SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/13/2020 Bruins Canadiens 1186230 Bruins report that they had a player test positive for 1186258 Hickey on Hockey: Odds are stacked against NHL's coronavirus playoff plan 1186231 Cave’s AHL teammate writes tribute song for memorial 1186259 Stu on Sports: Canadiens' is using Pilates to fund stay in shape 1186232 Bruins player tests positive for coronavirus 1186233 Bruins' positive COVID test a reminder of how challenging NHL return will be 1186260 Mets’ Jeff Wilpon says ‘4 or 5’ suitors looking to buy the 1186234 player tested positive for COVID-19, team club, but won’t dish on potential bidders announces 1186261 Devils’ , Travis Zajac chime in on MLB’s 1186235 Bruins player’s positive test for COVID-19 underscores money fight | ‘If they don’t come back, it’s good for h NHL’s balancing act 1186262 Will Devils dump Alain Nasreddine for coach with better 1186236 The backbones of the Bruins: Finding their 10 best resume? Cory Schneider, Travis Zajac weigh in seasons by defensemen 1186263 Isles' Lou Lamoriello says new Belmont arena will have 1186237 Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark says on Instagram, 'It's time 'Coliseum atmosphere' to end racism' Flames 1186264 Rangers' 1994 run receives NHL Network 1186238 'You feel like a kid again': Handful of Flames return to ice spotlight for first time since COVID lockdown 1186265 As another Cup anniversary arrives, reflects on his Rangers’ tenure 1186239 Wait, who are the Hurricanes?: Part I of a -by-line Flyers crash course 1186266 Flyers’ , , among those who deserve NHL awards | Sam Carchidi 1186267 No longer an underdog, Alain Vigneault is in good shape 1186240 Blackhawks and Oilers could put on a show once NHL to win starts back up 1186268 2020 NHL playoffs: 5 questions on Flyers' chances in 1186241 Why Blackhawks will still feel intensity of postseason 24-team tournament games with no fans 1186242 Why getting Calvin de Haan back would be big boost for Blackhawks 1186269 Penguins A to Z: Phil Varone is definition of 4A player 1186243 Red Wings mock draft: Three rounds, six picks for Detroit 1186270 Mark Madden: NHL’s return presents Penguins once- in-a-lifetime opportunity Avalanche 1186271 Joe Starkey: Penguins still have a dynasty in their sights 1186244 As former Avs defenseman Kyle Quincey’s toddler son battles brain cancer, hockey world rallies to offer suppor 1186245 Dawg Nation hockey group looking to build unique $38 1186272 San Jose roots run deep for NHL’s first Latino chief million ice complex in Castle Pines executive 1186246 Coronavirus and sports: What Colorado fans can expect 1186273 On this date, 2016: Sharks’ Stanley Cup dream ruined by from their new “normal” Penguins 1186247 What to expect from the Avalanche in Phase 2 of NHL’s return to play plan St Louis 1186248 Bowen Byram’s dominant WHL season should mean a 1186274 Blues gladly wait for delayed NHL Draft to realign roster promotion sooner than later 1186275 With start of camp set, the planning begins for Blues training camp 1186276 Blues looking at June 22 for getting players back on ice 1186249 Post-bunker view: Maybe NHL should focus on 2021 locally 1186250 Some Blue Jackets back for Phase 2, but many staying 1186277 We Went Blues: on the Cup, Vladimir close to home Tarasenko and training camp 1186251 Duhatschek Notebook: An ode to the Masterton, 1186278 Stanley Cup anniversary: Blues players share untold assessing the candidates and more stories from Game 7 & beyond Stars 1186252 10 things to remember about the Stars’ season before the 1186279 Why isn’t Tampa on the NHL’s list of potential host cities? NHL restarts, including the tough stretches they weat 1186280 Penny Vinik seeks divorce from Tampa Bay Lightning 1186253 As Stars eye July 10 training camp, Bowness focuses on owner Jeff Vinik improving Dallas offense Maple Leafs 1186281 GTHL releases gross misconduct data, plans town hall to 1186254 Red Wings encouraged by growth, depth of young players discuss issues or racism, prejudice 1186282 Greater Toronto Hockey League releases data on penalties called for racist slurs 1186255 Oilers loaning Samorukov to CSKA in Moscow 1186256 When it comes to hub cities, there's no clear home-ice advantage 1186257 Jesse Puljujarvi still prospect at this for Edmonton Oilers Canucks World Leagues News 1186294 Why Canucks prospect Jack Rathbone has the potential to 1186309 Two Clemson football players, one basketball player test be a top-4 NHL D-man positive for coronavirus 1186310 Coronavirus sports roundup: Formula 1 cancels three races 1186283 NHL hub city picks to come June 22; MGM preparing for 1186311 24 Hour Fitness Closing 10 Bay Area Locations Due To Las Vegas’ selection Coronavirus Pandemic As Others Set To Reopen 1186284 Golden Knights show support for wounded Las Vegas 1186312 Unidentified Bruin tests positive for coronavirus officer 1186313 Australia's Sports Minister still optimistic about hosting 1186285 Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner, Chance win NHL Fan 2020 T20 World Cup despite COVID-19 crisis Choice Awards 1186314 Ryan Zimmerman: was unlucky compared to 1186286 How Peter DeBoer and the Golden Knights are preparing other sports with the timing of the coronavirus pandemic for a crucial round-robin 1186315 Friday Night Lights and the coronavirus: a work in progress 1186316 Washington State to begin voluntary workouts June 15; no 1186287 T.J. Oshie launches auction to benefit COVID-19 Critical positive COVID-19 tests recorded yet Needs Fund 1186317 Coronavirus rules to be relaxed to bring big crowds back 1186288 Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier and Larry Murphy predict to stadiums, concerts, pubs, restaurants and other ve John Carlson will win the Norris Trophy SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1186289 Former Capital Brendan Leipsic reportedly signing with KHL's CSKA 1186290 Why 'Slap ' is stil the gold standard for hockey movies 1186291 Two years later, reminiscing on the Capitals' magical Parade Day Websites 1186295 The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: An ode to the Masterton, assessing the candidates and more 1186296 The Athletic / ‘There is racism still very alive and well’: The Indigenous experience in hockey 1186297 The Athletic / By the numbers: Revisiting the true value of a draft pick 1186298 Sportsnet.ca / Vegas will be NHL hub city for when play resumes 1186299 Sportsnet.ca / Four questions facing the Canadiens in series versus Penguins 1186300 Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: Hockey, NHL pushing on multiple fronts 1186301 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks coaches using lengthy break to develop new strategies 1186302 Sportsnet.ca / GTHL director: 'We know we need to be better. We know we need to do more' 1186303 Sportsnet.ca / Inside the Highlight Reel: Breaking down Alex Ovechkin's go-to move 1186304 Sportsnet.ca / Penguins' Marleau on Maple Leafs' Marner: 'He amazes me' 1186305 Sportsnet.ca / believes Edmonton deserves to be NHL hub city 1186306 Sportsnet.ca / Where NHL goes from here after setting Phase 3 date 1186307 TSN.CA / GTHL releases details on penalties called for discriminatory slurs 1186308 TSN.CA / Adam Fantilli on Boston Bruins fandom, admiring Nathan MacKinnon and road to 2023 NHL draft 1186292 Unlike NHL officiating, feds should call this game consistently 1186293 TED’S TALK: Shocking to see CFL drop ball so badly when players are stuck in limbo … Cardinals could have big 1186230 Boston Bruins "On the surface, it is certainly challenging — sanitization of equipment, masks, all the things that are unnatural for all of us have become more and more natural in recent days.”

Bruins report that they had a player test positive for coronavirus The planning is in place. The coronavirus remains in charge.

Boston Globe LOADED: 06.13.2020 By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated June 12, 2020, 11:49 a.m.

After only a few days of trying to get the show back on the road, the Bruins found out the inherent challenges of inching back toward the business of hockey amid a pandemic, announcing Friday morning that one of their players had tested positive earlier in the week for the COVID- 19 virus.

According to general manager , the unidentified player, who was tested three times in recent days, has been asymptomatic since reporting for his first test at the team’s Warrior practice facility in Brighton for the start of league-approved voluntary workouts.

The player’s first test was positive, but both subsequent tests were negative, according to the club’s release.

Sweeney, during a Zoom session with reporters at noon, added that the affected player will not be eligible to work out until after another COVID- 19 test next week.

It was the first reported instance of a Bruins player testing positive for the coronavirus since the NHL shut down for business March 12 (93 days ago) because of the pandemic.

“I think everyone is learning how we properly interact and distance and react to the original test results,” said Sweeney. “This [workout] phase is a voluntary phase, but I think we are learning and we’ll continue to learn throughout, as the players go through it and, really, however everybody interacts.”

When asked how many players have participated in workouts this week, Sweeney said, “We don’t have access right now to watching players, so we are not monitoring the number of players on the ice.

“We have a lot of players that are in the area that are going to access the facility, and again, some of the guys are still going through their protocols and such.”

Per agreement between the NHL and the Players’ Association, the 24 clubs eligible for the playoffs (to start approximately Aug. 1) must make their facilities available to any player in the league, regardless of club affiliation.

Because of such a high concentration of NHLers in the Boston area, the Bruins facility on Guest Street could be a high-traffic center for players looking to work out the kinks of a three-month hibernation.

The league and the NHLPA announced Thursday that full, mandatory training camps are scheduled to begin July 10. Once those camps begin, players will join their clubs in their respective cities.

Sweeney named five of his players, expected to be here for the July camp, who returned to their homes in Europe during the shutdown: Anton Blidh and Joakim Nordstrom to Sweden, and David Pastrnak, Jakub Zboril, and Dan Vladar to Czechia.

Sweeney said the club has adhered closely to the protocols established for the return-to-play plan announced May 26.

“It’s an all-encompassing process in terms of opening the facility,” noted Sweeney. “There are a lot of protocols. We’ve hired — and every club has been required to hire — a facility hygiene officer. We’ve done that.

"Kathleen Saunders is our representative, and she’s done a fabulous job from an oversight standpoint in conjunction with our medical professionals.”

According to Saunders’s LinkedIn profile, she is a registered nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she has been employed for nearly four years, and was a member of the Bruins marketing team for just over two years, 2017-19.

“I feel very comfortable with what our staff is doing,” said Sweeney. “We’ve got small-pod groups [of players] set up, and there has been no intermingling between the pods. 1186231 Boston Bruins

Cave’s AHL teammate writes tribute song for memorial fund

By ASSOCIATED PRESS |PUBLISHED: June 12, 2020 at 2:45 p.m. | UPDATED: June 12, 2020 at 6:01 p.m.

EDMONTON, Alberta — Edmonton Oilers prospect Cooper Marody has written a song in memory of teammate Colby Cave to raise money for a memorial fund.

Cave, from Battleford, , died April 11 in a Toronto hospital after suffering a brain bleed. He was 25.

Marody’s song “Agape” was to be released Friday on Apple Music and Spotify. Marody, from Brighton, , and Cave were teammates last season on the ’s .

Proceeds go to the Colby Cave Memorial Fund established by the Oilers. The money will be directed toward mental health programs and providing access to sport for underprivileged children.

“I am so proud to be part of this project and to release this song,” Marody said Thursday in a statement from the Oilers. “This is, without a doubt, the most important song I have ever written.

“I hope you all enjoy the song and it can bring you some kind of peace.”

Cave’s wife Emily said “agape” was a word she and her late husband said to each other often.

“Agape is the highest form of love,” she said. “Selfless, sacrificial and unconditional love; it persists no matter the circumstance. I’m so grateful I got to experience this love with my best friend.”

Cave played 67 career NHL games for the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers. The center was called up for 11 games by the Oilers last season.

He was in a medically induced coma after surgery to remove a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on his brain.

The COVID-19 virus kept Emily from her husband’s bedside.

“Colb and I started three hand squeezes very early in our relationship,” she said in the statement. “He would squeeze my hand in car, I would squeeze his in the grocery store, we would do it anywhere and everywhere. We did this for years.

“The four days Colb was in the hospital, I wasn’t allowed to be with him. I got to FaceTime him twice for a few moments. I would beg him to wake up and tell him how much I loved him. I would then ask the nurse to squeeze his hands three times so he felt I was there.

“I wasn’t physically there when Colb went to heaven, but I pray through the nurse squeezing his hand like we had always done, he felt me right there beside him.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186232 Boston Bruins $50,000 to the NAACP and a civil rights organization in his home province of .

“From an organizational standpoint and a personal standpoint, I applaud Bruins player tests positive for coronavirus each and every players’ individual efforts in their own lives. It’s outside the realm of hockey, but they’re human beings and they’re reacting very, very well from the standpoint of humanity,” said Sweeney. “I think they both acknowledge the listening aspect of this and the realization that we By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: June 12, 2020 at 1:27 p.m. | can all do a much better job of that, in mobilizing our efforts of support of UPDATED: June 12, 2020 at 6:13 p.m. any (cause against) injustice. I was reading an article this morning on Anson Carter and Trevor Daley, guys who I played who are are maybe going to have a higher profile. I applaud each and every player and their The Bruins announced on Friday that one of their players tested positive individual efforts and support and they have the complete backing of the for COVID-19 prior to participating in the limited, voluntary workout Boston Bruins if they want to be more socially available in that regard to sessions currently under way at the Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton. comment and voice their opinions, and in Zdeno’s case support a protest and march with people. I applaud their efforts and, again, it’s a testament According to the club, the player is asymptomatic and subsequently has to their leadership, not as hockey players but as human beings and undergone two more tests which were negative. family men and people that know they have to listen and allow this to GM Don Sweeney did not get into many specifics, but said that there is a resonate.” period of quarantine required, based on the CDC and league guidelines. Sweeney also said there’s also been no movement with any upcoming The player who tested positive, as well as players identified in the free agents, the most prominent one being Torey Krug. While it’s contract tracing process, have not used the facility and will not be able to expected that the salary cap will remain flat, Sweeney said there’s too until next week, provided tests are negative. much uncertainty right now. The workouts (Phase 2 of the league’s Return To Play plan) began “We haven’t done anything concrete, but we’ve done some planning around the league on Monday. It allows for no more than six players on accordingly,” said Sweeney. the ice at a time with social distancing measures adhered to, as well as required testing before accessing the facility and continued testing for all Boston Herald LOADED: 06.13.2020 players throughout the phase.

“Everybody’s learning how we properly interact and distance and react to the original test results that we receive,” said Sweeney. “When we get to the daily testing later in the process we’ll be able to eliminate some of the possibilities. There are possibilities associated with a singular positive test and we are learning about those things. But again, this phase is a voluntary phase. We’re learning and we’ll continue to learn throughout it as the players go through it and really everybody interacts.”

In accordance with league guidelines, the Bruins have hired a facility hygiene officer, Kathleen Saunders, to oversee all aspects of maintaining health and safety at the B’s digs at Warrior. Sweeney said the club is realizing the enormity of the process.

“It’s an all-encompassing process in terms of opening the facility. There are a lot of protocols,” said Sweeney.

“It’s certainly challenging and when you start to increase the numbers there’s going to be more effort on everybody’s (part) with the sanitization of equipment, masks, things that are not natural and becoming more and more natural in recent days. They’re going to have to be adhered to from Day 1 if we’re going to get an opportunity to move on.”

Due to the voluntary nature of the workouts, Sweeney did not give out the number of players who have been in attendance, though the team released photos of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand skating on Wednesday. Players who reside in NHL cities other than their own teams are allowed to access facilities in those cities.

Sweeney said that conversations about the mobilization process to get players back who returned to Europe and Canada have begun. David Pastrnak, Jakub Zboril and Daniel Vladar went back to the Czech Republic, while Joakim Nordstrom and Anton Blidh went back to Sweden, where a lockdown approach was not used by officials. All those players will have to go through quarantine protocols when they return.

The league announced on Thursday that training camps will open on July 10, “provided the medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an agreement on resuming play,” according to a joint NHL/NHLPA statement. According to the plan, testing will be stepped up once camps officially open.

Given the length of time players have been off the ice — the league shutdown came on March 12 — Sweeney said a cautious approach is being taken.

“We’re not going to jump right into the deep end,” said Sweeney. “We have to have a progression. And there’s enough time for players to get back up if they use this period effectively and then the training camp.”

On other subjects, Sweeney addressed the actions of two of his team leaders, Zdeno Chara and Bergeron, amid the civil unrest stemming from the killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis. Zdeno Chara marched in a protest last week and Bergeron donated 1186233 Boston Bruins and the confirmed identities of the two hub cities may come into focus next week.

The NHL and the NHLPA still need to agree on many issues, including Bruins' positive COVID test a reminder of how challenging NHL return will how much access hockey players are going to have to their families, how be much time they are going to potentially spend in isolation and just how much of a risk it’s going to be for the players potentially spending a few months playing games this summer and fall.

By Joe Haggerty June 12, 2020 4:45 PM The NHL takes its share of PR hits and many times rightfully so, but it deserves some credit for the deliberate and thought-out way that it has

rolled out phases in the Return to Play Plan. The league hasn’t named It was bound to happen sooner or later, and it was sooner for the Bruins hub cities and it hasn’t even settled on a start date for games because experiencing their first brush with COVID-19. the NHL wants to make the decision based on the latest bits of information concerning the COVID-19 outbreak. The B’s announced on Friday that a player tested positive for the coronavirus, but had since been tested twice with negative results while It's looking to avoid the situation that the NBA currently finds itself, with remaining asymptomatic all throughout the process. the league already committed to playing all games in Orlando while the state of Florida has seen the number of cases spike in recent days. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney indicated the unnamed player hasn’t been to the Warrior Ice Arena practice facility this week once it The bottom line, though, is that a player testing positive for the Bruins was opened up to Bruins players for Phase 2 of the league’s Return to was inevitable throughout this process, and it happening sooner rather Play protocol. later is better from a timing standpoint. Can you imagine Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak or testing There were Images and video of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand positive in the middle of a conference final playoff series where an working out together midweek on the ice, but there are no indications of absence could drastically change the outcome of the entire series? exactly how many Bruins players actually worked out on the ice, or off, at Warrior this past week. This is part of the unpredictable, uncharted nature of what lies ahead of us when it comes to professional sports returning over the next few It was an instance of current NHL player testing working perfectly to keep months. It’s not going to be easy and there will be starts and stops to a potentially infected player away from the rest of team personnel as the everything as we get closer to a return date. league takes baby steps toward a return. But it also raises many other questions about potential false positive test results, exactly how quickly This week’s setback for the Bruins was a benign reminder of that with an any NHL teams should begin voluntary practices and the learning curve asymptomatic player who should be back in the fold once training camp that every NHL organization is going to experience over the coming is set to begin a month from now. weeks and months. SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020 “We’re going to leave this pretty generic,” said Don Sweeney, who said the positive Bruins player as well as any individuals linked in contact tracing haven’t used — and won’t be able to use — the facilities at Warrior Ice Arena until they are tested again next week. “Everybody is learning how we properly interact and distance, and how we react to the original test results when we receive them. When we get tested daily in the later stages, we’ll hopefully eliminate some of the possibilities [of infections]. We’re learning about those things and we’re continuing to learn throughout as the players go through it, and really with how everybody interacts [with it].

“I feel very comfortable with what our staff is doing in that small pod group setup. The distancing aspect involved with that. The people at Warrior and the distancing protocol has all been put in place. On the surface it’s certainly challenging, so when we start to increase the numbers [of players] it’s going to take even more effort on everybody’s part when it comes to the sanitization of equipment and protocols that are unnatural for all of us. It’s becoming more natural for all of us in recent days and they are going to have to be adhered to if we hope to move through all the phases, which we are all hopeful that we can do.”

Players are expected to be tested at least twice a week once training camp ramps up on July 10 and will be tested daily once the NHL begins playing games again presumably at some point in August.

The ramped-up frequency of testing is hopefully going to keep outbreaks from happening with any NHL organization once camps open in July, and the greater likelihood is that teams are going to experience player infections in larger numbers now as they gather back up to practice again in the coming weeks.

Sweeney said that Anton Blidh, Joakim Nordstrom, David Pastrnak, Jakub Zboril, Daniel Vladar and Urho Vaakanainen were among the players still over in Europe at this point, and it will be a few weeks after their arrival that they would be seen at Warrior Ice Arena.

“We’ve got several players outside the country and several players that have gone back to Canada. There have been players that have had access to ice and skating facilities that other players have not,” said Sweeney. “You have to go through the protocols of testing when they come in and there will be a mandated quarantine period for players coming from abroad. But there are no indications that we would have a player that wouldn’t be eligible [to play].”

All of this is a stark reminder that the NHL is still a long way away from actually returning even as we get excited about a 24-team playoff format, 1186234 Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins player tested positive for COVID-19, team announces

By Nick Goss June 12, 2020 11:40 AM

The Boston Bruins announced Friday that one of their players tested positive for COVID-19, but the player has since taken two tests for the virus that came back negative and is asymptomatic.

From the team's press release:

Phase 2 of the NHL's Return to Play Plan requires all players to be tested for COVID-19 prior to using the team's facilities. As part of this process the Bruins were advised that a player tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The player underwent two subsequent tests, and both returned negative. The player remains asymptomatic. The Bruins will continue to follow CDC recommendations and adhere to the NHL's protocol.

All Bruins players who have returned to this point during Phase 2 have now returned negative test results.

Phase 2 of the NHL's return to play plan began June 8, and it allowed teams to open their facilities for voluntary limited workouts.

The NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday an agreement to begin Phase 3 on July 10, which includes the start of training camps. However, training camps only will open “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.”

Last month, the NHL announced a 24-team return to play plan. There is no date for when games will start again.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186235 Boston Bruins as many as 20 regular-season games to complete their pre-postseason integration.

Kase played in six games as a Bruin. Ritchie appeared in seven. Bruins player’s positive test for COVID-19 underscores NHL’s balancing Determining where they play going forward will be one of the coaching act staff’s primary objectives.

“You’re not going to have a great deal of time to experiment at this stage,” Sweeney said. “You’re going to have a few exhibition games. By Fluto Shinzawa Jun 12, 2020 You’re going to have round-robin games. I think we have a pretty good idea of how they’re going to integrate into our lineup and where they’re

going to integrate into our lineup. Who’s playing well is really going to be A lot of things have to go right for the NHL playoffs to take place. the paramount thing when we come back.”

Case in point: A symptom-free Bruins player reported to Warrior Ice • The NHL has yet to determine how many players teams can carry Arena for Phase 2 of the league’s return to play and tested positive for during camp. As such, Sweeney did not set a number on roster size. COVID-19. The unidentified player, who remains asymptomatic, has • The Bruins have not decided whether their regular players will dress for subsequently been tested twice. Both results were negative. all three round-robin games. They will depend on player input to make He is under quarantine and will be tested again next week. The player these decisions. will not be allowed to enter Warrior until the conclusion of his quarantine, “Some guys will be adamant they need to play all three games,” the length of which is unknown. The Bruins conducted contact tracing to Sweeney said. “Maybe they play two. These are competitive games. identify others who came into contact with the player. An isolated case You’re going to play some exhibition games prior to the round-robin. So does not necessarily require team-wide quarantine. you can use those as kind of a gauge to see where your players are, The NHL permitted all teams to reopen their facilities for the informal both mentally and physically.” skates and off-ice workouts of Phase 2 on Monday. The following day, The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 the Bruins released video and pictures of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand skating at Warrior. During a Friday video call, general manager Don Sweeney declined to identify any other players who have been working out at Warrior. Coaches and hockey operations personnel will be permitted to observe on-ice sessions starting two weeks after the beginning of informal skates.

Phase 2 sessions are voluntary. Participating players must be tested prior to using team facilities. Once inside, they must maintain distancing protocol. No more than six players can be part of a training group at one time.

Training camp, otherwise known as Phase 3, is scheduled to begin on July 10. Phase 3 is mandatory for players. The duration of camp has yet to be determined.

“I feel very comfortable with what our staff is doing,” Sweeney said. “We’ve got small-pod groups set up. There’s no intermingling between the pods. The distancing aspect is all in effect. There’s a long list. The list has been published in terms of what we have to go through with interactions with the people at Warrior. The distancing protocol there has all been in place. On the surface, it’s certainly challenging. So when you start to increase the numbers, it’s going to take even more effort on everybody’s part.”

Other notes from Sweeney’s call:

• The coaches are preparing for Philadelphia, Tampa and Washington, the Bruins’ opponents in the round-robin segment. The round-robin results will determine seeding for the playoffs. As such, it’s challenging to prepare in-depth scouting reports for the opening round.

“You’re running simulations on how your team matches up against certain teams and what they expect to do against you, and you prepare accordingly,” Sweeney said. “It’s not going to change in this regard. We go through training camp. We try to get to the highest level possible while we’re monitoring the other games and playing our round-robin games. We know Tampa, Washington and Philadelphia and how we’re going to prepare for them. But it’s got to be an inward focus in the early going to keep your team as healthy as possible.”

• The NHL and NHLPA have not determined the salary cap for next season. The league’s prior guidance is that next year’s cap is likely to remain flat at $81.5 million. With no cap certainty, Sweeney has not conducted negotiations with pending unrestricted or restricted free agents, although he has communicated with all players.

Torey Krug, Zdeno Chara, Joakim Nordstrom and will be unrestricted. Jake DeBrusk, Matt Grzelcyk, Anders Bjork and Karson Kuhlman will be restricted.

“We haven’t done anything concrete,” said Sweeney. “We’ve done some planning accordingly and some forecasting with RFAs and UFAs. But we haven’t put anything on paper at this point and time.”

• Sweeney acquired Ondrej Kase from Anaheim on Feb. 21. Three days later, he traded for Nick Ritchie. Sweeney expected the ex-Ducks to have 1186236 Boston Bruins 53 67

With the founding fathers of Boston’s blue line (Shore and Orr) winning The backbones of the Bruins: Finding their 10 best seasons by four Stanley Cup championships, it would be tough for any player to meet defensemen the expectations foisted on the next up-and-coming great Bruins defenseman. Bourque proved during his career that he could reach elite status and earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as Shore By Joe McDonald Jun 12, 2020 and Orr. In 1987-88, he captured his second consecutive Norris Trophy, but more importantly, he led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup final, where

they lost to the Oilers. Bourque produced 81 points in 78 regular-season If one looks at all 95 seasons of Bruins hockey, what stands out is that games and was a threat at both ends of the ice. the organization’s success has been built on toughness and defensive 4. , 1970-71 prowess. The all-time roster boasts generational defensemen like , , Bobby Orr, and Zdeno Chara, and all Real but Bourque led Bruins teams to claim the Stanley Cup. Everyone on this list is either a Hall of Famer or, as in Chara’s case, will be. 37

Without further ado, here are the top 10 seasons by a Bruins 102 defenseman, with their actual stats and their adjusted-across-era 139 statistics via Hockey-Reference. Adjusted 1. Bobby Orr, 1969-70 34 Real 95 33 129 87 Many in the advanced analytics world don’t recognize the plus/minus 120 rating as a true indicator of a player’s success. Well, Orr registered a Adjusted league-leading plus-124 this season, an incredible number. He also had 37 goals and 102 assists for 139 points in 78 games. Once again, he 33 won the Hart and Norris trophies, but the Bruins lost to the Canadiens in the quarterfinals. 91 5. , 1977-78 124 Real If you ask Orr, who is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time, about his individual accomplishments, he will quickly change the 22 direction of the conversation and focus on his teammates and the team’s overall success. That’s what makes this season such an incredible one 57 for No. 4. Not only did the Bruins win the Stanley Cup, but Orr also won 79 the Hart, Norris, Ross and Conn Smythe trophies. He’s the only player in history to win all four awards, registering 33 goals and 87 assists for 120 Adjusted points that season. Then, of course, he scored the Stanley Cup-clinching and flew through the air in celebration at . 19

2. Bobby Orr, 1971-72 52

Real 71

37 Despite Orr departing to finish his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, the new-look big, bad Bruins still had a dominating team. On the blue line 80 was 29-year-old defenseman Brad Park. He could shut you down physically with his or provide plenty of offense, too. He finished 117 second in the Norris race and provided the Bruins with 22 goals and 57 Adjusted assists for 79 points. The Bruins reached the Cup final but lost to the Canadiens. 36 6. Zdeno Chara, 2008-09 81 Real 117 19 Winning two Cups in three years while still dominating the league is an impressive encore. Producing 37 goals and 80 assists for 117 points, 31 including a plus-83 rating, while earning the Hart, Norris and Conn 50 Smythe trophies – again – is just part of why Orr is regarded as the greatest defenseman ever to play. Adjusted

3. Ray Bourque, 1987-88 20

Real 31

17 51

64 When you research Chara’s complete body of work during his 22-year career, it’s a bit shocking that he’s won the Norris Trophy only once, in 81 2008-09. But he was a dominating force that season and the Bruins had Adjusted a team that could have enjoyed a deep playoff run until they lost to the Hurricanes in the semifinals. Chara posted a career-high 19 goals and 14 added 31 assists for 50 points. It was also the season when he learned he didn’t have to fight as much because not many wanted to challenge Adjusted the 6-foot-9 250-pounder. 12 7. Eddie Shore, 1928-29 30 Real 42 12 A three-time Stanley Cup winner, Clapper guided the Bruins to a 7 championship with 26 points in 48 regular-season games. A converted forward who moved to defense midway through his career, Clapper was 19 one of the most respected players of his generation. He was inducted Adjusted into the Hall of Fame in 1947 while still playing, making him the only active player ever enshrined. 31 The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 51

82

The Bruins won their first of six Stanley Cup championships, and Shore was a key component of the team’s success. The 26-year-old defenseman scored 12 goals and added seven assists for 19 points in 39 games, which in the 1920s represented huge totals — those adjusted numbers aren’t a misprint; Shore was an offensive dynamo for his day. He was also known as a mean SOB on the ice, almost the polar opposite of Orr and Bourque. Shore won the Hart Trophy four times during his 14- year career and helped the Bruins win a second Cup in 1939. He was inducted into the in 1947, and the Bruins retired his No. 2 sweater that same year.

8. Ray Bourque, 1979-80

Real

17

48

65

Adjusted

14

41

55

The rookie sensation lived up to the hype, winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year. The 18-year-old defenseman scored 17 goals and added 48 assists for 65 points in 80 games. He also posted an impressive plus-52 rating. It was the start of a great career in Boston. As longtime Bruins coach and executive once said, “If I’m down a goal, I’d want Bobby, but if I’m ahead a goal, I want Ray.”

9. Ray Bourque, 1989-90

Real

19

65

84

Adjusted

16

54

70

The guided the Bruins back to the Stanley Cup final, but again they lost to the Oilers. Bourque won his third Norris Trophy and finished second in the Hart race. He also had 84 points in 76 regular-season games. That season would be his last chance at a winner in Boston. He asked for a in 2000 and won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2001.

10. Dit Clapper, 1940-41

Real

8

18

26 1186237 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark says on Instagram, 'It's time to end racism'

By Lance Lysowski

Published Fri, Jun 12, 2020|Updated Fri, Jun 12, 2020

Linus Ullmark joined Jimmy Vesey and Wayne Simmonds in denouncing racism and police officers' use of excessive force against people of color, specifically George Floyd.

Ullmark, a 26-year-old goalie for the Buffalo Sabres, released a statement Friday on Instagram in which he called for change across the globe, vowed to educate himself on racism and questioned the conduct of police officers. Vesey released a similar statement after Floyd, a 46- year-old black man, died May 25 when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into Floyd's neck. The incident was captured in graphic detail on video.

Simmonds, who played seven games with the Sabres this season, partnered with six current and former NHL players to form the Hockey Diversity Alliance, which, according to a news release, plans to "promote diversity at all levels of the game through community outreach and engagement with youth."

Here is the full statement from Ullmark, who was born in Lugnvik, Sweden:

"I'm deeply saddened about what's happened in the last couple of weeks and like many others, had a hard time sharing my thoughts. It's time for me to raise my voice on the matter. I've seen the murder of George Floyd and it kills me and makes me sick to my stomach to see a person treated that way only because of the color of his skin.

"The police are here to protect us, not actively decide if we should live or die. It should never have happened. I can't possibly understand what a black person is going through on a daily basis with all this racism. It has to stop. We have to be better. I've always believed in that you should treat everyone the same way you want others to treat you. For some people, that seems like the hardest thing in the world and it blows my mind.

"Each and every one of us has a choice every morning when we wake up and that is: What do I want to be today? Do I want to be the best version of myself? Do I want to be a part of the problem or a part of the solution? Because in the end, every human life is worth exactly the same. No one is worth more. No one is worth less. We are all humans. We are all in this together.

"Going forward I will educate myself, talk and learn more about the black community and other racial minorities to try and understand more about this complex world we live in. I will do what I can to make this a better place for my kids and all the other children around the world to grow up in. To grow up in a better world, without hate. It is time to end racism."

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186238 able to go back to normal, just like it was. It was a good skate, a little bit rusty at first but it’s always like that when you’re off the ice for that long.

“I just got right back into the rhythm of things and it was a good skate, 'You feel like a kid again': Handful of Flames return to ice for first time good pace, a lot of reps and got the conditioning in, for sure.” since COVID lockdown Under the watchful eye and planning of strength and conditioning coach Ryan van Asten, the Flames are trying to time their training schedule so they’ll be peaking before the new-look-post-season begins and their Kristen Anderson, Postmedia series starts against the Winnipeg Jets.

Published:June 12, 2020 Monday was about regaining the feel of the puck, as the players who were quarantined in Calgary and Canada have been only able to work Updated:June 12, 2020 4:02 PM MDT out at home and unable to skate.

But, already, the countdown is on until they can meet — officially — as a has never been so happy to be insulted by his teammates group and begin their training camp July 10, a date revealed by the NHL as he was on Friday when the Calgary Flames were finally able to hit the and NHLPA earlier this week which solidified plans to return. ice after a three-month hiatus away from the game due to the global And this isn’t like normal training camp, where they’re preparing for an outbreak of COVID-19. 82-game marathon and beyond. This is being thrown back into the fire “I was saying to the boys (Friday), it’s nice to be able to chirp a little bit and sprinting to the finish line. and talk to each other like we usually do,” the Flames captain said with a “It’s crazy, right? Three months ago, you never even would have thought chuckle. “It was a small group (of skaters) but it was kind of funny — the twice about having 20 guys on the ice with goalies,” Giordano said. “Now, chirps were starting back and forth. we’re literally out there with five guys. “Honestly, I’m looking forward to the day when we can have our full “Every shot you take feels like a great shot because it goes right in the group again but, (Friday) it was mentally a nice refreshing day to get in open net … but at some point here, we’re going to be ramping it up.” that room, put on the equipment, see some of your teammates and go back and forth.” Giordano said it’s difficult not to fast-forward already to July 10, when they can actually hold a regular training camp and prepare for meaningful The Flames officially opened Phase 2 of the ’s games. Heck, even just passing the puck to his ‘D’-partner TJ Brodie in a ‘Return to Play’ plan, which kicked off for many teams at the beginning of drill with three forwards on the ice would be nice right now. the week. But now, he said, it feels real. Opting to take their time in ensuring the facility was ready for the team’s return, along with initiating stringent protocols established by the NHL, “It’s something that, honestly, we all took for granted,” Giordano said. the Flames allowed players into Scotiabank Saddledome for workouts on “Life basically just smacked us in the face. The weeks can’t go by quick Thursday. enough but, in saying that, it feels like the momentum is picking up. It feels like it’s going to happen, it feels like we’re going to play. And exactly three months to the day since the NHL was put on pause on March 12, Friday was their first day back on the ice. Joining the captain “I think a lot of guys are excited. I think the workouts are going to become was Michael Stone, Dillon Dube, Matthew Phillips and Mark Jankowski. a lot easier because we’re actually getting ready to play. Before, we were More players are expected to trickle in for voluntary skates next week. getting ready to play — but are we going to play? Really? But after seeing the guys (Friday) it was like, ‘OK. It’s for real. We’re getting back For many of them, it was the first time — ever — that they’d taken a here soon.’” hiatus that long. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.13.2020 “You feel like a kid again, honestly,” the 36-year-old blueliner said. “I’ve never taken three months, I don’t think, in my whole career. To be able to get back on the ice today was refreshing, to pass the puck and shoot the puck.

“All those sort of little things you forget about. It felt good.”

Weird, rusty, exciting — the ice time was all of those things, as per usual.

“It felt amazing,” Jankowski said. “You just kind of go back to normal after the first few drills and it was awesome to be out there.”

But the players also had to adjust to new protocols, as precautions are still being taken to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Players must wear a mask to and from the rink until they get inside the dressing room. The only time they can’t wear a mask is if they’re skating or working out. Filling out a questionnaire, evaluating potential symptoms. Having their temperature being taken. All the necessary measures to ensure their safety.

“We’re taking all the precautions — it’s definitely a little different,” said Jankowski. “But it’s worth it. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to play games so I’m definitely looking forward to that.”

At the start of the shut-down in March, Jankowski, his girlfriend Rachel, and their golden retriever puppy Lucy packed up and went back to .

But as details started being determined for Phase 2 of the NHL’s restart, they rented a car and took a relaxing five days to drive back across the country — from Oakville through Sault St. Marie, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, and Regina.

Then they were back at it on Friday.

“It was right back to normal — the regular chit chat,” Jankowski said. “It’s great to have a bunch of the guys back together again and just being 1186239 Carolina Hurricanes He said: “Wait, he said something nice about me? That’s good.” Need an in-depth article?: Here is one of many.

Andrei Svechnikov Wait, who are the Hurricanes?: Part I of a line-by-line crash course Projected roster spot: First-line left wing (maniacal grin)

“Why don’t you explain this to me like I’m five?”: Proud owner of the first By Sara Civian Jun 12, 2020 two self-proclaimed “” in NHL history — accomplished as a teenager. Work ethic as incredible as his talent, elucidated when even Brind’Amour gushes over him. Stat line of 24-37—61 in 68 games. I caught up with my good friends at 99.9 The Fan last week out of the Future of the franchise. goodness of my own heart. Despite this act of generosity, they mustered up the sheer audacity to blindside me with a near-impossible question. First memory that comes to mind: There’s so much generic back-and- forth in hockey media scrums at this point, I hate how transactional it “Do you remember the Carolina Hurricanes?” feels but it is what it is. This is why I live for Svechnikov interviews on the road. He’ll walk into the scrum and be like, “Hello, how is everyone?” and It gets worse. it will turn into an actual conversation, and no one from the opposing “What, specifically, do you remember about the Carolina Hurricanes?” team media knows what to do. It’s amazing.

DO WE EVEN REMEMBER HOW THE @CANES WERE DOING Need an in-depth article?: There are too many, but Svechnikov himself is BEFORE EVERYTHING SHUTDOWN? @SARACIVIAN JOINED ME & all about family. So you should revisit his first NHL goal. @JWGIGLIO ON @999THEFAN FOR A QUICK CRASH COURSE ON Defensemen WHERE THINGS STAND BEFORE THE NH: RESUMES PLAY. GET THE FULL CONVO AND MORE IN THE “BEST OF” PODCAST. Jordan Martinook was on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast this week and HTTPS://T.CO/MDHXQTNFQG PIC.TWITTER.COM/HMCWQB7VB6 probably the best part of it was this statement about the Hurricanes defense: — JOE OVIES (@JOEOVIES) JUNE 6, 2020 “It’s frustrating when you have to go up against these guys every I realized that was the first time in more than a month where I thought practice,” he laughed. “Your confidence isn’t that high to begin with, then about on- things. you get shut down every practice. It is not very fun.” If you’re anything like me, you’re getting all these notifications about Going toe-to-toe with the Hurricanes’ blue line: Not Very Fun™️ Phase 500 and “training camp” and 700-paged plans and “The NHL and the NHLPA have reached an agreement, BUT…” Jaccob Slavin

All of that is pretty exhausting in itself, then you remember why you get Projected roster spot: First pairing, left side these notifications in the first place: you love this game, specifically the Carolina Hurricanes, and you love the players on that team. “Why don’t you explain this to me like I’m five?”: Your favorite defenseman’s favorite defenseman. His plus-30 was a tie for second- Wait. Who are they, again? Let’s revisit that together in a multi-part best in the NHL with — wait for it — his partner Dougie Hamilton. series. We will do this objectively, line by line, based only on points. Colleague Adam Vingan summed it up well in his Norris Trophy voter Somewhere out there, Dom Luszczyszyn just shuddered and he doesn’t guide. know why. First memory that comes to mind: One time I was having a meltdown in Forwards the bowels of Well Fargo Center and Slavin appeared out of nowhere and he’s like “Are you OK?” I’m like “I’m lost,” and he just pointed in the Sebastian Aho opposite direction and calmly says “Go that way.” Projected roster spot: First-line center He was correct! “Why don’t you explain this to me like I’m five?”: Every season is a But instead of that full story, recently Slavin has been the most “breakout season” when you play for the Hurricanes and find yourself on outspoken of the Hurricanes in response to George Floyd’s death and some sort of Top-10 list, but the Hurricanes’ leading scorer (38-28—66 in the ensuing international conversation about racism. 68 games played) was developing into the on- and off-ice leader the team has needed in a first-line center. Aho was tied for sixth in the Need an in-depth article?: There’s a good one on the way. But for now, league with 38 goals and tied for first with four shorthanded goals. He here you go. hates losing. Dougie Hamilton First memory that comes to mind: When I think about Aho, I think about his hilarious sass. When he got his 100th career goal on Dec. 11, it was Projected roster spot: First pairing, right side a two-goal game. Hurricanes.com’s Michael Smith asked if he knew it “Why don’t you explain this to me like I’m five?”: I will let Brind’Amour’s was happening and he said yes. I then asked if he knew the next one words from the game on Jan. 16 after Hamilton’s regular season ended was his 101st just to be a smart ass, and he said “I did the math.” explain it: “It’s a huge loss, obviously. He’s arguably our No. 1 guy on Need an in-depth article?: Here it is. everything.” Hamilton became the “No. 1 guy on everything.”

Teuvo Teravainen The bad news was the injury that thwarted Hamilton’s projected career year on all fronts. He was averaging the most time on ice he ever had Projected roster spot: First-line right wing played, he seemed to actually enjoy having a spot on the kill — because that means Brind’Amour respects you. His defense was the best “Why don’t you explain this to me like I’m five?”: I wouldn’t say it had ever been paired with career offense, and that amounted to his Teravainen is the “star” of the Hurricanes, but I’d say he’s on a three- first-ever All-Star Game nomination, what would have been a top-three person list of “most important to overall team success.” Let’s revisit him spot in the Norris Trophy conversation and a feeling like he finally found and Aho on the penalty kill. Teravainen was 14th in the league with 48 his home. assists (15-48—63), and I’ve never met someone with such a good shot who seems to hate shooting the puck — but it works so well for the Fortunately for the Hurricanes, he still gets to keep that feeling, as he’s Canes. been cleared for months and has been allowed to skate because of his injury recovery. Svechnikov only half-joked to me last week that no one is First memory that comes to mind: This is hard because I think more ready for these playoffs than Hamilton. Teravainen is the funniest person on the Canes. When we were doing the dressing room cleanout interviews last season, I noted that Rod We will have to see. Brind’Amour said he was impressed by how Teravainen’s compete level improved. First memory that comes to mind: Me, after the power play was good for a while then bad again: “So, what’s wrong with the power play?” Hamilton: “I don’t know. Other teams in the league aren’t stupid.”

Points were made.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186240 Chicago Blackhawks "It's amazing to reflect on the guys we still have and what they've accomplished in playoffs, and that next level that they get to," said the 27-year-old Murphy, who has never been in a postseason series. "It's really exciting watching those playoff series and it definitely gets the Blackhawks and Oilers could put on a show once NHL starts back up juices flowing."

On paper, it's difficult to see the Hawks matching up with the likes of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Kailer Yamamoto and Barry Rozner James Neal, to name a few Oilers, but someone might have once said Updated6/12/2020 11:26 AM that the games aren't played on paper.

What makes the Hawks dangerous is giving these rested playoff veterans a sniff of the playoffs for the first time in three years, along with There are two things you hear frequently as you make the rounds of NHL a mix of young players who should be excited to get a taste of executives these days. postseason hockey.

One is that when the games begin in roughly six weeks, there is going to There's also the unknown of how players and teams will emerge from so be some very entertaining hockey. Teams coming off a long layoff and many months off, a variable that no stat can quantify. A short strike in short camp are going to be very fresh, players will be excited and 1992 late in the season and the lockout that delayed the 2012-13 season defense will be optional. provide evidence that oddities can occur.

Expect high-scoring series. What we do know is the games should be fast and loaded with offensive chances, and that's a game the Hawks can play. The other is that the aforementioned theory applies perhaps more to the Blackhawks and Oilers than any other matchup. It's a style the Hawks could sustain for a short time -- especially if their can find his playoff magic. It will be a track meet. And who doesn't love a track meet on ice? Daily Herald Times LOADED: 06.13.2020 Coaches, defensemen and will hate it, but the highflying forwards -- like Patrick Kane and Connor McDavid -- are going to love the wide-open play.

"It could be high scoring," Hawks Alex DeBrincat said on a conference call Thursday. "They have a really good team and a lot of great offensive players. They can be very deadly and that's something we have to focus on.

"We have a lot of offensive guys as well. It should be a fun series. In a short series like that, the intensity will be high."

Another feeling you get from speaking with NHL types is that the Hawks absolutely have a chance. Some of that is based on the Hawks having long stretches during the truncated season in which they seemed to be figuring it out, and some of it is based on them going 3-2-1 against Edmonton the last two years.

But mostly it's based on the idea that the Hawks have a two-time, Stanley-Cup winning goaltender who should have won the Conn Smythe each time.

And if Corey Crawford gets hot, the Hawks would have a big advantage over the Oilers' duo of Mike Smith -- who was superb against the Hawks in 2012 while with the Coyotes -- and Mikko Koskinen. The Edmonton goalies were nothing if not unpredictable during the season.

The 38-year-old Smith carried his club to the conference finals in 2012, but that was a long time ago. Some would make that argument about the 35-year-old Crawford, but the difference is Crawford seemed to be back in form after the trade of Robin Lehner, while Smith never did look like his old self this season.

"Whatever team can get up and running quickly will have an advantage," Kane said Thursday. "I think we have a really good team for that.

"We have some young players that can probably jump back on the ice and get their game back pretty quickly. From what I've heard, a lot of guys have stayed in pretty good shape so it will definitely be an advantage for a team that can come back and get together quickly and find their game right away.

"I think there might be some surprises. I don't want to say it could be a free-for-all, but there's not going to be the distinct advantages that there might be with a 1-vs.-8 seed.

"In some of these play-in series, I think any team can win."

The Hawks also have a substantial group of players who have won Stanley Cups, including Kane, Crawford, Jonathan Toews, Brandon Saad, and Andrew Shaw (if he returns from a concussion). The Oilers can't say the same and -- like the Hawks -- haven't been to the playoffs since 2017.

Connor Murphy noted that during the break he's been watching replays of some of his current teammates winning Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015. 1186241 Chicago Blackhawks

Why Blackhawks will still feel intensity of postseason games with no fans

By Charlie Roumeliotis June 12, 2020 3:50 PM

The Blackhawks have four three-time Stanley Cup champions on their roster and several more with multiple rings. Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews, all three of whom have won a , are used to playing in big games. The brighter the stage, the better they usually perform.

But they're about to enter unchartered territory: a postseason with ... no fans? It's weird to even think about and will surely be an unusual experience for the players, but that doesn't mean the games won't mean something to them.

“All of us would say that it would be a really weird situation," Kane said. "Maybe looking back, you take it for granted. It’s amazing playing in front of 22,000 fans every night. Even on the road, the Blackhawks fans travel so well. It’s just amazing playing in front of that many people, and [to have] that many people cheering you on. It’d be totally different.

"It would take away from some of the playoff-type atmosphere, for sure, but I would like to think that once you get into the games and you realize you’re in the playoffs, and you realize you’re playing for something special, the intensity will be the same."

Alex DeBrincat is among the group of young Blackhawks that hasn't gotten a chance to sniff the playoffs yet. And while this may not be exactly what he envisioned, you could see and hear the excitement in his eyes and the tone of his voice during Thursday's video call when talking about the possibility of playing in do-or-die games.

“It’ll be weird, for sure, playing with no fans,” DeBrincat said. “It’ll definitely be a different experience, but I’ve never been to the playoffs, so I don’t really know the atmosphere of the rink. But just from normal regular-season games, it’s easy to get up for. Going into a short series like that, I think the intensity will be high. Everyone wants to win, but it’ll definitely be a way different experience than normal without the fans.

"I'm really excited to get that chance and hopefully win that play-in round and make the playoffs, so, for me, there's a lot of energy to get back and come ready to play. I think motivation for the playoffs, you don't really need to push too much on it. Everybody's motivated to come back and battle for the Stanley Cup, so for me being my first time, it's a pretty exciting time."

Connor Murphy has appeared in 444 games across seven NHL seasons and doesn't have a single postseason appearance on his resumé. He's as hungry as anybody to get a taste of what the Stanley Cup Playoffs are like.

"Yeah, it's amazing," Murphy said. "It's not something I would've pictured when you think about getting your first chance of playing in the playoffs having potential no fans and everything, but just the opportunity to do that at any stage and any setting I think is amazing.

"Just having a chance, obviously, it being kind of a different format than anything we've seen, but just having any sort of opportunity to play in a playoff series and a chance to gain rounds and win a Stanley Cup is amazing. I think it'll just be a lot of fun."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186242 Chicago Blackhawks

Why getting Calvin de Haan back would be big boost for Blackhawks

By Scott King June 12, 2020 3:08 PM

During Thursday's Zoom video conference call with the media, Blackhawks vice president and general manager Stan Bowman said defenseman Calvin de Haan could be ready for the team's potential training camp, targeted for July 10, paving the way for the Hawks' play-in series against the Oilers under the NHL's 24-team playoff format.

"He's probably the furthest along of all of them," Bowman said on the call. "He had his surgery right after Christmas and it was originally a four-to- six-month recovery, so we're pretty much in that timeframe now. And looking ahead to July 10, I would expect him to be ready."

The veteran defenseman underwent shoulder surgery and now after the three-month NHL pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic and with the NHL's Return To Play plan, he could provide a much-needed boost to the Blackhawks' blue line in the first-of-its-kind series.

“It would be great,” Hawks said. “Obviously we gotta get him on the ice and go through camp and hopefully everything continues to progress as far as his health. But I thought the games he did play, he’s steady back there. Plays I think a hard game.

"He’s not overly physical, but he makes contact and he can get a stop in D-zone. Very direct, makes simple plays with the puck, under-handles it. He can make plays on the offensive blue line as well.

“And just his experience, he’s a bit of a bridge between the young group that we have and the group that’s been here. I think that’s good. He’s been in other organizations and helps the new guys to fit in because he’s a new guy, too. We’d love to get him back.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186243 Chicago Blackhawks landing No. 7 overall on Pronman’s midseason ranking of NHL prospects.

