockey fan or figure skating fan say: ‘You missed a spot’.” “It’s something being driven on the ice, a machine on wheels, it’s just something different,” he told journalnow.com. “It’s got a weird name. Zamboni machines have an estimated NHL life span of 17,520 hours (the Every kid loves the Zamboni, even the big kids. The truth is everybody company’s preferred measurement to miles, equalling about two years), wants to drive it.” though some teams opt to replace their’s less frequently. The two at Scotiabank Arena cost about $140,000 Cdn total and have a water The 55-year-old Galyean was a teenaged rink rat in Winston-Salem, distribution system called Fast Ice, promoting the removal of air N.C., who loved to show off his speed skating skills to the detriment of molecules to help reduce freeze time. arena safety rules. Until the rink manager gave him a job application to drive one saying: “This should slow you down”. “Well-maintained machines can operate efficiently for many years,” said Paula Coony, brand manager for the company. Dubbing himself ‘Zam Man’ with his crowd-pleasing antics while at the wheel, he whips up the game-night fervour for the prospect league team, “There are machines at work that are decades old. The needs of each throwing t-shirts. arena operation varies.”

“I fall in love with it every time I get on,” Galyean insisted. New technology in just the past couple of years included sensors in and around the machine to feed a custom web mobile app, monitoring Today at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, there are five drivers for its two consumption of water and power. A laser-guided levelling system machines and five other support staff, but only two or three get the automates blade control to create a consistent sheet of ice at a lower coveted game-night pilot’s seat. thickness, further saving money, energy and water. Lithium batteries and electric power allow for quick charging capabilities for busy arenas Papa Zamboni was Richard’s dad, Frank, who was recently inducted to seeking emission-free equipment. the U.S. Inventors Hall Of Fame. Frank grew up part of the family garage business with two brothers in the 1920s, specializing in refrigeration units “People will always want to go faster and develop skates and better for the dairy and produce industry. With their ice-making expertise, the arenas,” Richard Zamboni said. “We’ll have to keep up with those Zambonis scored big when figure skating became a popular adolescent changes.” pastime in the late ’30s. They constructed an outdoor rink in Paramount big enough to accommodate 800 customers and without a dome for a FUN FACTS: ‘A’ TO ZAMBONI time. The proud Zamboni company is quite touchy about its famous product But long before the Kings, Ducks and Sharks began NHL play, the being used as a noun, citing trademark erosion of Coke and Kleenex. challenge to keep ice from becoming slush in the California heat had They insist ir should be referred to as a Zamboni ice resurfacing Frank spending plenty of time in his shop. Manual grooming with a water machine, always with a cap Z. tank pulled by a crew of three or four was both cumbersome and time- * There is a 50-year-old Canadian company, Olympia, based in Elmira, consuming. Ont., that produces resurfacers, too. Finnish-based Ice Cat is also big in So, in 1942, Frank bought a tractor and began testing a machine to the green energy market. shave the ice, flood the surface and collect chips and snow in an * In 2001, a Zamboni machine was driven from St. John’s to Victoria, a elevated tank. When he disconnected the rear-axle steering it could pivot trip that took almost four months. around the corner boards. * If there are four re-surfacings per game (before, after and between Converting his creation to four-wheel drive in 1949, he filed U.S. patent periods), the machine travels an average of 4.8 km during each game. No. 93,478, the Model A Zamboni. Not only were recreational skaters * In the early 1950s, Frank Zamboni personally delivered one from his garage to for Sonja Henie’s ice show. But another such order was delayed on the highway from Paramount to Berkeley, Cal., when a key popped out of the steering shaft and the Zamboni veered into the roadside bushes.

* Sam DeAngelis drove at the Gardens and Air Canada Centre for 44 years aboard various Zamboni models, estimating he’d driven as far as his native Italy and back. He was honoured by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. and the Zamboni family.

* The machine blade weighs 26 kg is 1.27 cm. at its edge, sharp enough to slice through thick stacks of newsprint.

* Each tire has around 400 Tungsten Carbide studs. If there are four re- surfacings per game (before, after and between periods), the machines travel an average of 4.8 km during each game. In one cleaning it picks up approximately 680 kg. worth of snow, leaving approximately 544 kg. of water.

* The machines have been featured in TV shows as CSI, Cheers,Hands on History, Late Night with David Letterman, Junkyard Wars

* A Minnesota band, the Gear Daddies, recorded Zamboni Machine in the 1990s, about a wannabe driver, still a staple in many U.S. rinks during intermissions:

“Now e’er since I was young it’s been my dream

That I might drive the Zamboni machine

I’d get that ice just as slick as could be

And all the kids would look up to me”

* When an NHL-themed Monopoly board was created in 2000, a silver Zamboni was a player token.

* The expansion Minnesota Wild staged a parade of Zambonis as part of their celebration to enter the NHL in 2000. An arena driver from that state had his funeral procession led by a Zamboni machine.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.22.2020

1181407 Vegas Golden Knights “We’ll have discussions with his representatives here at an appropriate point,” McCrimmon said of Dugan. “It hasn’t been pressing because there’s no hockey being played. But those are conversations we’ll have here as we move along.” How is Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon handling the NHL pause? The Knights had the advantage of being in first place in the Pacific Division when the pause went into effect. The league has not determined its criteria for determining playoff participants should the regular season By David Schoen not be completed. March 21, 2020 - 5:13 PM The time away also allows leading scorers Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone to heal from their respective lower-body injuries.

Kelly McCrimmon’s life follows the hockey calendar, with tasks to “As it goes along, there may be direction from the NHL where facilities accomplish and deadlines to meet throughout the year. can be opened, but we’re a long way from that happening yet,” McCrimmon said. “We’ll continue with the self-quarantine and doing our Normally at this time, the Golden Knights general manager would be part to being part of the solution with respect to the pandemic.” sweating out the final two weeks of the regular season and looking ahead to the playoffs.

But with the NHL’s season on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.22.2020 McCrimmon and the rest of the Knights front office is left to maneuver through uncharted waters without an instruction manual to guide the way.

“Monday through Friday was pretty busy, to be honest,” McCrimmon said in a phone interview Saturday. “It’s like anything. You’re going to try to have your organization do its best to navigate this situation and make sure that we stay where we need to be with all the different things that are going to happen here in the future.”

The Knights were scheduled to play at Minnesota on March 12, but McCrimmon said “it got real for everyone” the night before when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus and the NBA suspended its season indefinitely.

The NHL followed suit and paused its regular season, as well.

McCrimmon is adhering to the NHL’s instructions to self-quarantine through Friday and conducts meetings through conference calls.

For amateur scouts, that means compiling preliminary draft lists and discussing prospects rather than watching events such as the major- junior playoffs, NCAA tournament and the IIHF under-18 world championship.

“There’s a real regular dialogue with our scouting staff about the , our team that’s coming to Henderson. We’ve had discussion on that,” McCrimmon said. “Of course it’s disrupted our business, but we recognize this is a very small piece of something that’s more significant and more important in the world.”

To that end, aside from the daily updates he and other general managers receive from the league, McCrimmon is steering through the fog.

There’s no date set for the draft or free agency. Other longstanding deadlines may no longer be applicable.

For instance, the deadline to sign players drafted in 2018 from one of the three Canadian junior leagues normally would be June 1, but the NHL hasn’t determined whether that will be pushed back.

The Knights have three players from 2018 (defensemen Connor Corcoran, Xavier Bouchard and goalie Jordan Kooy) who fit that description and would be eligible for the 2020 draft if they’re not signed.

“We’ll continue working on the different areas where we can,” McCrimmon said. “All NHL teams will have the same questions. The NHL office themselves will have uncertainty as to how steadfast the critical dates remain because they could be in flux. That’s something that could happen.

“With all of the unknown based on the virus, it’s only speculation to guess what might happen with some of those dates. But we’ll be well informed by the National Hockey League and have a chance to react, I’m sure.”

One area in which the Knights can conduct business is college draft picks and undrafted free agency.

McCrimmon dismissed a report that the Knights had signed free-agent defenseman Jake McLaughlin of Massachusetts. Meanwhile, trying to sign Providence sophomore Jack Dugan, who was named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player, remains a priority. 1181408 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Alex Tuch juggles ‘toilet paper challenge’ to pass time

By David Schoen

March 21, 2020 - 11:21 am

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To pass the time while social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, athletes from around the world have been participating in the 10-touch “toilet paper challenge.”

Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch was the latest to get involved and posted an Instagram video of himself successfully juggling a roll of toilet paper with his hockey stick along with the hashtag #10touchchallenge.

The viral videos started several days ago with soccer players juggling a roll of toilet paper with their feet for 10 touches before it hits the ground. Superstar Lionel Messi of Barcelona posted a video of himself completing the challenge, and NBA standout Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks also joined in.

The one we've all been waiting for

Lionel Messi takes on the #StayAtHomeChallenge

Effortless

Instagram: leomessi pic.twitter.com/9Me24OILuF

— Goal (@goal) March 19, 2020

Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar successfully pulled off the 10- touch challenge Wednesday, and the team posted a video on its social media accounts.

@AnzeKopitar staying sharp with the #10touchchallenge pic.twitter.com/X3EWoLSUIi

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 18, 2020

San Jose forward Timo Meier did a hybrid of the challenge, using his feet and hockey stick to reach 10 touches.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181409 Vegas Golden Knights The Golden Knights’ chances at a Stanley Cup this season were as good as any team in the league. What about next season and beyond though? Is it Cup or bust for the Golden Knights?

