SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 08/19/19 Boston Bruins 1151041 Zach Senyshyn: NHL action 'definitely lit a fire under me' 1151042 Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert laud decision to return to royal blue Blackhawks 1151043 Brian Campbell on Adam Boqvist's progression and preaching patience in his development Colorado Avalanche 1151044 Colorado Eagles owner, developer Martin Lind is all about hockey 1151045 NHL Network: Stars' Miro Heiskanen, John Klingberg sit among the league's top 20 defensemen 1151046 Wild can look to Twins and Wolves for new GM traits 1151047 Jack Chevalier, sports writer who coined ‘Broad Street Bullies’ nickname, dies at 83 1151048 Sharks' , Marc Edouard-Vlasic, Martin Jones excites Randy Hahn

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129

1151041 Boston Bruins

Zach Senyshyn: NHL action 'definitely lit a fire under me'

By Jacob Camenker August 18, 2019 7:44 PM

In the 2015 NHL Draft, the Boston Bruins took a winger by the name of Zach Senyshyn with their third of three consecutive first-round picks. Senyshyn, 18 at the time he was picked, was considered to be a bit of a reach with the No. 15 overall pick, as some scouting services had him graded as a second-round prospect.

For a few years, it did seem that the services may have been right about Senyshyn. He struggled to gain footing in the Bruins' organization. But last year, he finally made his long-anticipated NHL debut towards the end of the season. And in the action he saw, he performed well.

In two games for the Bruins, Senyshyn showcased his speed and was able to notch the first of his career (albeit an empty-netter) in that action. And getting time at the NHL level has sparked him to perform better ahead of the 2019-20 NHL season as he spoke about in a recent interview.

Future up in the air for David Backes

"It definitely lit a fire under me," Senyshyn said of his NHL playing time, via the Bruins official Twitter account. "When you get a taste of it and how close it really is, you get really excited for the upcoming season. For my summer training, it's made me a lot more passionate and really excited for the upcoming year."

Senyshyn did have some thrills last season, including getting to work with the Bruins during their run to the Final. While he didn't log any postseason action, he did get to see how veterans prepare for key games up close and personal. And he is hoping that will help him to prepare as he battles for a spot on the Bruins' roster moving forward.

And speaking of Senyshyn's battle for a roster spot, Senyshyn noted a few things he wanted to do in order to ensure that he has a chance to make the squad this season.

"You know, I Just kinda worry about my own game and really be confident out there," Senyshyn said. "Know what I do well and play into my strengths and really just do whatever I can to help the team win."

Senyshyn will have a lot of competition for a spot on the Bruins roster, as new additions Par Lindholm and Brett Ritchie will be vying for spots on the regular roster as well. But if he can continue to show off his speed and shows better goal-scoring instincts, Senyshyn should have a chance to make the roster.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.19.2019 1151042 Buffalo Sabres

Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert laud decision to return to royal blue

By Mike Harrington

Published Sun, Aug 18, 2019|Updated Sun, Aug 18, 2019

The Buffalo Sabres' white and gold 50th anniversary jersey was unveiled to rave reviews Friday, but the talking for the surviving members of the famed French Connection line Saturday was about the colors they wore.

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary sweater, the team announced it was returning its primary color to royal blue for the 2020-21 season. Just as it wore in the days of Memorial Auditorium from 1970 to 1996.

"It's great. The crest, the color are very important," said Hall of Fame center Gilbert Perreault, the franchise's first draft pick and still its No. 1 scorer. "This was a new franchise from the '70s. First color. Got to keep the crest and color.

"When you change the crest, it kills the alumni. You've got to keep the same crest, the same color. That's very important to me."

Right winger Rene Robert agreed.

"I like it. Go back to the old roots," Robert said. "This is the way it should be. I understand the NHL and marketing and so many different jerseys. But to me, the original jersey will always be the Sabres jersey."