That’s the kind of scenario a team in Detroit’s position can dream on, Red Wings mock draft: Three rounds, six picks for Detroit even if a Kaliyev-level player being on the board is an extreme example. Could Hendrix Lapierre, a highly touted center prospect with injury risk make it to 32? Could Lukas Reichel, the productive young winger from the DEL, be there? For now, it’s just too soon to say. By Max Bultman Jun 12, 2020 In the meantime, one interesting name could be Wiesblatt, who is on the

smaller side at 5 feet, 10 inches, but checks other important boxes. He We’re just two weeks away … from knowing the NHL Draft order. put up better than a point per game in the WHL this season, during which he did not turn 18 until March. Pronman has 60 grades (indicating high- The draft itself might still be just a twinkle in the eye of the league’s level ability) on Wiesblatt’s skating, puck skills and hockey sense, though seven non-playoff teams, but with the lottery set for June 26, it’s as good a below-average grade on his physical game — not surprising a time as ever to start digging deeper on what this year’s draft could look considering his smaller stature. like for the Red Wings, who once again have a boatload of picks in the second and third rounds. Wiesblatt’s coach, Marc Habscheid, told Pronman: “He competes well. He has a swagger about him. He wants to be in pressure situations. He That means it’s time for our first three-round mock, covering the six total has a quick stick and quick feet, and he is smart offensively.” picks Detroit is set to make during those early rounds of the draft. So while the size factor is worth noting, that description does still fit with A few caveats: Since we don’t know the official order yet, I’m going to slot one trait we know Detroit values under Steven Yzerman. the Red Wings’ first-round pick at No. 4, the spot at which it’s mathematically most likely to land. I’m also going to assume Alexis “Yzerman has been pretty strict. He wants competitive players, too,” Red Lafrenière, Quinton Byfield and Tim Stützle will be off the board at that Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson said at last year’s point. For the later rounds, when it comes to the picks Detroit has draft. “So there are no dogs. Like, sometimes you draft a guy with high acquired from other teams that still have their playoff fates to be decided, talent … but they don’t compete. These guys all — they work for it, too.” I’ll use points percentage to show where those picks would stand as of No. 51 overall (via Edmonton): Emil Andrae, LHD, HV71 SuperElit today. This is the pick the Red Wings acquired in the Andreas Athanasiou trade Let’s get to it. from Edmonton, and while the biggest remaining need would be a center Round 1 with top-six upside, there’s not likely to be an obvious candidate still on the board late in the second round. So, this pick goes to the blue line, No. 4 overall: Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgårdens (SHL) where the Red Wings’ system is still a work in progress, too.

There are good arguments with this pick for a number of similarly Andrae, who Pronman has ranked at No. 31 and Scott Wheeler has 21st talented players. In earlier draft coverage, we highlighted 67s overall, is 5-9. That’s small, and it doesn’t align with the kind of center Marco Rossi as one option. But here’s the case for Holtz, one of defensemen the Red Wings picked last season in Yzerman’s first draft the draft’s premier scorers and a player who Corey Pronman broke down with Detroit. Moritz Seider and Antti Tuomisto are 6-4. Gustav Berglund in depth this week. is 6-2 and Cooper Moore is 6-1. Even Albert Johansson, the smallest of the five defensemen Detroit picked last season, is 6-feet flat. The Red Wings need everything, and that certainly includes goal-scoring, an area in which Holtz would quickly make a difference. Pronman has But Andrae’s diminutive stature is one main reason to think he has any Holtz’s shot graded at 70 on a 20-80 scale, an elite rating. He also rates chance to still be on the board at this position, considering his production Holtz’s puck skills and vision at 65 and 60, respectively, indicating a this season in the Swedish SuperElit. Only one player, Lars Jonsson, has player whose offensive impact could be substantial for Detroit. ever matched his 38 points as a U18 defenseman in that league, according to EliteProspects.com, though there have been better per- For a franchise that has had only two 30-goal scorers since 2009, that’s game seasons at the level. It’s also worth noting Andrae logged only 10 going to be enticing, especially given Pronman’s description that Holtz SHL games, and did not score in them. also “works hard off the puck and will endear himself to coaches.” Nonetheless, Pronman had this to say about him: “Andrae isn’t that big, Statistically, Holtz’s nine goals and 16 points in 35 SHL games — while but he plays hard, closing well on checks and using his body to separate playing much of the season at age 17 — stand out, too. Only Markus pucks.” Näslund and Patrik Erickson have ever scored more goals as U18 players in that league, according to EliteProspects.com. (Holtz’s mark of Pronman also gave Andrae’s puck skills and hockey sense plus grades, nine is tied with two others for third-best in that category.) That’s about as which should be appealing as Detroit tries to rebuild its defensive good as could be hoped for in his draft year. pipeline, especially on the left side. The Red Wings’ size elsewhere in the defensive pipeline might also end up justifying taking some size risk with Adding Holtz to a core group of wingers that already includes Anthony Andrae. Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Filip Zadina would nicely round out Detroit’s top six of the future with a potential impact player. It also wouldn’t hurt Or, maybe he’ll be gone before this point. It only takes one team. But if that Holtz, who happens to be right-handed, would finally give the Red other teams shy away from using a top pick on Andrae, then a Wings some balance among their top forwards, especially on the power willingness to deviate from their recent norm could land the Red Wings play. an intriguing young defenseman, even if he’s on the smaller side.

Skating is the main potential drawback in Pronman’s report, but he still No. 58 overall (via Washington): Martin Chromiak, RW, Kingston (OHL) has it graded as average. Holtz certainly merits consideration at this spot, and should be right up there with the contenders. Chromiak is another who could go sooner than this. After spending the first half of this season in , he came over to the OHL and Round 2 averaged more than a point per game in 28 contests. He played on a line with 2022 draft-eligible phenom Shane Wright, which is worth noting, but No. 32 overall: Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW, Prince Albert (WHL) shouldn’t discount his ability too much. The first pick of the second round is one of the most fun picks of the He also won’t turn 18 until August, making his production all the more draft. The team making the pick gets to be on the clock all night, which impressive as one of the youngest players in the draft. Pronman has 60 adds to the suspense and can allow for some extra due diligence, grades on his skill, sense and right-handed shot. especially if someone unexpected slips. “On the power play and inside the offensive zone he’s very dangerous,” And that’s really the crux of a high second-round pick: Who’s going to Pronman wrote. slip? Last year, pick 32 for the Senators was Shane Pinto, who went on to have a highly productive freshman season at North Dakota. No. 33 If there’s a flag in the scouting report, though, it might be the next line was Arthur Kaliyev, an accomplished though still divisive prospect at the from Pronman: “He lacks NHL quickness though, and off the puck he’s time of the draft. He responded by scoring 44 goals in 57 OHL games, just OK, with a tendency to be a perimeter player who doesn’t win many puck battles.”

Still, this late in the second round, a player with Chromiak’s production (even in a limited sample) and offensive skill set would be worth this pick … if he’s still there.

Round 3

No. 63 overall: Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frolunda (SuperElit)

Getting this deep into the draft without taking a center is probably a bit jarring. Maybe even a bit unrealistic, especially if a center projected toward the end of the first round is still on the board at the start of Day 2. But balancing the players likely to be available at each range with the existing players in Detroit’s farm system, there’s not much reason for the Red Wings to reach for a center unless they’re confident they’re getting top-six upside.

Already, centers Joe Veleno and Michael Rasmussen project to play somewhere in the middle six in the near future. Third-line roles look most probable for both, but with Dylan Larkin the No. 1 center for the foreseeable future, that means center depth (if it’s not a potential top-six pivot) isn’t so glaring a need as to deviate from a best-player-available approach early on. (Although Detroit would do well to still take a flier on one somewhere.)

Wing, meanwhile, is an area of Detroit’s system that is solid at the NHL level and, in this mock, a position that has been addressed already. But it is an area of the pipeline that still features some uncertainty in its top prospects. Jonatan Berggren is one of the team’s highest-upside players, but he’s been oft-injured since being drafted in 2018. Robert Mastrosimone looks promising, but he’s still just entering his sophomore year of college, with lots of bulking up left to do.

Meanwhile Torgersson, who Pronman has ranked 84th and Wheeler has 77th, is bulked up by nature at 6-3, 205 pounds, and is coming off a 26- goal, 44-point season in 39 games in the Swedish junior league.. Pronman graded him with just average skating, but above-average skill and sense to go with his physical toolkit. For a big man with strong production at this spot, that’s worth a look.

“His ability to score, play in the tough areas and PK gives him versatility that will endear him to coaches,” Pronman wrote.

No. 65 overall (via San Jose): Joel Blomqvist, G, Karpat (Jr. A SM )

Somewhere, my Wings for Breakfast co-host Prashanth Iyer is seeing this pick and frantically texting me about picking a goalie way too soon. And it might be. Wheeler has Blomqvist ranked at No. 94, though Pronman has him 61st overall.

But the Red Wings have nothing resembling future certainty in goal, so even if the position is notoriously hard to predict, it would have felt wrong not to take a shot at one with this pick.

Blomqvist is on the shorter side for a goalie, at 6-1, but Pronman has plus grades on both his athleticism and hockey sense. He had a .931 save percentage in the Finnish junior league this year, which led the league.

If a skater the Red Wings find promising is still lingering here, then by all means, they should take him. But Detroit’s probably going to have to take a swing at a goalie in this draft, whether it’s here or later.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186244 Avs Mailbag: Who will benefit most from time off before NHL playoffs? She added: “We were fortunate that there is a treatment plan. It’s always

a long road, and everything has to go according to plan, and you never As former Avs defenseman Kyle Quincey’s toddler son battles brain know, but this is a type of tumor that has a treatment plan. You instantly cancer, hockey world rallies to offer support have hope. You just kind of live on that hope. I surely didn’t understand how important it was when I would send my prayers or positive thoughts to someone that was going through a hard time, but when you’re on this side of it and see all that support coming at you … you start to feel that By MIKE CHAMBERS June 12, 2020 at 8:21 p.m. energy, that healing energy, and it truly makes a difference.”

Playing hockey made Kyle No. 1 on the Quincey family depth chart. He’s A day after his 14-month-old son Axl completed a successful 22 1/2-hour a distant fifth now. brain surgery in Philadelphia, former Avalanche defenseman and “I was thinking the other day of how — I don’t know if the word is selfish Colorado resident Kyle Quincey had a message for friends and fans — but hockey, my career, my thought process was all about getting Friday: myself ready for practice or the next game, or in the summer, training, or Thank you. thinking about how to win a game,” Kyle said. “Rachel would take care of me while I was doing my career and I would take care of her for whatever “In this time, the one positive is that you realize your support system — she needs for her real estate career. Now, everything is on the back- the love you have from the guys, the hockey world, your buddies, and burner with Axl. Nothing else matters. It’s just him.” even guys I never met,” Quincey said in a phone interview from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). “And I can’t give enough Post: LOADED: 06.13.2020 thanks to Children’s Hospital in Colorado and where we’re at now.”

Axl was diagnosed with brain cancer March 30, two days before his first birthday, at Children’s Hospital Colorado — first in Highlands Ranch and later confirmed in Aurora. He underwent his first brain surgery April 2 in Aurora with a half-eaten birthday cake in the refrigerator. The doctors removed two-thirds of the tumor.

Three weeks later, Axl began two rounds of chemotherapy, which took about two months. Ten days later, on Tuesday, the family flew to Philly for a second brain surgery that dealt with tumors around the brain stem and nerves.

The second surgery began Wednesday, where an intraoperative MRI was available to Dr. Jay Storm. An intraoperative MRI allows doctors to use MRI results during surgery.

“Ax-Man,” as he is nicknamed, was heavily sedated Friday but doing well, according to doctors, Kyle said.

“He’s hooked up — lots of cords coming from him right now. But he’s pretty sedated. They have him strapped down to the bed. His eyes aren’t open, swollen shut, but they’re keeping him comfortable,” Kyle said. “A bunch of stuff going on but, he’s chilling, just kind of there.”

Kyle’s 25-minute interview with The Post was followed by a similarly long one from his wife, Rachel. The couple is overwhelmed with what they believe is healing love and prayers from all across the world.

The list of thank yous is endless.

There’s one for goaltender , who offered up his home for the Quinceys, including eldest son Stone, 2, and Kyle’s mother, Debbie, for the next two months. And countless other to all the fans — even those who criticized him during his 14-year professional career that included six NHL stops.

Even opponents the 34-year-old competed against but never met have come out of the woodwork to offer support.

“(Elliott) offered up his house, which is amazing,” Kyle said of his former Avs teammate in 2010-11. “Guys are reaching out that I’ve never met in the hockey world, guys who I played against. Way too many guys to mention. So it’s pretty amazing, the hockey world. It’s hard to put into words. The love and compassion guys have for a guy they’ve never met — guys who I’ve battled with on the ice but they’re willing to do anything for us to help us out.”

Kyle recently met first-year Avs forward on the golf course. It wasn’t long before Kadri’s wife, Ashley, was checking with Flyers players if the Quinceys could stay at their homes. The girlfriend of Flyers defenseman is a nurse at CHOP and has taken special interest in Axl and his family.

“When you first hear of the diagnoses of Axl, it’s devastating news,” Rachel said. “But at the same time there has been so much research and so many people dedicated to finding a cure for these kinds of cancers in adults and children, and all these amazing doctors performing these miracle surgeries. You start focusing on all the positives and become very hopeful. Our little guy is extremely resilient. He’s been a fighter from the very beginning.” 1186245 Colorado Avalanche

Dawg Nation hockey group looking to build unique $38 million ice complex in Castle Pines

By MIKE CHAMBERS | June 12, 2020 at 1:11 p.m.

Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation, despite the coronavirus pandemic and tough economic times, is moving forward in building a multi-sheet ice arena complex for disabled and able-body athletes in Castle Pines.

It is Dawg Nation’s desire that the rink become the home of the USA Paralympic program and host national and international sled hockey championships. It would also help serve a dire need for more ice availability as the Front Range continues to develop hockey players of all ages.

Land for the $38 million project was donated by the City of Castle Pines, at the corner of Interstate 25 and Castle Pines Parkway. In-kind donations have reached $10 million behind the support of board members such as former Avalanche defenseman Jan Hejda; Beth Bowlen, daughter of late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen; and developer Michael Vickers.

The next hurdle is the complex’s $520,000 design phase, of which $300,000 has been raised.

“We believe this thing will come true — even with the coronavirus situation,” Hejda said. “We’re still moving forward. We might have a little bit of a delay, maybe six months delay, but everything is on the right track. We have a few things to do, but where we are right now is probably right where we should be. I think it’s going to happen.”

Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation was founded in 2011 by a group of adult-league players who played out of Edge Ice Arena in Littleton. The group became a nonprofit about eight months after passing a hat in a locker room to help a teammate, Jack Kelly, who was battling cancer.

In the nine years since, Dawg Nation has provided more than $1.7 million in financial aid to over 160 families. Revenue is primarily generated through fundraising events, with the largest being the weekend-long Dawg Bowl charity hockey tournament at Edge Ice Arena — still scheduled for late next month.

“The prospect for this amenity within our community makes a powerful statement about our values and support for diversion and inclusion,” Castle Pines Mayor Tera Radloff wrote in a text. “… We are committed to advancing this project and joining Dawg Nation in seeing this complex become a reality.”

Avalanche head coach , captain Gabe Landeskog and many of his teammates support Dawg Nation, along with former Avs Pierre Turgeon, Milan Hejduk, Kyle Quincey, John Mitchell, Paul Stastny, Brett Clark and John-Michael Liles. Hejduk and Avs broadcaster Peter McNab are also board members.

They realize a Dawg Nation-owned and operated international venue would drastically boost fundraising and help spread the organization’s message. Dawg Nation limits its aid to those closest to Colorado, although it did substantial work for the and their families after the junior hockey team’s horrific bus crash in Saskatchewan in April 2018.

President Martin Richardson was among those passing the hat for Kelly as he took on cancer back in January 2010. Kelly died in April of that year from Scleroderma, but the group’s dedication to the Colorado hockey community still lives on.

“The support for this project has been overwhelming and humbling. The generosity of people and companies of Colorado are in full display,” said Richardson, a former soccer player and Metro State hall of famer. “We’re truly building hockey’s heart together.”

Dawg Nation’s arena fundraising effort is ongoing, as the group looks for grants, private gifts, asset donations, sponsorships and naming rights. To contribute, visit rink.dawgnation.org.

Denver Post: LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186246 Colorado Avalanche A Seton Hall University poll of 762 Americans in early April found that 76% said they would watch broadcasts of sporting events with the “same interest” as before.

Coronavirus and sports: What Colorado fans can expect from their new But 72% of those same respondents also said they wouldn’t attend a “normal” game until a coronavirus vaccine was developed. And only 13% said they would feel as safe at a sporting event as they had in the past.

Adam Earnhardt, chair of the communications department at By SEAN KEELER | PUBLISHED: June 12, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. | Youngstown State and an expert on fan behavior, thinks a chunk of those UPDATED: June 12, 2020 at 2:13 p.m. fans may continue to stay away willingly into 2021, even if stadiums like Pepsi Center and Empower Field at Mile High open up again at full, or

close to full, capacity. Broncos film study: Can KJ Hamler be Denver’s version of Mecole Omaha residents Julian Ivey and his ... Hardman as a rookie? Daniel Brenner, Special to the Denver Post The joint ticks every box. A 55-inch TV is visible from almost every angle. A collection of game-worn hockey sweaters and baseball jerseys hangs Omaha residents Julian Ivey and his kids Kellen, 12, Stella, 9, and with pride along one wall, with special dispensation for the No. 92 of Morgan, 7, attempt to enter the Team Store while visiting Denver Avalanche center Gabe Landeskog and the No. 31 worn by former Saturday, March 14, 2020 at the Pepsi Center. University of Denver goalie Evan Cowley. “The fan reaction, for the most part, it’s going to be, ‘I’ll do what you need If the autographed pucks on the shelves don’t turn into a conversation- me to do, so I can show up and cheer for my team,” said Earnhardt, co- starter, then the bubble dome hockey table a few feet away just might. author of “Sports Fans, Identity and Socialization: Exploring The Fandemonium.” “We don’t have to be sitting on top of each other,” says Jake Dubin, the Castle Rock resident and Avs fan who built the collection, “if a couple “It’s the mom or dad who just want to load up their kids and take them to people come over.” the Indians game on a Saturday afternoon — that’s probably not going to happen. I’ve got four kids, and my wife and I are trying to keep our family A puck head could kill a few hours of paradise here, easy. Which is what safe or keep them at home and still at a distance as much as possible. I Dubin plans to do once the NHL resumes play in late July or early think most average spectators and families are going to follow suit.” August. After all, it’s his basement. Regardless, that experience won’t be the same as it was just a few “Unless things change, I don’t want to be in a crowded bar,” Dubin says. months earlier. Going to Empower Field in the fall, presuming fans can “If I’m going to be in a crowd, I’d rather it be at the Pepsi Center than at a attend, will likely resemble the current experience of going to a grocery bar. I’m not going to take that risk (of being out) unless it’s to be at the store or a local Walmart: controlled entrances and exits; social distance event itself.” maintained in lines for concessions and restrooms; constant sanitization Welcome to the new normal Front Range sports fans, in which every efforts by stadium workers; and masks and plastic gloves mandatory for game for the next few months, when it comes to the NBA, NHL and staff. Facial coverings could become mandatory for Broncos fans, too. Major League Soccer, is going to feel like a road game. For everybody. “You’re definitely going to have cases where you can put whatever Which, to be fair, beats the holy stuffing out of having no games at all. In protocols in place that you need and it’s, ‘I just want to show up and a survey of more than 1,000 sports fans last month by ESPN, roughly cheer for my team,’” Earnhardt said. “But there’s also the whole two-thirds — 65% — said they were in favor of sports returning “even if facemask-versus-no-facemask crowd, and that whole debate. That fans can’t be in the stands.” debate aside, I think people just want to see their teams compete and to be in that place to see them do it.” “I just want to see football games again,” said Tim Larison, who’s been a Broncos season-ticket holder since 1968. “And if there are going to be Another underlying narrative for fans, he noted, will be event congestion, fans in the stands, great. And if I can be there, great. But if they have to especially August through October. After more than nine weeks of either play in empty stadiums, that’s better than no football.” few or no live sporting events, early August through Halloween could feature, running concurrently, the NBA playoffs and the Stanley Cup Dubin, an Avalanche season-ticket holder for 14 of the last 16 years, playoffs, two rites of spring, rolling at the same time as the NFL didn’t set up his man cave, a bunker of hockey heaven, because of the preseason and regular season and ’s regular season. coronavirus pandemic. But until live games return to Pepsi Center — unlikely to happen for the NHL or NBA this summer — it’s where he And that’s not including , which likely missed a prefers to scream himself hoarse. window to dominate the national sports conversation in June and July due to its bickering. If baseball resumes any later than the middle of next And it’s where he’ll cheer on the Avs and Nuggets as they finish their month, it’s going to be jumping onto a moving train with some awfully suspended seasons in Orlando (in the case of the NBA) or in one of the crowded freight cars. 10 “hub” cities the NHL announced two weeks ago. “I’ve been looking at some of these dates about when they’re going to “It’s going to be interesting,” Dubin said of an entirely remote postseason compete — I just wonder if this is going to be a mess for a couple years,” for the Front Range’s two most popular winter sports franchises. “There’s Earnhardt said. nothing like a playoff atmosphere at the Pepsi Center. It’ll be strange. But it’ll be great to be able to at least watch live sports and root for your “Think about it: You could have a case where you could have every team.” season of every (major) sport being played at the same time. How are fans going to cope with the rush of all these sports coming back all at the National Anthem before the Colorado Avalanche ... same time? I just don’t know. I think for some fans, it’s going to be overwhelming. I think you’re also going to have a case where it’s going to Andy Cross, The Denver Post fracture attendance and it’s going to fracture (television ratings).” The National Anthem is played before the Colorado Avalanche and the fan Eric Saling is ... New York Rangers face off at the Pepsi Center on March 11, 2020. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post Absence makes the heart grow fonder. To say nothing of boredom. An average of 5.8 million viewers on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend Colorado Rockies fan Eric Saling looks into the first base entrance at watched Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Friday, April 3, 2020. Colorado play golf in the pouring rain for charity, with a peak audience of 6.3 Rockies missed home opening day because of the coronavirus. million — making it the most-watched golf telecast in the history of cable television. Those ratings — hello, Tiger and Peyton — are why the networks, and leagues themselves, are so eager to get pro sports back onto television. So we want the games back, no question. But with COVID-19 still SportBusiness Media estimates that U.S. broadcasters were expected to spreading in the and without a vaccine on the runway, pay out roughly $22.6 billion in 2020 for the rights to live sports. The cost we’re also unsure if we want to come back and watch them in person. of those rights fees are passed over to consumers and account for roughly 40% of your monthly cable bill, according to media analyst Rich Greenfield.

Given the scarcity of events in March, April and May, the return of the NHL and NBA in July and August is going to draw a lot of eyeballs. It’s just a question of where they’re watching. And for how long.

Faced with neutral-site games and no home crowds, broadcasters find themselves having to get creative — if not downright funky — in order to make the COVID-era broadcasts feel as “normal” as possible to a salivating audience.

To that end, Stadium/The Athletic NBA reporter Shams Charania reported last week that the NBA and NBA Player Association are considering using crowd sounds from the NBA 2K video-game series as background noise during telecasts — another twist in the ever-blurring lines between reality and simulations.

“I think it’ll add to the game,” television analyst and former Nuggets guard Fat Lever said. “Guys will practice, and they’ll compete, just as hard. I think that’s the key.”

The NHL is expected to reveal some of its broadcast parameters soon, and it’s expected to run along a similar track. The challenge isn’t just replicating a non-COVID game environment to fans back home, but enhancing it. Turning an empty arena from a weakness into a strength.

Do you experiment with new camera angles? Do you use more shots from a drone? Do you set off the horn after every goal, regardless of which team scores? Do you mic up players and coaches, foul language be darned? Will we see CGI people holding CGI beers and CGI boxes of popcorn, howling with CGI joy when the Avs take a two-goal lead? Nothing’s set in stone. If something works, it sticks.

“They don’t want it to be sterile,” an NHL league source told The Post’s Mike Singer.

After all, a playoff game at Pepsi Center is anything but. The NBA playoffs and Stanley Cup playoffs are beloved, in part, because the intensity and ferocity of fans so often feed into the players, and vice versa. It’s not just tribal — it’s communal.

“It’s that experience of turning to a fan in the seat to the left of you and being able to high-five and jump up and down after a goal,” Dubin said. “Things like that. It’s the sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat type mentality. Obviously, I get excited from home, but there’s nothing like being there.”

Going back to 2001, the last time the Avs held aloft Lord Stanley’s Cup, Colorado has a home playoff record of 32-26, a winning percentage of .552. Since the 2013-14 postseason, the team boasts an 8-4 playoff record (.667) at Pepsi Center.

Jake Dubin is a huge hockey ...

RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

Jake Dubin is a huge hockey fan and his man cave shows it on June 10, 2020, in Castle Rock. Dubin has hundreds of hockey jerseys in his collection.

“It’s going to be more of an age thing; I think you’ll get the 20-somethings out at the bars (watching),” Dubin said. “They’re more willing to go out and to do that because they don’t have to bring (anything) back with the kids at home. I think your older crowd is going to play it a little more conservative, and be that basement and home-based type of viewing.

“I’m still hesitant to go out to the bar scene. Hopefully, I can have a handful, or one or two of my buddies over to watch it in my basement and still try to stay six feet apart — one guy on the couch, one behind the bar, that type of thing. Hopefully, by the end of August, or the , things are safer. But like everything else these days, it’s hard to know.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186247 Colorado Avalanche Cole said he suspects there will be more teammates who will eventually make their way back to Denver because they want to feel included in the workouts.

What to expect from the Avalanche in Phase 2 of NHL’s return to play Even if only six of them can work out together at a time. plan Like Cole said, there were only a handful of players who remained in Denver. He said alternate captain and defenseman , who was high school classmates with Cole, went back and forth between By Ryan S. Clark Jun 12, 2020 Denver and his home in Southern California. Star rookie defenseman Cale Makar returned to Calgary where he spent time with his family while

also trying to convince his father, Gary, to let them get a family dog. Then Ian Cole was definitely the kid who looked forward to the first day of there is star right winger Mikko Rantanen, who not only returned to school. Not because he missed doing classwork. It had more to do with Finland but also found the time to invest in a hot tub company. seeing his friends for the first time in three months and knowing they “We have our team group text. That’s been going on,” Cole said when it could hang out at recess. came to everyone staying in contact. “Then, we have also had a couple This is the approach Cole is taking toward Phase 2 of the NHL’s return to conference calls. Team calls with the NHLPA. We have talked through play plan. Returning to hockey is a lot like the first day of school when he some of these issues we had to vote on. Overall, guys are talking to each gets to see his friends after a long period apart for what amounts to one other. In that sense, the communication has been there. But, at the same really, really big recess when everyone is essentially playing for keeps. time, I think everyone is on the same page and everyone knows we have the potential to be a very successful team. Everyone hopefully in a way I The understanding is that the Colorado Avalanche should officially start am seeing, is taking this seriously. having players participate in voluntary on-ice workouts at Pepsi Center on Monday. Initially, the Avs were seeking to start those sessions last “Guys are working out hard and are coming back in great shape because Tuesday but wanted to wait a few more days to complete a full group of they know we have a real opportunity to do this.” six players. Cole said he along with teammates Joonas Donskoi, Philipp The “this” Cole is referring to is the team’s attempt at winning the Grubauer and Nazem Kadri remained in Denver during the league’s organization’s third Stanley Cup. layoff. The two-time Stanley Cup-winning defenseman said the quartet is slated to be joined by captain and superstar center Colorado entered the season as a Stanley Cup contender with questions Nathan MacKinnon to fulfill the maximum of having six players at a time that still needed answering. Bednar navigated a potential-laden yet in one group. injury-riddled roster to the point they were two points behind the Blues for the Central Division and Western Conference leads with a game in hand Phase 2 of return to play states those sessions are only for players with when the NHL suspended play. no coaches and limited team personnel. But the Avalanche will have their medical and training staff along with a hygiene officer available at Pepsi Players like Andre Burakovsky, Matt Calvert, Grubauer, Kadri and Center. The players participating are required to have their faces covered Rantanen were close to returning from injuries. Meanwhile, MacKinnon at all times unless they are exercising or on the ice. Players participating sustained a lower-body ailment that was supposed to keep him shelved in Phase 2 must also undergo certain protocols such as education, for two weeks. He would only miss one game — the victory over the diagnostic testing and scheduling for medicals before participating. Rangers — and now adds to the full complement of healthy players Bednar will have at his disposal. Cole shared that he has already been tested twice for coronavirus. He also added that the NHL and the NHLPA have remained in constant Fully understanding that context is what made Cole say the last three communication while actively offering information to players. months have been good while also making him and his teammates a bit anxious. He said that it was good in the sense players were able to get “The NHLPA has been great as far as putting in some good practices rest and recover from injuries. Cole, for example, went through offseason along with the NHL putting in safety measures that have been stringent,” dual hip surgery and was supposed to be out for at least two months. He Cole said. only missed six games en route to having what might be one of the Cole and the Avalanche have not played since March 11 when they strongest campaigns of his career. recorded a 3-2 win at home over the New York Rangers. It was the But the time he spent recovering last summer came with a cost. second-to-last game played in the NHL before the league suspended the season March 12 because of coronavirus. The had the “I didn’t necessarily get a chance to start lifting, get in great shape and be league’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 19 and another on back to where I was before,” Cole explained. “I viewed these past three March 21. On March 26, the Avs issued a statement saying one of their months as a training camp for myself. I was getting stronger and being in players also tested positive. The Avs had three players with confirmed the best shape I could possibly be in getting back into this. I think that it is cases with all of them having recovered, according to what coach Jared going to be a unique situation during these playoffs we are going to be in. Bednar said in mid-April. Every team is going to be healthy, energized and in shape.

Since then, the NHL rolled out its return to play plan May 26. The “I’ve taken that and tried to run with it and put myself in the best situation centerpiece of the initiative was creating a 24-team format to determine a possible to be successful when we come back.” Stanley Cup champion should play resume. The Avalanche finished with the second-highest winning percentage in the Western Conference, So why the anxiety? It goes back to what Cole said about him and all of meaning they’re a part of a four-team round robin also featuring the his teammates being more than ready to start playing games: They feel , St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights to determine like this can be their year. playoffs seeding. Phase 2 began June 8 across the league with players Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and his front office staff have taking part in voluntary workouts either with their club, another club or at used the last few offseasons to transform the roster from what was once another location independent of an NHL organization. the worst team in the salary-cap era into a potential long-term contender. On Thursday, the NHL and the NHLPA announced that Phase 3, which Part of that strategy has been hitting on first-round picks like Landeskog, would allow teams to commence formal training camps, would start July MacKinnon and Rantanen with the idea Makar is working toward being in 10. A start date for Phase 4 has yet to be announced, but the the same category. hypothetical is that the league could resume play in early August. It has then been about supplementing the roster with those who have “I think coming back from having not done anything for three months, playoff experience to shepherd along the previously uninitiated. Adding there is a little bit of that first day of school excitement,” Cole said. “Any Cole, who won consecutive Stanley Cup titles with the Pittsburgh time you are coming in for training camp and you see your teammates, it Penguins, was part of that plan. He signed a three-year contract before is like the first day of school. Knowing we are getting back to skating, it is the 2018-19 season. Getting players like Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, exciting to see progress and to get things moving in the right direction. Burakovsky, Calvert, Cole, Donskoi and Kadri have given the Avalanche The Avs have been great. They are one of the first teams to get this a certain amount of cache when contemplating their contender status. whole thing in motion.” “Every season is going to have a different feel and a different path and every team has a different makeup,” Cole said. “All that being said, the one kind of constant factor with all the successful teams I have been on is a confidence in our team’s ability to be successful. It’s saying, ‘Here’s our game plan. Here’s how we want to play. We have the personnel. Let’s stick together through thick and thin. Playoff series. Away games. It doesn’t matter.’ In this case, it is going to be a random rink with no fans and we need to put the same product on the ice.

“The team has confidence and the key to having success is doing that over and over and over again. In that sense, we do have a lot of confidence in the team. We are healthy. We are energized. I have said this before: I have confidence in this team can win a Stanley Cup. I think we can beat any team in this league in a seven-game series. I think we have an opportunity to be successful and have the ultimate success. I think everyone on our team feels that way.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186248 Colorado Avalanche “No matter who he plays with he just makes them better. He’s the type of guy who knows exactly how much time he’s got. He can distribute the puck anywhere or he can move with the puck. He releases it quickly and easily finds his teammates sticks. I think this is the best we have seen Bowen Byram’s dominant WHL season should mean a promotion sooner from Bo, he’s having fun and has been such a big part of things here.” than later #GoAvsGo prospect Bowen Byram making it 1-0 @WHLGiants #WHL pic.twitter.com/fSaHfBhhZy

BY AJ HAEFELE JUNE 12, 2020 — Stephen Hawco (@stephenhawco7) February 17, 2020

There’s a lot to like about Bowen Byram as he’s successfully checked all the boxes from a top prospect in his draft plus one season. The next step This piece was written by special contributor Chris Faber, who can be is watching his game transition to the NHL level and if he will be able to found on Twitter at @ChrisFaber39. take his confidence from the and be the same Bowen Byram might think that he’s a long way away from playing with dominant force on hockey’s biggest stage. Cale Makar, but he might be closer than he thinks. The Avalanche are going to have the chance to have one of the most This past fall Bowen Byram returned to Vancouver to play his third and dynamic pairings for the next ten years with the combination of Makar most likely final season with the Giants in the Western Hockey League. and Byram. He looked like a different player this year. His confidence was through Byram might think he’s still a “ways away” from joining the Avalanche full- the roof, he looked calm during every shift and physically dominated his time but the season premature end to his WHL season and the delayed opponents. restart of the NHL season might give him an unexpected opportunity to There’s a lot more to see from Byram, he was the most skilled player on make an impression on his NHL club. the ice 99% of the time. If he wanted to control the puck for a whole two- If he can simply translate his game from the WHL to the NHL, Colorado’s minute shift he would. blue line, a problem since departed over a decade ago, will His passes are rock hard, his shot has eyes and his skating is as smooth find itself among the league’s elite for the foreseeable future. as hand sanitizer. BSN DENVER LOADED: 06.13.2020 These are the reasons why he went fourth overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft. He’s one of, if not the best defensive prospect outside of the NHL. He knew that the thing he needed to work on was his defensive game and that is what he focused on this year with the Giants.

Byram knows that a lot of other draft picks around him would go on to play in different leagues or make the jump to the AHL. He understands that a different league can bring bigger challenges but appreciated the chance to come back to Vancouver to improve on the weaker parts of his game.

“I think it’s my 200-foot game, that’s what I’m kind of worried about,” Byram said. “I’m just trying to have fun and help the team win for the most part. I love the city, I love everything about it. To come back to a familiar spot is definitely helpful for me. It’s been a really fun couple of years and I’m happy I spent it in Vancouver.”

A man who has gotten to see Bowen Byram grow over the past few seasons is the play-by-play voice of the , Dan O’Connor. I asked Dan if he thought that returning to Vancouver would help or hurt Byram’s development as we are seeing a lot of prospects of his caliber move on to a more difficult league and challenges themselves with tougher competition.

“I’d like to think it can help him,” said O’Connor. “He’s always been a leader, he’s always been someone who commands respect when he walks into a room and it’s been an interesting season for him because we haven’t had the same success this year. Maybe that’s a good thing because it’s forced him to maybe look at himself in the mirror a couple of times and almost reinvent the way he leads a bit. Since the World Juniors, he’s come back with a real purpose and has been just a wonderful leader and example for the Vancouver Giants.”

Byram said that he follows the NHL pretty closely but has been impressed by the rookie performance from fellow defenceman Cale Makar.

“Yeah, he’s a super good player, to see him having success as a rookie is super cool,” Byram said. “Hopefully, he can keep it going and the Avalanche can go on a deep run.”

I followed that up by asking how Cale Makar sounds as his defensive partner in the near future.

“Yeah,” he laughed. “He’s a really good player so whenever you get a chance to be on the ice with guys like him, MacKinnon, Landeskog, Rantanen all of them. You really have to watch close and soak everything in. It’s a long way away but I am looking forward to it.”

Giants coach Michael Dyck has relied upon Byram in all situations this year, using him as much as possible, which means playing with a different defense partner almost every shift. 1186249 Columbus Blue Jackets head-to-head with baseball. The NHL could still wrap by July 1, if it wanted to.

"All of this, to me, is very interesting," Forslund said. Post-bunker view: Maybe NHL should focus on 2021 Is it a far-fetched fantasy? Maybe. Maybe not. Long have there been rumors that such a scenario has been spitballed, if not spread-sheeted, at the league office. Owners do not like October hockey. They’re not too Michael Arace keen on November, either.

Jun 12, 2020 at 5:45 AM Presently, they’re pining for August hockey. So is Forslund, who will handle some play-by-play on NBC Sports networks when the tournament

begins. Most likely, he will be calling games from the NBCSN studios in Today we rejoin former Dispatch diarist John Forslund, the longtime Stamford, Connecticut. voice of the Carolina Hurricanes. "It’s going to be different," he said. "TV is very do-able. With the Although it seems like a million years ago, it was only the second week of technology, it’ll definitely be good. But they’re going to want publicity and March when Forslund was one of the first people in the country to be there’s no way to cover it (for most media). Everything (off-ice) is going to ordered into a two-week quarantine, for fear he had been exposed to the be Zoomed. Radio calls are going to come off TV feeds. You might as coronavirus. He lent us daily reports that roamed wherever his supple well yell out the window." mind went during his isolation. In the 1930s, Ronald Reagan "called" Chicago Cubs games on radio by Nearly 13 weeks after he emerged from his basement bunker, he’s back. reading telegraph messages. Perhaps we’ll see the launch of another president. It could happen, according to Johnny’s Post-Bunker Report. "I’m doing great," Forslund said. "Looking back at those two weeks, the daily conversations we had were very therapeutic for me. It’s good to talk Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.13.2020 to Columbus again. How’s everybody doing?"

Forslund went down a very dark hole and became a cable-news junkie during his lonely, mid-March fortnight. Back then, he was dubious about restarting pro sports amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he still has doubts, he is now more sanguine on the subject.

"The country is starved for live sports and hockey fans are rabid," he said. "I hope they play this summer. I’ve heard mixed reviews from players. Some want to get going. Some are very apprehensive. It’s representative of our society at the moment, I think. We’ve got people who are acting like there’s no coronavirus, others who are stuck in the fetal position."

Given that he has been broadcasting NHL games at local and national levels for a quarter century, hockey is Forslund’s primary filter. He still sees the state of the game through a wide-angle lens. The league has plans to finish the season with a 24-team tournament that will decide a Stanley Cup champion. All good — but what about the future?

"I worry about next season," Forslund said. "I understand the economics of restarting, but the key to me are the bridges — the ones that have to be crossed next season, including the players’ bridge to a new (collective bargaining agreement). I think it’s all intertwined. And there are a lot of questions."

With the virus still out there, he wonders if it would be better for the league to focus on the 2020-21 season. Would it be preferable to have "a traditional summer rhythm" with a draft and a free-agent season? What of the distinct possibility of a second wave of the virus? Should the league tread more carefully until there is a vaccine?

How does all of this affect a business that needs to go on and, at some point, must have fans in the buildings?

"The optimists are thinking that, by the conference finals, the last two or four teams will be able to have some fans in the building," Forslund said. "That’d be great. I still worry about next season. If (pre-tournament) training camps open sometime in the second week of July and they start playing in early August, this (tournament) might not be over until sometime in October.

"OK, then, is December the start of the new season? January? You’d think that’s where it has to be. … What if you’re one of the seven teams that won’t play a game between March 12 and Jan. 2? Are you telling me (New Jersey Devils star) Jack Hughes, who just turned 19, is going to go eight months without playing a game?"

As Forslund further widens the angle of his lens he wonders: Is a January start something the league could adopt? It’d make sense in Columbus — where the Jackets sometimes struggle with their gate during football season — and many other markets.

Leave autumn to football, start the NBA season on Christmas Day (some tradition there) and the NHL season on New Year’s Day (some tradition there, too)? This would set up winter months with less competition for fans’ disposable income, and spring and early summer months with a 1186250 Columbus Blue Jackets "Obviously, the NHL is taking the safe route," said Werenski, who is skating with Arizona defenseman Jordan Oesterle and Colorado forward Vladislav Namestnikov. "They’re making sure guys are healthy going to the rink and not spreading the virus, so I think it’s good what they’re Some Blue Jackets back for Phase 2, but many staying close to home doing, but I think giving guys the option to stay home and train is also appealing — especially if you have a good setup."

Others, such as Foudy, couldn’t wait to get to Columbus. Brian Hedger "I wanted to get here and get adjusted to things before camp started," Jun 12, 2020 at 5:30 AM said the rookie, who arrived from Toronto on Saturday. "Everything was closed for the time I was home, and rinks and a couple gyms just opened up this week, so I figured I might as well come down to Columbus early, The second phase of the NHL’s plan to conclude its 2019-20 season get used to the testing." began on Monday. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.13.2020 Teams were allowed to begin the process of reopening practice facilities for voluntary workouts, starting with initial COVID-19 testing and medical exams, and players were cleared to start working out Thursday in groups no larger than six.

It’s an encouraging step forward, but to this point there haven’t been a flood of participants returning for the start Phase 2.

The Blue Jackets, for example, are starting with nine players, which includes defenseman and forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, who were already in town rehabilitating surgically repaired ankles.

Other teams also have meager numbers, for various reasons. Some players don’t want to make a hasty return from overseas, while others who live closer are content to stick with personal trainers and skating on their own.

"I can come back whenever I want and be there in three hours," said Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, who resides in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. "I have a good setup going on here right now, where I have really good skates that I’m running and I feel like in the gym I’m putting in a lot of work."

Werenski also is building a house there, has added a goldendoodle puppy to his life and is enjoying the added time he has spent with his parents during the league’s pause for the coronavirus pandemic.

"It’s probably the most time I’ve spent with my parents in a long time," said Werenski, 22, who finished the regular season leading all NHL defensemen in goals, with 20.

"Just being home and hanging out here, enjoying this weird time as much as I can, is one of the reasons why I didn’t want to rush back to things."

Other Blue Jackets not participating in the start of Phase 2 include captain Nick Foligno, centers Alexander Wennberg and Boone Jenner, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and forwards and Nathan Gerbe, among others.

Those participating include Jones, Bjorkstrand, forwards Gustav Nyquist and , defenseman Scott Harrington, goalies Elvis Merzlikins and Matiss Kivlenieks and a pair of rookies, defenseman Andrew Peeke and forward Liam Foudy.

Atkinson, who lives in Columbus year-round, said he will continue working off-ice with a personal trainer and skate on his own at The Battery, the hockey facility in Plain City that he partly owns. Others are choosing to do the same.

"I kind of want to see how (Phase 2) is going before I make the decision to move back with my family or not," said Gerbe, who is living in Cleveland with his wife and three young children. "There’s so many question marks. I just want to see how it settles in, and then I can kind of make a decision when they come to a camp date."

That happened on Thursday, when the league and the players association jointly announced that camps are set to open July 10, dependent on the pandemic and ongoing negotiations to finalize the return plan. That was an important step, but other factors have also kept players away from the start of Phase 2, including extensive protocols required to participate.

Players are required to record their own body temperatures each morning, have it checked again upon arrival to workouts and submit to COVID-19 testing twice a week. They also are required to wear masks whenever they’re not working out in the facilities and must undergo a 14- day quarantine period if commercial travel was used in their return. 1186251 Columbus Blue Jackets Officially listed as 5-foot-4, Gerbe’s NHL career dates back to the 10 games he played with the 2008-09 Buffalo Sabres, who’d controversially made him the 142nd pick of the 2005 NHL Draft.

Duhatschek Notebook: An ode to the Masterton, assessing the Gerbe’s talent wasn’t in question. He’d led in scoring the candidates and more previous year, and won the NCAA tournament MVP. But even as the NHL evolved away from bigger-is-better, 5-foot-4 was still 5-foot-4 and so Gerbe kicked around the league for most of seven years before leaving to play for Genève-Servette of the Swiss League in 2016-17. But he By Eric Duhatschek Jun 12, 2020 came back to North America for the end of the 2017-18 season and spent parts of three seasons playing for the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate in Cleveland. Eventually, the Blue Jackets’ unconscionable run of injuries to I love the Masterton Trophy. forwards gave him an opportunity to get back to the NHL. It didn’t take long for Gerbe to become a fan favorite. It’s an annual award, administered by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, designed to honor three qualities – perseverance, dedication Gerbe will turn 33 in July. If you want to talk about perseverance, and sportsmanship – that may not exactly be unique to hockey but are dedication and sportsmanship, Gerbe’s unwillingness to give up on his deeply embedded in the sport’s DNA. NHL aspirations a pretty great place to start.

The Masterton has been a fixture on the awards calendar since 1968 But wait. That’s just the beginning — one candidate out of 31. when it was created by what was then known as the NHL Writers’ Association to commemorate the life and achievements of Bill Masterton. Does anyone outside of Arizona know much about Conor Garland? No? Probably not? At 5-foot-8, Garland positively towers over Gerbe (but not For those unfamiliar with the history, Masterton – playing for the many others). On a Coyotes team that includes Taylor Hall, , expansion – died within 24 hours of a January Nick Schmaltz and other more familiar names, Garland led the team in 1968 NHL game, when his unprotected head hit the ice in a tangled goal scoring this year with 22. A player selected 123rd in the 2015 draft collision with two Oakland Seals defenders. looks as if he will be an NHL fixture now.

Masterton had a unique back story, which would be almost Did anyone outside of Florida (or maybe Boston) notice what Noel Acciari unprecedented today. After a distinguished college career at the achieved this season? A comparative physical monster compared to University of Denver, Masterton had played professionally for the Gerbe and Garland at 5-foot-10, Acciari was an undrafted free agent who American Hockey League’s Cleveland Barons but stopped following the signed with Boston in 2015. This year, his first with the Panthers, Acciari 1962-63 season. This was the six-team era, and long before salary had the best campaign of his professional career, notching 20 goals escalation came to the NHL, so the jobs at the highest level of hockey before the NHL paused play. Ten goals represented his previous career- were few and far between, and most didn’t pay all that well. Masterton high. He also led the Panthers in hits. took a year off the sport completely and then played three years semi- professionally – until NHL expansion gave him a second chance. Flying under the radar is impossible in hockey-mad Toronto, but let’s also give a nod to Zach Hyman, a key foot soldier on a Maple Leaf team of Masterton scored the first goal in North Stars’ history and was playing as stars. Florida, the team that drafted Hyman, had 13 picks in the 2010 a regular in coach Wren Blair’s lineup when the collision that ultimately draft, including three players selected in the first round (Erik Gudbranson, led to his death occurred. Eleven years after Masterton died, the NHL Nick Bjugstad, Quinton Howden). If every NHL GM was asked under finally made helmets mandatory equipment. Masterton was, by all oath which one of these four players they would choose for their teams – accounts, the quintessential teammate, someone who made it to the NHL right here, right now – a hefty number would probably select Hyman, because of an unremitting commitment to the sport. It’s why the even if he began his career as an NHL afterthought. Masterton has always felt like an everyman’s award – hockey’s equivalent to citizen-of-the-year citations that honor unsung heroes in a Can we talk about Colorado’s Ryan Graves? When you think of community for largely anonymous good deeds. Avalanche defencemen, your mind immediately turns to Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, Erik Johnson – even the versatile Ian Cole, a former Claude Provost of the was the original winner of the Stanley Cup champion, may enter your thoughts. But Graves, who’d Masterton in 1968. And while the Masterton has occasionally gone to a muddled along for most of four years in the minors, finally got a chance star player – in 1971, in 1979, Lanny to play in the NHL for 26 games last season and this season was his first McDonald in 1983 – for the most part, it tends to single out players that as a full-time NHL player. When play was suspended, Graves led the may be well-appreciated by hockey fans in their own markets, but are league with a plus-40 rating. I don’t care how much or how little some largely unknown outside them. people appreciate plus-minus as a stat. If you are a plus-40 in the NHL, you are doing something right. And just about every winner – and really every candidate – has an inspiring back story. Maybe the longest journey from zero to 100 was undertaken by Calgary Flames’ defenceman Mark Giordano. An undrafted free agent, Giordano Procedurally, the Masterton differs from other NHL awards because the originally signed a three-way professional contract, which had different local chapters of the PHWA nominate one deserving candidate per financial components depending upon if he played in NHL, the AHL or season; which produces 31 finalists. Members then vote for their top the ECHL. Giordano started out as the longest of long shots; and even three candidates. left to play in the KHL with Moscow Dynamo for a season before slowly, Last year’s winner was Robin Lehner, then of the New York Islanders. gradually, working himself up the ranks of NHL players. Last June, he won the Norris Trophy in landslide fashion as the NHL’s top defenceman. If you turn your attention back to the moment when Lehner stepped to Giordano is the personification of a rags-to-riches success story. the podium to accept the award about a year ago now, his brilliant and impassioned speech on behalf of the mental health challenges that he If you were to isolate a single Masterton moment this past season, it endured likely stayed with you far longer than anything else that was said probably belonged to the Ottawa Senators’ Bobby Ryan. On the night on a night that celebrated splashier statistical achievements. Ryan returned to the team’s lineup after months in the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program, he scored a hat trick in a 5-2 win over At its best, sport is about striving to be better. Ultimately – at the Vancouver. Ryan was in tears on the bench, the crowd standing to professional level – it is about striving to be the very best. acknowledge his triumphant return. It was an achingly beautiful human The challenges that athletes need to overcome to do so – physical moment that transcended sport. injuries, taming the mind, struggles with addiction (or simply the pure But we’re not finished yet. limitations of one’s physical frame) – is what makes the Masterton one of the most satisfying awards to ponder. It may also be the most difficult in The Dallas Stars’ Stephen Johns returned to the lineup after a 22-month which to choose the most deserving candidate. absence, recovering from headaches and post-concussion syndrome. Everyone in hockey hopes that Oskar Lindblom will eventually make his Let’s consider some of this year’s nominees, starting with Nathan Gerbe way back to the Philadelphia Flyers after being diagnosed with Ewing of the Columbus Blue Jackets (profiled here by Aaron Portzline). sarcoma. Lindblom was having a breakout season – a team-leading 11 goals at the time of the diagnosis. The St. Louis Blues’ consummate veteran, , may not ever play again, but thanks to the In addition, the writers are also asked to select first and second All-Star quick action of first responders, the revered veteran, who won a Stanley teams and choose the All-Rookie team. Cup last spring at the age of 36, survived a cardiac incident during a February game against Ducks in Anaheim. Bouwmeester has been an Generally, the focus tends to be more on awards and less on All-Star underappreciated member of multiple Canadian Olympic and World Cup teams, though they matter a great deal as well – and there’s a peculiar teams – quiet, humble and throughout his career, has put his head down inconsistency between the way we vote for the All-Stars and the way we and got the job done. vote for the All-Rookie team that’s worth exploring.

