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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 3/20/2020 Red Wings 1181159 Expectations for Ducks weren’t high and that’s how 1181183 ' Jeff Blashill relives the 'weird day' has played out when the NHL season paused 1181184 Jeff Blashill: No Red Wings have been tested for coronavirus 1181160 Phoenix far down list ranking winningest major sports 1181185 : 'It's important we all pull together' during cities, but it could be worse pandemic 1181186 Timeline of ‘weird day’ Red Wings learned season was Bruins paused 1181161 New Bruin signee Nick Wolff embraces the tough side of 1181187 Red Wings’ Jeff Blashill: Can huge obstacles to resuming hockey season be overcome? 1181162 Attorney General Maura Healey calls on Bruins to compensate employees Oilers 1181163 What are NHL teams doing to help arena workers? 1181188 Al Robertson had love affair with statistics and Oilers 1181164 Bruins-Kings Simulation: Tuukka Rask helps B's prevail in games goalie duel 1181189 Lowetide: Which Oilers veterans are in roster peril? 1181165 Bruins sign college players Nick Wolff, Jeremy Swayman to entry-level deals 1181166 Picking the playoff opponent? NHL GMs don’t love it but 1181190 LA KINGS STATEMENT ON here’s how it could look POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULT 1181167 State of the net: Studying the Bruins’ goaltending depth chart for next season 1181191 Predators sign North Dakota forward Cole Smith to one-year deal 1181168 Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour: 'It's tough for everyone' 1181169 How Jonas Johansson grew into Sabres goaltending 1181192 Coronavirus ended the college hockey season: Here’s prospect how Devils prospects finished 1181170 Sabres announce schedule for classic games to be broadcast on MSG Islanders 1181171 Picking the best players in Sabres history from A 1181193 operator establishes fund to assist 700 (Andreychuk) to Z (Zhitnik) hourly workers 1181194 NHL commissioner stresses importance of Flames normalcy for 2020-21 season 1181172 The 7 biggest questions about the Flames’ season that will 1181195 Cal Clutterbuck on the danger of skate cuts in the NHL likely go unanswered and finding solutions Blackhawks 1181173 Bringing back Stan Bowman means Blackhawks 1181196 Is prospect Nils Lundkvist ready to sign with the NY committed to retooling, not rebuilding Rangers? A scout weighs in 1181174 NHL to super-serve its fans by unlocking archived games 1181197 NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stresses importance of amid COVID-19 pandemic normalcy for 2020-21 season 1181175 Owner says Blackhawks' front office is staying put next season Ottawa Senators 1181176 Lazerus: Blackhawks’ ambivalence as understandable as 1181198 GARRIOCH: Ottawa Senators were already told to it is infuriating 'self-isolate' before player tested positive 1181177 Are changes coming to the Blackhawks? Rocky Wirtz provides some clarity Flyers 1181199 Attention, bored Flyers fans: You can relive some of season’s highlights and games from the old days 1181178 Kroenke Sports and Entertainment pledged to help Pepsi 1181200 Breaking down tribute video of Bob Clarke's path to Center workers amid COVID-19 outbreak. Will partners fo greatness, Flyers history 1181179 Avs Mailbag: Who would Colorado most want to see in 1181201 Looking back at Bob Clarke's legacy on anniversary of his — if games are actually played? 1,000th 1181180 One week into the NHL’s pause, coronavirus scare rages on Penguins 1181202 Ex-Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff returns home after coronavirus ends season in Germany 1181181 View from John Forslund’s bunker: Celebrity status 1181203 Penguins mailbag: Should NHL prioritize 2020 playoffs or provides a bully pulpit next regular season? 1181182 View from John Forslund’s bunker: Thank goodness for 1181204 Marshall: The tape on what made ‘Le spring, and the phone Magnifique’ 1181205 The life and death of Michel Brière, the ’ first star Websites 1181206 Remembering how Sharks' Tomas Hertl brought the fun 1181230 The Athletic / Picking the playoff opponent? NHL GMs as a 19-year-old don’t love it but here’s how it could look 1181207 How Sharks' Logan Couture is staying in shape during 1181231 The Athletic / How the NHL can fix the statistic you love to coronavirus hiatus hate: Plus-minus 1181208 Sharks interim coach is ‘planning on being 1181232 The Athletic / Is this the end? 15 NHL players who might back’ next season have played their last game 1181233 The Athletic / Behind Jack Quinn’s rapid rise from St Louis Blues obscurity to top 2020 NHL Draft prospect 1181209 Hochman: In uncertain times, we could all use a dose of 1181234 The Athletic / Eight laid off at The Hockey News amid Laila Anderson, St. Louis’ little fighter COVID-19 fallout for sports media 1181210 NHL: No increased coronavirus risk for Blues as result of 1181235 The Athletic / NHL’s Bill Daly: Playing a full 82-game Anaheim game season in 2020-21 is top priority 1181236 .ca / 31 Thoughts: NHL teams prepping for anything amid COVID-19 suspension 1181211 Coronavirus: Ottawa Senators have the NHL’s first 1181237 Sportsnet.ca / Power-ranking all 15 Maple Leafs drafts of positive test the salary cap era 1181238 Sportsnet.ca / Uncertainty from COVID-19 has players Maple Leafs leaning on agents for support 1181212 Former Leafs defenceman Tom Kurvers understands the 1181239 Sportsnet.ca / NHL looking at different factors that could need for social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis. He determine return to action 1181213 Richard Riot still echoes in Habs history 1181240 Sportsnet.ca / How Senators player contracted COVID-19 1181214 'HAVE TO DO OUR PART': Maple Leafs lend weight to likely to remain a mystery COVID-19 awareness 1181241 Sportsnet.ca / Breaking down the NHL's top playmakers in the offensive zone Canucks 1181242 Sportsnet.ca / Bill Daly talks NHL playoff ideas, player 1181226 Patrick Johnston: Canucks sign draftee Will Lockwood, testing, salary cap impact NCAA free agent Marc Michaelis 1181243 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks hoping to win lottery again with 1181227 Canucks at 50: Russian Rocket's jersey retirement was Michaelis, Lockwood signings late, but great 1181244 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks could suffer serious cap 1181228 Canucks at 50: Shy, driven, super teammate, Bure's time ramifications due to NHL shutdown as a Canuck was extraordinary 1181245 Sportsnet.ca / NHL's pause has silver lining as 1181229 The process behind the Canucks signing William journeyman Sam Gagner returns home Lockwood and Marc Michaelis 1181246 TSN.CA / Handing out MVP awards to the seven Canadian teams 1181247 TSN.CA / Ottawa Senators ‘actively monitoring’ players 1181215 Golden Knights do the right thing in helping arena workers and staff after positive COVID-19 test 1181216 Golden Knights’ top 5 games: Here’s No. 1 on the RJ’s list 1181248 USA TODAY / As coronavirus has current season on 1181217 Knights pledge financial support for arena, part-time hiatus, NHL says playing 82 games in 2020-21 is employees 1181249 USA TODAY / Sports' greatest hits: League-owned TV 1181218 Golden Knights donating money to help arena workers networks dip into archives with no live games to air 1181219 Golden Knights prospects: Where the AHL and ECHL 1181250 USA TODAY / With games called off because of the players stand for next season coronavirus outbreak, are athletes still getting paid? 1181220 Golden Knights Pledge $500,000 To Help Game-Day 1181251 USA TODAY / Ottawa Senators player becomes first in Part-Timers, Arena Workers Who Work VGK Home NHL to test positive for coronavirus Games At T-Mobile 1181224 Play it again, Dick Irvin 1181221 Braden and Brandi Holtby donate 25K meals through 1181225 With the NHL paused, what comes next for the Jets? Capital Area Food Bank 1181222 How to binge watch your favorite NHL games for free 1181223 How the NHL’s pause could affect Ovechkin’s chase of Gretzky’s goal record World Leagues News 1181252 ESPN's Scott Van Pelt talks anchoring 'SportsCenter' without sports: 'People feel robbed' 1181253 Bring back the NBA!: The case for reviving professional sports in the time of coronavirus 1181254 Coronavirus: All of the unanswered questions for Adam Silver, NBA amid the COVID-19 shutdown 1181255 Coronavirus crisis forces sports-talk hosts to adjust 1181256 NBA reacts to criticism of teams getting tested for coronavirus 1181257 Coronavirus: Premier League set to push to complete the season 1181258 NFL Game Pass, NBA League Pass free with sports in coronavirus standstill 1181259 How will cash-starved cricket clubs survive the coronavirus crisis? 1181260 Coronavirus: Tokyo 2020 Olympic organisers respond to frustrated athletes 1181261 Sports fans weigh whether to attend games amid coronavirus outbreak 1181262 In sports, the grip of coronavirus extends beyond games and athletes 1181263 Two Lakers’ players test positive for coronavirus 1181264 Premiership clubs to ask players to take considerable wage cuts 1181265 Detroit sportswriter raises money for freelance journalists while coronavirus puts sports on hold 1181266 Dutch, Spanish and Monaco F1 GPs postponed because of coronavirus SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1181159 Anaheim Ducks “We have to maneuver things,” Murray said after the Kase trade, in which the Ducks received a first-round draft pick, prospect Axel Andersson and David Backes. In 49 games with the Ducks this season, Expectations for Ducks weren’t high and that’s how season has played Kase had 23 points. out “It’s not like Ondrej is old,” Murray said. “We had a few guys too many like that. I thought we were a little small. It was an opportunity to maybe change that a little bit. As we’re going, there are going to be changes and By JACK HARRIS STAFF WRITER a progression as players come along. Things can change, and this was an opportunity.” MARCH 19, 20206:29 PM Which is probably the best way to review the 2019-20 Ducks overall, if

the season is indeed done. Not as a team that was underwhelming There’s no standard rubric by which to judge rebuilding seasons. relative to expectations, but as one that continued to transform with an eye toward the future. Such campaigns usually begin with limited expectations and few easily defined goals. They are used to cultivate young talent or cycle out older faces. Success or failure isn’t judged solely on wins or losses, but by LA Times: LOADED: 03.20.2020 other measurements of a more abstract variety. Very rarely is tangible progress clear, allowing some seasons to be considered both good and bad at the same time.

The 2019-20 Ducks — who might have already played their final game with the NHL season paused indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic — are no exception.

At the suspension of play last week, the Ducks were 13th in the 15-team Western Conference with 67 points in 71 games. They finished 13th in the West last season with 80 points.

The current Ducks had a roster in transition, getting solid-yet- unspectacular production from their veterans — Adam Henrique had a team-high 43 points, Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf each had 42, and Jakob Silfverberg had 39 — and streaky scoring from their collection of 25-and-under players.

After an auspicious start that saw them win six of their first eight, nine of their first 15 and maintain a point-per-game pace through early December, the Ducks began to slide.

Around the holidays, they lost six of eight. In early January, a four-game skid all but eliminated them from the playoff race. Another four-game slide in mid-February cemented their status as trade-deadline sellers.

It was an unsurprising decline for a team that, despite having several big names and a quality goaltending tandem, was considered a dark-horse playoff contender entering the season.

By the time the season was stopped, the Ducks had already made a familiar shift in focus for the end of another rebuilding year.

They were evaluating the young talent within their system, sizing up which pieces best fit into the franchise’s future plans.

“The best way for your organization to get better is competition,” first-year coach said on March 11 after the Ducks’ 4-2 loss to St. Louis at .

He reiterated: “We need the competition.”

And as the season wore on, there was more and more of it.

Of the 17 players aged 25 or younger who played at least one game for the Ducks this season, almost half of them recorded double-digit points, including Sam Steel (six goals, 16 assists) Troy Terry (four goals, 11 assists) and Max Jones (eight goals, four assists).

None of them, however, truly separated from the rest of the pack. Of the group, only Steel spent the entire season on the NHL roster. All the others rode the “I-5 shuttle” to the team’s minor-league affiliate in San Diego at least once.

In recent weeks, more and moreof Eakins’ postgame news conference questions revolved around players Ducks fans knew less and less about, such names as Sonny Milano (who scored twice on Feb. 25), Christian Djoos (who scored his first goal as a Duck on March 8) and Jani Hakanpaa (who scored his first career goal on March 11).

On Feb. 21, Ducks Bob Murray dealt one of his under- 25 forwards, Ondrej Kase, to Boston in part to free up the logjam developing in the team’s prospect pool.

Three days later, right at the trading deadline, Murray sent 24-year-old forward Nick Ritchie to the Bruins. Ritchie had 19 points in 41 games with the Ducks this season. 1181160 Arizona Coyotes

Phoenix far down list ranking winningest major sports cities, but it could be worse

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic

Published 3:53 p.m. MT March 19, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has grounded sports throughout the world and provided ample opportunity for reflection.

One site reflected on the state of major professional sports cities in the U.S. and Canada and came up with some rankings for them based on over the past year.

USA TODAY Sports' For the Win was the site.

It recently ranked the winningest sports cities that have at least two major sports franchises (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS or WNBA).

You have to scroll down a while to find Arizona.

The state is home to the NBA's , the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, the NHL's Arizona Coyotes, the MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.

It has also been home to a lot of losing in the past year.

The Suns were 26-39 when their season was postponed. The Cardinals went 5-10-1 last season.

The Coyotes were 33-29-8 when play in their league stopped. The Diamondbacks went 85-77 last season.

The Mercury were 15-19 last season.

Those records gave Phoenix a .4362 city winning percentage, according to For the Win.

That winning percentage puts Phoenix at No. 29 out of 37 cities for winning percentage of its major sports franchises in the past year.

For the Win's Nick Schwartz explained the methodology: "Each individual team’s winning percentage was calculated, and each sport was given an equal weight in devising an overall winning percentage for the city. For example, if a city has an MLB team that finished the season at .500, and an NBA team with a winning percentage of 75%, the city’s winning percentage would be 62.5%. Playoff records were excluded."

The Suns were in-between Orlando and San Jose in the rankings.

Milwaukee was the winningest sports city, according to the rankings. Detroit was the worst.

While it has been tough in recent years for some Arizona sports teams, there is hope on the horizon.

The Suns are improved after going 19-63 a year ago.

Hype is growing for the Cardinals for the second year under coach Kliff Kingsbury with Kyler Murray also in his second year at quarterback.

The Coyotes still were in contention for a playoff spot when the season stopped.

The Diamondbacks are expected to contend for a berth in the National League.

The Phoenix Mercury still have Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi, so you can't count them out.

Arizona sports fans can also take comfort knowing that eight cities have worse winning percentages than Phoenix in their most recent seasons.

At least Phoenix isn't Detroit - the Motor City's winning percentage for its professional sports teams is just .263.

That makes Phoenix's .4362 record look better, doesn't it?

Arizona Republic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181161 Wolff and Bruins general manager came to quick agreement on a two-way deal for the league minimum $700,000 — with a guaranteed minimum of $162,500, signing bonus included. On the same New Bruin signee Nick Wolff embraces the tough side of hockey day Boston captain Zdeno Chara turned 43, the deal was announced for a potential next-generation strongman on the Boston back line.

“No way!” said Wolff, apprised of the coincidence. “Well, that’s good By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff news, right? He’s the role model for me.”

Updated March 19, 2020, 5:34 p.m.

Boston Globe LOADED: 03.20.2020 Hitting defines Nick Wolff’s game, and the 6-foot-4-inch, 225-pound defenseman also embraces the fight game. The newest Bruins recruit, signed as a free agent Wednesday out of Minnesota-Duluth, is looking forward to the day when he can display those tools as a member of the Bruins blueline.

“Fighting’s part of the game, though it’s slowly fading away,” noted Wolff, chatting over the phone Thursday from his folks’ home in Eagan, Minn. “But at times you still need it.

"You know, little guys in college can around out there and run their mouths with that little [face] cage on. So at times that had to be put to a halt.

"I think defending your teammates is huge in the NHL. So yeah, if they need me to step out there and fight, to protect a teammate, I’ll be happy to do so. I enjoyed it in juniors, and can’t wait to do it again.”

For a Boston fan base currently suffering acute pangs of hockey withdrawal, that’s the kind of talk that could keep their flames aglow until September’s training camp. Sadly, as the coronavirus scare continues, it might have to serve as their total sustenance.

Prior to UMD, Wolff played two seasons with Des Moines of the USHL, noting that he fought 15-16 times across his 116 games there (total: 431 minutes).

There was still no telling Thursday whether the suspended NHL season will right itself, or whether the league will be able to stage its 2020 playoffs and crown a champ.

“Crazy, isn’t it?” said Wolff, who under normal circumstances could be targeting the Bruins’ development camp in June or July as his next step. “Who knows what’s going to happen next?”

Wolff, 23, signed a one-year deal Wednesday, only some 48 hours after being apprised that the NCAA had terminated all winter sports in light of the pandemic. An undrafted free agent, his age prohibited him from signing more than a one-year deal, per the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement.

I think defending your teammates is huge in the NHL. So yeah, if they need me to step out there and fight, to protect a teammate, I’ll be happy to do so. I enjoyed it in juniors, and can’t wait to do it again.

UMD on Thursday was to begin its Division 1 playoffs against visiting Miami-Ohio in what the Bulldogs hoped would be their first step in defending their back-to-back NCAA Frozen Four titles. The RedHawks already were in Duluth, after their 13-hour bus ride up from Oxford, Ohio.

“We’d just practiced, getting ready to take them on,” said Wolff, who played in three NCAA title games in his years at UMD. “We were in the locker room, waiting to Watch video with the coach, and he comes in and says, ‘Hey, the next two weeks are done and we don’t know from there. ‘ It just happened so quick.”

The RedHawks turned around and bused back to Ohio. The Bulldogs hung out on campus for the weekend, eager for a team meeting Monday to learn how they might proceed.

“That was in person, and then that got canceled on Monday morning,” said Wolff. “Then we had a voice conference call with everybody — the team, coaches, and AD — and it was done. Finished. I mean, it was fast.”

The season’s termination allowed Tom Lynn, Wolff’s agent at Veritas Hockey, to enter immediately into contract talks with the Bruins. Wolff had been an invitee to Boston’s development camps in the summers of 2018 and ’19, loved the experience, and already knew where he wanted to begin his NHL journey. 1181162 Boston Bruins

Attorney General Maura Healey calls on Bruins to compensate employees

By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected] | Boston Herald

March 20, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has been flooded with calls from hourly workers throughout the state wondering what to do during the coronavirus outbreak.

Some of them have been TD Garden employees who, up to now, have not been compensated for postponed or canceled games, and neither the Bruins organization nor have announced any plan in place to do so.

In a conversation with the Herald on Thursday, Healey urged Delaware North, owned by Bruins principal owner Jeremy Jacobs, to compensate their part-time employees while the league is on pause.

“I just want them to act, I just want them to step up and do something,” she said. “Do something for their workers. Every other team has said they are going to provide financial support for hourly workers who have been hurt by this, and that runs the range of paying their salaries or paying for their living expenses. … I just want them to act now.”

The Bruins released an initial statement to the Herald last Friday stating they were “actively exploring support options and will have further information in the coming days,” but have not responded to subsequent requests regarding the compensation of their part-time arena workers.

Several employees spoke with the Herald on Wednesday about the lack of communication from TD Garden about how they should proceed, and Healey said those concerns have been echoed to her office as well.

“They’re totally stressed out,” said Healey. “One of them talked to us about being afraid of becoming homeless without this income, and in the midst of this public health emergency it’s important to do everything we can to try to support each other.”

The Ottawa Senators and were the last two teams to announce a plan to financially support workers on Tuesday, which left the Bruins as the lone organization that hasn’t announced anything.

Bruins players have contributed to a public GoFundMe page that has circulated social media over the past week.

“Delaware North is a billion dollar company and it shouldn’t take Bruins players themselves contributing to GoFundMe pages to support these workers,” she said. “Every other NHL team stepped up, I hope the Jacobs family will step up too right now. It will make a huge difference for workers.”

One TD Garden worker emailed the Herald on Wednesday, writing that she had found some part-time work outside of the Garden while contemplating her future remaining an employee there after not receiving any directive of how to proceed during the crisis.

Finding work is already difficult for many hourly employees who hold multiple jobs, but doing so during a global pandemic because their employers won’t pay what they would have earned on game days is a struggle Healey believes they should not have to face.

“It’s a time for community and people stepping up,” said Healey. “I’ve seen so many companies and businesses do just that. I was just really disappointed to see the Jacobs were the only NHL owners who haven’t come forward and done something for their workers.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181163 Boston Bruins

What are NHL teams doing to help arena workers?

By BOSTON HERALD STAFF

March 19, 2020 at 11:48 a.m.

A list of all 31 NHL teams and links to their respective pledges to the staff at their respective buildings. Most of the teams do not own the buildings in which they play, but have agreed to assist anyway, some in conjunction with building ownership. In some cases, the building owners themselves or another tenant has pledged to pay workers. To date, the Bruins and the Garden are the only NHL team and/or building ownership group yet to publicly announce any financial assurance or assistance to its part-time arena staff.

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181164 Boston Bruins

Bruins-Kings Simulation: Tuukka Rask helps B's prevail in goalie duel

By Erin Walsh March 15, 2020 7:50 PM

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

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

Previous Simulations:

Bruins vs. Blue Jackets

Bruins vs. Ducks

The Boston Bruins were supposed to take on the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, March 19 at Staples Center, here's how our simulation of that game went.

The Bruins defeated the Kings 2-0 thanks to a Charlie Coyle game- opening goal and a Tuukka Rask shutout.

Here are the game stats:

Three Stars of the Game + Game Stats

Kings Jonathan Quick was the first star of the game while B's Tuukka Rask and Coyle were the second and third stars respectively. The Bruins dominated from top to bottom, including in the shots and hits department. b's kings sim

Bruins Individual Stats

David Krejci led all B's skaters in shots with five, while Zdeno Chara led in ice time with 23:25 minutes of action. Tuukka Rask stopped all 21 shots in a shutout of the Kings.

Kings Individual Stats

Alex Iafallo and two other of his Kings teammates led the team in shots with three while Quick stopped 30 of 31 shots and had a .968 SV% and 1.01 GAA. Drew Doughty led the Kings in ice time with 23:55 minutes of action.

FINAL SCORE: Bruins 2, Kings 0

Bruins Record (Includes simulated games): 45-15-13 (103 points)

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181165 Boston Bruins

Bruins sign college players Nick Wolff, Jeremy Swayman to entry-level deals

By Joe Haggerty

March 19, 2020 12:02 PM

The Bruins hockey operations hasn’t shuttered completely amidst the regular season suspension as they’ve signed a couple of college hockey players after their seasons came to premature ends.

The B's haven’t made it official as of yet, but they have still inked University of Maine goaltending prospect Jeremy Swayman and free agent University of Minnesota-Duluth defenseman Nick Wolff to entry- level contracts this week.

The Swayman deal is a three-year entry-level contract with a cap value of $925,000 and the Wolff contract is a one-year deal with a $792,500 cap .

Swayman was a 2017 fourth-round pick of the Bruins and became the first University of Maine goalie to win Hockey East Player of the Year honors on Thursday. During the Hockey East regular season, the 21- year-old Swayman led the league in saves (782), save percentage (.932) and tied for the lead in shutouts (3) while his 12 wins in Hockey East tied for second.

The junior’s 782 saves in conference action is the 10th-most of any goaltender in league history and the highest single-season total since 2010-11. He also finished second in the nation with an overall .939 save percentage.

The 23-year-old Wolff is a rugged, hard-hitting defenseman who made an impression over B’s development camps in the last two summers with his assertive, physical style to go along with his 6-foot-4, 217-pound size. Wolff never had more than seven goals or 18 points in a season with Minnesota-Duluth, so clearly the Bruins have him in mind as another big- bodied and rugged shutdown defenseman in the Kevan Miller mold.

Haggerty: B's ownership needs to step up with plan to pay employees

As far as Swayman goes, he’s the next great hope for the Bruins as a No. 1 goaltender with Dan Vladar and Kyle Keyser already going through the pro hockey ranks with mixed results.

The 21-year-old Keyser played in six games for the this season with a 3.21 goals against average and an .891 save percentage, and also spent time in the East Coast League. The 22-year- old Vladar, on the other hand, had a 1.79 goals against average and .936 save percentage in 25 games for the P-Bruins this season and looks like an NHL goaltender in the making.

It’s not inconceivable that the Bruins have a fallback plan for next season that could have the 6-foot-5, 185-pound Vladar vie for the backup role in Boston if Jaroslav Halak doesn’t return as a high-priced understudy for Tuukka Rask.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181166 Boston Bruins Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman shared an interesting anecdote while considering the concept. In 2012, the Blackhawks felt like they matched up well with the Coyotes in the playoffs. If they were picking that year, it Picking the playoff opponent? NHL GMs don’t love it but here’s how it probably would have been Arizona. could look Well, they got the Coyotes, and Blackhawks fans probably remember how that played out.

By Craig Custance “The one thing I’ve found is every time you’re wishing for an opponent and you get them, it doesn’t work,” Bowman said. “We lost to Arizona Mar 19, 2020 that year. I remember coming down the stretch, that was the matchup we wanted and ended up losing to them.”

His conclusion? One of the best things about interviewing Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon is you always know where you stand. At least that’s how our conversations “It’s just taboo to wish for an opponent,” he said. Even so, he was the go. If he doesn’t like the question, he says so. If he disagrees with the only GM interviewed who at least provided a glimmer of hope. premise, you hear that too. It makes for some good sparring. “I’m not closed-minded to it,” Bowman said. “I’d probably want to see how So, when pulling him aside at the recent GM meetings in Boca Raton, it plays out (in baseball) before I would put my stamp on it.” Florida, and the question began with, “I can’t imagine this ever happening in hockey but …” he tried to put a stop to it right there. So how might it play out if it happened this year in the NHL? Since the real GMs don’t seem to want to play along, we asked The Athletic’s beat “Then good,” he said, cutting things off. “You don’t need to write about it. writers from playoff teams (based on current point percentages) to pick If you can’t imagine it, don’t write about it.” their playoff opponents, giving first picks to the division winners. And then we asked resident analytics genius Dom Luszczyszyn to analyze their What would be the fun in that? picks. There were no limitations placed on conference. The question posed to McCrimmon and a group of other general Let’s dive in: managers that week by The Athletic was about a February proposal that surfaced in baseball. There were multiple reports that baseball was 1. Boston Bruins (represented by Joe McDonald) considering a playoff system in which some teams would get to pick their playoff opponent. It would make for great theater, the perfect television The pick: event. Something we all could use right now. It would also create instant McDonald’s explanation: From a pure entertainment standpoint, I would bulletin board material for the team that gets picked. go with the Blues. Think about what it would be like to have these two “Be careful what you wish,” warned Sharks GM Doug Wilson. teams battle again in a rematch type series in the first round. Games would be fierce and off the charts. However, the Bruins would want to Maybe it’s hard to imagine in hockey, but as the NHL figures out what to save that rematch for the Cup final. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Bruins do next, perhaps this might be the perfect time to try something so and the coaching staff picked the Islanders as a first-round matchup. unique and to create a must-watch event when we’re all dying for Boston would be favored in this series and a victory would be a solid something to watch. foundation for a deep run.

The GMs? Based on their answers in Florida might disagree. To put it 2. St. Louis Blues (represented by Jeremy Rutherford) mildly, they don’t love the concept. The pick: “I have no appetite for that whatsoever,” McCrimmon said, once he heard the idea. Rutherford’s explanation: I know, I know, you can pick any playoff opponent and you choose the one that has the annual Vezina finalist in He was very much in the majority. Ben Bishop and a captain in Jamie Benn who has 20 goals and 42 points in 44 regular-season games against you. My explanation is three-fold: 1) “I don’t like it,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said. “I like to play who I’m staying in the Western Conference, where the Blues are 29-11-6 this you’re supposed to play. You play a whole season to get your spot in the season. 2) I’m looking at head-to-head, and after beating Dallas in the standings and you play it out. I imagine, if you’re picking someone it’ll be second round last season, the Blues seem to have the Stars’ number, a little motivation to the team you’re picking, ‘Oh really? You’re picking going 4-0-1 this season. 3) There are less-dangerous opponents, but for us?’” a Blues’ team that’s traveled a ton this season, I’m staying in the U.S. Besides providing motivation, Bruins GM Don Sweeney felt like it might and making the fairly quick trip from St. Louis to Dallas. present the wrong mindset, that you believe you’re better than your 3. Washington Capitals (represented by Tarik El-Bashir) playoff opponent. The pick: “For me, you don’t pick your opponents. You have to be playing your best hockey, hope you’re healthy and saddle up,” Sweeney said. “It’s a El-Bashir’s explanation: If you’re looking to get a fan base re- dangerous exercise to think at any point in time you’re better than the engaged following a protracted “pause” in the season, it doesn’t get other guy. I don’t know if I want that one.” much better than Caps-Oilers in terms of star power. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins vs. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Wild GM Bill Guerin agreed. Backstrom and John Carlson? Yes, please. The average number of “That’s real dangerous, personally,” he said. “You’d better be careful goals scored in the teams’ last five meetings: 5.4. Two of those games what you wish for when you start picking your opponents. I think you required extra time. From the Caps’ perspective, it’d be entertaining as all have to let your play decide that.” get out. But they’d also be favored to advance given the disparity in recent postseason experience. While shooting down the idea, both Blues GM Doug Armstrong and Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas acknowledged the potential from a televised 4. Vegas Golden Knights (represented by Jesse Granger) event standpoint. The pick: “I get the allure of having the public selection show and having the teams Granger’s explanation: I think the Golden Knights would pick a fight with select and the team that gets picked, they have more motivation because the Flames. The two are very familiar to each other and don’t particularly they’re the underdog,” Dubas said. “I just think the way it is now is a like each other, so from an entertainment standpoint, it would be great. sound structure. It’s obviously created some unbelievable races basically But it’s also the best matchup for the Golden Knights on paper. They’re in every division. … I like the way it is now.” 3-0-0 against Calgary this season, outscoring the Flames a combined 17- “I think there’s intrigue to it from a fan’s perspective,” Armstrong said. 5, including 6-0 and 6-2 blowouts in Vegas. “But it’s difficult on travel. There’s a whole host of things that go into it. I 5. Colorado Avalanche (represented by Ryan Clark) like our playoff format. It’s in division. You’ve got rivalries.” The pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Clark’s explanation: Everything Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and his front office staff have done has generated the idea that they have a long-term Stanley Cup contender on their hands. What better way to test that than going against a team that won three Cups and remained a serious challenger over the last decade? Seeing what the Penguins have done to constantly stay competitive could provide a glimpse into the future for the Avalanche. That, and it could be interesting to see what happens when those two kids from Cole Harbour play one another on a big stage.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (represented by Joe Smith)

The pick:

Smith’s explanation: This would be a fun, fast-paced series that fans would love to watch. There wouldn’t be the kind of nastiness and “bad blood” like a seven-game slugfest with the Bruins, but the amount of elite offensive skill on both sides will make every power play must-see TV. There would be legacies on the line for each team’s core, both trying to get over the hump. Think about the storyline of , coming back from injury, facing his hometown team. The Leafs play a style that would be more of a fit with Tampa, which should have the edge on the blueline and in net. But as the last meeting showed – a 2-1 Leafs win in Toronto – this series would be tight and great theater.

7. (represented by Charlie O’Connor)

The pick: Vancouver Canucks

O’Connor’s explanation: The negative here is the travel, which surely would be brutal and could make it tougher for the Flyers to sustain a long playoff run in the wake of this series. But to win the Cup, you have to get out of Round 1, and the Canucks provide the best opportunity for Philadelphia to do so out of the teams left. Carolina is injury-ravaged now, but could plausibly have all of its goalies, Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce back for a mid-summer playoff start. Nashville has been underwhelming in 2019-20, but it feels like a sleeping giant with all the talent it has. Vancouver, on the other hand, is heavily dependent upon its top line and power play, and a Selke Trophy favorite (Sean Couturier) combined with an elite chance-suppression penalty kill would go a long way toward neutralizing both. Add in Philadelphia’s depth advantage and this feels like a very winnable series. Oh, and we get versus his old team. That should make for some fun storylines!

Final series: vs. Nashville Predators

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181167 Boston Bruins • Halak, unknown. It’s been a perfect two-year stint for Halak in Boston. You could argue that the Rask-Halak partnership has no equals save for the collaboration between Ben Bishop and ex-Bruin Anton Khudobin in State of the net: Studying the Bruins’ goaltending depth chart for next Dallas. season Halak, however, is up for a new deal at year’s end. He will be 35, subject to the league’s 35-and-over guidelines if he signs a multiyear deal. If Halak retires or is assigned to the minors on a multiyear contract, his By Fluto Shinzawa employer would be responsible for carrying his cap hit.

Mar 19, 2020 The Bruins could sign Halak to a one-year extension and gild it with performance bonuses, which are granted for players 35 and older. But

the goaltending market has changed. Halak, in fact, has helped convince Had things been normal, Jeremy Swayman and his University of Maine organizations of the importance of tandems through his performance and teammates might have been preparing for the Hockey East tournament the effect it’s had on Rask. League-wide demand, then, might expand semifinals. Perhaps later this month, or even in April had the Black Bears Halak’s market and price him out of Boston. gone on a postseason rampage, Swayman would have signed his entry- • Lagace, unknown. The 27-year-old will be unrestricted. Lagace has a level deal and joined Providence. .919 save percentage this year in 33 appearances for Providence. He Of course, normal left a long time ago. has appeared in 17 NHL games, all for Vegas, including a cuckoo stretch in 2017-18 when Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban and Oscar Dansk On Tuesday, Swayman, drafted by the Bruins in the fourth round in 2017, were hurt. closed out his three-year college career by signing with the Bruins. Now, like everyone else in the sports world, the goaltending prospect must wait With such short NHL experience on his resume, it’s difficult to project to launch his pro career. Lagace as Rask’s backup next season.

It should be a good one. • Vladar, unknown. It wasn’t looking good for Vladar, the Bruins’ third- round pick in 2015. He spent more time in the ECHL than the AHL during There is nothing definite about next season in the NHL, to say nothing of his first two pro seasons. Vladar hurt his ankle early in 2019-20. the current, suspended one. But whenever next season opens, Swayman is one of the Bruins’ two sure things in the puck-stopping department. The injury might have been a blessing. During his downtime, Vladar, with The native of Anchorage, Alaska, will begin his pro career in Providence. guidance from goaltending development coach Mike Dunham, improved Tuukka Rask will be the ace in Boston. his technique to emphasize staying on his feet. Vladar has a .936 save percentage in 25 appearances. It is the highest save percentage in the After that, everything is uncertain. Jaroslav Halak will be an unrestricted AHL of any goalie with 25-plus games. free agent after this season. Same with Maxime Lagace, one of the two Providence goalies. Dan Vladar, the other AHL netminder, will be It could be, then, that Vladar has progressed enough to grab the No. 2 restricted. Kyle Keyser was limited to seven pro appearances this season job in Boston. It would be a big ask within a limited sample size. The 6- (six in the AHL, one in the ECHL) because of a concussion. foot-5, 195-pound Vladar turns 23 in August. He will be a restricted free agent after this season. Here’s how the position could line up next season, starting with the two definites: • Keyser, unknown. Keyser, formerly Jack Studnicka’s junior teammate in Oshawa, was undrafted. But his speed, athleticism and competitiveness • Rask, No. 1 goalie, Boston. This has been one of Rask’s best seasons. put him on the Bruins’ radar. It signals that a significant decline is not in his future next year. Provided that the Bruins have a good No. 2 who can assume 35 or so starts, Rask Keyser, who turned 21 on March 8, had an unfortunate first pro season should be in line to deliver high-end goaltending once again. because of his injury. He appeared in only six games for Providence, where he had an .890 save percentage. He will have to start over next This will be a good thing, not just for the Bruins but for himself. Rask will season, either in Providence or Atlanta (ECHL). be entering the final season of his eight-year, $56 million contract. He will be 34 years old upon the contract’s conclusion. It’s difficult to project goaltending performance at that age, but Rask could be playing for a The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 generous next contract.

Whether that will be with the Bruins is unknown. That will depend partly upon the development of their prospects. For both parties, a three-year extension would make sense.

• Swayman, No. 1/1A goalie, Providence. To the eye, Swayman looks like the real deal. He plays the position on his feet. He prefers to shuffle instead of slide. Swayman relies on technique and hockey sense more than athleticism.

The numbers confirm he’s done well: .939 save percentage in 34 appearances as a junior, .919 save percentage in 35 games last year, .921 save percentage in 31 appearances as a freshman. He was named the Walter Brown Award winner as the best U.S.-born collegian in New England and one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player.

Swayman has recent comparables to follow: ex-Boston College goalie Joseph Woll and former Boston University netminder Jake Oettinger. Both turned pro last year following their junior seasons.

This year, Woll has shared the Toronto (AHL) net with Kasimir Kaskisuo. In 32 games, Woll, picked in the third round in 2016, has an .880 save percentage.

Oettinger, Dallas’ first-round pick in 2017, has split time in Texas (AHL) with Landon Bow. Oettinger has a .917 save percentage in 38 games.

If Swayman follows the lead of his former Hockey East rivals, he should be scheduled to appear in 40 or so games for Providence as a first-year pro. 1181168 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour: 'It's tough for everyone'

By Mike Harrington

Published March 19, 2020|Updated March 19, 2020

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour said Thursday he's like most every NHL player. He doesn't have much to do other than sit and wait. Players don't know when their season is resuming, or even if it will resume in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

"Kind of losing my mind but obviously resting," Montour said during an interview on Sirius XM Radio. "It's obviously a weird time to have the season suspended and held up right now, but you're doing the best you can, trying to stay busy with whatever it may be."

Players are not allowed to work out at team facilities and most public gyms have been closed due to governmental orders, so they're relegated to workouts at home. Montour, 25, has opted to remain in Buffalo to do that.

"I have a spin bike at my house so I've been cycling every single day for about 45 minutes," Montour said. "That's kind of how I'm getting my exercise right now. You never know what's going to happen. The season could start up and you obviously want to stay in shape. It's tough for everyone, but nobody really knows what's going on and what's going to happen in the next couple of weeks. You want to stay as ready as you can."

Montour had five goals, 13 assists and a team-best plus-13 rating in 54 games this season. The Sabres were 30-31-8 when play was suspended, well outside the playoff race with 13 games left on the schedule. They started the season 8-1-1 and had a 5-1 rush to the trade deadline but struggled for most of the way in between those two points. Then after the deadline, they lost six straight to fall from contention.

Buffalo's final game to this point was its 3-2 shootout win over Washington on March 9 in KeyBank Center. The Sabres were in for their scheduled game on March 12 when the season was suspended.

"The consistency was a big thing with us," Montour said. "You've got a lot of games in a season. I think we need to come to a time here where we need to realize every point matters, regardless of whether it's Game 4 or Game 50 or Game 60. It's something where we were playing well, playing good hockey for 5-10 games and it reverses on us and we're losing five in a row or playing bad hockey for 10 games. That happened this year a couple times in different strands. At the end there, we were hot for a bit. ... Then we lost six in a row. It's a consistency thing with our team."

Montour was not asked about the suspension of play at any other point in the interview.

The Sabres, like most NHL teams, have followed a league directive to not have players and management personnel speak since play was suspended. General Managers Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders, Bill Guerin of Minnesota and of Vancouver have done interviews with local reporters but most teams have been silent.

The Sabres are among several teams that have tweeted short videos from players, with captain Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart offering good wishes to fans during the coronavirus outbreak.

"I hope everybody is safe and doing well," Reinhart said. "I've just been hanging out, staring at a wall, not doing much just like the rest of you. Hopefully we see you guys soon. Stay healthy."

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181169 Buffalo Sabres “I feel like that’s how it needs to be here,” he said. “You can’t be too high or too low, because then you’re screwed. I mean, you can’t beat yourself up too much if you’re playing bad and not being too confident, too happy. How Jonas Johansson grew into Sabres goaltending prospect You just got to stay at the even level and do that every day for eight months. That’s how you be successful.”

That’s why Johansson did not experience a letdown when he returned to By Bill Hoppe the Amerks.

Published March 19, 2020|Updated March 19, 2020 “It’s a sign of his maturity,” Sexton said. “He got a taste of what the NHL is like. He came back, because of his maturity, he understands the things

he needs to work on and it’s just another day at work for Jonas. It was When goalie prospect Jonas Johansson’s first stint in the NHL ended great he got a taste of what it’s like. earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres offered him some normal advice “He had some success, not as much as he or we would’ve liked, but and encouragement before he returned to the of certainly better than lots of people would’ve predicted 12 or 18 months the AHL. ago, so good for him. That’s what he’s done. He’s come back, smile on The organization’s goalie coaches gave the Swede technical tips, his face, ready to go to work.” according to Americans General Manager . The Sabres also told him not to feel satisfied after playing six big-league games. Buffalo News LOADED: 03.20.2020 “Put in the time and continue to make big progress,” Sexton said they told him, noting why Johansson, 24, should feel so good about his first recall. “You’ve earned this. This wasn’t something we did just because you’re Swedish or you’re a good guy. You earned it.”

The affable Johansson, an unheralded prospect before this season, said those words meant “a lot” to him. Little was expected from him – at least outside of the organization – before his third season in North America.

Johansson had spent most of his career in the ECHL, making only 19 appearances in the . Last year, he underwent season-ending knee surgery with the .

But this season, Johansson said, “Everything kind of fell together.” The Amerks roared out of the gate, staying in first place for nearly three months. He meshed well with Andrew Hammond, his veteran goalie partner.

Johansson quickly established himself as a notable prospect, winning 11 of his first 16 games. He rattled off nine consecutive victories in November and December.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen, I was just trying to focus on my game,” Johansson said recently.

On Jan. 29, the Sabres summoned Johansson, an AHL All-Star, when starting goalie suffered a lower-body injury.

“It was – I don’t know – a good surprise, I guess, and a good sign hard work pays off,” Johansson said of reaching the NHL.

The 6-foot-5, 219-pound Johansson performed well at times, compiling a 1-3-1 record with a 2.94 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.

“It felt like I could handle the pace,” Johansson said of the NHL. “I mean, that was good to feel, too. I got a lot of stuff to improve, but I feel like I can handle it.”

Now, having reached the NHL, Johansson said, “It’s nice to have a little goal.”

His time in Buffalo helped him develop “a picture” of what it takes to excel at that level, he said.

“It’s great to have that, to know that, how good they are,” he said.

Sexton said of Johansson’s stint in Buffalo: “There were no major steps backward.”

Johansson played two games before the AHL suspended its season indefinitely last Thursday because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He looked sharp in his first outing March 7, making 24 saves in a 4-2 road win over the Belleville Senators. In a 5-2 loss on March 11 to Binghamton, the Devils broke open a tie game by scoring twice on six shots in the third period.

“In tight games like this, I got to come up with saves on those two goals in the third period,” Johansson said.

Win or lose, Johansson always seems to be smiling. Staying even-keeled is important to him. 1181170 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres announce schedule for classic games to be broadcast on MSG

By Lance Lysowski

Published March 19, 2020|Updated March 19, 2020

Sabres fans practicing social distancing during the coroanvirus pandemic will be treated to classic games featuring highlight-reel saves by Dominik Hasek and playoff heroics.

The team announced Thursday it will air the following five vintage games on MSG next week: Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference quarterfinals (Monday), final game at Memorial Auditorium (Tuesday), the Sabres cap their 10-game win streak on Oct. 26, 2006 (Wednesday), first game at following 9/11 (Thursday) and Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference semifinals (Friday).

All games will air at 8 p.m. and will be available on the Sabres' YouTube channel at noon the following day. They will also be shown on MSG throughout the weekend.

Martin Biron, a MSG analyst and former Sabres goalie, asked for fans to request which games they hoped to see, but there was one caveat: some games are not available because of broadcasting rights.

Hasek made 70 saves in a four-overtime victory over the New Jersey Devils in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, and the broadcast Monday will begin with the third period. The Sabres' final game in 26 seasons at The Aud occurred on April 14, 1996, a 4-1 victory over the .

The third broadcast is the Sabres' 10th consecutive win to start the 2006- 07 season, a streak that helped them earn the NHL's best record that season.

Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the Sabres played the Rangers in New York's regular-season home opener on Oct. 7.

Buffalo put the New York Rangers on the brink of elimination with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference semifinals, as Maxim Afinogenov scored the deciding goal and Ryan Miller made 22 saves.

Additionally, the NHL announced Thursday that archived games, including those played this season, will be available to fans on the league's website.

Starting Friday and through April 30, the NHL and Sportsnet have decided to make full replays of all 2019-20 NHL regular-season games available to stream on demand.

The NHL will launch the “NHL Pause Binge” on its website and on its official YouTube channel, which will include a curated collection of NHL Original Productions content, from the critically acclaimed, behind-the- scenes programs “Road to the NHL Winter Classic,” “Behind The Glass” and “NHL All Access” to full-length classic NHL games dating from the 1950s to present day.

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181171 Buffalo Sabres Connolly, Bob Corkum, , Kyle Criscuolo, Roger Crozier, , Brian Curran, Paul Cyr.

Choice: Crozier’s raw numbers are pedestrian. He was 74-76 with 29 Picking the best players in Sabres history from A (Andreychuk) to Z ties, including a 13-34-14 record in 1971-72. But that was the second (Zhitnik) year of the Sabres’ existence, and Crozier’s only job was to keep games close. In 63 games, he faced 2,197 shots (most in a single season in team history) and made 1,983 saves (third most). By John Vogl If Crozier hadn’t fallen victim to chronic illness, equipment manager Rip Mar 19, 2020 Simonick says, the Sabres might have won the 1975 Stanley Cup. He gets to wear the C.

Miscellaneous: Cunneyworth played only 14 of his 866 NHL games with H is for hockey hall hotbed. the Sabres but spent a decade in the organization as coach in M is for a magnificent mixture of megastars. Rochester. Campbell was a two-time All-Star who gets this hit attached to his name for life. R is for really rough rejections. D Going A to Z through the Sabres’ 50-year history was a smile-filled trip down memory lane. Nearly the entire alphabet features obscure names Candidates: Matt D’Agostini, Joe Daley, Jerry D’Amigo, Rasmus Dahlin, and legendary figures. But picking the best player for each letter was Zac Dalpe, Mal Davis, , Jean-Sebastien Dea, Butch occasionally a daunting task. Deadmarsh, Dale Degray, , , Nicolas Deslauriers, Gord Donnelly, Mike Donnelly, Tom Draper, Chris Drury, Take R, for example. Rene Robert’s number hangs in the rafters. Mike Dave Dryden, Rick Dudley, Dick Duff, J-P Dumont, Richie Dunn, Steve Ramsey’s jersey probably should. did his job longer than Dysktra. either of them. Toss in two faces that could go on the organization’s Mount Rushmore – and Rob Ray – and there’s plenty to Choice: Just like with the B’s, it’s not about longevity. In only three discuss. seasons, Drury made a profound impact on and off the ice. The co- captain really made the Sabres believe their sole reason for existence So, enough with the chitchat. Here are the picks for every letter, sorted was to win the Stanley Cup. Add in two 30-goal seasons and his four by the player’s last name. game winners in the playoffs, and the choice is simple.

A Miscellaneous: Dumont leads the letter with 102 goals, 121 assists and 223 points. The Sabres hope Dahlin surpasses everyone someday. If this Candidates: Luke Adam, Maxim Afinogenov, Peter Ambroziak, Ron list was based on nicknames, Delmore would be in the E’s; people called Anderson, Shawn Anderson, Mikael Andersson, Paul Andrea, Dave him Andy Elmore because the blueliner had no D. Andreychuk, Victor Antipin, Joel Armia, , Rasmus Asplund, , Steve Atkinson, , Brady Austin. E

Choice: The Sabres have a Hockey Hall of Famer at the top of the Candidates: Jeff Eatough, , Christian Ehrhoff, Jack Eichel, alphabet. Andreychuk scored 368 of his 640 goals in Buffalo, including a Remi Elie, , Matt Ellis, , Tyler Ennis, Jhonas franchise-record 161 on the power play. He’s also second in points (804 Enroth, Bob Errey, Bob Essensa, Chris Evans. in 837 games) and fifth in game-winning goals (38). Choice: In five seasons, Eichel is already in the top 20 in goals and Miscellaneous: Audette is 15th in goals with 166. Afinogenov is 20th in points. The 23-year-old is 11th in points per game (0.95). Even points with 334. Armia played just one game and has no stats, failing to accounting for a recency bias, Eichel earns the honor. record a point, shot or penalty and wasn’t on the ice for any goals during his 14:47 of ice time. Miscellaneous: Edwards is third among in games (307) and victories (156). Eliot, Engblom and Errey have gained fame as NHL B announcers. The Sabres bought out Ehrhoff in June 2014 and are still paying him $857,143 a year until 2028. Candidates: Justin Bailey, Terry Ball, Nick Baptiste, , , , Doug Barrie, Milan Bartovic, Nathan F Beaulieu, Andre Benoit, Patrik Berglund, Steve Bernier, , James Black, John Blue, , Zach Bogosian, Mike Boland, Candidates: Justin Falk, Hudson Fasching, Rocky Farr, Taylor Fedun, Will Borgen, Jason Botterill, Philippe Boucher, Bob Bougner, Eric David Fenyves, Mark Ferner, Joe Finley, Ron Fischer, Rory Fitzpatrick, Boulton, , Ken Breitenbach, TJ Brennan, Daniel Briere, Gary Reg Fleming, Brian Flynn, , Marcus Foligno, , Bromley, , Curtis Brown, Greg Brown, Paul Brydges, Erik Lou Franceschetti, Cody Franson, Michael Frolik, Michael Funk, Grant Burgdoerfer, Randy Burridge, Ron Busniuk, Chris Butler, Mike Byers, Fuhr. Paul Byron. Choice: Fans of Mike Foligno can jump to celebrate. He’s ninth on the Choice: It comes down to Barrasso and Briere, two players who made Sabres’ all-time list with 511 points, second with 1,448 penalty minutes lasting impacts in a short period of time. and third with 42 game-winning goals.

Barrasso is one of only three Sabres to win the Calder Trophy and one of Miscellaneous: Fuhr had a lifetime record of 403-295 with 114 ties but just four winners. He’s fifth among goaltenders in wins was just 25-29-5 in Buffalo. Franceschetti has the Sabres’ longest last and shutouts while playing only five full seasons. Briere’s stay in Buffalo name. was even shorter at three seasons and a month. But he led to the team G to back-to-back appearances in the conference finals and is one of only eight skaters to put up 95 points in a season. He’s sixth on the franchise Candidates: Jody Gage, Garry Galley, Paul Gardner, , Paul list in points per game (1.02) with 230 in 225 outings. Gaustad, Nathan Gerbe, Clark Gillies, Jere Gillis, , John Gilmour, Brian Gionta, Zemgus Girgensons, Viktor Gordiouk, Josh Barrasso earned the hardware, but Briere gets the honor based on his Gorges, John Gould, Phil Goyette, Marc-Andre Gragnani, Jean-Luc playoff prowess. He’s No. 2 on the single-season list with 19 points in 18 Grand-Pierre, Derek Grant, , Norm Gratton, Mike Grier, games in 2006 and added 15 points in 16 games in 2007. Seth Griffith, Mikhail Grigorenko, Michal Grosek, Francois Guay, Jocelyn Miscellaneous: Barnaby took 327 penalties in 317 games. Biron made Guevremont, Brendan Guhle. exactly 300 regular-season appearances, fourth on the all-time list. Choice: Gare’s jersey hangs in the rafters, making this a simple decision. C The pugnacious winger was a two-time 50-goal scorer and sits fourth all time with 267 goals in 503 games. Gare also ranks 10th with 52 major Candidates: Brian Campbell, Mike Card, Keith Carney, William Carrier, penalties. Larry Carriere, Daniel Catenacci, Peter Ciavaglia, Jacques Cloutier, Real Cloutier, Carlo Colaiacovo, Cory Conacher, Ty Conklin, Rob Conn, Tim Miscellaneous: With 102 points in 163 outings, Galley is third among David Legwand, Robin Lehner, Ville Leino, Real Lemieux, Jordan Buffalo defensemen in points per game (0.63). Gragnani is the leader Leopold, , Nathan Lieuwen, Anders Lindback, David Littman, among defensemen in points per game during the playoffs, putting up Darcy Loewen, Robert Logan, Jim Lorentz, Don Luce, Jan Ludvig, Steve seven points in seven games in 2011. Ludzik, Toni Lydman.

H Choice: The No. 16 hanging in the arena easily seals this deal. When healthy, there may have been no one more electrifying than LaFontaine. Candidates: Matt Hackett, Richard Hajdu, Bill Hajt, Bob Halkidis, Kevin He set franchise records with 148 points and 95 assists in 1992-93, and Haller, Denis Hamel, Gilles Hamel, Al Hamilton, Hugh Harris, Paul that season’s goal total (53) ranks third in team history. The previous Harrison, , Dominik Hasek, , Alan year, he recorded 46 goals and 93 points in just 57 games. LaFontaine Haworth, Jochen Hecht, Radoslav Hecl, Steve Heinze, Bob Hess, Randy leads all Sabres with 1.44 points per game; linemate Hillier, Larry Hillman, Cody Hodgson, Jim Hofford, Benoit Hogue, Jason is second at 1.17. Holland, Brian Holzinger, , Ed Hospodar, Doug Houda, Bill Houlder, , Charlie Huddy, Brent Hughes, Pat Hughes, Matt Miscellaneous: Among goalies who appeared in at least 30 games, only Hunwick, Mike Hurlbut, Carter Hutton. Hasek has a higher save percentage than Lehner (.916). Luce ranks seventh in three categories: games played (766), assists (310) and Choice: Even though the competition features three other Hockey Hall of points (526). Logan, who played 38 games from 1986 to 1988, scored 10 Famers (Hawerchuk, Horton and Housley), it’s a no-brainer. Hasek is not times and has the highest shooting percentage (27.0) of anyone who’s only the most dominant Sabres player of all time, he’s in the conversation played at least 10 games. The Sabres bought out Leino in 2014, and this for best goalie in NHL history. He’s the only Buffalo player to win the Hart is the final season of his yearly payment of $1.22 million. Trophy, earning MVP honors in 1997 and 1998. The Sabres have nine Vezinas, and Hasek brought home six of them. His career save M percentage of .922 is the best ever in the NHL, and he had a .926 during his time in Buffalo. Candidates: Clarke MacArthur, Doug Macdonald, Drew MacIntyre, Kevin Maguire, Adam Mair, Andrey Makarov, Mikko Makela, , Miscellaneous: In 608 games with the Sabres, Housley ranks fifth with Sean Malone, , Mark Mancari, Donnie Marshall, Richard 558 points and leads the No. 2 defenseman (Mike Ramsey) by 229 Martin, Terry Martin, , Gary Mcadam, Jamie McBain, Jake points. Hawerchuk is third at 1.13 points per game, putting up 385 in 342 McCabe, Rob McClanahan, Cody McCormick, Dale McCourt, Brian outings. Hajt played 854 games, second among defensemen and fifth McDonald, Jamie McGinn, Paul McIntosh, Ray McKay, Jay McKee, Tony overall. McKegney, Sean McKenna, Dave McLlwain, Mike McMahon Jr., Sean McMorrow, Peter McNab, Brayden McNabb, Bryan McSheffrey, Donald I McSween, , Dean Melanson, Andrej Meszaros, Scott Candidates: Billy Inglis, Randy Ireland. Metcalfe, Larry Mickey, Brad Miller, Colin Miller, Ryan Miller, Norm Milley, Torry Mitchell, Casey Mittelstadt, Alexander Mogilny, Mike Moller, Choice: Inglis has one claim to fame that nets him the honor. The forward Randy Moller, Mitchell Molloy, Robert Mongrain, Steve Montador, was in the starting lineup for the Sabres’ inaugural game Oct. 10, 1970. Brandon Montour, Barrie Moore, Dominic Moore, David Moravec, He played just 14 games for Buffalo, recording one assist. Shaone Morrisonn, Matt Moulson, Craig Muni, Hap Myers, Tyler Myers, Phil Myre. Miscellaneous: Ireland had no luck in the crease, appearing in two games with a 6.02 goals-against average. That’s the second highest in Choice: It’s a two-man race between a skater whose number is retired team history to Eliot (6.26). and a goalie whose number will be. Richard Martin becomes a finalist by edging Mogilny in goals per game 0.56 to 0.55. While Mogilny set the J single-season mark with 76 goals, Martin topped 50 twice and scored in Candidates: Dane Jackson, Jim Jackson, Val James, Doug Janik, Grant the 40s three times. He also added 24 goals in 62 playoff games. Jennings, , Calle Johansson, Jonas Johansson, Marcus Ryan Miller has more wins than anyone, going 284-186-57 during parts Johansson, Chad Johnson, Henri Jokiharju, Jacob Josefson, Joe of 11 seasons. He won the Vezina in 2010 after putting up a 41-18-8 Juneau, . record. Miller has 25 additional victories in the postseason, second only Choice: Juneau’s ride to the 1999 Stanley Cup final makes him the pick. to Hasek (37). Acquired at the trade deadline, Juneau put up 11 points in 20 postseason But Martin’s goal-scoring dominance gives him the victory. From 1971 to games before Dallas eliminated the Sabres in Game 6. 1980, the only NHL players to score more than the Sabres winger (375 Miscellaneous: Calle Johansson is one of just four Buffalo defensemen to goals) were (433), Guy Lafleur (405) and Marcel Dionne record at least 40 points as a rookie, but he played only 47 more games (380). That’s Hall of Fame-caliber stuff. Martin might have reached before being traded to Washington for Grant Ledyard, Clint Malarchuk enshrinement if a knee injury didn’t end his career. and a draft pick used on Holzinger. Janik and Jillson were in the lineup Miscellaneous: McKee ranks 19th in both regular-season games (582) for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final against Carolina in 2006; and playoff games (51). McKegney had 216 even-strength points in 363 they combined for just 26 regular-season games. games; Eichel has 216 even-strength points in 354 games. May scored K just three times in 36 playoff appearances; one was unforgettable.

Candidates: Trent Kaese, Dominik Kahun, Patrick Kaleta, , N Evander Kane, Jason Kasdorf, Zach Kassian, Larry Keenan, Dean Candidates: , Rumun Ndur, Casey Nelson, Michal Neuvirth, Kennedy, Tim Kennedy, Yuri Khmylev, Connor Knapp, Zenon Konopka, Scott Nichol, Rob Niedermayer, Anders Nilsson, Jordan Nolan, Joe , Jim Korn, Ales Kotalik, Joe Kowal, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Skip Noris, , Jiri Novotny, , Alex Nylander. Krake, Jaroslav Kristek, Uwe Krupp, , Dmitry Kulikov, Tom Kurvers. Choice: The exuberant, high-flying Sabres of 2006 and 2007 also featured the calmest, most mild-mannered leader on defense. Numminen Choice: King Kong climbs to the top. Korab was the ideal mix of brawn was in his late 30s yet still averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time. and skill, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound defenseman who topped 10 goals four He also overcame a heart condition and finished with 86 points in 212 times and 50 points twice. games. Miscellaneous: On one of the greatest teams in Sabres history – the Miscellaneous: Noronen is the only goalie credited with a goal. Napier 2005-06 club – Kotalik finished second in goals (25) and third in points wore No. 65 because he worked with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and (62). Kennedy and Kaleta are both Buffalo natives; while players always children afflicted with the disease often pronounced it 65 roses. Neuvirth, remember their first game, Kaleta’s NHL debut was more memorable who played during the tank era of 2013-14 and 2014-15, won just six of than most. his 29 starts despite a save percentage of .923. L O Candidates: Francois Lacombe, , Pat LaFontaine, Candidates: Danny O’Regan, Cal O’Reilly, Ryan O’Reilly, Kevin O’Shea, Jean-Guy Lagace, Patrick Lalime, Yvon Lambert, Chris Langevin, Reed , Victor Olofsson, Linus Omark, Gaetano Orlando, Steve Ott. Larson, Johan Larsson, Danny Lawson, Curtis Lazar, Grant Ledyard, Choice: A year from now, this could belong to Olofsson. But Ryan , Petr Svoboda, Bob Sweeney, Dean Sylvester, Paul O’Reilly has a slight edge in points per game (0.79 to 0.77) and did it for Szczechura. longer, so the center is the pick. The NHL began tracking ice time in 1997 and O’Reilly leads Sabres forwards at 21:19 per game. The league Choice: No one needs to play devil’s advocate. Satan is the selection. also began tallying faceoffs in 1997, and O’Reilly’s winning percentage of The winger led the Sabres in scoring five times. During the “dead puck 58.3 is second only to Berglund (58.6) among players who’ve taken at era,” Satan found the net 224 times in 578 games. From 1998 to 2004, least 100 draws. he ranked 10th in the NHL in goals alongside impressive names. He’s third all time in Buffalo in short-handed goals (15) and sixth in power-play Miscellaneous: Olofsson set the NHL record by scoring the first eight tallies (74). goals of his career on the power play. Ott tried to lick Jeff Halpern. Miscellaneous: Schoenfeld was the redheaded heartthrob of the Sabres’ P early days, a two-way defender who had 228 points and 1,025 penalty minutes in 585 games. Seiling will never overcome the stigma of being Candidates: Nathan Paetsch, Wilf Paiement, Daniel Paille, Adam Pardy, drafted immediately ahead of , but he had one 30-goal Jeff Parker, Mark Parrish, Greg Paslawski, James Patrick, Stephen season and topped 20 three more times. Smehlik played in 83 playoff Patrick, Colin Patterson, Scott Pearson, Michael Peca, Gilbert Perreault, games, third to Perreault (90) and Ramsay (89). Shields started nine Brian Perry, Andrew Peters, Brent Peterson, Sergei Petrenko, Lawrence playoff games and has nine penalty minutes. Pilut, Domenic Pittis, Derek Plante, Larry Playfair, Jason Pominville, Kevin Porter, Benoit Pouliot, , Tracy Pratt, Wayne Presley, T Ken Priestlay, , Daren Puppa, , Mark Pysyk. Candidates: Jean-Guy Talbot, , Tony Tanti, Chris Taylor, Choice: There can’t be anyone other than the Original Sabre. The only Mikael Tellqvist, Matt Tennyson, Paul Terbenche, Jocelyn Thibault, John player to wear No. 11, Perreault holds the franchise records for games Thomas, Tage Thompson, Chris Thorburn, Alex Tidey, Morris Titanic, played (1,191), goals (512), assists (814), points (1,326), game-winning Raffi Torres, Doug Trapp, Andrei Trefilov, Corey Tropp, Denis Tsygurov, goals (81) and shots (3,077). He was the Sabres’ first award winner, Vladimir Tsyplakov, John Tucker, , Travis Turnbull. taking home the Calder as rookie of the year in 1971 and collecting the Lady Byng as most gentlemanly player in 1973. Choice: Hyped as the next Mario Lemieux, Turgeon was the second of only three No. 1 overall picks made by the Sabres, following Perreault Miscellaneous: Pominville is eighth in games (733), assists (304) and and preceding Dahlin. Turgeon averaged a point per game for the points (521) and 10th in goals (217). Peca won the Selke Trophy in 1997 Sabres, putting up 323 points in 322 games. During his four full seasons, as best defensive forward. In 200 games, Peters had 736 minutes of ice he scored 40 goals once and topped 30 two more times. His 10 game time and 557 penalty minutes. P could stand for punch because Playfair winners in 1989-90 trail only the 11 put up by Gare (’79-80) and Mogilny is third in penalty minutes with 1,392 in 577 games. (’92-93).

Q Miscellaneous: Turnbull, who scored once in three games while averaging just 4:55 of ice time, leads the Sabres in goals per 60 minutes None. (4.14) and shooting percentage (33.3). At the other end of the R is Talbot, who has played the most career games (57) without scoring a goal. Candidates: Craig Ramsay, Mike Ramsey, Wayne Ramsey, Erik Rasmussen, Rob Ray, Zach Redmond, Joe Reekie, Robyn Regehr, Sam U Reinhart, Mark Renaud, Jacques Richard, Bob Richer, Rasmus Candidate: Linus Ullmark. Ristolainen, Craig Rivet, Rene Robert, Geordie Robertson, Mike Robitaille, Evan Rodrigues, Dwayne Roloson, Doug Rombough, Edward Choice: The uncontested goalie is 13th on the Sabres’ win list with a 41- Ronan, Derek Roy, Lindy Ruff, Chad Ruhwedel, Phil Russell, Christian 41-10 record. Ruuttu, Michael Ryan. Miscellaneous: Ullmark leads Buffalo netminders with a career save Choice: It’s a tossup. There’s the two-way game of Ramsay, the percentage of .840 in shootouts. defensive stardom of Mike Ramsey, the longevity and folklore of Ray and the retired jersey belonging to Robert. Plus, if we threw in Ruff’s off-ice V accomplishments, the longtime coach would win in a landslide. Candidates: Rick Vaive, John Van Boxmeer, Thomas Vanek, Vaclav Ramsay’s recognition for being the best at what he did lifts him to the top. Varada, Phil Varone, Claude Verret, Jimmy Vesey, Hannu Virta. He won the Selke in 1985, an overdue honor for one of the NHL’s top Choice: Pushing the Vanek button paid off for Buffalo. He’s fifth in goals two-way forwards. Ramsay topped the 20-goal mark for eight straight with 254 in 598 games. His 106 power-play goals rank fourth. Vanek’s seasons and leads the franchise at plus-324. He never finished any of his creativity showed in the breakaway challenge, and he leads the Sabres 14 seasons as a minus and was a pillar of durability, skating in 1,070 with 20 shootout goals on 54 attempts. He could pass, too, sitting 13th games. He leads the Sabres with 27 short-handed goals and 47 short- overall with 243 helpers. handed points. Miscellaneous: Housley (0.92) is the only defenseman with more points Miscellaneous: Robert scored at least 20 goals seven times, including per game than Van Boxmeer, whose 0.73 features a 69-point season in two 40-goal seasons. Ramsey is third in games (911) and second to 1980-81. Varada is 12th overall with 19 even-strength points during the Housley in points from the blue line. Ray is fourth in games (889) and playoffs. leads in penalty minutes (3,189), an average of 3.6 minutes per game thanks to a franchise record 239 majors (second-place Mike Hartman W has 90). Roy is ninth in short-handed goals (eight) and 17th in power- Candidates: Darcy Wakaluk, James Walsh, Dixon Ward, , play goals (45). Jim Watson, Mike Weber, Jay Wells, Derek Whitmore, Jim Wiemer, S Adam Wilcox, Mike Wilson, Scott Wilson, Randy Wood, , Randy Wyrozub. Candidates: , , Miroslav Satan, Bob Sauve, Jean-Francois Sauve, Joel Savage, Andre Savard, Marco Scandella, Tim Choice: Woolley came through when it mattered, putting up 34 points in Schaller, Cliff Schmautz, Cole Schneider, Ron Schock, , 49 playoff games. He leads defensemen with three game-winning goals Dave Schultz, John Scott, , Jiri Sejba, Andrej Sekera, Anatoli in the postseason, including the overtime tally in Game 1 of the ’99 Cup Semenov, Eddie Shack, , , Conor Sheary, final. Woolley is also third among blueliners during the regular season, Ray Sheppard, Steve Shields, Wayne Simmonds, Todd Simon, Craig potting 11 game winners among his 40 goals. Simpson, Jeff Skinner, Peter Skudra, Richard Smehlik, Al Smith, C.J. Miscellaneous: Ward was no playoff slouch, either, leading all forwards Smith, Dalton Smith, Derek Smith, Doug Smith, , Steven with a plus-17 rating while putting up 12 goals and 29 points in 53 Smith, Dave Snuggerud, Vladimir Sobotka, Jaroslav Spacek, Brian games. Wilcox, who appeared in just one game (after Chad Johnson Spencer, Drew Stafford, Fred Stanfield, Bill Stewart, Chris Stewart, allowed three first-period goals), is the only Sabres goalie to stop every Tyson Strachan, Robb Stauber, Colin Stuart, Kai Suikkanen, Alex Sulzer, shot he faced, turning aside all 14 from Florida on April 7, 2018; amazingly, Wilcox’s record is 0-1 because the Panthers scored into an empty net to make it 4-2 and Ryan O’Reilly answered in the closing seconds to trim the final score to 4-3.