If NHL eventually resumes season, Golden Knights sit in advantageous The short answer is no. spot The Golden Knights have just five unrestricted free agents this summer: forwards Ryan Reaves and Tomas Nosek, defensemen Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland and a goalie in Lehner. Setting aside Lehner, none of By Justin Emerson the four skaters are part of the core moving forward, even if any of them return on inexpensive deals. Sunday, March 22, 2020 | 2 a.m. Vegas also has four restricted free agents: forwards Chandler

Stephenson, Nick Cousins and Nicolas Roy along with defenseman Zach The Golden Knights were rolling right along two weeks ago. They had Whitecloud. All of them should be expected to return, with no one in the just picked up a signature win, were headed out to another tough road group commanding big money. matchup and seemed motivated to maintain their top-seeding in the That’s good for Vegas, because the team doesn’t have much cap space playoffs. this summer. The Golden Knights have $12.1 million in space with only Fresh off establishing itself as the class of the Pacific Division with back- 14 players committed to next year’s roster, according to CapFriendly. to-back road wins in Calgary and Edmonton, Vegas found out the Factoring in deals for the four RFAs and assuming the UFAs aren't morning of its scheduled March 12 game in Minnesota that the NHL retained, the Golden Knights will have anywhere from about $3-7 million season would be paused. When or if that game would be made up, no for at least two forwards and a goalie to fill out the lineup. one knew. When or if the season will resume, still, no one knows. The bottom line is the Golden Knights will probably bring back close to Then suddenly it was over. the same team next year. Unless they make a move to clear cap space, they don’t have a lot of wiggle room. For the month prior, the Golden Knights had looked like one of the best teams in hockey, like the Stanley Cup contender many had predicted. What move could they make? Well, Stone, Pacioretty, Karlsson, Smith, Now all that's left for Golden Knights fans to do is sit back and ask a Theodore, Schmidt, Martinez, Paul Stastny, Jonathan Marchessault, Alex number of questions about a season in limbo. Tuch combine for just over $54 million in cap space. Marc-Andre Fleury makes another $7 million. What are the Golden Knights’ chances if the season continues? It's hard to see relief unless the Golden Knights are able to find a team There’s no question the Golden Knights are one of the best teams in the willing to take on Stastny's $6.5 million cap hit or if they're interested in Western Conference. Even before they won 11 of their last 13 games, dealing Smith or Machessault for $5 million in savings. They could also many who look at the underlying numbers had screamed all year that consider selling low on Tuch and his $4.75 million annual cap hit. they were better than the results indicated. Whether it was a new coach in Peter DeBoer (15-5-2 since his hire on Jan. 15) or simple positive Even if Fleury is traded, those cap savings would presumably go to regression to the mean, the Golden Knights have lived up to those Lehner. standards since mid-January. The Golden Knights aren’t going to add a star in the offseason like they Vegas leads the NHL in share of shot attempts (54.8 percent), expected- did with Pacioretty two years ago. This offseason will look a lot like this goals percentage (56.1 percent) and scoring-chance percentage (56.5 past one, where the team made minor moves and did not add an NHL percent). Put simply, no team in the league is better at possessing the regular. That doesn’t mean next season’s team will be worse; it just puck and producing scoring chances while preventing chances the other means it will be similar. way. The title window isn’t closing yet, but with none of the Golden Knights' top It wasn’t translating into wins before. It was lately. six forwards or top four defensemen besides Theodore (age 24) under 27 years old, it won’t be open forever. Goaltending improvement has played a major factor, as has the Golden Knights' best players stepping up for career seasons. Max Pacioretty and Whenever hockey comes back… Shea Theodore are sitting at career highs in Goals Above Replacement. The CDC’s directive of no gatherings of more than 50 people for the next Mark Stone has continued his elite pace with William Karlsson, Reilly eight weeks makes playing before mid-May almost impossible, and even Smith and Nate Schmidt also contributing at a high level. that might be an optimistic timeline. A proposal by NHL players The Golden Knights shored up their defense in part by acquiring Alec suggested not starting until late July, according to a TSN report. Martinez in a move that some called an overpay at the time. The trade If the season is never resumed, it will be a shame for everyone, but looks much shrewder now as Martinez has melded perfectly with the rest especially the Golden Knights and other teams built to win a Cup now. If of the Vegas blue line. it’s just pushed back, it could work in Vegas’ favor as Stone, Pacioretty Chandler Stephenson and Nick Cousins were also savvy in-season and Tuch now have time to recover from injuries. trades that helped boost the Golden Knights' depth. Then, of course, they The Golden Knights were playing their best hockey of the season before acquired the best available goaltender in Robin Lehner. the postponement. Moneypuck gives Vegas a 12.1 percent chance of It’s hard to find a glaring flaw on the Vegas roster. winning the Cup, second in the NHL. The Athletic pegs the Golden Knights with a 1-in-10 chance, tied for fourth in the league. The Golden Knights would also have an easier path to the conference final than any other division winner. The Pacific has been the weakest The Golden Knights are one of the best teams in the league this year. division in the league this year, and there’s no Tampa Bay or Pittsburgh And even though they should stay near the top beyond this season, all or Colorado waiting in the wings like there are in the other divisions. the Golden Knights' fans can hope for is a chance to find out just how Edmonton is no joke, but the Golden Knights would much rather face the their team is this year. Oilers — a team that they’ve beaten twice in the last month — than a powerhouse second-place team like the Lightning. LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 03.22.2020 Once a team makes the final four, anything can happen. The Golden Knights might not be favored against teams like the Blues, Avalanche, Bruins or Lightning, but they’re not overmatched by any means.

If the season resumes and a Stanley Cup is awarded, the Golden Knights will be in the thick of any race.

Is this year the Golden Knights’ best chance at a Cup? 1181410 Washington Capitals it and one went after it with his glove while the other went after it with his stick. Samsonov won the race and covered the puck awkwardly behind him for the spectacular save.

NHL 20 Caps simulation: Lars Eller saves Washington in crazy overtime The Caps needed all three breakaway saves in the end. win 2. The third period

Heading into the third period down 3-1, Washington needed an early By J.J. Regan breakaway save from Samsonov and got it. It needed an early goal to get back into the game and got it from Wilson. With time winding down, it March 20, 2020 6:00 AM needed a critical penalty kill with only seven minutes remaining and not only got it, but got a shorthanded, game-tying goal. Then, when Tkachuk

put Ottawa up again, it needed a last-minute miracle and got it. Lars Eller tied the game with 7.1 seconds left on Friday to force overtime 3. Lars Eller and set up the Caps' 5-4 win over the Ottawa Senators in the latest EA Sports NHL 20 simulation. Arguably the most clutch player in the history of the Caps, Eller did it again on Friday with an assist on Dillon's game-tying shorthanded goal Lines and then a goal of his own in the final minute. On the second game of a back-to-back, Ilya Samsonov started over Down 4-3, with just over nine seconds remaining, Eller took the Braden Holtby who played Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. offensive-zone draw and won it back to Orlov, then charged to the net. Nick Jensen also came back into the lineup after being replaced by Orlov fired a shot that Marcus Hogberg was able to save, but could not Radko Gudas on Thursday. Gudas played fine, but with Michal Kempny control the rebound. It bounced off his shoulder down to the ice right to a on the third line, I like him a lot better with Jensen than with Gudas. waiting Eller who tapped it in with just 7.1 seconds remaining in Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Tom Wilson regulation.

Jakub Vrana - Nicklas Backstrom - T.J. Oshie Other notes

Carl Hagelin - Lars Eller - Ilya Kovalchuk A good comeback or a bad game?

Richard Panik - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway Is it a good thing when a team is able to battle back to defy the odds and pull two points out of a game in which they had no business winning or is Jonas Siegenthaler - John Carlson it a just a bad game when a bad team is able to dominate the majority of the way and it takes a miracle to just to tie it and win in overtime? That's Dmitry Orlov - Brenden Dillon a question we seem to ask a lot about the Caps both in real life and in Michal Kempny - Nick Jensen the video game. The answer probably lies somewhere in between. It's not good if it happens frequently, but it is always good to see a team Ilya Samsonov starts show some resiliency and battle back.

Result: Caps 5, Senators 4 (OT) Having said that, boy this one will stick with me because I was so 1st period frustrated with how badly I was playing against a clearly weaker team. Admittedly though, that made the win feel a lot more satisfying in the end. No goals Unlikely fighters 2nd period There were two fights in this game and there could have been more had I 0-1 Senators goal (power play): Brady Tkachuk from Anthony Duclair and accepted them. The fights were with two players you would totally expect Colin White to drop the gloves: Kempny and Kuznetsov. Kempny sent Artem Anisimov awkwardly into the boards with a clean hit, but as Anisimov 1-1 Caps goal: Nic Dowd from Garnet Hathaway and Jonas Siegenthaler stayed down on the ice, Jayce Hawryluk decided he had to drop the 1-2 Senators goal: Nikita Zaitsev from Chris Tierney and Mike Reilly gloves to avenge what was, again, a clean hit. Anisimov missed the remainder of the first, but would return for the second. Later in the game, 1-3 Senators goal: Chris Tierney from Anthony Duclair and Mike Reilly Hawryluk again dropped the gloves, this time with Kuznetsov who gave him a healthy whack with the stick. Kuznetsov got the minor for slashing 3rd period as well as the fight so Hawryluk was able to draw a power play and get 2-3 Caps goal: Tom Wilson from Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov Kuznetsov off the ice for a full five minutes. That is some good work from a depth forward. 3-3 Caps goal (shorthanded): Brenden Dillon from Carl Hagelin and Lars Eller Here is a look at the first fight. Hey, you guys think maybe you could get a trainer out there to look at Anisimov? No? You just want to watch the 3-4 Senators goal (power play): Brady Tkachuk from Colin White fight? OK, cool.

4-4 Caps goal: Lars Eller from Dmitry Orlov

Overtime Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.22.2020 5-4 Caps goal: Jakub Vrana from Nicklas Backstrom and Dmitry Orlov

How the Caps won

1. Ilya Samsonov

The stats aren't kind to Samsonov -- with 21 saves on 25 shots, he managed a save percentage of only .840 -- but Washington does not win this game without him.

The defense did not have its A-game for this one to put it mildly. The Caps defense broke down multiple times over the course of the game and Ottawa exploited it almost every time. When the Senators took a 3-1 lead, they looked for the knockout punch and had ample opportunity with three breakaways and Samsonov turned aside all three of them. His best save of the night came on the third breakaway as Bobby Ryan skated in and tried to sneak the puck through the 5-hole. Samsonov got most of it, but the puck began to trickle through. Samsonov and Ryan both realized 1181411 Websites

The Athletic / Second Senators player tests positive for COVID-19, with more tests pending

By Hailey Salvian

Mar 21, 2020

The NHL has its second confirmed case of COVID-19, again by way of the Ottawa Senators.

A second unnamed Senators player has tested positive for the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the team said in a statement Saturday afternoon. News of the first positive test came late Tuesday night.

The Athletic previously reported it was believed multiple members of the team were ill. The Senators confirmed Saturday that eight people who travelled with the team to California have been tested for COVID-19.

The team said it is awaiting results of tests that took place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The 44 other members of the travelling party (players, staffers, guests, media and flight crew) have not shown any symptoms and have not been tested.

The Senators had just completed a six-day trip in California — a growing hot zone for coronavirus infections — when the NHL paused its season on March 12.

The Senators played the Los Angeles Kings on March 11, the day after the Brooklyn Nets — the NBA team with four players who have tested positive for COVID-19 — faced the Lakers at Staples Center. The contest was the last NHL game completed before the shutdown went into effect.

The Senators also played games in San Jose and Anaheim earlier in the week. The Senators-Sharks game on March 7 was played despite a recommendation from public health officials in Santa Clara County that the public avoid large gatherings in the area.

The team also had a day off before facing the Ducks, and players posted photos on social media of team members enjoying various activities, including a trip to Disneyland, golfing and attending a Lakers-Clippers game at Staples Center.

The Senators were scheduled to travel from L.A. to Chicago last Thursday, but they delayed their flight to await the NHL’s decision regarding the regular-season schedule. When the season was put on pause, the team flew back to Ottawa. According to the team, everyone who took part in the trip to California has been in self-quarantine since last Saturday.

On Wednesday, the Ducks and Kings said in separate statements that no player within their organizations indicated the presence of COVID-19 symptoms. It is unclear if any Ducks or Kings players have undergone testing for COVID-19, but it is believed that they would be encouraged to do so only if symptoms become present, as per the recommendation from public health officials.