In all, goalies have won the Masterton five times in the past decade: All-Star voting is done by position – center, left wing, right wing, defence Lehner, Devan Dubnyk, Josh Harding, Craig Anderson and Jose and goal – and that has created controversy over time because Theodore. This year, seven netminders have been nominated: Ryan sometimes, forwards plays two positions. Miller (Anaheim), James Reimer (Carolina), Corey Crawford (Chicago), This year is a good example: At times, the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl plays Alex Stalock (Minnesota), Henrik Lundqvist (Rangers), Jonathan Quick center, and at times, he plays left wing on a line with McDavid. (Los Angeles) and Jacob Markstrom (Vancouver). Similarly, the Calgary Flames experimented with Elias Lindholm as a While three of those tenders are potential future Hall of Famers, the center (which is how he came through the ranks), but more frequently, he majority were late-round, hope-and-a-prayer longshots who had to prove plays right wing on the line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. their NHL worthiness, amid organizational skepticism. Miller is one of my favorite people in the game, just so thoughtful about the game and life in Nowadays, the PHWA sends a note of clarification after consulting with general. Conversations with him are not just limited to his craft, but veer writers in their individual markets and recommends which position certain off in surprising directions. But when speaking about his craft, he can be players should be considered. This year, Draisaitl is officially brilliant and insightful. recommended as a center, while Lindholm is officially a right wing. Other position clarifications include: Carolina’s Teuvo Teravainen (RW), There is a part of me that cannot believe the estimable , now Minnesota’s Kevin Fiala (RW), the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin (LW) and 34, may never win a major NHL trophy in his career. Weber was twice three from Toronto: Mitch Marner (RW), William Nylander (RW) and the first runner-up in Norris Trophy balloting, finishing behind Nicklas Hyman (LW). The confusion is sometimes attributable to the way the Lidstrom in 2011 and in 2012. Talk about perseverance. NHL lists players. For example, in the daily game release individual Weber was limited to 26 games in the 2017-18 by a broken ankle and statistical reports, Fiala is listed as a left wing. then a complicated knee surgery. This past year, he sprained his ankle in February, which led to speculation that his career might be in jeopardy. Of course, the easiest way to end the problem is by shifting the All-Star Instead, Weber returned to the Habs’ lineup and was playing regularly voting protocols to the way in which voting is done for the All-Rookie right up until the league suspended play, even though Montreal was out team. For the rookie team, voters are permitted to select three forwards, of the playoff hunt. Weber has been a warrior throughout his NHL career regardless of position, which is helpful in years, such as 2015-16, when and he doesn’t need a Masterton win to validate his off-the-charts the three forwards on the All-Rookie team were McDavid, Jack Eichel determination — but it would be a wholly deserving honor. and Panarin – two centers and a winger. Some seasons, such as 2014- 15, you get three wingers: Mark Stone, Johnny Gaudreau and Filip San Jose’s Joe Thornton and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid may be at Forsberg. the opposite ends of what will surely be Hall of Fame careers, but they underwent similar challenges relating to knee injuries to play this year. The beauty of voting for three forward positions is there’s a better chance Thornton, at 40, has an unquenchable love for the game and has paid a of getting the most deserving candidates, rather than having to shoehorn physical price to battle through and play with a series of knee injuries players in by specific position. because – 22 years in – he still dreams of winning a Stanley Cup. And there is an inconsistency here, because you are not obliged to make McDavid is 17 years Thornton’s junior but suffered a massively the same distinction on defence. Voters are not asked specifically to complicated posterior cruciate knee ligament injury on the final day of the select left and right defenceman — you just pick the two worthiest 2018-19 season, raising questions about when and if he could ever candidates. Erik Karlsson and are now teammates in San return to the same high level of play. So much of McDavid’s game is Jose and both play the right side. But in 2016-17, they were the two predicated on speed and knee injuries can often undermine a players’ defencemen voted to the first All-Star team, even though they played the skating ability. same position. No one had any issue with it either. But McDavid came back to the Oilers’ lineup and thrived. He probably So why not change the protocols for forwards? Years ago, when I asked would have won – or at least contended for the scoring title – if he hadn’t someone at the league that question, the answer was that they didn’t missed seven games to injury and illness during the season. McDavid’s want to tamper with the historical record. The NHL first started choosing recovery was detailed in a video feature that aired on Sportsnet earlier All-Star teams in the 1930-31 season, back when the forward positions this year. If you ever wanted to get inside what the grind of rehab really were far more clearly defined than they are today and when the on-ice looks like, you need to watch this. It’s hard and requires unimaginable game was largely played in north-south lanes, rather than the east-west dedication – even if you’re Superman. improvisation that’s part of the modern NHL. It’s going on 90 years that It’s why I love Masterton trophy. Because the one quality that all the it’s been done the same way and there’s a part of me that is OK with nominees share – from Gerbe to McDavid – is their commitment to the maintaining it as a tradition, even if the current state of the game has sport. There are so many inspiring stories and so many good options to evolved away from the way the game used to be played. choose from. Voting for the All-Rookie team started in 1982-83. Just because of the In fact, that’s the only thing I don’t love about the Masterton: The nearly way they framed that – choosing the three most deserving forwards – impossible task of narrowing the list down to the final three. Of all the you’d have to assume they understood by then it was just a fairer way of voting we do, it might be the single most difficult ballot to cast. doing things. If you could choose three forwards, then you’d never have to worry again about a year like 2012-13, when Alex Ovechkin has The votes are (almost) in named to the first All-Star team as a right wing – and the second All-Star Speaking of voting, the NHL distributed ballots for the 2020 awards race team as a left wing. on Monday and this year, voters have an entire week to make their The possibility of something similar unfolding with Draisaitl this year is selections. real – although the specific guidance from the PHWA hopefully will Usually, the turnaround time is much shorter because ballots need to be mitigate against that happening. In the end, I don’t really see a change filed in the approximately 96-hour window between the end of the regular coming in the All-Star voting protocols. season and the start of the playoffs. This year is obviously different. Tradition matters in hockey – and while change is sometimes necessary, Votes have to be in by Monday and the NHL has yet to decide how and that’s a tradition the NHL seems unwilling to tamper with. when they will unveil the list of finalists and winners. The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 The PHWA casts ballots for five awards: Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng, the broadcasters vote for the Jack Adams and NHL GMs get to select the Vezina. 1186252 Dallas Stars to NHL regular. Gurianov led the Stars by scoring 20 goals, and was tied for second among NHL rookies in goal-scoring. Gurianov was a constant threat with the puck for the Stars, with his speed dangerous on the rush and his one-timer explosive on the power play. 10 things to remember about the Stars’ season before the NHL restarts, including the tough stretches they weathered Gurianov ended the season with 29 points in 64 games despite averaging just 12:59 of ice time. His entry-level contract expires at the end of this season and he will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

By Matthew DeFranks8:19 PM on Jun 12, 2020 5. The Stars weathered some tough stretches

FILE - The Stars celebrate an win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at in It’s been a while. Dallas. Three months have passed since the NHL paused its season due to the Dallas began the season mired in a 1-7-1 start that called into question coronavirus pandemic, and we are now less than a month away from the lofty expectations placed on the Stars as Stanley Cup contenders. when the Stars will open training camp in Frisco on July 10. With a And the Stars finished the regular season in a season-long six-game possible two-week training camp, plus one week of exhibition games, losing streak that saw their once-ironclad playoff spot slipping away. that means NHL games could return in early August. Both stretches were punctuated by a lack of scoring coupled with a loss A lot has happened in a season that could span a full year from the of the team’s trademark defensive stubbornness. In between those beginning of training camp in September through a potential postseason streaks, however, the Stars were the best team in the league, with a .713 run this summer into the fall. Let’s jog our memories. points percentage from Oct. 19 to Feb. 25. 1. The Stars are already in the playoffs In the playoffs, which Stars team shows up? The one that was the best in For the first time since 2002-08, the Stars made the postseason in the NHL across more than four months? Or the one that was inconsistent consecutive seasons. Because they finished fourth in the Western at the start and end of the season? Conference in points percentage (just barely ahead of Edmonton), Dallas 6. So did their top players earned a berth in the first round of the playoffs and will play a round robin against St. Louis, Colorado and Vegas to determine seeding. Had the Here is a list of Stars players with career-long goal droughts that Stars lost one more game, or had two fewer points, they would have happened this season: Corey Perry (24 games), (17) and been playing in a best-of-five qualifying round. (15). Alexander Radulov had a 13-game goalless drought before the pause, the longest since he was a 20-year-old rookie in 2006- Dallas players, coaches and management have said that the Stars are 07. Joe Pavelski had one goal in an 18-game stretch. built for the postseason style of play, which tends to be more physical and low-scoring that the regular season. Plus, hot goaltenders can steal John Klingberg had three points in the first 16 games of the season. Miro games and series easier in the playoffs, carrying a team deep. Heiskanen had one point in a 13-game segment.

2. Goal-scoring was an issue The Stars’ best players all endured periods of offensive struggles this season, which were magnified because of the team’s overall inability to FILE - Stars right wing Alexander Radulov (47) fails to get a shot past score goals. The Stars were the only playoff team in the Western Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford (50) during the third Conference without a player with more than 50 points. Seguin led the period of a game on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at American Airlines Center Stars with 50 points exactly. in Dallas. 7. Jim Montgomery was fired For the second straight season, the Stars will be the lowest-scoring Western Conference team in the playoffs. The Stars ranked 26th in the FILE - Jim Montgomery speaks to the media following a Stars practice at NHL with 2.58 goals per game, and that includes a power play that in Frisco on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. ranked 13th in the league. At 5-on-5, the Stars scored only 1.97 goals per 60 minutes, the second-worst figure in the league, according to On Dec. 10, the Stars made the shocking announcement that they fired Natural Stat Trick. coach Jim Montgomery “due to unprofessional conduct inconsistent with the core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the National Hockey The Stars were the only team in the league without a player that scored League.” The team promoted to interim head coach, more than 20 goals. Denis Gurianov led the team with 20. called up Derek Laxdal to serve as an assistant in Dallas, installed Neil Graham as the head coach with AHL affiliate and Travis Morin as Over the break, interim head coach Rick Bowness and the Stars the assistant in the AHL. coaching staff has looked at ways to increase scoring, whether it’s better breakouts from their own zone or better offensive zone play. “We’re very General manager did not disclose what the incident was that got good when we don’t have the puck,” Bowness said last month. “It’s why Montgomery fired, and less than a month later, Montgomery announced we’re one of the top defensive teams last couple years. That’s what wins that he was entering a rehabilitation program for alcohol abuse. in the playoffs. That being said, we have to improve. We have to score Montgomery finished his Stars career with a 60-43-10 record. some goals when it’s tight.” 8. The hosted the Winter Classic 3. Bishop and Khudobin were the backbone again On Jan. 1, the Stars and Predators played a game at the Cotton Bowl in The Stars once again had the league leader in save percentage manning front of the second-largest crowd to ever watch an NHL game. It was the their crease. Last year, it was Ben Bishop. This season, it was Anton southernmost outdoor game in league history, and was a watershed Khudobin. Bishop and Khudobin formed a formidable 1-2 punch in net for moment for the Stars franchise to be able to host the league’s marquee the Stars, becoming one of the best tandems in the NHL. The Stars regular season event. finished the season second in the league by allowing 2.52 goals per game, only behind the Jennings-winning pair in Boston of Tuukka Rask The Winter Classic included a reopened Midway outside the Cotton and Jaroslav Halak. Bowl, pig races during timeouts inside the stadium, and a raucous Stars comeback in a 4-2 win. Alexander Radulov scored the winning goal by Bishop and Khudobin allowed the Stars to win a Western Conference- blasting a one-timer on the power play past Pekka Rinne in the third high 18 games when scoring three or fewer goals and seven games period. when scoring two or fewer goals. When play resumes, the tandem will be key should the playoff schedule be condensed and include back-to-back 9. The Finnish Mafia continued to emerge games. Esa Lindell, Roope Hintz and all continued to improve 4. Denis Gurianov had a breakout season this season as their roles became larger. Hintz scored 19 goals and chipped in 14 assists despite missing nine games to injury. Heiskanen The former first-round pick endured ups and downs during his became a true top-pairing defenseman that plays in all situations, despite development process that took four years to go from No. 12 overall pick some offensive droughts during his second NHL season. Lindell, meanwhile, stepped into a larger leadership role when he was awarded an “A” after the All-Star break and has been called an unsung hero by both teammates and coaches.

10. The offseason additions did not make big impacts

Part of the optimism surrounding the Stars entering the season came from the offseason additions Nill signed in July. Joe Pavelski inked a three-year contract worth $7 million annually. Corey Perry and Andrej Sekera each signed one-year contracts heavy in performance bonuses after they were bought out by their old teams.

But Pavelski posted just 14 goals and 17 assists in 67 games, the lowest output in his career across a full season. At the end of the regular season, Sekera rotated with Roman Polak as a healthy scratch. Perry wanted to prove that his last season in Anaheim was a fluke, but had just five goals and 16 assists.

All three veterans could benefit from the extended time off during the NHL’s suspension, and contribute more during the postseason than they did in the regular season.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186253 Dallas Stars “We know we can defend and that’s never gonna change,” Bowness said. “That’s how we are built and we are a tough out when we play that way. However, that being said, we have to improve our offense. We have to.” As Stars eye July 10 training camp, Bowness focuses on improving Dallas offense The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020

By Sean Shapiro Jun 12, 2020

When Rick Bowness was packing for a return trip to Dallas on Wednesday, he didn’t have any clue when he’d be allowed inside the Stars’ team facility in Frisco.

Now he can start planning for a likely NHL training camp that would open on July 10 after the NHL and NHLPA announced plans to open Phase Three on that date.

Phase Two of the NHL’s return-to-play plan started Monday, with players allowed to enter facilities in small groups. These groups of six have to skate together and have an individual trainer assigned to that group in order to limit the chances of cross-contamination.

The ice surface the players will skate on is now closed to the public until at least the end of training camp, likely the end of July. For the time being, no one else is allowed into the facility. Stars general manager Jim Nill said the Stars have security in place to enforce these measures, and people who typically have badge access to the facilities — like Nill and the coaching staff — have seen that temporarily revoked.

“Phase Two changes for the players; it doesn’t change for the coaches,” Bowness said. “We’ll still have our Zoom meetings, and we’ll do a lot of communicating away from the rink. Until they allow us back into the rink, nothing is really going to change.”

When Bowness is able to return to the rink, he’ll have an opportunity to potentially implement some changes he would have typically never been able to make as an interim head coach. When he took over for Jim Montgomery in early December, he continued to run and use the system that had been in place. Minor tweaks can be made on the fly, but with the condensed nature of the schedule, truly revamping things was never possible.

After a pandemic and a potential three-week training camp before the playoffs? Now the interim coach actually has a chance to make some structural changes that can be hammered out in practice.

“We get to work on things we know we can improve. We are actually going to have quality practice time. We’ve never really had that (since the coaching change),” Bowness said. “So I’m excited about that. We know exactly a couple areas that we are going to get better at, and it’s going to make us a better team.”

The biggest focus will be in the offensive zone, where the Stars ranked 26th in the NHL with 2.61 goals per game and 22nd with 30.62 shots per game.

The Stars are too much of a “one-and-done” offense that doesn’t sustain pressure. They struggle to find a balance between risk and reward.

“We’ve got to stop making poor-percentage plays,” Bowness said. “That’s what we need, we need to have that puck possession.”

Avoiding poor-percentage plays means more controlled breakouts and zone entries, according to Bowness. He said it means the team needs to think more about keeping the puck on its stick rather than giving it up to chase it again. This applies throughout the lineup, though it’s even more important for the Stars’ top skill players, who at times have played too much like depth forwards.

For Bowness, the biggest issue when it comes to approach and application is consistency. He says there is evidence that scoring could be there, and that’s why he’s encouraged, but it was never consistent enough. Usage of effective players like Denis Gurianov is also something Bowness has taken time to examine, and he’s done some internal reflection on how he can find better fits in that regard.

Bowness also said, “he’s not going to reinvent the wheel” when it comes to defensive structure and the Stars’ strengths. Dallas finished second in the NHL by only allowing 2.57 goals per game. 1186254 Detroit Red Wings the Griffins after 26 NHL games (two goals, five assists) and must work his way back to the Red Wings.

Winger Evgeny Svechnikov, the top pick in 2015, returned after missing Red Wings encouraged by growth, depth of young players all of 2018-19 with a torn ACL, appearing in four games with the Red Wings. He is no longer waiver-exempt, so he will start 2020-21 on the NHL roster, since he has little trade value.

Posted Jun 12, 2020 Other recent draft picks who will compete for a roster spot next season include first-round picks Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno and Michael By Ansar Khan Rasmussen, in addition to whoever the team selects this year (the Red Wings will select anywhere from 1 to 4).

Little went right for the Detroit Red Wings in 2019-20, but at least several “The exciting part is there’s quite a few of them,” Larkin said. “You got all young players showed progress. the guys that didn’t even get a chance in Grand Rapids that I got to see in training camp.” The club hopes that growth will not be stunted with a long off-season – potentially nine or 10 months between competitive games for the seven Michigan Live LOADED: 06.13.2020 teams not taking part in the NHL’s restart.

“I think motivated athletes, motivated hockey players, are going to find a way to train,” general manager said during a recent media conference call. “Once rinks open up, they’ll figure out a way to get back on the ice. Shawn Horcoff and Dan Cleary (team’s directors of player development) are limited in their contact with the players but have stayed in contact with them from Day 1 of the pause and will continue to do so to give them guidance and help any way they can, get resources for them, whether it’s equipment or instruction to train with.”

Filip Hronek took the biggest strides in his second NHL season. He led defensemen in goals (nine) and points (31) and led all Red Wings in average ice time (23:53). Like many of his teammates, he had an ugly plus-minus rating (minus-38), but he improved defensively as the season progressed.

“Hronek had an opportunity to have a lot of ice time, was in a really expanded role when we lost Danny DeKeyser basically for the season early on,” coach said. “That really put Filip into an even more extended role, and he did a good job of it, he managed it. There were ups and downs, but when you get that much that early in your career, you’re going to go through some dry spells, and there’s no safety net because of the thinness that we have back there.”

Filip Zadina, the highly touted sixth overall pick in 2018, was disappointed to start in Grand Rapids for the second year in a row but earned a promotion in late November, a few days before his 20th birthday. He displayed his tremendous shot, often from his sweet spot near the right half wall, picking up eight goals and 15 points in 28 games before being idled with a fractured ankle in early February. He was close to returning before the season was halted on March 12.

“Filip Zadina had an opportunity to come in and play pretty good minutes,” Blashill said. “Until he got hurt, I thought he was doing a good job. I think he was starting to take steps in the right direction. He looked more confident, more dangerous as an offensive player. I think he does a pretty good job of defensive responsibility, but I wanted to see a more dangerous offensive player and I think as the year went on, we saw that, without taking unneeded risk.”

Dylan Larkin said of Zadina: “The more and more he was on the ice, he was more dangerous, really that goal-scoring threat that we need pretty badly.”

Givani Smith provided a glimpse of the player he can – a big, abrasive winger who battles in the hard areas of the ice and creates havoc at the net. He appeared in 21 games (two goals, one assist) and will compete for a job in training camp.

Defenseman Gustav Lindstrom made a favorable impression during a late-season 16-game stint (no goals, one assist) but will probably need some more development time in the AHL.

“I was very impressed with the demeanor of Gustav Lindstrom, the kind of player he is, someone I love being on the ice with,” Larkin said.

On the flip side, defenseman Dennis Cholowski, the top pick in 2016, was sent back to Grand Rapids during the season for the second year in a row following an impressive camp that earned him a roster spot. The Red Wings value his offensive skills and ability to man the point on the power play, but he has struggled defensively.

Skilled winger Taro Hirose could not replicate his impressive 10-game stretch at the end of 2018-19 (one goal, six assists). He was assigned to 1186255 Edmonton Oilers “The only reason we’re having this conversation about Dmitri is because of the pandemic. I think he was fine in the American Hockey League. But because of the pandemic, he’s thinking, ‘Am I not going to do anything for how many months?’ ” said Holland. Oilers loaning defenceman Samorukov to CSKA in Moscow “Dmitri is going home, he knows the country. Certainly his goal is to play in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers. But he wants to play.” Jim Matheson, CSKA already has seven defencemen under contract including Canadian Published:June 12, 2020 Mat Robinson. Updated:June 12, 2020 5:18 PM MDT The Oilers wanted to bring Slepyshev (102 games) back as a bottom six winger but he opted to re-sign in CSKA for two more seasons. He had 45 points in 54 games this past season. Dmitri Samorukov will be playing with Anton Slepyshev this upcoming KHL season. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 06.13.2020

The highly-rated Edmonton Oilers defence prospect is being loaned to CSKA in Moscow, where the ex-Oiler Slepyshev is one of their stars, because of the uncertainty of when the American League season will start. Samorukov, who turns 21 on Tuesday, just finished his first pro season in Bakersfield.

The Oilers are looking to have 10 defencemen for the return to play, with camps opening July 10, and it didn’t appear Samorukov was going to be a call-up from the farm. Instead, William Lagesson and Evan Bouchard will be coming up. Samorukov wants to play and the Oilers concur.

“With Lagesson and Bouchard, the acquisition of Mike Green and Caleb Jones with us, we’ve got 10 D,” said general manager Ken Holland, “and Dmitri is looking at the landscape and nobody knows when the American League or the NHL will start for 2020-21.”

“The KHL is starting training camps sometimes in July (July 15). He’s 21, he’s a really good prospect and he’s a Russian-born player. It’s his home country. He can play there for the year and when their season is complete he can come back to us because it appears our (NHL) season will run longer,” he said.

As of now, the KHL plans on starting their regular season Sept. 2.

“Samorukov isn’t concerned … the KHL’s a good league. If we all knew the American League would be up and running in early October we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But because there’s so much unknown and he’s a young player, we feel this will work. It has nothing to do with home-sickness. We want him practising and playing and developing as a young player,” said Holland.

The left-shot Samorukov had an average AHL first season (10 points in 47 games, minus 5) after a sterling last junior season (73 points in 83 games) in Guelph in the OHL, but the organization certainly feels he’s an NHL defenceman in waiting. Maybe more shutdown than point-producer, but a top-six guy.

Bouchard is ahead of Samorukov at this time, and they have high hopes for Swedish first-rounder Philip Broberg, who is playing in Skelleftea for a second season. But, Samorukov has lots of tools.

“He’s a very good prospect. The first part of this past year in Bakersfield he was in the third pairing, and got his feet wet … we had some veteran defenceman ahead of him, but when Caleb Jones came up to us, Dmitri got to play more and he played better the last part of the season,” said Holland.

Because Samorukov is Russian-born, going to Moscow is easy for him.

“You have to respect teams in Europe. They’re running a business too and trying to win and they’re not taking young players unless they can make their teams better,” said Holland, who is looking farther down the road with Samorukov.

“I’m concerned where Dmitri is when he’s 23 years old. I’m not worried where he is at 21. I just want him improving and I’m hoping he plays his way into being a good defenceman for the Oilers in a couple of years,” said Holland, who does want him playing, not sitting in CSKA, though.

“We talked about that. At the end of the day, if he’s the seventh defenceman there and not playing, and we get back up and playing (NHL and AHL), I think he’ll come back. He’s only staying there if everybody’s on board with this, the player, the agent, the CSKA team.”

In 2017, the Oilers loaned Lagesson to a team, too, after he left college at UMass Amherst and it worked out fine for a season at Djurgardens before he went to Bakersfield. 1186256 Edmonton Oilers “Considering there were near zero new cases about a month ago, it’s scary how quickly it can bounce back and restart the whole process.”

Romak said the players were excited about getting the fans back. When it comes to hub cities, there's no clear home-ice advantage “The games definitely a lot different without the fans.

“Talking to other foreign guys, everyone says the same thing. It’s a fight Terry Jones to try and get some adrenaline going. We feed off the atmosphere.”

Published:June 12, 2020 Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 06.13.2020

Updated:June 12, 2020 4:51 PM MDT

While we wait for the final pieces of the puzzle to fall into place for the NHL’s hub city Stanley Cup playoffs, you’d think they’d at least settle the “home ice advantage’ controversy.

There are those who continue to cling to the concept that no team should have “home-ice advantage” in the playoffs. I’m not sure why the NHL hasn’t quashed that thought long before now.

Why would the NHL even be considering the concept of not allowing the “home” team to be part of a hub city for a Stanley Cup playoff gathering of a dozen teams to play in each of the Western and Eastern Conference hub games?

The first I ever heard about it was when I was doing a two-page piece on the pros and cons of the 10 listed NHL cities commissioner Gary Bettman had identified prior to racial rioting became a factor.

In doing my research I contacted a Pittsburgh insider who suggested he’d heard if, say, Edmonton and Pittsburgh were selected, the Penguins and the Eastern Conference teams would play in Edmonton and the Oilers and Western Conference teams would play in Pittsburgh.

That would take away any home-ice advantage.

You’d think the television guys would have brought forth a few facts on that front.

Like time zones.

With the games being played in empty buildings, what would it matter to, say, Oilers fans if Edmonton played here or in Pittsburgh? They’ll be watching the games on TV anyway.

Of the 10 Hub City candidates, only three are in the Eastern time zone — Toronto, Columbus and Pittsburgh. But if they picked one to go with Las Vegas, Vancouver or Edmonton in the West, think about the game times if the Eastern teams played in the West hub city and the West teams in the East.

Why would you want a day, say, where the Oilers played a 10 a.m. game in Pittsburgh (8 a.m. in Edmonton) and the Penguins were slated to play a 9 p.m. (11 p.m. in Pittsburgh) game here?

Turns out the best argument against such nonsense has been supplied by the Bundesliga in Germany. Since the re-launch of play with no fans in the stands, the record of the home teams through last weekend was 10 wins, 14 ties and 22 losses.

What home advantage?

With not many eligible Eastern Conference cities in play, I figured it might not be a part of the final conversation anyway.

I mean, if they selected Edmonton and Las Vegas, obviously the Western Conference teams would have to play in a Western Conference hub city.

IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL ITS OVER

For those of you who are watching relaunches of the economy and relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions and figure it’s over, I welcome back to the column Jamie Romak.

He’s the one Canadian to be playing in the Korean league, the first to begin play with no fans in the stands, and even replaced by sex dolls in one stadium.

“We were really close to fans starting to come in but there have been a few outbreaks that continue to set that back,” he said when I touched base with him again the other day. 1186257 Edmonton Oilers Oilers farmhand Cooper Marody is healthy after last season’s concussion issues in Bakersfield, where he played 30 games. While keen to make music (three songs out on Spotify), his first love remains hockey with one year left on his Oiler contract. Jesse Puljujarvi still prospect at this point for Edmonton Oilers “It’s really tough when you can’t do something you love and you’re going through adversity … if you look at just statistics it was a setback year for me but there were lots of things out of my control that happened,” said Jim Matheson, the first-line AHLer, who had 64 points in 58 games in 2018-2019 and 17 Published:June 12, 2020 last season.

Updated:June 12, 2020 4:38 PM MDT “People are going to say; ‘are you really down and upset?’ but for me it was a big year in terms of growing as a hockey player. Every player has a year where things go the opposite of the way you want it and the question is whether you’ll mope or pout and have a pity-party, or search So Jesse Puljujarvi has gone from FAT CHANCE to NEVER SAY within to get better. I was down at times but I’ve faced the adversity. NEVER. This ’n that: Yamamoto will be coming shortly from his off-season home At least that’s what the reluctant Edmonton Oilers winger told Finnish in Spokane and as it stands now, will have to go on 14-day quarantine scribe Janne Onnela when asked about maybe giving the relationship before he can go on the ice at Rogers Place for Phase 2 … Oscar another shot. Klefbom and are still monitoring the COVID-19 cross-the- In a text Friday, Onnela said he had asked Puljujarvi several times during border into Canada quarantine situation, according to their agent J.P. his season in Karpat if a return to the Oilers was a option and every time, Barry before making flight arrangements back from Sweden for Phase 3 the answer from Jesse was no, in a pretty convincing tone. But last beginning July 10. Tuesday, when asked again, he paused and said never say never. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 06.13.2020 “That’s a change of heart, he knew he was making a public statement in an interview situation and I can’t think of any other reason than he is softening his stance,” said Onnela.

The Oilers feel Puljujarvi is a third-line NHL right-winger until he proves he’s better. To this point he has only teased people, with good games every now and then.

“He has the tools to be a top-6 on a lot of teams, good combination of skill sense, good skater. The games I watched he was inconsistent. He needs to play with a good centre because he didn’t create a lot on his own. I did question his attitude. I saw him pout a couple of times if his line-mates made mistakes,” said a veteran Western-based NHL pro scout.

“A friend in Finland saw him play this past season though and says he’s grown up and showed some maturity.”

The Oilers have Zack Kassian playing with Connor McDavid and Kailer Yamamoto on RW with Leon Draisaitl. Yamamoto has done what Puljujarvi couldn’t; put up points.

Puljujarvi hasn’t re-signed in Karpat but there will be a spot for the hometown Oulu boy whenever he wants, so there’s no rush to put pen to paper. At least one KHL team is sniffing around, and there are perhaps options in Sweden and the Swiss Elite league too if he wants to stay in Europe.

If he wants to come back to the Oilers for the 2020-21 season, he will be playing for $874,000 on a one-year qualifying offer, which is a five per cent bump off his $832,000 base salary. He might have made $350,000 in Karpat with a heavy tax rate.

Puljujarvi has yet to prove he’s a regular point-producing NHLer. He has 37 points in 139 Oiler games. Yamamoto has 31 in 53 games, 26 in 27 this past season.

WILL OILERS BE ABLE TO STOP KANE?

Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane, who has beaten on the Oilers like they were a pinata at a kids’ party (48 points the last 25 league games), told nhl.com Thursday he feels the Play-In games will have lots of offence— just like games coming out of fall training camps.

“Teams probably don’t have their systems, their defensive structure completely dialled in,” said Kane. “Even though you have time in training camp to try and do that, I think you can never really simulate a true game situation. You see that in the beginning of the season where there’s a lot of scoring. It might be a similar situation when you come back, it’ll be a high-scoring series and a lot of offence.”

Do the Oilers put a checker just on Kane in a short series? In 1981, had Dave Hunter on Guy Lafleur in the three-game sweep of the Canadiens. Hunter so flummoxed the Canadiens, wanted to fight Hunter and threw his helmet at him.

MARODY LOOKING FOR BOUNCE BACK YEAR 1186258 Montreal Canadiens and that could create friction. There will also be a push from the players to allow their families to travel to the hub cities.

That quarantine period also stands in the way of a Canadian city being Hickey on Hockey: Odds are stacked against NHL's playoff plan selected as one of the two hubs for the tournament. Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto are among the nine cities on the short list. Alberta Premier Jason Kenny has been actively lobbying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for some flexibility in the quarantine requirement to bolster Pat Hickey Edmonton’s bid. Publishing date:10 hours ago • Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.13.2020

What happens if a player tests positive for COVID-19?

That’s the most frequently asked question as the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association move closer to a 24-team tournament to crown a Stanley Cup champion for the 2019-20 season.

But it’s only one of the questions hanging over the NHL’s return to play.

The best-case scenario is that teams will open training camp next month — the NHL has set a July 10 date for training camps to open — the 24- team tournament will get underway in two yet-to-be-determined hub cities sometime in August and we will have a Stanley Cup champion by October.

But there are many other scenarios that could sabotage this plan.

According to the NHL, one positive test isn’t one of those scenarios. If a player tests positive, the plan is for him to be quarantined.

Remember it took only one positive test — NBA player Rudy Gobert — to shut down all pro sports in North America. The NHL says it can handle a positive test but, if that happens, there’s no way to know how players, team management or the league itself will react.

And what happens if there is a second or third positive test? Is there a threshold the NHL is willing to accept? The Boston Bruins reported this week one of their players tested positive as the team began small-group training. The unnamed player is the 10th NHLer to test positive for COVID-19 since the league halted play on March 12.

As a player I’d be nervous if a teammate tested positive because I’ve been around locker rooms long enough to know they can serve as incubators for a virus. There has never been a team, or a season, that hasn’t seen several outbreaks of the common flu.

The NHL says it will take every precaution while building a bubble around the competition. There will be endless tests, limited exposure to the outside world and deep cleaning of facilities, but all it takes is one slip up.

And, while the players will be in a bubble during the actual tournament, they will be in a more relaxed atmosphere during training camp when there will be more reliance on individuals being vigilant.

It’s important to note none of the plans is set in stone, which is why players, owners and team officials qualify their statements with words like “if” and “whether.” As the NHL moves from one phase to another, there are ongoing negotiations with the players, who are concerned not only about their safety but also the effect a long playoff run in isolation will have on their families.

Governments also have a say in how this process will play out and they could have a negative effect on the Canadiens and the five other Canadian franchises still in play.

Canada has a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for folks coming in from outside the country. That makes it extremely difficult to repatriate players in the U.S. or Europe. Unless there’s some wiggle room, the rule would mean when Habs goalie Carey Price returns from Washington State or winger Tomas Tatar jets in from Slovakia, they would be idle for 14 days.

While there is a ban on non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S., pro athletes have been deemed essential workers. A few states have instituted quarantines, but the concern isn’t the same as it is in Canada, and the NHL will have no trouble finding two U.S. cities to host the tournament.

The Canadiens and the other Canadian teams in the tournament — Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver — have been exploring the possibility of moving their training camps to the U.S. That would add a month to the time the players will be away from their families 1186259 Montreal Canadiens “Every kid wants to play professional sports, but it never really crossed my mind in high school to play in the NHL,” Petry told me in an interview a couple of years ago. “For me, it was take it as far as I can go. My first step was to get a college education. When it got to that point when I had Stu on Sports: Canadiens' Jeff Petry is using Pilates to stay in shape to decide, I never really thought about baseball as becoming a professional.”

Petry played three seasons of hockey at Michigan State University and Stu Cowan • was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round (45th overall) Publishing date:12 hours ago of the 2006 NHL Draft. The Canadiens acquired him from the Oilers on March 2, 2015 in exchange for a second-round pick (Jonas Siegenthaler) and a fourth-round pick (Caleb Jones) at that year’s NHL Draft.

Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry has found a new way to stay in shape World Series winner Dan Petry remembers the moment @petryj chose during the COVID-19 pandemic. hockey over baseball.

Pilates. Congratulations to former Canadiens forward Nikita Scherbak, who announced on Instagram Friday that his wife, Laurie, is pregnant with a “It’s been great,” Petry told Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News. “My wife boy, posting a photo from Mont Gabriel. Scherbak and Laurie met at a (Julie) is the one that started out in Pilates and she’s been wanting a restaurant when he was with the Canadiens. Reformer (Pilates equipment). She did all the research on it, and it came at a perfect time with everything shut down in the world.” The Canadiens selected Scherbak in the first round (26th overall) at the 2014 NHL Draft. Scherbak played only 29 games with the Canadiens, Petry had a Reformer delivered to their home in West Bloomfield, Mich., posting 2-5-7 totals, before being claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles where they have been since the NHL season was shut down on March Kings on Dec. 2, 2018. Scherbak played only eight games with the Kings, 12. scoring one goal. “We have it in the basement and when this quarantine started, it was This season, the 24-year-old played for two teams in the KHL — Omsk great to be able to just go down to the basement and and use the Avangard and Chelyabinsk Traktor — posting 3-8-11 totals in 31 games. Reformer and it’s given me all the tools I need to stay in shape,” Petry told Kulfan. When the Kings claimed Scherbak off waivers, he became the sixth straight first-round draft pick who didn’t work out with the Canadiens. “You can do as much work as you want in the gym,” Petry added, “but That list includes: Scherbak (2014), Mike McCarron (2013), Alex then you get on a Reformer and it’s completely different muscle groups to Galchenyuk (2012), Nathan Beaulieu (2011), Jarred Tinordi (2010) and stabilize muscles and it’s like no other workout I’ve done.” Louis Leblanc (2009). Petry hasn’t been able to skate since the NHL season was shut down. Here’s link to a column I wrote about Scherbak after the Kings claimed The league announced on Thursday that Phase 3 of its Return to Play him from the Canadiens on waivers. Plan is slated to begin July 10 with training camps opening. The Canadiens are hoping to hold training camp in Montreal, but the Bruins player tests positive for COVID-19 Canadian government’s mandated 14-day quarantine for people returning to the country could force them to look elsewhere. Phase 2 of the NHL’s Return to Play Plan — which started Monday when players were allowed to begin on-ice workouts in small groups at their The Canadiens are slated to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in a best-of- team’s practice rinks — requires that all players be tested for COVID-19 five series in the first round of the post-season at one of the two hub before using the team’s faciilities. cities the NHL has yet to decide on. The Canadiens practice rink at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard “As of right now, I’m just going to continue doing all the things that I need won’t be ready until next week and there are only three players currently to do off the ice to prepare myself for when that time comes and be ready in the Montreal area — Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron and Charles Hudon. to head out (to Montreal),” Petry told Kulfan. “I’m kind of treating it as summer workouts, then doing my cardio, and with the start still a little The Boston Bruins announced Friday that one of their players tested while away, I’m not too concerned about being on the ice. I know once positive for COVID-19, but that the player underwent two subsequent we get back, we’ll have adequate time to get adjusted.” tests and both returned negative. The Bruins said the player remains asymptomatic. Petry said his wife and their three young boys will stay in Michigan when he reports to training camp. The Bruins said all players who have returned to their practice facility at this point have now returned negative test results. The Canadiens made a fantastic video this season of Petry’s 4-year-old son, Boyd, watching his father play a game against the While fans are anxious for the NHL and other pro sports to return, Dr. at the on Feb. 1. Here’s link to a column I wrote about it. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the U.S., is urging people to remember that public Baseball or hockey? health must come first.

The Canadiens posted a video on Twitter Thursday of Petry’s father, “I’m a sports fan,” Fauci said in an interview with TheStreet’s Katherine Dan, talking about how his son decided to quit baseball and focus on Ross. “I think that sports in the United States is a very important part of hockey while growing up in a Detroit suburb. the culture of the United States. Baseball, the American pastime, but other sports, football, hockey, soccer, basketball, all the kinds of things Dan Petry was a major-league pitcher for 13 seasons and helped the that are good for the country. Because it’s good for your mental health. win the 1984 World Series. But Petry was only 3 when his It’s a good way to relax. It’s a good way to vicarious, get thrills of seeing father retired from baseball, so he has no real memories of watching him stars do what they do. So, we all would love to get sports back to where it pitch at the old Tiger Stadium. was normally. But we’ve got to remember we have responsibility for the “Jeff came to me his junior year (in high school) and decided that: ‘Hey, health and the welfare of people. If we could do both simultaneously, that Dad, you know I’ve had enough of baseball,’ which is a hard decision for would be wonderful.” him,” Dan says in the video. “He liked to play baseball. Friday marked the first anniversary of the Bruins losing 4-1 to the St. “‘I want to focus strictly on hockey and go to some spring camps and Louis Blues in Game 7 of last season’s Stanley Cup final in Boston. summer camps,'” Dan recalls his son saying to him. “It was a very, very A silent hole-in-one hard decision.” The PGA Tour returned to action Thursday with the first round of the Dan adds that it turned out to be “the best decision that we ever made.” Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Tex. Petry was a first-baseman in baseball while growing up in Farmington While it was great to see some live sports back on TV, it was bizarre to Hills, Mich. watch with no fans. When Sung Kang made a hole-in-one on the 13th hole it was greeted with silence on the course. Of course, with no fans on the course it’s easier for the TV microphones to pick up what the players are saying, which isn’t always a good thing.

Birthday boys

Happy birthday to former Canadiens defenceman , who turned 51 on Friday.

Schneider, who is now an NHLPA executive, was part of the Canadiens’ 1993 Stanley Cup team.

The Canadiens’ got off to a bad start in the 1993 playoffs, losing the first two games of their first-round series against the before winning the next four straight to take the best-of-seven series.

“After we lost the first two games in Quebec, guys in the dressing room were asking: ‘Where are you going for your summer vacation?’” Schneider recalled on the 25th anniversary of the Cup victory when colleague Pat Hickey and I put together an oral history of that playoff run. “You get into the idea, how are we going to come back from this? But that’s the playoffs. One game, one period, one goal can change the momentum. That third game (a 2-1 overtime win), that was the one chance for us and it gave us belief. All the hockey clichés that come out, one shift at a time, one period at a time, but it’s true. The playoffs are such a long haul, two months of battling. I had a bad injury in the first round and didn’t play until the third round and you’re going day-to-day. It’s such a gruelling road and that’s what makes it special.”

Also celebrating a birthday on Friday is former Canadiens forward Marc Tardif, who turned 71.

The Canadiens held the first two overall picks at the 1969 NHL Draft and took Réjean Houle first and Tardif second after they had been teammates with the Junior Canadiens. After the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1973, Houle and Tardif both left for the WHA with Houle joining the Quebec Nordiques while Tardif went to the Los Angeles Sharks. Tardif would join Houle with the Nordiques the next season.

Tardif had earned $40,000 with the Canadiens in 1972-73 and they offered him a one-year, $80,000 contract for the following season. Instead, Tardif decided to accept a three-year, $350,000 contract — with $150,000 deposited immediately into a bank — to play for the WHA’s Sharks.

“I didn’t sign with the Sharks,” Tardif told the late Ian MacDonald of the Montreal Gazette after being inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. “I signed with the league. The money was guaranteed and the full amount (for the first year) was deposited in a New York bank.”

Tardif would play nine seasons with the Nordiques — five in the WHA and four in the NHL.

THIS DATE IN #EXPOS HISTORY - June 12

2001 - Michael Barrett homered in the ninth inning and Mike Smith homered in the 12th in 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium.

1987 - Hubie Brooks tied team record with 5 hits and had 6 RBIs in 13-6 win over Phillies.

1981 - MLB players went on strike. pic.twitter.com/mFAXaqRa5E

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) June 12, 2020

The video below put a big smile on my face to see former Canadiens tough-guy Georges Laraque up and dancing after being hospitalized and recovering from COVID-19.

Here’s link to a My Montreal feature I wrote about Laraque two summers ago, in which he talked about his passion for vegan food and karaoke, among other things.

Here’s another link to a Q&A I did with Laraque at the same time in which he says he never really wanted to play for the Canadiens, but signed with the club as a free agent to please his mother.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186260 New Jersey Devils

Mets’ Jeff Wilpon says ‘4 or 5’ suitors looking to buy the club, but won’t dish on potential bidders

Updated Jun 12, 2020; Posted Jun 12, 2020

By Mike Rosenstein

New York Mets COO Jeff Wilpon broke his silence Thursday about the club’s potential sale. According to a tweet from Bleacher Report, Wilpon opened up while on the panel for UJA-Federation of New York.

“The team will have some kind of transaction, I can’t tell you exactly what it’s going to be and how it’s going to look, but we’re working towards a transaction and there’s four or five suitors that are out there to do something with and (there’s) a bunch of philanthropic planning and family planning that my dad and uncle want to do, and it’s totally fine. And when we have something to truly announce and tell you about, we’ll do that. Not going to play the speculation game or get in any kind of competition with Page Six or Variety Magazine.”

On Monday, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers managing partner Josh Harris reportedly joined ex-New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez as a potential suitor for the Mets.

Variety reported talks between the Mets and Harris are in “the early stages.”

Rodriguez and fiancee Jennifer Lopez first were linked to the Mets in February when the the New York Post reported the couple was “kicking the tires” on buying the team.

In early May, the Post reported Rodriguez and Lopez were passing on the Mets.

However, Rodriguez and Lopez jumped back into the bidding two weeks ago, according to a report from the New York Post’s Thornton McEnery.

The Mets had a deal in place to sell the club to hedge fund manager Steve Cohen in December. But that agreement fell apart in February when Cohen pushed for immediate control of the team while the Wilpon family wanted to remain with the club for five more years.

Fred Wilpon bought a minority share of the Mets in 1980. In 1986, Wilpon became an equal partner in the club with Nelson Doubleday, Jr. The Wilpon family bought out Doubleday and became the sole owner of the Mets in 2002.

In April, Forbes released its list of the most valuable MLB franchises. The Mets were 6th at $2.4 billion. However cash flow is a problem for the Mets with baseball struggling to salvage the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Star Ledger LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186261 New Jersey Devils As for Zajac, he’s just happy that hockey owners and players did their part to make sure sports fans get a completion to the NHL season if there’s no second wave of coronavirus.

Devils’ Cory Schneider, Travis Zajac chime in on MLB’s money fight | ‘If “I haven’t been following (baseball) a lot, so I’ll just stick with what hockey they don’t come back, it’s good for hockey!’ has done,” Zajac said. “I think they’ve done a great job of getting both sides working together, and when you have that, things can get done.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 06.13.2020 Updated Jun 11, 7:33 AM; Posted Jun 11, 7:17 AM

By Randy Miller

Devils center Travis Zajac didn’t beat around the bush Wednesday when he was asked to step outside of his hockey pond to provide a take on baseball’s ongoing money squabble.

“If they don’t come back, it’s good for hockey,” the 35-year-old Winnipeg native said with a smile during a Zoom media call. “Better for ratings!”

Good line.

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And Zajac speaks the truth. If MLB owners and players can’t work out a return-to-play agreement, it probably would greatly benefit the NHL, which wouldn’t have to compete with baseball while completing its coronavirus-shortened season with a 24-team playoff tournament that likely will play out in August and September.

Devils goalie Cory Schneider feels differently. He grew up 16 miles from Boston in Marblehead, Mass., and is a lifelong Red Sox fan, so he’s rooting for a resolution.

Also, Schneider is the Devils’ union rep, so he’s able to make some good points why the MLBPA continues to insist on full prorated contracts even though all or most games this season would be played in empty ballparks. At the same time, Schneider realizes that comparing hockey’s labor deal to baseball’s is an apples-to-oranges correlation.

“You can argue baseball has the best agreement,” Schneider said. “There’s no cap. They have a lot of power and control as players. In basketball, football and hockey, we don’t have quite as much as they do.

“However, you can just sort of see (MLB players’ anger with owners) building. We’ve been through some acrimonious lockouts and contentious talks (in hockey), and you can understand why that sort of mistrust builds. All of a sudden, it doesn’t really become about the dollars and cents and what’s best. It becomes about the principal, and I think that can be dangerous. But as players, sometimes you have to take a stand.

“In ‘04-05, (NHL players) could have accepted a deal that would have crippled players for six-seven years. They chose not to, and they lost the whole season, which is terrible. Nobody wishes that had happened. However for me, as a player 15 years later, I’m benefiting from the fact that those guys were willing to make a hard decision. The (NHL salary) cap continues to rise, and if (players) had taken the deal that was on the table before they lost that season, that would have stagnated the whole game from the player side for a long time.”

Schneider feels that way while also understanding that 2020 is not the year for fight for every last penny due the coronavirus pandemic creating mass unemployment. There’s also been more tension the last few weeks due to racial injustice leading to nationwide protests and riots. While he gets why baseball players aren’t giving in, he wishes they’d have come to a quick return-to-play agreement like the NHL and NBA did.

“There are things that go on that not everyone knows about, the inner workings of the union and what they're thinking,” Schneider said. “From a 10,000-foot view up here, not being a baseball player … As a fan, you say, ‘Why can’t they just figure it out? They’re all making plenty of money.’ But there's always a long game in mind. You’ve got to negotiate today for tomorrow. You set precedents now because you never know what kind of stuff will happen in the future.

“But I think in these times, you have to look a little bit more at the present and figure out what's best for the world. What can we do to contribute or how can we come back and maybe make things better? We're all taking a hit, so let's not destroy the game just for the sake of an argument. Let's figure out the best way to come back.” 1186262 New Jersey Devils come back from mistakes. Guys really respect Nass, knowing he wants what's best for you.”

That’s good stuff there for Devils ownership and Fitzgerald to ponder. Will Devils dump Alain Nasreddine for coach with better resume? Cory A day earlier, Nasreddine stated in a Zoom call that he is confidence that Schneider, Travis Zajac weigh in the current makeup of the Devils’ roster is good enough to compete for a playoff berth next season, and that, of course, is before probable improvements through free agency and the draft, as the club again has a Updated Jun 12, 2020; Posted Jun 10, 2020 lottery pick.

By Randy Miller Schneider feels it’s on Devils players to show that their late-season surge was the start of much better times for a franchise that has missed the

playoffs two years in a row and seven times in eight. There is a longest-offseason-ever silver lining for the Devils, who missed "We talk about the future and what could be, but at some point we have the playoffs once again this year even though 24 of the NHL’s 31 teams to do it,” Schneider said. “You have to go out on the ice and prove that will take part in a return-to-play postseason tournament. you’re a good team or you’re a great team. It’s part of the next step in the All of this down time between the start of the league’s coronavirus evolution of guys’ careers. Do you want to be a guy that just plays, or do stoppage on March 12 and through the summer months gives Devils you want to be a guy that plays in the playoffs and is in big moments? management plenty of time to figure out if it wants to keep head coach “That’s how guys get paid. That's how you get a reputation. That’s how Alain Nasreddine, who still has the interim tag connected to his job title. you can solidify careers, by playing in the postseason and being effective Here’s what we know so far: there. So that should be everyone's goal.

- Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald, also working as an interim, reportedly have “We can’t hope and want and wish. All of us – old, young, experienced interviewed eight-to-10 coaching candidates in recent months, including and inexperienced – we need to put ourselves in a position to meet in April and John Stevens in May. expectations and then exceed them at some point.”

- Several other coaches who have had a lot of success in the NHL are First things first though: the Devils need to decide who runs their bench available – Mike Babcock (3 conference titles, 1 Stanley Cup), Bruce going forward, Nasreddine or someone else. Boudreau (playoffs in 10 of 13 seasons), (1 Stanley Cup) “It's a tough business,” Zajac said. “Who knows which direction they're (1 Cup, 3 conference titles) and (1 going to go? I really hope that Nass will be here, if not as the head coach conference title). then still a part of the coaching staff because I think he's a valuable - Nasreddine is among four finalists, according to ESPN.com’s Pierre asset. LeBrun. “But I think that he'll get an opportunity, whether it's here or somewhere - The Devils went from underachieving to showing improvement after else, to be a head coach because I think he's got a lot of characteristics Nasreddine was promoted from assistant following ’ firing, that you're looking for in today's game.” going 19-16-8 in 43 games … 18-12-7 following an 0-4-1 stretch Star Ledger LOADED: 06.13.2020 immediately after the bench change.

- The Devils played their best hockey after some of their best players and veteran leaders were traded in a fire sale, as they were 10-5-2 in their final 17 games despite being without former league MVP Taylor Hall, team captain Andy Greene, Blake Coleman, Sami Vatanen and Wayne Simmonds.

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Here’s one more thing we know about the Devils’ coaching issue:

Two of the veterans who weren’t traded did some campaigning for Nasreddine to keep his job during Zoom media interviews on Wednesday, and both center Travis Zajac and goaltender Cory Schneider sounded sincere doing so.

Here’s what Schneider had to say:

“Speaking on my behalf and I think a lot of our guys, we really love Nass. He's been a great coach. Stepping into that (head coach) situation this year was really hard. There was a lot of negativity. His longtime friend and mentor just got let go. So that could have gone a lot of different ways, but I think Nass was prepared for the moment and he has his own style.

“He's a tremendous worker, he’s a smart coach, he commands respect and he does it his own way, which I think a lot of guys responded well to. I enjoyed coming back up (from an AHL demotion) and playing under him. We had a great relationship.”

And here’s what Zajac had to say:

‘He’s a detailed guy. He can adjust and adapt to situations. It's tough getting thrown into the head coaching job like he did, and he did a tremendous job. I think you saw by the end of the year we were playing better as a team. We were winning some games against very good hockey teams. We were starting to win close games or come back from being down, all positive signs that I think he had a big role in.

“Also, when you look at some of the guys who took a step by the end of the year … some of our young guys played better. I think Nass was a big reason for that by giving them a little more leeway and opportunity to 1186263 New York Islanders

Isles' Lou Lamoriello says new Belmont arena will have 'Coliseum atmosphere'

By Andrew Gross

Updated June 12, 2020 9:46 PM

Lou Lamoriello understands that the NHL arenas of the new generation have not replicated the cozy feel of the buildings they replaced. He believes the Islanders’ new arena at Belmont Park will be different.

“I think what you’re going to see is a Coliseum atmosphere in a new facility,” the Islanders president and general manager said in a videoconference with season-ticket holders made public by the team Friday.

Lamoriello also was asked about the benefits to the organization of moving from NYCB Live’s to the Belmont Park arena.

“This is state of the art,” he said. “I think that when the fans see the results, they’re going to be ecstatic.

“I think the major point of it is it’s going to be a hockey facility,” Lamoriello added. “They’ve paid 100% attention to the atmosphere in the building, the way the seats are located for the hockey experience and tight to the arena. It’s not like some of these new arenas. When you talk about old arenas, you talk about Boston Garden. But you go to a new arena, everybody says it doesn’t have the same atmosphere. You’re going to see a Coliseum atmosphere.”

Work resumed at the Belmont Park construction site on May 27 after a two-month halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Islanders are targeting October 2021 to open their new arena, which will seat 17,113 for hockey and is the focal point of a $1.3 billion project that includes a 250-room hotel and 350,000 square feet of retail.

Lamoriello also informed the participants in the videoconference that he saw top-pair defenseman Adam Pelech, who suffered an Achilles tendon injury on Jan. 2, skating Wednesday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. Through a team spokesman on Friday, Lamoriello told Newsday that Pelech will be available for the start of training camp.

The team’s practice facility reopened to players on a voluntary basis Monday as part of Phase 2 in the NHL’s return-to-play plan. No more than six players can be in the building at once and they cannot work with coaches. Phase 3, the start of formal training camps, will begin July 10.

The seventh-seeded Islanders will face the 10th-seeded Florida Panthers in a best-of-five qualifying series for a berth in the 16-team NHL playoffs.

Lamoriello said the NHL has not yet set a roster limit for training camps.