X

None.

Y

None.

Z

Candidates: Nikita Zadorov, Rod Zaine, Alexei Zhitnik, Dainius Zubrus.

Choice: Zhitnik’s shots may have gone high and wide, but he hits a bull’s eye here. Ramsey and Hajt are the only defensemen to play more games than Zhitnik (712), and he’s also third in assists (234) and points (289). He’s second in shots (1,482), but his shooting percentage of 3.7 ranks 78th. Undeterred, the affable Ukrainian kept firing away for 10 seasons.

Miscellaneous: Acquired at the deadline in 2007, Zubrus was third for the Sabres in those playoffs with eight assists in 15 games (though he failed to score while skating through a knee injury). Zadorov was scratched for returning late from the All-Star break when his flight to Buffalo got canceled and also being late to a meeting after failing to set his alarm clock.

Time is up here, too. For alphabetical debates and any miscellaneous moments you remember fondly, use the comment section as an open letter.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181172 Calgary Flames What fun. What drama.

What a rip-off — now.

The 7 biggest questions about the Flames’ season that will likely go Given the division’s snug nature, it is hard to believe that those matches unanswered — like many down the stretch in previous Aprils — would have been throwaways.

No doubt, those dates would have crackled with meaning for the Flames. By Scott Cruickshank Missing or making the playoffs or perhaps avoiding the Blues or maybe Mar 19, 2020 ensuring another stab at the Battle of Alberta.

Verdict: After losing to the Golden Knights, the Calgarians edge the Oilers, earning home-ice advantage over their northern nemeses in the The Calgary Flames, following Thursday night’s contest against the New opening round — the first postseason BOA since 1991. Jersey Devils, will head back to their hotel rooms. Friday, they are scheduled to charter westward from the Big Apple. They then risk a 3. Goaltending controversy? tumble into that well-established hockey trap — the first home date after When the league suspended play on March 12, this subplot was just a road trip. picking up steam, as deftly outlined by colleague Darren Haynes.

NHL clubs, for whatever reason, often struggle in the immediate Which netminder should the Flames lean on down the stretch (and into aftermath of an excursion. So the Flames must be wary. Except they are the postseason)? not. The 27-year-old drawing a $2.75 million salary? Or the 32-year-old They never did depart for that three games in four nights assignment in drawing a $2.75 million salary? New York. Nor do they entertain the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Everybody, of course, knows that — and everybody knows why. In the season’s opening months — when David Rittich was among the league leaders in games started and minutes played — the answer What we don’t know, with the conclusion of the regular season up in the seemed obvious. It would be Big Save Dave carrying the mail (unlike last air, is plenty. Given that there are no guarantees about 2019-20, spring when Mike Smith reasserted himself and was spectacular, despite imagination is necessary to fill in the remaining blanks. the gentleman’s sweep vs. the Colorado Avalanche).

Starting with: But this season, with Smith and his big personality off the premises, 1. Playoffs? signalled Rittich’s time. He would assume the starter’s net.

In what could have been a rhythm-wrecking development, do the Flames The low-maintenance Cam Talbot would come to Calgary and support actually lock down a postseason berth? Rittich, tending the net when called upon.

Because, cyclically speaking, they aren’t supposed to play this spring. And that is how it worked — till the calendar flipped to 2020. The past six seasons featured an obvious rotation — miss the playoffs, Since then, basic numbers do tell the story — Talbot (9-3-1, 2.55 GAA, make the playoffs, miss, make, miss, make. .923 SV%) has been a much better performer than Rittich (7-7-1, 3.36 Which spells an upcoming miss. GAA, .895 SV%).

Seventy games in, there is a couple of ways to assess their status. Verdict: The Flames abandon the let’s-get-Rittich-going approach — a wasteful kind of ploy last used with James Neal — and quite rightly hand If the playoffs started today: the reins to Talbot.

The frozen standings show the Flames in third in the Pacific Division, a 4. Johnny’s mettle? slotting that sees them face the second-place Edmonton Oilers in the opening round. Criticized down the stretch last season, criticized in the playoffs, criticized for much of the current campaign, Johnny Gaudreau’s gumption By winning percentage, to equalize the mixed bag of games in hand, the appeared very much in evidence over the past 20 games. Flames and their mark of .564 land in the final wild-card slot. The Winnipeg Jets, at .563, end up on the outside looking in, while Calgary As part of a resurgence, Gaudreau produced 20 points in that stretch. girds for a first-round series against the defending Stanley Cup champion What hasn’t been answered, however, is how No. 13 would have St. Louis Blues. handled the final weeks of the regular season, which, by all appearances, But what if? would have been pivotal to his team’s fate.

What if the regular season had been played out? What then? Well, there had been nothing to suggest any imminent dip.

Of the Flames’ final dozen contests, eight had been scheduled for home The production, the passion, the body language was all changing for the ice, a very favourable schedule — for a normal outfit. But, as has been better. widely publicized by media (to coach Geoff Ward’s furrow-browed Even in dealings with the press, in which he can come off a little distant chagrin), the Calgarians struggle terribly at the Saddledome. (to put it politely), Gaudreau seemed more engaged. From cackling at There’s no telling how the coldest home-ice team — and somehow reporters following his late-practice pee on trade deadline day to his hottest road team — would have fared through its final dozen dates. postgame emotion in Florida after his grandpa’s death.

Verdict: The Flames, with a decent patch of work, do qualify for a On March 11, in what turned out to be the last day of player availability to postseason bracket. the media, Gaudreau looked relaxed at the podium, speaking for more than seven minutes. Graphic via Dom Luszczyszyn He patiently elaborated on his improved production. (Hint: Rejoining 2. Final week? forces with Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm.)

While teams are forbidden from acknowledging — at least publicly — “The beginning of the season was crazy, to say the least,” Gaudreau dates from the depths of the schedule, civilians can do whatever they said. “With everything going on, I feel like I had new linemates every wish. week. It’s hard to build some chemistry and play the right way in the offensive zone, do the little things right, when when you’re switching in So even if the Flames had been consumed by the typical one-game-at-a- and out with guys. You’re not sure who you’re playing with next game or time mantra, everyone else for months had been pointing at the docket’s where you’re going to be playing, what side, left or right. end — Games 81 and 82. “When you have that stability of left side, playing with two players you To close out their regular season, they would have hosted the Vegas feel really comfortable with, I mean, it’s only going to help your game.” Golden Knights on the Thursday and the Oilers on the Saturday. Added Matthew Tkachuk: “In the past few weeks, he’s been all over it. Verdict: Yes. He’s had the puck, it seems every shift he’s out there, making plays. He’s dynamic — he’s always been — but I think he’s had the puck a lot more Would Sean Monahan bag six more goals to hit 200? recently. We need him coming down the stretch. We need him very bad.” Verdict: Nope.

Verdict: In the pre-playoff portion of the regular season, Gaudreau continues to produce. The trick for him, of course, is sustaining that beyond Game 82. The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020

5. Backlund’s bravura?

While recent discussion about Gaudreau focused on the wee winger’s return to form — after, he did collect 99 points last winter — this had been the debate about Mikael Backlund: Has he ever played better? Like, ever?

Nope, safe to say.

In his last 16 appearances, the Swede, in dominating fashion, had contributed 10 goals and 12 assists.

Added up another way — 23 points in the first 54 games, 22 in the next 16.

It’s no secret that he did not enjoy his time as a right winger — even if he’d had Monahan and Gaudreau for first-line company. But, truth be told, Backlund had not been great even in the middle during the early stages of the schedule.

But recently reunited with flankers Andrew Mangiapane and Tkachuk, he’d kicked into a heretofore unseen gear, providing flashy offence and sturdy two-way play.

However, with four-plus weeks of season still outstanding, would Backlund have managed to continue that pace?

Verdict: While production slows, Backlund’s in-game investment is something that he is able to maintain down the stretch.

6. Hitting 30?

It’s pretty easy to declare that Elias Lindholm has been the Flames’ most consistent performer, despite being shoved around the lineup.

At times, the 25-year-old centred a line with Tkachuk. At other times — and especially lately — he’d been operating from a more familiar perch, the right flank with the top unit.

No matter where he was deployed, he made a difference, which put him on the cusp of a milestone. When the season paused, he already had 29 goals. (His personal best — and first time cresting 20 — came last winter when he netted 27.)

Blessed with a wicked release, he was at the top of the class, leading or co-leading the Flames in overall goals, road goals (16), home goals (13), power play goals (eight), game-winners (seven), first goals (six) and empty-netters (two).

Verdict: Reaching — and surpassing — 30 goals? Easily done by the versatile Swede, whose goal-per-game pace is .41. Meaning even 35 is possible.

7. Other milestones

Unlike last season when three members of the Flames were likely bound to be award finalists — Mark Giordano for the Norris, Sean Monahan for the Lady Byng, Bill Peters for the Jack Adams (he would wind up fourth, a single voting point south of ) — none of the locals is in the running for hardware this year.

Nevertheless, with the season’s suspension, there are benchmarks left outstanding.

Would Mark Giordano make seven appearances and see his DIY career get to 900 games? (Including goalies, he would become the 502nd NHLer to reach the plateau.)

Verdict: Yes.

Would Andrew Mangiapane, working on a show-me contract, score three times to get to 20? (He’d tallied seven times in the final six games of February.)

Verdict: Yes.

Would Johnny Gaudreau pick up six helpers to get to 300 career assists? 1181173 But Thursday’s emphasized commitment to the franchise’s current leadership group does mean that evolution will occur at only a gradual pace.

Bringing back Stan Bowman means Blackhawks committed to retooling, not rebuilding Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 03.20.2020

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Mar 19, 2020, 3:03pm CDT

General manager Stan Bowman, along with coach , will reportedly return to the Blackhawks for the 2020-21 season.

The Blackhawks will be headed by the same three leaders — president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman and coach Jeremy Colliton — in 2020-21.

Hawks chairman Rocky Wirtz told The Athletic on Thursday that all three will “absolutely” return next season.

That news surely will upset a large portion of the fan base, which — angered by the inevitable third consecutive playoff miss that loomed before the NHL season shut down — had soured somewhat on Colliton and greatly on Bowman in recent months.

But one overlooked factor is that any GM change likely would also usher in an era of rebuilding.

At this point, Bowman has inseparably bonded himself with the retooling approach: making peripheral additions (Olli Maatta, Ryan Carpenter, etc.), utilizing the draft (Kirby Dach, Adam Boqvist, etc.) and favoring older and proven players over new and risky ones (Corey Crawford over Robin Lehner).

If Hawks ownership is happy with that structure, there’s no reason to part ways with Bowman, especially because that status-quo decision in itself aligns philosophically with Bowman’s aforementioned roster decisions.

If Hawks ownership had elected to make a change, the new GM almost certainly would have been enlisted to follow a different and more radical course than Bowman. Even if he wasn’t explicitly told to rebuild, he would have been foolish not to. That scenario likely would involve Crawford and Duncan Keith — among others — leaving the Hawks now, with , Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad not too far behind.

And that rebuilding period might have proved more frustrating for fans, and more destructive to the United Center’s sellout streak and the Hawks’ profits, than this ongoing yearning-for-past-glory stretch.

By keeping Bowman, Wirtz ensures the Hawks will stay the course, retain their aging (though still productive) core and seek to improve via short-term tinkering instead of tearing it down.

After all, that’s exactly how Bowman explained his philosophy when asked after the trade deadline last month.

“The one encouraging thing is just that Jonathan and Patrick, they’re having really good years even though they’re in their 30s,” he said in the middle of a longer response. “That’s helping us. We have some young players on the way; we’re trying to get some more. And when they start taking that step forward, hopefully our team can take a step forward.”

Retaining Colliton will likewise boost that philosophy, not only because Colliton was Bowman’s hand-picked choice two years ago, but also because Colliton has echoed much of the same rhetoric dozens of times this season.

That doesn’t mean the Hawks will remain the same next season, though.

Some jettisoning will be necessary this offseason (whenever that occurs) because of salary-cap concerns alone. Bowman is clearly committed to the youth movement in a way he wasn’t during the dynasty era, too.

He and Colliton spoke at length after the trade deadline about the importance of Dach and Boqvist’s development. Upcoming contracts for Dylan Strome and Dominik Kubalik presumably will flesh out the Hawks’ growing “young core,” which also includes players such as Alex DeBrincat and Connor Murphy. And rookies Nicolas Beaudin and Brandon Hagel impressed in their well-earned NHL debuts last week.

So, yes, the Hawks still will evolve over time. 1181174 Chicago Blackhawks

NHL to super-serve its fans by unlocking archived games amid COVID- 19 pandemic

By Charlie Roumeliotis

March 19, 2020 11:00 AM

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL announced it will make full replays of all 2019-20 regular-season games available to stream on demand, starting Friday through April 30. The games will be accessible on NHL.com and the NHL app.

The NHL will also increase its viewing content on all platforms. For example, the NHL's official YouTube channel will consist of a curated collection of original content, including behind-the-scenes programs such as "Road to the NHL Winter Classic" and "Behind the Glass."

Full-length classic NHL games dating from the 1950s to now will also be made available, along with daily programming that will include top moments from the and much more.

The NHL joins the NBA and NFL by super-serving its fans with unique content as the world practices social distancing. It's been exactly one week since the NHL put its season on pause.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181175 Chicago Blackhawks

Owner Rocky Wirtz says Blackhawks' front office is staying put next season

By Scott King

March 19, 2020 10:17 AM

Everyone is in the same boat right now. We’re all wondering how this is going to shake out.

Hopefully, sooner rather than later, it’ll be back to business for sports, along with the many other industries we're missing. When things do go back to normal, Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz has some tough decisions to make.

Or has he already made them?

Despite the likelihood of missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year, Wirtz seems to have made up his mind on if he's going to make big changes to the organization in the near future.

When Scott Powers of The Athletic asked Wirtz if Blackhawks president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman and Jeremy Colliton will be returning next season, he replied, "Oh yeah, absolutely. There's not going to be any changes to the front office."

The Hawks, who were 32-30-8 and six points out of a playoff spot with 12 games remaining in the regular season before the NHL was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, made the postseason for 10 straight years before missing the last two.

Fans had been used to the "One Goal" excellence they were not only promised, but saw on a regular basis.

Although he’s not making the grand transformation that fans may want him to, Wirtz feels their pain… and their anger, and is glad the fans still care.

"Those three Cups, it really elevated everything to the level [it is now]," Wirtz said. "Of course they’re frustrated. Everyone’s frustrated. You want to do it. But there’s nothing with the frustration because we put high expectations on ourselves, as the players do and the fans do, too. I’d rather have them be frustrated and wanting us to get better than being indifferent and not giving a darn.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181176 Chicago Blackhawks years of contention before the bottom fell out. There was the summer of Brandon Manning and Chris Kunitz. The baffling Henri Jokiharju trade. Clogging the blue line with veterans with term after drafting four Lazerus: Blackhawks’ ambivalence as understandable as it is infuriating defensemen in the first and second round over the previous two years. And there was the inability to even get negotiations off the ground with Robin Lehner, and subsequently losing him for a pittance at the trade deadline. By Mark Lazerus I see all of that and wonder how Bowman still has his job. Mar 19, 2020 But I also see a terrific track record in the draft. Few experts had Dach

going third overall last spring, but it’s looking like a brilliant pick in You could have fired Stan Bowman at the end of the 2011-12 season. hindsight. There were Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin the year before that, The Blackhawks had just been bounced in the first round for the second Jokiharju and Ian Mitchell the year before that. Bowman nabbed straight season, they were looking like one-Cup wonders and the cold DeBrincat in the second round in 2016, more than making up for the fact war between the front office and was heating up. There that he didn’t have a first-round pick. In fact, every first-round pick was a sense that somebody had to go. Bowman has made other than Mark McNeill has panned out, despite usually picking at the end of the round. That nearly all of them are playing The Blackhawks stayed the course and won two Stanley Cups and 10 for other teams is a separate issue, but Bowman’s eye for talent is playoff series over the next three years. undeniable.

You could have fired Stan Bowman after the 2017-18 season. The The same goes for undrafted free agents out of Europe. Bowman and his Blackhawks had missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade, since staff found Erik Gustafsson. They found Panarin. They found Dominik Patrick Kane’s and Jonathan Toews’ rookie season. This after two Kahun. They found Dominik Kubalik. Rookies and European free agents straight first-round exits. Bowman had traded away a rare talent in Artemi on entry-level contracts are critical to success in a salary-cap league, and Panarin, and all but picked a fight with Quenneville by firing his best Bowman has few peers in this area. Then there’s the trade that turned friend and most trusted assistant Mike Kitchen and dealing away Niklas Manning into Drake Caggiula. The trade that turned Jan Rutta into Slater Hjalmarsson — all panic moves made in the wake of a first-round sweep Koekkoek. The crafty signing of Ryan Carpenter, who helped transform a by Nashville a year earlier. Both Bowman and Quenneville appeared to historically bad penalty-kill into a top unit. I see a group that, in theory, be on the hot seat. should be able to contend for a playoff spot if only the power play wasn’t awful, if only DeBrincat’s shooting percentage would regress to the The Blackhawks stayed the course, with team president John mean, if only a few bounces went their way. McDonough finally giving them a vote of confidence in the final week of the season. The Corey Crawford concussion that cost him the second I see all of that and wonder why everyone’s calling for Bowman’s head. half of the season provided the necessary cover. So no, I don’t have a fire-and-brimstone column today. I have no You could have fired Stan Bowman in November 2018. It was righteous fury, no hard opinion, no strong feeling either way. And it’s Quenneville who got the axe, but it was Bowman who put together the clear that the Blackhawks don’t, either. They, like me, are just going mess of a roster. along with it, waiting to see how it all turns out.

The Blackhawks stayed the course, and Bowman got to make his first It’s a lousy place to be as a columnist, and it’s a lousy place to be as a coaching hire nearly a decade into his tenure as general manager. For franchise. It’s how you end up with teams that finish in ninth or 10th place the first time, he had his own guy in charge, Jeremy Colliton, a like- every year, hoping to get a few lucky ping-pong balls to fall your way. It’s minded thinker whom Bowman saw as the future of coaching. how you end up with a fan base that’s pulling its hair out, looking for a plan, a direction, a sign of life. And it’s how you end up with milquetoast And you could have fired Stan Bowman now, or whenever this 2019-20 columns like this, a writer throwing his arms up and saying, “I don’t season is officially called. It’s been three years without a playoff know.” appearance. Five years without a playoff series victory. The last time the Blackhawks won a series was the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, which feels I think I’d like to see the Blackhawks hire a president of hockey like a lifetime ago. “One Goal” has long since transformed from a rallying operations, someone with a vision that’s not antithetical to, but not quite cry to a sarcastic quip. in lockstep with, Bowman’s. Someone to oversee the entire operation and — when necessary — step in and prevent the Blackhawks from Well, the Blackhawks are staying the course. Team owner Rocky Wirtz shooting themselves in the foot. When the Blackhawks were at their best, told The Athletic’s Scott Powers this week that there will be no changes their two biggest decision-makers were Bowman and Quenneville — two in the front office, that Bowman and McDonough and Colliton and men who couldn’t be any more different. A new-school analytic mind and everyone else of consequence will be back next season. They’re in it for an old-school NHL veteran. It’s the “Team of Rivals” theory. Maybe that’s the long haul, still hoping that the prime windows of Kane, Toews and what the Blackhawks need to steady the ship and guide it back into the Duncan Keith can be jimmied open just long enough to line up with the postseason. prime windows of Kirby Dach, Adam Boqvist, Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome. Or maybe not. Maybe that would be a total disaster, and be the start of a new Blackhawks behind-the-scenes cold war. I honestly don’t know. I tried to get worked up about it. Tried to fire off a column full of righteous fury and belief. Tried to form a hard opinion on it. I had one back when Thing is, neither do the Blackhawks. And that’s a much bigger problem. Quenneville was fired. I thought it was the wrong decision then, and I still When I’m ambivalent, I write a mediocre column. When the Blackhawks think it was the wrong decision now. At that moment in time, the mess are ambivalent, you potentially get years of mediocrity, with no end in the Blackhawks were in was mostly Bowman’s fault, not some trite notion sight. that Quenneville, the second-winningest coach of all time, had “lost the room.” Either way, though, change was necessary then. I don’t know if it’s necessary now. The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 I’m ambivalent. I see both sides.

I see five straight years of failure — and there’s no other way to sum up these past five years, not after raising the bar so high in the previous six — and cap mismanagement and wonder how long a leash a general manager can reasonably have. Whatever the cap ends up being in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blackhawks will be hard up against it, with nothing to show for it. And there are so many self-inflicted wounds. There’s the Brent Seabrook contract; it’s admirable to want to reward a beloved champion, it’s foolish to give him eight years in his 30s. There were the Panarin and Hjalmarsson trades; they were probably inevitable eventually, but they might have cost the Blackhawks two more 1181177 Chicago Blackhawks many high-impact players as possible through free agency, Europe, trades or drafts.

Wirtz believed that plan was starting to bear fruit this season. Are changes coming to the Blackhawks? Rocky Wirtz provides some clarity “I’m very optimistic on some of the young players,” Wirtz said. “It’s the system we have in place to draft and then develop players I think is good. I think that’s what you’ll see. If the system’s right, then we’re going to be By Scott Powers OK. I think that’s the key thing. So, I’m optimistic. I don’t do doom and gloom and stuff.” Mar 19, 2020 Wirtz thought Europe was a market the Blackhawks could tap into again, just like in recent years with Artemi Panarin and Dominik Kubalik.

Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz knows you’re upset. “Absolutely, you look at some of the free agents that the Hawks brought in too,” Wirtz said. “No one knew who Panarin was when he came in, and He knows you’re frustrated. Kubalik, they didn’t know him. So there’s a lot of different things you can He’s not OK with it, but to him, anything beats indifference. He never do, and that’s the system you have as far as the scouts around the world wants Blackhawks fans to be indifferent again. and who they see and what they see and then having players who want to come to Chicago. It wasn’t that long ago that the players couldn’t wait “I think of where it was before,” Wirtz said on Wednesday. “We went from to get out of here. It’s nice when it’s a compliment that you have players being angry to being indifferent and it didn’t matter. Those three (Stanley) who want to sign as free agents, especially when they’re in Europe and Cups, it really elevated everything to the level (it is now). Of course, want to come over and play with us.” they’re frustrated. Everyone’s frustrated. You want to do it. But there’s nothing with the frustration because we put high expectations on Wirtz has also closely paid attention to how Blackhawks fans have ourselves, as the players do and the fans do, too. I’d rather have them be continued to pack the United Center despite their lack of success. The frustrated and wanting us to get better than being indifferent and not Blackhawks registered their 467th consecutive sellout in their last game giving a darn.” on March 11. He doesn’t take that for granted.

Fans certainly give a darn that the Blackhawks haven’t won a Stanley “It means we have damn good fans,” Wirtz said. “They’re very, very loyal. Cup playoff series since 2015 and were on track to miss the playoffs for a You can see it Wednesday night, the last home game we played. We had third consecutive season when play was recently suspended due to the 21,000 people. And talking to John McDonough and Chris Werner, the COVID-19 pandemic. ticket manager, they said anyone that wanted to have a refund, they’d be happy to refund their tickets with no questions asked. That game, we The fans’ displeasure with the state of the franchise has grown over the only had two tickets refunded. I think it just shows the loyalty of the fans. last few years, and it’s currently greater than it has ever been since Wirtz Our job is to entertain them the best way we can and then to make their took over as chairman in 2007. There was a long stretch where he fan experience really good. You want to win all the time, but you always couldn’t do anything wrong. Even now, fans’ anger doesn’t seem so want to make sure the fans are entertained once they get into the much directed at Wirtz, but the base has become more vocal about building and I think we’ve been able to do that.” wanting change elsewhere. Fans want others in the organization, like president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman and coach Wirtz was asked if he had a message to relay to fans who were weighing Jeremy Colliton, to be held accountable in the same way Joel whether to re-up their season tickets. Quenneville was when he was fired in November 2018. “I think it’s the greatest game in town,” Wirtz said. “I would say, yeah, Wirtz isn’t on the same page as those fans. Asked about his confidence they should renew their tickets because we’re going to be there and have level in the trio, Wirtz replied, “I think they’re all good.” faith in the system that we have and the process we have to always improve ourselves.” Does he envision all three returning next season? Wirtz hasn’t ruled out a possible playoff berth this season if games “Oh yeah, absolutely,” Wirtz said. “There’s not going to be any changes resume, too. With 12 games left, the Blackhawks are six points out of the in the front office.” final wild-card spot.

Wirtz reiterated that when he was asked about a rumored Bowman “I’m looking forward to finishing our games,” Wirtz said. “I know some of contract extension. the writers, I talked to somebody from the Trib, he said he wrote off the Hawks after the back-to-back loss to the (Detroit) Red Wings. But then I “I’ll let John (McDonough) get into all the details,” Wirtz said of Bowman’s said, I haven’t given it up. I think what’s interesting with the injuries the contract. “But there’s not going to be any changes, so let’s put that Hawks have, it really forced some of those other players to step up, so I away.” think that way was good. Then our better players were playing better. The Blackhawks last officially announced a contract extension for Obviously we’d like to have more points, but I think it could be a mad Bowman in 2016, keeping him the general manager through the 2020-21 dash to the finish line.” season. There was speculation that Bowman received another extension last summer, but no one has confirmed nor denied it. The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 “I’m not going to get into really Stan’s contract status right now,” McDonough said in July 2019. “He’s in good stead. I’m proud of the job that he’s doing. At some point if there’s something to announce, we will.”

So Wirtz remains confident in McDonough, Bowman and Colliton, McDonough remains confident in Bowman and Colliton and Bowman remains confident in Colliton. Wirtz explained his view further.

“Well, if I wasn’t confident, they wouldn’t be employed,” Wirtz said. “Yeah, I’m very confident. Like I said, we had a good run, but that doesn’t mean when you’re drafting 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th … You know it’s a young person’s game. You have to put work in there. Stan, right or wrong, after ’10, ’13 and ’15, you essentially had to trade half your team away. Yeah could we have been a dynasty if it was back in the Edmonton days? Of course. The 2010 team could have been around for a long time. But with the salary cap, you couldn’t do that. It is what it is. You got to work within the system.”

Wirtz said his confidence now stems from the system the Blackhawks have put in place. Bowman recently explained the plan to compile as 1181178 Colorado Avalanche Multiple messages left with both parties requesting an explanation were not returned.

Omaha residents Julian Ivey and his kids Kellen, 12, Stella, 9, and Kroenke Sports and Entertainment pledged to help Pepsi Center workers Morgan, 7, attempt to enter the Team Store while visiting Denver amid COVID-19 outbreak. Will partners follow suit? Saturday, March 14, 2020 at the Pepsi Center. Kroenke Sports and Entertainment announced a 30-day hold on shows and events at all venues. By MIKE SINGER | [email protected] | The Denver Post Amid the upheaval of an industry NBA Commissioner Adam Silver PUBLISHED: March 19, 2020 at 6:20 p.m. | UPDATED: March 19, 2020 estimated provided 55,000 jobs across the league, Mike McNeill, an at 8:23 p.m. Argus employee, saw an opportunity to support his colleagues. Last Friday, McNeill started a Facebook group called the Colorado Event

Workers Coalition. It had 645 members as of Thursday morning. It’s The groundswell of support to cancel last Thursday’s Post Malone become a place to share information on job opportunities, child-care concert at Pepsi Center didn’t deter the army of workers determined to options, where to go for food, or simply a place to vent. make the event a success. Ellie Presley Burgett, a part-time worker at Argus, as well as an eighth- Anne Marie Tarjan Robbins was one of them, a part-time Legends grade teacher, helped McNeill organize and assemble the digital space. employee who didn’t let the mounting fear of the coronavirus keep her The group has no affiliation with Argus and was conceived solely as a from working. One of hundreds of Legends employees contracted resource for event workers. through Kroenke Sports and Entertainment to work events, Robbins is “We’re not just working on the physical health of jobs and food, but also typically an in-seat server/bartender. She facilitated 221 transactions last the mental health because this has been a giant thing where a lot of our Thursday, nearly four times the activity she has at Nuggets games. She people have just felt like the rug’s been pulled out from under them,” and her co-workers tried to temper their fears before the crowd filled the Burgett said. “And while I get it as a second job, a lot of our team arena. members, this is their primary job.” “We had just worked the Nuggets game three days prior,” Tarjan Robbins She said that KSE’s promise for their part-time workers sowed a said. “We had worked the Miranda Lambert concert a week and a half misunderstanding among her colleagues. prior. So at that point, the five of us were talking, we’re like, ‘If anybody has it, we have it by now.’” “There’s been a lot of frustration and confusion that that statement from KSE is that people will be getting paid, and that’s what the general As a result of the outbreak, which forced season suspensions in the NBA understanding has been,” she said. “But then when we look at the full and NHL, Robbins was dealt even more sobering news ahead of the story, it’s unclear whether or not the vendors, both internally and concert. externally, because you’ve got those vendors, outside you’ve got Jay’s “One of my bosses sat us down, the bartender, and he was very Valet that does parking. We really have no idea or clarification whether or realistic,” Tarjan Robbins said. “He said, ‘This is it. We’re not going to not those different entities will be being paid or not.” have anything else for a while. When you come back, you may not have In addition to the vendors, a handful of non-profits that work out of local X,Y and Z at your job.’” venues could be upended. Organizations like Step Up and Universal Tarjan Robbins’ husband still has work, which makes her one of the lucky Education Supporters, which help families pay tuition and sports ones. She’s spent the first week of the hiatus with her three kids, one of expenses, will be interrupted. whom is immunocompromised. Her exposure to the fans at Pepsi Center “That’s another portion that people don’t understand,” Tarjan Robbins has raised her concern over transmitting the disease. But her story — a said. “There’s a caveat there that Pepsi has. Pepsi, Red Rocks, First part-time event worker now in search of her next gig — is the same one Bank, Fiddlers, Dick’s, Mile High, they all have non-profits working in that’s wreaked havoc on hundreds of workers at venues such as Pepsi there.” Center. The fear from the virus itself and the anxiety over job loss hasn’t Last Saturday, KSE pledged to pay its part-time and hourly employees suppressed the group’s energy. Daily posts include entertaining memes, for the next 30 days, following the lead of more than a dozen owners and workout routines or words of encouragement. a handful of players who also committed to helping arena staff. The statement added: “We also have asked our vendors and partners to do “I love seeing that it’s a community,” Tarjan Robbins said. “We are all in the same.” the same position, some have more, some have less. And people are willing to give where they can, and people are actually humbling The Pepsi Center and an empty parking lot on Wednesday, March 18, themselves and asking, and they know that it’s OK to ask.” 2020.

The two largest vendors working out of Pepsi Center are Legends, which handles the venue’s food-and-beverage services, and Argus, which Denver Post: LOADED: 03.20.2020 supplies ushers and security for gameday and concert events.

Argus spokesman Andy Boian said in a statement to The Denver Post on Thursday that they were putting together a financial relief package to offset the loss of compensation for their 2020 hourly employees.

The total sum would be several hundred thousand dollars, and Argus CEO and President Dave Brower also planned to take a 25% pay cut. That money would also aid the employees’ relief package.

“We’re going to disperse that money among our 2020 hourly employees and then we’ll reassess in a month where we are,” Boian said.

Legends sent an email to employees assuring them KSE, in conjunction with Legends, “are contributing to help hourly hospitality associates during their time of need.

“KSE is in the process of creating a fund to mitigate their lost wages as a result of canceled events at the Pepsi Center, Dick’s Sporting Goods Stadium, and the Paramount Theatre, and Legends will contribute to this fund,” the email read.

Neither Legends nor KSE has specified how those funds will be distributed to Legends employees, or how those funds are related. 1181179 Colorado Avalanche injuries, but the Ducks were without their top four defensemen and the Avs still could not win.

It’s hard to really judge the Avs’ “bad” losses lately with all the injuries, as Avs Mailbag: Who would Colorado most want to see in playoffs — if you mentioned. The Avs just had poor puck luck against the Ducks after games are actually played? that first flukey goal. The 2-1 win at Detroit was with Michael Hutchinson in net and Cale Makar out. Yes, the Avs aren’t nearly as dominant at home as they have in the past. But they can win on the road and, come By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post playoffs (if/when), home-ice advantage heats up with the energy (assuming fans will be able to attend). March 19, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. Chambers: Health is more important than hockey, but Avalanche to

benefit during “pause” Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag. Mike, please explain: Upper Body?? Lower Body??? Why is it the NHL is What team would present the Avs’ most favorable matchup in the first the only major sport that treats injury information like it’s a classified state round of the playoffs? Least favorable? secret? Why can’t they just publish the specifics? It doesn’t change a thing whether we know that a player has a knee injury, concussion, etc. If and when we resume play, Jack, I would think the Avs’ least favorable They’re still injured. Maybe you can clear this up for us? would be St. Louis, but that’s not possible if those teams finish 1-2 in the Central Division, in whatever order. Remember, the Central champ plays Dan, it stems from injuries to the hand/wrist or shoulder. Teams don’t a wild card (likely No. 8 seed) and the Central runner-up opens against want to divulge those injuries because their opponent can slash or cross- the third-place Central team. As for most favorable, that’s a dangerous check those areas to limit the player’s usefulness. That behavior was question because the C3 and either of the WC teams are good. But worse in the clutch-and-grab days (before 2005-06). So they decided to besides St. Louis — a really strong neutral-zone trap team that has found disclose injuries in the region of the body, and it stuck. Too bad. If I see a a way to slow Colorado down — I don’t think the Avs have a preference player on crutches with his lower leg in a boot, I’ll disclose that he has a in opening against Dallas (likely C3), or possible WCs Calgary, Winnipeg, leg injury (which includes ankle and foot). The Avs don’t want me to write Nashville, Vancouver or Minnesota. that, but I don’t work for them — I work for you.

Hey Mike, what do you have an update on MacKinnon yet? Really need to have the best player in hockey on the ice for the Avs to make a strong Denver Post: LOADED: 03.20.2020 playoff run.

It seems like every game I track online the Avs lose the faceoffs won/lost battle. Apparently this doesn’t affect the outcome of the games too much or the Avs wouldn’t be at the top of the standings, but it makes me wonder why they aren’t better at winning faceoffs and how they could improve. Is it something they need more practice at? Is it that they don’t care about winning faceoffs that much? Can you shed some light on this statistic for me?

Sure, Jeff. The Avs have actually improved in faceoffs from the previous two years, when they were last or near the bottom. They are currently at 49.6%, which is 19th in the 31-team league. But I hear you — they seem to lose more big faceoffs than they win. Why? If Nathan MacKinnon has a weakness, it’s faceoffs; he’s at 43.1% this season. Which is why Gabe Landeskog (56.4%) usually takes draws on that line, and the power play. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (53.0%) and J.T. Compher (47.7%) are Colorado’s other top draw guys.

I have a rules question that I hope you can answer. In our recent loss to Anaheim, it appeared that Anaheim’s third goal that came on the power play should not have happened, at least in the way it did. Before we committed the penalty that resulted in us being short handed, Anaheim was offside and drove to the net, causing a hooking penalty. My question is this: Can a replay review show that there was indeed an offside and nullify the penalty, as it should’ve never incurred and was a direct result of being offside? My guess is no and is only to be used on scoring plays, but I wonder if it should? We were dominating the game at that time and it changed the whole complexion of the game.

Yes, a coach’s challenge for offside can only be used to try to overturn a goal, so the offside has to come in the same offensive rush as the goal.

Hey Mike, isn’t it concerning that the Avs are so bad in overtime 3-on-3? I know it won’t matter in the playoffs, but it’s crazy to think MacKinnon, Landeskog, Rantanen and Makar have a losing record against any other team’s best three skaters.

Well, sans MacKinnon and Rantanen, they’re coming off an OT win in their last game against the Rangers. Big discussion about this last season, if you remember. Avs were like 3-15 in OT/shootouts, something crazy one-sided, but then they went 3-0 in OT in the playoffs.

Are the Avs really ready for prime time, meaning a Stanley Cup run? While being an outstanding team on the road, they are just slightly above average at home. They seem to play to their level of competition with examples being two home losses to the Ducks this season, losing to the Kings in the outdoor game, etc. On the road, they barely squeaked by a bad Red Wings team. Against the lowly Ducks, they had a chance to pull within one point of the Blues with a game in hand, but yet could not do it. This has happened many times throughout the year. I understand the 1181180 Colorado Avalanche

One week into the NHL’s pause, coronavirus scare rages on

By Aarif Deen

March 19, 2020

It’s only been a week, but feels like a month, since fear of spreading coronavirus led to the “pause” of the NHL season.

The Avalanche were commencing a four-game homestand Wednesday, March 11, hosting the New York Rangers with an opportunity to keep pace with or pass the St. Louis Blues for first place in the Western Conference.

Yes, that was just eight days ago. But what a whirlwind of a week it’s been.

Thirty minutes before the 8 pm puck drop—around the time the Avs and Rangers took the ice for the pregame warmup—the NBA announced the suspension of its regular season after word came out that Utah’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.

The conversation quickly shifted toward the NHL and the possibility it would follow suit. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that night that the league would reassess its opinion on the situation. The following day, the NHL announced its pause.

Like the rest of the sports world, the NHL is stuck in uncertainty. When can the league resume play? Will the regular season be cut short? How many teams will make the playoffs and how many games will they play?

It’s safe to say there is a lot to be decided. But the forefront of the conversation remains the health and safety of players, personnel, and spectators.

For the Avalanche’s sake, it’s hard to escape the reality that their organization has probably, in some way, been exposed to coronavirus.

On Wednesday, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Avalanche, , and the Pepsi Center, announced that an employee tested positive for coronavirus. KSE said the associate, who worked in the “back-of-the-house” area (away from customer interaction), is feeling better and is in self-isolation.

The news came one day before the Nuggets announced that a member of their organization tested positive for coronavirus. It is unclear if that person is a player or staff member.

KSE said the individual began to experience symptoms on Monday and is under self-isolation and the care of the team’s medical staff.

As of Thursday, the only confirmed positive case among the NHL is a member of the Ottawa Senators.

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View from John Forslund’s bunker: Celebrity status provides a bully pulpit

Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 19, 2020 at 6:29 PM

On March 8, John Forslund, the television voice of the Carolina Hurricanes, checked into the Detroit hotel room that was vacated by center Rudy Gobert patient zero for COVID-19 in American professional sports. Forslund is in self-quarantine in the finished basement of his Apex, North Carolina, home until Monday, March 23. He has showed no symptoms of the virus. The Dispatch is making daily checks on Forslund, a featured play-by-play telecaster for NHL games on NBC Sports. Here’s the latest installment of Johnny’s Bunker Report:

Readers who’ve been checking on the Bunker Report know that Forslund has found himself compelled, by forces within and without his control, to consume vast quantities of "deplorable" cable news. Earlier this week, he was crestfallen when he saw a live shot of people lined up to get into bars in Nashville, Tennessee. "Ridiculous," he said.

Forslund is in demand as an interviewee; he has made scores of radio and television appearances over the last week-plus. He was happy to get a call from a television station in Nashville, a Fox affiliate, on Wednesday. They FaceTimed.

Among other things, Forslund was asked if he had a message for the people.

"They gave me a platform so I used it. For the people!" Forslund said. "I said, ‘Let’s all smarten up. Let’s be together. Let’s stop picking sides and blaming. Let’s be kind to one another, change some things and see if we can get through this.’ "

Forslund wonders: "Why are there clowns down in Florida who are still on the beach?"

Readers who’ve been following the Bunker Report know that Forslund is not wired to binge-watch television. Many find this appalling to the point of criminality, especially when one is in quarantine and has access to cable.

"I can’t see the bingeing," Forslund said. "I can’t see the commitment. ... I did watch a documentary on the life of Billy Martin. I’m not one to emulate his lifestyle or his colorful use of the language but I liked his Oakland A’s teams of the 1980s. I liked the way they played. Just set Rickey Henderson loose. Billy Ball."

On St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday, an old friend of Irish descent left a gift bag on Forslund’s front steps. Within the green bag was a book, A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint and the Next Tee by Tom Coyne.

"It’s the hilarious New York Times bestseller," Forslund said, reading off the dust jacket. "Bill Murray wrote the foreword. Now, that’s a book I’ll read. I really appreciated the gift. It came out of nowhere. I don’t know if I deserve it, but what a nice gesture."

Forslund felt like he got over a hump on hump day and was guardedly optimistic on Thursday. He’s crossing his fingers and knocking on wood. He can’t wait to get through Sunday.

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View from John Forslund’s bunker: Thank goodness for spring, and the phone

Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 18, 2020 at 2:03 PM

On March 8, John Forslund, the television voice of the Carolina Hurricanes, checked into the Detroit hotel room that was vacated by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert patient zero in American professional sports. Forslund is in self-quarantine in the finished basement of his Apex, North Carolina, home until Monday, March 23. He has showed no symptoms of COVID-19, known as novel coronavirus. The Dispatch is making daily checks on Forslund, a featured play-by-play telecaster for NHL games on NBC Sports. Here’s the latest installment of Johnny’s Bunker Report:

Unseasonably cool temperatures are slowly giving way to springtime in the Raleigh area. Forslund welcomes the chance to get out of the basement, rein in his wandering thoughts and have conversations with his family and neighbors. They talk from either side of the yard.

"It’s feeding time at the zoo and they’re letting the gorilla come out of the cage," he said. "People come to watch from a distance. ‘Look! He talks!’ "

Forslund and his wife of 33 years, Natalie, have three children. Erika, 23, is a graduate student at Clemson University and works in the student affairs office there. Matt, 22, is a sophomore at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, outside Hershey; he’s a goaltender for the D-III Dutchmen. The youngest, Kara, 16, is a high school sophomore.

Erika is staying put in South Carolina during spring break because her father is quarantined back in North Carolina. Matt’s college has shut down and he’s taking online classes at home. Kara’s high school has shut down.

Forslund listens to them move around upstairs. Monday night, the three non-quarantined Forslunds watched a movie, and their laughs came hard and fast through the floorboards.

"I don’t want to paint a picture of mental anguish here, but I wanted to sprint upstairs and say, ‘What are you guys watching?’" he said. "But I can’t do that. It bothered me enough that at 9 o’clock I just went to sleep."

Prior to his quarantine, Forslund went through nine days of airport terminals, flying time, production meetings and homework, homework, homework. He called seven games in seven cities.

And then it all stopped.

"Down here in the bunker I’ve been getting a lot of calls," he said. "Columbus checks in every day, of course. Hello, Columbus! Everyone I work with has called: colleagues, broadcasters, a couple of coaches. Tripp (Tracy, the analyst on Canes’ telecasts) checks in every day. It takes up time and we laugh a lot.

"There was a conference call with NBC (Tuesday). Nothing was discussed because there’s really nothing to discuss: We’re all on hold, just like everyone else. All of NBC Sports , Cris Collinsworth, all the NFL guys, all the golf people, all of the on-air talent was on the call. Around 150 people in all. Basically, the message was: Be ready, and when we can get back to it, we’ll get back to it."

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Detroit Red Wings' Jeff Blashill relives the 'weird day' when the NHL season paused

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 4:22 p.m. ET March 19, 2020

A week has passed since a surreal day left the Detroit Red Wings making last-minute plans.

On March 12, the Wings woke up in their hotel rooms in Washington, where they were supposed to face the Capitals in an evening game at Capital One Arena. Coach Jeff Blashill and his staff went to the arena hours before a scheduled 11:30 a.m. morning skate. They already were wondering what the day would be like, having watched events unfold the previous evening as the world responded to the coronavirus epidemic.

“Wednesday we got into D.C. and what we normally do as a coaching staff is we got to dinner and we try to watch a hockey game,” Blashill said Thursday. “We were sitting at dinner watching a hockey game and President Trump came on and talked about the travel restrictions from Europe. When that happened, I said to myself, boy, this just got real serious.

“After that, we saw online or it came across the ticker that the NBA was going to suspend their season. When I saw that, I thought, boy, that’s going to have a huge direct effect on us.”

The NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell both tested positive for the novel coronavirus. (Blashill said no Wings players have reported symptoms).

Blashill’s message to his players Thursday morning was to approach the day as it they were playing, to be prepared.

“The coaching staff went over to the rink,” Blashill said. “We were at the rink when we received the message that there were to be no morning skates, no practices, no meetings. But we did not receive word yet that the games that night would be postponed. We cancelled our morning skate and we basically said, sit tight and wait to hear.

“We made arrangements to get home if the season was suspended or paused. But even at that point we didn’t know for sure – should we be going home, should we be going to Tampa, which was our next opponent. How serious was this going to be?”

Shortly after noon, the NHL put the 2019-20 season on pause. The equipment managers loaded the team’s gear onto a bus, the coaches retrieved their belongings from the arena, and everyone headed to the airport.

They landed in Detroit around 5:30 p.m. – 90 minutes before they been supposed to start their game.

“As it got off that plane, I certainly had no idea whether or not we would play more hockey this year or not,” Blashill said. “I don’t know any more today than I knew then in terms of that. But it was a weird day, for sure.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181184 Detroit Red Wings “If we play our games, we need time to ramp up just from an injury prevention. I also certainly understand the longer it goes, the less chance of that happening.”

Jeff Blashill: No Red Wings have been tested for coronavirus “Everybody would love to see the Stanley Cup awarded, and everybody would like to get back to normal as quick as we can,” Blashill said. “But that might not be reality. We’re going to take it day to day, wait, and see Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News what tomorrow’s reality is.”

Published 3:41 p.m. ET March 19, 2020 | Updated 5:14 a.m. ET March The Wings share with the NBA's , 20, 2020 who along with the Utah Jazz — who played the Pistons at LCA days before both sports leagues shut down — have had players test positive

for coronavirus. Detroit — No Red Wings players have been tested and none have come But Blashill emphasized there is separation between where the NBA and down with the coronavirus, one week after the NHL season was NHL players and coaching staffs congregate. suspended. “We do have totally separate spaces,” said Blashill, adding the two teams Coach Jeff Blashill said Thursday, to his knowledge, the organization and are rarely there together. “I haven’t run across a Detroit Pistons coach or playing roster have been able to steer clear. player in my time of going back and forth from my office to our parking “Nothing to my knowledge, or our hockey team,” Blashill said of whether area. any player has been affected or exhibited symptoms. “Nor has any of our “To say we come in contact with each other would be false.” hockey team members been tested to my knowledge. They’ve all gone their separate ways, (but) to my knowledge, and we’ve kept close tabs, Blashill recollected what a strange day March 12 was in Washington for nobody has been tested. the Red Wings, who arrived in DC the night before and were mentally prepared to play. “No one’s met any of the requirements needed in order to be tested.” But watching the headlines come over about restricted travel from Only one NHL player — an unnamed player from the Ottawa Senators — Europe, then Jazz player Rudy Gobert contracting the virus, Blashill is publicly known to have contracted the virus. knew the situation was getting serious. Since the NHL allowed players Monday to return to offseason homes, the “After that we saw the NBA was going to suspend their season,” Blashill majority of Wings’ players have left the Detroit area. said. “When I saw that, I thought that’s going to have a huge direct effect “Our players are all over the place in their homes, whether that be the on us.” Czech Republic, the United States, Canada and Sweden, wherever that Blashill told his players that morning to prepare to play a game, but the might be,” Blashill said. “They are there, or making their way there.” NHL canceled all morning skates and meetings. Blashill touched on a variety of issues Thursday, on a day, normally, he “The coaching staff went over to the rink,” Blashill said. “We were at the would have been preparing his team for a quick road trip to Arizona and rink when we received the message that there were to be no (skates, Vegas. meetings, practices). We canceled our morning skate and we basically Having the regular season paused exactly a week ago – the Wings were said, sit tight and wait to hear. preparing to play the Washington Capitals in D.C. – has been “weird’, “We made arrangements to get home if the season was suspended or Blashill said. paused. But even at that point we weren’t sure should we be going “When I first got back and I woke up the next morning, I almost didn’t home, or going to Tampa (next game on road trip). How serious was this what to do,” Blashill said. “The end of the year is always hard for going to be?” coaches, no matter what, because you go from going 100 miles per hour The NHL paused its season around noon, and the team was back in to zero whenever your season ends. Usually, you see the end in sight or Detroit around 5:30 p.m. you’re in the playoffs, you know it might end. “As it got off that plane, I certainly had no idea whether or not we would “This was exceptionally abrupt.” play more hockey this year or not,” Blashill said. “I don’t know any more Blashill had one clear message when he addressed his team in today than I knew then in terms of that.” Washington last week.

“Go home and stay safe and that was the last real message I was able to Detroit News LOADED: 03.20.2020 communicate to them directly,” Blashill said.

There has been rampant speculation on social media about whether the NHL even resumes its season, and possibly goes straight to the playoffs if it does.

One report, coming from TSN in Canada earlier this week which gained traction, suggests top players in the league would like the regular season to resume around July. Playoffs would take place in August in September, with October a month to do the Entry Draft and free agency.

The 2020-21 regular season would begin in November.

Blashill saw the plan but wasn’t overly optimistic.

“I read the same headlines and thought to myself, ‘that’s late,’” Blashill said. “My gut feeling is there’s a lot of potential restraints that would make that proposal potentially not doable.”

Blashill and his staff want to be prepared for whatever decision takes place — although the longer the pause extends, the more difficult it will be to resume a season.

“I just want to be prepared for whatever I’m told,” Blashill said. “This is a decision that’ll be made by Commissioner (Gary) Bettman and I have to make sure I’m prepared for any decision that is made. Having a skeleton in place of how we would attack those days of a potential mini-camp, we’re doing that. 1181185 Detroit Red Wings

Christopher Ilitch: 'It's important we all pull together' during pandemic

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News

Published 11:07 a.m. ET March 19, 2020 | Updated 1:05 p.m. ET March 19, 2020

Detroit — Christopher Ilitch, interviewed on Fox Network's Fox and Friends program Thursday morning, didn’t have an answer for when his baseball and hockey teams might be back at work. But he offered a strong suggestion on how to best get through these uncertain times during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In tough times, good people rise up and that’s happening across America,” he said. “And that is certainly happening here in Detroit. It’s important that we all pull together in communities and help one another out.”

Christopher Ilitch

Ilitch, the president and CEO of and chairman and CEO of the Tigers and Red Wings, has backed his words with deeds.

Last week, Ilitch put up a $1 million to help pay displaced part-time workers — his at Little Caesars Arena, Fox Theatre and Joker Marchant Stadium. Then, along with the 29 other Major League owners, donated another $1 million.

“These are the folks we feel are going to be the hardest hit in our organization by this crisis and by the postponement of games,” he said. “We are a 60-year-old organization with a strong family culture. Folks in our organization tend to look after each other.

“We wanted to move in a way to help those who are most exposed, and that would be our event colleagues.”

The Ilitch family also is donating some three tons of food to Forgotten Harvest, a food bank in Oak Park.

“We’re trying to look at ways in our community that we can help others who are having a tough time through this crisis,” Ilitch said. “In Detroit, there’s a real need for access to food. We took all the food from our closed arena and our ballpark, which was gearing up for opening day and we donated it to Forgotten Harvest.

“So we can make sure that it gets into the hands of folks who need it the most.”

Detroit News LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181186 Detroit Red Wings

Timeline of ‘weird day’ Red Wings learned season was paused

Updated Mar 19, 2020; Posted Mar 19, 2020

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill described the current state of affairs in the sports world, particularly in the NHL, as “unprecedented” and “weird” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For the Red Wings, it began the night of March 11, when they arrived in Washington prior to their scheduled game the next night against the Capitals.

The coaching staff, like always, got together for dinner while watching a game. That’s when they learned of the travel restrictions to Europe.

“When that happened, I said to myself, ‘This just got real serious,’ ” Blashill said Thursday.

Soon after, they heard news of the NBA suspending its season after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.

“When I saw that, I thought, ‘That’s going to have a huge direct effect on us,’ ” Blashill said.

Still, Blashill’s message to the team the next day was to prepare as if the game would be played. The coaching staff arrived at Verizon Center when they received word the NHL canceled all morning skates, practices and meetings, but not yet the games.

“At that point, we told our guys to sit tight and wait to hear,” Blashill said “I don’t like dealing in speculation, we wanted to wait for answers. … We made arrangements to get home if the season was suspended or paused or at the very least our game was canceled. But even at that point we didn’t know for sure, should we be going home, should we be going to Tampa (for their next game), how serious is this going to be? The arrangements meant we needed about three hours advance notice for us to get home.”

Early in the afternoon, the NHL announced its season was being “paused.” The team boarded the bus for the airport and flew to Detroit. They got home at 5:30.

“As I got off that plane, I really had no idea whether or not we could play more hockey this year, both the Detroit Red Wings and the NHL,” Blashill said. “I don’t know any more today than I did then in terms of that. But it was a weird day for certain.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181187 Detroit Red Wings into a segment where it would be ramped up a little bit. What we had to do is kind of give them guidelines of what they can do at home without lots of weights and we tried to have communication with players, what’s Red Wings’ Jeff Blashill: Can huge obstacles to resuming season be available to you. overcome? “In the last week or so, it’s been way more of a let’s wait and see where this thing goes and if anything, use this week to kind of have some of that healing that you need at the end of the year.” Posted Mar 19, 2020 Blashill has daily phone conversations with general manager Steve By Ansar Khan | [email protected] Yzerman.

“Just trying to stay in contact to see if there’s anybody who needs help,” Blashill said. “Are our people being taken care of? How do we best utilize The Detroit Red Wings are limited in what they can do one week into the this time? Life favors the prepared, so how can we be as prepared as NHL’s pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. They are trying to possible for when we all come out of this? Certainly, it’s so fluid that it’s prepare for any scenario, whether that’s returning to play this season or impossible to plan weeks in advance." not.

“We’re in unprecedented times,” coach Jeff Blashill said Thursday. “There are huge obstacles to continuing, to continuing at the level that Live LOADED: 03.20.2020 we’re all expected to continue. That doesn’t mean those obstacles can’t be tackled. I think everybody would love to see the Stanley Cup awarded. I think everybody would like to get back to normal as quick as we can. But that might not be reality.

“We’re going to take it day-by-day. We’re going to wait and see what tomorrow’s reality is. … Those obstacles could end up being too great. That’s a reality of the situation we’re in.”

Blashill summed up this past week in one word: weird. The Red Wings were in Washington last Thursday when the NHL suspended the season. They returned home and in the days that followed many players went their separate ways, not knowing if or when they’ll play any or all of their remaining 11 games.

“This is a National Hockey League decision that will be made by Commissioner (Gary) Bettman and I need to make sure I’m prepared on any decision,” Blashill said. “Certainly, if we go back and are going to play our games, we need some time to ramp up, just from injury prevention. I also understand the longer this goes, the less chance of that happening. But from a coaching perspective we just want to make sure we’re prepared, depending on what the decision-makers decide. I don’t really have a feeling one way or the other."

Blashill doesn’t believe any players have been tested for COVID-19.

“We’re keeping close tabs on them,” Blashill said. “No one’s met any of the requirements needed in order to be tested (symptoms, high-risk categories).”

He said many players have returned home or are in the process of doing so, whether that’s Canada, Sweden, the Czech Republic or other parts of the U.S., where they remain in self-quarantine.

After taking a wait-and-see approach on whether the pandemic would get worse, Blashill and his staff now are planning ahead.

“If at any point, the NHL says to us that we’re going to resume, we have to be prepared,” he said. “Having a skeleton in place of how we would attack those days of a potential mini-camp, we’re doing that.”

A report Tuesday from tsn.ca indicated some players are proposing a mini-training camp to start in early July, followed by the completion of the regular season that month and playoffs in August and September.

Blashill said he’s trying not to speculate on what might happen.

“I read the same headlines and thought to myself, that’s late,” Blashill said. “My gut feel is there’s a lot of potential restraints that would make that proposal potentially not doable. That’s with very little knowledge of the situation.

“From my perspective, we’re going to do whatever we’re told to do. … I’ve just tried more to keep track of what’s going on in the world. Are we getting this virus under control or are we headed down a path of more stringent things that we need to adhere to to stop the spread of it?”

Blashill’s first message to players, the last he communicated directly, was go home and stay safe.

“Since then, our strength and conditioning coach, Rob Campbell, has put a plan in place for our players, if the season would potentially resume, a plan for the next couple weeks,” Blashill said. “The first segment would be a little bit of the rest that you would normally go through and then lead 1181188 Edmonton Oilers time Al Hamilton was on the ice,” or ,”What’s up with Dave Hunter, we haven’t seen him in a while.”

Robertson would quickly look at his list of player numbers and say, “his Al Robertson had love affair with statistics and Oilers games last shift was 6:12 of this period. He’s only played three shifts.” He was invaluable to all of us.

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal “The NHL had a computer system with all the player numbers and you clicked the numbers on and off every time they were on the ice or not,” March 19, 2020 3:00 AM MDT he said. “The problem is they don’t always change at the same time or come on at the same time. You ended up watching the benches as much

as the ice. You trained yourself to have one eye on each. We pay attention to the stars and stripes — Connor McDavid and Leon “Before the NHL computerized numbers, it was hard to keep track of who Draisaitl and the officials with their whistles — along with the coaches was on and who was off. The problem even with new technology, of and the off-ice people who manage the penalty boxes and the time clock course, is you learn the line combinations before games and know who’s for National Hockey League games. on with whom, but coaches change the lines during games. While We can see them every night. Connor (McDavid) has a little hitch before he starts going and Nuge (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) is more hunched over, you’re looking at five guys The unsung folks in the press boxes around the league who keep track of not just one. the game statistics — time on ice for every player, face-offs, hits, blocked shots, shots that go wide — not so much. But considering our all- “One year, the Oilers had four players in the 80s, all defenceman, but consuming need for numbers, we couldn’t do without the faceless many. one of the tricks is to see who shoots right and left, who tapes their stick with black and white tape. But the sight lines at are Like Al Robertson, who was honoured March 7 by the Edmonton Oilers different than at Rexall Place. If we’re not the farthest away (from the along with Sandy Millar, the long-time penalty-time keeper/goal ice), we’re right up there.” judge/stats crew member, and goal-judge Ted McPhee. They all did their job with no fanfare and few perks. That said, no complaints from Robertson.

They got a blazer with an NHL logo on it, something to keep, but the “Looking back, I can say I feel very privileged to have been able to this memories will last longer. A few ex-players, such as Bob Falkenberg and job. Thousands of other people would love to have it.” Dave Lumley also worked on the stats crew over the years at Rexall Robertson almost died to have it. Place, along with restaurateur Dave Vaughn and radio man Stan Ravndahl.

Robertson, a chartered accountant by day, would be wondering what’s Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.20.2020 up with the NHL today, like all of us, with the COVID-19 pandemic, but he retired April 4, 2019, after working his last game. His hockey job began in the latter part of the in 1977, when was with the club.

“My first month as a statistician was when Glen was named playing coach of the Oilers, replacing Bep Guidolin,” said Robertson.

He’s loved every minute of his other life, 42 years in all. Over 1,700 games by Robertson’s count, showing up two hours before the puck dropped, then working the game and staying after final buzzer to make sure the stats were right. He loved the life until he almost didn’t have a life. He almost died on a soccer pitch eight years ago but was saved by a friend.

“I had a cardiac arrest on the field and one of my soccer buddies, who was on the team and was a medical technician, saved me with an AED (automatic external defibrillator) that was right there and working. I had the same heart thing (ex-Oiler Sergei) Zholtok died of and also (Alexei) Cherepanov, who was the New York Rangers first-round draft pick,” said Robertson. “I feel very fortunate to be here. Most people who have this aren’t saved, they’re just gone.

“My doctor told me I had to slow down but I never did. In fact, my cardiac arrest happened on a Monday and I told them on the Wednesday I could work but, of course, I was dreaming. I was off for four weeks and missed eight Oiler games. Started playing soccer again in fourth months,” he said.

It’s been a labour of love because you don’t get rich being a game-night statistician. You get to see all the games, but you’re not having a beer and eating popcorn, and the pizza in the press box wasn’t for the stats crew, just the media.

“Being a CA, I’ve always been interested in numbers and as a hockey fan, it was right up my alley getting this job,” said Robertson, 66, admitting it was tough to juggle his accounting job for his hockey gig, though, especially at income tax time.

“Things have changed a lot with computer programs but when we first started in the WHA days, we distributed period-by-period hand-written game sheets on a gestetner (machine). They had goals and assists, plus-minus, shots on goal, all coming from a typewriter,” said Robertson.

Robertson was in charge of seeing who was on the ice and who had come off. Many a night at the old Rexall Place, the media would saunter 20 feet down the press box to Robertson and ask, “When was the last 1181189 Edmonton Oilers more important then to straighten out the 5-on-5 scoring by forwards over the summer.

There are 372 “regular” NHL forwards in the league each season, 31 Lowetide: Which Oilers veterans are in roster peril? teams deploying 12 forwards for each game. This season, 371 forwards played over 400 minutes at 5-on-5, giving us a fair view of the overall league talent pool. By Allan Mitchell If we look at each line as a unique tier, there should be 93 first line Mar 19, 2020 forwards and the same number of second, third and fourth line forwards. Obviously if all things are equal each team would have three forwards in

each tier. How many top line scorers did the Oilers ice this season? Kris Russell has played in 273 regular season games since signing with Second line? Here are the numbers. the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent in October 2016. He has also First line forwards: 1.93 to 3.43 points per 60 played in 13 playoff games, with more (possibly) to come if 2019-20 sees a postseason. Russell’s ratio of playoff to regular season games (1:21) is Second line forwards: 1.62 to 1.92 points per 60 among the most impressive among Oilers defencemen in the last decade and another playoff run would project him into some of the finest Third line forwards: 1.26 to 1.60 points per 60 company available since the glory Oilers teams of the 1980s. Fourth line forwards: 0.34 to 1.25 points per 60

Russell has always been a divisive player for Oilers fans. His shutdown Edmonton had five forwards play over 400 minutes and score at first line style has Edmonton almost breaking even in terms of goal differential (at rates in 2019-20: Kailer Yamamoto (3.16), Leon Draisaitl (2.89) and 5-on-5 he is 157-161 in his Edmonton seasons) but his inability to Connor McDavid (2.84), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2.23) and Zack Kassian transport the puck to safety or outlet pass seamlessly makes him a one- (2.21). The arrival of Yamamoto ignited what was assumed to be the No. dimensional option in an era of puck movers and elite passers. 2 line and turned it into the hottest trio in the NHL.

In his first three seasons with the team (with coach Todd McLellan for The Oilers second line forwards is a population of one: Tyler Ennis, who over two years and then Ken Hitchcock who took over midway through posted 1.90 combined for two teams. He posted 1.91 points per 60 in 2018-19) Russell averaged between 19-21 minutes a night. This past 723 minutes with the Ottawa Senators and 1.84 points per 60 in 130 season, with new coach elevating some younger minutes with Edmonton. defencemen, Russell’s role on the team was reduced. Third line forwards also count one, as Andreas Athanasiou is right on the What does that mean for Russell in the future? It’s my guess general borderline (1.26) using his Oilers and Detroit Red Wings numbers manager Ken Holland will look to offload the final year of Russell’s deal, combined. Joakim Nygard (1.27) would have qualified if he had played perhaps with a sweetener. If we compare Russell’s possession numbers enough (just 333 minutes). from his first Oilers season to this one, we see a performance downbeat (via Natural Stat Trick) and a usage drop by Tippett: Fourth line forwards? The list is long and there are some expensive names. The erosion in 5-on-5 ice time is almost four minutes between his 2016- 17 and 2019-20 campaigns. Both seasons saw Edmonton post playoff Josh Archibald (1.20) penalty kills and plays a depth role much of the performances but Russell’s role was far bigger in 2016-17. He led the time, so his 5-on-5 number isn’t a major issue. team in 5-on-5 time on ice per game in 2016-17 but fell to No. 5 this season. One area the Oilers use Russell as much today as in 2016-17 is James Neal (0.94) played 703 minutes in the discipline and scored five the penalty kill. He has been one of the top four defencemen in PK goals and six assists. Edmonton needs far more. rotation for his entire time with Edmonton. Riley Sheahan (0.90) also penalty kills but he played 668 minutes and Tippett prefers Russell on his left side, meaning the only role available in many of those as the de facto No. 3 centre. If he returns, he can’t play 2020-21 would be third pairing left side, behind Oscar Klefbom and third-line minutes; the Oilers are giving too much back to the opposition. Darnell Nurse on the depth chart. Russell’s competition for that spot is Alex Chiasson (0.87) played almost 700 minutes and scored five goals the younger, faster, less expensive Caleb Jones. Russell’s $4 million cap and five assists. Like Neal, more is required. hit (Jones makes $800,000) really hurts him when projecting the team into next season. How close is Jones to Russell in 5-on-5 performance? Gaetan Haas (0.81) in almost 520 minutes is not good enough to remain He’s already passed the veteran. in the NHL.

Based on these numbers (Jones has played almost 600 5-on-5 minutes Jujhar Khaira (0.80) struggled all season but did look good at centre this season, that’s a large sample) the Oilers are better with Jones in the down the stretch. He was 1.13 per 60 in the final five games (he played lineup. Russell’s penalty killing role will need to be addressed but the in the middle during this period). savings and upgrade in moving to Jones are crystal clear. Patrick Russell (0.65) is a crowd favourite and was unlucky at time The one argument one can make for a veteran is performance in difficult offensively this season but there isn’t enough offence to ensure NHL situations but Puck IQ reveals Jones is a superior option even against employment. elite opposition. The samples are small but the gap is so big there can be Archibald excepted, the Oilers can’t afford to bring back more than one or only one conclusion: two of these forwards. Sheahan and Khaira can both penalty kill and play This is an alarming graph for any organization paying Russell $4 million centre, so have duplicate skills in multiple areas. Neal and Chiasson are to play NHL defence next season. Jones is superior in the two impact veterans who excel on the power play but that’s a job a younger, less categories: Dangerous Fenwick (DFF%), which is a super smart expensive player could fulfill. Haas and Russell bring some interesting possession statistic that weights shot distance location and type of shot elements to the game but don’t move the needle offensively. to give each shot a “danger” value; and DFF RC, which indicates What does it all mean? individual performance relative to teammates for specific level of competition. Jones is a better option as a rookie, the odds of this gap Holland has an eroding asset in Kris Russell and a superior, less increasing next season is substantial. expensive replacement in Jones. The decision to move on from the veteran is an easy one. In January I looked at Edmonton’s veteran defencemen and suggested Adam Larsson might be the most vulnerable to trade. Since then, the Up front, the key offensive players are obvious (McDavid, Draisaitl, emergence of Jones has changed the equation and Russell is in much Nugent-Hopkins, Yamamoto) and there are several complementary danger on the Oilers roster. He turns 33 in May and I doubt he’s on the players of note. I’d include Kassian, Ennis and Athanasiou. Oilers roster in 2020-21. General manager and coach will need to make sure the vital penalty He’ll probably have some company. killers are retained (Khaira, Archibald, possibly Sheahan).