When winger Jeff Skinner was asked what he thought about the new uniforms, he joked to reporters, "That 50th one looks pretty good to me. But I guess the royal blue is the hot topic so if I want to be popular I guess I'll say that."

Center Casey Mittelstadt, meanwhile, said he favored the 90s "goatheads" look.

"My high school team (in Eden Prairie, Minn.) was red, white and black so I'm favorite to those jerseys," Mittelstadt said. "I like those a lot."

• • •

General Manager Jason Botterill deferred any updates on the Sabres' injured players until the start of training camp. Zach Bogosian (hip) and Lawrence Pilut (shoulder) underwent offseason surgeries and are not expected to be ready for the regular season. The same is likely true for presumptive No. 1 Rochester goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who had hip surgery.

No. 1 draft pick Dylan Cozens continues to work back from thumb surgery after he was injured during the 3-on-3 scrimmage that capped development camp. He may not be be able to take part in training camp, either.

• • •

As part of FanFest, the team's retired number banners were lowered to the arena floor for fans to pose in front of for photos. There was also a large memorabilia display set up at one end of the rink, curated by John Boutet, exhibit chairman for the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

• • •

Heavy downpours in the morning forced the Sabres to move all of their activities inside KeyBank Center after the original plan called for the bulk of the event to be held outside in Alumni Plaza. ... Rasmus Dahlin was scheduled to appear at the event but was unable to make it due to travel difficulties coming from Sweden. ... The Sabres next official event is expected to be the Prospects Challenge in HarborCenter. It opens Sept. 6, with Buffalo hosting New Jersey-led Jack Hughes in a 7 p.m. game.

Buffalo News LOADED: 08.19.2019 1151043

Brian Campbell on Adam Boqvist's progression and preaching patience in his development

By Charlie Roumeliotis August 18, 2019 12:12 AM

The breakout star of Blackhawks development camp in July was undoubtedly Adam Boqvist, who was taken No. 8 overall in 2018. It was evident how much his game has grown over the past year.

Former Blackhawks defenseman — and now player development coach — Brian Campbell worked closely with Boqvist this past season and raved about the steps he took with the London Knights in the OHL. But Campbell is also preaching patience in Boqvist's development. Boqvist just turned 19 on Thursday, and it's important to let him develop at his own pace.

“Yeah, I was impressed," Campbell said in an interview with NBC Sports Chicago. "Obviously, he’s come a long way in a year from last development camp. There’s no pressure being put on him. He’ll develop at his time. If he pushes for a spot, great, but I just don’t want people to get away. There’s a lot to keep learning and he wants to learn, which is the greatest thing. His teammates love him: great thing. He wants to do extra and learn the game: great thing. He is preparing himself days before, even in development camp, he’s preparing himself days before. So all great things and he’s on the right path.

"Hopefully that happens and maybe it does happen but if it doesn’t then that’s not the case and he keeps getting better and wants to keep getting better. Definitely, we know his skill level is there and I think he’s taken a huge step in the last year in preparing himself and knowing how to prepare as a pro player now. There’s a lot of great things there, and hopefully he does do that, but for me, I just don’t want to put too much on him right now. He’s turning 19 soon so he’s still a really young kid and it’s a tough position to play at a pro level. Believe me, I’m smiling, but I just don’t want to force the issue too much. Hopefully he can do some great things, but if he doesn’t, then that’s OK too.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.19.2019 1151044 Colorado Avalanche being eliminated from hockey decisions because he knows that benefits the fans who want to see the Avalanche’s top prospects at the premier minor-league level.