“There’s still a lot of details that have to be worked out,” he said. “If I had to make a guess, we’d probably have a roster of six lines, four sets of defense and as many goalies as we want, because they wouldn’t want to run into a situation they had in Toronto with not having a spare goalie.”

The Carolina Hurricanes were forced to use emergency backup goalie David Ayres, 42, in the second and third periods of a 6-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Feb. 22 after James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were injured.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186264 New York Rangers

Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup run receives NHL Network spotlight

By Colin Stephenson

Updated June 12, 2020 2:07 PM

The NHL Network will be celebrating the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup championship with a day of programming dedicated to the Blueshirts on Sunday. The day will begin with a rebroadcast of the club’s Game 7 overtime win over the Washington Capitals in 2015, and then airings of Games 6 and 7 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Final against the Devils, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. A rebroadcast of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against Vancouver will air at 11 p.m.

In between the Devils games and the Vancouver game, on the network’s “NHL Tonight’’ program, former Rangers left wing Adam Graves and ’94 coach Mike Keenan will sit down with the network’s Tony Luftman and former Rangers Ryan Callahan and Kevin Weekes to talk about the ’94 championship run. At 8 p.m., the network will show a documentary called “Road to Victory: The New York Rangers Story.’’

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186265 New York Rangers were ousted by Pittsburgh, which had knocked off the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers in the second round. After he left the Rangers, Keenan coached the Blues, Vancouver, Boston, Florida and Calgary.

As another Cup anniversary arrives, Mike Keenan reflects on his Then came somewhat more interesting twists – Keenan led Metallurg Rangers’ tenure Magnitogorsk to the in Russia in 2014, then coached the HC Kunlan Red Star in Beijing.

But in 2018, after being fired in China, Iron Mike faced a tougher By Rick Carpiniello Jun 12, 2020 opponent – prostate cancer.

“I’m good,” he said now, having spoken about his experience to help raise awareness. At Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital, he had the surgical Mike Keenan, the only Rangers head coach in the last 80 years to win procedure brachytherapy, in which a seed is implanted to fight off the the Stanley Cup, doesn’t harbor many regrets. cancer. He’s been given the medical all-clear since, and said “I feel But there is one … and there is fault that lands around his own feet. great.”

Keenan, now 70, regrets that he never had the opportunity to come back Fortunately, a regular blood test had shown a heightened PSA level, so and defend the 1994 championship. the cancer was caught early.

Blame lies in a lot of places, of course. Keenan terminated his contract a “You think you’re invincible,” Keenan added. “But I’d been having annual month and a day after that night 26 years ago this Sunday when he lifted checkups since the early ‘90s and I just did it really, maybe even before the Cup, just one year into a five-year deal. He terminated it, claiming a that, in the NHL when we had the training camp checkups for all the breach of that contract when the Rangers missed a $620,000 bonus players. So I would just have a checkup too. I’ve followed my own health payment by one day. since then.”

The breach was just the vehicle. Keenan’s relationship with Rangers GM Is it possible that Iron Mike was scared? Neil Smith was in tatters, the coach having pushed the GM to the brink, “I wasn’t really scared,” he said. “I was concerned, and it was a little bit of forcing him to make trades, though the end certainly met the means. a blow. I don’t think I was scared because I had a lot of confidence in the Keenan had been linked to “tampering” by Detroit and, it turned out, St. medical system and after talking to the doctors and discovering it early, Louis, as rumors more than swirled about him taking the Red Wings job and the prognosis they have me was encouraging. So I think that the during the Cup final. Further reports after the fact claimed that Keenan medical teams really guided me well through that process.” and Smith cooked up the separation scenario – Smith purposely holding the bonus check to give Keenan an out. As he explored the options with surgeons – one of whom wanted to remove the prostate entirely – Keenan found some whimsy. The doctors Ten days after the contract termination, NHL commissioner Gary all knew the Ontario native and NHL legend. Bettman, after an eight-hour meeting with the parties, fined Detroit and the Rangers $25,000 each, and fined St. Louis – which had in the interim “Another one, I went for radiation as an option, in Fort Lauderdale,” said hired Keenan — $250,000. Keenan was suspended for 60 days without Keenan, who resides in Key West. “The doctor said, ‘I know you.’ I said, pay, fined the maximum $100,000 and ordered to return four-fifths ‘How do you know me?’ He said, ‘I was at Game 7. I’m a New Yorker.’” ($400,000) of his signing bonus to the Rangers. Keenan felt like a New Yorker again a little over a year ago when the ’94 Bettman then OK’d a “compensation” trade between the Rangers, who Rangers reconvened at the Garden for the 25th reunion. His speech – a received Petr Nedved, and the Blues, who got Esa Tikkanen and Doug theme other coaches have used before and since – before Game 7 was Lidster. about winning a title, then walking “together forever.”

It was complicated and unseemly, but it had been fairly apparent that The reunion proved that. Smith and Keenan weren’t going to work together again after the ’93-94 season. “It was great because I could see that the bond that they shared was still in existence,” Keenan said. “It was still very vibrant – God bless his soul, “I’ll always be upset about that,” Keenan said when asked about not we lost (Alexander) Karpovtsev, and we’ve lost a couple of trainers – having another run with that team. Murph (Joe Murphy) and then Michael (Folga). But that was a really neat experience to go back and be in the context now as their friend rather He is writing a book with longtime Philadelphia and New York hockey than their coach. It was a very special experience for me to be able to be columnist Jay Greenberg, due out in the fall of 2021. There won’t be a connected to them on a different level.” shortage of stories. Keenan certainly appreciated those bonds when he received texts from “In the book, it’s going to give you all the details as what transpired, but former players, particularly Messier and Stephane Matteau, when he it’s very difficult to do your job at any level, but particularly in the NHL and went public with his cancer fight. particularly in New York City without that super support,” Keenan said. “One of the guys that was really, really instrumental and very supportive Russia and China – where he still helps in a consultation role, along with of me was Stanley Jaffe and unfortunately he was the president of the and , in preparation for the 2022 Olympics – team, and Paramount, which owned the team. But they sold the team to were different experiences from those he had ever seen, and vastly Viacom and they fired him. It made the landscape change completely.” different from one another.

Could the ’94-95 Rangers – during a lockout-shortened season – have “It was really a great adventure,” Keenan said. “I really enjoyed Russia. I made a run at back-to-back Cups? was in the heartland. I wasn’t in Moscow or St. Petersburg. I was in, for the older generation, the Dr. Zhivago area, in the Ural Mountains. First, I “Yeah, I probably had a chance,” Keenan said. “I thought we assembled had to learn to speak enough Russian to navigate myself on a daily a group that would have a chance to do it again, or at least have a good basis.” run at it because we now had the experience and nobody was really that old. I mean, Mess (Mark Messier) was one of the older guys, and Kevin He had assistant Mike Pelino (who was an assistant with the Rangers Lowe, but they weren’t that old. They were well-trained and fit. They were once) and a well-known, well-traveled former Soviet coach in Ilja experienced, but not too old that they couldn’t come back and give more. Vorobiev.

“Those guys (, , Adam Graves, Alexei Kovalev, “There were five imports of the 25 players on the team, and they were Sergei Zubov) were really young. That’s something unfortunately we’ll the only ones who could speak English,” Keenan said. “So Ilja would never know. But yeah, it’s still something that bothers me. I don’t dwell on translate for me. But when I asked him, ‘Why aren’t you translating?’ he it. But you look back on your career and some of the things that said, ‘I don’t need to. You know enough now to communicate with them transpired and that was one that was disappointing.” and they understand you.’ That was a great experience.

Keenan’s career – and life – have taken many turns, before and after the “It was a blue-collar city, a steel town like Gary, Indiana. A huge factory. June 17, 1994 parade in the Canyon of Heroes. Keenan coached both Everybody works hard. A real simple way of life. But very nice people. Philadelphia (twice) and Chicago to Cup finals – in 1992 the Blackhawks That was a great experience. Mike and I were the first (North American) coaches to win a championship in the KHL.

“There were nine different countries that I traveled to – the vastness of the league. I laugh now. Our road trip from New York to Vancouver is five hours. And it wasn’t unusual to go from Croatia to Vladivostok. It would take you 12 hours to fly.”

Like many of his NHL stops, Keenan’s time in China was brief and ended in his firing. But the journey was well worth it.

“China was a completely different experience,” Keenan said. “I lived there for two years – one was fundamentally in Beijing and one in Shanghai. The population – 25 million people in each of those cities. You go to cross the street and 500 people cross the street with you. The difference was in China most people could speak English because they instituted that at the government level 10 years ago. Everybody had to learn to speak English. So that was different. Mostly it was the volume of people walking down the sidewalk. Thousands of people. It was interesting and different, and it was an introduction to hockey for them, unlike Russia.”

For Keenan, as with all of us, life has been different lately. He remained in Key West through the pandemic (though he still has a place in Ontario). He was doing a podcast (The Iron Mike podcast) with well- known journalist Scotty Morrison for , though that was temporarily shut down when the pandemic hit. He’s working on his book and doing interviews for various outlets.

“You guys are bored calling me now,” Keenan laughed.

“It’s a big adjustment when you’re used to working 12-14 hours a day and then only a couple of hours a day. But I did some projects like everybody else, cleaning out the attic, and all that kind of stuff. But I’m running out of projects now.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020

1186266 Philadelphia Flyers Matthews had 47 goals (35 at even strength), 80 points, and a plus-19 rating while being accessed just eight penalty minutes. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon was a close second.

Flyers’ Alain Vigneault, Sean Couturier, Chuck Fletcher among those Norris Trophy (best defenseman): John Carlson, Washington. who deserve NHL awards | Sam Carchidi Carlson scored 15 goals and had a plus-12 rating, and he led defensemen in assists (60), points (75), and game-winning goals (6). He was on pace for 89 points, the most by a defenseman since Ray Bourque by Sam Carchidi, had 91 in 1993-94.

Nashville’s (65 points, plus-22) will challenge Carlson for the award. It has been an NHL season that has been bizarre to the nth degree. If Carlson wins it, it will sting Flyers fans because he could have been For the Flyers, it started with a win over Chicago in the Czech Republic, wearing orange and black. In 2008, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren and it was so long ago that it seems as if that game was played during desperately wanted a right-handed defenseman and he sent Washington the Obama administration. a first-round pick (27th overall) for Steve Eminger and a third-round pick It was a season that lasted five-plus months and then, assuming it that turned out to be goalie Jacob DeSerres, who never reached the resumes Aug. 1, went idle for nearly five months because of the NHL. coronavirus outbreak. The Capitals drafted Carlson with the pick they received from the Flyers. With all that time off, the games and accomplishments have started to Vezina Trophy (top goaltender): Tuukka Rask, Boston. fade. Before they do, here are my picks for the NHL’s major award winners for the regular season: Among goalies who played at least half their teams’ games, Rask led the NHL in save percentage (.929) and goals-against average (2.12). Jack Adams Award (coach of the year): Alain Vigneault, Flyers. Runners-up: Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (2.57 GAA, .922 save The Flyers were the NHL’s hottest team, had climbed to within one point percentage), who was outstanding even though the Jets lost a bulk of of first-place Washington in the , and seemed ready their best defensemen from last season and didn’t give their goalie a to pass the Capitals when the regular season was paused – and, good support system. eventually, declared finished. Many voters may opt for Hellebuyck because he played 17 more games No matter. Vigneault, in his first season as the Flyers’ coach, had already than Rask (58-41). done enough to win the award, though Columbus’ is a strong candidate. Selke Trophy (best defensive forward): Sean Couturier, Flyers.

The Flyers (41-21-7), who played 69 games, were on pace to finish with Couturier, who for years has been one of the league’s premier defensive 106 points in 82 games. That’s 24 more points than last year. forwards, excelled in the advanced stats at both ends of the ice, and his teammates thrived whenever they were put on his line. That caused It was the biggest improvement in the NHL. Vigneault to call him “Dr. Coots” because he cured an “ailing” teammate. Their 106-point pace would have been the Flyers’ second-highest total in The 27-year-old-old center finished with 59 points and a plus-21 rating, the last 33 seasons, topped only by their 107 points in 2002-03. and he led the NHL by winning 59.% of his faceoffs. Calder Trophy (top rookie): Cale Makar, Colorado. Boston’s Patrice Bergeron (56 points, plus-23), 34, a four-time Selke The puck-moving defenseman blossomed into the second-best player, winner, was our second choice. behind Nathan MacKinnon, on a team that is a strong Stanley Cup Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.13.2020 contender. Makar finished with 50 points (12 goals, 38 points) and a plus- 12 rating in 57 games.

From here, he should edge Vancouver defenseman (eight goals, 53 points, minus-10 in 68 games) for the award.

Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year: Chuck Fletcher, Flyers.

Fletcher, who figures to get strong competition from Colorado general manager Joe Sakic, did a masterful job turning around the Flyers.

Among his moves: acquiring center from Winnipeg and then signing him to a seven-year deal, and redoing the defense by trading for veterans and Justin Braun. Adding Tyler Pitlick was another deal that worked.

Oh, and perhaps his biggest additions: hiring Vigneault and assistants and Michel Therrien.

Fletcher also gets points for adding veteran centers Derek Grant and Nate Thompson at the trade deadline, and for re-signing Brian Elliott in the offseason.

Hart Trophy (MVP): Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton.

His numbers – a league-best (by far) 110 points and 43 goals -- were staggering and he steered the Oilers to a 17-point improvement if you prorate this season to 82 games.

It was a tough choice between Draisaitl and Boston’s David Pastrnak, who had 48 goals (tied for No. 1 in the NHL) for the league’s best overall team.

Lady Byng Trophy (best sportsmanship with high standard of play): Auston Matthews, Toronto. 1186267 Philadelphia Flyers right direction for the first time in nearly a decade — and that’s something worth recognizing. Let's hope it is by awarding him the Jack Adams.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020 No longer an underdog, Alain Vigneault is in good shape to win Jack Adams Award

By Brooke Destra

June 12, 2020 1:50 PM

The 2019-20 NHL season has been anything but ordinary. As the regular season has officially concluded, awards have become a major discussion point while fans, media and players await the start of training camp on July 10.

One of the more intense debates has been for who should win the Jack Adams Award. At the midway point of the season, there were a handful of coaches who had their names in the mix, but one remained up in the air — Flyers’ bench boss Alain Vigneault.

Friday morning, NHL.com released an update, tracking awards based off the 18 staff writers who cast their vote following the end of the regular season. While he might have been an underdog for the majority of his first year with the Flyers, it’s no secret now that Vigneault means business. For a while, it was something only fans knew, but as the Flyers continued to rise, and shut down all forms of doubt, it became more difficult to hide the talent of their head coach from national media and NHL fans.

He found a way to put the Flyers on the map and now everyone is taking notice.

Vigneault has continuously improved the Flyers from the start of the season and now has one of the most compelling cases to win the whole thing.

What has stood out the most is that he became more than a coach — he became a strong, well-respected leader to a team that desperately needed it behind the bench.

When it came to games, he was never afraid to be honest about the status of the Flyers — whether it be positive or negative. He never beat around the bush and made sure to address issues at hand, all while holding players accountable. It made for a strong team, mentally, and it showed. The team had become a unit, communication was key and it made heads turn every time the Flyers traveled to a different town — as they held a new identity compared to the one of last season. That’s all Vigneault.

There was never room for excuses either — not for poor or lazy losses (though those were rare this season to begin with), not for injuries, not for ridiculous travel schedules. Every game and shift mattered, collecting two points was crucial night in and out and if something wasn’t working? He tweaked things and made adjustments until it started clicking once more.

The label of mediocrity had disappeared. He knew it, players knew it and eventually, so did fans — even the ones who have been doubters for years. It was noticeable at the beginning of the season, but when it was apparent they weren’t cooling off, but rather heating up as the race to the playoffs began, things became clear as day.

Talk of the Flyers sneaking their way into the first round, hoping to claim a wildcard spot was no more. It transformed into a hunger to win the whole darn thing.

It’s funny, really — how long it took for others around the league to realize just how much Vigneault was transforming things in Philadelphia. Truth be told, he should have appeared on everyone’s radar before the season even started, thanks to the “Behind the Glass” series that aired on the NHL Network.

"There are no more excuses."

AV sets the tone in the season premiere of #BehindTheGlass, debuting tonight on @NHLNetwork at 8PM. pic.twitter.com/uvUpwUDQH3

— x-Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 25, 2019

There are many great coaches in the NHL this year, but their stories are not even comparable to the one of Vigneault. He pointed the Flyers in the 1186268 Philadelphia Flyers Which coach can find the best ways to motivate his team? Which coach will get his team to simplify its approach, stay focused on playing a smart game and its preferred style when the circumstances may lend to players trying to do too much or make the play? 2020 NHL playoffs: 5 questions on Flyers' chances in 24-team tournament Alain Vigneault's track record is a plus for the Flyers. He has gone to the Stanley Cup Final twice and has taken his teams past the first round eight times.

By Jordan Hall More importantly, though, in Year 1 with the Flyers, he has shown he knows the intricacies of refocusing his club following a loss. During the June 12, 2020 7:00 AM 19-6-1 spurt from Jan. 8, the Flyers never lost consecutive games.

Vigneault is big on film and system detail. An example came in mid- When the 2019-20 NHL campaign was suspended March 12 because of January when the Flyers laid an egg with a 4-1 loss at home to the the coronavirus outbreak, the Flyers were on pace to have their best Canadiens a day after beating the defending champion Blues in St. regular season in nine years. Per Hockey-Reference.com, the Flyers, Louis. Prior to the next morning skate, Vigneault had his team Watch with 13 games remaining, were projected to finish with 104 to 105 points, video from the victory over the Blues to remind it of the way in which it which would have been their most since 2010-11, when they had 106. wants to play; the Flyers then beat the Kings that night, 4-1, and dominated the Penguins the next game, 3-0, before their bye week. As the Flyers went 19-6-1 since Jan. 8, a stretch in which they were tied with the Bruins for the NHL's most points at 39, excitement had started 3. Will Hart make or break the Flyers' run? generating about the club's chances for a postseason run. The Flyers Many feel will be the Flyers' X-factor. While the 21-year-old missed the playoffs during a tumultuous 2018-19 season for the goalie can certainly carry the Flyers, he won't break their chances by not organization and have not won a series since 2011-12, so the buzz was being lights out. felt from fans about this team as it started gaining steam down the stretch. The Flyers can score some goals. They put up 3.29 per game, seventh most in the NHL, and scored a league-leading 3.59 since Jan. 1. If things continue to go as planned for the NHL, the Flyers will get a chance to finish what they started in this resurgent 2019-20 season. But As long as Hart is solid and gives them a chance (which he did most the outlook will undeniably be different for the Flyers compared to if the starts), the Flyers should be fine. Hart had to make 30 or more saves season had finished normally and the playoffs were held in traditional only seven times this season and when he allowed three goals or fewer, fashion. The Flyers, along with everyone else, have gone 90-plus days the Flyers went 23-7-3. without playing a game or having a competitive practice. 4. Who will be the Flyers' sixth defenseman? "I think the biggest challenge will be just getting everybody back in the mindset," Flyers head of strength and conditioning Chris Osmond said What became a good problem for Vigneault was deciding who would be last week on NBC Sports Philadelphia's Flyers Talk podcast. "Because the odd man out on defense. we were shut down so quick, we had two full months of basically just Depth on the back end at the NHL level is a luxury and the Flyers started offseason. Now, there's kind of a lead-up, but it's going to happen quick if to enjoy that down the stretch. The Flyers' sixth and final spot on the blue it happens. line will come down to Robert Hagg, Philippe Myers and Shayne "You get these small-group trainings in Phase 2, but it's all voluntary, so Gostisbehere. we may not get guys even here; they may skate elsewhere. Then you're After suffering a fractured patella in his right knee before the stoppage, going to go into that three-week or whatever it is training camp and then, Myers is healthy and will be a guy to watch. The 23-year-old will be bang, you're in the playoffs. It's not like you're going to play a lot of playing in his first Stanley Cup Playoffs. When Myers is confident and exhibition games and those types of things and kind of ease into the clicking, he stands out. At times, though, the rookie can press and be year; you're going straight into playoff hockey. hard on himself. "And it's going to be weird without fans. This is new for everybody. I'm It will be interesting to see how Myers and the Flyers fare in the round interested to see how that's going to look. It's going to be different, that's robin. It could dictate how Vigneault shapes his defensive pairs in the first for sure." round. Let's break down five big questions surrounding the Flyers' chances in Regardless, Myers and Gostisbehere aren't your typical sixth blueliners; the 24-team tournament: they have a chance to make a noticeable impact. 1. What kind of production from Hayes, JVR? 5. Could the Flyers see the return of Patrick? The importance of Kevin Hayes goes far beyond offensive statistics. His Everyone wants to see Nolan Patrick (migraine disorder) feeling back to disruptive size, puck-protection skills and penalty kill strengths have put himself and playing the game he loves. the Flyers in the driver's seat much more this season instead of letting the opposition take it to them. While this hiatus has allowed him more time in his recovery, he would still need to be cleared for contact practices when the Flyers open their But when Hayes is scoring, the Flyers go to another level. They were 19- training camp July 10. The 21-year-old center was trending in a positive 0-1 when the 6-foot-5 center scored a goal. direction but had not gotten to that point before the suspension. A similar theme rung true with as the Flyers went Say the 24-team tournament begins Aug. 1, it will be over 480 days since 22-5-0 during games in which he recorded a point. Patrick played an NHL game. It's hard to foresee the Flyers wanting to Both forwards were streaky scorers at times during the regular season. throw Patrick in there after that much time. When the streaks were good ones and those two were providing another The best-case scenario feels like Patrick would be cleared to play and wave of offense, the Flyers were awfully tough to beat. gets a round-robin game for a trial run of sorts. We'll have to wait and see If Hayes is coupling playmaking with his 200-foot game and van what his status is come training camp. Riemsdyk goes on one of his goal-scoring sprees, the Flyers will make a But the Flyers might go with what they had working before the pause and serious run. focus on next season with Patrick, which is not a bad course of action at 2. How important is the Vigneault factor? all for both sides.

Extremely important. The aspect of coaching will be one of the biggest Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020 difference-makers in this 24-team tournament.

With no fans in attendance and the unusual conditions following a lengthy layoff, a head coach could sway a series. 1186269 Pittsburgh Penguins season with expanded rosters. Specifically, Rutherford cited Varone’s NHL experience as a reason for a possible recall.

If that’s the case, he likely will be limited to a practices with the team. For Penguins A to Z: Phil Varone is definition of 4A player him to play an NHL game with the Penguins would require substantial injuries or absences among the forward ranks.

Beyond this season, Varone is hardly a priority for the organization, and Seth Rorabaugh he could very well move on to another organization on a one-year contract. Friday, June 12, 2020 4:05 p.m. In the meantime, Penguins management seems satisfied with him, at

least based on just six AHL games. He provides a legit top-six scoring While the NHL is on hold due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the option at the AHL level. Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all That’s what 4A players are supposed to do. 53 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason Zucker. Tribune Review LOADED: 06.13.2020 Player: Phil Varone

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

Age: 29

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 186 pounds

2019-20 AHL statistics: 33 games, 19 points (four goals, 15 assists)

Contract: One-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000. Pending unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason

Acquired: Trade, Feb. 20, 2020

This season: The term “4A player” isn’t an insult.

But it’s not exactly a compliment either.

Taken from baseball, where the top level of the minor leagues is Triple-A, it’s basically a way to describe a hockey player who can dominate at the American Hockey League level but do little of note in the NHL.

Phil Varone might be the perfect example.

A 2009 fifth-round pick (No. 147 overall) of the San Jose Sharks in 2009, Varone has been playing professionally since 2011. During that time, he has all of 97 games and 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) at the NHL level during sporadic call-ups with the Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers.

Yet, in the AHL, he has been a dominant player, as evidenced by the Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP he won in 2017-18 with the .

That’s the player the Montreal Canadiens were hoping they acquired for their AHL affiliate, the , when they signed Varone to a one- year contract in the summer of 2019. Instead, injuries and a dispute with management led to a premature ending of his time there.

After being sidelined for about 10 weeks because of a right wrist injury, Varone’s fortunes in Laval did not improve once he was healthy thanks to a dispute with coach Joel Bouchard, who benched Varone as well as forward Riley Barber, a Washington, Pa. native and another productive AHL player, on Feb. 16 when he felt they were not “engaged” in the team’s structure.

Four days later, Varone and Barber were traded to the Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins. They needed an offensive boost they could provide given the injuries to the NHL lineup which prompted recalls from the AHL roster.

Varone and Barber each settled into top-six roles with WBS. By the time the AHL season was halted in mid-March, Varone was centering the with Barber at right wing and AHL All-Star Sam Miletic at left wing. He also was a part of the power play.

In six games with WBS, Varone recorded five assists, including on Barber’s overtime goal in a 2-1 road win against Lehigh Valley on March 11 which ended up being its final game of the season.

(Video courtesy AHL)

The future: General manager Jim Rutherford identified Varone as a player the Penguins could recall for the completion of the NHL’s 2019-20 1186270 Pittsburgh Penguins The pandemic has presented the Penguins with a situation that is uniquely favorable. They’re not an old team, but their best players are aging. Circumstances have minimized that element. They always had talent and playoff experience. Now they have fresh legs. Their talent and Mark Madden: NHL’s return presents Penguins once-in-a-lifetime experience can be better maximized. opportunity It’s hard to imagine Crosby and Malkin not running amok. Each played well prior to the pause. Each will be adrenalized by what’s at stake. As three-time Stanley Cup winners, each will understand the singular Mark Madden chance being presented. Friday, June 12, 2020 1:40 p.m. Plenty more dissection will be done between now and games being played. But circumstances have put the Penguins on a par with any of the NHL’s teams. NHL training camp opens July 10. With players now permitted to work out in small groups at their team’s facilities, it’s unclear why another The question mark, despite his resume, is two-time Cup-winning goalie month’s wait is required. But with the logistics of the resumption still not Matt Murray. Not a weakness, but a question mark. finalized, it’s good just to have a date. Murray wasn’t awful in the regular season, but his save percentage of Perhaps that isn’t true in Montreal. .899 was a career low. But none of that matters now. Murray has the chops and track record, and this is his time of year. (Except last season While the Pittsburgh Penguins have more than half their roster skating at was Murray’s worst playoff to date.) Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, only two Canadiens are in Montreal. Working out in small groups is permitted, but two is the Tribune Review LOADED: 06.13.2020 smallest group possible. I bet each Canadien shot the puck at the other, and both missed. They did finish 15 points behind the Penguins, after all.

If the Canadiens’ preparation level indicates how invested the preliminary round’s lower seeds are in the resumption, maybe the NHL chose to include too many teams. (The Canadiens are the Penguins’ prelim-round foe.)

The NHL’s resumption amounts to a golden opportunity for the Penguins.

The playoffs start right after training camp, an NHL first. is 32. Evgeni Malkin and are 33. They get an opportunity to begin the postseason as fresh as possible. That applies to the other teams, too. But those teams don’t have talent like Crosby, Malkin and Letang. (The Canadiens certainly don’t.)

Other teams get players back from injury. But few are as impactful as Jake Guentzel.

The Penguins have outstanding depth. We didn’t see that much during the regular season because of an onerous injury list. But we get to see that now.

The third line likely will be Jared McCann centering Patrick Marleau and Patric Hornqvist. The fourth line will be Teddy Blueger between Zach Aston-Reese and Brandon Tanev. Those are basically co-third lines and will be used accordingly.

Right-handed defensemen are at a premium. The Penguins’ top three right-handed defensemen all can skate and move the puck: Letang, John Marino and . Marino has been a godsend, a brilliant acquisition with a bright present and future.

The question remains: How will the top two lines be put together?

Except it’s not a question. Crosby will center Guentzel and Conor Sheary. Malkin will center Jason Zucker and Bryan Rust. That’s non- negotiable, at least to start.

Guentzel played well on Malkin’s line when Crosby was hurt. (Maybe Guentzel just plays well with anybody.) Zucker did fine on Crosby’s line.

But Guentzel and Sheary with Crosby is written in stone, at least initially. That’s who Crosby feels comfortable with. Malkin isn’t as picky with linemates, and it’s not like he’s getting short shrift centering Zucker and Rust.

True, Zucker and Malkin never have played together. But does that matter when there’s more than four months between games?

Marleau and Hornqvist aren’t top-six forwards, except in a pinch. Marleau is 40, and while he benefits from the pause, he was only average since joining the Penguins via trade. Hornqvist’s main chance to produce will be on the power play. Both are still valuable components. Good bottom- six forwards are integral in the playoffs.

One big adjustment: Sheary should go back to pronouncing his name Sheer-y and not Share-y. Share-y may be correct. But he played better when he was Sheer-y. 1186271 Pittsburgh Penguins They’ve elevated everyone else around them. That’s the mini core. Maybe that’s what we should call it — a mini dynasty, because it’s a mini core. And they’ve done a great job to surround that mini core and pluck in all the right parts.” Joe Starkey: Penguins still have a dynasty in their sights It hasn’t been so amazing lately. Especially not last spring, when the Penguins went down with barely a whimper. But that seems like a million years ago, or at least long enough to make one forget a historically JOE STARKEY important fact. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette These Penguins are still chasing a dynasty. JUN 12, 2020 6:00 AM Post Gazette LOADED: 06.13.2020

You’re forgiven if three months of relative quarantine combined with two years of disappointing playoff results — including a first-round sweep at the hands of the New York Islanders — made you forget a historically important fact regarding the Penguins.

They’re still chasing a dynasty.

I believe a dynasty remains possible, anyway, because I believe three Stanley Cups in five years — including a back-to-back set — would qualify. It’s not quite the ‘70s Steelers (although four in six sure would be), but it meets a reasonable criterion.

Were the Tim Duncan-led San Antonio Spurs a dynasty in the 2000s, when they won three titles in five years (and four in nine)?

They were in my book, and they didn’t even win a back-to-back set.

What, precisely, defines a dynasty? Three or more championships in a row, for sure. Three in four years, yes. Four in six, definitely.

Beyond that, it gets tricky.

I called an expert witness, one Bryan Trottier, to help answer the question. He won four Cups in a row with the 1980s New York Islanders (and two more with the early ‘90s Penguins).

Those ‘80s Islanders didn’t leave any room for interpretation. They ruined people. They faced elimination exactly once while winning 16 consecutive series. The Penguins pushed them to a fifth-and-deciding game in 1982, which also happens to be the last time the Penguins participated in a best-of-5 series like the one they’ll play against the Montreal Canadiens if this season resumes.

As Trottier well knows, the most recent team to win as many as three Cups in five years was the late-’80s Edmonton Oilers, who won four in five and five in seven. They began their title run by dismantling the Islanders in 1984, a year after the Islanders dismantled them.

So how about these Penguins, if they win it all in this very strange season?

Should we call them a dynasty?

“For me, yes,” Trottier said. “They have a core group that would have participated in all three, and that, to me, qualifies as a dynasty. I mean, I’d certainly give it every consideration, especially with free agency the way it is, and the salary cap — two big challenges teams have nowadays.

“I think that just makes it really, really tough.”

Listen, I wouldn’t call three in five a classic dynasty. Neither would Trottier. It wouldn’t be Yankees-Canadiens-Steelers-Islanders territory from the days of yore. It wouldn’t be Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

But it would beat the Chicago Blackhawks of recent vintage. They won three Cups in six years. That doesn’t cut it. The extra year hurts, as does the lack of a back-to-back.

And speaking of “core players,” it is somewhat remarkable, in these times, that the Penguins are likely to open the playoffs with eight of the 18 skaters, plus the same goaltender, who took the ice for the Cup clincher in San Jose in 2016 (we're counting Conor Sheary, who left and came back).

It doesn’t match the ‘80s Islanders, who kept 15 players for all four Cups. But it’s still impressive in an era when teams have nearly as much stability as real ones.

“The amazing aspect of it, with the Penguins, is the consistency down the middle with Geno and Sid,” Trottier said. “I have to give them full marks. 1186272 San Jose Sharks “Do I feel pressure being the first?” he asked. “I feel a lot of gratitude that there has been a number of people who opened the doors to put me in this position.”

San Jose roots run deep for NHL’s first Latino chief executive Gutierrez said he wants to use the platform to create opportunities for other minorities. He added that he feels a responsibility and obligation “to expand who sits at the tables of decision making and what the face of these franchises and of these fans look like.” By ELLIOTT ALMOND | [email protected] Gutierrez also is not afraid to say he grew up as a soccer fan without a Bay Area News Group deep background in hockey. He left for Harvard just as the Sharks came PUBLISHED: June 12, 2020 at 11:28 a.m. | UPDATED: June 12, 2020 at to San Jose in 1991. The first time Gutierrez said he saw a hockey game 5:44 p.m. was ‘91 when Harvard played Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Since then, Gutierrez said he has seen San Jose transform into a hockey town. He said many of his Eastside friends are devotees. The siblings have not forgotten what their mother, Lucia Velez, used to chant at their Eastside San Jose home. “It’s a fan base that looks different from a normal hockey fan base,” Gutierrez said of the South Bay. “Coming into a place like Phoenix, I see Duro duro a los libros — hit the books hard. that as possible here. I’m excited about being part of the vanguard of that.” Xavier Gutierrez, Lucia’s oldest child, took those words to heart as a student at Bellarmine College Prep, and later at and Gutierrez said his journey to pucks and ice rinks began when emigrating when earning a law degree at Stanford. to the United States from Guadalajara, Mexico, in time to start kindergarten in about 1980. Sometime during his first-grade school year, Gutierrez, who became the first Latino president and chief executive of a Gutierrez said his family moved from Los Angeles to San Jose, where his National Hockey League team on June 8, has followed the guiding father grew up. principles of his parents to break barriers in what he proudly describes as a symbol of the American Dream. Guiterrez says Bellarmine College Prep helped shaped him as a man who wanted not only to succeed but to serve his Latino community. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic and we’re in the middle of Gutierrez, center, poses with father David Velez, right, and mother Lucia conversations around diversity and inclusion,” he said two days after Velez,. (Courtesy of the Velez family) owner Alex Meruelo hired him. Gutierrez said he started with classes in English as a Second Language “And all of sudden Alex, a Cuban-American hires a Mexican-American in the Evergreen School District. By the time Gutierrez reached Quimby CEO in a sport that is not diverse in people’s minds. Yet this is where Oaks Middle School teachers told his parents their son had potential, he change happens.” said. After two decades as a business executive and investor specializing in The encouragement led to enrollment at Bellarmine, an elite South Bay corporate strategy and finance, Gutierrez takes over a troubled NHL Jesuit school. Gutierrez said he got financial assistance as part of a team that Forbes ranked as the least valuable of the league’s 31 work-study program. franchises at $300 million. By comparison, Forbes ranked the Sharks 16th at $54o million. “The Jesuits were kind to me and my family,” Gutierrez said. “They constantly said that I belonged there. This entire journey really couldn’t Yet, Gutierrez sounded giddy thinking about how a kid from East San happen without a lot of those door openers. People who believed in me.” Jose, who played football and soccer at Bellarmine, is in the center of transforming a professional hockey team in the Sonoran Desert. Gutierrez and his two sisters and brother also excelled in sports. Gutierrez played football, soccer and ran the 400 meters in track for the Billionaire Meruelo bought the Coyotes a year ago for $300 million with Bells. the idea of injecting new energy into a lackluster team and fanbase. In 1990, Gutierrez was a starting cornerback on coach Mike Janda’s only Gutierrez was recruited from his role as managing director of Clearlake undefeated Bellarmine team. Janda, who retired this year after 36 Capital, a Santa Monica-based private equity group that invests in seasons, described Gutierrez as a “guy we counted on. He was always communications, healthcare and industrial companies. He also there for the team.” previously worked as a chief investment officer of Meruelo Group, run by the Coyotes’ owner. Bellarmine president Chris Meyercord said he did not know Gutierrez when they attended the school because they are four years apart. But he Gutierrez, 46, does not have much time to get wife Jericca and 11-year- said they have become close since Gutierrez joined Bellarmine’s board old son Xavi settled into the desert. of regents. The business executive has returned to campus to speak to Xavier Gutierrez, right, says his hobby is his family when he is not students for the past five years. working. Wife Jerrica Guiterrez, left, and son Xavi Gutierrez, 11, pose “He has stayed connected to his roots,” Meyercord said. “He has a deep with father at the Arizona Coyotes arena in June 2020. desire to speak to students, particularly to our Latino students and low- Not with an arena issue needing to be resolved before laying the income students.” foundation for his broader vision of revitalizing the team. The Coyotes The stories of those students resonate with Gutierrez because, he said, have played at an arena on a yearly lease since the city of Glendale, he sees himself in their reflections. Arizona, voted to terminate a long-term deal in 2015. His father David Velez worked at the General Motors Fremont Assembly Gutierrez said he also wants to expand the Coyotes’ fan base into plant that built millions of cars and in 2010 was bought by Tesla Motors. Phoenix’s Latino community and beyond. Velez then worked at the FMC Corp. facility in San Jose where the He joined the team a month before NHL training camps could resume company manufactured the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Gutierrez said. July 10 to prepare for the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs. The league Mother Lucia Velez ran the migrant education program at the Evergreen suspended play March 12 because of the global health crisis caused by School District. the novel coronavirus. “We played sports, but really it was always about school,” brother Jaime The league and its players union agreed on a 24-team playoff for Velez said. “My brother opened the door for the rest of us.” sometime at the end of July or early August if government officials grant approval to move forward with games without spectators. Velez, a goalkeeper for the Bellarmine soccer team, became a top rower at Dartmouth. He now is director of the Los Gatos Rowing Club. The perpetually bad Coyotes are among the 24 playoff teams based on the standings when league officials temporarily shut down play. Sisters Analucia Gutierrez Silva and Lyda Velez Scrogings were top players on the great Presentation High School soccer teams that Gutierrez said he welcomes the role of being the NHL’s first Latino chief executive. included Olympians Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner. Silva earned a scholarship at Georgetown.

Jaime Velez said he and his sisters continue to admire their older brother. But through all the aspirations, Velez said his brother has never changed, that he still keeps the same friends from junior high school.

“In my eyes, he’s still the same person I shared a room with growing up,” Velez said.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186273 San Jose Sharks good team . . . I mean end of hockey seasons are never fun. It ends, it’s like you hit a brick wall.”

In the next few days, there will be time to put perspective on this best On this date, 2016: Sharks’ Stanley Cup dream ruined by Penguins Sharks playoff run ever. But on Sunday night, there was too much of that brick wall to contemplate. The San Jose Sharks bemoan missed chances as they watch Pittsburgh win Stanley Cup title at SAP Center Anyone who watched all six games of the series could see why it turned out the way it did. The hard and heavy game that the Sharks played to win the Western Conference against similar hard and heavy teams did not translate well when faced against the jitterbug fast skaters of the By MARK PURDY Penguins. Bay Area News Group The Sharks outhit Pittsburgh, 46-26, in Sunday’s game. So what? The PUBLISHED: June 12, 2020 at 5:00 a.m. | UPDATED: June 12, 2020 at Penguins got to the puck quicker, played with it longer, threw the Sharks 5:11 a.m. off their game of forechecking and cycling and grinding to wear down teams and create space. The Penguins kept up the pressure in all zones (This story was originally published on June 12, 2016) that way.

“It’s not just their speed,” said Sharks coach Pete DeBoer. “They have good sticks, too. They force you into quicker decisions. They really SAN JOSE — One day, maybe it will be the Sharks carrying the Stanley challenge your execution. We hadn’t seen pressure and sticks like that Cup across the ice and kissing it the way that a lost lover kisses a lost through the first three rounds. I think our execution was an issue because love. of that.” Sunday, that team was the Pittsburgh Penguins. Could the Sharks have figured out a way to counteract that execution? One day, maybe the Sharks will have their greatest season ever the way They did, in short spurts. But as happened throughout the six games, they did this season, but have a happy ending. they could not bury their rare Grade A chances on Sunday. Matt Nieto had a breakaway and didn’t score. Brett Burns had a straight-up look at Sunday, the ending meant a losing handshake line after a 3-1 defeat in Murray and shot it wide. Joel Ward had his own breakaway and had the Game 6, then gliding to the exit tunnel hearing loud cheers from the SAP puck stripped from behind. Center crowd who saluted the players for going farther than anyone had a right to expect. You never know if you’ll get this kind of playoff run again, with a goalie playing as lights-out as Martin Jones did, so every one of those missed One day, maybe Sharks captain Joe Pavelski will score the winning goal opportunities will linger. For example, Pavelski was also thinking about a in a Cup clinching game. third period sequence where he wound up with the puck right on the goal Sunday, he did not have a shot on net. doorstep with his back to the net–but instead of shooting, pivoted and tossed the puck toward Joe Thornton on the opposite side of the crease. “At the end of the day, we wanted to give them more,” Pavelski said in the quiet Sharks dressing room, talking about the fan reaction even in When that happened, the crowd audibly gasped because almost always, defeat. it’s the reverse–Thornton will pass up a shot to pass to Pavelski. This was such crazy and awful irony. The Sharks gave their followers plenty of brilliant moments over the past two months. But the last two weeks, those brilliant moments were too far Pavelski explained that as he turned, he saw a Pittsburgh player move apart and too few, thanks to the Penguins. out and create an open lane directly to Thornton. But as happened so often through the series, a Penguins stick got in the way of Thornton And in case you are wondering how it feels to see hockey’s largest and shiniest trophy presented to the opposing team on your home rink, to see “It’s funny how sometimes you just can’t realize what you see,” said those opponents toss their sticks and helmets in the air and celebrate . . . Pavelski. “I haven’t looked at it yet on the video.” well, it feels exactly the way you’d think it would feel. The Sharks were also hurt by the way penalties were called–or not It stinks. called–during the Final. Officials let a lot of stuff go that was called during the regular season, on both sides. But with the Sharks holding the better “When you think of getting to this opportunity when you’re a kid, you power play statistically, their lack of extra-man opportunities was more never plan on losing when you get here,” said Sharks alternate captain damaging. And the Penguins’ penalty kill was very good. Logan Couture. “You dream of winning. It definitely hurts. It’s not fun.” Still, the Pittsburgh side was respectful in victory. “To be right there and be that close . . .,” Pavelski said, letting the sentence dangle. “At the end of the day, it’s tough. It just ends. We’ve “The San Jose Sharks are a great team,” said Pittsburgh coach Mike been playing and traveling and playing every other day for a long time. It Sullivan. “We have so much respect for how good they are. It’s hard to seems like you should keep playing.” win this.”

For a little while Sunday night, it appeared the beloved Los Tiburones Just ask the players in the home dressing room how hard. might indeed send the series back to Pittsburgh for a Game 7 on There were so many highlight plays over the past two months and so Wednesday. Although the Penguins took an early 1-0 lead, the Sharks many unprecedented Shark moments to celebrate. So do the players came out in the second period and played as good a 20 minutes as they remember those or only the way that the party ended? had all series. They finally got some extended time in their offensive zone and fired 13 shots at Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray. “You remember a little bit of both,” Pavelski said. “But the missed chances stick out when you don’t get the results you want.” So when Couture slipped a puck past Murray to tie the score at 1-1 with 13:33 left in the period, bringing the noise level inside the Tank to “I tried as hard as I could,” Couture said. “I want to win. Unless you win, maximum volume, it seemed to be the start of something excellent. you can’t sit back and say it’s been a great season. People are going to doubt you until you win it all. That’s the way that this business with Instead, just 79 seconds later, Pittsburgh scored again. Sidney Crosby professional sports works, unfortunately. Twenty nine teams lose every skated behind the net and fed teammate Kris Letang to put the Penguins year, only one wins. Until you win there’s always going to be people that back ahead, 2-1. And although the Sharks kept getting chances, they doubt. That’s the way the world works.” could not convert. Then, in the third period, Pittsburgh swallowed up the Sharks offense entirely, allowing only two shots–by Couture and Joonas Then he paused. Donskoi. “Summer starts tomorrow, right?” Couture said. “I don’t know if we generated enough offensively,” Couture said. “We Summer stinks. didn’t shoot the puck enough. It felt like they were quicker than us. We looked tired. We looked slower. But, that might be their speed. They’re a San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186274 St Louis Blues Dunn will be due a hefty raise from the $722,500 he earned this season at the end of his entry-level deal. That fact, and the Blues’ cap reality, has made him the subject of some league-wide speculation.

Blues gladly wait for delayed NHL Draft to realign roster Other teams will surely inquire about his rights.

Prospect Niko Mikkola has a “one-way” contract next season that will pay him his NHL salary even if he is in the minors. Like Dunn he is a left Jeff Gordon defenseman and he is ready to graduate.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top defensive prospect Scott Perunovich, who signed after his college season, is also widely viewed as NHL-ready. He, too, is a left

defenseman with terrific offensive skills. The MLB draft earned extra attention this week with the sports industry Jake Walman broke through in his third AHL season and also played his still largely shut down. first regular season Blues game. He can become a restricted free agent The NFL draft got even larger play than normal while filling some of the and he is doubtlessly eager to get a “one-way” contract and more NHL sports programming vacuum in April. Noting this, the NHL considered opportunity. holding its draft during its competitive lull later this month. And, yes, he plays on the left side as well. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong should be glad commissioner Up front, this team has 14 forwards under contract for next season plus Gary Bettman thought better of that idea. Kostin, who got his first NHL look this season. He offers one more Team executives pushed back against this publicity play because it reminder than when all the Blues forwards are healthy, good players would have handcuffed them. With 24 teams waiting to stage expanded have to sit. playoffs, the league would not have allowed those teams to trade players Potential star Robert Thomas will need to get more ice time next season. from their roster before or during the draft. Jordan Kyrou will need a regular sport in the lineup, here or elsewhere. Draft picks can grease the gears of deal-making. This is how GMs make Alexander Steen and Tyler Bozak will enter the last years of contracts needed roster adjustments ahead of the free agency period. that pay them a combined $11.1 million. That has the full attention of As Blues fans know all too well, Armstrong will have some adjustments to amateur GMs following the Blues. So does Jaden Schwartz’s free make once the playoffs end. agency after next season.

He must clear salary cap space if he hopes to re-sign captain Alex Allen has one year left on his contract, No. 3 goaltender Ville Husso Pietrangelo, an unrestricted free agent committed to testing the market. moves to a “one-way” contract next season and Jordan Binnington is a Armstrong may also want to address some redundancies forming on his year away from a bigger payday. roster while adding a draft pick or two to restock the system. Add it all up and you can see that rival GMs will know what questions to Armstrong has done some of his best work in the draft setting. At the ask Armstrong when the trade mart opens. And fortunately for 2017 event, he made two brilliant moves that helped fortify a Stanley Cup Armstrong, that will happen later this summer after the playoffs and champion. before the NHL Draft.

He sent the Ghost of Jori Lehtera and two first-round picks to the St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.13.2020 Philadelphia Flyers for cornerstone forward . To add a critical piece like Schenn while offloading Lehtera’s burdensome contract . . . well, it doesn’t get better than that, even at the expense of No. 1 picks.

(Or it doesn’t get worse than that, if you’re on the wrong side of the deal. Flyers general manager Ron Hextall made that deal and it’s one big reason why get later got fired.)

Armstrong also sent valued hit man Ryan Reaves and a second-round pick to Pittsburgh for forward Oskar Sundqvist and a first-round pick. He made that move to draft power forward prospect Klim Kostin.

Those trades were masterstrokes. Schenn and Sundqvist became catalysts in the ’19 Cup run and the rugged Kostin is on the cusp of the NHL after enjoying a breakthrough season in the AHL in 2019-20.

At the 2016 draft, Armstrong traded goaltender Brian Elliott to Calgary for two draft picks and anointed Jake Allen as the starter in net. Elliott had grown weary of his time-share arrangement and Armstrong was ready to invest in Allen that summer.

Armstrong also traded up into the first round to draft forward Tage Thompson, whom he later swapped to Buffalo in the epic Ryan O’Reilly trade.

While the O’Reilly trade didn’t happen at the 2018 draft, Armstrong laid the groundwork for the deal while the teams were assembled in Dallas and he finally got Buffalo to say “yes” a short time later.

And we all know how well that turned out for the Blues.

At the ’18 draft, Armstrong traded up to get forward prospect Domink Bokk. A year later, he packaged Bokk with Joel Edmondson to land defenseman Justin Faulk in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.

What will he want to do this time around?

The Blues have five veteran defensemen under contract for next season, not counting Pietrangelo or restricted free agent Vince Dunn. 1186275 St Louis Blues

With start of camp set, the planning begins for Blues training camp

Tom Timmerman

3 hrs ago

Amid all that is going on now, when it comes to hockey, sometimes you hear things that may never have been said by hockey people before.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong was reflecting on Friday about his team’s upcoming training camp, which is weird enough to say in mid- June when camp is usually three months away rather than four weeks. Just because no one will be competing for a roster spot — everyone who is there will be there for the long haul and there aren’t any minor leagues to send anybody to anyway — that doesn’t mean there won’t be things going on and decisions made.

“There’s going to be new wrinkles,” Armstrong said. “(Vladimir) Tarasenko is back into the group. That alters the lines. I think because you ended on a certain line in March does not mean you’ll start there in August. It’s more of a training camp situation. Getting the chemistry, the feel. What’s in your mind has to translate on to ice.”

The concept of what lines look like in August has in the past been a theoretical exercise for fans looking to fill time in the offseason. At least for this year, hockey lines in August are a real thing.

The NHL and the NHL Players Association announced Thursday that teams will move to Phase 3 of the return-to-play protocol, the opening of training camps, on July 10, assuming it’s safe to do so. That will put, assuming a three-week camp, which the players have expressed a presence for, a season that starts around Aug. 1, assuming that health conditions permit and that the league and the players association can hash out the voluminous details that go along with actually getting back on the ice.

The setting of that date for the start of Phase 3 means the Blues can get a better feel for Phase 2, which began for the league on Monday. Many teams, including the Blues, which have a limited number of players in town, haven’t begun the individual, voluntary workouts that Phase 2 permit — no more than six players on the ice at one, with no members of the coaching staff present — choosing to let players continue to work out wherever they are. The Blues have now set Monday, June 22, as the day when they will open the doors at Centene Community Ice Center (for players only; the sessions are closed to the public and media) to begin training locally.

“When we have a date for the next phase, you get a little more focused,” Armstrong said. “This reminds me a lot of August. The 22nd is the date we talked to the players about before. We have to make sure we get tests done and have checked all the boxes.”

In a normal offseason, the first players would usually show up at the Blues’ practice facility three or four weeks in advance of camp for skating and non-contact shinny games. With a July 10 start to camp, NHL players will have gone just shy of four months without any on-ice work, about as long as a team goes when it loses in an early playoff round.

With the starting date set, Armstrong has begun having conference calls with players so they understand the protocols already in place for things like traveling back to St. Louis and what they’ll have to do when they get here.

“The ball is starting to roll,” he said. “The ice is in place, our locker room is still our locker room. Once we get the go-ahead, we’re ready to go.”

The two busiest people over the next few weeks figure to be head trainer Ray Barile and equipment manager Joel Farnsworth, who with their staffs figure to be overseeing the complexities of the restart and the health protocols.

“They’re going to be working feverishly,” Armstrong said.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186276 St Louis Blues

Blues looking at June 22 for getting players back on ice locally

Tom Timmermann

15 hrs ago

On the one-year anniversary of the Blues winning the Stanley Cup, general manager Doug Armstrong was planning Friday for a training camp.

The announcement by the NHL and the NHL Players Association on Thursday that training camps for the resumption of the season would begin on July 10 has finally provided a guideline for the work that has to be done to get things ready for the Blues' run at repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

"Now that we have a time frame, I'm having conference calls with players so they understand the protocol as far as testing and physicals and when building is open. We're going through the rules and regulations from the NHL and players association. The ball is starting to roll.

"Now that we have a date for the next phase, you get a little more focused. This reminds me a lot of August."

August is when players start returning to St. Louis from out of town and start having informal practices and shinny games at the practice facility. There's no shinny in the near future, but there will be skating.