Oilers forwards were incredibly efficient on special teams this season, to That leaves Kris Russell with Neal, Chiasson, Haas and Patrick Russell the point where expecting a repeat in 2020-21 would be unwise. All the as players who are in roster trouble on merit. I wrote recently about the young players who made this kind of transition possible, and the next steps are evident because of the emergence of players like Jones.

It’s nothing personal, this is business. Youth shall be served. On merit.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181190 Los Angeles Kings

LA KINGS STATEMENT ON OTTAWA SENATORS POSITIVE COVID- 19 TEST RESULT

JON ROSEN

MARCH 19, 2020

Since being made aware of the Ottawa Senators player that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and understanding that we played against them on March 11, our senior leadership has been in regular contact with our key medical professionals, our players and staff, the NHL and our partners at STAPLES Center. The health of our players, coaches, staff members, their families, and our community and society on the whole remains our highest priority. We will continue to define our next steps based upon the guidelines of the CDC and WHO, under the direction of our medical team. As of this time, no current member of our organization has demonstrated any signs or symptoms consistent with the onset of the COVID-19 virus and we will continue to monitor this on a daily basis.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181191 Nashville Predators

Predators sign North Dakota forward Cole Smith to one-year deal

Mike Organ Published 1:40 p.m. CT March 19, 2020 | Updated 3:42 p.m. CT March 19, 2020

Forward Cole Smith signed a one-year, two-way deal Thursday with the Predators for the 2020-21 season.

Smith, 24, recorded a career-high 11 goals and 18 points in 34 games this season as a senior at North Dakota.

He had a goal and an assist in his final game on March 7 against Omaha to help the Fighting Hawks win the National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular-season title. He was fifth on the team in goals and helped lead North Dakota to a 26-5-4 record.

"It's been kind of a great welcoming from everyone (with the Predators)," Smith said. "I think they expect me to come in and prove myself. They want that kind of hard-working, grind-it-out tough player. They've made that really clear."

“He is a big, strong guy who has gotten better every year,” Predators assistant general manager and director of player personnel Jeff Kealty said. “If you talk to the people at North Dakota, they just rave about the character traits that he has — his competitiveness, his drive, his physicality, all those ingredients he adds to a team in a winning environment. We feel like he’s going to be able to add all of that to our organization.”

Smith said he will find plenty to do living in Nashville even when he's not on the ice.

"Nashville's been a city that's had my interest," he said. "I'm a big country music guy and obviously that's kind of the mecca for it so that's really got me excited for sure."

Smith was named an alternate captain in 2019-20, and he finished his four-year career at North Dakota with 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 137 games.

"Coming in as a freshman I was kind of an under-skilled guy," Smith said. "I was able to kind of develop into, not a complete skilled guy, but I was able to develop my skills to a higher level."

Prior to enrolling at North Dakota, Smith spent two years with the of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. He led his team in goals (26) and was second in points (61) in 2015-16.

Tennessean LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181192 New Jersey Devils as a big developmental step. He was tied for third in Division I with 44 points, and his 19 goals ranked eighth.

Reilly Walsh, D (Harvard) Coronavirus ended the college hockey season: Here’s how Devils 2019-20 stats: 30 GP, 8 G, 19 A, 27 P prospects finished Age: 20

Drafted: 3rd round, 81st overall in 2017 By Chris Ryan Of all the Devils’ college prospects, Walsh is the one most likely to turn

pro before the start of next season. He finished his junior season with Along with causing the suspension of the NHL schedule, the coronavirus another strong offensive output. With three seasons of college hockey outbreak has disrupted other hockey leagues around the country. completed since his draft, the Devils could look to sign him to an entry level contract, rather than letting him return for a senior season, where he While some junior hockey leagues in Canada still hope to resume their could test free agency following the 2020-21 season. seasons to complete playoffs, the NCAA ended its season entirely, marking the end of the campaigns for several Devils prospects. The USHL also canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season, marking the end of the campaigns for a pair of Devils goalie prospects: Here’s a look at how six Devils prospects ended their collegiate seasons: Cole Brady, G (Fargo Force, USHL) Matthew Hellickson, D (Notre Dame) 2019-20 stats: 39 GP, 21-12-5, 3.23 GAA, .894 save percentage 2019-20 stats: 37 GP, 5 G, 11 A, 16 P Age: 18 Age: 21 (22 on March 21) Drafted: 5th round, 127th overall in 2019 Drafted: 7th round, 214th overall in 2017 Brady settled into Fargo during his first USHL season, posting similar Hellickson completed his junior season at Notre Dame, matching his numbers to his 2018-19 campaign in he NAHL. Brady is expected to join point total from 2018-19 in three fewer games. As a former seventh- Arizona State in 2020-21 for his first season of college hockey. round pick, Hellickson likely isn’t leaving college early. He’ll return for his senior season in 2020-21, where the Devils will get one more season to Akira Schmid, G (Omaha Lancers/Sioux City Musketeers, USHL) see if he fits into the organization’s plans once he finishes college. 2019-20 stats: 13 GP, 5-6-1, 3.22 GAA, .889 save percentage Case McCarthy, D (Boston University) Age: 19 2019-20 stats: 32 GP, 2 G, 10 A, 12 P Drafted: 5th round, 136th overall in 2018 Age: 19 Schmid wasn’t able to replicate the tremendous numbers his put up in Drafted: 4th round, 118th overall in 2019 the USHL in 2018-19, where he had a 2.18 GAA and .926 save percentage. He was also traded midseason, going from Omaha to Sioux McCarthy finished his freshman season at Boston University, and the City. former U.S. National Development Program member will return to the program to play as a sophomore in 2020-21. BU finished McCarthy’s Star Ledger LOADED: 03.20.2020 season at 13-13-8. The 6-1, 198-pound blue liner isn’t an offensively- driven defender, but he offers some good size and a pass-first mindset.

Introducing Devils Insider: Sign up for exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Patrick Moynihan, F (Providence)

2019-20 stats: 34 GP, 13 G, 8 A, 21 P

Age: 19

Drafted: 6th round, 158th overall in 2019

Like McCarthy, Moynihan played his freshman season at Providence after playing with the USNDP last season and being drafted by the Devils.

Aarne Talvitie, F (Penn State)

2019-20 stats: 30 GP, 6 G, 13 A, 19 P

Age: 21

Drafted: 6th round, 160th overall in 2017

The biggest thing for Talvitie during his sophomore season was his ability to stay healthy. His freshman season was cut short by a torn ACL, and he was ready for opening night of the 2019-20 season. Playing for a top- 10 team in the country, Talvitie missed out on the chance to play some meaningful postseason hockey.

Tyce Thompson, F (Providence)

2019-20 stats: 34 GP, 19 G, 25 A, 44 P

Age: 20

Drafted: 4th round, 96th overall in 2019

Thompson already had one season of college hockey under his belt when he was drafted by the Devils, and his sophomore campaign served 1181193 New York Islanders

Nassau Coliseum operator establishes fund to assist 700 hourly workers

By Jim Baumbach

Newsday is opening this story to all readers so Long Islanders have access to important information about the coronavirus outbreak. All readers can learn the latest news at newsday.com/LiveUpdates.

The operator of NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum said Thursday it has established a fund “to assist with offsetting some of the lost wages” of its hourly workers.

The Islanders contributed an unspecified amount to the fund, according to Onexim Sports and Entertainment, the Coliseum's operator.

Onexim's decision to create a fund for hourly workers to the roughly 700 affected workers “recognizes the hardships faced by our hourly employees during this shutdown,” the company said in a statement.

The Coliseum marks the latest arena operator to announce a plan to provide some compensation to temporary workers who lost assignments when virtually all live events were postponed suddenly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upcoming events scheduled to take place at the county-owned arena that have either been postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus include Islanders, Nets and sports games, concerts by Elton John and Michael Buble and events such as Cirque du Soleil and Jurassic World.

“We will work closely with the respective unions for distribution,” Onexim said. “At this time of uncertainty, we remain stronger together . . . We look forward to opening our doors again for the community soon when it is appropriate and safe.”

Islanders president Lou Lamoriello said this week that when the National Hockey League season resumes, the Islanders likely will play all of their remaining games at the Coliseum. The NHL team previously has been scheduled to host two more games at Brooklyn’s .

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181194 New York Islanders

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stresses importance of normalcy for 2020-21 season

By Colin Stephenson

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman won't give an exact date for when it would be impossible to continue the 2019-20 season, but he made clear the priority will be to have a full and normal season in 2020-21.

Bettman spoke with Mike Greenberg on ESPN’s “Get Up’’ Thursday morning, a week after the NHL paused its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I believe that under the current circumstances, we can go later than we’ve ever gone,’’ Bettman said. “How late is a good question. What we want to make sure of is that we don’t do anything from this season that might impact next season having the normalcy it’s supposed to have.

“So, the two factors are timing — relative to how late we can go without impacting next season — and making sure that whatever we do competitively, if we’re going to complete this current season, it has to have integrity, it has to be respectful of the well over 100-year history of the Stanley Cup.’’

Bettman made his comments the morning after NBA commissioner Adam Silver was interviewed by Rachel Nichols on ESPN. Bettman said the questions that get asked most often by players are regarding testing for COVID-19. Players are not undergoing mandatory testing, he said.

“We had a test positive, our first, two nights ago,’’ he said, referring to an unidentified Ottawa Senators player who the team announced late Tuesday had tested positive. “There have been some players testing, but medical advice that we’ve been given is that if you’re asymptomatic, there’s no reason to be tested, because it’s not going to tell you anything.

“So, we’re not over-testing. We’re testing when it’s appropriate, and when there’s a situation, whether it’s a player or a family member or an executive, we then have to go back and trace contacts that may have been had, and whether or not they were meaningful contacts. But in the final analysis, getting people, whether it’s sports, or society as a whole, to self-isolate and reduce the spread of the coronavirus is probably the most important thing any of us can do.’’

Bettman did a round of interviews with various media outlets last Friday and made it clear then that he wanted to find some way of crowning a champion and handing out the Stanley Cup this summer, even if the league had to make some changes to arrive at a fair way of deciding a champion. At the time play was halted, teams had played between 68 and 71 games (the Islanders had played 68 and the Rangers had played 70), and the regular-season schedule calls for 82 games.

But what the season might look like if it is resumed is not a question the commissioner could answer. Asked if the NHL is considering the same types of things the NBA is considering, he said yes. Silver spoke on Wednesday night about possibly resuming games in arenas without fans.

"The options are obvious, and we’re all exploring them,’’ he said. “The fact of the matter is, none of us is going to be able to do anything until we get an ‘all clear' on some basis. We too have explored — and continue to explore — every scenario, which will depend on the timing of when it’s safe to go out. But I think the most important thing in the short term is we should be focusing, not just in sports, but we can be a good example on the fact that self-isolation is going to help the spread, or reduce the spread of the coronavirus.’’

Asked who he expects will give the “all clear’’ to return to play, Bettman said the league has its own doctors and is consulting with infectious disease specialists. But they won’t be the ones who make that call.

“It's going to be with the local governments," he said, "and perhaps the federal government tell us about what is safe."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181195 New York Islanders Have you had many conversations with other players or the league about this?

I talked to my PA rep, there’s a laceration committee. I ran into Gary Cal Clutterbuck on the danger of skate cuts in the NHL and finding Bettman at Butch Goring’s retirement ceremony, we had a brief solutions conversation. I think the more attention that can be paid, the more energy put into it, the quicker we can find a solution. And I know there are some mainstream under-gear companies that are starting to explore this, which is a great thing. The last three months, I think the lightbulb’s gone off By Arthur Staple Mar 19, 2020 over a lot of people’s heads. Trying to find something that’s protective and also comfortable, that’s the goal.

Back before the sports world shut down — 10 days ago, to be exact — Is the goal for you and others something like a bodysuit that gets to the Cal Clutterbuck opened up to The Athletic about his quest to find cut- wrists and legs? resistant undergarments for not only himself, but everyone in hockey. In a perfect world, you’re going to try and cover every body part you can. On Dec. 19 in Boston, Clutterbuck had his left wrist cut open by Patrice We wear a lot of gear, obviously, but the truth of the matter is there’s a lot Bergeron’s skate after the two collided near the Bruins bench. of gaps in that gear. If I put my gear on with no socks or jersey, there’s Clutterbuck needed surgery to repair a tendon in his wrist and missed 30 25 percent of my body that’s not covered by anything. The first thing is to games. It was the third time in his Islanders career that Clutterbuck had cover the vital areas, the ones that could be life-threatening. Then you suffered a skate cut, including in his first preseason game with the team look at where most cuts occur, how they happen. back before the 2013-14 season. He missed most of training camp that I’ve got a pair of pants right now from a company called Daredevil and year after taking a skate just above his knee. they’re good. They cover the top of the knee — the area that Casey was While Clutterbuck was recovering from this latest skate cut, his good cut, a spot where a lot of people get cut. I think it’s the most friend and linemate, , was injured by a skate, getting cut spot for lacerations — the (shin) pad moves, your pants move. My first just above his left knee on Feb. 11. He hadn’t returned by the time the cut was in that area; I hit somebody hard and the skates come up season was postponed; neither had Johnny Boychuk, who needed 90 towards you. Sometimes the skate bounces off your shin pad, sometimes stitches on his left eyelid after taking Artturi Lehkonen’s skate to the face it catches in your skin and that’s that. You just cross your fingers at that on March 3. point. So you want to cover the major arteries and go from there.

Once Clutterbuck returned on Feb. 29, he spoke of his concern over the The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 rash of skate cuts and what could be done about it. The below conversation took place outside the visitors’ room in Vancouver on March 9.

What’s been the biggest issue since you returned to play?

The strength is difficult because of the lack of feeling (in my hand). It just takes time. There’s not a certain amount of strengthening I can do to make it come back. My nerves have to get back to a certain place where I get the feeling back and then my muscles will be reactivated. Right now, I’ve got what I’ve got. I’m strong enough to get it done. It’s not 100 percent, but it’s not far off.

Are you more concerned about skate cuts after this last one?

Yeah, but also just because of the frequency. I got one in Pittsburgh in a similar spot a couple years ago and I wore protection for a while. But then you switch your elbow pads, you get removed from the situation with time and — not that you forget, but the more time that goes by, the less you think about it. I still have protection there, but this one just bypassed it. You have to make sure the protection covers the important areas.

And I won’t go on the ice again without it, that’s for sure.

During your recovery, did you start researching cut-resistant under-gear?

There’s a lot of things we haven’t unearthed yet. What I’ve found out is that there’s a small group of people that are dedicating some time to trying to figure something out. The most important thing is to figure out a product that’s comfortable enough for players to wear so that they don’t notice it. Given the type of material we’re dealing with, that’s a challenge.

The argument for people who don’t play the game is, “Oh, you’re going to complain about it being a little warmer? A little tighter?” But those things impact the way you play the game and the way you feel playing the game, so I understand from a player’s perspective why there might be some reluctance.

Have you found anything so far?

I’ve got a couple products that are in the early stages of development that I’ve tried out. Some are good, some are bad. I’ve found something to get me through this year as far as my legs are concerned — I’ve worn cut-resistant socks my whole career and, given the way I play, they’ve probably saved me 20 times. It’s not new. The fact that some guys don’t wear them at all is shocking to me.

I’m going to spend some more time trying to figure out something that works — for everybody, not just for me. I think guys need to be protected whether they know it or not. So I’m going to keep working at it. It’s not there yet. 1181196 New York Rangers side, where is entrenched, Adam Fox is a Calder Trophy candidate and Tony DeAngelo, while a pending restricted free agent, is coming off a breakout season with 53 points in 68 games.

Is prospect Nils Lundkvist ready to sign with the NY Rangers? A scout That will all work itself out in time, with an AHL stint likely whenever weighs in Lundkvist does sign. But the feeling is that he’s proven himself in the SHL and is ready to take the next step.

“He is on the right track (as) his game gains complexity,” Gajdosik said. “I Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL Writer Published 12:26 p.m. ET March 19, am sure he will be pushing hard for the spot in the New York Rangers’ 2020 | Updated 1:19 p.m. ET March 19, 2020 lineup in the next season. He is ready to fight for the spot with the big team.”

Bergen Record LOADED: 03.20.2020 As winter turned to spring in 2018, the New York Rangers were zeroing in on Nils Lundkvist.

He was slight by NHL defensemen standards, under 6-feet tall and around 170 pounds, but his skill, skating ability and hockey sense made him feel like a risk worth taking with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Two years later, the Rangers have no regrets.

“Since the draft, he keeps proving us right about his selection,” said Jan Gajdosik, who has been with the Rangers since 1993 and is the organization’s longest-tenured European scout.

Lundkvist has played the past three seasons at the highest level of the , which is his native country’s premier league. He earned some playing time for Luleå's top club in his draft year at 17, but his jump from age 18 to 19 has been the most noteworthy.

MORGAN BARRON: Rangers' prospect named finalist for Hobey Baker Award

K'ANDRE MILLER: Analyzing the impact of the K'Andre Miller signing

After notching 10 points last season, Lundkvist posted 31 (11 goals and 20 assists) in 45 games for Luleå this season. He logged heavy minutes and broke the league record for points by a defenseman under the age of 20, surpassing NHL stars such as and Erik Karlsson.

Lundkvist was also a standout for Sweden's under-20 national team at the World Junior Championships in December and January, registering eight points (one goal and seven assists) in seven games.

“This season he made many positive strides in his development,” Gajdosik said. “He is stronger, gained lots of confidence; his passing, skating and mobility is outstanding. He significantly improved his shot. As a right-handed defenseman, he plays on the left side on power play and his one-time shot is very good now."

Mål! @LuleaHockey tar ledningen mot Skellefteå genom Nils Lundkvist! #twittpuck#SHLpic.twitter.com/T7UulYjlZH

— C More Sport (@cmoresport) March 12, 2020

Gajdosik also raved about Lundkvist’s improved transition game, specifically his “ability to find teammates with long-distance passes and see the options.”

Those are all the skills that led to the Rangers targeting Lundkvist in the first place, which have been honed at a faster pace than they anticipated. But the key question in his development will be similar to that which all young defensemen who are noted for their offensive skills have to answer.

Is he ready to defend against the best players in the world?

Gajdosik believes he’s trending in the right direction.

“He brought it to another level,” he said of Lundkvist’s defensive game. “He plays firmer in his own end; has good push back. He uses his stick very well when defends and closes the gap quick. His mobility allows him to join offensive rush and easily recover with his skating ability. With more experience and confidence, he also elevates his physical game.”

Six picks ahead of Lundkvist in 2018, the Rangers selected another defenseman — K’Andre Miller.

Even though Miller is a half-foot taller and shoots with his left hand, the two will always be linked. And with Miller signing his entry-level contract with the Rangers last week, all eyes have turned to Lundkvist.

If Lundkvist decides to join Miller and head to North America, he’ll face a steeper challenge. The Rangers’ primary depth on defense is on the right 1181197 New York Rangers

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stresses importance of normalcy for 2020-21 season

By Colin Stephenson Updated March 19, 2020 2:18 PM

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman won't give an exact date for when it would be impossible to continue the 2019-20 season, but he made clear the priority will be to have a full and normal season in 2020-21.

Bettman spoke with Mike Greenberg on ESPN’s “Get Up’’ Thursday morning, a week after the NHL paused its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I believe that under the current circumstances, we can go later than we’ve ever gone,’’ Bettman said. “How late is a good question. What we want to make sure of is that we don’t do anything from this season that might impact next season having the normalcy it’s supposed to have.

“So, the two factors are timing — relative to how late we can go without impacting next season — and making sure that whatever we do competitively, if we’re going to complete this current season, it has to have integrity, it has to be respectful of the well over 100-year history of the Stanley Cup.’’

Bettman made his comments the morning after NBA commissioner Adam Silver was interviewed by Rachel Nichols on ESPN. Bettman said the questions that get asked most often by players are regarding testing for COVID-19. Players are not undergoing mandatory testing, he said.

“We had a test positive, our first, two nights ago,’’ he said, referring to an unidentified Ottawa Senators player who the team announced late Tuesday had tested positive. “There have been some players testing, but medical advice that we’ve been given is that if you’re asymptomatic, there’s no reason to be tested, because it’s not going to tell you anything.

“So, we’re not over-testing. We’re testing when it’s appropriate, and when there’s a situation, whether it’s a player or a family member or an executive, we then have to go back and trace contacts that may have been had, and whether or not they were meaningful contacts. But in the final analysis, getting people, whether it’s sports, or society as a whole, to self-isolate and reduce the spread of the coronavirus is probably the most important thing any of us can do.’’

Bettman did a round of interviews with various media outlets last Friday and made it clear then that he wanted to find some way of crowning a champion and handing out the Stanley Cup this summer, even if the league had to make some changes to arrive at a fair way of deciding a champion. At the time play was halted, teams had played between 68 and 71 games (the Islanders had played 68 and the Rangers had played 70), and the regular-season schedule calls for 82 games.

But what the season might look like if it is resumed is not a question the commissioner could answer. Asked if the NHL is considering the same types of things the NBA is considering, he said yes. Silver spoke on Wednesday night about possibly resuming games in arenas without fans.

"The options are obvious, and we’re all exploring them,’’ he said. “The fact of the matter is, none of us is going to be able to do anything until we get an ‘all clear' on some basis. We too have explored — and continue to explore — every scenario, which will depend on the timing of when it’s safe to go out. But I think the most important thing in the short term is we should be focusing, not just in sports, but we can be a good example on the fact that self-isolation is going to help the spread, or reduce the spread of the coronavirus.’’

Asked who he expects will give the “all clear’’ to return to play, Bettman said the league has its own doctors and is consulting with infectious disease specialists. But they won’t be the ones who make that call.

“It's going to be with the local governments," he said, "and perhaps the federal government tell us about what is safe."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181198 Ottawa Senators “Players from the Ducks have been under quarantine at their respective in- or off-season homes since the NHL’s suggested guidelines were announced on Mar. 12,” the Ducks said in their statement. “No player in the organization has reported COVID-19 symptoms at this time. We will GARRIOCH: Ottawa Senators were already told to 'self-isolate' before continue to monitor the situation regularly.” player tested positive After being given permission by the league to travel to their off-season homes Monday, most players have gone their separate ways. The CDC has indicated it’s going to be at least two months before there should be Bruce Garrioch gatherings of more than 50 people so it’s going to be at least mid-May before the NHL has any chance of returning.

Stay at home to stay healthy. Right now, players are being instructed to stick close to home and stay away from public places while doing their workouts. Even if the league is That was message the Senators and the rest of the NHL players were allowed to open facilities to players, the border between Canada and the given the day after the league decided to shut down on March 12, and U.S. is being closed Friday night except for necessary travel, and neither that message hasn’t changed after an unnamed Ottawa player tested country is allowing visitors from Europe so players may not be able to positive Tuesday night for the novel coronavirus that has spread return Ottawa immediately. throughout the world. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.20.2020 While many would think the positive test for COVID-19 would have set off alarm bells throughout the organization, the players were instructed when they got off the club’s Air Canada charter from Los Angeles last Thursday to self-isolate because the Senators had travelled through , which was considered a hotspot for the virus when the club arrived in San Jose on March 6.

All players were told even before the positive test to report any symptoms to the club’s medical staff and that appropriate actions would then be taken.

The player who tested positive has been placed in self-isolation and there may be a small group of players from the Senators who are checked as a result because the club was on the road for six days, plus spent time on the plane together. The players with the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville have also been advised to self-isolate until March 27, which is 14 days after the Senators were instructed to do so by the league.

The fact a NHL player tested positive for the virus isn’t a surprise, but, as deputy commissioner Bill Daly noted, the Ottawa player isn’t the only one who has been tested.

“We’re passing along the advice that the medical professionals are giving us, including the (American Centre for Disease Control) and Health Canada, and the local health agencies,” Daly told TSN 1040 in Vancouver Thursday morning. “Really, I think the testing landscape is controlled most significantly by the local health authorities in each of the clubs’ communities.

“The general advice is that mass testing isn’t recommended and that there’s no reason to test somebody who is asymptomatic, particularly given the shortage of testing resources. If a player is feeling symptomatic, he should report his symptoms to club medical staff and if club medical staff can arrange through the local health authority for the player to be tested, he’ll be tested.

“That’s really been the league-wide approach to it. We’ve had a number of players tested. To this point, that I’m aware of, we’ve only had one positive. Having said that, the positive was very recently and probably spurred some additional testing, so I’m not suggesting it’s going to be our only positive. We’ll see what happens.”

The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, who were the last two teams to face the Senators on their trip through the Golden State, on March 10 and March 11 respectively, both released statements Wednesday night indicating that they were aware of the positive test in Ottawa and had been in touch with their medical teams.

Both teams received a call from the league Tuesday night informing them of the positive test in Ottawa.

“The health of our players, coaches, staff members, their families, and our community and society on the whole remains our highest priority,” the statement from the Kings said. “We will continue to define our next steps based upon the guidelines of the CDC and WHO, under the direction of our medical team.

“As of this time, no current member of our organization has demonstrated any signs or symptoms consistent with the onset of the COVID-19 virus and we will continue to monitor this on a daily basis.”

The Ducks added they’ve had no issues, either, but are also taking precautions. 1181199 Philadelphia Flyers

Attention, bored Flyers fans: You can relive some of season’s highlights and games from the old days

by Sam Carchidi,

Attention, bored Flyers fans: You can relive some of season’s highlights

If you’re a Flyers fan with cabin fever and starved for hockey, the NHL is trying to ease your pain.

Starting Friday and running through April 30, the league and Sportsnet will make full replays of all 2019-20 regular-season games available to stream on demand. The games will be available via the scores and schedule pages on NHL.com. and the NHL app. For additional info, visit NHL.TV on Friday.

Among the memorable Flyers’ games:

* Defesneman Ivan Provorov putting the puck through his legs to get past Max Domi before beating goaltender Keith Kincaid and giving the Flyers a 4-3 overtime win on Nov. 30. It enabled the Flyers to tie a franchise record for points (24) in November.

* Boston’s Brad Marchand overskating the puck after touching it gently at center ice as he went in on a shootout breakaway against Carter Hart, clinching the Flyers’ 6-5 comeback win on Jan. 13. Travis Konecny had the shootout winner.

* Hart making numerous clutch saves, rookie Joel Farabee notching the game-winner, and Phil Myers becoming the first Flyers defenseman since Mark Howe in 1987 to score goals in three straight games in a 3-2 overtime win in Boston on Nov. 10.

* Kevin Hayes scoring two goals against his former team, the Rangers, in a 5-1 Flyers win on Dec. 23.

* Convincing wins at Washington on Feb. 8 and March 4. In the first game, Claude Giroux had three points and reached the 800-point mark in his career.

* The Flyers allowing zero shots over the last 10:49 as Brian Elliott blanked visiting Pittsburgh, 3-0, on Jan. 21.

* Jake Voracek scoring in overtime to give the Flyers a 4-3 victory Jan. 15 at St. Louis, the defending Stanley Cup champion.

On Friday, the league will also launch the “NHL Pause Binge” on NHL.com and its official YouTube channel. Among the offerings: Full- length NHL games from the 1950s to the present.

Meanwhile, , the Flyers’ parent company, gave its game-day employees some good news Thursday. While play for the NHL, NBA, and National League remains suspended, employees will keep receiving pay through April 15.

Comcast Spectacor extended paying game-day employees from March 31 to April 15. #Flyers #Sixers #Wings

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) March 19, 2020

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181200 Philadelphia Flyers • 4:07 — To borrow from comedian , this is where the video goes from good to great for me. Clarke takes a slap shot in the head, without a helmet mind you, from teammate Reggie Leach. Clarke’s knees hit the ice for about one-tenth of a second before the irresistible sense of Breaking down tribute video of Bob Clarke's path to greatness, Flyers pride that fuels Clarke forces him immediately back to his feet. We see history blood pouring down Clarke’s face as future Hall of Famer flashes in the background. Then, Clarke gives Leach a stick tap as if to say, “Keep those coming.” What a warrior. By Casey Feeney March 19, 2020 12:10 PM • 4:22 — Next we see Clarke pick up his 1,000th career point in that very same game. You know, the one where he took a slap shot to the head. As we see the celebration of the goal, notice the blood all over Clarke’s If you’re anything like me, this necessary increase in social distancing sweater. Hockey player. Also, it’s a chance to enjoy Mel Bridgman’s old- has directly correlated with a rise in YouTube consumption time. It truly is school JOFA bucket. a treasure trove of magnificent entertainment. I certainly recommend visiting the NBC Sports Philadelphia YouTube channel when you have a • 5:06 — The video appropriately ends with the most famous shot of chance. Clarke, his toothless grin in Buffalo following the second Cup victory as the crowd erupts in cheers. So while we wait for the live games to come back, I thought we could sift through some Philly YouTube treasures together. Here’s one of my Here are my final stats on this video: favorites: the tribute video from Night. • Five minutes, 24 seconds This was played on Arenavision at the Spectrum on Nov. 15, 1984. Clarke retired the previous season and immediately became the team’s • Seven goals, zero assists shown general manager. • One ridiculously tough legend So let’s break this video down: A true masterpiece. So happy to have come across it. • 0:00-0:17 — Slow pan up on a photo of a young Robert Earle Clarke, Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 which the name graphic makes clear for anyone that might have been confused by who was being honored on Bobby Clarke Night. Clarke properly attired for winter in Manitoba.

• 0:20 — We get a glimpse inside the dressing room of the Flin Flon Bombers, Clarke’s junior hockey team circa 1968, and we find out our music choice for this video is Billy Preston’s “Never Gonna Say Goodbye.” So we’re off to an awesome start here.

• 0:30 — Some early Clarke-era Flyers video draws a reaction from the Spectrum faithful.

• 0:51 — We fast forward to some 70s Clarke video as he wears the largest captain’s “C” a uniform has ever seen. Hey, there’s a guy in a leather jacket and tie applauding. Classic looks on and off the ice.

• 1:00 — It took a minute but we have our first actual goal in this highlight compilation, albeit a less-than-thrilling tap-in against the Canadiens.

• 1:28 — The crowd roars as Clarke is shown being introduced as a member of Team Canada in the 1972 . Not surprisingly, Valeri Kharlamov was not invited to the festivities.

• 1:45 — Another loud applause. This time for video of Clarke taking part in the warmup at an All-Star Game. Odd time to ramp up the cheering. But OK. Didn’t need much to get a mid 80s Flyers crowd going.

• 2:05 — So the second goal we see in this highlight video is the most important one in Flyers history: Clarke’s OT game-winner in Game 2 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Final. If they don’t win that game, it’s very unlikely they win the Cup that year. And who knows what would happen the next year if they don’t win in ‘74?

• 2:18 — Immediate transition to Clarke and Bernie Parent skating the Cup around the Spectrum ice. Loudest applause so far. Then, it cuts to the last second or two of the following year’s Cup win with Clarke celebrating in the faceoff circle in Buffalo. For my money, this is one of the best hockey celebrations ever. Clarke, with arms raised, leaps twice and then practically marches back to celebrate in the crease.

• 3:00 — OK, I hate to keep harping on this but we’re at the three-minute mark and we’ve seen Clarke score two goals. It’s his career highlight video. He scored 358 regular-season goals. Feel free to sprinkle a few more in there.

• 3:20 — WE GET ANOTHER GOAL! And it’s spectacular. Clarke scores from the seat of his pants in Detroit. For some reason, it’s SUUUUUUUPPPPPPPEEEEERRRRRRRR slo-mo. That’s followed by a not-quite-as-slow slo-mo on a breakaway goal against the North Stars. Up to four goals. I wonder if the slo-mos are so slow because this is when the editor realized “Never Gonna Say Goodbye” is a long song.

• 3:26 — The goals are coming fast and furious now. This one is the 300th of Clarke’s NHL career in a home game against the Red Wings. The highlight here? A priest in the crowd holding up three fingers to acknowledge the feat. Good hockey knowledge, Father. 1181201 Philadelphia Flyers

Looking back at Bob Clarke's legacy on anniversary of his 1,000th point

By Brooke Destra March 19, 2020 11:55 AM

When looking back at some of the best to ever play in the NHL, the names , Mario Lemieux, , Gordie Howe and Bob Clarke tend to be some of the first to come to mind. These are the players who have helped mold athletes and the NHL to what we know today.

Luckily for Philadelphia, the Flyers have one of the greats, and he is not only regarded as the best player in franchise history but also an ambassador to the sport as a whole.

March 19, 1981, is one of the more memorable dates for Clarke as he registered his 1,000th NHL point. This point, a goal, came in front of a home crowd at the Spectrum in the third period during a matchup against the Bruins. The Flyers wound up beating Boston, 5-3, but it’s the moments leading up to that milestone point that make it that much more memorable.

Even though the league began enforcing the wearing of helmets starting in June 1979, there was essentially a grandfather clause that allowed Clarke and other veteran players to continue without it. He probably wished he had one on earlier in this game when he took a slap shot to the head.

Shortly after, Clarke returned to the bench with a handful of stitches and a bloodied sweater. He was on a mission to put away the Bruins and did just that with a little help of Tim Kerr, who registered his first NHL hat trick on the same night.

Clarke had three more seasons with the Flyers and ended his career with 1,210 points total, a franchise record. comes in at second with 883, Brian Propp has 849 and Claude Giroux continues to nudge his way up the rankings and is currently fourth overall with 815. While Giroux still has a ways to go to top Clarke’s record, he's just 185 points away from being only the second member of the 1,000-point club with the Flyers.

For those who were not around during the era of the Broad Street Bullies and could not witness that moment of history, it’s an exciting time to be able to watch Giroux make this run — to witness their own bit of history for the Flyers.

Clarke’s number was officially retired by the organization in 1984, just one season after his career came to an end. That night will forever be remembered as “Bobby Clarke Night.”

He remains one of the most decorated players in team history, with two Stanley Cups. He's also a three-time Hart Trophy winner (1973, 1975 and 1976), winner of the Selke Trophy (1983), the Lester Patrick Award (1980) and the Masterton Trophy (1972).

In 2017, Clarke was on the NHL's list of the “100 greatest NHL Players." Other Flyers who made the list were Bernie Parent, Eric Lindros, , Peter Forsberg, Jaromir Jagr, Adam Oates, Chris Pronger and Darryl Sittler.

His legacy is one that will live on forever as he helped pave the way for the NHL and hockey in Philadelphia for years to come.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181202 Pittsburgh Penguins “Basically playing in Cleveland, going up to back up (with Columbus) and coming back. I missed the whole second year of my daughter’s life. At that point, we had won in Pittsburgh and I think I was just looking for some sort of normalcy. The opportunity to go over there while my Ex-Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff returns home after coronavirus ends daughter was young before she started school full time, to travel to season in Germany Europe and to get some family time was what was so appealing to me.

“I just reached out to an agent in Europe and Straubing reached out to me. I didn’t know anything about them. I knew (former Penguins SETH RORABAUGH | Thursday, March 19, 2020 10:52 a.m. goaltending coach Mike Bales), he played in the DEL and he played for Straubing. And he played with the GM who is just an awesome guy. At that point, it was kind of a no-brainer for me. (Bales) loved his time there Mr. Game 1 didn’t get to live up to his nickname this season. and I’ve loved it too. It’s a smaller city but it’s only an hour outside of Munich. It’s in Bavaria, you’re close to major cities, close to Austria, close He didn’t get to the first game of the playoffs or a second, third or to Switzerland. So it’s easy travel. And it’s a 52-game schedule.” beyond. A third-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2006, Zatkoff’s greatest Jeff Zatkoff was home by the time his playoffs were supposed to begin. NHL success came with the Penguins where over parts of three seasons, The former Penguins’ backup goaltender has been a member of the he appeared in 35 games and had a 16-14-3 record. Straubing Tigers in Germany’s (DEL) for the His most notable success came in a single game. A Game 1 to be past two seasons. precise. As the Tigers’ primary starter in net this season, he led his team to third With starter Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray, then still a prospect, place in the 14-team league and a first-round bye in the playoffs. sidelined because of injury, Zatkoff was forced to start the Penguins’ first But as soon as the regular season concluded everything was over. At the game of their first-round series against the New York Rangers. He came behest of government officials in Germany, the DEL canceled the through with a sturdy 35 saves on 37 shots and led the Penguins to a 5-2 postseason as a precaution against the coronavirus epidemic which has victory, the first of the 16 they eventually collected en route to the interrupted seemingly every aspect of life around the globe. franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup title that spring.

Unlike leagues in Switzerland or other countries that played games in In a tongue-in-cheek fashion, Zatkoff became known as “Mr. Game 1.” empty buildings and issued postponements before formally canceling Two months after beating the Rangers in what was then known as their seasons, the DEL abruptly halted everything March 10. Consol Energy Center, his teammates chanted the nickname as he danced next to the Stanley Cup in the cramped visiting dressing room of “We played normal up until our last game of the year,” Zatkoff said in a SAP Center in San Jose. phone interview. “We got all our playoff (seedings), everything. Then, the next thing you know, we’re showing up to the rink and the season is over. “I love it,” Zatkoff said. “It’s a joke between me and the guys. I played It’s a weird feeling. Usually, you show up after you lost or you won (when Game 1 versus the Rangers and we won. Then we lost Game 1 against the season is over) and you’re going home. I’ve never experienced Washington (in the second round) and Tampa (in the conference final). anything like this. You almost feel like you got knocked out of the So before we played San Jose in the (Stanley Cup) Final, I told (coach playoffs.” Mike Sullivan), “Just so you know, I’m available for Game 1 if you need me.’ So that’s kind of where the joke came from.” Straubing is located in Bavaria which was one of the first federal states in Germany to enact measures as precautions against the virus. What isn’t remembered quite as well is that Zatkoff and the Penguins lost to the Rangers in Game 2, 4-2. “Even when (Switzerland’s NLA league) just paused their league or put it on hold, I texted (general manager Jason Dunham) and I said, ‘What do “I was talking to a bunch of my friends in Straubing and they were like, think?’” Zatkoff said. “At that time Germany was kind of operating as ‘Hey, you played Game 2. How come you never talk about that?’” Zatkoff usual, wasn’t closing any businesses, borders. He said, ‘No, we should said. “I was like, ‘Well I lost. We’re not going to talk about that. That’s not be fine.’ Then, it happened pretty fast when Bavaria set that ban. Then nearly as good of a story.’” obviously with Italy (which was hit particularly hard by the virus), that Even having spent the bulk of the past two seasons in Europe, Zatkoff really ramped up fast and I think that did it in.” keeps regular tabs on the Penguins. He has played particularly close With the season nearing its conclusion, Zatkoff’s wife and 3-year-old attention to the goaltending tandem the Penguins have deployed with daughter had already returned to their home near Raleigh, N.C. well Murray and Tristan Jarry before the season was postponed because of before the epidemic became a threat to public health. After the DEL’s the ongoing pandemic. season came to an end, Zatkoff, a native of Detroit, had to make a hasty “The new NHL these days, it seems to be going that way where you can return to the U.S. try to limit your starter’s minutes,” Zatkoff said. “Obviously, (Jarry) had a “(The team) booked our flights for Friday just to try and get the (North great start to the year and he was on fire. Matt’s been playing really well American) imports out of there because they weren’t sure what was lately. You know what Matt is, he’s a gamer. Come playoff time, if you get going to happen,” said Zatkoff, 32. “Then I woke up Thursday morning at him going, you don’t have to look back. You saw Matt getting a little more like 2 in the morning to my wife in a little bit of a panic. She had just starts there to the end as it got closer to playoff time. I think anytime you watched (President Donald Trump’s address which happened on what can have two goalies, it helps the team. But it also helps them when was still Wednesday in the U.S.) where they said they were closing the they’re playing so frequently. borders to Europe. At that time, it wasn’t clear if it was to U.S. citizens or “When you play every other game, you get into a rhythm, you get into a not. She was freaking out. flow. And you know you kind of have the coach’s confidence that whether “Thankfully, I was all packed up, I was leaving the next day. I loaded up you win or lose, you’re going back in. That takes a burden off a player the car and went to the airport Thursday at 2:30 in the morning because I knowing they have the ability to make that mistake but the coach is going couldn’t get through to any airlines. Luckily, they changed out flights for to go right back to him. It frees him up. It allows guys to play to their free. I was on a flight by 11 (a.m.) that day on my way back. … I landed potential whether they’re a third-line, fourth-line (forward) or goalie.” Thursday at like 9 (p.m.).” As he approaches his mid-30s, Zatkoff, who has another year remaining Zatkoff joined Straubing during the 2018 offseason. Despite being an on his contract with Straubing, acknowledges his days of playing in North American, he chose to play in Germany to pursue a greater sense of America are probably over. stability in both his career and personal life. “I think that ship has probably sailed for me,” Zatkoff said. “I don’t know. I “I got traded from (Los Angeles) to Columbus (late in the 2017-18 went over here for a reason and I’ll probably play over here for a couple season). At that time, we were renovating a house in North Carolina. My more years and see where it takes me.” wife was back home. I was kind of all over the place. I was up and down (between the AHL and NHL) and I got traded, then up and down. Having recently completed his accounting degree at Miami (Ohio), where he was a star over three seasons, Zatkoff would like to pursue a front office role once his playing career is over.

“I was on the old 13-year program but I finally got it,” Zatkoff quipped about his academics. “I would love to get into just hockey (operations), the management side of it when I’m done playing. Hopefully, I’ve made enough connections that I can reach out to some people and get my foot in the door and hopefully work my way up.

“Salary cap (management) would interest me the most. I’m not per se really looking to getting into coaching. I feel that would be similar to playing. I would like to do more of a management-type position to be able to hopefully work my way up like (Wild general manager Bill Guerin or Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford). That’s my next goal and to see where I can go from there.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181203 Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan watches the team practice Friday, Sept 20, 2019, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

Matt Vensel Penguins mailbag: Should NHL prioritize 2020 playoffs or next regular Mike Sullivan on the NHL suspending play and how the Penguins are season? staying 'ready'

Then again, maybe this is all a moot argument and we’ll end up living the MIKE DEFABO Pittsburgh Post-Gazette MAR 19, 2020 2:36 PM real-life version of the Brendan Fraser movie, “Blast from the Past.”

Rachel: There have been some light-hearted videos going around the internet recently. Do you have a favorite? Welcome back to Mike’s Mailbag. Mike: Since this is a Penguins mailbag, this one has to be near the top of Before we get started, I hope everyone is staying safe — and staying at the list. The flightless birds at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago went on a home. I know this is an uncertain time right now. A lot of us have far “field trip” to visit the other animals. bigger and more serious concerns than hockey. But hopefully we can use this space for a brief distraction. Shedd Aquarium

All right, with that disclaimer out of the way, let’s do it. ✔

John A.: What’s going on with Jake Guentzel? Do you think there’s a @shedd_aquarium chance he can come back if the season resumes? The adventure continues! The Penguins' , bottom, works against Los Angeles Kings' Kurtis MacDermid during the third period Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in This morning, Edward and Annie explored Shedd’s rotunda. They are a Los Angeles. bonded pair of rockhopper penguins, which means they are together for nesting season. Springtime is nesting season for penguins at Shedd, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this year is no different! (1/3)

PODCAST: How the Penguins are dealing with suspended season Embedded video

Mike: When Guentzel underwent surgery on New Year’s Eve, the 199K Penguins initially projected he would miss 4-to-6 months. On the most optimistic end of the spectrum, May would be the earliest he could come 5:15 PM - Mar 16, 2020 back, which is about when the NHL’s conference finals would begin. Twitter Ads info and privacy However, my sense is that it’s going to take closer to the six-month window than the four. Maybe longer. 54.6K people are talking about this

In theory, if the NHL resumes, the extra two months (or more) could But, I’ve also got to stick with my brand. Seeing the Italians celebrating make a major difference. But even with the delay, if I had to guess, I’d their culture and sharing community while quarantined warmed my heart say Guentzel has played his last game this year. That’s not only because ... and made me hungry for a big plate of pasta. his rehab is going to be long and intense, but also because there’s a good chance the decision gets taken out of Guentzel’s hands. isaacwhy

Which leads to our next question ... @isaac_why

Paul G.: If you were the commissioner of the NHL, how would you go 16 million italians were quarantined due to the corona virus about resuming the season? the italians, vibing: Mike: When the season was suspended last week, commissioner Gary Embedded video Bettman originally said he hoped to award a Stanley Cup. He’s since pivoted slightly, saying the priority now is to start the 2020-21 season on 1,459 time. 2:24 AM - Mar 14, 2020 TSN Twitter Ads info and privacy ✔ 380 people are talking about this @TSN_Sports Tom S.: If the season doesn’t resume, should Mike Sullivan still be a Gary Bettman explains that keeping next season from being impacted is finalist? a priority for the NHL. Mike: For sure. Since he arrived in Pittsburgh, Sullivan has proven he’s a Embedded video talented coach who commands respect and gets the most out of his players. You don’t win back-to-back Cups without a leader behind the 51 bench. However, because the Penguins have so much star power, it 10:40 AM - Mar 19, 2020 seemed like there were some who overlooked the coaching aspect when it came to awards season. Twitter Ads info and privacy This year should have changed that. With so many injuries to so many 19 people are talking about this key players, Sullivan led what was essentially the Wilkes- Barre/Pittsburgh Penguins to the top of the Metro. I’m not sure there’s a Yes, these are uncertain times. The safety of fans and players should be team in the league that weathered this much adversity this seamlessly. the top priority. But if there’s any way to avoid it, the 2019-20 postseason Even though the Penguins went through a skid before the work shouldn’t be canceled — even if it means starting the 2020-21 season stoppage, Sullivan should be one of the three finalists. late. In terms of others who have a shot at the award, Columbus Blue Jackets Let’s be honest, there is no professional sports league in which the coach has a good argument. Everyone expected the Blue regular season means less. At the same time, there’s no professional Jackets to be trash after they lost their leading scorer (Artemi Panarin) sports league where the playoffs are as fun and unpredictable. I say give and starting goaltender (Sergei Bobrovsky) in the offseason. But right us more of the candy and less of the vegetables. Find a way to award a now, they’re in a wild card spot. But it’s tough to give him too much credit Cup this year, even if it’s in September or October and then shorten what because, in a suspended season, who knows if they would have stayed is already much too long of a regular season in 2020-21. there? Personally, I think it’s between Sullivan and Craig Berube of St. Louis. A finalist for the award last year, Berube took over the Blues when they were in 30th place in November of 2018 and ended up winning the Cup. This year, he’s continued to build on that momentum. The Blues currently sit atop the Western Conference. While this is a single-season award, I wonder if some voters might look at the total body of work and give Berube the nod.

Chris: The QMJHL season was canceled. Do you think that’s the end of the junior careers for Sam Poulin and Nathan Legare?

Mike: Both Penguins prospects lit up the QMJHL, ranking within the top 20. Legare was 18th with 71 points (35 goals, 36 assists), while Poulin was 14th with 77 points (32 goals, 45 assists). Both also impressed last year during training camp. If nothing else, I think these guys will come into training camp with a realistic chance.

Josh: I’m lost without sports. What are you doing to pass your time in quarantine?

Mike: Can you believe this is how some people who don’t like sports actually live their lives? Crazy, right? I’ve tried everything in search of a fix. I actually found myself stuck on senior barrel racing on the rodeo channel. Pure electricity.

But I’ve decided cooking shows are the best substitute for sports. There’s a clock. A winner. A loser. What more do you need? Chopped is the best one on the Food Network. I also recently discovered a new show called Tournament of Champions. It’s not the NCAA tournament. But there is a bracket and at this point, I’ll take what I can get.

Post Gazette LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181204 Pittsburgh Penguins The skating plays a big role here, but so does Lemieux’s posture as he breaks towards the net. Mironov has his stick tied up in Lemieux’s legs and is trying to pry him down to the ice, sort of like a can opener. Lemieux’s response is to edge his skates and lean all of his weight back Marshall: The tape on what made Mario Lemieux ‘Le Magnifique’ into Mironov’s hooking attempts to balance himself on the defenseman as he drives toward the net.

Lemieux is literally using the other team’s defenseman to prop himself up By Jesse Marshall Mar 19, 2020 here. It’s like watching a giant play against children.

There are hundreds of examples like this, but even if you were Mario Lemieux was the most gracefully violent hockey player I’ve ever successful in knocking Lemieux off his feet, there still wasn’t any seen. guarantee you had done your job completely.

Not violent in a club-you-over-the-head, goon-like fashion. Violent in the A great example of this is a throwback to April 2, 1988. The Penguins way his 6-foot-4 frame, surgical-like skill set, and surprisingly explosive were embroiled in a tight race within the division in an attempt to earn first step allowed him to cut through and bowl over the competition in their first playoff berth of the Lemieux era. In one of their final chances to every manner possible. To watch Lemieux was to watch a systematic earn points of the campaign, they found themselves in a tied game at the dismantling of the opposition in any variety of ways. It was unlike Capital Center against their newfound rivals in Washington. anything anyone had seen in the game up to that point in time. A tie was no good. The Penguins needed to win to keep their hopes The best early example of this is back in 1985. Lemieux was an NHL alive. As the out-of-town scoreboards updated to reflect a dire situation, sophomore coming off of a 100-point rookie season. While Lemieux the Penguins made a move at the behest of Lemieux himself. They posterized an innumerable amount of Hall of Famers in his career, this needed to pull their goalie and get an extra attacker on the ice to push for instance was special in that the young man found himself head to head the win. As the Capitals swarmed the Penguins’ defensive zone, refusing with future Hall of Famer and 14-year NHL veteran Larry Robinson. them the ability to get the extra skater, Lemieux just took the game over himself. Robinson, by this point, had pretty much seen it all. He’d won six Stanley Cup’s with the and had all of the physical tools (size, In this clip, we see the same powerful skating and inside-outside reach and skating ability) to theoretically stop a young player like shoulder fake we saw in the earlier clip against Robinson. Lemieux clears Lemieux in his tracks. his path to the net and gets his legs taken out from under him in the process. It matters not as the puck is still on his stick, and against all What happened next is perhaps the first of many long entries of odds, he beats goaltender Clint Malarchuk to keep the Penguins’ hopes Lemieux’s era of dominance and the graceful destruction that came with alive. Although they ultimately didn’t make it, and this goal often is it. forgotten as a result, it was a preview of things to come when the games mattered most for Lemieux. Several adjectives come to mind here. You can pick the one you like most. For me, the sheer ease of Lemieux’s deke makes Robinson, one of The key here isn’t just the shoulder fake, it’s the speed that comes with it. the most accomplished defensemen in the game at that time, look Lemieux’s low base and powerful stride enabled him to hit maximum completely helpless in transition. He throws his entire body into the deke speed in short order. The common thread here is Lemieux turning and uses the puck as a decoy for changing direction outside to inside. It’s defenseman around with a straightforward approach. In hockey, the the pump-iest of pump fakes and it caught Robinson completely by normal symbiosis is defensemen hunting down forwards. With Lemieux, surprise. the roles reversed and suddenly the defensemen were the prey.

Lemieux could parse a game apart. He was the rare kind of player who This clip is another great example of this attitude as Lemieux attacks the could shake you with body motion as we saw above, or he could simply defense before the pass to the point is even made. That closing speed come at you full steam ahead, put the puck in your feet, and refuse to be allows him to mitigate the gap and put the defensemen in a bad position. denied as he steamed past you. Since there’s such a variety behind his This ties right into the way Lemieux saw and processed the game of game and the legend he left in Pittsburgh, I thought it was only right to hockey. His predictive mind enabled him to play one step ahead of the take this time during the paused season to reflect on what made Mario so competition, whether that be in the offensive or defensive zone. magnificent. After all, there might not be hockey in Pittsburgh right now, but the fact that there’s hockey in Pittsburgh at all is attributable to one From there, it’s more of the same. You could hack, whack and slash person. away; it wasn’t going to matter all that much. Between the size and speed, Lemieux was nearly impossible to take down despite the rules Trait No. 1: Straightline speed and power environment.

The NHL of the late 1980s was a fairly lawless land. Even more so than Trait No. 2: The wrists and the dekes what we see today with regards to the actual enforcement of the rules of the game. There were times where it almost felt like an acceptable I mentioned the word surgical earlier to describe Lemieux’s game, and defensive technique across the league was to climb on top of your that manifested itself in his wrist movements and the way he went about opponent’s back and full-nelson them down to the ice. The officials would dekeing his opponents. Lemieux would use the most subtle hand often look the other way. movements that would almost freeze goaltenders in their tracks. It was like watching a sleight of hand maneuver from a magician. One flick of For a lot of forwards, this presented a major problem. For Lemieux, it the wrist, and the opponent was down for the count. presented an opportunity for him to exercise his size, speed and balance to simply fight through the nonsense and score goals. From there, Lemieux also employed the use of his long reach to toy with goaltenders in a side-to-side fashion. Take a look at the examples below. I mentioned earlier that Lemieux was 6-4, but he also averaged out around 230 pounds for a large portion of his career. Not only was Lemieux sets the table in a lot of the goals we’ll in a similar fashion. What Lemieux big, but keeping up with his powerful skating base was difficult I mean by that is Lemieux’s first deke is what freezes the goaltender, and for the most mobile of defensemen. Try as they might with a variety of from there he’ll add in a few quick movements to completely disarm them wrestling holds and stickwork, Lemieux almost seemed to be impossible before putting the puck into the net. Lemieux’s hand motions were all to stop, in part because it was difficult to stay stride for stride with him. about creating a reaction. If you flinched first, you lost.

Here we have a 1993 Lemieux taking the puck to the net on Maple Leafs In the above clip, the table gets set about six feet out of the crease. defenseman Dmitri Mironov. Goaltender Corey Hirsch doesn’t make a move. He’s waiting for Lemieux to show his hand. Lemieux shows it, and then immediately takes Hirsch Mironov is a few steps ahead of Lemieux when this pass is made, but back the other direction with a little wrist movement. Lemieux’s powerful strides immediately turn Mironov around and force him to try and chase down Lemieux from behind. That’s mostly a losing There’s an element of skating inherent in all this. A lot of these moves position for a defenseman. It’s even worse when it’s Lemieux who just used by Lemieux require some semblance of being able to edge and skated around you. subtly put the brakes on as you change directions. Watch his skates in the next clip. This is another example where several elements of Lemieux’s game coagulate to make the whole. You can’t pull these dropped to the ice to break up the pass, Lemieux would let him lay there moves off without the necessary edgework and skating ability. to think about his decision before taking the shot.

Here we have a different goal, but the same move. Lemieux makes Grant This patience was crucial, especially when defensemen provided Fuhr drift the wrong way before edging down and switching this puck up Lemieux with the time and space to wait it out. When it came down to it, to the opposite side. Lemieux wasn’t going to shoot until he was good and ready.

Everything about the above goal screamed forehand. Lemieux got the Another quick callout for these clips is Lemieux’s head-up posture the puck on the far boards and started angling his way into the crease. From entire way up the ice. Lemieux is targeting areas. He stares the his posture down to the angle he took to the goal, it’s hard to blame Fuhr goaltender down. There’s no accident to where these pucks end up as he for expecting this puck to go post on the forehand side. Instead, Lemieux seeks out openings and waits for them to develop. whoa’s up, and switches the puck his backhand. The reverse angle shows exactly how much yawning net he had by the time Fuhr drifted out Penguins’ Hall of Fame broadcaster once quipped that of position. Lemieux would wait so long to score a goal that had enough time to make himself a corned beef sandwich and a steak dinner. I think that clip Perhaps the trickiest thing Lemieux did to fool goaltenders was so slight about sums it up, Mike. that if you blinked you wouldn’t even catch it. That puck patience produced a few of the nicer goals in Lemieux’s A big part of being a goaltender is reading a shooter’s cues. These are career. When he changed the tempo of a game, it was almost as if he like tells in poker. A lot of these cues come in the form of wrist or leg could transcend time and space entirely. Players that were operating at movements that are the precursor to a shot being taken. All players have full speed completely fell into the trap of trying to play the game at an a shooting posture that they’re actively trying to hide to keep goaltenders entirely different tempo than Lemieux himself. guessing. But Lemieux had a shot from the half-wall that wasn’t limited to wrist- Lemieux knew this, and he used it to his advantage throughout his shots. As I’ve mentioned, Lemieux kept even the best opponents career. This isn’t an extravagant move, but when he busted it out, it froze consistently guessing what he’d do next. Part of that was tossing in a just about everyone. Watch closely, it’s difficult to even discern it in full healthy mix of slap shots to balance out everything else he was doing. speed. The focus for me where is just on the economy of motion and the natural I’m not even sure a movement this subtle can be quantified as a deke. flow of the slap shot. If there was a hockey store where they could tailor When Lemieux executed this move as he was oft to do, just about every your swing like a golf shop, everyone would be using this model as the goaltender dropped down in anticipation of a shot. Once they dropped, perfect layout for a slapshot in the early 1990s. Lemieux would go topside and take advantage of all that extra space upstairs. It was a reliable way to get netminders to give him the room he I’ll admit, this is but a taste of what Lemieux could accomplish. We was looking for if it didn’t present itself organically. haven’t even delved into his penalty-killing, work off of the half-wall of the power play, his almost 360-degree vision. We didn’t even cover his So, in all these clips, we see Lemieux as the initiator of the action and negotiation skills in securing new arena sites, which is a skill set all its movement. It stands to reason that a logical way to combat him here own. would be to attack and come out of the net to force him into making a decision. The total was a package that was just Mario, something we’ll never get again. This was only a good idea in theory as in practice it was routinely disastrous. Lemieux regularly out-waited everyone, which we’ll get to The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 more in a moment. If goaltenders made the first move, attempted a poke- check, or aggressively came out of the net at him, Lemieux made them pay more often than not. Take a look at the example goals below.

So, in all of our analysis thus far, we haven’t identified a good way to stop Lemieux, which is just about how it worked out, in reality, more often than not.

Trait No. 3: Pure sniper

Lemieux’s toolbox always gets remembered for the highlight reel stuff we saw above, but as a pure shooter, Lemieux was equally lethal.

From a wrist and slap-shot perspective, Lemieux boasted power without sacrificing accuracy. He loaded up on his stick and put a lot of force behind the shot. Remember, this is long before the days of composite sticks with insane amounts of flex that aid shooters in gaining velocity. There was a large portion of Lemieux’s career where he used a wooden KoHo Revolution. That stick didn’t do any of the work for him; this was all the talent of the player using it.

Combine the power and the low base Lemieux got off of his shots with the quick release, and it created quite the conundrum for opposing goaltenders.

In the clip below, watch how low Lemieux gets as he fires this puck and how quickly it comes off of his stick at the same time. I slowed down the final replay so you can catch the puck coming off of the blade and the motion involved with it.

Remember when I said graceful violence earlier? Here’s a great example. This is a downright volatile release but it almost looks poetic. It’s a pure shooter movement. Lemieux’s motions are quick, full of force and deceptive as can be. It’s the perfect mix for a wrist shot. When you put Lemieux on the half-wall, he could give the puck a pair of eyes.

There was one other element at work that played a major role in Lemieux’s shooting and that was the art of patience. Lemieux could wait for what seemed like days before taking his shot at the net. That patience was crucial as it drew goaltenders into the net and exposed the open areas Lemieux could pick apart with his accuracy. If a defenseman 1181205 Pittsburgh Penguins Brière, we must go back to the town where he was born and later buried: Malartic.

On the left, the town of Malartic. On the right, the Canadian Malartic gold The life and death of Michel Brière, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first star mine. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The Athletic)

From the top of the 50-foot rock wall, the two sides of Malartic look like different planets. To one side, there’s Route 117 and the center of town: By Stephen J. Nesbitt 135 a diner, a museum and the church where Brière and Beaudoin would have wed. To the other, there’s a gaping gray pit and the distant rumble

of dump trucks crawling out of it. This is the Canadian Malartic mine, the MALARTIC, Québec — The burnt-orange Mercury Cougar roared along largest open-pit gold mine in Canadian history, and the epicenter of a Route 117 as the sun sank low in the rearview mirror. It was May 15, gold rush that’s given Malartic new life. 1970, a Friday three weeks before Michel Brière was to marry Michèle On a map, it looks almost as if the mine is swallowing the town. In a way, Beaudoin. it is. That evening, Brière and two friends went on a joyride in the new muscle Brière’s father, Jules, used to work down in the mines. Not in this one, car he had purchased in Pittsburgh earlier that spring, shortly before but in one like it along Route 117. Back then, almost every adult in Brière’s remarkable rookie season with the Penguins ended in the Malartic worked in mining, in one way or another. But in the years after Stanley Cup semifinal. Brière and his buddies were almost home. As Brière died, the gold deposits in the area were thought to be exhausted. daylight faded, the Cougar whistled past pine trees and cottages on Mines began to close. Sawmills shuttered next. Malartic’s economy Route 117, a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway that connects spiraled. Malartic — this tiny gold-mining town in the green expanse of Québec’s western frontier — with the outside world. In 2005, however, exploratory drilling revealed that the town was, in fact, sitting on a gold mine. Canadian Malartic paid to relocate or rebuild 200 At 8:15 p.m., just before sunset, the Cougar bounced across a bridge homes in order to access the estimated 10 million ounces of gold above a small river and approached a bend in the two-lane highway. The beneath the town — worth roughly $15.5 trillion. So, when Brière’s sister, roadway was dry, but the car was traveling too fast as it attempted to Diane Kiczak, and her husband, Raymond, say they’ve lived in their two- turn. It skidded off the road and flipped twice before landing upright. story house for 35 years, but at this exact address in north Malartic for Brière was thrown from the car and clear of the wreckage. He hit his only 10 years, that’s why. head, and everything went dark. “We used to live 5 minutes from here,” Raymond says, “in the same In town, a telephone rang at the Beaudoin residence. Brière’s fiancée home.” had just finished her last day of work before the wedding. She wore an engagement ring on her hand. A white dress hung in her closet. Gifts On a sunny day last summer, the Kiczaks were sitting in their backyard were piled on her bedroom floor. Beaudoin’s father answered the when I came around the corner and asked, in broken French, if they were telephone. As he listened, his face went white. He turned to his daughter. related to Michel Brière. Diane’s face lit up. She stepped inside and phoned her siblings. One brother, Claude, was on the golf course when Fifty years later, two banners float far above the ice at the Penguins’ Diane called. He left mid-round. Within 10 minutes, three siblings and two home, PPG Paints Arena, representing the only retired numbers in in-laws — Diane and Raymond; Briere’s older sister, Nicole Joseph; franchise history: Brière’s No. 21 and Mario Lemieux’s No. 66 — the Claude and his wife, Nicole Brière — are here, reminiscing about their Penguins’ first star, and their greatest. Lemieux was a prodigy from brother, the pride of Malartic. Montreal, and Brière a long shot from Malartic. But both had an immediate and indelible impact in Pittsburgh. Raymond and Diane Kiczak, Nicole Joseph, and Claude and Nicole Brière in Malartic. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The Athletic) Brière’s story possesses an almost mythical shine. He flashed in the spotlight for one magical season, taking the Penguins on their first playoff At one point, Raymond disappears into the house and returns with a run, and then he was gone. The car crash came two weeks after his last three-pound iron puck. He explains that the puck was sliced from a shaft NHL game. Brière was 20. He had his whole life ahead of him. But then, down in a gold mine where Brière’s father worked. Jules brought the in an instant, a bright star was snuffed out. Brière was unconscious when puck home one day. Brière used to shoot it at a blanket hanging against paramedics arrived. He never fully awoke. No one knows the player he a wall in his parents’ basement. That’s why he had such strong wrists. As would have become. the puck is passed around the circle, Claude shakes his head and says, “He was a natural.” To this day, Brière is one of the great What-Ifs in hockey history. “Tu étais aussi bon, non, Claude?” his wife teases. You were good too, But to those Brière left behind, his story is much more than lore. right, Claude? He laughs and shakes his head. His wife leans over and “It took a long time before I could talk about this,” Beaudoin, the fiancée, says, a little louder than she intends, “His nickname was Turtle.” says softly in French. “It was very, very hard. I was 20. I had a baby.” But Brière, everyone agrees, he could fly. Beaudoin, now 69, never married. After Brière’s accident, Beaudoin sat On the right, the home where Brière and his siblings were raised. at his bedside, waiting and praying and crying, as he balanced between (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The Athletic) life and death. For 11 months, she sat there. Their wedding day passed, then Brière’s 21st birthday, and then Christmas, too. They had dated on The Brière family home still stands in the same spot it was 50 years ago. and off since they were 14, Michel et Michèle. Now she was alone. As A woman answers the door there, carrying an infant in her arms, and the end neared, Brière’s body shriveled to 60 pounds. His eyes, once smiles when she hears Brière’s name. She’s been told that he used to alive and enchanting, were empty. live in this house, she says. It was at this front door where, in 1967, a 17- year-old Brière said goodbye to his parents as he left home to play junior Their son, Martin, never knew his father. Martin’s first birthday was nine hockey for the Shawinigan Bruins. Before he rode off, Brière promised days before the accident. There’s a photo of Brière holding the birthday his parents, “I’m going to make the NHL.” cake as little Martin, sitting in his highchair with his parents beside him, tried blowing out the candle. It’s one of the only photos that exists of the From the front steps of the Brière home, look right and you can see the family together. church and the rock wall that now separates Malartic from the mine. Look left and there’s a high school two blocks away. When Brière was a boy, Martin and his parents on his first birthday. (Courtesy of Michèle there was an outdoor rink constructed at the school. That’s where Brière Beaudoin) learned to play hockey. Once Brière stepped on the ice, he was hooked. Brière languished for nearly a year and died April 13, 1971, three weeks “He was there every night,” says his sister Nicole Joseph. before Martin’s second birthday. Brière was undersized, growing only to 5-feet-10 and 165 pounds, but he Today, the Brière family wonders whether people in Pittsburgh still know was clever with the puck. At Shawinigan, he made a name for himself in Brière’s story beyond its tragic end. They worry it’s been lost to time. So, a hurry, with 159 points in 50 games his first season. The next fall, Brière they tell his story once more. And to understand the life and death of learned that Beaudoin was pregnant with their child. Brière was more determined than ever to reach the NHL. That season, he scored 75 “He was slithery,” recalls , the longtime Penguins goals, a Junior A record later broken by Guy Lafleur, and had 161 points announcer. “You couldn’t get a clean shot at him.” Steigerwald compares in 50 games. The Malartic newspaper began referring to him as Brière to Jake Guentzel — not a big guy, but he could stand up for “Cherished Child of the Northwest.” himself and score. “He didn’t let anybody push him around. He had a little snarl in him.” Brière’s 75 goals in 1968-69 was a league record. (Courtesy the Brière family) Brière led the Penguins in rookie scoring in 1969-70. (Courtesy the Pittsburgh Penguins Archives) Brière dreamed of playing for the Canadiens. At the time, Montreal had territorial rights to pick two French-Canadian players before any other Jack McGregor, the Penguins’ founder, recalls seeing Brière at the team drafted. But on draft day — June 11, 1969, a month after Martin team’s Christmas party and telling a friend, “He’s going to be our first big was born — Montreal passed on Brière, taking Rejean Houle and Marc draw.” Tardif instead. (Brière’s siblings can still name those two without a second thought.) “He had star qualities, like a rock star with his hair and looks,” McGregor says. “He was mysterious to people because he didn’t talk a lot. When I Penguins scout Dick Coss, who had seen Brière’s magic at Shawinigan, went to him, he was very polite and thankful for the chance to play in the persuaded general manager Jack Riley to select him at No. 26. NHL. I thought, Here’s this kid with the world at his fingertips. He’s our best player, he has women hanging all over him and men who just The Penguins, in only their third year of existence, needed a center, and wanted to be around him, and he’s thanking me! Brière’s spark intrigued them. As training camp concluded, Riley decided Brière, still 19, was ready for the NHL. Riley offered Brière a $13,000 “I’ll never forget that because it was probably the last thing he said to rookie salary — about $90,000 in 2020 dollars — plus a $4,000 signing me.” bonus. Over the holidays in 1969, Beaudoin flew to Pittsburgh and stayed with “I think I should get more,” Brière told Riley, and asked for a $5,000 the Hodills. That was the week Brière proposed to her. Brière had bonus. begged his parents and his siblings to be there to celebrate the engagement. “Why’s that?” Riley asked. Beaudoin at the Hodill’s house in 1969. (Courtesy of Michèle Beaudoin) “Because I’ll be playing in Pittsburgh for the next 20 years,” Brière said. “He wanted us all to go as a family,” Nicole Brière says. “We told him, Riley cracked a smile and shook Brière’s hand. He liked the bravado. ‘Keep your money. We have time to see you there.’” Riley didn’t have a contract drawn up yet, but Brière wanted to sign that day. It was Sept. 30, 1969, his father’s birthday. He could think of no She is silent for a moment. greater gift than this news. So, Riley handwrote a preliminary contract, and Brière signed and then telephoned his parents. He had struck gold “But we never went.” — and so had the Penguins. Brière receives the Penguins’ rookie-of-the-year award. (Courtesy of the Brière played two seasons for the Shawinigan Bruins before being Brière family) drafted. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The Athletic) A little after midnight on April 13, 1970, exactly one year before Brière’s “Geez! I’ve been waiting for this call for 30 years.” death, he walked into a small coffee shop at a hotel in Oakland, Calif., tossing a puck in the air and catching it again. Earlier that night, Brière The voice booming on the other end of the phone line belongs to Kevin had put that puck into the back of the net 8:28 into overtime in Game 4 of Hodill. He was 6 when Brière moved in down the hall in 1969. the Stanley Cup quarterfinals to sweep the Oakland Seals and send the Penguins to the semis. At the start of his rookie season, Brière, the only unmarried player on the Penguins, was staying alone at the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh Jimmy Jordan, a Post-Gazette reporter at the time, and a couple of while Beaudoin remained in Malartic to work and care for Martin. Riley Penguins players were grabbing a bite to eat when Brière breezed suggested Brière live with a host family and introduced him to the Hodills. through the café. That moment stuck in Jordan’s memory. Looked like he Bill Hodill was a Maxwell House coffee distributor. He and Ramona lived was walking on air, or walking on the edge of Cloud 9, Jordan wrote after in Indiana Township with their sons, Philip, Courtney and Kevin, and a Brière died. German Shepard named Chief. With Philip at military school, Brière took his bedroom. Brière had 12 goals and 44 points in the regular season, but he saved the heroics for the postseason, scoring five goals, including three game- Ramona was in charge of helping Brière put on weight. She served him a winners, in 10 playoff games. diet of steak and milkshakes. Brière settled in nicely with the Hodills. The boys called him Mike. Brière played catch and basement hockey with When reporters in Oakland asked Brière whether the overtime winner them — “We were trained in the art of basement hockey,” Kevin says — was the biggest goal of his life, he told them, “I hope I score a bigger goal and went to the movie theatre with the Hodills to watch movies he than this.” And then, still clutching the game puck in his hand, Brière couldn’t understand. Brière also loved to play golf and tennis. One day, smiled and said, “I had a better season than Gordie Howe in his first Penguins winger Glen Sather told Brière, “Teach me how to speak year.” French, and I’ll teach you how to play tennis.” As the Penguins celebrated later that night, sipping champagne as cigar Brière ended up teaching Sather both. smoke swirled around them, Brière pulled aside Riley. Brière asked for a raise, to $18,000, for his second season. His wedding was two months Brière tried the crossword every day to improve his English. On his away. He had a son to feed. He and Beaudoin planned to buy a house in nightstand were biographies of and Gordie Howe. Brière met Fox Chapel, a charming Pittsburgh suburb, and live there for the rest of Howe a month into the season, a night after he had scored his first goal. his career. And, even more than that, Brière wanted to build his parents a Fighting for a puck in the corner, Howe elbowed Brière in the ribs and new home in Malartic. grunted, “Welcome to the NHL.” Brière knew enough English to get that. He skated to the bench, grimacing, and told his teammates, “I don’t think Riley told Brière they’d sort out his salary after the season. They had I like him so much anymore.” time.