It’s been 10 days since the NHL put its season on pause amid concern over the pandemic. The decision came a day after the NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus. The league knew the likely impact of the virus on the NHL community.

“Following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus — and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point — it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time,” the NHL’s statement read.

When asked about the first positive test, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside that it was “only a matter of time.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181412 Websites Video: A sample of greatness from Nick Abruzzese this season, who was named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year. He led all NCAA first- years in scoring with 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists). #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/LMxuISIVVN Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Will free agents who signed early make more money? — Harvard Men's Hockey (@HarvardMHockey) March 19, 2020

On Thursday, Abruzzese was crowned ECAC Hockey’s Rookie of the Year after leading all NCAA freshmen in scoring. By piling up 44 points Luke Fox (14 goals, 30 assists) in 31 games, the Slate Hill, N.Y., native topped March 21, 2020, 8:30 AM New York Rangers defenceman Adam Fox (6-34-40 in 2016-17) as the most productive rookie under Harvard Crimson coach Ted Donato (2004- present).

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious Abruzzese’s 18 points with the man-advantage drove Harvard’s power and less so, and rolling four lines deep. Seven days without sports play to the best in the NCAA (31.2 per cent). He has yet to sign an entry- makes one weak. level deal with the Leafs.

1. With each passing day encroaches a sobering thought: We might A comment Abruzzese made in the summer (watch below) feels already be living in the NHL off-season. especially timely today.

Big if true. “One thing I always like to think about is something my Dad said, and that’s ‘Champions are made when no one’s watching,’ ” Abruzzese said. Perhaps especially for hockey’s restricted and unrestricted free agents “When you’re alone and not in a crowd it’s, ‘What kind of work are you who had been striding toward a talent-courting period that may not exist putting in? What kind of person are you being?’” as we remember it and aiming for a financial windfall that could get curbed. 3. The most recent interview I’ve heard with Gary Bettman was Thursday on ESPN Radio’s Get Up!, during which the commissioner reiterated that (With our whole reality up in the air, sports readers are asked to forgive the NHL, like the NBA, is “staying flexible” when it comes to when and the occasional foray into the hypothetical.) how to restart play. Impending free agents might not only be robbed of a stretch run and/or Awarding a Stanley Cup in July is entirely possible, but Bettman does not playoff spotlight to showcase their worth but may also be faced with a want 2019-20’s pause to subtract from the “normalcy” of 2020-21. flattened salary cap should the absence of a post-season cut into hockey-related revenue. “We can go later than we’ve ever gone. ‘How late?’ is a good question,” said Bettman, who is keeping clubs updated and calm by sending daily Contract negotiations often revolve around cap percentages, and general memos on the situation. managers only have a finite amount to spend. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly assures that the league is equipped to If your name is Taylor Hall, Braden Holtby, Jacob Markstrom, Tyson maintain summer ice in playoff-bound markets like Dallas, Tampa and Barrie, Alex Pietrangelo or Torey Krug, this is a concerning development. Vegas. Same goes for soon-to-be RFAs like Max Domi, Anthony DeAngelo, Sam However, two factors must be met in order to save this season, per Reinhart and Tyler Bertuzzi. Bettman: (1) The remainder of 2019-20 must not impact a reasonable Will bridge deals suddenly make more sense until the NHL’s economic rollout of an 82-game 2020-21 campaign. And (2) the playoff format must outlook stabilizes? have integrity.

In retrospect, you can’t help but think that the scheduled 2020 free “It has to be respectful of the well-over-100-year history of the Stanley agents who did agree to extensions in advance of COVID-19 and its Cup. And that’s something we’re very focused on,” Bettman asserted. inherent economic repercussions will look like winners in the long run. In other words, the NHL may try a unique or truncated playoff Comparatively, they might fare better financially than their still-unsigned tournament, but it won’t be straight-up goofy. peers, both in term and dollars. Which would be some cruel irony and 4. The most common questions Bettman and the league receive from straight-up bad luck. NHL players revolve around testing for COVID-19. Here are some high-profile players who elected for security over holding There is no plan, desire or purpose for mass-testing all NHLers. In fact, if out for July 1: you’re asymptomatic, a test for the virus won’t tell you anything. • Nicklas Backstrom (five years at $9.2 million) 5. Hockey Hall of Fame hockey player and medical student Hayley • Chris Kreider (seven years at $6.5 million) Wickenheiser announced she will be taking questions live on her personal Instagram account at 12 p.m. ET Saturday. Love the initiative to • Jake Muzzin (four years at $5.65 million) interact with fans.

• Jean-Gabriel Pageau (six years at $5 million) You got questions or want to keep your children occupied, I may or • Zack Kassian (four years at $3.2 million) may not have answers, but we can talk hockey and whatever else this Saturday 12 est. @hchickwick on Instagram. • Thomas Chabot (eight years at $8 million) pic.twitter.com/FE9ZwLmPTh

• Clayton Keller (eight years at $7.15 million) — Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) March 19, 2020

• Alex DeBrincat (three years at $6.4 million) 6. We wonder what effect — if any — this interrupted and potentially cancelled NHL campaign will have on the league’s five interim coaches. • Darnell Nurse (two years at $5.6 million). Here are the records they are likely to finish with.

It will be fascinating to see how this group’s contracts stack up to those • Calgary’s Geoff Ward: 24-15-3 who waited. • New Jersey’s Alain Nasreddine: 19-16-8 2. Challenged with the task of highlighting the best Maple Leafs prospect no one is talking about, I was torn between two 2019 fourth-round • Dallas’s Rick Bowness: 20-13-5 centremen chosen nine picks apart. • Minnesota’s Dean Evason: 8-4-0 I went with Russian Mikhail Abramov but wanted to highlight American Nick Abruzzese as well. • San Jose’s Bob Boughner: 15-19-3 “I feel good about it. I think that given a fair chance, that I’m the guy for this team,” Boughner told Sharks reporter Kevin Kurz of The Athletic on Thursday. “And I think [general manager Doug Wilson] believes that, The GM reiterated his intention to work out a contract extension with from what I know. I don’t want to speak for him, but I’m planning on being Markstrom, but it’s not worth going too far down the negotiation road back, I’m planning on putting a plan in place for next year, and trying to without the clarity of a salary cap for 2020-21. look forward.” 10. Each summer after the frenzy of free agency wears down, I keep a Ultimately, Boughner’s status — like Ward’s and Nasreddine’s and yours running list of the 10 best UFAs still floating out there, like a swimmer on — is in a holding pattern. But the former Florida Panthers bench boss an inflatable raft. Jason Pominville — he of the 1,000 games club — is believes he helped change the culture in a lost season plagued with still hanging out in the waves. injuries, tweaking systems and encouraging the influx of young players. Not only has Pominville yet to officially retire, but he kept playing this “We worked hard on being a team that’s hard to play against. For the season in an Amherst, N.Y., beer league, Performax. most part, we were. Regardless of the wins or losses, when we played those games with the systems that we worked on,” Boughner explained, Jason Pominville stats. (@BuffaloSports/Twitter) “it’s given guys a little bit of excitement knowing that coming back, they When the above screenshot of his PP2 North stat line — a mellow 48 bought [into] those systems and they know we can be successful with goals and 42 assists for 90 points in 17 games — made the rounds on them.” social media, former teammates chided him with messages.

7. Among the myriad mini bummers that would be parcelled into a Pominville told Buffalo News reporter Lance Lysowski the numbers scrapped season is the excellent platform year Anthony Cirelli has weren’t accurate. provided the Cup-contending Tampa Bay Lightning. “Those stats are legit, 100 per cent,” Sabres pal Kyle Okposo told the Despite the Bolts’ ridiculous depth up front, the 22-year-old Cirelli rates outlet. “I texted him about that. I told him to take it easy on the guys…. I only below No. 1 centre Brayden Point and reigning Hart Trophy champ was actually at the barbershop maybe a month ago and somebody Nikita Kucherov among forwards ice time (18:28). walked in, we started talking about hockey, and they were like, ‘Yeah, I Most impressive about this is the type of minutes Cirelli was logging. He played against Pominville last night in men’s league, and he’s still got it.’ I leads all Tampa forwards and ranks fifth-overall among all NHL forwards just looked at him and said, ‘No [kidding], he’s still got it; he just played in in penalty-killing ice time per game (2:49) while seeing less than a minute the NHL last year!’” per game on the power play. 11. Connor McDavid, Matthew Tkachuk, Blake Wheeler and Morgan Each one of the four forwards killing more penalties than Cirelli is over Rielly are just a few of the Canadian-team stars who have been releasing age 30. social-distancing and hand-washing encouragement through their personal social media accounts. Great to see. That speaks not only to Cirelli’s maturity as a player but the rumblings that he should be among the candidates for the Selke Trophy. Also cool: Players like David Pastrnak and Zach Hyman offering to play video games with their fans to kill time. Coach Jon Cooper believes the Selke is “a pay-your-dues kind of award” that seldom sees such a young forward scoop the hardware but "Our job is to stay indoors"@ZachHyman shares how he is practicing anticipates Cirelli will be right in that conversation soon, just as twenty- the important policy of social distancing and invites you to join him online somethings are increasingly making noise for the Hart, Vezina and pic.twitter.com/0g54gwxefe Norris. — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 19, 2020

“It has become a little bit of a young stars’ league,” Cooper said. Meanwhile, Mattias Ekholm (baby), Mikko Rantanen (dog) and P.K. That includes players on their first or second contracts excelling in the Subban (world-famous fiancée) have turned their loved ones into home defensive arts. Defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk says Cirelli’s skating gym essentials: ability allows him to recover quickly, and his positioning on the backtrack On or off the ice, Mattias Ekholm is always skating. reveals a maturity. But it’s the Etobicoke, Ont., native’s tenacity on loose pucks that stands out above all. (: IG/ ibjornstad) pic.twitter.com/zsey4TmTYU

“His strength on his stick, the way he bears down on pucks in 50/50 — NHL (@NHL) March 17, 2020 battles is something that for a player at his age to be doing is pretty @alexbunttraining came up with this exercise that I’ve never done unbelievable stuff,” Shattenkirk said. “You know when he goes into that before. “Partner Dead Bugs” be careful with this one it’s difficult, but this corner, nine times out of 10 he’s gonna come out of there that puck.” gives you something to work up to! Have Fun! Stay positive! #fitnessforall At a $728,333 cap hit, Cirelli is one of the sport’s greatest bargains. To #socialdistancewithapurpose @lindseyvonn @redbull think the Lightning won’t get a Cup run out of him on his ELC — and with pic.twitter.com/OuoEeFU8jX the salary cap unlikely to rise — is a shame. — P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) March 20, 2020 8. Desperate times call for video games. 12. I will say that less time spent at rinks — knotting kids’ skate laces, Friday night, the Golden Knights invited fans to a Twitch live stream of a conducting interviews, trying to avoid penalties with my probably-too- simulated NHL 20 game versus the Red Wings. The club’s in-arena host, aggressive beer-league forechecks — has given way to more time Big D, manned the Knights controller and Daren Millard handled play-by- listening to music, my other passion. play duties. I cued up Lil Uzi Vert’s long-awaited Eternal Awake album, and in the first Tuesday will bring the first of several live-streamed Capitals simulations, hook of the first song, “Myron,” he prophetically spits: “Pull up extra icy, as the contenders play out the rest of the regular schedule virtually. I’m not playing hockey.” Washington faces the Blues in a match of the two most recent champs. No one is, Lil Uzi Vert. No one is. Monumental Sports Network and NBC Sports Washington are doing the *Single tear.* same with the Wizards’ schedule, using their actual announcers and NBA 2K20.