While the league began Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol on Monday, the Blues have yet to have voluntary individual workouts at Centene Community Ice Center. Armstrong said that with a date for camp now set, players will begin skating at Centene on Monday, June 22.

"That's a date we'd talked to players about prior," he said. "We have to make sure we get tests done and we've checked all the boxes."

Still undetermined is how many AHL players the Blues will be bringing in to supplement their roster for the postseason. Roster size is among the issues that still has to be sorted out, but with no minor league to keep players in shape, NHL teams will need additional players on hand in case of injuries.

With the added numbers -- probably around 30 players on the ice -- that will give the sessions more of a training camp feel than that of a regular practice. The one difference will be no one is playing for a roster spot.

"Still, there's going to be new wrinkles," Armstrong said. "Tarasenko is back into the group, that alters the lines. I think just because you ended on a certain line in March it doesn't mean you start there in August. [This is a sentence possibly never uttered before in the context of the NHL.] It's more of a training camp situation. You're working on chemistry, feel, being consistent, getting what you have in your mind to translate on to ice."

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186277 St Louis Blues Berube: I really don’t prepare for those very often. They just come to me, you know, and I have a feeling for a team. That’s a big thing, just having a good feeling for your team, where they’re at and what they need. Like I said, I thought our team was pretty prepared by then. I mentioned that a We Went Blues: Craig Berube on the Cup, Vladimir Tarasenko and lot to them over the course of the season, that we’re a real good hockey training camp team, and I just wanted to encourage them and re-encourage them all the time, that we’re a good team and we’re here for a reason. We’ve

played great hockey up to this point and we have a real good opportunity By Jeremy Rutherford to win a Cup here tonight, and I just wanted to let them know that I was very confident that we were going to win. Jun 12, 2020 (The speech) is brought up quite a bit (by fans). I like keeping stuff like that in the room, but I get it. I get that the whole playoffs are mic’d up and stuff is used. It’s important, and the fans do like it. But more than With the NHL moving to Phase 2 on Monday and announcing that Phase anything in St. Louis, the fans just want to thank, not only myself, but the 3 (training camp) will begin on July 10, we thought it would be a good players and the organization for helping bring them a Stanley Cup to St. time to get Blues coach Craig Berube on our “We Went Blues” podcast. Louis. They’re just really happy about that. Berube was making the 14-hour drive from Philadelphia to St. Louis on Thursday, so he had plenty of time to talk. On whether he has re-watched Game 7, and if there was anything he didn’t remember We discussed, among other things, the one-year anniversary of the Blues winning the Stanley Cup, Vladimir Tarasenko’s health and training Berube: I’ve only watched it once, and that was during (the NHL pause), camp plans. when they played it. The one thing that stands out to me: I get in the first period Boston came out hard, we took a penalty and they have a good Here are excerpts of Episode 51, which you can download wherever you power play. They had some opportunities to score on that power play get your podcasts or listen to below. and (Jordan Binnington) made some great saves, which is obviously the Editor’s note: This conversation has been edited for clarity and length. key to winning. But really, the game overall, there just wasn’t a lot going on for me. There was no time; if you got a puck, someone was on you, On finally making the drive to St. Louis to get ready for the return of the and there just wasn’t a lot of plays. I thought it was a tightly played NHL season hockey game. We capitalized on a couple of our opportunities early on in Berube: I think most hockey people, fans included, have been waiting the game, and that was the difference. around hoping something would start up. It looks like it’s headed in the On what the final seconds of Game 7 and clinching the Stanley Cup felt right direction, so it’s getting back there, getting organized and getting like our players back together here and get on the ice. Berube: For me, I think it was more of a relief — it’s over, we won — and On what he looks like in the car cruising down the highway listening to then it hit me a little bit after, how great of a feeling it is. But at the time, I music think you’re just on the bench with your trainers and coaches, enjoying it, Berube: I actually mix up (the music) quite a bit. I listen to a lot of rock ‘n’ hugging each other. I’m watching the players enjoying the Cup and roll and a lot of country on XM, but I mix it up pretty good. (It’s) a long celebrating with each other out there. And the one thing for me more than drive, so I try to listen to different stuff on the way. I haven’t had a haircut anything is I was very, very happy for our players because those are the in a long time, so I’ve got lots of hair right now, which is unusual, but I guys that have got to go through it all, go through the wall, battle, couldn’t get a haircut, so … compete … They’re banged up, injured … they do anything to try to win, and they put it all on the line, and they won. You’re happy for them. On what he was doing one year ago, when the Blues were preparing for Game 7 On how you re-created that Stanley Cup chemistry in 2019-20

Berube: We went out to dinner. The whole time in Boston, we chose the Berube: I think it started in the summertime. Our coaching staff, we sent same restaurant. It was an Italian place in northern Boston. Good spot. a letter out to every player, just about, “What we accomplished, we have We met the owner, real nice guy. Our whole coaching staff and general to leave in the past, and we’ve got to move forward. We have a job to do manager, we always went out to dinner. We treated it like a normal night, and it’s going to be a tough road ahead of us.” There was a number of even though it’s not normal, we all know that … Game 7. It’s the same as things that we put in the letter to refocus our players. We talked about the day of the game. You’re really trying to treat it as normal as possible. competing again and getting to a certain level again, where we play like a Stanley Cup champion. That’s really what it boils down to, and that starts On the players staying up until 10:30 or 11 o’clock drinking beer and wine at camp. Our players did a great job of coming into camp in great shape, and eating ice cream the night before Game 7 and that’s where it all starts for me. When you’re working hard in the summertime and staying in shape, even after winning a Cup, your team Berube: I knew that. Those guys would always go up in that (hotel) suite is pretty prepared. That’s good leadership. and hang out, which I think was great. They were really a tight group and still are. After dinner, they always get together at night and hang out in I thought the guys looked really good and they were hungry to try to do it that suite. That’s smart what they did. Like you can’t go to your room and again. But at the same time, they know it’s a long road, and you’ve got to worry and think about things too much because you’re not going to play take baby steps in getting there. There were a lot of things that went on very well. We did that in Game 6; I know that for a fact. I think Game 6, at the beginning of this season with ring ceremonies, going to the Hockey with everything that was going on at home in St. Louis, all the fans being Hall of Fame, a lot of things that are distractions. I thought that our team there at the rink, it was chaos. I think there was a lot of pressure on our and our organization handled that pretty well and got through that first team and we didn’t perform very well because of it, and we ended up month and a half of things, then we just played hockey for about two or losing that game in the first period. three months and we were really good. But again, it boils down to real good leadership and a team that wants to try to get there to win again. To me, I thought that our team in the morning skate (before Game 7), we looked good, sharp, relaxed, and I had a good feeling about everything. On how the Blues handled players during the pause In Game 6, I didn’t find that we had that same feeling; we were nervous and rightly so. We were in a position that we hadn’t been in before. You Berube: Our strength coach was in contact week to week, sending out hate saying it, but when you lose Game 6 like that, it probably helped us workouts that they could do at home. (Blues GM) Doug Armstrong is in Game 7 quite a bit, to take more of a relaxed approach and just go out reaching out to players constantly, and the coaching staff, not just me, and play. they reach out to players through text messages and talking. But it’s not overbearing; we don’t want to bombard them. But at the same time, we STANLEY CUP ANNIVERSARY: BLUES PLAYERS SHARE UNTOLD want to make sure that they’re doing well and they’re healthy and in a STORIES FROM GAME 7 & BEYOND. #STLBLUES good spot. We don’t overthink it, but at the same time we want to make HTTPS://T.CO/BW97HCOYJB sure we’re on top of things.

— JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) JUNE 12, 2020 On the team’s decision to hold off the start of Phase 2 (small-group practices) On his Game 7 pregame speech Berube: We don’t want to get guys in a stale position. There’s plenty of Berube: Oh definitely. I miss being there with the guys and the coaches. time before camp, and these guys have kept themselves in good shape. That’s what we like to do. We’ve got a great group of people that we work Yes, they do need to get on the ice at some point here and make sure with all the time and that we coach. So we’re looking forward to it, for they get some skating in before camp, so when camp starts we can go sure, getting back and doing what we do. full-out right away and we’re not trying to ease guys into things. I think we’re fine. We wanted to hold off a little bit. We only need a certain The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 amount of time to get these guys ready.

COLTON PARAYKO LEARNING A LOT AS HE HELPS PAVE THE WAY FOR NHL’S RETURN TO PLAY. #STLBLUES HTTPS://T.CO/LFAKAZRR7P

— JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) JUNE 11, 2020

On whether training camp on July 10 will look like a September camp or something different

Berube: It’ll be different. I think there’s going to be a lot more internal scrimmaging and competition. There might be a couple exhibition games, but I have’t heard that’s for sure. We need to be competitive in camp and we need to do some scrimmaging, so that will be a little different than normal.

On taking precautions to prevent injuries

Berube: That’s why it’s important that these guys get a couple weeks on the ice before camp starts, so their muscles are used to skating and we don’t get the groin pulls and the hamstring pulls that could happen in camp. I think those guys getting on the ice before camp, and doing all their workouts, will avoid a lot of injuries in camp.

On Tarasenko’s health

Berube: He’s good. Before we stopped, he was ready to come back the next week and play, so he did a great job of getting himself back. He did a great job with his rehab, along with the training staff, and he kept himself in great shape. He actually came back in better shape than he came to camp (in September). He’s been on the ice and doing things right now, so he’s ready to go.

On the extra time off giving Tarasenko more time to heal

Berube: Yeah, definitely, getting Vladi back is a great boost for our hockey team. (During) the layoff, his shoulder has even healed more, and it’s probably stronger than ever. He’s kept himself in great shape, he’s skating and he’s looking forward to it. Great getting a guy back with that ability and leadership coming back to our team.

On whether he believes the NHL’s playoff format is fair

Berube: It’s fair. With 10 or 11 (regular-season) games left, and some teams had 12, that’s a lot of games to re-seed yourself. Colorado is only two points behind us, and there are teams that are close. I think with that many games left, it’s only fair the way they did it. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. It’s out of your control. We’ve just got to play and do what we’ve got to do.

It’s going to boil down to the team that makes the less mistakes and plays the right way, and how hard. Believe me, being a highly competitive team and a hard team to play against in this format is going to be beneficial for sure. I think the team that plays the hardest, wants to compete the hardest, and is not worried about all the other stuff that is surrounding and what we’ve got to go through right now, you’re going to have a better chance to win.

On whether he buys into the notion that the Blues’ ability to deal with adversity gives them an advantage

Berube: I really don’t. I believe it’s the opposite, to be honest with you. There are a lot of teams that are in the playoffs now, and a lot of good teams. Again, everybody is going to be healthy. A team like Colorado is going to get healthy now. They were pretty banged up when this happened. Even a team like Columbus, who was banged up before this happened and they were still in the playoffs … So I believe that it’s wide open. I really do. It’s going to be a tough way to win, maybe tougher than normal.

On if this year’s Stanley Cup should come with an asterisk

Berube: I think it might be one of the hardest. It’s one of those things you can’t control if they put an asterisk beside it or not. I don’t think you worry about it, I really don’t. I think, in the end, the team that wins, you’re going to be happy. It doesn’t matter.

On itching to get back on the ice with the team 1186278 St Louis Blues to my room, it all sort of clicked. I just knew that we had the right mentality heading into that game. It’s interesting because most people think you’re in bed at 7 o’clock, not eating ice cream and having a couple of glasses of wine, getting a good night’s sleep and up bright and early. Stanley Cup anniversary: Blues players share untold stories from Game But that’s just the group that we had. It’s a cool picture to look back on. 7 & beyond David Perron

I don’t really get nervous for hockey games, but I was more nervous than By Jeremy Rutherford usual, so I was trying to stay in the moment and do the same routine to stay calm. The summer before, I had gotten into fishing, and if I ever Jun 12, 2020 needed to make sure that I wasn’t getting ahead of myself, I would go on YouTube and look at fishing techniques. There’s a lot of things to learn, doing all the knots, different ways to cast and different techniques, and On June 12, 2019, the Blues celebrated the franchise’s first Stanley Cup watching the videos; it’s so boring you have to be calm. I found in Boston. In the one year since, fans have probably watched and re- throughout the playoffs, if I was feeling the excitement, that worked for watched every highlight and relived every memory. me.

But with the anniversary fast approaching recently, The Athletic figured So on the day of Game 7, I could have played that morning, I could have there had to be some untold stories from the hours leading up to Game 7 played in the afternoon … I could have played at any point that day. and the day itself. So we sent messages to nearly everyone on the roster When you’re around people, at the morning skate or the pregame meal, and heard back from 20 of them. things were normal. But when you went to your room, your mind can get away really quick. So just laying there in bed that afternoon, that’s what I Here are their stories, which have been edited for clarity. was doing, watching fishing videos, just trying to stay in the moment. Alexander Steen Vince Dunn For me, I’ll never forget the flight to Boston for Game 7. If you look back Chief (coach Craig Berube) had a lot of speeches throughout the year, on things, having won Game 5, there was a lot of anticipation and and most of the time when he walked away, you knew exactly what he excitement in St. Louis getting ready for Game 6. It was different. It was a meant. There was nothing really to discuss for anyone after he spoke lot emotionally and physically. But for whatever reason, we were always many times. With that one before Game 7, we knew exactly what he good at bouncing back, especially with the way (Jordan Binnington) wanted out of us. I think just his confidence going into the game, how he played after a loss. And it’s like we got on that plane and we just went handled that situation, he wasn’t nervous. He didn’t try to change his back to who we were as a group, joking around and playing cards and speeches for a big game like that. He kind of just rolled with it and I think guys were walking up and down the aisle on the flight. his confidence trickled down into every one of us, and it was really easy When we landed in Boston, I was talking to () and (Ryan to just go out there and give it all we got. I think going into Game 6, we O’Reilly), and it just felt like, “We’re going to have a really good game! didn’t play the style that we wanted to. We were way too serious, and we We’re going to give ourselves a good shot at winning this thing.” were looking way too far ahead, and I think when Game 7 came, it was Obviously you don’t know the outcome and there are so many factors like, “This is actually our time — let’s do this!” and things that go on in a game, but we felt like we were going to have a good Game 7. It was a moment I’ll remember for sure. One of the things I remember the most from Game 7 was the national Carl Gunnarsson anthem, just standing on the ice. It kind of hit me right then. It was like a We had a group of guys that went out to dinner together during the quick flashback of my whole hockey life: playing minor hockey, then all of Finals. It was me, (Alexander Steen), (Colton) Parayko, (Oskar) a sudden you’re playing in juniors, then college and then you’re playing in Sundqvist and (Chris) Thorburn. So we get into Boston, and I can’t the NHL. It brought everything full-circle, how far everything had come for remember what we did before Game 1, but Game 2, we find this sushi me individually, seeing people lift the Stanley Cup and now you’re in spot and have dinner there. It was funny because they had this steak on Game 7. the menu, and we ordered a little skewer of it, and they gave you a It kind of hit me weird in the anthem. It was different than all the other certificate with the cow’s name and age and who the cow’s mother was, anthems I’ve been a part of. The anthem is not that long, but it seemed the whole schpiel, and it was really specific. We were all like, “Oh man, like I had forever to think. I glanced over the season that we had, and I’ve never seen this before.” how it all came together and this was it. This is actually Game 7 of the So we had a good time, and we won Game 2 in Boston, so when we go Stanley Cup Final in Boston, and it was surreal. I’ve never really had that, back to Boston for Game 5, (Chris) Thorburn is pushing us, like, “Guys, where it felt like a flash of a picture. let’s do it again, same spot.” He said, “Gunny, you scored that goal here Robby Fabbri in Game 2, let’s go back.” I was like, “Alright, the food was good and we had a good time,” so we went back to the same place. We ordered I knew I wasn’t playing in Game 7. I was going to be a healthy scratch skewers again, and got the name of another cow — and all the info — and in the press box. I think I stood there with (Chris Butler) for most of it and then we win Game 5. So then Game 7 comes, and we’re all like, and we didn’t take a seat once. It was just one of those things: any “Are we doing this?” So we did it for Game 7, too, and that restaurant bounce, any hit, any shot … you felt it in the whole arena. It’s just was 3-for-3. something you can’t explain when you’re watching. I’ve never felt like that watching a hockey game before. We had a good group of guys watching Jake Allen it, having some fun and trying to stay loose, but I was definitely sweating The night before Game 7, we were in Boston at our hotel. In the playoffs, through my suit. you’re stuck in a hotel both home and away, so you’re tight-knit; you’re I remember, we went down to the locker room about three-quarters of the doing a lot of things together. They always give us one room, like a “team way through the third period, ran down like a bunch of kids going to play suite” where everyone can hang out together instead of 20 of us in the at Chuck E. Cheese. We were putting our gear on and I don’t think I’ve same hotel room. Well, we have a pretty loose group, a pretty relaxed ever gotten dressed so fast, just so excited to get out there and celebrate group, and that night before Game 7 we were sitting there, drinking some with the guys. We cracked open a beer while we were getting dressed, wine, having some ice cream and playing some cards. We had a majority and watching them cart in the champagne and get everything ready, it of the guys in there having a good time, and the next thing you know, it was awesome. I guess if you’re not going to be in the game and you 10:30, 11 o’clock and we were like, “Oh shit, we have a game tomorrow want to see a little bit of the behind-the-scenes stuff, it was pretty cool. — Game 7 — the biggest game of our lives.” Mackenzie MacEachern So we went back to our rooms, and once I got back to my mine, I had the utmost confidence in the world that we were going to win. No one was For a guy in my position, kind of how (Fabbri) touched on, we were in the overthinking the game. It was still the exact same game as every other press box and we didn’t know what to do. I don’t remember the exact playoff game and road game that we had during the year. We were score at the time, but we were like, “Do we go down now?” We didn’t having fun, we weren’t really talking about hockey, and when I got back want to get stuck in the elevator and miss anything. I remember on the elevator down, we were just kind of like, “This isn’t happening,” and then Going through the playoffs, I didn’t play much and (Blues assistant coach we get down there and the equipment managers are like, “Get dressed, Steve Ott) was kind of mentoring me, “Stay ready, stay ready, something get dressed!” In the back of your head, you want to get dressed as fast is going to happen, it always does.” So (Oskar Sundqvist) gets as you can because you want to be with the team as soon as the buzzer suspended for Game 3 and Otter told me all the coaches and staff were goes off. But I’m thinking, “I don’t want to get fully dressed and somehow sitting down saying “Who’s going to go in?” and they were going back jinx the team.” and forth on who it was going to be. He said, “Sanny is ready to go, he wants it, he needs to go in.” As soon as it got to the two-minute mark, though, I kind of relaxed and thought, “Oh my Lord, this is actually happening.” We were behind the I went in, and I think I helped out the team as much as I could and things bench, so we saw the zeros hit on the clock, and to see everyone’s went well. When I scored (in Game 7), I got back to the bench and Otter emotion was pretty crazy. It stunk down the stretch, not playing, but the was right there, and with everything that happened with me personally guys on the team never made you feel left out. They always kept the that year, to share that moment was pretty cool. After the game, I went spirits high, so even though I wasn’t right down there in the action at the up to him and just told him, “Thank you for believing in me and giving me end, they made it feel like I was. that shot.” He was like, “I knew the whole time you were ready.” We got a big hug in and we were both so excited … he was so proud of me. From Jordan Binnington there on out, this whole year, he and I have been pretty tight. He’s helped The final countdown to the celebration, the last couple of minutes, where me through a lot of stuff on and off the ice. we had the 4-0, 4-1 lead, you’re just thinking how you’re going to Robert Bortuzzo celebrate. You just feel the rush of emotions that you’ve been holding onto throughout the whole journey. Once that final buzzer goes, hugging If you ask a lot of guys, the dressing room was probably their favorite part (Brayden Schenn) right away, and just everyone crowding around the because it turned into a moment for not only the players, but everyone in net. It’s just a blur and everyone has little things to say. I remember, the organization. We all had our chance to drink and cheer for each (O’Reilly) just saying, “That was unbelievable!” Just to see how happy other, and no one wanted it to end, so we grabbed these people that everyone was, it was a very proud moment for everyone, and only we were a part of it. Tom Stillman is the owner, and you ask anyone in this really know how much we went through to get there. I think for me organization, he’s held in high regard. So from Stillman to (director of personally, just a lot of gratefulness, and it felt like finishing the biggest digital content Chris Pinkert), they would end up in the middle, sipping project you’ve ever done. out of the Cup, just being doused with beer, and everyone chanting their name. Those are the ones that stuck out for me because it was “Stilly,” and then “Pinky.”

It was kind of a blur, but when (NHL commissioner Gary Bettman) gave It was just a cool moment because we had all celebrated ourselves, so me the Cup, I remember him saying, “Congratulations!” You don’t know let’s bring them into the mayhem. Walking out of the locker room and how heavy it is if you’ve never lifted it, so I was kind of thinking, “OK, seeing the aftermath, I couldn’t even begin to guess how many beers don’t do anything stupid, don’t drop it, don’t make a fool of yourself.” I were consumed, or maybe just one sip and then thrown all over don’t know if it’s because I was exhausted, but it was actually heavier someone. But if you ask any player in the league, that’s probably a road than I thought it was. It’s something you dream of as a kid, and I realize it dressing room that needs a revamping. more now than I did then, that I was really the first Blue to lift the Cup, but at the time, you’re so in the moment. When you start looking at all the ENJOY THESE MOMENTS, TOM. AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING special players and guys that have tried to be the first one, it’s pretty BRING A #STANLEYCUP TO ST. LOUIS. #STLBLUES special. But at the time, it was just relief, relief that we won and relief that #WEALLBLEEDBLUE PIC.TWITTER.COM/DXUA29HOX7 it was over. — ST. LOUIS BLUES (@STLOUISBLUES) JUNE 13, 2019 I didn’t really want to parade it around. For me, it took so much as a group from where we were to win this thing, I felt everybody should get Sammy Blais their hands on it as quickly as possible. People had asked me the week The night before every game on the road, me and (Vince Dunn), we prior who I would give the Cup to if we won, and honestly, I hadn’t really always have our own room, and it was like a ritual: I always went in his thought about it, but it wasn’t very hard to come up with the guy — (Jay room or he always came in my room. I remember I was in Dunner’s room Bouwmeester) because he’s waited a lot longer than I have for this thing. that night before Game 7. I was sitting on the couch and he was in his Bouw and I have accomplished a lot together, going to the Olympics and bed and we were eating ice cream. We both took the same kind of ice World Cup, and there was no better way for me than to share it with that cream, chocolate for both, and we were laughing about it. So we were guy. He means a lot to me, he knows that, and I could go on and on. But just chilling together, and we were telling each other, “Tomorrow, we can if that is the way it ends up for him, that’s one heck of a way to go out on become Stanley Cup champions.” top. We were just so happy for each other, and when we won, along with Chris Thorburn MacKenzie MacEachern, who we started pro hockey with on the Chicago Mine starts out pregame, but it’s nuts how it all happened. The guys were Wolves, it was like really nice for us. Four years ago, we were in eating the pre-game meal and I was in the lobby of the hotel, you know, Chicago, and last year we became Stanley Cup champions together. We like they have the couches there at the Ritz. So I was just sitting on the were just so happy for each other, and I just remember it was the best couch, playing on my phone, and David Perron came from behind the day of my life. curtain and he’s like, “Thorbs, be ready buds, it’s happening tonight.” I’m Chris Butler like, “Well dude, yeah, go get your rest and good luck!” Then he’s like, “No, you’re putting on your equipment tonight!” I’m like, “Holy shit, it’s I have two, and they both involve the Bortuzzo family. No. 1, I had a going to happen?” Then it does happen and the team is passing the bottle of whiskey that I had saved for a special occasion. I flew home for Stanley Cup around on the ice, and Perron is the one snow-plowing me the birth of my second child, who was born the day before Game 7 of the to the front of the line. He’s like, “I’m not taking the Cup before you! Go! Dallas series, and I brought two bottles of whiskey back. One to share Go!” I’m like, “Dude, go do your thing, I’ll get my turn,” but he’s got me with the guys in the hotel lounge area, hanging out and having fun, and where I’m damn-near snow-plowing to the Cup. one was going to be if we won the Stanley Cup. So I take my bottle of whiskey out on the ice and I’m sharing it with a bunch of the guys. Then I So I end up getting the Cup from (Steen) and then I’m able to hand it off gave it to Bortuzzo’s dad (Oscar), and he started just slugging it, and to (Perron), who did that for me. I think there was even some (Bortuzzo) pretty much grabbed it out of his hands and said, “Dad, commentary on TV, saying, “I can’t understand why Thorburn has got it.” enough already, it’s fucking expensive.” I mean, I’m getting it before (O’Reilly) and Tyler Bozak, and no one could understand it. But yeah, the way it all worked out — from (Perron) telling So there’s that story and then there’s one where (Bortuzzo) and I went on me it was going to happen to it actually happening, then him pushing me the ice, and I don’t even know who took the picture, but the two of us are to the front of the line, and then handing it off to him … that is a story that just standing in beer-stained T-shirts and flip-flops out at center-ice, I’ll never forget. It goes back to the way the guys treated me and made having a beer and a smile. And then some security guard came out of me feel part of it, and that’s an example of it. nowhere and told us to get off the ice. We were just like, “Fuck you, pal, we’re not getting off the ice.” So yeah, two stories involving the Bortuzzo Zach Sanford family and two F-bombs … typical Italians. Oskar Sundqvist

I remember going into the locker room and I was standing in the other room, where we change clothes. I was going through my phone real quick and I get a knock on my back. I turn around and it’s (GM Doug Armstrong). I was kind of surprised. I don’t even know where he came from actually. I was in the room and I didn’t see anyone else, and all of a sudden he came up from behind. He’s like, “Screw Pittsburgh, right?” I’m like, “Yeah, screw them!” We were both laughing and hugging each other. It was cool that (the Blues) believed in me. That was something that I remember. It was a funny time.

Ryan O’Reilly

I remember as we were getting ready for the bus after the game, everyone was kind of showering up, me and (Pat Maroon) were in the shower. I think we were the last two getting changed. I just remember being in the shower with him and I think we had beers in there. Yeah, I just remember talking to him and just being like, “Can you believe we actually did this?” It was just kind of funny how we were the last two, laughing, and having a beer!

Brayden Schenn

Something that comes to mind would be the plane ride home from Boston to St. Louis and having the Stanley Cup centered right in the middle of the two card tables. There’s normally eight guys that sit there and you had 15 guys around the card table. It was a full-on party; there were guys everywhere, laughing and drinking beers and telling stories. You had (Ryan) O’Reilly with the Conn Smythe Trophy sitting right in front of him. You’re just thinking to yourself, “Wow, did this really happen?” It’s funny, now you have the videos saved on your phone popping up from a year ago. I think that’s going to be one of the cooler things, the flight back from Boston, how big of a party it was, and you’re literally staring at the Stanley Cup, and having a helluva a time with the guys.

Tyler Bozak

I would also say the flight home, I’ve never been part of a flight like that. I just remember us partying, drinking out of the Cup, passing it around, lots of laughs, singing songs and just in shock at what just happened. I’m not a great flyer, so I remember looking around during the flight and I don’t know if there was anybody in their seat. Everyone was standing up, coaches, whoever it may be, and because I get anxiety, I remember being a little worried if the weight of the plane was going to be off. Just to be part of that, they were two hours you got to spend with your teammates and everyone involved, and that was cool because after that, you don’t really get that close-knit time with the guys that were all part of the victory. You just sat there and you couldn’t really believe what we went through the whole year to be where we were.

Joel Edmundson

I remember when our plane landed in St. Louis, we went over to meet all the fans at the gate. By the time we got there, all our voices were gone already, but we were doing all these chants and all the fans were loving it. I remember Robby Fabbri, he was wearing a three-piece burgundy suit that he got from his uncle’s shop in Toronto. They don’t come cheap — it’s probably $2,000-plus — and he’s jumping around with the fans. He’s got the dress pants on, but no coat, no dress shirt and he had the vest on inside-out. The lining of the vest is a New York theme with the street lights and signs, and he’s got it on inside-out, like a tank-top. I’ll never forget, he came off the plane like that, went into the crowd like that, and then got on the bus like that … he wore it like that the whole night.

For Blues fans, it was a fun ride the first time, and hopefully this look back on the one-year anniversary made it even more enjoyable!

The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186279 Tampa Bay Lightning The team’s practice facility at TGH Ice Plex, with its two sheets of ice, is about 10 miles from the arena in Brandon. There are four more sheets at Rinkside Sports, 20 miles north in Wesley Chapel. The Tampa Bay Skating Academy uses five sheets among the Clearwater Ice Arena, Why isn’t Tampa on the NHL’s list of potential host cities? Oldsmar and the Countryside Mall, about 20 miles from downtown Tampa. Once the league adopted a plan to put 12 teams in its hub cities, Tampa lost its case to host. None of those situations are great for a pregame skate (which likely wouldn’t be possible with the main arena hosting three games a day).

The Tampa Bay area also does not have another rink capable of hosting Diana C. Nearhos games. Not all the hub city possibilities do, but it might be a bonus factor Lightning Reporter for some. Columbus, for example, has Ohio State’s rinks in addition to . Dallas offers its AHL rink as well as American Airlines Arena.

TAMPA — Lightning players are skating at Amalie Arena. More and more Dressing rooms businesses are opening up around Tampa Bay. The NBA is gearing up to play down the road in Disney World. This playoff format would mean three games a day, and the NHL would want more than Amalie’s five dressing rooms. So why won’t the NHL come to Tampa if its season resumes? Professional arenas have strict rules about sanitizing spaces between When the league announced its return-to-play plan May 26, it narrowed teams’ arrivals (it’s part of what protected the Lightning, who followed its list of potential hub cities in which to play because of coronavirus coronavirus-positive NBA players into two buildings immediately before concerns to 10. Tampa wasn’t on the list. the NHL season was put on hold March 12). Those protocols have gotten stricter as the league eyes a return now. The city and arena have successfully hosted many big events. The 1999 and 2018 NHL All-Star Games were at the arena, and the building had Tampa Bay and Amalie Arena can’t offer the space the NHL would like in no issue hosting the 2004 and 2015 Stanley Cup finals. Outside the NHL, order to bring 12 teams together. two NCAA Frozen Fours and the 2012 Republican National Convention were held there. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.13.2020

Tampa wasn’t so much eliminated from the NHL’s hub cities list as it slid down the list until it fell off. Other cities are better suited to host the playoff tournament the NHL has planned more than Tampa is poorly suited.

Tampa had a stronger case when talk buzzed about four cities hosting games if play resumed. Once the league landed on its plan for 12 teams in each of two cities, Tampa’s chances slimmed.

When he announced the 10 hub-city possibilities, commissioner Gary Bettman said the league probably needed to make a decision in three to four weeks. June 23 marks four weeks. The league didn’t want to make too quick of a decision and have circumstances around the coronavirus change.

The NHL is evaluating the spread of the virus in each city, as well as the availability of hotels, practice rinks and dressing room space in the arenas.

Coronavirus

Florida was predicted to be a major hot spot, but most of the state has avoided a big hit so far. Tampa Bay Times reporting shows people largely stayed home even before Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide safer-at-home order April 1. Tampa and the bay area have a lower case rate than many other metropolitan areas, particularly NHL cities on the East Coast.

Tampa also has a lower case rate than cities remaining on the NHL’s list, such as Chicago. So presumably, the coronavirus was not a factor in why Tampa did not make the cut.

Hotels

The NHL would require about 750 hotel rooms in each hub city.

The Tampa Marriott Water Street, owned by Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, has 750 rooms on its property. It possibly could have been made fully available to the NHL.

If that wasn’t an option, there were other possibilities to share the load. The Tampa Westin Waterside is just across the Harbour Island Bridge from Amalie Arena, and the Epicurean Hotel — another favorite with NHL teams — is 3 miles away, on Howard Avenue in South Tampa.

Hotels do not seem to have been an issue for Tampa, either.

Ice availability

The Lightning do not have a practice rink close to Amalie Arena. They are far from alone in that among NHL teams, but the hub city ideally would have multiple sheets of ice nearby. 1186280 Tampa Bay Lightning • $2.5 million to renovate and expand a Boys and Girls Club recreation center in the Palm River area. It was the largest single gift in the 90-year history of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay.

Penny Vinik seeks divorce from Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik • $1 million to preserve the Jackson House, a run-down but historic Tampa rooming house that hosted black civil rights leaders and The petition to dissolve the marriage of 33 years was filed this week in entertainers during segregation. Hillsborough County. • Three crowd-pleasing art installations: the Beach Tampa at Amalie Arena in 2016, the free collection of Lego sculptures known as the Art of the Brick in 2017, and Yayoi Kusama’s Love is Calling to the Tampa RICHARD DANIELSON Museum of Art in 2018. JOHN MARTIN CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT. • The donation of an acre of downtown land for the new USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute.

TAMPA — After nearly 33 years of marriage, Jeff and Penny Vinik, one The $189 million medical school building is an anchor for the $3 billion of the Tampa Bay area’s leading philanthropic couples, are headed for Water Street Tampa project, which Vinik is developing in partnership with divorce court. Cascade Investment, the private wealth fund of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. At build-out, the project will encompass 56 acres around Amalie Penny Vinik, 57, filed a petition Monday in Hillsborough Circuit Court to Arena, including the site of the ConAgra flour mill, and 9 million square dissolve her marriage with Jeff Vinik, 61, the owner of the Tampa Bay feet of development, including 3,500 residences, two new office towers, Lightning and a developer of Water Street Tampa. three hotels and about 13 acres of parks.

Without elaboration, the petition says the marriage is irretrievably broken. Jeff Vinik also is a member of FBN Partners, a group of local investors who have loaned $15 million to Times Publishing Co., which owns the “Jeff and Penny respectfully request privacy while they amicably work on Tampa Bay Times. their relationship,” Bill Wickett, a spokesman for Jeff Vinik, said in an email to the Tampa Bay Times. Penny Vinik is seeking temporary exclusive use of the couple’s homes in South Tampa and Chatham, Mass., as well as Porsche sports utility The couple met at a bar and restaurant when Jeff Vinik was a Harvard vehicles that she regularly uses at both homes. She says she agrees that graduate student and she was working at an international consulting firm he may have exclusive use of the couple’s home in Sarasota while the in Cambridge. They married in 1987 in , where Jeff Vinik divorce is pending. And she seeks to use the Vinik’s private aircraft and rose to prominence in his 30s for his success growing Fidelity charters as necessary and in keeping with past use. Investments’ flagship Magellan Fund from $20 billion to $55 billion. The Viniks have four children, Danny, Jared, Kyra and Joshua, none of whom Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.13.2020 are minors. The older three children are in their 20s.

The family moved to Tampa a couple of years after Jeff Vinik bought the Lightning in 2010 for an estimated $110 million.

Penny Vinik “has made a substantial contribution to the acquisition of the parties’ assets and the produce of income throughout this 33-year marriage,” the petition says. She is represented by West Palm Beach divorce attorney Jeffrey Fisher, whose previous clients have included Angela Koch in her divorce from billionaire oil tycoon William Koch and Brooke Gordon in her divorce from NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon.

Many of the Viniks’ marital assets, according to the petition, are titled in the names of business entities such as partnerships, limited liability corporations, foundations and trusts. Estimates of Jeff Vinik’s net worth in 2013 were in the $500 million range, though he has added substantially to his business interests since then.

“Although the marital estate is large, and the wife’s equitable distribution will be substantial, most of the assets are controlled by the husband," the petition says. "Therefore, the wife seeks temporary alimony. The parties enjoy a very high standard of living which should be maintained without interruption on a temporary basis.”

In the past decade, Jeff and Penny Vinik have established themselves as one of the region’s most generous and wide-ranging philanthropic families.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple’s donations to coronavirus relief efforts have approached $2 million. They’ve given $1 million to Metropolitan Ministries for food and rent assistance and nearly $1 million more to civic relief funds in Tampa and St. Petersburg, help for University of South Florida students, an aid awareness campaign and a fund for Lightning employees.

Their previous gifts have included:

• $20.1 million through the Lightning’s Community Heroes program, which since 2011 has made $50,000 grants to nonprofits at each of the team’s home and playoff games.

• More than $5 million to USF’s Muma College of Business, which named its sport and entertainment management program for the Viniks.

• $5 million to the endowment at the Tampa Museum of Art to support the position of executive director. Penny Vinik also serves as vice chairwoman on the museum’s governing board of trustees. 1186281 “We don’t have all the answers, we don’t understand the lives of other people, we have blind spots, so we need to listen to (others) so we can understand what needs to be in place, and how we can better deal with this head on.” GTHL releases gross misconduct data, plans town hall to discuss issues or racism, prejudice Toronto Star LOADED: 06.13.2020

By Mark Zwolinski

Sports Reporter

Fri., June 12, 2020timer3 min. read

Scott Oakman knows the time for change is now.

The Greater Toronto Hockey League’s executive director has begun a “head on” approach to erasing incidents of racist, misogynistic and homophobic language in Canada’s largest youth hockey league.

“Recent events brought forth the issue, and people’s experiences have come out, and them wanting to speak out, so we wanted to expedite our approach,” Oakman said in a telephone interview Friday after the GTHL announced an upcoming town hall, while releasing data tracking gross misconduct penalties for inappropriate language used by players during GTHL games the past three seasons.

Oakman was responding in part to the worldwide protests that have followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. GTHL players, current and former, have come forward as well with accounts of racist language from players, parents and coaches.

Data on gross misconduct penalties released by the league Friday revealed that, in the 2019-20 season, there was one misconduct for language referring to religion, five relating to race, 16 for comments about sexual orientation, 172 related to gender, and one regarding a disability. The total of 195 gross misconducts marked a sharp increase from the two previous seasons, when the totals for the five categories came in at 51 (2018-19) and 49 (2017-18).

Oakman said the GTHL sees an opportunity to tackle the issues by releasing data that was previously shuttered from the public. The league said in a statement its former policy was to prevent the release of “information connecting to identifiable individual players, (an approach) consistent with the policies of school boards and with Canada’s youth criminal justice system.”

“We had this policy in place,” Oakman said, “but we heard from players past and present, and we listened. We heard from parents past and present, and we listened. It is time to get this information and put it in the public domain.

“We want people to know we’re listening and dealing with this, and that we need to address a way for parents and players … to bring their concerns and issues forward and not face repercussion moving forward.

“There’s the sense that, for players, they shouldn’t distract from the team, the team-first mentality. That creates issues, where we’re dealing with racist issues now, because a player may feel they were taking away from the team concept ... We want to find a way to make them feel they can come forward and speak about (issues) and that we as an organization and as people will listen and do better.”

Oakman said the league has selected two people to co-chair its town hall. They are currently getting approval from their employers to assume their positions. The co-chairs, and the date of the town hall, will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We want them to explore a number of issues and what we as an organization can do better … how we deal with racism and how we can do better,” Oakman said.

The GTHL, which staged a summit on culture, diversity and inclusivity in November 2019, will also review its misconduct penalty approach to the use of inappropriate language. Previous penalties ranged from five to eight games on average.

“This will involve a lot of difficult conversations, but those are conversations we need to have in order to change what’s going on,” Oakman said. 1186282 Toronto Maple Leafs Oakman said he did not know how many of the incidents from last season led to an in-person hearing, and he could not say which age groups were called for the most infractions. In part because staff have been working remotely during the shutdown related to COVID-19, he said Greater Toronto Hockey League releases data on penalties called for he also did not have access to information about the average length of racist slurs the suspensions issued.

Speaking generally, he said the suspensions could range from three-to- four games on the low end, and stretch out to more than a year. Those By Sean Fitz-Gerald more serious suspensions were for repeat offenders, or for those caught Jun 12, 2020 using language that is “clearly racist, clearly based on religion or are clearly aggressive sexual orientation discrimination words.”

Oakman said supplementary discipline could still be issued even if the Having absorbed sharp criticism both from alumni and high-profile active on-ice official did not hear it. players, the Greater Toronto Hockey League has released data on the number of penalties called for discriminatory slurs on the ice, while also “If we can confirm a comment has been made, or we’re able to come to a launching an independent committee to improve how it deals with racist decision that we’re confident a comment of discriminatory nature has behaviour. occurred,” he said, “then the league absolutely would suspend a player.”

Last season, the league recorded five gross misconduct penalties for Oakman said the category with the largest number of misconduct racist language. They were among 197 misconducts given for verbal penalties were those related to gender, in large part because the GTHL abuse based on religion (1), disability (3), sexual orientation (16) and expanded the language included under that umbrella. In its release, the gender (172). league said the category accounts for “slurs and taunts such as ‘you play like a girl’ and other more graphic comments.” Scott Oakman, executive director of the GTHL, said the number of incidents reported for racist abuse is lower than the reality players face The independent committee will examine how the GTHL handles those on the ice. The GTHL is the largest minor hockey organization in the disciplinary issues, then make its recommendations. Oakman said the world, with more than 40,000 players competing in more than 14,000 committee leaders will determine who joins the effort and how many games every season. people will be enlisted to help.

Only 20 incidents of racist abuse have been recorded over the last three There is no timeline for when the committee might deliver its findings. seasons. “I’m sure there are a host of ideas that will be generated by a smart “I would be the first one to say: I don’t think it’s a measure of the real life group of people who are going to be put together to look at the areas experiences players have in our league,” said Oakman. “And we’ve we’ve asked them to, and other areas they may identify,” Oakman said. heard, over the last week or so, lived experiences of players that were “We’re open to any and all recommendations.” undetected by officials.” The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 In an interview with TSN last month, a teenaged forward estimated he heard racist abuse in “half of the games” he played in the GTHL in a season. Myles Douglas played triple-A for the U18 North York Rangers and told the network he felt he could not retaliate “or else I get kicked out too.”

The GTHL declined the network’s request for the statistics on discriminatory penalties. Former GTHL goaltender Kevin Weekes, now a veteran hockey broadcaster, told TSN he would not mention his former league on the airwaves again until “there is reform.”

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane said the league’s decision to withhold the information was “shameful.”

“The last couple of weeks, we’ve heard from parents and players in our league about challenges they’ve faced as being participants in our league,” Oakman said. “And the need for us to consider the position, given the greater desire to be appropriately transparent.

“We took that response to heart, and we decided that it was important to put the numbers out.”

The league also announced the creation of an independent committee, which will be led by two chairs who have been selected, but not yet named. They will co-chair a virtual town hall meeting with players, coaches and parents at a date to be announced.

According to a release from the GTHL, the meeting will be held to “address issues of racism and discrimination in minor hockey.”

As it stands, if a player is issued a gross misconduct for discriminatory language, Oakman said they are ejected from the game and suspended indefinitely. The referee is required to fill out a report following the game and the offending player is also required to provide the league with a letter explaining their side.

The coach is also required to send a letter. Parents will often also send letters of their own.

All of that information is reviewed, along with the player’s disciplinary history. A decision is then made whether an in-person hearing warranted. That hearing is held in front of three members of the GTHL’s board. (There are 17 members on the GTHL’s board. None of the members are a person of colour.) 1186283 Vegas Golden Knights

NHL hub city picks to come June 22; MGM preparing for Las Vegas’ selection

By John Katsilometes

June 12, 2020 - 4:04 PM

Updated June 12, 2020 - 4:51 PM

The NHL will announce June 22 whether Las Vegas will be a hub city to host the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, according to a source familiar with the planning process.

Until then, MGM Resorts International plans to keep some hotels not currently open to the public off the market so that one or more could be available to host visiting teams after July 1.

Two cities will be selected to host 12 teams in the league’s 24-team tournament.

MGM Resorts hotels in play to host visiting teams include Vdara, Delano, the Park MGM/NoMad Hotel and The Mirage, according to sources. The league reportedly has asked for a nongaming, nonsmoking hotel, leaving Vdara and Delano as the two most likely resorts to house the teams and their support staffs. Two hotels probably would be required to meet the needs of the visiting teams. .

COVID-19 testing is also a requirement.

In effect, the teams would be largely quarantined in their Strip resorts, where they will eat, sleep and reside between being shuttled to and from T-Mobile Arena, which is co-owned by MGM Resorts, and practice facilities.

NHL officials and MGM Resorts reps have declined comment on these reports. A league official said, “We have nothing new to announce with respect to return to play at this time.” An MGM Resorts representative said the company had nothing to share at this time and referred questions to the league office.

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Golden Knights show support for wounded Las Vegas officer

By Glenn Puit

June 12, 2020 - 2:29 PM

Updated June 12, 2020 - 2:54 PM

Wounded Las Vegas police officer Shay Mikalonis is an avid a hockey fan, so the support that family members received this week from the Golden Knights meant the world to them.

“Shay could skate before he could walk,” said his uncle, Frank Mikalonis. “He played hockey since he was a child. “

On Thursday morning, the Injured Police Officers Fund held a fundraiser in the Sahara West Urgent Care parking lot for Mikalonis, who was critically injured in a shooting during a June 1 protest on the Strip. Some in attendance at the fundraiser were from the Golden Knights.

“The representatives from the Golden Knights came, which was really, really nice. They gave Shay a signed jersey,” Frank Mikalonis said.

The team also delivered three signed hockey sticks with personalized notes on the blades from players to the family.

“Bill Foley and the Knights have been extremely generous,” said Las Vegas police Lt. Erik Lloyd of the IPOF.

The Knights certainly weren’t the only ones. Lloyd said the fundraiser was a huge success in every regard. He declined to say how much money it raised for Shay Mikalonis and his family at their request. He did say the money raised is a “significant amount” that will be used to help the family provide lifelong care to Mikalonis, covering any expenses not covered by workers’ compensation.

“Here’s the best we can hope for,” Frank Mikalonis said. “He’s had a very serious spinal cord injury, and the use of limbs is going to be doubtful. He’s going to be on a ventilator the rest of his life.

“Our immediate goal right now is to get him in the next week well enough to go to the next facility for rehab … it’s to be able to communicate and how to do things. He’s not going to be the way he was,” Frank Mikalonis said.

Donations came Thursday from large businesses and individuals. The generosity has continued nearly two weeks straight of community support. Frank Mikalonis said one Las Vegas woman made hundreds of lapel pins with a blue ribbon saying “Pray for Shay” and brought them to the family. A week ago, a Dearborn, Michigan, bakery shipped more than three dozen of its famous rolls and two unbaked pizzas as comfort food for the Mikalonis family.

A local company brought a recreational vehicle to the parking lot at UMC for the family to use. A former sports coach at Arbor View High School, where Shay Mikalonis played football, brought an old team jersey.

“We had police officers from California, Arizona and Utah who drove in to make donations,” said Minddie Lloyd of the IPOF.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186285 Vegas Golden Knights

Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner, Chance win NHL Fan Choice Awards

By Ben Gotz

June 12, 2020 - 1:14 PM

Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner and even Golden Knights mascot Chance earned prizes in the NHL Fan Choice Awards on Friday.

Fleury grabbed best save for his diving stop in November against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Lehner won best follow on social media thanks to his Twitter account @RobinLehner and Chance was named best mascot.

The Knights also had two runners-up in Ryan Reaves (funniest player) and T-Mobile Arena (best building). “Expressive Mark Stone” took fourth in GIF of the year.

Fleury received 52.7 percent of the vote to win his category by a landslide. His third-period save on Nic Petan was dubbed “the save of the century” by his agent Allan Walsh, and it’s one of the best of Fleury’s illustrious career.

Lehner defeated Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews by six percent (34.6 to 28.6) to win his award. His Twitter account has more than 65,000 followers, and he often uses his platform to raise mental health awareness or just share Images of pandas.

Chance’s win was the narrowest. He edged Philadelphia’s 32.7 percent to 28.2. No other mascot received more than 4.2 percent of the vote.

The Flyers got a modicum of revenge in other categories. Flyers forward Kevin Hayes edged Reaves 31.8 percent to 26.2 for funniest player, and Wells Fargo Center defeated T-Mobile Arena for best building 13.4 percent to 9.5.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186286 Vegas Golden Knights lower-seeded teams it would be playing in the first round, so the coaches scouted them all.

“Prior to them releasing the structure we dove into potential playoff How Peter DeBoer and the Golden Knights are preparing for a crucial opponents, so we’ve got a pretty good library on everybody in the round-robin Western Conference that we might see,” DeBoer said.

Some teams around the league divided the potential opponents and assigned each to a different member of the staff to scout. DeBoer chose By Jesse Granger Jun 12, 2020 a different strategy, scouting each opponent as a coaching staff, and assigning different aspects of the game to each coach individually

(special teams, offensive zone, defensive zone, etc.). Golden Knights players are finally back on the ice at City National Arena, On May 26, the NHL released its 24-team playoff, revealing the Golden skating in small groups as they prepare for the NHL season to resume. Knights would be a part of the top-four seed round-robin. Vegas now The NHL announced Thursday that formal training camps will begin on knows its first three opponents will be St. Louis, Colorado and Dallas. July 10, so until then players will continue reacquainting themselves with The results of those three games will determine each team’s seeding. the ice. Some haven’t skated since the season was paused on March 12, “Up until they released the structure we hadn’t spent a lot of time yet on so these early skates are more about fundamentals and health than they St. Louis or Colorado, because they weren’t going to be first-round are about hockey. opponents for us,” DeBoer said. “Now we’ve expanded that and there’s “Obviously the first week, when you haven’t been on the ice for three lots to do.” months, we were more looking forward to just getting out there and One of DeBoer’s concerns about returning to play after months without getting a feel,” Vegas forward Mark Stone said on Thursday. “We want to hockey was that top-seeded teams could be at a disadvantage. If lower- avoid hip injuries, groin injuries for the first couple weeks. I think this is a seeded teams played in a play-in round, it would give them a competitive good opportunity for us to build our skill set and once we get closer to advantage over teams still coming off the layoff. But the NHL’s solution training camp we can really ramp it up.” — giving the top four teams in each conference a chance to battle for Stone has been among the players confirmed to skate at City National positioning in a three-game round-robin – solved that issue. Arena this week, along with veterans Marc-Andre Fleury, Max Pacioretty, The round-robin games certainly aren’t as important as the play-in round, Paul Stastny, and . because teams are fighting for seeding and not their playoff lives. The NHL placed strict guidelines on players for Phase 2 of the return-to- However, the NHL’s decision to reseed the playoffs after every round play plan. That includes limiting each team to only six players in the significantly increases the importance of those round-robin games. facility at a time while testing players regularly and asking them to wear That’s because the team that earns the top seed will have a much easier masks and keep a distance of six feet away from each other when they path to the Stanley Cup final. With reseeding occurring after every round, aren’t on the ice. the top seed is guaranteed to play the lowest remaining seed. “Just being at the first two skates at City National, I never felt uneasy,” That should escalate the intensity of those first games considerably. Stone said. “I felt comfortable with testing and everything. I’m just excited and I know a lot of my teammates feel the same way. We know we have “My fear was that they would make those games exhibition games, and a great team and we want to have a chance to win.” you’re not playing with the intensity that the groupings are who are competing in the play-in round,” DeBoer said. “That would potentially put Coaches aren’t allowed into the facilities during Phase 2. Golden Knights you at a disadvantage entering the first round of the real playoffs. So the coach Peter DeBoer is still in his home province of Ontario, impatiently fact that these are meaningful games is important for the seeding aspect, waiting to join his players on the ice. but also because we’re going to be playing at a level of intensity that the “The fact that we have players on the ice, and you’re not allowed to be play-in teams will be playing at, which I think is critical.” involved, isn’t easy on any coach,” DeBoer said. “So, we’ve just decided, Stone echoed his coach’s sentiment, agreeing that the round-robin like a lot of staffs, to just stay away. We’re not allowed any interaction, or games will be crucial for setting the tone prior to the official first round of really even in the building, so we’re just going to stay away until the start the playoffs. of camp.” “I think those games are going to be very, very important for us, for DeBoer wasn’t able to move into his new house in Las Vegas prior to the getting back into that competitive (rhythm),” Stone said. “We’re going to pandemic and returned with his family to Ontario. He has watched from have to play those games do or die, and try to get a high seed. Not so afar but kept busy with plenty of scouting homework. much for the seed, but to get into that rhythm. You’ve seen the playoffs, “You want to get involved. That’s what we do,” DeBoer said. “We’ve been the first seed doesn’t win every year. The second seed doesn’t win every sitting around kind of waiting for months now, and I’m excited to see the year. Once you get in, you have a chance to win. But we want to be group again. When you sit and fill your days watching video and looking playing our best hockey.” through analytics, you want to roll up your sleeves and get to work with Playing their best hockey is easier said than done, especially under the the group and you’re not allowed to. So that’s the tough part.” unprecedented circumstances of this season. Vegas was 14-4-1 down DeBoer said he has spoken to the team remotely, but mostly speaks in the stretch, including a season-long eight-game win streak. Returning to generalities and isn’t providing the players with specific drills at this time. that form would be a good start for the Golden Knights.