The Hodills sat by the Penguins bench at every home game that year. In the Stanley Cup semifinal, the St. Louis Blues had Brière in their sights. Blues head coach sent burly defensemen Noel “If any players hit Mike,” Kevin says, “my mom would scream at them and Picard and Bob Plager to hound him. For the first two games in St. Louis, tell them not to hit her kid.” it worked. Then Brière had the winning goals in Games 3 and 4 to tie the series. Kelly, the Penguins coach, shot back at Bowman: “He wanted my More often than not, Brière eluded hits. As the story goes, when two of Brière. He wanted to put his Plager and his Picard against my Brière. I the Philadelphia Flyers’ Broad Street Bullies rushed Brière one night, he said, OK, there he is. There’s my little baby. Brière doesn’t back up for slipped between them, and they collided, knocking each other out. anybody.” Penguins head coach Red Kelly compared Brière to halfback Red Grange, The Galloping Ghost. “He’s a ghost on the ice,” Kelly told the “Oh, I remember (Brière),” Bowman says now from his home in Florida. Pittsburgh Press. “He was a special kind of player in an era when it wasn’t easy to play if you weren’t of decent size. He was tough to stop. That was his coming- Brière lay in a coma in a fifth-floor room in the intensive-care unit. His out, that series.” face was swollen and bandaged. Beaudoin took his hand in hers and asked, “Do you understand me? Do you hear me?” Brière didn’t respond. After a St. Louis shutout in Game 5, the series returned to . Brière’s younger brother, Claude, just 17 at the time, flew in for Game 6, At first, there was hope. Newspapers printed updates daily, and most an elimination game. It was the only time one of Brière’s family members were optimistic. Doctors expected Brière to be in a coma for a number of saw him play in Pittsburgh. It was also the last hockey game of Brière’s weeks, then they could assess his condition. A month after the accident, life. Kelly publicly predicted Brière would be back with the team by Christmas.

“J’ai vu le dernier,” Claude says now. I saw the last one. But then news slowed to a trickle. Brière wasn’t getting better.

Claude was so nervous before the game that he got sick outside the The term doctors used was “clinically awake.” Brière swallowed jello and arena. Then he sat with the Hodills and cheered as Brière’s goal put the baby food, but only as a reflex. He winced when tape was ripped from his Penguins ahead, 3-2, with 6:17 left in the third period — a last gasp in skin. His eyes opened and shut, but he wasn’t watching anything. His the Penguins’ first postseason. The Blues tied the score 50 seconds weight slipped to 110 pounds, then rebounded briefly. His family was later, and then took the lead. careful what they said in front of him. “In a case like that,” Raymond says, “you never know.” That was the closest Pittsburgh would come to a Stanley Cup final until 1991. Doctors wanted to try triggering things in Brière’s brain, so one day, the Hodills brought Brière’s skates and hung them on a hook on the wall. Brière spent the next day at the Hodill home, and then, early on May 2, Kevin’s seventh birthday had been the day after Brière’s accident. His 1970, the Brière brothers climbed into the Cougar and headed home to parents kept news of the crash from him for as long as they could. Once Malartic. the Hodill boys found out, they didn’t go in the basement for more than a A truck rounds the bend on Route 117 where Brière’s car crashed on year. The Hodills had planned to surprise their sons with a trip to the May 15, 1970. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The Athletic) Brière-Beaudoin wedding. Instead, they were at the hospital, trying to bring his mind back to life. They call it Michel Brière curve. Kevin squeezed Brière’s hand. He felt Brière squeeze back. Fifty years after the accident, there are no crosses or memorial markers at the bend on Route 117, just six red road signs with arrows pointing “The nurse said it was a reflex,” Kevin says. “But I never thought that.” left. But Malartic remembers. Brière’s siblings travel this stretch of That night, a nurse noted Brière was staring at his skates with tears in his highway all the time. Beaudoin passes this spot every time she drives eyes. from her home in Rouyn-Noranda to Malartic, her hometown. She needs no reminder. The skates Brière wore with the Penguins. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The Athletic) When the crash occurred, Raymond, Brière’s brother-in-law, was driving nearby. He saw the aftermath of the accident: the squad cars and the In Pittsburgh, the Penguins hung Brière’s jersey in the Igloo Club at Civic ambulances. A policeman recognized Raymond and told him to find Arena. It wasn’t a jersey retirement. They believed Brière would wear it Brière’s parents. “It’s bad,” the policeman said. It was clear Brière was again one day. (No Penguins player has worn No. 21 since.) Ken critically injured. The two friends in his car, Raynald Bilodeau and Yvon Carson, the team’s trainer, brought Brière’s equipment bag and jersey to Fortin, survived with minor injuries. Bilodeau had a broken nose and cuts. every game in the 1970-71 season. When the Penguins played in Fortin had broken ribs. Montreal that November, they visited the hospital. Some players didn’t go into Brière’s room. “I believe they prefer to remember him as he was As Raymond rushed to the Brière home, word started to circulate. Sister when he was here,” Riley said at the time. Nicole Joseph and her husband, Philippe, weren’t living in Malartic at the time, so Brière’s father pleaded with police to keep the news off TV until Brière underwent four brain surgeries over 11 months, and eventually, they could contact their daughter. But Nicole’s phone line was busy. They the top neurosurgeons in Canada had done all they could. “If Michel never got through. Nicole found out about her brother’s accident on TV. lives,” a doctor told Beaudoin, “he will be quadriplegic.” The extent of his brain damage wouldn’t be clear until — unless — he fully awoke. The crumpled Cougar. (Courtesy of the Brière family) Beaudoin looked over at Brière. Nurses had him sitting on a sofa, But the news was even worse than a single crash. propped up by pillows.

That night, two ambulances pulled away from the curve on Route 117. In “He didn’t see us,” Beaudoin says. “He wasn’t there.” the first were Brière and Bilodeau. Fortin was alone in the second. The St-Martin-de-Tour parish in Malartic. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The As the ambulances raced out of Malartic toward a regional hospital in Athletic) Val-d’Or, a larger town 30 minutes away, they came upon an 18-year-old On April 17, 1971, Malartic mourned. The funeral ceremony was moved boy, Raymond Perreault, biking on the shoulder of the highway. He was from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. so businesses would be closed and everyone pedaling home after a day of fishing. But as the sirens neared, could come. Brière’s body lay in Saint-Martin-de-Tours parish, the church Perreault’s fishing pole got stuck in the spokes of one of his wheels. He where he and Beaudoin would have been married, and a line of people lost his balance and swerved into the road. Perreault was struck by the snaked out the door and along Route 117. The Hodills were there. So first ambulance and killed instantly. were Riley, Kelly, Carson and Brière’s winger, Jean Pronovost. The “Il était un ami à moi,” Claude says quietly, staring at the ground. Canadiens’ attended, too.

His wife translates: He was a friend of mine. The official cause of death, according to the coroner’s report, was bilateral bronchial pneumonia following a traumatic brain injury. Brière’s Perreault’s body was placed on the empty stretcher beside Fortin in the doctor told the family, “He died a fighting death.” second ambulance. Then the ambulances, carrying the injured and the dead and the one in between, sped away into the night. “It was sad, but it was a relief also,” Nicole Brière says. “We knew him. He wouldn’t have lived life like that.” In the hours after the accident, Brière was flown from Val-d’Or to Montreal on a Canadian Air Force plane. He was wheeled into Notre Brière’s death crushed his father and mother, Jules and Antoinette. Dame Hospital in the middle of the night, and neurosurgeon Dr. Claude “She wasn’t the same after that,” Nicole Brière says. “She wasn’t Bertrand went to work trying to save Brière. He put the chances of smiling.” survival at 50/50. Brière had a skull fracture, a hematoma compressing the brain and serious brain trauma. When Dr. Bertrand emerged from the “C’est vrai,” Claude says. It’s true. 4½-hour operation, he said Brière had “just passed from death to life” and now had a 50/50 chance to make a full recovery. For years, Jules would accidentally call his grandson Martin by the wrong name — Michel. The Brières grieved the loss of their son for the rest of “When we went to the hospital the first day,” Diane says, “we didn’t their lives. That’s one reason most of Brière’s five siblings still live in recognize him.” Malartic. Their parents needed them. So, the family stayed together. Today, Jules and Antoinette are buried beside their son in a small cemetery in Malartic. “If (the accident) hadn’t happened,” Raymond says, So, here are the artifacts spread on the dining room table. There are “I think none of us would be here now.” scrapbooks, magazines and newspaper clippings chronicling Brière’s career. The pages are yellowed and wrinkled at the corners. Martin has No one hurt more than Beaudoin. But now, 50 years later, she’s able to read them countless times. One day, he says, he’ll build a Brière shrine talk about it. “I think it’s a beautiful story, a great story,” she says, “And in the basement. For now, he pours another cup of coffee and flips it’s an important story for Malartic.” But it’s also a sad story. Beaudoin through a photo album and smiles. He moves on to the next pile. It had a broken heart and a son to raise. She still has a box of letters Brière wasn’t lucky to lose his father young, Martin remarks, but he’s lucky to wrote to her. She has photos and press clippings, too. “It’s not too have a chance to get to know him better in the years since. pleasant to look at,” she says. Eventually, Martin reaches the end of the last stack. Beaudoin has saved them all — if not for her sake, then for her son’s. Beaudoin has been with her partner, Michel Chénier, for 24 years, but “I think that’s it,” he says. she never married. She still wears the engagement ring Brière gave her. I ask why she never married. “Oof,” Beaudoin says. “Why?” She stops and Martin reads the Christmas card from his father. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For takes a deep breath. When she lost Brière, she says, she decided she The Athletic) could never marry anyone else. Then Martin sees something he missed. It’s one last artifact. He picks it When I ask if Martin is similar to his father, Beaudoin is unsure. up.

“(Brière) didn’t have time to become a man,” she says. “Oh,” Martin says, “it’s a Christmas card.”

Martin Brière, the only son of Michel Brière and Michèle Beaudoin, is an Inside is a short note from his father, written in French. Brière sent this architect in Montreal. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The Athletic) card from Pittsburgh in December 1969 to his infant son, Martin, back home with his mother in Malartic. Martin hasn’t seen this card in ages. He In an airy kitchen on a tree-lined cul-de-sac in Montreal, Martin Brière had forgotten about it. Martin reads silently, and his eyes fill with tears. pours two cups of coffee and then slips through a sliding-glass door to He blinks them back and reads aloud. the back patio. To my dear son: Martin was 1 when his father died. He’ll be 51 in May. Martin has no memories of his father. All he has are the Brière name, a few blurry May this Christmas be the last one without your parents. photos of father and son together, and the stories others have told him Your papa, over the years. Martin holds on to each of them. “All my life,” he says, “I’ve met people I didn’t know who spoke about my father.” There was a Michel newscaster. A hockey player. A record-store owner. They asked Martin The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 to lunch and told him about his father.

“It’s very sympatique,” Martin says, searching for the word in English, “very interesting. Every time I learn a little more.”

It also feels a little unfair. They knew his father. Martin never had the chance.

Martin Brière and his mother, Michèle Beaudoin. (Courtesy of Beaudoin)

When Martin was young, he read everything he could find about his father. His mother didn’t talk about Brière often, and so neither did Martin. They coped in silence, with Martin stuck somewhere in the space between grieving absence and grieving loss. But he’s never stopped looking for clues about who Brière was. “It’s still my father,” Martin says. “It’s the relationship I didn’t have.”

Martin and his wife, Julie Morin, have three sons — Arnaud, 20, Émile, 18, and Loic, 15 — and the hockey sticks leaning by the front door are theirs. Martin doesn’t think he looks like his father, but he sees his father in his sons. They have the Brière name, too, but they also have their grandfather’s dark hair, wide nose and thick eyebrows. Arnaud looks the most like Brière, Martin says. He doesn’t mention that Arnaud is the same age Brière was at the time of the accident, or that Loic’s birthday, May 14, is a day before the anniversary of the crash.

Martin is an architect. It has helped him connect with his father. In 2017, Malartic’s mayor awarded the renovation of the local ice rink, named Centre Michel-Brière, to Martin’s firm. “Maybe it helped that I was there,” Martin says, with a laugh, “but it’s still a public bid so there’s not supposed to be favoritism.” Martin designed the entry with the Penguins’ original primary color — light blue.

Martin designed the entryway with the Penguins’ light blue. (Stephen J. Nesbitt / For The Athletic)

Julie is an architect, too. The Brière home — tucked in the shadow of Olympic Stadium, just six miles from the hospital where Martin’s father died — is proof. The Brières took a house built in the 1940s and renovated the interior. The space is light and contemporary, with sharp lines and wood accents.

There’s a bookshelf beside the staircase, and on it is a book titled “The Invention of Solitude,” a Paul Auster memoir on fatherhood. The first half of the book is Portrait of an Invisible Man. It’s about a son losing a father, about absence, and about finding artifacts from his father’s past to piece together truths about his father’s life and death. Martin, a son still searching for his father, has read the memoir many times. He is drawn to the idea of reconstructing a relationship he never had — one he never could have. 1181206 San Jose Sharks

Remembering how Sharks' Tomas Hertl brought the fun as a 19-year-old

By Brian Witt

March 19, 2020 3:08 PM

It feels like years, but it's barely been a month since Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk went in between his legs for a highlight-reel goal against the Sharks back on Feb. 10. It was so spectacular, even the San Jose broadcasters couldn't help but be in awe. Of course, it wasn't the first time they had seen something like that.

It would have been difficult for Sharks forward Tomas Hertl to get off to a better start to his NHL career than he did as a rookie during the 2013-14 season. In the first game of the season, he got the primary assist on San Jose's first goal of the campaign. Two nights later, he notched the first two goals of his career. Three points in your first two games? Pretty good.

He wasn't done. Hertl more than doubled his career point total in the next game alone.

Not one. Not two. Not three. Four. Four goals in his third career NHL game. And Hertl saved the best for last.

Already with a hat-trick, Hertl received a pass at the New York Rangers' blue line and entered the offensive zone at a high rate of speed. Without slowing down, he deftly maneuvered the puck in between his legs just before roofing it into the top of the net to give San Jose an 8-2 lead in the third period. Rangers backup goaltender Martin Biron didn't know what hit him.

With his fourth goal of the night, Hertl became the youngest NHL player (19 years, 330 days old) to record a four-goal game since Jimmy Carson (19 years, 254 days old) did it during the 1987-88 season. Calgary Flames forward Sam Bennett and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews have since accomplished the feat at a younger age.

Still, not bad for a 19-year-old, right?

Hertl has scored 126 additional goals since his coming-out-party that night against the Rangers, but never once has he tallied four in a single game. Multiple knee surgeries have slowed him down, but they've never diminished the personality of a player who once famously said, "Fun must be always."

As we all know, this is not a fun time right now. The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is being felt all around the globe, including the sports world. With the NHL season indefinitely paused, Hertl and the Sharks don't have any upcoming games in which they can generate joy for their fans. So, we're going to make it work another way.

At 8 p.m. tonight, Hertl's four-goal game will be shown in its entirety on NBC Sports California. The Sharks ultimately won 9-2, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Sharks fans to jump out of their seats.

In these trying and unprecedented times, there isn't a better Sharks player to focus on than Hertl. We might not be able to have fun "always" right now, but at the very least, we can tonight.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181207 San Jose Sharks

How Sharks' Logan Couture is staying in shape during coronavirus hiatus

By Brodie Brazil

March 19, 2020 2:38 PM

After binging most of his day on HBO’s "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Sharks captain Logan Couture is facing a conundrum many of us are right now: The question of how to stay physically fit, in a time where most gyms are off-limits or inaccessible due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ve got a bike here that I ride, and a weight vest,” Couture told NBC Sports California on Tuesday night. “I don’t have a gym unfortunately, but I have some [elastic] bands. So it’s really just body-weighted exercises, ride the bike, and ... it’s all I can do right now.”

Couture, like almost 700 other NHL players, are awaiting developments on the COVID-19 pandemic, before they can even anticipate what happens next with hockey.

“The statement 'uncharted waters' has been used a lot,” Couture said. “And I think it’s the correct term for everything: for life, for sport, everything.”

The center missed the final few games of San Jose’s interrupted season, after taking a puck to the head. On March 11, he watched the Sharks’ last game from his couch, while simultaneously monitoring multiple coronavirus developments including the NBA’s suspended season. Teammates in Chicago were also finding out.

“The guys still had to finish the third period,” Couture said. “I know some of them had knowledge, some didn’t.”

The last time Lord Stanley’s Cup didn’t get raised was 1919, due to a flu pandemic.

“It’s something that I guess I have been forced to think about,” Couture said. “Everyone in the last little while has, with this going on.”

And it comes with great perspective.

“There’s bigger things going on in this world right now than the Stanley Cup," Couture said. "And a lot of us in the NHL realize that.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181208 San Jose Sharks Asked to evaluate his own performance, Boughner said: “It’s a good question because, obviously, I think that the situation, for me, you’d like to have all the tools in the toolbox to work with. I never really got that chance, obviously. When I came in, losing Cooch and Hertl and Erik Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner is ‘planning on being back’ next Karlsson, and then going through the deadline and losing Dilly and season Goodie and Marleau … not the perfect situation. But I knew I had a job to do. I changed the systems around a little bit and made some tweaks and

a few changes. We weren’t so concerned about our record. We knew By Kevin Kurz that there were going to be some tough nights and a lot of young guys in the lineup. Mar 19, 2020 “The one thing I can take from it is we worked hard on the culture, we worked hard on being a team that’s hard to play against. For the most part, we were. Regardless of the wins or losses, when we played those The surreal nature of last week’s abbreviated Sharks road trip was as games with the systems that we worked on … it’s given guys a little bit of palpable for Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner as it was for everyone excitement knowing that coming back, they bought (into) those systems else. and they know we can be successful with them. So that part was good.” On Wednesday morning in Chicago, before the Sharks would go on to a The Sharks’ culture, as Boughner alluded to, was a much-discussed 6-2 loss to the Blackhawks, he could already sense that something was topic throughout the season. Last offseason, captain Joe Pavelski signed off. That feeling only increased throughout the afternoon and evening at with the Dallas Stars and the Sharks traded defenseman Justin Braun to United Center. Philadelphia and made Karlsson and forward Evander Kane key “The speculation throughout the day, it was tough to focus even from a cornerstones for the future. Couture took over as captain, while Hertl was coaching standpoint,” Boughner recalled Thursday in a phone interview. given a letter for the first time in his career, too. Karlsson, another “It was middle of the game when we heard about (NBA player Rudy alternate captain, also took on a bigger role in the dressing room. Gobert testing positive for COVID-19), and as soon as that happened I It was evident from training camp that this was a group of players not think we all thought this thing is not going to go much further. Our play always on the same page with one another. wasn’t very good that night, probably one of the more sloppy games we’ve played. I really, truly believe our focus wasn’t very good.” “I don’t think the room was as cohesive as it could have been. That’s something I really tried to concentrate on in the second half,” Boughner The Sharks flew to St. Louis immediately after the loss and on Thursday said. “And listen, you lose guys like Marleau and Dilly and Goodie, all morning Boughner and the assistant coaches piled into an Uber to great team guys. You lose a lot of good people, it takes time I think to Enterprise Center, where they planned on rewatching the Blackhawks build another leadership group and build that feeling around the team game before preparing for practice. But just a few hours later, everyone where guys are playing for the team and not themselves. with the team was on a charter back to the Bay Area, as the NHL suspended its season with no timeframe to resume play. “I think that the guys did a really good job of that in the last few months. I think they understood that we had to come together through all these Considering that the Sharks are already well out of the playoff race, times and I think we did a real good job. That’s a credit to the players and sitting in last place in the Western Conference, they’ll almost certainly not the leaders we had in there. Going forward, I’m excited about that. The be included if the league can manage to stage some version of the team itself, I think, is in a good spot once we get healthy and we move Stanley Cup playoffs. That leaves Boughner, who took over after Pete forward on some of the changes that we’ve made in our systems.” DeBoer was fired on Dec. 11, in limbo. Whether the Sharks bring Boughner back next season or attempt to hire one of the other many Despite that adversity and the mounting losses, Boughner was pleased veteran NHL coaches who are currently unemployed is one of the key with some of the team’s underlying metrics. In his first news conference questions they’ll have to answer this offseason. as the interim head coach, he stressed that the team needed to be tougher in the more important areas of the ice, particularly in front of both Boughner, of course, would like to return, although he and general nets. He believes that happened. manager Doug Wilson haven’t had extensive discussions about Boughner’s job status just yet. While the Sharks were outscored 58-88 during 5-on-5 play under DeBoer, the margin was a much more respectable 65-74 under “We’re sort of in a holding pattern because of all this craziness that’s Boughner. The Sharks’ 51.8 expected goals-for percentage was ninth in gone on,” Boughner said. the NHL while Boughner was in charge, an improvement over their 47.6 Still … expected goals-for percentage (25th in the NHL) under DeBoer.

“I feel good about it. I think that given a fair chance, that I’m the guy for “We did a really good job of bringing the high-end scoring chances down, this team. And I think Doug believes that, from what I know. I don’t want not giving up as much and creating more at the other end,” Boughner to speak for him, but I’m planning on being back, I’m planning on putting said. “I’m not saying that’s related to more goals scored or anything like a plan in place for next year, and trying to look forward.” that, but the chances that we were producing, our possession time, we were better defending off the rush. Things like that. So, analytically, I When Boughner inherited the Sharks’ bench, they were in a bad place, to thought there were a lot of improvements made. Those are really your put it mildly. They couldn’t score, couldn’t get any saves, were typically foundations of your system and what’s working and what’s not. There out of sync and didn’t seem to be giving full effort. Wilson gave the 49- were some good things happening behind the scenes.” year-old Boughner, who returned to the Sharks as an assistant in the offseason after serving as the head coach of the in The coach also helped to stabilize the team’s biggest weakness since the 2017-18 and 2018-19 before he was replaced by Joel Quenneville, the start of the 2018-19 season — the goaltending. He handed Aaron Dell unenviable task of turning around what was supposed to be a contending the reins early in his tenure and Dell responded with some of the best team. hockey of his career. Meanwhile, Martin Jones used the extended break to work with goaltending coach Evgeni Nabokov. It didn’t happen. The Sharks posted a 14-20-3 mark under Boughner from Dec. 11 through the likely end of the regular season, the NHL’s At the time of the season’s suspension, Jones was trending the right 30th-ranked team over that span. direction with a 2.02 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in his last eight games. Considering that his contract has four more But to judge Boughner’s performance on record alone probably isn’t fair. seasons at an average annual salary of $5.75 million, that’s some cause Captain Logan Couture played just seven of those games after fracturing for optimism moving forward. his ankle on Jan. 7, Tomas Hertl was lost for the season with a left knee injury on Jan. 29 and Erik Karlsson broke his finger on Feb. 14, ending “At the very least, (Jones) ended off on a good note, and who knows if his season, too. Then came the trade deadline on Feb. 24 and out went there’s going to be any more games this season, but if not, coming back I Brenden Dillon, Patrick Marleau and Barclay Goodrow. The Sharks were think he can feel good about his last month of hockey and feel good significantly outmanned on a nightly basis, particularly in the final few about his offseason to train,” Boughner said. “Jonesy had to get past that weeks. one-bad-goal-a-game kind of thing. He knew he had to be sharp and fight a little more in the net — not only fight to stay in as a No. 1 but fight a little more in the net and be a little more aggressive.”

Still, while it seems like a Boughner return for next season is more likely than not, it would be understandable if Wilson hasn’t completely made up his mind just yet. Other proven NHL head coaches on the market include , , and Bruce Boudreau. The general manager might be tempted to give at least a couple of those guys a call to see if there might be some interest.

Even Boughner understands that it’s not a simple decision.

“To make a fair assessment of the job I did, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough to make that decision,” he said.

In the meantime, it’s business as usual for the coach, or at least as much as it can be at the moment. He hopes to have discussions with each of the players in the coming days and weeks.

“I want to make sure I have a conversation with every guy and go through their season and talk about what we need from them next,” he said.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181209 St Louis Blues Because of 2019, she now has two new big brothers for life. One is Kenton Felmlee, a sophomore at the University of Kansas, who

was connected with Laila through the initiative called Be The Match. Hochman: In uncertain times, we could all use a dose of Laila Anderson, “I needed to wash out my bone marrow and get a new bone marrow,” St. Louis’ little fighter Laila said. “And now, I’m like 72% Kenton.”

Kenton donated bone marrow that saved Laila’s life. And after months of Benjamin Hochman hospitalization, isolation and medicines so painful that they felt like poison, Laila became healthier. Famously, she attended some Blues playoff games during the magical Stanley Cup run. Her doctor even allowed her and Heather to fly to Boston for Game 7 of the Cup Final. First off, Laila says we should all take a deep breath. This reporter happened to be on an arena elevator with the two. We So, let’s all take a deep breath. … chatted. Laila wore a surgical mask, but you could tell that under it, she wore a smile. Needed that. “Maybe I’ll see you on the ice after the game.” It was refreshing. Nourishing. The fear and fright of the new coronavirus can overwhelm a person. But as 11-year-old Laila Anderson said, with And she replied emphatically: “You WILL.” her perspective infused by perpetual perseverance: “This will pass. … A few hours later, down on the ice during the celebrations, there was We also have to remember it’s not just ourselves — the whole world is Laila, hoisting the Stanley Cup with Parayko. going through this. … And we will all get through it together.” Colton and Laila developed a friendship that is, simply, beautiful. They Laila is St. Louis’ little fighter. She battled the rare disease HLH, a met when she was dressed as a taco at a Blues’ Halloween party, and systemic inflammatory syndrome that can be fatal to some people. She have been in touch ever since — through the rough times for both Laila, received a bone marrow transplant in January 2019, and her story and even for the defenseman during the time the 2018-19 Blues were in inspired the Blues, whose own story inspired the city. With the new last place. They continue to text and communicate often. coronavirus affecting people with vulnerable immune systems, some wondered if Laila was healthy and safe. She is, her mother and father “We were chatting the other day on Instagram, and he was asking me asserted in phone interviews Wednesday. Laila has been able to get how I was doing,” Laila said. “Colton is genuinely my best friend. He immunization shots and her ANC numbers (absolute neutrophil count) would do everything for me. And we communicate like we’re best friends are “in a good spot,” said her mom, Heather. — he doesn’t treat me any differently because I’m 11.”

Laila went back to school last fall with the other kids — sixth grade, During the summer and fall of 2019, Laila floated even when she wasn’t Parkway South Middle — and “life was like the next person who’s 11,” on a float in the Blues’ parade. She was honored at the Musial Awards, Laila said by phone, in reference to a fun school year of classes and she became a bobblehead, she even got her own Blues Stanley Cup sleepovers and trips to the trampoline park (“That’s the thing now,” she ring, which was a complete surprise and was hand-delivered to her at explained). home by Parayko and Steen.

But now, like so many of us, she’s staying at home and taking “I tell those boys all the time,” Heather said, “and I think that they think precautions. I’m crazy because I just cry around them all the time — but I’m just really grateful for them. The things that they do, they matter. They really “I can’t tell you how many times people ask: ‘How do you feel being matter.” isolated again?’” Laila said. “And it doesn’t really bother me that we’re kind of isolated. We have to stay home and not go places? Oh, I’ve been But in the fall, as everything started getting normal for the sixth grader there, done that.” Laila, her numbers dropped. Was it a mistake? They remained low. Her body wasn’t matching with Kenton’s bone marrow. Or, as her mother put it: “After being in isolation for six months to save your life, this all just seems like a vacation.” Not this. Not now.

Laila did share that her “heart hurts a little” that the National Hockey “I prayed,” said her father, Scott. “And waited for the retest.” League season is on pause. Hockey was her favorite thing even before she got sick. Her family has season tickets. And often when the Blues Sure enough, the numbers went up. And next time, a little higher. And were on the road, she and her dad would watch from Town Square Pub now, Heather said, they’re “definitely heading back in the right direction. N Grub, while they devoured some chicken wings. … We’re trucking forward.”

Then, hockey became medicine. And the Blues became her nurses. She And in December, at a soirée at the downtown Marriott for Be The Match, built genuine friendships with Alexander Steen, Patrick Maroon and, of Laila met her match. For the first time, she was introduced to Kenton. course, Colton Parayko. And it was on stage, in front of hundreds of people. Officially announced, Kenton ran onto the stage and hugged her, and she hugged him, and “She said the other day,” Heather recalled, “‘Mommy, those people neither let go. reached out when I was in isolation, and now we’re all in isolation, so everyone should be reaching out to each other to make sure we’re all “It just clicked — this stranger, who saved my life, was going to be with OK. Or if we can help one another. We’re all in it together.’ me forever,” Laila said. “Kenton and I, we talk all the time. We’re family — at the end of every conversation, it’s: ‘Love you, Kenton!’ ‘Love you, “And I tell her, ‘I know we miss hockey, but let’s go back and watch the Laila! Talk to you soon!’” run for the Cup again, let’s get pumped for when it does start back up. And we can go outside and take a walk, nobody’s asking you to be A 2020 perspective trapped in your home. You can go out and smell the air, you can go out Shortly after New Year’s, Laila accepted the existence of a new year. and feel the rain on your face. Like, you’re not trapped in a hospital room She called 2020 a “brand new chapter in my life.” by yourself, trying not to be sick and trying to eat food. We are not at that place. There have been some surreal moments, such as getting her own Upper Deck hockey trading card or introducing the Blues players at Enterprise “The whole world has just taken a bit of a timeout.’” Center during the NHL All-Star Game. And then, of course, the surreal Kenton and Colton that became reality — a city and nation isolated because of the new coronavirus. After a year of celebrating, Laila didn’t want to celebrate. She remains optimistic that we’ll all get through this, and that No. 55 will “I can definitely tell you, I spent New Year’s with my friend, and I didn’t be back on the blue line for the Blues, as the team makes another run at really want 2019 to end,” she said. “I didn’t want to have the countdown. history. The Enterprise Center, after all, is her “second home.” In my head, I was like — the Blues won the Stanley Cup, I got a bone marrow transplant, I met my donor. I don’t want 2020 to begin.” “At games this year,” her father said, “where Laila is healthy and can walk around the stadium — shaking hands, taking pictures — it’s phenomenal just to watch her be so happy. And be in her place. For her to be able to go there and sit back and just smile? You’re going to start crying.”

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181210 St Louis Blues last season. But it’s not known if Thomas is still staying there or has headed back to his parents’ home in the Toronto area.

It’s also unclear whether Tkachuk has returned to St. Louis or is still in NHL: No increased coronavirus risk for Blues as result of Anaheim game Ottawa.

Blue notes

Jim Thomas The and the Hockey League announced Wednesday they are canceling the rest of their regular seasons. Those leagues join the Major Junior Hockey League in doing so, after all had announced earlier that they were merely Roughly 12 hours after the Ottawa Senators dropped a 5-2 decision to suspending play. the Anaheim Ducks on March 10, the St. Louis Blues were in the same visitors locker room at the Honda Center for their morning skate. All three of those junior leagues are leaving open the possibility of conducting playoffs at some point in the future. The Blues have Under normal circumstances, no big deal given the fact the Ducks were prospects playing for teams in each of those leagues. playing back-to-back home games. One team leaves, another comes in. But obviously, these are not normal times. • Another Blues prospect, defenseman Scott Perunovich, has been named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker award, which goes to Some Blues player probably was sitting in the same locker stall as the college hockey’s best player. Perunovich, a second-round pick in 2018, Senators player who tested positive for the coronavirus — sitting there No. 45 overall, plays for Minnesota-Duluth. before and after the morning skate and before and after the Blues defeated the Ducks 4-2 that night (on March 11). Blues Quick Hits

Other Blues players undoubtedly were in the same area, used the same RAMP UP THE TALKS WITH PETRO? sink or shower, etc. NHL skills competition That was the Blues’ last game before the NHL announced March 12 that it was “pausing” its season indefinitely because of the coronavirus QUESTION: With the halt of play in the NHL, will the Blues try to enter pandemic. On the day of that announcement, Blues general manager into serious negotiations with Petro's agent, or do you see him testing the Doug Armstrong communicated through the team’s leaders (captain and free agent waters? Have to believe with the loss of revenue for all the alternate captains) that the squad should lay low, stay at home and sit NHL teams that money that was once on the table is gone now -- or is back for at least the next week or so until there was more clarity to the that not the case when it comes to top tier free agents? situation. JT: Not sure if the coronavirus "pause" will affect the salary cap. But I On Monday came more clarity, when the NHL issued a directive that all think you raise a good question. With no hockey until at least May, why players should continue to exercise self-quarantine measures through at not negotiate with Alex Pietrangelo now? I have no idea if this is taking least March 27, but added that players were allowed to leave their club place or even a possibility. city and return home, effective immediately, even if “home” was outside The Blues are a team built from the goaltender and D-corps out -- it's a North America. big part of what makes them a top team. So I'd think you'd want All of this reached a heightened awareness when news broke late Pietrangelo back. Tuesday night of an unnamed Ottawa player testing positive for the virus Follow-up: How does the suspension of the NHL season impact next — the first known case of an NHL player testing positive. season's salary cap? How does this impact Petro's impending free One of the Ottawa Senators is St. Louisan Brady Tkachuk. Asked about agency? Tkachuk’s health status Wednesday, his father told the JT: Good questions. I would assume the salary cap for 2020-21 is based Post-Dispatch: “All good from his end, thanks.” on revenue projections. Even if the '19-20 season is shortened, resulting Similarly, Armstrong was asked about the health status of Blues players, in less ticket revenue, does that affect the 2020-21 cap? Would TV coaches and staff in light of their possible exposure to the virus at Honda revenue for the league change? (For example, would the network Center. partners get some kind of refund based on lost telecasts this year?) I'm not sure. “Everyone with (us) is good,” Armstrong replied. As for Pietrangelo, as I mentioned earlier, why not negotiate now since Bill Daly, deputy commissioner of the NHL, told the Post-Dispatch that he we're in a delay period that won't end any time soon. didn’t think the Blues were at greater risk even though their time in the Honda Center came so close to Ottawa’s stay. DOES SCANDELLA STAY OR GO?

“In light of a number of factors, including the relevant facts we know as it Blues 6, Blackhawks 5 relates to the (Ottawa) player testing positive, the timelines involved, and QUESTION: Thumbs-up on the Blues' trade for Marco Scandella. Can the cleaning standards employed pursuant to existing league policies, we the Blues and other teams negotiate contracts during this time? He do not believe that anyone in the St. Louis Blues’ organization would stepped right in and did the same job JayBo was doing. He's a good fit have been exposed to any increased level of risk for infection as a result and deserves a good contract from the Blues. of the team’s game in Anaheim on March 11,” Daly said via email Wednesday. JT: I believe teams are allowed to negotiate with their own players at this time. (But not players from other teams.) It's been a small sample size — The number of reported coronavirus cases in the United States 11 games — but it does seem to have been a seamless transition for approached 8,000 on Wednesday, with nearly 140 deaths. him. The unnamed Senators player has experienced mild symptoms and is in But I think the only way that a Scandella contract becomes a possibility is isolation, according to the Ottawa Citizen. At this point, according to the if Petro is gone. If that's the case, Petro gone/Scandella stays, you're NHL, the health recommendations are for only players who have down to three D-men with pretty good offensive skills (Dunn, Parayko, experienced symptoms to undergo testing for the virus. Faulk) instead of four. And any Scandella contract would have to be for a Other Senators and the Blues may not be out of the woods when it much more reasonable number than Petro will command. comes to possible infection because the time from exposure to NO HARD FEELINGS FOR PERRON? experiencing symptoms — the incubation period — can be from two to 14 days. All Stars Shine at the Enterprise Center

As of Wednesday, it had been seven days since the Blues played in QUESTION: In the Vegas expansion draft, the Blues left DP57 exposed Anaheim. and the Knights claimed him. In stories I read later, I got the impression David was somewhat hurt by the Blues leaving him out, and I was Noteworthy here is the fact that Blues forward Robert Thomas has been staying at the Tkachuk household in St. Louis since he entered the NHL surprised when he was willing to return. Have you talked to Perron about QUESTION: The Blues won the Cup last year by wearing teams down that situation? Any thoughts if the Blues do it to him again next year? over a long series. If the playoffs move to a best-of-5 format, wouldn't that negatively impact a team that needs to play a heavy game to win? JT: Since his return to the Blues, I can't recall Perron saying much if Teams like Colorado, Tampa or Toronto that have an excess of offensive anything about being placed on the expansion list. I do remember him talent could easily play their top line 25 minutes a game to see if they talking about how excited he was to be back with St. Louis and going on can't out-skill the competition. and on about how fond he was of the city and its fans. JT: I think there's some truth to what you're saying. Another factor that A lot can happen between now and the end of next season, but I sure should be considered — and Jeff Gordon and I talked about this on our can't see any scenario where the Blues would expose Perron to the Net Front Presence podcast which we recorded Wednesday — the Seattle draft. Not with the career renaissance he is currently Blues' physical, checking, grinding style isn't the easiest style to play. It experiencing. seemed to me that it took the Blues several games into the regular Here's an interview I did with Perron from last season — right before his season to get into their style this season, even with training camp and the concussion — in which he talked honestly about how he and Berube got preseason games. on the same page once Berube took over: So if there are no regular-season games prior to any re-start of the • Perron prospers in bigger role since clearing the air with Berube season, and we go straight to playoff games, I think the Blues would be at a disadvantage as compared to a team that relies more on just skating AND THE 2020 CHAMPION IS . . . ? and skill. By the time they got worked into their style of play in a series, the series might be over. At least that's my theory (and Jeff's) as a 010120c1sptyear possibility. QUESTION: So, the Blues will be defending Stanley Cup Champions two QUESTION: What becomes of Alexander Steen after this season? I years in a row? never really appreciated him until he became that fourth-line warrior last JT: I guess you can say that's the case if the season is totally cancelled. year. Then again, under that scenario, the NHL could award it to Boston, since JT: Steen remains a valuable third/fourth-line player. It's just that third- the Bruins have the most points. and fourth-liners usually don't make $5.75 million a year. And as you Follow-up: Would the NHL just award it out without the playoffs? know, the Blues are very tight against the cap for the 2020-21 season.

JT: That's a good question. For now, the NHL has maintained that it The problem is, unless you trade Steen you're "stuck" with Steen's cap plans to award the Cup, and is willing to push back the season/playoffs money whether he's playing for you or not. And at this point in his as far as possible without jeopardizing its ability to play a full 2020-21 distinguished career, he probably doesn't have much trade value. His situation. Obviously this is a fluid and rapidly-changing situation. A "new contract expires after the 2020-21 season. normal" as Doug Armstrong has referred to it, has yet to be totally QUESTION: We're in a lull, so I'm looking back: Did any players or Blues established. officials privately express a reluctance to go to the White House? It HOW LATE IS TOO LATE TO START A SEASON? seems like hockey players are big into "We do everything as a team," a stance I respect even when I don't agree with it. Did you hear from It's all or nothing for the Blues in Game 7 anyone who said, "Man, I really wish I didn't have to go?"

J.B. Forbes JT: One of the things that helped the Blues win the Cup was the "team" unity and unselfish "team" attitude. I think the prevailing opinion, which QUESTION: If play does not resume before June 1, shouldn't the came from the highest levels of the organization down, was that we're remainder of the season be cancelled? Would hate to see that happen, doing this out of respect for the office of the president, regardless of how but would hate it more to see players get injured because they are not in any of us may feel about the current occupant of the White House. game shape. Another thing to point out, the Blues I believe had only two U.S. players JT: According to Frank Seravalli of Canada's TSN, several of the visit the White House (MacEachern and Sanford). Faulk did not attend -- league's top players (Seravalli did not name names) have suggested a he told me he went out for a long, late lunch instead. (Remember, plan where the league starts up in August, completes its playoffs by the though, he did not attend any of the Blues' post-Cup ceremonies, etc., end of the September, takes October off and then begin the 2020-21 because he was not on that team.) season in November and plays a full (albeit condensed) schedule. So it's safe to assume that most if not all the , Swedes and Follow-up: Is there a point where even if the NHL can schedule its Russians on the team were not engaged or invested in U.S. politics. I playoffs to end before August, that the quality of the product on the ice had no one on the team tell me they had a problem with the visit. and logistics that it will take to maintain acceptable ice surfaces just becomes too prohibitive to make holding a postseason tournament LESS INTEREST IN HOCKEY WHEN IT RETURNS? viable? Blues battle Rangers JT: It sounds like less-than-ideal ice conditions is a risk the league is willing to take, based on the reports that some players would be willing to QUESTION: When sports leagues resume play, do you think there will be start the season in August. About half of the teams that would currently less public interest because people have gotten out of the habit of be in the playoff field, play in places that could be hot that time of year: watching games? Or will there be more because people will be hungry Carolina, Tampa Bay, Washington, Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville and St. for entertainment? Louis. JT: In a great hockey market like St. Louis, I would say the interest would QUESTION: If players contracts expire in July, how can you extend the be increased. And why wouldn't it be, with the team in prime contention season beyond that? for another Cup? And I think in general this might be the case, because this isn't a situation where there was a strike or lockout and fans were JT: I'm sure the NHLPA would sign off on an extension that would set angry at greedy owners or greedy players. back the contract expiration date to some point after the conclusion of play. This is simply, as the late-great Post-Dispatch baseball writer Neal Russo used to say in trying times, a situation where it was "AOG" — act of God. Say the Stanley Cup Final ended in late September, and there was no hockey in October, and a resumption of play in November. You could HOCKEY CANCELED WORLDWIDE? have the NHL draft, say, the first week of October and free agency Blues Sobotka Hockey starting the second week of October. The only thing that might be complicated is restricted free agency, since that's usually a longer QUESTION: Have leagues in Russia, Sweden, etc., cancelled their process. seasons, too?

WOULD SHORTER PLAYOFF SERIES HURT THE BLUES? JT: All either postponed indefinitely or cancelled altogether. Doug Armstrong told me last week that all his scouts, etc., are at home St. Louis Blues 1, Arizona Coyotes 0 because "there's nothing to watch." The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) — which consists mainly, but not exclusively, of teams from Russia — was the last biggie to follow suit.

The KHL, which is in its postseason already (it starts and ends earlier than the NHL) announced Tuesday that it is postponing play until at least April 10.

MUSICAL CHAIRS IN THE AHL

Prospecting for Blues

QUESTION: Will all the players that were on the San Antonio Rampage now report to the Blues' new Springfield club? Would the Blues absorb any or all of those players?

JT: Yes, the Springfield (Mass.) Thunderbirds had been an affiliate of the Florida Panthers for four seasons. But Florida is changing affiliates next season, going to Chicago (the Wolves). The Wolves franchise became open when the Vegas Golden Knights pulled out (buying the San Antonio franchise and deciding to place it in the Las Vegas area). So you see, there's been a bit of AHL musical chairs here.

So the Florida players at Springfield that are still under contract by the Panthers would now play for the . Similarly the San Antonio players under contract with the Blues would play for Springfield next season.

PROSPECT WATCH

NCAA Minn Duluth Ohio St Hockey

QUESTION: What is the deal with Scott Perunovich?

JT: Per league rules, he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent since it's been two seasons since he was drafted by the Blues and he has yet to sign a contract. (Perunovich was described by Gordo in Wednesday's Post-Dispatch as an "undersized but instinctive defender" at Minnesota-Duluth who, in terms of potential, reminded Gordo of Colorado's Samuel Girard. Perunovich also was just named one of 10 finalists for college hockey's Hobey Baker Award.)

I have no idea whether he's still leaning towards the Blues or wants to explore the market.

To one final question about a resumption of the NHL season, Jim Thomas replied:

Until there is some concrete sign that the virus is slowing down — and a resumption doesn't seem anywhere on the horizon at this point — it's hard to speculate on when or whether this hockey season actually gets finished.

If I were a betting man, I'd have to say that this hockey season is over.

But again, it's a fast-moving landscape. That Blues game in Anaheim last Wednesday seems like it was a month ago.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181211 Tampa Bay Lightning

Coronavirus: Ottawa Senators have the NHL’s first positive test

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

The NHL has its first known case of the coronavirus.

The Senators announced late Tuesday that one of its players tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. The player, who was not identified, had mild symptoms and was in isolation and other players were being tested under the supervision of medical authorities, the team said.

Ottawa players, coaches and others have been advised to remain isolated, monitor their health and seek advice from team medical staff. The NHL is not mandating testing.

The Lightning have not played the Senators since Jan. 4.

The Senators played the Sharks in San Jose on March 7, two days after Santa Clara County recommended that large public gatherings be canceled. The Sharks also hosted the Wild and Avalanche before the county banned all crowds of more than 5,000 March 9.

The Senators also played the Kings at Staples Center the day before the NHL suspended its season, the night after the arena hosted the NBA’s Nets, who have had four players test positive for COVID-19, including . Visiting and hockey teams do not use the same locker room.

The NHL is following the advice of medical experts and testing only players and staff members who are symptomatic.

“The (Senators) player became symptomatic, he told his team medical staff, his team medical staff recommended a test, the player took the test and the test was positive,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the website the Athletic. “So that’s really the approach that everyone really should follow.”

The NHL put its season on hold March 12 but hopes to resume the season at some point.

On Monday, players were directed to remain in self-isolation but were told they could leave their team’s city and return home, including leaving North America. They must remain isolated until March 27.

A total of seven NBA players have tested positive as of Wednesday: besides the four Nets (three of them unidentified), Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Jazz, and Christian Wood of the Pistons. Gobert was the first pro athlete in a major North American sport to have a positive test announced, which led the NBA to be the first major North American pro league to suspend its season.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181212 Toronto Maple Leafs It was 14 months ago that Kurvers asked a team doctor to look at him after months of not feeling well. On Jan. 21, a CT scan revealed a nodule on the upper right lobe of his right lung. Nine days later, a biopsy revealed the nodule was adenocarcinoma, an inoperable form of lung Former Leafs defenceman Tom Kurvers understands the need for social cancer. Like many stricken with the disease, he had never smoked a day distancing during the COVID-19 crisis. He was diagnosed with lung in his life. cancer last year. He found he was one of a small percentage of lung cancer patients who could take a once-a-day oral chemotherapy medicine to stop the growth of the cancer and reduce the size of the tumour. By last November, the By Damien Cox Contributing Columnist treatment had reduced the tumour significantly. Thu., March 19, 2020 The outlook is promising, even with the threat of COVID-19 convulsing the world. As he watches his boys playing in the driveway, he communicates daily with Minnesota GM Bill Guerin and other Wild More than 30 years after his brief roller-coaster ride as a member of the executives. The team was one point out of a wild-card spot when the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tom Kurvers appears from the outside to have NHL season was suspended. smoothly navigated the sixth decade of his life. He is 57 and a key front- office executive with the Minnesota Wild, one of 31 NHL teams trying to There is some U.S. college free-agent action going on, and lots of navigate an uncertain landscape at the moment. planning to do for the possibility of the NHL starting up again.

Kurvers likes to run and go to the gym and he loves to play 18 holes of “The last hour-and-a-half I’ve been putting out grass fires,” he says. golf with his two sons. The heroics of his playing days, from way back in “We’ve got our NHL players, and 30 players in the minors, players in the 1980s when he was a star schoolboy athlete in the Twin Cities and junior. There’s plenty of guessing going on as to what might happen. You then the best collegiate hockey player in the United States, are long hear a little nugget of information, this or that. But it’s not like we have a gone, replaced by a solid reputation as a sharp hockey mind to have in handle on it.” your organization. So he waits, keeping in touch with his network of friends, inside and His vulnerabilities, as with most of us, lie below the surface. Being the outside the hockey world. He mentions a recent chat about his health he player the Leafs got in the trade that cost them the first-round draft pick had with former NHL tough guy Basil McRae, which McRae followed up that became , a Hall of Fame defenceman, has long with a “really kind” note. He’s pushing himself a little harder with his daily been a soft spot. He jokes about it, but three decades of absorbing blame workouts, but like most in the game, misses the camaraderie of the rink. for something that wasn’t his decision ceased to be truly amusing long “There’s a real energy to it,” he says. “You feel it, and it lifts you.” ago.

“It pops up every time a first-rounder gets traded,” he says of the 1989 trade with the New Jersey Devils engineered by then Leafs general Toronto Star LOADED: 03.20.2020 manager Floyd Smith. “Someone in the room always gets a cheap shot in.”

Then there are the physical vulnerabilities. As the world gets used to social distancing, Kurvers recalls it was something he learned about a little more than a year ago when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He rarely left his home last February and March.

“I had a couple of invasive biopsies and I needed to recover,” he recalls. “I was coughing and wheezing, having a hard time even carrying on a conversation. I was really uncomfortable. I would see my buddies looking at me thinking, ‘Geez, how long has he got?’”

His health has improved over the months and his prognosis has become increasingly encouraging. But in recent weeks the threat of COVID-19 has changed life for millions around the world, and again altered the landscape for Kurvers.

He is now immunocompromised. He gets a variety of blood tests once a month, and is checked every four months to see if the cancer in his right lung has grown or shifted. Now, with COVID-19 a daily reminder of how we all depend on each other, Kurvers is one of those people who counts on the social conscience of others to maintain the necessary distance in order to protect those with underlying medical conditions.

When you watch those sadly clueless kids on March break in Florida chirping about how they won’t let the coronavirus interfere with their partying, they’re basically saying they don’t care how their health, even if they are asymptomatic, might effect people with respiratory concerns. People like Kurvers.

“I didn’t feel like I was overly in the high-risk category until I started being aware of the virus,” he says. “I talked to my doctor, and he said if I wasn’t as healthy as I was, he would put me in the high-risk category. So who knows?

“I feel good. We keep our family unit tight and we take our precautions.”

Kurvers is working at home these days, which makes it easier to get that daily nap that keeps his energy up. Before the virus, when the NHL season seemed to be barrelling toward the Stanley Cup playoffs, he kept a power recliner in his St. Paul office for those moments when he felt it was necessary to close his eyes.

“I protect my sleep, go to bed earlier,” he says. “The whole fight for me is about sleep and avoiding stress.” 1181213 Toronto Maple Leafs It didn’t matter they were once teammates and tennis partners, Richard clubbed Laycoe twice, once with what Montreal sportswriter Vince Lunny called “a slaughter house stick swing.” across the side of his face.

Richard Riot still echoes in Habs history Breaking free of the officials’ grasp, Richard struck Laycoe twice more with his lumber, one-handed. Linesman Cliff Thompson tried to restrain Richard, who broke away again to strike Just as Thompson subdued him again, a teammate intervened, and this time Richard got to his feet Lance Hornby and twice punched Thompson who fell unconscious. Richard was March 19, 2020 10:38 PM EDT escorted from the ice by a trainer, his left side “looking like a smashed tomato” described Lunny.

Boston policemen showed up at the Canadiens’ dressing room to arrest In the movie world, Humphrey Bogart was up for an Oscar in March of Richard for assault with a weapon, but coach Dick Irvin Sr. ordered the 1955 for The Caine Mutiny. door barred. The stand-off ended when Bruins management assured the cops the league would deal strongly with the matter. But in the hockey hotbed of Montreal that month, Bogey couldn’t hold a candle to the Richard Riot. Tuesday marked the 65th anniversary of the Richard was already on a kind of parole by Campbell after an earlier most destructive regular season game night in NHL history. A team, a fan physical run-in with an official. At the March 16 hearing at Campbell’s base, a city, a province and a society that already felt slighted, boiled office in Montreal, representatives from both teams, as well as over at the suspension of their most iconic player. Thompson, referee Frank Udvari and referee in chief Carl Voss gave their sides of the story. That Maurice (The Rocket) Richard would get some kind of punishment from league president for an on-ice incident in Boston For Campbell, who was an officer and lawyer in the Canadian Army was not in doubt. But the sentence handed down meant his chance for during World War II and made other tough judgements in his time as the scoring title would be lost — his best shot to win as it turned out — president, there was no fear of intimidation from the local citizens. He not to mention the Canadiens were bereft of their star in the playoffs to kicked out Richard for the three games remaining in the regular season try and wrest the Stanley Cup back from Gordie Howe and the (two against Detroit in the fight for first place) and all of playoffs. powerhouse Detroit Red Wings. Richard told Irvin Jr. years later that he regretted hitting Thompson, but The riot also produced the first game forfeit of its kind in the NHL, caused felt the same official had mishandled the original foul by Laycoe and Campbell to flee for his personal safety and did considerable damage to while Thompson never worked another league game, Richard felt the rink and Montreal’s downtown core. railroaded at the hearing by Laycoe and Udvari. There was no video in those days and in the differing version of events, Richard and Irvin Sr. felt Holes through upper windows are Forum’s carred face by daylight after out-numbered. rain of chunks of ice, bottles and other missiles in night of terror. Repair crews moved in on battered store fronts as soon as the riot subsided. Future Toronto Sun columnist Jim Hunt was in Campbell’s office when Angry Canadiens fans took to the streets in Montreal after the game the decision was announced and recalled the phone ringing off the hook against the Red Wings was forfeited. The riot left downtown Montreal with immediate threats of bodily harm to the president. Montreal severely damaged. newspapers the next day seethed at the perceived injustice.

“The people were going crazy,” Richard’s late Habs’ teammate Dickie Campbell was urged by police not to attend the sold out March 17 game Moore said. “You never knew what they’d do next, maybe blow the place at the Forum against Detroit, as about 10,000 protesters gathered up.” outside with signs and effigies of him. He was uncharacteristically late for the game, meaning many angry fans were further infuriated by the sight More than $500,000 damage was done from broken windows and looted of him coming off the street and into the lobby. shops. As a torrent of boos rained down, Campbell bravely took his seat near “That was a disgraceful exhibition to a (sport) that fellows like myself rink side, accompanied by a female guest. The crowd’s sour mood grew have worked 38 years to build,” Wings’ manager Jack Adams told uglier when the dispirited Habs fell behind 4-1. Suddenly, a tomato London, Ont.’s CFPL TV the next day as the Wings changed trains on splattered on Campbell and his friend. One fan reached out as if to shake their way home. hands only to try and throw a punch. A native Montrealer, Richard became a teen star, rising through the Angry Canadiens fans took to the streets in Montreal after the game Canadiens’ minor-league system and scoring 90 goals in 46 games by against the Red Wings was forfeited. Many demanded the head of NHL the time he was 16. Ankle and wrist injuries slowed the right winger’s president Clarence Campbell despite the pleas of the Rocket himself in a NHL development until he was 21, but he seized the opportunity in 1943- radio broadcast. The riot left downtown Montreal severely damaged. 44 as Montreal won its first Cup in 12 years. The following spring, he reached 50 goals in 50 games, a race that captivated the sporting world The situation quickly deteriorated as a fan set off a tear gas bomb, and made Quebecers burst with pride. forcing the evacuation of the building. A shaken Campbell quickly awarded the game to Detroit. Police protect NHL Commissioner Clarence Campbell (top right) from irate Montreal Canadiens fans after he suspended Maurice Richard. “I blame the papers for building (the crowd) up,” the late Adams said the next day. “They’re partly to blame for making a hero out of Richard. They “He gave us all hope,” author Roch Carrier, who wrote The Hockey say all idols have feet of clay. Well, he has feet of mud. When one man Sweater, once proclaimed. “French Canadians are no longer to be thinks he’s bigger than the game it’s pretty near time to do something. condemned to be hewers of wood and drawers of water, to be servants, employees. We, too, are champions of the world.” “If they placed Richard where he belongs and laid the trouble at his and (Irvin Sr.’s) feet, there wouldn’t have been any trouble.” Few pictures of Richard in action didn’t show his eyes ablaze. As the game ended, “smart punks” as Adams called them, began “When he scored, he just didn’t put it in the net, he tried to put it right breaking windows at the Forum and then moved to the main Rue Ste. through the net,” former Rangers’ goalie Emile (The Cat) Francis told Catherine neighbourhood. If they didn’t have hard projectiles, they used author Dick Irvin Jr. of Richard’s 544 goals in 18 seasons. buckshot of anything at hand, including rain galoshes. But Richard’s temper could be as menacing as his shot. Though the NHL Both the Habs and Wings were kept in their dressing rooms as the riot of that era tolerated its stars playing on the edge, such as Howe’s vicious raged with about 70 people eventually arrested. elbows, Richard was not a favourite of the on-ice officials. “We always went out by the Atwater St. exit,” Moore recalled. “We took a On March 13, Montreal was at when Richard was high- quick look on Ste. Catherine and knew something bad was happening. sticked by Bruins’ defenceman Hal Laycoe. Though a delayed penalty We decided to go to a restaurant, one of Rocket’s favourites, in the North was coming, Richard saw blood from his head and went straight after End. There were four to six of us having a quiet dinner as if it was a Laycoe. regular night.” However, it took another full day for rage on the streets to burn out, helped by a public radio address from Richard on the 19th, pleading for calm.

The Habs still made the Cup final, losing to the Wings, but Richard never forgot the lost chance at the Art Ross Trophy and would could’ve been a sixth consecutive Cup for the Canadiens, who reeled off five between 1956-60.

“Rocket never spoke about those things, but I know it hurt him,” Moore said. “The person who probably was affected by the Riot after him was Boom Boom Geoffrion. He won the scoring title that should have been Rocket’s and he was booed in Montreal for a long time after.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181214 Toronto Maple Leafs

'HAVE TO DO OUR PART': Maple Leafs lend weight to COVID-19 awareness

Lance Hornby

March 19, 2020 2:32 PM EDT

If they can’t go to the rink, the idled Maple Leafs want the public to think about using the sink.

Since so much attention is paid to everything the Leafs say or do, the club is putting that clout to good use in the pandemic crisis. The team has posted COVID-19 social media messages by defenceman Morgan Rielly and centre to underscore recommendations of health experts.

Rielly, one of the hockey club’s alternate captains, emphasized 20- to 30- second handwashing in a demo from his kitchen.

“I’m checking in during a challenging time for everyone,” Rielly said. “The Leafs have a couple of reminders during this time, take care of one another and keep your hands clean.”

As he kept the soap and water flowing for the ideal tap time, Rielly jokingly urged fans to “think more Mitch Marner puck possession numbers than Hyman’s … or whatever you have to do. Sing the Mr. Brightside (chorus). Just make sure you take your time.”

Rielly added, “Thank you to the doctors, the nurses and people on the front lines and people taking care of us. We individuals have to do our part, to take care of one another, keep our distances and stay home, take it seriously and help people out.”

Hyman welcomed online viewers to his home “self isolation chamber,” where he had a notepad for old-fashioned brainstorming, an X-Box, a gaming station, video games such as Fortnite, snacks and water.

“I really like to do this (in his usual recreation times), but I’m also practising what our medical experts have told us,” Hyman said. “The most important thing is social distancing. Our job is to stay indoors as much as we can.

“When you need to go out, go for the essentials, stay six feet away from people. That doesn’t mean we can’t talk to each other. video games, have FaceTime, go on our phones, talk to our friends.”

Hyman segued to an invite to join him online to play games such as Fortnite, Call of Duty, Apex and NHL.

The club also announced the green and white Toronto St. Pats sweaters they were supposed to wear March 14 in Boston and March 17 at home versus New Jersey would be given away to health-care workers and first responders. Fans were encouraged to tag a worker or responder on the front line, with random recipients announced by the team this Friday.

The Maple Leafs recognize all those who work to help others in need.

Rielly and Hyman joined high-profile NHLers such as Edmonton’s Connor McDavid with messages of encouragement.

“Like a lot of you, I’m just stuck inside,” McDavid said in a social media video, with his dog Lenny resting at his feet. “We’re trying to control this thing before it gets out of hand. What one person does affects the other.

“Take care of yourselves and I’m looking forward to getting on the ice soon.”

A total of 63 NHL regular season games were lost as of Thursday, one week into the “pause” announced by commissioner Gary Bettman. The chances of playing the final 15% of the schedule that was to be completed by April 4 are getting dimmer, with most travel and businesses shut down until at least the end of the month in North America.

For some players now back in Europe, it could be hard to re-enter this continent.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181215 Vegas Golden Knights I struggle with such questions. But while players and teams might not be legally bound to ensure workers are financially secure, isn’t there a moral side of this to help those you constantly credit for being part of an organization’s success? Golden Knights do the right thing in helping arena workers You want to believe those with the most are compassionate.

That they will gladly minimize the struggle of their fellow man. By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal Not all do. Some, however, give until it hurts. March 19, 2020 - 7:16 PM The only perfection there is, tennis great Andre Agassi once said, is the Updated March 19, 2020 - 7:50 PM perfection of helping others.

“It was important for us to take care of all these people, most of whom are not our employees, but instead those of (third-party vendors),” I miss Kenny and Susan. Knights owner Bill Foley said. “I see them every home game, ask them They share shifts operating the media elevator at T-Mobile Arena for about their families. We wanted to make sure if the games aren’t played Golden Knights games. and canceled, the money goes directly to the individuals and not their companies. Each always has a smile and watches the games on a television situated above the door. “These are dedicated, hard-working people that we care about.”

They and so many like them were taken care of Thursday. Kenny and Susan are such two.

It had to happen in this chaotic time of the coronavirus. They say “We” a lot when referring to the team, and it is probably a little confusing to them that the media covering the Knights — well, some It was the right thing to do. anyway — can’t return their love for all things Fortress.

The Knights followed the lead of so many professional teams and But they still smile. athletes in providing funds to assist part-time game day employees and hourly on-call staff who were previously scheduled to work the season’s Following the news Thursday, I imagine they’re doing so now more than remaining home games. ever.

It was a group effort by several factions of the organization, pledging a minimum of $500,000 to the effort. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.20.2020 Marc-Andre Fleury led the player contributions with a $100,000 donation.

Of course he did.

Fleury remains the face of the franchise no matter how often he deflects credit to others. There is no one like him in the room and few like him among those beloved athletes who have called Las Vegas home.

Even now, with trade-deadline acquisition Robin Lehner sharing duties in net, Fleury holds a unique place in the hearts of fans. He always will.