“If the video-game version of Bradley Beal and Alex Ovechkin live up to Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.22.2020 their real-life counterparts, fans should be in for a fun experience,” NBCSW senior VP and general manager Damon Phillips said in a release.

We admire the creativity, but no amount of digitized bits can replace the real-life Ovi.

9. Jim Benning appeared on Vancouver’s Sportsnet 650 on Friday and said that Jacob Markstrom is fully recovered from his knee injury, has been skating and would be ready to go were the Canucks to play tonight. 1181413 Websites If there’s one thing Lamoriello’s known for in the hockey world — aside from his actual management ability — it’s the myriad old-school quirks that still play a key role in how he does business (anyone remember goatee-less Tomas Plekanec after the trade that sent the longtime Sportsnet.ca / Islanders' Lamoriello on Barzal's future, why he likes small Canadiens pivot to Lamoriello’s Leafs and his no-facial-hair rule?) jersey numbers The 77-year-old shed some light on the thinking behind his approach, explaining, for example, why he prefers players choose small jersey numbers — a quintessential old-school team rule: Sportsnet Staff Lamoriello: I still believe in tradition, however players who join our @Sportsnet March 21, 2020, 7:58 PM organization with an established number are allowed to continue wearing that number when they arrive. It’s not the number that makes the player, it’s the player that makes the number. If all had gone to plan, this was supposed to be somewhat of a trip down memory lane for veteran manager Lou Lamoriello. Having been in the game for over three decades, since his appointment as the Devils’ team president in 1987, Lamoriello’s been through his fair He was to be fresh off a return to Toronto on Thursday for his New York share of trade deadlines, NHL drafts, contract negotiations, and Islanders to take on the Maple Leafs, before heading back to his old everything else that falls in between. stomping grounds in New Jersey for a meeting with the Devils Saturday night. He opened up about how he approaches the first of those, answering a fan’s question about the most challenging aspect of navigating the Instead, he and the rest of the hockey world are stuck in limbo along with deadline: everyone else, waiting for the spread of COVID-19 to slow to a point that allows normal life to resume. Lamoriello: Sticking to your need(s) and seeking the player(s) that you feel could fill them. If you can fill them, you do so. If you cannot, you With some time surely on his hands, Lamoriello answered fans’ never do something just for the fact of doing something. Always keeping questions via NewYorkIslanders.com, with the elusive front-office in mind that you have to weigh whatever decision you make and how it stalwart opening up on the thinking behind his adherence to tradition, his has an effect on not only this season, but the seasons thereafter. pastimes, and the future of the Islanders’ stars. The former Maples Leafs and Devils manager also granted a look at how You have questions. Lou has answers. #Isles President and GM Lou he evaluates potential draft picks, answering a question about how he Lamoriello answered questions submitted by our fans right here on values a players’ statistics against their character: twitter. Read his replieshttps://t.co/NgLpZXwQRF Lamoriello: First of all, your scouting staff plays a major role. Their — New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 21, 2020 reports, observations and opinions all factor in to when you’re evaluating a player’s analytics, statistics, scoring or defensive abilities. As important Here are a few of the most interesting tidbits from Lamoriello’s Q&A as the physical aspects are, their character weighs heavily. It comes session: down to would you want them on your team. On the fate of Mathew Barzal, other notes on the team’s future: On his journey to the big leagues, his daily routine: The Islanders have a fair amount of their core forwards locked up for the Though he’s been one of the most respected and recognizable front- next few years, with , Brock Nelson, Jordan Eberle, Jean- office figures in the game for decades, Lamoriello’s long played his cards Gabriel Pageau and Josh Bailey — along with veterans Andrew Ladd, close to his chest. He cracked the door open a little during his Q&A, Cal Clutterbuck and Leo Komarov — inked for the next three years, and sharing his story and what a morning in the Lamoriello household looks some of those names signed far longer. like. Their big negotiation to soon navigate is the one that will involve star First off, he was asked how he became a GM all those years ago, and young gun Mathew Barzal, a restricted free agent next season, and what the route to that coveted position looks like: surely their future franchise cornerstone. Lamoriello: I don’t think there is any formula to becoming a General Asked if he would match an offer sheet presented to Barzal down the Manager. If you look throughout professional sports, the road to a GM line, Lamoriello made clear his team’s position on their smooth-skating differs in so many ways. The underlying factor is when you’re given an 22-year-old: opportunity to work within an organization, no matter what your role is, Lamoriello: It is our intention to not allow it to get to that point, but should being the best at what you do will allow you the opportunity to rise to the that happen, the answer is yes. next position at any time. Once you are committed to that approach, you will find yourself being given opportunities, which will lead you to having He was also asked about his confidence in the team being able to sign all the end result taking care of itself. three of their soon-to-be RFAs — Barzal along with defenders Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews. While Lamoriello stopped short of his former On a simpler note, he was asked what the morning routine looks like for protégé’s ‘We can, and we will,’ he said the team believes they’ll get the someone manning the helm of one of the game’s most historic clubs: deals done: Lamoriello: Rise at 5AM, workout, shave, light breakfast and then off to Lamoriello: We have every intention to sign all three. work with a stop at Starbucks. Of course, this schedule varies when on the road. Outside of the locker room, one of the club’s most polarizing issues has been where exactly the team’s locker room will reside long-term. After Lastly, the Hall of Famer shared a few recommendations for some quality the move to Brooklyn’s didn’t go as planned, it was reads, asked about a few movies or books worth taking a gander at: recently announced that the club will return to their former home, Nassau Lamoriello: I am more of a book person. We all have different Coliseum, until their new arena at Belmont Park is ready to host NHL preferences but to name a few, “Tribe of Mentors” by Timothy Ferriss and games. any book from John Maxwell’s collection of leadership books. I also On that front, when asked by a fan if the new arena plans will be affected enjoyed Ryan Holiday’s short books such as “Ego is the Enemy” and by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lamoriello said all seems to be on track: “The Obstacle is the Way.”

Lamoriello: I have all indications that the Belmont Park Arena is on schedule and will be ready for the 2021-22 season. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.22.2020 Sign up for NHL newsletters

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On his old-school approach to running an NHL club: 1181414 Websites Now that we have a general idea of who the big contributors are, we can go into the details and see how each defenceman is pushing the puck in the right direction.

Sportsnet.ca / Assessing which NHL defencemen have the best Ordered by defensive-zone exits where the team maintains control of the transition game puck, we can look at how the top-31 defencemen in the league at breakouts engineer their teams’ transition play. Last season, Karlsson was nearly two controlled exits better than anyone else per 20 minutes of ice time, but this year he’s fallen all the way back to 10th. Andrew Berkshire The new league leader is Rielly, who was 12th last season, with a big March 21, 2020, 5:20 PM increase in skating the puck out of the defensive zone and in short outlet passes. I have a feeling that part of the change that has benefited Rielly is Sheldon Keefe leaning less heavily on stretch passes, which gives We’ve looked at the best 5-vs-5 shooters in the NHL, and the players Rielly closer targets to pass to, increasing his ability to exit the zone. who facilitate the shooters by making things happen in the best playmakers, but what about the players who get things moving into the Behind Rielly is Weegar again, who has really come out of nowhere. offensive department in the first place? Weegar has skated the puck out of danger consistently this season, and is one of the league’s leaders in completed outlet passes. There’s not much that anyone can get done offensively when the puck is stuck in their own end, which is why transition play is such a vital You can also see some team trends in here, with Shea Theodore and ingredient in the mix that creates goals. One of the biggest hurdles to Nate Schmidt both leaning into the speed of the Vegas Golden Knights creating a smooth transition is exiting the defensive zone, and the with more stretch passes, or Cale Makar and Sam Girard leaning into players who have the most impact there are defencemen. their skating as the Colorado Avalanche move up the ice as a unit.

Coming into this season we looked at which defencemen contributed the What can be missed a little bit here, though, is how often are these most to their teams’ breakouts out of the defensive zone using data from players in the defensive zone to begin with? Surely you would complete the 2018-19 season, and no one even held a candle to Erik Karlsson. more zone exits if you’re in the defensive zone more often, so what happens if we control for total defensive-zone involvement and see what Karlsson has faced a fair amount of criticism for how his game has percentage of each defenceman’s plays in the defensive zone directly deteriorated in San Jose, mostly due to the cumulative injuries he’s clear the zone? Let’s contrast that with their raw turnover rate to make suffered over the last few seasons. However despite his offence, sure the best players are too messy. specifically his goal scoring, no longer being easily the best in the league, there was strong evidence that Karlsson was still an all-world player due Once again, Rielly pulls out from the pack, with one of the lowest to his ability to move the puck. turnover rates in the league and the highest proportion of his plays in the defensive zone becoming a zone exit off of his stick. Behind him, some Like with forwards, we’ll only be looking at defencemen who have played familiar names pop up in Parayko and Karlsson once more, while Ryan 500 or more minutes at 5-vs-5, and we’ll pro-rate their involvement per Suter appears despite not being in the top-31 players in overall exits, 20 minutes of ice time. because, when he’s on the ice, the Minnesota Wild don’t spend much time in their own zone. You have to give it to Suter that he’s still so Concerning breakouts, to get a general idea of how much a player is efficient at 35-years-old. doing, we’ll combine all forms of exiting the defensive zone; outlet passes (forward passes from the defensive zone to a recipient within a team’s Lesser known names like Rasmus Andersson on the Flames and half of the ice), stretch passes (forward passes from the defensive zone Anthony DeAngelo on the Rangers look impressive as well, but this year to a recipient beyond the centre ice red line), carry outs (skating the puck at least, no one is touching Rielly’s combination of involvement and out of the defensive zone), and dump outs. efficiency with the puck.

It’s also important that a defenceman isn’t just spamming poor pass or There’s a lot to be desired in Rielly’s game without the puck, but with it dump out attempts and succeeding often, but turning the puck over on his stick, there’s very few defencemen who have a bigger impact in carelessly, so we’ll contrast the total breakouts each defenceman every zone. He may not be a great one-on-one defenceman, but his completes with their turnover rate on all defensive zone plays relative to ability to exit the zone has a big defensive impact. their teammates.

As usual with the scatter plots, the axes are set at league-average values, and the relative turnover rates are inverted so that positive Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.22.2020 numbers mean better than team average.

The gap between Karlsson and his peers that existed last season is all but gone, but the soon-to-be 30-year-old defenceman remains the single most active participant in defensive-zone clearances per minute played in the NHL.