“With small groups of five or six guys, there’s not a lot you can do,” he “It’s a unique opportunity, but hopefully we can find that rhythm early, and said. “At this stage right now it’s just about them getting back on their play the way we were playing back in early March, when we were playing skates and starting to get comfortable without hurting themselves. These our best hockey right after the trade deadline,” Stone said. “But I’m really guys know their bodies better than I do. For me, the question I ask them excited. We want a chance to win, everybody wants a chance to win.” is ‘What are you normally doing mid-to-late July with training camp in The coaching staff has recently shifted gears, switching its focus from early September?’ That’s what we should be doing now. And each guy is potential playoff opponents to its own team. different. Some guys don’t start skating until August, and some guys want to be on the ice much earlier than that.” “Just recently, this week actually, we’ve dove into our own team,” DeBoer said. “We asked ourselves, ‘What were we doing really well that we want He can’t be on the ice with his players, but DeBoer still has plenty of work to go into camp reinforcing? And what do we want to get fixed prior to to do. How is he preparing Vegas for the upcoming postseason? getting started?’ Well, like almost everything in today’s sports world that has changed “I really liked how we were playing heading into the pause. The guys rapidly. Early in the NHL’s pause, DeBoer and his staff watched hours of were starting to play seamlessly without thinking about the systems. We video to scout potential first-round opponents. This was before the NHL had shown that we could be interchangeable, even if we remove really unveiled its resumption format, so there was no indication the Golden good players from the lineup. The Edmonton game as an example, Knights would be part of a round-robin. Vegas wasn’t sure which of the without Stone in the lineup. I really liked how we were playing. So we want to build on those things.”

DeBoer said the team’s biggest focus in terms of improvement will be on the penalty kill. The Golden Knights rank 27th in the league with a penalty-killing percentage of 76.6. That was even worse late in the season; Vegas allowed 15 goals on its last 40 penalties (62.5 percent PK rate).

Though DeBoer used the Golden Knights’ 3-2 win over the Oilers on March 9 as an example of how his team stepped up with Stone out injured, Stone, Max Pacioretty and Alex Tuch are all expected to be fully recovered from significant injuries.

“I feel great,” Stone said. “I’m ready to play hockey. I’m 100 percent. I’m ready to try to win the Stanley Cup.”

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T.J. Oshie launches auction to benefit COVID-19 Critical Needs Fund

By J.J. Regan June 12, 2020 3:26 PM

The coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the nation and T.J. Oshie is stepping in to do his part by launching the COVID-19 Relief Auction, as announced Friday by the Capitals.

The auction opened at 3 p.m. on Friday, June 12 and will end at 3 p.m.on Wednesday, June 17. Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the MedStar Health COVID-19 Critical Needs Fund.

The Handbid page provides a welcome message detailing the purpose of the auction:

This fund ensures that MedStar Health has the ability to meet patient needs and procure essential resources to keep its caregivers safe. As MedStar Health continues to treat our community, the needs of its hospitals continue to be challenged. The COVID-19 Critical Needs Fund provides the necessary flexibility to meet the ever-changing and growing requirements to remain at the forefront of diagnosing and treating this disease.

The team also released a statement saying:

The philanthropy supported fund helps MedStar Georgetown University Hospital procure additional personal protection equipment, increase retrofitted patient rooms with negative pressure equipment, expand care capacity through tent testing sites at hospitals and other locations, create drive-through and walk-up testing locations to increase accessibility for communities and prepare for other cost needs directly associated with the COVID-19 crisis.

Among the items being auctioned are two tickets to a game with a postgame meet and greet with Oshie and a framed team-signed Stanley Cup jersey.

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Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier and Larry Murphy predict John Carlson will win the Norris Trophy

By Lia Assimakopoulos June 12, 2020 12:00 PM

John Carlson is a shoo-in for the Norris Trophy this year, according to Hockey Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier and Larry Murphy,

The two hockey legends joined NBC Sports Washington’s Capitals Talk podcast Wednesday to debate whether the Caps’ star defenseman will take home the hardware at this year’s NHL Awards.

However, there wasn’t much debate at all.

“It is given,” Murphy said, a 2004 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, four- time Stanley Cup champion and Capitals defenseman from 1983 to 1989. “He will win the Norris Trophy this season…He made the decision the past couple of years that he wants to be the best, and that’s determination and commitment right there, and he’s basically elevated himself to that upper echelon of defenseman.”

In his 11th season in the league, Carlson took his game to the next level. He led all NHL defenseman in assists and points, set personal records in points and assists and tied his career-high goals in a season. He charted 75 points in 69 games and was on track to push 90 before the season was shortened.

“He’s not underrated anymore,” Trottier said, a 1997 Hall of Fame inductee and six-time Stanley Cup champion who split his time in the league between the Islanders and Penguins. “He’s not one of those guys that can slide under the radar. He’s front and center. He’s a No. 1 defenseman.”

The two noted that Carlson’s ability to distribute the puck, see the ice and use his speed to his advantage as well as his off-the-ice presence make him an ideal candidate for the award.

While he is currently the projected winner, Carlson still has to compete with a handful of others for the league’s top defensive honor including Tampa Bay’s , Nashville’s Roman Josi, St. Louis’ Alex Pietrangelo and Carolina’s Dougie Hamilton.

If chosen, Carlson would only be the second Norris winner in Capitals history behind who was selected for the award in consecutive years in 1983 and 1984.

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Former Capital Brendan Leipsic reportedly signing with KHL's CSKA

By Ryan Homler June 12, 2020 11:24 AM

Former Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic is reportedly working on signing a deal with the KHL's CSKA Hockey Club in Moscow, Sports Express reported on Friday.

Leipsic, who had signed a one-year deal with the Capitals last offseason, had his contract terminated by the team in early May after offensive comments made on social media were made public.

Screenshots of an Instagram chat featuring Leipsic showed him making offensive comments toward current teammates Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway, as well as former teammates from his time with the and the wife of a player. Amid criticism from around the NHL and the outside world, Washington terminated Leipsic's contract, the right -- and only -- move.

Leipsic put together three goals and eight assists in 61 games this season. The forward had spent six years in the NHL before the Capitals departed with him, while also bouncing around the WHL and AHL since 2010.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186290 Washington Capitals team won't be sold. He wants to win a clean game...until he finds out there are scouts watching. But it's clear he hates it when he does not have control of situations. That's what makes the relationship with his ex- wife, Francine, so fascinating. He tries so hard to get her back, but at the Why '' is stil the gold standard for hockey movies end of the movie when the team is celebrating a championship, she leaves for Long Island while he is headed to Minnesota. When he's

asked if she's coming with him, he lies and says she is, not wanting to By J.J. Regan June 12, 2020 6:00 AM admit he can't control what she's going to do.

Having said that, Dunlop may also be an amazing coach even if winning is secondary to his real motives. The team is absolutely awful until he With live sports on pause and most people stuck at home due to the changes their entire attitude and they become a championship team. It's coronavirus, hockey fans have to find other ways to pass the time. also the way be pushes individual players. The scene with Killer Carlson Watching a good hockey movie can certainly help, but the fact is some of is perfect. He tells Carlson before a game that he is worried he is too old us haven't seen the "classic" hockey movies since we were kids. to play anymore and lets Carlson cheer him up. Then he picks a fight with someone on the ice who chirps back that he's too old and Carlson So how good are they really? Do they actually hold up? With nothing but goes nuts, just like Dunlop planned. The only player he can't seem to get time on our hands, let's find out. to is Braden. Every Friday during the pause, I'll have a hockey movie review in which I Braden is probably the most complicated character of this entire movie. will watch a movie the night before, take notes and provide those notes He has a completely dysfunctional relationship with his wife, Lily, and it is and a grade for each movie just to see how good they really are. hinted that he cheats on her. She complains about being stuck in You can check out the past reviews here: Charlestown and he basically tells her to leave. When she tries to make amends, he completely blocks her out. Meanwhile, he is good at pretty Happy Gilmore much everything. He's the best at cards, he wins basically every bet he makes with anyone, and he is the team's best player on the ice. Braden, however, refuses to goon it up the way Dunlop wants him to. It's not that D2: The Mighty Ducks he won't fight, earlier in the movie he does drop the gloves when brawls break out, it's just that he doesn't want the team to intentionally play that D3: The Mighty Ducks way so he refuses to do it. That is the central part of Braden's character Goon and why he butts heads with Dunlop. He doesn't want to be pushed. Lily hates it in Charlestown and says he could get a job from his father or Goon: Last of the Enforcers hers, Carr notes that he went to Princeton, he's smart and he's good at everything. But he doesn't want to do anything but play hockey and play Miracle it his way and he doesn't want to hear from anyone who won't let him do This week's movie: "Slap Shot" that. That's why he lashes out at Lily and he won't do what Dunlop tells him to. Dunlop ultimately tries to get to him the only way he can, through This is the movie by which all other hockey movies are judged. The gold Lily. When Dunlop and Braden are yelling at each other, Dunlop makes a standard, the cream of the crop. "Slap Shot" is the hilarious look at a remark about Lily and Braden punches him. While on the ground, Dunlop minor league hockey team that is bad, stuck in a dying town and about to is smiling because he wanted Braden to react. That was the point. fold. Paul Newman plays Reggie Dunlop, the team's player-coach, and he and Strother Martin, who plays the team's penny-pinching general So who's right? Dunlop benches Braden for not fighting even though he manager Joe McGrath, absolutely make this movie. The cast all play scored. "We win 'cause I score goals." "We win because I make 'em their roles well, but without Newman and Martin I don't think this movie crazy!" On its face, it seems Dunlop is being ridiculous, but he's actually would come close to the elite status that it has. right. In the first game of the movie, Braden scores and it is announced he is the leading scorer of the Federal League, but the team still stinks. Trying to generate interest in the team, Dunlop adopts a new strategy of, They only started winning once Dunlop started gooning it up so really, for lack of a better term, gooning it up, which he is able to do thanks to they don't score because Braden scores goals. They win because of the team's new acquisitions, the Hanson brothers. Many games turn into Newman's strategy. brawls much to the delight of the fans and the team starts winning. The pregame scene where the Hansons are trying to pump the team up The movie can be seen as a commentary on the physical, violent aspects is one of my favorite scenes in movie history. of the game and really of the professional hockey world in general. The owner of the Chiefs, Anita McCambridge, is the worst kind of sports Here are my notes from watching: owner. She could sell the Chiefs for a profit, but not enough of one so she instead intends to let the team fold for the tax write off. When a team Right off the bat, we get a classic scene with goalie Denis Lemieux is just a pure investment for an owner and they take no interest in making explaining the game of hockey. This gives s great lines like saying sure it does well, it can be really hard for teams to overcome that. An "you're just some English pig" if you high-stick and if you're called for a owner can certainly go too far in the other direction and become too penalty "you go to the box two minutes by yourself and you feel shame." involved, but at least they are committed to helping the team get better. is one of the players on the Hyannisport Presidents in I have to admit, I don't love the ending. You certainly have to give the the first game of the movie. Dunlop's apartment shown later in the movie movie credit for not being just a generic, bad team learns how to win and is also Boudreau's. pulls off an improbable championship run. I also get the point it's trying to Jim Carr is a very subtlely funny character. He is the radio voice of the make. Every player is on the ice brawling, there's blood everywhere and Chiefs and goes back and forth between being comically terrible at his Braden is being "disgusting" for stripping. "That's not hockey!" Carr also job and doing the best with what he's got. The interviews are always says he doesn't want anyone watching to think this is the way hockey terrible usually because the players don't say anything. The interview he should be played which he says entirely in response to Braden and not at does with Killer Carlson in the first game is funny because he keeps all about the massive brawl going on. I've seen this movie so many times getting one-word answers and he just has to power through. Then there that I can see the picture it is painting with Braden. I've also seen this are other moments where he is clearly not listening to the answers movie a lot with people who are watching it for the first time and most players are giving to his questions which, in real ife, is something players people just walk away confused by how it ends. This movie is incredible, can absolutely tell and hate. Ned Braden even calls him out on the radio but I don't think it sticks the landing. when he asks about his college career and he answers, "That's what it Final Grade: A said in the yearbook, Jim." That basically means anyone could read that, you did not research and you're not going to listen to my answer anyway. I love this movie. I think the ending falls flat a bit, but otherwise, it is hilarious. It walks a fine line with deep cuts on the sport of hockey itself, Dunlop is a master manipulator, except in this context we call it coaching. but has enough general humor to satisfy non-hockey fans without I call him a manipulator because he was more concerned with trying to alienating the hardcore ones. This is one of Newman's all-time best roles get the team sold than with winning which is why he initially abandons and this is one of the all-time best sports movies ever made. the team's new attitude for the championship game when he realizes the Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186291 Washington Capitals I’d sign up for another summer like that right now! Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.13.2020

Two years later, reminiscing on the Capitals' magical Parade Day

By Rob Carlin June 12, 2020 7:00 AM

Being in Las Vegas the night the Capitals won the Stanley Cup was a professional high. Broadcasting those moments as the players skated around the ice, Cup overhead, the realization not only of their dreams but the dreams of Caps fans everywhere... that was the best night of my career.

But Parade Day was a close second.

We had to get to our stage very early that morning. You could already feel the excitement in the air. Even before the sun came up. This was going to be a party unlike any this city has seen since the Redskins last Super Bowl title. But that was almost 30 years ago. This had the feel of something different. Something special.

It did not disappoint.

Michael Jenkins & I made friends with a group of fans near our set. Those guys came equipped with airplane sized bottles of many different kinds of liquor. And they were sharing. So we were drinking. Sure, it might have been around 9 am. But it felt like it was 5 o’clock somewhere. So the insanity began.

We had people lined up and down Constitution Ave. We had the parade covered from every angle. When we caught our first glimpse of the Cup, it still felt surreal. This was really happening. In DC. The demons had been exorcised. The black cloud that followed the city’s sports teams had been replaced with a bright sun and it was shining down on everyone. And it felt like everyone was there. The whole city. It was a sea of red for as far as the eye could see.

And what better backdrop. The Monument on one end. The Capitol on the other. Delirious Caps fans lined the mall in between. It was amazing.

Nicklas Backstrom said he used to envision a parade down Constitution Ave every time he drove to work. He said the parade far surpassed even his wildest expectations.

When addressed the crowd, he beautifully paraphrased Martin Luther King. Saying, “We had a dream.” The dream was realized. Yet, it still felt like we were living inside that dream.

Ted Leonsis thanked the fans. And the community. His dream was to unite the city. To have his franchise bring people together. His dream was playing out right in front of his eyes. Not many people get to experience that in a lifetime. You could see in his face how much this meant to him and his family. Which, at that moment, extended to the entire fan base.

And, of course, Ovi summed it all up when he stopped the music at the end of the parade for one final statement. His reminder to the fans of how far this team had come that season.,

“We’re not gonna be f*****g suck this year!”

That’s a mic drop moment if there ever was one.

For us, it was the culmination of the wildest two-month rides of our lives. Seeing Alan May tear up when they won the Cup. Then seeing him get emotional again when his team was celebrated in his city... that was all worth it.

The parade was over. The party was not.

Walking through the city was phenomenal. Everyone smiling, everyone enjoying the moment. I high-fived strangers in the street. I shared a drink or two along the way.

We all made our way to Penn Quarter Sports Tavern. Alan arranged for us to have our own personal keg on the top floor. It was packed. Horn Guy & Loud Goat were leading the chants. Somehow, we all ended up doing inverted keg stands to see who could do it the longest. It was being broadcast by Steve Czaban on 980. I know that because some guys stopped me at the end of the night and said they were listening to the play-by-play on the radio. It was all so crazy. It was all so fun. 1186292 Winnipeg Jets the risk of importing COVID-19 into a community that has it well under control — Winnipeg would be a prime example — remains high given some of the startling numbers we're currently seeing in several U.S. states. Unlike NHL officiating, feds should call this game consistently And we already know NHL players are getting COVID-19, with members of four different teams — Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Colorado and Boston — having tested positive to date. By: Mike McIntyre | Posted: 06/12/2020 7:00 PM There was a belief in the hockey community that clarity would come from

this week, but that still hasn't happened. I'd like to think that's a sign the It's about federal government and health officials potentially kowtowing to whole idea will get scrapped, but I'm not holding my breath. Canadian NHL teams by loosening quarantine requirements to facilitate Some have speculated perhaps the feds are re-considering a full the speedy return of dozens of players currently in the United States and exemption allowing players to go anywhere they want once back in Europe, including many who have been riding out the global crisis in Canada and will instead allow them to "quarantine" while also skating at areas where the COVID-19 curve is still growing. their club's facility, where NHL guidelines would also apply. That could Are you kidding me? also open the door for a Canadian city to be a hub for as many as 12 teams, with the same modified isolation rules applying while still being Such a move is under consideration in Ottawa, with details expected any allowed to conduct all hockey-related activities in the community. day now that could solve an ongoing headache for six teams north of the border whose seasons are still alive, including the Winnipeg Jets. If so, it Regardless, the ends wouldn't justify the means. If the risk is still too high would be a major, tone-deaf mistake on several levels. for average citizens to waive the quarantine, then it's still too high for hockey players. The optics alone are terrible. There is no reason these athletes who decided to flee the country once the pandemic paused the season in mid- "Since the outset of this pandemic, the Government of Canada’s goal has March should now be given preferential treatment from Joe and Jane been to safeguard the health and safety of Canadians. Like other Public so they can get back to their home markets to prepare for a 24- countries, Canada is working on plans for a measured resumption of team Stanley Cup tournament starting later this summer. international sports. We are aware some provinces and territories have approved proposals from the NHL. We continue to work closely with They should spend the same 14 days in isolation that every other visitor, provinces and territories, so that our public health measures — in save for those deemed essential workers, would be required to. No response to the outbreak — are in alignment," a federal spokesman told exceptions. Anything short of that sends a terrible message to Canadians the Free Press Friday. and is especially insulting to all those who have been following guidelines to the letter in order to keep the caseload relatively low, compared to our It's worth noting U.S. markets can welcome players back from outside the more reckless southern neighbours. country without isolation based on a directive from Homeland Security issued in late May. Considering 14 states just hit their highest seven-day Here in Manitoba, you still can't even travel to other provinces without average of infections, I wouldn't be looking south right now for inspiration being required to quarantine for two weeks upon your return. So try or guidance. explaining to folks who've missed out on life-changing events such as births and deaths, weddings and funerals, that the same rules suddenly As the old saying goes, two wrongs don't make a right. It would be a wouldn't apply to a multi-millionaire hockey player who's spent the past shame if Canada follows suit and makes the same mistake, all in the few months hanging by a pool in Palm Springs. name of a game.

And don't try to convince me that members of the Jets, Vancouver Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 06.13.2020 Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are "essential." As much as I'd love to see hockey return, it's laughable to suggest our society depends on it. But even if you believe that, it's not like the current regulations, which were put in place for a good reason, are standing in the way.

Although the Canada-U.S. border remains closed, exceptions already exist for anyone travelling for work purposes. So there's nothing stopping the likes of Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor and several other members of the Jets from buying one-way tickets and jumping on planes so they can start getting ready for the next phase of the return-to-play protocol.

And no time like the present to return, fellas. With a July 10 start date to training camps, that gives you until June 26 to begin your period of quarantine. The clock is ticking. You can't say you weren't warned.

Pro sports organizations wield plenty of power and influence, and there's no doubt the NHL has been putting pressure on the federal government, especially with Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto on the list of 10 potential hub cities that will be whittled down to two in the coming weeks. The message has been clear: Give us what we want, or you're out of the running and we'll hold the playoffs entirely in the U.S. Same goes with training camps, which several Canadian clubs have threatened to move.

All because they don't want to slightly inconvenience players by holding them to the same standards as every other citizen. The proper response here should be "Sorry, folks. Them's the rules."

The NHL has promised an extensive health and safety plan in every step of their plan, which includes comprehensive testing and keeping players in a so-called bubble as much as possible. That's already underway in many markets right now where players are being allowed to skate in small groups of six or less, with numerous other conditions. With nobody currently in town, the Jets are not one of them.

That's an important, and necessary step, but it still doesn't justify moving the goalposts when it comes to re-entry into the country. Especially when 1186293 Winnipeg Jets The last thing the league needs in these crazy times is all this added tension.

STREVELER SPECULATION TED’S TALK: Shocking to see CFL drop ball so badly when players are For much of the off-season, we’ve been hearing that the Arizona stuck in limbo … Cardinals could have big plans for Streveler, if he Cardinals have big plans for former Blue Bombers quarterback Chris makes team … Streveler. Ted Wyman The man with the crazy legs, the physicality of a linebacker and the Published:June 12, 2020 toughness of a war hero gives head coach Kliff Kingsbury (also a former Bombers’ quarterback) a nice potential option for offensive strategy. Updated:June 12, 2020 2:44 PM CDT While Kyler Murray is set as the Cardinals starter, Streveler is in the mix with Brett Anderson and Drew Hundley for backup reps, or in the case of Streveler, perhaps some special packages like the ones he ran in It’s very hard to understand why the League continues Winnipeg over the last two seasons. to fumble relations with its players in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. It could be great news for Streveler, who took the CFL by storm in 2018 and 2019 and became a legend in Winnipeg with his epic Grey Cup This week we heard from CFLPA executive director Brian Ramsay and a celebration, if it all works out. host of players that the league has not been sufficiently communicative with regard to possible plans for a shortened 2020 season. Of course, that is far from a guarantee and there are some significant roadblocks. Ramsay said “The CFLPA has not received concrete ideas regarding a 2020 collective agreement from the CFL, as was promised, not concrete One is the pandemic, which has already reduced the amount of time NFL direction about opportunities for a 2020 season. I am dismayed that the players have on the practice field. With little time to show what he can do, CFL has stated otherwise.” Streveler might not get the same chance he would have had in a different season. Speculation is the Cardinals will go with Murray and Hundley in It was a shocking revelation from Ramsay, as CFL commissioner Randy 2020 because they have the most experience and know the system Ambrosie has indicated that the league and players have been working already. together to come up with a plan salvage some semblance of a season, despite the pandemic that has already wiped out the first two-and-a-half Also, there’s been some talk the Cardinals could sign veteran Cam months of the schedule. Newton, which would almost certainly punt Streveler right out of the mix.

It is stunning to think that the players, who are in limbo right now, not It would be safe to say the Bombers and their fans — or any other CFL getting paycheques, not knowing if and when they will get paid, are also team — would welcome him back with open arms if things don’t work out. feeling abandoned and mistreated by the league. TAKE A KNEE If ever there were a time that they should be kept in the loop, given almost daily progress reports and be given a say in how things should Of all the pro sports leagues that are trying to get going again amid the go, moving forward, it’s now. pandemic, the NFL seems the most confident it can pull it off, and complete a full season. When the first games are played — it’s supposed No doubt, Ambrosie and the league’s board of governors already have to be on Sept. 10 — it would be nice to see every single player kneel their hands full. The CFL is a money-losing operation that is currently during the national anthem in honour of George Floyd and Colin generating no revenue and still has nine teams with personnel to pay. Kaepernick and all the other heroes of the worldwide fight against racism. It’s not about a flag, it’s not about a song, it’s about a broken country — Ambrosie has asked the federal government for a massive bailout just to many countries, actually — and an American president who just doesn’t survive through to 2021 and has floated the idea of a shortened season get it. The anti-racism protests that have gripped the United States for that is very short on details. the last two weeks will eventually die down, but the cause can’t and NFL While the topics of hub cities, games without fans and a “win and host” players have an opportunity to keep the momentum going. If the NHL, Grey Cup have been tossed around, there has been absolutely nothing NBA, MLB and even CFL get their seasons going as planned, it would be firm to this point and time is starting to become an enemy. good to see those players do it too. So many pro athletes have made statements in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Soon they’ll The players seemingly want consultation first and some hard facts have a chance to prove they mean it … How is it possible that NASCAR second. is just now banning the Confederate flag, a symbol of oppression that should have disappeared more than 150 years ago? It’s about time left- “Can we please get a date set on when a decision will be made?” turn racing did the right thing. And you may never have heard of driver quarterback Vernon Adams wrote on Twitter. “I got Ray Ciccarelli, but he has reportedly quit NASCAR because the kids Mann.” Confederate flag has been banned. Hopefully, I speak for most of the That doesn’t seem like such a crazy request. The least the league could civilized world in saying good riddance … If you haven’t had a chance to do is give these players some sort of timeline. read it, check out the wonderful essay entitled The Wrong Side of the Fence by Sheri Forde, a TV sports announcer who is married to former If there’s not going to be a season, let them know so they can find other CFL player and TSN football analyst Duane Forde. Sheri is white and ways to earn income. If there’s a legitimate chance that there will be a Duane is Black and her story is pure proof that racism is as much a season, bring the players into the picture and start working on a financial problem in Canada as anywhere … Winnipegger Kelsey Wog is one of agreement that works for both sides. four Canadian athletes up for the USports Lieutenant Governor Award “Being in limbo from our perspective is worse than for them because they (female athlete of the year), which will be announced on June 25. The have the information, they know what’s going on,” Alouettes running back 21-year-old was already named Canada West female athlete of the year Tyrell Sutton told TSN. and swimmer of the year in Canada. She could be the first member of the Manitoba Bisons to win the national award since basketball player Terri- Just look at Major League Baseball and how much difficulty the owners Lee Johannesson in the early 1990s. Winnipeggers can help the aspiring and players have had agreeing on a shortened season. It has gone back Olympian out by voting on the Lieutenant Governor Awards online (the and forth for weeks, with both sides rejecting proposals on the number of voting counts for 25% of the decision) by voting at USports.ca or games to be played and the pro-rated salaries players will earn. https://usports.ca/en/special-events/aoty/vote.

If the CFL is serious about having a season in 2020 — and that seems to Manitobans on board for virtual tailgate party be far from a done deal — the players have to know what the plan is, know when it might be implemented and have a chance to negotiate on It’s not going to be as big as Daryl Budnick hoped, but the CFL virtual matters that are important to them. tailgate party is ready to roll on Saturday afternoon.

With players starting to get frustrated and angry, an improvement in CFL- CFLPA relations is paramount. Budnick had visions of a nationwide event in celebration of what was supposed to be the opening of the CFL season, but it seems most of the participants will be in Manitoba.

Budnick said there are about 500-600 people registered to take part, with only four groups outside of Manitoba.

The idea is for various “tailgate parties” to come together virtually at 3 p.m., Saturday. That’s the day the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would have opened the season in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats. Many of the participants are regular tailgaters at Blue Bombers games.

Because of the pandemic, the plan is to have smaller groups that are respecting social distancing, meet up through social media to create one big party, complete with beers, barbecues, prizes and a showing of the 2019 Grey Cup, in which the Bombers beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Money will be raised for Winnipeg Harvest and other food banks around the nation.

“Perhaps it was too early to try this event, but we are committed to going forward with this provincially,” Budnick said. “People are holding back on any events such as these right now, but with the support of Manitobans everywhere, we still plan on having a great day to help raise funds and awareness for Winnipeg Harvest and Food Banks Canada.”

Disgraced Leipsic headed for Russia

It looks like Winnipegger Brendan Leipsic has found another job in hockey, a month after he was released by the Washington Capitals for being part of a misogynistic and offensive chat group on social media.

Leipsic, 26, is reportedly very close to signing a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow in the KHL.

Once considered a very good NHL prospect after scoring 120 points in a season with the of the WHL, Leipsic was a fourth liner in Washington last year. He scored three goals and had 11 points.

He would have become a free agent after this season anyway, but the Capitals cut ties quickly after he mocked women, including wives of fellow players, in a chat with several other hockey players.

When he was released, it was speculated Leipsic would have a very hard time finding another job in the NHL, so it’s not surprising that he is headed to the KHL.

With his reputation having taken such a beating, he needs to be as far away as possible.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.13.2020 1186294 Vancouver Canucks In non-rush situations where the defence is already set, Rathbone looks to use the threat of his shot from the point to freeze defenders, before using his feet to separate with a change in pace. It’s a smart way to manipulate the defence to manufacture space and given that his shot is Why Canucks prospect Jack Rathbone has the potential to be a top-4 so powerful, he can let it fly from medium-danger areas and still find NHL D-man twine. Put together, this is how it can look.

Faking the slapshot and then making a bee-line downhill is something of a go-to move for Rathbone. It’s an aggressive way to draw the defence By Harman Dayal Jun 12, 2020 which also opens up the possibility for backdoor opportunities and with how proficient Rathbone is in seeing the ice, he can identify and connect on those feeds too. In the sequence below, Rathbone uses a fake The Vancouver Canucks’ biggest long-term weakness isn’t new. It isn’t slapper to create space and because he’s coming down from his strong easily solvable and with Chris Tanev set to become a free agent, it’s side with his hips in a position to shoot, the opposition isn’t expecting him going to become worse before it gets better. to make a sly feed across the slot.

It’s an issue staring them in the face — they need top-four help on the It’s not just the strong side where he can leverage his shot as a threat to blue line. open passing lanes — watch how he does the same with his wrist shot from the right side on the power play. What’s less obvious is a viable solution to this problem. The Athletic Vancouver has explored the club’s options on the trade and free-agent All of these skills, in addition to his production (seven goals and 31 points markets, but they may find nothing more than band-aid solutions. in 28 games), auger well for his NHL prospects and I have a lot of Subsequently, much of the onus will fall onto the prospect pipeline to confidence that he could run a second power-play unit one day. produce the NHL talent required to fill that void. Enter Jack Rathbone, the player we’ve identified as Vancouver’s top defensive prospect. The biggest knock I see with Rathbone is that his aggressive decision- making often puts him in trouble. For starters, while he possesses a high- A deeper analysis of the 21-year-old’s game certainly reaffirms that he panic threshold, he does tend to force passes and cause turnovers. has the potential to be a top-four NHL defenceman. Here’s one in the defensive zone where he sends a puck across the middle. Rathbone was impressive in his first season with Harvard last year – notching 22 points in 33 games – but it came with the asterisk that he In this play, you can understand why Rathbone tries sending a pass had a stud partner in . This year, with Fox and John Marino through as he sees the low forward dropping in the slot as a potential both graduating from Harvard to top-four NHL roles, Rathbone was breakout option, but it’s not an easy pass to execute and an unnecessary leaned on much harder and he certainly rose to the occasion. risk in his own zone.

Stylistically, the former fourth-round pick plays at a very aggressive, He similarly tries to force a pass through a tight lane on the man uptempo pace. Rathbone relishes chances to rush the puck up ice – he’s advantage in the example below as well. not afraid to take risks and force the issue in an almost confrontational fashion. His game exudes tremendous confidence which derives largely Considering how good of a skater Rathbone is, he’s not very slippery, from his superior skating. which means that he’s liable to turn the puck over when he skates himself into trouble. As a skater, Rathbone has a very powerful stride with a separation gear in his first couple of steps that enables him to beat players up the ice. He’s bailed out in the turnover above, but that’s not always going to be That straight-line explosiveness helps him jump into the play and join the the case. Watch the rush below where he skates up the neutral zone rush on a regular basis. boards but is unable to get the puck deep, which puts him out of position and leads to a goal against shortly after the opposition enters the zone It’s not just Rathbone’s raw speed, but his adept footwork in being able to on the counterattack. turn sharply out of corners on defensive zone puck retrievals that allows him to flourish in transition as a breakout facilitator. Conversely, smooth These aren’t uncommon issues for offensive defencemen, but as pivots and changes in direction when his team loses the puck in the Rathbone develops, he’ll definitely need to be a bit more responsible with attacking zone allow for quick transitions from offence to defence which the puck and do a better job of assessing the risk-to-reward ratio with his subsequently aids his neutral zone defending. decisions.

In conjunction, his boldness and feet can drive end-to-end rushes such “I think that’s the one part of his game that he’s going to continue to learn as the one below. and get better at,” told The Athletic last month. “Sometimes college hockey is so wide open, offensive, it’s an end-to-end game … The caveat is that clips like the one above where he’s actually able to The parts of his game that he needs to work on – he knows that, we’ve convert his rush into a scoring chance don’t occur as often as you might talked to him about that, his coaches at Harvard have talked to him about hope. Rathbone is easily forced to the outside on many of his rushes and it – he’s going to work at it and keep getting better at it. The things he has can struggle to penetrate the middle of the ice when carrying the puck. though, you can’t teach.” More often, his rushes look like this: The other hurdle Rathbone will have to overcome is being able to defend Being able to transport the puck from the defensive zone to the attacking proficiently at the highest level. His fundamentals are generally solid end is always a great thing, but it’s crucial to keep expectations in check when it comes to defending the counterattack in transition, but his in- with regards to what those rushes will directly lead to. To take the next zone work remains an area for improvement. step, Rathbone will need to add layers of deception, which will allow him to increase his conversion rate and produce more scoring chances. Still, Conclusion Rathbone is a strong puck mover who’s fully capable of orchestrating Rathbone is an effortless, pro-ready skater who loves to rush the puck exits using both his feet and outlet passing ability. These transition skills and put the opposition on their heels. He’s got the aggressive instincts will be central to Rathbone’s value as a potential NHLer. and urgency to suit a contemporary NHL that’s getting faster by the day. On the offensive side of things, Rathbone is a trigger happy volume Offensively, his heavy and accurate shot is a standout attribute though shooter who finished second among all NCAA defencemen in averaging he’s also proficient as a distributor. He has the natural skill set to be a 3.36 shots per game. This makes a lot of sense because a potent shot is puck-moving, offensive defenceman who can push the pace of play and unquestionably the best asset in his arsenal after his skating. contribute on the man advantage and that’s why he has top-four potential. Rathbone has shown that he can beat goalies cleanly from distance with both his wrist shot and one-timer. There are two main ways in which he’s There’s no question that these strengths will translate to the best league able to create chances — activating on the rush as a second layer of in the world, it’s just a matter of whether he can manage the puck well attack and attacking downhill from the point. Here’s an example of the enough and be effective in his own zone to be trusted as an undersized former, where he jumps up in the play as the trailer and rips a one-time 5-foot-10 defenceman. Some diminutive rearguards like Quinn Hughes goal. and Adam Fox prove capable of this at the collegiate level, but it’s still something Rathbone is working to refine. The other factor to remember in all of this is that Rathbone is in a unique situation where he can become a free agent after his junior year in 2021 or his senior campaign in 2022. Vancouver is trying to sign him this summer, but Benning told The Athletic that he suspects Rathbone may return for another year of college given how uncertain the status of the AHL is with the pandemic.

“I’ve had conversations with his family representative and that’s going to be up to Jack and his family,” Benning said. “He just finished his second year, I think probably he’ll go back and play one more year at Harvard.”

The Canucks have done a good job of getting their NCAA prospects signed, but there’s always a risk of collegiate players fleeing, as Harvard alumni Jimmy Vesey and Fox have proven. However, you can bet that Vancouver will do everything in their power to sign Rathbone when the time comes because as it currently stands, he’s the club’s most exciting defensive prospect.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186295 Websites Officially listed as 5-foot-4, Gerbe’s NHL career dates back to the 10 games he played with the 2008-09 Buffalo Sabres, who’d controversially made him the 142nd pick of the 2005 NHL Draft.

The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: An ode to the Masterton, assessing Gerbe’s talent wasn’t in question. He’d led Boston College in scoring the the candidates and more previous year, and won the NCAA tournament MVP. But even as the NHL evolved away from bigger-is-better, 5-foot-4 was still 5-foot-4 and so Gerbe kicked around the league for most of seven years before leaving to play for Genève-Servette of the Swiss League in 2016-17. But he By Eric Duhatschek Jun 12, 2020 came back to North America for the end of the 2017-18 season and spent parts of three seasons playing for the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate in Cleveland. Eventually, the Blue Jackets’ unconscionable run of injuries to I love the Masterton Trophy. forwards gave him an opportunity to get back to the NHL. It didn’t take long for Gerbe to become a fan favorite. It’s an annual award, administered by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, designed to honor three qualities – perseverance, dedication Gerbe will turn 33 in July. If you want to talk about perseverance, and sportsmanship – that may not exactly be unique to hockey but are dedication and sportsmanship, Gerbe’s unwillingness to give up on his deeply embedded in the sport’s DNA. NHL aspirations a pretty great place to start.

The Masterton has been a fixture on the awards calendar since 1968 But wait. That’s just the beginning — one candidate out of 31. when it was created by what was then known as the NHL Writers’ Association to commemorate the life and achievements of Bill Masterton. Does anyone outside of Arizona know much about Conor Garland? No? Probably not? At 5-foot-8, Garland positively towers over Gerbe (but not For those unfamiliar with the history, Masterton – playing for the many others). On a Coyotes team that includes Taylor Hall, Phil Kessel, expansion Minnesota North Stars – died within 24 hours of a January Nick Schmaltz and other more familiar names, Garland led the team in 1968 NHL game, when his unprotected head hit the ice in a tangled goal scoring this year with 22. A player selected 123rd in the 2015 draft collision with two Oakland Seals defenders. looks as if he will be an NHL fixture now.

Masterton had a unique back story, which would be almost Did anyone outside of Florida (or maybe Boston) notice what Noel Acciari unprecedented today. After a distinguished college career at the achieved this season? A comparative physical monster compared to University of Denver, Masterton had played professionally for the Gerbe and Garland at 5-foot-10, Acciari was an undrafted free agent who American Hockey League’s Cleveland Barons but stopped following the signed with Boston in 2015. This year, his first with the Panthers, Acciari 1962-63 season. This was the six-team era, and long before salary had the best campaign of his professional career, notching 20 goals escalation came to the NHL, so the jobs at the highest level of hockey before the NHL paused play. Ten goals represented his previous career- were few and far between, and most didn’t pay all that well. Masterton high. He also led the Panthers in hits. took a year off the sport completely and then played three years semi- professionally – until NHL expansion gave him a second chance. Flying under the radar is impossible in hockey-mad Toronto, but let’s also give a nod to Zach Hyman, a key foot soldier on a Maple Leaf team of Masterton scored the first goal in North Stars’ history and was playing as stars. Florida, the team that drafted Hyman, had 13 picks in the 2010 a regular in coach Wren Blair’s lineup when the collision that ultimately draft, including three players selected in the first round (Erik Gudbranson, led to his death occurred. Eleven years after Masterton died, the NHL Nick Bjugstad, Quinton Howden). If every NHL GM was asked under finally made helmets mandatory equipment. Masterton was, by all oath which one of these four players they would choose for their teams – accounts, the quintessential teammate, someone who made it to the NHL right here, right now – a hefty number would probably select Hyman, because of an unremitting commitment to the sport. It’s why the even if he began his career as an NHL afterthought. Masterton has always felt like an everyman’s award – hockey’s equivalent to citizen-of-the-year citations that honor unsung heroes in a Can we talk about Colorado’s Ryan Graves? When you think of community for largely anonymous good deeds. Avalanche defencemen, your mind immediately turns to Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, Erik Johnson – even the versatile Ian Cole, a former Claude Provost of the Montreal Canadiens was the original winner of the Stanley Cup champion, may enter your thoughts. But Graves, who’d Masterton in 1968. And while the Masterton has occasionally gone to a muddled along for most of four years in the minors, finally got a chance star player – Jean Ratelle in 1971, Serge Savard in 1979, Lanny to play in the NHL for 26 games last season and this season was his first McDonald in 1983 – for the most part, it tends to single out players that as a full-time NHL player. When play was suspended, Graves led the may be well-appreciated by hockey fans in their own markets, but are league with a plus-40 rating. I don’t care how much or how little some largely unknown outside them. people appreciate plus-minus as a stat. If you are a plus-40 in the NHL, you are doing something right. And just about every winner – and really every candidate – has an inspiring back story. Maybe the longest journey from zero to 100 was undertaken by Calgary Flames’ defenceman Mark Giordano. An undrafted free agent, Giordano Procedurally, the Masterton differs from other NHL awards because the originally signed a three-way professional contract, which had different local chapters of the PHWA nominate one deserving candidate per financial components depending upon if he played in NHL, the AHL or season; which produces 31 finalists. Members then vote for their top the ECHL. Giordano started out as the longest of long shots; and even three candidates. left to play in the KHL with Moscow Dynamo for a season before slowly, Last year’s winner was Robin Lehner, then of the New York Islanders. gradually, working himself up the ranks of NHL players. Last June, he won the Norris Trophy in landslide fashion as the NHL’s top defenceman. If you turn your attention back to the moment when Lehner stepped to Giordano is the personification of a rags-to-riches success story. the podium to accept the award about a year ago now, his brilliant and impassioned speech on behalf of the mental health challenges that he If you were to isolate a single Masterton moment this past season, it endured likely stayed with you far longer than anything else that was said probably belonged to the Ottawa Senators’ Bobby Ryan. On the night on a night that celebrated splashier statistical achievements. Ryan returned to the team’s lineup after months in the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program, he scored a hat trick in a 5-2 win over At its best, sport is about striving to be better. Ultimately – at the Vancouver. Ryan was in tears on the bench, the crowd standing to professional level – it is about striving to be the very best. acknowledge his triumphant return. It was an achingly beautiful human The challenges that athletes need to overcome to do so – physical moment that transcended sport. injuries, taming the mind, struggles with addiction (or simply the pure But we’re not finished yet. limitations of one’s physical frame) – is what makes the Masterton one of the most satisfying awards to ponder. It may also be the most difficult in The Dallas Stars’ Stephen Johns returned to the lineup after a 22-month which to choose the most deserving candidate. absence, recovering from headaches and post-concussion syndrome. Everyone in hockey hopes that Oskar Lindblom will eventually make his Let’s consider some of this year’s nominees, starting with Nathan Gerbe way back to the Philadelphia Flyers after being diagnosed with Ewing of the Columbus Blue Jackets (profiled here by Aaron Portzline). sarcoma. Lindblom was having a breakout season – a team-leading 11 goals at the time of the diagnosis. The St. Louis Blues’ consummate veteran, Jay Bouwmeester, may not ever play again, but thanks to the In addition, the writers are also asked to select first and second All-Star quick action of first responders, the revered veteran, who won a Stanley teams and choose the All-Rookie team. Cup last spring at the age of 36, survived a cardiac incident during a February game against Ducks in Anaheim. Bouwmeester has been an Generally, the focus tends to be more on awards and less on All-Star underappreciated member of multiple Canadian Olympic and World Cup teams, though they matter a great deal as well – and there’s a peculiar teams – quiet, humble and throughout his career, has put his head down inconsistency between the way we vote for the All-Stars and the way we and got the job done. vote for the All-Rookie team that’s worth exploring.

In all, goalies have won the Masterton five times in the past decade: All-Star voting is done by position – center, left wing, right wing, defence Lehner, Devan Dubnyk, Josh Harding, Craig Anderson and Jose and goal – and that has created controversy over time because Theodore. This year, seven netminders have been nominated: Ryan sometimes, forwards plays two positions. Miller (Anaheim), James Reimer (Carolina), Corey Crawford (Chicago), This year is a good example: At times, the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl plays Alex Stalock (Minnesota), Henrik Lundqvist (Rangers), Jonathan Quick center, and at times, he plays left wing on a line with McDavid. (Los Angeles) and Jacob Markstrom (Vancouver). Similarly, the Calgary Flames experimented with Elias Lindholm as a While three of those tenders are potential future Hall of Famers, the center (which is how he came through the ranks), but more frequently, he majority were late-round, hope-and-a-prayer longshots who had to prove plays right wing on the line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. their NHL worthiness, amid organizational skepticism. Miller is one of my favorite people in the game, just so thoughtful about the game and life in Nowadays, the PHWA sends a note of clarification after consulting with general. Conversations with him are not just limited to his craft, but veer writers in their individual markets and recommends which position certain off in surprising directions. But when speaking about his craft, he can be players should be considered. This year, Draisaitl is officially brilliant and insightful. recommended as a center, while Lindholm is officially a right wing. Other position clarifications include: Carolina’s Teuvo Teravainen (RW), There is a part of me that cannot believe the estimable Shea Weber, now Minnesota’s Kevin Fiala (RW), the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin (LW) and 34, may never win a major NHL trophy in his career. Weber was twice three from Toronto: Mitch Marner (RW), William Nylander (RW) and the first runner-up in Norris Trophy balloting, finishing behind Nicklas Hyman (LW). The confusion is sometimes attributable to the way the Lidstrom in 2011 and Erik Karlsson in 2012. Talk about perseverance. NHL lists players. For example, in the daily game release individual Weber was limited to 26 games in the 2017-18 by a broken ankle and statistical reports, Fiala is listed as a left wing. then a complicated knee surgery. This past year, he sprained his ankle in February, which led to speculation that his career might be in jeopardy. Of course, the easiest way to end the problem is by shifting the All-Star Instead, Weber returned to the Habs’ lineup and was playing regularly voting protocols to the way in which voting is done for the All-Rookie right up until the league suspended play, even though Montreal was out team. For the rookie team, voters are permitted to select three forwards, of the playoff hunt. Weber has been a warrior throughout his NHL career regardless of position, which is helpful in years, such as 2015-16, when and he doesn’t need a Masterton win to validate his off-the-charts the three forwards on the All-Rookie team were McDavid, Jack Eichel determination — but it would be a wholly deserving honor. and Panarin – two centers and a winger. Some seasons, such as 2014- 15, you get three wingers: Mark Stone, Johnny Gaudreau and Filip San Jose’s Joe Thornton and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid may be at Forsberg. the opposite ends of what will surely be Hall of Fame careers, but they underwent similar challenges relating to knee injuries to play this year. The beauty of voting for three forward positions is there’s a better chance Thornton, at 40, has an unquenchable love for the game and has paid a of getting the most deserving candidates, rather than having to shoehorn physical price to battle through and play with a series of knee injuries players in by specific position. because – 22 years in – he still dreams of winning a Stanley Cup. And there is an inconsistency here, because you are not obliged to make McDavid is 17 years Thornton’s junior but suffered a massively the same distinction on defence. Voters are not asked specifically to complicated posterior cruciate knee ligament injury on the final day of the select left and right defenceman — you just pick the two worthiest 2018-19 season, raising questions about when and if he could ever candidates. Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns are now teammates in San return to the same high level of play. So much of McDavid’s game is Jose and both play the right side. But in 2016-17, they were the two predicated on speed and knee injuries can often undermine a players’ defencemen voted to the first All-Star team, even though they played the skating ability. same position. No one had any issue with it either. But McDavid came back to the Oilers’ lineup and thrived. He probably So why not change the protocols for forwards? Years ago, when I asked would have won – or at least contended for the scoring title – if he hadn’t someone at the league that question, the answer was that they didn’t missed seven games to injury and illness during the season. McDavid’s want to tamper with the historical record. The NHL first started choosing recovery was detailed in a video feature that aired on Sportsnet earlier All-Star teams in the 1930-31 season, back when the forward positions this year. If you ever wanted to get inside what the grind of rehab really were far more clearly defined than they are today and when the on-ice looks like, you need to watch this. It’s hard and requires unimaginable game was largely played in north-south lanes, rather than the east-west dedication – even if you’re Superman. improvisation that’s part of the modern NHL. It’s going on 90 years that It’s why I love Masterton trophy. Because the one quality that all the it’s been done the same way and there’s a part of me that is OK with nominees share – from Gerbe to McDavid – is their commitment to the maintaining it as a tradition, even if the current state of the game has sport. There are so many inspiring stories and so many good options to evolved away from the way the game used to be played. choose from. Voting for the All-Rookie team started in 1982-83. Just because of the In fact, that’s the only thing I don’t love about the Masterton: The nearly way they framed that – choosing the three most deserving forwards – impossible task of narrowing the list down to the final three. Of all the you’d have to assume they understood by then it was just a fairer way of voting we do, it might be the single most difficult ballot to cast. doing things. If you could choose three forwards, then you’d never have to worry again about a year like 2012-13, when Alex Ovechkin has The votes are (almost) in named to the first All-Star team as a right wing – and the second All-Star Speaking of voting, the NHL distributed ballots for the 2020 awards race team as a left wing. on Monday and this year, voters have an entire week to make their The possibility of something similar unfolding with Draisaitl this year is selections. real – although the specific guidance from the PHWA hopefully will Usually, the turnaround time is much shorter because ballots need to be mitigate against that happening. In the end, I don’t really see a change filed in the approximately 96-hour window between the end of the regular coming in the All-Star voting protocols. season and the start of the playoffs. This year is obviously different. Tradition matters in hockey – and while change is sometimes necessary, Votes have to be in by Monday and the NHL has yet to decide how and that’s a tradition the NHL seems unwilling to tamper with. when they will unveil the list of finalists and winners. The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 The PHWA casts ballots for five awards: Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng, the broadcasters vote for the Jack Adams and NHL GMs get to select the Vezina. 1186296 Websites told anybody about this before. But with what’s going on … I think we’re losing so many kids (from the game).”

Tootoo, now 37, left Nunavut at 13 to play AAA Bantam in Spruce Grove, The Athletic / ‘There is racism still very alive and well’: The Indigenous Alta. Tootoo said he didn’t even know what racism was growing up, as experience in hockey everyone in his Nunavut community treated each other equally.

What an eye-opener when he left home.

Pierre LeBrun Jun 12, 2020 “I was the only Indigenous kid on the team in Spruce Grove, probably in the league at that time,” Tootoo said. “The type of player that I was, I was an agitator, I got under people’s skin, that was my role. So, looking back at opposing teams, players would do anything to get me off my game. Editor’s note: The original headline to this story contained a term that Then comes in racial slurs. And a lot of the racial slurs that were directed was insensitive. It has been changed and we apologize for the error. at me, I didn’t quite understand it. Until coaches raise awareness. Next We are living history these days. thing you know, I had parents yelling over the glass and whatnot, and then I started educating myself. And quite frankly, I started second- George Floyd’s death has sparked the kind of civil protest and social guessing my culture, my cultural background, my traditions, because awakening we haven’t seen in decades. being the different person amongst your average Canadians, I felt like I was an outsider looking in growing up my whole teenage years.” Black Lives Matter. Jonathan Cheechoo left his Cree First Nation home in Moose Factory, Floyd’s death and that phrase have evoked the kind of soul-searching Ont., at 14 to play on a AAA Bantam team in Timmins. He had a good conversations among privileged white people that was needed long ago. support network as many Indigenous youths left their communities where And in that context, the Instagram message posted by Chicago they didn’t have high schools to continue their schooling in Timmins. But Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews on June 1 supporting Black Lives it was still hard. Matter was moving. Including this passage: “What have Native American “Going to Timmins was probably the toughest, it was a such a big cultural people dealt with in both Canada and US? What is it really like to grow change,” said Cheechoo, who turns 40 next month. up in their world? Where am I ignorant about the privileges that I may have that others don’t?” “We faced quite a bit of racism,” he said. “People weren’t too happy with all the Native kids who went there to go to high school.” That hit home with many. On the hockey side, Cheechoo had a good tryout with the AAA bantam “I saw Jonathan’s statement and I showed it to my dad, that he team but …. acknowledged us. He felt proud,” said 2005 Boston Bruins draft pick Wacey Rabbit, a member of the Blackfoot nation from the Blood Reserve “One coach questioned whether being Native I was going to ‘drink the in Alberta. firewater’ as he said,” Cheechoo said. “Or if I was going to quit and go home. So I thought it was weird that I got pigeonholed that way even “We’re not taking away anything from the Black Lives Matter movement,” though they didn’t know me as a person.” Rabbit, 33, added. “But what I felt was that we’re all going through this together. And I think for Canada to acknowledge that; there is racism still That assistant coach actually ended up quitting halfway through the very alive and well.” season, Cheechoo recalled.