Colorado Eagles owner, developer Martin Lind is all about hockey Why isn’t former Avs forward Pierre Turgeon in the Hockey Hall of The 58-year-old college dropout has big plans for hockey players, fans Fame? He and 1998 inductee Michel Goulet try to explain. and the entire Loveland/Windsor community Avalanche to play 12 nationally televised games on NBC Sports in 2019- 20

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post “What the Avs have brought up here to northern Colorado is amazing. For me, it’s all about the show. What value are we giving our fans? And PUBLISHED: August 18, 2019 at 6:00 am | UPDATED: August 18, 2019 how are we being represented?” Lind said. “We couldn’t be with a at 10:34 am classier or better organization in the NHL. We’re thrilled.

“And bottom-line revenue has never been the driving factor in all of our decision making. It’s what are we doing for the community and our fans, Northern Colorado could become a state hockey hub thanks to Martin our players and employees? We see this as an enormous partnership Lind and those who believe in the 58-year-old college dropout from and we take pride in their success down there, too. Our fans are starting Windsor. to really take a lot of pride in the success of the Avalanche, and I think Lind, the longtime Colorado Eagles owner and second-year American we’re seeing Denver fans coming up here and taking a lot of pride in Hockey League partner with the Avalanche, is working with the city of what’s being developed in northern Colorado. They have to be excited Loveland and Larimer County to build a 10,000-seat multi-use arena and about the future. They have to be.” youth hockey complex as part of a project he envisions as “the new Amen. downtown of northern Colorado.” Denver Post: LOADED: 08.19.2019 The project will sit just east of Interstate 25 in Loveland near the Budweiser Event Center, the Eagles’ longtime home, and include a 300- room hotel overlooking an entertainment strip where the Larimer County Fairgrounds (a.k.a The Ranch) currently sits.

“There’s going to be something magnificent built on The Ranch in the next two years,” Lind said.

Once completed, the new arena will become the Eagles’ new home, turning the BEC into a dirt-based facility — possibly a rodeo/equestrian center and monster truck/motocross venue. It could also become a parking lot.

In addition to three sheets of ice serving youth hockey programs, figure skating and community skates, an Olympic swimming pool and training center is planned for the massive sports complex.

The Avalanche has Lind’s full support. The NHL team only controls the Eagles’ players and hockey-related staff. Lind relinquished that control when he chose to pay the AHL’s expansion fee of nearly $7 million and bring the sport’s top minor league to Colorado.

The Eagles previously played in the “double-A” ECHL and “single-A” CHL, winning a combined four championships in 15 years and setting attendance records every year while Lind and his staff controlled over every aspect of the team.

The Eagles averaged 5,140 fans at the BEC last season, ranking 19th among the 31 AHL teams, but they sold out nearly every game and led the league with more than 97 percent capacity. Lind and the Avalanche believe the Eagles can become among the league’s top draws — partly because of the dynamic infrastructure around the arena.

“There’s a lot of different people in the world but Martin is clearly a grassroots believer and not a guy to sit on the sidelines and watch, but get out there and make things happen,” said Avalanche assistant general manager Craig Billington, who oversees the NHL club’s minor-league interests.

Lind graduated from Windsor High School and briefly tried to play football for a junior-college program in northern Iowa. He wasn’t a great student, so he turned to the family farm.

“I tell everybody I kept my GPA and blood-alcohol the same for six months in college,” Lind said. “I couldn’t keep that up. I knew that wasn’t sustainable. I moved back home and started farming. We got hailed out two consecutive years and we had absolutely no funds and nowhere to turn, so we sold out — sold all the equipment, had the auction. And I went and sold cars and trucks and did odd jobs for four or five years.”

But Lind has always had a love for land, including waterways. He became a developer and, ultimately, a huge hockey fan.

“I don’t think there is a more honorable professional athlete than a hockey player. And I’ve been around a lot of them,” he said.

Originally a partner in the Eagles’ ownership group, Lind eventually assumed complete control of the franchise. He said he doesn’t mind 1151045 Dallas Stars

NHL Network: Stars' Miro Heiskanen, John Klingberg sit among the league's top 20 defensemen

By Dean Straka , Sports Digital Editor Contact Dean Strakaon Twitter:@dwstraka49

The Dallas Stars are lucky enough to boast two of the top 20 defensemen in the , according to NHL Network.