Most of the names at the top of the pack make sense, and then there’s MacKenzie Weegar, who has been unbelievably crucial for the Florida Panthers’ transition game. Mike Green is also a bit of a surprise, though it makes sense that on a really weak defence in Detroit he was pulling out all the stops to move the puck, and it hurt his turnover numbers.

Morgan Rielly and John Carlson have provided their teams with incredible outlet options while maintaining very low turnover rates, which helps Carlson’s case in the Norris debate as more than just a part of the Washington Capitals’ vaunted offence; he’s a big facilitator in creating it in the first place.

For Rielly, it’s easy to see why the Toronto Maple Leafs have at times struggled to look as dynamic offensively without him in the lineup, he’s so important to their transition game.

Colton Parayko and Shea Theodore round out the top group, both at about team average in turnover rate while pushing play in the right direction. 1181415 Websites “Getting the puck on the right side, I just kept going behind the net — I like to do that. I saw Klef wide open, coming from the bench, I think. I heard it hit the post and the crowd went nuts.”

Sportsnet.ca / NHL Rewind: How McDavid sparked the Oilers past the You didn’t see it? Sharks in 2017 “No, just heard it. I was going towards our net, laid it for him on the tee.”

Martin Jones made a huge point-blank save off Draisaitl three minutes Elliotte Friedman into overtime. Desharnais thought the winner came on his second shift of the extra period, but it was his fifth. Otherwise, he’s good with the details March 21, 2020, 6:06 PM leading up to the score.

“I’d just come on the ice and (the Sharks) were pretty tired. We’d had a pretty good shift. (He’s correct, the five San Jose skaters at the time Tune into Sportsnet on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT for NHL Rewind played between 1:11 and 1:30 when the puck went in.) I got the puck as the Edmonton Oilers take on the San Jose Sharks in the Game 5 OT from (Andrej Sekera), and made the pass to Leon down in the corner. I thriller from the first round of the 2017 playoffs. knew I could beat my guy to the net. Leon is one of the best passers in Below, Elliotte Friedman tees up the game to get you ready. the NHL. I knew he was gonna find me.”

The Oilers were reeling. “The shot went in, I blacked out. It was ridiculous. That was a really big one. The city was going crazy after the game. It was special. Oh, Wayne Coming off a 7-0 loss to San Jose that tied their 2017 first-round playoff Gretzky was there, in the dressing room after the game. I remember series 2-2, they were down 3-1 in Game 5. Then, with seven minutes to shaking his hand.” go in the second period, Connor McDavid ran over Marcus Sorensen. What did he say to you? “Obviously I was a young guy and in my first (playoff) series,” McDavid said via text. “There were lots of new things going on. My first year of “I think I blacked out then too.” Desharnais laughs. being a captain, with it being Game 5 in a tied series and being down, I And the momentum carried back to California. for sure felt pressure to do something. I’m an offensive guy, so scoring a goal or making a play is what I would prefer to do in that case. But I had “I never felt like we were in trouble (Game 6),” Letestu said. “We were a chance to finish my check, decided to take it and it ended up being a really confident. We belonged. We were good enough to be here.” big hit. Did it change the momentum of the game? I’m not sure, but I was just trying to do anything to help.” Desharnais is a little more emphatic: “We knew we were going to win.”

“I do remember Connor’s hit, because it was out of character,” Mark “Obviously the excitement level was very high, with it being our coaching Letestu said. “We obviously needed a spark. We just got railroaded in staff’s old team they were really fired up,” McDavid added. “It was for Game 4, now we’re down 3-1, (the Sharks) kind of got a stranglehold on sure fun, a feeling that I miss a lot and hope to recreate when we get us.” back to playing.”

“To see a hit like that from your top player, it means a lot,” added David Letestu points out the game-winning goal-scorers in that series: Zack Desharnais. “He wants to win and he’s going to do anything.” Kassian (twice), Desharnais and Anton Slepyshev. The Oilers have a couple of nuclear weapons, but there were no passengers. He had a TONIGHT on @Sportsnet dinner group that postseason with Eric Gryba, Matt Hendricks and Cam Talbot. They keep in touch and are talking about a fishing trip for the 9ET/6PT – #SJSharks meet #LetsGoOilers for Game 5 OT thriller in summer. 2017 playoffs “Beating San Jose was special. As an Alberta guy, after such 11:30ET/8:30PT – Gretzky's 1st @NHL All-Star Game appearance in downtrodden times, to finally get in and feel the energy. I thought it would '80 be that way forever. That’s the best hockey I’ve ever played in my — Sportsnet PR (@SportsnetPR) March 21, 2020 career.”

Forty-five minutes of hockey later, Edmonton had a stunning 4-3 victory. He pauses and laughs. Desharnais, who played this season in Switzerland, and Letestu, who “I mistimed it a year, I had another year on my deal. I should have waited was readying for an NHL return in Winnipeg after recovering from a virus a year for it.” that attacks the heart, played critical roles in the comeback. On Friday, they reminisced about that night. Desharnais’ favourite spring was 2014, when the Canadiens beat Boston in seven games to reach the Eastern Conference Final. But this was still Letestu started things with a power-play goal at 18:33 of the second. special. He’d been added to the man-advantange as a right-handed option to play with lefties Leon Draisaitl, Oscar Klefbom, Milan Lucic and McDavid. “Leon and I still text. I cheer for them to be back in the playoffs, because those two are beautiful to watch. They can do damage.” “I don’t know whether it was a hunch or a coach took a flyer, ‘If we throw him there maybe it will work,’” he laughed. “It’s not easy to play with those guys, but it is simple to know your role. They’re so good at drawing people to them and drawing attention, that you’ve got to sit there with Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.22.2020 your finger on the trigger ready for them to create something. You can’t have anything catch you off-guard.”

“That goal is a good example. Leon puts it through two guys’ legs. If I’m not paying attention, or I’m not ready for it, then it gets by me and we’re talking about something different.”

Desharnais, acquired at the trade deadline from Montreal, remembers watching his previous team earlier in the evening. Mika Zibanejad scored in overtime to give the Rangers a 3-2 series lead over the Canadiens. (New York would clinch the series two days later.)

“I loved it in Edmonton,” he said. “They welcomed me with open arms, that organization. I wanted to make a difference for my new team, and show my old one that I could still be a factor.”

He sure did in Game 5. First, he set up Klefbom to tie it with 2:46 remaining in regulation. 1181416 Websites

USA TODAY / Second Ottawa Senators player tests positive for coronavirus

Chris Bumbaca

A second Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for coronavirus, the organization revealed Saturday.

The team reported its first positive test for the disease on Tuesday night. Both players' names have been withheld.

Ottawa announced that both individuals were on the team's recent West Coast trip, during which the Senators played the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks.

"The total number of people that traveled with the club is 52, including players, staff, media, guests and flight crew," the team said in a statement. "Of those on the trip, 44 have shown no symptoms, eight people have been tested, and two positive results were received. We are awaiting the results from tests that took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday."

Everyone on the trip has been self-quarantining since March 13. Deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly told the Associated Press that only those showing symptoms would be treated, on advice of medical professionals.

The NHL suspended the regular season on March 12 with 3 1/2 weeks remaining in the regular season, instructing players to return to their homes and self-quarantine until the end of March.

"Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup," the league said in a statement.

USA TODAY LOADED: 03.22.2020

1181417 Websites

CNN/Sports Illustrated / NHL Seattle Weighing Name Reveal, Ticket Plans Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

JENNA WEST

Seattle's NHL expansion team is considering when to reveal its name and logo due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

The team has not decided if it will make the announcement during the sports shutdown or wait. A date for the reveal had not been picked prior to the virus outbreak, and the team is still going through the trademarking process with the NHL, per ESPN.

"In theory, coronavirus will not delay our name and will not affect it, but we're in unprecedented times. So I can't say that as soon as the legal process is wrapped up that we'll go with the name," Katie Townsend, NHL Seattle's vice president of corporate communications, told ESPN. "We're working as hard as we can. We know how badly our fans want it."

The team began selling premium seats last fall and chose to delay fans' payments for April, May and June until July 1. In March, the NHL Seattle Preview Center was set to open and provide fans with a look at a model of the Seattle Center, the team's arena. Fans could also make their general seat selections at the preview center. With everyone self- isolating, the team has put the preview center on hold and is debating if they should unveil it virtually instead.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has not issued a shelter-in-place order in the state but continues to ask people to practice social distancing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended no events with more than 50 people for two months. Statewide there are 1,524 confirmed cases of the virus.

CNN/Sports Illustrated LOADED: 03.22.2020

1181418 World Leagues News stations throughout the arena, including locker rooms, on March 1. Enhanced cleaning procedures followed. Eighty-five additional staffers were brought in for postgame cleaning. Areas that visitors or staff touch were cleaned regularly: ATMs, doorknobs, elevator buttons, escalator Half of NBA and NHL coronavirus cases are linked to Staples Center. rails, food service areas, point-of-sale terminals, restrooms. Even What happened? telephones in the luxury suites. The arena purchased disinfectant products and new equipment to minimize the spread of germs in its five Staples Center seats more than 18,000 for hockey and 19,000 for locker rooms, 48 restrooms and slew of other private and public areas. basketball, with multiple locker rooms for the Lakers, Clippers, Kings and opponents. The Clippers eliminated a tradition where players slapped hands with fans while running onto the court before tipoff.

Though the NBA had circulated at least two additional memos related to By NATHAN FENNOSTAFF WRITER COVID-19 precautions — including one March 7 instructing teams to MARCH 21, 20208 PM identify a site that could test for the virus and to distribute hand sanitizer to all players and staff — the looming crisis remained fodder for some kidding around.

The NBA’s reach extends across the globe, broadcasting to more than During the game against the Clippers, Lakers star Anthony Davis 200 countries and territories while generating almost $9 billion in annual appeared to lick his hand and high-five teammates LeBron James and revenue. Its top players are the most powerful in sports, able to reach Avery Bradley. Teammates jokingly dubbed them “The Corona Boys.” tens of millions and spark change with a single social media post. The Davis insisted he hadn’t licked his hand. behemoth’s reach and influence across cultures and time zones is built on a massive sum of interconnected parts. “I kind of like mimicked it and it was like this whole thing,” Davis said. “I’m cleaner than that.” It is a fragile behemoth too, those same woven connections vulnerable to the chain reactions upon which a pandemic preys. Several Senators hockey players attended the game, reportedly in a suite, as the Lakers defeated the Clippers in what looked like a preview However, a pandemic didn’t seem to be on the minds of players as of the Western Conference finals. recently as the first week of March, when the insouciance of the NBA mirrored that of sports at large and the rest of the country. ::

The games went on, with the usual casual human contact: hugs, high- Two days later, on March 10, fans squeezed through the doors at fives, news conferences in cramped locker rooms, charter flights, hotel Staples Center before the Lakers played the Nets. Even though the first stays. Life went on, with grocery shelves still filled with cans of beans, L.A. County death from COVID-19 had been announced earlier in the bags of pasta, toilet paper. The spread of the novel coronavirus, which afternoon, everything at the arena appeared normal. Some fans stopped had reached the front pages, nonetheless still felt like someone else’s at hand-sanitizing stations. Others didn’t. problem. Though 20 cases of the virus had been diagnosed in the county, fans Behind the scenes, though, tension mounted. The league issued a series shrugged off talk about playing games without spectators. of increasingly alarming memorandums. Limit interactions with fans. “It’s been blown out of proportion,” one said of the virus. Increase reminders to fans to wash their hands. Use fist-bumps instead of high-fives. Prepare to play games with only essential personnel Local reporters embraced DeAndre Jordan, a former Clipper now with present. the Nets, and Jared Dudley of the Lakers on the court before the game.