“A big part of what makes the Vegas Golden Knights game day experience so memorable is the staff working behind the scenes,” Fleury said via statement. “As players, we truly appreciate all the employees who work so hard in making The Fortress the best place to play in the NHL. They are just as much a part of the Las Vegas community as we are.”

Isn’t that the point?

I’m not sure there has been a sports franchise such as the Knights that so quickly connected with a community. While the team’s reaction to the October 1 shooting and its historic expansion season helped create such a bond, it has remained strong.

Be assured that countless of those working games at T-Mobile are just as faithful to the Knights as those they serve, be it through food and beverage, medical and retail, event personnel, cleaning operations and so on.

Translation: Kenny and Susan are hardly the only ones drawing a paycheck who are all-in on the team.

Mark Cuban began this swell of support when the owner made a commitment to pay all arena workers inside American Airlines Center while the NBA was closed for business due to the virus.

Soon, players and teams from all sports across the globe did as well, compensating those who work their games.

Major League Baseball, in fact, pledged $1 million to the cause from each of its 30 teams.

Where does the line begin with the wealthiest among us sharing the responsibility of helping the less fortunate? Do the rich have an inherent obligation to aid in such uncertain times? Is it ever correct to ask or even demand of others how to spend their money?

Believe in good 1181216 Vegas Golden Knights where they started playing zone instead of man coverage — also stuck after this.

The Knights won their next three games and started building positive Golden Knights’ top 5 games: Here’s No. 1 on the RJ’s list momentum for one of the first times this season.

Why it’s No. 1: There hasn’t been a better finish this season. An absolutely unbelievable way for the Knights to exorcise several demons. By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

March 19, 2020 - 1:48 PM LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.20.2020

The game: Game No. 27, a 4-3 overtime road win against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 27.

The background: The Knights, to put it mildly, had a lot going on prior to this game. Most of it wasn’t good.

They were 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and 0-2-1 in their past three. Those three games included a home 2-1 overtime loss to the rival San Jose Sharks, a 4-2 home pasting at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers and a 4-2 road loss to the Dallas Stars two days earlier.

In more macro issues, the Knights faced questions about their backup goaltending, spotty play beyond regulation and mental toughness. They had yet to win a game without Marc-Andre Fleury, in 3-on-3 overtime or when tied after two periods.

They faced all those situations against the Predators. Malcolm Subban started because Fleury took a leave of absence Nov. 25 to be with his family after the death of his father, Andre, who died Nov. 26.

What happened: Perhaps the most miraculous play in Knights history.

The game wasn’t too memorable through 59-plus minutes. The Knights built a 2-0 lead 6:22 into the second period thanks to goals from right wings Mark Stone and Reilly Smith. The Predators promptly erased the deficit thanks to defenseman Roman Josi.

The likely Norris Trophy finalist caused breakdowns in the new defensive structure the Knights debuted and set up teammates Mikael Granlund and Ryan Ellis for goals. Center Matt Duchene put the Predators ahead 3-2 1:23 into the third, and the home team put the clamps on.

The Knights weren’t able to generate much pressure while pushing for the tying goal. Until the very end.

With Subban pulled, the Predators flung the puck down the ice during the game’s waning seconds hoping to kill the remaining clock. Left wing Jonathan Marchessault hustled after it and retrieved it behind his own net with less than 15 seconds to play.

Marchessault skated the puck to the far blue line, dumped it in with 8 seconds remaining and kept chasing it. He knocked the puck off Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis’ stick, and Smith grabbed it with three seconds left. Smith passed to Stone. Two seconds left. Stone passed to left wing Max Pacioretty. One second left.

Pacioretty shot. He scored. The sharpshooter’s lightning-quick release got the puck in the net with 0.3 seconds on the clock. Bridgestone Arena was silent. The Predators were stunned. Pacioretty screamed, pumped his fist and was enveloped in a six-way bear hug on the ice.

What happened next seemed almost inevitable. Defenseman Nate Schmidt and center Paul Stastny created a two-on-one in overtime, Stastny scored and the Knights snatched two points after nearly getting none.

“Talk about every second counts,” Stastny said.

Game MVP: It goes to Marchessault for his unbelievable hustle on the game-tying play.

The goal doesn’t happen if Marchessault takes even one wrong step going up and down the ice. He didn’t get any credit on the scoresheet, but he’s the one who kept the game alive.

“Him having the awareness and then coming up like he was shot out of a cannon, that’s an unbelievable play,” Pacioretty said.

The aftermath: The Knights proved a lot of people wrong with one single play.

They improved to 1-5-2 without Fleury, 1-4 in games decided at 3-on-3 and 1-1-2 when tied after two periods. Their defensive zone tweak — 1181217 Vegas Golden Knights

Knights pledge financial support for arena, part-time employees

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

March 19, 2020 - 9:42 am

Updated March 19, 2020 - 9:10 PM

The Golden Knights are taking care of T-Mobile Arena employees impacted by the pause in the NHL season.

The team said Thursday it will pledge a minimum of $500,000 to assist part-time arena staff and its own part-time employees who were scheduled to work the remaining four regular-season home games.

“Make no mistake, these are uncertain and challenging times, especially here in the great city of Las Vegas,” owner Bill Foley said in a statement. “But we are all in this together and we will all persevere together.

“We hope these contributions can have a positive impact on many of the staff and their families who are affected. We want to do our part.”

In addition to contributions from Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, players also are offering financial support to those whose jobs were affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury committed to donating $100,000.

“A big part of what makes the Vegas Golden Knights game day experience so memorable is the staff working behind the scenes,” Fleury said in a statement. “As players, we truly appreciate all the employees who work so hard in making The Fortress the best place to play in the NHL. They are just as much a part of the Las Vegas community as we are.

“My family and I hope that these contributions not only help those in need, but also inspire others who are in fortunate positions to step up and find ways to help, too. We can’t wait to see the employees and our fans again soon.”

The Knights were one of the last NHL organizations to announce a plan to pay arena workers, who are not team employees. T-Mobile Arena is co-owned and operated by MGM Resorts International.

Foley said last week after the season was suspended he would make financial sacrifices if necessary.

The financial contributions will benefit hourly, on-call staff at T-Mobile Arena along with third-party vendors, service providers, food and beverage employees, retail associates, medical staff, event personnel, production and cleaning operations.

The Knights also will support their part-time game staff, which includes in-arena hosts, the public-address announcer, Vegas Vivas!, Golden Belles, Knights Guard, Knight Line, the Golden Knight, DJ and music director, camera operators, control room crew, Battle Wagon driver, Villain and Watchman, and the drivers of the ice resurfacers.

Interns who work game days for the team will also be assisted by these efforts.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181218 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights donating money to help arena workers

By Justin Emerson

Thursday, March 19, 2020 | 9:36 a.m.

The Golden Knights are stepping up to help T-Mobile Arena workers impacted by the loss of NHL games this season.

Golden Knights owner Bill Foley announced this morning that the organization, as well as players and the Golden Knights Foundation, have pledged “a minimum of $500,000” to support employees who are out of work. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is donating $100,000.

“As players we truly appreciate all the employees who work so hard in making The Fortress the best place to play in the NHL,” Fleury said in a statement. “They are just as much a part of the Las Vegas community as we are. My family and I hope that these contributions not only help those in need, but also inspire others who are in fortunate positions to step up and find ways to help too.”

The NHL announced March 12 it would suspend the rest of its season, which included postponing four Golden Knights home games and any potential playoff games. Many arena workers depend on game nights to collect a paycheck.

This donation will benefit part-time and hourly on-call employees, such as concession workers, retail staff, event personnel, production and cleaning staff. Those workers are not employed by the team but by the arena and third-party companies.

The team said it will also help its own part-time game-night employees, such as the in-arena hosts, production crew, music operators and camera workers.

“Make no mistake, these are uncertain and challenging times, especially here in the great city of Las Vegas,” Foley said in a statement. “But we are all in this together and we will all persevere together. We hope these contributions can have a positive impact on many of the staff and their families who are affected. We want to do our part.”

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181219 Vegas Golden Knights camp and preseason with the Golden Knights. Many felt Coghlan drastically outplayed Hague, who was eventually crowned the winner of the battle for the final defensive spot. Coghlan may not be the most defensively sound, but he has above-average skating and perhaps the Golden Knights prospects: Where the AHL and ECHL players stand for hardest slap shot in the entire organization. next season He struggled early in the AHL season while playing a new role of shutdown, top-pairing defenseman. He was much more comfortable as a middle-pairing guy who provided offense and was a weapon on the By Jesse Granger power play. But with Hague and Zach Whitecloud out, Coghlan’s Mar 19, 2020 responsibility increased. As the season went on he grew into his new role, but not well enough to get a shot in the NHL. Offensively, his stats plummeted from 40 points last season to only 24.

As we sit in hockey limbo, it’s a good time to look at how each of the Outlook for next season: Despite Coghlan clearly being behind Hague Golden Knights prospects performed this season and where they’ll likely and Whitecloud in the pecking order, I think Coghlan still has a chance to play next season. play games with the Golden Knights next season because he plays the right side and is offensively-minded — two things Vegas still lacks on the Vegas has 26 total prospects to examine, so I’ve broken them into three blue line. groups based on where they played this season. Paul Cotter, F, 20 (Chicago Wolves) • Canadian major junior hockey (OHL, WHL and QMJHL) Fourth-round pick in 2018 (No. 115 overall) • Minor league professional hockey (AHL and ECHL) Earlier I referenced Elvenes being the second-youngest player on the • College hockey and overseas leagues (NCAA and KHL in Russia) Chicago Wolves. The only player younger s Cotter, who barely snuck The first list included eight prospects who played in Canadian major over the AHL’s age requirement by turning 20 in November. junior hockey this past season, from Peyton Krebs to goaltender Jiri It wasn’t a great season for Cotter, registering only four goals and five Patera. Now we’ll transition to the eight players who were closest to the assists in 56 games, but I think it was far better for his development than NHL, playing for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League another season of junior hockey would’ve been. While he didn’t make a and one player in the ECHL. major impact on the box score, Cotter was one of the most noticeable One thing we know for sure, none of them will be playing in Chicago next players on the ice every time I watched Wolves games. He uses his big season. The Golden Knights’ purchase of the San Antonio Rampage,and frame well and isn’t afraid to battle in the corners with older, larger subsequent relocation to Las Vegas, means all NHL and AHL players will players. share the same city. It will just be a matter of whether they drive to Outlook for next season: Cotter will likely be back for a second season in Summerlin or Henderson for practice. the AHL, but with the experience he gained last season, he should be a Lucas Elvenes, F, 20 (Chicago Wolves) much more integral part of the team. His physicality and nose for the puck could help him carve out a nice career in the NHL, but not yet. Fifth-round pick in 2017 (No. 127 overall) Jonas Rondbjerg, F, 20 (Chicago Wolves) Elvenes entered the Golden Knights organization flying under the radar. He was part of the inaugural draft class in 2017 that included three first- Third-round pick in 2017 (No. 65 overall) round picks (Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki and Erik Brannstrom) and highly- This season was unfortunately a wash for one of the Golden Knights touted second-round pick Nic Hague. Elvenes went much later in the most promising forward prospects. Rondbjerg was a standout at rookie draft but over the past three seasons has developed into one of the best camp and in the rookie showcase tournament last summer. He uses his prospects in the entire organization. 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame to his advantage and has underrated vision in The 20-year-old led all Chicago Wolves with 48 points this season, the offensive zone. Think of a bigger, slower William Carrier, because finishing fourth amongst all AHL rookies. Since coming over from the Rondbjerg has the physicality to play on a checking line, but the hands to Swedish Hockey League, Elvenes has adapted extremely well to the play higher in the lineup if needed. smaller rink and is showing he can drive offense in the North American However, Rondbjerg’s 2019-20 season came to an end when he suffered game after registering only 20 points in 42 games with Rogle BK last an upper-body injury in the Chicago Wolves’ season opener. He didn’t season. suit up for another game for the Wolves and will have to wait for 2020-21 The Wolves’ offense struggled immensely this year, scoring the second- to play his first full season of professional hockey. fewest goals in the AHL. But of the 155 goals they mustered, Elvenes Outlook for next season: Rondbjerg is expected to be fully healthy for scored or assisted on an impressive 31 percent of them. training camp and will be part of Las Vegas’ AHL team next season. “He’s been that much of a part of our offense,” Wolves coach Rocky Keegan Kolesar, F, 22, (Chicago Wolves) Thompson said in October. “It’s exactly what we were hoping. We wanted to give him an opportunity early to see if that could happen, and Third-round pick in 2015 (No. 69 overall) it’s happening for him.” Kolesar made his NHL debut on Jan. 11, against the Columbus Blue Perhaps the most impressive part of Elvenes’ progression is that he’s still Jackets. It was his only game with the Golden Knights this season but very young. Not only is he the second-youngest player on the team, but shows that Kolesar is reaching a point in his progression where he’s an he’s actually younger than some of the Golden Knights prospects playing option to fill in on a nightly basis in the NHL. Vegas has a well- in college right now (Jack Dugan). established fourth line with Reaves, Nosek and Carrier, but in the event any of them miss games, Kolesar has established himself as one of the Outlook for next season: Elvenes has elevated himself above every top AHL options to fill in on the bottom-six. Golden Knights’ forward prospect other than Glass (if you still consider him a prospect) in terms of NHL-readiness. Elvenes will be pushing hard Outlook for next season: Both Reaves and Nosek are unrestricted free for a spot on Vegas’ roster next fall, and depending on what happens to agents this summer. If they both leave Vegas (unlikely), it would open a some free agent wingers (Ryan Reaves and Tomas Nosek), Elvenes spot for Kolesar to compete for in camp. If not, Kolesar will likely be might just make it. If he does, his $776,667 cap hit would certainly playing for Las Vegas’ AHL team at The Orleans Arena. alleviate some of the Golden Knights’ salary cap issues. Jake Leschyshyn, F, 21 (Chicago Wolves) Dylan Coghlan, D, 22 (Chicago Wolves) Second-round pick in 2017 (No. 62 overall) Undrafted free agent Leschyshyn had a tough go in his debut AHL season, tallying only four This was a disappointing season for Coghlan. Coghlan had a fantastic goals and four assists in 61 games. His offense hasn’t translated to this 2018-19 season with the Wolves, then played extremely well in training level after being nearly a point-per-game player in the WHL. That’s partially due to his placement in the lineup, as Leschyshyn didn’t have much opportunity to play in the top-six with Chicago. But it also speaks to his lack of development that he wasn’t able to crack the top two lines on the second-worst offensive team in the AHL.

It’s only his rookie season so there’s still hope for Leschyshyn, but to this point he’s falling well below expectations for his second-round selection.

Outlook for next season: Leschyshyn will almost certainly play for Vegas’ AHL team next season. Perhaps being closer to the NHL staff could benefit his development.

Ben Jones, F, 21, (Chicago Wolves)

Seventh-round pick in 2017 (No. 189 overall)

The AHL is a big step up from the OHL, and Jones experienced that this season. Following an absolutely stellar final season in junior hockey, where he racked up 102 points in 68 games for the Niagara Ice Dogs, Jones struggled to produce in the AHL.

Jones bounced from the ECHL to the AHL for part of the season, but spent most of his time with the Chicago Wolves, where he had seven points in 36 appearances. He’s still young enough that there’s hope his offensive game will translate better in year two.

Outlook for next season: Jones should be able to solidify his position with the AHL club to avoid trips to the ECHL, but still has a ways to go before making the next jump to the NHL.

Jimmy Schuldt, D, 24 (Chicago Wolves)

Signed as undrafted free agent

As a 24-year-old, Schuldt probably wishes he wasn’t on this list. The Hobey Baker Award finalist entered last offseason as one of the favorites to land a spot on the Golden Knights opening day roster, but just missed the cut. He was behind the eight-ball to start the competition, considering he didn’t have a full season of experience in the organization’s system the way Hague, Whitecloud and Coghlan did.

Schuldt played 52 games for Chicago, finishing second amongst Wolves defensemen in scoring behind only Coghlan with 21 points. He also scored two power play goals and showed he has a dangerous shot from the point.

Outlook for next season: Schuldt will be vying for a spot on the Golden Knights once again. Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland are both unrestricted free agents, and could open up another spot or two on the blue line for Schuldt, Hague, Whitecloud and Coghlan to fight over.

Dylan Ferguson, G, 21 ()

Seventh-round pick in 2017 (No. 194 overall)

Ferguson entered this season as the Golden Knights’ clear top goaltending prospect after a fantastic rookie camp and training camp. He would’ve been the only prospect to start in net for Vegas this preseason, but he was a late scratch with an illness. However, his stock took a hit during his first season as a pro.

Ferguson played admirably in his AHL debut, stopping 35-of-37 shots in regulation and overtime, and holding the scoreless in the shootout to earn a win. However, once he joined the Komets in the ECHL, he struggled. The 21-year-old netminder played in 16 ECHL games, with a 3.87 goals-against average and .869 save percentage. The Komets didn’t exactly play the best defense in front of Ferguson, but 22-year-old Cole Kehler outplayed him in net and eventually took a hold of the starting job in Fort Wayne.

Outlook for next season: It’s still extremely early in Ferguson’s career, and he showed glimpses of his potential with some impressive acrobatic saves. Don’t write him off, but it will be interesting to see him on the ice at camp with Jiri Patera (who had a fantastic season in the WHL) and Isaiah Saville, who is rising quickly in the Golden Knights’ goalie prospect pool.

We’ll discuss Saville, and the rest of Vegas’ prospects playing college hockey, on Friday.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181220 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Pledge $500,000 To Help Game-Day Part-Timers, Arena Workers Who Work VGK Home Games At T-Mobile Arena

March 19, 2020

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley said Thursday the team, players and the Golden Knights Foundation will pledge a minimum of $500,000 to help part-time game-day employees and T-Mobile Arena hourly on-call staff who were scheduled to work the remaining Golden Knights home games at the arena through the end of the NHL regular season.

Leading the player contributions is VGK goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who committed $100,000 after the NHL season was paused March 12 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has spread across the U.S. and prompted Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak this week to advise state residents to stay home and to order “non-essential” businesses to close for at least 30 days.

In a prepared statement released today, Foley was quoted, “Our foundational principles are centered on helping people in need and defending those who cannot defend themselves. Make no mistake, these are uncertain and challenging times, especially here in the great city of Las Vegas. But we are all in this together and we will all persevere together. We hope these contributions can have a positive impact on many of the staff and their families who are affected. We want to do our part.”

The money will assist arena hourly on-call staff that normally work VGK home games, including third-party vendors, service providers, food and beverage employees, retail associates, medical staff, event personnel, production and cleaning operations. Here’s one of the VGK game part- timers, DJ Joe Green:

The Golden Knights will also support all their own part-time game night employees. This includes the entire VGK Cast and Crew – including in- arena hosts, PA announcer, Vegas Vivas!, Golden Belles, Knights Guard, Knight Line, the dj, The Golden Knight, music director, camera operators, control room crew, Battle Wagon driver, Villain and Watchman. It also includes the drivers of the ice resurfacers.

Vegas Golden Knights interns who work game days across all the VGK business teams will also be assisted by these efforts. Even the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation 51/49 raffle staff will be supported as well.

“A big part of what makes the Vegas Golden Knights game day experience so memorable is the staff working behind the scenes,” Fleury was quoted in the media release.

Marc-Andre Fleury last week at CNA before NHL games were “paused.”

“As players we truly appreciate all the employees who work so hard in making The Fortress the best place to play in the NHL. They are just as much a part of the Las Vegas community as we are. My family and I hope that these contributions not only help those in need, but also inspire others who are in fortunate positions to step up and find ways to help too. We can’t wait to see the employees and our fans again soon.”

The game part-timers have been worried about their income after the NHL announced the decision to pause the 2019-20 season. LVSportsBiz.com reported this topic six days ago.

The NHL’s goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate so that the league will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. The Vegas Golden Knights contributions will be distributed for 2019-20 regular season games not played or rescheduled.

COVID-19 cases in U.S. as of Thursday March 19: 11,532; Confirmed global cases: 191,127.

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Braden and Brandi Holtby donate 25K meals through Capital Area Food Bank

By Quinton Mayo

March 19, 2020 2:40 PM

COVID-19 has not only claimed the lives of many but put families and individuals in tough financial situations as well.

Due to this reality, Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby and his wife Brandi donated $10,000 to the Capital Area Food Bank and are looking for others to assist them in aiding even more families.

"As school and workplace closures make access to enough nutritious food even more challenging, these children and working families need our help now, more than ever," the couple said in a statement via mightycause.com.

Braden and Brandi are hoping to raise 50,000 meals, with ever dollar donated providing 2.5 meals.

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How to binge watch your favorite NHL games for free

By Caroline Brandt

March 19, 2020 11:04 AM

While the NHL is on pause, you can press play on any Capitals game beginning Friday, March 20.

The NHL announced its initiative to keep fans connected during the league's suspension due to the coronavirus with "NHL Pause Binge," allowing fans access to stream archived games and gain access to "unique content," via NHL.com and the NHL app.

Now, you can watch the Caps hoist the Stanley Cup for the very first time on June 7, 2018, on repeat.

Not only that, but fans can watch exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the Capitals' many Winter Classic appearances on "Road to the NHL Winter Classic," among other NHL exclusive programming.

You can even watch the good ol' days of Alan May, Craig Laughlin, Peter Bondra and Olie Kolzig, with games available to stream dating back to the 1950's.

Caps games from Ovi's greatest games to the Stanley Cup run will also be available on NBC Sports Washington - stay tuned for our broadcast schedule here.

With the move, the NHL follows the lead of the NBA and NFL, who offered similar services this week.

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How the NHL’s pause could affect Ovechkin’s chase of Gretzky’s goal record

By J.J. Regan

March 19, 2020 6:00 AM

With the NHL season currently on hold, so too is Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of the Great One. Ovechkin remains stuck on 706 goals, 188 shy of Gretzky’s goal record of 894. Ovechkin was already defying his age with his 48 goals this season. With all the uncertainty surrounding the NHL as a result of the coronavirus, the question is how will this affect Ovechkin’s chase of the goal record?

Ovechkin already ranks eighth on the all-time goals list and his scoring ability and durability have made 894 goals, a mark long thought to be untouchable, realistically attainable for the Great 8. But most reasonable people can agree that if Ovechkin does beat Gretzky, it’s not going to be by a wide margin.

The oldest player to ever record a 50-goal season was the 35-year-old John Bucyk in 1971. Ovechkin is not going to score 50 goals forever and even if he did, it would still take him four more seasons to pass the Great One.

That’s what makes these last 13 games so critical.

With 48 goals in 68 games, Ovechkin is currently on pace to score 57 in 81 (he was suspended for one game for skipping the All-Star Game). That’s an additional nine goals should the remainder of the regular season be played. That would give him 715 for his career and put him just 180 goals away from passing Gretzky. Ovechkin would have to average 36 goals per season for the next five seasons to get there. As it stands now with 706 career goals, Ovechkin would have to average 37.8 goals over the next five seasons.

That doesn’t seem like a significant jump, does it? It is.

To score 36 goals per season, Ovechkin would have to average 0.439 goals per game. Only four players in the history of the NHL age 35 and older have managed to score at that rate for more than a season. To average 37.8 goals per season, Ovechkin would have to average 0.461 goals per game. No player has ever averaged that much over the age of 35 for longer than 12 games. Ovechkin needs to do it for five seasons.

If Ovechkin beats Gretzky, it is only going to be by a handful of goals. It is not an understatement to say that nine goals could literally be the difference between catching Gretzky and falling just short.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181224 Winnipeg Jets One hockey fan came up with a brilliant idea this week, borrowing from the NCAA March Madness bracket to crown the NHL player with the best name.

Play it again, Dick Irvin The tournament is still in the early stages, so allow us to offer our predictions for the Final 4.

We’ll take Zemgus Girgensons in the Atlantic, Elvis Merzlikins in the By: Mike McIntyre and Jason Bell Metro, Slater Koekkoek in the Central and Vinnie Hinostroza in the Pacific. Posted: 03/19/2020 7:00 PM And in a close vote, we’ve got Merzlikins edging out Koekkoek in the

final. What a week for NHL hockey on the tube! There hasn’t been a lot of actual sports news to sink our teeth into, with That was a heck of a Jets game on the other night. People knew that kid the exception of the where free agent frenzy Patrik Laine could fire a puck, but a five-goal game in St. Louis? A couple has proven to be just that. of nights later, it was fitting to see Kings centre Wayne Gretzky score late The biggest news, of course, was the announcement that Tom Brady against the Oilers in Edmonton, passing Gordie Howe to become the was breaking up with the New England Patriots and putting himself on NHL’s all-time point producer (1,850). the open market. Just wish the brawl-filled battle between the Habs and Nordiques wasn’t That’s a bombshell any time of the year, but especially when you have a on TV opposite The Bachelor. We missed that one. But we’ll be glued to somewhat captive audience just starving for something meaty to happen. the set when the gets going, and Dale Hawerchuk joins Gretzky and Mario Lemieux on a formidable squad that’s bound to give Kudos to the Anaheim Ducks, who quickly made their pitch to try and turn those pesky Soviets — led by the KLM line — all they can handle. perhaps the greatest quarterback in NFL history into a two-sport athlete.

Despite the turmoil the COVID-19 threat has caused Canada and the rest Alas, it looks like the Ducks came up just short, as Brady appears of the world, at least there’s NHL hockey – albeit of the blast from the headed for Tampa Bay. No, not the Lightning. The Buccaneers. past variety. Enduring, ever-present, unconquerable NHL hockey. Third period We’re all living in strange times, not knowing exactly what comes next. Our hope, as always, is to provide a few laughs and a little levity to your Perhaps one silver lining to all of this is a chance to get to know players day. and coaches in a way the rigours of a regular-season normally wouldn’t allow. So until the next broadcast with and Dick Irvin Jr., hits the small screen, enjoy our latest edition of Dump & Chase. We’re seeing some real personalities shine through, and Jets skaters weren’t the only ones to reach out this week. Here’s just a small sample It was produced in partnership, while following the dos and don’ts of of what’s out there: social distancing – not exactly a hardship for Mike and Jay who, by mid- March, can barely stand the sight of each other, anyway. There was Connor McDavid and his four-legged friend, Lenny…

First period Even our favourite mascot, Gritty, got in on the act with a missive to the masses. The timing of the potential end of the season couldn’t have been worse for the Winnipeg Jets, who were playing perhaps their best hockey of the Which prompted one person to ask: How is Gritty better at this than the season and had finally gotten healthy just before the NHL season was U.S. president? put on indefinite pause. It’s good to know that when the going gets tough, the tough stay petty. Winnipeg had won four straight games, and whether they get a chance to Such was the scene this week at an Ottawa store, where paper products build on that remains to be seen. were flying off the shelves, with one notable exception. But there are much more important things to worry about right now, and Turns out no Senators fan could stomach the idea of purchasing a pack captain Blake Wheeler set the perfect tone this week when he took to of Maple Leafs-themed tissues. Twitter to send a message to his followers. Now that is staying committed to the cause. Our favourite is the sound of Blake’s children in the background, repeatedly ringing iron on the backyard rink. Which prompted a number Overtime of funny comments, including one person asking if Patrik Laine had come over to skate given his propensity for hitting the post. Jason Pominville’s NHL career is likely over, as the 37-year-old veteran of 1,060 regular-season games didn’t land a contract this season. Wheeler quickly had some online company as a number of his isolated teammates took to Twitter to share their messages. But that doesn’t mean the guy who scored 293 goals and added 434 big- league assists is out of the sport entirely. Not only is this an effective way of staying in touch with the fans who pay your freight, but it’s also a great use of the platform these athletes have. Pominville has spent the past few months skating in something called the Performax Hockey League, which is an adult hockey league in Buffalo. Defenceman Nathan Beaulieu was quick to thank all of the front-line workers who are putting it on the line every day. And, not surprisingly, he kind of tore it up against Beer League competition. Recently acquired Dylan DeMelo, who has impressed on the ice, is also impressing off it with his obvious leadership abilities, urging folks to rally Pominville’s stats in 19 games are eye-popping: 57 goals, 48 assists and together and stay strong. 105 points. That completely lapped the rest of the league. The second- leading scorer, for example, has 51 points. Let’s face it. There are still people out there with their heads in the sand, balking at the request to practice social distancing to help halt the spread In this time of social distancing, Netflix and video game platforms are of coronavirus. certainly seeing a spike in usage.

Those messages pack a lot more punch when they come from someone And that goes for both players and teams, who have found creative ways with a large following and big voice. Well done to all. to keep the competitive juices flowing.

Second period A number of teams, including the Los Angeles Kings, have taken to simulating and broadcasting postponed games on their schedule. With so much idle time suddenly on our collective hands, people are finding creative ways to fill the void. And Minnesota Wild forward J.T. Brown ad Toronto forward Zach Hyman are among a number of players to go online inviting followers to join them in some video game action.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 03.20.2020 1181225 Winnipeg Jets One trend Winnipeg didn’t join before Monday’s roster freeze? The Jets didn’t send their one AHL eligible player, Logan Shaw to the Moose. The difference between NHL and AHL money is substantial: Shaw earns approximately $113,000 for 30 days spent in the NHL compared to With the NHL paused, what comes next for the Jets? $56,000 for 30 days in the AHL. It’s a small difference for a team with some $80 million in salaries but could be meaningful to Shaw himself.

(Across the NHL, 17 players have been waived or sent directly to the By Murat Ates minors since the suspension of play.)

Mar 19, 2020 Finally, the players have a brief break from media obligations as the NHL works to establish more certainty.

What happens to the schedule? Will Winnipeg be forced to give up its playoff spot? As first reported by TSN’s , a group of players have Could the playoffs really start in August? proposed a workaround schedule with plenty of time off built-in for the pandemic to run its course. And what will happen to the Jets’ 11 pending UFAs? An abbreviated training camp would begin in early July, the regular Given Winnipeg’s unique place in the standings, the early impact of its season would be brought to an 82-game close and the Stanley Cup trade deadline acquisitions and its need to retool on defence whether or would be awarded in September. not there is a 2020 Stanley Cup champion, the Jets have an awful lot to gain – or lose – depending on how these questions get answered. Here are the details:

Before I get into those questions (and more; there are so many more) let The biggest advantage to a schedule like this would be that, simply by me assure you of one thing: we’re keeping the coverage coming at The delaying the start date, it becomes at least halfway realistic. Athletic through these turbulent times. Yes, it might mean the occasional Q&A with a Canada Research Chair in Emerging and Re-Emerging Whether it’s the CHL cancelling its season outright, the French Open Viruses and while there are no actual hockey games being played there delaying from May and June to the fall or UEFA delaying Euro 2020 by a are still stories to tell, systems to analyze and topics to deep dive. full year, the sporting world appears to be clearing out its schedule through the end of June. This is consistent with the timeline experts are I may be social distancing and working exclusively from home but that suggesting for COVID-19 to spread, peak and then dissipate to levels at just means more time for video. which society can return to function. (For the time being, the Tokyo Olympics are still scheduled for July 24-Aug. 9.) I still have a fully functioning telephone and a couple of features I can’t wait to share with you. While the concept of summer hockey may irk some fans and viewership would likely be much lower in August than April, no diehard will miss And I continue to owe my career to your engagement right here at The Stanley Cup playoffs whenever they take place. It seems a workable Athletic. situation that involves less lost revenue than a full cancellation. With all of that in mind, if there are story angles or types of content you The more you dig into it though while considering all of hockey’s want to see me dive into now that I have a little more time than usual: tell stakeholders, the more you can find flaws. An October draft would me. No idea’s too wild; we’re in these unusual times together. Plus, our occupy amateur scouts’ energies at the same time they’re typically on the Winnipeg part of this site tends to be the best comments section on the road covering every league in the world other than the NHL. Given that internet – no reason to change that now. leagues like the CHL, USHL, NCAA and overseas leagues like the SHL Finally, if I can make one more request: please look after each other as and SM- have cancelled their seasons outright, one expects those best as you can. Social distancing is the best way we have to limit the same leagues will be starting play at their normal times in the fall. (The amount of COVID-19 cases and thus keep our health care system strong KHL is still discussing their playoff plans, having suspended play for a enough to deal with this pandemic – and look after us in all of the usual week on Monday, even as an individual club, , has withdrawn from ways, too. This is especially true for young and healthy people who can the competition.) transmit COVID-19 while symptom-free. Listen to the health experts, What does this mean for Winnipeg? including Dr. Kindrachuk, who I interviewed in that piece linked above. It means good health. Let’s move on to hockey. The NHL season is on pause. What does this mean for the Jets? Mathieu Perreault and Adam Lowry had already played in March and each made a major impact – Perreault with a goal against Vegas in his What does this mean for the players? first game back and Lowry with a game-opening fight against Arizona. In the 48 hours or so after the NHL announced its suspension, one of its For a team which spent most of the season among the NHL’s leaders in “best case” contingency plans was a return to action within three weeks. man-games lost to injury (and cap hit of injured players, as per NHL Players were initially instructed to go to their team’s home city and self- Injury Viz) few teams will benefit from full health more than Winnipeg. quarantine. Once everyone was deemed healthy and the pandemic had One can reasonably project a healthy Luca Sbisa onto what had already passed, teams could re-open with mini-camps and the season could be been Winnipeg’s deepest lineup of the season in early March: brought to an abbreviated end. Connor – Scheifele – Wheeler Now, that timeline has been expanded to 45 days, minimum – that is, at least until the end of April – and players have been told they can isolate Ehlers – Eakin – Laine themselves in the home of their choosing. To the best of my knowledge, no NHL player bought himself an island a la Cristiano Ronaldo. Copp – Lowry – Roslovic

Most Jets have already returned to their summer homes – whether Perreault – Shore – Appleton overseas, in the United States or elsewhere in Canada. Morrissey – DeMelo Blake Wheeler, meanwhile, is tending to a lively backyard game with his Kulikov – Pionk family right here in Winnipeg: Beaulieu – Poolman Good on him – for the public health message and for taking advantage of the family time, too. Hellebuyck

Other key details: Players will be paid in full. Full-time staff will be paid in Brossoit full. And True North part-time and casual staff will be paid for scheduled shifts until the end of March (although Centerplate, who is subcontracted Meanwhile, Mark Letestu, who was scheduled to join the Manitoba by True North to run food services at Bell MTS Place, will not be paying Moose for a conditioning stint, gets a fighting chance at catching up to his its hundreds of affected staff. A GoFundMe has been set up here.) peers, fitness-wise. Colleague Ken Wiebe has the latest on Letestu’s journey here. I don’t expect that even a healthy Letestu displaces Nick Shore from the fourth line – he’d be behind Jansen Harkins, among Otherwise, Winnipeg will likely need to re-sign one of its defencemen or others, on my depth chart. commit minutes to Samberg, Niku or even Heinola as early as next year.

The uncertain future of Bryan Little is a potential X-factor, too. If the Jets NHL awards were to hold a training camp in July, Little would have had his three months minimum recovery time from surgery to repair his eardrum. It’s Connor Hellebuyck has to be among the front-runners for the Vezina much too soon to say what Little’s future holds – my understanding of Trophy. If the season is effectively over, I think he should win it. If it recovery from such surgeries is that there are a lot of variables, it’s a continues in July, it would take two major lapses – one on the part of struggle and timelines are fluid – but a fully healthy roster is at least Hellebuyck and a second on the part of voters – to rob him of a spot on possible for these Jets. the ballot.

And Dustin Byfuglien? If Winnipeg does end up making the playoffs, I suspect to receive some votes for the Jack Adams and you might even see a The idea sounds absurd, I know, but he’s still technically under contract. smattering of Hellebuyck votes for the Hart.

I don’t honestly expect there’s a Hail Mary play left on Byfuglien returning The event itself should be easy enough to reconfigure, whether it takes but I do think Winnipeg will try one more time before the saga ends place after a season cancellation or makeshift playoffs. It would also be completely. relatively straightforward, if much less glamorous, to create an online or television-only version of the event. Finally, I would expect University of Minnesota-Duluth defenceman Dylan Samberg to be signed well before the NHL starts up again. SM-liiga Honestly, that the draft lottery has turned into a televised event with NHL hockey is cancelled outright, too, so Ville Heinola could also join the Jets’ executives holding placards like some kind of game show already goes black aces if there is NHL hockey this summer. And while the on-ice beyond my enjoyment of gimmicks. That said, Alexis Lafrenière is la portion of hockey is suspended right now, college free agents are being verité and people will want to know his fate. courted and signings/transactions are perfectly legal. If Winnipeg is cut out of the playoffs by points percentage or loses a play- How would the playoffs work? in, it’s still theoretically possible that the Jets have something at stake on lottery day. Could Lafrenière be a Jet next season? Franchement, non This is where things get dicey. Really dicey. mais … It’s still fun to imagine, though.

Winnipeg technically owns the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot. As for the draft itself, there is plenty of precedent for remote drafts, The Jets beat the Oilers last week (even if it feels like last year) to earn teleconferencing, etc., although it would rob first-round draftees of the that spot. pageantry that traditionally accompanies their invitation to the NHL.

But not every team has played the same number of games. If the NHL It’s currently scheduled for June 26 and 27 which may be late enough in were to forgo the conclusion of the regular season and jump straight into the COVID-19 window for those dates to be maintained, even if the the postseason, Winnipeg would fall behind Nashville and Vancouver by season is cancelled. If it takes place in October, then autumn life 0.001 and the Jets would miss the playoffs altogether. No team has more becomes extremely hectic for amateur scouts but one imagines they’re to lose by such a thin margin than the Jets do. up to the task. As it stands, Winnipeg has only its first-, second-, fifth-, Colleague Dom Luszczyszyn wrote on the “fairness” of several different and sixth-round picks – and that’s something the Jets will look to change, play-in options on Wednesday. By his math, the most technically “fair” whenever the draft takes place. thing the NHL could do would be to expand a play-in to 20 or 22 teams, What happens to the salary cap and how does that affect Winnipeg in leaving the Jets to battle with other bubble teams to make the free agency? postseason. The NHL is going to take a financial hit from COVID-19. This is As Pierre LeBrun writes, the league does appear to have some appetite unavoidable. for a play-in format. Whether it’s out of a sense of fairness or just an opportunity to make as much money back in as short a time as possible, The size of that hit depends on what comes next. If play is able to a play-in format of any kind would give Winnipeg more control over its resume, some scheduling decisions will be made with finances in mind. playoff destiny than it has today. The league is currently missing out on 15 percent of its gate revenue. It’s difficult to predict exactly where COVID-19 will leave the NHL by July While it may seem as though finishing the regular season is a luxury – and August but one possibility, depending on the state of public health, and it is – every extra game means 15,321 more people at Bell MTS could also be to play without fans. It would come at the dear cost of ticket Place and thousands more paying fans throughout the league. If the sales – some 15 percent of the NHL’s regular season has been lost, plus league jumps straight into play-ins, thus giving Winnipeg a chance to playoffs, as of today – but would recoup TV money. Would it feel weird? reclaim a playoff spot, those extra games will add more than excitement Of course it would. – they’ll add revenue.

But a Stanley Cup awarded in September would also feel weird by The salary cap itself isn’t going to drop by 15 percent if that’s how much default. At least it would mean there was hockey. revenue the NHL loses. The NHL and NHLPA have the ability to negotiate an alternative salary cap in emergency situations, as they did Finally, the 2020 playoffs were originally meant to be the widespread after the 2012-13 season that was shortened due to a lockout. debut of player tracking technology. I am unsure as to how that particular rollout of new tech will be affected, if at all. So while the cap won’t skyrocket, thus allowing the Jets to become big game hunters in free agency, it’s not going to drop, either. What happens to Winnipeg’s 11 UFAs? This is who’s under contract for next season: If there is a season to be salvaged, then the answer is easy: Cody Eakin, Nick Shore, Logan Shaw, Mark Letestu, Gabriel Bourque, Dmitry Kulikov, If next year’s cap doesn’t move an inch, then Winnipeg has $6.3 million Nathan Beaulieu, Dylan DeMelo, Anthony Bitetto, Luca Sbisa and to sign Roslovic, Sami Niku and three replacement level forwards (or Laurent Brossoit remain with the Jets until the season is done. better: RFAs like Harkins and Mason Appleton.) One expects Byfuglien’s cap hit will be removed, freeing up more space for DeMelo and other It would buy Winnipeg more time to evaluate newcomers Eakin and help. DeMelo. Each appears to have been a quick fit – Eakin had scored five points in eight games while DeMelo had given the Jets a viable top-four Imagine this had happened a year ago, with Laine and Connor yet to sign D-man – but the sample sizes in each case are simply so small. If extensions? Winnipeg is considering betting on either player for 2020-21, a longer look at each would provide better information to work with. A flat cap this summer wouldn’t be nearly the disaster it could have been in 2019 (or would be in 2021.) In any case, one suspects good evaluation would include recent seasons by each player as opposed to isolating his handful of games in Winnipeg. Budget-wise, the Jets are going to be OK. To that end, I’ve written favourably on the Jets extending DeMelo and still With so much in the air, the what-ifs can seem endless. The questions believe that would be a good plan. can feel exhausting (hands up if last week feels like last year!) But all things considered, the Jets should be OK when the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

The single biggest item? Playoffs.

In a way, it’s kind of fitting. Throughout all of the turbulence of Winnipeg’s season – most of it unique to them, some of it now shared by all of us – the question of playoffs has stayed front of mind. The Jets are a bubble team, fighting to control their postseason destiny, even in the absence of hockey altogether.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 03.20.2020 1181226 Vancouver Canucks different journey than I expected but to finally get here, it’s the start of something new and just the beginning of something I think that could be pretty special.”

Patrick Johnston: Canucks sign draftee Will Lockwood, NCAA free agent The assessment from Elite Prospects’ J.D. Burke: Marc Michaelis “Will Lockwood earned the captain’s ‘C’ ahead of this season, a just reward for his unimpeachable work ethic. There’s an impressive collection of tools in Lockwood’s game, too. He’s a speedy forward with a PATRICK JOHNSTON nose for the net and high-danger areas in the offensive zone, and when he doesn’t have the puck, every part of the ice is high-danger — he hits, March 19, 2020 7:25 PM PDT a lot. Don’t discount Lockwood’s hands, either. The question, then, is why has he failed to produce at a modestly acceptable label for an NCAA prospect. The situation in the University of Michigan hasn’t been great The Vancouver Canucks added a player we expected they eventually and this year his supporting cast left a lot to be desired. I’m not sure he’s would in Will Lockwood, while Marc Michaelis intrigues the most creative player, either. He’s very north-south and the layers of deception necessary to produce consistently in pro hockey have yet to Even if it were a busy time for hockey, Jim Benning’s enthusiasm about reveal themselves in his game. In all likelihood, Lockwood tops out as a landing Will Lockwood would be noticed. low-end bottom-six forward with utility on the penalty kill at the NHL The Vancouver Canucks general manager on Thursday signed level.” Lockwood, a 2016 draftee, along with NCAA free agent Marc Michaelis. The Canucks also added Marc Michaelis from Minnesota State-Mankato. “Lockwood is fast and plays with a lot of energy,” Benning said on a Originally from Germany, the 24-year-old centre played for four seasons Thursday conference call with reporters. “He’s willing to get in on the with the Mavericks, recording a point per game in his first three seasons, forecheck, he’s physical and will hit. He’s a guy we see as a top-nine then posting 44 points in 31 games this past season. forward, at worst a fourth-line energy guy.” Benning said he liked the German’s two-way game, that he showed Selected in the third round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft — Olli Juolevi is potential as a penalty killer who could score. He credited scout Pat the only other player from that draft still on the Canucks’ books — Conacher with the bulk of the scouting on Michaelis, though Benning Lockwood was once a promising prospect. watched a fair bit of video on the college athlete.

Prospect watchers raved about his energy, suggesting he might even be “There was a short list this year. There were two guys that we went after a steal of a draft pick. But then there was the shoulder separation in his really hard, him being one of them, so we’re excited that we got him freshman year with the University of Michigan. He had surgery after the signed,” Benning said. “The other player, we should hear about in the season. next couple of days whether he’s going to choose us or another team.”

Then he injured the same shoulder the next season while playing for And although Michaelis is likely headed to Utica next fall — both he and Team USA at the World Juniors. He required surgery to repair and Lockwood could conceivably sign amateur tryout contracts with Utica, if secure the joint. the AHL season were to resume — Benning also rated his chances of possibly playing NHL games next season. He finally received a clean bill of health in his third year in Ann Arbor scoring at just under a point-per-game pace and emerging as one of the “We think that he’s close to playing so you know in this instance, we think Michigan team’s leaders. that his age, that’s not going to work against him because he’s a good enough player where he can come in and challenge for a spot in our With the chance to be the Wolverines’ captain in his fourth and final group.” season of collegiate hockey, he decided to delay his NHL dreams. Benning also said discussions have taken place with Harvard’s Jack When the Canucks came calling this time around, he was ready. He Rathbone about possibly signing and playing professional hockey next learned a lot from his injuries, noting he had never been injured before he season, but said Rathbone was going to take time to discuss his future played college hockey. The challenges the setbacks presented taught with his family. him a lot about himself and his mental toughness. Burke’s assessment: “I came out stronger because of it,” he said on Thursday’s conference call about having two serious injuries within 13 months. “Marc Michaelis is a big get for the Canucks. He’s a proven producer at the NCAA level, and even if one wants to discount his junior and senior “I’ve learned a lot from those injuries. I wish they wouldn’t have years because of his advanced age, the freshman and sophomore part of happened in the first place, but a lot of good things came out of that in his resume stands up, too. There were no doubt countless suitors. using that adversity to help strengthen my game and I think I came out of Michaelis is at his best with the puck on his stick. He’s an offensive driver it a lot stronger.” with NHL-level instincts and vision. He’s about an NHL-average to below He figures he’s the same player he always was, albeit maybe a little average skater, though, and that might be the one hurdle he needs to smarter. clear before he’s a regular for the Canucks. I suspect the club will try to develop him as a left winger.” “I think I played a little more reckless my freshman year, after I was drafted. I think I felt I was a bit invincible,” he said. “I still play a gritty, hard-nosed game and I’ll never lose that. I was told by a couple people to Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.20.2020 maybe just ease up a bit because of my injuries, but that’s not something that’s really in my DNA.”

His recent season was a struggle, as he didn’t post the numbers he did the year before. But even so, he heard lots from the Canucks, especially assistant director of player development Chris Higgins, who would offer regular feedback on his play.

“It’s been a fantastic relationship,” he said of his four years working with Ryan Johnson, Higgins’ boss, and Higgins. (And presumably, Scott Walker before he left for the Arizona Coyotes last summer.)

“I’m really appreciative of that. Chris, Ryan, they’d send me clips of my games, tell me what to work on.”

And through his captaincy, he learned a lot about himself.

“I think of myself as the leader and I think I proved that to my teammates this year. I think I’ll carry that with me for the rest of my life. It’s been a 1181227 Vancouver Canucks “I phoned , Norm Jewison and Stan Smyl, and none of them had any problem with it. They all supported it 100 per cent,” Aquilini said of the committee members. “I couldn’t be happier with the way things turned out. Pavel gave a great speech and the fans really seemed to Canucks at 50: Russian Rocket's jersey retirement was late, but great enjoy themselves.

“We made the decision when we brought him here and introduced him at a game last year, and when the fans were so warm, that was pretty much STAFF REPORTER it.” March 19, 2020 2:52 PM PDT Gillis probably deserves a little aside salute as well. He didn’t let the overheated comments of Valeri Bure made on Vancouver radio on more than one occasion get to him, shrugging them off and making sure to be There were so many devastating injuries and then there was the long part of the ceremony. gap between retiring and this honour, a gap that should never have happened Bure said after he’ll be back in Vancouver at least once a year as it is his intention to personally present the awards that have been given his name There is still division between Canucks fans to this day over the by the team. retirement of Pavel Bure’s jersey. Whether it’s the long-rumoured holdout during the 1994 NHL playoff run to allegedly force a new contract, or his “I wasn’t close to losing it really,” he said, smiling broadly immediately holdout to force his trade to the Florida Panthers, some Canucks fans upon coming off and restating his desire to the Aquilini brothers that don’t believe a player who forced his way out of town should have his Vancouver win a Stanley Cup soon. jersey hanging from the rafters. On the night that he was honoured, “It was just a great feeling being back on the ice again, and hearing the Canucks fans gave him a proper reception regardless. Tony Gallagher fans cheering me. I’ll never forget this night.” wrote:

Just before going out on the ice for the long overdue honour of having his number retired, Pavel Bure caught a glimpse of the Vancouver players Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.20.2020 headed out on the ice as a team for the presentation.

“I don’t miss it at all,” he said. “I’ve had enough.”

And when the tears seemed about to fall out there, first after the prolonged ovation and then at times during his speech, you had to wonder whether some of the emotion was coming from memories of the pain he endured as a player as well as the greatpositive memories.

There were so many devastating injuries and then there was the long gap between retiring and this honour, a gap that should never have happened.

And it wasn’t just the knee issues, but also those now long-forgotten memorable 30-plus games when he played through a very bad shoulder problem in 1996-97, wincing every time he went into the corner, while the fans who didn’t know the extent of what he was coping with were left frustrated.

It was no accident he thanked the many doctors who helped him over the length of a career spent mainly as a piñata for teams playing him, Dr. Ross Davidson foremost among those who he wished could have been on hand. He is the orthopedic surgeon, now practising in his home in New Zealand, who fixedBure‘s knee the first time, to the point where he was virtually fully recovered.

And he swore by Davidson for the rest of his career, calling him in as a consultant from halfway around the world whenever his other team permitted.

There were other absences that didn’t go unnoticed, not the least of which was that of , who somehow managed to be travelling on business on just the right night.

There was the video tribute played during the game, of course, but it would have been nice for Mr. Canuck to have been there. Oh well, the two were never close, so at least full marks for keeping hypocrisy away from the evening.

Gino Odjick played a big part in making what turned out to be a terrific evening happen, the night not exactly spoiled by watching Dave Bolland being helped off the ice.

The Algonquin enforcer goaded and pushed , although the Vancouver owner did say he and Mike Gillis had talked about it for years, and brother Roberto confirmed Francesco has long been a proponent of making this happen.

Nonetheless, Odjick pressured Aquilini to go down to Toronto and have dinner with Pavel as well as be a significant Canuck presence at his Hall of Fame induction, the owner evidently not needing as much encouragement as Odjick might have less-than-subtly provided.

There had been a three-man committee standing in the way of Bure‘s jersey retirement for a few years, but in the end, they had no problems with what transpired Saturday afternoon. 1181228 Vancouver Canucks points (16-15) in the 1994 run to the Stanley Cup Final, first-team all-star, five NHL All-Star Game appearances.

“To me, he’s the greatest player in Canucks history,” said former Canucks at 50: Shy, driven, super teammate, Bure's time as a Canuck teammate Cliff Ronning. “Alex Mogilny could have been the most skilled, was extraordinary but Pavel worked at it and Mogilny just had the natural talent.

Vancouver Canucks superstar Pavel Bure gets a physical test from Dr. Ted Rhodes in 1994. Ralph Bower / PNG files BEN KUZMA “Pavel worked on his one-timers because he wasn’t the best and his March 19, 2020 3:46 PM PDT regimen really changed how players trained in the summers — he took it to a different level.”

What didn’t get enough attention was how Bure conducted himself as a There is nothing ordinary about Pavel Bure. teammate, if you’re looking to point fingers at his departure. From the NHL draft eligibility debate, transfer payment to the Red Army, “He was very unselfish and never a jealous teammate,” stressed electric first home game, Calder Trophy, 60-goal seasons, a contract Ronning. “He had the confidence but didn’t brag and wasn’t arrogant. His dispute, withholding his services and an eventual trade, the extraordinary confidence came from, much like Joe Sakic, quiet on the ice in that Vancouver Canucks winger never disappointed on the ice. anything he did answered the bell and doubters. However, off the ice the Russian Rocket divided the populace. “If anything, he was pushing everybody else to be better in a good way.” In this hockey-mad market, fondness for former star players often centres After the 1994 All-Star Game, Bure was thought to be in a good place. more on how they left than the performance marks they established. He came back and was beaming about a new contract in the fall of 1993 And Bure’s exit was far from amicable. He felt alienated by management that was $1.25 million annually over four years. Courtnall, who was upon his North American arrival and contract disputes. He held out to earning $600,000, thought it was great, but the devil was in the details. start the 1989-99 season before being dealt three months later to the The contract was in Canadian funds instead of U.S., and it only furthered Florida Panthers in a multi-player trade. Bure’s disdain for Vancouver’s management.

Bure was buried by criticism by those who didn’t know the devil was in There was also the consideration of financing a new downtown arena the details of his departure. All the fans knew was one of the game’s with a star player under contract at a bargain rate. By September of most electrifying players wanted to play elsewhere. 1997, Courtnall had convinced Bure to hire agent Mike Gillis, who also represented Courtnall. “With any team in any sport, fans want to keep their heroes or franchise player for the entire length of their careers,” recalled this Aside from all the off-ice drama, there was the other side of Bure that few week in a wide-ranging interview about his former teammate. “Even witnessed. today, you see it more and more, and what will people say with Tom Courtnall recalled passing through Miami on a mining business trip to Brady leaving (the New England Patriots)? Peru and how a dinner turned into a display of jiu-jitsu, a Japanese “Pavel was a phenomenal star when he was in Vancouver and system of unarmed combat and physical training. everywhere else. When you get comfortable and so excited to watch “The entire dinner, he kept going behind me and putting these moves somebody like that as a fan, it’s hard to lose him. and choke holds and laughing and joking around,” said Courtnall. “I told “And he was a phenomenal teammate. He was very shy. He didn’t want him: ‘You’re going to choke me out, you idiot — stop it.’ He was like a kid all the notoriety and exposure and attention that he got. All he wanted to and laughing. He said: ‘You guys all protected me when we were playing do was play the game and win and be the best. As a friend, when you get together and now I’m going to protect you.’ to know him, he’s so much fun. “That’s the Pavel I know as a friend and a guy. There was the business “He took it to heart when people would say things about him or slight side of the sport and the game and he was the best. I don’t care if him or stuff that wasn’t true.” anybody who played with him or against him doesn’t have anything good to say about him, because they were jealous and that’s the fact. Like supposedly threatening to not play in the 1994 playoffs because of a contract dispute? “I had the best seat in the house on the bench and on his line. Nobody liked to score more than him and he had success because he took it so “That was bullshit,” said Courtnall. “He never said he was not going to seriously.” play in the playoffs. It’s like squeezing a lemon to get any words out of Pavel.” Maybe Ronning put it best about an extraordinary player who tried to live a normal NHL life. And yet, the unrest would grow. Even Bure’s jersey retirement was far from ordinary. “I got along with Pavel,” said Ronning. “Courtnall and I were roommates and we hung out with Pavel and Gino (Odjick) quite a bit. I saw a quiet He became the first Canucks player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall side of Pavel. But I could also see in his eyes that he wanted to be the of Fame in November of 2012. A year later, his No. 10 was finally raised best player in the league, and he worked at it.” to the rafters at amid much admiration and some angst about how he would and should be remembered. A shining star or a And that dedication was far from ordinary. tarnished image of wanting out?

“I was just thinking it was great,” said Courtnall. “I didn’t care when it Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.20.2020 happened — as long as it happened. It was a very exciting night and I was happy for him and it was great to see.”

Bure took the high road when he addressed the masses.

“It brings back lots of great memories,” he said. “With the fans cheering and everybody happy, it was like you scored a goal. I felt like I had to play again. I was in the middle of the ice and 20,000 people were cheering for me.”

And there was always lots to cheer about.

The numbers Bure compiled in Vancouver to rank seventh in franchise scoring with 478 points (254-224) in 428 games speak for themselves. There were the 34 goals in 1991-92 to be named top rookie, the 31 1181229 Vancouver Canucks Michaelis is an intriguing lottery ticket, a player who seems likely – because of his age – to be a useful player in the AHL with little, if any, ramp-up time required.

The process behind the Canucks signing William Lockwood and Marc “When you look at our depth chart we don’t have a lot of centre-ice men,” Michaelis Benning said. “He’s an older player and we don’t think he’s far off from being an AHL player.”

This is useful context to keep in mind, as is Michaelis’ status as a 24- By Thomas Drance year-old, because in a vacuum, his statistical profile is nothing short of mouthwatering. He’s been better than a point per game player since Mar 19, 2020 entering the NCAA, which is excellent, and he outscored Lockwood by 21 points in two fewer games in their respective senior seasons.

“The business side doesn’t stop even though we’re not playing games,” Of course, Michaelis is three years older than Lockwood, which is Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning told the media on a essential context. There’s next to no sexy, NHL-level comparable that we Thursday afternoon conference call. can use to compare Michaelis’ statistical profile with because, typically speaking, NHL players aren’t still playing NCAA hockey when they turn “We’ve got to keep moving forward as an organization and I’m excited we 24. got these guys signed today.” There’s still a lot of reasons to like this bet – especially since it comes In the midst of the NHL suspension, a state of emergency in the city of untethered to any acquisition cost, aside from spending $92,500 to cover Vancouver and the province of and a COVID-19 health his signing bonus and committing to using one of 50 contract slots in crisis that has ground the economy and the day-to-day lives of 2020-21 – and his consistent and very auspicious NCAA-level production Vancouverites to a halt, the show must go on. in his age 21-24 seasons is among them. As is, to hear Benning tell it, Michaelis’ overall two-way intelligence and playmaking ability. And so, on Thursday afternoon, the Canucks signed two NCAA players to professional contracts. The first was a two-year entry-level contract for “Marc is, I would call him a playmaking centre-ice man,” Benning said. Canucks draft pick William Lockwood, who just completed his senior “Good skater, buys time with the puck, good vision of the ice. season with the Michigan Wolverines, where he was a teammate of Quinn Hughes. “He makes other players around him better, sets them up. He has good attention to detail in his game. I think he can develop into a penalty killer Selected in the third round of the 2016 draft, Lockwood has dealt with a for us too because his attention to detail is good, he’s always on the right variety of injuries throughout his college career. He’s a very good NCAA side of the puck. player and while his statistical profile doesn’t exactly jump off the page, he has plus wheels and is the sort of player an NHL team with their eye “I’m excited about him, because over the last four years, he’s put up on player development has to get signed. good numbers at the college level. He’s got skill and playmaking ability but also plays a good 200-foot game and his attention to detail is good.” The second is German-born NCAA centre Marc Michaelis, 24, who just completed his fourth season at Minnesota State (Mankota), scoring 20 3. As for Lockwood … goals and notching 44 points in 31 games. Lockwood is widely commended for having NHL-level wheels and being Michaelis’ scoring profile is excellent, although his age should temper our a relatively fearless presence as a forechecker. He plays an assertive expectations somewhat. Reading between the lines of Benning’s physical style and Benning suggested on Thursday that it’s in part why comments, it seems the organization viewed him as a worthwhile flier to Lockwood’s had some injury trouble during the course of his college augment the club’s prospect depth at centre. career.

In addition to discussing Thursday’s transactions, Benning touched on a That sounds a bit like the profile of another former Michigan player on the variety of other subjects, including other players he’d like to sign in the Canucks roster – Tyler Motte – and there’s some useful context here too. weeks ahead and how the organization is conducting business during the Motte benefitted in his junior season from playing on one of the most NHL’s suspension. dynamic college lines of the past decade, alongside Winnipeg Jets sniper Kyle Conner and Colorado Avalanche forward J.T. Compher, but Here’s 10 thoughts on a spot of hockey news, during a period of nonetheless, his NCAA career concluded with him recording 107 points widespread social distancing. in 105 career games with the Wolverines.

1. A useful reminder: Don’t overhype college FAs Lockwood, in comparison, has 85 points in 115 NCAA games. And while Motte has provided tremendous value to the Canucks as a penalty killer The Canucks have an excellent, commendable track record signing and all-around defensive nuisance in a fourth-line role, he’s 25 and hasn’t NCAA talent, dating back nearly a decade. From Chris Tanev to Troy developed into a productive NHL scorer. Stecher to the recent run of top prospects like , Adam Gaudette and Quinn Hughes; the organization has done a creditable job That’s context to keep in mind, again, while working through reasonable identifying NCAA talent or NCAA-bound talent in the draft and in free expectations. Lockwood is a player the Canucks really had to sign, for a agency and locking down those players. variety of reasons, but largely because he’s been a very good player at the NCAA level and has some NHL-level tools that are worth betting on – That said, and this is worth remembering, the average NCAA free agent his speed in particular. Just keep in mind that he’s got a lot of road to run is more Kellan Lain than Tyler Bozak. in terms of his development as a player, before he’s being cast as an Even when it works out, as it seems to have with recent Canucks signing everyday NHL regular. Brogan Rafferty, who had a marvellous season in the AHL and looks 4. The cash flow advantage likely to carve out an NHL spot at training camp for the 2020-21 season, it took the Canucks a couple of kicks at the can to mine a player likely to As we touched on earlier this week, players can’t burn a year off their contribute in the NHL. You’ll recall, for example, that at roughly the same entry-level deals so both of these contracts will begin during the 2020-21 time the Canucks signed Rafferty, they also signed Josh Teves and season. signed both players to twin two-year extensions that were two-way for this past season but morph into one-way deals next year. There’s not a ton of signings going on around the league, but there’s a relatively steady stream considering the circumstances. Since the NHL Rafferty’s league minimum one-way deal will likely pay dividends for the suspended play a week ago, nine contracts have been handed out – all club next season. Teves’, however, will very probably not. of the entry-level variety – to college or junior free agents and drafted players by seven different teams. That’s how college free agents work. It’s a useful supplemental tool to augment a club’s pipeline. It’s very rarely a useful path for identifying The maximum prescribed signing bonus on an entry-level contract is future stars. $92,500. It might not seem like a lot by NHL standards, but it’s an extra $100,000 at a time when – for NHL owners – no revenue is coming in, 2. Which brings us to Michaelis … and salaries to NHL players are still being paid for another three and a When we spoke with Benning back in January, he indicated that there half weeks. were five drafted players the Canucks wanted to sign this spring.

In other words, there are definitely some teams that will look to conduct At the time we assumed that he was referring to Tyler Madden (since business and sign players during the NHL suspension. But not every traded), Lockwood (now signed), Rathbone, Nils Hoglander and Carson team has the cash flow that the Canucks do. This isn’t a unique Focht. We’ve already updated Rathbone, Madden is no longer an option advantage to Vancouver, but it’s an advantage nonetheless, one the club and Lockwood has now put pen to paper, which leaves just two players can continue to use in tracking down European, junior and NCAA free on our radar: Hoglander and Focht. agents as the suspension rolls along. “The players that we wanted to talk to after their college season ended, 5. Pat Conacher and chasing NCAA free agents we’re having those conversations,” Benning said Thursday. “We’re seeing where they’re at and if they want to turn pro. The junior kids we’ve On Thursday, Benning credited Pat Conacher Sr. – the former Utica talked to them too.” Comets general manager and longtime director of hockey operations who currently serves the organization as an amateur scout – with We’ll have to leave it at that for a Focht update, but there’s plenty of time identifying Michaelis, a player Benning indicated the club has followed for that, of course. closely since midseason meetings in early January. As for Hoglander, for obvious reasons, the Canucks are eager to ink the “I’ve watched a bunch of his games on video, Pat Conacher has seen world juniors star winger and human highlight reel. It seems there’s a bit him play lots, talked about him at the midseason meetings,” Benning of a delay, however, as they wait for some certainty to play out in regard said, describing the process of scouting Michaelis. “He really liked him. to the World Championships. That was kind of how he got our attention, through Pat. Pat’s been involved with our team in Utica so he knows the intangibles of players “Hoglander, we’d like to try to figure something out with him too,” Benning that are going to have success in the American League … He said. “But we need to wait until after the World Championships, if they understands the characteristics from a skill side, what translates to the hold those, because he’d be available if Sweden wants him … We’re NHL.” having conversations with the agent.”

During a media availability that followed those midseason meetings in 8. The BFG update Florida in January, Benning made a point of underlying the influence We mentioned earlier this week that a bigger type of commitment, or a Conacher has taken on internally in perusing the NCAA ranks for free one-way sort of contract for a player like Avtomobilist defender Nikita agent targets. With Michaelis’ signing, it seems, is that influence manifest Tryamkin, might have to wait until there’s some certainty about what the in an actual bet that the organization has now placed. salary cap upper limit might look like for the 2020-21 season.

As for other NCAA free agent targets, Benning indicated that the In a normal year, this might have been a March or April contract. In light Canucks weren’t carrying a long list of targets this spring, but that they of the suspended season and the uncertainty that causes, we’re probably weren’t necessarily done shopping just yet. looking at a negotiation that will take a while.

“We had a short list this year,” Benning said. “There were two guys we Benning essentially agreed with that analysis when it was presented to went after really hard, (Michaelis) being one of them. We’re excited that him on Thursday. we got him signed. The other player we should hear about in the next couple of days whether he’s going to chose us or another team.” “I think so,” Benning said, when asked if those negotiations might have to slow down, “because it’s just the uncertainty of where we’re at right now. As for the identity of that other player, J.D. Burke is hearing that it might I had a conversation with (Tryamkin’s agent) Todd Diamond this morning be a Minnesota State teammate of Michaelis, defenceman Conner and with the uncertainty of everything that’s going on right now, we’re Mackey, although The Athletic columnist Rick Dhaliwal suggests that communicating with agents, we’re talking to them. But we know that with Vancouver doesn’t appear to be a finalist for Mackey’s services: what’s going on right now … we might have to wait and see how this I’ve done some asking around. One source suggested that Mackey whole thing plays out.” wasn’t the player that he thought Benning was referring to, while another From what I gather, I do expect a Tryamkin return to be a priority for both suggested that the Chicago Blackhawks are considered the favourites to sides, if everyone involved can get the numbers to where all sides feel land Mackey. Mackey is an intriguing player, with a statistical profile that comfortable. It’s just not something that can be on the front burner, indicates that he may have an outside shot at being more than a third- considering the state of the world and what that might mean for the pair defender. shape of the 2020-21 salary cap upper limit.

I suspect Mackey isn’t the player that Benning was referring to when he 9. The injury updates said they’d wait on another free agent to make their decision. Whether that free agent opts to sign with another team or return to school or sign Obviously there were a variety of Canucks players who were injured at in Vancouver, presumably we’ll know more in the days to come. the time that the NHL season was suspended, and The Athletic podcast host Jeff Paterson – clearly missing asking for regular 6. The Rathbone update updates during the grind of the regular season – asked Benning about Benning was asked where the organization stands in regard to Harvard their status and whether those players were still conducting rehab under defender Jack Rathbone, a Canucks draft pick who has impressed the supervision of Canucks medical staff. enormously in his two NCAA seasons and looks like he could be very “That part of it, guys coming in every day and working with our medical close to NHL-ready if he decides to turn pro. trainers, working with our guys and stuff, that part hasn’t changed,” There’s definitely some college players who felt the sting of having their Benning said. various conference tournaments and playoffs cut short by the pandemic. “I’m hoping here that if we were playing, Marky would be close to playing Players who are strongly considering taking another kick at the can, and Chris (Tanev) is doing rehab, Jay Beagle. Leivo is making good particularly after they felt like that chance was taken from them this progress.” spring. Might Rathbone be among them? As for which of Vancouver’s injured players would be ready, should the “We’ve talked to his agent,” Benning said, referring I’m sure to NHL return by something like mid-June, Benning gave a fascinating Rathbone’s adviser. “he’s going to talk to his parents here in the next answer. week or so and they’re going to have a conversation and they’ll get back to us as far as what his intentions are going to be.” “A couple of them or three of them should be able to get back and play,” Benning said. “And then with Josh, he’ll continue his rehab and then we’ll From what I’ve seen of Rathbone’s game, there’s definitely some work to see where it is when we get back playing. If we get back playing.” be done, but I’m convinced that he has the physical tools and the skating ability to take a credible run at challenging for an NHL spot right off the Man, you’ve really got to feel for Leivo if he still seems to be that far hop. Whether he’ll sign or return to Harvard for his junior season is going away. Fractured kneecaps are no joke, but if any player in the league to be a fascinating situation to track. had a lot on the line, in the event that they were able to stay healthy, Leivo was the guy. 7. The other two 10. Extension talks will wait

I’d wondered if the Canucks might – in cynical fashion – consider utilizing the global uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic to revisit contract talks with any of their pending unrestricted free agents. It seems, however, that they prefer to continue to wait and allow the situation – in terms of team performance at least with the possible (hopeful) resumption of the NHL season – to play out before crossing that bridge again.