As Canadians, it is impossible to have serious discourse on systemic Rabbit, a former captain in the WHL, got a taste of it racial discrimination in our society and not examine the Indigenous early in his life. His family had moved off the reserve to nearby people of this country. Lethbridge, Alta., so he could play hockey.

“It’s a good time for us as Canadians to broaden everything that’s going “My first incident with racism with hockey was when I was 10,” Rabbit on,” agreed Buffalo Sabres defenceman Brandon Montour, who lived part said. “We were playing in a -A hockey tournament. And one of the of his youth in the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ont. kids told me to go back to my reserve. That’s the first time I had ever been told that. I didn’t understand why he would say that. I actually told Black people continue to face discrimination in Canada. It’s not just an the ref but the ref didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know how to handle “America” problem. There is a problem north of the border, too, and the racism. Both coaches didn’t know how to handle the racism. within our great sport. “The league took about six months to actually address it.” It’s why the creation Monday of the Hockey Diversity Alliance led by Evander Kane and Akim Aliu is so important. Rabbit paused.

But in Canada, we also have to talk about Indigenous Canadians and “I’ve been talking about this with my parents more lately, how I think their struggles. about how they had to explain to their 10-year-old child why someone would say something like this,” said Rabbit, now playing for ECHL “Yes, totally,” said , the first Inuk player to play in the NHL. Jacksonville. “The kid was 10, obviously same age, he was obviously “This has been a systemic problem for many decades.” taught that, it didn’t come out of nowhere.” “It’s way, way overdue,” said 1997 Jack Adams Award winner Ted Nolan Cheechoo’s reaction when hearing Rabbit’s story? this week. “Yeah, it’s nuts. I faced it all the way up probably until pro hockey,” Nolan, who grew up on the Garden River First Nation near Sault Ste. Cheechoo said. “I didn’t have an incident once I got to pro hockey.” Marie, Ont., played 11 pro seasons between the NHL and AHL, and then returned to coach with the Buffalo Sabres (twice) and New York When he was 15, Cheechoo was playing for a team in Kapuskasing in Islanders. His journey in a sport he loved so much as a kid became more northern Ontario. about survival. “I had a (opposing) coach once that year who said, ‘Take that dirty Indian But he did survive because he knew he was making a difference for other out,'” Cheechoo said. “I ended up missing 10 games because one of his First Nations people looking up to him. Even if all the name-calling and players did take me out.” abuse over the years has caused him to forget large portions of his career, which he thinks is the trauma locking things away in his mind. He had fans and opposing coaches yelling at him, too.

“For every player like myself who managed to play through it, there’s “Sometimes I didn’t handle it the best way,” said Cheechoo. “You get fed thousands and thousands of kids that don’t because of racism,” Nolan up. One time an opposing coach kept calling me names and I just said. punched one of his players and I got kicked out. That wasn’t the way to handle it. But I was fed up. He was doing it the whole game. Every time I “I heard ‘stinking Indian’ and ‘prairie n—–’ so much of my life in hockey. went by their bench or lined up for a faceoff, it was crazy.” Did I cry about it? I never told anybody. I’m telling you now. I’ve never Tootoo said he experienced it at all levels of hockey. “As time went on, in my major junior days, yeah I experienced probably “The Blades actually never billeted with those people again so we didn’t the most racism throughout my whole hockey career when I played in the have to worry about that again.” Western Hockey League in Brandon,” Tootoo said. “I was angry. Because I was not realizing they were taking personal attacks toward my Montour said he didn’t have it too bad in hockey growing up, but in heritage, toward my background.” making himself available to help other First Nations kids, he’s heard a few things. It continued in the NHL. “I’ve had people reach out to me with their kids. I’ve talked to a few kids “I had opposing players in the NHL comment on my heritage,” Tootoo and their experiences. Things like, ‘Go back to your land,'” Montour, 26, said. “Probably the first eight years of my career I know I was an angry said. individual. Substance abuse. Any time a racial slur was directed at me, I didn’t give a shit about hurting anybody, you want to talk smack about my “You just kind of tell them ‘do what you love to do’ and that it’s all white people, I’ll just beat the shit out of you.” noise, it may hurt now, those kids who want to hurt you, you want to be the bigger person,” added Montour, whose father is from the Six Nations Tootoo said through his recovery, he’s been sober nine years now, he Reserve and whose mother is white. “My parents always put that in me, learned to be “comfortable and content in his own skin.” be the bigger person. Really in sports, show them on the scoreboard. But there’s definitely some kids I’ve talked to that are upset about it and want “Oftentimes I would just look that player in the eye and say, ‘Are you OK? to quit and move back. It shouldn’t be like that.” What’s going on that you need to go that low to make yourself feel better about who you are, directing racial slurs at me?'” Tootoo said. “I could Nolan would have to live through prejudice a second time around as a see it in the players’ eyes right away they wanted to apologize, but with coach. He was stung by some of the innuendo that followed his exit out the emotions that run in a game, I was like, ‘You know what? I don’t need of Buffalo. to deal with you.'” “I won coach of the year in the National Hockey League and then I’m out These stories are decades old but it was just two years ago that a team for 10 years,” Nolan said. of First Nations all-star players were subjected to racist taunts, called “savages” by fans at a bantam tournament in . “I got sour at the game for a bit. I said, ‘That’s it, no more.'”

The players were 13 and 14 years old. But he came back to coach the Wildcats in 2005-06.

“For those kids that experienced that, for myself, I’ll probably never meet “To this day, it’s probably the best job I ever had,” he said. them, but I cried the same tears when I was 10 that they cried,” Rabbit Nolan returned to the NHL to coach the Islanders and Sabres before said. “I just want them to know that hockey is supposed to bring everyone going behind the bench for Latvia at the 2014 Sochi Olympics (and giving together.” powerhouse Canada quite the scare in a 2-1 quarterfinal game).

Added Cheechoo: “It’s crazy in this day and age that it’s still happening.” But overall, there’s the frustration of what could have been in his Nolan, meanwhile, left home at 16 to go play for the Kenora Thistles in coaching career, the sense that he didn’t get a fair shake because of who northwestern Ontario. he was.

That’s when it started for him. Role models

“I went to Kenora by myself and I’ve never seen anything like it in my Ted Nolan’s career both on the ice and behind the bench has impacted life,” recalled Nolan. “I cried myself to sleep many a night. First day of Indigenous people for years. training camp, I think I had two fights. I was just trying out for the team. Imagine First Nations youth 14 years ago seeing Cheechoo score 56 Some guy sticked me and said, ‘What are you doing here you stinking goals for the San Jose Sharks to win the Rocket Richard Trophy. Wahoo. Get back to the reservation.'” Or a young Indigenous defenceman now seeing Montour patrol the The nightmare continued. Sabres’ blue line.

“I fought at practice, I fought in scrimmage, I fought at school,” said Or seeing Rabbit wear the ‘C’ in Saskatoon. Nolan. “Then I stopped going to school because one day I got jumped by 2-3 guys in the parking lot after school. It was just horrendous.” “That was such a huge honour for me, being recognized as a leader,” Rabbit said. “And then going around town in Saskatoon and running into Nolan sighed for a moment. The pain over the phone line is palpable. different people that are Native, they would say how proud they were, “I went to Kenora and I thought I was going to be the next Bobby Orr,” younger kids that would come to the game.” said Nolan. “All of the sudden reality smashes you in the head. I was just Because role models matter. crying and I was miserable. I went from loving the game at the point to just trying to survive in the game. I just tried to survive.” “My very first favourite hockey player when going to watch Lethbridge Hurricane games was Shane Peacock,” said Rabbit. “He was the captain But when his two older brothers came to Kenora to bring him home, in Lethbridge. I was 5 years old. My parents told me he was First Nations Nolan resisted. as well. So for me at 5 years old, just to grasp that he was the same as “I said, ‘They’re not going to chase me away. I’m not going to quit.’ So I me, it gave me confidence. He went on to have a great career in Europe. persevered and I had a career.” I’ve seen him a couple of times but I’ve actually never told him he was my very first favourite player.” But there were many years he didn’t want to go back and play. He credits his wife, Sandra, for convincing him each time, pushing him to go back. Rabbit hopes he’s done the same for some Indigenous youth.

“I barely remember my first year in Kansas City (in the old Central “I never got to play in the NHL, but I always figured getting to the Hockey League),” Nolan said. “I think I was still traumatized. The next Western Hockey League, that if I could do that for one kid; that if they season came and I didn’t want to go. Sandra talked me into going.” saw me and said, ‘Hey this little Native kid from the reserve got to play in Saskatoon and the WHL, maybe I can do it.'” Flash forward to 1985-86, his last year as a player in pro hockey. Between his playing and coaching career, Nolan has been an inspiration “My last year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, I got hurt and my career was for many and he has given back by visiting more than 400 of Canada’s over,” he said. “That was probably the happiest day of my life. I didn’t Indigenous bands over the years, running hockey schools and speaking have to go through it again.” to Native youth.

Rabbit makes a point of saying he was treated well by the Blades. But he “He’s been a trailblazer for us, for sure,” Cheechoo said of Nolan. “He does recall a story when he asked out the daughter of one his Blades went through a lot more than we did.” teammate’s billets in Saskatoon. Cheechoo, in fact, remembered attending a Ted Nolan hockey school in “I found out later that her parents said no to her, ‘He’s Indian. You’re not Moose Factory when he was 12, which helped inspire him. to have anything to do with him,'” Rabbit said. “My teammate stuck up for me. “He helped out in my career choices,” Cheechoo said. “He basically said Jonathan Cheechoo tries to be a role model for Indigenous youth. I couldn’t stay home. I had to leave to be seen. I left two years later at (Courtesy Jonathan Cheechoo) 14.” The role model part matters greatly to Cheechoo when it comes to giving Now Cheechoo has helped run a hockey camp in Moose Factory the last hope to Indigenous youth who are struggling. two years, giving on-ice instruction to more than 100 kids. “We want to show them there’s a better life,” he said from San Jose “It’s been great, it’s fun, I enjoy teaching the kids,” said Cheechoo, whose where he retired along with wife Ashley and 8-year-old son Jack (another father last year was elected chief of their Moose Cree band. “Going up hockey player in the making). “You don’t have to just stay on the reserve there is great. Because I remember when Ted came up. Not only the if there’s something you dream to be or aspire to become. It doesn’t have hockey part of it, but the talking part, too. If you wanted to talk to him, he to be a hockey player. It can be anything. You want them to know that was open. So for me, I go up there and I talk, I go to the schools and you can go if you stick it out and put in the work. You’re going to face have a chat with them there. And at my hockey school, too, anyone who obstacles, there are people that are going to try to hold you down. There wants to talk outside of that, they’re welcome to come and sit in the are people who are going to try to make you quit. coach’s room. “It’s just what we face. I faced it all the way up.” “Parents come, too, because they’re the ones guiding their kids’ career and their kids’ dreams. I tell parents all the time how important they are.” Tootoo said just sharing his experience, unvarnished, with Indigenous youth is important. Nolan ran hockey schools for years in the ’90s and now they’re back thanks to his sons. Since 2013, Nolan and sons Brandon and Jordan “I’m able to share my story with a lot of these kids in a lot of these (who still plays in the Blues organization), have been running the Three communities that I visit and they can relate, right?” said Tootoo. “I don’t Nolans First Nation Hockey School. bullshit anything.”

Ted Nolan runs the Three Nolans hockey school with his sons. (Courtesy The economics and the future Ted Nolan) The poverty that afflicts some Canadian First Nations endangers their “We’ve been going to a lot of remote First Nations communities, we do ability to put kids into hockey. The game has never been more expensive hockey school, we do presentations, we talk about mental health, to play, which is a growing issue for people of many different substance abuse and how to overcome prejudice and racism when you backgrounds but certainly Indigenous Canadians. leave,” Nolan said. “We talk to our kids about how to prepare “If I started now, I would have never played. Not a chance,” Nolan said. themselves.” “The money to play the game, it’s almost become an elitist sport. There’s emotion in Nolan’s voice over the phone as he talked about Because you have to have money to play nowadays.” going into some Indigenous communities where some kids arrived at his When Cheechoo was 16, his community in Moose Factory raised money hockey school without sticks. for him so he could further his training in Toronto that summer.

“The kids first in line go through the drill and they can’t get back to the “When I was younger, I wasn’t the best skater in the world, I could get line quick enough to give that kid who doesn’t have a stick his stick,” where I needed to go,” Cheechoo said. “But my coach in Kapuskasing Nolan said. told me I had to really improve my skating. So the community got But as a role model, one story, in particular, brings Nolan to tears. It’s the together, and I think it’s because of the choices I made growing up, I was memory of a 10-year-old First Nations girl years ago running up to him at a good kid and I worked hard and they knew I was in it to try and make it; an airport during his 10-year wait between coaching jobs. they got together and raised $10,000 so I could go to all these hockey skills camps and skating. I stayed in Toronto the whole summer working “She touches my face and says, ‘I know why you’re not coaching, it’s on my game and my skating.” because you’re too brown.’ This … is a 10-year-old girl,” Nolan struggled to say. That was in the ’90s. Imagine the cost today?

He stopped for a moment during our conversation to collect himself. Rabbit, who hopes to get into coaching after his playing career is over, echoed that concern that hockey economics were leaving some kids “What do you say? It was such a powerful moment. I mean, how many behind. other kids feel that?” “It’s becoming an elitist sport, the ones that can afford it can play it,” said Years later when Nolan was coaching the Islanders, he ran into the same Rabbit. “I feel like that’s getting in the way that hockey is for everybody. person, now a young woman. Hopefully big programs will come so that everybody can play, especially low-income families still having access for their kids to be able to join “She touches my face and says, ‘I know why you’re not coaching.’ I said, programs.” ‘You’re the same girl!'” Nolan said. Hockey is for everyone, until it isn’t. “We’re very closely connected as a people; as far as we are from each other. If one First Nations player plays, everybody knows.” “I think it’s the biggest crock ever,” Nolan said of the NHL’s slogan.

Montour, meanwhile, has visited some First Nations communities during So there’s much to be done. On racism. On economics. On education. his last few offseasons. And that education cuts two ways. “The big experience for me is really now, I’ve spent a few years since being in the NHL travelling around Canada and experiencing different There’s something that crossed Nolan’s mind last year during one of this reserves. That’s where it hit home for me,” said Montour. First Nations hockey camps.

Last summer he visited two reserves in the Yukon. “Last year was the first year it struck me that I’m preparing our kids (at hockey school) in order to go out into society and what to expect,” Nolan “They were two hours from an arena,” Montour said. “They had a little said. “I tell them not to give up. That they will cry themselves to sleep area for ice, it was small, like the size of the blue line to the goal line. some nights. But don’t give up. Just keep trying and trying. It finally There’s like 50 kids out there, for those kids to still enjoy it … a lot of struck me, we’re not the ones who need to be educated. I mean, society those kids don’t come from much. So anytime they get a chance to play has to be educated.” on a team, you can’t take that for granted. I experienced that talking to those kids.” Which is so true, agreed Cheechoo.

It’s why sport is such an important tool and can be an escape for some “The systemic racism is ingrained in you, right?,” Cheechoo said. “Kids’ Indigenous kids born into poverty. idols are their parents. So if they see it, that’s how they’re going to act. So I think a lot comes from parents taking a look at it and really educating “For me, their only escape was a lacrosse stick or a hockey stick,” said themselves on it and passing it down to their kids that way. I think that’s Montour, who also played lacrosse as a kid. “I was lucky enough to have the way you’re going to see real change. everything I needed as a kid. These kids are begging to find a way to find an arena within an hour and a half.” “Obviously, it’s changed a lot since when Ted played to when I played and from when I played to now. But it’s not all gone away. It’s still there. It’s just less. But you should want to get rid of it entirely.”

The hope is to get more Indigenous kids a chance at sport. A chance at hockey.

“I want Aboriginal kids to know that they belong in hockey,” said Rabbit.

“I’d like to see, in the hockey system, maybe educate your coaches, maybe have then go through a sensitivity program,” said Cheechoo. “Maybe have your leaders, the people running these things, go through it. So they can pass it along to other people and maybe get it out of hockey. So that we’re not treated as, ‘Oh, it’s just that Indian who is maybe going to quit or have a drinking problem.’ Maybe we can be treated as equals. ‘Look, this guy is a good player, we need him on our team, he’s going to help us win.’

“Help people know what racism is,” added Cheechoo. “Because a lot of people don’t know what it is. They think it’s gone. It’s subtle but racism means a lot of things. People need to be informed on it. What better way than from the top down.”

It’s worth fighting for. It’s worth hoping. Because despite the hardships, the game can still be so beneficial.

“The power of the game can switch so much and inspire so much,” said Nolan. “If they only get the racism and the prejudice out of the game.”

If only.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186297 Websites McDavid, who has only completed five seasons so far. (For my draft pick value model, I looked at drafts from 2000-2019).

Both players were selected first overall and on average the top selection The Athletic / By the numbers: Revisiting the true value of a draft pick earns about 17.5 wins in his first seven seasons. The next pick is at 15.7 before a steep drop-off as the average first-round pick (outside the top two) is worth just five wins. It’s only within the top seven picks that a team can expect an average of seven wins or more (one win per season). By Dom Luszczyszyn Jun 12, 2020 Early in Round 3 is when a team can expect just a single win total from the player’s first seven seasons.

At the 2020 NFL Draft, Bill Belichick did what he usually does: He traded Here’s the full draft pick value curve (fit using an average of an down. Like clockwork, the New England Patriots head coach has a exponential and power law fit where the goal was to find the lowest tendency to move down in the draft in exchange for a few extra picks, a average error – similar to Tulsky’s marketplace model). savvy move considering the random nature of the NFL draft. Like every other draft pick value model, it shows that the NHL is The NHL Draft isn’t nearly as random as the NFL’s, but there are reasonably efficient on average at finding the best talent at the beginning inefficiencies that can be exposed and an opportunity to glean value. As of the draft. There are sleepers that surprise later but they are very rare it turns out, trading down to acquire extra picks was measured to be the and difficult to find. By this value model, late-round picks are nearly optimal play at the NHL Draft, too. Every pick is a lottery ticket and the worthless with the average seventh-round pick being worth about 0.2 more a team has the better their chances of finding an NHLer. wins, 25 times less than an average first-round pick and 88 times less than the top pick. That ideology was based on figuring out the value of a draft pick – a fundamental research topic in any sport. Belichick probably went by his Though the shapes are similar, it’s that detail where this model based on own intuition to figure things out, but the idea is supported by math and GSVA differs from Schuckers’ based on ice time which may be applies similarly to hockey. overvaluing lesser picks. There, the top pick is only worth 28 average seventh-rounders. Relative to the first-round pick, the value of an The most well-known and oft-used draft pick value model was created by average seventh-rounder by Schuckers’ model would equate to the value Michael Schuckers in 2011. In his work, Schuckers based the value of a of a late third-rounder by this model. draft pick using data from 1988-1997, seeing the probability of a draft pick playing 200 games and how many games a draft pick ended up That all adds up when both models are compared to the marketplace playing in the NHL. In 2016, he then improved that by looking at ice time model compiled by Tulsky. Both models still believe that the market over a player’s first seven years post-draft – the amount of time a player underrates draft picks after the first round, but my model believes it’s is under team control (something I believe Dawson Sprigings, now with significantly less than previously believed where picks in Rounds 5, 6 and the Colorado Avalanche, first suggested here). It was foundational work 7 had a supposed value 15-30 times greater than their trade value. Not to that shaped how analytically inclined fans saw the draft, work that I used appeal to authority, but those values would presume that the trade every year at draft time. market for draft picks was fundamentally broken and I don’t think that’s the case. Not to that degree, anyway. In 2013, Eric Tulsky, now with the Carolina Hurricanes, made his own draft model, except he looked at how draft picks were valued in trades, A draft pick value model based on GSVA is a lot closer to the NHL’s draft creating a marketplace baseline. It allowed a direct comparison between pick trade market. Even in the first round, Schuckers’ model may be how front offices viewed their picks and how those picks historically overrating how close other top picks are to the first one. Nathan panned out according to Schuckers’ work. It showed there was a lot of MacKinnon and Dylan Larkin may both play just over 21 minutes per room to exploit the market to gain positive value. Back in 2015 at Hockey game but it’s obvious one is providing much more value to his team. Graphs, Garret Hohl showed just how much by comparing the two Schuckers’ work on draft pick value was extremely important and the models. basic principle still likely holds true: Trading down is generally the play to That remains true in most cases, but it may not be to the degree that was acquire more draft value capital. The Belichick method is still optimal for originally shown by Schuckers and others who created models. Draft pick the NHL. But with the older model being based on measuring player value has become collective knowledge in the analytics community, but value in an incomplete way, it’s time to move on to a model that uses it’s important to check and confirm that those hypotheses still hold true better data and offers a more complete picture. over time, especially as we create better tools to answer those questions. When we do, we find that front office evaluators likely weren’t nearly as In order to measure draft pick value, you need to be able to measure far off on draft pick value as previously thought, but that the lesson player value and Schuckers was hamstrung by the data he had access brought upon by analytics wasn’t wrong either. to. Games played, points and ice time can work to an extent to measure The Athletic LOADED: 06.13.2020 career quality, but points can be misleading and some minutes are obviously better than others. Our current measures of player value (GSVA, WAR) are not perfect, but they’re definitely an improvement over what’s been used before which can help create a stronger draft pick value model.

There’s another benefit to that which is putting draft pick value on a more understandable scale: Wins. That can allow for better understanding of trades by putting players and picks on a similar scale, and also provide a more tangible unit to what teams can expect from their future at the draft.

The other issue was time. NHL data is still not “great,” but it only became even “good” during the 2007-08 season with the introduction of real-time stats. When Schuckers built his models, it would’ve been impossible to even use that data if he wanted to due to the lack of sample where that data was available.

In 2020, we now have access to 13 seasons of better data and while that’s still not a very large sample, it’s probably enough to start gleaning insight from, especially if our focus isn’t on a player’s whole career, but only on his first seven seasons where the drafting team has control over him. In order to expand the sample as much as I could, I also included incomplete seven-year sets at both the beginning and end of the sample. Sidney Crosby’s first two seasons might be missed by the better data era, but we can still include his next five. Same goes for Connor 1186298 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Vegas will be NHL hub city for Stanley Cup Playoffs when play resumes

Chris Johnston | June 12, 2020, 9:10 PM

A quick Friday night update because we live in a world where we’re desperate for any tiny morsel of quasi-information.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has put out a story saying Vegas will be confirmed as a hub city for the Stanley Cup Playoffs by June 22, but the truth is we should expect the official announcement before then.

Gary Bettman said as much on May 26 when he indicated it would be three weeks until the hub cities were finalized.

Vegas will be one of them. The other depends on how the Canadian government chooses to enforce the 14-day quarantine for those entering the country. We await an announcement there.

With training camps set to open July 10, teams need to know where this is going as soon as possible.

Ideally, the NHL would like to have a Canadian city serve as a hub alongside Vegas, but that won’t be finalized until the federal government makes a ruling. Toronto is the preferred destination, assuming the quarantine issue can be managed.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186299 Websites eight assists and hounding the puck all over the ice in the first 19 games when the Canadiens were a winning team.

3. Who’s going to score the goals? Sportsnet.ca / Four questions facing the Canadiens in series versus The Canadiens were led in goals by Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Penguins Tatar, who were each sitting at 22 when the season was paused.

The problem is they play on the same line. Eric Engels | June 12, 2020, 10:36 AM Sure, the games may be played in neutral territory if and when they return, but the Penguins would have all the same advantages of home- ice without actually playing at home and in front of fans. Meaning: they’d MONTREAL—Assuredly, the Montreal Canadiens have more than four have the line matchup advantage for three of the five games and for two questions to answer heading into a play-in series with a Pittsburgh of the first three. Penguins team that was 15 points ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings when the NHL season was paused due to COVID- A problem Montreal faces against any team is that their top line can be 19. matched and potentially neutralized, but it’s a particular problem against a Penguins team that might be considered the deepest in the entire This is a Canadiens team that couldn’t overcome early season injuries to playoff tournament. Paul Byron and Jonathan Drouin going up against a Penguins team that managed to put together the league’s seventh-best record despite having So, can Max Domi pick up the slack and be more like the player who only two players—Teddy Blueger and Marcus Pettersson—appear in all scored 28 goals in 2018-19 versus the one who only had 17 in 71 games 69 games they played. this season? Can Nick Suzuki, Montreal’s promising rookie, bring his game up another level to thrive in situations where he’s likely to have to You could fill a book with the questions the Canadiens would have to play against Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin? Can Drouin drive play and answer in order for them to thrive in the NHL’s return-to-play model but, put the puck in the back of the net? Can Joel Armia, who had a breakout for the purposes of brevity, we’ve narrowed it down to these four: campaign, provide some much-needed scoring punch? Can Artturi Lehkonen finish his chances? 1. Which Carey Price are we going to see? This was a Canadiens team that, according to naturalstattrick.com, This is the most pertinent question at the beginning of any new season generated the most shot attempts and second-most high-danger scoring and applies to this play-in round, too. Because even if we’re calling this a chances in the league at 5-on-5. But they ranked only 13th in goals under return to play and viewing it as the continuation of the 2019-20 season, those circumstances. the reality is that it’ll bear a closer resemblance to starting over. Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it So, we begin with this question because, when you look back over the 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, past couple of seasons, the Carey Price we saw from December to they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover March or April was vastly superior to the one we saw in October. If Price Canada’s most beloved game. performs the way he has in the past two Novembers, Canadiens fans can stop worrying about the team’s draft lottery position being affected by the 4. Can the special teams come through? play-in round. This is the ultimate question, even if teams are traditionally afforded Price’s October play over the past two seasons has been passable—he fewer power plays in the playoffs. posted a .915 save percentage in October of 2018 and a .914 in October of 2019—but that standard would certainly not be good enough to handle No team is going to be concerned about putting the Canadiens’ pop-gun a Penguins arsenal that will be at full capacity if and when the puck drops power play to the test if it picks up where it left off when it scored on just later this summer. five of 46 occasions from Feb. 1 to Mar. 11. It was a power play that not only cost the team a vital source of production; it also cost the Canadiens The 32-year-old had absolutely brilliant stretches in December and momentum on too many occasions. January of the past two seasons, but that was after playing the worst hockey of his career in the month of November, where he posted an .886 The Canadiens truly have to hope a return-to-play looks like a fresh start save percentage in 10 games in 2018 and an .883 mark in 11 starts this — an not just on the power play, but on the penalty kill as well. past season. With the exception of a brief stint from Dec. 1-Feb. 1, when the If that’s the Price who shows up against Pittsburgh, the Canadiens won’t Canadiens ran the fourth-best numbers in the league by successfully win a single game, let alone three of them. killing off 68 of 80 penalties, this might have been the team’s biggest weakness. They were 30th in the category from Oct. 1-Dec.1 and 20th One wild card: the Canadiens get the Carey Price who posted a .954 from Feb. 1-March 11. save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average the last time he played competitive hockey in August and September—at the 2016 World If that’s what the Canadiens get against Pittsburgh, they stand very little Cup of Hockey. That could take them farther than anyone assumes chance of winning. they’ll go. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 2. Will Jonathan Drouin pick up where he left off in November?

There is no Canadiens player up front who can impact the game with his skill the way Jonathan Drouin can, and we got a full sample of that from Oct. 3 until Nov. 15 when he took an awkward fall and derailed his season with a wrist injury that required surgery and sidelined him for three months.

Drouin may have been sufficiently healed when he stepped back into the lineup on Feb. 8—in the thick of the playoff race—but he was anything but comfortable. Physically, he was clearly in a great deal of pain and that made it impossible to assert himself the way he did in the early part of the season.

An ankle sprain Drouin suffered shortly after his return from the wrist injury didn’t help.

But time heals all wounds, and the prospect of Drouin being the driving force of the speed game the Canadiens rely on is an enticing one. He was just that at the beginning of this season, scoring seven goals, adding 1186300 Websites Jerrard, 55, was drafted 173rd overall by the Rangers in 1983. He played five NHL games with the Minnesota North Stars, but played professionally for 10 years. His career ended on a high — a 1997 championship with the . His approach won over Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: Hockey, NHL pushing forward on multiple longtime executive Les Jackson and head coach Bob Hartley. (Hartley fronts was the coach of that Calder Cup winner.)

Later, four-time Stanley Cup champion Lorne Henning would recommend him to for an assistant job at AHL Utica. Currently at NCAA Elliotte Friedman June 11, 2020, 3:05 PM Nebraska-Omaha, Jerrard’s had three NHL stops — Colorado, Dallas and Calgary.

“I have three stories for you,” begins Xavier Gutierrez, Arizona’s newly Asked about advice, Jerrard mentioned work ethic — and networking. hired President and CEO — the first Latino named to that position in NHL “You need that willingness to network, to get to know people. I would history. “My personal experience: I’m a kid, who is born in Mexico, grows never be afraid to go up and introduce myself, start small talk with up in San Jose, and goes to his first hockey game November of his someone, let them know I was around. Even if you just pop by after a freshman year at Harvard (in 1991). And I was hooked. The game was game, I went out of my way to say hi to people.” fast, the players were skilled, the passion of the fans was palpable. I know what it’s like to not necessarily be exposed as a fan, and yet you That’s not easy for everyone. Jerrard chuckled a little. go…. I’ve shared this story: I’ve got my Harvard hockey jersey (at home); my wife wants me to throw it away, but no way. So I can personally relate “Yes, there were people you could be terrified of going up to, but my to the experience that your first hockey game — live, in-person — can be mother (Merline) always talked about being comfortable in your own transformative. skin.”

“That’s number one. Payne’s road to Cincinnati came through current Cyclones coach Matt Thomas, an old minor hockey teammate. The 44-year-old was with his “Number two: I have three nephews who are Spanish-fluent, but they’re family at the Aquarium in downtown Toronto in the summer of 2018. English-dominant, U.S.-born. And their first love, their first sport playing, was hockey. And why was that? Because they grew up in Hacienda “I was deep in the bowels,” Payne said on the 31 Thoughts podcast, “and Heights, suburb of Los Angeles, and the Kings and the Ducks decided to we’re watching all the sharks and everything swim around. Then I got a invest in their community. Well, who does the youth in their community text message on my phone… and it’s from Matt. And he goes, ‘How include? It includes Latinos. So all of a sudden, you have these three would you be interested in coaching down in Cincy?’ And I said, ‘Pardon kids — now they’re Coyotes fans, right? — but, growing up, they’re Kings me?’ Because I didn’t know he even got the job. fans, and that was their first sport. It wasn’t basketball, wasn’t baseball, “He goes, ‘Give me a call.’” and they don’t necessarily look like the youth that is permeating the NHL today. But that is the future. That is the realm of possibility when you The hiring had to be approved by Buffalo, the Cyclones’ NHL parent. It have franchises in these markets — franchises that understand you can was, and Payne is very complimentary of the local ownership, too. But embrace that market, bring in that youth and make them fans for life. there will need to be more of these stories.

“The third is my hometown of San Jose, where I grew up. When I left for In 2003, the NFL created the “Rooney Rule,” named for former Pittsburgh college, the Sharks came to town. Right here, right now, San Jose is a owner Dan Rooney. It requires that ethnic minorities be interviewed for all hockey town. There’s no doubt about it. San Jose is a hockey town so senior football positions. While the idea seemed honourable, there have much that my high school has an ice hockey team. The oldest high been plenty of criticisms that it hasn’t worked, that these candidates are school in California has an ice hockey team. Now tell me that isn’t given polite interviews without a real chance at the job. transformative. Jerrard is blunt about his dislike for the idea. “The cost, the barriers to entry, they’re very high. So we have to address those. But the issue of fans like Latino fans, female fans, multicultural “I don’t want to be hired because I’m black. I want to be hired because fans — it’s going to be too hard to get them? I don’t know why that’s the I’m qualified to do the job,” he says. case. There’s three stories right there where I believe that’s the future.” “You’d like to say that, yeah, (it could work),” Payne says. But he adds Gutierrez is far from alone in this vision for the future of hockey. such a rule can’t protect against the person doing the hiring knowing another candidate better than they know you. “We have more kids of colour playing the game, more players of colour in the NHL,” says Winnipeg-born Paul Jerrard, now in his 23rd year of “You want to bring in somebody you can trust — that’s going to have coaching. “Those guys are great role models. They will inspire some your back, that’s going to work as hard as you work, that’s going to help young kids to believe in themselves, (to believe) that they can have that you as much as you help them.” option, too.” “I don’t have an answer (for a specific Rooney rule), but what we have to At a pivotal point in North American history, we can all feel the ground do is make everyone feel comfortable that they want to apply,” said shifting beneath our feet. The hockey world is no different. As Jerrard Trevor Daley, who has played 1,058 NHL games. (We will hear more says, we see more and more players from minority backgrounds, from him later in the blog.) although that shift has rarely moved beyond the playing surface. The “I’m not a big supporter of the Rooney rule,” adds Kim Davis, NHL onus will be on the sport to change in the boardroom, in the front offices, Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & behind the benches, in media — you name it. Legislative Affairs. “As you know, it’s not working for them. I’m a big “We have a lot of players, and a lot of potential coaches out there, of supporter of going into communities. I’m a big supporter of understanding colour, in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, in minor hockey, in there are different places that you source different kinds of talent and that college, looking to make that jump,” says Jason Payne, an assistant we have to build relationships with those places. I’m a big supporter of coach at ECHL Cincinnati who also owns Precision Skating, in Toronto. creating internship programs and pipelines. This is not something that “It’s up to people like myself — all these different coaches, not just black happened overnight and this is not going to be solved overnight. We coaches, but minorities — to pave the way… to show that we can bring have to have a multi-faceted, multi-pronged approach to this and we great things to the table as well as anybody.” have to understand we (are) in it for the long haul. If we’re looking for short-term answers… we’re going to be disappointed. This is a long I didn’t realize (until I saw an Anthony Stewart tweet) that there were game. We have to be in it and committed to it for the long haul.” three black assistant coaches in the ECHL this season: Payne, Kalamazoo’s Joel Martin and Greenville’s Kahlil Thomas. Thomas is the Davis is inspired by her own family’s experience, as her son briefly father of Akil Thomas, the promising Los Angeles prospect. played at an all-male private school in Connecticut.

The challenge is getting that big break, finding someone who will be your “He didn’t feel very welcome. We had the option of saying, ‘This is not champion. As with many other businesses, there is always the question: the sport for you,’ and moving on to something else. They missed a very Is who you know more valuable than what you know? talented young man and an opportunity for a family that had the capacity to be a really, really strong fan. I often think about that. “We have to go to the people that we want to embrace.” proposed Phase 3 (training camps) and Phase 4 (games). There isn’t total certainty, as the NHL and NHLPA sort out whether teams can add Jerrard said he’d been contacted by Davis’s office before emotions newly signed players for 2019–20. Unless that is allowed, defending ignited over the last couple of weeks. Stanley Cup champion St. Louis and Vegas won’t have many surprises.

“There is way more good in this game than there is bad, and I look Other considerations, Western Conference: forward to the opportunity to help it grow,” he said. “The conversations have spiked and we will keep them going.” • Dallas will add Jason Robertson up front and Jake Oettinger in goal. Their last two first-rounders — Ty Dellandrea and Thomas Harley — are “There’s always that saying, the player of colour or person of colour has on the radar if permitted. to work twice as hard to get recognition or get noticed,” Payne said. “It’s hard to overcome, but if we all work together we can hopefully overcome • Edmonton is undecided on its last couple of spots. it a lot sooner than later.” • Nashville is considering Eeli Tolvanen. In Arizona, owner Alex Meruelo, a trailblazer himself, promised that “increasing minority hiring in our franchise will definitely be a top priority • Vancouver included Sven Baertschi. for us. Xavier and I are committed to ensuring that minority candidates • I don’t think there will be any surprises in Calgary. will receive equal opportunity. Diversity, inclusion and equality will all be key values in our hiring process.” • Winnipeg is waiting on Bryan Little’s recovery. I’d totally forgotten how the Jets had 16 forwards and 10 defencemen when play was paused. “How do we bring people from different backgrounds to the table?” Gutierrez asks. “Perhaps you have people who come from corporate • Minnesota will include several players who had strong years at AHL America or the investment-management business — from the creative Iowa — league scoring leader Sam Anas, goals leader Gerry Mayhew side, from the digital media side. That, I think, is the beginning of this and Goalie of the Year Kaapo Kahkonen. broader discussion of ‘How do you bring better diverse talent — diverse • Arizona is adding 2019 first-rounder Victor Soderstrom. in the bigger sense, not just racial, ethnic or gender diversity — into the fold?’ If you think about it from that perspective, that is what will lead to a • Chicago is waiting on some of its injured players (Calvin de Haan, Brent much more welcoming approach. Seabrook, Andrew Shaw and Zack Smith) to see if any of them can play. The only player invited to Phase 2 who wasn’t with the Blackhawks or “I want to make the best business decision, and there’s no way you are AHL Rockford was OHL London’s Alex Regula. They’d like to include Ian going to make the best business decision if you don’t have diverse Mitchell from NCAA Denver, but it depends the NHL/NCAA negotiation. perspectives at the table. Sports has a powerful voice and an incredible platform to be a leader in the community, to be impactful, to say, ‘I am 6. Eastern Conference: part of this community, I can engage to make it better.’” • Boston and Tampa are still working things out, but don’t expect Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey surprises. world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. • Washington will have defenceman Martin Fehervary, and, if permitted, 2019 first rounder Connor McMichael — although that would be for 31 THOUGHTS development, not play.

1. I don’t believe the NHL is looking to remove Ottawa owner Eugene • Philadelphia would love to reward Oskar Lindblom after his courageous Melnyk, or anything like that. But I do believe he needs to address battle with Ewing Sarcoma, but that may not be possible. is allegations that the The Organ Project — which he created in 2016 — on their list. donated just 0.5 per cent of its 2018 revenues towards the cause. You can’t let that go unanswered. • Carolina is considering three of its top prospects: forward Dominik Bokk (acquired in the Justin Faulk trade), Jake Bean (the AHL’s Outstanding 2. New Jersey is continuing conversations around its GM position. (It’s Defenceman this year) and fellow blueliner Joey Keane (AHL All-Rookie also possible the position is called “Chief Operating Officer.”) Incumbent Team). Tom Fitzgerald remains a candidate. According to a couple of sources, one of the interviewees was NBC/Blackhawks broadcaster Ed Olczyk. • Toronto publicly declared Nick Robertson will attend. Asked via text if he’d spoken to the Devils, Olczyk replied, “I speak to a • Columbus has Liam Foudy. Florida’s got Owen Tippett. (As it stands, lot of people in the NHL.” 2018 first rounder Grigori Denisenko, signed in May, can’t play.) 3. The NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday that formal training camps • The Rangers are looking at both 2018 first rounder Vitali Kravtsov and (Phase 3 of return to play) will begin July 10, “provided that medical and Lias Andersson, who went back to Sweden last season. Andersson is in safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall the conversation because he played well there, and both sides are agreement.” There was anxiety around a target date, something working hard to make sure the lines of communication are strong. everyone could point to — especially once the NBA came out with a detailed calendar. 7. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told TNT last week certain coaches may not be allowed to coach from the bench “in order to protect them.” The next 10 to 14 days are going to be critical. We know the NHL/NHLPA (One prominent agent pushed back against that directive.) NHL Coaches are inching closer on selecting hub cities. They are grinding away on Association Executive Director Michael Hirshfeld said, in his protocols for Phase 3 and Phase 4 (games). They are grinding away on a conversations with the league, it will be left up to the individual to make CBA. They may not get the latter done, but can they agree on a their own decisions. framework that gives the players enough of a guarantee on a) the economic benefits of coming back to play (capped escrow), and b) health 8. One NHL player indicated that one of the things he and his teammates care in case anybody is infected. There’s no point in holding a player brought up was whether or not three or four restaurants at each hub vote without that information. Training camp could be two weeks in your could be “bought” for the duration so that only players and their families own city and six days in the “hub,” where you play your exhibition games. could go there. No general public, just them. The idea was to have somewhere else to go besides the rinks and the hotel. Adjustments are always possible, but there’s a ton of work to be done. July 10 is less than a month away. 9. In case you missed it, Montreal owner Geoff Molson threw cold water on rumours he was thinking about hiring a president of hockey 4. That said, I’ve never been so excited about the possibility of seeing a operations. . “I have no intentions of (that),” he told local reporters on a conference Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it call. “There are very few teams that do it and there are many reasons for 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, that.” they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. 10. Teams that are out of the playoffs can make trades with each other. Another idea being discussed is whether or not those clubs will be able to 5. Over the last week or so, the NHL has asked its teams to submit the buy out players or give qualifying offers later this month. That would be names of AHLers/prospects that could be added to their rosters for the the normal window, but this world is anything but normal right now. 11. Earlier this week, Akim Aliu, Trevor Daley, Matt Dumba, Evander 18. Speaking of the AHL, five NHL GMs (Kyle Dubas, Ken Holland, David Kane, Wayne Simmonds, Chris Stewart and the recently retired Joel Poile, Don Sweeney and Steve Yzerman) will be part of group working Ward announced the formation of the Hockey Diversity Alliance. together to plan the AHL’s process for the 2020–21 season.

“This has been in the works four-five months,” Daley said earlier this 19. One thing you learn in a 37-minute conversation with Xavier week. “How can we make a difference? How can we help? What can we Gutierrez: He’s enthusiastic, and I’m a firm believer that enthusiasm is do? The things that happened to us, how can we make sure they do not contagious. He talked up the team on the ice, off the ice — was happen to next generation? The time is now. This is what we’re doing it unrelentingly positive about the Coyotes. One of the things I asked him for. We’re all equal. It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you are. My was how many fans and media will say, “We’ve heard all of this before.” mother was white, my father is black…. I didn’t understand why people didn’t accept that. ‘That’s my mom, that’s my dad — they are great “There’s been a number of people who’ve said that,” he answered. “I say, people.’ I want my kids to grow up where that’s understood.” ‘Hey, I completely agree with you, but I don’t know any of those people and I’ve never been part of those conversations.’ I’ve always had a 12. Aliu called Daley back in 2005, when he fought back against hazing trajectory in which I’m not as focused on what hasn’t worked, as much as in Windsor. Two years earlier, Daley was the victim of a racial epithet in I am thinking, ‘Where are we today, and what do we do going forward?’ Sault Ste. Marie. “Phoenix today, the market today, is much different than it was five years “Part of the conversation is our own personal situations. It’s good for us ago, much different than it was 10 years ago, and that really comes from to sit down and listen to what Matt Dumba is saying. Chris Stewart — my business experience. You have to be informed by what has been honestly, I don’t talk to these guys enough.” tried, but you shouldn’t be dictated by what has been tried.”

The Alliance will grow (it indicated it has reached out to NWHL player Gutierrez made the point that everything is changing because of the Saroya Tinker) and will be independent of the NHL, although it intends to pandemic, so prior factors may be irrelevant. work with the league. “I am bullish on the Phoenix business community. It reminds of me a lot “I’m so grateful for the sport,” Daley says. “It’s given me everything. Are of Silicon Valley, having grown up there.” there flaws? I’m still fielding those calls, so, yes, we can hold people more accountable. I just feel if people are held accountable at the NHL 20. Gutierrez knew Alex Meruelo’s brother Richard, and met the Coyotes’ level, it will trickle down everywhere else.” owner himself at a 2010 lunch meeting.

13. What was it like on the Zoom call when Colin Kaepernick popped up “There are two things you know for certain if you book a meal with Alex: on the screen? He will be late and it will be a very long meal.”

“I was taken aback. It was pretty surreal,” Daley said. “To hear his story Both were true — the meeting lasted almost four hours. They worked and what he’s gone through — this is what he was saying. He was taking together for seven and a half years after that meeting, before Gutierrez a knee for these reasons. Now the whole world world sees it.” left to join Clearlake Capital. (The parting was amicable — he remained a shareholder and director on Meruelo’s Commercial Bank of California.) What did you learn from him? Gutierrez bought a house in Arizona and is moving his family there, “Just his dedication to his mindset and what he feels is right. That’s what although they went back this week for a special family event — his son’s stuck with me the most. He knows he’s doing the right thing for a great elementary school graduation. cause. I lay my head down at night, thinking about making the world better for my kids and others. Why not be a part of it? That’s what Kaep “I do take heart in the absence of sports that it has actually shown the has done. It’s pretty powerful when you think about it.” importance of sports. You talk to people who say, ‘I wish I could just watch something on TV, go to a game.’ Here is my vision: How do we 14. Daley’s contract is up in Detroit. Seventeen years as a pro, more than position this organization to be a prosperous long-term enterprise here in 1,000 games. Stanley Cup champion, excellent reputation. He can’t play the market? I have an audacious goal of being the most beloved until next season. franchise in the market. I have an audacious goal of being the most- respected business organization, period. Not just sports, but period. I Could this be it for a terrific career? want to be a partner of choice for our business partners, our corporate “I will work to keep myself in shape, make myself ready… but it does sponsors. I want to bring value to them. I want to be part of their success. have to be the right situation.” Those are the types of goals we have when we talk about winning off the ice.” He wants to be available for his children, Trevor (12) and Emery (8). He believes the success of Tampa Bay and Vegas should encourage the Is his future in hockey? Coyotes (and their fans) to think it is possible.

“I’d love to go into player development. I love working with young guys.” “I believe in technology as a driving factor for business. A tech-enabled approach to connecting with the fans and our partners is absolutely 15. One recent entry-level deal that got plenty of attention: Arthur Kaliyev something we are going to do.” in Los Angeles. The 33rd-overall pick in 2019 signed for a $925,000 cap hit — a big number for a second-round selection. When Kaliyev was What does that mean? taken, more than one exec thought he could be a steal for the Kings. He had 98 points in 57 games for OHL Hamilton, validating L.A.’s belief in “I believe, and I’m not the only one who believes it, this incredible him. There are no performance bonuses for the first two seasons of his groundswell that’s only going to keep growing for e-gaming is absolutely contract, but a $212,500 goals bonus in Year 3. That changes if he the flip side of the coin for online gambling. You have young people who doesn’t stick in the NHL next year, but Kaliyev’s going to have a legit shot are truly engaged in e-gaming, as they then get exposed to potential to stick. gambling components that are digitally based, that are on apps, that are accessible, that are tech-enabled… (that eventually include) a Sign up for NHL newsletters component of augmented reality, virtual reality. I think all is in the works and we want to be part of that.” Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! 21. Then there’s the arena.

16. A couple of weeks ago, NCAA Wisconsin head coach Tony Granato “I thought priority one through five was figuring out the arena,” Gutierrez indicated Philadelphia prospect Wyatt Kalynuk was leaving school to go laughed. “Alex told me it’s priority one through 10.” pro. Taken 196th overall in 2017, the Manitoba-born defenceman has really improved. What teams are waiting for is to see if he signs with the COVID-19 has loosened control on the timeline, but getting an arena in a Flyers or declares his intention to become a free agent after a 30-day more convenient location for the team’s fans is a big deal for the waiting period. Because he was 20 when drafted, he has that option. Coyotes. Meruelo’s hope is an announcement by the end of 2020.

17. I think there’s real interest in Mike Stothers, recently let go as coach 22. I’m tearing down my golf game and starting all over. This is the in AHL Ontario. driving range at Eagle’s Nest Golf Club, a fun and challenging course: I was there a few weeks ago to fit some new irons at the Titleist National Your browser does not support the audio element. Fitting Centre, which is based there. 27. Iginla was excellent on the podcast. A couple of highlights: He That’s a Shell station at the back. Ryan Goodridge, who showed great admitted “I didn’t like hitting growing up. I wasn’t scared of it. (But) I patience working with me, told a great story about NHL linesman Garrett wanted to score goals, get points, help win the games, do those types of Rank. Rank, who reached number 25 on the World Amateur Golf things…. Even in the NHL, I didn’t like open-ice hitting. I would feel it (as rankings last summer, hit that gas station with a three-wood. That’s 300 hard as) the other guy (did).” yards. (Note: I couldn’t hit it with a three-wood.) He credited WHL coach Don Hay for changing that mindset and joked 23. Wednesday, I wrote about “Agape” (pronounced “ah-gah-pay”), the that he never had a problem with fighting. His grandpa started him in tribute song written by Oilers prospect Cooper Marody for the late Colby boxing at the Panther Club in Edmonton. Cave. (It will be released at 12:00 a.m. Friday.) Marody is pleasantly surprised by how many players have been “super supportive” of his 28. Iginla’s greatest successes were two Olympic Gold Medal games. musical career. Two goals in 2002, the Golden Assist in 2010. He told a funny story about buying a few Team Canada jerseys in 2002 for personal use. “(Michigan teammates) Quinn Hughes and Josh Norris are some of my biggest fans,” he said. “Leon (Draisaitl) came up to me, said he heard the “You can get the team to sign them, so I ordered all these jerseys, and song and it sounded awesome. I’m thankful for that support. It sends a they weren’t cheap. But I thought, “This is going to be awesome. People message that there might be a lot of people scared to try something are going to want these — some family, friends.” And (then) we were different, especially younger kids, but if you enjoy it, don’t be afraid what getting blown out by Sweden in our first game…. It was pretty dismal, others think. Pursue what you enjoy, because good people will support and I remember thinking on the bench just for a second, ‘Nobody’s going you.” to want any of those jerseys.’”

24. When he goes to Nashville in the summer, Marody skates with a few Betting that wasn’t a problem after the tournament was over. people in the music industry who like hockey. The list includes 29. Iginla’s junior teammate Shane Doan was also a recent podcast singer/songwriter Chris DeStefano and Warner Chappell Music VP of guest. We asked Iginla if he was disappointed Doan made the 1995–96 A&R BJ Hill. DeStefano is a goalie. Marody laughed when I asked if he Winnipeg Jets instead of returning to WHL Kamloops for a shot at a strategically went easy on him. three-peat.

“Maybe I would have had a whole album produced by him if I shot the Well, I was catching up with an old friend, TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, seeing puck at his pads. He’s pretty good, though.” how he’s doing. And I remembered he played for that ’95-96 Kamloops 25. Two stories that stuck with me in the last two weeks. Jason Payne team as well (seven goals in 53 regular-season/playoff games). With that played 22 years of pro hockey, and, like Johnny Cash, he was prompting, Rishaug told a great story of how the Blazers sent Doan a everywhere, man. This is a guy who clearly loves the game. In 1999– video before Jets training camp, wishing him all the best in making the 2000, he played 26 games for the ECHL’s Dayton Bombers, NHL. Rishaug said he jumped in front of the camera and said, “Shane, accumulating 211 penalty minutes. One night in Roanoke stood out, for you have to make that team, because I’m getting cut if you don’t.” We all the wrong reasons. The game went into a shootout, where an had a good laugh at that one. opponent totally butchered his attempt. 30. No problem here with Nashville and Washington campaigning hard “So all our players (are saying), ‘Nice shot, nice shot, nice dump-and- for Roman Josi and John Carlson in the Norris race. If I were a chase,’” Payne said. “So after the shot, he’s skating back… looks at me, candidate, I’d want to know my organization supported me. and I hadn’t even said anything. He looked directly at me, and he called 31. I don’t have the words for this other than to give my support to Jake, me the N-word three times in a row. I laughed because I was like, ‘Did he Dan and John Quesnel Jr. The gofundme to support these three children just say that for real?’ And the linesman was standing right there, ‘I got after an unspeakable tragedy surpassed its goal, proving one again that, that — I saw it, I saw it.’ And I sat there and I was kind of laughing, like, even in difficult times, there are plenty of fantastic people in the world. ‘Did he say that for real? Does he know I will jump on the ice and tear his neck off?’ It was funny in my mind that he had the audacity to say it when Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 I hadn’t said anything to him. As soon as it finished, my teammates poured on the ice before I even got on the ice. It was an all-out war trying to get to this guy. They stood up for me like it was no man’s business.”

Daniel Berthiaume, a goalie who played 215 NHL games, grabbed Payne.