Staples Center, home to the Lakers and Clippers and the NHL’s Kings, But there were hints that all wasn’t right. ramped up cleaning procedures as part of a wide-ranging plan. The hub of sports and entertainment in Los Angeles hosted 39 events after the Staples Center added attendants in each restroom to continually disinfect first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the county, including the surfaces. memorial service for Kobe Bryant, the Grammy Awards, two nights of bull Lakers forward LeBron James drives against the Nets on March 10, riding, 12 Kings games, and 19 games involving the Lakers or Clippers. 2020, during both teams’ final game before suspension of play in the The final three games came during four days, ending March 11 when NBA. sports at every level lurched to a stop because the rampant spread of the The NBA, along with Major League Baseball, the NHL and Major League virus had reached NBA locker rooms. Soccer, had limited locker room access to essential personnel and At least eight athletes who played in those games have been diagnosed mandated that interviews be conducted with six feet between media with COVID-19: four Brooklyn Nets, including sidelined star Kevin Durant, members and players. What qualified as “essential” remained broad: two Lakers who haven’t been identified and two members of the NHL’s executives, equipment staffers, media relations staffers, support staffers. Ottawa Senators. Identifying the source and site of the infection is Jacque Vaughn, the Nets coach, told reporters he wasn’t worried about impossible, but the Lakers’ schedule during that final week put them COVID-19. within four degrees of separation of every NBA team. The crossover between leagues — 11 arenas are home to both NBA and NHL teams — For pregame and postgame Lakers news conferences, dozens of the densely loaded schedules, the proximity to closely packed stands, reporters crammed into the locker room used by visiting hockey teams. combined with an easily spread virus, created a new label for athletes: The Senators would use the room a day later. Black curtains covered the super spreaders. lockers. About 30 chairs in the room for media members were so close together that they touched. Some journalists stood next to walls. But Amid the tumult of sports at every level shutting down, followed by much Lakers coach Frank Vogel and players maintained a six-foot distance of the country, Staples Center is a common denominator among eight of from media members. the 16 cases of COVID-19 announced by NBA and NHL teams. After a two-point loss to the Nets, Lakers player Danny Green was asked This is the story of the last four days inside Staples Center. if he had changed anything to deal with the virus. :: “Some guys have, some guys haven’t,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter By the time the Lakers faced the Clippers on March 8, a Sunday, the to me. I haven’t. I still sign autographs. I still fist bump, shake hands, say NBA had already circulated a memo to arena general managers ‘what’s up.’ Extra sanitizer, but that’s not a focus right now. Just continue encouraging them to assemble a COVID-19 working group, increase to focus on playing basketball. Just have to adjust to whatever comes.” reminders to fans about personal hygiene and suggesting a range of :: measures to ensure the cleanliness of their buildings like sanitizing cash registers and door handles. The next day, March 11, the World Health Organization declared the virus to be a pandemic. Staples Center, which hosts about 250 events each year and has up to 1,700 part-time employees at games, installed 120 hand-sanitizing The NCAA announced March Madness games would be played without That might never be known. The virus could have been transmitted just fans. Several professional teams, including the Golden State Warriors, as easily in a team bus or charter flight or another arena or a thousand did the same. other places. The people involved will have to ponder the question in the same place as most everyone else. Home. President Trump addressed the nation and limited travel with Europe. Los Angeles Times LOADED: 03.22.2020 Meanwhile, the Kings and Senators prepared to play hockey at Staples Center. About an hour before the scheduled start, the NBA announced it would suspend its season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 before the team’s game in Oklahoma City.

“I think people are taking enough precautions, and I am myself too, so I’m not particularly concerned,” one fan said.

A member of the Kings front office surveyed the tiny crowd — just 12,030 fans showed up, by far the smallest of the season — and wondered where everyone was.

The Kings, in keeping with new regulations to keep media members out of locker rooms, held their postgame news conference in the locker room the Nets used the previous night. The main concern was whether the NHL season would continue — the league suspended play the next day — not whether players or staffers were infected with COVID-19.

“The night felt strange,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

::

Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Jazz and Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons were the only NBA players who had tested positive for COVID-19 before the announcement last Tuesday that shook the league.

Four members of the Nets had tested positive. Durant, the 10-time All- Star who is out for the season while rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, was the only player to confirm he had it.

“Public health authorities and team doctors have been concerned that, given NBA players’ direct contact with each other and close interactions with the general public, in addition to their frequent travel, they could accelerate the spread of the virus,” an NBA spokesman said in response to questions about why players received tests when they are in short supply across the country.

The same day, the Senators announced an unidentified player had also tested positive, the first to do so in the NHL.

However, the Senators and Nets had not used the same spaces at Staples Center and took different routes to the arena floor. The only time their footsteps would have been the same is the walk from the team bus through the marshaling area and to the corridor where the locker rooms are located.

There wasn’t any “cross-pollination” between the Senators and Nets at Staples Center, according to Lee Zeidman, president of the arena, the Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live, because they didn’t use the same facilities.

On Wednesday morning, 14 Lakers players were tested for COVID-19 at the team’s facility in El Segundo. Team physicians and public health officials recommended the move after the positive tests by the Nets. A season aimed at a championship had degenerated into a 10-second procedure where a large swab was inserted up noses and twisted around.

The two positive results were announced the next day. Neither player has been identified, but the Lakers said both are asymptomatic and quarantined.

The stream of results continued Saturday when a second Senators player tested positive. Of the 52 players and staff who joined the team’s California trip that included stops in San Jose and Anaheim, eight have been tested. More results are pending. Last week, the team directed all members of the traveling party to self-quarantine.

No members of the Kings or Clippers have tested positive for COVID-19. But the eight positive tests by athletes with recent games at Staples Center are a tiny piece of the mushrooming public health crisis that has grown to more than 26,000 cases and 260 deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S.

While much of the country stays home to try to halt the spread of COVID- 19 — beleaguered by lost jobs, destroyed routines and pervasive uncertainty — the games feel like a hazy memory. But the question, one among many, still lingers around the final four days at Staples Center. With so many precautions, how did this happen? 1181419 World Leagues News

Premier League could resume before virus restrictions are lifted – Southampton chief

Martin Semmens

Martin Semmens is Southampton FC's chief executive

Southampton's chief executive has suggested Premier League matches could be on television every day while people are still confined to their homes because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Martin Semmens says the return of the top flight - currently suspended until at least 30 April - would be "a sign that the country is coming back to normal" but it should not happen before it is safe.

"We have to do what is right and safe for the general public," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"When everybody is safe and we're not using up NHS and police resources, the government would like us to get back to playing because we are entertainment and a sign that the country is coming back to normal.

"If people are home for another month and Premier League football is on the TV every day that can only be a good thing. Not because we are more essential than the NHS but because we can give people entertainment and show that we're fighting back."

Semmens said teams are hopeful of completing the league by the end of June but did not yet know when play would resume.

Some players will be out of contract on 30 June, but Semmens believes players could be convinced to stay for longer should play continue beyond that point

"We hope to get the league done by the end of June," Semmens added. "As soon as you go past that date, there are legal challenges.

"If we ended up playing until 15 July and you had to extend a player's contract by two weeks, convincing a player to play two more weeks of football and get paid nicely to do it - I don't believe that will be a substantial challenge.

"The challenge is making sure we don't have a knock-on effect to other seasons and make football compromised for years to come."

BBC LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181420 World Leagues News To be sure, leagues might elect to play games without live audiences until COVID-19 testing becomes more available to the general population or until a vaccine is approved and distributed. Yet even without fans present, resuming games in safe environments for players, coaches and New Coronavirus Test Could Help Sports Leagues Resume Play Sooner referees would provide a big financial boost to the U.S. sports industry and psychological lift to many sports fans. It would also help the country

return to some semblance of normalcy, with sports back on TV. MICHAEL MCCANNMAR 21, 2020 Any improvements to testing of NBA players and other pro athletes could nonetheless spark controversy. Criticisms have been raised of NBA players who are asymptomatic being tested while many Americans who There will be many hurdles for the NBA and other leagues to resume exhibit worrisome symptoms lack access to tests. The accompanying play once the coronavirus pandemic is under control. One challenge will inference is that because NBA players are wealthy and privileged, they be the leagues’ capacity to test players, coaches and referees in as close have moved ahead of the line for vital healthcare services. to real-time as possible to ensure they’re not infected. Current tests for COVID-19 take at least a day, and often several days, for results to NBA commissioner Adam Silver has pushed back against this narrative become known. For instance, guard Marcus Smart waited on two grounds. First, public health officials—meaning government five days between the day of his test and the day he learned he was officers, not NBA executives—were the first to order that NBA players be infected. tested. This occurred in the aftermath of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert testing positive on Mar. 11. Second, NBA players are considered “super In sports, a multi-day delay presents the risk that a player, coach or spreaders” in that they are young people who tend to be asymptomatic, referee who learns that he or she tested negative may have become who work in close proximity to one another and who often travel and infected after the test occurred—and may have unknowingly infected appear in large groups. The NBA has been advised by a group of experts others, too. led by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., and noted infectious disease expert David Ho, M.D., of Columbia University that the This concern seems particularly worrisome for team-based sports. testing of NBA players advances the interests of public health. Basketball, football, baseball, hockey and soccer all involve players in close proximity with one another; in most of those sports, regular and The ability to test players in real-time would be merely one piece of a direct physical contact is part of the game. In addition, several of the pro puzzle before games could return. For one, the NBA and National athletes who have been identified as infected express feeling fine and Basketball Players’ Association, just like other leagues and their are asymptomatic. It’s thought that players’ young age and peak physical respective players’ unions, would need to agree on COVID-19 testing condition improve their odds to defeat the virus. That’s good news for policies. Such agreement is necessary for leagues with unionized players them, but not so much for those around them. Infected people who are as collective bargaining agreements cover wages, hours and other asymptomatic are more contagious than was originally assumed. working conditions, including medical testing. In addition, many states and municipalities have adopted gathering restrictions that in some On Saturday, the possibility of real-time COVID-19 testing became much instances would prevent NBA games even without fans present. The more possible. hope is that such restrictions will become unnecessary as the pandemic Cepheid, a molecular diagnostics company based in California, eases and as economic activity resumes. announced it had received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Michael McCann Food and Drug Administration for a diagnostic test that takes only 45 minutes to determine if a person is infected with COVID-19. The test is SPORTS ILLUSTRATED LOADED: 03.22.2020 called “Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2” and it assesses if a person has SARS-CoV-2, the technical name for the virus that causes COVID-19. The test is also conducted at the point-of-care, meaning on the spot and not requiring that samples be sent to a lab for analysis. According to Cepheid, the tests will begin to be shipped next week.