“We want to wait and see how the season plays out,” Benning said, “and see where we’re at before we start talking to any of those guys.”

So while we may yet see some drafted players, European free agents and college free agents sign as the NHL suspension drags on, it seems unlikely that we’ll wake up to news of a significant Jacob Markstrom or Tyler Toffoli bombshell extension in the weeks and month ahead.

That’s 10 thoughts on a welcome, but surprising Canucks news drop. Stay tuned for more insight into Lockwood and Michaelis in the coming days from The Athletic’s Harman Dayal.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181230 Websites Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman shared an interesting anecdote while considering the concept. In 2012, the Blackhawks felt like they matched up well with the Coyotes in the playoffs. If they were picking that year, it probably would have been Arizona. The Athletic / Picking the playoff opponent? NHL GMs don’t love it but here’s how it could look Well, they got the Coyotes, and Blackhawks fans probably remember how that played out.

“The one thing I’ve found is every time you’re wishing for an opponent By Craig Custance and you get them, it doesn’t work,” Bowman said. “We lost to Arizona that year. I remember coming down the stretch, that was the matchup we Mar 19, 2020 wanted and ended up losing to them.”

His conclusion? One of the best things about interviewing Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon is “It’s just taboo to wish for an opponent,” he said. Even so, he was the you always know where you stand. At least that’s how our conversations only GM interviewed who at least provided a glimmer of hope. go. If he doesn’t like the question, he says so. If he disagrees with the premise, you hear that too. It makes for some good sparring. “I’m not closed-minded to it,” Bowman said. “I’d probably want to see how it plays out (in baseball) before I would put my stamp on it.” So, when pulling him aside at the recent GM meetings in Boca Raton, Florida, and the question began with, “I can’t imagine this ever happening So how might it play out if it happened this year in the NHL? Since the in hockey but …” he tried to put a stop to it right there. real GMs don’t seem to want to play along, we asked The Athletic’s beat writers from playoff teams (based on current point percentages) to pick “Then good,” he said, cutting things off. “You don’t need to write about it. their playoff opponents, giving first picks to the division winners. And then If you can’t imagine it, don’t write about it.” we asked resident analytics genius Dom Luszczyszyn to analyze their What would be the fun in that? picks. There were no limitations placed on conference.

The question posed to McCrimmon and a group of other general Let’s dive in: managers that week by The Athletic was about a February proposal that 1. Boston Bruins (represented by Joe McDonald) surfaced in baseball. There were multiple reports that baseball was considering a playoff system in which some teams would get to pick their The pick: New York Islanders playoff opponent. It would make for great theater, the perfect television event. Something we all could use right now. It would also create instant McDonald’s explanation: From a pure entertainment standpoint, I would bulletin board material for the team that gets picked. go with the Blues. Think about what it would be like to have these two teams battle again in a rematch type series in the first round. Games “Be careful what you wish,” warned Sharks GM Doug Wilson. would be fierce and off the charts. However, the Bruins would want to save that rematch for the Cup final. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Bruins Maybe it’s hard to imagine in hockey, but as the NHL figures out what to and the coaching staff picked the Islanders as a first-round matchup. do next, perhaps this might be the perfect time to try something so Boston would be favored in this series and a victory would be a solid unique and to create a must-watch event when we’re all dying for foundation for a deep run. something to watch. 2. St. Louis Blues (represented by Jeremy Rutherford) The GMs? Based on their answers in Florida might disagree. To put it mildly, they don’t love the concept. The pick: Dallas Stars

“I have no appetite for that whatsoever,” McCrimmon said, once he heard Rutherford’s explanation: I know, I know, you can pick any playoff the idea. opponent and you choose the one that has the annual Vezina finalist in Ben Bishop and a captain in Jamie Benn who has 20 goals and 42 points He was very much in the majority. in 44 regular-season games against you. My explanation is three-fold: 1) “I don’t like it,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said. “I like to play who I’m staying in the Western Conference, where the Blues are 29-11-6 this you’re supposed to play. You play a whole season to get your spot in the season. 2) I’m looking at head-to-head, and after beating Dallas in the standings and you play it out. I imagine, if you’re picking someone it’ll be second round last season, the Blues seem to have the Stars’ number, a little motivation to the team you’re picking, ‘Oh really? You’re picking going 4-0-1 this season. 3) There are less-dangerous opponents, but for us?’” a Blues’ team that’s traveled a ton this season, I’m staying in the U.S. and making the fairly quick trip from St. Louis to Dallas. Besides providing motivation, Bruins GM Don Sweeney felt like it might present the wrong mindset, that you believe you’re better than your 3. Washington Capitals (represented by Tarik El-Bashir) playoff opponent. The pick: Edmonton Oilers “For me, you don’t pick your opponents. You have to be playing your best El-Bashir’s explanation: If you’re looking to get a fan base re- hockey, hope you’re healthy and saddle up,” Sweeney said. “It’s a engaged following a protracted “pause” in the season, it doesn’t get dangerous exercise to think at any point in time you’re better than the much better than Caps-Oilers in terms of star power. Connor McDavid, other guy. I don’t know if I want that one.” Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins vs. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Wild GM Bill Guerin agreed. Backstrom and John Carlson? Yes, please. The average number of goals scored in the teams’ last five meetings: 5.4. Two of those games “That’s real dangerous, personally,” he said. “You’d better be careful required extra time. From the Caps’ perspective, it’d be entertaining as all what you wish for when you start picking your opponents. I think you get out. But they’d also be favored to advance given the disparity in have to let your play decide that.” recent postseason experience.

While shooting down the idea, both Blues GM Doug Armstrong and 4. Vegas Golden Knights (represented by Jesse Granger) Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas acknowledged the potential from a televised event standpoint. The pick: Calgary Flames

“I get the allure of having the public selection show and having the teams Granger’s explanation: I think the Golden Knights would pick a fight with select and the team that gets picked, they have more motivation because the Flames. The two are very familiar to each other and don’t particularly they’re the underdog,” Dubas said. “I just think the way it is now is a like each other, so from an entertainment standpoint, it would be great. sound structure. It’s obviously created some unbelievable races basically But it’s also the best matchup for the Golden Knights on paper. They’re in every division. … I like the way it is now.” 3-0-0 against Calgary this season, outscoring the Flames a combined 17- 5, including 6-0 and 6-2 blowouts in Vegas. “I think there’s intrigue to it from a fan’s perspective,” Armstrong said. “But it’s difficult on travel. There’s a whole host of things that go into it. I 5. Colorado Avalanche (represented by Ryan Clark) like our playoff format. It’s in division. You’ve got rivalries.” The pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Clark’s explanation: Everything Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and his front office staff have done has generated the idea that they have a long-term Stanley Cup contender on their hands. What better way to test that than going against a team that won three Cups and remained a serious challenger over the last decade? Seeing what the Penguins have done to constantly stay competitive could provide a glimpse into the future for the Avalanche. That, and it could be interesting to see what happens when those two kids from Cole Harbour play one another on a big stage.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (represented by Joe Smith)

The pick: Toronto Maple Leafs

Smith’s explanation: This would be a fun, fast-paced series that fans would love to watch. There wouldn’t be the kind of nastiness and “bad blood” like a seven-game slugfest with the Bruins, but the amount of elite offensive skill on both sides will make every power play must-see TV. There would be legacies on the line for each team’s core, both trying to get over the hump. Think about the storyline of Steven Stamkos, coming back from injury, facing his hometown team. The Leafs play a style that would be more of a fit with Tampa, which should have the edge on the blueline and in net. But as the last meeting showed – a 2-1 Leafs win in Toronto – this series would be tight and great theater.

7. Philadelphia Flyers (represented by Charlie O’Connor)

The pick: Vancouver Canucks

O’Connor’s explanation: The negative here is the travel, which surely would be brutal and could make it tougher for the Flyers to sustain a long playoff run in the wake of this series. But to win the Cup, you have to get out of Round 1, and the Canucks provide the best opportunity for Philadelphia to do so out of the teams left. Carolina is injury-ravaged now, but could plausibly have all of its goalies, Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce back for a mid-summer playoff start. Nashville has been underwhelming in 2019-20, but it feels like a sleeping giant with all the talent it has. Vancouver, on the other hand, is heavily dependent upon its top line and power play, and a Selke Trophy favorite (Sean Couturier) combined with an elite chance-suppression penalty kill would go a long way toward neutralizing both. Add in Philadelphia’s depth advantage and this feels like a very winnable series. Oh, and we get Alain Vigneault versus his old team. That should make for some fun storylines!

Final series: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Nashville Predators

How’d they do?

Luszczyszyn with the final say:

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181231 Websites The rest of it disappears into empty net situations. Ovechkin is fortunate that Washington uses him a fair bit when the opposition’s net is empty (boosting his plus-minus by 20), but the Capitals use him even more when they pull their own goalie. With the Caps’ net empty, they’ve out- The Athletic / How the NHL can fix the statistic you love to hate: Plus- shot the opposition 281-59, but every one of those 59 shots against has minus been a goal against.

The NHL’s preeminent goal-scorer may not be a perfect defensive player, but the idea that he gives back everything he creates is a gross By Jonathan Willis distortion of the truth. Mar 19, 2020 69 Ovechkin isn’t the only one, or even the player most mistreated by this silliness. Virtually every high-end offensive weapon in the NHL is punished for being good at scoring, and players on bad teams really feel The 2019-20 NHL season quietly marked the 60th anniversary of that the pinch. most-hated, yet constantly used statistic in hockey: plus-minus. Brent Burns falls from plus-41 at 5-on-5 down to plus-6 in the NHL’s It’s virtually impossible to find someone willing to publicly defend the official stat. John Tavares sees basically the same drop, from plus-44 to statistic. Its flaws are many and their existence widely acknowledged. Yet plus-7. has it worse, going from plus-26 to minus-30, as does it continues to creep into hockey conversations, often with a deprecatory perennial Selke candidate Ryan O’Reilly, who goes from plus-26 to “I know it isn’t perfect, but …” minus-16.

It’s never going to be a perfect catch-all statistic, but it could be a lot Nobody gets a rougher ride by plus-minus than Phil Kessel, though. At 5- better than it is. on-5, Kessel is plus-13 over the last eight seasons. The NHL’s official plus-minus statistic lists him at a whopping minus-74. Plus-minus is always going to be influenced by team strength, by situational usage and prone to big fluctuations up and down not just from Where there are losers, there are also bound to be winners. Even as season-to-season but even from month-to-month. That isn’t going to plus-minus paints the league’s best scorers as less than they are, it change. What the NHL could do, however, is strip away the parts of the elevates defensive grinders. stat which outright lie. Ron Hainsey is a good example. Despite the name, plus-minus isn’t just a simple count of goals for and against when a player is on the ice. It’s more complicated than that, in Plus-minus describes Hainsey as an even player over the last eight ways which render it unusable by any serious analyst. seasons, a truly remarkable accomplishment for a defenceman who starts a ton of shifts in the defensive zone and is usually deployed in a “Plus-minus is a team’s goal differential while a particular player is on the shutdown role. The truth is less flattering: he’s minus-33 at 5-on-5, but ice, excluding power-play goals for and against but including empty-net thanks to killing penalties, playing a lot when the opposition has an empty situations,” explains the NHL glossary. “All the skaters on the ice receive net and rarely being used in offensive situations, all of those negatives a plus or minus when an even-strength goal or shorthanded goal is get wiped away in the league’s official record. scored depending on which team scored(.)” Niklas Hjalmarsson has an even more exaggerated profile. Officially, he’s The wording there is confusing. It’s useful to clarify by listing what goals plus-79 over the last eight seasons. In actuality, at 5-on-5, he’s just plus- are included: 8. He has a whopping 16 assists on empty-net goals over the last eight years, putting the defensive defenceman on par with Avalanche The effect is to introduce a systematic bias into the number, one superstar Nathan MacKinnon in those situations. favouring grinders and penalizing scorers. If plus-minus made Ovechkin look worse than he is, it also elevated his That probably made sense in the era, when situational teammate Jay Beagle, from minus-22 at 5-on-5 to just minus-2 officially. statistics were hard to come by and even watching the games could pose It vilified Burns but bumped Brenden Dillon from minus-17 to plus-13. It a challenge. only predates the records of plus- submarined Tavares while moving Casey Cizikas from minus-15 to plus- minus by seven years (although not officially adopted until 1967, league- 21. wide records exist dating back to 1959-60), and initially not all games were televised. Those that were aired over the objections of then-NHL Across the board the pattern is consistent. Plus-minus levels the playing president Clarence Campbell, who called television “the greatest menace field. It makes talented players look bad. It makes role players look far of the entertainment world.” better than they are.

In the modern era, where those details are easier to find, what Sixty years ago, when it was impossible to click on a website and find out justification there once may have been no longer exists. The effect of who was killing penalties, it arguably made some sense to give a little those numbers is to create a cudgel with which to beat skilled players extra credit to the grinders. Now that information is easy to find, and all and elevate grinders. that is accomplished by incorporating it into plus-minus is skew the numbers and provide a tool to criticize the best players in the game. One of the great long-running examples is Alex Ovechkin. Washington’s captain has led the NHL in goals in seven of the league’s last eight We’ve certainly seen that this season. seasons. He has 599 points in 599 games over that span. He’s just plus- 2, with plus-minus often cited in stories ridiculing his defensive Leon Draisaitl, the NHL’s leading scorer, has an ugly minus-7 next to his commitment. name on his official stat line. He’s plus-7 at 5-on-5, but empty-net situations and playing massive minutes for the league’s best power play While there’s some truth to those stories, the presented statistic lies make him look considerably worse than he is. The temptation to contrast about Ovechkin. At 5-on-5 over those eight seasons, the Capitals are his point total with that minus has proved irresistible to many. plus-48 with Ovechkin on the ice. Why the difference? It’s not confined to just Draisaitl. Nathan MacKinnon, Patrick Kane, David Some of it has to do with Ovechkin’s own lethal scoring ability. He’s Pastrnak and others at the top of the NHL leaderboard are all famous as a shooter on the power play, to the point where the top half of shortchanged to some degree by a statistic that doesn’t reflect the the left faceoff circle in the offensive zone is widely known as the “Ovi modern game and probably didn’t do a great job at the same task six Spot.” He’s arguably the key reason why Washington has the league’s decades ago, either. best power play over those eight years. The beautiful thing is that there’s a simple solution. All the NHL has to do The Capitals have scored a whopping 390 goals with Ovechkin on their is level the playing field. Ignore empty-net goals, ignore special team top unit. They’ve allowed 43. Plus-minus doesn’t care how good he or goals entirely, and make the number reflect either just 5-on-5 totals or all anyone else is on the power play, but it does penalize anyone who gets even-strength goals. used a lot, and that minus-43 almost erases all the good work Ovechkin has done at 5-on-5. There would be a trickle-down effect, too. The NHL sets the standard that other leagues follow. Making plus-minus more accurate wouldn’t just improve numbers at the highest level, but would undoubtedly also improve them in the AHL and eventually in junior hockey and Europe, leading to better, more accurate data across the board.

And if nothing else, fixing plus-minus will at least force writers to look a little harder when they’re scrambling for a club to bash over the head of the league’s most talented scorers.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181232 Websites He won the Vezina in 2009-10, the same year he put in a star turn for Team USA at the Olympics in winning a silver medal in Vancouver.

He very well could wind up in the Hall of Fame, given his credentials and The Athletic / Is this the end? 15 NHL players who might have played those of his contemporaries. Not bad for a fifth-round pick out of East their last game Lansing, Michigan.

“This is all pretty sad to see,” Miller said of the pandemic’s impact on society at large. “Hopefully we get a handle on it. We are doing our part. By James Mirtle Feel like we are socially as distant as we can get.”

Mar 19, 2020 2. Henrik Lundqvist, NY Rangers

At first, it felt like Lundqvist didn’t fit on this list.

Every corner of the sports world has been affected by the impact of He’s a legend with the Rangers, the only team he has ever played for. COVID-19. And he has another year left on his contract.

In the week since the NHL season was shut down due to the threat of the But you talk to people around the franchise a little and it’s clear that the novel coronavirus, we’ve heard stories about arena workers losing their three-goalie situation this season has not been a lot of fun. It certainly jobs, restaurants near stadiums struggling without business, minor- sounds like the Rangers may buy Lundqvist’s final year out, opening the league players without paychecks and those in junior sent home. College door for him to either sign elsewhere as a UFA or hang up his pads. players are being denied the chance to play for championships in their senior years; children are missing out on large portions of their minor Lundqvist just turned 38 earlier this month, so it’s not out of the question hockey seasons and playoffs. this is it.

In some locations, the ice is even being taken out of arenas – proof of Like Miller, he’s had an amazing career. A career .918 save percentage. how low the optimism is that hockey will be back. A Vezina in 2011-12. Olympic gold (2006) and silver (2014). Sixth all- time in wins. The best Swedish netminder ever. The impact on professional athletes is far down the list when it comes to folks you should feel sorry for in this situation. But it’s still a reality that, He’s going to the Hall for sure. But does he have a final act as a veteran because of the season being halted 85 percent of the way through, many backup with a contender somewhere else? Could he somehow find a established players could have played their last NHL games. way to play for a Cup, one last time?

Some likely Hall of Famers are in that group, too. We’ll see. I certainly hope so.

Now, we already know that several high-profile older NHL players like 3. Justin Williams, Carolina Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Ilya Kovalchuk and intend Williams wasn’t certain about even coming back for this season, as he to play next season in the NHL. I expect they can all get contracts – in waited until midseason to jump back in. many cases with the teams they’re with. So I’ve left them off this list. Now, it is up in the air whether he’ll get to finish out his final lap. I also expect Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will be back, too, as he’s still playing 21 minutes a night for the best team in the NHL at age 42 and is Unlike Miller and Lundqvist, Williams’ team is likely to play in the a fitness freak. He could well be the next Jaromir Jagr – minus the whole postseason, assuming there is one with 16 (or more) teams. So we may travelling mercenary thing. yet watch him in games at a later date.

In some of these cases, this unscheduled hiatus may even help prolong If the playoffs are wiped out, however, he certainly sounds like someone player’s careers, as they’ll get extra downtime to recover and get ready at peace with the idea of moving on. He’s 39 in the fall. He’s won three for next season. Beyond those big names, however, other veterans are Cups. And he’s down to playing less of a role than he ever has, with only likely going to be negatively affected by this shutdown. 13 minutes a game.

What follows is my list of 15 players who very well may have retired Maybe there are no more Game 7s for Mr. Game 7. without knowing it last week when hockey went away. This piece was compiled based on talking to several players and teams, in addition to Mikko Koivu many of our NHL reporters based in these markets. Also taken into 4. Mikko Koivu, Minnesota account: a players’ age, where their team is in the standings (non-playoff teams are much less likely to play games even if the season does Yeah, this is probably goodbye. resume) and their contract status, among other factors. I mean, maybe the Wild get into some play-in games or something in a 1. Ryan Miller, Anaheim playoff setup designed to give teams on the bubble a chance. But Koivu turned 37 last week and his contract is up at the end of the year. Honestly, it feels like half the time I talk to Miller there isn’t hockey going on. It’s either a conversation about a lockout or, in this case, a pandemic. There’s no question he has slowed down, and any return to play would have to be at a greatly reduced salary and role. I messaged Miller a couple of days ago to explain I was working on this story and asked where he sat when it came to playing next season, Still, this would be a tough way to end things for the classy captain. The assuming the Ducks don’t get into another game the rest of the way. league would be Koivu-less for the first time since 1994-95 when (much older) brother Saku entered the league and quickly became a star in He remains on the fence about what comes next, as this has all come on Montreal. so suddenly. And the NHL will be poorer for it. “Too soon – can’t even process what is happening,” Miller said. “I think I need to get clear of the real-world issues that surround us … and then sit “Ahh, yeah. It would be tough,” Wild GM Bill Guerin told Mike Russo with my wife and have a real discussion about where we are at with earlier this week when asked about Koivu’s career potentially being over. things.” “Nobody … you know what, that’s all I should say. That would be tough.”

Miller has had another solid season in Anaheim, appearing in 23 of their 5. Jay Bouwmeester, St. Louis 71 games and posting a .907 save percentage behind a D that has had a lot of injuries and allowed a lot of chances. But he turns 40 this summer, It was probably the end anyway, but I’m not leaving him off this list. and for family reasons – his wife is actress Noureen DeWulf – he wants Everyone is simply thankful Bouwmeester is alive after what happened to live in or near California, where most of the teams are not contenders. on the bench in Anaheim earlier this season. I’m no medical expert, so I His opportunities to win that elusive first Stanley Cup appear fleeting. can’t comment on the logistics of him returning to play one day. It sounds If this is the end, Miller has had a marvelous career. Only three goalies – unlikely but hopefully, that’s a comeback story he can write. Marc-Andre Fleury, Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo – have won more games than he has since he entered the league back in 2002-03. If not … what a career. He was only 18 at his first NHL training camp in But his numbers were sparkling, especially in the AHL and in Florida. Florida, right out of the draft, and became a big-minute defenceman by And when it came time to be a starter, first in Colorado 10 years ago, his second season. Anderson continued to perform.

Since he entered the league, only Marleau, Thornton and Chara have In the 10 seasons between 2007-08 and 2016-17, he had a .919 save played more games than Bouwmeester – and only Chara has logged percentage, putting him in the top 10 among No. 1 netminders. He more minutes, period. A big reason for that is Bouwmeester has been started 431 games in that span, the league’s 12th heaviest workload and ridiculously durable, rarely suffering a significant injury in his 17 years in took the underdog Senators on an unlikely playoff run as recently as the league. 2017.

Still only 36, he’s played more games at that age than all but 10 Anderson’s late start as a starter meant that he was never a viable option defencemen in NHL history. to be a long-term No. 1 goalie. He’s 39 in May, and his numbers have been subpar for three years running now. Very quiet and humble, Bouwmeester took some silly criticism early in his career. Part of that was the fact he was a high pick and the top COVID-19 could very well be the end of his career. At least he made defenceman on some bad clubs in Florida and Calgary, which meant he nearly $40 million along the way, the vast majority of which came after he didn’t get a sniff of the postseason until he was nearly 30 years old. So it turned 30 years old. There’s a good story of perseverance in there, to be was nice to see him finally get the Cup last year in St. Louis and prove sure. some doubters wrong. 9. Dan Hamhuis, Nashville If this is the end, he’ll always have that. And five gold medals from various levels of international play for Canada, including the Olympics in That’s the perfect picture for Dan Hamhuis. The pride of Smithers, B.C. 2014. I first watched Hamhuis closely way back in junior, when he was a star 6. Brent Seabrook, Chicago with the Prince George Cougars and I was doing some junior scouting work for McKeen’s Hockey in Kamloops. There was no doubt back then I’ll say this much: He doesn’t think this is the end. he was going to be an NHLer. And likely a very good one.

He may be on the verge of turning 35. He may have a bloated contract The Preds took him 12th overall, and he blossomed into a defensive that’s going to be difficult to perform up to. And he may now be a bionic mainstay for both Nashville and Vancouver over the next 13 years. Heck, man after taking most of this season to have surgeries on half of his body his first three years with the Canucks he received a bunch of Norris parts. votes, as his profile was raised in a bigger (and Canadian) market.

But Seabrook is a gamer, and he’ll do whatever he can to try and battle Now in his second stint in Nashville, Hamhuis is closing in on 1,200 back. games. But he’s into strictly third-pair duty at this point, at age 37, and will be year to year contractually the rest of the way. The tough thing is that contract makes it harder for the Blackhawks to build a competitive team, if the best Seabrook can be is a depth But he remains a solid, smart, defensive player with limited offence, so defenceman. The buyout terms are simply brutal, too, so that won’t be an hopefully, this isn’t the end. option. 10. Ron Hainsey, Ottawa So is he headed for LTIR? Or a trade, with some salary retained? I’m glad I had a chance to cover Hainsey. The guy is one of a kind. A true I don’t know how it happens but hopefully, he at least gets a shot with his character. And the kids with the Leafs loved playing with the sarcastic rebuilt body. He was a massive part of Chicago’s three Cup wins in six veteran who seemed to wear the same rumpled suit to the rink every years and the rebirth of one of the NHL’s marquee franchises. And he day. helped Canada win Olympic gold in his hometown in 2010 as part of a dream season. Like Anderson, he was another guy that had to battle to find his role. Hainsey was actually picked 13th overall by Montreal — and that was a But Father Time comes for us all. helluva pick, even if it didn’t look like it for years. The list of players from that draft class who played more NHL games than Hainsey has only two 7. David Backes, Anaheim names on it: Justin Williams and Scott Hartnell.

No, I’m not using a photo of him as a Duck or a Bruin. He’ll always be the But he was in the minors for years in that Habs organization before captain of some really good St. Louis Blues teams in my mind. getting a chance with a crappy expansion outfit in Columbus. That was One personal story that sticks with me about Backes was during the last around the same time that analytics like Corsi began to gain popularity, lockout. He was part of a video arguing the NHLPA’s case when the and Hainsey quickly became a favorite among the numberly inclined. season was on the verge of shutdown. It was really well done and He’s bounced around a ton as of late, in part due to his own desires. I eloquent on the players’ part. imagine he probably could have stayed in Pittsburgh or Toronto, had he I sent him a message saying I thought as much and, within seconds, my been willing to accept a bargain of a contract. No, it was off to Ottawa, phone was ringing. Backes was ready to talk. Did I want to do a story where he’s on the verge of turning 39 next week and still somehow about the PA’s position and trying to save the season? playing 21 minutes a night and making $3.5 million.

That was kind of how he played, too. All in. Like Seabrook, he was a I didn’t bother reaching out to him to ask if he intends on coming back battler. Up for anything. You can see it in the 1,144 penalty minutes next season because, well, there’s no way he would return that call. He’s Backes piled up. And in his willingness to fill any role – even as an Ron Hainsey. enforcer – as he gets to the end of his career here. But my guess is he tries to keep going as long as he can. Perhaps with Backes turns 36 in May. He’s been punted around a bit of late, and the team No. 9. Ducks aren’t going to make the playoffs. He does have one year left on 11. , NY Islanders his deal, at big money, but what if Anaheim decides it’s better to buy that out rather than keep him on the roster as a veteran mentor? Tough to watch him go out this way.

Then, yeah, this might be the end. But my guess is he battles onto the One of the worst of the ill-advised bad contracts signed on July 1, 2016, bottom of a roster somewhere for another year or two. That’s his nature. Ladd’s still getting big money for three more years, with a $5.5 million cap hit even as he approaches 35 years old. 8. Craig Anderson, Ottawa He spent most of this season in the minors, however, before a late recall, Anderson is another guy who’s had an inspiring road to here. and it’s hard to see a path where he becomes an NHL regular again. He was in the minors until he was 26 years old. Then a backup until he With the way his contract is structured, it’ll also be tough to buy him out, was 28. He didn’t even start 100 NHL games in his first eight years in pro as there really aren’t much savings involved in doing so – and they’d still hockey. have to pay him $11 million. In his prime, Ladd was a force. He landed that big contract thanks to someone who should have a future in the game in some capacity when some power forward seasons with Atlanta and Winnipeg, where he was he’s done. It’d be fun to see him do some media. the captain for five years. A fourth-overall pick, Ladd didn’t quite hit the heights some scouts thought he would back in junior, but he was a good 15. Jonathan Ericsson, Detroit player. Last on the list is the big man from the Red Wings.

Like a lot of guys who play that role, however, it gets hard to maintain it Another guy who has spent his entire career in Detroit, Ericsson sort of into your mid-30s. He’s had back problems and a knee surgery lately, flew under the radar leaguewide. At his very best, he was a modest which has hurt his mobility. A lot of this points to Lou Lamoriello finding a second-pair type, but that was what landed him the ill-advised six-year, home for him on LTIR, but we’ll see how it plays out. $4.25 million a season contract in 2014 that he’s just finishing up this 12. Jimmy Howard, Detroit season.

Howard turns 36 next week, and he’s had a tough year with an awful The more the NHL moved towards smaller, younger, faster defencemen Detroit team. His numbers before this season weren’t terrible, however, who could skate, however, the further it moved away from players like so maybe he catches on as a backup elsewhere. But there’s at least a Ericsson. Which is a problem when you’re locked into top-four money chance he’s played his last NHL game. until age 36.

That kind of thing can be unpredictable with older goalies. Of late, he hasn’t even been able to play up to the level of a fringe NHL defenceman, which is how he wound up in the minors this season. How will we remember Jimmy Howard? Well, a lifelong Red Wing, at least to date. A second-round pick in 2003, he just missed Detroit’s glory Fans have been talking about buying Ericsson out for more than three years, not catching on as a regular until 2009-10, two years after their years now, so I don’t imagine many will miss him. last Cup win. If this is the end, Ericsson will sit seventh all-time in games played as a But they were still a solid team and he was a decent contributor, putting Red Wings defenceman, which is pretty remarkable for an Original Six up three seasons with big save percentages in his first four seasons as a franchise. He also sits seventh in career games among defencemen No. 1. He finished second in Calder voting as a rookie and then sixth in picked in the ninth round, too, so there’s always that. Vezina voting in his fourth year in the league. Who did I miss?

Then Nick Lidstrom left, the Wings began to decline and Howard struggled to regain that form. He settled in as a mostly average starter on a team that never had another meaningful postseason run. The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020

My guess is Detroit deems it time to move on, after a 17-year marriage. It’s possible Howard plays on. But it’s also possible there isn’t a fit, given his age and the season he is coming off of.

13. Trevor Daley, Detroit

Thus continues a run on Red Wings.

We know they won’t play another game, even if there’s some sort of play- in format to make the playoffs, so we can write off that as a source of more games for Detroit. And they have a lot of these veterans on the downswing on the roster.

Probably not a very fun season to end a career on, that’s for sure.

Daley is one of the players on this list whose game has really fallen off in recent years. In his heyday, he was a great skater and a wonderful utility D-man, someone who logged about 22 minutes a night for years with some pretty good Dallas teams. He then won a couple of Cups on an unheralded Penguins blue line in 2016 and 2017.

A second-rounder way back in 2002, Daley has now played more games than everyone in his draft class except Bouwmeester, Duncan Keith and Rick Nash, the latter of whom he was on the verge of passing before the NHL shut down. That’s a testament to his durability but also his ability to fill any role, from top pair to depth D, even as he aged.

But Daley’s going to be 37 and he’s down to under 16 minutes a game on a bad team. I’m not sure if he’ll get another contract or not, not with the NHL’s continued push to get younger and younger. He had a good run, though. And he deserves a tip of the cap on the way out.

14. Roman Polak, Dallas

At 33, Polak’s one of the younger players on this list, but he’s also a bit unusual in the modern NHL. He’s massive and mean and not the greatest with the puck on his stick.

I didn’t really know if he’d get another NHL opportunity after Toronto passed on him a couple of years ago, but he’s found a role as a depth D with Dallas the past two years. He’s had some brutal injuries the past several years – including fracturing his sternum in the Stars’ opener this year – so that’s beginning to be a factor for the big man.

Polak may catch on somewhere as a sixth or seventh D next season for a contract around the league minimum. Or maybe he opts to go overseas and make bigger money there to close out his career.

He’s had a darn good career for a sixth-round pick, though, playing more games than all but three other defencemen from that 2004 draft: Mike Green, Alex Edler and Alex Goligoski. He’s a fascinating guy, too, 1181233 Websites Still, though, despite a late-September birthday and an age advantage over his peers, Quinn didn’t stick with the 67’s in what should have been his rookie season in the OHL. Instead, they sent him to the Jr. A Kanata Lasers, where he had to prove himself to everyone all over again. The Athletic / Behind Jack Quinn’s rapid rise from obscurity to top 2020 NHL Draft prospect Just like he had done a season earlier at AAA, Quinn proved his worth, picking up 46 points in 49 games on route to a CCHL Rookie of the Year award.

By Scott Wheeler Questions remained about his status as an NHL prospect, though.

Mar 19, 2020 Part of the reason Quinn didn’t play AAA growing up, and part of the reason he was sent to the CCHL instead of playing in the OHL as a true

rookie, was that slight build that Robitaille – and everyone else – quickly Jack Quinn and his Ottawa 67’s were preparing to play three games in identified. Growing up, Quinn never worked out during his summers in three nights, beginning with a home game against the rural Ontario, either. He didn’t have a personal trainer or get on the ice and ending with a home-and-home versus the Kingston Frontenacs, every day. Instead, he spent his summers playing competitive golf. when they were called into a meeting and told to go home. During the season, his attention was also usually split between hockey and other high school sports. “It happened really fast, honestly,” Quinn said a few days later. “I never worked out or anything,” he said, bluntly. “I never trained until my Days after the OHL followed the NHL’s lead by putting its season on 15 or 16-year-old year.” pause, Quinn still can’t quite believe what happened. He’s home, with his mom Jennifer, in Cobden, Ont., a little over an hour drive west of Ottawa, It’s around that time that he was introduced to Tony Greco, an Ottawa still trying to wrap his head around the idea that his season may be over. Valley trainer with a group of junior and pro hockey clients that includes Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux. In that meeting, the one where he was told to go home, players and staff expected to be able to continue to train and skate together. Together, Quinn and Greco worked to bridge the gap between his fitness level and his on-ice talent. “(The coaching staff) were very positive. (They) were hopeful that one way or another there will be a scenario where we can play in the playoffs After a full summer of training, Quinn stuck with the 67’s in his second and whoever makes it, makes it, but we’re going to be ready,” Quinn crack at it, posting 32 points in 61 games (11th on the team) as a depth said. forward on a dominant, OHL finals-bound 2018-2019 team.

In the days since, though, the situation has changed. Most gyms and Still, as he entered the summer of 2019, his last before his NHL draft arenas have been shut down. These days, Quinn is spending his time year, Quinn’s pro prospects weren’t a sure thing. Therefore, it was time watching movies. He and his teammates keep in touch through a group to get back to the gym. And the hard work paid off, again. chat but he misses them already. There aren’t a lot of kids who can say they scored 50 goals in their draft “It’s crazy. It’s tough. I’m just hoping it gets better right now,” he said. “It’s year. He worked his way up the rankings. Today, Quinn is widely frustration, it’s disappointment. We don’t know where things stand. We considered a first-round prospect. He currently ranks ninth among North don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s probably the worst part, is just American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. not knowing right now.” When Greco talks about him, he points to another old client: . Though he won’t admit it, the pause – and a potential future cancellation “Mike would just go through a wall for you. And that’s Jack Quinn. Jack is – will have a more pronounced impact on him than most other junior a bull,” Greco said. hockey players. “You give him an extra heavier weight, he’s going to do it. He’s not going Not only were the 67’s in first place in the OHL and routinely the No. 1 to say ‘What are you giving me that for?’ He’s going to say ‘OK, give it to ranked team in the CHL’s weekly top 10 rankings, but Quinn is in the me.’ He’s just non-stop. Claude loves the guys that challenge him midst of his NHL Draft year. because Claude’s a machine and Jack will just do whatever you throw at He was also just getting started and the upcoming window to impress him and he just makes sure he does it well, and fast and explosive. He’s NHL scouts meant more to him than it did to most other draft hopefuls. a really good kid. He’s now moved up to a name, they say he might go in Most of his peers have been top prospects since they were kids. Many the first round. That’s amazing.” have been tracked closely since their early teenaged years. Though Robitaille says Quinn was on some NHL teams’ radars last At first glance, Quinn belongs among them now. His 52 goals in 62 season, he’s among the first to acknowledge that everything changed for games ranked second in the OHL. His 89 points sat eighth – and third his client this year. among draft-eligible players to projected top-10 picks Cole Perfetti and “He’s a special talent. And Jack’s just starting to come onto the scene,” Rossi. He was named Team Red’s player of the game at the CHL/NHL Robitaille said. Top Prospects Game. In Ottawa, 67’s staff glow about the underdog kid from “the valley” who But this – the notoriety, the feeling of belonging, the accolades at his age worked his way into the limelight – and third on the team in points. group’s top level – is all very new for Quinn. When head coach Andre Tourigny is asked about Quinn, he describes He grew up playing AA hockey for the Upper Ottawa Valley Aces him first with one word: fantastic. because he couldn’t crack the area AAA teams and kept getting cut. His first and only year at the AAA level with the Kanata Lasers came in his “Oh boy. His progression since last year is really good,” Tourigny said. 15-year-old minor midget season and OHL draft year. “He’s a 200-foot player. He’s really good defensively, he’s good offensively, he’s playing all three positions up front, he has a lot of ice- Unlike most prospects that age, Quinn didn’t have an agent heading into time. He’s a big reason for our success.” his OHL draft year either. After a strong start, former NHLer Randy Robitaille decided to give him a look. Robitaille remembers going to The team’s general manager, James Boyd, marvels at that progression. Kanata to watch him across two weekends. “In a short span of time he goes from AA to AAA to the rookie of the year “After the second weekend, I was just impressed with his hockey sense in the CCHL and a full-time OHLer. Last year, in a depth role, he was and the decisions he was making. I could tell he was raw and slight but outstanding for us. He was a big part of why our team had so much he showed me that he could be a player. Then I made the introduction,” success and a record-setting season,” Boyd said. Robitaille remembered. “We would talk and say ‘This is the weekend Quinner’s going to score 10 That season, Quinn had to play his way up the lineup and onto the OHL goals.’ It wasn’t if, it was when. ‘When is Quinner going to get on a roll?’ radar. When he posted 52 points in 45 games, the local 67’s were among He’s a tremendous athlete (and) he’s got great skill. Now, with increased the teams that took notice, drafting him 39th overall in the 2017 OHL ice-time and some more confidence, the production is what the coaches priority selection. have seen for a long time.” Quinn has also been able to add weight. These days, he says he’s 6-foot and 175 pounds. Boyd and Greco both insist it just took him some extra time for his physical maturity to catch up with his natural athleticism.

“Whatever he’s doing, whether it’s golf or hockey, he’s got tremendous hand-eye, he’s got great balance and he’s only going to improve as he gets stronger moving forward,” Boyd said.

Nobody knows that better than his teammates. Fellow draft-eligible 67’s star Marco Rossi is quick to point to Quinn as one of the hardest-working players on the team.

“He competes really hard in practices every day and you can see it today, it paid off. He deserves it because he’s really underrated,” Rossi said. “Now he’s getting more and more love, so I’m really happy for him. He’s a good skater and he can shoot the puck. He’s a great guy off of the ice, too.”

Devils prospect and 67’s forward Graeme Clarke, who also trains with Greco and shares Robitaille as his agent, has seen that firsthand in the last two summers. Clarke, a top prospect from the Ottawa area growing up, admits he didn’t even know who Quinn was, despite living just an hour away from Cobden in Nepean and playing in the same age group, until their OHL draft year (Clarke was the team’s first-round pick when they took Quinn in the second round).

“From there, we just created a really good friendship and he’s one of my best friends today,” Clarke said. “He’s going to be a high pick this year. He’s an underdog story but it’s a great one and I’m proud of him. He’s just a great person.”

Quinn still can’t believe just how quickly everything changed for him. Today, he says he wouldn’t change anything about his story, including all of those years in AA.

“It all came pretty quick. A couple of years after I was playing AA, here I am,” he said. “It makes you not take anything for granted. I haven’t been a top prospect. I’ve had to perfect my craft. It’s humbling.”

His journey has helped him keep the pressures of his draft year and the anxieties of the recent weeks in the age of COVID-19, at bay. Though he is spending his break with his mom in Cobden, he lives with his dad, Dan, who works in the government, during the season in Ottawa (instead of billeting). He also considers himself lucky to have players like Rossi to go through the draft process with.

“There’s a lot going on. A lot of interviews with teams after games, a lot of media and it can be a little nerve-racking. But I just try to enjoy it and talk to Marco about it to take some stress off,” Quinn said.

He’s thankful, too, for Tourigny’s guidance and belief.

“Without Andre, my game wouldn’t be close to where it is now. It’s been a journey, for sure. (When) they sent me to Jr. A, that was tough. Last year was a lesser role again on a good team. And I just kept working on my skills and with great coaching, it has all come along,” he said.

Now, he knows he belongs. When he talks about his game, he’s confident, describing himself as a smart, offensive winger who can score and never stops competing.

He just hopes he’s not done competing for the year.

“I’m happy with how the season went, knowing that I gave it everything I had. But the playoffs were the real test for the team and it sucks if we don’t get the opportunity to prove ourselves,” Quinn finished.

“The draft is something to look forward to. If that’s the only thing that happens, it’s unfortunate but not everyone has a chance to do it so I’ll use it to keep myself motivated. It’s a terrible situation. Fingers crossed.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181234 Websites That prohibition would carry into the middle of May, when the Stanley Cup playoffs are usually in full swing.

On Wednesday, Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, told The The Athletic / Eight laid off at The Hockey News amid COVID-19 fallout Athletic that preserving the full 82 games for next season was the for sports media league’s priority. He told Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside the NHL did not “want to do anything around a resumption of play this season that will impact our ability to have a full season next year.”

By Sean Fitz-Gerald The abrupt end to sports has led to changes across the sports media landscape. March is usually one of the busiest months in the North Mar 18, 2020 American calendar, from the stretch drive of the NHL and NBA seasons to March Madness to Opening Day in .

Eight full-time editorial employees at The Hockey News have been has scrambled for topics. Television networks have wrestled temporarily laid off without pay following the NHL’s unprecedented mid- with acres of suddenly empty airtime, with nothing anywhere near as March “pause” due to the global spread of COVID-19. valuable as the live sports it was replacing. As The New York Times framed it, the value of live sports diminishes quickly: “Live sports are the The layoffs affected longtime editor-in-chief Jason Kay, senior editor brand-new car that gets totaled by a speeding semi-truck the second it is Brian Costello, managing editor Edward Fraser, senior writers Ken driven off the lot.” Campbell, Ryan Kennedy and Matt Larkin, features editor Sam McCaig and art director Shea Berencsi. Two contract workers are still producing In Canada, many contract workers and freelancers at both TSN and content for THN’s website. Sportsnet have lost work. On Wednesday, the networks took the extraordinary step of issuing a joint news release to promote their Graeme Roustan, The Hockey News’ publisher and owner, said he coordinated rebroadcast of the entire championship run considers the layoffs a temporary measure and will re-evaluate the from last spring. decision every week. He pledges to bring everyone back to work once the NHL resumes activity. The first game from the first series, against Orlando, airs on Sportsnet on Friday. The second game is on TSN the following night. (Without spoiling “I’ve set my own timeline to every Friday morning,” he said in an the ending, TSN will air Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Golden interview, “to wake up and try to determine what next week looks like.” State Warriors on April 12.)

If the NHL were to return before a Friday morning, he said “the recall Roustan noted layoffs were being made across all sectors of an economy would take place that instant.” amid the pandemic.

Roustan was involved in a minor Twitter spat with TSN insider Bob “All anyone has to do is turn the TV and try to stomach, for an hour, McKenzie, a former THN editor-in-chief, after McKenzie tweeted the what’s going on out there,” he said. “It’s brutal. I don’t want to downplay news of the layoffs. the despair of one or eight or 10 people being laid off because it hurts everybody. But we’re in a period that nobody … I’ve never gone through Roustan said remaining non-editorial staff were working from home, after anything like this before. he closed the publication’s office out of precaution for the virus. The NHL announced it was shutting down last week. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. I don’t know what’s going to happen next.” Layoff notices were delivered at The Hockey News within two days of the announcement.

“I’ve never met a business owner in my life who wants to, or enjoys, The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 laying off people,” Roustan said. “I’m sure they’re out there, I just haven’t met them yet. Nobody likes it. Nobody wants to do it, but it’s just a fact of business life.”

Roustan bought the storied hockey publication two years ago. He also owns The Curling News, which is at the end of its annual publication cycle. George Karrys, who has remained deputy editor with that publication since he sold it to Roustan, said it would not be affected by the cuts.

“These are tough decisions,” Roustan said. “It’s a no-win situation. There’s no win, whatsoever.”

The Hockey News was founded in 1947 and recently entered a “strategic partnership” with in which the two brands share content. THN has weathered prolonged NHL work stoppages in the past. During the lockout that eventually led to the cancellation of the 2004-05 season, it is believed the company did not issue layoff notices until after the league officially announced all games would be lost.

One or two employees were let go, while two or three more were redeployed to work at other outlets in Transcontinental Media Inc., which owned The Hockey News at the time. The company also shifted its publication schedule to better survive in a world without top-level hockey.

“It’s always come out the other end,” Roustan said. “The Hockey News is not a magazine that focuses on the day-to-day scores and the day-to-day games. It tells stories, long stories. And there’s always a need for the long stories and the in-depth stories.”

It is not clear when those stories might resume. A member of the Ottawa Senators has become the first NHL player to test positive for COVID-19, and some of their teammates were thought to be feeling unwell as they awaited test results.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that crowds larger than 50 be avoided for eight weeks. 1181235 Websites really what happened in this case. The player became symptomatic, he told his team medical staff, his team medical staff recommended a test, the player took the test and the test was positive. So that’s really the approach that everyone really should follow. The Athletic / NHL’s Bill Daly: Playing a full 82-game season in 2020-21 is top priority Burnside: You mentioned team officials. Have you had other positive tests, whether it’s coaching staff or administrative staff?

Daly: All the tests that we’ve had within the NHL community have been By Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside publicly exposed, press releases. I think there was a Vancouver employee who recently tested positive. There was a San Jose arena Mar 18, 2020 worker who tested positive. Obviously we had the situation in Buffalo where an employee’s family member tested positive. These have all been disclosed by the clubs and appropriate steps have been taken so Regardless of what playoff system could possibly be employed if the this is just really, as I said, the fact that it’s a player obviously it’s much NHL is able to complete the 2019-20 season, having a full 82-game higher profile but it’s the same approach. season in 2020-21 is sacrosanct, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic. LeBrun: As a lot of us keep saying, it seems like a story that keeps changing by the hour. It’s just been a lot. It’s just been moving and Speaking on the Two-Man Advantage podcast on Wednesday, Daly said moving and moving. Do you sense now that as much as the story keeps that although there are lots of options being discussed to salvage the changing you’ve hit a bit of a, I don’t say a quieter phase, but at least current season and crown a Stanley Cup winner, including the notion of a now that you’re bunkering down and just waiting to see over the next playoff schedule that would occupy most of August and September, the couple of weeks what happens with the COVID-19 threat here? league will not entertain any ideas that involve a truncated 2020-21 season. Daly: You mean like settling into a routine?

“The only definite for us is we certainly don’t want to do anything around LeBrun: I don’t know about a routine but at least there is some waiting a resumption of play this season that will impact our ability to have a full now, right? season next year,” Daly said. “So that’s kind of the outside parameters Daly: No, no, no. I totally understand the question and I’m hoping you’re and rules we’re following currently. Everything else is kind of up for grabs right. Have we seen that yet? As Scott led off with it’s been busy every for lack of a better term. There are lots of possibilities. We do have day with respect to developments, trying to stay on top of the people working internally on those scenarios and what they look like and developments. Just trying to make sure we’re in communication with what the feasibility is. clubs on a constant basis and that’s not just on the hockey side, that’s “There are a lot of complications associated with that. Obviously you obviously on the business side. There are a lot of business decisions the have network partner obligations that we have to take into account. And clubs are making every day vis a vis this pause. And we have to be there then we have to work through with the Players’ Association what the to facilitate that and be helpful to the greatest extent we can be even critical date calendar looks like. We need to work with our clubs on though on that end of it the clubs are really in a different business than building availabilities. We have to consider whether a resumption of play the league office is. So we can only kind of facilitate best practices and is to a building that’s open to the public versus perhaps a resumption of make sure all the clubs know what’s going on around the league and in play that doesn’t involve a building that’s open to the public. So these are other sports. So that’s certainly a function that we serve. all relevant considerations and variables none of which you can really Burnside: You mentioned other sports, you mentioned medical officials, align at this point behind a specific plan. So, it, like the situation how closely are you in contact with the other leagues, with medical generally, is very fluid.” officials and maybe can you describe what that relationship is like Here is the full transcript of Daly’s conversation, including his response to because my sense of it is that at some point when we hope to get back to the first positive test of an NHL player for the coronavirus and his the game that you’re going to take your cues from those medical officials revelation that the league has hired an infectious disease expert to and I wonder what that relationship is like and how often you’re in advise the league throughout the COVID-19 crisis. contact?

Scott Burnside: Let’s start with the news of the day, reports coming in Daly: I would say frequently. Obviously we have a full-time chief medical overnight of the first NHL player who appears to have tested positive for director, Dr. Winne Meeuwisse, who’s been with us and has been the coronavirus. Can you give us an update on what’s going on with that consulting with us for many years. The Players’ Association has John and what steps the league takes moving forward? Rizos, its chief medical consultant. We obviously have the expertise of our joint health and medical committee, and obviously we look for Daly: Yeah. Sure. I suppose I got a call from the Ottawa Senators team interaction with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and Health Canada doctor last night. It was probably about 9 o’clock last night, indicating that as the agencies in charge. We do have an infectious disease expert who a player had tested positive for COVID-19. From our perspective, as we we have retained to help us through this. We had a conference call with kind of indicated in the release when we hit the pause button on the him yesterday (Tuesday) so, obviously the medical side of this is very, season, the virus’ impact on our community was inevitable to a certain very important, trying to understand it the best we can. It’s evolving extent, so it was really just a matter of time until we were going to have quickly. There is certainly some information out there, but I think as with our first player test positive. In terms of next steps vis a vis the player and any medical type issue there are different views and different reads of the vis a vis those around the player, it’s really the same approach that we’ve science on some issues, so you have to take that into account when taken with other members of the NHL community, staff members, club you’re making decisions. But yeah the medical information is very staff members who have tested positive over time in terms of what the important if not the most important part of the mix when we’re making health agencies are telling us on self-quarantine and preventative steps decisions. going forward and potentially infected individuals and following up with those potentially infected individuals. So the fact that it’s a player instead LeBrun: Should we expect any other announcements about a positive of a club staff member or a front office staff person really doesn’t change test today as far as you can tell? the approach in terms of how you have to deal with it. Daly: If the question is do I have any more information that I haven’t Pierre LeBrun: How many players do you think around the NHL have disclosed, the answer is no. Could there be more positive tests today? been tested already, in other words, either have been cleared or are Certainly. I don’t have a crystal ball on that. awaiting results still? LeBrun: So, secondary issues, and again I use the word secondary a lot Daly: I think it’s actually a fairly small number, Pierre. The advice we because it certainly pales in comparison to what we’re all facing in real received from the medical professionals, which is actually the preferred life, but the business does go on. I’m just wondering your sense of the method moving forward, is you don’t just get tested because you’re hope of still having a season this year and what that timeline continues to concerned and you want to be tested. You get tested if you’re shift and look like, where would you say that’s at right now? symptomatic. Our emphasis has been on advising players that if they’re Daly: Look. I appreciate the fact that everybody’s curious and symptomatic obviously they should report that right away, they should everybody’s really interested and I think that’s a good thing in terms of self-isolate and in appropriate cases they should get tested. And that’s what a resumption of play might look like. But I’d caution everybody that we’re literally now six days into the pause. We don’t know how long we’re going to be in pause and what the world’s going to look like over the next couple of days, hours, weeks. Pick your time increment. We don’t know when we would be able to come back if we can come back for this season. I think the only certainty we have is that whatever decisions we make with respect to a resumption of play this season obviously have to be consistent with the advice we’re getting from the medical professionals because, to both your points, that’s first and foremost. People’s health and safety has to be our primary concern and that’s not only our players, that’s our fans and that’s people in general. Not even necessarily associated with our game in any meaningful way. So we have to do our part societally to make sure we’re doing the right things and making the right decisions. But the only definite for us is we certainly don’t want to do anything around a resumption of play this season that will impact our ability to have a full season next year. So that’s kind of the outside parameters and rules we’re following currently. Everything else is kind of up for grabs for lack of a better term. There are lots of possibilities. We do have people working internally on those scenarios and what they look like and what the feasibility is. There are a lot of complications associated with that. Obviously you have network partner obligations that we have to take into account. And then we have to work through with the players’ association what the critical date calendar looks like. We need to work with our clubs on building availabilities. We have to consider whether a resumption of play is to a building that’s open to the public versus perhaps a resumption of play that doesn’t involve a building that’s open to the public. So these are all relevant considerations and variables none of which you can really align at this point behind a specific plan. So, it, like the situation generally, is very fluid.

LeBrun: I know there are a million different modeling ideas that you guys are coming up with and that are being thrown at you. I happened to write about one yesterday that a governor shared with me but the idea of pushing it all the way back to August/September playoffs. There may be a time where who knows what your options are, as crazy as that sounds again because we don’t know where this crisis is going?

Daly: Yeah. I agree. Look that’s why I said I don’t think I’m ruling anything out other than we’re going to make decisions to try and preserve our ability to have a full season next year.

Burnside: When you get to that point where you have to make those decisions on what a playoff may look like later this summer or what you’re thinking about critical dates moving into next season, is it as simple as the top executives with the league sitting down with the top executives with the PA and making those kinds of calls, or do you imagine at some point it’ll be a broader, like a competition committee type group, where you’re going to seek input from a wide variety of people from within the game. How do you imagine these final decisions coming together?

Daly: I think the consultative process you’re talking about with the clubs, with the managers, with the owners I think that’s going to be going on almost on a constant basis. We have invited their ideas on this so that we have the best possible ideas to take into consideration. But ultimately when it comes time to actually having to make a decision and implement a decision I don’t know what our time frame’s going to be so I don’t know exactly what process we can follow. Obviously we’re going to have to have buy-in from the players and the Players’ Association. But as with anything else, including the draft lottery we adopted coming out of the 2004-05 work stoppage, not everybody was happy with that model as you might imagine. So whatever we come up with ultimately we’re going to try and come up with some type of process that’s fair, that has integrity and we’ll make the difficult decisions to implement even if it doesn’t satisfy everybody because that’s the nature of what our obligations are.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181236 Websites 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.

Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: NHL teams prepping for anything amid Both Crelin and Landon said other avenues to help are being discussed. COVID-19 suspension “We have a player-hardship find — that will be looked at,” Crelin said. “How can we build up that fund, and then react on a case-by-case basis, or perhaps a blanket scenario — make sure we are supporting everyone Elliotte Friedman | @FriedgeHNIC in our community on both sides of the aisle?”

March 18, 2020, 6:51 PM “Given the uncertainty, nothing is off the table,” Landon added. “We know they need help. We’re working to create funds for economic need.”

One idea: There is one team (rumoured to be defending Kelly Cup Twelve hours after helping a teammate move out of his hockey-season champion Newfoundland) that apparently offered to pay its players home, James Henry is available to talk. The Winnipeg-born forward, who through the remainder of the regular season. The Growlers are unique in played five WHL seasons with the Vancouver Giants and Moose Jaw that the parent Maple Leafs have several players on NHL/AHL contracts Warriors, is an ECHL veteran. there, so the big club is responsible for those. With this added flexibility, It quickly becomes obvious that, as captain of the there’s room to help out those on ECHL deals. and the team’s PHPA rep (the minor leagues’ version of the NHLPA), It was not allowed. Henry feels an obligation to speak out. “Under our end-of-season [rules], any payment to an ECHL-contracted “I think we expected a little more support and backing,” he says. “We player would be a salary-cap violation,” Crelin said. “The PHPA didn’t get as much effort as we should have.” represents all their members and we represent all our teams. We act as Last Saturday night, the ECHL announced it was cancelling the rest of a league and move forward as a league…. Collective bargaining takes the 2019–20 season, including the playoffs. A couple of sources months and months. We had hours and hours. We stayed within the indicated the conference call was “heated,” with some teams arguing it terms of that agreement.” was wrong to cut loose players without pay. He added, “We recognize these are extraordinary times.” “I wouldn’t call it heated,” Commissioner Ryan Crelin said on the 31 Yes, they are. That’s why any team that wishes to step in should be Thoughts podcast. “There were varying viewpoints, and it was allowed to — on a one-time, agreed-upon scenario. For one thing, it emotional…. But there were a couple of factors that everyone agreed on. embodies the spirit of what needs to happen for everyone to survive this. We wanted to find something to hold on to, a way to keep the season For another, if a team takes more responsibility upon itself, that’s fewer going… but I wouldn’t say that it was heated. players that the league and PHPA have to worry about. The emergency “It was an excruciating decision, (but) 100 per cent the right decision.” fund can help those others.

The ECHL has a weekly salary cap of $13,300 per team (20 players). One agent said it best: “This just sucks. It’s not anyone’s fault — it just The floor is $10,100. There are playoff bonuses — after the first round. sucks.” Multiple sources indicated the biggest issue was the future of the league “Some sleepless nights, no question,” Crelin finished. “But you’ve got to itself. Crelin and PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon were concerned make what you believe is the right decision…. There were moments about franchises surviving the economic impact of COVID-19. where you believe it is the wrong decision. But as we reflect on it here, “We were worried about three or four teams,” Landon said Tuesday. I’m confident it was the right decision.” “This was the best thing to do to protect players and the CBA. We will do 31 THOUGHTS our best to save jobs. These are difficult times, with difficult decisions on all fronts. No one wants to be in this position. If you look at the entire 1. We all need a good smile right now, and, on Tuesday night, it came picture, the vast majority of ECHL teams are in no position to pay players from the Canadiens’ and Kings’ twitter feeds. The two teams were with no revenues.” supposed to play last night. Instead, their social media teams did video- game simulations: “That’s certainly a top priority — to maintain our league and our member teams,” Crelin added. “Economic activity is seizing up right now…. Even In a textbook example of unconscious bias, Montreal won 6-2 on its feed, our teams at the top of attendance are going to be significantly impacted. the Kings won 5-4 on theirs. Los Angeles had Trevor Lewis scoring the At this point I believe we made the prudent decision to give us the best winner in the last few seconds, and the celebration surrounded Shea opportunity to maintain our league and set up our league for future Weber: growth for years to come. We’re working together to try and help all of our members.” A true simulation would have seen Weber pile drive everyone in anger.

The best piece of news is that players’ health insurance will be covered 2. The OHL, QMJHL and WHL notably cancelled the remainder of their until June 30. Moving expenses are covered, too. If Henry had a request, regular seasons, but not the playoffs. According to Sportsnet CHL it would be to honour one other CBA provision: If a player is waived and analyst Sam Cosentino, the No. 1 thing that allows them to do on time is doesn’t get a new job in two weeks, he receives two weeks’ pay as their drafts — which would be online. As for playoffs, what does Sam severance. think?

“You go from fully expecting to be compensated to nothing,” he said. “It’s “Contingency plans are being discussed frequently,” he said. “But with an opportunity to help people who need it. Some guys are renting out the Memorial Cup scheduled for Kelowna, government regulations will their regular place during the season, so they have to find somewhere determine that.” else to go. They’ve lost their April rent (at their ECHL home). How late do you think the CHL can wait? Opportunities to earn money are going to be hard right now because people aren’t hiring.” “I think it has to happen before the NHL draft.”

“We discussed it, but under our CBA, when you invoke end of season, 3. In its media release last week announcing the season’s pause, you there is no severance,” Crelin said. “We understand this is a troubling could tell the NHL was well aware it would be impossible to escape at time for everyone. For our teams, for our players, for all stakeholders in least one positive test to a player. That happened Tuesday night with an the ECHL community. The PHPA recognizes that and we recognize that Ottawa Senator. The official position is that testing is necessary if a as well. So we’ll be working as partners in hockey to try and assist player is symptomatic and/or determined to need a swab. This is always everyone.” a thorny issue. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was upset when players were tested: The ECHL and PHPA have a “career enhancement” plan. It allows players to take courses or learn a trade, and can help with job placement. We wish them a speedy recovery. But, with all due respect, an entire Landon said he’s found work for three players, but Henry recognizes NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically there won’t be enough opportunity due to shutdowns. ill patients waiting to be tested. A great deal of “flattening the curve” is about self-isolation, social “He’s an awesome guy, great for us,” Foo laughed. “We didn’t see it too distancing and limiting contact. That’s what the NHL and NHLPA are much, but you know it is there.” asking players to do. 9. What is the wildest hockey-related thing you saw? 4. Obviously, there are a few questions about the Sens player’s identity being undisclosed. It was his choice. In the NBA, both Kevin Durant and “Oh, the fan stuff in the intermissions. There were a couple games I sat Rudy Gobert agreed to put their names out there, but it is a personal out with an injury. There was one where they came on the ice in running decision. shoes after a fresh scrape — two teenage girls doing a tug-of-war, no helmet, falling all over the place. It was hilarious.” 5. Ottawa visited Los Angeles in the most recent game of this NHL season. That was March 11, days after the Brooklyn Nets were at the Finally, I asked what he thought of hockey’s chances for success in same arena to face the Lakers. (The Senators reportedly used the same China. dressing room as the NBA visitors.) They also played earlier in both San “There are a ways to go, but the good thing to see is there were kids and Jose and Anaheim. The game against the Sharks was played after public families at our games. The biggest thing is getting the youth there into health officials in Santa Clara County advised the public to avoid large the sport.” gatherings in the area. (A mandatory decree came two days later.) The team also had a day off in the Los Angeles area on May 8. Some of the 10. In case you are not a basketball fan, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski players went to the basketball game that night. So those will be the steps reported the NBA’s Board of Governors had a conference call with former everyone tries to retrace. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Tuesday. According to Wojnarowski: Murthy explained the “grim potential impact of coronavirus 6. Nine months ago, 25-year-old winger Spencer Foo decided to try a pandemic in U.S., but left owners with hope of re-starting season/playoffs new hockey adventure, leaving AHL Stockton for Kunlun Red Star of the before July.” KHL. 11. It is a tough time to be an optimist. We had heard about the impact “I loved it,” Foo said Tuesday, back home in Canada after his team the coronavirus would have, but now, those of us in North America are missed the playoffs. “It didn’t end the way we wanted it to end, but I had seeing it play out in real time. Everyone is stressed about the financial a blast.” implications. When it comes to the NHL, there’s nothing anyone can do Red Star had a legit excuse, as it spent the last month of the season on but see how it plays out over the next six weeks. We can speculate all we the road as COVID-19 expanded. want (and come up with fun/crazy playoff scenarios) but we won’t know until close to the end of April at the earliest. “At the start, it was hard to find information into what was happening because news is in [Mandarin], and you can’t find translations. By the “All we can do is chill until then,” one agent said. time we left Beijing the final time, there was nobody on the subways, That’s not going to be easy, but I’m going to try and make it my (mental) nobody on the street. That was crazy because you are used to seeing approach. On his Pull Up podcast, guard CJ people everywhere.” McCollum talked with teammate Carmelo Anthony about meditation — Because he could not go back to collect belongings, Foo came home how it helps them deal with life’s insanities. There are just so many with what he carried on his final road trip. The rest of his stuff is still over factors here we cannot control. there. One of the reasons he went was the possibility of representing If I could recommend one thing that I’ve picked up later in life: 10 minutes China at the 2022 Winter Olympics. of meditation per day, which I try to do with my son. I never thought I’d be “That is still the plan. A few of us (who played there) are still hoping that into anything like that, but it slows down life and clears your mind. Very is an option.” valuable.

You’re going back for next season? 12. Many of you, great hockey fans that you are, have asked good questions like, “What happens with the conditional first-rounder in the “Yes. It was an awesome experience.” Jason Zucker trade?” or “What happens with the conditional pick based on James Neal/Milan Lucic production?” or “How do rookie bonuses hit 7. How much Mandarin did he learn? or not yet hit affect my favourite team’s cap next year?” These are all “We gave it a valiant effort,” he laughs. “It’s a tough language, props to good questions. At this time, there are no good answers. It depends on anyone who can learn it.” when the NHL resumes and what things look like.

What can you say? Obviously, there will be changes to the NHL’s calendar. There’s nothing confirmed, but teams are preparing for the possibility of life without a “I can do ‘Thank you,’ ask for water and direct a taxi driver. Another try combine, a draft from their own war rooms, and no visitation period for next year. But it makes you think of European players who come to free agency. Who knows how everything plays out, but organizations Canada and the U.S. for sure.” know they need to be prepared for anything.

Kunlun’s schedule is not easy, simply because of location. They’d go on 13. One of the most interesting questions that one exec asked: What a 10- to 14-day road trip and then back to Beijing, where players would happens in situations where teams were considering front-office and/or stay in a hotel or an AirBNB. It meant checking in and out over and over coaching changes? Does this give them a reprieve? Can you do a proper again, sometimes with a roommate. Foo joked captain Brandon Yip, who search/interview process under these circumstances? played 174 NHL games with Colorado, Nashville and Phoenix, always had a single room, “Because he’d be complaining if not. The travel does 14. One of the theories behind the AHL not cancelling its season yet is create a decent amount of adversity, but we had a good group that the NHL clubs may want a “taxi squad” of extra players available to them embraced being over there and seeing the world. When you’re going for any playoffs that might happen. hotel to hotel, you end up being very close. It’s fun that way.” 15. We’ll get back to business later, but I wanted to inject some fun 8. What was the most difficult thing about playing there? throughout the blog. If you are looking for some new recipes, allow me to present (via @derek_orr12 on Twitter) Flaming Foods: A Cookbook of “It’s hard to explain, but you think it is going to be a really offensive Enjoyable Recipes by your Calgary Flames Families: league, because there are so many super-skilled players. But it is much more defensive. You get some NHL-sized rinks, some Olympic and some Derek said Doug Risebrough was a family friend, and gave them the in Finland that are in the middle of the other two. Switching rink-to-rink book. Please enjoy selections from Al MacInnis, Bob and Martha gives you a different feel depending on where you’re playing. We played Johnson, and Harley and Becky Hotchkiss: on an Olympic-sized rink in Beijing, where it slowed down — not quite as I know some of these may not be 21st-century healthy, but who cares? many chances. It was hard to find offence.” 16. Via text, I asked Al MacInnis if he really made the Cape Breton Clam Foo finished with 25 points in 58 games. Chowder or the Turtle Cake.