Miro Heiskanen and John Klingberg both made the cut in the network's list of top 20 NHL defensemen on Sunday. Klingberg was the higher finisher of the two at No. 12. Heiskanen checked in at No. 17.

The 20 best defensemen in the league 

What do you think? #NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/YfviJQjIQ2

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 18, 2019

Klingberg led the charge among Dallas defensemen during the 2018-19 season with 45 points -- 10 goals and 35 assists -- in 64 games played. Heiskanen, in a breakout rookie season, played in all 82 games of the regular season en route to 12 goals and 21 assists for a total of 33 points.

As a team, Dallas finished the regular season ranked 16th in the league with an average of 31.6 shots allowed per game.

The Stars open the 2019-2020 season at home against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 3.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 08.19.2019 1151046 Minnesota Wild

Wild can look to Twins and Wolves for new GM traits

By Michael Rand Star Tribune AUGUST 18, 2019 — 11:42PM

The Wild is in the midst of its second general manager search in barely a year, and rarely have we seen a team so desperately in need of image reboot.

Check that. Maybe it’s not as rare as we think.

After all, their winter sports competitors across the river, the Timberwolves, delivered a sorely needed image makeover a few months ago with the hiring of Gersson Rosas. And the Twins before them did the same thing in 2016 with the hiring of Derek Falvey and Thad Levine.

If the Wild and owner Craig Leipold can learn anything from those hires, it is this: The fastest way to look smart — and change the narrative that your organization is stuck in the past — is to hire modern-thinking executives who talk a good game.

That means enlisting a new general manager who will make changing the culture a point of emphasis, who repeatedly will insist on questioning existing norms (a Rosas favorite) while not just tolerating but legitimately embracing, integrating and innovating in the world of analytics.

The damage from Paul Fenton’s tenure feels irreversible right now, but at least in terms of perception everything is temporary.

The Twins went from “total system failure” during their 103-loss 2016 season to receiving heaps of praise as they surge toward a possible 100- win season.

The Wolves haven’t played a game yet under the Rosas regime, and already they are winning the battle of public opinion.

Fenton came in 15 months ago to a repeated chorus of “tweak the process.” That sounded as silly then as it appeared in practice. This time around, Leipold should know the Wild is in need of more than tweaks — if not immediately on the ice, then at least in the way messages are conveyed.

• • •

The much-maligned and often-discussed Twins bullpen saved the weekend.

The assorted crew pitched a combined 12 innings in three consecutive victories Friday-Sunday over the Rangers, allowing just one run in the process. There were some messy innings — right up to the end Sunday, when Taylor Rogers had to pitch out of a jam in a 6-3 win — but the results were not only positive but desperately needed.

No Twins pitcher completed six innings in any of the four games against the Rangers, but thanks to some clutch hitting and good bullpen work they managed a huge sweep.

• • •

Of course, a new concern has emerged for the Twins: the sudden unreliability of the previously very reliable Jose Berrios.

Berrios, the No. 1 starter on the staff, was handed a 6-0 lead Saturday in what could have been a cruise control sort of victory. Instead, he couldn’t even make it through five innings — allowing seven runs, though only three were earned.

In three August starts since a gem on the final day of July in Miami, Berrios has an 8.44 ERA and has allowed five home runs in 16 innings. He does have 17 strikeouts in that span, but his command in the strike zone has been shaky.

The Twins better hope he rediscovers his All-Star form soon. They can make the postseason without a dominant Berrios, but they would be hard-pressed to go very far.

Resilience has been a hallmark of these Twins so far, so I would imagine Berrios will come back strong down the stretch.