The FDA’s decision to grant emergency use authorization is legally significant. FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn is authorized under section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permit unapproved medical products, including newly designed medical tests, as well as unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in an emergency to diagnose a life-threatening disease. The requisite emergency condition was likely satisfied on March 13, when President Donald Trump proclaimed a national emergency on account of the outbreak of COVID-19.

The prospect of COVID-19 tests that indicate a result in 45 minutes could save lives, boost public health and restore the public’s confidence. With such results, health care providers could supply much more timely treatment to the infected, who in turn would be quarantined and less likely to infect others. Respirators and other crucial medical equipment to treat the infected could become more efficiently allocated, too. If all goes well, Xpert Xpress could be a real game-changer.

It’s unknown how accurate Xpert Xpress will prove to be. It’s also unknown how quickly the test will be made available to private businesses, like sports leagues, or the health care testing companies with whom they conduct business. Cepheid states that Xpert Xpress can rely on the company’s “GeneXpert Systems,” which are “automated systems that do not require users to have specialty training to perform testing—they are capable of running 24/7.” Cepheid has 23,000 of these systems, about 5,000 of which are in the United States. As described, Cepheid, the tests and the automated systems that run them are relatively straightforward to use and administrate.

While not nearly as important as the promise of saving lives and preventing infections, Xpert Xpress also offers the promise of helping to restore pro sports competitions. The prospect that players, coaches and referees could be tested before same-day practices and same-day games would increase the feasibility of resuming practices and games. 1181421 World Leagues News via donations to the L.A. Regional Food Bank. That helped kick-start next week’s Te‘LA’thon fundraiser for additional meals.

Closer to home, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is donating $500,000 for Coronavirus in Florida: Need a dose of good news? Sports world rising the elderly and youth, including meals at public schools in Miami-Dade up to help those with greatest need and Broward counties. The Marlins are joining all Major League Baseball teams in donating $1 million to ballpark employees. The Heat are providing unspecified assistance to team and arena employees, and owner Micky Arison is sending $1 million to the organization’s foundation Hal Habib @gunnerhal to benefit employees and the community at large. Mar 21, 2020 at 10:31 AM Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux is providing 5,000 meals in Miami and Plaquemine, La., his hometown.

The Dolphins, Heat, Marlins and Panthers are among teams and athletes Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a Swedish striker with AC Milan, is raising funds for around the world coming to the aid of those hurting because of the hospitals in Italy that have been among the hardest hit anywhere. coronavirus pandemic. "Italy has always given me so much and, in this dramatic moment, I want When Cleveland forward Kevin Love reached into his wallet and pulled to give back even more to this country that I love," he wrote on out $100,000 for employees of the Cavaliers’ arena, he did so by asking Instagram. for something in return. Ibrahimovic, formerly of the Los Angeles Galaxy and never accused of “My hope is that others will step up,” he told ESPN. being reserved, also wrote, “And remember: If the virus don’t go to Zlatan, Zlatan goes to the virus!” Love has nothing to worry about. Lionel Messi was always going to make keep ups with toilet paper look Leagues and teams, owners and athletes throughout the country and like nothing at all. pic.twitter.com/jYoB1KoctL around the world are pitching in amid the coronavirus pandemic, offering dollars to those hardest hit, plus a sliver of optimism for all. — Keepitonthedeck (@Keepitonthedeck) March 20, 2020

What began as a slow drumbeat is snowballing. Hardly an hour goes by His soccer-playing buddies provided comic relief with the now without similar contributions — $50,000 here, $500,000 there, $1 #Stayathomechallenge, posting videos of themselves trying to juggle a million somewhere else, helping to pay the rent, put food on the table and roll of toilet paper with their feet. Lionel Messi being Lionel Messi, he keep students electronically engaged with their teachers. issued a “10-touch challenge” while posting personal proof it actually is possible. The Dolphins, Heat, Panthers and Marlins all have made pledges ranging from hundreds of thousands to $1 million, and there are hints those are Gil Brandt, the longtime Dallas Cowboys executive and a Pro Football merely first steps. Plans also are under way to transform Hard Rock Hall of Famer, posted an open letter to football fans, pointing out that Stadium’s parking lot into a drive-thru testing facility for the coronavirus. he’d lived through the Great Depression.

When athletes say we’re in this together, it’s not just poignant. It’s “As we are forced to deal with such a sudden change to our everyday prophetic. After Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky donated lives, we need to treat each other in a more civil manner, with respect, $100,000 to part-time arena employees — and teammates and team appreciation and a sense of camaraderie,” Brandt wrote. “It’s a lot like ownership soon sweetened the pot — it was learned Friday that one of putting together a great football team, despite any number of separate those employees tested positive for the virus and is in self-quarantine. personalities, strengths and weaknesses. The test was on March 15, a week after the employee’s most recent “But this is real life, and it matters a lot more than a football game.” workday at the BB&T Center in Sunrise. Palm Beach Post LOADED: 03.22.2020 It’s not just money. The New York Giants are providing daycare for first responders.

Although some question why some NBA teams have been granted access to testing, the opposite is unfolding for a segment of La Liga, Spain’s top division for soccer. Three teams rejected testing by a private firm hired by the league. Instead, members of Real Valladolid, Osasuna and Eibar directed the tests toward those who needed them.

"None of our players have symptoms and we believe there are other groups that are less privileged and in more need,” Real Valladolid spokesman David Espinar told ESPN. “They are the ones that should have priority."

Forward Zion Williamson is only 19, which matches the total number of games he has played as a rookie on the New Orleans Pelicans, but he posted an Instagram message promising to pay the salaries of employees at the Smoothie King Center for a month.

"The people of New Orleans have been incredibly welcoming and supportive since I was drafted by the Pels last June, and some of the most special people I have met are those who work at Smoothie King Center,” wrote Williamson, who said his gesture was inspired by his mother.

He added, “Unfortunately, many of them are still recovering from long term challenges created by Katrina.”

In Indianapolis, Colts owner Robert Irsay challenged his city: Pledge $200,000 to the Gleaners Food Bank and I will donate $1 million. More than $300,000 was raised.

“I am so proud of our community,” Irsay said.

In hard-hit Southern California, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff and offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth each paid for a million meals 1181422 World Leagues News Yet there’s a chance the mouths could make up some of the financial shortfall if a network uses them in programming to replace the cancelled live game telecasts.

Roger Goodell, NFL happily cashing in on the coronavirus pandemic TAMPA GOES PRIMETIME

Now that Tom Brady is moving his act south to Tampa, how will NFL schedule Gnomes maximize the new Bucs quarterback’s exposure? By BOB RAISSMAN Besides a bushel of Sunday and Monday night games, look for the Bucs NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | to play a handful of 4 p.m. contests next fall.

MAR 21, 2020 | 8:00 AM With the Patriots kicking off at 1 p.m. in Foxborough, this will enable the Fox affiliate in Boston to beam Brady’s Buccaneers to his former

hometown market where interest will be sky high. Roger Goodell, and the NFL owners, were not concerned about the BIG LOSS FOR HBO terrible optics surrounding free agents agreeing to multimillion-dollar deals while millions of people were suffering, losing their jobs and At the end of this month, a great one is moving on. businesses, in the wake of the spreading coronavirus. Rick Bernstein, after nearly 40 years at HBO Sports, 20 as executive While other leagues (NBA, MLB, NHL) were scrambling to deal with the producer, will close out his career at the premium cable network and set impact of the pandemic, it was business as usual for the NFL, no matter his sights on projects that interest him. how bad it looked. [More Sports] Giants 2020 free agency tracker: Joe Judge assembles Goodell captured the sports media landscape and threw a feast for the first roster » media seals. First came the legal tampering period for negotiations on Monday. Then, on Wednesday, free agents could officially sign with new In a business full of blowhards and egomaniacs, Bernstein was calm and teams. In the middle of all this was the saga of mega free agent Tom genuine, even in the wild world of boxing, when he was inside the high- Brady. The only hiccup for the league was having to say it wouldn’t be pressure production truck, during some of boxing’s most historic events. inviting half the Free World to its April Draft in Las Vegas. Bernstein touched everything at HBO Sports; ground breaking Other than that, there was no pause for the cause. No thought about how documentaries, World Championship Boxing, Inside the NFL. He was the this NFL Greed Fest marched on in the middle of tragedy, sorrow and producer for the greatest three-man booth in the history of sports anxiety. television — Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, George Foreman. He paired with Ross Greenburg to form a legendary creative team that made all It was all NFL all the time on all media platforms. Goodell received little HBO Sports productions look and sound like major events. pushback or criticism for keeping the NFL on schedule. There was a lot of air and space to fill inside the Valley of the Stupid and other media The only quality these cats produced was high quality. precincts. Gasbags, reporters and other commentators were so grateful Bernstein leaves HBO Sports with a vast legacy. One he richly deserves. to have NFL stuff percolating, they were not about to criticize the arrogance and insensitivity of a league that was providing a flood of AROUND THE DIAL legitimate sports news while other sources were shutdown. Some “marquee” names have been able to hide behind the coronavirus. The final days and hours of the Brady situation playing out was a bonus When we last looked, James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan was embroiled in for the league. Speculation of where he would wind up had provided controversy with Spike Lee. When we last looked, Leon Rose was months of material. The NFL couldn’t have scripted it any better. With starting his reign as Knicks prez. Now, neither Dolan or Rose is under reality closing in, and the guessing turning to the reality of Brady going to any scrutiny. Someone needs to check up on them. ... Glad ESPN-98.7’s Tampa Bay, the league was generating, in terms of news, pure gold. Chris Carlin is getting some regular play at 7 p.m. each night. Sure beats listening to the Knicks lose. Not so sure that movie bracket thing he did Goodell’s strategy to keep the league on track, in the middle of a was better than Carlin making fun of himself on a nightly basis. ... Has worldwide crisis, is arrogant. Yet it would be disingenuous not to anyone been able to stay awake during Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa’s 6 acknowledge the brilliance — in a business sense — of it. What outlets p.m.-6:30 p.m. show on WFAN? ... If you bet the over on how many benefit by a concentration of NFL news? That would be the NFL Network times FAN’s Marc Malusis mentions how much mileage he has on his (owned by the league’s owners) and ESPN, one of the league’s national jalopy you win. ... We would rather listen to Chris Moore live, than replays TV partners. It would not be a reach to suggest there more eyeballs than of old NCAA basketball tournament games on WFAN. usual on those two networks last week. * * * And all the Brady news led to a run on the Bucs box office by fans looking to buy season tickets, even though the economy is in the toilet. DUDE OF THE WEEK: DR. ANTHONY FAUCI