“Once I figured it out, I felt a lot more confident.” “Absolutely,” he answered. “You grow up quick when moving away from Does head coach still have that killer glare? home. We didn’t have a team chef to make three meals a day.” 17. Okay, so when it comes to the possibilities for playing again, here are the air.) All indications are that the Blues are the frontrunners, but he a couple of things that are important to the NHL: 1) awarding a Stanley knows there would be plenty of opportunity if he chose to examine it. Cup this year, and 2) ensuring a full 82-game season next year. As we sit here on March 18, we have no idea if these things are going to be 26. Perunovich’s college teammate, Nick Wolff, signed in Boston on possible, but those are the targets. Wednesday. The AAV is $792,500.

18. Existential question, if it came down to it: If you’re Chicago or 27. Others getting closer to a decision: Mitchell Chaffee (UMass); Connor Montreal, would you rather be in the playoffs or the draft lottery? Mackey (Minnesota State-Mankato); Brinson Pasichnuk (Arizona State); Colton Poolman (North Dakota). Teams can’t sign them to contracts for 19. This is why I think an expanded playoffs with a unique format will be this season, which would usually be a recruiting strategy — “We’ll let you targeted, if it’s at all possible. One of Commissioner Gary Bettman’s burn the year.” Curious to see if any of them wait until we get some kind biggest successes has been negotiating TV deals. We all know the U.S. of resolution, to see if “burning the year” will still be possible. one is up soon. When sports comes back, people are going to be starving for action. Go big or don’t bother. So if there’s a way to include 28. Clarkson’s Josh Dunne has notified teams he will stay in school. eyeball-catchers like the Blackhawks and Canadiens, it’s going to 29. The U.S. National Development Team had to cancel a recent camp happen. for the 2004 birthdays.

20. I’m a big believer in play-in games, and, as Chris Johnston reported, “That’s a talented group,” one source said. we could very well see some. But, instead of two games, total goals, there’s a better way. After all, if the first game ends 5–1, the second is It may force decision makers to select the team from the group invited to borderline wasteful. the camp. It’s imprecise, but unusual measures for unusual times.

So here’s the better way: Game 1 is only 60 minutes no matter what. If Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it Game 1 ends in a tie, then Game 2 is winner-take-all. And if someone 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, wins Game 1, then the other team must win Game 2 in regulation to force they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover sudden-death overtime. That gives us a better chance for an incredibly Canada’s most beloved game. meaningful Game 2. Love it. 30. Last Saturday, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to a new CBA through 21. Jeff Marek’s crazy playoff idea from the 31 Thoughts podcast: Go 2030. It was a very close vote, contentious and controversial. Superstars home until September. Play the Stanley Cup playoffs then, which crowns like Aaron Donald, Aaron Rodgers, JJ Watt and Russell Wilson publicly a new champion in December. Then start the season again in January, voiced their reasons for voting “no,” but their side was defeated. One of with another champion in June. The NHL’s desire for an 82-gamer next the theories out there is that, as bulletproof as the NFL is, there were year ruins that, as does the question: What do you do with the teams concerns about what the COVID-19 outbreak could do to finances. While who don’t qualify, assuming not everyone is invited? But I have to say I the highly paid superstars were going to be financially safe, other players didn’t hate it as much as I hate most of Marek’s ideas. weren’t as sure.

22. I don’t know if the NHL has discussed it, but an NBA friend says the At a time when the NHL and NHLPA are negotiating their own extension, idea of playing the playoffs at one or two locations that are declared you wonder how this will affect those talks. Unlike with the NFL, this “safe” first has been thrown around. More of a brainstorm than actual pandemic hit at a critical point of the NHL season. On last week’s policy, though. conference call with the clubs, estimates were that $1 billion in revenues could be affected — approximately 20 per cent of the 2018–19 total. 23. Some previously taped podcasts will be coming. One is with Nashville head coach , who has not been afraid to bench his 31. The biggest player concern will be escrow — as it always is. If no best players. playoffs are played, players are concerned it could get to 30–35 per cent, which would be the highest ever. It’s possible there would be “There’s a reason why I’m in Nashville now,” Hynes said. “Part of it was conversations about spreading that out over multiple seasons, but that’s the team was not where it needed to be record-wise. So when we came a big bite from the paycheques. in, we really talked about — as a new coach — our standard of play, our standard of competitiveness, the work ethic that it takes to be successful The biggest concern from teams will be cap, and you can expect the NHL every night has to be higher. We had talked about what the standard was and NHLPA to work together on keeping it as close to this year’s $81.5 going to be, and we talked about having guys earning their ice time. If million as possible — as opposed to lowering it. you’re a 20-minute player and that’s your ice time, we’d expect you to The biggest concern for owners will be damage to other business, never play at a high level for 20 minutes. When I first came in, I thought our mind hockey. And, while player salaries are tied into a percentage of the team was very inconsistent, and part of our inconsistency was we didn’t cap, other expenses aren’t. So, we’ll see if there is incentive to work have the right kind of work ethic and competitive level night in and night together. Cap, escrow, Olympics, World Cup, everything. The world is out. In a situation where we have to win games, [the most competitive different today. players] are going to get the most ice time. To their credit, I think those guys understood what was going on. Their games have gotten better — they accepted and wanted to know why and what they needed to do to have to get it.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020

I decided to do some fishing and ask Hynes if there was a particular conversation that struck him as honest. He mentioned Viktor Arvidsson.

“He self-admitted, ‘I’m not having a great year,’” the coach said. “My job as a coach is to help this guy come through. He’s one of our better players, he’s had massive success in the league…. I say, ‘If you were the coach, the way you’re playing right now, would you play you 18 minutes a night?’ And he says, ‘Probably not.’ Okay, well, these are the areas that need to get better. This is how we need to work to get these areas better for me to be able to give you that ice…. To his credit, he [put in the work]… and he’s progressively gotten better.”

24. Courtesy @Liam_Morrison95: The unofficial 31 Thoughts: The Podcast drinking game. Don’t do this and drive.

25. Some NCAA free-agent stuff: On his Instagram, Scott Perunovich made it clear his successful time at Minnesota-Duluth is over:

The 45th-overall selection in the 2018 NHL draft, he could become an unrestricted free agent if not signed June 1 by the St. Louis Blues, who picked him. (The June 1 date could change, too, since everything is up in 1181237 Websites With regards to selecting Frederik Gauthier 21st overall, GM Dave Nonis could’ve done better (Shea Theodore) or worse (Morgan Klimchuk). The lovable Goat (six-foot-five every night!) has slowly but surely improved all aspects of his game — skating, faceoffs, scoring — over some injury Sportsnet.ca / Power-ranking all 15 Maple Leafs drafts of the salary cap plagued years and developed into a serviceable fourth-line NHL pivot. era Nonis fared better with some deep cuts: goalie Antoine Bibeau (Round 6) played a couple games for the Avalanche this season, and feisty seventh-round winger Andreas Johnsson had carved a spot in the Leafs’ Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox top-six before a knee injury snuffed out his season. March 19, 2020, 8:22 AM 10. 2008

In retrospect, one could build a case that Erik Karlsson (15th overall) is From thunderous booms to hideous busts. From first-round flops to the superior right-shot defenceman to Luke Schenn (fifth overall). But, seventh-round steals. From surprises that paid off to smart choices hey, Schenn has carved out a long career for himself — 758 games and traded way too soon. counting. Yes, he may have been given too much too soon, but he’s outlasted and outperformed the majority of 2008 first-rounders. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 15 draft classes of the NHL’s salary-cap era have pretty much run the gamut. Burke also uncovered a pair of decent NHLers in his first draft as Leafs shot-caller, picking Jimmy Hayes in Round 2 and Greg Pateryn in Round Here, with the benefit of hindsight and a judgmental eye, we take a look 5. back at the results from all the Leafs’ trips to the draft floor over the past decade and a half and power-rank their prospect classes from worst to 9. 2019 first. Way too early to tell, the Leafs’ most recent draft class could go either 15. 2010 way. Yet placing it inside the top-10 is a testament to our hopes for the undersized, super-skilled Nick Robertson. The Maple Leafs’ 2010 draft class is the franchise’s worst of the cap era, and it’s not even close. Having dealt away what would become second- Having spent a first-rounder to acquire Jake Muzzin from L.A., Robertson overall pick and the right to select superstar Tyler Seguin to Boston as was Kyle Dubas’ first pick last June (second round, 53rd overall) — and part of the Phil Kessel acquisition, Brian Burke’s club had to sit on its the kid has exploded with offence for the . hands until pick 43, which was used on Brad Ross. Fun fact: Ross is still Meanwhile, fourth-round forwards Mikhail Abramov and Nicholas playing pro, for the Lausitzer Foxes on the second-tier German circuit. Abruzzese put up better than point-per-game numbers with Victoriaville Burke & Co. did make a little hay in the later rounds, finding NHL depth and Harvard, respectively. centre Greg McKegg in Round 3 (McKegg enjoyed a career-high 53 NHL 8. 2018 games played this season with the Rangers), plus cup-of-coffee guys Petter Granberg and Sam Carrick. Consider some of the defencemen selected ahead of Rasmus Sandin (29th overall): Ty Smith, Ryan Merkley, K’Andre Miller, Filip Johansson, 14. 2011 Jacob Bernard-Docker, Nicolas Beaudin, and Nils Lundkvist. Right now, Hindsight is cruel. Round 1 busts Tyler Biggs (22nd overall) and Stuart we’d take Sandin over all of them. That Dubas traded down to get Sandin Percy (25th overall) were chosen ahead of talents like Nikita Kucherov, makes the pick feel all the more like a victory. Rickard Rakell, John Gibson, Brandon Saad and William Karlsson, to There is plenty of promise farther down Dubas’s first NHL draft class, too. name a few. defenceman Filip Kral was enjoying his greatest Toronto did find a real player in Round 3. Unfortunately, Josh Leivo’s offensive season. AHL defenceman Sean Durzi was used by the GM to best opportunity arrived on the other side of the country. He was dealt to help acquire Muzzin. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, 19, has 75 points in 55 Vancouver in 2018 for AHLer Michael Carcone, now skating in Belleville. games for the Petes. And Marlies right-shot defender Mac Hollowell, 21, has quietly shown well in his first professional campaign. 13. 2007 7. 2009 John Ferguson Jr.’s disastrous trade with San Jose for Vesa Toskala and Mark Bell meant the Maple Leafs were unable to participate until the No later Round 1 pick has accumulated more points than seventh-overall draft’s third round. JFJ didn’t hit until the fourth round, when he landed Nazem Kadri (393). The Leafs did an excellent job developing Kadri, a winger Matt Frattin, who played 135 NHL games before keeping his guy with 1C dreams, into a coveted two-way 2C. He posted back-to-back career alive in the KHL. Sixth-rounder Chris DiDomenico also made the 32-goal campaigns in Toronto before getting shipped out of town for big leagues eventually. Tyson Barrie and Alexander Kerfoot. Kadri had a shot at another 30-goal season for Colorado prior to his lower-body injury. Ironically, Toronto’s best selection was its last: Seventh-rounder Carl Gunnarsson (194th overall) has enjoyed 600-plus games (and counting) Unfortunately, the ’09 class essentially ends there. Later picks Jesse as a reliable stay-at-home defender. And in 2019, Gunner became a Blacker, Jamie Devane and Jerry D’Amigo combined for 34 NHL games Stanley Cup champion in St. Louis. played.

12. 2017 6. 2006

As with all recent draft classes, this one has a chance to move up these We feel it safe to crown 2006 the Maple Leafs’ most consistent draft- power rankings as the prospects develop. Timothy Liljegren (17th overall) table performance of the cap era. Six of Ferguson Jr.’s seven picks fit the Maple Leafs’ greatest need — puck-moving, right-shot (sorry, Tyler Ruegsegger) that June not only made the show but played a defenceman — and earned his first call-up this season. Expectations minimum of 157 NHL games. remain high for the kid they call “Lily” that he can become a top-four First-rounder Jiri Tlusty would eventually become a 20-goal man in fixture, yet several first-rounders selected after Liljegren (Robert Thomas, Carolina. Second-rounder Nikolai Kulemin made the most of his one 30- Filip Chytil, Henri Jokiharju) have had a smoother trajectory to the pros. goal performance in Toronto and is now keeping his career alive in The organization also has lofty hopes for 21-year-old goaltender Ian Magnitogorsk. Viktor Stalberg went on to be a 20-goal scorer for Scott. He’s been set back this season with hip surgery but was an Chicago, nearly hit the 500-game mark and has since found a second life absolute stud for 2019 WHL-championship-winning Prince Albert in the Swiss league. And 14 years post-draft, Korbinian Holzer (fourth Raiders. round) and onetime All-Star Game rep Leo Komarov (sixth round) are still kicking around, playing meaningful games for NHL playoff contenders. Toronto Maple Leafs; Timothy Liljegren Leo Komarov injury 11. 2013 5. 2014 While Nonis did pass over some spectacular talent — David Pastrnak, , Nikolaj Ehlers — when he selected William Nylander eighth overall, ask yourself if you’d rather have any of the four players chosen immediately before Willy. That would be Sam Bennett, Michael Dal Colle, and Haydn Fleury. Nylander, 23, is in the midst of a head- spinning, 31-goal, 59-point campaign, while driving to the net and making zone entries look like a breeze.

A couple lottery tickets farther down the ladder paid dividends as well. Second-round prospect Rinat Valiev was used as bait to help the Leafs rent Tomas Plekanec from Montreal at the 2018 trade deadline (hardly a great fit, Plekanec did pitch in two goals and two assists in seven playoff games). And versatile forward Pierre Engvall has proven to be a seventh- round steal, helping on the penalty kill and earning a new contract extension just last month.

4. 2015

Back in 2015, there was hope in Toronto that the highly touted Dylan Strome would still be available when the fourth pick rolled around. He wasn’t. There was also much debate over whether the next-best option was a creative, pass-first forward named Mitch Marner or a sturdy D-man named Noah Hanifin. Of the entire 2015 class, only the first two picks, Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, have more points than Marner (291). Good choice.

The Leafs also fared well in Round 2, selecting defenceman Travis Dermott and skilled prospect Jeremy Bracco, and uncovered emerging NHLer Dmytro Timashov (now with Detroit) in Round 5.

3. 2012

Burke insists he had Morgan Rielly rated No. 1 on his draft list, and still the defenceman was a surprise to go as quick as fifth overall. That Rielly has outperformed all those picked before him (Nail Yakupov, Ryan Murray, Alex Galchenyuk and Griffin Reinhart) and is now the longest- tenured Leaf is a testament to Toronto’s scouting.

Three late-round picks in ’12 eventually made the NHL as well. Sixth- rounder Connor Brown has enjoyed a more productive career than anyone selected after the fifth round and is now a top-line winger on the Senators. Dominic Toninato (Round 5) and Viktor Loov (Round 7) had cups of coffee.

2. 2005

Today, Tuukka Rask leads all NHL starters in save percentage (.929) and goals-against average (2.12). The Finn has a Vezina on the mantle, 291 wins and 50 shutouts under his belt, and his name etched into the Stanley Cup till infinity. Not too shabby for a 21st pick. The sad news? Rask was dealt to Boston (for the Calder Trophy–winning Andrew Raycroft) before dressing for a single game in blue and white.

Leafs scouts plucked another winner out of Scandinavia in the seventh round. Anton Stralman (216th overall) skated his first 88 games in Toronto before excelling elsewhere. The smart stay-at-home defender is now a 33-year-old Panther with a shot at reaching 1,000 games played.

1. 2016

Midway through the 2017-18 season, as the Maple Leafs sped toward the playoffs, former coach Mike Babcock described his reaction to the television as the 2016 draft lottery unfolded.

“We got Auston. But what if we don’t? I remember when we got to three (in the lottery), I was jumping up in the living room. When we got to one, tears,” Babcock recalled. “People don’t understand. You need real players.”

Matthews was, of course, No. 1 with a bullet (hot tip: tanking can make for good drafts) and has been a goal-scoring machine out the gate. But the Leafs’ 2016 draft paid off in other ways. Big winger Egor Korshkov (31st overall) made his NHL debut this season; Carl Grundstrom (57th overall) was a key trade chip in the Muzzin acquisition and has a bright future in L.A.; Joseph Woll (62nd overall) is Toronto’s most enticing goalie prospect in a decade; and Marlies stud Adam Brooks (92nd overall) earned a seven-game NHL look this season.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181238 Websites them more than anyone else, even parents. Right now there’s a lot of that going as every player has got a different situation.”

Some veterans are wondering if they’ve played their last NHL game, Sportsnet.ca / Uncertainty from COVID-19 has players leaning on agents while all free agents worry about what this stoppage means to their for support future.

The initial logistics of moving players around the globe once various seasons were paused or cancelled included agents being travel agents Eric Francis | @EricFrancis and even negotiators with landlords trying to extend or shorten leases for players. March 19, 2020, 1:35 PM Some players aren’t feeling well and wonder what their course of action

should be. The world’s new practice of social distancing can take on many forms, as That sort of concern was echoed by many who worry, like many around Ritch Winter learned through a phone call earlier this week. the world, about their children, their wife, their parents and their “One player I reached on the phone was driving somewhere and I said, grandparents. ‘where are you headed?’ and he said ‘I don’t know, but my wife needed Understandably, this is all a little overwhelming for some. me to get out of the house as much as I needed to get out of the house,’” said the Edmonton-based player agent. “Players sometimes just want someone to talk to,” said Neil Sheehy from his office in Minneapolis, where he is also busy trying to broker NHL “I had another player ask me, ‘how can we have a season – we can’t deals for some of his U.S. college grads. even work out? How can we even think about proceeding without a training camp?’” “Guys are asking, ‘what should I do?’ I say, ‘go to the place you are the most comfortable.’ The more veteran guys really don’t say too much. The NHL player agents have long worn many hats. It’s the nature of the gig. younger guys now have a plan and they’re getting home.” But some of the ones they’re wearing these days are significantly Every agent says one of the hardest things for their clients to navigate different given the unknowns the world is facing with COVID-19 and the through is the absence of structure, which has dominated their lives to abrupt halt it brought to pro sports. this point. “I would say I’m as busy as I’ve ever been,” said Allan Walsh from his “These guys have been on a schedule every hour of their life since they home office in Los Angeles where he deals with a large clientele of were ten, so when that goes away they get uncomfortable,” said Europeans. Bousquet. “The NHL and AHL said players are on their own for booking flights, so “People have their own space and time through a lifestyle they’ve first and foremost it was a mad dash to get some of them home before developed, and they’re all home now,” added Winter. borders and flights shut down. But the primary thing at a time like this is providing players and their families information, which is key.” “A hockey players’ life is the same every day unless they are on holiday. There’s a big void now in terms of, ‘what can we do?’” Some players are on social media and staying up on the latest developments, while others are, well, in the dark. One thing the large majority of players aren’t doing is media.

“I have one player in the AHL who was holed up in his apartment, “I think there’s some nervousness of players not wanting to say the thinking he had to stay there, as per the league’s original instructions,” wrong thing,” speculated Winter. said Dallas-based Jarrett Bousquet of Titan Sports Management. “They’re probably getting phone calls from everybody they know and no “I said, ‘did you not see the memo two days ago where all players can go one knows for sure what’s next.” back to their homes worldwide?’” He said, ‘oh really?’ – and he got the next flight out. Some of the players don’t check emails regularly, or Until they do, they’ll continue to lean on agents more than ever. refresh Twitter every 45 seconds like I do. So we’re making sure they’re Perhaps the best news is that teams, players and agents have all worked getting the NHL and NHLPA memos and enforcing their rights.” well together to try making these trying times as easy as possible for Bousquet said that because things were changing on an hourly basis last everyone. week, he was on the phone non-stop, trying to answer questions his “What I’m hearing is there has been unprecedented cooperation between players had. the Players’ Association and the league,” said Walsh. “The number one thing we’re telling guys is, ‘respect the disease and “There really is a sense, ‘we’re all in this together.’” take it very seriously,’” said Bousquet, who represents players at every level.

“We’re telling guys to stay home, keep in shape, eat well and be ready Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020 because they are still being paid.”

It’s easier said than done as some players have exercise equipment at home, while others either rely on hotel gyms or must do modified workouts in their apartment.

With so much uncertainty surrounding the ramifications of COVID-19’s spread, players, like everyone else, have concerns.

And in many cases, agents are turned to first for answers, support and direction.

“When people ask me at sports law conferences or on the radio, ‘what’s the one resource you provide to players more than anything else, I say, ‘it’s being a psychologist,’” said Walsh, who has a large stable of clients through Octagon Athlete Representation.

“That’s what you’re doing on a daily basis. They’re calling you and they are up or down or frustrated and angry. Your job is trying to bring them into neutral as quickly as you can so they can focus on what they need to do. Guys panic, overreact, underreact and you’re the one who can help 1181239 Websites That’s a smart approach under the circumstances. As unsatisfying as it could end up feeling if there’s no real conclusion to a

season where 1,082 games were played — and as disappointing as that Sportsnet.ca / NHL looking at different factors that could determine return will be to the organizations with legitimate championship aspirations — to action there will be a point where the focus needs to shift to letting the business reset and recover.

And that point is probably still at least a month away. Chris Johnston | @reporterchris The NHL hopes that a period of self-quarantine for players will eventually March 19, 2020, 12:33 PM allow it to open mini training camps by early May. That needs to happen before any games are played. In the meantime, the league plans to

monitor the situation closely and lean on the relevant authorities for And now, the Great Wait. guidance.

Everything moved quickly in the hours and days after the NHL paused its “We’re not equipped to say ‘the pandemic’s over,”’ commissioner Gary season last week. Players were urged to self-quarantine and remain Bettman said during a recent appearance on Hockey Central at Noon. close to their playing city in hopes that teams could reopen training “There are going to be medical people at the highest level who are going facilities. Then, with borders closing and the Centers for Disease Control to tell us.” and Prevention recommending against gatherings of more than 50 And, so, this is where we are. people until May, the directive changed and everyone was permitted to scatter. The decision on when it’s safe for the NHL to potentially resume may rest in someone else’s hands, but it’s clear the league has already figured out The quarantined hockey world is now hunkering down and pondering the how it will react to that news: The Cup will be lifted by July, or it won’t be future. There’s a lot of conversations and ideas flying around in text lifted at all this year. messages, but little clarity with the spread of the COVID-19 virus still picking up steam across the continent.

The clearest hint of where the NHL is headed came from deputy Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020 commissioner Bill Daly during an appearance on The Athletic’s “Two- Man Advantage” podcast, when he spoke of the league’s priorities in the months ahead: “The only definite for us is we certainly don’t want to do anything around a resumption of play this season that will impact our ability to have a full season next year.”

That clearly sketches out the timelines at play here.

It tells us that crowning a 2020 Stanley Cup champion hinges on finding a window where it’s safe to conduct some kind of playoff tournament between mid-May — when the CDC could potentially change its recommendations on how many people can safely gather — and mid- to late-July, which is believed to be the absolute latest the league would be willing to stretch its season.

If that’s not possible, we’re looking at a lost year.

Playing into August would disrupt the season to follow and Daly made it clear that’s off the table. What this revelation does is rule out at least two ideas being kicked around in NHL circles in recent days:

• One, emerging from conversations with team executives, revolves around doing a complete restart to the 2019-20 season whenever it’s safe to do so. It could be August, September or October. Doesn’t matter. The plan would be to finish the final 15 per cent of the regular season plus playoffs, then pause for free agency signings and the entry draft, before starting 2020-21.

• The other, bubbling amongst some players, is a similar concept that’s more rigid in structure. Complete the regular season in July, hold the playoffs in August and September, break for a shortened October off- season and commence 2020-21 in November.

There are a number of reasons why it’s believed the NHL doesn’t favour either of these approaches. Chief among them is how it impacts teams way out of the playoff race — can you really ask members of the last- place Detroit Red Wings, for example, to return from the COVID-19 hiatus, go through a training camp and then play 11 meaningless regular- season games before waiting out the playoffs and another off-season?

Then you also have to account for potential building availability issues, the financial impact of delaying the return of meaningful hockey to a number of markets even longer than it already will be and the fact that some contending teams already view 2019-20 as a tainted season.

Everyone wants to win a Stanley Cup, sure, but it’s hard to imagine that achievement feeling equally as satisfying now as it would conclude an uninterrupted campaign.

To make a betting analogy, the NHL is currently on the equivalent of a bad run at the blackjack table and won’t spend all night trying desperately to salvage the session. It’s already committed to when it will get up and walk away if things don’t change for the better. 1181240 Websites generating headlines as a virus hot spot even before the Senators boarded their charter plane on March 6.

There were already 20 confirmed cases in Santa Clara County, and Sportsnet.ca / How Senators player contracted COVID-19 likely to health officials there had advised organizations in the area to avoid large remain a mystery public gatherings.

Nevertheless, the San Jose Sharks went ahead with a scheduled game against the Minnesota Wild on March 5 and the Senators game March 7. Wayne Scanlan The Sharks played host to a third game after that warning, March 8 against the Colorado Avalanche. March 19, 2020, 2:29 PM 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 One of the great challenges of the coronavirus street war is determining they think about it. how an individual may have contracted COVID-19. The Senators, of course, used the same dressing room occupied by the This comes to mind when unravelling the positive test of a member of the Wild a couple of days previously. This is where it gets dicey – players, Ottawa Senators roster, the first confirmed case involving an NHL player. trainers, coaches and staff share a lot of the same confined spaces, unwittingly playing Russian roulette in their surroundings. The hockey club announced late Tuesday night that an Ottawa player had tested positive, was experiencing "mild symptoms" and put in There had been reports that in L.A., at the Staples Center, the Senators isolation. The announcement went on to say all members of the team used the same visitors room as the now virus-laden Brooklyn Nets, who would remain isolated, as well, while their health was being monitored. had played the Lakers on March 10 (the Sens faced the Kings on March 11). But in fact, the NBA and NHL have separate, dedicated visitors A subsequent statement on Wednesday added more information: dressing rooms at the Staples Center. However, as Helene Elliott reported in The L.A Times, the Kings did use the NBA visitors room to "The Ottawa Senators medical team is actively monitoring players and conduct post-game interviews following the game against the Senators. staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater Clearly, viruses can cross paths as easily as these constantly moving community. professional athletes. They are walking through a minefield of germs. As are all of us when we travel. "Players are being assessed and tested under the supervision of public health authorities." To their credit, all NHL teams are in lockdown mode now, and complying with all the best advice and public health practices. No news is good news. As the time of this writing on Thursday, no further positive tests have been announced. If the Senators or any other club finds another positive case, it will be announced. Until then, we all wait. And hope. We hydrate and isolate. All players and Senators staff who were on the club’s trip to California And try not to hyperventilate. from March 6-12 were instructed to self-quarantine, effective last Saturday. The team has assured the greater Ottawa community that the travelling group does not pose a public health risk. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020 The Senators have not disclosed the name of the player who tested positive, although it is possible he may step forward at some point, as NBA star Kevin Durant did this week. Durant is one of four Brooklyn Nets players who have tested positive for COVID-19. The other three are unnamed. Only one of the four was symptomatic, according to the Nets.

"Everyone be careful," Durant said. "Take care of yourself and quarantine. We’re going to get through this."

Why have so many NBA players tested positive (seven, and counting)? In part because so many are being tested. At latest report, five of the seven were asymptomatic, meaning they showed no symptoms of the virus and only discovered they were positive because they were issued a test.

After Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive (following his bad- karma stunt, touching media microphones), several teams that had recently faced the Jazz were also tested: including the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, and .

It stands to reason that if dozens of NHLers were tested, there would be further positive results. Generally speaking, outside of the Senators’ confirmed case, NHL teams are waiting for players to show symptoms of the virus before administering tests.

For example, while the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, who recently faced the Senators (March 10, 11), have not indicated they tested their players, they are leaning on the fact that none has exhibited symptoms.

"Players from the Ducks have been under quarantine at their respective in- or off-season homes since the NHL’s suggested guidelines were announced on March 12," the Ducks said in a statement. "No player in the organization has reported COVID-19 symptoms at this time."

The Kings released a similar statement.

How did a Senators player contract the virus?

It’s like playing a game of Clue, except this real-life mystery will likely remain a mystery. There are many clues involved, considering the Senators spent nearly a full week in the state of California, which was 1181241 Websites of others are better playmakers off the rush, it’s Panarin who stands alone at the top when you combine all three.

For anyone thinking that O’Reilly might have just been spamming easy Sportsnet.ca / Breaking down the NHL's top playmakers in the offensive passes in the offensive zone, that isn’t the case. He ranks in the middle zone of this top group of forwards in quality passes, so he’s more than just a safe passer, he’s a high-end playmaker who rarely misses.

Knowing O’Reilly sits at the top of the pack in adjusted pass success rate Andrew Berkshire | @AndrewBerkshire though, where do the rest of these players compare? Let’s cut out the cycle passes and look just at the higher quality plays, and compare it to March 19, 2020, 5:02 PM the relative success rates each player managed this season.

With only 31 players plotted, there’s a lot more space to be seen After breaking down the best shooters at 5-vs-5 in the suspended 2019- between them, and once again the further up and to the right a player 20 NHL season, it’s time to take a look at the players who butter their would be, that’s the more potent their playmaking has been. bread; the playmakers. We know that O’Reilly will be the diamond furthest to the right, but how Like the shooters, we’ve done this before, specifically at the beginning of much more is that pass success rate worth if Panarin is completing the season using data from 2018-19, slicing the data we have available nearly twice as many quality passes? To me, this debate comes down to on offensive zone passing up to attempt to find the best 31 playmaking two players; the pure volume of Artemi Panarin while remaining forwards after getting over the blue line. decidedly above average in success rates, or the combination of high volume and being nearly five and a half per cent better than expectations Once again we’ll be using the cut off of 500 or more minutes played at 5- in success rates on the passes he makes that Malkin brings to the table. vs-5 in order keep things in a big enough sample that we can have confidence in the reliability of the data, and we’ll be using statistics pro- To me, the extra accuracy that Malkin brings to the table, more than rated per 20 minutes of ice time in order to make sure we’re not missing twice as far from league average in expectations than Panarin is, those younger players who haven’t fully earned their coach’s trust as of outweighs the gap in overall volume, so he would be the top 5-vs-5 yet, which as we know gives us a group of 336 forwards to look at. playmaker in the league this year.

Let’s start out with a general look at the volume of completed passes compared to how successful each player is at connecting on the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020 offensive zone passes.

The cluster at the top for the playmakers is much tighter than it was for shooters, which made it a little bit more complicated to label, but with the axes set at league average numbers for both metrics, we can see the top group of playmakers in general in the top right of the graph.

Once again and always, Joe Thornton is the pass volume king. He’s not leading by as much as he was last season, but he is still yet to be overtaken. The other top players are a bunch of names you would probably expect; Artemi Panarin, Sidney Crosby, Leon Draisaitl, Nikita Kucherov, Mat Barzal, Aleksander Barkov, Evgeni Malkin, Ryan O’Reilly, Connor McDavid, and the surprisingly adept and underrated J.T. Miller.

There are some problems with evaluating things this generally though, for example, different players attempt different types of passes more often, and passes do not all carry the same expected completion rate. At the beginning of the year, I adjusted each player’s pass success rate weighted by the types of passes they completed and relative to the league average expected outcome, then separately adjusted for how difficult it was to make those passes in the specific team structure each player played in, but this time around I think we can do both at once.

Adjusting for difficulty and team structure, we get a much tighter grouping overall in the scatter plot, and the biggest reason for this is that the types of passes a player makes has a far greater influence on their overall pass success rate than the team structure they play within. There are outliers of course, but not many and they aren’t huge.

Adjusting pass success rate for difficulty and team structure puts Ryan O’Reilly as the most dependable playmaker to complete a pass in the NHL, followed closely by Brayden Point, , and Elias Lindholm.

Eriksson might be a surprising one since his career has really gone down the tubes in Vancouver, but the veteran just doesn’t mess up passes. He has a league-high 74.7 per cent success rate on his offensive zone passes, when the league average is about 62 per cent. The issue is, that doesn’t necessarily make him a great playmaker, does it? His volume of passes is just around league average, and even if we’re adjusting for difficulty, a player could look great hereby still making easier passes at a very high rate.

With that in mind, let’s look at the top-31 forwards in the league ordered by quality passes; namely those to the slot, off the rush, and through the middle of the ice East-West. Who sticks out as the most incisive offensive zone passer?

Just like last season, Panarin is the name that rushes to the top, as his ability to make cross-zone passes just blows away the competition. Malkin makes more passes to the slot, while Kucherov and a whole host 1181242 Websites “Our managers have a good sense of what they think would be necessary in terms of ramp-up time, training time. A lot will depend on, like everything else, what transpires between now and then. Is a 7-10 day training camp or mini-training camp enough to resume a season in Sportsnet.ca / Bill Daly talks NHL playoff ideas, player testing, salary cap certain circumstances, and for the next little while I think it would be. If impact you’re talking about a resumption in August I’m not sure it would be. It probably depends on what access to ice players have had before to do

their own workouts as they normally do in preparation of a normal NHL Sportsnet Staff | @Sportsnet season. A lot is going to depend on how things play out.”

March 19, 2020, 2:24 PM On if every player will be tested for COVID-19 by the time the league resumes…

“I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s even practical. The medical advice The truest thing anyone can say these days is that no one knows what’s continues to be against mass testing of the population. Really, testing is going to happen next. only recommended for people once they experience symptoms and become symptomatic. That’s due in part to the shortage of testing One week after the NHL paused its 2019-20 season, people all over are resources, but I think it’s also essentially the medical practice and the coming up with wild scenarios of what the league could do to finish a medical advice that a negative test when you’re not symptomatic doesn’t season once the all-clear is given by the medical community that it’s safe really tell you much because it doesn’t stop you from becoming to resume. Could we see a Stanley Cup awarded in July, August or even symptomatic the next day and being positive two days later. Testing is later? not a factor at all for us.” And then there are the business implications in terms of the salary cap On the impact this will all have on the salary cap… outlook, or how trades made with conditions will play out. “We’ve thought about everything. So, of course, the disruption of the Not even the league has solid answers for all of these questions yet, but season is going to affect the generation of revenues and what we end up they’re certainly considering their options right now. Not until this with in HRR (hockey-related revenues) and the formula we have in our lockdown starts to break will we start getting an idea of what is really on, CBA to formulate a cap. Having said that, all of those items I just or off, the table. mentioned are really products of negotiations between the NHL and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly joined Good Show on Thursday NHLPA. And when we get to the end of this and when we understand morning to talk about some of these questions, and more, as we all sit in what we’re looking at and what we’re trying to accomplish, obviously self-isolation dreaming and thinking of an eventual return. we’re going to sit down with the NHLPA we’re going to have to negotiate a transition to what we’re trying to accomplish. That is clearly something What can really be planned with so much uncertainty at this time… that is in our future, but I think both sides recognize that and welcome “You need to have everything on the table. You need to understand what that challenge. We’ll be happy to be in that position to work through those would be feasible in a certain set of circumstances and what’s impossible issues.” in various circumstances. It’s really just understanding the possibilities On if the NHL would come back at the same time as the NBA, MLB and and the landscape and then as things get decided and we move along other sports leagues… and we understand a little bit better where we are and where we’re going to be, then you start kind of picking options. “I can’t say we’ve had that discussion with the other sports leagues. I’d say we’ve had a good level of co-operation. We do have frequent contact On the possibility of returning to a playoff format that has less than eight and the ability to run ideas off each other. But I don’t think we’re linked in teams per conference… the way of having to do what each other decides to do. It may work out “In the shower this morning I was thinking about that. I haven’t reduced it that way for obvious reasons, but that certainly is not been necessarily to writing, I haven’t put it on a piece of paper, I haven’t discussed it with how we’ve agreed to proceed.” the commissioner or with Colin Campbell, so literally it’s me just thinking through, well, if we really have a very short window could we go with a four-team tournament? Is that a possibility? I haven’t run it up the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020 flagpole so I don’t even know. Given the uncertain nature of where we are you have to consider everything.”

On if there is a drop-dead date to cancel the season by…

“My only parameter that I’ve been proceeding on the assumption of, which I think is firm — but again in this uncertain world I won’t rule out anything — is that I think there’s an objective that we share to ensure that whatever we do will allow us to accommodate a full season for next season. So whatever that means, that is the assumption I’m proceeding with.”

On if that means a season could start in November or later, and still run its regular length…

“I could say theoretically I’m not averse to that idea, but there are a lot of practical considerations that we’d have to go through the process of working through. I’m very much in the mode of I’m not ruling out anything.”

On if ice conditions are a worry in some markets if hockey is to be played in the summer months…

“We’re in the 21st Century now and while some buildings perhaps don’t have the same capability as others in producing top, top, top, quality ice, I think most of our buildings are pretty good and where we have deficiencies we’re able to fill those deficiencies at warm times of year, so I don’t think ice making is really a consideration at all.”

On how much time it would take to bring everyone back together and prepare for a season resumption… 1181243 Websites “We’ve got some guys on the wing that can shoot the puck, and he’s like a playmaker that can get them the puck,” Benning said. “That’s why we’re excited about him choosing us.

Sportsnet.ca / Canucks hoping to win lottery again with Michaelis, “We had a short list this year; there was, like, two guys we went after Lockwood signings really hard, him being one of them. So we’re excited that we got him signed. The other player we should hear in the next couple of days whether he’s going to choose us or another team.”

Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet Lockwood, a 21-year-old winger from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., had nine goals and 23 points in 33 games as a senior at Michigan, down from 16 March 19, 2020, 7:18 PM goals and 31 points the previous season. Benning said Lockwood, who is five-foor-11 and 172 pounds but plays a fast, physical game, projects as a third- or fourth-line “energy” player at the NHL level. VANCOUVER – In terms of value and efficiency, the only thing better than getting a player out of a late-round draft pick is developing one out Both Michaelis and Lockwood captained their college teams. of nothing.

Three years ago, the Vancouver Canucks signed physical forward Zack Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020 MacEwen as an undrafted free-agent out of the QMJHL, and this season, the team got 17 games out of the 23-year-old and was impressed enough that general manager Jim Benning declared the winger a full- time NHL forward for next season.

A year ago, the Canucks signed dynamic defenceman Brogan Rafferty, undrafted out of Quinnipiac University, and this season the 24-year-old was an offensive sensation as a rookie with the , amassing 45 points in 57 games in the AHL.

Rafferty could be on the Canucks next season – with MacEwen.

Thursday’s free-agent signing of German centre Marc Michaelis out of Minnesota State-Mankato may turn out to be nothing. But if the 24-year- old playmaker develops into an NHL player, it will be like another winning lottery ticket for the Canucks.

“We’ve signed some free agents in the past and they’ve worked out well for us,” Benning said in a conference call with reporters. “We think that (Michaelis) is close to playing.

“I’m excited about him because over the last four years he has put up good numbers at the college level. He has skill and playmaking ability, but he also plays a good 200-foot game. His attention to detail defensively is good. He’s a little bit older player, so we think he’s not far off being an NHL player.”

In a productive day that briefly interrupted the gloom and gravity surrounding hockey’s shutdown due to the coronavirus, the Canucks also signed 2016 third-round pick William Lockwood, who has finished four seasons at the University of Michigan and could have forced his way into unrestricted free agency this summer.

Lockwood, a tenacious two-way forward whose development has been slowed by injuries, and Michaelis deepen the Canucks’ prospect pool and should start next season in Utica.

“It feels strange,” Benning said of signing players during the COVID-19 pandemic that has scuttled sports worldwide. “None of us have been through this before. I talked to five GMs yesterday, and it’s unfortunate, but we need to deal with it. The business side of it doesn’t stop, even though we’re not playing. I’m excited we got these guys signed today.”

The Canucks are chasing at least one other college free agent and hope to sign more of their own draft picks, including 2017 fourth-rounder Jack Rathbone, another high-scoring defenceman who just finished his sophomore season at .

Rathbone and Rafferty have surged up the Canucks’ development list since they were acquired, occupying spots among the top eight or so prospects in the organization.

Michaelis is an interesting wild card.

Like Rafferty, another late-bloomer who played three seasons at Quinnipiac, Michaelis is further along in his development than most players coming out of college hockey. His ability to play centre gives him added value after Benning traded highly rated Northeastern University centre Tyler Madden, the Canucks’ third-round pick in 2018, to the Los Angeles Kings in February’s deal for winger Tyler Toffoli.

A former junior player of the year in Germany, Michaelis finished his four NCAA seasons in Mankato as the school’s second all-time leading scorer with 162 points, including 71 goals, in 148 games. He is five-foot-10 and 180 pounds. 1181244 Websites Markstrom ($3.67 million this season) and winger Tyler Toffoli ($4.6 million), unrestricted free agents who will be the team’s top priorities after this season.

Sportsnet.ca / Canucks could suffer serious cap ramifications due to NHL Beyond them, the Canucks would like back UFA defenceman Chris shutdown Tanev ($4.45 million) and versatile middle-six forward Josh Leivo ($1.5 million), and they also have to deal with restricted free agents Troy Stecher ($2.33 million), Jake Virtanen ($1.25 million), Tyler Motte ($975,000) and Adam Gaudette ($917,000). Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet Now imagine if the salary cap, based on reduced revenue, is set at $71.5 March 18, 2020, 7:21 PM million.

“That’s a big unknown,” assistant GM Chris Gear, who oversees the VANCOUVER – The coronavirus pandemic could ravage the NHL Canucks’ cap, told Sportsnet. “I am glad that we haven’t already signed economy as much as the global one. And the U.S. Federal Reserve isn’t any of our free agents. If we’d already made those commitments (before putting together a rescue package for hockey’s billionaire owners and the NHL shutdown), we’d have less flexibility. I’m not sure you’re going to millionaire players. see anybody signing big contracts until we have a better idea what the cap is going to be.” It will be up to the league and its players association to negotiate a separate economic deal for the 2020-21 season because applying the The Canucks may already have plans to reduce their payroll. Even terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and basing next year’s without a compliance buyout, the team could approach Eriksson about salary cap on this season’s stalled revenues could make it nearly agreeing to terminate his contract (like the Buffalo Sabres did in February impossible for NHL teams to open with full lineups. with Zach Bogosian), unless the Canuck wants to finish his career in the minors. The Vancouver Canucks were going to have to do some maneuvering this summer to re-sign its free agents based on this season’s $81.5- And Benning said when he acquired Toffoli ahead of last month’s trade million salary cap. With the league shut down indefinitely since March 12 deadline that he would try to replace draft picks he surrendered in that – and no guarantee of the playoff revenue windfall – the cap could deal (a second-rounder to Los Angeles) and the one last summer for J.T. plunge by $10-20 million based on current revenue formulas. Miller (a first-rounder to Tampa Bay, since traded to New Jersey) when this season ends. That would mean trading a significant player or two off “A lot of teams would be over without adding new any new contracts (this his roster. summer),” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. “We’re going to get it figured out, no matter what. They’ll have to come to some The Canucks could also look at trading spare defenceman Jordie Benn agreement.” ($2 million) and retain salary to move veteran centre Brandon Sutter ($4.375 million). That’s a common belief around the NHL: that however this season ends, if it hasn’t already, owners and players will have to agree on a salary cap that makes sense given what everyone hopes is a once-in-a-lifetime Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020 shutdown of all professional sports this spring.

When the 2012 lockout by NHL owners shortened that season to 48 regular-season games, plus a full Stanley Cup tournament, the sides came to a side agreement for the 2013-14 salary cap, which was set at $64.3 million – the same upper limit as the previous 82-game season in 2011-12.

That flat cap wasn’t especially onerous because the players’ share of revenue declined to 50 per cent from 57 and teams were given leeway that included two “compliance buyouts,” which did not count against the salary cap.

That interesting wrinkle could be the best thing that comes out of this shutdown for the Canucks, whose cap pressure would be greatly alleviated simply by shedding Loui Eriksson’s $6-million annual charge.

The winger’s bonus-heavy $36-million contract is largely buyout proof. According to CapFriendly, a buyout this June would save the Canucks only $333,000 against Eriksson’s $6-million cap hit next season. But a compliance buyout, if the NHL and NHLPA agree on them, saves the entire $6 million.

That would make a massive difference to the Canucks. But before closet capologists get too excited, compliance buyouts are extremely unlikely unless the cap really is going down.

Only two weeks ago – or was it two years ago? – NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told general managers to expect a salary cap between $84- and $88.2-million next season. That range seems impossible now.

But will the cap be below this season’s $81.5 million?

If it is, the Canucks and a lot of other teams are in trouble.

Capfriendly shows Vancouver has $63.5 million committed next season for 15 players. This includes $6.35 million in “dead money” on Ryan Spooner’s buyout, commissioner Gary Bettman’s cap-recapture penalty on Robert Loungo, and Sven Baertschi potentially earning his NHL salary in the minors – again. Super-rookie Quinn Hughes’ $850,000 in bonuses will likely also be charged against next season’s cap.

If the ceiling is $81.5 million, the Canucks will have about $17 million to spend. The majority of that could be eaten up by re-signing goalie Jacob 1181245 Websites Can Gagner, as a utility man, sign with the Oilers where he successfully moved up and down the right wing this season from the fourth line all the way up to Connor McDavid’s unit?

Sportsnet.ca / NHL's pause has silver lining as journeyman Sam Gagner “I don’t have anything figured out yet,” Gagner said. “A weird part about returns home this is, you don’t know if the season is over, so we haven’t had exit meetings or anything yet. I don’t really know where anything stands with Detroit.

Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec “I’m not really worried about that right now.”

March 18, 2020, 4:03 PM As players go, Gagner is near the top of the curve on smarts, experience and personality. He seems old because he broke in at age 18, but in

reality, he’s only 30. EDMONTON — Sam Gagner grew up a hockey brat, the son of long- When the Oilers sent him down to Bakersfield this season — his third time NHLer Dave Gagner. Dad played in six different NHL cities before AHL stint since 2015-16 — Oilers GM Ken Holland told Gagner to keep Sam was 10 years old. his eyes open and watch how things work down there. Observe. Gagner, his two sisters, and their mother Jo-Anne, packed up and Holland was always looking to groom future management types like followed Dave from Minnesota to Dallas, to Toronto, to Calgary, to , Kris Draper, Dan Cleary and Kirk Maltby while in Detroit, Florida and finally to Vancouver, where Dad played out his 946-game, and he sees the same potential in Sam, whose father Dave worked in the 714-point NHL career. It was a hockey life that produced an 844-game Canucks’ front office and is now an agent with the Orr Hockey Group. NHL career for Sam, and a four-year stint at Dartmouth University for sister Jessica, who is two years younger. Right now though, the only departure Gagner is willing to make from “hockey player” is the temporary transition to “full-time dad.” You sense But it also meant changing schools, and a revolving door of friends he would love to find a way to continue his NHL career before beginning throughout the Gagner kids’ youths. Not necessarily a bad way to grow the next chapter, whatever it may be. up, but certainly different, is the best way to describe what it’s like to be raised in an NHL hockey family. “Everyone’s in the same situation. In every line of work, people are away from work at this time,” he said. “A lot of people have the opportunity to So if Sam Gagner, whose wife Rachel had their third child in September, work from home, but for us, it’s self-quarantine, make sure you’re staying gets anything out of this “pause” that the NHL is on, it’s that life as a in shape and make sure you’re ready if we do come back.” normal family man isn’t so bad. Of course, between workouts and feedings, a little something on TV “That’s the silver lining,” Gagner said over the phone from his Edmonton wouldn’t hurt. home, the voices of his kids — aged four, two and six months — audible in the background. “You turn on the TV and you’re like, ‘I’m going to watch some golf.’ There’s no golf,” he said. “You’re never sure what to do with yourself “I was reading something the other day about, as a society, maybe it’s when life comes to a complete stop. time for a re-set. Focus on our families, the things that matter, and just try to stay healthy. Those are the main things, and as a family, that’s what “But when you’re with your family — and we haven’t had a ton of family we’re trying to do. time this year — it allows us to do that.”

“Hanging out as a family? Getting in as much time family time as you can, because we missed a lot of that this year? That part of this has been good.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 03.20.2020

Gagner was so very pleased to be traded from Vancouver to Edmonton last season. Nothing against the Canucks, but Rachel is an Edmontonian. They have a house here, and so is her family.

And he was, on the other end of the scale, every bit as devastated when his salary was shipped to Detroit at the 2020 trade deadline, so that the Oilers could afford the acquisition of Andreas Athanasiou. Of course, Gagner realized that as a bottom-six utility winger making $3.15 million, it was highly possible he would be traded in a cap-clearing move.

But Detroit is a long way from home — which is why he hopped the first plane home when the NHL hit the pause button.

“I just didn’t want to get stuck in Detroit, while my wife and kids were here. Just leaving my wife with the kids during a quarantine. I felt like I had to get back, and the Wings were really helpful in making sure of that. It’s just nice to be with family at this time, obviously,” he said. “I don’t want to trivialize things. I know there are a lot of people out there who are way worse off than we are, struggling to make ends meet. We’re very fortunate that we’re together as a family.

“You try to use the time as a period of reflection.”

The Gagners are all on self-quarantine due to his travels from the United States. That will end soon enough, as will the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually.

When it does, Gagner — who is a 30-year-old unrestricted free agent that has played for seven different organizations since the 2013-14 season — will be facing some realities.

After this extended time spent with his three kids, does he sign a six- figure deal with a team that is two time zones away from his family? Does he drag the whole clan along for what could well be a one-year deal, giving his kids the same migratory upbringing that he had? 1181246 Websites team that struggled to find defensive balance all year, Muzzin was one (positive) exception.

But with so many games lost, there really isn’t any argument for another TSN.CA / Handing out MVP awards to the seven Canadian teams player outside of Matthews. He had a legitimate chance at winning the Rocket Richard Trophy (and would have made me look smart for once in the process). He has developed into one of the league’s most dynamic offensive talents, an exceptionally dangerous shooter who needs very Travis Yost little time and space to get off his patented wrist shot. What may be lost in Matthews’ season is the fact that Toronto was actually quite good from a defensive standpoint with him on the ice. Matthews was near the top of One of the most painful realities of a potentially lost National Hockey the leaderboard when it came to on-ice goals against, expected goals League season is the fact that Canadian teams were going to be well- against (goaltender neutral), and shots against. represented in the playoffs – an occurrence that’s been hit or miss over the last decade. He’s simply one of the best players in the game. You can count on one hand how many players you would take over Matthews today. At the time play was halted, the majority of Canadian teams were trending towards postseason bids. Calgary Flames

Consider the playoff chances of each organization as of March 11, 2020: Winner: T.J. Brodie, D

Edmonton Oilers (95 per cent) Also considered: Matthew Tkachuk, F

Toronto Maple Leafs (73 per cent) Unlike a few of their Canadian counterparts, the skater group in Calgary was much more balanced when measuring production. That makes Calgary Flames (63 per cent) identifying candidates a bit more difficult, particularly from a group of forwards who didn’t do much to separate themselves from one another. Vancouver Canucks (61 per cent) Take Tkachuk for example. He was clearly the team’s most productive Winnipeg Jets (42 per cent) offensive player, true both at even strength and on the power play. But Montreal Canadiens ( < 1 per cent) despite those offensive numbers, Tkachuk was outscored at 5-on-5 (-2). Compare that with a defensive workhorse like Brodie (+5 actual goals; +7 Ottawa Senators (0 per cent) expected goals), who saw Calgary outscoring their opponents with him In aggregate, it was an impressive year for teams north of the border, on the ice all season long. and that’s even true for teams like the Senators, who have started to The Brodie pairing – he again played the majority of his ice time with show signs that a lengthy rebuild is progressing relatively well – one ripe Mark Giordano – has been solid for the Flames for years now and one of with young assets and three first-round picks in the upcoming draft. the key reasons why this team has been a regular playoff threat for the With time available, I decided to go through and hand out team MVP past few seasons. awards to each of the seven Canadian teams. Is the Travis Yost Trophy Vancouver Canucks – awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his Canadian team – more valuable than the Hart Trophy? Probably. Winner: , F

Here is each team’s winner: Also considered: none

Edmonton Oilers Of the seven teams, this was the easiest choice. It may be the easiest choice for any team in the league. Vancouver’s was a top-heavy team all Winner: Leon Draisaitl, F season long, but their first line – anchored by Pettersson – was one of Also considered: Connor McDavid, F; the most dominant groupings in the league, and was good enough to overwhelm the depth issues this team had for much of the year. Picking between Draisaitl and McDavid would have ordinarily been impossible, but there are a few factors that give Draisaitl the edge. The If you are into more advanced regression-based measures like Goals first and perhaps most obvious one is availability. Draisaitl and McDavid Above Replacement, Pettersson somehow comes off looking even better had eerily similar production on both sides of the ice, but Draisaitl ended than he normally would by way of scoring totals or on-ice differentials. up playing seven more games and 100 more minutes than his star What you find through these regressions is that teammates are materially counterpart. With that comes added benefit: Draisaitl will presumably end better when playing with Pettersson, and when moved to other lines, see the season 13 points better in the box score numbers and three net goals performance drop-offs well below expectations. better in on-ice goal differential. At the time the season was halted, Pettersson was nearly 24 goals One thing that I think is worth mentioning – perhaps because it was such (approximately four wins!) better than a replacement player, which was a popular topic during the regular season – concerns Draisaitl, his Hart the second highest number in the league. The only player ahead of him? Trophy candidacy, and how we should analyze a player with such A similarly situated one-man band in the form of Rangers sniper Artemi disparate offensive and defensive splits. I think there are a few truisms Panarin (25 goals above replacement). here. One, Draisaitl’s offensive production – and McDavid’s too – far Pettersson’s arc – he is a full year behind Matthews, two behind McDavid outpaces any defensive limitations they have right now. Two, we – is going to be interesting to follow. At 21, he is already a superstar in ultimately care about net goal differential, and for as long as both of this league. The question now is where is his ceiling, and how can these skaters are scoring at such a ridiculous clip, their on-ice numbers Vancouver surround him with even better complementary talent as the will remain positive. Three, the defensive play was an issue. Despite team prepares for his second contract? being in the 95th percentile in on-ice scoring, the group was around the 68th percentile in net on-ice scoring. That is a legitimate criticism. Winnipeg Jets

Toronto Maple Leafs Winner: Connor Hellebuyck, G

Winner: Auston Matthews, F Also considered: Mark Scheifele, F

Also considered: Jake Muzzin, D Scheifele comes off looking like the best skater on this Jets team, but everyone in Winnipeg knows that this team’s success came by way of Muzzin would have had an interesting claim if he hadn’t missed so many goaltender Hellebuyck. games – Muzzin broke his foot in a December game against New Jersey and then broke his hand blocking a shot in a February game against Hellebuyck – assuming awards will be given out regardless of what Tampa Bay. That said, in the 53 games he did play, Muzzin was happens with the season – seems like a lock to win the Vezina Trophy. certifiably fantastic on the defensive side of the ice. For a Maple Leafs He stopped 92.2 per cent of shots and played in 58 of Winnipeg’s 71 games. While an 82 per cent appearance rate might seem high, consider the league’s trend towards load management for goaltenders and how little other primetime goaltenders played, relatively speaking. For quick reference: New York’s Semyon Varlamov was at 66 per cent, Dallas’ Ben Bishop was at 64 per cent, Boston’s Tuukka Rask was at 62 per cent. You get the point.

Another thing to consider: Hellebuyck’s 92.2 save percentage is fantastic, but he did it behind a shaky defence. That save percentage alone puts him 21 goals above average, and adjustments for shot quality don’t change those numbers any – Evolving Hockey had Hellebuyck at 20 goals saved above expectations, more than double our second-place goaltender in Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper (+9). Just look at this heat map of where shots had fallen over the course of the season!

Hellebuyck is one of the best goalies in the league. Winnipeg would have been at the bottom of the division without him. This one is rather simple.

Montreal Canadiens

Winner: Brendan Gallagher, F

Also considered: Max Domi, F

Picking between Gallagher and Domi is only difficult because Gallagher missed some time this year – Domi ended up playing 12 more games over the course of the season. But despite that 12-game differential, Gallagher’s production was equivalent (or better) than Domi’s on both ends of the ice.

Tomas Tatar will be a notable omission – he had a fantastic year and was probably the hardest name to leave off across the seven Canadian clubs. But outside of the counting totals, Tatar struggles head-to-head with Gallagher. The team was about 10 per cent less effective offensively with Tatar on the ice relative to Gallagher, and many of Tatar’s counting numbers came by way of secondary assists – 21 of those in total, or 35 per cent of his total scoring. He was also a penalty magnet: his -11 penalty differential was sixth worst amongst forwards in the league, a combination of him taking untimely penalties and failing to be able to draw many from the officials.

Ottawa Senators

Winner: Thomas Chabot, D

Also considered: J.G. Pageau, F; Brady Tkachuk, F

I’m not sure how to handle J.G. Pageau’s candidacy – he was clearly the best player on the Senators this season, but as a result of his trade deadline move to Long Island, he is no longer on the roster. That opens up a debate between forward Tkachuk and defenceman Chabot, and honestly, this is the closest thing to a coin flip as I can find.

While Tkachuk was the team’s most productive offensive player (and his penalty rates were sterling), his on-ice differentials were less impressive. Ottawa gave up 2.9 goals against per 60 minutes with Tkachuk out there, fourth worst amongst Ottawa skaters. Tkachuk’s expected goals against rates were in line, so this wasn’t exclusively a goaltending performance issue.

The thing about Chabot that gave him the edge by way of tiebreaker for me is just how difficult his job was. This Ottawa team has been strategically gutted, and only recently has the organization been able to introduce their young talent – most of which is at the forward position – into the lineup.

Tkachuk spent most of the season playing with the likes of Pageau and Connor Brown, two capable middle-six forwards that can play complementary roles with most impact forwards in the league. Chabot, on the other hand played most of his pairing minutes with immobile defenders like Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev. That’s a tough assignment for any player in the league.

There isn’t a wrong answer here. And I don’t think Ottawa will lose sleep over deciding which of their two young stars had the better season, all things considered!

TSN.CA LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181247 Websites supposed to take them to Chicago – had to be altered to reflect a sudden return home. In total, the players and staff would have spent close to eight hours together on that plane – from the time they boarded to the time they de-planed in Ottawa. TSN.CA / Ottawa Senators ‘actively monitoring’ players and staff after positive COVID-19 test In another wrinkle for the team, the Senators also saw goaltender Marcus Hogberg join the team in the middle of their trip to California. On Sunday, March 8, Hogberg rejoined the team in southern California, after spending close to a week back home in Sweden tending to a family Ian Mendes emergency.

Hogberg was technically caught in a grey area, considering he left for When the National Hockey League pressed the pause button on the Europe on March 1 – just a couple of days before the NHL enacted their 2019-2020 season last week, it did so with the knowledge that one of its own ban for employees travelling overseas. On March 4, the league had players would soon test positive for the COVID-19 virus. asked its own personnel to stop travelling overseas and if they had been to places such as Europe, they would need to adhere to a 14-day period “Following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for of a self-quarantine. coronavirus – and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL Hogberg, however, didn’t fall into that category. That was deemed to be a community would test positive at some point – it is no longer appropriate directive aimed towards league employees and not players, so Hogberg to try and continue to play games at this point,” commissioner Gary was allowed to rejoin the Senators without any period of self-isolation. Bettman wrote in his statement on March 12. While he might seem like a prime candidate to be the vulnerable player, sources tell TSN that Hogberg was not the player who tested positive for Bettman’s prediction came to pass on Tuesday night as the Ottawa the COVID-19 virus. Senators confirmed that an unnamed player had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus in a brief statement to the media just before midnight. But since Hogberg was a teammate of the Sens player who is carrying the COVID-19 virus, there remains a chance he could still test positive in On Wednesday, the team said that players “are being accessed and the days ahead. tested under the supervision of health authorities.” They declined to confirm the number of suspected cases that they could be dealing with •– Given that two NBA teams – the Utah Jazz and Nets – had multiple only saying they are “actively monitoring players and staff.” players test positive for the virus, there’s a chance the same fate could befall a couple more members of the Senators. The club also wanted to make it clear that in their estimation, Senators players “do not pose a public health risk to the community.” The club says it instructed players and staff who were on the recent California TSN.CA LOADED: 03.20.2020 road trip to self-quarantine on Saturday.

The league offices were notified of the positive test about three hours prior to that – around 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday evening.

“I got a call from the Ottawa Senators team doctor last night indicating that a player had tested positive for COVID-19,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic’s Two-Man Advantage podcast on Wednesday. “It was really just a matter of time before we had a player test positive.”

The player is said to be exhibiting mild symptoms of the virus and is in isolation. The club says it is abiding by Ontario privacy laws in withholding the player’s name from the public realm.

After returning from the California trip, the Senators player started exhibiting signs consistent with the COVID-19 virus. After informing the club’s front office and medical personnel, he underwent a screening for the virus and the result came back as a positive.

Following the trail of how a Senators player may have contracted the virus is not difficult and, as Bettman had warned, it may have come directly as a result of being in a shared facility with an NBA team.

The Senators trip to California last week was riddled with warning signs of impending danger at a time in which the term ‘social distancing’ was in its infancy in North America:

- On Saturday, March 7, the Senators played a game against the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center. Two days earlier – on March 5 – Santa Clara County (California) had made a recommendation for a ban on large-scale gatherings being held in the area due to the concern of the virus spreading in a rapid fashion.

- The following day – with the Senators now in the Los Angeles area – the players and staff had a complete day off, enjoying some of the attractions in Southern California. A number of the players watched the Lakers-Clippers game together from a luxury suite at the Staples Center.

- On Wednesday, March 11 – in what would be their final game before the league was suspended – the Senators played the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Centre. The night before, the Lakers played host to the Brooklyn Nets – who have since confirmed four cases of the COVID-19 virus on their team.

- On Thursday March 12, the Senators flew back to Ottawa from Los Angeles in their charter aircraft following word that the NHL had paused its season. The club had to sit on their plane for a couple of extra hours on the tarmac in Los Angeles, as the flight plan – which was originally 1181248 Websites

USA TODAY / As coronavirus has current season on hiatus, NHL says playing 82 games in 2020-21 is goal

Chris Bumbaca

The NHL playoffs should be starting in a little more than two weeks. But the league is operating with uncertainty that nearly every sports entity shares in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Postseason play will not begin on April 8, as was scheduled, and it's unclear when hockey will return. The CDC on Sunday recommended no gatherings with more than 50 people for eight weeks.

What the league does know is that it does not want the hiatus to impact the ability to play a full 82 games during the 2020-21 regular season.

"The only definite for us is we certainly don’t want to do anything around a resumption of play this season that will impact our ability to have a full season next year," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic. "So that’s kind of the outside parameters and rules we’re following currently. Everything else is kind of up for grabs for lack of a better term. There are lots of possibilities. We do have people working internally on those scenarios and what they look like and what the feasibility is."

Among the many variables at play, Daly said, were television network partner obligations, availability of teams' arenas, details to iron out with the players union and whether games would even be open to fans.

"That’s why I said I don’t think I’m ruling anything out other than we’re going to make decisions to try and preserve our ability to have a full season next year," he said.

An unnamed member of the Ottawa Senators tested positive for COVID- 19, the team announced Tuesday, giving the NHL its first confirmed case of the disease. Prior to that, positive tests came from a San Jose Sharks arena worker and a Vancouver Canucks full-time office member who does not have a "fan-facing role."

"People’s health and safety has to be our primary concern and that’s not only our players, that’s our fans and that’s people in general," Daly told The Athletic. "Not even necessarily associated with our game in any meaningful way. So we have to do our part societally to make sure we’re doing the right things and making the right decisions."

USA TODAY LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181249 Websites

USA TODAY / Sports' greatest hits: League-owned TV networks dip into archives with no live games to air

Steve Gardner

With no live games to broadcast, recap and debate now that the coronavirus outbreak has shut down the sports calendar, several TV outlets are altering their programming to look backward instead of forward.

In an effort to "deliver engaging and compelling programming," MLB Network has picked out a theme for each of the next few days that will center around a particular classic game or moment.

For example, Wednesday's featured game is the Wrigley Field slugfest from May 17, 1979, when the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies combined for 45 runs.

The entire game will be replayed at 8 p.m. ET. A one-hour special, "MLB's Greatest Games," will precede it at 7 p.m. with former Phillies shortstop (and later manager) Larry Bowa joining host and insider Tom Verducci to offer insights into that high-scoring affair.

Other themes to come later in the week include:

-- Rookie sensation Mark "The Bird" Fidrych making his national TV debut in 1976.

-- The Seattle Mariners' franchise-saving playoff victory over the in 1995. (Ken Griffey Jr. slides across with the winning run.)

-- The one-game AL East playoff between the Yankees and the in 1978. (The Bucky Dent game.)

The NHL Network, which is run out of the same Secaucus, New Jersey, headquarters as MLB Network, is taking a similar approach with the hockey season on ice.

Stanley Cup-clinching games are featured for the rest of the week including:

-- Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy and Billy Smith leading the New York Islanders to four consecutive titles in the early 1980s.

-- Wayne Gretzky and the high-scoring Edmonton Oilers finally ending the Isles' dynasty in 1985 and starting one of their own.

-- The Montreal Canadiens getting stellar goaltending from Patrick Roy to hoist the Cup in 1986.

And the NBA, which is also on hiatus, will be following a similar blueprint on NBA TV, featuring classic contests with a mix of documentaries and original programming. That includes:

-- Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals between the and Portland Trail Blazers (Thursday, 4 p.m. ET).

-- Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals between the Detroit Pistons and (Friday, 12 p.m. ET).

-- (Los Angeles Lakers) and Shaquille O'Neal () meet for the first time as adversaries in 2004 (Friday, 8 p.m. ET).

-- Several airings of NBA TV's "The Dream Team" documentary.

-- Games from the 2019-20 season on Saturday.

USA TODAY LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181250 Websites NHL While the league is still working on how to put together its postseason,

NHL players will receive their final three scheduled paychecks, according USA TODAY / With games called off because of the coronavirus to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. The first, which came on March outbreak, are athletes still getting paid? 13, will be followed by two additional payments to cover through the end of regular season, which was scheduled for April 4.

MLS Paul Myerberg The MLS season was just getting started when the coronavirus outbreak brought it to a halt last week. The league's teams had only played two games. Athletes across all professional leagues are in varying degrees of limbo as the coronavirus strain leaves sports on an indefinite hiatus. Nevertheless, in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday, MLS Player Association executive director Bob Foose said the COVID-19 hasn't profoundly impacted the NFL, which is just beginning to union's CBA with the league does not include any force majeure enter the heart of its offseason. For now, the league is juggling how to language and MLS players "are receiving, and will continue to receive, handle its marquee offseason events, such as the upcoming draft, amid their regular bimonthly paychecks" even while play is suspended. calls to limit large public gatherings. "To their credit, the league has given us no indication that they are But the NBA, NHL and MLS had to suspended their regular seasons in considering any change in that regard," Foose added. the midst of the playoff push for the former two and the early part of the schedule for the latter. MLB has already moved back the start of its regular season. USA TODAY LOADED: 03.20.2020 Where does that leave professional athletes? In terms of collecting paychecks, here's where things stand across the major pro sports leagues.

MLB

Amid news that Opening Day will be delayed at least into May, MLB and the MLB Players Association are still negotiating some of the salary- related details for the weeks to come.

The MLBPA informed players that, upon leaving their spring training facilities, they will receive a living allowance of $1,100 per week from the union through at least April 9 — with the belief that teams will then begin to pick up expenses. This arrangement applies only to players on a 40- man roster, and non-roster invitees who finished the 2019 season on a 40-man roster or injured list.