Star Tribune LOADED: 08.19.2019 1151047 Philadelphia Flyers Chevy was getting tired of that particular cliché. His lead was, ‘Like the hitchhikers in Bangkok like to say, it’s great to pick up a Thai on the road.’ ”

Jack Chevalier, sports writer who coined ‘Broad Street Bullies’ nickname, Bruce Cooper, who has worked mostly behind the scenes with the Flyers dies at 83 for several decades, called Mr. Chevalier a “big teddy bear kind of guy. Outgoing and friendly. Very casual. Never dressed very formally. … He was completely unpretentious. Laughed a lot and got along with by Sam Carchidi, everybody. He was a guy the players were not afraid to talk to and (didn’t) think he was looking for some angle that would make his story

look good but might embarrass the players.” Jack Chevalier, who while writing for the Philadelphia Bulletin coined When he was about 12 years old, Bob “Boop” Vetrone Jr. used to tag arguably the most famous nickname in Philadelphia sports history, died along with his dad, writer Bob Vetrone, Sr., to the Bulletin sports Saturday of an apparent heart attack. He was 83. department, where Chevalier would make the youngster feel at home. “He was fair and that’s all you could ask for,” said Bill Barber, a star left “Jack always treated me great, and years later when we got to be co- winger on the Flyers’ 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cup champions. workers, it was like I already had a friend in the newsroom,” Vetrone said. Mr. Chevalier drove his grandson to work at 9 a.m. Saturday and later “One of my favorite Chevy stories is from 1980. Springsteen was here, died of an apparent heart attack at his home in Turnersville, N.J., and Chevy had tickets for a Saturday show and I had tickets for the according to his cousin, Kathy Smith. Speaking Sunday from her home in Monday show. He was the assistant sports editor and he came to me San Luis Obispo, Calif., Smith said Mr. Chevalier was found and said, ‘Listen, it’s really, really busy on Saturday and we need you to unresponsive by his son, Sam, at around 1 p.m. work. How about if we switch tickets?’ So Chevy and his wife went on Saturday, and I went with John McBride on Monday.” In February, Mr. Chevalier had suffered an aneurysm and was hospitalized, his cousin said. During this spring’s Stanley Cup Finals, Vetrone said, he posted on Facebook that he was watching the St. Louis Blues face the Boston Born in Springfield, Mass., Mr. Chevalier followed his dad, Earl, and an Bruins at a Maple Shade bar. Midway through the first period, an old uncle into the sports-writing world. friend walked into the bar and greeted Vetrone.

“I always have said we’re a newspaper family,” said Smith, who used to It was Chevalier. write for the Charleston (West Virginia) Gazette. “Jack put himself through college working at newspapers, and one of the reasons we were “He stayed at the bar for a couple periods and talked about the old so close is that I did the same thing.” times,” Vetrone said, “and what was different about sports these days. He was as personable as ever and as opinionated about sports as ever. In addition to the Bulletin, Mr. Chevalier, who served as a mentor to It was neat because he’s such a big hockey guy and to have him there many young reporters, wrote for the Springfield Republican, the talking about this phenomenal Blues run was probably the highlight of my Baltimore Sun, the Wilmington News Journal, and the Philadelphia summer. That was Jack, coming out of left field for people, like young Tribune, and he was a sports copy editor at The Inquirer. In later years, guys in our newsroom.” he drove a taxi before retiring a little over two years ago. Vetrone said he started working at the Bulletin when he was 15, “and it “I used to tell him he should write a book about his cab-driving days,” was like joining the major leagues with the ’27 Yankees, with (Jim) Smith said. “He could have fun with anything, and he did with his cab Barniak and Chevy and (Frank) Brady and guys like that.” days. He would haul around some questionable people, like ladies of the night, and he had lots of stories he’d tell.” Mr. Chevalier’s wife, Anita, died on May 31 at age 73. They had been married for 52 years and had three children, David, Sam, and Karen, and In 1974, he wrote “The Broad Street Bullies” about the Flyers’ stunning, two grandchildren. seven-year rise from an expansion team to Stanley Cup champions. A celebration-of-life ceremony is being planned at a still-to-be-determined Mr. Chevalier died 3½ months after the death of Bill Fleischman, who date. covered the Flyers for the Daily News. Both covered the team during their Cup-winning seasons.