No doubt Goodell loves those “optics.” The most credible face in staring down the coronavirus pandemic is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He BROADCAST BUCKS even found the time to appear on Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” where he If the NFL season does not start on time, and games are cancelled due could reach a younger base of listeners. Good for him. Good for us too. to the corona virus fallout, will Tony Romo start collecting his $18 million Fauci is spreading the urgency of the message. per year salary from CBS anyway? DWEEB OF THE WEEK: SCOTT HANSON What about SNY’s Keith Hernandez, Gary Cohen and Ron Darling? Will For his bogus tweet saying Tom Brady had dinner Sunday night in a they collect their full salaries if MLB is forced to go to a shorter schedule? Tampa steakhouse with Derek Jeter, Bill Gates and Lightning boss Jeff And all the MSG (Knicks, Rangers) broadcasters and YES voices Vinik. The dinner never happened, Hanson, an NFL Network anchor, (Yankees, Nets) what about them? admitted. He said his source — a long-time friend — claimed to be an eyewitness to the dinner. Hanson apologized. Perhaps he should Industry sources said most broadcaster contracts include a “force suggest an eye exam for his friend. majeure” (French for “superior force”) clause. It’s “a contract provision that allows the network to suspend or terminate its obligations when [More Sports] Jets sign former Rams safety Marqui Christian and cut certain circumstances (like an act of God) beyond their control arise.” cornerback Darryl Roberts »

The “circumstances” surrounding the coronavirus, and its impact on DOUBLE TALK sports schedules, would appear to apply, big-time, here, despite what What Rick Pitino said: “I’ve done nothing wrong.” some agents might contend. So, unless the broadcasters have benevolent/generous bosses there could be plenty of voices not What Rick Pitino meant to say: “In my own mind I’ve done nothing collecting a full salary this season. wrong.” NEW YORK DAILY NEWS LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181423 World Leagues News

USA Track and Field call for Olympics delay

There are a growing number of calls for this summer's Games in Tokyo to be postponed

USA Track and Field, athletics' US governing body, has called for this summer's Olympics in Tokyo to be delayed because of the ongoing coronavirus situation.

The federation has asked the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee to advocate to the International Olympic Committee for the postponement of the Games.

It follows a request from USA Swimming for it to be delayed by 12 months.

The Olympics are scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August.

USA Track and Field chief executive Max Siegel wrote in a letter to the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee: "We certainly understand the ramifications of this request, and the realities of trying to coordinate the logistics of a postponed Olympic Games around the schedules of other athletes, sport federations, key stakeholders etc.

"But the alternative of moving forward in light of the current global situation would not be in the best interest of our athletes (as difficult as that decision might be)."

Tokyo 2020 date 'now has to be addressed' - UK Athletics chair

There are a growing number of calls for the Games not to take place this summer.

UK Athletics chairman Nic Coward recently suggested that the Olympics should be postponed, while Brazil, Norway and Slovenia's Olympic committees have also urged the IOC to take action and put it back to next year.

'Athletes may risk their lives continuing to train'

Four-time Olympic champion and BBC Sport pundit Michael Johnson fears athletes could "risk their lives" trying to train for the Games and called for clarity on the IOC's decision-making process.

"IOC should communicate the window for deciding on the '20 Olympics," tweeted the former US sprinter. "Athletes must keep training but for many there's nowhere to train.

"They may risk their lives and others trying to continue training. Answer isn't just cancel ASAP. But communicate the process to the athletes."

On Friday, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach told the New York Times "different scenarios" for Tokyo 2020 are now being considered for the first time.

LOADED: 03.22.2020 1181424 World Leagues News During her decade as chief marketing officer for the United States Olympic Committee, Baird sometimes saw this type of panic, including when the Zika virus threatened the 2016 Rio Olympics. But it was never so widespread or on her doorstep. Coronavirus Compounds Financial Concerns in Women’s Sports She realizes that there is an urgency for the N.W.S.L. to capitalize on the United States’ 2019 World Cup victory and the national team’s news media exposure during its fight for equal pay. More than half of the By Juliet Macur March 21, 2020 N.W.S.L.’s teams set attendance records last year in post-World Cup For Isabelle Harrison, the coronavirus wake-up call came when she matches, and a Portland Thorns home game set the league's attendance rushed to her grocery store in Bologna, Italy, to find the shelves cleaned record, with 25,218 fans. out of pasta. “Of course, I’m concerned, but what I’m concerned about the most is fan Spaghetti. Fusilli. Even tiny bags of tiny macaroni. All gone. and player safety,” Baird said in a recent phone interview, adding that she expects the league to be fine regardless of the coronavirus’ effect on “I immediately thought, ‘Uh oh, there’s no pasta in Italy?’” Harrison said in the schedule. a recent phone interview two days after returning from Italy, where she is a center on the Virtus Segafredo Bologna basketball team. “That’s how Ticket sales for women’s sports are important, but the league has diverse serious it became, literally overnight. It was like living in a panic zone. So revenue streams, including new multiyear broadcast deals with CBS and many horror stories were coming out. People were dying.” the streaming service Twitch, to help it thrive despite a disruption in play or even a recession, she said. Still, the league has only three sponsors, That was the second Monday in March, before the Italian government while the men’s Major League Soccer, according to its website, has more ordered a total lockdown to control the spread of the virus. Harrison’s than 20. league suspended its season. Her phone blew up with texts from friends and relatives in the United States, begging her to come home. “I think the National Women’s Soccer League is not only a women’s sport and entertainment, but we’re also a movement,” Baird said. “I think fans Harrison, who spends the W.N.B.A. season with the Dallas Wings, has will continue to want to be a part of that.” autoimmune problems, so she wanted to get out of Italy and closer to her support system. She paid $1,000 for a one-way ticket to Texas and, on Cancellations in other sports had immediate effects on players and their Thursday, strapped on a medical mask and flew back to the United pocketbooks, and Michael Whan, the L.P.G.A. commissioner, said in a States. She planned to hole up in a hotel outside Dallas for two weeks, in recent interview that he had lost sleep as the women on his tour self-quarantine because she didn’t want to risk infecting others. encountered an unexpected two-month layoff. Professional golfers are generally independent contractors who pay for entry fees, caddies, “I don’t know if our season will restart or even if I will get paid now, and trainers and most of their own travel. financially this paycheck is definitely important to me,” said Harrison, who is from Nashville and played for the University of Tennessee. “This whole “If I had a tour full of billionaires and everyone had long-term deals, I’d be situation is just so scary.” OK,” Whan said. “Do I have some wealthy women who earned that money throughout their career? Yes, but the majority of my tour is The coronavirus has upended the sports world, throwing many women that need to play, and play well, to make the economics of this professional athletes, like Harrison, into uncertainty. But women, who career.” have fought so hard to get to the top level of sports, might feel a sharper pain than travel woes. Their paychecks and sponsor deals are often The loss of prize money is real: The three events in Asia that were called much smaller than men’s; their leagues are less established. The specter off in February won’t be rescheduled, he said, meaning that $5.2 million of a recession is an additional concern. in prize money has disappeared. Going into 2020, the tour’s total purse for the season was $75.1 million. Women’s professional leagues are usually laser-focused on building on their successes and finding ways to cultivate their brands to make them There is also an intangible cost to putting the season on hold. Jillian sustainable for the long run. But like the rest of a population faced with Hollis, a tour rookie, finished tied for 13th at the ISPS Handa Women’s daily complications caused by the coronavirus, they now have to figure Australian Open last month and was looking to continue the jet-setting out how to navigate a world that changes seemingly by the minute. golf adventure that she had dreamed about since she was a little girl.

Basketball leagues like the Chinese Basketball Association and Hollis, who will turn 23 on Wednesday, started playing golf as soon as Harrison’s Euroleague have shuttered, sending players scrambling. she could hold a club. When she was 14, she set a goal of playing on the Harrison’s agent, Boris Lelchitski, said that he was concerned his clients L.P.G.A. Tour; in the winter she would take a shovel to the course in her who play overseas would be shortchanged on salaries or bonuses and hometown outside Cleveland so she could hit balls in the snow. that his “sneaking suspicion is that we won’t be getting paid” by teams in It didn’t matter whether she needed to wear a thick winter jacket or if her countries hit hard by the virus. That lost money will especially hurt female face felt numb in the cold. She wanted to play golf as a pro, just as her players, he said, because salaries in leagues outside the United States mother, Sharon, had. So she practiced enough and became good tend to be three to five times higher than the pay in the W.N.B.A. For enough to play at the University of Georgia, where she was a three-time players who are not in the W.N.B.A., he added, those checks are all-American. especially essential. To earn her L.P.G.A. Tour card last year, Hollis grinded out the season to Golfers on the L.P.G.A. Tour, who play for purses that are a fraction of finish in the top 10 on the Symetra Tour, the L.P.G.A.’s developmental those available to men on the PGA Tour, had just finished playing in tour. Along the way, she split the costs of a rental car and a hotel room Australia last month when their next three tournaments in Asia were with another player, or stayed with host families. All the practice and canceled. After about a month off, they learned that their upcoming three sacrifice and pounds of shoveled snow, over all those years, helped her American tournaments had been postponed. get to this season, which has been sweeter — and shorter — than she The National Women’s Soccer League first canceled its preseason had ever imagined. games and then on Friday announced a delay of its regular season, Hollis played in three tournaments in Australia, earning two paychecks which was scheduled to begin April 18 with the first live nationwide that totaled $21,796, and also found time to go sightseeing. She saw a broadcast of an N.W.S.L. game. The CBS coverage of the game show at the Sydney Opera House, hiked through Bondi Beach and between the Washington Spirit and the OL Reign was expected to snorkeled near sharks. But her whirlwind adventure is on pause. catapult the league into its eighth season, but it is unclear whether CBS will broadcast a rescheduled opener. While she was in Australia, events in China, Singapore and Thailand were canceled, so Hollis will have to wait to visit those countries for the Preparing for the N.W.S.L.’s uncertain near future has been the main job, first time. Then trips to California and Arizona, for three more events, and an unexpected task, of Lisa Baird, the commissioner who began her were deleted from her schedule, too. She is now biding her time in a job on March 10, a day before the N.B.A. suspended its season and two hotel near the University of Georgia. She said she feels lucky to have two days before the N.C.A.A. canceled its postseason basketball sponsors because her tour paychecks have been put on hold. tournaments. “My initial reaction was mixed emotions,” Hollis said. “I’m sad that I can’t go out West, but I feel safer not putting myself and others at risk. I would hate to get the virus and give it to my grandma. This situation is serious. All I have to worry about is my career.”

In her Dallas hotel, Harrison, 26, is worrying about the health of her parents, who are in their 60s. Her mother works at a retirement community, and Harrison has asked her to stay home. Harrison, who grew up in a family of 12 children, won’t visit relatives or friends until her quarantine ends, a date that feels unimaginably far off.

She spends time reading the news, watching TV, making and posting videos about skin care or organizing her modeling portfolio. She is looking forward to the W.N.B.A. season, which is scheduled to start May 15 under a new collective bargaining agreement that boosts her salary. That is, if there is a season.

“I’m trying to take advantage of this rare time off,” Harrison said. “I’d like to say I plan to get out to see things and travel. But you can’t say that anymore.”

The New York Times LOADED: 03.22.2020