“He’s grabbing me, ‘Payner, sorry, man. Please don’t worry about this. He’s an idiot, he’s an idiot.’ It took a lot of them at that point because my rage started to build up. It took a lot of people to try and get me off the ice.”

26. Story II, from Jarome Iginla: Iginla said he was fortunate not to be the victim of many racial slurs when he was growing up.

“There were some incidents where something was going on in the stands, where one of our parents would go over and talk. After the game, you’d hear somebody said something inappropriate or ignorant, and one of my teammates’ dads went over and talked to them. Those meant a lot to me to have that support…. It wouldn’t have been the same if my grandpa had to go over there and talk to them. Imagine, my grandpa — older guy there — goes over and he’s yelling. Of course, he’s supposed to — I know he’s got my back. But it was way different, felt way better and wasn’t as harmful to me, I believe, as a young guy, when my buddy’s dad went over and just laid down the law…. I’m very thankful I didn’t have more and that I had people to back me up.”

There’ve been times where I’ve spoken up, and times where I regret not doing more.

The 9

Eric Duhatschek shares his thoughts on Jarome Iginla's career and the NHL's Hall of Fame

June 10 2020 1186301 Websites And I don’t just mean offensively, but defensively. And work ethics and habits. All the top teams have a tremendous amount of skill, but a tremendous amount of work. To change things, you need guys who are smart and guys who will work and have the skill to do it.” Sportsnet.ca / Canucks coaches using lengthy break to develop new strategies Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.

Iain MacIntyre | June 12, 2020, 8:13 AM Green believes he has the players he needs. What he doesn’t have, after all these months, is a regular runway back to playing. There will be no

pre-season, his players remain scattered across North America and VANCOUVER – In a typical playoff year – remember those? – National Europe partly due to quarantine issues in Canada, there are strict Hockey League teams have four or five days to get ready for the Stanley limitations on how and how many players can skate together before Cup tournament. training camp, and a mountain of issues for the league and its players’ association to negotiate for everything that happens after July 10. If the NHL successfully restarts its season this summer, the 24 teams still playing will have been off nearly five months. That’s longer than a normal There are a lot of challenges for coaches trying to prepare their teams. off-season for some playoff teams. “I think you can look at it that way or you can look at it like everyone is With all this time since the Vancouver Canucks last played a game on starting even,” Green said. “I don’t really look at it like a challenge, to be March 10, coach Travis Green isn’t viewing July 10 as merely the honest. I look at it like: This is the way it is and how are we going to get opening of a playoff training camp. He sees it as the start of next season. our team best prepared to play Game 1? I have confidence in our guys. I’m not worried about that. We’ll be ready to go.” A fascinating aspect of this extraordinary schedule break between the regular season and the modified playoffs is the time it allows NHL Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 coaching staffs like Green’s to impact the way their teams play. In terms of tactical progression, whatever we see this summer could really be like “next season,” especially for teams like the Canucks whose young core players develop by the month.

“It’s almost like going into a new season,” Green told Sportsnet. “I think from year to year, the past three years, we’ve kind of spent months at the end of the year watching how our team played and trying to think about what kind of changes we should make and if we should make them. . . both from the players and the coaches.

“That’s pretty well what we’ve done. We’ve gone through every part of our game. I think we had a really strong understanding before we started (the shutdown) about the areas we had to get better. I think we had an understanding even during the season, to be honest. But now, can we make a change to help those areas become better but still not be at a risk of losing what we’re good at either?”

The Canucks, who lost more games than everyone except the Buffalo Sabres the last four seasons, were the seventh-best team in the Western Conference when hockey halted for the novel coronavirus on March 12.

They were generally better across the board, statistically, in 2019-20, although their improvement offensively outpaced the progress on defence. This isn’t surprising considering the dramatic uptick this season on the power play – to fourth (24.1 per cent) from 22nd (17.1 per cent) – the arrivals of culture-changing winger J.T. Miller and dynamic defenceman Quinn Hughes, the ongoing ascension of Calder Trophy winner Elias Pettersson, and a handful of forwards establishing new scoring highs.

The power play alone produced an additional goal every three games this season compared to last year, as Canucks team scoring rose to eighth (3.25 goals per game) from 26th (2.67). But even with a superb season from starting goalie Jacob Markstrom, Vancouver’s goals against dipped to 19th (3.10) from 17th (3.02) last season.

Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game.

In nearly all advanced statistics, the Canucks were slightly below average in possession and Green told Sportsnet a month into the shutdown: “That’s an area where I don’t think there’s any way to hide, I’d like to see our team be better defensively.”

He and assistant coaches , Nolan Baumgartner and have spent the spring figuring out how to achieve this. And they’ll have enough time during a three-week training camp in July to implement change.

“For me, the analytics validate things I see,” Green said. “There’s a reason the team with the best players have the best analytics, as well. (But) you have to be careful you’re not just coaching by analytics.

“There are certain things I notice in our team that I’ve wanted to do for a while. The skill in our group is getting to a level now where I can do that. 1186302 Websites “We have the raw data of the total number of penalties — that’s captured electronically through our reporting system. What isn’t electronic is the categorization of the information. So, we actually (undertook) a manual process,” Oakman said. “…And we felt we had to balance between Sportsnet.ca / GTHL director: 'We know we need to be better. We know wanting to get the information and making that information available to we need to do more' people, and we thought it was important to examine not just the numbers in their totality but also the types of inappropriate language being used.

So, it was trying to balance getting the information out in a timely way Sonny Sachdeva | June 12, 2020, 12:08 PM against the time it would take to go back on a greater extent.”

The league did not confirm whether or not it would continue that process of categorization and release further data about prior seasons. However, TORONTO — In the wake of continued criticism over its refusal to the GTHL did announce the formation of an independent committee that disclose data related to in-game racial slurs, the Greater Toronto Hockey will assess how the league handles incidents involving racial League reversed course Friday and released a portion of its in-house discrimination and then recommend initiatives to improve its protocols data to the public. moving forward — Oakman said the league will release more data regarding recorded incidents of on-ice racial discrimination if the The minor-hockey league disclosed the total number of gross misconduct committee recommends they do so. penalties assessed for discriminatory slurs heard by on-ice officials during the past three seasons, as well as the number of incidents While the data released Friday outlines the number of times on-ice reported but not heard on the ice by referees. The total number of heard officials assessed a penalty to a player for use of a discriminatory slur, it incidents was broken down into five categories: race, religion, sexual does not include information about how those incidents are subsequently orientation, gender and disability. handled, and the lengths of suspensions levied for the race-based incidents referenced in the data. According to the data, the league saw 197 such penalties assessed during the 2019-20 season, a sharp uptick from 51 in 2018-19 — though Elaborating, Oakman said: “If you’re looking at a player that has 87 per cent of that increase is largely the result of expanded guidelines essentially no disciplinary history and this is a first offence for a player in for what is counted as discriminatory language based on gender. Five of all matters, you’d be looking likely at an eight-to 10-game suspension. If those total incidents this season involved racial slurs, with 20 counted there are extenuating circumstances like a prior history of bad behaviour, over the past three seasons in total. you’d be looking certainly at a longer suspension, and if it’s a repeat offender, then you absolutely would be looking at a much more extensive Per GTHL’s release suspension.” However, the league doesn’t believe the data represents a true reflection The process by which that suspension is handed down following the of the experiences of players of colour in the GTHL, according to initial penalty is the same one that applies to all five categories listed executive director Scott Oakman, given the statistics don’t account for among the penalties for discriminatory slurs. discriminatory language not heard by referees during games. “The referee assesses the penalty in-game, the player is obviously “This only captures incidents that are penalized — there are instances removed from that game and immediately suspended indefinitely,” that go unpenalized … (and) unreported, and we know that,” Oakman Oakman said. “The follow-up process … involves the submission of a said, adding that the league’s work to address this issue began with a report from the officials involved in the game, a submission or a letter summit in 2019 focused on improving its culture. provided by the player who was assessed the penalty providing their “That was part of the discussions we’ve had going back as far as the perspective on the penalty that they were assessed, the coach of the summit, and… the outcomes of the summit that we had, in terms of team is also required to submit a letter outlining his perspective as well improving culture, inclusivity and diversity in our organization. So, we as thoughts around the player involved. And we welcome any other were aware prior, too, that the data was not reflective of actual additional documentation, which often includes letters from parents experiences, and we had identified that we need to work on improving outlining their perspective.” that and making it so that we can eliminate discrimination and racist Noting that parents and teams often offer information about measures behaviour from the game of hockey altogether. So, we don’t look at the they’ve taken as well, Oakman said all of this is weighed before a data as a true reflection of lived experiences.” suspension is settled upon, or an in-person disciplinary hearing is Hockey Central required to investigate further. Disciplinary panels consist of three members of the GTHL board of directors who weigh all the evidence and June 12 2020 hear from the individuals involved before determining appropriate Your browser does not support the audio element. suspensions.

The GTHL — which counts itself as the largest minor-hockey league in While the league has detailed protocols in place for dealing with recorded the world, with more than 40,000 annual participants — came under fire incidents, and Oakman notes that the GTHL has not seen any repeat earlier this month after its refusal to disclose its penalty data was first offenders among those assessed penalties for use of discriminatory slurs reported by TSN’s Rick Westhead, along with critical comments from a over the past two seasons, recent comments from one player in the number of GTHL alumni who’ve gone on to the professional level. league suggest instances of in-game racial discrimination are still very Oakman said that initial decision stemmed from an existing policy related common. As well, though the data disclosed Friday sheds some light on to publicly disclosing information about minors, but the hockey world’s the current situation, it doesn’t offer a sample size adequate for judging recent period of reflection related to the impact of systemic racism has whether the league is trending in the right direction in terms of making caused the league to reassess its stance. the GTHL a more inclusive space.

“I think the policy we had in place for the last period of time around For his part, Oakman said the league has heard calls for it to improve its protecting information that’s connected to the children and youth we handling of racial discrimination, particularly in regards to providing anti- serve is a very important measure, and would be an expectation, I think, racism education for players who engage in discriminatory behaviour. of families,” Oakman said. “But … we’ve listened to parents and we’ve “We know we need to be better. We know we need to do more,” he said. listened to players and realized, given that this is a very important time in “And it’s one of the reasons why there are discussions happening history and it’s a very transitional time in history, that (releasing the data) amongst the groups that are working on the summit outcomes. And to was the right thing to do.” expedite it, we’ve asked the independent committee to also provide us Asked why the GTHL chose to disclose only three seasons’ worth of with some direction on educational material that we currently have, and statistics, Oakman said they were unable to provide more given the time what else we should be implementing to address these matters.” needed to sort their data on discriminatory slurs into the five included The GTHL also announced it will soon hold a virtual Town Hall for categories, which suggests the league did not previously have its penalty “players, parents, coaches and other stakeholders” to discuss their data sorted to identify how many of its recorded uses of discriminatory experiences and make recommendations on how the league can improve slurs were based on race. the processes by which it handles racial discrimination. “We’re learning and listening,” Oakman said. “And we want to hear from people at the Town Hall. … And we want the independent committee that’s being formed to provide us with recommendations in that regard — there are a number of areas that we have current practices and processes, and we’re opening up ourselves to (having) people who have life experiences (different from ours) to look at what we do and provide us with recommendations on how we can do it better, or change what we do so that it’s better.”

How exactly the independent committee’s directions are implemented after its review is completed remains to be seen.

“At the end of the day, our board will hear the recommendations — obviously, it’s difficult to say without seeing recommendations what steps we need to take, because we do have some different processes depending on the nature of the change,” said Oakman. “There are some processes the board can simply implement, there are other processes that would require a vote by the membership. So, it depends on the type of change that’s occurring.

“But I do know that there’s a commitment from our board of directors to listen very closely to what the recommendations are and do what we can to implement the recommendations fully, so that we can make our organization what we truly want it to be. And that is an organization that has inclusivity and diversity that fully represents the population that we serve across the GTA.”

Per the league’s release, further information on the date of the Town Hall will be released in the coming days.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186303 Websites move past the defender in a manner that leaves him with an option to put the puck on net, while avoiding prying sticks from the opposition.

“The reason he goes between the legs is to protect it further from the Sportsnet.ca / Inside the Highlight Reel: Breaking down Alex Ovechkin's defender, who is quite close, to get it to the backhand side,” Barber says. go-to move “To effectively do this you have to ensure the puck is loaded off the body to the forehand side, and is also behind the nearside foot to allow the pull to go between the legs.”

Sonny Sachdeva | June 12, 2020, 4:30 PM The most important hyper-specific skill necessary to use this move effectively, says Barber, is mastering control of the puck with the toe of

the blade. And The Great Eight’s twig provides a useful assist on that Each week, stickhandling specialist Pavel Barber and Sonny Sachdeva front. will go Inside the Highlight Reel to break down one of the silkiest moves “You have to use the toe of the blade to get the tight line needed to go from the NHL’s best, dissecting it to explain why it’s so dangerous and between the legs — I’ve used Ovechkin’s pro stock stick before and it demonstrating how to master it yourself. has a massive open-faced toe curve, which is basically tailor-made for The NHL’s return-to-play plan has been set. Whether the COVID-19 moves like this,” Barber says. pandemic subsides to a point that allows them to put that plan into action “This allows him to keep most of the blade near the ice and disguise any remains to be seen, but for many players around the league, move easily with the toe. It just stays cupped in there so he can easily preparations for the post-season have officially begun. control it and decide when to make the move, which he does well here.” For Alex Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals, a return means a round We’ve seen that between-the-legs classic pop up often from Ovechkin, robin with fellow Rocket Richard winner David Pastrnak and the Boston his ability to sell the shot-fake and his favourable curve pattern making it Bruins, along with fellow eastern contenders in Tampa Bay and a natural go-to for the sniping king. And as seen below, that marquee Philadelphia. And after a campaign that saw Ovechkin finish atop the aspect of the Russian phenom’s skill-set makes it all the more goals chart for the ninth time in his career, and tie the second-best goals- dangerous, as regardless of the space afforded, he can either finish off per-game pace of his career (0.71), the Caps figure to be a handful for the backhand as above, or quickly whip it to his forehand to find some any who get in their way when play resumes. open space up top. Last time around, the Inside the Highlight Reel spotlight fell on Boston’s For a more detailed breakdown on how to master Ovechkin’s go-to Pastrnak. This week, stickhandling specialist Pavel Barber looks at the between-the-legs move, we asked Barber to demonstrate the sequence, other half of the 2020 Rocket Richard duo, breaking down the creativity explain how to ensure you can pull it off with maximum effectiveness, that makes Ovechkin’s sniping so lethal. and offer up one drill that’ll help build the skills to do it. Throughout the hockey world’s hiatus, we’ve called on Barber to share Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 his on-ice expertise for young players using this downtime to fine-tune their skill-sets. The YouTube phenom-turned-skills coach has made his name dissecting the finer points of offensive wizardry. While amassing half a million followers online, the Toronto native has trained NHLers like Jonathan Toews and , and recently linked up with and the Vancouver Canucks to coach some local Vancouverites.

So far, Barber’s dissected Mitch Marner’s backhand toe drag, Sidney Crosby’s one-handed, backhand magic, Connor McDavid’s use of the art of deception, Elias Pettersson’s mastery of ‘The Forsberg’ and David Pastrnak’s trophy-clinching creativity.

This week, a look at one of Ovechkin’s go-to moves — his between-the- legs pull to the backhand.

Given where Ovechkin ranks among the game’s all-time pure goal- scorers, his stickhandling ability and confidence to break out dazzling displays tend to get lost in the shuffle. But that’s par for the course for the boisterous Russian winger — while his game is defined by the 706 goals piled up during his NHL tenure, it’s his skill with the puck on his stick, his physicality, his speed and a number of other nuanced aspects of his game that allow that sniping skill to reign supreme, overlooked as they may sometimes be.

This move in particular makes clear that relationship between his scoring skill and the other aspects of his game. The key to pulling it off lies in Ovechkin’s tried-and-true reputation as a shooter, a reputation that undoubtedly affects how defenders and netminders anticipate his next moves when he’s flying into the zone.

“Ovechkin is a shot threat from pretty much anywhere, which makes him all the more effective at this move,” Barber says. “Watch as he loads up the puck directly to the toe and he positions his body and hands in a shooting position as he looks up to analyze the defenceman and the elimination space.

“He catches the defender flat-footed, reaching, which is when he times the move for the smooth elimination.”

A look at No. 8’s stance right before he begins this move’s sequence illustrates the deception Barber’s describing. If you were toe-to-toe with the Capitals captain lined up like he was below, it would be borderline irresponsible to not expect a shot on net.

With that potential shot leaving the opposition frozen, Ovechkin launches into the between-the-legs move, which — like we’ve seen with the other between-the-legs variations from Marner and Pastrnak — allows him to 1186304 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Penguins' Marleau on Maple Leafs' Marner: 'He amazes me'

Mike Johnston | June 12, 2020, 3:31 PM

As a 22-year NHL veteran and a two-time Olympic gold medallist with Team Canada, Patrick Marleau has no shortage of experience playing alongside some of hockey’s best.

The Pittsburgh Penguins forward spent two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and in that short time developed a close relationship with star winger Mitch Marner, whom he holds in high regard as an elite talent.

“He amazes me,” Marleau said Friday during an appearance on Hockey Central. “I just love watching him play. The way he skates, the way he sees the ice, the way he creates space for himself and that goes into his skating is amazing.”

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Marleau spent 19 seasons with the San Jose Sharks before signing with the Maple Leafs in 2017. He scored 27 goals in his first season in Toronto and took Marner and fellow youngster Auston Matthews under his wing.

In addition to praising his skill set, Marleau was impressed with the mindset of Marner, who led the team in scoring in both of Marleau’s seasons in Toronto.

“He does this, he does that and you try to go replicate it and it’s not as easy as it looks that’s for sure, but it’s something that he’s been working on all his life,” Marleau said. “Also, the great thing he has going for him is his attitude off the ice, how he handles things.

“He’s kind of like Jumbo (Marleau’s former Sharks teammate Joe Thornton) in a way where he can have a great time and then flip that switch. As soon as he’s on the ice it’s all business. He knows those different moments where he can relax and have some fun but he was also very passionate and very focussed on being one of the best players in the league and winning.

“A lot of people cannot see that part because they always look at the happy, the smiling and that, but he’s very focussed and very committed.”

Pittsburgh acquired Marleau in late February for a conditional 2021 third- round draft pick and he only suited up in eight games for the Penguins prior to the NHL’s indefinite hiatus due to COVID-19.

The Penguins are slated to take on the Montreal Canadiens in a play-in series once hockey returns and Marleau will be looking to add to his impressive playoff totals. The 40-year-old has 72 career post-season goals, which ranks 14th all-time, directly behind Dino Ciccarelli, and Jaromir Jagr.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186305 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Kevin Lowe believes Edmonton deserves to be NHL hub city

Emily Sadler | June 12, 2020, 5:19 PM

When the NHL resumes the 2019-20 season, Kevin Lowe believes there should be hockey in Edmonton.

The vice-chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group joined Hockey Central on Friday and stated the case for the home of the Oilers to be named as one of two hub cities, praising the province of Alberta for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and throwing his support behind the city and the club’s new facility.

“Obviously, a great facility,” Lowe said. “I think on the health side, Alberta’s done a great job with great cooperation with the province to this point.”

Edmonton is one of 10 cities currently under consideration to be a hub city. Vancouver and Toronto are the other two Canadian cities in the running.

Both NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daley have stressed safety as the most important factor in the decision- making, as well as facilities and accommodations as players from 12 teams would descend upon each conference’s host city.

As Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reported on Thursday, Edmonton has the fewest cases of COVID-19 of cities being considered.

NHL brass has indicated that they’d like to have one hub city in Canada and one in the U.S., but uncertainty around the border closure and Canada’s mandatory 14-day quarantine for all incoming travellers has been a major question in that decision. According to Spector, the Canadian government is expected to ease restrictions on that front, with an announcement expected soon.

Lowe indicated that while hosting a group of quarantined Western Conference players might not necessarily serve as a big economic boost for the city and province, it would certainly lift spirits in and around the hockey-loving city.

“Alberta’s had a tough go here for the last number of years … a lot of hard-working people here have created a great province,” he said. “I just think that, if we’re fortunate enough to win the bid, it’s not gonna make any difference economically — maybe a few small businesses might reap the benefits — but it’ll be a real shot in the arm.”

He also praised the staff behind the bid.

“We have an incredible executive staff. Tom Anselmi, Bob Nicholson — you can’t find two guys that are more experienced, and the guys that work under them on the operations side, they’ve just put an amazing bid in,” said Lowe. “They deserve it.”

The NHL has not said when it will name the two hubs, but a decision is expected within the next few weeks.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186306 Websites September 2022 and don’t necessarily have to hammer out all of the details before the puck drops again.

Perhaps we’ll see them reach a memorandum of understanding on key Sportsnet.ca / Where NHL goes from here after setting Phase 3 date issues, though.

After weeks where seemingly no progress was made towards a return, it’s been a big few days. Players began returning to team facilities for Chris Johnston June 11, 2020, 4:09 PM small-group workouts on Monday and no doubt will be joined by greater numbers of teammates in the days ahead as those currently in Europe

and other parts of North America make their way back to playing cities. These locked-in dates are crucial to salvaging the NHL season. The quarantine issue is a major point of emphasis for the Canadian- Establishing July 10 as the target to open mandatory training camps based teams, particularly since they’d originally been hoping to receive allows players to start making decisions about when to travel back to clarity from the federal government by the end of last week. There is their playing cities, at least for those not waiting for more clarity on optimism that restrictions could be eased so that a NHL facility would be quarantine restrictions. It arms the teams with a key piece of information considered part of a player’s safe zone under quarantine — which would to start putting the wheels in motion on return-to-play planning that is both open the door to players on the six returning teams to get back and shifting from theoretical to very real. participate in Phase 2 while also keeping open the possibility of a playing hub being based here. And, for the industry as a whole, Thursday’s announcement was the most encouraging sign yet that we’re going to see the Stanley Cup Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it playoffs staged this summer — assuming the health and safety 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, conditions allow for it. they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. The 9 Contingency plans are already in place if that doesn’t happen. Brian Burke gives his take on NHL's Phase 2, potential hub cities, and non-playoff teams Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving told Sportsnet’s Eric Francis this week that he’s willing to consider a U.S.-based training June 11 2020 camp. Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal have investigated the possibility as well. Your browser does not support the audio element. At least they all now have a date to inform those decisions and more An agreement between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association on the reason than ever to believe the planning won’t go for naught. The NHL is start date for Phase 3 basically amounts to a statement of intent since it inching towards a resumption. It gets closer and closer with each hurdle establishes a deadline for those parties to work through the remaining cleared. issues. “I do believe that we will play,” said Rielly. “I’ve kind of always had that They’ve basically left themselves until the end of June to finalize a return- train of thought, it’s just kind of a matter of when. … I’ve tried to keep the to-play agreement to vote on. To this point the owners and players have attitude that we’re coming back and playing and try to be positive. only ratified the 24-team format that will be used if the season resumes. They will still have a say in whether that “Hopefully that can keep going here between now and July 10 and then on from there.” actually ends up happening. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.13.2020 Before any voting happens, the to-do list looks like this:

• Get clarity from the Canadian government on whether a 14-day quarantine will continue to apply to NHL players entering the country, which directly affects whether Toronto, Edmonton or Vancouver can be chosen as a hub city and whether Canadian-based teams might choose to move their training camps to the U.S.

• Finalize the two hub cities where games will be played.

• Reach agreement on the collective bargaining issues pertaining to a return to play, which include critical dates, the 2020-21 salary cap, a potential cap on escrow and other contractual matters.

• Establish protocols that govern Phases 3 and 4, which include testing, rules governing those who produce a positive result, living conditions in the hub cities, family visits and roughly a thousand other considerations, both big and small.

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.

That’s all expected to be bundled into a big package for approval by the end of June. Once we get there, it will be the first in a line of moments of truth because it will officially signify whether the league and its players are going ahead with training camps, exhibition games and progressing towards resuming a season that’s been on pause since March 12.

By comparison, Thursday’s announcement about camps opening July 10 was more of a symbolic step forward in that it finally established a timeline for all of these things to happen.

“That’s kind of what we’ve been waiting for,” said Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman . “I think if you ask most players what was the hardest part about [this pause] it was the uncertainty.”

A notable subtext to the return-to-play decisions is that negotiations on a CBA extension have started as well. The sides are looking at a potential four- or five-year extension to an agreement currently set to expire in 1186307 Websites

TSN.CA / GTHL releases details on penalties called for discriminatory slurs

Rick Westhead

The Greater Toronto Hockey League, the world’s biggest amateur hockey organization with more than 40,000 players, today disclosed details of how many player penalties have been called over the past three seasons for discriminatory slurs.

The league recorded five gross misconduct penalties last season for racist language. In total, there were 197 misconduct penalties given for slurs based on gender (172), sexual orientation (16), disability (three) and religion (one) last season.

The GTHL said the gender category includes “slurs and taunts such as ‘you play like a girl’ and other more graphic comments.”

In the past three seasons, GTHL referees have called penalties for 20 racial slurs.

The GTHL has refused to disclose that information before now, saying that, because the players are minors, it has been following privacy policies of school boards. It also argued that disclosing the data would damage the reputation of the vast majority of the league’s players.

“The last couple of weeks, we’ve heard from parents and players in our league about challenges they’ve faced as being participants in our league,” GTHL executive director Scott Oakman said in an interview with The Athletic. “And the need for us to consider the position, given the greater desire to be appropriately transparent. We took that response to heart, and we decided that it was important to put the numbers out.”

Oakman did not respond to questions emailed by TSN.

It's unclear why the GTHL did not disclose information for other seasons.

The GTHL said in a press release posted on its website that it will hold a virtual town hall meeting with players, coaches and parents and other stakeholders to discuss discrimination issues. A date for that meeting has not been announced.

The GTHL is also creating an independent committee to confront racism in the league.

In an interview posted May 22 with TSN, 16-year-old Myles Douglas, a forward with the Triple- A North York Rangers, said he was targeted with racist abuse in at least half of the games he played in the GTHL this season.

The GTHL told Douglas and his mother that it will hire an independent investigator to examine his claims.

More than 10 other families shared stories of their children being victims of racial abuse with TSN, but did not want to talk publicly because they worried their kids would face blowback.

The GTHL’s refusal to disclose data on racism-related penalties prompted criticism from several current and former NHL players, including Evander Kane, Blake Wheeler, J.T. Brown, Nazem Kadri, Anson Carter and Kevin Weekes.

Weekes, a GTHL graduate and now a broadcaster with the NHL Network, said he wouldn’t mention the league’s name on air again until it changed its policy.

TSN.CA LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186308 Websites "I get another year to play with my brother. It's going to be something special and I get to keep all my options open for another year."

How would you describe the experience of playing with your brother? TSN.CA / Adam Fantilli on Boston Bruins fandom, admiring Nathan "People who have siblings, especially brothers, they know when you play MacKinnon and road to 2023 NHL draft mini-sticks in the basement as kids [it’s fun so] it's basically doing that, but on a higher stage."

Mark Masters What was the sibling rivalry like growing up?

"I always wanted to hang out with Luca's friends and try and be the best among guys two years older than me. I guess that's what drove most of While most younger hockey players seem to wear a black or silver cage, our competitive nature." or full clear face mask on their helmet, Adam Fantilli opts for a white cage. What was he like? Did he take it easy on you at all?

"I get a lot of flak for that," the 15-year-old said with a grin. "It started in The Steel have had a lot of success playing a possession-based system. tyke hockey. When I was getting dressed, my dad told me that he used to Watching some of the highlights, when they get cycling in the offensive wear a white cage and I go, 'Throw it on.' And, honestly, I don't want to zone it's almost like position-less hockey. What intrigues you about that? change it. It's part of the look that I have and part of what makes me "It's a new way of getting players to play. I don't think there's anyone in unique sometimes." the USHL that plays like them and I don't think there's anyone in the Fantilli stands out for a lot of reasons. The six-foot-two, 181-pound centre USHL who develops players like them and that's what ultimately brought from Nobleton, Ont. is a dynamic blend of size, speed and skill. He me towards my decision." produced 18 goals and 18 assists in 26 games with Kimball Union What are your impressions of Steel general manager Ryan Hardy? Academy while facing older players during the recently completed season. Are you looking forward to living in Chicago?

"My team tried to change my cage this year while I was up in my dorm, "I've only been to Chicago once and I was like 10-years-old so I don't they threw on a fishbowl," Fantilli recalls. "Even on my Instagram I get a really remember it. I love traveling throughout the States and getting the lot of comments about it, but it's all in good fun." chance to go watch some Blackhawks games, some Bears games and to be submerged in the culture there will just be amazing." Considering all his success so far, Fantilli sees no reason to change. And this isn't solely about style. You're taking a different route than most Canadian top prospects, who do you lean on for advice? "I grew up thinking it blended into the ice," he explained. "I tried to go to a black cage for the Youth Olympics and the puck would get lost. I threw "Really what it boils down to is it's just my family, me and my brother and on an Oreo [design] and every time I moved my head quickly there would my parents. We all sit around the kitchen table and that's where we bang be flashes of black and I'd think it was a player. So, I think it's something out most of our decisions ... It's probably about a week-long process for I have to play with now. It's not a necessity, but it helps me feel every decision that we make and I don't think we've made a wrong comfortable." decision so far."

Fantilli isn't afraid to chart a different path than his peers. He left the How do you handle the hype and pressure that will only build in the Toronto Junior Canadiens of the Greater Toronto Hockey League and coming years? followed his older brother, Luca, to a prep school in New Hampshire. He would've been the top pick in the recent draft, "It comes with a lot of pressures, but I have a really good group of people but again he wanted to play alongside his brother this time with the around me and they help me stay grounded and keep my head small. It's Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League. like anything else, you just have to deal with it, because it's part of the game." Fantilli hopes the road he's on will eventually lead to him being the first pick in the 2023 National Hockey League draft. Who is your NHL role model?

"Ever since I figured out what the NHL draft was I wanted to be the No. 1 "I'd like to say Nathan MacKinnon, but if Nathan MacKinnon was a little pick," he said. "I have a competitive drive where I don't want anyone to more physical. I like to throw my body around a little bit more, but that's be better than me." the style I like to model my game after."

Fantilli spoke to TSN this week via Zoom and explained what he likes What do you like about MacKinnon in particular? about the Steel's possession-based system and why Nathan MacKinnon "From everything I've heard and all the people I talk to, he's a competitor. is his NHL role model. He also revealed why he cheers for the Boston He loves to win. He just has that approach to the game where it's like that Bruins much to the chagrin of some of his buddies. The following is an Michael Jordan mentality where you got to win. And all the aspects of his edited transcript of the interview. game, the shooting, the skating, he's an absolute workhorse and I love How did you feel about your season at Kimball Union Academy? the way he plays."

"It was a blast. I had a great time with the whole school experience. Prep I watched an interview you did when you were 12 and you said you were school was one of the best experiences of my life and I thought I had a a Boston Bruins fan despite growing up in Ontario. What's that all about? pretty good year to back it up." "A lot of Leafs fans around the GTA aren't big fans of me (smile) but I Off the ice, what did you enjoy the most? grew up in a Boston culture, because my dad was a big Bruins guy. Game 7s are all that we need." "The community and the school. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. It's a real special place and anybody would have a great time there How did your dad become a Bruins fan? with how nice everybody is. When you first tour there you honestly think "When he grew up watching hockey, his dad was a big Montreal everyone is just overly nice and that's kind of weird, but that's just the Canadiens fan so naturally he started liking the Canadiens. But then kind of people they are." once he started watching and the Bruins went into the rock'em sock'em What would you say is the best part of your game? style of play, he started loving it. So, I don't think I've ever liked a team other than the Bruins. I was sort of brainwashed since Day 1 and never "Probably my skating. If you can't get to the spots on the ice then you strayed." can't score, can't produce, so I like to work on my skating as much as possible and make that the most dynamic part of my game." TSN.CA LOADED: 06.13.2020

Why was Chicago and the USHL the right place for you to play next season? 1186309 World Leagues News

Two Clemson football players, one basketball player test positive for coronavirus

Three Clemson student-athletes -- two football players and a men's basketball player -- have tested positive for the coronavirus, the school reported Friday.

Clemson conducted 128 tests on football and basketball players. Tests for 12 women's basketball players all came back negative, as did additional tests of 41 staff members who work directly with the athletes.

The test results were announced publicly after players on those teams resumed voluntary in-person workouts this week amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Clemson's policy, those players testing positive and their possible contacts will be isolated. The school will contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to trace the athletes' known contacts.

Clemson's fall-sport athletes are scheduled to return to campus in mid- June. espn.com/ LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186310 World Leagues News Colleges: The University of is suspending all voluntary workouts for its athletes after six tested positive for COVID-19 with symptoms.

There also has been an increase of positive tests in the greater Houston Coronavirus sports roundup: Formula 1 cancels three races area over the last week.

LOADED: 06.13.2020 By The Associated Press 5 hrs ago

Formula One races in Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan were canceled Friday because of issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

The sport’s governing body said it still hopes to deliver up to 18 races in the rearranged 2020 season, with the first eight already confirmed starting with a doubleheader in Austria in early July.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was due to be rescheduled after the postponement of its original race date on June 7, while the Singapore Grand Prix was scheduled for Sept. 20.

Both use street circuits, and the FIA said the long lead times required to construct them “made hosting the events during a period of uncertainty impossible.”

The Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for Oct. 11, was canceled because of ongoing travel restrictions during the pandemic.

The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg also will host a race on July 12. The next race will be in Hungary on July 19, followed by consecutive races at the British GP in Silverstone on Aug. 2 and 9 after the British government exempted elite sports from its current quarantine on foreign visitors.

Further races are scheduled for Spain on Aug. 16 and Belgium on Aug. 30, with Italy completing the European swing on Sept. 6.

No spectators will be allowed to attend the opening eight races. This may change later in the season if health conditions allow.

Djokovic speaks up for rights of fans

BELGRADE, Serbia — There was no social distancing and few among the thousands of fans wore face masks — and Novak Djokovic approved.

The fans filled the makeshift stands Friday at Djokovic’s Belgrade tennis club for the opening day of his charity tennis tour organized by him and his family. Other top players in attendance included Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Grigor Dimitrov and Jelena Jankovic.

The Serbian government recently lifted lockdown restrictions in the coronavirus pandemic, only recommending people stay 1 meter apart. On Wednesday, there was a 20,000-strong crowd for a soccer cup semifinal in Belgrade.

At the tennis event, Djokovic defended the freedoms of the crowd.

“We have different circumstances and measures so it’s very difficult to think of international standards,” he said before the ceremonial opening of his Adria Tour.

He said Serbia has “better numbers” compared to other countries regarding coronavirus infections.

Serbia has registered more than 12,000 COVID-19 cases and 252 deaths, although the numbers have been rising again since the government lifted most of the lockdowns and restrictions last month.

“You can also criticize us and say this is maybe dangerous but it’s not up to me to make the calls about what is right or wrong for health,” Djokovic said. “We are doing what the Serbian government is telling us and hopefully we soon will get back on tour collectively.

“Of course, lives have been lost and that’s horrible to see, in the region and worldwide. But life goes on, and we as athletes are looking forward to competing.”

But this week, the top-ranked Djokovic said he was thinking of skipping the U.S. Open — if it is played — because he described precautions put on players as “extreme” and not ”sustainable.”

These included a 14-day quarantine for foreign players; a limit of one person per competitor at matches; limited ability to move around New York; and mandatory lodging near the tournament site in Queens. 1186311 World Leagues News

24 Hour Fitness Closing 10 Bay Area Locations Due To Coronavirus Pandemic As Others Set To Reopen

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – 24 Hour Fitness announced several of its Bay Area locations would close permanently as California allowed the reopening of gyms under the state’s latest coronavirus reopening guidelines.

According to a company statement, 10 Bay Area gyms are closing, four of which are located in San Francisco.

The closures include:

Walnut Creek Ygnacio Center

Alamo Express

Berkeley Solano Avenue Fit Lite

North Point (San Francisco)

Alemany Sport (San Francisco)

Noe Valley Fit Lite (San Francisco)

Market Street (San Francisco)

Milpitas Active

Fremont Sport

Capitol & McKee (San Jose)

The gym announced members would be able to work at any location that is reopened through the rest of 2020.

Meanwhile, 24 Hour Fitness said other Bay Area locations would be opening soon. A check of the gym’s website on Friday showed several locations promising to open as early as June 22nd, including some gyms in Alameda and San Mateo counties. Other locations promised dates in late June and early July, while gyms in San Francisco projected reopening in August.

24 Hour Fitness stressed that reopening dates would be subject to change.

On Friday, California allowed for the reopening of gyms with restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. Among the state-issued guidelines (.pdf), gyms are being encouraged to implement reservations, space equipment at least six feet apart, and to frequently disinfect equipment. Contact sports such as basketball should remain suspended, while pools are allowed to open.

LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186312 World Leagues News

Unidentified Bruin tests positive for coronavirus

Associated PressJun 12, 2020, 12:55 PM EDT

The Boston Bruins say one of their players has tested positive for COVID-19.

General manager Don Sweeney says the unidentified player had not been a part of informal workouts with his teammates.

The Bruins say the player was tested as a requirement to enter the team’s practice facility and came up positive. The player has not shown any COVID-19 symptoms.

The Bruins say the player has since tested negative twice for the disease.

LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186313 World Leagues News

Australia's Sports Minister still optimistic about hosting 2020 T20 World Cup despite COVID-19 crisis

WRITTEN BY

DNA Web Team

Australia's Sports Minister Richard Colbeck on Friday (June 12) expressed his thoughts on how the country is still hopeful going ahead in hosting the T20 World Cup later this year.

The star-studded international tournament is scheduled to take place in Australia from October 18-November 15, however, due to the coronavirus outbreak acorss the globe the fate of the tournament hangs in the balance with travel restrictions throughout the world.

Colbeck, during his interaction with ANI, also added how the federal government is still considering hosting the tournament and the response to COVID-19 in the country has led to optimism about hosting the tournament.

"The Federal Government continues to work closely with the Local Organising Committee and state governments on planning for the Men's T20 World Cup. Our decisive response to the pandemic and the nation's ability to flatten the curve of the virus has resulted in the roll-out of a three-step framework for a COVID safe Australia. This has included the staged return of sport at all levels," Colbeck told ANI.

Nevertheless, the Minister also claimed that if the T20 WC actually happens as per schedule, then the spectator numbers may be considerably low due to the possible restrictions in different states and territories.

"It will not be without obvious precautions. Australian states and territories are responsible for implementing arrangements regarding the resumption of sport in each jurisdiction. This may result in restrictions on spectator numbers - but in what capacity is not yet clear."

"We remain committed to the implementation and support of measures to keep players and spectators safe. Any decision in relation to the tournament is ultimately a matter for the ICC," Colbeck said.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia so far has reported 7,289 coronavirus positive cases and the death toll stands at 102.

Speaking about the situation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a statement said: "The Board expressed its desire to continue to assess and evaluate the rapidly changing public health situation caused by COVID-19 working with key stakeholders including governments to explore how the events can be staged to protect the health and safety of everyone involved."

"This contingency planning process will evaluate health and safety, cricket, partner and host considerations ensuring any decision taken is in the best interests of the sport, its Members and fans," the statement added.

LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186314 World Leagues News

Ryan Zimmerman: Baseball was unlucky compared to other sports with the timing of the coronavirus pandemic

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ryan Zimmerman is a two-time All-Star infielder who has played 15 years in the majors, all with the Washington Nationals. He holds most of the team's career hitting records, and his two homers and seven RBIs last postseason helped the Nationals win their first World Series championship.

With the 2020 season on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, Zimmerman is offering his thoughts -- as told to AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich -- in a diary of sorts while waiting for baseball to return. In the ninth installment, Zimmerman discusses why he thinks his sport ended up in an unlucky position.

Every week is becoming a big week to try and move forward if we're going to have a chance to do anything this season.

In the moment, when things like this happen, there's always sort of these two thought processes.

There's the doomsday people that say, "It'll never be the same if you don't play in 2020. The fans will never come back. We'll lose so many people. When we start up next year, nobody will watch."

And there's the people that say, basically, "Baseball's been around for a long time. We've gone through a lot of labor things. This is an unprecedented time. We'll survive this."

It's not an excuse, but when you think about it, of all the sports, we got unlucky with the timing of how this worked out -- it seems like it's a lot more complicated for baseball.

The NBA and the NHL got pretty much three-quarters of their seasons in before the virus happened. They can set themselves up in one or two sites for their playoff scenario and control everyone's movement.

The NFL is still 2 1/2 months away, so if everything goes well by then, football is going to be in a way better place to play. And football plays just one game a week, so that makes it a lot easier to control the week of practicing, stagger when people are in the facility, and maybe you could test everyone on Friday and keep them in a hotel until Sunday's game. Then you're only talking about being away from your family for Saturday and you go home Sunday after the game.

To think about us trying have a whole regular season and then playoffs, and the number of games we would play each week, and all of the travel involved -- that's part of why it has been so hard for us.

The economics of it have been getting the bulk of the attention, but there's also still the health stuff we need to talk about. I trust my teammates and I trust other people. But I also have a 10-day-old baby at home. And I play first base; if I'm going to hold someone on, now I'm trusting everyone who comes to first base is healthy.

I know people think: "All these other sports are figuring it out. You guys are just complaining and whining and bickering and going back and forth."

Any time you have people who make lots of money arguing about money, it doesn't sit well with people. At the end of the day, all sports leagues are businesses. Other leagues have had work stoppages -- that's what comes along with having unions and owners. It's not always pretty. It's not always fun. Fans suffer. But sometimes it's necessary.

I know people don't like equating real-life struggles to sports, entertainment, business matters because it doesn't always work out to be the same. People look at the type of money that we make. And I get that.

But these are the things that players before us have fought for and we need to fight for to allow future players to have the same rights we have.

Someone might say: "What does right now matter? This is a special circumstance. There's no way that anything you do this year will ever be carried over." I would tell those people to look at the history of sports. There's always things that get carried over when new precedents are set. So we need to be very cautious about that.

LOADED: 06.13.2020 1186315 World Leagues News experience in Texas but the overall changes related to the virus hit the entire school community, especially seniors.

“These are memories that I do not want them to miss out for the rest of Friday Night Lights and the coronavirus: a work in progress their lives,” McDonald said. “I am saddened by the spring of 2020 and what has transpired. I don’t want it to continue. I understand safety first. I get that. I just hope we can find a way to get it done.” Adam Coleman , Houston Chronicle June 12, 2020 Updated: June 12, 2020 6:30 a.m. houstonchronicle.com/ LOADED: 06.13.2020

Texas’ North Shore and California’s De La Salle — a pair of teams from states that aren’t shy about being boastful of their high school football — are scheduled to meet to open the 2020 season.

The much-anticipated game —like all of Friday Night Lights across Texas — hangs in the balance because of COVID-19.

It’s possible this marquee matchup takes place without coronavirus- related issues springing up — De La Salle’s cross-country travel to Galena Park ISD Stadium or players getting through summer training and practice without being infected to name a few.

It’s also possible the game is played inside a half-empty stadium with a neutered atmosphere. Any excitement over the 2020 high school football season in June is tempered by the unknown waiting in August.

“The pageantry of Texas high school football goes well beyond the football players and the X’s and O’s,” said North Shore football head coach Jon Kay, whose team is the two-time Class 6A Division I state champions. “We want those kids in the band to have their experience. The dance team and our ROTC and our cheerleaders and the student sections. Especially at North Shore, that’s what it’s about.”

How can safety measures against a virus be enforced in a contact sport? How full, if at all, will stands be inside high school football stadiums? What will happen if an asymptomatic player or coach infects others?

The questions are aplenty concerning the coronavirus’ effect on the state’s favorite pastime.

Only a vaccine provides peace of mind this fall, Kay said. He could envision spectators exercising caution in attending games, even if restrictions are relaxed. The state’s three largest high school athletics governing bodies — the University Interscholastic League, the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools and the Southwest Preparatory Conference — have not addressed stadium capacity for games yet. Governor Greg Abbott has for professional and college stadiums, stating they can open at 50 percent capacity.

Perhaps games will be consumed from living rooms more than usual. The virus could change the way the sport is covered by media, especially on television.

The UIL typically restricts Friday night games from being televised — a measure Kay could see being relaxed considering the times. The league lifts those restrictions for a bevy of season-opening games in a partnership with Fox Sports Southwest, and Thursday and Saturday games are televised by numerous outlets throughout the season. Otherwise, games are regularly broadcast by streaming and radio outlets such as Texan Live and the Texas Sports Radio Network.

“Our jobs as commentators on the radio and on TV, whatever the sport is, is going to be relied on a lot more because some people may want to stay at home for a little just because of precautions,” said Brian Adams, a former Huntsville High School and Sam Houston State quarterback who now calls both teams’ games as a color commentator for 101.7 KSAM. “It’s going to be up to us to do a good job and be more descriptive to make these fans that are at home listening to get a sense as if they were there in person.”

“We need this,” Adams said. He cites no event bringing masses together like Texas high school football does on Friday nights.

The concerns are not lost on Adams, though, and Summer Creek High School principal Brent McDonald shares the sentiment.

Athletic directors are working on contingency plans for the 2020 season, and principals like McDonald are trying to solve everyday school life: limited capacity in classrooms; transportation; lunch periods; and other extra-curricular activities.

Friday Night Lights — the games, the band, the drill team, the cheerleaders — are a highly romanticized part of the high school 1186316 World Leagues News Preseason training camps could start 29 days before the season opener, according to The Athletic, which conceivably allows the Cougars, who open Sept. 3 at Utah State, to begin practicing on Aug. 5.

Washington State to begin voluntary workouts June 15; no positive Chun referenced the proposed plan in Thursday’s webinar and indicated COVID-19 tests recorded yet WSU would take a more aggressive approach toward COVID-19 testing as preseason camp approaches.

By Theo Lawson “There’s a six-week model I think we’re going to try to get to, and it’s really incumbent in all 12 of our schools being able to start in week six, counting down toward the start of our season,” Chun said. “We’ll ramp up testing when we get to that point. The good thing is we’ve still got some Certain student-athletes at Washington State will be allowed to start time, but football is considered a high-risk sport relative to COVID-19. We participating in voluntary workouts on Monday as the school initiates a recognize that and we’ll educate our student-athletes on those risks.” phased-in return to college athletics since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the sports world in March. The Spokesman-Review LOADED: 06.13.2020 WSU began administering coronavirus tests to student-athletes on June 4 and Athletic Director Pat Chun estimated just under 60 athletes, mostly football players, have been tested intermittently since then. As of Thursday, no Cougar athlete had tested positive for the illness, Chun told reporters on a Zoom webinar.

“I think right now when we open up our weight rooms on Monday, I think we’re anticipating about 60 should have been cleared, should have made appointments to get into the weight room to have a session with their strength coaches,” Chun said.

The first wave of Cougar athletes who will be permitted to work out on campus will consist of those participating in fall sports and those who’ve remained in Pullman since the conclusion of the spring semester. Chun said the majority of WSU’s football players have either returned to campus to begin the preliminary testing process or plan to do so within the next week.

Every athlete who returns to Pullman will be required to self-quarantine for a minimum of seven days before participating in workouts, and international athletes will be required to do so for 14 days.

Athletes will also have to go undergo a series of tests in order to be cleared for workouts. Those include PCR, or Polymerase Chain Reaction COVID-19 tests, which includes the use of a nasal swab, as well as antibody tests and pre-participation physical exams, according to a school news release.

It’s still unclear how the school will cover the costs that come with testing, but Chun indicated health insurance will cover “a piece of it” and said the school is exploring various budgeting options related to the medical expenses it anticipated.

“We understand it’s one of those nonnegotiables that we’ll have to figure out how to cover,” Chun said.

If an athlete tests positive for COVID-19, they will be “followed up with contact tracing and isolation.” All staff and athletes will undergo daily symptom attestations and temperature screens before they’re permitted to return to their respective athletic facilities.

Chun also outlined the department’s plan on how it will divide student- athletes, in accordance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopen plan that mandates workouts must be conducted in groups or five or fewer.

“In talking with all of our strength coaches and really all of our head coaches, specifically the fall sports, the preference is actually to do more outdoor work, which goes better with kind of the health standards that have been laid out to us,” Chun said. “We’re going to do groups of five at all times, regardless of if it’s indoors or outdoors. We’ve broken up our fields into quadrants to accommodate it, and we have a cleaning regimen in between workouts, post-workouts. So it’s pretty structured and pretty scheduled out now.”

On Thursday, Yahoo! Sports reported recommendations from the NCAA Football Oversight Committee pertaining to when and how football coaches will begin formally working with their athletes. The committee’s proposal states that schools could have access to players on July 13, allowing them to coach strength workouts and “engage in film study,” according to Yahoo!, and summer access can start 25 days before the first day of preseason camp.

The eight-hour weeks would eventually transition into a pair of 20-hour weeks, per the report, and include the activities listed above along with walk-throughs and the use of a football. 1186317 World Leagues News Mr Morrison said that would allow for weddings, funerals and other indoor events to only be limited by the size of their venue, but said nightclubs would remain shut.

Coronavirus rules to be relaxed to bring big crowds back to stadiums, Thousands of demonstrators flocked to Sydney's CBD to protest racial concerts, pubs, restaurants and other venues around Australia injustice at the Black Lives Matter rally. June 6, 2020.

The risk of coronavirus at protests remains too great, authorities By political reporter Jordan Hayne say.(ABC News: Jack Fisher)

Posted Yesterday, updated Yesterday Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said even though governments around Australia would soon move to allow stadiums to reopen and allow socially-distant crowds to gather, it was not acceptable for protesters to flout health restrictions. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. "Events where you have a large number of people who don't know each other, and who we can't contact-trace easily or track, are one of the Some sporting events and festivals to allow up to 10,000 fans by July highest-risk events," he said. Thousands of fans would be able to attend sporting events again and "These sort of events really are dangerous." limits on the numbers of people in indoor venues would be scrapped under relaxations of coronavirus rules flagged on Friday. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated against Indigenous deaths in custody last weekend, and one person has since tested positive for Key points: COVID-19. The PM says socially-distanced crowds of 10,000 could soon go to "We saw in Victoria that one of the people who was at the event concerts and sporting matches potentially could have been infectious," Professor Murphy said. The 100-person rule on indoor gatherings will be removed "We won't know for another week or so whether that has led to any spike All states and territories are on track to complete to move to the new in cases in that state." rules next month abc.net.au LOADED: 06.13.2020 Speaking after a National Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said states were working toward rules which would let stadiums capable of seating up to 40,000 people host crowds of up to 10,000

He said states and territories were on track to implement the changes in July.

The changes would apply to events like sporting matches, concerts and festivals, though venues would only be able to seat 25 per cent of their capacity.

"It would have to be a large, open area. There would need to be seats at the appropriate distance. It would need to be ticketed, so people would be able to understand who was in attendance at that event," Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison said venues with capacities of more than 40,000 people could be allowed to fill a quarter of their seats, but said the details of that were still being worked out in conjunction with chief health officers around the country.

Coronavirus update: Follow all the latest news in our daily wrap.

A crowd of Geelong Cats fans in a stadium grandstand, wearing blue and white, holding banners and shaking oversized pom poms.

Fans could be back at footy games under the new rules.(AAP: Julian Smith)

"When you're up above 40,000, you've got more than 10,000 people going to a gathering, that has implications for the egress and access of and to those premises, public transport crushes, all those sorts of things," he said.

"That will require much more significant work."

Outdoor festivals will be allowed, but they will need to offer seating to patrons.

"If we're talking about large folk festivals where people roam around from tent to tent, and gathering to gathering, that is not something that is being talked about here," Mr Morrison said.

The changes will be implemented as states move to ease restrictions at their own pace.

Friday's National Cabinet meeting heard that all states and territories were on track to complete the move to the new stage three restrictions next month.

Protests condemned despite new crowd rules

A limit of 100 people on indoor gatherings will also be scrapped, with no limit on numbers, but a requirement that venues allow for four square metres of space per person.