“They’re going to be missed. They were great writers and they were Sam Carchidi honest,” Barber said. “We kind of had a unique team, and it wasn’t the Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 08.19.2019 easiest team to write about all the time, either.”

Mr. Chevalier and the other beat writers gave the Flyers, who were known for their fighting and physical style of play in the 1970s, colorful nicknames.

Fleischman called the team The Mad Squad, a play on The Mod Squad, a popular TV crime series at the time. The Inquirer’s Chuck Newman referred to the Fred Shero-coached Flyers as Freddy’s Philistines.

Midway through the 1972-73 season, after a 3-1 win in Atlanta, Mr. Chevalier created a nickname of his own, calling the Flyers the Blue Line Bandidos in the copy he sent to the Bulletin. He had second thoughts on the plane ride home and changed it to Broad Street Bullies.

Cafone, a sports copy editor, put the nickname into the Bulletin headline – and it became a part of the Flyers’ identity, a part of their brand. The nickname magnified after they won Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975.

“In those days, we never even thought about putting a trademark on a name,” Cafone said in phone interview Sunday, adding that Mr. Chevalier was a versatile writer, columnist and copy editor, and someone who loved music and would travel far to watch a band perform.

Mark Whicker, a former columnist with the Bulletin, called Chevalier “my running mate” in a Facebook post. He said Mr. Chevalier was a “columnist who could write about anything, anytime, and never took himself too seriously, which is unusual in Philly. … I will never forget one night when the Flyers were happy about tying somebody on the road and 1151048 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Erik Karlsson, Marc Edouard-Vlasic, Martin Jones excites Randy Hahn

By Dalton Johnson August 18, 2019 12:43 PM

It's a new era of Sharks hockey in San Jose with the departure of , but there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic about next season.

For Randy Hahn, the voice of the Sharks, it all starts with the team's defense. Specifically, it's the trio of Erik Karlsson, Marc Edouard-Vlasic and Martin Jones that has Hahn itching for the season to begin.

Re-signing Karlsson was the focal point to the Sharks' offseason and San Jose's front office sealed the deal with an eight-year, $92 million contract. With new weight to his wallet, expectations have rocketed for Karlsson in Year 2 wearing teal.

“There is huge expectations for Erik Karlsson, as there should be and as I’m sure he expects,” Hahn recently said to Blades of Teal's Quentin Thorne. “He is one of the premier players in the league, and has been especially for the last five to six years.”

Karlsson struggled with injuries during his first season with the Sharks, but he still managed to post 45 points (three goals, 42 assists) in 53 regular-season games. He recorded 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 19 playoff games, which ranked second on San Jose.

When Karlsson did play, the Sharks went 30-23 in regular-season games and 10-9 in the playoffs.

While he's not a star like Karlsson, Hahn is intrigued to see the growth of Vlasic.

“With a guy like Marc-Edouard Vlasic, I think the goal of the Sharks is to pair him with Karlsson next season,” Hahn said. “[Vlasic] being a tremendous defensive defender in the NHL and Karlsson being a tremendous offensive defender, and the second wave of offense coming from Brent Burns.”

Rounding out the trio is the Sharks' goaltender.

Jones had a down year where he posted a career-worst .896 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average. Clearly, Hahn still believes in him.

“Martin Jones is an excellent goalie, I don’t think he is elite yet, but next season I think he has a chance to be,” Hahn said. “The Sharks have a lot of confidence in Martin Jones and they know how good he can be.”

The Sharks open the 2019-20 regular season in Las Vegas, and all eyes will be on their defense taking away goals from the Golden Knights.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 08.19.2019