But a lot of uncertainty remains. As San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham recently told USA TODAY Sports: "I don’t know if any of us will get paid."

POSITIVE TEST:A second New York Yankees minor leaguer has coronavirus

NBA

NBA players have still received their typical salaries during the league's ongoing hiatus, but there is a caveat.

The league's collective bargaining agreement, like most contracts of that magnitude, contains a clause about the ramifications of a "force majeure event" — something entirely out of the NBA's control, like a global pandemic, that would allow owners to withhold a portion of players' salaries.

NBPA executive director Michele Roberts told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday that it is too early to know if the NBA will enforce that part of the league's labor deal. But Roberts said that the union and the league have a shared goal of resuming games as soon as possible, as long as it is safe to do so.

NFL

Under the league's former collective bargaining agreement, NFL players were paid in 17 weekly installments across the regular season. In 2019, for instance, players began drawing paychecks with the start of the season's four-month stretch.

The new CBA, which was approved this week and will go into effect this season, changes the traditional pay schedule. The new agreement will pay players across 34 weeks, not 17, with that number growing to 36 weeks once the NFL adds a 17th game in the regular season to its schedule, as the league is expected to do.

Not that the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the normal offseason schedule: NFL teams made a flurry of personnel moves at Monday's start of free agency's negotiating window, while Tom Brady's social-media post announcing the end of his tenure with the New England Patriots dominated Tuesday's news cycle. 1181251 Websites

USA TODAY / Ottawa Senators player becomes first in NHL to test positive for coronavirus

Jace Evans

An Ottawa Senators player became the first NHL player confirmed to test positive for COVID-19, the team announced Tuesday night.

The Senators said the player, who remained unnamed, had mild symptoms and is in isolation.

"The Ottawa Senators are in the process of notifying anyone who has had known close contact with the athlete and are working with our team doctors and public health officials," the team said in a statement.

"As a result of this positive case, all members of the Ottawa Senators are requested to remain isolated, to monitor their health and seek advice from our team medical staff.

"The health of our players, fans, and community remains our highest priority. We will continue to do everything we can to help ensure our players, staff, fans and the greater community remain safe and healthy during this time of uncertainty due to the spread of the coronavirus."

TSN reported Wednesday that some Senators players “are being accessed and tested under the supervision of health authorities," though the team did not give a number.

The NHL is not mandating testing.

“The current state of medical advice is that people should likely not be tested unless they are symptomatic,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press by email Wednesday. “That doesn’t mean that potentially exposed individuals shouldn’t take proper precautions such as adhering to self-quarantine principles as necessary and immediately reporting to medical staff should they become symptomatic.”

NHL Players’ Association spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon said the union has been in contact with Senators players about the situation.

The Sens had wrapped up their California road trip, their final game in Los Angeles' Staples Center on March 11, right before the season was postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. They had played in Anaheim on March 10 and San Jose on March 7. The Senators' game vs. the Sharks was the second-to-last at San Jose's SAP Center following Santa Clara County officials' recommendation for sporting events and large gatherings to be canceled (the county eventually issued a mass gatherings ban before the season was suspended altogether).

The Ducks and Kings released statements that they were monitoring team members, but no one was exhibiting symptoms of the onset of COVID-19 at the moment.

USA TODAY LOADED: 03.20.2020

1181252 World Leagues News they might need it. I'm just trying to be the light as we're all trying to find the light."

ESPN's Scott Van Pelt talks anchoring 'SportsCenter' without sports: USA TODAY LOADED: 03.20.2020 'People feel robbed'

Scott Gleeson USA TODAY

Published 8:17 AM EDT Mar 19, 2020

ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt had to take a "timeout" from a scheduled interview. His daughter was orchestrating a play and her father was the audience.

"The kids call the shots," Van Pelt said.

The 53-year-old Van Pelt is fulfilling extra dad duties with Lila, 7, home from school because of shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. As of Thursday morning, there are more than 222,600 cases and 9,100 deaths around the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Van Pelt moonlights on the other side of the audience as a longtime anchor for "SportsCenter." He and other sports newscasters have been struck with an eerie predicament: Trying to make a sports show without sports. The NBA and NHL suspended their seasons while MLB postponed its start and the NCAA tournament — along with all NCAA spring sports — was canceled. Events across the world have also been delayed or canceled.

"We're literally taking this day-by-day because this has never happened before," Van Pelt said. "For the time being, we've had the cancellations and sports news to talk about. But that's a temporary fix for a permanent issue.

"At some point, we very well could run on empty to where we might feel like we have to ration news out like it's canned beans. We like to think we're a creative bunch at ESPN. But I'm also no magician. I'm not an illusionist. I won't be one for the audience."

It's been Van Pelt's tell-it-how-it-is authentic tone that's helped ESPN navigate an unprecedented time when a priority for the network has been finding the right balance to reach fans without games.

"People feel robbed of something they care about," Van Pelt said. "The day everything got canceled, I just tried to be calm and measured when delivering sobering news to sports fans who are looking to escape some of life's reality."

Van Pelt said connecting with the audience has always been his aim and that goal has even greater meaning now.

"Listen, I do worry about our society's longing for sports. There is an emptiness we can't ignore," Van Pelt said. "When (expletive) goes wrong, where do people turn? Oftentimes they turn to something to take their mind off of something – they'll turn to sports.

"It's been one of the greatest healers in society, a meeting place where, yeah, sure you root for the other team. So what? We might squabble for nine innings, four quarters or three periods. But there's a (camaraderie) that comes through that. That's what we're all missing. It's going to mess with people's minds."

Van Pelt disagreed with the notion from some that the seriousness of the coronavirus means fans can't also be sad about no sports.

"There's room in our hearts for empathy on the virus and sports," Van Pelt said.

Van Pelt said he is focusing on the day-to-day, while his bosses plan for the future of the show. He's spearheading the segment, "#SeniorNight," which honors teams that had remarkable seasons cut short. All NCAA divisions, men's and women's, as well as select high schools, were selected from around the country based on social media inquiries.

"I'm not going to hide that I genuinely have empathy for sports being canceled," Van Pelt said. "I didn't sign some oath that says I can't show my own feelings. (Expletive) that. I look at showing vulnerability as a way to make our bond stronger with the audience. A way to connect when 1181253 World Leagues News “I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going,” he wrote, in what has come to be known as “the green light letter.”

Bring back the NBA!: The case for reviving professional sports in the time The American people would be toiling long hours, he wrote, “and that of coronavirus means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before.”

Some of baseball’s biggest stars — including Ted Williams, Joe By David Scharfenberg Globe Staff DiMaggio, and Hank Greenberg — were pressed into military service during World War II. And the game suffered. It was, in the memorable Updated March 18, 2020, 4:40 p.m. phrase of sportswriter Frank Graham, “the tall men against the fat men at the company picnic.”

I’m just going to come out and say it: I miss the Celtics. But it was a morale booster, nonetheless, and a connection to the front lines. I miss Jaylen Brown’s dunks and Jayson Tatum’s swagger. I miss Marcus Smart’s maniacal hustle and ill-advised three pointers. Proceeds from exhibition games went to the Army-Navy relief fund. Subscribers to Baseball Digest got a discount if they bought a second And I miss texting my friends about all of the above. subscription for a serviceman. And when soldiers wanted to make sure that approaching forces were American, they would test them with the It’s been a week since the National Basketball Association suspended its question “Who won the World Series?” 2019-20 season after a player tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. A handful more have tested positive This was not just an American phenomenon. since. Over in Britain, professional soccer shut down shortly after the And in recent days, sportswriters have penned all the requisite columns declaration of war; authorities worried that large gatherings would be about how the outbreak has really put things in perspective. About how easy targets for enemy bombing. But when the bombing didn’t sports really don’t matter in times like these. immediately materialize — the Blitz was some time off — soccer started up again. But I’m not sure they believe it. I know I don’t. I say we bring back the NBA as soon as we reasonably can. The competition was regional, to limit travel. And the teams were constantly in flux, drawing on “guest” players who happened to be Spend a little time surveying our fractured culture — flipping past the stationed nearby at game time. Mass Observation, an organization cable news shouters and diving down the online wormholes — and it founded in 1937 to track public opinion, found overwhelming public quickly becomes clear that sports is our last great communal experience. support for keeping the game going. The only bona fide cross-cultural, cross-generational phenomenon we have left. And our best hope for lifting morale in a lonely moment like this “Sports like football have an absolute effect on the morale of the people,” one. the organization reported in 1940, “and one Saturday afternoon of games could probably do more to affect people’s spirits than the recent £50,000 Now, don’t get me wrong. Restarting the NBA or getting Major League Government poster campaign urging cheerfulness.” Baseball going in the next couple of months would require significant concessions to the moment. I’m talking empty stadiums and quarantined Anton Rippon, British sportswriter and author of “Gas Masks for Goal players — a strange facsimile of the real thing. Posts: Football in Britain During the Second World War,” told me in an email that the matches “helped give the nation a sense of normality in But that’s OK. That would be the beauty of it, really. abnormal times,” even if they weren’t of the same quality as pre-war play. Watching LeBron James bring the ball up the court in a quiet arena, the “For them — and for us I suppose — it was just a lift," said Frank sound of his dribble echoing off the seats, would feel uncomfortable at Broome, the former British international player, "a bit of a tonic to help first. But ultimately, it would feel like a fortifying tribute to human forget all the bad news for a while.” adaptation. A small, but important, nod to normalcy. A chance to connect from living room to living room. It was also, at times, an act of defiance.

Apparently, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is thinking along the same Rippon recalled a match between England and Scotland in Hampden lines. Park in Glasgow in May 1940, at a particularly difficult time in the war for the Allies. On Wednesday night, he floated the idea of a return without fans in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols. “Presumably,” he said, “if we had The German propaganda machine warned of a bombing run by the a group of players, and staff around them, and you could test them and Luftwaffe before halftime. And for anyone who hadn’t heard, the looming follow some sort of protocol, doctors and health officials may say it’s safe barrage balloons, enormous inflatables with steel cables designed to to play.” dissuade airborne attack, were a grim reminder of the constant threat. Perhaps it was no surprise, Rippon wrote, that the stadium was only half- Alternatively, he suggested, the league could isolate a smaller group of full. But that was still some 70,000 fans — each of them, in their own players and allow them to play — “maybe it’s for a giant fundraiser or just way, shaking a fist at Hitler. the collective good of the people.” THIS IS NOT a time to find solace in big crowds. “Because people are stuck at home," he said, "and I think they need a diversion. They need to be entertained.” The coronavirus culture sprouting all over the globe is connection at a remove. In times like these, the games matter. They always have. It’s Italians singing to each other from porch to porch — an idea that has IN JANUARY OF 1942, just a month after the attack on Pearl Harbor, caught on here in Boston. It’s shuttered Chinese night clubs turning to Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the commissioner of baseball, sent a virtual “cloud clubbing,” with DJs broadcasting live sets online. And it’s letter to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asking for his guidance. the Philadelphia Orchestra streaming a performance of Beethoven’s Fifth “The time is approaching when, in ordinary conditions, our teams would and Sixth symphonies and “Jeder Baum spricht,” a new piece by Iman be heading for Spring training camps,” he wrote. “However, inasmuch as Habibi. these are not ordinary times, I venture to ask what you have in mind as to It’s brilliant, inspiring stuff. But it’s not enough. whether professional baseball should continue to operate.” Did you catch “Jeder Baum spricht?” Neither did I. “Health and strength to you,” he wrote at the close of his note, “and whatever else it takes to do this job.” Even before the new coronavirus sent us into isolation, we were an atomized society. There was no shared culture, no appointment Roosevelt, who had nearly lost his job as a young lawyer for sneaking off television — except for sports. to Giants games, quickly replied. Sports transcended culture and geography. It had an unmatched appeal in both red- and blue-state America.

But the bonds I’m interested in are more personal.

Fandom brings grandparent and grandchild together. And — here I speak from personal experience — it’s a connective tissue for middle- aged friends separated by middle-aged responsibilities.

I haven’t been to a Celtics game in a long time. I didn’t make it to Fenway Park once last year. And I’ve never been to Liverpool to see my favorite soccer team. Sports, for me, is a 10:30 p.m. text chain with a couple of friends about Marcus Smart’s latest finger in the eye of the basketball gods. It’s a way to connect, pod to pod, on a Tuesday night.

And when my team does the extraordinary, it’s something bigger: a visceral, communal shout — best heard at a bar surrounded by other fans, perhaps, but still a thrill when it leaps from the living room next door or the Twitter feed on my phone.

That’s community at a social distance.

I WAS A little nervous when I called Boston College epidemiologist Nadia Abuelezam to test my idea of bringing back professional sports while we fend off the coronavirus.

But she was surprisingly sympathetic. She’s a basketball fan and was disappointed by the abrupt end to the season.

“I’m torn about this question,” Abuelezam said. “I see the value in having some sports on television, having something to root for.”

But from an epidemiological perspective, she cautioned, there would be a lot to think through. How would the ball be sanitized? What about the locker room? And if a player tested positive in the midst of the resumed season, she said, you’d have to put his teammates and recent opponents in quarantine — disrupting the schedule.

She’s right, of course.

But she entertained my musings on how the NBA — with its relatively small number of players and core staff — could return sooner than expected.

Research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that it takes a median of 5.1 days for symptoms of coronavirus infection to appear and that some 98 percent of infected people develop symptoms with 12 days. That means players who were quarantined for two weeks before they played — and remained in a sort of traveling quarantine once the games begin — should be in the clear. And as testing becomes more widely available, it would be possible to keep even closer tabs on players’ health.

None should be required to play if they’re worried about their health or if family circumstances prevent them from staying in quarantine; baseball survived without Williams and DiMaggio. But many, no doubt, would be eager to get back on the court — whatever the personal sacrifice.

Silver, the NBA commissioner, would not be floating the idea of a return if he didn’t have at least some support from the players.

Even if professional sports don’t return as quickly as we’d like, they may come back sooner than we think.

Abuelezam says returning to something like normal life after the worst of the pandemic won’t be a matter of “flipping a switch.” It will be more gradual than that.

Older and more vulnerable populations may be advised to stay at home a while longer, for instance, while younger people are given greater leeway to venture out into public — even as they’re cautioned to remain at a physical distance from others.

And in this in-between phase, Abuelezam says, she could imagine professional sports coming back to life. Maybe it’s not basketball that returns first. Maybe it’s baseball or tennis, which put more distance between competitors.

I’ll take what I can get.

But like I said: I miss the Celtics.

Boston Globe LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181254 World Leagues News The goal of social distancing is to avoid overburdening the healthcare system, but "the irony of successful social distancing is that fewer will develop immunity," according to a triple-bylined story written by an epidemiologist, a biostatistician and an oncologist and medical ethicist in Coronavirus: All of the unanswered questions for Adam Silver, NBA amid the New York Time published Tuesday. "That means that social the COVID-19 shutdown distancing 2.0, 3.0 and, who knows, maybe even 4.0 will very likely have to occur."

Those three experts -- Michael Levy, Susan Ellenberg and Ezekiel J. James Herbert Emanuel -- likened it to pumping a car's brakes on an icy road: You push mugshotby James Herbert on the brakes, then ease up, then do it again, and after three or four times you are slow enough to stop. This suggests that, without the @outsidethenba development of effective treatment, it will not be as simple as self- isolating for a little while and then everything, including the NBA, getting Mar 19, 2020 at 10:01 am ET back to normal for the foreseeable future.

The broader point here is that the factors that will determine if and when Hospitals in the United States and around the world are desperate for games can be played again are largely out of the league's control. For more ventilators, and if the spread of the coronavirus cannot be example, the United States-Canada border was closed on Wednesday, contained by social distancing, if the curve is not flattened, there will not and the Public Health Agency of Canada has directed anyone arriving in be nearly enough critical-care beds for patients who need them … so, uh, the country to self-isolate for 14 days. As long these types of travel let's talk about basketball. restrictions persist, the Toronto Raptors will not be able to host games.

No NBA games have been played since Wednesday, March 11, the day Ultimately, Silver told Nichols, the NBA will play games "when public that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. In a column the next day, health officials give us the OK." the Toronto Star's Bruce Arthur called the Utah Jazz center an accidental Which players have contracted COVID-19? hero and quoted a sports executive saying, "Honestly, Rudy Gobert saved America." That is hyperbolic, but his positive test did force Gobert, his teammate Donovan Mitchell, the Detroit Pistons' Christian commissioner Adam Silver to suspend the 2019-20 season, which Wood and four Brooklyn Nets have tested positive. Kevin Durant is one undeniably contributed to the public starting to have a better of the Nets. There are surely more, however, who just haven't been understanding of the pandemic and the importance of washing your tested yet. hands and limiting person-to-person contact. On a related note, here's more from Murthy's NPR interview: "My sense was, especially among young people in the United States, people were not taking these protocols all that seriously until the NBA did Well, I've been having conversations with physicians from hospitals what it did," Silver said in an interview with Rachel Nichols on ESPN on across the country. And what I found […] is that health care providers are Wednesday. seeing people who have symptoms that are consistent with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, but they're unable to get them tested. And this is Ideally, people would have already been taking the coronavirus seriously, presenting several really important problems for them. the league would have already been mandated to stop allowing thousands of people to gather in arenas and the country would have No. 1, if they can't get them tested early enough, then - and they're been more prepared for everything that is happening now. Anyway, concerned they have COVID-19, then they often have to quarantine or basketball! Here are 11 questions about the NBA's hiatus: advise quarantine for the people with whom that person is in contact, sometimes including the doctor himself or herself. But second, because Has the 2019-20 season been canceled? we can't get accurate and sufficient testing, we're not able to get a accurate picture of how COVID-19 is unfolding across our communities, No. Not yet. But even last Thursday, the day that, pre-Gobert, the NBA which makes it difficult to direct our resources and our time and energy. expected to start playing games in empty arenas rather than pressing pause, Silver acknowledged the possibility that the league will not be So on top of all of this, the lack of testing is really creating a lot of anxiety able to press play in time to salvage the season. In his interview with and worry for doctors, nurses, for staff in the hospitals who are worried Nichols, Silver called himself "optimistic by nature" and said he wants to that they also are not only unable to treat patients with the full care that believe that at least some portion of the season will be played. they need, but they're also themselves at risk at a time when they are running out of masks, gowns, gloves and other equipment that they need When might games be played again? to protect themselves. Team higher-ups are looking at mid-June as a best-case scenario, per Why do so many NBA players have access to tests when so many ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, but fear that this is it. On Tuesday, Surgeon people don't? General Vivek Murthy spoke to owners on a conference call, giving them "facts and sobering details" about the coronavirus, as The Athletic's Here's the NBA's answer, from spokesperson Mike Bass to ESPN's Shams Charania put it, but allowing for the possibility that the season Ramona Shelburne: restart before July, per Woj. "Public health authorities and team doctors have been concerned that, On a related note, Murthy said this in an interview with NPR a couple of given NBA players' direct contact with each other and close interactions days before that call: with the general public, in addition to their frequent travel, they could accelerate the spread of the virus. Following two players testing positive There are three key areas where our health care system is vulnerable in last week, others were tested and five additional players tested positive. crises like this. No. 1, we can run out of beds. No. 2, we can run out of Hopefully, by these players choosing to make their test results public, equipment. No. 3, we can run out of people - specifically, health care they have drawn attention to the critical need for young people to follow workers, who we need to take care of patients. CDC recommendations in order to protect others, particularly those with And we're already seeing this play out in other countries, particularly in underlying health conditions and the elderly. Italy, where the hospital system has been utterly overwhelmed, and That jibes with USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt's story about how 58 people with clinicians are having to make the kind of decisions that you see in war, or connected to the Jazz organization were tested at Chesapeake where they're - they have two patients who desperately need care, but Energy Arena last Wednesday. Oklahoma State Department of Health there's only a bed for one of them. And they're having to make decisions spokesperson Jamie Dukes told Zillgitt that it was a "public health that no clinician ever wants to make about which one has a better chance decision," and Rishi Desai, a doctor who used to work for the Centers for of surviving, even if they know that both deserve treatment. Disease Control and Prevention, explained it by classifying athletes and We don't want to be in that situation. But what we are seeing is a rapid team personnel as "super spreaders," since they are around so many rise in cases. And while we have some ability to expand our capacity in people and traveling. Silver used that term in his ESPN interview, too. terms of ICU beds and ventilators here in the United States, we will far That argument, however, was more compelling last week than it is today, outstrip that limited extra capacity if we continue on the same trajectory as athletes and team personnel are expected to be self-isolating like the of rise that we see now. rest of us. Shortly after the Nets' positive tests were announced on Are teams practicing? Tuesday, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted that testing asymptomatic players shouldn't be a priority: Of course not. In a memo sent Sunday, the league extended its temporary ban on full team practices indefinitely, per ESPN's Tim We wish them a speedy recovery. But, with all due respect, an entire Bontemps. Players can work out at team facilities, but they are supposed NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically to stay apart from one another. Teams are expected to check the ill patients waiting to be tested. temperature of anyone who comes into the practice facility, and anyone who has a fever should leave, pending further tests, per ESPN's Zach "I'm sure the NBA wants to stop players spreading it amongst each other, Lowe. so it makes good sense [...] from a league standpoint," an emergency room doctor in New York told VICE's Laura Wagner. "It makes, you If the season isn't over, will there be fans in the arenas when it resumes? know, zero sense from a public health standpoint." The doctor also urged owners of NBA teams to use their resources to buy personal protective Well, on Sunday the CDC recommended that no gatherings of more than equipment for healthcare professionals. 50 people should be held for the next eight weeks. There is a "working plan" for games to be played without fans, per ESPN's Adrian Silver responded to that sentiment and de Blasio's tweet during his Wojnarowski, and they might take place in practice facilities or G League interview on ESPN: arenas, per the New York Times' Marc Stein.

"I of course understand his point and that it's unfortunate we're at this What else will be different? position as a society where it's triage when it comes to testing. And so the fundamental issue obviously is that there are insufficient tests. I'd Maybe lots of things. Silver said on ESPN that all suggestions are only say in the case of the NBA we've been following the welcome, and the league is considering scenarios that involve restarting recommendations of public health officials. I mean, let me begin with he the season as normal, restarting it without fans and simply getting "a situation in Oklahoma City last Wednesday night: The Utah Jazz did not subset of players" to compete while regularly tested and isolated. ask to be tested. The Oklahoma public health official there on the spot If the season resumes, maybe there will be an abridged regular season not only required that they be tested, but they weren't allowed to leave and then a traditional playoff format. Maybe the NBA will get to try a play- their locker room, which was for at least four hours after the game where in tournament, an idea that Silver referenced on Wednesday. Nets guard they had to stay, masks on, in the locker room. They couldn't leave until Spencer Dinwiddie suggested on Twitter that the league should come the health authorities had tested them. so, I mean, that was our first back with a 28-team tournament that is preceded by play-in games and case. includes the playoffs as we have come to know them.

"And then what followed when we then had an additional positive test the Why, though, couldn't the playoffs be replaced by a single-elimination next day, the protocol then followed that we then follow with, again, cup for one season? And if there aren't fans in the stands, then why have health officials' and our doctors' recommendations that we then looked at teams fly all over the country? There is some logic to playing all the essentially that group of teams that were most proximate to the initial games in a central location, like the G League Showcase in Las Vegas. team that had tested positive. And then the circle expanded from there. Silver told Nichols that a crisis like this can result in opportunities for And so I understand it, but we've had eight NBA teams, full teams that innovation. have been tested now, and members of other teams that were showing symptoms. And again I understand from a public health standpoint why How is this fair to [my favorite team/player/etc.]? some people have reacted the way they did, but I'd say from an NBA Stop whining, it's a pandemic. Yeah, it's a shame that the Milwaukee standpoint we were following directives." Bucks might not have the home-court advantage they earned before the The were not tested as a team for COVID-19. On world changed, I guess. And it's a shame that the a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Warriors general manager might not be able to make a run at the eighth seed or whatever. Bob Myers explained it, via USA Today's Mark Medina: Perspective, please.

"We've been told that testing's in short supply," Warriors general What's up with the NBA Draft? manager Bob Myers said on the conference call. "We're treating It's scheduled for June 20, but that doesn't mean it will actually happen ourselves like people, which is what we are. We're not better than on that day. There might be no combine, there might be no individual anybody. We're not worse. We're just a basketball team, like any workouts and there is all sorts of uncertainty about how the league will company. Right now, we're not interacting with anybody. I've been told by handle this. In theory, the draft could take place while the playoffs are our doctors that we shouldn't be testing asymptomatic people in happening, and/or without the draftees themselves being present. California." If the season is over, how will the league handle awards, records, etc.? […] Presumably, the media could still vote on end-of-season awards. "Every team's responsibility is to check in with their players each day and Presumably, James Harden would officially go down as the 2019-20 staff members or anybody for that matter, even me, to report symptoms," scoring leader. Silver did not confirm this in his interview on Wednesday, Myers said. "So we're doing that. But outside of that, we're not however. mandating, nor do I think we should be at this time until testing becomes more available that everybody gets tested." "I'm not there yet," Silver said on ESPN. "I mean, we'll figure it out. I hope I'm not just in denial, but I'm just not there yet." Here's the Nets' statement on the matter, via the New York Times' Sopan Deb: What about 2020-21?

"As we learned NBA players on other teams had tested positive for If nobody knows what's happening with the rest of the 2019-20 season, COVID-19, we noticed that several of our players and staff had then nobody knows what will happen with the next one. At the recent symptoms. Based on this information, and the judgment that all of our Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, CEO Steve Koonin players are subject to high exposure due to the close physical nature of made the case that the NBA should start its season on Christmas Day basketball, the communal nature of teams and the possibility of an and hold the Finals in August. If this season resumes in some form, we'll accelerated spread from team to team, our medical experts advised that find out what something like that looks like. our players get tested. We sourced the tests through a private company and paid for them ourselves because we did not want to impact access to On ESPN, Nichols asked Silver if this stoppage could lead to a CDC's public resources. Using the test results, we were able to take permanent changes in the schedule. "Possibly," Silver said. "Those are immediate precautions and strictly isolate the players who tested the things we're always talking about." positive. If we had waited for players to exhibit symptoms, they might have continued to pose a risk to their family, friends and the public. Our hope is that by drawing attention to the critical need for testing CBS LOADED: 03.20.2020 asymptomatic positive carriers, we can begin to contain the spread and save lives. We believe it is not only the right thing to do for our players and their facilities, it is the responsible thing to do from a medical and epidemiological standpoint." 1181255 World Leagues News Nobody really knows what will happen next, but the coming weeks and months just might serve to prove which sports media types truly have game.

Coronavirus crisis forces sports-talk hosts to adjust “It’s going to separate the real broadcasters from the headline-readers,” Bruce says. “Our shows will be as fluid as they’ve ever been. Who can just roll with the story? It’s time to be creative and to reinvent yourself a bit.” By CHUCK BARNEY | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group Murphy and McCaffrey already have been dabbling in some on-the-fly creativity. They introduced a segment called “Vintage Game Rewatch,” PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 2:06 p.m. | UPDATED: March 19, 2020 during which they encourage listeners to watch a major sports event via at 4:21 a.m. YouTube and return the next day to discuss it with an athlete who participated in the contest.

KNBR-AM 680 morning show co-host Brian Murphy compares it to “trying First up was 1982’s Super Bowl XVI with former 49ers guard Randy to drive back in the days before GPS.” What do you do when your job is Cross serving as guest. Next, former Giants pitcher Mike Krukow joined to chat about sports on a constant basis but there are no sports to chat the show to recall his complete-game victory in Game 4 of the 1987 about? National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

That’s the dilemma confronting those in the Bay Area sports-talk radio Says Murphy, “It was one of the best discussion we’ve ever had with business during a coronavirus pandemic that has put the NBA, NHL, Mike. … Thank God for YouTube.” Major League Baseball and other sports organizations on indefinite hold. Vintage sports events will perhaps play a bigger role as the lockdown They’ve got endless hours to fill, but no scores, stats or typical storylines continues. This week, for example, KGMZ aired replays of key games to fill them. from the Warriors’ dynastic run. “We’re in completely uncharted territory,” says Murphy, who headlines Of course, anyone who regularly listens to sports-talk radio knows that the “Murph & Mac Show” with Paul McCaffrey. the people behind the mics often converse about more than the Giants Throughout modern history, sports often provided a form of escape and starting rotation or if Andrew Wiggins is a good fit with the Warriors. It’s helped to soothe the nerves of Americans during wars, economic distress not unusual, for example, to hear KNBR’s Tom Tolbert discussing his and catastrophes like 9/11. But not this time. passion for certain movies, pro wrestling and craft beer.

“I’ve always thought of sports a little like a canary in a cage,” says Depending on how long the lockdown lasts, the sportscasters likely will Damon Bruce, an afternoon host at KGMZ-FM 95.7 “The Game.” “It’s a have to lean into ancillary topics even more, while relying on the pleasant distraction. Now, we don’t have that pleasant distraction to community of listeners they’ve bonded with over the years. count on. And we have no idea how long it will last. Will we have to Matt Nahigian, the program director for KGMZ insists it’s a time to “try declare a mulligan on sports for the entire year?” and brighten people’s days during a somber time.” So far, finding content hasn’t been a major problem for the hosts at “We need to be there for our audience,” he says. “We need to take a KNBR and KGMZ. In the days immediately after the NBA suspended its deep breath, have some fun and know that many of the people who season — and other leagues followed suit — there was the shocking come to us might have had a really bad day. We can be there to bring novelty of it all, along with the relentless speculation, to fuel some levity.” programming. Bruce is up for the challenge — and believes there might even be a silver “It felt like the world was spinning out of control. There was so much to lining in all this. talk about,” says KNBR’s Greg Papa, who hosts a midday show with John Lund. “It was all pandemic all the time.” “Sometimes I think we take sports too much for granted,” he says. “Maybe when the games do come back, we’ll appreciate them a little Indeed, the sports radio hosts spent much of that first week not only more.” delivering the flurry of news about cancellations and postponements, but sharing stories and anecdotes with listeners about life in a suddenly changing world. Bay Area News Group LOADED: 03.20.2020 “We had that communal experience to carry us — that feeling that all of us are going through this together,” Murphy says. “What’s happening in your town? What’s your school doing? How’s your family handling it? … There was a strong connection between us and the audience. That’s one aspect I didn’t quite expect.”

Bruce felt that connection, as well.

“It was a time to be a source of information,” he says. “It was also a time to share concerns and talk about how people are coping through all this.”

Then this week, as Murphy points out, the NFL “rode in on its white horse” to provide plenty of fodder. Among the major offseason headlines: The 49ers’ trade of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and Tom Brady’s decision to leave the New England Patriots.

“It has been one of the most impactful off-seasons in recent memory, and it was an amazing diversion,” Murphy says.

But what will the coming weeks bring? This, after all, was supposed to be one of the busiest times on the sports calendar. The Giants and A’s were poised to open their seasons next week. The NBA and NHL would be homing in on the playoffs. March Madness would be in full bloom and the Masters golf tournament would be just around the corner.

Now what?

“Once football settles down, we may get some days where we’re scratching our heads over what to talk about,” Papa admits. “I’m sure we’ll have some challenging days ahead.” 1181256 World Leagues News “That is certainly an issue,” Fielding said of the reaction to NBA players being tested despite a shortage of testing kits. “If we had to ration tests that would really be a big issue, but it was more kind of hit or miss, it was a limited amount of tests available and it just happens to be who you NBA reacts to criticism of teams getting tested for coronavirus know. …

“I think what’s probably more an issue of rationing is what happens if we run out of ICU beds or what happens if we run out of ventilators. That’s By TANIA GANGULI STAFF WRITER the huge ethical issue. I would expect and hope that the players would be MARCH 18, 20202:20 PM categorized no differently than people in their age group and medical conditions.”

Not every team has jumped at the chance for testing. The Sacramento Eight NBA teams, including the Lakers, have offered coronavirus testing Kings and Golden State Warriors both opted against full-scale testing for their players since Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive because so few tests are being administered, though the number is March 11, whether they have symptoms or not, providing them access to growing every day in California. testing that isn’t available to the general public because of the shortage of coronavirus testing kits in the United States. “We’re in the same boat as everybody,” Warriors coach said on a conference call Tuesday. “It’s very difficult to find a test in California That fact has caused a backlash among people who wonder why NBA and many places, so if any of our players do come down sick or any of players without symptoms have access to testing when many others, our employees, we’ll [do] our best to get a test, but there’s definitely even some who have symptoms, can’t get tested. frustration that we don’t all have access to them, but there’s nothing we can do about it. So we just have to follow the advice of the medical “We’ve been following the recommendations of public health officials,” experts and our local officials and leaders and do our best.” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday in an interview on ESPN. “… We’ve had eight NBA teams — full teams — that have been The Lakers, though, immediately made plans to test any player who tested now and members of other teams that were showing symptoms. wanted to undergo COVID-19 testing after learning of the Nets’ positive And again, I understand from a public health standpoint why some tests. They had offered that to their players before, according to people people have reacted the way they did but I’d say from an NBA familiar with the situation not authorized to speak publicly, but on standpoint, we were following directives.” Wednesday morning most of the team underwent testing at the team facility before entering a 14-day period of self-quarantine. Health officials have asked public clinics to limit testing to people with serious symptoms. Private clinics are not bound by similar restrictions, The Lakers did not announce they were testing their team, but rather but they are encouraged to limit their testing to those with the most simply said they were following protocols established in consultation with severe symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by this coronavirus. health officials. In Los Angeles County, as of Monday afternoon, only 1,100 people had been tested, which amounts to about .01% of the county’s population. It is unclear whether the Lakers will make public the results of their tests anonymously, as some teams have. Some players, like Nets forward NBA teams, though, often have better access to advanced medical care. Kevin Durant and Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, have gone public with Once the league took steps to address the threat of coronavirus, it asked their positive tests. teams to create an arrangement with an infectious disease specialist with whom they could consult, and have a process in place for testing their The league hopes that helps raise awareness. players should the need arise. “I understand there are many sides to these issues,” Silver said. “But I When it was decided they needed to test their players, most teams paid also think that by virtue of an NBA player being tested and the kind of for the tests to be administered and analyzed at private facilities. The attention it brought, my sense was — especially among young people in Lakers, for example, partner with UCLA Health, which is also the sponsor the United States — people were not taking these protocols all that for their training facility. seriously until the NBA did what it did.”

The Utah Jazz were an exception, with their traveling party and media members tested by Oklahoma state health officials once Gobert tested Los Angeles Times LOADED: 03.20.2020 positive. Gobert’s test was also the catalyst for the league shutting down operations March 11.

“The Utah Jazz did not ask to be tested,” Silver said. “The Oklahoma public health official there on the spot not only required that they be tested, but they weren’t allowed to leave their locker room which was for at least four hours after the game where they had to stay, masks on, in the locker room. They couldn’t leave until health authorities had tested them.”

The NBA released a statement Tuesday that said players were more at risk of causing the virus to spread more quickly because of frequent travel, often by private plane and in private terminals, and because of their frequent interactions with the public.

The Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Jazz have all announced that their teams were tested. Four players tested positive for the Nets, who played the Lakers on March 10, which was each team’s final game before the season was suspended indefinitely. Three of the Nets players who tested positive for COVID-19 were asymptomatic.

“We wish them a speedy recovery,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter. “But, with all due respect, an entire NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically ill patients waiting to be tested. Tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick.”

Dr. Jonathan Fielding, a professor of health policy and management at UCLA who served as the public health director and a health officer for Los Angeles County for 16 years, thinks another ethical issue on the horizon could be a bigger deal. 1181257 World Leagues News Julian Knight, chair of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Select Committee told the BBC: "The strong rich Premier League clubs should come to the aid, wherever they can, of the grassroots of the game. Coronavirus: Premier League set to push to complete the season "Lower league clubs are lynchpins of their communities and local employers. We don't want what happened to Bury last year to occur in towns across the country." By Dan Roan On Wednesday, the EFL released a £50m short-term relief fund to help BBC sports editor clubs with cash-flow issues because of the coronavirus outbreak. The 18 Mar fund includes the early release of award payments, and an interest-free loan facility.

In a letter to the 72 EFL clubs, seen by the BBC, EFL chief executive The Premier League is expected to reiterate its commitment to Rick Parry said: "Over the last week, the EFL has been in ongoing completing the season in Thursday's emergency board meeting held via dialogue with the Government, through DCMS, aimed at securing a conference call. package of measures for our clubs... that would enable us to centrally co- ordinate support. All games have been postponed until at least 4 April because of coronavirus. "While we do not have any certainty on this at this point, the Chancellor [Rishi Sunak] did at least provide some clarity with regard to professional But with the pandemic set to continue much longer than that, the league football clubs." is expected to acknowledge there will be no action for several weeks after that. Sunak has said that clubs will be eligible for business rates relief measures and grants that he announced as part of an emergency The postponement of Euro 2020 has opened up a window for domestic financial package. leagues to be completed by the end of June. He also said that there are now 2,000 dedicated HM Revenue & But clubs are unlikely to put a definitive date on when they hope to Customs officers ready to take the calls of businesses such as football resume the season, given the UK government has effectively banned clubs in order to provide a deferral for tax payments, and an agreed sports events by advising against mass gatherings. schedule for paying them back. Virus 'most serious' issue in 20 years, says Spurs chairman

Q&A: How will the suspension affect football in Britain? BBC sports LOADED: 03.20.2020 It is understood that if those restrictions on mass gatherings are not lifted, officials are open to the idea of staging matches behind closed doors in order to complete fixtures.

But no major decisions are anticipated at this stage if the season cannot resume, with one insider describing it as an "information-sharing and clarity meeting. Nothing concrete will come out of it."

There have been signs that the clubs are split on the issue of how the season should end.

Last week, West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady said the campaign should be declared null and void.

Football Association chairman Greg Clarke also expressed his concern that it may prove impossible for the season to be concluded.

However Brighton and Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber told the BBC that it would be "unjust" if runaway leaders Liverpool were denied the title, and suggested increasing the league to 22 teams for 2020-21.

Club representatives will be shown expert modelling of various end-of- season scenarios at Thursday's meeting, and what the possible financial and legal ramifications of each would be.

But for now at least, there seems to be a determination to do everything possible to push for the season to be completed.

The Premier League held talks with the FA and the English Football League on Wednesday, and is known to be in dialogue with its broadcast partners and sponsors amid the threat of legal action on a number of fronts.

Sky and BT have declined to comment on reports that they could seek compensation totalling £750m if the Premier League breaches its £3bn domestic live television contract by not completing its fixtures.

Meanwhile, top clubs in the Championship are said to be ready to launch a legal bid if the season is abandoned and they are denied the opportunity of promotion.

The issue of players' contracts - many of which expire at the end of June - and the knock-on effect on next season if this one is extended by months, may also be discussed on Thursday, along with the financial impact of the crisis.

The Premier League is also coming under pressure to help support financially stricken EFL clubs. 1181258 World Leagues News

NFL Game Pass, NBA League Pass free with sports in coronavirus standstill

By Samantha Previte

March 18, 2020 | 5:40PM

The NFL and NBA are coming through in the clutch to help sports fans pass the time while stuck at home over the coronavirus.

Want to relive the Giants’ Super Bowl wins over the Patriots? Or how about Larry Johnson’s four-point miracle from 1999?

Both leagues on Wednesday began offering complimentary access to their online streaming platforms, NFL Game Pass and NBA League Pass. The two products provide vast libraries of full-length and condensed games to let fans experience classic moments.

NFL fans can also access reruns from award-winning series such as “Hard Knocks” and “A Football Life.”

The NBA League Pass preview expires on April 22, 2020, and NFL Game Pass’s free offer extends until May 31, 2020.

League Pass and Game Pass are compatible with most mobile, tablet and over-the-top streaming devices.

NY POST LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181259 World Leagues News the organisation, promotion and fostering of cricket” and “to support and assist the recreational game”.

The ECB acknowledged the importance of clubs in its statement on How will cash-starved cricket clubs survive the coronavirus crisis? Wednesday and announced some understandably vague plans to “support some levels of physical activity in communities – particularly at junior levels.”

Barney Ronay “We understand that countless hours of work from thousands of volunteers have already gone into getting ready for the 2020 season and @barneyronay we know how disappointing this will be. We are thankful for the huge role Wed 18 Mar 2020 18.04 GMTLast modified on Wed 18 Mar 2020 23.40 that volunteers play in local cricket, to ensure the game remains at the GMT heart of communities.

“We know that you and your clubs can play an important role in bringing your community together once we get past this period of time.” The doomsday clock ticked a little closer to midnight for cricket’s summer of 2020 when the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Notably absent from these warm words is any promise of financial Wednesday that all recreational cricket should be suspended indefinitely. support in the form of emergency grants or loans. More worryingly still, this is also understandable. A letter from the chief executive, Tom Harrison, to county boards, clubs and leagues said the decision was based on medical guidance. The Spin: sign up and get our weekly cricket email.

“Following the Government’s latest advice around social distancing, it is The ECB has made much of its commitment to investing in grassroots with sadness and reluctance that we recommend that all forms of cricket. To date its most profound investment has been in the Hundred, a recreational cricket are for now suspended.” new competition designed for an as-yet undiscovered audience, which now finds itself threatened with a disastrous cancellation in its first This will come as no surprise given the staged lockdown of all public season. activities. Earlier this week the Football Association advised that all levels of the amateur game be suspended. The Rugby Football Union has The ECB was criticised by some for accumulating large reserves of cash advised similar suspension in amateur and junior rugby. The ECB’s move and sitting on them. It was criticised by others for spending that cash on is just further confirmation of the potentially disastrous state of amateur the gaudy new investment. As clubs up and down the country and grassroots sport in coming months. contemplate a future with no obvious income source, that expense starts to look like a doomed high-stakes gamble at the most unfortunate of The crisis is a visitation that extends far beyond sport, just as the times. decision to suspend non-professional cricket is unarguably the right course. The MCC’s 1901 touring party to South Africa may have played a Test series during a local outbreak of bubonic plague but the Covid-19 Guardian LOADED: 03.20.2020 pandemic requires industrial scale micromanagement.

The question remains, though: what will be left when it passes? Club cricket in particular finds itself in considerable peril, placed directly in the path of the coming lockdown. This is a sport where the annual revenue stream runs from April to September, where mid-season will coincide with the expected peak-infection period in England.

Much of the hand-wringing over sporting cancellations has focused on how industries that are essentially drowning in money will fulfil their televised fixtures. In the shadow of this, community sports clubs that fill the role of social hub, physical activity centre and entry point to children’s sport are set to lose their sole source of income.

It is extremely likely many will be forced to close if no alternative can be found. Most clubs rely on the standard input of match fees, fundraisers, annual membership and the club bar, with junior cricket in particular a regular source of cash and new members.

At the same time iIt seems inevitable school sport will also now be suspended. Following the ECB’s advice would mean the English Schools Cricket Association’s entire summer fixture list is affected. All county age group, borough and district cricket is in peril. The Bunbury festival must be looking on anxiously.

The potential loss should be judged not just in revenue to clubs but in those who will support, play and watch the game in the future. One club committee member said: “Since the ECB announcement I have been inundated with concerned messages from clubs and community facilities used by clubs. They all face financial ruin without cricket income. These are pillars of the community and we cannot forget those low-income seasonal workers who rely entirely on the income from coaching and ground work over the summer.”

“Clubs were telling me they were planning on doing numerous one-to- one and small group coaching activities. With the message to cease all cricket-related activities, all bets are off. What troubles me most is that junior cricket, the financial lifeblood of the game, could be salvaged with some imagination.”

Players line up for official launch of the Hundred last October. The new competition, expensively assembled for this summer, is surely in danger of cancellation amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Who will stand against this? The obvious first port of call is the ECB, whose articles of association state that its role is to “be responsible for 1181260 World Leagues News She said: "The IOC advice 'encourages athletes to continue to prepare for the as best as they can' with the Olympics only four months away but the government legislation is enforcing isolation at home, with tracks, gyms and public spaces closed. Coronavirus: Tokyo 2020 Olympic organisers respond to frustrated athletes "I feel under pressure to train and keep the same routine, which is impossible.

"I'm in a very fortunate place given the circumstances. I'm healthy, well By Luke Reddy supported and I have already qualified for the Olympics. But at this moment it's difficult to approach the season when everything has BBC Sport changed in the lead up apart from the deadline." 18 Mar All club training sessions, events, competitions, club committee and face- to-face meetings, athlete camps, running groups and social events have been suspended across England, Scotland and Wales. Heptathlete Johnson-Thompson (left) and pole vault Stefanidi have expressed concerns on social media 'Our health is at risk'

Heptathlete Johnson-Thompson (left) and pole vault champion Stefanidi Several athletes have joined Johnson-Thompson in pointing to confusion have expressed concerns on how they should prepare.

The International Olympic Committee says it has held "constructive" talks British race walker Tom Bosworth told BBC Sport: "I don't think there is with athlete representatives about the coronavirus crisis. enough time to properly build towards a games, whether that is build athlete profiles, build the teams, allow people to qualify who haven't President Thomas Bach admitted he was "confronted with many qualified and celebrate an Olympic Games in an Olympic year as it questions" over qualification and restrictions. should be.

But he also insisted that "everybody realised that we still have more than "I think for all involved, a slight delay is probably the best option." four months to go" until Tokyo 2020. Stefanidi, who won gold for Greece in pole vault at Rio 2016, said: "This The summer showpiece is still scheduled to begin on 24 July despite the is not about how things will be in four months. This is about how things cancellation of other sports events. are now.

There has been mounting criticism from athletes, with the IOC accused "The IOC wants us to keep risking our health, our family's health and of putting them "in danger" by insisting it remains fully committed to the public health to train every day? You are putting us in danger right now, Games. today, not in four months."

Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi said the IOC was "risking our Hayley Wickenheiser, a member of the IOC, has said the Olympic health", while Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson said training had governing body's decision to "move ahead, with such conviction, is become "impossible". insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity."

Speaking in an in-house IOC interview, Bach said: "We have just had a Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) president Alejandro Blanco has told really great call with 220 athlete representatives from all around the Reuters he would prefer this year's Games be postponed. world, it was very constructive and gave us a lot of insight. About 57% of the athletes set to attend the Games have so far qualified. "We aimed to continue being very realistic in our analysis. We will keep acting in a responsible way that is in the interest of the athletes whilst On Tuesday, the IOC asked athletes to continue preparations "as best always respecting our two principles - the safeguarding and health of the they can". athletes and contributing to the containment of the virus, and secondly to Jessica Judd, who represented Britain over 5,000m at the 2019 World protect the interest of the athletes and Olympic sport." Championships, tweeted: "How on earth are we meant to carry on British four-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Matthew Pinsent criticised preparing best we can? Bach's comments on Twitter, accusing him of not properly listening to "Will someone share with me what races we can do to get times and athletes' concerns and stating that postponing the Olympics is the best whether trials will go ahead and when training can return to normal?" option for all concerned. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has insisted the Games will go ahead "I'm sorry Mr Bach but this is tone deaf. The instinct to keep safe is not as planned in July. compatible with athlete training, travel and focus that a looming Olympics demands of athletes, spectators and organisers," Pinsent wrote. Events including the handover of the Olympic torch in Athens have faced disruption. "Keep them safe. Call it off." At the time of publishing this article on Wednesday (10:30 GMT), World Earlier, in a statement, the IOC had warned "no solution will be ideal" in Health Organization figures show more than 184,000 people globally preparing for Tokyo 2020. have been infected by coronavirus, with more than 7,500 deaths. "This is an exceptional situation which requires exceptional solutions," it said. BBC Sport LOADED: 03.20.2020 "The IOC is committed to finding a solution with the least negative impact for the athletes, while protecting the integrity of the competition and the athletes' health.

"No solution will be ideal in this situation, and this is why we are counting on the responsibility and solidarity of the athletes."

KJT feels 'under pressure'

World heptathlon champion Johnson-Thompson, 27, is returning to the UK from her training base in France as a result of the country being in lockdown.

Tokyo 2020 organisers have pledged to deliver a "complete" Games but Johnson-Thompson said current guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is confusing. 1181261 World Leagues News Tim Smith is a sports fan living on Staten Island in New York City, a region were the number of coronavirus cases is growing. He and his dad have a half-season ticket package to New York Rangers games and they have attended the past two home games. Sports fans weigh whether to attend games amid coronavirus outbreak Smith and his dad plan to attend Big East Tournament basketball games at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday and NCAA men’s basketball tournament games in Albany, New York next week. Vincent Z. Mercogliano “We’re more concerned about not being allowed to go rather than making Mark Medina a choice not to go,” Smith told USA TODAY Sports via email. “I’m 28, my Jeff Zillgitt dad is 62. My brother is a physician and he has advised us that he thinks we are OK going. The bigger concern he showed is for my grandfather Bob Nightengale who is in his 80s.

Gabe Lacques “In short, the virus isn’t changing our plans, YET. Should it keep progressing, things may change. Right now we aren’t changing our

plans.” Amid the growing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Los Angeles Lakers Staten Island’s Joseph Ostapiuk, 24, has a ticket for Monday’s Rangers- star Anthony Davis and a few of his teammates have new nickname. Calgary Flames game at Madison Square Garden and plans to go. “Everybody was playing and goofing around and calling us the Corona “I already decided to not take the subway to the game and will avoid Boys,” Davis said after a video appeared to show Davis licking his hand people as much as possible on the Staten Island Ferry, while also then high-fiving LeBron James and Avery Bradley. washing my hands and such as frequently as possible throughout the But Davis contends, “When we were out there I never licked my fingers, trip,” Ostapiuk told USA TODAY Sports via email. “I am curious how the because I thought about that actually before I did it. … I actually thought virus will affect interactions during the game (things like high-fives after about it and I was like, 'Don't do it.' So I kind of like mimicked it and it was goals), but definitely know I will be more conscious of my contact with like this whole little thing. I'm cleaner than that." people directly surrounding me during the game, since the virus is spread by extended close contact. I plan to go, if authorities permit it, but it will It was a lighthearted moment tucked into a serious situation with pro surely be unlike any other game I've attended before.” sports leagues contemplating playing games with no fans. Lawrence McBride of Oceanside, Calif., attended the Lakers-Nets game The outbreak has given fans reason to pause and consider whether it’s with his son Logan and had tickets near the tunnel where Lakers players worth attending when government officials have told people to avoid enter and exit the court. They also had no qualms about being in an large crowds and college conferences have canceled tournaments or are arena with thousands of people. holding conference tournaments with essential personnel only and no fans. “A lot of hysteria over it,” McBride said. “Everything about it is overexaggerated. I think there have been 12 deaths in the U.S (31 as of You’re a fan of a team, but you have limited opportunities to watch that Wednesday morning). It wouldn’t stop me from doing anything.” team play in person. You spent good money to see that team play. Maybe you traveled across the country. Maybe you traveled across the Steven Schwartz is a Rangers fan living in Dallas and attended world. Tuesday’s home game in Dallas only because it was the Rangers. “If this game was against any other team, I’d be at home,” he said via email. What is a sports fan to do? Go or stay home? Depends on the “And this is going to be the last game I go to for a while. Three confirmed circumstances and whom you ask, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the high- cases where I live, just north of Dallas. This is it. I’ll travel for work, if I profile immunologist who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy have to. But otherwise, I’m staying home.” and Infectious Diseases. Some fans are using the coronavirus to look for cheaper tickets on the “We would recommend that there not be large crowds," Fauci said during resale market, and for the right game, there might be a deal to score. But a congressional hearing on Wednesday. “If that means not having any even Friday’s -Boston Celtics game is not a cheap people in the audience when the NBA plays, so be it.” ticket, and Thursday’s Celtics- game in Milwaukee is a Said Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Chafin: "I think every player tough ticket with courtside seats going for $1,000-plus on Stubhub.com. in here thrives off of the cheering, the booing, just the environment, the “I don't go to a ton of Rangers games, but COVID-19 hasn't deterred me intensity from the crowd. You take that away, it’s going to completely from going,” Vasilis Drimalitis told USA TODAY Sports via email. “I was change the feel of the game. It’s going to feel like a backfield game in the just there with friends on March 7th. Truth be told, COVID-19 has me spring. But if it comes to that, we’ll adapt and we’ll do the best we can to looking on Stubhub to see if ticket prices have dropped so I can go go out and perform the best we can." before the season's over. “

NBA owners are scheduled to have a conference call later Wednesday to He might want to hurry. He soon may not have a choice. And playing discuss options. games in front of no fans doesn't sound appealing for players, either.

Leslie Wong traveled from Australia to Los Angeles and watched the "That would suck," Colorado Rockies outfielder David Dahl said. "Did that Lakers play the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. He also plans to attend in Hartford one year. Played in New Hampshire in front of nobody. We Saturday’s -New Orleans Pelicans game and didn’t have a home ballpark. Our home games were in New Hampshire Monday’s Clippers-Dallas Mavericks game. and they only opened it to girlfriends and some scouts. It felt like a “I’m really not concerned,” he said of coronavirus. practice game on a backfield. You didn’t really hear anything. Just dead silent. He even got Nets center Jarrett Allen to sign a jersey, using a pen he gave him — a no-no according to a memo sent to teams and players "Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that." instructing players to avoid signing autographs temporarily.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo enjoys the interaction between USA TODAY LOADED: 03.20.2020 fans and players, especially at spring training in more intimate settings. He has his concerns.

"And I’m not just worried for us, I’m worried for the fans, too," Lovullo said. "So as we’re interacting with the fans, who’s to say that we wouldn’t be transmitting something between fans? So it’s a tough needle to thread because we want to connect with our fans, they deserve that connection with us, we connect with the community whenever we can. But I think we have to start thinking of some mindful solutions.” 1181262 World Leagues News what will communications interns do when they normally write press releases and coordinate interviews for their assigned teams?

Hartwell suggested there’s still plenty of human interest storytelling to be In sports, the grip of coronavirus extends beyond games and athletes done, like about what Merrill must be feeling after the boom of a last- second conference crown followed by the sudden bust of his career ending. And Lester said he jotted down potential tasks in his phone’s notes app. By Ethan Bauer “We’ve got interns and hourly employees, and we want to keep them Mar 17, 2020, 10:00pm MDT getting paid, obviously,” he said. “I’ve been putting some ideas down for things we can do to get ahead for next season. So right now, we’re just looking forward, looking ahead, getting some player bios updated on the SALT LAKE CITY — Rudy Gobert’s positive coronavirus diagnosis took a website, and going from there.” defibrillator to the nation’s apathy, jolting Americans into confronting the serious public health threat posed by COVID-19. And that’s probably, as But it’s unclear how long it’ll take for such stories and tasks to dry up. argued by ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, a good thing. Along with subsequent And for some, there’s no escape from financial consequences. Arena prominent infections, like Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant’s detection on workers, for one, have little hope of making the money they expected and Tuesday, Gobert forced a national reckoning. But said reckoning — the planned their lives around. Some professional basketball players, from one that closed the NBA, canceled the NCAA Tournament and delayed Cleveland’s to New Orleans’ Zion Williamson to Gobert, have baseball’s opening day — has also cracked the foundation of the sports pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover their lost salaries, and industry. more seem to be following their lead each day, but some in the industry remain beyond such help. Without these seemingly trivial contests, where participants whack leather balls with wooden sticks or smack pucks up and down the ice, the Like sports reporters, who can’t take money from the teams they cover. entire industry built around them — the people who make the arenas For now, they’ll likely take Hartwell’s approach of tackling human interest functional, who write about the games, who televise them, who sell stories, investigations and other non-gamecentric forms of reporting. tickets and coordinate interviews and opine on them day and night — is “I know sports might not seem so important right now, but we at (The suddenly left to wonder. When can fans and players expect their careers Athletic) are going to keep trying our best not only to inform you of what’s and catharsis, respectively, to return? What’s a tuition-owing Philadelphia going on, but also to bring you stories that hopefully distract you a bit and Phillies ball girl to do without the paycheck she was expecting? make you smile,” tweeted The Athletic’s New Orleans Saints reporter So regardless of their surface-level triviality, “these are serious times” for Katherine Terrell. “Got some good ideas coming up.” sports, observed New York Times sports reporter John Branch, “even But if sports disappear for several months, such material is bound to run without the fear of becoming sick.” Indeed, amid unprecedented mass thin. Especially at a place like The Athletic, which has a beat writer cancellations, every sports-adjacent organization in the country must covering just about every professional and college team in the country. adjust — quickly — to address the suddenly compromised foundation of Without their usual story tinder, reporters covering Purdue athletics or the the industry, hoping their base is strong enough to weather the Phoenix Suns will need to get extra creative with little inspiration or earthquake of uncertainty. precedence. Like Hartwell said, the situation is fluid, and there’s no “I’ve probably heard the term ‘indefinitely suspended’ more in the last 36 guidebook. So for now, the sports industry seems intent on putting out hours than I’ve heard it in the rest of my lifetime,” Utah State athletics fires where they flare up. director John Hartwell said Friday, highlighting the sudden cancellation Hartwell said, for example, that some of Utah State’s international cascade. “That speaks to how it’s a fluid situation.” athletes have inquired about returning to their countries to wait out the The floodgates opened last week. pandemic. He’s also thought about how to handle coaches and department staffers who need to stay home with their kids amid school On Wednesday night, Southern Utah University athletics spokesman closures, and athletes who may need support. Bryson Lester waited in the lobby of the Boise Hyatt as TVs blared with video of Gobert. The Jazz center’s diagnosis had just become public “When you think about those seniors, who’ve worked a lifetime for their knowledge, and the Thunderbirds felt the jolt. By 9 p.m., a meeting competitions and had it taken away from them, it’s tough,” he said. “And convened with Lester, athletics director Debbie Corum and other senior we have got to make sure that we take care of those young men and department officials. They’d monitored the coronavirus before, but now women, because it’s going to be a mental health challenge.” they needed to take action. They focused on what drew them to Boise: Such questions will sustain the industry for a while. The Big Sky Conference men’s basketball tournament. Should it be canceled, they decided how they’d get home, and Lester drafted a press “There’s going to be a lot to do,” Lester said, “just because this is so release to keep fans apprised. new.”

“Obviously, that press release was updated 30 times over the next 12 But salaries can’t be covered by donations forever, and there’s only so hours,” Lester said. “Then we posted it, and two hours later, it was out of much tidying to do, and so much content available in a media ecosystem date again.” where even pre-coronavirus, every cheeky tweet qualified as newsworthy. Eventually, a damaged foundation can’t support all that About 12 hours after their meeting, the NCAA canceled all basketball weight. tournaments as well as spring sports, and after breaking the news to the team, Southern Utah was on a bus headed for Cedar City by noon. Like The longer the cancellations last, then, the more dangerous the cracks. for many other programs — high school, college and professional alike — that’s when real uncertainty crept in, even if the virus had been noted before. Deseret News LOADED: 03.20.2020 Like in the Mountain West Conference, which hosted its men’s basketball tournament a week earlier than most. Utah State won on a game-winning shot from senior Sam Merrill, clinching a spot (or so it thought) in the NCAA Tournament. But despite the euphoria of the upset win, Hartwell also left Las Vegas with the coronavirus on his mind.

It was discussed, he said, at a meeting of the conference’s athletics directors, where the consensus seemed to be that something might need to be done. But nothing was imminent, he acknowledged, and “it was still in the back of our minds.”

Until Wednesday, when his department joined SUU and others in wondering how they’d keep fans engaged and maintain their staffs. What kinds of connections could they forge without games, for example, and 1181263 World Leagues News

Two Lakers’ players test positive for coronavirus

By Kurt Helin

Mar 19, 2020, 8:02 PM EDT

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NBA players union Executive Director Michelle Roberts said Wednesday to expect more NBA players would test positive for the coronavirus.

That didn’t take long.

Two Lakers have tested positive for the virus, the team confirmed Thursday (Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the News). Players were tested Wednesday in the wake of the announcement that members of the Brooklyn Nets — who the Lakers played the Tuesday night before the league was shut down — tested positive.

The Lakers players were not identified. We know it is not JaVale McGee, who is relatively high risk for a professional athlete because he has asthma.

Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee — who has asthma and experienced a bout with pneumonia last season — tested negative for the coronavirus, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

“We learned today that two Lakers players have tested positive,” the team said in a statement. “Both players are currently asymptomatic, in quarantine and under the care of the team’s physician.

“All players and members of the Lakers staff are being asked to continue to observe self-quarantine and shelter at home guidelines, closely monitor their health, consult with their personal physicians and maintain constant communication with the team.”

There is no way to know if the Lakers’ players caught the virus during the Brooklyn game, with this fast-moving strain it could have come from a number of other possibilities.

Throw in the positive test of Boston’s Marcus Smart and that makes 10 players and seven franchises (if you count basketball operations staff) who have someone test positive for the coronavirus. Most have been asymptomatic, but a few have shown the impact of COVID-19.

The NBA remains suspended, with games likely on hold until June at the earliest and the playoffs potentially stretching into August. The Lakers sit as the top seed in the West and a serious title contender, when (if?) play resumes.

NBC Sports LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181264 World Leagues News The RFU say chief executive Bill Sweeney is constantly liaising with the government, the sporting industry and the wider rugby community.

Premiership clubs to ask players to take considerable wage cuts BBC LOADED: 03.20.2020

By Chris Jones

BBC correspondent

19 Mar

There are nine rounds of Premiership matches remaining before the scheduled semi-finals and final in June

Several English Premiership clubs will ask players to take considerable pay cuts to help cope with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Premiership Rugby has been suspended until at least 20 April, with a further delay expected.

Club losses will far exceed £1 million, with some players expected to take a cut of up to 25% to help prevent financial crisis.

The players' union are seeking "urgent clarification" on the issue.

The board of the Rugby Players' Association met via conference call on Thursday to consider their position, and subsequently wrote to all their members to alert them to the developing situation.

"While we fully appreciate the unprecedented times around global sport, we are also seeking urgent clarification on the current financial impact for English club rugby," RPA chief executive Damian Hopley told BBC Sport.

"Our advice is that players hear what the clubs have to say and then we will consider a collective position across the league."

Non-playing staff could see their wages reduced as well, especially senior executives.

Even though players across the league have been stood down for the foreseeable future, Sale and Gloucester are among the clubs to schedule urgent meetings with all members of staff on Friday to discuss the current situation.

While the Premiership clubs are propped up by lucrative deals with broadcaster BT Sport, sponsors Gallagher, as well as an agreement with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the majority of top-flight organisations are loss-making.

Earlier in the week the Northampton chief executive Mark Darbon spoke of the "huge challenge" facing the league in the current climate, with Saints expecting to lose up to £400,000 for every home match called off because of the pandemic.

However the clubs all received a considerable windfall of around £13m in the last year from private equity giants CVC, who purchased a 27% stake in Premiership Rugby.

Meanwhile, the RFU have yet to provide any financial reassurance to their clubs amid fears of ruin below Premiership level.

The Scottish Rugby Union have announced a hardship fund to aid struggling clubs, while the Welsh Rugby Union have also strongly pledged financial support to their members.

However the RFU say they are "investigating a range of options", with more detail expected next week.

Play at all levels of the game in England has been suspended until at least 14 April.

"We appreciate that we are in unprecedented times and we are here to provide support to our clubs and their communities where we can during this challenging period," said an RFU statement.

A number of grassroots clubs have voiced their concern about the situation to the BBC.

"We've not been told anything about financial support and to be honest haven't really received a lot of direct communication [from the RFU]," said one club representative. 1181265 World Leagues News

Detroit sportswriter raises money for freelance journalists while coronavirus puts sports on hold

Staff Report

DETROIT – Many people are unsure when their next paycheck will come right now because of the coronavirus outbreak, but a Detroit sportswriter is trying to soften the blow for his freelance colleagues by surprising them with money.

“When it became clear Thursday that sports were canceled, I prayed for my friends who are freelance journalists,” Associated Press sportswriter Larry Lage said.

The next morning, Lage set up a fundraising page on Facebook.

“Really quickly, I raised a couple thousand dollars,” Lage said.

He contacted people he knew to give it out, such as Dannie Rogers, a freelancer out of Toledo.

“Larry was asking for my Venmo,” Rogers said. “I said ‘no Larry, absolutely not.’ If things become dire, my parents will help me out.”

She gave Lage the name of someone she knew: Jon Root.

Root is a host for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. Lage Venmo’d him $50 out of the blue.

Root was so moved, he tweeted about the gesture, and now Lage has a viral movement on his hands. He’s raised nearly $9,000 so far and continues to get more and more names of people who could use some help.

“There are a slew of people who are freelance sports journalists who are paid by the assignment, do not have a saraly or benefits” Lage said. “They’re paid by different TV outlets to work.”

At first, Lage was reluctant to talk to Local 4 about the movement, saying this isn’t about him. But then he thought the more people who know about this, the better.

“As the money keeps coming in, I’m sending it around electronically from coast to coast,” Lage said.

“Hopefully this brightens people’s days to see what Larry is doing,” Rogers said.

So far, he’s helped a lot of people who aren’t working right now.

Lage is distributing money by Venmo in increments of $100 to $1,000. At one point he was flagged because Venmo wanted to make sure it was him send out all the money. He’s since been cleared, so his mission continues.

LOADED: 03.20.2020 1181266 World Leagues News

Dutch, Spanish and Monaco F1 GPs postponed because of coronavirus

Giles Richards

The Dutch, Spanish and Monaco grands prix have been postponed, meaning the first seven races of the Formula One season have been affected by coronavirus.

The earliest the first race could now take place would be in Azerbaijan on 7 June. In addition, regulation changes set to take place next year have been postponed until 2022.

The postponement of three more races was made after a conference call involving the FIA president, Jean Todt, the F1 chief executive, Chase Carey, the F1 sporting director, Ross Brawn, and the 10 team principals.

It was not unexpected given the increasingly strong grip of coronavirus on Europe and fears that mass gatherings and movement of F1 teams and fans across the continent would only exacerbate the situation.

A statement read: “Due to the and fluid nature of the Covid-19 situation globally, the FIA, Formula One and the three promoters have taken these decisions in order to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern.”

At the same time it was agreed to put off the major regulation changes set to come in to place for 2021 until the following year. The idea of delaying had already been considered by the teams and largely agreed with only Ferrari wanting further time to discuss it internally. Having done so agreement was unanimous with Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto stating now was: “not the time for selfishness”.

Wth a large number of races unlikely to take place this year with a resultant financial cost, the teams have agreed the expense of developing new cars under the circumstances should be postponed.

The chassis developed for this season will now be used in 2021, but the budget cap set for 2021 of $175m will still be instated. A joint statement also confirmed there would be ongoing discussions regarding further methods of making significant cost savings.

The rescheduling of postponed grands prix remains the target of F1 and the FIA, however the schedule does not allow much room for additional meetings later in the season. To that end, the F1 summer shutdown period held in August between the Hungarian and Belgian grands prix has been shifted to take place for a three-week period teams must take before the end of April.

The joint statement reiterated the hope racing may be able to resume in May. “The FIA and Formula One expect to begin the 2020 championship season as soon as it is safe to do so after May and will continue to regularly monitor the Covid-19 situation.”

The Le Mans 24 Hours has also been postponed. The race, due to take place on 13-14 June, has been rescheduled for 19-20 September 2020, the same weekend as the Singapore Grand Prix.

LOADED: 03.20.2020